7th∞

It's amazing how a few little words or action could make you freeze or make your heart jump so quickly you'd think it'd stop. It's like, once you hear them, you can't help but feel like everything has gone right. 

When I first saw Mingyu or when I first met him, I never imagined him on being someone important in my life. To me, at first, he was only a stranger that would unintentionally bump into me or coincidentally see on the streets. Seoul was big, but out of all the people that lived here, it was him who I kept crossing paths with. 

It was bad to get attached to people who wouldn't stay in your life, which was why I never opened up to him. I didn't think he would last. I didn't think he'd stick around any longer but the fate I thought never existed decided to play a trick on me. 

Since I had a paper heart and he knew that, he kept his words gentle. He was careful with me. He worried when it was necessary, he asked when it seemed like it was okay to and he knew when and when not to do things.

I think that was how I found myself falling for him. It wasn't that serious yet, but the feelings were there. I continued to get swept away with all these feelings that it felt like I was caught in a whirlwind. 

Staring into Mingyu's eyes, I didn't say anything else. I wasn't sure what I should say. After all, the name written on my paper heart wasn't as clear yet. But if I searched it more, I could see all those times we spent together were filled with nothing but smiles. I've never been so happy before. 

Mingyu stood there, waiting for me to react or to say something. He was patient, knowing how sensitive and scared I was. 

"Mingyu, I..." I looked around the apartment, unsure what else to say. What could I say?

"You don't feel the same way?" Mingyu slowly asked, looking hurt.

"That's not it," I quickly told him, shaking my head. "I do like you, but not as much yet."

Hearing that, Mingyu smiled. "You like me anyway, right?"

I smiled. "Yeah, but..."

"You're afraid?" Mingyu suggested, since I was lacking words. 

I slightly nodded. "That."

I was afraid I might like him so much I was afraid. 

Mingyu pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for not rejecting me. I was afraid you were still hung up on that jerk."

I returned back the hug and smiled. "Why would I go back to that jerk?"

"Just making sure." Mingyu lightly laughed. "I won't push you or force you on anything. Instead, I'll wait until you like me a lot too. Then maybe... I could ask you to be my girlfriend?"

Thinking about the future was overwhelming for now, since a confession was a start of a new love. We were only at that stage. "Maybe. I'll answer that in the future."

"Oh, no." 

"What?" I broke from the hug to see what was wrong.

Mingyu's pearly smile was showing again and he looked dumbfounded or surprised. "I got you wet from all my sweat."

I ended up giggling. "Is that what you're worrying about? It's okay, Kim Mingyu. It's just water. It's not a big deal."

"But that's so unattractive of me."

Everything about you is attractive, there's no such thing as unattractive for you, Kim Mingyu. "Here, I'll get you more tissues."

Mingyu smiled. "Thank you, my future girlfriend."

My back was facing him and I was actually glad it was because Mingyu would tease me about smiling to myself when he said that. I didn't deny it nor snapped at him for calling me that, which was a sign. I was comfortable with him and that I grew to like him even more.

I turned back around and wiped away all his sweat. He was a lot taller than me so he had to lean down when I couldn't reach his forehead properly. Then, Mingyu kept calling me cute. 

"Want to go on a date?" he suddenly asked while I was wiping away his sweat. 

I paused from wiping his sweat and met his eyes. He had an excited smile on and when you thought he couldn't be any cuter, that smile would change your thoughts around. "Huh?"

"We just confessed to each other," Mingyu knowingly said, "shouldn't we go on a date then?"

I tried not to smile at the idea. "A date?"

"Yeah," Mingyu answered, leaning down so our faces were closer, "you. Me. Together. Doesn't that sound great?"

I took the courage to smack his chest and tried hard to fight back a blush. "What? All of a sudden? You're crazy, Kim Mingyu."

"You're rejecting me now?" Mingyu asked, pouting. 

Stop. You're making my heart beat even harder. 

"That's not it, I just—" I was going to explain, but got cut off when Mingyu leaned even closer in. This was scary and very risky. I didn't think my heart could handle this. 

Mingyu smiled and slowly backed away. "Paper heart. I should keep my words gentle. But do you still want to go on a date with me?"

My heart felt like it was going to fall apart any second. "Where else could we go? I feel like we've been to a lot of places already."

"Well, we've bumped into each other for quite a number of times so it makes it feel that way."

I smiled and broke free from the close space we were having. "Can't we just stay here? The summer heat is really hot today. Plus, you just fixed the air conditioning so I don't feel like stepping out to feel the heat."

"You sure hate the heat," Mingyu noticed, but smiled anyway. 

"You can say I don't like sweating." I sat down in a nearby couch and patted on the empty seat next to me. "What are you waiting for?"

Mingyu didn't fight back and did as I ordered him to. "So are we just going to sit and talk?"

"Why not? Stranger, I don't think I know you enough," I said, giggling slightly.

"Ah, back to the 'Stranger' title, now, am I?" 

