HANA

by Rainyday9090

For the longest time I studied revenge to the exclusion of all else. I built my first torture chamber in the dark vaults of imagination. Lying on bloody sheets in the Healing Hall I discovered doors within my mind that I'd not found before, doors that even a child of nine knows should not be opened. Doors that never close again. I threw them wide. Revenge is what I want.

41. Chapter 41

Hello, beautiful readers; I apologize for the delayed chapter. I was sick last week.

As always, thank you so much for all your feedback and for giving this story your time. Appreciate you all so much!

P.s. I am still editing this chapter, but I wanted to upload it as early as I can.

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" Did you tell me to stay away because of what happened ten years ago?" she asked, using all her courage and energy to finish this conversation as soon as possible.

" What?' Junpyo asked, looking a little bit startled by her question.

" Jihoo said something happened ten years ago involving Woobin's brother." Jihoo didn't say precisely that, but she paraphrased.

" is that why you asked me not to get involved with him?" She asked again as she watched Junpyo's weird smirk that was directed across the street. She knew he was feeling some type of way about Jihoo continuing to tell her about things Junpyo doesn't even mention to the therapists he was forced to have since that cursed day. The only person he trusted had always been Jihoo, but now he was questioning if his best friend was to be trusted.

" What else has he told you?" his eyes returning to her, Junpyo asked. He was a bit angry, and it was clear to hear in his tone. Lucky for her. Janid was already learning to use his anger and manipulate him to get what she wanted.

" He said you are like this because of them."

" And what am I like?" he knew what she would say. She has said it again and again. Sending her back to rest against his car behind her, she crossed her arms. She didn't like repeating herself, and her silence was the answer.

" Are you going to tell me about him?"

" Why did you join the gang?" his hands went to the pockets of his overcoat. The silent drive they enjoyed after leaving the freeway, he had directed them to a quiet area. The random street he parked his car in, she had walked out following him. The car he didn't even close properly made it easy to figure out this was going to be where they talked. Out in the open, with the small park in front of them and the cute shops across the street.

" Why do people join gangs?"

" I don't know, that is why I am asking you."

" Protection," she answered, knowing his next question.

"From what?" The silent stares, he waited enough time to know she wasn't going to answer that one.

" Are you involved with the Kim Dragons?" The focus in his eyes was what she zoomed into as she decided to let him think whatever he wanted. She could tell he had no substantial evidence to lead to anything. Just her presence at the hotel didn't prove anything, and after so many interactions with him, she was starting to trust that he wouldn't hand her over to the authorities over this. He was making wild assumptions about things he had no idea about. She doesn't need to confirm or decline anything. Also, being considered part of the Kim Dragons might scare him enough to back away. The people with the dragon tattoos that terrorize the city, who would dare touch their members? She had asked without looking for the answer. The future owner of the biggest empire that legally can have armed guards was who would dare.

" Living life on the edge is fun, but what they are involved in is criminal."

" It would be weird to hate bullies and be a member of a criminal organization."

" What makes you think I am not a criminal?" Her mocking tone wasn't enough. She was smirking as she responded.

" You care too much about people," one sentence and her smirk was removed. The step he took away, his eyes were on the ground as he started walking in circles.

" You want to give off this vibe that you don't care about anything, but you do. You cared enough to save the boy and Eun." his assessment of her was spot on.

" You're very protective over some people, which is odd considering you act like you don't care about anything." Quickly glancing up, he sent his eyes to Jandi standing by his car.

" huh" She sighed, not sure what to make of the perfect assessment he had made of her.

" The things you care about are heavy and maybe painful. It's easier to act like you don't care about any of it. It's a sweet lie you tell to yourself so you can make it to another day" he was hitting the nail on the head, not just because he was talking about her but about himself as well. His face she can't see; she really was having a hard time making sense of how he was able to understand all of this.

The pleasant breeze of the afternoon was helping both stay calm through the conversation she had forced them to have. In the small pockets of silence, they provided for each other, both were too clever not to be careful about what they said. The different coping mechanism they had, acting like they didn't care about anything was the most common one.

" I don't know what it will take to get you to open up, but if you let Ji Hoo in, you would have made a great choice." he brought up the name she didn't want as part of their conversation again.

" He is one of the kindest people I know, and you can trust him with anything." His suggestion was followed by more seconds of silence.

" What made you switch from stay away from Jihoo to this?"

"Realizing your anger and hatred are hiding something else." He had just proved yet again that he was great at connecting the tiny dots and figuring her out with the few clues he had.

" Jihoo is the perfect person to help you through it" Junpyo had to hide the sting he felt saying what he had just done with a small smile. Thankfully, his face was away from her view. But what he said was true. Jihoo was the most sane and healthy person to help her deal with the rage she walked around with.

" Maybe I am just angry for no reason?"

" That's what I thought until the day at the pool. There was something in your eyes when you slapped me that day." he finally turned his face her way. His eyes she wanted to assess, he brushed his hair away as he gave her full access to both.

" I knew I fucked up and expected your anger, but that's not what I saw" his calm voice was pulling her in as she stars to finally understand he really does observe every minute detail when it comes to her. And not just that, but spent hours thinking about it. Which she should have questioned.

" I saw it again when we went to get Eun. Only for a moment, right when you saw her."

" You were terrifyingly filled with rage and ready to attack, calculating every move and turn, but somehow, I wasn't scared of you."

" I was scared for you." 5 words aimed at her thick walls were able to pierce through, leaving her even more puzzled. Why his words triggered a single thought of the man who was her protector wasn't odd anymore. The simple similarities between Bom and Junpyo were becoming too clear.

"You're making a lot of assumptions?"

" Like the ones you make about me?" he answered quickly. She was silenced again. She doesn't know what to do about what he has been saying. It was all true and that was why she was left confused by what to make of this.

" Whatever is eating you from the inside won't stop until you become a shell just to carry it around" Slowly and softly the background had become blurred as her eyes had a clear view of him and him alone. Nothing else in her view mattered.

" You need to let it out or let people in. '' She could physically feel the sincerity in every word he was sending her way. His eyes, which he hadn't lifted from her, were bearing their honest truth as they turned from the dark color she always associated them with to the actual brown they were.

" Let Ji Hoo in '' why he looked hurt by what he was saying, she wasn't sure and she didn't have that much time to investigate before his face was turned away from her.

The necessary silence was back again.

Jandi, who had forgotten about the main reason she was talking to him for, couldn't help but move away from the thought that this conversation felt like a conclusion to something. Why does it feel like an end? Was anything going to change after what Jihoo did today? Is he really not allowed to be around her in private after this? She weighed if she should ask and decided to do so.

" Why are you not allowed to be around Jihoo's girlfriends?"

" Jihoo doesn't have girlfriends. You might be the first official one," he corrected her before answering.

" People think I can't be trusted, too flirtatious" his tiny smile hidden behind his flying hair Jandi ignored. His eyes that turned to her were more interesting to look at. Why does he keep walking around? Was it a habit or used to regulate something? Maybe it was a great way to make sure his body had something to do as it stayed a distance away from her.

" And you think otherwise"

"The mind games you play," she added.

" What mind games am I playing with you?" his smile that got a little bit bigger, the sight of his dimple was what drew her attention to it.

" Why are you walking around the question I've been asking you for over an hour?"

"Huh," he sighed.

" For somebody who doesn't like sharing anything about yourself, you don't seem to understand that others might not like sharing too." His statement was a great reminder of how human he was, just like her. Her only goal being to get information out of him; she hadn't even wondered what it would cost him to share.

" Some things can be too personal to talk about with somebody I don't know." his smile faded away as he turned his eyes to the park in front and gave her his back.

" I am sure you can relate." his hair he started brushing forward; he was putting his guard up.

" So something did happen."

" Something traumatic enough for you to not want to talk about it but not enough to stop you from continuing their legacy and being the leader of F4?" the opportunity she was given, she knew how to utilize it to the best of her advantage. His guards he had lowered, she knew to dig for as much as she.

" I" left stunned; his quick mind had no answer to her question. All the things he wanted to say but couldn't, he knew it was useless to even try to respond to someone who was adamant about hating him and would always choose to misunderstand him.

" That's the main reason you don't like me. Right?"

" Because I stood behind and watched when you were being bullied?"

" You allowed all the scholarship students to be bullied daily," she adjusted the reason.

" I didn't allo

"Your silence is the only permission they needed," she interrupted him.

" You're too powerful to be a silent bystander, you know that."

"You're entertained by the idea

" You think I enjoy," he cut her off but what made her stop was the anger he was displaying.

" Didn't you spill that coffee on me intentionally?'' She forced both of their memories to the first time they stood before each other.

" You were standing there when he slapped me." she was testing to see where his anger could lead if she pushed it.

" You could care less about what happened to me, so why would I trust you ?"

" Would it matter if I said I wouldn't let anyone touch you now?" Whatever was in his voice, along with those eyes of his, she was given a warning not to fall for them.

" No" her answer was kept short as her in-control mind started warning about where this was leading.

" You didn't care when I was noddy; why concern yourself now?'' She asked the most important question of the day. Her answer was lying deep in his eyes. No matter how bold he thought of himself, he didn't have it in him to tell her why she had become what he couldn't stop thinking about. He can't say it out loud, knowing the type of rejection waiting for him. It wouldn't even be a rejection; she would walk all over and discard the feelings he couldn't even admit to himself.

' That's why you trust him?' he asked, finally understanding why his best friend was chosen.

" Why you like him?" his voice lowered; he was talking to himself. The past he can't undo, the reason for why she wouldn't like him was buried along with the time he can't return back to.

" He didn't need to find me "oddly fascinating' to care about me" she was adding more fuel to the fire as she said out loud. The bold line her intuition was telling her to draw between her and this man; she had chosen to use whatever reason to push him away and place him in a box he couldn't escape from.

" Like you said, he is the kindest. Who wouldn't like him?" Her words were being chosen carefully as the sleeves of her cardigan were pulled into her fingers that wanted a sensory outlet for the anxiety that is creeping in. The dim light of his eyes was the cause.

Junpyo had a choice to make at this moment, and he chose to cause himself more pain.

" You feel this right?" he asked a question that would freeze both. His vulnerable heart he left open, he had to immediately guard back as even the slightest chance she understood what he thought of her was clear for her to see was seen as terrifying. Wrapped in his own fear , he had missed the confirmation he was getting to his question.

Some moments of silence.

" I already apologized for the past. I don't know what I can do"

" The best apology is changed behavior." His question, she trusted him enough to give him a piece of honest advice.

'Would you accept it if I change my behavior?'

" I can even get surgery for my voice. '' His smirk had lightened the scary tension his question had brought out.

" Maybe then we can find a common ground and get along" the maximum he can get out of her was what she just offered.

" Maybe down the line we can even be friends. Jihoo would love that '' She used the name that has become the thorn she wrapped the arrows she directed at him with.

" huh" the smile that escaped his lips she watched carefully as his lower lip was pulled in and he bit down to silence himself. Both his hands went to his head, brushing his hair wasn't their goal but squeezing and silencing the migraine that was starting to take over. His head he was shaking, she didn't lift her eyes as she changed it to his body that was walking back and forth. Right when his face was brought back to her view, her eyes were lifted back to his.

" Do you really want me to be your friend?" His hands pushing all of his hair away from his face were brought down to his side. This was it. Her answer to this question would define what would happen after today. Her crossed arms, she didn't know when her hands had turned into a fist. The heaviness of the question weighing down on her, it was scary how small it was making her feel and oddly enough there was no flight of fight that was triggered as she was left to feel the fear his honest eyes bring out of her.

