"Why are you walking alone on the streets at this time?" Juho asked while turning on his engine.
"My manager had to leave early. So, I decided to return home alone." Kamou sincerely said.
"You could have told me that. I was right there." Juho said in a caring tone.
"I don't want anyone to know that we hang out. Moreover, why would I burden you? You are not my boyfriend or something." She deadpanned.
"Yeah, for the time being." Juho murmured to himself.
"Did you say something?" she questioned.
"No, it's nothing." He smiled.
It wasn't a long way and soon they were in the parking lot of Kamou's apartment.
"Would you like to come up for coffee or something?" she asked turning to him.
She moved frighteningly close to his face and winked, "If you are tired you can sleep at my place."
"Coffee! Coffee would be fine." Juho replied nervously.
Kamou gave out a small chuckle and got off the vehicle, leading him towards her apartment. Once inside, she asked him to make himself comfortable in the living area, while she was in the kitchen making some coffee.
The living area was quite detailed, it was big space dominated by shades of dark grey and white. The leather couch was white with small cushions of both black and grey color. Opposite to it was a huge screen with two big speakers. Most probably the walls had sound proofing otherwise she wouldn't have been able to use them. Near the left wall, there was a huge bookshelf, filled with books. Some of the columns of the bookshelf also had some small plants placed neatly. The center table was pentagon shaped made of black glass and golden metal boundaries and legs. There were some bigger plants placed here and there in the living area. Overall, the look was quite simple yet very pleasing and neat.
You can often draw people's personality by analyzing the kind of books they read. Juho got up and walked towards the bookshelf. He looked around the books, if it could be divided from top to bottom it would be, manga, Fictional stories, mysteries and thriller, Harry porter and lastly some motivational books. There were no romance or horror novels to be seen. The collection was mostly dominated by Japanese manga.
'So, she is a weeaboo.' He thought to himself. Juho himself loved Japanese Anime.
Something in the corner of the topmost shelf caught his attention. He reached out to grab it, it was a photo album. Looked a bit old and dusty, unsure whether he should open it or not, he stood there staring at it.
'It must be private to her that's why she kept somewhat away from plain sight' he thought.
Just as he was going to place it back, something dropped out of the album. Panicking, Juho bent down to pick it up. When he had a clear look at it, he recognized it was a photo, a photo of Taehee. The photo seemed a couple of years old as it was taken at a concert. If he remembered correctly, Taehee's last concert was almost three years back when his acting career had just begun.
'What is this doing in here?' He thought.
He turned the photo around and looked at its back for a date. The photo was dated almost four years back. There were also a few lines at the back of it.
'To my love Yun Taehee, I will be with you one day. Until then wait for me. Yours and only yours Kamou'
Numb at this point, Juho quietly kept the photo inside the album and placed it back on the bookshelf. He sat on the couch thinking to himself, connecting the events. Soon, Kamou appeared and served him his coffee. She sat beside him on the couch maintaining a secure distance. She looked up at his pale face for a while. When she got no response from him opted to speak up.
"The coffee is getting cold. What are you thinking about?"
Juho turned towards her and looked up to her face as she smiled at him concerned.
"Do you not feel well? Your face looks pale." she asked.
"Yes, I am fine. Don't worry."
"The coffee is turning cold. Make sure to drink it while it's hot." She said handing the cup in his hand.
Both began drinking coffee when out of nowhere Juho asked, "That day you said you loved someone, and he was a celebrity. Do you think I would know the guy?"
"Why do you ask?" she tried to be calm, her heart was filled with the sense of panic.
"Just wanted to know what type of men you are into." Juho replied.
"Maybe I could set you up with him." He added.
Trying hard to maintain her calm, "No thank you, I am not in love with anyone right now."
"So, this means you feel nothing for me?" He knew it was too early for this, yet he couldn't stop himself from asking.
Caught off guard she managed to say, "It's…. it's… it's not like"
"It's fine you don't need to complete that." Cutting her off he said. His tone came off a little cold to Kamou.
An uneasy silence filled the room. Both didn't bother to continue the conversation, lost in their thoughts. Juho got up to leave. Kamou lead him to the door.
Sensing something was wrong she leaned in for a goodbye hug, to comfort him a little. Noticing her actions, Juho filled her in his embrace, like it would be his last chance he would get to hug her.
"I don't know what's bothering you but it's going to be okay. Make sure to reach home safely." she said breaking their hug.
"Goodbye then." Juho said turning around to leave.