Tattooed Boy. || ENG

|13|

After taking an extra long shower I make my way downstairs. Mom and Dad greet me, then turn away quickly to hide their expressions and keep communicating secretly. Why are they making such an effort? I know what they're thinking anyway: their little daughter finally brought a boy home - which in fact isn't even true. However, to explain why they're this happy about someone like Jisung is something even I, their daughter, can't explain.

Okay here I go again with my prejudices. I really should stop. Jisung can be nice.

Like the 10% of the time left when he isn't sleeping or being rude. Cheeky. I meant to say cheeky.

I take a look around. My sister is sitting at the table, eating her cereals with satisfied sounds which make Mom glare at her then and now.

"Where's Jisung at?" I ask. He's not here and wasn't in my room either - I even double checked the blanket-pillow-mess on my couch.

"He's outside" my dad answers pointing to the front side of the house.

Outside? What is he doing outside? Quickly I make my way to the front door and open it. He wouldn't just disappear, would he?

"Ji-" I start with my voice a little raised but close my mouth immediately when I see him sitting on the bench next to me on the veranda. He looks up to me, his eyes a little closed while raising a hand in order to block the sunlight which is shining directly at the front of our house at this time of the day, his hair messy and a cigarette between his lips.

"Mhm?"

"What are you doing here?" I ask after an awkward silence where I didn't know what to reply. Why did I run out like crazy? Why do I care if he's gone already or not? Thinking about it, it would've been better for me if he was gone because then he wouldn't be able to answer weird question of my parents and I could easily avoid telling them what happened last night. I mean, I don't remember everything anyways but with him here there's the chance of this lost memory being revealed.

Well actually ... I'm kind of curious. Like, what if I did something embarrassing or-

Jisung interrupts my thoughts by speaking up. "Just taking some fresh air."

I look back at him, furrowing my brows at the cigarette which he took between his fingers in order to answer my question. He now leaned back and stares into the distance. If I wouldn't know it better, I could've thought he was avoiding my eyes.

"Fresh air? While you're smoking?"

He raises an eyebrow and turns his head a few inches to face me again. "Do you mind?" he asks. Is he being considerate or just trying to keep up his politeness with my parents right next door?

"No, no, go on. I don't mind" I reply. In fact, I don't like it to be next to smoking people but I don't dare to say it out loud in front of him. I look away. A cat is roaming around the driveway of our neighbors across the street.

I hear Jisung lightening his cigarette. Soon its smoke enters my nose and lungs. I can't help but cough shortly. Awkwardly I turn my head even further away so that not even his feet are in my view. With my left hand I play around with my hair.

Silent laughing fills the silence. "So you don't mind, you say?"

I keep avoiding his glance. "Yeah, it's just that I'm not used to it, you know?"

"You could just go inside" he replies and I clearly hear the amusement in his voice."

"Isn't that equal to being a bad hostess?"

He laughs again. "Rather equal to being considerate of your health."

I blush. Why is he so good with words? "And what about you then?" Eventually I force myself to look at him again.