CHAPTER 9: Magic

“Just. Go. Home. Soon."

"Home?" Hanna was having difficulty to hear what Minhyun saying, so she asked Namjoo. "What is he talking? I can't hear it clearly."

"The weather's not good so it might affect the signal." Namjoo replied.

With that, Hanna told Minhyun . "Minhyun ah, the signal isn't good, I'll call you back later. Bye."

Namjoo was surprised. "You hung up the phone?"

Hanna nodded. "Yeah, let's just go back, Namjoo ya.. Minhyun is start nagging."

"Seems like he really worried about you."

"Of course, he's naggier than my mom."

Listened to what Hanna saying, Namjoo could only chuckle.

Then they approached the leader unnie of the fan club and excused to go home. They needed to ride the bus from the drama set to Suwon station, but the bus didn’t coming. They had to wait for around an hour until there was a bus that showed up. Once they reached the station they already missed the train and needed to wait for the next schedule. They just reached Seoul around 09.30 p.m. and directly separated by taking a different bus route.

On the way home, Hanna was looking outside the window. It was snowing heavily. Her mind was suddenly wandering what the other would be doing. Dongho might already be sleeping right now, Minki might spending the night chatting with his mom while drinking warm tea, and Minhyun might be laying on his warm bed while reading comic. But Jonghyun might still be working this time. Hanna sighed. Her heart was always aches when thinking how hard Jonghyun life is. Her melancholy times was distracted when her stomach growling. She just realized that she hasn’t had a dinner yet.

Suddenly Hanna got an idea to stop by the restaurant where Jonghyun worked. She could fulfill her hunger of foods plus she could see Jonghyun there. It’s like buy one get one special item. Hanna found herself smiling by her own idea.

Reaching Il Mondo restaurant, the place where Jonghyun worked, Hanna looked at the white hanging board on the door that signed it was still open. She went in and searched for Jonghyun.

Knowing there was a guest coming to the restaurant, the waiter directly made a greeting. "Good evening, Welcome to Il Mondo." But then Jonghyun realized, "Oh, Hanna ya?"

Hanna was smiling as she approached Jonghyun. "Anyeong.. Can I still order the menu now?"

"It passed the last order time.” Jonghyun answered as he moved closer to Hanna to whisper, “But I'll try to talk to the Chef.."

Didn’t want to trouble him, Hanna refused. "Ah, no need."

"It's okay..” Jonghyun assured her then he pulled the chair and said, “Please sit here..”

Jonghyun swung his hand to invite Hanna to sit. And his formal move made Hanna blush. She felt like Jonghyun treated her like a queen.

“Here's the menu." Jonghyun politely gave it to Hanna.

Hanna took a look and there were many type of menu but she only said, "I just order the easiest to cook."

"Then it's Aglio O lio." Jonghyun recommended.

"Yes, I order that and a warm tea, please.." Hanna said as she gave the book menu back to Jonghyun.

Jonghyun nodded and said, "Please wait for a moment. Your order will be here shortly."

Mused by Jonghyun’s formality, Hanna could only laugh.

Then she observed how Jonghyun went to the open kitchen and talked to one of the Chefs. Surprisingly, that Chef glanced at Hanna, and it made Hanna directly stand up and bow. It looked like that Chef ordered the other Chef to make the menu Hanna’s ordered, and went out the kitchen. He looked so cold and unfriendly, and that made Hanna thought she was troubling Jonghyun. But the other Chef who has been ordered by the previous Chef looked so friendly. He even looked at Hanna and smiled. Hanna could only smile back and bow.

Hanna’s attention then moved to Jonghyun who was giving her an assuring smile that he has succeeded to persuade the Chefs. Jonghyun looked handsome as always. But with a set of white long-sleeved shirt and black trouser, he looked more mature.

Hanna’s eyes followed Jonghyun. He cleaned the table in the corner diligently. Jonghyun is someone who will give his 100% effort in everything he does. So Hanna found him the most attractive when he was focus on working. Hanna couldn’t help but to make an admiring smile seeing Jonghyun working. But then she directly changed her facial expression when Jonghyun caught her eyes. She could only hide her face embarrassedly.

When she looked up, Jonghyun wasn’t there anymore. She looked around and just realized that the restaurant was nearly empty. There was only a customer who hasn’t finished eating.  And it made Hanna feeling regret again, what if her order prolong Jonghyun’s working time.

Her thought was then distracted by Jonghyun’s voice. “Here’s your menu..”

He set on the table, a plate of oily spaghetti with a parsley on top of it as the garnish. "They give an extra portion for you."

That information surprised Hanna. "Ah you don't need to do that."

And if that wasn’t enough, Jonghyun even gave her a ginger tea instead of a regular warm tea. “Here’s ginger tea for you.”

“Jonghyun ah—“

Jonghyun who knew that Hanna wanted to refuse it, cut her words. “It’s okay, Hanna.. It’s perfect to drink in this cold night. The zingeron helps to make your body warmer.”

Listened to the scientific explanation Jonghyun giving, made Hanna chuckle. “Okay, thank you, Jonghyun ah..’

“You’re welcome..” With that, Jonghyun let Hanna to eat and he went back to work.

-00-

Hanna waited Jonghyun to finish his work. She offered a help to clean the restaurant, but Jonghyun didn’t let her. He told Hanna that she is the guest and she should act like a guest. That was why Hanna could only sit silently when Jonghyun finishing his work.

Finished with his work and changed his clothes, Jonghyun approached Hanna and said, “Sorry for waiting so long..”

“Ah, no problem..” Hanna smiled.

Seeing Hanna smiled brightly, Jonghyun co-worker asked, "Jonghyun ah, is she your girlfriend?"

Hanna was surprised by that question. She was afraid with Jonghyun’s reaction by that question. But turned out, Jonghyun only laughed it off.

It was surprisingly made Hanna happy. Jonghyun could have directly say no or tell his coworker that they are just friends, but instead he laughed softly as he looked down like he was embarrassed.

Seeing that, Hanna couldn’t help but to blush.

After sending goodbye to his co-workers, Jonghyun walked with Hanna to the bus stop. They walked in silent for a moment before Hanna started the conversation.

"It's really cold tonight.."

Jonghyun nodded. "It's good that you decide to stop by the restaurant. At least you feel warmer right?"

"Yeah.."

"But.. you shouldn't go home this late night, Hanna ya..” Jonghyun turned to look at Hanna. “It's not good for a girl to walk by herself this late."

Listened to Jonghyun’s