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Living with 3 male roommates was something Woo Young Woo, whether it's read straight or flipped, kayak, deed, rotator, noon, racecar, yeoksam station, never would have imagined for herself. She had lived with her father up until she was 26, and she had been craving some form of independence. She wanted to live like a proper adult, although sharing a bathroom with 3 men was a form of adulthood she wasn’t aware of. She saw her two best friends, Geurami and Suyeon living up their 20s and she felt left behind. They never made her feel left out, but there were times when she felt like she couldn’t relate to them, and it wasn’t only because of her autism. She felt like she didn’t have wild experiences as they had. She would sometimes compare her life with theirs, and she felt so sheltered. She understood why her father was protective of her, but she was 26, and she needed to get out there and live it up. She had made a resolution to herself that starting the new year she would try to get more out there and maybe try an experience like the ones her two best friends were always up to. That’s how Woo Young Woo found herself outside of a club on a Saturday, at midnight, way past her bedtime.
She wasn’t at the club to party, oh no even she had limits to these new adventures she wanted to try. Nope, Youngwoo found herself standing outside the club in her headphones and lavender pajamas with white bunnies printed on them after receiving a text from Suyeon. Apparently, Suyeon had just broken up with her boyfriend she had been seeing for a month after finding out he was cheating on her. She had texted Youngwoo to come and get her because she was staying with him and needed a place to stay for the next two days while she got her stuff out. Suyeon was one of her best friends, and she did so much for Youngwoo, it was the least she could do in return.
Youngwoo took a deep breath and made her way in. She had never been to a club before and after seeing it she never wanted to go to one. There were too many people bumping into each other, it was loud (thank god for her headphones) and there was flashing lights. This whole scene was her worst nightmare. She just needed to find Suyeon and get out.
She knew the guy Suyeon was seeing was a DJ, so she made her way over to the DJ area, the sound getting increasingly louder. She needed to find Suyeon quickly, she had a feeling she wouldn’t last long in the club.
She spots Suyeon, she’s flailing her arms yelling at the guy she assumes was the cheating ex. It also appeared like she was very intoxicated.
“What are you talking about?! I saw you with her asshole!”
“Suyeon! Choi Suyeon!” Youngwoo tried to get her attention, flailing her arms, but it seemed Suyeon was too busy yelling at…….. Jeonghoo or was it Jihoon?
“Oh, you were talking to her with your tongue down her throat?!”
Youngwoo knew she needed to get closer, but there were so many bodies. She fought to get through to the front, huffing and waving her hand in front of Suyeon’s face to get her attention.
“Choi Suyeon! I’m here, I got your message.”
Suyeon turned to look at her, relief showing in her features. “Ah Youngwoo, thank god you’re here.” She turned to point harshly at her ex, “I caught him kissing another girl.”
Youngwoo felt disgusted, how could anyone cheat on Spring Sunshine Choi Suyeon? She was perfect, what a terrible man. She feels it’s her duty to Suyeon as her best friend to defend her, “Kissing another girl? You, get away from here.” She waves him off.
The DJ finally acknowledges her presence, “Who the hell are you, pajama lady?! Get out of here!” His harsh words and loud music make her jump and she covers her ears. It’s getting to be too much in here. Suyeon turns and puts her arms around Youngwoo, “Never talk to her like that, that is my best friend asshole!” She navigates Youngwoo out towards the exit before DJ jerk can respond.
Once they’re outside it feels like Youngwoo can properly breathe. The nightlife still provides sound but compared to the inside of the club, it’s heaven.
Suyeon rubs her hands over Youngwoo’s arm, trying to soothe her, “Sorry Youngwoo, I should have met you outside. He was being an asshole and I got into an argument with him.”
“It’s ok Suyeon, you’re my friend and you needed help.” Suyeon grins at her, she called her Spring Sunshine Choi Suyeon for many reasons, and her smile was one of them.
“Ok” She side hugs her as they walk, Youngwoo only tries to get out of it two maybe three times.
“Ugh, why do I have such bad luck with guys Youngwoo? I really felt like Jihoon….” Oh, Jihoon was his name, “I felt Jihoon was different, you know?”
Youngwoo had only met the man once before today - she really didn’t see the difference between him and the previous guys she had dated. She had a feeling Suyeon wouldn’t appreciate being told that so she just hummed in agreement.
All of sudden they heard a honk on the side of the road, Youngwoo covered her ears again. It was a group of men clearly making eyes at Suyeon and waving at her. Suyeon waved back at them, “Youngwoo-ya! I think those guys like you, they’re waving over here. We should go and talk to them!” Youngwoo knew she was drunk and could smell it on her, so she knew Suyeon was not in the right frame of mind right now. She was glad she was here to get her, she feared what would have happened if she wasn’t. She tugged Suyeon along with her arm, it was nice being the protector for a change.
