He Started It by Hitting on Me

Dense Dummy

Hickeys are the most annoying blemishes to have ever lived. Forget pimples and blackheads-hickeys are the ones that really want to push your buttons. I searched for a website online to find any kind of home remedies for getting rid of a hickey. I had found one, but the home remedies included some things I didn't have at home. And the sad part was: I was lazy to go out and get them.
Fortunately there was another home remedy and it consisted of rubbing alcohol and witch hazel, both of which I had at home. The website claimed that it was a "frequent application of these liquids that are effective for preventing bruises of all kinds, including hickeys". Well, if it says that then I have to go along with it. Desperate was written across my forehead; I'd believe in anything right now.
I had dabbed the alcohol on my hickey. Since rubbing alcohol was known to dry your skin, aloe cream was put on the same place. After doing so, I had looked in the mirror and seen that the damn hickey was still there. I had tried other things, all resulting into nothing. I was up Sunday night, scrolling through pages of hickey home remedies, but they never seemed to have worked. By the time it was one in the morning, I called it a night and went to sleep. I failed my skin.
I woke up the next day with a feeling of grouchiness and desperation. I had not felt the need to go school; hell, I never wanted to waste time there. I went anyways. Makeup was a suggested try to hiding the dreadful hickey on my lip. I learned from the computer that I needed a concealer brush, concealer, a neutralizing concealer, foundation and loose face powder. I followed the steps on how to apply the makeup on the blemish and had a rather difficult time knowing what was what. Thankfully they had labels and I was able to differentiate. And I was capable of covering the hickey perfectly.
I went to school after eating a light breakfast. I took my usual walk to school, confirming that the weather was getting warmer each day. I kept silent for my whole walk to school, for I had nothing to say. By the time I got to the school gates, teenagers were already walking around school grounds, talking, laughing, whatever teenagers do.
There were a few minutes left before homeroom and so I went in the school to start the new boring day. I didn't meet up with any of my friends; it was too late to talk to them. Besides, what if Jonghyun somehow blurted out to the whole freaking world that he kissed me and gave me a humongous hickey on my lip? Key would pester me for a week or something. I'd rather stay alone, thanks.
Classes, again, were boring to me. Everything is completely useless now, so I don't bother paying attention. It's a great time to catch up on my sleep anyways. I had English first, then History, then Math.
Ms. Kim has been coming in and out of class nowadays. The students and staff were getting more suspicious, but they did nothing about it. I guess they were waiting for the right time or they were just too busy and had their own lives to look forward to.
Since Ms. Kim is barely around, class becomes a free period and we're free to do whatever we want. It gave the privilege for Onew to to his chicken, Minho to text Yanna, and Key to annoy me with his antics.
"Honestly, don't you think floral pink is a really cute color? I need this bag with the color," Key muttered to himself, tracing his finger over the picture of a bag that had a floral pink pattern. I flipped a page of a book I was reading.
"Mhmm," I agreed.
Key clicked his tongue. "Yah, why aren't you paying attention?" he asked annoyingly.
"I'm listening," I replied monotonously, flipping another page of the book.
"I can tell that you're not."
"If I'm not why am I replying to you?"
"Okay, fine, I give up. But just tell me what you think of this bag." Key practically shoved the magazine in my face, forcing me to look at the bag. I pushed the magazine away.
"It looks fine," I replied, going back to my book.
"Fine? It's to die for! Did you not see it? Here, I think you haven't seen it well-" Key pushed the magazine into my face again, only this time he pressed it against my face, causing me to feel the smooth yet slippery touch of the magazine. I jerked my head back.
"Key, I've seen it and it looks fine. Shut up, will you?" I asked, irritated by his constant talking. I went back to my book as Key just sat there, quiet and stiff. He suddenly then sniffed.
"Fine, I won't talk anymore. Since you're just so vexed with me, I'll talk to myself," he announced, turning his head away from me. I paid no attention to him.
