If This Isn't Love

37: OCTOBER 2018 - Waiting

Seokjin knew that he had to speak with Luisa. He'd tried calling and texting, but she would just say that everything was okay and that he had nothing to explain to her. It was becoming something of a comedy between them. How could two people be so far out of synch? Every time he was sure that the planets were going to align for them, something else pushed them out of orbit.

He wanted to laugh about all of the near-misses and missteps they've had over the years. He would've laughed if it wasn't so frustrating.

Again, she'd seen him with a woman who wasn't right for him, but who seemed to have some type of hold over him. At least, that's what someone like Lu would think. First, Emily's medical dilemma had held them apart, and now Lydia's instability might drive the final wedge between them.

He just couldn't win. He could never win. He sighed as he stepped off the elevator onto his floor. He'd have to walk past Luisa's apartment to get to his own. Maybe now was the time to speak with her face to face. Yes, that's what he would do. He should tell her what was on his mind, at least to get it off his chest once and for all.

His determined steps slowed down when he noticed that Luisa's door was slightly ajar. Then he heard voices.

"How's that?" Luisa's voice asked.

"Ohhhhh. You don't know what you're doing to me." That was a man's voice.

He took a step closer to listen.

"Want me to do more?" she asked.

"Oh, God, yesssss. More."

Seokjin's heart was beating so fast that he felt out of breath. What were they doing? In her living room? With the door open? He gripped his phone tighter. He had been on the verge of knocking on her door and maybe inviting her out to dinner or a drink so that they could talk, but now...

"Luisa, that feels so good."

"Jimin."

He took a deep breath, determined to put a stop to whatever that pervert Jimin had convinced her to do. And with the door open, too! This was entirely unacceptable.

"I'm coming in!" he announced loudly and stepped through the door.

Luisa and Jimin looked up. He was sitting down, and she was standing behind the sofa massaging his shoulders with her elbow.

Seokjin stared at them awkwardly for a few seconds before he brought his phone up to his face. "I'm coming in tomorrow. Get the contract ready," he said loudly, pretending he was on the phone with his secretary.

"Oh, hi." He smiled, putting his phone in his pocket. "I was...I was passing by and saw your door open. I wanted to make sure that everything was, uh, okay."

Luisa nodded. "Of course. I guess I forgot to shut the door when Jimin came in."

"Yeah, hello," Jimin chimed in. "I could barely walk straight when I got here. The pain in my neck was so severe. It was like a terrible spasm."

"You remember Jimin, right?"

Seokjin nodded.

Luisa sighed. "We...the department went bowling after work, and Jimin overdid it because he was showing off—"

"I was not!" Jimin interrupted her good-naturedly.

"He was showing off," she continued, "and this is the result. He's got pain from his neck to his shoulder." She walked around the sofa and dropped into a chair. "Maybe next time he won't be trying to do tricks holding the bowling ball."

Jimin laughed. "I can't help it if I'm a natural athlete."

"I wouldn't say that at all," Luisa chuckled. "So, Seokjin, would you like something to drink, or are you on your way somewhere?" She stared at him for a moment. "Thank you for checking up on me. Uh, would you like to stay for dinner?" She smiled. "Or whatever I can cook that might pass for dinner."