03. Hello
“You’re addicted.” Gwiboon stated, staring at the younger girl, palms cradling her chins as she rested her elbows on top of Taeyeon’s books.
“Gwi…boon unni?” The raven snapped out of her daze, looking up from her additional mathematics drill book. “Addicted? Addicted to what? I’m not taking drugs, if you’re accusing me of-“
“You’re addicted to ogling at the boy in the café, Taeyeon.” Taeyeon simply tilted her head a little, raising her eyebrow as she looked at her unni. Gwiboon sighed, exasperated. The diva loved her dongsaeng , she really did. But Taeyeon’s innocence and clueless-ness did make her feel like strangling the girl. “You know. The one from the all-boys school near ours. Um. What was his name again?” She snapped her fingers. “Oh. Choi something. Choi Tae…”
“His name’s Minho.” Taeyeon corrected. “And unni, come on. I’m too busy to be addicted to anything right now! Much less boys, of all the things in the world.” Taeyeon rolled her eyes, adverting the intense stare of the other. “I just really like the hot cocoa there.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Taeyeonnie. You keep telling yourself that.” Gwiboon walked away, waving her hand back and forth as she did.
--
It was true though. She did like the hot cocoa the café served. As well as the fresh blueberry muffins they sold. She loved soaking in the relaxed atmosphere in the café, even if she was supposed to be doing her homework. Nothing was better than having hot cocoa with a nice, delicious muffin to compliment it in the increasingly chilly weather. Choi Minho, though, was like icing on her cake.
The boy, she’d heard, was the very emblem of perfection. Athletic , Smart, Funny, Nice, Handsome. He was the apple of every adult’s eye, the one all boys envied and respected, and one all girls wanted.
He’d started to frequent the café she loved not long ago, It wasn’t hard to notice him, when he strolled through the doors, letting the cool air outside fill the warm shop. Not at all. He had a sort of a charisma around him, flaming charisma, others called it. She understood why. He had a charm to him, in the way he walked, smiled, laughed, talked, and so much more. The older boy would sit at a table opposite her usual one, fishing out a book from his ragged school bag and indulging himself in it, sipping at his coffee every few minutes. The girl had since been going to the café every day after school, minding her own business (she claimed), completing her homework (so she claimed), and occasionally stealing a glance or two. She’d notice how he’d fidget about, or how he’d occasionally look around the café, observing people, and how he’d scrunch his nose up at certain points of the book. Call her creepy, she really wouldn’t care.
--
Taeyeon hummed, pressing the tip of her pink mechanical pencil, grinning from ear to ear, not noticing the two shadows cast over her.
“Somebody’s in a good mood.” A soft voice chuckled.
“She’s mental, I tell you.” Another sighed.
Taeyeon didn’t bother looking up from her very old and stubborn pencil. “Something good will happen today, unni. I can feel it.” She bit her bottom lip. “Lead, lead, lead, pleeeease come out.”
Screeches were made as chairs were dragged across the floor. “Did something finally happen?” Gwiboon asked leaning forward, making herself comfortable on the turquoise chair, while her left hand played with her caramel locks.
“Not yet, Gwiboon unni.” Taeyeon looked up, pouting. “Something good will happen today though. I can feel it.” She said, eyes filled with determination.
“That’s good, Taeyeon-ah.” Eunsook smiled, revealing her rabbit tooth.
“Eun.” Gwiboon turned to her unni. “That’s not good. She’s going bonkers. Becoming delusional. For the love of god, am I the only sane one here?” She cried out, throwing her two arms into the air, before tugging on the ends of her pigtails to emphasize her frustration.
“Gwiboonnie, I don’t see what’s so crazy about it.” Eunsook chuckled, patting Taeyeon’s shoulder as the maknae glowered.
“Unni, I’m not crazy.” She frowned, before puffing her cheeks up.
“Nothing good will happen unless you take the initiative, Taeyeonnie. Nothing good.” The diva turned back to the youngest of the trio, waving her hand sideways. “The only thing you’ve done so far, is to stalk him at the god damned café. That’ll end up with a restraining order slapped on you.”
