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.

43. Chapter 43

Hello, beautiful readers; I hope you all had a fantastic start to your new year. I am so sorry for the late post. I had some sickness in the family and was in the hospital for the last two months. I didn't have any mental capacity to write or, even look at the page. I am back home now and slowly getting back to doing things that bring me joy. I want to thank all for all the wonderful comments. They really lift up my mood and make me want to write more. For those not happy with my writing, thank you for the constructive criticism too. Hopefully, this experience will help me be a better writer.

I hope you enjoy the chapter and you all have a wonderful week. Thank you all for spending your precious time reading and commenting.

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The raindrops still taping the window above her bed, Jandi sunk her body into the blanket the second her eyes tried to process any of the morning sunlight waking all from the rainy night. The cozy bed cornered to the wall Bom had spent two weeks building for her; there is nothing else she has found to be the perfect resting place. The ideal nook that had become her safest place in the world, the warmth of the blanket that smells like the citrusy detergent Mrs. Kim buys and has delivered to their house, was brought closer to her body as she buried her head in it. The melody of the raindrops has aided the total darkness underneath her blanket in helping to send her back to the dream world.

Her closed eyes that were covered with the dark eye shadow hours prior, still glitter at the memories her mind was replaying. Even asleep, a soft smile had escaped her lips when she was reminded of the kind eyes of the man who had delivered their 2nd kiss. His bright smile, sparkling eyes, and tender touch - for the first time, a man had infuriated her sleep world and had become the man of her dreams. The nightmares that wake her up in the middle of the night whenever a visual of any man comes to mind, Jihoo has achieved another first as he has her dancing across an endless field of ease. At the same time, her sleeping body gets the peaceful rest it has been begging for. His meek voice and everything he had said to her that night had been the cause of her legs that were moved to come close to her heart beating a bit off the rhythm it was used to.

Easily getting the title of the most handsome man she had ever seen; the tiny smile on her lips extended when she reminded herself of how he had been looking at her and only her all night. His kind eyes, which she adored above all, how they were attached to her all night; she couldn't help but giggle when reminded, even when asleep. The possibility of Jihoo liking her, her logical side would never accept; it was not only a welcomed thought but a celebrated one when she was asleep. All the foreign tingling feelings were to blame for the unhurried way the blanket on top of her body was pushed to be kicked to the end of the bed. The silk bed sheets were enough to snuggle with her floating body.

While the girl who never had much to dream about enjoyed sleep for once, the world outside her window awakened to their reality. Their day started with the sunrise that peaked through the cloudy sky and the still pouring rain. Her hometown had welcomed the weekend with the same routine. Except for the uniformed children who wouldn't flood the roads to go to school, everybody else had woken up to another rainy day. Even though it's the weekend, the neighborhood children being dragged from their warm beds had things to do that didn't afford them the luxury of sleeping in for that long. With the useless umbrellas they all use, most couldn't escape the rain as they complained about where they needed to be early morning on Saturday. From the fish market, the church at the hill, the old high school, and the only movie theater in town to every store that decorates every block of the tiny roads no car could drive in, it was business as usual for everybody except the hidden ghosts that protected it.

" What is with this rain today?"

" Nobody could walk in this mess." The loud voices of the men by the door alarmed the old lady who had quickened her steps to the door. She dragged the old slide door to the right; her smile was kept away from the men taking their raincoats off while giving her a big smile. The closed sign on the tiny noodle shop that could at most sit ten people, the lady that ran it knew the routine as she locked the door behind the men.

" I told you he would be here already."

" How are you always early?" The two men headed to the only table with customers. Their shaking voices were not a good indication of what was waiting for them.

" He never sleeps."
" Sorry, the rain is just too much today," the one in the leather jacket apologized as he waited for Bom, quietly enjoying his breakfast, to look up and welcome them. As usual, that didn't happen. They knew him enough not to expect a warm welcome, not even a smile. He hadn't even looked up to acknowledge their presence. The two high school dropouts he dragged away from the trouble that could have almost killed them quietly made their way to the table. Their eyes were still on the only man to have resolved the high school fights even the police had ignored that had landed a group of kids stabbed and a few dead. The number of young boys he saved by getting the two high school crews to not even dare raise a voice in these neighborhoods; he only had to drag the leaders to fight actual gang members. The moment the leading group of high school boys stood in front of tattooed men that were on the wanted police signs around town, that had been the last day mothers had to cry about their useless high school boys ending up in fights the police don't even bother to check in on. Call it tough love, but whatever it was had also saved these two. That day, he became the badass male figure to most who had no idea who he was. The two rascals sitting before him now had hidden on the roof of the old meat packaging warehouse as they watched the whole scene of their high school bullies getting a master class lesson on tough love.

All the odd names he was given around town they knew of, their admiration had started from when he had arrived in that car of his. Even the way he was smoking his cigarettes. Everything about him was adored, as the two who didn't have close family members saw a role model. Their admiration leading to finding not only where he worked but also memorizing some of his routine. Hiding behind his building they were trying to sneak into, he had let them enjoy it all until he showed up like a ghost. His gun aimed right at their heads, the shirtless man covered with the dark ink of names and scars; they knew to never ask for even his name let alone dare to spy on him again. With their incredible talent and his inability to not feel sorry for young boys whom the harsh streets would eat and spit out, they were welcomed to the extended family right out of high school. That was years ago, and nothing has changed for the two, who still look forward to the day they would get the affirmation they crave from him. They knew his care for them was more profound than the surface-level smile he could give them. His unbothered face, their Hyong had proven again & again how much he cared to ever question him on it.

The spoon in his right hand placed down, Bom's right hand wiped his lips as his unamused eyes were sent to them. His eyes scanned both up and down before he turned to the lady, to whom he gave a slight nod.

" Sorry about being late." They gave small bows before they sat down.

" How many times do we have to have this talk?" The man next to Bom, who seemed agitated, had waited until they sat down before he started.

" We always meet here at 5. Why is that hard for you dummies?" the wrestler, as they call him. The big man sitting next to Bom had moved his angry body closer to the table as he shouted but didn't get to finish as Bom's left hand tapped his hand. The look between the two, the Wrestler, had moved his body back to rest on the tiny old chair that always made one wonder how it had lasted this long. The delicious side dishes neatly placed around the table, Bom moved the eggs on his side to the Wrestler.

" That is not for him. It is for you," the old lady bringing the two their tea had complained as she started moving faster. The tea cups were placed for the two boys, warming their hands and getting comfortable. The moment her hand was free, she moved the eggs back to Bom's side.

" He ate his already." her right arm raised to mimic a slap, she exchanged a look with the wrestler.

" You need to stop feeding everybody," her smile was always reserved for Bom. The three hadn't even batted an eye as her gentle hand landed on Bom's shoulder. Her eyes filled with the motherly love he gets from all the town's older women; they had seen it enough times to have a reaction.

" Do you only care about him?" the one in the red sweater complained.

" They all only love him."

" What is there to like about you, rascals?" Her gentle hands were a bit harsh but still filled with love as she walked to the other side and tapped the one who had asked for it.

" All you do is cause trouble, and now what is this?" she had moved his hair away to display the mark on his forehead. The dark red & blue bruise; all the men had glanced at Bom the second they saw the fight marks.

" How many times were you told to stop fighting, and you're still walking around fighting?"

" I didn't fight. Ouch," his effort to fight off her hand had only caused her to be aggressive as she used both her hands to examine the bruise closely.

" When will you kids grow and stop causing such trouble?"

" He didn't get into a fight; it was just," the one in the leather jacket came to his defense. Both boys glance at Bom, waiting for him to say something; not much has changed in years.

" I will get you some band-aid."

" I don't need any

" You hush if you don't want another beating."

" Ughh," the old lady sighed as she started walking away. She has their breakfast to finish and serve. Whatever they were going to discuss was also none of her business. Their usual routine, even though delayed, the protocol was the same. Arriving before she opened for business, Saturday started with the four men; whatever they discussed was never her worry. His teams he never mixed; this was the ideal place to meet these two. For the old lady, letting them use her restaurant was nothing compared to what these men have done for her, especially Bom. His favor she can't repay; she often recalls the first day he had walked into her restaurant the day after her husband was buried. Dressed in all black, Bom and the wrestler had walked in and asked for her signature noodle; that was the first and only time she had tried to listen to their conversation. Not even 24 hours since another group of tattooed men had wrecked her restaurant and trashed the ceremony for her husband, her shaking body couldn't even properly serve them as she was prepared for Bom and his man to wreck the place and ask for money too. She had stood at the corner with her shaking hands holding the wall as she tried to make out what was being said, but all she got was proof of Bom's excellent observational skills that had caught her.

