Chapter 3 "A First Meeting That is Not A First"

Ryan’s POV

As I stood up near the entrance of the boarding house, I recalled the days before coming here:

D-5 before the class starts…

My morning was great. I slept enough, had a delicious breakfast, and enjoyed watching the clear blue sky. I was in a good mood.

Even if I was lucky yesterday to find a good part-time job, I stayed positive and was willing to take another try today.

“Woah. “That car looks very expensive,” I gaped while looking at the white car that was parked beside the ‘No Parking’ sign.

I could not help but laugh as I shook my head. Then…

Bam!

“Ahhh!”

“Ohhh.”

I bumped into someone because I kept on looking at the car. ‘What an idiot~’

Even without lifting my head to see the man I bumped into, I dropped my apology in haste.

“I am sorry!”

Next, set my eyes upward. As if the halo behind him was too blinding, I had to cover my eyes from the sunlight before my sigh adjusted. Then, I saw his face.

‘Woah. I bumped into someone who is more worth looking at than the pretty car.’

How should I describe it? He looks like a comic character that came out from the paper. He is about 183 cm tall and has a slim body and light brown hair. His eyes are as sharp as a fox, it looks very rigid and cold. His point is pointed and thin, and his upper lip is thinking was well-lined while his lower lip is thick.

This kind of face is exactly my type. I almost fell into the crush at first sight fever, but I changed my mind as soon as I heard him curse.

“F*ck it.”

He looked at his polo shirt which was tainted by the ice cream he was holding. To be honest, it was just a small dot but he’s overreacting.

“Sorry,” I apologized again.

However, as if he did not hear a thing, the man clicked his tongue while sweeping his bangs.

“Damn it. I still have a meeting later,” he murmured before he glared at me. Then, he threw the ice cream inside the trashcan and shoved me away. “Get out of my way!”

 ’If only I haven’t had my breakfast, there’s a possibility that I’ll fall into the ground from his push.’

With my slightly hung loose jaw, I watched him hop inside the expensive-looking gray car that I praised before. Because the window is tinted, I did not know what kind of expression he was giving to me before he drove the car away.

“That arrogant jerk!” I shouted as soon as the car left. “It wasn’t just my fault that we bumped into each other! I should have just whacked his head!”

He’s a mood wrecker, really. What’s the use of having a handsome face if you’re rotten from head to toe?

I calmed myself by taking a deep breath. When I gathered my inner peace, I continued my journey on my way to the cotton candy shop where I will apply to work as a part-timer.

“Your job is really simple,” the shop owner said.  “All you need to do is to wear a mascot costume and attract customers by dancing outside the shop. You came at the right time because the person who’s in charge of this has already quit this very day. So, if you want to start right away, you can do it today. Then, I will give you the payment right after.”

I was happy at the idea that I would get my own money by working. But about dancing, I AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL.

HOW THE HELL DOES SOMEONE LIKE ME, A PERSON WHO HAS TWO LEFT FEET, DANCE IN THE PUBLIC?!

“You can do it, Ryan. You can achieve success with hard work,” I cheered myself before I wore the mascot costume, which is a big pink bunny.

I tried to be positive as much as possible. However, after 10 minutes…

“Mom, look at the mascot. He looks weird and crazy,” the boy said as he passed by with his mom. He pointed in my direction while laughing so hard.

“Baby, that’s not a good thing to say,” the mom replied. “If you speak like that again, the weird mascot will take you away,” she added.

Although I could not see myself, I was aware of how stupid I looked right now.

‘This is so embarrassing! Should I just give up?’

I turned around and at that exact moment, I saw the shop owner who was watching me like an eagle. Therefore, I danced crazily again.

"Woah! Bunny!" gasped after gasping.

When I tilted my head toward the direction where I heard the shouts of admiration, I saw a group of elementary students who were running to my side.

‘Oh no.’

They came to me like a storm.

“W-Wait!” I groaned.

These stubborn and energetic kids kept on pulling and pushing me until I was pushed backward.