“Ugh ok fine we won’t talk to them.” She pouted. “Hey thank you for allowing me to stay at your place for the next two days, I owe you big time.”
“Just know it’s Friday night, so my roommates might have plans tonight.” She informed her. If she was honest, she was so tired, that she just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep.
“It’s ok, I’m pretty tired anyway. As a thank you for rescuing me, how about you tell me all about the Yangtze river dolphin on the way.” Youngwoo trembled in excitement, she loved talking about dolphins and whales with her friends. She launches into a full explanation about the dolphin from China that was now extinct and lived in both fresh and salt water.
***
They reach the door of the apartment she shares with her three roommates, Junho, Minwoo, and Myeongseok. She’s been friends with Suyeon since they both attended law school so she knows how Suyeon can be. This is why she turns to her and says, “Please be on your best behavior, they’re really good people.”
“I promise, don’t worry Youngwoo-ya.” Youngwoo opens the door to what would be strange to an outsider, but what was getting to be pretty common to Youngwoo. Junho was sitting on the couch working on his laptop, while Minwoo and Myeongseok were fighting each other with fake foam swords.
Suyeon not used to the antics of the place just stared with eyes open. I don’t think she was used to seeing grown men playing pretend sword fights on a Friday night.
Youngwoo clears her throat, alerting them of their presence, “What’s going on?”
Myeongseok who had made his way on top of the dining table had the decency of looking embarrassed. “Oh nothing, we’re not doing anything.” He climbed down from the table.
Minwoo on the other hand noticed Suyeon’s presence and just continued to stare at her. “Hello Suyeon, you’re looking beautiful as ever.” Youngwoo was aware of Minwoo’s attraction to Suyeon, he made it very obvious that he wanted to have sex with her. Junho-ssi had advised her to stay away from the “thing” they had going on. Lee Junho-ssi was smart when it came to social situations so she decided to take his advice.
“Well………. I’m going to use the bathroom” She announced, and started to make her way down the hall.
Once she made sure Suyeon was in the bathroom, she motioned them to sit on the couch so she could talk to them.
“I’m sorry, I wouldn’t bring her here but she has nowhere else to go for the next two days.” She had only been living there for 4 months, she didn’t fully feel like she belonged and now she invited a guest. She knew her feelings were irrational. The guys, well mainly Minwoo, brought lady guests over all the time, it shouldn’t be a problem for her to bring a friend.
Minwoo coughs getting Youngwoo’s attention, “Not that I’m complaining because it’s Suyeon, but don’t you have another friend she could stay with? Loud, sarcastic, has bright streaks in her hair.”
Youngwoo tilts her head “Hmmm no Geurami had an incident that doesn’t allow for Suyeon to stay with her.”
“Incident?” inquires Myeongseok.
“Um her cat gave birth on her bed yesterday and Suyeon doesn’t want to sleep there.”
Myeongseok looked a little grossed out by the information, “Oh I see.”
“Yes, I know I haven’t lived here long, and it might seem weird to bring a guest over without previously asking but she’s one of my best friends and she has nowhere else to go and-”
Junho-ssi, the most understanding of all her roommates, interrupts her rambling and smiles at her warmly, “It’s ok Youngwoo, we understand, it’s nice you’re doing this for a friend.” He really was the sweetest man she had ever met.
Youngwoo can’t help but smile back at him. She found herself doing that a lot when he was around, smiling. “Something nice I’m doing for a friend,” she repeats. “Thank you, you all are the best.”
She gets up to grab blankets and pillows in her room for Suyeon to take the couch. While she’s in there she finds Suyeon some pajamas she could wear, she picks out her other pair of bunny pajamas that are in pink so they can match. She grabs her a blanket with a giant narwhal on the front and multiple sets of pillows. While contemplating if she should lend Suyeon one of her whale plushies to sleep with she hears loud music coming from the living room. She quickly grabs her headphones and makes her way to the living room where she sees Suyeon dancing with Minwoo and Myeongseok.
She wants to laugh, Minwoo and Myeongseok are terrible dancers. They look so silly trying to keep up with Spring Sunshine Choi Suyeon. She glances over at Junho, who guessing from the look on his face also finds the sight amusing. They look at each other, sharing the hilarity of the situation. They were at that stage now, where they would share jokes with each other with just one look, it was nice.
Suyeon stops dancing and looks right at Junho, she stalks over to him and grabs both his arms trying to haul him up. “Come on, you have to dance too!”
Minwoo protests, “Really him?” as he continues to dance or what she assumes is his attempt at dancing.
