CHAPTER 14

JI-HOO'S POV:

I'm glad the night is over. It's nice to spend time with my friends but I am happy to have Saia all to myself again. Woo Bin has already threatened that if I don't take care of her, he will leave Jae Kyung and take her from me. I know he is just kidding but the thought of anyone else touching her makes my blood boil and I have honestly been thinking about trying to beat the crap out of him.

Feeling her shift beside me, I glance down at her head resting on my shoulder as my driver takes us back to her apartment. I wasn't angry at her earlier, just frustrated that she felt she should ask someone else about Jan Di and I. I want her to always come to me and trust me. The stabbing pain when she had ignored me for most of the night had torn me apart. I hated that we had been in the same room yet she had been so far away from me. I'm not trying to hide anything or protect anyone by not telling her about how I had really felt about Jan Di. To me, it simply has no part in my life with Saia.

Moving her head off my shoulder she sits up to look out the window and I finally give in to the temptation I've had all night. Capturing her mouth with mine, my right hand slides into her hair and I use my other arm to pull her closer. It has been too long since I last tasted her and my thirst for her has become unbearable. Brushing my tongue against her bottom lip, she parts her lips to welcome my entrance and moans as my tongue meets hers. The sound sends heat coursing through my veins and I hungrily explore every inch of her mouth. Her hands are driving me wild as they shyly explore my chest and back through my shirt. Desperate for air, I break off our kiss only to rain kisses along her jaw and explore the sensitive spot beneath her ear. She moans again when my curious mouth meets the soft skin between her neck and shoulder.

"Ji-Hoo…" she breathes and I feel her shiver at my touch. Hearing my name on her lips sends my desire into overdrive. Needing more, I impatiently pull open the buttons of my vest, then my shirt and place her left hand on my bare chest. My muscles jump and shiver in pleasure at her soft exploration. I can't stop the moan that escapes my throat. So sweet, her taste and the feel of her hand on my skin. Gently lifting her into my lap as my mouth nibbles and licks her collarbone, her arms wind around my neck and her hands slide into my short hair to pull my head closer. Shifting in my lap, her leg rubs against my painfully hard cock and tightening my grip on her, I groan against her shoulder. She freezes in my arms and I can feel her erratic pulse against my chest.

"Sorry..." she whispers to me. Grinning and shaking my head I pull away enough to look her in the eyes. God, she looks beautiful… Her lips are red and swollen from my demanding mouth. Her eyes are wide with shock but I can see the fire still burning in them. Forcing myself to reign in the growing desires of my body, I loosen my grip on her so that she can slide off my lap. As badly as I want her, this isn't the time or the place.

"For what? My body likes you as much as my heart does. I'm not ashamed of that." Caressing her throat, I capture her top lip in a long, soft kiss before finally pulling away from her. Her gentle hands reach for my shirt to button it back up as her pink cheeks, sweet smile and shining eyes make my heart skip a beat. My throat suddenly feels dry as my heart speaks the words that are lodged in my throat: I love you.

(^_^)

SAIA'S POV:

Carefully inspecting my toe shoes for any repair, I sit on the floor of the ballet studio waiting for the owner to arrive. Heo Se Na was once a prima ballerina for the Seoul Ballet Company before opening her own studio. She pushes me hard and I am grateful for it. Even though I am not the ideal body type with my hourglass figure, I am still tiny and she knows that I have the drive & ability to fulfill my dreams. Se Na had even gotten me an interview with the director of the SBC before my dad had attacked me. My injuries prevented me from meeting with him, much to my bitter disappointment. It wasn't meant to be I suppose. At least she understands my desire to get into the company on my own talent and without Ji-Hoo's influence.

"You have been looking great the past few days. How do you feel? Are your injuries all healed?" Se Na asks as she walks in.

Nodding, I smile at her. "Yes. I am still a little stiff but nothing that practice can't cure."

"I'm glad to hear it. I spoke with the director today. I explained your situation and he is still interested in meeting you."

"Sunbae…Are you serious? He is still willing to meet with me?"

"Yes and of course he is! I am Heo Se Na after all! He knows that I have great taste and good judgment when it comes to ballet."

"Oh my god! Thank you, Sunbae! Thank you so much!" Throwing my arms around her I can't help my squeal of excitement.

"I know you will give it your all. Make me proud, okay? And you better practice hard. He wants to see you on Wednesday so that means you only have a few days to prepare."

"I will! I promise!"

(^_^)

"This is such great news! What should we do to celebrate?" Boo Ki asks.

