Chapter 33: Better

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Minji woke up on a comfortable bed. It didn't take her long enough to figure out that she is in somebody else's room. The place is unfamiliar and everything is black. There are no lights peeking through the window because of the opaque black-out curtains so she turned on the lampshade. She saw a glass of water and an Advil which she hesitated drinking because her stomach is empty.

"I must be at Delilah's or Chul's." She thought to herself. She is still wearing the same dress from last night and would love nothing more but a shower and a cold glass of water so she got off from the queen size bed and went out of the room but to her surprise, it wasn't Delilah or Chul who was cooking breakfast. It was Jung Kook. Half-naked.

Minji was about to turn around to went back inside the room to process everything but her name was called.

"Glad, you're awake now, Minji. Let's eat lunch." He placed plates and utensils on the countertop. Minji brushed her hair using her fingers while walking to him.

"Did I sleep all morning? How can it be lunch already?" She thought to herself but she was distracted by Jung Kook who was looking like a Greek God with his abs sculpted into perfection. 

"The dining table which I ordered hasn't arrived yet. Please make yourself comfortable." He pointed at the high kitchen stool.

"Uhm...thank you sir, but I-I'll go now." She was now looking down so that he wouldn't think that she was admiring his body.

"Looking like that?" Jung Kook pointed at her dress and Minji noticed that the lace outline of her bra is exposed. She tugged her dress up to cover it immediately. She bowed her head as a goodbye.

"Please don't be stubborn. You had too much last night." Minji's face suddenly flustered. "Sit now"

Minji thought that it would be rude to decline his offer since he was the one who took her in last night so he sat on the empty stool across him. Her head is still pounding and she just wanted a cold glass of water but she was too shy to ask or even get it on her own remembering that she pushed him away when they were on the balcony. Jung Kook filled her plate with kimchi rice and fried chicken and poured a glass of water into her glass as if he read her mind.

"This isn't as good as Tia Isabelle's cooking, but I hope you can still enjoy it." Minji was still not looking at him and just replied with a thank you. Minji drank the glass of water in one go and would like to have more so Jung Kook poured her another glass and just like the first time, all she replied was a thank you.

"Can you please eat now? You're gonna lose your apettite drinking water" Jung Kook scolded. He started to eat slow but she was still playing with her chopsticks for a few seconds before she tasted the rice.

"Uhh..It's really good, sir." She took another one before she finally lifted her head to meet his eyes to mean her praise. Jung Kook smiled. "It's not spicy for your taste?"

"Spicy is good. I love spicy." She was eating just the rice but Jung Kook pointed the fried chicken using his chopsticks which Minji took a bite from after being reminded. They were eating quietly when Minji asked to excuse herself and ran to the bathroom near the kitchen which Jung Kook pointed. She felt the need to vomit again.

When she was back on her seat, she apologize for doing so.

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad you are letting it out." Jung Kook continued with his meal and Minji was surprised that he wasn't disgusted at her. "I hope that you're not lying that it's the alcohol and not the food." he joked.

"Sir...I think I should go now. I don't want to ruin your meal. But it's very delicious."

Jung Kook placed his chopsticks down and looked at her. "How many times do I have to tell you to eat?" his voice was stern and commanding which made Minji almost flinch so she obliged quietly.

"Make sure to finish what's on your plate. Your husband made that." Minji almost spat her food out. Jung Kook laughed at her expression and gave her another glass of water.

"Kidding. You introduced me to Delilah as your husband last night when you were drunk." He was smiling at her. "Had I not been there, you will be tattooed by now."

Minji gasped and hung her head low again trying to recall how many embarassing things she did last night but all she remember was Chul and her drinking on the bar.

"Uhhh...I'm sorry. I haven't drank in a long time, so..." she looked at him and she knows her face is all red now. "I'm sorry for the things that might've been embarassing."

"You're good. It was the first time that I saw you loosened up so all things forgiven." Jung Kook coughed a bit. "Also, you placed Joey in his place." He was teasing which made Minji wished that she gets struck by a lightning instead of facing her embarrassment.

