pavement ↠ kim sunwoo

eight

"Thank you," Hana smiled weakly at the cashier, stabbing the lid with a straw.

She found herself sitting upon the kerbside, not caring about the passerby's who gave her an odd look.

Sunwoo's words rang in her head for days. It was the weekend now and she was of course not busy. Not a soul had texted her, even her boyfriend.

She told herself he was just caught up in a game, but what if was caught up with that girl?

And why was she just willing to ignore it?

"Hey," a voice from behind her said, although she couldn't bring herself to look up. "The left leg of your trouser is tucked into your sock, just saying."

Hana glanced at her feet, seeing her stripey sock on display to the whole street. "Thanks."

She prayed that they would go away, but when they sat beside her she had to look over.

It was a girl. She was incredibly pretty and delicate in her long spring dress, the kind of style Hana wished she had. "I'm Taeyang."

Of course you are. "I'm Hana," she replied nonetheless, sniffling as she looked down at her feet. "Are you from around here?"

"Kind of," the girl smiled, looking around as she shoved her hands in her pocket. "Are you?"

"Just the next street," Hana nodded somewhat awkwardly. Silence overcame the two before the girl stood up quickly. She opened her mouth to ask where she was going, but she simply decided to let her go.

That was until she returned with two ice lollies, holding one out to the girl with a smile.

It was then that Hana felt herself begin to cry. She felt pathetic, she didn't know why one simple act made her so emotional?

"Time of the month?" Taeyang asked, sitting down beside her.

"No, that's the worst part," Hana chuckled through tears, wiping them away out of embarrassment. "Thank you. You didn't have to."

"Why not?" The girl quizzed, opening the wrapper as she swapped her own with Hana's, smiling again.

"You don't even know me," she sighed, shaking her head.

"I don't have to," Taeyang shrugged. "You've got the kind of face I trust. Plus, you sit on the kerb too."

Hana chuckled, taking a bite of her ice lolly. "You do that too?"

"Almost every night," the girl smiled. "We should do it together. Less weird looks."

It was then Hana felt strangely content again in the presence of a stranger. One that was so kind and forgiving of her messes.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, she forgot about her worries. Even if it was just for the night.