~~~~~

“That’s a peculiar umbrella,” Chanyeol noted the next morning. They’d met up for breakfast and were walking across campus toward the business department. “And why are you carrying an umbrella on a sunny day?”

Jongin glanced at Namjoo’s umbrella tucked into the side of his backpack, “I have to return it to its owner.”

“Eh,” Chanyeol playfully nudged him, “you’re talking to someone, aren’t you? Who is it?”

He merely scoffed. “You know her.”

“I do?” the friend questioned with wide eyes. “Let me think, Chairman Goo’s daughter that’s after you?”

Jongin frowned at him. “Namjoo.”

Chanyeol’s expression stilled. “Why do you have her umbrella?”

“She was here yesterday,” Jongin said. “She was waiting for you without an umbrella, so I walked her home and she gave me hers because I didn’t have mine on me either.”

Jongin stopped in surprise when Chanyeol quickly slid from his side to in front of him. “Hold on, you walked her home? Home, home?”

He nodded.

“Like into the building, up there?”

“Yes.”

Chanyeol let out a sound of disbelief. “Why would you go into her home? I should be the one going in.”

“You?” Jongin repeated clueless.

“Obviously! She came onto me first, and I’m planning to take her out on a date.”

“You like her?” Jongin asked.

“Maybe I do. She doesn’t seem that bad. She has a nice body and nice legs. Have you seen them? Whoo!” the friend asked excitedly and ended with an impressed whistle. Frowning at him Jongin his hand out into his chest.

“Unless she says she likes you too, you shouldn’t be talking like that about her,” Jongin lectured.

“Hey,” Chanyeol rubbed his chest, “that hurt, and don’t tell me you haven’t checked her out. Anyway, I put dibs on her, so don’t touch her ok?”

Jongin snorted as he watched Chanyeol swivel around with a wave exclaiming that he was going to be late for class. Turning around he started toward the street where he’d left his car. Upon getting in he tossed his backpack into the passenger’s seat and glanced at the flowery umbrella.

Within a few minutes he was on the road arriving at Mr. Pizza, the building surrounded by numerous other restaurants. The area was often frequented by college students which kept the district well alive with activity and business.

Pushing the glass door open he walked into the building and looked around. There were a few customers seated at the tables. Beyond the green counter he could hear soft chatter along with wild miscellaneous noises. A girl with her dyed burgundy hair tied back into a ponytail hovered over the counter with a bottle of spray and wet cleaning cloth.

Walking over he waited for her attention and asked, “Is Namjoo here?”

“Namjoo?” she repeated. “I think she’s in the back.”

“Can you see if she can come up to the counter for a sec?” he wondered. “I have something to return to her.”

The young girl gave him a once over curiously then nodded and turned around to walk away. A few seconds later Namjoo appeared in uniform looking caught off guard by him.

“What are you…” she started before he held up her umbrella with a grin. Glancing at it as if it was a foreign object she looked back up at him.

“I just wanted to return this.” He handed it to her.

“Oh…uh…thanks,” she said grabbing it from him.

“Are you sick? You sound like you have a stuffy nose.” He commented.

“It’s just runny,” she explained. “No big deal.”

“Must be because of the rain yesterday,” he noted. “When do you get off?”

“In four hours. Why?”

“Then…” he started, “I’ll order something to eat while waiting for you.”

She blinked at him and stared. “You don’t have to.”

“I’m hungry anyway,” he shrugged. “What do you recommend?”

Namjoo didn’t refrain from making an absurd face at him before taking his order. About fifteen minutes later she brought his pizza out to him. Recalling Chanyeol’s shameless comment about her Jongin discovered himself running his eyes over Namjoo as she set his pizza down. Not bad, he quietly confirmed before his eyes rose further up to find her looking at him.

Quickly turning red with shame he slid further back into his seat, loudly cleared his throat, and looked away while a hand through his hair to look suddenly occupied.

“Oh um…th…thanks,” he muttered and abruptly grabbed a piece of pizza before letting out a yelp as it burned his hand. Namjoo laughed at him before turning to walk away and he wished he hadn’t come.  

~~~~~

Interesting, Namjoo found herself commenting as she headed into the back before letting herself grin wildly. Throwing her knee up and wounding her hands into fists to pump them into the air she found herself silently screaming. That fool. She knew he’d been checking her out. It had been so painfully obvious that it had made her feel slightly awkward too.

