The Hidden Treasure

~39~

Hyejin walked up to the book shop early in the morning to find Jinyoung leaning against the doorway, scrolling through his phone.

"You're here early," she said cheerfully, standing back so he could move aside, allowing her to slide her key into the lock on the door.   She turned the key and heard the familiar click of the lock. 

"What can I say," he replied, following her into the book shop.  "I've found something I like."  She paused and looked back over her shoulder at him with a quizzical expression.  He realized his blunder and quickly followed up with a "To do.  Something I like to do." He laughed a soft, nervous laugh and quickly removed his jacket, walking behind the counter to hang it up. 

Hyejin glanced around the shop making sure everything was just as she left it last night.  Satisfied with its appearance, she removed her bag and jacket, placing them on the hooks behind the counter.  She noticed Jinyoung was already opening the blinds and getting everything ready for customers. 

It was a crisp fall morning and the sun was shining brightly through the now open blinds.  She watched as he went about his work, smiling warmly as he moved.  "What has you smiling this morning?"

Jinyoung froze for a second and then continued opening blinds.  "Nothing in particular," he said brightly.  His mind went back to the night before when he dropped off the food for Jinjoo. 

"Oh!  Jinyoung-ah!  What brings you here?"  Jinjoo greeted him warmly after answering his knock on her door. 

"Hyejin sent you this," he said with a wide smile, holding up a bag stuffed with takeout food.

"Seriously?!  That's great!  I'm starved.  Looks like enough for us both, want to join me," she asked with a chuckle, taking the large bag from his outstretched hand. 

"No, I'm not hungry, but thanks.  Plus, if I told Hyejin she bought me dinner, she would be mortified."  He and Jinjoo shared a laugh and she quickly invited him in, closing the door behind him after he relented.

"Ah, actually, Auntie, I wanted to ask you a favor."  He smiled his boyish grin that was almost guaranteed to melt even the hardest of female hearts. 

Jinjoo was absent-mindedly setting the containers out on the small kitchen table and merely nodded in the affirmative.   "Sure.  Ask away!" 

"I know it's going to be an inconvenience to you so I hesitate to ask but it's also really important to me.  So I have to ask."  Jinyoung looked down at the floor and sighed as he felt like life was quickly passing.  "I want to work with Hyejin a little longer."  He kept his eyes trained downward and waited for the older woman's response.

Jinjoo paused a moment and then continued to set out the food.  She grabbed some utensils from a nearby drawer and laid them on the table before turning to the young man who stood humbly behind her.  "You may not know this, but Hyejin is like a daughter to me.  After her parents died I took her in.  It's important to me who she becomes involved with."

"I understand.  That's why I want to ask your permission for me to ask her to date me." 

Jinjoo's face remained expressionless.  "So you want me to lie to her again and pretend to be sick so you can work up the courage to ask her out?" 

Jinyoung cringed a bit at her straightforwardness but she was right, no matter how bad it sounded coming from someone else. 

He nodded slightly and waited again only to be rewarded with a heavy sigh.