Here is the next chapter! Enjoy! XD

Confused Feelings Chapter 4

The rays of the morning sun filtered through the window shades and fell lightly on Elizabeth's sleeping face. Disturbed by the intensity of the light, she stirred and raised an arm to block out the glare – only to find her arm pinned down by a heavy weight. Puzzled, she turned her head and got a huge shock…

Yunho's face was but inches away from hers.

Up close, she could clearly see rhythmic rise and fall of his chest with every single breathe he took. She could feel the weight on his head resting on her arm, a firm but not unpleasant sensation. She admired the way the small flaw just above the left side of his upper lip made his face seem elegant instead of imperfect, mischievous instead of rugged. She noticed how the slight morning breeze trickling in from the open window ruffled his hair, so that it seemed to have a life of its own. In the stillness of the moment, she was aware of many things she would have other wise overlooked.

In her surprise, she must have made the tiniest sound, so soft that it was the equivalent to the rustle of the leaves in a tree or the breathy sigh of the wind, but it was enough to wake him.

He stirred.

Elizabeth quickly shut her eyes and tried to keep her breathing even, faking sleep. From the sounds that reached her ears, she could tell that he had awoken. The weight was lifted off her arm, and for some reason, her arm felt cold and exposed without his comforting warmth.

Silence.

Then, she sensed it more than felt it. That gentle pressure from the palm of his hand against her cheek. For a moment it nestled there, between her ear and her neck. Then his thumb began to move slowly, caressing her smooth skin, leaving a trail of fire wherever it went. It was a fire that burnt but did not consume, a fire that warmed her heart and soul. She tensed, her heart racing, her breathe caught in her throat. He did not notice however, because all too soon that soothing motion stopped and that tender touch was gone.

The door opened and closed with barely a creak, but she felt his presence left the room and dared to open her eyes. Her heart hammering, she sat up in bed. Wonderingly, she lifted her hand to the spot where his hand had touched. It was as though his warmth still lingered in the very pores of her skin, as though by touching it, she could retain the sensations that his simple act had evoked. Unconsciously, a tinge of pink crept to her face and she smiled shyly.

Later that morning, dressed in one of Yunho's super large t-shirts that practically reached her knees, Elizabeth was sitting at the dining table having breakfast. In the absence of Jaejoong, Elizabeth had volunteered to cook and all of them were sitting around the table enjoying a homemade meal for the first time in days. Changmin was gobbling up his scrambled eggs like there's no tomorrow, while Junsu and Yoochun were entertaining her funny stories about their training days. None mentioned the events of last night, and in the light of day, it seemed too dark and horrible to be true; so it remained, for the time being, safely hidden away.

Yunho was quiet. It was by no means unusual, but today, he had the oddest look on his face and he kept sneaking glances at Elizabeth when he thought she wasn't looking. He had this far-away-look in his eyes, as if he was thinking about something…

- Flashback -

Kiss her.

That thought came unbidden to his mind. Compelled by an unknown force, he slowly leaned forward and soft as a butterfly's wings, pressed his lips against hers. For a moment, his heart stopped. He could feel the gentle softness of her mouth against his, the warmth of her breath, the taste of her lips. He breathed in her scent, a mixture of the jasmine perfume she preferred and something else… her own special scent that as tantalizing as the sweetest drug.

What am I doing?

His eyes, which he had unconsciously closed, flew open and he reared back as if startled. A confusing jumble of thoughts raced through his mind.

What was he doing? How could he take such liberties with a woman he only knew for a month? And whats more, how could he take advantage of her when she had just been through such a harrowing experience? How could he, who prides himself on his self control and honour, do such a thing? And more importantly, why?

Bombarded by a dozen emotions, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

In the living room, Yoochun was sprawled on the couch. The moment he caught sight of Yunho, he leaped to his feet and asked anxiously, "How is she?"

Distractedly, Yunho nod his head and replied shortly, "Sleeping."

Relieved, Yoochun sank back down onto the couch, his weariness seeping into his bones. It has been a long day…

"Go sleep, you look beat."

Yoochun looked up at Yunho and gave him a tired smile. He nodded his head and went to his room. It seemed empty in the absence of Jaejoong. Collapsing on his bed, he did not even bother changing before falling into sleep's embrace.

