Chapter 05:

*.☽.*

If there was one thing that I had never imagined to happen to me, it would be this. Walking casually with a celebrity.

The first few minutes of the hike were quiet. I was normally shy around people and being with someone as famous as him was a whole new level.

I made sure to avoid any eye contact. I had to be careful that I wouldn't be gawking at him and trip myself along the way because that would be the next level of embarrassment as well. 

"How did you know this place?" I heard him ask, breaking the ice.

"My mom used to take me and my sister here when we were younger," I replied without looking at him and concentrating on my steps instead.

"Before you moved to Australia right?"

I nodded, amazed by the thought that he still remembered.

"You remembered?" I couldn't help but ask. "That I'm from Australia, I mean."

"Yeah." He replied briefly. "I remember what I want to remember I guess." He went on, ending his remark with a small smile.

Wow, he certainly knows how to carry conversations like this. I, on the other hand, could only turn away to hide the amusement in my face. 

"This place used to be famous, a lot of people went here," I told him, trying to get over his previous remark. "I remembered greeting a lot of hikers along the way. It was what we considered an ultimate healing place..." I trailed off feeling nostalgic and a little bit sad about what the place had become. "It's way too different now."

"Too bad, I wasn't able to see how it was before." He replied.  

"Yeah...but how about you?" I asked causing him to glance at me. "I mean, I don't understand what you're doing in this town. And of all places, the old hiking place."

"Well, a friend of mine used to live here." He answered briefly. "Before I got scouted by my agency a few years ago, we used to come up here a lot. But it wasn't so famous anymore when I first got here."

"So does your friend still live here?"

"Not anymore. He moved to the US. He works there now."

"And you still come here because?"

I heard him take a deep breath and I kind of got the feeling that I must be going overboard. 

"I hope I am not prying too much." I got worried. "You don't have to answer that question if you don't want to," I told him defensively. 

He chuckled, his eyes lingered on mine for a second. 

"Can I ask you a favor...Haewon?" He trailed off.

It still feels weird hearing him mention my name.

"If you don't mind, of course." 

"What is it?" 

"Well, it's uhm..." He made sure to meet my eyes before he hesitantly smiled at me. "Will you please relax around me?" He said. 

"Hah, that's not an easy one," I answered briefly. 

"Ah, is it too much to ask?"

I sensed how much effort he was exerting to be friendly and make the situation comfortable between us so I smiled at him.

"I'll try my very best," I told him and I got a wide smile plastered on his face as a reply. "I'll try to forget that your popularity is out of this world..." I went on, unable to stop myself from smiling more.

He nodded as he let out a small laugh at what I just said. 

"Out of this world? I'm afraid that's a bit of exaggeration..."

"You know it's not." I insisted, feeling a bit comfortable now.

We both chuckled as we made eye contact. 

"I still come here because it's peaceful here." He stated, answering my previous question. "Away from the prying eyes of the public. I mean, I love what I do...it's just that you know, you gotta breathe and stay from all the frenzy from time to time. So, I always make sure to find my way up here when I am free. To keep my sanity in check." 

"You must be very busy," I commented. 

"Busy is a good thing for my profession." He replied. 

I just threw him an unsure look since I didn't quite know how to respond to his last statement. 

*.☽.*

We continued to hike until we reached the top spot. The sun would be setting soon and the sky was getting ready for it. Pink, orange, and yellow colors filled most parts of the sky turning it into a marvelous canvas. 

It was indeed a perfect sunset afternoon. 

"It's beautiful up here." I couldn't help but admire the view. 

I inhaled the fresh air with my eyes closed, making sure I get the most out of this moment. I concentrated on the sound being offered by my surroundings. The wind, the rustling of the leaves of the trees, and the birds. The kind of solace I only get to experience up here.

I didn't hear any response from him which made me wonder. I opened my eyes and looked in his direction only to find out that he was already looking at me.

I suddenly got so conscious. I knew I needed to say something before my face turns into a strawberry again. 

"Do I still have something on my face?" I asked, hesitantly lifting my hand to wipe my face.

He laughed briefly as he shook his head sideways.

"You're right." He nodded. "It's beautiful." He paused, his lips stretching into a small upward curve. "Very beautiful." He added, his eyes on me before he turned his attention to the sky stretched in front of us. 

If he were just any ordinary man, I'd think that he was asking me to read between the lines. However, he wasn't. It felt wrong for me to even think about anything. 

I watched him as he removed his cap, spread his hands sideways, and took a deep breath with his eyes closed. 

"I like this." He muttered. "I wish I could take this home with me."

"It won't fit in your car, you know," I replied smiling. 

He must have been surprised by my attempt to be funny. He opened his eyes and immediately turned to me. 

"That's a really good way to spoil this moment, you know." He sighed dramatically. "Why do you have to do that?"

He pouted as if trying to look hurt as he exhaled sharply.

I knew he was pretending because it looked fake. I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Now, I got to experience his humor firsthand.

"You're so funny," I said as I continued laughing at him.

He looked so cute even now as his eyebrows furrowed. 

"Yeah, I've been told many times." He replied proudly with a wide smile on his face. "I'm glad I was able to make you laugh." He added as he wore his cap again. 

I was aware that he had his eyes on me while I tried to stop laughing.

"This makes me want to make you laugh more." He said, his voice just above a whisper.

"What?" I asked, u