Always, It's You

Chapter 5

Taehyung's POV:

It was almost dusk outside when we came out. Ashley didn't seem like she was bothered. We were talking casually.

It was so nice how patient she was while talking to me, repeating words once in a while, speaking slowly, using gestures and expressions knowing English was not my forte.
From the restaurant, we were on foot.

While passing the local book stores, she stopped, "I am gonna go inside for grabbing some books. Wanna come?"

I nodded. Yeah, there was nothing for me to do anyway.

We went in. She slowly walked around the isles seeing the books, opening some of them, reading the flaps.

I walked around and grabbed a reference book on this place. When I  went back to the counter, she already piled several books to buy.
When we were done, we walked out. I offered to carry the bags, but she refused smiling. I insisted, so we shared them.

After walking a few blocks, she suddenly asked if I liked reading.

"Yes, but I don't have much time always, but I like comics," I replied.

" You are a child!!! Aren't you???" she replied smiling encouragingly.

I was curious about her. But she wasn't that of an expressive one, so I  waited if she reveals something about her.

I heard the distant roar of the waves as we were closing by the beach.
It was dark already. But there was a full moon in the sky. The sky was clear, the air was fresh. The salty-sweet smell of the beach was refreshing. The mild breeze left me mesmerized for some seconds, totally making me forget every moment of the past few hours.

"So, this is me."

I came back to my senses with her words.
She unlocked the door. Switched on the lights. We went in.

It wasn't any typical beach cottage. It somehow felt like home. She took the bags from me, putting them on the kitchen counter she said, "let me show you your room now."

We came upstairs. She took me to my room, "please, make yourself at home."

I looked around after she left.
It was a simple room with a balcony attached. There was a painting that caught my attention, it was one of Constable's landscapes.

Nope, I was right, it wasn't a booked beach cottage, it was more like her house.

I took off my jacket and relaxed a little. There was a knock on the door, "Kim?"

I opened the door. Ashley was standing there. She handed me a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, "don't know why, but I bought those months ago expecting a friend, though I don't have many visitors here."

I smiled brightly, "thank you, Ashley."

I went back inside, took a shower, and changed into the clothes she gave me. Those were very comfortable, to be honest. After some time, I went downstairs.

Her house was simple but there were elegancy and signs of an excellent taste.
There was a good collection of books on the shelves around the living room with glimpses of Picasso and Renoir on the walls.

She was in the kitchen. "Ashley?" I  called her.

She came out with two mugs in her hands. She already changed into T-shirts and leggings.

"Coffee?"

"Yay!!!!" I cheered. She laughed brightly.
She handed me one and sat on a nearby couch.

"You said you are on vacation," I said.

"Yes," she replied.

"You said you booked this cottage, but..." I said, puzzled.

She smiled, "confused?"

I nodded.

"Well, I am on vacation, but it's my house for now you can say," she replied.

Sensing my confusion getting deeper, she explained, "well Kim you see, I  don't live here, it's not my country. I was invited here by a particular hospital for research collaboration. It was for an almost three years contract. I was offered a residence in the city, but I don't like city life. So, they provided me with this beach cottage."

I was confused, "and vacation?"

"Well, my works here are almost over, needs some paperwork to be finished, but there is a lot of time before my contract ends. So I decided to give myself a break. You see, normally I am too busy to stay home," her smile was comforting.

"So, you are a doctor and a scientist?" I concluded.

She chuckled, "not really, but I guess you can say that. I just try to ease my working procedure here you see, trying to find new medical procedures."

I didn't quite understand her words.

She put her chin on her knees, "so Kim, what do you do?"

"Tae, you can call me Tae, Ashley," I  said. "The name is Kim Taehyung."

"Tae?" she repeated the name one more time, replying with a bright smile, "only if you call me Ash."

"Nice." I smiled.

I looked outside through the glass wall, "it must be nice living up here. The view is mesmerizing!!" I said looking outside.

she stood up, "wanna go out for a walk?"

"Yes!!" I immediately responded.

She chuckled at my childish behavior.

"let's go then."

She walked towards the screen door. With the mug still in their hand. I ran after her. There were not many residences around the cottage. It was facing the beach, in front, there was a calm driveway with lots of colorful pebbles and pine trees.

Just after the road, a sandy beach laid up to some large rocks lying on the edge of the beach. Waves were crashing on them constantly making a beautiful humming sound.
It was a beautiful moonlit night with a soothing breeze.
We walked silently for some time. Then she again asked me the previous question, "what do you do, Tae?"

"I..um.....I am an artist," I replied.

She looked at me curiously, "Wow, isn't that amazing!!"

I smiled.

"What kind of artist are you?" she sipped her coffee.

I thought for a second, "I make music."

Her eyes widened, "Really? Do you sing?"

I chuckled, "yes, I kind of do both."

She was truly amazed.

I smiled silently. How wonderfully she was excited hearing me making music as if she was nothing compared to me.

"Tae? Do you perform for your audience?" she again asked excitedly.

"Yes, I do." I smiled.

"Then can you sing for me please? Pleaseeee???" she excitedly pleaded to look at me.

I laughed at her silliness. It was cute.

"I, ah, Ash, umm..." I started.

She grabbed my hand, "please????"

I looked at her, I could not but laugh.

"Ok Ash, I'll try, " I said.

[ Taehyung doesn't know English well. And I am not willing to write his dialogues as broken English or Ashley's repetition of words and gestures here.
Just imagine how the conversations between two people having a language barrier going on from now on...... Like I always say, your imagination gives everything lives.]