Ryujin, Yuna and I: A high-school story

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After Yuna invited me to go to the party with her, I was super excited. Finally, we got the opportunity to hang out together! For the rest of the day, I was in a completely jovial mood, bouncing around from place to place, full of joy. When I finally slept, I couldn't help but feel a smile full of bliss spreading over my face as I slept...

"Ring!" The alarm rang. Groggily, I hit the "Snooze" button, but still woke up. As much as I would have loved to sleep in a bit longer, today was another day with dance class. And even though Ryujin was treating me better than she previously did these few weeks, I still didn't want to get on the wrong side of her. I brushed my teeth and changed into a fresh new set of clothes, full of excitement and a motivation for life I had never experienced for quite some time.

As I walked into the dance studio, I saw Yuna doing some stretches and our eyes met. I waved at her and she smiled back at me, sweetly and innocently. My heart melted instantly, this girl is just too cute. We lined up in formation and continued with the "So What" dance routine we had been practising in the last few weeks. After an uneventful session, everyone packed up their bags and were about to leave and I was packing my bag too when Ryujin called me over. I waved goodbye to Yuna and headed over.

"So, why did you call me here?" I asked.

Ryujin didn't say anything, simply waiting for everyone else to leave first.

"What's with all that secrecy? Now that everyone is gone, can you finally tell me what's going on?"

Ryujin asked me, "You're going to Hyejoo's party, right?"

I could sense something amiss, I was torn between lying and telling her the truth. As though she could sense my dilemma, she just said,

"I know you are, you don't need to hide it from me."

How did she know?

"You're wondering how I know, kiddo? Of course I can tell. Yuna's going so you'll go too. Look..."

Ryujin took one step closer to me. I could feel her breathing and I was starting to feel uncomfortably hot. I took a step back, but she just took a step forward. She stood up on her tip-toes and looked at me straight in the eye.

"Look, I want you to come to the party not with Yuna, but with me."

What? But I had already promised Yuna that I'll be going with her! I tried to protest, but Ryujin just turned away, turning a deaf ear to my pleas.

"Kiddo, you can't always get what you want. Besides, I already told Hyejoo that we'll be going together."

I was so upset, but yet angry at the same time. How could she just plan all these sort of things by herself, without even telling me? She just robbed me of my opportunity to go out with Yuna!

"Hey, if you want to, I can tell Yuna that you're going with me instead. Saves you the trouble. Or you can go and tell her yourself, it's your choice."

I was overwhelmed with anger. I lost control of myself. Ryujin always treated me like dirt, but I also had a breaking point. She had gone too far this time. Shouting at her,

"Why do you keep on doing this to me? You may not like me as a friend, but at least stop screwing around with my life. Do you know how much I wanted to go out with Yuna? You..."

She leaned in and kissed me right on the lips. I was taken aback for a moment, but yet just for that moment, I felt something special and unique, like the spark of a bonfire. I regained my composure, and continued on,

"As I was saying, you need to stop..."

She kissed me on the lips again, whispering in my ear, "I don't wanna hear it. Just tell me, are you going to go with me or not?" Gosh, Shin Ryujin, you're such a good player, messing around with me like this!

My heart was palpitating, I was so nervous. I wasn't sure what to do. I looked at Ryujin, her eyes innocent and pleading. I couldn't, could I? I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out of it.