Chapter 30 "Wanna hold my hand?"

"Ring.." The school bell bang.. indicating that the school was over for the day.. Da-eun placed her books and notebooks inside her bag and stood up.. she saw Noah standing beside her looking at her hands..

Da-eun chuckled and thought that he was cute looking like that.. She thought about something and raise her hand "Would you like to hold my hand?"

Noah, who was looking at Da-eun's hands, thinking that her hands were so pretty.. with long and beautiful fingers.. nicely shaped nails... 'it must feel nice to hold them..' snapped back to reality when he heard Da-eun asking him to hold her hand..

He raised his head abruptly to meet her mischievous eyes.. there was a beautiful smile blooming on her face.. reaching her eyes and making them look like a crescent moon.. she looked beautiful in his eyes.. he couldn't help look at her a little longer.. forgetting that she had asked him about something..

Da-eun saw that Noah was not saying anything and only staring at her.. zoning out.. she waved her hand in front of his face.. "Back to earth Mr. Flynn.."

Noah snapped back to his senses, turned his face away from her and blinked a few time.. he cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment before finally saying "Ahem.. Yes.. what did you say?"

Da-eun caught him being embarrassed but didn't expose him.. she only chuckled when she thought that his reaction was interesting.. "You were looking at my hand, so, I thought that you wanted to hold my hand to walk out of the school.. that's why I asked if you'd like to hold my hand as we walk?"

Noah gained back his composure pretty quickly.. he turned around to face her and said with his usual serious face "I was not looking at your hands because I wanted to hold them.. I just thought that your hands.. umm.. they look like a kid's.. they are so small.."

Da-eun frowned when she heard him telling her that her hands were small.. she raise her hand to look at it with all seriousness.. she then looked at Noah's hand which looked almost her size.. "Give me your hand.."

Noah raise his eyebrows in surprise at what she said.. he asked feeling a litte confused "And why should I give you my hand? I'm not of age yet.. you'd have to wait until I turn twenty one to ask for my hand.."

Da-eun tilted her head a little and her eyebrows furrowed.. she didn't understand from where this topic came.. what was the relation of asking his hand and his age? She scratched her nose a little before saying "What are you thinking about? What's it got to do with you turning twenty one? I'm just asking for your hand to compare in with mine.. just give me your hand already.."

After saying that she directly reached for his hand without waiting for his reply.. she was about to touch his hand but missed it, when Noah took a step back..

Noah looked at her lips that were pouting in disappointment, for not being able to hold his hand.. it was funny to him.. he said "I can't let you hold my hand.."

Da-eun again got confused and asked "Why? What's the big deal about me holding your hand? I'll just quickly compare it with mine and release it.. that's it.. it won't even take ten seconds.."

Noah shook his head and said with seriousness in his childlike voice "If I hold someone's hand, then it'd be for a lifetime.. not just fore ten seconds.. so, don't even think about it unless you want to stay beside me for my whole life.."

After saying that Noah looked at her face turning red like a cherry.. he kept his eyes on her, observing every little change in her expression.. He was enjoying it..

Da-eun heard him and finally understood what he was talking about.. she felt her face burning.. she was so embarrassed that she wanted to leave him behind and just run away home.. and hide her face inside her blanket..

She'd have not even thought about it coming out of the mouth of a seven year old kid.. She raised her hand to cover her face.. turned her face away from him to hide her embarrassment..

Noah saw her turning away from him and he smirked.. He thought that it was enough for the day.. he cleared his throat, changing the topic he said "Ahem.. If you're done then let's get out of here.. Elio must be waiting for us outside the school.."

Da-eun heard him and turned around.. she was feeling a little awkward after what Noah said and was trying not to make an eye contact.. Noah saw this and smiled a little as he thought she was funny to behave like that..

Da-eun nodded her head and said "A-Alright.. let's get going.." She then remembered that Yuna was also still in the class and looked at her..

She saw Yuna packing her school bag with a sad and disheartened expression.. Yuna was always cheerful.. except for the times when there was something wrong and she was not happy about it..

Da-eun recalled what happened in the lunch break and felt that it was good that she had had a realization of her mistake.. she said "Yuna.. if you're done, then let's go.." After saying that she entwined her hand with hers..

Yuna looked at her and gave her a small smile, that didn't even reach her eyes, and nodded her head before picking her bag and walking out of the class with her and Noah right beside them..

They all walked out of the school gate and stopped when they saw Aldo waiting for his car..

Da-eun nudged Yuna with her elbow and singled her from her eyes, towards Aldo.. she said in a low voice "Go.. and apologize to him.. he'll forgive you when he sees that you're being sincere.."

Yuna hesitated a little before nodding.. she took a few steps and stopped right in front of Aldo.. she said with her head hanging low "Aldo.. please forgive me for what I said.. I know that I was wrong... and I have realized that it was not something to say so casually.. even as a joke.. I'm sorry.."

Her voice cracked a little as she finished speaking.. Aldo looked at her hanging her head as low as possible..

He turned his head to his side and said in a serious voice "I'd never been called a 'Pervert' until today.. I know I played pranks on Da-eun.. but never did I try to harm her or had any bad or dirty thoughts about her.. or just anyone in my life till now.. she still accepted me as a friend.. maybe she saw something good in me..

But you.. you must have seen me as a bad guy.. even after I became a friend with Da-eun, you couldn't accept me in your small group of friends.. you labeled me as a pervert today.. pointing a finger at my character.."