Memoirs of a Young Love (Completed)

Chapter 4 - Pooh

'Is it alright with you if I ask you to be my girlfriend?' he asked me, when we arrived at my doorstep. I looked at him dumbfounded. I actually began to understand my friends and what they were trying to tell me. My mind was racing on what to answer him. The confession was out of the blue, at least for me. I have never been into this before.

I looked at him. He was so handsome, but beyond that I also saw something in him that made me like him, as a friend. He was sweet, he cares for me, he gets along well with my friends. Almost too good to be true, but what does a young heart expect? Sure enough, my heart was not expecting for him to fight for me and to end up with me when we're adults. That was a long way to go. Because right now, all I can hear is the unusual, rapid beating of my heart.

Looking into my eyes like they were boring into them made me look away from him. He has eyes that I think can see deep into my soul, and admittedly I was afraid. I was afraid that he might see something in them. I was afraid he might be able to read me.

I was afraid that he might know that he is special to me.

'Bin, I. I don't know what to say,' I told him. He smiled at me.

'I can wait Yej. I can and am willing to wait until you can tell me your answer,' he replied, while smiling at me. 

I caught sight of his dimples. It makes him more handsome. I smiled at him and I bid him goodbye. But before I was able to push the gate open, he said something.

'Will I still be able to walk you home after today?'

I opened the gate and got inside the house, and as I closed it, I smiled at him and nodded. I swear I saw his biggest smile. I then stood at the back of the gate, not moving an inch, trying to feel his presence just outside my house. And as I peered through the creaks, I saw him still smiling before turning around and walked away, with hands in his pockets.

We got closer as the days went by, and we never brought up the topic of what he asked me yet. I figured he must have been just in the moment that he was able to say it, and maybe to get rid of Eun Suh. Who, by the way, has nothing but dagger eyes whenever she sees me. I didn't do anything wrong to her, if she has an issue with Bin, she must settle it with him.

One afternoon as I was waiting for Bin to come to our meeting place, Eun Suh came up to me and with her sassiness, humiliated me.

'Oh, if it isn't for the one who looks like an angel but deep inside is otherwise,' she said in a voice loud enough to be heard by her and her brat friends. I did not look up, because if I do, the more she will do what she wants to do. 'Tell me, Yejin. Is Bin really that hot?' which elicited a laughter from her friends.

I tried to be nonchalant about them and pretended not to hear anything. Until she grabbed my hand that made me look up at her. She sure had been trying to mock me, with her dagger eyes shooting arrows at me by the she is looking.

'Let me go,' I said to her, my voice was stern. She did not budge. 'I said let me go!' and I yanked my arm from her. We might have cause quite a commotion and she began to push me that got me tumbling over. She held my hair and threatened me, 'If you ever go near Bin again,'

'Then what, Eun Suh?' I heard Hyojin's voice. Apparently, my friends were on their way to see me before they go home. I was just so lucky that they came. I saw Hyojin and the rest of my friends march their way to where we were and Eun Suh let go of my hair. I stood up and looked at her.

'This won't be the last time, Yejin,' she threatened, and they went away.

My Cinderellas went right away to me and asked me if I was alright. Luckily, I was not harmed physically, but deep inside me, I felt so scared. I didn't know Eun Suh personally but I have heard stories about her. She was technically the school brat and resident badgirl. I wondered why she didn't get expelled.

'Do you want us to stay here with you until Bin comes?' Minjung asked. 'Where is he by the way?'

'He still has practice. He won't be here until after 30 minutes at least,' I replied. I actually wanted to go home, but I made a promise to him that I will wait for him every afternoon. Which he never missed at all. 

The girls decided to stay with me, and Hyojin asked me something. 'Is he worth it , Yejin?' which made all of us look at her. 'I mean, can you just let that girl push and shove you, because of him?'

I looked at her, understanding what she was trying to say but choosing not to do so. 'What do you mean? We are not an item,' I answered.

'Cut the crap, Yejin! Anyone who looks at you both will definitely say that you guys are together! No wonder, that girl almost wanted to kill you,' she explained.

She was right. I can actually feel that everyone thinks that way too. But, I can't help it. I was so used to having him beside me and walk me home every afternoon. And maybe, I just can't do without it, anymore. At least for now.

I looked at my friends, who are now waiting for me to at least answer them. 'I don't know what to tell you honestly,' I told them.

Junghyun put her hand on my shoulder and said, 'Yejin, whatever it is you are thinking, know that we are behind you.' 

Just then, I saw him rushing up to our meeting place. He saw my friends and he greeted them. Rush was apparent on his face, his hair was still wet and he was panting. The girls took it as a cue and said goodbye to me, but Hyojin went up to Bin and whispered something to him. Whatever she said, caused his face to worry before he thanked her. He then came back to me.

'Are you okay?' he asked, taking my bag and wore it over his shoulder. My eyes widened at what he did, but then he reached out his hand and grabbed mine gently, before I stood up uand we walked outside the school gates.

Bin lead me inside a convenience store. He then asked me to sit down and wait for him, while off he went to the counter to buy something. When he came back, he opened a packet of band-aids. He held my right hand, turned it palm facing up, and only then did I notice that I had a cut. He cleaned it with his hanky, and then put on a strip of cartoon character band-aid. Pooh.

'I'm sorry,' he said. I asked him why. 'I'm supposed to protect you but then, she just got near you most of the time. I'll try to do something about it,' he replied. His head was hung low, but I asked him to look at me. He followed suit, and I saw his sad eyes.

I looked at him and I realized something.

'Bin, what did you tell me when you walked me home after that incident again with Eun Suh?' I asked him.

He looked at me and tried to remember, because he has talked to me about a lot of things. Until he said, 'I remember I asked you if it's alright if you would be my girlfriend.'

I smiled at him and almost in a whisper, I answered.

'Yes.'