The Contract

After that one odd day, I informed my workmates that I will work on my day-off which came out as a good thing for them. Considering the amount of people keep on coming, that will be a busy day.

As always, I went early for my job and help the others to set up the cafe. But it's already time to close but a certain girl didn't come like she said. I guess something came up on her especially since she is one of the busybody in the South Korea.

But that didn't stop me to wait for her at my workplace during every break I have. My co-workers are starting to get curious as to why it seems like I'm waiting for someone but I disregarded it saying I'm just waiting for my shift to end. More waiting and waiting, but she didn't come like she said, it's been a few months. It was okay for me though since we are not that close. But there is something that keeps me waiting so it became a routine for me to wait.

Every waiting that I spent, I have written different pieces that came through my mind. Maybe to lessen the boredom I feel every time I wait for her. I was about to go outside the cafe when someone talked behind me.

"Sorry, I'm late." Jinsoul said and sat down in front of me.

Well, you've been late for a month. I thought but didn't dare to say it loud, I still want to work here.

She bought a coffee already, wait what? Why didn't I notice this?

"I'm sorry, I didn't show up last time, there's a sudden stock of meetings I needed to attend. Did you wait?" She asked.

"Not really. That day was so busy so I didn't notice the time." I lied.

"It seems you are writing for something?" She started off. I looked at her while she excitedly read my pieces.

"Yes I am. I like to write something when I am bored. So, I've written this much already." As soon as I said this, I saw her pout. Why is that?

"Why are you pouting?" 

"You said you want to write something when you are bored. So does it mean you're bored with me?" She said.

Oh no , she misinterpreted it.

"No, no ma'am, I mean Jinsoul, I wrote this even before you came." I explained which earned her a relaxed face from her.

"Okay. I thought you were getting bored with me. Anyway, do you like muffins?" She said while showing me the plate full of muffins.

The smell is so aromatic, it seems to catch my craving so I nodded.

"Here, Ahh!" She fed me the muffins. I only realized it when everyone was staring at us.

I felt shy all of a sudden. I can feel my cheeks getting red.

"How is it?" Jinsoul asked.

"U-uh-uhm. I-It's good Jinsoul.." Why am I stuttering?  

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't mind me."  

"Okay." She said as she seems to relax.

"Thank you for the muffins. “I said.

"You're welcome Jungeun. How are you?" She asked.

"I thought you were smart enough to assume how I'm feeling right now based on my piece."

She shrugged.

"Well, not all pieces define the exact emotions of a person, they either hide it in a happier piece. Sometimes they just do it for fun like what you said before. " 

"I see." I stopped eating and sighed.

"They are asking for my relationship." I said and looked at her. She seems to be enjoying her food right now but suddenly she stopped eating. 

I easily got her attention?

“Who? What?" she asked.

"My parents, friends, classmates, everyone. They are asking why I am still single. They keep on asking about that part of my life since they said I'm already at the age to have those." I explained.

"Well, not everyone. I am here. I am not asking for your relationship though." she said while not looking up to me but instead in her food.

"What are your thoughts about that anyway?" she asked again.

"I feel... pressured, scared and betrayed. All my life I have done nothing but to please them. But in the end, like the others, they were blind to see that I don't have a relationship with them to live in a good life." 

"You don't really have to please them Jungeun. You should live your life the way you want it to be, with whom and when." she said.

"I did. And look at the situation now. This is because I decided to be alone throughout their offers." I said.

"Maybe you were not that focused on love life." she said and she finally stopped eating and looked at me in the eye. 

"Or there is no one who achieves your type?" she continued.

"If you were a wizard right now Jinsoul, I would love it if you would put a spell on me to help me forget everything, and might even find someone who will care for me. So I can start my life again with her." I said, trying to make the conversation less dramatic so I put some humor here.

"Well, I can't be Harry Potter here and grant your wishes my lady, to put amortentia or do 'obliviate' to you. Or I can't be Aphrodite, Eros or even their daughter in order to make someone nice to be yours my lady." she said back and suddenly held my hand.

Isn't she too fast for this?

Isn't this escalating too quickly??

"But I can fix your problems, and you can live your life the way you want it to be. " she said then kissed my hand.

"Hey!" I said and took my hand away.

Good thing we are in the end part and dim part of their cafe or else she might see me blushing really hard.

It wasn't hard to like this girl. She's good- looking, she's good at everything but a little bit of an ass, I must say. That is based on my observations and questions.

But I need to hold this back. I'm still uncertain whether she's playing or serious.

"Maybe this is the sign." she said while looking at my eyes.

"What sign?" I asked.

"Actually, I don't know. But maybe this is it. Don't you think?" she added.

"What?" Honestly, I have some thoughts but I don't want to assume.

“This, this is the sign you are waiting for. You Jungeun, me, coffee, this date(?) is this even a date?

"A friendly one." I answered.

"Okay, but at least it's a date. And the dim light as our background. “ she continued.

"Okay? But what sign? I don't have any idea." I said.

"The sign for you to have a good relationship." she said which proved my guess.

"I-I d-don't know. How will I know?" I reasoned out.

"We're not even that close yet, like we just met a few weeks ago or rather for that day and just now?"

