âOh, I work in the late afternoon, that must be why we havenât met before.â He told her, realizing that he shouldâve have been more specific with his work hours over the fact that he does laze around at work and read books than actually taking care of the cash register, sometimes. âIâm not a fan of using too much of my brain cells in the morning.â He humored.
âOh, you write? Have you ever thought of publishing a book? Iâd definitely buy one.â He rested his elbows on the table, his drink sat safely on the side. âAnd if you did, can you give me aâŚâ He slightly flicked his forehead, searching for one of the terms the youth used in this century. âA shoutout? I think thatâs what the kids call it,â he made a small humming sound as he thought of the possibility of her releasing a book. âShoutout to the weird dude from the cafe who inspired me to write this, or something along those lines.â He chuckled, clueless if people actually to that.
âAnything out of the law?â He blinked at the question; it certainly was weird but he introduced himself in a unique manner, so it was no question that he could be suspected of doing so. âDoes walking a centimeter out of the crosswalk area count?â He said with a small smile with his teeth almost showing. âI also eat cereal every morning, so would that make me a cereal killer?â
âAnd, if you donât mind me asking, what kind of adventures have you been on? They must be more exciting than mine.â He leaned in a bit forward, his cat-like eyes filled with curiosity (or maybe it was Thetis who yearned for another soul of an adventurer to talk to, since he himself was so dull, he had no idea).
âââealingââ
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Seungwoo likes to make work fun by doing small things, usually by singing a small tune that came to mind whenever he saw a bookâs title. Heâd made quite a few friends with his little antics, but never really go out of his way to constantly be around them every time. Of course, thereâs never really anything constant in the world.
One fine day, he was stacking books as usual, seeing as how it was exams period and all the kids are either buying a book to actually study or create the illusion of productivity by buying them. He fixed his attention to the books, making sure they were placed neatly. A small tune escaped his lips, a small lullaby that his old attendant sang to him. It felt weird to hear the Spanish phrases escape him, and he couldnât deny the guilt thay came with the reminder of his foolishness. Still, he mumbled along the song calmly.
Thatâs when his eyes darted to a new figure a few feet away. He unknowingly smiled at her and said a simple hello before being called to the front. Seungwoo hadnât felt anything yet.
After a while, he started noticing the girl come in to the bookstore more often. She necessarily wasnât there to buy books, or rather, she had the intention of buying them but not doing so in the end, especially when she sees the prices (is what he thinks happens). He feels bad, and there was something that tugged his heart to walk up to her and buy all the books she had touched for her. Seungwoo tries to ignore the feeling and resume work with slight paranoia. He was kind, but not kind enough to buy a stranger books. He slowly realizes that he feels a sort of attraction to this quiet girl, and he doesnât like it. He believes he only has two people he deeply cares about in his entire life, his wife and their would-be son. He doesnât deserve any more than the two he so heartlessly killed.
Lately, the same dream had been haunting him; the image of a smiling Thetis holding the infant Achilles was ingrained to his memory in a not-so pleasant way. Was there something that Thetis wants to say? He just couldnât make the connectionâhis son was dead, and unlike the myths, he canât go to the afterlife to bring him back. He had been thinking of any possible triggers, but nothing significant enough came to mind. He spends his days at work like his usual self, humming away any doubts and works earnestly.
Like any other day at work, he loses himself in a whimsical tune of Beauty and the Beast OSTs as he stacked some Disney books by the corner, just a few feet away from the register. Thatâs when a few young males came to him, towering over him with cruel intentions. One of them, who he assumed was the leader, intentionally pushes the box filled with childrenâs books, resulting in and a few already stacked books to fall along with the book-filled box and a very loud crashing sound which disrupted the tranquility of the bookstore. One of them announced an obviously fake apology about how they bumped into him by accident.
He stared at the books for a while. He knew that if he knelt down to pick the books up, it would become a sign of victory for these idiotic teens who want to prove some that they were somehow superior. Rage quickly built up within him, but he also knew that if he fought back, or show any bit of aggression, these boys will still feel the victory. It was a lose-lose situation for him. His fists slowly closed, his nails digging into his skin as he slowly knelt down to pick up the booksâwhat was a man to do? Heâd rather eat his pride than be charged for child abuse or physical harassment. No, thatâs not it. He ate his pride because he didnât want to hurt anyone ever again.
