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“I cannot believe that Tae disappeared the day before his birthday,” Jimin sighed in worry.

“I can’t believe he’s missing celebrating his birthday with us!” Jungkook exclaimed, fear crumpling his brow.

“He’s all right,” Hobi insisted, a fake smile plastered to his face.  “Tae is smart.  Wherever he is, he’s okay.  Remember when he got separated from all of us and just wandered off to enjoy the scenery?  He’s probably just lying in a field of wildflowers somewhere staring at the clouds.”

“There’s no wildflowers in December,” Yoongi remarked dryly.

“You know what I mean,” Hobi retorted.

“Sure, he does,” Namjoon intervened.  “Seoul is a huge place.  If Tae had gotten hurt, it would have made the news.  His face is plastered all over the place.  Anyone finding him would recognize him.  I’m sure he’s okay.  He’s hiding somewhere.  Though, I haven’t worked out why.”

“Do you think he just wanted to be alone for his birthday?” Jin queried.

Jungkook shook his head.  “No way.  He would not make us all worry.”

“Really?  I mean, he wasn’t concerned that time that he wandered off.”  Hobi tossed his head to the right.

“That’s different,” Jimin insisted.  “Tae would know that we’d be worried now, and he’d call us, at least.”

“Maybe something happened to his phone,” Yoongi suggested.

“Did anyone search his bedroom for it?” Jungkook queried.

“I did.  I found it lying next to his bed.  I still wonder if he hit his head on something,” Jimin admitted.

Jungkook nodded.  “If he did, I hope someone nice found him.  And is taking good care of him…”

––

Poppy unwound the bandage covering her mystery man’s head.  “Does it still hurt?” she whispered in concern.

He nodded, stopping abruptly as he winced.  “It does.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to visit a clinic and have a doctor look at it?”

“No, it’s okay.  I don’t know my name.  I don’t have any ID on me.  No insurance card.”

“But maybe your friends are looking for you.  Maybe they’ve checked the emergency rooms.”

“Do you know how many emergency rooms there are in Seoul?” he breathed incredulously.  “It’s a long shot that we’d end up in the same one.”

“Well, maybe you live in this neighborhood.  I mean you were here when you got knocked out.”

He shrugged.  “Maybe.  And maybe not.”

She sighed with relief as she examined his wound.  “It’s already healing nicely.  You’re not bleeding anymore.”  She glanced at the bandage.  “And it doesn’t look like the wound has seeped any blood for a long time.  You’re going to be okay.”

“As long as my memory returns,” he grumbled.

She frowned.  “I’m so sorry.  You’re having a really rough day, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.  You shared your room with me last night.  And took care of me.  And fed me.  And here I am complaining.”

“I’m just glad my roommate is visiting her folks, so I had an extra bed to loan you.”

He smiled at her.  “I have some money in my pocket.  Can I take you to breakfast?”

Her face brightened.  “I’d like that.  There’s a really good coffee shop across the street.”

He furrowed his brow.  “I don’t even know if I like coffee.”

“Well, I guess this is the perfect time to find out.”

He followed her into the coffeehouse and perused the menu while they waited in line.  The bell over the door jingled a couple of minutes later as April breezed through the doorway.  And came to a sudden stop as she saw a familiar face.  He was here!

But her heart sank a moment later as she noticed the girl standing with him in the line.  She was a beautiful young woman with dark brown hair, crystal blue eyes, and a pale complexion.  She said something to him, and he laughed suddenly.   April’s face fell.  Apparently, he’d decided to ditch her for someone else.  Disheartened, she turned and walked out of the café.  She wasn’t feeling hungry anymore.

She fingered the gold chain crowning her neck.  Then her fingers slid down it until they found the large amethyst hanging over her sternum.  Why would he buy her such extravagant gifts if he was into someone else?  Maybe she would never understand men.

––

The mystery man grimaced a few minutes later as he sipped the latte he’d ordered.  “I don’t think I like coffee,” he murmured as he pushed the cup away.

Poppy’s lips twitched.  “Wanna try my vanilla shake?”

His face lit up.  “Sure!”  He reached for her drink and took a long, happy sip of it.  “Now that’s more like it!”

“You can have it,” she offered generously.

“No,” he frowned.  “I promised you a treat.  To thank you for taking such good care of me.  I’ll just go buy myself another.”  He glanced down at his latte.  “But what am I going to do with this coffee?”

“I’ll drink it.  I enjoy lattes.”

“Excellent!  Twice blessed then!”  He flashed her his boxy grin as he stood up and wandered off to buy himself another drink.

And Poppy sighed.  Part of her hoped he’d never regain his memory and would be dependent on her for life.  And that he’d fall madly in love with her.  The man was a dream come true.

Of course, she didn’t really want him to lose his memory permanently.  But she would like him to find her interesting.  And attractive.  Was it too much to hope that he liked girls with blue eyes?