❤︎

"Looks like I'm losing my touch." He said with that same all-knowing smile of his, turning back to me. "So, what's your question?"

I thought for a moment before I figured out what to ask. After all, he did say we had to answer the questions honestly, and he didn't set any boundaries on what we can ask.

"Why did you break up with Nam in that way?"

❤︎

"Because it's the truth. I really was tired of playing with her. Pretending to like her." Kongpob answered me straight, like there was nothing wrong with what he did to Nam. He didn't even seem the least bit ashamed or worried about breaking her heart.

Honestly I was quite shocked by his brutally honest answer. I was hoping he'd at least say that he did like Nam at one point and that his love for her just faded, so he broke up with her not to lead her on.

But from what he said, he was implying that he never liked Nam at all. And this made me over-protective of my friend all over again. "If you knew all along that you'd get tired of playing, then why did you date with her in the first place?! Why her and not some other girl in your fan club?!" I asked him angrily, clenching my hands into fists at my side.

"Why are you so mad? Weren't you the one who said that I should give Nam a chance because she's a good person?" He answered back, turning serious as he stared at me defiantly.

...

Ugh...

He was right, I did say that once, when Nam complained of being ignored by Kongpob when they were still strangers. I didn't realize that he heard me say that. But still, it didn't give him the right to play with Nam's heart. "I did say that. But that's more reason not to play with her heart. How can you hurt her feelings when she's such a nice person?" I told him accusingly.

"You make it sound as if I enjoy playing with Nam's feelings..." he remarked in a hurt tone. Could I actually have managed to finally get through his sensitive heart? But then he smiled once more. "...When I heard you say that, Joss started convincing me to give Nam a chance too. He said I had nothing to lose anyway. And who knew, maybe Nam and I were really meant for each other. That's why I chose Nam."

I raised my brow at him in disbelief. How could he expect me to believe that when he broke up with Nam bluntly? "If that was true, why did you break up with her as if she was some toy you got tired of playing?" I shot at him.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I just didn't want to pretend anymore. I was simply telling the truth." He repeated his first statement. Then, as if he read my mind, he added, "Would you rather I told her my love for her faded?"

I nodded in agreement. "Yes, I would actually."

He laughed at that. "Do you think she'd move on easier if I said that? She'd only try to think of ways to get back the feelings she believed I had for her." He explained half-smirking.

"Oh, so you think Nam's moved on by now?" I exclaimed, once again enraged by the fact that he couldn't see that Nam was still hung up from their sudden break-up.

"Of course. Would she have allowed you to go out with me if she hadn't?" he remarked, suddenly making me once again think about my assumption yesterday.

Wait...Could it really be true that the reason why Nam was so excited about our plan on making Kongpob fall for me because she was ready to allow Kongpob to be happy, and not because of revenge? After all, even Daniel somewhat agreed on that. And I couldn't really stop my heart from beating wildly now that I was near him, could I? Maybe it was time for me to drop this revenge thing and start enjoying Kongpob's company, the way Nam, no...my heart wanted me to.

I was about to open my mouth to speak when Kongpob threw the ball back at me and I caught it abruptly against my chest. "That's enough questions. You were supposed to ask only one, but you already asked way too many questions. If you want to ask me another question, shoot the ball." He said teasingly, as if he was confident that I wouldn't succeed.

Rolling the ball in my hands, I glared at him. If he thought I couldn't do this, he was wrong. Now that I had an idea how heavy the ball was, I threw the ball with a greater force, causing it to hit the inner part of the ring, turning around and around. As I watched it circle the ring, I prayed silently so it would go in.

After a moment, the ball finally stopped and went inside the net. Feeling lucky and victorious, I jumped up in joy, turned to Kongpob and stuck my tongue out playfully. "Haha! Bet you didn't think I'd shoot that, did you?" I bragged at him.

"That's what you call beginner's luck. You better ask a very important question now, because you might not be able to shoot in another ball after this." He responded threateningly, but his eyes were playful and I was glad to see him being so happy spending time with me.

I glared at him again as I thought of a question. Since we were somewhat settled with his break-up with Nam, I decided not to ask about it anymore. Besides, from what he had said, I was beginning to think that maybe he wasn't really the insensitive playboy I thought him to be. And when he pointed out that he had dated Nam because I said so, for some reason, it made me feel good inside. Maybe he really didn't have any feelings for Nam...

...what else could I ask of him? Hmmm...

Then I remembered something that had been bothering me for a while now.

"Why do you trust Jessica so much?" I finally asked him, trying not to sound as if I were jealous of her, because I wasn't... I was just curious.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked playfully, looking at me mischievously. "Are you jealous?"

"Yah! Why would I be jealous? It's not as if I like you." I answered quickly, but I could feel the heat in my cheeks and I couldn't look Kongpob in the eyes anymore. "Anyway, just answer it."

