Hi, guys! This story popped in my head while reading the latest chapter of JodiMarie2910's 'this time we're not pretending'. I don't know why I thought of it during this chapter because honestly? It doesn't even have anything to do with that chapter but it somehow inspired me to write this short story. I don't think it's going to be super long. 5 chapters is the definitely the maximum with possible epilogue included.

Enjoy!

Yi Jeong had been different since that faithful day at Namsan stairs, every one of his friends knew it though they did not know why. Woo Bin could guess since he was the only one who knew of Yi Jeong's plan to finally confess his feelings for Ga Eul, to finally stop being afraid and to go for it. He had expected his best friend to go AWOL for a couple of days, wrapped up in the new sensation that would be having Ga Eul for his girlfriend. Sadly that did not happen as Yi Jeong reappeared in the F4 lounge less than an hour later, looking forlorn.

The potter had not explained much to his friend, not that Woo Bin had needed it because it was quite obvious that Ga Eul had rejected him.

That day had passed three weeks before that day and in those three weeks, the mafia prince had worried greatly about his friend. Despite cutting off from going clubbing completely, Yi Jeong had found other ways to relieve stress which was both better and worse.

He had taken up boxing and instead of hitting a gym like most, sane people... the potter insisted on actually sparring with professional boxers. On that faithful day in the F4 lounge, the former potter was sporting a bruised jaw and a black eye.

While it was nice that he had left the clubbing scene behind and hardly touched alcohol, it was concerning how much he had thrown himself into the boxing thing. He had missed two therapeutical meetings in the last three weeks and was set to visit Sweden for a more thorough therapy session. The plan was that he would only be gone for about two to three weeks but with the way things were looking, both Woo Bin and Ji Hoo doubted that he would return and would instead stay in Sweden to continue his therapy there.

"When does your flight leave again?" The silent musician asked their friend while they were playing a video game in the lounge.

The potter briefly looked up from the game, "Nine in the morning on Thursday."

"Do you need a ride to the airport? It could be better than leaving your car there for the entire time you're gone, right?" The mafia prince offered. He wanted to go on but was interrupted by the door banging and heavy footsteps pounding down the stairs and into the room. At first they thought it had been Gu Jun Pyo in one of his sour moods but were shocked to see Woo Bin's cousin standing in front of them, "Se Joo?"

"Hyung." He panted, "I need your help. Ga- Ga Eul... Whoo, let me take a breath first." He paused.

Yi Jeong, having heard Ga Eul's name sat up straight and looked at the slightly younger man with wide, somewhat terrified eyes. "What is it about Ga Eul? How do you know Ga Eul?"

"Se Joo goes to the same school as Ga Eul." His friend explained, "What is wrong with Ga Eul?"

"I don't know." Se Joo finally said, "I don't know. These last couple of weeks she was not her usual chipper self, she looked quite withdrawn and I thought it was because she dumped Yi Jeong hyung's ass- sorry for that, by the way- but these days... it's getting worse. There are bags under her eyes and I think I saw bruises on her arms but I am not sure about that. She's often in pain and today she even fell asleep in class but that's not the worst part..."

"What is it?" Yi Jeong had already gotten up and was standing very close to Se Joo, almost too close but he didn't care anymore. All he heard was that Ga Eul was possibly in trouble. "Tell us."

"She fainted." He finally said, "I was passing by a bus stop earlier and I saw her faint. I immediately ran to her and offered to take her to the hospital but she wouldn't let me, instead she took a bus but I know where she lives and the bus she took didn't go anywhere near her place. I tried to follow her but I never saw her getting of the bus and after following the bus for three entire routes, I figured she'd already gotten off the bus. I just- I am really worried about her but I also knew that she would not listen to me. Not like she would listen to you, any of you."

"Where did the bus go to?" Yi Jeong demanded.

"It was the bus driving around the Namsan area." He explained.

"I'll go look for her." The potter had taken his keys and was out of the door before anyone could really stop him.

The maffia prince looked at his younger cousin, "You did right by coming here, Se Joo. When did she faint?"

"About two hours ago, give or take a couple of minutes." The young Song family member recalled, "She was out for less than a minute, already opening her eyes before I got to her. She was still dazed for a couple of minutes after waking up and she still couldn't talk properly when she left me behind. Almost-"

"Almost as if she was drugged." Song Woo Bin finished, already thinking the worst though he could not believe an angel such as Ga Eul would ever willingly take drugs.

Ji Hoo finally spoke up, "I'll go look for Ga Eul as well, it's not enough to have only Yi Jeong out there."

"Yeah, you go." Woo Bin turned to his cousin with a determined look in her eyes, "We're going to go to my father, he's become fond of Ga Eul as well and will want to know about this. You'll need to tell him what you've just told us as well. Don't worry, he's going to think you did your best."

"Okay."

Yi Jeong had reached the Namsan tower at record time and was already running around the area. He'd started at the stairs but the memories were too fresh for him to really linger around the place so he started looking at other places as well, even popping into the diner he and Ga Eul had been in before she had broken his heart.

He knew it was what he deserved, he had done so much to her after all. He'd belittled her and made fun of her. Then he had had the audacity to offer her to his father, as if she were no more than a toy when he was already head over heels in love with her. Yet her rejecting him, not even letting him speak, it had hurt too much. He'd felt as if his heart had been shattered into thousands of pieces.

No, his entire world had been shattered.

His life was now dark without her light and laughter and he longed to see her again but he also knew that if he saw her again, he would not be able to hold back. He would not be contented with just being friends and he would not be fine with seeing her move on from him.

Damn it, he should have stopped her on the stairs when he had the chance. This whole thing could have been different.

But why had she given up on them? She had been so stubborn in her pursuit of him up until then... why did she choose that moment to give up? Just when he was ready to start fighting for them, she gave up?

This world, his world, was fucked up.

Now was not the time to think of that though because she was possibly in danger. Yi Jeong would not be able to live with himself if something were to happen to her if he didn't find her soon.

He had to find her.