CHAPTER 24

SAIA'S POV:

I laugh at this childish Ji-Hoo beside me. I am unfamiliar with this side of him but it's adorable. His messed up hair, his scratchy voice from sleep, his heavy eyelids, and furrowed brow are quite the sight to see. I doubt even his best friends have seen this side of him. He refuses to let me get out of bed and I watch him in exasperation.

"Fine!" He groans and buries his head in his pillow. Finally free from his embrace, I crawl out of bed and grab my clothes. It does seem strange that someone is so persistent at the front door so early but then again, I am not familiar with what his life is like at home. Maybe this happens all the time.

I open his front door slowly to see the statuesque figure of Min Seo Hyun turn to me. I'm not sure who is more surprised to see the other, her or me. I recognize her from TV. There isn't anyone in S. Korea that doesn't know who she is but I'm uncertain as to why she's here. Her eyes are red and puffy with long black trails of mascara marking her cheeks from her tears. Several pieces of luggage sit beside her.

"W-w-who are you?" she hiccups between sobs.

I swallow hard and find myself at a loss for words. I don't know what to say. I feel Ji-Hoo step up behind me and his chest presses into my back.

"S-Seo Hyun?" he stammers. Surprised, I turn my head to look up at him and his face is as white as a sheet. He pulls the door open wider and she flings herself against him, sobbing uncontrollably. He stares down at her in shock, his arms limp at his sides before he grabs her shoulders with his hands to put some distance between them.

"Seo Hyun, what's wrong? What are you doing here?" If anything she starts crying harder and wraps her arms around him again. Feeling like I am intruding, I quietly close the door and turn to walk towards his bedroom.

"Saia…" I turn back to look at him and the desperate look on his face makes me fight back a grin. He looks so uncomfortable having this sobbing woman clinging to him. He seems more concerned about me than her.

"Why don't you take her into the living room and I'll make some tea." I say to him. He nods stiffly and guides her towards the living room. He continues to glance back at me until I finally turn towards the kitchen.

I busy myself looking for things to make tea. I've never made tea at his house and I don't know where anything is. His kitchen is huge. My old apartment could probably fit inside of it. It's very nice though. He has great taste as always but it's made for someone taller. I stretch up to try and reach for the tea cups in the cabinet when Ji-Hoo's hands slide over mine.

"I got it." he says and places them on the tray.

"You just left her in there by herself?"

"She'll be okay for a few minutes. Saia about-"

"She's bawling her eyes out!" I interrupt him. "How is that okay? You didn't do that to me!"

"That's different. You're my girlfriend."

"Yes, but she obviously knows you and trusts you to be a complete wreck at your front door."

"…"

"Ji-Hoo-ah…" I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. His arms wrap around me and he takes a deep breath.

"Arasso…" He tilts my head up for a quick kiss. "You really are amazing."

I feel a blush rise to my cheeks and playfully start pushing him out of the kitchen. "I can finish the tea myself. Go back out there."

(^_^)

JI-HOO'S POV:

I'm not sure what surprises me more. The fact that Min Seo Hyun is crying in my house after not seeing or hearing from her in 7 years, or the fact that I just got kicked out of my own kitchen by the most amazing woman I have ever known.

Seeing Seo Hyun again is strange. It's awkward and I don't like it. I never thought I would see her again. Why is she here and why now? Delaying going back into the living room, I go back to the front door and bring her luggage inside. She has a lot of it and that worries me. She always invades my life as if she owns it. As if my whole life is for her every whim.

Finally entering the living room again, I sit in a chair next to the sofa where she's still crying. I need the distance. I know I should be concerned that she is so upset but all I feel is resentment. We are no longer a part of each other's lives. I'm finally truly happy after all these years. I don't want her here. Why couldn't she have gone to one of her friends in France? Why did she have to come all the way back to Korea and to me? I haven't told Saia about me and Seo Hyun yet which makes this even more awkward. I am grateful though for the complete trust I see in Saia's eyes even after seeing an unfamiliar and upset woman throwing herself at me.

"What happened, Seo Hyun?"

"C-c-can w-we talk about it later J-Ji-Hoo-ah? I r-really need to c-clean up and r-rest first."

I don't like the sound of this… "Okay. Where are you staying?"

"I-I'll just stay h-here for now." She stands up and moves towards my room. She can't be serious… I watch in shock as she enters my room and heads into my bathroom. She hasn't changed one bit. Saia comes in with the tea and looks around curiously.

"Where did she go?" she says as she sets the tray down on the table.

"…She went to go clean up...Let me see your bandage." I tug on her arm till she topples into my lap. It's amazing really how the simple act of touching her calms me in a way nothing else can. She smiles brightly at me and kisses my nose.

