Page 6: Does He Like Me?

Sunday

9:00 pm.

Amelia.

Dear Diary,

Just realised. Jerky Alexander Min left his hoodie in a hurry today eve.

My mother spotted it in the living room only after two hours since he left.

I still cannot believe that Alex walked me home late at night and considering what happened when I talked with him at his house, he doesn't seem all that bad after all. I have also finally came to know of the real reason he transferred the town at the last year of our elementary school.

Mother's words were the orders of the emperor at our house. They are the ultimate commandment. And, so whether I liked it or not, I did walk to Alex's home with the help of the mixture of google map and my old memory.

For a person who never allows me to bring boys home, I wonder if she ever worries whether I get kidnapped by some ruffian. She will only know of the significance of her daughter's presense if something like that happens, hump!

I walked there sulking when I finally reached the familiar address.

I remember, Alex lived with his parents when we were young. I used to come here many times to play and considering that Alex's grandfather considered this house a heritage that was given to his mother, I suspected they would rent another house when they were back in the town. That's the reason I was able to find the house with ease.

Entering the giant traditional buliding with an ancient styled architecture, I was thankful the house guard recognised me. But, unexpectedly I was instantly greeted by loud voices of people yelling by the house's door.

"I told you, Alex! This isn't something you must worry! Jack and I just don't seem to be compatible with each other. But, we are still trying to work things out..!"

An angry lady of about thirty with a large protruded belly called out to the retreating young boy who had just entered the balcony from the house's indoor frowning.

"Fine! I don't care about that. But, what are you saying about that child's future? Are you just gonna abandon him..?"

"Alex, we will work things out."

"You always say that."

"Stop right there when, I tell you young man! Alex! Alexander Min!"

Shhhhhh!!

The sound of the cooker hushed from the inside and the pregnant woman had to rush in to off it.

The young boy, Alexander in the question leaned on the grill fence of the balcony and stared at the moon.

He then let out a deep exhausted sigh.

Um.. When should I tell him I came here uninvited?

He already seemed to be quite mad. Even at my house but considering the comprehensible argument he just had with the woman who I do not recognise, I have no idea what to do.

I was thinking all this hiding behind the few large fresh green bonsais on a certain corner of the garden.

At this time, suddenly a giant flurry being rushed out from the house wagging it's tail and jumped over Alex almost knocking him down.

Shaggy..?

He still had that golden retriever..? He lookes so cute.

I spied him.

Few gleeful laughter soon exited Alex's lips as the giant pup licked him with kisses.

"Haha, Shaggy stop! You ticking me..! Who's the good guy? Who's the big guy..?"

I didn't realise before but, the sight of smiling Alex bathed on the mild moonlight with his gorgeous hair bouncing upwards as his blue eyes turned into a crescent was so breathtaking that, my eyes involuntarily fixed on his handsome figure.

Now, that I think about it, it has really been a while since I have seen him smile so brightly. Actually it was one of Alex's charm of having an indifferent face that made him so popular. But, looking at him now he wasn't very different from a normal person like the rest of us.

I .. wonder just what the hell happened to his life that he had become like that.

He hugged his golden retriever and

told him.

"You wouldn't believe. But, I had a pretty bad day, Shaggy. The girl I like just rejected me. Aunt Ava and Uncle Jack are fighting again. And, I am really losing my mind by all this.."

Woo.

The dog whined as though understanding him and drenched Alex in kisses again.

Ha, how warm that sight was. Come to think they were really cute together then.

That was probably what I thought then too because as an unintentional chuckle escaped my lips, Shaggy as though heard something funny tilted his ear and abruptly rushed towards the bonsai stand sniffing the grass.

I practically panicked when the familiar over grown pup I had seen before several years rushed towards me with a wagging tail.

"Ah, Shaggy.. Shhshh..shhsh " I hushed him hurriedly. But, unfortunately the moment the dog recognised me, he barked excitedly.

"Woof..! Woof..!"

"Shaggy..! Dammit."

Trying the flee from him, I crawled backwards softly when two pair of long strong legs bumped my back.

"What are you doing here..? Amelia..?"

Two pair of flashing blue eyes glared at me as though I had really commited a crime.

I smiled back at him awkwardly.

"W-Will you believe me if I tell you I was gardening..?"

Alex raised his brow.

"Um.. No. Haha.."

I staggered when the now dirty hood I had on my hand came to my sight.

"Here! You forgot this!"

I hastily got up, forced him the hood and made a quick plans to flee immediately. But, contrasting my expectations, I accidently tripped down on a certain rock that never existed before and fell down head down on the grass like an idiot.

