Out of the Shell

Shared hang out spot

Soojin's POV

I made it to the Neko Heaven café and was greeted by the always smiley face of my BFF Saskia. "Hey sweetheart, as usual?" she asked me when I sat down at my usual place. "Uhm, yes please." I said when the tabby cat made her way to my lap. "Hello, Silvester." I scratched the cat behind his ears. 

"So how is it going?" she asked me when she handed me my favorite caramel macchiato. "Quite fine. Four more mares just delivered a few days ago, so we'll be ready for sales in a few months. How about you?" I asked politely back. "Well, she is super picky with flowers." David, Saskia's fiance, came to the front part of the café and kissed her on top of her head. 

These two love birds are getting their wedding-ready. They set it to May, so since it is the middle of February now, it leaves them a lot of time. "I hope you're counting on the fact of being my first bridesmaid." Saskia gave me a wink, knowing I do not really enjoy social engagements. "Yes, I promised, didn't I?" I chuckled while taking a sip from the coffee. 

"I thought the horse outside was familiar." a voice from the door filled the room. I looked that way, only to meet the deep chocolate brown eyes of Lee Minho. Saskia just chuckled, knowing I do consider my horse as the only way of transport possible. Minho made his way to us and sat next to me. "Plain black please." he said to Saskia. She smirked.

Saskia's POV

I saw it in her eyes, she was begging me not to leave her alone with him. So as a considerate friend I am, I left them alone. "Hey Dave, babe, that is that man from a few days ago, do you remember?" I asked my fiance who was getting the coffee for him. "That one you give Soojin's flier to?" he asked to confirm. "Yup, him." I nodded. 

"Uh... no... I know that look. Don't do that..." he whined knowing what I wanted to do. "But she needs love... she needs to be happy just as we are, doesn't she?" I hugged him. "Yes, she does. But you know her, you're her BFF, will she agree to you being the matchmaker?" he reasoned. "You're right... but maybe... if we don't tell her?" I asked. If she doesn't know I am behind her 'accidental meetings' with him, she can't be mad at me. And I would do it for her own good.

Soojin's POV

I saw when Saskia disappeared in the back part of the shop. Of course, it was empty today, how unlucky can I get? "So you go here often?" he asked after a while. "Yes." I replied. He leaned close to me suddenly... "Hey what are you doing?!" I backed away slightly as sudden warmness spread through my body. 

"Caramel Macchiato?" he asked with a grin as he straightened up. Did he lean closer to smell my coffee? What for? And why did I feel all fuzzy all of the sudden? David then came, set Minho's coffee on the table, and left again. Are they doing it to me on purpose? "I was wondering if you'd like to, y'know, sometimes go and..." he started. "No, I don't have time." I said, slammed the money on the table, and stormed out of the shop.

Saskia's POV

I walked back to the front, he was still sitting there looking to the door. "She ran away, didn't she?" I rolled my eyes. "Y-yes, does she do that often?" he asked, confused. "Depends. Anyways, you live around? I never really saw you in the café until recently." I started my interrogation to find out his schedule. 

"I moved here. I lived in another town before, but this neighborhood is closer to the school I teach at." he shrugged his shoulders, keeping on drinking the coffee. "A teacher? What do you teach?" I went on. "PE and music." he replied. "So I set up a riding class for my students." he added. Bingo, so they do hang out. 

"What can you tell me about her?" he asked suddenly. "Uh, Soojin is a loner of sorts. Those horses are her everything. She takes hella long time to trust people, she is super introverted. But once you get to know her, she is a sweetheart." I smiled recalling all the fun we had in high school, in my or her room after school hours. "She really do like Kpop, probably due to being Korean, I don't really know." I chuckled. "But you should be asking her this stuff. It will be better." I smirked. "Yes... " he nodded.