Chapter 136: Expectations
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In the end, the rest of the date went rather well. Despite the few awkward moments in the beginning, the four people got along without a hitch. They conversed spiritedly, talking about work, hobbies, music and movies.
After dinner, Do-Yeong suggested that everyone go for a walk. There was a small park very close to the restaurant and the breeze felt pleasant.
The city at night had a different allure than during the day. With all the bright and colored lights the area looked like it was hosting a festival. Everyone walked animatedly, chatting with friends or holding hands with their lovers.
Even the sounds seemed to be different now compared to earlier. It was as though the repertoire had changed from the vibrant of the street bustle, to the subtle murmurs of people walking leisurely after dinner.
Once she was outside the restaurant, Su-Jin breathed in deeply. The summer air carried a rather peculiar fragrance. It was sweet and delicate, mixed with a hint of tobacco, alcohol and food. It made one think of home in a very strange way.
For Su-Jin this kind of atmosphere had always seemed special. She loved the city at nighttime. She loved the way everything seemed to change, like a switch had been flipped. Once the lights went out, it was a whole new and different world.
It wasn't very late, but the sky was already dark and a few stars were already visible. Only a light trace of orange grazed the horizon, and even that was fading rapidly. Soon there would be nothing staining the inky black canopy with color.
While admiring the beauty of her surroundings, Su-Jin walked next to Jeong-Ho. The two of them followed after the other couple, slowly heading towards the park.
Not even several meters later, Jeong-Ho raised a hand to his lips and cleared his throat.
"Uhm… I hope you're alright with this."
"Hm? With what?" Su-Jin blinked at him in confusion.
"The park… I mean taking a walk so late. I'm sure you must be tired after such a long day. You mentioned earlier that your team worked hard this past week to finish a project."
"Oh that." Su-Jin smiled and waved a hand. "It's quite alright. Walking after dinner is good for digestion. So, with this I might be able to sleep very well once I hit the bed."
"I see. That's good to know."
Jeong-Ho slowly brought the hand from his mouth to the back of his head. He gave the nape a light squeeze. This little gesture made him look flustered and adorable.
Some people might have tried to use this type of approach in order to gain appeal by acting cute. But Su-Jin knew that Jeong-Ho did so unconsciously. She could see it in the way he kept averting his eyes. She also felt it in the man's unaffected manners.
Su-Jin hadn't had much to drink during dinner, so she wasn't feeling tipsy from the alcohol. But Jeong-Ho's presence made her feel very comfortable. Even though they had just met a few hours earlier, it was like they had known each other for years.
All of a sudden, Su-Jin felt a bit impulsive. With a leap, she reached forward and grabbed Jeong-Ho's arm with both hands.
"How about we leave those two alone for now?" she asked, gesturing with her chin towards Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong.
"Eh?" Jeong-Ho froze. His eyes slowly followed Su-Jin's line of sight. "Ah, yes. I guess they would like to have some privacy at this point, right?"
"Mhmm." Su-Jin nodded, shooting Jeong-Ho a knowing smile. "I am sure they are already planning their second date as we speak."
"You think so?" Jeong-Ho tilted his head, blinking at Su-Jin innocently.
That look reminded Su-Jin of an oversized puppy. So much so that she couldn't hold back a string of giggles from bursting out of her mouth.
"Why are you so surprised? Don't you think it's normal for two people who like each other to go out and have fun?"
Being laughed at so openly caused Jeong-Ho's expression to change from confusion to embarrassment. He averted his eyes from Su-Jin's amused expression.
In the meantime, they had already started walking again.
The entrance of the park was visible across the street. Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong had already stepped onto the main alley, slowly advancing under the cover of the trees. They were holding hands, leaning close to each other. Even from that distance, it was visible that there was attraction between them. In everyone's eyes, they were the perfect image of a loving couple.
With his eyes glued onto the two small figures, Jeong-Ho began musing silently.
'This kind of picture… It's what everyone expects right?'
By the time, Jeong-Ho finally replied to Su-Jin's words, they had already crossed the street and were tracing their friends' footsteps.
"Well, yes. If they really like each other, I guess it's alright to go out. At the end of the day, who wouldn't want to spend more time with the person they like?" he spoke slowly, then followed up with another question. "What about you, Miss Park?"
"Me?"
It was now Su-Jin's turn to look confused.
Yet, underneath that confusion, there was a vague sense of uneasiness that roiled inside her stomach. It made her apprehensive and also unwilling to answer. But Jeong-Ho was staring straight at her. Even though he had avoided direct eye contact almost the entire night, at this time, he was watching her attentively, waiting for her reply.
"What about me?" she asked quietly, trying to smile.
"What are your expectations from this date?"
"My expectations…" Su-Jin's eyes widened slightly.
She never would have expected Jeong-Ho to be so direct. After acting skittish half the night, why was he suddenly so straightforward?
As if he hadn't shocked Su-Jin enough, Jeong-Ho continued in the same forthright manner as before.
"Miss Park, I should probably tell you this right now in case you might misunderstand. I…" Jeong-Ho hesitated for a second.. "I am not looking for a girlfriend right now."
