I thought Somi was just kidding. Turns out, Samuel did make a move on me. He's unexpectedly could act like he's an older person. At first I just wanted to ignore it. I didn't feel like making a new friend. At his rate, perhaps he did think about having a relationship with me too. I don't want to be over confident, but I'm a girl, can't help it but know when and where a guy make a move and also his motivations. Samuel is a nice guy. Okay, he's 2 years younger than me. Three even, if you really count on the year he was born. I never like someone younger, yet to have a relationship with. Never imagine. Because I like somone who lead me well, since I'm a super indecisive person. I need someone older to do that. So many times Samuel ask me out, jokingly. But I always turn his offer down. We both idols. He has so many fans. So many female fans. If we get caught, I will be death.
With Samuel, he really appreciates my privacy, our distance. He really knows how to contact me, he always finds a perfect time. Maybe because we have the same profession. She knows me better than anyone. He's also patience, I once didn't read his text for 3 days, and he's still replying to me after that. Another man would escape when dealing with a girl like me. I don't really like texting, I rarely check my phone. Especially when I'm working. Is it hard right? I have a complicated personality. Besides, I don't even know whether I'm ready for a relationship or not. I don't want to start when I'm not entirely sure about my feeling, don't want to start it just because I want to forget about a person, I don't want to be a bad girl. Anyway, I still can't get over my broken hearted.
Today, I want to meet with Somi. She asks to meet me at the restaurant near her house. Somi knows a quite place yet good place. She likes to escape from her stardom life. I arrive at this place. It is indeed a quite place in a quiet neighborhood. Somi, as expected has a good eye. Still, I wear a masker, glasses, and hat tho to avoid things. I go inside, I see Somi already, he's not alone. I don't recognize because someone seems to hide behind the pillars. As I got closer, he smiles at me too. It's Samuel. It's him. Shit, Somi traps me. I try to be cool about this.
"Hi Som!" I greet Somi first. Somi wave at me.
"Oh, hi Sam!" I greet him then.
"Hi, Noona!"
I sit beside Somi. Awkward.
"Okay, let me be honest, Unnie. Actually, this is all Samuel. He really likes to meet you but you seem to avoid, as always. That's who you are"
"I'm sorry. I just need to be careful. Really, I also want to hang out sometimes, but......"
"I get it Noona, I totally get it. I also understand your problem is, that is why I ask Somi to help me. I'm sorry that Somi had to lie to drag you here"
"It's okay" Why do I feel so chill about this? I don't like when someone lied to me, what happens to me now?
"I will leave you two" Somi then stand up to leave.
"YA Som!"
"Unnie, my home is just 2 blocks away. If he makes you uncomfortable, just run away to my home"
"Som!"
"Sam, if you hurt my Unnie, I swear I'll kill you, I know your CEO and all your staffs, I will have your life ruined"
"Ya, you scared me! I'll be good, you know me" Samuel reply at Somi's statement
"Okay, okay, by then"
I try to stop her, but she's so persistent in leaving us. I can't do anything. I'm a queen of chit chat, right? I need to lighten up the mood, I don't want this to be awkward. It's nothing anyway.
"So?" I honestly ask him, but I sound so offensive. Gosh, I don't know what to do.
Samuel then put his hand on the table, he uses his hand to prop his little face, he sits like that watching me. I can't help it, I get a little shy.
"Do I make you uncomfortable, Noona?"
"Hem?" I look at him as if I don't hear the question. "No, you're not"
"Noona, If I happen to make you little uncomfortable, even a little perhaps, please let me know. I don't want to annoy you"
"You're not Samuel" I assure him again because, to be honest, he's not.
He then takes a deep breathe, "Whoa, that's a relief"
We both alone in a quite small coffee shop, only two of us there. It does feel like a date tho.
"You're not busy nowadays, Sam?"
"Nope, perhaps March I'll be busy. My company schedule me to have come back in April"
"Ah I see"
"Noona, I saw your drawing. You are so good at it"
"Somi showed you?"
"No, I saw it at variety programs"
"Hahaha thanks, it's always been my hobby. My brother also loves to draw"
"You have a certain, like........ I can't describe it, but your art work is, you know, have a sense of an abstract feeling, colorful, just like Van Gogh combine with pop culture"
"Oh, you know art well" I am flattered to get that compliments. Indeed, Van Gogh is my source of inspirations.
"You could have an exhibition someday, Unnie"
"That's also my dream. Not to be commercial, but I just want to create an artwork that people can enjoy"
"Someday!"
"Yes, someday. It would be easier tho if I took fine arts as my major"
"Ah, you're now enrolling in Film and TV right?"
I laugh again "How do you know?"
"Internet" He googled me. How cute.
"Yes, I planned to stay long in the business, so I took Film and TV to be my major while I'm also taking fine arts as my minor"
"How about you then?" I realize that he does the talking. "How's Hanlim?"
"Pretty good"
"Dance department?"
"No, I'm taking Broadcasting and Entertainment Dept."
"Oh, Really? I thought......."
"I love to dance, like a lot. I love music as well. But, actually, my dream is to be a PD, Noona"
"Well, that was unexpected" It's getting interesting.
"I grew up watching US TV, and then I moved to Korea, I saw the differences, the system, how ot works, even though US is the pioneer of TV, Korean Broadcasting still touch me in so many ways. Korean TV has its charm and never forget its roots. How they managing the system still amaze me. How they also include the Korean culture in it. It's amazing. Every time I went on stage I also learn about producing and directing. I love how they create content and turn into something that worth watching. If my career won't go well, I'll have to run to be a PD then"
"I really don't expect that you want to be a PD in the first place"
"Yes, but right now, I am still in love being on stage"
I laugh with him.
