It's been two days since their date, but Sun Hee couldn't stop talking about it. Mee Yoon had enough of her delusions. From morning till night, all she heard from Sun Hee was Dong-sun's name and their perfect day together. Her exaggerated stories also irritated Youngsoo. It was 7:00 in the evening when they gathered in the living room.
"I owe everything to you, Mee Yoon. I think he's the one for me," Sun Hee said while holding Mee Yoon's hand. Her smile faded when a pillow hit her face. "If I were you, I won't get too excited," Youngsoo said. Sun Hee struck her killer eyes at him. "Too bad you weren't me."
Mee Yoon squeezed her hands. "I'm glad to hear that you had some fun."
"It was more than fun. It was magical! He was so kind, gentle, and I didn't get bored at all. I thought it would be awkward since he was my celebrity crush, but everything went smoothly," Sun Hee said with dreamy eyes. Youngsoo's brows furrowed. "Did you know he offered me a piggyback ride? Gosh, he smells so good! He also held my hand as we walked under the moonlight. He even hugged me!" Sun Hee's high pitch echoed through the entire house.
Youngsoo cleaned his ear with his finger. "He was only doing a fan service for his biggest fan. After all, celebrities are nothing without their supporters. It's the least he could do for you."
"How did you know?" Sun Hee asked.
"I saw the way he looked at you."
"How could you say that? Were you with us?" Youngsoo cleared his throat. "I'm just saying I don't have to be there to state the obvious." Sun Hee threw the pillow back at his face. "He is right. You shouldn't put your hopes up. If he likes you, he would ask for another date. But two days have passed, and you heard nothing from him," Mee Yoon added.
"He is busy these days. I've seen his photoshoots on Instagram."
"And now you are stalking him," Youngsoo commented.
"Do you have a problem with it?" Youngsoo shrugged. Mee Yoon sliced the vanilla cake and took a bite. "Do you want some?" Sun Hee waved her hand. "No. I'm on a diet." Youngsoo chuckled. "What's happening? You? On a diet? Are you sick?" Sun Hee folded her arms. "I'm on a strict diet starting tonight. I can't grow some more fats. Have I told you I've been going to the gym?"
"That's ridiculous," Youngsoo said.
"But I ordered spicy fried chicken for dinner," Mee Yoon said.
"It's alright. I can control myself."
Youngsoo came with a plate filled with fried chicken. The odor of the fatty and milky chicken with a slight rancid tallow nuance lingered through their nostrils. The crispy chicken sizzled in his mouth as he chewed it like a commercial model. Sun Hee gulped while staring at them.
"Well, maybe I can move my diet tomorrow," she said while drooling. She was about to snatch one chicken when Youngsoo struck her hand. "Hey, don't cheat." The sound of her phone grabbed her attention.
"Omo," she whispered while staring at her phone. "What?" Mee Yoon glanced at her. "Hajoon asked me out on a date!"
"What?" Youngsoo asked. "You're just hungry. Fine. I'll let you cheat on your so-called diet tonight." Sun Hee placed her phone in his face and showed Dong-sun's message. "It's no joke. He asked out on a date!" Sun Hee shook her toes at a giddying speed. "I knew it! Gosh."
It startled when her phone rang, and Dong-sun's name flashed on the screen. "Omo. He's calling! I can't believe he missed me already." Her voice turned angelic.
"Hello, Oppa?"
"Oppa?" Youngsoo blurted in disbelief.
"Miss Cha. I wanted to make sure that you received my text. You haven't responded to it," Dong-sun said. Sun Hee put the strands of her hair behind her ear. "It's been ten seconds, and you're worried I'd say no?" Her voice became softer like a little kid. Youngsoo narrowed his eyes as he listened to their conversation.
"I don't want to bother you. It's okay if you'll turn it down. I understand," Dong-sun said.
"It's fine. I'm free tomorrow. Would it be okay?" She twirled the strands of her hair through her fingers. "Okay. I'll clear up my schedule. By the way, are you with Mee Yoon?" Sun Hee looked at Mee Yoon. "Yes. Why?"
"Can you lend her the phone for a while? I'd like to have a word with her."
"Sure." Sun Hee gave the phone to Mee Yoon. She was hesitant but took the call since they were waiting for her.
"Hey," Mee Yoon said.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Making my best friend happy. I haven't seen her smile like that." She clenched her fist on her lap.
"I should thank you, Mee Yoon."
"You don't have to."
"Being with Sun Hee... isn't so bad. That's why I'm thanking you."
Mee Yoon was teary-eyed. She gave the phone back to Sun Hee and hugged her tight.
"Why? What's wrong?" Tears rushed down to her cheeks.
"I'm really proud and happy for you," Mee Yoon said. Sun Hee rubbed her back. "Thank you, Mee Yoon."
***
Sun Hee emerged from her room in a lavender-colored outfit that showed off her lovely thighs. She was dressed in a pair of black boots with four-inch heels. Her gems shone with a simplistic style that seemed tailor-made for her. Youngsoo gave her a thorough examination from head to toe.
"You look... less ugly," he said.
"I don't need your opinion," Sun Hee said and flipped her hair as she walked past him.
Hours later, Sun Hee arrived at the bookshop-themed restaurant where Dong-sun was waiting. It is a bookshop where people can order snacks and are allowed to eat inside. The place was not crowded because it was hidden between allies and enormous buildings.
"You're here," Dong-sun said. Sun Hee sat in front of him, her gaze roving the shop. Classic volumes lined the shelves, while the interior decor harkened back to the Joseon dynasty. The atmosphere was calm and orderly.
"So you always like the ancient times," she said. Dong-sun placed a few books on the table. "I'd like to recommend you some books. I don't know your preferred genre, so I picked the best." Dong-sun chose the books entitled The Plotters by Un-su Kim, My Brilliant Life by Aeran Kim, and The Court Dancer by Kyung-sook Shin. "Oh, you have excellent taste in books."
"I have a greater taste in people," he said.
"They say you are what you read," she said.
"That's why if you read that books, you'll understand some parts of me."
"I like that."
As she flicked the book and traveled through time, Dong-sun rested his cheek on his palm and stared at her. Sun Hee enjoys reading books as much as Mee Yoon enjoys writing them. Dong-sun was debating which was better for his heart: the writer or the reader, the one who created him, or the one who knows him well. The creator does not always understand his creations, but the one who watches over his creations knows them better.
"Hey, how are you doing? Is there a speck of dirt on my face? " Sun Hee inquired. His eyes flitted back and forth a few times. "How am I going to read anything with you, Miss Cha, when you are distracting me?"
"Are you being distracted? I've done nothing to divert your attention."
"Well. You don't have to put in a lot of effort to distract me," Dong-sun said, his face hidden behind a book. Sun Hee smirked as she noticed the book was turned upside down.