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The day had progressed quite fast. On his way to the cafeteria Jongin finally caught sight of the box and poster board on the table nearby the elevators.

“What’s that?” Jongin wondered walking up to it.

The man at the information booth chipped in, “The chairman decided to do something fun for the employees. The winners get a free voucher to any selected restaurants.”

“Really?” He glanced at the box. With so many co-workers he wouldn’t get a chance, but maybe he thought. Walking over he grabbed a slip and wrote his name down.

Jongin savored lunch, thankful. At an age where he didn’t need his mom cooking for him, it was also nice to have someone else do it. Perhaps, he thought, his mother was right. Namjoo’s father should give him a cooking lesson or two.

Chugging his water, he returned upstairs to his desk. Who knew that by the end of the day he and two others won the vouchers. Coincidentally or not he wouldn’t question it. He walked out flipping the ticket over and over.

Actually, it wasn’t a matter of question who he would take. One thing remained on his mind. He wanted to get into Namjoo’s comfort zone. Jongin wasn’t about to give up on his baby. Regardless how long it took, he would be its father.

He would even wait until after Namjoo gave birth. Genes can’t lie. The baby would resemble him in one way or another.

They didn’t need to live together or get married, but as long as Namjoo gave him the right of being father that was all he wanted.

Oddly, he believed he and Namjoo could get along on good terms. If they got to know each other more, how much closer could they get?

He waited for Namjoo to drive in and blasted the car horn as she began crossing the street toward the apartment complex. As she turned he stepped out of his car.

“Just got back?” he asked walking toward her. She looked tired. Somewhat pale.

“Oh…yea.” She meekly replied. “I was going to go up and rest.”

“Are you hungry?” He wondered. Namjoo’s eyes searched him allowing him to catch sight of the scratch marks on her face. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” she lied pulling her hair over it. “Did you need something?”

“Well,” he glanced down at the voucher in his hand then held it up, “I won a voucher at work. It’d be a shame to let it go to waste, so I thought if you’re hungry lets have dinner somewhere.”

Succumbing to a silent debate, Namjoo pressed her lips together. Nervous, he waited. If not today he would make up some excuse sometime over the weekend before the voucher expired. He couldn’t help thinking how good of an opportunity this was. They just had to get to know each other a little more. Already making each other meals was a small start.

Why couldn’t they come to trust each other?

“I guess that would be nice,” Namjoo said.

Smiling, he offered, “You look tired, so I’ll drive.” As they veered around toward the parking lot he handed her the voucher, “There’s a list of restaurants at the bottom. I’ll let you decide which one you want.”

Unlocking the door for her as he slipped into the driver’s seat he started the car. “How was your day?”

Pulling her seatbelt on she answered, “It was exhausting.”

“Sorry about that,” he sympathized.

Namjoo glanced at him as she leaned back into her seat. “At least it’s over now.”

Driving out of the lot they headed down the traffic immersed streets. Stopping nearly every five minutes for a red light. Silence had stripped the car of its peace since he had begun driving. Jongin was conflicted between asking again whether the baby was his or letting her be. It mattered to him to hear her say the baby was his.

“Can I ask something?” Namjoo hesitatingly broke the quiet.

“Hmm??? Yes, sure,” he glanced at her surprised she was first talking.

“About your girlfriend,” Namjoo paused then went on, “when did you break up with her?” Blushing, she reminded, “You said you broke up with her.”

“Ye…yea.” Jongin glanced down at the steering wheel. “Before I moved. Why?”

They looked at each other, but Namjoo turned away flustered. Brushing her hair behind her ear she stared down at her lap. Jongin stared at the scratch marks on her face becoming overwhelmed with a pang.

Scratch marks. As if Namjoo would do that to herself.

The street light turned green and he stepped on the accelerator. Namjoo had picked a buffet. Seafood was also on the menu. It turned out they liked they same foods. That was a good start. After handing the receptionist the voucher they were led through a throng of tables already filled from seat to seat with customers. The scent of food was heavenly in every way causing his mouth to drool. A line had formed at the trays of food and he hoped they wouldn’t be delayed too long.

