CHAPTER 37

SAIA'S POV:

I ready myself as he moves closer and wait for him to make the first move. If he thinks attacking me here will be easy then he has another thing coming. He stops several feet away but he doesn't do anything. He's just standing there.

"Who are you?" I demand again and squint against the darkness. I still can't see his face.

He reaches for the light on a table beside him and turns it on. Pulling his hat off, he turns to face me and my heart practically stops. His appearance has changed a lot but I would recognize him anywhere.

"Ji-Hoo?" I whisper in disbelief. I stare at him in shock. His hair is a dark chocolate color and cut close to his head. It's shorter than I've ever seen it but it's still longer in the front and falls beside his right eye. His arm and chest muscles are bigger and more defined through his long sleeve t-shirt. Even his skin is tanner than I remember. But those eyes that I have always loved haven't changed.

"Yes... It's me." he says quietly. His voice is still the same but he sounds uncertain.

"I saw... I mean… it blew up and I thought... I thought you were dead..." I stammer. I cover my mouth with my hands to try and stop myself from crying but it doesn't work. Covering my face with my hands, I sink to the floor and I feel his arms slide around me. I cling to him and bury my face in his shoulder. "I thought you were dead..."

"I know. I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you… god I've missed you so much…" He holds me tight against him and I can feel his heart thundering in his chest.

"Why did you leave me? Do you have any idea how hard it has been trying to go on without you?"

He pulls away and cups my face in his hands, brushing my tears away with his thumbs. "I know. I'm sorry I had to put you through all of that. I promise I will explain everything to you. Come sit down with me."

He helps me stand up and guides me over to the couch. As we sit, I can't keep my hands or my eyes still. I explore every inch of his face with my fingertips. I can hardly believe that it's him. He sits perfectly still and quietly watches me.

"Is this real? Are you really here?" I whisper.

"Yes. I am." He grabs my hand and kisses my palm. Instead of letting go though, his eyes squeeze shut and a tear escapes from underneath his lashes. Reaching up with my other hand, I brush the tear away from his cheek and he clears his throat uncomfortably.

"What happened?" I ask.

When Woo Bin and Ji-Hoo had reached the Escalade that night, the driver was already dead. It was odd that he was dead and still in the car. One of Woo Bin's men looked under the car and saw the bomb in time for them to run but Woo Bin's man got caught in the blast.

"I heard you scream for me. I tried to go to you but Woo Bin wouldn't let me. He realized right away that if Tae Mu thought we were dead, we would have an easier time moving around and investigating the others he is involved with. We couldn't get enough dirt on Tae Mu in Korea. We needed to start looking elsewhere. But leaving you was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I wanted to tell you the truth but I knew that you would be safer thinking we were dead. The only one that knows we are still alive is Woo Bin's dad. We had to tell him because we knew he would figure it out fast and we needed his help. We had to be sure everyone was convinced it was Woo Bin and I in the blast. Everyone is safer not knowing."

"And now?"

"They still can't know. Even though Tae Mu is in jail we have to bring down the others as well."

Reaching for my purse, I pull out the black flash drive that Kang Woo gave me and hand it to Ji-Hoo. He takes it and looks at me curiously.

"Kang Woo gave that to me. It contains everything he could find on his father's hard drive about Tae Mu's associates. I wasn't sure what to do with it but maybe the two of you can put it to use."

"I hope so. The sooner we end this, the sooner we can come home but…we need your help."

"What can I do?"

"We need you to convince Boo Ki to take a trip to New York. We need her help. Send her on vacation. She will go if you ask her to."

"…Okay. I'm sure we can be there as soon as possible."

"Ani…you need to stay in Korea. Just send Boo Ki."

"What? Why?"

"You can help us by staying in Seoul. They know who you are. They are watching every move you make. You will be safer there with the Song's. It won't look suspicious to send your best friend on vacation."

Standing up suddenly, I turn away from him and make my way back to the window. I can't believe what I am hearing! After all this time apart, he is sending me back and taking Boo Ki away from me?

"…Saia?" He is standing right behind me and I look up at his reflection in the window.

"So you want me to stay there…all alone…without the two most important people in my life?"

"Saia-"

I turn to him on the verge of hysterics and I furiously shake my head. "Ani! I don't want to do that! I can't! I'm so tired of being alone!"

