Chapter 18 - Getting Closer

Shifting her body on the bed, Son Jin Ae was now facing the window. She squinted on the rays of light that seeps through her eyelids forcing her to open her eyes. Upon realizing how high the sun was already, she jerked herself up and immediately grabbed the alarm clock resting on her bedside table, and stared at the time. It was already 8 in the morning, she should have been in school at 6 AM.

"What happened? Why did it not go off?" She shook the clock, feeling somewhat vexed.

She went out of the bed, out of her room, and proceeded downstairs. Chae Yeon was munching on her bread when she saw her.

"Oh! You're already up."

"Why did you not bother waking me up? I'm already late," Jin Ae snatched a piece of bread on her sister's plate.

Chae Yeon stared at her inquisitively but brightened up after remembering something, "Ah, Miss Oh called and she said you don't need to come early today. I thought you know it already that's why you're not waking up."

"Really?" She asked surprised.

Her sister nodded.

"My alarm seems broken, it did not go off. You know I sleep like a rock," she explained.

Chae Yeon nodded then remembered something last night that brightened her face.

"But.... who's that tall and handsome man who brought you home?" she inquired. All she knew was Jin Ae attended a formal event for she called yesterday asking her to bring a formal dress.

"-and what on earth happened and you are deep asleep on his back? Huh?" She lifted an eyebrow with a teasing smile.

"Ah, wait..." Jin Ae held her head trying to recollect her memories of last night. As far as she remembered, she accepted his offer of carrying her. That was of course involuntarily on her part as she puts it. Yes, she was just coerced by the situation. Her feet were hurting and she needed help. And then she fell asleep.

It was her body clock's fault, she always fell asleep when the clock strikes at 10 PM. ‘Oh! That was so embarrassing!’ She gasped upon realizing her condition last night. He just felt like someone depositing a dead body on a riverbank. Chae Yeon just laughed at her.

"But.... how did he know here?" Jin Ae mused.

"I don't know, maybe you sleep talked?" she responded nonchalantly, then she moved closer and whispered.

"-you.... did not drool while sleeping, right?"

Jin Ae was struck by her question and her sister laughed at her expression.

"Ah, eonnie! Say you didn't!" Che Yeon laughed like there's no tomorrow. So where did that remark came from? Since Jin Ae was a deep sleeper, she had the tendency to drool while sleeping especially when she's totally tired. She was so exhausted yesterday, that could happen.

"Yah! This girl, really!" Jin Ae exclaimed before heading upstairs.

"Are you going to school now?"

"Yes, but I'll go to the hospital first."

* * *

"I haven't seen you for a while now so I thought of dropping by," Jin Ae gave her sweetest smile to the doctor in front of her. She admired him in his white uniform and stethoscope hanging on his shoulders. She was so proud of him. Her best friend.

Yoon Chul Soo plopped himself on his chair and smiled at her. It was indeed a busy week in the hospital. He hardly had time to go outside.

"Are you good?"

"Yes. I just had the urge to visit you. I was feeling pensive nowadays. I don't know why. It's so funny."

"Why? Did something or someone made you feel that way?"

"It's strange actually. Hmmm..."

"Did Miss Oh gave you a lot of headaches nowadays?" He had been her confidante for the past few years.

"Actually, she did. Or maybe I'm just tired," she responded. Yes, her subconscious mind told her that Miss Oh did give her a headache. And pushing her to assist that Jun Ho was a part of her headache.

"Let me treat you to lunch."

They drove a while and he parked his car at the restaurant near the school. A hot meal will soothe her, he knew that.

* * *

Jun Ho got up on his chair, preparing to go outside for an early lunch. Before walking out of the door, he glanced at Jin Ae's empty table which reminded him of her last night. Thank goodness, he knew her address, she still sleeps like a rock, nothing's changed. After tucking her comfortably inside her comforter, he disabled her alarm so she could rest longer. He decided to ask Miss Oh to excuse Jin Ae, early this morning, which the latter did not inquire further.

Jun Ho went out of school and decided to eat in the nearby restaurant. As he entered the place, a woman in a light tone turtle neck caught his eyes. It was Jin Ae.

And it looked like she was with a man.

He scoffed, "I gave her this morning to rest but she was on a date instead."

