"So what made you decide to be a guidance counselor?" He asks, chewing through his pizza like a madman.

I myself only ordered two slices, but Jeonguk seems to have a bit of a large appetite, though I wonder if he will truly be able to eat a whole pizza to himself. On the plus side, his shy nature seems to be greatly diminished with food before him, something that I'd noticed when he'd actually stayed for dinner the other night.

"Well, I didn't see myself becoming a therapist, and didn't want to waste my psychology major, " I reveal, grabbing and turning the red pepper flake shaker upside down and dumping a hefty portion onto my food. "What about you? What's your major?" 

He grimaces, dropping his slice of pizza and wiping his hands anxiously. "I haven't really decided yet, " he answers timidly, "for the moment I'm just getting the general studies out of the way."

"Did you start late?" I ask curiously, enamored by the blush that spreads it's way across his cheeks. "usually at your age, most students have already picked a major."

"I did start late, " he replies shifting uncomfortably in his seat, "family circumstances. Actually, this is my first semester."

I nod in understanding, deciding not to push any further. 

"What about you? Aren't you a little young to already be finished entirely with school?"

I laugh a little, amused at his question. He blushes profusely, as if I were laughing at him, which only causes me to giggle that much more.

"I think that's the first time anyone's called me young in a while, " I explain, trying to offset his discomfort. "But you're not wrong. I actually graduated high school early, and got into college early too. I was twenty-two when I graduated."

"So you're a smart one then?" He teases suddenly, eyes crinkling up as he smiles boyishly.

I smile, nearly winded by his abrupt shift in demeanor. For a second, I wonder whether I finally breached that wall between us, but then, he stammers pitifully, mumbling a nearly incoherent apology.

"No matter, " I tell myself silently. "I can be patient."

"Something like that, " I finally answer, taking a bite from my own slice of pizza.

I watch in amazement as Jeonguk wolfs down three more slices in the span of what feels like a minute. On the tail end of the last slice, he chokes a little, and then sheepishly avoids my eyes as I look on in concern.

"And what brought you to Korea?" He asks, this time wiping his face as he attempt to look anywhere but directly at me.

"Actually, " I state, not in the least surprised by his question. If my lack of asian features didn't give it away, I'm sure that my surname does. "it was my step-father."

He finally looks at me, curiosity shining in his eyes as he presumably waits for me to elaborate.

"I'm from the U.S, but my step-dad is from Seoul, and he would always tell me stories about it. I grew up wanting to come here, so I did, the first chance I got."

"Ahh, " he utters softly, "your grandparents make a lot more sense now."

I smile.

Despite the awkward air between us, I truly feel as if we are making progress. He can barely look at me, and most of his words are mumbled, or barely decipherable, and yet, here we are, eating lunch together. And at the very least, he is answering my questions. Asking some of his own even.

Though shy, it seems to me as if he might have a small crush on me. I think it's adorable, and though a tiny part of me tells myself that what I'm doing is wrong, so, so wrong, another part of me can't deny that I am also attracted to him.

From my purse, I pull out a piece of paper and a pen. Quickly, I scribble down my name, and phone number, before sliding it across the table to rest just before his plate.

He looks at me and blushes, but grabs the slip of paper nonetheless.

That little voice that I normally equate to a conscience continues to nag me in the back of my mind.

"You could lose your job, " it tells me.

But I push it to the side for now. Later, in the solitude of my apartment, I'll allow whatever guilt I feel to creep in, much as I always do. However, it's too late to take it back now, and I'm honestly happy for the first time in forever for my impulsive nature.

"Thank you, " he tells me, startling me and yanking me out of my thoughts.

"Whatever for?" I laugh jovially.

He blushes, eyes downcast and body rigid as he answers. "For having lunch with me."

I smile wryly.

Maybe I have no chance and no reason to be worried. After all, he seems so painfully shy that I'm not sure anything ever could happen between us. 

"Thank you for asking me, " I return, "to be honest, I was afraid that maybe you didn't like me, or that I scared you."

His head whips up, still blushing and also suddenly very comedically alarmed. 

"No!" He nearly shouts, suddenly slamming his hands down upon the table. His blush deepens, becoming even more pronounced as he stammers, realizing how loudly he'd just protested. Embarrassed, he mutters quietly, "I mean, it's not like that."

Eyebrow raised, I gaze upon him questioningly.

"Okay, " he mumbles, "maybe you scare me just a little. But it's not because I don't like you."

I laugh, watching as he attempts to melt into the floor and vanish on the spot. I can tell that he's giving it his best effort too.

I place my hands over his, chuckling at the way he freezes.

"I'm sorry, " I tell him softly, genuinely, "I shouldn't tease you, but you're just so adorable that I can't help myself."

He frowns, forgetting his shyness in the place of his obvious displeasure.

"I'm not adorable, " he denies thoroughly, shaking his head. 

"Sure you're not, " is my mirthful reply.