⌗ 4

I watch Amelia drift off to sleep in my arms while Riley walks around the room to clean things up. It's a cosy room with pink walls, a little Princess bed and a wide variety of toys and books. 

We spent the last couple of hours baby sitting her little cousin, Amelia. She had the same cheeky smile that Riley had—almost like a mini version of herself, especially with the two space buns we had given her prior to her falling asleep.

"Did you want me to hold her?"

I look up at Riley—a handful of plushies in her arms that she's picked up from all around the room. "I'm okay. She's sleeping well."

She smiles widely and props the toys onto the bed before taking a seat on the bean bag next to me, "You're really great with kids."

I feel my cheeks flush. "Thank you."

"You should come over more," Riley suggests. "At mine though... but I reckon Amelia would like having you over more too." She chuckled.

"I'd love too. It's nice spending time with Lia. And you of course." Always you.

Riley tucks my hair behind my ear, "Sorry, you had some hair in your eye. I know how uncomfortable that can get."

Her slight touch against my skin leaves me feeling warm and fluttery. But what's new? Nothing, obviously. I always feel this way around her. Especially when we're like this.

She's so close that I can smell the notes of her perfume, her breath hot against the crook of my neck, her fingers soft on the side of my face.

I don't know how long we stay this way, but I don't hate it. Nor do I wish for it to end—but it does. Of course it does. Moments like these don't last after all. And for two friends. At some point I'm gonna have to draw the line.

The thought alone makes me quite dizzy. I clear my throat and take a deep breath. It's getting awfully hot in here...and I know it's not the weather. It's just one of those things. The things that come with liking someone. The things that come with being so close to that someone.

I'm still waiting for her to pull away but she doesn't. We keep this lingering tension for a little while longer. Our eyes set on each other.

"I had this thought," Riley breathes. "And I don't know if you'll hate it or not but I was th—"

I cut her off immediately, "Yeah."

Riley tilts her head and laughs. "I didn't finish speaking," She smiled. "You might change your mind though. Are you sure? Locking it in?"

My heart starts doing that darn gymnastics routine all over again. It's acting up. Like a kid running all over a park with no exhaustion.

I feel it beat against my chest as I look at Amelia who fidgets in my arms at the same time.

"Yeah. I'm happy with it...whatever it is."

"So, you wouldn't care if we didn't study tonight? I know it's technically your job to tutor me but...I think we both deserve a night off after this."

She points to all around the room. Despite the short few hours we spent together, it was definitely tiring to say the least.

Having to look after a little girl who likes run around on a constant loop should be considered a full time job.

To be honest—this wasn't going the way I thought of. But then again, perhaps, I was getting ahead of myself. But can you blame me either?

What does one think when their crush stares at you like you're more than just two classmates, two friends, two people that spend so much time together. It'll drive you crazy, for sure. And that's exactly what's happening to me right now.

"It's not like we spend a lot of time studying every weekend anyway," I grinned. "Tonight we're just getting rid of the studying all together."

Riley smiles widely. "Auntie should be here soon so we can put Amelia in bed and get out of here."

"After she gets home right?" I laugh.

"Yes—Yeah. After she gets home."

We spend the next few minutes talking about each other's plans for the weekend following. The school will be hosting the annual PHONING festival where there will be rides, food, raffles and a student held party to finish it off.

Huh Yunjin will be hosting the party next weekend—titled The Celestial. A themed event relating to the sky and the universe.

Riley and I decide to attend together after the festivities at school. Truthfully, I'm not a party goer. Nor am I a party person. Though, given the weekend being an opportunity to let loose and have fun (and more importantly, have more time with Riley), how could I turn it down?

It's just one weekend after all.

When I put Amelia down in bed and look out the window, it's dark out. I look at my watch to check the time—two thirty eight in the afternoon.

I crease my brows and follow Riley out to the end of the hall where she greets her aunt and uncle.

"Riley, thank you so much for staying." Her aunt smiles widely. "I'm sure it wasn't too much?"

Riley shakes her head. "No, of course not. Amelia was so well behaved. As always. But, it wasn't just a one person job. Haerin, helped me too."

Riley looks over her shoulder and gestures me to come forward. I make my way over hurriedly and greet them with a bow before smiling politely.

"Thank you so much for joining Jihye and helping with Amelia." Her uncle smiled.

"You have a wonderful daughter. I just put Amelia in bed and gave her Bunny. She's just taking her afternoon nap at the moment. I had a really great time." I smiled.

Her aunt and uncle smile widely, "Again, thank you so much Haerin dear. Please do stay if you'd like to join us for some afternoon tea."

"Actually, we were hoping to head out now if that was okay with you, auntie." Riley wondered.

Her aunt nodded almost immediately, "Well absolutely. You've been so much help already. Just make sure to be careful out there...I think it's going to rain any minute now."

Riley takes my hand and pulls me out the front door in a hurry. "Come on, let's go!"

We stop and pull on our shoes as quick as we possibly could before Riley had taken me by the hand once more. I could feel my heart race as we made our way out onto the street.

Dark clouds hovered the air as we ran through the empty streets, my hand in hers. There was a smile on my face that grew as seconds passed.

I follow her along the street, turning my head every now and then to look out for cars. And at that very moment, the rain fell.

I watch as we stop in our tracks. The rain pours over us like flowers in a field.

"Oh my goodness..." Riley giggles.

I watch her smile so beautifully. She's in the rain, and even then, she looks absolutely gorgeous.