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In the end, the rest of the date went rather well. Despite the few awkward moments in the beginning, the four people got along without a hitch. They conversed spiritedly, talking about work, hobbies, music and movies.
After dinner, Do-Yeong suggested that everyone go for a walk. There was a small park very close to the restaurant and the breeze felt pleasant.
The city at night had a different allure than during the day. With all the bright and colored lights the area looked like it was hosting a festival. Everyone walked animatedly, chatting with friends or holding hands with their lovers.
Even the sounds seemed to be different now compared to earlier. It was as though the repertoire had changed from the vibrant of the street bustle, to the subtle murmurs of people walking leisurely after dinner.
Once she was outside the restaurant, Su-Jin breathed in deeply. The summer air carried a rather peculiar fragrance. It was sweet and delicate, mixed with a hint of tobacco, alcohol and food. It made one think of home in a very strange way.
For Su-Jin this kind of atmosphere had always seemed special. She loved the city at nighttime. She loved the way everything seemed to change, like a switch had been flipped. Once the lights went out, it was a whole new and different world.
It wasn't very late, but the sky was already dark and a few stars were already visible. Only a light trace of orange grazed the horizon, and even that was fading rapidly. Soon there would be nothing staining the inky black canopy with color.
While admiring the beauty of her surroundings, Su-Jin walked next to Jeong-Ho. The two of them followed after the other couple, slowly heading towards the park.
Not even several meters later, Jeong-Ho raised a hand to his lips and cleared his throat.
"Uhm… I hope you're alright with this."
"Hm? With what?" Su-Jin blinked at him in confusion.
"The park… I mean taking a walk so late. I'm sure you must be tired after such a long day. You mentioned earlier that your team worked hard this past week to finish a project."
"Oh that." Su-Jin smiled and waved a hand. "It's quite alright. Walking after dinner is good for digestion. So, with this I might be able to sleep very well once I hit the bed."
"I see. That's good to know."
Jeong-Ho slowly brought the hand from his mouth to the back of his head. He gave the nape a light squeeze. This little gesture made him look flustered and adorable.
Some people might have tried to use this type of approach in order to gain appeal by acting cute. But Su-Jin knew that Jeong-Ho did so unconsciously. She could see it in the way he kept averting his eyes. She also felt it in the man's unaffected manners.
Su-Jin hadn't had much to drink during dinner, so she wasn't feeling tipsy from the alcohol. But Jeong-Ho's presence made her feel very comfortable. Even though they had just met a few hours earlier, it was like they had known each other for years.
All of a sudden, Su-Jin felt a bit impulsive. With a leap, she reached forward and grabbed Jeong-Ho's arm with both hands.
"How about we leave those two alone for now?" she asked, gesturing with her chin towards Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong.
"Eh?" Jeong-Ho froze. His eyes slowly followed Su-Jin's line of sight. "Ah, yes. I guess they would like to have some privacy at this point, right?"
"Mhmm." Su-Jin nodded, shooting Jeong-Ho a knowing smile. "I am sure they are already planning their second date as we speak."
"You think so?" Jeong-Ho tilted his head, blinking at Su-Jin innocently.
That look reminded Su-Jin of an oversized puppy. So much so that she couldn't hold back a string of giggles from bursting out of her mouth.
"Why are you so surprised? Don't you think it's normal for two people who like each other to go out and have fun?"
Being laughed at so openly caused Jeong-Ho's expression to change from confusion to embarrassment. He averted his eyes from Su-Jin's amused expression.
In the meantime, they had already started walking again.
The entrance of the park was visible across the street. Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong had already stepped onto the main alley, slowly advancing under the cover of the trees. They were holding hands, leaning close to each other. Even from that distance, it was visible that there was attraction between them. In everyone's eyes, they were the perfect image of a loving couple.
With his eyes glued onto the two small figures, Jeong-Ho began musing silently.
'This kind of picture… It's what everyone expects right?'
By the time, Jeong-Ho finally replied to Su-Jin's words, they had already crossed the street and were tracing their friends' footsteps.
"Well, yes. If they really like each other, I guess it's alright to go out. At the end of the day, who wouldn't want to spend more time with the person they like?" he spoke slowly, then followed up with another question. "What about you, Miss Park?"
"Me?"
It was now Su-Jin's turn to look confused.
Yet, underneath that confusion, there was a vague sense of uneasiness that roiled inside her stomach. It made her apprehensive and also unwilling to answer. But Jeong-Ho was staring straight at her. Even though he had avoided direct eye contact almost the entire night, at this time, he was watching her attentively, waiting for her reply.
"What about me?" she asked quietly, trying to smile.
"What are your expectations from this date?"
"My expectations…" Su-Jin's eyes widened slightly.
She never would have expected Jeong-Ho to be so direct. After acting skittish half the night, why was he suddenly so straightforward?
As if he hadn't shocked Su-Jin enough, Jeong-Ho continued in the same forthright manner as before.
"Miss Park, I should probably tell you this right now in case you might misunderstand. I…" Jeong-Ho hesitated for a second.. "I am not looking for a girlfriend right now."
