Withered - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"So, you said you're going to confess once you returned" Dahyun ask Chaeyoung as he sits in an armchair while opening a can of beer. They are having a little talk at the living room watching Marvel, Tzuyu's idea just to end the day.
"I will, this Sunday" Chaeyoung answers. He's sitting on the edge of the sofa, with legs apart but thighs joined at the knee, rubbing his hands together for nonstop. He's been thinking whether it's the right thing to do, the confession.
"For real?" Hyun asks.
"Yeah"
"Well, just don't get your ass back home crying like last time" Tzuyu interrupt while choosing the next movie to play because the one that they're watching or only him that actually hooked into it, just ended.
"I'm not and watch your language Tzuyu" Chaeyoung fix himself, sitting upright, glaring at the youngest.
Dahyun only grins seeing his brothers acting up. "Anyway, good luck Chae. Do you prepare anything ?" He taps Chaeyoung's left shoulder while offering him a beer.
Chaeyoung takes a sip, swirl it around his mouth, and swallow it. For him, it still tastes like he's drinking bread, this only the first time and he's not used. He already feels the world spinning around him. He clicks his tongue then raise his brows facing Dahyun "Prepare what?"
"Event? Flowers? Chocolate? Anything?"
"Oh, yeah I'm too nervous. I haven't thought about that" Chaeyoung confess, it's the truth though.
"Chillax just says the magic word and it's either. One, she'll accept you. Second, she'll reject you. Third, which is the worst, she'll feel awkward around you which could destroy your so call friendship" Dahyun never understand his brother, he knows that it's risky but until when is he going to watch her from afar. Just confront the girl and say it. What's so hard?
"Mina noona is not that narrow-minded, I thought Hyung you know her better," Tzuyu says leaning against the sofa.
"I thought too" Chaeyoung sigh lowering his head.
"Like even the colour of her underwear, last night she wears pin----" Tzuyu didn't finish his words when Chaeyoung's feet land on his mouth shutting him. Basically kicking his face making Tzuyu almost chokes on a snack.
"I'm just kidding, that really hurts. Argg, my jaw" Tzuyu groan in pain, holding his chin while moving away from Chaeyoung, afraid of another smack.
Dahyun let out a small laugh, shakes his head then turns to Chae again. "Don't worry too much."
They just keep drinking until all of them pass out in the living room. Well, Chae is the first one to lose his consciousness after only the second sips.
*  *  *  *
Ring! Ring!
"Fudge!" Chaeyoung groans as he turns off his alarm and jumps out from his bed. He wakes up in the middle of the night then can't go back to sleep no matter how hard he tried realizing that tomorrow is the day. So, he ended up staying awake until 5 a.m. and falling asleep afterwards.
He quickly gets ready, doing the usual morning routine but in 3x speed. Got his phone and rush to the door while keep saying "I'm late" under his breath.
"Wait, you're going to wear that?" Dahyun says, still with his pyjama holding a cup of tea. He stands from the couch and stops in front Chaeyoung, staring at him up and down.
"Why?"
"A black T-shirt with black pants and a black baseball cap with your uncombed messy hair and your swollen face? You look like a freaking murderer"
"She's waiting. I don't have ti--"
"Hey, keep in mind girls take forever to get ready" Dahyun interjected.
"She's not like any other girl! She always on time" Chaeyoung defends as he tries to escape.
Dahyun held Chaeyoung's arms and pull him a little "Okay, Alright. Relax, you can just text her says you're going to be late and ask her to wait somewhere, coffee shop or something"
"Son Chaeyoung" Dahyun snaps his finger few times because Chaeyoung seems like he's spacing out not minding his words.
"Oh, oh yeah"
"Give me your phone"
Dahyun snatches Chae's phone and throws it somewhere, Tzuyu who just listening successfully catch the phone "Tzuyu go text Mina noona" Hyun turns his gaze to the Cub "And you, follow me" Grinning, Dahyun pulls Chaeyoung by ear then disappear.
*  *  *  *
The three arrive using Dahyun's car, a protonic red BMW i8. He parked in front of a tiny cafe, right on the quayside with boats moored all around them and bright blue water nipping back and forth.
"There she is. Hyung Jia you!" Tzuyu gives a quick thumbs up. He's sitting at the middle rear seats of the car.
"Uh-oh" Chaeyoung unconsciously utters in panic.
"What are you waiting for?" Dahyun break-in.
Chaeyoung turns his head from the side window staring at his brother. He let out a heavy sigh unknowingly blink nonstop with his eyes shaken a bit "Hyung, what if she rejects me. Is this--- worth it? I-I don't want to lose her"
"Freaking friendship, just go for it, say what you need to say. You're a tough man"
"I-I'm a tough man. Yeah, I'm a tough man" Chaeyoung punch his chest and let out a long loud breath one last time. He smiles at his brothers then going out of the car.
He's been so lost constructing scenario for the night ahead that he's surprised to see how far he has come. Already the cafe is insight. He can hear music from inside, the kind of rolling Jazz. Suddenly all he's preparation flee his mind like scared children. He stops. Part of him is screaming to turn around but he knows his future is in there.
______________________________________
He's never late I thought, finishing my second drink. But it's so nice in here. The interior of the cafe is warm and cheery. Square shiny table with small vases of red carnation flowers on each table, Monet prints framed on the walls and light jazz music. Perfect.
Maybe I should get him a drink too, he just texts me saying he's on the way. I stand up taking my bag with me on the way to the counter. After ordering a hot caramel macchiato, I turn around raising my brows, smiling when I see him outside waving at me.
He seems different wearing thick dark selvedge jeans teamed with a button-down shirt worn under a brown knit jumper. He's growing up fast I thought. I stand waiting for him as he walks closer and closer Eh?' Wait!
