I leaned lazily against the edge of the table, chin resting against my hand that was falling asleep underneath the weight of my head. If I wasn't watching attentively at the girl who was struggling to eat her food, I would have probably flipped over my chair and hit my head on the floor. The words that came out of Felix's mouth had kept me up all night, I spent the entire evening tossing and turning, his words bouncing around my head like a dodgeball. What did it all mean? All the things he said. I had too many questions that will probably never be answered within Chewy's tenure here in my house. What did he mean by certain words that she said at a certain time of the night? How does he even know that? Does she really need me? Do I need her too? Am I really taking a liking to her?

I thought about that last question as I watched Chewy pick up her hotdog with her fork and drop it for the nth time. She stared frustrated at the plate for a while which caught me off guard as she is not one to give up, I wandered what she was going to do next. To my annoyance, she once again started picking at her hotdog with her fork, not even able to pierce it as the metal prongs kept sliding against the red meat.

“You might be eating dinner already by the time you take your first bite" I said as I watched her try desperately to pick up her food. After a few more tries, she finally surrendered and dropped her utensils on the plate before grabbing the hotdog with her fingers and taking a bite.

"No, no oh my god" I cringed at her actions. Teaching a person who grew up on the streets proper table etiquette was surely a very tedious and mentally strenuous task, I have been trying hard the whole day to teach her how to eat properly, but she doesn't seem to be picking up anything I teach her. If you would think about it, it seems funny that I'm teaching her proper table manners when it was only the two of us here. I don't even know how I ended up doing this, my mental well being being the only excuse I can think of. I watched how she just grabbed the moist red meat with her bare hands that I don't even know where it's been and held it as she bit into the hotdog.

"Can you not, grip it so tightly, you're gonna get your hands dirty" well it's too late now "... and crush the meat" I said trying my best to hide the disgust that was forming inside my chest. Chewy then grabbed her glass with the same hand she used for the hotdog and took a big sip of juice. I finally snapped and found myself rising up on my feet.

"Excuse me" I said I stormed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee, apparently I forgot to make one as teaching Chewy was the first thing that came into my mind when I saw the sweet girl. I grabbed the already made coffee from the coffee machine and poured it into a mug, I relaxed as the aroma of roasted coffee beans entered my nostrils, easing the tension in my head. I grabbed the mug, already wanting to take a sip of the delicious coffee but not wanting to scald my tongue at the same time so I just held the mug in front of my face, inhaling its sweet scent.

I returned to the dining area to find Chewy already eating last piece of hotdog, I was impressed at how her appetite was improving but annoyed at how she still couldn't use a spoon and fork properly. I sighed and placed my mug on the table and sat across her.

"Look, it’s easy. You do it like this" I said as I grabbed a spoon and a fork and showed her the proper way of using them.

"Now you try it" I said, Chewy still had her eyes fixated on my hands before snapping back to reality and attempting to pierce her hotdog. She lifted the fork, eyes ever so attentive and hovered it above the red meat. She carefully aligned it with the meat as I waited anxiously for her to pick it up. She finally brought it down only for the meat to slip past the prongs once again. I face palmed and took a big sip of my coffee, forgetting that it was burning hot and nearly choked from the burning liquid that was in my throat. It felt like I had fire inside of me but I quickly recovered.

"Okay you know what, let me help you" I said and stood up, Chewy looked on with surprise at my sudden change of course. I made my way around her, stopping just behind her seat. I placed my hands on hers, feeling how smooth her creamy brown skin was. I flustered a little and thankfully Chewy couldn't see it from where she was. Due to my height, I was forced to lean down in order to move properly, I hovered my head just above hers, my nose just hanging above her dark brown locks. I took a deep breath before lifting up both of her hands from the plate. I could tell Chewy wasn't trying to move at all due to the weight on her arms.

"Firstly what you're doing wrong is..." I said and pushed her right hand towards the hotdog.

