The Wind Loop

20 | kankedort

"What's with the tension?" Ye Bin tried to laugh, her voice sounding croaky suddenly.

"Uh, right." Ju Ho grinned furtively. "Well, I was hoping to bring up this topic sooner or later but since we are here right now, we should talk it out. I'm really sorry for ruining the moment yesterday."

A sharp tap on her shoulder blade made Ye Bin look behind, only to meet a pair of burning eyes and creased forehead of the woman standing behind her.

"If you two are going to stand there and not do your laundry, please give us the chance to do ours." the middle-aged woman pleaded.

Ye Bin realised that they were standing right infront of one of the washing machines and occupying the space without proper explanation. With a quick apology, she motioned Ju Ho to talk to her outside.

Ju Ho nodded silently, following her lead as she pushed open the door of the laundromat to stand under the roof.

"Do you want to say that it was a mistake or something?" she voiced out her concern, making sure to add a pinch of sarcasm.

"No, not at all. I really hope that it's mutual. I do like you and would like to take you out if you are willing to." Ju Ho said quickly, the words in the last sentence almost overlapping with each other.

"You scared me for a second." Ye Bin rubbed her temples. "It is mutual. I would love to go out with you."

"Really?" Ju Ho exclaimed, earning glances from the pedestrians on the road.

"Keep it down." Ye Bin urged, quite embarassed. "Are you going to let the entire world know?"

"Do you want to go home together?" he suggested and pointed towards his cycle which was parked nearby.

"What about my laundry? Don't you have yours too?"

"No. I don't bring my laundry during weekends. Have you seen the crowd? Monday mornings are the best for doing laundry. Well, thanks to me you have lost your chance there." he pointed at the window to show her the crowd.

"I can just do it tomorrow then. What's the best time?" she enquired.

"Come before seven. People are occupied with preparing themselves to go to work. You will easily get everything done." he instructed like someone with a lot of experience as he promenaded along the pavement, to reach his cycle and get it unlocked.

Ye Bin followed him closely, holding onto her bag of unwashed clothes. The basket infront of his cycle held some of the most beautiful daffodils she had ever seen.

"Hop on." Ju Ho beckoned her to sit behind him. "Give that bag to me."

Ye Bin nodded as she settled on the backseat carefully and let Ju Ho adjust her bag infront of his cycle.

"Are those for your shop?" she asked as her hands reached for his shoulder blades for support.

Ju Ho felt his heart and stomach jump together as her hand made contact with his body. His voice wavered as he let her know of a positive response to her question.

The ride back to their house seemed too be quite a short trip. If Ye Bin remembered correctly, their house was pretty far from the laundromat.

"Thank you for the ride, Ju Ho." she gave him a light tap on the back to show her gratitude.

"Ye Bin." he called as soon as she started ascending the staircase.

Ye Bin had to turn around to answer his call with a little hum and a raised eyebrow.

"This is for you." he displayed a daffodil stick infront of her eyes.

"I appreciate it." she smiled. "Thank you."