He continued to smile at me playfully. "Well, it's because she's a special friend. She's the last person I'd ever doubt." He said, his eyes gazing at me like he was trying to see if I would give a reaction on what he was saying.

Knowing how he was anticipating my reaction, I planned not to show any. But unfortunately, my mouth acted before my mind could order it to keep quiet. "If she's so special to you, why did you choose me over her then?" I muttered, hopefully my voice not as loud as I normally used.

But he still heard me. "Hmm, so you are jealous." He spoke with an amused smile. But then he started talking seriously again. "When we were in sixth grade, I always went home late because of playing basketball. In one of those days, I forgot my bag inside the classroom so I went back. When I got there, there was this girl who was busily writing on a notebook. I approached her, only to find out that she was studying. At first, I didn't find it strange. But then the second time I found her studying hard after school hours, I started to pity her. And so the next day, I didn't play basketball. Instead, I brought a board game, I think it was Monopoly, and asked her to play with me. At first she wouldn't let go of her pen and notebook. But after a while she finally gave in. And for the first time, I saw her being very happy and forgetting all the stress of studying so hard. Ever since then, I would play with her during dismissal, making us very close with each other. And because of that, I began to understand and trust her."

As I listened to him, knowing he was talking about Jessica, I could feel my heart ache a little. Could it be that I was jealous of his relationship with Jessica? "If that's how close you are to Jessica, then maybe you should go out with her for real." I commented in a serious tone. I really meant what I was saying this time, because they really seem to match each other well.

He shook his head. "I don't want to go out with her. She's like a little sister to me, that's why I trust her. It's not because I love her." He remarked, looking at me directly as if he knew what turmoil I was feeling inside. "Anyway, are you satisfied with my answer?"

I nodded. "Yes, I am." I said, surprisingly feeling relieved upon hearing what he said before that. What was going on with me? I couldn't just easily like him now after hating him for so long, could I? It just didn't make sense at all.

He ran towards the ball and picked it up. "Since I've been answering your questions since the beginning, well, except for your first shot, now it's my turn." He spoke, dribbling the ball before he threw it in effortlessly. And even though he did, he managed to shoot the ball. "So, what do you choose, a question or a dare?"

Not wanting to answer any more silly but cheek-reddening questions, I decided to choose a dare. "I'll go with a dare. What's your dare?" I asked him, already expecting him to say something really childish.

He smiled playfully. "I want you to call five people on your cell phone and say nothing but the line, 'I love Kongpob'. You can't explain them anything nor can you introduce yourself." He finally said, handing my cell phone to me.

As I took my cell phone from him, I tried to think of people whom I could call. If I called Nam well, I was sure that she would call back immediately and ask me what was up. And she would not stop until she found out. If I were to call Daniel, now that wouldn't be a problem. But I would still be lacking four more people. May could be one of them, but then again, she could be with Michael right now and calling might bother them. I checked my phone book for any more possible options. That left me with no one but Daniel.

Feeling defeated, I handed the phone back to Kongpob. "I give up. Just give me a question." I told him with a sigh.

It took him a moment before he finally smiled mischievously again. "This question, you really have to answer truthfully, okay?" he said, as if my answer to his question earlier was untrue. "Place your right hand over your heart. That way you can't lie."

Raising my brow at him, I found myself unable to believe that he actually believed that. "Isn't it what only girls do and believe in promising something with hands over their hearts?" I told him teasingly.

"What's the matter? Wasn't it you who started the rumor about me being gay?" he responded back, making me blush guiltily. "Besides, sometimes people do unreasonable things and since you trust your heart so much, you would never try to lie to your heart, now would you?"

Uhoh, again, Kongpob knows me do damn well...

"Fine." I answered, doing as he instructed. "Ask away."

Kongpob waited a little before saying anything. He just stared at me with an unreadable expression.

Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe and my legs felt weak.

What is he waiting for?

Why is he looking at me like that?

Oh god...make him stop...

And then, he finally spoke, "Do you like me, sincerely?" he asked me, his face serious and those dark eyes intensely fixed on me.

Even though deep down I had expected him to ask me that question, I took a moment before I answered. Damn this was...I had been refusing to believe it all this time, but now I knew the reason why my heart was beating wildly whenever he was around and why I found it hard to breathe when he looked at me with that intense gaze of his...and why I wasn't hating him anymore and actually felt worried about hurting him...

...because I really was liking him now...

Probably had liked him for a while already.

So, taking a deep breath to calm my heart, I answered him truthfully. "I do."

And upon hearing that, he suddenly smiled so wide and happy, I nearly melted by the sweet twinkle in his eyes. "Good. Me too."

❤︎

Finally!!! F.I.N.A.L.L.Y! *does happy dance*