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"Can I braid your hair?"
Daebeom looked up from the book he was mending, blinking in surprise. Yeoreum was biting her nails, hoping that her nerves weren't too conspicuous.
"Pardon?", he asked, gentle like always.
Yeoreum forced herself not to look away and take back her request.
"Your hair... seems to have gotten longer. I can braid it for you if you'd like, so that it doesn't get in the way," Yeoreum had to look away after saying that. It was silent for a moment, during which she regretted opening her mouth. Of course, she had to rectify that with blabbering immediately.
"Not that it looks bad, or that it doesn't suit you! I just thought, you might want to- I mean of course, you could do it yourself, I shouldn't have assumed you wouldn't know how- "
"Yeoreum - ssi", Daebeom cut off her anxious tirade . Yeoreum shut her mouth, eyes still down.
"Yeoreum -ssi", he tried again, his soft voice insisting upon her looking back at him. When she did, he met her eyes for a second longer, before wandering in the vicinity of her face.
"I would- I would like that," he said after a moment. It was Yeoreum's turn to be surprised now. "I've never braided my hair before. Yeoreum -ssi can show me how, if it's not- if it wouldn't be a bother," he continued, looking everywhere except at her.
Yeoreum's heart leaped at his words, even as his ears turned redder and redder.
"It's not a bother at all! It would be my pleasure, Daebeom -ssi," she couldn't contain her grin at the prospect of finally, finally getting to touch his pretty locks. She had, once, brushed it out of his face for him while he was eating kalguksu, but that was the extent of it. He had looked surprised, but hadn't said anything, and Yeoreum hadn't brought it up, until now.
Daebeom nodded, eyes daring to meet her's once more. He turned back to the book he was mending, but Yeoreum could see a soft smile taking over his face.
She wanted to squeal, but it was the library, and Jiyoung was somewhere in the stacks or the storeroom, and well , it wouldn't be appropriate to make noises entirely unbecoming of an adult upon getting permission to braid her not-boyfriend's hair, no matter how long or pretty.
It had been more than three months since Yeoreum had met Daebum in the library. Almost a month had passed since they'd held hands for the first time, and it hadn't really progressed from there. But it wasn't to say that Yeoreum was unhappy with the pace of their relationship. In fact, she was more than happy. Her friends from college would probably have said that they weren't really in a relationship, seeing as none of them had proposed or confessed anything. Hell, they hadn't even talked about what they were doing.
But while this situation might have brought insecurity and anxiety to the Yeoreum of a few months ago, she felt nothing but contentment. She had never been one to rush into relationships, but this was a first even for her. Usually, it would be her boyfriends who, once they were sure of her being interested , would try to speed up things. She had always been one to go along with it, scared of disappointing them. The pressure to satisfy them, to be a good partner, always overtook any doubts she'd had.
There had been nothing of the kind with Daebom. Daebeom was nothing if not a kind and gentle soul, and the way their relationship was blossoming, - slowly but surely, over shared meals and evening runs, quiet laughs and eyes searching for each other in a crowd, teasing smiles and long talks late into the night - it made her feel like the protagonist of a romance drama. Sometimes Daebeom would do something sweet, in that honest way of his, not realising that Yeoreum was internally squealing. Outwardly, her sudden blush would spark his concern over whether the day was too hot for her.
All this to say, Yeoreum really really liked Daebeom. And she knew this was all a first for him . Not because Daebeom had said as much, but because Jiyoung had, a few weeks ago, while threatening Yeoreum with inexplicable amounts of suffering if she were to hurt a hair on his head.
Jiyoung was slowly coming around their relationship.She had seemed to reluctantly admit that Yeoreum was not the devil incarnate Jiyoung had thought her to be, set out to destroy the lives of impressionable teenagers. But she loved Daebeom fiercely, and Yeoreum could see that, and took her threats quite seriously indeed . It was hard not to, with how intimidating Jiyoung could be.
Jiyoung had also explained that he did not do well with physical touch. "I think it has to do with his past trauma,"she said, slowly stirring her cappuccino, eyes far away. They were at a coffee shop in town, after Jiyoung had all but snatched Yeoreum by her arm after the library closed, and deposited her in her car. "We're having coffee,no buts", was the only explanation she had given, reversing her car out of the parking lot. Daebeom was left to wave them goodbye, bewildered. Yeoreum had shook her head, worldlessly telling him that she had no idea what was going on. Daebeom had grinned at that, and given a thumbs up, telling her that it was okay.
Yeoreum said nothing, watching Jiyoung gather her thoughts. She glanced back at Yeoreum and then down at her coffee.
"Don't be hurt if he pulls away sometimes. Its great progress for him to have come so far, honestly,"Jiyoung admitted. She looked back at Yeoreum, then away again, reminding her of Daebeom for a moment. She set her jaw and looked at Yeoreum, not backing away this time, her eyes intense. "I know I haven't been very nice to you, but I hope you know it was because I was worried for Daebeom."
This was an apology, Yeoreum realised,the best that Cho Jiyoung could do. She was surprised, but made sure to keep a gentle smile on her face. Jiyoung had come so far, she didn't want to break the momentum.
"I know, and its understandable. I hope you know that I wish only the best for him too", she said, hoping that her sincerity was visible on her face.
Jiyoung nodded at that, a half smile on her face. She opened her mouth as if to say something, and closed it. She took a sip of her coffee and heaped two spoons of sugar in it. Jiyoung did not like sweetened coffee, Yeoreum knew from listening to her scold Seungmin everytime he bought her coffee in the library. This uncertainty was very atypical of her, who usually said whatever was on her mind, with no regard for the listeners' feelings.Yeoreum stayed silent, drinking her own coffee. Jiyoung looked back up again, internal debate having concluded, it seemed.
