Lost and Found (Jirose)

Tentative steps

He asked her out seven months later.

They were walking home, the streetlamps lighting up one by one as they passed from underneath them. It was past twilight—the sky still a light colour just above their heads, gradually darkening further ahead of them.

They walked in comfortable, tired silence. She was drained as usual—sitting in front of a computer all day was mentally exhausting. Besides, she knew he didn't have it easy either—he worked double shifts to earn money.

She was extremely grateful towards Jisoo and her boyfriend Seokjin who offered Jimin a job at his cafe once he was discharged from the hospital.

And thanks to Lisa, Jimin also managed to find a roof over his head with Hosoek oppa, courtesy of her persuasive powers. She was on very friendly terms with the happy-go-lucky man who ran the guest house. They apparently got to know each other while attending the same course in college a few years back. 

"Oh don't mention it! Anything to help out your friend," Lisa had said when Chaeyoung thanked her profusely. Lisa's eyes glittered with mischief when she said 'friend' but Chaeyoung pretended not to notice.  

She really was thankful for her friends accepting Jimin into their lives. They even invited him along on outings and picnics when the girls and their boyfriends met up. 

"We're not dating," Lisa and Hoseok used to complain but the rest of the group merely rolled their eyes and added: "yet."

It had been over eight months now since Jimin popped up in her hometown, and he seemed to be settling down well. 

Chaeyoung often wondered how she had been coping before his mysterious arrival.

Not a day passed that he didn't message her or send a derp selfie, making her burst into laughter at random moments that earned her strange looks from people in in the streets or her colleagues at the office. 

During break, she hurried to the café, which was conveniently just down the road from the building.

Jimin's happy smile welcomed her into the warm, cosy establishment with the smell of roasted coffee beans and chocolate making it smell heavenly.

She liked smelling the scent even better on Jimin's shirt later when he came after his shift ended to pick her up and drop her home.

He didn't have a car, but ever since he discovered she was walking home all alone at night, he insisted on accompanying her to her flat.

She usually took public transport but recently Lisa had misplaced her travel card. The poor girl had apologised profusely on her knees and Chaeyoung had forgiven her with a chuckle to show her she meant no hard feelings. But her sharp eyes noted a strange gleam in Lisa's teary eyes. Lisa was certainly up to something but Chaeyoung decided she'd rather not ask. 

After all, losing the card came with the perks of walking home with Jimin and i she was really hard-pressed to take a bus, she could always pay for a ticket.

Chaeyoung's wandering was abruptly brought back to the present when she heard him call her name.

"We're here, Chaeng."

"Ahh, okay. Thanks for walking me all this way, Chim."

He bowed with dramatic flair and she giggled.

"The pleasure is all mine," he said, making her duck her face in embarrassment. "Well then, see you tomorrow?" 

"Definitely." She smiled, hoping she wasn't being too enthusiastic. He gazed at her for a beat too long.