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As Seunghee and Jeonghan are spending their time together in their hometown, Sorn stays in-doors alone most of the time. She rents a room at the school's dormitory. It's cozy, and big enough for her and her valuables. A guitar, a television set and of course her daily belongings. For the time being, she only goes out to buy her meals and stuffs. With Jun not around, she doesn't really have anyone else to hang around with. Areum and Sehun are out of town too, spending their break with other peers and most especially, she doesn't want to interfere with Seunghee and Jeonghan's first time going home together, meeting their families and such. She'll just be a nuisance. And it's not possible for her to go home to Thailand. She's running low on budget and she's trying to save more too to complete her musical necessities. So at the end of it all, she chooses to stay behind, pondering at her compositions and writing lyrics for her songs.

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She's been busy for the last couple of hours writing lyrics. Sitting on her bed, Sorn has her guitar on her lap infront of a notebook and a pen. She's more comfortable with the traditional ways, instead of inputting her ideas on a computer. It doesn't have the feeling, as to how she puts it. But she'll encode it and save later after it's done.

Then her phone rings. It's beside her on the bed. She sees the caller ID.

"Unnie?" she gets it and answers. "Seunghee unnie? What's up?"

'– I just thought you were lonely so I gave you a ring. –' says Seunghee on the other line. '– Jeonghan says hi by the way. –'

Sorn smiles at it, "I'm okay unnie. Just enjoy your stay there. I bet oppa is waiting for you to put the phone down so you can cuddle."

'– (giggles) We've been cuddling all day long. And I'm getting bored of him. (giggles again) There he goes with his tantrums. –'

"(chuckles) I'm okay unnie. Don't mind me here."

'– You can call Jisoo if you wanna go out. He's available. –' it's Jeonghan voice.

"I'll think about it oppa."

'– Okay. Oh, we have to go. We're meeting his parents again tonight. We'll be back soon okay? –' now that's Seunghee.

"Yes unnie. Bring me some watermelon when you come back."

'– Remind me again, I tend to forget these things. –'

"Okay, I'll send you a message later."

'– Okay. Bye Sorn. –'

"Bye unnie. Thanks."

She ends the call then and smiles to herself. Then she remembers what Jeonghan told her.

"Call Jisoo-shi?" she thinks twice and just lets it go. She doesn't want to be a bother to him.

She's gonna put the phone back on her bed when it rings again. This time, it's Jun. She instantly touches the answer button.

"Hello Jun!" she's always excited to hear his voice.

'– Hey there. This is an overseas call so I'll make it quick okay? –'

"Checking on unnie again?"

She has been getting calls from Jun since he left. At first, she felt really bad about it but lately, she's getting used to it. There's really no way, he would ever look at her. And the fact that he's really insensitive, asking the girl who likes her about the girl he likes, makes it all hopeless.

'– Yah. So how's she? –'

"She went home with Jeonghan oppa. They're staying there for a few days."

'– What? That bastard... I could've gone with them if I were there. –'

"As if unnie would let you. Trying to meddle again?"

'– I won't let him have his way. So, have you found anyone? –'

"Found what?"

'– Ah, nothing. I have to put the phone down. Mom's been nagging at my phone bills lately. Gotta go. Thanks Sorn. –'

Before she could even say goodbye, the line is cut. She sighs at it. She's really just a friend to him after all. Just someone he can ask about her all along. But looking back on their conversation, she contemplates on the thing he says she has yet to find.

"Is he talking about someone?"

Then it dawns on her that he's talking about his replacement, the guy she's supposed to like instead of him. It's the first time he mentioned about it after that time. It makes her feel somewhat glad. At least he's concerned about her feelings and wants her to move on soon.

She's going to put her phone down on the bed again, when it rings for the third time. And surprisingly, it's a call from Jisoo.

"Jisoo oppa?" Yes, she's been calling Jisoo and Seungcheol 'oppa' ever since she called Jeonghan oppa too. "Hello? Oppa?"

'– Hi Sorn. I'm around the area right now. I remember Jeonghan saying you're staying in for the break so I gave you a call. Are you really at the dorms? –'

"Yes, oppa. I'm at my room. I'm actually writing lyrics right now."

'– I see. Are you still busy? I'm thinking if you wanna go out and eat dinner with me. Well, if you only want to. You don't wanna be locked away inside your room for the rest of the break do you? –'

Sorn hesitates for a bit but answers soon enough, "Sure oppa. I'm almost finished writing anyways. So where are we eating?"

'– Where do you wanna eat? –'

"Anywhere convenient to you?"

'– Do you miss eating Thai food? –'

"Yeah, but it's a little expensive here so-"

'– Then let's go to a Thai restaurant. –'

"No, I don't have-"

'– Don't worry, I'm the one asking you out so it's my treat. –'

"Really oppa?"

'– Yeah, I'll wait for you outside the dorms by 7PM okay? –'

It's only 6PM when she checks the time. "Sure."

'– Okay. See yah later. –'

"Okay. See yah."

Sorn puts the phone down for real this time. She's excited. It's been a while since she had authentic Thai food. This is a real treat from Jisoo. She'll thank him big time later.

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Jisoo is actually infront of the dorms that moment, at the parking lot, inside his car. He's had this all planned from the start. He contacted Jeonghan earlier to ask Seunghee if Sorn's really at the dorms. That was why Sorn got a phone call from Seunghee. And right after making sure she's in, Jeonghan called him and he's all set up.

He's excited. He has decided to pursue his feelings for her so he won't have any regrets. He confirms the time again, 6:05PM. Fifty five more minutes to go and he'll finally see his lady once again.

