In Between the Lines | Completed

Lee Young-min

Despite last night's late ending, I woke up bright and early to prepare my home for Miss Jones' arrival. When Miss Jones had been describing her previous writing space, it as though she had seen a picture of my apartment and was tasked with describing it.

Huge glass windows perfect for people watching? Check.

A couch comfy enough to spread out? Check.

Someone friendly to strike up a conversation with? Double Check!

After we had dropped Miss Jones off last night, I had expressed my desire to let Miss Jones use my apartment as her writing space to Du Shin-Il who hesitantly agreed.

"Are you sure you want to invite here there? I know how you feel about strangers in your place." He had asked.

I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair as I look around for any other last-minute adjustments to make.

Thankfully my cleaning lady had just touched up the apartment with a deep cleaning session last week that made the windows sparkle. The vaulted ceilings and tall glass windows had been the reason I had selected this apartment despite it being much smaller than the other places I had toured.

Will she think my place is too small for being an actor?

"It's a shame that I will be at the studio for reshoots instead of being here with her," I mumble aloud.

I run around the apartment, fluffing pillows, tossing extra blankets on the couch, and finding the perfect playlist to suit Miss Jones' needs when a text comes through on my phone alerting me to Miss Jones arrival.

I look around and am pleased that everything is as good as it can get when the doorbell rings. I walk over and check the security cameras to confirm it's Miss Jones before buzzing her into the building. I bounce on my feet as I wait for her to take the short elevator ride up and then the knock on the door. I check the second set of cameras and go to the door, opening it widely and letting her in.

I usher Miss Jones in and take in her appearance.

Rather than her usual jeans or slacks, she's wearing fluffy pajama shorts with cartoon fruit on them. She's got a matching crew neck sweatshirt on that has flowers and more fruit embroidered on the sleeves and her hair has been gathered up into a messy top knot on her heat, tendrils of curls hanging on the sides of her oversized glasses. A stack of notebooks, miscellaneous papers, and her laptop bag sit in her arms. She juggles a large tumbler of liquid in the crook of her arm along with a handful of scripts. Fuzzy socks with sandals complete the look and I feel my heart swell as I take in the hot mess of a woman before me.

She's more beautiful at her worst than most people are at their best.

She coughs, shaking me from my staring.

"Miss Jones, here are some slippers."

I hand her a pair of cat-shaped house slippers that had been delivered this morning and she smiles at them.

"Sorry for the jumble. When Mr. Du told me we'd be coming somewhere I could spread out comfortably with no one to bother me, I decided to basically bring my office with me," Vivian explains. "I didn't realize it would be your apartment though, I'm sorry if this is too much of a hassle. I can go to the office."

I shake my head, "You're totally fine. The point is for you to be comfortable so you can keep writing. My home is yours to do with it as you please. I hope this won't be too weird. When you described your old writing space, it was too crazy of a coincidence so I figured this might be a good fit. Let me show you around."