"You need to hold the hotdog in place, that's why it keeps sliding off" I said. I lifted her fork hand and moved it towards the hotdog, I tried my best to focus but the scent from her hair was too distracting, it was almost the exact same scent that invaded my nostrils a few days ago, the very same smell that I craved that day. It made me feel warm and it made me forget that I was hungry. As I hovered the fork above the hotdog, I found it continuously difficult to concentrate from my position. Her head was partially blocking my view so I had to stretch to the side just to see the food, and the warmness that her smooth hands were giving me made me feel lightheaded, I feel like I was going to pass out. But before I had the chance to do so, I suddenly found the fork already piercing the meat with no idea how it happened.

"Oh, how did that get there? Very good I guess." I awkwardly said. I rubbed my nape and shifted awkwardly to the side. My hands suddenly feeling cold and empty all of a sudden. Chewy lifted up the fork that now had the hotdog at the end of its prongs, she stared at it with fascination as if some extremely difficult task has been accomplished. My eyes couldn't help but land on her smooth hands. They weren't that big and her fingers were not that long, but they somehow complimented mine very well. Her creamy brown skin complimented mine very well. My skin pale and porcelain like a lifeless doll that has been drained of its blood. There was no denying that I was somehow longing for more contact, but I didn't want to interrupt her. Going back to what Felix told me the other day, I had so many questions to ask her. I needed to know what she told him that night, and if she was really calling for me. I watched her eat, she looked so calm and comfortable in my table now, but for some reason I had zero confidence to ask her anything. It was weird, I wanted to talk to her but I couldn't say anything. I took a deep breath and just returned to my seat across from her. I didn't do anything but watch her eat, I chuckled a bit at how it took her a lot of effort in order to pierce the hotdog. If I couldn't get any answers from myself, I figured that I might get them from somewhere else, in this case that only other place was within Chewy herself. But what was I going to say, we've never even had a proper conversation before.

"Do you like the food?" I asked her, my chest shaking slightly at how much effort I had to put in to say those words. Chewy looked up at me, taking some time to chew her food before nodding in approval, I got an answer, but she still didn't speak. I was curious as to why she was never a talker. At least it’s a start.

"I'm glad that you're eating more now. I was really worried at first since you barely ate anything, especially after your stomach got upset during your first meal. I've been extra careful in preparing your meals ever since, I was always afraid it might happen again" I unknowingly went on despite not knowing any words to say just a few seconds ago. I suddenly felt a wave of anxiety strike me as I might've said a lot more than I should've. I awkwardly stared at the table as I anxiously waited for Chewy's reply.

"Thank you" I heard her voice. My head shot up immediately and my eyes grew twice their size. It was perplexing how she has been here for around 6 days now yet I still wasn't used to her voice.

"No problem. Do you need anything else?" I asked her. She smiled and shook her head before returning her attention to the food. I felt my heart flutter at her gesture, which brings me to what Felix told me the other day. Maybe he has a point, maybe I do feel something for her. I was like a teenager around her, all caught up and tongue tied. My heart was easily shook by whatever she did. But I didn't get it, it was all very weird and foreign to me. I have so many things I want to ask her but didn't have any words to help me bring them out. Maybe I should start with my biggest curiosity.

"Where did you come from?" I asked her. Her face stiffened up a bit as she swallowed her food. Her rich eyes moved upwards to meet mine before shifting awkwardly to the side.

"Streets" she simply said her eyes fixated on something on the floor. It seems as if she wasn't used to talking to me either, I'm going to try my best to make her feel comfortable.

"I know that's where I found you. But where did you come from before that. Do you have any parents? A family? No one you know?" I suddenly stopped myself after asking way too many questions than Chewy could probably handle. I mentally beat myself up after the bombardment.

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer those if you don't want" I sighed and shook my head. I've always had a habit of asking too many questions and now that habit could possibly put me in a bad light with her.

"No house" she said, her voice slightly taking on more tone this time. She was now done with her meal as she sat across me with her hands on her lap.

