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It happens again. Sabi’s catastrophe of the day: her neighbor.
They—or he, as Sabi assumed—seem to always have something to be loud for: playing music with high volume, singing with his high pitched voice, or playing instruments as if there’s no tomorrow.
That so-called neighbor of hers always behaves as though there’s only him in the building. And that never fails to infuriate Sabi.
It has been a month, much or less.
At first, she tolerated it. But it happened again; twice, then multiple times. Again and again until Sabi is sick of it. She’s known for having super thin patience, and someone always has to test her for it.
Did she ever do something about it? Absolutely. A couple of weeks after she moved in, she tried to tell their landlord about it. But that’s it, she never heard about the follow-up updates. So she concluded that it was no use.
She has been thinking of just telling him off directly, but as she rethinks about it, she doesn’t want to waste her energy on someone who is insignificant to her.
In the end, Sabi plugs in her earphones to block the noise and is back to her business.
—
For goodness sake, it’s still early in the morning and her neighbor is already yelling frantically which Sabi doesn’t even want to know what it is about this time. What is his problem, really? Can he be quiet for once?
Sabi works at home today and if he keeps on being a nuisance any longer, she doesn’t know if she could hold back.
While trying to connect the WiFi to her laptop, she can see another WiFi’s name in the list in which Sabi suspects belong to her neighbor. Suddenly an idea pops up in her head.
She immediately types something on her phone while turning her side of lips upwards. Almost sinister.
’APT203YouLoudAF’
You’re right, she changed her WiFi’s name into that, hoping her neighbor will receive the message. Sabi doesn’t care if it does come out to be a bit harsh—she never really swears to other people—but she has had enough.
The next day in the evening, Sabi was about to continue her work once she arrived at her place. She has done showering and eating her dinner. However, when she’s about to connect to her WiFi, she sees another WiFi’s name that says ’Apt???SayItToMyFace#203’.
She’s left baffled.
He doesn’t even have any idea that it would be his neighbor that’s next to his room who has been suffering because of him? How stupid can this man be??
Tomorrow. Tomorrow when she has time, she will surely knock the damn door of her neighbor and give him a piece of her mind that she has been holding back this whole time. Or maybe anytime she has spare time, because right now she’s already exhausted as she is. Long day at work, she has no energy left to even face him.
Sabi has a feeling that he will be such a handful. So, no, thanks.
She will rather cover her ears with earphones again and listen to some classics while finishing her work.
—
Strangely, the next day, which was supposed to be the day Sabi goes to his neighbor, he has been quiet ever since the morning.
Sabi, once again, doesn’t want to waste her time on him, but she can not help but wonder.
In her defense, it was such a rare occasion. It is not that Sabi is missing the disruption or something—of course she’s not. To be frank, she’s glad that she will finally be able to sleep peacefully that night. Absolutely.
But yeah, unfortunately, that doesn’t last long.
The next morning, Sabi is woken up by a loud banging of the door sound.
She expected to have a peaceful day off, but of course the universe will not give it to her.
Sabi closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath. Don’t make her do this, she repeats that to herself. She knows she is better than this.
She lets out a groan before standing up, goes to her bathroom. At least, she needs to freshen up a bit.
That weekend, Sabi planned to catch up on a book she’s been reading but got left behind due to the workload she had. She just hoped everything goes as she had initially planned.
The reality is? Definitely against her wish.
Sabi takes a deep breath before standing up. She has had enough.
She strides up to her front door to go for her neighbor’s, then proceeds to impatiently knock on it.
A figure that’s a bit taller than her with messy and curly hair opens the door. Sabi takes in the image after her, while thinking, so this is the man who has been ruining her mood every damn day.
“Uh, may I help you?”
The audacity of him.
“I’m your neighbor,” Sabi starts. She mentally reminds herself to be a bit nicer with her words.
The man who’s hiding half of his body finally steps out and Sabi, once again, takes in the image of his figure. He wears shorts. Well, it’s his house after all.
“Oh, hi!” he says, a tad bit cheerful to Sabi’s liking. “Do you need anything?”
She puffs out her cheeks and huffs a sigh. Be nice, Kim Sabi. “Hi. I just wondered if you could possibly tone down for a bit?”
Her neighbor seems quite puzzled with what Sabi has just said.
“You’re making too much noise, if you’re not aware. And that kind of disturbed me.”
