He looks at her with scowling eyebrows, "Are you for real...?" He responded, fishing for further comments.
"I'm serious," she replied, unflinching by his glares that could push the piss of even the most courageous man's bladder. She then gently prodded his chest, pointedly telling him to put some distance between their faces. Y/N leaned back and gave her some space to breathe while she tapped the dust off her skirt and shirt.
He leaned his back against the wall beside, staring at the blank ceiling with hands inside his pants pockets. "Why twelve?"
"I like twelve." She smirked.
"No, you don't. Your favourite is one."
"How did you know?"
"What do I not know about you?"
"Dummy..." She hid her blush.
"Seriously, why twelve. That's way too many even for a fuckboy to take." He repeated in a stern voice.
Chaewon tended her head on his shoulder while pointing at the wall clock in front of them. "It's the number of months in a year, dummy. We are in our third year now, next year we'll be too busy to mind any of these problems. I can't be there for you like I always do."
Orange light cascaded on their faces, blurring the hint of blush on Chaewon's face. Chaewon hovered her palm over her face, shading just her eyes from the sunlight.
"Now that it's August, you have a year to prove that you're a reliable man before we enter our fourth year."
"Is there no other way?"
"If you know me that much, you wouldn't even ask." She quipped.
"I had my hopes, I guess..."
"So?" She looked up to find his face.
As if the time has stopped, motionless as they gazed at each other's eyes. Chaewon's eyes were glittering with hope for a better side of Y/N despite her bizarre proposal. Pink and red over their cheeks, the longer they stand, the darker the sky gets, and the autumn wind slowly chases their warm bodies.
The orange turned navy. Chaewon's lips started to shiver, and so did her knees. He took a step closer to her and swung his jacket around her back, and placed it over her shoulder - keeping the delicate figure warm. Faces an inch away, they could taste the mint in their breaths - their favourite flavour. And they're still standing.
"What do you say?" Chaewon chuckled as if the answer was clear.
He took a deep breath, readying himself for the most courteous reply.
"No."
The pitiful girl's eyes widened, batting wrathful eyes at him as he shook his head briskly. Uninterested by her offer, he squeezed her cheek with his right hand before using it to wave goodbye.
"I'm not interested in trapping twelve girls into a false love and risk ruining my reputation just so I can get you back." He reprimanded the girl behind him.
"Fine!" She shouted. "I won't come back. Don't even expect me to even read your messages or pick up your calls anymore!" Earsplitting screams and thuds from her foot stomping on the floor didn't catch his attention the slightest. He could only wonder why she's more bothered about him not taking the offer than he who needs her in his life.
So he left the girl by herself, with his jacket.
Upon reaching the parking lot, he whipped his key from his pocket and started the car. Just around the corner of his eyes, he noticed the car timer displaying six o'clock. He thought it would be a great time to visit Hana and the kids before dinner, so he drove off to his regular fried chicken store and bought two large packs of his usual.
He noticed a familiar-looking girl with long black, silky hair with a figure fully covered in a white cardigan the moment he stepped out of the store. The moment he realized the girl seemed to be looking for something, he took the first step to approach her.
*ring* *ring*
The usual ringtone halted his steps. He whipped his phone and accepted the call.
"Hey, Hana. What's up?"
"I just saw your text that you're coming." Aside from her voice, the sound of metals and glasses clinking against each other made her voice barely audible. "Have you eaten yet? If not I'll cook something up now. The kids haven't eaten yet-"
"Hold it there, Hana. I'm coming, and I just bought enough food for everyone."
"Thank God... Thanks, Y/N. We'll wait for you then." She replied, a lot more calmer in tone this time.
"Okay, I'll be there in a bit." He ended the call.
'That girl...'
He turned his head left and right to find her. It wasn't a long call, but the girl he almost had an eye on disappeared. Y/N guessed that she might have wandered somewhere else to find what she was looking for. Spontaneously, he rubbed the pendant on his neck.
'Will I find your owner?'
He stepped into his car and drove to the orphan with his chickens. It's not every day that the kids eat something from the fast-food store. And maybe Hana's fried chicken tastes better than the ones from fast-food restaurants, but in their hearts, there is much greater satisfaction when receiving something from someone outside of the orphanage.
Perhaps, greater than waiting for their parents to pick them back, simply a fried chicken wing from someone who truly cares about them could bring them years worth of happiness.