" What else do you want ?" she had made the greatest mistake of her day as the question slipped her lips.

The loudest silence she has experienced, the anxiety that was slowly starting itching wasn't the only thing that took over her skin. The raging blood that kept her body warm started to run cold with every second she stood staring at Junpyo, who was saying so much without even moving his lips.

" What do you want from me?'' She fixed her question to the one she wanted an answer for since the day she saw him looking at her. It has been months since then, and she still hasn't gotten a clear answer to what he wants. His odd fascination with her because of her fighting wasn't an acceptable excuse anymore.

" If we clear that up, maybe we can find a way to get along." she wasn't sure what was funny about what she said. The small laugh of his, she watched in silence as he tried to silence himself by biting his lower lip he was mercilessly attacking.

" We are going to be around each other a lot." She clarified what she meant so she wasn't misunderstood. After discovering Woobin's brother, being Jihoo's girl was something even she might have suggested just to get as much information as possible. It was the best way to get access to things, but it also meant spending much time around the other 3 F4 members. Until she gets to the bottom of Woobin's brother, she has concluded that she needs to find a functioning way to get along with all three of them. The most problematic one was Junpyo; he was priority number one when it came to finding some common ground. They need to be able to tolerate being around each other.

" Jihoo cares about you a lot, and I don't want to hurt him by creating an issue with you." This sentence was utterly erased from his memory as Junpyo chose not to pay any attention to how much she cared about Jihoo and that any positive attention she might give him resulted from her relationship with his best friend. But there was no other option. He has no choice or power to say no to anything she asks. It wasn't just her; it was his best friend for whom he would do anything.

" I thought you understood why people don't trust me'

" I am used to being around men like you. I am not afraid."

" I am," his response left her baffled, and she let her eyes demonstrate her confusion.

" What are you afraid of?"

" You," testing the waters to see if she would even guess what he was talking about. He knew he was taking a risk but had no other option.

" Do you still think I am going to kill you?" The way she understood his fear was all about how she could physically hurt him and nothing else.

" I tried to kill myself multiple times; you think I am scared of death." he wasn't even aware of when his guard was lowered to share something he never dared to say out loud to other people. Somehow, it seemed so easy to say it to her compared to the expensive therapist who gets paid millions to get him to admit it. It was even easier than saying it to Jihoo and his sister, the only two people who he had ever sat with for more than 5 minutes when the topic of his suicidal attempts was mentioned. The girl who wants to strangle him it feels easy to tell her about the voice in his head that tells him death would be the answer to the peace of mind he wants. She wanted him dead, so it seemed natural that she would understand his feelings.

" You need help," she cut in before he continued.

" You walk around with a knife taped to your thigh, and you're telling me I need help." Her eyes had followed his as they lowered to her right thigh, where the knife was nicely placed for easy access. Unlike him, her trauma was one only revenge could heal.

" Why do you think you failed multiple times?" She knew she was crossing a line but wanted to poke him just like he had done. Subconsciously, there was something odd about their conversation that made her curious. The anger that clouded her vision of him for some seconds was lifted, and she was allowed to see him as he was.

" Weirdly enough, It felt selfish."

" Maybe I need something to die for." his bizarre smile, right when she noticed it, she decided to close the opportunity she gave him and return to the flawed image of him. She couldn't accept that maybe, just maybe, he was not who she thought he was. The notion that this rich spoiled brat who had everything handed to him was anything but what she thought of him; there was no way she could accept that. Seeing him in any other way would complicate her whole worldview. That would bring into question her whole black-and-white view of the world. If not anger and hatred, even before she could name it, she was scared of what emotion he could pull out of her if she ever gave him a chance.

" I might succeed if I find something to die for." She ignored the offbeat tone of his voice as she was pulled into his suspicious eyes that were saying something completely different. His strange eyes she had become familiar with; they considered her to be their safest place and were giving her the deepest secret he hadn't even realized yet. What he needed wasn't something to die for but something to live for. Maybe one day, he would be granted some epiphany to make sense of his life. Until that happened, he was okay with doing whatever to cope with living for just another day.

" Does it have anything to do with what happened ten years ago?" she knew it was too bold, but she took her chance to return the conversation to what started it all.

"Haha," his odd smile she didn't like was followed by something else she didn't like. The cigarette he lit up and softly placed in between his lips. The sweet smell of the cigarette, for a second, she focused her attention on the weird cigarettes he smokes. What types of cigarettes are these?

" Does it bother you?" he asked after waiting to see if she would move but had stayed with her eyes glued to the cigarette.

" Does it really help with your anxiety?" she asked as she needed the answer not for him but to understand the other man in her life who smokes with his left hand, just like this.

" It's a bad habit," she added, trying to get rid of why she thought of Bom. The second time the action of this boy had brought the image of the man she loved beyond possible. She needed to change her focus to why she was doing all of this, but before that, her attention was back on the cigarette. Was he anxious? Was his anxiety just triggered? This was the first time he had started smoking since they started their conversation. Was what she said a trigger? Did something really happen to him? She started questioning her memory, but there was no answer. Her memory was blocked to keep her from losing her sanity; she only did a brief scan to find no answer as to how he was involved.

"It's a coping mechanism. I have a lot." The cigarette he brought to his lips, there was something about the way her eyes followed it as he placed it in between his lips and inhaled. The way she was looking at his lips as he breathed out the white smoke, he had given her something to look at as he breathed out slowly. How she watched him was doing something to him.

" nothing worse than this." The beguiling way he looked at her, she knew he had caught her staring at him. The cigarette marker she was trying to find, staring at him, was a mistake. Mainly since she had discovered no marker but the way his lips inhaled the nicotine. The dip that forms in his cheeks. Every inhale that was followed by the crude way the white smoke escaped his soft lips. The exhale of a wondrous pattern that slowly disappears into the wind.

" Sleeping with random people is up there." he knew he would get a reaction, but not what he expected as her startled eyes increased in size.

" Doesn't that irritate you more?" he added, enjoying how she adjusted her standing. Her back lifted away from the car; she had just moved for the first time since they started talking. She could easily lie to him, but her body, he was getting used to reading, couldn't.

" Do I look like I care?"

"The way you look at them seems like you do." He was okay with adding more to her discomfort. There was some truth to what he was saying. He has seen how she scans the girls he was always surrounded by.

" I find them odd because I don't know what they see in you."

" Money talks," his response made both of us smile.

" Unfortunately, I am not bad to look at either," he added. No matter how much she didn't want to, she didn't have it in her to hide the smile he got out of her. The spark in her eyes that appeared whenever she smiled was a sight he counted as a blessing, and just like that, making her smile was just added to the list of things that brought him the type of pleasure he wasn't used to.

" I hear that helps"

"Is that why they can't keep their hands off of you?" Her smile accompanied words; Junpyo tried to act cool but was beyond stunned by how she was letting the conversation continue in this direction. The way he always fails to predict how she would respond, this was the second time she had surprised him with her reaction to this topic.

"Are you curious why?"

" Would you answer if I was?" her daring attitude, how weak he was to her confidence that always challenges him, was so evident. What wasn't so obvious was his willingness to see how far this confidence and daring attitude of hers would go. Being her victim wasn't a problem as long as he could find the limit to her boldness.

" You can try and see for yourself." The cigarette he brought to his lips, there was no masking anything as the look on his face was as tempting as the one in his eyes.

" See what?" She knew she shouldn't have asked, but she needed to say something rather than stand in silence, letting his eyes get to her anxiety that was starting to warm right under her skin. Her body, which she was expected to be in full control of at all times, was getting a second commander as she hadn't even questioned why or what was able to run her blood cold minutes ago and warm it back up now.

" Why can't they keep their hands off of me?" the way his raspy voice instantly turns lewd, she really had no idea the dangerous games she was starting. It was as though he had buttons he could easily press to turn from looking scary to soft to risque in seconds. For someone like Jandi, who puts people in boxes based on their predictable behaviors, there is nothing more terrifying and fascinating than this man she can't figure out. The more she interacted with him, the more puzzling he became.

"This is why Jihoo doesn't trust you." She found the right way to take back control.

" haha," he avoided her hand that was pointing at him.

" Why would you ask me when you know I am with him? '' She knew exactly what she was doing by using Jihoo to draw a line Junpyo couldn't cross. She had to make sure he never started this type of conversation again; to do that, she had to claim Jihoo officially. Which had caused her an internal disruption, as she said it. Was she Jihoo's? Yijeong had said it, but Jihoo had never said it himself or had ever even talked to her about it. Was she really his? And What does that even mean? What would she even do if Jihoo dared to ask her? She left that headache for another day. She could now play along and take advantage of the title Yijeong had given her. It was the best tool she had to get her job done. Oddly enough, she had thanked the universe for it as it had been a blessing that could help her solve her life's puzzle.

" What do you think I was asking you to do?"

" these mind games," was her response as both knew the answer to his question and exactly why he was asking her to say it.

"Haha," his smile was back. Not the bizarre one, but a mischievous and soft one that turned his face into a cutesy thing one couldn't help but want to squeeze.

" You wouldn't know what to do if I was." his eyes on the opposite spectrum of his smile were filled with all the impure thoughts his soft smile was hiding.

" I entertain men for work, and you think you can phase me."

" You don't want to do this!" he warned as his eyes were sent away from her.

" Of course, I don't."

" I don't even like talking to you, let alone" she didn't finish. She didn't need to. She has already given him a list of everything she didn't like about him.

" It's okay. I like talking to you, and that is enough for both of us." The smoke he blew away, the steps he was taking in circles were paused as he turned his eyes back to her. How free he has become once he accepted she was out of his reach; Junpyo was enjoying his liberation. She would never give him a chance, so he might as well be his truest self and say whatever crossed his mind.

" I find all the hate you have for me fascinating." Her steps were now aimed her way. The smell of the cigarette was the first to reach her. The sweet, fruity smell wasn't given much thought as she was worried about why he was coming to her.

" I enjoy the uncontrollable rage that boils inside you when I am around." With the two steps he took, he slowly broke into her personal space. The familiar smell of his perfume, all the air she breathed was infused with it. The car she was locked in against, when every inch of her skin was instinctively anxious about any contact, was when she realized how cold the metal she was standing against was. Her arms crossed she would use it for defense if he tried anything. Her eyes carefully followed his face as he started lowering it to reach her height. The small motion caused an internal dilemma of its own, it was odd how she wasn't triggered to push him away and she had just stood there.

" One day, it might turn into something else." her eyes on his face, she was caught off guard by his right hand, which she didn't see until it reached her hair, and slowly took the tiny leaf off her hair. His fingers that didn't even touch her skin but her hair had gotten a reaction only she was able to feel. Her eyes on his arm, his overcoat that had opened had her attention for a second and only a second. The black thick fabric had taken over her thought, she had no idea how she was allowed to even wonder what it would feel like to touch let alone be wrapped by it. What was happening to her?

" So you should be very careful around me," his whisper brought her attention back to him. The black dot underneath his right eye, his gorgeous face was for once registered as a threat. She didn't need to know why, all she cared about was how she didn't feel like herself when this striking face was brought into her personal space.

" Are you threatening me?" She wasn't self-aware enough to know her fight mode wasn't triggered because her body had another thing to worry about. Being challenged by him she didn't like at all; she had stayed there trying not to act bothered by his proximity.

" I am asking you to follow your own advice and stay away."

