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You have got no idea how you ended up there.
Well, you actually did but the whole thing was just a new kind of crazy to you.
Let’s rewind a few weeks.
You were out with your best friends, just a chill night out, having dinner and going to the cinema. After that, though, you thought that it was still early to go home, so when one of you suggested going to the bar you would always go to it seemed like a good idea.
It was one of those bars always filled with new people. Living in a city like Seoul seeing the same face twice was a pretty rare occurrence. But your group of friends found this bar, which was the perfect spot to have a drink because it was more or less the same distance for everybody, the aesthetic was just right and the prices were pretty good considering how amazing cocktails and snacks were.
So, when you got in, the waiter recognized you immediately and, noticing that your table was still free, pointed in its direction and asked you:
“The usual?” looking at you with a bright smile.
“Yeah! Thank you Hae, you’re the best!” your friend answered, at which the waiter winked at her and moved to the bottles so she could start preparing your order.
Sitting at the table waiting for your drinks, you and your friends made small talk to each other, further commenting on the film and the actors’ acting skills as if you were the ones giving out the academy awards for this year.
In the middle of a sentence, you just stopped listening to them because another conversation at the table right beside yours caught your attention.
It was involuntary, just a habit you picked up, finding it interesting to know what other people were up to, even if it wasn’t your business.
In this case, there was a guy and a girl about your age, both very attractive if you had to say so yourself and it seemed like they were on a date, but if you had to guess you’d say a pretty bad one. She was totally a pick-me girl, just agreeing to everything he said and faking interest in things she clearly didn’t know anything about.
As for him he just seemed like a very nice and cool guy, long and black hair moving every time he moved his head while speaking about what he liked, eyes sparkling and a smile that was just completing it all very nicely.
Then you heard the girl quickly excuse herself to the bathroom so you tried to get back to the conversation about the film. But the guy spoke up again:
“You know, technically my conversations are none of your business” a light chuckle escaped from his lips.
You were pretty confused as to whom he was talking to seeing as there was nobody around.
Then he turned to look you in the eyes, while your eyes trailed down his half-opened black shirt for a second before realizing he was talking to you.
“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude! I just… it’s something I picked up when I was little and…” You started panicking.
“Yeah, if I was you I wouldn’t take it too personally, my friend here has been doing it for years.” Your friend started to defend you.
“Nah, You don’t have to worry. Actually, I was way more interested in finding out your name than whatever Minjae and I were talking about.” He said with a smirk.
“How did you even know I was listening?” the question suddenly popped in your head.
“Oh, when I am bored I listen to other people’s conversations too. I just noticed you hadn’t said a word in a while and kept glancing in my general direction”
“I see… well my name is…” you were suddenly cut off by the girl returning from the bathroom.
“Hyunjin! Have you found some of your friends?” She asked giving you and everybody else a dirty look. You looked at him and noticed a hint of desperation in his eyes. He clearly couldn’t stand another minute alone with her.
“Yeah! Hi! I’m y/n, Hyunjin and I go way back! it’s been years since the last time I saw him, we were just catching up, I hope I am not interrupting anything?” You said with a bright smile looking between the boy beside you and the girl in front of you.
“Well, in fact…” She started.
“No of course you are not!” He cut her off, offering you a grateful smile.
“Oh, I was thinking we were ready to go?” she interjected.
“Actually, you know what? It’s been so long since I saw y/n last time and you know how busy I am, it’s going to be difficult to meet each other again. I would like to stay a bit if you don’t mind. If you want to go I can call somebody to come and get you, you know that.”
She rolled her eyes and answered: “I’m just going to call a friend, I guess, but thanks for the drinks.”
After a few more dirty looks in your direction, she just went out the front door, leaving Hyunjin behind with the bill.
“Yeah I earned that,” you said laughing at the last glance she gave you.
“Well, she does think you cock-blocked her just like that.” he laughed.
“All right, I’ll take the blame if you pay for the next round, or I can just bolt out there and tell her everything was a prank and bring her in again as soon as I see a car approaching.”
“There’s no way you’re that fast, y/n”
“Do you really want to take the risk, Hyunjin?”
“You make great points,” he said as he stood up to see where the nearest waiter was to call them over.
“Yeah being my friend is not easy, right guys?”
All they could do was nod and laugh.
