CHAPTER 10

WOO BIN'S POV:

After a night of following Juliana around to various clubs, I am happy to be back at the house. I want to talk to Boo Ki. As we make our way inside though, the house is much too quiet. She isn't here… Ji-Hoo goes straight to bed but I stay up to wait for her. Sitting in the dark, I feel myself grow angrier by the minute. Did she go out with that guy? Where the hell is she? Her phone is off and it's only irritating me even more. I am going to have to make it clear that she needs to have her damn phone on at all times. It's too fucking dangerous, damn it! I don't think anything happened to her because the door was locked and the alarm was set. She obviously left on her own.

Hearing the front door open, I stand up and make my way towards her. Our flirting has been fun but I'm growing frustrated with it. I need more. I need her to remember that I am the one that wants her. I'm the one that cares for her and worries about her. Not that other guy. Grabbing her arm, I press her up against the wall and she looks up at me. She isn't surprised in the least by my actions and my frustration grows. She is always such a mystery to me. I want her to see me as more than just a friend and I want her to tell me all of the secrets she keeps locked behind her beautiful eyes.

"Boo Ki-ah." I say seriously and crush my mouth against hers. At first she puts her palms on my chest as if to push me away but when she doesn't, I tease and nip her upper lip. Her mouth is so soft but she isn't responding to me. My heart is starting to sink in disappointment and I bite her bottom lip in desperation. I feel her shiver beneath my hands and hear her sharp intake of breath. She feels something at least so why isn't she responding? I pull away to look at her and her eyes slowly open.

"You shouldn't be doing this." She whispers. "I don't want to lose you."

"Even if you don't feel the same way I do, you will never lose me Boo Ki-ah. I will always be here for you and I will destroy anyone that tries to hurt you no matter what. I'm not going anywhere. I just want… to be close to you." I tell her. For the first time, she gives me a look full of longing and hope but it doesn't last and I can feel her start to pull away from me again. Sliding a hand behind her neck, I tilt her head towards mine and kiss her again. I tease her mouth, begging her to respond to me and when she finally does I groan in pleasure. My heart leaps in my chest and I slide my arm around her waist to pull her closer. Yes! At last!

(^_^)

BOO KI'S POV:

I should push him away but I can't. I don't respond to his demanding mouth because I'm torn. A part of me desperately wants to kiss him back but the other part is telling me to run. I can feel his desperation as his mouth begs me to respond to him. I shiver as he teases my bottom lip and I can no longer stand it. Sliding my hands behind his neck, I fiercely kiss him back and hear him groan in pleasure. This kiss is unlike any other I have ever experienced. I knew it would be like this but its intensity shakes me to the core of my being. I feel his tongue glide along my bottom lip, seeking entrance to my mouth. I hesitate for a moment but when I finally part my lips to welcome him, I moan when our tongues meet. My mind goes blank with the overwhelming pleasure. He is such a great kisser and I can feel my heart pounding with excitement as his hands roam along my back and my neck. Our demanding mouths battle each other for dominance and it's exciting. Neither of us is willing to give in to the other. He is fiery, playful, and passionate. They are things that have always drawn me to him.

A strange ringing noise is starting to penetrate through my hazy mind as we break the kiss for air. His teasing mouth nibbles on my jaw and my throat as he presses himself against me.

"Don't answer it." He whispers against my throat. Realizing that my phone is ringing, I stiffen in his arms and dig around in my purse for it.

"Boo Ki-ah… Don't." He groans in my ear and reaches for my arm. I pull away and glare at him but he only gives me a lopsided grin in response.

"Hello?" I say into the phone and press my palm against Woo Bin's chest to keep him away.

"Se Na? It's Alejandro. How are you?"

"I'm great and you?" I shake my head at Woo Bin as he quietly asks 'Who is it?'

"I'm good. Listen, I'm sorry to be calling so late but my father is having a party tomorrow night and I was wondering if you would like to go with me? I know its short notice but I really hope you can come and keep me company."

"Sure! That would be great!" I say and nod my head. Woo Bin is watching me with a frown and tries to pull me closer but I finally push away from him completely so I can focus on the phone call.

"That's great! So …I'll pick you up at 7?"

"How about I meet you there instead? The people I am staying with are nosey. I don't want you to have to go through the third degree just to take me to a party." I say and watch Woo Bin's eyes narrow in irritation. Alejandro's infectious chuckle reaches my ear and I smile.

"Sure. I'll see you then. Good night."

"Good night." I hang up the phone and Woo Bin takes a step towards me.

"Who was that?" he asks.

"Alejandro Dias. He invited me to his father's party."

"We are already going. There is no need for you to go with him."

"It gives me a chance to get closer to Sergio and you don't want me to do it?"

"Juliana is our best chance to get close to him! Alejandro doesn't want anything to do with his father! You said so yourself! " he says in frustration.

"That doesn't mean he isn't involved with his family. You know as well as I do that we have to take down Miguel too. Alejandro is a good man. I enjoy talking to him and we get along great. And so what if he isn't close with his father! It doesn't mean he isn't useful to us! If you think Juliana will be such a huge help, then go after her then! Flirt with her! Dance with her! Use that Don Juan charm of yours! My chances of getting close to her are slim to none. You are the best choice!"

"After kissing me back you want me to seduce her?" He asks incredulously.

"See? This is why I knew that kissing you was a mistake because now you are going to let it get in the way of everything."

"I would just like to know what it is you are feeling Boo Ki-ah. I can't read your mind or your heart. I like you… very much but… do you like me back?" He asks quietly.

