The fourth time I met her was a real coincidence. I didn't stalk her this time; it was a surprise, a lovely one though. 

 I was looking to rent an apartment, I was currently living in a hotel and that is expensive. Even if I made good pay from EXO I wasn't filthy rich. In fact, if I continued living in a hotel I would soon become broke and that didn't appeal to me.

 I had decided to stay in Korea, a risky move I know, since so many fans are running amok in the streets of Seoul. I thought about going back to China to my family, but I couldn't go back. My father had such high hopes in me; if I went back it would show that the years I have spent in Korea were pointless. I came to Korea to make a living. I was going to do that, admitting defeat wasn't part of me. And just maybe, I wanted to stay because of a certain mysterious girl. "Argh. She has nothing to do with your decision." I tried to convince myself.

 Looking at the building directory I saw a real estate business, since I didn't know where to start, I thought it would be a good idea if I asked a professional. So I memorized the unit number and stepped into the elevator. Upon arriving at the room I walked in quietly not wanting to disturb the tranquil air about the office.

            I walked up to the front desk and asked, "I'm looking for an apartment. Is it okay if I speak with your real estate representative if I haven't booked an appointment?"

 The secretary looked up and smiled, "Don't worry about it; we're having a slow day. You look familiar," her eyebrows creased, "Are you perhaps one of those boys from EXO?"

 I didn't know how to answer; I was a member of EXO but not anymore. So in response I shook my head, "Not currently."

            The lady nodded and gestured towards the waiting area behind me, "You can wait there while Mr. Lee is finishing up with the other clients. You just have to wait for two people to finish. The first person is already meeting with Mr. Lee."

            When I turned around I was met with an interesting surprise.  The other person waiting to meet the broker was no other than Na Ling. Hm, perhaps fate was at play.

 I strolled over to where she was sitting, fiddling with the ends of her scarf and waiting patiently for her turn. She still looked the same, even her hair. It was surprising nowadays, girls or women, whichever, would always change their hair every single day. It was almost alien to see someone who didn't do the same. I took a seat next to her, and immediately she froze. Her fingers stilled and I couldn't even hear her breathe. 

 "Hi," I greeted unsurely seeing how tense she was.

 She looked up and did an extremely fast scan of my face and once again looked down, relaxing only the slightest fraction. It was clear her muscles were still bunched together, ready to flee if necessary

            "It's me. Luhan, you know, from the congee place and the law firm?" I tried again to introduce myself to her. It was just so nerve-racking to talk to her, I prided myself as a people person, but here I was failing. Badly.

            To my relief she nodded then quickly and quietly greeted me.

            An awkward silence ensued, which I had never experienced before, and I don’t think I want to have one anymore. Na Ling went back to fiddling with the loose strands of her scarf, and ignored me.

            Desperate to break the silence I asked, “So, what brings you here?” And then I wanted to smack myself, stupid Luhan, why else would she be here?

            She turned her head slightly towards me, “I’m looking to rent an apartment in this area, one on the 12^th floor with a balcony overlooking...” Her face and posture both softened as she was talking about her dream apartment.

            Suddenly she clapped her hands over and apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to speak so much. I know you’re probably annoyed. I’m sorry.”

            I raised my eyebrows, “There’s nothing wrong with talking, so don’t worry about it.”

            She wouldn’t look at me, but her voice sounded skeptical when she answered, “Are you sure? You aren’t annoyed?”

            I almost laughed at the absurd situation we were in, who apologizes for talking? But to appease Na Ling who seemed honestly sorry and a little bit scared? I nodded and smiled.

            Na Ling let out a breath of relief but sat extremely tense in her seat next to me, I tried to break the tension by talking, “I like what you said about your apartment, I want to have an apartment on the 12^th floor, it’s nice to so high up and feel as if nothing below you can honestly bother you.”

            “Yeah,” Na Ling had a small smile upon her face, which made her look like an angel. I suddenly felt my heart go ba-thump in my chest.

                “Hey,” I suggested, “Why don’t we meet the agent at the same time, since we’re looking for the same type of apartment? It would save him a lot of time and some of mine too. If you don’t mind though, if you don’t want to it’s okay.”

            She took a long time to think about what I had asked and after an agonizing wait (on my part) she nodded shyly.

            I’m not going to lie, I internally fist pumped and jumped up and down, and maybe I was finally gaining her trust. It was difficult but no pain, no gain right?

            I heard a door opening and a man step out of the conference room. The broker shook hands with the man and left. Mr. Lee looked over to us and smiled, beckoning us over with his hands and shooting us a warm smile.

            I waited for Na Ling to get up first, and then followed her into the official looking room with a large oblong table in the centre. I pulled out a swivel chair for Na Ling and she bowed hurriedly and sat down, happy with my gentlemanly act I too sat down.

            The representative smiled, “My name is Mr. Lee and it is great to meet you.”

