PROMPTS

Stranger in my Bed - 2

Emma Jung came rushing to apartment 522. A string of curses flew from her mouth when she was roused from her sleep because of the call from her boss.

She worked for Yoo Jin-woo in Granada, Spain for a few months before she decided to move back to Seoul. It was opportune timing for her because Yoo Jin-woo mentioned that he would be moving back to Seoul as well and would hire her as one of his assistants.

Unfortunately, her first tasks were a failure.

Jin-woo decided to fly back on a holiday, so it meant flights and accommodations were tough to come by. She managed to get him a good flight since he was flying first class anyway, but hotels were fully booked and his apartment at a high end district in the city was not going to be ready for another week.

But again, luck was on her side.

"Emma, could you house sit my apartment for a little bit? I'm taking a few weeks off to go to Europe," her childhood friend, Yoon Jin Ah, asked.

Emma, upon her return to Seoul, took this job of managing apartments while Yoo Jin-woo's company had not yet commenced operations in Seoul. Through this, she found her old friend and her request to house sit was the first thing that came to mind when she couldn't book anything for Jin-woo.

When the issue of finding Jin-woo accommodations came up, she tried to reach Jin Ah but to no avail. All her messages were unanswered and her calls were going straight to voicemail. It would only be for a few days, it shouldn't hurt, right? So, when Jin-woo followed up for the 3rd time about where he was staying, Emma sent him the address of the apartment building. "You're going to be staying at 522."

When Yoo Jin-woo arrived, he looked around. It was an old building and far from the lodgings he usually stayed in. "There are clothes in the closets?!" He asked, incredulously.

Emma cringed. "This is the only AirBnB I could get. It's clean, has a bed, and a kitchen. It should tide you over for a few days."

Jin-woo rolled his eyes. It was better than nothing. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

When Emma arrived at 522, Jin Ah stood in a robe waiting for her by the door with a pissed off look on her face. "Emma! Care to explain why there's a man here claiming this is his room?! He was sleeping in my bed!"

"Unnie, you look wonderful! How was your trip?" Emma tried to deflect. Jin-woo was in the apartment looking just as annoyed. Seeing that they needed answers, she explained the situation. "I'm sorry, Unnie! I didn't know you were arriving back early. It was my only option otherwise he might fire me!"

"So, you not only rented out my flat without my permission, you chose a horrible person to stay in here? In my bed?!" Jin Ah complained, retireating again that the man was in her personal space.

"Hey! I am not a horrible person," Jin-woo protested, staring Jin Ah down.

"You are if you made her this scared to do this," Jin Ah retorted. Shaking her head, "Anyway, what do we do now?!"

"I'll find my way," Jin-woo said, retreating to retrieve his bags. "There must be some place I can stay in."

"And if not? Are you going to sleep on the streets?!" Jin Ah asked, concerned. She didn't like the scenario but her conscience would not allow her to kick someone out with nowhere to go.

"I'll be fine," Jin-woo insisted.

"Unnie," Emma pleaded.

"Hold on," Jin Ah said, stopping Jin-woo from heading to the room to pack his stuff. Feeling like she would regret it either way, Jin Ah shook her head to calm her emotions and then told Jin-woo, "Stay."

Jin-woo looked surprised. "I don't want to impose."

"I don't want my conscience to bother me so stay. BUT," turning to Emma, Jin Ah continued. "If he murders me, it's on you."

"Goodness," Jin-woo rolled his eyes.

"And... you pay me for this. Pay me part of the rent he's giving you for this," Jin Ah insisted.

"Yes! That was my plan, Unnie," Emma said, gratefully. "Alright, so that's settled. Thank you for your cooperation," Emma said but Jin Ah gave her a look shushing her. "Good night everyone!"

When Emma finally left them alone, Jin Ah held out her hand and said, "I'm Yoon Jin Ah, by the way."

He took it and said, "Yoo Jin-woo."

When they broke the handshake, they averted their gaze because there was something unsettling about the contact.

"Take the bed. This couch is too small for you," Jin Ah said, motioning to the pullout bed on the couch.

"Thank you and I really am sorry for this," Jin-woo said before disappearing in the room. Giving her a grateful smile, he said, "Good night."

As they lay in their respective areas of the apartment, Jin Ah held out her hand to stare at it, not knowing that Jin-woo was doing the same thing. Jin-woo traced the lines in his hand remembering her hand in his.

What was that? He wondered.

Jin Ah turned hers over and over because her mind could not wrap her head around the fact that after a devastating heartbreak, she felt... sparks.