PROMPTS

Economics and Mr. Ri (5)

"Can I help you?" Ri Jeong Hyeok asked.

Yoon Seri looked a little flustered but covered it up quickly. "I'm here to see my sister."

"Class is not yet over," Ri Jeong Hyeok pointed out.

"I know. I'm waiting here until she's done," Seri said.

"You're distracting her. How can she focus when she knows you're waiting here?!"

Seri's eyes widened. "Jisoo can't even see me!"

"I can see you," Jeong Hyeok said.

"So I'm distracting you?!"

"YES!" Jeong Hyeok said, but at Seri's smile, he quickly took it back. "No. I mean, of course, I'll see you when you're right outside my door wearing that bright color!"

"You mean WHITE?"

"Yesssss!" Jeong Hyeok insisted.

"Why are you being irrational?" Seri asked.

"I'm not," Jeong Hyeok replied.

"Stop pouting."

"I'm not!" He said more forcefully this time.

"Okay. Go back to your class. I'll move a little so you don't see me," Seri acquiesced

"You're not distracting me."

"Sure, sure," Seri said, waving him off. Sauntering to the bulletin board beside the classroom, she mumbled, "Interesting activities for the month. Mathletics, yuck."

Ri Jeong Hyeok couldn't help but give her a smug smile. "You always hated Math but always did well anyway."

Seri smiled sadly. "I had a good tutor."

"Yes, well," Jeong Hyeok couldn't say more. Bidding her a quick farewell, he stopped in his tracks when she called out.

"Jeong Hyeok? Do you think... we could talk?"

Jeong Hyeok frowned. Then said, "If it's about the school or as Jisoo's guardian, sure. Otherwise, I don't see any reason to."

Seri watched as he retreated back into his classroom. The dismissal hurt... but she did not build her fashion empire by simply accepting the rejections thrown her way. Like with her company, she first needed a plan.

But for now, she waited for Jisoo while she contemplated her next steps. She was certain that she will have that conversation with Jeong Hyeok, but she didn't know how just yet.

*

In their relationship, it was Yoon Seri who often took the lead with their intimacies. Not that Ri Jeong Hyeok did not want it, but he just wanted to make sure that Seri's needs took precedence over his. That said, he was still a young man with raging hormones, which were difficult to keep in check when his gorgeous girlfriend was straddling him and wouldn't let their kiss end.

As they neared their one year anniversary, their restraint was severely tested.

"You said you needed me to explain the equation to you," Jeong Hyeok reminded Seri breathlessly in between kisses.

"Yes but you're so sexy when you talk about Math," Seri replied, pulling him back and plunging her tongue in his mouth. "Jeong Hyeok, we're a month away from our first year... can't we... do more?" she pleaded.

Jeong Hyeok never caved in, much to her dismay.

When they celebrated their first year together, they were unbelievably awkward over dinner but both extremely excited for what was about to happen. In the hotel room they booked for the night, their kisses were passionate but peppered with shy smiles.