Behind The Scene

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?

The Next Day

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. "Han So Eun!" she replied before leaving. Hyuk Soo followed the taxi's departure with his gaze and smiled to himself.