Irene ended up backing out, leaving the server laughing at her as she made her way out the door.

She chickened out way before she even came near the girl. 

Her nerves got to her when she saw Ms. Charming Stranger impossibly becoming more attractive as she started bitting her lower lip and started ‘reconstructing’ the waffle house into a teepee. It was too much of an adorable scene for her that she gay panicked.

Of course she would chicken out. She has never in her life, even asked someone out. Yes, she was gay since the day she was born, but she had always been the one being asked out or the one being approached to. It didn’t help as well that she was always an introvert, preferring to keep to herself and to stay at home doing laundry or reading when she’s not saving or taking care of animals.

Irene was too embarrassed to tell Joy and Yeri what happened. It wasn’t worth telling anyway, and besides they were leaving soon. What good would it do if she’ll get to know someone then eventually parting ways with them.

Yes, we have the technology now to help us stay connected with our loved ones, but at the end of the day, Irene thought she can’t afford to have one of those ‘relationships’ in her life as of the moment, she needed to focus on her current goal.

When Irene thought that embarrassing incident would be the last of her worries for the day. However, it got much worse.

Joy and Yeri welcomed her with the very bad news that they would not be able to sail anytime soon because of the two mishaps from the boys— Suho and Sehun.

Turns out, they got back to the boat to see what they could do and ended up doing more damage. 

Irene blocked most of the story but the gist was: the top part of the mast broke off, fell right onto the steering wheel causing it to fly away, before directly stabbing and creating a hole on the floor of the cockpit.

“My Dad is going to kill me— NO, ALL OF US, especially you two, if he finds out about this.”, Irene said to them, but mostly towards the two boys.

—————

Okay, so technically no harm done.

The mechanic told them that the sailboat could get fixed within a months time. This was enough to still be within their allotted schedule to take off. Suho and Sehun also promised to not only pay for all the damages done to her Dad’s boat, but to also monitor the progress of fixing the boat.

Irene, Joy, and Yeri got back to working in the Sea Life Park until the time they were ready to set sail.

The two RAs were currently assisting Irene conduct an ultrasound of a pregnant walrus. 

“Hey Irene-unnie.”

“Hmm?”

“How long have we known each other?”

“4 years I guess? Why’d you ask?”

“How come I haven’t seen you going out on a date?”

Irene startled with the question, accidentally choked on air.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m just curious because I’ve never seen you going out on dates before, or be in a relationship since we’ve known each other.”

“Yeri’s right though. Don’t you get lonely?”, Joy joined in, but her remark caused her to get a slap from Yeri.

Irene placed gentle rubs on the belly of the pregnant walrus before signalling Joy to help her straighten up the future-mommy-walrus. 

They were about done for the day and were already cleaning the portable ultrasound equipment and packing up their tools.

Irene started to lead while they were walking back inside her office.

“Honestly, I’ve only ever been in one relationship before and that was still back in high school. I don’t think it was even serious. I dated a few others too during college but it never developed into something deeper. Or it was never worth enough for me to commit.”

“Do I get lonely? I don’t think so.. I’m happy with what I’m doing. Maybe being busy helps?”, Irene let out after having a serious thought about it.

“But, you have fallen in love before, right?”, Yeri continued to ask.

“I- I don’t know… Love.. well, it’s hard to explain if I haven’t really felt it towards someone…”

“Oh my god. Are you seriously telling us you haven’t fallen in love before? Not even once? ‘Ahjumma’, you’re almost 31. Do you plan on growing old alone?”, Joy teased.

The face of the charming stranger suddenly flashed in Irene’s mind.

“You’ve never felt a strong attraction towards someone? It’s like a strong pull towards this person, like an unexplainable feeling of wanting to get to know them. Not even that?”, Yeri added along.

But Irene was way too into her thoughts about this certain person from yesterday.

The way this girl brushed her hair aside. The way the corner of her plump lips and her cute cheeks lifted up when she figured a way to balance the walls of her waffle teepee. 

The way she let out a satisfied hum when she drank her drink. 

The way she adorably chewed even if both of her cheeks were stuffed with waffles.

“Unnie!!”, both Joy and Yeri broke Irene from her thoughts.

Irene shook her head quickly to stop herself from her own musings about this person. 

