A Smile for Smile
“Can you pass the bottle for me?” Asked Jisung in a tired voice. Y/n was also tired but he seemed like he would pass out any time soon.
“Yeah, sure but to whom?”
“Pass it to the senior over there,” he said, indicating toward a group. They were sitting in chairs in a circle, talking and laughing loud. But the problem was that they all were seniors.
“Hey, whom to pass? They all are seniors”, Y/n was concerned.
Volunteering in a crowded place is too difficult for a person with social anxiety.
Jisung handed her a bottle and signaled her to walk toward the group. For the extra credits, she went volunteering. And now, she is walking with jelly legs to a social circle full of seniors.
Little did she know that she was already in the eyes of someone. A senior was witnessing all these events in the corner of his eye. Even though he was sad about her going beyond her comfort zone, he still wanted her to come to him.
She was dragging her legs with a bottle in her hand with knitted eyebrows.
That senior couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up and walked towards Y/n.
“I will take it from here. You may go.” He said in a voice that would almost make everyone piss. His cold aura can travel like northern lights for miles.
She didn’t even take a look at him. She just nodded and walked away.
Y/n’s social anxiety with seniors was understandable, but she turned so pale walking towards them that she looked like she would almost pass out any second.
After completing the volunteer work, Y/n was ready to go home. Slowly walking towards the parking, she was happy about her extra credit and extra happy that she completed her volunteering work even on the verge of a mental breakdown. After reaching the parking, she searched her bag for keys, when she opened her bag two papers fell out. It hit her that the attendance sheet that would bring her the extra credits was with her, but she hadn’t handed it in. If she wouldn’t submit it, she won’t be credited, not only her but all the volunteers. But for that, she would have to go to that crowd again.
She started walking on jelly legs towards the hall where everyone had gathered. She could hear the screams and howl of the joy which unlikely to many, made her shiver. She wanted to run away but had no way out.
Suddenly she felt someone behind her, turning around was surprised by the senior to whom she had delivered the water bottle.
He gave her an awkward smile, and for the first time, she looked into his eyes for too long. She looked down when she realized that he was also looking at her.
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. But I noticed you went inside and came outside abruptly, so I came after you. Do you need anything? Ah, by the way, I am Yuta,” he extended his hand, but she only shook her head, still looking down.
Y/n’s reluctance was cute. It was unusual for Yuta to see any girl who would look this mesmerizing even while freaking out. He immediately withdrew his hand when he noticed her face.
“Then what are you holding?” he looked at the paper.
“It’s the attendance,” she said in her lowest voice. Almost inaudible. But, he understood.
“Do you want to give it to the leader?” he asked in a slightly loud voice to break the resonance with the music. She flinched. Yuta was afraid that she was about to cry. He patted her head, leaned towards her, and said in her ear, “the music is loud, don't be afraid.”
He had eyes on her since he saw her at the canteen, he had noticed her clumsiness around people, but for the first time, he was looking at her cuteness. The corners of his mouth crept up.
“I can pass it to the leader. Give it to me,” as he stretched his hand towards her, she backed away.
“You are a senior, I can’t let you do my work,” her courage was building up.
“I am not doing your work, I am helping you,” he said and snatched the paper from her hands before she could protest, he said, “Don’t run away! Wait here. I’ll be back.”
Y/n stood there obediently for Yuta. After some minutes, he came out with a juice bottle.
“Here,” he stretched his hands, but she was too flustered to accept.
He took her hand, handed her the juice, and went inside again. His warm hands contradict his cold aura. His personality made Y/n change her mind about him. She was more confident while returning. And in fact, she was thinking about him the whole time.
The next day, she was the first to enter the hall, she had cleaning duty. She took a box and began collecting all the wrappers, bottles, plastics, and papers.
While taking the box outside, she was welcomed by a familiar tone.
“Let me help you, this box is bigger than you,” Yuta said and took the box from her. That made her smile. How can anybody pop up just in time?!
“How do you always rescue me just in time?” she asked with doe eyes.
Cute
“Wanna hear a story?”
“Yeah,” she was unsure of where the idea came from.
“I saw you for the first time at the canteen, I was already a fan of your innocence, but after that, we never met, I looked for you, but your introverted personality made you invisible for me to find you. Then, one day while looking at the resumes of newcomers, I came across yours. And that was a silver lining for me. Then, I met you while volunteering. I was unsure what to do, but Jisung had this not-so-brilliant idea of asking you to pass the bottle, but you freaked out, and he got a very good scolding at the dorm for making you work.”
“So Jisung intentionally asked me to pass the bottle,” astonishment was all over her voice. Who would know that a clueless guy like Jisung would help you both to meet?
“Jisung and I are friends, we share dorms, and he knew I have a crush on you. I would always ask him, and he would just narrate what you did in the class.”
“So, I am sorry for yesterday. I just wanted to know you. And protect you. I hope that you will reciprocate the same feelings for me. You can think about it,” Yuta thought that his honesty might again freak you out, so, he quickly turned to leave.
“Yuta! What if I say you that I also feel the same about you? Since yesterday, I have only been thinking about you. How you helped me, and how you patted my head. I don't know if all these may be too fast, but I think I reciprocate your feelings.”
Yuta smiled, a smile that could melt the whole of Antarctica, his smile held the power of healing. He tucked Y/n’s baby hair which was almost poking her eyes. It was a gesture of affection for him. His warmth made Y/n feel protected.
His gesture made Y/n smile, her mismatched dimples were the star of Yuta’s eyes.
