what could she say against jeonghan?    nothing.   he was polite. always smiling out of courtesy and addressing her formally despite her protests. returning her smiles and laughing at all her jokes, funny or not.    he was thoughtful. looking out for her when they crossed the streets, holding her hand when they were thrown into a sea of people and engulfed by hundreds of bodies, asking her first if she wanted anything to drink or eat or if she wanted to sit down and rest for a while.    he was witty. he always had answers for her questions and he always seemed to know what to say.    and he had a lot to say. he was chatty and that was good, nayeon was talkative but jeonghan was a chatterbox. the first time she saw him, silent beauty in all he was, she thought he was the demure and shy type, but that wasn't the case at all. he was loud but not arrogant, he just talked and nayeon listened and they both liked it that way.    the more time she spent with him, the deeper she fell for who he was. he unraveled himself with each passing moment, and nayeon knew him more than she'd expected in three days time.    "going out?"   as she wrapped her scarf around her neck, her brother turned the tv's volume down and looked back at her. "yes, don't sound so surprised. it's a saturday after all." they were supposed to have plans today, her and jaebum, but their parents canceled their trip back to seoul  this morning and refunded their train tickets right away because of something at work so now their weekend was free and their parents would be coming home on monday. the day before nayeon's graduation.    when jaebum heard the news, he flopped down on the couch and never moved an inch for the past two hours. nayeon, however, couldn't keep still and gave up on trying to contact jisoo (there's no doubt he's sleeping the day away and is still currently doing so) so instead, she mustered up the courage to call jeonghan and asked if he wanted to try the new bibimbap place near gwangjang market.   he actually said yes and thirty minutes later, nayeon cannot wait to bustle out the door to meet up with him.    he groaned. "don't sound hurt, you just haven't been out much lately. be home by 8."   "my curfew is 9."   jaebum seems surprised. "oh, so what, you're really planning to come home late tonight? where are you going with? are you going to be out with jisoo?" the tone of his voice is laced with concern, and some force as well.    she stopped herself from biting her lip. or from saying "yes" because that would be lying and though jaebum can be gullible sometimes, nayeon is not deceitful and she has never been a good liar. plus, lying to her brother never crossed her mind for years now.    she lets out a sigh. "i'm -" she was about to apologize, but what for? she hasn't done anything and she won't even be doing anything that will upset jaebum. she's just going out. with a friend. 'is all. "i'll be home as early as i can. i'll call, i'll text of my whereabouts. okay?" she sounds like a fifteen-year-old who needs heavy supervision when in fact, she's a big girl and is about to go to college soon and she can take care of herself better than most eighteen-year-olds these days.    "okay," but jaebum looks and sounds relieved so she says nothing else. "take care, bye."    she's wearing jeans, a turtleneck sweater the color of snow and a coat the shade of night over it all. her sneakers squeak against the pavement and when she rounds the corner, she's surprised to see jeonghan.    they almost bumped into each other if not for both of their quick reflexes. she stops on her heels and he pauses mid step. they both smile.    "i thought we were meeting at the dvd store?"   he shrugged. "i wanted to pick you up myself because i couldn't wait."    she tries hard to not to blush at his chosen words. "last time," they walk side by side and immediately fall into step. nayeon leads the way. "you mentioned something about bibimbap being your one of your cravings these days, then i passed by gwangju market yesterday and saw the posters and the restaurant opening up and thought you wanted to try it? my brother doesn't like eating out and jisoo... i don't know, i kind of think he's hibernating this weekend. best not disturb him."   jeonghan laughs, and every time he does so, she's reminded of chimes ringing in the summer breeze. the sound is so melodic to her ears, it's almost ridiculous. "we're walking? by the time we get there, the sun will have set."   "and it'll be the perfect time to eat dinner. let's go."    it's still early, and jeonghan was almost right. by the time they arrived in front of the restaurant, the sun was only beginning to set. he opened the door for her and the smell of spices and oil on stove filled her nostrils. luckily, the place wasn't as full as she expected. jeonghan picked a table for two at the far end corner of the room, an area where the hanging fluorescent lights of the place didn't quite touch. it was somewhat secluded and private, a nice choice.    nayeon took off her coat and before she could push back her chair, jeonghan did it for her. "you're too kind." she said, sitting down with a smile. he just smiles back at her and takes his seat.   a waitress comes and hands them a menu. nayeon takes it but remembers something. she looks at jeonghan expectantly.    sure enough, he waves it away and places his chin on top of his hand. "do you have a house specialty here?" he asks, his speech formal yet his tone light.    the waitress has obviously fallen for the looks and charms of yoon jeonghan. she stutters, says yes three times and tells him what they have for today's specials.    "they sound nice, don't you think nayeon?" he says, smiling her way. though he doesn't wait for her to answer. he turns back to the waitress and smiles widely. "we'll have two of your house special, one iced tea with lots of ice and one vanilla coke. thank you."   the waitress, flustered, takes the menu while nodding enthusiastically to jeonghan's order and bows before walking away. nayeon remembers the last two times they ate together. but the first time, they didn't really eat, they drank bubble tea and milk tea and nayeon wasn't really sure what to order so jeonghan took care of it and now she had a new favorite milk tea flavor; strawberry almond.    the second time was last week, when nayeon was hungry and jeonghan took her to the nearest food shack. she didn't even get to skim the menu but jeonghan was already ordering for the both of them. no matter, she was full by the end of the meal and wanted to try another platter of their fries.    with food, she could trust him. and this made her smile.    "which one of the drinks was mine?"   "iced tea with lots of ice because you," he subtly points a finger at her. "are a growing girl and coke is bad for you."   "you should've just ordered iced tea for yourself too then,"   "i happened to be craving coke tonight." he said, smiling a little. he was always smiling. a little, widely, softly, charmingly - always. she liked that. "and don't worry, i seldom drink softdrinks. i'm making an exception tonight. just tonight."   she smiles too, just because his own is quite contagious. "why?"   "well," he tilts his head a little. "i want to enjoy tonight. so i need to let go of all rules and restrictions and just be free. can you do that with me nayeon? let go and just be free? if only for tonight?"   his words were suggestions, not questions. and here she thought, she was the one with the plans tonight, she was the one who dragged him out to spend time with her again. but maybe she wasn't, maybe he was. maybe he had the fun plans and awesome ideas tonight. and maybe that was okay, because she sure was okay with that thought.    "sure."   his smile is wider, more genuine, more sincere; as if he is really happy with that one word she uttered. "great. i'm looking forward to your cooperation with me tonight."   "i can let go of all the restrictions except one," she began shyly. "my brother, i've told you he's somewhat protective and i usually don't go out on weekends and so he wants me home early. like 8:30-ish?"    jeonghan's face is one of deep understanding. "of course. if i had a sister i'd do the same thing." he checks his watch and nayeon does the same. 6:09. "there's plenty of time. i'll get you home early."   "thank you." she bows her head a little. she doesn't why she does it, but it's nice to know he even respects jaebum's wishes. "the night is still young so i'm looking forward to it."                   
seulgi is just as dazzling as the night he saw her in that crimson colored dress he even zipped up for her. she knocked on the door and let herself in and told him she had nothing to do and she was so bored for someone so free and availale on a saturday night.   jaebum's palms were sweating when she sat down on the couch in the living room. he should've cleaned up a little, but he was feeling too lazy he couldn't even move his up a little to fart.