────────── ·  ·  ·  · ✦
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
✦ ·  ·  ·  · ──────────

𝟸.𝟽𝚔 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜

It was a very pleasant dinner. Shared smiles, soft bites, and easy conversations. These last ones were only occasionally interrupted by the attentive waiter tending to the table. Everything seemed orchestrated like a harmonious piece of theater, in a good way.

It was ironic to feel at home with practically two strangers she had met earlier that day. Though it didn't bother her.

Moving her fork here and there, Minhyun unknowingly created a small smiley face with the remaining peas from her soup.

This elicited smiles from her table companions, but it also lit up with shame the artist 's face. Quickly, she destroyed her culinary creation, causing one of the peas to fly out of her bowl.

Catching the tiny green sphere in mid-air, Ru-Da showed off his impressive reflexes before playfully asking.

—And that missile?

—My mistake, sorry. —Minhyun accepted with embarrassment, looking like a fluorescent sign. Curse these chopsticks!

Fortunately, her friend forgave her without further teasing and decided better get up to go to the bathroom. The pea had turned into pulp in Lee Ru-Da's left hand.

—Haha, I'll be right back.

—Yeah... be careful.

—Ultimately, you won't want desserts, right? —Ian asked, capturing the attention of both.

Ru-Da and Minhyun exchanged a silent glance before Minhyun responded, —I'm good, thanks. I don't think we can handle more food. Right, Ru-Da?

The blonde boy nodded in agreement before looking at his father. —If I eat anything more, I'll explode, Dad. Maybe next time.

—I see. Then go wash your hands; we'll wait for you outside. —Ian informed his son as he got up from his chair.

—Okay, I'll catch up with you. —Ru-Da said, and with that, he left. It wasn't until he had completely disappeared that Minhyun stopped watching him.

Ian, who approached to help the blonde girl, smiled paternally misinterpreting happily the attitude of Mihyun with his son. Nevertheless, he said nothing about his own mistaken conclusions.

He simply extended his gentlemanly hand to the little miss in front of him, making her blue eyes fall on him, full of questions.

—Your feet hurt, don't they? Lean on me with confidence.

Feeling caught, Minhyun bit her lip before smiling shyly.

—Haha, you noticed, huh? Thanks. —she said, accepting the help to stand up. Unfortunately, that did not prevent her legs from twisting like those of a fawn, as they tried to assimilate her weight while standing.

Embarrassed, she nervously laughed, regaining her balance and carefully linking her arm with Ian's. The soles of her feet were hurting.

—You shouldn't wear such high boots. Isn't your height inevitable? —the blonde man teased, laughing as he gestured with his hand just above the girl's height, sarcastically pointing out that even with high-heeled boots, she barely reached his shoulder.

With her mouth agape and deadpan eyes, Minhyun pressed her lips together at the joke.

—Hey, that hurt. —she pointed out with annoyance, wanting to move away but unable to do so for fear of ending up on the floor. —Besides, I don't know what you're laughing about; you're not in a position to boast either.

Groaning due to her words, Ian sighed somewhat disappointed.

—Is 6'4" considered short these days? I was proud of my height.

—...I'm not talking about you. I mean your offspring. —she clarified, raising her chin before smiling shamelessly—. That cute boy is only four fingers taller than me, you know?

—Now you're bringing my son into this? —Ian gently chided her with his gaze but didn't take her seriously. He knew she was just playing.

—Oh, come on! Don't look at me like that. You have a great son, and it seems like you're living a pretty good life. What else could I tease you about? —Mihyun asked indignantly.

Feeling a bit of sweat trickling down his forehead, the man couldn't help but smile and shook his head.

—But that was a low blow. —he commented.

To this, Han Mihyun, laughing quietly like a little villain, replied with a mischievous look.

—I guess. At least now you know I can play dirty. —she squeezed his arm and pointed with the index finger of her free hand, warning him with raised eyebrows—. So don't mess with me, Mr. Reed, or you'll be in big trouble.

Ian, who had a perspective from above, bit the inside of his cheek to stifle his laughter, but his stomach still shook, and he let out a snort.

Feeling his laughter through their connection, the blonde girl frowned.

—What are you laughing about?

—Nothing —he quickly replied, shaking his head with a clear smile—. It's just that... you look so menacing.

Not believing him at all, Mihyun narrowed her eyes and drilled him intensely to get the truth. However, she didn't have a chance to say anything because Ru-Da's voice interrupted.

*

-- Ham Dan-i's Point of View --

After finishing a delicious meal, we were waiting for our dessert, Sujeonggwa. That's when I suddenly felt the call of nature.

I really didn't want to go to the bathroom in this complicated and massive 4-story Chinese restaurant. But what was I supposed to do? I was already out of my house.

