"So did they agree?" Auntie asked peering over my shoulders as I reshuffled the items on the shelves.
Two times in a row. Didn't Auntie have Alzheimer's? How come she remembered me twice upon seeing me?
Was she recovered already?
"Well—" I turned to Auntie pausing to reconsider my words.
Sensei and I weren't dating but our relationship now, definitely wasn't teacher and student.
Sensei wanted to take things slow. I could sense it.
"He didn't say no neither did he say yes."
Auntie's lips parted then closed, she seemed to be comprehending what I said and when she finally did, she hit my head with her folded hand fan.
"What was that for?" I held my head wincing slightly.
"Hey, are you that gullible? If he didn't say yes or no then doesn't that mean he's not interested but doesn't know how to reject you?"
"Perhaps he doesn't want to hurt your feeling." Auntie said crossing her arms.
I stood up abruptly my eyes narrowing at her. "No, that's not it. Sensei— I mean he's definitely interested in me. If he wasn't then he wouldn't bother searching for the orbs auntie gave me."
I refused to believe it. Sensei wasn't interested in me? That was crap.
Auntie's eyes widened taken aback by my sudden outburst. "Wow, Sehyun, I didn't know you could speak that much. All that too because of this Sensei huh…"
I flushed. She heard me.
She opened the hand fan walking past me. "Alright then, let's say this Sensei does like you. Then, why hasn't she asked you out?"
I froze. She??
Right, Auntie had no idea I liked boys but quickly insinuating my love interest was female was a bit….
Annoying.
'A goodlooking son like me would have a beautiful girlfriend.'
My hands clenched by my side. "Auntie, I like boys."
Those words could finally escape my lips without me feeling like I was a sinner. I, was no longer scared of how the world would look at me. As long as I had Sensei, I didn't matter.
Auntie stiffened the hand fan in her hands dropping to the floor.
It was expected. The usual disappointment. I couldn't fathom it, why were they disappointed? I had the right to like whoever I wanted, why did gender matter that much?
"I see, tha-that's how it is.."
"Auntie, do you hate me?" I asked my eyes peering into hers. Her words didn't matter, I was more concerned about what her eyes said.
I saw her expression soften. Her eyes becoming so warm I could feel it.
This was unexpected…
"No, why would I hate you because of such a trivial thing? Lee Sehyun, you're free to like whomever as long as you don't get hurt and you're comfortable with it."
This was the first time Auntie called me by my full name. Auntie was sincere. She meant every word.
"Besides," she bent down and picked the hand fan. "I'm inexperienced when it comes to stuff like that but, I merely want the best for Sehyun." She gave me a warm smile her eyes creasing.
"That is why…." She walked towards me and grabbed my ear. "What in the world were you thinking?? Sensei?? You fell for your teacher?!" She questioned pulling my ear so hard my eyes began to tear up.
"Auntie, hold on a minute."
"And you let me give you all that advice? What if he ran away?" She released my ear and slapped my back.
"Ouch." I scrambled towards the exit but she grabbed my shirt. "I'm not done yet, where are you running to?"
Where did the sudden strength come from? I wondered admist trying to wriggle from her grasp.
"This Sensei may not see you as innocent any more who goes around confessing suddenly?! What if he sees you as easy?" She asked irritatedly.
"Auntie told me not to life with regrets bedsides…." I held her hand. "Sensei doesn't see me as easy. He…likes being with me." I added my voice firm despite how suddenly uncertain I became.
"He likes being with you doesn't mean he loves you. You're really naive Sehyun, what if this Sensei's really using your feelings?" Auntie chided with worry.
"Sensei is different. He's not that sort of person." I retorted.
"Sensei doesn't know what he feels yet. I've been there too, Sensei helped me realize my feeling—that's why I'm going to help him too."
Even if Sensei doesn't like me yet, I'll do everything to make him fall for me.
"You're this determined to win the heart of an old man?" Auntie asked her brows quirked up.
"Sensei is not old, he's just in his early twenties."
"How old?"
"Twenty-five."
The store went silent our gazes lingered—fierce and unmoving as if backing out would signify losing. I wouldn't lose Sensei not to anybody.
Auntie sighed giving up. "Fine, it's your call at the end of the day,"
My tensed shoulders slowly relaxed. I really wanted Auntie to approve of me and Sensei because for me, Auntie was like family. One I never really had.
I smiled. "I'm grateful."