"How ‘bout a family?" I asked. Her eyes shifted left to right this time. Even though I was on the opposite side of her, I can tell that she was fidgeting her hands underneath the table.

"Family..." she said, her voice having more anxiety this time. I could tell that this was a very sensitive topic for her.

"I... don't know" she said, her breathing somehow easing up. She didn't tell me much, but it was enough to tell me that she hasn't seen her family in a very long time and has no idea where they are, or if they are even alive. Whoever they are, I had no idea how they could abandon such a wonderful young woman. She was really one of a kind. If I were them, I would do anything to keep her by my side.

"Well whoever they are. They were wrong to let you go" I said. She didn't reply, though I wasn't expecting her to. I got up and grabbed my plate, deciding that I have probably troubled her enough already. I walked to her side and grabbed her plate as well and headed for the sink.

"Jun…" I heard her call. My body immediately shut down at the sound of her calling my name, obeying the sound of her voice almost instantaneously, and like a robot, my body turned to her direction.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Why... bring me here?" she asked without looking at me. I was immediately taken aback by her question not because I didn't want to answer it, but because I didn't know HOW to answer it. I dropped the plates on the table and returned to my seat. I immediately started searching for answers in my head as I wished I could answer her, but my mind didn't give me anything. Nothing at all, not even a ridiculous answer, it gave me nothing.

"I..." I tried to think of something, anything. "don't know". Chewy was visibly disappointed in my answer and so was I. I was disappointed in myself. I never had trouble speaking before, especially in public but for some reason I was completely tongue tied right now. Why DID I bring her home? Why was I crazy enough to bring a stranger home, especially one that came from the streets, and spend my time and money on her. I figured that no academic text, lecture or research can ever give me an answer to this situation as my actions made absolutely no sense.

"I just saw you on the streets, you looked so sick. I was on the way home from a job interview that time when I saw you there. You were in really bad condition it even looked like you were close to dying. I guess I got nervous and wanted to help you out. I didn't want to see you die on the streets" I said. Maybe, during that night, I had the intention of nursing her to health for maybe a day or two then send her off to a place or to someone that can take care of her, but things slipped my mind and she ended up staying here for more than just a couple of days. I wasn't complaining though.

"You don't like it here I presume" I said expecting her to agree and beg me to send her back outside.

"I like here" she said and smiled at me reassuringly, I smiled back unknowingly but glad that I did. I was happy that she found my place pleasing as it meant that she was comfortable with me to some extent.

"You do? What do you like the most about this place?" I asked curiously.

"TV" she said. I suddenly remembered the time I taught her how to use the remote. With her statement, I suddenly hatched an idea.

"You want to watch TV?" I asked. Her eyes widened up as she nodded childishly. I immediately felt an unexplainable surge of happiness and excitement inside of me.

"Let's go" I got up and headed for the TV with Chewy following closely behind.

For some reason, Chewy and I ended up watching a horror movie. Since we both couldn't decide on what movie or show to watch, we both decided to watch the first thing that comes out on the TV.

"You sure about this?" I asked her. I made it look as if it was an innocent question but in all honesty I was nervous deep inside as I don't handle horror movies that well. But Chewy seemed so determined to watch, who was I to deny this deprived girl of privileges she could only have every once in a while.

"Mhmm" she nodded her head eagerly, giving me confirmation that there was no turning back. I hesistantly turned up the volume at the average audible level and placed it on the glass coffee table in front of us. I leaned back on the furry couch, feeling the soft surface ease up some of my tension while Chewy sat elegantly upright.

"Scared?" she teased. My insides perked up at her smug gesture, it was definitely something I was not used to.

"I'm not scared..." I replied.

A few minutes later...

"AHH!"

"OH MY!"

"Who's there... why is it so dark?"

