THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER

“It’s just hot chocolate,” Collin said to himself. He couldn’t believe hot cheesy he was being right then, nervously getting ready for a “date.” Okay it was a real date, no need for the quotation marks.

Amado had asked him if he wanted to go to the city with him and get some hot chocolate, at first Collin had been confused because they could get hot chocolate in town. But Amado has insisted that they were getting “real hot chocolate”. Apparently Amado knew someone who knew someone who’s cousin owned a cafe that served “the best hot chocolate ever!”

And Amado made it real apparent that ti was a date, their last conversation had the word date in it about ten times just from Amado.

It wasn’t just hot chocolate. That was the point. It was a date to go to the city to get the best hot chocolate ever and Collin had never been on a real date before. He had never been on a fake date either. The only person he had even liked up until now was Bentley, and that didn’t go anywhere.

“Hey,” Harriette said, suddenly appearing in the doorway. Collin had thought she had left somewhere with her friends.

“Oh, hi,” Collin said.

“You look dashing,” Harriette said coming closer to Collin.

“Thanks,” he said.

Harriette pouted, “this is your first date.”

Collin felt his face heat up, did she have to point that out?

Harriette laughed, “I feel so left behind.”

Collin shook his and pulled her into a hug, “you’re not left behind.”

“Have fun,” Harriette said, pulling away from the hug.

“I will,” Collin said, “Got any plans yourself?”

“Yeah, I have to get through an afternoon with tamarai and DaeRi,” Harriette said, sticking her tongue out.

“Good luck,” Collin said.

After the whole homecoming debacle Tamarai had made up with DaeRi, but Harriette didn’t. Harriette still didn’t like her much, and it wasn’t like DaeRi was suddenly in the popular circle again. But sometimes Tamarai had Daeri over and they would kind of hang out and today was one of those days.

“I’ll need it,” Harriette said.

Collin’s phone beeped.

“Better let you get to it,” Harriette said.

“Have fun,” Collin said.

“Doubt it,” Harriette said.

“At least try,” Collin said.

Harriette laughed and shrugged, the left the room. Collin checked his phone, there wa sa text form Amado saying “see you in ten for our DATE”. Collin laughed, then got his wallet and put it in his back pocket before heading downstairs while texting back a smiley face.

“Have a good time,” his mom said as he got the keys from the door hook, he was borrowing the car for today so he could drive him and Amado to the city.

“You too,” Collin said back before leaving out the door and heading to the car.

It doesn’t take long to get to Amado’s house where Amado is waiting on the steps. He grins as he watches Collin’s car pull into the driveway.

“Let’s go, amor,” Amado said, quickly getting into the car. Amado had taken to calling Collin “Amor” ever since they arranged this date.

“What’s the rush?” Collin said as he pulled out.

“None, I just have not eaten anything today,” Amado laughed, “I am saving my stomach for that perfect hot chocolate.”

Collin laughed, “It’s just hot chocolate.”

“It is much more than ‘just hot chocolate’, amor,” Amado said.

“Alright,” Collin said, “I’m excited to try it out then.”

“You should be,” Amado said.

Amado continued to tell Collin about his “not good at all” morning, because he slept in and missed his Aunt making breakfast, which meant no breakfast for him.

“And then I have to speed through my routine,” Amado goes on, “quick shower, throw together an outfit and then you were here.”

Collin laughed because obviously that was an exaggeration, as Amado had been waiting on the steps when he pulled up.

“Why is that funny?” Amado said, with an exaggerated pout.

“You were waiting for me on the steps,” Collin reminded him.

“I had just gotten out there, “Amado said, but he was laughing now.

“Well if it makes you feel better, you don’t look like you rushed,” Collin said.

Amado grinned, “Like, I look good?”

Collin laughed and nodded.

“Thank you!” Amado said, “And you look good as always.”

“Thanks,” Collin said.