Before she had anything to say in response, her baffled eyes were commanded to follow him as they lowered to her lips. A sight she had seen less than an hour ago. His hair in her hand, she had seen it then and was watching it now. What is happening? Was what occupied her mind, expecting him to do something which he didn't. His eyes had just turned back up to hers. One blink of his eyes and her breathing was disturbed. Luklcy she had a savior to pull her away from what she was letting happen while standing silently.

Bang, the loud sound of the thing that hit his head she ignored as her surprised eyes were sent to the person who had thrown it. The clutch bag hitting the floor, Jandi needed to asses the situation as now her fight or flight mode was triggered

" What the?" Even Junpyo, who sent his right hand to where he was hit, had turned around to find who was responsible. Ignoring him, Janid focused her eyes on the shockingly beautiful woman dressed in the two-piece suit. Before searching for why her face looked familiar, Jandi was left instantly enamored by how glamorous the woman looked. Even the way she was standing was cool.

" Oh God," Junpyo's whisperer she ignored; her eyes were kept on the woman who started walking their way. From the shoes that didn't look like they were touching the ground to the flawless hair of the women that was gently moving to the wind. The floating figure, even the air around her was glowing as Jandi was left visibly stunned. So women like this do really exist. Women beyond beautiful to the point of looking like angels.

" Is this punk bothering you?" the woman, taking her glass off, asked. Jandi, still in awe mode, had no response.

" Why do you always assume I am bothering people?" Junpyo, still pressing on where her clutch bag had hit him, started complaining. Jandi always trained to assess her environment after a surprise had now woken up from the daze she was placed in. She looked around to find where the women came from. The black car parked behind Junpyo's car, she saw the suited driver slowly getting from the driver side.

" You." The second the woman walked up to him, her right hand was sent to his back to land a soft slap.

" What did I say about bothering people? Especially girls." Her right hand was relentless as it continued hitting him. Jandi couldn't hide the tiny joy the sight was bringing her as she watched. The second woman allowed to touch him, Jandi, quickly noted the similarity between what she was watching and the interaction between him and Seohyun.

" Look how frightened she looks." Nobody bought that excuse, but the woman used it as she continued hitting him. Her right hand, when it grabbed his hair, Jandi had gotten her answer of who this was.

" Nonna, stop," Junpyo cried as his hair was pulled. Jandi's mind, waking up from the daze, finally started looking at the two faces of the siblings to notice the obvious similarity. His drop dead gorgeous looks she would never recognize, she couldn't even subconsciously think about how he was just the male version of the beautiful woman that had left her fully entranced. Inorder to avoid that, she quickly changed her focus to how she was finally able to meet his famous sister in person.

" Let me apologize instead," Junpyo, trying to ease her grip on his hair, was pulled along as she started walking to Jandi.

" I am Junhee. his older sister." She extended her right hand to Jandi. The hand she shook Janid had turned her focus to the softest skin she had ever touched. Her eyes turning back up, she caught the enchanting smile of Junhee, who Jandi had easily just accepted the title "goddess' ' this woman had been given by people. Finally, Jandi had met the woman Ctrl claimed was the most beautiful out of everybody they had spied on. And he was right as there was no mistaking how breathtakingly beautiful this woman was. Not just beautiful but seemed so graceful and warm while emanating an unmatched authority.

" Please don't let his childish shenanigans get to you," Junhee continued as her eyes warned Junpyo to stay quiet.

" He wasn't bothering me." Jandi spoke as she watched his hair be freed, and Junpyo stepped away from his sister.

"I am sure that is not true."

" She doesn't need your help," Junpyo, adjusting the cloth she had messed up, complained to be silenced by his sister's scary eyes. Jandi, watching the quick interaction, couldn't help but enjoy watching how Junpyo could be silenced with a single look. Jandi would admire and slightly be jealous of the power this woman had until she realized what it meant to have it.

" If he ever bothers you," Junhee signaled for her driver, who walked to her side and handed her the business card he pulled from his pocket.

" You just give me a call, and I will make sure he doesn't even look your way."

" I didn't

"Do you want more?" Junhee silenced Junpyo again,

" As a form of apology, please let my driver take you to where you are going." Junhee opened the passenger door of Junpyo's car behind Jandi and grabbed the backpack she saw on the seat.

"that's not necessary"

" Oh please, accept my apology so I don't feel bad about being his sister. '' Junhee, without even asking, started pushing Jandi to the black car parked behind Junpyo's car.

" He will drop you wherever you want."

" Sorry about my brother," she apologized again, but it sounded different this time. The back door she opened for Janid; they were far enough distance away from Junpyo, who couldn't hear what his sister was saying.

" This is something because he doesn't even talk to people usually." Junhee's smile was supposed to be a hint, but Jandi was too dense to pick on what the big sister was trying to tell her.

" Hang in there," one last smile, and Jandi was pushed into the back seat of the car that would drive away leaving the siblings.

" We need to talk," her smile faded away; she turned her very serious eyes to her little brother, picking up the clutch bag she had hit him with.

On their slow walk to the park in front, her right hand had returned to his shoulder, but this time to pull him close for a hug. His eyes she saw following the car that left carrying the girl; she didn't need anything else to guess what was going on. She knew her little brother too well. Her right arm resting over his shoulder, she pulled him even closer as she realized he wasn't even fighting to get away. She had been the only one to offer the embrace he had needed for weeks. His lean into her hug had pulled the strings attached to her heart that connected them. There was nothing she felt more guilty about than this brother of hers and the life he lived.

" Who is she? " After a minute of silence, she asked while sitting at one of the benches facing the children's playground.

" I can get her file on my desk in an hour," she threatened him to talk.

" She is Jihoo's new girl."

" Is she really? " she asked, crossing her arms. She knew too much about the friends to not be worried about why Junpyo was doing what she caught him with Jihoo's girl.

" Are you really going to do this? "

" Do what? '' His hands that tied all his hair away were sent to his hoodie pocket as he sat back. The only girl he removes his mask for, the literal representation of it was how she allowed to see his whole face with no distraction.

" I saw the way you were looking at her." Her careful eyes reading his face, she had only his left profile to work with as he had chosen to keep his eyes on the children in the playground. His silence was more alarming than anything he could have said about the girl she needs to find out about. What has been going on with her brother? Her shame at not knowing what he has been doing was what stopped her from asking questions she should have known the answer to if she kept in touch as often as she should.

" Pushing her against a car is not going to get her to choose you."

" I didn't." he stopped and took a deep breath. The confusing mix of emotion she could see all over him, she chose to stay calm and not dig too much today.

" She doesn't even like me" the defeated tone of his voice, that was all Junhee needed to be here to not ask anymore about it for tonight. The odd girl, who she was sure was a scholarship student, had just given his sister the main reason why she would join Jandi's fan club.

She gave him some minutes of silence to just breathe.

" What did mom do?" he asked, hoping the conversation would quickly turn into something else and he was right.

" Huh," Junhee sighed. They both needed some more time to enjoy the nice breeze as they decided to sit in silence for some time.

" It's time to end the childish games Junpyo," she broke the silence.

" You know she uses your shares to do everything, even against what dad says," she mentioned the so-called father they both haven't even seen in months.

" You can't continue to stand aside and let her do what she wants." Her eyes turned his way, she noticed the small smile that escaped his lips. Two in one day, how the two women who would become the only ones he cared about had the same advice for him minutes apart, he could only smile at it. The similarities between the two completely different women, this was only the start of the life-changing experience they would force him to go through to become the man they want to see inherit the largest corporation in the nation.

" Did you read the internship year she had mapped out for you?" she asked, reminding him of the file they keep sending to his home. The main reason his mom agreed to give him a gap year before college, he knew he had only a month or so left before he had to face his daily routine that was already mapped out.

" Your name is on so many project management meetings starting."

"Can you not?" he stopped her.

" I will deal with it when it's time."
" I know you don't want to, but

" I know," he interrupted her again.

" I know I can't escape it"

" Grandpa made sure of that when he left me all this stuff," All the things that were signed off to him by the five lawyers that handled his grandfather's inheritance; Junpyo was too young to realize then how it was a chain to tie him to the company. The massive shares he inherited, which his mother uses to her advantage, are the main ones.

" He gave it to you because he knew you were the right choice," Junhee quickly corrected him.

" Ever since you were a little kid, he used to say you had all the makings of a leader."

" If not for what happened," she stopped herself.

" Maybe my memory is fucked, but I thought you were the one that deserved it" his cursing was ignored as she focused on what he said.

" There is a reason you didn't want to be in line to take over after Dad"

" You know why I didn't want to"

" So you should know why I want to enjoy some peace before I have to deal with the company you hated so much to marry somebody you don't even like to get away from running" the truth about her marriage she never admits to anyone, Junpyo was the only one who could truly understand why she had made a decision most wouldn't understand. Her family, whom she loved beyond anything, was the sacrifice she was forced to make to still be part of it after declining to become the first woman to run the company her mother was raising her to be. The freedom she wanted above anything; she had broken out of one chain to only move to another one.

" You know how much I love you and will stand by you no matter what you choose to do," the almost mother-like figure she had to step into at times; she remembered the promise she had made to their grandfather. Helping her brother had been the main reason he had chosen to stay here and not move to one of the many countries her husband had suggested for her to live in. Her presence her husband wasn't fond of; it was the best solution for both, but she had declined.

" But you have to choose. No matter how much you delay it, it's still a choice you must make."

" You can't say you don't care about the company while the record benefits go into your bank account." her right hand his way landed on his shoulder.

" The card you scratch to pay for everything never declines because it is automatically filled with the hard work of thousands of people who wear a badge with your last name."

" I am telling you this now because the freedom mom gives you will end very soon. And when it does, I am scared you will make a choice just to make her happy."

" If you accept the job because of her, then it's your marriage, then it's your kids, then it's raising your kids." She knew she had to say something harsh to deliver the point.

" You know doing things to make her happy is not going to make her affectionate towards you." she sighed as she turned her eyes his way. His teenage years he had spent crying and fighting for their attention and affection; Junhee wanted to make sure he had come to realize that he would never get it. She has to make sure he doesn't waste his 20s making choices that will have lifelong consequences just to please their mother.

" I don't want you to wake up one day and realize you have wasted your life living it for her."

" You chose yours; Are you living happily now?' he had the right question to stop her lecturing. He might not know much about what happened between her and his mom, but he was beyond revolted by the life his sister lived. If freedom away from his family and company meant living like his sister, he would choose the company.

" The mistakes I made are what I don't want you to make. It was me against the world, and I was too young."

" But I am here for you," her right hand sent to his hair,she started brushing gently.

" Whatever you decide, I will be standing behind you."

" If you don't want to inherit the company,"

" If you want to give everything away and run away,"

"Whatever you choose, I am here'

" Even if you choose to take over, I will be here to make sure you become the best leader the company has ever had" his slight smile, she didn't have it in yet to tell him that was actually the choice she wanted him to make. The company she had spent years studying the ins and outs of, there was only one person she would trust to make it the type of corporation she could tolerate its existence. The charity and social projects of the company she was in charge of, both her academic and natural intelligence, were spent studying and preparing what she would have to accomplish in dismantling their empire and the monopoly it had formed from the inside out. The lesson she learned a few years back about how her goal was almost impossible; it was then when she had chosen to accept the next best thing. Which was to have the right person at the top. The only person she would trust not to let greed take over his soul was her little brother. The boy who had learned the cost of having it all at a young age. Junpyo, whose heart doesn't dance to the melody of money, wealth, or power, is the only one she would trust. Just like her, their grandfather had recognized that since Junpyo could talk. With all the time he spent around them, their grandfather was the first to recognize the person Junpyo hides behind his 'I don't care about anything' persona. He had rested peacefully after leaving everything to his grandkids, whom he knew could undo all the harm he had done in his quest for ultimate wealth and power.

