The buzzing of her phone woke Somin up. By the time she reached it,the call ended. She checked to find there were 20 missed calls—all from her granny. Somin checked the clock it was 3:00 am

“I have to go” Somin thought and turned to Hyunjoong. He was sleeping peacefully,his hand still held Somin’s, though the grip has loosened which enabled Somin to slowly slide her hand away.

She came out to find Youngsaeng sleeping on the couch.

“Should I wake him up? He looks so tired” Somin looked apologetically towards Youngsaeng who was in a deep slumber. Suddenly she heard a whimper—it was coming from Hyunjoong’s room. She rushed back to find Hyunjoong tossing in his bed,his whimper has turned to low screams by now. Somin rushed and patted his cheeks

“Hyunjoong…Hyunjoong...” Somin cried

Hyunjoong opened his eyes in surprise.He was breathing hard and sweating profusely, his front hair stuck to his wet forehead.  His eyes turned to Somin “You…you were gone…” he said in between his breaths

“It’s okay…I’m here” Somin held his hand and rubbed his arm with her free hand to calm him. Slowly his breathing normalized

“How come you’re still here? You should be home” Hyunjoong whispered,looking intently at Somin

“I couldn’t just leave you….you almost had a near-death..” Somin trailed off as the horrible memory flashed across in her mind. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath “you were unstable and I couldn’t just—“

Hyunjoong got up abruptly from the bed and started looking around for something

“Yah! You should be resting! What are you looking for?” Somin cried

“I’m looking for my jacket…. I am dropping you home.NOW” Hyunjoong said sternly

“Hyunjoong…its fine” Somin sighed and held up her hands

“Do you have any idea of the situation here?” Hyunjoong yelled, glaring at her “It’s 3o’clock in the night and you are out of your home in a man’s apartment ALONE! People will talk!”

“There’s nothing to worry—“ Somin tried to reason

“Really? If that is so, check your cell and if Granny hadn’t called you atleast 10 times till now, I will believe you” Hyunjoong challenged folding his arms.

Somin bit her lip and looked down at the ground nervously.Granny DID call, that too 20 times—that’s double of Hyunjoong’s permissible limit.

“So?” Hyunjoong leaned forward raising one eyebrow

“Well she did call” Somin rolled her eyes nervously “but trust me there’s—“

“ENOUGH!” Hyunjoong yelled “Get your things I am dropping you”

“What’s all the noise?” Youngsaeng entered, yawning and rubbing one eye

“How could you let her stay! She is a girl! She shouldn’t be out of home at this hour!” Hyunjoong glared at Youngsaeng

“I-I was…ummm” Youngsaeng mumbled and looked to and fro from Somin to Hyunjoong nervously

“I was what?” Hyunjoong yelled “Seriously you guys!” he sighed and pressed his temples. All the trauma from the fire and the present excitement was giving him a severe headache. But he controlled it somehow—he had to! He needed to drop Somin first, the excruciating headache can be attended later.

Hyunjoong was silent as he drove, Somin shifted in her seat nervously afraid to say anything lest she get scolded again. But Hyunjoong was silent for another reason, his headache has almost reached the unbearable limit. He was constantly raising his eyebrows, or pressing his temples to ease the pain. After a while Somin noticed it too.

“You okay?” Somin asked timidly

Hyunjoong nodded lightly

“OMO!” Somin’s eyes suddenly grew big in shock and flipped her hand to look at her watch “Aigoo it’s 3:15!”

“Now do you see why I was worried? You shouldn’t be out at—“

“Ani ani its not that! Jihoo!”

“Jihoo?” Hyunjoong creased his eyebrows

“Jihoo’s flight is scheduled at 5am. I didn’t bid him farewell properly! Hyunjoong please could you take me to the airport?”

“NO!” Hyunjoong snapped

“But Jihoo’s leaving!”

“I don’t care! You have your cellphone call him up and say your goodbye”

“Hyunjoong…” Somin tried to persisted but Hyunjoong glared at her,his jaws clenched.

Finally they arrived before Somin’s place. Irrespective of what she said earlier Somin now felt very nervous of Granny’s reaction as she approached the door.Before she could knock or ring the bell the door swung open revealing a horrified Granny

“Somin-ah! Where have you been? I was so worried!” Granny exclaimed. Somin was to overwhelmed to reply

“I am sorry Granny, it’s my fault” Hyunjoong stepped forward “actually the banquet hall caught fire. I was somehow locked inside during it. Somin ran in to get me out…”

“Into the fire?” Granny looked at Somin in horror. Somin just blinked as she didn’t know what to say

“Yes. Was alittle too brave for her” Hyunjoong narrowed his eyes and looked at Somin too.”She then dropped me home and decided to stay till I recovered which took her this long. I am really sorry”

“It’s okay dear…now that I know both of you are safe” Granny hugged Somin and then Hyunjoong.

“I’ll take your leave then,Granny” Hyunjoong bowed

“Take care son” Granny beamed at him and Hyunjoong turned to leave

“Oh! Granny…” Somin suddenly said. “Jihoo is leaving today and in all the commotion I didn’t get to say bye to him properly. Could I just…?”

“Somin its 3:30 already! There’s no use of going now. He’d probably be inside by the time you reach” Granny stated worriedly

“C’mon granny atleast let me try!”

“I cant let you go off alone at this hour! NO!”

“Well Hyunjoong can drop me..” Somin said and turned to Hyunjoong who was listening to their entire conversation and was cursing Somin internally for being this stubborn

 Granny turned to him too. “No dear he’s tired.”

“C’mon Granny…there’s no telling when I’ll see him again. Please let me go” Somin pleaded

Granny looked questioningly at Hyunjoong.

“It’s okay granny…I can take her if you allowed” Hyunjoong sighed ‘Please don’t allow.Please don’t allow’ Hyunjoong chanted in his heart

“Okay” Granny finally nodded and Hyunjoong’s hopes crashed as Somin hugged her tightly and hopped into Hyunjoong’s car.