“So which one do you to eat today?” He held up two cans of pasta sauce, each in his hands. “Bolognese or carbonara?”

Kang Chul, the President of W (at least back in his world) smiled coyly towards his ex-wife/girlfriend, Oh Yeon Joo, currently a (miserable) resident doctor who was on the verged of falling asleep right now and there in the middle of grocery shopping with him.

“Hmn? Umm carbonara sounds nice.” Years of not showing how sleepy she was during her hardship days of becoming a doctor (and yet she is still a resident now) had train her well in a situation like this. She can still react to questions and gestures even when all she could think was her warm bed and pillow.

“Carbonara it is!” He exclaimed while placing both cans inside the shopping cart. He stole a sideway glance at her and chuckled when he saw how quickly she closed her eyes the moment he took his gaze away from her. “Aaah it seems that our cart is almost full.”

“Yea- what? Kang Chul-shi! Do you have enough money to pay for all these? Don’t tell me you owe Soo Bong again..” She was anxious, eyeing their almost-full-to-the-brim shopping cart and looked straight to the man in front of her, who was still carefree guiding their shopping cart towards a different aisle for instant noodles. “Kang Chul-shi?!” She knew he purposely ignored her calls, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to call him what he wanted her to call him. “President Kang Chul?” She tried again. Still no respond from the said man. “Mister Kang Chul?” Yup, no luck. She let out a sigh, her nose flared with anxiousness and she cleared , as if to prepare herself to speak the word she tried to not use in any given situation. But in this situation, with the money in her purse at staked, she had no choice.

“Oppa.” She can practically see how his two ears perked up in respond to her call as he stopped and turned around to look at her.

“What did you called me? I can’t hear you, Yeon Joon-ah.” He grinned happily, milking the situation.  

“How can we paid for all these, oppa?” Yeon Joo replied in a much sweeter tone compared to before. This ‘oppa by two years’ in front of her was really a kid inside.

“Don’t worry my sweet Yeon Joon. Oppa got it all covered.” He was satisfied with this current situation. One could really mistake his grinning to a stoned kid.

“No, seriously. Do you have enough money—“

“Yes, I do. Don’t worry. It’s been 3 months already and I already secured myself a decent job. And I got my payment this morning.” He cut her short with his explanation and he could see how shocked she was with he said just now.

“Really? I’m so happy for you ! So, no more odd jobs during odd hours?” She was beaming in happiness. It was very hard for him, he had no identification, nor any experience in working, so he could only find works that does not required him to present any related officials. “But how did you..”

“I’ll explain later when there are less people around us, kay.” He said in a hush toned. “For now, let’s pay first.” Kang Chul grabbed a few ramyeons to add to the pile of food and made his way to the other side of the cart, just right beside Yeon Joo. He purposely brushed their elbow together and was rewarded by her blush slowly creeping up her façade. Oh, how he missed her so much. The last time they meet was a week ago, then she was very busy with her work at the hospital. He finally accepted the fact that, it is not easy to date a doctor, who was maybe even busier than him when he was a president, of course, back in his world. “Come Yeon Joo-ah, lets go!” He exclaimed as he pushed their cart towards the checkout counter.

“So, what you are trying to say is, you work as a website designer for Soo Bong’s supervisor, the eccentric manhwa-artist, and you got yourself a fake ID and a fake driving licence from a person you accidentally meet while browsing the deep web ?” She tried to confirm all these new information Kang Chul just told her, on their way back from the grocery shopping. She was still gripping his new (fake) driving licence while not taking her eyes away from every details etched on the card. It looked the same as any other real ID. If she was not being told it was fake, she would say it was as real as it could get.

“Yup.” He answered her. He was out of breath from carrying all the stuff they (he) bought from the grocery store. The short trip from the car to her new studio apartment had taken a toll on him. He mentally kicked himself for buying too much stuff. Well, he couldn’t help it. It was the first time he will be visiting her new place, and knowing how busy she was, he knew too well the house will be barren off food. So he bought everything, from salt and sugar to ramyeon and kitchen rolls. “Yah Oh Yeon Joo, exactly when we will reach your—“

“We’re here!” She entered her pin house number while balancing the plastic bags on her other hand. Yeon Joo pushed the front door open, revealing her new studio apartment that she moved in 3 weeks ago.