" I know there's a voice in there. "

"Oh, you're quoting him now." his smile turned into laughter, he pointed out how she was quoting what his grandfather said.

" there is a feeling deep down," she continued pressing at his heart and tickling him.

" You know you are meant for this. That's why you can't get yourself to say no."

"Stop it," his hands fighting her; the only person enjoying the two was the driver, who had returned and was standing against his car. The boy he doesn't see often, even he couldn't wait for the day the two siblings took over the company. It wasn't just him; it was everybody who worked closely with them who was eagerly waiting for the day Junpyo would start using the immense power he was born with. What it would take to wake him up, most expected it to be a result of the woman he was watching forcing her brother to start laughing. What none of the staff who worked closely with them expected was the shocking fact that his wake-up call would be because of another woman. The one the driver had scanned up and down as she sat in the back seat. The girl biting her nails, who he quickly figured out was a scholarship student, would be given a second chance to see her as he dropped Junhee's car he was asked to leave for her at the Art charity Gala on Friday night.

The car key he was living at the front desk, he had to do a double take to make sure the girl that walked past him was the same as the one he drove to the train station yesterday. Jandi, who had gotten Jihoo to ask her to attend, had arrived late to the event the school was hosting, organized by the alumni association. The taxi she had to take home rushed to change and get ready before taking another taxi to get to the gallery almost two hours after the event started. Luckily for her, the event was expected to run long into the night.

The black dress she had chosen for herself and her shoes were the only choices she made before Eun took over the role of doing her makeup and hair.

" Trust me, painting is the only thing I am good at," Eun said as she took over, preparing Jandi for the event she was aware of. Tonight's art show, one of her new pieces was supposed to be displayed in; she doesn't know how, but the relief she felt when the school called saying they found another artist to cover for her was beyond measurable. The universe has been blessing her with a lot lately. She found a friend who she was already seeing as a sister. Found a whole family to live with, including an annoying little brother Mrs Kim orders left and right.

" I will ensure our president doesn't look at you the same way ever again." Eun had smiled at her own joke. Her assumption that something was going on between Jihoo and Jandi, which Jandi kept dismissing; Eun had made it her goal to make sure Janid looked good enough for him not to leave anything ambiguous after today. Not just him, any man who felt some type of way about Jandi couldn't help but do something today. That was her goal. Unlike her, Jandi had only one plan for the night: finding Woobin's brother and hopefully finding some information about him. Eun had no idea what Jandi and the small team, including Bom, had in mind for tonight. Even the team on standby had no idea what they would be doing; it all depended on what Jandi could get.

" Sculpt this cheekbone of yours, smoke eyes, and red lips. Ohh," Eun was in her element as she pulled out the line of brushes. Her work would take half an hour, and by the end, even she was shocked by the result. It would get even more shocking once Jandi put on the black dress.

" OMG" was all she could muster to say as her knees gave up, and she had to sit down on the bed behind her. The hair straightened down. Eun had used gel and hair spray to slick it back. The multiple golden ear cuffs added to the statement golden piece earrings, her neck was left jewelryless as the earrings were accompanied only by rings.

"OMG" was all Eun could say as she continued repeating it until the second Jandi left the house.

The reaction from Eun would continue when the taxi driver who picked her up didn't stop staring at her every time he thought she wasn't looking. The reaction from somebody who knew She didn't dress like this daily came once she entered the gallery and heard somebody calling for her attention.

"It's you," the driver she turned to gave her a big smile. His stunned eyes scanned her up and down,

"You look so different," he added, his captivated eyes forced to take in the view of the dress from the back as she turned to get the card the coat check staff had handed her.

" Ms. Junhee is here, so make sure to look out for her; she would love to see you," the power of makeup and a simple outfit, he will never understand; he was left speechless at how this girl had changed from the one he saw yesterday.

" Thank you." Jandi gave him a slight bow. The men who scanned her as they walked by, even the diver, had noticed how every man in the lobby was eyeing her.

" He is here too," he added. He didn't know why it was necessary to mention Jun Pyo.

" oh' Jandi hid her small excitement to see how Junpyo would act properly in the presence of his sister.

" He stayed at her house, so they came together." He added information she didn't need.

" You should go inside," he signaled for her to head to the elevator.

" Thank you." with another small nod, she made her way to the elevator.

" Huh," one deep breath. She was ready to tackle the night as she entered the elevator the man held open for her. The treatment she gets whenever she is dressed up was too familiar.

On the third floor that was reserved for the private event, her invitation card was handed to the staff in the lobby before they were directed to the glass door entrance after giving her the event schedule along with the art prices up for auction. The 3rd floor, where the art pieces were on, she was notified some people were already in the event hall where the dinner would be held, which was on the fourth floor.

Deciding to check the event hall first, she headed to the fourth floor. Jihoo and Woobin's brother were the only two she had in mind as she walked out of the elevator and headed to the entrance. The two staff standing by each side, the one on the right, had turned the plate carrying the champagne her way.

" No, thank you," the smile she gave them; they used it as permission to scan her up and down. Nobody else smiles at the staff. All the stuck-up rich people, it would be weird even if they looked at them, let alone smile and say thank you. She had never hidden her affection and respect for service workers. She didn't know what to do with the look she was getting from both as she walked past them. She was used to the men she entertained ogling her, but what Eun had done was causing something else.

" You look good."

"It's makeup."

" I don't think so," the waiter protested as he was surprised she was even talking to them.

" She probably has a line of these rich men waiting for attention; leave her alone."

" Don't bother with him. Enjoy your evening," the two smiled at her. Jandi left behind as she focused on the grand hall and the stairs she had to take down.

Her clutch bag carrying the weapons she brought moved to the left, her right hand was able to lift her dress up as she started walking down the stairs. Any and every one glancing her way she wasn't noticing; the most important one was from Yijeong sitting in the middle of the chair at the other end. The attention she was getting she would blame solely on Eun; Jandi had no idea what her new friend had gotten her into as she had even forced Yijeong to curse at the realization that it was her.

" What the Fuck. Is that Jihoo's girl?" Yijeong's shocked eyes, he was able to garner all focus from Woobin and Junpyo sitting next to him instantly as they followed his eyes to the stairs.

" I knew she looked different when she was not in that uniform, but My God," Yijeong had nothing else to say as he shook his head and returned his stunned eyes to her. How does one make going downstairs this captivating to watch? And if he thought that was enough, she had finished the stairs to finally look up, blessing them with the view of her face and the magnificent work Eun had done.

" Okay, now I see what Jihoo sees." Woobin, who started slowly scanning her, couldn't even hide that she looked pretty enough for him to find a reason for his friend to be attracted to her.

" Are you seeing this?" Yijeong had tapped Junpyo, the only other person who had been in school in the last few months and knew what she looked like very well.

" Jihoo really had gotten himself a hidden gem." Woobin's smile and agreement matched his; Yijeong had glanced at Junpyo to find his friend frozen. The champagne he brought to his lips, held inches away from his lips hanging open, not even his eyes were blinking as he looked like somebody had pressed pause on him.

" Jihoo is not going to be able to handle this. He doesn't know what to do with pretty girls."

" I know," Woobin's words Yijeong agreed with, he kept his eyes on Jandi and then back at his friend on his right she had frozen. What is going on? The answer to his question he would be given three clues tonight. He silently observed his friend's reaction, the way Junpyo chugged the half-glass alcohol in one breath; he even caught the aggressive way the empty glass was placed on the table.

"Everything okay?" he asked as he watched Junpyo signal the waiter to bring him another glass.

" Ohu," the fake smile he got, Yijeong ignored as he watched Junpyo pick a full glass while standing up.

" Smoke," Junpyo showed the two the cigarette box in his hand before he left the table. Before Yijeong said anything, his attention was returned to Jandi, thanks to Woobin.

" Oh, there is Jihoo," Woobin pointed.

The only man whose opinion about how she was dressed she cared about, Jandi couldn't even take one more step as she stood there waiting for him to come her way. The second his eyes landed on her, her legs had halted their movement, choosing to make sure she had enough energy to stand still. The custom-made dark blue suit he had on, she could bet her change was nothing compared to how Jihoo's look changes whenever he is in the suits his mom gets custom-made for him. When the expensive suits were topped with his hair styled by a professional and accessorized by the stylist who knew how to dress Jihoo for the role his mother wanted him to play, he looked like a completely different person. The stunned Jandi couldn't even move her eyes away no matter how much she wanted to.

Lost admiring her view, she was utterly oblivious to the totally enamored way he was looking at her. It might not have been her, but anybody looking at him could see it, including his friends who were a significant distance away. But none of it mattered for Jihoo, who had almost forgotten where he was as his quick steps brought him closer to what had given him a mini heart attack. If it wasn't clear before, the shock he got when he first saw her has been enough. The dust had finally settled with the time it took to walk to her side. If he wasn't sure what he felt before, the walk to her had cleared it up for him. It would become even clearer as he got close, and her first smile was sent his way.

Her darkened eyes that were perfectly decorated with the dark smokey eye shadow looking at him and only him, the tiny smile that escaped her ever-tempting lips painted red, even the way her hands had tightened their grip on her clutch had caused something in him as every step he took her way forces him to notice a new matter he would obsess over. The step he just took led him to notice how even the shape of her face had changed thanks to her hair that was slicked back to rest on her neck. The golden ear cuffs reflecting the light were directing all attention to her face, specifically, the blush and shimmer that were there to point out her amazing cheekbones. Why it had taken her dressing up to have him recognize how breathtakingly beautiful she is was embarrassing. The girl he spent so much time with, it was hard to accept it was the same as the one standing in front of him now. Not just the way he was looking at her, even what he wanted to do with her was different. The glamorously dressed young woman standing steps away from him, every blink of her eyes was pulling a new desire Jihoo wasn't too familiar with.

" Hey," she was the first to say anything as she kept her eyes on his stunned face.

" Hi," he sighed as he greeted her. His hands he sent behind him; he had to mask the nervous movements of his fingers her sparkling eyes zooming in on him had caused. The silence between them, the awkwardness was quickly noted by both. Something has changed from their regular interactions.

" Sorry for being late," she broke the silence again as she smiled to cover how anxious she was about the change in their interaction. But not mainly that. It was the way he was looking at her while looking like the most handsome man she had ever seen. Silent Jihoo was a different type of scary.

" It's okay. It just started."

"I thought it started at 6."

" Well, the most interesting person wasn't here at 6, so no."

"Haha," she could only hide her smile from his eyes that convinced her he was talking about her. Jihoo, not even trying to hide how memoized he was, wasn't saying much as he stood there. There wasn't much to say. There weren't many words in his vocabulary to describe what he was feeling or how she looked tonight. His captured eyes developing a new addiction of just looking at her, his lips were getting used to being silenced because of pure amusement. Nobody could honestly fault him for not saying much and just staring at her. Her face he was focused on, he didn't have it in him to even glance down at the dress she had on that was highlighting the killer body she often hid behind her uniform that was intentionally chosen to be oversized and not as form-fitting as all the girls in school wear it. Unlike him, Jandi, being able to hide her true feelings, could mask how enthralled she was by him to the point she had, for a moment, forgotten about what she was there to do. Let alone having a crush, even finding somebody attractive wasn't something she was familiar with. Blinded, she wasn't able to recognize how she was falling down a hole she couldn't climb out of.

