Cherries and Chocolates

“They said it’s my last chance.” Kevin said. His hands were locked into each other in a fist. He was in a bus sitting with Byunghun.
“Say thanks to God. Stop trying to harass innocent girls.” Byunghun said while looking outside at the window.
“Stop saying that.”
“So, who was the girl? I mean did you know her.”
“That Swedish Bit**” Kevin replied and clenched his teeth.
Byunghun slowly turned his face towards his friend. “Noah?” He asked worriedly.
“Whatever her name is!” He again started cursing her in his mind. He turned his face to Byunghun. “I –I will lose my bet this way. But…. Now I don’t care about it. She’ll pay.” He got up and went out at his stop.

NEXT DAY
They all were in the cafeteria.
“Its all thanks to you guys that our assignment went so well. We got highest scores on it.” Hana told the other members.
“Cool…” Shinwoo smiled.
“I want to invite you guys to my birthday party; we’ll celebrate our success as well.” Tia told them.
“Count me in…” Shinwoo said.
“What about you Kevin, Byunghun?” Hana asked. “And you Noah?”
“I am not coming.” Kevin got up and went somewhere else.
“oh no….” Hana made a sad face.
“I’ll come too.” Byunghun replied. He looked at Noah.
“uhhh…. I cant come.” Noah got up and went to another direction.
“Urghhhh I am so upset! And besides she seems so lonely, I wanted her to come.” Tia complained.
“Leave that to me.” Byunghun assured her and went after Noah.
“Yeah… I’ll go after Kevin.” Hana got up and left.
“So what’s the location of the party?” Shinwoo asked.
“My house.” Tia replied.

“Stop right there Noah.” Byunghun stopped, but she didn’t. He moved forward and grabbed her arm.
“What?” She mumbled while stepping back.
“Please…. And besides Kevin’s not coming.” He told her and placed both his hands in his pockets.
“Oh… so you know what happened at the library.” She asked suspiciously.
“Uh…. I heard from a friend.”
“Was that Kevin?” She asked.
He remained quiet and looked down. “Look, Noah… he wasn’t like this when we started being friends.”
“It doesn’t matter, but you still lied to me.” She said and again started walking.
“Noah…. Noah noah….” He followed her.
“I’ll take that responsibility. I won’t let him bother you anymore.”
“Does he know about our friendship?”
“No, I didn’t tell him anything. I’ll tell him when the time comes, but not now.”
“Then how will you take this responsibility? He will probably plot another plan against me.”
“Noah… just trust me.” He assured him. “Let me deal with my tricky friend my way.”
She nodded.
“But please, come to the party.”
“I’ll ask my unnie.” She went her way.
He smiled while watching her go.

Noah knocked at the door and Misook opened it.
“Wow… Noah…” She hugged her but Noah didn’t respond with a hug but a smile.
“After all these years, you are still hesitant to hug your mother like ahjumma.” Misook said.
“I am sorry…”
“You’ve grown up.”
“Why did you call me?” Noah asked.
“Take a seat.”
Noah sat on the coach facing Misook.
“Look Noah… you are a grown up and despite what Jessica says, I know how careful you are. But still, there is a thing that takes away one's wisdom from oneself.” She explained.
“What is it ahjumma?” Noah asked.
“Uh… its love.” She smiled.
“You mean like having a boyfriend that they show in the movies.”
“Yeah… exactly. So, Noah… do you have one?”
“No.” She bluntly replied.
“Oh… that’s a relief. Do you want something to eat?” She asked.
“Ani…. I just….” She said but her words were cut off by Misook.
“Look Noah….” Misook interrupted. “It’s a good thing to not have a boyfriend. All these men are liars and they deceive girls easily.”
“I think I know better now…” Noah thought. “I know what you are trying to say…. I know I have to be cautious about boys… and not love a guy…. Because germs can transfer through kiss?”
“Yeahhh…..” Misook gulped. “Well there’s another thing you don’t know about yet.”
“Ahjumma I have to ask you something?” Noah asked without paying much attention to her ahjumma.
“What dear?”
“Can I go to a birthday party? I won’t use their utensils and won’t eat any stupid thing. But can I not wear my mask and gloves? It looks awkward in a party I guess?” She asked and squinted her eyes to listen to her answer.
“Ok… you can go. I wont tell your unnie.”
“Huh…. She isn’t my unnie but my doctor.” Noah got up. She bowed. “And you are not my mother but my umma’s doctor.”
“Noah…” She muttered her name.
“Its terrible to deal with patients like us. I am really sorry.” She said and went to the door. “But I am really grateful and will continue to irritate you.” She hugged her ahjumma. “Even if you don’t, I love you both. You’re my only family and only friends.” She left.
“Noah… I love you too. I miss your umma, besides we were best friends.” She wiped her tears. “Your intelligent and wise daughter has grown into a beautiful lady like you, Yena.” She closed the door.

