Chapter 4
2025 Words
I was confused with myself lately. I sympathize with other people and beg her to live with me. I got nothing from this. If I need a maid, I could ask my mate at home to be here but I asked Aoey to move in with me for that. It was so nonsense. Why did I do that?
It had been a week since Aoey moved in with me. I also did not go home for a week. It took me a while to adjust but now I felt comfortable with her. We talked and consulted each other, even when sometimes I did not understand her.
"Do you know that you can mix fabric softener with water to clean the floor? And the floor will be dust free".
"Really? That is amazing".
I acted surprised. I did not care what make my floor dust-free. I would pay for someone to do it for me. But...well, she initiated a conversation.
The sweet eyes were now cleaning the floor with a mob. I admired her for being so diligent and trying to be useful all the time. Aoey got a job at a convenience store. After that, she came back home and cleaned my place. She did everything and never was lazy.
"Will you have to go to school?"
"If I study in an open university, I'll have time"
"Why don't you try an entrance exam in the government university?"
"I'm not that smart. I don't think I will be able to compete with other people. I can study anywhere. It doesn't matter".
"We have such a different idea. My family put so much pressure on me
when I was in school that I should get into government universities. It is the first step of your career. My dad even tried to bribe me with a Patek Phillip watch for a reward if I got in".
"Is that a name of a magician?"
"I just said a watch. It is a watch brand".
The famous luxurious watch did not influence some people. If Patek Phillip was a magician, Lee Min Ho was a boyband singer.
Did she even know Lee Min Ho?
"You're smart. You don't have to study hard. You actually don't have to work and you can live comfortably. You're perfect...beautiful, rich and smart". Aoey said and looked me in the eyes like she wanted me to know that she meant it. But everytime I looked her in the eyes, I felt so shy. I had to turn away.
"You don't wear eyeglasses anymore".
"I'm cleaning. I don't need them".
"Do you wear it when you're at work?"
"Sometimes".
"You have to wear it".
"Why?".
"I don't know but you should wear it".
I look at her directly despite feeling weak. I need to tell her to do what I asked. The smaller friend nodded in agreement.
"Ok, I'll wear them".
"You should pull your hair up and don't put make up on".
Aoey smiled after I made so many requests. I knew that was a lot to ask. I did not understand why her makeup would bother me.
"No, I won't".
"Good".
I was worried about her...She was so naive and beautiful. People could do hee harm.
"I think my salary from the convenience store is not quite enough. I should find more job".
"Are you working too hard? You're so tiny".
"There will be something I can do".
After Aoey finished cleaning, we both sat next to each other and watched tv together. This was the other activity that I felt so comfortable with her.
Watching TV with other people.
We talked about Korean actors and series. We shared a lot of interests and it made me realize the meaning of intimacy.
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door. I grabbed a remote control and pushed pause, seeing the face of the actor opened his mouth wide. Aoey got up and opened the door. I saw Great, my brother, who was now in his school uniform. He looked surprised to see a stranger open the door.
"Is this room no.1725?" Great took a few steps back to double check the number. I looked at him and called through.
"Come in. It's me in here".
Great poked her head in and saw me. He looked so surprised to see that I had a visitor, "a friend".
"I did not realize you have friends". Great pointed to Aoey with a surprise looked on his face.
"My name is Aoey".
"...."
The sweet-eyes who did not wear glasses smiled at my brother. That made him stunned.
"Great, you're being rude. Don't stare at her". I said.
He smiled and nodded shyly.
"Hello" Great said.
"You two look the same, Great and Gen". The sweet-eyes looked at Great considerably. "If you were a man, you'll look like this".
"Why are you here?" I cut down her conversation, annoyed by both of them. Maybe a bit too much.
Great carried a student bag sat down next to me and pulled a face.
"I miss you".
"Come on".
"That's true. Mom said you're not coming home for a week. I thought you have a boyfriend and must be here with your boyfriend. I wanted to see what kind of man can win your heart. Turn out to be a woman. Ouch! Why do you heat me".
I hit him in the face for not knowing me. He should know me better than this. I wasn't an "easy" person. I opened the door to everybody but never had anybody "invade" me yet.
"What do you think when you see a woman?"
"I'ts still weird. I did not know you have a friends".
"Why not?"
"You're not a good friend. Ouch! You hit me again".
I smacked him in the head so loud that sound was like a drum. Aoey saw everything and laughed out loud.
"You two are so cute". Aoey looked at her watch. "Oops, I have to go Gen. I cleaned everything now. You can make a mess again. I'll be back to clean it later. Bye!"
"Ok".
I replied and looked at the sweet-eyes who walked out.
"Don't forget your glasses!" I reminded her.
Aoey walked back and smiled at me with her whole face.
"Ok".