"AGHH CHEWY AH" I jumped in my place as soon as the ghost in the TV came out from its hiding spot, it was as if it was going to pop out of the screen. We ended up watching this really messed up Japanese flick with an extremely pale woman and a little boy. Based on my experience, the Japanese have the most messed up horror flicks and boy was this one getting to me. The film was full of overextended suspense and violent death scenes. The jumpscares weren't that big, but the way the actors portray their characters was truly world-class, the way the actress opens her eyes so wide and filled with hatred, gaping like a black hole. It sent shivers down my spine and overflowing anxiety into my chest. I gripped onto a pillow as the protagonist walked through an extremely dark hallway.

"JEEZUZ" I screamed once again as the pale woman hanged from the ceiling, this time she was covered in blood which made it all the more disturbing. Chewy just chuckled each time I would scream or get scared. I was doing things that I normally wouldn't like screaming my head off and acting like a scared kid and Chewy would just sit there and look at me like I was some idiot. She would just chuckle and laugh and smile as she watched me suffer. Her eyes would curl up to from crescent shaped moons and her cheeks would deform into two cute dimples. Despite the fact that I was scared out of my wits, her sadistic pleasure kept me safe and warm on the inside. I found it funny how I was able to feel scared and warm at the same time. Maybe the way I felt during the movie summed up the way I felt for the girl right next to me. I felt warm in her presence but I was also slightly dreading the day that she would have to leave.

Pretty soon, Chewy's chuckles started fading as I felt the object around my arm was no longer soft and round, but rather elongated. It was soft but it wasn't furry like the pillow, it was creamy leathery like skin. I diverted my gaze down to what my arms were clutching onto, it was no longer a pillow but the long, slender arm of Chewy. I turned to look at her face, she was blushing red and no longer laughing or smiling. Her face was straight full of nervous tension as her cheeks burned red, it took me a few seconds to realize that mine was doing the same thing. I immediately let go of Chewy's arm and swallowed a big lump in my throat as I sat awkwardly next to her.

"Uhm, sorry about that" I apologized and rubbed my nape in embarrassment. I can’t believe I had allowed myself to act like a clingy child in front of her. I was supposed to be the strong one, the one that would protect her not the other way around. I turned off the TV as it was giving the both of us too much tension and leaving it on won’t make things any better.

“What do you want to do now?” I asked her. Chewy took some time to think before giving me an answer.

“Questions?” she suggested. At first, I didn’t know exactly what she meant but then I realized that she wanted to play 20 questions.

“You want to play 20 questions?” I asked.

“Yes” she smiled and nodded. I immediately complied to her request, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to do this. I figured that I could use this opportunity to get to know her more but judging how things played out earlier, I should probably be extra careful with my questions.

“Ok, I’ll go first. What’s your favorite food?” was my first question. Chewy seemed pleased with the question I decided to use for my first round.

“Ice” she eagerly answered. I was perplexed by her statement. Ice? Does she really like eating ice?

“Ice? Why?” I asked without realizing that it wasn’t my turn and that I was already using up my second question, but I didn’t mind and just decided to play along.

“Very sweet” she said. With her answer I realized that she was talking about popsicles. I was going to ask her if it was indeed popsicles that she meant but my mind immediately went back to the time I first saw Chewy. The streets were full of popsicle wrappers scattered across the ground, forming a trail that lead up to her. My mind suddenly pictured the image of her broken body withering on the ground and I immediately lost the will to discuss the topic even further. I thought that asking that innocent question would be a safe move, but it somehow lead to the nightmares that haunted my mind.

“Your turn…” I simply said, no longer having the energy to continue. At that point, I didn’t even know what to say anymore as everything I say always leads to something else.

“Uhm…” Chewy took time to think her question through.

“Your like sports?” she seemed unsure of her question. It took me 6 days to realize the unusual speech pattern that she had. Her grammar seemed off and her words were very simplistic but well thought of, almost like a child. I was perplexed at first as I wasn’t used to it but the more I talked to her, the more it sounded normal in my ears.