"Hana," Y/N called while knocking on the door. Hana is quick when it comes to welcoming guests. It didn't take more than 10 seconds before the door was open for Y/N.
"Welcome, Y/N." Hana greeted, followed by the kids swarming him with hugs.
Y/N managed to reach the dinner table while the kids were busily dawdling his steps. Hana told the kids to grab the cutleries as she helps Y/N to unpack the chicken from the box. Once everything was served, the kids took their seats and readied themselves to eat.
"How's your day, Y/N?" Hana asked while she poured water for him, but he stopped her.
"Hana, you don't need to pour my water. I'll do it myself." He took the pot from her and poured it for her and the kids' glasses.
"Today... I met Chaewon." He groaned.
"Well, you don't sound happy. What's wrong?" Hana asked.
"Let's eat first. I'll tell you after dinner."
Not long after, the sound of cutleries clanking is no more. Everyone had their fork and spoon placed neatly on their empty plates. Hana instructed the kids to pick up the dishes and clean them, and all of the kids nodded in agreement. Now it's just Y/N and Hana alone.
"So?" Hana baited. "How did it go with her before?"
"Listen, Hana." His face turned serious. Hana anticipated something like this would happen. She clasped her hand beneath her chin and frowned her eyebrows.
"Chae asked me to make twelve girls fall for me to get her back!" He ranted.
A brief moment of silence put them still. Hana tilted her head while gradually voicing a "HAH...?", trying to figure out if she heard him right, Y/N nodded while muttering a long "nee...".
"You heard me right."
"It can't be." She retorted.
"That's what I thought too."
"How are you going to make twelve girls fall for you?" She said while containing a laugh. Y/N rubbed the back of his head and sighed, knowing how impossible the task is.
"You know... It might just be one of the Ssamu phases." She scorned.
But Y/N knows her so well he didn't need a second thought to reply. "Those determined eyes of her, the way she leaned on my shoulder, I just know how serious she was."
"Why are you guys not dating yet...?" Hana mouthed.
"If it was that easy, none of these would happen."
"So you admit that you're interested in her?" She asked, baiting for an honest confession from him.
Surprisingly, he answered fast. "I can't say for sure. But a romantic relationship with Chaewon is not something that ever crossed my mind before."
"Do you remember how she saved you years ago?"
"I think so..." He breathed.
Hana thought this request from Chaewon might be the way to make him realise the reality he lives in.
"I see..." She smiled. "So, what will you do?"
"I don't feel like making people fall in love with me just so I can get to be with another girl."
"Well, her point is for you to learn to love and care too. So it's not just about making them fall for you, but also for you to learn to love others." Hana assured.
"How am I supposed to have twelve girls around at the same time?!" He rasped, attracting the kids' attention.
"Watch your tone," Hana warned. "But, I don't think that will happen."
"What?!"
"Nothing. It's already late. You should go head home now."
He lifted his head and spun it around to find the clock. "It's already nine?" He choked.
Hana nodded as he busily prepared himself to go home. He gave each of the kids a kiss on top of their heads while they were busy playing.
"I'll be going home, okay?" He waved at the kids. "Don't sleep too late!" Hana chuckled, looking at how much he cares about the kids. If only he could be the same towards Chaewon, she thought.
"I'll see you later, Hana."
"Oh, where is your jacket?" Hana pulled his shirt.
"Chaewon has it now." He responded.
"I thought that was your favourite jacket?"
"If it's her it's fine." His remark earned a smug grin from Hana.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. You should go home now. It's late."
"All right, see you."
He drove his car home, passing the street lights that light the empty street. The road home at night is nothing like during the day. 10th street, often a busy street, but now it's looking like a ghost town.
Under the red lights, he noticed the same girl he saw before - black hair, white cardigan - who seemed to still be looking for something. At this hour, where it's dangerous, she shouldn't be out looking all defenceless, he thought.
Naturally, this is his third encounter. He parked his car on the sideroad and stepped out to approach her.
As one could see, the girl was unbothered by the fact that a stranger was approaching her. As if the thing she is looking for is more important than her own life.
Y/N cleared his throat, three times to finally catch the girl's attention.
"What do you want?!" She asked.
Surprised that she does have some attitude towards a stranger, he sighed in relief.
"Are you still looking for something?"