In the car,
There was a deep silence. No one knew how to start a conversation. Kim Jin was stealing glances at Su Yeon. He always liked whenever she sits beside him. Just her presence was enough for him to lift up his mood.
To remove the awkwardness, Su Yeon started the conversation, "It may be real or maybe I am paranoid but, you look a bit sad. What happened? Is everything ok?"
Thump!
His heart started beating loudly. Just a glance and she can see through him. He was indeed sad because of what happened today with him and he was hiding something from her.
He stopped the car at the signal and looked at her. She was looking way more gorgeous and in addition to it, she knew what is happening with him. He was feeling sad and lonely so he desperately wanted to hug her tight at this moment.
He smiled at her and said, "Hmm, it's true that I am feeling down but no worries since you are here with me right now! I can always get free therapy from you, right?" "Of course, buddy!" they both laughed and everything became peaceful.
After about half-hour, they reached the lakeside café. It was originally an empty area but had a beautiful atmosphere. Its location was near the city but the road reaching to it is a bit rough. You can go there only if you have your personal vehicle.
Anyone who wants to have a quiet surrounding, apart from the hustle-bustle of the city, comes here to have their personal space. Even if it is popular, due to bad road conditions, it is less crowded. People can sit in the café or take a walk on the lakeside or enjoy boating.
When they reached there, Su Yeon relieved a satisfied sigh. It was her favorite place. She kept her blazer with the bag inside the car and took her phone and wallet with her.
Looking at her excitement, Kim Jin was happy. Seeing her smile and cute excited face, his mood was lifting up.
"What should we do first?" Su Yeon asked Kim Jin. "You choose, anything you wish," he replied. "Oh sorry, I almost forgot that we came here for you. So, Jin, you choose, I will grant your wish!" she held her chin high. "I just want to spend some time with you alone," Kim Jin told her.
Before this topic turns into something else, she chose to take a coffee as takeout to have a walk on the lakeside. They went inside the café to order.
Until the order came, they decided to sit at the window side table. They both were looking at the lake, calm and beautiful.
"I am not making you bore right? I mean you might have expected a never-ending chat from me like I always do," Su Yeon asked him. "Not at all, I wonder how you guessed that I wanted to spend time like this, sitting quietly and looking at the beautiful scenery." While saying the later part, he looked at her.
Whatever she was doing was the exact thing he wanted to do. He just wanted to spend a peaceful time clearing his thoughts. When they were called, Kim Jin took the order and they both went out.
Cold wind, silent atmosphere, green surrounding, mellow sound of the lake water waves accompanied by the person he loves, the picture was complete for Kim Jin. Even if he wanted to hold her hands and keep her close to him, he kept his wild imaginations to himself. This picture was so complete that he didn't want to ruin it just because of his desperation.
While walking side by side, Kim Jin was busy in his own thoughts, so Su Yeon didn't disturb him. He was looking at her again and again as if he was contemplating whether to do it or not.
Su Yeon assured him while looking at the lake, "Take your time, it's ok if you don't tell me now, I can understand."
Kim Jin stopped abruptly and exclaimed, "Are you a ghost? How can you always see through me!" Su Yeon laughed at his expression. He continued, "I swear... I swear that you scared me just now!"
Su Yeon replied, "I am not a ghost, it's you who are so obvious. I don't know the content of your thoughts but looking at your movements, it was so obvious that you were thinking to tell me or not. Many times you were ready to tell me and looked at me but then you rejected that idea at the next moment."
Kim Jin felt happy and then challenged her, "Since you are this smart, tell me why did I ask you to come with me? I mean we are doing nothing, so why?"
Su Yeon said, "It's not that difficult to guess! you wanted to sort out your thoughts so you chose this place. Furthermore, you were also feeling lonely and wanted someone who will not judge you even if you do nothing or ask anything, that is why you called me."
She folded her hands and continued, "Well, even if you ask any nonsense, you knew that I will tease you or at the most... smack your head, but I won't judge your thoughts. Done!"
Kim Jin was overwhelmed by her answer. That's it! She is the only one who knew him, who can understand his situation even if he did mistakes.
He didn't have a healthy relationship with his parents. Since they have such a huge company to run, he was always left alone in that big mansion. In addition to it, he was an introverted person, so he had a small friends circle, which was their school group.
"I am feeling lonely these days. I can't even talk to my parents. It's like I am living a monotonous life, just studying so that I will continue our company. I know I am difficult to approach or talk but what can I possibly do! Everyone either lectures me or tells me to do this and that. Now you tell me what should I do? I don't like others' lectures and so-called 'suggestions', you tell me," He started talking as if everything was bottled up from the past few months.
"Are you sure?" Su Yeon asked.
When he nodded, she continued, "Let's start by taking small steps! You told me that you are not having a proper conversation with your parents, right?" "Yes, because they come late at home, I am now used to spend most of my time in my room," he explained.
"Hmm… Right, a meal! You can at least have a meal with your parents, come out of your room! The right place for it is the dining table. Isn't it easy for you?" Su Yeon suggested. Kim Jin smiled and agreed to it.
While they were talking, there were few people around them. A sudden thought came into Su Yeon's mind, "By the way Jin, if you don't like when someone tells you to do this or that, why did you ask me for a suggestion?"
Kim Jin replied, "Because before understanding my situation, they either think that I am wrong or pity my situation. You always listen to me, even if you don't like to listen and always ready to talk endlessly," they both laughed.
Kim Jin sighed, "After so many months I am feeling nice, thank you!" Su Yeon patted his shoulder and they both stopped to look at the lake.
Enough!
Su Yeon thought suddenly and clenched her fists. For a long time, she felt that someone is following them. It was not a creepy feeling, but she was angry because she failed to find that person. At the back of her mind, she knew that the person was not intending to harm them but still… how can that person... hide so efficiently!
...
Behind the tree, that person smiled by seeing her angry expression. He thought, "She is still the same, she is well aware of her surrounding and… she still cares about him. She is her master; I can bet on my life! She is definitely her!" while thinking he saw that they went to café as she wanted to use the washroom.
When he entered the café, at the same moment she came out of the washroom. When they both looked at each other, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He held his head and sat on the nearest chair. He closed his eyes tightly and held his head to reduce the throbbing pain…