Starting afresh.

Sorry for the delay but I had some issues and was also working on the other stories. I hope you enjoy this update I bring you since I will be gone for a long time.

Jan Di made her way home now that she was living alone. Her brother and parents had left her in the city to finish her school year. She walked to her small apartment thinking about what happened between her and her sunbae last night and when he came to see her. She never expected him to be a romantic bold man and even how they made love in the most intimate way like they had been together for a long time. It felt natural and they were like the pieces of the puzzle that fit together. He treated her with care, checking on her to see if she was hurt during their lovemaking.

Jan Di finally reached her small apartment but was met by the man she didn't wish to see.

Goo Jun Pyo

"Why are you here?" she asked agitatedly

"Where did you spend the night? did Yoon Ji Hoo touch you? did he attempt to kiss you? did anything happen between the two of you?"

"I did spend a night at his home and that's none of your business" she pushed past him to open the door. She walked in and shut the door when he tried to enter inside

"Yah, I'm not finished talking to you" Jun Pyo bagged the door to break it open and he even failed to realize that the door was making cracks in it.

"Goo Jun Pyo what are you doing?" Ji Hoo voice came "Can't you see you're ruining her door"

"Hey, mind your business okay" he continued banging the door. Jan Di had been silently fuming and when she couldn't take it, she opened the door and shoved Jun Pyo out of the way harshly that it knocked him down.

"Goo Jun Pyo didn't I tell you to leave me alone? Why are you nagging me? Didn't you say that I'm just a stain that you wanted to erase, so why are you here?" She said yelling at him. expressing all the anger she has been keeping for a while

"I was just trying to protect you"

"Well Goo Jun Pyo, I'm done with you so please leave me alone. I don't need your protection" she turned to her Sunbae "Sunbae, I was coming to see you but I overworked, I'm sorry"

"It's alright Jan Di-ah, I came here to get your stuff, my car is there"

"Where is she going?" Goo Jun Pyo asked his friend

"From now on, Jan Di will be staying with me. I can protect her better and your mother won't do anything to her if she's with me" Ji Hoo walked past him to help her pack her belongings.

One hour later …

After putting her clothes in the wardrobe, Ji Hoo made for them some tea and invited Jan Di to his office. They sat on the couch drinking tea and the cookies she had made. Ji Hoo kept on stealing side glances at her as she slowly chewed her cookie which indicated that she was nervous. "Jan Di-ah, don't run away from me again. Whatever happened last night, to me it wasn't a mistake and I don't regret it at all"

She nodded

"One more thing" he set his teacup on the table and closed the distance between them. He removed the cup from her hands. Jan Di seemed confused by his actions, he held her face gently but passionately in his hands, and he pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss. When no resistance came, he took the liberty and deepened the kiss further and further until they both needed to come up for air. His breathing elevated, "You have never called my name Jan Di, will you say it…like you did last night?"

"Ji Hoo-ah…" she shyly said his name and he kissed her again fervently and tangled his hand in her hair.

After breaking their second kiss, they were both breathing heavily. They stared at one another, slightly disoriented. Jan Di felt lightheaded. Ji Hoo turned from her and rested his elbows on his knees

"Do you regret what happened between us? And what about Goo Jun Pyo?" Ji Hoo asked the question he had been dreading like a virus

"To be honest, I don't want to have a miserable life because of him so I'm going to keep my distance and I want to start a new life without him"

"Do you want to give yourself a chance? Us a chance to make this work?" his chest ached in anticipation for her answer

She looked down at her hands "I don't know how this is going to work"

"We will make this work after what happened between us last night" he turned to her and put his hands on hers. "You know, I always wished to have a second date with you… but let's start over with a first date…"

Jan Di smiled. "Let's do it"

"If we don't try, we will never know if we can be happy together, right?"

She nodded

"Are you ready for that?" he asked delicately

She smiled and took a deep breath "…Let's start afresh"

He smiled "Prepare yourself tomorrow, we will be going out for dinner"

She nodded

She rose to go to her room but Ji Hoo stopped her by holding her wrist. He got closer and gazed into her doe eyes affectionately. He took her hand and placed a tender kiss upon it. "Goodnight Otter"

"Goodnight" she smiled and walked to her bedroom with a wide grin on her face.

Ji Hoo waited for Jan Di in the living room as she got ready. They had returned home early to prepare for their date. She stepped out in a simple ivory off-shoulder short dress with the shoes her Unnie had given her with simple makeup on her face.