The day passed with the two of us asking question back and forth, laughing, conversing like two innocent children. The questions that Chewy asked me were very childlike such as what did I like to play when I had nothing to do, what my favorite color was, do I like dogs and much more. My questions were very held back as I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. I wanted to ask her things like where is she from? Why is she on the streets? What did she talk about with Felix? But instead I held back and my question turned out to be childlike just like hers.

“Why you not like scary movie?” she asked. I paused at her statement. Should I tell her that I was scared of horror movies, I see nothing wrong with it but my pride and anxiety prevented me from doing so.

“Uhm… it’s not my style.” I simply said. Chewy didn’t look like she bought my answer one bit. Before she could say anything however, I suddenly see my phone light up on the coffee table. I leaned over and looked at the screen to see that it was an unknown number calling me. I was doubtful at first but I just decided to it up and answer it.

"Yoboseyo?" I said.

"Hello is this Lee Sangjoon?" a mysterious lady voice asked me from across the line.

"Who's asking?" I said, wanting to know who was calling me before revealing my identity. How did she get my number? For all I know it could be a trap.

"This is Ms. Son. I'm calling for a job that I would like to offer you. Your father recommended you to us and I think that we could use someone like you in the company" the 'Ms. Son' said. My eyes immediately shot wide open as I was surprised to hear this kind of news. It was too good to be true.

"I-I'm sorry, yes this is Lee Sangjoon. What is this offer you're talking about?" I stuttered as I struggled to process the moment in my brain.

"We would like to invite you over for an interview tomorrow morning. Around 10:00 am does that sound good?" the lady asked, her deep voice had a slight western vibe to it. Was this happening? Was this finally happening? After weeks of searching, is this finally the opportunity that I had been waiting for? I still could not believe it, it felt like a dream. But whether this was reality or not, there is no way I would deny this.

"S-Sure." I stuttered once more, so much for a first phone call with my potential future boss.

"Splendid! I'll text you the address in a while. I look forward to meeting you Mr. Lee" Ms. Son said and hung up. I was left baffled with my phone still hanging by my ear and my eyes fixated on the couch. I was frozen solid like a statue while my mind tried its best to take it all in. Chewy moved closer to me, examining my frozen figure as she wondered what had happened to her companion. She lifted up her finger and poked it against my bicep. My body immediately responded the moment her finger touched my skin and all the emotions, all the excitement, everything came following shortly after.

"Oh my god! Did I just hear that right?!" I exclaimed in my seat like a kid who was just told that he would go to Disneyland.

"What?" Chewy questioned, looking confused as a bunny lost in the woods. The way her eyebrows furrowed up and her eyes widened in curiosity sent waves of butterflies into my chest, as if the prior excitement was not enough.

"I-I..." I couldn't speak. I tried to form words but there were so many things I wanted to say right now. A jumbled mess of words running wild inside my head, struggling to see which one of them would come out first.

"I GOT A JOB!" I exclaimed. Chewy sat there staring at me, seemingly confused at what I just said.

"Did you hear me? I said I GOT A JOB. AFTER WEEKS OF SEARCHING I FINALLY GOT ONE" I couldn't control myself. I felt as if I was going to faint from excitement. It took a while but it seemed Chewy finally grasped what I just said.

"Ohhh! That's great!" she giddily exclaimed, at that point I had absolutely no control of myself anymore. I grabbed her waist, wrapping my arms around her slim figure, holding tightly against my own chest that she could even feel how hard my heart was pumping against hers. I rested my chin on her shoulder, my nose buried deep inside the rose scented field that was her hair. I was intoxicated. I know I will probably regret this tomorrow. But I will save all my regret 'til then.

Looks like Jun might be forced to leave the house once again. But what is he going to do about Chewy?

This will probably be the fluffiest chapter that I will write in a while so for all you fluffy people, take it all in now before the story takes a darker turn lol

Who is this Ms. Son? Is she really the girl in your mind?

Yay more Jun-Chewy skinship wahahaha.

As usual do leave a comment, or a sub or a vote if you want :)