"A few weeks for you, yes. But it's been a long time for me Jungeun in case you forgot ." she said

"What?" I was confused, how come I just knew her not too long ago but she knew me for a long time?

“Remember when we first met? Maybe you think that our first meeting is in this cafe. When I walked up to you?" Hearing that, I nodded. Isn't it our first meet?

"I guess I got it right. But no, I've known you ever since you are still studying in BBC High. I can't believe you forgot me already."

---Flashback---

I was running late.  

Blame that welcome party that they organize for me. 

Anyway, it's the first day of the school year and I am late. So late that I didn't even bother to watch where I was going. 

Because of that I slammed into someone walking out of the school’s office as I ran by.

"Ooops." she said as my elbow jabbed into rock-hard abdominal muscles. Oh, this girl has abs.

"I am so sorry!" I said. I almost knocked over a stranger. 

A very gorgeous stranger stood there smiling at me, despite the fact that I almost knocked over her in my hurry to get to the school office, and for my first class, History Class. What a great way to start my day, right?

"It is okay. Do not worry Miss." she said with a husky voice. Woah, that's so hot.

"I guess you are just running for your first class." She was dressed in a navy blue shirt, black jeans matched with boots. 

"I am really sorry, Miss. I got to go now." I said and hurried to the school office.

"Sure thing. What's your na-" I heard her say but I didn't finish it as I entered the office already.

"Good Morning Miss?" a beautiful student said, maybe she is a part of a council.

"You're new here?” She asked, stating the obvious. 

"Yes, Uhhhm. I am Jungeun." I said. "but my friends call me Kim Lip" She took my hand and held it for a long time.

"Oh, I am Haseul. Nice to meet you, and welcome to BBC High." She welcomed me.

Fast forward

I am now on my way to my first class, and I am already late.

I knocked on the door of the supposed to be my first class and came in. I handed my schedule paper to Ms. Son,  my history teacher.

"I am very sorry I’m late." I said. "I am not familiar with this school yet." I continued.

"It's okay. Please take a seat beside Ms. Jung." Ms. Son said as he motioned me to sit beside that woman, wait, isn’t she the girl before? 

"Hey. What a coincidence we are classmates." she whispered to me as I nodded.

Time passed by, I got to know almost everyone in this school but her. I don't know, I didn't even have a chance to know her name. I just called her Ms. Seatmate . After how many months, she doesn't go to school and then they said she already transferred.

I hope I can meet her someday.

---Flashback ended---

"Eh? So you are Ms. Seatmate?" I asked shocked, too shocked.

"Yes, you didn't know my name, didn't you?" She said.

"Ey. Yes, I only know the surname is Jung and you didn't even go to school, how will I know?"

"It is okay to ask everyone, isn't it?" Aish. How come I didn't realize that?

"Uhhm. Sorry. I didn't realize that. Hehe." gosh. It is so embarrassing.

"Hahaha you're so cute. You know?" She said while chuckling.

"Anyway, back to the topic. Let's try it." She continued. Aish, I am hoping I can escape that topic but I guess I can't.

"2  months." She said.

"Okay? What do you mean?" I said clearly confused.

"Let's try and find out if the sign you are waiting for is me. 2 months, let's see. But you can extend it, if you feel right.”

"Idiot. I want something serious. I don't want those tries. I want to be sure of that, that's why I am waiting for a sign."

"Waiting can't solve anything. Just try it, so we can both find it out. No pressure, think about it the way you want. In two months, just you and I." She sincerely said to me.

"This is a freakin' hilarious you know? *laughs* as I imagined it, I'm thrilled, it seems so exciting. So okay fine, 2 months. Let's try it."

"Good! Let's start now?" She asked. She seems so excited, isn't she?

"Yes." I said, quite excited about what will happen.

"What a contract, isn't it?" She said.

"But before that we must make rules." I suggested.

"Okay. That would be fine. Wait, I will get paper and ballpen." She said and hurried out to her office.

As I am waiting for her, I am thinking of what rules I will give. A rule that will surely make us both sustained.

She came back with a piece of paper and a ballpen with a fish as a design. Cute.

"Fighting! Let's start." She said as we started to talk about our contract.

" Okay this is fine. You signed, I signed, now let's not break our rules." She said looking at the paper.

"Let's go now, I will send you to your home, babe." She said winking at me. God don't do that

"Okay.Let me just change into my clothes." I said not even minding the rules we just made, not knowing one of them might be broken.

----

As of April 13, 2020

I, Jung Jinsoul and Kim Jungeun decided to have a 2-month relationship-contract. With this paper, we will state the following rules to abide and not to break:

Rule no .1: In two months, try to find if she is really 'the one'

Rule no 2: PDA is only limited depending on the subject's decision.

Rule no.3: No cheating, a third party isn't allowed while in the said trial.

Rule no.4: Do not lie to each other, a serious lie for that part.

Rule no. 5: Anyone can avail an extension if both subjects want it.

Rule no.6: No one can know that the relationship is just a contract.

These rules are stated and chosen by the subjects. This contract is valid until June 13, 2020

Signed by:

Jung Jinsoul and Kim Jungeun