Auntie snorted and walked back to the counter. "Like if I'd said you should give up you'd listen."
My smile widened. She really understood me.
I resumed reshuffling.
It wasn't too long I heard Auntie's voice again. "Now that we're on the subject, I should tell you, maintaining your purity is the most important."
I almost knocked over the shelf. "Auntie, we're both men, I really don't need that advice…" I muttered silently.
"Huh?!! It doesn't matter, men are wolves haven't you heard?"
"Sensei's not a wolf…." My face heated as I suddenly remembered yesterday.
That was different right…
"Why's your cheek all flushed??"
Auntie had appeared by my side once more. My heart rammed into my chest. "Auntie quit doing that will you?"
"Have you both kissed yet?" Auntie asked a sly smirk on her face. My blush deepened. Did she have to be that blunt about her words?
"Well--" my voice trailed off saying such things was a bit awkward but Auntie seemed to understand as her eyes widened nearly dropping from their sockets.
"How many days has it been?! Then don't tell me…" Auntie's eyes darted lower her stare penetrating my skin.
"We haven't!" I wrapped my hands around my body as if preventing Auntie's eyes from seeing the marks beneath my clothes. I hurriedly packed the expired goods and stood up.
"You were just speaking about purity moments ago yet Auntie thoughts really—" my voice flattered suddenly not finding how to finish.
"Kids nowadays, you really have hot blood pumping through your viens." Auntie rubbed her nose her voice denying but I caught the mischief in her eyes.
Auntie was really something else.
It made my heart warm. She really didn't consider me liking boys as something hideous.
I stared down at the expired items in the box I held my chest weighing. If only they had been the same too….
Probably, I wouldn't feel this sad.
"Hey Sehyun, are you going to keep standing there? What if a customer walks in?"
"I'm going already…" I spun on my heels almost immediately i could feel the tears forming.
It really hurt. Being rejected by family.
"Hurry back!" Auntie's voice echoed silently pulling me from my reverie.
I dropped the box in the storage room.
I was human too. They really had no right to treat me like that…
For that reason, I was going to dump all the bad memories just like the expired goods. I was going to start afresh.
Create new memories with people I've found.
Without realizing it, hours ticked by and soon it was night time. "Auntie, it's time to have your medicine." I headed over to Auntie who was seated on her favourite rocking chair knitting.
Finally, she's doing something her age.
"I don't want it, Sehyun's going to leave me here all alone." She pouted refusing to take her medicine.
"I'm past my work hours Auntie, I have to go home early otherwise…" Auntie cut me off
"Sensei going to be worried?" She scoffed.
I smiled wearily. "Auntie just take it already,"
After much persuasion, she finally collected the medicine from me. I let out a sigh—relieved.
"If he's going to be that worried, he should come pick you up himself. Isn't he aware how dangerous the streets are at night?" She added her voice a matter of fact.
"Sensei's busy, I can get home myself, I shouldn't —"
"Sehyun…"
Just as I got halfway through with my sentence, I heard his voice. Crisp and clear like the night.
My body moved without realizing it. I saw him standing just a few steps away from me. His presence as graceful as ever. I smiled unconsciously my heartbeat palpitating.
Auntie grasped my hand pulling me down so I was crouching. "Is he…." She asked curiously her voice low she was almost whispering. I nodded like a woodpecker.
Somewhat happy to show Sensei off.
Auntie's gaze returned to Sensei, then back at me. "You didn't tell me he was this good looking." She hit my shoulder again.
I looked at Sensei who gave me a 'what's going on?' look.
"Auntie didn't ask." I whispered back. "You brat. Ignore what I said about keeping purity, it's all bullshit. If there's a way to keep a beauty to yourself, you've got to sacrifice everything—even your body." She whispered her voice laced with mirth.
"Auntie!" I half yelled and whispered. I could tell she was messing around but I wasn't used it it yet.
Being teased.
She winked at me then let me go. "Go, go, it's ride to keep a darling waiting."
Who called him an old man just hours ago? I mused rising to my feet.
I walked over towards Sensei who nodded slightly towards Auntie before turning to leave with me. "What were you guys whispering about?" He asked.
My cheeks flushed. "Nothing, it's just Auntie being a fangirl." I muttered in reply.
Sensei's gaze lingered on my face for a while before nodding. "I see," he grasped my hand in his adding softly, "I'll walk you home tonight."
My heart fluttered. Home…. That rundown house wasn't all that bad anymore.
It had become home, for both of us.