“What’s wrong with you?” Soona questioned with a frown. “Is that your boyfriend?”

Turning around surprised Namjoo grinned, “Maybe, why?”

Crossing her arms she muttered, “Nothing.”

Looking the girl over Namjoo said, “Bet you were going to hit him up, huh?”

“No!” Soona loudly denied as her face burst into a shade of pink.

Giggling, Namjoo shook her head. “Too bad he’s mine. Better luck next time.” Patting her shoulder Namjoo walked by and returned to prepping the cheese she’d been working on earlier before Jongin arrived.

Four hours…he said he’d wait for her. If this wasn’t crazy she didn’t know what was and coming to her workplace just to return her umbrella, a pathetic excuse she thought, but it didn’t matter. All she cared about was the huge check that came as a bonus if she married Jongin.   

Snickering to herself she began humming and bobbing her head happily. And who knew that when she got off work Jongin really was still waiting for her. As they walked outside together she couldn’t help but wonder if he was starting to like her.

Namjoo’s jaw nearly dropped upon seeing his silver Jaguar sitting outside the shop. She turned upon hearing his voice.

“What’s wrong?” he wondered.

“Oh…no…nothing,” she shook her head deeply amazed and sunken in a pit of awe. Her insides screamed joy when she walked toward the car full of urge to it like a puppy.

This was great! A hot car! A handsome guy! Jongin was the complete package!

Namjoo merely wanted to kneel down and cry because she was so exhilarated. Instead, maintaining her cool composure she got into the car that smelled of fresh leather and air freshener. Her eyes ogled everything, absorbing the cleanliness surrounding her. Did a butler frequently clean the car?

Her insides screamed again at the thought of having a butler around to drive her wherever she wanted and maids who would come to serve her upon her calling. The dream to live rich was becoming more vivid every second.

“Is this yours?” she asked.

“Yes, why?” he replied after pulling the seatbelt over him.

“It’s nothing,” she shook her head. Damn she was impressed. Maybe she could get one of her own when she learned how to drive. The thought drove her into euphoria.

The car stopped a few minutes later after he carefully pulled up to the curb and she looked out the window to find a pharmacy outside. When Jongin stepped out she unwillingly followed and walked inside with him. What the heck were they doing here?

Up at the counter she heard him asking the pharmacist, “Can I have some medicine for a cold?”

Namjoo watched the middle aged woman behind the counter ring up some medicine and put it inside a white paper bag. Receiving it after paying Jongin turned around and walked toward her, holding it out to her. She felt a slight awkwardness from his kind gesture but took it from him.

“Y…you didn’t need to,” Namjoo muttered then nodded a thanks.

Back in the car Namjoo sat with the bag on her lap. At first she’d thought Jongin was the typical rich boy who would do anything to impress any girl but now she was starting to see him in a new light. He was innocent with an addition of kindness on the side which all worked in her favor. If her story last night tugged his heart he wouldn’t easily forget her, she was sure she could rest assured about that.

“Do you have your phone on you?” he perked up.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a nuisance.”

“You should carry it around. If you ever get in trouble or need something, it’ll be more convenient for you to call for help.” He told then handed her his phone. “Give me your number.”

Namjoo turned to stare at him before taking his smart phone and input her number into his data. She turned when he stopped the car and saw that they’d arrived at her hostel. A missile blew her mind that he wasn’t taking her anywhere else nor planned to spend more time with her. The disappointment crushed her immensely.

Quietly figuring out that it was time to leave Namjoo removed her seatbelt. “Thanks, for taking me back. And again, for the medicine. Thanks.”

“It’s no problem,” he smiled at her as she stepped out. He didn’t hesitate at all to drive off after she closed the door and Namjoo made a face after him. What a waste!

Sighing, she turned to walk into the building. Once she arrived on the twelfth floor she spotted Kyung standing beside her door, lightly kicking at the ground. His short spiked hair was a sure sign of his apparent youth. Lean and tall with a modest workout body, she didn’t understand why he spent his time hovering around her.

When Joohwan first told her about Kyung’s crush on her Namjoo had laughed it off, seeing it as a cute gesture for such a well-rounded kid. She’d expected it to last no more than a month or two but he persisted. And now he was still persisting. It was at the point where she couldn’t help but be annoyed. After all, he was no kid anymore. He was an adult and a university student.

