It's Tomorrow, Little Thing

CHAPTER THREE

The TV is still on as my eyes try to close and get me to sleep. It's late in the evening and I'm sitting on the couch, under a blanket, watching some dramas that I typically don't watch, but I don't want to change his whole feed on Netflix. . . so I keep to his themes: J-Dramas, K-Dramas of all sorts of genres, but mostly Sci-Fi and horror.

I scoot and lay down, my head on a pillow. The lights switch off due to no activity. The setting makes me want to fall asleep, so I close my eyes, turning down the volume of the TV to a small whisper.

The sound goes quiet then the main theme begins, another episode. That happens a few times as I go in and out of consciousness. Then, a door opens, a light clicks, and I hear soft footsteps. Fabric falls gently against something and someone -okay, definitely Ye-Jun- sits at my feet and pats my calf.

I let out a sigh and shift, trying to get comfortable. He stands. I don't hear anything but a small gasp escapes me when I feel arms under my knees, and around my back. He's carrying me. . .

"Shh," he whispers quietly. "It's me."

It could be anyone, dummy, I think ironically.

A door squeaks a little open and he walks more, turning and crouching. He sets me on a bed, getting the pillows and covers comfortable and out from underneath me.

My heart drops when minutes later, a shower turns on. Then that's when I realize I'm in his room.

I end up falling asleep until he gets in bed, that wakes me up. Moments go still until I feel an arm wrap around my waist. I quickly grab his hand.

"Ye-Jun-ah," I rasp. Because of his pause, I can tell he didn't think that I'd be awake.

"데?" he replies, his voice soft.

"뭐하는 거예요?" (What are you doing?) My voice wants to break but I urge it to keep steady.

"안아보고 싶어요." (I want to hug you.)

"You and I aren't even. . . close. And you want to act like we're a thing?" I demand quietly, as if there is someone next door who is a light sleeper.

"Oh, hush," he says, nonchalantly. "Quit making it a big deal."

Big deal?! Who does this man think he is? Anyways, I shove his arm off my waist and ball up, shutting my eyes and staying quiet. He turns around to face the other way, but I still don't let myself relax.

**--> His eyes gleamed, and immediately I felt like I'd been sentenced to death. His smirk was unbearable and haunting. What was he doing here again?

Sweat fell down my forehead, down my back and his breath suffocated me.

He chuckled to himself as he grew closer, his dark hair falling over his eyes. He looked so familiar, but I couldn't place it. His smile was the only thing I was keeping my attention on.

I suddenly felt pressure on my body, like hands tracing patterns. It was everywhere, then it was on my neck. It squeezed tighter and tighter until my eyes went watery and cloudy.

"Ya-!"

I shoot up onto my elbows. A figure emerges taller than me, then the light is clicked on. Ye-Jun turns, eyes slightly droopy.

I purse my lips, making sure he doesn't see them trembling.

"Are you okay?" he asks, voice worried, but something like a pry hiding behind it. He wants to know what it is that made me have a nightmare.

I look away, a thought crosses my mind too. I haven't had those nightmares. . . since I arrived here. Does. . . Does Jeong have the same intentions. . . ?

"Myeon-Jin?" he says, his voice interrupting my thoughts. I look at him. He raises his chin a little bit. For some reason, I feel shameful as I sit up to even the height difference between us. "You're sweaty. Upset." Crying. "Nervous. And everything in between," he explains, as if I don't feel it in myself. "Care to tell me what happened?"

I look into his eyes, rage boiling in my chest. "뭐?"

He tilts his head, a single eyebrow raising. "Why are you like this?" Again, I know he doesn't mean for it to come off as rude, or judgmental- but what the heck?

The rage boils over, causing the flame underneath to ignite the whole figure on fire. "You know nothing about me and now you're acting as if we're a thing and you've known me for so long!" I yell, trashing my arms. "How dare you? How stuck up and arrogant do you have to be to expect me to comply with your questions? Do you even know who I am; what I've had to deal with in the past; what kind of person I am; the people I like, the people I hang out with?" I stop to stare at him, as tears run down my cheeks. "So don't ever talk to me like that again," I wail.

Ye-Jun clenches his jaw and tries to touch my arm, but I yank it out of reach, causing my breath to leave my lungs. I choke once. And it turns into a coughing fit. I get it out of my system, but I feel weak: my legs go heavy, my head goes light and I feel like passing out. My head bobs, and I reluctantly let Ye-Jun take me in his arms. He sets my head down on his lap and strokes my lips.

"I won't talk to you like that again," he complies. He doesn't smile that charming smile. "Not until I make you. . ." He tilts his head as my eyes droop, final tears making their escape. "내 것."

My heart flutters.