Bang!!
I can feel people stares as the sound distract everyone's attention, laughter and giggle can hear all the way down. I press my lips, holding my laugh and walk away straight to the table in the corner. *I don't know that guy*
Chaengie sits across me, the look of mild shock on his face and his cheeks that flushed pink. "Who are you?" I ask teasing him still trying hard to hold my laugh. I literally could burst in tears if we're not outside but only us.
"You're cruel," He pouts avoiding my eyes.
"You just crashed on to the glass door" Finally I release a small giggle while covering my mouth. I'm wrong he's still a kid, cool but stupid. "Are you alright? "I add when he doesn't answer me. Maybe it's too much. I lean forward closing the gap between us, eyes lock on him. I swipe his auburn mullet black hair off his forehead and sees a red mark more like a bruise. "It must be hurt"
"I'm f-fine. The glass was near transparent" He says removing my hand and steps back a little.
Why so defensive? I thought. Weird. I sit back wondering if he's sick because his face looks as red as a beetroot and radiate heat like a hot pan. His face burns bright enough to outshine the sun. Is it the reason he's late?
"Chaengie, are you okay? Let's just go hom--"
"No! I'm perfectly fine" He quickly cut in. "Since it's 11 let's eat first I'm hungry~" He whines. I'm not satisfied with his answer but for now, let's not think too much. We eat our late lunch for an hour and talks about our childhood memories, like how he almost drowned when he tried to save a kitten, how I hurt my ankle when badly when I'm practising ballet causing him to take care of me for a week, how he chocked on a rubber, his first winning on basketball, my first ballet trophy...how much I miss that time.
"You haven't watch Fantastic Beasts, aren't you?" He suddenly asks and I nod. We finish our lunch and heads to the cinema. I thought they don't show it anymore because it's been a year. We take a bus because Chaengie doesn't bring his car and I prefer him not to.
"Let me take that" He gestures. I give him the drink and popcorn while examining the place, still feeling odd when the cinema looks empty. Is it because today is Sunday? Where it supposed to be crowded.
We get in and I hate myself for forgetting this movie. I should watch it earlier. How come I miss this? Although my concentration fully on the screen, I still notice how we are the only person who's watching.
"Chaengie? Where's everyone?"
"Huh? Oh who would want to watch a movie that was released a year ago. "
Well, he's right. Putting aside the unusual feeling and attention on the screen again. After a moment, I can hear yawning which makes me turn to Chaengie and guess what, he's asleep. In a very uncomfortable way. Sighing, I put his head gently on my left shoulder, holding his hand.
.
.
.
.
.
I wake him up after the movie ends, pinching his nose hard.
"D-did I---" He looks at me with guiltiness written in his face
"Yeah"
"Gomen" He apologizes.
I smile and shrug it off "Nah, let's grab something I'm hungry"
"Let's go," He says dragging me out of the place. I just realized it's already night and It's getting dark. We have our dinner at a restaurant own by an old Granny, When we were younger, we always come here to help and talks to Nana we call her with the nickname, she's the nicest human being I've ever met. The restaurant makes me feel like I'm home it got that warm atmosphere. It's only a few blocks from where we live before we moved, next to a high school. Only after 3 years, I meet her again.
I hug Nana tightly while crying. I'm really sorry for not visiting her all this time. She rubs my back and wipes my tear. After the dramatic scene, all of us just waste the time together and I tell Nana how bad of Chaengie leaving me alone and not even contacting me for a year. And he got a hard smack on his head by Nana.
"Nana~~" he whimpers rubbing the back of his head
We talk till it almost midnight then excuse ourselves. I embrace Nana one last time and Chaengie did the same. Before we left, Nana says something to Chaengie that I don't really get the message.
"Chaengie?"
"Yes, Nana"
"Waiting is a mistake. Right time always too late" Nana says smiling at him. What is that supposed to be mean? A faint smile crosses Changie's face and fades quickly. What is happening?
"I'm trying"
With that, we leave and starts to walk towards the bus station. On the way, I keep asking Chaengie what is it meant but he keeps avoiding my question, changing the topic into something else. "Mina, let's go to the park. I want to show you something" He captures my hand, intertwine our fingers dragging me to the park.
Nearing, the park seems to be quietly asleep resting comfortably in the afterglow of the soft moonlight night. Somehow I feel the urge to smile remembering all of our moments when we were child holding hands running around chasing each other, playing with the sand, when I push the swing too hard makes Chaengie fall on his face. He broke his front teeth that day.
He takes me to the empty bench where we always sit, not a single soul in sight. Just the two of us. It feels like we're in our little world in the sweet darkness, only the stars and the arching branches of the tree are here to accompany us.
"Wait," He says staring at his wristwatch then stars to counting down.
"5"
"4"
"3"
"2"
"1"
BOOM!!
Startled, I look up to the sky. Fireworks explode above burst through the dark night, fiery blooms amongst the stars. Like the stars only a backdrop. Each one draws a pattern in the sky, something unique and breathtaking. Some shoot straight before exploding, others whirls in a spiral, some shatter into thousands of spark, others tumble like a scarlet waterfall. I can feel my face light up as I'm smiling.
I'm enjoying the view so does Changie, he pulls me closer putting his arm around me while I'm hugging him from side resting my head against his warm chest. When the fireworks over, I praise him for it. It's really pretty.
"Mina?"
"Humm"
"Myoui Mina"
I tilt my head and stares at him, sensing the swirl of emotion but I can't quite get what is it. The corner of his mouth slides upwards. His eyes, his lips, and his spirit seem all at once smile at me. I return the smile showing my gums. He leans down and softly kisses my forehead.
"I like you"