Chapter 2
At Saturday, it was the set date of their second hang out with JiYong and TOP at the bayside. They decided to meet up at 3PM and watch the sunset at 6PM. JiYong came at 12NN at Amber's house; he was parked in front of the main gate and was leaning on his car as he looked around the place. It was an average apartment at a small neighborhood. It surely shows Amber's middle class average in the society. The door of the house finally opened and there, Amber showed up wearing a little loose shirt and 3-inches-above-the-knee shorts. JiYong was just staring at her, amaze for seeing Amber really look like a girl for the very first time in the years he have known her.
"What?" Amber was getting uncomfortable
"Oh… nothing." JiYong snapped out of his dreamland, stood straight, and smiled "Let's go?" He opened the car's door for Amber as he gestured for her to get in.
"You're acting weird." Amber chuckled at him as she hopped in the car.
JiYong closed the door as he bit his lip, feeling the blood rushing to his cheeks making it blush. He can't help the jump of his heart when he saw Amber walking out of that door; it was like she was glowing.
On the ride to the bayside, they were both silent, for Amber was never used to starting any conversation with anyone except for someone so special to her.
"So, when did you start dressing up like a girl?" JiYong broke the silence
Amber turned to him, puzzled.
"You know, I never seen you wearing shorts that short." He blushed
Amber turned to her thighs and shyly pulled her bag to cover it up; "I've lost weight for the past years. I just had the confidence to do so." She was fat back then, not an obese kind of fat, but she doesn't like what she looked like. She run through some exercises, jogs and some dancing just to lose a lot of weight and have her current "sexy" body – that what her friends describe her coca-cola figure.
"Sorry." JiYong sheepishly apologized
And Amber just nodded and looked out of the window again.
Silence was once again filling the car like a stinking rotten fish.
"You know…" Amber suddenly broke the silence with a chuckle "I think we're still lost for words towards each other. The awkward feeling still lurks."
"We can do something about that." JiYong smiled and turned the car on the parking lot and that was when Amber realized they were already at the bayside.
They were already heading out, removing their seatbelts when they heard a growl. They turned to each other and then laughed; both of them were hungry for JiYong was too excited and fetched her exactly at lunch time.
"Let's find something to eat then." JiYong laughed as he got out
They were walking along the bay, eating hotdogs and drinking some cola. Amber was having so much fun that they were getting comfortable with each others' company. They were telling jokes, opinions, and ideas, and started teasing each other.
"You know, I've always thought of you as an arrogant guy back then. And you didn't fail my expectations." Amber laughed
"Well, I thought of you as a weird talented girl, and you haven't failed me as well." JiYong fought back
"Well, with my weirdness, only a few people understand me. That's how I found Victoria and the others." Amber opened up
"You never liked our high school batch mates, do you?" JiYong got curious
Amber shook her head no as she removed her shoes to feel the sand with her feet "They never treated me as a friend, so why should I put them in my list. They only see me when they need something." She sadly smiled that made JiYong guilty and apologetic.
"I'll make it up to you then." He was confident
"How?"
JiYong knelt down, his back facing her and his arms ready.
"Are you about to fly?" Amber laughed
JiYong rolled his eyes as he stood up and turned to Amber with narrowed eyebrows. He leaned a little closer and flicked her forehead "I was offering you a free piggy-back ride." Amber took revenge as she conked him back "That hurts you know." JiYong chuckled at how cute Amber looked and knelt down again. But Amber was unsure of it, it does look tempting, but it's also uncomfortable.
"Come on." JiYong insisted
Amber put the uncomfortable feeling aside and wrapped her arms around JiYong's neck, and felt herself being lifted back on his back.
"Aren't I heavy?" You were getting a little too uncomfortable
"Nope, it's like I'm just carrying my daily back pack." He started walking "Did someone have you ride on his back?"
Amber nodded as she looked out at the sea, watching the waves that was coming to touch the shore "Twice, with the same person."
"Is he someone special?"
"They said we had chemistry, and we do get along quite well. He's my best friend in college. He was there when I needed someone. He knows everything about me in a span of 2 years, it's like we've known each other for a very long time." Amber have not noticed she was being too open and made JiYong stop; "You love him?"
