Chapter 18: Hongdae
Chapter Theme: Really Like You - IZ*ONE

Han Seungwoo

My nap was disturbed buy a sudden thud on my taxi's roof. I was parking my taxi near a university to easily pick up passengers.

A bunch of middle school kids were there playing around to every car's roof.

"Ahjussi, mianhae!"

The tallest kid apologized to me but it was not sincer but rather his apology was with humor.

"Yah haksaeng!" My voice was in full volume to fully get their attention. "Why are you having some fun throwing stones to someone else's cars?" I asked nonchalantly.

The kid just shrugged his shoulders and smirked in annoyance. "Ahjussi, do not interfere with our diversion. This is more fun than listening to our teacher's babble. So you better fink out before we'll go crazy over your taxi. Shoo!" They all laughed in unison after their leader insulted me.

"Kids, you better go home and sleep for you to grow up. Do you know the reason why you're doing this? It's because y'all are childish! You get that?" I spatted what I wanted to tell. Their faces became sour after hearing at my statement.

"Do you think we're just a bunch of weak idiots? Ahjussi, you thought wrong. We might break your bones just using our fingers. Now shut up and drive away."

Arguing with these jerks will only give me a headache so I did what they tell me. I drove away but I did not forget to report them at the nearest police station.

My taxi only received a scratch and I don't need to call the insurance company.

I stopped my taxi just off the pavement when my phone rang. It was my father.

"Seungwoo-yah, Dongpyo's powdered milk has run out. Buy it together with my medicines and please come home before 10 pm so I can take my medicine."

"Arasseo abbeoji, I'll buy it now."

I bought two boxes of milk which weighs 1.2 kg each. I got an extra money so I bought an extra box though Dongpyo only drinks milk once a day.

When I went outside the pharnacy, two persons were standing beside my taxi and I bet they were tourists.

"Hello, do you need help?"

Their faces lightened up as soon as I talked to them. They were kinda glum earlier which made me think that they're having a hard time getting a transportation.

"Are you the taxi driver of this taxi?" A man pointed at my taxi and I nodded at his question. "Yes, I am and my taxi's available."

"Yeah.. we already hired a taxi on the app but I think it's not working because we already waited for two hours."

"There might be a technical error on the app." I explained because it does happen a lot of time. "By the way, where's your destination?"

"Can you recommend a refreshing spot at the same time alive? Like places where busking usually happens."

"Okay, I'll bring you to the place. It will take an hour from here but I'll assure you that you will enjoy."

That was the reason why I ended up on the boulevard together with Harin.
My father called me several times but I ignored all his calls just to be with her. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I shouldn't ignore.

Meeting a new day together with Harin never crossed in my imagination. Those tourists who came with me here were blessings in disguise for letting me lead the way for their entertainment and which leads me to Harin. Fate has brought us together here and I'm very grateful.

Staying together with her seemed like a magic. It was not my intention to stay long and I was supposed to go home but when my eyes met her, I was bewitched to stay.

"Harin-ssi.. just, just let me stay okay?"

She was startled at my answer. I hope she won't think negative of me basing on my answer. I can't directly flaunt my real agenda why I stayed because she might be taken a back.

I honestly answered her question which was probably bothering her. Until her phone blinked without her noticing it.

"Saengil chukha hamnida Yoon Harin-ssi."

After reading what's written on her alarm, I greeted her right away. She wasn't expecting my greeting which was written all over her face. I get it now why she stayed here tonight. She wanted to be awake while waiting fo her birthday to come. A guilt suddenly crawled on me. Was I a bit of impulsive? She wanted to spend her birthday but here I am tagging along. I was to persistent to stay without thinking the real meaning of the words she said earlier.

"It's almost midnight, aren't you tired? I bet you were driving all day."

"If you're tired, you can go home. I won't mind. And I'm thinking I might be a hassle to you."

It was not directly said but upon analyzing those sentences, I'm concluding that she wanted to tell me not to intrude on her special day. Plus, I let her pay for my ice cream.

"Thanks, Seungwoo-ssi."

I offered her my utmost sincere smile. It was a smile to apologize for being an intruder and to thank her for letting me stay.

"Do you want another cone of ice cream? It's on me. You can choose even the expensive one." I offered but she shook her head, declining my offer.

"I'm already good."

"Well.. as a birthday gift, I'll let you make a request. Of course, aside from bringing you home."

