Chapter 29: Knock Out (Party Part II)

At the RFA Party, Zen couldn't tear his eyes away, or keep his hands off of MC. She always looked beautiful, of course, but tonight she managed to uplevel herself to drop dead gorgeous, and it was driving Zen crazy. Honestly, he couldn't remember a time when he'd ever been more turned on by a girl. Every time he looked at his princess, watched her move in that damn sexy blue dress, his heart beat wildly, and he often had to stop to catch his breath.

"Man, I can't believe she's mine," Zen said to Saeyoung while they were waiting for the girls to come back from the restroom. "She like literally takes my breath away."

"Yeah, I can't believe it either, bro… Guess she prefers beauty over brains," Saeyoung quipped, laughing. Zen swatted him.

"OW!" Saeyoung bellowed, rubbing his arm where the actor had popped him. "I was kidding!"

"Kind of," Zen said, giving his friend a doubtful look. "You were kind of kidding…"

"Nah, I mean it," Saeyoung said. "You're a lucky dude, that's for sure. Seriously, I'm glad for you."

Finally the girls came out of the restroom, and both boys stopped talking to take in the view. Zen loved watching MC in those moments before she saw him, when she was unaware of his presence. He liked to get glimpses of what she was like when she was on her own, moving and being herself in the world. Now he smiled as he watched her half-trip in her high heels and then stumble into Lexi Ann, grasping an arm so she wouldn't fall. God, he thought, she was just so cute. So fucking cute he just couldn't stand it.

MC looked up and saw him now. Man, that smile. "I missed you, my lovely Zen," she said, rushing forward and standing on tiptoe for a kiss, which he granted. Man, that sweet smile coupled with his name on her lips… Well, that was enough to melt his heart completely.

"I missed you, too, pretty girl," he said, letting his hands slide down the sides of her body. Damn. Zen just couldn't seem to get enough of her in this blue dress. Sometimes, throughout the evening, he found himself purposely lagging a little bit behind her so that he could take in the sexy sway of her hips, her beautiful backside, and the length of her long legs. He would get mesmerized by the way her hair hung down her back in a cascade of curls, and swished back and forth when she walked. And when he was standing near her, he seriously couldn't help it, he had to, just had to put his fingers in her hair, touch her bare skin, kiss her neck or her cheek or even just lean in close and breathe her in. She smelled so good.

Zen also loved the way MC looked at him. Sure, he knew he was unnaturally handsome. He was used to being ogled by his fans, the public in general, but there was something different about the way MC looked at him. What was it exactly? Maybe the fact that it was beyond superficial, and really not about looks at all. When MC was looking at him, she was really looking at him. She was seeing his whole self, his real self, his soul. He could really be a toad, for all she cared.

"Let's go get a drink," MC said, looping her fingers in his and pulling him along. On the way to the bar, they were stopped by Christa Kim, a big shot at one of the modeling agencies Zen worked for sometimes. Christa was known for being a notorious womanizer, and the tabloids liked to follow his various exploits with celebrities and lurid affairs. Zen eyed him critically. It was true that Christa was a good looking man, but was he as handsome as Zen? Zen didn't think so.

"Wow you look smashing, just smashing, my darling, MC," Christa said. His posh British accent also annoyed Zen to no end. "I dare say we could use a face like yours at the agency."

Zen noted that although Christa Kim said "face" he was looking MC up and down like a dog in heat. God, all men are truly beasts, he thought, and he vowed again that he wasn't going to leave MC on her own tonight, like not even for a second.

"Oh, I don't know if I could be a model," MC said, her cheeks blushing pink. "But it's nice of you to say that."

Zen had to hold his tongue as Christa Kim bent his wavy blond head forward, picked up MC's delicate hand and lifted it to his lips.

"Well, my dear," he said, his crystal blue eyes maybe looking a little too deeply, Zen thought, into his girlfriend's brown ones. "If you ever, ever need something...anything...I can always make myself available to you."

"That's very generous of you, Mr. Kim," MC said.

"Do call me Christa," the modeling agent said.