Noah received a message of the location for the birthday party. She prepared a special dress for the first time because it was the first party she was going to attend. She always dreamt to have friends and celebrating parties with them. She was really anxious of how the real party would feel like.
She wore a simple black short dress. Although she was feeling discomfort but she couldn’t do anything about it. She wore long black boots and tied up her hair in a bun like she usually did.
She sat in the cab for the first time and went to the party.

There were a few people but for her it was a big group of people. Someone grabbed her arm from behind. She looked back with fear.
“Its me…” Byunghun whispered. “I called you so many times but you didn’t answer. Next time, let me pick you up from your apartment. It’s unsafe to come alone like this.”
“I am sorry.” She said.
“Come and sit here.” He pointed towards a seat. “I’ll be right back.” He smiled and left.
She was sitting there alone. Tia came to her and she greeted her.
“Sorry I couldn’t think of a present.”
“Aww… its alright. Your rare presence here is itself a present.” She tried to hug Noah but Noah slid a bit back. “AH…. Ok enjoy.” She went to another friend.
“Where is Byunhyun?” Noah mumbled.
“Hey, Noah?”
Noah turned sideways to look at the person who called her name.
“I am…. Sorry.” Kevin whispered.
She stared at him in surprise and said nothing. She tried to divert her attention towards the party.
Kevin looked at her in a questioning way. The party started. Byunghun sat beside Kevin to keep an eye on him.
“here Kevin take some cake.” Byunghun presented the plate witha chocolate cake in it.
“Thanks.” Kevin took it and started eating.
“Noah? You want some?” Byunghun asked.
“No… I am allergic to chocolate.” She replied.
Kevin smirked while eating. “AH… so many problems with this girl…. Allergic to chocolates?????” Kevin thought.
Noah felt suffocated inside so she went out. Tia called Byunghun and Kevin.
Instead of going to Tia, he went outside in search of Noah.

Noah was walking around Tia's house outside. Cold winds were blowing, playing with the bottom frills of her dress. She smiled while fixing it and secured her hair behind her ear with her hand.
“Wahhh….” Kevin said while looking at her.
She stared back at him.
He moved forward and she moved backward. “You didn’t forgive me… did you??” He asked while making cute faces.
“Ahh…i-it’s a-alright.” She stuttered.
“So, you’re allergic to chocolates?” He asked slowly in a deep voice.
“Well, I am allergic to you too.” She mumbled.
He touched her cheeks with his fingers.
“What are you doing?” She grabbed his fingers.
“You said you were allergic to me…..” He teased and leaned in closer.
“I’ll scream if you come closer.” She said while moving her face away from him. He pushed her against the wall.
“Don’t you want to taste the cake a bit?” He asked while matching his index finger and thumb to show ‘a bit’ sign.
“No…”
Kevin found the pin in her hair and took it off. Her hair were left open. “Wow…” He whispered in her ear and smirked.
She tried to push him away with her hands but he pressed his body tightly against hers.
He grabbed her hand and kissed her.
“So, how was the taste?” He asked and smiled innocently.
She opened her mouth to scream but he again forced his lips onto hers to make her stop. With her other free hand she helplessly punched him a few times and then scratched his neck in defense. He grabbed her other hand as well. “So, how did it taste?” He asked.
She was out of breath. Kevin released his grip over her. She coughed a bit and slid down on the ground. Kevin touched his scratched neck.
“Man… this bit** has no strength.” Kevin smirked at her. “Huh…. Cry as much as you can…. And never think of insulting me again…. But your punishment isn’t over.” He slightly kicked her leg.
“Ow…” She felt hurt. She glared at him while weeping.
“What???” Who are you looking at like that?” He asked angrily.
“Kevin?” Byunghun said from behind him.
“Hey ….” Kevin became a bit afraid. “uh… she slapped…. Me…” He tried to make an excuse.
Byunghun punched him on his face and grabbed him from is collars.
“Hold on…. Byunghun-ah….. what are you doing?” Kevin tried to calm him down.
“I’ll kill you next time, if you get caught around her.” Byunghun warned him and released him.
“Wait……..” Kevin said.
Byunghun ignored him and gave a hand to the frightened Noah. Noah grabbed his hand while weeping.
She stood up. “Lets go…” Byunghun said.
“Byunghun-ah…. You always take side of others when it comes to me.”
“Cuz you’re never right Kevin….” Byunghun replied and they left.

Notes