NOTAKING
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Chapter 16
🕑 Added 2025-02-11 03:46:08 +0000 UTCTravis made his way to the convenience store, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked at an easy pace. The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of street food and distant city life. As he neared the store, his eyes landed on a familiar figure standing just outside, waiting.
Lee Ruri.
She stood there, shifting slightly on her feet, her hands clasped together in front of her. The soft glow of the streetlights bathed her in a warm hue, highlighting the gentle curve of her face. She looked… cute. Almost too cute.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he approached.
“To think you’d look even better than when I saw you yesterday,” he mused, his voice smooth, teasing. “You really are one of a kind.”
Ruri blinked, her wide eyes meeting his, and for a moment, she seemed caught off guard. Then, as if realizing the weight of his words, a soft blush dusted her cheeks.
“Oh, well… thank you,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “By the way, you must be Travis.”
He chuckled lightly. “Yeah, and you must be Lee Ruri. It’s nice to finally talk to you. Face to face.”
She tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. “Why are you acting as if we’ve been chatting forever? We literally started talking this morning.”
Her light giggle was soft, almost musical, and Travis found himself enjoying the sound more than he expected.
“Really?” he said, smirking. “I’d argue it’s been forever.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
“Well, enough with the cringe lines,” he added, stretching slightly. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Ruri nodded, falling into step beside him as they started strolling through the neighborhood.
The streets weren’t too crowded, just a few people here and there—some walking their dogs, others minding their own business. The cool air felt nice against their skin, and for a while, they simply walked in comfortable silence.
“So,” Ruri eventually said, sneaking a glance at him. “Are you always this smooth with girls?”
Travis smirked. “Only with the ones who catch my interest.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “That was almost good. Almost.”
He chuckled lowly, enjoying her reactions. Something about her energy was refreshing—playful but not overly naive. He could tell she was intrigued by him, but she wasn’t throwing herself at him either.
‘This might be fun,’ he thought as they continued their walk.
As they walked side by side, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps blended with the distant hum of the city. The night air was crisp but not too cold, carrying the scent of grilled food from a nearby stall. Travis glanced at Ruri, noticing how she occasionally tucked her hair behind her ear, a small habit that only added to her charm.
“So, tell me something interesting about you,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Ruri hummed in thought, tilting her head slightly. “Something interesting? Hmm… oh! I have a really good sense of direction.”
Travis raised a brow. “Oh yeah? Like, human GPS level?”
She nodded, grinning. “Pretty much. I never get lost, no matter where I am. Even if I’ve never been to a place before, I can always find my way back.”
' Maybe that's because you had your mom's bodyguards everywhere ' he thought.
“That’s actually impressive,” he admitted. “Most people these days rely on their phones for everything. But I bet you never even use maps.”
“Nope,” she said proudly. “What about you? Any hidden talents?”
Travis smirked. “I have a few, but I don’t like showing off.”
Ruri gave him a skeptical look. “That sounds like an excuse for not having any.”
He chuckled. “Fine. I have a pretty good memory. I don’t forget things easily.”
“Oh?” She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Okay, what time did i message you this morning?”
“6: 45,” he answered smoothly.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Okay, I’m impressed. Either you actually remember things well, or you're a creep.”
He smirked. “A little of both.”
She laughed, and the sound was warm, natural. Travis liked that.
They continued walking, passing by a small park. A few kids were still running around while parents sat on benches chatting. The scene felt oddly peaceful.
“So,” Ruri said, glancing at him again, “why did you want to meet me?”
Travis met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Because I was curious about you.”
She held his stare for a moment before looking ahead, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’re a hard guy to read, you know that?”
“Good,” he said. “Keeps things interesting.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.
As they kept walking, their conversation flowed effortlessly—talking about random topics, teasing each other, and occasionally falling into comfortable silence. The more they spoke, the more Ruri felt drawn to him. He was confident but not arrogant, playful yet composed.