God, Zen thought irritably as the man moved away in search of his next mark. Good riddance.

"Wow," Zen said. "That was amazing…I mean, he acted like I don't even exist...and I've worked for him!"

"Oh, Zen," MC said. "Don't be jealous…" She got a pouty look on her face. God, she was so cute when she did that. "I mean, I'm kind of insulted you'd think I'd even go for a windbag like that in the first place."

"You don't think he's handsome?" Zen said. "Not even with all that money?" Everyone knew Christa Kim was loaded. It was rumored he had his own island somewhere in the South Pacific, which made Zen resent him even more.

MC turned to look up and touch Zen's face. "Not half as handsome as you, my lovely Zen," she said, and then she started to giggle. "I mean, you're a god, a hunk, a heart throb, a regular beefcake..."

"Ok, ok," Zen said, laughing. "I get it. Now you're just making fun…"

MC reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his so firmly he was sure he could feel her hard nipples against his chest. Zen closed his eyes momentarily to take a breath and will the beast under control.

"But seriously, babe," she said in a low sultry voice. "If we're going to keep talking about how hot you are, we're going to have to find somewhere…"

Almost as if on cue, Zen felt a hand slap him on the back and he turned around. It was Saeyoung, smiling ear to ear with one arm slung around his girlfriend, Lexi Ann. "God, guys," he said. "Get a room already!"

"You get a room!" MC said, playfully poking the redhead in the chest. She was laughing, and she looked so beautiful...

Man, Zen just loved being with this girl. Being with her made everything better... So much so that he didn't mind Saeyoung's teasing, or Jumin's snide comments… He could even put up with all the other guys, even Christa Kim, ogling her and hitting on her constantly... With MC around, he could rise above it all and enjoy the RFA party despite himself… Well, at least until Echo Girl showed up.

When Echo Girl showed up, all bets were off. First of all, who did she bring with her as her date? None other than that trashy up-to-no-good ex-boyfriend who broke MC's heart. Yeah, the dude from latest article about the "More Than Friends Love Triangle" in Enquire magazine. Yeah, the tall skinny rat who was pictured with his hands all over Zen's favorite yoga top. Damn. Zen shook his head, amazed. Just when you thought Echo Girl had done the most damage she could possibly do, she always found a way to up the ante, and this was her worst scheme yet. Zen looked over at his pretty girl, just moments ago radiant and smiling now clutching her stomach and looking sick. Fucking Echo Girl. God, this latest move with MC's ex was just unforgivable, and there was no way Zen was going to let it stand. He shot an angry, glaring look across the room to where Echo Girl was standing, chatting excitedly to Kwang-jo. If looks could kill...

"Guess I better go introduce myself…" Zen said, pulling himself up to his full height and balling his hands into fists. Without warning, he took off making long strides across the room, ignoring calls from MC, Saeyoung and other members to "wait".

Truth be told, Zen had no idea what he was going to do when he got to the pop star and her loser boy date. All he knew for sure was that he was in the mood to show that asshole a thing or two.

Getting closer, Zen noticed right away that he had the physical advantage over his nemesis. Zen was probably at least an inch or two taller than Kwang-jo, and incredibly fit. Kwang-jo, on the other hand, had the body type of a water skeeter. He was skinny and gangly with delicate wrists and hardly any muscle tone. Zen smiled to himself. This was going to be easy, maybe even fun.

Zen was already fuming. Then when he reached Echo Girl and her date, Echo Girl seemed pleased, which pissed him off even more. She put one hand on her hip and then shifted from one foot to the other in an obvious attempt to show off her pink gown. Zen thought she looked like a piece of Hubba Bubba bubble gum, previously chewed and spit out, of course.

"Oh, how nice of you to come greet me, my dearie Zen," she cooed, touching the jeweled brooch on her chest possibly in the hope that his gaze might be drawn there. No such chance. God, how could she still, even after all this time, dare to flaunt herself and flirt with him as if she had a chance in hell?

