BEST FRIENDS WAITING

"Heiran, do you think I look good with this suit?"

Heiran looked at her best friend Ruel and saw him awkwardly standing in front of the mirror. He isn't confident with his outfit for sure. The fact that he is seeing his girlfriend tonight with her wearing her volleyball uniform because she is from her training, he looked like he is too formal for her.

"You always look good. Also, if you went out of this house being casual, with me being this corporate, mom and dad will think we are not going to hang out. They should think we are going to have dinner outside."

"Oh yeah, I should be formal so I can help you."

"We always act up so let's do it passionately now."

"Passionately? You're not going to kiss me in front of them are you?"

"Shut up."

And the both of them laughed before they decided to go out of Heiran's door. Both of them felt they are being watched, for sure it is Heiran's parents. Looking at Heiran, Ruel can tell she is not comfortable with them looking as if they just made a crime. And to worsen her pain, Ruel crossed his arm over her shoulder and pretended to whisper something on her right ear. He did nothing but chuckled, laughing at his best friend's misery.

A few hours after that, Ruel is still waiting for his girlfriend in front of the covered court where she said she'll be having her training. It'll take him a week before he'll fly to Australia. Before that, he just wants to utilize and spend his time with her, since he has been banned from using his phone. The only way to reach out to her is to see her personally, like the way he is doing now.

"It's 6:30 already? Heiran must be with Young Jae right now. I wish I could go there, I'm starving.", he patted his stomach, looked through the entrance of the court and saw some athletes already leaving the area. In that case, the training must be over now. Maybe he can see his girlfriend anytime soon.

[•••]

"What's taking him so long? He said it's his rest day. It's almost seven."

Heiran stretched her legs under the table. She is now tired of wearing these three inched heels that Ruel requested her to wear. Why did she even wear these clothes? It is somehow uncomfortable. It's as if she dressed to impress the man she asked to come over.

It has been an hour and no Young Jae is showing up. Heiran decided not to call him since he may be on the road. In her right side, she is keeping the coat and the pants she bought him. She wants him to wear those tomorrow as a payback for the clothes he bought her last week.

"His socials are not active. He forgot he's sharing his location to me since that night I went to their house, but his location is now turned off. Is his phone turned off too? Where could he be right now? Is he going to come?"

A lot of questions are boggling her head. She interviewed him last time, and she remembered Young Jae saying that, "Time is the most precious thing on earth. There are 24 hours a day, for sure but yesterdays are yesterdays. Opportunities come only once and never again." That statement proves he values time more than anything in this world. If so, why is he late for almost an hour now? Unless he is busy with something else.

"Miss Choi..."

Heiran looked at the person standing beside her seat and saw a man who she thinks is about three years younger than her. He looks neat and formal with his white suit, even his pants are white. This guy knows her, they maybe are schoolmates.

"I never expected the author of 'Prestigious Career: A Suffer' would be you. I mean I'm seeing you almost everyday in school but you aren't bragging up about anything."

"Stop flattering me if that's your goal, believe me it'll never work. You can have a seat if you want to."

"Oh..."

Looking at the youngling, Heiran can tell he is shy so she offered him the seat she reserved for Young Jae. The last hour of waiting was so boring, why not wait with someone else instead?

"Miss Choi, I am a huge fan but I don't think I'm worthy enough to be in a table with you."

"Then why are you here? Don't tell me you're also here for a date?"

"Are you?"

Heiran just laughed and shoved the chair to his direction. And so the boy sat down.

"This restaurant belongs to my father. I come here sometimes and help with welcoming the guests."

"You came here because I've been waiting here for an hour right?"

"You seemed tired of waiting. Is he worthy of your time?"

"I mean he helped securing my spot so I guess he is."

"Oh is it Mr. Jung Young Jae? Do you think he'll come? I mean he has a girlfriend."

Heiran just chuckled and and took a swig of red wine. She doesn't know why that choice of words and that label "girlfriend" twitched her heart in pain. The youngster saw her doing that, consuming all the wine from the wine glass so he took the glass from her hand.

"Miss Choi..."

"Tell me about yourself. How old are you?"

"I am 18. Nathanael is my name and I was from China."

And Heiran coughed aggressively after hearing the country he just mentioned. His name sounds foreign, as if he is an American. So why did he come from China, in which Heiran was also from? In that place was where she pursued her basketball fame.

"Miss Choi, are you mocking my name?"

"No I'm sorry. China, you say?"

"Yes, don't be racist."

"No I'm not. I'm really sorry about my reaction. There are some incoming guests, why don't you welcome them instead?"

"Oh right, welcome Mr. Jung..."

And Heiran looked straight to the entrance and saw Young Jae coming in. He looks dashing as always. But there is something with him that made her heart crush. Nathanael looked at her and he can tell she's disappointed with what she saw.