Unexpectedly Regular | Kim Namjoon

2.

Only after lunch did Nara received her glasses from her roommate.

-The lenses were intact, so they just changed the frames. They are similar to the old ones you had. How do you like it?

-They are much fancier than the old ones, thanks! – Nara wore them while looking at the mirror on their shared bathroom wall - How much do I own you?

-It's my welcome to Korea present, so never mind! It's on me!

-Angie, that's so sweet of you but I... Isn't it too expensive?

-No, I took them to the same place I took my glasses when I broke them. I had a huge discount and it's also a really cheap place, only a few people in town know.

Nara's lips curved a bit in a reluctant smile.

-Ok, thanks! That's the second welcome gift I receive today.

-What do you mean? A second gift? Are they giving gifts to new students in this University? I never got one!

-Not that I know! So far, I was only toured around the campus by seniors. They took me to library to get a student ID and invited me to party later at a bar. I got a welcoming present before that, actually. I met a guy at a café near the campus before class and he paid for my drink. He said the same sentence you've just said when he paid for my tea.

Angie widened her eyes in excitement while clapping her hands quietly.

-A guy? Oh girl, I can't believe you're here for one morning only and you already found yourself an Oppa?

Nara knew this expression quite well and the implications Angie was doing by chosing that word. From her interest in that culture she had learned how younger women call older men, not only to show respect, as it meant 'older brother' but it was also a way girlfriends could call their boyfriends.

-I don't know if he's my oppa. I actually didn't see his face very clearly so I really don't know if he's older, you know, I wasn't wearing my glasses.

The information she gathered about his visuals were vague enough for her to have no idea at all how old he was. She honestly didn't even know if he was good looking or not.

-That doesn't really matter, I'm not talking about age!

Nara said nothing, mentally questioning why she had to hear people touching that subject so often. She should have guessed young students would be quite interested in dating or just in having relationships anywhere, even here. Even so, she didn't want to talk about that, not just after purposely leaving some of those questions behind when she left Brazil. To keep her mental hiatus on the topic of relationships, Nara took a detour on the subject quite quickly.

-I don't know, it was just a nice conversation, anyways. He had good English and was very helpful to me. He helped me to find out what I could eat from the menu.

Angie had a naughty smirk on her face.

-What's his name? What did you talk about? Are you gonna meet again? Did he get your number?

Nara was annoyed by the sequence of questions, but she didn't think much before defensively replying.

-I was the one to get his number!

She regretted the minute Angie clapped her hands again, even more excitedly than before.

-Did he get shy? Or scared? Or did he get more attracted to you now?

-I don't think he was attracted to me, you know, I don't think we were really flirting. I just got his number to return the favor somehow, someday. And he was just being welcoming to a tourist.