Author's note: Take in mind that English is not my first language, so you could find grammar mistakes. Also, it was a bit challenging for me to describe the fighting scenes, matching them with my imagination.

Have a good read, then! :)

Chapter 5

Just the Right Time

It was the final round between Yeon and his opponent on the Doo San dojang. They were training for the Taekwondo tournament, which would be held in a few months. Yeon's moves looked so fast and nimble, but the other boy had a better flexibility, until Yeon finally threw a series of high kicks straight to his opponent's chest, making him lose his balance and falling to his knees.

Xiaoyu clapped cheerfully, among other Taekwondo student's relatives who were watching the training, and then gave thumbs up to Yeon. He grinned and returned the gesture to her before bowing to his opponent, who was on his feet already. At once, Xiaoyu watched him leave to the locker rooms, according to Baek's indication that the training was over.

Then, Baek approached Xiaoyu as she lifted Yeon's training bag, "you are doing a great job with my son," he said. "I can see more confidence in him now, both in and out of the dojang."

"Thank you, Mr. Doo San," Xiaoyu bowed to him, respectfully. "I've myself noticed some changes in him, too." But suddenly, she beamed at the memory of Hwoarang, sharing the meaning of the silver necklace with her, and still, he had wanted her to keep it. He had changed, too, in his own manner.

"There's something else you want to share?" Baek asked calmly. "You are glowing today."

"Because I'm the happiest when Yeon is around," Xiaoyu replied and kept smiling with excitement.

She knew Hwoarang was back after having been away over a year, but she couldn't tell Baek about her encounters with him, even she couldn't tell Yeon. She was hopeful that father and son would meet again until the appropriate time came. It wasn't her decision, but Hwoarang's.

Afterwards, Yeon ran to Xiaoyu and hugged her, enthusiastically.

"It's time to go now," Xiaoyu apologized to Baek. "I'll take him home."

"Sure," Baek nodded. "The next training is about to start, so I can't make my students wait."

Yeon smiled at his father and hugged him goodbye, before taking Xiaoyu's hand and walking out of the dojang with her.

"I'm so proud of you," Xiaoyu said to Yeon as they walked down the street towards the Doo Sans' apartment, still holding their hands, when she looked at five unknown men blocking their way. Those men had seemed to come out of nowhere, also had the appearance of a biker gang, with their leather jackets and skull t-shirts.

Immediately, Yeon stopped behind Xiaoyu and squeezed her hand, out of fear.

"Just run home," she whispered to him, attempting to conceal her fear, as well. She felt relieved when he followed her order and entered the apartment building as fast as he could, so one of the bikers approached her. He seemed to be the gang leader.

"Hey, babe," he smirked, holding her chin. "We're looking for the Korean guy, we know he lives around here."

"I don't know what you are talking about," she lied sharply.

"Really?" He laughed off. "Because I've seen you with him."

At that moment, she backed off and attempted to escape, but the biker grabbed her by the arm and received a front kick from her, unexpectedly.

"Leave her alone, you idiot," Xiaoyu heard Hwoarang's voice from behind, which made the biker rise from the ground.

"You still have a debt with us," the biker glared at Hwoarang as he approached him. "Pay all the money right now or I'll break your face."

"You give me no choice," Hwoarang smirked and raised his fists, looking askance at the other four bikers who surrounded him. At the same time, Xiaoyu came to the scene, standing back-to-back to Hwoarang and with her fists raised, too.

"Seriously? You think I need help?" He mocked.

"I'm not leaving you by yourself, but then you have to tell me what's happening," she grumbled.

"Whatever. Just don't get hurt."

Hwoarang threw a combination of roundhouse and spinning hook kicks, which made one of the bikers fall to the ground; he then turned around swiftly with a tornado kick, knocking another biker out and giving him no time to attack. Meanwhile, Xiaoyu struck the third biker with her open hands, alternately, before doing a reverse kick to the fourth of them. So, the gang leader attempted to strike them with a chain whip, but Hwoarang deflected it and grabbed it from one side, protecting Xiaoyu behind him.

"Stay away!" Hwoarang exclaimed to her, deflecting the gang leader's punches who had approached him already, until he received a forceful hit in his stomach. As he fell to the ground, his opponent attempted to strike him with his chain whip again; however, Hwoarang rolled sideways and beat him with a furious volley kick.

"Don't come back here again or you will regret," Hwoarang warned crossly. Right after, the gang leader rose and wiped the blood from his nose and the corner of his mouth. He finally escaped, fuming.

"Are you alright?" Xiaoyu asked Hwoarang after running to him, concerned because of his fight with the gang leader.

"Yeah, but that was very close," he replied with confidence. "Not bad for a good girl, huh? When did you learn to fight?" He added and looked amazed with Xiaoyu's ability in martial arts.

"My grandfather taught me when I was little. He is an honorable martial artist."

"Just like my father."

Xiaoyu nodded. "Let's go inside, I want to check on Yeon."

Once they were in the Doo Sans' apartment, Xiaoyu entered Yeon's room. He was sitting on the floor, with his knees up, but his face lighted up at the sight of her.

"I will never let anyone hurt you," she said as Yeon ran to her, hugging each other for a moment. "Now that everything is fine, I will bring you cookies and milk, okay?" She kissed his forehead, closed the door behind her, and went to the kitchen where Hwoarang was waiting.

"How is he?" He asked quietly.

"Still scared, but he will be fine," she replied and folded her arms across her chest, suspicious; "why those guys attacked us out of nowhere?"

"You heard them. I still owe them some money."

"So, you came for it when I found you the first time, right?"

"Yeah. I joined the Korean army to escape from my past, the gang, from everything." He paused for a moment and sighed, "I didn't want to stay… but then I met you that night."

"And everything changed," they said at the same time.

After revealing a trace of their feelings aloud, yet inadvertently, Xiaoyu blinked in astonishment and felt her heart pounding like never before; for his part, Hwoarang ran his fingers through his thick auburn hair, dazed. Neither of them believed that moment could be possible, especially at the same place of their first encounter when they had noticed they were opposites. Falling in love was never part of their plan.

Hwoarang approached Xiaoyu until she leaned gently against the wall, he then slipped his arms around her waist as she placed her hands on his shoulders, staring at each other with softness. They had never been so close before and almost kissed, but they heard Yeon opening the door of his room, followed by his footsteps on the floor. Because of it, they backed off, holding their hands mildly before Hwoarang left through the kitchen window, which had been his way to enter the apartment in his furtive homecomings, since it was on the ground floor.

Immediately, Xiaoyu took a package of cookies from the cupboard. "So, here they are!" She pretended with a big grin.

Yeon was standing in the middle of the kitchen, with a puzzled, yet enthusiastic look. He was sure he had heard his older brother's voice a moment ago. However, he did nothing but grinned at her, as well.