enigma ◇ ikon | jinhwan

1.2

He realized this was where she lived, and the restaurant was her family's. He stopped by there again, and Eun Mi's sister seemed both happy and upset that he did.

She said the same thing as last time: I don't think you should keep seeing her.

But even the girl didn't seem so convinced with her words.

He went back out when he realized Eun Mi wasn't working that day and climbed up the fire escape.

"I thought I told you not to come back here," she muttered when he came up. Her tone was like the calm before a storm, unpredictable. Jinhwan couldn't tell if she was angry ot not. Her expression was blank, which scared him the most. "What are you doing here?"

She took another drag of her cigarette, blowing out smoke so carelessly.

Jinhwan cringed and coughed as the smoke reached him. He moved closer to her, taking the cigarette from her fingers. She made a sound of protest when he threw it on the floor and stepped on it.

Eun Mi shot him a glare. "Why did you do that?"

"I don't like you doing that," he said in reply. His face was scrunched up in disgust. "It's not good for you."

She crossed her arms. "And who are you to tell me what's good for me?"

His answer was simple, but his voice was firm. "I'm your friend."

She was quiet, her expression softening a bit. "Friend?" she muttered, looking almost confused.

"Yeah, friend. You do know what a friend is," he said with a chuckle that lightened the mood. "You're so cute, Eun Mi."

That snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Aish. You pabo," she said. "Why are you still here? Go away."

"No. I want to stay here. With my friend."

"Aish. If you won't go, then I will." She started climbing inside through the window and he frowned.

"Why do you want me to leave so bad?" he asked, making her pause for a moment.

"Just 'cause," she anwered. "Please don't come back."

She climbed inside, shutting the window gently when she was inside already. Jinhwan watched through the window as turned around and walked away.