I shrugged and leaned back comfortably while still looking at him. "I only know your name, the fact we keep coincidentally bumping into each other and also the fact you saved me from that jerk. I swear, I almost cried on the streets and I would have hated that."

"Every time I talk to you, I feel like I've discovered more sides of you," Mingyu said, amused. He also leaned back comfortably and met my eyes. "I like that."

I was mesmerized by his eyes for a second there. The way it sparkled and made him look like an innocent boy. Cute. "Ah, ahem. Back to where we were. How old are you?"

"The same age as you are." He smirked.

"Smart," I commented. Then after a while, I added, "But not smart enough. Seriously, how old are you? I'm scared I might like someone who's actually still in high school."

Mingyu's laugh filled the entire room, making everything seem livelier. "What a funny imagination you have, Lee Yeoreum. And, no, I'm not in high school. I already graduated."

"And that makes you..."

Mingyu smiled. "Nineteen."

Woah, that made him a year older than me. He was a year older than me? I do not believe that with a face like his. "What? Are you serious?"

"Why? Are you actually the one who's still in high school?" Mingyu teased, resting his head on his hand. "I still wouldn't mind, though. You're too cute to resist so I'll go ahead and say age doesn't matter in love."

I shook my head at him, amused. "Wow, really? What if I said I was secretly fifteen? Would you not have minded then?"

Mingyu pinched my cheeks. "I don't think a fifteen-year-old's parents would let their cute, little child wander around Korea alone during the summer." Then Mingyu looked around. "Speaking of parents, where are your parents?"

"Hmm, what a switch of topics," I noted, nodding. 

Mingyu laughed. "I was just wondering. What? Can't I ask about your parents? I'm actually being nice and having manners to actually wonder about their whereabouts."

"Whatever you think is your reason," I said. "Excuses."

"Well, excuse me."

"Sure. You are excused."

Mingyu stared at me, amused again before he went back to laughing. "There's no way to actually win over you. Back to where we were again. Your age, your parents. Which of the two would you like to answer first?"

I took my time deciding. "Mmm... well, I'm eighteen and my parents and my little brother are currently in Jeju for a summer vacation."

"Eighteen?" Mingyu repeated. "Woah, you should be calling me oppa then! Go ahead, I'll let you call me oppa right now."

I scoffed and flicked his forehead. "Ha, no thanks, Stranger."

"Back to the 'Stranger' title again?" Mingyu groaned. But it was cute. "Your family is in Jeju but you?"

I nodded. 

"Why's that?"

"They're not there to relax. They're there to play."

Mingyu tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean by that?"

"My family is the sporty type. Then there's me. They went to Jeju to enjoy some fun sports that mostly involve being under the sun, which I hate, so I decided not to go," I briefly explained. "You can say that I'm not like my parents. My brother fits under that role more than I do. I enjoy staying under the shade and reading rather than actually doing anything like that."

Mingyu smiled. "I get to know more about you."

"Now's your turn then," I said, grinning. "So, who exactly are you, Stranger?"

"When will you start calling me by my name again?"

"Ah, I see. So you live with your cat in a retirement home? That's very interesting."

"Wait, what?" Mingyu's expression was so cute I almost pinched his cheek. Then he smiled. "Wow, I live in a retirement home now."

"Go on with your story, Stranger. Or I'll never call you by your name," I urged him, folding my arms over my chest comfortably. The heat in the apartment was slowly disappearing and the cold greeted us. I love the atmosphere. 

"I'm just a decent guy. I work out every now and then but I hate being stuck in a room full of other people who are sweating and working out. You know how gyms are." Mingyu made a face which told me he really hated it. It was cute. "I'd rather be out in the open where I can see the blue skies. I guess you can also say I like to enjoy the crowd and music."

"A party guy," I commented, nodding along.

Mingyu laughed. "Not really. I don't really party. Remember you found me in the less crowded area of the beach where there was a party going on?"

Oh, right. That memory. I nodded. "Then you're like me. But you cope well with the crowd more than I do."

"Yeah," Mingyu answered. "I do work a few part-time jobs to kill time during the summer and also earn extra cash for university."

"Oh, that's cool," I commented. 

We continued talking to each other and didn't even noticed how much time has passed. I could simply talk to Mingyu and won't even notice an entire day had gone. That was how enjoyable it was to be with him.

Then I wondered what our story would be like once this summer ends. It wasn't like this was a summer love with the both of us saying goodbye once the seasons change. I was hoping it was not like that. 

Summer love. I once said to myself that was never going to be part of my summer list this season. But I guess it ended up happening anyway, and I'm not really regretting anything. It's like the world has gotten prettier. Summer love, I repeated, you weren't on my list before but that was until I met Kim Mingyu.

And with that, the last letter was erased and finally written prettily: Gyu. 

~Author's Notes~

❤❤❤

Also, three more chapters until this story ends. Awww :(( 

xoxo 

Byun Sang Kyung