He forms an ‘O’ with his mouth and the way his eyes animatedly widen is sort of amusing to watch. Wait, what the hell?
“Are you…?”
“Yes, that was me.”
“Was I-”
“You were.” Sabi cuts him off once again.
“Woah,” he raises his hands in defense. “Which unit are you from again?”
“You can’t tell?”
“Well, I have a few neighbors here, you see. It could be unit 202, 204 or the one behind you.” he points out to each door and Sabi swiftly follows his finger.
He’s got a point.
“So?”
“204.” she answers curtly.
“Okay, unit 204. Look, I’m so sorry for disturbing you-”
“What did you just call me?” Sabi tilts her head, squinting her eyes at the same time.
“You didn’t tell me your name!”
“You didn’t ask!!”
He blinks a few times after Sabi raises her voice as well, probably a little higher than his.
“Alright,” he clasps his hands and forms it to be a pleading gesture. “Could you please tell me your name, miss neighbor?”
Still squinting her eyes, Sabi is contemplating if she should tell him or not. He could be just playing with her right now. She closes her eyes for a moment before saying her last words.
She seriously hopes they will not cross paths again in the future, thus she tries to suppress her irritations.
“Forget it.” she finally says. “Just, be aware of your surroundings next time.”
And after that, she leaves.
—
It has been a week since Sabi talked to her neighbor. Thankfully he has been able to cooperate by toning down his noises.
Sabi smiles remembering it and playfully pats her own head for successfully clearing one of her problems.
She was having her favorite tea while reading a book when suddenly a knock—which then turns to be a few times—suddenly being heard.
Oh, heavens. She just wants a peaceful weekend, for once after over a month living there.
Sabi does not immediately open the door, she rather waits and sees if the knock will come again.
After a few seconds, it does.
She clicks her tongue while putting down her book on the desk.
Sabi lazily opens the door and what she sees after really bewilders her.
What does this person even want this time? What happened to not crossing paths again?
“Hey, um, I’m sorry if I bother you,” he says restlessly. “Again,”
Oh so he does have a conscience after all.
“Can I please use your toilet?”
Alright, she takes back what she said. What?
“Ah, before you think about anything weird, mine is currently broken and I kind of have an urgency right now, so,”
The furrow in Sabi’s brows gets deeper. “Why does that have anything to do with me?”
“Ugh,” he indeed looks like he’s in urgent need right now. But still, why her? “I tried to seek help from other neighbors but I don’t think they’re currently home. And I didn’t wanna say this, but the one in 202 is kind of weirded me out so I’d rather not engage myself with them,”
Sabi blinks. He really leaves her baffled.
“Oh come on, please?”
She doesn’t even know what to say and just moves aside. The man immediately steps in.
“Which one is the bathroom, sorry?”
Sabi points out at the door next to her room and he immediately goes inside.
What the hell just happened? Did she just let her disturber turn into an intruder?
Sabi shakes her head to be back into her senses and closes the front door.
A few moments later, she’s back into her book when the door behind her creaks open.
He stands awkwardly in front of her, Sabi can see from the corner of her eye.
Her neighbor fakes a cough to earn Sabi’s attention and she gives it to him, not uttering a single word.
“Thanks,” he offers sheepishly, a palm on his nape. “I’m Jaeil, by the way,”
Did Sabi ever ask?
“Still don’t wanna tell me your name?”
She looks at him for a moment before answering, “You’re done with your business, aren’t you?”
He immediately nods.
“Then,” she motions her chin towards her door, gesturing him to leave her place.
He huffs a sigh then bows a little before leaving her unit.
Sabi takes a deep breath. He is such a handful indeed.
—
Sabi’s misery didn’t stop right there. The next weekend, there is another knock at her unit’s door.
She doesn’t even want to guess who it is anymore. Letting an exasperated sigh, she goes to the door.
“What is it again this time? Your toilet still hasn’t been fixed?”
He shakes his head while having that particular cheerful smile on his face. Jaeil then hands her a package in his hand that Sabi didn’t even realize had been there. “Seems like they’re mistaken the address,”
“Oh,” she manages to take it from his hands and whispers a quiet “thanks,” Sabi is not even sure whether it will reach him or not.
She is eyeing the package, scanning the information detail since she honestly has forgotten what she ordered. In her defense, she had several orders.
“So,” he says and Sabi looks at him. “Kim Sabi, isn’t it?”
Ah, right. He definitely saw the information on the package.
