Serendipity

Chapter 9: Elle

He suddenly coughed and looked at the window.

I went closer to him. Calling him oppa face to face. I love teasing him. His reactions are too die for.

"I think I saw you blush? Did you blush?"

"Yah! You're spewing nonsense!"

We both laugh.

"See! You make me happy." He said sincerely.

"Yah! Your acting charms won't work on me! We're friends now! So you better straighten up!"

"Babo."

"Yah! You think I don't know what that means?!" I said angrily.

"Didn't you notice me while you were sitting down at the lobby in the hospital?"

"It was you? Why didn't you say anything? You are the babo not me!" I laughed at him.

He laughs.

"Babo! That's what I'm going to call you! I can't call you by your real name because people might recognize you. You also get hostile when I say "ahjussi" or "samchun." And calling you "oppa" is just cringey to say to you.

"Whatever." He started the car and began driving. He handed me his phone and told me to call who I needed to call.

"Hello Ruth? It's me, Elle. My phone broke so I'm using someone else's phone. Can you text me the address in this number?"

"Elle! We were getting worried! Why is your phone broken?"

"Long story. I'll tell you as soon as I come home. Just text me the address ASAP." The I hung up the phone.

I got Ruth's message.

"Here's the address." I showed it to him.

"Elle. That's a short name. Or, is that nickname?"

I laughed. "Oh my god! I never told you my name! Did I? How did we address each other back in your house?"

"Yah." He chuckled.

"Oh, right! I remember now."I laugh. Then, I slapped his arm but not too strong. I sometimes slap my friends' arms when I laugh.

"Your name?"

"Oh right! It's just Elle. Short and simple. By the way, am I not disturbing you? You must be busy. I'm sorry you had to help me again.

"That's okay. I'm also on vacation. I'm currently reviewing scripts offered to me.

The traffic was bad. It was already 6 pm when we arrived at my place.

I got out of his car and said,"Thank you for helping me. I won't ask for your help ever again! This will finally be the last goodbye. The first goodbye was just practice" I joked. There goes that heartbroken expression of him again. He really should start making friends even if he's shy. He can't be lonely all the time.

"Don't you want me to come in?" He said confidently

"No! They're huge fans of anything Korean so you shouldn't come. They might be the one breaking your career instead of me. "Bye now!"

I was about to close the door when he grabbed a small bag from the backseat and gave it to me.

"A parting gift? I did not expect that. You really are a true friend! I opened the bag and it was a new phone and a powerbank.

"Babo yah! You don't have to give me these."

"I don't want you lost."

"Yah! Just admit it. You're tired of helping me. This gift will completely eradicate you in my life." I laughed.

He looked away from me.

"You're funny! I closed the door and went inside the airbnb. I didn't bother looking back because I probably won't see him again.