Genre: Angst, Drama, Fluff, Angst

Summary: One question has been stuck in Hyewon’s mind ever since.

“I wonder what would happened if you met me first?”

Word Count: 10366

Hashtag: #IntoTheKangBiVerse_IfYouMetMeFirst

 

If You Met Me First

 

Walking aimlessly on the sea of bookshelves, Hyewon can’t help but click her tongue in annoyance. 

 

30 minutes

 

It's been 30 minutes since she starts searching for a specific book she’s been dying to buy. But seems like faith is playing around since she is having difficulty finding it as of the moment. Already on the verge of surrendering, she turns around but immediately turns back as the specific genre section immediately catches her attention. With a grin on her lips, the girl wearing a white knitted turtleneck long sleeves and black skinny jeans matching her dirty white chucks jogs towards the area. 

 

“Here you are” she cheerfully celebrated as she saw the lone book in the corner. She excitedly reached out for the book but her celebration immediately came to halt as she saw the book being snatched in front of her eyes and hands. Yelping in surprise and ready to pounce at the book snatcher, Hyewon immediately gave the other girl the most deadly glare she can master.

 

“Oops, you’re late for-” the book snatcher started as she looked at her gold wristwatch seemingly counting the seconds, “- 2 seconds”, she continued before winking at Hyewon and started to walk away

 

Hyewon can only look at the retreating figure of the other girl. She doesn’t know why but she was speechless, don’t misinterpret her, she was speechless on the shamelessness the girl radiated and not because she is extremely gorgeous, definitely not because she is drop dead gorgeous that even Aphrodite will be jealous of how perfect she is and certainly not because of her wink, oh that wink, that deadly wink that make Hyewon’s breath hitched for a millisecond. 

 

Snapping back to reality from her absurd imagination, Hyewon immediately checked the shelf once again and realized that the snatched book was the last in stock.

 

“Damn it” she muttered in annoyance, she grumbled under her breath and cursed in all language she knew before her mind darted once again on the gorgeous girl who stole the book. Having the urge to fight for her right, she skidded fastly towards where the girl was walking and grabbed her hands making her stop.

 

“It was mine first” Hyewon reasoned out while pointing at the book on the girl’s free hand

 

“I get it first” with a solemn voice, the snatcher reasoned out

 

Hyewon stares at the snatcher, she got this short blonde hair perfectly suited to her beautiful face. The way her eyebrows lift up seemingly challenging Hyewon coupled up with that smug smile on her lips makes Hyewon’s knees quiver.

 

Damn, she’s gorgeous --- Hyewon thought which she immediately shakes off as she try to focus on the damn book she wants

 

“I was there first” Hyewon pointed out

 

“But slow enough to get the book” the blonde gorgeous girl smirks before pulling her arms away from Hyewon’s hold and turning around giving the latter a chance to whiff her hair that smells like lavender, “And oh! Better luck next time gorgeous” the blonde continued while waving the book in the air, a smirk is displayed on her face as she leaves a groaning Hyewon in the middle of the bookstore

 

======================================================

 

A tired sigh came out from Hyewon’s mouth before putting her phone back on her pocket. With an exaggerated grunt, she plopped her on the vacant seat in the middle of the mall while watching passersby aimlessly walking around the massive Mall ground. It’s been 3 days since she was searching for that damn book and to no avail and luck, it’s almost sold out. And when God finally granted her wish yesterday some gorgeous vixen just snatched her opportunity away. Remembering the scene yesterday, Hyewon can just stomp her feet angrily and huff in annoyance.

 

“Yah”

 

Her peaceful silence was broken when someone called her attention. Looking left and right, Hyewon can only furrow her brows in confusion. The voice is somewhat unfamiliar but with a hint of familiariness too.

 

“At your back” Looking behind her, the somewhat brownish haired girl was met with a grinning figure of the book snatcher from yesterday. 

 

“What do you w-” She started but was cut off when the blonde pounced and engulfed her in a tight hug, her arms are now encircled on Hyewon’s neck

 

“Baby, I thought you’ll ditch me." The blonde started rather loudly and dramatically, Hyewon on the other hand was stood frozen, she didn't know what she’ll do, she was currently enclosed in such tight hug and people are starting to look at them

 

“What are y-”

 

And once again the taller girl was cut off but now with a harsh whisper coming from the short girl that is  squeezing the life out of her, “Just prolly ride please, it will benefit both of us”

 

Before Hyewon can even retort, the other girl already linked their arms and started pulling her along towards a crowded restaurant.

