A Series of Chance Encounters

Fourth Encounter: A Word is Misused

Later Sunday

The birthday celebration was, overall, pleasant. Or, at least, painless. "Painless" was pretty much all Jung-Woo hoped for out of events in life. Keep your expectations low, and you shall never be disappointed.

Jung-Woo faced disappointment far too much, recently.

In any case, presents were given - (at least, from Ga-Woon and Kun, Jung-Woo did not buy Tae a present and alerted this to her as soon as he saw her, shamelessly. Tae, knowing Jung-Woo's financial situation, just said that was okay and asked for some of her hats back, eventually. Jung-Woo stated he would think about it.) - and cake and snacks were eaten.

Everyone, save Kun, took some leftovers packed up, and Tae made sure Jung-Woo got as much as she could pack for him without attracting attention.

"You know, you don't have to do that." Jung-Woo said, flatly. Tae almost dropped the fork she was using to scoop more into his box while Ga-Woon and Kun went to the restroom.

"Ah, um, well...!" Tae panicked for a moment. "I know how much you like cake!" she said, closing his box after dumping the rest of the cake in there, haphazardly.

"Not the cake. How you tried to hide it." Jung-Woo's expression did not change. "I wouldn't do the same for you." Tae smiled at Jung-Woo and shook her head.

"No, I think if we were in each other's situations, you'd do the same for me."

"Yeah, well, also you go overboard in trying to not attract attention, so you just make a bigger spectacle of it." Jung-Woo drained the rest of his coca-cola.

Tae laughed nervously, then quickly jumped out of her seat when she saw Ga-Woon and Kun coming back. An easy chance to change the subject. She stepped up to Ga-Woon, smiling. "Ah! Guys! This was really fun, but I've got to get going so I can walk Jung-Woo home before it gets too dark out."

Ga-Woon rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, Tae, about that..." Ga-Woon started.

(Ten minutes prior, Men's Room)

"You know, two guys going into the bathroom together? Kinna gay." Kun observed as he followed Ga-Woon in, at Ga-Woon's request.

"Oh, shut up, Kun. Girls go into the bathroom together in groups of five or more all the damn time." Ga-Woon muttered, going over to one of the urinals. Kun leaned against the wall.

"Yeah, but girls also don't check out each other's equipment in the bathroom, and if they do, they're lesbians." Kun commented, then slowly grinned. "Though, Tae goes into bathrooms all the time with her friends..."

Ga-Woon zipped up his pants. "Oi! Don't follow that train of thought!" He turned quickly, moving to hit Kun, who stepped back out of reach.

"Wash your hands first." He muttered. "Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?" Kun asked, tiredly. He was certain it had to do with Tae. Ga-Woon never did anything fun anymore.

Ga-Woon washed his hands silently, then went to the door and peeked out, making sure Tae and Jung-Woo were still at the table before returning to Kun.

"I need you to be my wingman." Ga-Woon said, deadly serious.

Kun stared at Ga-Woon for a good long time before speaking, choosing his words carefully.

"...Have you been watching American television again?"

"Ah? Yeah, what about it? The wingman distracts people for his buddy so he can get time with his girl, right?" Ga-Woon asked.

"The wingman is your best friend you bring along to take care of your girl's ugly friend who'll try to keep you from getting in your girl's pants. Wingman dates ugly friend, ugly friend out of the way leaving path to girlfriend's pants clear for you."

Ga-Woon was silent for a long moment.

"Close enough. Look, my parents are out of town this weekend, they come back tomorrow night. Since we have tomorrow off of school, I was gonna surprise Tae with a little sleepover."

Kun shot Ga-Woon a deadly glare.

"NOT LIKE THAT." Ga-Woon yelled, suddenly. "I just want some time for just the two of us, you know?"

"Ah, and what do you need ME for?"

"Tae won't let Jung-Woo walk home on his own since he was released from the hospital a few weeks ago."

Kun shrugged. "Jung-Woo can take care of himself."

Ga-Woon sighed. "That's not the point. The point is Tae won't do anything until she knows Jung-Woo will be safe going home, and my house is in the opposite direction."

"...And?"

"And, well, yours is only a LITTLE out of the way..."

"...Fine." Kun sighed. "But this counts as YOUR birthday present this year, so don't expect anything extra for me when the time comes."

Ga-Woon grinned. "RIGHT! Let's go, wingman!"

"...Please stop using phrases from other countries when you have no idea what they mean."

"Yeah, Tae, about that..." Ga-Woon started.

"Eh?" Tae blinked. "What about it?"

"Well, Kun graciously offered to walk Jung-Woo home, so I was thinking maybe the two of us could..."

Jung-Woo tuned them out at this point, looking over Ga-Woon's shoulder to Kun. Kun didn't look too pleased, himself.

This would be a long walk home.


Genki Talk!

Wow, thanks for all the reviews, people! Thanks for the help, too. Yeah, Kakarots-Frying-Pan, I assumed Jung-Woo had dark eyes, but since I know that there ARE volumes I hadn't read, I wanted to make sure none of the future ones made reference to Jung-Woo's pretty blue eyes or something. :D;

As for why the chapters are so short, if all my old work was here, you'd see how long it takes me to update with long chapters. : FOREVER. While if I keep each chapter as a short scene, it's easier for me to keep from writing myself into a corner.