From: Yoon Jia
Are you still awake?
11:14 pm

THE ABRUPT TEXT from the unexpected sender brought back the young lad to his senses. Jeongguk tilted his head in confusion, keeping his eyes on the thin material in his hand as he stayed cross-legged. He squinted for confirmation if he's seeing the text correctly, for in fact the real question is why is she still awake to ask him if he's still awake. Nevertheless, he should not leave the girl hanging.

To: Yoon Jia
Yes, I am.
Wy?
11:16 pm

To: Yoon Jia
*Why?
11:16 pm

Then four minutes has passed, there was no reply to his text.

Jeongguk scratched the top of his head as he assumed that he was the one who was left hanging. From his sitting position, he finally lied on his bed, resting his phone on top of his chest whilst his other hand affixes his pillow under his head. His mind is now completely jumbled. He couldn't count how many times he has ranted how long this day was, but there he is, still waiting for the reply. Why did she check on him? What does she need?

Ting!

The young lad immediately lifted his hand and faced the thin material. The awaited text has finally arrived.

From: Yoon Jia
About earlier with Yoonki-ssi.
11:21 pm

From: Yoon Jia
You didn't text back.
11:21 pm

Jeongguk pressed his lips together after reading her text. There's no denial that he felt a bit of annoyance since he waited for the text, yet he's still on hanging. He narrowed his eyes as he shifted his position, lying sideways. The young man thought thoroughly before deciding to reply.

To: Yoon Jia
Okay.
What about earlier?
11:22 pm

From: Yoon Jia
I apologize for telling him
that I am your girlfriend.
11:23 pm

Oh. He guessed he didn't really thought about it thoroughly. His mind was stuffed with a lot of things that he almost forgot about that. He loosened the neckhole of his already loosened white shirt as he finds it difficult to reply.

From: Yoon Jia
I'm sorry.
It's just that he has no intention
of teaching me if I hadn't said that.
I hope you're not completely offended.
11:24 pm

From: Yoon Jia
But I completely understand
if you feel that way.
I'll go and admit it to him.
11:25 pm

From: Yoon Jia
This is awkward.
11:25 pm

To: Yoon Jia
No, I'm not really offended.
But I am shocked, you know.
11:26 pm

To: Yoon Jia
LOL.
11:26 pm

To: Yoon Jia
But let me go straight to the point.
What will happen next
after you admit it?
11:27 pm

From: Yoon Jia
I don't know.
11:27 pm

From: Yoon Jia
He might not want to teach me anymore.
11:27 pm

From: Yoon Jia
I might not learn piano?
11:28 pm

From: Yoon Jia
Maybe the part time job is not for me.
11:28 pm

To: Yoon Jia
I apologize for asking this but
do you have money
to offer him at least?
11:29 pm

From: Yoon Jia
I got nothing.
11:29 pm

From: Yoon Jia
Yet.
11:29 pm

Jeongguk closed his eyes as he pressed his fingers against his forehead, rubbing his skin whilst he thinks. He is really in a tight position right now. Is it immoral to tell the older about the truth and make the latter lose her chance in getting the part time job? Or is it ethical to let the young lady learn piano while pretending to have a close relationship with her? As he thought about it, soon he realized that he has nothing to lose if they pretend. He's not that close to Yoonki anymore, anyway. The only reason they had to do such brave thing is for Jia to have at least a small connection with the older guy so that he could have a little reason to teach her at least.

But what about Seoyeon?

Will she get mad when she finds out?

Screw it.

To: Yoon Jia
Okay.
We met at a coffee shop.
You noticed that I was drawing
on a sketchbook
so you approached me first.
11:31 pm

From: Yoon Jia
Why would I approach you first?
11:32 pm

From: Yoon Jia
Okay. Sorry.
11:32 pm

To: Yoon Jia
Let's say the café was full.
And then we talked, and we learned
that we're attending the same school.
Then it starts.
11:34 pm

To: Yoon Jia
Tell him that if he asks you.
11:35 pm

From: Yoon Jia
Okay. Copy that.
11:36 pm

──────────✧──────────

It rained that night.

After the sun came out, the young lady still resorts on rubbing her hands together before she wrapped her fingers around her arms, hoping it would take the coldness away. She whistles, oozing her shiver as a white cloud dispersed from her lips. Her feet gradually found its pleasure in playing with the pebbles on rough, puddled ground. She was dazed for a moment, eyeing how the small rocks hit each other in boredom. Almost all things to pass time were all she did while waiting in front of the latter's gate.

Plop, plop.

Small drops of water suddenly landed on her shoulder. The young lady raised her chin and looked above her. The tree is still drenched with rainwater and that made her shift from one foot to another, further from the woody plant.

Soon Seoyeon felt impatient. She tipped her toes and jerked her head in the direction of the other side of the metal barrier. However, a sigh was made right after as she slouched, shifting to her original position. The young lady folded her arm with pouty lips and checked her wristwatch. From that moment she knew she's going to be late for work today.

But it's better to be late than sorry.

Sorry that she would not be able to see the young man this morning and comfort him when he needs it. Who can tell her what happened last night? Seoyeon knows what kind of relationship Jeongguk has with her mother, apparently. She knows how wrecked it is. Besides, it's been so long ago since the last time they rode a bus together.

