Lessons From Romance

Growing...Growing

When in the taxi outside Namjoo felt her heart race even more. She felt slightly suffocated while her thoughts made rounds around her head. The dream seemingly real to her created beads of uncomfortable thoughts in her mind. Becoming conscious of herself she wondered if she looked weird; dressed weird; or if her face was turning red.

There was a zipping sound beside her as Luhan opened his backpack and dug inside it. Her eyes darted down when he held something out in front of her. Once her eyes closed in on it she recognized it as one of the few books she'd taken a glance at when they'd gone to the village supermarket.

"You were looking at it earlier; I thought you were interested," he told.

Forgetting all earlier thoughts she found herself smiling, "I wasn't really eyeing it, but thanks."

"Really?" He asked and reached out for the book after she took it, "Then give it back. I read the first story and it seems interesting. If you don't want it, I'll take it since I bought it."

"Forget it," Namjoo twisted her body away from him and held it to her chest. "It's a good book, so I want it."

He snorted at her before turning to stare out his window. Namjoo felt her nails dig into the pages of the book as she clutched it tight against her beating heart. At the same time she thought this was what friends would do for each other.

Friends...

At that moment she sunk back into herself again. Luhan was himself and she was herself. What did a dream matter anyway? They had always been close all along. Since when did she ever let a petty thing as a dream affect her life? A dream was just something made up, but was nothing to do with reality.

They were finally on the road again after boarding the bus and Namjoo suddenly realized she missed her bed. A few days away from her home had been the right choice to make. Sometimes she needed air elsewhere to learn the importance of what her home meant. The trip to Haenam had soothed her somewhat. It felt as if she'd displaced the painful memories in her apartment elsewhere momentarily.

Relaxed, she leaned back into her seat and turned to stare out the window. She glanced at the sea they were driving past, the green grass waving farewell along its side. Namjoo instantly wondered if it would be possible to see the land of Japan from here.

"Did you have fun?" Luhan broke into her thoughts.

Namjoo turned to look at him as the corner of her lips drew up, "I usually ask that first."

"You're right," he smiled back. "You do, but you didn't."

A breath of laughter escaped through her lips, "Yes, I had fun. It was a nice getaway."

"Was it?" He questioned.

"Mmm..."

"I guess it was." He added. "I'm glad I came after all."

"Yea?" She asked. "Were you not going to come?"

"I knew I was going to come." Luhan stated, staring down the aisle. "I would have come even if I decided I wasn't going to."

"What the heck," Namjoo said, "that doesn't make sense."

He laughed shortly, "I guess not."

Namjoo narrowed her eyes as she searched his face and shortly laughed along with him.

"The trip helped me clear my mind," he told.

"Me too."

"Lets have dinner later," he suggested.