He would have gone straight to her table and chew her out but he controlled himself. Who was he to do that? He was just his ‘boyfriend’ for a night. And she didn't even remember him for Pete's sake.

He sat on the nearest available table, away from them, but still a good place to watch her. He could only see the back head of the man she was with but nevertheless, he sensed his dignified aura. He scoffs and stared at her askance for seeing her animated actions. She seemed to be enjoying her date.

He lost his appetite and couldn't take in the food served to him. He decided to go. Before leaving, he gave a death look in her direction.

* * *

"I'm so full," Jin Ae happily remarked as she and Chul Soo started leaving. An unfinished bowl caught her eyes as they headed on the door.

"Waahh! Who didn't finish his food, what a waste," she said displeased by the sight of the half-eaten food Jun Ho left.

* * *

Jun Ho gasped in utter dismay. The scene he saw in the restaurant upset him so much. He kicked a lonely stone in the ground and that pity stone traveled a bit far away and stumbled in front Jin Ae who was then walking to the building. She stared at the stone and then in the direction from where it came from and saw a man sitting on the bench. Her face brightened and went in his direction.

"Bin-sshi?.... Is that you?"

Jun Ho was surprised to see Jin Ae approaching him. She had a smile on her face. The smile she always had after having a good meal. He almost smiled but remained rigid when he was reminded of the sight he saw a while ago.

"Let me sit here with you," she sat on the opposite side of the bench.

"Are you resting because you're full?" His tone was grave.

Jin Ae looked at him surprisingly, was it visible on her face that she just had a good meal? She chuckled, "Have you tried eating at the nearest restaurant? Their dishes are really good," she recommended instead of answering his question.

Jun Ho just stared at her blankly, his mouth forming into a pout.

"-But..." she narrowed his eyes, "-someone just left his food untouched!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes.

"-I even stopped myself to get another bowl but he just left his food like that. Aigoo, crazy person! There are thousands of people who are not having a proper meal and there he went wasting food. I hope he starves."

He choked a little, sensing that he seemed to be the person she was talking about. And then his stomach growled, her expression of disbelief turned to concern.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

If the ground could eat him up, he was more than willing to. How could his stomach growl in front of her? Contrary to what he thought, she did not tease him and even offered to accompany him for lunch, which made him confused altogether. She recommended the restaurant she was talking about again but he refused, afraid that the crew might remember him, so they agreed to go to the Chinese restaurant in front of the school.

"Thank you last night. I didn't know how you found my house but it could have been hard for you to carry me," she said.

That's it, she was thankful so she's behaving nice today, he thought.

"Your foot doesn't hurt anymore?"

"Yes. I think I can even use a 5-inch stiletto now," she chuckled.

"Not when I'm not around."

"Huh?"

"Who would have the patience to carry a woman who weighs around 50 kilograms?"

"Yah! Who are you kidding? How could my slender body weigh like that!" Then she traced her shape, looking satisfied with her figure.

He just shook his head, although deep inside he agreed with what she just said, "You should lessen your intake."

Jin Ae shook her head, there's no way she could say no to food. Diet was out of her vocabulary, she could stay fit with proper body exercise and her excellent metabolism, she thought.

"Did you have a good sleep today?"

His voice sounded so surreal that Jin Ae had to look at him and ponder to herself if those words really came out of his mouth.

She just nodded her head, not knowing what to say exactly, just then a thought came across her mind. She inched her face closer to him to say something in an almost whisper. Her sudden movement towards his face made him retreat his own in response. He hoped she did not notice his cheeks flushed.

"-but, did I... ah... I'm just asking this coz it's likely to happen, you know, I was so tired and all." She laughed a little but her eyes were serious.

"Did I...." and she gestured her hand in front of her mouth, "-drooled last night?"

He did not expect that question and thanks to it, he instantly regained his composure and straightened his back.

"Yeah, my shirt was all too wet because of you," he responded, trying to sound like it was a complaint.

"Yah! Seriously?"

"Yes. And one thing, you snored."

"What? Yah! I don't snore. You're making things up!" She almost believed him but one thing for sure she didn't snore.

Jun Ho smiled. He loved to see her upset face, she looked cuter. And as always, she always finds a way to make him giddy and happy. Actually, she did not snore but she did drool a bit. And it wasn't a big deal.

"But seriously, let me wash your shirt for you."