Ara's POV...
Lessons became easier for me the more I practice. Junghwa kept praising my improvement through out today's lesson.
I'm happy that I'm starting to get better and better at this. But other than that, I'm beyond happy to have Junghwa as my tutor. I guess if I pretend to not understand my own feelings now towards him, that would be a half lie and a half truth. Why? Well, to me, he's definetly more than just my tutor, and best friend. I can trust him to make me smile even in the simplest ways. But a part of me refuse to believe that I secretly wish for him to be something more than a friend, because of the guilt I carry knowing that I am growing feelings for my cousin's boyfriend.
"Kim Ara?" I hear his strong yet gentle voice call me.
"Oh..yes?" I answer while feeling a bit surprised.
"You kinda spaced out," Junghwa says.
"Ohh, sorry about that," I answer while feeling embarassed as ever now.
"Don't be! I understand how music can be exhausting," Junghwa says. "Let's just finish this."
"Ok," I say to him.
We ended our lesson in about 10 minutes. Well that was fast! Junghwa starts putting his music papers back in his drawer.
"Ok, that's a wrap," Junghwa says, before turning around facing me.
"Well, but I don't think it's goodbye yet for me."
"What?" I ask him.
"I was wondering, would you like to join me for dinner?" he ask me with a confident tone.
My heart skipped a beat, but to put my chill together I eventually raise one of my eyebrow as I place my hands on my hips. I stare at his sharp eyes, a bit of disbelief in my heart. It's not that I didn't like bonding over dinner with him, but the last time I did, somehow it a part of me felt like a second option.
"Ok, what is it?" Junghwa ask, staring into my eyes with confidence.
I sigh, before turning my vision to the ground. "Nothing. Just the fact that I somehow feel like a second option."
Junghwa's cheeky smile slowly fades upon hearing my statement. His eyes that were filled with care-free confidence, soon are filled with concern.
Junghwa takes a deep breath. "Come on, you know I never see you that way. We're friends, Kim Ara. You're a first option of a friend. Hana, she's my girlfriend. She's my first option of a girlfriend. Those are two different things."
I slowly turn my vision back up to face the tall boy. His brown eyes are sparkling with hope. Being his friend, I could tell that this time he wasn't being a cheesy player with pick-up lines. What he said just now sounded sincere. Despite being a player, Junghwa deeply has a sensitive heart.
I sigh. "Ok. Sorry for being dramatic just now. I understand you, Junghwa."
Hearing that, Junghwa slowly starts to form a warm smile again. "Hey! Don't apologize and just go have dinner with me already."
"Fine," I say to him, slowly forming a shy smile.
"Then let's go to the spot," Junghwa says.
With that final word, the two of us walks outside the door to enter his car. We arrive at his car and he opens the door for me, which I gave him a small smile for that.
On the road...
"Make it a surprise," Junghwa says, in which he eventually bursting out some small laughts.
"I love surprises, Jay," I say to him with sarcastic tone.
As the car keeps moving forward, right now I wish I could get lost in the moment with him and forget all my troubles and just focus on us. Wait, I sound like I'm treating him as my boyfriend. Cheesy much?
We arrive at an urban style diner, which was about a 15 minutes drive from my dad's house. Junghwa parks the car, and the two of us exits the door to enter the diner together.
We walk inside the diner together. A waiter greets us and leads us to a small table for two.
At Urbanic Diner...
"Cute place!"
"It's actually one of my favorite diners around," Junghwa says as he hands me the menu. The waiter had previously gave us 2 menus.
"I think I'm gonna go with baked chicken and a zuppa soup. And you?" I ask him.
"I'm gonna go with a smoked salmon and lasagna," Junghwa says.
After we called the waiter and wait for our food to be serve, we got into some like talk about music, since it was one of our mutual interest. We eventually also talked about other stuff such as families and friends.
20 minutes later, the waiter comes back with our dishes in hand. As for the drinks, we both agreed to order milk tea.
"Cheers," Junghwa says as he holds his glass of milk tea.
"Cheers!"
After dinner, Junghwa drives me back home. There was silence for a while, as the radio plays "Faded" by Alan Walker.
We finally arrive at my place. He opens the car door for me, and I step out with a small smile. We are now standing in front of the gates of my house.
"Thanks for tonight, Junghwa."
"You're welcome. It was nice hanging out together through dinner." He forms a small smile with that statement.
"I'll say."
