DERANGER - SEULRENE

014

the sound of a snore escaping your lips wakes you up from your nap.

you raise your head from your book--international laws--and wipes your mouth, checking if there's any drool on the page.

you sigh. dammit.

how can you prepare for the bar if you keep falling asleep like this whenever you try to study?

you look out the window of your new apartment.

it's sunday, and you're alone.

you usually spend the weekends with donghae before, either staying indoors or going out. but now that you're on your own and supposedly have more free time, you feel like spending your newfound freedom on studying isn't the bargain you wanted when you broke up with him.

but what do you want to do then? you're thirty-three and still haven't figured out what you want in life.

what is wrong with you?

should you be a lawyer? own a business? get married and have kids?

you grimace at the thought.

that makes you somewhat envious of seulgi, who seems to know what she wants in life even at her age.

which reminds you...

you pick your phone and dialled a number.

"i have been waiting for you to call me since yesterday," is seulgi's greeting when she picks up after one ring.

"i told you. i need to study over the weekend."

"then why call me now?"

"i figured i needed another human being around to at least make me feel normal."

"ooh. wanna go to the mall and rehearse that friday-fitting-room scene we did?"

"that's..." you cover your eyes. "that's never happening again. ever."

"oh come on. please don't talk like you didn't enjoy it. my friend was all wet--"

"can we not talk about it?" you massage your temple this time. "i am only looking for some company right now. and for goodness' sake, i don't want to be in close proximity with any malls, particularly boutiques, in the next few days."

she chuckles. "i'd want to invite you here. but you know how my place isn't set up for hanging out. want me to come over instead?"

"only if you're not busy." you look around your apartment, making sure everything is tidy. "but if you have a hookup or another schedule, i'd rather not ruin that."

"no. no. i'm all good. i'm bored anyway. been waiting for you to call me since yesterday."

it could be a joke. but still, it made you smile. "i met up with my sister yesterday to have her prepare your medical certificate."

"ooh. thanks. did she get mad or something?"

"nah. she trusts me. but if it happens again, she'd surely ask."

"i see. please send my thanks to her. i'll thank her some other time, in some other ways, if fate wills us to meet."

"yah. don't talk about my sister in that way."

"what? i'm only saying--"

"i know you, kang seulgi, okay? not with my sister."

"possessive, eh?"

"i'll make sure you to fail you if you try something like that towards my sister."

"yah. you're no jam, professor bae!" she grunts. "anyway, i'll be there in thirty."