At the same time, Seojin stood at the street corner near a small café, clearly waiting for someone.
He wore a loose black long-sleeve shirt that draped effortlessly over his frame, paired with light khaki trousers.
On his left hand, two silver rings caught the light whenever he moved one designed like interlocking chain links, the other slimmer, engraved with subtle swirling patterns.
This time, he wasn't sucking on a lollipop.
He just chewed his gum, slow and lazy, eyes drifting over the street ahead.
Every now and then, he glanced down at his watch.
Even standing still, doing absolutely nothing, he drew attention.
Girls passing by kept sneaking glances some not even looking where they were walking.
A small group nearby slowed down deliberately.
"OMG, is he a celebrity?"
"He looks so good, what the-"
"Girls, don't stare."
"I can't help it."
"Is he waiting for someone?"
"Maybe his girlfriend?"
"…Should I ask for his number?"
One of them finally gathered the courage to approach.
Her cheeks were flushed bright red.
"O-oppa… you're really handsome. C-can I get your number?"
Seojin tilted his head slightly, meeting her eyes with a calm, unreadable expression.
Then he gave a faint smile.
"Sorry. Someone would get angry."
The girl blinked. "D-do you have a girlfriend, oppa?"
Seojin answered her with a straight face.
"Yeah."
The girl returned to her friends, clearly disappointed but still quite happy from the interaction.
"What happened? Did you get it?"
"No… He already has a girlfriend. I think he's waiting for her."
"Aww… I'm so jealous."
"I wish I had a boyfriend that handsome."
Seojin spotted Seolhyo from across the street.
She was looking around, she seem in a hurried, scanning the area worriedly looking for someone.
He straightened and raised his hand.
"Seolhyo!"
She turned at the call of her name recognizing the voice.
Seojin look at what she's wearing.
A loose black long-sleeve shirt too a graphic of a dressed-up dog printed in the center, paired with loose blue jeans that brushed against her red sneakers. A white leopard-print shoulder bag hung from her shoulder.
When she saw him walking toward her, she instinctively fixed her hair before stepping forward to meet him.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late. How long have you been here?"
Not far away, the group of girls whispered to them.
"Oh, his girlfriend's here."
"She's really pretty too."
"They look so good together… damn."
Seojin stopped in front of her, scanning her whole body before answering.
"Just about ten minutes. Not that long."
Without asking, he slipped her bag off her shoulder and carried it himself.
They began walking side by side.
Seolhyo lightly hooked her arm around his, fingers resting comfortably against his sleeve.
"Do you want to eat?" he asked. "I haven't eaten yet."
"Then let's go eat. Where should we go?"
He thought for a moment. "I'm kind of craving gamjatang. You okay with that?"
She shrugged. "That's fine. It's been a while since I had it."
As they walked, her eyes suddenly caught something.
She grabbed his hand, lifting it closer to her face.
"It's my first time seeing you wear rings," she said, examining them closely. "Did you buy these?"
Seojin spread his fingers slightly, letting her look as her thumb brushed over the platinum bands.
"Yeah. I passed by a jewelry store on the way home and saw some I liked."
He grinned.
"I actually bought ten rings."
Seolhyo froze.
"…Ten?"
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. "Why would you buy that many? Are you planning to put one on every finger?"
Seojin tilted his head slightly, looking thoughtful.
"…Should I just wear all of them?"
Seolhyo immediately let go of his hand and pinched his arm lightly before hugging it again.
"Do that and I'm not hanging out with you anymore."
He chuckled. "Heh. I'm joking. I'll just wear one or two. If I feel like it."
She glanced down at the bracelet in her wrist.
…A ring, huh.
Then her tone shifted.
She raised a brow at him. "So. What about those girls earlier? You think I wouldn't notice?"
Seojin blinked, genuinely confused. "What do you want me to say? It's not my fault they came up to me."
Seojin then said dramatically, "I mean, it wasn't their fault. They were enchanted by the mere sight of thee, majesty."
