March 27
Saturday
Year 1

It's exciting to have my aunts over.

Mom, Aunt Hyemin, and Aunt Hyesoo are filling the backyard with howls of laughter from sharing stories of their childhood. They almost forget about the meat grilling until I point it out.

I turn back to the soda in my hand as I sit around the table with my cousins. Vivi and Sooah are sitting right next to each other, mid-conversation.

Vivi's two years older, while Sooah and I are months apart. Despite that, they're closer because they grew up in the same town. They hung out a lot and experienced the same things, while I haven't. Makeup? Parties? Boys? What can I contribute to those conversations?

"Can you believe that? Hot as shit, and she cheated on him." Vivi adjusts her cropped sweater before reaching for her soda.

Sooah gasps, "Woooow. Well, you never know, maybe he pfff."

Vivi laughs in agreement. "Maybe."

I take an awkward sip.

Vivi clears her throat, turning to me. "So how's uni, Seolli?"

"O-oh, I just go to the college near my house. But it's great so far."

"Yeah? How are the boys here?" Vivi asks with a smirk, making Sooah slap her arm.

"Vivi."

"What?" She laughs. "Bet city boys are more fun than country boys."

I blush and grip onto my soda. "They're like any other boys, I think..."

"You think? What's the craziest time you've had with a boyfriend?" Vivi leans over.

None.

I bite my lip and avert my gaze, the blush on my cheeks scorching.

"Seolli!" My mom calls for me. "Can you run to the store and get us some a bag of charcoal?"

I quickly stand up and nod and meekly excusing myself from the conversation.

"Do you think she ever had a boyfriend?" I overhear Sooah ask Vivi as I head out.

I tell myself that I'm only bothered because I want to be closer to them and I want to share stories too.

Like our moms.

With a sigh, I walk into the store and filter through the aisles.

As I turn in one, I recognize the figure standing over the snacks.

"Taehyung?" I call out softly. He looked a little different.

He tilts his head up. Under the brim of his hat, I catch his familiar eyes behind glasses.

"Seolli?" He blinks in surprise.

I nod.

He stands in front of me while holding a bag of ramen, biscuits, and shrimp crackers. "Are you doing grocery shopping?"

"No, my mom only needs a bag of charcoal..." I hold my hands together nervously.

"A bag? Won't it be too heavy?"

I shake my head with a smile, eyeing the snacks in his hands again. I wonder why he didn't grab a basket.

He looks down at them. "Ah, these are all for tonight. My friends invited me out and it's a long trip."

To the party, I remember.

His face lights up. "Do you want to go?"

Immediately, all the things that could go wrong fly into my head. "Um, I don't think I could, since my cousins are over."

His shoulders drop. "Oh, barbeque? I should've asked sooner, but... "

With a wobble of his head, he looks at me and smiles. "Do you need help finding it?"

I nod, following him as he walks a couple of aisles over. "Ta-dah~ Let me grab one for you."

He squats down to the bigger bag, but I wave my hands. "U-um thanks, but that'll be too much. This one is okay."

I reach over and grab a small bag off the shelf.

"Okay, let's go pay. I'm ready too."

When I place down my bag, I reach over for the divider. But when I place it between our things, Taehyung moves it over.

"It's together." He tells the cashier, looking back at me with a small smile.

When we're outside, I go to reach for my purse, but Taehyung stops me. "It's okay."

I knit my eyebrows together as I look at him. Something tells me he wouldn't accept it even if I fought him to. "T-thank you."

He reaches for my grocery bag and combines it with his. "Which way to your house?"

He's going to walk me? I feel like I'm owing him more and more.

"It's... not far. I don't want to trouble you."

He chuckles. "What kind of gentleman would I be if I made you walk back by yourself?"

"Y-your friends... Won't you be late?"

He shakes his head.

Taking a small step forward, I point toward my house.

We're quiet during our travel there, but it's not uncomfortable.

I'm curious about one thing, so I turn to him. Startling him since he was already looking my way.

"I didn't know you wear glasses..."

His eyes widen, and he reaches up to his face, covering it entirely with his hand. "I forgot I had them on!"

Before I can tell him how nice he looks, my mom walks out the front door.

"Oh, Seols, I thought you said your friend couldn't make it."

Taehyung drops the bags he's holding and I jump to help him.

"U-uh-" Taehyung throws his snacks into his bag before standing back up and politely introducing himself.

I make sure we missed nothing before standing up.

Mom smiles. "Are you staying, Taehyung? I heard you were traveling out of town."

Taehyung turns to me and raises his eyebrows. "I- I can stay."

"Your friends," I whisper.

Taehyung puts a hand over his heart, thinking. 

My mom pats his arm. "How about you come over tomorrow? We'll have plenty of leftovers."

He smiles and nods. "I can come tomorrow."

I blush and look down at my feet, feeling my heart race. He's really going to come over tomorrow?

"Great! I'll take that bag then and head inside. No rush, Seolli."

Taehyung hands over the bag. When my mom's back in the house, he turns back to me. "I was so nervous."

He runs a finger through his hair. "I didn't think I'd meet your mom looking like this."

I tilt my head and look at him. I think he looks fine, why wouldn't he?

He freezes for a second, looking back before turning away.

"Don't worry," he says before stepping closer. "Tomorrow, I'll make a better impression."

I blush at how close he is, letting out a tiny "Okay."

He grins.

"See you tomorrow, Seolli."

"See you tomorrow, Taehyung."

With a nod, he steps back and waves, jogging down the sidewalk.

I wait until he's out of view before stepping into the house.

I hope tomorrow goes okay.