Chapter 21

"So," Yi Jeong frowned as if pondering on a very serious question. They were on the dance floor, having a whispered conversation. "Now are you my girlfriend, my mistress or my wife?"

Ga Eul snickered, "For the world, your wife. Inside the four walls, girlfriend and in the bedroom..."

He grinned devilishly, "I like the way you think."

He smiled at someone who'd moved a little closer to them in the dance floor and very subtly maneuvered themselves away to a little less occupied space. Ga Eul smirked, "You really don't like too many people, do you?"

"No," he confessed. "I hate parties. I feel claustrophobic. Plus I don't like people who're pretentious."

She nodded, "Yeah. I remember you told me that during our engagement."

"I did?"

She nodded, "If I remember correctly, you said you hated two faced people who appeared all friendly in front of you but bitch about you as soon as you turn your back."

"Ah yes, I remember now. I still maintain, you're one of the very few people who isn't afraid to show their feelings."

Ga Eul bobbed her head a little, "Thank you. I do have one more question for you."

"Ask away, don't hesitate," he urged.

She took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "What were you trying to do in the trailer?"

From the expression that crossed his face, she could see that she had touched a raw nerve, "I can't even begin to explain how sorry I was back then and I still am. Things went so horribly wrong back there."

"So things didn't go as you planned?"

He shook his head, "I never meant to ask you for a kiss. And I most certainly didn't want the reporters to show up. I'm really sorry about that."

She looked at him incredulously, "You didn't send the reporters?"

"No," Yi Jeong looked straight into her eyes. "I would never do that Ga Eul. I had no intention of having that humiliating image spread across the newspapers and Internet."

"Who sent the reporters then?"

Yi Jeong shrugged, "It could be merely coincidental."

She nodded, but clearly wasn't completely convinced. "Maybe you're right."

"Trust me Ga Eul, all I wanted to do was scare you," Yi Jeong confessed. "If I knew that a jar of spiders would've done the trick, I would've done it. Would've saved both of us a lot of trouble."

Ga Eul scowled, "You ass. Likewise I swear when I sabotaged that film of yours all I wanted to do was to ruffle your feathers. If only I knew breaking your precious coffee mugs would've done the job, I wouldn't have needed to pull a massive favor from Jae Kyung."

He chuckled and moments later she joined in as well. "So no hard feelings, right?" Ga Eul asked once the mirth subsided.

"None. What about you?"

"None."

Unknown to them, a pair of eyes were studying them very carefully. Eyes that were full of hatred and bitterness.

"They look sickeningly happy, don't they?" A voice distracted the owner of the eyes from her perusal of the couple. A medium heighted man with messy black hair and reasonably good features looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" the girl asked. "And who are you talking about?"

Without waiting for the girl's invitation, he plopped himself on a chair next to her. "I'm Gong Su Pyo. You're Go Ae Cha right? And I was talking about Mr. and Mrs. So," he finished the sentence bitterly.

Clarity dawned on her face, "You were dating Ga Eul briefly, right?"

He nodded, "Indeed. Before I was dumped unceremoniously, just like you."

Ae Cha frowned, "But Ga Eul told me you were the one who ended the relationship."

"Of course she said that, because I was the one who said the words 'it is over'," he said. "But that was after that bastard stole her from me. And to think, I always thought that he was one of the best guys among the F4."

Ae Cha snorted derisively, "Oh looks like you've been similarly burned. She stole him from me, after promising to me that she'd make him apologize and come back to me."

Su Pyo reached over and patted her hand, "I know. Your humiliation was so very public."

"We should do something. They should know that they can't really get away with messing with people willy-nilly."

Su Pyo gave a frustrated groan, "If only. I tried and all that I managed to do was to get the two married."

Ae Cha smiled, "I've been thinking about it actually. But then, as they say, two minds are better than one. Want to partner up to give them what they deserve?"

Su Pyo grinned, "Sure. Deal."

It was a beautiful starry night and the contrast of the stars against the black ocean was breath taking. The wedding was a splendid success and the bride and the groom had now retired to their suite. In the wake of the celebrations, the guests had scattered all over the cruise. Roaming around aimlessly, Ga Eul had found her way to the deck as the breathtaking sight beckoned her. She briefly wondered where Yi Jeong was, but figured that he might be with his friends. Life had been very busy for him in the past few months and he hadn't been able to spend much time with his friends who were like brothers to him. He deserved this vacation and Ga Eul wouldn't begrudge him this moment of unwinding with his best friends.

