Countless

Chapter 3

[Mabel]

A couple of days later, I felt a smile slide onto my face as I saw Kibum walking into the library. He'd been coming here every day and then we'd go out for a drink afterwards. He was really funny, with an attitude and confidence that I liked. I had to admit that seeing him brightened my day.

"Guess who," he spoke behind me, giving me a cheeky look when I turned around.

"Could it be Key?" I laughed.

He laughed too, making the straps on his bucket hat move.

"Cute," I said, gesturing to the hat, "but you should probably take it off indoors."

"Who, me or the hat?" He smirked, making me blush a little. Was he flirting with me?

Ruffling his flat hair, he pulled out his phone and checked his reflection in it.

"How do I look?"

"You just have one stray hair..." I reached out and pulled it into place for him, feeling how soft his hair was in the process.

"Thanks." He smiled, his eyes doing that crinkly thing again. It was kind of cute.

"I'd better get back to work." Grabbing a book, I put it on the shelf as Kibum watched.

"Hey, when do you have free time?"

"Tomorrow, actually. Why?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go to Warner Brothers studios with me?"

"Really?" I couldn't help but show my surprise.

"Yes. It's more fun with someone else."

"I mean, if you want to."

"Good, then I'll pick you up tomorrow." Kibum smiled and left to go sit at his usual table before I could say anything else.

As I continued packing books, my mind couldn't help but wander. I would have thought that Kibum would want to enjoy his holiday alone, but maybe he was one of those people who just liked people. I liked people too, but I often needed breaks from them.

The next day we met up in front of the library so we could travel there together. Kibum seemed excited to use the London underground, but I supposed it was always exciting the first time.

He insisted that I sat so I did, sneaking glances at him from time to time.
There was something about him, but I just couldn't grasp what. I mean the way he dressed was unlike anything I'd ever seen before; he made bucket hats and handbags look so cool. His whole aura exuded a certain calm confidence, but one look into his eyes and you could tell he was quite the character.

"Do you like Harry Potter?" I asked as I followed him inside.

"Of course. Who doesn't?"

I shrugged. "My housemate."

"Housemate?"

"I live with many people." I smiled.

We got to the front of the queue and he insisted on paying once again.

"One of these days you'll have to let me pay for something," I commented.

"I invited you, so it's only fair. You can pay for things later though." He smirked with his usual sass.

I was in awe of the place as we walked around, stopping almost every couple of steps to look at something. Kibum was very patient, taking photos of things here and there. Eventually he wanted me to take some of him.

"For your family?"

"Yeah, you could say that," he answered as he posed.

I snapped several pictures before saying, "why don't you smile?"

"It looks cooler when I don't."

"Alright then." I shrugged.

He came up to me with his phone. "I'll smile if you take a picture with me though."

This man, I thought as I shook my head and posed with him.

"Lovely," he said, clearly satisfied.

We made our way through the rest before heading to a pizza place to eat.

As we waited for our order, I couldn't help but want to ask him more questions.

"So, what made you choose London?"

"I needed a break from work and I enjoyed my time here many years ago."

"I don't think you told me what you do."

He smirked a little. "I'm a singer."

"A singer?" I was taken aback.

"Yes."

I must have looked like I didn't believe him because he pulled out his phone to show me.

"Have you heard of Kpop?"

"Yes, in passing."

"I'm in a band named Shinee."

He showed me a music video and I watched, astonished.

"That's you?"

"Yeah." He laughed. "With makeup on."

Suddenly it all made sense: his aura, his dress sense, the pictures.

"Wow, okay."

He laughed at my expression. "You didn't believe me!"

"I've just never met any singers before."

The waitress put our pizzas on the table.

"I was hoping I could meet some new people on this trip, so I'm glad I met you." He smiled.

"Well I'm honoured, Key." I smirked. "I hope you have a good time here."

"It's already off to a good start."

He told me a bit more about himself and his career over dinner. It was impressive that he had achieved so much already, and yet it hadn't gone to his head.

I was even more surprised that he wanted to hang out with someone like me, but I was secretly pleased. The more I found out about him, the more I liked him.

"I've been meaning to ask, but what happened to your eyebrow? Is that a style?"

"Oh this?" He touched it and smiled. "No, it's a scar. I hurt myself while playing with a flowerpot when I was younger."

"Ouch." I cringed. "I can imagine how much that must have hurt."

He laughed. "I barely remember now to be honest."

"I like it, it looks cool."

"I appreciate that." He smirked and leaned forward to pick up a pizza slice, locking eyes with me. "It's my trademark."

He barely needed a trademark, because it was clear that there was only one Kim Kibum. I was just lucky enough to have met him.

"Any plans for tomorrow?" I asked.

"Not sure really. I have several options, but I might just sleep in. The wifi has finally been fixed too."

"Oh." My heart sank a little. That probably meant he wouldn't come by the library anymore.

"Don't worry, I'll still come by from time to time."

I blushed a little. "I wasn't worried about that."

"Sure." He smirked in an irritatingly adorable way. "Anyway, when's the next time you're free?"

We arranged to meet again in two days to go see an art gallery together. At this point I had to be honest with myself: I liked spending time with him. I hoped we could be friends longterm, if he wanted to be.