"So, Key, isn't this bag just y? Wouldn't you just make love to it if you could?" he started off, sighing at the end of his sentence. I shook my head slightly. Key gasped at the picture. "Oh my God, look at that bag-doesn't it look fabulous? Oh my God, oh my God! Oh my God, Taemin has this admirer and he keeps talking about her. In my opinion, she admires him. Taemin makes her sound like some stalker or something, that little twit."
I stopped reading my book as I turned my attention to Key and rested my cheek on my fist as he went on. He ran one hand down the page. "This fedora hat is cute too-too bad they don't have it in the floral pink pattern I'd like it to have. Aish, some people these days don't experiment, do they?"
"Key."
"Huh? What's that? A voice from afar? Anugly, tedious voice that should have been nicer to me when it was given the chance?" Key had put a hand to his ear, making a face of mocking grimace as he had said the last sentence.
I rolled my eyes. "You're such a diva sometimes," I muttered under my breath.
"Hey, I heard that," Key said as he glowered at me. Aish, that was one of his 'special' glares. He'd use them mostly on Minho or anyone actually if they got on his nerves or said something he didn't really find agreeable. I thought he was fine with the diva thing but I stand corrected. Key sat there in front of me, arms folded and eyes lowered directly at me.
"I'm waiting," he suddenly spoke, his voice low yet firm. Since I knew I had no way out of this until I did what he wanted, I clasped my hands together and placed them just below my mouth.
"You're a beautiful man, Key," I complimented. Key cleared his throat and looked up to the ceiling.
"And?" he asked, urging me to go on for another sentence.
"You smell good."
"And...?"
"What, am I supposed to say I want to get into your pants? Do I have to lie three times?" I asked, sighing as my clasped hands fell to my sides.
Key's mouth widened as so did his eyes. "Yah!" he snapped at me, his brow furrowing.
I raised my hands in defense. "I kid, I kid," I assured him as I tried to comfort him about his appearance and such. Key doesn't hold a sensitive ego, though. His self-esteem is resistant even to the biggest insult. He'll just kill you to get over the confidence he could have lost.
Key smirked as leaned back in his chair. "Good. Now, on a more or less important note...why are you wearing makeup?" he wanted to know, staring below my lip curiously.
I furrowed my eyes. "You were able to tell?" I asked incredulously.
Key hoisted an eyebrow as a smirk gave away on his face. "After living with makeup for a few years, you're able to differentiate between natural and cosmetics. So tell me: why do you have makeup on your face?"
I opened my mouth slightly but stopped there. "Um..." I trailed off, wondering as to what to say to him. Key wasn't fond of liars. I would have to be careful.
"I wanted to...experiment with makeup. It was just like this thing that you had to do, you know? I decided to give a whack at it and, uh, yeah. Tada," I responded, silently throwing my hands near my shoulders.
Key gave me a blank look. "I don't believe it, " he said, not beating around the bush.
"Then don't believe me. I am truthful most of the times," I lied, opening my book to the page I left off.
"I know, Mi Young."
My breathing hitched for a moment. I slowly looked up from the book. His expression was completely blank. "You do?" I asked cautiously. Key nodded. I clenched my teeth together for a second. "When did he tell you?" I asked quietly.
Key didn't faze from his impassive stare. He stared at me for a few moments as I impatiently awaited his answer.
"Yesterday," he replied nonchalantly.
That damn bastard. He told Key after he kissed me? What kind of idiot is he? After I gave him the idea of how Key would feel after he found out about it, he goes behind my back and decides to blabber it? Ha, I should have known. He's such a girl, gossiping about crap and such, ugh.
I sighed with irritation. "Before you at me, I did not like it. He did it first and I tried to stop him," I stated, putting my hands up in my defense.
Key raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that so? Care to explain your side of the story then?" he asked, gesturing me to go on with one hand.
