PROMPTS

Stranger in my Bed - 8

Jin Ah watched happily as the movie played in her living room. She had not seen this in awhile and was pleasantly surprised that she still like the movie, all biases aside.

"The plot is quite good," Jin-woo commented.

"I know... OH did you see me pass by?!" Jin Ah asked.

Jin-woo rolled his eyes but chuckled. She had been pointing out whenever she would appear onscreen, even if it was one second or walking around or sitting on the far corner of the ship.

"That's my leg there," she once said.

"How would you even know?!" He asked, incredulous. "All the pirates have black boots."

"But, mine has a heart." Pushing pause on the player, she showed him what seemed like a small decal on the boot in the shape of a heart.

Jin-woo laughed. "I bet they didn't hire you again," he teased, which led her to stick her tongue out at him.

As the movie progressed, he asked, "How long did you shoot this?"

"I was only called to set for two weeks," she shared. "And I almost didn't make the last few days because I came down with a fever from being drenched in the rain."

"They didn't take of you on set after this take?" Jin-woo asked, pointing to the scene where the pirates were in a battle under torrential rain.

"They did but I was already feeling a bit under the weather there that I forgot to return the wardrobe and headed home with the costume," she chuckled. "Thankfully, the staff were kind and allowed me to return the clothes the next day instead of making me pay."

That story felt like a puzzle piece being put in place in Jin-woo's mind. "And then you rested when you got home?" he asked, carefully.

Jin Ah frowned, thinking back to that time. "No. Someone called my home phone. He needed help with his car battery but..."

"What?" He asked, trying not to sound too eager.

"There was something in his voice. I don't know. He sounded like he needed help with more than just the car battery," she shared, looking quite forlorn.

"And how is your friend now?"

"I don't know," Jin Ah told him. "He's not a friend. I think he got the wrong number."

"And you dropped everything to help a stranger? When you were sick?" Jin-woo asked, searching her face, trying to calm his rising emotions.

"He needed a break," was her simple reply. Giggling, "And yes, I guess I did drop everything, didn't I? I didn't even get to change. But... I don't know. I can only wish that if I ever find myself in a situation when I feel that bad, I hope someone would help me, too."

Pausing as she thought back to that time, she giggled again. "The guy must have been so shocked to see a pirate to his rescue!"

"He was," Jin-woo said quietly. "He thought you weren't real at first then worried you were going to rob him."

"What?! What are you talking about?" Jin Ah asked, moving back to see his face better.

"It was me."

Jin Ah's eyes widened. "What?"

"The man who needed a break."

Her jaw dropped. "You were the one who was stunned so much HE LEFT ME TO DO ALL THE WORK ON HIS CAR?!"

Jin-woo threw his head back laughing. "Yes. Sorry."

But after a moment, Jin Ah touched his arm. "You're okay! You turned out okay," she said, more to herself than to him, as if to assure herself. "I worried about you."

"She didn't give me a chance like you wished, but things worked out for me," Jin-woo told her, fondness now in his eyes. "Thank you. I'm glad that the fates gave me this chance to at least thank you for that moment."

"Can I hug you?" Jin Ah asked. When he nodded, she launched herself and embraced him tightly. "You're okay. Thank goodness you're okay. I really have thought about you."

Jin-woo teased. "Liar. You don't even remember my face."

Jin Ah moved back and narrowed her eyes at him. "Because it's so unremarkable," she teased back. Adding seriously, "I may not remember your face exactly but my soul felt your desperation and I prayed many nights that fate was kind to you."

Jin-woo smiled. "It was... just not the way we both expected it that night." Pulling back, he tucker her hair behind her ears, "And we meet again when YOU are the one going through a break up."

"That's right! Oh my. Imagine that," Jin Ah mused. "So what? You're going to be a life coach to make me a better person?"

Jin-woo thought about it. "Oh I don't know if I'm qualified for that. Maybe I can knock you on the head once in awhile when you're pining over your ex."

"Hey!"

"But also, since I know what it's like to go through that kind of pain, I could support you on your journey to be an even better Jin Ah," he said. "I might actually back you up even if you turn out to be the most annoying person to me."

Jin Ah rolled her eyes. "I'm never annoying. I'm adorable."

Jin-woo copied her eye roll. "Anyway, call me when you need anything and I'll be there."

"Oh god. Are you going to break out into song?"

Jin-woo laughed. "I'm serious. Call if you need anything."

Jin Ah nodded. "Have you learned how to change your car battery?"

"Well..."

The playful banter continued the rest of the night. Even as they continued watching, there was a camaraderie now that was new between them.

Along with that fondness came peace.

Peace that only comes when your soul finds the one it has been searching for.