Chapter 144 - A Long Night 3

"Don't you know where you hurt your hand?"

While Dr. Kim bandages her hand, Ye Rim just said,

"I had a strange dream while I dozed off. I dreamed that I would go to your room and find a thief there. Or something in these lines," she couldn't be sure what she had dreamed of after so much alcohol and an unhappy night. 

But the doctor stared at her, stopping what he was doing, for a minute. "Did you dream that you would go to my room and was attacked there?"

"Erm, well… I wasn't attacked. I was the one who attacked, actually. But the thief ran away," she felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't dreamed of a human, however. But dreamed of a dark version of Kim Jun Hyeon's sister. But perhaps it would be better not to speak of this detail. This wouldn't do Jun Hyeon any good, she believed.

"Hmm," he seemed lost in thought, but then returned to the subject, "And what does that have to do with your injured hand? Are you a sleepwalker?"

"Hmm. Well, kind of. I used to sleepwalk when I was a kid. But not after a.d.u.l.thood," she confessed. "But alcohol makes us do weird things ... I bet that if we go to the kitchen, we'll find out I tried to organize your kitchen and cut myself with a bottle of soju, or whatever," she suggested, when he finished the first-aid care. Opening an extra band-aid, Dr. Kim put it on her nose, smiling.

She also smiled, but saw that Jun Hyeon's eyes were serious.

"What is it, Oppa?"

"I also dreamed that you were in danger. You were upstairs in a house while I was on the stairs. Maybe I subconsciously realized that you were going to get hurt while I was asleep."

"Wow!" This was a macabre coincidence. Dr. Kim stood up, stretching his neck and looking determined to chase away the ominous mood,

"Fake girlfriend, let's go out for a while to chase away the nightmares. What do you think?"

"I think I'm stinking and feeling awful, I should go home," she also stood up.

"You can shower here. After all, you're a girlfriend tonight."

"This is a long night, by the way," she agreed. "If the rain is over, let's go for a walk and eat something on the street", she also thought it would be good for the two of them to get away from unpleasant matters. Ye Rim saw he was making an effort not to be having sad thoughts. 

However, Ye Rim's mind returned to the shadow creature. Had it been a dream, or not? Was Jun Hyeon oppa being haunted? Is that why he couldn't get over his sister's death?"

She missed the next events, lost in her thoughts, she had only seen Jun Hyeon leave the room, when she heard him call her name, from his bedroom.

She shivered. She was now sure.

Going to his room, Ye Rim looked at the mess. Rug and bedspread pulled, pillows on the floor, blood and broken glass on the bed. Kim Jun Hyeon stared at her, incredulous,

"Don't you remember any of this?"

Ye Rim took a deep breath. In addition to saying that she had found a thief hidden there, one of the most unlikely things when you are in an apartment on the seventeenth floor, what else could she say?

"Oppa ... I'm sorry. Maybe I was too drunk. I pay for what I broke, "she shuffled her feet. There was no way she was going to sound crazy saying she tried to grab a demon that looked like his sister.

"It wasn't important, forget it. Just tell me if you really think you saw someone. I'll call the doorman."

"I'm not sure. I don't remember anything. For real. Perhaps my mind has created things. I just wanted to come back with the comforter and cover you."

Jun Hyeon came back to her, and Ye Ri waited for a hug, but he stopped himself,

"How can I say thank you? For being like a German shepherd by my side while I slept?"

"HEY! What are you talking about? Are you comparing me to a German Shepherd?"

"Yes. Watching my sleep, sitting, instead of lying in bed and sleeping comfortably," he smiled, pulling the band-aid from her nose. She had even forgotten about it.

"I came here on a mission!"

"Wasn't getting hurt part of that, was it?"

'Hm, I was defending you from the ghost that chases you, so it was a risk in my mission,' Ye Rim thought, feeling that although things had escalated, she was doing her job. But she wondered if the creature would return.

"Take me out for a little bit of fresh air as you promised," she asked, wanting to leave the apartment soon.

A little while later, they had stopped by a street stall and had some snacks, and now they were wandering, side by side, close to the river. Leaving the apartment had taken Jun Hyeon out of his shaky mood, Ye Rim noticed.

