Winter Hearts

Binderella Warning

Siana was trying to catch up with Hongbin, but Min caught her by the arm and held her back. She looked at Min questioningly.

"Dude, we'll lose him," she said.

"I have questions. We'll catch up." Min linked arms with her as they walked up the steady incline of their street.

"What do you think of Hongbin, babe?" She asked, watching his receding form. Siana smiled widely.

"I love Hongbin! He's sweet, he's caring. He's been a real friend to me."

Siana smiled wistfully as they walked, then turned to see Min looking at her with a singular expression.

"What? Don't you think he's nice?"

Min snorted, letting go of her arm. This child.

"I don't know what planet you've been on, and I get that you have had things on your mind, but you need to open your eyes about Hongbin, dude."

Siana stopped in her tracks, making Min stop too.

"Min, he's really nice! He's a great guy. What makes you think otherwise?"

"Siana, that's not what I am saying. I agree with you, he's really nice. But you gotta be careful, babe."

Siana blinked. What?

Min could see Siana was really oblivious to the effect she was having on Hongbin. She thought twice about what she was going to say, deciding that a gentler, more suggestive approach was the better way. Siana might find the honest truth too much to bear. She could even consider confronting Hongbin, or worse, change her behaviour whenever he was around, maybe withdraw from him. There was too much going on for this to be a matter for Siana to deal with right now. Let Hongbin deal with his own feelings. The least Min could do would be to try and ameliorate Siana's overly intimate gestures of friendship towards him, to spare him some heartache. Also, to spare Siana unnecessary complications in her life.

She only hoped he wouldn't hold it against her.

"I know a tonne of nice guys who mistake friendliness and your kind of gratitude for interest. I just think you gotta be careful with seeing Hongbin as someone to confide in, or be too close to. Especially since he is so tight with your man," Min suggested.

She was glad to see Siana think over her words earnestly, without denial. Denial might have suggested that she was aware of it all along.

My idiot friend still has a heart, even if she's blind to Hongbin's predicament, she thought to herself. A smile threatened to curl her lip, but she schooled her features and waited for Siana to respond.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Siana asked, her eyes narrowed.

Min didn't expect to have to explain herself, so she was caught by surprise, not knowing what to say.

"Well, I mean... I just thought-"

"Did you think I was warning you off him? Because I'm not. Honestly, Min, the path is clear for you."

Min stopped herself from rolling her eyes. For all her earnestness, Siana's comment grated on Min's nerves. Firstly, because she missed the point, and secondly, because she felt it was patronising to her. As if all her intention in asking was only because she was interested in Hongbia. As if she saw Siana as an obstacle - or so Siana seemed to think.

Well, the opportunity to send the message home had presented itself, and Min wouldn't let it pass by. With just a touch of irritation in her voice, she crossed her arms and faced Siana squarely.

"Okay, yes, I can see why you think that, but I am also worried that he might misconstrue your touchy-feely, huggy-wuggy friendship vibes as intimacy and think he has a chance with you, that's all. But maybe it's my insecurity speaking, I don't know."

With that, Min turned on her heel and finally allowed herself to roll her eyes. As if Miss Min would ever have insecurities about a guy. She looked ahead and found Hongbin in the crowd, already recording as he was walking.

"Come on, Heels, pick it up!" she yelled over her shoulder as she strode ahead to catch up. With a devious pleasure, she heard Siana's shoes clatter towards her as she caught up. She linked arms with Min and hung on her as they walked on.

"Okay, Boots, I get it. Sorry, babe I didn't mean to sound so... condescending. I just got confused, I mean, why were you even bringing it up? Now I understand, so next time, just say it straight, okay?"

"Yeah okay. But you're being a little obtuse, sweetie. It's almost like you're playing with him."

"What? Where do you get impression from? I'm just myself, how I am with any guy who is a friend."

"Really? You treat all the other boys the same way?"

Siana hesitated.

"Hmm. I knew it. You be careful. You look like you're with him, not the other guy. Don't give him the wrong idea-"

"What?! No! I mean, did he say something to you? He's been acting strange since before they left. Oh god, what if he already thinks that? Is that why the mood change all of a sudden? It didn't make sense he was all riled up about not being able to shoot - and there he is, shooting very well."

Min let Siana get wound up, let her think along those lines. Right now, she would be concerned that Hongbin would be offended by her behaviour. There was no need for her to know that in fact, it was something he fervently, impossibly, wished he could enjoy.

"Look, I don't want him to think I talked to you about him, okay. Let's just get to the club and meet the others. You stick with me, he won't sense anything's up. How's that?"

Siana nodded, but her eyes were soft with concern.

"Hey! Stop with the doe eyes, don't look at him funny. Don't pity him. Forget what I said, just stick with me, and talk about the sights, okay?"

Siana nodded. "It's not pity. I'm just sorry I was making it uncomfortable for him. You sure he didn't say anything? It's just you pointing it out, right?"

Min let out a deep, hard sigh. She swore that dealing with soft-hearted people was a long and drawn out process that she couldn't endure for long.

"Harden your heart, Banana, for his sake." Then she tsked with such dramatic disdain that Siana burst out laughing. She understood where Min was coming from. This was the essence of Min: tough love was good love too.

Min finally answered, "No, he didn't say anything, it is just me making my observations."

Siana was visibly relieved.

"But you have to admit, you like him, don't you?" she teased.

"Oh, I like every bit of him, down to the last moody hair on his head." Min shook her head, refraining from making lewd noises.

"Aww, he's not moody, honestly, I don't know what's going on. He's sarcastic and funny and so totally your type!"

Siana looked at Hongbin in the distance indignantly and raised her voice to yell, "But now Binderella has turned into a pumpkin and won't play nice!" at him.

Min giggled. "Binderella makes a good-looking pumpkin."

Hongbin seemed to pause, then suddenly glance their way.

"Aaaak!" Siana squealed, ducking.

"Ah jeez, Banana, he didn't see us. Stop yanking on me!"

They were like a pair of drunken schoolgirls, giggling as they dawdled forward.