Meant To Be » 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄

» VI «

"Hey, why didn't you wait for me?" Jake caught up with us just before we walked into the cafe, speaking in English with a Korean lilt.

I laughed, "What was that?"

He chuckled back, "I got confused whether I should use English or not. So, are we studying?"

"It looks like it," I shrugged.

"Where were you?" Jungwon asked Jake.

"In the toilet- I thought you saw me when I walked past you just before you walked in our classroom."

"You did? I saw nobody," Jungwon spoke as we headed inside the cafe.

We chose a spot and put down our bags. I looked around the room in awe. The shelves were nicely organised and the people in there weren't making a fuss.

"Emma," Jake poked my shoulder, "Are you going to study first or browse through the shelves first?"

"Probably study first. Why'd you ask?"

"I thought you might need help with it. Although Jay did most of the job telling you the meanings but, just to make sure he didn't make any mistakes," he grimaced.

"Oh, okay," I cackled.

Jungwon placed a thick book in front of him before looking at us, "Do you guys want to order anything? Americano? Latte? Mocha? Cappuccino?"

"You know it, Jungwon," Jake winked. Jungwon snickered before turning to me, "Emma?"

"I don't drink...caffeine," I managed to answer him and he nodded as his jaw dropped. "Not even the sweet ones?" He asked.

"Yeah, none," I nodded.

Jake patted my arm to face him, "Are you sure you don't want anything? It'll be my treat."

"That would just be selfish of me," I cringed.

Jungwon pressed his lips together as he watched the two of us. Contemplating whether he should butt in or wait for us to finish.

"Are you really sure?" Jake asked one last time.

"Yes, really really sure," I nodded for the nth time that day.

"Alright then. I'll go, Jungwon. You can stay here with Emma," he exhaled before standing up from his seat.

"You know what I want?" Jungwon asked.

"Of course, the java chip one?"

Jungwon blinked before sighing, "Ah, whatever. Go. It's taking us too long."

He turned to me after Jake walked off, "You don't like caffeine?"

"Yes, I don't."

"Why though?"

"No special reason," I chuckled, "I just don't like it."

"Makes sense, you don't look stressed at all," Jungwon sneered jokingly, "How tall are you by the way? You were literally towering over everyone in your class when I came, including me."

"180 centimetres-"

"What?"

"It might be 179. I don't know."

"That's...still tall. I'm pretty sure we are only two years apart. Jake and I are also two years apart but we're almost the same height. What about your parents?"

I remained silent for a few seconds as I processed his word before speaking, "My father is around 188 centimetres and my mother is around 170, I think."

Jungwon exclaimed, "You all are giants."

"I played volleyball back in Melbourne, if that...explains," I stumbled with my words as I spoke to him. He merely nodded.

He inhaled, "The fact that you're the same age as Jake but still taller than him...amazes me."

I smiled, "Actually, I'm a year older than Jake."

"Huh? Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Did you start school late? Or did you retry a particular grade when you were young?"

"Uh...I failed twelfth grade."

"Oh...oh? Then you came here to be in twelfth grade again?"

I simply nodded. He furrowed his brows and folded his arms, "But you're still tall even if you're a year older. Taller than most of the girls here in Korea to be exact."

I chuckled, "It's the genes."

"Are you still growing though?"

I reluctantly shook my head, "Maybe."

He sighed and leaned back on his chair, "I wish I could be at least 180 centimetres too."

"You're young, don't worry."

Jake eventually came back with two drinks in his hands after a few minutes, "I thought I didn't bring the money with me just to notice that I kept it in one of my blazer pockets."

"Why did you take so long?" Jungwon jokingly glared at the latter.

"Did I take that long? I don't think I did. Did you two have a fun conversation while I was gone?"

"Yeah. She's quite quick with responding. I don't think we would have a problem conversing without you," Jungwon smiled at Jake.

Jake snickered, "Should I be glad, or...?"

Jungwon cackled before lightly punching him on his arm playfully, "I'm just joking. Thanks, by the way."

"No problem. Emma, shall we start?"

៚ · •

"I actually thought that I would already be fluent enough by the time school starts but looks like I have to study harder," I sighed as I grabbed my bag and got ready to leave with them after an hour.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it in a few weeks. I'm sure of it," Jake patted my shoulder reassuringly.

"Yeah, you're a fast learner so it won't be long before you eventually speak like a native," Jungwon responded in Korean, making both me and Jake confused.

Jake laughed as he asked, "Did you know what we were talking about?"

Jungwon looked up from his bag and to us with a dumbfounded expression, "What?"

I chuckled before swinging my bag over my right shoulder, "Maybe you're secretly fluent in English, Jungwon."

He blinked a couple of times before coming to his senses, "Ah, I just thought that you were complaining about learning the language because you sighed and Jake later on encouraged you with a pat on the shoulder."

"Oh?" I exclaimed before laughing. The few minutes spent in the book cafe surprisingly made the environment between the three of us more comfortable and made us slightly closer.

I believed it was the best way to get closer to finding Heeseung and Youngjae.

"Emma," Jake called, making me flinch a bit as my head was in the clouds for a brief moment. I turned my head to see him smiling at me. That damned smile.

"Want me to walk you home?"

© 2022 -JAKISM