Attention

two.

FLASHBACK

It was Wednesday in the late afternoon when the g**g, Yujin and her teammates – Eunbi, Chaewon, Chaeyeon, Yena, Hyewon and Wonyoung, planned to eat at the local restaurant near them which is the Oneiric Misfit that recently opened. Their afternoon practice for the upcoming basketball inter-school competition just finished, so Eunbi— which is their captain— thought about eating first before going home. When they arrived at the restaurant, they took a seat at the table set-up near at the corner of the establishment. “Yena-unnie, are you going to pay for us?” Wonyoung asked Yena.

“Of course not!” Yena retorted. “Who do you think I am? Bill gates? Pay for your own food.” She added, with threatening gaze that made Wonyoung scram.

“Coming at me unprovoked. Chill unnie.” Wonyoung said.

Yujin could only smile at their interaction. They’re always like this, teasing and bickering at each other nonstop; fortunately, they will not let it go beyond that, just like any other friends do. She’s busy having conversations with Chaewon and Chaeyeon about the last game when she noticed a pretty– no, scratch that, a gorgeous woman casually walking around and assisting their guest’s orders, looking so ethereal; clad with clean white and blue uniform, and cute brunette colored hair bun and disheveled fringe.

Wow.

Yujin thought.

She was never good with arts; she sucks at that. But she surely knows when and how to appreciate one.

And this girl is a walking perfection.

Like, if innocent beauty is a person, she’d be it.

Yujin is intensely staring at the girl, the conversation is long forgotten. She watched how graceful this girl is while talking to the customers with full concentration, and that made the two of her friends flood with confusion. When Chaewon noticed that Yujin is not responding, clearly the girl’s attention is off somewhere else, she averted her stare to the direction where Yujin’s gaze is headed. When she saw where Yujin looking at, she instantly smirked. Chaewon glanced at Chaeyeon, who is beside the girl and seated in front of her, she gave the other player a suggestive look. When Chaeyeon got the silent message, she relayed it to the others which made them stopped talking too.

They watched Yujin daydreaming while she gawked at the beautiful employee.

Executing their improvisational plan, Chaewon raised her hand upward. Fortunately for them, the beautiful lady easily noticed them. Courtesy to Chaewon’s persistent waving. After successfully assisting the other guests, the girl walked to their table.

And of course, noticing that the girl she’s been simping over for the past few minutes is now walking closer to where they are, Yujin’s mind gone haywire.

Crap. Yujin, calm yourself.

Yujin diverted her attention from the girl to the cleaned tiled floor. She also fixed her position and gulped, a big one. With repetitive chants in her mind to get her s**t together, Yujin will never be ready when the girl talked.

“Hello, how may I help you?” The beautiful girl asked, softly. Damn. Even her voice is so pretty. Yujin said in her mind. She slowly lift her head up, and taking a closer look to the girl’s name tag.

Minjoo.

The girl’s whole existence is a beauty. Her face and whole look is pretty, her voice is pretty, even her name is so pretty. Yujin didn’t noticed that she’s been staring at the girl’s name tag for way too long already, that when Minjoo asked for her order, she didn’t respond.

Noticing how broke their dumb friend is, Chaeyeon nudged Yujin. The other’s watched the interaction unfold with smirks and smug expressions plastered all over their faces.

“O-oh, sorry. Are you talking to me?” Yujin asked, with quivering tone. Minjoo then smiled a little while looking at the other girl. “Yes, ma’am. What would you have for today?” She asks.

“Umm, I- uhh,” She stuttered. “What- What do you recommend?” She carefully asked. Hearing the cute girl’s question, it made Minjoo pondered a little. “Hmmm,” Minjoo paused, thinking about her favorite food in the menu. “I would recommend their soft tofu stew and tteokbokki. Both are really good.” A smile slides across her face.

Broken by Minjoo’s smile, Yujin just agreed and nods her head. “Okay. I’ll have that. Thank you.” She added.

Cute. Minjoo thought. And as if one smile is not enough to send Yujin off to the moon, Minjoo flashed her a smile again. However, this time, it’s bigger than the first one. “Perfect. Is there anything else?” She asked the group.

This is it. Chaewon eyed the others and smirked.

“Would you mind if I ask you a question?” Chaewon started.

“Oh it’s okay, what is it?”

“With all due respect mademoiselle— are you, perhaps, taken?” She asked. Hearing Chaewon’s question, Yujin averted her gaze from Minjoo to her friend with wide eye.

What the hell is she doing? Is she hitting on her?

“Uh, that’s too personal.” Minjoo nonchalantly chuckled. “No. I’m not” She admitted anyway.

