Jin and Eunjeong worked quietly side by side for over an hour. When the rush was over, she turned to him.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I caught your name.”
“I’m Jin. Nice to meet you.” He smiled at her, showing off all his perfectly straight teeth.
Eunjeong didn’t notice. “Thanks for your help. I’m going to go check on the customers in the dining room.”
Wow. Did she just blow him off? He suddenly felt bad that he hadn’t left to make Jimin’s soup. He would do it as soon as she returned.
—
Jimin rolled over in bed. He felt horrible. He was freezing cold. The fever that had broken this morning seemed to have come roaring back with a vengeance. He was shaking like a leaf. He crawled under the covers and pulled them up over his head. After several moments of his hot breath filling the space around his head, he peeked his eyes out from behind the covers.
Suddenly, his bedroom door opened, and a dark angel walked through his doorway. Eunjeong. There was a heavenly glow framing her figure as she stepped into his room and approached his bed. Had his room just filled with the sound of angels singing?
Eunjeong approached Jimin’s room quietly. She just wanted to make sure he was all right. She opened the door silently and walked towards his bed. His head was covered by a blanket, but his eyes were visible beneath its folds. He looked horrible.
“Jimin, are you all right? I’m so sorry you’re sick today!”
She was so sweet. And beautiful. And brilliant. And kind. And funny. She had it all. If only she would notice him as more than just a friend.
She was standing directly in front of him, a very concerned expression blanketing her lovely features. She bent over him and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. Her face was a scant ten centimeters from his own. He was trying hard not to breathe on her. He didn’t want to make his angel ill.
Oh, blessed relief! Her hand was so cool. It felt so refreshing up against his hot skin. As she began to withdraw it, he reached up, trapping it beneath his palm. How could his body be freezing and his head be on fire? If only he could fold himself in half, his thighs would cool his head off.
She started to pull away but stopped, surprised, when his hand imprisoned her own. She looked down at him, quizzically.
“Your hand is so cool. My face is burning up.” He looked up at her with bleary eyes. “Why am I so cold?”
Eunjeong felt her heart flip over in compassion for the sick boy. He was actually older than her, but right at this moment, he looked like a five-year-old. She held her hand to his head for a few more moments to humor him.
“Jimin, can I bring you some tea?”
As she asked him the question, he was immediately aware that his throat was parched. He nodded.
“I’ll be back.” She turned and left his room.
She made him some tea and asked Jin if he could take it to Jimin before he left.
Still stunned by her beauty, Jin agreed and reached for the cup. A moment later, climbing the stairs to Jimin’s room, he was still thinking about the dark eyes of the girl below. Had he ever seen eyes like hers? He felt like writing a love ballad to them.
After a few seconds, he entered Jimin’s room to find his friend buried beneath blankets.
“Jimin, I brought you some tea.”
Jimin peeked out at him, his full lips drawing into a pout. “You’re not Eunjeong,” he whined.
“No, I most certainly am not! Jimin, how come you never told me about her?” He started to berate his sick friend. “You were keeping her to yourself, huh?” He gazed knowingly at Jimin.
“What are you talking about, Jin? You’re making no sense.”
“That beautiful girl that lives next door. Is there anything between you?”
Jimin wanted there to be. But so far, no luck. “Umm…I’m working on it.”
“Care for a little, healthy competition?” Jin flashed his worldwide famous grin at him.
Jimin sat straight up in bed. “No! I most certainly do not! I saw her first!”
“But I kissed her first!” Jin retorted and then turned red.
“What?!!!” Jimin’s face was also flushed now, and it wasn’t from the fever.
“I didn’t mean that! I didn’t kiss her!” Jin rushed to cover his mistake.
“Then why did you say that?”
How was he supposed to explain his earlier daydream to Jimin? He couldn’t. Jin just stood there, frozen. Jimin stared at him. Then Jin decided to ignore the last sixty seconds of their conversation.
“Would you really fight me over a girl, Jimin?”