Suyeon does one last attempt to haul him up, “Come onnnnn, Get up!”
“I’m ok, I really don’t want to dance,” he laughs nervously. Youngwoo’s usually not good at emotions but she can see that Junho looks uncomfortable. She takes that as her cue to go shut off the music.
“Ok Suyeon, time for bed. Lee Junho-ssi doesn’t want to dance. Here you can sleep on the couch.”
Before she sets her stuff down Minwoo interjects, “You know what, I’ll take the couch. Suyeon you can sleep in my room. Can’t let the lady stay on the couch.” He smiles at her.
Youngwoo looks at Junho-ssi, questioning him if this is part of the “thing” he mentioned. Junho seems to get the look Youngwoo is giving him and just nods. Ah, so this is a gesture Minwoo is doing to appear favorable in Suyeon’s eyes so she’d want to have sex with him. Dating and “hooking up” was very complicated for Youngwoo sometimes.
“Thanks,” Suyeon says without returning the smile, and gets up and leaves towards the rooms.
“Oh my god, Suyeon actually took me up on it. She’s sleeping in my room.” He’s grinning so wide, and he starts running laps around the living room.
“You know what?” Myeongseok says to them as all three watch Minwoo start doing push-ups. “I think even the guy that’s working at the convenience store with the lazy eye has a better chance with Suyeon than him.” Junho bursts out laughing.
Youngwoo watches Minwoo start doing a happy dance, and she may have to agree with Myeongseok there. Kwon Minwoo has almost no chance with Spring Sunshine Choi Suyeon.
***
“Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever existed. As long as 30 m and as heavy as 200 tons. They were bigger than the dinosaurs. Since they are in the water they are able to grow that big. Land animals are limited by gravity, but the ocean’s buoyancy spares marine mammals of this limitation.” Youngwoo loves these mornings she gets to spend with Junho, she gets her breakfast and she gets to talk about whales with him. It’s early in the morning and Junho is cooking. He’s making himself eggs and he’s making Youngwoo gimbap. She had it every morning since she was a child, usually prepared by her father but since she no longer lived with him she had to be independent and make it herself. The problem arose when she realized she didn’t know how to make gimbap, and when she attempted to learn she realized it didn’t come out as good as her Appa’s. Thankfully, Junho came to the rescue, learning and perfecting how to make it.
He set the plate right in front of her and she began to organize it with her chopsticks before popping one in her mouth. “Yours isn’t as good as my Appa’s Junho-ssi, but it’s close enough, thank you.”
Junho smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corner, “Ah Youngwoo, I’m glad you like it. I’ll try my best to get it as good as your Appa’s.”
She nods continuing to eat her breakfast when she pauses, a thought she’s had since Junho first made her Woo Young Woo gimbap. “Lee Junho-ssi” Junho pauses from eating his eggs and looks at Youngwoo, “Yes?”
“Why do you sometimes make me gimbap in the mornings? Why are you trying to perfect it?” She was genuinely curious, she knew he was very kind by nature. He treated everyone around him with so much kindness, she didn’t know how a man like that could be real. He almost seemed too good to be real which was silly, but she thinks she’ll never meet another man as tender and sweet as Lee Junho-ssi.
Junho blushes at her question, looking very interested in his eggs. “I guess I make it and try to perfect it because I know how hard this move was for you Youngwoo. I know this new freedom and independence is something you wanted that’s why you moved out but it doesn’t mean you’re not sad to not be at home with your Appa anymore. I know you sometimes still get homesick and I know sometimes a part of you misses your old room. I like you living here, and I want to make it easier for you to be here.” He looks up at her, “I like taking care of you in that way.”
A strange sensation she’s never felt before starts to creep into her heart. She’s not entirely sure what it is, but she knows her heart sped up a bit when he said he liked taking care of her. She knows her palms are sweating and she feels a warmness in her cheeks. What this all could possibly mean, she’s unsure. Before she can respond she hears the loudest reach coming from the bathroom that makes her jump.
“Um I think Suyeon needs me.” She quickly makes her way to the bathroom where Suyeon is hugging the toilet looking very ill.
“When drinking too much alcohol it can increase the production of stomach acid, delaying emptying the stomach. This causes abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. You really shouldn’t drink so much Suyeon,” Youngwoo informed her.
Suyeon reaches to flush the toilet, grabbing the nearest towel to wipe her face, “So you’ve told me a million times.”
“A million times is an exaggeration.”
“Ok, maybe a lot of times.” She made her way to the sink, splashing water on her face. “But maybe you have a point Youngwoo-ya, I feel terrible.”