He heard a few of them snickering before a threat that made them leave. True enough, the voice of his savior was harsh and empowering, and gladly enough to make the young group leave him be. He looked up to thank his savior, only to be surprised himself to see the quiet girl that had been coming around often.Â
âThanks a lot.â He smiled ang bowed a bit. He felt bad that someone had to witness that.
⢠exaltation.
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(...)
the older manâs question didnât exactly catch her off guard, but the somewhat forced casualness of his tone unsettled her slightly. â â Better than before, â her joking tone sounded awkward to even her own ears.  â Itâs been pretty tough, I wonât lie. Getting used to everything again took me a while, but Iâm settled down now. What about you? What made you decide that you had to move to Korea, of all places? âÂ
âThatâs great to hear. Iâm still at the adjusting phase, since this is my first time out of America.â He smiled calmly, remembering how amazed he was at everything when he first arrived. The most amusing yet was Koreaâs wifi, fast, reliable, and free of hassle as they didnât have any passwords, unlike America â those cheap pricks. He took a short sip of his coffee, his eyes closed for a short time; he remembered photos from the past, which were the main reason why he chose this place. Opening them, he gave a smile.
âKorea is where my parents met, and where they were happy. I saw lots of photos of them as a child, smiling. I never realized how beautiful my parents really were, especially when they looked at each other with smiles on their faces. I barely ever saw them raising their cheek bones when I was a kid.â I barely saw them at all, was what he wanted to say, but he didnât want to burden Wendy with so much about him. Besides, he wasnât here to talk about his parents, he was here to talk about Elise.Â
He thought back to his earlier words â it reminded him so much of himself and Elise. He then thought about the what ifs that could have happened. What if they never fought? What if her car never skidded and she never died? Maybe now he would be in Korea feeling much lighter and happier, being in front of the beautiful Han River with his equally gorgeous wife, along with his would be son. It could have been a dream come true if only he had not been an impulsive idiot that day.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palm. He was stupid. Heâd never forgive her, and he knows Wendy would never forgive him as well. She was practically family for Elise. How would he tell her? Would he pretended like he didnât care at all, even if his heart was shredding itself to tiny bits once more?Â
âHowâs your family?â Was all he could muster at the moment, his eyes trying their hardest to look at her in the eye without being overwhelmed with guilt. It made sense that he would have to bring up Elise in a topic like this, he just hope that she would bring her up before he does.
â â lukewarm coffee âł seungwoo
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(âŚ)
âIf you donât mind me asking, but where do you work? I work as a bartender at allure, hence the long nights and following insomnia.â she flicked her pointer finger at her head, putting on a âdumbâ face before resuming an intent expression.
âNight shifts? That must be really rough. Have you seen any aliens during your shift?â He humored before going for a bit serious tone. âAnyway isnât it dangerous to be walking out in the night, alone? I think its kind of unsafe to be alone, wether youâre a girl or a guy. Be sure to always have company you can trust with you.â His motherly instincts (well, Thetisâ instincts) came out out of the blue, and he hoped it didnât come out as too weird or too pushy.
âAs for myself, I work a normal shift. My regular job is being a lifeguard, and everyone somehow always looks so shocked when they do find out Iâm a lifeguard. Do I look that skinny?â He pilled up the sleeve of his grey sweater, flexing his muscle to show a reasonable amount of muscle for his figure. âI used to be really athletic, but I guess it doesnât show?â He laughed before pulling the sleeve down.
âMy second job is part time. Sometimes, Iâm a man undercover trying to save the world from impending doom, sometimes Iâm a mad scientist bringing my creations to life, sometimes a lover trying to fight against cruel fate, sometimes an astronaut out to discover a new earth, somtimes a pirate out in the seas,â he switched his accent for a while to sound like an actual pirate. âShiver me timbers lassy, me out to find me money.â He laughed at himself, before immediately resuming, a smirk formed on his lips as he was about to reveal the truth. âBut everyone knows me as the cashier at Chapter One.â
Seeing as how the mood went up a bit, he decided heâd try to keep the flow going. âSo, have any hobbies you enjoy? Iâm a jack of all trades, though recently Iâve been into knitting. On my first try I tried to put a cat design on a scarf and it ended up looking like a dinosaur, but I can promise you Iâve gotten significantly better.â He laughed a little bit more, obviously thankful for the welcoming company.