Yunho, on the other hand, was in the balcony, deep in thought. He was asking the same few questions again and again. Why? What did that kiss mean? Why did he feel the need to protect her and hold her close? He knew he was by nature a protective person, even if he had not known her, seeing her in that situation; he would have still tried to help. But this was different. Even after those men had been beaten off, even after she had calmed down, he still wanted to defend her and ease her sorrow. And then the kiss in the bedroom … He can't deny that he found her attractive. There was something in her that drew him to her, something he can't place his finger on…

A muffled moan interrupted his thoughts. It was coming from his room. Immediately, he rushed inside, his previous musings temporarily forgotten. When he got to his room, he found the blanket on the floor and the bed sheets in disarray. Elizabeth was thrashing from side to side. She was muttering and moaning, her distress evident on her face. Yunho leaned over to her and touched her hand lightly, hoping than a human's touch would be enough to wake her from her nightmare.

It wasn't. Instead, in the grasp of her dream, she instinctively sought reassurance and comfort, clutching Yunho's hand in a death's grip and drawing it to her chest. Yunho was pulled off balance by her unexpected actions and fell against the bed so that half of his body lying on it.

Elizabeth was trapped. All around her was a cage of twisted and tortured metal and the acrid smell of burnt rubber and scorched flesh. It made her want to hurl, but she could not get out. There was screaming and shouting and the loud ear piercing shrieks that hurt her ears and made her want to hide. She saw her mommy through a gap in the wrecked vehicle and called out to her. She called and called but it was no use, her thin frail voice did not carry far and she watched helplessly as her mother walked farther and farther away…

Elizabeth was murmuring something. Yunho strained his ears to hear, he could make out only a few words.

"Mommy…mommy…help…no…no…mommy…"

There was so much need and love and terror in her voice that it twisted Yunho's heart. Seeing her like this, he suddenly wanted so much to protect her. Deep inside, so deep in his heart that he did not even realise it, he made a vow to always be by her side, to protect her from the unhappiness that seems to plague her. His own hand was trembling with emotion as he reached up and hugged her to him, ignoring the pain inflicted by the tight grip on his other hand. He began singing softly, an old lullaby that his own mother had once sang to him.

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird.
If that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring.
If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's going to buy you a looking glass.
If that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's going to buy you a billy goat…"

Through the haze of despair and fear, Elizabeth felt a warmth warp securely around her. A low soothing voice penetrated the horror that surrounded her and resounded in her mind, chasing away the remaining webs of her nightmare. Gratefully, she let herself sink into soft velvety darkness and that encompassing warmth.

"…If that billy goat won't pull,
Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull.
If that cart and bull turn over,
Mama's going to buy you a dog named Rover.
If that dog named Rover won't bark,
Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart.
If that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little girl in town.
So hush little baby, don't you cry,
Daddy loves you and so do I."

By the end of the song, Elizabeth had quiet down. Her small face, upturned like a dolphin's, looked so sweet and innocent that in that very instant Yunho's heart melted. Her grip on his hand had loosened, but Yunho did not notice. It felt so right to have her next to him… so relaxed… so perfect… his eyelids were so heavy…if he could just close them for a little while…

Pretty soon he was asleep.

- End of Flashback -

"Yunho? Are you okay?"

Yunho snapped back to reality. He found Elizabeth looking closely at him and the others staring at him expectantly.

"Huh?"

"I said, do you want to watch a movie since all of you have today off." Elizabeth repeated patiently.

"Sure, if all of you want to." He replied more casually than he felt. He hoped that she did not notice the colour rising in his cheeks. Did she remember what happen last night? When he had left the room that morning, she was still sleeping, so she shouldn't have known about it right? There's no telling what she would do if she knew.

Get a grip on yourself Yunho. You've got to stop thinking about what happened last night. It's only a passing incident. Nothing more. Maybe the movie would take your mind of her…

So, off they went, all dressed in jeans and shirts with caps and shades. They piled into the van and with Elizabeth driving; they made their way into the city, accompanied by what Elizabeth realised was their usual 'fooling around' style. By virtue of a great deal of luck and an even greater deal of arguing over the choice of movies, all five of them finally slide into their respective seats in a darkened theater without being recognized.

Changmin happily enjoying his popcorn and sipping his drink which Elizabeth has bought for them, her treat, she said, for their heroic efforts the night before. She smiled as she said this, even if it was a little strained, and so the others did not dwell on it long.

But they were unaware that deep inside Elizabeth was hurting. She smiled and laughed together with the boys at the correct parts of the movie, she smiled when Yunho, who had the habit of checking up on everyone, glanced at her as if she was one of his members, she even played along with Changmin when he pretended to be hurt that she wouldn't buy him a second serving at lunch.

But no one saw the tears of blood that were flowing from her dry eyes.

No one saw the hideous wound that was bleeding with every beat of her heart.

No one. Not even Yunho.

Hope you enjoyed it as must as I enjoyed writing it. :)

Having exam now so would not upload so soon. Sorry in advance. :)