Kyungju gestured dramatically to the skinny rat beside her. "Zen, darling, this is my date, Kwang-jo, but..." She paused for a moment to bat her eyelashes and let loose a soft, self-congratulatory chuckle. "...you probably know him already."

"I know of him," Zen corrected, his eyes burning red. "But only through some interesting anecdotes my girlfriend shared with me." Zen couldn't help but glare at the other man. How did this guy live with himself, knowing what he'd done to MC?

"Hey man," Kwang-jo said, smiling and sticking out a hand. "No hard feelings, eh bud?"

Zen scowled, infuriated with rage. Did he just call me 'bud'? He didn't just call me 'bud"... Zen felt the heat of anger rise in his chest. Pressing his mouth into a firm line, he fought a strong urge to pop MC's ex right then and there.

"Look here, asshole," Zen said through clenched teeth. "There's no way I'm shaking your hand, and we are definitely not 'buds'..." He turned to Echo Girl. "Why'd you bring him here, Kyungju?"

Echo Girl looked up at Zen with puppy dog eyes. "Oh Lovey-hubby," she said. "You're not angry…" She raised a hand to cover her red lips with a feigned look of surprise and/or wonder. "...or maybe...jealous?"

Zen felt his whole body beginning to shake. He was seething with anger and had to squeeze his fists so that they would remain at his sides. What was it with this girl? Was she really that delusional? He'd had fucking enough!

"I'm certainly NOT jealous, Lovey-hunny," Zen said. He noticed that his voice sounded strange, mean and unrecognizable, even to himself. "I mean, when are you ever going to get it through your FUCKING head…" Zen raised both hands to his head, grabbing fistfuls of his silver hair in frustration. "I mean, god, Kyungju, I don't even LIKE you."

Zen shook his head in amazement as he watched the vapid smile disappear from Echo Girl's face and her eyes fill up with tears. "Aw, damn," he said. "So now you're going to cry? Give me a fucking break…" He threw up his hands in dismay. "I mean, the whole world knows you're an actress!"

"Now, hey, hey, hey," Kwang-jo said, taking it upon himself to butt in. He took a bold step forward so he was standing between Zen and Echo Girl. "Is that really any way to be talking to a lady?"

There aren't any ladies here, Zen thought angrily to himself. He couldn't help but notice that a small crowd had begun to gather, including some reporters holding notebooks and cameras. Although some vague, small part of himself realized what this meant, that his image, possibly the future of his career was possibly on the line, hanging in the balance, the larger part of him didn't really give a damn. He took one look at Kwang-jo's smug ugly face and made a choice.

"Now look here, dick face," Zen said, taking a bold step forward himself. Now the two men were standing face to face, just inches apart. "Number one, who asked you? And, number two, what the hell do you even know about ladies? I mean, I know how well you treated MC..."

Behind him, Zen could hear the sound of high heels clicking along fast on the wooden floor and other approaching footsteps. Soon MC and other RFA members were standing by his side. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Saeyoung, Lexi Ann, Jumin and Mi-Sun.

"Zen," MC said, tugging on his sleeve. "What's going on?"

"Stay out of this MC," Zen said, manipulating her behind his body, where she would be safe.

"Who you calling dick face, ballerina boy?" Kwang-jo retorted. Kwang-jo made a move to shove Zen, but Jumin stepped between the two men. He raised his arms, placing a hand on each man's chest to create some much needed space. To say the situation was getting heated would be an understatement.

"Now let's just calm down, shall we?" Jumin said, in his best business voice. "Need I remind you all that this is a charity event?"

"I don't care if it's Christ's second coming," Zen seethed, his red eyes flashing in his friend's direction. "Jumin, stay out of this."

MC was at his side again, pulling on his sleeve. "Zen, please don't," she said. "He's not worth it."

Kwang-jo began to laugh, throwing back his greasy head. It was a villainous, ugly sound.

"Not worth it, Kid?" Kwang-jo said, shooting a sideways glance in MC's direction. "Well, that's not exactly how you put it to me... well," he grinned. "...when I was putting it to you."