She looked it, Youngwoo didn’t like it when her friends were sick. She wanted to make her feel better. “Do you want me to call Geurami? We can spend the day in my room?”
“Girls' day in your room sounds nice, thanks Youngwoo.” She caught a sniff of her breath. “God I reek, I’m going to shower now.”
“Ok, I’ll make Choi Suyeon some tea for when you get out.”
Suyeon lets out an awwww and goes to hug Youngwoo in gratitude, “You’re such a sweetheart.”
Youngwoo struggles out of the embrace, wrinkling her nose, “You do need a shower.”
***
“He was kissing another girl?!” Geurami had arrived 30 minutes ago, and the three of them were sitting on the couch in the living room catching her up on what happened last night. Myeongseok was sitting at the dining table nearby doing work, but they all just ignored him.
“Yes, and he tried to lie about it! But I saw it all, his and her stupid tongues were playing hockey together.” Suyeon was gripping her tea, she had just finished showering and looked a lot better than she did 30 minutes ago.
“Ugh men are such bastards, don’t you agree Youngwoo?”
“Bastards” repeats Youngwoo, although when she says it she can’t help but feel weird. Her mind instantly remembers Junho and his sweet smile making her gimbap this morning. No, she doesn’t think all men are bastards some are really kind and sweet.
Suyeon sighs exasperated, “You know what? I think I’m going to take a break from dating. Men are just the worst.”
“The worst,” repeats back Youngwoo, again not fully believing what she was saying. Every time thinking about Lee Junho-ssi.
“Aish, I don’t believe that. You’re going to get horny and scope out the next guy to fuck.” At Geurami’s words, Myeongsuk starts to cough. Huh? guess he’s paying attention to their conversation.
Suyeon shrugs, “I don’t need a boyfriend to have sex, I can just do the one-night stand thing if I’m really desperate, and if all fails I have my vibrator.”
Myeongseok starts coughing again, reminding them that he’s nearby. He’s red in the face and has a face of what she assumes is distress. Youngwoo puts her hands together, “Maybe we should take this conversation to my room. I think we’re making Myeongseok-ssi uncomfortable.” Myeongseok looks at her and mouths thank you .
She doesn’t understand why he’s uncomfortable, she’s heard the guys talk about worse. Maybe he wasn’t used to conversations amongst female friends or she guesses this is one of those things that made men hypocritical.
Before the girls can get up, Junho stumbles into the living dripping wet with only a towel wrapped around his waist. “Hey has anyone seen the hair…………..dryer?” His question trails off as he takes in the guests. “Oh hello,” He rubs the back of his neck with his hands, smiling sheepishly, “I didn’t know we had company.”
Both Geurami and Suyeon’s mouths fall open, taking in Junho’s almost naked form. She can’t really blame them. Even though she’s seen him in this state before, she can’t help but admire him. His body was perfect, the water droplets fell from his neck to his chest, clinging to his abs, his broad shoulders were wet, and his arms, those amazing arms , were in full glory. He really truly was the most beautiful man Youngwoo had ever seen. Every time she saw him like this, her heart pounded, her palms would get sweaty, and a tingling feeling would start to form. She couldn’t help it, her thoughts would turn rated-r very quickly.
Junho interrupted her thoughts by addressing her, “Youngwoo do you know where the hair dryer is?”
Youngwoo shakes her head, an action to clear up her mind before answering, “Um I think Minwoo put it in his hair care bin in his room.”
“Ah Minwoo, I should have guessed.” He flashed a wide perfect smile at her, “Thank you, Attorney Woo, you are a lifesaver” He gives her a wink and saunters off, and that is what does it for Youngwoo. She follows in Geurami and Suyeon’s lead and her mouth falls open. She wants to fan herself, it felt like it got hot all of sudden.
Myeongseok coughs for the third time, this time the cough is him trying to hold in a laugh, “You know ladies if you keep your mouths open like that, you may catch flies.”
Youngwoo flushes red, having been caught by her most respected roommate. She looks over at Suyeon and Geurami expecting to see a look of embarrassment on their faces only to find them giving each other conspiring, mischievous looks. She has a bad feeling about this.
***
After their run-in with Junho or well Junho’s run-in with them, they made their way to her bedroom. They continued gossiping about their respective love lives. Youngwoo didn’t have much of one so she just offered comments here and there. It’s how it always was when they talked about boys, dating, and hooking up, Youngwoo felt like she had very little to offer in conversation. It’s one of the reasons she wanted to try her hand at dating, not so much to look for the love of her life but to feel like she could keep up with her two besties. Although they would always end their nights talking about whales with her because they knew how much it meant to her.
“Oi Geurami did you ever end up hooking up with the guy from work,” Suyeon asks.
