Sun & Moon

FORTY TWO

Doyoung carefully steps out of his car and looks around as bright sunlight spills onto him. Jiyeon had texted him an hour earlier, inviting him to a cafe for lunch. He walks through the entrance and continues to scan the establishment. The ambiance is gentle and airy. There is a large abundance of plants; in every corner Doyoung looks, some arrangement of vibrant green stares back. The floor is light pine and filled with the scratches and footsteps of the many customers who regularly visit the cafe.

As Doyoung keeps walking inside, he notices Jiyeon sitting at a counter-table in the corner. She gestures him over. As he approaches, Doyoung notices a vast disparity in her appearance from the last time they met. She wears a striped, off-shoulder top that elegantly exposes her collarbones. She has paired the top with dark pants and white sandal heels.

Doyoung sits down next to Jiyeon. She nods enthusiastically in greeting. Her hair is tied in a low ponytail with strands of hair ready to fall out. Doyoung realizes that despite her casual look, Jiyeon still holds an immeasurable aura of grace. He is intimidated by her once again, even though he now knows of her unconcerned attitude.

"Thanks for coming," Jiyeon says with her velvety voice as she leans in towards the side. "If I had to meet with another dimwit parasite, I think would have set myself on fire."

"Thank you for the, er, compliment," Doyoung says. "Actually, how many people did your parents try to set you up with before me?"

"You're probably like the fifth one. Don't worry though, Byeol is in her last semester. As soon as she graduates, I'm marrying her right away!" Jiyeon smiles widely, giggling to herself in a giddy manner.

"Moving on," Doyoung hurridly interrupts. He hopes that Jiyeon never talks about her girlfriend in front of other people; her half-witted attitude could seriously ruin her reputation.

"Ah right, you had something to talk about?" Jiyeon asks, feigning innocent curiosity. She tilts her head in question, but her sly smile gives away that she already knows the topic.

Doyoung takes a deep breath. He tries to speak, but when he opens his mouth, he finds the words to be stuck in his throat. He stares at his fingers on the table and tries to speak again, leaning in close as if he is telling a secret. "I like someone," he eventually chokes out. It was one thing to admit to himself he has fallen in love with Taeyong. But now that he's said it out loud, it becomes that much more raw and concrete. "Oh my God, I can't believe it. I fell for that guy. Out of all people." Doyoung closes his eyes and covers his face with his hands, letting out a loud groan.

The only response Jiyeon gives is a delighted cackle. "We barely met a while ago! Did you listen to me so seriously that you already found someone?" She claps admiringly and grins. "That was fast."

"No, I've known him for a while now. And I think I've liked him for a while too," Doyoung says weakly as he frowns. He realizes he must look very disheveled and pathetic to Jiyeon, causing his embarrassment to further grow. "But when I talked to you, I realized it."

"Yay! You owe me a lot then!" Jiyeon laughs again. "Oh, let me go order food first. It would be rude for us to continue conversing in this pleasant place without appreciating their menu." Jiyeon stands up and walks over to the counter.

While Jiyeon orders, Doyoung rests his arms on the table and hides his head. He closes his eyes and tries to tell himself he's just having a terrible dream. It is a long dream maybe because he's in a coma or something. Any excuse works, anything to persuade himself that this isn't real.

But when Jiyeon comes back, she immediately sits down and continues the conversation. "So when are you going to tell him?" she asks casually in a pleasant tone.