Just one smile

Chapter 4

Hina's mind was spinning with confusion.

She was thankful that she wasn't drinking water at that moment or else she'll end up spraying water everywhere.

The woman, Jaemin's mother smiled vaguely before going back to the kitchen. When Hina was certain that she's far enough to hear them, she gently hit Jaemin's arm. "You're crazy! You should have told me"

He smiled and pushed a glass of water to her.

Hina tried to remember if she has seen his mother before while gulping down the glass of water. On their graduation ceremony, as far as she remembered, his mother wasn't present. Hina recalled that only his father came up to the stage when Jaemin received an award for being an outstanding student.

"She's living here in Seoul because of this restaurant" Jaemin began. "When my grandmother died two years ago, my mother was the one who kept this restaurant alive. When she heard that I was going to study here in Seoul she was beyond ecstatic" He continued, as if he noticed that Hina was lost in her own thoughts.

"Ah" The only word that came out from her mouth, she doesn't even consider it as a word. The restaurant was starting to get crowded since it's almost dinner time. Several students entered inside and as expected, some girls would steal glances at Jaemin.

Jaemin called the waitress and asked for another glass of water after noticing that Hina's glass was almost empty. The waitress looked at her with a skeptical look before walking away.

"Do you know her?" She asked.

Jaemin followed her gaze before answering. "Not really. I think she's a new hire. Why?"

Hina shook her head. "Nothing"

"Are you jealous?"

She looked up, stunned that he dared to ask such a question. "Are you crazy?"

"You didn't answer" He pressed with a smile plastered on his face.

Was she supposed to answer the question? Hina thought. "Well, she was looking at me as if she's disappointed"

His eyebrows knitted together. "Eh?"

Hina smiled and tried to change the topic. "But really, your mother.. You should have told me!"

At the same exact moment, his mother appeared with another bowl of ramen. When she reached the table, Hina immediately stood up and bowed his head. "Mrs. Na, I'm sorry I wasn't able to address you properly awhile ago"

She flashed another smile, her laugh lines showing. "Oh dear, no need to worry. Jaemin can be a little mischievous sometimes you know"

Hina nodded in agreement. "Yes, he is" and then sat down again when his mother placed the bowls on the table. She thanked his mother before she went back to the kitchen again. She was already full of the first bowl but thinking that wasting food was a sin, she forced herself to finish the second bowl. Jaemin finished his too in no time.

After their dinner, Hina thanked his mother and promised to come back again. His mother told her that she will be more than happy to serve her. When they stepped outside, she felt the wind blew, sending chills down to her spine. Although she dressed for the cold weather in a black turtleneck shirt under a navy blue coat and jeans, Hina couldn't help but shiver due to the cold weather. It had gotten cold already.

Jaemin excused himself from Hina and went back inside as if he left something. She waited patiently outside, checking her phone to see several messages from Herin and her mother reminding her not to forget dinner. She smiled to herself and inserted her phone back to her bag when Jaemin appeared.