I Too Had An Unrequited Love Story

31- Cons of Not Sharing the Bed

Veronica awoke to the sharp buzz of her phone vibrating beside her. Groggily, she blinked several times, struggling to focus on the screen flashing with an incoming call from Kim Min Ha.

With a deep sigh, she picked up the phone and brought it to her ear. "Hey Veronica, just checking if you'll be ready by 7?" Kim Min Ha's cheerful voice chimed through the line.

Veronica quickly pulled the phone away to glance at the time—6:00 a.m. She groaned inwardly. Every part of her body felt like it had been hit by a truck. She gingerly stretched her arms, feeling the uncomfortable twinge of stiffness from the night spent on the couch. 'Damn you, couch,' she thought, glaring at the lumpy offender. She must have fallen off during the night and ended up on the floor, which, much to her annoyance, had been slightly more comfortable than the couch itself.

She rubbed her neck, which was sore from the awkward angle she had slept in. "Veronica, are you there?" Kim Min Ha's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.

"Yeah, I'm here," Veronica finally responded, though her voice came out hoarse, raspy even. She cleared her throat, which only made it worse. She felt cold, despite the warmth of the room. The telltale signs of a cold were starting to creep in.

"Are you okay? You sound terrible," Kim Min Ha's voice took on a concerned tone. Before Veronica could reply, a loud sneeze erupted from her, echoing through the room. Arek, seated at his desk in a crisp business suit, glanced up from his laptop, momentarily distracted from his meeting.

"I'm fine," Veronica croaked out. "Yes, I'll be ready by 7." She tried to sound convincing but immediately sneezed again. She hastily ended the call, not wanting Kim Min Ha to pry further.

Veronica attempted to stand, but the moment she tried, her legs buckled beneath her. Sharp cramps shot through her calves, causing her to collapse back onto the floor. Muttering a string of curses under her breath, she grabbed the edge of the couch for support and slowly pulled herself up. Her body ached from head to toe, and the irony of her predicament was not lost on her.

Finally on her feet, she trudged toward the bathroom, hoping a hot shower would soothe her aching muscles. Arek, who had watched her struggles in silence, turned his attention back to his call without a word.

The hot water worked wonders on her tense muscles, and for a brief moment, she felt a sliver of relief. After finishing her shower, she dressed in a dark grey high-neck jumper, a black leather pencil skirt that fell just below her knees, and thick stockings to shield herself from the cold. She completed the outfit with black boots and grabbed her dark grey coat as she stepped out of the walk-in wardrobe connected to the bathroom.

Just as she walked into the room, she sneezed—again. "Damn it," she muttered, sniffing as she looked around for her things. Arek, still glued to his laptop, raised an eyebrow, briefly glancing at her before refocusing on his work.

Veronica made her way to the couch, where she had spent the previous miserable night. The pillow she had used had fallen to the floor along with her during the night. Grimacing, she bent down to pick it up, hearing a sharp crack from her stiff joints. "Seriously, what did I do to deserve this?" she muttered under her breath, grabbing the pillow and plopping it onto the bed.

Another knock at the door broke the silence in the room. Veronica turned to see Kim Min Ha standing at the entrance, waving cheerfully. Veronica smiled back and quickly picked up her coat.

"Annyeong, chingu," she greeted Kim Min Ha in a low, congested voice.

"Annyeong, chingu," Min Ha replied, returning her smile. "Your Korean is better than I thought," she complimented as they walked toward the breakfast table.