I slumped my shoulders but then straightened up. "Okay, look, he came over yesterday and we watched TV. I was getting bored so I decided that I should try to go find something, but the bastard wanted to have a staring contest and he was boasting he could beat me-you know how I could get sucked into things like that. Anyways, the contest was going okay...we were pretty competitive, he was pretty good but I needed to beat him. Eventually he lost and then he began to lean in and then he...kissed me. It was just so out of the blue and I had never been so damn infuriated in my life. And believe me when I say I did not like the kiss. That Jonghyun bastard is just lying to you," I grumbled, folding my arms in exasperation.
Key had stayed quiet throughout the time I explained my side of the story, blinking here and there. His expression stayed unreadable. He blinked once more.
"He...kissed you," he repeated, finally speaking up after a prolonged while.
I nodded.
A smile started to creep over Key's lips. My eyebrows wrinkled over my eyes.
"I love how gullible you can be sometimes, Mi Young. It gives me an advantage to information I never knew about," Key laughed breathlessly, swaying his head side to side.
My mouth opened ajar. "Key, what's wrong with you? I thought you freaking knew!" I almost exclaimed.
"I didn't. I just said 'I know, Mi Young' because I was replying to your sentence before. I didn't know there was more to it. I'm glad you mistook it though; now I know I'm pissed off with you for not telling me sooner," Key said as he gave me a tight smile.
I rubbed my temple with one hand. "You weren't supposed to know. I knew things wouldn't have been good if you knew," I explained, giving a reason for why I didn't let him know about the kiss.
"Oh well, now I know. Too late to do anything now," Key shrugged. He did not look sorry in any way. Key leaned in slightly. "Did you like it?" he asked in a low voice.
"I said I didn't!" I said angrily, my folded arms unraveling to my sides.
"You look like you did," Key commented, squinting his eyes.
"But I didn't, so shut up," I mumbled, looking at the desk.
"You did."
"Damn it, I said I didn't!"
"Why are you denying it, Mi Young?"
"Key!" I barked, shooting him a glare. He gave a low whistle and leaned back in his chair.
"A little defensive, are we now? I'm sorry but you liked that kiss."
I gave out an irritated sigh. "Stop lying," I muttered.
Key folded his arms and gave me a solemn stare. "I don't lie," he said honestly, his voice firm yet soft.
That was true. He didn't lie. He kid, he joked, but he never lied. I didn't like that damn kiss. Why in the world would I like it? I don't even like Jonghyun, for Pete's sake.
"Okay, since you look a little confused, let's go a bit easy. How was the kiss?" Key interrogated.
I sighed, "What does this have to prove?"
"Just answer."
"It was forced upon me."
"An opinion, please."
"I hated it."
"A more attentive opinion."
"What?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.
Key shrugged slightly. "You know, how did it feel? How were those lips of his?" he asked, being specific.
Before I could answer straightaway, I contemplated for a moment. I brought myself back to the memory of yesterday, when his lips crashed onto mine. Those lips that were on me felt rather soft and fit well with mine. And the fact they tasted they like strawberries....
I grimaced at myself. Well, that was the actual truth so it wouldn't be counted as an opinion, right? Opinions are what you thought, not the truth. I blinked and inhaled. "In my opinion, it wasn't bad..." I muttered absentmindedly.
"I knew you liked that kiss," Key smirked as he gave me a look I couldn't really explain. I closed my eyes; that sneaky feline heard it.
"I meant to say it was bad, that just slipped out of my mouth," I made up, hoping he would fall for it. I had underestimated him for three seconds.
"How did they taste like?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Nothing, they tasted like nothing...they tasted like strawberries," I spoke in an undertone sheepishly. Key's smirk grew into a wide grin in triumph. His placed his arms on the desk and raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"And how did they feel...?" he asked, urging me to go on. His voice was vaguely teasing; I could just sense it from his aura.
