Ara's POV...
"And how are you even gonna change that?" my question speaks in a sassy manner.
Junghwa chuckles. "By teaching you how to bowl."
"Yeah right, I knew how to play bowling since I was 13," I say. Did this guy really forgot that we've been playing bowling at the arcade since we were 13?
"Well, it doesn't hurt to learn some new bowling skills, am I right?" Junghwa asks with a cheeky smile. "Besides, that was such a long time. Might as well just put your skills to the test."
My lips slightly formed an "o" shape, with a speechless look. This guy could be so cheeky at times. But well, I didn't want to debate since I also want to bowl.
"Whatever, let's just play already," I say.
"Now that's the spirit," Junghwa says as he gets up from his seat. To my surprise, he didn't head straight to the bowling area, but instead walk over to me and grab my arm.
"Let's go," he says as he drags me up from my seat, causing my heart to not only skip a beat, yet a sensation of electric shock can be feel inside.
Junghwa drags me to the bowling area, where we could see a lot of people are having fun bowling. Some of them are young couples while some others are just group of friends.
"It's been a while," Junghwa says as he slowly lets go of my hand.
"I'll say," I say. I watch the pins are all set so neatly, standing still. It kinda makes me feel guilty to knock them down, but well, that's just part of the game.
"Ok, let's start," Junghwa says as he grabs a bowling ball.
"First things first, set your mind to focus on the pins," Junghwa says as he sets his vision to focus on the pins, nothing else.
"You gotta keep your eyes on them at all cost," Junghwa adds. He stares at the pins for a few second, before suddenly rolling the ball, making it hit the pins. Surprisingly, he actually knocked them all, making me drop my jaws.
Junghwa turns his head with a proud smile. A cheeky smirk is written all over his face as his vision gazes at me.
"See what I meant?" Junghwa asks me.
I became speechless for a moment, but instantly snap back to my senses. Again he succede in impressing me in silence inside. I gotta admit, other than his incredible charms, Hwang Junghwa here is a talented young man.
"Kinda," I say.
Junghwa smiles. "Your turn."
Junghwa hands me the heavy bowling ball, in which I grab it with both of my hands. Now I remember just how heavy this is after a while. I get into position as I put my vision to focus on the pins. Suddenly, I see Junghwa walking to my back, before finally seeing his arms slowly stretching out to hold my arms which still has the ball, silently making me blush, as the touch of him slowly making butterflies in my heart flutters.
I stood in silence though I was struggling to keep my heart from not beating too fast. Deep down there's a fear in me that he might just knew, though it kinda seems ridiculous since he can't even hear my heart beat. At least, not from behind.
"Focus is the key," Junghwa whispers to my ears, the sound of his voice felt like a sexy touch of music. Damn, his voice hits different when he whispers.
"Ok," I say, as I slowly feel his hands release me, giving me the chance to feel relief. I gently roll the bowling ball, watching it while hoping it would knock down some pins.
To my surprise, the ball actually knock some pins, though not all of them. Junghwa starts clapping his hands upon seeing him actually succede in knocking some pins down.
"Way to go," Junghwa says.
My lips forms a small smile. His simple act of support made me feel quite happy, knowing I'm actually having a good time with him. It's been a while since we've had this type of fun moment together, feeling young inside. I'm grateful that he still has some time for me, besides during lessons.
I turn around to face him, my lips still forming a small smile. I see that he's also smiling back, his bright smile that looks like warm sunshine and shooting stars. I stare into his dark chocolate eyes for a moment, silently finding myself feeling enchanted by his gaze again. In this realization, I start to admire every single part of his lovely face. From his beautiful eyes, to his gorgeous lips. Those lips, which I secretly wondered how it would felt like when it connects with mine. Wait...oh Ara, what the hell are you thinking again? You ruined a perfectly good moment between us if you became another sour mood just because you start to fantasize about your best friend/crush again.
"Ara? You ok?" Junghwa asks. Oh great, he must have notice the smile disappearing from my face.
I sigh. I got caught returning to my foul mood, with my smile no longer presented in my face. As the pop song continues to play in the background, the tension between us gets awkward. Ara, you need to put your focus together to not let your feelings get the best of you.
"I'm fine," I say, with the simplest manner. I struggle to put back my now-faded smile, yet trying so hard I had a feeling it will only make my smile look tacky and fake.