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Sorn dresses up in a black long-sleeved shirt with a plunging neckline tucked in on a checkered white shorts. She looks sexy and gorgeous at the same time. Jisoo is speechless seeing her approaching him. While Jisoo wears a neatly ironed white polo shirt with printed roses on the front and a pair of black pants. They actually look good together. Whoever thought they'll dress up color-coded.

Sorn smiles at him as Jisoo smiles at her.

"You're wearing black and white too?" she utters.

"Yeah. It goes well with you're wearing," he says.

Just then Sorn notices the car he's leaning on.

"Is this yours?"

"Yah. I seldom use it though. But I'm a good driver so don't worry."

"I didn't say anything. So where are we going oppa?"

"I found a very nice Thai restaurant at the bay. It's a 30-minute ride from here."

"We could just go at that one at the center though."

"You prefer it there?" Jisoo always takes into consideration what she thinks, being the gentleman that he is.

But Sorn answers, "But since you brought your car, then why don't we go for a ride?"

"Okay. Then shall we?"

He opens the door for her and she hops in with a sweet smile. This treatment is starting to sink in her. His girlfriend must be treated like a princess by this prince, she thinks to herself.

Jisoo has loaded the car too and turns on the engine. "Is your seatbelt on?"

"Yeah."

"Well then, let's go."

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After the 30-minute ride, Sorn and Jisoo end up at a really expensive restaurant. It's so dazzling that Sorn thinks twice if she shall go inside or not.

"Don't you need a reservation for this? This is place is a bit grand. I don't think we should-"

"Don't mind a thing. It's my treat remember? It's okay. I've reserved us a table earlier."

"Are you sure? We can cancel on it."

"I'm mostly certain. You won't want to miss on this, do you? Come on."

He lays his hand before her to grab on. She's still a little dumbfounded but she grabs his hand in return. From there, he leads her inside.

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Jisoo is true gentleman. He will pull her chair for her, pour her a glass of drink, let her walk ahead and even hold her purse for her. He doesn't leave any option for himself. What she wants to do, he will oblige and what he wants if she doesn't want it, will be thrown out the window. He wants her to feel he treasures her, by making her feel special.

Sorn is starting to see the ways he's pampering her. She's beginning to feel self-conscious infront of him. Something is undeniably different about him tonight. She has sensed this difference before but it was only for a short time. But this time it's overwhelming her. She doesn't want to conclude anything yet though. It's not in her nature to be pre-judging.

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After a couple of hours, Jisoo drives Sorn back to the dorms. She's been holding back her words a little, trying to watch him closely. They sit together at one of the school benches for a while.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the food. Did I take you back to Thailand even just for a while?"

"Yeah, it was awesome. They're really serving authentic Thai food. But it was totally expensive. I'm sorry for not taking a step back."

"It's okay. I tell you, don't think about it."

"But I will surely remember it over and over again."

"I hope it's not just the food though. I hope my name will be on it too."

"Of course! That day when Jisoo oppa treated me to a really expensive Thai restaurant. Right, it will pop out just like that."

He smiles glancing at her. "You're really cute, you know?"

She blushes a little at his comment and turns silent for a moment. But then replies, "Well, a lot has told me that, including my bubbly personality."

"Actually, I really like that of you."

He stares at her now. It makes feel embarrassed and tongue-tied too. She averts her eyes from him, directing them to the ground. But he continues otherwise.

"The way you feel shy at times, the way you smile at your silly gestures, the way you handle yourself infront of different people. It's just amazing to me, looking at you," he pauses and then goes on, "I like you Sorn. I really like you."

She never thought a confession from someone else could feel this heavy. It's like her heart is gonna explode from uneasiness and agitation. But she doesn't want him to think that she's disregarding him so she answers him honestly.

"I don't know what to say to you right now, oppa."

"It's okay. I understand."

"And to tell you the truth, I actually like someone else."

"I know. It's Jun right?"

She's surprised he knows. "How did you know?"

"I just do. But you know his circumstances right now right?"

"I'm well aware of it. And it doesn't concern me."

"It does for me cuz I can see you hurting."

She bows to herself. "It's nothing like what he feels with unnie though. Oppa, right now, I don't think I can make a proper reply about what you just said."

"Then I'll be just right here. I'll wait for you. You don't have to rush things. It's better to think things through. Until you tell me your answer, I'll be here for you."

She gazes at him with a heavy heart, she knows how it feels like. But she can't really tell him she doesn't feel anything for him right now. She'll give him a chance, he probably might be the guy she's waiting for. She just doesn't know it yet.

"Thank you oppa."

He smiles at her and says, "You better get inside now. It's almost 10."

"Yah, thanks again for dinner oppa. I really enjoyed it."

"You're welcome. Good night Sorn."

"Good night."

Sorn slowly walks away from him without turning back. She doesn't want to see his expression that moment, whatever that may be.

Jisoo just sighs as she gets inside the dormitory. All along he knew this ending. What were you expecting Hong Jisoo? She's still all about him for Christ's sake. You know that. You knew that all along. He scolds himself. He stares at the dorm one more time before getting to his car, starting it and finally leaving the area.

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Sorn silently sits on her bed as soon as she enters her room. She's still dumbfounded of what just happened. Jisoo is a nice guy. He's courteous, mature and a complete gentleman. It troubles her, because he's the very opposite of Jun. She feels comfortable in his company and he's really nice to talk to. Jun is still the one she holds dear but she takes into consideration the fact that she's supposed to find someone else. She lays down her bed with a long sigh and think things through for the rest of the night.

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To be continued...

(16.04.01)