Ji Hoo stared at her, love-stricken anew and he remembered he had to breathe

"Ha Jae Kyung Unnie got me this dress…" she explained

Ji Hoo smiled and made his way to her "You look beautiful…" Jan Di smiled shyly at him "You look very handsome…"

"Are you ready?"

She nodded

Ji Hoo has never attempted to impress Jan Di by renting out the entire restaurant for their dinner. He knew her so well and knew that it was the sincerity that mattered and the effort invested in it. After dinner, he took her for an evening stroll along the Han river, she had never been to this place so seeing the view was breathtaking. As they walked, he slipped his hand in hers and they continued walking hand in hand. They leaned against the bridge, and he brushed a strand of her hair from her face that the wind had carelessly blown. His finger lingered there, and she caressed her cheek lightly as they gazed into each other's eyes.

His eyes went to her lips and tugged her closer to him and tilted his head. "Ji Hoo-ah" she whispered his name with confidence. He lowered his head to her forehead.

"I love you" he whispered to her "And I never stopped loving you, Jan Di-ah. I have loved you from the moment I laid my eyes on you, the moment you asked me where the swimming pool was"

He closed the distance between them

She closed her eyes and lips parted. His hand stole her face, his thumb caressing her jaw and tilting her face to gain better access. Jan Di slid one hand to his hair and another rested on his chest. The kiss grew more passionate as their tongues locked in a fierce battle. Ji Hoo tightened his hold around her waist and continued kissing her with everything he had.

After what felt like hours. They pulled apart to breathe. Neither of them said a word, he pulled her closer and she rested in his chest.

They finally arrived at home with big smiles on their faces, Ji Hoo couldn't take his hands off her and led her inside the house. "Would you like some tea?" he placed a tender kiss on her cheek, then on her nose, and then on her other cheek.

"Not now" she answered breathlessly as Ji Hoo placed soft pecks on her lips "…you know…I had a wonderful time with you tonight," he said as he deepened the kiss.

"…Mee too…"

They continued kissing as he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning into her slightly pressing her against the wall. They retracted from each other rather quickly before taking it too far like yesterday

"Jan Di, I know yesterday was your first time but we need to see a doctor"

"Why?" she asked feeling scared maybe that she would get pregnant

"To take precautions and I don't have…any condoms at the moment, so we need to be careful" he saw her blush knowing what it meant. They couldn't do it tonight

"Okay sunbae, we shall go tomorrow to see him" he took her hand in his and led her to his bedroom that now has a real door and expensive grey curtains "Let's share a bed tonight"

She nodded "Let me change first and I come" she rushed out of his bedroom and was met with an angry-looking Goo Jun Pyo.

"Goo Jun Pyo"

"Geum Jan Di…" he seemed to be drunk and he roughly grabbed her shoulder which caused her to scream in pain because of her injury. Ji Hoo rushed to see what could be the problem only to find his best friend forcefully wanting to kiss Jan Di. He pulled Jun Pyo away and punched him in the face and fell on the floor. Ji Hoo has always been a calm man but when Jan Di was involved, he acted on an impulse.

"What was that for?" Goo Jun Pyo tighten his jaw and got up from the floor

"Geum Jan Di isn't yours anymore, so I advise you to stay away from her" Ji Hoo has never acted like this but when it came to her, he always lost his senses. He would do anything to protect her even if it meant from his best friend. From the beginning, he should have known that she would be special to him right from the time he interfered with his best friend's plans.

Ji Hoo turned to a shaken Jan Di and opened his arms for her. She didn't think twice and rushed to him. She clung to him as though life depended on it. Goo Jun Pyo stood there with rage and fury burning in his eyes after seeing how comfortable she was with him. He couldn't do anything and walked away from the pair.

"Don't fright" he whispered to her tenderly. He continued to stroke her back and hair "I will protect you"

She nodded but was still shaken

"Come" he led her to his room. He got one of his pajama shirts and gave it to her "Wear this" he walked out to give her some privacy even if he didn't want to do that. He returned after a few minutes and found her at the edge of the bed. She had calmed down and her breathing was normal though her shoulder still hurt.

Ji Hoo was instantly at her side. He gently massaged her shoulder without saying anything and gathered her in his arms. He opened the covers and helped her in the bed, the very same bed they had made love in the previous night. He took the other side of the bed.

Jan Di drew herself closer and rested her head on his chest. He wound his arm on her back and held her tightly and he slowly began to caress her back drawing circles. Minutes later, the tension disappeared and her breathing returned to normal.

