At lunch time, Luna nervously walked besides Haemin with her burger in hand to the seating area.
She had absolutely no idea if she had to part ways with him and find a table for herself or follow him wherever he goes.
"Over here." He led her towards a table where his friends sat.
Luna internally thanked god for making Haemin this way, miraculously easy-going.
"So, I dont have to introduce her right? She's the only foreign student in our department." Haemin directed at his friends.
"Yeah shes also the only one who missed Orientation Day." One of the guys said, "Hi, Im Yohan."
Luna smiled, "I was shifting into my new house that day."
"Where do you live?" A girl - who Haemin introduced as Yumi - with short hair asked.
Luna knew her from Circuit Theory I class, she had been very obvious about her dislike towards Luna when she refused - or rather ignored - her request to be lent an eraser.
"The colony at the back of Coffee Myungga."
"Oooh the rich neighbourhood." Another girl commented and the rest slowly nodded at the new information.
As they ate their food Luna wondered about the sudden change in their attitude,
They were indifferent towards me over my indifference towards Haemin. Then it would only make sense if they changed their attitude because Haemin said something to them.
She looked at Haemin unconsciously because of her internal inquiries and wondered if he talked to them when he had Engineering Mathematics I class and she had Physical Electronics.
"Hey guys whose turn is it to get the drinks today?" Haemin asked.
Yohan raised his hand and put his sandwich down. He took out his phone and handed it to the guy sitting next to him, he typed something in and passed it to the next person, one by one they all typed something in it as it circulated around the table.
"Haemin, when is Joy coming back?" Yumi asked.
"I dont know, she wont return my calls, but Im pretty sure she'll show up for Hyuck Kim's engagement party."
"Oh I cant wait to see what she wears!" Yumi exclaimed.
"I bet she'll be the prettiest one there." Yohan said.
"I bet she'll even outshine Hyuck's fiancé." Another girl commented.
Luna silently watched the exchange, listening intently waiting for a moment to jump in and ask who they were talking about and why the name Hyuck Kim seemed familiar but she was too shy.
Haemin laughed, "Please no, the bride-to-be will definitely NOT appreciate it and I simply cannot break up another cat fight, I still have scratch marks from Joy's nails when she fought with Yohan's sister."
"You're lucky it was just Joy's nails or else one punch from my sister and you would've been seeing stars." Yohan said and all of them laughed.
Luna laughed along even though she had no idea what was going on. She was suddenly aware of the fact that she had found it hard to make new friends even before she was arrested and it was still a challenge to her.
Even with Yubi, she was always second guessing herself over what was to be said and whether Yubi would judge her over it.
Except for Haemin ofcourse, with him she didnt need to try, he already treated her like an old friend.
When Yohan's phone reached her she looked at it and saw that everyone had typed in the drinks they wanted, and from flavored milks to sodas the list had everything.
"Just type in the drink you want, we all pay at the end." Haemin told her.
Luna slowly moved her fingers across the keyboard and inwardly thanked god that everyone was busy in their own conversations.
Haemin was next and he read Luna's order outloud, "Vanilla Coke?"
Luna nodded and Haemin gave her a weirded out look, "Hey dont hate it before you've even tried it."
He shook his head and Luna made a mental note to have him try it later.
☾
"Hey Luna!"
She took out the coke tin from the vending machine and turned around, it was Haemin.
Their classes had ended and Luna had just been heading out.
"Are you going to Coffee Myungga?"
"Nope, I got night shift today. Why? Are you going?"
He shook his head, he had his usual soft expression, soft and kind, which made it seem like he would say that he understood even if you told him you stole his favourite watch, like a therapist's, it made you want to confide in him for problems you didnt even have.
"I'll go at night too, Im going to the Old Home right now."
"What for?"
"To volunteer."
A chuckle erupted from Luna even though she hadn't intended it.
"Seriously though, why are you going there?"
Haemin didnt seem to mind, "Im serious. I try to volunteer at the Old Home atleast twice a week."
Is this dude the reincarnation of Mother Teresa or something?
"Wanna come with? It'll be interesting to experience something like that once."
Luna pretended to think, it would've been embarrassing to seem too available but she absolutely positively had no plans at all.
"Sure."
As they both started walking Haemin said, "The grandmas and grandpas are really fun to hang out with, really. I mean so many stories and all true! Its better than reading a book or watching a movie."
Luna automatically smiled as she watched his eyes light up as he spoke.
Is he for real? I wouldnt be surprised if he wants to be a priest when he grows up.
She thought in amusement.
"Wait. Would the people at the Old Home like baked items?" Luna asked.
Haemin looked at her over the random question and nodded slowly.
"Then how about we take a little detour to my house first."
She got in her car and he followed her in his.
☾
As they stood in Luna's kitchen, Haemin looked at her face, and then at the counter lined with the cupcakes and tarts and quiches and then back at her.
She quietly helped the maid put them in boxes.
"And you made ALL of these because?"
