"Woah, Junghwa! You really didn't have to do this," Ara says as she puts her hands on her hips.
"Hey, I told you I would make it up to you," Junghwa says. "Come on."
Junghwa drags Ara to the ice cream parlour. Ara decides to order a double scoop of strawberry and vanilla ice cream, while Junghwa decides to order a double scoop of chocolate and peppermint. While having their ice creaming, Junghwa decides to walk Ara home.
At Ara's house...
"Thanks for the ice cream, and walking me home," Ara thank the cheeky boy with a smile.
"Don't mention it. Well, I gotta go. See you later Ara," Junghwa says, before he walks away and heads home.
Meanwhile, Ara stood in front of her house as she watch the young boy walk away. She let out a giggle at the sight of him.
"Silly, Junghwa," Ara says to herself.
A few hours later...
Ara's POV...
After dinner, I decided to continue with my homeworks. Just then, I hear my phone buzzing. I pick up the phone to see that it was Junghwa.
"Hello!"
"Hey, Cupid! Are you done with your homework?" Junghwa ask through the phone.
"Almost. And you?" I ask him with a sassy tone.
"Yup, thanks to a long hair ulzzang who brought back my learning mood," Junghwa says, making me question his statement in my mind.
"Long hair ulzzang?" I ask.
"Kim Hana, your hot cousin! I just texted her and she replied!" Junghwa says in a happy tone.
"Really? That's great," I say.
"Yeah. She light up my mood to finish the homeworks," Junghwa says, before bursting out into a laugh. "I swear, I would have chosen to get detention if it wasn't for her."
I roll my eyes at his childish statement. "Whatever. So what did she say?"
"I told her that we could hangout sometimes. Guess what? She actually agreed," Junghwa says.
"Woah, that's good. Lucky you," I say, feeling happy that my best friend is starting to get closer with his crush.
"Yeah. Man, I have to start planning the perfect date," Junghwa says. "Well, I gotta go clean up. Bye, Ara!"
"Yeah, bye!" I say before I hang up the phone.
Hearing that Junghwa will be planning a date with Hana soon makes me feel happy. Hopefully things will turn out good for the two.
Speaking of Junghwa, the thought about today's lesson surface in my head after hearing his voice. Glad to say that after an hour of hearing him nag like an angry ahjumma, my skills actually got better at the end of the lesson.
Flashback...
"The simple key to play the piano is to memorise the melody from within," Junghwa explains to me as he tries to sound like a professional tutor.
"But how will that help me memorise it?" I ask him with confusion. Memorise the melody from within? This guy sounds like one of those romantic guys from teen drama movies.
"I'll show you exactly what I meant," he answers me.
Junghwa then begins to play the piano. He keeps playing the piano with his eyes close, yet from his face, I could tell that he was feeling the melody from his heart. Maybe this was what he's trying to show me? One thing..the way he plays the music from the piano is beautiful. I could actually listen to him play all day. As he keeps playing, I just kept on staring while listening. He eventually stops playing, making me go back to reality. He looks at me but this time with a smirk, in which I look away out of embarrassment.
"That was beautiful," I compliment him. I told him what was on my mind right at the moment. Sounds impulsive, but it's true.
"Thanks, bestie. Your turn now! " he says to me.
I start to follow his instructions. I close my eyes and try to feel the melody from within. However, I didn't feel like I was doing my best, though I was trying. As I keep on playing the piano, Junghwa just stares at me. When I finally stop, surprisingly, he claps his hands. What? I don't think I was even that good.
"Not bad, Ara," he says with a big smile. Seriously? Did he actually thought that was a good?
"Thank you, Junghwa. But I'm not that good. Well, I don't feel like it," I answer him, feeling a little insecure.
"You just need to practice more. In a few months, you'll be playing like a professional pianist," he states, and again, giving me one of his sweet smile. I smile back at him. Damn, what's up with his smile these days? Did he whiten his teeth or something? Somehow that smile actually looks more attractive.