“Jongin!” A voice called out.

Turning away from the line of consumers he looked around. An arm shot up among the sea of heads waving for his attention.

“Taesong?” He called out. Excusing the waiter leading them he walked toward his friend who was sitting at a long table with a group of women.

“Hey, come sit down and eat with us,” Taesong offered. Glancing at Namjoo he shot Jongin a coy look.

“No, we’ll go somewhere else. You look busy,” Jongin said.

“Just sit down,” Taesong urged. “The girls are almost done eating. They’re on a diet anyway.”

Still uncertain about this, Jongin turned to Namjoo, “He’s Taesong. The goalie I showed you in the yearbook.”

Awkwardly giving Taesong her greeting Jongin slipped into the empty chair opposite his friend. Clutching onto her purse Namjoo sank down beside him without a choice.

“So, are you two on a date?” Taesong wondered.

Flushing with heat neck down, Jongin scolded, “Taesong!”

Chuckling amused, Taesong asked, “But are you?”

“No,” Jongin adamantly pounded his answer. He didn’t want to embarrass himself or put Namjoo in a difficult spot. Knowing how cheeky Taesong could be was suddenly mortifying.

“Sure.” Lifting the glass of water to his lips, Taesong took a long sip. “I didn’t catch your name. Geez, Jongin, you should at least introduce her.”

“It’s Namjoo,” she quietly replied shrinking in her seat. Jongin should have realized why, but he was too busy warding off Taesong’s teasing. Still sweating underneath his suit not because of the warm light and steaming food, but because his best friend made him wary.

“How’d you two meet?” Taesong probed. “I bet Jongin hit on you first. Am I right?”

“No one hit on no one,” Jongin said, abashed.

“Why are you being so defensive?” Taesong wondered. Jongin felt his face heat up from embarrassment. Looking at Namjoo he said, “We were evaluating a story I read. About a fictional woman who can cook better than a four-star chef. And there’s this guy who can’t stop talking about her.”

Jongin’s face went red. Too bad he didn’t realize Namjoo wasn’t quite paying attention.

Breaking into a sweat he turned to her, “Don’t pay attention to him.”

Namjoo’s eyes drifted over the tabletop and she pressed her purse against her body like a shield. Worry set in her weary eyes when she looked at him. Confused, he glanced around. Seeing at last that the two tables surrounding Taesong’s were occupied with the models he had just talked about. All of them whispering among each other. Their eyes speaking derogatively, staring and staring harder. Lost, Jongin glanced back at Namjoo wondering what was going on.

“Why, who is this?” A dreadfully familiar voice made him turn to see Mina sitting down in the empty seat beside Taesong.

Suddenly, everything in Jongin’s head flipped over. Taesong didn’t matter anymore nor did his teasing. Baffled, he couldn’t find the words to talk.

“Oh right,” Taesong perked up, “this is one of the new models whose joined our line for the fashion show I’m coordinating. Ra Mina.”

“It’s ok,” Mina warranted, “you don’t need to introduce me to my boyfriend who is cheating on me.” She brazenly glanced at Jongin then Namjoo.

Gritting his teeth, Jongin remained calm. “I don’t really know what you’re talking about.”

Taesong peered from one to the other quizzically.

“I guess it’s possible to be so bold about having one woman in your bed and another in your kitchen,” Mina disconcerted.

“Mina, stop it,” he growled.

“It’s all right, Jongin,” Mina assured rattling his nerves. “Everyone here knows who Namjoo is.” Looking behind her, she raised her voice, “Right girls?”

A murmur ensued.

His head was about to explode. He wanted to throttle Mina for doing this. In public. In front of his friend. And more than that, in front of Namjoo as if to degrade her morale.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized to Namjoo. “Lets go.”

“One moment.” Leaning over to intentionally reveal her cleavage through the deep slit of her buttoned shirt, she adjusted Jongin’s tie. Consumed by bitter rage, Jongin glared at her.

