the tutor | choi beomgyu

chapter 12: winter break excerpts

12:34 PM, Monday, December 21st, 2021

[AMUSEMENT PARK]

You and Beomgyu stood in a merchandise shop, picking out what headbands you want to wear.
"What do you think?" you turned to Beomgyu, showing him the green frog eye headband you picked out.
"I like it!" he smiled.
"How about this one?" he picked out a mouse ear headband.
"Hmm, nah." you said, scaling the selection.
"Oh my gosh, this is too perfect." you picked out the princess crown headband.
"Come here." you placed it on his head.
"Princess crown?" he said.
"Get it? Princess and the frog!" you clapped your hands.
"Why are you the frog prince?" he asked.
"Because I just am." you laughed.

[THE CHOI HOUSE]

You plopped down on Beomgyu's bed.
"I'm so tired now," you said rubbing your stomach. You had just gotten back from walking around the city aquarium.
"You're always tired." he laughed, laying down next to you. There was a pause, you stared at his ceiling fan as it went round and round.
"Is it just me or did it feel like someone was watching us?" he said.
"What?" you turned your attention to Beomgyu.
"I don't know, something just felt kinda off." he sighed.
"Well I didn't notice anything," you said.

[MINNIE'S PASTRY]

You stood in the back room of a pastry and bread shop, it was around five o'clock and you had just come in for work. Around this time the shop was empty, not many customers coming by. You were waiting on the sports teams to finish up practice. Surprisingly, you actually enjoyed the presence of them. You hated when the quiet background music and air conditioning machine was all that took up the shop. You liked the sounds of people laughing and talking, even if it was the rowdy sports teams.

You were staring at your phone when you heard the door open and the bell ring.
"One minute!" you yelled. You walked over looking at the floor. Ugh, I should've swept! you turned up to the customer, smiling brightly at them. You were shocked, it was Choi Beomgyu. He seemed a little surprised too.
"You work here?" he asked.
"What can I get for you?" you asked, acting like he was just a regular customer. He noticed.
"Um, uh, I'm not sure, what do you recommend?" he asked.
"What are you in the mood for? Salty or sweet?"
"Well, I want to get something for this girl I like." he smiled. What?
"Really?" you turned your head, grinning.
"Yes, there's a lot I don't know about her yet, so I want to get something she'll definitely like," he said. He did not just say that! This is so embarrassing!!!
"Well what is she like?" your eyes sparkled.
He scoffed.
"Let me think... she's quite annoying." he grinned at you.
"Really?" you rolled your eyes.
"Yes, she's such a pain!!" he sighed.
"Why is that?" you asked, putting your hand on your hip.
"She's everywhere!" he laughed. Huh? you were confused.
"I can't seem to get her out of my head! I think about her before I go to sleep and when I wake up. She pops up in my head when I daydream in class. She blends in pretty well with her surroundings, yet I still notice her whenever she's in the room. I wonder where she goes when she's bored, who she's friends with outside of school, the boys she's liked, her pet peeves, her favorite songs, and her deepest secrets." he said. You didn't know what to say, all you could do was feel flustered.
"You think I should get that checked out?" he said nonchalantly. You laughed.
"She sounds like she like chocolate cornets," you said.
"You think so?" he said.
"Maybe." you shrugged, smiling foolishly.
"Then I'll take two of those and one small lemonade," he said pulling out his wallet.

______

You wiped down the last table in the shop before putting up the chairs. He thinks about me that much? you thought about what Beomgyu said earlier. That boy is bold, you smiled to yourself.