"Isn't it a little early to be celebrating? I haven't gotten into the Company yet."

"Aish! You will get in. He would be stupid not to take you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence but I am really going to have to work hard if I want to impress him." It's late and even though I'm glad to be closing up the restaurant with Boo Ki, I still want to hurry. I want to squeeze in some practice time before going to sleep.

"What did Ji-Hoo say?"

"…I haven't told him yet."

"What? Why not?"

"Between the Foundation, the hospital, and worrying about me, he has enough to think about at the moment."

"Worrying about you? What do you mean?"

"He's convinced that my father will come back for me."

"And you? What do you think?"

"I wish he would stop looking for dad. I'm more afraid of him hurting Ji-Hoo than coming back for me."

"Well I am glad Ji-Hoo looks after you and tries to take care of you. You have moved around so much since we were kids and have always had to take care of yourself. After everything Su-Jeong has done to you and the twins, you deserve to be taken care of for once. You don't always have to be the strong one you know."

Not knowing what to say, I leave it at that. I always feel so weak around Ji-Hoo that it frustrates me. I need to do well on Wednesday not only for myself but for him too. This is my dream and I also want to make him proud of me. I want him to see that I can do this on my own.

Locking up the restaurant, Boo Ki turns to me. "Come on. I'll drop you off at the studio but just promise me that you won't be there all night. Arasso?"

"Arasso. I promise." I smile.

(^_^)

JI-HOO'S POV:

Some music just flows naturally out of one's soul. It doesn't have to be thought out or remembered. It becomes second nature to play certain pieces of music. Lately I find that the pieces I have been playing are playful or romantic. Today however… I got nothing… And it's all because of the irritating device sitting on my coffee table that refuses to ring. Glaring at it to try and make the person I want to hear from realize I have been trying to call them all day, probably won't do any good. Sighing in disappointment, I try to turn my attention back to the guitar in my hands.

I know that something is up. I have hardly heard from her all week. On a rare day off from both the Foundation and the hospital, I have been hoping to spend some time with her but her phone is off. She isn't at home, the studio, or the restaurant. Did she get another job? It's possible but surely things are not so tough that she needs to do that, right? Her texts have been few and far between. Her responses to my own come hours later at times. Did I do something wrong? I've been wracking my brain trying to think of anything that I might have said or did but come up with nothing. Finally giving up on playing anything, I stand up to put my guitar away when my cell phone finally goes off.

"Are you busy right now?" Saia texts me.

"No. Why?" Seriously, Ji-Hoo…You have been going crazy over her all day and that is the best you can come up with?

"Can you meet me at the park? I need to tell you something."

"Sure. I'm on my way." Inwardly I am in turmoil. The words: We need to talk or I need to tell you something usually isn't a good sign.

(^_^)

Seeing her from a distance, I try to gauge her mood as I approach her. She looks anxious. Should I be worried? Looking around impatiently, she finally spots me. Her bright smile greets me when our eyes meet and I smile back. Before I know what is happening, the air is whooshing out of my lungs as she slams against me into a crushing hug. Regaining my breath, I laugh and hug her back.

"That is quite the 'Hello'. I like it." I tell her as I bury my face in her hair.

Pulling away to look up at me, she smiles. "I've missed you and I have some great news. I want you to be the first to know."

"Really? What is it?"

"I've been asked to join the Seoul Ballet Company!" Her face beams up at me.

Her dream…Something she had almost lost hope for… It's finally coming true. My heart feels so full of happiness for her it feels like it will burst. All of her hard work is finally paying off.

"Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!" Grinning from ear to ear I pull her into another hug. "We need to do something to celebrate. What would you like to do?"

Pulling away, she looks thoughtful. "Can we go on a date?"

"A date?"

She nods. "Yeah! Can we go to the zoo? I've never been but I've always wanted to go."

Smiling at the curious creature in front of me, she never fails to amaze and surprise me. It's such a simple request for something so important to her.

"Of course we can but it's getting late."

"That's okay. I have to be at the restaurant soon anyways and I want to be able to spend the whole day with you. So can we go next week? I have Tuesday off. Is that okay?"

Nodding, I pull her arm thru mine as we turn to walk towards my car. Even though I am happy for her and happy that the reason she has been busy is a good one, the knot of unease in my chest still refuses to loosen. I suddenly feel like I am running out of time with her and not because of the ballet company.

Damn it, Woo Bin! Hurry up and find that mother-fucker. I can't lose her…