Her face brightened up like a midday sun. She moved her lips and eyes trying to think.

"Nae gyeote isseojwo."

(Stay with me)

It was brief but I can feel the chills in my body. Her words triggered my soul to move closer to her. I tucked on her ear the strands of her hair that fell.

"As you wish, Harin-ssi."

I stood up and she followed me without hesitation. My feet were moving too fast than hers which made her to be behind from me.

With a swift move, I accurately held her hand to pull her towards my position. She almost stumbled at my abrupt behavior. I muttered a sorry, still holding her hand. She smiled awkwardly at me saying it's fine.

I withdrew my hand from hers and my hand felt bare. If only I have the courage to hold her hand tightly..

"Stop staring at me like I kidnapped you." I let out a chuckle after I was able to voice out the thought that was bothering in my mind.

"I was just staring.. nothing else." Her words were like a knife. It was so simple but I had the audacity to put malice on it. "You're a real life visual gangster Seungwoo-ssi. I bet you already received those kind of compliments from others. And what I said is a fact."

My cheeks were burning at her remark. I can feel my heart beating in a fast motion requiring me to catch my breath. I wasn't expecting such words from her. I thought I'm just a normal man on her eyes with no pecularities.

She's so straightforward. Telling those things to someone driving is not good! Having a good coping mechanism must be fostered.

"Harin-ssi.. can you not be too blatant?"

"Did I make you uncomfortable? I thought you're already used in receiving such copliments. My bad."

She looked away from me after answering my question. I can't tell if she's really sorry or she just poke fun at me.

"I am grateful for your compliment and it's flattering. The way you expressed your admiration towards my visual was too blunt. You shouldn't be blatant to someone who's driving because it might cause a disgrace."

I explained my thoughts at her sudden remark about me. She looked at me weirdly while listening at my explanation.

"You're overthinking and if you say so.. I will no longer compliment you if that's what you want." She smiled teasingly at me. "I have a freedom of expression so you Han Seungwoo, doesn't have any rights to protest on my future remarks."

We arrived at the vibrant hip neighborhood of Hongdae which was jam-packed with local and international tourists.

"My teenage days were spent here, how about you?" She turned to face me while a familiar smile was plastered on her face.

"I don't usually comes here.."

"Where do you want to go first?" I was walking behind her while glancing at the shops, clubs and pubs that we passed by. "Noraebang?"

"Let's stroll on Eoulmadag-ro Street cause there are a lot of performances happening there."

She lead the way and we reached the Eoulmadag-ro Street in a blink. A boy group was performing Victon's Howling and they did well on covering the song. Their dance were neat and precise.

"Are you enjoying your birthday?" I whispered to her ear. Loudspeakers blared a kpop song through a mini stage.

"Definitely! Thank you for bringing me here!"

She then dragged me towards some food stalls which were busy on attending their customers' orders.

"Seungwoo-ssi, I'll treat you soondae!"

I was very excited to have the food in my mouth. Harin was so enticed by the foods displayed on the food stalls. It was like she can eat all of them in a snap.

"Today's my birthday and it means cheat day. I'm gonna eat all these foods not minding the calories and carbohydrates!"

We exchanged glances and I saw in her eyes how mirthful she was. Her eyes twinkled everytime she smiled and I am so contented everytime I see her smile.

"You're still beautiful even if your cheeks are puffy because of the foods inside your mouth." It was now my turn to compliment her. She smiled like she's already used to it.

"Seungwoo-ssi, are you hitting on me?" She said in between her munch. Thinking how she's comfortable in asking controversial question is making me somewhat 3% hate her because I can't even dare to say that to her. I fear to get an icky answer.

"You guess." I looked directly at her eyes trying to help her to find an answer to her question.

"I saw a big letter Y E S on your iris. Heol!"

She put her available hand on her mouth acting so shocked. The cheekiness of this woman is beyond imagination! She's playing dominant and I pity myself for being submissive.

A sauce spilled on her jaw when she took a bite of her soondae. "Kaman isseo."

(Stay still, don't move)

She stared at me blankly waiting for me to move. I pulled out my hanky inside my pocket and slowly wiping the small amount of sauce on her jaw.

"Now your good."

We're now traipsing to Zzang Games. "What do you want to do there?"

"Are you a dancer? I badly want to dance though my feet are all left."

