“Love or
(and) Leave”
You
will never know in which way love will come to you, not a single bit. Love
knows no places, no circumstance, no ages gape, and nobody. However, Yonghee
was not a fan of the true love idea. For her, life would be peaceful without
anything related to love. She hated nothing, loved nothing and just living her
life positively. However, she’s also a teenage girl who craved for someone to
actually care for her. Yet, the one she wished for hadn’t come till now. Little
did she knew, that her destiny would change that day.
***
There’s some book store in the town
she lived that she just found out a few days ago. When she was walking
aimlessly around the town looking for something to eat, her eyes got caught by
a certain building, “BOLERO BOOKS STORE AND MAGAZINES”. Curiosity had won over
her physical need, when she decided to check on that books store first instead
of buying food. Her first impression on the store the second she walked in was
neat, cozy and amazingly well managed. She took a stroll over a bookshelf of
manga and novel collection. Her mouth gawked in awe as soon as she saw all the
books title. Without making any further thinking, she took some of the manga
and trying to pick which one she should buy. At that time, a new series of
Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) manga had caught her attention. But, she got upset
upon realizing that the so said book was at the top of the shelf. She tried to
tip toed but failed, she tried to jump yet book still out of her reach, it’s
all blamed to her short, ahemm, her tiny body I mean. Just when she started to
give up, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed the book and offered it to her.
Surprised, she looked up only to find a tall guy smiling at her.
“is it the book you wanted , young
lady?” he politely asked.
“I don’t need your help you know,
but thanks anyway” Yonghee took the book and walked away, she could see the guy
taken aback by her words, but letting a small chuckle afterward.
After about an hour, Yonghee decided
to end her journey on the books store for today when her stomach grumbled ,
asking to be feed. Carrying two manga books and one mystery novel, she went to
the cashier and met again with the tall guy earlier.
“Kuroshitsuji volume 22, Attack On
Titan volume 15 and Sherlock Holmes ‘A sign of Four’, total are $6. Is it enough
or do you plan to buy something else, miss?” he smiled at her.
“it’s enough, I already emptied my
wallet for that” Yonghee murmured while handing the money to the guy.
The
guy chuckled, “you know miss, this books store also provided a service which
allow you to borrow some books for free”
“are you serious? “ Yonghee eyed the
guy curiously.
“yup, you just need to become a
member here, but in return, you must buy at least two books a month.” explained
the guy.
“well, there really are nothing
purely free after all” she scoffed and the guy grinned.
“but don’t you think you could save
more money with that? At least for a books lover it usually worked” the guy
casually smiled.
“you really are trying to get me to
be your loyal customer don’t you?” Yonghee rolled her eyes and walked out.
“thank you for coming and don’t
forget the offer miss, I’m only trying to give you an easier way to enjoy
reading the books you like!” the guy shouted while waving his hand.
***
Later on, she knew that his name was
Jaejoong, Kim Jaejoong to be exact. He’s the owner of the Bolero books store
yet he also worked at it especially on Monday and Friday because unlike him
who’s already 26 years old, the girl who worked for him, Ashia, was still a
university student. At Monday, she had load of assignment, and Friday, she had
a date with his boyfriend. It’s actually make Yonghee wondering if Jaejoong
actually a poor lone guy who didn’t have some girl he’s dating to or he’s just
became a kind boss. However, the second time she came to the Bolero, she had
been greeted by his wide grin,” I know you would come back here” he spoke so
confidently only to got a snorted for his respond.
She liked to spend her free time in
the store, sitting on a corner while reading her favorite books and manga.
Sometimes, she would buy a few books just to fulfill her contract for becoming
a member. She would also talk with Jaejoong a little every time she came.
“why did you provide people who just
want to read many books for free in your store? You only got a few from the
contract of becoming a member, right?” she asked him one day when she offered
him the book she bought.
“hmm, I don’t have any particular
reason actually,” Jaejoong shrugged.
“aren’t you going to lose many of
your earning by that?” she furrowed her eyebrows.
“not at all. I got a lot from
another way.” He answered shortly.
“well then, if you insist,” she let
it passed.
“by the way, there is always a
question for you I mostly forget every time we talk.” Jaejong stared at her
seriously. “you never tell me your name!”
Yonghee
blinked. She was surprised that out of all question, he asked her that one.
Well, actually it’s like she has been awakened.
“oh, is that so? Well, I don’t think
telling my name to a stranger is needed.” She replied nonchalantly.
“what!? Total stranger you said?