Kang Chul was mentally ready to see either an untidy house, with moving boxes everywhere on the floor, or a barren house with no article of furniture, saved for maybe a bed with lots of W manhwa on top of it. But before he could get himself mentally ready, his nose was assaulted by a sweet smell that was unique to only one person he knew. It was her distinct daisy smell. It was Yeon Joo’s.

“I’m coming in..” He wiggled his feet out of his loafers. When he was still struggling to fit into the household slippers, Yeon Joo switched on the lights, revealing a very cosy and welcoming household.  “Welcome!” She beamed. “I myself forgot when the last time I went back was home…” She bit her lips trying to remember if she left any of her underwears wherever Kang Chul might see it. But then she remembered her mom usually comes when she was at the hospital to tidy up the house and leave some side dishes in the fridge. She made a mental note to call her mom before she starts her shift tomorrow. “So, um, this is my new place!”

Kang Chul was lost at words. It was not just because of the sweet smell of Yeon Joo’s, the apartment itself screamed everything about her. He remembered the last time he went inside her room back when she was still living with her mom and auntie. It was everything like that (but much tidier). The walls were painted soft yellow, with pictures of her convocation gracing one side of the wall. Her bed was placed beside the large slidingdoors, with a cosy looking sofa on the other side of the bed. The flat screen tv attached to the wall, opposite of the bed. All in all, it was simple, and relaxing.

“Please come inside. And um you can put the stuff here on the counter.” Yeon Joo lead him into her kitchen, and placed the plastic bags she been holding on top of the counter. She moved her fingers in grabbing motions, as if to get the feel of her numb fingers while still looking at her guest. “Kang Chul-shi?”

“Y-yes?” He was still studying the inside of her apartment, while rooting on the same spot he was a few minutes ago.

“Please come in.” She motioned him to come to her.

“Ah, yes. Sorry. I was expecting to see your underwear thrown around on the floor.” He tried to to mask how fidgety he was inside.

“Che.. I was very tired back then, okay! Having been transported back and out of your world. And it’s all because you couldn’t stop thinking about me.” She was only stating the truth. The truth that both of the occupants of the room knew by heart.

He made his way towards her, purposely stopping in front of her, standing a bit too close while pushing her back to the counter. He placed the stuff on the counter top, while trapping her in between his hands, as if embracing her into his close proximity. “You knew too well why I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He said huskily.

Yeon Joo was blushing madly. Her heart was beating out of her chest as she could feel how warm he was in this close proximity. She was about to retort when suddenly a loud grumbling noise came from her stomach.

Kang Chul couldn’t contain his laughter. “Aigoo, our Yeon Joo is very hungry.” He said while patting her head. He couldn’t help but noticed how warm her cheek was. “Go and take a bath. I’ll prepare us the pasta myself.”

“No its okay. I want to help. I mean, let me cook, you’re my guest today.” She replied while clumsily rolling up her sleeves.

“I couldn’t trust you to cook when you’re about the sleep the second I look away from you.” He said while cupping her cheek and angling her face to look directly to him. “Besides, when was the last time you wash your hair, Oh Yeon Joo seonsaengnim?”

And before he knew it, she shoved him away a bit too hard and ran towards her bathroom.

Oh Yeon Joo was currently blow-drying her long hair. Her bangs were long enough to cover her eyes. She needed to make some time to deal with her unruly hair. Not just wash and blow dry like this, but a real, call-the-hairstylist kinda thing that she despised the most. She would rather use the time she spent in the saloon to sleep. She remembered those few times when she suddenly passed out both in W and in her world, and both time she slept for almost 3 days straight. Her mom and dad used to say she was a heavy sleeper when she was a baby, and yet she still sleep a lot when she was growing up. Maybe being a doctor is a little punishment for her, because after almost 7 years studying to become a doctor, sleep has always been that one thing she could never get enough off.

Her mind drifted, reminiscing her memories with her dad. She missed him. Although Kang Chul never did explained to her what exactly happened to him, she herself never did ask him the whole story. Deep down, she knew, the happy ending she hoped with both main characters of W by her side is impossible. Yet the fact that her current boyfriend/ex-husbband is a hero from a mahwa her father made was also impossible. Good Lord, she is dating a fugitive, with a fake ID! (and maybe with a gun somewhere tucked under his bed back at her dad’s place).

