“Proteção policial (police protection)”

Laying down on his bed, facing the white ceiling above her, she kept chewing the words. She wanted Hee-Joon’s protection, not police protection. That simple statement built up a wall between them, a gigantic transparent reinforced glass wall!

Ana looked at the clock on the night table beside her. It was 01:15 am and she was nowhere near getting any sleep tonight. The prospect of having to give classes the next morning was not pleasing. Giving up on sleep, she got up to get some water in the kitchen.

Hee-Joon’s house had been a pleasant surprise, very different from her’s both in size as well as in the layout. His front door opened to a large living room full of light, divided into three different environments. A small kitchen, a tv area and a sort of greenhouse separated from the others by a glass tiles wall, after double sliding doors, there was also a very small laundry space. A small w.c. was also located on that floor. The second floor of the house had only the master suite.

Her steps on the wooden stairs were silent, given her bare feet and also calculated because she did not want to wake Hee-Joon, sleeping on the couch. He was sleeping silently, looking like an angel in his peaceful sleep.

The living room area was a safe distance from the kitchen, so although the area was opened he would probably not be disturbed by the sounds of the fridge being opened or the glass being filled with water. Ana took the glass with her to the adorable small greenhouse area, that was filled with plants and flowers. She had been curious to find out if they were real or not since she had walked in the house. Letting her mind be filled by those simple thoughts was a blessing to relieve her stress. Touching every single one she confirmed they were real and wondered if it would be him that took care of all of them. Somehow the thought he was sensitive enough to watch over plants gave her a warm feeling. The contrary to what happens with Christopher, who she thought was way too picky for her taste. A detective that knew how to cook, take care of plants and protect her. It sounded too good to be true. Where was the flaw? It had to be a big one right? Ana smiled at her own line of thoughts.

“Can’t sleep?”

His husky voice interrupted the silly images that were starting to take shape.

“Hum. Did I wake you? Sorry.”

Turning to face him, she encountered his sleepy adorable face.

“You didn’t. Want some coffee?”

“No.” She followed him to the kitchen nevertheless.

“So, are you ready to tell me what happen that made you change your number and start to look for another apartment? And please don’t tell me it has bugs.” He smiled.

Ana started talking slowly at first but, as she remembered the situation, more and more anger driven. He was just listening, with a frown on his forehead, getting tenser as her speech developed and she showed every emotion she was feeling.

“Do you think it was him at the door?”

“I wish I could tell you no. You say there was nothing on the CCTV’s?”

“Nothing that I could relate. How serious should I take this?”

“For now I think you’re taking all the right steps, changing your number and looking for another apartment. That should be enough to stop it.”

“How about my job…”

“There’s no reason to think he knows where you work, all that happened was related to your apartment.”

That was true, she thought. All the messages and disturbances were stringent at her apartment. That made her feel better.

“I’ll help you find a new place to stay. In the meantime, do you have a friend in whose place you can stay?”

“I don’t know that many people yet. As for friends, maybe only Christopher…”

“You can stay with me. If you want.” He didn’t even let her form THAT thought.

“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll figure it out. Maybe a hotel…”

Stay with him?! Was he just begging for trouble?! That was such a bad idea...good, but a BAD idea. He agreed, probably thinking the same as her. Until she figured that whole thing out, there was no need to make things even more complicated. No matter how much she was imagining it in her head.

___________

The morning came grey as her mood.

Having a coffee at the university’s park, Ana was contemplating what to do regarding the apartment. Knowing she would have to go back to it by the end of the day crept her out, but she didn’t have much money and if she was to move out of the apartment she couldn’t stay at a hotel. To appeal to Christopher’s goodwill she would probably be attacked by a bunch of questions she did not want to answer. There was Hee-Joon’s offer but, as selfish as it might be, right now she needed him to be detective Baek Hee-Joon and not Hee-Joon the hottest piece of temptation ever.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a feminine girly soft voice.

“Ana 성셍님 (teacher), what are you doing out here all by yourself?

Ana smiled back at the Korean teacher looking down at her.

“Taking a break Lee Ji-ae 성셍님 (teacher).”

She seat beside her sipping on her drink.

“Kids driving you crazy?”

“No. I wished it was that simple.” Ana laughed.

“Man problems then?”

Ana looked at the other woman with curiosity. It was not common to have a Korean person ask someone they didn’t know well about their problems. Maybe she was trying to become closer to her.