part two: falling for the librarian

 The days passed as Kyuhyun always appeared waiting outside the library doors cradling the books he checked out the day before. From mystery to adventure to drama to nonfiction, he always finished the books in the time allotted from when he leaves at lunch to the early morning.

 The tension between the two gets stronger by every meeting, more witty responses, more stolen glances, and more encounters. One moment they'd act as if they didn't enjoy each other's company, the next second they'll be laughing over some old memories. Just the other day, the two were engaged on a conversation signifying the difference between jam and jelly.

 "We are really boring people," Taeyeon commented, laughing at herself. Kyuhyun laughed along, high-fiving Taeyeon in agreement.

 It didn't take long for Kyuhyun to develop a liking to Taeyeon. The way she would just sit at her desk texting as if she had anything better to do, the way she took care with all her library books, just the way she did everything made his heart fluster.

 "Let me take you out to lunch," Kyuhyun demanded, slamming his palms on the librarian's desk. 

 "But I brought lunch," she replied, holding up a brown paper sack. She always brought a brown paper sack which always held a peanut butter and banana sandwich on white bread. Patterns were something that was branded into Kim Taeyeon, you can't just mix them up without her denial. But Kyuhyun wasn't buying whatever act he thought she was doing.

 "Come on," he insisted, grabbing her hand and pulling her around and out of her desk.

 "My lunch!" she called out, watching the paper bag lay hastily at her desk. She struggled to get out of the older man's grasp, although he looked as if he was gently holding it, it felt like he constricted her hand with vines; getting tighter and tighter as time diminishes. "Will you let go!" she screamed, stomping her feet as she unwillingly followed Kyu.

 "Only if you don't go back to your sanctuary to get your boring lunch."

 "Fine." Taeyeon grimaced. Kyuhyun smirked as he loosely removed his grip, holding her hand lightly as if she was a lover for many ages. "That's not what I meant."

 "I know." Taeyeon rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile at his affection. Sure she acted like she didn't appreciate his existence in her library for the past week or so, but this was the first time she went out to eat in a while, even more with a guy like Kyuhyun.

 "Where are we going anyways? I thought you said you just moved here."

 "You'll see." he promised. Kyuhyun might've only been in Garu-gu for more than a week, but because he's a man and can barely make himself cup of noodles he's been out and about after his library visits. Most of the time he read his books at these cafés and restaurants, staying there way longer than his meal allowed.

 Where he was taking Taeyeon was a café just around the corner from the library. Therefore Taeyeon wouldn't have to worry about any robberies because they'd see them.

 Well they'll see any robberies on 3rd Street, not on Mikasa Avenue, but she didn't need to dwell too much on that.

 "Café Trinity?" Taeyeon read the blocked letters perched above her aloud. "I've been here before,"

 "Oh really?" Kyuhyun countered, not believing her words. He opened the door and allowed the other inside first.

 "Oh look! Kyuhyun is here!" the barista, Woo Sarang, called out.

 "Annyeong Sarang-noona!" he called back, waving from the front door.

 "Looks like little Kyu brought a date." Sarang oohed in happiness. Kyuhyun chuckled at her comment then turned to Taeyeon.

 "Sarang's worked here for the past 15 years," he whispered in her ear. "She said she's recognized any customer that's been here at least twice." Taeyeon shot daggers at Kyuhyun then rolled her eyes once again.

 "I am not your date." Was all she remarked, strutting down towards the cashier. After ordering a roll of kimbap and a medium espresso, she was about to bring out her wallet when Kyuhyun swiftly took it out of her reach.

 "It's usually the person who asks the date to pay for both meals." he reminded her. 

 "I am not your date." Taeyeon repeated once again, snatching her wallet back from him. Kyuhyun took it back again, this time taking out his own wallet and paying for her. Taeyeon couldn't help but snarl at the man, insisting this forced lunch was a date, paying for her meal, and now embarrassing her in front of people she's probably seen before.

 "If you're really insistent on doing something, go get us a table," he retorted, not moving his eyes from the menu above. Before Taeyeon could roll her eyes for the nth time this hour, Kyuhyun warned her, "Don't even try rolling your eyes, it has no effect anyways."

 And with that, Taeyeon stomped over to an empty table right next to the front door, just in case he really pushed her to the edge that she had to storm off. She sat at the table, puffing her cheeks and tapping her short fingers against the furnished wood as she waited for her order to come along with Kyuhyun.

 "She's not your date?" Sarang asked Kyuhyun as she handed two espressos towards him.

 "In her eyes, yes. She's the librarian."

 Sarang's eyes lightened up even more under the lamp if it was even possible. She pushed Kyuhyun playfully as she squished both of his cheeks.

 "Aww .. Kyu managed to bring that stick in the mud out? She must really fancy you."

