Against the Odds | DAERIN

Chapter: 3

The next morning, I woke up tired. I got out of bed and looked in the mirror. God, I look terrible. I quickly fixed my hair, brushed my teeth, and went downstairs.

My parents and brother were already there. My father, as usual, was sitting at the table reading the daily newspaper, and my mother was eating some eggs. I made some cereal for myself and sat down, acknowledging the rest of my family.

"So, Jungwon, were we okay for your girlfriend?" my father asked, looking up at Jungwon, who was making his own cereal.

I looked down at my bowl.

"Yeah, it was fine."

"Sweet girl. What do you think, Haerin?" my mother chimed in.

"Oh, uh," I looked up from my cereal. "Yeah, she seems nice."

After breakfast, I got dressed and headed outside, grabbing my bike on the way. I had another shift at the bookstore. Part of me hoped I would see Danielle there; I found myself cycling a bit faster than I normally would.

"Hey, Darcy!" I said as I walked in, offering a smile.

"Hello, Haerin," she replied, briefly looking up from the counter to smile at me. "A new batch of books arrived, pre-orders," she said, gesturing towards the books.

I nodded and picked up the box, took it to the storage room, and set it down.

Walking back outside, I stood behind the counter.

"I'm going for a walk; think you can handle the shop?" Darcy said, standing.

"Of course."

It was never really busy in the store, so Darcy could basically leave whenever she pleased, leaving me in charge.

I sat down, put my feet up on the counter, and donned my wire-rimmed glasses. I picked up my book and started reading, but for once, I couldn't concentrate. My thoughts drifted to a certain brown-haired girl with brown eyes, and I shook my head disappointingly. Why was I thinking about her? My brother's girlfriend—it's wrong... isn't it?

My thoughts were interrupted when the doorbell rang; I looked up. Speak of the devil, I thought. There she was. She looked even more beautiful than the last time she came in. Would she be a regular now? God, I wish. I smiled at her. "My favorite customer, what brings you here today?"

She chuckled softly. She sounds angelic.

"I just wanted to thank you for walking me home last night," she replied, leaning on the counter. "It was pretty cold, so I felt bad dragging you out of the warmth of your own home." I laughed. She's so sweet... my brother doesn't deserve her.

"It's okay, really," I said, taking my feet off the counter and standing up. "Basic decency to walk a girl home at night."

I looked down a bit and met her eyes. She's so beautiful. Neither of us looked away, and for a moment, I felt something. But that moment ended when the doorbell rang again. I smiled softly at her before glancing to the side. An old man walked in, took off his hat, and looked at the first shelves of books. I smiled at him and turned back to Danielle.

"I'm leaving now, thanks again," she said, smiling at me one last time before she left.

"Bye, Danielle," I replied, watching her as she walked out the door and down the street.

What just happened? What was that moment? This isn't going to end well...

—

When I closed the shop, my phone buzzed.

MOM:
Hi sweetheart, your father and I are going out for dinner. There's food in the fridge, we'll be back late.

I sighed, hoping Jungwon wouldn't be around. Without my parents there, he could say whatever he wanted to me without consequences, and believe me, he really took advantage. I quickly replied to my mom and hopped on my bike. It was early October, so the weather wasn't too pleasant, meaning my bike ride home was always as quick as possible.

After what felt like hours, I finally arrived home. I got off my bike and leaned it against the side of the house. I looked around; the stars looked beautiful tonight. I stood there for a minute, gazing up at the sky before shivering. I took my bag off and searched for my keys.

Shit.

Now, I hoped Jungwon was inside. Although I didn't really want to see him, I also didn't want to stand outside for hours in the cold. I walked back to the front of my house and knocked on the door, hoping it would be answered.

I stood there for a while before hearing the lock being turned.

I breathed a sigh of relief but prepared myself to be alone with Jungwon. The door opened, and I looked up, my eyes widening as they met a now familiar pair of brown ones.

"Hey, Haerin." She smiled as I walked in.

"Hey... sorry, I forgot my keys." She laughed softly; god, I could get used to that sound. I smiled back at her. "Where's Jungwon?"

I noticed her smile faded a bit.

"Oh, he's in his room; he told me to come get the door because he was in the middle of a game."

I closed the door, took off my coat and shoes, earning a sympathetic look from her.

"He's a jerk," I said, walking into the living room and motioning for her to follow.

"I assume you two really don't get along...?" she asked as I sat on the other side of the couch. I didn't know what to answer; I didn't want to completely throw him under the bus, but I also didn't want to lie to her.

"Yeah... he just has some views on things that I believe in, where we don't agree," I replied, looking up at her. "Do you want to sit down?"

"Oh, yes." She laughed, sitting on the other side of the couch.

"On what views do you not agree?" she asked, looking at me.

"Homosexuality," I replied plainly, making eye contact with her.

"Oh..." She looked down gently at her hands in her lap and bit her lip softly. She was really beautiful.

I felt like I needed to explain a bit more, so I continued, "I came out last year, and since then, he hasn't spoken to me normally." She looked up at me, and our eyes met. "I didn't know," she said softly.

Our conversation was interrupted when we heard Jungwon shouting from upstairs.

"Danielle's at the door."

"I should probably go back up," she said quickly, getting up to leave.

"Danielle, wait," I said, standing up and walking toward her. "Our parents are having a party tomorrow; did Jungwon invite you?"

"He mentioned it. Why?"

"Just asking; I'll see you tomorrow then?" I asked, smiling at her.

"Yeah, see you then," she replied, smiling back.