“I didn’t know aliens like to do chores,” Seunghyun spoke as he took their dirty plates to the kitchen, where Bom, his alien roommate busily washed the dishes. They have been having their meals in the living room for two days now. Amazingly, the living room served three purposes: watching, eating and sleeping. Seunghyun could only sigh as he glances above his wrecked ceiling.

“It is only right for us to be civilized and organized,” she replied back, her eyes focused on the sink full of bubbles. Despite the chores that she does everyday, she seems to be quite enjoying herself, as she also discovers new things about the human—which by the way she nicknamed, Tabi; claiming that his name is also long, and she wanted to get even with him.

“The liquid soap’s running out,” she uttered to the person somewhere behind her.

“Oh, I bought some last week.” Walking back into the kitchen, he kneeled down, facing the small closet under the sink. Bom’s legs were slightly in the way, so she took a step back, her hands still busy soaping a plate. Right when Seunghyun took out the new bottle of soap, his eyes unknowingly got locked on Bom’s long, milky white legs—slowly creeping up under her dress, which he embarrassingly bought for her one time in a department store.

“There it is!” the voice from above called, reaching for the bottle that seems glued onto Seunghyun’s hand, “Thank you, Tabi!”

“YAH! I told you not to call me that!” Seunghyun immediately jumped up, causing the porcelain plate slip from her hands, breaking into pieces as it hit the floor.

“Do you have to scare me like that?!” she frowned, looking at the broken pieces scattered between their feet. “Thanks a lot,” she added a sarcastic look. Thanks to his little comment, a new chore awaited her.

“Aish,” he walked towards her, already holding a broom and dustpan. “Don’t move too much, I might miss--”

Seunghyun immediately sweeped the debris left around Bom’s feet, then a thin line of blood smudged on the floor.

“You’re bleeding.”

A two-inch long, thin cut appeared on Bom’s right foot. “Getting a cut doesn’t mean I lost a leg,” Bom frowned once again as Seunghyun placed her on the couch after being carried bridal-style from the kitchen to the living room.

Taking out the antiseptic from the medicine box, Seunghyun deliberately applied some on her wound, making her cringe a bit in pain, “That’s for calling me Tabi.”

“Better not let this happen again Human,” she retorted with serious eyes, “I don’t like our disagreements turn into violence.” Seunghyun’s slightly widened in fear, suddenly dabbing the disinfectant carefully. She’s been reinventing her megaphone weapon, and with its sophisticated look, he doubts he can survive its attack.

Knowing that its best to keep his mouth shut, silence filled the air. Bom was looking calmly at her treated wound, with Seunghyun finally covering it with a small strip of gauge. For some reason, she felt thankful for his action. But seeing who really is behind this, she couldn’t—more so, wouldn’t admit defeat. Pride issues, perhaps?

When Bom finally finished the dishes, she caught Seunghyun lying comfortably on the floor, facing the television, already tucked in for the night.

Bom walked behind the couch, wiping her drenched hands on her apron. Seunghyun’s eyes were too fixated on the screen, absorbed on the old chick flick. Removing her apron and quietly stepping onto the carpet to the couch, the scene focused now on a couple’s kissing scene.

“What are they doing?” she verbalized in a soft voice, eyes still glued on the screen. Taking off their clothes one by one, their kisses became more powerful than ever.

“Is that how humans mate?” She immediately asked as the kissing scene reached the bed.

Seunghyun threw his head back in surprise, “Ah...w-well...” How will I explain this? he thought. There’s really no point in lying and plus the fact that he can’t think of a good lie, he might as well say the truth. “Ah...er... y-yeah... Something like that...” He rather not mention the ‘word’ again, as he finds this discussion with a girl seem very, very awkward.

Praying that she won’t ask anything more, and that the scene will end up quickly, he fixed his eyes once more on the screen. Heat suddenly rushed to his cheeks as the couple’s faces were soon replaced with Bom and his face. Oh my gad.

His hand was luckily near the remote; his finger immediately flicked the off button. No more chick flicks, Seunghyun. It’s bad for the mind...and health. A strange feeling swept through his lower half, making him immediately reach for his pillow, cuddling it close as his body curled into a ball. Off with the dirty thoughts Seunghyun! Off with it! Just think of rainbows, colored ponies, and cute little sheep... Heck, as gay as it may seemed, if that’s the only way to cure a growing bulge below, then so be it.

