CHAPTER 28

SAIA'S POV:

5a.m. and I'm awake, as usual. Glancing at the clock I turn over to face Ji-Hoo. I should get up and go to the dance studio but I'm not ready to get out of bed just yet. Watching his dreaming face, I smile. He looks exhausted and he is sleeping so peacefully.

Pushing his hair out of his eyes, I trace his brow with my fingers then his cheekbones and down to his jaw. God, I love you so much... I never knew it was possible to feel this way about someone. My thumb brushes his lips and suddenly I am pulled on top of him in a tight embrace. His mouth nibbles on my chin as I try to pull away to look at him.

"Trying to take advantage of me?" he says with a sleepy smile.

"Ani. I was just watching you sleep."

"Mmmhmmm..." he doesn't sound convinced. "What time is it?" he glances at the clock and groans, burying his face into my neck. "Why do you always have to wake up so damn early?"

"I can't help it." I smile at him. "Go back to sleep. You need your rest." I kiss his forehead and try to slide off of him but he holds me tighter. His sleepy eyes look up into mine and my breath catches in my throat at their intensity. His hand caresses my back while the other keeps my hips in place.

"Stay here. Sleep with me."

"Okay." I say with a nod. He loosens his grip so that I can slide down and nestle my head under his chin. He takes a deep breath and runs a hand through my hair. His steady heartbeat and even breathing are so soothing that I easily drift off to sleep.

When I wake up again a few hours later he is facing me with his arm draped over my waist. I smile and kiss him on the nose. I have to bite back a laugh as he crinkles his nose in his sleep. Sliding out from under his arm, I get up and make my way towards the kitchen.

Seo Hyun sits at the counter with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. I smile at her as I make my way to the fridge. Pulling out a bowl of fruit I cut up the night before, I sit down across from her to eat it. I feel her watching me for several minutes before she puts the paper down.

"We should talk."

"Okay. About…?"

"About Ji-Hoo."

And here we go… I sigh inwardly. "What about him?"

"What exactly are your intentions?"

"…Excuse me?"

"Come on. You barely know each other yet you are already moving in? He's handsome, popular, rich, and alone. You don't have any family here, your father was a serial killer, you can barely make a living, and yet you somehow just got accepted into the best ballet company in the country. Just like that." Her voice is gentle but I can hear the cattiness of her words. I really had hoped it wouldn't come to this. Reigning in my temper, I look her in the eye.

"Yes. Just like that. The SBC doesn't know that I am seeing him. I made it entirely on my own skill. My family is complicated and really none of your business. As for Ji-Hoo, if you think I am with him because of what he is then you will have to take it up with him. He chased after me. I never once thought he would be interested in me and I'm not interested in his money. It may not be a lot but I can make my own money and pay for my own things. I chose to be with him because I love the man that he is. I honestly don't care what you or anyone else thinks. As long as he loves me back, that is all that matters."

"It does matter though. He is a public figure and a lot of people rely on the Foundation and the Hospital. If their opinion of him changes because of you, it could be devastating to his career. Everything his family has worked for could be wiped out overnight. Your father's reputation could easily do that. You left Ji-Hoo once already to protect him from your father so why can't you see you need to walk away to protect him again? Plus if you truly don't care about money, why was your last boyfriend a Chaebol too? Can you see why I'm skeptical of your sincerity? If you stay with him you will regret it."

"Are you threatening me?" I ask incredulously.

"No. I'm warning you to think hard about what being with him means and what it may cost him. If you really love him as much as you say, then you also want what's best for him."

"Why? Because you want him back?"

"Yes. I do. Once he forgives me and remembers what we mean to each other, he will come back to me. I was there for him when he needed me most when we were children. We will always be connected to each other. I left thinking I was doing the right thing for the both of us but I was wrong. I should have stayed here with him. Now because of your family the F4 are involved in something that they shouldn't be and people are dying."

"You might want to ask him what he wants first before making assumptions. As far as people being hurt, that isn't my fault. Are you really blaming me for that?"

"You are basically responsible so why shouldn't I?" She holds my gaze for a moment before her eyes fall to her coffee and she reaches for it.

Before I can say anything, Ji-Hoo walks up behind me and places his hands on the counter on either side of me. His lips brush my temple as he steals a piece of watermelon from my bowl and pops it into his mouth.

"What are you two talking about?" He asks Seo Hyun. His body is tense even though his face and voice are calm. He knows that I'm uncomfortable. I can feel it.

"Nothing important." I say, making sure she understands how I feel about our conversation. Angry, I abruptly stand up and it forces Ji-Hoo out of my way. Returning the bowl to the fridge, I head towards our room with him close on my heels. Before I can close the bathroom door in his face, he pushes the door wide open and leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He watches me quietly as I wash my face and brush my teeth. When I go to move around him he blocks my way.

"What did she say to you?" he quietly asks. Refusing to look him in the eye, I grit my teeth. He isn't the one I'm angry at and I don't want to take it out on him.

"Nothing important."

"Then why are you upset?"

"It isn't important but it still makes me angry."

"Uh-oh… An angry Saia is a scary thing to behold." He says with a twinkle in his eye. A slow grin spreads across his face and I roll my eyes.