âââealingââ
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Look at his hair, his bright smile, his purity, heâs so handsome
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(âŚ)
Curiosity takes the best of him, of course. He knows the song, knows the group from listening to them more than once because they have a few songs he likes and probably sings along to. But he also walks closer because he needs help with something and the singing employee may be able to help him. âNice vibratoâ He catches himself saying first, inwardly mortified because that was not supposed to be his first sentence but oh well, itâs out anyway.Â
Taken aback, Seungwoo looked at the customer. He inhaled a bit, hoping that snot wonât come out of his nose and hoped that his eyes werenât as red as they usually were whenever he cried. He was not a stranger to people complimenting on his singing, so when the customer complimented him, Seungwoo gave a smile, one where his eyes were practically closed and his nose would scrunch (if he remembered correctly, itnwas called a duchenne smile). He was always genuinely happy and grateful for whoever complimented or gave any constructive criticisms on his singing.
âThanks man. Wanna hear some more cool notes?â He chuckled, remembering all the falsettos he had done in church, causing him to look down in embarrassment. He realized he was still in his uniform, which caused him to remember he was still at work. âOh, I mean, did you need any help with anything, sir?â His smile retracted a bit to fit the professional setting.
ââđťonât Listen In Secretââ
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(âŚ)
approaching the man, the wild grin is plastered back on his face. âhey! what are you doing out here?â jimin gestures widely with his arms, like a king showing off his castle. âitâs a perfect night to have some funâŚâ his smile is sly. bending down closer to the man, the sparks of excitement in his eyes are clear as he tilts his head. âwould you care to join me?â
Honestly, Seungwoo was unsure of why his feet led him to a clubâit could have been anything else. A park, a laundromat, or even the edge of the world. Literally anywhere but here seemed like a good idea, and yet he was right here, sitting like a sad lost boy. Heâd always been sad at heart, but heâd always keep himself busy to keep his mind off it. He didnât know exactly why today was any different than the others, but he guessed that even he had his limits, even if he felt like he didnât deserve a break from his guilt.
Deep in thought, Seungwoo was somehow unstartled when a man with bright hair suddenly came up to him. âOh, nothing. I guess my feet just dragged me here.â He said with a tone filled with melancholy. What the other had said caused him to raise an eyebrow. Fun? It seemed like such a word was so distant and unachievable. Would Elise wanted him to have fun, even after what he had done to her? No, of course not. No one would ever forgive him for the things he had done, and he doesnât expect anything to erase those sins, and so, he must suffer for as long as he lived.
And yet he found himself unable to turn away the invitation. âAre you sure you want me to join you? Iâm a no fun man,â he chuckled as he rubbed his nape. âI might spoil the fun. But if you insist, I guess I could.â He said with a modest smile. He didnât want to add more fuel to the flames by killing the joy for someone else, and yet his inner nature did not allow him to say no.
In the club, he noticed how acquainted Jimin was with everyone, causing him to guess that he was either a regular or someone just very friendly, or maybe both. âDo you come here often?â He asked, speaking up as loud as he can over the ridiculously loud music.
> yes F.U.N.
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(âŚ)
He embraced her, gently but firmly for a while before he pulled back. He was happy that she could remember him, that in the slightest bit, his past came back to him. He knew he had a lot to explain to her, even if he didnât want to.
âIs that so? Then what about some coffee afterwards, just to catch up.â He beamed a smile at her, as painful as it was, before giving out the direction to the reading corner. âItâs just to the left. Do you see those large windows over there?â He asked as he pointed towards the large windows which were almost blocked by the equally large bookshelves. He tried to cover up his unsurity with professionalism, which was the only thing he could do, and the only thing he only did throughout his life. âThatâs where you want to go.â He smiled before letting her leave.
