Flowerboy Libarian

It's been one hour since she started swirling around the high bookshelves, but she was unable to find the book she desired. When her legs felt numb and she was exhausted, she leaned on the side of the bookshelf. A frown appeared on her face, she didn't feel shy to pout, even if people might have been watching. She was too focused and annoyed, because she's never lucky when it's about finding the books she needs. So Eun wanted to ask for help, but everyone seems so busy to find their own, thus she decided to not disturb them.

"I'm so tired", So Eun muttered to herself, frustrated and hopeless. She stared again at her sticky note, to verify the title and the author of the book. She decided to try one more time, with the same result. Annoyed, So Eun was about to give up when she saw a tall and handsome man walking towards her, pushing the book cart. With just one glance, she knew he is one of the librarians. He started to check book IDs one by one and put them back to their place.

"Um, excuse me..." So Eun asked while the man was busy tidying the book. He turned around and gazed at her with indifference. "May I ask you a favor? " So Eun continued, trying her best to be friendly with him. The man didn't reply, and kept his calm expression while looking at her. It seemed that he was disinterested.

"Um, here! ", she showed him the note. So Eun insisted: "I've been looking for this book for hours, but I can't find it. Please, help me!" The man looked at her note, and quietly continued his activity. "Excuse me; maybe you don't understand Korean language? I'm just asking you for a favor! "So Eun added, irritated by his cold behavior. With his deep and manly voice, he said that others are able to find their book by themselves, annoying her even more.

"I know, but I already told you I searched one hour for it and I haven't managed to find it! Can't you even help me? You work there though!" continued So Eun. He coldly explained, avoiding her eyes, that his job isn't finding the books but caring for them.

"This book is certainly around this bookshelf and you can fiind it easily while tidying up the books" So Eun added, trying to argue with the handsome librarian. This time, the tall man turned his head and stared blankly at her.

Seeing this, So Eun became teary-eyed and let out her frustration: " Please, help me, I really need to find this book, my life is at stake because of it ! If I can't find it, I will be unable to complete my assignment! As a result, I will be expelled from my faculty. I've been so busy doing my part time job while studying to pay my dorm rent! It is my dream to graduate from this faculty, so I can't quit, right? Please! "

The librarian responded to So Eun's tears with a cynical smile. On his face, there was no trace of sympathy for her. It seemed like he was mocking her instead. He rubbed salt on her wound with a succinct comment: "Your acting is bad."

"What?" she said, in disbelief. She couldn't believe her acting didn't move him. Her pride as an actress was badly hurt by his frank mockery. Their eyes met and she noticed his name tag as well.

"Yak! Lee Hyuk Soo-ssi, I'm from acting department, how can you say that my acting is bad?? What does a librarian know about acting?? "Her voice filled the room and captured the attention of the other visitors. Hyuk Soo reacted quickly and covered her mouth with his hand, making So Eun taken aback. The man stood right in front of her and their faces were incredibly close.

So Eun pushed away Hyuk Soo's hand and screamed "Yak! Are you crazy?!" but he covered her mouth once again. His low voice followed: "You're the one who is crazy! This is a library!" He made her realize what she did. She looked around, only to find everyone glaring at her. Trying to apologize, she respectfully bowed and became quieter.

Hyuk Soo took a book from the bookshelf near So Eun, handed it to her and called her "pabo". He then walked away from her, continuing his job while pushing his book cart. So Eun gazed at the book from her hand, and found out that the book given to her by Hyuk Soo was the one she was searching for all along. She sighed deeply and stared angrily at Hyuk Soo's wide back.

Then she whispered to herself "Mwoya? He knew where it was, but didn't want to tell me? What the heck?!Crazy and cruel man!!", turned around and stared at the bookshelf. So Eun scolded herself as well for not seeing the book, even if it was near her. "After all I'm unlucky and not stupid", she comforted herself. Remembering that Hyuk Soo called her "pabo" she muttered only one word: "Jerk!"

