<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

They’ve just got home from work. Jeonghan is slowly getting used to having her around. It’s been only two weeks, but he’s treating her like she’s part of his home, like she’s part of his life. But then he better not be too used to it.

Seunghee walks directly to the kitchen, she hasn’t noticed it herself but she’s acting like she’s just at her own home, from his eyes. It became too quick for her to adjust and he’s glad about it. She gets some water to drink as he follows behind to get some too. They share this habit unexpectedly.

She gives him a glass too after drinking hers and says, “I’ll just change okay.”

“Yeah,” he replies.

Watching her walk into the room, he feels Deja vu. It’s weird cuz it feels like it happened before when they’ve only done this now. He’s kinda surprised.

After a few moments, she goes out of the room and tells him, while peeking to the kitchen, “Your turn.” The she sits on the couch at the living room.

He walks directly to the room, just pushing the door back, not noticing it doesn’t really shut. With the door slightly open, he takes off his clothes and get changed.

She wants to ask him something so she turns around and finds his bedroom door open with a very small gap. And from the small opening of the door, she catches a glimpse of Jeonghan changing. She blushes at the sight of him. He’s almost naked in his boxers and he’s just picking up his clothes from the closet. It’s invasion of privacy, but she can’t turn her eyes away. It’s actually vice versa. It feels like she’s being drawn to him. With all the stuffs that happened this past two weeks, she almost forgot she had feelings for him. But right now, it all comes back to her all at once that she feels like it’s gonna burst out any second. The question she was about to ask? It’s forgotten.

Later, Jeonghan emerges from the room catching her hugging her knees on the couch. She looks like a little kid in trouble about something. So he joins her by sitting next to her.

“Hey, what’s up? You look-- bothered,” he states.

She doesn’t glance at him. Right now, she feels like she can confess to him any time if she doesn’t help herself. “I’m okay. I’m just tired, I think.”

“I’ll make you some tea to soothe that.”

He stands up but he stops when he feels her tugging at the hem of his shirt. He looks down at her, but she’s still not looking at him.

“What is it?”

“Can you just sit with me here for a while? Let’s just watch some TV.”

It seems strange, but he grants her request. He sits a few feet apart from her and turns the TV on. He glances at her sometimes but she’s quiet all the time. He doesn’t understand it, but he lets her be. Maybe it has to do with her mood or something. And she’s still gripping the hem of his shirt all this time, as if he’s gonna fade away.

For a while, they watch some comedy show and laugh along with it. And right after the movie Godzilla starts playing. They both watch it for a while and later on, as Jeonghan notices it’s already 1AM, he thinks it’s time for bed.

“I think we have to...” but when he turns to her, what meets his eyes is a sleeping beauty, facing his way soundly.

He hasn’t noticed, maybe he was too immersed in the film that he forgot to look at her. And right now, he’s captivated once again. Just how many times does she have to do this to him and leave him helpless over and over again? He sighs. He thinks he won’t be able to keep his feelings for long. And besides, isn’t it obvious for her? They’re far from being friends, she has to think inside the box. He can’t do this out of pity alone.

He stares at her. He draws closer her and caresses her hair. He wants to let her know how he feels right now even if she can’t really hear him.

He starts talking, “Seunghee-ya, I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always take care of you. I’m sure you know it by now even if I don’t put it into words. I like you. And the more I get to be with you and get to know you, I think I’m falling in love with you.” Then he chuckles a bit. “What am I saying now? I can’t really tell you this face to face right now, but I promise I’ll do it soon alright? Good night.”

He stands up and walks to the room to get some blanket for her and while he does, she slowly opens her eyes. Her heart is beating so fast. He just confessed to her and she’s overjoyed about it. But she doesn’t want to embarrass him and she can’t really admit to him right now. It’s already awkward as it is, she’ll probably tell him about it tomorrow. Right now, she’ll keep with the sleep faking. But she’ll make him feel better, for now.

He comes back with a blanket and puts it around her. He still sits beside her, looking adoringly at her. In her sleep, she drops on her side and completely bowls over him. He’s a little surprised by it cuz she’s treating him like a pillow, with her face brushing against his chest and her arms all over him. He can’t really move.

“Seunghee-ya... Seunghee-ya...”

He tries to shake her off a little but he’s also afraid of waking her up. She looks so tired, he just wants her to rest. So he gives up and throws his head back on the headrest and murmurs, “This is complete torture Oh Seunghee. I should really just confess up to you.” He sighs again and shuts his eyes to sleep, even if it’s probably gonna take him till morning.

