#11

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Steam filled the air surrounding Heeseung as he cooked some meat over a stove, as he was instructed to do by his 'bossy partner'.

While he was doing that Yunju prepared the seasoning for the next part of the recipe.

She could feel the continued judgy glances he would give her as they worked.

Finally annoyed with the looks, she asked, "Ok you've been giving me weird looks for like twenty minutes now what is it?"

"Nothing, just look at how you're not following the recipe correctly." He said nonchalantly shrugging.

"What?" Yunju asked in disbelief, turning to grab the recipe card.

Sighing heavily, she turned and punched his shoulder, "Why didn't you say something then? What the hell?" She whined.

"Ow, hey I tried to tell you but you told me to cook the meat." He shrugged.

Oh my god.

She groaned, starting to read the recipe card.

"May I have everyone's attention, please? Next week are going to be trying a very difficult recipe so, if you can, please practice. Now I'd like for one person from each group to come and grab the recipe card." Mr. Choi announced and everyone went to grab a card.

Upon returning Yunju said, "This weekend let's go to the store."

"So bossy, you know it's that attitude that made you mess up the recipe."

"I wouldn't have if you had just told me." She responded, rolling her eyes.

"Park! Lee! Are you two fighting back there?" Mr. Choi called out.

"No sir!" They both shouted back.

+++++++

The following weekend, the two met and went to the store as planned.

Things were going as planned and the two began to head to Yunju's apartment to try and practice the recipe. Until the two stumbled upon a large crowd.

Panic broke out inside Yunju as her breathing started to speed up and she slowly began backing away.

This time, Heeseung noticed and immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her away to a small convenience store nearby.

He sat her down and then went in to buy her a bottle of water, as her breathing began to slow. Before he could hand it to her, she snatched it out of his hands and quickly began drinking it.

"Hey slow down you're gonna choke." He calmly said, taking the bottle from her. "Ok, you need to tell me what that was, the last time it happened I could tell you were embarrassed but this was worse than last time." He demanded.

"It's nothing I'm fine." She replied slightly out of breath, her hand resting on her chest.

"Do you have a fear of crowds? Since when? I don't remember this at all."

"Of course, you don't... why would you remember the thing you caused?" She asked him scoffing.

"What do you mean I caused?" He asked.

+++++++

10 years ago

10-year-old Yunju and Heeseung ran ahead of their mothers, excited to go to the new store that had just been installed.

Days like this began to be a common ritual when Yunju and her family moved in.

The moment Heeseung and Yunju met they were practically inseparable immediately.

Once the four arrived at the store, they were surprised at the crowd surrounding the store.

The two younger of the pair stared in awe at the large crowd in front of them.

"Whoa, this crowd is huge!" Yunju exclaimed, gesturing with her hands.

"Hey, mom! Is it ok if me and Yunju go ahead?" Heeseung shouted back.

"Yes that's fine, but hold each other's hands so you don't lose one another, alright?" His mom responded. Heeseung nodded, grabbing Yunju's hand and running off into the crowd.

The two of them squeezed and pushed their way through the crowd, their hands still connected.

However, the further they got into the crowd the tighter Yunju squeezed Heeseung's hand.

She had always felt weird about crowds and being in a big one now didn't help. As the two got closer and closer eventually Yunju had lost Heeseung's hand,  falling behind.

"Heeseung! Where'd you go?" She shouted looking around in a panic.

However, he was nowhere in sight. She waited and looked around, her breath becoming shallower and shallower.

The people around looked as if they were giants, close to touching the ceiling. Circling her with no way to escape.

Not knowing what else to do she crouched down and held her head between her arms and legs.

Slowly breathing until the crowd went away.

*************

Hi

I know it's been a while since I updated this story, sorry about that :)

I had a little writer's block but I eventually worked through it.

So anyway I hope you liked this chapter.

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