#005
After carefully stroking the moist petals, I withdrew my hand. The herbal tea Ban Hajoon brought was disgustingly tasteless, so I drank about three sips out of politeness and gathered my belongings. Since the delivery was finished, I should go home.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“What about dinner?”
“I have to eat.”
“With whom?”
“Alone?”
Why is he asking so urgently?
“Weren’t you going to eat with me?”
“Me?”
“Isn’t that why you came after work?”
“No? I was really busy today and I think I’ll be busy tomorrow too, so I just came. I was worried you’d keep calling and messaging to bother me. That’s why I brought them today. Even if it was late. And you also told me to bring them today.”
As I answered while putting my phone in my pocket, Ban Hajoon’s mouth slowly opened.
“I thought I was going to have dinner with Ranho-ssi?”
“Why?”
“Because we’re meeting in the evening. I haven’t eaten either?”
“…So?”
“I said I’d buy you dinner. Didn’t Ranho-ssi agree to it?”
Why would he think that? That’s not right? I tilted my head and spoke as if Ban Hajoon asking that back was stranger.
“Um… I’m shy around strangers. A lot. And I was really exhausted today.”
“……”
“I can’t eat dinner with people I’m uncomfortable with. I get indigestion. Really bad indigestion.”
An uncomfortable silence followed. Did I say something wrong? No, I didn’t. I really only came with the intention of delivering flowers. Plus, we’re not close enough to have dinner together. This is only the third time we’re meeting, so why would we eat dinner together? Two men. Ugh, I hate even thinking about it.
“…Then.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll drive you home. It’s too close to catch a taxi.”
“I can call a premium taxi.”
“Premium taxis won’t go either. It’s just the basic fare even with premium. Wait.”
Ban Hajoon didn’t take his eyes off me even as he went to the counter, seemingly resigned to my leaving. He took off his apron, gathered his car keys and wallet, and came back, gesturing with his eyes for us to go out. Ah. I knew it wasn’t polite, but with an expression showing I really didn’t want to ride in his car, I trudged down to the underground parking garage with Ban Hajoon.
Ban Hajoon, who got on the elevator and pressed the B3 button, leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as if tired. I felt awkward. It’s not like I whined to be driven home, so why do I have to ride in his car while being mindful of his mood…! I should have firmly said I’d just take a taxi—
“Ranho-ssi.”
“Yeth?”
While I was chewing my lips and thinking to myself, I was startled by Ban Hajoon’s sudden call and answered with wide eyes, my voice cracking. Hah… shit.
“No, ahem— hic, yes?”
On top of that, I was so surprised I got the hiccups.
“Do you dislike me?”
“Hic— what?”
What are you asking?
“It really seems like Ranho-ssi dislikes me a lot.”
“I don’t like you, hic, but I don’t dislike you either, hic—”
I spoke while looking at Ban Hajoon from a few steps away in the square space. Ban Hajoon seemed more shocked by my answer as he opened his previously closed lips. I held my breath to calm my hiccups.
“Why don’t you… like me? That’s strange.”
What are you saying?
“Pff-hic— what?”
“I’m really likable though. Ranho-ssi, look at me.”
Why is he acting like this when he’s so cleanly handsome? I backed away with anxious eyes, step by step. My back touched the wall and my gaze turned to the electronic display showing the floors. The elevator was damn slow.
“I want to get close to Ranho-ssi.”
“Uh… hic, wait. So… what I mean is,”
Ban Hajoon’s eyes seemed to have rolled back a bit. I anxiously checked the changing floors. Finally, the elevator arrived at the third basement level with a loud notification sound, and my body, which had been stuck to the wall, was about to spring out like a coil.
The door opened smoothly and then closed again. Huh, fuck. What?
“Ranho-ssi.”
“No, hic, why are you doing this? Ban, Ban, Hajoon-ssi. Hic, wait,”
Ban Hajoon, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened his upper body and turned completely toward me. What, crazy, why is this bastard acting like this?
“Ban, hic-cup, Hajoon-ssi?”
A large hand reached toward me. I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut and hunched my shoulders.
Just try touching me. This bastard, I’ll sue him. I’ll look for a lawyer as soon as I get out.
Such thoughts tangled chaotically in my mind. What kind of wealth and glory was I trying to enjoy by making and bringing bouquets, big ones at that? I was just going to make mini-sized ones and deliver them and leave. No, I was just going to call a quick delivery service. Even drinking that disgustingly tasteless herbal tea that I don’t even like—
“Ranho-ssi, look at me.”
Contrary to what I expected, nothing heavy or sharp touched me, and blunt, careful fingertips tapped my shoulder.