I looked down to the floor, my cheeks feeling slightly warmer than usual. "Rather soft," I answered, avoiding eye contact with the guy. Please, something, anything-take me away from this utter nightmare. I could feel this was just going to get worse from here on out. It's my fault for answering honestly; in actual truth, I am not sure why I'm being forthright.
Key nodded slightly. "Hm...was there any tongue?"
"Obviously. There wouldn't be a hickey in the first place," I muttered under my breath, though Key heard it very well. Key nodded understandingly as his eyes closed for a brief moment; he appeared to look like he was thinking about something.
"All right, now I want you to answer honestly. And I mean honestly-don't lie to me. Okay...what are some good points about Jonghyun that you feel make his character a decent friend?" Key inquired.
I scratched my head. "Uh... he's considerate...?" I tried, shrugging slightly. What does this have to do with anything?
Key gave me a lopsided grin. "You've got feelings for the boy, Mi Young."
I rolled my eyes and gave out a small scoff. "No I do not. I've never had feelings for him. And how'd you know from that answer anyway?" I muttered; a small feeling inside me was whirling around in a small circle, driving me into confusion.
"If you didn't have feelings for him you wouldn't have answered my question, rather you'd say something in the lines of 'There are no good points about the bastard' or something like that," Key pointed out, giving me something to worry about for a little. I scoffed, though, not being affected by Key's words.
"That does not prove anything," I claimed, shifting my head to one side.
"Hell yeah it does. It proves a lot, actually. You like him," Key grinned, raising his eyebrows up and down.
"No, I don't. How many times do I have to tell you? I don't like that guy," I snapped, feeling a bit irritated by Key's stubborn attitude. I don't like him; I know I don't like him. He's an idiot, a buffoon. I don't like stupid people. I probably might hang out with some, but I wouldn't like them like that. Hell, I wouldn't have feelings for anyone anyways. I'm not like that.
"Then explain why you said he tasted like strawberries, why you thought his lips were soft, and why you liked that kiss?" Key questioned. He had this teasing twinkle in one of his eyes; that guy thinks he's right, doesn't he? He thinks he's always right.
"You were asking for the truth and I gave you the truth," I defended, glaring at him. Key waggled a finger slightly as he shook his head in the process.
"Look Mi Young, you would have lied to me about it. Even if I didn't like you lying, you would still lie to deny any feelings for Jonghyun. That would prove you didn't like him, you know, since that's how you are. But this time, you actually admitted what you really thought, thus your feelings have altered and so you like the guy," Key explained, nodding his head once.
I blinked in shock, still processing what he had just told me. Impossible! I don't like Jonghyun. I never liked him! He's an insolent poopy head! I don't find him appealing; he's ugly! Ugly, ugly, ugly! I hate him, don't I? Well, it's not hate anymore. It's more like friendly dislike. Whatever, the main point is: I don't have feelings for Kim Jonghyun. I shook my head vigorously. "Key, stop trying to provoke me, seriously. It's working," I said between my teeth.
Key shook his head. "I'm not trying to anger you in any way. What I'm saying is simply the truth," Key replied calmly.
"But it's not the damn truth becauseI don't like him. You've known that for months now. What would make you think I like him?" I barked quietly, making sure no one heard. We were still in a classroom full of nosy kids; I would have to stay quiet so nothing would be caught on with these es.
"You're nicer to him, aren't you? There have been less fights between you guys," Key answered.
I blinked. "Well, uh, yes, that is true. But-"
"You look at him differently now, right?"
"Uh, I guess... I pity him."
"Pity?" Key's eyebrows furrowed with curiosity and confusion.
"Yeah, when I look directly into his eyes this heavy feeling comes across me and I can't help but to feel pitiful," I replied. I might as well get it off my chest now; I've been waiting to tell someone this. Maybe I could get rid of this cursed feeling and maybe, just maybe Key is the right person to help me.