“Wait, kids! Calm d-down…!”

It was too late for me to realize that I flipped over the fountain near the store. In a panic, I wriggled my feet because the water kept on coming inside the costume. In no time, I would drown!

“Help!” I shouted.

Then I heard a splash of water. Someone took me out of the water and lifted me in a bridal way. Because the water made the head of the costume heavy, it fell from my head and my face was revealed to the public.

I slightly opened my eyes which were blinded by the sun.

“Are you okay?” asked the man who saved me.

Our eyes met in close distance.

Looking at him, I thought two suns exist. He has thick brows, rounded yet small eyes, a pointed sharp nose, and alluring lips. His face is small, but his jaws are sharp. He has a refreshing aura, something like the new drop of the morning dew. But what caught my interest more is that small mole on his left cheek and his dark blue hair.

‘Who is sane enough to dye his hair blue, unless you are going to dance on stage?’ I wondered for a moment.

“Wooh!” loud shouts resonated around.

My widened eyes roamed around, and that’s when I realized that everyone was feasting over us. Some even took pictures!

I quickly hopped down and stumbled on my way out of the fountain.

“Miss! Wait a minute!” he shouted before I escaped the scene.

WHY AM I SO UNLUCKY TODAY?!

********** *********************

Third Person’s POV

“Besh!” Emily shouted as she restlessly entered Ryan’s room.

True friends are really like this; having someone who thinks that your house is also hers, and your things are also hers. If it is possible to share saliva with a friend, then the two might have done that a long time ago.

“Are you okay?!” Emily asked Ryan. “The cotton candy shop owner called me. She said you fell into the fountain!”

With a bored look on her face, Ryan turned to her while drying his wet hair.

“Hey,” she said in a cold tone. “The first job you recommended is working at the Paradise Shot, which is a night bar. Now, I work as a mascot in a cotton candy shop. Are you really my friend?”

Ryan grabbed the pillow and threw it into Emily’s face. Unfortunately, Emily has quick reflexes, so she caught the upcoming pillow attack.

“I did not know that it is a night bar!” Emily explained. “And I was also not aware that the cotton candy shop will offer you the job as the store’s mascot. Can’t you just thank me for helping you find a job?” she continued, pouting her lips.

Emily is Ryan’s best friend, who shares almost the same age as Ryan. They are also studying at the same university this year. However, Ryan still hasn’t told her about her problem regarding the boarding house she’ll live at.

Emily and Ryan have opposite personalities. If Ryan’s hobbies are reading books, watching movies, and writing stories, then Emily is into Korean idols whom she called ‘Oppa.’

Not only Emily is active in following her idols’ daily lives, but she also learned how to speak in Korean language and study their lifestyle.

“Jinguya, naneun-yo, kenyang dowajeoseoyo, araji?” Emily spoke Korean, which sounded like an alien language to Ryan.

Keeping her composure which, she needs in order not to hurt her only best friend, Ryan gritted her teeth, saying, “You are really crazy.”

Emily nodded her head as if agreeing enthusiastically with Ryan. Then she sat on the bed and opened her lips again.

“So what are you going to do? Are you going to continue to work at that cotton candy shop?” she asked, brushing her hair that she recently dyed golden blonde.

“I made a mistake during my first day at work. Do you think that shop owner will accept me again?” Ryan answered, sighing.

“Awww, that makes sense,” Emili also agreed. She looked at the ground and then set her shining eyes back on Ryan. “Aha! My mom’s friend just opened a new coffee shop! Do you want me to recommend you?!”

Because of her best friend's silly suggestion, Ryan took another try. She went to the coffee shop and applied for a job. However…

“I am really sorry. We have already hired enough employees for the shop. You came so late, dear,” the coffee shop owner apologized to Ryan.

Though sad at the news, Ryan gave her a faint smile. “That is fine, ma’am. I understand.”

“But since you are here, let me get you some drinks and cake. It’s on the house.”