"Jan Di-ah?" he called her

"Mmm" her eyes opened slightly wider and kept them on him

"Can I kiss you?" he asked but his voice was no longer bold like in the morning

Jan Di felt her heart flip, but didn't waver, nor did she look away from his half-closed eyes. He stopped stroking her back and was now on his side, facing her and gazing in her eyes with his dark gentle ones. Ji Hoo was waiting for some kind of approval, so she closed her eyes and her lips parted

Soon after, Ji Hoo's soft moist lips gently brushed hers. His hand fell from her back to her waist.

The kiss was short. He pulled back entirely too soon, rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you for being here Jan Di-ah," he said

"Thank you sunbae, for always looking out for me" she boldly leaned forward and gently brushed her lips on his. The kiss was short but sweet.

She pulled back and rested her head on his chest and he went back to stroking her hair and back.

The next morning, Ji Hoo was nowhere to be seen but the running water in the shower let her know that he's still around. Jan Di got out of bed and brushed her teeth and combed her hair and went to prepare breakfast for them still wearing his big shirt. Since she was leaving for free, she should pull her weight in the house.

Jan Di looked in the fridge for ingredients and later remembered Ji Hoo loves eating pancakes so it made her think of the American breakfast.

Ji Hoo emerged to see Jan Di in his kitchen still wearing his pajama shirt, with combed hair preparing ingredients for breakfast. He walked slowly and took a seat on the stool at the counter.

Jan Di froze and almost screamed when he saw Ji Hoo look at her intently. "Sunbae? When did you arrive?" she was catching her breath

"Just now" he replied without looking away from her "Can I help you with preparing breakfast?"

"If you wish. Wait do you know how to cook?"

"No" he replied sheepishly "I only know how to cook pancakes. Remember, you taught me"

She smiled at him "Let me teach you how to cook the others"

Ji Hoo smiled and walked behind her, he wound his arms on her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Jan Di blushed and tried to pull away but he didn't let her. He could tell she was still shy being with him but he planned on making her comfortable.

Don't worry, I plan to wait until you are comfortable. He thought to himself

Ji Hoo watched as she cooked breakfast. He planted a few moist kisses on her cheek and then to her neck "Sunbae…" she tried to pull away but he held her tightly

"Jan Di-ah, do you feel uncomfortable?"

"No, it's just that a lot of things have happened. I just never thought that this day would come to see myself smiling again. to see you love someone other than Unnie"

She turned to him in his arms and rested her hands on his chest "I want to make you happy" he said to her with confidence "And just to let you know, I never actually had feelings for her"

She nodded

"I also want to make you happy" she shyly said "But I don't know how to do it"

"Just remain my little Otter, my wonder woman and My Lotus that's all" he smiled down at her "So let's eat before we are late for school"

Ji Hoo set the table for them and got the plates for the breakfast. They had prepared pancakes, fried eggs, and sausages, fries with green tea, and fruit juice.

Ji Hoo and Jan Di had breakfast talking about medical school and the entrance exam, she brought about grandfather and he told her what happened. Jan Di also brought about her artwork assignment. He promised to take her to the exhibition and do her research in the afternoon. He also gave her a spare key for the house. They went to school together and unfortunately, they bumped into the F3 who looked surprised to see them together.

Jan Di went to class without saying a word to and didn't want to recall what Goo Jun Pyo had done to her

"What do you think happened between these three?" Woo Bin asked his friend who had a puzzled look on his face.

Jun Pyo and Jan Di hadn't said a word to each other. When their lectures were finished in the afternoon, he needed to take Jan Di to the museum for her assignment. He asked her to meet.

Ji Hoo managed to arrange for the two of them to access the exhibit at the museum. As he waited, he recalled how she woke him up in the library. At least she no longer shouts like before.

Jan Di finally arrived and was surprised to see Ji Hoo opening for her the door

"Sunbae?"

"Are you surprised?" he asked smiling

"Yes, actually" she beamed at him "let's go" she pulled him inside and began looking at the paintings. An hour later, they reached the shop. There were many things to see, and Jan Di picked up a postcard with 'Sunflowers' while Ji Hoo scanned other books. He saw Jan Di holding a ceramic lotus flower. Inside of it, there was an aromatic candle.

"Do you like that one?" Ji Hoo asked her.

"What? No, no…I'm good with this one. Um, sunbae…"

"Yes?"

"Do you know why the lotus flower bloom in the mud?"

"What?" he was confused by the question.

"It's nothing, forget about it." she put the ceramic flower down and left to the door.

Ji Hoo stood there thinking about what she had asked him and recalling the monk's words

She has a good face, like the lotus. Treat her well he had said to him at the temple

Ji Hoo and Jan Di sat outside the Museum. It was a warm afternoon; they were relaxing after the tour. They both sat in comfortable silence. Ji Hoo decided to take a nap but he later woke up to see Jan Di watching him closely, and noticed she was drawing him so he decided to let her finish. When he was sure it was done, he fully opened his eyes "…I'm your model now?"