" So what do we do here?" she asked as she tried hiding her anxiety about being silently watched.

" The art pieces are on the third floor. Dinner will be here, at 8. After 10, the gallery is open to hang out and do whatever until midnight."

" I am sitting there with some guests." Taking the step to stand next to her, he pointed at the table he came from.

" And also with the boys," he brought her attention to the other end of the hall. Yijeong, who waved her way, gave him a nod as she quickly noticed Junpyo's absence.

" I thought you might prefer to sit with them." Jihoo wasn't sure where to place her, but he knew it couldn't be at the main table he was sitting at.

" If you don't want to sit with them, I can check for tables with open cha."

"It's fine."

"I don't mind," she chose after concluding that maybe Junpyo was sitting with his sister.

" Let's join them then," Jihoo, who waited for her to start walking, had noticed the looks they were getting from the people at the tables around them. His right hand, which instinctively wanted to help her with the dress she stepped on, was held back once he noticed he was being watched. His hands held together stayed behind his back as he took a small step to the left to create some gap between them. As they started walking side by side, he was finally blessed with the amazing perfume Eun had added as the final touch. The sweet smell, he had another dilemma as the shimmering body lotion she had over her body had its own smell he wanted a closer inspection of. His often respectful eyes were out of control as they followed her alluring neck to her collarbone. The neckline of the dress she had on he couldn't blame; he had to blame being taller than her as his eyes had noticed the result of the lace bra she had on. The exact moment his mind created an image of what the lace would look like without the dress on, he forced himself to focus on the path they were taking. It was interesting how her being a woman was a thought that took over tonight. Not when he spent so much time around her. Even when he kissed her, it hadn't hit as hard as it did just now. Everything she did, even the way she walked highlighted the fact that she was a woman. The alluring dress dictating the movement of her legs and hips was to blame for that.

All eyes glancing his way, Jihoo was thankful he was on the right side and had used his body to cover her from the crowd. He needed to hide her away from all the prying eyes that were scanning her, not just because she looked too good and was a new face but because he was talking to her.

" They are looking at you because you're a new face," he answered before she even asked.

" and you look" The sentence disappeared as her eyes turned his way and waited..

" Does it look that odd?" she asked for the first time, questioning if it was a good thing to have let Eun do whatever. What if he doesn't? As soon as the question was formed, it was disregarded because she had lied to herself that it was irrelevant to her what type of girls he liked.

" No. No. No." he objected quickly and forcefully.

" You look beautiful." He was finally able to get an adjective out of his lips.

" Too beautiful to believe it's you," his voice almost whispering, he added as he sent his eyes away from her. The way he had glanced to check she was okay with what he had said, the adorably shy Jihoo, who was conflicted about what even to say, was doing something to Jandi., She had just gotten the only affirmation she was looking forward to. The sparks of joy his words ignited; it was ridiculous how unaware she was of herself to recognize what was happening to her to the point what she was saying wasn't even being filtered. Her consciousness and his smile had infiltrated; she wasn't aware of what she was doing to him either.

" You don't look like you either."

" I always wear suits." Jihoo, turning her way, got his second mini-heart attack as he watched her eyes slowly scan him. Jandi checking him out is not going to be something he can handle.

" Not suits like this."

" So you prefer this?"

" I didn't say that."

" I prefer the uniform."

" So you hate this?"

" No," she objected quickly.

" This is too much. I can't even look at you."

" Of course you can. I am right here" Her embarrassed smile she tried hiding, Jihoo had to lean her way to catch it. The people they were walking past, Jihoo, were doing a bad job proving to them nothing was going on between him and the new face most can't name. The only ones who knew the history between the two were the ones carefully watching. If bringing her to their lunch wasn't enough, here was another proof that their friend was really taken by this girl.

" I bet you a hundred he is leaving with this girl tonight." Woobin, who had been watching the interaction between the two might not know much about what had been happening, but even he knew there was no way Jihoo was letting this girl go home tonight without leaving his mark.

" He would be a fool not to, but it's Jihoo." Yijeong wasn't 100% sure it would happen, but he knew it was an easy bet to lose. Considering how good this girl looked and the way Jihoo hadn't lifted his eyes off of her since he saw her, Woobin had a high probability of being right. But then again it's Jihoo. He was the least experienced out of all three to know how to deal with girls.

" Behave," Yijeong warned Woobin as Jandi and Jihoo were only a few steps away.

" Well, look who is here." Yijeong as always was the one to welcome her warmly as he stood up. Men standing up to welcome her wasn't something she was used to.

" You look so good it's ridiculous," he added as he watched Jihoo pull the chair for her.

" Thank you." Her words might have been for Yijeong, but her smile was reserved for Jihoo as a thank-you for helping her as he pushed her chair in while she sat down. They were already acting like a couple.

" The magic of makeup. You look good." Even Woobin had complimented, leaving her startled by the apparent pretty privilege she was getting.

" Stop it," Jihoo, sitting beside her, pointed at Woobin.

" Oh please, I don't mess with our code"

" Also, she is not my type and isn't fun enough for me." Not being Woobin's type was a bonus.

" Since when do you have a type?" Yijeong asked as he watched how Jihoo pulled the waiter to his side and ordered something for Jandi; these two seemed closer than he had thought.

" None of them have types," Jihoo returned to the conversation.

" All three of them are playboys and can't be trusted."

"That's true." Woobin was happy Yijeng was included.

" He is the best. You made a great choice," Yijeong winked at her.

" Is that sarcasm?"

" No. I seriously meant it. You are the best for her," Yijeong had added the last word, knowing it would bother Jihoo.

" Both of you seem like no fun and have dull lives, so " Woobin was aiding Yijeong, as always.

" She is pretty enough to waste her time with you, so can you atleast make tonight fun?" WooBin added, pointing at Jihoo and Jandi. He seemed really concerned about the relationship they would have.

" You should bring her to the after party," Yijong suggested.

" Don't worry about me. Just leave her alone"

" Why do you keep saying that like I'm going to eat her?" Woobin crossed his arms.

" because you don't know how to keep your hands to yourself."

"Ohhh," Yijeong, enjoying the word fight, smirked as he brought the drinks to his lips.

" Are you worried I will take her away?" The answer to his question came from the instinctively laugh that escaped Jandi.

" Doesn't seem like you are her type either," Yijeong tried to buffer what Jandi laughing at Woobin would cause.

" She is not my type either, so no worries with me," Yijeong pointed at himself.

" You are the girlfriend type, and I don't do that." He was ready to draw the line to make sure she understood his admiration for her would just be as a friend. Not just a friend but the leader of her fan club.

" Good to know," her voice was heard for the first time. The only person he needed a response from, Jihoo could have saved time by saying his warning to his best friend and his best friend alone. Neither Woobin nor Yijeong would dare cross that line and had better options for the type of girls they wanted.

" Oh, did you decide if we are going to rent the apartment by campus or ?" Woobin, taping at Yijeong, changed the conversation and started the long conversation about where they all will be living once they start college. Jandi, enjoying her drink, had continued to steal a glance at Jihoo next to her, which he was doing as well. The only one to watch it all had been Yijeong in front of them. It was so obvious that these two liked each other. He really had no idea why Jihoo was taking his time and not confessing. Especially after tonight, Yijeong would be surprised if Jihoo didn't make it official to her. If Jihoo doesn't, Yijeong was sure that several men from this event might take the opportunity to hit on her tonight. Her attention was fully on Jihoo, Yijeong knew none of the men here would even get a hi out of her, but it was still a worry somebody might take the chance Jihoo was leaving open. The risk he didn't take with Seohyun Nonna, Yijeong was praying Jihoo would do so this time. He might not know much about Jandi, but she seemed like a great person to bring Jihoo out of his shell. Her confidence and odd personality, and now her amazing beauty were added to the list of qualities she had. The two seemed like the perfect fit and his thoughts were on that until the look in her eyes changed, and Yijeong turned behind him to see what she was looking at, Junpyo walking their way. Her mood his presence shifted; she tried to hide it behind the glass she raised and started drinking from. Yijeong was too observant and had dealt with enough girls to pick on the small clues.

" Mr steal your girl is here." Woobin's words all smiled at; Yijeong should have trusted his six senses that watched how she adjusted her seating position as she realized Junpyo's seat was the empty one on her right.

" Where were you?" Jihoo asked, getting his answer from Woo Bin, who signaled smoking.

" I saw Junhee nonna earlier. Did she leave?"

" No," his raspy voice; she didn't pay attention to that, her focus was on his right hand that pulled the chair next to her. The towering body placed next to her, she tried to but couldn't help but be alarmed by the fabric of the cardigan he had on that brushed against her. The only one dressed down, even the cardigan he had on that matched the pants and dress shirt was because his sister had made him wear them.

"It's fun to see her out and looking good."

" She's married," Jihoo focused on his conversation with Woobin and wasn't paying attention to Jandi next to him; Yijeong was. Junpyo, who was not even looking in her direction and was focused on the drink he ordered the waiter to bring. It seemed like she was the one bothered by having to sit next to him. Her nose she brushed to get rid of his smell, she caught how Yijeong was observing her.

" What did I do?"

" You've been trying her since middle school, Woobin."

"Let's not act like you don't have a crush on his sister."

" Who doesn't ?"

" Her husband," Junpyo was the one to say it as his friends used that as permission to laugh.

" Who would have Junhee Nonna as a wife and mess with these?" Yijeong's slap on his shoulder silenced Woobin.

" I really don't know what she saw in that old hag,"

" He is not old."

" He is older than her so. He isn't even that handsome." Woobin's detest of Junhee's husband was super clear. Jandi, trying to recall the file she read about the man Junhee was married to, couldn't come up with a picture of the man they were talking about. She might not know about looks, but one thing was certain: none of the F4 boys, including Junpyo, liked her husband. But then again who could be the equal to the magnificent woman she met yesterday? What type of man could deserve such a woman?

" I don't think she married him because she loved him. Junhee nonna never liked any of the guys around," Yijeong added.

"Remember how your brother tried so hard but couldn't even get a single date?" Knowing the word brother pointed at Woobin would get her attention; Junpyo had made the mistake of glancing to see if she realized Yijeong was talking about the one she was looking for. As though she could feel his eyes the second they landed on her, she turned to him, forcing him to change his attention back to the phone he had started playing on.

" Oh God, you know he still has a crush on her. He was excited when I told him she was here." Woobin, shaking his head, gave Jandi the clue that had made her smile. The person she was looking for was here. Which means she has to notify Bom to prepare.

" If we're being honest, your brother doesn't deserve her,"

"And that fuck face does?" Woobin, staring at Yijeong to explain himself, asked.

" None of them do, to be honest," Jihoo got involved.

" She's too good for any of them. She deserves someone special," he added as all finally remembered that they were talking about the woman Junpyo cared about the most. Drinking his drink, he didn't seem bothered by what they were saying.

" If she divorces this idiot, she can find somebody special."

" Divorce?" Yijeong asked, reminding Woobin that it didn't exist in the world they were in.

" Should she get a divorce and be with your brother?"

"From one jerk to another jerk." Woobin had been the only one to say it himself.

" Do you think he would let her get with your brother?" Yijeong asked, changing all focus to Junpyo. Jandi, carefully listening to what they were saying was the only one not to look Junpyo's way.