The following step was registering the book she borrowed, and she went towards the PC. The concept of the library was developing the independence of the visitor; the people who wanted to borrow books had to do everything by themselves. When she reached the computer, So Eun was surprised to find out that is different from the computers she was accustomed with. It didn't have a keyboard, but she knew there should be a touch screen system. To register the book under her name she had to log in first. So Eun touched the screen, but she was unable to find the screen keyboard. This confused her even more.

She looked around for help, but she didn't see someone who seemed to want to give her help. Then she looked in the other direction and saw Hyuk Soo who finished his job and was walking towards her. Seeing him, she pouted, lifted her chin and turned her face. She wasn't willing to ask for help from this cold guy.

Hoping that the keyboard will appear and she will be able to leave the library soon, she poked the screen again. She tried many times, but the fortune wasn't on her side. Hyuk Soo saw her, smiled and thought that she's stupid in everything she does. The librarian approached her and touched the shortcut on the bottom right and made it appear.

He then cynically asked her "You can do anything by yourself, can't you? ", and So Eun rolled her eyes and said "Get lost "to him. He replied dryly that he "won't stay any longer with a stupid one" and walked away. Furious, So Eun kicked the air after he left her. She wanted to kick and punch him, he was so damn annoying with his handsome face. After that, she prayed that if she were to come back here for another assignment, she won't bump into him again.

Three days after she finished the assignment she borrowed the book for, So Eun came back to return it. She went straight to the admin, the person she should hand the book to. The woman is surprised to discover it's the same person she hoped she won't meet again, the jerk. When she saw him lying in his admin chair, she pouted. Hyuk Soo was immersed in reading a book. The glasses he was wearing made him appear more handsome than before.

So Eun slowly approached him and put the book on the table, trying to not look at him or act annoyed in front of him. Soon, Hyuk Soo realized that someone came to return a book. He tilted his head, and changed its direction towards the customer. When he saw So Eun in front of him, awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact, he smiled.

"I came to return the book I borrowed." So Eun stated. Without saying a word, Hyuk Soo took it, checked the book's ID and So Eun's ID on computer. He quickly resumed his reading after finishing his duty, but So Eun was still standing there, in front of his desk and was now gazing at the front cover. It sparked her curiosity in an instant.

"You're interested in fashion, aren't you?" So Eun asked the young and quiet librarian. Well, she never thought he looked like someone who would be interested in fashion, but after looking closer at him, she realized he is fashionable. The clothes he carefully chose made him appear charismatic and different. Even more, the guy in front of her had the figure of a top model, being tall with a handsome face. When So Eun figured that the guy in front of her was extremely attractive, her jaw dropped and she could think only "why on earth have I not realized it before?"

Hyuk Soo lifted his head again and gazed at her lazily, blurting out "You're still here?" to So Eun. All the awe on her face disappeared instantly and now she was really annoyed at him. The aspiring actress turned around and walked away from the librarian, cursing him in her heart for his comportment. Having seen the change in her expression, Hyuk Soo chuckled to himself and followed So Eun with his gaze, before returning to the book he was reading.

So Eun decided it's for the best to spend her spare time reading another interesting book. She chose one from the art bookshelf, and sat on a chair, in silence. She wished the book would be able to shoo away the bad mood caused by Hyuk Soo's coldness. But after the first page, she couldn't resist the temptation and looked at him, who was focused on his subject of interest.

She leaned her head on her right hand and wondered why he would choose to be a librarian when he could easily find a job as fashion model.

Few minutes later, a girl approached Hyuk Soo. She also held a paper note in her hand, just like So Eun did. The girl shyly approached the librarian and So Eun began to observe them, out of curiosity. She wanted to see if the girl will be treated coldly by him like she was.

