04 | "I enjoy your company, a lot, Yerin."

Yerin fixes her dolled-up hair at the bus stop. Curling her hair, she looks to see if her ribbon clips aren't slipping. She wants to give off a good impression, not only to the place she'd be interning at every weekend but obviously, to Sunghoon. Maybe she was working with him that unsettled her the most, as usual, they'd be twenty feet away. Now, they'll only be five. She knows that the more she tends around her, the more her lips tighten to not mutter a word.

The bus arrives, and in the best outfit that she could find in her closet, she walks into the bus. Her eyes glance at each person until she sees a special someone, a hand reserving the seat next to him. Once he looks up, he's alarmed. Pushing up his glasses, Sunghoon moves his hand.

"Oh! Yerin!" Yes, Sunghoon knew that Yerin takes this bus. He sat in the back one morning on a weekend and saw her take the bus. Sure, he had his crush, but he decided to hide his face from the window. Then, the next weekend after that, she'd ride the same bus. (To be quite frank, he assumed this was the only bus she took. Only on weekends, too.) "I didn't know you ride this bus!"

Yerin was suspicious of his sweating brow but dismissed it because she was nervous herself. "Yes... I never knew you did too!" She nods happily, smiling to appease the awkward tension. "Are you waiting for someone? I see that you've been saving the seat next to you."

Now how was Sunghoon supposed to get out of this one without telling the truth? He didn't want to lie to her saying that he was waiting for another friend and have her sit away from him because he wanted her to sit next to him. He was contemplating and decided to sit straight. "I was saving it for you!"

"I thought you said that you didn't know I rode this bus?" Yerin chuckles, taking a seat next to him. Sunghoon slides his hands politely into his lap. He's sat next to numerous women, but none were like Yerin. In the sense that he had a wicked crush on her, of course.

"I didn't, but I had a hunch today," Sunghoon laughs it off, scooting closer to the window. Sunghoon stares at the headphones in his hands, which he planned to share with Yerin today on the bus. Like a planned date, Sunghoon had initially planned to get to know her more on the bus ride to their center. Now, it seems he's stuck in place, unable to even offer it. "Are you excited to do some work outside of our company?"

"I always like working, no matter where I am," Yerin smiles gleefully. "That's why on the weekends, I'm bored. I have nothing to do."

Other than giggling and kicking her feet that Sunghoon knows she exists. Cough, cough...

"Do you not go out on the weekends?" Sunghoon asks quietly, hoping he doesn't ruin this moment with his senseless question.

Yerin shakes her head. "I don't hang out with anyone that much except your department head," Sunghoon raises an eyebrow. "She and I are best friends, Ms. Choi... She was kind of the one who got me this job. She recommended me, and now, here I am. Do you... go anywhere on the weekends?"

To have something in common with her, he shakes his head. "Not usually. Only if I am forced, like the department dinner, or someone invites me," Sunghoon slowly nods, tilting his head. "Truthfully, that is more often than department dinners... I only take select requests."

It sizes up Yerin in fear, frankly, his words did not help her in the best ways. "I see... so if I were to ask you on a date, would you join me?"

Her boldness strikes both of them quiet, Sunghoon widening his eyes before turning away. How much more obvious can their crushes get? Though Yerin turns the other way, silently cursing under her breath, Sunghoon nods strongly, turning back to her physique.

"Yes, I would."

Yerin widens her eyes in response, flashing her face towards him. He nods once more for reassurance, smiling. "We're friends, aren't we? Why would I decline such a kind request?"

"Ah, you're correct," Disappointment floats beneath the iceberg of their frozen-solid hearts. Being melted by each other, it seemed that the chemical reaction might need more time to fully respond.

Moments later, Sunghoon musters his courage to offer one of his earbuds. "Would you, um, like to listen to music with me?"

"...Sure!" Yerin hesitates but takes the earbud, placing it into the adjacent ear. Sunghoon does the same, the prepared song playing on his phone.

As the bus ride continues to the center, the silence is sealed through the shared moment of music and subtle passion-

between a man and woman in the secrecy of love.

"Ah, you must be Sunghoon and Yerin!" The old lady greets them with a bow, the two reciprocating the formal greeting. "Well, you both will be working together with a bunch of teens every Saturday to work on their skills. On Sunday, you'll be looking over the elderly."

"Can't he work with us, Miss?" The receptionist bickers, but the old lady who seems to be the owner of the center swats her away. "He's too handsome to be working with snarky children and whatnot. The girl can handle it, no?"

"Do you have no manners?" The lady snaps back, causing the receptionist to roll her eyes and glare at Yerin, though not her fault. Yerin falters, eyes to the ground. "They apply together, they work together. Stop being so enchanted by men because you can't seem to get one yourself."

"Miss Oh!"

"I mean what I said," The woman repeats, turning back to the awkwardly-standing pair. "Ah, you two look like bananas in a bunch, the same person! I'm Miss Oh, the overseer of the center. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

They bow. "Thank you."

"Your class starts in an hour. Feel free to enjoy yourself for some time, as the kids will probably find some things to inquire you both about to appropriately start your lessons." Miss Oh walks away, allowing Yerin and Sunghoon to look at each other.

"She's scary," Sunghoon says.

"Definitely," The pair shares a laugh, Yerin holding onto her crossbody strap for dear life. "I see you're also popular outside of our office, Sunghoon."

"I don't pay attention to it. It kind of bothers me, to be honest."

"Then you must not enjoy lots of company?" Yerin questions, which causes Sunghoon to slowly shake his head.

"I enjoy your company, a lot, Yerin."

His words speak just as loud as his motives and stun the woman in front of him.

How sweet, yet utterly embarrassing.

Yerin did not get what he was trying to convey, and instead, leaves it for the dreams she has that night to giggle about. She knows she's going to mimic his words tonight to fuel her love for him, and that it will work.

"I... will learn to enjoy yours as well, Sunghoon," She bows politely, smiling. "After all, we've barely got to know each other. What could we know about each other's company after such a small time together?"

"Lots of things." That was what Sunghoon wanted to say, but if his flirting didn't work, he'd rather keep this one to himself.

"I don't know," His cheeky smile plays against his lips, holding his bag in front of him before stepping back once, then twice.

"But I know we're going to have lots of fun together."