06 | "Shoot, why are THEY here?!"

"Mr. Park."

"Yes?"

"Would you..." She trails off. "Like to get dinner with me tonight?"

Sunghoon's heart starts to race. Yerin is unable to make eye contact with him and instead allows her eyes to falter to the tie on his shirt. Pressing her lips together, she turns around, inhaling heavily to avoid the embarrassing moment. 

Hiding his face in the palm of his hands, he can't help but blush profusely. What a sight to see over the two. "I'd love to," Though it came off as desperate in Sunghoon's ears (though it was enchanting in Yerin's) Sunghoon couldn't hide his desire to even be by her at night. "Right after work, shall we go get ramen? I'll pay."

"No, you don't have to! I can pay as well..." Yerin dismisses, turning around and crinkling her eyes nervously. "We can go get ramen, whatever you'd like. Does that sound good?"

Her nervousness had caught up with her, and by the time they arrive on the first floor to get on the bus together, she didn't notice. Sunghoon takes his opportunity to slowly trail closer to her, and as she stammers back a bit, she stands cold. The boy slams his hand against the elevator doors to keep them open, and a small ding! causes Yerin to flinch.

His head travels close to hers, and when his lips are centimeters away from her left ear, he smiles.

"That sounds lovely. Now, let's go."

He travels past her with a smile, the girl stunned. Only to follow him after, Yerin can't help but think if she made the perfect move,

or a grave mistake.

Of course, they take the bus together. Today, they are to work with the elderly. Once they arrive, there is already a group waiting to smother Sunghoon in love and gifts. Sunghoon blinks at the crowd, looking back to Yerin, who watches them patiently. "Is it alright? If I-"

"Yeah, go!" She pushes him slightly, causing him to move forward. "They always like you first, Sunghoon. It's our job, anyway. To look over them."

So, with Yerin reassuring him to leave her side, he enters there first and greets all of them. As they trail him with ecstasy, Yerin enters. Only then does she realize that a woman was waiting for her, eyes closed and smiling. "You're Yerin?"

Yerin makes her first assumption, and it is correct. The lady was blind. However, Yerin still bows, greeting her with her purse in front of her body. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"

"Miss Sim," She smiles. "Though I can't see you, I bet you're a beautiful young lady. Miss Oh talks about our volunteers a lot to me because I can't see. With every description, you're already painted so beautifully in my head."

Yerin swoons. "That's very kind, thank you. I'll have to thank Miss Oh as well," Yerin nods. "Would you like to do anything? We can talk, go on a walk outside..."

"Tell me about that boy you're with." Oh. So she's also interested in Sunghoon.

"Oh. Well, his name is Sunghoon. He works with me, and-"

"No, no, honey," She interrupts Yerin. "I'm talking about you and him."

Yerin blushes, moving the both of them over to a seat as Yerin sits next to her. "I'm not quite sure what you mean-"

"Oh jeez. I mean what's your relationship?" Suddenly, Miss Sim places her hand on Yerin's cheek after it brushes upward. "See, you're already heating up like something in a microwave. Do you like that boy, Miss Yerin?"

"Yes."

"You must be smitten the way you're bold telling me these things."

"I can trust you, can't I, Miss Sim?"

"Of course, you can, dear," Miss Sim laughs. "We girls stick together. I should protect your pride, shouldn't I-"

"Mom!" Yerin turns around as Miss Sim's eyebrows lift, waiting for the person to greet her. Yerin stands up just as her son comes over, looking at Yerin. "Oh, I apologize for interrupting."

"No, not at all," Yerin shakes her hands in dismissal, smiling. "You're her son? You both look alike."

"Yes. My name is Sim Jaeyun," The two shake hands. On Jaeyun's skin, her hand lingers. His eyes sparkle at the sight of her. "Are you a volunteer? I've never seen you before."

"Yes, I'm Cha Yerin. I work here on the weekends with a friend."

"With her cru-"

"Miss Sim!" Yerin panics.

"I'm just joking," She chuckles. "Son, don't worry about what I was saying."

"You always worry me, mom," He sighs, squatting down. "I'm sorry I couldn't visit you earlier. I just quit my job."

Miss Sim's eyebrows knit together. Yerin didn't know if she was supposed to be here or not. "What?" Miss Sim says in surprise. "You quit? Why?"

"It just wasn't what I was looking for."

"Jaeyun!"

"Mom-" Sunghoon grabs Yerin by her shoulder, the girl jumping. He beckons for them to be left alone to bicker, so, the two disperse away from the family.

Finally, after work ends successfully, the two end up at a noodle place together. Sitting across from each other after ordering their food, Sunghoon scoots his chair back a smidge. Yerin instantly notices, curious about his doing. "Sorry. I just wanted to create some space between us."

Yerin takes that in a bit of offense, clearing her throat. "I see..." She trails off, looking between the cracks of the table. "Shall we just make a boundary, then?"

"Huh?"

She takes the horizontal line of the table, moving her finger across it. Sunghoon sees the invisible barrier being formed, a frown deepening as it edges closer to the end. "So that you're comfortable, let's be separated this way. You can't go over to my side, I won't go over to yours!"

"Really, Yerin?"

"What?"

Sunghoon dismisses it, frowning. 

"Nevermind," He puppy-huffs, drawing circles with his fingers. However, his eyes light up at a potential conversation starter. "Say, how was your work today?"

"It was fun. Had some nice conversations with the elderly."

Crickets...

"How about normal work? Were you able to finish your monthly report?"

"Yep."

Awkward bird chirping...

"When did you move into your apartment?"

"Years ago."

Utter silence...

Before Sunghoon makes one more attempt, some more people come in.

"Jongseong, stop tickling me!"

"Yeojin, come back here!"

"Oh." Yerin's jaw drops.

"My." Sunghoon covers his mouth.

"God!" The two cover their heads with their hands, watching as Jongseong and Yeojin run by. Sunghoon points at Yerin, who widens her eyes at the sight of him accusing her.

"Everyone comes to this place, Yerin! Why did you choose this place?"

"Why did you agree to come with me?!"

"You're the one who asked me to dinner. Why am I being slammed here?" Sunghoon sighs in panic, shaking his head. "It's fine. We can just make a run for it, okay? Or, we can eat our ramen and pretend they don't exist."

"Both of those cost me a gallon of pride, Park."

"Well, I don't know what you want me to do-"

"Yerin?" Yeojin announces. Then, as she walks over (and the pair continues to hide their faces instead of running) Jongseong follows behind her. When she arrives, she gasps "Sunghoon?"

"Sunghoon?!" Jongseong repeats. Then, in vice-versa, Jongseong gasps. "Yerin!?"

"Oh you idiot, I said that first!"

"I'm just as surprised as you are!" Jongseong bickers. Finally, the two sadly straighten their posture, Jongseong looking between them. "I see both have you tied the knot?"

"It's not what it looks like!" Sunghoon says. Yerin falters with a frown, Yeojin noticing immediately. I guess Sunghoon couldn't explain it any better... "We're just eating together... talking about work! Right, Yerin?"

"...Yeah..." She sulks, placing her head in her hands. "Just... working..."

"Poor you."

"Poor what?" Jongseong still doesn't get the hint, not until Yeojin glares. "Oh! Yeah! Poor her."

"We'll leave you both be then-"

"Come eat with us!" Sunghoon offers. Yeojin continues to glare at Jongseong, but he's oblivious.

"Jongseong, I swear to fu-"

"Sure!"

With a quick damn it, Yeojin and Jongseong eat with the pair, talking about work...

while Yerin expresses her failed attempt at making her move with Sunghoon to a pitying Yeojin.