Flame of My Love (A Seokjin Fanfic)

Chapter 12: Haneul

At the restaurant, Mrs. Yang was so happy to see Yumi after not having seen her for over a year and gave her a big hug!

"We've missed your smile around here young lady," Mrs. Yang said.

"Thank you Mrs. Yang, I've missed you guys too," Yumi replied.

"What brings you in today? What can I get for you?"

"You know, the usual."

"Alright sounds good," she said before directing her attention to the kitchen, "Juan! The usual for Yumi and her family please!"

For context: Juan is a mix between Korean and Mexican. He was one of the new cooks that came in when Yumi left.

"Oh Juan is working today? I thought Haneul worked on Wednesdays," Yumi said.

"He doesn't work here anymore. During the pandemic, with all the free time, he found a passion for photography and decided to focus on that. When we reopened, we rehired everyone and got a new cook. Haneul should be coming in for his lunch anytime now."

Like magic, Haneul walked through the front door and greeted Mrs. Yang. Yumi had never actually seen Haneul out of his work clothes and he looked different, in a good way. He was wearing a white button up shirt with skinny jeans and converse highs. He also had his camera around his neck and a black bucket hat.

"Oh hey Yumi! I haven't seen you in ages!" Haneul said.

"I haven't ever seen you like this before, you kind of look like a tourist. Looks good on you," she replied with a smile.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have work?"

"Didn't you hear that BTS is on tour? I don't have to work while they're out."

"Oh right! I totally forgot about that, sorry. So you're off until they come back, that's great! How are your mother and grandmother?"

"They're both ok. So I see you got into photography during the pandemic, Mrs. Yang told me."

"Wanna see some of the photos I took today? I just had a photoshoot with a couple celebrating their 25th anniversary."

Yumi and Haneul sat at one of the tables while waiting for their food. The photos Yumi saw had the couples in various poses around a park nearby. They also took a few photos with their daughter and dog. Yumi was impressed at his hidden talent of photography and expressed her amazement.

"You get commissioned for work now? That was very fast!"

"Well you know that my mom gets a lot of business so I put up some of my photos and spread the word with our customers. I gained a following that way. I don't get paid a lot but I have fun doing it."

"That's awesome! I'm so happy for you."

"Hey why don't you and I go to the garden nearby and I can take photos of you there, after we eat of course."

"Me? I am not a model, I could never."

"It'll be fun, I promise!"

Yumi agreed because she figured it would keep her from going back to her mom for a bit longer. They each had their lunch and then headed over to the garden. Mrs. Yang told her that she'd keep the food for when she came back and that she could reheat it at her house. Once at the garden, to lighten the mood, Haneul began to take photos of the scenery and close ups of the flowers. Eventually he asked Yumi to sit on the bench and to pose naturally. Yumi had a hard time adjusting but then she remembered Jin and what he did during his photoshoots and tried to mimic him. After taking some shots, he showed them to Yumi.

"And you said you can't model," Haneul commented.

"It is my first time I promise, but it was fun!"

"Photos always look wonderful when a pretty lady is in front of the lens."

"Pretty lady?" Yumi said as she blushed a little.

"Yumi, I think it's time that you know. I meant to tell you sooner but then the pandemic happened and I never got a chance to say anything."

"What is it Haneul?"

"When you worked with us, I tried to deny that I had feelings building for you because I wanted to keep it professional between us since we only ever saw each other at work. When you left and came on your days off, I was working on getting courage to tell you. I finally decided to let you know right when the pandemic hit but since it's over, I'm telling you now; Yumi, I think you're the most beautiful woman I have ever met and I'd love to take you out on a date someday."

Yumi was taken aback by Haneul's confession because she wasn't expecting it but also because of her confusing feelings for Jin and Jungkook. She thought he was a nice guy but wasn't sure if she should try anything with him given that she was already infatuated with two other men.

"Haneul, I am very flattered and you're a very kind and talented guy but...I just can't date people right now. I'm really sorry."

"You fell in love with a BTS member, didn't you? That's why you're rejecting me."

"You don't know the half of it, Haneul! I'm so conflicted about two of them that if I started dating you I really wouldn't know what to feel."

"Two of them?"

Yumi quickly explained the situation to Haneul about liking both Jin and Jungkook but not being able to move on from Jin.

"So, you've been cooped up with seven men of which two you're sort of in love with. Maybe having an experience with someone outside of that group will clear your mind."

"But what if I end up falling for that new person and when they get back, I'm confused about three people?"

"You're right, that is not a desirable situation to be in."

"I'm sorry Haneul, I can't accept to start dating you or anyone."

"It's ok Yumi, I understand. However, I am glad we can be friends and that I got that off my chest. I feel much better."

Yumi and Haneul spent some more time catching up at the park and she shared about the argument with her mom. Haneul suggested giving Bong-Cha the benefit of the doubt and that maybe she really was only trying to help out but that if it was going South, to help her mom get out of the relationship. Once back at "Si-Young's Palace," Yumi picked up the dinner and left to go back to her house. At her house, her grandma took the food to the kitchen to heat it up. But before doing so, she told Yumi to talk to her mother in the bedroom. As she entered the bedroom, her mother was on the phone with someone wrapping up her conversation. As she hung up the phone, she had a huge smile on her face.

"Hey mom, who was that?" Yumi asked.

"It was Bong-Cha and she told me great news!" her mom said with excitement.

"What is it mom?"

"Bong-Cha found us an apartment that is bigger for cheap rent in Busan!"

"Busan?! But that's all the way across the country!" Yumi exclaimed.