Stalker- Yang Hongseok

#16

I woke up to the feeling of someone touching my face. When I opened my eyes, I screamed. Shinwon was sitting on the floor beside the bed, staring at me.
- what's going on!
Hongseok said and looked around the room like he was panicking.
- I have no idea.
I said.
- I was just trying to figure out what you were saying in your sleep.
Shinwon said.
- and that's supposed to justify that you've been staring at me in my sleep?
I asked.
- well... yes?
Shinwon said, looking embarrassed. He quickly moved away from me.
- anyways.. what was I talking about?
I asked him.

- Zombies.. and something about kicking Kino in the face like a ninja.
He answered.
- seriously?
Hongseok asked me.
- damnit hongseok I can't control my dreams.
I said, making him laugh.

Shinwon eventually left the room.
- so I was thinking that if you're going to go see your brother again today, I can come with you?
Hongseok asked me.
- I actually have plans... with Kino.
I said.
- that's funny.
Hongseok said.
- I'm not joking.
I said.
- well, where are you going? I'll come with you.
He said.
- were just going to Seunghee's dance studio.
I answered.
- At least let me follow you there.. just to make sure...
he said, but stopped mid-sentence.
- You make it sound like I'm in danger.
I said, and laughed.
- No! Of course you're not. But you never know when some crazy person will approach you.
He said.
He was definitely acting a little weird.
- It will be fine. And I'll se you later! Hui invited me to movie night.
I said.
But hongseok already knew that. Hui was pretty drunk last night, and invited me to stay forever. I guess he really wanted me to spend more time here, rather than making Hongseok stay at my place. At least he didn't yell at me.
I had never actually been invited to movie nights. I didn't have a lot of friends growing up. So I was looking forward to it.

Although I wouldn't mind Hongseok coming with us to the dance studio, I felt like I needed to spend some time alone with Kino. If he only got to know me, maybe he wouldn't dislike me as much. I needed him to become my friend. Because he was important to Hongseok.
And how could I stay with hongseok for the rest of my life having his bestfriend hate me?

- You're coming right back after?
Hongseok asked me.
- of course.
I said, and kissed him.
- you don't have to go right away, right?
He asked me.
- I don't think so.
I said.
- perfect.
He said, and kissed my cheek. And then my other cheek. and then my nose. I just giggled and kissed his lips.
We spent a few moments in bed, before we went down to eat breakfast.

Jinho was standing in the kitchen drinking coffee, when we entered.
- good morning.
He said simply. I wanted to yell at him for tricking me yesterday, but he would probably just laugh.
Although, when I walked passed him to get to the fridge, he suddenly looked intimidated.
- how.. tall are you?
Jinho asked me.
- 176 cm.
I said, and smirked.
- HA! I knew you weren't taller than me.
Hongseok said, looking.. too proud.
- yes I am.
I said.
- no, you're not.
Hongseok said.
- You're wrong.
I said, and crossed my arms.
- I'm always right.
Hongseok said.
I shoved his shoulder, and he shoved me back.
- can you guys just agree to disagree?
Jinho said.
I noticed when I pushed hongseok he bumped into Jinho. Apparently he had spilled his coffee all over himself because of it.
- sorry, we didn't see you down there.
I said, making hongseok laugh really loudly.

Jinho mumbled something and left.
- you're amazing, you know that right?
Hongseok said, making my heart beat fast like only he could.
I was about respond when Kino walked into the kitchen.
- Are you ready to go?
He asked me.
- I have to go home and change.
I said.
- No time. Seunghee has some clothes in Yuto's closet. You can probably borrow something.
Kino said, and then left the kitchen.

I found Yuto, and got him to bring me some clothes. Kino was pretty impatient, so we left as soon as I had gotten changed. On the bus to the dance studio, he didn't talk to me.
But when we got off the bus, he finally looked at me.
- I'm not here to spend time with you. I'm just here to practice.
He said.
- we could practice together?
I asked him.
- just go meet your friends.
He said.

I decided to drop the subject. I would just have to find a way... to get in his way. I really wanted to talk to him. And I wouldn't give up that easily. When we approached the dance studio, I saw that woman again. The one that reminded me of my mother. It was odd that she appeared here, out of all places. But she couldn't be my mother. My mother had been gone for 18 years. She wouldn't just appear out of the blue.
Unless... unless she found out my brother is sick.
No. It's not her. It's just my mind that's testing me.

- are you coming?
Kino asked me.
- yeah..
I said.
We entered the dance studio. Kino disappeared right away, so I went to look for Jun and the others. I didn't need to look long, because I already knew what room they would be in.
I could see them inside the room from the window. They were talking.. and laughing. They looked happy. Happy without me.
I suddenly felt anxious. What if they didn't want to see me?
Maybe I should just leave them alone. Rena wasn't even there..
I decided to go look for Kino instead. I found him in the room farthest away from the studio entrance. I guess he really didn't want me to find him.
When I entered the room, he didn't bother acknowledging me. But he was dancing. And if he were like me, when I dance, the whole world disappears.
- what are you doing here?
He asked me, when he finished his dance choreography.
- let's dance together.
I said.
- you were supposed to go see your friends.
Kino said.
- I.. don't know if I'm still their friend.
I said.
- you're.. scared to meet them, aren't you?
Kino asked.

I didn't know what to answer. Was I scared? I just didn't want to get rejected by them.
- Fine. You can dance with me.
Kino said.
- really?
I asked, and grinned.
- I'll teach you the Sha La La choreography.
He said.

We spend a few hours dancing, and I eventually learned the whole dance. And we danced so good together.
After, we were so tired that we laid down on the floor.
- I heard you're brother is sick.
Kino said.
- He has cancer.
I said.
- I'm really sorry. It can't be easy for you.
He said.
I was surprised by his compassion.
- I guess that's why you stayed away for so long.
He said.
- At first it was because I was scared that someone pushed me down the stairs..
I said.
- It was me.. you know that.
He said.
- Yes.. but you said you're sorry.
I said.
- it doesn't mean you should forgive me.
He said.
- if it weren't for you... I might have never found out my brother was sick.
I said.

After laying on the floor in silence for a minute, Kino got up.
- do you want to go with me.. to get ice cream?