It's Way Too Late To Stay Locked Up Inside Ourselves

11:45 am

Before she even opened her eyes, Se-ri knew it was well past her usual wake up time of six o'clock am. The sun felt too bright on her face and she could hear a distant murmured conversation.

Conversation?!

For a moment Se-ri forgot where she was. Her eyes flew open. And then quickly squeezed shut.

She was here. After that. With all of them. It all came flooding back.

Se-ri carefully flexed her legs and felt a dull pain in her knees. Then she turned to face the inside of the couch. It was worn and an unforgivable shade of mustard. And yet, like the moment she walked through the door last night, it was comfortable despite its appearance. She had slept soundly for the first time in ages.

As the low rumble of male voices continued, Se-ri suddenly felt incredibly awkward. Last night when all she yearned for was a place to rest her aching head this seemed like a good idea. But now? What must she look like? She had to face these strangers without so much as a toothbrush?

Then, Se-ri heard multiple footsteps coming toward her. She quickly closed her eyes once again.

Breathing in and out, she desperately hoped to buy herself more time before facing them all.

Several locks turned and then the door opened and closed.

Thank god. They've left. 

Se-ri sat up and stretched like a cat in the sun.

"Good morning, Yoon Se-ri."

She turned with a start. It was Jeong-hyoek. And as soon as their eyes met everything seemed to stop.

He was in the next room, leaning against the kitchen counter. The t-shirt was white this morning. His hair was wet and combed back. These simple changes created a rather stark contrast to last night. Se-ri could more easily picture him in her world right now than her mysterious leather clad, tousled hero in black.

God what do I look like right now? All of a sudden that question had taken on heightened importance.

"Oh! Good morning, Ri Jeong-hyeok. I didn't realize anyone— um, what time is it?"

"It's 11:45. How's your head?"

"It's what?!" she croaked. 11:45?! 

"We debated whether or not to wake you. Geum Eun Dong was worried that you had a concussion and that we should rouse you to check. But we decided rest was the best thing after last night. I hope that was ok?"

Jeong-hyeok's brow was now furrowed with worry. She felt an overwhelming desire to smooth it with her fingertips from across the room. I've been asleep in the middle of the main room in their house for hours and he's worried that he wasn't considerate?

"Oh of course, of course. I just feel terrible that I've been asleep in the middle of your home for this long. I'm sure you all have things to do on a Saturday."

"It's no trouble at all. I have off today and the boys don't play until tonight. They're at the market picking up some fresh fruit. We decided to send you off with a meal so you'll have a better memory of our neighborhood."

Se-ri's heart clenched. Their kindness threatened to move her to tears. The only cash that they had between them was the money in his wallet. And they were spending it on her.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Ri Jeong-hyeok," her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears, "Other than last night, that may be the kindest thing anyone's ever done for me. Thank you."