Me, Myself & I (Catnipz)

I like you.

 My stomach twisted when I saw Minji leaning against my locker in the distance. She was waiting for me.

I walked down the hallway completely ignoring everyone's stares.

"Wow..." she said, turning to look at me, "You're quite extreme," she scanned me from head to toe, "Either very put-together or..."

"Don't finish that sentence, okay?" I interrupted her. "It's not okay to tell a girl she doesn't look pretty," I adjusted my hair a bit.

"I wasn't going to say that," she smiled sideways, completely distracting me. "Actually, I like it better this way." Was it my imagination, or was she blushing? Wait... "I like it better" – did she subtly tell me she liked me?

"Do you like this?" I pulled my green sweater and worn-out shorts a bit.

"No." This girl, I don't understand her! She approached me. "I like you," she whispered in my ear before walking away down the hallway. "What? Did she really just say that? She admitted it! She said she liked me!" There was total chaos inside me. Minji "Stay away from me because I'm the worst person in the world" Kim had just told me she liked me.

I entered class still bewildered by what Minji had said to me. I sat in my usual spot.

Minji's POV.

Why? Why did I tell her? I shouldn't have told her! I berated myself for telling Haerin that I liked her. I tried, I tried so hard to push her away and prevent this from happening... but I just couldn't.

I arrived at the cafeteria, and it was full. Laughter echoed from Eunchae and Garam's "group," where Haerin used to be; it seemed like they had ousted her from the "popular zone." Now she sat at one of the last tables. She was the epitome of loneliness.

"Minji!" Iroha's voice rang out. I felt her grab my shoulder, tearing my gaze away from Haerin, who was playing with her food dejectedly.

"What's wrong?" I asked, turning to her.

"Talk to her... convince her," she pleaded, and I couldn't understand.

"Explain yourself," I said curtly.

"Haerin," she gestured towards her, "she canceled on me!" she exclaimed desperately, and I chuckled. "Don't laugh!" now hysteria joined her desperation, she hit my arm.

"I don't think I can change her mind," I said, trying not to laugh.

"Damn, I got my hopes up," she clicked her tongue.

"That's life," I patted her back firmly.

"No," she frowned, "that's her, she thinks she's..."

"Hey," I interrupted her, "be very careful what you say," I warned, making it clear that if she dared say anything about her, I wouldn't hold back.

"And why are you defending her so much?" she confronted me; I really didn't know what I was doing.

"Why does it matter?" I replied grumpily. 

Damn, now I was defending her! You're messed up, Minji, messed up!

I ordered a bottle of water and a soda can. Once I had both in my hands, I debated whether to go or not.

Haerin's POV.

A bottle of water appeared in front of me, so I looked up.

"Hi," I said half-heartedly.

"Are you okay?" Minji asked, pulling a chair back to sit down. 

No, I'm not okay! I feel bad, really bad for playing with you...

"Yeah, I'm fine," I forced a smile.

"It doesn't seem like it," she took a sip of her soda can. "If it's because you wanted to go out with Iroha, do it," she said looking down, "I'm no one to stop you."

"It's not that," I said, laughing, "I'm really okay."

"Then you didn't want to go out with Iroha?" obviously, I wouldn't say, No, I just did it to make you jealous.

"It wasn't something that bothered me, but it didn't make me happy either," I replied casually.

"So...," she bit her lower lip nervously, "Are you free this Friday?" I smiled incredulously.

"Kim Minji! Are you asking me out?" I asked, widening my eyes and mouth.

"Something like that," she rolled her eyes.

"Well, yes, I'm free," I leaned my elbows on the table and rested my head on my knuckles. She took the can again and drank from it. "So, what's next?" I asked expectantly.

"And what next?" she asked, not understanding.

"Invite me properly, Minji," I dropped my arms on the table and tilted my head.

"Don't make this difficult for me," she frowned and shook her head.

"Remember, it's not easy to ask me out," I smiled victoriously.

"It was for Iroha," I raised my left eyebrow. I grabbed my bag, the water bottle, and stood up. She quickly stood up too. "No," she regretted what she had said, "Would you like to go out with me this Friday?" she closed her eyes; it seemed like saying those words burned her tongue. Two seconds later, she opened them again.

"I would love to," I kissed her cheek and then walked towards the cafeteria door.