*~*Chapter 11*~*

I watched as RM’s gloomy house pulled into view. As usual, not a single light was on. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have never known there was a house here at night.

The van pulled to a stop in front of the main gate. Jung Kook escorted me out. “Hope you had fun today,” he said as I stepped out.

“I did; thank you.”

He smiled. “Can I walk you to the door?”

My stomach twisted into a knot. It felt like he was dropping me off after a date. ‘There’s already somebody else in my heart,’ his words rang through my ears.

Is it me? My face flushed at the thought. I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. I can get there by myself.”

“Okay then.” He paused. After a moment, he said, “Goodnight, Kyungi.”

“Goodnight, Jung Kook,” I whispered. Half of me wanted him to kiss me; the other half of me didn’t know what I would actually do if he did.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said.

“Okay.”

With that, I watched as he climbed back into the van. I waved bye as the door closed and stayed by the gate as the taillights disappeared into the horizon. With a sigh, I turned to the gate and punched in the pass code on the keypad. The gate buzzed as it opened. I pushed the gate open and jogged to the porch. Thank God for the moonlight, I thought as I reached the porch. I would be terrified if it was pitch black tonight.

I glanced up at RM’s room, wondering if he was watching us again, but it was too dark to tell if he was really there or not.

I quickly let myself into the house and switched on the kitchen light. I dropped my purse by the door and went in search of something to make for dinner. Guess it’s hardboiled eggs and toast again, I thought when I couldn’t find any butter or oil to make scrambled eggs. So I whipped together another pathetic meal before making my way up to RM’s room.

As I neared the top of the stairs, my stomach twisted into knots. Will RM be angry to see me? He was pretty pissed off this morning before Jung Kook and I left.

I switched on the hallway light and paused before his bedroom door. I could smell his B.O. seeping through the crack under the door. My stomach heaved at the scent.

“RM?” I called, careful to not take a big whiff of air. “I have dinner ready. It’s not much, but at least it’s something.”

Silence.

“RM?” I asked and tried the door. It swung open. The hallway light spilled into the dark room. The light splashed across the floor all the way to the window opposite the door.

“RM?” I peered in. It took awhile for my eyes to adjust. I spotted the breakfast tray still lying on his nightstand. It looked untouched. 

He didn’t eat anything?

I surveyed the place. RM was nowhere in sight. Where did he go?

I glanced towards the piano room, but it too laid in darkness. With a sigh, I stepped inside and grabbed the breakfast tray. What a waste of food. I swapped out the trays, and as I turned around to make my way out of the room, I suddenly spotted a foot peeping out from behind the door. I yelped and jumped back in surprise, causing the dishes to rattle on the tray.

Damnit! Why is he hiding behind the door?! But then again, he probably doesn’t want to see me anyways.

As I passed the door, I paused. “I left dinner on your night stand. Sorry it’s not the best, but at least eat something. I don’t want Jung Kook to blame me if you pass out from hunger.” With that, I grabbed the door and shut it behind me. As I made my way down the stairs with the untouched breakfast, I sniffed it. I immediately regretted the decision as I gagged. Yup. Even the food has absorbed his body odor.

Once I reached the kitchen, I tossed the food away and washed the dishes. After I put the dishes away and grabbed my purse from the front door, I made my way to my room. As I locked myself in, I heard RM’s bedroom door open. I listened as he made his way to the piano room.

Does he want to see her again?

I crept to my door and opened it a crack. I peered out into the darkness, listening intently for the piano. Silence greeted me. I continued to wait, but it remained silent. With a sigh, I closed my door and decided to call it a night. As I laid down to sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder why RM went into the piano room if he wasn’t even going to play the piano.

DING-DONG! DING-DONG, DING-DONG! 

I woke up with a start. Someone was ringing the doorbell furiously. The sun was halfway in the sky; morning had come.

I got to my feet and dashed to the front door. As I opened it, someone called out from the other side of the gate, “Delivery!”

Delivery?  

Oh, right! My bed!

“Coming!” I called as I slipped into my outdoor slippers and rushed down the steps to open the gate.

A man in a navy blue jumpsuit greeted me as I pulled the gate open. “Are you Miss…” he glanced down at his clipboard. “…Lee Kyungi?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Sign here.”

I signed on the dotted lines. He then motioned the other workers to bring in the furniture. I watched in awe as they unloaded boxes upon boxes from the truck.

“Where should we set it up?” he asked.

“Oh, right. This way please,” I said and led the way to my room. I threw the couch throw pillow aside and watched as they brought in a whole bedroom set. Not just a bed, but a complete, over-the-top bedroom set! There was a queen-sized bed, a nightstand, a desk, a floor lamp, a table lamp, a dresser, even a wardrobe closet! And as if those weren’t enough, there were also various bedding and pillows, a large rug, and several accent pillows!

Once they left, I just stared at the room in shock. Leave it to Jung Kook to go out all the way. The room no longer looked like the empty room I had slept in for the past two nights.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang again. What is it this time? I thought as I ran to answer the door again.

This time, a man in a gray t-shirt and jeans stood on the other side of the gate. “Good morning!” he called out when he saw me. I recognized him as Mr. Park.

“Mr. Park?”

