Strange wholesomeness

Chapter three: the encounter

After the first shock, he couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of a statuesque woman covered in strawberries. 

> I’m so sorry.- He said with a strong accent he couldn't hold back.  

> You should be! - she underlined. It wasn’t a shout he remembered from his hometown where women kept selling fruits on the streets while disciplining their children. It was a half-muted hiss of an angry woman that wasn’t prepared for a world in which something surprised her. 

> It’s good that I’m close to my apartment, perhaps I won’t freeze to death walking home in wet clothes.- she smiled slightly looking at the terror in the eyes of the pretty boy that caused this whole mess. - Be careful next time, someone else might not be so understanding after losing their favourite trousers to... - she licked her finger- ...a strawberry smoothie. 

> Yes, thank you, sorry, I don’t know what to say….- he became surprisingly clumsy after seeing how cool she was about the incident. 

> Don’t say anything, just please take a look at my things for a moment while I try to tidy myself a bit in the restroom, can you? 

He nodded as she headed towards the restroom.

What am I doing? What if someone recognizes me and some paparazzi takes a photo. I really should leave, she doesn’t know who I am. Or does she? Did she recognize me? She didn’t seem though. - Be a man, Jun, you are 24 so behave like an adult, offer her some compensation for the dry washing or anything. - again he was lost in thoughts when she came back with a handful of tissues trying to clean up the books on the table.

> Lost inside your head again? It’s risky - she said and smiled. He seemed so abashed that she had no heart to scold the boy. It was also unlike her, why does she hold back, if it happened at work, he wouldn’t have space for shyness but would have to do something to make up for his mistakes. But they weren’t at work and strangely enough, she wasn’t in a mood to be a manager. Especially towards a boy that young. 

> Can I make it up for you somehow? - he asked. 

> No need, it was enough for me to talk to someone in English, even under those circumstances. - she said and that’s when he noticed the Korean handbooks she was so desperately trying to save from a strawberry flood. 

> Are you learning Korean? 

> I have no choice, I have to live here for a few years and it’s really hard if I can’t even scold a boy who poured his drink on me and be sure he understands me.- she smiled. 

> Perhaps I can help you? - he said and realized what he just did. He was on an illegal and risky trip, escaped his manager and had absolutely no way of making any arrangements for the future. Plus what if she realized who he was, would she sue his company for what he did to get the money? It would harm his image so badly. 

> There is no way you can help me, I’m a lost cause, but thank you, it was nice that somebody offered me help. It’s been a long time since it last happened. 

He was relieved with her answer but sad at the same time. He wasn’t used to natural interactions with other people. It was either professional or fun-boing over him so it was so refreshing to just talk to this strange woman who didn’t care about his face or fame.

> I will leave then, again I’m really sorry. 

> If you want to train your English or just be comfortably not alone over a smoothie someday, call me. She handed him over a small card with some numbers on them. 

> Thank you, I’ll go. 

She smiled, feeling the most pathetic she ever felt in her life. When she suddenly decided to give her number to a boy who she didn’t even meet for real and was at least 10 years younger than her. And it made him feel uneasy too. Ugh- she cursed inside- I am more lonely than I thought. 

He stormed out of a coffee as if escaping something. What just happened, he didn’t know but he felt so strange. His head was definitely somewhere else as if trying to force him out of the danger zone. Don’t overthink you i***t- he scolded himself- It’s not your place to be. You don’t belong to this world. 

He rushed through the streets completely ignoring the buzz in his pocket clearly reminding him of the world he actually belonged to.