The Day I left You

Hyunjin

I stand up face to face with this extremely handsome and unreal looking man, my hands shaking as I clutch my bag strap within my vice grip. I swallow the lump in my throat and manage to say a few words at least.

"Pardon me?" I was convinced I looked like a deer in headlights, but I tried to keep my cool.

"I was just wondering if you had time to talk? I just bought the book she gave you and sorry to eavesdrop, but I heard you can't read Korean. I can help you translate some of it, if you'd like." He said.

His direct eye contact had me in shambles and I could barely focus on what I wanted to say to him. I didn't even know his name, but I felt so nervous to be speaking to such a well put together person. I myself felt like a loser.

"Oh." I glance down at the book.

"Don't feel obligated, I just thought a reading buddy while I'm here might be fun. I'm only visiting Australia until September. I mean, considering we might be the only two people who own this book here..." He smiled innocently and chuckled.

"I-I- Um. Are you sure y-you want a stranger as your reading buddy?" I asked.

He shrugged and pouted his lips, looking around at the empty book store.

"I don't see why not. I don't imagine I'd find a prettier girl around to ask."

I widen my eyes and blush more than I think I ever have in front of someone. I laugh nervously and stare down at the ground, no longer being able to take the eye contact.

"I-I think I could use a reading buddy. Sure."

I was most definitely unsure about all of this, but I just couldn't bring myself to say no. I was intrigued the moment I saw him and it only grew the more he spoke.

His smile was gorgeous and pearly white. His teeth graced by the cover of his plump and round lips made me shiver with nervousness. His eyes were sparkling in the faint light of the room with a golden yellow glint and they were the deepest dark brown I had seen in person before.

"I would like that." He reaches in his wallet and takes out a business card, but quickly shakes his head and puts it back in, running up to the counter to ask for pen and paper. He ran back over to me and handed me the torn off piece of receipt paper. I look down and all it had on it were a few Korean characters I didn't know and local phone number.

"Thank you. I-uh...I can't read this though..." I said holding

He chuckles and pauses. "...When you can read what this says, call me and we'll get together for a reading session. Hm?" He smiles cutely, turning around to leave the store.

"Wait!" I call out to him, causing him to turn around and stop to look at me. "You're not going to tell me your name?"

He pointed to the paper in my hand and winked, turning back around and exiting the building with his books. I almost drop the book I'm holding as I grip onto the shelf next to me. I felt drunk with infatuation and a little in shock. I had never in my life been approached like that, it was bold and daring, but I expected nothing less from a man who carried himself the way he did. Confidence beyond belief, but still humble with his words.

I take a few moments to gather myself before I go to the counter to make my purchase. I only picked out like 4 books including the one Opal gave me, but I didn't mind. I had one to focus on now and I couldn't stop staring at the cover as I walked slowly up to the counter.

I put them all down on the counter and sigh, glancing up at Opal who was hiding a smirk. I do a double take and start to smile too.

"Stop. I was already nervous." I say with a laugh.