Normally Jae Kyung would have joined her as the two ruminated about the mini-miracle of Jan Di being married and for love no less, but turned out that there was something that could unnerve the otherwise unshakable heiress of the JK Group. She had fallen severely sea-sick and was now sleeping away in her suite, heavily medicated. And so, Ga Eul was alone. She had spotted Ae Cha a couple of times and had tried to talk to her, but then she had found her having what looked like an intimate conversation with Gong Soo Pyo. Ga Eul smiled a little at the strange twist of fate. Not too long ago, she had been dating Soo Pyo and Ae Cha and Yi Jeong were an item. But then life threw a massive curveball and two strong willed, stubborn as mules and equally determined individuals collided and everything went spinning out of control. And now, as a result she was married to So Yi Jeong and Ae Cha and Soo Pyo looked like they were getting pally.

Absently she found herself comparing Soo Pyo and Yi Jeong. Soo Pyo was gentle, naïve to a certain extent, sweet, caring and to be very frank, boring. Yi Jeong on the other hand was like a weird hybrid between a Rubik's-cube and a dynamite. You'd have to spend hours trying to figure out the puzzle but one wrong move and it could blow up on your face. She thought back to his admission during the dance. One thing she had begun to understand about Yi Jeong was he wasn't one to lie. Of course he told the occasional white-lie and she had seen him pull it off flawlessly, but when it came to bigger things, he was sure to say the truth. If he didn't want to talk about the subject, he'd say so bluntly (his accident being a case in point) but he wouldn't use a lie to weasel his way out of a tight spot, not when the lie could potentially hurt.

So she was willing to accept his confession that he had never really intended for things to go that far as they had in the trailer. Although kissing her hadn't been his original intent, but it had happened nonetheless. And then what had followed was perhaps the most humiliating moment of her life. She could still feel its bitterness at the back of her mouth, but she believed Yi Jeong when he said that he wasn't responsible for the media showing up. Her mind went back to another time when their mothers had orchestrated a date between the two. Inexplicably the media people had shown up there as well. She had always assumed that it had been their mothers who had sent the press there but now she had begun to wonder if somehow the two incidents were connected. Yi Jeong had speculated that the paparazzi showing up could've been mere coincidence but Ga Eul wasn't going to be so cavalier about it. A kernel of thought had begun to take shape when a half forgotten statement began to emerge at the back of her mind but a voice interrupted her musings and just like that, the thought that had begun to take shape dissipated without leaving a trace.

"Ga Eul sshi," the voice was low and measured.

She turned and felt a mixture of surprise, annoyance and revulsion creep down her spine looking at the newcomer. In the dim light from the sole lamp nearby, she could see a dark patch on his jaw and felt a fierce and sadistic joy course through her body. She let her irritation show as with feigned politeness she said, "Mr Watanabe Kaito."

"I wanted to apologize for my previous behavior," he said slowly, his eyes fixed on her. "I was drunk and I don't know what I said to your husband. My friend says I said something really bad."

She sighed, "One should only drink as much they can handle otherwise they're inviting trouble."

He nodded, "I hope you can find it in you to forgive me. I'm not using my drunkenness as an excuse, but that's what happened."

"It's ok," Ga Eul said in an effort to end the conversation. At that point, she didn't feel anything for that man, not even annoyance. He was just a random stranger.

"Thank you so much," he said extending a hand. "I can't tell you how relieved I am."

Uncertain of what to do, but not wanting to appear rude, Ga Eul gingerly accepted his hand and instantly regretting it for he was rubbing a finger against her palm. When Ga Eul tried to pull her hand back, his grip only tightened and he tugged her closer. She tried to wrestle her way out but Watanabe Kaito was a much bigger and stronger person. He had pulled her flush against him and held her in a tight embrace.

"Gosh!" he breathed against her, restraining her against the railing of the deck, rubbing his body up and down her body. "You are so damn sexy. The Gods made you to be bedded."

Ga Eul felt bile rise up her throat and tried to twist her body around to get away from the lascivious assault but it only served to arouse the man further. "Yes baby," he groaned. "Come on, rub against me."

A low, cold and menacing voice interrupted them, "What's going on here?"

