Moonlight + Paradise (18+)

13. When I see You

It's been 2 days now and as much as Lisa's getting used to having all day to herself, she still finds herself missing Guk to a point of crying. She only did late at night though, before she falls asleep. Thankfully, on this third day, Somi said that she's off from work so Lisa gets to spend it with someone else other than herself.

She threw the windows of her balcony open this morning - letting the lights burst in and take possession over her small living room. That night's call with Guk had lingered in her mind long enough that she felt a little suffocated with her own assumptions and worries. I hope things are getting better for him...no matter what it's about.

Lisa still doesn't know why in that brief talk over the line, his voice sounded so sad and resigned - as if he's collecting every bit of bad memories he's ever had but somehow chose to say it in the sweetest words. She wished he could be that vulnerable with her once again so that she could feel a little worthy for him, but he never did after. The 'bossy' and 'direct' man is all she gets up until now.

"He's just worried that you'll see someone new that you'll like. It's no biggie, just keep telling him you're with me." Somi smirks confidently when Lisa pouts at Guk's text again.

She already said that she's only walking around the harbour to visit the stationery store with Somi today. It wasn't a request for permission but Guk seemed to be upset when she responded to his 'Wait for Ji-Hu. He'll bring and buy for you.' with 'We're already walking out. I'd rather not bother him, we'll be fine on our own.'

"Look, now he's asking us to stay put and wait for Ji-Hu." She stopped walking altogether and whined at her phone screen. "I already said that we're here and it's already almost half an hour. I feel bad now..." Surely Ji-Hu would feel annoyed to drive all the way here only to take us back home - it's only a short walking distance!

"Oh, for God's sake - the place's just a hundred more metres away! Tell him to send Ji-Hu there!" Somi grabbed and pulls her by the hand to keep walking. "Seriously, he's such a control-freak!" Lisa heard Somi's annoyed, breathy muttering.

"Control...freak? That sounds bad..."

The girl sighed. "Forget that part. I mean, it's good that he worries about you but he should already know well enough that you're safe with me," Lisa is still blinking. "Cus I'm your best friend, of course...so it's only natural that I look out for you."

Oh...right. "Maybe I should buy some food for Ji-Hu...he probably haven't had the chance to eat his breakfast yet." She says.

"Pshh - that guy don't deserve any breakfast! Sleep is more important since his boss's not around - so annoying!"

Eh? What's this? "Somi..." She halted her steps just as they reached the front of the stationery shop. "Do you...maybe...do you hate Ji-Hu?"

It was an honest question that's been lingering at the back of her mind, really. For the past 2 days since Guk has left Ji-Hu here, Lisa would find the 'right-hand's' car downstairs out of the blue. When she went down with a basket of clothes to visit the laundry with Somi, they bumped into the guy and the two seemed awkward with each other.

Her friend would avoid eye contacts with the guy. Not only that, she noticed how Somi would fix her hair a lot in front of Ji-Hu. Her voice was softer - almost fearful too, unlike the loud and confident girl that Lisa has been seeing. It's quite an amusing spectacle since she had never witnessed Somi being flustered over anything at all.

"Hate?" Somi chuckled. "No, very much the opposite! I'm crushing on him so hard it's ridiculous!"

Crushing...she's joking right? I got it totally wrong!! "What about your boyfriend?"