seaside

XXIII

hands tugging on
the straps of
her bag, Tazannah heads
towards the dreaded
building
by the name
of school-
head down, low profile
before a familiar deep
voice calls out
from
across
the hallways, "hey,
Tazannah!"

she spots him
as he walks over- unaware
to his surrounding peers
staring at him in
astonishment
and awe as he sends
a cute grin across,
and she
wonders
how she ever thought
he was intimidating
because in
front of her
is a giant baby.

"hey," she
says softly. he safely
wraps an arm around her
waist and
smiles on her skin,
"god, i like you so much
.. but on
another note,
did you bring the rice
balls i requested?"
and she
slaps him
playfully on the shoulder-
should have known you
only wanted to
suck up to me
to get
my food.

he grins cheekily-
eyes then catching the number
of people watching their
sweet banter
and he hears one
whisper to her friend,
"do you think
they're dating?"

and Hangyul replies
with a wink,
"of course, and i
bet you
we'll be
named couple of
the y-" Tazannah, face
flushed, immediately
slaps a hand
over his mouth, "uh we
have to get going to
class, see you never!"

and the curious
girl from behind
stares blankly at the
retreating
couple,
she mutters in question,
unable to process anything,
"i .. what just happened?"
her friend
pats her
shoulder
in sympathy,
"sorry sis, your man
crush has been taken by
a pretty, rich girl."