I breathed in relief. It was nice to be alone. I didn’t have to mind anyone as I folded my shirts, sorting them in colors, separating sleeveless from sleeved ones. If I found any creases, I had the chance to redo them. Slow progress yet there was fullness building inside my chest. 

There was a sticky note with my name hanging in one of the dressers. After putting my clothes inside, I took a small bag of hygiene necessities to the bathroom. I stared in the mirror and it dawned on me that I was still wearing the clothes I had yesterday. I sniffed myself, wondering how I would smell when Yeren embraced me. A sigh escaped my mouth. It wasn’t bad but could be so much better. 

I had a shower, washed with lemon-flavored soap. I loved the sweet citrus scent on my skin that I chose the same flavor for my shampoo. The cold stream of water pouring on my face invigorated me, my hands brushing my hair upward.

When I got out, my eyes darted to the clock that was face to face with me. Its hands read, 4:28 pm. Yeren had been out for more than three hours. I took a deep breath and dressed as fast as I could, then my back fell on his bed. I tilted sideways, pulled a pillow, and clutched it against my chest. I pulled another and pinned it between my legs. His scent lingered, holding me in place. I listened to the quiet, the ticks of the clock, and my slow breathing as I stared behind the darkness.

I heard a frying sound. It was barely perceptible but enough for me to open my eyes, and see Yeren’s back as he cooked something in the kitchen. I groggily got up, finding a blanket that fell on the floor. I picked it up and sat in a chair behind him. “What are you cooking?”

He glanced back, his arms raised, holding a spatula. “Chicken cutlet… We should celebrate since we’ll be roommates from now on.” He turned to the stove again. “Look at the fridge.”

“I don’t drink,” I blurted out after seeing a couple of beers inside.

“No worries. Lower your eyes.” My gaze laid in a few cans of soda. I took one out and drank from it.

“Hey, save that for later,” he complained, pouting. 

“C’mon. Just one wouldn’t hurt.” I laughingly said, pretending to hand over the soda. “I’ll even let you have a sip.”

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion when he enthusiastically grabbed it with his free hand. My throat went dry and there was no way for me to take it back. Large droplets of sweat rolled down in my back as he raised his hand to his mouth. Then he slipped from the can... 

And it was like our first kiss.

No word of any language could describe how lost I was. Even the fanciest movie effects wouldn’t be enough to recreate the photographic image of that moment that would forever be burned in my retrospection.

Yeren smiled and sipped a few more times before returning the can to me. He grabbed the strainer in the cupboard above the stove and moved out the cutlets from the pan when they turned brown. I sat again and watched his back as he fried more cutlets. As much as I wanted to offer some help, there was nothing I could do.

When he turned the fire off, the soda on my hand had cooled, the moisture had dried on my hand. I gulped it all down, straight to my throat.

We had a late dinner by eight o’clock. It was a quiet event. We were happy but neither of us attempted a conversation. I volunteered to wash the dishes as he took some beer and soda to the table.

“Are you serious about it?” I asked, wiping my hands.

He nodded laughingly. “Do I look like I’m joking?” 

I stared at him with a doubtful look.

“Don’t worry. I can hold my liquor. Besides…” He grabbed a beer and offered me a soda. “I don’t plan on being drunk.” 

He stared at me with a hopeful look, “Cheers?” 

I grasped it and grinned, “Cheers.”

A can of soda was enough for me but three beers weren’t enough to make him drunk. I watched him as he opened another. I slowly stretched my hand to one of the beers on the table and hesitantly grabbed it. Yeren gave me a querying look.

“Trying one wouldn’t hurt,” I said, staring blankly at the opening of the can. My eyes looked at it for so long that I couldn’t even remember. When it made its way to my mouth, I found myself gulping for more. There was a bitter aftertaste but I loved the bubbly feeling in my mouth. Before I knew it, I had already emptied four cans on the table.

I was about to grab another can when Yeren seized my wrist, “That’s enough.”

I pouted, “Just one more, okay?”

He shook his head and answered a resounding no. He picked up all the remaining drinks from the table and returned them to the fridge.

“Okay,” I stomped out of the kitchen like a kid and leaped to his bed.

“C’mon,” I heard him approaching from behind and tapped my back. “Get up. Sleep on your bed.”

“No!” I stretched my arms and legs like a starfish. “This is my bed now.”

His laugh echoed in my ears, and I felt a heavy weight against my back, realizing that he was lying on me. “Get off of me,” I struggled, taking every breath I could possibly have. Still, he wouldn’t budge. 

“Fine, fine, I’ll go,” I cried out. 

It was such a relief when he got off. I stood up and stared on my bed, thinking of something. I had never felt so bold in my life at the time. I didn’t even have to breathe deeply nor did I have to muster all my courage. For some reason, I was dauntless tonight. I rushed to the other side of my bed and pushed it beside Yeren’s bed. He seemed surprised by the gesture. 

“Now, it’s our bed,” I said as I laughingly leaped to him.

He shook his head, grinning sheepishly. “I shouldn’t have let you drink that much.”

My lips parted into a smile as I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Well, you just did,” I said before sinking into the quietness of that night.