my favorite girl

xviii

M

/

Today, the walk home was quiet.

I've been trying to talk about school stuff, but Nayeon seems like she wasn't in the mood to chat.

"Hey," I couldn't help myself anymore. The silence was killing me. "Is there something wrong, Nayeonie?"

I reached for her hand to pull her to a stop.

She seemed so surprised at the contact.

Nayeon blinked, as if to register the fact that we were now standing on the sidewalk a few blocks away from our houses.

And then, she stutters out, "Oh, no. Of course not. Why do you ask?"

She even nods as if she was convincing herself, too.

I frowned.

"Why do I ask? Really? You haven't said a word to me all the way here from school."

Nayeon sighed, head shaking. "Sorry, I just– I–"

She cuts herself off. I got curious of what she was about to say.

"What? Tell me," I insist. " You're upset, aren't you? Was there something I did?"

"No," Nayeon breathes out like she's tired of the conversation.

It caused an ugly feeling to rise up in my chest.

"Okay, then, what is it?" I ask again. "Something about school? Did you and Jackson fight–"

I was surprised when a scoff suddenly escaped Nayeon's lips. She even rolled her eyes at me.

"You gotta be kidding me," She mumbles.

I was so confused. "What? What'd I do?"

And then, I was even more startled when she glared at me.

She looks genuinely upset at this point.

"No, Momo. Jackson and I didn't fight. In fact, we shouldn't even be fighting over anything like you and the rest of the people in school always like to assume. And we shouldn't even be talking about him right now!"

I was even more lost. She was so angry. "What? Nayeon–"

"Forget it! I don't wanna talk about Jackson, okay?!" She yells, and I froze instantly in my spot.

I've never heard Nayeon yell since our first dinner together when we were five.

"Alright, then tell me what this is about–"

But she cuts me off, tears rushing out of her eyes. "Stop, just– just leave me alone, Hirai!"

And then she ran off.

I was left standing alone on the sidewalk, confused.