79 The night before/The presen (1/2)

The night before

Hong Joo was in the favorite bookstore. This library would stay open after hours for those people that were night owls that rather than go out to party, they'd prefer to sit and read. She was friendly with the employees and would often give her discounts.

As she picked out a book, her phone rang. It was a number she didn't know, but she still answered.

”Is this Hong Joo's phone?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked.

”Yes,” she answered, ”Who is this?”

”Hey, how're you doing? It's Ji Seok”

Hong Joo gasped. Ji Seok, Mrs. Ha Eun's brother, the man she embarrassed herself in front of the first day they met yet managed to have a pleasant conversation right after. How did he have her number? ”How did you get my number?” she asked him.

”I'm Oh Ji Seok; there is nothing I can't do” Ji Seok answered, ”So, you like that book?”

Hong Joo looked down at the book she was holding. How did he know she was…She looked around and saw Ji Seok waving at her from outside the store. She waved back. He hung up and walked inside. Hong Joo's cheeks quickly flushed red.The one day she dresses like shit and doesn't wear makeup, and he shows up.

”Mother was right, when I go out, I always have to dress like I'm going to go on a date,” she thought to herself.

Ji Seok reached her, but when he was going in for a hug, she reaches out her hand to shake his. The atmosphere had quickly become awkward. Ji Seok moved his arms up and acted like she was stretching. He decided to go for the handshake, but immediately Hong Joo tried to go for a hug.

The atmosphere got even more awkward.

”What do you have there?” Ji Seok asked her.

”A book from my favorite author” Hong Joo showed Ji Seok the book. The first thing he noticed was the pink girly cover and the title ”Where you are.” To him, just by reading the title, he could tell it was a cheesy novel.

”It combines western culture with our own. I love western culture; I find it so fascinating. It's so amazing that we live on the same planet and are just an ocean away from them, and yet we have very different social norms.”

”You sound as if you've never traveled outside of Korea,” Ji Seok said with a smile. Hong Joo took the book from him and looked down.

”I've never left Korea. My family doesn't have the money,” she said. Ji Seok widened his eyes.

”Then I'll take you,” Ji Seok said. Hong Joo wasn't following his train of thought, ”Choose a place, and I'll take you there right now. We could go to France, see the Eiffel Tower, maybe Spain and eat tapas. The weather in the Caribbean is excellent all year round; we can go to Puerto Rico and drink mojitos.

What Ji Seok was suggesting was too much for Hong Joo to process. She can't just drop everything and go touristing. Especially with a guy, she doesn't even know.

”I appreciate the offer, but I must decline,” Hong Joo said.

”Why?” Ji Seok asked.

Rather than answer, Hong Joo decided to ask a question, ”Why are you asking me to travel with you? Someone you don't even know.”

Ji Seok widened his eyes, then he looked down, biting his lip ”It seems I got ahead of myself,” he said, forcing a chuckle. Hong Joo didn't understand what he was getting at.

”All the women I've met have thrown themselves at me, so I've never been much for talking and getting to know someone. You might find this odd, but I would like to…”

”I don't think we should see each other!” Hong Joo cut him off as she looked around seeing people glance at the two of them and one even took out her phone to take a picture, then they all went back to reading their book ”I'm just a normal person, and you are part of the Oh family” Hong Joo bowed ”Please excuse me” she walked past him but tripped over her feet and fell headfirst to the ground.