End of flashback...
Remembering that bright smile of him made me feel a tiny blaze of happiness inside. Funny how that childish and annoying boy could turn into a fun tutor in a blink of an eye.
You're a funny one, Hwang Junghwa!
The next day, at school...
"I can't wait to go hunting for the latest fashion this Saturday," Grace says to me as we walk through the hallways.
"Yeah! So, Zach will be picking us up?" I ask Grace.
"Yeah! Well, hopefully he won't be late," Grace says, in which both of us ends up laughting. Zach has always been known to wake up pretty late in the weekends. This was probably because he spent most Friday nights playing video games. Sometimes, he even invite me, Junghwa, Grace, and Peter to join.
Just as we are walking in the hallway, Peter approaches both of us from the other side. He walks up to Grace and gives her a kiss.
"Hey, Babe What's up?" Grace ask Peter with a smile.
"So, literally I'm throwing this party tomorrow night at my place, since my parents won't be home at the time. I was thinking that maybe you and the others could come?" Peter asks Grace, in which she takes a second to look at me with a smile.
"Count us in!" Grace answers as she wraps one of her arms around me.
"Great! See you girls tomorrow night!" Peter says before giving Grace  another kiss. He later heads off to thr other direction to catch up with Matt.
"Girl! We literally need to go shopping tonight!" Grace says in excitement.
"What? Is that a little sudden?" I ask her.
"Ara! Peter's throwing a party tomorrow night! It'll be too late to pick a dress at the mall tomorrow. Let's just go shopping tonight! 7PM at our usual hangout, what do you say?" Grace ask me.
"Well, I guess it would be ok. We just need to tell Zach and Junghwa about this," I say.
"Yeah, let's just tell them after this. Come on!" Grace starts to drag me through the hallway..
At the cafeteria...
"So we're going shopping tonight?" Zach ask.
"Yeah! Since Peter's party is tomorrow," Grace states, before she continues to eat her pasta.
"Woah..ok," Zach says as he gives me a small smirk. "So I assume..Matt will also be there?" he continues his sentence.
"Well yes! Besides, Matt is Peter's best friend," I say to Zach with a sassy tone.
"Then this might be your chance, Lex!" Grace says, making me blush.
"What do you mean?" I ask her, before taking another sip of my orange juice.
"Hello, Kim Ara! Matt has been your crush since we all could remember! This is a great chance for you to actually get closer to him," Junghwa says with a big smile.
"No way! I don't think he even likes me. I mean, he never actually ask me out or anything," I tell him.
"Ara, he smiles at you everytime he sees you in the hallway. He helps you with your science homework. I think maybe he didn't think you were interested in him," Zach states.
"How is that even like that? I am literally the one who's been crushing on him," I tell Zach.
"Well, who knows. There's a chance he also have feelings for you," Junghwa says with a smirk.
I hesitate for a moment before replying. "Really?" I just say it out.
"Really. Besides, look at you! You're gorgeous," Zach says, before he continues to eat his chicken salad. Zach's statement actually made me blush a little.
"Gee, thanks Zach! I never knew you could actually give a compliment," I say, making the three teenagers laugh.
Time literally flies, and before I knew it, school has come to an end for today. Time for another piano lesson with Junghwa!
At Junghwa's house...
"You're getting better and better!" he say with his signature smile. That smile really boost my confidence.
"Thank you, Mr Tutor," I answer him with a confident and sassy tone.
After an hour, our lesson comes to an end. We remember that we have to leave at 7PM to meet Grace and Zach at the mall. Junghwa decides to drive there since it would be faster.
We arrive at the shopping center to see Grace and Zach already waiting for us.
"Hey! Sorry we're late!" I run to my two friends.
"No worries! Come on, let's go shopping!" Grace says, and the four of us starts to look around.
At the department store...
"What do you think?" I ask my friends as I show them the outfit that I've chosen.
"Nice one, Ara," Grace says.
"Pretty cool," Zach adds.
