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Chapter 1: A Date with Whom? – June 22, 2019

Tae had asked Yunseong out on a friend date.  To dinner and a movie.  But when he arrived at her house, he found her dressed to the nines.

His eyes slid from her low pumps — thank God they weren’t tall wedges, or they would have reminded him of you-know-who — up her cute legs to the billowing skirt of her little, black dress.  That gaze continued to climb past her waist to the bare shoulders that sported only one black dress strap each.  Her arms were completely bare.  He swallowed.  Then his eyes took in her ravishing countenance.  Had he noticed before how very beautiful she was?  

She’d swept her hair up into two buns that framed her face cutely, giving her a childish air.  Yet, she was still alluring to him somehow.  He swallowed again.  He didn’t want to be lured.  Or fascinated by her beauty.  But he did have eyes in his head.  And they did work.  Properly.

He cleared his throat to try to remove the sudden lump that had formed there.  “We’re just going to the movies, you know.  You can change into jeans and a T-shirt if you’d be more comfortable.”

Within the next second, he knew he’d made an error in judgement, for her face fell.

“You don’t like this outfit?” Her mournful voice filled his ears.

“I didn’t say that!” he rushed to comfort her.  “I just, I wonder how comfortable a skirt can be,” he finished lamely.

She quirked a chocolate eyebrow at him.  “More comfortable than a pair of jeans, I can assure you.  So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to wear my dress.  Maybe somebody will appreciate it.”  

She walked forward in a huff then.  Disappointed in him.  

Which wasn’t fair.  He’d made it very clear he was looking only for a friend.  Yet she had tested his resolve on purpose.  She had only herself to blame for her disappointment.  Still.  She was wearing the dress.

If the boy didn’t want her, that was his problem.  She still wanted to look good for him.  No one looking at them would know they were just friends.  Perhaps she would scare off the other girls that were sure to be attracted to his tall, dark good looks.

She wanted to be the only girl in his sights when he finally woke up from the dream that he’d been enjoying for several years.  In which his best friend became his wife.  Clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.  The sooner he realized it, the better.  For both of them.

—

They headed out to dinner.  She’d imagined a five-star restaurant.  She decided he was just mocking her when he opened the door to the burger joint.  She shrugged her shoulders.  She’d make sure to order a milkshake to go with her burger.  

Still, the disappointment lingered.  And it scared her.  She liked him too much already.  After just one week of hanging out with him.  And sharing texts.  She liked him a lot.

As they stood in line waiting to order, her eyes traced his gorgeous countenance.  Her gaze slid along the chiseled features of his face.  How could a man’s lips be so absolutely perfect?

And she should know.  She knew what they felt like against her own.  Yet she longed to feel them again.  They had felt even more amazing than their appearance had promised.  They were delicious lips.  And stunningly beautiful lips too.  

She had never before considered a guy’s lips to be beautiful.  But there was something about Tae’s lips that drew the eye.  Like a master – Michelangelo, perhaps? – had carved them from marble.  

But they hadn’t felt like cold marble.  No.  They’d been warm and soft.  And comforting to a girl who had long been ignored by everyone.  Invisible.  That’s what she was.

Even when she was wearing a little, black dress with a twirling skirt.  Tae couldn’t see her either.  She had thought he could.  That first night.  The evening she’d allowed him to kiss her.  Twice.

But he hadn’t seen her.  He’d just been looking for comfort.  And she had come along.  And been his willing victim.  For he had raised her hopes only to dash them a few days later.

Now as she stood staring out the window of the burger shop, she wondered if any guy would ever really notice her.  As she was questioning her value, she suddenly noticed a tall, handsome man sitting in a far corner of the restaurant.  As her eyes collided with his, he instantly grinned at her.  And she nearly fainted.

The man was stunningly beautiful.  Not in the chiseled way Tae was.  But in a softer way.  But, by far, the most gorgeous asset he possessed was that amazing grin.  It lit up his entire face.  His nose scrunched up in the most adorable way too.  And his eyes rode his cheeks as two half-moons, bobbing up and down as he suddenly laughed at something.  

What was he laughing at?

Then, he astounded her by waving.  She turned and looked behind her.  Tae was there, reading the menu.  She spun around and smiled at that gorgeous boy.  He stood up all of a sudden and began walking her way.