"You're awake" she covered her work

"If I had known, I would have hired an accountant"

"An accountant?" she sounded confused "For what?"

"To charge everything you owe me: Rides, Coffees, Exhibition, lots of coffee and now Modeling fees…you owe me a lot" they both laughed

"Hmm…how about this as payment for modeling services," she said handing him the postcard that had on the sketch.

Ji Hoo had a smile on his face. Once again he has discovered the hidden talent Geum Jan Di had. Every time he spent some alone time with her, he discovered new things about her

"Since it's well-drawn, I will give you something as well" he reached for the gift bag "Here"

She opened the box and it was the ceramic lotus flower she had seen at the workshop

"The lotus flower" he began looking at her "Blooms anywhere, Purifying and freshening even the dirtiest waters"

"Its name is cute and the function," she said

"Just like you, you are just like the lotus flower" he poked her cheek.

Do you know why a lotus flower blooms in the mud?

"Hey, that's my homework" she smiled at him "My homework is done

"Homework?" he asked confused

"There is someone who told me before that every time he saw me, I reminded him of a lotus flower" she put back the flower in the box "Thank you sunbae"

Ji Hoo packed his motorbike outside the clinic. He still wasn't comfortable with the place

"You've given me a lot today" she stood before him looking in his eyes

He gently held her face in his hands "But you've given me more, Jan Di-ah" he smiled and slowly leaned. He touched his forehead to hers and their eyes closed immediately. Just this simple gesture made her heart thump heavily

"I should invite you for tea" her voice came out shyly as she opened her eyes to look at him "Grandfather isn't inside" she added

He tilted her face and looked down at her lips. He slowly opened his mouth and closed his eyes leaning forward while Jan Di did the same. Their lips met. Ji Hoo captured her lower lip.

Each of Ji Hoo's kisses was unique, special, like a snowflake, completely different from Jun Pyo's… It was all so new to Jan Di. She was still counting each kiss, stamping them into her memory, like a scrapbook. One day, she knew she would surely stop counting, but they would always remain beautiful and special to her.

Ji Hoo had resolved to take things very slowly with Jan Di ever since their lovemaking in order not to scare her away, and he was a patient guy, so it should not be a problem for him. He'd been testing the waters with Jan Di to determine how slowly he should take things exactly since they were getting to know each other as a couple. But, since last night's whole incident had made Ji Hoo bolder when Goo Jun Pyo attempted to forcefully kiss her, and he took the liberty of deepening the kiss.

And this time Jan Di participated. As his lips parted, she followed suit, both of hers perching upon his upper lip. He held her tighter around the waist, and she wrapped her hands around his neck and then slowly ran her fingers upward, allowing herself the pleasure of twining them through his luxurious, tawny hair.

They almost forgot that they were in public and their relationship wasn't official even though they already went far as making love. They separated before anyone could find them. Breathing heavily and smiling at each other. Jan Di was the first to look away

"Tea?" she looked down and she couldn't help but grin

He cleared his throat "Right, tea"

Ji Hoo and Jan Di walked into the clinic looking at each other sheepishly and grinning like fools.

Jun Pyo watched them from afar in his car burning with anger and rage. He couldn't approach them and demand an expiation from them but still, it hurt him to see the woman he loves happy with another man. Ji Hoo has treated Jan Di as the most precious thing in the world yet he who got the girl treated her like trash.

He had cast her away and threw her love back in her face and now here he was pinning for her. She no longer had anything to do with him. He knew he had to move on but it was proving to be difficult.

Ji Hoo moved around the small clinic as Jan Di went to make some tea. He noticed the violin, his family pictures

"My grandson, can you forgive me?" The once-powerful old man reached imploringly out to the only family he had left.

"Don't ever call me that again" he tried to move past him but his grandfather didn't allow it. "Do you know how long I waited for you to find me and call me grandson again, to rest my head on your lap when I cried? No, you don't"

Ji Hoo walked out of the clinic as the rain began to pour. He turned to the corner to hide away once he had Jan Di calling him, he couldn't allow her to see him weak and vulnerable. He'd feel ashamed. He watched her run in the rain calling him and once she was out of sight, he slipped down on the ground and began to cry for the pain he has been feeling for the past 15 years. For all the time he cried and no one whipped his tears away, for the blame he felt for having caused his parents' death.

