A lot of thoughts ran in Chaerin’s brain when he said that. ‘Meet me in my car after your shift.’ It kept repeating over and over. What the hell did he want? He couldn’t possible want THAT right?  She was getting nervous as each minute passed by and her shift’s end coming.

She managed to forget it for a while because there were lots of customers that night and she had to cover for Dara’s shift too since she called in sick.

Her shift was about to end and the club was to close soon so she fixed the bar, cleaned it and prepared her things, ready to head for home then she remembered Bom still hasn’t returned. 

She took out her phone from her bag and saw 5 messages and 8 missed calls.

She checked the missed calls first and saw two from her dad. ‘’ she cursed herself. Must’ve been something important for him to call twice since her father was a busy man. She checked the other 6 missed calls and they were all from an unknown number. She ignored it and started to call her dad but it just rang. ‘He must be busy, she thought.’

She read the messages.

From: Forever Young Unnie 11:27 PM

Chaerin-ah~ I’m really sorry you had to cover for me today. I’ll make it up to you some other time :*

From: Super Bomtiful Unnie 11:44 PM

Pudong-ah! I went home already. I’m sorry I didn’t go back to the bar. I got tired. Take care, arasseo? Call me when you get home. Oh and I also used your car keke. Jiyong said you had plans and didn’t need your car anymore. Don’t get mad at meeeee~~ Love you! :*

She screamed in her head after she read her message. She was about to call her but she saw the time. It was almost 3AM. She’s probably asleep by now. ‘UGH! This unnie really!!!’

From: Unknown number 11:55 PM

I’m in my car. I’ll wait for you here.

From: Unknown number 12:30 AM

Where are you? I know your shift should’ve ended by now.

From: Unknown number 1:12 AM

Yah! Where are you? I didn’t even see you get out so you’re still probably in there. I’ll still wait for you.

She sighed reading the last message. She forgot about that. She was so busy at the bar and she worked two shifts so she’s hella tired plus her feet are killing her. Damn heels!

She was walking out of the club thinking of where to get a taxi since her unnie took her car. There weren’t anymore buses at this time already and it was impossible that Jiyong was still waiting for her. As soon as she exited the club she felt the warm breeze hit her. It was summer and even nights and early mornings were warm. She didn’t remove her jacket though since she had a revealing top and there were drunk club goers around. She started walking across the parking lot to the main road to wait for a taxi.

She was halfway across the parking lot when the headlights of the car on her right suddenly and as if that wasn’t enough to startle her, the person even honked the horn. She turned to that direction and probably looked like a deer almost hit.  She put a hand in front of her eyes, trying to cover it from the light so she could see who was behind the wheel but she couldn’t make out the face.

The light turned off making her see clearly the familiar white Lambo in front of her. She only knew one person with that car. She saw the driver’s door open and to no surprise it was Jiyong.

“Get in.” he said shortly and got back in his car.

She didn’t move though. She was still rooted in her position. ‘He's still here.’ That was all she could think about.

Beep! She heard again bringing her back from her thoughts.

“Get in. I know you don’t have a ride.” He said sticking his head out the window.

She started walking towards the passenger’s seat and already found the door open. She got in the car and closed the door.

“What’re you still doing here?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“I told you I’d wait for you.”

“Yeah. But it’s like 3AM already. So you waited for three hours?” she asked still confused as to why. They weren’t even close or even friends to begin with.

“I can be very patient for the things I want or the people I like.” He looked at her and started removing his jacket.

Her thoughts earlier suddenly went back to her mind. ‘Oh my God. He couldn’t really possibly want THAT.’

“What’re you doing?” she asked with wide eyes when she saw he only had a thin white shirt sticking to his body, tracing every muscle.

“Removing my jacket. It’s hot in here.” he said, discarding the piece of clothing at the back of the car. But in the process, he accidentally brushed his chest on Chaerin’s shoulder making her breath hitch. “You should probably remove yours too or you’ll be sweating like crazy.” He said but she held her jacket closer to her body, not wanting to do what was told.

