Long Term Friendship

XIX

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6:28 PM

"So, do you have any plans for your birthday?" Byulyi turned towards Seokjin after saying goodbye to her friends.

"Huh" he was surprised a little. First, because she remembered and second, because as she turned he became inexplicable aware the of the closeness of their hands. Her finger slightly brushing the back of his own.

"You're not doing anything?" She asked again, one eyebrow arched

He cleared his throat "well, I asked the boys not to make me a surprise party, but they're not to be trusted"
He noticed the small grin that formed on her mouth, even if she quickly tried to hide it away.

"Pfft, with that attitude I doubt anyone will want to make you one" she snickered.

Everyday after school they walked the same distance, but each time it seemed to go by faster.
Yeah, their walking pace could vary, and also how many times they'd stop at a red light. But everytime he found it even shorter.

A small space for them to talk freely, even if it were little talks or even dumb questions which answers didn't make any sense.

They stoped at an intersection. Focused on nothing, he didn't notice Byulyi look behind them. Upon the green light he continued to walk only to see she didn't continue.

"Wh-"

"My hands are cold" she stretched out her arm, her slender fingers colored in a pinkish red.

It took him a second to understand, but by then she was already withdrawing her hand. Her bashful action only allowed her courage for so long and 1 second appeared to be too much.

Quickly before she could put it back in her pocket he grabbed it. At first a grip, and then it slowly loosened up.

"You're such a crybaby"

Her small hand felt like an ice cube in his. Instinctively rubbing his thumb across her fingers, creating friction to warm them up.
His grip was soft, almost as if he thought her hand would break under pressure.

She tried to hold back the small smile that was forming on her face. She swore to herself she was only trying to show him her hand, and not trying to get him to hold it.... But she wasn't gonna complain...

"Woah... I guess Hyejin was right" she loudly muttered

He just looked at her with a questioning face, not finding hers.

"she said that if we held hands and acted more lovely, we'd definitely stop being followed" she was looking all around the street and her energetic tone seemed somewhat odd.

They walked side by side for a moment, instantaneous and at the same time eternal. The warmth that emerged from the contact expanded, each time with more intensity until it even felt like burning. From the tips of the fingers to the beating heart, fire ignited.
These feelings couldn't come from a romantic place, he was sure. It must've been from the memory of old days, when they walk together, hand in hand as small kids as they went and returned from school. Nostalgia, he was certain there was no other reason.

"Thanks for walking me home" he chuckled, hesitantly letting go of her hand, the cold quickly reclaiming it.

"Sacrifices I make for you" she jokingly winked, quickly turning around to hide the embarrassment "see ya"