Always Forever

#16.2 What are we, exactly?

Even in the noisy crowd, Guk-doo hears the voice saying his name. He spins towards the source of the noise.

Bong-soon shrinks back in her seat. She has no concern for how she might appear; she wholly intends to pull her companions with her. The quicker they leave, the lower are the chances that Guk-doo finds them. Her hand grasps her brother's. But that tug isn't enough to stop the guy from screaming — "Guk-doo!"

Guk-doo, on the verge of changing directions, locates the individual who called out to him. In swift strides approaches Bong-gi.

"What's going on?" Bong-gi looks up and down Guk-doo's tall figure with one eyebrow raised. He's not a guy to beat around the bush, just like Guk-doo. "You were with Heeji?"

Guk-doo shrugs and throws a sideways glance at Bong-soon, who shuffles in her seat. "Is this weirdo our Bong-soon?"

Without thinking, Bong-soon knocks her foot into his shin. The kick must have hurt, but he laughs. She heaves a sigh, glancing down at her flamboyant yellow geometric-patterned dress.

"Weirdo? I think I look fine, Guk-doo. Classy even. The colours aren't of my choice though."

"Classy? Nope, you look like a dunce. Like a silly female robber out of an anime with those masks and goggles on. Too good this mall checks citizen's identities before letting people in, huh?"

Bong-soon doesn't look at Guk-doo, her fists curling into the leather of her sling bag. All this good natured banter. When he's with Heeji until a moment ago? Why did he even meet her? What if they are getting together? The new thought chokes her. She heaves another heavy sigh. "Oh, cut with the insults, will you..."

"Haha..."

Guk-doo's laughter is boisterous. Before Bong-soon can respond, Bong-gi interjects, "Well, this is a surprise. I don't recollect you quarrelling like this in high school. You'd agree on pretty much everything and Guk-doo, you weren't talkative. You were chatty with us compared to the silence you subjected others, but..."

"Huh, bro..." Bong-soon throws a dismissing look at her brother and shakes her head. "We'd sometimes. But rarely. Many things changed from high school, I guess..."

Guk-doo inclines his head with a light chuckle, "Well, a few things changed and a few things didn't. They never will. As for Heeji... She was a victim of sorts in a musical shop arson and I was checking on her as I'd with all the victims... Part of my civil and moral duties for the force."

Bong-soon feels a deep sense of relief. Guk-doo doesn't lie. He's deathly honest all the time. So it must be the truth...

Guk-doo goes on, "I had to know she was doing okay. Pretty noble of me to check on the woman who dumped me, huh?"

Bong-soon's eyes widen at the words. She has misunderstood the situation then. Guk-doo didn't dump Heeji. Heeji did. Ugh, my best friend isn't a player. I knew this already... The wave of emotion in her chest is so intense, she's blurting out before she can stop—

"How can she? When there can be no one like you..."

Guk-doo and everyone raises a brow, yet she can't stop.

"Yeah, you're flawed Guk-doo... but you're also perfect. Overprotective but devoted... How do I describe this..."

Guk-doo stares at her unblinking, his limbs frozen. On a second look, everyone is frozen. Hana. Bobg-gi. Bong-soon holds her tongue, looking away. Ugh nope, I don't mean it. So embarrassing. I sounded so wounded for your sake, Guk-doo-ah. I didn't mean any of it. That was my crush from my teenage years. How to take it back... While her thoughts swirl and bathe her in discomfort, Guk-doo appears delighted.