WHAT YOUR FATHER SAYS ✓

23

CHAPTER 23
Debussy – Clair de Lune (Suite Bergamasque)

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today i walked outside, through the park i had only ever visited once or twice.

but this time i walked through it with Hoseok by my side.

someone i now considered as more than a friend. what we had didn't define love, it defined companionship and safety.

isn't that love too?

i gave some of my loose change to charity, smiling at the woman's thank you before realising that she was bleeding. "oh fiddlesticks, she's bleeding." i stared before rummaging through my bag.

i took out a spare plaster from a box i never used before placing it on the woman's finger delicately. i smiled but didn't touch the tired dog beside her.

i noticed how Hoseok hadn't said a word through the incident. we walked away and i saw how he seemed afraid. i'm good at reading minds i think. i haven't had much experience but expressions say a lot about people.

i've learnt to know my own expressions inside and out so even if someone said something shocking or exciting to me, i would be able to keep a straight face. talent. but what's the use in that? reactions make people happy, whether they're loud and wordy or silently meaningful.

"you have a phobia." i stated.

"what's that?" Hoseok asked as we walked along the stream. he stayed close by my side as his double denim outfit brushed against my long skirt.

"it's a fear, an extreme irrational fear."

Hoseok seemed like he was spacing out. i could tell he was still thinking about the blood. "it's just a fear." he repeated. a fear.

"of what?" i asked, wanting him to tell me himself.

"blood." he seemed embarassed as he looked away.

"it's okay baby." i patted his shoulder as he stopped in his tracks.

i turned around in confusion as to why he had stopped walking. he took his hands out of his pockets, hair curling around his eyes as his eyes lit up with sunshine. "did you just call me baby?"

"it just came out." i stammered, noticing the physical distance between us. i don't know why i said what i said but the term is used for affection and i felt that it was appropriate. why do people think such terms strength a persons affection towards them? does it? from the look on Hoseok's face, i assume it does. it would be nice to be called his. "i call the babies i babysit baby too."

"oh my god," Hoseok started to laugh and it took my breath away. where has this boy been all my life? is this truly love or infatuation? is there a difference? the books are right but wrong. "i'm associated with them?"

"don't be so dramatic." i blushes as we neared his studio.

and as i said, have a good day at work, i realised that my sentence was just another way to say i love you.

and i do. i don't care if he doesn't but crikey, i do.