When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 12

Ha-Ya slurps loudly through her straw. "Okay, real talk. What's the occasion?"

I blink. "Huh?"

Seok Kyung narrows her eyes. "Don't play dumb. You have never gone a shopping like this."

Ha-Ya leans forward, wiggling her eyebrows. "A man reason, perhaps?"

I nearly choke on my drink. "What? No!"

Seok Kyung smirks. "You hesitated. That means yes."

Before I can retaliate, a shadow falls over our table.

"Ye Na?"

I look up, blinking in confusion. A tall guy stands in front of us, hands in his pockets, a curious smile on his face. His dark hair is slightly tousled, and there's a familiar sharpness in his features, like I should recognize him-but I don't.

I tilt my head. "Um..."

He raises an eyebrow. "You don't remember me?"

Panic spikes in my chest.

Seok Kyung and Ha-Ya both turn to me with identical are you serious? expressions.

I scramble for something, anything. "Uh...may I know who you are?"

The guy blinks, then chuckles, shaking his head. "Wow. That hurts a little."

I bite my lip, feeling worse by the second. "I-I'm sorry!"

He laughs, holding up a hand. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. I'm Tae-Sung. We were in the same class in uni."

Oh.

Oh no.

I gasp, my face burning.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I blurt out. "I should remember you! I don't know what's wrong with me!"

Tae-Sung waves it off, still smiling. "It's okay. It's been a while."

Seok Kyung and Ha-Ya, however, are still staring at me like I just committed an unforgivable crime.

"You don't remember Tae-Sung?" Seok Kyung hisses under her breath.

Ha-Ya leans in, whispering dramatically, "He was, like, the smartest guy in our university. How do you not remember him?"

I bury my face in my hands. "Please let me disappear."

Tae-Sung chuckles again, clearly amused by my suffering. "No need to be so dramatic. I barely recognize people from uni either."

I peek at him between my fingers. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

He grins. "Maybe."

Seok Kyung sighs. "Well, since our dear Ye Na apparently suffers from selective memory loss, I'm Seok Kyung." She gestures to Ha-Ya. "And this is Ha-Ya. We've heard your name many times, by the way. Just not from her."

Tae-Sung raises an eyebrow at me. "Oh? Didn't expect that."

I groan. "I really hate my friends."