While they waited for their food, Jinri did most of the talking. She told Jongin that she saw the restaurant a week ago while she was roaming around the place alone. “It had balloons!” She exclaimed, giggling like a child. “Maybe it was the grand opening and I was hoping they’d still have them until now so I could get one but I guess not.” She pouted, feeling a bit disappointed. “Oh well,” her pout was immediately replaced by a grin.

   Jongin just took a glance at her then out the window again.

   “It’s my first time hanging out with someone on a Saturday,” Jinri lightly chuckled. “I actually just spend it alone either outside or inside the house.”

   Jongin blinked. That caught his attention and he wondered why, for a cheerful girl like her, she would spend a Saturday alone.

   A waiter, this time, came with their iced tea and placed it down in front of them. Jinri said her thanks and the waiter smiled at her before leaving.

   Jongin didn’t miss that and scoffed as he slouched down on his seat and now placing his hands inside his pockets.

   Jinri played with her straw, a little dazed.

   Jongin was waiting for her to continue but she didn’t so he asked, “Why?”

   Jinri looked at him and blinked, “Why what?”

   “Why aren’t you spending time with anyone on Saturdays?”

   “Oh,” Jinri shrugged. “My mom’s at work the whole day. My friends have their own world too. Qian-unnie has ballet, Sunyoung-unnie has singing class, Amber-hyung.. well, she often spends it inside her house, sleeping.” She lightly giggled. “Soojung-ah spends it with her boyfrie—” Jinri abruptly stopped talking and froze. She looked at Jongin with wide eyes, figuring that she had talked more than she should have, and saw that the boy was still looking outside the window but she noticed his jaw tightening.

   Jongin, upon hearing Soojung’s name, clenched his fists inside his pockets. He wasn’t thinking about Soojung ever since Jinri came into his life but now that she mentioned her, he felt annoyed. Why was he stuck with someone he barely even knows? Someone who was way different from the girl he’s always wanted? Someone who was not even Jung Soojung?

   “J-Jongin-ssi, mianhae.” Jinri chewed on her bottom lip, afraid that she had made him angry. “I didn’t mean to—”

   “It’s fine,” Jongin interrupted, trying his best not to give her a cold shoulder. “It’s my fault I even asked. I mean, why should I even care, right? I don’t even know you,”

   Jinri looked down at the table and stared at it. His painful words made her heart throb so she heaved a deep, silent breath, blew it out, took a long sip on her drink to be rehydrated and looked back up at Jongin, already smiling brightly. “You don’t have to, Jongin-ssi.” She said. “Just let me love you,”

   And with that, their orders arrived.

   Jongin felt his body freeze a moment because of what Jinri said before grabbing his utensils to distract himself; he started digging in without hesitation. On the first bite, he almost cried because the chicken was so delicious. It was like heaven for him, whereas Jinri just watched him, shocked but happy at the same time.

   “Let’s eat well, kamsahamnida.” She whispered her prayers and took her utensils. “You look really hungry, Jongin-ssi.”

   “What do you expect from someone who just came out from dance practice, had to walk for who knows how long, and put up with someone who keeps on talking?” Jongin asked while he chewed on his food. He turned his attention back to eating without waiting for Jinri’s reply.

   She chuckled. “Mianhae,” she said. “But I guess it’s worth the wait, right? Hey, just slow down, Jongin-ssi. You might choke,”

   “Just eat, stupid.” said Jongin, “If you won’t, I’ll gladly take it.”

   “Deh, deh.” Jinri smiled, her eyes turning into crescents, and ate. She watched Jongin gobble up all the food like a kid and couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. “Is chicken your favorite food, Jongin-ssi?”

   Jongin just nodded up once and kept eating.

   Jinri nodded, her smile never faltering. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she whispered.

   The two ate in silence but it wasn’t awkward. Jongin surprisingly found it quite comfortable and he wondered if it’s just because he was eating to his heart’s content. He even ordered another set of buffalo wings!

   Meanwhile, Jinri was admiring and enjoying the moment, watching the child emitting off Jongin as he devoured his favorite food and right now, she didn’t even care anymore if he really meant it when he said he’ll make her wallet cry blood. She also didn’t regret bringing him in that newly opened restaurant.