 

“Seriously, are you a part time snatcher?” Hyewon commented as they stopped in front of the restaurant. Hearing the comment, the blonde girl looked at her with a wide smile before nodding

 

“Yes, and my next mission is snatch your heart,” the blonde cheekily answered before hugging Hyewon’s arms and stepping forward, smiling at the confused receptionist of the restaurant. 

 

Damn she’s smooth -- Hyewon thought as she can feel her face heating up, she docked down her head afraid that the cheeky blonde will see her reddening face

 

“Table for 2 please, we’re a couple by the way” the blonde proudly stated while scooting closer towards the speechless Hyewon who is looking questioningly at her

 

“Couple?” Hyewon whispered and luckily the receptionist is to absorb on typing on her computer to hear Hyewon’s question

 

“They got a 75% discount for couples since Christmas is coming, I don’t know why though but oh well it’s a discount we need to grab it! That’s why I told you that it will benefit both of us” the blonde whispered back, the huge smile is still present on her beautiful face

 

Hyewon wanted to turn back down the ridiculous offer but the foodie and irrational side of her brain wins, I mean the blonde is clearly right, who doesn't want a discount when it comes to food by the way. 

 

Following the receptionist as she led the two of them on a table for two people, Hyewon can only grimace as she looks at the blonde in her front who is grinning triumphantly. Hyewon doesn't want to admit it but the blonde girl is seriously attractive, mesmerizing in fact. The grace she holds is overflowing as if she is wearing a gown rather than a light brown trench coat with a white shirt underneath and blue jeans paired with a white doll shoes. 

 

“You and me must be too convincing as a couple” She heard the blonde said 

 

“I still don’t agree with this” Hyewon countered back while trying to express a bored expression on her face

 

“You may not, but you can’t convince me that you don’t like the discount” the grinning woman jokingly countered back as she laughs softly and oh dear for god-sake that laugh is just so pleasant in ears

 

How is her laugh perfect too?-- Hyewon thought.

 

“That’s worth it” Hyewon nods while putting her utensils down on the table, she can’t deny it, the lunch they had is one of the best she ever had for a while. She doesn't want to admit but the ambiance, atmosphere and companion was one of the factors which makes it more perfect.

 

“Yeah it is” 

 

“Anyways, I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Kwon Eunbi by the way, how about you gorgeous?” The girl named Eunbi introduces as she lent her hand for Hyewon to shake

 

“Hyewon, Kang Hyewon” she shortly answers accepting the offered hands

 

“I am sorry about the incident yesterday by the way” Eunbi sheepishly brought up making Hyewon to mentally facepalm herself as she forgot how the other girl just nonchalantly snatch the book she wanted

 

And once again silence engulfed the two, thankfully it was never the awkward one. Eunbi who was looking at the brown haired girl reached out for her bag and started fetching out something. Hyewon watched as the blonde slowly slid the thing towards her and looked questioning at her.

 

“Get it” Eunbi offered, her eyes are darted towards Hyewon own orbs 

 

“But that’s yours”

 

“Yes, but see it as a payment for riding my act today” Eunbi insist while stopping Hyewon who is sliding the book back on her side

 

“Bu-” Hyewon started but stop as she watched Eunbi stopping her with her hands

 

“No buts, get it, I have a spare one in my house”

 

The statement makes Hyewon halt.

 

“Spare one?” she cleared out making Eunbi to smile and nod, “If you’ve got a spare one,why did you snatch the book from me yesterday then?” she continued, annoyance is already laced on her voice

 

“Why not?” the blonde challenged as she crossed her arms on her chest and leaned back on her chair enjoying the beautiful face of Hyewon being annoyed

 

Hyewon looks at the blonde incredulously, she doesn't know what she wants to say but she sure knows that she is annoyed beyond belief right now. 