"Matt will be drooling over you," Junghwa says with a wink.
I roll my eyes at Junghwa's statement. "Ok, I think I'll be taking these. What about you guys? Have you found anything nice?" I ask.
"Yeah! I already found mine," Grace answers.
"Same here," Zach says with a cheesy smile.
"Cool. How about you, Junghwa?" I ask him.
"I already found the right babies," Junghwa says, making me smile.
The four of us later went to the cashier to pay for our outfits. After that, we decide to have dinner together before leaving the mall.
At Ara's house...
I'm in the middle removing my make-up in front of the mirror, when I hear a notification from my phone. Someone texted me. I finished removing my make-up and check my phone. Surprisingly, it was Matt. Ok, I didn't expect to get a message from him at this hour.
"Hey, Ara! So tomorrow are you coming to Peter's party?" - Matt
"Yeah! In fact, my friends and I just went shopping for outfits to wear for tomorrow :) ." - Ara
"Haha, ok. See you guys tomorrow!" - Matt
Chatting with Matt at this time actually made me feel pretty good. Maybe Junghwa's right..this could be a good chance for me to get closer to him. I mean, who knows? Maybe we can talk tomorrow like we're friends but going into something more. With all the happy thoughts about tomorrow's party, something eventually popped in my head.
The next day...
Hours passed and before I knew it it's already 6PM. I am in the middle of applying my make-up for tonight's party. Literally the party starts at 7PM, so I have to hurry! I apply some simple make-up, dry my hair, and put on the outfit I bought yesterday. I'm wearing a black tank top and black jeans, matched with some flat shoes. Not exactly the glamour look, but I like it.
I arrived at Peter's house at 7:03PM. Zach and Grace had arrived earlier, and the two approaches me.
"Hey! You look good," Grace compliments me. As for Grace, she is wearing a white dress that falls above her knees, a blackbelt, and a pair of black high heels.
"I'll say. You're lit!" Zach adds. As for Zach, he is wearing a black t-shirt, ripped jeans, and a pair of Adidas shoes.
"Thanks guys! You two look pretty cool yourself," I say to my friends. The three of us continue to chat when I notice that someone from our group is missing.
"Where's Junghwa?" I ask.
"I think he's running late," Zach says.
Just then, Peter approaches us. "Hey! I'm glad you guys came. The others are waiting for us in the back room. Come on!" Peter says. He later holds Grace's hand and leads the way. Zach and I just follows them from behind, when I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I turn around to see who it was.
"Junghwa, you're here," I say out of surprise.
"Yup, just a bit late," Junghwa says. For tonight, he is wearing a white t-shirt combined with a black jacket, black jeans, and some Nike shoes.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Junghwa says.
Zach, Junghwa, and I eventually enter the back room to join the others. The party is literally filled with lots of stidents, and there were even faces I didn't recgonize. Maybe they are Peter's other friends? I guess so.
"Let's play truth or dare!" Peter suggest to all of us, in which we agree. "So who's gonna go first?" he ask.
"Me!" Grace raise her hand with excitement.
"Ok, Grace! Truth or dare?" Peter ask his girlfriend.
"Dare!" she answers in a sarcastic tone.
"I dare you to kiss the hottest guy in this room!" Peter says with a wink. Grace has a smirk written all over her face, but she actually walks to Peter and kiss him. All the other students starts cheering on them.
"Ok! Zach, truth or dare?" Grace ask him.
"Truth!" Zach answers with a big smile.
"What's your biggest secret?" Grace ask.
"I'm afraid of spiders!" he says, making us all laugh.
The game went on for a few minutes, before finally landing to Peter's turn.
"Ok, Matt my man! Truth or dare?" Peter ask his best friend.
"Truth!" Matt answers.
"By any chance, is the girl that you like at this party?" Peter ask him.
"Yes," Matt answers with a shy smile. Ok, what did I just heard? Reality check! Maybe I can really find out his feelings towards me tonight.
To be continue...