The handsome librarian looked at the newcomer and read her note, and then he accidentally looked in So Eun's direction and caught her staring at him, which at first made So Eun feel flustered. To cover it up, she acted casually, making a "what?" with her lip, while looking at him. Hyuk Soo shook his head, stood up and showed to the other girl where she can find the book.

The fact he helped her easily intrigued So Eun, who felt a bit jealous. Seeing Hyuk Soo going back to his chair, she pretended to read and waited to make herself sure the guy is concentrated on his fashion book. This way, she would be able to watch him in silence. After mere minutes, the story repeated with another girl.

Some minutes later, from behind her, So Eun heard a voice whispering, so she turned her head and saw two girls who were smiling happily while holding a book each other and intensely staring at Hyuk Soo. These two girls were the ones Hyuk Soo helped previously.

"He helped me too... ah! I can visit this library every day and ask him for help to get closer to him!" said one of the girls.

"Which book do we need tomorrow? How about this book?" replied the other girl, pointing at one book and noting its details on paper. It seemed as if they were in an open and friendly competition and the subject was no one else but Hyuk Soo. The first girl proposed they choose books in a row, so it would take more time, however, her partner in crime outsmarted her and said they better choose books from the far bookshelf because they would also walk around with him, and both smiled cheerfully as they disappeared.

Finally, So Eun understood why she was treated coldly by Hyuk Soo, he thought she was one of this kind of girls, who just pretend to need a book in order to get closer to him. The whole thing made her pity him, it seemed like these girls are trying to hit on him and they always have the upper hand. "Well, it's just because he's too popular, I guess" So Eun assumed.

When she checked up on him once again, he had received yet one of these extremely annoying requests. He sighed heavily and So Eun could read on his face that he felt bothered by that. Of course, he wasn't stupid or naïve, he knew what the girls were up to and that they were playing around with him. He could bear with it once or twice, but because it happens daily, it really gets on his nerves in the end. The librarian only wanted to have his own time without unnecessary interruptions.

"Please try to find it by yourself", Hyuk Soo said sternly to the girl. But, when his eyes met the CCTV camera by accident, he remembered the owner practically imposed him to be more kind with the visitor, no matter how much he tried to remind him of the library's concept. However, the owner said him that since he was hired, more visitors come in. If he keeps acting indifferent, he'll be fired, as a consequence. "Fine", Hyuk Soo said, got up and helped this girl to find the book.

In the end, So Eun understood how uncomfortable he feels around these girls who are trying to win his attention, and that it's harassment, for real. The young actress thought that he must be tired of them, especially if it happens daily. She can't fully imagine how horrible it must be, but feels sorry for him and wishes she would be able to do something for him. What if she can really do something for him?

®®☺☻☺®®

She would really steal the spotlight, with nice makeup and a short yet elegant red dress. Looking at the mirror, So Eun asked herself if she should go this far. She cheered up herself while applying red lipstick "That's right, that's nothing, fighting, Eun-ah!!" grabbed her bag and called a taxi.

When she arrived at the library, she took a deep breath before getting out of the taxi. The aspiring actress straightened her back, lifted her chin and entered with confidence in her. All the eyes are on her, making her thinking she perhaps has overdone it, but her goal is to catch their attention. She looked around and smiled brightly when she found the stoic librarian, and boldly approached him.

"Annyeong, oppa" she greeted him. He turned around and found her smiling in front of him, surprising him. As a result, he felt really puzzled by her, couldn't understand why she's so nice to him and couldn't help himself but to check her from head to toe.

"It's lunchtime, have you eaten already?" So Eun asked the stunned librarian.

"Nope", he replied, and one could tell from his voice that he was really in a bit of shock and hesitant.

"That's good, let's have lunch together" So Eun proposed, without hesitating to link their arms and dragged out a still puzzled Hyuk Soo.

