HOMETOWN - soobin x oc

PART 7

DANBI

Soobin and I take our trays of food and follow Sammie and Yeonjun back to a small table on the far side of the cafeteria near the windows. They sit next to each other on one side and we sit across from them. Sammie keeps glancing at me while the four of us poke at our food. She shoots me a quick, friendly smile but darts her eyes away as soon as I try to smile back.

She's trying to be friendly, but I know she's also following Yeonjun's lead. She sees his wavering gaze, how he must be weighing the pros and cons of me being here, how he's carefully navigating being both supportive and protective of his friend.

I turn my attention to him. He seems relaxed, with his glasses pushed back over his head and ankles crossed under the chair. But he's definitely keeping his distance.

"The food here's really good..." he mumbles, digging his chopsticks into the rice.

Sammie nods in agreement and takes a sip of her drink first, making eye contact with me for a split second before she pokes at her own food. I want to say something but all I feel is Soobin's foot bouncing up and down next to mine, brushing against my shoes over and over again.

"Baby, can you stop, please?" I whisper to him, placing my hand over his knee. He picks his head up and smiles nervously.

"Sorry..."

"So, Danbi-" Sammie says suddenly, her voice echoing in my ear. I raise my eyebrows at her, my lips pressed into a thin smile while she mixes her chicken and rice. "You said that you and Soobin were high school sweethearts- that's really nice."

I smile and nod, watching her bring some rice to her mouth. I mix up my own food and glance at Soobin to see if he wants to chime in, but he doesn't take the hint.

"Yeah, um-" I start, looking up at her. Her gold hoop earrings dangle as she moves her hair back over her shoulder. "We've known each other since we were kids..."

"You guys grew up in Ansan, right?" Yeonjun asks, still chewing some of his food.

"Yeah, we weren't neighbors, but we went to the same schools and our families know each other," I explain, doing my best to maintain eye contact with them as I continue telling them about our childhood together. Soobin doesn't say much, he just eats his food quietly next to me, but I notice Sammie nodding along to what I'm saying. She listens attentively, but I can't tell if she's trying to be friendly or looking for reasons to dislike me.

"So how was Soobin in high school?" Sammie asks, shooting Soobin a quick smile.

He giggles over his tray of food. "Shy and awkward-"

"No, you weren't!" I laugh and pat him on the knee as I turn to look at Sammie and Yeonjun. "Okay- he was painfully shy during our first and second year, but he really came out of his shell during our third year. Right, bunny?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right-" he nods and swallows back his food. "Danbi really helped me become more confident..."

"That's sweet," Yeonjun smiles.

"I was really shy in high school too," Sammie chimes in.

"Were you really, babe?" Yeonjun asks, turning to look at her as he moves her hair back over her shoulder. "I thought you were one of those popular girls, pulling all the boys..." he smirks and watches her blush.

"No, baby-" she laughs and covers her mouth. "That was you–" she then turns to me and tips her chin to Soobin. "Soobin and I are both introverts, so I can definitely see him being shy and awkward like me..."