Geurami smiles mischievously, “Yup, and it was so good, I saw stars.”
Suyeon cackles reaching over to give Geurami a high five. Youngwoo tilts her head confused by Geurami’s word, “How would you see stars? Did you have sex outside?”
“Youngwoo it means the sex was really good.” Youngwoo ahhhs in understanding, she knows from past girl talks that the sex wasn’t always good so she was happy for her friend.
Geurami sighs, “While it was good, I’m talking top 3, I don’t think I’m seeing him again. He’s moving back to his hometown.”
Suyeon and Youngwoo hum in sympathy. “It’s ok ladies, I wasn’t looking to start a relationship with him anyway. I have the opportunity to look around and find new prospects. Gosh, Youngwoo I wish I had your luck.”
Youngwoo once again confused by this, points to herself, “My luck?”
“Yes! Not only are you living with three single men, but they’re so fine . All three of them are so hot, and they're walking around half naked apparently. If I were you, I’d take advantage of this situation presented to you, and bang one of them.”
Suyeon starts laughing at that, adding to what Geurami is saying, “I mean, I was going to say. Junho earlier……” She starts fanning herself, “.... just wow. I know for a fact that’s not the first time you’ve seen him shirtless, you live together it’s bound to happen, and all I’ll say is if I were you, I would climb him like a tree.”
Youngwoo blushes a little at what both of them are getting at. She knows all three of the guys are good-looking, especially Junho, but “Climb him like a tree?”
Suyeon raised an eyebrow at Youngwoo, “You’re so tiny in comparison Youngwoo, if you and Junho ever had sex, you’d need to climb.”
“Ani we aren’t going to have sex.” She sputters her reply.
Suyeon isn’t haven’t it, “I mean if you say so, personally I think he really likes you”
“Junho-ssi?! I think you have this all wrong, Lee Junho-ssi and I are just friends,” she protests. She doesn’t know where Suyeon is even getting this idea. There is no way Junho likers her, Autistic Woo Young Woo.
“I’m going to be real with you, you can’t just be friends with them. I would bet all my money that every single one of them has thought about sleeping with you. If not all then for sure Junho.” Suyeon drifts off suggestively. Geurami nods in agreement to what Suyeon is saying.
She starts to shake her head and starts doing the woah woah motion to get them to calm down. “No, just because both of you think everyone wants to have sex with each other all the time doesn’t mean anything.”
Geurami butts in, “We say that because it’s true! Everyone does want to have sex with each other, that’s just how most humans are, especially men.”
It’s like they’re tag teaming this debate which isn’t fair to Youngwoo. Suyeon continues, “Don’t you hear how he says your name, Youngwoo , like he’s caressing it with his voice. Also, Attorney Woo , he calls you Attorney Woo . He has a special name for you.”
Youngwoo’s blush gets even deeper. She feels shy all of a sudden like she’s being cross-examined on the witness stand. “It’s just a nickname he calls me sometimes.”
“Does he have a cute little nickname for the other two?” Geurami prods.
Youngwoo tilts her head bringing her hands to her chest, “Well no, but-”
Before she can finish her sentence, Junho enters her room. “Hello ladies” he addresses Suyeon and Geurami, and proving her friends’ point, he turns to Youngwoo “Attorney Woo” Youngwoo’s eyes widen, and finds her heart skipping a beat. She needs to go to the doctor because that keeps happening since she moved in.
“So I’m going to the convenience store, does anyone need anything?”
Suyeon gestures to Youngwoo, “Youngwoo-ya you should go with him, Get some more snacks for our girls' day.”
“Um ya, you could get that special snack we always have.” Geurami gives her a face like she’s trying to communicate a message, but Youngwoo isn’t getting it.
“Uh ok, I wonder what that is,” Junho chuckles.
“She’ll be out in a bit,” Geurami assures him, and he takes that as his cue to leave, shutting the door behind him.
“No, the two of you are not going to ruin this,” Youngwoo exclaims as both Suyeon and Geurami start to giggle at what they have just done. “I like living here with them, and I think they are starting to warm up to me, I don’t want you ruining this.”
Suyeon interrupts her, “Who is your ideal type Youngwoo?”
“What?” Youngwoo is thrown off by the question, “What is this? I don’t have one.”
Geurami exclaims, “Youngwoo-ya you liar! When we were in school and it rained so hard that day the teacher put on the Anne of Green Gables movies for us to watch…..” Youngwoo’s heart drops at that memory, she knows exactly what Geurami was talking about. “...you should have seen her! I have never seen her stare at a film that was not a whale documentary so intensely, especially when a certain Gilbert Blythe was on the screen.”