Once my brother saw she walked out. He got up excitedly and was about to say something when Aoey rushed back in. She walked in clumsily and tipped over. My brother rushed to support her but....
"Let Go!"
They yell and the force bought silence into the room. Great and I was stunned by the loud noise and the fierce rejection. I never saw her like this before.
"I'm sorry. I'm in a hurry. I forgot my mobile phone".
"Be hurry".
Aoey grabbed her phone and looked at me before she walked out. I shrugged my shoulder telling her to leave for work. Once the door was completely shut, when Great and I was certain that she wouldn't return. My brother broke the silence.
"You're friend is weird".
"How?"
"She look sweet but at the same time hidden something inside". Great put his hands over his chest. "Fascinating" He looked like he was daydreaming.
"Don't be silly. Do you know what is fascinating?"
"Of course, I know. She is like you,
Gen. All men are fascinated with you too. They wanted to know what you're thinking".
"Come on! Know-it-all boy. Are you fascinated by me too?"
"I'm not fascinated by you. I Know you all my life. But your friend Aoey..."
"You should go home".
"What!? I'm not done talking and you already changed your tone. I'm here because I miss you. I haven't seen you for a week".
"If you miss your mom, go home to see your mom. Not me!"
"You have such a bad mouth. By the way, Do you know if Aoey has a boyfriend?"
"Go home".
"What!? I'm your brother. Stop kicking me out the door".
"You are annoying. Go home!" Great was confused but slowly got up, and grabbed his school bag.
"By the way, don't tell mom that I'm with a friend". I warned him.
"Why?"
"I'm not ready to explain. I don't want to explain to mom and dad, the same way I have to explained to you that I have a friend".
"Why are your acting like you're leaving with your partner?"
He started to realize that I was really annoyed. He finally left. Once I was alone by myself, I started to process what just happened.
Why Aoey rejected help from Great? He just tried to help. It did not look normal. Should I asked her?
I waited until Aoey was home later. Once home, she let her hair down. Her long hair was wavy after being tied up all day. I looked at her movement quietly while walked in toward her. I bent down next to her face.
"Aoey". I said teasingly.
Shock!
The sweet-eyes jumped like she was electrocuted. She tried to hit me but I quickly blocked her hand. We both looked at each other. I wanted to know how she felt. She backed away once she realized it was me.
"I... I'm sorry ".
"Are you ok? You don't look fine at all". I stepped in toward her. She moved away quickly.
"Nothing".
"Why did you try to hit me?"
"I just spooked".
"That was a bit overreacted". I reached my arm out to her, and under the square glasses, I saw beautiful eyes. "Let me see if you're ok". I reached in to test again.
Aoey retreated back and folded her arms. The sweet-eyes looked away in the other direction.
"You don't want me to touch you".
"N...No...not like that". She looked so scared and nervous that I felt pity for her. Her shaky hand reached out to touch me. "Here, I touch you now".
Grab!
I grabbed her wrist and squeezed tight. The sweet-eyes looked shaken and scared. This was not normal.
"Why are you so scared to be touched".
"...."
"You can tell me, Aoey".
Aoey's face looked so uncomfortable. Now I was really curious about what happened. She looked at the floor and replied with a whispery voice.
"I think other people are dirty".
"Including me?"
I let go of my hand. I felt bad but tried to be understanding. People were different. I hated geckos. She might be ok with it. It wasn't hee fault.
"You are different".
"Ah?"
"I don't feel that you're dirty".
"Why are you so afraid of me then?"
She looked at me with her sweet-eyes filled with tears. From that sad looked I had no idea what that meant .
"I feel dirtier than you and I don't want you to be stained with dirt".
What the hell was this?
That was the end of our conversation. We took turns taking a shower and then went to bed. We both did not discuss anything more but we weren't mad at each other. The atmosphere was still heavy, stressed. I did not know what that was.
Then, I just wanted to do this.... .
I did not know why....
I moved in toward Aoey who now turned her back to me. I put my arm on her waist. She was a bit jumpy, I knew she did not fall asleep.
"Let me hold you. Maybe you'd feel better". I said while still closing my eyes. I rested my face on the back of her neck and pulled her in tight, to make her feel 'not dirty'
"You don't have to worry at night if I pretended to hug you again".
"You pretended to hug me?"
"Yes".
"Why"?
"If I hold you, you'll sleep better". I said, "I'm going to sleep now. Let me know if you feel uncomfortable".
"I'f I'm uncomfortable, do you stop hugging me?"
"No, I'll keep hugging you. When you're jumpy, it wakes me up too. So, if you sleep well, I sleep well too".
"You're still self-centered like when we were young".
Aoey padded my hand gently as if to say thankyou. We slept that night soundly, without Aoey waking up again.
- Writer
