The Hidden Treasure

~49~

A few days later Hyejin strolled up to The Last Page.  She had two coffee cups in her hand and a smile on her face.  She stepped into the shop and looked around for the shop's curious owner. 

"Mr. Oh?  Where are you?"  She became a little concerned as she went further into the shop and still had not seen a single trace of the little shop owner.

"I'm here," he said, popping his little white head out from behind a small shelf. 

"There you are!  I didn't see you."  Hyejin grinned and walked over to the old shopkeeper.

"The shelf was hiding me.  It's so tall."  He winked and stuffed his hands into his vest pockets.  "Come to pick up a book?"  He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and grinned. 

"You know it.  But also, I just wanted to visit with you!  I mean, it seems we share a lot of the same tastes and I just wanted to talk to a fellow book lover for a while."  She held out the red coffee cup and he accepted it with a wide-eyed smile. 

"Thank you, my dear!  Just what I need this morning.  I'm feeling a bit puny.  I needed a pick-me-up!"  He toddled off towards the counter with Hyejin following close behind.

"Puny?  You're not feeling well?"  Hyejin's brow furrowed slightly and she sat down on a stool at the counter. 

"Ahh, it's nothing.  The changing seasons always cause me these troubles."  He smiled and sipped his coffee.  "Ooooh this is delicious! Tastes pumpkiny!"  He chuckled and pushed his glasses up off the end of his nose.

Hyejin felt warmth spread throughout her heart and knew it wasn't because of the coffee.  This man was an absolute sweetheart.  If she'd had a grandfather she thought he would have been just like Mr. Oh. 

"Ah!  Your book!  Just a moment."  He dashed off to the back room as fast as his little legs could carry him.  He returned quickly, huffing and puffing.  "Here we go." He held the book out to Hyejin with a smug smile on his face. 

Hyejin read the title and an involuntary smile spread across her face.  "Thanks, Mr. Oh," she whispered, running her fingers over the cover of the book.  She stuck it into her bag and turned her attention back to the small man.  "So, how's business been," she asked, sipping her coffee again.

"Read the note."

"I'm sorry?"  She was caught off guard by his firm tone and expression. 

"Read.  The.  Note.  He didn't write it for you to ignore it.  If you two care about each other you would be excited to hear from him.  He certainly is eager to hear from you.  So pull it out of that bag of yours and read it."  Mr. Oh perched on the stool behind the counter and leaned his elbows on the counter top, resting his chin on his folded hands. 

Hyejin gave the man a curious look but decided to comply to her elder's wishes.  She reached into her bag and pulled out the book, taking note of the title.  "Dream a Little Dream of Me".  She slid the pink paper from inside the cover and gave one more glance to Mr. Oh, who happened to be staring at a scratch on the counter and trying to not look like he cared about what she was doing. 

She unfolded the paper and the color of it made her smile.  It was kind of a girly paper and not one she could see Namjoon using.  The cuteness of it just made it more endearing.  Her eyes scanned the note and she couldn't help but smile.

Dear Hyejin,

Every night when I go to sleep, your face is the last thing I see in my mind and the first thing I see in my dreams.  I'm missing you terribly.  I want to be the one to be helping you right now.  I want to see you; to hear you.  Tonight when you go to sleep, make sure you dream of me.   Ahhh, that's so cringe worthy.  I apologize.  ㅋㅋㅋ Ah well.  I look forward to your next message.