And Travis? He could tell she was different. She wasn’t just another pretty face—she had personality, charm, and a sharp mind.
Travis glanced at Ruri out of the corner of his eye as they continued their slow stroll. The streetlights above cast a soft glow on her features, accentuating the quiet confidence in her expression.
' She’s very much like Yeo Juyeon—less cute, but her mature vibe makes her charming in her own way, ' he thought.
There was something different about her. She wasn’t overly playful like Juyeon, nor was she the type to rely on cutesy mannerisms to draw people in. Instead, she had this calm presence—composed yet inviting. The way she spoke, the way she carried herself—it was attractive in a way that didn’t demand attention but rather pulled him in subtly, like a slow-burning ember.
“You’ve been staring at me for a while now,” Ruri suddenly said, glancing at him with a knowing smirk.
Travis didn’t look away. “Is that a problem?”
She let out a soft laugh. “Not really. But it makes me wonder what’s going on in that mysterious head of yours.”
He smirked slightly. “Just thinking that you’re different from what I expected.”
“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly did you expect?”
He took a moment before answering. “Someone more… reserved. Maybe even shy. But you’re actually pretty bold.”
She tilted her head, considering his words. “I guess most people assume that because I don’t throw myself into conversations. But I’m not shy—I just prefer talking when I actually have something to say.”
“Smart,” he said. “Too many people talk just to fill the silence.”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
They turned a corner, walking past a row of small shops, most of which had closed for the night. A light breeze passed through, making Ruri tuck her hands into the pockets of her coat.
“So,” she said, shifting the conversation, “you’re clearly good at flirting, but what else do you do?”
Travis chuckled at her bluntness. “Flirting isn’t a full-time job, you know.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” she teased. “You seem pretty dedicated to it.”
He smirked. “I have my moments. But to answer your question, I keep busy with different things.”
“Vague,” she pointed out. “Suspiciously vague.”
He glanced at her, debating how much he wanted to reveal. “Let’s just say I have my hands in a few things. Some business, some personal projects. Nothing boring, though.”
Ruri narrowed her eyes playfully. “That tells me nothing. You could be an underground fight club owner for all I know.”
He chuckled. “Would that impress you?”
She pretended to think. “Hmm… maybe. If you let me place bets.”
He laughed, genuinely amused. “You’re more interesting than I thought.”
“Same to you,” she admitted. “Most guys who flirt like you do don’t usually have much else going on. But you’re… different.”
He gave her a sideways glance. “Different how?”
She shrugged, a small smile on her lips. “I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Something about the way she said it intrigued him.
Their conversation flowed naturally as they continued walking, talking about random things—travel, food, even a bit of childhood nostalgia. Ruri was easy to talk to, and Travis found himself enjoying the banter more than he expected.
Eventually, they ended up near a quiet part of the neighborhood, where the streetlights weren’t as bright, and the sounds of the city faded into the background. Ruri slowed her steps, looking up at the night sky.
“It’s nice out,” she murmured.
Travis watched her for a moment. There was something peaceful about the way she stood there, gazing up like she actually appreciated the moment.
“You like quiet places?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. I love the city, but sometimes it’s nice to be somewhere… calm.”
He hummed in agreement, then smirked. “Good to know. I might have to remember that.”
She looked at him curiously. “Oh? And why’s that?”
He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto hers. “Because if I ever take you somewhere, I want it to be a place you’ll enjoy.”
For a brief moment, she seemed caught off guard. Then, slowly, a small smile played on her lips.
“Smooth,” she admitted. “But I’ll hold you to that.”
Travis grinned. “Looking forward to it.”
The air between them felt different now—warmer, charged with something unspoken. Neither of them acknowledged it outright, but it lingered in the way they looked at each other, in the ease of their conversation.
And for the first time that night, Ruri wondered if maybe—just maybe—meeting him was going to be more interesting than she originally thought.
Love : 30
Interest : 60
TO BE CONTINUED