Not long after, joy wrinkled her face as she heard creaks behind her back. Seoyeon quickly turned herself around and faced the latter. She quietly eyed how he closed the gate. He was almost lifeless. Perhaps he could not get enough sleep. I guess my joke wasn't funny enough. Nevertheless, her waiting was paid off when she saw the young lad smiling after they locked each other's eyes.

"Were you waiting for me?" Jeongguk queried as he held up his finger and pointed his chest. His smile was contagious. Then there comes his worries. "You're late."

"We're late." Seoyeon inched forward. "And you wish. I only missed the first bus, so let's just go together." She said as she extended out her hand and tugged on his long sleeve, slowly pulling him to walk. "Come on, else we're going to miss the next bus." She then turned around and stepped on her heels, proceeding to tug the latter.

Jeongguk let out soft chuckles whilst he let her lead the way. But it wasn't long before he halted his steps, stopping the latter from walking.

He has been a bad boy. He doesn't deserve any comfort.

"What?" The older one looks back and questioned.

He remained silent whilst he drew himself nearer. Jeongguk held up his hand, reaching for her hair that made her wince. What is he doing? His face moves closer and closer to her own. The latter stiffened as she felt tense all over. What is this? But all he did was to pluck a small leaf from her hair.

"There. Less embarrassment." The younger flicked the leaf off his finger as he chortled, smiling with his eyes.

"You should've just told me, you know." Seoyeon tsked. Sometimes she would love to smack the head out of Jeongguk's body. He always plays tricks on her. What was that for?

Then a loud buzz is suddenly heard.
Seoyeon slightly spread out her arm whilst she opened her bag. She immediately fished for the thin material.

It's Minjun calling.

This is seldom and that made her wonder. Is she that late for him to call her like this? Did manager Cheung make him call? She was too scared to swipe her screen up, but she still answered it anyway. She made a hand gesture to tell Jeongguk to wait and he nodded.

"Good morning, Minjun."

"Ah. Yes. Where are you?"

Seoyeon squinted while chanting words in her mind. I wish I'm wrong. I wish I'm wrong. And she mouthed words to Jeongguk, "Let's go." As she realized that it's better to answer the call while walking, than to be tardier.

"I am on my way."

"Be quick."

"Okay. Is someone looking for me at the office?"

"No, but be quick. I have something to tell you."

Strange. After hearing what he said, Seoyeon made many questions. Why won't he tell it through the phone call already? Why not through text? How about sending it to email so that she could read while on the road? Strange.

"Yes, I'm coming."

─────────✧──────────

It was five o'clock when she found herself standing in front of the door, frozen.

The young lady has her index finger on the doorbell for a minute already, but she has not pressed it yet. She then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Reluctance won't do her any good. Hence, she decided to push down the button.

Unlike before, the door opened almost instantly, and she saw the uninterested visage of the latter right after.

"You came." Yoonki said, sternly. He looked freshen up this time different from their first encounter. Mayhap he is somehow waiting for the guest. Yet his actions tell the opposite. He lowered his head and scratched his nape. "Tell me why I'm doing this again?" The young man muttered. The latter was unsure if he was talking to her or to himself.

On the other hand, Jia felt elevated, knowing that the door was easily opened for her. She eased her shoes off with her feet. "Come on, mister. I'm only taking your few days free, and then profit goes after." She said, absorbing all of her courage whilst she gets the hold of the doorknob and widened the gap so she can enter.

"Few days?" Yoonki scoffed, closing the door behind him as he eyed the young lady's back. He was so close to laughing out loud as he finds her statement ridiculously funny. "What do you mean by few days?"

"Jeongguk told me that you can make me learn within a short time."

"Do you know how long that short time is?"

Jia paused for a moment, pressing her lips together into a thin line as she thinks before she sheepishly answered, "No."

"One month. I taught him for one month. I don't know what he has told you, but I only taught him how to press the keys." Yoonki displayed a small smirk as he walked his way and sat on his couch. He witnessed how the young lady stood there frozen, perhaps realizing how difficult to learn piano. "Giving up?"

Giving up? What's that?

"Did Jeongguk know how to read music notes when you first taught him?" Jia queried, staring straight at the latter's eyes to find honest answers.

Yoonki tilted his head and was overwhelmed by the sudden question. "Well . . . not exactly."

"Then you can teach me for one week."

"One week?" Yoonki almost choked with laughter. "I would love to but I don't think you have the ability."

"Two weeks then."

"Two weeks, you say?" Yoonki thinks thoroughly. Will it be easier for him to only teach her for a week? Regardless if she learns something or not, right? That will save him time and energy. He will be able not to sacrifice his sleep again. "You know what? Let's stick to one week."

"No, teach me for two weeks for free! Then I'll apply for the part time job, and then give you money as you continue to teach me." Jia is desperate. She finds it better to master piano somehow, than to just play it. She wants to learn how to love playing piano as much as she loves playing her guitar. Good music is produced when it's from the heart. "I'll teach you how to play guitar too!" She lifted the guitar case to show him the proof.

Yoonki slouched and rested his back deeper against the couch as he crossed his arm. He thinks again. Who is she again? Why am I obligated to teach her again?

"Hey." He sat properly, leaning himself closer to her. He folded his hands together on top of his lap as he spoke. "Tell me how you met him."