You Soothe My Soul

He turned to the table with the flower pot in his hands and caught her looking at him.

Again.

Understanding exactly what was in her eyes.

"Don’t even think of it So-Mi," he warned her, scowling as he went about his chores.

Glad that they have closed shop for the day.

That no one could walk in on them at that moment.

He could have kicked himself for the incident in the kitchen the other day.

And the moment on the sofa.

Where he was swept away by the warm night, and her lucid eyes and lush lips.

Since then, she has been looking at him with that those same eyes.

Sometimes with longing and at times with unadulterated lust.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"Why can't I think of you that way?"

"Because we are not suited for each other."

"Why not? We have been almost-living with each other for nearly a year. If we are not suited for one another, we would have killed each other by now."

"You know that’s not how it is between us. Stop wishing for the impossible."

"Again, why not? I have achieved the impossible. Aren't you the one who asked me to reach for the highest mountains and swim the deepest seas?"

"I never said that," Tae-sik protested, frowning menacingly.

"Ok, well, you didn't," she shrugged carelessly. "But I have lived with you for the good part of the year now. We've gotten along just fine. Why can't we make official?"

Tae-sik tried to desperately control himself, bracing his hands on the work table.

"I am 22 years older than you, So-Mi," he tried to reason with her.

"That’s it?" So-Mi retorted beligrantly. "That's your great big old excuse?"

"Yes."

"Well," So-Mi argued still. "I don’t feel 20 and you don’t look 40."

"42, and I’ll be 43 this year."

"And I’ll be 21. So?"

"I've killed people."

"And I've stolen things."

"I've been in prison."

"Do you want me to serve time too? For us to be equal?"

"So-Mi, stick to Lee," he tried again exasperatingly. "He’ll be better for you."

"I don’t want Detective Lee. I want you. What’s so wrong with you," each sentence punctuated. "You said so yourself, that you are just as good looking and better at combats. Rich too. What more could a girl ask for?"

"Don’t. Please," Tae-sik pleaded, pinching the bridge on his nose between his eyes. "And didn’t you tell me how he made your heart beat."

"That was for you," she nearly shouted as she confessed. But again, like her mentor, she took control of herself and continued quietly. "And even if, at some point, he did make my heart beat somewhat... you make my heart beat faster."

So-Mi was finally acknowledging her feelings.

And she looked at him seriously, beseeching for him to acknowledge his too.

"And better yet," unshed angry and desprate tears pooling at the corners of eyes yet again. "You soothe my soul."

He just stared at her. Absorbing her words.

"I’m going out," he said at last, not knowing how to deal with the situation. "And you'd better be in your room, by the time I come back."