Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

36

Jay fiddled with her fingers all throughout the drive from the University to the restaurant that Lim Ju Hwan was treating his friend and the girls to. Half the time, she kept her sight focused on her fiddling fingers; the remaining half, her eyes lingered on the passing scenario outside the window. She avoided looking at Ju Hwan at any cost, not letting herself be affected in any way.

"So, Maya, Criminology, huh?" Ju Hwan smiled, attempting to make small talk. He knew how Jay avoided even small talks when she didn't want to talk at all. But he had known her since she was four; he knew how to slowly make her feel easy and comfortable enough to start talking.

"Yeah," Jay replied.

"Well, you did tell me when you were young, that you wanted to study Criminology in University. I'm glad you could fulfill your dream."

"Thanks…" Jay licked her lips, trying to get rid of the dryness in them. She had, yet again, forgotten to apply moisturizer; old habits die hard.

"And I hear you're the top student in your major, and also one of the highest GPA holders in the University. I must say, I'm really proud of you, Maya."

"Thank you, Professor." Jay said, nonchalantly.

"You really should stop calling me that outside campus you know. I asked you to call me oppa."

"And I asked you to call me Jay." Jay still kept her eyes on her fingers.

Ju Hwan looked to his right to look at the girl on his passenger seat. "Still going strong with words, are you! Heh!" He chuckled, shifting his focus back on the road.

"So are you."

"Me?" Ju Hwan raised his eyebrows.

"You're still applying your old way of trying to ease your way into making a conversation with me." Jay raised her head to look outside the window to her right, her own eyebrows furrowed.

A smile found its way across Ju Hwan's lips, Jay may not have changed after all. Well, five years' time did do its work on her, but deep down, she was still the same person he knew, the same Maya.

*

On arriving at the restaurant, Oh Dae Hyun got up from his seat and hugged Lim Ju Hwan. The pair, too, were meeting after five years. Even though they were meeting after so long, both were up to date about each other's lives; they contacted each other almost everyday.

"My boy is back!" Dae Hyun patted Lim Ju Hwan on the back, letting him take the seat beside him.

"You should've seen Dae Hyun oppa's sulking face, Aiden oppa. He was missing you like a wife whose military husband had gone on a dangerous mission overseas!" Mae chuckled, causing Jay to give a half smile.

"Yah, Ahn Seung Mae! Stop exaggerating things!" Dae Hyun was quick to defend himself. "When did I act like a sulking wife?"

"You don't remember, Dae Hyun oppa?" Jay decided to add fuel to the fire. "You even started having lunch with us instead of eating at the Professors' cafe."

"Yah! You know I only did that to escape Professor Chae Seok Hyung!" Dae Hyun's cheeks had started to redden slightly, from embarrassment.

"Ah, Professor Chae Seok Hyung! He's Dae Hyun oppa's new best friend by the way, Aiden oppa." Mae chuckled.

"Yah! Geumanhae! (Stop it!)" Dae Hyun had started to whine slightly; a habit from his childhood, whenever Mae and Jay picked on him.

"Professor Chae is trying to set him up with his sister. He even has a photograph of Professor Chae's sister in his documents file. The photo also has her phone number at the back." Jay chuckled.