She blinked at Ryan before she stood up. Declining free foods isn’t on Ryan’s vocabulary and so, she accepted the free snacks.

“Thank you so much!” she exclaimed happily.

While waiting, Ryan roamed her eyes around the coffee shop. There is a vintage decoration that amazed an interior designer’s wanna-be like Ryan. And she also thought that the location of the shop was really perfect. It’s far from the chaotic road and the owner even hired an acoustic singer.

‘Ahh~ It such a waste that I cannot work here,’ Ryan sighed inwardly.

"This is the last song I'll perform," the male singer announced through the microphone.

Because Ryan was too occupied with her conversation with the shop owner, she did not notice the gem on the stage. Now she could understand why all women inside the shop were giggling even before.

“The singer is handsome,” Ryan murmured to herself. “And he looks cool while holding the guitar.”

“This is a song that I composed,” the singer said. “I hope you all would enjoy listening to this.” After saying those emotional words, the man started to sing using his gentle and sweet voice.

As soon as he started singing, tears fell from Ryan’s eyes. It wasn’t because she felt so emotional about the song, but because of her new contact lenses.

“Are you okay?” the shop owner asked Ryan. She placed the tray of coffee and cake on the table before she peeked at Ryan’s face. “You’re crying.”

Ryan quickly shook her head and explained.

“I am okay. It was because of the contact lenses I am wearing.”

The misunderstanding between her and the owner was fixed. But what about the singer who also saw Ryan crying from afar?

A funny misunderstanding continued.

************** ************

Inside the boarding house, two men were sitting on the sofa. Vincent was holding a guitar, while Kyle was reading a book.

“Do you know what’s your problem? You are so easy to fall,” Vincent told Kyle.

“It wasn’t my choice to be like this,” Kyle defended, pouting his lips.

Vincent just shook his head and laughed at his friend in a mocking tone.

Annoyed, Kyle added, “Hey! I don’t want to hear advice from you. What do you know about love? You never dated before.”

Vincent was about to give his reply, but someone opened the door. They looked at the opening entrance then soon saw a girl who was making her way in.

“Hello?”

The lady met their stunned gaze.

“So this is the boarding house,” the man, who came after the lady, murmured. “It’s f*cking big,” Chaylen cursed then also exchanged gazes at the lady. He then gasped and pointed at her, saying, “Oh? You are that girl! The woman I flirted with in the bar before!”

She could not reply because another person stole the spotlight. It was Sylvester, a blue-haired man who peeked through the second floor while shouting.

“Kyle! Kyle! I took your underwear from the laundry by mistake!”

Sylvester threw Kyle’s undergarment. It flew toward the lady and Chaylen’s direction. Fortunately, the two dodged the attack. However, the newcomer, who just stepped in, had his face smacked by the brief.

“What… What the hell is this?” the newcomer asked as he removed the undergarments using his trembling hand.

There came a short silence between the six, Vincent, Kyle, Sylvester, Chaylen, the lady, and the unfortunate man.

Suffocated at the stern air, the lady took the chance to introduce herself instead, so she could go out of their sight as soon as possible.

“Good morning. My name is Ryan Mcguffin. I will be your new board-mate this year.”

The five guys diverted all their eyes to her.

Vincent remembered her as the girl he met at the cafe while he was singing, and so he gasped, “Woah.”

‘She is the one who gave me the umbrella!’ Kyle gasped inwardly. He was so surprised to see her again that he dropped the book he was holding.

About the blue-haired guy from the second floor, he also recognized the lady. “Wait a minute! You are the dancing mascot!”

Chaylen, upon knowing that Ryan is the innocent lamb he saw in the night bar, chuckled huskily, “Oh sh*t.”

Lastly, the man who was smacked with a brief on his face, cursed.

“F*ck.”

He cursed not because she recognized Ryan as the woman he bumped into before. But because…

“WHY IS THERE A WOMAN IN THE BOARDING HOUSE?!” His loud voice echoed inside the place.