Chuusoul w/ dorky chuu going to the library just to see the pretty lady who works there (jinsoul) everytime and jinsoul comes up to her one day and tries to talk to her but chuu is a nervous mess :(
Once more, Chuu hovered by the research section, caressing the shelves as she peeked between books; she thumbed through a sheet music book and pretended to immerse herself in it - but really, her attention was elsewhere. She was at a perfect spot to stare at her.
Her - Jung Jinsol, like the neatly pinned tag on her uniform read; but everyone in the library called her Jinsoul - “it’s more friendly that way!” the cheerful woman would say. Jinsoul, with her wavy black hair and bangs and sparkly eyes and adorable dimples; Jinsoul, who would have her eyebrows pinched in concentration as she pored over a complex math book. Jinsoul, who’d smile at children and old people alike, pout and laugh and chat with everyone who returned books like she meant it, like she was interested in everybody. Jinsoul, who would carry stacks of books twice her size from the vault to the front desk.
Jinsoul, who Chuu had been crushing on since her last year of high school. Chuu would always be made fun of by her friends for cycling the entire way across town to go to this library in particular - it was a cozy one, the light pouring in through the windows giving the brown floorboads and shelves a warm atmosphere in the afternoon, one that suited Jinsoul right to a T. No matter how much “you don’t even like to read?!” Lip would scream-laugh in bewilderment, no other library had Jinsoul. And so almost everyday after class, Chuu stared at her, completely enamored with the way Jinsoul would nibble on her pens or twirl her hair around her finger or hum to music when she was bored.
Here she was, two years later as a university student; Chuu had always been a social butterfly, making friends as easily as she breathed - but somehow, actually walking to the desk and talking with Jinsoul was not something she could manage to do. Everytime she’d come here, she’d walk empty-handed, or if she really had to borrow a book, she’d do it with the self-checkout machine.
She’d make a fool of herself, she knew. Plus, Chuu hated when people, especially men, would try to chat her up when she was working - in that sandwich shop where she did her part-time at, the customer was king, and she often had to endure obvious, unwanted flirting with a forced smile, wondering how to politely reject their advances without getting fired. So she did not want Jinsoul to feel that way - she’d never forgive herself for making her uncomfortable - and thus, never went to talk to her.
Chuu sighed (a little dreamily, sue her; Jinsoul had gathered her hair with one hand to one side, and the gesture had Chuu swooning) and she leaned on the shelves, wishing she had the courage to actually go and talk to her without sounding creepy. Even if, she had to admit, her staring must have been… creepy.
Jinsoul shifted on her desk chair, happily rolling away to grab a flyer for one of the patrons that stopped by. Chuu balanced her weight on her other leg, leaning more on the shelf, in order to see properly. Her school bag was in the way, so Chuu bounced–
–and suddenly, the shelf supporting her fell with a loud noise, all the books tumbling on the floor.
At that exact moment, Jinsoul raised her head in her direction, and they locked eyes between the bookshelves.
Panicking, Chuu ducked to the floor and grabbed whatever book-shaped object on the floor, hiding her face into it. Her eyes seeing but not reading the words as her heart thundered in her chest. A fool - she was a fool - a whole clown– no, the entire circus!
She heard footsteps and did not dare look up, her face red as a strawberry. Someone crouched in front of her and Chuu already knew who it was, from the unhurried pace at which they went.
God, Chuu wanted to die - was this heaven or hell? She screwed her eyes shut and shook her head, lowering the book. “I’m sorry for causing a mess…”
“It’s okay,” Jinsoul said. “As long as you’re not hurt. But we have a policy, you know? Please take care of the library?”
“I– I know!” Chuu squeaked. She opened her eyes - bad move, Jinsoul was even prettier up close, and Chuu could make out the smaller details, like a tiny scar between her eyebrows, or her soft sideburns, or the gentle wing of her eyeliner– so of course, she felt her face heat up even more. “I’ll help with putting these back on the shelves!”
Jinsoul chuckled. “Okay. Just asking, because you seemed pretty adamant on reading, uh,” she peered over to see the book was clutching. “Relaxation music for Penguins. Upside-down.”
“I, uh,” Chuu mumbled, tossing the book aside. A clown. She was a clown. “Yeah, I’m, uh, training. To, um, apply to the zoo. They might need a musician.”
Jinsoul laughed and rose up. “I can’t blame you for finding that book interesting. Perhaps I should play music to my pet fishes,” she said, offering a hand to Chuu. “Do you know how to put them back properly?”
Chuu hesitantly took her hand - warm, she thought - and rose as well, avoiding her gaze. “Of course I do! It’s by uhhh…!”
Jinsoul crossed her arms, looking amused.
“…I don’t. I’m sorry,” Chuu admitted with a sigh.
“I’ll help you, then,” Jinsoul said, placing the shelf back on its hinges. “It’s not necessarily by alphabetical order, but it’s easy, just read the label on the side… Um…”
Think, clown, think! “Chuu, I’m Chuu. Well, Kim Jiwoo, but you can call me Chuu.”
“Chuu,” Jinsoul repeated, smiling as she put a book back. “It’s funny how you’ve been around since forever yet I’m only learning your name now. You never stopped by my desk!”
Chuu looked up, slightly stunned. She noticed her? Of course she did, moron, she works here! “Well, uh, I didn’t want to bother you…”
“You would never!” Jinsoul said. “Reading is nice, but it’s always fun talking with patrons. Especially if they’re pretty!”
Chuu wanted to die. Again. Her cheeks were burning, and she had to take a deep breath as she placed books back on the shelf. “I… Thank you. But you don’t know what you’re saying. I can be a handful. I’m really talkative…”
“Me too,” Jinsoul said with a sigh. “Caused me trouble with my co-librarians who want only silence here. Tell you what– if you’re free after 6, let’s grab something somewhere so we can chat without anyone bothering?”
Chuu blinked. Was this– Oh. Yes. Oh god, yes!!!!!
She was too tongue-tied to speak properly, so she nodded furiously, earning another chuckle from Jinsoul.
“Great! I’ll see you then. In the meantime,” she said, gesturing at the other books on the floor.
Chuu nodded again, bending to get them as Jinsoul walked back to her desk. She opened a book and pressed her face in the pages, trying her best to stifle a roar of joy. She was in a library, after all.