Sincerely Yours | Enhypen

four

It was the start of winter break. My original itinerary had consisted of snuggling up under a blanket while watching TV in my pyjamas all day. My cousin, however, had other ideas.

"ARE YOU DUMB?!" Minju screeched directly into my ear. I held my phone a good distance away. I knew it was a bad idea to call and tell her about my winter break plans.

"As a matter of fact, I am." I said, cautiously bringing the phone closer. 

"It's winter break, Hyejin," she said, her voice quieter now, thankfully. "You can't just hole up at home all the time."

I sighed. "It's just for a day. Or two. Maybe even three. But so what?"

"You're wasting you're youth away," she semi-scolded, her voice overflowing with disappointment. We were the same age, but sometimes she speaks like she's 40. "Which is why I'm here to change that."

"How so?"

"We're going ice skating!" Her voice became twelve octaves higher and I swore I'd become deaf by the end of our call.

"Ice skating...? That sounds horrible." And I bet I'll break 20 different limbs while I'm at it. 

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun! In fact, we're going now. Meet me at the ice skating rink near my house. Dress warm!" And with that, she hung up.

I have a bad feeling about this.

---

Cold air whipped around me as I stood outside the ice skating rink, waiting impatiently for my cousin. I had been standing there for about 15 minutes and was at the brink of going home to binge watch K-dramas.

Just as I was about to convince myself that this was all a stupid prank, I heard someone call my name.

"Hyejin!!" A high-pitched, female voice squealed.

Yup, that was definitely Minju.

I turned and my eyes widened like saucers when I saw a tall boy beside her.

This was so not part of the plan. I panicked. I do not do well with strangers.

She rushed up to me and wrapped her arms around me, almost squeezing the air out of my lungs. "It's so good to see you again! I missed you so so much!!"

"M-me too..." I choked.

I side-eyed the boy standing nearby, watching us with a blank stare. Who even was he anyway?

Minju probably noticed me sneaking a peak at him because she finally said, "Hyejin, this is Sunghoon. He's my friend from school," she then turned to the boy. "Sunghoon, this is Hyejin. My cousin."

"Hey." He said in a monotonous voice. He didn't smile or wave. He just looked at me, and even then his eyes looked empty. He wore an expression that made him look cold, disinterested, and  maybe even slightly arrogant. 

I was much shorter than him so he had to cast his eyes downward to meet mine. Although there was nothing wrong with that, it somehow felt like he was literally looking down on me. Judging me. I felt like an ant in the presence of a giant.

I held his gaze, trying not to falter as he maintained eye contact. 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated by him. But I squared my shoulders, lifted my head and said, "Hi." I gave him an over-exaggerated smile.

 Finally, he turned away. His face was still expressionless. I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

What was a cheerful girl like Minju doing with a dull guy like him?