Watanabe Kaito turned his head slightly and Ga Eul used the distraction to knee him in the groin. The man doubled up in pain and she ran away from him to the rescuer. In the brief time that she had known him, she had never seen Yoon Ji Hoo's face showing any kind of emotion but somehow he radiated a fury that was unmatched and almost palpable. Without thinking she clutched his lapels and Ji Hoo draped an arm around her, his eyes still on that abhorrent man.

"You're going to regret this," Ji Hoo said in a tone that conveyed finality. It wasn't so much a warning as it was a proclamation. Without any further words he led a distraught Ga Eul away from the deck. In the safety of Ji Hoo's arms, Ga Eul burst into tears.

"Do you want me to call Yi Jeong?" Ji Hoo asked gently and she nodded, unable to speak between her silent sobs.

Woo Bin and Yi Jeong were having a very tightly contested pool match. Woo Bin was getting more and more involved with 'The Organization' and as a result, his time was becoming scarcer. Yi Jeong too had been very busy, what with launching a new film and working on setting up the Natural History Museum of Woo Sung. Absorbed in their work lives, the two friends hadn't been able to have a game in months. They used this time to catch up on their games. Currently Woo Bin was trailing by one point but given his skills, Yi Jeong knew that he couldn't get complacent. One point difference meant nothing when it came to Prince Song.

Suddenly his phone rang, disrupting his concentration. He looked at the caller ID and was surprised to see Ji Hoo's name flashing. "Why is Ji Hoo calling me?"

Woo Bin looked around, "Wasn't he here some time ago?"

"Exactly." Yi Jeong said confused. He answered the call, "Ji Hoo. What's up?"

"Come to the Blue Lounge, now."

The call was disconnected, leaving a befuddled Yi Jeong staring at the phone. He shared a confused look with Woo Bin. Why was Ji Hoo channeling Jun Pyo's spirit? Something about the latent urgency in his tones made Yi Jeong think that he had to check it out. Ji Hoo wasn't one to give orders, not to his friends, so whatever this was, this was serious. He pocketed the phone and walked out of the pool room. Woo Bin cast a wistful glance at the now abandoned pool game and followed his friend.

The two of them made their way to the very exclusive Blue Lounge in silence. The lounge was reserved only for the F4 and their guests, so there was no doubt about privacy. The two of them walked in and were instantly greeted by the maître d who led them to Ji Hoo. The sight that met their eyes made Yi Jeong gasp.

Ga Eul was holding on to Ji Hoo in a white knuckled grasp, her entire body shaking in obvious sobs. He exchanged a questioning glance with Ji Hoo, who mouthed later. With a quick nod he slid next to Ga Eul and gently touched her hair. "Ga Eul," he called softly.

She looked up, her face crumpled and lined with mascara. In all the time that he had known her, he had never seen her shed more than a couple of tears, even when she was badly humiliated. So for her to be sobbing like this, it had to be something big. Very gently he pulled her into his embrace and she complied. Quietly Ji Hoo and Woo Bin slipped away to give them more privacy.

"Hey," he whispered softly. "What happened?"

"That – that bastard," she said between sobbed. "He – he molested me."

"He? Who? That Japanese dude?" Yi Jeong questioned, trying to keep fury at bay.

She nodded vehemently. Instantly Yi Jeong saw red. He wanted to hunt that asshole down and rip him limb by limb. But right now, Ga Eul needed him. That Japanese man would be taught a lesson that he was going to remember for the rest of his life. He held Ga Eul close, slowly rocking her to calm her down.

"Don't cry Ga Eul," he said gently. "That jerk doesn't deserve your tears. You're handing him a victory by crying over it."

She wiped her tears fiercely and looked at him, "I don't know what I did or said that made him think that I'm available."

Yi Jeong shook his head, "He's a sick man Ga Eul. You're not going to judge yourself based on what that sicko did or said."

She nodded, unable to stop the fresh wave of tears that escaped her eyes. Tenderly he wiped her tears and bent down to kiss her lips lightly. "No. No more tears. Not for that jackass. He is going to pay for this."

Ga Eul lowered her head on his shoulder and shivered, "He rubbed his body up and down mine. I feel so… dirty."

Yi Jeong's arms tightened around her. "I need a shower," she said. "I need to wash his feeling off."

He nodded, "Come on. Let's get you to the suite."

