Warmth

She had been quiet the entire time and Ji Pyeong knew that she was too busy thinking. She kept stealing glances at him and he couldn’t help but smile to himself. She was really beautiful when she was shy. He kept mixing the bibimbap and she would occupy herself with drinking water, straightening the chopsticks and dropping them from the table only to scold herself under the table for being a clutz.

He handed her the already mixed noodles and took his noodles to mix. She watched him and looked down at her own noodles feeling the warmth, not only in the noodles but if his gentlemanly Grace in which he gave her the first noodles.

He looked at her, as she started to ear, forgetting herself for a bit and enjoying the warmth in her mouth. He smiled, waiting for an excuse to begin his confession. She nodded, liking the bibimbap and took another spoonful when he dropped the bomb.

“I like you, Seo Dal Mi sshi”

Dal Mi coughed, the mouthful she took ending up in the wrong path. He was quick. He handed her water before she could even think. She didn’t look at him, just accepted the water with an acknowledgment. But his confession was far from over.

“I wanted to tell that to you the moment I met you again. That I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time. And I was late. I was hoping I wouldn’t be. Because I felt that the letters I wrote to you would make you come back to me. But I was late. I didn’t know—“

“No” she stopped him, taking a sip from the water again.

“I’m sorry?” He was confused.

“No you’re not” she replied, staring at her noodles.

“I’m not what?” He asked softly, knowing the answer.

He was hoping that the answer he thought of was indeed what she was trying to say. The dreams and thoughts he put into words seventeen years ago calmed her heart. He introduced her to love and he was indeed her first love. But he had seen her with Do San and how much she was enjoying spending time with him so he wasn’t sure. He repeated his question and this time Dal Mi looked at him before replying with one word, “Late”

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