She held my wrist tightly and I let myself be pulled. Like a child, she swung our arms together in a small paced manner and I was infected by her excitement. She looked like a lost child who finally found her happiness.

"Try me, Harin-ssi." I made a serious face so she will be threatened. She stuck her tongue out like she wasn't even threatened.

We entered the building with full enthusiasm but my company was more enthusiastic than me. She hastily ran to the floor where the dance pads were located.

Harin choose Dancing Monkeys first. We waited for a moment before the virtual dancers that we should copy appeared on the monitor.

The start was a basic but as the song goes on, it became moderate until it reached the difficulty level.

"Yah Han Seungwoo! Why are you so good at dancing!" She exclaimed. She stopped and her eyes widened in surprise as she watched me copying the moves perfectly.

"Baksu!" She clapped her hands like a seal. When the song changed, her eyes suddenly became fiery wanting to beat me. "Let me make you taste your defeat!" She sounded so sure on making me loose.

Just like earlier, I was able to copy the moves perfectly but this time it was a different. Harin became aggresive and started to step on my foot, accidentally.

"Stop stepping on me! You're such a heavy guy!!!" Her voice competed with the music from the speakers. I felt bad for her throat.

"Yoon Harin! Don't push me away!" I ranted at her for intentionally pushing me. She was slightly annoyed by my perfect dancing.

"Huh!" She puffed. "Jeans and shirt don't look good with anyone but with you, you look so sexy!"

"Eyes on the monitor, Harin-ssi. I don't want you to devour me."

"Stop seducing me you man!!" She yelled like a drunkard and slapped my behind making me moan in pain. We just had a milk tea and I don't know the reason why she became tipsy.

"Keep off your hands on me!" I yelled back.

The fourth song was played Harin was slowly becoming frenzy. I was kinda worried on her future actions because she might fall on the ground.

"Stop bumping with me!" I tried to sound ireful to help her come back from her senses but she only became worse.

"It's my birthday. My life, my rules!"

Her dance steps were not synchronized compared to what the monitor has shown. "This feels magical!"

To my surprise, she was now holding a bottle of soju on her hand. Where did she get that?

I tried to calm her down and asked her where did she get the soju.

"You're stares are making my knees wobble." She blurted out like a madman. "This is so tasty, do you want some?" She waved the bottle on the air. The liquid was still above half of the bottle.

"Alcoholic drinks are prohibited inside. Where on earth did you get that?"

She playfully smile. "It's my birthday so everything is magical! My fairy godmother give it to me sweetie."

"The workers here might see you and I don't want to get in trouble. I bet you don't too." I glanced at the wall clock and saw that it's already 2:45 am. "I'll drive you home."

"That won't happen," she said in between her laughs. "You'll gonna be saving me from disaster, Han Seungwoo. You're my knight in shining armor and I'm your damsel in distress." She winked at me friskily. She brought the mouth of the bottle on her lips and drank the liquid with full pledge.

Now, she believed that everything's going magical because it's her birthday. "You're getting us in trouble. I can't just bribe them! My money won't be enough!"

"Give me the bottle. I'll dispose it outside so we won't be in trouble." I easily got the bottle from her possession. "Can you still walk properly?"

Harin raised her head making an eye contact with me. "Han Seungwoo-ssi..guess what? I've read your mind that you wanted a kiss from me. News flash! I will never give it to you like the last time!"

She's now talking nonsense so I dragged her outside the building. She ranted how I was being so kill joy to bring her out from her favorite place.

Now that she mentioned about me wanting a kiss from her, I stared at her wet lips. I gulped to stop my self from taking an advantage at her drunk state. "The alcohol has consumed you. I'll take you home now. I hope that you enjoyed your birthday with me."

Harin was completely drank and as I examined her, she can't walk properly and it will cost time if I'll let her walk. "Jump on my back, birthday girl."

She's not that heavy but I know that I will be exhausted because I parked the car 10 minutes away. Her head fell on my right shoulder and she started to blabber things.

"Ah..ouch!!" She relentlessly pinched my cheek and bit my ear. "If you won't stop, I'll drop you on the mud." I hope she can hear the menace from my voice.

"Seungwoo-yah.. I don't want to kiss you because I want you to kiss me."

I halted at my track at her intrepidness. "You're drunk Harin. I don't want you to regret your impulsive behaviour. Hold on tightly and just keep quiet."