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"Earth to Ae-Young." I suddenly heard, then saw a hand waving in front of me. "Anyone home?"
"Sorry, Soomin....I was just a little out of it." I replied, looking towards my friend with an attempt at a smile. She nodded her head lightly, while gesturing to the door in front of us. "Is this the place?"
"Sure is." She replied, looking super excited. I opened the door, wide enough for us both to enter the café that Soomin's soulmate was supposed to be in.
After Soomin walked in, I followed slowly behind her, until she stopped. I looked at her, seeing her eyes scanning the tables in search of her soulmate. But she didn't have to look any further, as just at that moment a loud, yet cheerful, voice called her name.
"Soomin!" I heard someone basically shout. I couldn't help but smile at the similarity to what Soomin usually does. They are soulmates. "Over here!"
I watched and walked slowly behind Soomin, who you could say ran as fast as the wind, to greet her soulmate. Once again, I couldn't help but smile widely at the sight of the two. Both were hugging each other tightly, with a slight blush on their cheeks. Already it seems, both are smitten with one another.
"C'mon Ae-Young, while we're still young." Soomin whined, pulling me over to the table. I giggled slightly at her actions, and let myself be dragged by the girl who seemed to have an almost child-like excitement, seemingly unable to wait until myself and her soulmate would finally become aquatinted.
"He-
"No no, I'm introducing here." Soomin quickly interrupted the girl in front of me, before she could even get two words out. "Eunha, this is my best friend, Ae-Young. And Ae-Young, is my Eunha- wait..."
I noticed Soomin's eyes widen and face suddenly becoming bright red, after she slipped up in her introduction. Usually, I would've teased her a bit for it. But today, I think I'll let her off the hook.
"Ae-Young, it's lovely to meet you, at last." Eunha replied, smiling sweetly. "Would you prefer to maybe sit down?"
"Oh, yeah...." I replied, managing not to stutter. I hurriedly pulled out a seat, while Ae-Young had slumped down into her own, still drowning in embarrassment.
"Soomin, it's okay...." I heard Eunha whisper to my once embarrassed friend. But the moment her soulmate lightly kisses her cheek, it all went away. Instead though, was replaced by another blushing Soomin, only now it was from a good place.
"S-so what's everyone having?" Soomin replied, trying to recover from the past few moments. "I think I'll have a nice cappuccino, what about everyone else?"
"I'll go for a latte, maybe." Eunha thought to herself aloud. "You know what, I might actually have a cappuccino too. And you, Ae-Young?"
"Maybe some tea...." I replied quietly, still feeling a little awkward around the new person. She nodded her head in reply, before raising her hand slightly to grab the attention of a staff member. Had they already looked at the menu beforehand?
"And everyone knows what they're ordering for lunch, yeah?" She added. No. I looked to Ae-Young, seeing no distress from her. Me on the other hand, a totally different story.
I quickly grabbed the menu, as I frantically scanned its contents. I could've easily just told Soomin to tell her soulmate I wasn't ready, but let's be honest, there's no way I'd be able to tell her myself. I feel like I would be bothering them unnecessarily, as they seem completely content without even glancing at the menu. I didn't want to keep them waiting any longer, so I mentally chose a dish that looked familiar, as a waiter reached our table.
"Hello, my name is Jisung, and I'm here to take care of anything you need today." The man said with a smile. Upon closer inspection, I almost let out a gasp, noticing who it was. "What can I get you?"
"I'll have the House Club Sandwich." Eunha replied, then quickly looked to Soomin. I noticed Soomin mouthing something, but I couldn't tell what, before Eunha replied once again. "She'll have the same."
"And you, Miss....ah, it's you." The Jisung guy stated, showing a small smile. "What can I get for you?"
"Ah, y-yes." I replied, feeling my face heat up slightly. I looked through the menu, trying to find the dish I chose, but couldn't seem to find it, so I instead opted for the next thing my eyes landed on. "I'll have the carbonara."
"Very well, and any drinks with it?" He replied, and I quickly shook my head, wanting him to leave as soon as possible. It seems it was now my turn to be embarrassed.
"Two cappuccinos for us, please." Soomin added, before our menus were collected and the guy finally left. Once he had, Soomin glanced at me quickly, before letting out a small giggle. "You didn't call him, did you?"
"It's on the house..."
I found a phone number heavily written in marker, with a name alongside it. Jisung.
I shook my head lightly, covering my face with my hands as I recalled the event. I didn't even shoot him a text. Hopefully he doesn't hold grudges.
