You Don't Know Me ➳ Taesan [COMPLETED]

One

Amy-Janett sat cross-legged in her mother's garden, picking out weeds from the soil. It was a hot sunny morning, and even though most kids from the city would probably be inside on a hot weekend, the teenagers from the small town of Green Haven would find themselves outside either way. It was a far-fetched dream to even think of sleeping in on the weekend or spending their time on their cell phones.

Amy-Janett loved to tend to the flowers and plants though, it was a perfect way to spend a hot day. But as she worked, she couldn't help but feel a sense of boredom. She was indeed bored, and maybe one of the reasons was because of the boys in her town.

Amy-Janett was only 17 years old, but she had been hailed as the most beautiful girl in the small town. When she was a child, so many passers-by used to talk about how she was extraordinarily striking. Her curly hair and large bright eyes were her most striking features, and almost everyone immediately fell in love with her. Even in school, some teachers would talk about how beautiful Amy was.

And when she reached her teen years, and boys and girls had stopped their cat-and-dog rivalry, she had received so many romantic cards and requests that it almost made her feel sick.

The boys in her small town were all the same, with their backwards baseball caps and flannel shirts. She had dated a few of them, but it never lasted long. They talked about the same things and only cared about the same things. She could hardly keep a conversation with them without zoning out, her mind would always go to other places. The boys lacked the depth she craved, and their conversations were always dull.

As she reached for another weed, she heard footsteps behind her. She was hoping it wouldn't be someone she didn't want to see, as that seemed to happen very much to her in this small town. She turned around to see Jaehyun, the most persistent of all boys, walking towards her.

Jaehyun was a handsome boy, tall and fit with dark hair. He was also the most intelligent student in school, and was also the most popular among the boys in the class. He was handsome, she could not deny, but just like everyone boy in the town, he lacked depth.

'Hey Amy-Janett,' he said, flashing his charming smile with his white teeth. 'What are you doing all alone on a weekend?'

She rolled her eyes. She had heard that line countless times from Jaehyun, and she knew that he obviously knew what she was doing in her mother's garden, yet still asked. He was a nice enough guy, really, maybe she was the problem.

'Just taking care of my mother's garden,' she replied, trying to sound as disinterested as possible.

Jaehyun didn't seem to take the hint that she didn't want him there. Instead of leaving, he plopped down next to her. Amy-Janett was internally screaming in irritation, completely annoyed by Jaehyun who had decided to stay. He started to chat away, telling her about his latest fishing trip and how he caught the biggest trout he had ever seen. Amy listened politely, but her mind was elsewhere. She literally just wanted to say "who cares about fish?" to him.

She couldn't help but daydream about meeting someone whom she actually liked. She really wanted to be able to have a conversation with a boy without them bragging about their masculine activities which she didn't enjoy one bit. She had always dreamt about meeting someone new, someone who would sweep her off her feet and take her on adventures she has never imagined. But in a town as small as Green Haven, that almost seemed like an impossible dream.

As Ji continued to talk, Amy-Janett's eyes wandered to the house across the street. A moving truck was parked in the driveway, and several men were carrying boxes inside it. It was unusual to see someone move into the town, and Amy felt a twinge of excitement.

She saw a young man leave the car, and though she couldn't see what he looked like from a distance, she hoped it would be someone exciting. Maybe he was someone from the big city who loved art, or maybe a boy who knew how to play the guitar and could write songs. She couldn't help but sigh though, it wasn't as if life was a movie.

She turned back to Jaehyun, who was still rambling on about his fishing trip. She tried to focus on his words, but her mind kept drifting to the new guy across the street. Who was he? What was he like? Could they perhaps be good friends? Or even something more?

Jaehyun noticed her lack of attention and paused mid-sentence. 'Are you even listening to me?' he asked her, sounding annoyed.

Amy-Janett snapped out of her thoughts and plastered a fake smile on her face. 'Of course, I am,' she said, trying to sound convincing. 'You were saying something about catching a big fish, right?'

Jaehyun shook his head. He then huffed and stood up. 'Never mind,' he said, clearly annoyed. 'I'll see you later Amy-Janett.'

She watched as he walked away, feeling a twinge of guilt. She knew she wasn't being fair to Jaehyun, but she couldn't help her wandering mind. She turned back to the house across the street, wondering who the new guy was and if he would be the one to break her cycle of boredom.

For the rest of the afternoon, Amy-Janett watched as the new family moved into the house across the street, while she pretended to still be doing the gardening.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She couldn't get her hopes us. It was likely that the new guy was just another average guy, like all the others in the town. But still, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of excitement.

As she finished up the gardening, she decided to take a walk around the block. Maybe she would catch a glimpse of the new neighbor, or at least get some fresh air to clear her head.

As she walked, she noticed a few other neighbors peeking out of their windows, probably wondering about the new guy too. It was a small town, after all, and any new arrival was bound to cause some curiosity.

Finally, she arrived back at her own house, feeling a bit disappointed that she hadn't seen the new neighbor. She went inside and headed to the kitchen. The delicious smell of homemade chicken soup wafted into her nostrils. Her mother, a plump and cheerful woman, was busy stirring a pot on the stove.

'Hey mom,' Amy-Janett greeted her, walking over to give her a quick hug. 'That smells amazing!'

Her mother beamed at the compliment. 'I'm glad you like it honey. But you're just in time to help me with lunch.'

She groaned. 'Do I have to? I was hoping to take a nap in peace.'

Her mother gave her a stern looking. 'Yes, you have to.' She paused for a while and smiled. 'And while you're at it, maybe you should consider going out with Jaehyun. He's a nice boy, and he's even been asking me a lot about you.'

Amy-Janett rolled her eyes. 'Mom not this again. I've already told you that I'm not interested in him. Can we please drop it?'

Her mother sighed. 'I know, I know. But you don't seem to like anyone else around her. And Jaehyun is such a good catch. He's handsome, hardworking and comes from a kind family.'

Amy-Janett knew her mother meant well, but the thought of dating Jaehyun made her cringe. That would mean more stories about his fishing trips, or how he spent the weekend helping his father fix a car or how his father had allowed him to drive his tractor. Boring, to say the least. He was a nice guy, but he was also a bit dull and lacking in everything she craved.

'I appreciate your concern, mom,' she said, trying to sound polite. 'But I'll find someone eventually, I'm still young. Maybe not from this town.'

Her mother nodded, looking a bit disappointed. 'Alright, I won't push it. But I hope you'll give Ji a chance someday. He really cares about you.'

Amy-Janett smiled, feeling guilty for dismissing her mother's advice so easily. She knew her mother had just wanted her to be happy. 

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