So Eun wrapped confidently her hand around Hyuk Soo's, walked slowly to make sure there was no one who hasn't seen them together. Through her attire, movements and acting, she sent an intimidation message to all the girls who were watching them, showed her chic and elegant side and glared at all the girls who were eyeing Hyuk Soo. By putting on such a show, she managed to drag him out. When they were far enough, she let go of his hand, sighed heavily, having a hard time to realize she was capable of something like this.

"What did I just do?" she asked Hyuk Soo, who replied with another question: "Do you like me?" to which she denied, leaving him even more confused. So Eun said she needs to cool down and suggested they should buy a cold drink first. Hyuk Soo agreed and they sat together on a bench in the park, savoring their juices in silence. The librarian waited for the explanation.

So Eun gathered courage and confessed she was trying to help him by putting on that show from earlier. The confession confused him, and the girl added even more details to the story. "I know that the girls are bothering you and how uncomfortable is this for you, I know that you dislike it and it must be really tiring for you" she told him.

"So?" Hyuk Soo muttered, and more explanation followed. So Eun mentioned she's that kind of person who doesn't like to do what she dislikes, her principle is to do what she loves, and she believes he's no different from her, so she decided to put on that show hoping the girls will stop torment him.

The man was simply astonished by how careful and considerate she is. Even though they're complete strangers, he could feel she is sincere just by listening to her words. Deep inside his heart, he felt moved.

So Eun suddenly stood up and was already ready to leave, leaving Hyuk Soo confused by her actions."Where do you go?" the man asked So Eun. "I have my own business" said the woman in red.

"Haven't you said that you will have lunch with me?" he continued, to which she simply stated she won't, making him chuckle. She's really something different, full of surprises and an unpredictable person.

"Yak! What's your name?" he screamed at her, rushing to reach her just when she was about to enter in a taxi. "Kim So Eun!" she replied before leaving. Hyuk Soo followed the taxi's departure with his gaze and smiled to himself.

It was a rainy day. After finishing her classes, So Eun decided to savor a warm coffee from the automated coffee machine to keep her warm. She put some coins and patiently waited for the coffee to be poured. Because it was very hot, So Eun didn't sip immediately. With the coffee in hand, she approached the glass doors and was mesmerized by the rain. The rain seemed to be one of the things which could soothe her heart, and she loved it. She loved to lose herself in trying to count the raindrops fallen on the window glass, and breathing the ionized air.

After rain, everything seems purer, a new, with a fresh smell.

Suddenly, the memories of having been asked by Hyuk Soo what is her name clouded her vision, just like the vapors from the coffee she held in her hand steamed the glass doors. "Aish, couldn't he ask what my name is in a nicer way?" So Eun said to herself, pouting. At the thought of paying him a visit, she grinned widely, but then wondered which kind of excuse she should use to pop there.

At a loss of ideas, she thought that borrowing a book seemed the most plausible and believable. "Well, I need a book anyway" she said, smiling brightly. Near the coffee machine, there was an old heater she used as a support for her cappuccino while she opened her umbrella. The young actress walked confidently into the rain, heading to Hyuk Soo's workplace, the library, which wasn't far from her department's building.

She mumbled some song while walking and sipped from her cappuccino. When she reached the library, through the transparent doors, she could see him helping the visitors. Much to her surprise, he accidentally looked towards the entrance doors and found her standing by herself. Hyuk Soo smiled instinctively and went straight to So Eun after the customer left, and welcomed her.

"You've come to see me? " Hyuk Soo asked So Eun, making her feel a bit embarrassed about the real reason she came there with.

"Ah, why would I want to see you? I came for a book." So Eun tried to escape from his trap.

"You've even brought me a drink?" he added as he stole the cappuccino from her hand and had a taste of it. He gave her a hint about his preferences, saying he rather likes black coffee and Americano, and she should bring that next time.

So Eun couldn't believe her eyes, such scene had actually happened, and the idea of an indirect kiss with the librarian let her completely dumbfounded. It was really awkward. She masked everything with smile and laughter, and made fun of him.