" My grandma used to make these sweet potato noodles that taste just like yours," his soft smile disarmed her instantly, and kneeling down to bring himself to the same height as the chair she was sitting on, her life had changed since he handed her the folder she had since locked and kept in the vault hiding behind her nightstand.

" I would keep this somewhere safe," his smile she couldn't look away from; her shaking hand opened the folder to find the debt cancellation forms along with the full deed of the restaurant and the house attached. The paid in full bank stamps on the amount of debt they weren't even able to pay off in decades, that was the day the man in black they all called Bom became her guardian angel.

" I," her strutting lips, the tears trailing down her eyes, it was a sight Bom was used to. What he didn't expect was her tiny arms that hugged his rough ones. All the fear his striking face had brought was washed away that day.

" I can't fill his shoes," she followed Bom's eyes, looking up at her husband's photo surrounded by candles. She had to return her crying eyes to Bom when he grabbed her arm.

" But I promise nobody is going to touch you or this restaurant as long as I am alive" a promise he had made holding her hands, the single teardrop of hers that had landed on his hand that day; she had lived seven years seeing Bom live up to his promise. Not only had he done what he promised, but he had brought so many childish rascal boys she often fed like they were her kids.

" You better finish it all." Placing the sizzling noodles for the two boys, she walked back to her kitchen to prepare for breakfast service, which would start at 6:00. Once she got into the kitchen it was business as usual for the four men.

" What do you need?" the one with the leather jacket asked, taking his first sip. All eyes from Bom shifted to the folder he moved their way. The image on the first page of the folder was opened to the side profile pic of Woobin's brother from last night and the flickering dot on the device showcasing the location of the tracking device he placed on his car last night.

" Who is this?"

The question that still had no answer because there was no name for this man yet was the same Jandi's dreams had gone to. The smiles on her lips the image of his had removed; only when she was asleep could she challenge herself to see if she had any memory of this man. Her body shifted left to right, moving the blanket away from it; just going past any of her memories that didn't include Bom was already causing a reaction. The second she lets her mind go into the dark corners of her memory, the anxiety starts creeping in with the nightmare. The foggy corners of the hallway, surrounded by the hazy sounds that whispered here and there, the dark place she found herself in were always as far as her memory could go. The hallway she had dreamed about before, as always, didn't seem to have an end. Her legs she didn't seem to be in control of were pulling her to a place with no end. The second the sounds echoing throughout the hallway become muffled sounds of the men that haunt her, her body under the blanket would start trying to shiver and look for an escape from the bed sheet holding it hostage. The struggle to force her legs to turn back, the fight against herself would take more energy than required as the terrifying sounds start becoming clear. There was a reason she didn't enjoy sleeping most days, and today, she would get a terrifying reminder as the dark hallway suddenly became silent. All the other voices were removed to highlight one.

" You're pretty" the voice of Woobin's brother, accompanied by that ugly smile she wants to scratch off his face.

"HUH. HUH. HUH!" Her body jolted up, and the blanket she had thrown away from herself landed on the other side of the room. Her right hand, sent to find her killing weapon, landed on her thigh to find nothing but the fabric of the pants. Her eyes trying to access where she was, she slowly pulled her disturbed body to the corner of her bed. Her legs pulled to her chest; she cornered herself to the safest position. Her shaking arms wrapped around her legs as she hid her randomly beating heart with her armor.

" ." The irregular breathing required more oxygen, so she took deeper breaths. Her triggered state of fear; everything was shut down as she looked for the only thing that worked.

" You're safe," Bom's hazy voice repeated the comforting words in a low whisper. Her quick eyes selected her desk, closet, and the board in front as enough evidence of where she was. She is home.

" .huh," she kept breathing. The tight wrap of her arms around her leg loosened, and she relaxed her legs that were held close to her chest. She was safe.

"huh. Huh." Her breathing was slowly getting regulated as every other second was helping relax her triggered body from the corner she had repressed it in.

The first to leave the bed were her legs. The thin cloth of her pajama pants didn't protect her from the cold air that filled the room. Considering how she didn't like showing skin even when she was alone, it was common for the pants to be bigger than her and touch the floor. Her slow movements were necessary as her back, which she brought close to the edge of the bed, had sent the first signal that it didn't get enough sleep. The fear she was still processing; there was no going back to the sleep that had woken her up. Her body will have to wait hours and get tired to the point she can't escape it before she is allowed to sleep. No matter how much she hated the world she lived in, it was better than the sleep world. Her shoulder slumped down, she sat by the edge, waiting a few minutes. The thrifted t-shirt loosely hanging over her shoulder, she closed her eyes and continued taking slow breaths.

When will this cursed living end?

The cold water she had chosen to attack her body, she stood underneath the shower as she tried to silence the triggered anxiety that was still present. The shower that often works was taking longer than usual as her skin started asking for mercy from the freezing water. His eerie voice kept repeating; maybe it would have been better to have stayed with it, but she had ordered her mind to think about anything else. She had permitted her mind to wander away to get even the thought of him out of her mind. The thoughts that should have never been granted permission, the second they were allowed to take over, they had taken her back to how she ended her night.

The shower water drops mimicking the loud rain that was tapping at the roof of the clinic hallway they were under; she was brought to face the man who wasn't allowed to but had dared to touch her again.

" It matters to me." Junpyo's voice, even in her memory, had the rich, husky tone she had come to expect whenever his lips moved. His wet hair stuck to his neck and brushed away from the face he often covered; the werry-filled plea in his eyes was what she first recalled. Those dark eyes of his had a magical power of their own as they pulled her back to the night. How much he knows, which should have been what she should focus on. Her thoughts were pulled in the other direction to what the hand that held hers felt like. Her right hand raised away from the cold shower hitting her shoulder; she focused on her bony wrist his long fingers had grabbed. Instantly, her body was reminded of everything it felt when he grabbed her. Her left hand slowly raised to ease the remainder of his firm grip she could still feel, she continued caressing her right wrist.

" That's all that matters to me." Every other thought disappeared along with the water sliding down the drain, while the man who seemed to be cracking the code to having her confused, scared, but still undivided attention took over.

What does he want?

The wrong question to ask, she went further back into their night to look for an answer that made sense to her. Another mistake in letting her thoughts roam free was how her body decided to be reminded of the trance he had started locking her in whenever he looked at her in that weird way only he could. Alone to process why, she had started with his body, which seemed more prominent than it was whenever he walked into her space. She easily she blamed that on the confidence he walked around with because of his last name and not on how her fear of him was the main cause. How her whole frame could fit into his chest that was inches behind her, what she wrongly blamed for thinking about that was her being small. Her annoyance about his height, she didn't even like having to raise her neck to look at him, let alone accept it as one of the things he was blessed with that girls fan over. His body behind her hadn't technically touched her, but she quickly had to silence the wild curiosity that was trying to slip in when that voice of his and his smell were added to it. Even in her subconscious, it was odd to wonder what would happen if she was held against him. What would happen if his arm wrapped around her and brought her to rest against his chest; the day she wonders about that would be the day the world ends.

What does he want?

She asked again as his whisper that had electrified her left side was chosen to be her next focus point. The way his eyes were looking at her, she had stared right at them enough times to recognize something odd about it. It wasn't just fascination, she knew that much. She did a quick scan of her merry to see if anybody else looked at her that and the answer was no. There was nobody else. Jihoo looked at her differently but it was nowhere close to Junpyo's dark eyes. Not even close. For one, Jihoo's brown eyes were always warm and smiling when they looked at her. The tingly feelings Jihoo's eyes bring, even though she might not be able to name them she welcomed them. They felt amused and always put her at ease. The dim and beguiling eyes, on the other hand, the peculiar feelings they bring out were always accompanied by fear and unease. It was bothersome to the point she had to avoid looking deep into his eyes at times. His soul she had deemed sinister, she wasn't fond of his eyes that were the windows leading her to it.

