Jongwoon has been a photographer for over thirteen years. He moved to New York five years ago from Seoul, South Korea and never left the city since. He loved the newly found freedom in the city that never sleeps. He liked the diversity of culture. He loved the fashion and art combined in the place. In the city, Jongwoon found passion for what he loves doing best.

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon when Jongwoon suddenly thought of taking a walk around Brooklyn Bridge. He’s been cooped up in his apartment for three whole weeks while working on editing the photos from the last photo shoot he did for a newbie magazine.

He got up from his couch and grabbed his jacket, keys, wallet and phone before heading out into the streets of New York City.

He shoved both his hands inside his jacket’s pockets to prevent his fingers from getting too cold from the chilly breeze. He walked and walked and started whistling to the tune he heard in the radio this morning, but he couldn’t seem to remember what the song’s title was, which frustrated him a bit.

Before Jongwoon knew it, he could already see the Brooklyn Bridge not too far from where he was currently standing. He turned his head to the left and spotted a small café by the corner. Since when was that there. He shrugged and just headed to the small shop. He figured if he wanted to stay warm, might as well get a steaming cup of coffee along the way.

When he entered the shop, however, he was greeted by a nearly empty room. The only people there were two staffs, a couple who were sitting by the window, and a petite man wearing a grey sweater with shades hanging at the collar, who was at the counter already placing his order. He took his place behind the man as he waited for his turn. He couldn’t help but notice the man struggled with the book he was holding. Jongwoon raised his eyebrow and tried to look over the man’s shoulder only to see a Korean-English dictionary in his hand. Jongwoon grinned and crossed his arms in amusement.

“I w-would like hot ch-chocolate…” The man said in very awkward English with a really thick Korean accent. Jongwoon could hear the desperation and slight embarrassment from the man’s voice. He couldn’t help but smile because the man was blushing furiously when the clerk asked if he wanted muffins to go with it. The man just shook his head and pulled out a couple of American dollars from his wallet.

After a few moments of fidgeting in his place, the staff gave the man his drink. The man thanked her and went dashing out of the shop.

Jongwoon held his gaze on the petite man who is now outside the shop through the clear glass window. He saw him pull out a huge map and the man pouted immediately. Jongwoon could see the confusion written on the man’s face and he couldn’t help but let out a throaty chuckle. He was interrupted when the clerk cleared and asked what he would like to order. Jongwoon tore away his gaze from the man outside and gazed at the woman in front of him. “Just a cup of black coffee would be great.” He then turned his head towards the window, and much to his disappointment, the man was already gone.

Jongwoon spent the first two hours of his walk wandering around Brooklyn Bridge while taking photos of the scenery with his phone. He got a great candid shot of a couple kissing in the middle of the bridge. He smiled down at the screen of his phone and decided he would post it later on his blog once he gets home.

The afternoon dragged along and it was nearly time for sunset. At the back of Jongwoon’s head, he was thinking about that man from the café. He was kind of hoping to bump into the man again, but he pushed the thought away since he knew the man was just a tourist. Tourists have tight schedules. The man was probably long gone by now. Jongwoon let out a disappointed sigh. He shoved his hands back in his pockets as he started walking towards the direction of his apartment.

Out of nowhere, however, he heard small gasp from a person to his right. He glanced towards the source of the sound and he literally felt his heart skip a beat. Right there, he saw the man from the café leaning against the bridge’s railings, looking over at the East River as the sun slowly descended from the sky. Jongwoon admired the way the man’s eyes sparkled under the sunlight, how the man’s nose wrinkled cutely when he was hit in the face by the cool breeze, the way the man held both his hands out of pure excitement and joy. But what caught Jongwoon’s attention the most was the way the man’s plump lips curved up into a smile. Jongwoon watched the man from afar as the man took photos of the sunset with his camera. Jongwoon felt his heart racing and he wasn’t sure why but he had a good guess. He absentmindedly took out his phone and held it in front of him. He angled his phone so he could capture a perfect shot of the man’s face with the sunlight highlighting all his delicate features. Jongwoon tore his gaze from the man only to look at the photo he just took. He smiled to himself before shoving his phone back in his pocket. He stood there for a moment and just admired everything about the man.

Jongwoon took careful steps towards the man. Once he was closer, he leaned against the railings and looked down and watched the man fumble with his camera silently.

It took the man several moments to realize he was being watched. He looked up only to see Jongwoon looking down at him with a soft gaze. The smaller man couldn’t help it so he just flashed Jongwoon a shy and polite smile.

Jongwoon’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest at the sight before him. Wow, it’s even more beautiful up close. Jongwoon forgot to think for moment so he mindlessly blurted out, “beautiful smile.”

The man’s eyes widened in both shock and embarrassment, and Jongwoon found this endearing. Jongwoon rubbed the back of his neck as he straightened himself up. He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking once again. “You have a beautiful smile.”

The man was a bit confused but he understood what Jongwoon said, and this caused him to blush, his entire face up to the tips of his ears coloring beet red, which caused Jongwoon to let out a soft chuckle.

Jongwoon then decided to tease the man even further, so he spoke in straight English, “I know this is a bit forward, but do you think I could have our number?”

“N-number…?” The man stuttered and shook his head as he looked down at his feet.

Jongwoon couldn’t help but laugh at the way the small man was bouncing from foot to foot. The man snapped his head up and glared at Jongwoon, which caused Jongwoon to stifle down his laugh with the back of his hand. The man was already glaring at him with the cutest pout on his lips.

The man was about to walk out on Jongwoon before Jongwoon grabbed him lightly by the elbows and spoke in fluent Korean. “Hold on, I’m sorry! Don’t go.”

The man was taken aback and looked back at Jongwoon. He gasped and pointed an accusing finger at Jongwoon. “You’re Korean?!”

Jongwoon flashed him a sheepish smile and nodded. “My name is Kim Jongwoon.”

The man squinted his eyes as if judging Jongwoon really hard. To be very honest, it made Jongwoon a bit guilty for teasing the guy but stood his ground and just kept the smile on his face.

It took the man an entire minute to decide on what to respond. He could walk away from the rude—handsome—person right in front of him or he could gain a new friend from a foreign country. The man looked away for a moment before smiling to himself.

He looked back at Jongwoon and flashed him a bright smile and held out his hand for a handshake. “Kim Ryeowook.”

Jongwoon grinned triumphantly as he took the man’s—Ryeowook’s—hand in his. Jongwoon gave it a gentle squeeze and shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Ryeowook. I really meant what I said earlier. You really do have a beautiful smile.” And with that, he earned himself a light punch on the arm from the blushing man in front of him.