Chapter 05

Author's POV

...

Sunday 8:00 AM

Few days has passed after our examination and there he is, lying on his bed, their teachers gave them fifthten days vacation yet he's bored. His father went to Paris yesterday for some important event that he doesn't know what it is because he didn't tell him when he asked and now it's just him inside the palace with the maids and butlers.

He wants to hang out again with Yeori. He lazily rolls to his side and looked at the picture of them at the amusement park with their alpaca plushy which he putted on the frame and displayed it on the nightstand. He smiles as he stares at her in the picture. She looked so happy. These passed few days, He had asked Mr.Chung to get some details about her. According to him, Yeori's parents are already dead due to car accident when she was just three years old, she only had her grandmother, and currently working at a coffee shop every sunday as a part timer. With those informations he found, he couldn't help not to feel sad for her.

She is such a hardworking person and he admires her for that, despite of being an orphan at the very young age she managed to live without the help of anyone, except her grandmother. Unlike him, he wants to try living in a normal life. Act being himself, freely do the things what the ordinary people does. But, he cannot because he's a prince who needs to do the proper etiquettes for a prince or act in an elegant way even how to dress well in a fancy clothes. He also have to learn all the things what a prince should learn just to make the imperial family proud of him. It's a stressing thing. The thought of those training made him sigh and sit up from his bed before Yeori came back into his mind again. He really wants to see her, It's been almost a week since he last saw her after their exam. He miss her.

"That's it, I'm going to see her now." He jumps out of his bed after a long debate with himself, heading directly to his closet, and changed into a normal outfit. "I need to look like an ordinary person so no one would recognize me--wait my hair!" He mumbles to himself and headed to the bathroom. To be honest, the imperial family didn't exposed his face to the people, only the imperial workers and Captain Seungmin knows what he looks like.

Sneaking out of his room after checking if there are maids around, he tiptoed downstairs and make sure not to create a single noise. "I need to find Mr.Chung." he mutters, passing by at the palace's garden and there he saw Mr.Chung standing there alone, he quickly went to him.

"Mr.Chung!" He whispered yell his name and that startled him.

"Goodness! Your higne--" Mr.Chung shrieked but Hanseul was fast to cover his mouth using his hand.

"Shhs!" He shushed him. "Mr Chung, I need to go somewhere." He purposedly lower his voice so no one can hear them, he then removes his hand.

"B-but your highness, your father told me to not let you go somewhere out of this palace during your vacation day." Mr.Chung's eyes widens in fear. This is definitely not a good idea. He's pretty surr that this is about a girl whom the young prince always talked about to him. The emperor would probably beat the shit out of him if he would allow the prince to go out without the emperor's permission, personally. Especially now that the emperor is absent.

"Please Mr Chung, don't worry I'll talk to my father after this. Please, please, please." The prince keep pleading and clinging on his arm like a child. He's on the verge to cry because he's confused. Torn between refusing the prince's pleas or just give in and let him see the girl.

(Few minutes later~)

"I'm dead... I'm totally dead." Mr.Chung dramatically stated as he drives to the place where he's been told while Haneul sitting on the passenger seat smiling like an excited kid.

"I'm so happy Mr.Chung, and I promise you won't lose your job. Trust me." Haneul pats his shoulder for assurance but it seems like it just made Mr.Chung nervous.

"We are here now your highness. May I know if why you are so eager to get here?" He curiously the prince as he parked the car but Haneul already stepping out of the car. Leaving Mr.Chung there unanswered. Seeing how excited the prince left him there, he just get his answer.

The prince really wanted to see the girl so badly and this made him wonder if what kind of friendship does the prince has with the girl.

...

09:00 AM

"Here is your coffee ma'am." Yeori politely handed the coffee to the lady customer. She thanked her before leaving the cafe. Yeori quitely observe the kind lady. She's wearing a formal dress and holding a suitcase. It's pretty clear that she's working in a company. She must have a good life. Will she become like her someday? Yeori thought as she looked down on her self. A college student wearing an apron. It's not like she's complaining of what she has right now. Atleast she's still lucky to have a job. Even it's just working as a waitress at a cafe. Maybe one day, she'll get a better job with high salary.

She fixs her apron, getting the rag and started cleaning the counter. Then after that, she head to the storage room and get the cleaning materials. She started to mop the tiled floor since the cafe is empty at this time.

Short moment of cleaning passed, she hears the door clicks open, telling that a customer came in.

"Welcome to Haven Café!" She greets without looking at the customer, immediately putting the mop away before turning around to face the customer but to her surprised he's standing close to her, and this caused her to step backward on the wet floor. A little squeak came out from her as she unfortunately lost her balance. She was about to slip but he quickly caught her on her waist.