--

The following morning, Bom had asked Seunghyun the directions to the laundry shop to get her suit. It wasn’t far, almost only two blocks away from the apartment. Seunghyun offered to go get it himself, but Bom refused, saying she wants to explore outside for the meantime. Even though it was a great idea, Seunghyun couldn’t help but think of the grim situations that may happen to her.

Heck, why am I being so overprotective? I guess it can’t be helped since she is my roommate. Seunghyun uttered to himself as he watched Bom take further steps away from the front porch. A pretty girl like that, whether day or night, can attract bad guys. She should be back within fifteen minutes, he assured himself, fixating his eyes on the wall clock that implied 8:30.

Cars ran pass the road, and busy people came across Bom’s way. She couldn’t help but gaze at the colorful shops, displaying different items; from clothes, toys, then to food. It’s so evident that people come in different sizes, shapes, and facial features. Her fascination was so evident that she didn’t know she was looking curiously at everyone too much, causing her to bump on a passerby.

“Hey lady? Are you okay? Are you lost?” the man had asked, keeping his eyes on the beautiful lady.

Bom suddenly snapped back to focus, bowing immediately to apologize. Without even meeting his sight, she began to walk away, leaving the dumbfounded stranger.

A quaint little shop with a big yellow poster with words “Laundry Shop” engraved on it, was Bom’s destination. Potted plants were displayed infront of the glass window, and through it she saw many machines.

Taking out the receipt Seunghyun gave her, she lined to the pick-up area, where an old woman, about in her mid-50s, welcomed her with a smile. “Hello dear. What can I do for you?”

Not knowing what to reply, she handed the piece of paper to her, just like as Seunghyun instructed. The woman smiled as she took the paper and headed to the clothesline filled with dry-cleaned clothes. Keeping her hands together, her eyes flocked through the shop.

Walls were painted faint yellow, washing machines were arranged into three rows, with an array of benches before them. There were only three customers at the moment; one was a young lady sitting comfortably with her headphones on, another was an old man who probably dozed off from waiting for his clothes, and the last one was also a man, about in his late 20s, who stopped reading his magazine when he felt Bom’s stare on him.

Bom immediately cut their contact, shifting her eyes to the view outside the big glass window. In the midst of busy people passing on the sidewalk, her eyes caught a sight of a girl, seemingly struggling to get away from two people beside her. The two kept a stern face, persuading the girl to come with them. The girl kept pulling on a brave face, but one could tell from her eyes that she was screaming for help.

Bom walked towards the door, her instinct trying to tell her something. Seunghyun’s reminder echoed in her mind, not to talk to strangers. She didn’t think twice anymore and proceeded to the commotion.

As she came near, the two guys looked up at her blankly, suddenly unable to move. Both wearing polo shirt and pants as if they worked in an office—decent enough to be accused of trying to kidnap a girl.

“Let me go!” The girl yelped in a soft voice. It seemed her loud yelp was up to only that extent. She had raven-colored hair that touched her shoulder, small brown eyes, sharp nose, and a slightly round face shape. Judging by her maroon blazer, black skirt and long socks, the girl obviously goes to a prestigious school.

Bom’s stare bore through the eyes of the two men who didn’t seem to hear the girl’s plea. A gust of wind passed from behind the two; their scent filling her nose, making her eyes narrow and turn instantly to bloodshot red. Without a word, Bom grasped the two by their necks, immediately vanishing to a dark alley, leaving once again, a stunned girl.

“Who sent you here?!” Bom yelled as her grip around the necks of the two males tightened.

--

Seunghyun was about to begin cleaning the toilet when he realized he had his silver ring on. He took it off and gazed at it for a while; remembering the time when he first got it. He was in middle school that time, when he was out in the garden, together with her grandmother.

She was busy cutting her precious bonsai plant while he was watering the plants. Whenever his grandmother came to the garden, he was always behind her, helping out—whether transferring heavy pots to different locations, replanting the seedlings she brought from the flower shop, or simply watering the plants, he was always there to help. He himself was not a fan of gardening, but whenever he spends time with her grandmother in the garden, he finds plants amusing and soothing. Nature brings out his inner peace.

As he watered the plants, he heard a sudden thud from behind. The garden was about five and a half meters in width, and with the plants bearing fruits on that season, he supposed it was just a big fruit that fell.

“Seunghyun-ah!” A loud, yet weak voice rang into his ears, causing him to drop his watering can and rushing to her grandmother, who laid helplessly on the grass, a small pot broken beside her.