Getting up as if I weighed ten kilos more than before dinner, I looked at my parents and told them I would go to the bathroom. My dad said I should go on.

Walking down the hallway where the restrooms were located, I noticed my shoelaces were untied. There was no place to sit, so I bent down to tie them comfortably.

I didn't expect to be ambushed.

—BOO!!

—AHH!! WHAT?!

Startled and in panic, I threw my lethal fist backward, but my attacker caught it as if it were a joke.

It wasn't until I looked at my supposed opponent that I calmed down. Behind me, Lee Ru-Da was wearing a white shirt with a stylish gray sweater on top. What he was wearing underneath was a nicely washed-out pair of skinny jeans. His outfit and appearance seemed to be taken from a foreign magazine editorial.

—S-Sorry. Were you that surprised?

—Uh... huh? —with my jaw on the floor, I stared at Ru-Da for a while, still in disbelief.

—Are you here with your family to eat too?

—Y-Yeah...

I confirmed as soon as I regained my senses. I began to blink, but the words still wouldn't come out. What are the odds of both of us meeting here when there were thousands of Chinese restaurants in Seoul? As soon as I thought of this, a foreign gentleman who was wearing a decent gray suit appeared, opening a door that was a couple of meters behind Lee Ru-Da.

His straight nose, deep blue eyes, delicately well-defined features, and the sharp aura surrounding him made him look like the godfather of a mafia, at least in my eyes.

But that's not what actually surprised me; it was the person for whom that man with a charming laugh was holding the door. Without any haste, Han Mihyun appeared radiant in front of my eyes.

She didn't seem to notice my presence right away, which gave me time to try to take in this massive encounter, which didn't work. However, as soon as Ru-Da noticed my confusion, he smiled and called them.

—Dad! Mihyun!

*

-- Han Minhyun's Point of View --

—And that's how I ended up here. —I say, taking the last sip of the delicious iced tea I hold in my hands.

Dan-i and the two Ban siblings are still processing the story I've just told them. Meanwhile, Ru-Da, who had been participating as a co-narrator, adding details I might have missed, doesn't miss the opportunity to let out a mocking laugh while looking at me.

—Yeah, yeah. And then her stomach growled in front of her "crush" —he says, emphasizing the word with air quotes—. That's why we brought her with us. My father couldn't bear to leave her alone in the night.

There was no need to tell them that! Jeez, I feel so embarrassed that I blush. So I give him the finger with a rehearsed smile to shut him up, but that only aggravates his damn laughter.

—Crush?... A romantic crush?! Who, you?! —I hear Yeo-ryeong's exalted voice ask. But I just turn, trying to hide my heated face with furrowed brows. I didn't want to explain my stupid joke to anyone present.

—Me? Well... —he hesitates, trying to be intriguing—. Not really... but...

I don't even need to look at him to know that he's just dragging out the pauses on purpose for me to stop him. Something that I'm not going to do. It's not necessary because if he dares to say something else, I...

—But I'm pretty similar! —I hear him finish by bursting into loud laughter. I just feel like I'm dying of shame.

You're so damn dead, Lee Ru-Da. I think squeezing my glass.

Ignoring him, and repressing the urge to go drown him like Bart Simpson; I bite down on the straw from my empty cup and crush it to contain my temper. I don't know if it's because my period is approaching or what, but I feel moody and don't want to say anything foolish.

Suddenly, surprising me, a gentle touch starts to slide a strand from my cheek to behind my ear. A déjà vu sensation washes over me, and the smile of a blurry person flashes through my mind.

Confused, I turn to my right, and though I find a really handsome boy in front of my eyes... for some unknown reason, I can't help but feel a little disappointed.

I sighed softly before giving him my best smile.

—Warm hands. —I say enjoying his touch and resting closer to his palm my cheek—. Please, touch me more.

❀
゜
・
。
。
・
゜

Delicately, Yeo-Dan slid his fingers, gently removing the obstacle that had interrupted him the view of her face. He wasn't aware of his movements until his eyes bumped with those striking blue eyes.

Ban Yeo-Dan was about to withdraw his hand, but when he felt her lean closer to it, his body froze.

And when he was on the verge of mustering the courage to fulfill her request for more caresses, the booming voice of his neighbor's father shattered the moment.

—Oh my, look how sweet they are at the other table! —the man exclaimed dramatically, pointing in their direction with his chin while holding an empty shot glass—. Stop flirting, please. It makes me miss my youth!

Yeo-Dan, who was initially a bit piss off, turned confused.

However, as soon as he analyzed better the man's words, the young man got embarrassed from head to toe.

Did he think they were flirting? Was this what they looked like?

