Chapter CIII - I’ll Prove It

Hanging up the phone, Tjay looked toward the grey sky and sighed. Despite telling others not to worry, he himself worried the most. Nabi hadn’t sent a single message after informing Irene they’d broken up over text, refusing to pick up any calls.

Walking down the stone steps, Tjay wasn’t sure what to expect or say once he found her, but as soon as he laid his eyes on her sitting under the bridge from a distance, he exhaled in relief. However, even from afar, he could tell she was crying all by herself, tearing him up inside.

Texting Arthur that he found her, Tjay slowly made his way over.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts and sorrow that she hadn’t even noticed him walking up to her. Sitting on the ground with her knees pressing against her chest while leaning against the stone wall and staring at the river, Nabi cried her eyes out as she held on tight.

“Hey. . .” Tjay’s soft-spoken voice reached her ear as he sat down next to her with one leg bet at the knee.

Nabi couldn’t even look at him, feeling pathetic as she rested her chin on her knees. “Guessing they told you. . .”

“Yeah. . .” Tjay threw a glance at her, hoping to eventually meet her gaze.

“I should’ve picked a different spot,” she chuckled, snorting before burying her face in.

“Maybe you wanted to be found.” Tjay looked back at the river as the stream became stronger. “We always came here when we were sad. Can’t even count how often that was anymore. But we were just kids back then, and it was always something silly, wasn’t it?” Tjay knew she wasn’t going to answer, but she did listen, which was important. “To think we’ve grown up now. . . I miss the old days when I’d complain about someone taking my stuff or when my mom yelled at me for breaking something and me thinking she was being unfair.”

“Like that time Sung broke your figurine?” Nabi whispered, biting her lower lip.

“Don’t remind me. . .” He chuckled. “God, I was so mad at him back then. It was my favorite too.”

“They were all your favorites.” Nabi took a deep breath before finally lifting her head up and wiping away the tears with her sleeve. “You were so obsessed with them.”

“Were? What gave you the impression I changed?” Tjay smiled, knowing he almost got her to laugh. “Besides. . . You can’t blame me. I had this really awesome girl following me around, helping me pick which ones to get. I never told her, but I kept buying more and more because of her.”

“Could’ve introduced me. . . I must’ve gotten in your way whenever I selfishly tagged along.” It sounded as if she tried making a joke, but the breakup left her feeling gutted to the point it made it hard to tell.

Tjay opened his mouth to say something, but his voice just wouldn’t come out. Clenching his fist, he sighed and closed his eyes.

“Maybe I’m dumb and can’t figure out what happened between the two of you, but Nabi. . . You’re the coolest girl I know.”

“Yeah, right. . .” She denied it without hesitation.

“I’m serious. . . You’re smart, hardworking, honest, quickwitted, funny, and so so so much more.” Tjay looked back at her, noticing she finally turned toward him with her puffy eyes covered by messy bangs. “Don’t let that asshole bring you down. He’s not worth it.”

“H–he. . .” Despite her best effort to calm down, she broke down again, burying her face back into her thighs.

There were only a handful of times Tjay saw Nabi crying like that, and they always broke his heart.

“Don’t hold it in.” Tjay made sure she knew it was okay to cry, placing his hand on her back while struggling to stop himself from pulling her in for a hug.

Nabi kept crying, and as if the sky itself had sympathy, it started to pour.

“You were right. . .” Nabi mumbled after a few minutes, snorting uncontrollably. “I was dumb for thinking it’d work out.”

“That’s not true. You’re–”

“Pathetic.” Nabi cruelly said out loud.

“What?” He looked stunned.

“That’s what he called me. Pathetic.” Nabi rubbed her palms against her face, irritating her eyes further. “Just a nerd that talks about shit nobody cares about, and he’s right. If it hadn’t been for you guys, I’d still be sitting alone at lunch, acting as if it’s not my fault.”

“Who the fuck is he to tell you something like that?!” Tjay’s blood began boiling, but he lowered his voice immediately, realizing it wasn’t what she wanted. “What a moron. . . too dumb to realize how cool you are.”

“You’re just saying that. . .”

“No, Nabi. I’m not.” Tjay sighed, pulling himself closer to her. “You’ve no idea how charming it was whenever we went to town, and I showed interest in something but hesitated to check it out, so you just grabbed my hand and dragged me into the stores, completely ignoring my tantrums. Then there were all these random facts you knew about everything that I loved hearing you ramble about. Sure, sometimes I felt dumb cuz I couldn’t follow along, but it’s getting better. . .” He chuckled. “And let’s not forget how cute your stubborn ass was whenever we argued, and admittedly now, even if I was wrong, I enjoyed fighting to the bitter end just to hear what you had to say. Now how could you call a person like that boring?”

“So what you’re saying is that whenever I was mad at you, you kept being annoying on purpose?” She furrowed her brows.

“Really? That’s what you choose to hear?” Tjay giggled, letting out a sigh as his attention went back to the river. “Well. . . Maybe I just suck at this talking thing.”

“No. . .” She smirked, nudging his leg. “Thanks.”

Tjay looked back at her and smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

As they stopped talking, Nabi took a deep breath.

“You know. . .” Realizing her voice was wobbly, she cleared her throat and said, “It really hurts. . .”

“Did–” Tjay paused, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer. “Did you love him?”

“I don’t think so,” Nabi answered, breaking away eye contact and looking at the river again. “Probably not, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

“He didn’t deserve you anyway. . .”

“Guess I’m just gonna stay single forever.” She sighed again, leaning her chin against the knee.

