Countless

Chapter 8

[Key]

I woke up the next day feeling excited. I was really happy May had accepted to be my girlfriend, even with my unconventional way of asking. It had been so long since I'd had someone special, it felt like a breath of fresh air in my life.

Today we'd decided to travel somewhere together by train, so she met me at the train station. I made sure to wear the hat she'd given me.

"It looks so nice on you." She smiled.

"You have good taste."

She found us a seat and soon we were watching the landscape go by as we whizzed towards our destination.

She seemed a little sleepy, so after a little hesitation, she rested her head on my shoulder. I still marvelled at any physical contact after months of talking on the phone. She looked so cute, so peaceful when she was sleeping. Maybe one day we'd wake up next to each other.

"We're here," I said when we were getting close. Taking her hand, we strolled through the quaint-looking town together. It occurred to me that I was lucky I was in Britain; here no one recognised me and I could walk around with my girlfriend freely. In Korea I wasn't so sure I could.

A week went by of our tentative new relationship, both of us getting used to relating to each other in a different way. I certainly didn't regret my choice; I only wished I could put her in my pocket and take her away with me.

"Time is passing by so fast." She pouted as she messed around with my clothes, putting on a bucket hat made out of jean material I'd brought with me.

"I know, it's crazy. Time never passes like this when I'm working."

"Tell me about it." She put on my jacket and twirled in it.

"You look so cute," I said. "You should keep them."

"I can't! They're yours."

I stood up and pulled her towards me, wrapping her in my arms so she had to look up at me.

"Keep them and think of me when you wear them."

"Alright then." She blushed.

I kissed her nose and she smiled, saying, "I'd better see pictures of you wearing the hat I got you."

"Oh you're keeping tabs on me now?" I joked.

"You're not hard to keep up with, you're a Kpop star."

I laughed. "True. But I hope that's not all you think I am."

"Of course not." She reached up and kissed me. "You know, I've never actually heard you sing. You haven't sung for me."

"True."

"Well then?" She smirked.

"I can't just do it like that! Give me something to sing. We can do a karaoke."

"My singing is nothing compared to yours."

"What would you want to hear?"

She thought for a moment. "Can you do In My Room? I really like that one."

I was taken aback for a moment; I hadn't expected that one.

"Sure then."

I settled on the sofa and she joined me, letting me drape an arm around her. I had to look up the lyrics to remember, but soon I was singing it for her as she looked at me, mesmerised. It felt different singing in front of her, more intimate somehow.

"Your voice is so beautiful," she said when I finished.

"Thank you." I blushed.

"Hopefully I can come see you perform on stage someday."

"I'd like that."

Resting her head on my chest, I ran my hand through her hair. Neither of us said anything; it was a perfect moment.

"I have to go home now," she said eventually.

"Let me take you there."

She kept my hat and coat on as I walked her home, stopping in the driveway.

"See you tomorrow then?"

"Yes, I'll just come over," she replied.

I leaned down to kiss her and she put her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. We stayed there making out for a while until one of her housemates came back, gingerly sidestepping us.

It was gonna be really hard to go back to Korea.