 

“Okay, chill. I was just joking." Eunbi laughs as she can't bear the weight of the stare the brown haired girl is giving at her, “My friend gave me another copy yesterday too, okay? So I got a spare one” Eunbi cleared

 

Hyewon released a sigh of relief as she got the book, a smile is now plastered on her face. Eunbi who was looking intently at her also released a small smile adoring the beautiful girl.

 

“So am I paid now?” Eunbi asked out making Hyewon chuckle in answer

 

“I’ve been searching for a while on this book already, thank you by the way” Hyewon thanked as Eunbi waved her hands while saying it was okay and it was her fault that Hyewon didn't manage to buy the book yesterday too.

 

======================================================

 

“Miracle happened?” Hyewon looks up from her office desk as she hears an oh so familiar voice coming from her side. Smiling at the newly arrived girl, Hyewon immediately glide her office chair towards the opposite cubicle

 

“I’ve got the book, Chaeyeon-ah” she excitedly informs

 

“Good for you then, is that why you’re so glowing today?” the newcomer ask while tidying her desk

 

“You can say so” Hyewon dreamily retorted as she fetched out her vibrating phone out of her jeans and soon after, her smile went huger than earlier when she saw the sender of the message but it was quickly replaced with a frown when she read the contents of the sms

 

“What’s the matter?” Chaeyeon asked when she noticed the quick change of mood coming from her brown haired friend. Peeking on the phone, she can also shake her head in dismay when she read the message

 

“Nothing” Hyewon quickly answered while locking her phone rushly but was greeted by Chaeyeon's scowled and disappointed face

 

Hyewon knows that Chaeyeon managed to read the message already yet here she is trying to deny it. The brown haired girl just sighed in defeat as she leaned her back on the chair, silence eats the two with Chaeyeon looking worriedly at her clearly distressed friend.

 

“It’s getting toxic” Chaeyeon said or rather commented 

 

“It will be fine” Hyewon whispered but she knows in herself it will need a long way and time for everything to be fine, “I just need air Chaeyeonnie, tell Yena if she arrives to not trash my desk or I will slit her neck, okay?” she continued jokingly yet Chaeyeon didn’t buy or smile but instead she looked at her friend’s retreating back worriedly

 

“We know it’s nowhere getting fine," Chaeyeon whispered in the air, a huge sigh came out from after

 

Air breeze immediately greeted Hyewon as soon as she stepped inside the company's Roofdeck. It’s always been Hyewon’s safe haven every time she needs some time out or fresh air. With a nice overlooking view of the city, the serene breeze of air and the peacefulness it emits, you will surely relax and will be given time to think without worrying about anything.

 

Hyewon always wanted everything to be perfect, call her the perfectionist or something but it always been like that. She wanted everything to be perfectly done even if it will cost her to waste time or money. But she doesn't know why despite the efforts she exerts to make their relationship grow it’s still not enough. It’s been 5 years already yet nothing is going the way Hyewon wanted. She didn't feel happy nor loved despite the long time they have managed to be together. She always envies her friend's love life. She always asks herself why she can’t be happy like how Chaeyeon is with Sakura or be clingy like Yena and Yuri when she’s together with him.

 

Him

 

Lee Hangyul

 

Every girl’s dream guy, that perfect embodiment of a perfect lover: Handsome, caring, rich and ambitious yet Hyewon still can feel that something was missing. She can’t point it out but she knows something is lost, maybe not on Hangyul himself but within Hyewon.

 

“Kang Hyewon?”

 

Hyewon’s train of thoughts breaks when a voice calls out her name, she immediately whipped her head towards the voice in shock, ever since Hyewon hangs in the Roof deck she never encounters anyone coming here.

 

“Eunbi?” she called the newcomer, brows are furrowing in confusion. She looks at the girl from head to toe and notices that she is wearing a women’s coat with a white sleeve inside.

 

“It’s really you” the blonde grin as she took a full step almost closing the gap between her and Hyewon, “Are you by chance working here too?”

 

The question quickly caught Hyewon off guard, she clearly heard the other one say “too” but she set it aside as she nodded her head towards Eunbi who claps her hand in excitement. Hyewon can't help but smile towards the action though, the blonde looks like a child being given some Christmas present by her parents.