“Nice meeting you, Sabi?” He gingerly says. “I know our first impression wasn’t so good, but I hope we can start over. You helped me before, after all.”
She once again, eyeing the hand that hangs waiting for her to take. Well, it won’t hurt to start over, will it? Who knows she will also need his help one day, although she really hopes not.
Sabi hesitantly takes his hand and he proceeds to shake it energetically with a wider smile plastered on his face.
She can’t mirror his cheery smile, thus she gives him a small one instead—almost faint. But Jaeil still grins at that. He genuinely looks delighted in which Sabi doesn’t even understand why.
But Sabi suppose, he is not that bad after all.
—
After that, they strangely always meet in other encounters.
Like that morning when Sabi was about to go off to work and Jaeil was also closing his door, looking like he was about to leave as well.
“Oh, hi, Sabi-sabi!” he said with his signature smile and waved at her.
Sabi just nodded at him. He gave her that nickname on their fourth encounter. Sabi tried to oppose at first, but yeah, the man just wouldn’t listen.
She walked to the elevator and Jaeil tailed behind her. At that point, she just let him do whatever he pleases.
He matched her pace. “You know what, I just realized I’ve never asked where you work,”
“Why does that matter to you?”
“You just kinda reminds me of someone,”
Sabi looked at him as they entered the elevator. “Who?”
Jaeil shrugged. “Someone I know.”
“And why does that have anything to do with where I work?”
Jaeil sighed and looked at her with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “Why do you always have a comeback for every single thing I asked?”
This time Sabi shrugged. “Everything unclear needs to be resolved.”
And Jaeil wasn’t able to contain his giggles at that. “You’re totally a T, aren’t you.”
Or that time when she was downstairs, about to fetch her food, and Jaeil also seemed to just come back from Sabi-had no idea-where.
His smile widened the moment he saw her. He then strode up to her.
“Hi!”
“Hi. Just got back?”
He nodded animatedly. “Dinner?” Sabi nodded, mirroring him. “What are you having?”
“Tteokbokki.”
“Is that even a dinner?”
“Why is it not?”
Jaeil stopped for a moment until Sabi realized and looked back at him as if asking ’what’s wrong?’.
He shook his head as he resumed his walks.
“Why?”
“Nope.” he said, a smile creeping back to his face. “Sometimes hearing your responses still got me stunned.”
Sabi looked at him, puzzled. Because that kind of sounded ridiculous to her in some way.
“Anyway, did you order extra? I just remembered that I also haven’t had anything since this afternoon. Mind if I join you?”
That sounded more ridiculous than before.
“Or, I can order it myself and let’s eat it together?” He suggested, almost pleading with his puppy eyes.
Sabi somehow could not say no to it.
Also that weekend when Jaeil invited himself to Sabi’s place—which still left Sabi up the stump—while bringing a whole basket of fruit, saying he got them from his client and would not be able to finish them himself.
Sabi let him in. She doesn’t even really like fruit to begin with.
She watched as Jaeil navigated through her unit, getting an object from one place to another like it was his own house.
He carefully peeled the fruit and offered some to Sabi—which she received.
“I don’t really like fruit, though,” she managed to confess.
Jaeil was taken aback. “Really? Which one? Then why are you eating this?”
Sabi was about to say “I’m not” because it’s true that she hadn’t eaten the apple yet.
“This one is fine,” she said instead.
That’s true, though. She can eat apples.
And Jaeil smiled widely at that. “If you say so.”
—
Sabi is laying on her bed, it is her time of the month and the cramps hit her body like crazy. As always. She tries to curl up inside her blanket in hope it will help to shoo the pain away.
She runs out of aspirin—yes she always takes that to help her ease the menstrual cramps—and now she has nothing but to deal with it until she falls asleep, which she doubts that she will be able to.
Even when her phone keeps on vibrating, she ignores it. She doesn’t have the strength to even move upwards. Nonetheless, the phone keeps on vibrating and it starts to irritate Sabi. Mind you, she is very sensitive right now.
Sabi finally tries her best to get out of the sheet and grabs her phone. She glances at the caller before briefly picking it up and goes back inside the blanket.
“What?” Sabi flinches at her own voice, because ew, what the hell was that?
“You sounded a bit off. Everything okay?”
Sabi hums in response.
“Are you sure? If you need help, I’m in front of your unit, by the way,”
Huh, what for?
