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Hide In Your Home_________________________________

Being in an elevator with a girl could've been exhilarating. Thousands of fantasies paint a million scenarios of what two people might do in such a confined space. But the camera tucked in the corner kept me grounded, no room for an AV scene. Even if I wanted to—though let's face it, two minutes to the third floor doesn't give enough time for anything cinematic anyway.

Ting.

Not that time ever really mattered. Einstein had it wrong. A hot stove for a minute feels like an eternity, while sitting next to a pretty girl for an hour vanishes in a blink. Maybe it's not time that's messed up, but me.

"Sunbae?" Sohee was already stepping out of the elevator. I hadn't even noticed. Not that it mattered. She didn't seem to expect anything less than my absent-mindedness by now.

We walked side by side down the hallway, passing door after door. Silent numbers flickered by: 18, 19, 20.

"Do you like coffee, Sohee?" I asked, trying to match her pace—or rather, disrupt it.

She glanced at me, slightly thrown off by the question. "I don't know... I guess I just drink it because everyone does."

I smirked, "So, I'm still trying to lighten the mood?"

She laughed softly, "Are you?"

"No, I'm genuinely curious."

"About coffee?"

"Black beans."

"Fascinating."

"Not really," I shrugged. "I just want to know what you like... if we're supposed to get closer."

"O...okay."

Did I just score? God, I'm disgusting.

She started adjusting her pace, and I intentionally threw mine off again, just to mess with her rhythm.

"I like sandwiches too," she added.

My stomach grumbled in response. "I didn't have breakfast."

"Lilly didn't help you with it?"

"Nope."

"Does she ever? I thought you were the cook."

I grimaced. Cook? I can't even remember how to boil an egg. Yesterday's instant noodles were the extent of my culinary prowess. 

"Let's eat out," I said, more to myself than her. "After we've dealt with Mei."

Sohee frowned. "'Dealt' sounds a little harsh, Sunbae."

I gave her a crooked smile. "Fine. Let's 'help' her, then."

"I prefer that."

21.

Sohee rubbed her arms, the faintest gesture of unease. I stared ahead at the door.

The door that stood between us and the frail girl behind it. A door that shielded her from the world of men she feared. A blind, wooden guardian, opening and closing without judgment. But behind that door was someone I should remember, a girl with emerald eyes. Yet, I don't. Life and Death toy with my memory, leaving me with nothing but gaps where moments should've been. 

"Are you ready, Sunbae?" Sohee's pink eyes trembled slightly, uncertainty reflected in them.

I smiled back at her, reassuring or mocking, I couldn't tell.

We both stared at the door again. Sohee might have been anxious, but my thoughts veered elsewhere. What was Mei wearing behind that door? School uniform? Maybe pajamas, a T-shirt with a cartoon bear on it? God, if I had to guess, lingerie would be the last thing. But wouldn't that be something? I chuckled internally.

Sohee knocked softly, three times.

I raised an eyebrow, pointing to the doorbell. "Why not use that?"

"Wouldn't that be a waste of electricity?"

I shook my head. "You really should try littering sometimes."

She blinked, confused. "Litter... what?"

"Never mind," I muttered. "You're cute, though."

She blushed, which I noted for later. Keep adding points, and maybe I'd get somewhere with her eventually—or maybe we're already there.

After what felt like an eternity but was likely just a minute, we heard the lock click.

The door cracked open.

A pair of emerald eyes peeked out, focusing entirely on Sohee. Not a glance for me. Typical.

Sohee's smile was soft, tender. "I'm here, Mei."

That's all it took to crack the door wide open.

Lingerie? Pajamas? No, of course not. Mei was wrapped in a thick white blanket, practically a cocoon, shielding her from the outside world. Well, it was better than a hoodie.

She immediately wrapped the blanket around Sohee, enveloping them both as if it were a hug, her eyes glistening with relief. "Oh, Sohee, I've been waiting all night. I thought maybe you wouldn't come. Maybe I dreamed that you texted me."

Sohee chuckled awkwardly. "I texted you forty minutes ago."

"I—I'm so glad you're here," Mei whispered, clutching her tighter.

"It looks like something's wrong," Sohee observed gently.

"I have a math question," Mei confessed, "I couldn't solve it."

Sohee patted her shoulder. "We'll figure it out later."

Mei tried pulling her inside, but Sohee resisted, leaving me awkwardly standing in the hallway. Thankfully, she remembered I existed. 

"I brought Sunbae with me," Sohee said, her gaze sliding toward me.

Mei's eyes followed, locking onto me like a deer caught in headlights.

Her expression faltered. The emerald eyes, once vibrant, shrank.

Ah, androphobia. My old friend.