"Yes mom, I'll be back on time and I'll be safe. Don't worry" After that I cut the call and put my phone in my pocket. I was almost done cleaning up and within a few more minutes, I could leave for my home.
I didn't get much chance to text Yeonjun because of all the people coming in. And after my shift was over, I was so hungry that I was more focused on cleaning up fast so that I could leave early.
San's conversation played on my mind. I had to tell Yeonjun but I wasn't sure what to tell exactly. What happens after I tell him? It wasn't like there was much we could do about it other than claiming the rumors to be true or false.
But was I ready to face the mass of students after I proclaimed that the girl Yeonjun was kissing was me?
I highly doubt that their reaction would be favorable.
It was better to keep this under wraps for now. It had been what? A whole 48 hours till we decided we had feelings for each other?
Yeah, it was better to just not engage on this topic for now.
But if we were on the same page about this, we had to have the talk.
Once the tables and counters were cleared and the rest of the ingredients and ice-cream stored in the freezer, the only thing I had left to do was take out the trash.
I hummed my way into the alley, not really concerned about the area because somehow, every time I came here, I was reminded of the strawberry milkshake and Yeonjun.
An involuntary smile stretched across my face.
What a long way we have come on from that night.
Our first encounter.
"You know, you should be more careful about your surrounding. I could have been an axe murder or a serial killer" a voice makes me jump as I let go of the trash bags into the dumpster.
"Yeonjun! You shouldn't scare me like that. I almost had a heart attack" I grip the place on my chest over my t-shirt.
He just has a beautiful grin on his face as he stands under the light post with his hands in his pockets.
He is standing there wearing his uniform. Maroon pants, white shirt, maroon tie loosened, and of course, the shiny maroon leather jacket with the RH monogramed in gold.
I took a deep breath, my heart still pounding from the sudden scare.
"What are you even doing here? Were you waiting for me?" I shoot because I hat seeing that winning grin on him.
"Maybe. Is that a problem?"Â Yeonjun smirked, stepping closer as I dusted off my hands.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide my smile.
"You could've just texted me instead of lurking in alleys like a creep" He could have just come in through the front door even but knowing him, that is more tedious for him than hanging out in the dark alley.
He chuckled, the sound low and soft.
"I tried, but someone was too busy cleaning tables and counters. Thought I'd surprise you instead" So he had noticed me through the front windows. I don't know why but something flips flops in my stomach.
This feeling is foreign but I like it how it feels. I can get used to this.
I shook my head, still trying to calm my racing heart.
"Well, you did a good job of that. Nearly gave me a heart attack." I joke, trying not to let on this foreign feeling come to the surface.
Yeonjun's grin softened as he stepped closer, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The warmth from his touch sent a shiver down my spine.
"Didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to see you." His voice dropped to a whisper, and my heart stuttered again, this time for a different reason.
I glanced down at his hand, still lingering near my face, before meeting his gaze.
"Well, you got me," I murmured, feeling the space between us shrink.
For a moment, we stood there, under the streetlight, just looking at each other. It felt like time slowed, and everything around us faded into the background.
His maroon jacket, his uniform, the familiar warmth in his eyesâit all made my chest feel light, like maybe, despite everything, we were doing something right.
But was it right?
"People were gossiping at school... about you. About how you kissed someone on the last night of the trip. San told me" Before I could say anything, the words I'd been holding back all night tumbled out.
Yeonjun blinked, his expression shifting slightly.
"And...?" he prompted.
He didn't seem bothered by it at all.
Shouldn't he be more bothered about it than me? This was a rumor about him at last.
"They don't know it was me." I bit my lip, the tension building. His eyebrow knit in confusion but he doesn't say anything. I take it as my cue to keep speaking.
"They're speculating about who you kissed, and some people think it was Hyejin but then others saw her leave that evening so now it is a whole poll on who you kissed that night" I blurt out the rest, expecting a reaction from him but he seems pretty chill.
Am I the only one overthinking this?
He didn't seem fazed. Instead, he gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Let them talk. It doesn't matter who they think it was. Soon enough, they'll see us together, and they'll know." his answer does nothing to ease the tension I was feeling.
"Does it bother you? I mean, I am sure if we walk into the school hand in hand, everyone will know but if you have doubts then I can always stand on a bench in the lunch room and shout at everyone telling them that you're my girlfriend" he shrugs.
I am glad he is in a joking mood. At least I think he is joking.
I sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
"Haha, very funny. Don't even joke about this" I warn.
"Would you rather they speculate someone else with me?" he questions with a raised eyebrow.
His statement caused another flip flop in my stomach but definitely not the good kind. Just thinking about his name being tagged with another girl made me frown.
But would they easily accept that I was with Yeonjun as they would anyone else, someone like Hyejin who was the heir to a big textile company. I was the Heir of a small family owned noodle shop.
There was no comparison.
"But what if... I mean, what if people start judging us? Or you? I don't know how to handle all the attention and rumors. I'm not a Royal. I'm justâ"
"Yuri," he cut me off, stepping even closer, his voice firm but gentle.
"I don't care what people think. I care about you. The rest will figure itself out."
I wanted to believe him. I really did.
But the idea of being the subject of gossip, of being the girl who wasn't supposed to be with the popular heir of the Choi Group, weighed on me.
"It's not just about us, though," I whispered slowly.
I had already lied about it to San. I mean not technically lie but omission of the truth is a lie after all.
"I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with people's opinions about us. About me." Also what it might put my friends through either.
I am sure anyone associated with me would also face the backlash of people who didn't like me with Yeonjun. I didn't want anyone else to be the subject of rumor and gossip because of me.
Yeonjun's fingers tilted my chin up so that I was looking into his eyes.
"You're stronger than you think, Yuri. And you won't have to deal with it alone. We're in this together, okay?" his calm voice lightened the weigh on my shoulder but not completely.
For a second, I hesitated, searching his eyes for reassurance. But then, the warmth in his gaze pulled me in, and I felt my resolve waver.
"I don't want to keep this a secret forever," I admitted.
"But sometimes, I doubt if we can handle it. People are always watching you" That was the harsh reality. He knew it. I knew it. Everyone knew it.
His lips quirked into a soft smile that didn't reach his eyes as his thumb brushing over my cheek.
"We can keep it a secret for a while. Until you are ready but when they see us together, and they will, they'll know it was always you."
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat when Yeonjun's face moved closer, his breath warm against my skin. The world around us seemed to blur as his lips brushed mine, soft and tender. It wasn't rushed or urgentâit was slow, sweet, and reassuring.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, and he whispered, "Does that help with the doubts?"
"It helps a little."Â I laughed softly, still feeling the warmth of his kiss lingering.
"Good," he murmured, pressing another quick kiss to my lips, this one a bit more playful. "Because I'm not going anywhere. And soon enough, people will see that."
I smiled up at him, feeling lighter, even if the worries were still there. But with Yeonjun standing in front of me, promising to face it all together, maybeâjust maybeâI could start believing that we could make it work.
"Okay," I whispered. "We'll face it together."
He grinned, his eyes sparkling under the streetlight. "That's my girl."
My heart fluttered at his words as he reached down and intertwined his fingers with mine.
Together, we walked out of the alley, side by side, and for the first time, I felt like maybe we could handle whatever was coming our way.
A/n: update!!! I missed one schedule but I am back. I love these two characters. â¤ï¸
Let me know what you think of this chapter. And what do you think will happen next?