EUPHORIA ¦ PARK JIMIN

Chapter 17

While Jimin had coffee in the living room, Ha Eun was in the bathroom, treating her wound after taking her shower. In the midst of the time that she was in there, Jimin stood by her bed, looking at the blood stain. He knew she was lying. Taemin had no sign of wound anywhere, so it must've came from her. He didn't want to force her upon telling him the truth after what she has been through. Also, he heard had heard her hissing in pain inside the bathroom. When she stepped out the lavatory in her sweater and pyjama, Jimin turned at her and all she did was smile--like always.

Ha Eun had learned that smiling was the only solution she could do to make everyone think she was fine and fool them that nothing was going on with--especially her parents. It was her daily mask.

'I think you should change your blanket,' Jimin suggested.

'Ne, huijang-nim. I will,' She replied and stood still at where she was, smiling at Jimin.

'I mean, right now. Change it right now,' Jimin demanded.

Perplexed, Ha Eun blinked at him a couple of times then quickly following his orders. While she dug inside her wardrobe to find an extra blanket, Jimin aided her by pulling off the stained blanket from her bed.

'Ah, huijang-nim. Gwaenchana. I can do that,' She hurried to him, trying to pull off the blanket from his grasp whilst her hand carrying the extra one.

'Arraseo,' Jimin replied and threw the stained blanket on her face. Knowing that he wasn't going to be seen with her face dumped into the blanket, he quietly snickered at her and went back to sit in the living room

After changing her blanket, she sat on her bed, her head still vividly remembering the scene from just a few minutes ago.

'Ya!' Jimin called, startling her. She had apparently spaced out for so long that she didn't even notice.

'Ne?' She sprung up and went to him at the living room.

'How do you know Taemin?' He asked, when honestly, he really wanted to know what was going on.

'Ah, geuge, We met a few years ago when a friend introduced us to each other,' Ha Eun replied, somehow still being able to smile after remembering the memories when Taemin was still so sweet and caring towards her.

Jimin stared at her for a few seconds while she fixed her gaze on the floor, smiling about the memories that had made her fall in love with Taemin, how much she loved him and how she think he loved her.

'Ah, huijang-nim, I think you should head home. It's getting la--'

The thunder clapped and the rain poured heavily. It was the thunder and the lightning that struck that caused her to flinch and stop talking.

'I should go,' Jimin said and stood from the couch when another thunder clapped and she flinched on her seat again.

However, Ha Eun debated quietly within herself if she should make him stay for awhile and wait for the rain to atleast stop before he goes.

'Huijang-nim, the rain is pretty heavy. I don't think you should go yet,' She said, although she was hesitant that he might misunderstand.

But at the same time, having someone with her made her feel safe.

'Waeyo? I don't walk home,' He wittily remarked. 'Unless, you want me stay because of other personal reasons.'

'Geuge anigu... It's kinda dangerous driving in a weather like this. Please, don't misunderstand,' She replied and bowed.

'Arraseo,' He said and sat back down on the couch.

'Hoksi, TVreul bogo sipni (By any chance, do you want to watch TV)?' Ha Eun suggested.

'Geurae,' He replied, simply to escape the awkward situation of silence and Ha Eun immediately turned on the television which immediately showed a breaking news of an accident due to the rain.

Jimin flinched from his seat and gulped. Ha Eun, witnessing Jimin's reaction, turned off the television abruptly. The atmosphere was silent for a minute when Ha Eun stood up with Jimin's gaze following.

'Kamsahabnida, huijang-nim. Geurigu, joseonghabnida,' She began and and bowed at him and remained that way while waiting for Jimin to speak.

'Wae dasi sagwa hani (Why are you apologizing again)?' Jimin asked, slightly annoyed that she apologized for more than three times already.

She straightened herself and flashed him a smile. 'I want to thank you for saving me just now and I'm sorry that I had bothered you because of it. If it wasn't for me, you shouldn't be here stuck in a small, uncomfortable house,'

How was she suppose to react with that? Acting kind would make him look strange in her eyes.

'Geurae,' he mumbled instead.

Ha Eun sat back on her seat while Jimin's mind spaced out to what his mother had told him a few hours ago. It bothered him. The wait for the rain to stop took longer than expected, it had neither lighten or stopped. It seemed like it had gotten even more stronger. Ha Eun had stoos by the window, hoping the rain would stop and unaware of the time flying, by the time she had turned to Jimin, he had passes out in the couch.

'Should I wake him up?' She muttered to herself.

He looked so comfortable at the couch, hugging one square pillow and sleeping soundly. She approached him and patted his arm lightly.

'Huijang-nim..' she called softly.

No response.

'Huijang-nim..' she called again. This time he only shifted to the other side of the couch and grunting.

'Mwoya? Does he sleep like this at home?' She mumbled and patted him again.

'Huijang-nim...' she called alittle louder but all she received was her hand being pushed away and Jimin covering his ear.

Giving up, she sighed. 'I guess he's really tired,'

She grabbed another blanket and put it on him before she shut the lights and headed to bed. Regardless the fact that her boss was sleeping in her house made her uncomfortable, it made her even more uncomfortable upon thinking about what had happened a few hours ago.