Seolhyo blinked. "…Has anyone ever told you that you're a narcissist?"
Seojin scoffed. "How am I a narcissist if it's the truth?"
Seolhyo narrowed her eyes at him.
He sighed lightly, sliding his arm more securely around her shoulders.
"Enough of this. I'm starving."
Then he leaned down slightly, close enough that his breath brushed near her ear.
"…Or do you want me to eat you instead?"
Seolhyo's face instantly turned bright red.
She shoved at his chest. "Y-you!"
He only laughed quietly, not letting go for a second before finally easing up when he saw she was about to explode.
"Alright, alright. Let's go. I'm seriously hungry."
Not long after at some Gamjatang restaurant, they were seated side by side at a .
The table was filled a bubbling pot of Gamjatang in the center, a bowl of haejangguk, bossam with rice, and a buch of banchan spread around them kimchi, pickled radish, greens, sauces.
Seolhyo stared at the amount of food.
"…Why did you order so much? Can we even finish all of this?"
Seojin already had his mouth wide open, spoon halfway in.
His eyes flicked toward Seolhyo, who was staring at him in disbelief.
"…I told you I was hungry."
Seolhyo sighed, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as she picked up her own spoon.
Slurp.
Chew. Chew.
A few seconds later, she paused and glanced sideways at him.
"Slow down, will you?"
As if on cue, Seojin suddenly thumped his chest lightly.
Seolhyo's eyes widened.
She quickly grabbed his drink and handed it to him.
He coughed once, then laughed. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
"I just told you to slow down. The food isn't going anywhere."
Shaking her head, she scooped up a piece of boiled pork from the soup and held it up.
"Here."
Seojin leaned forward and opened his mouth without hesitation.
She fed him.
He chewed, then subtly pointed at her spoon with his eyes.
Again.
She stared at him.
"…Are you five years old?"
Still, she scooped up another piece and fed him again, muttering under her breath.
After finishing most of the food, Seojin leaned back in his chair, completely satisfied, rubbing his stomach.
Seolhyo looked at the table, then at him.
"…You really ate most of that."
Her eyes drifted over him broad shoulders, defined arms.
Even after that much food, he didn't look bloated at all.
"How are you still so fit when you eat like that?"
Seojin smirked and casually lifted the hem of his shirt just enough to reveal his toned stomach.
"I don't gain weight easily. I think I have fast metabolism. And I work out every day, that matters too I guess."
Seolhyo glanced down at herself and lightly pressed her palm against her stomach.
"…Should I start working out too?"
Seojin lowered his shirt and looked at her properly this time.
Without warning, he gently pinched her side.
"Don't overthink it. And even if you turn fat I wont stop liking you."
She immediately shoved his hand away, glaring at him but her ears were already turning red.
"Stop being so cheesy. I'm going to stop liking you at this rate."
He raised a brow, smug as ever.
"Is that even possible? How could anyone stop liking this face?"
Seolhyo stared at him deadpan and chose silence, knowing he would only continue praising his looks.
Seojin stretched his arms as he stood up. "Alright, let's go. It's already 5:20. The movie starts at 6, right? The others are probably looking for us."
Seolhyo stood as well, gathering the empty bowls and stacking them neatly.
Seojin blinked. "Why are you cleaning that? Someone will take care of it after we leave."
"It's fine," she replied calmly, wiping a small spill with a tissue. "My mom always does this when we eat out. She used to work as a waitress, so she knows how hard it is. I guess I just picked up the habit."
Seojin paused for a second.
Then he shrugged. "…Alright."
Without another word, he started stacking the remaining plates beside her.
A small, almost invisible smile tugged at her lips.
They walked to the counter together.
The cashier glanced up at them.
"27,000 won."
Her eyes flickered between the two of them.
Whoa… what's with high schoolers these days? they're seriously good-looking?
Before Seolhyo could even reach for her wallet, Seojin had already taken his out.
He placed the money down smoothly.
"Don't argue. Just let me pay."
Seolhyo opened her mouth
Then closed it.