The two of them started to leave the lounge when they spotted Woo Bin and Ji Hoo sitting on the other end of the lounge. From the somber look on Woo Bin's face, it appeared that he had been filled in.

Yi Jeong squeezed her arm gently and said, "I'll be back in a minute."

She nodded, her eyes fixed on the floor. He walked over to his friends, "Woo Bin, I want to know everything about him. Everything."

"Already on it," Woo Bin answered. "You go to her. She needs you now."

With one last look at both their faces, Yi Jeong walked over to Ga Eul, his mind already formulating a crippling revenge on the man.

Ga Eul stood in the middle of the suite, hugging herself. Yi Jeong locked the door, came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Instantly Ga Eul spun and threw her arms around his neck, burrowing her face in the crook of his neck.

"I feel so … disgusted," she whispered slightly.

"Go take the shower, you'll feel better."

She nodded but made no move, still holding on to him. Yi Jeong hooked a thumb under her chin, while the other hand was around her waist. He lifted her face very gently and kissed her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks and her nose. He brushed her tears off with his lips and kissed her on the mouth very slowly. Tears sprang afresh as she couldn't help but notice the stark difference between how the two men touched her. This was the difference between a touch she detested and one that she welcomed.

"Go on Ga Eul," he whispered. "Take the shower. I'll keep a steaming cup of coffee ready for you."

She nodded and slowly, unwillingly stepped out of his embrace. Instantly she missed his warmth and without thinking about how it would be perceived, she burrowed back into him.

"Please Yi Jeong, don't leave me," she didn't care that she sounded pleading. For once she didn't feel embarrassed at letting her guard down around him. She just knew that he was not going to think less of her because of that.

"I'm not going anywhere Ga Eul, I'm right here."

She pulled him in closer, clutching on to him tightly. "I need that shower, but I don't want to let you go."

He nodded, "I can join you if you like."

She looked at him expectantly, "Will you?"

"Of course."

Very slowly he unzipped her dress, helping her out of her dress. She stood quietly as he undressed her and then quickly disposed of his clothes. Draping an arm around her, he guided her to the shower stall. Yi Jeong turned the shower, letting water droplets envelop her as he walked around her and stood in front of her.

"Hold me Yi Jeong," she whispered.

He didn't need to be told twice. As soon as his body touched her, Ga Eul felt like everything , all the disgusting things that the lecherous man had made her feel, washed away in one instant.

"Yi Jeong," she breathed. "Thank you."

He looked puzzled, "What for?"

She shook her head, refusing to elaborate and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him. He responded wholeheartedly, water dripping over them. His hands moved up her back, against the direction of the water. The coolness of the shower, combined with the molten fire that his fingers left on her skin meant that Ga Eul's chain of thoughts was completely lost. Forgotten were the lascivious man and the horrendous experience. All that remained was Yi Jeong.

He lowered his head, kissing her neck. Very delicately he bit the base of her neck, giving her a hickey. His hands moved over her breast, brushing off Watanabe Kaito's filth and replacing it with the purity that she sought. He leaned over her, touching every inch of her body with his, and picked up a bottle of liquid soap. He pumped some into his palm, worked up lather and began applying it on her. Beginning with her neck, he moved to her shoulders, then to her back before moving to her arms. Ga Eul's eyes drifted shut and a small smile played on her lips as she enjoyed his maneuvers. He had travelled from her hands to her torso, lathering her stomach. Very gently his fingers moved upward, cupping her breasts and soaping them.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, electing an erotic moan from her.

The water washed the soap out gently, and his mouth closed over her breast. She arched backwards, groaning in response. His hand trailed down her side, along her waist before clutching her thigh and lifting her leg. She felt him nudge against her, and an involuntary shiver ran down her spine. Her fingers carved runnels on his toned back while a sweet, tormenting heat started to engulf her center.

None too gently he pushed her against the wall, lining her with increasingly heated kisses. She clutched on to the towel rack with one hand and wound the other around his neck. It was testament to how fit he was that he hefted her with obvious ease, with every muscle in his toned wet arms pronounced. With one swift move he was inside her, making her gasp with pleasure.

"God, Yi Jeong!"

He moved at a steady rhythm and she moved with him. Her previous and rather unsettling experience was forgotten and she opened herself up to So Yi Jeong, the man who was her boyfriend, lover and husband, all rolled into one.