Him.

nina's Japanese cuisine

My mind flashes back to Jaerin, once again.

Whaddaya think?

I think of his silver rings, our lunch conversations, his habit of biting his lips while laughing.

I shiver, letting a small smile peak out the corner of my mouth.

Us. Me and Jaerin. Hand in-

"Eunbi!"

I jolt up with a start, opening my eyes and snapping towards Rei.

"What?" I say this in a harsher tone than I mean to.

Rei flinches. "Um, we're at your house."

"Oh. Yeah, sorry."

I rush to my house in embarrassment, not willing to turn back - knowing I'll see Rei's face watching me.

Her long locks of baby pink, draped right under her shoulder. Her narrow cat-eyes, rimmed with a perfect smokey eye. Her full lips.

A thought ponders me, and my heart stops for a second.

I bet Jaerin likes her.

It's probably not true, yes. He touched me. Not her.

But Rei's just so dazzling. They'd be perfect together.

I can picture it perfectly, from his barely visible eyes to her knee high socks.

My elated mood drops and my knees wobble.

I shake my head furiously, reminding myself to get it together.

I jumble through my backpack to find the house keys, and along the way I brush against something light.

"Ow!" I yelp as the post it note pricks my finger.

I grit my teeth from the paper cut and open the door, racing straight to my room. The moment I get in, I check the post it note.

I wonder what Elise is like?

Maybe she's supportive of my crush. Maybe she'll help me talk to him. Maybe we can be really good friends.

But maybe she likes him.

I shake my head once again, telling myself to focus on the present and not make assumptions. But I can't help dreading meeting her.

After a quick shower, I copy her phone number from the post it and send her a quick text.

Hi! My name is Eunbi! We're partners for the volunteering thing, so what small business do you think we should go to?

Probably one of the cheesiest messages I've ever typed.

I only need to wait a few seconds before she replies.

What about the sushi restaurant nearby? They haven't been doing really well ever since that false rumor spread.

Ah, so she doesn't live under a rock.

Good to know.

Good idea! Meet you there at 5?

Okay!

I pop in my AirPods and jam to my favorite Spotify playlist - 'Screw No Simp September'

My dread has relaxed a little, but I can't shake the feeling that she might steal Jaerin away from me.

What am I thinking?

Jaerin isn't mine.

But I don't want anyone else to have him.

I guess he is mine.

No, no, what am I thinking?

What is going on with me?

I pull my conflicting thoughts into my 'think-later' box , tucked into the corner of my mind.

I focus on my loads of trigonometry homework until it's time for me to go.

I stare at my closet, running through all my outfit options.

Should I dress formally?

Casual?

Cute?

I rule out formal and decide casual.

An over sized brown sweatshirt and short tennis skirt will do, I decide.

I rush out the door, phone in hand and a sweat trickling down my forehead.

Nina's Japanese Cuisine is filled with the fresh aroma of sliced vegetables and cut seafood.

The building itself is a short walk from my house, and is painted to resemble a sushi roll.

The textures white bricks hold a small 'Now Hiring' sign and the burst of fresh air when I walk in knocks me back a step.

I see a short girl, the same girl that spoke up at the office.

That must be Elise!

She's having an intense conversation with Nina, her hands flowing up and down in a blur of motion.

Her auburn hair is tied up in a ponytail and her freckles are outlined in a shiny pencil.

When she looks at me her thick lashes and sharp winged eyeliner don't match the softness and chubbiness of her cheeks.

Elise smiles in acknowledgment.

"Are you Eunbi?"

I nod.

She introduces me to Nina - whom I already know - and Nina outlines what we need to do.

"Basically, you guys are going to serve the veggies and make the sushi. Trust me, no ones gonna ask for anything else," Nina sours at this, as if she ate something that tastes bitter.

"One of you guys serves," she continues. "And the other makes the sushi! Simple! I trust that you won't have any problems?"

There are going to be many problems, and we all know it.

Me and Elise share a look of agreement but nod yes anyways.

"Now, I'll leave it between you guys to decide who does what! Bye!"

Nina practically sprints out the door, and I have a feeling this is not going to be fun.

Ugh. Why do I have to be so nice?