"Saia-" He reaches for me but I jerk away from him.

My head is throbbing and I sway uneasily on my feet. The room suddenly goes dark and I feel him catch me before I hit the floor. Blinking hard, I finally manage to focus on his worried face.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asks.

"I don't remember." I mumble.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know. It's hard to sleep anymore."

"…You need to take care of yourself." He quietly scolds me. I try to stand up and push him away but I'm too weak and he firmly holds me in place.

"I don't have time to worry about that. I have to take care of the Foundation and the Hospital. Plus I have practice and performances."

"But you shouldn't be doing all of that at the cost of your health." He says firmly. Pushing myself to my feet and away from him, I wrap myself in the numbing indifference I have come to rely on these past five months. He's hurting me and I can't take it. It's not fair to have him alive and so close but I still can't be with him. He tries to reach for me but I take a step back.

"I'll do what you ask. Boo Ki will be in New York as soon as possible. If there are any details you need for me to give to her, please let the Song's know so that I can arrange it."

He frown's at me and tries to reach for me again but I back away.

"I really need to get back. I have a lot of work to do." Grabbing my purse, I head towards the door but he grabs my arm.

"You are just going to leave like this? They can survive without you for a few days. I've missed you. Stay with me."

"…"

"…I don't like this anymore than you do. I want to go home with you but I can't. Not till this is finished. But you aren't alone there. You have Ga Eul and the others."

Shaking my head, I snort in disbelief and try to pull away but he turns me around to face him and grips my shoulders. His piercing gaze is searching my face for something and I raise my eyebrow, giving him a questioning look.

"…What's happened to you? Why are you suddenly so cold?" he painfully asks me.

"A part of me died the day I lost you."

"You didn't lose me! I'm right here!"

"…"

"I'm right here, damn it!" he gently shakes me in frustration.

"I didn't know what was going on! I've spent the past five months trying to survive! Learning to be indifferent has kept me sane."

"…That isn't you."

"It is now."

He sighs and brushes my bangs out of my eye. "…Ani it's not."

JI-HOO'S POV:

Saia's eyes are guarded and it terrifies me. What have I done to her? I don't recognize this person. These months without her have been agonizingly long. It has taken every bit of strength I've had to stay away till now. There were many times that I tried to come back to her and Woo Bin had to stop me. We have to see this through to the end… But at what cost? I'm afraid that I may have very well destroyed the one person I have been trying so hard to protect. She looks exhausted, pale, and thinner than she should be. She isn't the bubbly and loving woman that I know.

"I need to go." She says calmly and I tighten my grip on her shoulders.

"Ani. You need to stay here and listen to me. You don't understand." I say. My heart is racing in panic. "I know this is hard. It's been hard on both of us. What we did to you and the others isn't fair, I know that. But-"

"You don't have to explain. I understand. Really I do. I'm just a little tired and I'm not thinking very clearly right now. I've had a long day."

"Get some sleep. I'll stay right beside you till you wake up." I start to guide her towards the bedroom but she resists.

"Ani. Honestly Ji-Hoo. I can't stay. I'll try to sleep on the plane."

"…You don't want to stay with me?"

"Ani. I don't. The longer I stay the harder it's going to be when you leave." Her guarded mask cracks for a split-second and I can see the pain in her eyes. She has gotten very good at hiding herself and it bothers me. I never wanted this.

I pull her close to me and she tries to pull away but I don't let her. Nuzzling her ear, I feel her shiver in my arms and I smile to myself. She can try to hide from me all she wants but I will always find her. Placing a soft kiss below her ear, I can feel the blood pounding in my veins. I've missed her. I've ached for her. Sliding my hand to small of her back, I pull her closer but I can feel almost every bone beneath my hand. She's had a hard time at home. DK told me how hard she's been working but I didn't realize just how out of hand it's gotten till tonight. Lifting her up in my arms, I head for the bedroom.

"Ji-Hoo? What are you doing? Please put me down!"

"…Okay." I drop her on the bed and she looks up at me in irritation. Leaning down I brush my lips against hers and smile as she instantly responds. "I'm not letting you leave yet. I've missed you."

"Ji-Hoo…" Sliding onto the bed, I lay down and pull her down beside me.

"I'm tired. Sleep beside me for now. You can fight with me later."

"But-"

"Haven't you missed me?"

