More Than Coffee
More Than Coffee
'Did he always smell this good before? Maybe. Or? Everything is just heightened now that I am literally just inches away,' she asked herself in silence.
Iseul had been carrying her, covering twenty meters away from the office. This was the first she had been this close with Iseul, and it was too enticing. She just could not pass on the opportunity.
She tightened her hold, even more, pressing her cheeks against his neck. Turning her face to his skin, she took a deep breath.
"How do I smell?" Iseul asked, hearing how she inhaled on him.
She bit her lip, flushing, thinking of how foolish she had acted. She quickly asked, "Iseul, you can put me down."
"Iseul." Sensing he wasn't about to follow her request, she said, "Iseul, people are watching."
"It - it doesn't matter, Yeona - not to me, at least," responded Iseul.
Yeona remained to hide by his neck, not wanting to show how he had affected her. She cleared her throat and protested, "Please put me down. People might see my underwear in this state."
Yeona was wearing a pencil skirt and while she wore a coat to cover her, Iseul saw there was still room for someone to take a peek.
Iseul's eyes quickly narrowed as he looked around. Fortunately, no one seemed to be eyeing Yeona. Only then did he lower her down. He said, "We'll need to make sure that small blister will be treated later on."
After landing her feet on the ground, Yeona fixed her clothes and turned to Iseul. "I really did not have a blister. I just wanted to piss off May Lin. She was trying to touch you!"
"Hmmm... Right. Only you can touch me," Iseul said back, and his words made Yeona utterly feel embarrassed.
Yeona realized she just gave away a tinge of jealousy.
Returning to their walk, Iseul took Yeona to a specialty restaurant, serving steaks and other western meals.
After taking their seats, Iseul did not give Yeona a chance to order for her choice of food. He ordered for them outright, leaving Yeona in surprised.
"Rib-eye steak for me and a salad. Grilled salmon with pesto, plus shrimp salad for the lady," said Iseul. "For our drinks, water for me. Mango and passion fruit shake for her."
Yeona's mouth hung open. Her eyes widened. She leaned over to Iseul and asked, "How - how do you know my favorite food? How do you know I like passion fruit?"
"Ummm... You've ordered the same with the Mrs. before, dining at one the restaurants near the Lionheart Entertainment," answered Iseul. "I - I just took notice... Back then you said that whenever you get the chance, you always order the same fish."
"Oh, that's very - very nice of you, Iseul," she said with a smile.
Yeona was utterly impressed by how Iseul remembered. She realized that the salmon was just one of the things he recognized about her. She realized now that the Tuna melt may not have been such a coincidence after all.
She asked, "Did you know that - that I like tuna melt sandwich?"
Iseul weakly nodded and said, "Y - yes."
"So even if you tried to hate me, you still remember my favorite food and maybe other things. You still brought me dinner last week," Yeona pointed out. She sighed and said, "I feel so bad now."
Yeona leaned back in her chair and asked, "How can I ever make up to you?"
Iseul caressed his chin for a second, pondering about what Yeona asked. He then sighed and said, "Well, Yeona. You could buy me lunch every day at the office. And this weekend? How about you treat me to a movie?"
"Pfft. A movie?" Yeona clarified.
"I suppose I could finally make use of my day off and spend it on leisure if you - don't mind accompanying me," asked Iseul.
"I'd love to Iseul. That sounds like a fair deal to me," said Yeona, assuming it was a date. It had to be. It could only be a date.
After their lovely dinner, Yeona and Iseul made another thirty-minute walk to her apartment building.
When a cab or a bus was not available, it used to be a tiring walk for Yeona, but that night. Instead, it was satisfying. The entire time, she only had a smile on her face.
Compared to the weekend, they were more comfortable with each other, just talking about random things.
From time to time, as they cross a street or walk through narrow sidewalks, Iseul would guide Yeona; either putting a hand behind her back or sometimes offering his hand.
She sensed Iseul's firm hands gave her butterflies in her stomach and simply kept her heart beating faster. She thought each of his simple gestures just overwhelmed her with emotions.
It was already late when they arrived at Yeona's apartment building. They had practically spent nearly four hours together. It should have been more than enough, but Yeana wasn't thrilled to say goodbye.
She could tell it was the same for Iseul because they just stood in front of the building, sighing and staring. None of them said goodbye.
Over a minute passed, Iseul asked, "Can I take you up?"
She nodded and said, "Okay."
They walked like a turtle to the building and upon getting on the lift. Iseul did the same, punching on more than five floors. He said, "Ooops. My mistake."
Yeona pursed her lips, staring at the four floors that he did not punch on. She walked to the front and pressed on the buttons herself.
She went leaned back to her original stand, just saying nothing and staring at her reflection on the elevator door.
That was when Iseul realized that it was not only him. He was not the only one who did not want the evening to end.
Iseul puffed his cheeks and let out a long breath. He looked at her reflection and asked, "Yeona."
"Do you want to have coffee?" Yeona asked at the same time.
Iseul massaged his forehead and signed again. He said, "Yeona. I think... I want more than coffee."