She was going down the wrong path as she started connecting that to the playboy persona he was known for.

" God knows what he does to them," she recalled the sentiment she had heard from his close friends repeatedly. Of course, the man who sleeps with girls whom he doesn't even remember will look at her weirdly. She never liked acknowledging it, but she was also a girl. And she had worked with this type of spoiler-rich man enough times to know their weird fascinations didn't make sense at times. Their obsession with what they can't have, she had seen it enough times to assume whatever his fascination with her was because she wasn't like the girls he dealt with. The girls that throw themselves at him, it makes sense why the spoiled jerk would be fascinated by her. The only girl to stand up to him, of course, he would be curious. What would a man known for sleeping around would need from the girl that slapped him?

" It is all about power and ego with these men," Mrs. Kim had tried to explain to her when she asked why the men who could get anything they wanted with a snap of their fingers would be involved in illegal activities to satisfy their desires. She had slapped him, hit him, embarrassed him. A nobody, who was an escort, had dared challenge his rule; if he was anything like the men she dealt with, it would make sense why he would be doing all of this to get her. His ego she had hurt; he probably was lurking along, acting all nice until he was ready to attack. Ohhh! That actually made sense as to why he has been acting nice lately. The answer to her question she was more focused on, the disguised thoughts that were still on Jun Pyo were still wandering free.

While she pondered on how he could attack her, the unmonitored thoughts had gone to analyzing why he looked so different when he was wet. The raindrops that had washed all his hair back and glued them to his neck were scanned again as she couldn't quite understand why some water on his face had changed his look and his gaze. His dark hair was always interesting to look at; it had become even more enticing to want to touch when it was wet and stuck together. Just as interesting was how manly he looked when his hair was away from his face. When every bone that perfectly built his face was highlighted thanks to the light hitting his wet skin, there was something even more amusing about his face she was fighting not to accept as anything but repulsive. The water dripped from his hair and slid down into his dress shirt; her thoughts were fascinated by how the wet shirt plastered to his skin wasn't great at hiding what was underneath. Her eyes went to his arm before his distracting chest became the focus. His right hand that grabbed her wrist, and was when she recalled the sight of the tattoos on his arm. His sleeve he had pulled up, the one her unmonitored thought focused on was the one by his wrist. The black ink had a magic of its own as it highlighted the veins of the hot-blooded man she was in no way equipped to deal with.

Both her hands were sent to brush her hair away from her face; she took a deep breath and raised her eyes to the shower head. Somehow the cold water wasn't as harsh anymore. Her skin that was begging for relief had been silenced thanks to the warmth the unfiltered thoughts of her had brought.

Jihoo might have become the man of her dreams and the first to help bring ease and pleasant memories to her dream world. He might have been welcomed to the safest place she keeps most away from and allowed to roam free in her sleep, but the one that had her thoughts when she was at her most vulnerable was the one she loves to claim to hate. Standing unclothed and unarmed, under the water that is always used to regulate her triggers, who had her whole attention was the man whose fascination with her she assumed she had found an answer to as she left the shower.

The black sweatpants she had chosen to wear seemed coordinated with the black shirt and black cardigan she added to it. The breakfast she had missed, she had walked downstairs to find the cold breakfast along with a note from Ctrl, who was locked in the basement and attached to the computers he was using to go through the security details, architecture, resident list, and everything regarding the building they found woobin's car parked in last night. The team meeting scheduled for tomorrow, he had a report to put together for Bom before the meeting. Choosing not to disturb him, she turned the stove on to warm the soup. The breakfast he makes her when she is out on a mission, she usually starts with the soup he makes specially for her.

After finishing the soup, she changed her focus to the bread and eggs. As she took a bite of the slice of bread and placed it in her mouth, she started going through the text she got from the doctor. Everything else wasn't paid as much attention as his last text about the girl being okay. The usual protocol they had agreed to follow, she knew not to worry about the doctor who would keep her updated on the girl they were praying would wake up soon so they could ask if he could do more checks that require consent. Most importantly, Jandi was aware of how she needed to get as much information about the men the girl was with as possible. Lucky for Jandi the girl was still unconscious and she had enough time to prepare on how to dig for information without involving Bom or anybody else, which she knew wasn't a good idea. It wasn't a great idea and she had never kept this much information from him but it seemed necessary. She also wouldn't know how to explain what has been going on without getting in trouble with the only man she loves and respects to death. The things she had been keeping from Bom, she knew she only had a few days before he started discovering it all. It would all be worth it if she could crack their case. If she is finally able to find those men, anything she does to get there is justified.

The main task of her day on hold until the girl woke up. She had sat down excited to enjoy her warm soup, but the loud ring of the phone attached to the wall by the fridge had her attention before the first sip of her soup. Finishing the slice of bread and taking a bite of the cut apples, she picked up the phone.

" Hey Jandi"

" What?" her full mouth, she asked.

" Somebody is here to see you," the doctor whispered, sipping his coffee. The silence that followed his response, he knew she was waiting for him to explain who could be there to see her. Her mind wasn't fully awake yet and couldn't be blamed for not coming up with names.

" The pretty boy from yesterday."

" What?" was all Jandi could utter before the bread she swallowed went down the wrong path, and she started choking.

"Remember the boy you brought the girl with, the tall handsome one" the Doctor, ignoring her choking and coughing, went on.

" He came to visit the girl in the morning. He brought flowers, snacks, and food. "

Cough cough - Jandi's voice echoing through the phone wasn't even a concern for Jandi, who grabbed the water-filled glass she had pulled and drank half of it.

" You didn't say he was rich. He is RICH, rich. He brought this fancy breakfast, and I am sure she woke up when she smelled it. We finished all of it. We saved some of the snacks for you though. He brought some fruit that are

" Why is ?" Jandi's disturbed voice interrupted his long reminiscence about the breakfast he had an hour or so ago.

" Why is he there?" she coughed the full question out.

" He said he wanted to check on her, which is so kind of him. He asked if there was any payment because he wanted to cover all charges. He even recommended going to a specialized hospital and getting checked. He is such a nice guy. Where did you even find him, he says he knows you"

" Is he still there?" Ignoring his question, she asked her own as she switched all her focus to getting out of the house and getting to the clinic as soon as possible.

" That's why I called you. Yes, he's still here and talking to her. I wasn't sure but wanted to call and inform you just in case. He has been keeping her company. He helped rearrange the room so the flowers he brought could face the window. did you know the

" Keep him there" her commanding voice, Jandi was done with that conversation and had hung up but it would take the doctor a few seconds to notice she had hung up and was gone.

Her quick legs didn't take long to get her to the back door where she pushed her black fluffy socks-covered feet into her boats which she zipped up. The pants pushed into the boots, she grabbed her key and phone before banging open the back door and running out. The gushing wind waiting for her, the long cardigan she was wearing was the first receiver of the force as it started swinging left. Her untamed hair flying in the same direction was ignored similarly as she quickened her steps to the automatic gate while she was busy calculating what would be the fastest way to get to the clinic. The cold wind attacking her skin that hadn't even fully warmed up from the shower, the warmth it was asking for wasn't on the list of concerns. The problem she had ignored last night thanks to the headache it had brought her even when she thought about it had gotten worse and presented itself first thing in the morning.

The boy she had deemed too out of reach to even understand the world he lives in, has again crossed another line by coming to hers. He has driven past the river that separated the opposite parts of the city they lived in and entered the neighborhood that raised her. His world she planned to infiltrate, she had failed to realize how he had been doing the same and had just gained another point over her. Her anxiety Jihoo triggered when he came to the restaurant, this one had to just enter the neighborhood for it to be triggered. The fear that closely accompanies her anxiety, that was all the occupied her mind as she pulled over the bike of one of the boys that delivered food for Mrs. Kim.

" Can you drop me by the shoe market" was all she asked as she jumped on the back. No question asked the boy had started the bike as the wind they were driving against started moving every fabric that was covering her body. The cold-fighting of her skin was a common feeling and one she enjoyed when sitting on top of a bike. Her nails she was biting, the bike couldn't have moved any faster as it made every curve she deemed a shortcut. Lucky for her it didn't take more than 10 minutes. She didn't wait until it came to a full stop before she hopped off and directed her quick feet to the narrow pathways she had to take to get to the actual clinic.

