"Umm, hey Linong...", Gracie said slowly and awkwardly. She tapped Linong's desk to get his attention.

The boy who was doing his history homework looked up and faced her.

"Yes?", Linong replied while he saw that Gracie was looking away from him and avoiding his eyes.

"Can I talk to you for a while?", she asked, finally facing the boy.

She was waiting for the boy's answer as he was debating whether or not to agree with her request.

Gracie pursed her lips into a thin line and looked elsewhere but Linong who was deciding while facing her.

After moments of silence, Linong finally let out an answer.

"Sure", he answered shortly.

Linong then relaxed his tensed body and sat comfortably on his seat. Gracie's presence made the boy a little bit uneasy, with the fact that they haven't spoken to each other since he said they were now only 'classmates'.

"Um, I mean... at some other place... Maybe our usual spot...", she said and mumbled the last part. But, Linong did hear what she said.

"Okay, but make it quick...", Linong told the girl. It was just that he wanted to finish his undone homework, especially since history was the 2nd subject after recess. He would be dead if he doesn't finish his homework again. Gracie wasn't there anymore to help him with his homework...

"She probably helps Chengcheng with his homework...", the boy assumed.

The both of them exited their classroom and hurriedly went to their usual spot, the fire emergency staircase.

Gracie entered the staircase first, followed by Linong. He closed the door, making a loud 'thud' sound, resulting the girl to flinch.

Gracie was looking down at the floor, away from Linong's eyes. He was standing just right in front of her. He was looking at her intently, and was patiently waiting for her to speak up.

After a minute, the girl finally looked up from the ground, only to meet Linong's handsome face. His face was so close, she almost had a heart attack.

She saw that Linong was just waiting for her to talk.

Linong figured out that she wanted to say something that was bothering her, so he let her take her time. History homework can wait.

"Linong-"

"You can call me Nongnong", he cut her.

"Oh, alright. Nongnong...", she started.

Gracie was looking at Linong's face. Her eyes was staring into his, and vice versa. For a second, she forgot what she wanted to say as she was mesmerized by the boy's beautiful eyes.

After coming back to her senses, she took a deep breath before continuing.

"Can we be best friends again?", she finally asked. Actually, Gracie is those kind of people with a lot of pride.

She wouldn't apologize to anyone that easily, would sometimes look down at people and more. But for Linong, she swallowed her pride to be best friends with him again.

Linong who heard her question acted like he was thinking and let out a small 'hmm'. But in his mind, he already has his answer.

"Well, took you long enough to ask", he said and chuckled.

Gracie just looked at the smiling boy, waiting for his real answer.

"If he said that, does it mean a 'yes'?", she thought.

Linong just smiled sweetly at her before answering.

"Of course we can"

She immediately jumped at the boy. Her body was suddenly filled with a rush of happiness. She got her best friend back. She jumped around happily and hugged him.

"But", he suddenly said.

The girl's excitement immediately died down at the sound of the word 'but'. She let go of Linong's body from her arms. She then stood back up and stepped away from the boy to hear what he has to say.

Linong came a step closer with a bitter smile.

"Go to Chengcheng's side first, for now, okay?", he simply said and patted the girl's head.

After that, he walked past the girl. He opened the door and went out of the staircase, leaving the dumbfounded girl alone.

~~~

Hey...

What do you mean by 'Go to Chengcheng first?'

It means that for now, just focus on Chengcheng okay?

I'll come around when I want to.

Is that okay with you?

Oh

So you still can't accept Chengcheng

No...

Then what if I end things with Chengcheng?

Don't

I can see that you really like the guy. Probably love hmm

So just go with him for now. I don't want to interfere your live life

But I want you too

As my best friend

I can have my best friend to not reciprocate my feelings towards her

But for now... I can't accept that the girl I love is in love with another guy

I'm sorry

Bye