Exactly three days after Jan-di's interview Chairman Kang publicly announced her retirement. A month later and Jan-di was up to her ears in books studying for all her classes. Between school and work she's hardly had time to catch her breath. Let alone think about Jun-pyo's fathers words about her friends possibly seeking her out. Tucked away in a corner table of her university's library she sat frantically scribbling notes in her notebook preparing for a major exam. "It's nice to see some things never change, Geum Jan-di." Startled she dropped her pen, slowly lifting her head to look at her visitor, "Yoon Ji-hoo." His name sounded so foreign, she hadn't allowed herself to have time to think about Ji-hoo hardly. As much as she missed him, as she does everyone, thinking about him particularly was about as painful as thinking about Jun-pyo. She starred at him eyes wide, unsure why he was there, what he wanted, how he found her in such a remote part of the library.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" She questioned, stumbling over her words while trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. "I'm a student here, don't you know?" This news shocked her even more, it wasn't normal for someone to transfer out of Shinhwa university. Especially someone of Ji-hoo's status and abilities. "What do you mean you're a student at this university?" She mumbled not believing her ears. "I transferred here. I'll officially be in classes after exams." Stunned into silence Jan-di blinked a couple times while taking in Ji-hoo's expression trying to see if he was pulling her leg or not. This had to be some joke. "Don't look at me like that." He muttered taking a seat in the chair next to her.

"We gave you a month, did you really expect us to wait forever?" Blinking a couple more times she took in his words.. "what do you mean we?" She squealed eyes darting around the library looking to see if anyone had come with him. "Don't worry It's just me this time. I'm the only one who could transfer into all your classes." Relaxing a bit Jan-di leaned back in her chair massaging her temple. This was not the kind of appearance she needed to deal with right before exams. She needed to be studying, but a small part of her was thrilled to see her friend again. It's been so long, and her heart ached as thoughts of Gu Jun-pyo flooded her mind.

"Gu Jun-pyo isn't among our group." He stated taking in her pained expression. "He doesn't want to see me." She figured this would be the case but the reality of it stung more than she expected. "I don't really know, after we watched your interview he stormed out and no one has seen or heard from him since. His fathers had to take over things at the moment. Gu Jun-pyo is completely off the grid." Textbook now closed she realized that her assumption of Gu Jun-Pyo paying off Ji-woo to change their interview must be incorrect, but if not him then who? "You all watched my interview?" Was Jun-pyo mad at her? Did she say something wrong? She was honest but maybe she was too honest, either way his disappearance was disturbing.

"We did. It's funny actually," Ji-hoo chuckled shaking his head. "We all spent so much time brain storming ways we could see you when you first left and launched your career. It was frustrating really, you were so careful in avoiding us we struggled for months trying. Then Jun-pyo's dad defeated us all, with a VIP pass of all things. None of us could believe it." Unable to help herself Jan-di laughed at this confession "all those great minds and none of you thought of that huh?" Ji-hoo grinned laughing himself now. "It must be an old school thing. None of us thought of it."

"Jan-di" Ji-hoo started his expression serious now. "We need to talk properly. This isn't the place for it." Standing he offered her his hand, "please, will you come with me." Hesitant and mind racing she starred at his out stretched hand, how many times has that hand saved her in the past? How many times has she leaned on him? Placing her shaky hand in his she stood up from her spot and allowed him to drag her out of the library into the night where a car was waiting for them. She so desperately wanted to ask where they were going, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. I'll have to come back and collect my books she thought glancing out the window back at the library.

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"This is a nice place." Jan-di commented taking in the environment of the empty restaurant they currently sat in, it was much fancier than anything she would go to herself. Even with doing so well financially she preferred her simple lifestyle. "Song woo-bin owns this restaurant, he let me rent it out for the evening so we could talk." Surprised to hear that they had businesses in Daegu she about choked on her water, "I didn't realize any of you had businesses in the area." She managed trying to collect herself. "We didn't originally but when you relocated here most of us expanded. We were trying to create reasons to be in the area to try and bump into you." A part of her was touched by her friends reasonings but guilt stabbed at her heart knowing they only did such things because of her.