"Whoa, Careful princess." He rasp, smiling at her as he pull her back until she steadily stands on her feet but Yeori's still in shock.

What is he doing here? She wonder how. Could it maybe just a coincidence or not? She's sure she must have looked like a fish dying for an oxygen as her mouth opens a few times but only to close it again because no words would come out from it.

"Haneul, w-what are you doing here?" She asks as she finally get back into her sense before noticing some strand of his hair under the red hat he is wearing. It's not pink anymore, it's black now.

"I... I'm with my dad and he wants to drink coffee so...here I am. I don't know you are working here." He stutter as he just made an excuse on the spot, mentally prahing that it would sound convincing to her. He slid both of his hands in his blue hoodie's pocket.

"You are with your dad? Wh--" the conversation was interrupted when a man in a formal attire enters the café, looking at them. It's Mr.Chung and this caused Haneul to widen his eyes because he knows once Mr.Chung open his mouth to speak to him, his words always has a 'Your Highness' on it. The addressing would never be out of it and the moment his eyes catch how Mr.Chung's mouth started opening to speak he immediately think of a way how to prevent it.

"Your--"

"Dad! I want you to meet my friend." Haneul cuts him and quickly went beside him, trying to send a signal to Mr.Chung with his gaze without Yeori noticing it. It didn't took long for his driver to get the prince message and he immediately put on his best act.

Yeori was skeptically looking at the two. The father of Haneul? She mentally asked herself as she observes their faces maybe finding hints of similarities and fortunately for the two they have the same eyeshape and color. Also their heights that helps to convince Yeori to believe.

"So, you are my son's friend." Mr.Chung says as he approach her with Haneul beside him.

"Yes. I'm Han Yeori, nice to meet you, Mr Kim." She smiles before giving him a 90° bow to show her respect that causes Mr.Chung to laugh in appreciation. No wonder the young prince became attached to this girl in front of him.

"I know dear, he talks alot about you." He confidently tell her and that surprised both Yeori and Haneul. Yeori was flustered after hearing it while Haneul looked dramatically betrayed behind Mr.Chung. He wasn't expecting that to come. How could Mr.Chung do that to him? His face became red in embarrassment because what Mr.Chung had spilled out was true.

"Dad.." Haneul murmurs nervously as Yeori turn her gaze to him and that's the moment she saw how his face blushing too. It made her quickly diverts her gaze when their eyes met.

Clearing her throat, "Um, what coffee do you want by the way Mr Kim?" She asks, hoping it would help to change the topic and it did.

"Oh, I will have caramel macchiato." Mr.Chung eyes lit up at the mention of coffee. He's craving for one actually. She nod politely before looking at Haneul. Their eyes meet again. It's nothing suspicious though. Her gaze was just asking him silently if what coffee does he want. But why do he feel like she could see through him? Damn. Haneul internally sigh.

"Same with him." He says and with that, she walked to the counter and started making their coffee, oblivious at the two men who are exchanging looks.

"I didn't know that I'm your father." Mr.Chung whispered to Haneul, bitting back a laugh while Haneul only sigh.

"It was the only idea that popped in my brain. You almost reveal my real identity." Whispered back through his gritted teeth before pulling out his phone from his jeans pocket.

"Yoeri, here is the list of the materials needed in the storage room." An elder guy who looked like already in his 30s came out from a room with a folder in his hand. It's Yeori's boss. He gave her the folder and she only nodded at him. The two from afar who are now sitting at the table near the glass wall quietly observes the boss. He doesn't looked like a strict one and it's a good thing for Mr.Chung because he has another plan for the prince.

Since I'm his father today, why not make the prince more happier, eh? Mr.Chung thought as he mentally smirk mischievously while looking at the prince whos. He's willing to do everything just for the sake of the prince happiness. He has not seen the prince looking so bright and inspired like this for a long time ever since the death of the late queen.

Standing up from his chair, he approach boss with a professional posture. "Excuse me, sir. You must be Yeori's boss, right?" He asks, getting the boss's attention and the prince.

"Yes I am. Why?" As he expected, the boss is kind as he smiled at him.

"I need something to talk with you about your coffee shop." The boss's face lit up more at the mention of it. The elder man in front of him must be a one big businessman. He thoughtashe looked at Mr.Chung's elegant attire.

"Sure. Let's talk in my office." The boss didn't hesitate to entertain him and take him to the said office, leaving Yeori there on her spot looking at them curiously while still making their coffee.

Not even five minutes, they both came out and shook hands right on time Yeori finished making coffee.

"Done, here." She announced, getting Haneul's attention, he come over as she hands the two medium sized cup of caramel macchiato to him which he gladly took them.

