Staring at the young employee Ana felt like she was about to kill her.

“What do you mean I can’t change my number?”

The young woman was about to have a first seat row to her rage.

“Madam, you have a 24-month contract.”

“I know that. At the time it looked like a good deal. Look I don’t want to terminate the contract, I just want to change the number.”

Being at the store for over 45 minutes now, both her and the employee were tired of that subject.

“I’m sorry 고객님 (customer). It’s just not possible.”

Putting an end to the conversation the girl just turned her back and made herself busy with another client.

And man did that piss her off! Usually, Ana was a nice person who did not like confrontation. However, she was not leaving that store without a new number. In all that crazy, messed up situation, that was the one thing she could and would control. She stepped out to the street with the device in her hand and faced the busy road with a determination glow in her eyes. In a swift gesture, she threw the mobile in front of a passing bus and watched it getting crashed beyond repair. The lights turned green. With a smile on her face, she picked up the pieces that were left and went back inside the store. Facing the young employee with the nicest smile she could master, Ana held the broken thing in front of her face.

“I had an accident. I need a new phone.”

Before the look of amazement, the girl gave her Ana continued.

“With a new number, please.”

After hearing the explanation of how she would have to pay for the old phone in full and return all the bonus she had during her 6 months previous contract, along with the fees and so on, and so on. Ana finally had a new phone with a new number. With a dug bank account and a light heart, she left the store.

Dialing the number written down on a paper, she heard the phone ring once, twice.

“Yes?”

“Do you want to go with me to find a new apartment?” she said cheerfully.

“Who’s this? Ana?”

“Yes, it’s me your Portuguese friend. So, do you?”

“Why do you have a new number? And why are you moving to another apartment?”

“I had an accident with the other phone and I’m tired of the present apartment. It has...hum...bugs.”

“Bugs?! It’s the first time you've mentioned this.”

“And why should I have told you about my apartment’s bugs before? Come on, do you want to keep me company or not? I’ll buy you lunch…”

“Sold. Where do I meet you?”

Of course finding another good apartment to rent was not as easy as getting a new mobile number, least now that she had a caved bank account. But the mere thought of it cheered her up.

As expected to be around Christopher lighted up her mood and Ana was able to forget about her messed up life for the afternoon. It was too much fun to see Christopher’s reaction to the two apartments they visited if you could call them that. The truth was that her current budget was not helping either, but she was determined to move even if she had to stay in one of the matchbox apartments she saw today.

When the time came to go home her good mood melted away. Not wanting to give away her inner feelings, but not wanting to be alone either, she invited Christopher to have dinner at her place. Something she had never done before because of the mixed feelings he kept sending her. One day a good friend, the next day a lover wannabe. But today he was in the good friend mode so she didn’t think it would do any harm.

Christopher also liked to cook, which was good because she wasn’t worth much in the kitchen. So, leaving it to him she started setting up the table. There was no dining table in her apartment, it was just too small for it, so she set the table in the one in front of the sofa. She turned on some music and accepted the glass of wine he handed her. Christopher was walking around so comfortable you could say he had been there before, for some reason that made her feel at ease. It was like having fun with an old friend. Seated at the counter looking at him cook, talking about fun facts and accepting what he gave her to taste every now and then, just like old friends. He had the most contagious laugh, made her laugh along.

She was still laughing, with a cup in her hand when she opened the door, without even looking in the peephole.

“Your number is disconnected.” an angry Baek Hee-Joon was standing in front of her eyes.

And what do you know, he was sexy when he was angry. He was studying her, from the smile she had when she answered the door until the glass of wine in her hand.

Ana felt guilty. The truth was that she did not tell him on purpose. She didn’t want him to associate her with problems and crazy issues. She didn’t want her image of her to be one of the problematic woman, not in his eyes. So, she was going to call him, the next day, to invite him to dinner, or lunch, or coffee...

“I changed my number.” Ana showed him a smile and pointed the living room.

“Please, come in.”

Watching as he controlled his emotions and stepped inside the apartment, she continued.

“Do you want to have dinner with us”?