“… That again?” He laughed awkwardly.
I gave him the look. He sighed.
“For the last time, there is nothing about you I find irritating or annoying. Nothing, okay? As I’ve said before: I only did that to see how you would react.”

“Then why did you choose me, of all people, for that little experiment of yours?”

“Well… you’re the only one I hang around with all the time.”
I rolled my eyes. He laughed again, a little less awkwardly.
“Besides, I can’t get sick of you. I’m still stuck with you for five years, remember?”
He smiled at me,and goaded me to smile back. We walked on.
“When college comes, though, you’ll have all your other friends back. And perhaps, you’d start ignoring me.”

He lowered his head and looked at me. It was my turn to reassure.
“Don’t worry. You’ll always be my first choice.”

“Aww. I’m touched.”
He put his arm around me for a few seconds, before letting go as we reached the end of yet another street.
“I hate you, you know that?”
He just smiled and said, “Okay.”