Feeling Brew

~8~

Johnny swallowed hard as he tried his best to snap her pictures more quickly. The foreigner had seemed so shy during their brief interactions, but he had realized that she was anything but introverted.

Her piercing green eyes stared down the camera, and Johnny gulped as he directed her into new and different poses.

"I think this should be enough," he swallowed nervously while flipping through the pictures on his small screen. "Let's call it a day."

Isla gave him a pat on the shoulder, startling him. "Glad I could help! Also, do you think I could come over this Friday? You, your roommate, and I could bake and cook. I'm just having an, um, hard time making friends."

Johnny knew that feeling. He had relocated from Chicago when he was in elementary school. That was too long ago to remember, but he did recall glimpses of not fitting in and people judging him without a word. The world was brutal. And then Mark had moved from Canada when they were in high school. Initially, he hid behind his humor to get away from everything.

"Sometimes, starting off with one friend can help you find more. I don't mind being that person for you," he began softly. "Anytime you need someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, someone to drink with, someone to laugh with, I'll be here for you. I'm just across the hall, so you don't have to hesitate about giving me a call."

She blushed. "Wow, thanks. Um, I'll definitely let you know if anything's bothering me. I was honestly hoping moving would give me a fresh start. My life has been a series of rough patches of me running away from my problems. I was hoping Korea would give me the courage to finally face them. But now, they're the worst they've ever been."

Johnny wasn't too sure what she was talking about, but looking at those fierce, green eyes, he knew she'd been through a lot. He didn't want to pry, but he figured someone like her would tell him everything with time.

"I should get going," Isla shot up. "I have class pretty soon, so I'll catch you later, Johnny. If you ever need another photography subject, let me know. It was fun posing today."

"Sure thing," he grinned.

Swiftly, he scooped up his camera and lenses and left her apartment. Slipping into his own, Johnny exhaled deeply. His heart was thumping way too fast, and beads of sweat were starting to develop under the bangs on his forehead.

Johnny picked up his camera and sifted through the pictures he had taken earlier. The pink and blue neon lights had created an edgy effect that made Isla's features look more prominent. The soft glow of color transformed her look completely. How was it possible for someone to look so innocent and then-?

"Stop it, Johnny," he slapped himself. But he couldn't help but beam as he glanced through the pictures at her smile. "Stop it, Johnny," he whispered.

~~~

He should have grabbed his hoodie or worn a baseball cap. Was his haircut that bad that people forgot how to speak and couldn't stop staring at him? Taeil sped up his pace and tried to disappear in the crowd of students, but they parted for him, ogling like he was some sort of science experiment.

His next class was with Isla. Maybe he could ask her what he thought of the new look. It couldn't be that awful... right?

More students stared at him as he slipped into his seat in his songwriting class. It was only a matter of minutes before she showed up. Why was he getting so nervous? He always just lived his life not worrying about other people's opinions, but why did he care so much about her opinion, now?

"Stop it, Taeil," he murmured to himself under his breath.

"What are you thinking about so deeply?" someone waved a hand in front of his face.