 Kyuhyun pursed his lips, processing Sarang's words along with Taeyeon's recent actions. He never really paid attention to how she saw him this whole time. Maybe Sarang was right, maybe just maybe, Kim Taeyeon: Vibrant on the first impression, boring right after, was falling for Kyuhyun just as hard as he was for her.

 "Don't call her names," he warned with a stern face. After a few seconds it resulted into a joking grin. "I'm only allowed to do that." And before Sarang managed to voice out any last words of advice, he grabbed the plate of kimbap and the two teacups and walked away.

 "It's about time you arrived." Taeyeon commented, glaring at her supposed waiter placing the small portions of food at the table.

 "Shouldn't you just enjoy the moment while you have it?" he questioned, stirring cream and sugar into his espresso. "You're not going to have a good time if you act like that."

 "Who says I'm not having a good time?" she teased, shoving a slice of kimbap into .

 "Your expression?"

 "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover." she remarked, smiling at her saying. Kyuhyun rolled his eyes as she swallowed down her food. "So why here?"

 "Well ... this was the first place I went after we first met." Kyuhyun admitted. "It was raining pretty hard after I left, and this was first place I found."

 "I like it." Taeyeon chirped, looking around at its emptiness. "It's like the library. Quiet, calm, -"

 "You, me, together alone." Kyuhyun finished for her, winking at the girl in front of him.

 "Not that." she retorted, leaning back in her chair and looking off to her side.

 "Don't lean too back, you're going to fall again."

 Taeyeon rolled her eyes and sat back up. She leaned her head forward, barely hanging over the steam from her drink and smirked.

 "Now tell me the real reason why you took me here,"

 Kyuhyun played along and leaned his head forward as well.

 "Because I like you. Wasn't that obvious?" 

 Taeyeon scoffed, of course she knew that. Well, okay, maybe she didn't. But this whole date thing definitely clarified her thoughts. Though since he does like her, might as well have fun teasing him.

 She leaned forward a few centimeters more, smiling at Kyuhyun.

 "Of course I did."

 Kyuhyun leaned in closer, just an inch away from her pink glossy lips. He looked into her eyes then gave another infamous smirk.

 "So, do you like me?"

 Kim Taeyeon teasingly looked up, as if she was thinking lazily about his question. She noticed Kyuhyun chuckled at her actions then took the opportunity to lean in closer to him, feeling his cool breath brush along her lips.

 At that moment, everything seemed perfect, Kyuhyun closed his eyes in excitement waiting for what he's been longing for since he's ever laid eyes on this head librarian.

 "Yah! Kim Taeyeon!" a voice shrieked at the two, causing both of them to jump back in shock.

 "Come on!" Kyuhyun yelled in aggravation, slamming his fists on the table, the teacups shaking wildly.

 "Soojung," Taeyeon identified the interrupting girl. "Do you mind? I'm on my lunch break."

 "And you have been for the past hour, I have a college resume to build you know!" she whined. She then looked at the complaining guy for the first time then suddenly smiled. "But, if you're busy I can just come by tomorrow."

 "No it's fine," Taeyeon quickly deflected. "Just hang out in the library for a minute, I'll be there soon." Soojung nodded and walked out of the café, snickering to herself as she entered the library. Kyuhyun stood up after her departure and gave a small smile.

 "I'll see you tomorrow," he concluded, walking out the door, trying to hide a disappointed face. Taeyeon lingered her arm out, trying to call him back, but the words couldn't escape . The second the door closed she slumped down in her chair, disappointed as well.

 "So who was that?" Soojung asked, sitting on Taeyeon's desk after sorting out all of Kyuhyun's checked out books. Never before had she have to stack so many books, it was even more a burden when she forgot to wear her high heels, causing her to jump up just to reach the highest shelf.

 "Who?" she asked, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

 "Don't play dumb unnie." she retorted, crossing her arms. "That totally hot guy you were about to mack on!"

 "It's the same bookworm who read all those books you just stack in one week."

 "That hottie read all that in one week?" Soojung repeated in shock.

 "Try five novels a day."

 "Awww .. unnie's fallen for a bookworm!"

 "I don't like him."

 Soojung rolled her eyes. For as long as she knew Taeyeon, she knew that she was very hard-headed. Even her sister admitted that any secret Taeyeon had, she wouldn't crack until she was caught in the act.

 "So you guys aren't dating?"

 "It wasn't a date!" she yelled in annoyance. Soojung noticed Taeng was on the edge and carefully jumped off her desk, worried she wouldn't even be alive to submit her college application.

 "Well I've never seen you so comfortable with a guy that wasn't gay." she commented, heading out the door. Before she opened the front door, she turned around and grinned at her friend. "Cute, intelligent, and likes you already? He's definitely a keeper Kim Taeyeon."