"Lu."

With a startled yelp, Luisa turned around from her mailbox.

"I'm sorry," Seokjin said. "I thought you saw me. I didn't mean to scare you." The enclosed lobby of their apartment complex was well-lit, and he was sure that she'd seen him entering. He hoped she wasn't trying to avoid him.

The young woman inhaled deeply and held a hand to her chest. "No, that's okay. I usually look around carefully as I walk in. I don't know why I didn't do it this time." She paused when she noticed his haggard look. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "Depends on your definition of okay. I was walking to the mailbox and saw you walking in from the parking lot. I thought I'd say hello."

She nodded. "Hi. I haven't seen you in a while. I was meaning to call, but, uh..." She looked down before looking at him again. "Would you like to come up for a bit?"

"If it's not too late."

"Just for a little while," she replied. "Come on." They got into the elevator and went up two floors. She entered her apartment and turned on the light. He followed closely behind her and shut the front door.

She put her purse and keys down on a side table. "I usually don't get home so late, but I had to do a few things."

Seokjin didn't seem to know what to do with his arms as he fidgeted. "Uh, I wasn't sure if I should come over. I don't want to bother you."

Luisa extended her hand toward the sofa. "You're not. No worries. Have a seat, please. Would you like something to drink?"

"Water?" he asked as he sat down.

She nodded and went into the kitchen. She returned promptly with two bottles of water and handed one to him. She sat on the sofa, keeping a fair distance from him. "So, what's wrong?" she prompted.

He took a sip of water and leaned back on the sofa. "I don't know."

"You don't know if something's wrong?" She stared at him. "Okay. You might not know, but I can tell something's wrong. What is it?"

He took another sip of water. His throat was suddenly bone dry. "I know I can trust you to be honest with me." He looked at her carefully. "Emily and I broke up."

Luisa tried to keep her face neutral. "Oh." She clasped her hands together awkwardly. "Do you...want to talk about it?"

His eyes kept studying her face for a few seconds, then he shrugged. "Not really. I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "I'm not even sure what happened. Sometimes I don't know what she wants me to do. I feel like I'm listening to the TV with the sound off. Not only that, but I don't think I want to turn up the sound."

She nodded. "How long had you been having problems?"

"Ever since I moved here," he answered. "She wasn't happy that I took the transfer even though I told her that it was a promotion. I tried to explain it to her. I visited her with the hopes that she would be more understanding. I did everything I could to be patient and attentive. But that wasn't good enough for her. I thought she'd understand, but she wanted me to go back. Now. And I can't. Not right now. I can't ask for another transfer in less than a month. She knew that, but she was being unreasonable."

Luisa resisted the urge to reach out and hold him. He seemed genuinely broken up. A part of her, however, felt jealous that he was so upset over another woman.

"I wish I knew what to tell you," she said softly, keeping her hands at her sides. "I'm sorry that you're so upset. I'm sure it was upsetting for her, too. You did say you tried to explain, right?"

"Yes. I don't know anymore. I tried. I really did." Seokjin exhaled slowly. "I didn't know what else to do. So, when she brought up the idea of a break-up, I agreed." He paused. "You mean a lot to me, Lu. You must know that. Tell me what you would've done. Let's say you were my girlfriend. What would you have wanted me to say?"

She gulped. "Well, yes, uh, I'm not sure what I would've expected. Also, I don't know the exact nature of your problems other than she didn't want you to move. I suppose I would've tried to explain my side of the situation like you explained yours. I mean, if I was your girlfriend..."

"If you were my girlfriend, we probably wouldn't have this problem," he broke in. "I think you would've understood or would've tried. I'm starting to realize that a woman like you is a rare find."

She didn't know what to say. He was making her feel all sorts of things right now, and it made her feel guilty because she was supposed to be helping him with his problems. "I'm sorry I can't be more help, but I'm here for you. That's what friends are for."

He looked at her and nodded. "Yeah. Friends." He stayed quiet for a few minutes then cleared his throat. "I hope you haven't been dating any more assholes like the last one."

"No, of course not. Thank you so much for helping me out," she replied. "I'm still so embarrassed about what happened. I should've never...well, I'm so glad I haven't run into him in months. Thank you again."

"No thanks needed," he replied. "If I do see him anywhere near you, I will bust his fucking head open."

She patted his shoulder. "There's no need for murder." She smiled at him for a few seconds before she realized that she still had her hand on his incredibly wide shoulder. Not only that. She was rubbing little circles on him. The action felt so intimate.