"Somi said that you also went to her church"
"Yeah, I belong to this one church in Jongno. Since elementary, they helped me grow. Years ago Somi and her family started to take a service at my church. That's when I saw her in real life, after seeing her just in the TV"
"You and Som seem close, why don't you date her" Me and my clumsy mouth.
Samuel laugh a little while drinking his coffee.
"I have no interest in dating Somi, Noona, vice versa. She's my best friend, one of my closest. Besides, I like you, not Som"
Hell, he is fucking straightforward. Now I can't say a thing.
"I'm sorry that my statement shock you, this is who am I Noona, I don't like to hide my feeling" Unlike me who hide a lot.
"It's okay, at least you're honest"
Then we talk about almost an hour. From A to Z. He's good at finding a topic and keeping the conversation alive. I don't even have to fake the conversation. I like when someone does the talking, cause it's not easy for me sometimes.
"Whoah, it's 9 pm already. Think we should end this night, I don't want you to get any trouble, Unnie" He and his considering mind, knowing that we both Idols.
"Yeah, let's"
"Your van picking you up, right?"
"Yes"
"I'll wait till your van come then"
"Samuel"
"Yes, Noona?"
"Next time, you can ask me by yourself. I won't refuse. I tend to avoid meeting people, I don't know why. But, I'll make time. I haven't had a chance to get a decent talk. But I get it tonight. Nice to talk to you, anyway"
"I'm sorry that I had to used Somi today as an excuse"
"That's okay"
"So, there is a next time?"
"I guess so" I smile to him. He also smiles at me. His smile captures my heart for some reason. It's warm and sincere.
My van comes and picks me up. When I think about today, can I call it a date then? Should I open my heart a bit? I mean we can also be friend tho.
I text Tzuyu.
"Jju~~~ are you home?"
"Yes......."
"Okay, I'll arrive in 5 minutes"
I arrive at my dorm. I see everyone in the living room, except Dahyun Unnie and Jeongyeon who have individual activity. Mina Unnie also there. We smile at each other. That's how I defined our relationship now. Smiling at each other.
"Chaeng! How's Som?" Nayeon Unnie ask me.
My mind suddenly forgets that I supposed to meet Som today.
"Somi's good. She's bragging about her senior year" Now I'm lying.
I sit in the living room for a while, then I enter my room to change my clothes. Tzuyu follows me.
"What happen?" Tzuyu ask me.
"What?"
"If you ask me where am I, something must happen, my friend, what?"
"Ah that......." I delay my story with changing my clothes. The other one seems impatient.
"Son Chaeyoung!"
"Okay, Okay!" I sit in her bed. She sits in Dahyun Unnie bed.
"Today, It's weird but I kind of, have a date with someone?"
"Kind of?"
"Yes"
"How, how is it 'kind of'?"
"Somi dragged this person"
"Somi?" It's confusing for Tzuyu till she has to ask every word that I say "A boy or a girl?" Tzuyu asks again.
"Ah right, I never tell you about the other night"
"What night?"
I then tell Tzuyu about the whole conversation with Samuel at Somi's party.
"Samuel? You mean Kim Samuel? Punch?"
"Yeah, that one"
"Daebak" Tzuyu tell my while falling her body to the bed. "Chaeng! You, you, OMG you" Tzuyu can't even finish her sentence. She can't believe it. Me neither.
"Can't believe it right? Me too" I laugh as I recall "Then he started to text me after that. Not annoyingly text me, I think we're both Idol, he perfectly knows when to text me. Not that often tho, you know I hate texting"
"He's handsome Chaeng! Isn't he close to your type? You love mix raced" I just laugh. "What about today then?"
"He finds it confusing since I never reply his text when he asked to meet me. What can I do, we're busy right?"
"Not that busy, YAH!" Tzuyu hit me with a pillow.
"He used Somi as a bait, when I arrive at the restaurant, both there, then Somi left us"
"I love my dongsaeng so much" Tzuyu compliment Somi.
"Then we talked, chit chat, he's a nice companion. I've never had a decent conversation with a man lately, but he's cool despite his age"
"Then?" Tzuyu asks me with a provocative tone.
"That's it"
"Liar"
"It's the truth!" I then silent. Tzuyu keeps looking at me.
"Okay, he's so straightforward, he said he likes me"
"Oh my God! and your reaction is?"
"Shock of course. He's 2 years younger than me, but he can be this straight forward"
"Do you like him? Seriously, do you like him?"
"I just said to you, he's 2 years younger than me. 3 even"
"Then?"
"He's a high schooler!"
"Then?"
"Tzuyu-ah"
"Then what? So what? If you happen to like him, what could stop you?"
"Tzuyu, you know I can't move that fast. I don't want to use him as my rebound because I'm not over this broken hearted. Yes, he's nice. He's handsome I gotta be honest, he's sincerely sweet. Yes, my heart's beating when Somi left us just alone. But.........." I shook my head.
"I understand, Chaengie" Tzuyu then silent "But you could open your heart a bit tho, Chaengie. It's spring already. Guess it will be your spring"
I just smile. "I don't know what this really leads me, Tzuyu. I just want to, you know, let it flow"
Suddenly our phone ring at the same time. Notifications.
Jeongyeon Unnie invite us to a group called "Mina's birthday surprise"
Tzuyu and I both look at each other. I take a deep breath. Tzuyu knows it well that I could just break down seeing her name, this time we even plan a bigger surprise party for her. Welcome, my spring. Please be gentle.