"Shut up Ji-Hoo." I have to fight to keep the smile off my face. He steps towards me and I back away until he has me trapped against the wall. He plants his hands on the wall, trapping me. Dipping his head, he nuzzles my ear.

"Tell me." he murmurs. His warm breath against my ear sends a shiver down my spine and I shake my head no. His tongue traces the shell of my ear and I gasp in surprise.

"Tell me." he says again.

"Ani. I-it's not i-important." I stammer as his tongue runs along my jaw. I feel him smile against my cheek.

"Tell me Saia."

I shake my head again. He suddenly lifts me up and presses me against the wall. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his shoulders for support as he attacks my throat with warm sucking kisses. I sigh with pleasure. His lips feel so good against my skin. I know he's just trying to coax me into telling him what he wants to know but I can still feel his growing desire against me.

"Tell" (kiss) "me." (kiss) He whispers between kisses.

"Ji-Hoo-ah." I say seriously. His lips pause in their attack and he raises his head to look at me.

"Could my…" I start hesitantly. He gives me an encouraging look and I take a deep breath. "Could my father, being who he was, hurt your reputation? Since you're dating me and all…" I trail off uncomfortably.

He looks at me in disbelief. "Ani. Why would you ask that?"

"…"

He puts me down so that he can cup my face in his hands. "I don't care about status or appearances."

"I still don't want people to think badly of you because of me." I say biting my bottom lip. He lowers his head and the moment his lips touch mine, he invades my mouth. His body presses harder against me until I am flat against the wall. His kisses are demanding and possessive. It feels like he wants to swallow me whole. His hand slides down to lift my left leg and wrap it around his waist so that his hand can stroke the back of my thigh. His breathing is ragged as he pulls away to look at me.

"I love you. The Foundation and the Hospital will be fine. Your father is gone. He doesn't mean anything anymore."

(^_^)

"Woo Bin is worried about you." I tell Boo Ki.

Her hand stills in the process of pouring a cup of coffee. "Oh?"

"He was so bent out of shape over your conversation with him the other day that he tried to flirt with me to piss off Ji-Hoo."

She gives a snort of laughter and shakes her head. Turning to look at me, she leans across the bar toward me and sips her coffee. It's closing time at the restaurant and even though I'm not working today, I came to see her.

"What exactly is going on between you two?" I ask.

"Nothing. Honestly!" She says at my skeptical look. "We became pretty good friends when we were looking for you. He's smart and funny. We get along really well but when we were with you in the hospital I was so upset that I cried in his arms."

"You cried?" I say in shock. She doesn't cry. Ever. Not because she is cold but she is just very strong and logical. She isn't overly emotional around people except me.

She nods and continues. "Yes and ever since then he started acting strange around me."

"Strange how?"

"He would always watch me when we were at the hospital and every time I wanted to go somewhere he insisted on going with me. It's like he never wanted me to be alone. And now this whole thing with these government officials, he's always trying to check up on me."

"He's worried about you. Isn't that what friends do?"

"You know that he's overstepping his bounds. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation. He's engaged and he's a Chaebol. He needs to remember that. So I decided to step away."

"I don't think he realizes what he's doing but he has a right to be concerned about your safety. He doesn't know about your family does he?"

"Of course he doesn't!" She shakes her head emphatically making her short, dark red hair go flying around her face. "That's no one's business. You didn't tell Ji-Hoo did you?"

"Of course not. He only knows you're my best friend and that I love you. He's worried about you as well. But since they don't know anything, they can't understand you like I do."

She gives me a smile and pats my hand. "I love you too. I probably would have gone crazy without you by now."

"True. You might have actually agreed to marry that creep your parents had you engaged to."

She cringes and her whole body shudders at the thought. "Ew, yuck! Just the thought gives me nightmares."

I laugh and nod. "You and me both…." I watch my friend closely for a minute. "Woo Bin doesn't know how you feel does he?"

"No and he's not going to either. Help me finish cleaning up so I can close this place down. I'll take you home." She tosses a rag to me and I start wiping down the tables in the restaurant. Everything goes smoothly except when we are setting the chairs on top of the tables. Boo Ki in her haste, scratches her cheek with a leg from one of the chairs.

An hour later, we walk arm in arm down the street towards her apartment.

"I'm sorry that we have to walk home first for my car. I thought the exercise would be good for me when I left this afternoon." she says.

"Don't worry about it. I could use the exercise too."

"When are you going to start practicing again?"

"Tomorrow. I really should have gone today but I was a little distracted."

"Thanks to Ji-Hoo and one very catty bitch…" She says with a snort of disgust. "At least you get to drive Ji-Hoo's car. How exciting!"

Turning a dark corner, we continue to make small talk but I know she is just as aware of the shadows following us as I am. We act normal and in no hurry to get to our destination. I'm not afraid. Boo Ki taught me how to defend myself and even though I only had the courage to stand up to my father one time, I had beaten a few thieves myself when I was in college. I can protect myself. I was just too afraid of my father.

The shadows finally move in front of us to block our way. "Where are you pretty ladies going so late?" one of them asks.

"Home but you are in our way." Boo Ki says calmly. I move till my back is against hers and face the men that were behind us.

"Why don't you come with us? We can show you a real good time…"

"I don't think so." I say with a smirk. They close in on us and I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my body. I watch the three that are moving towards me, waiting for them to get just a little bit closer. Tonight just got very interesting…