They continue talking about random stuff for the hour it takes for them to get to the city, halfway through Amado put in a mix CD he made apparently just for today.

It was full of Spanish Christmas songs, which Amado sung loudly along to all of them.

Once in the city Amado gave Collin the direction to a little cafe called “chocolate caliente”

“Hot chocolate,” Amado said, “that is what that means.”

Collin nodded then followed Amado into the cafe. Amado walked up to the counter and started talking in fast Spanish. Collin stood at the side as Amado and the girl at the counter have a small conversation in rapid Spanish.

“Oh!” Amado said after a seconds, “I am sorry, amor! This is Fran, she is the owners daughter.”

“Hi,” Collin said.

“And Fran, this is Collin,” Amado said, “He is my novio.”

Novio?

“Nice to meet you, Collin,” Fran said. “Now what can I get you guys?”

“Chocolate caliente,” Amado said.

“What kind?” Fran asked.

“Mexican,” Amado said.

“Oh, isn’t that spicy?” Collin asked.

“Sí, but it is the best!” Amado said, “You can not come here and not get it.”

“Okay, I trust you,” Collin said.

Amado grinned and looked back at Fran, “and two cuernitos.”

Fran said something quick in Spanish and then went into the back to make the drinks.

“Uh, what is kwair- whatever those are,” Collin said.

“It is like a croissant,” Amado said.

Collin nodded, “alright.”

“You will love it,” Amado said.

“Alright,” Collin said.

Amado smiled at him, then Fran came back with two drink and a paper bag. Amado payed her and then they went outside to one of the outdoor tables.

“Why eat indoor, when there are good chair here,” Amado said, “Ah. Sorry.”

“No need to apologise,” Collin said.

Amado smiled, then got the two cuernitos and handed one to Collin along with his hot chocolate.

“Try it,” Amado said, watching him.

Collin took a tentative sip of the hot chocolate. It was good, kind of spicy but not too bad and the was so smooth and chocolatey.

“Good,” Collin said.

“It is,” Amado said, taking a sip of his now. “The best in the world.”

Collin laughed and took a bite of the croissant looking thing and was surprised with how much it didn’t take like a croissant. It wasn’t made out of pastry like croissants, instead it was some sort of sweet dough.

“Wow,” Collin said, “that’s good.”

“Of course,” Amado said.

They continued to finish their hot chocolate and cuernitos and talk of random stuff. After finishing them Collin gathered up all the trash and was gonna go into the bakery to throw it out.

“Thank you for coming,” Amado said.

“It was good,” Collin said, “you were right.”

Amado grinned, “I was, was I not?”

Collin laughed and went inside to throw their trash out, and also get some of those cuernitos for Harriette.

On the way back to the car Amado grabbed his hand and they walked hand in hand, with Amado grinning at him the whole time.

In the car ride home Collin changed the music to some English Christmas song and they sung it together, with Amado butchering some of the lyrics and Collin laughing everytime he did.

“Hey,” Amado said when they got to his house.

“Yes?” Collin asked.

“Can I kiss you?” Amado said, looking actually nervous.

Collin laughed nervously, because it was kind of funny. But cute too.

“Uhm, sure,” Collin said, he was sure his face was bright red.

Amado grinned then leaned in and kissed Collin. Collin felt Amado still smiling in the kiss, and when he pulled away the smile was still there, but bigger.

It wasn’t like it was his first kiss or anything, but he still felt bubbly and light and like he kind of wanted to do it again. But just then Amado’s aunt pulled up behind them, honking her horn.

Amado frowned, then quickly kissed Collin again before jumping out of the car quickly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, amor,” Amado said before shutting the door and waving as he went over to the yard and stood there, obviously waiting for Collin to pull out.

Collin laughed and waved back, then pulled out to let Amado’s aunt in.

