Fireworks

The next few days were different. Not dramatically different.

Nothing about the school suddenly changed. The teachers still gave too much homework. Students still complained about early mornings.

Yijin still somehow found ways to volunteer for things nobody asked him to do. And Minju still threatened to pull his ears whenever he forgot something.

But for Anna, something had changed.

She had a friend now.

The clock hits 12 noon. The bell rings. Lunch time.

Anna went straight to the school garden. She sat on the bench with a stone table. Pulled out her homemade bento. This time it's a tonkatsu that's sliced in three, tamagoyaki, cherry tomatoes, small broccoli, and rice.

Anna clasped her palms together, “Thanks for the food~”

But before she could use her chopsticks and dig in. “That looks delicious..” Yijin standing behind her, looking at her bento. Already drooling.

Anna's shoulders jumped a bit. Then she turned her head to Yijin, “Oh my god, it's just you..”

Yijin just smiled before sitting on the bench across from Anna. He pulled out an egg drop sandwich from his pocket.

Anna looked at him, “Is that your lunch?”

Yijin nodded, “It is. I bought it from the convenience store across the street.” He pulled down the wrapper, “Do you want some?”

Anna could only tilt her head. A sandwich for lunch and he even asked her if she'd like a bite. Instead of giving him an answer, Anna just started to put some of her lunch on the lid of her bento.

Yijin watched her. “Here, eat this,” Anna hands him her spare chopsticks. “What's that?” Yijin asked Anna, as he looked at the one slice of tonkatsu, one egg roll, and all her broccoli. Just one cherry tomato because it's Anna's favorite.

“Your lunch,” Anna answered. “My Mom made that.”

“You're too kind, Anna~!” Yijin's smile reached his ears. Anna's cheeks turned slightly pink. “It's just food…”

“You saved me~!” Yijin clasped his hands, “Thanks for the food~” Then proceeded to eat. “Mmm~ This tonkatsu is perfect~!”

Anna can't help but giggle as she watches Yijin almost cry while eating, “You're not with Minju this time. Is she at the student council office?”

Yijin looks at her, “Yeah, doing boring stuff.” Anna guessed it right. Yijin always spends his time with Anna whenever Minju is at the student council office. He can't follow Minju inside the student council office. Because Minju banned him because he's too noisy.

Surprisingly, whenever Yijin is with Anna, he doesn't get injuries like he always does.

After class, Anna slung her bag on her shoulder and walked home. Down the street, she heard a loud voice at a distance behind her: “Oh! That's Anna!”

Anna looked back, only to find Yijin waving his left hand in the air at her. Minju is walking next to him. “Anna! Are you walking home?” Yijin said, already jogging to her.

Anna stopped walking, “Yeah, I am..” Yijin stopped next to her.

“What a coincidence,” Minju mumbled as she also stopped next to Yijin. “We're also walking home,” Yijin said. Full with his golden retriever energy.

“Do you walk past the park on your way home?” Yijin asked as the three of them started walking together. Minju is somehow between Anna and Yijin.

“Yes,” Anna answered. “Do you go left or right?” Yijin kept asking. “Left,” Anna answered.

“Aw, too bad we have to part ways after the park.” Yijin pouted a bit, “Me and Minju will take the right.”

After some time, Yijin kept asking Anna about anything. Her favorite color, favorite sports, favorite song. Everything.

During the whole conversation between them, Minju just kept her face forward, just walking in silence.

When Yijin finally stopped talking, Anna looked at a poster stuck to a neighborhood wall. A fireworks festival. This weekend. And then since Yijin can't keep his mouth shut for five minutes, "Do you guys want ice cream?”

Yijin looks at Minju to his left, then at Anna.

A few steps later, they're at the front of a small store, run by elderly couple inside.

“What flavor do you like?” Yijin asked Anna. “Mint choco,” Anna pointed at the mint chocolate ice cream popsicle inside the freezer. Yijin's eyes widened, “Really?! Mint chocolate?!” Anna's shoulders jumped a bit.

Minju swatted Yijin's shoulder, “You're too loud. You're going to damage her ears.” Yijin rubs his right shoulder, where Minju hit him, “Sorry.. hehe.”

Minju slid the freezer open, then took a vanilla popsicle ice cream. Yijin and Anna both took Mint chocolate. “Anna, can you explain to Minju why mint choco is the greatest ice cream flavor ever invented?” Yijin turned to Anna, expecting to humor him. “Uh.. people have different tastes, Yijin,” Anna answered.

“See? Learn from Anna, she can respect other’s choice of ice cream flavor,” Minju hits Yijin's forehead with the popsicle ice cream (still wrapped) softly. “Yah- That was unnecessary! You always hit me whenever you like,” Yijin pouted at Minju.

“That's because you can't respect my opinion about mint choco flavor,” Minju squinted her eyes at Yijin. “That’s because you said ‘mint in chocolate ice cream is the worst decision humans ever made’!”

Yijin halfheartedly glared at Minju while holding his mint chocolate popsicle ice cream like a sword, defending his love for mint chocolate.

“Chocolate ice cream is already perfect, why even bother adding mint?” Minju glared back. “That's because mint makes it perfect!” Yijin still argued.

At their left, while Minju and Yijin are debating over mint chocolate. Anna is just watching, already enjoying her mint chocolate ice cream.

Anna watched how Yijin kept smiling even arguing with Minju. She watched Minju glare at him with that familiar expression. The one that seemed permanently annoyed.

But Anna noticed something else. The corner of Minju's mouth moved. Just slightly, like she's trying not to smile.

“Mint in a chocolate ice cream is like adding salt and pepper to a steak!” Yijin still argued. “That doesn't even make sense!” Minju isn't even backing down

As the bickering continues, Anna also continues to watch. She understands it now. The reason why Minju always walks in between her and Yijin. Why Minju is always with Yijin whenever she doesn't have student council duties. Why Minju always tries not to laugh at Yijin's dumb jokes.

Anna thought to herself: “I see.. She likes him…”

It didn't hurt, at least not how much Anna thought it would. She's already happy to be friends with Yijin.

But maybe…

Maybe in back of her mind, Anna thought they could be more than friends.