āsee? youāre about as transparent as i am.ā
which isnāt a bad thing whatsoever. in fact, ahyeon finds she appreciates the way wonwoo chatters and grins his boyish smile like he doesnāt have a care in the world. as if their conversation is the only important thing to focus on at the moment and it makes the student wonder how many more people share his ability of making the ones they decide to talk to feel so important with such simple gestures. itās a great trait to have, she thinks.
and right then is when sheās being pulled back into reality once more. how fascinating, to see how easily an atmosphere can shift. āhey,ā she tugs at her bag heās got slung over his shoulder, the request slipping out easily. āgive me the bag back before you get permanent back problems. besides, iāve to see if i can afford treating your hungry self to a meal. you see, iām not too keen on washing the dishes for a full stomach.ā
waving her hand in dismissal is what follows next, brows furrowing gently while she peeks at her purse after pestering him for long enough to return her belongings. āyou happen to be friends with someone who loses energy after 2 am, so the chances of you being seriously hurt,ā she looks up, an encouraging smile highlighting her own features upon realizing she can indeedĀ pay for both of them, āare slim to nonexisting.ā
nodding at his words, the only real action followed by that is a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. āitās not unnatural to want to get out. i applied for a semester in japan to see a bit more from the world, too. you canāt do that when youāre stuck with a job and a family to take care of, i think.ā not that she intends on finding out anytime soon but the thoughtās there and enough to keep her musing.
her lips twitch slightly when she notices his grin, though she canāt place if heās asking to tease her or not. ājust someone nice.ā ahyeon wonders if it matters now: sheās still young anyway. āeverything else doesnāt really matter.ā
Itās no secret to how blatantly giving she is, a person who gives, then gives, and gives again, without thought, because thatās what is natural to her, as itās natural for the rest of the world to take, then take, and take again. Itās the first thing you notice about Ahyeon, and the first he had; Ahyeon and her heart too big for her chest to possibly hold, the burden of a weight too much for her small frame.
Ahyeon, so giving yet so stubborn to possibly understand that the physics wonāt allow her to empty out forever without filling back elsewhere.
āHey, on second thought. Itās on me.āĀ
His hands are quick to retrieve the wallet from her, and just as quick to keep it away from her. āI lost that bet that time, remember? Same night at the library. You said you could get through and read your textbook homework faster than me. And you did.āĀ He takes her purse too, slinging it over his shoulder as easily as the smile is on his lips. āI never paid up my losses for that since the coffee shop wasnāt open by the time we were done.āĀ
And again, he keeps them on edge, quick to switch subjects before she can even catch a breath or thought. āI still canāt agree with there not being a single twenty-four hour cafe around campus. What is that all about, anyway?ā He finds himself a few steps ahead of her, and retracts, always waiting for her to catch up, then meeting her pace.Ā Ā
āA semester in Japan?ā His voice falls more distraught than he means it to be, because the thought of even a single week without Ahyeonās presence is not a thought heās ever needed to give.Ā āA whole semester? In Japan?ā Again, thereās too much distress highlighting his voice, even between the words in the brief pauses. Perhaps his face is saying more than anything, in his parted mouth and hanging jaw.Ā āNow I really need to find you someone here in Seoul just to have you stay.ā He begins mumbling, linking arms with her. Perhaps itās a defensive thing, wanting to keep her closer -- as if the simply act could keep her here with him, idiotic or not.Ā āIām not sure if I have anyone thatās deserving of you around me, really. If Iām going to be honest.ā