[Joshua's POV]

I stare at the empty cup in front of me as I remember how shocked I was when she laughed at me back then. At the time, I thought such mean people only existed in movies, but the bitterness of the reality still gave me chills to this day.

"Why is love so hard...?" I sigh deeply. I look up to Jieun and see her thinking, once again, as if searching a good answer to my question. After a moment she finally speaks up.

"I have no answer to that, but people often say that difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations. I think great things still await you, Joshua," she tells me with her soft voice. Her smile is reassuring. Once again, I'm amazed at how easily she has an effect on me.

I wonder for a few second if she might be just like my ex and pretending to be someone she's not, but I shake the thought off. No, she's so different from her. Maybe villains exist, but heroes do, too. There's always a good side somewhere. I have the intuition she's of light.

I look at her and smile.

"You're probably right," I simply say. She finishes her beverage.

There was no magic cure for the damages done. In the end, there were only small steps toward a happier tomorrow. A smile, a kind word, a good action...

"Can we exchange numbers, maybe?" she suddenly asks me. I'm surprised that she suggested it, but I gladly agree because talking with her more would just make me happier.

"Sure," I answer and get my cellphone out from my pocket. We exchange our phone numbers, before leaving the café and going our separate ways. I turn back and watch her for a few seconds as she walks away.

I'll see you tomorrow.

[A Week Later]

The week had passed in what seemed like a very short time. It is now a routine for Jieun and I to meet at the café at four o'clock in the afternoon. We would sit outside, but, with the weather becoming colder, we started sitting at a table inside two days ago.

I am glad to have met her, after all. She had given me a new reason to smile. Just for that, I like her a lot. I mean, maybe I was first attracted to her because she was so perfect while I felt broken, but now that I'm getting to know her flaws, her qualities, the reason behind her smiles, and simply her, I think I'm falling deeper for her...

I hear the chair in front of me being pulled, so I look up. Jieun greets me and smiles. She puts down her iced chai tea on the table before sitting down.

"Long day?" she asks me.

I shake my head. "Not at all. I've been doing great lately. I haven't slept that well in weeks." I laugh lightly. Without even knowing it, she was the reason behind it all.

"That is great. I have an important exam coming up, so I haven't been sleeping as much," she compares jokingly. Jieun was studying arts at the university. She had told me how much she loved to draw. Her passion was actually the reason for which she had discovered the café. It was a coincidence, she had said; she found the view from the terrace beautiful, and I couldn't disagree. She liked to walk around and discover scenery to draw. Having found this café, she had decided to come everyday and draw.

"I'm sure you'll do well, don't worry." I smile.

"Thank you, Joshua."

"So, when are you going to show me those drawings?" I ask playfully, but I still would really like to see them.

"You want to see my drawings?" She sounds a bit surprised, but her eyes softens. I catch myself thinking her eyes are very beautiful after staring a while. I look down at my coffee.

"I'll bring them tomorrow, then."

Her smile, too, is beautiful. It makes my heart flutter...