Chapter 25: The Unforeseen Act

Woo Bin was lounging around near a downtown café with his university friends, laughing and drinking.

"Hey, isn't that the chick you always hang around with?" one of his friend spoke up suddenly, motioning towards the big glass window.

Immediately Woo Bin got up, almost toppling his mug, sloshing the contained liquid all over the tabletop.

"Geez, Woo Bin-ah, watch it!" another one of his friends complained as he quickly grabbed his mobile off the table before the coffee could get to it.

The twenty-year-old was completely focused on a nineteen-year-old girl who looked similar to that of his object of love, wandering down the streets, blowing air into her hands to keep them warm. It was true; Rin was just there, about forty meters away from him. He hardly ever saw Rin venture somewhere so far away from the hospital before, usually. Woo Bin did not know what she did in her spare time, anyway. That was it, his chance, the perfect opportunity for him to see what she was up to.

What the heck am I thinking…?

I'm not some stalker…!

I mean I've never thought about something like this before…!

Without thinking, he clutched at his head and messed his hair up until it was standing up on ends, the hairstyle ruined.

"What the hell are you doing, man?"

"Huh?" Woo Bin looked up, his hands falling uselessly to his sides as he stared at his friends blankly. They stared right back at him.

"Are you okay?"

The law student blinked and nodded. "Of course I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

They knew that it was hopeless to try to explain it to him so they shrugged, trying to hold back their laughter. The womanizer, they all knew and were in awe of, was unquestionably not the same person that stood in front of them. This Woo Bin was very much like a normal guy in deep love.

Should I go or not…?

His friends made the decision for him instead. They hauled him to the door and shoved him outside, just as Rin passed them by.

It was starting to become real chilly out here with the upcoming advent of snow and she still had yet to buy Christmas gifts for everyone as well as a birthday present for Linden. She had her shopping list ready and packed in her white tote bag. However, question marks still remained on both Ji Hoo's and Woo Bin's Christmas gifts plus Linden's birthday present. She had opted to go shopping and check out the things here, and lingering around for inspiration to hit her so she knew exactly what to get for them.

Fumbling around in her bag, she pulled out the shopping list and scanned it thoroughly. She needed to hurry to the mall to get out of the cold, knowing full well that she should have just told that ajusshi to drop her off at the shopping district itself. Rin sighed and hastened her pace, heading straight for the building that was towering before her. The medical student had asked for her mother's opinion on what to get for both guys but all she said was to get them both anything so long as the gifts were both impartial towards one another. No matter how she phrased her questions, Rin still could not get what her mother meant. She sighed again and went inside, to be greeted by a warm embrace and sociable chatter. This was much better than being out in the open. Very soon, the girl was lost amongst the wonderful lights and homey scents coming from the various bakeries. Suddenly, her phone vibrated, indicating a message. It was from her mother.

Get something based on their personalities, dear. That way, you won't go wrong in your choices. =)

The medical student smiled, finally, something wise from her mother. Why didn't she think of that before? Then before she knew it, her smile faded.

Their personalities…?

I didn't even think about that…

Let's see, Ji Hoo is very intellectual…I think

But that's because he wants to be a pediatrician…

Doctors have to be brainy, I guess…

Woo Bin is generally more sociable compared to Ji Hoo…

And definitely more stylish to boot…

Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed as she frowned.

That's so shallow…!

But at least, it's a start…

The nineteen-year-old sighed inwardly and began to make her way to the men's department.

She browsed through clothes, cologne, electric shavers, cufflinks and the works before making up her mind to purchase Woo Bin, a silver Venetian bracelet. For Ji Hoo and Linden's gifts, she got a beautiful vintage leather clad notebook with the words 'Journal' embossed on it in golden threads and a personalized Art Set Case correspondingly. By the time, she left the stationary supplies store, her face was glowing with contentment that she had finally bought them, their gifts. Besides, she still had those cute scarves she had knitted for all of them back home. Abruptly, she stopped. Something had caught her eye. She went over to the jewelry store. There, in the glass case, was the prettiest ring she had ever seen which was on display. It was of delicate silver with a dragonfly imprinted with tiny diamonds on both its wings and body. At that moment, her phone vibrated again. Woo Bin had messaged her.

So, what are you up to now?

She stared at it blankly before she hurriedly responded. She absolutely did not need Woo Bin or anyone for that matter to know what she was up to right this instant else their Christmas surprise would be ruined.

I'm at the library, doing a research essay.

Way to go about answering back…

You're a very bad liar, Rin…

A minute later, he messaged back and her heart almost stopped.

Liar. I see you.

What…?

Instinctively, she whirled around and scanned the area, her grip on her shopping bags tightening.

How in the world…?

However, the place was thronged with people thus making it tricky for her to pinpoint Woo Bin's face in the mass. Her phone vibrated again.

I'm right here behind you.

She spun back and saw him, standing a few feet away, smiling mischievously at her. Her eyes widened and she stuffed her shopping bags behind her hastily, her face flushed.

"So, what did you get from the men's department?" Woo Bin asked her inquisitively.

Rin opened her mouth to answer but closed it afterwards.

"I saw you going in there," he added, winking.

"Are you stalking me?" she demanded, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Woo Bin smirked and stared down at her. "How did you know?"

The girl blew a raspberry and looked away. "I got a little something for my Dad," she fibbed.

The twenty-year-old knew almost instantly that she was lying, just by her body language alone. Ji Hoo was right; he was going to become a pretty good lawyer. Yet, he did not pursue the topic but instead changed it. "So, do you want to get something?"

She looked at him skeptically. "Something?" she repeated.

Woo Bin nodded, with an eyebrow raised, "Yeah, like to eat?"

The girl laughed with embarrassment. "Oh, uh…right, sure."

Thank god, he didn't follow me inside the men's department…

But I wonder if he'll like the bracelet I bought him though…

I'm so bad at choosing what guys' like, exactly like what Dad told me…

Rin sighed. He looked at her. "Why the sigh? Don't want to go out with me for a bite?" Woo Bin asked, pretending to be hurt.

The girl laughed and whacked his arm. "You know it's not like that! I want a chocolate smoothie, topped with lots of whipped cream and syrup in it."

Woo Bin nodded and ambled off to order while she chose an empty spot in the café which was filling up fast with pre-Christmas shoppers.

The guy came back a few minutes later with their orders. She sipped her smoothie, closing her eyes to relish the chocolate and sugary taste in her mouth.

"Is it that good?" Woo Bin asked, gesturing towards her smoothie while he took a swallow of his coffee.

Rin nodded and shot him a teasing grin. "I didn't know handsome men drank coffee."

The twenty-year-old smiled back and nodded. "Yeah, well now you know."

She laughed and shook her head at him. "It's been on my mind lately."

"Yeah?" he questioned. "What is?"

Rin held up one finger and pointed it at him. "You know everything about me but I still don't know much about yours or Ji Hoo's either."

Woo Bin's smile faded at her words and he looked away. "Why do you want to know?" his voice sounded harsh.

The nineteen-year-old winced at his frostiness but did not back down. "We're friends, aren't we? I deserve to know more about you," she answered.

Unexpectedly, he stood up. "I've got to get going now."

Rin's eyes narrowed and she quickly got up as well. "Woo Bin-ah…" she started but he had already walked off.