Suyeon squeals at the information, “He’s a total Gilbert! He gets you Youngwoo.” Youngwoo can’t help but blush at the comparison between her childhood fictional crush and her roommate.
Youngwoo doesn’t know how she feels about what they’re saying. Yes, it sometimes feels like Junho understands her better than most people, but that’s just who he is, he is really nice.
“Go with him to the store, and look at his feet. A guy’s feet will always point at what they want, his feet will be pointed right at you.”
Youngwoo didn’t think that logic made any sense. “If he’s talking to me why wouldn’t his feet be pointing at me, or else he’ll look like a penguin.” The mental image of Junho walking like a penguin pops into her mind, making her giggle.
Suyeon nudges her out the door, “Ok go, you got this.” Youngwoo whines, she really doesn’t know why her friends are doing this.
***
Youngwoo was examining the various snacks at the convenience store, they don’t really need any if she’s honest. They all look unappealing to her, but she supposes now that she’s here she might as well buy some. Youngwoo hopes she can just get her stuff and go, Geurami and Suyeon’s words bothered her. She loved spending time with Junho, but now she feels hyper-aware of their interactions.
A deep familiar voice interrupts her voice, “Did you get the special snack?”
She jumps a little, taken by surprise, “Ah!” She whirls around coming face to face with Junho’s handsome face.
Junho immediately steps back, “Oh sorry Youngwoo! I didn’t mean to scare you, are you ok?” He reaches out to rub a hand on her arm.
Youngwoo stutters at the physical affection he’s showing, “I’m fine.” She laughs nervously, she doesn’t pull away even though her mind is telling her to. For some reason, she doesn’t mind when Lee Junho-ssi touches her.
He drops his hand to his side, and she misses the warmth it provided. She hates that she misses it.
“So the special snack? Did you get it?” He looks at her little basket, which is empty.
“Ani, I don’t think they have it here.” She doesn’t even know what special snack Geurami was referring to, she suspects it was her excuse to push Youngwoo to go with Junho.
“Oh, I see, well maybe you can get some other snacks. There are some here that I like to eat when I’m hungover, maybe they can help Suyeon.” He walks towards another aisle with Youngwoo beside him.
“Soooo, Suyeon and Geurami are fun. I can see why the three of you are friends.”
Youngwoo agrees that they’re fun, but she’s interested in why he thinks they make good friends. “Really? You think so?”
He nods, “Ya they’re bigger than life. Suyeon seems scary while Geurami seems very loud, and you mellow them out. You three seem to balance each other out.”
“Balance each other out. Yes, we do. Sometimes they’re a lot. They call me in the middle of the night sometimes, drunk, telling me how much they love me, and then hang up. While nice, it’s very inconvenient for my sleeping schedule.” She smiles at the thought of her best friends. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, they’re the best friends I could ever ask for.” They were a handful, but she wouldn’t want them any other way.
“How long is Suyeon staying with us again?” He asks as they arrive at the aisle of crackers.
They turn to face one another. She looks to the side, “Hmmm until tomorrow, that’s ok right?” She asks nervously.
Junho seems to notice the nerves on her face because he begins to assure her, “It’s fine don’t worry about it. I was just wondering like I said yesterday what you’re doing for Suyeon is very sweet. You are such a kind person Youngwoo.” He smiles at her, before turning to the crackers, trying to find a particular kind. At that moment Youngwoo remembers what the girls had said about Junho’s feet. A guy’s feet will always point at what they want, his feet will be pointed right at you.
She knows it’s silly but she can’t help but look down quickly to see his feet pointing directly at her. She gulps, and she quickly looks at the couple across from them, the man’s feet are pointed at his lover. She looks over at another couple, they are arguing. She can tell by the man’s face that he is upset with his wife, she quickly sees and his feet are pointed away from her. Ok, maybe it has to do with him facing a different direction than her, but still what if it means something?
Junho plucks a packet of crackers from the back, “Aha! They hid these well.” He turns to give her the packet, “These not only help with hangovers but they’re really tasty.” His feet! She thinks, she doesn’t want Junho’s feet pointing at her. She’s scared of what that may mean.
“Ummmm” she starts to turn herself in different directions, she’s almost dancing around him. She knows she looks silly but his feet can’t be pointed towards her.
Junho, the stubborn man, keeps following her, trying to point his feet at her “Are you ok Youngwoo-ya?”
“Umm yes, I’m ok.” She tries to put on a face that everything is ok, but she can tell he is not buying it. It probably has to do with her still twirling around him, she’s going to start getting dizzy soon. “Youngwoo, what are you doing?”
