Serendipity (Ryeji)

Arcade

"And that's how you solve it." While leaning across the table, Yeji lifts her pencil from the paper, then perches her bum back on the seat. She looks up at her so-called 'date' and their eyes meet. "Why does it feel like I'm tutoring you instead of the other way around?"

"Because that's actually what's going on." He admits, laughs at the irony of it. He really intended to help, but it seems he's not particularly the best with this topic. "I think I'm wasting your time."

"Not really." Yeji partially disagrees. Yes, she could be touching up on the material she's struggling with, but it's not too big of a deal. "Don't apologize. I think this is good for me."

"How so?"

"It's reassuring. At least I know the parts I'm good at, so maybe we both benefit from this." She smiles, tries to keep the atmosphere light-hearted, but the smile quickly fades into a state of panic when Yeonjun boldly reaches for hold of her hand. To avoid it, she casually curls her fingers inward, pretends to grip her pencil, and he settles for resting his hand on top of her balled fist.

"Well, thank you." He replies, and Yeji still doesn't know how to react. He's a great guy, really kind. He even has a way with words, a romantic boy, no doubt, yet she can't help feeling a bit uncomfortable at his touch. She considers that it's because no one has really acted this way with her, and if it weren't thanks to recent events, she'd believe that's true—but it's not. Since she's had time to reminisce memories her heart buried long ago, she's aware someone has been this sweet with her before, perhaps even more affectionate, and it never once felt uncomfortable with that particular individual.

"Yeonjun!" A young guy among a group of people calls out and wanders towards their table. Yeonjun lifts his hand that was just covering hers and waves to them, yells a 'hey,' whereas Yeji hastily takes this opportunity to retract her hand, tuck it under the table while he greets his friends.

A sudden gasp fills the air, though, followed by a random girl shouting, "Are you two a thing now?!"

The brunette almost appears as if she's seen a ghost as she takes a bite out of a chocolate chip muffin. She peers to the left, notes that everyone is looking to her for an answer, including Yeonjun. On the other hand, one of the girls look familiar, and she soon recognizes her as Minnie, one of Yuqi's closest friends.

"Oh, uhm, not exactly. He's just helping me study." Yeji finally responds. With all eyes still on her she felt nervous, so she busies herself with another small bite out of the muffin, thankful that Yeonjun speaks up to rid of the awkwardness.

"What are you guys doing here without me?"

"Technically, you're already here. But we were stopping in for Sorn. She wanted a snack."

"I'm a snack!" Lisa shouts. She runs up to Sorn, embraces her, then hugs Minnie as well, greets two accompanying guys that Yeji doesn't recognize. Although, she's certain everyone standing by her table is a senior at their high school.

"Hush, Lisa, I'm actually starving. Come with me to get something." Sorn drags her friend along to the register, and the guys follow after them, even Yeonjun, still carrying a discussion with his friends. The only individual to stay behind is Minnie, and the older girl takes a seat in the chair Yeonjun was in moments ago.

"So," she folds her hands and sets them on the table, "are you sure you're both not a couple?"

"No, no. Definitely not a couple." Yeji chuckles tensely. "We only recently started to talk outside of school. I don't know him well enough. It'd be too sudden if we were."

"Oooh, I understand. Well, it was nice seeing you. This math stuff looks important so I'll leave you to your studying." She offers a smile in the brunette's direction, pats the younger's shoulder once as a goodbye before joining the rest.