Chapter 3
Hours before the big date, Ji Soo and Min-Ri were at my house to manicure my nails and polished bright pink to match my new skirt.
"OK, time to touch up your eyelashes," as Min-Ri was laying out the mascara on my eyelash.
Soon, Mom popped in my room and asked, "Do you need a ride?" I thanked her for offering but told her that Yong Jae is going to pick me up.
Then, Mom came up and grips my shoulders tightly while looking at my reflection in the mirror.
"I'm so happy that you just found a date!" Wait, is Mom going to cry tears of joy like this morning again? "Told ya, Mrs Chae! She's going to be the luckiest girl ever!" Ji Soo joined in.
"Better leave you for now."Mum patted my shoulder and she left the room. While Ji Soo was touching up my makeup, she asked ,"Do you notice that Soo Hyun wasn't himself today?"
"What do you mean?"I asked.
"He seems moody. Not in the mood to talk to us. And he prefers to be alone."
"Hmmmm... Maybe what Chae Kyung said was right. He seems to be cranky, anyway. But, Ji Soo, what's with the sudden question?" Min-Ri reasoned.
"It's just a random question. I was really quite concerned about him actually."
Then, a car honk was heard outside.
Min-Ri quickly scrambled to the window. "OH MY GOD! It's him! Oh my god, check out his new sweet ride!"
Ji Soo joined in, "Can't you believe what car that is? That's the new Hyundai Elantra!"
Min-Ri looked high and screamed at me, "Your date is filthy rich!"
Then, I heard footsteps running up the stairs. Mum burst into fits when she's in my room. "Honey! Your date is here!"
I turned to both of them and said, "Well, here it is. The first date with the man I'm definitely going to marry!
I quickly got up and rushed out of the house to meet my new date. I heard Mom calling out. "Have a great day, honey!"
When I entered the car, Yong Jae was at the driver's seat looking more handsome than ever with his shades on.
"Hey, there. Told you I would be here by 7." He smiled.
"Yeah, you did keep your promise."
"Nice car."I commented.
"Thanks. My dad got it for me as a birthday present."
"You must be rich, then."
"You don't have to say that. I feel really bad if people comment that I'm rich."
He's just attractive when he denies like that.
When we arrived at Lotte World, people of all ages were crowding at the theme park. Screams of fear and delight filled the atmosphere there. The movements or roller coasters roared the entire place.
"Come on, let's go." Yong Jae said as he grabbed my hand to lead me to the restaurant.
As he led me to the crowds, my eyes were just focusing on his hand which interlocks with my hand. His hand just feels warm on me. I can just feel that we were meant to be together.
"We're here." He said.
I looked up and there we were. The restaurant looks vintage and retro. Up on the door frame, the name of the restaurant, "Italiano" shows brightly. As we enter the restaurant, the place is lit with low lightings which give a romantic feeling to it. The curtains were a crimson red and the mahogany desks give a brown perfection to it. Not to mention, that the restaurant smells of Italian herbs and you feel that you're walking into a meadow with a Mediterranean setting.
I don't know why but I felt scared and happy at the same time.
"Kwon Yong Jae, please." he said to the man at the counter. He started rummaging to the list of reservations. When he finally looked up, he said, "Please follow me."
We followed him and he led us to a table which faces the view of the theme park.
"I'll get the menu for you in a few minutes time." The man left. "A nice view, isn't it?" Yong Jae asked as he saw me looking at the view. I nodded in reply.
Soon, the man came back with a handful of menus. As we scan through the list, I already came out with what I wanted to eat.
"Aglio Olio pesto and a strawberry milkshake, please." I smiled back at the waiter. Then, Yong Jae looked up and mentioned "Lasagne and an ice lemon tea." As soon as the waiter picked up our orders, he left us together for a quiet moment.
"This place looks posh here. Where did you get to know about this place?" I was in awe there.
He shrugged, "Well, my dad used to bring me here a lot of times, quite back then. But…. he died a few years ago in a car crash."
"Gosh, I'm so sorry." I just feel sympathetic right now.
He looked up and said, "Its okay. No need to worry about it."
Along the date we had a good time there. Cracking jokes, enjoying the meal especially dessert! Talking about good old times and making fun of the teachers in our school.
The night was ending soon. After Yong Jae had paid his bills, he drove me back home. In my heart I felt I cannot relive this moment again.
