Fleeting Moments With You

009

While I was walking back on my way from school, I decided to drop-by the grocery store to buy some chips that could aid me in my all-nighter to study the books that I have borrowed from the library. After grabbing three different chips, I was about to quickly check-out from the counter but then I saw her again. The thought of calling her attention already came, but then I find her cute when she's too oblivious of the surroundings. My lips curved into a smile as I quietly followed Dahyun around the grocery store. I just watched as she stuffed some veggies and meat to her cart then she contentedly smiled to herself before walking towards the counter.

But as she was about to pay, I noticed that she encountered a problem. The cashier waited for her as she checked her pockets countless times and the way she bit her lower lip in anxiety told me that she forgot her money. I sighed and shook my head before walking towards the cashier and giving her the chips that I took. As the cashier punched the chips onto the receipt, Dahyun stared at me with confusion as if trying to remember who I am and I waited for her to identify me before I talked.

"Ah. Neighbour!" she blurted out.

I smiled before taking my wallet. She widened her eyes at me but as she realized what I was doing, she timidly smiled once more and said, "Thank you."

I just smiled back at Dahyun and told the cashier to put our goods into separate bags. She was about to grab the heavy bags which contained the things she bought, but I beat her to it and grabbed all the bags.

"Let me carry some," she insisted.

"No. It's okay. I can do this," I argued back.

I showed her that I was fine carrying three bags of hers and the plastic bag that contained the chips with my one hand, two additional books with the other hand, and my back pack. But what I did just made her insist more.

"At least let me carry the chips," she snatched one plastic bag from me. Then she took away my books too, and said, "These too."

I was about to argue back once more but then the cashier called our attention and told us, "Excuse me Ma'am, Sir but you're blocking the next customer."

"Sorry," we said in unison and bowed in apology.

As we exited the shop, I was about to grab back my books and bag but Dahyun avoided my hands and distanced herself from me. There was a look in her eyes that said she would not give up this fight so chortling, I surrendered, "Fine. But come closer. Let's walk together."

She beamed and skipped towards me. We indeed walked together closely because I could feel her arm brush against mine from time to time and it sent the familiar tingles on me. I smiled at the familiar sensation but then my smile quickly faded away as I thought that it was only me who would think of it as familiar.

"So you just came from school?" she asked and I spotted her scanning my books.

"Hmmm," I nodded. Then I added, "I'm studying medicine at the university nearby."

"That's cool," she nodded back but then she pouted as she inspected the thickness of the book and commented, "You sure do have a lot to learn."

"Re-learn actually," I confessed, "I stopped schooling for three years."

"Ahh," she nodded again. She then looked at me and said, "It's good that you continued on trying to achieve your goals, though."

I met her gaze and muttered, "There was a girl back then that wrote me a letter and made me promise to continue pursuing my dreams."

She gave me a knowing smile as she replied, "She must be so important for you to follow her advice."

I just smiled back.