05. Guilt

 I was surprised when Kris told me the whole story of him being cursed because of the promise we made. I felt sorry for him, and also guilty at the same time. No matter what, I'm the one who caused it. I should make it up to him in any ways I could. So I asked Kris what he wanted to do. Suddenly he dragged me to this random Japanese restaurant, and then we sat on a table for two. He said he was starving, ah, I think he's still unfamiliar with human's needs. It was already six p.m, and he told me that he hasn't eat anything after he had breakfast at nine. Poor clueless angel.

Kris was sitting in front of me with a confused face, "So, how do you use this stick?" He asked me while holding up a pair of chopsticks. Aigoo, this guy is so lost.

"Yah, you're the one who asked me to go to this japanese restaurant. And now you're telling me you don't know how to use chopsticks?"

 "Well, you think?"

I had no choice but to help him with his food. I didn't feel like giving him a 101 Ha Neul Chopsticks Lesson.

Come on, Kris, let's just do it fast. "Here, I'll feed you." I took his bowl of rice and started stuffing salmon and seaweed into his mouth using the chopsticks.

 He looked at me intensely the whole time I was feeding him. When I say 'intense' I mean; those sharp eyes of his were actually shooting out green deathly lights like lasers in Ultra-Man movies. You don't believe it?

But wait, I'm not a rare species of lion or something, right? Why was he looking at me like that? His face was so serious when he chewed the food I gave to him. Is he some kind of retarded or what?

 "It's the first time for me to be fed by a girl, you know."

 I stuffed more food inside his mouth, "There's always a first to everything."

 He nodded in agreement as he continued to chew the food I gave to him. Seeing him so clueless made me feel bad for causing him to live on earth. Thinking about how selfish I am to make Kris go through all of this is much worse. I can't believe I was so stubborn to change Se Hun's destiny just to keep him for myself. And now this innocent angel in front of me has to pay for what I did. That's not fair for me. Neither for Kris.

 I sighed, "I'm sorry."

"Frohr whudh?" (For what?) He tried to speak with a mouth full of rice. His words got me giggling to myself. How can he looks so creepy but acts very cutely at the same time?

His eyebrows wrinkled, "Aey argh you rawghing?" (Why are you laughing?)

 "Because you're not supposed to talk when your mouth is full." I smiled to him when he scratched his head unknowingly.

 I raised the chopsticks with food in front of his lips, "Open your mouth."

He shifted away and swallowed his food quickly. "No, I think I'm full. It's your turn to eat."

 "I don't feel like eating." But actually, I was hungry...

"Here! I can feed you!"

"You can't even use chopsticks to eat by yourself Kris."

"Ah... Yes, that's true. But why don't we ask the waitress to bring us some spoons?"

 Pabo Ha Neul. Why didn't you do that earlier? That way, you won't have to feed Kris.

 But to be honest, feeding him wasn’t so bad after all.

"Here, open your mouth Ha Neul. Say 'ah~'."

The moment I realized, there was already a spoonful of rice and beef in front of my face. Plus, the angelic smiling face of Kris as the background. I admitted that his smile could make any girl in the whole world kneel down in front of him. I swear to god I even heard the ahjumma on the table next to us said, ‘How old is he? Is he married? He would be a perfect son-in-law!’ Ugh... Maybe other girls will fall for him. But not me.

Hey, was he feeding me? Goodness, no way! people will think that we're a couple!

"Give that to me, I can eat by myself." I snatched the spoon away from his hands in the speed of light.

“Tsk. Chill out.”

How can I? When you’re smiling at me like that?

“Yah. Let’s start over. I was going to say sorry for making you go through all of this..”

“Nah, it’s okay. It was my fault that I melted—Ugh, agreed to you.” He emphasized the word ‘agreed’.

Ng. “What was that again?”

“Nothing.” His eyes travelled through the restaurant.

Oh my... Did I just hear ‘melted’? Ah, maybe it’s just the other guests. The restaurant was quite crowded so it was a little bit noisy there.

 “Kris. Now that you live here. Eh, I mean, on earth. Where do you stay?”

“...Hmm. A friend’s house.”

Wait a second, a human friend? I thought I was the first human he talked to. But maybe I wasn’t, “A friend?”

“Yeah... He’s not really a human though.” He shrugged.

Not a human eh, “So what is he?”

“A fallen angel. He’s like an outcast. He got kicked out from heaven because he did something wrong when he was on earth.” Suddenly he smiled with a tickled expression.

I took a sip of the Green Tea I ordered, “What did he do?”

