The Hwang Hwang Couple
24

“You know someone else is gonna swoop in, right? She’s really popular in our department - in the whole university, even,” Seungyoun continued, “It’s been a year since you’ve done this dance with her. You’re gonna miss your chance.”

Eunsang considers this, set his chopsticks down, and made up his mind.

***

The fifth time they had dinner without their friends (he refers to it like this because Seungyoun said it doesn’ as a date without the girl is aware that she is in one), Eunsang had everything planned out but of course, things went array.

It was supported to go like this: he picks her up from her dorm with a bouquet of roses. They have dinner at an Italian restaurant that he heard about from his noona. They order dessert. Then he asks her to be his girlfriend. He hops she says yes.

But instead of picking her up at her dorm, he got held back by lab clean up, so he didn’ have time to pick up the roses. By the time he stepped outside of the building, it was pouring rain and the reservation was in thirty minutes. There was no way he’ll be able to pick her up and make it in time. So he asked her to meet him at the restaurant. But Seoul traffic - just like the entire universe, it seems - was not on his side so his cab got stuck that by the time he arrived at the restaurant, they missed their reservation by thirty minutes and their table is gone.

Eunsang, whose default setting is to smile and nod, was close to a meltdown. Nothing - literally nothing had gone his way today and of all the days, he needed this one to be perfect. But Yuna, who was seated on benches under the awnings, greeted him with her usual bright smile - the all teeth, no eyes kind of smile - which prompts him to finally break into a bitter laugh at the whole situation.

He sat down next to her, feeling respected but glad that she was at least there in her pretty floral dress. “I’m sorry,” he turned to her, “I had so many things planned but.”

“Why are you sorry? It’s okay,” she smiled, “Let’s go somewhere else and eat. You must be hungry too.”

He considered just how happy she looked despite having sat at a bench outside of a restaurant in drizzling rain, waiting for him. Then he considered how happy she’s made him over the past year with her them presence. It was like the room lights up when she’s there, even if she was pouting over a fight she just had with her older sister or the Physics class she just had. Even in the cloudiest mood, Shin Yuna still made the room a couple notches brighter than normal.

Her eyes widened in shock for a split second before it changed into a smile. And a nod. And then an eager nod that sets off all the butterflies in his stomach.

“Really?” he asked, unable to keep the smile off of his face.

She nodded, “I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”

(“Do you know how many guys I turned down because of you, oppa? A DOZEN!” she teased as they walked hand in hand along the Han River. Eunsang deposited the empty box of pizza on the garbage can as a way to hide to his blushing cheeks. “I can’t believe someone so smart can be so slow,” she continued, grinning brightly.

Eunsang chuckled and squeezed her hand, “Thank you for being patient with me," grateful that he has her by his side.)

***

The first time Shin Yuna saw him, he was listening to his friends talk and broke into a gentle smile that made her feel.

“You know someone else is coming in, right? She is really popular in our majors - even throughout the university, "Seungyoun continues," It has been a year since you performed this dance with her. You will lose your chance. " Eunsang considered this, put down his chopsticks, and made up his mind. *** The fifth time they had dinner without their friends (she called it like this because Seungyoun said it doesn't count as a date unless the girl is aware that she's in one), Eunsang has everything planned, but of course, everything goes set. It should be like this: he took it from his dorm with a bouquet of roses. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant that he heard from his noon. They ordered dessert. Then she asked him to be her boyfriend. And he hopes he says yes. But instead of picking her up at her dorm, she was held back by the cleaning lab, so she didn't have time to pick up the roses. By the time he stepped out of the building, it was raining heavily and booking in thirty minutes. There was no way he could pick her up and be on time. So he asked her to meet him at the restaurant. But Seoul traffic - like the entire universe, it seems - is not on his side so his cab is stuck so by the time he arrives at the restaurant, he's, they missed their thirty-minute reservation and their table was gone. Eunsang, whose default setting was to smile and nod, was already close to destruction. Nothing - literally nothing goes today and of all days, it needs this one to be perfect. But Yuna, who was sitting on a bench under the tent, greeted him with her usual bright smile - all teeth, no type of smile - which prompted him to finally burst out laughing at the whole situation. She sat next to him, feeling defeated but happy that she was at least there in her pretty flower dress. "Sorry," she turned to him, "I've planned so many things but ..." "Why are you sorry? It's okay, "he's smiling," Let's go somewhere else and eat. You must be hungry too. ” He considered how happy he was despite having been sitting on a bench outside the restaurant in the drizzling rain, waiting for him. Then he considered how happy he had made it over the past year with his mere presence. It was like a room lit up when he was there, even if he was frowning due to the fight he had just had with his older sister or the Physics class he just had. Even in the bleakest atmosphere, Shin Yuna still made the room slightly brighter than usual.

So she gathered up her courage and said, "Yuna-ya .. will you be my girlfriend?" His eyes widened in shock for a second before turning into a smile. And nods. And then an excited nod that triggered all the butterflies in his stomach. "Thank you?" he asked, unable to help a smile from his face. He nodded, "I've been waiting for you to ask." ("Do you know how many men I rejected because of you, oppa? DOZEN!" He flirted as they walked hand in hand along the Han River. Eunsang put an empty pizza box in the trash can as a way to hide into her blushing cheeks, "I can't believe someone so smart can be so slow" she continued, smiling cheerfully. Eunsang chuckled and squeezed his hand, "Thank you for being patient with me," grateful that he was by her side.) *** The first time Shin Yuna saw him, she listened to his friends talk and smiled gently which made her feel.