As we enter the store, Hao is already inside, chatting away with the cashier. I look at the cashier and say hello, trying to be as polite as possible. He doesn't even spare me a glance, doesn't answer, and proceeds to talk with Hao.
"I don't know, we might close it soon"
"No! Why?" asks Hao, eyes wide. I just watch while I wait for Cho to get whatever she wants to buy.
"Not enough money, you know. There is another store that just opened that's really close to the Wakeone School, so students stopped coming here" the man says, face sad and disappointed.
"Well, believe me, I'll continue coming here every day!" says Hao, smiling. I smile in return, noticing how different he is when he isn't talking to me. It's like he's a different person, but once again, it's not even his real personality.
"Oh, thank you! I'm afraid it won't be enough though. Before, the store was filled with students coming after school, but now, barely anyone comes by" the man says, smiling at Hao's kindness. I walk to Hao's side, not really knowing what to do, and fake looking at the candy stacks on display.
"I'll make sure that people will come," says Hao, the smile not leaving. I want to wipe that perfect smile off his face. It's so annoying.
"No need, kid. Just focus on your studies and have a good future, alright?" the cashier says kindly, and Hao nods before looking at me, face expressionless. I look back at him awkwardly, half crouched by looking at the candies, and my head turning at a weird angle to look at him. Suddenly, Hao smiles and shoves me up from the ground, making me face the cashier.
"This is Hanbin, by the way. He goes to Wakeone School as well" he says. I smile awkwardly, surprised by Hao's actions. Unlike him, I'm not exactly inclined to make friends at the moment.
"Oh! Well, I hope you visit often Hanjen" The man says, a crooked smile playing on his face
"It's-uh-Hanbin, and yes, of course," I say, letting out a laugh
"Right, right, Hanbin. Are you friends with our dear Hao?" the man asks
"No, he's one grade older than me. He's my sister's... friend?" Hao says, looking at me to make sure that he said it right. I nod at him, knowing that Cho and I aren't anything else for the moment, and look at the man
"His sister and I are very good friends," I say
"That's nice to hear. Well, I hope that you and your girlfriend will visit soon!"
"Oh no! She's not my girlfriend, sir, please don't misunderstand" I say, surprised
"Not your girlfriend? Just a friend?"
"Yes sir"
"A man will always end up liking a friend that is a girl. Well then, I hope you and your friend visit often" the man says, letting the topic go. I nod and glare at Hao for putting me in this situation.
It's just so... uncomfortable.
I don't know why I feel so uneasy. Maybe it's because I don't know what Cho and I really are. I thought she liked me, or had an interest in me, but bit by bit, I started doubting it. It's so weird, she just clings to me and always invites me to her house, and enjoys the time that she is with me, but at the end of the day, she doesn't know anything about me no matter how many times I tell her something. It's almost like she doesn't care.
"Bin! I'll get you some ice cream! Is that ok?" Cho calls out
"Yeah, sure. Thanks" I reply, hearing her rummage through packs of ice cream at the far end of the convenience store
"A gentleman would offer to buy it," Hao whispers, looking up at me, an eyebrow raised. I look at him dumbfounded and suddenly get hit by the realization that I should have done exactly that. I sprint to where Cho is and softly take two of her shoulders
"I'll pay for it," I say. Cho looks at me and laughs
"What a gentleman," she says. I laugh, feeling guilty. I pick a strawberry bar of ice cream and walk to the cashier with all the food that Cho wants. I smile at the man when I drop all the things in front of him. The man smiles back and I pay, slightly grateful towards Hao, but very angry at myself. I take the plastic bag that the man hands me and walk over to Hao, while we wait for Cho
"You know, you have a lot to learn," Hao says
"What do you mean?"
"Have you never dated before?" he asks. I scoff
"Of course I have. I bet you haven't" I say, defendant
"I haven't. But clearly, you haven't understood why all your ex's broke up with you" says Hao in a whisper, not bothering to look at me
"What the fuck? What do you mean?"
"You don't know anything about dating"
"How can someone who hasn't dated tell me that I don't know anything about it" I say, getting angry. What the fuck is his problem?
"Hanbin, don't you understand that you need to be nice and pay attention to the person you like? You seem to not be giving an absolute shit about my sister"
"I do give a shit about her"
"But it doesn't look like it. You need to give her more attention. If you date someone, wouldn't you want them to give you their attention?" Hao asks, and I can hear him slowly getting annoyed
"Yeah..."
"Exactly. I expect you to be treating my sister like a princess, do you understand?" He says, looking at me for the first time throughout this whole conversation. I stare at his eyes, which look at me expressionless, anger building even more within me
"Look, mister perfect. Just like you said how you wouldn't ever ask me for advice, I'll tell you the same thing. If I need advice, I'll ask someone, but you definitely won't be one of them" I say. Hao's expression doesn't change
"That's different though. You were poking your nose in my business, so it literally had nothing to do with you. Now, the way you treat my sister is my business, and I'll make sure you treat her as how she deserves"
"Hao... I'm not a bad person. She also-"
"I'm back! Hao, leave" Cho says, running up to us, glaring at her younger brother. Hao nods and leaves, not looking at me, but I can see the frustration written all over his face. I make a huffing sound, making Cho look at me quizzically
"What the fuck was that?" she says, laughing at my annoyed expression. I don't even bother to look at her, the smile being completely wiped off of my face.
"Nothing," I say curtly, and even I think that I did it in a rather rude way. Cho stops laughing and looks at me weirdly, but doesn't say anything.
It's all because of Hao. He ruined my good mood.
All I wanted to tell him is that Cho is the same. She doesn't pay me any attention. It worries me. It scares me. What if it doesn't end up well because of our personalities? I have noticed Cho's small details, I remember the things she talks about, and I just don't show it. But her? She hasn't paid any attention at all. And the problem here is, I don't know how to show the affection that Hao tells me to show. I just don't know how. It's not something I've ever done, and it's not something that I know how to do.
And right here, at this moment, with all these doubts trailing after me, walking next to the girl I like, I think of something stupid. Something incredibly stupid, and I don't know if Cho will like it. Not like I'm planning to tell her anyway.
Should I ask for Hao's help?
After all, I'll just do it to be able to give Cho the affection that she deserves on my part.
â¡â¡â¡
Yayy longer chapter today!
So, I rll hope that yall are enjoying the book for the moment, and I'm so sorry that everything is passing by so slowly. I'm really bad at writing fast-passing romance lol
Also, feel free to comment on what you think will happen (your predictions in general)
Also, btw, I just recently published a seungjin ff (there's only one chapter for now), so feel free to check it out. I won't be updating that one as much as this one, since I want to finish this one first. The ff is called 'His side of the Street'. Please check it out! :)
(stream 'we lost the summer' by txt)