Chapter 2: We have a connection, right?

Aya blinked and turned her gaze slowly towards the owner of the hand. "Iris, did you need something?"

Iris placed her hand on her hip with a roll of her eyes. "I forgot to mention that you will be closing tonight."

Aya felt her face warm with anger that boiled to the surface. If steam could blow out of her ears… She would have popped off. "Excuse me? I have been closing the diner for three nights in a row!"

There was a loud pop Iris's bubble burst and she continued to chew her bubblegum in an 'I do not care. "I already asked the manager. Michael is picking me up after work."

"Michael?" Aya said, "What happened to Andrew?" Her hands shook with anger, she held her apron firm. She was tired of being treated as if she did not exist or if she belonged at the bottom of someone's shoe.

"Oh, yeah!" Iris smirked and she lolled her chewing gum to the side. "I have plans with Andrew tomorrow. You'll have to work my shift."

Aya was gobbed smacked at Iris's audacity to tell her that she would be taking her shift without checking with her first. She opened her mouth but Iris already went to the staff room.

Her thoughts went back to the young man whose name was Hoseok. She couldn't explain the feeling that had butterflied in the pit of her stomach. She was afraid but… She was free falling at the same time.

Now, Iris had ruined her evening and whatever plans she had tomorrow. She hoped that she would be able to get everything done before Hoseok came to pick her up.

*****

When Hoseok left the diner, he had walked to the pier to look upon the ocean. He felt that he was floating, he glanced upwards to the stars and smiled. "Did I just meet the girl of my dreams?"

It was seldom to go around in Seoul without anyone recognising him. They were the biggest boy band in the world. Yet… This girl looked at him with no recognition. There was no hint in her face. Her face…

*****

Namjoon did not return to the dorm with others. He stood in the shadows and waited for Hoseok to show up. He made sure that he would not be seen.

He turned his head at the sound of a door opening. Hoseok exited the diner and was heading straight to the pier. Namjoon narrowed his eyes in confusion.

Hoseok's demeanour was so different. He watched him for a few seconds before turning his attention towards the diner. He saw the girl that served them, she seemed angry about something.

He kept close to the shadows. He did not want Hoseok to see him. He wanted him focused on the upcoming tour. His eyes narrowed. He was not going to let this woman distract Hoseok.

He was about to step out of the shadows when the diner door opened. He held his breath when the girl appeared waving the last of the customers off. Another girl stepped past her with a cheeky wave.

He saw the girl tense and a soft sigh escaped her lips. She closed the diner door and the lights began dimming. He saw this as an opportunity to step out from the shadows when he heard whistling.

*****

Hoseok was still standing at the end of the pier, gazing up at the stars. It was almost time to return to the diner. He took in a deep breath but his courage was dwindling.

What if… What if she just said yes because she did not want to hurt his feelings? What if she stood him up? His hands became sweaty against the bars of the pier.

He let go of the bars and wiped his hands against his jeans. "Calm down!" He thought. "It is just a girl."

She might just be a girl but she made his heart race. It has been a long time since a girl made him so nervous, not since-Yue. He bit his lip, his heart was beating loudly.

He started whistling to calm his beating heart. He checked his watch to make sure that it had been twenty minutes. He smiled to himself. This was it… He was going on a beach walk with a total stranger and he hoped that she felt the connection that he felt.

He was closing in on the diner. He squinted his eyes but he could not see a figure waiting for him. With every step he took, he could feel his mood dwindling. The lights were off… did she stood him up?

He approached the door. His heart faltered as his hand reached for the door and he knocked on the glass with his knuckles. A minute passed and a sigh escaped his lips. He turned around, bit his bottom lip and he walked back to the pier.

"I should have known better," he whispered. "It was too good to be true."

He was caught in his thoughts that he did not hear the door opening behind him and a soft voice that was calling his name. "Hoseok! Hoseok, wait!"

He was almost at the end of the pier when he felt a small tug on his sleeve.

*****

Aya was in the backroom when she heard the soft knock on the glass doors. "Oh, no!" she thought. "I am running late!"

