[December 2011]

‘You like it here, right? Yah, you’re such a clingy little pup, you know that?’ I couldn’t suppress my giggle after seeing his ignorant act towards me. Such an attention seeker. He just came, lied down on my laps and closed his eyes coolly while I was busy watching dramas at the living room. 

How cute.

‘Hey.’ A bit startled, I looked up just to see Woohyun, smiling warmly at me. Suddenly, I felt a little embarrassed. From the last night’s incident maybe. I straightened my posture as he sat down on the couch beside me. But my heart, strangely, it's beating faster.

‘You like it? The dog?’

‘Ah, yes. Thank you.’ I answered awkwardly, fixing my gaze at the TV. My hands were brushing Eric’s fur and it somehow soothed me a bit.

‘What’s his name?’

‘Eric-ie.’

‘Oh… Eric?’

‘Yeah. I like Shinhwa, so…’

Awkward as silence followed but the sound of the TV in front.

'You like dogs too?' I asked, trying to light up the ambience in the living room.

'Yeap. I like looking at them but I'm afraid if they'd bite if I touch them.' I chuckled at his answer.

'They don't bite if you're nice to them.' I turned to him and this time, I felt like I'm getting to know him better.

‘So, is he asleep yet?’ Suddenly, he spoke while avoiding any eye contact with me. I wondered why he's trying to distance himself from me at times I thought that we're getting closer..

‘I guess so…’

‘It must be comfy over there.’ He chuckled softly but that made the atmosphere more awkward.

Silence came again after his remarks and I couldn’t do anything but to stay frozen on the couch. It’s already late at night and I felt sleepy already but I was waiting for him to go to bed first. However, it seemed like it’s not going to happen anytime soon.

But all of a sudden, I could feel something heavy on my right shoulder that my heart started to race again.

‘I’m tired. Can we stay like this this for the night? I won’t ask for anything anymore from you this Christmas. Can I?’

***

I felt a little scared. The memories during the night of my wedding day just went into my mind when I entered this huge house that my heart began to hurt. The music, the liquor and even the smell. It's as if they're poking my throat that I had to cover up my nose while walking inside.

‘Remember Kibum? My friend? This’s his house.’ My eyes widen at his words. House? As if a house to sleep? He's turning his house into a dance club? Maybe rich people were never satisfied of what they had.

‘Wow, there’re so many people in here… And the house's so big’ I mumbled to myself and asked but I knew he didn’t hear me when suddenly, he let go of my hand and ran forward, leaving me behind. But he then, stopped when he was quite far from where I was and I felt somewhat happy when he suddenly turned around and showed his hand, urging me to take it and come with him.

The ambience was no difference from what I had experienced a few months back but now, it felt so different and I felt safe because I knew I had my husband with me.

‘Nice to see you! Help yourselves, Jihyun-ssi.’ It’s the guy who ca