Manual of the prohibited

Chapter 1

Even after all kinds of tries the key didn't go in the lock, making me formulate a great list of curses in my mind. I snorted, frustrated and gave the door a good kick, only causing the toes under the black converse to hurt. I started missing Thailand.

"I don't think it's supposed to open like that." muttered a funny voice, as soft as velvet, behind me.

I turned around, embarrassed, and I faced with perfection in person. I noticed how my mouth opened slowly and my eyes flashed with delight. A young, skinny woman, with pale skin and black hair, long and a little rowdy was situated behind me and my messy blue suitcases that I had left on the floor beside my feet.

"Emm ah..." great, I couldn't even articulate anything intelligible nor comprehensible at all.

"Let me guess, you're Lalisa Manoban, right?" she smiled at me, showing the perfect row of white teeth, dazzling me.

Damn what a perfect smile, framed by apparently pink soft lips formed like a heart; that was the most beautiful thing I've seen ever since I arrived to Korea.

"Jennie's friend?" she asked, now doubtful.

Dammit! Was it necessary to give me a slap to react? Yes, maybe yes; but the only thing I could do at that moment was to shake slightly my head.

"Yes, yes." I covertly cleared my throat. "To both questions, yes."

She smiled at me with more enthusiasm, as if she had known me for years and she let my guard down completely. Something new for me.

"The door doesn't open?" she wanted know.

"Ah? No, no..." i looked down to hide the treacherous blush of my cheeks. "The key doesn't go in." I explained.

"It doesn't? Hum... Can I?" stretching her hand with the palm facing upwards, she asked. What did she think I was? Dumb?

I dared to raise my head to look at her, she was the owner of beautiful brown chocolate eyes. I gave her the key, completely trusting that gorgeous stranger.

She got closer to the door of that apartment and only once tried inserting the key in the lock, something that didn't work.

"Hum.." she looked at it. "I think they gave you the wrong key."

"You think?" I said, sarcastic.

She laughed and the air of the laughter caressed my face. I forced myself to land back on Earth since I had flown past the last cloud on the sky. I was experimenting some real weird emotions.

"Are you a neighbor?" I asked hopefully, deeply yearning of the answer to be yes, that she was the owner of any other apartment in the building.

"No."

"Then how do you know my name and that I'm friends with the girl that lives here?" i paused, frowning. "Jennie Kim lives here, right?" I asked, nervous.

She laughed even more, as if my naivety was funny. Well, maybe for her it was.

"Yes, Jennie lives here." she pointed at the apartment with the number 316, the one where i had tried to fit in the key. "It's rare she's not here." she said surprised. "And well, she talked to me about you, she said you arrived tonight and she was very excited with the news." She smiled at me.

"And you are?" I narrowed my eyes.