Memories || Wonu ff

eight

Wonu - Second year of college:

I did it! 

After being friends for a little over a year, I finally have a date planned with her!! 

I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go for it at first, but I think she was hinting for a while that she liked me back. There had also been a lot of  of times where I tried to attempt asking her out, but the second I had the perfect opportunity to ask, I would get flustered and pretend like it wasn't important.  And after countless failures, I knew I couldn't keep going in circles like this. So after practicing in the mirror and giving myself a pep talk, I finally asked her out! 

Though... she did trick me just to catch me off guard.

"I'm not really interested in dating, Wonu, I'm sorry." She apologizes as she politely turns me down.

I immediately felt embarrassment wash over me. I knew getting rejected might happen, but I wasn't as ready as I thought I was; to cover up my embarrassment, I found myself rambling on at the speed of light to save face.

"O-oh, that's ok then! It doesn't have to be a like a date. We just- we could hang out as friends a-and study for our exams or, or, or we could-" 

My rambling only stops when she places her finger on my lips as she whispers "Wonu, I was joking."

My mind was suddenly all over the place, leaving me flustered and speechless. I gently move her hand away ask I let out a dazed "Huh?" 

She chuckles at my dazed state as she sheepishly explains "I was only joking to see what you would say, I'm sorry. I'd be more than happy to go out with you!"

"R-really? You will??" I shouted, causing a lot of people to whips their heads towards me. Embarrassed, I apologized and everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Seo Hyeon and I then shared a laugh together, only to have a library administrator interrupt us.

"Hi, sorry. I'm not against Ms. Kang having friends, but I'm gonna have to ask you to save this conversation for later. She still has some work to do."

"Ah, that's my bad. Sorry." I say in a meek tone to the administrator before waving goodbye to her "I'll see you another time, Seo Hyeon." 

Just as I was about to walk away, she quickly grabs my wrist to stop me from leaving. Looking back at her, she looked panicked for a moment before apologizing.

"Sorry about that, but I don't have as much work as Mrs. Do says. Can you wait about... 15 minutes?" 

I smile and nod, telling her to text me as soon as she's done her work. Waiting in a study area outside the library, she texts me 15 minutes later like she said she would and meets with me in the common area.

Soon, we were walking aimlessly through campus together.

"Did you... Have any plans if we couldn't meet up like this?" She suddenly asks, leaning a little close to me.

I pondered for a moment and shook my head "Hm, not really. I probably would've just gone back to my dorm, maybe grab food on the way there?" I then look over to see her already staring at me "Why?"

"I didn't want to rush you, but..." She trails off "I was wondering if you were down to go on a date?"

"O-oh." Was all I could say, taken aback for a moment at her boldness "Right now?"

She nods "No pressure if you don't want to, though. I just thought that since we're both free, we could. It's up to you though."

I always loved how considerate she was- especially since I'm personally not a fan of last minute plans, but was I really gonna pass up on a spontaneous date with a the woman I've been pining for over the last year? Hell no!

"I would be more than happy to go on a date with you. What did you have in mind?"

"You were gonna get food right? I know this great pad thai place a few blocks down, and then we can go from there." 

I then take her hand in mind as I hold up my car keys "Well then what are we waiting for?" 

We then began running towards the parking lot, laughing at how silly we probably look to those around us.

This was the beginning of something that will change my life forever.

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.

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Ji Young

The more I read his journal recounting his moments with Seo Hyeon, the more intrigued I get. More questions swirled around in my brain trying to pick at every detail I could as I cross-referenced them with the moments captured in the scrapbook.

Before I could go any further, an alarm on my phone went off to let me know that my study break was over and it was time to get back into my work.

I've been pretty swarmed with projects and homework left and right, so I've been trying to work on a few things at a time to get them done faster.

Putting dad's journal away into my bedside drawer, I pick up my laptop and begin working on a presentation for my art class about colour theory. I was constantly revising my script while picking the right pictures to fit the presentation.

In the middle of my work crunch, dad comes into my room to check up on me. I greet him briefly, but only because I was fixated on my presentation. I then feel my sink in a little to see that dad has decided to join me for a bit.

"What're you working on, sweet pea?" He asks, curious to see what has me so hyperfocused.

"Just a presentation about colour theory. It's due soon."

He nods "May I have a look?"

Finishing up the sentence I was writing, I then turn my laptop around to show him the slide I had just finished.

He takes his time to scan the whole slide before giving a nod of approval "It looks wonderful, sweetie. You have quite the eye for detail." he then mutters quietly at the end of his sentence. When I asked him what he said, he just excused it as him talking to himself.

"I'll leave you to it. I'm gonna start dinner now, I'll call you when it's ready."

He then gets up from his spot on my bed before leaving my room and heading downstairs. Once left alone in my room, I was left thinking about what he said under his breath.

"If only you could see this now, love."