"Yeori, I have to close this café today. I have something important to do. Take this day as your dayoff." Her boss tell her. Why the sudden? She thought as she gave him a questioning gaze but nodded in the end anyway.

"Okay, Sir." She removed her apron with a confused face when she heard what Mr.Chung had said next.

"I'll leave you kids here. I have something urgent to go to."

And with that, the time felt just so fast because after they close the cafe Yeori's now at the park with Haneul eating ice-creams.

"Yeori?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Looking down to the ground, "So, how's your day after our exam? I guess you went on a trip." She started the conversation while licking her ice cream, eyes watching the kids playing around. They looked so happy with their parents. She wanted to voice out her comments but just decided to keep it to herself.

"I didn't go on a trip." shaking his head, "I feel so bored these passed few days. It's boring without you." He tells her with all honesty but Yeori only snort and rolls her eyes away as she thought it was a joke.

"Wow, how sweet." She comments sarcastically and Haneul could only gasp dramatically at her.

"Yah, don't you believe me?"

"If you're trying to pull a prank on me just to see how would I react to those pick up lines, it won't work." She shake her head proudly, causing Haneul to smile at her amusedly.

"Getting confident, I see." Haneul comment back with a teasing smirk and that made the shy Yeori came back as her face twisted into a shy and red type face. She looked at him and wave hands.

"No, I'm not!" Then the sound of the alarm from her phone interrupted their conversation, reminding her of the time for her halmoni's medicine. "Haneul, I'm sorry. I need to go home now." She stood up right on time she finished her ice-cream.

"Let me take you home." Haneul offers, standing up too and before she could say some things like 'Oh, you don't have to because I can manage by myself, thank you' he already grabbed her hand and started walking. Here we go again with hands. She sigh internally.

"Haneul, we need to pass by on the nearest pharmacy, I need to buy a medicine."

That made him stop from walking and looked at her with concern. "Wait, are you sick?" He placed his hand on her forehead to check her temperature, getting her off guard as she felt her cheeks redden. She wasn't expecting a sweet gesture from him.

"No I'm not sick, it's for my halmoni." She told him and this made him looked more concerned.

...

(Few minutes later)

"Well, I'll go now.I hope your halmoni will recover soon." Haneul's voice was laced nothing but sympathy and Yeori nodded appreciately. They're now standing in front of the house.

He was about to go, "Wait," she grabbed his arm,"How about you join us for lunch before you head home. It's lunchtime anyway." She offer and his face brighten up before flashing her his wide smile.

"Well, I won't say no when it comes to food." He chuckled and she playfully hit his arm.

"But it's just spicy naengmyeon and kimchi stew." She told him as she observe how would he going to react to that.

"whatever it is, it's fine with me, princess." He winked at her, causing her to feel her cheeks blushing again. Why calling her princess?

"Well, then let's get inside." She turned around, ignoring the sudden flutterness in her stomach as they get inside the house.

"Nice to see you again, halmoni." Haneul immediately greets her halmoni with a smile.

"Oh, Haneul my child, It's nice to see you too." She happily hugged him while he also hugged her back to.

"I invited him to join us for lunch." Yeori told her before looking back at Haneul. "I'll go to the kitchen to cook, feel at home, Haneul." She headed to the kitchen after that. Lleaving Haneul with her halmoni at their small living room.

"Haneul?" halmoni calls, getting his attention.

"Yes?" He looked at her as she take him to sit on the couch together.

.

"So, tell me...how did you two became friends?" She asked, curiosity evident on her eyes.

"I transferred to her school, and we became classmates..." He tells, smiling as he remember the first time he met her.

"She didn't have a friend ever since she was a kid, until you came into her life..." Her halmoni starts telling Haneul about Yeori's life and he looked at her as he listen attentively to the old woman's story. Starting from when yeori was just a kid, how she cared and loved her, and the way that she's okay even though it's not. Those tears she hide behind her smile, those scream of sorrow behind her laughter and when she lie everytime she get home with bruises or cuts and saying that she just tripped on a rock. Her halmoni knows even if she didn't show it or tell her. . "Oh, sorry I got emotional.." She chuckles a bit as she wipes a tear that escaped from her eye.

"It's fine.." He assures her, holding her hand and gave her a comforting smile.

"Haneul my child, I know this is too much to ask but you are the only person I know and sure to trust with."

"What is it?"

...

After Yeori finished cooking the spicy naengmyeon and kimchi stew, she looked for a big bowl to the kimchi stew in.

"Where did I put those?" She rested her hands on her waist as she think for a moment before opening the lower compartments but it's not there. "Maybe it's in the upper compartment." She mutters under her breath and sigh. Getting a chair, she stand on it but it's still not enough for her to reach the knob. So, she tiptoed to open the upper compartment and she successfully did it.