Her hair and cardigan flying in the opposite direction, Jandi's legs were tasked with the run they were trained for as she chose every shortcut through the tiny roads. The rush of blood flowing through her veins, the cold wind she was rushing against was working to cool her anxiety that was aiding her body to increase its speed. The shadow that was dashing past them, people weren't even able to see her full face thanks to the speed at which she was rushing through turns. The neighborhood she knew like the back of her hands, it had taken her about 5 minutes as she made the last turn that gave her the view of the clinic. Her eyes looking both left and right didn't see any car parked anywhere near.

Did he leave already? She questioned as she kicked the door open and headed down the hallway that leads to the tiny rooms. Every step making her even more anxious than the one before, her eyes locked on the door of the room they placed the girl from last night. One deep breath and she used her right leg to open the door that wasn't fully closed. As trained, her hands had to stay by her side just in case. The room she walked into, the loud and flirtatious laughter echoing directed her eyes to the girl covering her mouth and giggling. With the hint of color on the girl's face, Jandi scanned to notice the girl wasn't just better but looked in an upbeat mood. Her makeup they washed away last night, Jandi wasn't curious where this girl got makeup or had the energy to put it on. She was more curious about why she would put on makeup while in a clinical bed. Not just makeup but even her hair was done nicely and she had used a very fancy-looking scarf to cover her body as she sat up against the pillow. The girl looked better than anybody would expect from the body they carried here last night.

" Hello," the girl was the first to notice Jandi standing a step away from the door that closed behind her. The lack of response, the girl didn't try again or question why. She got her answer from the look on Jandi's face and the way her eyes changed when they landed on Jun Pyo. From the girl, Jandi's eyes quickly turned to the tall legs she could see on the person sitting on the small chair facing the bed. The only clue she needed was the snow-white loafers with a super clean sole that didn't seem like they had ever touched the ground. If not for the shoes, the long legs would have been the clue or the lush hair she could see from the head resting on the chair. He really is here. Her breathing slowed to match her steps, she continued her walk to get a better view of him.

The girl sitting on the bed had stopped her smiling as she caught the exact moment Jandi's eyes got what they ran here for. The handsome face she had been staring at since he got here, the girl had assumed it had the same impact, if not more, on Jandi. Her scary focused eyes, the girl on the bed was the first to question the silent stare of Jandi, whom she had heard interesting things about. But her attention would quickly turn to the one sitting down. The way he adjusted his sitting when the door opened up, and Jandi walked in. The fact that he didn't have to look to know it was her, the girl had gotten her answer as she kept her eyes on Junpyo and how even his eyes had changed their gaze when they landed on Jandi.

" Hello," his low voice was the only thing heard before even his greeting was ignored. It hadn't even been that many hours since he last saw her, but his eyes, which were unable to sleep, couldn't hide hinting at how much they missed their muse as they took their time to scan her up and down just like she was doing. Her disheveled cardigan leaning left along with the thin t-shirt underneath. Her breathing still being regulated, her shoulder moving up and down had drawn his attention as his eyes landed on her exposed collarbone and the tempting neck of her she leaves exposed that the wind had rigorously attacked. Her unbound hair cuddled her adorably scary face; all he could think about was how much he wanted to remove his coat and cover her cold body with it. Just the thought would have been enough, but the image that popped into his head had triggered the same emotion that had been urging him to wrap his arms around her fragile-looking body he witnessed trembling last night.

The silent gaze the two were exchanging, the girl on the bed didn't need to know much to pick on the tension building in the room since their eyes met. The way he was talking about Jandi, even the smirks and smiles that escaped him when he talked about her, the girl leaned back, sitting against the pillow as she started scanning Jandi to understand why the man she had been giggling at seemed so captured by the girl that didn't even look friendly enough to say hi to. From Jandi's boots all the way to her unruly hair, the girl scanned. Her sweat pants tucked into her boots, it's oversize matching the long cardigan that was still moving while Janid stood a few steps away from the bed; there was no fashion sense or style. In fact, she looked like a mess. The tomboyish look, the way she was standing and walking, there was not much that seemed feminine. Maybe her face, but even categorizing it as such was a puzzle since it didn't even have chapstick. Her bare face was too striking to be considered beautiful, the girl focused on trying to understand what made Jandi's face so interesting to just look at. The answer was her eyes.

Her honey-brown eyes that matched not just the color but the focus of the predators that hunt during the night; there was a reason some considered her eyes even capable of changing shape whenever she was out on a mission.

" What are you doing here?" Jandi's question led the girl to change her focus to the man who had been entertaining her for the last hour. He had said they knew each other from school, but from her observation, these two didn't look like they went to the same school. They don't even look like they live in the same world. His outfit she had calculated since he sat down; the girl knew the boy dressed in fabrics that cost hundreds of thousands shouldn't have anything to do with the girl covered in thrifted fabrics.

" I wanted to check on her," his crossed arms, the girl on the bed had copied as she crossed her arms and sat back. It was fascinating just to watch the two.

" You don't even know her."

" Well, now I do."

" We are friends now," the girl, trying to see if that would get a reaction, jumped in. And she was right and had smiled at Jandi's scary eyes that had changed to her. With the small smile she was trying to hide the girl was, for a second, scared of the way Jandi was staring at her. But finding Jandi's reaction to her amusing and not willing to just back down, she decided to add more.

" He brought me all those beautiful flowers and delicious snacks. '' She pointed at the side of the room Jandi hadn't even looked at. The beautiful packaged bouquet of flowers came with boxes of snacks and fancy chocolates. All the time he had spent trying to figure out what to get, the solution had been to call his driver and ask what to get when visiting a sick person at a hospital. The first time he had ever gotten such a call event the driver was worried about who. Junpyo doesn't even get anything to visit his friends, so the driver had hoped it was his sister. That would be the only person he would care about to do something like this. The fishing question the driver asked, he didn't get any clue for who. He was left even more confused when he was asked to get everything he suggested. The driver had been the one to pick it all out and help deliver it when he dropped Junpyo off. The moment they crossed the river, he became even more curious about where they were heading. The bus stop by the school he dropped Junpyo off, he had sat there for a few minutes calling some people to make sure Junpyo would be safe on this side of town. He had left once he got a warning text from Junpyo to leave. All his questions were saved for all the maids he would eat breakfast with, who all had no answer as to what Junpyo had been up to lately.

" This is my first time getting this kind of expensive flower. You are so kind and thoughtful." Before her eyes turned to Junpyo, she noted the tiny smirk that escaped Jandi. The hatred she had for him, even Junpyo knew getting some flowers wasn't what would change her mind about him. How he came here uninvited, he knew it was a risk and something that could be added to the list of wrong things she blames him for to justify her hatred.

" and even breakfast. I don't know how I will thank you." The girl had leaned away from the bed and slowly moved her right arm to land on his right leg, which was crossed over his left. The way her palm had landed on his knees wasn't enough; she had slowly moved it up to his thigh as she gave him a smile.

" I owe him one, don't I?" her question, along with her eyes, were sent to Jandi, who needed a second before she removed her eyes from the hand that was still on his thigh. Her immediate reaction to what she was witnessing was to send her baffled eyes to Junoyo, who quickly moved his leg away. But his action wasn't paid much attention compared to the hand Jandi's eyes returned to before she moved her eyes to the girl on the bed who was waiting for her. Maybe it was being a girl that had helped the girl to decipher the look in Jandi's eyes most have a hard time reading.

" You don't owe me anything." Junpyo, adjusting his seating, was the most bothered by the touch he received. Not just bothered but startled by where it came from. But the girl knew he wasn't bothered by her touch as much as he was bothered by it happening in front of Jandi. She only had one proof of it, and it was how his startled eyes had looked at Jandi the moment he felt the hand on his knee. Jandi, on the other hand, didn't accept his reaction as being bothered. Girl's hands sliding on his body was a sight she was used to.

" Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have in front of " The girl smiling even bigger, turned all eyes to Jandi. In the silent conversation the two women were having, Junpyo got his answer to why he was touched. He smirked, knowing the girl was starting a useless game. Jandi doesn't give a damn about him having any type of reaction to him being tortured. She wasn't even phased by seeing almost naked girls crawling all over him or catching him making out with random girls. Her reaction to all has been disgust. It was all added to the list of things she hated about him. The reason why had never been clear to him, but he was given a small clue thanks to the girl on the bed who had dared to test Jandi's claim.

