Tinkle

Chapter Fourteen

"I hate you.", I said when I started walking with an arm over his shoulder.

I thought I was really fine without the crutches, so I refused using it. Because if I continued to use it, my lazy self will be used to it, and I was afraid that my right foot won't be able to walk again if that happened. Weird, but sometimes it's true to me.

But now I wished I just used it instead of being in this position.

"Thanks, but why?", Evan chuckled.

"You're not someone to play riddles and puzzles with me.", I frankly said.

"I was anxious that my guess might be wrong.", I said, as he helped me step on the platform in front of our house before the porch.

He stopped and faced me.

"You haven't solve it yet?", he asked, sighing in disappointment.

"You're disappointing me, Seoji.", he chuckled.

"You remember this?", he lifted my wrist and smacked it using three of his fingers, I gasped and rubbed my wrist, feeling the burning sensation.

"Why did you do that?", I yelled and punched his shoulder, hard enough to make him nearly fall on the ground. I started to lose balance since I am depending on holding onto his arm.

He retracted on his position and held my arm for support and laughed.

"You haven't change a bit, you're still this strong.", he commented. "Did you really forget about me?", he asked.

I tried to think and searched every corner of my memory, but I can't even remember him.

"Here, let me help you.", he said out of frustration, as he held me firmly yet gently on both of my arms and pulled me closer.

I thought he was kidding, but in a second, I felt his warm lips on mine.

He pulled his lips after another second as he was grinning widely, anticipating. It was a peck but it felt like it lasted for a decade. I know I'm overreacting, but he's the least person I think would kiss me.

My eyes widen at his action, as I felt the sleeping butterflies in my stomach awaken.

He's my second kiss, but it felt like it's the first.

"What did you just...", I stuttered and touched my lips.

He frowned and stomped his feet.

"You still don't remember?", he asked. I've never saw this cute side of him.

He sighed in frustration and carried me in his shoulder, as half of my body hanged behind him.

I squealed and hit his back, "Hey, let me go!", he stayed quiet as we bounced as he stepped on the stairs on the porch, and heard him rang the doorbell. 

He gently put me down after that.

I glared at him as he kept that frown on his face, not even bothering to look at me.

"Oh, Evan.", mom greeted Evan first, then looked at me from head too feet, only to notice the bandage on my right foot.

"Seoji? What happened?", she asked the both of us.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but you should ask your daughter.", he smiled at her and bowed before adding, "I'll be going now, good night and goodbye.", he smiled at my mother and she just confusedly nodded at him.

"Okay, take care.", she said as we watch him walk out of the scene back towards where he parked his car.

"What's wrong with him?", Mom asked and I just shrugged, and before I even take a step inside, I heard the tinkle again.

---

I groaned and slammed the pen on my table before closing the application I use for digital art.

"What's wrong, Seoji?", Jorge asked. I turned my swivel chair and faced them, silently watching me.

"Ah, just nothing. I don't have any ideas for my work.", I said and stood up.

Steve stood up and helped me to stand up after he let go of his bag of chips.

"Surprising. Funny how you help me since earlier but you didn't even bother to send me home last night.", I sounded salty like how I really am.

"If Evan insisted to drive, we should let him.", he simply said and laughed awkwardly. "Actually, Evan talked to me yesterday to borrow my car. I didn't know why, but I let him. Evan rarely insist on something so I let him.", he explained.

"Where are you going?", Kurt asked, then I heard a satisfying crunch sound from his mouth as he ate the chips.

"Downstairs.", I was late to answer due to being fazed by deep thoughts.

Last thing I knew, Steve squatted in front of me.

I peeked from his back and asked, "Piggyback ride?". I knew it was coming.

He nodded. I didn't say anything and went on his back as he started taking steps on the stairs.

I noticed few crumbs on his hair.

"Are your hair hungry, too?", I asked him which he just replied a confused hum.

"You have crumbs on your hair.", I said and ruffled his hair to get rid of the crumbs.

"Ah, probably Ben.", Steve said and he chuckled.

He hummed and stopped walking, "Oh? Evan, David.", I looked in front of us and saw Evan with David.

"I knew David have something to do, but you leave and come as if you own the time?", Steve laughed slightly, but he sounded like he was scolding him. "Where have you been?", he asked him and David just helped me get off of Steve’s back.

"Ah, I went somewhere important. David and I met outside.", Evan explained and glanced at me.

"I see. I'll be assisting Seoji for now.", Steve said as he placed an arm over my shoulder.

I smiled at both of them but they just nodded. Steve brought me towards the kitchen where my mom was. How did he knew I need to go to her? Oh, well.

Mom noticed us and smiled, as she was having her teatime. I feel bad that I am hanging out with my friends upstairs, but she's here all alone.

"Come, join me, you two.", she said as she took two teacups, one for each of Steve and me.

"Mom, I have something to say.", I said. I forgot Steve was here, so I instead said, "But I think I'll tell you later."

"Uh, should I go back upstairs? I think you need to talk privately.", he smiled.

"Please. I just need to discuss something with my Mom.", I smiled shyly as he just smiled and nodded, before bowing to mom.

"Steve, bring this with the other guys.", mom stood up and brought a gallon of I don't know what.

"I made homemade ice cream, share it with the others.", she said and gave him the ice cream with spoons.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lee.", Steve bowed and smiled before leaving the kitchen.

"Mom, you probably noticed that I'm not wearing my necklace.", I started just after Steve left the kitchen. She nodded after she looked at my neck.

"That day when I was brought to the realms, I met this Mr. Juhyeol, and he took my necklace back.", I paused, "You know it makes the tinkling sounds, right?", I asked her.

She nodded, "Yes, what about it?".

"I am not wearing that since that day, but I heard it tinkled just yesterday.", I said.

"That's impossible, how?", she asked and took a sip of her tea.

"I know, I know. I can't believe it, too.", I paused and toppled my other hand on hers.

"But it tinkled on you, mom. It tinkled on you."

to be continued...