Over the weekend, Gyeo-ul has offered to help Jeong-won find a new apartment after he was evicted by his long time roommate, Jun-wan. She has inquired him as to why he was expelled from his previous home, but he won't tell her anything about the details – he has said that the specifics didn't matter and Jun-wan simply got sick of him.
But she knows that there's an underlying reason. She is slightly used to how his first line of defense is to hide his feelings. Despite being an open book, there are things that he can't simply say. Instead of trying to force the real reason why, she accepts his little idiosyncrasies, hoping that someday, he would learn to freely talk to her. She notices that he really is trying and that is enough.
The first apartment that they see is just a few minutes' worth of walk away from the hospital. The windows are wide and open, displaying a decent amount of the city's intersecting streets and high-rise buildings. The kitchen is equipped with white cabinets and pale gray marble counter top. It's a two-bedroom apartment with spacious living and dining room. It's an adequate enough space.
Jeong-won scratches his head indecisively and smiles apologetically to the realtor. "Well, it's a nice place, but I think it's too big. And I don't think that I need the extra bedroom."
The realtor nods, taking in the information. "This is a nice starter for couples such as yourselves. You really can't know when you'd need the additional space." The woman gives Gyeo-ul a knowing look, but her expression remains blank as if she didn't understand what she just said. "I mean, for children."
Gyeo-ul's mouth opens and she waves her hand in disagreement. The color of her face turns from white to tomato red. "We're not… we're not moving together!"
The realtor smiles at her apologetically. "Oh, sorry. I just assumed." She flips through the papers in her hand. "I have another listing which may fit your description. Shall we?"
As they leave the apartment, Jeong-won jumps to Gyeo-ul's side, holding her hand enthusiastically. She tries to shake away the sudden adrenaline rush from the contact by focusing on their steps. "The reason why I didn't want to tell you," Jeong-won starts as they make their way to the car. "Jun-wan kicked me out, because he thought that it would be better if we moved in together." He hangs his head guiltily. "I'm so sorry for telling you. I just – "
Gyeo-ul stops with a frown on her face. Her mouth pouts angrily. She adjusts her glasses. "You should've told me earlier. I was racking my brain all week long as to why you were suddenly homeless." Jeong-won smiles at her and wraps his arm around her shoulders as he tugs her towards the car. They follow the realtor's car as it crosses the road towards another condominium complex. "Did you want to ask me if I want to move in with you?"
Jeong-won bites his lip in an attempt to stop the answers from coming out, but eventually, he utters the words. "Yes."
Gyeo-ul's heart beats irregularly once again. Ever since she was eighteen years old, she had always been alone in the city as she studied her way into becoming a doctor. With the sole exception of her brother suddenly occupying her guest bedroom, all she knew was how to live alone. She liked how nobody cared if she slept in all day long; in her house, she could freely eat until her stomach is about to burst. But she knows that she can do these things with Jeong-won. Although she still becomes shy when he's around, whenever she's with him, she feels an incredible sense of contentment.
The next apartment is a little smaller; the window overlooks a small park with swings and slides for children. The kitchen is small, but the installed cupboards resemble the type of wood in Jeong-won's mother's house. The living room opens to a small balcony with enough space for potted plants and flowers. There's a small room designated for a den or an office beside the bedroom.
Jeong-won admires the view outside and laughs as a kid tumbles out of the slide. He points over the empty space by the window. "Imagine a couch there."
And Gyeo-ul did see it. She imagines herself sitting there with him as they watch the children play at the park. She can almost smell two cups of ramyeon being cooked in the kitchen. She can picture the lazy mornings as they both struggled out of bed. She can already feel the butterflies in her stomach as he arrives late one night from the hospital.
She was used to being independent – she had learned the benefits of being alone – but right now, oddly enough, she didn't want to go home to her apartment.
What she wants is to go home to this apartment and to sleep right beside him. She wants to grow flowers on the balcony and water them over the weekends. She wants to laugh with him in the living room and invite their friends over.
"I like this one," Jeong-won states, a wide smile on his face. He looks down at her to seek her approval but her face is impassive. "Gyeo-ul, don't you like it?"
She meets his eyes with a soft smile. "I love it. Can I move in with you?"