Ji Hoo walked and walked, disoriented, not noticing the cold nor the direction that he went. His mind reeled from seeing his Grandfather for the first time in fifteen years.

He could understand though — why his Grandfather hated him so much — after all, he had killed his parents. If only he hadn't distracted his Appa while he was driving…if only he hadn't disobeyed his Omma and kept his seatbelt on…

He saw this scene in every nightmare — the short lighthearted moments when he unbuckled his seatbelt and peered between the two front seats where his happy parents were chatting. They were on the way to his Grandfather's house to drop off Ji Hoo for his weekly play date with Grandfather. He was telling his dad all about how So Yi Jeong had just come from America and taught them a new game called Blind man and then he had covered his father's eyes with his hands…

It was all his fault.

He knew his Grandfather couldn't stand the sight of him because he was no different from a murderer —even if he had only been a little boy who needed the only close family he had left.

He walked as he looked back on his lonely life — there had only been Min Seo Hyun and the F4.

Until Geum Jan Di.

Geum Jan Di.

He stopped in his tracks and for the first time, that night felt the cold and noticed his wet clothing. And he suddenly felt a tug in his heart pulling him home. He didn't know why or how he knew — he just felt that he needed to get home. To get to Geum Jan Di.

He ran back to his house, pausing now and then to catch his breath

Finally, after what seemed like hours of running, he saw the lights of his driveway — and sitting on the front steps, the one person in the world he needed and wanted to see at that moment.

He struggled to make it to the last few steps to reach her but the few feet between them seemed likes miles away.

"Sunbae!" Jan Di exclaimed in alarm, seeing him staggering towards her. She jumped up and ran to him. Putting his arm around her shoulders, she helped him reach the house and fumbled in her pockets for the keys, finally locating them in her coat.

"Jan Di…" he said, his arm tightening against her shoulder "...please…please don't leave me."

Jan Di was able to remove his wet jacket and his shirt as he slept. She hesitated but remembered that they were already intimate.

"Mianhae! Mianhae! Appa! Omma!"

Jan Di was startled out of her sleep by the sound of Ji Hoo's agonized scream. She immediately leaped up and wrapped him in her arms. Hearing nothing but the patter of rain on the eaves, her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Ji Hoo had his eyes closed, tears making silvery tracks down his face as he held her close.

"Shhh Sunbae…" she crooned soothingly, rubbing small circles on his back as she held him close. For once, she was the one comforting him and she wished fervently that she knew how to make him feel better. "Shhh…I'm here…it's ok…" she repeated over and over until his shaking stopped.

"Jan Di…" he whispered into her hair. "I love you, Jan Di" he returned the embrace, which forced her to her head on his still warm chest "Don't leave me" he muttered softly

"I promise I won't"

Ji Hoo pulled her out of his chest and looked into her eyes. "Jan Di-ah" was all he said and leaned to kiss her. The kiss started desperately but it was deep.

He starts to kiss her, softly, sweetly, tugging at her lips with his. He cups my breast, brushes the nipple with his thumb. She reached down and stroked herself where all the sweat gathered even if it was cold, where the smell of her core is strongest. He gently bites her top lip, sucking on it. Tugged at her nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger.

She felt it harden. She felt him harden and felt herself getting wet.

She felt the head of his cock bouncing against her thigh as he crawled over her, positioning himself above her, poised to enter. And she turned on her side to accommodate him, bending the top leg at the knee.

He drove his hardness inside her, setting off another shattering moan that was music to his ears. She was quite an instrument to play, so finely tuned, and if he touched her right, she made the most glorious sounds — raw, intense, absolutely delicious noises of pleasure as he plundered her with him. He continued to thrust inside her and hit her in the spot that turned her moans into one long, high-pitched orgasm. She shuddered against him, her legs quaking, and when he finally slowed to look up at her, he saw her hair was a wild tumble, and her face was glowing and spilled his desire inside her.

The pain he was feeling turned into the happiness of being connected with her. The happiness of feeling complete with her. He knew he shouldn't have done it but he couldn't stop destiny. Their destiny always brought them back to the same place. Where he had promised not to do it without protection but he did it.

Next Morning

Ji Hoo was in bed alone, he wondered where Jan Di could have gone. He went to the bathroom to shower and came out to get something to eat. He checked the time and soon the 1st lecture was ending. He noticed something on the island. He removed the covering to reveal a full meal of seafood porridge and side dishes. He stared at the meal for a moment, and the hint of a smile crossed his lips and there was a note

Sunbae, I went to school and decided not to wake you. I hope you're better now. See you later

Yours, Little Otter.

Thank you Jan Di-ah

Finally, I hope you liked it…