" Your brother can't handle a woman like Junhee. It's just a crush he is not letting go,"

" More a lust for something he can't have," Yijeong whispered as he got a look from Junpyo. He has to remind them it's his sister they are talking about.

" He is always like that. He likes chasing things he can't have, '' Woobin sipped from his drink as he started pointing at Junhee, who was standing and talking to the gallery director at the front table. For Jandi, this woman has just become someone she might use to spy for more information if she doesn't get much from Junpyo. The fact that Junhee and Woobin's brother knew each other meant that she might remember something and if Jandi got close enough, she could get something out of her.

" She needs a bad boy phase" Even though worried, Woobin shared his honest words.

" She has always been a good girl, too perfect" he added as all were surprised Junpyo was letting Woobin say whatever he wanted.

" She needs someone that will shake her world"

" Do you think he would approve of such a man?" Jihoo asked, looking over to Junpyo.

" It would be odd if he doesn't, considering all the stuff he does with all the girls he has"

" Maybe Woobin should try; it's not illegal since you're almost 20." Yijeong turned the conversation back to smiles.

" I am better than her husband, so"

" Unless you want to return back to the hospital, don't even think about it" Not even looking up from his phone, Junpyo spoke.

" You think he will trust you with his sister."

" If I had a sister, I wouldn't trust him either,"

" I wouldn't either," Yijeong agreed as they all waited for Jihoo.

" I would trust him." Jihoo's response had left even Junpyo surprised. Even Jandi was taken aback by it.

" He is more trustworthy than you two"

" Is that why he didn't hang out with Seohyun nonna by himself?" Woobin chose to attack back at Jihoo. In the silence of the table, Jandi chose to focus on Jihoo and why he wasn't saying anything back to Woobin.

" Also, how come you're not asking him to stay away?" Woobin asked an important question.

" Junpyo had promised to not cross that line already" Yijeong kept his eyes on Junpyo who glanced up at him. The promise he would remind him of, again and again, this was the first.

" She hates his guts so that would be interesting" Jihoo sipping his drink and Woobin were the only ones smiling at what they thought was ridiculous. Yijeong, staring at his friend, was busy questioning Junpyo on why he was all of a sudden playing with his phone.

" I still can't believe she slapped you. '' Woobin questioned as Yijeong followed Junpyo's eyes that didn't turn fully to her but to her right hand that was by his side. Her right hand that had slapped him was playing with the water glass she grabbed.

" He paid for what you did. Why do you think she hit him"

" What did I do"

" You bullied her, even slapped her." Jihoo was refreshing all memories.

" That's why I keep asking you to leave her alone"

" She doesn't like any of you. Why would I be worried about you getting her? Just don't bother her"

" Wait, what did I do?" Yijeong asked, raising his hands.

" I thought we were friends"

" We are," she said before Jihoo did. She wanted to take advantage of the situation and set the tone for what her interactions will be with the three. She has to use being their friend to get what she needs everything and anything about Woobin's brother which could lead her to what she needs to achieve before she deems her life a waste. Even Woobin, whom she didn't like much, was going to be someone she had to pretend to be friends with to get information out of.

" You are all Jihoo's friends, so by extension," she just gestured, hoping they would understand.

" Even him," Yijeong asked, crossing his arms. Leaning back, he had to take in the full view of how her eyes had looked at Junpyo who was trying not to look her way but had failed.

" We are already" She couldn't get herself to finish the lie she was going to spit out.

" If I were you, I wouldn't let her be friends with him"

" he is a walking red flag and doesn't even remember the names of the women he sleeps with let alone be friends with a girl" Woobin sharing Junpyo's past, Yijeong was the one to watch as Junpyo sat up, his irritated eyes sent to Woobin.

" It's a privilege if he even remembers your name" Woobin was giving her all the clues she needed to know how much she meant to Junpyo who knew more than just her name, even more than the so-called boyfriend of hers.

" You sound jealous," Junpyo sipped his drink; Yijeong was happy he had stopped being quiet.

" It's not my fault your crushes want me," Junpyo was surprised by how quickly Jandi's eyes had turned to him. Jihoo and Yijeong smiling to see the playful Junpyo back, only she was caught off guard that he really was like this.

" Just because she asked to try your car doesn't mean she"

" Woobin, give it up; it's not his car she wanted to ride"

" Maybe you can try being nicer next time," Jihoo, hiding his smile, suggested.

" Are we giving each other advice?" Woobin asked knowing there was much he could say to Jihoo.

" Jihoo doesn't need your advice, he already has the most beautiful girl in the room next to him tonight" Yijeong winked at her. Her glance at Jihoo who gave her a smile, these two were beyond adorable, all except one thought.

" She dressed so nice for you so better make tonight special"

"This better not be another 10-year drama" Woobin continued and before Jihoo could say anything, the waiter notified him the school director was calling him. Excusing himself, he left the table. Wobin, who seemed to be waiting for him to leave, chose to come for Jandi the moment Jihoo walked away.

" Has he asked you out yet?" he asked, getting a glare even from Junpyo.

" I am trying to help him," he defended himself.

" You're the first girl he has ever"

"Woobin," Yijeong hushed his friend.

" We need to warn her not to mess with him. He is our friend," Wobin explained himself.

" Jihoo is special so if you break his heart, I will fuck you up" The warning he was making, he had thought he was clear from the one that protects her to say whatever he wanted, but he had worse coming for him.

" Watch it" was the second clue Yijeong was given as Junpyo's scary voice came while his mean-looking eyes were sent to Woobin. All the words he was saving from saying, his threatening eyes were making it clear. The one on her left might have left, but the one sitting on her right was the more possessive and protective type who couldn't even control his instinct that had jumped in before Woobin even finished his sentence. Left speechless, Woobin had just glanced at the just-as-startled Yijeong, who reminded him of Jihoo's words.

" Jihoo told you to leave her alone; better listen," he whispered as he trusted the intuition that was alarming him of the mess that was brewing between the girl and the man sitting on her right.

" Did you see the art pieces?" Wanting to change the topic, Yijeong asked. The girl he can't quite figure out; he needs to talk to her alone more.

" No."

" Do you want a private special tour?" he asked while he carefully waited for a reaction and got it as Junpyo glanced at him.

" Huh," Yijeong's smile was at how his assumption was given another proof to be true.

" Sure," Jandi had agreed, choosing to be away from Junpyo and also have the opportunity to look for Woobin's brother, who wasn't in this hall. He could be looking at the art.

" Let's go then," Yijeong stood up. Jandi, slowly standing up, pushed her chair back. Unfortunately, the chair Jihoo had adjusted when she sat down was underneath one of the legs of the chair. The fabric held by the chair was strong enough to pull her back.

" Ohh," Yijeong's reaction to her body that was pulled back was more about the ridiculous speed of Junpyo's left hand that had grabbed her arm and held her from falling on the chair.

" Okay?" Junpyo asked his left hand still on her arm. The words he didn't hear, Yijeong watched as their conversation was done through their eyes

" Ohu," was her response as she gently pulled her arm away from him. The touch of his cold hand had caused a more surprising reaction than her footing she lost. His hand returned to his phone; he turned his attention back to his phone.

" Are you okay?" Yijeong finally asked as he started walking to her side. He has something he needs to investigate, and he needs as many clues as he can use.

" Here," he offered his arm for her to hold as he got to her side.

" It's okay," she declined as she started walking.

The two walking away, Woobin and Junpyo, would leave the table minutes later as well. Both smoke but at different locations, with Junpyo choosing the roof. The nice breeze was the perfect addition to the nicotine and alcohol to help get through the night. The image of her he couldn't seem to shake off; it was beyond terrifying how she had taken over every thought. His wild imagination used to wander on its own, it was so obvious how he had crossed a line and had gotten to a point where it was physically making him sick thinking about any man touching her. But it wouldn't be any man, it was his best friend. With the wave of rage that filled his empty stomach, his logical mind was working against itself as it made him accept that Jihoo was definitely going to do something tonight. If not for anything else, just because of what Woobin had said. Jihoo needed to learn from his past and be proactive.

What would he do if he were in Jihoo's position? He was lucky that it was Jihoo who was so respectful and wouldn't take it any further but tonight was different. His own limits he couldn't predict if he was allowed to touch and hold her let alone kiss her as Ji Hoo is; he was correct to not trust even Jihoo to not do something drastic tonight. The rational voice trying to remind him it was Jandi was drowned out by the cursed voice that was always ready to cause more damage and was making him question why she was even dressed like that. It had to be for Jihoo. She claimed she was his not even 24 hours ago. Of course, she would dress up for him. And if she did dress up for him, who's to say she wouldn't let Jihoo get away with doing whatever he wanted? The way she was looking at Jihoo all night, who would doubt the assumptions Junpyo was making that she might possibly even make the first move.

" Fuck" cursing at himself, he sent both hands to squeeze and silence his mind. The pill he pulled out of the tiny bag was swallowed by itself. Neither the nicotine nor the alcohol were helping tonight and he knew it was better to take the pill and silence all his emotions now.

" Stop," he ordered to himself. It would take about half an hour or an hour before his wish was granted. The moon that had dominated the sky was his closest ally as he stayed there while one thought at a time was sent evaporating out of his mind. The white smoke he was blowing up at the sky, he kept his eyes on the moon. The beautiful night sky he was gazing at, halfway through his time up there by himself, was when his sole focus had become the sight of her he had when she was walking down the stairs. He can't think about her; he wasn't allowed to. The best option was to avoid her at least for the night. He could make an easy escape and head home. But that was only a solution for tonight. The only option he had was to accept her offer of truce and get along.

While he was figuring out what to make of her, Jandi was busy following every step of the man she had been looking for, which she found. She had stayed by the glass windows in the lobby, looking at all the people mingling around in the hall. Once she found him, her eyes were glued to Woobin's brother chatting with a group of people. A quick call to Bom, she had given him the cue to get the team ready. Her confidence had gone up knowing Bom was on his way, she had sent him the zoomed picture she had taken as proof of this man's existence.

"Do not make contact. We just need to tag him," Bom had commanded her after he got the pictures of the man he didn't recognize.

" Got it," she responded as she hung up her phone. Her blood-ready eyes were on hunting mode as they were completely focused on Woobin's brother she had been watching. For the last 20 minutes, her undivided attention had been on every aspect of him. The suit he had on, the drink he was slowly sipping, the phone he placed in his right pocket. She had even studied the way he was laughing. As he finished his long chat, she followed as he left the men behind and headed to something that had grabbed his attention. Walking along the glass window, she followed from the other side as she saw where he was headed.

The beautiful Junhee she remembers from yesterday he had run as he took the seat of the person that left her side.

" What are you looking at?" Jihoo's voice startled Jandi; she turned around to find him steps away from her. Totally focused on what she was watching; she hadn't even noticed him walking her way. Jihoo who had been texting her and looking for her, had finally found her. Her absence from the table bothered him, he knew why he was scared of her walking around by herself while looking like this. His friend might have promised but many men in this palace would definitely take a chance.

" Oh Junhee noona"

" She is Junpyo's sister, and that is Woobin's brother." Jihoo gave her the information she already knew as he stood by her side.

" Oh, that was who you were talking about earlier"

" Yeah. He had a crush since they were in school. she is married now"

" She went to Shinwa?"

" Yes, She is brilliant and such an amazing person." As Jihoo went on listing all the things he admired about his best friend's sister, Jandi kept her eyes on the woman whom she had already started admiring.

