HAYI POV

The next morning, I woke up with a smile. I was going to meet Hanbin for lunch today. It wasn’t a date, more of a BFF-chillout day. They’re just like lunch dates with Ahyoung and Chaemin. Just like that. Wait, what? Date? Who said anything about a date? I tried to convince myself it was nothing and dressed appropriately for the occasion. I picked out a chiffon spaghetti-strapped top with high waisted denim shorts and my red Toms. Casual, but still cute.

Hanbin and I met at a train station near our houses, laughing at each other once we set our sights on the other person. We both had on matching shoes. We had to take a moment to laugh about it. It was a good thing because it dissipated every tinge of awkwardness, if there were any in the first place.  

“ Hey why are you copying me ?”

I playfully nudged him, a little embarrassed at the coupled shoes we had on. A bigger part of me felt happy, to know we matched.

He let out a chuckle and charmingly retorted, “ Couple shoes. I like them. Let’s go, I know a place with nice pasta.”

Hanbin then proceeded to drag me by the arm towards the trains. We ended up eating at a restaurant near a river that flowed through the city center. It was a pretty place, where the old architecture met the new boxy, glass-ridden high-rise buildings. The place was mostly occupied with European tourists and young couples having a chill drink at bars along the river. I was walking alongside Hanbin who has his arms in his pockets, a big contrast to the tight grip I had on my bag. Lunch was pleasant. Hanbin had ordered for me and exuded confidence and politeness whenever he called upon the waiters. We even drank champagne, an idea i initially refused at first. I was underage after all.

He gave me a wink and a smirk before giving a quick remark of “No one knows that though” and continued to order. He footed the bill with no complaints, ignoring any of my pleas to share the bill.

“ Its not really cheap. You’re not working and I chose the place. I earn from my gigs, I’ll pay. You can pay me back when you start earning money.”

He was a boy with class and I couldn’t help but swoon at his gentlemanly behavior. I tried stuffing my money towards the confused waiter but Hanbin overpowered me with his height and male strength, so all I could eke out was as many thank you's as I could.

“ This is my favorite place here. I love Australia and Europe, but this is my favorite in Seoul. “

He suddenly stopped walking and gave a quick sweep-over the place,  stopping in his tracks.

“ You like it? "

I was too busy gazing at that dazed look in his eyes that I failed to respond as quickly as I usually did.

“ Hayi? Are you alright ?”

“I can see why you like this place. It makes you feel separated from the world, but you’re not alone. Time stills and you get to have a walk down the river yourself. I love it, it’s a nice place.”

My outburst caught him by surprised but all he did was look to the ground and drag his feet across the gravel, further crushng the small fragments of debris. I became afraid that I had said something I shouldn’t have when that long pause of silence continued to drag on. Before I could say anything else to correct the situation, Hanbin looked up at me and smiled.

“ You understand me well, Hayi. Let’s hang out another time.”

Hanbin and I ended up hanging out almost every other day that summer holiday. It felt nice to see and hear the actual face and voice of the boy I was messaging so much the past week. On the other days I wasn't with Hanbin, I met Ahyoung and Chaemin and life went on as per usual with us three. Hanging out with Hanbin brightened up my summer though, the two of us constantly finding out new things about each other.

He told me how he loved patterned clothing, at which I picked out a Hawaiian shirt out of his closet and laughed at him for a full 30mins when I made him try it on. When we went to visit a cafe for brunch, I realized Hanbin picked out the tomatoes in his sandwiches and only drank tea. Hanbin was observant too. It soon became automatic that he passed me chili sauce with my fries, his hoodie when I forgot to bring my jacke