   “Jongin-ssi,” Jinri called when he was done eating and is already his fingers clean.

   “Hm?”

   “You have something on your mouth,” Jinri pointed at her own for emphasis.

   Jongin pursed his lips together and just them. “Did I get it?”

   Jinri couldn’t help but laugh at the kid-Jongin she’s seeing. She leaned forward and stretched an arm out to reach for the crumbs that he failed to clean off.

   At that moment, it felt like they were in their own world with no one to interrupt them with until that waitress came back with a pitcher of iced tea.

   “Iced tea refill, sir? Ma’am?”

   Jinri snapped out of her trance and swiftly pulled her hand back. She looked down at her food, suddenly feeling embarrassed at what she’s done, and just nodded her head with a quick shy “Yes, please.”

   The waitress smiled with a mock and refilled their glasses whereas Jongin just glared at her in the background.

   He was grateful that he had already finished eating or else he would have lost his appetite. The food will be of waste if then. The urge of wanting to pour the pitcher of iced tea on the waitress’ head was also there.

   “I’ll just go to the restroom,” Jongin said after the waitress left.

   Jinri looked up at him as he stood from his seat and nodded, a smile quickly appearing on her lips. “Take your time,”

   Jongin smirked at her. “Will do then,” he said and left for awhile.

   Jinri who now realized what he meant by that widened her eyes and dreaded that Jongin might either really take his time, meaning he’ll hang out inside the restroom only to have her wait long or run away and leave her inside the restaurant. “Aish!” Jinri hit the side of her head with a palm. “He’s not going to do that, is he?” She muttered to herself. She ate the remaining chicken soup to keep herself busy and nibbled on the last buffalo wing Jongin had saved for her. “Just in case,” were his words if she ever wanted to try one.

   Jongin hasn’t come back yet when she finished the buffalo wing so she started worrying, even for the worst. Is Jongin alright? Is he stuck inside the restroom? Is he throwing up? Did she do something wrong?

   But when Jinri decided to look around the restaurant to see if he has come out yet and is already on his way back, she spotted him talking to the waitress by the counter. Although Jongin kept a straight face, the waitress was nodding while he talked to her as if she knows something Jinri doesn’t. She felt sad so she just looked down and pretended to see nothing just as when Jongin looked at her direction to check up on her.

   Jinri sipped on her iced tea, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. She did several breathing exercises and with a last blow, she leaned on her back and sighed. Seeing Jongin and that waitress talking somewhat hurts but Jinri wondered to herself, who was she to feel that way when in the first place, she just wanted to express her feelings to the guy?

   “I see you ate the buffalo wing,”

   Jinri jumped a bit, her thoughts being interrupted, and looked up to see that Jongin had already slipped himself on his seat. “You scared me,” she said.

   Jongin just shrugged.

   “Yeah,” the girl nodded, answering him. “It tastes really great.” She smiled.

   “Good,” said Jongin. “Are you still going to eat?”

   “Ani,” Jinri shook her head then called for a waiter to give her the receipt. She felt nervous as to how much it will cost her.

   The waiter who served their drinks earlier came and smiled at Jinri, “Yes, ma’am?”

   “Um, the receipt please?”

   “Oh, it’s all on us.” The waiter bowed, still smiling. “The restaurant is newly opened and everything you ate today is free.”

   Jinri blinked, trying to process what the waiter just said and when she finally understood, she widened her eyes. “Omo—” she looked at Jongin then back at the waiter. “It must have cost a lot though!”

   “It’s all on us today,” the waiter politely repeated. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.” He bowed and left.

   Jinri smiled widely. For free, “I’m so happy.” She giggled to herself as she clapped her hands. She sipped and finished her iced tea then she looked at Jongin who immediately looked away to avoid being caught watching her. “Kaja?” She couldn’t help but keep smiling.

   Jongin just nodded and stood, followed by Jinri. On the way out of the restaurant, she bowed her thanks to the waiter and the waitress who served them and eyesmiled as she waved goodbye.

   The waiter bowed and smiled back at her whereas the waitress just scoffed, looking away. It was a good thing that neither Jinri nor Jongin noticed that.

