Through The Window

3.Handsome

Wonyoung woke up slowly and blinked, her vision adjusting as she looked around the living room. The first thing she noticed was Yujin.

He was lying on the floor.

...On the floor?

Her eyes widened slightly. He really...

She carefully got up from the couch and headed to the bathroom. After washing up, she sighed softly. It looked like she had no choice but to wear the same clothes again.

After her shower, she returned to the living room. Yujin was still asleep, breathing steadily.

She paused.

How could someone look so handsome even while sleeping?

She hadn't realized how long she had been staring until she noticed his expression shift slightly, his brows furrowing as if he was uncomfortable. Slowly, she reached out and gently patted his shoulder.

"Yujin... wake up."

There was no response. He turned his head from side to side, sweat beginning to form on his forehead.

"Yujin... hey, wake up," she said again, more urgently.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Uh... are you alright, Yujin?" she asked, worry clear in her voice.

He looked at her and forced a smile. "I-I'm okay. Just a nightmare."

But he didn't look okay at all.

"You sure?" she asked quietly.

"Y-yes."

"Oh... mhm."

After a moment, he spoke again, trying to sound normal. "Um, it's already 7 a.m. Since my house doesn't really have anything to eat, how about we go to the market and buy some groceries?"

"Uh... s-sure," she replied.

"Great. I'll take a quick bath, and you can stay here. If you want some milk, I can get it for you."

"Yujin."

He looked at her.

She shook her head. "No need. I can do it myself. You just go take a bath, okay?"

He nodded and headed toward the bathroom.

Wonyoung went to the kitchen and poured herself some milk, sipping quietly while waiting for him.

A few minutes later, Yujin came down.

"Wonyoung, you ready?"

"Yes."

"Let's go?"

She nodded.

They walked into the garage, and Wonyoung froze.

...How many cars did he even have?

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Yujin opened the car door for her and made sure she got in safely.

"Watch your head," he said, one hand holding the door while the other hovered protectively above her head.

Her cheeks instantly warmed.

Like-who wouldn't blush?
Okay. Calm down, Wonyoung. Get it together.

He closed the door gently, got into the driver's seat, and started the engine.

---

Earlier, while Yujin had been asleep-

It felt like he had only closed his eyes for a moment, but suddenly he was standing somewhere he never wanted to return to.

The old, massive house.

No.
This couldn't be happening again.

"MOM!" he shouted. "Eodiseyo?! Mom! Where are you?!"

Then he heard it-a familiar, desperate cry for help.

His heart dropped.

He ran through the house, opening every door, panic growing with each empty room. His eyes finally landed on one door he hadn't checked yet.

The master bedroom.

"Get off me! Someone help!"

He twisted the doorknob-it was locked.

"Shit...," he muttered, panic setting in.

He rushed downstairs, searching frantically until he found something heavy. He ran back up and struck the lock until the door finally gave way.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

His mother was on the bed, clearly terrified and exhausted. A man loomed over her. In the corner of the room, his father lay unmoving, blood visible at his head.

"No-!" Yujin screamed. "Get away from her!"

The man turned toward him slowly and laughed.

"Hey, kid," the man sneered. "What are you doing here?"

Kid...?

"Pretty brave for someone your size," the man added mockingly.

"What did you do to my mom?!" Yujin shouted, his voice shaking with fury.

"Oh? Nothing," the man said casually. "Just having fun."

That smirk-

It made Yujin see red.

"What do you want?! What happened to my dad?!" he yelled.

"Shut your mouth," the man snapped.

In an instant, the man lunged forward and grabbed Yujin, squeezing the air from his lungs. Yujin clawed at his grip, struggling to breathe.

His vision blurred.

Then-
A voice cut through the nightmare.

"Yujin, wake up."
"Yujin... wake up."

His eyes flew open.

He gasped sharply, chest heaving as he struggled for air.

"Uh... are you alright, Yujin?" Wonyoung asked softly.

He looked at her and forced a smile. "I-I'm okay. Just a nightmare."

"You sure?" she asked again.

"Y-yes."

"Oh... mhm."

"Um," he added after a pause, "it's already 7 a.m. Since my house doesn't have anything to eat, how about we go to the market and buy groceries?"

"Uh... s-sure."

"Great. I'll take a quick bath. You stay here. If you want milk, I can-"

"Yujin."

He looked at her.

She shook her head. "No need. I can do it myself. You just go take a bath, okay?"

He nodded and headed for the bathroom.

Damn...
For a moment, he'd really thought it was happening all over again.

Later, after he came back down-

"Wonyoung, you ready?"

"Yes."

"Let's go?"

She nodded.

They headed to the garage, and he caught her surprised expression.

Cute.

Yujin, get yourself together.

He opened the car door for her carefully.

"Watch your head," he said, one hand on the door, the other hovering above her head-just in case.

He noticed her cheeks turning pink.

...She really was cute.

He closed the door, got into the car, and started the engine.

They drove off toward the market together.