“Halmeoni! You should’ve called me to carry the pot for you!” Seunghyun shouted as he kneeled beside her, “Someone help us!!” He knew well that carrying heavy things for an eighty-year-old was inappropriate for her health.

He took his grandma's inhaler from her dress pocket,but she only placed it aside and smiled back, “It’s okay Seunghyun. I feel it is my time already.”

Seunghyun’s eyes brimmed with tears, to which he tried to stop from falling, “Aniyo halmeoni, you’re going to be fine... Let’s go inside.” He tried to lift her up, but with his slightly small figure, they fell back on the ground.

“Oh please Seunghyun-ah, don’t cry,” her grandmother uttered, letting out a small smile, “I don’t want to see a sad face before I leave.”

“Don’t talk like that Halmeoni! Somebody help us!!” He yelped again, hoping his voice would reach the house. “Hold on, please... I’ll call for someone—” He intended to leave her for a moment, but her hand grasped his wrist.

“Seunghyun-ah, take care of yourself okay? And watch over Minzy and your parents. Be a good boy as always.” She smiled calmly, then pulled out her silver ring, placing it on his palm, “I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend your birthday... And I’m sorry for this sudden gift... I should’ve bought a better one when I had the chance.”

Her grandmother smiled once more as her tight grip on Seunghyun’s wrist loosened. He couldn’t believe someone precious has departed infront of him.

“Silly Grandma,” Seunghyun chuckled as he read the words Carpe Diem engraved on the inner part of the ring, “This was the best gift I’ve ever had.”

“What gift?”

“YAH!” Seunghyun jolted upon hearing the voice coming from behind. “Bom-ah! How many times have I told you to knock before you enter! Aish— Wait, why do you look so...dirty?”

Bom looked down as she walked towards the sink, washing her soiled hands with soap, “N-nothing. I think I tripped.”

“W-well, that’s right for someone who’s not being careful,” Seunghyun snorted, closing his right fist into a ball. At least the ring’s...

Quickly opening his hand, the ring was nowhere in his grip. He began cupping his apron’s pocket, but there was no sign of it. He bent down to look for a tiny piece of silver on the bathroom tiles, under the sink, and even behind the toilet...

The toilet.

It couldn’t be.

“What’s wrong? Did you lose something?” Bom asked, suddenly wary of his expression.

“.”

Although Seunghyun had wished it wasn’t in the place where he think it fell, he gazed down at the toilet to find a sparkling item in the water. Lots of curses appeared into his mind in a nanosecond.

Bom curiously peeked into the fixture, “Is that yours?”

“My grandma’s, actually,” he replied in a deep sigh. If only she didn’t startle him, that wouldn’t have been there.

“Let me get it for you then,” Bom kneeled down, about to reach into the fixture without any protection. Seunghyun immediately reacted, pulling her hand away, “Aniya~! I’ll do it myself!”

He took in a deep breath before lunging his hand inside the fixture. Some life this is.

--

“Were you able to get your suit?” Seunghyun uttered as he poured a generous amount of alcohol on his hands. There was no way he wanted that to happen again.

“Y-Yeah.”

Scooping up rice from his bowl, Seunghyun munched the kimchi and rice in his mouth. There was seemingly something wrong with the aura. Though by nature they don’t really talk much, he sense something was bothering his roommate.

“Did you hurt yourself a while ago?” he asked, keeping cautious eyes on the person who ate across him.

“N-no. I’m fine.” She replied, her eyes still locked on her plate. She didn’t feel like talking today, especially from what has happened earlier.

Knowing that his question would receive no answer, he tried a new topic, “Bloodshot Rainfall Marquessa, huh? Where did you get that name—I mean, why was your name like that?”

“In our world, every creature is named depending on their characteristics,” Bom began to explain, “Three names are required as it fully defines us. One should be about an external feature, one should be their class, and—”

Rrrrrrrrrringgggg~ Rrrrrringgg~

Seunghyun immediately slurped the draping lettuce on his mouth and stood up, his mouth still full, “Es-chuss mwe..”

Bom sighed as she began munching on her food again, thinking.

Must she trust this human with her identity?

---

"Carpe Diem"

-Latin phrase for 'Seize the day.'

Hello again. :)

Sorry for not updating regularly. Got stuck in a rut with writer's block and family trips... :P

Thank you, you for reading my story~ <3

...And much much thank you once again to my loyal subbies!! :)