"What happened, is everything alright?" I heard Eunha saying. I didn't look up though, wallowing in my embarrassment, just like Soomin had only moments ago. Soomin however, had no problem filling Eunha in.
As she did, I looked up at the two. Both seemed so happy, together. For a moment, my mind wandered back to Yoongi, thinking about if I had maybe acted differently, then maybe he and I would be at this stage. But soon, I was brought back out of my thoughts, by a small shout.
I quickly looked to Soomin, who was now on the ground, laughing as if she may never stop. I was about to help her up, but seeing her soulmate already there and to the rescue, I leant back in my seat. Once again, I looked at the two, both in their own little worlds, just happy to be in each other's presence.
"Are you okay, Ae-Young?" I heard my friend asking me, sounding rather concerned for me. "That's the second time you've blanked out today."
"What? Yeah yeah, I'm fine." I assured her, smiling as widely as I could. "Don't worry about me. Are you okay, after the fall?"
"Oh, yeah. I was just laughing a lot, and lost my balance." She replied, giggling slightly when thinking back to it. "Eunha was in the middle of telling such a funny story, did you hear it?"
"Oh, uhhhh....not exactly." I replied, giving a slightly guilty look. "Sorry..."
"Oh, it fine." Eunha replied, showing an understanding smile. "I can tell it again, only if you'd like me to, that is?"
"Please." I said with a nod of my head. But when I looked towards Soomin, I couldn't help but zone out again.
Soomin had rested her head on the palm of her hand, with her arm holding up the weight of it. I saw as she looked towards her soulmate in awe, with a fond smile showing every now and again. She seemed so happy, so peaceful. Quite the contrast to my bond.
"And that's why we call him Goose!" Eunha finished, earning a small giggle from Soomin. She looked to me, for a reaction I'd say, and I quickly gave a small chuckle, to hopefully cover for my inattentiveness. Thankfully for me though, no one could pry further, as our waiter arrived with our food.
"The club sandwiches for you two, and I'll be back with your dish now." The Jisung guy replied. I nodded my head, before I saw him rush away quickly to get my order.
"Wow, this looks so good." Soomin beamed, eyes wide as she looked at her plate.
"Doesn't it?" Eunha agreed, picking up a chip that was on the side out her plate, before trying it. "It tastes even better than it looks."
"Your carbonara, miss." I heard someone say, as a plate was placed before me. I muttered a quiet thank you, not willing to lift my head and look at Jisung another time. I honestly kind of felt guilty, for what happened.
But not trying to think much of it, I grabbed a fork and looked towards my dish. But to my dismay, I was met with karma, in the form of mushrooms. I wanted to turn away at the sight of them, as I really wasn't fond of the... vegetable? Plant? Whatever it was.... It wasn't even the taste that bothered me the most though, it was just the texture that kept me from eating it.
"Are you sure you're alright, Ae-Young?" Soomin announced, in quite the worried tone. I could only shrug my shoulders in response, not knowing what else to do. "I think you might benefit of going home, maybe getting some rest. I'm really sorry I dragged you here, knowing how you were feeling before."
"No no, it's alright." I replied, trying to give Soomin a strong smile. "However, I'll agree that I do think it's best if I leave. So, I'll go on now."
"Try and get some rest, okay? And call me so I know you're alright!" Soomin stated firmly, which instantly made me look for my phone.
"Shit." I muttered, as I looked around the table. I hadn't brought anything with me, not my phone, purse, nothing. "I forgot all my stuff at home, bar my keys, I think you have them. Do you mind if pay you back another-
"Oh hush, did you think I was gonna force you out, and make you pay too?" Soomin chuckled, while fishing in her bag for my house keys. "Don't worry about it."
"Alright." I nodded in response, as I got up from the table and got my keys from Soomin. "It was nice meeting you, Eunha. Hopefully we can meet again, maybe under better circumstances."
"Yes, of course." She agreed, giving a smile. "I'll be looking forward to it."
With that, I headed on out. I rushed out as quickly as I could, wanting to get out of the restaurant fast. It's not that I didn't enjoy my time there, with Soomin and her soulmate. I just couldn't stop comparing their bond with mine.
It was like, every little moment they shared, I thought about how that could maybe have been Yoongi and I. If I had maybe just given soulmate bonding a chance, that is. But I hadn't. For all I know, I could've ruined it all for us.
As I walked home, these thoughts and more were all that I could think of. At this point, they were clouding my better judgement. So once I reached the door to my apartment, I fumbled to unlock it, wanting to do so as quickly as possible.
Upon entering, I slammed my door shut, running for my bed afterwards. A nice nap might help to clear my head.
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