colors ◇ seventeen | wonwoo

e i g h t

ga eul had a cup of americano and as wonwoo sat across from her he remembered a quite similar scene, except that last time she had been smoking a cigarette.

an ajhumma owned the shop whose wall ga eul had been painting and she assured wonwoo that she was doing it for the ajhumma. he was hesitant to believe her but then the old lady had come out and told ga eul to take a break from her hard work. 

now here they were, sitting in the same coffee shop they had first met. ga eul had her americano--the same drink she ordered during their first encounter--and wonwoo had a cup of café mocha.

"so, what were you doing the painting for?"

ga eul shrugged. "it's my job. i paint things and people pay me for it."

"but sometimes you do it for fun," wonwoo added, "and without permission."

she rolled her eyes. "oh, come on, it was a joke. you didn't get into too much trouble."

"the ajhussi yelled at me and threatened to call the police."

"see. wasn't so bad."

wonwoo didn't like how nonchalant she was about this. it was as if she cared for nothing. and maybe that's what has been attracting him to her in the first place. it wasn't that he foumd her attractive--though he did think she was pretty--but she was more interesting than anything.

"as much as i find you cute, i don't appreciate being stared at."

wonwoo blushed, either because of being caught staring or because of she called him cute. a part of him wanted to protest being called "cute" but another part of him was flattered that she noticed his looks.

"sorry," wonwoo mumbled. it was barely audible but apparently she had heard him.

wonwoo could feel the awkward silence frowing between them. maybe it was just him, though, as ga eul did not look the slightest bit uncomfortable. wonwoo wanted to start a conversation, and he was sure if he should mention seeing her at the restaurant the other day. thinking back to the state she was in, he decided that she might not appreciate talking about it. so, instead he asked her a random question. "why americano?"

she raised an eyebrow at him, looking a mixture of surprised and amused at his question. "you're asking why i like americano?"

he shrugged. "just curious. is there anything wrong with asking?"

she shook her head. "no. nothing wrong," she said. "but i don't have a particular reason. i just do."

he nodded, accepting the answer, though he was slightly disappointed. his expression must have showed that sliver of disappointment, though, and she asked, "were you expecting some other kind of answer? maybe something about how the coffee is bitter and it might relate to something in my life? it doesn't." her expression turned grim. "or maybe you want to ask something else. like, about the other day at the restaurant."

wonwoo didn't answer. the look she was giving him made him shrink back a bit and he couldn't seem to get any word out of his mouth.

and then her lips curled up and he recognized the teasing glint in her eyes. "i'll tell you. one day. if you're going to stick around, that is."

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a/n: i don't know where this story is headed tbh..