She unplugged the hair dryer and tighten up her bathrobe. Her eyes turned into slits when she remembered Kang Chul’s question of when was the last time she washed her hair. “Well I couldn’t help it myself! Do you think I like it when my hair is greasy and oily?!” She talked to her reflection on the mirror, picturing she was talking eye to eye with President Kang Chul himself. “Why you stucked up chae—“

KLANKK!

A loud noise from the kitchen set her feet flying towards him. She stumbled to open the bathroom door, as she saw him squatting in front of the sink, his back facing her.

“Kang Chul-shi?” She said while hurriedly making her way to him. Her voice was laced with fear and concern. From where she stood, she could see he was clutching his left hand and she was suddenly very scared. Very scared if his hand suddenly become transparent like what happened few time before. “No.. No! Please, please not that..” She slowly lowered herself so that she can be on eye level with him, mimicking his stance. Her peripheral vision caught the image of her kitchen knife just beside the man in front of her. His eyes were hidden under his bangs.

“Kang Chul-shi, are you okay? What happen?” She asked while slowly enveloping his hands with hers.

“…”

“Kang Chul-shi? Is it happening again? Your hand, is it, is it transpa..” She couldn’t bring herself to end her sentence. Hey eyes were hot, indicating tears will come rolling on her cheek few second after this.

“...I ahh, cut my finger.”

“…what?”

“I accidentally cut my finger.” He wiggled his left hand out from her grip. “You see?” He held up her index finger, now with a tiny hint of blood at the tip, in front of her face. “Those carrots are very hard to cut.” He chuckled. “I think I would just stick with handling a gun rather than handling a knife.”

Oh Yeon Joo couldn’t believe her eyes and the situation she was in. Here she was, eyes b with tears, while her heart was beating fast, hoping that she would not lose another man she loved so much to the manhwa world. And yet the man was in front of her, chuckling, while showing a tiny looking cut on his index finger.

Before she knew it, she let out a loud sob, and it turned into a full fledge cry.

Kang Chul eyes went wide. He had no idea what he did to make her cry. Hell, he even forgot when was the last time he saw her crying like that. “Oh Yeon Joo-shi, what happened?” His slowly placed his left hand on her shoulder, while cupping her cheek with his other hand, that is now wet with tears. “Oh god, are you crying because of me?”

Oh Yeon Joo suddenly stood up, leaning against the kitchen top. She lowered her gaze to avoid his stare, though she was aware when he also stood up and standing very close to her, as if cornering her. She was looking at their feet, almost touching each other in this position. She was trying hard to control her sobs, but it was futile. She couldn’t bear the thought of him slowly vanishing away from her. She closed her eyes to bid away those menacing thought.

“Hey, Oh Yeon Joo-shi, please look at me.” Kang Chul voiced out, breaking their long silent that was filled only by the sound of her sobs and a pot of boiling pasta beside them. He laced his fingers on her chin, slowly tilted it up to look directly into her red puffy eyes. He could see those eye bags hanging under her brown orbs, and yet she still look beautiful in his eyes. “I’m here. I am not going anywhere. I will always be with you, which is my promise to you. To us.”

He knew. He knew the reason why she was crying. It was not because of the little cut, it was because she was scared. She was scared of the pain of losing him again. And the only thing he could do was reassuring her that he was here, in her world, continue living just to be with her. He slowly brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her there. He let his mouth lingered just a bit too long, just enough for him to be intoxicated in her fresh aroma of after bath, and her sweet distinct smell of daisies. He could feel her hands slowly encircled his middle, their bodies met together in an embrace that materialized the sense of belonging, and to wash away all those haunting feeling of losing each other.  

Kang Chul reluctantly pried away his lips from her forehead, and again looked into her windows of soul. His gaze slowly travelled to her pointy nose and to those pair of lips. His calloused yet smooth thumb grazed upon it, realizing how soft it is, and how he missed to be kissed by it. Slowly, he bent forward while his hand moved to the back of her neck, feeling her slightly wet hair tangled with his fingers.