Kris smiled ear to ear, “He... Made love to a girl.”

Must.hold.back.the.shock.

But I failed. As a result of such an unpredicted answer coming out from Kris’ mouth; I choked while drinking the tea. Thank god the tea didn’t come out from my mouth and spray all over Kris’ face.

But hey.. Come again? He made love to a girl? What kind of angel is that?

 I coughed dozens of times as I rearranged my heartbeat. Calm down, Ha Neul. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. May that fallen angel be enlightened.

I saw Kris laughing silently on his seat as he patted his laps repeatedly. Why was he laughing?

“Gah. You’re lying! I knew it!!”

He stopped laughing and winked at me, “I’m not. But your reaction made me.”

Yah, this Kris... “Errgh. What’s his name?”

“Tao. Huang Zhi Tao. I will be staying at his place until tomorrow. He doesn’t let me stay for more than three days. And after that, I don’t really know where I will be staying...”

What? He will be homeless? No way, even the idea of him being homeless was unimaginable. I can’t let that happen! And I won’t! This time, I felt extremely guilty. Ha Neul-ah, help him already! Just offer him to stay at your place!

“Kris... I think...”

“Can I stay at your place? Please~ please~ I’m begging you~ I will do anything!”

Before I can even answer him, he shot me a puppy look. Eh... “Yah, stop that, you at being cute.”

He snorted, “Well, at least I tried.” You almost succeed though. “But will you let me stay at your place?”

“Let me think...” To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking. I just wanted to look at his pathetic attempts to be cute. He pouted, cried, and his hands formed a heart shape. He was all over the place! I can’t help but laughed. Well, now I know what he’s bad at. He’s bad at doing Aegyos.

“Pretty please?”

Haha, okay I should really stop making him look stupid.

I nodded, “Yes of course, I’m the one who caused this mess. And now I should make it up to you. It’s the least thing I can do.” I smiled.

“Thank you Ha Neul! But what will your parents say if they see me?”

“They won’t. Trust me, I live only with Akira—my pet—maids, butlers, drivers, gardeners, and yadda yadda. Even if my parents come home and they see you, they wouldn’t mind.” Because they will be very happy if they knew that I finally have a close friend that stays in my house.

His eyes twinkled, “Ehm... How do I say this.. Eh, I don’t really have clothes you know. I’m currently wearing Tao’s right now. And I don’t know where to get one since heaven doesn’t provide me money to settle down...”

What a poor guy... “I will buy you some.”

“For real?!”

“Did I sound like I was lying?”

“No... But, really? Oh man, I’m so embarrassed now. I’m a guy, but here I am, asking a girl to help me with things I should do myself.” There were shades of pink on his creamy cheeks while he said that.

I shook my head and told him that it was okay. After all, it would be fun to have a housemate, right? Since there are plenty of empty bedrooms, I guess Mrs.Lee wouldn’t mind if Kris use one of them. And I told him that he can sleep at my house tonight, tomorrow we’ll go to the Mall to buy him clothes he needed. I still have a large amount of money in my bank account since my parents always send me money twice a month. Kris can have some of them.

He thanked me for everything. I paid the food’s bill and called the driver to pick me up. After that, we proceeded to go to Tao’s place.  Ah, appearantly it was an appartment in a busy area of Seoul city. Kris told me to wait inside the car. He said he was only going to inform Tao that he found a place to stay. He ran inside the building while I took out my cellphone.

 I texted Dali, ‘Dali. Now I have a housemate! He will be staying at my place for... I don’t know how long..yet.’

It didn’t take long to receive a reply from this hyper girl.

 ‘Omo! Jinjja? ‘He’? It’s a boy? Is he cute? You never tell me you have a close guy friend... TT-TT’

Heheh, he’s not fully a human you know.. ‘It’s a long story. Even if I tell you I think you will not believe me! And by the way, he’s not cute. He at being cute.’

Suddenly I heard the car’s door being slammed. I turned my head to see Kris grinning at me, “Done. You know... I can’t thank you enough for helping me, Ha Neul. I promise you I’ll find a job to pay for my own living expenses.”

I smiled at him and he scratched his head before turning away to look at the window. I heard him mumbling something like, ‘Don’t look.’ Ahaha, now he’s being shy? What a weird guy.

The driver started driving the car towards my house. Kris was looking at the road outside. It was a long, silent journey. I searched for anything to distract me from the silence inside the car, I shifted my gaze to my cell phone.

I saw a text reply from Dali saying; ‘Tell me! I will believe you!! Haha, Is he hot?’