As if he could read her mind, he continues, “I wanted to ask you something, so I came, but nobody’s answering my knock for about twenty minutes now. I just wondered if you’re home or not.”
Sabi nods as she lets out a painful hiss.
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay? Do you need anything? You’re home, aren’t you? I can help, but I need you to tell me the code, if that’s okay,”
“Jaeil,”
“Yeah, Sabi, what’s wrong?”
“You’re too noisy,”
“Oh. Sorry,”
“2627,”
It takes a moment for Jaeil to understand that it’s Sabi’s apartment code. He immediately taps the number in and it beeps, the door has been successfully unlocked.
Jaeil rushes to Sabi’s room that he has memorized by now. He knocks and another hissing sound comes out—not going to lie, that kinda alarms Jaeil.
“Sabi,” he calls as he carefully opens the door. “Oh my god,” a little gasp from him is heard as soon as he sees a bundle—that he suspects as Sabi under the blanket. He comes closer. “What happened?”
It takes seconds for Sabi to finally whisper a weak answer, “My period.”
A realization hits Jaeil as another O forms on his lips. “Um,” he’s suddenly unsure of what to do. Truth to be told, he rarely faces such occasions. “Is there anything I can help?”
Another hiss. Maybe Sabi could use help from him this time since she feels like the pain is not going away anytime soon. She takes a deep breath before muttering, “I ran out of aspirin. Could you help buy some?”
Jaeil nods, even though Sabi cannot see it. “I’ll be back in a moment. Hang in there.”
And Sabi can hear the way he rushes to the front door and closes it.
—
Sabi was leaning on the head of her bed, still wrapped around her blanket.
Still concerned, Jaeil sits on the side of her bed, glass in his hand and paying attention to Sabi.
“Jaeil,” Sabi croaks out.
“Yeah?”
“Just put the glass on the desk.”
“Ah, okay,” he obediently puts the glass he has been holding at Sabi’s nightstand. “Are you feeling any better?”
Sabi nods. “The med will take a while to kick in but thankfully the warmth from this helps,” she points to the heating pad placed on her tummy. “How did you even know about this?”
Jaeil gingerly rubs his neck. Sabi notices that it is one of his habits which mostly shows when he is shy. “I asked the pharmacy clerk what would be helpful for, you know, the pain aside from the meds,”
Sabi nods again at that, feeling a tad impressed at his initiative.
“Do you need anything else?”
She shakes her head, there is another thing that she is curious about instead. “What do you need from me?”
Jaeil furrows his brow, trying to grasp what Sabi just asked.
“You said earlier on the phone that you wanted to talk to me about something,”
“Ah, that,” he once again rubs his nape. “Nevermind. You’re still sick, anyway.”
Sabi squints her eyes. He has piqued her curiosity, there is no way he won’t be telling her now. No backsies. “I’m fine, Jaeil. It’s just another monthly cramps.”
“You looked like you were in a lot of pain!”
“Yeah, but I’m feeling better, I’ll give you the credit for that. Now, tell me.”
Jaeil seems to be contemplating for a while. “This might sound silly, especially to you,”
Sabi stays silent, another way to show Jaeil that he can continue. And so he does.
“Well,” he hides his face on both of his palms then looks at Sabi straight into her eyes. “I need to ask you a favor,”
“Which is?”
“My family asked me to visit and…”
“And?” Sabi prompts him once again, nearly losing her patience. Because why does it take a long time for him to just blurt it out?
“...I need to bring someone with me,”
Oh, Sabi understands where this is going.
“Or else they will be introducing me to people that I’m not interested in.”
“You could try,”
“I did. Three times. But all was meh ,” he huffs a sigh. “That’s why I was thinking, if I managed to bring someone with me, they probably would stop with the matchmaker game,”
“Why me?” She is genuinely curious. Why her, of all people? She is sure Jaeil knows a lot of people—including girls—given his easygoing and bubbly personality.
“Um,” his hand is back on his nape, eyes somewhere but on Sabi’s. “Because you’re not complicated?”
Sabi furrows her brows, she doesn’t know if that was supposed to be a compliment or not.
“So,” His eyes are back on Sabi now. “Are you in?” he adds with his signature pleading eyes that never fails to remind Sabi of puppies’.
“If I’m down with this silly idea or yours, does this mean we are going overseas? You said your parents live in the US.” There is no way Sabi could afford all of the expenses. She has her savings but nope. Not a chance.