“Really?” All of them asked in unison. Yes, even Yujin.

“Yup.”

Chaewon took a glance at Yujin and she can see her boring holes to her soul. This is for you buddy. “I see. You’re available then?” She asks.

Minjoo smiled a little and said, “Unsure.”

“That’s unfortunate.” They all deflated. “May I ask why?” Chaewon added.

“I’m not interested…” Minjoo replied, softly. “For now…” She added while staring at Yujin.

“Oh, okay,” Chaewon continued. “I’ve got a friend here though, and she seems like she’s interested with you.” She said. After realizing Chaewon’s intention, Yujin’s eyes went wide and panic shoots her mind. Luckily, Minjoo’s attention is on Chaewon so she can’t notice how Yujin’s freaking out right now.

Riding with the other’s game, Minjoo asked curiously, “Really? Who?”

Chaewon stared at her friend again and she saw how much Yujin is begging to not say it, but of course, she won’t be faze by that.

Don’t you dare, I swear to f*****g god, Kim Chaewon.

“Oh, this friend of mine, A-“

“Okay!” Knowing that her friend will going to give her the most embarrassing moment of her life, Yujin decided to step in and swiftly stood up. “Alright. I think that’s too personal now, aren’t it, Chae?”

Chaewon smirked at the other. “I don’t know, you tell me” She said, with taunting voice. Yujin flashed her friend a threatening look and then, averted her attention to Minjoo who is quite confused to the exchange.

“My friends are done with the interview. You can go now, miss.”

“Oh, okay.” The brunette paused. “Please, wait for the others to serve your orders. Thank you. I’ll go ahead now.” Minjoo bid goodbye, but of course, without forgetting to give Yujin a warm smile for the nth time.

“Yeah. Thank you too, miss. Bye” Yujin paused, doubting whether what she’s about to do is appropriate. “Fighting!” She said it anyway, albeit it sounded a little soft but Minjoo still heard it. Loud and clear. The beautiful woman turned around and pumped her arms down, motioning the fighting gesture. “Fighting!” She said, lightly, releasing a soft giggle.

And that made the hopeless Ahn Yujin breathless.

Oh, god.

If this is the last thing I will be seeing before I die, I really don’t mind going up now.

“Whoo, someone’s whipped.” Yena said, breaking Yujin’s daydreaming. She turned around and glared at her friends.

“What the hell is that? Chaewon? Really?” She asked, her tone hardening.

“What? We are just helping you. You are too engrossed staring at her that she might start to think you’re a creep.” Chaewon responded.

“Well, I’m not!”

Seeing how red their friend’s face is, it’s making them cackle. “What are you doing then?” Wonyoung sneered.

“Can a girl just appreciate beauty?” Yujin retaliated.

“Nah. That ain’t it,” Eunbi continued. “You are obviously smitten over her. You like her, don’t you?” She asks with a smirk on her face.

Rosy color creeps up to Yujin’s cheeks. “And what about it?” She asked, trying to sound strong she can possible uttered.

“Why don’t you go for it?”

“Just because.”

“Since when are you a coward?” Hyewon asked.

“Since today.”

“Yah! Your mother didn’t carry you for nine months only to get too shy asking a girl out.” Chaeyeon said.

“Augh! Can you all chill? I just met her few minutes ago! Plus she says she’s not interested.” Yujin sighed in frustration. “Please, stop pestering me.”

“Okay, your choice.” They said.

After that conversation, their foods finally arrived. They didn’t talk about Yujin’s misfortune anymore and planned about their next strategy for the competition instead. It was already 8 in the evening when they finished eating. They were tidying up their things and was about to go home when Chaewon nudged Yujin.

“Hmm?” Yujin hummed.

“Minjoo’s alone now.” Chaewon says, eyebrows rising up and down.

“Ugh! Unnie!”

“I’m just saying this is your last chance. It will be hard making conversations next time. You know. She might forget about you.”

“But-“

“Seriously, Yujin. Trust me.” The older insisted. “Do it.”

“What do I even have to say?”

“I don’t know. You’re the intelligent one here, you’ll think of something on the way there.”

Yujin sighed. She hates how Chaewon made sense. She don’t know when she’s gonna get this chance again so might as well grab it now. “Okay” She heavily breathed then gulped. She sauntered her way to Minjoo who is just standing beside the counter, observing. There’s not much of people around them anymore because the restaurant is also closing in 30 minutes, which is a relief to Yujin.

Minjoo noticed the girl from earlier walking closer to her and she beamed by the way how cutely the tall girl walks. Yujin’s head is hang low, with both of her hands clasped together in front.

Noticing how the other is intensely looking at her with a grin on her face, Yujin nearly backed out.