Zen had to fight to keep his fury under control as he watched Kwang-jo step back to give MC the slow once over. First he had to watch that rat fasten his snake eyes on her legs. Then he had to watch that filthy geezer's gaze wander upward to stare at her chest.

"You're looking good, Kid," Kwang-jo said, his voice low and lusty. He shot a smug glance in Zen's direction as if to say yeah-I-was-here-first before returning his attention to MC and seductively licking his lips.

Zen noted the look of fear on MC's face, the way she brought her arms up to her body and wrapped them protectively around her chest under the filthy rat's gaze. Zen felt a spike of rage surge through his body. He had to protect her. He would protect her...at any cost.

"Ok, that's enough, asshole!" Zen hissed through clenched teeth. Zen lunged at the other man, gunning for blood, but again, Jumin managed to step between them and hold Zen back.

"Zen, please…" MC pleaded from the sidelines.

Zen's breath was coming hot and fast, his adrenaline rising.

"Zen, listen to your girlfriend and calm down," Jumin ordered. Zen ignored him. He only had eyes, and a fist, for Kwang-jo.

"Don't talk to my girl that way," Zen shouted at the other man. "In fact, don't talk, or even look, or even think about her at all…" Zen lunged forward, his chest pressing against Jumin's hand, the only thing keeping him from ripping this fucker's head off. "In fact, why don't you just fuck off...Go back and crawl under whatever rock you came from!"

Jumin was still standing between the two men, one hand on each of their chests, keeping the distance. "Clearly, gentlemen, we have a problem…" Jumin looked from one man to the other, deciding what to do. He had just enough power and presence to give each man pause, but he didn't have much time. Finally, he cleared his throat and turned to Kwang-jo. "Uh, Mr., uh…" Jumin said, prompting the other man for his name.

"Pak," Kwang-jo said, sounding almost civilized, perhaps taken aback by Jumin's formal and polite tone. "The name is Pak Kwang-jo."

"Ok, then, Mr. Pak," Jumin started. "Perhaps it would be a good idea…" Zen watched with some amusement as his friend searched for a more appropriate way to say 'fuck off'. When Jumin found the words, he politely cleared his throat again before he spoke. "Mr. Pak, indeed perhaps it would be in the best interest of all parties if you did vacate the premises."

Kwang-jo looked at Jumin, and then at Zen, obviously puzzled. "What, what do you mean...you want me to leave the party?" Kwang-jo said, his eyes wide with what looked like astonishment, and then he chuckled, turning back to Jumin. "I'm sorry, Mr. Robot, but I'm not going anywhere." He looked over at MC, giving her body another appreciative once over. Zen felt every muscle, every nerve in his body hit red alert.

"Wait, Zen," Jumin hissed under his breath as he felt Zen's body tense up behind the force of his hand.

"Mmm, mmm…" Kwang-jo purred looking at MC. "You know, I take back what I said to you that day outside the yoga studio, MC. You do have your moments… and tonight, well tonight, Kid, you look absolutely tasty…It reminds me of the old days..."

That was it for Zen. The last word had barely made it out of the other man's mouth before Zen lunged forward with newfound super adrenaline strength. After pushing Jumin to the ground, Zen grabbed Kwang-jo around the neck. Seeing red and nothing else, the enraged actor backed his girlfriend's scumbag ex-boyfriend up against a nearby pillar, and began to squeeze. He heard MC, Lexi Ann, and possibly Mi-Sun, all screaming at him to stop from what seemed like some very far away place. He felt Jumin's hands on his coat as he tried to pull him away, but it was no use. Zen was in a full-blown state of rage.

"What did you say, asshole?" Zen said, shaking the scum bag, his eyes full of fire, adrenaline at its absolute peak.

"Zen!" MC shouted. Again, her plea reached Zen's ears like a muffled echo. He just couldn't really hear her. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? God, he's not worth it! Let him go, please!"

Kwang-jo's face was turning redder by the second. He was gasping for air, but somehow still managing to eek out some pretty choice words.

