metal straw | ast. cha eunwoo

thirty four

Never would he expect to end up where he was now.

After changing out from his school attire, Eunwoo went out to follow Myungjun's instructions about where Soyeon could be. He came with no expectations because the girl moves like a bouncing ball and would emerge at different places in a blink of an eye.

It was the exact place he came with her for that strawberry cake, though only one of them did most of the tasting.

He glanced through the shop window, looking past the countless customers inside. It was only when he was determined to look inside himself that things decided to go South. The moment he stepped in front of the door, it suddenly swung open right before his eyes and smacked him right on the forehead. He immediately stumbled back from the impact, his hand quickly brought up to try and ease the sore spot.

"I'm so sorry!" A voice exclaimed.

He immediately saw a woman begin apologising, exclaiming and repeating it over and over, her group of friends snickered inaudibly behind her. He was slightly disappointed when he turned.

He assured the woman, which proved to be difficult, that he was fine and waved it as an accident. The group left after many apologies, but unfortunately, the pain in his forehead did not.

His hand still rubbing the sore spot on his forehead, he was on his way to enter the store only to find someone blocking his way, nearly bumping into them in the process.

"Eunwoo?"

Now, that was the voice he was hoping to hear. Soyeon was finally standing right in front of him.

This was the first time he actually caught her where she run off to and that was on her brother for snitching if her running here and there was a secret. The pain he felt just seconds ago was gone in an instant.

"There's... There's a marking on your..." she muttered, her finger pointing to her head.

Of course, she witnessed the scene earlier of him getting smacked in the face by the door. Her face kept a curious yet concerned look.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Running an errand," she responded almost immediately.

He wasn't fooled. He furrowed his brow. "Are you avoiding me again? Last time you tried, we still end up meeting."

Her eyes began to wander elsewhere. "T-That's because you're always there when I'm in trouble."

"More reason for you not to avoid me."

Soyeon opened her mouth for a moment, but closed it right back as though she had no retorts left.

"You always say fluttering things with such a straight face..." she sighed almost in defeat, but a smile soon spread across her face.

He smiled back.

He then noticed she carried two small boxes in hand, one of which was nicely wrapped like a Christmas present. As soon as she noticed where Eunwoo's eyes were lingering, she swiftly hid them behind her.

"Well, I guess there's no point in hiding then."

Suddenly, she sighed.

With that, placing one of the boxes on the floor, she began opening the other one instead. She turned away from him just before he take a look at what she was doing. He waited as curiosity was growing in him. He suddenly thought back to everything he had heard.

"That girl has been running out a lot early these days, doing whatever the hell she wants..."

"Haven't you noticed? I think she was pretty obvious about it, running off here and there, and being so secretive about it."

"Just know she's been planning this for weeks now, hope you're prepared."

When she turned, his eyes lit up.

"Happy birthday, Eunwoo."