invisible string theory 𝙟.𝙮𝙝 ✓

twelve

⌒౨ৎ

"You two make a cute couple. Are you on a date?"

Mi-cha and Yunho both froze for a second, eyes wide with surprise. She glanced at him, a mix of embarrassment and disbelief flooding her cheeks "Um, we're just friends!"

He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck, "Yeah, just hanging out. Not a date or anything."

But the waitress, unconvinced, shot them a knowing smile, "Sure, sure. Just friends. You both look like you're having a great time, so I'll let you keep that up," She winked and walked away back inside.

As the realisation hit them, the atmosphere shifted slightly. They exchanged a glance, and she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. 

"Did she just imply we're on a date?"

"I think she did," he said, laughing a bit nervously. "But we're not... right?"

Mi-cha felt her entire body tense at the question, even though she knew it wasn't serious. She let out an awkward laugh, waving her hands in front of her.

"No! Of course not! I mean—" She cut herself off, groaning inwardly.

Why was she rambling?

Yunho raised an amused eyebrow, leaning back in his chair, "You seem pretty flustered for someone who's not on a date."

"I just—" She buried her face in her hands for a second before forcing herself to breathe.

"I just don't want you to think I'm making this weird. I don't go out and make new friends often, so this is already kind of... new territory for me."

Yunho's expression softened, his teasing fading into something more understanding.

"I get that. Honestly, same. I don't usually go out of my way to meet new people, either."

She peeked up at him, surprised. "Really? You seem so...social."

He shrugged, "I can be, but I think I just got lucky running into you so many times. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have said much after the first meeting."

That admission made her shoulders relax slightly.

So, she wasn't the only one figuring things out.

Maybe it was just two people finding comfort in an unexpected friendship.

Still, she groaned, shaking her head, "that waitress really threw me off. I feel like she's still watching us, waiting for us to prove her right."

Yunho glanced toward the cafe window and smirked, "she definitely is."

Mi-cha sighed dramatically, picking up her drink, "Great. Guess we just have to be the most aggressively platonic friends she's ever seen."