T H I R T E E N
THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
"WORK HARD BUT DON'T forget to take a break! Or I'll make sure you get one."
To be honest, Sujin didn't think Taehyun was being serious.
So was she surprised when she found herself at Lotte World with him and the rest of the boys?
Quite frankly, yes.
But boy was she happy to meet Hueningkai. All the moments Sujin spent with him were brief, so to spend an entire day with him was something she cherished.
Needless to say, Sujin, Kai and Taehyun stuck together throughout most of the rides. From the Camelot Carousel to the Drunken Basket. It was fair to say they shed their tears of laughter together. Yeonjun was silently named the party pooper of the day. He didn't like seeing those three being joyful as childish as it sounds. But he couldn't pinpoint the reasoning behind his annoyance.
So when they were going on one last ride before having lunch, Yeonjun was going to make sure he would hang out with her in this one. The Geneva Cruise Lines was a ride where people, mainly couples, rode a small cruise ship over Seokchon Lake, allowing you to experience its beauty.
Kai takes a step forward to sit next to Sujin, but the piercing gaze on the back of his head told him otherwise. With a pout, he took a seat next to Taehyun. Kai's eyes travelled to Yeonjun's figure, watching him take a seat next to Sujin. A contented sigh flew out of the female's mouth, looking out the window of the boat to see the scenery.
She was not disappointed. At this time of year in September, summer neared its finish and fall began to sprout. Although Sujin was sure the brown and orange leaves were not as pretty as the cherry blossoms in spring, she did enjoy it very much. A satisfactory gasp came out of her mouth, her jaw agape while she looked over the scenery. Everything felt surreal. The leaves fell onto the water due to the slight breeze picking them up. You could see towers of buildings shine among the sun. It was an ethereal sight.
However, Yeonjun found Sujin's amazement more ethereal. Her reaction was adorable. He enjoyed the way her eyes lit up as if they had stars in them or the uncontrollable smile that appeared on her face.
The male let out a quiet sigh with the corners of his mouth tugging upwards.
Yeonjun nudged her, "Is this your first time doing rides like these?" He queried, his eyes skimming view her innocent face. A small nod came from her as she returned her gaze to the dark waters of autumn.
"My parents didn't let me do things like this. I was always studying or under supervision." She shrugged, smiling at the feel of fresh air running past her. He nods at her answer, peeling his eyes away from her. His mind thought back to the warm gush that bubbled within him. He wondered, "Why am I feeling this way? It's all so familiar yet so new."
• • •
"Adeul (son), can you pass me the pepper?" Yeonjun's mother asked.
The male nodded as his eyes zoomed around his family's hoard of spices. He was helping his mother cook after returning home from Lotte World. And just as he was giving the pepper to his mother, a ding entered the air. His phone lit up with a green icon, indicating he had gotten a message. His hand went forward to grab the phone, opening it with a swipe.
It was from Sujin.
jinnie
hey, yeonjun.
i was wondering if you available tomorrow.
If Yeonjun was being honest, his heart could've stopped in that moment. Instead, it raced loudly at the sight of this text. Was she going to... no, she wouldn't. He was misinterpreting things... right?
jinnie
i have to babysit my niece and nephew who
want to go to the park but i don't want to do it alone :)
In a sense, he was slightly disappointed. But then again, he didn't know what he was hoping for in the first place. Yeonjun was now just excited to spend some time alone with her. With a wide smile, he responded.
yeonjun
sure! see you tomorrow, jinnie-ah!
His mother nudged him with a smile. "Someone's happy." She teased, winking at him before returning to her cooking. Yeonjun couldn't resist smiling. His eyes glazed over his phone as he shook his head.
Back at the Rhee household, Sujin raised her brows when she saw Yeonjun's nickname for her. 'Jinnie-ah.' That one was new. Despite the slight confusion that sparked within her, a warm feeling overwhelmed her. She was contented with his nickname for her. That's all. The only reason she invited him was not only because she needed company, but she knew he wouldn't remember the children's faces when they grow up.
• • •
So here the two teenagers were. Babysitting two energetic children.
Yeonjun had spent quite a while, much to his surprise, watching Sujin chase after Jaeyeon. The small girl had a secret stomach of energy. At one point, he had even coaxed the girl to calm down so they could get ice cream.
Something Seojoon had found he enjoyed. The almost-two-year-old had his first lick of chocolate ice cream - nevertheless, he fell in love with it. Sujin turned around when she heard Yeonjun giggle. As pretty as that sound was, she wondered what he was laughing at.
"Oh boy." She murmured, stifling a laugh at Seojoon whose mouth was covered in ice cream despite finishing it minutes ago. Yeonjun was wiping the boy's face with his bib when an unpleasant smell wafted through the air. "Sujin, I'm taking this chocolate-lover to the bathroom." He watched her nod and laugh before leaving.
On their way to the bathroom, the two boys were stopped by an old lady. The lady smiled warmly at the sight of them, "Aww! You have an adorable child, son." She gushed, ruffling Seojoon's thin hair. Yeonjun gaped internally, a blush forming on his face. He bowed gently, thanking her awkwardly before making his way to the bathroom.
His face remained red while changing the giggling child. He didn't think he could get redder until he looked at his reflection while washing his hands. The sudden glimpse he had the future he wanted - one where Sujin and he were together and their own children.
Yeonjun shook his head, "I can't believe I just went there." He groaned, unable to control the smile on his face.
The duo returned to the spot Sujin's niece and nephew were getting babysat. He frowned when he couldn't see them. Of course, it didn't last long. The frown turned upside down when he saw Sujin at a stall, getting Jaeyeon some fishcake.
Yeonjun walked over to them, holding Seojoon in one arm. He used his free arm to tap Sujin shoulder. The female turned around with a smile, startled when she met his face. Well, it was more of the proximity that daunted both of them. It was for a brief moment, where Yeonjun wished their lips would meet. He too, a step back, letting out a rushed breath. "S-Should we take a... uh— a walk before taking them to dinner?" His voice was weak and soft as his words were all over the place.
Sujin shook her head slightly, humming in response. "Hmm? Y-yeah. Burn off that sugar rush." She smiled gently, before speeding in front of him.
"Yah! Sujin! Wait up! Seojoon is so heavy. What do you feed him?!"
"Are you fat-shaming my nephew? Well, I'll be damned... but nah, he's a foodie like his father."