"Do you always get so flustered easily?" Gary sat himself down next to her and asked.
"I'm just not used to being alone with a guy in a room." Jihyo replied.
She took out a black folder from her bag and flipped it open. Inside was all the study notes that she had written.
"This stack of notes is for you. The important things are highlighted in yellow. Can I take a look at your assignment?" She asked and looked at him.
Gary reached for his bag and took out his assignment. Scanning it in a glance, she took her pencil and started circling the mistakes in the assignment. She then explained to him the mistakes that he had made. When she was finally done explaining, she looked at him and all there was on his face was a blank expression.
She turned to face his laptop that was switched on in front of them and opened up the design application.
"Where's the folder of your saved work?" Gary shift the cursor over to 'file' tab and opened up his work.
"What are you going to do with it?" He asked as he handed the mouse back to her. Jihyo kept her focus on the laptop screen and told him to watch what she was doing. She duplicated his work and did some amendments to the duplicated version while slowly explaining to him for a second time.
"I can see the difference now!" He exclaimed.
"If you do it this way, there shouldn't be any problem." Jihyo said.
They smiled, before turning their head towards each other. They locked eyes for the first time, and Jihyo felt her heart skipped a beat.
He kept his eyes to her's and then shifted his gaze to her lips. Without realizing, they both gradually closed their eyes and slowly leaned forward. Their faces were just an inch away from each other when Jihyo suddenly came to her senses and opened her eyes, and quickly pushed him away.
Gary was equally surprised by what they were about to do. They remained in their position and kept silent for quite awhile.
"Sorry," they broke the silence and said simultaneously. Gary looked at her and she nervously looked away. Her eye darted in every direction of the room but just not on him.
"I.. I.. I got to go," she stood up and grabbed her black tote bag and her phone on the table.
"I'll send you back," Gary said.
"It's fine, you don't have to." Jihyo replied.
"I have to. I don't find it safe for you to be walking alone, outside, late at night."
She glanced at him and caught him staring at her. She averted her gaze from his once again and simply replied, "okay."
The journey back to her house was awkwardly quiet. When they alighted from the cab, Gary purposely walked behind her. They both didnt know what to say to each other.
Jihyo kept her hands tucked inside the pockets of her coat. She continued walking until she reached the entrance of the building.
"Thanks for sending me back." She turned around and said.
"It's what I should do." Gary replied.
Jihyo nervously bit her lower lips and turned to look at the building and then back at Gary. "Then.. If there's nothing else, I'm going in now. Bye.." She managed a smile.
"Have a good rest. Bye." He said.
Jihyo nodded slightly. She turning around and entered the building and walked directly towards the lift. He kept his eyes on her as she went inside the lift. They waved at each other just before the lift door closes.
Jihyo stepped into her house and tossed her bag onto the bed and went to take a shower. Fifteen minutes later, she came out of the bathroom with her hair dripping wet and a damp towel hanging around her neck.
She sat down on the white swivel chair and stared at the musical box sitting atop the table. A carousel was attached to it. She picked it up and twisted the knob a few times, before laying it back down on the table and watched the carousel turns as the tune of Fur Elise plays.
She rested her elbow on the table and propped her head up in her hand.
"How did it escalate.." Her voice trailed off as her mind wandered off to how they almost kiss.
Back at the shared apartment, Gary retrieved a can of soda from the fridge and sat down on the sofa and lifted his legs up onto the coffee table.
"You're back. Seems like you guys had lots of fun. I heard Jihyo laughing a couple of times." Rye Il said as he moved left and right while swinging his arm back and forth with a wii remote in his hand.
"Were you expecting us to be all serious and quiet?" Gary asked.
"You guys didn't do anything funny while in there, right?" Rye Il paused the game and looked at him.
"Well, I did told her some jokes." Gary quipped.
"Yah!" Rye Il shouted. "That's not what I meant." He scowled at him.
Gary gave an amused huff. "Relax. We didn't do anything."
Rye Il casts him a suspicious glance before returning back to his game. "You know that I like her from the beginning. If you like her, let me know. Then, we shall have a fair competition." Rye Il told him, sounding rather serious about it.
Upon hearing what he said, Gary raised his head and looked at him. "That won't happen," he said.
"That's what you say now. It might not be the case in the future." Rye Il replied.
Gary leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
"It won't happen.." He mumbled.
