Sunset at Hamdeok

Chapter 2

Tiffany pouted, giving that young handsome man a deep stare.

    "I thought she was your daughter." That man smirked innocently while glancing at the pony tailed girl who was playing with Dubu not far from them. They were sitting on a bench at Woljeongri Coast.

    "Do I look that old?" Tiffany demanded an honest answer.

    That man looked at her for a few seconds as if he was pondering about something. "Definitely not, but you can't be her sister-"

    "Why not?"

    "You're too old to have a young sister like her."

    "Who knows, she might be my step-sister." Tiffany still pouted. That man was really handsome, but he was a bit rude or stupidly too honest. It didn't matter, he could've been more courteous.

    That man noticed Tiffany's sour facial expression. He asked,  "are you mad at me?"

    "Why would I?" Tiffany pretended she was busy removing the face cloth of a band aid. That handsome man wasn't injured except for a small abrasion on his forehead as a result of brushing against the coarse gravel road. To show her gratitude, Tiffany insisted on treating his wound with some band aid.

    "I don't know, but your face is telling me that you're not happy either." He grinned.

    "Now hold still," Tiffany ignored him. She raised her hands to put the band aid on his forehead, but  she hesitated. She had never touched a stranger's face before.

    That man pointed at his wounded temple. "You should put it here."

    Tiffany took a breath. She carefully applied the adhesive band on that man's forehead.

    "I'm Taehyung. Kim Taehyung." That handsome man smiled when Tiffany's fingers pressed the band aid on his forehead so that it could stick perfectly on its place.

    Tiffany spontaneously glanced at him. Her eyes instantly met his. She quickly withdrew her fingers. "I... I'm Tiffany. Thank you for saving Dubu. "

    "You're welcome." Taehyung smiled. "Are you a foreigner? Your name doesn't sound like Korean at all."

    "No. My mom was a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn."

    "Breakfast at Tiffany's?" Taehyung cocked an eyebrow. "Your mom named you after Audrey Hepburn's movie?"

    Tiffany nodded. Was that man going to make fun of her name this time?

    "Tiffany... Hmmm...." He touched the band aid on his forehead. "Now why don't you also tell me your surname?"

    "Should I? What for?"

    Taehyung beamed. "I think I have the right to know whose dog I've just risked my life for. He's your dog, right?"

    Tiffany showed a thin smile. She shook her head.

    Taehyung looked quite confused.

    Tiffany told him how she got involved with that young girl and her lost puppy.

    "That little girl owes both of us a big thank you." He crossed his arms and stared at Dubu and his master. Tiffany saw an abrasion on Taehyung's elbow. She pulled off another band aid's face cloth.

.............................................................

Tiffany and Taehyung took the pony tailed girl and Dubu to her parents. They happily let Tiffany and Taehyung have two cups of coffee and some light snack at their coffee shop for free to return their favors.

    "So, where are we going from here?" Taehyung glanced at Tiffany as he pushed the door open. They were leaving the coffee shop.

    "We?" Tiffany raised her eyebrows. Taehyung talked as if they had known each other for years and were having a holiday together there. His straightforwardness was cute and perplexing at the same time.

    "Yup, we. Do you live here, by the way?" Taehyung asked when they got out of the coffee shop. "And please don't answer my question with another question." He winced.

    Tiffany was going to say something, but her words were hung in the air. She faintly smiled. "I am only here for summer holiday." She began to walk very slowly, feeling unsure if she should leave Taehyung there or not. There was something she wanted to say to him before they go parted ways, but she didn't know how to say it even though she might never get the chance again.

    "All by yourself?"

    Tiffany frowned,  but her thin smile didn't disappear. "Why are you always asking?"

    Taehyung grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "I just don't want our conversation to stop once I don't ask you a question. You don't seem like a shy girl, but you don't talk much either."

    Tiffany stared at him. "I just don't like talking to strangers."

    "We're no strangers. You've even touched my face." Taehyung smirked. "For your information, I would never let any strangers touch my face. Or do you always.... " He  squinted at her.

    Tiffany maintained her cool even though her cheeks felt so hot. "Should we say goodbye right here, right now?" She simpered very sweetly, but secretly trying to avoid Taehyung's indescribable gaze.

    Taehyung slipped his hands into his trousers's pockets. "Well, if you insist...."

    Tiffany smiled more politely. She looked at Taehyung's beautiful face. Tiffany was sure she would remember that face for the rest of her life.

    "... But on second thought, I don't want to say goodbye as a stranger."

    "Hmm?"

    Taehyung beamed as he looked at Tiffany. "Have you ever been to an amphitheatre?"

    "Amphitheatre?"

    Taehyung nodded and smiled broadly. "I'll show you something you might've never watched before."[]