"I said I'd fuck her, ballerina boy…I fucked her before and I'd do it again, and again!" Kwang-jo said, trying to choke out a laugh. Zen couldn't believe that, despite everything, this rat was still trying to flash that shit eating grin. Realizing this just fueled Zen's fire even more, and so he squeezed harder.

Zen thought he'd felt true rage before, but he'd been wrong because that was nothing compared to the utter fury he was feeling now. He wanted to punch this asshole in the face and beat him until he felt nothing, but that meant he'd have to remove his hands from the man's throat. Instead he opted to content himself by banging the back of the man's head into the pillar.

"Oh my god!" He heard MC's faraway voice say. "Zen, please!"

Zen had been in his share of fights before. For a while, in the beginning when he first ran away from home, fighting had become a way of life. He got pretty good at getting in a good punch or two and then getting away. The fact that he was fast had saved his face, which was his livelihood, literally, more than once. But this time Zen didn't want to get away. He was surprised how much he wanted to stay and hurt this man. He wanted to hurt this bastard more, make him feel pain for how much hurt he'd caused MC.

Zen noticed with some satisfaction that Kwang-jo wasn't talking anymore and he had stopped trying to smile. His bug eyes looked sunken and heavy, and his face was turning a bit purplish. Now Zen felt two, no three, pairs of arms pulling him from behind and from each of his shoulders.

"Come on, Zen!" Saeyoung was saying. "He's had enough!"

"Yeah, god Zen!" Yoosung's voice was high and thin. "You're really hurting him!"

Good, Zen thought. Then he heard Jumin's calm, sure voice speak from somewhere near his right ear. "Zen," he said."You need to control yourself…You are acting like an animal."

Looking into the face of his enemy, feeling his hands around his neck, Zen certainly felt he didn't want to control himself. Soon he felt another strong, insistent tug on his shoulder.

"Zen!" Jumin said, in a voice firmer than before. " You need to stop… Get a hold of yourself…" When the actor didn't respond he tried another tactic. "MC is in distress! If you care about her at all, you'll stop this at once!"

When he heard those last words, Zen froze, his hands still wrapped around Kwang-jo's neck. What? MC in distress? The only thing Zen didn't want to do more than let go of Kwang-jo's throat was to listen to Jumin, but he couldn't deny his point. The image of his princess and the way she must be seeing him right now flashed through his mind. It was enough to break his rage and pull him back to his senses. Reluctantly, Zen loosened his grip on Kwang-jo's neck and let his friends pull him away from the man. Kwang-jo immediately clutched his throat with both hands, coughing and gasping for air.

"God damn it, man!" Kwang-jo said as soon as the color began to return to his face. "You could have killed me! You're a maniac!"

Zen backed away looking at his hands. As the rage subsided, the shame and horror of what he'd done flooded forward to take its place. He looked over at MC. Her beautiful face was white and filled with fear. Seeing her like that, and then knowing that he was the one who caused that pain... God, it delivered the most crushing blow to his heart, maybe the worst thing he'd ever felt.

"Oh god, MC," Zen said, feeling tears well up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…"

As soon as their eyes met, MC's face softened with relief and she rushed forward. Zen opened his arms to meet her and she threw her arms around his neck. Breathing a sigh of relief, Zen scooped her up off the floor and held her tightly to his body.

"Zen!" she cried. "Thank God you're… I was so scared!"

Zen buried his head into the side of her neck, nuzzling his face into her hair. "Oh Princess," he said. He was shaking and crying and some part of him knew that the reporters were having an absolute heyday, but he didn't care. "I'm so sorry I scared you… I didn't… I never meant to…" His voice trailed off because he knew all the things he was about to say next weren't exactly true. Horrified, he realized he did want to hurt Kwang-jo, he did mean to hurt him, etc.

"It's OK," MC said, moving his hair out his face with her fingers. "You stopped… You stopped…" He realized that she was crying, too. "Thank god, you stopped…"

Zen's heart sunk a little deeper into his chest as his next thought came into focus. Yes, he had stopped, but had he wanted to? Would he be able to next time? Would there be a next time? He trembled with fear remembering the rage that overtook him, and how it blasted him into a place where his sense of control all but vanished. God, he didn't just scare MC. He scared himself.