Yeon Joo closed her eyes the moment his lips sealed hers. She could feel how warm he was, his being and also his lips. She missed him. No doubt she she missed him so much. He angled his head so that he could get a better access to her inviting lips at the same time deepen their kiss. He remembered all of the kiss they shared, but he will never get enough of it. Their nose collided when his other hand slowly landed on her back and started to roam her body. He could feel her breath hitched, ready to stop his ministration if she wanted to, but instead her form relaxed against his touch. Kang Chul lightly nipped on her lower lip, seeking entrance to her hot mouth. She ed when he delved his tongue and played with hers. His left hand running up and down her side while his right hand lost in her brown locks. He was suddenly aware of her state of undress, only clad in a bathrobe that was slowly slipping of her shoulder.

When they realized they still need to breathe, he finally stopped and rested his forehead on hers. Their hands were still planted on each other’s body, as if reluctant to leave their spot. Kang Chul smirked when he saw how red she was.

“Your hair smells nice.” He compliment her while his gaze travelled all over her face, noticing how y her lips were after their little session just now. His eyes strayed lower to her neck and how low her bathrobe had slipped.

Yeon Joo was about to say something but she chocked back her words when he latched his mouth on her nape of neck. He left some butterfly kisses along her jawline as his hand travelled lower and lower to her bum. As if knowing what he had in his mind, she linked her hands behind his neck as Kang Chul swept her upward and securely released her on top of the counter. The hem of her bathrobe was dangerously hiked up but she couldn’t care less. All she could care was how this man had made her into someone she never knew she would become. She ed when he lightly on her pulse and she could feel him smiling against her skin. Instead, she skilfully moved her fingers to untuck his blue dress shirt only to feel his chiselled abs. His body tensed under her touch as he let out a loud grunt.

“Feisty aren’t we?” He mumbled in between the kisses and his hands were fumbling with the front of her bathrobe.  His calloused hand found her and lightly squeezed it. Her eyes went wide and she let out a and was embarrassed by how dirty she sounded. He was enjoying this. And nothing could stop them from engaging further into this situation.

Kang Chul was about to scoop her off the kitchen counter when suddenly he heard the sound of someone pushing the buttons for the house pin combination. They both looked at the front door and in split second she entangled herself from him, pushing him as far as she could. She hopped off the kitchen counter and tried her best to straighten up her bathrobe. She knew who was coming because other than herself, the only person who knows her combination is

“Yeon Joo-ah! Omma is here.”

Her mother.

“Omma!” She practically run towards her mother at the front door. She stole a glance to the man behind her and she saw he was still trying to tuck back his shirt while his back was facing her.

“Ohh, is that Kang Chul-shi with you? Ommo!”

“Ah, yes he came just now. He wanted to cook dinner for me but hahaha he suddenly cut his finger while chopping a carrot haha he at using them!” Myeon Joo was rambling frantically while trying to block her mother’s view of her kitchen. “So I was looking for a first aid to help bandage his finger hahaha so clumsy of him isn’t he?”

“Ommo, will he be okay?” Her mother asked with full concern.

“Y-yes omoni. I am currently bandaging myself haha.” Kang Chul replied from inside the kitchen. Though he still had his back towards them.

“Okay then.” Her mother turned to look at her. “I came to the hospital to give you some food and fresh clothes. But they said you’re off shift today. So I came here instead.” She handed her a paper bag of clothes and another bag of warm food. “I’ll be going now.”

“Eh, so fast, omma. Why don’t you join us for dinner?” Myeon Joo said while accepting the bags from her mother.

“It’s okay.” She then whispered to her daughter, “I am not an old-fashioned mother. Go and accompany your boyfriend.” She said while giving her a knowing looks and slowly opened the front door. “I’m going. Take care, Kang Chul-shi!” She shouted to ensure the man standing in her daughter’s kitchen could hear her as she closed the door.

“W-what just happened?” Myeon Joo was still standing in her hallway, still looking straight to her door.

On the other part of Myeon Joo apartment, Kang Chul was trying to control his breathing. “I could never look at omoni again after this..”

One thing for sure, they both always stuck in a sticky situation, but never in their wildest dream they would ended up in a situation like this.