"I was going to send them to the neighbors." She lied smoothly.
Both of them exited the house with the butlers behind them holding the stacks of boxes.
They were almost out of the gate when the shrilly whines of a dog reached their ears and Haemin halted.
"That must be your dog right? Can I see him?"
"Umm wont we get late?" Luna tried to stop him as if her lie was in danger.
"Its okay a few minutes delay wont kill anyone."
She sighed and followed him to her backyard.
Storm's whining had lessened, yet most nights he wailed like an opera singer.
Haemin quickened his pace in excitement and it slightly reminded her of Mark and how he played with Storm, Luna willed the memory away.
And without so much as a sign of asking for permission he told the butler to open the pen.
Luna stepped back a little bit, Storm had been especially aggressive the past few days, no matter what they fed him, or however they tried to cheer him up, the canine had sworn to resist to the end.
Storm walked out and stared at Haemin wearily.
Luna almost stepped forward to protect Haemin but what happened next shocked her.
Haemin crouched down to his level and held out his hand to ask for permission to pet him.
Storm stopped narrowing his eyes and brushed his head against Haemin's hand himself.
Haemin started ruffling his fur and Storm stuck out his tongue.
Luna's mouth fell open.
Drawn in by the scene she walked forward but just as Storm sensed that she was coming closer his whole stance changed and he went all predator mode again.
Luna stopped midway and Haemin stared at him carefully.
"Hey boy, whats the matter?" He talked to Storm as if talking to a kid.
Without looking up he said, "What happened to his owner?"
"What do you mean by that?" Luna stared at him with a straight face, "I am his owner."
"Okay, then who raised him?"
"Why do you think theres a difference?" She stated defensively.
"So, you mean to say that this dog hasn't gotten closer to you even though you raised him?"
Luna looked away, "Yeah."
Haemin stood up, now holding the huge dog in his arms like a baby.
"Luna."
She didnt reply.
"Look at me."
And she did, which was a huge mistake.
He stared at her expectantly with his beautiful eyes, void of any emotion except seriousness.
Luna stared at his face in annoyance,
Gosh why does he have such pretty eyes?! And those long lashes. Gosh gosh gosh gosh.
She wished that he wasnt so transparent because it was obvious that he wasnt buying her lie.
"Is this the truth?" He said.
There it is, that beautiful question. The one Im perhaps not fated to be asked when desired.
She thought wistfully.
"Ok fine, I didnt raise him."
Without even reprimanding her for even a second over her lie he said, "Then who did? And where is that person now?"
Luna could've lied about his owner having died but she couldnt.
"He lives in Australia. Thats where I kidnapped Storm from."
Luna couldnt pinpoint what made her tell the truth, maybe it was the silent pleading in Haemin's eyes or the sadness in Storm's but deep down she knew never to waste that beautiful question by lying in answer.
"You need to return him."
"But he's not even a good owner. Look its been weeks and he still hasnt come after him."
"Like you said, you're the owner so regardless of the fact that he raised Storm maybe he thinks he has no right to ask for him back."
Luna stubbornly folded her arms and looked away, she was again annoyed but this time by the truth ringing in his words.
Haemin put down Storm and walked over to her, and lightly grabbed her shoulders making her face him.
"Look, if you're angry at the owner then its extremely wrong to take it out on this innocent creature."
Luna looked at Storm as he stared at Haemin waiting for him to come back and play.
"When we humans go through emotional pain, our brains register it the same as physical pain, and then to lessen our pain we distract ourselves with worldly things and the people around us." She locked eyes with him as he softly lectured her.
"But animals cant distract themselves, so they only feel and just imagine how horrible that must be. So, please... send him back."
Haemin pleaded as if it was his own pain and without even a second's delay she replied okay.
She didn't regret it even for a blink because of the breathtaking smile that adorned Haemin's smile later.
And its effect on Luna multiplied thanks to their close proximity.
He raised his hand and gently patted her head.
"Good girl."
In a daze Luna turned to her butler and told him to send Storm back to Australia.
"Lets go the grandmas must be waiting for us."
As they walked out Luna tried to think of what just happened but for once her mind could think of nothing but the person next to her now.
No past memories kept hounding at her and she couldn't recall anything bad.
Her brain was just too in love with the now.
———————————————————————————
ANYTHOR'S NOTE.
Hello readers! This is the first time Im writing to you all, right? Should I do this more often or not? Skdkdks
Thank you for reading this far and Ill just say that the story has just started to get interesting ;)
Ill make a few changes in the previous chapters in a few days but they wont be too story altering so you needn't worry about them (just some better descriptions). ^_^
Oh and I absolutely love it when you guys leave comments, it keeps me going T.T
If you ever feel like you need someone to talk to, just know that Im a great listener and you can get me at
Ig: @/swornneo
Twt: @/swornneo
•
•
Do vote, comment amd share to those who may like Luna and Haemin's sweet romance ♡.
Byeee