Sneakily, she puts a smile on her face. She’ll tell him all about it tomorrow, but for now, she’ll enjoy this moment and make him suffer pleasantly for the last night.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

The whole day the next day, she hasn’t said a word about it. They go on as usual, work as usual, and spend the rest of the day as usual, with school and work stuffs. And finally, when the night comes, when they’re simply idling the rest of the night away, sitting on the couch like the night before, Seunghee starts talking. They are watching some movie to past time before going to sleep.

“This movie is great. I didn’t get to finish Godzilla, was it good?” she says.

“Yeah, the ending was the best part. He restored the balance,” he says.

He’s still fixated on the movie as she gazes as him and finds it the right time to ask him about last night.

“Were you telling me something last night?” she utters.

“What? When?”

“When I was sleeping on this couch.”

He turns to her and sees the innocent face she’s giving him. He’s a little amused, maybe she was half awake? He shakes his head in disbelief of the possibility that she actually played him all day from last night.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I was half awake and I couldn’t really understand well. I’d prefer to hear it if I’m awake though. What was it about?”

She’s teasing him right? And it makes him really feel tricked. He’s smiling at her like crazy.

“What? You’re not gonna tell me now?” She’s still acting like a spoiled kid and it’s cute. “Come on, I think I’d love to hear it right now.”

“Are you playing me?”

“Playing you? I’m not! I’m just curious cuz you were babbling crazy things last night.”

Now he’s sure, she’s just toying with him, he utters, “I said nothing.”

“What’s nothing about saying you like me?” she finally says it. “You think falling in love with me will make me fall in love with you?”

The smile on his face is ever-present, “Then tell me what it will do?”

“Well, it’s a concept for those who expect the other to feel the same.”

“I’m not expecting though.”

“Do you think I feel the same for you? Well you’re right cuz I wouldn’t have stayed here if I felt like you were dangerous or anything. I trust you enough.”

He then faces her upfront and stares at her, “Actually, I’ve known from a long time ago.”

“Don’t troll me.”

“I’m not trolling you. Remember when I told you I’ll tell you about your drunk journey? That’s today. You told me then. I knew from way back then.”

He’s staring at her seriously and sincerely that she’s thinking twice if it’s real or not. She’s in great disbelief.

“I did not! You’re just making this up.” She’s getting embarrassed. It can’t be. If that is true, her cover is blown all this time and he hasn’t told her a thing about it. He’s not laughing at her though. He’s taking this very earnestly.

“I thought I should just let it slide. But I held on to your words and waited for something to be as real as this.” He reaches out for her hand and holds it. She doesn’t take it back anyways and just lets him while staring at his hand on hers as her heart beats so hard like crazy. “I’ll say it again okay, just to make it official. I love you and I’ll wait again for you to tell me how you feel.”

She’s embarrassed but she doesn’t think she can make him wait either.  Her feelings are about to explode any minute now. “I love you too. So let’s stop playing this game.”

“Aren’t you getting impatient about this?”

“Yes,” she’s blushing so hard but she can’t possibly stop her mouth from exposing her feelings right now. “Cuz I want to hug and kiss you so bad...”

She flocks into his arms and kisses him as she wraps her arms around his neck. He’s a little startled about it. So she can be this aggressive too, it feels like a dream. She’s finally in his arms. In a moment, he keeps up and kisses her back, gently. It’s their first kiss and they’re treasuring it. It’s something sweet that’s long been due for them. She breaks the kiss after a while but is still all over him.

“Why did it take you this long to tell me? I’ve been waiting for ages!” she scolds him.

He chuckles at how piqued she is about it, “Sorry, I just thought it wasn’t right to interfere when you’re bothered and you have so much going on in your life.”

She’s touched, so he’s watching her all along, all this time. She looks down a bit and he lifts her face up by the chin. “But right now, I dare not be suppressed anymore. I’ll help you whether you like it or not. Whatever the case may be. I won’t leave you alone anymore.”

She smiles at him, but suddenly, her tears start forming and she can’t help but weep infront of his face. The feeling of affection overflows that she can’t contain it any longer. She lets go and sits on his side, with him caressing her back gently.

“Hey... What’s wrong? Seunghee-ya.”

“It’s nothing,” she says as she wipes her tears. “I’m just thankful. I’m so lucky you’re here for me when nobody else is. And not just that, I’m lucky to know that you love me.”

She touches his cheek and stares at him so dearly, like he’s the only person in the world. He smiles sweetly at her in return, wiping the tears that have fallen on her cheeks. And then he shoves in for a quick kiss. They stare at each other for a while and later, share a great amount of kisses they’ve been keeping for each other for a while and spend the night cozily in each other’s arms...

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

TO BE CONTINUED…

Published: 01/19/18