Then she heard the doors lock. “What’re you doing?” she asked again, panic creeping in. ‘Oh my God, maybe he really wants THAT.’

“I’m locking the doors because we wouldn’t want anyone suddenly opening them. Would we?” he leaned closer to her making her squeal a bit in her seat.

“What’re you doing?!!” she said with her arms crossed in her chest as if hiding herself.

“What are you doing?” he asked as he chuckled and leaned back taking with him her seatbelt and buckling it up.

She let out a big breath and removed her arms from her chest. ‘He just wanted to put your seatbelt on, idiot. What the hell were you thinking you erted girl!’ she said to herself.

“I’m putting on my seat belt. I’m starting the car. I’m turning the headlights on. I’m turning on the AC. I’m about to turn the radio on. I’m—“

“What’re you doing?” she asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I’m answering your question. I’m telling you everything I’m doing because it seems like you’re very interested to know every move I make. Oh and I’m also breathing by the way. Just in case you were wondering what I was doing now.” He said while smiling that gummy smile at her.

“Ha-ha. Very funny.” She said sarcastically and turned away from his gaze because she could probably melt from that.

He chuckled and started to move the car to exit the lot.

“Where are we going?” she asked, looking at the passing buildings through her window.

“Somewhere special.”

It was three thirty in the morning and he wanted to go to the park. She didn’t expect that.

“What are we doing here?” Chaerin said looking around. It was still dark but she could tell it was the park.

“Follow me and you’ll see.” He smiled and stepped out of the car. She too got out and saw he was waiting for her in front of the car.

When she was beside him, he reached out a hand. She looked at it and raised her eyebrow at him. “I think it’s too early for that.” she said pointing at his hand.

He smiled. “Suit yourself. I just wanna warn you that we’re not gonna walk on smooth concrete.” He said, pointing at her high stilettos and then walking ahead.

And only in the first few steps “Aish!” he heard from behind him making him stop and turn back to look at her. She almost tripped when her heel landed on a rock.

“Give me your hand.” She said, stopping in her tracks. She doesn’t wanna risk stepping on rocks again and possibly spraining her ankle. Plus she couldn’t see well since the faint streetlight wasn’t helping much.

“Why? It’s too early for that, Pudong-ah.” He said teasingly while crossing his arms on his chest.

“Just give me your hand!” she reached out her hand to him. He chuckled and walked to her.

“I love how eager you are to hold my hand.” He intertwined their fingers together and smiled. “Oh would you look at that.”

“What?” she said trying to spot something interesting.

He held up their intertwined hands together. “A perfect fit.”

A sentence that made her blush. And for the first time in that moment, she was thankful for the darkness. She couldn’t let him see her blushing at what he said.

“Shut up.” that’s all she could say.

He smiled at her and started leading the way, careful to walk in the less rocky areas.

“Where are we going, anyway?”

“There.” he pointed forward. She followed his finger and saw in the distance a… diner?

“We went to the park to eat??”

“Why? Do you have something else in mind?”

Then she remembered what she had been thinking in his car at the club’s parking lot and started to blush.

“Nope.” She said with her head down and still blushing.

They were already in front of the diner and she saw the sign. It was a sun and below it the word ‘RISE’. ‘Hmm. SUNRISE.’ She smiled. She likes the sun.

“Let’s go.” He pulled her to enter.

“Oh, Jiyong-ah you’re here.” An old lady at the counter said, standing up to greet them.

“Hi grandma Lee~” he said, bowing and Chaerin followed. Both bowing 90 degrees to show their respect.

“And who’s this pretty lady here?” the elder asked while looking at Chaerin sweetly.

“Oh. Hi, I’m Chaerin.” she bowed again and tried to hold her hand out but she noticed that she and Jiyong were still holding hands. She immediately untangled their hands and held it out to the grandmother.

