Secret Love Story; Heung-Min Son

Chapter Two

The tiny café huddled despondent among the huge city buildings. Washed out under the overcast sky, it hunched in itself, fighting against the drizzle. Hundreds of people rushed by it, outside on the crowded street. The half a dozen customers glanced up as the door swung open, heralded by a blast of cold wind. Unlike the outside, the interior of the café was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colourful walls. The customers returned to their conversations as the door swung closed behind the new entrant and the cold breeze was forgotten.  

"I'm so sorry I'm late, I totally lost track of time and-"

"You clearly put in the effort for your look today," John said. 

Marilyn smiled at the thought of how John had realised that she had her hair in a different style today. Or maybe, how she's wearing a darker shade of red lipstick, compared from the one she always had on. 

"Well you look great," John chuckled and gazed his eyes on Marilyn's for a while. And for that smallest amount of time, it felt like they were the only ones around. 

 Marilyn bit her lip, eyes everywhere but on John. Then he moves closer with those eyes that look so deeply into her own, "I'm glad we're working together." Her breathing becomes softer, the pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the morning light. Her body squirms just a little as her muscles relax. There is something about that gaze of his she'll never find in another man, as if in that moment their souls have made a bridge. 

"Hate to break up the moment but you better get to work," a beautiful blonde girl made her way towards them. She had beautiful green eyes with specks of gold and soft, pink lips. Her eyes playfully rolled towards John. 

"Now."

The girl added before she walked away, back to the counter. 

John directed Marilyn towards the store room where she was then handed her uniform.

"You like her," Marilyn giggled, which left John taken aback for a while as he adjusted the colar of his shirt. Words left her. She stared into those bright blue eyes burning with disappointment, and her heart fell silent.  

"You... you really like her," she says, with a blank expression. She wasn't expecting this answer or at least, she was expecting him to deny tremendously. 

"Who? Olivia? Ahh... I find her pretty... that's all," John responded in a soft voice, obviously trying to hide himself from blushing. 

Marilyn could feel her heart ache a bit. Sure, they have been friends for a long time. Friends. But to Marilyn, sometimes it felt like he was everything she needed. He was the only boy who she've let into her life and trusted, other than her father. He was the only one who understood her and accepted her for herself. But, she hated it. She hated how she was proving the saying of "boys and girls cannot be 'just' friends" because she believes that it is in fact, possible. Just... with someone as amazing as John Hamlin... It was merely impossible.

"Ask her out," Marilyn blurted out, as she slowly get dressed behind the pile of boxes, as John waited at the other side.

"What? You're crazy," John heaved out a sigh. 

"You like her. So ask her out," Marilyn spoke. 

Now, she was only pushing herself to the limit and seeing for herself, whether John would deny or admit that he likes Olivia, the girl he probably have been working with for a few months now. 

"Of course not! I would never-"

"Then you're just a loser. A true man doesn't hide the fact that he's into a girl," Marilyn rolled her eyes. Now, she was just plainly annoyed at how John wasn't admitting that he was into Olivia. 

Sometimes, we know that the truth is bound to hurt us but also, we sometimes want it to happen to us so that we could embrace the pain. And at the back of our head, we pretend to be mentally and emotionally ready for anything that's coming at house, even if it meant that we would just be spending hours of crying after hearing the words we dreaded to hear. But also, sometimes it helps. Sometimes knowing the hard truth would help you move faster, recover quicker. But again, 'sometimes'.  

"Are you.. are you okay? Did I- Did I say something?" John arched an eyebrow and tilted his head in confusion as soon as Marilyn revealed herself with the uniform. 

"No." Marilyn answered curtly and walked out of the store room where her eyes met Olivia's. 

She looked like a supermodel. Like Gisele Bündchen or Kate Moss. Of course John would like her. She was every man's dream. 

8th December 2014

Dear Diary, 

I don't wish to go to work anymore. Trust me, the cafe is great, nice customers, convenient working hours and surprisingly, it wasn't too hard being a barista. Having John Hamlin beside me was helpful as I had someone who could look out for me and help me when I need it but, what's this feeling that I have, everytime John's near me? As days goes by, I started to notice the features on his face and his habits that I don't usually catch on. I started to notice how his eyes glimmer everytime he laughs and how his dimples shows through his cheeks. I noticed how he would always run his fingers through his hair everytime he's caught in a lie and how he would tilt his head to the left and only left, whenever he's in deep thoughts. 

You see, he's my bestfriend. I knew him for a very long time and I share with him almost everything about myself, my secrets. But this... I can never tell him how I'm starting to feel for him. I can never tell him that sometimes when I look at him, I want to press my lips against his and wrap my arms around his waist. Sometimes his words makes me feel butterflies in  my stomach and it feels like he's the only man that could make me feel that way. 

But... he doesn't see me that way. To him, I'm just his bestfriend. 

But again, that's how it's supposed to be... right?