Smoke and scents of marinated meat permeated the air as Sulli and Luhan waited for their orders to arrive. ”Here,” Luhan said, pouring her some soju. Her eyes connected with his and for a short moment she remembered the kind eyes that has been looking over her for the past few months.
He may or may not be aware but Sulli has been watching, unconsciously that is. Like the moon, his eyes changed. How are you? At first, this was what the conversations over tea and coffee covered. Hazy eyes that carefully made her look up and stray her eyes away from the scenery outside the glass walls. Nods and short responses escaped the interstices of her lips during these meetings. This was the way she had always been but as the number of meetings lengthened, her sentences got longer and the hazy eyes now became curious and warm as they rested shyly over his two murky brown. These pair of orbs slowly too became clearer when he started asking beyond the fences Sulli built up around her.
Tell me. Like shuffled footsteps, his brown eyes became warmer as he talked to her; when her sentences got longer and suggested curiosity over her unique thoughts. Perceiving self as cold and inexpressive, Luhan’s eyes said otherwise as his half-moon orbs smiled instead of the usual frown she receives from others. Once was secretive and did not desire talking of one’s self, Luhan slowly melted the icy exterior. He took her to places she has never been. Without even needing to confirm, Luhan knew the things that made Sulli’s heart flutter. Conversations were confined in the four walls of cafés but are now under the cherry blossoms and grassy pavements flooded in all seasons. Macchiatos that faintly outlined her lips were now untouched and cold as conversations turned into small laughter and stories of nothingness.
Let me. Sharp yet soft eyes looked over her as days of politeness during first meetings were now replaced with sudden appearances in her campus with her favorite tea or latte. Books that were neatly pushed aside on the table now resided within the fingertips of Luhan. Asking immense questions, or rather, ridiculous questions to make Sulli smile. It was all a joke in his part maybe because he would just stare and not listen at all. And now, his visits came unannounced to invite her to go and eat somewhere, much more comfortable than the first days where he was cautious always asking her opinion if she can go. Of course, the places that they went always intrigued Sulli, as if in an adventure. If it was another individual showing her the same things as Luhan did, it’s doubtful Sulli would enjoy the time at all.
Curious and caring eyes slowly started to knock on her heart’s cold door. Will she open it? She asked herself, she didn’t know. So, she wanted to change all of this. She wanted to be the one to change this time around now that she’s aware. It may be risky, but she’s willing to give this fluttering feeling residing in her, a chance.
“Hey! Are you listening?” Luhan resurfaced with the shot of soju near Sulli’s nose bridge, interrupting her thoughts.
As usual, she just chuckled and received the drink. The brim of the small glass stopped suddenly near her lips as the thought of changing dawned on her again. Her eyes looked up at Luhan opening another bottle of soju.
Hands fast but swift, she stole the soju bottle from his grip. This action made him wide-eyed. Before he could say anything, Sulli just smiled at him and said, “Let me.”
Mouth gaping at her unusual behavior, Luhan went ahead and confronted her. “So… why are we here?”
Eyes focused on pouring the alcoholic drink over his shot glass, she smiled once more. After moments of silence, she looked up to him with a broader smile, making the other have a soft flush of pink on his cheeks (this was, of course, not noticed by Sulli. At least, not yet). “I didn’t know we needed a reason. I don’t know…” Looking around the canopy of the place, her eyes looked to him again and said, “I just wanted to eat and try something new.”
Eyebrows still furrowed at her vague statement, this made her giggle softly, making him even more baffled at her expressive behavior.
“But…” he hesitated but Sulli urged him to go on. This made him even more discombobulated. After a few moments of studying her smiling moons, Luhan’s confused brown turned soft and grinned from ear to ear. “Tell me.” This statement was just for show but he knew why and just let her be, although, he was still curious and if what he’s thinking was real.
Sulli contemplated and still played the mysterious type and just shrugged. Giving her best to send the most caring smile, she said, “It’s just my turn now.”