Amber sheepishly smiled, knowing that JiYong wouldn't see her flush red cheeks "I don't know."
"It sounded like you do." He replied
"HEY!" They heard a familiar voice
They turned around and saw TOP and the others walking towards them while waving. Amber jumped down and waved back.
They were now walking along the busy streets, passing by food and souvenir shops, laughing, talking and tasting every street food they find.
JiYong was devouring his self with the delicious food when he looked around to give some to Amber, but she wasn't with them. He quickly got worried and was looking around him, staying still in his ground. And then he saw Amber running towards them with excitement.
"TOP!" She was squealing
"What?"
"You're a basketball player, right?"
TOP was puzzled, but still nodded.
"GREAT! I badly need your help. There's this basketball game with its ring 9 ft. up the ground, and I really, really want that teddy bear. I'll pay for the play, just get that teddy bear for me, please…" She was getting giddy
She quickly pulled TOP with her and the others followed.
She was right; the game was seriously impossible and needs a very skilled player to win this game. TOP was already standing at the line, the ball in hand and was ready to shoot when suddenly, JiYong approached him "I'll do it."
"What?" Amber and TOP was shocked
JiYong grabbed the ball and was dribbling it to feel the luck.
"Are you sure you can do this? Let TOP do it." Amber doubted
JiYong smirked at her and arrogantly asked "What if I made it, what will you give me then?"
"What?"
"Let's make a bet; if I succeeded, you have to kiss me on the cheek." He was patting his cheek as he still had that arrogant smirk on his face
Amber did not believe what JiYong was acting and was getting really irritated. She then placed her hands on her waste as she also turned to an arrogant one "Fine, I highly doubt you'll shoot that ball." JiYong let out an arrogant chuckle as he turned back at the ring and was getting his self ready. Amber stepped back with her friends, still worried if JiYong could really do this.
"Amber, are you sure about this?" Luna asked
"Sure about what?"
"JiYong was one of our best basketball players in High School, there would be a possibility he'll succeed in this."
Amber looked back at JiYong who was getting his stance right for this one shot. Luna was right, there's a high possibility that JiYong would win this bet. She doesn't care about the teddy bear now, she just want the ball to miss the ring. Her breath was caught up in her throat when JiYong had finally thrown the ball.
It was like the time slowed up and the ball bounced on the ring that made everyone so attentive, and it did, the ball entered the ring. JiYong punched his fist up in the air for victory. He turned to Amber with a smirk and showed a V sign.
"This is not happening." Amber felt weak and the world crashing on her
The next thing she knew, JiYong was standing before her, with the teddy bear she wanted in his arms.
"I won." JiYong leaned closer to her
She then snapped out of her misery and took the teddy bear into her arms. JiYong then leaned his head near Amber, waiting for the kiss. Amber turned to her friends who were getting all hyped up. She swallowed a lump in her throat and turned back to JiYong was so near her, she could fall, butt first, on the ground.
"A bet is a bet Amber." Victoria was pushing it
Amber's focus was everywhere, she then took a deep breath, conquering her nervousness and stared at JiYong's face. She finally moved slowly closer to JiYong, ready to kiss his cheek. When it was only a half inch near, JiYong turned to her and their lips met.
Amber's eyes widened in shock and pushed JiYong apart. She swallowed the lump in her throat and she still can't believe that JiYong had stolen her first kiss.
JiYong was also standing still, his hands uncontrollably touched his lips and he could still feel Amber's. A smile eventually crawled up his lips and let out a little squeak.
Amber turned to him with a glare and was really angry from what just happened "You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
"What?" JiYong was shocked
"You're so low." Amber was getting angrier and threw the teddy bear at him
She stormed off and her friends followed her in worry.
JiYong couldn't believe he made her mad. He picked the teddy bear up and was still in guilt.
"It's okay man. It's a normal reaction." TOP comforted him
JiYong then run after Amber and grabbed her wrist "I'm sorry." Amber was still glaring at him, furious enough to get her breathing more heavily; "Well, your apology won't get what you've stolen back."
"I admit that I did it on purpose—"
"Oh… you had it planned." Amber sarcastically smiled and pulled her wrist free and stormed off once again
"Is it wrong to have fallen for you?" JiYong made her stop