"Of course I do." I say nervously. "I wouldn't be friends with you if I didn't like you."

"That's not what I mean and you know it." He says and I can see that unknown emotion in his eyes again. It's scaring me and I back away from him.

"Boo Ki-ah, please… don't pull away from me." He says hoarsely and steps towards me. I panic when he tries to reach for me and turning on my heel, I quickly take the last few steps to my room and close the door behind me. Shaking, I sink to the floor with my back pressed against it.

"Boo Ki… Please… Just talk to me…" I hear him say as he softly knocks on my door. After several minutes, I finally hear him slowly walk away. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on them. Why is he trying so hard?

That scary look in his eyes is familiar… I've seen it before. Trying to pinpoint what it is, I think about the different emotions I've seen in people. I've seen that look on Ji-Hoo's face before… My heart practically stops at the thought. Woo Bin was looking at me the way Ji-Hoo looks at Saia.

(^_^)

I didn't sleep much last night and left early this morning to try and locate another one of my old contacts. I trust Maria but I need someone that is involved in the drug trade. I want to know everything there is to know about Miguel Dias.

I only brought the essentials with me today and I'm dressed casually. I didn't bring a purse. Everything I need is tucked in my pockets. If I have to defend myself, I don't want anything in my way. Some of the locals watch me warily as I make my way through the marketplace. No tourists ever come here but most of the people just ignore me. I browse through the various stands and push my sunglasses higher up my nose. It's starting to get warm out as the sun rises higher in the sky. I feel my phone go off and pull it out of my pocket. It's Woo Bin. No surprise there… I don't answer and he continues to call me.

"Where are you?" He finally texts me. I stare at his message for several minutes before shoving my phone back in my pocket without a reply. Honestly, I don't know what to say to him. I'm not exactly sure what it is that I want from him. I like him too. More than I have ever liked anyone. Even more than Sang Hee and I never thought that was possible. But Sang Hee betrayed me and broke my heart. I would rather keep Woo Bin as a friend and stay in his life for as long as possible, than to lose him to the foolish emotion of "love". That just isn't meant for me. He may think that he loves me now, but I know that even someone as accepting as Woo Bin will hate me in the end for who I am. I have done terrible things… things I will never forgive myself for. I was young and did what I was told but they still haunt me to this day. I wish I could go back and change it. I wish I could just be a simple restaurant manager, without the complicated past… But it isn't that easy.

I feel my phone go off again and pull it out, ready to turn it off but I hesitate when I see the name. Hitting the answer button, I press it to my ear.

"Si, Hyun Joong?" I ask. It feels weird calling Ji-Hoo that…

"…Are you alright?" his calm voice asks.

"Si, I'm fine. I'm just doing a little shopping. Do you need anything?" I speak to him in Spanish to blend in with the chattering voices around me but he responds to me in Korean.

"Ani. Why did you leave without telling us? You could have at least said something to me." He says pointedly and I hear Woo Bin protest in the background.

"Okay, well if you need anything just let me know." I say and hang up. I should have been nicer to Ji-Hoo but knowing that Woo Bin was close by put me in a bad mood. I'll apologize to Ji-Hoo later. Seconds after I hang up the phone, Woo Bin tries to call me again and I turn my phone off. I need time to think. I have to get my head back on straight before I can face him again.

Looking for a place to eat lunch, I finally spot the guy I've been looking for. Luis has been involved in the drug trade since we were kids because his father worked on one of the plantations. We first met when we were 11 years old. We get along really well and he helps me because we are friends. He never does that for anyone else. He's older now but I still recognize him and the scar that runs across his face is still there. He had pissed off his father when he was a boy and his father had swung at him with a knife. It makes Luis look intimidating but he is only mean when he has to be.

"Hello Luis. It's been a long time." I say to him in Spanish and smile up at him. He looks at me curiously and I pull off my sunglasses.

"…Oh my god! Look who it is! It's been such a long time! What are you doing here?" He says with a smile and pulls me into a hug.

"I'm here looking for you actually."

"I'm flattered that you still remember your old friend after all these years." He mockingly says and I give him a light punch in his stomach with my fist. He pretends to double over in pain and I laugh at him. He is in great shape as always and still a joker. He is like a brother to me much like Saia is like a sister to me. I really have missed him a lot. He rubs his stomach with a grimace and drapes an arm over my shoulder to guide me towards his car. "I see you still don't hold back your punches."

After we are in his car, he tells me about his wife and kids while we drive to our old favorite restaurant. I am glad to see him happy. He still lives a dangerous life but he deserves a bit of happiness.

"You disappeared. I was worried about you." He says after we order our food. I nod and sit back in my chair.

"I'm sorry about that. I wanted to contact you but it was too risky… I got out Luis."

"Seriously? Then why did you come back? Are you crazy? You know what will happen if they catch you."

"I have my reasons. I'll tell you everything when we have more time but I was wondering what you can tell me about Miguel Dias."

"Sure. What do you want to know?" He asks.

"Everything."

A/N: To AC Wolf: Thank you so much for reading and I am very happy you like my stories! ^_^

To all of my readers: I am so sorry that I fell behind a few days on updating. I got busy with another story but I didn't forget about this one. ^_^ This chapter actually ran longer than I expected so I am already working on the next one. Lol. I hope everyone is doing well and thank you for reading! ^_^

Oh! And yes I did intentionally give a nod to Hyun Joong (the actor that plays Ji-Hoo) in this chapter. Ji-Hoo needs an alias too so why not? Haha! :P