REMEMBER ME ʲᵒᵒ ᵍʸᵉᵒᵏᶜʰᵃⁿ

chapter four

empty head, just you

I cross the expansive road, my steps quickening as I head towards the little shops in town. The familiar jewelry store, where I once found a replica of my stolen bracelet, becomes my destination. My hand instinctively grabs the doorknob, and with one swift push, the door swings open, making the bells chime and alerting the elderly shop owner of my presence.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" the old man asks, peering at me from behind the counter.

The shop appears emptier compared to my last visit. I offer the man a kind smile, reaching into my purse to retrieve a picture. I show him the image of my mother's wrist adorned with a shining bracelet. "I know you have this bracelet here. Is there any chance you have more examples of it?"

The older man takes a careful look before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, miss, but there is only one left." He points his trembling index finger behind me at a shelf where the bracelet hangs.

"Alright, I'm sorry for bothering you. Thank you." I give the man a polite bow before heading towards the door.

"Na-eun?"

I turn my head back around, and my eyes meet a pair of familiar brown ones. "Gyeok-chan?"

The boy smiles at me. "You need another ride?" he asks with a small laugh. He's definitely joking.

"No..." I say awkwardly. "I was just looking for something."

"You found what you were looking for?"

I shake my head. "No, it's... not here." Gyeok-chan looks at me with his intense eyes as he takes a good look at my face. I can feel my face heating up, and I try to hide it with a small cough. "Anyways, what are you doing here?"

The boy glances at the old man, who has a frown on his face as he listens to our conversation. Nice... he doesn't even try to hide he's eavesdropping.

"I work here, actually... Yeah, I have two part-time jobs," Gyeok-chan sighs.

I nod slowly. "Alright, I should probably go. I don't want to distract you from your job."

"You're not distracting me-- I mean, you are with your pretty face--" He quickly shuts his mouth as he curses in embarrassment. "What I wanted to say is, don't worry about it. I was just done for today."

I laugh at his poor attempt to hide his rosy cheeks. "Oh..."

"Do you want to grab a drink together?" Gyeok-chan asks with raised eyebrows.

I look at him with wide eyes. Did he just ask me out? Oh boy... "Yeah, sure, why not."

"Great. Let me just grab my stuff."

He hurries back to where he came from, from behind the corner. I look at the shop owner, who stares at me with furrowed brows. "Don't get too comfortable with him; he'll disappoint you when you know the real him."

My eyes grow wide as I take in what he just said. Was that a warning? "What do you mean, sir?"

Before he can say anything else, Gyeok-chan returns with his purse and jacket. He glares at the old man when he walks past him. Did he hear what he said?

I shake my head, trying to get rid of what just happened, as I focus on my 'date' with Gyeok-chan.

"Let's go; I know a beautiful place not far from here. They make the best coffee; you'll love it," he says, leading me out of the shop with his hand on my lower back.

I can feel the butterflies dancing in my stomach at the kind gesture. He really knows how to make a girl swoon over him.

Just like he did before, he opens the passenger door for me and says, "Get in," with a smile. I smile back as I take a seat beside him while he sits down behind the wheel.

We sit in comfortable silence as he drives us to our destination. I catch him throwing small glances at me as I look out the window. And every time I do, he looks away quickly, acting like nothing happened.

I think back to what the old man said. What did he mean by 'he'll disappoint you'? I can't seem to shake off the bad feeling I have deep in my guts. Like I should listen to the man and stay away from Gyeok-chan.

"We're here."

I jump as he startles me with his voice. I look out the window to see a big café in front of me. The place is packed with different couples and families eating and drinking together.

My door is suddenly opened as a hand comes into my view. I put my hand in his as he closes the door behind me. "Come on," Gyeok-chan says as he, once again, puts his hand on my lower back.

He opens the door and gestures for me to walk in. I say a quick 'thank you' before walking into the café. I'm met with a strong coffee smell hitting my nostrils, causing me to go dizzy for a mini-second.

Gyeok-chan leads me towards a table for two, which is far from the other tables. He pulls out a chair and tells me to sit. I sit down, and he pushes my chair closer to the table, then sits down on his own.

As I glance around, I notice the cozy atmosphere of the café, with warm lights and soft music in the background. The menu catches my eye, showcasing an array of coffee options and delicious pastries. Gyeok-chan, noticing my interest, suggests trying their special blend.

"Let me order for us," he says with a reassuring smile. I nod, appreciating his initiative, and take a moment to enjoy the ambiance of the place.

The waiter arrives, and Gyeok-chan confidently orders two cups of the special blend and a plate of assorted pastries. As we wait for our order, Gyeok-chan engages in light conversation, asking about my interests and sharing bits of his own life. The more he talks, the more I find myself drawn into his stories.

Our drinks and pastries arrive, and the aroma is enticing. Gyeok-chan raises his cup for a toast, "To unexpected encounters and delightful conversations."

We clink our cups, and the rich flavor of the special blend fills my senses. The atmosphere, the company, and the delicious coffee create a moment that I didn't anticipate when I first agreed to join him.

As we continue our conversation, Gyeok-chan's charm becomes more apparent. He's charismatic, funny, and genuinely interested in getting to know me. The initial doubts I had start to fade away, replaced by a sense of enjoyment in the present moment.

Little did I know that this unexpected coffee date would mark the beginning of something more intriguing and complex than I could have imagined.

"Anyways..." Gyeok-chan clears his throat. "- what were you looking for, if you don't mind me asking?" I look at him in confusion, not quite understanding what he's talking about. "In the shop, I mean."

"Oh, that. I was just looking for a bracelet my mom gave me before she passed--" My eyes grow wide as I shut my mouth quickly. I did not mean to tell him that...

"I'm sorry..." Gyeok-chan mutters while looking down. "Do you- maybe- have a picture of the bracelet?"

I look at him before looking down at his wrist. "You-- you had the same one around your wrist when you gave me a ride before."

He looks down at his wrist before pulling his sleeve up, revealing the same bracelet. "This one?" He raises one brow at me.

I nod.

Gyeok-chan clears his throat, and I can sense a shift in the atmosphere. The unexpected connection between us becomes more apparent, and I'm left wondering how two strangers can share such a meaningful detail.

"I guess we have more in common than I thought." he says, with a small smirk.

##

well, that's a plot twist right there
hope you guys like it so far