Red String | Trainee A Leo

Chapter 6 - In Between

'What about us? Is there an us?'

Those last few words echoed in Leo's mind. He wants to ask himself why did he even bother to bring up that topic if he tagged along too when Aehyeon started acting being strangers. Now silence once came between them like there was an angel who just passed by.

"So, you like Junil?" Leo uttered, remembering the kiss, making Aehyeon dumbfounded. She was caught off guard and didn't know what to do but to gasp. She can't even face Leo.

'No. I like YOU.'—those words was left unsaid. She wanted to say it so bad but she couldn't. Her tongue got twisted for some reason and there's no voice coming out from her. She can hear her heart beating too fast and it made her panic in place.

"Get up now, where going somewhere." Aehyeon suddenly changed the topic. She offered a hand and Leo unconsiously accepted it. So they left the park while holding hands.

~

"Itaewon!!" Aehyeon shouted. The streets was well-lit even if the moon is already up. Itaewon gets busier at nights, that's for sure. Aehyeon was dragging Leo anywhere she wants but Leo wasn't complaining. After a long travel, they decided to eat first before strolling around.

Since Aehyeon was the one who ordered, Leo had to face his consequences. One for that stupid dare, and another for that stupid question. Tteokbokki. She ordered lots of spicy rice cakes. As soon as their order was placed, Leo already knew that Aehyeon was teasing him.

"Still the old Leo who doesn't eat spicy foods aye?" Now Aehyeon sounds like a mother.

Since he was young, Leo wasn't fond of eating anything spicy because when he do, his face automatically turns red. Aehyeon remembered that time when she pranked Leo switching the catsup for a hot sauce and it made Leo turn so red.

"You really like to see me in agony, huh?" Leo said and faced Aehyeon blankly. He do feel a little hungry. But he can't bare to eat those mouth-stinging food.

"Wish number 2, eat it. I'd like to know if you're the real Leo. Who knows if you are just an impostor. Leo is quite popular you know." Aehyeon mockingly said as she succeeds to tease Leo more.

"I don't even know if that was a compliment or an insult. But fine. If this will prove that I'm the real Leo, when there's actually nothing to prove when you have my whole being infront of you." Leo said in disbelief. He can't do anything neither.

Defeated. Leo did turn red in an instance. Aehyeon was holding her laugh and Leo just rolled his eyes.

"Fine. You're real. Here's your prize, baby Leo." Then Aehyeon handed a cup of milk and continued to burst out of laughing.

Leo widened his eyes hearing those words while choking onto the tteokbokki that he failed to swallow.

It took a while for Aehyeon to realize what she just said. Now she is the one who's turning red.

"Baby Leo huh?" Leo hid his smile.

****

—The next morning—

Leo was in a good mood so he treated Junil for lunch. And since Junil is being a good boy now, ofcourse he won't resist free food.

"I feel like there is something that you're hiding from me. But I won't ask. You might take back these yummy foods if you get pissed." Junil started while munching to his savory lunch.

For the past years, Leo and Junil became closer since they are the only ones in their group that are schoolmates. They've built their friendship strong enough to say that they are aware if someone is hiding something. And in this case, Leo couldn't do anything because he promised Aehyeon that he won't tell about their connection. So even if he feels bad for keeping the truth, Leo still had to keep his promise.

[Flashback]

"He likes you." Leo stated. He informed Aehyeon about Junil having feelings for her.

"Then don't tell him. It's better this way." Aehyeon smiled weakly. They got this sort of mutual understanding—not that m.u. that you're thinking but kind of like 'I know what you mean' type of m.u.— so Leo couldn't do nothing but to follow Aehyeon.

'3rd wish. Don't tell him. 7 more wishes to go.' Leo sighed.

[end of flashback]

He smiled weakly as his response to the innocence of Junil.

"Aehyeon-ssi!" Junil yelled as he saw Aehyeon holding a tray of food roaming around to find a table. He gestured that she can sit with them.

Aehyeon smiled and went to them. She sat beside Junil. But she noticed already that Leo is avoiding to have an eye contact with her and pretended like he doesn't care.

"Aehyeon-ssi, you look pretty today." Then Junil blushed after giving Aehyeon a compliment.

"For how long are you going to call me Aehyeon-ssi? You're being too formal." Aehyeon changed the topic.

"What else can I call you then?" Junil pouted, he's like a 4 year old child UwU

"Hyeon. My friends call me Hyeon." Aehyeon replies, as she took a bite on her sandwich.

"So you really consider me as a friend now?" Junil excitingly asked. He's taking it slow so he's happy now that Aehyeon considers him as a friend.

Aehyeon just smiled and didn't said anything after that.

~

Aehyeon was walking through the school grounds on her way home. She saw an old man wearing old clothes standing infront of the gate. She took a glance once again before she continued to walk. But few seconds after, she heard the other students screaming.

"He fainted! Somebody call help!" the people around her was screaming in panic as she looked around and saw the old man laying on the ground.

She ran and quickly went to help the old man.

"Ahjussi! Ahjussi! Can you hear me?" Aehyeon said as she rolled her sleeves to perform CPR.

[Ahjussi = an old man; mister]

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six..." and continued up to 16 repeating for 3 rounds.

The old man somehow regained conciousness but still wasn't able to move and get up.

The ambulance came and placed the old man in a stretcher but Aehyeon chose to come with them.

Few hours later, after doing so many tests, the old man finally got better and he's now able to talk.

Aehyeon approached the old man and asked how is he feeling.

"I'm okay now, thank you for helping me." the old man said with gratitude.

"Ahjussi, why were you standing infront of our school gate in the middle of a hot weather?" Aehyeon asked once more. You can see the worry in her eyes.

"I was hoping to see my son even from afar, because I know that he doesn't want to see me."