When We Return

Chapter 3

Three weeks.

It’s been three weeks and I’ve been fine.

Or not.

Seriously though, I’m not doing great at all. I am almost considered as a stalker for following that guy every day. He doesn’t talk much and doesn’t have a plan where to go each day. So, I decided to wake up as early as 5 o’clock just to wait for him outside his apartment.

And as always, he’s been treating me like a gust of wind and would just pass me by and walk on. I don’t want to be stuck on my room so it’s better to be treated that way than not doing anything at all. At least I’ve got to explore some places here.

And for three weeks, I’ve also been trying to know his name. Like this one time when we were on the park and I asked him to buy food, he left his bag with me and I opened it without his permission just search for anything that would hint me about his name.

Of course, he got mad. He didn’t talk to me for 2 days (but nothing changed actually, he’s been ignoring me since day one) and would leave me behind. Luckily, since we’ve been together for three weeks, I learned how to commute, just a little.

These past three days, he didn’t go out much. He just stayed inside his apartment leaving me like a dumbass waiting outside his door all day. (grr, that guy) So to save myself from hunger, I always come to the café I went to the first day I saw him.

But the shocking part was yesterday’s evening, someone almost killed the s**t out of me by pressing the doorbell repeatedly and pounded hard on my door while I’m watching a horror movie alone.

Yes, I’m weird like that.

It took me good 10 minutes before opening the door, thinking that someone had wanted to barge in and kill me directly. Upon looking at the pinhole, no one was outside and it doubled the creep inside of me. However, when I opened the door, a dinner platter was placed in front of me with a sticky note on it.

Sorry. Been sick for 3 days.

And that’s it.

I tried knocking on his door but meh, no answer. An austere response from a cold hearted human being. A smile formed on my lips as I eyed the dinner platter on my hands. It was wrapped on a plastic so the food is secure. It looked quite scrumptious and I got all sentimental, so I shouted ‘thank you’ at his door even though I bet he didn’t even hear it, before I went inside my apartment.

So today, again, I was waiting outside his door. Contemplating about whether to ring the doorbell or just leave him be. I can wander around myself but I’m more secured if I have someone with me.

I raised my fingers in the air and was about to push the doorbell when his door swung open and revealed a dashing, fresh-out-of-the-shower guy whose name is still yet unrevealed. He didn’t look sick though so maybe he had just recovered.

I automatically retracted my hand and stood there awkwardly, not quite knowing what to say. I just stared above his head or his neck and try to avoid looking at his eyes. I know he’s looking at me sternly. Who wouldn’t be? I’m the world’s most annoying person for him right now.

Seconds had passed and we’re still standing in front of each other. Well, that was until he shifted from just standing to leaning on the door frame and crossing his arms. I watched his every move as his muscles flex when he knots his arms together.

“Are you just gonna stay right there or what?” he asked so suddenly that I was startled from my train of thoughts, my eyes locking with and into his own.

“W-what?” I asked dumbly. The boy (whose name I still don’t know and apparently has far more sass that I do) just rolled his eyes and pulled himself from leaning on the doorframe. He walked inside his apartment, and left his door open.

Is he inviting me in?

But I just want to check if he’s okay.

I remained on my spot, not knowing what to do. The options were whether I enter the room or just go back to my own apartment. But before I could think twice, a loud and muffled ‘tsk’ was heard from inside the room and in a second, he was there again in front of me. Boy, did he surprise me when he dragged me inside his room.

“You can sit there or you can also help me in the kitchen.” He gestured towards the sofa and the way towards the kitchen. But when I was about to answer he cut me and said,

“Or not. I don’t want anyone pestering me while I’m cooking. Stay there and help yourself. Food’s almost ready.” He simply said while making his way to the kitchen.

I made a face when he’s gone and just settled on the sofa. It’s my first time entering his room and I felt a little bit uneasy, in fact it’s the first time I’ve ever entered a guy’s room. If my father knew about this, he would be enraged once again. Who knows, maybe he’ll drop me off to Africa next time.

Still a bit awkward, I roamed my eyes around the room and took in the neatness of the organized living room. For a guy, he sure is clean and tidy. I bit my lips after I’ve realized that I left my room in a state of utter chaos.

A picture frame right beside the television set caught my attention, and I stood up to approach it. The picture was inside a small glass compartment and it’s filled with flower petals. So, I dipped my upper body down to stare at the woman in the picture.

“Uwaa~ she’s so pretty!” I mumbled as I stare at it. She looks a lot like the guy cooking at the kitchen and that made me wonder if she’s his mother or sister since she looks younger in the photo.

