Two
Dimples and Angel CakeFor almost a week, Namjoon didn't show up. Lia knew it was really petty of her, but a small fear that he had run off because he didn't want to pay her back crept in the back of her mind. It was so stupid, she knew. Not everything was about her, she scolded herself. He was probably busy, and paying back a couple of dollars to some college kid was most likely the least of his worries. It was just a couple of dollars, after all. She really hoped no one ever had the ability to read minds.... she would never be able to show her face in publc if someone took a look at all the embarrassing things she thought, including this one.
When Namjoon showed up at the cafe at last, a big part of her just wanted to go hide somewhere in shame for doubting his honesty over a measely couple of dollars. Seriously, why was she like this?
He spotted her sitting, in th back of the cafe and came right towards her. "Hey, Lia! How have you been?"
Stressed over a couple of dollars and beating myself up for being stressed about such a stupid thing, her mind said. Of coursse, she would never tell him that, and said, "I've been doing great, Namjoon! How about you?"
"Oh, I had a really busy week," he said. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to come earlier, it's been bothering me a lot."
"That's ok!"
"I hope you didn't think I ran off because I didnt want to pay you back."
Lia's stomach flipped. H-how did he know?....
He laughed awkwardly, and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Sorry, um, I'm really bad with jokes..."
Oh! So it was a joke! Relieved, Lia forced her tone to sound light as she said, "As a matter of fact, I totally did think you ran off with the money."
"Maybe I'm a cafe thief," he said, his voice low and dramatic. "Maybe I pretend to be a hopeless nice guy in need, to get people to pay for me and I run off."
Lia laughed, and his dimples appeared.
"Well sorry to disappoint you." He took out his wallet. "But I'm going to pay you back, I'm not really a cafe thief."
"Aw damn, and here I had been hoping to be a cafe thief too!"
Namjoon counted out the money and handed the bills to her.
"Thanks," she said, opening her backpack on the chair next to her to put the money away.
"Aren't you going to count them?" he said.
"I don't really see the need to-"
"You should always count bills," he said. "That way you'll know if youve been cheated or not."
Even though Lia was very sure Namjoon wouldn't cheat her out of a few dollars, she did as she was told. "All here!"
"Ok good, now I can relax since I've paid my debt." He held up a thick book.
Lia nodded. "Ok then! Thanks."
"No, thank you for helping me out that day." Dimples appearing again, Namjoon gave her a tiny wave and went to the counter to get coffee, and settled down at a table. He opened his book, and began to read. It was only then that Lia realized she had been watching him – gosh, she better stop or else she'd be a creep!
This time, she was the one who left the cafe before him, and she couldn't help but glance at him. He was looking at her too, and they both waved simultaneously. Lia went home feeling light and kind of happy – she feels like she made a new friend!
"He has kind eyes and a nice voice," she mumbled later, when she was lying on the couch with the TV playing, and her old, blue bunny plushie in her arms. "I think he's nice... he's really tall and he likes to read..."
Burying her face in the soft, fuzzy plushie, she curled up like a cat and fell asleep, the TV still on.
***
Every time Lia saw Namjoon at the cafe, she liked him a little more. She liked the small conversations they had before going to their respective tables and reading, and waving to each other before leaving. He came twice a week now, if not thrice. Every time, they both became a little more comfortable with each other, a little less shy.
Nearly a month after their first conversation, Namjoon showed up wearing glasses. And yes, Lia thought he looked really good in them, but was too shy to say anything. Especially because she hadn't noticed him coming in, and couldn't hide her silly-looking notebook without looking weird.
"What are you reading?" Namjoon asked, pushing his black-framed glasses.
"Oh... I'm studying," Lia explained, hoping that he wouldn't see the dragonfly stickers on the cover her notebook. She had bought the stickers last week, and she might have gone a little over-board with sticking them on this notebook. "I'm studying business and marketing."
"I see."
Not wanting the conversation to end, and to satisfy her own curiosity, she asked, "Are you a university student?" They hadn't really asked questions like that before, she realized.
Namjoon shook his head. "Nope. I already graduated and now I'm a designer for a furniture co
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