A Cold Jerk

It's been one hour since she started swirling around the high bookshelves, but she was unable to find the book she desired. When her legs felt numb and she was exhausted, she leaned on the side of the bookshelf. A frown appeared on her face, she didn't feel shy to pout, even if people might have been watching. She was too focused and annoyed, because she's never lucky when it's about finding the books she needs. So Eun wanted to ask for help, but everyone seems so busy to find their own, thus she decided to not disturb them.

"I'm so tired", So Eun muttered to herself, frustrated and hopeless. She stared again at her sticky note, to verify the title and the author of the book. She decided to try one more time, with the same result. Annoyed, So Eun was about to give up when she saw a tall and handsome man walking towards her, pushing the book cart. With just one glance, she knew he is one of the librarians. He started to check book IDs one by one and put them back to their place.

"Um, excuse me..." So Eun asked while the man was busy tidying the book. He turned around and gazed at her with indifference.

"May I ask you a favor? " So Eun continued, trying her best to be friendly with him. The man didn't reply, and kept his calm expression while looking at her. It seemed that he was disinterested.

"Um, here! ", she showed him the note. So Eun insisted: "I've been looking for this book for hours, but I can't find it. Please, help me!" The man looked at her note, and quietly continued his activity.

"Excuse me; maybe you don't understand Korean language? I'm just asking you for a favor! "So Eun added, irritated by his cold behavior. With his deep and manly voice, he said that others are able to find their book by themselves, annoying her even more.

"I know, but I already told you I searched one hour for it and I haven't managed to find it! Can't you even help me? You work there though!" continued So Eun. He coldly explained, avoiding her eyes, that his job isn't finding the books but caring for them.

"This book is certainly around this bookshelf and you can fiind it easily while tidying up the books" So Eun added, trying to argue with the handsome librarian. This time, the tall man turned his head and stared blankly at her.

Seeing this, So Eun became teary-eyed and let out her frustration: " Please, help me, I really need to find this book, my life is at stake because of it ! If I can't find it, I will be unable to complete my assignment! As a result, I will be expelled from my faculty. I've been so busy doing my part time job while studying to pay my dorm rent! It is my dream to graduate from this faculty, so I can't quit, right? Please! "

The librarian responded to So Eun's tears with a cynical smile. On his face, there was no trace of sympathy for her. It seemed like he was mocking her instead. He rubbed salt on her wound with a succinct comment: "Your acting is bad."

"What?" she said, in disbelief. She couldn't believe her acting didn't move him. Her pride as an actress was badly hurt by his frank mockery. Their eyes met and she noticed his name tag as well.

"Yak! Lee Hyuk Soo-ssi, I'm from acting department, how can you say that my acting is bad?? What does a librarian know about acting?? "Her voice filled the room and captured the attention of the other visitors. Hyuk Soo reacted quickly and covered her mouth with his hand, making So Eun taken aback. The man stood right in front of her and their faces were incredibly close.

So Eun pushed away Hyuk Soo's hand and screamed "Yak! Are you crazy?!" but he covered her mouth once again. His low voice followed: "You're the one who is crazy! This is a library!" He made her realize what she did. She looked around, only to find everyone glaring at her. Trying to apologize, she respectfully bowed and became quieter.

Hyuk Soo took a book from the bookshelf near So Eun, handed it to her and called her "pabo". He then walked away from her, continuing his job while pushing his book cart. So Eun gazed at the book from her hand, and found out that the book given to her by Hyuk Soo was the one she was searching for all along. She sighed deeply and stared angrily at Hyuk Soo's wide back.

Then she whispered to herself "Mwoya (What the heck) ? He knew where it was, but didn't want to tell me? What the heck?!Crazy and cruel man!!", turned around and stared at the bookshelf. So Eun scolded herself as well for not seeing the book, even if it was near her. "After all I'm unlucky and not stupid", she comforted herself. Remembering that Hyuk Soo called her "pabo" she muttered only one word: "Jerk!"

The following step was registering the book she borrowed, and she went towards the PC. The concept of the library was developing the independence of the visitor; the people who wanted to borrow books had to do everything by themselves. When she reached the computer, So Eun was surprised to find out that is different from the computers she was accustomed with. It didn't have a keyboard, but she knew there should be a touch screen system. To register the book under her name she had to log in first. So Eun touched the screen, but she was unable to find the screen keyboard. This confused her even more.

She looked around for help, but she didn't see someone who seemed to want to give her help. Then she looked in the other direction and saw Hyuk Soo who finished his job and was walking towards her. Seeing him, she pouted, lifted her chin and turned her face. She wasn't willing to ask for help from this cold guy.

Hoping that the keyboard will appear and she will be able to leave the library soon, she poked the screen again. She tried many times, but the fortune wasn't on her side. Hyuk Soo saw her, smiled and thought that she's stupid in everything she does. The librarian approached her and touched the shortcut on the bottom right and made it appear.

He then cynically asked her "You can do anything by yourself, can't you? ", and So Eun rolled her eyes and said "Get lost "to him. He replied dryly that he "won't stay any longer with a stupid one" and walked away. Furious, So Eun kicked the air after he left her. She wanted to kick and punch him; he was so damn annoying with his handsome face. After that, she prayed that if she were to come back here for another assignment, she won't bump into him again.