the person pulled her away from his chest and behind him, and then sent a punch to one of the man's face, causing him to sway to the right. the man cupped his cheek in his palm, blood oozing out of his right nostril.

he grabbed jieun by the hand and pulled her away before the man could recover from that heavy punch. they ran past the street hawkers and shop houses till they couldn't feel their legs, till their lungs were about to burst.

in a small dead end in between two buildings, the two of them sank onto their feet, gasping for air. with shaking hands and an accelerated breathing, jieun shut her eyes and crouched to the ground.

"i love my sister, i love my mother, i love-"

"kim taehyung?" the person suggested.

"i love him too," jieun took a deep breath. then realised.

"wait what-"

jieun glanced up from her nonsensical mumbling and saw the familiar black haired boy with the red, heart shaped lips that were spread into a lazy grin before red flooded her cheeks and she covered her face in her hands.

"what are you doing here?"

"i felt bad for pissing you off, so i got you some food and went to find you. then i saw that guy lay a hand on you and i punched him!" he said proudly, doing an air punch. jieun wasn't listening.

"i didn't mean that i loved you- i mean, it's not like i don't like you, i just don't like like you- but i like you!" she said very loudly and clearly. "i like you very much," jieun added, her mind spinning as she mentally slapped herself for acting like a fool. she turned around and sped away, her face brimming with embarrassment.

"wait!" the boy caught up to her and slung an arm across her shoulder. "i have takoyaki!" he sang, waving a plastic bag of japanese treats.

"sorry, i don't think i can think clearly right now," she mumbled, not daring to meet his big doe eyes.

he chuckled as his grip around her shoulders tightened. "you said love me, so eat with me," he reminded as he tilted his head towards jieun, as if he were waiting to hear some snappy comeback. he was obviously amused. she pursed her lips and looked down to her shoes.

"i don't- i don't love you."

but when she thought about all the times they spent together, she realised that perhaps she loved him just a little bit.