The Player Meets His Match

Chapter 8: First Kiss

AS I made my way inside Jaebum’s apartment, I could help but look around. It’s very spacious and seems too big for him to live here alone.

Emmy: “Uhm, do you live here alone?”

Jaebum: “Yeah. My younger brother used to live here with me, but he’s gone to study abroad with our parents, so I’m all alone here.”

Emmy: “Oh, okay.”

Jaebum: “The bathroom is through there. You can use the one inside my room. I’ll bring you some clothes you can change into while we wash the clothes you have on now.”

Emmy: “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can hand wash the clothes myself.”

Jaebum: “I’m using the machine.”

Emmy: “Oh, of course.”

I excused myself and made my way into Jaebum’s bedroom. As soon as I got inside, I let out a huge breath. I am so nervous that I can hear my heart beating fast.

I went inside the bathroom and took off my clothes before stepping into the shower. I shrieked as the cold water hit my skin. I heard Jaebum asking through the door if I was okay and I said yes.

I finally figured out how to work the water temperature and let the water cascade all over my body. I took longer than my usual shower time partly because I loved the feel of water on my skin and also because I probably dozed off a little while standing up a few times. Thankfully, I didn’t drown. I finished washing up and picked up the towel and put it around me.

As I stepped out of the shower and looked at myself in the mirror. I noticed the folded clothes on top of the sink. Jaebum must have left them there while I was in the shower. I didn’t see my clothes that I took off on the bathroom floor anymore as well.  I realized that Jaebum came in when I was naked inside the shower which made me a little nervous. I looked at the shower enclosure and it’s a little transparent, so I wasn’t sure how much of my nakedness he saw. 

The shower has sobered me up a little, and I put on the shirt and the boxer shorts that Jaebum left for me to wear after drying myself off. I got out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around my head.

I didn’t find Jaebum in the bedroom so I figured he must be outside. I called him as I walked out, “Jaebum? Where are you?”

Jaebum: “Kitchen.”

I made my way to the kitchen and saw him pouring coffee on two mugs. The smell immediately woke my senses.

Emmy: “Coffee. Oh, thank you.”

Jaebum: “Come and get it.”

I took a seat on the kitchen island across Jaebum and took the coffee that he pushed towards me. I like my coffee with tons of cream but not a lot of sugar. At this moment though, the black coffee works perfectly. I took a sip and it was perfect.

Emmy: “This coffee is so good.”

Jaebum: “It’s pressed.”

Emmy: “Wow. You can make a living as a barista.”

Jaebum: “I used to work as a barista.”

Emmy: “This explains why you make good coffee. When was this?”

Jaebum: “When I was studying in Korea.”

Emmy: “Why did you move to the Philippines?”

Jaebum: “My mom passed away. I was still a minor so I had to live with my dad and his new family in the Philippines.”

Emmy: “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Jaebum: “It’s fine. It’s a long time ago.”

Emmy: “Was it hard for you when you moved here?”

Jaebum: “Well, the hardest part was that I only knew how to speak Korean. For the first few months, I couldn’t speak to anyone. I had to learn either English or the vernacular right away.”

Emmy: “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Jaebum: “I had an English tutor whom both my stepbrother and I had a huge crush on. We started fighting over her. When we found out that she already has a boyfriend, we stopped fighting and started bonding.”

Emmy: “Where is he now?”

Jaebum: “He went abroad to study. Well, that’s what he’s supposed to do. I used to live with him here, but he was sent overseas by our father because apparently, he’s not living up to his potential.”

Emmy: “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

Jaebum: “About two years.”

Emmy: “Uhm, are you going to where he is? Is that why you’re resigning?”

Jaebum: “Uhm, yeah.”

I took a sip of my coffee as I felt sad with the thought of Jaebum leaving. I’ve only just met him, and it would be great to get to know him more. There’s nothing I could do about it, though. I decided it would be best to stay away from him until he leaves just so it won’t hurt too much when he does.

Emmy: “Uhm, are my clothes ready? I should probably get going.”

Jaebum: “They’re not done yet. Let’s sit on the couch while we wait.”

I just nodded and brought the coffee mug with me. I waited until Jaebum had sat before I took a seat on the single sofa right across from him.

Jaebum: “I don’t bite, you know. Why do you sit next to me?”

I bit my lip as I looked at him while holding my coffee in two hands. He tilted his head a bit and he looked so cute. As he smiled, I decided it wouldn't hurt to sit next to him. I stood up and made my way to the same couch and sat next to Jaebum. I kept a two person distance between us.

Jaebum chuckled as he moved closer to me. I didn’t look at him and just kept sipping on my coffee. I felt his leg touching mine which made me almost spill my coffee. Jaebum chuckled once more and took the mug away from me, placed it on the center table, and handed me a tissue to wipe my mouth.

Jaebum: “Do I make you nervous, Emmy?”

Emmy: “Uhm, no. I’m just not comfortable with body contact.”

I looked at our legs currently touching before I looked at Jaebum. I turned my head away as I felt conscious with how he is looking at me right now.

Jaebum: “You know what those with acrophobia (fear of heights) do?”

I didn’t reply. It’s like the cat got my tongue.

Jaebum: “They ride a plane or they go skydiving. They basically do anything that let’s them confront their fears.”

I was surprised as Jaebum took my hand and intertwined it with his. He chuckled as I seemed to freeze. He moved close to my ear and said “Relax.”

I tried to relax and leaned my head on the couch. After a few minutes of holding hands, I asked “Now, what?”

Jaebum: “What do you want to do?”

Emmy: “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

Jaebum: “This.”

He moved his face close to mine and within a few seconds, his lips touched mine. Initially, our lips were just touching. Eventually, he started sucking and my eyes went wide as I saw his closed eyes.

I decided to just let go and enjoy the moment. Just as I was responding to the kiss by sucking his lips the same way that he was sucking mine, Jaebum moved away and smiled at me.

Jaebum: “You have a towel in your head.

Emmy: “Oh.”

I actually forgot about the towel still being there. I stood up and took it off and went to his bedroom. Jaebum followed not long after carrying my clothes.

I was horrified to see my underwear on top of my folded clothes. I immediately took them from him and said “Thank you,” awkwardly.

Jaebum chuckled as he left the room and said that he’ll drive me home when I’m ready.

As soon as he left the room, I made my way inside the bathroom, locked the door and changed into my clothes. I combed my hair and put it in a bun on top of my head. I then put some powder on my face to not make it so apparent that I have taken a shower. It would be hard to explain to my parents why I had to take a shower.

As I was applying lip gloss, I couldn’t help but remember the kiss Jaebum and I shared earlier. I wonder why he kissed me, and what it meant.

I just realized that I did exactly what I wanted to avoid. Jaebum is leaving soon, so I shouldn’t be kissing him. The thought that I won’t be seeing him in the office soon will make coming into the office suck.