“Stop snooping around, will you?” A cold deep voice that’s obviously from him suddenly butted in and I instantly perk up with my back straight (for a moment I was analogous to that of a wall) and turned to his direction. He’s looking at me blankly and I don’t know about what he’s thinking right now. Yeah, yeah, let’s say he’s just annoyed with me and thinking of ways on how to get rid of someone who’s so nosy.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—” I tried to reason out but he held out his palm for me to stop talking so I gulped down the words I was about to say and just looked at him.

“Let’s go eat.” And with that, he turned his back on me once again. Darn. I’m surprised I was able to cope up with him for three weeks.

I’m so proud of myself.

Before I followed him onto the kitchen, I snuck one last peek on the picture frame. Luckily, my eyes had managed to catch a glimpse of it. Not to mention, I happened to realize that there were words written on it and yet I could only grasp the letter J written beside the frame.

J? Does his name start with letter J?

Before I can approach the frame and finally know his name, he called me with the most irritating tone ever so I just rolled my eyes the way he did earlier and made my way to the kitchen.

My eyes widened as I saw the dishes on the table. I recognized the dishes immediately since they’re all Canadian foods. There’s a butternut squash soup, a potato salad (which, mind you, I always eat), pesto chicken, and casserole. How did he manage to make all of these? It’s still 9 in the morning!

I looked at all the dishes with drool probably trickling down my face, I realized how much I had missed all these dishes since the day my father threw me in this place. And it seems like the dishes are made just for me.

The thought made me grin widely, that had maybe made me look like an evil witch, and with the same expression, I turned to look at him and smiled even creepier than I actually am. He coughed once and rubbed his nape while his eyes traveled anywhere but my eyes.

“I-I just want to try other dishes. I’m a food enthusiast so it’s for a change. I didn’t make it for you. You wish.” He said defensively, but he’s guilty alright. He’s ears are already bright red.

“I’m not saying anything.” I shrugged and even raised my shoulders. Slightly laughing at how cute he is when he’s shy. He sighed in defeat but said nothing as he pulled out a chair and sat on it. So, I followed suit and sat across from him while still grinning like a fool.

I prayed a word of thanks before getting every dish on to my plate and dug in. The first one I ate was the potato salad that I missed so much and as soon as I pop the food in my mouth, I savored the feeling and closed my eyes in pure happiness.

“This..” I pointed at the potato salad. “Is beyond any words I could imagine.” I finished and pop another piece in my mouth.

He giggled a bit but I didn’t pay much attention and just continued to eat.

“Slow down, Sowon.” He said and filled a glass of water before placing it beside my plate. I nod in thanks.

“Speaking of,” I speak again with my mouth full and he instantly glared at me so I swallowed it before I continued. “Mister whoever-your-name-is-but-I-think-it-starts-with-letter-J, could you please tell me your name now so that I can address you properly?” I pulled out the irresistible-and-miraculously-adorable-puppy-eyes card on him and for a moment I was really confident about him falling for it.

“Nope. Not gonna tell.”

But then again, he’s a little spawn of satan, so you could just kiss your hopes goodbye. Guy’s too apathetic to care. Psh.

“I’ll just give you names then.”

He glared daggers towards my direction.

“We’re not that close for you to give me names.”

With that, I pursed my lips shut.

Okay? Does he have to be that straightforward? Psh.

Offended and a bit hurt, I didn’t speak again and just stuffed my mouth with food until my cheeks are all puffy.

How can we even be close when he just ignores me every day like that? I tried to be less of the introvert that I am for him. Okay, not really for him but for myself so that somehow, I can survive until it’s time for me to go back.

He puts his spoon down with a thud but I didn’t bother looking at him.

“Why are you so upset?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I said no!” This time I turned to look at him and glared.

“Then why are you creasing your forehead, and you’re glaring and shouting at me.” I didn’t speak again. I grabbed the plate of casserole and cut a piece. Stuffing it in to my mouth, begrudgingly.

A moment of silence passed by and the only sound that resonates the room, was the clatter of spoon on plate from me as I ate.

After I finished, I clasped my palms together and said thanks.

“Thanks for the food. I’m heading out.” Still upset, I stood from my seat and was about to go out from the kitchen when he spoke.

“I planned to go to Gwancheon tomorrow.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned with confusion masked on my face.

Where’s that?

“So, you’ll just leave me here?” I asked, a little bit too sarcastic than what I intended it to be.

“Do you think I can just leave you here?” I was taken aback at his reply that heat instantly warmed my cheeks, not to mention the way he has stared at me had started to made me feel all flustered and abashed. A smile tried to creep to my mouth but before I could, I bit my lower lip to suppress it. All the irritation from earlier fled like a bird.

“Okay. Just knock on my door tomorrow.” I said, almost in a whisper before I ran towards the front door.