𝐌𝐄𝐓 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓

4. THE MUSIC PLAYER

My heart was beating fast and I find it hard to compose and words.
“I- I.. I don’t know. I just didn't want to. Maybe because I miss home.”  “hm. So you are a transfer student?”  He asked for which I just nodded as a reply and turned back to the river.

“Even if you miss home, you should never let that take hold of you. Try to be happy, then only those who are back at home praying for you, will be happy too.” He said which get me thinking, ‘He is right, why am I being so gloomy?’

After a minute of silence, I asked him while picking up the cake I bought “Will you celebrate with me?” I think I startled him by that because it took him a few seconds to respond. He nodded and said “Sure, why not?” He took the cake from me after lighting the candle. Jeez his hands are so warm.

“Make a wish.” He said enthusiastically. I folded my hands and made wish before blowing the candle. I was so happy that my birthday turned out to be a special one like this with the person I wanted to meet so bad.

I mustered up all my courage and was about to ask his name when my phone rang jolting me out. ‘Such a bad timing Iseul.’ I said to myself when I saw the caller Id.
“Hey Y/n, Where the hell are you? That witch is coming for inspection. We got so many things to hide or else we are doomed.” she screamed and ended the call without letting me say a word. She sounded scary through the phone. But she was right. We had a coffee maker and rice cooker in room which weren't allowed inside and also a pile of clothes to wash. Now that was an absolutely very-Urgent-call.

A sudden rush of terror filled in my body. “Are you okay? Did something happen?” He asked me after seeing my horrified face.
“Oh nothing. It's just that my warden is up for an inspection to kill us. I need to go. I'm so sorry. You can have that cake as my apology and also as my treat to you. Thank you for accompanying me for my birthday. I was really feeling alone till you came. Thanks again. Bye, see you later.” I rapped everything, faster than Agust D, in a single breath, and ran to catch a bus leaving him speechless and surprised, who was sitting like a lost puppy with a cake in hands. ‘So Cute to see a big ass man like that.’ I chuckled to myself.

As I reached the room, Mrs. Kyong (warden) has already started her inspection and was just 3 rooms away from ours. I rushed in and saw Iseul standing still while holding the cooker, Eun-Ae with the broom and Katrin half hidden with the pile of clothes in her hands. “Fck. You scared the shit out of me. Y/n, you are a dead meat today. Come a clean your table. Fast..” Eun-Ae hissed under her breath. With the next 2 mints we were done with the cleaning and mainly hiding appliances in our suitcases just before Mrs. Kyong entered.
She really did search every corner of the room and warned us to wash the clothes on time. But glad that she didn't look over our baggage. We all let out a heavy breath simultaneously when she left the room and the next thing they did was to attack me.

They hovered on top of me pinning me to the ground and started tickling me mercilessly. “How dare you bail on us uh? Where the heck where you all this time...” asked Katrin in a devious way siting on my stomach while I was trying hard to catch my breath. “S-STOP TICKLING...ahhh.. I'll tell you... Please stop.”

They let go of me when I told them I was celebrating my birthday with my parents on video call. Yeah, I lied because I was not sure how they will think of me when I say that I was with a complete stranger.

Later that day, I was smiling while lying on my bed, reminiscing about everything and that's when it struck me. My Music player! I grabbed my bag and searched it all in and out. It was missing. ‘SHIT NO.’ I cursed myself thinking how irresponsible I was. The fact that I lost my precious gift from my dad made me feel like crying. It was really a stress reliever for me. I guess it was lost in the park and prayed for it being under the tree.

Next day after my shift, which ended late that usual, I rushed to the park. I searched through the way I went yesterday and under the tree. But every attempt was futile. I couldn't find it. It was gone. I sat on the bench with a heavy heart, tears building up in my eyes.

“Hey, you are here at last.” said the same voice which was now familiar to me. He sat beside me on the bench. He still covered every inch of him except the eyes. Wearing mask was no longer a weird thing, but still it looked strange. “Hey, why are you still here?” I asked him knowing that it was already way past his usual time to leave. He looked at me puzzled when I realized my stupidity. “I- I mean... it's already dark, and almost closing time. So...” I tried hard to justify myself.

He let out an audible chuckle from beneath his mask. “I was waiting for you.” wait, What? How did he know I would come? “I mean, I was expecting to see you come here in search of this.” He said extending his hand which was holding my player. “Oh my god, it was with you. I thought I lost it.” “Yesterday you left it here amidst all the rush to leave.” I felt ashamed for being so careless. He sensed it somehow and continued to talk, breaking the awkward silence.

“Anyhow, how did the inspection go? Did you reach there on time?” I liked how he maintained that familiar tone with me rather than talking like a complete stranger.
“Yes. I somehow made it on time. We were lucky enough to not to get caught.”
“I must really be fun to be in the university, right?” “Why? Haven't you been to one?”
“Nope. I was home-schooled.”
“oh... Seems like we got a rich heir in here.”
“ha- not like that. My circumstances was... a bit different.” He said with a chuckle.
“oh.. Okey okey...”

And so, we talked whatever that came to mind, till it was time for me to leave. It felt amazing like talking to a close friend. As I was gathering my bag to leave, he asked “Hey, can I have your number. It's completely okay if you are not willing to give. I- I just thought that... it would have been easy to contact if we lost anything again?” I smiled at the way he was asking for the number. He sounded so cute.

We exchanged our numbers and as I was about to save the number, I realized that I still don't know his name. I looked at him only to see that he was looking back at me with the same puzzled expression. We broke out into laugh knowing how stupid we were.
“You can save me as Y/n. What about you?”
“I'm Ju- Justin.” There was a small pause before saying his name which was kind of confusing.

With that we parted our ways with a pasted wide smile on my face. I just couldn't stop myself

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Hey readers,
First of all, Sorry for that long delay. I had na exam and so I couldn't find time to do the updates.
Ill make sure to regularly upload rest of the story.
Hope you enjoy my work.
Please do support me.
Love you all for reading my stupid works.