"…Of course I have." She says quietly.

"Then stay." I murmur.

(^_^)

SAIA'S POV:

The Escalade is engulfed in flames. The heat singes my skin but I am helpless to do anything. He's gone and I scream in pain. Not again! Please no! Not again! Someone is shaking me and I open my eyes. Ji-Hoo looks down at me and his eyes search my face in concern.

"Ji-Hoo?"

"You were having a bad dream."

I bury my face in his neck and fight back the tears. He holds me tightly against him and I breathe in deeply. I can feel him and smell him, yet it hardly seems real after that hellish night.

"I don't want you to leave me again." I say against his throat.

"I don't want to either. I promise we will try to end this as quickly as possible." He says. I pull away to look at him and he cups my cheek with his hand.

"It isn't going to be easy Ji-Hoo. It's not like I can just pick up a phone when I need to hear your voice."

"It is going to be hard but we can get through this. I will call you every chance I get. Now that DK knows what's going on, if you need me just tell him and I will do whatever it takes to be there for you. I'm not going to leave you alone. Not ever again."

"Can I at least help you in some way? Other than staying in Seoul, I mean. If there's anything I can help you with, please ask me."

He nods his head. "Okay."

"…I love you Ji-Hoo-ah."

His bright smile and eyes shine down at me. "I love you too…Actually I wanted to talk to you about something that night but I didn't get to."

"What is it?"

He sits up and reaches into his pocket. Taking my left hand, he slides a ring onto my finger. I stare up at him in shock.

"Marry me?" He quietly asks me, his face serious. Sitting up, I search his eyes.

"Really?" I ask. My heart is pounding in my chest. He chuckles and kisses my hand right above the ring.

"Yes really. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to. I've wanted to ask you for a long time but there never seemed to be a right moment."

"Oh my god… Yes! Of course I will!" I kiss him and he playfully bites my lips as he smiles down at me.

"We will have to wait till I get back and you might want to take that off once you get home."

"Ani. I'm not ever taking it off." I shake my head and turn to actually look at the ring. It is a platinum band with a princess cut diamond. It's simple and it's bigger than anything I ever imagined but it's perfect.

"I wanted to give you my mother's ring at first. It also belonged to my grandmother. But I want us to start a new tradition and start fresh."

"It's beautiful! I love it! …I'm sorry for getting upset with you earlier. I've just really missed you."

"It's alright. I've missed you too." His lips capture mine and I feel myself fall back against the sheets. His warmth covers me and I feel myself finally coming back to life.

(^_^)

A buzzing sound awakens me from my warm, restful sleep. Groaning in irritation, I try to pull the sheet over my head but most of it is still tangled in our legs. Ji-Hoo reaches over me for the offensive cell phone vibrating on the nightstand and I bury my face deeper between the pillow and his shoulder.

"Yes Woo Bin." He says sleepily and nuzzles my bare shoulder. "Yes I did… She's as beautiful as always… That's none of your business… Arasso. I'll tell her… I know… I'll see you then."

"…Do you have to leave?" I ask.

"Not yet but soon." He captures my lips with his and I moan at his sweet intrusion into my mouth. My sleepiness from moments before disappears as his hands caress me.

Even though things have not been easy, I would never trade one moment of my life with him for anything. I will always be his and he will always be mine.

JI-HOO'S POV:

As I sink into her, I feel her heart beat against mine. I feel at home in her arms. I am so happy that she accepted my ring, accepted me. A part of me was afraid she would have doubts after I left her alone for so long. I don't want to leave her again but I want her safe for good. I want to start our lives together as husband and wife with no fear.

My heart skips a beat as she smiles up at me. This amazing, strong woman has changed my life forever. I am no longer alone. She has given me unconditional love and understanding in ways I never thought I would ever experience. She has brought so much warmth into my life that I can no longer bear the cold.

I playfully bite her shoulder and her musical laughter fills the room. I love her so much… This precious woman… My air… My heart's song.

A/N: My first fanfic is over! OMG… *sad* LOL. I really hope you liked it and yeah I know I left the ending open. My next fic with Woo Bin will continue where this one leaves off. ^_^ Thank you so much for reading my story. I hope that all of you will read my next one as well. All of your support has meant the world to me! You are all amazing! Gamsahabnida! (Thank You!)^_^