"so you do smile. I thought you didn't know how to.." Haneul said as he looked at Ash intently.
"I do know I'm pretty but your continuous staring makes me uncomfortable.." Ash shook her head slightly and continued walking towards the check out section nervously.
"I was just admiring your smile. Let's walk together, I'll help you get a taxi" Haneul said, following her.
"Well, I'd be grateful.." Ash whispered, making sure Haneul didn't hear her.
"You sure do walk fast with those tiny legs of yours!" Haneul teased as he took big steps to catch up with Ash.
His words, of course, offended Ash. She stopped walking and turned to look at him, her sudden stop almost made him bump into her but he somehow managed to stay on his feet. "You do know your comments are really.. unnecessary..you have no right to comment on my legs and for your information I'm 5'5! I'm not short!" Ash said, annoyance dripping from her voice, as she ran her fingers through her black shoulder length hair.
"Yes. I am very sorry. My comment on your legs, didn't come out right. I was just actually complimenting your speed" Haneul tilted his head a little to look more carefully at Ash.
So, for the first time, Ash looked straight in his eyes and she gasped, then shook her head, "I'm sorry, my..I..you have really beautiful eyes, I was..nevermind..sorry.." Ash apologized, embarrassed of her reaction.
Haneul laughed a little then walked close to her.
"Admiring? You were admiring my eyes? It's alright.. can't be helped, really..here.." Haneul whispered as he helped Ash with her luggage.
Ash jumped up a little on hearing his voice. "You know what? I think I'll get a taxi myself. I don't need your help!" She whispered back.
"Right..I don't think you'll be needing one anyways. There's someone already waiting there for you" Haneul pointed behind Ash.
"Oh! My grandparents!" Ash smiled as she ran towards them.
"Look at my baby!" An old lady, Ash's grandmother, who was wearing a beautiful dress, with an expensive set of pearls, said as she gave Ash a suffocating hug.
"Aw..I missed you guys!!" Ash said as she managed to pull her grandfather in the hug as well. When they were finally done with the meeting after so long rituals her grandfather vaguely pointed at something behind Ash, when she turned around to see the thing, it turned out to be a person and not a thing.
"Hello Haneul, how may I help you?" Ash asked in a very bored tone
Haneul lightly pushed her away and then smiled at her grandparents and then he bowed.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you..my name is seung Haneul, I'm Ash's friend" Haneul introduced himself
"Oh! Lovely to meet you! Haneul..such a beautiful name!" They replied
"No no! No don't do that! He isn't my friend. I, very unfortunately, happened to bump into him earlier. I just feel like he's trying to take revenge.." Ash said, stopping him from shaking her grandparents hands.
"Oh no Ash! It was an accident. I am certainly not someone who'd do something as childish as taking revenge..I simply wanted to make sure you go home safely.." Haneul said with a conceited smile.
"Oh my, so nice of you! I propose we have dinner together, if you're not busy, that is.." her grandfather said
"No Grandpa! You can't invite a complete stranger for dinner!" Ash said, linking her arms with her grandmas .
"But he's your friend. Ash, sweetie, I promise we will not embarrass you Infront of this fine gentleman. Plus, we saw you talking to him , actually whispering something in his ear, you both look close..solve whatever disagreement you both have over dinner.." her grandfather said. Which caused Ash to make a whiny face but she didn't say anything.
"Oh sir it's alright. Thank you for inviting me, I would have loved to have dinner with you fine people but I do regret to say, I have somewhere else to be. But I'd love to have dinner some other time.." Haneul said as he bowed apologetically.
Ash looked at him in annoyance and then shut her eyes tightly and shook her head a few times then finally opened her mouth to say something but..Haneul was no longer there. She looked around and saw him walking towards the airport cafe with his bag pack.
"Well, Ash, let's go home now.." her grandfather said, disappointment in his voice was crystal clear.
Sigh.
Why.
"I'll go apologize." Ash said as she ran towards Haneuls direction without even waiting for her grandparents to reply.
As soon as she reached the cafe. She looked around to spot Haneul and when she did, she took a deep breath and walked towards him. He was sitting on a two man table sipping water through a straw as he drew something on a tiny red book.
"Haneul!"
This wasn't Ash's voice, then who was it? Ash turned around to see who called Haneuls name and she saw a very beautiful girl, with long light brown hair, hazel eyes and a model like body. She was wearing a cute blue dress and wedgies. Her smile was.. breathtaking. She walked towards Haneul and Haneul got up , opening his arms, inviting her for a hug. Ash raised an eyebrow and slowly backed off when someone held her wrist and pull her towards themself. Haneul. Ash looked surprised
"Oh! Haneul. Hi!"Ash waved awkwardly with a gummy smile.
"Hi Ash. I suppose you came here to say something to me? " There it was..his signature conceited smile.
"Haha..yes um.." Ash looked at the girl standing behind Haneul, she didn't look really happy. Her smile was now no longer there. She was staring at Haneuls book in which he was drawing.
"Earth to Ash!" Haneul said which made him laugh. "Earth to Ash sounds..funny.. enchanting actually.." Haneul said, leaving her hand.
"Right! Um, I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable back there..I mean, for..I mean..I shouldn't ..no um you're always welcome to have dinner with us. I'm sorry for being rude and..that wasn't very nice of me and I'll probably be given a lecture about it so I am very sorry. Please, I hope you-" Ash choked on her own spit which made Haneul laugh.
"It's alright Ash..but I don't really need an apology, it's not required, I really have company, as you can see, otherwise, I would've certainly joined you people for dinner, despite your not wanting me to..but, there is something..you're forgetting" Haneul smiled
Ash shut her right eye tightly, trying to remember what she was forgetting.
"..I'm not really good at these thinking games..my hippocampus is really..not good at.. remembering things..short term memory loss.. hehe" Ash scratched her head
"My mobile, Ash." Haneul smiled as he extended his hand.
"Oh! Right! O my God, sorry I completely forgot! Yes, wow, here" Ash said quickly handing him his phone.
"Right then, goodbye Ash. It was nice meeting you." Haneul bowed and went back to the girl, who was now sitting at Haneuls seat.
"Right. Bye." Ash said as she ran back to her grandparents.
"He actually had company. But I still apologized so you don't need to..give a lecture. " Ash said as she hugged her grandfather and they walked to the exit gate.