Minji looked around the apartment and silently hoped that this is not his girlfriend's, otherwise, she will feel bad once more. Unlike the bedroom, the floor area for the kitchen, dining and sala are all in white. The whole apartment is spacious enough for a family of four. There are a few boxes scattered on the floor and some of the furniture still has their plastic wrapping on.

"I bought this a few weeks ago." Jung Kook commented when he noticed her looking around.

"It's a nice apartment." At that moment, however, Minji thought nothing about how Jung Kook really wanted a life for his own without her included in it. Buying this apartment to stay away from her is just the first one, she thought that soon after, there will be more life decisions which she will never know about and it saddens her that she can't get to him as Athena Jones.

"I hope Hana doesn't mind me going here." Minji said out of the blue to mask a tear that is about to fall at the thought of the girl.

"I don't care if she minds or doesn't" Jung Kook replied coldly before getting up and gathering the used plates.

"Is this why I'm here? Because they fought?" Minji asked herself but that is the only logical explanation. She went to him to help him with the dishes but remained a distance remembering what happened the last time they shared a sink.

"Let me help you with that." She offered but  Jung Kook just looked at him and his eyebrows furrowed again. She was watching as his hands scrub the plates clean and cannot stop looking up to his arms who has the right amount of muscles. 

"Would you like to shower? There's a bathroom inside the bedroom. You can wear my clothes." Jung Kook was focused in washing the dishes and did not look at her again. "I have a washer at the corner. You can use it." Minji however was not paying attention because she kept on glancing at Jung Kook's abs who were looking hot on this cold weather. She would love to wrap her arms around him to feel him but she knows she couldn't.

"Minji? Minji?" Jung Kook snapped his fingers bubbled in dishsoap the he stared at his tummy to see what is Minji looking at.

Minji went back to reality after shaking her head. "Th-there's...Is that a scar?" she pointed at his white chocolate abs praying that there is really one.

Jung Kook turned to him and gave her a full view of his upper body while looking down. "Where?" It's cold form where they are standing but Minji felt the need to fan herself from his hotness. It was the first time that she is interested in looking at a man's body and really admiring and feeling something just by watching.

She glanced at it quickly so she looks innocent. "Aaah, I thought I saw one. My head still hurts and now my mind is imagining things. I'm sorry, sir."

"That's why I'm telling you to shower. There's one inside the bedroom and use my clothes. Use the washer to clean what you are wearing afterwards. I'll take you home when your clothes are dry. It shouldn't take long." Minji just nodded and went back to the room.

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Minji was drying her hair after she finished her shower. She had used his Caliornia Sunset shower gel and can't stop sniffing and smiling that she now smells like him. She is wearing an oversized plain black T-shirt which is almost knee-length.She got that from Jung Kook's closet but is not wearing anything underneath. She is hesitant to go out because she doesn't like the thought that she is almost naked and sharing the same floor as he is but her clothes really needed to be washed.

Her hair is still wet when she opened the door and saw Jung Kook sleeping on the sofa with a throwpillow over his chest. She went back to the kitchen and turned the washer on, fill it in with just the right amount of soap before dumping her dress and undergarments. She was just staring into nothing and was counting the minutes that have passed by based on the sound that the washer was making but got bored after a while. She went to the countertop and sat on the stool but before she can occupy it, she saw that Jung Kook is curled on the sofa so she went back to the bedroom instead and grab a blanket for him as well as a piece of a grey T-shirt. She went towards him and covered him in blanket but she noticed that Jung Kook's breathing was heavy. She placed the back of her hands to her forehead and felt it burn.

"He's having a fever." Minji said out loud. Jung Kook wrapped himself into the blanket like a burrito. Minji was quick to act. She headed to the kitchen and filled the basin with cold water. She then placed it on the center table and went back to the bedroom to find a clean towel. She dipped the towel into the water and squeezed the water out before he removed the blanket from him. Jung Kook, however kept on pulling it back.

