SEOULMATES [KNJ] ✓

10

Promise

I find myself sitting on the metallic bench underneath the small roof as the familiar bus station slowly comes alive, a small smile forming on my lips as I think about him.

The bus hasn't arrived as of yet, but I know it will soon.

In the meantime, I take my time looking around the place, trying to memorize the details of the place that has become our secondary place of meeting now just like the coffee shop.

As I look around I notice something new. The bus station is a lot clearer than before, but everything beyond it is a big blur of distorted colors, grey being the most predominant one along with a few splotches of blue and green here and there.

My hands gently tug on my jeans as I let out a huff, my head snapping up as I hear the familiar grinding of the breaks that comes every time the bus stops.

With a wider smile, I quickly stand up, wasting no time to reach the door as they open painfully slow with a hiss, my feet impatiently bouncing on the ground a few times as I wait for them to fully open, their final loud screech my cue to rush in.

Just I reach the last step, my feet come to an abrupt stop near the pole by the entrance, and before I start walking towards him, I pause for a second and look at my hand, slowly moving my fingers, then I slowly trace the outline of the seats, feeling the rough leather under my fingertips.

I think I'm getting the hang of this.

Glancing up, my heart skips a beat as I see him at his usual spot at the back of the bus.

"Hey stranger." I greet with a smile, holding my breath for a brief second as our eyes lock.

His lips curve into an amused smile as I make my way towards him, my heart wildly beating inside my chest as I plop down on the seat next to his, his eyes never leaving me until I reach him.

"Stranger?" He questions slightly raising a brow, making my cheeks feel warm as I nod.

"Yeah, it's just a saying." I say with a small shrug, tapping the top of my shoes together a few times as he nods, letting out a small 'ha' as he tilts his head back before he refocuses his gaze outside with a slight shake of his head.

A comfortable silence fills the space between us, and I keep my gaze down on my fidgeting fingers thinking about how to tell him.

Closing my eyes, I gather my courage and break the silence after a while.

"You were right." I blurt out breaking him out of his trance, his mouth slightly agape in surprise as his eyes meet mine. "Um, you were right about the clues." I quickly add anxiously tapping my thigh.

As my cheeks heat up, I look away from his gaze, slouching my shoulders with a sigh.

Why did I do that?

I think to myself covering my face with my hands in an attempt to hide my embarrassed self.

"You don't need to hide." He says with a chuckle, the sound vibrating on my chest as he gets closer, his bigger hands taking mine away from my face.