"MC," Zen said, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry… I'm not a monster, really I swear…"


After the fight broke up, the party didn't. Once Zen had been pulled off of Kwang-jo and the was drama over, most of the regular party guests went back to their wine and appetizers as if nothing had ever happened. Only the press was still hanging around, waiting for their opportunity to swoop in and get the scoop.

Kwang-jo had been immediately hauled off to the infirmary to get his injuries checked, but soon he was back. Although Zen could see there were bruises starting to form on his neck, the skinny little rat otherwise looked OK. He certainly seemed OK, because he was shouting at the top of his lungs and making a scene, hell bent on pressing charges against Zen.

"That pretty boy asshole violently assaulted me!" He shouted to anyone who would listen. "I was just minding my own business..."

Smelling blood, reporters swarmed in with their cameras and their questions.

"How long have you known Echo Girl?" One asked the rat.

"How do you know MC?" Another one asked.

The reporters had a lot of questions for Enquire's "Mystery Man," but luckily, Jumin was able to lure Kwang-jo away from the press and to a conference room to "discuss matters of reparations" before things got too out of hand.

"Come with me now, Mr. Pak," Jumin said, calmly. "I believe your immediate cooperation will prove to your benefit."

Meanwhile, Echo Girl was in full-on press mode, trying to find a way to spin the situation to her advantage. Even if it wasn't about her, she'd find a way to make it all about her, and frame the narrative in favor of South Korea's most celebrated couple Jae-joon and Ji-yoo. Go Team Echo Girl.

"Zen just gets so jealous," she said, batting her eyelashes. "He can't help himself… Remember what happened at the end of More Than Friends Season 1?" She giggled. "Well, I swear I thought that same scene was going to play out tonight…"

Zen rolled his eyes. Here we go, he thought. More of Echo Girl's extreme delusions. He and MC were standing off to the side, holding hands and following Jaehee's strict instructions to remain silent on the issue. Every once in a while, a brave reporter would approach the couple and attempt to ask a question.

"No comment," Zen would say, waving them off politely, every time.

"You're starting to sound like a broken record," MC teased. The air between them had been tense at first following the fight, and Zen was relieved to see that things were returning to normal.

"Yeah?" he said. "And?"

MC smiled. "Well, it's cute."

"You're cute," Zen said, leaning over to kiss her sweet lips. A flash bulb went off. Damn paparazzi. Oh well, Zen thought. It was probably a good picture, and a shot of him and his girl sharing a kiss would be a welcome improvement over the shit those damn tabloids had been printing lately.

"Hey Mr. Cameraman!" Zen heard Echo Girl's sugary voice and turned to see her shuffling toward the man who had just captured MC and Zen's kiss. "You want to get a photo of me and Zen, too, then?" She smiled. "A little Lovey-hubby on Lovey-hunny action?"

"I don't think so, Kyungju," Zen said, before the photographer could answer.

Echo Girl put a hand on her hip and frowned. "But Zen, have you forgotten your role?" She said. "Promo photos are part of your JOB...It's part of your contract."

Zen sighed, feeling disgusted. At the moment he really didn't fucking care what was in his contract and not. He was so tired of this lunatic woman. "Yeah, well," Zen said. "Then go call your daddy and have me fired."

Echo Girl turned to the photographer, but he was already walking away. "What?" She said, shocked at the photographer's obvious disinterest. "Well, I never…" Then she trotted after him, calling. "Yoo-hoo! Mr. Cameraman, don't you want a picture of just me then?"

Yes, Echo Girl was trying desperately to work the media and paint a good picture, but fortunately tonight no one seemed to be buying it. There were just too many inconsistencies.

"But isn't your date the 'mystery man' pictured with MC in the latest issue of Enquire?" one journalist asked. "Who is he and how did you end up bringing him to this party?"

"Yes," another journalist said, adding on. "Wasn't Zen really upset because this 'Mystery Man' had been seen in the paper with MC?"

