ROSES | IM Changkyun

A Tiny Stem

Kyun

I heard her saying something but I have no idea what she said.

"Sure.." I replied, after my immediate response came my late realization of what she just asked..

Did she just ask if she can live with me??

"Wait..whatt???" We both said the same words at the same time..

She can't be serious or is she?

"Uhhhmmm.." we both said again.."You must be.." and again...

Till we were cut off when the door opened with the servers bringing the food I ordered for us for the last few weekends, which I am finally gonna see on our table..

"..hungry?" I continued my sentence..she was about to say something..but paused momentarily because of the scene around us.

I need a break, I need to think and recall exactly what she said.

On our table– Italian Bruschetta, Antipasta, , Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and of course a fine bottle of Barbaresco—indeed only the finest and rarest Roagna Crichet Paje, this isn't from Ki's family but you can only find it in Asia from them..They say of course if you can't beat them join them. I hope this is enough distraction for her to momentarily shut herself likewise for me to digest her question and think about what to answer her.

"Mr. Kyun..I.." again, Mr?? she just won't give up..

I sighed deeply.."Let's eat first Miss I-don't-know-your-name-yet if you don't mind, since you owe me alot for being very very very late.." I winked at her and she nodded like a cute puppy being asked to sit and behave.

Thankfully she started to eat. I noticed that she also lost some weight, still pretty though but the circle around her eyes can't be masked off, her cheekbones were quite visible and she is very pale as if a vampire tried sucking her blood off. What's wrong with her? I wonder..

Now let's go back to the simple question she asked me.

...can I live with you?

Can she live with me? She must be crazy to think I would allow her right? Like yeah, I kind of liked her, let's say I am having a hard crush on her but I don't even know her name and for God sake I have only seen her briefly twice? Thrice? Enough to drive me crazy right, but she is crazier.. I was hoping she isn't like any other girl who would just throw themselves at us–just to be with us for a night or for a moment..this girl is dreaming bigger..live with me? She actually said L-I-V-E—live..This is dangerous..she's a big red flag..

But..

Looking at her now..with that face, with that shabby clothes, with her way of eating, her eyes spacing out even when eating, her sad puppy eyes, her dry lips..can't I really give her mercy?

Oh God..God damn..have mercy ON ME!

I have to make sense..

Yes that's right, I have to make sense and not make a wrong decision just because this girl is carrying me away..and I don't want to be carried away..

Should I just offer her money? Maybe she mean she just needs a place tonight? I can book her a hotel room for a week.. Or a month..but definitely not live with me..

That's right..she just needs help and I'll be decent to help her with whatever I can offer, considering she isn't my friend nor my girlfriend..

"So, Miss I-don't-know-your-name-yet care to give me your name first before we go back to your question?" I asked while slicing a bite from my steak.

She looked at me with her sad but oh so beautiful eyes..please don't do that.

"You can call me y/N, Mr. Kyun" again Mister?

"I remember telling you to call me Kyun, not Mister Kyun..your not my employee" I casually replied while taking a sip of Roagna..

"Okay Mr..I mean Kyun" ahh that's better.

"So y/n..what makes you think I will let you live with me, and why me?" yup let's go straight to the point.

"I uhmm, I don't know, I just asked.." hmmm still not the answer that I need..she really is a red flag..for all I know this girl might be a sasaeng..

"I see, don't you have friends?"

"I do.."

"Family?" she nodded again..so what the hell? Can't she live with them..

"So why can't you live with them instead" I am asking her directly to her eyes..and her eyes are starting to swell..

"I uhmmm..I can't bring them trouble" she said..seriously? So she wanted to bring me trouble instead..I smirked then chuckled with her answer..is she being real right now?

"You're not serious, are you? So you want to bring me trouble instead of them" I sarcastically asked while wiping my mouth with my table napkin.

"Oh no no no Kyun, that's not what I meant.." she was waving her hand as if feeling very guilty and embarrassed of what she said.

"So help me understand..If i don't get it, I am afraid I can't give you an answer too" I leaned back and crossed my leg..she can take as much time as she want to explain herself, and I will listen cause she already took more than three weeks of my time, let's end this once and for all tonight. Can't lie I am getting interested.

"Well it's complicated..very..I thought maybe you can do this for me as a favor and I can return back the favor...like how uhmm you got my dress, I got your shirt we're doing this return to owner thingy...we can help each other without anyone knowing cause who in the world would even know we're connected right?" yup..still vague, I am not getting the answer till now..

"Hmmm..still not convincing..but i'll give you one more try" I seriously am gonna give her one last try.

She sighed in defeat..she's not gonna give the right answer or the answer that I want to hear..

"I am sorry, Kyun..I just can't..all I can say is that I am in trouble....i uhhh" she was about to say more but I already cut her off..that's all I need to hear.

"It's okay..that's all I need..and I am sorry too..cause I can't live with you" her face turned paler and sadder than what she already is. And I am such a moron..but what should I do? What if she's a psycho? Like for real..I don't know her..having a crush on her is not enough reason for me to let her live and probably endanger my peaceful err sort of life.

She just nodded and simply controlled her tears. I swear I felt pain from her reaction, I feel like punching my own self for hurting her with that simple answer I gave her.

"I..uhhh.." shit I am so bad at this..

"What I can offer instead is a place to stay, not my place but somewhere else, like a hotel..how many days do you need? Uhmm money, I can give you money..you don't need to give it back.." Damnit I really suck at this..

"Oh, no don't worry about it..I really am sorry for even asking..I am not expecting anything anyway..I just tried my luck" she grabbed a tissue and cleared her throat before taking a glass of water, she did not even touch her wine or food..then she stood up..

"'Thank you very much Kyun, I will take this dress now, and I am gonna head my way"

I am confused, not again..fuck no not again..she's going away again..

"Wait you haven't even touched your food..and I am serious about my offer..give me a sec" I am trying to pull anything from my pocket, fuck I don't have my cheque with me..cash? Damn who brings cash..shit..

"No no no please..I am okay..I really need to go.." She said, as she bowed took her dress and immediately went away..

I was lost and was unable to move from where I was..I pushed her away this time..I let her go..