6th∞

It was the lonely and empty beach Mingyu once brought me to before. 

It was still empty, oddly. I still wondered why it was so deserted. Weren't beaches supposed to be full of people, most of the times? In front of me, I only spotted one old couple taking a beach walk. 

We took a seat under a tree and Mingyu didn't look like he had anything to say. Or he did, but he thought it was a bad time to since my eyes were watery; tears didn't run down, though. 

We sat there in silence and all I could remember was the way Jaehyun lied, cheated and betrayed me. I only innocently loved him, and all he saw me as was a new toy. Just like the other girls, we foolishly believed in him. He made lying look sweet. 

Mingyu's hand suddenly clasped over my hand that was gripping onto my shirt tightly and looked at me with concerned eyes. "You don't want to talk about it, don't you?"

I wiped my watery eyes with my hands and heaved a sigh before letting out a bitter laugh. "Isn't the world a unique place to live in? They're filled with dirty, low-lives liars like him."

Mingyu pressed his lips against each other. "So that's the reason why."

I looked at him, confused. 

"You don't want to fall in love. You've been hurt too much from the last one."

I was quiet. 

Mingyu's eyes concentrated on the sand below us instead. "I understand now. But I don't understand what is that guy's deal. How dare he play with a heart as fragile as yours."

I managed to smile at him. "At least you understand."

Mingyu smiled back. "Don't worry about a thing. I will make sure that guy never comes close to you ever again. He seriously needs a good punch in the face."

I nodded, agreeing to that. "What do you think I should do? Take up a few boxing lessons, meet up with him and get my revenge?" 

As I imitated a few punching moves, Mingyu lightly chuckled then called me cute. 

I smiled and found myself staring at him for a long time without myself noticing it. Mingyu did the same in return and it was as if time has paused right there. Our hearts were on the line, as well as feelings that weren't too sure. Who would be the first to fall? Who would be the first to admit defeat?

No matter how much I try to look at it, the story was already being written. Now, I decided I didn't want the story to end. I wanted it to continue. I wasn't sure how long this story could last because I knew that every story has its ending. 

"Your smile is pretty," Mingyu ended up blurting out. 

I was suddenly flustered and looked away first. Awkwardly, I said, "Yours is too."

Mingyu didn't seem as flustered as I was and smiled back. "Really? Well, I've always been the handsome one while I was growing up."

I nearly snorted then looked at him. "Look at you bragging."

"Oh?" Mingyu's smile stretched even more. "Your replies changed now. You're talking a lot more. Is it because I saved you from that jerk? You're thankful, aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Think whatever you want, Kim Mingyu."

Mingyu still didn't stop smiling and now I felt the scribble of his name on my paper heart being erased. The first word was erased and was now being written prettily: Kim. 

Love was all about taking risks. Even if you knew it might hurt you later on in the future, when you take a risk, you must first make sure you're prepared enough to take it. 

"If you don't mind, can you tell me more about that guy? What was his name again... Jung Jaehyun?"

At the mention of his name, I looked away and winced. Inhaling a deep breath, I prepared myself for the topic I've always wanted to avoided. 

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," Mingyu quietly added after. 

"No, no." I shook my head. "I think it's time to tell my story for a change. You've already heard about it and seen what it was like. Maybe then, after I tell you this story, I can finally let go of that painful past."

Mingyu wasn't sure whether to stop me from telling my story or letting me go on so he kept quiet and decided to go with what I wanted to do.

I slowly began, "I met him online. We started off as friends chatting with each other."

Mingyu was listening, nodding along as the story was being told. He honestly looked cute doing that. 

Right. Back to my story. "Slowly, I found myself falling for him. He was cute and his personality was just really amazing. Then we agreed to meet, which I didn't know how I managed to agree to that. At first, I was scared to meet him but when he walked through that cafe shop's door, my heart stopped, beat then raced ahead."

Mingyu made a sour face then pouted shortly after.

"I know, I know," I said to him. "We ended up dating. It was fun being with him. I was so happy at that time."

"Well, you were in love."

I winced again and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I was. Or I think I was because the day before our 100th anniversary, I saw him kissing some girl like he was going to eat her. I was horrified, disgusted, hurt. I felt betrayed, hurt, angered. Why did I let someone like him enter my heart, Mingyu?"

Mingyu gave me a sad smile and patted my shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to see that with your own eyes, Yeoreum."

