Keys to Happiness

9. Aliah

Thursday morning came and unlike my usually punctual self, I was in a rush to get out of the house. My alarm clock had mysteriously been turned off; I suspected aliens...or more likely my right hand. Because I had overslept, my shower had lasted exactly five minutes and there was no time at all for makeup of any kind.

Thanking God that my school was only a few minutes down the street, I ran for all I was worth to get there on time. As I power-walked into the building at the same time as the students, I received more than a few looks from the other teachers. Just today though, I was more than happily inclined to ignore them. My morning went by quickly enough once I started teaching my first group of students, but I was still anxious as the day wore on.

Unknowingly, I would catch myself looking at my phone, waiting for the text that I knew had to be coming soon. KiBum had texted me the night before, but I had been too scared to text him back immediately even though I'd been awake. Would it be bad to seem too eager? Even though we had seemed to have a connection, maybe he just wanted someone to talk to, someone who was normal.

Still feeling weird but wanting to talk to him regardless, I had sent him a short reply this morning. Self-doubt had been plaguing me all day, and I couldn't think past the fact that it was now mid-afternoon and I still hadn't heard from him. Maybe he hadn't really been interested at all.

By the time school was out for the day, I was half convinced that he wouldn't be texting me back at all, his interest in me having been in illusion. As I walked home from the school, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and I pulled it out wearily, thinking that it was my younger sister who had been pestering me all day with what she thought were funny texts. But my breath caught as I read the name that flashed across the screen.

Hey, I'm sorry I took so long to respond.

I let out a squeal and tried to contain myself. He had texted back!

Hey, how are you? I sent back quickly. Yes, asking how he was cool enough, and didn't sound like I had been waiting for his text all day; I was somewhat desperate but I surely didn't want to look that way.

I'm fine, thanks for asking. Sorry I didn't respond right away, but dance practices have brutal since we started working toward our comeback.

No, it's ok. I understand that you're busy. It's not easy being an idol huh?

No, but I love what I do. Teaching is probably difficult too, right?

It can be sometimes. But there's something very satisfying about seeing a student's face when they can understand what you've been teaching them. It makes the hard things very worthwhile. I typed back while trying to contain my smile; he was actually interested in my work!

Right, I feel the same way when fans say how much they love our music. It just makes you want to try harder.

It's cool that you're so passionate about it KiBum. Do you have a lot of practices this week?

Actually, that's why I called. I'm free tomorrow. Do you want to spend some time together? I'd like to take you someplace fun.

Yes, I have some time. I'd love to go! Oh God, I was going to die right here in the middle of the street.

Great, then I'll pick you up around twelve?

Yeah, that's good. I'll text you my address, ok?

Joah. I'm looking forward to our first date, Aliah-yah.

Oh! Me too, KiBum. Um, then goodbye.

Ne, I'll call you tomorrow.

Ok, bye.

Two hours later

"Omg, omg, omg... HyoWon-ah, he said it was a date! What am I gonna do? What should I wear?! And my hair! Oh God, I'm freaking out!" I transitioned between muttering and yelling at my friend who relaxed on my sofa, taking in my flustered appearance with amusement.

I grabbed HyoWon's hands in my anxiety, and felt how clammy mine had become compared to her warm ones. After getting off the phone with Key, I had desperately needed to give HyoWon the details and go over the whole episode again. She was at my house and we were having girl time, but after telling her everything I had felt myself going into panic mode. How exactly did one go about dating an idol?

"Unnie, relax. It's not a big deal. You just have to be normal, be yourself. If he asked you on a date, he already likes you, keuchi?"

"Really, you think so?"

"Of course, my Unnie is very pretty. He'd be a pabo not to like you." The girl said definitively.

"HyoWon, you're so biased! But you can continue." I laughed and hugged the sweet young woman, already feeling better. I was still all sorts of nervous, but she had made a good point; he had asked me out first. Now all I had to do was try to be as normal as possible and not blow the first date.

"Hey, let's go get our nails done, my treat!" I said, pulling her off my sofa and towards the front door.

"Isn't this just an excuse to look pretty for Shinee?" She asked with a laugh.

"Ugh, you caught me. I want to look really nice though; I can't remember the last time I've been so excited to go out. It reminds me of my first date," I said as I recalled a time that had taken place almost a decade ago.

"Oh, was it a really good date?" HyoWon asked me, full of curiosity.

"No, actually it was really horrible; everything went wrong. My hair got all puffy in the humidity since we were outside, I spilled juice on my dress and in the end my date just wanted to make out instead of talking to me," I laughed.

"So, what was so great about it then?"

"Well, it was just the anticipation of it. It's like Christmas Eve when you're a kid. You're so excited that you can barely even sleep and you stay awake thinking about what will happen the next day. It's that feeling."

"That sounds so nice... I want a boyfriend too!" HyoWon pouted.

"KiBum isn't my boyfriend," I said out loud, but inside I still had butterflies. To have him as my boyfriend would be totally awesome, mostly because Key was the coolest guy I had ever met.

"But you want him to be," HyoWon pointed out.

"Kaja! Stop talking and more walking. What nail color do you think I should get?" I asked, unashamedly redirecting the conversation.

"Mmm, maybe pearl aqua green?" I felt myself blush at her use of the Shawol fandom colors.

"Oh my God, shut up!"