   “Today must be your lucky day,” said Jongin.

   “They still should have kept the balloons though.” Jinri unconsciously thought out loud.

   “What’s with you and balloons anyway?” Jongin asked.

   “What?” Jinri blinked and that’s when she realized that Jongin had heard her. “Oh. Well, I’ve never really owned a balloon before.” She laughed lightly. “My mom tends to pull me away and won’t let me near balloons. She freaks out and is scared of the balloons popping.”

   “Why?”

   Jinri just shrugged. “I want to own one someday.” She grinned. “The one with strings and that flies! But my mom will kill me if she finds out.”

   “She doesn’t have to find out,” said Jongin.

   “What do you mean?”

   “Nothing,”

▢ ▢ ▢

All Jongin and Jinri did for the rest of the afternoon was window shop and shop hop. They would sometimes look at displays then go inside shops to check out new clothes and stuff but other than that, they spent the time together just roaming around the streets of Seoul.

   Jongin was just quietly following Jinri around and couldn’t help it but watch as even something so simple bring about happiness across her face. She’s such a kid, he would often think but he couldn’t deny the enjoyment he’s feeling just by watching her. Who could have thought that even the smallest thing would bring out the bright smile that fitted Jinri’s face the most?

   It was nearly six o’clock when Jinri told him that they should go home already. Jongin actually didn’t notice the time and he thought, did it really fly so fast when all they did was practically walk around? For him, six o’clock was still early but since Jinri is a girl, he reconsidered.

   But still, isn’t six o’clock still early a time even for girls?

   The two stopped by the waiting shed, waiting for a bus to pull over. Jinri turned to look at Jongin and with a smile, she said:

   “Thank you so much for today, Jongin-ssi. Next Saturday, I won’t bother you so you can go with the plans you were supposed to have today with your friends,”

   “Which way is your house?” Jongin asked, ignoring what she just said.

   “The south, wae?”

   “How many stops before getting there?”

   Jinri paused for awhile and counted, “Six.” She answered, inquiringly looking at Jongin.

   The boy didn’t speak for awhile. Six, he repeated inside his mind. From where they are, his house is just three stops far. But he thought Jinri didn’t have to know that.

   “Jongin-ssi?”

   “Let’s go,” said the boy as the bus pulled over in front of them. He went inside, followed by the girl and looked for a vacant seat for two. Once he spotted one, he let Jinri sit by the window before sitting beside her.

   The way back was quiet and after a few minutes, they have already reached the corner that leads to their school. Five more stops. Jinri entertained herself by watching everything outside the window and later on fell asleep.

   Jongin was the one who paid for their fare and as his stop was approaching, he contemplated if he should get off or wait for Jinri to reach her stop. He looked at the girl who was fast asleep and groaned inwardly. Since when was she my responsibility? He thought.

   When the bus pulled over to his stop, he shook his head and stood only to change seats. He went at the back of the bus but good enough a distance to watch over the sleeping girl.

   Jongin couldn’t bring himself to leave Jinri especially on the state she’s in so it’s better if she thought he has already left once she wakes up rather than finding out he missed his stop because of her. She would definitely, without a doubt, start blaming herself for that.

   And so the bus left his stop.

▢ ▢ ▢

Jinri woke up on the fifth stop. She looked around and found that Jongin was not beside her anymore. She frowned, feeling disappointed that he didn’t even wake her up to say goodbye before leaving. Well, that’s Jongin for her. She heaved a deep breath and, after releasing it, leaned her head back against her seat. “Meanie,” She muttered to herself. After awhile, she reached her stop and got off the bus without a glance behind.

   Jongin watched her carefully from his seat as she rounded the corner and disappeared. He sighed and got off as well before the bus left. He wanted to follow her home but that would be weird so before he couldn’t control himself anymore, he crossed the road and waited for the bus going north so he can go home.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: As far as I’m concerned, I don’t recall mentioning Sulli dying on the last chapter; makes me think that you guys read the Author’s Note and not the whole chapter, HAHAHA! XD Keep calm, sheesus. The story has a long way to go so just enjoy. ;) Thanks for the comments though! Looking forward to them again. Byeee! ♡