The next day, at school...
Ara's POV...
"So Tracy confronted me this morning."
"What did she say?" Grace ask.
"She told me that she's dating Nate, the senior."
"And why did she need to inform that to you?" Zach ask in a witty tone.
"She showed me her make out pics with him. I guess she was trying to make me jealous about the fact that she has a boyfriend. But whatever, I don't care."
"Eeww..and who would even be insane enough to take those pics?" Zach ask in a disgusted tone.
"I bet it's Bianca," Grace blurts out.
"Literally."
"Who else," Matt adds.
I continue to eat my pasta as Zach, Grace, Peter, and Junghwa all stare at me. Why didn't they just continue with their lunch? My friends can be really weird at times.
"What?"
"I think I have an awesome plan in my head," says Zach as he exchange glances at Matt.
"Hmmm..yup, this is lit," Peter says with an excited tone.
Ok, my friends are really up to something crazy...
"What are you two up to?" Junghwa ask with curiousity.
"If we say that it's a surprise, would you still be curious?" Zach ask with a cheesy smile.
"Duh! What the hell is it?" I blurt out.
Grace laughts at my statement before giving me an answer.
"It's a surprise, Ara! You'll find out sooner," Zach says.
Ok, my friends are starting to make feel curious. I just know they're up to something crazy..
"Well, I can't wait no longer! Guys, seriously! Tell me what's going on?"
After a while of exchanging glances, Zach actually agrees to let Grace tell me what's going on. Well, not really spilling the tea 100%.
"Let's just say, it's a little come back we're planning for Tracy," Grace says, before sipping on her apple juice.
"And...?"
"The rest is still a surprise," Zach says with a smirk.
"Ugh..I hate you, Zach!" I'm literally so annoyed at this point.
"And love me, at the same time," Zach says with a smirk. All of us eventually burst into laughter. I love my friends so much! No matter how annoying they could get, they are always there to make me smile.
Back home...
8PM...
So my parents told me that they'll be ordering pizza for tonight, which I agreed. We sat on the dining table as we wait for the pizza to arrive, while drinking chamomile tea.
"So..how's your piano lesson?" Mom ask.
"Good. Junghwa taught me some more skills. I even learned how to play more songs on the piano," I answer my mom before taking another sip of my tea.
"That's great. And what about school?" she ask.
"Cool. Gladly there's not much homework for tomorrow."
Just as we were drinking our tea, suddenly we hear the bell rang. My dad walks out to see who it was. I assume it is the pizza delivery guy. My dad came walking back with a guy who was only a few inches taller than me. He had brown eyes and black hair. I know this guy too well, yet I didn't expect to see him at this time.
"Hello Mrs. Kim," says the guy.
"Zach?? What are you doing here?" I ask my best friend with a surprised tone.
"I wanted to have some talk with you. You know, about earlier at school," says Zach. "Can we hangout at your room?"
"Umm..ok," I answer.
"Thanks. Excuse us for a moment, Mr and Mrs. Kim," Zach says to my mom.
"No problem, kids! Have fun! I'll call you when the pizza has arrive," says my mom.
By that, Zach and I walk upstairs to my room, where he said before that he wanted to talk to me about earlier.
"Ok, spill it! What do you want to talk about?" I ask him.
"Actually, it's related to this Saturday," says Zach. He sounds a bit nervous.
"What about Saturday?" I ask him.
"So, the guys and I thought about the perfect plan to get back at Tracy for being a total annoyance, for you, and us," says Zach.
"And what sort of crazy plan do you have in.."
I wasn't able finish my sentence cause Zach already pushed his lips on mine. I'm surprise as ever, I didn't know what is going on right now, but quickly push him away from me. Our lips are speechless from the kiss, but our eyes has more to say to each other than what our lips couldn't let out. Finally, I took a deep breath, before deciding to break the silence.
"Ok..what was that?" I ask Zach while having my hands on my hips.
I was lucky enough to witness Zach's cheeks turning a deep shade of red. He looks as if he is out of words. I gotta admit, he looks cute when he's speechless.
"Ohh..that was, a part of the plan," says Zach with a shy smile.
I give him a smirk as I cross my arms. He starts to look nervous as hell. His cheeks began to blush deeper, making him look like a tomato.
"Ok! Don't think about it the wrong way! I was thinking that maybe we can get back at Tracy by pretending that we are dating and kiss this Saturday."
"Why do we need to wait for Saturday?" I ask him with curiousity.
"Because Matt is having his birthday party this Saturday!" Zach says.
"And that evil queen is invited?" I ask him.
"Yeah! That's why I want you to be my pretend GF for Saturday," says Zach. "What do you think?"
I thought about the idea of being my best friend's pretend girlfriend at a party just to piss of my enemy. One part of me wanted to annoy Tracy so bad, but the other part also felt awkward with the image of Zach and I kissing and pretending to be a couple in public. It's a bit crazy.
"I have to admit, again, you and the guys' crazy minds got me all impressed. But for us to portray a couple, wouldn't that be too much for you? I mean, you are pretty popular in school. And don't get me wrong when I say that I saw the cheerleaders drooling over you. Don't you think it's gonna effect your popularity if you and I pretend to date?" I ask him.