I shook my head once again and tried smiling. "I'm actually glad I saw that. I'm glad I found out how he actually is instead of being trapped under some lie. I would have been more hurt by then."

"Still, that guy's a jerk," Mingyu remarked again, making another sour face. 

I tried not to laugh, but Mingyu was making them look even funnier. "I know. It's okay. We can stop talking about it now. I don't want to dive too deep into the topic."

"You're okay now, right?" Mingyu asked with a concerned tone. 

"Why wouldn't I?" I faced him and looked into his eyes.

"I mean, he was trying to get you back again and then he kisses some other girl again and..." Mingyu let his words trailed off, afraid that if he continued, he would have triggered a lost part in me. 

I smiled a bitter smile once again. If I kept this up, I might forget how to smile properly. "I think I'm fine. Sure, my heart was tearing apart when I saw him again and when he dared try to win me back after what he has done but I think I'm fine now."

Mingyu didn't look convinced though. 

I poked his cheek and that slightly made my heart race. But it only lasted for a quick second. "Don't believe me?"

Mingyu was also taken aback by my action and blinked a few times before stuttering, "A-ah, t-that's n-not it. I'm just scared you might... he might return... maybe even... yeah."

I titled my head and smiled. "Kim Mingyu? Thanks a lot for taking care of me. I think you're the first to ever help me protect my paper heart."

Mingyu smiled back. "It's my pleasure to."

That day, I felt like my paper heart had received some type of protection. It felt like Mingyu slowly wrapped my paper heart in a tarpaulin, protecting it from getting wet. Then he wrapped it with a bubble wrap, protecting it from falling as if it was also made of glass. I was thankful for that.

∞~∞~∞

Days kept passing and each summer day has been filled with Mingyu. Occasional phone talks and frequent messages. My days start with his messages and end with his voice through phone talks. I know I said I wanted to write on its own, but I still have to stay guard and alerted. 

Mingyu is calling...

My phone was placed on top of the kitchen's counter in the quiet apartment. The ringtone that was being played was none other than Arirang. Don't judge me, I have an odd taste for ringtones. 

I picked up my phone and answered the call while fanning myself. The air conditioning in my apartment still hasn't been fixed yet and I was honestly too scared to call a plumber to fix it for me. I wanted to wait for my parents so they can handle it, but that was in two weeks. I don't think I could survive that long.

"Hello?" I asked, wiping the beads of sweat on my forehead. 

"Yeoreum!" Mingyu happily greeted on the other end. 

"Hello, Mingyu," I answered, heaving a huff. "Gosh, it's hot."

"It's hot there too?" Mingyu asked on the other line. "You should turn the air conditioning on, Yeoreum. Don't suffer from a heat stroke. I don't want to receive a call, hearing you passed out and is now in the ER."

I chuckled at his ridiculous joke. "I would turn it on, but it isn't working right now. It broke a few days ago and I'm managing with just a fan."

"What?" Mingyu sounded alarmed, for some odd reason. "You're getting through summer with just a fan? This won't do. Text me your address."

I became flustered. "What?"

"I said: give me your address. I'll come fix your air conditioning for you."

I became flustered again. "N-no! I can just call a plumber to do it. I can manage."

As if I would. 

"I can fix it up for you. It'll save time and money. You should be grateful you have someone like me, Lee Yeoreum," Mingyu teased. 

Well, he wasn't wrong. I gave in, "Okay, fine. I'm texting you the address now."

"Yay! I get to see where Yeoreum lives!" Mingyu enthusiastically cheered.

My eyes widened as I yelled, "Stalker!"

"Shush, Yeoreum. Don't want your neighbors to hear you, now, do we?" Mingyu teased on the other line. "I'll end the call and wait for you to text your address. Okay?" 

I hated him for being like these at times. At the same time, he was still so lovable. "Okay. Hang up, then."

Mingyu chuckled. "Okay."

There was a beep and the phone call ended. 

I brought my phone away from my ear and began typing in the address and sent it to him. He probably got it and was on his way. In the mean time, I was trying to cool down with a single fan in this empty apartment. I think I still had some ice cream bars left in the fridge, so I went to check on it. 

Yes, there were still three bars left. I took one and ate it, hoping I'd be cooled down. Summer... you're just too hard to handle. 

I sat by the windowsill and hoped to get some summer breeze but only the summer sun greeted me. I left the windows opened for air but it was still blazing hot. I was near fainting. 