“……”
When I carefully lifted my trembling eyelids and met Ban Hajoon’s eyes with pupils full of fear, this bastard finally lost it and showed me the softest smile in the world.
“The hiccups stopped. Right?”
“…Huh?”
“Being startled is the direct hit for hiccups. Were you surprised?”
“Crazy, what is this bastard saying right now…”
“Ranho-ssi?”
Ah, I was so angry that what I was thinking came out of my mouth.
This crazy, this… this crazy, fuck. Without realizing it, I pushed away Ban Hajoon’s shoulder as he came close to peer into my eyes and kicked his shin with all my might. I said I’d take a taxi!!!
I pressed the first floor button and calmed my startled heart. His eyes definitely looked crazy too, damn it. Was that acting? With that level of acting skills, he should be an actor, not a cafe owner. Wow, shit. I really thought my heart would drop.
Apart from my completely stiffened facial muscles, the fact that my hiccups really stopped hurt my pride even more. How surprised was I? I thought my heart would burst. Seriously.
The elevator that was damn slow going down came up to the first floor in an instant. When the door opened and I brushed past Ban Hajoon to leave, he panicked and came running out calling my name continuously. He grabbed my retreating wrist and turned me around, frantically apologizing.
“Ranho-ssi, Ranho-ssi. Were you very surprised? Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be this surprised.”
“Ban Hajoon-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Let go of this, I’m really very tired today.”
I shook off Ban Hajoon’s hand as if brushing it away.
“I’ve repaid the overcharging with flower delivery, so please forget about it. It would be even better if you deleted my contact information. If we meet again due to unavoidable circumstances next time, please don’t act friendly like this.”
At my rapidly spat-out words, Ban Hajoon visibly stiffened and made a hurt expression, which bothered me a little, just a little, just a speck, but my fatigue was more serious. I felt like I’d aged ten years from the previous situation.
Phew, letting out a quiet sigh, I swept back my fallen hair and walked past Ban Hajoon through the lobby. No matter how much the taxi fare would be, I had to take a taxi right away. It got colder as night fell, and I really didn’t want to walk even one more step. The fortunate thing was that Ban Hajoon’s cafe was on the main street so the taxi stand wasn’t far, and I had a lot of money.
I opened the back seat door of the taxi parked at the very front among the empty taxis and got in unconditionally. When I mentioned the officetel name, the taxi driver openly showed he didn’t want to go. I took out a fifty-thousand won bill from my wallet and politely offered it with an apology.
“I know it’s too short a distance, and I know you’ve been waiting here for a long time… I’m really too tired today, driver. Please. The change is fine.”
Along with the fifty-thousand won I handed over, the taxi soon departed. I leaned back against the seat and recalled Ban Hajoon’s eyes that I saw in the elevator. Those eyes were unpleasant even when I thought about them again in a calmed state.
***
Taking the taxi, I could cover the distance that took over 5 minutes of walking in just 1 minute. As expected, people should ride things with wheels. As my body became comfortable, my anger toward Ban Hajoon also began to subside little by little. Maybe I’d become a bit more generous after tonight passes.
As soon as the car stopped, I thanked him about three times and got out, moving my body with the energy I’d recovered in the meantime. Then I stepped wrong in the gap between the sidewalk and road, did a twist, felt embarrassed, and looked up at the night sky for no reason.
I was walking slowly toward the officetel entrance, carefully checking whether anyone had witnessed my embarrassing state, when some drunk person was standing in front of my flower shop with a troubled expression.
What’s with that strange person?
He was so drunk he could barely stand and staggered while randomly pressing his palms against the front window.
“Uh… uh…!”
Stop pressing your palms, you bastard…! You left fingerprints all over it. I have to clean the window tomorrow. Ah, shit. Irritation surged up. I’m already busy enough to die, and when am I supposed to clean all that? If you’re drunk, just go home nicely instead of leaving fingerprints on the window and making a scene.
I stamped my feet while watching the drunk person’s actions from a distance.
“Ah… really.”
I’m tired to death but all sorts of things bother people. I wish he’d leave quickly, but why isn’t he going yet… Now he’s even leaning his forehead against it. Crazy. I was just going to watch quietly, but it seemed like he might sleep in front of the store, so I trudged over.
“Excuse me.”
“……”
“Hey. What are you doing in front of someone else’s store?”
The drunk person I approached reeked of alcohol. And the window seen up close was in much worse condition than when viewed from afar. Ah… I really hate this.
“…Ah… I… fl-ower…”
“What?”
My ears, already irritated by the state of the window, heard a word that shouldn’t be heard in this situation. Could he be a pervert? Like a flasher? He seems to be dressed similarly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