“Oh, what a respectful and beautiful girl.” the older said, shaking Chaerin’s hand. Chaerin just smiled back at her sweetly.

“Who do we have here?” a middle aged woman emerged from what Chaerin could guess was the kitchen and hugged Jiyong.

“Hi Aunty.” Jiyong smiled at the lady while hugging her.

“Long time no see, eh.”

“I’m sorry about that. I was pretty busy with school.” And just as Chaerin was touched in the short interaction by them, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at what he said just now. ‘Busy with school? Pfft.’

“Oh and this is?” the middle aged woman asked, looking at Chaerin.

“This is Chaerin.” he said and Chaerin bowed again to the woman.

“Oh hi. You’re very pretty.” The woman said smiling at her.

“Thank you.” Chaerin said, feeling shy. She wasn’t good in receiving compliments, especially from strangers.

“Aunty, can we sit out back?” Jiyong asked while looking at the other side of the diner.

“Oh, the light got busted out back and I couldn’t find the time to fix it yet. You just sit inside, huh?”

“I’ll fix it for you.” Jiyong said, going to the cabinet near the counter and taking out a light bulb. “Wait Chaerin, sit first.”

Chaerin just nodded and watched him move around there as if he owned the place. He seemed to know where everything is located.

“Here. Drink this first. You must be hungry.” The grandmother said, putting a cup of tea in front of her.

“Thank you.” Chaerin said, bowing slightly.

“What is this boy thinking, bringing you out here at 4 in the morning. Did he wake you early to go out?” the elder said almost interrogatingly.

“Aniyo halmoni. He actually waited for me to end my work. It ended pretty late.” Chaerin said blowing on her cup.

“Oh I see. I can see Jiyong really likes you. How long have you two been together?”

Chaerin coughed almost spitting out the tea but fortunately she was able to swallow it.

“Oh you’re mistaken grandma. We’re not together. We’re just… classmates.” Chaerin said waving her hands in front of her.

“Oh really? It didn’t seem like it earlier.” The elder said, unbelieving of what the younger said.

“Let’s go Chaerin.” Jiyong said as he was headed to their direction.

“Oh okay.” She stood up and bowed to grandma Lee. “Thank you for the tea.”

“What’s out here?” Chaerin asked as she sat on the chair that Jiyong pulled out for her. The light Jiyong installed wasn’t that bright and Chaerin liked it. It suited the balcony they were in.

“You’ll see soon enough.” he said, sitting across her.

Chaerin enjoyed the ambiance of the place. How fresh the wind felt, how soothing nature smelled.

“The rumor isn’t true you know, Sohee just made that up.”

“I know.” Chaerin said. They’re gonna talk about it now.

“I know you know, I just wanted to tell you myself.”

“Oh okay.” Chaerin didn’t know what else to say. An awkward silence enveloped them.

“I don’t even know why she did it.” Jiyong said looking far.

Chaerin looked at him. Can he be that insensitive to not know? “You really don’t know? It’s because she wants you back.”

“I kinda get that but why start such a rumor. It’s just weird… but come to think of it… I know why.” Jiyong said looking at Chaerin as if figuring some big mystery out.

“Why?” Chaerin said, trying to mirror the excitement in his eyes.

“It’s because of you.”

“What?”

“It’s because of you. She knows I like you. Maybe she thought you’ll back away from me if she told you that which you did, for a while…”

“Can you not say that?” Chaerin said trying to hide a blush.

“What? That I like you?”

“I just told you to stop and there you are saying it again.”

“Why? But I do like you.”

“Stop saying it! It’s weird. You’re saying it as if I’m not here.” she said looking at everything else except him.

“But that’s why I’m saying it. Because you’re here. I want you to know how I feel.” Jiyong said trying to lock eyes with her.

