Fear Me P.JM

Chapter Twenty Five: Bambam's Wrath

Jaebeom leans back and smiles. I bite my lip amazed at what just took place.

We just kissed. We just kissed to the perfect music. We just kissed under the florescent lights in the back of a shop by a old Easy-Bake oven and a pan of wet cake.

Wow, talk about ruining the mood right then and there.

"What?" Jb says looking at me. "Are you actually speechless?"

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I just purse my lips and try to whistle.

Crap. I forgot I can't whistle.

To cover up the awkward embarrassment, I grab the pan of wet cake and head over to the sink. Jb watches me, completely amused.

"So," he says observing me as I scrub the pan, "this is how to get Kito to shut up."

"HEY!" I yell at him.

Jb only smiles his stupid smile.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow, Kiiitto."

I look up to see Jb leaving.

"Ah!" I manage to say faintly. "Bye."

Several minutes pass before I realize the pan has been clean for a while now. I just can't seem to think straight. Jaebeom? My childhood best friend, Jaebeom?

I sigh turning off the water. I can only think of one thing right now: how amazingly, stunningly, and not-so-shockingly cliché this is.

I might as well expect Jimin to turn around and profess his love to me. And then out of nowhere he and Jb will battle for my love with swords while wearing suits of armor made of dragon skin. And I'll stand atop a balcony weeping with a silk handkerchief. Then, after whoever wins, a rainbow will appear over the castle as a unicorn or some amazing fairy tale creature shows up randomly. Oh, and of course cue the orchestra to come in and for the camera to pull back and then fade out.

Yeah, completely cliché.

I sigh again, but this time I find myself smiling a bit. Why? Because as far as cliché goes, childhood friend and all, it's a rather nice one.

"UM, NIKITO!" my mother suddenly calls out to me.

I dry my hands. "Yeah?"

"Can you come out here for a second?"

I hurry out to see my mom pointing toward the front of the store, which consists of glass panes.

"What?" I ask her.

"There's a boy out there that has been crying endlessly since Jaebeom left and muttering your name," she tells me. "I think he knows you. Could you tell him to leave? He's frightening away customers."

I laugh, skeptical. Yeah, right. Who would-

HOLY CRAP! WHAT IS THAT!?

A face with some indescribable expression is pushed up so tightly against the glass of the store that the stranger's mouth, nose, and eyes are stretched until they resemble a Jack-o-Lantern.

"MMefffff!" I hear the muffled cry. "Mwyyyyyyyy!"

In that moment, I knew zombies really did exist.

I head outside and the second I step out the door, this half-dead, fully-crazed being lunges for me.

"NIKITO! HOW COULD YOU!"

I fall backwards to the ground.

"Ow!" I yell out. "Okay, really now!"

Then suddenly, I get a look at the zombie's face.

"Bambam!?"

"HOW COULD YOU!" he yells at me.

"Wh-what's up?" I ask getting up. I try to be friendlier. "...duuuude?"

Bambam actually stops sobbing for a moment to give me a you-did-not-just-say-that look.

"You THINK you can take Lim Jaebum from me!" he shouts.

I look around. People are staring...

"Calm down..." I say. "Please!"

"NO!" Bambam yells. "I saw him walk out with that stupid smile! That smile says it all!"

I don't know what to say except, "What, what did the smile say?"

"It says that something happened in this store! Something went on between you two! And now! Now he is utterly infatuated by you!"

He got ALL that from one smile!?

"Don't think you're getting away with this, NIKITO," Bambam threatens.

Okay, really, what is with everyone emphasizing my name?

"You better watch your back!" Bambam yells.

Everyone on the block has stopped moving. They're just watching us. Bambam turns to leave and people look at me in curiosity. I have to save this somehow...

"Gr-great!" I yell out waving at Bambam. "And I'll watch your back too!"

He doesn't turn around and, instead, disappears around the corner.

Everyone is still staring at me.

"We're friends," I say, nodding.

I grab the door to the store.

"BEST friends," I say again looking at the people. "Total capital B, F, and F."

I pull open the door.

"Just a little bump in the road," I say raising my hand to symbolize the bump. "As you know, no journey to best friend-hood is ever smooth!"

I get into the store and my mother is waiting for me with her arms crossed.

"What?" I ask, somewhat scared.

"Nikito," she says to me, sounding stern. "Really now, you should choose your best friends more carefully."

I decide not to argue and just hang my head.

"Yes, ma'am."