Feeling the corners of his lips wanting to curve into a smile, Yeo-Dan wiped his mouth.

Still unable to decipher the pleasant sensation in his chest, subtly turned his face. He dared nothing more than to observe the girl sitting next to him from the corner of his eye, waiting with strange expectation for her reaction

But seeing that she remained very confused with tense lips in a line, his now nervous gaze returned to the front. He didn't know exactly what was happening, but a sudden wave of fear and panic washed over him.

In his unconsciousness, and purely by instinct when he had them close, the jet-black eyed guy sought the silent advice of his parents.

Smiling paternally at the sight of his son so concerned and nervous about Han Minhyun's lack of reaction; the old man placed a hand on Mr. Ham's shoulder to tone down his talkative personality. Then with a friendly smile, Mr. Ban says.

—Come on, let them be... you're making them uncomfortable. And you're making us look very old.

Relieved by his father's intervention, Yeo-Dan nodded gratefully and sighed deeply.

For her part, Mihyun, who had finally "understood", or rather, assimilated the situation, smiled calmly at Yeo-Dan as if the tension had dissipated.

Realizing this, with a knowing look, Yeo-Dan's father turned to his left and addressed his wife, who had been watching the scene with a mixture of anticipation, excitement, and concern.

—I think we should give them some space, don't you think, dear? —he said tenderly, smiling.

Mrs. Ban smiled back and nodded, getting up from her seat to announce their departure, joined by their friend, Mrs. Ham.

—Well... we'll be leaving first. Don't drink too much. —Mrs. Ban wisely advised with a gentle smile.

Almost simultaneously, the woman seated on the other side of Ban Yeo-Dan suggested maternally. —Yeo-Dan, son, don't you have mandatory ya-ja tomorrow? You should go home early and rest.

—Yes... —he replied somewhat dejected.

Seizing the moment, Yeo-Ryeong's mother asked a question with the primary intention of ensuring she would take the blue-eyed girl with them.

—What about you guys? Do you want to stay and come home when your dads come?

*

-- Ham Dan-i's Point of View --

As soon as Yeo-Ryeong's mom asked us that, fortune bells rang in my ears, and I nearly jumped out of my seat to leave with them.

But... in the end, I just let out a silent sigh after understanding what it would mean to leave now.

If Yeo-Ryeong and I were here, what we would encounter later would be drunk men's conversations, so normally, we would just follow Yeo-Dan oppa.

However, we had Lee Ru-Da here with us. If we leave her alone in this big restaurant, what would she feel?

After deliberating what to do, I spoke at last.

—Ah... well... I'll go with dad later. Yeoryeong, you can leave with your brother.....

—NO!!

Yeo-Ryeong, who shouted out loud, hysteric, confronted me inches from my face. Her sudden scream was so loud it made me hiccup. Lee Ru-Da also trembled after hearing her. Her blue eyes widened as she looked at Yeo-Ryeong.

—H... HOW CAN I LEAVE YOU ALONE WITH HIM?! I'M STAYING TOO!! —she continued with her words still very close.

—Oh, the flirt... —Mihyun said as she stood up. Apparently, she was going to do what I would have liked.

Yeo-Ryeong, who let me go when she saw her stand up, caught Mihyun's hand this time with puppy dog eyes.

While, I could breathe normally, trying to calm my hiccups.

—A-Are you leaving? —I hear her ask while Ru-Da offers me some water.

—Yes. It's too late for me, Yeo-Ryeong. Remember that I came 'alone,' so I don't have a father here to leave with later.

Mihyun's voice is as gentle as one used to comfort a child, so I can't help but feel a bit jealous of not receiving such a gentle comfort as well.

However, when we lock eyes, and she smiles sweetly at me, I fill with hope. Sadly, she doesn't meet my expectations.

Instead of anointing my ears with honey, she puts a hand on Yeo-Ryeong's shoulder and says something that makes me spit out the water in my mouth like a sprinkler.

—You must protect Dan-i well in my absence, Ban-Ban. Only you and I know about the recent dangers lurking around. —she says seriously while looking intensely at Ru-Da.

—... Um, I will stay strong. Trust me!

—I do.

After bidding farewell to Yeo-Ryeong, who seemed determined, Mihyun approached me and stood there absentmindedly.

And a few seconds later...

She kissed my forehead, creating an unexpectedly romantic drama scene.

I unconsciously touched the spot when she pulled away enough, smiling at me.

But as soon as I saw the romantic gestures coming... I slapped myself.

SLAP!

Everything fell into silence, but I felt relieved.

Oh Jesus... That was so close it scared me!

I thought excitedly, fearing for my heterosexuality.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

✿ New Chapter ✔️