She had tried her best to cash up everything. Iris had not even tried her best to help in any regard before she had left. Now, Hoseok was going to think that she was the worst.

She closed the safe and ran to the staff room. She did not even check her locker as she grabbed her bag. She pushed the doors open but had to turn around to lock it behind her.

"Hoseok! Hoseok, wait!" She hollered over her shoulder. "Dammit!" She yanked the keys out of the door and ran after him. It seemed he had not heard her.

She was not going to let this moment pass her. She was closing in on him. He was walking very fast to the end of the pier. She reached out and caught his sleeve. This made him pause.

"I am sorry. I-I was not fast enough," she heaved. She stared at the back of his head. Why wasn't he turning around? Did he think that she was lying to him? She bit her lip and sidestepped around him.

She peered up into his face. She was still breathing hard from all the running. "My colleague dealt me a low blow. She left me cleaning up and closing the diner. I was not fast enough."

Hoseok watched her face to detect any form of lie. He could see that her eyes were telling the truth and he said slowly. "I thought you've stood me up."

"No!" She replied, her breathing evening out. "I would never break a promise that I have made."

Aya tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and her cheeks changed to a light shade of pink. His stare was intense but his eyes were so soft and his smile… was making her stomach flutter.

"Would you like to take a walk now?" Hoseok asked, his smile broadening.

"I would love to," she replied in a small squeak which made Hoseok chuckle.

He offered her his right arm, which she hooked with her own. They walked down the steps of the pier. The beach was cloaked in the moonlight. The sand glimmered and the stars were glowing in the dark sky.

Both of them were unaware that they were being followed. Hosoek glanced at Aya quickly and cleared his throat. She gazed at him with slight confusion.

"I know that we have just met but- but I feel that I have known you since our eyes met for the first time." His voice was nothing but a whisper. He averted his gaze to the ground.

Aya blinked and licked her lips nervously. So, it was not just her that felt that? She wanted to tease him and asked. "Are you asking me out on a date, Hoseok?"

"I-" He rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand. "Yes, I guess I am."

He averted his gaze towards the ocean. He tried to hide the fact that his cheeks were flushing in embarrassment. The ocean looked beautiful in the moonlight.

His heart was thumping. She was going to say no, he thought. She was going to tell him to back off. Maybe if he did something- He came to a stop and unlinked their arms.

Aya's heart was fluttering and she watched Hoseok with astonishment. What was he doing? Hoseok stood in front of her and he reached out and cupped her chin, forcing it lightly to look up at him. "Aya, may I take you out on a date?"

She couldn't breathe. His touch was so warm on her skin and he looked at her hopefully. How was she going to say no to that face? But... in the back of her mind, she could hear the voices.

You do not even know him. Are you going to go through with this? What if he was just like... She closed her eyes for a second. To calm the voices in her thoughts. What if she missed this chance?

"I would love to go on a date with you," she replied softly. She felt the connection within and if she did not leap to take this moment, then She would never know if she made a mistake or not.

Hoseok's smile broadened and he let go of her chin. Aya could feel the warmth of his fingers lingering. "You have made me the luckiest man alive!"

Aya smiled. Luckiest? He had to be joking, she wasn't that great. Hoseok started searching his pockets and Aya asked. "What are you looking for?"

"My phone, of course," Hoseok replied and his smile turned into a big grin. He found his phone in the side pocket of his blazer. He took it out but it started ringing. Radiohead's Creep was blasting through the speaker.

Aya did not understand the look on his face as he stared at it with his brow furrowed. Hoseok was annoyed. "Is everything alright?"

Hoseok's attention snapped towards her. " I am sorry, Aya. I have to take this."

She nodded. "I understand."

She reached for his arm and gave it a light squeeze. She turned and left him standing on the beach. Hoseok let out a growl of anger. "Out of everything... You pick to ruin this moment?"

He wanted to ignore this call so badly. He glanced to where Aya stood a few moments ago and he felt empty. It felt like a void. His thumb automatically swiped to answer the call, he lifted it to his ear. "Namjoon, I was just on my way home."