When He Smiles at Me

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❝I've never felt this happy before.❞

-Haneul

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Haneul

"Yoongi?" I tapped his shoulder, unsure of how I should approach him.

"Haneul?" he blinked, as if only realizing he was staring into space just then.

"Are you alright?" I took a seat next to him, he shifted in, making room for me on the leather padded bench seat in the restaurant.

"Yeah, I'm okay sugar plum," his lips tugged up into a small knowing smile. "I was just thinking about us."

"Oh, really?" I smiled, taking his hands in mine. I don't know why I did that.

But holding his hands felt like a reflex. "Tell me more," I said eagerly, looking into his eyes.

"Well, we haven't spent that much time together, but we sometimes used to talk in the garden. Our parents were close, so whenever you visited, we'd talk. I-" but he stopped himself for some reason.

And then the food arrived!

"Let's eat," Jin suggested, saying grace before we dove into the meal.

Yoongi insisted on dishing my food out, carefully selecting my favourites from the buffet they ordered.

I was a little surprised, but then I remembered that he's not the one with a condition. It's a funny thing, the human memory.

"Thanks," I smiled at him, accepting the bowl of noodles.

It would seem they picked the most delicious food I've seen. But that's debatable since I'm technically a chef.

We ate in partial silence, the only sounds were the chinking of glasses, cutlery and utensils as we ate. Occasionally, one of them would smile, offer me gimbap or some of the sweets they ordered. I made a bit of small talk in between.

Hoseok, Yoongi, Taehyung and Jin engaged with me throughout the meal. While Jimin and Jungkook observed silently, agreeing where they could.

It's really sweet of them to let the others talk to me a bit more.

Namjoon however, was quiet. He sat in a corner, eating some of the sweet treats Jin ordered. I made a note of the ones he liked, filing them away for later.

"Haneul, here try this," Taehyung popped a piece of cake into my mouth.

I smiled at him. Maybe he didn't know. But the gesture was really sweet.

"This is Seojin's restaurant, right?" Jimin spoke suddenly.

"Yes... why are you asking as if we don't always come here!" Jin looked at him funny.

"Because Haneul supplies this restaurant. Don't you sweetheart?" Jimin's eyes found mine.

"Yes, but I don't supply everything, just the cakes and sweets," I felt my face burn up again.

"You made this?" Taehyung blinked.

"No, but it is my recipe," I explained, unsure what's the big deal here. "My brother-in-law has the chefs here make it," I shrugged.

Taehyung's mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out.

The others beamed at me, Jimin's smile was probably the brightest. His eyes shone like brilliant bronze coins.

"That's amazing Haneul! Congratulations!" Hoseok reached over to kiss my cheek.

I blinked, surprised by the gesture. Yoongi did the same on my right. "I'm really proud of you, Haneul," his gruff voice whispered to me.

And just like that, our first date as a group was over.

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After lunch, the guys took me to a nearby park where we talked a bit more.

"May I?" Jin held his hand out to me. "Sure," I said, placing my hand in his.

He whisked me away from the others, flashing them an apologetic smile.

We walked towards the sculptures while the others hung around the garden, discussing something I didn't quite catch.

"I'm glad you're back with us," his voice was a low murmur.

Jin's smile wasn't playful or flirtatious any more. There was a sad tinge to it. A sadness I couldn't bear to see.

"I'm glad I'm back. I missed you all."

Maybe he thought I was just saying it to comfort him. And maybe I did. But the one thing I was sure of, is that being alone with him made me happy.

He took my hand in his, and slipped something on. I glanced down to see a gold and silver beaded bracelet. But it looked so familiar.

My eyes widened with realization.

And a memory resurfaced.

"This is for you, so you'll always have a piece of me with you, wherever you go," a sixteen year old version of me said to a twenty-one year old Jin.

His ripped jeans, black t-shirt, matching converse sneakers and leather jacket screamed 'university student'. Also, he had a backpack slung on his shoulder and a duffle bag gripped in his other hand.

I slid the bracelet onto his wrist, assessing it. The colours looked good on him. I wanted him to have it.

I was wearing it with the jeans and t-shirt I wore, but something about him keeping something of mine, like a momento, thrilled me.

"That's so romantic Haneul, but I'm not going anywhere," he playfully kissed my knuckles.

He knew why I gave him the bracelet. But he chose to rile me up a little before he took it. Classic Jin.

"Just keep it Seokjin. I want you to have something of mine," I pulled my hand away, crossing my arms.

I turned away from him, pouting slightly. The room was quiet. Although, someone left the windows open, so the beige curtains billowed in the late summer breeze.

We stood in silence for a moment, as I glanced at everything and everywhere except at him. He's going back to campus today. His third year starts, officially, tomorrow.

At least he came to see you before he left, Haneul, a voice of reason whispered in my mind.

Yeah but he's still going! And I don't feel very good about him going! I retorted.

Besides, I was about to start school again soon and we barely ever got to see each other!

That shut the voice up inside my head. My conscience was smart like that I suppose.

"Are you jealous that someone will steal me away from you, sweetheart?" his lips curved into a smile. He tugged at my arm, turning me around to face him.

It was a delicious smile that wasn't good for my teenage hormones.

"Just keep it, or I'll storm into your dorm room in the middle of the night playing that song 'I'm your Venus' on full blast when you're back at campus," I smirked.

"You don't even know which residence I'm in! And the campus is huge! How would you even find me!" he grinned, brushing away a stray strand of hair that blew into my face.

I looked up at him with my eyes narrowing a little.

"I've got a tracker in that. I'll find you just fine if I have to," I stared at him to make my point.

Of course, it was a big fat lie. But he knew that. Jin chuckled at my nerve, then pulled me in for a hug.

"Haneul, don't make me fall in love with you. Or I might steal you away from everyone," he murmured into my hair.

Then he straightened, holding me at an arms length. We couldn't be alone for too long.

We heard footsteps in the hallway.

"I'm only sixteen! That's illegal," I smirked.

Jin's smile changed. The intensity waned, as if his resolve washed away. Or maybe-

He couldn't mean what he said right? Is he in love with me? I'm only sixteen! That stuff is for adults!

Did he mean like violins playing in the background with a magical summer breeze kind of love?

"I'll never leave you Haneul," he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

He took a step back, "I'll call you as soon as I reach my dorm room," he waved.

"Okay," I held back the rest of what I wanted to say, waving back. "Enjoy your semester Jin."

Sally, my au pair, walked in just then with a tea tray. "See you Jin! Enjoy your semester!"

"Thanks," he smiled, his eyes locking with mine.

He waved again, the bracelet glinting on his wrist as he did. And then he disappeared down the hall.

I looked up at the twenty-eight-year-old man. My throat hurt with the emotion that seemed to stay stuck there.

"You kept it safe!" I sniffed.

"I did," he said gruffly. His voice sounded on the verge of tears too.

Instead, he silently pulled me in for a hug. There was an unspoken understanding that passed between us.

"Welcome back, my love."

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