seaside

XXI

Tazannah and Hangyul's
fingers lace together-
one of
the duo's
face painted
a worried expression.
"can you stop with
that shit-
eating grin
of yours?
i'll ask this again- where
are we?" asks Tazannah-
nose scrunched
in a loving smile,
and the
corners
of the other's mouth
spreads wider.

"where are we going,
by the way?"
they've been
driving for a good
twenty minutes already
when
they finally
stop at the
drive-through of
a local
diner
many love-
Rae's Kitchen Delights,
known for
the best burgers
and cheesy fries
in the vicinity.

but he doesn't
answer and instead
orders for the two
of them
three
of the diner's
bestselling burgers
and some fried
onion rings to go along
with
it. the
car then heads
to their next stop less
than a minute away

a drive in
movie night?
Tazannah definitely
wasn't expecting it
as the
can pulled to
a stop,
but her
lips stretched into a loving
carefree smile as she
admired
the
set of
sun and
the boy beside her.
she loves it- the idea,
how thoughtful
he is,
Hangyul himself.

she can't help
but feel love,
beside the one she
can
call
hers as he
slings an arm
around her shoulder-
pulling
her closer.
they stay in that position
while enjoying their
light
dinner
and sharing their
food- only snapping
our of
their little
world when the movie
starts playing
an hour
later.

it's a cliche
black-and-white
fifties film- one that Hangyul
and Tazannah
find fun
in mocking
while plopping popcorn into
their mouths that they
had gotten
before
the movie
started. and yet, the two
teenagers
in love
can't help but admire
it at the same time,
leaning
into each
other's embrace.