Chapter 15: Of Beating Heart & Three Questions Chapter 15 Theme Song: Loveable by Kim Jongkook       ♥♥♥       "Don't be too nervous. Be confident. Generally, girls do like shy guys but they don't like guys who are too passive." I read the lines aloud.   Aish, this is so hard! Why is it so hard to become a romantic guy? I'm trying my best to follow the guides. Nobody has ever taught me how to be romantic. My ex girlfriend said I was childish and boring. Even in the company, other pretty noonas I've tried to hit on would gushed on how cute I am. I'm not cute. I don't want to be seen as cute. I want to be a cool oppa for once. I want to show off and have girls swooning for me not because I'm cute. Especially to girl who I like. You might think it's shallow, but try being a young adult guy who keep hearing "You're so cute!" and you might understand.   I tried to change, during the singing practice for our performance, with Jihyun noona yesterday. But she didn't seem to like it at all. But why? Before this, she's the one who kept saying she dreamt of getting an older, reliable romantic date, and often said how she was so envious of Hyejeong to get to date an oppa like Jun. K hyung often. I've tried to become the person she like from observing Jun. K hyung and referring to Seungah noona's notes and advices, but she still seemed indifferent. In fact, she was more distant than before. I'm starting to be more confused. Am I still not appealing enough to be seen as a dependable, romantic oppa?   "Hyung...sik op...pa?"   I almost jumped in surprise but immediately threw down the notebook I had been reading while waiting for my date to arrive, and grabbed the sunflower bouquet to present to my date who came bearing the single sunflower stalk I had chosen.     It's the person Jihyun noona is probably not envious of anymore, right now. Since her date is not with Jun. K hyung. And she didn't look too happy either to see me.   "Hyejeong?"   "Yes, but...why...I mean, hello, Hyungsik oppa! I hope you're not disappointed to see me." She suddenly laughed. But it looked forced. She obviously was shocked, still is. Maybe even disappointed.    "No, no. I'm happy. But you seem more uhm...disappointed."   "Ahh, no. It's just that...you don't seem like you'd choose this...you look like you'd choose...oh, that's why!" She snapped her finger.   "Huh? What? What?"   "Ahh, nothing. I'm sorry oppa."   "What are you sorry about?"   "That...you didn't get to be with...Jihyun unnie for this date because of me."   "Silly. Why are you sorry for that? I'm happy to have a date with you, I mean...if you don't hate it." I patted her head, and she seemed surprised, but giggled anyway. Although it felt so awkward to get so close in such a short span of time spent together in private, less than five minutes, but I need to initiate more skinships. That was what PD hyung told me during the briefing session after breakfast, with the other guys. PD hyung told Jun. K hyung to tone down unnescessary skinship a bit because of the previous issue with Jei noona that caused his company to sent them warning, Jaebum was alright, and Mir was told to show more serious, sensititive side and tone down his upbeat personality if he gets Jei noona.    I guess this means, I have to act comfortable with Hyejeong even though we barely had any conversations without presence of the others. I can't let PD hyung complaint again. We're nearing the end of shooting. It's already the second last day. Gotta do my best. I pulled her hand to follow, and flashed my most charming smile.   "Let's go."   "Oh, to where, oppa?"   "It's a secret." I winked at her and pulled her deeper into the park, where I found earlier that there's a lake and a boat renting place. I guess, this should be perfect for a date, at the park.   "Ommo! Boats! Oppa, are we going to row boats?" I nodded and smiled. Her bright personality made things flow easier than I thought. Soon enough, we're already in the middle of the lake. I had to think of as many questions I could, but I think I nailed it. We talked about our groups, our interest, favourite movies, favourite food. The conversations were awkward at first, but it didn't take long before the flow improved, and without realizing, we already received signal to get ourselves ready for mission, so we immediately rowed our boat back to hit land.   "Hyejeongie, the sun is too bright here, you go to the shaded place where I put my things first, over there. Oppa will be back after settling the procedure for boat return at the counter."   "Alright! Oppa, do you want me to buy ice cream for you?"   "No, it's okay. I'll buy it for you, okay?"   She clapped her hands happily and skipped away to the place she's supposed to wait and I just stood there, smiling to myself at her carefree attitude and cuteness. She's just like a child, well, an overgrown child. But she's so pure, and innocent. Like, she's untainted by ugly but normal human nature that can be found in most celebrities, or maybe I just haven't seen it yet so far. But it felt so good to feel so comfortable and at ease without any worries on losing topics to talk about or squirming in worries of making her bored or dissatisfied.   "Hyungsik-ah, we're running out of time."   "Ah, yeah..sorry, hyung." I bowed to the hyung who was recording me. Sheesh, how could I let myself be in daze? Now, my stupid