“Enough,” he moved her hand away and rose to his feet. Grabbing Namjoo’s hand to pull her after him they exited the restaurant. The instant blast of cool wind propelled the b anger into dust.

Drawing her hand out of his, Namjoo stepped down the curb. “I’m sorry. I’m suddenly very tired. I’m going to go home. You should go somewhere nice with your mom instead.”

Namjoo took a step toward the street intent on leaving him behind. Hurrying after her he blocked her way.

“Why?” he questioned. “We came all the way out here. Why don’t we deserve a nice meal?”

“I’m tired.” She looked at him, as if that could answer everything.

“Then have something good and go to sleep,” he tried. Mind seeking for an excuse he persuaded, “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this either. At least, lets try to make the trip worth it.” Jongin hesitated before finally touching her arm and tried one more time, “Come on. Lets go eat somewhere else.”

Silence was inevitable as he drove away from the buffet. He didn’t need to ask what Mina had done to make Namjoo suddenly the enemy. Deciding now he would need to have a serious word with his ex, because Namjoo shouldn’t have to be going through this.

Namjoo should be healthy. She should be happy. Apparently, everything seemed to working against her. If he couldn’t prevent even half of it did he deserve to be the father of her baby?

“Lets eat here,” Jongin pulled up to a steak and barbeque restaurant. “I’ve been here with a few colleagues before. They have a really nice menu.”

He hesitated again when they both stepped out of the car. As they met at the front of the car Jongin took her hand and led her in, hoping he could cheer her up.

Namjoo’s eyes lit up when she went through the menu. Finally, somewhere among a crowd of strangers they were finally alone in peace. Seeming unbothered by the crackle of musical chatter around them things were working out at last. It took no less than five minutes for them to make their order. When the food arrived Namjoo quickly cut through her thick steak. Eating hungrily. Draining her glass of water and asking for a refill. Though they didn’t really talk like he imagined they would, he offered her the rest of his plate. Glad that she had an appetite.

They left the restaurant happily with stomachs bloating, but he didn’t drive home yet. He had other stuff on his mind.

“The mart?” Namjoo glanced up at the large sign lighting up the evening sky as they drove up to the store.

“I thought of something,” Jongin said releasing his seatbelt and stepped out.

Frowning weirdly at him Namjoo followed him inside. A dense crowd populated the store this evening. Most of them shopping for tomorrow’s meals. Alone or with a pack of friends.

“This way,” Jongin led her down the right toward the fresh greens.

“What are you looking for?”

Spotting his item of choice, Jongin lifted it up. “This.”

Namjoo stared at the bitter melon blankly. Appearing more stupefied than anything else. “A what?”

“Bitter melon,” Jongin answered. “You were asking me to describe what liquor tastes like yesterday. Bitter melon.”

Her eyes rolled to the side then back to him with a frown.

“Should we have one?” Jongin playfully wondered.

She shook her head. “No.”

“I’ll get it, so that whenever you’re craving for a drink all you have to do is have a piece,” Jongin joked.

“No, really,” Namjoo continued shaking her head.

Chuckling to himself he walked off with the melon imagining the face she would make after having a bite. A second later he heard Namjoo hurrying after him.

“It would just be a waste of money,” Namjoo said coming up to his side. “Not to be rude or anything.”

“I don’t think it’s a waste,” Jongin said. “Oh, I saw some curtains this way.”

He trailed off leaving Namjoo in his wake. Discovering a small selection of available curtains, he browsed through his choices. Not caring very much for design. Just…it would be a good excuse. To be a better part of her day, so that if she had too many things on her mind he could relieve a bit of it. Plus, he was sorry for what Mina had done. That he had gotten her pregnant causing her fiancé to leave her.

How could he leave her alone?

“This one looks ok,” he said touching a random blue pack and met with Namjoo’s flat gaze.

“It’s this one,” she touched the pack beside it. “That’s too short.”

“Oh…” awkwardly laughing he slid the pack off the hook.

