Chapter 139 - Took you long enough

The days are turning strange. Sometimes, it all feels too good to be true. There's this prickling feeling that things will go crazy at any moment these days.

I sigh and look out of the window.

5:30 AM. Today is Sunday. It's raining. Little Hae is still sleeping, but I have this bad habit of waking up early because of her. I can't go back to sleep even if I want. Honestly, I couldn't sleep well for the last few days. The bad feeling...

I jump, splashing the mildly hot coffee on my trousers. I cover my mouth to hold back the scream. Damn! Who is here at this time of the day? The doorbell keeps ringing. This person will wake up the whole house. I run to the door and open it.

Kang Si An.

"Do you have common sense?" I nearly yell at him. "5:30 AM... is this your house?"

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep." There are dark circles under his eyes. He glances at my trousers. "Did you burn yourself? Show me."

Before he could touch my thɨġh, I grab his hand. "We don't have that kind of relationship where we can see each other's thɨġhs."

"I have seen it all and..." He closes his mouth when the realization hits and looks away. "Sorry."

If he hasn't grown on me already, I would have splashed the hot coffee on his head. I am used to his words now. It doesn't even feel awkward anymore.

"You should apply ointment there." I hear him say.

"I wasn't burnt. The coffee wasn't that hot and -" I turn around to look at him. The look in his eyes is different. Familiar. Kang Si An but not Kang Si An. With a flicker, it's gone.

Frozen at the spot, I mumble his name, "Keeper."

He blinks. "What did you say?"

"I am sure that I saw..."

"Saw what?" He furrows his brows. "Is something here that I can't see?"

He looks around. I become silent. Was it a mistake? I am sure that I saw. My luck can't be that bad, right? It's odd that both of us didn't have a good sleep last night. Maybe I am being overly sėnsɨtɨvė. But being overly sėnsɨtɨvė is better than being careless.

"Did you have blackouts these days? Going where you don't remember going?"

"No, just trouble sleeping." He sits on the chair.

I am sure that he only goes back to his apartment for sleep. If I ask him to just stay here, he would accept it in a heartbeat. That's why I never ask him to stay. My parents do not ask either.

I remake the coffee for him and me. He likes it sweeter. I know it from my memories. Li Jun liked savory dishes more. After putting the coffee cup in front of him, I sit in front of the window. I stare out of the window, thinking about what I saw earlier.

I am sure that it was the timekeeper. I would never forget that gaze.

I catch him staring at me again. I am sort of used to it. Again, that smile. That look in the eyes.

"Timekeeper," I say it out aloud. "You are back!"

"Traveler," Kang Si An chuckles lowly. "It took you long enough."

I dash to the kitchen and grab the knife. I point at him. The timekeeper stands up languidly and walks toward me with a sultry smile on his lips. I am sure that the moment is suddenly frozen. I can't hear the sound of the rain. He takes slow and heavy steps toward me.

"Traveler, you aren't happy to see me again." The keeper speaks with Kang Si An's voice, but the tone is completely different. "I was wondering how long you will take."

Who would be happy to see their murderer? He gave me a life, yes. But his return can never be a piece of good news. What if he changed his mind and came back to finish what he couldn't finish the last time? "How long?"

He must have been cautious if both Kang Si An and I couldn't find out.

"It's been a few weeks." He tilts his head, looking at me intently. "You never learn, Traveler. I gave you a life to spend it happily with this idiot. But you went ahead and ruined it."

"Hey, don't blame me." I swing the knife in his direction. "First, tell me why are you back."

"Don't act so brave." He walks closer and stops when the tip of the knife touches his ċhėst. "You can never kill this man. Even if he ruins you inside out, you will never destroy him. This is one of the reasons why I came to this body."

"You didn't answer my question." I don't remove the knife.

"I came back because it was the Great Deity's wish." He grabs the blade. The blood trickles on the floor. I let go, shocked. He throws the knife away. "Traveler, you have two choices. Either you die or..."

I cover my ear. "Not again."

"Listen to me first." He pulls my hands away from my ears. "When did you become so paranoid?"

"You are back to kill me again." I realize that I am hyperventilating.

"Calm down, Traveler." He makes a face. "You have a choice. If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead already."

"Does Kang Si An not love me anymore?" I search his face. "How can you use this body when the 100 minutes are over?"

He scowls at me. "You know that he loves you. You still give him difficulties."

"Why are you not answering my questions? Are you going to kill me again? I didn't time travel. I didn't make a mess again. I have been a decent citizen of this country. I pay taxes on time. I am living a quiet life, not making any wave. I am content with -"

I freeze when his lips touch mine. I feel stupid suddenly, unable to react or say. Who is my heart beating for? The body belongs to Kang Si An, but the kisser is Timekeeper.

"It is still effective." He smirks at me. "Traveler, I like hearing the sound of your heartbeat."