Then she felt his fingers touch hers, seeking contact. Not knowing exactly what to do, she glanced at him and tried to read his expression.  Jun Hyeon was still looking straight ahead. Feeling himself watching, he turned to her,

"Why aren't you holding my hand? You are my girlfriend tonight!"

She considered whether to grumble that he was kind of overstepping his limits, but she didn't. After all, the touch of his fingers had made her heart race, and this game was interesting, for a change.

As she didn't respond, Jun Hyeon ostensibly took her hand and placed it in his, with a 'Humpf!'

She laughed, but let him continue with this game.

"Oppa, do you think it will be difficult to teach me to tap dance?" that was a good subject to avoid talking about sad things.

"No. I'm sure that, in the time we have until the audition, you will be able to do a simple but interesting choreography. And if you like it, you can learn more later!" he raised their hands together and kissed her hand, intertwined with his, as if it were an old habit among long-time boyfriends.

'Awn, he is so loving!' Ye Rim couldn't help thinking, feeling a new sense of happiness growing inside her. It was surprising to realize that they had such an affinity and naturalness when they were together. Even the fact that he wasn't overly romantic, or mushy, pleased Ye Rim. 

"Are you saying this just to please your girlfriend?"

He smirked, "It could be. But I already know something about you."

"Do you know something about me? What?" naturally it made her curious.

"You only listen to yourself. If you are convinced of something, you make it happen. While you believed that your career was over, things were bad. But now you believe that your career is just beginning. And you believe that you need to tap dance to get the role. To be quite honest, I think if it was necessary, they would remove the dance scenes. It would be enough to be a good actress at the right age and appearance, and with some talent for singing. But, you are right. If you get there doing all this at an excellent level, they won't be able to think of anyone else for the role. Your time has come, Ye Rim! You will shine. Just be disciplined and willing!"

"Awn Oppa, I can't believe it. Remember when we first met? You humiliated me and made light of me. And today we are friends and you cheer me up!"

"Not friends! Tonight we are lovers," he corrected her.

"Yes, just for tonight," she agreed. "But if you remember, think about how you hated me in the past?"

"Hmm, 'hated you' is a strong and incorrect statement. I didn't hate you. I got angry at you a few times. That's correct."

"I know ..." she laughed, waving their hands together.

"Did you hate me?"

"Ah, well, a lot, but for a few minutes each," she confessed.

A cold breeze passed over them, and Ye Rim flinched. Then Jun Hyeon stopped, taking off his jacket,

"Why do women wear clothes that don't get hot? It's fall!" he pretended to be angry while putting his coat around Ye Rim's shoulders.

"I didn't think I would be on the street until dawn!" she replied, justifying herself. Jun Hyeon looked around, seeming to pay more attention to the fact that the city was waking up to a new day.

Discreetly, Ye Rim sniffed the cologne on his clothes, and remembered that other moment a few days ago, when they were at the river's edge and found Hani's dead body. There was always something bad to spoil the moments when they were together.

Pulling his coat around herself tighter, she turned to the river, and sighed, watching the sky change colors on the capital's skyline. They stood in silence watching the dawn, filled with the beauty of the moment and forgotten, at least for a few moments, the horrors of this long night.

Ye Rim turned to ask a question, but she honestly wouldn't remember what it was, later. She was just a little surprised to find that Dr. Kim, too, was turning to her at the same time. However, his movement was a little abrupt, and Jun Hyeon pulled the hand that joined them, to bring her to him.

Their faces came closer, and they both had time to look at each other. In the eyes and then, she saw Jun Hyeon's gaze go down to her mouth.

She couldn't control her body's agitation at that moment.

When his lips finally touched hers, and they looked thirsty to explore her mouth with passion. Ye Rim just let himself be guided, feeling her body's longing for his.

When their lips finally parted, Jun Hyeon tightened his grip on her arms, and whispered in her ear,

"Now you can stop playing fake girlfriend."

'Uhn?!'

"OR," he continued, "you might want to stick to the role longer."