I didn't dare look back at Alexander Min in my humiliation.

Ah gosh.

I wanna die..

.

.

The next minutes, then passed with a handsome young school hunk twirling a thick pair of band aid around the leg of a fairly awkward girl in boring overalls, who had no other choice than shut up and get treated.

"All done."

Surprisingly, the band aid Alex had tied was tight and sturdy though he had actually been very patient and soft while treating my wound.

Alex finished his work with some painkilling ointment and mumbled softly while slowly rising up.

"How long were you here?" He asked with a cold indifferent face.

"Um.. Long enough to watch you fighting over the other lady..?"

I confessed feeling there is no point in hiding anything to him anymore.

Alex's face quickly turned bitter at that. He didn't seemed to have liked revealing this side of him to me.

"Who was that?"

"My aunt.."

"You.. live with her now..?" I asked looking surprised. "I thought you lived with your parents, Alexander. Didn't your mother return with you to town..? Now, that we are at it.. How is Auntie Emma Min? Is she doing well..?"

I casually tried changing the mood and distract him. I still felt quite strange talking about this to him.

These are the questions I would have asked if only he had talked with me when he had just returned back. I never had chance to approch him from freshman since he is almost always surrounded by the cheerleaders and the other populars. He felt unapproachable to an extent that, he almost felt like a stranger than a childhood friend to me.

But, other than that I had no clue why he acted like that. I brought this up hoping Alex would be reminded of our real past though he changed so much.

Unfortunately, Alex gave me a reply I had never imagined in my wildest dreams.

"My parents divorced and got remarried to another spouses, Amelia."

"..."

I shut my mouth right up. But, soon muttered a reply.

"Oh.."

"I-Is that why you left the town at middle school so suddenly..?"

"Hmm.." Alex mussed.

"B-But, why didn't you tell me..?"

Feeling quite sympathetic for him, I asked Alex the only other question I had for him on hold for years.

Alex looked at me. He didn't seemed to have wanted to share about it.

"You don't have to tell me if you are not-" I offered hastily.

But, Alexander Min simply let out a deep sigh came straight with me.

"Yes. I know, I was an unwanted child born out of a wedlock and a illegitimate one at that. My parents argue a lot since I was young. So, it was natural. It was my aunt who took me in and I live with her now. Isn't that pretty uncool? There's no way I could share this to anyone."

He said, and I immediately understood the reason behind the argument he had with his aunt. He said his aunt and uncle were fighting. And, there was an unborn child on her womb. That must have probably stirred up hus weak spot.

That's probably why Alexander must be worried.

With what what he said I had no right to be mad at him for changing so much. He had undergone pretty hard things in life and I..was only looking at things from my point of view.

I really am an idiot.

"I..am sorry." I apologized truthfully. "I didn't know. I had always thought you left me behind you didn't like me all that well."

Alexander seemed shocked when I said this.

"What? That's really not true. Do you know how hard it was to leave behind everything?"

"No.. But, I do now. Sorta" I mussed and looked at him gently.

Alex rubbed his hair and said hesitantly.

"I am sorry about that 'you are a disappointment', thingy.. I had my reasons but, I had no right to call you that way. I over reacted. And, I guess, I can understand why you misunderstand my intentions."

He apologized to my surprise.

"No. No. It's totally my fault I shouldn't have acted like that in the beginning. But, you are right. I am a disappointment to my parents. I don't study, I am not nice and I too arrogant to listen to others. I really have no hope at all in life."

I confessed.

"You can study if you put your mind in it.."

Alex mussed softly.

"You are that sort of a girl. I believe in you.."

He said conforming his earlier words that I almost felt myself become overwhelmed with tears.

H-How can he say it..? Just like that..?

Hearing him speak like this makes me feel like he is still the old Alex. Which is kinda heart pounding in its own way.

I smiled lightly.

"So, you have a c-crush on Derrick Han, huh..?"

Hearing his name from Alex made my face flush in seconds.

I immediately looked away and scratched my cheek.

"Haha.. You knew..?"

"You kinda told it to me.. directly..to be specific."

He said softly. But, it felt more like a grumble. Maybe he is still mad at how rude I was then.

"Haha.. Ya.. I have been crushing on him for a year now.." I scratched my head.

"Oh.. T-That's too much info for tonight.. Y-You can stop talking about him now .."

Alex said awkwardly.

What does he mean..?

Does he not..like Derrick..? But, aren't they good friends..?

I think, my face looked quite twisted cause Alex explained immediately.