" You've been really good for Daebeom," she finally said, locking eyes with Yeoreum. Yeoreum blinked in surprise, but before she could say anything, Jiyoung rolled her eyes. "Anyone with eyes can see that you both like each other. So don't get weird, its not a compliment."
Yeoreum stifled a smile even as she nodded. This Jiyoung was really weird. Even more than her drunken self. Jiyoung eyed her suspiciously for a moment, as if ascertaining her intentions. Yeoreum wondered why they were at a coffee shop and not a bar.
"Even if he makes some mistakes, please try to understand him. I haven't seen him this stupidly happy in a very long time." Her scrutiny of Yeoreum having seemingly ended, Jiyoung was having a staring contest with the cup of sugar on the table.
Yeoreum could only gape at her, remembering to nod a second later. Jiyoung had nodded back stiffly, and that had been the end of it. They thawed the awkward silence after a while with a piece of cheesecake, and Jiyoung had mentioned Daebeom's aversion to people touching him, especially his hair. It was to the point that he trusted no one to cut his hair.
"So he cuts his hair himself?" Yeoreum was fascinated.
Jiyoung snorted. "He doesn't cut it so much as he lets it grow and trims it once in a while. I've asked him to let me do it, even tried to bribe him, but he won't budge."
This information hadn't subdued her desire to get her hands in his pretty locks, in fact, it had only deepened it. Yeoreum daydreamed about grassy meadows and yellow and blue flowers braided into soft, brown locks.
She had let this desire rest in her breast long enough to gather courage to ask him. After all, she reminded herself, there was nothing to lose, and everything to gain. This could be a step forward, or they could remain in the same place a while longer. It wouldn't be that bad. Besides, Daebeom wouldn't be cruel to her even if he had to let her down. Like some others had been. But that was in the past. Right now, she had Daebeom and a mission.
She had been prepared for hesitancy, even outright rejection, but she didn't know what to do with open acceptance, albeit a furiously blushing one. So she buried her head in her own book, hiding her own smile with her hair.
They worked in silence, until it was time to close up. Yeoreum waited as Daebeom finished tidying the library and closing up. He walked her to Bom's house, chatting all the way - about his research with Professor Holland, the new books coming to the library, the book he'd read that week on Yeoreum's recommendation - Yeoreum loved listening to him talk. He had a deep, soothing voice unlike any she had heard before. She felt like she could listen to it forever. He could narrate an audiobook detailing his incomprehensible research on string theory, and she would happily listen to it every night to go to sleep. When they reached the house, they stood outside for a minute, both reluctant to leave.
Yeoreum fiddled with her satchel, glancing up at him from under her hair. She felt heat creeping up her cheeks when she found his eyes trained on her, brown locks framing his face, glowing in the dim yellow light of the street lamp.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Yeoreum-ssi?" Daebeom said, eyes bright with hope.
Yeoreum nodded."Yes, maybe I'll complete the novel tomorrow,"she added, smiling at the thought.
Daebeom's smile grew wider. Yeoreum had been battling the same difficult novel for a month now, but she refused to admit defeat.
"I'm sure you will,"Daebeom's grin betrayed his serious tone. Yeoreum glared at him playfully, hearing the tease in his voice, at which his smile grew.
"I'll get going then. Have a good night, Yeoreum-ssi," Daebeom waved goodnight and began walking backwards. Yeoreum waved back happily. She turned to open the gate, trying to train her smile before Bom could see it and start teasing her, when Daebeom called her name again.
"Oh, and Yeoreum-ssi," the hesitancy in his tone had her look back at where he was standing a few steps away, his hands now fiddling with his satchel. His eyes were struggling to meet hers now. Yeoreum waited patiently.
"You can do it whenever. I- I meant, what you said earlier, about my - about braiding - braiding my hair. You can braid it anytime you'd like,"Daebeom finished, staring at the small pothole in the middle of the road.
Yeoreum felt a bubble made of pure sunlight burst in her chest, even in the darkness of the night. She nodded furiously, before realising that Daebeom was still having a staring contest with the paved road. She jogged up to him and held out her hands to him. He was still for a second, before slowly taking her hands in his, startled eyes looking up at her now, taking in her expression.
Whatever he saw there must have been good, because the happy smile returned to his face, before he looked down, and back up again, smile growing wider each time.
"Saturday?" Yeoreum squeezed his hands in hers. She knew that it was just in two days, but she couldn't resist. Daebeom had half day off on Saturdays, so he would be free the whole afternoon.
Daebeom nodded slowly, looking up again with a shy smile.He squeezed back, before intertwining their fingers and stepping closer. Yeoreum held her breath.
Daebeom's eyes roved between hers, no sign of the previous hesitation in them.
"I'll wait for you then, Yeoreum-ssi," he whispered, wide eyes beckoning Yeoreum to places hitherto unexplored.
"Yeah,"she said, entranced.
Daebeom's eyes softened, smiling sweetly, back to his usual self. He squeezed her hands again and then gently let go.
I'll see you tomorrow, Yeoreum-ssi. Good night!" he stepped back, breaking Yeoreum out of her daze. Yeoreum smiled and waved at him.
"Get home safe, Daebeom-ssi," Daebeom smiled wide at that and turned around, breaking into a jog.
Yeoreum watched him go until he turned the corner, and then turned back abruptly. She put her hands up to her surely flaming cheeks, and mourned silently that Bom would now surely know something was up. Still, she thought as she closed the gate behind her, ear splitting grin still etched on her face, she wouldn't have it any other way.
She was surprised and also strangely unsurprised at what had transpired today.
Of course Daebeom would accept her request - shy, and eager - of course he would surprise her again. He had never stopped doing that, from the moment they'd met.