When he got home and checked his phone there was a text from Amado waiting for him saying “same time next week, date numero dos?”. Collin quickly texted back a reply,

can’t wait

SNOWBALL FIGHT CHAMPION

“Hey, dude stop studying for five minute and come outside,” Shawn said to AeGuk one afternoon. AeGuk had been studying since leaving his class about an hour ago and Shawn had just came in, still bundled up in a jacket, mittens, and a scarf.  

AeGuk looked up from his book and shook his head.

“G-g-got some important t-tests coming up up before b-break... gotta-ta study,” he said before looking back down at his book.

“What if I told you Allie was outside waiting for us?” Shawn continued.

AeGuk looked up again, trying not to show how that made him reconsider. Nothing had happened between him and Allie since he broke up with Fedora, because everytime he thought of it his nerves stopped him. So he buried his feelings to the back of his head, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to be around her.

Shawn laughed, “I knew that would get your attention.”

AeGuk frowned and shook head, pretending to go back to his reading. But both him and Shawn already knew he was gonna go out there.

“Fine,” AeGuk said after a minute of silence in which he could feel shawn watching him.

Shawn grinned, “get you gear on, we’re gonna have an epic snow ball fight.”

“Sssnowball fight?” AeGuk asked, but got up anyway and started to put on his jacket.

“Yeah, snowbally fight,” Shawn said, handing AeGuk his gloves.

“Oh,” AeGuk said.

He didn’t think he had ever been in a snowball fight, maybe back when he lived is South Korea. But he doesn’t remember ever being in one, to be honest. Most of his memories in Korea consisted of working a lot, not much time for play.

Then of course Broad Meadow, CA didn’t have any snow, so no snowball fights there. So this was probably his first snowball fight and he almost felt nervous.

He realised that it was stupid to feel nervous about a snowball fight, but he was. What if he did something wrong, or couldn’t make a proper snowball?

But he kept his worries to himself as he followed Shawn out of the dorms and out to the cold outdoors. There wasn’t much snow on the ground, but Allie was already halfway done with what looked like a snow barricade.

“Boys!” she called out to shawn and AeGuk.

“Girl!” Shawn called back, causing Allie to laugh.

“Come on over here,” she said, gesturing them over to her barricade.

“I’m sure both of you know the rules to a good old fashioned snowball fight?” Allie said as a question.

Shawn glanced at AeGuk and nodded, AeGuk wanted to nod but he didn’t want to embarrass himself later so he shrugged.

“Of course, cali-boy,” Allie said, “no worries, let the sensei teach you!”

“And you’re the sensei, I’m guessing,” Shawn said.

“You betcha,” Allie said, grinning.

“Alright, Sensei,” Shawn said.

“Arent you you from A-arizona?” AeGuk asked.

“Please ignore that,” she said, “My family used to go for these epic weekend up in the mountains of Colorado, I was the snowball fight champion!”

“Oh,” AeGuk said.

“Alright boys, let’s get started,” Allie said. “The rules are this, We each make a fort, usually with a set amount of time-”

“But you already have half of yours,” AeGuk interrupted in Korean, since he’s been talking in Korean a lot with Allie sometimes he just starts speaking it without really realising he’s doing it. Shawn was giving him a confused look and AeGuk shrugged.

“‘All’s fair in love and war’,” Allie said before continuing, “after we have our forts we have one minute to make as many snowballs as we can and after that the war starts! The goal of the game is to destroy someone else’s base. Every time you get hit with a snowball you have to leave the battlefield for thirty seconds then come back in. If you base get’s stolen you join the person who didn’t take your base and help them.

Then if you one of the people on the losing team take the winners base then they’re back in the game as a singular person.”

AeGuk stared at Allie, not sure if he got all of that. Snowball fights sounds a lot more complicated than he though.

“The main point is steal someone’s base,” Allie said, noticing AeGuk’s confused face.

AeGuk nodded slowly, “I th-think I got it.”

“Yay, let’s get this game started,” Allie said.