 

“That’s awesome, maybe you can accompany me ditching my first day here” Eunbi exclaimed as she snatched Hyewon’s left hand and once again like yesterday she started dragging the brown haired girl with her. Hyewon on the other hand was left with shock as she can't comprehend why Eunbi wants to ditch her first day 

 

“Wait” Hyewon halts, stopping them both from walking, “Ditching? Your work? Are you out of your mind?” Hyewon continuously question, trying to squeeze out her hands from the blonde’s grasp

 

“Why not? Come on, I will die in boredom if I will stay in my office for one whole day” the blonde whines when Hyewon successfully ungrasp their hands 

 

“I can’t sacrifice my work for you” Hyewon reasoned out, “And unless you’re a high official you can’t abandon your work” 

 

With the last comment, Eunbi erupts in a huge smile making Hyewon raise her brows but before she can question the action, Eunbi once again grabbed her left hand and started walking.

 

“Just trust me will you” Eunbi started while looking at the distressed Hyewon at her back, “I won't get you in trouble”

 

Oh well, Hyewon doesn’t want to admit but maybe accompanying the blonde in ditching is one of the best decisions she ever made. The two are currently inside a popular arcade in the nearby mall with a grinning Hyewon riding the toy motorcycle mainly focusing on racing with the others in the tv monitor. You can clearly hear the blonde girl enthusiastically cheering for the brown haired player as she claps her hands or punches the air everytime Hyewon manages to overlap some other players.

 

“OH YEAH” Hyewon exclaimed, a huge smile is present on her face as she faced Eunbi who also mirroring her expression

 

“YOU WON” the blonde shouted before their attention was snatched with the amount of tickets getting out from the ticket slot of the game.

 

“That’s tiring” Hyewon commented as she can feel her adrenaline decreasing, her attention is on Eunbi who is currently counting the tickets Hyewon wins on all the game they did

 

Unknowingly, a small smile creeped into Hyewon, the sight of the woman wearing respectable attire while counting Arcade tickets is worth watching. She continued to stare at Eunbi, patiently waiting for the blonde to finish counting.

 

“Still a hundred away for us to get that Hamster plush on the counter” Eunbi whispered but Hyewon clearly heard her. She looked at the counter and there she saw a medium size Hamtaro plushie smiling at them.

 

“Is that your agenda why you want me to keep playing?” Hyewon commented jokingly, “We know we can just buy something like that”

 

“Buying and winning is different, the satisfaction and meaning of the thing will be gone if we'll just buy it. I want to get it with my hard work” Eunbi declared, her face is full of determination which makes Hyewon laugh a bit

 

“Your Hardwork? Correction it’s my hardwork” 

 

“I still manage to drag you out and make you play all the games, so it’s my hardwork too” the blonde retorted while Hyewon shrug her off because she knows she won't win the argument anyways

 

“So what do you suggest I do to complete your tickets?” Hyewon playfully asked while pointing at the bunch of tickets in Eunbi’s hands

 

The shorter of the two stood up and started to roam her eyes inside the arcade, with a scrunched forehead she carefully studied the games but in the middle of it, a sign caught her attention. A grin erupts on her face making Hyewon to furrow her brow and follow the blonde’s eye line.

 

“Let’s go to Karaoke!” the blonde excitedly exclaim and horror immediately washed over Hyewon’s system

 

“LIKE SWAN SWAN SWAN” Hyewon can only shut her eyes as Eunbi sings-- or rather shout the lyrics on the microphone on her hand. 

 

After a whole 2 minutes of the blonde persuading Hyewon to come along with her in the Karaoke, she managed to drag the brown haired unenthusiastic girl inside the Karaoke Booth with a favor of not letting Hyewon to sing at all. But what the brown haired didn't expect is how eardrum breaking Eunbi is when she is in her wild self.

 

“HYEWON COME ON DANCE! LET”S SWAN SWAN SWAN!” Eunbi exclaimed once again, now pulling the shrunk in the sofa Hyewon to stand up and accompany her to dance

 

Hyewon doesn’t know how it happened and how Eunbi managed to persuade her but yeah, she is currently having the time of her life. With a maracas, on her hands, Hyewon shakes it energetically while shouting the song that is currently playing inside the booth. Eunbi was by her side still singing while jumping up and down matching the beat of the song.

 

“I want that Hamster plush” Eunbi points out as the Arcade attendant nods his head and proceeds to get the medium size plush. Hyewon didn't know how the two of them managed to stay inside the Karaoke booth for an hour but what she’s sure is that they had fun-- she had fun.