" He said he didn't have a girlfriend, so I didn't think you would care," the girl, still smiling at Jandi, added. Only God had silenced Junpyo from Jumping in and defending himself from any accusation that would be made against him using the sentence just said. But something had convinced him to sit back and wait silently. It was the little smirk he noticed as Jandi's eyes blinked, giving herself a second to laugh internally at what was being implied.

" I am so sorry if that was inap

" You could sleep with him on this bed for all I care" Jandi's response had evaporated all response from Junpyo as he focused on her burning eyes staring at the girl. She doesn't look as unbothered as she was claiming. That much was clear.

" Oh, please! No need to get that far. I was just asking" Her small laugh, the girl had to laugh at how defensive Jandi's answer sounded. All she could hope for was that Junpyo wouldn't be too dense to pick on the subtle things Jandi does as opposed to what comes out of her lips.

" I just want to make sure before I ask for a date." The daring girl had sat back as she crossed her arms and turned all focus to Junpyo. Jandi's eyes hadn't left her, not even for a blink; the girl watched as it slowly moved to Junpyo. The weird position she was putting him in, the girl knew exactly what she was doing as she tried not to smile at the dumbfounded look on Jun Pyo.

" You said you had no girlfriend, so?" She had even added a wink when he glanced at her before his baffled and confused-looking eyes returned to Jandi. He was adorable when he looked lost.

" So I can properly thank you for all of this."

" Don't you think he deserves it?" She directed the question to Jandi.

" You don't need to." Junpyo's baffled state didn't stop him from responding. He was quick not to give Jandi any space to respond to that question.

"I don't need to, but I want to."

"That's not necessary." The way he all of a sudden had started brushing his hair, even the girl was picking on why he seemed nervous.

" I know, I just want to."

" No, it's not that."

" Let me save you time," Jandi Jumped in.

" He only messes with models and girls in his own class. You seem like you're neither. He doesn't know how to reject you by saying you are beneath him. That is why he is saying it nicely." Jandi crossing her arms, gave the girl a small smile. Junpyo's lips that moved to say something were closed back as he sat back to process what Jandi had just said. The look on her face as she continued staring at the girl, he didn't even have a clue what is going on with her.

" I don't think that's true," the girls smiled back at Jandi.

" he seems so nice to be.

" Wait, do you really think that?" the sourness in his voice, the girl reading the clear emotions displayed on his face didn't mind being interrupted. She knew she was done with what she wanted to do. She was able to get her answer that he wasn't just fascinated by this girl as he had been claiming. Now she could just sit back and watch.

" Doesn't matter what I think. I have seen them" her dismissive tone; this was the first time the girl noticed Jandi looking away from Junpyo. Her eyes finally landing on the flowers by the window; she quickly picked up on how expensive the things he brought were. All of this for somebody he doesn't even know, he really was a womanizer. He really did have enough money to throw it around like it was nothing. This wasn't anything though. He had bought all of this for a girl he didn't even know. Came with all of this to visit an escort he didn't even know, somehow that didn't fit the narrative she had about how he didn't like her because she was an escort.

" huh," the girl sighed as she didn't know what to make of the sad look that took over his face. The way his gloomy eyes were looking at Jandi, the girl questioned if she should have tried calling his claim and only proving to herself that he cared so much about the robotic girl that had no glow, let alone emotions on her face

" Wasn't the last one a model for some lingerie brand? " Jandi's eyes returned to him ready to attack for the odd conversation she was forced to have.

" Huh" his small smile at her question, Junpyo was baffled by how she claimed she didn't care but knew so much.

" Ohhh wowww. Those girls are beyond hot. I can't compare to that." The girl trying to ease the tensions was trying to bring some humor in, but it went in the wrong direction than she had intended.

" Right," Jandi agreed.

" He parties with them, so you can imagine who he dates," Jandi added as a smile started forming on both women but for two different reasons.

" Both of us are beneath him then? "

" We are. you should save yourself trouble" Jandi's smile that got bigger would be wiped off by the question that came for her.

" Do you really think you are beneath me?" The whisper of his raspy voice had forced the smile to slowly fade from Jandi's face as her eyes were forced not only to return to him but stay on him.

One.

Two.

Three.

The girl had started counting the seconds that were passing by while they waited for Jandi to respond to his question. Her lack of response, the girl knew why once she caught the way Junpyo's eyes were looking at Jandi.

" Your last name is plastered across the city, isn't everyone beneath you?"' Her default mode, she chose to attack. Not just attack but involve other people in a question that was just about her and him.

" huh" Junpyo let out a defeated sigh as both his hands were sent to his hair.

" Isn't that why you and your friends walk around like kings? " her mumbled words were less convincing than she believed her own claim.

" I see" his despondent voice was only heard by the girl sitting on the bed. His eyes were sent to the floor, and he took the deep breath his defeated lungs were asking for.

" So you two do go to the same school" The girl was the only one that had anything to say for a few seconds before Jandi ended this conversation.

" Let's talk outside" Jandi, who had to remind herself of why she was there, found the right excuse to shut everything down and focus on why she was there.

" I will visit you later" was all she said to the girl as she headed to the door.

" Sure." The girl didn't pay that much attention to Jandi. Her eyes focused on Jun Pyo, she caught every sigh as he stood up. His hair he brushed away, she had even noticed how his eyes had stopped looking up.

" She seems scary" Moving closer to the edge of her bed and the chair Junpyo stood from, she whispered while making sure Jandi leaving the room couldn't hear her.

" She is" his small smile, the girl couldn't help but feel the need to lift his mood up.

" But I don't think she hates you as much as you say" She lowered her voice even more as she leaned back to rest against her pillow.

" She does" his right hand sent to his hair which he brushed all away exposing his gloomy face.

" She wants to kill me," his voice, how it had changed from the upbeat tone he came with to the one Jandi had changed within minutes; the girl was now beyond curious about the backstory of whatever was between these two.

" I don't think so." Her right hand had grabbed him before he moved too far away from the bed. His arm he didn't pull away; he just sent his eyes to the hand holding him.

" I don't know much about her, but she has her eyes on you"

" Even the way she was looking at you is something" she leaned even closer.

" Because she hates my guts." Not even looking up he slowly pulled his arm out of her grip. She didn't try to hold him back either. He believed what he said, and there was nothing she could do to make him see the obvious signs even she had picked on.

" Thank you for all of this" As he got to the door she gave him a small bow and a big smile.

" Maybe you should try spoiling her like this." With the smile he got from the girl, Junpyo couldn't help but turn around to confirm what she was suggesting.

" You seem rich enough to give her everything and anything she wants"

" You think she would accept anything from me"

" If that doesn't work, you could always kiss some sense into her."

"Hahaha" her laughter resulting from the reaction she got could be heard past the door and in the hallway Jandi was walking across. His eyes increased in size at what he heard; even his hand had dropped from the door he closed to make sure Jandi didn't hear what was said. It was surprising even for him. Even startled, it was cute how he couldn't hide what just the thought of what was said was doing to him. The smile he hid away and the way his eyes had turned shy.

" You're adorable"

" Bye" was all she got from him before he left the room.

The thought she had placed in his head had become all he could think about the moment it was just the two of them in the long white hallway. Jandi leading the way, he slowed his steps as he commanded his eyes to do what they enjoyed. Her hair moved this way, and that way was left so he could focus on the cardigan falling down to her knees. The thin fabric wrapping her body wasn't doing much to hide the silhouette of her body he could easily figure out. The dips and curves of her body, it was odd how it was more alluring when she was wearing what she wore when she was at home, in her most comfortable. In a space she was her most authentic self, what she wore in that space was what he found appealing. Not the fancy dress she had on, but this was more enticing for the man who had already given his subconscious permission to imagine what it would be like to trace every curve he could make out past the black fabric. What would it feel like to be that close to her, to be allowed to see her when she is in her most comfortable state? The thoughts running free were faster as they even questioned what her reaction would be to have him around in that space. The anger that always is burning in her eyes, would it change to something else if he ever was allowed to be anywhere close to that space with her.