He paid and drove back to the apartment under a star smothered sky even though the sun hadn’t completely set. The moon was halfway up but the world still appeared bright. An aqua hue zipped through the horizon refusing to fade to dark. A mix of dark colors colliding as if the day didn’t want to end yet.

“You’re going to help me put up the curtain, right?” He asked as they stepped out of the car.

“Now?” Namjoo asked surprised.

“Why not?”

“Isn’t it…kind of late?”

Jongin glanced at his watch, “I don’t think it’s that late.”

“Well…”

“Come on,” he urged locking the car with the remote and started toward the building. “I won’t keep you long.”

Namjoo delayed following him but in the end, she stepped into the elevator with him. The lift brought them up and in quick time he was unlocking the door for her.

“Come in,” he invited.

Since the last time she was here he had completely furnished his home. There was a TV, a shelf for his movies and a little one for his books. His shoes were now organized on a shoe rack. A picture of him and his mom hung on the wall. Jongin had added small things like an organizer bin for extra stuff like scissors, glue and tape he had no space for. An easy wall mail mounted to the wall to keep his papers and mails separated.

Namjoo glanced around as he set the melon down. Bringing a knife and cutting board over he asked, “It looks better, right?”

“What?” she turned to him surprised.

“The place,” he said.

“Well…it’s your house. You can do what you want,” Namjoo bashfully replied. He glanced at her with a small smile. Focusing on cutting out a triangular piece he trimmed it into a smaller section. Stabbing it with a fork he held it out to her.

“First bite is yours.”

Namjoo shook her head in refusal. “I’m fine.”

He urged the fork toward her some more. Namjoo shook her head again. “Then I’ll have the first bite.” He took a bite feeling his mouth water at the bitterness, his throat refusing to swallow. Jongin continued to chew and chew and chew helplessly while lying, “It’s good. I may have bought the wrong one.”

Namjoo stared at him as uncertainty fluxed through her eyes. He nearly gagged when it went down his throat. Turning away from her he cut another piece for her.

“I mean it, it’s really sweet,” Jongin lied. “I cut you a little one in case you don’t believe me.”

Doubt remained on her face but taking the fork she took a cautious bite and chewed. A grin grew on his face as he watched her expression distort and let out a yell of disgust. Putting the fork down with a laugh he grabbed a napkin, handing it to her.

“Spit it out,” he told. Namjoo hit him in the chest taking the napkin from him. As he watched her hold the napkin to his heart fluctuated a little.

“Lets put up the curtain,” Namjoo said passing him.

Jongin watched her remove the packaged curtain from the plastic before ditching the melon in the kitchen to follow. They worked in silence while he removed the rod from above the window as Namjoo unfolded the dark blue curtain. His eyes lingered over her for a few seconds then returned to the task at hand.

Time passed by really quickly as they slipped the rod through the curtain completing the chore in just a few seconds. Jongin pulled over two chairs for them to stand on as they replaced the rod on the hook. Stepping down from the chair he watched her complete her job. Unnecessarily walking over to help her down he held his hand out to her.

“Here,” he said, “in case you fall.”

Namjoo glanced at his hand uninterested. It wasn’t like she was at a height where she would fall, but the night was good and he didn’t want it to end so dully. Leaving her no choice she took his hand anyway and stepped down.

Her feet landed right by his. A flash of hot air wafted down his body and his heart fluctuated again. She was so close his senses became acute. Noticing the slight hint of perfume in the air. The warmth flowing off her body. That the width of her shoulders didn’t meet the breadth of his chest.

Awaking a sliver of his memory when he had kissed her that night in the motel, but this time he was more alert. The tip of his nose brushed her forehead as he leaned closer. A little lower until he was staring down at her lips. Until he could only hear his own breathing, the pumping of his heart. So conscious of her lower lip skimming his mouth.

Jongin only closed his eyes momentarily then opened again when Namjoo shoved him away. Flustered, she stepped away from him. “I…I should go.”

Turning her back to him she snatched her bag off the kitchen table and disappeared out the door.  

***there's the bad and then the good