"Sir, you are having a fever, please." Jung Kook finally let go of his grip. She  ran the damp towel on his body, had he not been sick, this would have been awkward for her but she is more concerned right now.

'I..it's cold." Jung Kook's voice is trembling.

"Yes, bear with it. It's supposed to help the fever go down." She explained. "Where is your heater?" She asked.

"Getting fixed..." Jung Kook coughed. Minji realized that that explains why the area outside the bedroom is colder. She helped him sit up and raised one of his arms so he can insert his T-shirt. Jung Kook's eyes are closed and he is catching his breath.

"Sir, we need to get you inside the bedroom. Can you stand?" She asked but Jung Kook didn't answer which made Minji think that he couldn't. So she wrapped her right arm around his waist and held on to it to make him stand but she couldn't carry him up. She tried the second time around but Jung Kook's body isn't moving an inch.

"Sir, you have to help me here, please." She pleaded. Jung Kook then carefully clung to her before he stood up. She was smaller than he is and she feels that she will get crushed but she was able to walk him back to the bedroom and place it on top of his bed. She went back to the sofa to get the blanket and hovered it to him. Jung Kook grabbed the pillow and hugged onto it tightly. Minji was feeling sorry for him and felt guilty that his boss got sick because of him. He was coughing so she sauntered back to the kitchen to get a picther of water. She was thankful that she did not drink the Advil that Jung Kook left on the table. At the corner of the countertop, she saw her pouch and thanked God because inside it is a Vick's vapor rub which she always carry with her. She's no Asian but she can fully attest that it's the quickest fix to everything that hurts.

She ran back to the bedroom. Jung kook did not move an inch so she started moving him so she can apply Vick's on his back. Jung Kook groaned while she is doing so. Afterwards, she unwrapped the Advil and helped Jung Kook drink the soft gel capsule before he lay on his side to sleep.  Minji sat on the bed, her back leaning against the headboard and was just waiting in case Jung Kook needed someting. She closed her eyes and think of random things and in no time she too felt asleep.

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Minji felt a pair of arms on her and knew instantly that it was Jung Kook hugging her from behind. Shyness once again enveloped her considering that she doesn't have an underwear on. She carefully removed Jung Kook's arms over her and was about to get out of the bed but he pulled her in.

"Stay." his hot breath made the nerve endings of her nape excited. She definitely got goosebumps. Jung Kook slid his arms again to her waist. Minji wanted this, she's not gonna deny but she also knows that this is wrong.

"Why do I keep on wanting you?" She can only ask herself this. No matter how hard she stay away, she would always yearn for him. She did not move for a few minutes to enjoy the warmth coming from him. She doesn't care if she will be sharing the fever, she wanted him close but her mind is telling her that she shouldn't. She shook her head thinking of the consequences.

She exhaled deeply and decided to remove Jung Kook's arms away from her.

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Jung Kook woke up after god-knows-how many hours of sleep and felt Minji beside him. His bedroom was black and could only see her from the light coming from the lampshade but he can feel her. His heart started to beat faster.

He was not feeling well when he woke up this morning but still managed to do some exercises thinking that it was just the weather and a few scrunches will help, but it didn't.  He took Minji to his new apartment last night and made her sleep on his bed which he quivered on the couch. The heater is not yet fixed and as much as the bedroom sounds nice, he couldn't just lay beside a drunk woman. Specially her.

But there she is, asleep and beside him her body close and an arm away. He is now feeling better after his nap but he aches for Minji more. He scooted closer to feel her back, thankful that she took care of him and though she should be off-limits he cannot control when he slid his arms around her waist to embrace her.

"She smells like me." He chuckled at his thought. He was enjoying her warmth that only she can give. He became selfish when he pulled her back in and whispered to stay when she removed his arms over her.

They stayed together just like that for a few more minutes before Minji removed his arms again the second time. He finally respected her rejection. But instead of leaving the bed, she just changed position to move closer to him. Her head is now lying on his chest and she was the one who entertwined their fingers together and placed her right leg on top of his.

"Better?" she asked. He kissed her head.

"Better." 


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