"I don't actually care if it's gonna affect my popularity. Besides, you're my best friend, Ara! I wouldn't mind if the whole school actually thought we're truly dating," says Zach as we stare deeply into each others eyes. Seriously? He's starting to create a moment between us. But did he really care for me that much that he's willing to put his popularity at risk?
"Think of it as a friend thing. Pretend that I'm doing you a favor, and the other way around," says Zach.
I hesitate to agree with this crazy idea. Even if Zach didn't mind of losing his popularity, I would feel awful if I was the one responsible for his popularity lost. I was about to express my disagreement, when he continues to express his thought.
"Besides, I don't like any of the girls in school. Yeah, the cheerleaders are hot, but they're just not my type," Zach says with a chill tone. "Or if it makes you feel better, we can pretend to break up a week later. What do you say?"
Hearing this, I actually like the idea of "breaking up" after a week, since it wouldn't be too much affect on Zach's popularity. Besides, I do have to admit that I want to get back at Tracy. I actually start forming a small smile, which leads him to a confusion.
"Mission accepted, Conner! For a week, I'll be your lover and you'll be mine," I say it with a sassy wink.
Zach couldn't help but form a big smile on his face. "Thanks, Ara! Ugh I can't wait to see Tracy's face when she sees us."
"Me too! Ugh I need to get my phone ready and picture her priceless expression."
"Hahaha, yeah," Zach says.
It didn't took long for us to hear my mom calling us to have dinner.
"Wanna join me for dinner?"
"And your parents are ok with that?" Zach ask.
"Don't pretend like they don't love you, Sungho," I say as I raise my eyebrow at him while having my hands on my hips.
"Besides, we're having pizza tonight!"
"Let me guess..Margherita?" Zach ask.
"Yup! And pepperoni!"
Zach gives his signature cheesy smile, before actually agreeing to join me for dinner. The two of us walk downstairs to see my mom already waiting in the dining table, with 2 boxes of pizza. My mom would often makes jokes about Zach and I, which actually got me annoyed. Zach just laughted it off though, but I was seriously feeling uncomfortable.
The next day...
At school...
Ara's POV...
I saw my two best friends, Zach and Junghwa standing near the lockers. I approach them to and give Zach a tap on her shoulder.
"Hey, Ara!" says Zach as he smiles at me.
"Hey! Did I miss something?" I ask.
"Nah! We're just talking about Saturday," says Junghwa with a smirk.
"Ok..cool."
A few hours later...
At Junghwa's house...
"That's it! Keep going," Junghwa says as he watch me play the piano.
I was in the middle of playing a new song he taught me yesterday. The song title is "Life Is Still Going On", and I love how the rythm flows to the music. It's a great song.
I eventually finish playing the song, and Junghwa compliments on how I'm getting better and better. Man, does he even realize that he's literally the reason why my piano skills are getting better? Well that is pretty obvious.
"Thanks for the compliment. But I wouldn't be this good if I didn't have a tutor like you," I say to him with a smile.
Junghwa forms a confident smile at me, before finally saying some words out.
"Well..a good tutor like me will surely make you an expert," says Junghwa.
"I guess," I say to him.
We both stare into each others eyes. I have to admit that I always got lost in studying his pretty eyes, but from the looks in his eyes. Yet, I know he only sees me as his friend, nothing else. Wait...why am I even thinking about it that way? Ugh, control your feelings, Ara! He's your cousin's boyfriend.
"Ok. Our lesson has come to an end," says Junghwa as he starts to tidy the music sheets. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for my date with Hana."
"In love much?" I tease him.
"Stop with the question," says Junghwa in a childish tone.
"Haha, I was teasing you," I say. "Ok, I'll leave you alone now. Bye!"
Friday...
After school...
I was sitting beside Junghwa as he starts the engine of the car. I pull out my phone from my bag to check my messages. I got a message from Zach.
"Don't forget to choose the perfect outfit to piss Tracy." - Zach.
"Hell yeah I will." - Ara.
I can't help but smile at my phone as I read Zach's text message. I notice Junghwa slowly glancing at me.
"Zach flirted you?" Junghwa ask in a cheesy tone.
"No, Junghwa! He just told me to choose the perfect outfit to annoy the hell out of Tracy," I say in a sarcastic tone.
Junghwa chuckles. "You guys actually make a cute couple."
I roll my eyes. "Same goes to you and Hana. Don't pretend like I didn't see those Instagram photos."
"Haha, can't deny that," Junghwa says. I could tell from his voice that he sounded proud of the photos of him and Hana.
As funny as it feels, it's weird how I'm considering Junghwa more than a friend now. I'm starting to get attach with spending time with him, during and even after our lesson. For some reasons, he gave me a different feeling when I'm around him. A feeling that I didn't feel when I was with my other friends. Maybe is because we have the same passion for music? I don't know about that, but what I know is that being him, it's as if my heart is free to feel, yet the boundaries in my mind makes me realize that he is with Hana.
At Junghwa's house...
"Ready for today's lesson?" Junghwa ask as he opens the door of the pratice room.
His attention quickly moves to my direction, in which we enter a quick a eye contact. I'm secretly hoping that it wouldn't get any deeper. I had enough of weird butterflies dancing in me these past few days just by stealing glances of him at some points.
"Yeah! Lead the way!"
To be continue...