Ahjumma Next Door

Chapter 9: Welcome To The Neighborhood

''Hello...''

Charlotte lazily answered her phone, her eyes still shut.

''Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep but you have an appointment today."

Charlotte immediately sat up from the couch.

''Shit!'' she cursed. ''I'll be there in... an hour.''

"Brooke! Brooke!" She tried waking Brooke up on the other couch.

''Yaaaaaah!!!'' Brooke scratched her head.

''I'm going! I have an interview.''

''Now why on Earth do you have to wake me up?"

''Because I wanna ask you if it's okay we give a hint about SB& Co.! For publicity purpose that is.''

Brooke immediately opened her eyes and sat up. ''You are the best, Charlotte Li!"

''Pshhhht.'' Charlotte pouted. ''So it's a yes then. Okay. Bye. Gotta go home to freshen myself up. I feel disgusting."

Charlotte was about to grab her stuff when she realized the window curtains are all parted.

''Since when did Sam start brightening up the room like this?" She asked Brooke who went back to lying on the couch.

''If you're going, just go. I'm still sleepy.'' Brooke answered ang pulled the covers over her head.

''Aisssht.'' Charlotte mumbled and started walking away.

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Samantha was half-walking and half-running like there's no tomorrow on her way home.

Earlier this morning, upon making sure she feels well already, she immediately rushed to the market to buy stuff she can cook for Charlotte and Brooke's breakfast. Actually, she's never tried doing this before- going out first thing in the morning to a very crowded place. She's not quite sure, but something deep inside tells her that she should do it.

''I'm near...'' She consoled herself as she kept panting and panting. She moved down her scarf a bit that was covering half of her face earlier.

She looked at her left when she heard a car honk.

''Yah! Weir-...'' He was about to call her weirdo but remembering last night's incident, he thought it might be rude of him.

''A-a-hjumma! Yaaah!''

Her eyes widened in horror as she gasped. She turned her back on him and shut her eyes hard. She decided to keep walking when she heard him slam the door close.

''Yah!!!'' James held her left arm and and pulled her to face him.

"Yah, ahjumma! What the hell are you doing here? You're sick! Where have you been?'' James asked her but she just bowed her head. ''How did you escape from Brooke and Charlotte?''

She then looked up at him and tilted her her head questionly. Brooke? Charlotte?

''H-h-h-ow....''

But before she could continue her question, her eyes landed on James' lips.

She tried looking away but ended up looking at his pointed nose.

She tried to speak but nothing came out and she ended looking at his... EYES.

It's the same feeling she felt yesterday morning, weakening her, suffocating her.

Without thinking she lunged forward and was about to bang her forehead on James's but this time, James knew better.