YEARS APART

Touch

Hyunjin was so serious, making The girl in front of him nervous.

"Why are you avoiding me ?" He said without any hesitation.

"Why does it matter to you ?" She said
He looked at her, struggling to find an answer.

"Because you're making my work harder" he thought to himself, however he can't say something like that.

"Because..... because you're my friend !" He finally spoke. Athiee looked at him, and gave him a faint smile. "A friend". That word echoed inside her head, making her smile sadly.

"Yes, you're right. I'm a friend, just a friend" she said to him, but it sounded more like she was speaking to herself. She looked away for a brief moment, then looked back at him.

"Hyunjin, i appreciate your concerns, really. But the thing is, you don't need to be concerned anymore. I, i realized that we both have our own worlds, and i can't belong in yours. I'm really thankful for all what you did for me, and every moment we spent together, but i can't do this anymore".

"Did i do something that made you feel and think this way ?" He asked

"Yes. You did, and I'm grateful that you did. If i haven't seen it, i would have kept thinking about.... Things.... I shouldn't thought about in the first place". Hyunjin was going to reply, but stopped when he heard some students talking, he took a book, and covered Athiee's face with it. Two boys passed by them, and they saw Hyunjin with a girl, they tried to see the girl's face, but couldn't. Hyunjin was perfectly hiding her.
He glared at them, and they left immediately. He looked back at Athiee, and said

"I don't know what you saw, nor what you're thinking about, but i simply cannot agree with that. Miss Athiee, who told you that you don't belong in my world ? Even so, where did you get this "two different worlds" concept from ?" He asked as he was a bit closer now. Athiee was trying her best not to look at him.

"It's just a way of speaking ! Can't you read between the lines Mister Hyunjin ? And... please, don't start with that talk, who would want someone like me around them ?" She said recalling the view of Hyunjin and that girl.

"She was perfect, unlike me" she whispered.
Hyunjin leaned closer, and looked at her silently.

"Someone like you ? Why, what's wrong with you ?" He said as he gazed at her. Athiee gulped, as she felt him staring straight at her soul. She felt all sorts of emotions, fear, stress, happiness and sadness, were all mixed up.

"I ....i am not funny..... and aand, I'm completely boring... and... and ugly" as she said the last word, she felt suffocated. Her face was facing the ground, not wanting to look at him.
He, lifted her face up, and looked at her.

"You" he said, and his hand travelled from her chin to her glasses.

"You are" he said, as he began to pull away her glasses. She kept watching him, with her big eyes. He took her glasses away, and looked at her.

"You are more beautiful without them". He said. Athiee was surprised, and only looked at him. Hyunjin slowly approached her, not breaking the eye contact. Her heart was beating like crazy.

"And the most important, is your heart. Your heart that beats when he's near you, when he looks at you, and when he smiles at you, is what will indicates you".

Mura's words flashed on her head. Her eyes widened, when she realized he was really close.

"Hyunjin" she whispered, and he stayed silent. He put her glasses away, and his right hand was on her left cheek, as he was still holding the book with the other hand. A brief moment passed, until something magical happened.