While those questions were what filled his thoughts, his subconscious was somewhere else wondering how she would respond if he ever touched her. What if he dared to risk his life and kissed her? Before that thought was fully formed, he had to shake his head and get himself back to reality. He can't allow himself to think of that. He knew himself to know letting his thoughts imagine a world where she might allow him to kiss her, let alone kiss him back, was closer to insanity and would require a visit to his therapist. Her touch he was already starting to crave; God only knows what her kisses would do to him if her lips dared.

" Let's talk somewhere else." walking past the door, Jandi tried looking around to find his car again.

" Where is your car?" turning around she asked as he followed him, walking out the door and standing beside her.

" I was dropped off." Both his hands were sent to his overcoat's pocket, and he waited for her to come up with what she wanted to do. Another headache added to the one she already had, she glanced at her phone she pulled out. Thankfully it wasn't time for lunch, and there would be a low chance of one of Bom's boys seeing her if she walked out of there with him. She could have him call for his driver and go somewhere else to talk but being in a closed space even for a minute with him seemed unlikely. Maybe it was better to do it in her own neighborhood. The cafe a few blocks down was chosen as the right place for the conversation they needed to have. The cafe roof was the perfect place to have a private space.

" Follow me," she commanded as she took the lead. The cold had gotten worse, she finally had caught her cardigan flying as she wrapped her arms around herself. The wind had decided to be merciless, it was obvious how cold it was, turning her skin to lose its glow. His coat he wants to warp her with, every step they took was making him feel bad about not doing so. The hood of his hoodie pulled up to cover his head, he could feel the ache in the way her hair was flying, letting him know of the cold that was attacking her from head to toe. Her flimsy-looking small frame looked soft enough to be swept away by the wind he wanted to keep warm, it was finally clear to him that it wasn't even a choice he had control over about but an instinctual reaction. The same one her trembling body from last night had triggered.

" This way" Unlike him, Jandi wasn't remotely concerned about her skin turning white but the trouble she would get into if she was caught by anybody who might tell Bom who they saw her with. She needs to do something about this boy before he destroys their plan, which they might finally be able to accomplish. The startled look she noticed on the few people they walked past, she knew even the old women were able to spot how different Junpyo was from everybody else walking around. She kept ignoring all the looks until she saw the flirtatious looks he got from the two girls who walked by. Her eyes that glanced back had caught Junpyo looking at her. His hoodie he had raised fully, she wasn't sure why she was thankful, but she was for how he was a bit hidden thanks to that and his hair that was always covering the sides of his face. The look he got from the girls wasn't even registered in his mind, but how she had finally turned to look at him because of them.

" Watch out." his right hand, at a surprising speed, landed on her arm as he pulled her to step back from the cart that almost drove to her feet. In the few steps she took back to give the old lady driving the cart space, she hadn't thought about the personal space she had entered or the body she was pulled to. It didn't register even when her back landed on his chest as her attention was drawn to one of the men she saw crossing the street. His leather jacket looked familiar; the fear of him being someone who knew her was all she worried about. Unlike her, Junpyo had been the one to pull her but was still startled the moment her back landed against him.

" Sorry," her eyes zoomed in on the man she apologized to.

" Here" While she continued to apologize and help the lady move, Junpyo was left to ponder on why she wasn't reacting to his touch as she used to. His thought would disappear as quickly as it formed. All thanks to the citrus smell of the shampoo and conditioner she had used. Her flying hair came to his side, this might be the first time he had ever found a smell so intriguing. Her flying hair almost brushed against his chin when she moved her head even closer, it was so cute how her head barely passed his shoulders. The scene that would become his weakness, this was the first time he registered it in the vault he was building that contained all the things she could easily use to have him on his knees.

The apology she extended to the lady wasn't given to him even after she realized how she was the one in his space. He was only given a look before she took a step away. Her arm pulled away from his grip, she took several steps away as she continued her walk as though nothing happened. The two steps he left between them, his eyes followed her right hand that touched her left arm, exactly where he had grabbed her. The way she was caressing her arm, he questioned if he was rough. Lucky for him, he didn't have much time to feel bad about using too much force as they took a turn and came into the small cafe at the corner.

" Hey," the waiter heading back in after serving the couple sitting outside gave Jandi a nod before his questioning eyes came for the man behind her.

" hey. Anybody Upstairs?" Jandi asked, catching the menacing way the boy was scanning Junpyo up and down. His curiosity about who she was and the life she lived away from school, Junpyo was excited even to receive such scary looks from people who knew her outside of school. The number of men who were in protective mode whenever they saw a guy next to her included the ones even younger than her, and he saw it as cute for now.

" No" the boy moving her way responded.

" Who is he?" he asked, giving Junpyo another intimidating scan.

" Don't worry about him," the small smile she gave the boy; Junpyo ignored that to focus on her right hand that was sent to the boy to give him a pat. So she doesn't have a problem touching men. Jihoo and now this boy.

" It's a job." She gave the boy another smile before leading the way past him and heading to the stairs.

" I'll bring tea. '' The boy's smile was wiped away the moment his eyes switched from Jandi and Junpyo.

" Hi," trying to cut the weirdness, Junpyo greeted but got no response. All he was met with was the angry eyes warning him. How the men around her act around her or about her, Junpyo couldn't help but question if this boy was also part of the gang she claims to be part of. A question he didn't have an answer for even minutes later when the boy brought the two cups of tea to the rooftop sitting area they were in. The tea was placed by each side of the table, he had left the two people after placing the closed sign on the roof entrance of the cafe.

" Why are you here?" Jandi was the first to ask. She had given him enough time to be amazed by the interesting view from the roof that overlooks the east side of her town.

" I wanted to check on her. '' The view of the tightly packed old buildings and roofs was the perfect background for her emotionless face he didn't want to stare at for too long but had no option. Somehow the old and rusting rooftops of the old buildings looked so cool with the dark clouds about, and both matched the dark energy she was exuding as she sat there staring him down. How long it has taken just to be able to get her to sit with him. To sit and have a chat with him somewhere cute, he can't help but think about what it has taken. It was better to think about that than how she looked with her hair flying to a rhythm that made her even more captivating to his eyes that were getting addicted to this sight. Not even a day had passed since her black lined eyes had given him a mini heart attack when she came down those stairs covered in that dress. And now here she was , healing him from that attack by letting him examine every corner of her bare face and what she looked like when she was in her neighborhood.

" You don't even know her"

" I don't need to" his hair he brushed to rest behind his right ear, he sent his hands to his hoodie pocket as he sat comfortably. He might not be that great at it yet, but from her body language he could sense this was going to be an interesting chat. Her arms crossed to both hold the cardigan from moving and for giving her hands something to do, she was seated with her back against the chair. She didn't seem in a rush. She was focused as though she had a line of things she wanted to say.

" I know you didn't come to see her so just say it"

" What else would I be here for" his eyes he was forcing not to go below her chin had won over him as they traced down her neck. He was trying hard not to be caught but her observant eyes were beyond quick. There was no way she wouldn't have noticed the way his eyes had changed their gaze the second they landed on the small gap her tshirt had left exposing her collarbone. It had only taken a second long glance at her fragile looking bones before his eyes were brought back to her eyes that weren't prepared and didn't know what to make of what she just caught. This was new and unsure of what to do she had just stared back at his eyes that were whispering his unfiltered thoughts to her. Startled, her right hand started aggressively pulling her tshirt up. Her fingers twitching as the anxiety gives warning, she needed more than a second to reorganize her thoughts he disturbed with just a look. She tried to mask whatever his eyes had brought by shoving her shirt left and right to adjust and make sure every inch of her skin he was warming with just a glance was covered. Her startled but still angry eyes gave him a warning look as he directed his eyes to the view behind her. His right hand sent to his hair, he took a deep breath to hide the tiny bit of embarrassment he felt to have been caught. But what was more alarming was how such a trivial thing was instigating so much in him. Since when does the mere sight of skin and a frail-looking collarbone entice him this much?

" Do you think I am here for you?" he asked, hiding his smirk by looking down at the tea at the corner of the table.

" Didn't you say you were beneath me" the smirk that changed to a tiny laugh, he waited until it faded away before he brought his eyes back to her.

