VISUAL [CEW] ✔️

[ 05 ]

F I V E
THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

"WHY DO YOU LOOK like that?" Hyerin asked her mother, walking into the kitchen, ready in her uniform. She eyed the oddly wide smiling lady, who was preparing breakfast for the morning. "You know how that milkman always puts your milk in front of the room next door?" She nodded slowly after thinking about it. There was this guy who delivered Hyerin's favorite strawberry milk, once a month, but would leave it in front of room 304, even when he knew that was the wrong room. Eventually, her mother and her gave up trying to correct his mistake.

"He finally put it front of our door?" She plopped a straw onto the miniature milk bottle, taking a sip and glancing at her mother. An irritated pout formed on her mother's face, she shook her head, "No... unfortunately not. But the neighbour's son dropped it off for us. He's so handsome!" She squealed, Hyerin blankly blinked at her mother, shaking her head in disapproval. "What is it with people and their looks these days? Well, did you say anything to him?" She asked with pure boredom lacing her tone. Her mother clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction seeing her daughter's reaction.

"Well the conversation went something like him ringing the doorbell and waiting outside the door with the box of milk bottles. I opened the door like any other day and was introduced to the most handsome face. He said, "Annyeonghaseyo. (Hello.) My mother said this was on our doorstep, but we didn't order. I think it's yours, right?" And I told him that it was ours and that my older daughter loves strawberry milk. I also told him that you were around his age, looking at his uniform he seems to go to your school. But then again, school's these days have very similar uniform. Anyways, I told him to come over one day for dinner. He agreed while I gave him a box of milk in return." Confusion crossed Hyerin's face, pondering over what her mother had just said. Basically she embarrassed her own daughter in front of a student who also may go to the same school?

"Thanks. Do you know his name?" She muttered dryly, packing a milk bottle into her bag. "Hmm? Oh gosh... I forgot to ask him. They still haven't got a plate with their family name on yet. It'll probably be done by today." She nodded while being entirely uninterested. "Please find a boy, Hyerin-ah. Specifically speaking, the neighbor's son. But I am willing to be lenient with any other boy. Look at your younger sister, I think she'll get married quicker than you."

She shook her head at the mention of her sister, "Middle school love never lasts. Anyways, I'm gonna eat an apple for breakfast, Jihoon said he was going to treat me and Woojin to a great lunch after school today. So don't worry!" She called out, leaving the house. Her mother yelled back, "Date him then!" Her eyes rolled while she shook her head. And just in that moment, when she was rushing down the stairs instead of the elevator, the neighbor's door opened. The son came out as well. But Hyerin never saw him. She passed him first. And he never saw her face. Only the similar image of the back of her head. Today, maybe the stars weren't aligned.

• • •

Today Hyerin didn't want to hear Mr. Visual's rant. As of today, she actually wanted to sleep. And so she did. "Here again? Gosh, you should start sleeping more at home." He chuckled, shoving his hands in his pocket. "You know, if you were awake right now, you would probably know who I am. But I don't know who you are. I try to look for you in school. You'd seem like a great listener. I feel like you're right next to me sometimes. Right under my nose." He poked the tip of his nose, smiling cheekily at the back of her head. He collapsed onto the couch, taking in Incheon's fresh air.

He turned his head to face the sleeping student's back. "Today I'll talk about me moving. I moved neighborhoods yesterday. From Dongchun-dong to Songdo-dong. It's more middle class than my family is used to. But I love it. I loved moving away from the mansions and big houses with big dinner parties to attend every weekend. We live in an apartment complex now, which is a first for us."

"But it so much fun having out neighbors actually next door to us. Back in Dongchun-dong, you would have to cross a field of land to meet your neighbor. Speaking of neighbors, we have a really nice ajumma (auntie) next door. I was getting ready for school, when mom told me to give these two boxes of those tiny strawberry milk bottles to our neighbors. The milkman put it on our doorstep by mistake. So I gave it back, the ajumma said that the milkman has been putting it there for the past six years. And that when I get the boxes next month, just move it to her doorstep.

She told me her older daughter really likes strawberry milk. You'd think it would be a little kid who would. She has two daughters, the oldest one is my age I'm pretty sure. Her oldest daughter must be so cute and adorable. Considering her fascination with strawberry milk. The ajumma even gave me one of the boxes. I brought three strawberry bottles in my bag today." He stopped talking to look at his phone. He blinked at the screen, the sun making it hard to see. "Oh? We have three minutes. Let's wake—" He walked over to tap her shoulder like he usually did but today was different.

Her face wasn't buried in the pillow she slept on. Her face laid on its side, the wind blowing her short hair. He bent down to see the side of her face clearly, he really was taken a back. He was breathless and speechless. "Well, this was unexpected. Oh? Was it Ahn Hyerin?" He observed her face, remembering her from yesterday. "Thank you for listening in on Cha Eunwoo's stories. A person you and your friends don't seem to like." Eunwoo smiled softly, pushing aside her hair from her face. "Hyerin-ah. Let's be friends." He blinked innocently, shaking his head gently. He stood up again, tapping her shoulder like he normally did. Today he walked out with a bigger smile than he usually did.

Today, maybe the stars were aligned.