"Well, yes, maybe that was part of it," Echo Girl said, trying to explain. "But I do think it must've been upsetting for Zen to also see him with me, don'tcha think?"

"I'm sorry," piped up another journalist. "How does that prove that Zen has feelings for you exactly? I'm afraid I'm failing to see the connection…"

"Oh, well, ah…" Echo Girl said, stammering.

Zen squeezed MC's hand and smiled. He had to admit he was enjoying this. He may have really lost his shit and almost really hurt a man badly, scaring the shit out of everyone and himself, but it all seemed to be playing out in Team MC's favor. The terrible events of the evening, awful as they were, had given the public some key insights into the "More Than Friends Love Triangle". First of all, the fact that Echo Girl showed up at the party with MC's "Mystery Man" made her seem manipulative and desperate (which, in Zen's opinion, she was). Also, the fact that Kwang-jo had been so overtly aggressive gave Zen somewhat just cause. In the eyes of reporters, other party guests and his friends, Zen's reaction, although not ideal, was understandable.

"That jerk just pushed you to your limit," Yoosung said. He looked at his new girlfriend, Debbie, who was standing next to him and squeezed her hand. "If I were in your situation, Zen, honestly I don't know what I would do…"

"I doubt you'd jump on a guy like that," Zen said. He was still shuddering at the thought of himself and his rage. It really wasn't something he felt proud of. "You're too good a guy, Yoosung… You'd probably just challenge him to a game of LOLOL, kick his ass in the game, and be done with it."

Just then Saeyoung came bouncing over again, with Lexi Ann trailing slightly behind. Had he been dipping into the PhD Pepper again? All signs pointed to "yes."

"Didn't I tell you she'd end up hanging herself in the media?" Saeyoung said in reference to Echo Girl with a smug, satisfied grin on his face. "I dare say I couldn't have orchestrated this situation any better."

"Yeah, it's all happening… and the whole story isn't even out there yet," Lexi Ann said. "Just wait until the public finds out who Kwang-jo is, and what exactly he did to MC."

"Ya!" Saeyoung said. "Major sympathy card!"

"Uh," MC said. "I don't think I want anyone to know what went on with me and Kwang-jo..." She paused, chewing her lip. "It's not really anyone's business, is it? And I definitely don't want anyone feeling sorry for me."

Zen turned to MC, squeezing both her hands. God, he'd make sure she had whatever she wanted, whatever she needed. "Princess," he said, leaning forward until their foreheads touched. "You don't have to say anything you don't want to…" Then he shot a warning look at Saeyoung. "Right, Saeyoung?"

Saeyoung groaned and threw up his hands. "Ugh!" he cried. "You guys are no fun… no fun at all!"

Zen was just about to underscore his point to make damn sure Saeyoung understood when Jumin appeared. Jaehee was following close behind with her clipboard. She looked tired, and overworked, even though she was dressed for the party.

"Jumin!" MC said, an anxious look on her face. "What happened? Did you get him to leave?"

"Yeah," Yoosung said. "Is he still pressing charges?"

Zen stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked at the ground, preparing himself for the worst. He felt MC's small hand on his shoulder and her hair tickling his neck. "Don't worry, baby," she whispered. "You're going to be OK. We're going to be OK."

Jumin reached down to straighten a cuff on his jacket and cleared his throat. "The situation has been handled," he said.

Zen's head shot up. "What do you mean 'handled'?" he said. "Jumin, what did you do?"

Jumin gave Zen a cool look. "Well, you didn't give me much of a choice, did you, Zen?" he said, looking away. "I should've known you wouldn't be grateful for my assistance."

MC reached forward and grabbed Jumin's arm. "Oh Jumin, we are grateful," she said, nudging Zen in the arm and shooting him a look. "Aren't we, Zen?"

Zen pressed his lips into a firm line. Why was Trust Fund always butting into his life? He certainly didn't need his help. He felt MC's small foot kick him in the shin. "Aren't we, Zen?" she repeated with a firm don't-fuck-with-me voice he hadn't heard before. Zen snapped to attention.