Walking with heavy footsteps toward him she pulled out her keys and without looking at him greeted, “What are you doing here? Where’s Joohwan?”

“He doesn’t know I came,” Kyung said as she inserted the key into the lock and pulled it open. “Who is he?”

“What are you talking about?” Namjoo asked, first heading toward the counter where she threw the medicine Jongin bought her. Grabbing a glass of water she listened to boy walk toward her.

“The one who just dropped you off. I saw.”

Namjoo darted her eyes off to the side, “No one.”

“He looks rich,” he stated the obvious. “What were you doing with him? Do you know him? How come I’ve never seen him before?”

Spinning around Namjoo asked, “What are you doing here? I told you I’d call you when I’m not busy.”

“Are you interested in him?” Kyung persevered with his questions.

Knowing he wouldn’t stop till he got an answer Namjoo nodded, “Yea, I am. Why?” brushing by she started toward her couch to sit down. Kyung followed and plopped down beside her.

That string of irritation within Namjoo tightened. Flatly staring at the wall ahead of her she raised the glass to sip on it in order to look busy.

“Do you like him? Or do you like him for his money?” Kyung interrogated.

Namjoo turned to look at him and lied, “Of course I like him.”

Kyung stared back with his intelligent eyes, observing her, “You don’t.”

“Please, Kyung.” Namjoo broke out into a laugh. “You don’t know me.”

“I don’t?” he repeated with a hint of offense. “I know that you were always looking for money because you always need it; you needed it feed Joohwan, buy him good clothes so he wouldn’t lose out to his classmates while you skipped meals and wore rags. You need it for the debt you still haven’t paid off.”

“Kyung,” Namjoo stopped him, “that was then. This is now. Joohwan is married now. His wife should be the one looking after him. Not me.”

“I know, I know,” he nodded, “I’m just saying that your obsession for money can stop now. We’re all grown up; I can finally do something for you. I’ll pass the bar exam and I’ll become a good lawyer. If you wait just a bit more…”

Annoyed, Namjoo rolled her eyes and stood turning to look at him, “You just focus on your life. I think I’ve been clear on this before. You are my little brother’s friend, so that makes you like a younger brother to me. Alright?” she leaned down to pat his shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll handle myself. You go back home to study now. I want to rest.”

She moved back surprised when he abruptly stood, shoving her hand off his shoulder. “No. I said it before too. I can wait for you. Do you think that rich guy will still like you if he knows you only want his money? No one knows you like I do.”

“He likes me,” Namjoo crossed her arms confidently. “He’ll like me more later and when he does, why don’t you come out to eat with us sometime?”

“Namjoo!” Kyung raised his voice, upset.

Turning to walk away Namjoo said, “You can go now. I’m going to take a nap.”

~~~~~

With no follow-up plans Jongin cruised around the streets before ending up outside campus grounds. Leaning back in his seat with an arm propped against the door he gently bit his knuckle while listening to cars whish by outside. If he went home now his mother would wonder why he didn’t seem to have a life to keep him occupied, and she would talk to him about Chairman Goo’s daughter again.

Once some months ago when he had accompanied his father in a wheelchair to a socialite event, he’d seen Chairman Goo’s daughter from faraway elegantly dressed in pumps that made her tower over the shorter men, standing with an aura that no one could miss. She had the kind of slim but nice feature that accentuated her curves in the right places – the kind of woman who had heads turning when she walked by. She had been set to marry her boyfriend once but it had been cancelled for some reason.

She was the kind of typical heart throb beauty any guy would like to woo but he wasn’t interested in her. Not because she was older but he felt completely nothing for her – no attraction, nada. He suddenly thought about how Namjoo had dropped that piece of cheese onto his thigh and became flustered after brushing it off. The particular thought made him want to laugh.    

“Anyway, I put dibs on her, so don’t touch her ok?”

But Chanyeol seemed to like her, so it didn’t feel right thinking about her. After all, Namjoo had first been looking at Chanyeol when they met. Picking his phone up he bit onto his thumbnail while deciding.

If Chanyeol liked her and Namjoo liked him too, they would thank him later for helping them get together. The answer was obvious. Without a second thought he texted Chanyeol.