He made sure she was out of view before letting the smile drop. It was true that he did feel happy about meeting someone from his past, but happiness was definitely the last thing he thought of. Pain. Remorse. Guilt. Self-hate. Seeing Wendy again gave him an influx of things he didnât want to face anytime soon. Throughout the remainder of his shift, Seungwoo was trying too hard to focus on his work, convincing himself that he didnât really meet Wendyâthat it was just a figment of his cruel imagination, but his coworker would not let him off so easily. He was constantly asked about the identity of the customer he just exchanged short embraces with, their status, if she was single, and so on. He only dismissed the youngerâs questions with short answers, something vague but answered what he wanted the other to find out.
Since he invited her out to coffee, he decided to leave work an hour early, which was no problem since there wasnât much left to do. He already did his part of cleaning and arranging, and so his coworker let him off with a bit of jealousy. In the staff room, Seungwoo had to look at himself in the mirrorâhe was sill Joshua, no matter how much he tried to dye his hair or change his name, the past will never change. He mentally tried to prep himself for the eventual confrontation, something he never knew would happen so soon. He changed back to his casual attire, a grey hoodie and black sweatpants and a pair of black runners, and checked his backpack before leaving.
The walk to the private reading area felt like a slow death march. His conscience felt heavy, and even if he wanted to turn back and run away, he couldnât. He needed to face thisâbut for whose sake? For himself, or for Elise? With his thoughts so clouded, he hadnât realize that he was finally in the private reading area, and there was Wendy.
âHey, Wendy.â He faked a smile as quick as he could. âSorry if I had you waiting. Letâs go?â Seungwoo kept himself reserved through the short walk to the coffee shop, and yet he hadnât found it awkward to be silent with Wendy, which was a good thing for him. He needed some more time to think things throughâand maybe even then he wouldnât know how to handle the situation. The first time he had opened his mouth again was when they had arrived to the shop.âAnything you want? Iâll pay for it today.â
When they took a seat, Seungwoo was unsure of how to start a conversation. All his mind could process was the image of that day, along with the feelings thay had built up ever since. The scene of seeing his wife crashing and burning with the flames was something that had always haunted him, even if he wanted to forget about it.
âItâs been a really long time. How have you been?â He smiled casually, hoping that his voice hadnât sound too timid to her.
â â lukewarm coffee âł seungwoo
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He was worried that he may have stepped his boundaries as he noticed the small instance of her smile dropping, however, refused to say a word when her cheerful gleam came back. He made a mental note to himself to think things out more orderly, in order to not tense her.
âOh, youâre 24? Weâre only a year apart then.â He started off with a smile before taking another sip. âDonât be fooled. Iâm physically 25 but Iâm already having a midlife crisis.â He laughed off his worries. âI complain when it rains, and complain when it snows, or when itâs too hot out.â He could have given her a list of things he complains about, but it would ultimately take him the whole day and he could only stay for a while.
He was looking down at his coffee, stirring it mindlessly as he was reminiscing memories from his old self, Joshua. âAnything other than normal weather just annoys me in general,â he looked back up to Rose. âAnd yourself? Do you have any complains about weather? Climate? Scientific inventions and the lack of time machines or UFOs coming to abduct anyone at any given moment in the night?â He didnât mind sounding silly. He believed that making fun of himself was a helpful way to cheer up whatever melancholy was left, and he hoped that she felt the same.
âââealingââ
(âŚ)
rose watched as the man slid in across from her, his eyes intent and unwavering from her sitting figure. she smiled slightly, her hands subconsciously reaching for the mug in front of her that was filled with the luke-warm substance only known to mankind as coffee. the wrapper that had been holding her pastry was long discarded to a corner of her table, the tasteful treat gone and devoured.
taking a sip of her drink, her eyes shot up to meet his when he spoke. the question made her chuckle slightly, setting her cup down and sitting straight. she leaned on her elbow as she spoke, a distasteful habit that she often had when it came to relaxing.