            Na Ling and I responded with quick answers and quieted down immediately after that.

            “I assume you are a couple, a very beautiful one may I add?” Mr. Lee smiled comfortably.

            “N-o-o, it-s n-ot li-ke th-at,” Na Ling stuttered nervously, her face pale and horrified.

            And for the first time in my life I felt squashed, I never really had any trouble in the romance department (I mean, c’mon I’m like, amazing. Sorry, of-track) and have never been rejected by a girl this harshly, it wasn’t direct, but the message was loud and clear. I don’t like you.

            Mr. Lee rushed to cover-up his mistake and apologized profusely for his error, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t assume anything of that sort.”

            “It’s okay,” I smiled weakly, “We’re just friends.”

            After an hour of discussing the options for renting apartments, Na Ling and I both found what we were looking for, an apartment on the 12^th floor, with a balcony overlooking the busy streets of Seoul. 

“Umph,” I grunted as I climbed the last flight of stairs while carrying a box filled with clothes. I didn’t want to take the elevator because being trapped in a small box that is pulling you higher and can at any moment crash just makes me jittery. The fear had gotten worse since the time I was stuck inside SM’s elevator last month.

            As I hauled the last box into my apartment I looked around at the empty looking space that was supposed to be my living room. I literally had no furniture, just the simple basics, like a fridge, couch, bed, and a small desk in the ‘study’ with my laptop on it. I was happy with the fact that I didn’t have to buy my own closet, there was a built in one on the side of my bedroom.

            As I sorted out my clothes, and I realize now how much clothing I owned. The closet definitely couldn’t hold the amount of clothes that I was trying to fit into it. I sighed, looking at the 30 pairs of shoes that ridiculously unnecessary for day-to-day life.

            I might as well try to sell most of them, maybe I’ll make enough to buy a T.V, I thought brightly.

            Just then I heard a heavy thump of a box dropping onto the ground and a groan of pain from the apartment next door to me.

            I sped out of my apartment and saw Na Ling rubbing her shoulder while glaring at the box that she dropped.

            “Do you need any help?” I asked, interrupting Na Ling’s staring contest with the cardboard box.

            Her body jolted, surprised but relaxed mostly when she realized it was me. I wondered why she was always so jittery, as if she was prey being cornered.

            She shook her head being courteous, “It’s quite alright, don’t worry about me, I can handle it myself,” and as if to prove her point bent down and grabbed the box and started to lift it up. Another look of pain and she dropped it, a bang once again ringing through the empty hall.

            She smiled sheepishly, “Maybe you should help me, thank you, Luhan.”

            I grinned, “No problem, just open the door for me okay?”

            Na Ling nodded and hurried to open the door to her home, as I walked in I saw an apartment that was just as empty as my own, and was taken aback. Na Ling shouldn’t not have a T.V, she seemed like she had been living in Korea for a long period of time. Her accent was barely there and her mannerisms were on point.

            “Just drop it over at the couch,” her voice interrupted my train of thoughts.

            “Why don’t you have a T.V? You’ve been living in Korea for a while right? At least a year of two, I’m guessing, so how come you never bought a T.V?”

            Her guard was back on full force. I could see it in the way her face became closed off and blank and her eyes, cold and impenetrable.

            “I’ve only lived in Korea for a month, so I don’t have enough money for a T.V yet.”

            I wanted to remove the cold air between us, it was suffocating and I felt bad knowing it was me who caused it, “Wow, really? Your Korean and mannerisms are so good! When I first came to Korea my Korean was so bad, it wasn’t even funny.”

            The ice was broken, she smiled at my compliment, clearly I the compliment that I paid hit home. It was something that Na Ling admitted pride on.

            “Thank you, Luhan. I was always interested in different languages and had sort of an affinity towards them so I enjoyed learning the language before I even came to Korea.”

            All of a sudden my stomach let out a loud grumble, and I blushed, embarrassed, “Oh, excuse me. I’m sorry, it’s just that I haven’t had anything since this morning,” I rubbed the back of my neck trying not to let my mortification eat me whole.

            To my shock I heard a giggle, the sound as pure and happy as a child. I looked to see Na Ling laughing softly, her hand covering , eyes turning into perfect crescents, and shoulders shaking softly.

            It’s safe to say brain short-circuited, shocked at the sight before me. It was beautiful, she was beautiful.

              In twenty minutes flat, Na Ling had whipped up more than enough for two people. This was definitely enough for at least three or even four.

              We ate our dinner in comfortable silence, and upon discussing trivial matters like the weather and apartment prices, I slowly saw a different side of Na Ling.

...And it was breathtaking.

~~~

A/N: FINALLY I MANAGED TO TYPE A 2000 WORD CHAPTER. 

I apologize in advance for erratic updates, although there shouldn't be any writer's blocks I sometimes just have no time to type out my ideas. y, I know. But  that's just school. I hope youlike the chapter!