" You would definitely like her"

" She hated the F4 thing too. Haha" his smile ignored, Jandi had her whole attention on the two they were watching.

" A complete opposite of her brother," Jandi crossed her arms

" Talking about her brother," Jihoo's smile was turned from Jandi to the friend he saw walking to the exit door.

" Are you leaving?' his loud voice; Jandi turned around to see who he was yelling at. Thankfully, there weren't many people in the lobby, and her eyes landed on the person heading to the exit sign with the stairs.

" Not feeling well" Junpyo's response wasn't as loud. His eyes fighting himself had only looked at Jihoo before they were turned to the door steps away.

" What? Why?"

" What happened?" The worried Jihoo left her side and started taking quick steps to his friend.

" Nothing, just not feeling this" the door handle he grabbed Junpyo waited for.

" I thought you were going to the after-party?" Jihoo walking to the door asked

" Might stop by"

" Are you sure everything is okay?"

" Yeah," Junpyo gave a fake smile. His eyes that looked behind Jihoo; he had finally given into their undying demand and looked at the bewitching dresses she was wrapped in as she stood right underneath the silver shining lights of the modern chandelier above her head. The only person in the hallway, it was the perfect setting to admire her without any distraction.

The answer to his question was all over his best friend's face as Jihoo followed Junpyo's eyes to find Jandi.

" I know! She looks so different." Jihoo was in his own world to see anything else. That was how blinding her presence was tonight. The two looking at her, only one had bothered her as she changed her focus. Her body turned around, she sent her eyes to the glass window and Woobin's brother. Maybe one pill of the medicine he had swallowed wasn't enough since he couldn't even handle the sight of her just standing there.

" I will let them know" Jihoo didn't get a response as Junpyo walked past the door he opened. The stairs he was taking to avoid people, he had nobody stop him as he finished and walked out the door that led to the back end of the lobby. The staff giving him small bows, he avoided as he headed to the parking lot. The car he got in, he didn't step on the gas pedal after turning it on. The gushing wind he enjoyed, he lifted the top of the car to let it take over. The soft song that started playing from the radio he turned on, the cigarette he lit was placed in between his lips as he laid his seat down. His tired body laying down, his eyes were sent to the moon shining bright.

The minutes he was spending letting the moon help him decide what to do, everybody in the great hall of the gallery spent enjoying the exquisite dinner served.

Dinner was followed by some speeches and announcements of who had won the auction, the organizer had concluded the official event while letting all know they were now free to roam around and network until midnight. Jandi, who hadn't lifted her eyes from Woobin's brother, had the perfect seat to have him in her view throughout the night. Woobin and Yijeong found some girls to be distracted by, her eyes had only moved away from her target to watch Jihoo. Every time she glanced his way, she found him busy talking to people. Sitting at Table 2, Jihoo was worse since he had to glance her way every chance he got just for his own sake. The smiles they exchanged every time they saw each other, it wasn't enough for Jihoo who had tried to escape but couldn't. The evening he wanted to enjoy next to her, at least he had used his phone to keep texting her to keep her entertained. Every minute she was by herself was bothering him but there was no avoiding the long chat he was pulled into. His hope was no man would ever dare to walk up to her and do what he hadn't done, and luck was on his side as nobody but the waiters had approached her table.

Her usual "don't even try me" aura wasn't enough. Eun had added the dark makeup and dress to make her even more intimidating. Jandi didn't need anything else to warn off anybody who would dare even talk to her. Which was perfect as she had no distraction from the only person she was there for. As though he knew she was bored of just sitting there watching him do nothing, Woobin's brother had stood up from his table and headed to Junhee's table. He quickly picked up Junhee's jacket she was about to put on. The Jacket he held for her, she had accepted with a smile as she put her right arm then her left. The three-piece suit she had on, the lavender color, was the perfect color for her genuine warm personality. With her bag in her left hand, Junhee had left the people at her table after giving each a bow and saying goodbye. The two heading to exit, Jandi was quick to call Bom and put him on alert. The team he left behind, he had decided to take this one by himself . the bookstore parking lot across the street in front of the gallery he was parked in, Bom started his car as he waited.

" Stand by," she whispered as she observed the two walking. The bag she brought closer, she was getting ready to follow behind from the other exit door. With her careful eyes, she hadn't missed how Woobin's brother's hand had stayed at Junhee's back to guide her as she walked past the tables. They looked beyond familiar as both were greeted by the people they were leaving behind. Thanks to the clue she had gathered from the F4 chat, she had to only watch the two for minutes to see the crush Woobin's brother still has on the woman clearly wearing her wedding ring. Even Jandi, a stranger to both, didn't like the idea of the two as she watched them head to the entrance door. Leaving her chair, she quickened her steps to the other door behind her. Choosing to follow from a distance, she stayed behind. Thankfully, the lobby had several people who were leaving to cover her away. The clock at 10:45 pm, she mentally documented the time.

Their laughter she could hear, she focused on reading the body language of the two. He seemed comfortable while there was still some reservation with Junhee, who had kept her hands on her clutch. Considering how much he was warning her, Jandi was quick to wonder where Junpyo was to leave his sister in the hands of this man. But then again, only a fool would dare do anything to the only daughter of the Shinwah family. Even this man was acting like a servant to her as everything he did was filled with respect and admiration, a completely different reaction to how he was treating Jandi. Staying behind at the right distance, Jandi ignored who held the door open for Junhee; she was more interested in the floor they would press on the elevator.

" I think she knows him very well." Jandi calling Bom, directed his attention to the new picture she sent him of the woman walking next to Woobin's brother. In the picture she took from the back, Junhee's face was only half visible, but that was more than enough for Bom to recognize her. In charge of collecting all the information on the Shinwa family, he had spent quite some time looking at her from a distance not to recognize her face. Everything about her, including her daily schedule, was something he had a record of years ago. Junhee, who was cleared in all directions, Bom was the first to figure out all the mistresses her husband had, which they have documented and have proof of. But that was years ago. Years before, Jandi was trusted to do these missions and was still in training.

" We might need somebody to get information out of her. I can try"

" How ?" Bom asked, completely unaware that Jandi had already met her.

" The student president I work with introduced me to her." She used Jihoo as an excuse. He has been the excuse for all the events she has been attending and every information she found. And that has become another reason why he was her favorite. He was the perfect excuse for everything.

"We don't have time for that. Let's just focus on him for now."

" Got it,"

Looby - she pressed the same button on the other elevator. As the elevator opened, she quickly noticed them heading to the back door. The pamphlet she picked used to cover her face; she chose to be a little bit closer. Thankfully, Woobin's brother spoke loud enough for her to hear past the people in the lobby she was using as a cover.

" You should come with us to the after-party. All of them would be excited to see you."

" I have some work to finish for a meeting in the morning." Junhee has learned since she was young all the nice ways to reject men.

" Oh, come one. You are always working; it's not like you're running the company." In his comment, Jandi was able to recognize the smirk of Junhee as she tried ignoring it.

" Is it because of your husband? Does he not let you stay out?"

" I heard he is out of the country," he added as he held the door open for her.

" I seriously have to work in the morning and can't handle a hangover very well." Her smile was still present as she continued rejecting his offer.

" It's fine you don't have to drink"

" Maybe we can do brunch?" Junhee offered, and that was the last thing Jandi heard as she chose to slow down to let them walk out into the VIP parking. She waited a minute before walking out. Staying hidden behind the two cars as she watched Junhee turn her car on. The door he held open for her, Junhee gave him one last smile as she got into the driver seat. In a minute, the white car would be out of the parking lot while Jandi stood watching Woobin's brother, who she was praying would walk to his own car but no. He had just started walking back to the door.

Lucky for her, she was getting something even more as she saw him put his phone to his ear.

" You wouldn't believe who I met tonight"

" You better be at the afterparty so I can tell you" Woobin's brother, walking past the two cars she was hiding in, was filled with giddiness as he opened the glass door and walked in.

Jandi quickly pulled out her burner phone and pressed 1.

" There is an afterparty. He is attending"

" I will try to find where and get in." as she finished her sentence, her quick ears had pickled on a sound. Her phone hung up and she started walking from in between the two cars. There was nobody and no other car that was turned. The big blackboard she had thought was a wall, she took slow steps as she walked around it to find the black car with the sunroof pulled down. Her eyes landed on the person in the driver seat, she couldn't quite see the person lying down. The slow steps she was taking, her right hand was sent to the slit of her dress. The cold metal resting against her thigh, her fingers need to be close to it.

" There is no address, " the raspy voice gave her the answer her heart had slowed its beat for. It was only Junpyo, she sighed to be quickly reminded that he had heard her.

" It's an undisclosed club" Raising only his head, he turned his focus to her. The moon that had been his co-conspirator seemed like she was working against him as she had lit Jandi with the perfect shade of gray light. Only half of her face in his view, he took a deep breath his lung was asking for as he accepted how hauntingly breathtaking she was. She really was a completely different person when she dressed up. The darkness of the night was when she fully bloomed. Like she would burn into ashes in the bright sunlight that would force all of her to be seen; the darkness was her safe place.

" I thought you left." her right hand leaving her dress was sent to the bag she moved forward. Her face eased, her striking eyes were the only part of her that weren't relaxed.

" Maybe I should have," he added, turning his eyes back to the sky.

" Did you dress up for Jihoo or him?" his hands sent to his closed eyes, he placed them as additional cover to eliminate any sign of light.

" Jihoo is the one that invited me." She turned around and started walking.

" Yet you were following another man"

" You need to leave Woobin's brother alone"

" You need to stop telling me what to do." She knew how to provoke him and his eyes that quickly returned her way were her proof. Her spine-chilling eyes gave him one last look before she headed to the door.

What happened left behind, she rearranged her focus to finding Jihoo. She needs to make sure he attends this after-party. That was the only way she could get in, if Jihoo goes. The event hall she returned to, she found it almost empty. Most guests had left; the rest were on the third floor looking at the art pieces. She asked one of the waiters, who informed her he was just here.

Her purse in hand, the gallery she walked into had more than enough people. The people with the champagne glasses in their hands, she started checking to see if any of them were Jihoo or woobin's brother. The light turned a bit darker, the mood of the place was different than earlier. The people she was walking past she gave them small smiles. The room she walked into, for a second the paintings at the corner caught her eyes.

" Do you like it?" Yijeong, who was returning from the bathroom, had asked after taking his time walking to her side. Her attention the painting had captured, he had a great opportunity to examine her from head to toe.

" It's interesting"

"It's a special piece." crossing his arm, he stood on her left side.

" I wonder how much it sold for"

" It wasn't up for sale"

" Probably costs millions"

" You think so"

"It's lovely"
" Thank you" he gave her a smile as he waited for her to realize why he was thanking her. His signature at the bottom right corner, she glanced back and forth between it and Yijeong.

" So you really are talented"

"Somewhat"

" Why is it not up for sale"

"It's a private collection piece"

" Why is it here then"

" Junpyo asked for a favor." His smile, his lean her way, was welcomed as she didn't move away.

" A favor?" her suspicion that led her to ask, she was beyond glad she did.

" Somebody was supposed to have their art here, I don't know " Jihoo shrugged and started walking around her.

" He just asked me to send a piece" he added while sending his eyes to the other piece behind her. Jandi realized the person he was talking about was Eun needed a minute. Actually, two to accept that Junpyo was the reason Eun was excused and given an extension to submit her piece for her scholarship for the art college she was aiming for depending on what was supposed to be displayed and sold tonight. Wait, Eun had said her scholarship was guaranteed as long as she turned the piece by the end of the year to one of the sponsors. Was he the sponsor that paid for it?

