Chapter 9: The Unexpected Visit

After the seemingly endless shopping spree, we finally returned home. As we walked, I felt a strange sensation, like someone was watching us. I glanced around but saw nothing suspicious. Brushing off the feeling as paranoia, I shrugged it off, thinking maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. Once we entered our apartment, we started putting away the bags, working together to find places for all the new items Ji-yu had picked out.

With everything finally settled, I went to the kitchen to start preparing dinner while Ji-yu relaxed in front of the TV. After a while, I called her to join me, and we enjoyed a quiet meal together. Just as we finished, the doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the clock. Who could be visiting us at this hour?

I peeked through the peephole and felt a jolt of surprise. It was my parents! My mind raced as I tried to think of an explanation. I turned and whispered frantically to Ji-yu, "It's my parents! Quick, hide!"

Without missing a beat, she darted into her room. I hastily shoved any telltale signs of her presence out of sight and took a deep breath before opening the door.

"Hey, Mom, Dad!" I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady. My mother narrowed her eyes at me, arms crossed.

"What took you so long to open the door?" she asked, sounding mildly suspicious.

"Oh, I was upstairs. Didn't hear you clearly," I replied, scratching the back of my neck.

"Really?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Then why's the upstairs light off?"

I mentally scrambled for an excuse. "Uh, just saving energy, you know? Only kept the room light on. Too many lights mean a bigger bill!"

My father chuckled, patting me on the back. "Our son is becoming quite responsible, huh? Living independently and cutting down costs!"

"Yes, yes," I nodded, trying to keep my nervous smile from showing. "It's all about budgeting."

My mom glanced around, "And are you studying properly?"

"Yes, absolutely!" I replied, hoping my enthusiasm sounded convincing.

But just when I thought I was in the clear, my dad's eyes narrowed as he looked toward one of the rooms. "Didn't you say you were upstairs? Why is this room's light on?"

Panic crept up my spine as I realized he was referring to Ji-yu's room. I stammered, "Oh, I must have left it on by mistake when I came down. I'll turn it off right away."

My father raised an eyebrow. "No need, I'll do it myself."

"No, no, I got it, really!" I blurted out, but before I could stop him, he opened the door and stepped inside. My heart pounded as I braced for the worst, expecting him to discover Ji-yu hiding there. But to my surprise, she had vanished! I looked around, stunned, wondering where she could've gone.

As I breathed a sigh of relief, my dad's hand brushed against the wardrobe door, and he noticed something clothes, neatly folded, but definitely not mine. He gave me a puzzled look.

"Why are there women's clothes in here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I froze, unable to think of an excuse. Just then, my mom chimed in, "Oh, that must be your cousin's clothes. Remember? They visited recently, didn't they? They must've left some things behind."

I could've hugged her right then and there. Nodding in agreement, I quickly said, "Yes! Exactly. They were in a hurry and didn't get a chance to pack everything. I meant to send them back but forgot."

Without any more questions, my parents accepted the explanation and moved on. I guided them out of the room and into the living area, where we spent the next few hours catching up. They eventually prepared to leave, but before heading out, my mom gave me a final reminder.

"Make sure you're keeping up with your studies. If your results aren't good, don't expect to be welcomed home next time!" she said with a playful yet stern look.

I chuckled, waving as they finally headed back home. "Will do, Mom. Promise!"

After closing the door, I let out a long breath of relief. The evening had been a close call. But before I could fully relax, I remembered something I needed to check on Ji-yu. I went to her room to let her know the coast was clear. As I pushed open the door, I was surprised to see she wasn't there.

"Ji-yu?" I called, searching around the room. Just as I was about to give up, I noticed something… She was fast asleep, curled up inside the wardrobe! I couldn't help but chuckle. She must have hidden there and drifted off while waiting for my parents to leave.

I gently shook her shoulder. "Ji-yu, wake up. It's all clear. My parents are gone."

She didn't stir. I tried calling her name a few more times, but her peaceful expression didn't change. I sighed and, figuring there was no other way, I carefully picked her up, intending to carry her to her bed.

But as I was moving, my foot slipped, and before I knew it, I lost my balance and toppled onto the bed taking her down with me. In that instant, our faces were so close that our lips brushed. My face heated up as I realized what had happened. This was our second accidental kiss.

At that moment, her eyes fluttered open, and she stared at me, clearly taken aback. We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, her wide eyes locked onto mine. Panicking, I scrambled to get up, my face flushed with embarrassment.

"Uh… I… I didn't mean to… I was just… I only wanted to…," I stammered, feeling utterly mortified. "You were asleep in the wardrobe, and I thought you'd be more comfortable here… so… Good night!"

Without waiting for a response, I bolted out of the room, practically tripping over myself as I raced down the hall to my own room. Once inside, I shut the door and turned off the lights, collapsing onto my bed. I pulled a pillow over my face, replaying the scene over and over. My mind refused to quiet down, and sleep seemed impossible.

The minutes dragged on, eventually turning into hours. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was that moment, the surprise in her eyes, the closeness of our faces. Frustrated, I tossed and turned, glancing at the clock to find that nearly three hours had passed.

In another part of the house, Ji-yu lay in bed, equally awake. She seemed just as stunned as I was. That accidental kiss lingered in her thoughts, keeping her from drifting off to sleep. She'd been taken by surprise, and her heart was racing just as much as mine.

What a night. Both of us were lost in our own thoughts, unable to escape the image of each other.