Shawn and AeGuk pick corners then start to work on their base, Aeguk just piled some snow up into a big wall but he couldn’t help but notice the intricate way both Shawn and aLlie were making theirs. Allie was making snow bring and building it like a house and Shawn was making a lot of big snowballs and piling them up like a rock wall.

AeGuk also couldn’t help but think their bases would be a lot easier to take down, he bet he could just push Shawn’s down. He laughed to himself and continued to pile his snow.

After a while Allie called out that they had to stop, saying to “take your hands of the bases!”. She then set her phone time to a minute and called for them to start making the snowballs. At least this time AeGuk saw they were all doing the same thing, grabbing balls of snow and packing them together. There isn’t really another way to do it.

After a minute a cheerful rendition of let it snow burst form Allie phone and they all stopped making their snowballs. AeGuk looked down at his pile and thought it looked pretty good.

“Alright enemies, it’s time to fight!” Allie announced. “On your mark, get set and... GO!”

Everything after that was a blur of dodging snowball, getting hit with snowballs, and laughter. And off course screams, lots of screams as people were hit and banished to out of the battlefield for thirty seconds, some cheering for other people as they waited to be put back in.

Aeguk was the first to lose his base to Allie, but it wasn’t long until Shawn won it back. Then it was AeGuk and Allie, then Shawn and Allie, then shawn and AeGuk again. Until finally just when AeGuk thought he wouldn’t be able to stand much more of this cold and he felt chilled to the bone he miraculously took the last base.

“Woah, cali-boy,” Allie said, her face red from the cold.

“It’s cause he’s so small and agile,” shawn said.

AeGuk just shrugged and laughed.

“Come on, we’re gonna die if we stay out here any longer,” Allie said.

Thirty minutes later their all bundled up in a blanket drinking microwave hot chocolate and recounting the snowball fight moment by moment.

And AeGuk thought that for his first snowball fight that was pretty great. Maybe perfect.

SWEATER KNITTING CLUB

“Sweater knitting club?” Barry said.

“Sweater knitting club,” Becky reaffirms, “A club where we’ll knit a sweater!”

Becky, Barry, and Terrence were standing outside of a room in the local community center, a sign was taped on to the door stating in big block letter “SWEATER KNITTING CLUB”.

“Why are we here?” Barry asked.

“We’re gonna knit sweaters,” Becky said, like it was obvious. And it was, as they were standing in front of the room where the sweater knitting club was currently presiding.

“Oh,” Barry said slowly “But why?”

“For presents,” Becky said, excitement in her voice, “we’re gonna knit sweater for someone in our life, I don’t know about you guys but I’m giving mine to my sister.”

Now Terrence was nodding, slowly but definitely nodding.

“I see it,” he said, “This is a swell idea Becky.”

Barry laughed, “swell? Are we in the nineteen forties?”

Terrence stuck his tongue out at Barry.

“Swell is a perfectly good word for any time,” he said.

Barry nodded, but he was still chuckling.

Just then the door opened and a women with completely grey hair stepped out. They stared at each other for a second until Becky regained her composure and greeted the women brightly.

“You’re here for the knitting club?” the women asked.

“Yes, we are,” Becky said, looking over at Terrence and barry. Terrence was smiling brightly at the women and Barry now looked kind of frightened.

“Right, boys?” Becky asked them.

“You bet it,” Terrence said and Barry just nodded, he wasn’t good around people.

“Well, come on in,” the women says, “I’m Patrice.”

“Nice to meet you, Patrice,” Becky said, following Patrice into the room.

There were a couple other older women in the room, along with one old man and a couple with a little kid.

“Hi!” Becky said to all of them, “I’m Becky, and these two are Terrence and Barry.”

“Nice to meet you,” the group said back.

Becky lead the boys to a group of three chairs next to each other and took a seat.

“Did you guys bring any knitting supplies?” Patrice asked.

“Uhm, actually no,” Becky said, laughing nervously, “Must of slipped my mind.”

