𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙐𝙍𝙀♥︎𝙃𝙐𝘼𝙉𝙂 𝙍𝙀𝙉𝙅𝙐𝙉

11

"One vanilla macchiato please," Hyunsoo says to the older waitress and looks over to Renjun who then speaks.

"One venti sized Americano with a shot of espresso," Renjun says and the kind lady bows before leaving the two alone in their corner table.

"You have some peculiar tastes," Hyunsoo said, her voice teasing but not in an uncomfortable way, Renjun simply pursed his lips and looked around the little coffee shop which was rather empty, a few high schoolers on the other corner of the room and a small group of woman on the other side. There was slow jazz playing on the speakers and the lights were a beautiful gradient of orange. The room felt warm despite the aiconditioners and the smell of coffee just made the cherry on top.

"Thank you," Hyunsoo said, her eyes looking straight into those of Renjun's, being the confident woman she was. Renjun looked confused for a few seconds till Hyunsoo spoke up.

"What you did out there," she mentions and Renjun's mind takes him back to the memory of the two boys from moments ago.

"Why did you stop me?" Renjun asks, clearly a bit upset that the woman let those kids go like that.

"You're rising as a star in the country, how could you let a few weasels like them ruin your reputation," Renjun says, scolding the older girl.

"There's more to me than just my reputation Renjun," she starts and only then, the older waitress sets down each of their coffees.

"Moreover, from what I've learned in the modelling industry, reputation is like a mirage, one can believe in such rumours and others can choose not to, I just need to work diligently," Hyunsoo says as she revolves the little spoon in circles around the froth on top of the macchiato.

'Perseverant' Renjun voices in his head when she speaks. Renjun somehow saw one new trait in her everytime they met.

Renjun noticed the high school kids from the other side of the room whisper to each other while having their eyes on Hyunsoo, while the girl was simply sipping on her drink. He found it a bit unsettling at how she didn't shut the kids up.

"Can we move out with the drinks, I'm a bit uncomfortable here," Renjun said and Hyunsoo smiled small.

"It's because of the boys isn't it?" Hyunsoo asks but doesn't mind much as she gets up and adjusts herself before motioning for Renjun to tag along as she pays for the two coffees.

The bell 'dings' when the close the door shut after leaving the coffee shop with both their drinks in hand.

"When did you paint for the first time?" Hyunsoo asked Renjun as they started walking to nowhere, simply going wherever their feet took them. Renjun motioned for Hyunsoo to hand him the painting as she held onto it all this while.

"It's alright," she says as she kindly rejects and holds the portrait by herself.

"I painted my dog, Xiu Lien, I was only three then," Renjun said, thinking back to the time when he was still younger and happier.

"Cute," Hyunsoo said as she watched his side profile, watching him as he smiled thinking about his childhood.

"What about you? What made you want to model?" Renjun asked.

"I wish modelling was a talent of mine like how painting is a talent for you, I started modelling at a young age because I needed the money," Hyunsoo said, reminiscing her childhood.

"Hmm, understandable. Well, even if modelling isn't your talent, it's your skill, and that's something to be proud of Ms. Ji," Renjun said.

By now, neither of the two adults knew where they were walking to, they simply went wherever their feet took them, they ended up at the little park where Hyunsoo and him made their first unofficial portrait- Floria Gardens.

"Do you have anywhere to be?" Hyunsoo asked, her eyes gazing deeply into his and he pursed his lips in thought.

"Not really," he answered.

"Good, give me company while we're here," Hyunsoo said before mindlessly pulling onto the sleeve of his long overcoat. She dragged Renjun behind her whilst holding her portrait on the other hand to their old spot, the park was rather empty this time considering the timing.

Renjun stared at the back of her head, her dark brown hair flowed mindlessly with the winds around the garden.

Hyunsoo left his hand once they reached their spot and she slid off her heels, placing them on the side and the tickling feel of grass under her feet made her crunch her toes as she sat down comfortably.

'Humble' Renjun thought in his head before sitting down right in front of her.

"What are we doing here Ms.-"

"Hyunsoo," the older girl reminded.

Renjun lifted his brows slightly before nodding.

"What are we doing here Hyunsoo?" He asked, a bit shocked with himself at how he thoughtlessly obeyed the girl without any problems whatsoever.

"I normally wouldn't come here on my own but you're fun to be around, you're chill and I like that," Hyunsoo said, a small smile dancing on her lips and Renjun was only more surprised with every second he spent with her.

"Say, let's play a game while we're here," Hyunsoo said before reaching for her phone and Renjun gulped. Hyunsoo was quite the straightforward type and that left Renjun facing a lot of unexpected moments whenever they were together.

"What are we playing?" Renjun asked.

"21 Questions, and if maybe we're compatible, it would be easier for you to not get so flustered around me," Hyunsoo said slyly and once again Renjun looked at her like she wasn't real.

He was excited yet scared, not having met someone like her before he didn't know how to feel, taking life by the horns as she did, he tried to drop his naive approach to life and waited for her to ask the first questions.

"What if we are compatible like you said?" Renjun asked confidently.

"Then we just wait and see what's in hold for us."

To Be Continued.....