We’ve been seeing a lot and talking with each other many times yet you still
call me a stranger?” Jaejoong complained, he felt like something has pinched
his heart, he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“yonghee, it’s Yonghee” she cut him.
“eh! Young? It sounds a bit unique”
Jaejoong tilted his head.
“it’s ‘Yong’, not ‘ Young’, though
actually it really refers to Young, blame my mother for a stupid name, she want
me to look forever young,”
“well, well. I can see now that her
wish has been granted somehow, considering your cute tiny appearance,” he
grinned and examined her statue from head to toe.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,”
Yonghee glared while Jaejoong’s grin only became wider.
***
The first time they met aside the
books store was at the fan meeting of some popular mangaka, Yana Toboso, the
author of Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) manga. He’s right behind her in a line
for books signing by the Mangaka.
“I’ve never know that you’re
actually an otaku,” she commented the moment she realized it was him.
“well, I am not. It’s just her
autograph will no doubt bring more customers to my store,” he answered with a
sly grin.
“as expected of you,” she shook her
head and turn her attention on the line again.
After the books signing over,
Jaejoong took her (or actually dragged her) to Mc. Donald nearby. Jaejoong said
that since they were friends (even though it looked like Yonghee still consider
him an outsider), they needed to hang out together sometimes. Yonghee didn’t
say anything since she’s also starving.
They talked about some trivial
things, like how old Yonghee and which college she went in. As usual, Jaejoong
always be the one who asked her first because she didn’t spill any information
about herself unless he asked. He found out that she’s already turning 18 since
four months ago and that she’s in her third semester at collage. Jaejoong
wanted to know more about her, but their order already came, so he just let it
passed and decided to enjoy the meal instead.
“it’s really sad, right? Unlike
those manga plots when a guy and a girl went eating outside, they will somehow
wipe something on the companion mouth for the sweet moment, but it totally
screwed if you went to eat junk foods,” Jaejoong suddenly blurted out breaking
the silence.
“well, you could wipe the sauce that
spilled on your own plate though,” Yonghee replied, eyeing his plate that got
sauce spilled on it.
“funny,” he grumbled, but wipe it
nonetheless.
Yonghee
bit her cheeks preventing her laugh, though a slight smile couldn’t help but
formed on her lips.
***
It was Friday when she came to
Bolero for the nth time, but she couldn’t spot any sign of Jaejoong’s existence
since she first walked in. Instead of him, Ashia, a girl he employed was the
one who stayed. Feeling rather disappointed, Yonghee only stayed thirty minutes
there, much shorter than she usually did. Her inner thought wanted to know
where he was, but her logic said something else, it doesn’t matter he’s there
or not, the only matter were the books not him. Nevertheless, she asked the
girl at the end,
“aren’t you going for a date
tonight, miss Ashia?” she asked, hiding the actual question she had.
The
girl looked up at Yonghee and let out a desperate sigh, “unfortunately my date
has been canceled this week since Mr. Kim went back to his hometown this
morning until a few days later. Gezzz, I don’t know what’s up with that guy,
he’s probably meeting a chick for an arranged married there. Well, considering
those cold and lonely Saturday nights he’s suffering, he will only got a girl
with an arrange married I guess, haha!” Ashia giggled while handing her the
change.
Yonghee let a flat laugh escaped
from her mouth at Ashia’s joke. Well, it would be funny if it became true.
Yeah, the thought of Jaejoong coming back after a few days introducing some
pretty girl as his new fiancé would be funny, maybe…………
***
Their next encounter was outside, at
some grocery store two weeks after the last time she came to Bolero. Yonghee
was buying her monthly equipment and groceries when she bumped into Jaejoong
who was searching for fruits at night.
“Yonghee, It’s you! How could you
get here?” He shrieked in surprise.
“yeah, it’s me. Who the hell do you
expect me to be? And I am not a kid, so I can easily get here anytime I want,”
she replied with a flat tone and walked passed him.
“wait! I’m sorry, that’s not what I
mean. I mean, it’s been a long time you know, how have you been? Why didn’t you
come to my store recently? Are you bored with my store? Did you couldn’t find
the books you wanted to read in my store, did you-,”
“gezz, can you stop asking so much?”
Yonghee cut his words. “It’s not like that. I am just busy recently, there are
so many assignments I need to finish.” She said it afterward.
“oh! I’m sorry,” he apologized to
her for the second time that day.
***
“why are you following me?” Yonghee
stopped her track and snapped at Jaejoong who was following her since they got
out from the grocery store.