”That’s okay,” Patrice said, “We have extra.”

“Thank you,” Becky said.

“What colors would you guys like for your sweaters?” Patrice asked as she walked over to a table with a big basket full of yarn and knitting needles.

“Pink, please,” Becky said.

“Uhm,” Terrence said slowly, thinking it over for a second before saying “Red.”

“Blue,” Barry said quietly, but Patrice heard him and acknowledged him with a nod. She brought over three bundles of yarn in their preferred colors and a pair of knitting needles for each of them.

“Alright, let’s get started,” she said.

And to say that Becky, Terrence and Barry left the room an hour later feeling mildly confused, with bundles of yarn that were one day, hopefully, gonna be sweater, would be an understatement

Other good words were baffled, bewildered, and maybe disorientated.

AeGuk's Dilemma

AeGuk had a problem. He had to break up with Fedora.

He liked Fedora, she’s never done anything wrong and is always so nice to him and she liked him back. It was perfect and it still would be if Allie wasn’t in the picture.

After his first encounter with this roommate’s cousin he found out that both him and Allie were majoring in the same thing, and they had a whole bunch of classes together. So they spent a lot of time together.

Allie was close to perfect, not only was she fluent in Korean which meant they could speak Korean together, but she was gorgeous. But she didn't flaunt it. She had the same body as Fedora, but she was a lot shorter. And she always wore huge sweaters because she was used to the blistering heat of Arizona, and she looked ridiculously cute.

He realised there was a problem when Allie asked him if he had a girl friend. He didn’t want to say yes. Of course he didn't lie, he told the truth but just that he even thought of lying showed that something was wrong.

So mix the fact that AeGuk thought that Allie was close to perfect and that he didn’t want her to know that he had a girlfriend, it all amounts to one thing; he had to break up with Fedora.

A month into the school year and Fedora had invited herself over to AeGuk’s college for the day. AeGuk was nervous the whole week before the day she was supposed to arrive, because one; he had to break up with her and two; she was gonna meet Allie. He contemplated trying to keep Fedora away from Allie, but figured it was pointless anyway.

“What’s up with you?” Roshawn asked the day before Fedora’s visit. They were studying in their room, and had been completely silent up until then.

“W-what?” AeGuk asked.

“You’ve been jumpy all week,” Shawn said.

“Have I I?” AeGuk asked.

Shawn shot him an incredulous look, “yes. You have. Just now you jumped when you heard the sound of someone passing our door.”

AeGuk blushed, he hadn’t noticed that he had reacted. “S-sorry,” he said.

“Hey, no need to be,” Shawn said, “Just tell me what’s up?”

“F-fedora’s coming here t-t-tomorrow,” AeGuk said.

“Your girlfriend?” Shawn asked.

AeGuk nodded.

“Why are you so nervous then?” Shawn asked.

AeGuk wondered if he should just tell Shawn about his breakup plan. Maybe it would help.

“I’m excited to meet her,” Shawn said.

AeGuk frowned, “Y-yeah?”

“Yeah, what? Is she mean?” Shawn asked.

“N-no no,” AeGuk stuttered, “Sh-she’s wonderful.”

“Then what’s up?” Shawn asked, impatience slipping into his voice.

“I-i-i’m gonna b-break up...” AeGuk paused, his stutter made it a lot harder to just say something, “with her”

Shawn was silent for a second, obviously shocked.

“Why?” He finally asked.

AeGuk frowned, he did not want to explain. He was already tired of talking.

Shawn started to say something then stopped and stared at AeGuk. AeGuk looked away, he hated it when people stared at him.

“This doesn’t, perhaps, have anything to do with Allie, does it?” Shawn asked, his voice oddly level.

AeGuk didn’t want to say anything about Allie, but his face gave it all away as he could feel it heat up and he knew he was bright red.

“Foreal?” Shawn asked jumping a bit, “You like my cousin?”