The two of us makes eye contact for a while. I didn't even recall what time it is, or how long have we been staring at each other like this. Both of us are staring deeply, yet none of us are willing to make the first move. The first move that could lead to the start of our next step. Well, more likely I didn't want to make the first move. As for Junghwa, he knew well that he has Hana.
Butterflies are dancing crazier and crazier inside me. It's getting late, and I don't wanna be too late that I'm gonna miss my chance. I don't want him to leave me tonight without nothing. I have to make this memorable, though the feeling of guilt keeps crawling back, yet I didn't wanna leave tonight with regret.
"Ara? Are you ok?" Junghwa ask me. His strong yet gentle voice tinkling through my ears.
"I'm fine," I say, though it was obvious that it sounded like a lie. I could tell my face didn't show any signs that I am fine.
"Are you sure? You look kind of..."
"I'm ok," I stutter for a bit. He continues to look into my eyes, but now with confusion in his face. Damn, he's really not getting my point, is he?
Junghwa sighs. "Are you sick?"
I didn't answer him with words. Instead, I just step closer to him and pull him into a bear hug. I guess this was a better answer than words. We hug for about 20 seconds, before I became the first to pull away.  We continue to stare into each others eyes, but now, it was like half of my feelings just came out. Even though I wanted to express something deeper, but I couldn't do too much. I fear that it will be awkward and ruined his relationship with Hana.
"Take this as a friendship hug," I say, trying to not make it seem like I'm expressing my feelings, but rather just showing a friendly kind of affection.
Junghwa suddenly chuckles. "Wow, I just realized we never even have a proper friendship hug since middle school."
I became silent after the action I just started, which had made things pretty awkward between us now. I was so impulsive, though I didn't regret it. It was unbelievable that I would gather that much courage. Well, but it really was something special.
I took a deep breath before I stare back into his eyes to answer his question.
"Goodnight, Junghwa," I say as I smile at him.
"Goodnight, Kim Ara," he says as I was about to knock the door.
Saturday...
I haven't even think about what to wear for tonight, but since Zach wanted to introduce me as his "girlfriend", I need to pick something pretty special tonight, and not just my casual looks. I start to go through my massive closet. I eventually found a black and white dress that falls above my knees.
"Ok, this will do," I say to myself.
I start cleaning up the pile of clothes on my bed and putting them back in the closet, when my phone suddenly rings. I grab my phone from the desk to see that it was Zach calling.
"Hey Zach! What's up?" I ask him through the phone.
"Nothing, I just thought I go check on my girlfriend," Zach says with a cheesy tone.
"Hahaha, very fun," I say to him.
"So are you ready for tonight's party?" Zach ask.
"Yup! I just picked an awesome dress! Believe me, Tracy will flip when she see me tonight."
"Hahaha, you mean us?" Zach ask.
"Us?" I ask him.
"Yup! We are a couple," Zach states with a sassy tone. I almost roll my eyes at his silly statement.
"You got a point. Then I guess she'll just have to get use to it for a week."
Zach burst into laughter on the phone after hearing my statement. I find myself laughting with him right after.
"Ok, enough with the laughts! I'm gonna go continue cleaning up the mess I made."
"Woah..what sorta mess?" Zach ask curiously.
"A mess while in search for that dress."
"Hahaha, ok. I'll pick you up tonight! Bye Ara!"
"Bye!"
After we hung up, I continue to put my clothes back in the closet.
5:55PM...
I just finished showering with my favorite shampoo and bodywash. What can I say? If I'm gonna piss Tracy off, I'm gonna have to use all the best I have. I walk out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body, and head. I slip into my pajamas first, since I still have to do my make-up and dry my hair.
I apply some smokey colours to my eyes, and go with a rouge lipstick.
It didn't took long for me to finish my make-up. After that, I dry my hair with a hair dryer while brushing it. After 15 minutes, I turn off the hair dryer and quickly change into my dress.
I was in the middle of zipping my dress, when I heard a knock coming from my door.
"A minute," I say as I finish zipping my dress. I walk up to the door and open it, revealing a now surprised Zach looking at me.
"What? Surprise much?" I ask him.
"Ohh it's just, you look great," Zach says with a shy smile. "Come on, we're almost late for the party!"
"What time is?" I ask him.
"6:17PM."
"OMG we have to go! Come on," I say as the two of us rush down the stairs.
We run outside the house door to see Zach's car parked outside the gate. We quickly enter the car and Zach starts the engine.
Tonight, we're ready to have fun! I bet Tracy won't even expect what's coming at her tonight. Hahaha.
To be continue...