The Last Boy Scout

25

(One month later)

"So... what's your favorite time of the year?" She pulled a lock of dark hair behind her ear and looked at me intently.

"I guess this time of year- August," nostalgia rushes through me, and I immediately think of Suga hyung.

"That's weird," she replies. "That's my favorite month." She looks down at the ground and gives a small grin. "I know, I'm weird,"

"No, don't be ashamed..." after my frequent visits to the coffee shop, talking to girls-well at least Seokyeon-has become less awkward. "Weird is... cool."

She clasps her fingers tightly and stares straight ahead. "That's sweet," she remarks.

I feel my face grow hot, but I just look down at the ground in front of us and we continue walking down the hiking trail. August usually brings sticky, muggy days, but this year it feels like Autumn has made an early comeback.

Seokyeon slows down all of a sudden and sits down on a nearby wooden bench.

"What's wrong?" I step to the side like I usually do, not wanting to get too close to her.

"Nothing," she replies, looking up at the trees. After a moment, she turns her head toward me. "Sit down, aren't you somewhat tired?" She pats the space beside her.

I sit on the bench, trying the best I can to distance myself from her-I still am not comfortable sitting next to girls.

"My turn," I mention.

"Okay, shoot,"

"Hmmm... favorite movie?"

She pauses for a moment, then all of a sudden her face lights up. "Civil War never gets old," she lowers her head.

"As in... Captain America?" My heart starts to flutter around my rib cage.

"Yeah... why? Have you seen it?"

"Of course I have... how old do you think I am? Thirty?"

Seokyeon smiles. "No... aren't you like, twenty... two? Twenty-three?"

I loll my head back. "I guess I just look young... I'm actually twenty- five."

Seokyeon's eyes widen. "Oh... well you don't look that old... you could even pass off being twenty..."

"Look at yourself," I tease. "What about you? How old are you... fourteen?"

Her laugh is unique. "I'm twenty,"

"Really?" I give a sigh of relief. At least now there could be a chance. Five years wasn't that much of a difference, right?

"Hold on, before you mention anything else... are you Team Cap or Team Iron Man?" She is now on the edge of the bench.

"Team Iron Man, of course," I say without a doubt.

Seokyeon looks taken aback. "I see how it is," she gets up and starts to walk away slowly.

"Seokyeon, wait!" I call after her, and she immediately turns around with a wide grin on her face.

She plops down beside me again, but closer this time.