Beyond This World / Moon Gang-tae & Ko Mun-yeong (On-going)

Chapter 7: I Could Tell You Now (KMY)

• Ko Mun-yeong's POV

I stopped teasing him for a bit. If his nose fumes everytime he gets mad at me, the house would be on fire by now.

This guy needs to loosen up a bit. No, not just a bit...a heck load of it.

You see, nobody and let me say that again--NOBODY has the right to tell me what to do and what not to do. Needless to say, when Gang-tae tells me to stop doing something, it is not my obligation to stop. He can beg, he can ask nicely, but he can't order me around.

The sad thing is, I have learned to stand up for myself a tad bit too late.

...

I formed a bubble and blew it towards his face. Only Gang-tae can make washing Sang-tae's toy dinosaur like it's a form of art--biceps peeking out of his sleeves, muscular back making themselves visible as he scrubs the toy relentlessly, his round ass--

"Keep your distance. I can feel your breath."

He must be the most snobbish guy in the whole of South Korea.

"I know you like--"

His soapy hand pointed towards the wrong direction. He was reprimanding the refrigerator.

"Don't you lay a finger on my body. I'm still not forgiving you for what you've done earlier. Sang-tae won't let me sleep later with his questions!"

"Shhh. Please don't be mad anymore. I was just teasing you." I pouted as if he can see me. Well, at least he can hear it in my voice.

"Didn't I make myself clear last night? I said, stop making my life harder."

He rinsed the toy quickly and walked out--as if I can't follow him wherever he goes.

...

I handed him his light blue green scrubs. I'm sure he saw it floating towards his way.

He didn't look nor talk. He just grabbed it as if it's the most normal thing to do.

I wonder if he's thinking about me now--in a good way, that is.  Because I'm pretty sure he's been plotting a thousand plans in his head on how to get rid of me--as if he can actually do that.

...

I heard the door close. It's 6:12 PM.

I ran...errr...floated through the walls of the house to welcome Gang-tae--only to remember his request and of course, my plan of not following it.

He threw his dark blue backpack on the other chair then slouched on the sofa. He closed his eyes briefly and massaged his forehead.

He kept on sighing. He opened his eyes and looked up again at the chandelier. If I'm going to count how many times he has stared at the fixture, it would probably be more than the times I've looked at it in my lifetime. I hope I can just morph into a chandelier so that he'll keep on staring at me without any anger in his eyes.

I'm trying my very best--believe me--that I'm giving my ultimate best in holding myself from going near him.

Standing six feet away from him, balling my fists and trying to expel my breath quietly, I am gathering all my strength to give in to his request.

But my body has a mind of its own.

I have never felt this with anyone who has stayed in my mansion. I am wondering where this feeling is coming from. Is it because we shared something in the past? It is because somehow I felt guilty for the life he has right now?

This is not something which can be described in detail. I just know that whenever he is around, I feel excited to bug him, tease him, talk to him, see his unease, listen to his impatient tone.

Even if I know that this would lead nowhere, a seed of hope was planted in my heart.

My feet made little quiet steps towards him. Standing behind him now, I hesitantly place my right hand on his right shoulder. Then my left on his left.

My heart is thumping so hard as I know that anytime from now, I'm about to hear another bout of reprimanding.

But there was none.

A few minutes have gone by with my hands just resting on his shoulders. We are both not moving.

I start to squeeze the tired muscles and he moves his head to give me more access.

I kneaded, chopped, rubbed, and relieved the knots that have hardened. His upper body moved forward and without saying anything, he allowed me to rub his back.

No words were uttered between us.

It was a friendly gesture that I could offer to at least help him lessen the burden of his day.

A few moments more and I am done with being a helpful and wholesome friend.

Now it's time to turn on the naughty switch.

"Did that feel good huh, Gang-tae?" Whispering sweet nothings to his ear is now becoming a habit which I need to break soon.

"Just okay."

"Ya! You were nearly falling asleep from my good massage and you just say 'Just okay'?!" I swear I wanted to push him now.

"Did I ask you to do it? No. But fine, for your peace of mind--it felt good, okay?"

"And what else?" I crossed my arms on my chest and rolled my eyes, waiting for him to say something else.

"Kamsahamnida, Ko Mun-yeong."

A smile escaped from my lips. I tried to hold it in by pursing them but they just formed an upward curve. This is one of those moments that I'm thankful that he can't see me. I feel my face getting hotter.

I clear my throat. "Cheonmaneyo, Gang-tae. See? I'm not as bad as you think!"

"I'll decide on that on a daily basis." He chuckled and shook his head.

Did I just make him laugh?! Whoa. I just unlocked another level.

"May I sit next to you?"

"I'm surprised you asked my permission." He chuckled again. Why am I getting giddy with his every reaction? Ya! Ko Mun-yeong! Get your sh*t together, lady.

"I'll take that as a yes."

I sat next to him but unlike last time when I sat on his lap, now I'm at the other end of the sofa. I know he can tell how far I am from him.

"Ko Mun-yeong, you think we can live peacefully together in this house?"

Why the sudden serious talk?

"Well...yes and no."

"What do you mean?" He looked blankly at the vase on the center table.

"I need your help."

He moved his gaze towards where I'm seated. Finally he got it right.

"What do I get in return?"

"A Ko Mun-yeong-free house...and life."