“See. That just made the hairs on my body stand. It’s weird for me to hear stuff like that.” she said, rubbing her arms to help settle down the standing hairs.

Jiyong chuckled at her behaviour. ‘Who would’ve thought that a bad looking girl gets all shy like this?’ he found her more and more interesting every moment he spends with her.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to more, right?’

“Lee Chaerin” he called out and she looked up to him. “I like you. A lot.” he said dead-on looking at her eyes and he could slowly see the color pink evade her cheeks. He smiled, feeling as if he accomplished something big.

“Oh God, just shut up already. You’re giving me goosebumps.” She said shivering a bit, trying to brush off those butterflies brewing in her stomach.

BRRGH.

“Well someone’s hungry.”

It weren’t just butterflies brewing in her stomach. She was hungry.

“Did someone say hungry?” she heard from behind her and saw Aunty Lee bringing two plates of what she could tell as waffles, arranged beautifully as… mini houses?

“Wow. This looks so good.” She said ogling at the food in front of her.

“It’s Jiyong’s favourite.” Aunty Lee smiled and placed the plates in front of them with two cups of hot chocolate.

“Thank you.” They both said to the older lady.

“You’re welcome. Enjoy it and that too.” Aunty Lee said pointing to the sky.

That was it. What he really wanted her to see. The sunrise. They were at the best spot to see its full beauty. That’s why he always came here. He really liked seeing the sun start to light everything slowly. How it cascaded over the buildings and the trees, giving life to them. How it warmed not only his body but also his spirit whenever it touches him. He doesn’t know why, but it made him happy.

“Wow.” It was her first time seeing the sun rise in Korea and she promised herself it definitely won’t be the last.

She looked at him and saw him smiling but it was the first time she saw that smile. He looked so happy. There was this glint in his eye that made that look different from anything she’d seen him look like.

“I know I’m handsome but you should look at the sun rise, it’s the reason I brought you here in the first place.” He said not taking his eyes from the sky.

Chaerin rolled her eyes and looked back at the sky. Just when she was appreciating him, he goes back to his confident, cocky self.

......

“Well, thanks for the ride and the breakfast. I’m forgiven now right? Because I went there with you.” they were outside her house.

“Huh? Oh yeah… I have a question.” Jiyong said. He has not been able to take his eyes away from the house she said is theirs. It was BIG. (BANG lol)

“What?”

“You live there?” he said pointing at the large house with tall white gate.

“Yeah. Why?” Chaerin raised an eyebrow.

“If you live there then why do you have to work in a club?” he asked looking at her.

“I don’t HAVE to work. I choose to.”

“Why?” he didn’t understand. If her family was well off, then why does she still work? She can just spend her time enjoying life rather than working.

“Because I want to. Anyway, I’ll see you Monday. I’m tired.” She said ready to get out of his car. “And thanks again.”

“Anything for you.” He smiled sweetly.

She opened the car door and before she could even put both feet to the ground.

“Lee Chaerin”

She looked and saw a man on the other side of the gate looking at her with arms crossed. It was the man she least expected at a time like this.

‘.’

She immediately turned back to Jiyong. “Don’t say anything about me working in a club. Say anything else but not that. Okay? Now get out of the car and help me.” she said hastily and got out of the car.

“Dad!” she said, opening the gate and hugging her father who met her half way.

“Don’t you try and act cute with me. Don’t you know what time it is? Why are you home, only now?” He said sternly, looking at her daughter.

“Uhm…”

“Sorry to have kept Chaerin out for long, sir. We’ve been working on a project and lost track of time.”

“And you are?” her father said, eyeing Jiyong.

“Kwon Jiyong sir.” He said bowing and holding a hand out. They shook hands. Jiyong looked at Chaerin who was looking gratefully at him. Then he remembered something. ‘I can say anything, huh?’ he smiled mischievously at her.

“I’m Chaerin’s boyfriend.”

Boy, that was long. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it ;) Have a great day!