TWO-ARNOLD

Good afternoon papa." I said in Korean, as I entered the house. "Have you had lunch?" I asked in the same language, as I ascended the stairs.

"No." He replied I n the same language, and I halted in my tracks.

"Did you eat the sandwiches I left you?" I asked and received the same negative reply. I looked at my watch, half past two, and father hadn't eaten lunch.

I quickly threw my bag through the half open door to my room, and sped downstairs, straight into the kitchen, where I proceeded to make him a lunch of beef roll, jam and bread and some black coffee.

"Sorry I took long" I said with a slight bow, and he only gave me a nod in assent.

Slowly, I made my way up the stairs again, and got to my room door. Opening it, I flung myself on the bed, and heaved a sigh.

Mu phone buzzed in my pocket, and without looking, I knew who it was. I pulled it out of my pocket, and opened the message;

[ Where are you??!]

[ In my room...]

[ Be here in five!!]

[ Make it ten ]

[ Seven!!!]

[!!!]

[ It's really important.]

[The boy or what?]

[ Yeah right, taunt me!!!]

[ Maybe...]

[ Seven minutes!]

[TEN!!]

I sighed, and turned off the phone. I took a five bath, and wore a blue sleeveless shirt, and a pair of black knee-length shorts, on a pair of black roman sandals, and headed for the warehouse which was just five minutes away from the house.

I saw her waiting, looking relaxed and holding a blue duffel bag.

"Hi." I said with a millisecond smile.

"Hey uh... I brought snacks." She said holding the bag to me.

"I brought beef rolls" I said, and her eyes went to the bag I slung over my shoulder.

"Oh." She said and we walked inside the old, but rather clean warehouse marked 'private property ' .

"Do you think we're wallflowers?" She asked sitting Budda style on the floor.

"Who or rather what's a wallflower?" I asked, joining her on the ground.

"Dictionary says 'someone who doesn't dance at a party 'cos he/she doesn't have anyone to dance with, or is shy.' Well?" She asked looking at me in a what-do-you-think kind of way.

"I'm not Shy. Are you?" I asked, curving my lips downward in a casual manner.

"Me? Shy? Pfft. Shy people don't have friends." She said, and tore into a chocolate bar.

" So who's 'he'?" I asked, coming round to the subject matter.

"Who's who?" She asked pretending not to understand what I was talking about.

"You know, the 'HE' you need 'help' with." I said chewing on a beef roll.

"Oh you mean Arnold?" She asked spilling the bean.

"You're joking right? Augustine Arnoldine? As in the AA? That's a far cry." I said and shook my head 'no'.

Augustine Arnoldine (or just Austin Arnold) is like Kentwood's most richest and handsome kid. Practically every girl's dream. So Tessy asking for help with him..... My answer....HELL NO!!

"That's why I need you Chamber, you bring far cries near" she moaned cooingly.

"First of all, it's Kim. Never Chamber or Amber or anything else. And second, that fish is too big for my boat." I said in a matter-of-fact manner, swallowing my third beef roll.

"I'll pay you." We both paused, and I looked at her, eyes brimming with suspense. " Hundred bucks." She said with a sigh.

"Pfft please, I can get double, doing Sam's assignment." I said and rolled my eyes wildly, so hard it hurt.

"I have his number." She said flashing her phone with his contact and pic on it. Wow. Just how efficient was she? How did she get it? Okay, Arnold was rich, but people didn't get his number unless he gave them, so I'm kind of surprised.

"Oh so now you're stalking him huh?" I asked in clearly intended sarcasm, and it came out exactly.

"Look who's judgey, the great emperor of stalking-ham!" She said with enough cut-throat sarcasm. We both burst out laughing at our silly sarcasm at each other.

"Since you have his number, why not chat him up?" I asked with a mocking smile, clearly remembering crush #NO 4, Brett Samson.

She chatted him up, and he quit!

I remember the messages quite well;

Tessy; Hi I'm Tessy Liu-chen. We both attend Kentwood high.

Brett; ??

Tessy; The girl from music class

Brett; Oh green hair!

Tessy; Yeah, green hair.

Brett; So what's up?

Tessy; you mean the fact that I like you?

Brett; EXCUSE YOU!!!!!!

Tessy; sorry let me rephrase that. I LOVE YOU ❤️

[This number has blocked you. You can no longer send messages]

"Yeah right, Brett." She said reading my mind, and we laughed. " Really not my best shot."

"Maybe you should avoid jumping into the deep end before learning how to swim." I said, picking up a chocolate bar, and tearing into it.

" Maybe,.or maybe not. You never know." She said with a shrug.

" Five hundred bucks, or no deal." I said extending my hand for a handshake.

"To hell with your fingers. They'll itch till you die." She said, smacking my hand away, and picking a

Beef roll from the pile.

We just sat there in silence, munching and chewing, listening to the sound of the train passing by.

" You know, I still think we're wallflowers." Shee said, breaking the silence.

"You bet." I said, and chomped down another beef roll...