on one spring day, at school

instead of hanging out with our usual band of friends, blacktan, on the schools rooftop

you suggested that you and i go to the cherry blossom tree on the far end of the school property.

and like anyone with a crush on you would do, i followed you, completely trusting you with whatever may happen there.

i don't regret going with you.

anything i ever did with you were all golden memories and nothing to be regretful about,

except that one part when you suggested we climb the tree to sit along the branch and have a nice lunch,

because i'm sure that day i probably gave you an upskirt and i would truly want to charcoal that memory but at the end of the day it's memories like that which binds us together, stronger, eternally.

at first we debated on who should go up first, either you or me because we didn't know which way would be the easiest to get me on there.

so, it was either you go up and pull me up thereafter or i go up with a boost from you but alas it was the latter.

of course, i was afraid of the idea of you touching me in delicate places or seeing things you shouldn't quite see yet but your thoughtful heart made things easier for me.

you lent me your blazer to wrap around my waist. i remember you unbuttoning it with a content smile over your lips and you spoke,

"don't be so afraid soo yeong ah~, i got you covered. literally."

you quickly moved over towards me, throwing the blazer around my waist, and i felt my heart thud.

another thud went off when you crossed the sleeves, then pulled on them, allowing it to settle on my slight curves and your body moved closer to mine.

i felt embarrassed, not only because of our proximity but because of any thoughts that may cross your mind about my body.

my heart thundered up a storm, when you looked down at me and your hands slowly reached to my waist, soon to settle.

"you're all ready to take flight."

your innocent voice hit against my skin, but somehow your body language didn't reflect that, or maybe i was just overthinking it. i'm not sure.

once we neared the tree, i felt your hands on my waist once more, and i felt tingles all throughout.

"tae,"

i said, turning to face you in concern.

"what if i fall? i really don't want to crush you."

you simply chuckled, your features clearly showing innocence.

"i won't let you fall and you won't crush me. i promise."

your words made my heart thunder once more, and all i could do was give you a smile.

i trusted you. i had faith in you.

and i allowed you to thrust me up towards the branch, and i felt your hands on my legs.

i felt weak from your touch, which caused me to slip slightly, therefore allowing the blazer to shift a tad and that's when i may have given you an upskirt.

but despite that i managed to get up safely and what made it all the more worthwhile was when you finally got to sit next to me.

our feet dangled in the air, i remember us measuring our shoe difference and obviously yours was much larger.

you teased me about having small feet but if that wasn't enough for you, you measured our pinky fingers once again deeming your finger larger than mine.

i remember the sound of your laugh clearly afterwards. it was so soft and adorable that i felt myself melting off that branch.

"yah, don't be so mean pabo."

i replied to your silly antic but you couldn't stop laughing so i ignored you and took ahold of the food packet we brought with.

"keep laughing tae and i'll eat everything. watch me."

i warned with an evil laugh before eating some of the kimchi.

"no! sharing is caring, everyone knows that."

you dramatically articulated before stealing the food packet from me and instantly pulling out varieties of things to eat.

we ate a lot that day, watched the petals slowly descent from it's place on the branches and talked just as much about the most silliest or random things, like the best weapon to a zombie apocalypse.

"a metal baseball bat."

i answered, as i attempted to throw an empty food packaging into the dumpster down below, just across from us.

unlike your attempt, mine didn't make it into the dumpster.

"why would you want a baseball bat?"

you sounded interested in my pick because unlike me you chose a more appropriate weapon like a gun, which obviously one could use from a distance.

"i've seen it in an anime before." i smiled at you. we both liked anime and i knew you knew which one i was talking about. "but i'd probably cry throughout the entire thing."

after my words you chuckled slightly and looked at me, "you won't have the chance to cry because i won't let you. i'll protect you."

your words were so deeply meaningful to me and i slowly felt the tears brim in my eyes as i watched you make another throw at the dumpster, with a successful attempt.

"and i know you'll do the same for me."

you ruffled my hair afterwards, and i did the same for you.

"of course i would!"

i admitted, before finally managing to get a package into the dumpster.

that day, our childish antics brought out some strong words but most importantly it brought out the inner child, that i was always so afraid to show.