(Bella) 

The rest of the week went by fast. I texted Jimin a couple of times, but he did not respond. I figured his tantrum would last for a bit. Maybe once his injury to his foot healed, he'd get into a better mood. We really needed to clear things up between us. He had to understand that he and I were not a couple anymore.

Cindy had been pestering me all week to get in touch with Jin. Little did she know how much I wanted to actually touch him. Just thinking about him caused me to lose sleep. I told myself that I should try to settle things up with Jimin before I talked with Jin. It wasn't as if we were officially dating, so why was I feeling guilty about talking to Jimin? Maybe that's why Jin had not made a move yet. Maybe he thought that I still had feelings for Jimin.

However, Jimin's warning about Jin's track record with women gave me pause. I texted Hoseok since he said he knew the dirt on everyone, but his response did not make me feel any better. After a lot of pleading on my part, he told me that Jin was not interested in relationships that lasted longer than one night, but that he was respectful of decent girls. So, was I classified as a decent girl? I liked him so much! Would I be willing to settle for just one night? Would I end up like Gretchen from Schubert's ballad going crazy for a man and dying for his kiss?

On Friday, Cindy said she was going to visit her parents who lived three hours away. She knew that I'd want to spend some quiet time these next few days, as I did every year. By six o'clock I decided to get into some pajamas and settle in for a night of popcorn and movies. I must have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing I remembered was that it was dark outside. The noise from the apartment next door woke me up. I peeked out through the blinds behind the sofa and saw several people walking up from the parking lot carrying bags--probably food and booze.

I looked at the clock. 9: 55 P.M. I stood up and stretched. I went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Cindy had left a bottle of moscato with a note.

 Call a hot guy over and enjoy!

I smiled sadly and took the wine out. It was the same label that Jin had ordered at the restaurant. Cindy had spent a pretty penny on it. I opened it and took a long drink from the bottle. Sweet! I felt the cold liquid go down my throat then magically turn my insides warm. Tomorrow was going to be a rough day for me, and I needed a distraction. Oh, Jin, I wish you were here!

I brought the bottle to the couch with me and just as I sat down, my phone buzzed. It was probably Jimin also feeling stressed right now. I saw the name and almost dropped the phone.

It was Jin! He wanted to know if I was at home. Oh, my God! Had I somehow communicated telepathically with him? Was he planning on coming over? I looked down at my oversized pajamas. No! Then I calmed myself down. He had not said he was coming over. So I replied that I was at home.

 Great! Mind if I come over for a little bit?

"Ahhh!" I screamed. I ran to my room and threw my closet open. I should find something nicer to wear. But wait! Why would I be dressed up if I was just sitting at home? No. He would know that I was staging that. So I rushed to the chest of drawers to find a nicer set of sleepwear. Maybe something silky. But he might think that I wanted to go to bed with him? Well, did I?

"Oh, my God!" I screamed again.

 So??? If you're busy, I understand.

I grappled with my phone. I texted that I was cleaning out my refrigerator. What? I just needed a few minutes to get myself together. Was I prepared to have a one-night stand? Would I be able to avoid a broken heart? The smile on his lips. The power of his eyes...and, ah, his kiss! I recited in my mind.

 I'll be there in 10.

"Sh-- Sh-- Sh--," I sputtered. I ran into the bathroom and sprayed some scented body mist along the back of my neck and around my ankles--I had read that the scent traveled up from your ankles to the rest of your body. Then I grabbed some shorts pajamas out of a drawer and changed out of my baggy ones. Thank God I'd shaved yesterday. I rubbed some lotion on my legs roughly and brushed my hair. I was so happy that my bed was made nicely--oh! Why was I thinking about the bed? Oh, be honest with yourself. You have already decided that having him for one night is better than not having him at all. If that is all he can give me, I will take it. I'll deal with the misery later.

I heard the knock and rushed into the living room. I hadn't brushed my teeth. What if I had popcorn stuck in them? I grabbed the wine bottle, took a swig, swished it around in my mouth, then spit it out in the kitchen sink. That would have to do.

I took a breath to compose myself before opening the door as gracefully as I could. "Hello there," I said, leaning on the door in what I hoped was a sexy pose.

Jin seemed amused. He gave me a shaky smile, as if he was trying to hold in a laugh. "Hi, Bella. I'm sorry. You said you were cleaning. I know it's late. Were you already going to sleep?"

"Oh, no," I said and moved aside to let him in. "Come in. I was going to watch TV. Sit down, sit down." I motioned to the couch.

"That sounds like quite a party next door," he said as he sat down. "You wouldn't rather go there?"

I folded my legs under me as I sank into the couch. "No. I just want to relax tonight."

He picked up the wine bottle. "I see. My favorite. Mind if I have some?"

"I can get you a glass," I said, but he waved his hand.

"No need." He lifted the bottle to his lips and tipped it back. "I figured this was how you were enjoying it before I got here. I didn't see a glass anywhere." He held the bottle out to me, his dark eyes staring into mine.

I smiled and took the bottle. Our fingers touched for an instant, and I felt a shock of electricity. My eyes feasted on him as he slouched back on the couch. He was wearing a long-sleeved gray cropped shirt that hit just at the waistband of his black jeans--I could see a peek of skin every time he moved. On his feet he wore costly-looking sneakers with a checkered design on the back. He leaned his head to one side, his entire posture one of expectation and certainty. Casual yet elegant. And so hot! God, what was he doing to me? When I looked up, our eyes met, and he grinned. He knew that I had been checking him out, and I blushed.

"Do you know why I'm here?" he asked, raising one perfect eyebrow.

"N-No. I mean yes." I wasn't sure, but I hoped it was for the reason I was thinking. I felt my face getting hot. I took a drink of wine to calm myself, but then I remembered that my lips were touching where his lips had touched the bottle, and I yearned for a real kiss.

He stared at me for a moment with a cute half-smile, half-smirk on his face. But instead of moving closer, he closed his eyes and shook his head. Then he cleared his throat and became serious. "Ah. We have to talk about this before...before anything. Jimin called me two days ago," he said.