Jaeil shakes his head. “Only my parents live there. It’s grandma’s invitation.”
Okay now that kind of gives chills through Sabi’s body, because what kind of a charade is he suggesting, really? Grandmas are even scarier than parents.
“It’s insane I know, but I really hope you will consider this. I don’t know who to ask anymore,”
Sabi bites the lower of her lips, thinking thoroughly about the possibility and the risks if she were agreeing to this. As always.
She glances at Jaeil who seems to be as nervous as her.
“Alright,” Jaeil perks up at that. “I’ll think about it and tell you later. When will it be again?”
He briefly looks at his smartwatch. “Two weeks from now. You can take your time and give me the answer before then.”
“Okay.”
He has helped tending her today, anyway.
—
Jaeil’s arrangements come to life. Yes, Sabi accepted his ridiculous offer. Of course, Jaeil had to persuade Sabi everyday. And now Sabi feels all muzzy about the charade they’re coming with.
“Okay so, here’s the deets,” Jaeil says, and yes, he’s currently at Sabi’s place. “You don’t have to pretend or anything,”
“But that’s exactly why you want me there in the first place, isn’t it?”
“Well, you’re not wrong. But I mean, we don’t have to act lovey-dovey-”
“What the heck?”
“Exactly.” Jaeil nods as though he has seen that reaction coming from Sabi. “Just stay by my side and let me do the rest,”
“Do you really need to do this?”
“Sabi, trust me, meeting people you aren’t really interested in with the purpose of dating is not my cup of tea. That’s like one of the worst things I avoid the most.”
Sabi just makes a face since she does not know what to respond.
“Also, just wear comfortable fits,”
“Is it a formal event?”
“My grandma’s birthday. Small party. Just family members will be there,”
“Oh my god, why didn’t you tell me sooner?! Then I need to prepare a gift? And it’s in three days??”
Jaeil flails his hands. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
“Um Jaeil you’re so…” Sabi’s at a loss of words. He is so unbelievable.
Jaeil just smiles sheepishly at Sabi’s response.
—
“Wow.” That comes out automatically as Sabi comes out of her room.
The Sabi who is standing before him looks a lot different from the Sabi he usually sees. She wears a simple dress, but it is the make-up that does wonders. Not too much, but still, it adds a lot of charming points to Sabi’s appearance. Like the way her eyelashes curled up prettily even though they’re covered by glasses seem to enchant Jaeil, in a way.
“Do I look too much?”
“No!” Jaeil gets flustered after saying it. That came out too fast. “I mean, you look good. Perfect.”
Sabi’s cheeks flush in response to Jaeil’s reaction. “I’m not. Is that the gift?”
Jaeil’s signature smile is back as he nods. He lifts up a paper bag in his hand, confirming Sabi’s question.
They decided to go to a mall together the other day to pick out a gift for Jaeil’s grandmother. A joint gift from both of them, as they referred.
“Shall we go?”
Sabi nods. “I didn’t know you own a car,”
”Barely using it. Just for important occasions only.”
“Why?”
“Because using the subway is more convenient?”
Sabi agrees. Totally makes sense.
They arrive at the basement and find Jaeil’s car. Sabi isn’t quite familiar with cars, but she knows that Jaeil’s is the SUV type.
Jaeil opens the passenger car door for Sabi. She mutters a small “thanks”, a bit flustered for what Jaeil has just done. Nobody has ever really done that to her before.
He then hops into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
“Are you nervous?” Jaeil asks as they arrive at his grandparents’ basement. “It’s okay, don’t be,”
Sabi makes a face at him. How could she not?
Jaeil grins at her and playfully pats his own chest. “I’m here.”
Sabi just scoffs at that.
The gathering turns out to be better than Sabi has imagined. Jaeil’s family does not really consist of a huge group of people, but not that small either. Jaeil said some could not make it to come, such as his parents.
Jaeil is an only child, so there is no one to come on behalf of his parents except him. Jaeil loves his grandparents, he does. Even though sometimes his grandmother likes to poke into Jaeil’s business.
Sabi agreed. His grandparents are nice, they really leave a good impression on her and Sabi hopes vice versa. Even if she is merely doing this as a favor for Jaeil, she really hopes people would not think negatively of her.
“So, when did you two meet?” Jaeil’s grandmother asks, finally deciding to pry.