"I didn't know you knew Min Seo Hyun." She says.

My hands freeze as I'm checking her bandage. You better just tell her Ji-Hoo, the sooner the better. "…Yes. We grew up together but I haven't spoken to her in 7 years."

She nods and stands up. "I should go change real quick. It's kind of strange meeting her in my pajamas."

"You have to change in one of the other restrooms. She's using OURS." I say irritably.

"No problem." She laughs. "I should call Boo Ki too. I know she's been worried about me."

"You need to call your Eomma too. She's been calling everyday for you."

"Okay. I will." Leaning over for a quick kiss, she then heads for the room she was staying in. I really need to move her stuff into my room.

I wait impatiently for Seo Hyun for almost an hour when she finally walks out in only a towel. I watch in amazement as she heads into my closet.

"Ji-Hoo, you haven't unpacked my things yet?" She calls out to me. Incredible… Moving towards my closet I lean against the doorframe with my arms crossed. Now clad in one of my shirts, she turns to me and gives me a curious look. Even though it has been a long time, she should still be able to see the irritation on my face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ji-Hoo-ah… Please. Let's talk about it later, okay? I'm really tired and-"

"Ani. Let's talk about it now. You show up here after all these years like nothing changed and you expect me to just let you back into my life? It doesn't work like that. Not even for the great Min Seo Hyun."

"Ji-Hoo-ah, why are you being like this? Are you still upset about what happened in France?"

"Stop it!" I hiss angrily.

"We have been tied together since we were kids and we always will be. You knew that better than I did before I left. But I have come to understand what you meant. I've missed you…" Her hands brush my cheeks and I jerk away from her.

"Just stop!" Spinning away from her, I march out of my room towards the kitchen. I am so angry right now! She still thinks she rules my life! She still believes that my world revolves around her! Did she honestly think I would spend the rest of my life pinning for her? Babo! Of course she did…especially after France.

My days in France had been spent sitting in my empty apartment thinking about everything. I had come to realize I had been clinging on to her like a brother does to a sister, not like a boyfriend. She had been my first love, my lover, my everything, until Jan Di opened my eyes and awoke me from the deep slumber I had been keeping myself in. I came to see how truly selfish Min Seo Hyun and I were. She didn't want to let me go because she was afraid of me finding someone else and I didn't want to let go because I believed there could never be anyone else. I came to hate myself in France. I hated what I had become. I was pathetic, foolish, and blind. And I found myself deeply missing a certain loudmouthed young lady. I came to realize my true feelings for Seo Hyun. She was my Noona and it was time to let go. I was ready to let go, even though it still hurt. So I quietly came home without a word to her.

So much has changed in my life since then. I am not the same man that Seo Hyun once knew and I'm extremely proud of that fact. I wish she had never come. My life is fine without her.

Leaning against the kitchen counter with my eyes closed, I hear someone come in and Saia's arms slide around my waist. Taking a calming breath, I rest my forehead against hers.

"What is it?" she asks. Opening my eyes, I can see the concern on her face.

"Our uninvited guest is making herself right at home." I say through my clenched teeth. I stare at Saia suspiciously. I could have sworn I heard a snort of laughter before she scratched her nose with her hand. Her eyes are still dancing with laughter. "This isn't funny."

"Not at all." She says with a quick shake of her head. "It's just, aren't models natural divas?"

"Former model and yes they are I guess but so are a lot of ballerinas from what I hear. Thank god you aren't like that."

"I promise I never will be." She says with a chuckle. "Did she say why she is so upset?"

"Ani. She wants to rest first. Did you call Boo Ki and your mom?"

"I called Boo Ki. She's coming over to pick me up for lunch. I haven't called my mom yet."

"…So you're going to leave me here to deal with Min Seo Hyun all on my own?"

"I don't even know her. What exactly am I supposed to do? I'm sure she will feel more comfortable talking to you and it's only for a few hours."

Great… I inwardly groan.

(^_^)

SEO HYUN'S POV:

I knew that by coming here Ji-Hoo would probably put up a resistance. Why shouldn't he? I left him alone for so long. We had been lovers before I broke his heart and left him but we have had a connection since we were kids, something that survives even the passage of time. He is still my little Ji-Hoo. I cling to the knowledge that he will always be here for me. He will always be mine. I feel guilty for neglecting him all these years. I should have tried to contact him sooner.

Sliding into his bed I grip his pillow tightly, seeking comfort from every piece of him that I can. I need him. I need him at my side and I need the protection of the F4. They had stirred up a giant hornet's nest by going after that Eon Su-Jeong and now everything in my life has been torn apart. I am so afraid that the men that attacked us in France are still going to come after me but I know that I am safe here. Here they can't touch me. Here is where I belong.