My gentle bully

Truly unexpected but atleast everything is real

The cultural festival arrived sooner than Danielle expected-she'd simply forgotten about it. But she wasn't complaining. Their club was putting on a play: Snow White. Danielle wasn't a fan of the spotlight, but she'd volunteered to play the prince, so there was no turning back.

What surprised her was Haerin, radiant in her gown.

"Woah, she's gorgeous," Danielle thought.

"Standing on a stage with everyone staring at me is my worst nightmare," Haerin confessed. "I don't like crowds."

"Ah, yeah, that makes sense," Danielle replied, offering a forced smile and a thumbs-up. "And now we get to work together! Isn't that awesome?"

Despite their months of friendship, Danielle's breath hitched when Haerin nodded.

The preparations went smoothly. Danielle managed props, Haerin handled costumes.

The festival arrived, and their performance was a success-a standing ovation!

Backstage, Jungwon praised the club before dismissing them to explore the other booths.

"Do you want to walk around together?" Danielle asked. "I heard there's amazing food."

Haerin nodded. Despite recent tensions, they chose to remain friends. What did they have to lose?

Danielle smelled takoyaki before she saw the booth. Next to it was a yakisoba stand.

"Haerin, look!" Danielle exclaimed, pointing. "Yakisoba!"

Haerin's eyes widened, practically sparkling. She almost dropped her wallet twice while paying for her takoyaki, completely captivated by Danielle getting yakisoba.

"I'd say let's go to the roof, but the underclassmen have booths up there," Danielle said. "Anywhere in mind?"

Haerin nodded toward the main building. They walked to the emergency stairs. Haerin leaned against the wall, eagerly eating her yakisoba. Danielle stood beside her, enjoying her takoyaki.

The rumors were true. Within seconds, Danielle's eyes widened, mirroring Haerin's reaction. Danielle nodded knowingly.

"This is good," she said.

Haerin nodded enthusiastically, savoring her food.

"She's so pretty," Danielle thought. "Haerin, choose your future wisely. Don't be foolish."

Haerin finished her takoyaki. "Wow, they really outdid themselves this year," she said, discarding her trash. "Last year's food was awful. The students didn't know what they were doing, and their professor didn't supervise them. The principal fired her, and they're much stricter now. A girly ending, not a manly story."

Haerin threw away her trash and returned to her spot.

"It's a good thing I wasn't here last year. Bad soba would have ruined my day."

"Haha, yeah," Danielle laughed. "I don't even remember if they had yakisoba. The takoyaki was enough. Some students went to a cafe near the school. It's near the corner store, by the train station. I take the bus, so I go the other way."

Haerin pulled out her notebook and pencil, writing something before showing it to Danielle. "I think I know the cafe. It's called Cat Cafe Puffykoto. What a weird name!" she laughed.

"Stop! I named it," Danielle said, her face heating up.

"Wait, don't tell me..." Haerin said.

"It's our new cafe. My mom bought it, and I named it. She added 'Puffykoto' to tease me."

"Oh, but I think she wanted to remind you of your daughter."

"But why are you laughing?"

"Because...nevermind."

"Oh, come on."

"It's nothing," Haerin said, trying to stifle her laughter.

"Haerin-"

Danielle moved closer, intending to tickle her, but she tripped and fell onto Haerin. Danielle quickly pulled back.

"Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed.

"It's fine," Haerin said, blushing.

The school bell rang, startling Danielle. Before she could react, Haerin kissed her.

Danielle could feel her pulse pounding. She'd learned two things: Haerin's lips were softer than they looked, and Haerin had a beauty mark near her eye.

As Danielle leaned in to kiss back, Haerin pulled away, blushing furiously. Danielle was just as flustered.

"Oh my god, Haerin, I thought-" Danielle started, but Haerin turned and ran.

"Again, she kissed me and ran away," Danielle thought sadly. "But she just...kissed me."

Danielle covered her face, sliding down the wall. "Haerin kissed me again?" "Yet I'm about to forget her."

A drum solo blasted from Danielle's phone. She answered a call. Silence. Then Haerin's voice.

"I really like you, Danielle, and I can't take it anymore. I'm sorry for not reaching out and for being selfish."

Danielle's heart pounded. Haerin's voice was warm, raw, and soft. Her name sounded precious.

Danielle took a deep breath.

"I really, really like you, too. You know that, so I didn't say it again," Danielle replied, her voice catching.

Haerin made a sound.

"Sorry for being selfish," Haerin began, "before I..."

"Oh! No, no, it's okay! You're totally fine," Danielle interrupted. "I understand."

"Yeah," Haerin whispered before the call ended. Danielle looked up as Haerin returned.

Danielle met her halfway. The air crackled with tension. Danielle took a deep breath.

"Do you want to go to our cat cafe after school today?" Danielle asked.

"As a date, I mean," Danielle blurted out. "If you want."

Haerin's blush deepened. She nodded. Danielle smiled.

Danielle leaned forward and kissed Haerin's cheek. "Let's go, then?"

Haerin made a sound, blushing even more. She took Danielle's hand, hooking pinkies. Danielle smiled. Haerin smiled back.

Danielle wasn't sure what had happened, but it was real. Or was it?

TBC.👻