“Oh nothing just looking around the store is all.” She climbs up on her tiptoes to look at the top of the aisles. It hits her how bad of an idea that was because after all the twirling she did she was not sound on her feet. She feels her center of gravity shift, and she feels herself topple over. “AH!” before she can hit the ground, she feels two strong arms grab her waist to steady her.
Junho looks at her with a concerned face. “Youngwoo! Are you ok?” She just looks at him shocked by his close proximity. This is not what she wanted because now his feet are very clearly towards her. She gives herself distance from him, being that close to him is a bad idea.
“Um yes I’m ok thank you. Just felt a bit queasy that is all.”
He still looks at her with concern, “Ok….” He puts the crackers in her little basket. “Here take these they may also make you feel better.”
“Ummm I don’t eat them.” She was lying, she likes these crackers but she needed to leave. She really just wants to leave the store. Why was he being so attentive and good, why was he pointing his feet at her? Did she cause this?
“Uh Ok…” He said unsure, he started walking towards the cashier. “We can just get them for Suyeon then, but when we get back home please rest.”
She sighs in relief at him turning his feet away, “Yes I will rest.”
After purchasing their stuff, they start walking back home. When they first walked to the convenience store, Youngwoo talked the entire way there. She talked about whales and dolphins as usual, and Junho listened, offering comments. It was so nice, and then she had to ruin it by listening to what Suyeon said. She knows she’s being quiet on their walk back, but she just wants to be left alone to her thoughts. Junho probably thinks she’s too tired to talk, so he doesn’t try to start any conversation.
She knows it’s silly and dumb what Suyeon is suggesting, but she can’t help that maybe there is some truth to it. What does it mean for her relationship with Junho? They were friends, and that was perfectly fine. It didn’t matter that sometimes Junho made her heart pound when he was attentive to her. She didn’t want things to change, she liked things the way that they were. She was finally starting to feel at home with her roommates, she didn’t want to ruin that.
An old lady with a basket of roses approaches them, “Excuse me sir would you like to buy a rose for the beautiful lady.” She points to Youngwoo. Youngwoo blushes when she realizes the old woman was referring to her.
Junho smiles at the woman, “Of course, I’ll take one.” What
The woman thanks him, and leaves. Junho brings the rose up to his nose and smiles. He turns to Youngwoo offering it to her with feet once again in her direction. “For you.” It’s almost like a scene out of a drama. The sunlight is hitting the back of his head, illuminating his beautiful face.
And Youngwoo, well she feels like panicking. Before she feels like she wouldn’t have questioned the gesture, but now it’s different. She curses Suyeon in her head, she needs to get away. NOW
“No thank you” She begins to speed walk in front of him. “Wait Youngwoo.”
She hears him call after her, so she begins to run with her bags before he can catch up to her.
“Youngwoo! Where are you going?!” She can hear him yell behind her. She needs to talk to Suyeon immediately.
***
Youngwoo is panting by the time she gets to the front door. She’s not used to running all that much. She needs to start exercising more because she feels like she can’t breathe. She opens the door, counts to three, then bursts in.
“I ran away.” She proclaims to Suyeon, who is sitting on the couch watching tv. “Where’s Geurami?” She notices her loud friend is not there.
“She had to leave, there was an emergency with the kittens.” She turns the tv off. “What happened? Why did you run?”
She begins wringing her hands together, “His feet were pointed right at me.” Suyeon smiles in satisfaction, “Ha! I told you. Do you want me to talk to him for you? I can set something up-”
“No. Please don’t get involved it would be terrible,” She informs her. At that moment Junho walks in, face distressed.
“Youngwoo-ya, are you ok? You just took off,” There was a slight edge in his voice, almost like he was angry. Youngwoo didn’t know what reason he could possibly have for being angry.
“I was really worried about you, Youngwoo. You can’t just take off like that. What if something happened to you? Huh? I would never forgive myself.” Ah so he was upset, his face indicated as such. Youngwoo felt terrible, she was so wrapped up in her head, she didn’t even offer an explanation and just left him on the street.
“I’m sorry Lee Junho-ssi. I had just remembered something about the case I’m working on and I had to run here to talk to Suyeon about it.” She lied, she was getting better the longer she stayed here, but she didn’t want him to know the real reason for her strange behavior.
He sighed, “It’s ok, I guess I overreacted a bit.” He gave one last look before he went off into his room.
Youngwoo felt terrible, all Junho wanted to do was help her and give her a beautiful rose and this is what ended up happening. There is a reason why she had a bad feeling about the possibility of Junho liking her and this whole event just proved to her what a mess this could be.
Suyeon starts pointing in the direction that Junho just left in, “Did you just hear what he just said? He was worried about you. He cares about you.”
She starts shaking her head, “No he doesn’t. He cares about me as a friend and that’s it.”