AeGuk shrugged.

“That is so weird,” Shawns aid, “And oddly cute. You guy’s look good together.”

AeGuk felt like his face was on fire.

Shawn laughed, “Man, your face looks like a tomato.”

Now AeGuk glared at Shawn and made a point of turning back to his homework.

“But seriously dude, good luck.” Shawn said after a minute of silence. “I had to break up with a girl once, and it was tough.”

AeGuk just hoped he would actually go through with it.

--

The day of Fedora’s expected arrival AeGuk was freaking out, he couldn’t even talk, as Shawn discovered when he asked him if he wanted to get some quick breakfast before Fedora arrived.

They walked the whole way with Shawn holding up the entire conversation.

“Dude, why aren’t you talking?” Shawn said as they sat down with their food.

AeGuk couldn’t even speak, he kept thinking about Fedora being in his room later meeting Shawn and Allie. And having to break up with her

“You really need to chill,” Shawn said, “You look white as a ghost.”

AeGuk frowned.

Shawn shrugged and took a bite of his breakfast sandwich, “at least eat something.”

But the food in front of AeGuk just made him feel sick, just looking at it. So he pushed it away and shook his head.

“Man, you need something in you to get you through the day,“ Shawn said, pushing the food back towards AeGuk.

AeGuk glared at Shawn, and picked up the food and headed towards the garbage cans.

“Where are you going?” Shawn called.

AeGuk dumped the food out and walked back to Shawn.

“Hey, I could have eaten that,” Shawn said, “And now you wasted it. What about the starving Africans?”

AeGuk rolled his eyes.

“Fine, let’s go,” Shawn said, finishing up the last of his sandwich and gulping down his juice.

And they went back to their room.

AeGuk almost passed out when they opened the door to find Fedora’s already there and laying on AeGuk’s bed.

“Hey!” Fedora exclaimed, jumping up from the bed and tackling AeGuk with a hug.

“I missed you!” Fedora said, pulling away from the hug with a big grin on her face.

AeGuk nodded, not sure what to say and even if he could talk right then.

“And who’s this?” Fedora said referring to Shawn and so far not noticing AeGuk’s lack of words.

“I’m Shawn, AeGuk’s roomie,” Shawn said.

Fedora eyes widened, “Woah, AeGuk never told me you were black!”

Shawn eyes widened but he laughed, “Can’t believe he left that out!”

Fedora laughed along with him, then turned back to AeGuk, “so you have to show me around the place.”

AeGuk nodded, knowing he probably had the same look of shock on his face as he had when he first saw her in his room.

And Fedora noticed it obviously, because she looked at him a second longer and frowned.

“You okay?” Fedora asked, “You haven’t said a word since I came here, and you have this petrified look on your face.”

AeGuk tried to say something just as Allie appeared in the doorway mid sentence, “Is she here-” she was saying until she saw Fedora.

“Oh, hi!” Allie said.

Fedora looked at Allie and turned back to AeGuk, “Who’s she?”

AeGuk wanted to disappear.

“Allie’s my cousin,” Shawn said.

“Allie,” Fedora said, laughing a bit, “Such a simple name. Well nice to meet you, Allie.”

“You too,” Allie said, “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Really,” Fedora grinned, “Probably all good stuff, I’m sure.”

“Oh, a few bad things here and there,” Allie joked.

“Of course, nobody’s perfect,” Fedora said. “Now can I get some time alone with AeGuk?”

Shawn and Allie shared a look and shrugged,

“We’ll be out of your hair,” Allie said.

“See you later, man,” Shawn said.

Then they were gone and it was just AeGuk and Fedora. AeGuk wished he could have left with Shawn and Allie, but he was stuck here with Fedora and an inability to talk.

Fedora went over and sat on AeGuk’s bed, “So what’s up?”

AeGuk shrugged.

“Since when were you mute?” Fedora asked.

