Intentions

*Three days until Spring Break (Tuesday)*

It had been four days since the text with Taehyung and neither of us made an attempt to reach out to one another. It was as if we were avoiding breaching the topic that had taken my breath away and left me stunned. After the game that Tuesday, he had never reached out after dropping me off at my house. The group text was the first time we spoke...or messaged. I assumed that he wasn't quite comfortable speaking to me privately, so the private message was a pleasant surprise. Being the only person that I had told of my feelings for Min Jae, I was not taken back by his inquiry of my one sided love progress.

When I asked him why he was so interested in my infatuation, I expected him to tease me as Soo Min does. To embarrass me into silence. Or in his case, have me admit my feelings and then give advice as a friend on how to win this hopeless crush. To say that his response was shocking was an understatement. I sat on my bed that Thursday night wondering how I should respond and came up with nothing.

My options were limited. One, laugh it off by cracking some joke that would draw attention away from what the comment actually meant. That idea was thrown to the side as I couldn't even think of a way to see this as a jest. Two, throw my phone in the toilet which would then consist of Mom having to buy me a new one. I could then pretend that I never saw the text. Yet that was full of problems. Mom would lecture me on how irresponsible I can be and then Mr. Park would most likely punish me by making me work to pay off the damage. Not to mention Tae would see the 'Read' notification and know I was full of it. Three, ignore it all together.

Seeing no other options, I went with three and didn't respond. I felt like a jerk for leaving him on read, but I wasn't sure what to say to him. I can admit that I was attracted to him and that he unnerves me with a simple smirk. The way he leaned in to whisper to me that night we agreed to be friends at the restaurant had left me a blushing mess. This didn't mean anything other than a normal reaction to a handsome face. I am not a fickle person, so there's no way that I could go from having strong feelings for Min Jae to suddenly falling for someone else. I needed time to figure myself out. Putting some distance until we had no choice but to come face to face at the beach house would have to do.

Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice that the classroom had emptied. I didn't hear the dismissal bell, only being brought back to reality by the sounds of students laughing as they passed. I began to gather my things when the door opened.

I paused briefly at the sight of Min Jae entering alone. He seemed to be surprised that I was still in the room, alone at that. He smiled kindly and began to approach me.

"What are you still doing here, Nari?" he asked while grabbing his phone from inside his desk, the obvious reason for his return.

"I was just leaving." It was the truth, but I also didn't think telling him that I was daydreaming about a friend's startling confession was plaguing my thoughts would be wise. I nodded briefly in farewell and headed to the door.

His hand reached out to stall me. His fingers gently wrapped around my wrist, pulling me closer to him. Other than occasionally accidently rubbing elbows, sharing earbuds or fingers slightly touching in exchange of supplies, we never initiated touching. I gasped at the sudden skinship. My reaction didn't make him pull away. Instead, he moved closer, leaving a few inches of space between us.

"Min Jae?" I wasn't sure what his intentions were. He's never done anything like this. It had been almost two weeks since he invited me to see him play. We barely spoke to each other since then.

"I'm sorry for distancing the past few days," he practically whispers. His hand moves from my wrist and intertwines our fingers. His eyes never leaving my confused ones. "I have to admit I was intimidated by your relationship with Jimin and Taehyung."

Taehyung's name was like a bucket of water being poured over me. 'What am I doing?' I thought to myself. How could I process what he sent me if I am in here like this with Min Jae?

"I know Jimin is your cousin, so I shouldn't have acted like I did," he chuckled, "The past few weeks, I've been confused about what's been going on between us."

"What do you mean?" I found it hard to believe that he might be feeling what I have been. Unsure if the flirting and playful banter were real. Questioning if we were only friends.

"I asked you to go to my game so that I could take you out afterwards," he squeezed my fingers, "I didn't stop to think that you may have had other plans. That was selfish of me."

"You could've joined us."

"It wouldn't have been a date then," he smiles shyly at me, his dimples deepening.

"Date? You wanted to ask me out?" I murmured, looking down at our hands still locked.

He lifted his other hand and placed his fingers under my chin to look back up at him. My breath caught in my throat.

"Nari, I don't know when I started to feel this way. I can't keep saying I only see you as a friend," he said under his breath as his lips inched closer to mine, "I'm sure you've felt a shift in our friendship too."

I couldn't find a response and simply gulped as his nose lightly brushed against mine. I closed my eyes, anticipating the kiss that would follow.

