It’s a nice afternoon. Not too cold, not too hot. The weather’s just warm and a cool breeze brush against his face. He should be happy, but he couldn’t help but feel down. It’s like the weather’s teasing him.

 

He walks slowly to the café that he frequently visits thinking about what had happened before that cause his spirits to drop almost instantly. Guilt. He remembered how the boy’s head was down and he was close to actually crying as the others spat hurtful words at him. He knew that boy. That boy had suffered. That boy had been hurt. That boy is helpless. He was there, he witnessed everything; yet he could not make a difference. That, is one of the ugly things about this world he thought to himself.

 

He reached the café, and told himself that he’ll see her soon so he put on a small smile as he entered. Nothing special about this café beside that it’s a very warm and cosy one, run by a woman in her 40s. The feeling of home is what you get when you enter.

 

“Annyeonghaseyo, ajumma.”

“Ahh Chanyeol! What would you like? The usual?”

“Yes please, ajumma.” She smiled and nodded.

 

Chanyeol continued to walk to his seat. Everyday he will sit at the back of the café looking at people as they come and go, and every day he will see a girl enter 10 minutes later than him, sitting in her usual spot- the table to his right. It’s hard not to notice her. She’s beautiful, but that’s not all; she’s also blind. She walks around with her walking stick, tapping the legs of the chairs and tables to find her way round.

 

The waitress brought out his drink and he said a small thank you. As he took a small sip out of his chocolate milkshake, the girl enters. His eyes gleam at the figure in front. Her hair is down today. She wears a plain black top and a chiffon coloured skirt with black lace topping the bottom half, that hung just above her knee and a French-rose coloured coat. She never fails to impress him.

 

“Sunyoung!” the ajumma called out and she politely bowed at the direction of the voice.

“Ajumma~” she smiled showing her dimples

“Latte again?”

“Mmmhm~ Thank you, ajumma” and she quietly taps the floor with the walking stick till she reached her seat.

Chanyeol’s eyes follow her every movement, feeling amazed at how the girl knows that there are people in front of her and make way for them because of her sharp hearing skills.

 

Chanyeol feels like there’s a connection between the two of them. He doesn’t know what that connection is…but he knows it’s there. Maybe it’s because he thinks this world has too many flaws, with people taking advantage of others, discriminating others, competing against each other. The amount of tears rolling down cheeks negatively are way too high, the number of people he meets with a stoic expression is countless- like the boy before- and some people is a pro at fake smiling, hiding all the pain and trying to endure as much as possible. Maybe he’s just envious of this girl, he envies her because she can’t see all those things. She won’t know the difference between fake and real smiles. She can’t identify what expression people put on their face. She’s always smiling and she smiles heartedly. The innocence that spread across her face proves to Chanyeol that she’s a carefree person.

 

He’ll watch her every day from his seat; leave when she’ll leave and follow her home. He knows it sounds weird, creepy even, but he couldn’t help it. He feels the need to protect this girl. He have to make sure that she arrives home safely. He doesn’t know why, but it makes him feel happy so he just went along with it.

 

He doesn’t befriend her; he doesn’t have the courage to. He’s scared. Scared that if he gets close to her and they get along, she might get influence by all the imperfections that occur in his life. He wants her to be pure. To her, the world might be the most unsullied and peaceful place. Chanyeol doesn’t want to ruin that image for her. The more people who look at this world with a positive aspect, the better. He doesn’t know why he cared so much about the girl’s viewpoint or the girl herself, but he did and he won’t stop anytime soon.

 

This goes on. It’s like a daily routine. Wake up, school, café, watch her till she leaves and walk her home. Without her knowing of his existence that is.

 

Another typical day. Chanyeol’s already seated at his table with his milkshake, waiting for her.

 

3…2…1. She enters, always on time. Her hair’s up in a ponytail with a baby blue headband draped across her head. She wears a casual, white, graphic tee and black leggings. He smiled.

 

“Sunyoung-ah, anyeong!”

“Annyeonghaseyo, ajumma” she smiled, but it’s not her usual cheerful smile. It’s more of a bitter-sweet one.

“What’s with the sad face, Sunyoung?”

“I just want to thank ajumma for all the lattes that you made for me.”

“Oh- silly girl. You are more than welcome.” she patted the girl’s head.

“I’m…leaving for Australia tomorrow morning.” She pressed her lips together, and Chanyeol’s eyes doubled in size.

“Ahh. Why though?”

“Because I’m finally legal to stay in Australia with my sister who is an Australian citizen and also, to see if anyone there could help me with my eyesight and…I don’t know if I’m gonna return to Korea.” Again she smiled, and again it’s half-hearted.

“Ahhh. That’s great! Tell you what Sunyoung. My shout today.” The lady grinned.

Sunyoung let out a small laugh,

“Thank you, ajumma.”

 

Chanyeol looks down to his shake and stirs his drink. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but he can’t do anything because it’s not like they’re friends. Friends isn’t even the right word. They’re strangers. So he stayed quiet and watch her enjoy her latte, not realizing that the corners of his mouth twitch up every time she takes a sip and a cream moustache forms on her upper lip. She then, will attempt to it but failed miserably. Her face scrunch up and her hand find its way round the table until she comes across the serviette and wipe away the moustache. He must say that, that is the most adorable thing he has ever witness.

 

 

FLASHBACK

 

“Toki! STOP!” the man behind Chanyeol shouted as he tries to pull back his dog.

Seeing that the dog is heading straight for the girl in front, he quickly grab the dog’s leash and along with the owner pulls the pet back.

 

“Wahh. Thank you.” The man said and Chanyeol nodded. “Toki. Bad boy.”

He looked back at Sunyoung and continue to follow her, knowing that she’s safe.

 

She suddenly turned around reaching for her sunhat that got caught in the wind and flew away.

“Aishh.” she said as she tapped her stick, in hope of finding her hat.

Chanyeol let out a small laugh seeing how cute she looks and picked up her hat that landed near his feet. He walks up to her and hand her the item she’s been looking for.

“Oh- Thank you.” she slightly bowed.

“No worries.” He said and walked away, only to turn back when she starts to walk again.

 

They were about to cross the road when a car suddenly made a turn as she stepped forward.

“NO STOP!” he shouted and the girl abide and froze mid-step.

She could hear the car whiz pass and mentally hugged the person that told her to stop.

She turned around, and said a ‘thank you’ as she nodded her head and gave him a grin.

“You saved me,” she said and kept walking.

 

 

He stood there for a while before turning his heels to return home not daring himself to take another glance at the house.

 

“So I guess… I’m your unseen shadow.”