Eun Soo checked his wound as usual, unwrapping the bandages, each layer getting her closer to the cut. He sat quietly, letting her do the job. "Looking good. I think you can take a shower now."
"Mm? A shower? Is it that thing in the bathroom where I can wash myself?"
"That thing," she smiled. He still did not know so many things about this world.
"Will you help me 'to take a shower'?" he asked naively repeating her words, not realizing the implication at first.
She blushed and nodded, "I can scrub your back."
"Eun Soo-ya," he held her shoulders, "What do lovers do in your world?"
"What do you mean?" her fingers were tracing the healing scar, her eyes wandering, lost in thought.
"I know about affection and that kissing, hugging and holding hands shows that you are a couple. But what do you do together? If I wanted to spend time with you, what kind of things couples do?"
"Well, we can go see a movie. We can go out for a walk. We can go to eat. We can ride bicycles or play a game. We can go shopping, travel, cook, watch TV. We can do all kinds of things. There are no rules. It is called dating, to help people get to know each other."
"Dating," he repeated, learning yet another word. "Can we do dating?"
"Sure."
"I don't like shopping, let's not do that."
"OK," she chuckled. "Today was hectic was not it? Shopping is not only to buy you clothes. We can shop for me or buy things for the house or buy food. Shopping for food is fun."
"If you say so."
He was still shirtless, his scar staring at her as reminder of the kind of danger he went through as he came to her world, she placed her palm to cover it. "Take a shower, let's go to bed. I have to get up early. I will show you how it works."
It was another lesson in modern living. Choi Young paid attention, quickly learning as usual. Watching the shower head open up like a magical flower filled with morning due, as translucent drops attacked the marble floor, drumming faster and faster, he remembered the joy of being immersed in the water completely. He used to love water and swimming. There was nothing better than diving head down into the cool stream to soothe the aching tired muscles and clean the sweat and dust off his skin. Shower reminded him of a summer rain which was kind and sprinkly, spraying lightly with freshness. It was amazing how with a turn of a knob, it could turn into a powerful stream, like the running water pouring from atop of the mountain-born spring.
For a moment he imagined Eun Soo standing under this rain that washed over her body; her hair, wet and sticking to her face as she would move it away, and tilt her head backwards, it would cling to her shoulders and arched back; breasts covered with sparkles and little streams running down her stomach and her hips. Too lovely for him to even imagine, would she ever allow him to look at her like that under the light, to see her shape highlighted by the falling water droplets?
"It's ready," she put her hand under the stream, checking the temperature. "Turn it this way, if you want it hotter, and that way if you want it cooler."
"Don't leave," he held her arm, surprised at his own bravery. "You promised to scrub my back."
"Stranger, you are not suggesting we take a shower together are you?"
"Can we?" that was more than he would ever dream of.
"I… never have. But then again I have never done a lot of things till I met you…"
Having the water touch his skin while her fingers traveled along his shoulders and her softness pressed against his back, Choi Young enjoyed what Eun Soo called a shower. The space was small and he had to lean on the wall to be able to see in reality what he had imagined earlier, the water darkening her hair, turning red to deep burgundy and her arms lifting to move away strands, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open the water dropping on the swell of her lips. He pulled her closer, feeling her tremble and the water rushing through both of them, turning into the glue that held them together.
It was different from what they have experienced before; the electrical current of KI turned into a slow lazy river running through them, carrying lighter, less intense charges at each touch, echoing ever so gently in the pulse of the veins, soothing liquid balm settling into a condensed little sun, melting in the center of the heart, radiating pure happiness. Eun Soo cuddled her forehead against the fresh scar on Choi Young's chest, closing her eyes, she felt like they were under a real waterfall, at a place completely free and full of natural beauty, not in a cramped shower stall.
He washed her hair, amazed at its softness and the aroma from the shampoo he recognized as a part of her scent. The creamy bubbles of soap made its slippery way down her body as she washed herself off, while he stood watching. Can they always be together? Will they?
"Choi Young", she whispered, loving to hear his name in her mouth. It was like two bell chimes "Choi" and "Young", sounds that always made her smile. "Your back?"
"Sure." A soft sponge massaged his shoulders and her hands were surprisingly strong as he let her wash him. Wasn't it something even more intimate than he thought it'd be? The care she put in this sweet labor and how gently her small palms placed circles on his back to make sure the water worked its way between her fingers... The surprise touch of her lips - the only gesture he recognized from before and welcomed... Who knew taking a shower was something out of fantasy?
"Should we go to sleep?"
"We should."
Warm, clean, happy, relaxed, they wrapped each other in large towels and followed into bed to get much deserved rest and maybe more of the tenderness they always had in unlimited reserve.