In Love with Mr. Dimple #4

#4   Ms. Hot-head vs. Mr. Cool-head

Soo Il’s POV

This kid won’t stop staring at me.

“What?!” I finally start it first.

“I’m the one who should have said that.”

“But you didn’t. Stop staring at me, Ha Nee. Just spill it.”

“You’re the one who should do the spilling, Soo Il. What was that about?”

“What? Our meeting earlier? We bump into him, Ha Nee. Coincidentally. You were there right? You can see that nothing happens.”

“How do you know him?”

“I don’t know him! I don’t even know his name.”

“It’s Park Jung Soo. Now you know. So, how did he know you?”

“He’s our librarian, Ha Nee. How else can he know a student name? He saw my card when I borrow a book from the library last week. He doesn’t know me as in ‘know’ me. He just knew my name.” I said, trying to hold myself. I’ve started to feel a bit annoyed and impatient. This issue really take my nerves.

“And the hidden story behind it is?”

“Urgh…Ha Nee. There’s nothing behind it. There’s no hidden story. Nothing important. This is not any sweet love story that starts by just a mere meeting that you read in novels.”

“Nothing important? Which means actually there is something. And Soo Il-ah, why do you have to be so angry? Calm down, friend,” she said with a smirk on her face.

After few minutes of persuade-declination session between me and Ha Nee, I finally give up. This girl is really good in persuading people. I’d tell her the whole story of what happened at the library last week.

“So, in short, you’re telling me that you hate him because he said your name is unusual?” Hs Nee ask me with disbelieve written all over her face. What’s with that face?

“I do not hate him. It just a bit of dislike.”

“Okay. Whatever. Dislike or hating, you’re saying it happens because he said your name is unusual?”

“No, I am not. I don’t like him because he’s rude. How more can he be to say that?”

“But, the fact is, your name IS a bit unusual, Soo Il. It’s not usually used for a girl. No offence intended.”

Both of us fall into silence for a while. We both keep eyeing each other. I finally give in. Matter of fact, Ha Nee was right.

“Yes, I know. I do know it was usually used for a guy. Just look at some of them. Park Soo Il - the actor, Jeon Soo Il - the  director, and even the half Korean soccer player – Kang Soo Il, they are all guys. And that’s not included some other unknown people like Kim Soo Il, Jung Soo Il, and bla bla bla. I can’t find any single girl with the same name.” I said, a bit annoyed with the fact.

“Wait. Rewind that. You searched your own name on net?” she ask, surprised maybe.

“Yeah. I did. The night after. I can’t stand being curious all day. Anyway, like I said before. They are all guys but it also fine to use the name on a girl. So, how can he say that to me?”

“You’re the one who are persistent enough to make him say that out loud, aren’t you? So how can you blame him?”

“He can just lie, can’t he?”

“Is it a good thing to lie? There’s no such thing as white lies in this world, Soo Il-ah.”

“But…” I try to argue but was cut again by Ha Nee.

“Most importantly, why do you care so much on what he’s saying? It doesn’t sounds like you. You usually don’t care much on what people say.”

“It’s not because it’s him, Ha Nee. Don’t think too much. I’ll act the same even if it’s a different person. I don’t know why too...It just happened.”

Ha Nee’s question make me thinks a bit. She’s right. I’m usually don’t care much on what people say. So why do I care so much on what he had said to me and feel very angry and annoyed with it? I think about it for a while before my mind come with an answer.

‘It’s because he’s insulting my name. I’ll feel the same if it’s another guy whodid it. Yes. That’s it. That’s the reason why I’m angry.’

I keep reasoning in my head till I forgot that Ha Nee is still with me. Her voice that come out a while later wake me up from my mind.

“You know what, Soo Il...This is the first time in our years of friendship that I can’t understand you. It really wasn’t that big deal actually. And since you’re the hot-head Soo Il, I’ll just let it slip and won’t debate on it anymore.” Ha Nee give me an assurance smile after saying that. I was about to reply her when she suddenly add,

“But honestly, don’t you feel a bit curious on how and why did he remember you? He met hundreds of students everyday. It’s impossible for him to remember every single of them right?”

“What are you trying to imply here, Ha Nee?”

“Did he like you, by any chance?” she asks without any doubt.

“Ha Nee!!”

“What? I’m just saying what I think.”

I laugh before replying her.

“Why should him, Ha Nee? We don’t know each other. And I’m not pretty enough for him to fall for me on first sight.”

“Why not? Every gut have their own preference. Aren’t they? Maybe you fit his taste. Who knows?”

“At least I know he’s not. How can he know if I fit his preference or not if he doesn’t know me well? We only met twice. How can he conclude who I really am with that?”

“Twice? Wait, do I miss something in your story earlier? Or you’re the one who missed something to tell me?”

‘Oh crap. This loose mouth really need a lesson.’

“Err…what I mean is twice, including today’s meeting.” ‘Please believe me, Ha Nee,’ I pray.

“You can’t fool me again, Soo Il. You fooled me enough already for today.”

“I’m telling you the truth. What’s the point of lying to you, anyway?”

“Less teasing from me? Hehehe…fine. Whatever then. Sooner or later, I will know it too. That loose mouth of yours will spill it later without you realizing it. Let’s just drop the subject. I don’t think your face can be any red than now. I don’t want to get any scold from you.” Standing up, she add,

“He really suits you well, you know. Ms. Hot-head vs. Mr. Cool-head.” Sticking out her tongue, she then runs ahead of me, laughing out loud.

“Cho Ha Nee!!!” I scream at her before I run after her and add,

“You better don’t get caught by me,” and sprint ahead.