" I know you didn't come all the way to this side of town to see her and bring her all that" The hint of anger he could sense in her voice, his crazy mind was reminded of the comment the girl in the clinic had made about Jandi not being fond of him bringing all of those gifts for another girl. Which sounded ridiculous when the girl said it and even more ridiculous now. In his mind, there is no universe in which Jandi would ever be jealous of another girl when it came to him. Not only because she hated him but because none of them could come close to how much of his attention and interest she had. Which has been one of the main reasons he wasn't even bothering to get her to be on his side with anything money could buy. He also knew she wouldn't be bought or charmed by anything.

" You seem to know me well so why don't you tell me why am here then?" her eyes staring at him didn't lose their focus until she saw his lower lip being pulled in. Her thoughts she lost control for the second time since they sat down, it was all thanks to his lips. The way he always bites his lower lip, she had to force herself to ignore how it had grabbed all her attention. Her eyes quickly went back to his eyes, she gave herself a second to choose where she wanted to take this conversation. She just needs to get to the bottom of the mess she had created.

" What do you want?"

" You keep asking me as though you don't know" The smile that came with his eyes had hit the same spot the lip-biting, had pressed. The dimples that appeared on both sides of his symmetric face, it was odd looking at him when he wasn't even trying to hide how he was enamored by her. The conversation she was supposed to be in control of, she wasn't even sure of the assessment she was making of his body language that was suggesting something she wouldn't dare accept. It was even easier to accept how he kind of looked soft when he smiled. It was thanks to his dimples that automatically turned him adorable. It was easier to do that than accept that his eyes weren't hiding from her.

" Just because you are bored to death of your life and don't have things to do doesn't mean I have to entertain this crazy idea you have about me. I don't have time to play your games. " Her first arrow was light as she went on the offense. That was always the best strategy that worked for her when she was in unfamiliar territory.

" But you have time for Jihoo?" he gave her another smile. His dimples weren't her focus this time but his eyes.

" Why do you keep bringing him up?"

" Makes you sound jealous," she whispered to herself.

" What would I be jealous of?" she was startled by how he heard what she said.

" Does he even know you?"

" Why do you care?" Her questioning eyes trying to attack deeper, she should have received her first red flag when she was allowed to attack as he was even leaving his guards down so she could aim for where it hurts. At least that way he can get her to come close into his lonely world. All the shine and glitter hasn't been able to distract him.

" If you don't want him with a nobody like me, Just say it"

" A nobody like you?" her sense of self he couldn't seem to understand he was sure it was deeper than just words. The words she uses to describe herself, he could easily dismiss them as her attempt to get him away but somehow he knew she truly believed what she said.

" What do you want from me?" she asked, crossing her arms. The longer his eyes stayed on her, the more the nerves beneath her skin were starting to itch. It was as though he knew that as he continued just staring back at her.

" Just say it," she asked as she put her fingers into a fist. If she could, she would have loved to fight him and get this over with. That was how she had learned how to deal with uncomfortable emotions she didn't understand. Fight them. Fight them to death.

" Your fingerprints were all over my steering wheel." trying to hide away from the clear question she has been asking him, he changed the topic to what gave her anxiety the first trigger.

" I wonder if the reports from that would match your school reports," the change on her face, he wasn't quick enough to recognize it.

" Maybe that might explain what happened last night" he added as she uncrossed her hands and the right one was sent to grab the tea and bring it up to her lips. The hot tea, she took a sip while her eyes were kept on. JunPyo was doing everything it could to help with self-regulation. She was ordered to stay calm and shut all her reactions down to a blank face. She knew it. She knew she couldn't easily escape his questions after last night. But even then she wasn't prepared for him to come this far. Using her fingerprints was way past the line she had assumed he would come to. Her identity a top priority, she knew she had everything to lose if this jerk found anything. This was beyond dangerous. Now the question was how much she had to give him to get him to stop digging deeper. If she was smarter she would have realized the answer was nothing. There was nothing she could give him or nothing she could do to get him to back away. That line was crossed weeks ago when she became what he thinks about even when lying down next to another woman. There was no getting him out of the mess she had pulled him to that would ruin his life.

" I work as an escort. I know how to handle drugged-out clients from work experience. We're in the same field so it makes sense why I would feel the need to help her." she gave the first excuse she had prepared. Another sip of the tea and her eyes did a quick scan to conclude there was no way he believed what she said. He was too smart and she knew that. He had also caught her in so many sketchy situations to believe any of this.

" and the clinic?"

" It comes with the Job. You have to know safe places for these kinds of things so nobody gets arrested" she took another sip. She needs another plan.

" Anything else?" The mint leaves she always loved were doing their job of calming her anxiety while the hot tea was warming her cold body from the inside out.

" So you want me to believe you are just a mere 19-year-old orphan working as an escort and just joined a gang for protection? Who also just happened to know how to handle drug overdose, how to drive, and how to fight. And how to use a knife. Scored almost perfect to get into our school but is not even going to college"

" Yes'' her response was short. She had gone over this and everything he listed had a perfect excuse if he asked. Which she had prepared but from the looks in his eyes, he didn't seem like he was curious about any of the things she listed.

" Do I seem that gullible?'' His smile accompanied the question; she took bigger sips as she needed them to manage her nerves that were starting to warn her about preparing an exit strategy.

" Okay then, let's play this game of yours" his right from his hoodie pocket was sent to his hair he brushed back behind his hair.

" Why are you following Woobin's brother?" the way her hand paused the teacup it was bringing to her lips, she knew he had caught her reaction to his question. There weren't that many things that got an immediate reaction from her as much as the man he mentioned.

" I saw you following him 3 times but you claim you don't know him" How much more observant he was than she had thought she was getting proof as she placed the cup down.

" You work as an escort, but there seems to be no records of you with all the ones that provide service to the VIP places I always catch you in"

" More interestingly they don't even seem to recognize your face" With that the second trigger of her anxiety, the first pinch at her heart happened. Just the mere thought of her face traveling and being asked about was a major red flag for the invisible state she was supposed to be in. While she was focusing on everything else, this boy had become her deadliest enemy who could make her dream, which was close to reality, fade away into oblivion. The fear that took over her as she did the long calculation of how her photo in the right hand could lead to everything and everyone she cares about being destroyed. This wasn't a game anymore, and all her attention was now on Jun Pyo, who didn't want it this way but had to use whatever to get her undivided attention. This wasn't a game anymore. She can't be playing fake scenarios with someone who has her fingerprints and was going around asking about her. He has to be dealt with and with that, even her voice has changed.

" There are a lot of things that happen under the shiny world you live in. Do you think the people I work for will tell you they hired an underage girl to entertain 50-year-old politicians'' she was quick with her rebutle. Her brain was working with unmatched speed as it needed to come up with three or more ways to deal with this man before he ruined her life.

" Did you think you could just show them my photo and they would tell you they have been paying me for years" She used her smirk to hide the nervousness at knowing he wasn't buying what she was saying. She wasn't even sure if she could trust his eyes which never seemed to lie.

" and am sure you were just following Woo Bin's brother because you want him to be your client since he pays a lot of money" he joined her smiling.

" Yes, my job is to make as much money by amusing spoiled rich jerks" she took a chance to distract him.

" he has so much money to waste and apparently loves young girls" she added knowing she got his attention with this one. The flutter of his eyes, she wasn't sure why he seemed angry about what she had just said. Whatever worked, she was willing to use it.

" It's all about money. I could care less about who he is"

" I see," he sighed. Her observant eyes quickly noticed his right hand move to his pants pocket and pull out something. The black card he threw on the table, she took a second to be amazed at the first platinum card that was individually made she had ever seen. The limitless black card thrown on the table, she had to stop her mind from even questioning how much money it held. Even if she knew, she wouldn't be able to understand what it's like to have such a card and easily throw it at people like this. Another reason that made it easy to separate herself from the world he lived in. Her eyes slowly moved back to him and waited for him to say what he was suggesting by throwing his card on the table.

"It's all about money. Isn't it?". His right hand returning to his hoodie pocket, he gave her as much time as she needed to calculate her next move. Even though deep down he was sure there was no way this girl would do anything for money he couldn't hide what just the thought was doing to him. The thought of her doing anything for money raised a new type of rage through his entire body, he sat trying to process the image she had painted for him of an underage her entertaining 50-year-old. A new type of emotion added to the list she had been making him go through since he saw her for the first time, he had to send his right hand to his hair to let it release some of the energy it wanted to smash against the so-called old men she had to entertain.