“you haven’t answered my questions
yet,” he replied with a pout.
“are you an idiot?” she glared at him in disbelief.
“are you an idiot?” she glared at him in disbelief.
“uhm?” Jaejoong showed his innocent
look.
“tsk, whatever! I am going to come
home, so you better go home yourself,” she sighed in despair.
“but…will you come to my store
tomorrow?”
“I can’t promise you that,”
“please…” he shot Yonghee his puppy
eyes.
“okay, okay, you win! I will come
tomorrow,” Yonghee just want to fucking rest her body after a bunch of activity
she had that day, so she didn’t want to make another debate.
“alright, I’ll be waiting! Now, good
night,” he smiled sweetly and turned around.
As
she promised him, Yonghee came to Bolero the next day. Jaejoong couldn’t be
more happy when he met that cute little girl again. He soon shoved a basket of traditional
sweets to her, telling her it was his mother who insisted to make him brought
those confectionaries despite her son rejection. So it wasn’t a meeting of an arranged
married that made him back, it was his mom who missed her son so much. Yonghee’s
inner thought was smiling widely but her composure was the same, just a flat
stare and a poker face.
At
that time, Yonghee realized something, it was dangerous for her if she kept on
coming to that Books Store. She felt like her control of body heat slightly
broken, because she easily felt warm here and there whenever she came to the
store, and she also lost her control over her heartbeat, it’s all blamed to
that store…or was it actually to the certain guy so called Jaejoong?
***
That day her schedule was
Oceanography, but the lecturer didn’t come. He gave the students a task
instead. So, Yonghee just sat on the back of the classroom while doing
something with her personal computer. One of her friend, Cyan, suddenly slumped
down on the chair beside her.
“nee, Yonghee, Mr. Joo didn’t come
up today either. Tsk, his task is just a pain in the ass, he shouldn’t give us any
if he can’t attend the class, that would make us free, right?” she whined.
“why don’t you say it right on his
face?” Yonghee calmly responded to her friend’s complain.
“uh no! I don’t want an ‘E’ mark, I
would rather be a good girl than making myself retake this fucking subject next
year,” she cried immediately. “ahh, speaking about the year, next week will be
my 1st anniversary with my boyfriend, you know!”
“I can’t believe it, you guys lasted
that long. The two of you practically fight almost every day if I’m not
mistaken,” Yonghee chuckled.
“yeah, indeed we are! But we
actually love each other so much,” Cyan shyly admitted.
“oh, so love that is…I wonder, how
does it feel to have a mutual feeling with someone,” she whispered.
***
That night, Yonghee came to Bolero,
as usual, reading her favorite manga, with Jaejoong sitting across of her,
accompanying her for the night. It was raining and Yonghee’s umbrella was
broken, she still hadn’t bought the new one due to her tight allowance for the
month. So, she asked him if she could stay at the store a bit longer and
Jaejoong wouldn’t say no to such request.
The entire surrounding was filled
with silence, only the sound of the pounding rain fall outside and the pages
Yonghee flipped every now and then. Not until Jaejoong broke it,
“nee, Yonghee…”
Silence.
“Yong…”
Silence.
“Yonghee-yaaa…”
Silence.
“Kim Yonghee…”
“it’s Lee Yonghee, not a ‘Kim’, did
you hit your head somewhere?”
“you finally replied” he grinned.
“tsk, I am listening even though I
didn’t reply any, now what?”
“ermm, you know Yong, we’ve been
know each other for about four months.” He stopped. “I knew yourself, even
though not that much since you don’t talk much about it either.” He bit his
lip. “You also know me so much since I was telling you everything even though
you never asked.” He smiled and looked at her. “And you’re already 18 years old
even though your statue doesn’t look like one, not that I mind it though, I
find it rather cute actually.” He smirked a little. “And I am, even though I am
already 26 years old, I am pretty sure I’m still look young, beside the age gap
aren’t that far. And-,”
“good grief, just what are you going
to say actually?” Yonghee rolled her eyes.
“what I am going to say is
actually…actually,” he stuttered. “nee, Yonghee , 사랑해도 될까요?” Jaejoonf finally said it.
Yonghee looked at
him speechless, she didn’t reply anything.
1 second.
2 seconds.
3 seconds.
4 seconds.
5 seconds.
.
.
.
.
10 seconds.
“Jaejoong…,” she whispered his name
for the first time. “I…”
.
.
.
.
.
“what was that you said earlier?”
~Tobe Continued~
p.s : forgive me for the bad grammar, once again, English is not my first language.
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