“Do you mind opening the garage gate?”

“Sure.” I ran down the steps and pushed the button for the garage.

As the gate slid open, Mr. Park pulled in with a silver Lexus. He parked the car and made his way to the trunk. Before I could even ask why he was here, he replied, “Jung Kook sent me to deliver these groceries for you. I swear, sometimes he abuses me. I’m his manager, not his butler!”

“Groceries?”

He handed me two bags from the trunk. “Can you carry them?”

I nodded as I took hold of them. I noticed several more inside the trunk. What all did Jung Kook buy for me, knowing full well that I can’t even cook?

As I made my way back to the house with the grocery bags, I spotted RM watching from the bedroom window. He was staring intently at Mr. Park. I bet the doorbell woke him up, and he’s grumpy about being interrupted from his sleep.

I set the groceries on the kitchen table and made my way back outside. To my surprise, Mr. Park had stopped on the walkway, staring up at RM’s bedroom window. I glanced up. RM was no longer there.

When I approached him, he broke out of his trance. “How’s RM doing?” he asked.

“You know him?” I asked in surprise.

“Of course,” he said, glancing at RM’s bedroom once more. “They’re friends after all.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be able to tell,” I muttered.

“What was that?” Mr. Park asked, looking at me.

I shook my head. “Did you know him before…you know…” My words trailed off.

“Where would you like me to put these bags?” Mr. Park asked, as if he hadn’t heard what I just said.

“Oh! Just in the kitchen. Should I help you carry some?”

“No, I got these,” he said.

I glanced back at RM’s room before following Mr. Park into the house. “Would you like to stay for some coffee before you go?” I asked as I entered.

He set the bags down on the kitchen floor and surveyed the place. “No,” he said, looking at me. “I’ve got errands to run.” He paused. “Ah! Before I forget, Jung Kook wants me to give this to you, too.” He handed me a large white box with a big, pink bow.

“He really needs to stop buying me stuff,” I muttered as I took it.

“Excuse me?”

I looked up with a smile. “Tell him I said thank you,” I said.

“Will do. Anyways, gotta run now. You take care.”

“Thank you. You too, Mr. Park.”

With that, he bid me farewell and left. 

With a sigh, I set about unpacking all the groceries. I was amazed at how much groceries Jung Kook had purchased. Even more amazing was that he had bought things that I could easily cook; jars of pasta sauce and bags of pasta noodles, microwaveable food, milk and cereal, 1-minute oatmeal, etc. Plus he got all of the essentials, such as salt and pepper, oil, and butter.

I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I put them all away. I whipped together a quick breakfast of oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon. I then added a glass of milk, a glass of orange juice, and an apple on the side. Then I set everything on a tray and made my way to RM’s room.

My footsteps slowed to a stop as I reached the top of the stairs. I know he’s awake, but should I still bother him?

I took a deep breath and called out, “Breakfast is ready! I’m coming in!” As I opened the door, the scent of RM’s body odor overpowered me. As always, I was unprepared for the smell.

I spotted him sitting on the edge of his bed, just staring at the floor.

“I’m putting your breakfast on the nightstand,” I said. I watched him for a reaction, but when there was none, I turned to the nightstand. I stopped short when I noticed the tray from last night was gone. Where did it go?

I looked to RM for an answer, but he was still ignoring me. Unable to stand his B.O. any longer, I set the breakfast on the empty nightstand and backed out of the room, shutting the door quickly behind me. Where could the tray be? I know for sure I put it in his room last night. Where is it now?

Then I remembered he had gone to the piano room last night. Could it be there?

I made my way to the piano room. Sure enough, the tray was sitting on the top of the piano. I paused and glanced over my shoulder at his room. Is it alright for me to go in to get the tray?

I looked back at the piano room. Maybe if I go quietly…

I tiptoed into the room. The sunlight glinted off the metal tray as I approached. To my surprise, the food was all gone. So he came into this room to eat last night, huh? That must be the reason why I didn’t hear him playing the piano.

I grabbed the tray and rushed back to the kitchen. Once I washed all the dishes, I made my way back to my room with the gift box from Jung Kook. I sat down on the bed, a small ‘oh’ of surprise escaping my lips at how soft the mattress felt underneath me. I suddenly want to go to sleep, to melt into its fluffy softness. But first, I have to see what kind of gift Jung Kook bought me.

I pulled off the bow. Underneath it was a small card. I opened it up. ‘To Kyungi, For those special days,’ it read.

Curious, I lifted the lid off the box. My jaw dropped open. He has GOT to be kidding me!

Inside was a French maid costume.

I pulled it out in disbelief. It was a low-cut, puffy black dress with white lace underneath and a frilly white apron. There were even black knee-high socks and kitten heels to match.

Is he serious?! He wants me to wear this thing?! Me? Chubby, little me in this y, little thing?

I laughed at the ludicrousness of it all. I laughed as I imagined myself in this dress, stubby legs and all. I laughed as I imagined RM throwing me out of the house for wearing it, my gnome-like self flying through the air, stubby legs flailing about. I laughed as I imagined myself trying to seduce Jung Kook in this dress, belly rolls dangling out. I laughed and laughed until tears came, and I could no longer breathe properly.