“We’re neighbors and honestly we’re still trying to get to know each other. So grandma, please, don’t pressure Sabi,” Jaeil answers, a hint of warning in his voice.
Jaeil’s grandma makes a face at him. “What are you saying, I was just asking! Don’t make me look bad in front of my future grand-daughter,”
“Grandma…” Jaeil whines and laughters erupt in the living room. Apparently Jaeil is easy to tease, according to his relatives.
His grandma chuckles. “I get it, I get it.” She then looks at Sabi. “I’m sorry, I hope I don’t make you feel uncomfortable,”
“No, no at all. You’re fine.”
She smiles at Sabi. “Eat a lot, okay, dear?”
Sabi mirrors her smile and nods.
It has been a while since Sabi joined a family gathering since all of her family members are that busy. That evening totally turned out to be a warm one for Sabi and she is glad that she came.
They stand in front of Sabi’s door, all done with the event of the day.
Sabi is not even kidding but she finds the smile on Jaeil’s face is so wide she fears it might not back into the initial shape. Plus, it is also contagious.
“Thank you so much for today, Sabi.” Jaeil says earnestly.
Sabi nods, a genuine smile on her face. “You look happy,”
“I am.”
—
“Remember when I said to you that the owner of the room next to mine is a bit weird?” Jaeil asks one morning.
It has been a week since Jaeil’s grandmother’s birthday and they are currently having brunch in a cafe after getting back from morning jog.
“202?” Sabi vaguely remembers Jaeil mentioned it during their first meeting.
Jaeil nods. “How do I say this,”
Sabi, who has her attention on her sandwich, throws her gaze at Jaeil, suddenly feeling intrigued. “Why?”
“Uh,” Sabi can see how Jaeil hesitates to bring it up.
“I won’t tell anyone.” She prompts.
He sighs before saying, “They were being super loud when they slept with their partner and unfortunately didn’t have any conscience of surroundings nor times.”
Sabi blinks a few times, trying to comprehend what she just heard. Sounds familiar enough.
“And ever since then, I’ve tried to avoid them at all costs. Being loud was also my way to cope to the point I didn’t realize that your unit was already occupied.”
“Oh my god,” So that was why. “I didn’t know,”
“Then consider yourself lucky.”
“How about now?” Sabi puts both of her hands on the desk, totally immersed into the gossip session.
“Well, I learned from you, doing what you did to me and thankfully the frequency has been lessened down than before. They still do it though, but not as often as before. If they did, I’d just cover my ears using headphones or earplugs.”
Sabi claps her hands, feeling proud of how Jaeil picks up her method. Another thing Sabi learned about Jaeil is that this guy is rather soft. He tends to feel bad about doing things to other people.
Jaeil laughs heartily at Sabi’s reaction. “You should look at yourself right now,”
“What about it?” she asks as she is back to her food.
“You look like a proud mom,”
“Well, I am,”
Jaeil smiles fondly while watching Sabi munches on her sandwich. “It’s cute.”
Sabi freezes at that. She slowly lifts her gaze at Jaeil, only to find him getting flustered and flushed, crimson all over his neck and ears.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
Sabi can tell how Jaeil is trying to find words to say to her, but he only heaves a sigh in the end. “You didn’t.”
Sabi, is yet, trying to wrap her head around the current situation. As far as she observes, Jaeil is kind to anyone. She would be lying if she said that she had not felt the signs. But yet again, she always had that doubt, telling herself that he was just being nice.
“Are you telling me you are interested in me?”
“I am.” he locks his gaze on Sabi’s. “I don’t know since when, but I always find you interesting. And as I said to you before, you are not a complicated person. Yes, sometimes I indeed find it hard to face your bluntness, but that’s one of the things that make you interesting, I guess. And I can’t shake off the fact that you’re very comfortable to be around with, and I love how I always gain courage—that I never fully mustered—from you.”
Sabi blinks a few times, perplexed. That is surely one hell of a confession.
“Uh,” he rubs his nape again. “Please don’t feel obligated to answer,” he says, “For now,”
“Huh?”
“Well, I’m going to keep pursuing you after this, so…” he hangs his words but Sabi understands right away.
“You sound like you’re asking me for marriage,”
Jaeil shrugs. “Eventually, I will.”
She widens her eyes and Jaeil erupts in laughter that Sabi has been growing fond of.
To be honest, Sabi is still unsure about how to respond to the whole thing. But little did she know, that is just the beginning of their story.