Heartstrings || Joshua Hong

Chapter 9

Rina POV

It had been days since Sera had asked Joshua to the dance. It had also been days since I heard from Joshua at all. Normally I wouldn't have been bothered, but that kid even had the nerve to give me the cold shoulder during church service that Sunday after the event. Something was definitely up. 

To: gentleman, who?

Yah, Joshua Jisoo Hong
How long are u planning on ignoring me??
Read at 10:08AM, 12/30/12

YAH
ARE U LEAVING ME ON READ NOW
Read at 10:11AM, 12/30/12

I shut off my phone and threw it on my bed in frustration, mentally cursing Joshua out and trying to figure out what could've happened for him to revert to his cold, rude self. A few seconds later, my phone rang, displaying his name on the front screen. I picked it up in an instant. 

"WOW, so you finally decide to talk to me again, huh? You had the FREAKING nerve to-"

"Come to the park we were at on Friday."

 "...Um, what?"

"Just come. Please." The phone beeped as he hung up. 

What on earth is he trying to do right now?

--

I arrived at the park half an hour later and saw a figure in a hoodie sweater and ripped jeans standing near a tree. I would've teased him for how soft he looked with his little sweater paws, but then remembered that I was mad at him. 

I approached him with an annoyed look on my face and said, "This better be good, Joshua. You've ignored me for almost a week now, and then you randomly call me out here, and-"

"Rina, will you let me ta-"

"Wait, why are we at this park anyway?? Sera asked you to the dance here, right? Does it have something to do with that?? Why would you ignore me thou-?"

"RINA. JUST SHUT UP FOR A SECOND. PLEASE." 

I looked up at Joshua, surprised since this was the first time I'd ever heard him raise his voice. 

Joshua continued, slightly lowering his voice yet I could still hear the pain, "Sorry. Yes, it does have something do with the asking."

"Oh. But, aren't you happy that Sera asked you? I texted you before and you said that you didn't have someone to go with yet, so."

"Look, do I have to spell it out to you?", he said, staring me in the eye, "No, I'm not happy that she asked me. This whole time, I thought you wanted to ask me because of how you worded those texts. Then I started getting excited and planned to ask you because I li...um, I mean I-" Joshua's voice trailed off, his face noticeably reddening. He pulled the neck of his sweater over his mouth in embarrassment. I could feel my cheeks turning pink as I realized what he was trying to say. 

I laughed awkwardly to fill the growing uncomfortable silence. "O-oh, hah, I see that was why...um...sorry I didn'-" 

"YO, RINA SONG! OH MY GOSH, IS THAT YOU?" An all-too-familiar voice called out from a few feet away. 

It was Alex Rhee, my ex who had just dumped me a few months before I'd moved to LA.

What. The fuck. Is going on here???

"Dang, long time no see, how've you been?" Alex asked as he got closer to where Joshua and I were standing. 

"Oh, Alex, um, I totally wasn't expecting to see you here! Why...are you here?" I asked through gritted teeth. 

"I'm doing an internship downtown for a few months. That's right, you moved here, huh? It looks like you've already adjusted pretty well." he said, winking at Joshua who was staring at the floor intently behind me. 

"Oh, no, Joshua's just my...uhhh-" , I caught Joshua glancing up at me expectantly, "...classmate." I mouthed "sorry" in his direction, giving him the best sympathetic look I could. His face fell.

"Aww, that's too bad. Hey, we should hang out while I'm here though. I'll call you later then. See ya!", Alex said cheerfully before leaving the park. Finally. I turned back to Joshua and tried to reach out to him, but he pulled his arm away. 

Before I could say anything, he demanded, "Who was that?? Huh? Actually, it doesn't even matter who it was, because I just got classmate-zoned in front of a stranger." 

"Joshua, please-"

"What? Care to hurt me even further?"

"Just give me some time, okay? I'll answer you properly soon. Don't even mind that guy, he shouldn't have even showed up in my life again. Also, here. Happy birthday.", I said, shoving a small package in his hands. His eyes widened, his mouth forming an "o" in surprise.

I laughed. "What, did you think I forgot? Gosh, I'm not that mean." After coming to his senses, he chuckled and moved to give me a hug. 

"Thanks idiot, this means a lot. Sorry...about all that. I'll be waiting for your answer, then."

I patted his back lightly, "Don't worry about it, stupid. And please do." 

--

A/N So close yet so far. 
Yes, I had to add in the ex for more drama, hehe sorry not sorry.
aLSO LOOK AT HOW SOFT HE LOOKS WITH SWEATER PAWS uwu