12 What am I to you?

"There's a part of me which has always wanted to hear a man say, "Let me take care of you forever," and I have never heard it spoken before. Over the last few years, I'd given up looking for that person, learned how to say this heartening sentence to myself, especially in times of fear. But to hear it from someone else now, from someone who is speaking sincerely..."

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

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< 7 years ago >

The art shop near the famous art academy not far from their school is always crowded even so Zhou Qin Yang like going there to shop for her art supplies. The shop always have what she wants. Lee Jun Ting overheard her talking with Li Li about visiting the shop on the weekend. Jun Ting decides to tag along to find out about the things she like.

Zhou Qin Yang scroll along the watercolour section, looking for the colour she wanted. 'Mauve.. mauve.. where is it.. ' her eyes scan the colour bottle one by one. She is determine to buy it today to finish her artwork.

Beside her stood a handsome boy, observing the girl focusing so hard to look for the supplies she wants. They have been in the shop for quite a long time. Even girls stood outside just to look at him, Jun Ting got annoyed by the attention he is getting. " Can't you buy other colours and mix it?" he grumbles.

She turn around and glare at him " It's not the same ! "

Aren't they all the same? It's just mixing colours, is not hard?

" Non-artistic people are like that. They think just because it looks similar,it's the same when clearly its not." she mumbles to herself. Lee Jun Ting sighs at the girl's complains, he got tired of waiting and decided to head out for a fresh air.

After awhile, the girl's eyes smile when she found the colour she wanted. " Found it !" she took the colour tube out from the aisle. She turn around to find Lee Jun Ting not there. Where did he go?

Qin Yang paid for her art supplies and head out the store. She still couldn't find the sight of Jun Ting. She look around the sea of people walking along the busy weekend flow. He didn't ditch me and went home right? Her heart begin to feel uneasy without Jun Ting's presence.

A group of boys suddenly approach her, obviously trying to hook her up. One of them had blonde dyed hair, he took out his phone and took a picture of her "Pretty girl. It's so sad seeing you all alone. Come and play with us"

Qin Yang covers her face and said in a fierce voice "Delete it! It's rude to take picture of someone without consent!"

The group of boys laugh at her reaction "Ooo...so scary. Play with us then we will delete it." They corner her. She took a step back in anger " I'm warning you! I will call the police!"

They found out how cute this beauty look when she is angry. The blondie reach out his hand and tries to touch her but he stop midway when he saw a scary cold glare behind her like a wolf ready to attack its prey. The boys felt a chill down their spine.

Suddenly, a icy cold item touch her cheeks from behind. She flinch away and held her cheeks " What the-" and turn around to see Jun Ting standing there, holding two cans of juice. He put the cans of juice to her arms and swiftly took the phone away from the blondie. He deleted the photo of Qin Yang in the phone and toss it to the ground hard. The boys was frighten but blondie refuse to give in " That's my phone! I bought it not long ago!"

"If you don't scram right now, the next thing I'm going to break is your bones" he step forward and look at him in the eyes. The blondie gulp as he felt intimidated because Lee Jun Ting's build is so much bigger than his. The boys turn around and ran off.

Zhou Qin Yang who watch from the side felt her heart flutter as Lee Jun Ting deal with the situation. Qin Yang heave a sigh of relief " Where did you go? I look everywhere for you."

" The convenience store over there has a promotion for can drinks so I went to bought them" he hands her the can of juice. 'I thought of buying you one.'

" I thought you ditch me" she gave a can to his hand.

'It's my favourite flavour.' she smiled.Both of them sat down on a bench provided by the mall, they watch as the people walk past them.

Jun Ting ruffles the girl's hair " Why would I ditch you when I insisted on following you?"

Zhou Qin Yang look at the boy beside him and wonder why is it that she feel secure and warmth around him instead of other boys. She tries to reject the feeling that she fell in love with him. Without noticing she blurted " Lee Jun Ting, what do you think of me? ", she still wanted to know what he thinks of her.

Ever since they came to the shop till now, everyone has their attention at them. Males fawn over her, female squeals over him. Both of them can't help but worry about each other being flirt by opposite sex.

Taken aback by her question, Jun Ting look into her eyes and come closer to her face. Because I like you. Qin Yang's heartbeat begin to increase rapidly as he closes in, she was about to push him away but Lee Jun Ting pull back first and continue to sip his juice " You are like family to me."

Somehow Qin Yang's heart felt disappointed by his confession. So that's why he treat me so well... Zhou Qin Yang fake a smile " Same here. You are like an older brother", she laughs it off. At the end of the day. both of them went home without a word.

If they admitted their feelings that day, it would be a different story but god decided to play with their fate a bit.