In the end, the rest of the date went rather well. Despite the few awkward moments in the beginning, the four people got along without a hitch. They conversed spiritedly, talking about work, hobbies, music and movies.After dinner, Do-Yeong suggested that everyone go for a walk. There was a small park very close to the restaurant and the breeze felt pleasant. The city at night had a different allure than during the day. With all the bright and colored lights the area looked like it was hosting a festival. Everyone walked animatedly, chatting with friends or holding hands with their lovers. Even the sounds seemed to be different now compared to earlier. It was as though the repertoire had changed from the vibrant of the street bustle, to the subtle murmurs of people walking leisurely after dinner. Once she was outside the restaurant, Su-Jin breathed in deeply. The summer air carried a rather peculiar fragrance. It was sweet and delicate, mixed with a hint of tobacco, alcohol and food. It made one think of home in a very strange way. For Su-Jin this kind of atmosphere had always seemed special. She loved the city at nighttime. She loved the way everything seemed to change, like a switch had been flipped. Once the lights went out, it was a whole new and different world. It wasn't very late, but the sky was already dark and a few stars were already visible. Only a light trace of orange grazed the horizon, and even that was fading rapidly. Soon there would be nothing staining the inky black canopy with color. While admiring the beauty of her surroundings, Su-Jin walked next to Jeong-Ho. The two of them followed after the other couple, slowly heading towards the park.Not even several meters later, Jeong-Ho raised a hand to his lips and cleared his throat."Uhm I hope you're alright with this.""Hm? With what?" Su-Jin blinked at him in confusion. "The park I mean taking a walk so late. I'm sure you must be tired after such a long day. You mentioned earlier that your team worked hard this past week to finish a project." "Oh that." Su-Jin smiled and waved a hand. "It's quite alright. Walking after dinner is good for digestion. So, with this I might be able to sleep very well once I hit the bed." "I see. That's good to know." Jeong-Ho slowly brought the hand from his mouth to the back of his head. He gave the nape a light squeeze. This little gesture made him look flustered and adorable. Some people might have tried to use this type of approach in order to gain appeal by acting cute. But Su-Jin knew that Jeong-Ho did so unconsciously. She could see it in the way he kept averting his eyes. She also felt it in the man's unaffected manners. Su-Jin hadn't had much to drink during dinner, so she wasn't feeling tipsy from the alcohol. But Jeong-Ho's presence made her feel very comfortable. Even though they had just met a few hours earlier, it was like they had known each other for years. All of a sudden, Su-Jin felt a bit impulsive. With a leap, she reached forward and grabbed Jeong-Ho's arm with both hands."How about we leave those two alone for now?" she asked, gesturing with her chin towards Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong. "Eh?" Jeong-Ho froze. His eyes slowly followed Su-Jin's line of sight. "Ah, yes. I guess they would like to have some privacy at this point, right?" "Mhmm." Su-Jin nodded, shooting Jeong-Ho a knowing smile. "I am sure they are already planning their second date as we speak.""You think so?" Jeong-Ho tilted his head, blinking at Su-Jin innocently. That look reminded Su-Jin of an oversized puppy. So much so that she couldn't hold back a string of giggles from bursting out of her mouth. "Why are you so surprised? Don't you think it's normal for two people who like each other to go out and have fun?" Being laughed at so openly caused Jeong-Ho's expression to change from confusion to embarrassment. He averted his eyes from Su-Jin's amused expression.In the meantime, they had already started walking again.The entrance of the park was visible across the street. Mi-Suk and Do-Yeong had already stepped onto the main alley, slowly advancing under the cover of the trees. They were holding hands, leaning close to each other. Even from that distance, it was visible that there was attraction between them. In everyone's eyes, they were the perfect image of a loving couple.With his eyes glued onto the two small figures, Jeong-Ho began musing silently.'This kind of picture It's what everyone expects right?' By the time, Jeong-Ho finally replied to Su-Jin's words, they had already crossed the street and were tracing their friends' footsteps. "Well, yes. If they really like each other, I guess it's alright to go out. At the end of the day, who wouldn't want to spend more time with the person they like?" he spoke slowly, then followed up with another question. "What about you, Miss Park?" "Me?"It was now Su-Jin's turn to look confused. Yet, underneath that confusion, there was a vague sense of uneasiness that roiled inside her stomach. It made her apprehensive and also unwilling to answer. But Jeong-Ho was staring straight at her. Even though he had avoided direct eye contact almost the entire night, at this time, he was watching her attentively, waiting for her reply."What about me?" she asked quietly, trying to smile. "What are your expectations from this date?""My expectations" Su-Jin's eyes widened slightly. She never would have expected Jeong-Ho to be so direct. After acting skittish half the night, why was he suddenly so straightforward?As if he hadn't shocked Su-Jin enough, Jeong-Ho continued in the same forthright manner as before. "Miss Park, I should probably tell you this right now in case you might misunderstand. I" Jeong-Ho hesitated for a second.. "I am not looking for a girlfriend right now."
