Breathing deeply a couple of times Ana finally looked in the peeking whole and an immense feeling of relief flooded her seeing Hee-Joon’s face on the other side.

Opening the door she could have hugged him if that hadn’t been way too weird for Korean’s culture. That is, she must already seem crazy enough at that guy’s eyes without needing to add to it. So, she just stood there staring at him for a couple of minutes before inviting him in.

________

Hee-Joon looked at her not sure if the expression on her face was one of relieve or dissatisfaction. Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea coming over.

It was just that he wasn’t going to be able to sleep not sure if she was alright or not. Right or wrong, he kinda felt responsible, he was a detective and yet there was nothing he could do for her in that situation.

She seemed to make up her mind and invited him in.

The short tiled entryway for her apartment was separated from the rest of the house by a small step she nearly missed. Her sloppy steps letting him know she had probably been drinking, then confirmed by the smell of wine in the air. She had not said a word so far and he decided to patiently wait until she would.

“Sorry about the mess.” when she finally spoke, her voice sounded restrained.

Kneeling down she was about to pick up the fallen glass when he grabbed her hand lifting her up the floor. Gently, he pulled her to the couch and sat her down. Without a word, he picked up the glass from the floor and wiped it clean, served her another glass of wine and one for himself. It had been a very long time since he had that unbearable feeling of helplessness. Walking back to the couch he reached out the glass to her and seated beside her.

She had been watching him all that time with a blank expression on her face but now, she looked as if she were about to cry. It was a split second glance and then it was gone.

“So, detective Baek Hee-Joon, what brings you to my house at this hour?”

For some reason, he felt mad hearing that question. Silly woman, he was obviously worried about her. That’s what he was doing at her house so late at night.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Aish (shit)” almost slipped through his lips. What the hell! She was showing him so many personality traits in such a short amount of time it was leaving him speechless. Besides, having that woman look so vulnerable close to him was not a good idea. He was having all sorts of not advisable longings right now, at the sight of her sweet eyes and bitten down lower lip. Keeping his body as still as stone sculpture, afraid to move even one muscle and not be able to help himself, Hee-Joon replied.

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“No problem.”

She gave him a shy smile and sipped her wine.

“Did you have dinner yet?” She looked surprised at his question and replied with a negative shake of her head.

Hee-Joon got up and went to the small kitchen to roam at the closets for something to cook her dinner with. He needed to clear his head and decided that concentrating his attention on cooking was a good escape. Besides, if she didn’t eat something with all that drinking, she would feel lousy in the morning. He picked up a frying pan and a pot and started slicing some vegetables. Completely absorbed in the action of cutting vegetables, he was totally caught off guard when she sat down in a stool in front of him, with her face in one hand and the glass of wine in the other.

“O que estás a cozinhar?” She was starting to drag her speech.

“What?!” He smiled not understanding one word of what she said.

She laughed “Now you know what I feel when I hear Korean.”

She laughed some more and passed a hand on her eyes. She set down her almost empty glass and gave it a little shove away from her grasp.

“I asked what are you cooking? You seem to be having fun.”

“I like cooking.” He resumed cutting vegetables and putting them inside the frying pan with oil, turning on the heat.

“It shows.” she smiled again.

“So, that was Portuguese? Talk some more.” He wanted to keep her distracted.

“Hum...like what?”

“Anything.”

“Tu és muito giro.” Her voice adopted a cute flirty tone.

Hee-Joon smile but did not look at her. He had no idea what she was saying, but that tone of voice was universal.

“What does that mean?” He teased her knowing she would not tell him. Well, maybe if she had had enough wine…

“I don’t want to tell you detective Baek Hee-Joon.” she giggled.

“Right now I’m not detective Baek Hee-Joon. I’m just Hee-Joon.”

“Well, I might tell Hee-Joon...when I’m sober.”

His name in her voice was a sound he wanted to hear more often, along with that giggle.

“Now, that’s just unfair Ana.”

________

She had fallen asleep on the couch, knees close to her chest and one arm under her head. Hee-Joon turned off the TV and looked at her wondering if he should take her to her bed and risk waking her up. On a final decision, he went to get a blanket to cover her. Finding a paper napkin he wrote her a short note and quietly left the house, making sure to change the security code on the door.

The night sky was already turning a light blue color when he stepped outside and the breeze was getting colder with the arrival of Autumn. He took in the cool morning air and passed a hand through his hair. There was nothing he could do for her right now as a detective but, he’d be damned if we’d let anything happen to her. Turning the bouquet in his hand he looked at the roses and frowned. Suck a petty, that freak had turned a nice gesture into something a woman would fear for the rest of her life.