“If you just talked to him-” At that point, Youngwoo had to put for foot down. This whole day had been emotionally exhausting.
“Suyeon stop!” She raised her voice. Suyeon looked back at her in shock. She wasn’t used to Youngwoo raising her voice, she very rarely did it.
Youngwoo knew her friend meant well, but there were times she needed to understand she crossed the line. “I don’t need your help with Junho. We are friends, and you don’t understand that because you don’t have any male friends. You are trying to take control of my friendship with him.”
Suyeon looked frustrated, “Youngwoo, I’m trying to help you. You’re new to this dating stuff and I want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help. I like the way things are here.” Once she said it, she found that she was being truthful about it. Yes, Junho could be charming, and in an ideal world maybe…. But right now the way things were, was perfect for her.
Once she began her first truth, she couldn’t stop spilling her feelings. “Junho-ssi has been such a good support for me. The truth is, I struggled a lot when I moved out of Appa’s. It’s the first time I’m living on my own, and it’s the first time I’m trying to properly date. It’s exciting, but it’s also really scary. I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want you or Appa to think I couldn’t do it, but the first three months were hard. Junho-ssi…..” She smiled at his name “...he seemed to notice and he understood. He didn’t hover or try to control the situation, he just let me be. He made things easier for me, but he let me live my experiences and my mistakes. I don’t want to lose what I have with him, he’s too important to me. All of them are. They’re my boys, they’re my family now. I love all three of them, so no I’m not going to jump into bed with any of them and ruin it. I can’t ruin it, it’ll hurt too bad if I do.”
Maybe in another universe where there wasn’t so much at stake, Youngwoo would consider the possibility of Junho possibly liking her and what that could mean. But, they were here in this universe where he already meant so much to her, and she couldn’t lose him.
Youngwoo continues, “I feel silly now for believing what you were saying about feet. There is no scientific backing to that.” She really did look silly at the store, she’s a little embarrassed.
Suyeon nods finally taking in her words, “You’re right Youngwoo, I’m sorry. You left your father’s because he was being a helicopter parent, and I was acting exactly the same. I guess when you moved out and told me and Geurami you were interested in dating I got a little excited and I tried to control the situation. It wasn’t cool of me to interfere like that, so I’m sorry.”
Youngwoo is glad that Suyeon recognized her mistakes. “I forgive you. I’ll tell you the same thing I told Appa, I’ll always need you and your help. But, I need to do some things on my own. I’m an adult, I can handle it.” She feels her relief course through her as she speaks her truth.
“Trust me Spring Sunshine Choi Suyeon” Suyeon smiles at her nickname “If I need help, I’ll come to you. I always do.”
Suyeon awwws and goes to hug Youngwoo in a tight grip. “My Youngwoo, I love you, I’m really proud of you.”
Youngwoo stays in the hug because she feels it’s appropriate for the moment, but she’ll extract herself in 15 seconds, “I love you too Suyeon.”
***
Suyeon had taken to bed early, she still wasn’t 100% recovered. Youngwoo wasn’t surprised by that, after she hugged Youngwoo she went to throw up again. It was almost time for Youngwoo to go to bed herself. She put on her white pajamas with blue humpback whales and decided to brush her teeth.
Now that a couple of hours had passed since the events of this afternoon, Youngwoo could look back and giggle over how silly she was. Feet, who knew all this mess would have happened because of feet?
As she continued to brush her teeth she heard footsteps of someone coming into the bathroom. Myeongseok and Minwoo had also gone to bed early, she wasn’t surprised to see that it was Junho. Still, it didn’t stop her heart from skipping a beat when she saw him. She needed to get that checked out.
She offered him the toothpaste which he took, and they continued to brush their teeth in comfortable silence. He was one of the few people that she could be in the presence of and be comfortable with. She’s surprised it happened so quickly, it took many months for her to even reach that stage with Geurami and Suyeon but with Junho, it only took a couple of weeks.
She does feel like she owes him an explanation for what happened today. She was a terrible friend, running away like she did. She’s an adult who made a mistake, she has to own up to it. She turns to Junho, “Lee Junho-ssi?” She has a mouth full of spit.
He turns to her, toothpaste foam in his mouth.
“I wanted to say sorry again for how I acted today. I was being very strange today at the store and on the walk back.”
He smiles, “It’s ok,” He says with his mouth full of spit. She giggles at it, he looks very cute.
They both turn back to the mirror, continuing to brush their teeth in silence, smiling occasionally. Lee Junho really is the kindest man.
It doesn’t escape her that they both had their feet pointing towards each other during their conversation. She’ll keep that information to herself, Suyeon doesn’t need to know.