“Okay. We need to go out TONIGHT. Geez unnie. Your spacing out keeps getting worse as you grow old.”, Yeri teased.

“Yah, Yerim-ah.”

“We’re going to have some fun tonight. No buts and arguing. We’re going to help you get laid.”, Joy added into the teasing.

“YAH. PARK SOOYOUNG!”

—————

The two RAs were just teasing Irene as usual. But they did take her out for a few drinks to atleast break her work-home routine once in a while. Though Joy and Yeri did try to encourage her to talk to few people, but none of them were the least bit of interesting for Irene.

They were just sitting in one of the booths of the bar eating and drinking cocktails.

“So what is your type ‘unnie’?”, Joy asked.

“I thought we’re already done instigating my nonexistent love life?”, Irene complained while placing a hand on her chin.

The more it’s being brought up, the more she becomes aware of how lonely she is or how she wants it.

“Oh, just tell us. Then maybe after we return from our project then this would be Joy and I’s next one— to find you a girlfriend.”

Joy laughed at Yeri’s suggestion while Irene just sighed. She appreciates the gesture but these two RAs are just too mischievous for her and their own good sometimes.

“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.”

“Hmm. How about you show us photos of some of the girls you’ve dated before? This so we’ll know at least your type in terms of looks and at least their styles.”, Yeri suggested.

“Hey, that’s a good idea. Tell us their names and we’ll stalk ‘em now— well, for research purposes.”, Joy jokingly agreed with Yeri.

Irene knew that they wouldn’t really stop until they get what they want. And she thought that this would be harmless. She remembered going out on a date with 2 girls during college, plus her one and only ex during her senior year in high school.

“Woah. These women are all hot ‘unnie’!”, Yeri remarked.

“I’m pleasantly surprised and proud at the same time… Wait though, I’m seeing a pattern!”, Joy remarked.

“What pattern?”, Irene and Yeri said at the same time.

“Hmm, so you do have a type after all.”, Joy commented more to herself.

“Oh. Ooh! I get what you mean unnie!”, Yeri finally got Joy’s point.

“You like the ‘girl crush’ type!”, Joy finally laid down.

“Huh? I don’t get it.”, Irene couldn’t help but ask.

“You like your girls tall, fit, y, but with side of swag.”, Joy further added while offering a high-five towards Yeri.

“Yeah. Now step 1 of our research is complete. Next would be finding possible prospects. Thanks for this ‘unnie’.”, Yeri said.

“Okaaay. Well, time to go home! We still have work tomorrow.”, Irene quickly concluded. She wanted to get this over with and just go home to sleep on her bed.

—————

Irene couldn’t help but think about what Joy and Yeri said. It would always be a thought through the remainder of the week every time she would be idle.

Of course the image of Ms. Charming Stranger comes with those thoughts as well.

—————

When the weekend came, instead of jumping into her usual routine of preparing herself some breakfast and doing her laundry first thing in the morning Irene spontaneously decided to go to the Huluhulu ‘Ula’ula Cafe instead.

The same wafting smell of bacon, eggs, and waffles welcomed her as she step foot inside the place.

Even before she got there, she came up with a plan of ordering herself a full breakfast spread. She’ll sit in one of the booths and make the most out of eating out. Going out of her house would be a good change for her as she remembered Joy and Yeri saying ‘being spontaneous is the essence of life!’. Plus their hot cocoa was really good.

But who was Irene kidding, she just wanted to see  Ms. Charming Stranger again that’s why she went to that same diner. She even stealthily planned on sitting right next to the booth where remembered Ms. Charming Stranger was sitting at. At least, Irene was hoping hard that she would see her again. Not that she planned on doing anything more.

Once Irene got inside, she felt all tingly because the girl was sitting at the exact same table. She was smiling while talking to the waitress pouring her a cup of brewed coffee.

Irene slowly made her way to sit on the opposite end of the booth right next to the girl. She could see her perfectly, writing something on her notebook.

Just when Irene was about to go straight to hawking at the girl again, her actions were stopped when the same waitress greeted her and asked for her order.

Irene couldn’t help but lean her chin on her hand as she continued to watch this girl. This was far from what she was expecting to be doing first thing in the morning but she’s not complaining. What’s there to complain about when there’s a perfectly beautiful view in front of her.

Irene unconsciously let out a sigh.

Sh