“That’s probably the dumbest thing you’ve ever said, and that’s coming from me,” he pointed out, making her laugh.

“Well. . . I just don’t fit what guys are looking for,” she told him, tracing her finger across the ground. “And I ain’t even talking about girls like Irene and Iseul who are just drop-dead gorgeous and confident. . .”

“You’re right. . . You’re not what most guys are looking for,” Tjay confirmed, stretching both legs and aimlessly gazing in front of him. “But that’s cuz most guys can’t handle you.”

“Great. . .” Nabi sighed.

“Let me finish,” Tjay smirked. “Nabi, you’re smart and passionate, let’s not even mention ambitious. . . Many guys find that intimidating and won’t bother approaching. They don’t want something they have to work for and just want what’s easy to feel better about themselves. And yeah, Irene and Iseul are beautiful, I won’t take that away from them, but not once did I believe they were more beautiful than you. . .”

She stayed quiet, letting what he said sink in.

“You know he accused me of liking you?” Nabi looked back at him as their eyes met again.

“Well? Do you?” Tjay asked but quickly noticed her conflicting feelings.

“Come on, Tjay. . .” Nabi whispered, trying not to answer.

“Well, I like you,” Tjay said confidently. “No. . . I–”

“Don’t. . .” Nabi interrupted him, averting her gaze.

“Why?” Tjay asked, unwilling to let it go. “Is it because you don’t like me? If that’s the case then–”

“It wouldn’t work out,” she mumbled.

“What do you mean?”

“Us. . . It wouldn’t work.”

“Why not? We haven’t tried it.”

“Tjay. . .”

“Okay, I get that you just broke up, so I’m not pushing you into anything, but don’t claim it wouldn’t work without a reason,” he tried to keep his cool, managing to keep his voice down despite his heart racing, feeling as if he’s going to throw up from anxiety. “Nabi, I. . . I’ve liked you for a long time but never had the balls to say it. I was afraid you’d reject me or feel betrayed that I confessed when you considered me just a friend, and when I saw you get that letter– I freaked out thinking I’d never get a chance to tell you how I felt. So here I am, saying what I truly feel.”

“You think it’s easier for me?!” Nabi started to tear up again. “I’ve liked you for years as well, but you always made fun of me for stupid stuff, and I started believing I was an idiot for thinking you might like me.”

“If that’s true, then why are you saying it wouldn’t work between us?” Tjay was confused, wanting nothing more than to grab her hand and take her all for himself.

“Because you can’t control yourself. . .” Nabi finally said it. “You can’t stay out of trouble. You’re constantly getting into fights and leaving me overwhelmed with worry, and I’m not even your girlfriend. Until recently, you didn’t even bother showing up to school, and you treat everything as a joke cuz you know your father will bail you out. Now, I’m not saying I’m any better, but I can’t sit there and constantly worry.”

“Do you also think I might hurt you?” He whispered.

“What? No. . . Stop overthinking it.” She shook her head. “Tae-Hyun, I’ve known you my whole life, and you’re the most loyal and kindhearted person I know. I’m sure others see it too, despite your best effort not to show it. However, that doesn’t mean that one day you’ll stop getting into trouble for your own sake.”

“What if I stopped?” Tjay said, leaning closer. “What if I stopped getting into trouble and continued showing up to school? Would you be able to date me then?”

“I have no right to ask you to do that,” Nabi answered, staying still despite him being so close. “I love who you are, and–”

“I’ll prove it to you,” Tjay interrupted her. “I’ll prove to you that I can control myself and that I can do better. I won’t get into any more fights, and I’ll continue going to school. Hell, I won’t even cheat on the finals.”

“Tjay. . .” She sighed, reaching for his face with her hand brushing his hair gently. “The only thing I’d ever ask of you is to stop causing the people around you to worry.”

“I’ll do my best,” he reassured her, lowering his voice. “I promise.”

Gazing into her ebony eyes as she smiled shyly while gently cupping his face, Tjay couldn’t fight his urge anymore and slowly leaned in, giving her enough time to move away if she wanted before their lips pressed together. She never did, and they embraced for the first time.

Looking at each other with half-closed eyes as his hand reached for hers, Nabi’s lips, which he expected to be dry, were soft and sensitive after licking and biting them repeatedly. He was reluctant to let her go, but as they broke away they both shared the happiest smile they ever had, leaving both to feel embarrassed. She was aware of what a mess she looked like after crying her eyes out, yet still, he kissed her so gently after years of wanting it.

“Tjay, I–”

“It’s okay,” he said, caressing her palm with his thumb. “I know this doesn’t mean you said yes. I just couldn’t go on without kissing you at least once.”

“I–” She paused again, taking a deep breath before letting out a sigh. “You know what? Show me.”

“Huh? Could you say that again?” He looked at her, thinking he understood but wishing to hear it again anyway.

“Tae-Hyun,” Nabi called his name. “Prove that you can go a full semester without getting into trouble, and I’ll say yes to you taking me out on a date.”

“I will!” He finally raised his voice. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and quickly kissing him on the lips again, a small peck before breaking away. “And I wanted to do that too, asshole.”

She punched his shoulder, making both of them laugh.

“Ouch,” he complained jokingly before standing up and giving her a hand. “Shall I take you home?”

“Amm. . . It’s raining,” she pointed out.

“Oh! Right. . .” He awkwardly chuckled, feeling lost as he was filled with joy. “Amm. . . So, what now?”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the ground, leaning against his shoulder.

“Just sit down, and let’s wait it out like when we were kids.”

“Sure.” He smiled, grabbing her hand. “I’d like that.”

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.