Her heart started thudding.  Was he coming to talk to her?  Had he actually noticed her?  Was it the dress?  

She had known it was going to get her some attention.  Nervously, she tugged on the skirt.  Mr. Gorgeous walked right up to her.  He smiled at her again.  This time in the sweetest manner she’d ever seen a man smile.  Then he turned towards Tae.

“Tae!  Introduce me to your lovely lady friend!”  Jungkook clapped him on the shoulder.

Startled, Tae turned a distracted face towards his best friend.  Who wasn’t a girl. 

“Uh, Jungkook, this is my friend, Yunseong.”

Jungkook’s face beamed down at her again.  “Hello, Yunseong,” he purred as he elbowed Tae in the ribs.  “Am I interrupting a hot date then?”

“No!  Not at all!” Yunseong was quick to assert.  “We’re just hanging out.”

Jungkook’s eyes raked her frame in a doubtful manner. “In that dress?  I’d love to see what you’d wear on a real date.”

Ask me out, and you can find out.

But she didn’t say it.  She blushed instead.  

Someone had noticed her.  But…who was he?

“What Tae is too rude to tell you is that I’m his best friend.”

“You’re Eunji?” she quipped with a smile.

Jungkook barked with laughter and tipped his head to her.  “Touché!  I guess he has told you all then, eh?”  Jungkook bent and whispered in her ear.  “Please forgive him for being blind.  You are absolutely ravishing in that dress.”

She gazed up at him in wonder.  “Do you really think so?”

He nodded.  “Indeed, I do.”  Then he grimaced.  “Is that okay for me to say?” he whispered as he bent towards her again.

“Absolutely,” she breathed.  

She liked him immensely.  For all his bold talk, there was something genuine in his face and eyes.

She leaned up towards him and whispered, “Thank you for noticing me.  I’ve spent my whole life being invisible.”

Her words tugged at Jungkook‘s heart.  “I can assure you, my dear, you have never been – nor will you ever be – invisible.”  He reached up and knocked Tae in the head with three of his fingers.  “My friend here is just distracted right now.”

“You mean, heartbroken,” she murmured near his ear, “and it’s not just Tae.  Guys do not notice me.”

He quirked his left eyebrow.  “I did.”

“Well, you, kind sir, are the first.”

A faraway look in his eye, Tae stared at them both.  “What are you two talking about?”

“Your blindness,” Jungkook offered.

“Huh?” Tae’s eyes turned back to the menu board.  Then he moved forward to place their order.  

After he’d ordered what he desired, he turned towards Yunseong.  “What would you like?”

“A single burger, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, a medium fry, and an Oreo shake.”

Tae’s eyes lit up.  “Ooh!  I want an Oreo shake too!” he exclaimed as he turned towards the cashier.

“Finally, a girl with a hearty appetite,” Jungkook murmured.

Tae pivoted to glance at Jungkook.  “You want anything?”

Jungkook’s eyes never left Yunseong’s beautiful face.  “Yes.  But what I want isn’t up on that board,” he murmured before glancing at Tae.  “Thanks, but I’m full.”

Tae’s face took on a comical expression.  “Who are you, and what have you done with Jungkook?  You’re never full.  Fries?  An Oreo shake of your own?”

Jungkook nodded as he smiled down at Yunseong.  “Okay.  You twisted my arm.  Both.  Thanks, Tae.”  Then he addressed her again.  “What are you guys doing after you eat?”

“Going to a movie.”

“Which one?” he asked with interest.

“The Avengers.”

“Tae!  You’re going to the Avengers movie without me?!” Jungkook cried out in mock horror.  Then he smiled down at Yunseong.  “Do you like the Avengers?”

“Yes,” she whispered, “but not as much now that Iron Man is gone.”

“Thank you!” Jungkook exclaimed.

“That’s why I didn’t invite you, Kook,” Tae muttered dryly.  “I knew you’d spend the whole movie mourning.”

“Not if I could sit next to you,” Jungkook murmured in Yunseong’s ear.

She turned to look up at him in surprise.  “Do you want to come with us?”

A wide grin split his face again.  “I’d love to.”

Tae glanced from one to the other.  He sighed.  It didn’t seem like he had to worry about hurting Yunseong anymore.  She was clearly quite taken with his best friend.  Perhaps it was for the best.