After an hour and a half or so, your friends were ready to leave and, given that they were your ride home, they told you, so you could bid goodbye to Hyunjin.
“Can’t you stay? One more drink and I promise you I’ll let you go.” He said pouting, with a little help from the alcohol he’d been consuming.
“I would love to, but my friend, right there” You pointed at her and his gaze followed your finger,
“She has to get up pretty early tomorrow,” You looked at the rather expensive watch on his wrist “Or should I say today? Anyways she’s got to go home and she’s my ride so, you know…” You said with a bittersweet smile.
“I can get you home!” He said, but you tried to reason with him.
“Hey, you seem like a great guy, a nice one if I’ve ever seen one. But I’m still a girl alone with you in a big city, I hope you understand how I can’t entirely trust you tonight.” He looked at you, puzzled.
“Damn, you do make some good points, then I guess goodbye.” He faked wiping a tear from his cheek.
You laughed and said goodbye to him. Before closing the door you could’ve sworn you heard him say:
“See you soon, y/n”
A few weeks went past but you never saw Hyunjin again, neither at the bar nor anywhere else. You were feeling a bit bummed out about it because you really liked him but let your fears stop you, and for some reason, you also did not exchange numbers or anything, so he was lost forever.
Or so you thought.
“Hey, you! I think you owe me a drink or two!” You heard behind you.
You were getting home from work, stopping at Starbucks to pick up coffee when you heard a familiar voice. You turned around and you were met with a beautiful sight.
Hyunjin was standing in front of you in casual clothes. A pair of black jeans adorned with some chains, an oversized blue sweater, and some combat boots were his choice that day. All you could think about was how he looked good in everything, at that point.
“Next!” You were, in fact, the next in line so you quickly told the barista your order and then added:
“And I’ll pay for whatever he’s having,” you said nodding your head towards Hyunjin, as you got your wallet out of the bag.
“I was kidding you know”
“No, you’re right, order whatever you want,” you added with a smile.
He promptly told his order to the barista and you paid. Then you moved to the waiting line.
“Do you want to sit at a table?” He asked nicely.
“I would love to.”
You ended up talking for two hours straight about every possible thing that came to mind, neither one of you wanted to say goodbye, so you just kept bringing up whatever topic.
After that, though, the bar was closing. This time you gave him your number and happily returned home.
After this last episode, you texted each other more and more. Even went out for coffee one or two other times. You liked his company. Through these meet-ups (and texts and calls), you found out quite a few things about Hyunjin. But a simple thing didn’t come up, on your part you didn’t bring it up because you didn’t care about it, on his part he didn’t want to tell you, fearing it might change your view of him all of a sudden.
The thing is, he was rich. Like RICH rich.
And that’s the simple answer to the question “How did I end up here?”
He invited you on a date, offering to go to the museum, knowing there was an exhibition by your favorite artist.
You gladly accepted, but what you were not expecting was being the only two people there.
“Why’s nobody here? Like, look at this masterpiece!! Do they not want to see it?” You asked, baffled, looking at one of the best works of art there, in your opinion.
“Oh, no. Trust me, they would love to be here…” He chuckled.
You turned to look at him with a puzzled face.
“Then why are they not here?”
“Well… I may or may not have rented out the place… You know, not to have any distractions and to be alone, it’s a date after all.”
“You did WHAT?” You whisper-yelled that last part.
“ I… rented out the place,” he chuckled lightly.
“What? How? That’s crazy!! You are absolutely bonkers!! That must’ve cost you a fortune!! I can not just pay this back! I-” You were cut off by Hyunjin embracing you.
“Listen… This is seriously nothing. You are paying me back by enjoying this with me, that’s why I did all of it. To see you happy. I like you y/n, don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my attention is always only on you. You are honest with me and you don’t want to get to me because of my money or the people I know.” It was now your time to cut him off.
“Well, not that it changes things, you know… I liked you even before you did this whole thing.”
“Yeah I know,” He smiled looking into your eyes, slowly leaning in for a kiss that you gladly accepted and returned.
“Well, I thought this only happened in movies or something” You laughed as you both continued your visit through the exhibit. You were looking thoroughly at every piece, trying to find a meaning or just basking in the beauty in front of your eyes.
Hyunjin on the other hand couldn’t keep his eyes off of you, because you were the only work of art in the entire world he cared about then and there.