If This Isn't Love

16: MARCH 2017 - Another Start

"Lu."

With a startled yelp, Luisa turned around from her mailbox.

"I'm sorry," Seokjin said. "I thought you saw me. I didn't mean to scare you." The enclosed lobby of their apartment complex was well-lit, and he was sure that she'd seen him entering. He hoped she wasn't trying to avoid him.

The young woman inhaled deeply and held a hand to her chest. "No, that's okay. I usually look around carefully as I walk in. I don't know why I didn't do it this time." She paused when she noticed his haggard look. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "Depends on your definition of okay. I was walking to the mailbox and saw you walking in from the parking lot. I thought I'd say hello."

She nodded. "Hi. I haven't seen you in a while. I was meaning to call, but, uh..." She looked down before looking at him again. "Would you like to come up for a bit?"

"If it's not too late."

"Just for a little while," she replied. "Come on." They got into the elevator and went up two floors. She entered her apartment and turned on the light. He followed closely behind her and shut the front door.

She put her purse and keys down on a side table. "I usually don't get home so late, but I had to do a few things."

Seokjin didn't seem to know what to do with his arms as he fidgeted. "Uh, I wasn't sure if I should come over. I don't want to bother you."

Luisa extended her hand toward the sofa. "You're not. No worries. Have a seat, please. Would you like something to drink?"

"Water?" he asked as he sat down.

She nodded and went into the kitchen. She returned promptly with two bottles of water and handed one to him. She sat on the sofa, keeping a fair distance from him. "So, what's wrong?" she prompted.

He took a sip of water and leaned back on the sofa. "I don't know."

"You don't know if something's wrong?" She stared at him. "Okay. You might not know, but I can tell something's wrong. What is it?"

He took another sip of water. His throat was suddenly bone dry. "I know I can trust you to be honest with me." He looked at her carefully. "Emily and I broke up."

Luisa tried to keep her face neutral. "Oh." She clasped her hands together awkwardly. "Do you...want to talk about it?"

His eyes kept studying her face for a few seconds, then he shrugged. "Not really. I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "I'm not even sure what happened. Sometimes I don't know what she wants me to do. I feel like I'm listening to the TV with the sound off. Not only that, but I don't think I want to turn up the sound."

She nodded. "How long had you been having problems?"

"Ever since I moved here," he answered. "She wasn't happy that I took the transfer even though I told her that it was a promotion. I tried to explain it to her. I visited her with the hopes that she would be more understanding. I did everything I could to be patient and attentive. But that wasn't good enough for her. I thought she'd understand, but she wanted me to go back. Now. And I can't. Not right now. I can't ask for another transfer in less than a month. She knew that, but she was being unreasonable."

Luisa resisted the urge to reach out and hold him. He seemed genuinely broken up. A part of her, however, felt jealous that he was so upset over another woman.

"I wish I knew what to tell you," she said softly, keeping her hands at her sides. "I'm sorry that you're so upset. I'm sure it was upsetting for her, too. You did say you tried to explain, right?"