Minutes later, I heard the doorbell of the apartment ring and immediately froze in my spot whilst sucking onto my melting ice cream. My eyes were widened and I wasn't sure whether to go to the door right now. 

I knew it was just Mingyu but the fact that he was right outside my door made me feel all nervous. Even if he was, I still didn't bother to put on makeup or put on prettier clothes because it was too hot to be progressive. 

I snapped myself out of it and walked to the door and opened the door, finding Mingyu in a sleeveless, loose white shirt. His arms weren't that toned, but they were something. In one hand, he had a tool box and his black hair was wet and that made him attractive—even more than he already was, if that was even possible. 

One skip. Then another. Then, I found myself smiling at him. 

"Heol," Mingyu breathed, staring at me. "You didn't even bother to dress up nicely for me?"

"Why would I?" I teased, plopping the ice cream stick back into my mouth. "Come on in, Mingyu. It's really hot in here, hope you'll manage."

"It's going to get hotter because I'm here now."

I rolled my eyes at him and closed the door after he entered the apartment. "Sure, Kim Mingyu. Think whatever you want."

Mingyu had already spotted the broken air conditioning and put his blue tool box down on the table nearby and examined it. 

I leaned against the wall nearby and folded my arms over my chest. "So, Plumber Kim, how's its condition?"

Mingyu slightly turned around and chuckled. "Hush. It takes a while for me to identify what the problem is."

I ended up laughing. "Excuses."

Mingyu turned around and pouted. "I'm not making things up!"

"Sure you aren't." I turned around walked to the fridge that was nearby. "Would you like an ice cream bar?"

"Maybe later, after I'm done working," Mingyu answered, opening up his tool box. 

I nodded and closed the fridge door again. "Sure, then. I'll just um..." I looked around the apartment. What could I do while Mingyu was working on the dead air conditioning? I grabbed a book nearby and sat down. "...read a book."

Mingyu glanced at me for a quick second and broke into a deep chuckle. "Yah, you're reading that book upside down, you pabo."

I looked at the cover of the book and felt my cheeks warm up, feeling embarrassed. I turned it back around and hid behind the book. "I knew that..."

"You're still being cute, Yeoreum," Mingyu said. "So very, very cute."

I'm not being cute. I just so happen to act that way whenever you're around. I went back to reading my book. 

Occasionally, I would peek from behind my book to see how the air conditioner was progressing and end up seeing how Mingyu's arms worked and the way his sweat covered his hair and made him look a lot more manly. Mingyu had more sides than I thought he would have. This one is one of those sides I was falling for. 

If he could look like a puppy in one second and then some manly men who could fix your air conditioning in the next then I wonder what other side he had to show me. 

I lifted the book higher up and ended up smiling to myself. The second letter was being erased and written prettily: Min. 

"Okay, I'm done!" Mingyu said after long minutes of fixing the air conditioning. He turned it on and it no longer made an unpleasant sound. It was actually working! Mingyu looked at me, looking proud. "Well?"

"Omo!" I gasped, a smile stretching up on my face. "Thank you so much for fixing it, Mingyu! I didn't think I could survive without it. Especially since it's summer and the heat is just so unbearable these days."

Mingyu gave me a smile. "You're thankful, aren't you?"

"Maybe," I said, shrugging then giving him a cheeky grin. "Want that ice cream now?"

"Yes," Mingyu answered, but his eyes were fixed on mine, like he was saying something deeper with them. Though I couldn't decipher what it was. "But I want something sweeter."

"What?" I asked, confused.

Mingyu shook his head and smiled. "Nothing. Where's my ice cream?"

I put the book down and got up to get his ice cream. "Fresh from the fridge and it's still cold. Better eat it before it melts."

"Yes, ma'am." Mingyu opened the wrapper and immediately bit into the cold bar. Seconds later, he complained, "Ah! Cold!"

I flicked his forehead and laughed. "You little pabo. If you eat it too quickly, you'll get a brain freeze." I went to find tissues in the kitchen and returned slowly and wiped the ice cream he got on his lips. "You eat like a kid, Kim Mingyu."

Mingyu's eyes were glued on me and he didn't move, as if he was just frozen there in his place. But he wasn't frozen. He was more like... mesmerized. Then his lips parted as our eyes met and he said, "I like you, Lee Yeoreum."

~Author's Notes~

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter too ❤

xoxo

Byun Sang Kyung