Tteokbokki by Han River

Chapter 4 - Part 2: The Coffee, The Danger

I walked to the library slowly, dragging my feet, and my mind began to wander.

It's coming up to our 6 month anniversary soon. What gift should I give Jimin?

Twenty minutes passed and I arrived.

I stood outside, at the bottom of the steps, wondering what my afternoon would hold. 

I've really got to get this write-up completed, so no more distractions would be great.

I entered, my eyes scanning the room and all the visitors. Shuffling over to the history section, I looked for one of the books on the Goryeo Era that I didn't manage to complete reading on my last visit. Once I had gathered what I needed, I took a seat and began to read.

Two hours passed and my notebook was full. My head was brimming with information and historical scenarios...kings, queens, wars and betrayals, secret affairs and abdications - I was deeply enthralled and I enjoyed the feeling. My mind was able to make it all feel so real to me.

I think I have enough material now to wrap this up? I can just write this up elegantly, and submit it by this evening, I reasoned.

One of the staff approached me to let me know that the library would be closing early today due to a local festival event they had been advertising all week. I nodded and went to put the books back on their shelves.

I thought of how to approach this final write-up. I briefly daydreamed. My stomach gurgled, snapping me back to reality.

I'll go to that cafe down the street.

-------------

It was cloudy outside, dark clouds, which were odd for this time of year.

When I got to the cafe, I pushed the door, instead of pulling it, and sighed at my lack of observance. At this point, my head was spinning and I NEEDED coffee.

"I'll take an Americano, annnnndd...a tonkatsu sandwich, please".

I took the coffee and sandwich on a tray and turned to look for a seat.

Damn. No seats. Maybe upstairs will have one...

I walked upstairs, mind still wandering, and I was almost at the top when the toe of my shoe caught the edge of the top step and I tripped, flying to the floor, coffee spilt everywhere.

It took me a second to realise what just happened, and I looked at my precious coffee all over the ground, along with a now wet and dirty sandwich and heaps of embarrassment.

"How can you be so clumsy?" 

A hand hooked underneath my arms and helped me to get up.

I raised my beetroot-red face to see deep eyes, brushed back hair and dimples.

"I know this is our second encounter, but don't fall for me that hard" he giggled.

I smiled a little....out of desperation, embarrassment, or something else, I couldn't decide.

"Gwenchana? Here, I'll fix this. My seat is over there...where the notebook and pen is. Go and sit over there, and I'll come over in a minute. Ne?" 

I shuffled to quickly sit down, still not quite sure what just happened.

I fixed my hair in my hand mirror and then watched him inform the staff. He was very tall.

He disappeared for a few moments and returned with a fresh tray balancing every I had ordered before.

"Here, you must be very hungry and thirsty. Please, continue. I don't mind if you sit with me. Just relax as you normally would."