บท 5: Chapter 5: Interesting Encounter
"Fahami!!!!!"
"What is it Eunjin?"
Eunjin was screaming my name while whispering. That's because we were in our University library. I was looking for the book about calculus that was preferred by our professor earlier in the class.
"Fahami"
Now she called me a little loudly and everyone looked at our direction.
"Shush!" Few of them shushed her.
"Oops, sorry." Eunjin gave a sheepish chuckle.
'Found it.'
"Let's go. I have founded the book." I dragged her out of the library not to embarrass us anymore.
"Fahami, Haewon asked me for a date." As soon as we left the library, Eunjin bombarded me with this news. She looked happy like a little girl who found her favorite doll in the toy store.
I looked at her face as if I were surprised. Actually I was surprised. I knew Eunjin had a crush on Haewon but didn't know he liked her too.
"Really?" I asked in amusement.
"Yes, really." She smiled beautifully.
"No wonder why you look so excited." I was ecstatic for her. Eunjin was an amazing person who deserved to be happy.
"I am nervous as well. I don't know what I am going to wear?" She whined.
"Wear whatever you think suits you most." I gave her an assuring smile. She was beautiful whatever she wore and she looked amazing.
"Then I think I don't have anything to wear. Come on Fahami, I have to buy some dresses. Will you accompany me, please?" She gave me puppy look and pleaded in the cutest way.
I groaned and replied, "Fine."
"Yes! Yes! Thank you." She hugged me tightly.
"Ahh, Eunjin, you are suffocating me."
This girl really had a strong grip and could give real tight hug. Well, tight hug didn't suffocate me, it was just, I was a little uncomfortable to hug. No wonder she would suffocate Haewon too.
"Umm, sorry. I am just too much excited."
"When are we gonna leave anyway?"
"How about in the afternoon, at 5?"
"Okay."
"God, Eunjin how long are you gonna take?" We had been in the shop, selecting her dress for ages. At least, it felt like that. She wasn't satisfied with anything she wore.
"Do you think I look fat?"
I gave her stern look. "You are too skinny to look fat."
"Fahami, help me. I am confused." She whined.
"Eunjin, I really think you should hurry up. It's 8 p.m now. And do you want to buy all these clothes?" I raised my eyebrow in askance.
"Nope. That's what I am telling you. I am confused about the dresses. I really don't know which one looks good on me?" She was facing the mirror wearing a knee-length Royal Blue backless dress and looked absolutely stunning.
"Eunjin, you are gorgeous. And you look beautiful in every dress."
"Awe! Fahami. Thank you. But really, which one?"
I sighed, "I think this one."
I choose a red shirt and a knee-length fluffy black skirt. She would look stunning.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." She looked amazing when she tried that one.
"Okay, then." She smiled and straightened her shoulders, looked in the mirror confidently.
"And now I will really appreciate if you hurry up. Cause I am really starving." This time, I whined.
"Okay, okay." She giggled.
Even though I choose dresses for Eunjin she took another hour to buy jewelry and make up kit. And I was more than starving. My stomach was growling like a lion. I was really dying to eat gimbap.
"Eunjin. I want to eat gimbap."
"Okay, I know an excellent restaurant to eat gimbap." Eunjin was applying her lip balm while we were sitting in her car. She was a bit self-conscious. That's why she kept checking her makeup within every hour.
"Let's go then."
"This place doesn't look expensive. Eunjin, I spotted our University on the way. Why did you never brought me here?" I asked her as we were taking seats in the restaurant.
"If you didn't bring homemade food every day, I would have asked you to come here and have lunch with me." She looked around for Waiter and then waved her hand at someone that I couldn't see because he was right behind me. "Excuse me. What can we eat?"
"Here is your menu Ma'am."
The voice seemed familiar. I looked up and saw Taesung. The same feelings hit me like before. He was wearing a plain button up white shirt with a black pants. He didn't look like a waiter but I guessed maybe he worked here. Eunjin told him that we want to eat gimbap and soju. Taesung took the order and left. I just stared at him as he was leaving.
"Fahami? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I guess I looked uncomfortable.
"I know right, the boy looks cute. But sorry for you, he doesn't date." She smirked.
"Eunjin, will you shut up? I wasn't looking at him because he is cute. He is my neighbor. I just didn't know he works here." I looked at her sternly.
"Whoa! That handsome hunk is your neighbor?" She widened her eyes as if she was surprised.
"Eunjin, stop it. He is as old as my younger brother." I closed my eyes because I was completely annoyed and I groaned.
"You have a brother?" She asked in disbelief. Of course, after all I had never talked about him.
"Had." It was painful for me to say that I had a brother, once.
"Sorry." She looked down.
"It's okay." I gave a halfhearted smile.
"Here is your Gimbap."
I looked up to see Taesung, came with 2 bowls of Gimbap in his hands. He placed them on our table and then he left. Few moments later he came back with 2 sojus (Korean Drink). Taesung didn't even bother to look at any of us. I wondered if he was shy type.
Eunjin dropped me home after finishing our meal. I left a good amount of tip on the table for Taesung. I knew tipping was not a culture in South Korea. But, he was going through hardship. I felt pity for him. I hoped it would help him at least a little. I was preparing my bed to sleep. God, this whole shopping thing took 4 hours and my whole body felt sore. No wonder, Eunjin was head over heels for Haewon. Someone was knocking at my door. Who could knock at my door at this hour, specially in this country?
"Coming."
I opened my door and saw Taesung standing at my threshold.
'What is he doing here?'
"Sorry ma'am to disturb you at this hour. You forgot your money and left it on the restaurant table." He extended his hand filled with the money that I left for him. He was wearing black denim pant, brown leather jacket and his hairs looked messy. I wanted to mess his hairs even more.
"It was a tip for you." I said in a low tone.
He looked at me as if he was surprised and gulped.
"Sorry ma'am, but I think you don't know tipping is not in our culture. Anyway, thank you. Please take it, I can't keep it." This time he told me seriously in a firm and commanding voice.
Why was he returning it? He needed it. I couldn't take it back. I wouldn't extend my hand.
"Please take it." He took my right hand and placed the money on my palm. He bowed to me and turned to his flat.
"But you need it." I said it loudly in desperation.
He stopped.
"Look, I know it's not easy to live on your own. I knew that it's not in Korean culture. But I left it for you." The desperation was clear in my voice.
He turned towards me and gave me an emotionless stare. That kind of stare would make anyone retreat but not me.
"Thank you for your concern ma'am, but I don't want your pity." He gritted his teeth as he was uttering every word.
Stating that he returned to his door. He unlocked the door and went inside. I just stood there and stared at his door completely dumbfounded. Why was he giving priority to his pride? He definitely needed the money. I slowly turned toward my room, and I was hesitating if I should go to his flat and make him take the tip. I shook my head and decided to return to my bed. I laid down on the bed, stared at my ceiling. He was struggling with poverty, yet he wanted to remain honest. Now I understood, it wasn't pride. He was living on his own, maybe for too long. That's why he was not used to getting help. Oh, God!, what might have happened to him in past?
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