Joong
"You're still in love with him, right? I'm not misunderstanding anything?", Sarah talked quietly, careful of our surrounding. Nine went to the washroom. Waiting for him, gave me a little time to be alone with Sarah.
"Yes. But, he want nothing to do with me, now", I said, and Sarah rubbed my arms to soothe me.
"I know, he said as much that you're not together", Sarah said with an understanding smile.
"What? Sarah, what did you do?", I asked, as I know, she was impulsive of sort, and she knew what Nine meant to me.
"Hey, relax. Nothing extreme, just a small talk", I looked at her skeptically, and she continued, "What? Are you so afraid that I'd tell Nine, that your love sicknesses had been going on for 10 years already?".
"Uh, I'd been subtly trying to tell him that too, but, he didn't believe me".
"Joong, if I am in his place, your love confession is an insult, rather than something to be happy about, given your past reputation. Though, I knew who you're, still, the truth must come from you...you can't keep Nine in the dark forever".
I nodded. As Nine was already heading towards us, Sarah ended the conversation swiftly by giving me a comforting hug, and then said goodbye to both of us.
***
"Sarah is lovely, Joong, and also very pleasant. You...must have a close relationship with her, to be so comfortable around one another".
"Are you thinking, what I thought you're insinuating?", Nine's voice sounded faraway, and that confused me a bit, "if you're, then you couldn't be more wrong. We're close, but not more than friends".
"It's not about that, Joong".
"Then, what's on your mind, Nine?", I asked, a little worried, that Nine looked forlorn. My eyes were darting to his side and also to the front, but I was about to lose focus.
"I messed things up". His simple words stunt me.
"What are you talking about, it was never you...", I tried to counter, but was silenced when he continued.
"If only I didn't fall for you, we could still be comfortable, and stay close too. That, no matter whoever you're with, or what you did, didn't have to affect me so much. The most that I would do, was talk you out of that lifestyle, and if you choose to still do it, even if I didn't approve of it, you're still...my best friend. Yet, things already turned out this way...", he said dejectedly, but then tried to smile, a little, "Ah, what am I babbling about!My tummy is too full, might be, I am just sleepy".
"Nine...", I wanted to soothe him, but Nine evaded it, immediately.
"Sorry, I know it's rude to sleep and leave you driving, alone, but could I take a nap? My eyes felt heavy!".
I understood, that he didn't want me to continue where he'd left off. I just answered with a nod, looking straight at the road ahead. Nine turned his face to the other side, lounged a bit, and fell into sleep.
Nine
The journey was far and the visit took some time, but the drive back was hellish as the traffic was at it's peak, everyone was coming back from work. Joong must be tired, as he kept massaging the back of his neck. I fell asleep on the way there, but Joong had not taken any shut eyes or rest since lunch.
"See? I told you to let me drive on the way back, but you're stubborn. I won't crash your expensive car, you know, eyy, now you're already too tired...", I nagged. Joong just laughed at my words and then yawned. He rubbed his watery eyes, too.
"It's alright. Just, this traffic, really make me feel sleepy, too slow...".
I hesitated, but then, just swallowed my worry, and slowly held his hand. Joong reaction was swift, as he turned and looked at our intertwined hands.
"I'll...hold and squeeze your hand from time to time, alright? So...you won't fall asleep while at the wheels". He was too quiet, assesing. I was wondering whether he could even hear my pounding heartbeats, "but, if you don't want...", and I gasped as he leaned and gave a surprise kiss on my lips.
"Joong!", I said and tried to pull my hand back, but he held it tight.
"Sorry, I just need a booster. Now, I feel more awake!".
"This is not to happen again, Joong, it is uncomfortable, please!", I snapped, feeling that he was not listening to what I had said a few times already.
"I... I'm sorry, don't be mad, okay...", his voice sounded a little down, as he released his hold on my hand. The brief excitement, also died down and charged silence filled the space.
After some time, I realized something, "Wait... This is not the way to the office, but my...house?", I said, looking at the quiet person besides me, "but, my car? Then, how...".
"I'll fetch you to work tomorrow. It's a heavy traffic jam, to drive in rounds. I could drop you off, and go back directly to my place along this way, without entering the city centre", he answered without life in his voice, just stoically explaining.
We arrived in front of the lobby of my apartment. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to pull myself together, this must be settled, or I won't be able to sleep peacefully tonight.
"We need to talk. So, let's go upstairs. You could take a little rest first. The traffic would ease a bit, after the peak hour". Joong didn't respond. Slowly, I held his hand again and his jaws twitched, "I know you feel down and I'm sorry, for shouting at you. So, please, hmm, Joong?".
***
As we stepped into the house, Joong went to sit on the sofa, leaned his tired back and closed his eyes, breathing calmly. I went into the bedroom, took a pillow and put them at the end of the sofa.
"Joong...", I called his name softly, and he opened his closed eyes, "I'll take a shower and make dinner, you could lie down and sleep first, alright?, I said while plumping the pillow, before Joong moved without a word, and laid down to take a nap.
I took my time to shower, and then try to not make too much noise while cooking a simple dish enough for two. Even after I finished cooking, because he looked too tired, I let him sleep for a while, lying down too on the carpeted floor, besides the sofa, browsing my phone.
"Urgh, Nine, why didn't you wake me up? What time is it already?", he said while sitting up, wiping his half asleep face.
"Almost nine", I answered, and touched his knee, "Go, freshen up. I've already put a fresh towel, tshirt and pants inside the bathroom, if you needed a change. Then, let's eat". I stood up and moved to reheat the dishes as Joong went into the washroom.