“Gee. Thanks for the encouragement, unni.” Taeyeon slumped onto her desk.
“Gwi. That’s enough.” Eunsook nudged her dongsaeng. “Taeyeon-ah. You go for it, okay? Ignore her. This woman’s been spewing garbage since her period came yesterday.”
“I HAVE NOT.” Gwiboon retorted, eyes practically bulging out of her eye sockets. “I’m just being realistic he-“
The oldest covered her mouth. “Yah.” She said in her occasionally manly voice that never failed to startle Taeyeon. “That’s enough Gwi. Let’s go. See you later, Taeyeon-ah.” She called back, dragging the struggling girl away. Taeyeon couldn’t thank her enough.
--
The girl later pondered if Gwiboon was right. Half the day had passed, and all that had happened was her getting reprimanded by her teacher for not completing the assignment which was given out the week before, rain, getting a rainwater shower- courtesy of a passing by car, Sold out blueberry muffins, and no Minho. Na-da. The girl sighed, drying herself off with the towel she’d brought along that day for physical education, and mentally thanking the lord that the café was really warm.
“Hello.” A husky voice called out, startling the girl in the process.
Taeyeon looked up, praying so hard that it wasn’t her stalker whom she’d successfully avoided for the past two weeks. What she got, instead, was a pleasant surprise. It did, though, give her a mini heart attack. “… Hello…” She squeaked, feeling her face get hotter and hotter by the second.
“Um. Mind if I sit here? The other tables are filled.” The boy scratched the back of his neck. She simply nodded, feeling pretty darn certain that she looked like an idiot. Minho merely chuckled, muttering something inaudible, before sitting himself comfortably in the big, red and old armchair across her own, adjusting himself before getting up again, wallet in hand.
The male later returned with two cups of coffee, and two caramel muffins to go with it.
“Just thought you might be hungry or cold.” He set the tray down on the table, before distributing the food and drinks, avoiding her amused stare.
“Thanks.” Taeyeon replied, cupping her mug with both hands, before blowing it a little, taking small sips at a time. Coffee diluted with condensed milk and two sugar cubes. She thought. Just the way she’d like it. It was strange though. She knew for sure, that the older boy liked coffee without any milk or sugar. Taeyeon looked up from her mug, and to Minho, who was immersed in his book by now.
“Nicholas Sparks?”
“What?” Taeyeon’s eyes widened.
“The book you’re reading. Dear John?” The boy looked up from his book, lips upturned as he grabbed his own mug. “Good read.”
“O-Oh! Right. Yeah it is. Reading it again for the fun of it.” She replied a few moments after. Pause. “You read romance novels?” She raised an eyebrow, gaining a chuckle from him in response.
“Why not?” He asked, amused.
“It’s just… you’re a guy, and well. I thought that guys wouldn’t like these books. Let alone go near it.” She asked, skeptical.
“Well. Not all guys are like that. Nicholas Sparks is a guy too, you know.” He laughed, making her flush a little, before she giggled as well. Slowly, but surely, they grew onto each other, conversations carrying late into the night and into the next morning, and later at the café where they’d meet for coffee and study dates. They’d take turns to buy each other drinks and muffins, for no other reason than to continue lounging in the comfortable café, talking until either of them had to leave, during which, both would pack and go, taking a nice, slow walk in the direction the both of them later discovered they passed. Days, Weeks, Months, Seasons passed, and the both grew to be more than just friends, more than just a couple with a crush. Whether it was destined, fated, or just a coincidence, neither of them knew, but both knew that it was bliss, and it had all begun with a simple “Hello”.
---....Nicholas Sparks, because I adore his books so much. Nora Roberts and Dan Brown were options, but I guess well. He fitted the bill? /shrugs. Again, this isn't the fic I promised after my first one;; I'm still doing research for that one, and another;; I'll update with drabbles and graphics in the meantime! My apologies! I hope you guys like this one though! ;~; I hope I didn't go out of character again;;
As usual, Comments and Critiques are loved! ;~~;b