AeGuk shrugged again.

“Is something wrong?” Fedora asked.

AeGuk couldn’t talk, and was actually happy for an excuse to not say anything.

“Come on, just say something,” Fedora said, sounding annoyed now.

“I-i-i-i-i-,” AeGuk tried.

Fedora frowned and asked again, “Is something wrong?”

“I-i-i-i-i’m,” AeGuk tried again. “S-s-s-s-s-s-...soooorrrry.”

Fedora stared at him with wide eyes, “What’s up?”

AeGuk frowned, it felt like saying those two words had taken up all of his energy. He didn’t think he could say another word.

Fedora frowned, “I think we need to get you to the nurse.”

“W-wha-?” AeGuk said, confused.

“This isn’t normal,” Fedora said, jumping up from the bed, “What if you’re having a stroke!”

Aeguk shook his head, “I-i-i-I’m F-f-fiiine.”

Fedora raised an eyebrow, obviously not believing it.

AeGuk sighed, “R-reeeally.”

Fedora sat back down, ‘Then what’s up, why’re you so nervous? That’s why you’re stuttering so bad right?”

AeGuk knew he should just tell her. But he didn’t think he could. He wanted to just spit it out, but that’s impossible for him.

Just then Shawn and Allie came back into the room.

”Is everything okay in here?” Allie asked.

“Yeah,” Fedora said, “I guess.”

AeGuk sighed, glad that Fedora was just gonna let it go for now.

“Let’s get this campus tour started then,” Fedora said, standing up.

AeGuk smiled at her, thinking a campus tour would be easy and hopefully loosen up his nerve.

“You guys can come and fill in whatever AeGuk misses,” Fedora said to Shawn and Allie, “And I want to get to know you guys too.”

“I’m down with that,” Shawn said.

---

During the tour AeGuk slowly found his voice again and was talking like normal again. They went to the cafeteria for some lunch and AeGuk found himself actually having a good time.

“And then I hear my name and I’m like, what?” Fedora said, talking about her homecoming queen win from a few years ago. That was when her and AeGuk got together.

“That was also the night me and AeGuk started officially dating,” Fedora said, grinning and putting an arm around AeGuk’s shoulder and pulling him close.

AeGuk blushed and Shawn raised his eyebrows at them.

“Me and Allie have to go,” Shawn said suddenly, giving AeGuk a long look.

AeGuk frowned and begged with his eyes for them not to go.

Allie looked confused but stood up along with Shawn and said, “yep. Places to go, people to see.”

Then they were gone and it was just AeGuk and Fedora.

“Wanna go back to your room and hang out?” Fedora winked

AeGuk felt his face go red and shook his head.

Fedora frowned, “why?”

“I-I-I,” AeGuk tried.

“No, not again,” Fedora groaned, “Just talk please. You obviously have something to say.”

And AeGuk knew she knew what he had to say, so why wouldn’t she just say it for him?

“Come on,” Fedora said, crossing her arms.

AeGuk sighed, “I-I-I-I... w-want to b-b-break uuup.”

Fedora frowned, looked at him for a long pause and said, “okay.”

She stood up and started walking away then stopped and turned back.

“Is this because of Allie?” she said.

Aeguk cannot lie, his face tells it all.

Fedora laughs, “Really! She’s so cute, that’s ridiculous.”

AeGuk looked at Fedora, not sure what to say.”

Fedora walked back over and sat down, “you’re breaking up with me because you want to date this tiny little Asian. Please see the irony in this.”

Aeguk just shrugged.

“Look at me!” Fedora said, opening her arm out wide, “I’m the opposite of that!”

AeGuk still wasn’t sure how to respond.

Fedora shook her head and laughed, “well good luck. I hope she likes you back.”

AeGuk did too.

Or else this was all for nothing.

And just like that AeGuk had broken up with his girlfriend of more than two years, and now he had the new problem of what to do about Allie.

But that’s for another day.