Key's curious expression quickly turned into a disappointed yet bored look. "Honey, that feeling has to deal with liking the guy. It's just a step in this whole lovey-dovey world. You are just entering upon it. And just like him, you are stubborn as hell. He denied it when he found out," Key sighed, chuckling here and there from remembering certain things. Yeah, Key wasn't the right person.
A sudden feeling of dejection suddenly towered over me, my heart swelling up with sorrow. What Key said was becoming to make sense. He meant what he had said. "No...it can't. Please tell me you're kidding," I said almost desperately, looking at Key with huge eyes. I bet my eyes appeared to look petrified. Key's face did not soften at the least, yet his eyebrow rose and he shrugged almost apologetically in a sarcastic manner.
"Sorry, Mi Young. I'm afraid you like idiotic dinosaurs."
My mouth opened slightly ajar, a look of disbelief and dismay spread across my face. My shoulders slumped and my lips trembled slightly. A small whine escaped my mouth. I hung my head low and let small whines get away. I heard Key rummage through his bag until a sound of soft crumpling made its way out of the bag.
"Does Mi Young want a piece of candy?" he murmured as the soft crumpling increased.
"Yes," I answered quietly, staring at the wooden desk. The crumpling lasted for a few more seconds until I saw a candy wrapper at the corner of my eye. A piece of pink candy then appeared at the opening of my mouth. I let my mouth open up for the candy to be popped in. As Key let it go on my tongue, I closed my mouth and let my taste buds savor the sweet confectionery.
It tasted like strawberry.
~
A few more periods went on until it was time for science class. Yes, science, with that boy. My mind has always been on what Key said earlier. It was crazy; I couldn't regard it as true. It was unbelievable. This was surreal. It was very unreal.
I walked into class in an almost relaxed manner and made no eye contact with anyone whatsoever. Keep cool; don't let anyone suspect you. Especially that guy. I sauntered towards my seat, pulled the chair back and plopped my in it. The figure beside me kept his mouth shut and hands to himself. The distance between us wasn't much, and it had me on the verge of anxiety. He better not speak to me and I better not reply back to him. The atmosphere was tense enough. I scratched the place below my eye and awaited Professor Cheung to start his lesson.
Even as we were writing down notes, the guy next to me made no effort in taking them. It irritated me as to why he couldn't write down a single thing. What was so hard about it? You just take a damn pencil and then you make progress by pressing it on the paper. I don't know how simple that can get. No, don't even care. He isn't worth it. No matter what Key says or thinks, you are the owner of your feelings. You know you don't feel the same way he does; you know it. So don't believe Key. Don't believe whatever he says.
I paid no attention to the guy next to me after as I went along jotting down specific things Professor Cheung wanted written down. It was the second to last chapter for the year, and Professor Cheung wasn't hesitant on anything he gave us. It would always be work, work, and work. He wasn't a bad teacher, though. He knew what he was doing.
It was silent between the boy and me. He was in his own world, and so was I. At first he did nothing but stare into space, which really did not surprise me in any way. What did amaze me, though, was that he began to write something in his notebook not so long after. After sensing he was actually doing something other than looking retarded, I couldn't help but to peek at what he was doing. I glanced a few times in his direction to catch any sight, but to no avail; the kid was covering his work. I gave up after a few tries. And then I thought: why am I looking? Why do I even bother to see what he does? I gave out a short sigh of annoyance. Don't believe Key.
Physics. God, that subject is as annoying as hell. Never have I despised something school-related so much. I hate school all together, but some things are fine for a subject. Physics is a big no-no. Math and science all rolled into one...it's so repulsive. As long as there's only a month of school left and I know where I'll be heading off to for the resting of my life, I'll deal with it. It won't be with me much longer.
As Professor Cheung assigned us work to do for the remaining time of the period, a piece of paper slid from the guy sitting beside me. I mentally frowned at myself. What the is this doing on my desk...
I leaned in forward to see what he had given me. I slightly jerked my head back after realizing what it was.