"Kekeke, so you're a funny one! Boy, appearances are really deceitful. You're mistaken, I really haven't brought it for you...." Stated So Eun, thinking at how absurd this situation is.

"Just come in, it is cold outside" said the man, and came back to his desk, took a magazine and began to read while enjoying So Eun's cappuccino.

"Whaat? He didn't even offered to help me with the umbrella and now he's drinking my cappuccino! What a cold hearted man!" she cursed him in her mind. She went past him glaring, but he didn't notice.

She spent a quarter of an hour looking for an entertaining novel, and when she found one, she sat on the place by the window. Soon, her mind was completely captured by the book she began to read.

Sometime later, she heard a deep voice asking her "You're reading a novel?" naturally lifted her head and saw Hyuk Soo sitting on the chair, in front of her.

"Why? I don't read only things relevant to my studies. I need a break" So Eun told him. He answered laconic as always. So Eun closed her book and asked him why he's here and doesn't do his job as a librarian. He casually answered and told her his shift has ended and continued to read from the magazine he had started the day before.

She couldn't take her eyes off him, and he knew that, so he stopped his activity and stared at her. To cover her nervousness, she asked the handsome librarian why he has to share a table with her.

"Aren't we supposed to be together as much as we can?" he remarked, trying to remind her of their fake relationship. At first, So Eun was confused and didn't understand. Hyuk Soo helped her remember by mentioning her past intention of wanting to help him get rid of unwanted attention from those scary girls.

He clearly was trying to take advantage of the situation, saying they should make it even more believable. This awoke So Eun's curiosity, who wondered if what she has done wasn't enough to repel those girls.

"You would think they'd get lost after watching you, right?" Hyuk Soo hinted her. Upon realization that the culprits still haven't quit, she was amazed and upset in the same time. He chuckled and said she's stupid to believe the pests would quit that easily.

"Stop calling me stupid! Aigoo, they're really something! These girls aren't ashamed to chase a man! "So Eun said, in disbelief. He suggested they maintain the act they have started, and smiled.

"You should to send them more intimidating signals, just visit me every day, okay?" he said, and made her feel unsure if she should go that far. With this occasion, she was able to discover more of his playful nature hidden under the appearance of a stoic person. Hyuk Soo actually started to tease her saying "Are you that kind of person who doesn't finish what she has started? Waa, that's so mean from your part!", and he really enjoyed it, but So Eun got really angry and shouted she's not that kind of person. He fastly covered her mouth with his hand and reminded her they're in a library. She nod her head and her mouth was freed immediately.

"You can visit me as much as you can, and we can have lunches and coffee breaks together", he proposed, and prompted her to wonder if he's seriously asking her out for a date.

"I am", Hyuk Soo responded casually, with a big smile. The level of awkwardness just got raised up, and So Eun stared at him in disbelief.

"You don't have to make that serious face ", he smirked. The librarian felt that the girl is cute and teasing her gives him so much fun. On the outside, he may look distant, but on the inside he's completely different.

"Hehe, you do enjoy making jokes, don't you?" So Eun remarked ironically.

"Kind of", said Hyuk Soo.

"I feel like I am starting to regret it", So Eun expressed her annoyance at him making fun of her and enjoying it. He just smiled.

"But, Hyuk Soo –ssi..."

"Doesn't oppa sound better?" he asked So Eun, but she hesitated to call him that way. She felt they don't have that kind of relationship required for it to happen, and her face betrayed her confusion. Why should she do that?

"We're still in the library", Hyuk Soo affirmed.

"Aaah", So Eun understood.

She glared at him once again for mocking her telling her she's so slow in everything she does. But there was a thing she felt she must confirm, that they're going to pretend they're lovers in the library, they don't need to have lunch together at all.

"I'd love to do all of it "said Hyuk soo, focusing again on his magazine, to avoid any further conversation.

"Why?" So Eun asked him.

"Just because" he answered laconically.