Chapter 17
Maybe Enrique shouldn't have manipulated her into staying, but he hadn't said anything that was untrue. It would have been unwise for her to walk back to her apartment alone, and he had made a whole pot of her favorite green tea just for her. He really just had her best interests at heart.
You're a liar, Enrique Geum, that annoying voice inside his head said, you just want her here for you.
It was true they got along better late at night. In the beginning, all of their best memories together had taken place in the late hours.
He found himself thinking about the ocean again. What time had it been when he stumbled into the inn drunk and kissed her by mistake? It had sobered him up enough to drive, he remembered. Again, he decided that they needed to go back there. Maybe in the morning he'd try to coerce her into a road trip.
He pulled out his nicest cups and served the steaming tea. Enrique enjoyed tea that went better with sugar and milk, but Dok Mi enjoyed hers simple, so he made the green tea her knew was her favorite.
"Thank you," she said as he handed her the cup.
She looked so unconfutable that Enrique felt guilty. He should offer to walk her home… but he wanted her to stay. So badly he wanted just one night that felt like the old days.
They drank their beverages in awkward silence. A few times, Enrique tried to make conversation, but Dok Mi just kept answering with one or two words. Eventually he stopped trying. He remembered how most of their conversations up until their first real kiss had just been him monologing He didn't realize until much later how obnoxious he must have sounded. Not that he cared as long as he got to spend time with her, but still.
"Are you tired, Go Dok Mi?" Enrique asked.
Dok Mi took another sip of tea before answering him, "A bit," she admitted, "but I'm used to staying up all night for work"
"You're not planning on staying up all night are you?"
"I'm not going to sleep here" she said stubbornly.
Enrique smiled, this was so like her, "You will" he said, "You said that many times to me and you never accomplish it."
"I will" she insisted.
"No" he said, "You always accomplish your goals, but not this one. You value sleep more than you value honor"
"Maybe" she said, "But I refuse to sleep in the same room as you"
"It's never bothered you before" he pouted. He could tell that hit a nerve. He probably shouldn't have said that, "Not that we ever did anything bad. We just used to sleep on each other's floors a lot. It's kind of a hazard of talking late into the night."
"Well…" she said, "not anymore"
"Go to sleep when you're tired, Ahjumma" he said, "I'll just cover you with a blanket and go to my own room. I promise"
She stayed silent, "You don't trust me" Enrique said, "After everything we've been through since the accident, and you can't believe I would let you sleep in peace? I am truly insulted, Dok Mi"
"Do you blame me" she said, "You've been acting like a crazy person"
"I'm not going to kill you or anything!" he said, "I just want to spend time with you"
She got up suddenly, "I knew this was a mistake"
Enrique could see her eyeing the door; he had to make her stay. Somehow, "Okay, okay" he said as he stood up next to her, "I'm sorry, Dok Mi. I shouldn't have said that. You don't have to sleep if you don't want to. But that rule doesn't apply to me, so as soon as we're done with our tea, I'll take a shower and go back to my own room. We won't speak for the rest of the night. Deal?"
"Deal" she said. Was it Enrique's imagination, or did she sound a little sad?
Enrique tried his best to make the tea last, but eventually he finished. Dok Mi, who had finished long ago, looked extremely tired.
"I'm going to bed now, Dok Mi" Enrique said. She looked relieved, which made him feel even worse for keeping her here.
She got up from the table and walked towards to couch. She had spent so many nights on it, but she looked like a stranger here now.
"Hey Dok Mi," he said, "If you want… you can take the bed"
"No, Enrique" she said quickly, "I could never"
"Come on" he said, "you'll be more comfortable" Dok Mi looked at the couch, he almost had her, "It wouldn't be good for your head or neck on the couch. Or on that floor of yours you normally sleep on. You should really invest in a bed. But just for tonight, let me take care of you"
"Well…" she said, "Just for tonight?"
"Just for tonight" he repeated.
"Fine" she said, "But I'm leaving at dawn
Enrique smiled, "Ahjumma looks cold" he said. He was pushing his luck, "Do you want to take a hot shower?"
"I…" she said slowly, "Have no clothes to change into"
"I have some stuff you could sleep in" he said.
She looked like she wanted to accept, "that wouldn't be appropriate"
"Come on, Dok Mi" he said, "You look tired and sore. Just take a quick shower, then to bed."
"Alright," she said. She didn't even sound a little reluctant, "but you stay in the kitchen until I'm done"
"I'll leave clothes out on my bed" he said, "Tell me when you're done so I can have a turn"
"Okay" she said, "I'll be back out here in ten minutes" she said.
Enrique watched her go. They had showered at each other's place before, and it had felt very… intimate for the both of them. It made the mood more domestic, like they were married or something. Enrique thought now it just seemed awkward. But his shower was truly magical. It could wipe away a week's worth of stress in a minute. He knew Dok Mi would be happy she took one. So while Dok Mi showered, Enrique made another pot of tea, this time one he could add loads of milk to, and sat on the couch with one of her books.