Translation of Love

18

Mine

I'm walking into the dormitory, eyes red from trying to hold back my tears, when I see Koko sitting down in one of the lounge chairs with a guy. Before I can sneak away, she sees me and calls me over.

The guy stands up, a calm and friendly smile on his face. His hair is short, longer on top than on the sides, and his demeanour is very cool and collected—mature.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Max. Koko has talked about you a lot." He reaches his hand out, shaking my own hand with a charming smile. Despite clearly being Korean, his English sounds quite flawless as well, better than Taeyoung's.

"I'm Sohee," I manage to get out. I notice Koko's excited face. She likes him.

She looks at me again, her face falling.

"Sohee—" She stands up, turning me to face her. "What happened? Was it Taeyoung?"

I try my best to not start crying again in front of this guy, but I'm surprised to see him looking concerned, and not at all awkward.

"That bastard," she mutters. I don't even say anything and her brow furrows.

"He doesn't want a girlfriend." The words come out like ice, just as his words sounded to me.

"I'm going to kill him." And she looks like she actually will until Max gently places a hand on her forearm.

"Do you mind me asking what's wrong? I don't mean to intrude."

Koko, you sure found yourself a gentleman. Unlike myself. She looks at me for approval and I nod, eyes looking down at my shoes.

"This asshole Taeyoung has basically been leading her on. I never trusted him, from the moment I saw him with that damn sparkly suit jacket, who the fuck carries around clothes like that? And his bleach blonde hair, who the hell does he think he is?"

I feel the urge to stick up for him. It's not like he wanted to dye his hair, he had to. But I stay quiet. She's just sticking up for me, as good friends do.

She continues on a rant, and Max's face gets a bit pale, much unlike the poise he's shown this whole time.

"Maybe it was miscommunication, different languages—" He begins to say.

I cut him off. "He speaks very good English. He's even my language partner."

Now his face is really struck. He pauses, cogs turning in this head. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow Koko?"

"What? Okay?" Koko looks at him in confusion. He smiles at her, kissing her forehead smoothly before leaving the building.

What was that all about?

Koko is smiling from the kiss.

"Are you dating?" I ask, expecting an answer much like my own when she asked me earlier, I don't know.

"Kinda," she responds. My face falls. "It just sorta happened."

"Seriously," I say quite bitterly, despite myself. I immediately take it back. I'm starting to act like Taeyoung just was.

"I'm sorry Sohee, he just asked me and I think I actually like him." Her face is sympathetic as she sees my puffy face.

"I need to go to sleep," I say, overwhelmed with everything.

"Okay, text me when you wake up." She rubs my arm comfortingly.

I leave.

I climb into my bed.