Page 22 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Ah, yes. Sorry, sorry. I was a little distracted,’ Haneul admitted before adding, ‘Did you ask about the beer? Yeah, looks like we’re done. You’d like more?’ His eyes looked incredulous.
‘Yessss. This feels so good. I feel free and happyyyy …’ Her voice trailed off and she started to get up from the chair. But her head started spinning and almost immediately she was back on her butt.
‘Ouch! Whoa,’ she exclaimed, holding her crown with both hands and trying to steady herself.
Haneul had spent the last couple of hours hanging on to every word that came out of Timira’s slightly crooked, plump mouth. By now, he had heard her cry over the terrible boyfriend who cheated on her and messed things up at her workplace, laughwhile narrating stories about her parents’ love–hate relationship and roll her eyes at being named Leia because her father was obsessed with Star Wars, talk adoringly of Bhaskar and Alice, the best friends she was in Bali with. At some point, on discovering Haneul’s ethnicity, she even attempted to sing g.o.d’s ‘Road’ with made-up lyrics. This was the most company Haneul had had in years and he was lapping up every bit of it. But he was now concerned about Timira. She looked like she could pass out any minute.
‘Have some water, you’ll feel better.’ He gently tilted the bottle into Timira’s mouth. ‘Here.’ He then splashed a little on to her face.
‘Oww! Stop! It’s in my eyes!’ Timira complained.
‘Crap! I’m so sorry. I just didn’t want you to pass out; you might have a concuss—’
Before he could finish, Timira had snatched the bottle away and turned it into a cannon, firing away at Haneul, the hapless victim. Breaking into squeals of laughter and jumping with joy, Timira tossed the bottle aside and leapt closer towards Haneul.
The thud in Haneul’s heart was now louder than ever.
Timira gazed into his eyes for a few seconds. Those seconds felt like minutes to Haneul. Her eyes were twinkling, bright and wide with palpable excitement. She smiled,that bewitching smile again, and flashed her dimples. And then his heart stopped.
The thud could not be heard any longer.
Her mouth had found his. Her lips were wet from the water, and plump. He could also taste the salt from the sea breeze. She smelled of beer and of the CBD cigarettes she smoked with great relish. As he searched deeper, faint notes of spice and lavender hit him. His eyes were shut, but it was as though he could see her … leaning in, hands on her arched back to support her slightly unstable legs, baby curls springing out of her space buns, sweatbeads glistening across her collar bone, the gentle breeze making her earrings chime like church bells.
Is this what love tastes like?Haneul couldn’t help but wonder.Why does it feel like my soul knows hers when we’ve only just met?
Haneul opened his eyes to see Timira smiling at him before turning sideways and tucking loose strands of hair behind her ears. Haneul could feel his heart beat again and found his gaze fixed on Timira’s small, pointy chin. He held it to turn her face towards his. This time, Timira was taken by surprise. She bit her lower lip and Haneul felt his heart do multiple somersaults.
He leant in with intent, but this time their mouths don’t meet. Instead, the undigested contents of Timira’s much-abused stomach meet with the spotlessly clean, pristine Bali sands …
Haneul looked up at the sky and smiled ruefully.
* * *
Timira, fast asleep, was sprawled across Haneul’s back—the feat achieved with great difficulty and an almost-incident involving a piece of cloth that had baffled men for decades, aka the sarong. She felt light as a feather; his back was strong as hell from years of playing sports and weightlifting religiously.
A gust of wind blew across the sandy expanse. Haneul welcomed the caress on his face. Timira, not so much. Sand inside her nose, she woke up sneezing right under Haneul’s ears. Gathering her wits and quickly coming to terms with reality, she decided it was best to pretend like she had gone back to sleep. Except, she was anything but sleepy anymore. Haneul could feel her heart rate pick up pace against his back, and he smiled jubilantly. Evidently, Timira’s heart didn’t believe in fair play—just like his.
Well done, Haneul. Looks like you’ve still got it, dude. Woohoo!
Timira, meanwhile, had pressed her cheek against his slightly sweaty traps. Trying hard to rein in her mischievous heart that had been threatening to leap outside of her body, she burrowed her face deeper inside his strong muscles and chuckled to herself.
What is this thing of beauty? Good grief! Are these muscles for real?
This was her first adult piggyback.
Why did I refuse all those offers back in the day? This feels so good!
Lakdi ki kathi, kathi pe ghoda …
Timira giggled as she hummed a popular song from her childhood, a song about a galloping horse. She smiled gleefully, like a child, and turned her head to focus her gaze on Haneul’s neck.
Such cute ears! Almost like Spock’s! Why do they look familiar, though? Do I know someone with such ears? Does Bhaskar have pointy ears? Ummm, wait, hang on. What are his ears like? Why have I never noticed his ears? What are MY ears like? Wow, I have no idea! Let me check …
She unfastened her arms that had been clasped across Haneul’s chest, hanging from his neck like a limp garland, and tried to reach for her ears. In doing so, she slid down a little and Haneul had to intervene.
‘Whoa! Hands, hands!’
‘Relax, will you?’ Haneul replied, one hand still under Timira’s butt, trying to prop her up. He removed it only when he was sure she was secure.
