The day I rescued you and everything changed (TxT's Soobin Fanfiction)

Chapter 4: The day you met her the first time

I walked her to the door when the sun began to rise. Somehow, we just sat there, sipping our tea for almost an hour without really talking a lot. And for some reason, it didn't feel too awkward. It felt like something that had been out of place was suddenly right. Whatever it was about her, she made me feel at ease and on guard the same time. But one look from her and I felt hugged, warm inside, letting my guards drop in an instant. She had so much gentleness in her eyes, so much love that it almost tore my heart apart thinking about it.

She had told me that she lost control the first time since the funeral today since it was the first anniversary of his death. She had drunk too much and then attempted to go home alone when she ran into me. Being drunk had felt good for the moment, but she knew that it wasn't a real solution. However, she had been calm and collected for a full year now, she felt like she needed to explode – one way or another. And instead of doing something even more stupid, she chose the alcohol, promising herself it would only be this once. Looking at her, something made me sure that she would keep this promise at least until next year. Yet, she now sat there, so graceful as if nothing ever had happened. If it wouldn't be the reason for her sitting next to me, I wouldn't even believe that it did.

"Thank you again...", she said and tilted her head, realizing she didn't know my name. "Soobin", I helped her out. She nodded. "Nice name. Well, thanks again, Soobin. I really mean it", she continued her first sentence and opened the door, turning around again, "Oh and I am Kasumi by the way." Kasumi – it meant mist or pure flower. It sounded perfect for a girl like her. She walked out, gracefully as could be, looking just like the first time I saw her: fragile, yet strong. I couldn't explain how, but I knew she was back on track. It would have been a movie-like scene with me watching the woman leave if it wouldn't have been for that other one walking around the corner and running into Kasumi. That other one was Ari, my girlfriend.

She stared at Kasumi confused until she got aware of me standing in the doorframe. It was too late to hide. "Choi Soobin, do you want to tell me something?", she exclaimed sharply and Kasumi jumped, looking not only puzzled, but almost scared back and forth between me who was fiddling with my fingers and her who was crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at me. And she understood quickly. "It's not what it looks like", she said calmingly, "I had pestered him. I had –" She stopped as she caught my gaze and within the blink of an eye changed her words, only for us to know. "I had hurt myself by falling to the ground and since I saw the lights on in his apartment, I rang the doorbell, asking for a bandage." I saw Ari inspecting her, seemingly searching for that bandage she talked about, so she swiftly added: "Luckily, he had one that I could put it around my knee, but now I am on my way off. Don't worry, I'm sure he's a very loyal boyfriend." Avoiding further questions – and gazes – she hurried away, not forgetting to limp a bit.

•••••••

Ari sat on my couch, just where Kasumi had been sitting a few minutes ago and inspected me suspiciously. It didn't feel like before, like a somehow pleasant silence. Well, obviously. "It's like the girl said", I said for the nth time already. I hated to lie but how would any girlfriend accept what I did for a random – and most importantly female – stranger? "What even did you do up and out at a time like this?", I tried to change topic. "Don't turn this on me", she snapped and threw her hair back. Even her anger didn't interrupt how good she looked. "But what else should I tell you?", I sighed helplessly. "Whatever. We're gonna talk about this later", she gave up, "I would have come over soon anyway. You have to drive me to work." Ari lived next door and it had become a habit for me to take her along to school back then. That's how we met. And I now still drove her to work every day even though it was a detour for me. But today I was just too tired to drive. I would just do home office. Which meant... "Sorry Ari, but I haven't slept well at all this night", I said, "It might be better if you go by bus today." She huffed in disbelief. "Excuse me, Soobin?", she asked with a warning undertone. I took her hands in mine and gently looked at her before explaining: "It's not because of that girl, really. It's because I am tired and I don't want to put any of us into danger, okay?" She freed her hands and got up, glaring at me one more time before rushing out wordlessly. I sighed and let myself fall back. I had to find a way to make up for this again.

•••••••

I took a deep breath and entered the store. I really didn't want to do this at first, but somehow, I found myself ending up here, nonetheless. I found her quite fast. She looked as tired as I felt, binding a bouquet. "What a coincidence", I greeted her and she flinched. As her eyes found me, she smiled tired, but with the same unchanging warmth that I already started to like about her. "Did it work out with your girlfriend?", she asked. I shrugged. "Would I be here then?", I gave back. "Oh... I'm sorry. Really", Kasumi said with honesty. "Well, this is not your problem", I replied. "Still", she sighed and I figured she really felt guilty. "It's not your fault either", I told her with my softest voice. She glimpsed up at me before skilfully wrapping a cord around the bouquet and cutting it.

"What exactly brings you here?", she changed topic. She didn't believe me, I knew. "I thought I might stop by at a nearby flower shop during lunch break and buy my girlfriend flowers to make up. Didn't know this was the store you're working in", I lied. I didn't know why I searched up the flower shops near the train station I first saw her. I didn't know why I wanted to find out, wanted to see her again. Somehow, it felt like she held the answer, the key, to a question I didn't even knew I was asking myself. She tilted her head and her eyes almost pierced me. She saw through me, I was sure. But if she knew that I intentionally drove all the way here, she played along. "Look around, pick one", she smiled.

Mindlessly, I grabbed a bouquet and held it up. "This one", I announced. "Don't you think you should put more consideration into it? She's your girlfriend", she said. I tilted my head. "Help me out then", I gave back. Without breaking the eye contact between us, she grabbed another one to her right and held it out for me. "I'd go with forget-me-nots as they symbolize eternal loyalty, but she doesn't seem to have eyes for small wonders like them. So here you go. Red roses and white Dianthus instead, same meaning, a bit more classic. You can never go wrong with those." I looked at the bouquet in my hands. "What's that then?", I asked. "Alstroemeria", she told me and pointed to the flowers I held, "symbolize friendship. They are stunning, but maybe not the best choice for your loved one, I'd say." I blushed and she chuckled. "All good", she reassured me.

"Could you deliver them to her workplace?", I asked shyly. Ari liked being the centre of attention and this would guarantee to make her. "Sure", she shrugged and got out a piece of paper, handing it over to me. "Fill this out. Do you want to put a card as well?", she went on. I nodded and she rummaged through some drawers underneath the table she was standing at. Soon, she handed me over some cards, letting me choose one. I filled everything necessary in, wrote something sweet on the card and then handed both back to her. She quickly checked the form and then smiled. "Alright, that's it. Do you want to be notified once we deliver it?", she asked. For a short second, I was again stunned by her eyes. They were so deep, they held a whole universe in them. And before I knew it, I heard myself say: "Yes, please." She nodded and wrote a short notice on the paper before telling me the price. I paid and a bit confused, I left the store again, turning around one last time, seeing her greeting the next customer with that warm smile. I scratched my head. How did she make me feel so weird every time, yet attracted me in a way I never experienced before? I shook my head. Time to get back home.