The moment we arrived at my home, he followed to my doorstep.
"Well, I had an enjoyable time…with you." Yong Jae started.
I looked up. .GOD. He just made an eye contact with me. So what is going to happen next? A warm hug? A kiss on the cheek? Or…a handshake?
In just that three second moment, my heart is beating in a quick tempo. My palms are sweating. I feel the blood draining right from my veins.
"Are you ….OK?" I was startled as he drifts me off my fantasy.
"Erm…no! It's just that… it was the first time someone brought me on a date."I confessed what I had to.
He chuckled. "I'm glad I'm the 'number one' guy!"
"I've got to go now."
As I turn to head towards the door, I hear him say, "Wait!"
In the brink of what is happening there, his arms were around me in a warm embrace. My hands drooped low but slowly, my hands crept up to his back. Breathless. My heart feels connected to his.
His body was so warm like you're hugging on to a warm blanket. As we turn to face each other, he smiled at me and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, then." A kiss on the forehead, and then he was off. I watched as his car drift off in the misty darkness.
Pacing into the house, Mum was dozing off on the couch. Hearing my footsteps, she jolted off and was surprised to see me there. "How's your date, honey?" "It was perfect, Mom."I replied.
"You better get to sleep now, dear. Have to get up early for school tomorrow."
"Sure, Mum. Goodnight." I walk towards Mum and gave her a small hug.
Reliving the events of the day, I felt incredibly elated and it was the best birthday someone could have given it to me.
The whole night, my mind was wandering off and could not sleep at all. My heart was still fluttering over this day. Well, maybe this date would be the spark into our new relationship. Perhaps, it could happen, maybe?
The next day, a text message beep woke me up from my sleep. My eyes were strained as I was trying to focus on the ID number. Soohyun's name was displayed on the screen.
Clicking onto the phone's number, Soohyun's message appeared right in front of me:
Hey, I was wondering if …. I do need to talk to you when I see you in school. Please don't ignore this message. See you.
Questions invade into my mind. OK… what does he mean when he wants to talk to me? Could it be about yesterday? It can't be. He doesn't know we were on a date, right? Let me guess. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis. Well, Chae Kyung! You just have to go to school to see what does SooHyun wants to tell me.
Suddenly, another text message startled me from my thoughts. It's a message from Yong Jae:
Babe, are you in school yet? I'll see you there! :D
I replied back:
No…! I'm not there yet! =( I'll be there in 20 minutes!
Gripping on to my knapsack, I just decided to forget SooHyun's message. Just relax! See Yong Jae first, and then see SooHyun too see what he wants. Plan done!
Half an hour later, I felt Yong Jae's presence behind me.
"Good morning, there!"
I looked up. Gosh, he's getting hotter than ever. It seems that his wavy locks seem to be curlier than ever. His appealing smile.
"You just scared me right there!"I exclaim in exaggeration.
"So how was your night? Had a good sleep?"
"It was great so far."
"Hey, Yong Jae! We have to go now! We have to be ready for soccer practice!" Yong Jae's teammates were shouting from afar.
Yong Jae waved at them. "I'm coming!"
He turned to look at me. "I've have to go now! Will catch you up later. Or I'll call you tonight."
"Sure. Just go. You don't want to be late for practice."
As he was about to leave, I stood frozen with what was going to happen. His soft lips touched my forehead. He smiled and drifts off. When he catch up with his teammates, they seemed to have a good laugh and a bunch of woos. One of them turned to look at me and he was laughing at my direction. Gee, why is he laughing at me?
"Chae Kyung!"
Min-Ri and Ji Soo caught up with me. In the next second, they were filling me with questions like. How was your date? Did he kiss you? Which restaurant did you go too? All those sort of questions they were begging me to fill them with the details.
"So are you official right now?" Ji Soo asked.
"What do you mean by 'being official'?" I was puzzled. I'm such a naïve person.
"Gosh, you don't know anything? I mean that are you and Yong Jae are a couple right now?"
"Ji Soo!" I cried out.
"Sorry! I expect things will turn out fast enough!"
"It's all right. It's our first date. Maybe after a few dates, we'll be an item."
From afar, Soo Hyun was standing there watching me. His face gives me a kind of message telling me that he needs me urgently. Darn, did he just eavesdrop to what we were talking about?
His body language seems to tell me that something is not right. Lord, don't tell me it was yesterday?