A/N: It's been almost a year...but if anyone's out there still reading this, I'd like them to be able to read a complete story. Also, thank you to xKunoichixAngelx, Whovain101, and the two Guests for reviewing. (Please forgive any discontinuity or characterization errors 'cause even though I've refreshed myself on the story, I have a terrible memory.)
Heejung hasn't been to The Bunny Café in a month. She hasn't thought about Jiwoo...in less than a minute. Even though Heejung hasn't seen Jiwoo in person since he walked her home that one night, it feels like he's always with her. Jiwoo's presence has permeated her life so completely that Heejung often finds herself drifting off and wondering what Jiwoo's doing.
Every time that happens, Heejung shakes her head wildly, as if that'll get rid of her unwanted thoughts. Then, she takes deep breaths, calming herself. Think about the guy with the notebook, she tells herself. It's not fair to him. Heejung always has to stop herself from wondering if it's fair to herself, to keep waiting for a guy who might never show up. That line of thinking only leads to a thousand dismal thoughts swirling in her head, making her heart ache and eyes water.
Tonight is one of Heejung's lonelier nights. Earlier in the day, Heejung's friends had gone off to visit The Bunny Café, leaving her in the art studio, accompanied only by her loud thoughts. That moment stayed with Heejung all the way until now, when she's curled up in bed, willing herself to go to sleep. It doesn't matter, Heejung chants to herself. Jiwoo doesn't matter.
Eventually, Heejung's lulled to sleep, still in the midst of muttering, "He doesn't matter", when a sharp knock on her door startles her. Face immediately scrunching up, Heejung stumbles out of bed. The knock comes again, louder and more insistent. Heejung sleepily calls, "I'm coming!" as she staggers over to the door. When she flings open the door and blinks up at her uninvited guest, she slams the door in his face.
Or she would've, had her guest not stuck his foot in between the doorframe and the door so that the door bounced off his foot and remained open. Heejung notes with a little wonder on how he didn't flinch at all until her eyes met his.
As if shocked, he hunches his shoulders and withdraws his foot, although he brings a hand up to prevent Heejung from trying to close the door again.
"What do you want, Jiwoo?" Heejung asks as aggressively as she can.
"An explanation," he says, voice soft and eyes drifting.
"For what?" Heejung asks again, determined to keep up her unwelcoming demeanor.
"Why you're ignoring me," Jiwoo responds, not meeting Heejung's eyes. He blushes lightly and continues: "I thought we were getting along well."
Heejung can't meet Jiwoo's eyes either as she says, "Who says I've been avoiding you? You're being too full of yourself."
Jiwoo lifts his eyes to meet Heejung's, and she can see the earnestness shining in his beautiful green eyes. It's hard to continue being cold toward Jiwoo when it looks like he's pouring his heart out to her, especially when he asks, "Is that what you don't like about me?"
His voice is so soft and sad that Heejung tells him honestly, "No, it's not you. I've just been thinking."
"About what? What's so important that you haven't wanted to see me in a month?"
A breeze drifts through, making Heejung shiver and reminding her that they're talking outside of her apartment. She debates with herself for a moment, vaguely noticing how her silence is making Jiwoo fidgety, and decides to invite him in since it looks like they're in for a long conversation. Heejung lets go of the door and steps out of Jiwoo's way, gesturing for him to come inside.
Jiwoo's expression relaxes, and the corners of his mouth are tilted upwards. Heejung catches herself before she starts thinking something along the lines of I wish I could make him always smile like that and turns to close and lock the door. When she turns around, Jiwoo's already taken off his shoes and he's standing there a bit awkwardly, looking around like an excited child.
Heejung steers him toward the couch, and he quickly makes himself comfortable, sighing happily. A slight niggling feeling bothers Heejung as she looks at Jiwoo relaxing on her couch. Something about the scene is oddly familiar, and the way in which Jiwoo seems to fit perfectly in her home is a bit...not unsettling exactly, but not completely comforting either.
Jiwoo looks up at Heejung, propping his feet up on the coffee table and reaching his hand out as if he's trying to grab the remote.
"Feet off," Heejung scolds, briskly walking over to slap Jiwoo's legs off her table. "Hasn't anyone taught you any manners?"
Jiwoo's smile turns a little wistful as he says, "Yes, actually, but they're not here to make me be polite." His grin borders on impertinent when he adds: "You'll have to reteach me manners."
Heejung scoffs as she seats herself on the couch, and her slight annoyance increases even more when Jiwoo continues speaking: "But I guess you're not the greatest teacher, seeing as you don't have any manners."
"What was that?" she growls, crossing her arms to be more menacing.
"You haven't even offered me any snacks or drinks yet," Jiwoo says, mocking laughter clear in his voice.
"It's late though," Heejung insists.
"Oh, so your manners disappear when it's late. Then, why are you griping about my manners this late?" Jiwoo asks teasingly.
Heejung's face colors slightly as she stomps toward her kitchen and starts pulling out ingredients to make food with. As she fiddles with pots and pans, Heejung thinks back to Jiwoo's question that she still hasn't answered. She wonders how Jiwoo will react to her story about the guy who left the notebook, what he thinks she should do. Selfishly, Heejung hopes Jiwoo has an answer to her dilemma so she won't have to come up with one herself.