 

A smile is seen on her face as she watched Eunbi giggled in delight while hugging the soft material of the plush closed to her. Hyewon can even see some rainbows and colorful flowers Eunbi emits while smiling gleefully on the plush. 

 

Hyewon never feels this ease towards others even to her two best friends-- Yena and Chaeyeon. She never got to experience this kind of freedom to express on anybody but this short blonde haired girl named Eunbi managed to let her loose. She didn't want to admit it but inside the 24 years she lived, this will be the very first time Hyewon experiences this kind of happiness. Happiness that she always dreamed of, imagined and wished that Hangyul could give her.

 

======================================================

 

“Where have you been yesterday? We keep calling you yet it always goes to your voicemail” Yena worriedly asked  as soon as they saw Hyewon entering their office, they even noticed the different glow Hyewon had but they threw it off as soon as worry washed them over.

 

The two were super anxious when Hyewon didn't come back after that time out she had. They even call the boyfriend if he had any clue about her whereabouts but of course the two were just met with disappointment when the guy is also clueless. I mean, what kind of boyfriend are you when even an ounce of worry didn't creep on you when her friends are asking about where your girlfriend is.

 

“I am sorry I was preoccu--” Hyewon was cut off when the Department Manager got all their attention asking for a minute as he wants to introduce the new Executive Manager of the Company and once again Hyewon had her breath caught inside as she watched the familiar short bob hair gracefully strode inside their office, a fierce look is plastered on her usually smiley face.

 

“Eunbi?” Hyewon unconsciously called out, luckily for her, everyone’s attention is at the new Manager

 

“Good day everyone, I’m Kwon Eunbi” the blonde introduced making Hyewon feel dizzy, she didn't even catch up the following words coming out from the blonde as if her mind is blocking all the things that she needs to digest. 

 

Hyewon massaged her nose bridge as soon as the New Executive stepped out. She shouldn't be bothered by it since she knew she didn’t bad mouth the company the two times Her and Eunbi hang out, but an undesirable gut pit of betrayal is currently flowing in Hyewon’s system.

 

Betrayal

 

How did Eunbi betray her in the first place -- Hyewon thought

 

It’s not like the two have a deep relationship to begin with for Eunbi to say that she will be Hyewon’s new boss. Her thought was cut off when the sudden vibration of her phone caught her attention. Peeking towards the device, Hyewon’s irritation was replaced with a smile all of the sudden. Opening the device, Hyewon remembers that Eunbi once again manage to persuade her to exchange numbers yesterday, and today she got the first message the blonde sent out.

 

“I saw how you gawk at me earlier, am I that attractive? Hehehehe” - Kwon Eunbi

 

Hyewon reads and the brown haired girl can even imagine the giggle Eunbi released when she typed that message. With the unusual feeling being thrown out, Hyewon started to type back a reply, and didn't really notice the subconscious smile she wears a while now.

 

Time goes slowly as Eunbi impatiently waits for the time to hit noon already. She is bored as hell, she just wants to go out and spend some time with her new friend rather than being trapped inside the four corner room she called her office. With her head on her plopped hands, her thoughts were immediately drifted towards the brown haired who by chance is just one room away from her as of the moment. 

 

Hyewon 

 

Eunbi wasn't really a believer with Love at first sight, heck she didn't even believe in such thing, but not until she saw the distress looking Hyewon inside the bookstore approximately 3 days ago. She even commented to herself that she looked like a lovestruck fool while staring at her. The unexplainable aura Hyewon emits while she furrows her brows in annoyance is making Eunbi’s poor heart beat faster than usual. So in an impulsive decision, she snatched the book the brown haired girl was so eager to get just for Hyewon to give Eunbi the attention she wanted which was a huge success to be honest. Eunbi didn't regret that despite getting into Hyewon’s bad side, at least she spared her some glance.

 

Eunbi reminiscing stops when her phone alarms indicating that she can now get out inside her jail -- i mean office. With eagerness, the new Executive Manager skips her way out and fastly roams her eyes trying to locate a familiar brown haired girl and seems like God was on her side when she spots Hyewon preoccupied with her phone, beside her are two girls