Just Friends

Thirteen

Ye Jin slept early tonight because she had a horrible headache. "I'm sorry, Bin-ssi. I don't think I can chat for long tonight."

"Don't worry about it. Are you sure you don't need medicines?"

She nodded. "Yes but I do wish you could come over."

I already knew this virus was horrible with the issues it is causing in the world, but for me personally it sucked because I had to stay away from Jin until I finished mandatory quarantine.

I found out about her headaches when we started the shoot for our movie and I took note but of course there was not much I did at the time. As our friendship deepened and we traveled together more and more, I grew more accustomed to her moods when she wasn't feeling well. Sometimes, she preferred medicines. Sometimes, hugs were better.

I smiled at the memory when she first admitted this. "Bin-ssi? Don't think I'm a creep, okay?"

"Okay. What's wrong?"

"I have a headache."

"Oh no," I said. "Do you have medicines?"

"Yes, but... would you mind coming over? I need a hug?"

Well, actually she needed a head massage and I did as well as I could hoping it helped. When she finally fell asleep, I tucked her in then left. "I hope you feel better tomorrow, Jin-ssi!"

Since she was asleep and I didn't feel like it yet, I scrolled through the photos in my phone and landed on one when she had her back to me. It was one of those days when we had a misunderstanding.

Our friends who see us together ask only two things.

One - are you sure you guys are not together?

Two - do you guys ever fight?

Yes, we do. This picture reminded me of one.

We already decided to take a quick trip at a private resort because Ye Jin said she missed swimming. However, I forgot that there were corporate matters that I had to go over that weekend. And there was a lot.

After we arrived, Jin-ssi changed quickly and was in the private pool in no time. "What are you waiting for, Bin-ssi?"

"I just have to review some documents, Jin. I'll join you later, okay?"

She nodded then swam away, just happy that we were out of town and she could bask under the sun.

The document review took hours. Ye Jin had eaten lunch, read a book, watched a short documentary and I was still at the study desk in my room pouring over papers. Every so often, she would pop in and ask, "You want anything, Bin-ssi?" Or "You're not done yet, Binnie?"

At close to 6 in the evening, she had gotten up from another quick swim when she checked on me again. "Hi! You ready to swim?"

I was studying a particularly unfamiliar set of transactions and got surprised by Jin's sudden appearance — in a bikini no less — which led me to spill my coffee. "Aish! Jin-ssi. Look what you made me do."

"Omo? Me? Why me?"

"I'll join you when I'm done okay?"

She frowned and pursed her lips then left.

Of course, after that, guilt did not allow me to concentrate. I found her by the floor to cieling window of the rented villa, watching the sunset.