"W-What I mean is.. Derrick Lync is a good guy. I am saying this because I know him. Though he looks as though he doesn't care and is kinda insensitive he is actually very kind if he falls for you for real.. "

Alex said looking away.

My memories flooded backwards and I instantly remembered the way Derrick Han helped me arrange the basketballs inside the locker when there was no one around me. Though he was the star of the day's match, he was humble and kind enough to help me put and even help me put my first ball into the net. His gestures were very strong enough to make my idol crush turn to pure love for him.

He was my first love and he definately deserves to be.

I smiled warmly.

"Uh.. Amelia.."

At that moment, it seemed Alex wanted to tell me something. But, unexpectedly, the pregnant woman from earlier returned back opening the backdoor along with the over grown Shaggy.

"Alex! Dinner's ready.. Oh!.. I didn't realise you had company.. And, it's a girl..?"

Alex's aunt stopped awkwardly when she spotted me and smirked at end of her sentance.

"This is just the new student I am tutoring, Aunt Edna."

Alex said with gritted teeth.

"And, She was just leaving. Right..? Amelia? Humm?"

He then tilted his head with a smile.

"Oh oh. Hold on honey. Aren't you gonna introduce me to her, first..? Especially since she's the first girl you've bought home in years.."

She teased him. Of course, I know that was a lie. There was another girl who always spent her time playing at to his house. Though that girl was me too. Ugh forget that.

He is a very popular guy who's cooed over by many girls. I am sure at least one or two have dropped by occasionally.

Keeping that on the side, I never expected Alex to have such a teasing aunt. By looking at there previous argument it seems I totally misread their relationship.

"Ha... Amelia, this is my aunt Edna Park and Aunt Edna this is Amelia Jeong. Now, if you excuse me."

Alex said looking very uninterested like a robot and hurriedly grabbed my arm.

"Come on, Amelia.."

He ordered me when his aunt suddenly mumbled back my name much to Alex's horror as though he already expected this much.

"Hmm.. Amelia.. That rings a bell.."

"Amelia.." Alex mumbled pulling my arm.

"Wait, Alex. Your aunt seems pretty interesting.." I protested.

"Ah, I remember! You must be the girl Alex has a great crush on..!"

Mrs Edna hit the nail on something so illogical that, both I and Alex who was currently grabbing my wrist stood still shocked.

Alex almost immediately let me go and ran up towards his aunt panicking.

"Aunt Edna! Shhh Shhh..!!"

He whispered with his index finger on his lips.

"H-His crush..?" I looked at him doubtfully.

"Ahhhh..!! That's totally not! It!"

Alex yelled looking more tensed with the extremely disgusted expression coming over him again.

But, much to his horror his mischievous pregnant aunt just smirked and leaned towards him half chuckling.

"Hehe.. How sly you are Alex..? I thought my baby was still just a kid. But, bringing your crush home to your secret place and introducing her to your guardians..? Is this a marriage interview..?"

"Aunt Edna!!!" Alex abruptly closed the mouth of his aunt.

I didn't think Alex could withstand the humiliation of being associated with a nerd like me any longer, so I said hastily.

"Stop teasing him like that, Auntie. You can clearly see how disgusted his face is. He clearly hates being compared with me."

"Hates? Disgusted..? What are you talking about dearie?" Auntie Edna asked from muffled mouth.

"Just look at him! Isn't that how you look like when you hate something?"

I stretched my arm at Alex who looked so disgusted that he couldn't even squeak anything back.

"Oh.. my .." Alex's aunt seemed very surprised and looked at Alex glaring at her meticulously.. "Y-You actually thinks he looks disgusted..? Haha, he is obviously just blushing, silly! I guess, this is the side effects of the facial paralysis syndrome he had all over his middle school.."

"Aunt Edna!! Shut! up!! Ugh.. Bye! I am dropping Amelia. I am not eating dinner."

He said grabbing my wrist again and led me to the door not leaving her a chance to speak at all.

"Ah, is that a new way of you protesting..? Anyways, I made pepperoni pizza!" His aunt sang walking indoors.

"I don't care..!"

"And, I am throwing them on the trash can!"

"Don't you dare!!"

I chuckled at their funny interaction while walking home with him. He had a sad past but I guess, moving back to Seoul was his best remedy.

He was still holding my hand as we passed our neighbourhood when he suddenly realised something and dropped my wrist abruptly.

The disgusted.. Or rather 'blushing' expression he had on his face returned him again.

"Alexander.." I started awkwardly.

"Do you like me?"

I asked him straight forwardly.

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