" Did he say why?" turning around she started following Yijeong walking around the room, examining all the other pieces.

" I don't know, just ask him"

" Are you coming to the after party? 'He asked, forcing her to forget about what she was asking about and return to her job.

" Is Jihoo going?" She followed as Yijeong led them into the long glass hallway.

" He will if you are" the smiles he gave her, there was no mistaking his friendliness for anything else.

" You should ask him"

" I swear it will be fun"

" Are you talking about me?" Both were surprised by Jihoo's voice.

" She was asking about the after party"

" I" she took a step away from Yijeong and closer to Jihoo who was coming to her right side.

" She seems interested, you should bring her" Yijeong tapping at Jihoo left the two alone. The call he picked up, he needs to coordinate with Woobin about tonight's plan.

" Where did you go?" his hands sent to his pockets. Jihoo couldn't hide his excitement to find her after not seeing her for what seemed like an hour but was about 15 minutes. He started walking down the hallway. He knew where to take her to get some moments alone.

" I went out for some fresh air"

" Oh great"

" I have some people to say bye to, but we can leave after." Jihoo, trying to see if she would reject his offer, he was nervous to even ask if she would let him drive her home. His schedule he had tried to free; he had been running around getting things done so he could only get some time alone with her. There was no way he could let her go back home without having her all to himself for even a minute. Driving her home was the perfect excuse.

" I don't have anything to do so." Jandi playing her own games was laying the foundation for how she would get him to forget about going home and take her to the afterparty.

" Did you see the art?" he pointed at the new pieces around the room they walked into.

" Some. I didn't know we had talented artists"

" Our college has an amazing art program"

" Is Yijeong attending?"

" The school is paying him to" he turned her way, smiling at how ridiculous what he said was. Of course they would pay Yijeong, his presence at that school is a bragging right for the school.

" How much do his pieces sell for?"

" haha, you don't want to know '' his small laugh, she felt at ease taking it in when they were in private. Left alone, away from all the distraction that keeps them away from each other.

" Could it buy a car?" she asked quickly, doubting if Jihoo even knows the average cost of a car.

" Only collectors and galleries buy them so you can guess"

" Did you get any?"

" from this, No"

" My mom did" he whispered the name that surprised her. Was his mom here the whole time?

" She collects art" he added while smiling at her startled reaction to the mention of the women he had worked hard to avoid from seeing him with Jandi. The evening he spent running around, the main reason he had stayed away from being next to her thought out the night had been was to avoid his mother. If he could, every minute of the night he would have spent next to her. Not even to talk to her, just to look at her and be around her. The wild thoughts of his she had instigated, he had spent the whole event thinking about her and the only thing he wanted before the evening came to an end.

" She was at my table. '' Jandi tried to look through her memory of the people he was talking to to see if his mother was there. The woman she had some images of, was surprised she wasn't able to recognize her if she had seen her.

" I didn't see" she had one thing to blame for not noticing the presence of his mom, Jihoo himself. Her whole attention he had when ever she saw him, she hadn't played a single attention to the people he was around.

" It's okay. You will get to meet her soon enough" he didn't seem happy about what he said.

" graduation, school events" he added to the list of possibilities.

" You seem scared" his smile, he took a step ahead to turn around and face her as he started walking backwards.

" I"

" She is intimidating"

" Because she is famous"

" because she is your mother" she wiped the smile off his face.

" I am sure you would've been scared to meet my mom too" trying to cover for the feeling his silent stare brought, she had said something that caused worse.

" I would've loved to actually"

'' I am curious what type of amazing parenting raises such a person" his position back to her side, he chose to be quiet for a minute. The " would have" she used, he had seen the change on her face after she said it. Her family she never ever talks about, this was the first time he had heard her say anything about them. The uncomfortable silence he expected wasn't there as all he felt was the need to comfort her. He just didn't know the appropriate way. The fact that she had even said this meant she felt safe and comfortable around him enough to share. Jihoo chose to lean into that and comfort her in that way.

" Did she pass away?" he asked softly as they walked into the empty classroom. The answer he was waiting for never came. He had hit a wall he wasn't allowed to pass.

1

2

3 They chose to walk in silence. The pastel-colored glasses are prices that had their attention both were busy wondering what the other was thinking.

" You don't have to tell me things you don't want to" he broke the silence

" Just know i'm here when you want to talk about it." his quick glance her way, this was the first time he noticed her anxious fingers. Her thumb scratching her skin, he looked up to find her eyes on the path they were taking. She didn't seem aware of what her hands were doing, or it was subconscious.

" Woobin will apologize to you soon, by the way,," his plan to change the mood, he used whatever came to his mind first. He needs to get rid of whatever was bothering her.

" He said he will not bother you, so you don't have to worry about him. He will tell those idiots to stay away too"

" Thank you," her soft voice was different.

" Yijeong is going to be the first one to be your friend. He is super nice and sweet." Jihoo went on talking about his friends, which seemed to have worked. She had even looked his way with a small smirk when he mentioned how people mistake Yijeong's friendliness for flirting.

" We've been friends since kindergarten, so don't take anything we say to each other seriously. It's just poking fun" The jabs the friends take at each other, he has to make sure she doesn't take anything personally.

" They are funny"

" I am glad you find them funny"

" Are they going to the party?" she asked, shutting every discomfort she was processing down and focusing on the task she needed to get done before she ran home.

" They never miss one"

" Why don't you go with them?"

" I don't like those places." She turned right, following him to another empty hallway that led to the two gallery staff standing by the glass door.

" Sir," the bow the staff standing by the secured door gave them; both gave them a nod as Jihoo let her walk past the secured door first.

" The craziness in those places"

"Too much temptation." She needed to be in charge of where she was leading the conversation.

"ha" his smile was the last thing she saw as she walked past the second door he held open for her. She wasn't sure why he was leading them to the dark room. There wasn't a sensory light that turned on even after he walked in behind her.

" Do I seem interested in those temptations"

" I don't know"

" Depends on what you find tempting' the darkness she was enjoying and using as her cover to ask bold questions was removed as he clapped three times, and the reflective mirror room turned on.

Her heart that jumped a beat; the 360 turn she took wasn't enough to calm the startled Jandi down from the enchanting room. The utter shock the magnificent infinity mirror room had caused, she was given some minutes of silence to take in the view. Silently watching, he has become used to it; he took all the time he needed to inspect every inch of her.

" What do you find tempting?" Sending both his hands to his back, he started taking slow steps around the room. His anxious hands eagerly waited until they were allowed to touch her; he needed to keep a healthy distance away from her. His eyes focused on her; Jandi wasn't back to herself as she watched how the look in his eyes had changed from the one she was used to. All the shimmering light surrounding them it couldn't have gotten any more magical as he watched the speechless Jandi standing in the middle.

" I talk to you every day and still don't know that." his walk around the edge of the room, the mirror reflections of him weren't as enchanting as the real man she was following

" Nothing," her hands she sent to her back, she stopped following him and focused on the installation. She needs to stop looking at him.

" Not even my uniform, which you like more than this"

" I just said this was too much"

" What would be enough?" the questions he was asking, both knew where this conversation was leading.

" What would be enough for you?" Her attempt to take control was a mistake.

" For once, getting answers from you." his legs stopped walking and he sent his hands to his pocket as he stood there, eyes unwaveringly focused on her.

The minutes adding up were causing an opposite reaction from the two.

" Why did you kiss me back?" he asked a question that would cause her the same mini heart attack she had given him when she walked in tonight. As though he had timed it, the room had turned into night mode. The infinite mirrors sparkling with stars decorating the dark room. Another magnificent view; she didn't even look up to see the small starlights glued to the roof that was refelting the infinite night sky they were surrounded with.

" Why did you kiss me?" Her anxiety was now in full effect; all she had words for was to ask him the same question. Her nervous fingers, fighting each other, were rushing, unlike her breathing, he had slowed.

" Do you really want to know?" the change in his voice, she was given her first red flag as she watched him start moving. The reflective night view, she didn't have a full and clear view of him as he stood a step away from her.

" You were drunk and sad"

"And would you be mad if I did it when I wasn't drunk or sad?"

" I." The second red flag she was given came when she even forgot how to speak and couldn't for a sentence; her silence was used as confirmation he closed the distance between them.

His eyes looking for a hint; the only thing they needed was her eyes glancing down at his lips for Jihoo's hands to be permitted to do what they had been asking for since he saw her. His hands softly tilted her neck up; she wasn't given a second to process that before his lips landed on hers.

A full-on heart attack was what his soft lips caused as they sent an electric shock down her spine. Her body trained to kill and land anybody in a coma if she wished it was left disarmed and unable even to move. The only thing in motion was her eyes that closed. Her sense of touch needed to be heightened to process the skin he was touching; every other sense except the one inhaling the intoxicating smell of his was ordered to stand down. The tender lips that were admiring hers, how gentle his lips were beyond intentional, and they had accomplished their goal as they got her to lose the control she had. Her lips that parted gently, he was granted access. But before he even enjoyed a second of it, the door was opened, lighting the dark room.

" OMG, I am sorry. Sorry," the staff apologized as he turned around.

" I am sorry, it's just the Madam is looking for you," the staff announced, not even turning to the two. Jihoo, who had taken a step away from her the moment the light turned on, was covering his lips as he even hid his face away by turning around.

" I have to "

" I'll be back." a single glance her way, he started walking away to the door the staff was holding open.

" Sorry, Sir" the staff had given Jihoo a full bow as he apologized again. His neatly brushed hair, he started messing; Jihoo needed to catch his breath before he even registered what the staff was talking about. He really had done it. What he had been thinking about doing since he saw her walking down the stairs, he really had given in and done it. And not only had he done it, but she had let him do it and even was going to kiss him back. Was she really going to?

" The madam is waiting in the parking lot." The staff pressed down on the elevator, letting only Jihoo in. His tie he started pulling down, and he unbuttoned two top buttons while taking deep breaths. He needs to breathe and get himself in control. Her red lipstick that had his attention all night, he couldn't stop from smiling as he pulled his lips in. The sweet taste of the lipstick she had on, he had only a tiny bit; enough to make him crave a full taste. Rather than celebrating what he had achieved, what his body was busy doing was asking for more. Maybe he needs to go to the party and drink tonight. The deep breaths he was taking helped calm him down, he was thinking about that as the elevator brought him down to the lobby.

" Woo" was all he could say as the doors opened to Junpyo waiting for it.

" You're still here," Jihoo asked, arranging his tie back. His unusual state, Junpyo quickly examined his best friend. But he didn't need anything else other than the red lipstick mark on Jihoo's lips to know what had caused it.

" Mom is in the parking lot." Jihoo, walking out of the elevator, came to Jupyo's side. His hair started to fix; it was obvious how anxious and disturbed Jihoo was. He has never seen Jihoo like this, Junpyo took note of the new Jihoo as he sent his right hand to his pocket.

" Jihoo" Junpyo directed the napkin his right hand pulled to his best friend. He didn't have to say what it was for; his eyes glancing at Jihoo''s lips gave Jihoo the answer.

" Oh God,' Jihoo quickly took the napkin and aggressively cleaned his lips.

" Are you going to the after-party?" Jihoo, who started walking away, asked.

" I might be joining you guys tonight. I need a serious drink," and that was how Junpyo, who was planning to head home, was dragged into the after-party. Jihoo going meant Jandi was attending; to do whatever with Woobin's brother she had been following.