âhm, well, i sometimes have trouble sleeping and like going on walks.â her eyes broke away from the man and wandered the surrounding cafe. âi guess today my walk brought me here.â a smile tugged at her lips as she brought her gaze back to Seungwoo.
a quite interesting yet blatant thought spewed from her guestâs mouth, causing her eyes to widen and mouth to form a âoâ shape. at the end of his statement she giggled slightly, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried not bringing attention to herself.
âyes, well, for a 24 year old woman living on the high end, iâm sure iâve enjoyed what youth has to offer.â her smile faltered slightly, a brief and minuscule manner, as she thought back to when she was younger. but her cheerfulness regained again as she leaned back against the leather chair.
âwell, tell me Seungwoo, why would you think youâre old?â she leaned forwards slightly, eyes narrowing in deep thought as she sniffled. âwell, you at least donât look that old.â
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It was a rainy day out, and luckily, Seungwoo is safe inside the bookstore, and prayed that it would end before the bookstore closes. Ideally, he would have stayed at home and enjoy the sounds of rain pouring with a cup of tea at home, but he knew he had to work (even though he didnât need to). The place wasnât stuffy, as usual, only a handful of people came to the bookstore. It was pretty quiet for most of the time, with the few occassions of him using the cash register, some small chit-chats, or the sounds of books being opened and closed were the only sounds present.
He was talking to a colleague when he heard the sound of the door opening again, causing him to turn and see who had entered. No one really bothered going outside on days like these, so it surprised him when someone suddenly comes in during the middle of the rain. He looked at the customerâs face which was somehow familiar, and he didnât like the feeling of familiarityâhe wanted to leave everything from America back in America. His pulse quickened as he started mentally jotting down names and faces until he remembered someone.
He remembered. He knew this person, and they had already met a number of times before. He remembered how his wife had invited him to her old school to watch a dance recital, and how they even made a banner for her friend. Wendy was her name. He could remember her clearly because of how enticed he was by her performance, and how his wife was smiling so proudly as she clapped the loudest, as if she was watching her own child. He could tell that Wendy was someone dear to Elise, which caused him to befriend her to a certain degree.
His pulse quicked more, but he tried hard to hide it with a facade of calmness; he talked normally to his colleague, but he was praying so hard that either Wendy wonât remember him, or she leaves without buying any books. He internally panicked as he saw her making her way to the cashierâto him, specifically. It was the worst, and Seungwoo was so nervous with every step closer she was that he couldnât hear his partner anymore.
He held his head down when he finally realized that the inevitable would happen, especially when his coworker left him at the cashier to help with a customer somewhere else. âOh, yeah. We accept cash, debit, and credit.â He only had his head up for a second before looking down to her purchase. âDid you find anything you need today?â He only raised his eyes as he asked.
He scanned the book, contemplating wether he should let her go out in the rain and have give himself a sense of ease, or have her stay and probably reveal his identity. He sighed inwardly. He knew Elise would be disappointed in him if he just let her off. Giving in, he finally faced up with a smile.
âThe rain will go on for a while. We have a corner here where you can sit and read the book. Itâs better to wait till the rain ends than to go out and get wet.â He advised.
â â lukewarm coffee âł seungwoo
droplets of water splashed on her legs as wendy shook it gently under the small shelter the book - shop offered right outside itâ doorsteps. folding it up and tucking it neatly into a plastic bag, she pushed on the door, greeted immediately by the gentle jingling sound of wind - chimes & the distinct scent of books. squinting at her phoneâs screen, she searched for the name of the book she came here to buy. the only reason why sheâs outside on a rainy day instead of lounging around at home was due to the fact that not a single online store had the book sheâs currently looking for.Â
after doing a brief search on this storeâs website, they apparently have a few copies left in - store. and so, here she is. mildly damp from the rain & just a tad bit annoyed in general, wandering around inside the store with no intentions of actually interacting with anyone today. wendy scanned the store slowly, searching for a section where her book might be located. turns out that fiction novels were on the far right corner of the store. finally, after searching through what seemed to be žths of the entire place, she holds the novel in her hands & walks over to the cashier.  â â Do you take credit card here? â
[ @krxseungwoo ]
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âThanks, Rose.â He said with such a friendly tone, itâs as if they were already acquainted with each other. He took the vacant seat and took a sip of his coffee, giving him extra boost of energy he doesnât really need.
