Serendipity: The Amazing Journey Of A Soulmate

9. Tease

After we eat, my friends offer to give me a ride home and I ask them to drop me off at the supermarket to do some groceries. It's still early and I'm planning to cook bulgogi for dinner, while listening to music and savoring a glass of wine. I always enjoy the time I have with myself, after a long draining week. These days have been a rollercoaster of emotions and I'm in need of a distraction. For the last half an hour I've been moving from shelf to shelf picking up everything I need for my dinner: beef, kimchi, green onions, pears, garlic. As I get out of the supermarket, my phone starts ringing in my purse, but my hands are full with groceries bags so I just let it ring. I'm positive is about work anyway.
Walking back to my apartment, I take my time enjoying the views of my neighborhood. The little street food van two blocks away from my home with the old nice lady waving at me everytime I'm passing by. The bohemian coffee shop in the corner of the street. The playground nearby the block of apartments always full of children, their loud voices and excitement heard from afar. The weather has been nice lately. Sunny and warm during the day, chilly at night. Like an autumnal weather. Maybe I should go ride a bike tomorrow and bring my camera as well. Ah, that's actually a very good idea.

Arriving home, I start unpacking my groceries when I hear the small sound of a text message. I stop what I'm doing and check the phone, seeing there is a missed call from Namjoon and another text from him saying "I'm in front of your office. Can you come out for a second?" What is this moron doing at my work? I quickly text him back: "I left early. I'm at home now" and then I put the phone on my kitchen counter, sorting through the bags to pick the products that need to go into the fridge. "Maybe I should take a shower first and change into more comfortable clothes" I say to myself, sounding like a good plan. I quickly wash my hair and wrap it in a white towel, while I'm putting on a pair of black leggings and an oversized cream sweater, with a deep v-neck, hanging a bit on a shoulder.
Returning to my kitchen, I start preparing all the ingredients for bulgogi. I let the rice to cook and I cut the meat in small slices. I am about to make the marinade for the meat when my phone lights up again with another message. "Please, Inna, I'm going crazy. Let me talk to you" Namjoon pleads. Shit. I think I took it too far. I wanted to give him a lesson regarding the last night's events and ignore him, but now he's feeling miserable and my heart breaks at the thought. "When have you become so weak, Inna?" I say out loud, my arms falling to my sides in defeat. Maybe it is time to be honest to myself and just admit that I don't need to keep him out of my life anymore, because he is already in. This man slipped through the cracks of my soul, igniting a spark in the endless darkness. And this soul of mine seems to say "I like his light. Let him stay."
I take a deep breath and dial his number.
"Inna, before you hang up, please listen to me. I'll expl-" he starts speaking really fast, as if he has been exercising his speech for the last 2 hours, but I cut in.
"Do you like bulgogi?"
"What?" he replies totally not expecting me to say this. "Do you?" I insist in a serious tone.
"I love it. I like meat in general, but why-" he replies.
"Great. Then come over" I say changing the tone of my voice in a more excited one. "Umm..where exactly should I come?" he asks confused. Oh, I bet he has that cute look on his face again, when he is frowning and his eyes get wider.
"Come to my place, Namjoon. I'll text you my address" I reply.
I can hear him letting out a long breath and quickly says "Thank you. I'll be there soon." He hangs up and I can't believe what I just did. I invited him to my place. Oh, shit! I look around the apartment in case there is a forgotten bra on the couch or something that I need to get rid of before he arrives. Thank god the apartment is clean. I don't usually leave my things lying around the house, but better safe than sorry. I rush to my bedroom and dry my hair really fast, then apply a bit of strawberry-pink lip balm and a bit of mascara. Running my fingers through my loose curls, I give my hair a natural look.
What was I thinking when I invited him over? My stomach's been feeling funny since then. No way I'm having mother fucking butterflies now. I return to my kitchen and I start marinating the beef when I hear the buzzer.
He's here. My heart beats faster than a drum. "Yah, Inna! Stop this nonsense and act like an adult!" I scold myself. I press a button to open the door of the building and wait for him to arrive at the apartment. I decide not to torment him too much about the other day. He's regretting acting like a caveman at the dorms and I would be lying if I claimed I didn't enjoyed the show. I just wish we didn't have an audience.
I can hear him knocking on the door now and breathing deeply, I open it for him. Standing in the frame of my door, tall and handsome, with piercing black eyes and full lips, he looks like a painting. I'm lost for words. "Inna" he says carefully, as if not sure how to approach me, "I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. Please don't be mad at me." Gulping, he waits nervously for my reply. "You're a pain in the ass, Namjoon" I say making him lower his eyes with regret. "But I'm not mad at you. Not anymore" I add softly, a small smile appearing on my face. He visibly relaxes at this, breathing in relief. "Come inside" I say stepping aside to let him in. I promised myself a while ago that I'll keep the gate of my shattered heart forever locked, to protect what's left. Yet here I am, willingly removing lock after lock for this man.