His eyes glanced briefly at her hand then looked into her face. "Are you seeing someone now?"

"N-No," she exhaled and squeezed his shoulder as a reaction.

A soft moaning sound emanated from deep in his throat. He placed his hand over hers. "Lu," he whispered. "You have no idea how I feel right now. I don't know if I should tell you because I don't want to upset you."

She stayed still, not daring to breathe. "Uh, J-Jin..." Her words were cut off as he turned to look into her eyes.

He blinked rapidly and his breath came in short gasps. "Lu, I'm sorry, but being this close to you is making me think about how much I want to kiss you. I swear I didn't come here because I expected to do anything with you. I didn't. But being close to you just drives all thought out of my head, and I just want to kiss you."

Without a word, she launched herself at him. Her lips locked with his as she pushed him back on the couch.

His arms wrapped around her, hugging her tightly as they indulged in their overheated kiss. His large hands moved down her spine.

She felt her body come alive at his touch and sank into him, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She moved a hand under his shirt and traced the hard planes of the right side of his body. He shivered underneath her, and it excited her beyond belief.

"Lu...Lu, wait," he murmured huskily, breaking the kiss.

She took a shaky breath. "Yeah?"

"I meant it. I didn't come over to...to...you know." He was breathing hard.

"It's okay. I believe you."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "I don't want you to think that I only get close to you when I have broken up with someone."

Luisa tried to regulate her breathing. Her body was craving him so badly that she couldn't think. She didn't care about anything else. "Uh...I don't think that."

"You really want to?"

"Yes." Her reply was so quick that it overlapped his question.

"Shit," he whispered to himself. "I really didn't think...I wasn't expecting..." He cursed under his breath and gently moved Luisa away from him. He pulled himself back into a sitting position, breathing heavily. "Damn it."

She stared at him. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

He chuckled to himself. "Yes. And no." He let out an expansive sigh. "Lu, as much as I dreamed about making love with you again, I really had no idea it would happen. I don't have a..." He paused. "I don't have a condom with me."

"Oh." Her eyes went wide. She patted her overheated cheeks gently. He had said making love. Not hookup. Not sex. Making love. She felt elated.

"I don't suppose you have any?"

She shook her head. "No."

"That's my good girl." He smiled, happy that she wasn't prepared for sex with any guy. "I can go get some. It won't take me but a few minutes." He looked at her expectantly.

Luisa inhaled deeply then smiled sadly. "No. It's okay. We shouldn't move too fast. We should just say goodnight. I mean, this is probably a sign, right?"

Seokjin licked his lips. "It's a sign that I'm an unprepared idiot, but it's not a sign for us. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be together."

For a minute they were silent.

He leapt up from the sofa. "I'll run out to my apartment." He grimaced. "No. I don't have any. I'll run to the drug store."

She also got to her feet. "No, really. It's okay, Jin. It's getting late, and I have work tomorrow. I assume you do as well."

"Yeah, but..." He let out a long sigh. "Okay," he said and put his hands on her shoulders. "Let me at least make you feel good. I want to do that for you. Will you let me?" He slipped one of his hands down her hip and his finger hooked the waistband of her pants. "You can relax and just enjoy and—"

"Why don't we wait for a better time?" she interrupted him, stopping his hand from going any lower. She was two seconds away from giving in.

Seokjin exhaled. "You're right. I should stop acting like a teenager." He reached down and kissed her cheek. "But you drive me out of my mind. You have no idea." He hugged her. "I can wait three days. I don't mean just hopping into bed. We can go out this weekend. Friday okay with you?"

"You mean like a date?"

He laughed. "No, silly. Not like a date. A real date. You and me. We've never actually given ourselves a chance, have we?" He paused. "I'd really like to take you out on a date with all the trimmings. A new start for us. Or, I guess, another start. I hope we'll reach the finish line this time. What do you say?"

Luisa smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"Okay, great," he smiled. His face no longer looked tired. "I'll call you. We can go have dinner, maybe a movie. I'll surprise you."

Luisa's smile slowly got wider. "I'd like that. I'd like to go out with you."

Seokjin's smile turned into a sexy smirk. "And don't worry. I'll be sure to have a box of condoms ready. I remember last time we went through quite a few. Maybe I should get two boxes."

She laughed and pushed him toward the door. "Stop, please. You sound like some sex-driven fiend."

He opened the front door then turned to face her. "Oh, sweetie, you have no idea what's in store for you." He winked and walked out of her apartment.

Luisa leaned her back against the door. A date with Seokjin. Another chance. She laughed again, feeling positively giddy.