âSo, what brings you here?â He asked, peering at her, showing that his attention was undivided. He listened to her attentively, nodding and smiling whenever appropriate. When asked about his own reasons, he looked afar, as if remembering something, and he took another sip of his cup.
âIâm old.â He said in all seriousness before bursting into giggling fits. Heâd been often called weird by his wife for laughing so hard at his own puns (which werenât really good for most of the time). âI get tired easily even when I do nothing and sit down, and somehow, this generation says Iâm unpunny. The signs of aging are quite alarming.â He rubbed his nape, but still had a smirk on his face. He was quite proud of his pun, but not his old man tendencies. âYouth goes by fast. Are you enjoying yours?â
âââealingââ
@krxchaeyoungÂ
They say coffee heals the soul, or at least keeps one awake for an extended period of time. Seungwoo came to the local coffee shop for the latter reason. He needed a bit of caffeine to wake him up for his second job (not like he needed it), and heâd become quite acquainted enough with the local shop that when the cashier sees his face, theyâd already know what heâd order.
Today, the place had a bit more people usual, and sadly, all the seats were taken. When he got his coffee, he scanned the area first, finding any lone soul like him. A lot of things caught his eyes, but only one truly grabbed his attention. She wasâŚhuge. She seemed taller than most girls, and boys, but she had a cheerful aura about her that pushed him to sit with her, plus she didnât have anyone with her at the moment, which made it less awkward for him to ask.
âHi.â Seungwoo smiled gently as he approached her table. âMy name is JoshâI mean, Seungwoo. Is this seat taken, or are you waiting for anyone, perhaps?â He asked, wanting to make sure that he could sit with her without having her feeling pressured about it.
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ââđťonât Listen In Secretââ
 @krxjongdae
It was another fine day for Seungwoo. His morning shift was as chill as usual, and so was his second job. He was stacking books in the shop at the moment while his partner watched the registers. âKids these days seem to be interested in making their own stuff.â He mumbled to himself and chuckled, the box of DIY books almost half empty as he stacked them neatly. Just like Elise. The thought of his wife was followed by the overwhelming memories of his failures. Out of habit, Seungwoo started to force out the bad memories with the good.
He quietly sang to himself ââWonât Go Home Without Youââ. He was always a big fan of Maroon 5, and he was very proud when he got Elise to listen to them as well.
âIts not over tonight,â His voiced faltered as he mumbled the words and tears formed in his eyes. He stopped for a moment, laughed, wiped off his tears, then continued on with singing and stacking. He was too invested in his work and his singing to notice nor care if anyone looked.
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SONG JIHYO IS A QUEEN đđÂ
That being said I wouldnât mind if anon did anyone from Running Man. I love that show too much that Iâm emotionally invested with everyone and wouldnât care less about who anon will roleplay as ;u;
Song Jihyo, Ha Donghoon or Yoo Jaesuk? Who would the members love to see most?
running man cast omg anon, how does one even choose??? personally I love them all but Jihyo is a QUEEN! Members please leave your votes too and help this anon out!.
â Admin M
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âââealingââ
@krxchaeyoungÂ
They say coffee heals the soul, or at least keeps one awake for an extended period of time. Seungwoo came to the local coffee shop for the latter reason. He needed a bit of caffeine to wake him up for his second job (not like he needed it), and heâd become quite acquainted enough with the local shop that when the cashier sees his face, theyâd already know what heâd order.
Today, the place had a bit more people usual, and sadly, all the seats were taken. When he got his coffee, he scanned the area first, finding any lone soul like him. A lot of things caught his eyes, but only one truly grabbed his attention. She wasâŚhuge. She seemed taller than most girls, and boys, but she had a cheerful aura about her that pushed him to sit with her, plus she didnât have anyone with her at the moment, which made it less awkward for him to ask.
âHi.â Seungwoo smiled gently as he approached her table. âMy name is JoshâI mean, Seungwoo. Is this seat taken, or are you waiting for anyone, perhaps?â He asked, wanting to make sure that he could sit with her without having her feeling pressured about it.
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