Who Am I?

[her expression halts in embarrassment, from having her hand up in the air waiting to be held.  she, however, feigns to make a motion to the bus, though, is not necessary. a simple bow of head, that seemed to be more suitable and she does so.] Eh? No. Maybe only 5 or 6 stops.  [a quick glance to her feet is all she takes before she can hop on the bus, find a seat for the two of them and glance back to him. a proper answer is slow to form, she chews on her bottom lip before she can give one and a soft humming can be heard.] It is a flower.  My mom thinks of me as one, but– what mom, doesn’t? [And so a jesting comment meant with good humor slips past her lips along a chuckle.] but don’t ask me more, because I actually know what it means and it’s kinda totally different from how lovely might sound. Jieun will do. [the laughter that bubbles and pops in the air, makes her facade become brighter. the smile that adorns, never leaving her features.]  How about you? Heading to college? work? a date, maybe? 

[He feels uncomfortable, but he takes a seat beside her. The flower image appearing in his mind and comparing it her name. He knows nothing about her but says] Hm, you look like a flower so I’m sure your mom is right. [he smiles and feeling a little self conscious and nervous around strangers so he places his hands over his cheeks, if only for the moment he laughs] Jieun works for me. [he’s naturally curious when she says not to ask more, but he holds back and simply switches the conversation to himself] A date? Nothing like that. College? Nothing like that either. I’m just out and about for today. Might go to a records store. [he doesn’t plan on seeing her again and the thought of expressing himself feels like a load is being lifted from his shoulders. They say the best talks are with strangers sometimes] Maybe I will apply for a few jobs, I’m in a band right now and admittedly, although I split the bills, it doesn’t pay them. [he doesn’t expect her to understand. If he wasn’t living the life or came from one that was well off, he wouldn’t either. She looks put together as if her life is well organized] And what about you? College I assume?

He leaned against the counter, arms folded close to his chest. The assumption the male made stirred a laugh from Lucas not because of its outrageousness but it was dead on accurate. “I hate parties, man. You can call me an introvert, it won’t offend me. I prefer to be in an environment where I can hear my own thoughts, so to speak.” He turned around to behold the packed streets. This was an exception, mainly because it was normal for the abundance of people to be out, especially with this type of weather. He smiled, eyes still focused on the pedestrians before he reverted his gaze back to the male. “What about you? Do you prefer the sound of a person drunk out of his mind or the tick of the clock that people hardly ever realize it exists?” 

“That’s not uncommon,” he said while leaning his elbows on the counter, “Sometimes it’s nice to take time to yourself, thinking about anything and everything. But maybe that’s not for me.” He watched the vendor, preparing their food as he thought about the word introvert. Jin didn’t consider that negative. “Introvert? It wouldn’t offend me either if I qualified as one.” He wasn’t prepared for the next question. “Considering that I am usually that person drunk out of his mind on the weekend- maybe that one? It’s the most logical.” He reached for their orders, passing the other his food as he continued his thoughts, “I’m usually surrounded by sound. If not during shows, then during practices, and if not practices, i live with two younger roommates. Hearing clocks tick isn’t too plausible.”

If there was any method in erasing the awkwardness within an atmosphere, it’d be food. There was nothing better than indulging oneself to food to avoid conversation with someone across the table. Lucas wasn’t going to let that happen, at least on his end. “Right, I’m starving.” He turned his attention to the stand, licking his lips at the aromatic sight. “In case you forgot, I’m Lucas. It was merely out of intense boredom but look what happened out of it. I got myself some nice street food and someone to share it with.” He chuckled, signaling the vendor for two sticks of the fried squid. 

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a few wadded bills and placing them on the counter. Whether or not that covered the total, he wasn’t sure but price didn’t t matter too much if you’re making friends, right? “Likewise,” he smiled, “I thought it would be kinda fun to meet a stranger in a sea of people like this- granted how we got here wasn’t ideal, but it’s all good.” Their atmosphere wasn’t awfully awkward, but it wasn’t great either. He’d put in more effort. He eyed the male, trailing from his feet to his dark hair. “You don’t look like the party type. Are you?” He is often tactless, speaking whatever is on his mind. This time was no different. .

[attentive, she slopes her head to the side with furrowed eyebrows and mouth slightly opened. an expression that displayed pure haziness through bright round eyes.] I think… it means valuable. I’m pretty sure I read it somewhere. [devoid of guile and straightforward, that was Jieun and her way to speak. no filters. countenance shifts in, more soft. she gives a curt nod before explaining further.]  I didn’t mean to bother, though. Since we’re both waiting here I thought would be nice to start a conversation [and there’s when the slight foreign accent comes. when the speed of her speech increased. and as of habit, she holds out a hand to shake his.]  I’m Jieun-or-Lily. It’s ok both ways. 

Valuable? [his eyebrows raise in curiosity. She has this figured out, he thinks.] Bother? I think I’m much more of a bother to you. I see you here sometimes, waiting for the bus but never had the will to speak up. I’m ashamed but also glad you spoke up for the both of us. [he hears the bus before his sight follows, the large vehicle stopping in front of their path before he looks at her.] You first. Are you traveling far today? [he takes a step forward, but he stops when he hears her name. Her tone is somewhat foreign, but her face is all Korean. He tilts his head, refraining from inquiring about it just yet] Lily, just like the flower flower. However, Jieun is easier to pronounce. Which do you prefer? 

Showing no change in her demeanor, sure he was a good head taller than her probably twice her weight but she felt only disdain for him. The subtle twitch of her nose was so minuscule it was unnoticed by the crowd flowing past the two, as if the two of them were a rock in an ever flowing river. The tension was heavy. Being called a bitch was nothing worth reacting to, but getting called out on being unhappy had unconsciously triggered her to let out a string of foreign words.  “ Futue te isum, es mundus excrementi . ” Her tone was hushed but it was enough to allow the other to hear the venom in her words. Tempted to whisper a series of invocations with her eyes locked on the other’s relentlessly, all she had to do was say a few simple words to watch his oh-so-precious memories whither away in flames. Her poker face remained etched onto her features, the only sign of emotion were her nails digging into her palm, she hadn’t spoken a single word since her Latin outburst, and she let the atmosphere run its course. 

She was displeased, frustrated even, and Jin could tell by the tone of her voice. At the same, the foreign words fell like raindrops in the middle of a drought; unexpected, and pleasant. Its nice to hear a jumble of unknown words and phrases in an everyday flood of Korean. Interesting at least. He almost forgot the reason she started on a foreign rant. He glanced from her eyes to the photos, from anger to happiness. It all transferred so quickly, so smoothly. In the midst of the busy streets, footsteps, and businessmen on phones, she located his voice. Maybe she was searching for something and her internal compass led to him. He was at the wrong place, wrong time. It couldn’t be helped. “I thought the same,” he started, “I can be such an asshole sometimes. But that’s not our real selves, is it? You’re not always unhappy?” He didn’t care, nor bother to ask what she said. He derived his own meaning from them today. He was quite lighthearted.