beaming | keith kogane

XIV | lady

☀

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"AH, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS LADY IS," Y/n complained under her breath. I'd spent nearly all of today just shopping with her. It was tiring, but also oddly freeing. I think some of the stuff that I rambled and ranted to Romelle about helped out a lot. "What lady?" I asked, taking a spoonful of my coffee flavored ice cream.

She shrugged, tapping away on her phone distractedly. "I don't know. This person texted me the other day saying that I was a young man that left their phone number on the table for her? Something about a waitress. She started texting me last night, but I told her I wasn't who she was looking for."

My face turned red. So, that number wasn't meant for the waitress? It was meant for me? I glanced at Y/n. I didn't like admitting defeat, but I had to clear it up. "Wait, so the number you left on the table wasn't for the waitress?" Y/n blinked wildly as the events started clicking in her head, "W-Why would I leave my number for a stranger?"

I shrugged awkwardly, "I don't know which way you swing." Y/n laughed loudly at that, keeling over. She shook her head rapidly, still laughing. At this point, other people were looking are way and let's just say I wasn't an exact fan of the sudden attention. "T-That's not my point," She stifled her laughter, wiping away a stray tear.

She grinned widely, "I left my number for you specifically. I thought you'd figure it out, at least, but that's my bad for not telling you clearly." Y/n painfully smiled, laughing softly before looking down at her own ice cream and taking a spoonful of it. There was that glimmer in her eyes again. It was so repetitive at this point, but I knew it from somewhere.

It wasn't from her and I know it wasn't, but it was from someone else; or maybe even something. I'm becoming desparate for answers now. "Are you hiding something?" I blurted out all of a sudden as her eyes widened, her spoon dropping into the bowl of ice cream. "W-What makes you think that, Keith?"

I glanced at her, "I don't know. Just some of the things I see in you look really familiar to someone. I just can't remember where I've seen them. It sucks, but I'm racking my brain for answers. Not only that, but your hands are shaking." Seeing her hands shake made me feel guilty as I swallowed thickly.

"Forget my question, it isn't my place to ask such a thing anyway. You barely know me and I to you," I replied, focusing on my dessert again. I attempted to erase my guilt with another scoop of coffee ice cream, but now it just tasted bitter and pasty. "It's okay. You were just curious. We all have things to hide anyways, you'll just have to wait for my secret."

She used jazz hands for the last word, opting a small grin out of me. "I guess I'll have to be patient," My words must've struck a chord because she looked down at her lap before looking back up at me with the warmest smile I'd ever seen in my life. If anything, it was the opposite to Jasmine's eyes that were swimming with tears that night.

Her smile was bright and had the power to fight the sun. She was beaming. "Thank you," I didn't understand how heartfelt those words were or how much they meant to her, but I knew they meant a lot to me. I knew that that phrase specifically was something that she said often, but not without worth in it. That worth, however, was something I couldn't measure.

I smiled slightly, "Anytime. However, not now since I should get home. Well, more like we. We have school tomorrow after all." I picked up my shopping bag filled with all the Party City goodies as Y/n shook her head lightly, waving me off. "No, it's fine. I think I'm going to shop around a bit more before leaving. I'm not tired just yet."

I just nodded. If I stayed any longer, I'd be too irritated out of pure fatigue and if I did leave, it would be better off for the both of us. "See you tomorrow then?" I asked as she nodded, smiling softly at me again as I walked out of the ice cream shop. I usually wasted my Sundays on homework, projects, and missing my family, but today wasn't a bad upgrade.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, a sigh left my lips. I ventured down the escalator, heading towards the main entrance. I focused on my feet, replaying all the events of today as I smiled slightly. "Keith," A voice called out. It was soft, almost hesitant as I raised my head. My eyes met Perla's as she smiled. It was almost bittersweet.

"It's nice to see you here. I was hoping you took my advice," I glanced at her, looking away again before piercing my eyes into her skull. "Y/n's a convincing person," My retort was more of an awkward mumble. I've known Perla for years and it's pathetic to see me shrivel up at the mere sight of her. "I'd hoped so," She rubbed her arms, seeming cold.

I was tempted to offer her my jacket, but my eyes moved to Lance as he came to her side. He seemed to ask her something before following her gaze. There was about a half inch difference in height between the two of us, but he looked at me as if I had stooped lower than I actually was. We didn't say anything, standing there in silence.

Suddenly, a pair of feet appeared and a hand grabbed my inner elbow. "Okay, c'mon. Y/n's been waiting for forever, you loser." Haneul dragged me towards the main entrance, barely giving me time to wave goodbye to Perla, but she had already turned around with Lance at her side. My brows furrowed, Y/n? Haneul glanced at me, almost seeming disgusted.

"Jesus, that was embarrassing. Y/n was watching and I could hardly stand it. I had to do something," He rolled his eyes, shoving his hands in his pocket. Haneul looked away, another sigh leaving his lips. He seemed to be dramatic when it came to disappointment. "That shit hurted."