A/N: I wrote this alternate reality in response to my disbelief at how ridiculous the plot had become as we neared the end. Imagine if Jun Pyo never showed up that day and Jan Di finally came to her senses and understood what real love and sacrifice meant. This is my imagining of what it could have been...

Chapter 1: The Fool

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare

Ji Hoo

He stared at the TV in disbelief, unsure if his mind was playing tricks on him again.

Was this what they describe as an act of kismet? Was he really destined to find her?

There she was, behind the reporter, waving two whole fishes in the air, one in each hand. He still couldn't believe it was really her, but there she was, with her smile and all her courageousness.

He was half sure he wasn't imagining it this time. He could even hear her loud voice, shouting over the din, trying to make a sale.

He leaned forward anxiously, eyes never leaving her on the screen, ears listening intently to where this location could be.

Once he got that vital detail, he switched the TV off, grabbed his jacket and ran.

It was time to call the guys.

He stared at Jun Pyo, walking around the pool table.

"I told you, I'm not interested."

His reply to Woo Bin was an obvious lie, but it still angered him. He was frustrated at his best friend's mediocre act of disregard, but more than anything, he had had enough of his constant indecisiveness. Whether Jun Pyo was going to fight for her or not, he decided that he wasn't going to wait around any longer for him to eventually change his mind again.

Time was of the essence, and he was supposed to be her protector.

"To be sure, I'll ask you one final time, do you mean that?"

Without much hesitation, Jun Pyo replied, the usual hint of annoyance in his voice, "You can go see her without me."

He thought it was almost funny how he already knew this would happen.

"Well, I'm going then. It's entirely up to you, whether or not you want to go."

He placed the note with the name of the island he had written earlier on the pool table and left. It was likely that this would be the last time he would ever go out of his way to help his best friend, yet again, make things right with her.

Whether or not Jun Pyo showed up, he'd already made up his mind that he was going to tell her the truth.

It felt like a million hours had gone by, but he had finally made it onto the island.

He asked around and eventually managed to find where she lived. He got there as fast as he could, but as he approached the house, he was surprised to find that a small mob had gathered outside.

Upon approaching the scene, he saw that Jan Di, her mother and her brother were being threatened and surrounded by these villagers.

Amidst the growing chatter, one of the women suddenly burst aloud, "Give us back our money now!"

The next thing he knew, all hell broke loose and the crowd started attacking them right in front of their own home.

These villagers were like vultures with their greed. The way they preyed on her and her family disgusted him, but it was the look of despair on her face that pained him the most. His heart once again ached seeing her in this state.

Calmly, he walked right into the chaos.

"I'll give you the money," he said aloud, breaking the bedlam.

It was then that they stopped, and the vultures turned their attention on him, gaping in amazement while they whispered about him amongst themselves.

Jan Di stared at him too, her eyes wide with surprise, "Sunbae!"

The women looked between the two of them and some of them started to smile as they continued their whispering. Maybe they would leave her and her family alone now, but just to be sure, he repeated himself, "The money, I'll give it to you."

He returned his gaze to Jan Di and she looked at him apologetically. He could tell that aside from gratitude, she was more embarrassed by the entire incident.

She couldn't tell from his cool composure, but a flood of relief and elation came over him as he stood there. He still couldn't quite believe that he'd finally found her.

Jan Di

After he wrote and handed out the cheques, they went for a walk around the island, taking the scenic route by the beach.

The peaceful company and quiet was a nice change from all the recent madness and she had almost forgotten how much she loved these moments with him. His calm and reassuring presence never failed to put her at ease.

She supposed that she should be wishing it was Jun Pyo strolling beside her, but if she were really honest with herself now, she was actually thankful that it was Ji Hoo instead. She imagined if Jun Pyo was here, they would be fighting like cat and dog again, and at the moment, she just didn't want to deal with that.

Before there was Jun Pyo, even before she ever knew who the F4 were, she knew of him. She had seen him standing there and it was then that she guessed that this was what people must mean when they describe what love at first sight was. She thought back to him playing that sad and beautiful melody on his violin. That day, he had appeared like an angel standing before her, and she could never fathom at the time that he would eventually become her first love, and then her guardian angel.

She stole a glimpse of him as he stood beside her in silence, looking out at a passing fishing boat sailing out into the ocean.

When did their lives become so bound to each other? Even when she chose Jun Pyo over him, he remained her loyal and steadfast personal firefighter, appearing whenever the emergency bell in her heart rang. Through the good and bad times, when she needed to cry, or share a laugh, he was always there for her, right by her side, even during the times when she didn't know she needed him.

As they strolled past the lighthouse, he noticed that she had something to say, and stopped in his tracks, glancing at her before he looked away again.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked.

Without looking at her, Ji Hoo answered quietly, "I could hear the bell, your emergency bell."

Her eyes widened at the reply, but it really didn't surprise her.

"Every night, I would listen out for it."

She sighed, "How is that possible? How can you be like this? You've already done so much for me."

I don't deserve someone as good as you, she thought as her tears started to well.

That was when he turned towards her. He bent his head down to hers and held both her shoulders, peering into her eyes, searching hers.

"Because, you've given me so much more," he answered.

He braved a smile, before letting go of her and looked away again, out at the sea. She knew all this turmoil hadn't been easy for him as well and she was sorry that he had to go through all of this because of her. There was a part of her that wanted to hold and comfort him, but she was afraid of what she would do if she gave in to that, so instead she stood beside him and looked out at the sea too.

Ji Hoo

The sun had started to set and their walk was soon coming to an end. As they passed along the docks, Jan Di asked, "How's Grandfather doing?"

"He's still working at the clinic. No doubt he'll continue his work there for as long as he possibly can." He smiled at the thought of his Grandfather and how much he loved helping those patients. He was grateful that they both had a renewed relationship now, and it was all thanks to her.

She chuckled, "Yeah that sounds like him, alright."

He thought to himself that this was it. It was now or never. Regardless whether or not he was doing this too late or too soon, even if he was sure that it wouldn't work, and the fear was killing him inside, he had to bite the bullet and ask her.

He turned towards her and took a breath. After finding her location, he decided then that he would rather come clean with his feelings for her and get rejected, than continue to live on in silence and constant regret. He had mentally prepared himself as best as he could, either way.

From around his neck, he took off the silver chain that held his mother's ring and held it out to her.

She had no clue how important this was and what it meant to him, but she held it carefully in her hand, staring at it in curiosity.

"Grandfather gave this to me recently. This once belonged to my grandmother, and then it was my mother's."

She snapped her head up, looking at him with wide eyes, "Sunbae…"

He was afraid of the impending rejection, so he looked away when he confessed, "I don't know when I started to feel this way, but I've come to realize that I can't live without you."