"Nari?!" The sound of Soo Min calling for me in the hall pulled us from our moment of intimacy. We quickly sprang apart as she swung the door open and ran in.

Min Jae glanced at me and said nothing. He grabbed his phone from his desk, said a hasty bye to us and practically sprinted to the door. I gazed at the door that remained open in his mad exit. It was as if the moment we shared hadn't happened. Did he mean what he had said? His actions before Soo Min entered showed that he was very much interested in me. His actions after? I didn't know if he was sincere. I understand being a little embarrassed, but fleeing as if he had been caught doing something of absolute horror, didn't help with my confidence.

"What was that about?" Soo Min asked in worry.

"What?" I cleared my throat to hide my hurt.

"Nothing," she spared me her usual inquisition. I've known her for years, and I'm sure her mind was swarming with questions. I'm sure she sensed I was hiding something, but could also identify that I needed time to process what just occurred. The loyal, loving friend she is, she playfully grabbed my arm and lead me out of the classroom to distract me with a funny antidote of a mishap in gym today.

*One day until Spring Break (Thursday)*

Wednesday I didn't see Min Jae as we had finals and he had taken his early to go out of town with his family. I didn't allow myself to obsess over what had happened. I had to focus on my studies. I couldn't let one fleeting moment cause my grades to drop. Wednesday, my mind was full testing mode.

Of course, once the last exam was done today, I couldn't stop my mind from wandering to that intimate exchange. The soft touch of his fingers as they slid through mine. The warmth that radiated from his touch and the sweet words he said. The glint of longing in his eyes as he leaned in for a kiss.

I closed my eyes in frustration at my lack of control. Why could I remember all of that, but forget the way he ran away. He hadn't even contacted me since then.

'Karma,' I think to myself. I left Tae on read after he confessed, and now I'm being ignored after pretty much admitting to Min Jae that I felt what he felt too. If Soo Min hadn't walked in at that moment, I would have allowed him to kiss me.

My phone beeping catches my attention.

[TEXT] Min Jae: Hey

[TEXT] Min Jae: Sorry I haven't contacted you since...

[TEXT] Nari: Our almost kiss?

I don't hesitate to state what he refuses to admit. I'm not going to allow someone to play around with my feelings. I won't waste my time on someone that doesn't feel the same.

[TEXT] Min Jae: Yes

[TEXT] Nari: Why did you run out of the room?

[TEXT] Min Jae: I'm not sure myself. I like you, but I didn't expect to...

[TEXT] Nari: What?

[TEXT] Min Jae: Do what I did...

[TEXT] Nari: Are you that embarrassed? You can't say you are shy of PDA. You never hesitated when you were with Ae Ri. Is it me?

[TEXT] Min Jae: Of course not. You're beautiful. I guess I just didn't expect to move so fast.

[TEXT] Nari: What are saying?

[TEXT] Min Jae: I like you, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to jump into a relationship so soon.

[TEXT] Nari: Oh

[TEXT] Min Jae: Baby steps?

[TEXT] Nari: such as?

[TEXT] Min Jae: Hanging out? Getting to know each other.

[TEXT] Nari: That sounds like going out but without being exclusive. That doesn't sound right.

[TEXT] Min Jae: I don't mean for it to sound like that. I would really like us to get to know each other before officially dating. We've been friends for so long, that I want to be sure before we do something to ruin our friendship.

[TEXT] Nari: Let me think about it.

[TEXT] Min Jae: We have Spring Break to start hanging out. As soon as I return from my family trip, we can get together.

[TEXT] Nari: I'll be out too.

[TEXT] Min Jae: Oh? Where you going?

[TEXT] Nari: Trip with family and friends. I'll let you know what I decide. It's a lot to think about.

[TEXT] Min Jae: Ok. No pressure. Regardless, we can stay friends. Have a safe trip.

[TEXT] Nari: You too.

I stare in puzzlement at my phone. This was not what I had hoped from Min Jae. I thought he'd want to go out like normal couples, but he wants to have a "trial period" before making it official. Using our friendship as his reasoning behind it. It didn't feel right. If he really liked me, he'd leap at the chance to take me out and make sure other men knew I was with him.

I wish I had Tae to ask for advice like he offered before. I sigh to myself when I remember that tomorrow is Friday, and I would be seeing him that evening at the beach house. I'll be leaving one confusing mess of a relationship to meet up with one that's been in limbo.

"Great..."