But unfortunately, the big bowl that she's looking for is at the upper part which is hard for her to reach it. So tiptoed more and stretched her right arm more hoping she will reach it. "Just a little bit..just a li--whoa!" But luck was not on her side as she lost her balance. Closing her eyes, she wait for her body to meet the floor but to her surprised, she didn't because someone catched her.

Wait, what?!

She opened her eyes and it was met by those dark brown orbs of him. Faces mere inches away, her arms around his neck as he is carrying her in a bridal style. Time seemed stops, silence filling the small kitchen. What they could only hear was the thumping sound of their hearts beating rapidly. Both of them are speechless as they didn't know what to say.

Both lost in the galaxy of their delectable eyes staring deeply at each other. The time their door to attraction opens. This is the first time he saw her face so upclose like this and he could say that it's worth to stare at. Because it looked so innocent and angelic. His gaze goes down to her lips for a moment before he slowly lean closer to her. Yeori doesn't know what to do or what to say as her brain betrays her and stop working. All she know is that...her body wants to stay like that.

As his face getting closer, she closed her eyes, waiting for the next thing to happen. She could feel his soft breath fanning on her li--

"Yeori? What's happening there, dear?"

The moment was interrupted by the faint sound of her halmoni's voice coming from the living room and this caused both her and Haneul's eyes shot opened as the realization hits them in a flash. He backed away and put her down when a faint sound of footstep coming from her halmoni was heard heading to the kitchen. Awkwardness sips through their bones. They couldn't looked at each other due to embarrassment. What they almost did earlier could possibly ruin their friendship and it's a stupid thing to do.

"Yeori? Haneul? What happened? I heard your voice." Halmoni came in with a worried face.

"It's nothing halmoni i'm just trying get the bowl--oh! T-thanks." She was about to pint at it but it's already in Haneul's hand, surprisingly. He handed it to her.

"Goodness, I thought something bad happened to you." Her halmoni exhaled deeply and walked towards her.

'Something', that word keeps lingering in her mind with the scene of them almost kissed each other. She mentally slapped herself and shrugged off those thoughts away. Pouring the kimchi stew on the bowl for distraction.

"Can I help?" Haneul asks from behind and she nod without looking at him.

"Yes, set those plates on the table." She managed to speak without stuttering from nervous and some part of the back of her brain proudly pats her at the back.

The lunch didn't went awkwardly silent as her halmoni and Haneul talks a lot about everything interesting, encluding about some of her childhood story surprisingly and she has to do her best not to look flustered in the middle of their conversation. She just stayed quiet and unbothered, letting the two take their time freely chatting.

After the lunch, her halmoni excused herself to go to her room as she needed to rest after taking her maintenance, leaving the two in the kitchen. She started to wash the dishes, while Haneul scratches the back of his neck as he walk slowly and unsurely towards her, stopping when he's only one step from her.

"Yeori," he calls and she just hums in response. He knows she's avoiding him because of what happened lately. It's pretty obvious. But is this the right time to talk about it? Yeori's behavior tells it all. She's not ready for it. He should easen up the awkward tension around them. He thought. "So, you wear it." He comments, pointing down at the silver bracelet with a heart shaped pendant on her wrist. It was his gift to her. Good thing, his eyes landed on it or else he doesn't know what to say.

"Oh," That word made Yeori looked at him over her shoulder before fully facing him. "Yeah, I did." She says, he was glad to see that the topic did easen her up and it also shows that she like his gift.

"It looks pretty on you." An honest words came from him but it just made her raised an eyebrow before laughing lowly as she finds it weirdly funny and it made him sigh internally again. Of course, this only friend of him won't believe in complements. He thought.

"I'm not convinced but thank you for this gift. I admit, you surprised me."

"Really?" He crosses his arms as he give her a teasing grin.

"I change my mind. I'll take it back." She grins back teasingly, mirroring his action as she also crossed her arms. A simple conversation that suddenly turned into kind of teasing challenge. This wasn't planned. None of them planned it. It just came naturally whenever they're together.

"Oh no, you won't dare." He mumbles as he narrow his eyes at her. Is he trying to intidate her? But he just looked like an angry hamster though. Yeori thought before bursting in her laughter without hesitation and this surprised Haneul. Did she just laughed at his face? "Yah, what's funny?" He asks but she's still laughing at him. As much as he likes to hear her laugh, making funny of him when he's trying to look cool and serious is no good.

"I think, I don't mind risking it." She finally managed to speak after calming down herself, challenging him more and just as when he's about speak they're interrupted by his phone ringing up as Mr.Chung calls him. It's his time to go.

"I have to go now. I'll get my revenge next time." He says and she just laugh at him.

"Well, I'll look forward to it."

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