"Geum Jan-di, I'm sorry if some of the things I'm going to ask you causes you pain." His expression was torn as he spoke, it was evident he didn't like the idea, taking his hand in hers she squeezed it lightly. His hand was warm compared to her cold one, it felt nice to have something to hold on to again. "Id much rather not have the conversation we're about to have, but you're here now. It can't be avoided any longer." Giving a reassuring smile she squeezed his hand one more time before letting go. Ji-hoo nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Why did you accept Chairman Kang's offer so easily? You didn't even let us try and fight back." He whispered the last part, eyes boring into hers begging for answers.

"Yoon Ji-hoo," She began taking a shaky breath, collecting her thoughts. "I'm sorry that my actions have caused you pain. It wasn't my intention to hurt you. It makes sense that you all think that I gave up and ran away, striking a deal with Gu Jun-pyo's mother. That's not what happened though. I…" tears were already threatening to fall, she blinked them away determined to get through this first question without crying. "It was my idea to leave. I went to Chairman Kang and asked her to leave my family and friends alone and to stop meddling with Gu Jun-pyo's personal life. I asked her to give me one last day with Gu Jun-pyo. In return I would leave, and make sure that I did so in such a way that Gu Jun-pyo would never look for me." She waited for him to react but whatever his thoughts were about the truth his expression gave nothing away. Her absence had hurt him more than she could probably imagine.

"Leaving was your idea?" She nodded in response, unable to speak. She desperately wanted to know what Ji-hoo was thinking, she could hardly meet his eyes the uncertainty of his thoughts making her stomach feel knotted and ache. "Why didn't you give us time to figure something out?"

"Who knows what else the chairman would have done, who else she would have gone after during that time. I know you would have suffered on my behalf, but I couldn't be selfish and allow that to happen."

"But you've suffered." It came out as if he were stating a fact, and it was true. She has suffered through these three lonely years. With a small smile she allowed the first of many tears to fall. Her cheeks burning as they traveled down to her chin, dripping onto her shirt. "Tell me this, aside from my leaving has any of you faced any difficulties?" Anger quickly flashed through Ji-hoo's eyes, but she saw it and it was her answer. "That's not the point." He shot out bitterly slamming his fist on the table causing it to rattle from the force. "I get why you left Gu Jun-Pyo but why did you leave everyone else? Why did you leave me?"

"Because I'm weak." This response startled Ji-hoo, he sat mouth open but no words came out. "I knew that if I kept any of you in my life I would have caved and gone back to Gu Jun-pyo and begged him for forgiveness. Even sitting here with you now, the possibility of seeing him is all I can think of." It was of a switch somewhere in Ji-hoo's brain flipped and he understood. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket he reached over to dry her tears but Jan-di stopped him, "these tears are of my own doing, please let me feel them." Unable to argue he folded the handkerchief in her hand for her to use when she was ready. "Why then, didn't you come back after Chairman Kang announced her retirement?"

"Walking in and out of your lives is not something I do casually. I was scared to return. I was fearful of not being forgiven but more than anything I was fearful of learning that Gu Jun-pyo hated me, or had moved on with someone else. Staying away was my way of protecting myself from these fears that have plagued my mind these past three years."

"Was there ever a time you almost caved and reached out to any of us?"

"After learning of my families passing, I was so distraught I almost did and I've spent many nights this last year wrestling over reaching out to any of you. But the person I really wanted to reach out to was Gu Jun-pyo and I couldn't bring myself to do it."

"I'm sorry to hear of your family." He knew he should have started with that and silently scolded himself for letting that take the back seat to his own agenda. It was unlike him to be so unorganized and on edge, he never imagined he'd get the chance to sit before her until Chairman Kang's retirement announcement and even after that waiting a month knowing he could be with her during that time was agonizing. Time had definitely impacted his approach on these matters.

"Thank you" She whispered trying to smile some through her tears.

"You know Geum Jan-di… being with me would have been easier. You wouldn't have had to leave anyone, and your family would have never of been in a position that caused them to move away. They'd probably still be alive." She went to speak but he held his hand up to silence her, "I know you stopped seeing me that way after some time. I don't want to complicate things but if Gu Jun-pyo does not take you back I would like you to properly consider me. Please think about it, I don't require an answer. No matter what happens I will stand by you from now on as your friend, you're very important to me." Giving a slight nod she smiled, though she was crying as she does most nights for the first time in a long time she was not alone.