Chapter 8: Together
Chapter Theme: Feeling - APRIL
(Extraordinary You OST)

Yoon Harin

The frustration I felt towards Kim Wooseok exceeded the sky. He dragged me out of the office because he needed a companion for his meeting. I became his secretary for that meeting. The nerve of that guy! I never imagined myself walking for a long hour in my heels. He's totally the personification of satan in this world. I'm waiting for the day that someone in heaven will come to make him vanish.

I bent down my fingers into my palm to make a fist. How I love to punch that guy! He's worse than Chan! Why are the men today so atrocious? They love to piss off every woman within their radius. I'm not guessing it's their hobby because it is! Do they feel superior and dominant like an alpha? Their existence will be put in vain if it weren't for us women. If only I could kick every asshole's balls!

Death glares were received by Kim Wooseok coming from me. His eyes told me that he was guilty but I don't care. I hope he will drown from the guilt. Suffocate yourself well, Kim Wooseok.

A taxi was parked in front of me. It was my cue to step out of the scene to lull myself. I badly want to shout more but I don't want to add an embarrassing moment to my list.

The taxi driver went inside his taxi. My bad if breaking his windshield into smithereens crossed my mind. It's just that I wanted to uncage all the emotions inside my heart because I'm already tired of carrying all of this. I want to burst out without hurting anyone. Without hurting myself.

All the pains have been making me feel drooped and weary as if I'm bound to feel this way forever and this is my karma. If only I wasn't a coward, I might save her.

The engine started making me conclude that I wanted to take a break even just for hours. "Drive me anywhere. If you don't mind." I told the driver with my eyes closed.

I left my eyes closed when I heard the driver hum a song. He earned my attention pulling me out of my self-pity. His voice was pacifying which made my heart skip a beat. My eyes were fixed on his side profile and a sudden familiarity lingered on me. Before he could catch me staring at him, I turned my eyes to the road. There, I catch a glimpse of the driver's ID hanged in the mirror.

Han Seungwoo. I read it to myself. Why does his name sound familiar? Han Seungwoo. Where on earth did I hear this name? Han Seungwoo. Han Seungwoo. I tried to fix the puzzle in my mind. I'm very sure that I've heard this name before. "HAN SEUNGWOO."

I almost hit my head from the front when the driver suddenly break. I thought I'll be losing my life today. I still need to repent my sins!

"Di-did you just call my... name?" He nervously said. I wanted to say no but I remembered I verbally said his name. What a dimwit Harin!

"Uh.." I batted my eyelashes in astonishment looking for an answer to his question. I tried to console myself and I stared at my hands, not wanting to face him because he was facing me. "I- I was... I was just reading your name from your... ID! Yes! I was just reading it." I nervously said pointing to his ID.

I thought it was already nighttime when in fact, just seconds ago, the sun was still up. I looked outside the window when I realized we were inside a tunnel. The yellow bulbs magically lighted the whole tunnel giving me a peculiar feeling. Yellow bulbs flickered as if they were about to pass out. Few cars passed by and their headlights gave more light to the tunnel. Until the yellow bulbs died from life. It wasn't a hindrance for some cars because they were still crossing the unlighted tunnel. I was about to give a confused look to the driver when memories from that day made a flashback in my mind.

Those eyes... I stared at it today like I already made it stared unto mine. The familiarity from his eyes made me travel to the moment when I cried my heart out for Chan. A memory of displease from that eyes made my whole body shiver. I take a quick journey down from his eyes when his narrow and pointed nose almost made me out of breath. I gulped and my eyes accidentally landed on his thin lips. The dark tunnel helped me in sorting out all the things that were coming to my mind. Because the time when our eyes met and our noses touched each other's cheek, it was dark, it was a rainy night.

His lips.. his irresistible lips kissed me that night. Underneath that night, we're kissing in his taxi. Now, I remembered why his eyes looked displeased on that night. I was already sober but I acted like it was nothing. How could I just forget about it? How could I say Chan's name when I figured from the start that it was another man? Han Seungwo.. he said his name after I mentioned my ex's name. What a disrespectful woman, Yoon Harin.

"Hey, are you okay? You're shivering," he said sounding concerned.

I held my hands together to get some strength from it but I guess him beside me is making me weak. Like what the hell Yoon Harin! You're liking a taxi driver now huh?

"Mianhae.." I don't know why he said sorry. All I want to do now is to keep quiet and act like something did not happen between us. "Sorry if I suddenly stop the taxi. I was just startled when you said my name."

Why would he be startled? Of course, he's happy because I called him by his name and not other names. I hope the moment that happened on that night did not cross his mind. I will be in great embarrassment!

"Gwaenchana... I'm not hurt anyway," I said as if nothing happened. "Am I not allowed to call your name? I just wanted to tell you where I want to go." I almost laugh. Your lame excuses, Yoon Harin!

I wanted to say sorry because he was a bit offended. I saw how he stiffened and clenched his jaw in embarrassment.

"Y-you're right.. ma'am," he stuttered. I hate it when he called me 'ma'am'. Can you please call me by my name?