Get your s**t together, come on now.

When she finally made her way to Minjoo, she stopped and stood in front of her. Yujin raised her head high and looked at the other. “Hey, umm, I just wanted to apologize about what happened earlier.” Yujin started, taking a good look to the girl in front of her. “This is the first time they got out from their cages, so they kinda wild. They are not usually like that.” Yujin reasoned. Giddiness embraced her when she saw Minjoo’s smile slowly getting bigger. Honestly, it’s already Yujin’s favorite sight in the world now.

“Oh, it’s okay. I understand,” Minjoo paused. “How ‘bout you? Is this your first time?” She asked, giggly.

“Not exactly,” Yujin said, chuckling. “Although I am quite doubting whether I am really on Earth or in Heaven.”

Minjoo’s face are painted with little confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Yujin continued. “It’s just that, I’ve got an angel in front of me right now” She says, with full conviction. Minjoo rolled her eyes playfully, but her mouth turned into a crescent nonetheless.

Yujin chuckled, seeing Minjoo’s reaction. “I’m Ahn Yujin.” She offered her hand which the other girl gladly shake.

“Kim Minjoo.”

“I figured.” Yujin paused. “So you work here, like regularly?” She asked curiously.

“Uh, no. Only in weekends,” Minjoo continued. “But we go to the same school. I actually sees you and your team playing a lot”

Yujin face lights up at that. “Really?”

How come I’ve never notice her?

“Yup. You’re good.” Minjoo said, with a smile on her face.

“Thank you,” Yujin said shyly. “What department are you?”

“Medicine,” Minjoo softly answered.

Ah, maybe that’s the reason why. Med students are so busy. “I see.”

“How about you? What department are you?”

“Business” Yujin replied, all smiles. “So we’re kind of like 3 buildings away”

Minjoo lightly tilted her head to the right and smiled. “Indeed.”

Yujin is still panicking, obviously. But after debating with herself for the past few minutes, she finally gained courage and whole will power to ask the girl a question. She cleared her throat and asked, “Hey, umm, so this might be weird and all, considering that we just met today. But I wanted to know if you’re available this Friday?”

Minjoo tilted her head right back and squint her eyes a little along with small smirk. “And why’s that concerns you?” Minjoo asked, playfully.

“Well, I was just wondering if you want to grab some coffee, or you might be interested on going to amusement park,” Yujin continued. “Maybe?” She added, albeit it sounded too cutesy for Minjoo’s liking.

“I’m sorry but I’m not. I’ve got shift.” She admits, slightly apprehensive. Because as much as she’s interested to go, she can’t take the risk of losing her job. Plus, considering all the things she experienced, Minjoo is quite wary about agreeing to go out right away. She knows handful of people who tried to pursue her just because she’s got the face. But they never really in it for her heart, and she loathes that.  She is pretty, she’s aware of it. However, that attracts so much attention, even the bad people. Not that she judges the girl. But then, even though it’s the cutest person she’d ever met— for instance Ahn Yujin— Minjoo would like to see her sincerity first.

“How about next Friday?”

“Hmm, I’m not really sure. I’m sorry” Minjoo says and felt guilty when she saw Yujin’s face slowly deflating.

Yujin pulled a small smile and said, “It’s okay. Don’t say sorry. I understand.”

Minjoo sighs in relief and her lips upturned. “I’ll go now. Time to work.” She said.

“Okay. Alright…” Yujin paused. “Umm, Minjoo…” She called.

Minjoo turned around and asked, “Yes?”

“Is it okay for you if I visit here every day?” Yujin asked, expectantly.

Minjoo playfully squint her eyes again then slightly tilted her head. “You like me that much?”

Yujin almost choked hearing that from Minjoo. She never knew the girl could be this spontaneous. “I-uh-well, umm-”

“I’m kidding,” Minjoo chuckled. “It’s your life, Ahn. Just make sure, you’ll buy something.” She jokingly added then walked to the guest’s table. Yujin watched Minjoo walked away.

It’s stupid because she just met Minjoo today, but girl, the affect she had on Yujin’s life? She’s doomed, for sure. Her heart is rapidly beating but not because of balling anymore, but because of this certain woman who definitely swept her off her feet. To say at least that she’s just interested is a lie. Because what she feels for the other girl is beyond that. She’s highly smitten, definitely floored and completely besotted to Minjoo.

“Sad to say this Romeo, but looks like it will take a lot of pick-up lines to get the princess.” Chaewon said, as they watch the interaction. She stood beside the tall girl and pat her back shoulder.

“Then, make sure you’ll count.” Yujin challenged.

“Kim Minjoo…”

Why am I so captivated by you?