I backed away, slowly, looking at Tzuyu for confirmation and when she nodded, I turned away, knowing that I'd done the right thing. While I waited for her, I bought two cappuccinos, one with extra whipped cream, just the way she likes it. I sipped mine, just as my phone started ringing.
"Shit." I mumbled, dropping a bit of my cappuccino on my dark, low rise, A&F jeans as I fumbled for my phone, finally finding it and picking up slightly breathlessly.
"Hello."
"Mingyu."
"Uh, I don't have your number saved... who is this?" I asked, not recognising the voice.
"You don't remember me?" The voice queried, failing to hide the hint of disappointment at that realisation.
"No, sorry, I don't."
"Tiffany, we went to elementary school together. You're Mingyu Kim, right?"
"Oh, Hey Tiffany ! Yeah." I answered, enthusiastically.
She laughed, a melodic and tinkling laugh. "Oh good, I wasn't sure you would."
I grinned. "How could I forget the girl who was my first crush?"
She laughed again. "I was your first crush?"
"Yep." I answered, slightly embarrassed.
"So how did you get my number?"
"Facebook, I hope you don't find that stalker-ish." She said, very fast.
"I don't." I said, smirking at the fact that she was still super polite and got panicky fast.
"Don't worry." I reassured her. "I do that sometimes too."
"I called for a reason you know.." She trailed off, pretending that she hadn't heard me. "I heard through a friend that you're coming to Seoul and wanted to say that if you need anything, I'm here to help. We should catch up sometime, give me a call when you're free."
"Oh, that's right, you're already there, will do." I say, relieved that I already know someone who's at Seoul. Tzuyu knows about 3 people already, Mina's friends and so I don't have to worry about her.
"Who was that?" asks Tzuyu, her eyes looking blotchy from tears I'm betting.
I hand her the cappuccino, silently, giving her the "You owe me an explanation first" look.
"My parents think we shouldn't be together while we're at college, that we should explore other options and go there with no ties."
I avoid looking at her, and play instead with one of the laces on my shoes. "And you said?"
"That I get where they're coming from and that I agree."
I don't look at her but kick the wall with the edge of my shoe.
"Mingyu Kim." She takes my hands. "I want to be with you, I do, I just don't think right now is the time."
"What about me Tzuyu? Do you even care about what I want? I'm sick. Sick of excuses. I will ask you, one last time: Do you or do you not want to be with me?" My voice rises as I break out of her firm grasp.
"I-I can't." She says, tears pouring out of her eyes. "Not now at least."
I bend down and plead with her but she won't change her mind.
"Why Tzuyu?" I ask, trying to stay calm though anger boils inside of me.
"I want you to meet new people Mingyu , try dating someone else, if you still want to be with me after a few months of trying, then-"
Her voice catches, like she's having some sort of internal struggle.
She takes a gulp of air. "I'm yours."
I frown. "Is this just because of your parents?"
She frowns, mirroring mine. "No Mingyu, It's because I don't want to hold you back."
She's pleading with me at this point, as she takes my hand as if she can't bare to let go yet.
"You're not." I say, making my puppy dog expression.
She diverts her eyes. "I am."
I let go of her hands, at once, when I see her parents approaching.
"I um- okay then." I murmur, as my parents attempt to eavesdrop on our conversation.
I'm so pissed off at how stubborn Tzuyu is being, that I refuse to talk to her on the entire plane ride there and tell her to give me space.
***
"Is this how we're going to be?" She asks, hurt flashing across her face.
"Not even best friends anymore?"
I shoot her a sharp look, which comes off a bit more aggressive than I intend it to. "I can't be just best friends with you, you know that."
She turns my face so that I'm looking at her.
"Please Mingyu , for me, try exploring other options."
My eyebrows raise automatically. "So that you can date other boys?"
She looks aghast. "No."
I smirk, and see her blue eyes show surprise. "If you insist." I whisper this, and she shivers at the feel of my breath on her neck.
"I know what you're trying to do and it won't work."
I feign a look of innocent surprise. "What am I doing?"
She sighs. "You know exactly what you're doing."
I move closer to her, and play with a strand of her hair. "No, tell me."
She pushes my hand away and ignores me and I get the feeling that she's about to cry.
"I'm serious Mingyu ." And her voice is a cold as a winter night.
"I'm sorry." I say, softly. "I'll try." I add, pausing and then say "For a few months."
She tries to muster a smile to hide her pain, tries to make it reassuring, but I can see right past her. The realisation finally hits me. This is one of her noble schemes to "Set me free" or some utter nonsense like that, something which by some unfortunate luck, she believes in. I rack my brains. What now?