"Are you sure? You've been behaving quite different today," Junghwa asks me, his voice filled with concern.
I sigh. "I'm fine, Hwang Junghwa. I'm totally ok."
"You don't look ok though," Junghwa states.
"And how is that suppose to be your problem?" I snap out, my voice filled with rage. I felt like flames of anger just burst out of me.
Junghwa stares at me with his eyes widen. His jaws dropped for what I guessed his didn't expect me to snap out, in which I was also surprised by my own action just now.
"I just wanted to make sure you're ok," Junghwa says. "Was that even a mistake I did?"
His words shut my lips silent. I'm starting to regret letting my foul mood get the best of me. Bursting out my anger towards him really wasn't the most clever decision, and I should have known better. Damn it, Ara. You messed up, big time.
"I'm sorry, Junghwa," I say. "I guess I was just in a really bad mood recently."
"It's ok," Junghwa says. "You got something stressing out your mind?"
I sigh. "Yeah, some. But I'll get over it."
"Get over it? Is it about a guy?" Junghwa asks me, his tone almost sounded innocent though I found him to be insensitive. Damn, sometimes I wonder between him and Zach, which one of them is actually more insensitive. Men these days.
"Yeah," I say. Well, I didn't really want to hide everything from him fully, knowing that he had shown some efforts to actually take me out tonight just to cheer me up. I think that shows that he cares for me, even if I'm just a friend in his heart.
"Oh, I see," Junghwa says. "What did he do to you?"
I sigh. "He did nothing, Jay. I was just the one feeling dramatic about his relationship."
"He has a girlfriend?" Junghwa asks innocently. "Is he...Matt?"
I roll my eyes. He really is too insensitive to not even get my point, or even start considering if he was the guy, not that I wish he did. Well, only a little.
"He's not Matt," I say. "And, yes. I'm in love with someone I can never have. Sad for me."
I turn around, not wanting to face him and just pretend like I'm gonna continue bowling again.  Yet, before I could grab the ball, I felt a soft touch on my left arm, sending another feeling of electric shock inside of me. I froze in silence the moment I felt his touch, making my body feel weak as my feelings starts going crazy again.
"You deserve much better, Ara," Junghwa says from behind me. He didn't really whisper, but his voice felt like he was giving a gentle touch of whisper to my ear.
With my emotions being a mess, and his gentle hand still on my arm, I couldn't help but felt tears starting to run down from my eyes. For me, this is too much to handle that I am in love with my best friend who is in love with my cousin. Other than, I feel selfish for not being happy for his relationship with Hana, knowing well that I was the one who made it happen. Ara, you've done your job well, but here you are crying over the result of something that you've succede in doing.
"Ara? Are you ok?" Junghwa asks, in which his voice sounds a bit worried.
I couldn't let out an answer. I'm struggling hard to hard to hold back the remaining tears in my eyes. There's no way I would be chill if anyone finds out I'm crying in public, especially him. He is the last person that I wish to know. By that, I only remain silent, without a single word.
Suddenly, I feel my body getting turned around in fast motion, making me face him as his hands are now placed on both of my arms. My heart almost stop as our eyes meet each other, and he widens his eyes at the sight of my tears running down. He looked quite shock.
"Ara, why are you crying?" Junghwa asks in a worried tone.
The sight of his worried face is too much. My lips are still silent as I still couldn't find the right words to put together. Yet, I couldn't bear the pain when I see the worried look in his eyes upon my sad presence. I feel guilty for making him worry about me, when I had enough heartache to begin with for tonight.
"Ara, what's wrong?" he asks, again in the most gentle tone that would only melt my heart.
Not having the strenght to keep pretending to be ok, I throw myself up to him in an impulsive embrace, as I begin to cry my heart out in his arms. Tears kept running down, staining his t-shirt as I begin to sob. Though he didn't say anything in this moment as I assumed he's probably still speechless about this, he tightens the hug as I feel the strong grip of his arms on my slender body, giving me safe and comfortable feeling. Tonight, to be in his arms and have him in mine is all that I needed. If he was the cause of my heartache, I realized that he is also the only medicine I would need. Though I realize that this moment can't last forever, for now, I just wish it would last the longest tonight.
To be continue...