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24.

I follow him around like a puppy tailing its owner, watching him placing the eggs tray into the trolley then continue to push it down the aisle, his eyes are wandering to other shelves searching for the other stuff he plans to buy. I never think this simple daily or weekly thing could become something nice to do when you have someone special to do it with.

“You know what, Jongdae?” For a second, he glances at me with one brow lifted before turning his head again towards the shelves on his other side, searching for something whilst keeping his lips sealed shut. “If you actually tell me what you are planning to have, maybe I could actually help you to find stuff. Perhaps by doing that, we could save some time.”

But there are no words I received in reply, as if I was talking to the packs of flour here on my left.

I skip around to the front, blocking his way and tilts, “You’ve been rather quiet these days.”

“Really?” He lifts a brow, lazily answering whilst having his eyes on the flour packet in his hand. The man hums for a second then teasingly provokes, “Maybe because you’ve been fairly loud these days…?”

“Say that again if you dare.”

Seeing the way I glare at him in annoyance and disbelief, a supressed chuckle comes out from his mouth before he leans in and casually on top of my head. “You can always act anyway you want, noona. And that’s fine.”

“But I don’t think you are.”

I find myself pouting as those words blurt out, again earning a series of chuckles from the other. But then after a few pats on my shoulder as a sign of reassurance, he moves aside along with the cart, moving away from me.

On moments like this, Jongdae had me thinking; whether is it just me or he has been quite confusing these days.

I used to have him sticking around me all the time with that annoyingly adorable chatty mouth of his. Also him radiating the sun rays through his bright beam, eyes forming crescent or maybe his especially visible Adam’s apple moving up and down along with his loud hearty laugh. Seeing his shy, supressed chuckles with his lips pursing to each other as I joke around has turned into a routine for me.

However now I feel like it reciprocated in some ways – I find myself freely expressing my feelings in front of this man and he is doing it otherwise.

Somehow Jongdae seems distant and though he still acts normally like always around me – I just know. I don’t remember since when it has started but the energy is simply different nowadays.

But I don’t want to force anything on him, a big half in me find the needs to at least give that man time for himself. Perhaps he has something in his mind that he could not share with me, maybe he isn’t ready for that – which is why I pretend like I didn’t see the difference in his tone today and also his gaze which clearly is veiling something – however I couldn’t help but to get the blues from it.

I don’t know why I feel that way, exactly.

Or maybe I avoid to acknowledge that reason for I am a little scared that my deduction was right.

My steps halt, leaving Jongdae to lead the way as I quietly watch his back. Somehow my mind wanders by itself, growing the gloom deep inside me before it strangely leads my feet to take myself towards the back by one or two slow and hesitant steps – and the pace hasten by each seconds, bringing me far-off from him.

“Teacher Kim!”

The unfamiliar voice calling from behind manages to gain Jongdae’s attention at last, leading him to turn his head towards the direction – encountering a face he met a few times before and a smile rises as he sees one from the other. The former squints for a second, trying to recall the name of the latter then guesses, “Wait, you’re…”

“Do you want to guess it or should I tell you?”

Jongdae scoffs then sheepishly smiles, scratching the back of his head, “Maybe you should tell me.”

“Kim Hyeri, Class 3A.”

“Haneul’s classmate, right? You showed me your portfolio last time, the comic strips, specifically.”

“That’s right,” the pair of Hyeri’s eyes widen with amusement whilst her heart swells in adoration, “So you remember me…!”

She finds her face flushed at the moment – she could almost hear some music playing in her mind as her eyes exploring the former’s face, at the same time hoping that he won’t realize. This kind of moment is important for her as it could be the hot topic to be told among her friends later.

Even only by the thought of sharing the story to them and fangirling over it could already fills her spirit with excitement.

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