"You said you won't laugh!" Haneul sulked, looking at the man through the gaps between the books, stacked on top of the bookshelves.
After learning that her favorite topic to read was patenting, Yeom Tae couldn't help but laugh even though he had promised not to.
"I'm sorry," Yeom Tae said amidst his laughter. "It's just funny because you're a pediatrician." He added.
"Like I'm not good with kids but I have to treat them you know." Haneul explained herself. "Stop making fun of me!"
Yeom Tae softly chuckled. "Do you like kids?" He asked, "Is that why you chose to be a pediatrician?"
Haneul paused for a moment. "Not really. I feel neutral about kids." She added.
Yeom Tae walked along the bookshelf to come over to her side. He walked closer to her, allowing her to be comfortable while she conversed.
"So why pediatrics?" Yeom Tae asked with a curious tone.
"In the 3rd year of Med school, I saved a kid in a traffic accident." Haneul said as she moved her fingers across the books. "He was at his last breaths and asked me to save his little brother instead. He was the only child in the car, the only child of their parents." She said while smiling softly, "I was able to save him and his parents." She added.
Yeom Tae carefully listened to her little story, making sure he caught everything. His attention was what made her talk fluidly.
"After waking up, he threw a tantrum at me that I saved everyone but his little brother." She continued. "Well obviously, I was a third year med student and had no idea what was going on. He kept mentioning this other brother whom I couldn't see." She said, "Later his parents told me that he had schizophrenia."
Her story was new to Yeom Tae. It almost sounded like a story from a book, considering how adventurous and stressful it must've been.
"I became a pediatrician to save his little brother." Haneul smiled.
Yeom Tae pressed his lips together in surprise. "Wait, I don't get this." He truthfully muttered. "It would've made sense if you would have become a psychiatrist, no?"
"He insisted." Haneul said, "He insisted that I live up to my title and save his little brother. Those were his exact words. To be so young, schizophrenic, yet so sophisticated with words. I was surprised."
"So you actually decided to live up to the title?" Yeom Tae exhaled in surprise. "Are all doctors like this?" He asked. "Do they all have a turning point in their specializations?"
Haneul chuckled. "I don't know." She said, "Ask all doctors, not me."
"Parenting books to be better?" Yeom Tae chuckled.
"Do better." Haneul said. "I wouldn't be a doctor if I can't communicate correctly."
Yeom Tae seemed extremely surprised at her ambitions. She kept thinking she was boring so she shifted her attention to the books.
"I also read novels." She said, "I wasn't joking when I said I read everything."
"I also read." Yeom Tae pouted.
Haneul looked at him in surprise. His facial expressions were hesitant, though. It almost made her wonder what kind of books he read.
"Manhwas." He chuckled.
Of course. Haneul smiled at him for even trying.
"I've read Manhwas too." She said, "I read everything."
Yeom Tae nodded slowly, happy that he was accepted into the reading club. Haneul looked at one of the books in confusion, pulling it out of the bookshelf. Yeom Tae leaned towards her to see what it was about.
"I've never seen this before." Haneul said as she looked at the black covered book with intricate golden font saying, 'Volatile Words'. "It's written anonymously." She chuckled before putting it back in its place.
"If you've never seen it before, won't you read it?" Yeom Tae asked.
"I won't." Haneul said. "It's probably about philosophy."
"You dislike that topic?" Yeom Tae asked.
Haneul nodded softly before browsing for more books. So readers had filters too, Yeom Tae was glad to know. It would've been strange if she liked every book she read.
"If I pick a book out, will you read it?" Haneul asked.
Yeom Tae gestured his hand for her to continue. Haneul excitedly started looking for books. She changed sections twice with Yeom Tae following her around. Library dates weren't bad afterall. She looked happy and excited while she searched for a book anyways.
"Found it!" She exclaimed, holding a book and looking at Yeom Tae.
Yeom Tae reached his hand out to accept the book, one last step to be considered a member of the reading club. The title looked fresh, 'Summer Times'. It was almost June anyway, so it was perfect.
"I've read this book 4 times." Haneul said excitedly.
"I'll beat you then." Yeom Tae said proudly.
Haneul smiled brightly. For a moment she forgot everything, everything that Yeom Tae meant to her, everything that Yeom Tae was entitled to be. She was genuinely comfortable with him. Then she remembered that she is supposed to be his date. Her smile diminished slightly, and her shoulders straightened.
He was too good for a mere business marriage, at least better than what she had expected. All her blind dates so far were forced onto her, and probably the other person as well. She wondered how she suddenly just wanted to try.
"Yeom Tae," Haneul said.
"Yes?"
His voice was grave yet soft, different every time.
"Let's see each other more often." Haneul suggested without hesitation.
Yeom Tae smiled right away. She hadn't been too hard to please after all.
"That's the plan." Yeom Tae said.