"Uh, yeah, sure, thanks, Jumin," Zen said, sheepishly as MC shot him another look of displeasure. "What did you do exactly, Trust Fund?"

Jumin went on to explain how he had to pay Kwang-jo a certain sum of money to get him to leave the party, and then another certain sum of more money to stay away from MC. Zen felt his stomach sink with shame. He should be the one protecting MC, not Jumin.

"I'll pay you back, Jumin," Zen said. "Every cent."

"That is not necessary," Jumin said.

"Oh yeah it is," Zen said. "I won't stand for being in your debt…"

One corner of Jumin's mouth lifted into what might have been a tight smile. "I thought you might say something like that, Zen," he said with an exasperated sigh. "Do what you like…"

Jaehee stepped forward then, looking cross. "Zen," she said. "A brawl? Really?"

Zen looked down at his feet and sighed. He hadn't thought about Jaehee and the fact that his actions might generate a lot of extra work on her part. "God," he said, looking up into Jaehee's face. "I'm really sorry, Jaehee… I know this must be causing you a lot of…"

Jaehee didn't smile or even look at him as she cut him off. "You know, Zen...Your image and reputation are of the utmost importance…even if you don't seem to think so." She sighed. "First you decide you have to have a girlfriend in the first place," she said, shooting MC a look. "Then you get a tattoo…" She put a hand to her forehead. "A tattoo! I mean, really, Zen!"

Jaehee was looking at the actor now, waiting for him to speak.

"Jaehee, I…" Zen started, his red eyes pleading. "I know I've caused a lot of work for you, but god," he said, reaching for MC's hand. "We're so happy, Jaehee… I'm so happy."

Zen could see Jaehee's features start to soften behind her glasses so he took a step forward and put both hands on her shoulders. "Jaehee," he said, looking into her eyes so she could see how much he meant what he was about to say. "You are my most important, loyal fan, and for that, you mean so much to me. I appreciate everything you do for me, how much you're always looking out for me and my best interests." Zen paused and smiled. "In fact, I know I couldn't be this happy without you, without the things you've done, so thank you."

Jaehee looked stunned, and a little like she might fall over at any minute. In fact, everyone looked stunned, which made Zen think maybe he should remember to thank the people in his life more often.

"Well," Jumin said dryly. "Hell most certainly just froze over."

"Well," Jaehee said, coming back to life. "Thank you for saying that, Zen," she said, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Still, this latest issue will have to be handled carefully, very carefully."

"Whatever you need," Zen said. "I'll do it."

Jaehee went on to explain that the best course of action would be to make a statement of some kind here at the party.

"If we can do it tonight, we can get out ahead of the story," she said. "Maybe we can even drive it…"

"Ya," Saeyoung said. "Team Echo Girl's looking bad, in a slump. We should swoop in and get her while she's down."

"OK," Zen said. "So what do I say?" He shot a protective glance at MC and squeezed her hand. "MC doesn't want anyone to know about her past…"

"Hmm…" Jaehee said, frowning. "That will complicate things a bit."

"Yeah," Yoosung said. "The whole thing with Kwang-jo makes Echo Girl look like a meddling bitch…"

"Yeah," Lexi Ann added on. "And if Kwang-jo isn't MC's ex, doesn't that favor Echo Girl's story that Zen was jealous because of her? I mean, why did he beat up Kwang-jo if it weren't for MC? Where are we without that motive?"

Jaehee sighed. "There will be rumors no matter what we say," she said. "Reporters were here tonight. They saw the whole thing go down."

"So what do we do?" Yoosung said.

Saeyoung's features suddenly brightened. "Wait," he said. "I know. I have a wicked, oh-so-wicked, idea…"


Author's note: Oh man... Zen really lost it! And Echo Girl gets the media smack down! What's more, the party's not over and there's more to come... This chapter was getting long so it looks like we're looking at a Party Part III coming up next... Stay tuned! Thanks (always) for reading, commenting, reviewing, feedback, etc. I love hearing from you :-) :-) :-)