"I'm Yoon Harin, you can just call me by my name." I tried to sound confident but I can't even face him. I'm scared he might see my burning cheeks.

"I keep my principles. You're my passenger so I should call you with formality. We're not.. close." The last word was almost in a whisper so it won't arrive in my ears but sadly it did.

"Ha-ha-ha, majayo. We should distance ourselves so we can't cause some... ha-ha-ha... you know what I'm saying right? To avoid.. what happened before. Ha-ha-ha-ha."

Okay. I just spilled the beans! I made a face and punched my thighs. Why am I so clumsy? And why did I laugh? What's so funny?

It was a suffocating awkward ride. Special thanks to my stupid self.

I looked at him only to find out that he was grinning. He finds me funny?

I fake a cough. "Well honestly, your looks don't fit your job. I mean, you have a good voice and you have a nice body proportion too. Don't get me wrong okay? I'm an objective type of person so yea.."

I just want to ask myself where I find the guts to talk to him. I guess I'm just too stupid not to mind if I will embarrass myself or not.

He looked at me awkwardly like he wasn't expecting that from me. I saw how his ears became red. A bashful taxi driver huh?

"He-he-he.." was his answer. I bet that I'm making him awkward. "Where do you want to go?"

"Here here! Please drop me here." I was nervous so I asked him to drop me in the middle of nowhere.

"Are you sure?" He asked. The sun is still up and I want to be free from the embarrassment I have done. It's time to say goodbye to him.

"Definitely! I will just ask my sunbae, you know the man earlier, to fetch me so he can compensate for the damage he had done to me!" I firmly said. I hastily moved out of his taxi.

"Uh.. here's your receipt??"

I'm not drunk but I'm not in my right state! I almost forgot to pay him. Gosh, Yoon Harin. You just want to pay him through the bank!!

***

"Yeoboseyo.."

"Eomma! I need your help!"

Five minutes have passed since Han Seungwoo left me. I can't stand to be with him anymore because I don't want him to have an impression of me as a dumb person.

My feet are hurting and I'm standing in an eerie place. I hope this is not the home of some serial killers I watch in K-Dramas. I don't want to be strangled by a serial killer who uses stockings and my cold corpse will be seen tomorrow morning.

"Why do you want my help? I'm old!"

There are times that I wanted to hit my mother because she's provoking me. "Yah eomma! I'm not joking!"

"Are you yelling at me? I'm your mother!"

"That's why I need your help because you're my mother!!" I shouted. I'm lucky enough because no one will see me acting like a kid on the side of the street.

"What do you want?!!" She shouted back. I silently prayed that if I'll be home, she will not pinch me.

"Please fetch me! I'm in the middle of nowhere!!"

"Take a bus or a taxi!"

"This is a secluded place and I really want to go home now. Ppali!" I cried.

"Look at your location and send me your address."

I sighed in relief. Yes, I'll be going home now and I can eat my dinner!

***

Han Seungwoo

I stopped the car, far enough to see her. I'm just making sure that Kim Wooseok will fetch her. That ruthless guy. I almost want to roll my eyes when I remembered him.

The details of what she's doing right now can be hardly seen. I crossed my arms and closed my eyes trying to sink in what happened today. I chuckled in amusement when I remembered how chatty she is. She's trying to make a conversation but I can't cope because it's making me feel awkward. I'm not really used to talking to women or I forgot? It's been 6 years since I finished college and when Dongpyo arrived, I've been focusing my attention on him. So today, was like the comeback.

I like how she tried to talk to me. It feels like she's interested and wants to know a lot about me or am I just imagining? She's beautiful and adorable. I almost choke up when she opened up our kiss. I was so tense back there. I was scared that she might slap me because I initiated the kiss!

My phone suddenly rang. It was an unregistered number so I'm guessing this will be my future passenger. I just hope this is not an emergency from my father.

"Yeoboseyo?"

"Are you Han Seungwoo?"

"Ne. Nuguseyo?"

"Oh, so you're the father of that child! I hope the old man told you about me?"

From what she said, I already knew who she is. She's the one who helped Dongpyo and my father told me to return the kindness by giving her a free ride.

"Of course! Thank you so much for bringing my son home safely ma'am. Where are you now? I'll give you a free ride!"

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to her personally. It was so kind of her to bring Dongpyo home. People like her are only a few in this world.

"I'm sorry but it's not me. It's my daughter. I hope you will consider it?" She said unsure.

"I will not turn down your request."

"Okay, I'm sending her address now. Her name is Yoon Harin."

I blinked a few times when she mentioned her name. She seemed to be flustered earlier with my presence. I don't want her to feel that way but I don't want to decline her mother's request.

My taxi stopped in front of her. I lowered down the window in the front seat. "Hop in," I said while gesturing for the seat.

"My mother will fetch me. No need to worry and I run out of cash so.." she responded with hesitation.

She became busy with her phone and I'm guessing it was her mother. "My mother called you?" I nodded in response.

"How come she knows you? Are you acquainted with each other? I didn't know my mother is friendly," she unbelievably said.

"Let me answer your queries once you'll be sitting here. I bet your feet are already hurting."

She sighed in defeat. "Alright, thanks anyway for being an angel."