Chapter 31: 25-1

"Ow!" "Sorry!" Sunny shouts as she pins loose material on my waist. Sunny—very unlike me—is a fashion major, and right now she's conveniently using me as her mannequin. "So," she says while pinching at the red material. "Are you going to tell me why you've been busier than usual lately?" "Uh, what do you mean?" "Don't give me that bullshit." I frown at her cuss word. "I don't know, I guess I've been preoccupied." "Is it that guy from the bar all those months ago? Or is it someone new?" "The bar?" My mind scatters as it flashes back to the night my brother got Jaewook to take me home. Man, that night seems to love coming back to haunt me. "Oh." "Oh?" She stands up straight now and lifts an eyebrow. She pushes her caramel dyed hair behind her ears. "Yeah," is all I say. "Zen told me he's younger, I thought you weren't into younger guys?" "That ugly toad is gonna get it from me," I punch my fist into my hand. "What? I'm your friend, I need to keep track of you. So high school kid? He really didn't look it that night, his confidence was damn sexy I must say." "Hey, watch it," I mutter. Her eyes widen, "is this jealousy? Destiny, the queen of cool is jealous from such a simple remark? I'm baffled." "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I swear, you and Zen must be the same person. Despite our shared skin tone, there's no way I'm his biological sister, maybe we got switched at birth." "Why do you say that?" "You both love to piss me off," I mumble as my eyebrows cross. "Speak woman, he must be something special if he's younger and managed to snatch you." My stomach feels strange as I think about Jaewook. My lips press together as words threaten to come out, and my eyes wander as they picture his face. "Holy shit," Sunny crosses her arms in bewilderment. "Are you, are you in love?" She covers her mouth in mock surprise. "Shut up," I grumble as I feel my cheeks burn. "Des? Is that really you? Where's the girl that's more in love with her studies than boys?" "Drop it or your mannequin is leaving." "Fine. But please just explain." She goes back to work, pinching at my legs now. "I don't know what it is, okay? I didn't like him at first, but now I can't even explain how I feel. It's weird, I don't know if I like it." "How's the sex?" I gasp and kick my leg out so it hits her shoulder. She's always been way too straightforward and open about everything, and I mean everything. "Ow—what?! It was never a problem to talk about your sex life before—your boring as hell sex life that is." "We haven't been dating that long!" She glares at me, her detailed eye judging my facial expression like a pro. "Bullshit. You've had sex already. How was it? I don't know how I'd feel about a younger guy, but at least he's legal. Was he a virgin? Oh my god Des, did you steal his virginity?!" I cover her mouth. "Stop! No! Just no!" She pushes my hand away. "Don't lie to me, every dude that's ever met you has wanted to sleep with you. Hell, I'm sure some girls have wanted to as well. You're not my clothing model for no reason you beautiful bitch." She turns away and begins to speak under her breath, "you may be pretty but your personality is just a pain in the ass. How long are you gonna fuck your studies huh? You stuck up—" "Hey!" She stands back up and pulls a sweet smile. "I'm just kidding, you know I love you. I'd be first in line if you ever wanted to experiment with your sexuality." "You have a boyfriend!" She shrugs, "so? I'm sure he'd be into it." "Why am I your friend? You have no filter." "Don't ask me, you're the one that initiated the friendship." "Remind me why," I grumble as I remember that day in my second year of high school when she was introduced as a new student. Her lip and impressive array of ear piercings had to remain empty while in the classroom, but the holes were still all the noticeable. The other students immediately didn't like her eccentric and off-the-wall persona, which left her as the other outcast in class. Naturally, it was easy to bond over this shared experience. She takes a step back and stares at her clothing. I do an unenthusiastic twirl. "Okay, good. Now strip woman, I need to start sewing." I laugh to myself as I try to take off this mess of fabric clipped and pinned around me. "Oh, yep, there it is." She's staring at me like a creep as I try to cover myself. Not that it matters much, we've been friends for so long that we've seen everything there is to see of each other. "There's what?" I ask. "You're wearing your best matching pair, the sex must be good." I throw her clothes at her as I grab my own. . . .