" You have supermodels begging for your attention. They would die to entertain you for free, so why pay somebody who despises you?"

" Why can't you just tell me what you want from me?" a genuine emotion for once, she asked knowing she might be starting a fight she can't win if she continued bickering with him. He has so much over her, that she can't risk making him angry and do something reckless.

" They are not you" The third trigger of her anxiety came with the look in his eyes as he delivered those four words. Her fidgeting fingers now scratching her skin, she knew she was being cornered with nowhere to go from either choosing what he was offering or telling him about her identity before he continued digging deeper. But that wasn't what she was worried about as she sat there speechless at how the four words he whispered seemed to be about something else.

" What is your deal with me?" she had asked out of frustration but was left even more baffled by the reaction she got from Junpyo whose right hand was sent to his hair he started brushing forward, to hide the smile that escaped him.

" Is it because I slapped you?"

" Did I hurt your ego because I cursed at you?"

" Haven't you done enough to deserve it all?"

" I deserve worse for what happened" his confession left her even more confused, she couldn't even remember the sentence she was going to say as she sat staring at his face. How fast his smile disappeared, it was odd how she could easily read all the emotion all over his face. He wasn't even trying to hide any of it.

" if I could go back" his right hand pushed his hair aside, and she caught his eyes the instant they looked up from the table they were on.

" I deserve worse"

" So if you ever want to beat me up, I am here" Moving back, he sat with his back resting on the chair.

" Why don't you just leave me alone and we call it even"

" I would rather you beat me up"

"And if that is not enough?" the number of times his hand was going to his hair, how his eyes were avoiding even glancing at her direction, she started using the obvious clues to realize she had the upper hand now. How she could see how much guilt he was sitting with, there was no empathy but an attack strategy being created. So guilty that he couldn't even look at her whenever the topic of what she survived in that school came up; the weight of his guilt was deemed useless as she chose to focus on just using it against him.

" What would be enough?"

" Just leave me alone"

"And if I can't do that"

" Why can't you do that?" she asked a question he didn't have an answer for. Even if he did, it was an answer she wasn't remotely ready for.

" Why don't We just become friends instead" The cut that went down his heart was a result of his own words. The one thing he doesn't wants to do, he knew he had no other choice than to be the friend of the first girl he couldn't even seem to go days without seeing.

" Why would I be friends with you?" she asked a question she knew the answer to. She was in no way able to say no to anything he asked.

" Being friends with the F4 gets you to a lot of places and around a lot of people"

" and If I say no?"

" I would prefer if you don't"

" So you are threatening me and you wonder why I don't like you?" her crossed arms, the first emotion to be fully visible on her was anger.

" I" His left hand left the pocket for the first time since they sat down, and both his hands were sent to his hair which he brushed all the way back. His hands used to cover his face he took a deep breath. His face he covered, and she waited in silence until his eyes were uncovered and returned to their focus on her.

" Aren't you curious about what happened ten years ago? '' he offered his trauma as bait. He knew it wasn't something she would refuse. Her attention and time he wants beyond anything else, it was alarming how far he was willing to go to get it. The most painful memories he was willing to unlock, it was so obvious how much it was hurting him to even have to do this just to get her to not force him to stay away from her. Pathetic. That is what he had turned to. The color that left his face, even his eyes seemed broken as they waited for her response.

The response she didn't have to give verbally, Jandi wasn't even sure if she had fully accepted the offer even as she sat in the back of the car that picked them up from where it had dropped Junpyo two hours ago.

The two people sitting at each side of the back seats, the driver didn't even ask a single question about what was going on. The moment he saw another person standing next to Junpyo, he had decided to save all his questions for later. His burning curiosity, one thing was sure, he was happy to see this girl again. His questions about who she was, he didn't get much info as he didn't even spend much time glancing at Jandi compared to Junpyo. The boy he had driven since he was four was more interesting. The hoodie fully covered his face, the driver was the only one who could decode what every bit of Junpyo's body language was telling him about the girl sitting on the other side. This being the third time he had seen her, the driver had given her a smile every time she caught him looking at her. The way she was sitting with her crossed arms and legs, the driver was happy to see the first girl to be brought to the house to be the first girl in his car who wasn't drunk and making out with Junpyo. Those were the only types of girls he had picked up and almost all were driven to his condo and not where this one was being taken to. Was she the sick one Junpyo bought all that for? The driver questioned as he accessed her, she didn't look sick.

The quiet ride, he had hoped he would hear at least a word but it had stayed silent as he entered the richest side of the city. His eyes glancing back at Jandi, he was happy to assume she was responsible for the odd behaviors of their young master they have been puzzled by lately. The girl was covered in what looked like house cloth, her scary eyes looking at the road they were driving on, the driver was more than happy to assume and hope this girl would shape the boy he helped raise into shape. Even though he deemed it impossible, he couldn't help but hope this girl would do it. He had seen enough of the girls his young master dealt with to wish the only one who doesn't seem interested in all he has to be the one to get his heart he keeps caged. But even that wish would be dismissed as she didn't seem capable of being affectionate which the driver knew his young master deserved. He needs somebody beyond caring and tender. The type of unselfish and devoted love he deserves, the driver glanced at the angry-looking girl to assume she might not be the one.

The cafe he was asked to drop them off by, and his eyes were on Jandi as they got off. The way Junpyo glanced her way to make sure she was okay, the driver couldn't help but smile at how adorable this boy was when he was like this. Her cardigan wrapped around her cold body, the driver took all the time he needed to scan her whole outfit before he started driving off. How their young master got entangled with such a person was too amusing for the driver not to smile about Junpyo's mother seeing him even walking next to such a girl. That thought had given him one more reason to like Jandi. And just for that, he prayed she would be the one.

" This way" Junpyo, directing them to the road they will take to walk to his penthouse, started leading the way. The place even his driver wasn't allowed to be aware of, Jandi wasn't yet aware of what it meant for her to be welcomed to it. She had been allowed since they first met. Not only allowed but given the password to his safest place where he hides himself from the world. Not just her, even Junpyo hadn't thought much about how it didn't feel odd at all to have her in the penthouse only Jihoo was aware of.

Fully unaware of where he was taking her, Jandi didn't ask any questions and just followed. The neighborhood didn't look new but she couldn't quite place it. Were they going to one of these cafes? She questioned as he followed behind. Her eyes on the empty path they were on, she had caught how he had slowed his steps to walk beside her. His long coat swinging left and right, she wondered how on earth did she get this far. How on earth was she walking side by side with the leader of the F4? What really was going on? What has become of her goal? Was all this really just to get to the people she needs? The line of questions she was going through would be paused as she noticed him slowly walk around her and be on the outside of the road.

She had to glance his way to make sure he really had moved just to be on the outside. The thoughts that crossed her mind, she shook offf Bom's voice that repeated in her head as she was reminded of how he always pushes her to the inside of the road.

" If anything attacks, I need to be outside. Protecting you is always my main job." Bom had explained years ago, and now had been the first time she noticed somebody who wasn't him doing it. The warm feelings she always gets when Bom moves her inside, she is left unsure of what she is supposed to feel about Junpyo becoming the other man to do it. The small similarities between the two she was forced to recognize; she was happy she didn't get the same feelings as when Bom did. She shouldn't have been that happy about Junpyo not causing the same emotions as Bom, as the ones he was poking at were something she couldn't deal with.

" huh" she took a deep breath as she glanced to the right and up at the man walking next to her. The hoodie covering his face, she was happy he couldn't see her as her eyes stayed on him longer than they should. Did he really just do that? Why would he do that knowing she could protect herself? Why does he even care? All her questions would finally lead to how this friendship with this man could be a great deal for her. If she could get as much information out of him about Woobin's brother and what happened, this would be the best risk she took. If she could find just one reason to connect Woobin to the day that changed her life, anything she did to get that kind of information was justified. Pretending to be friends with Junpyo was a small price since she would have done and would do worse to get even one clue to justify what she plans on doing to the man who has become the whole team's target. Whatever Junoyo asks she might give him if it leads her to find the only thing she lives for. A risky gamble she was getting into, she was betting on having control over something neither had the authority to decide which way it went.

" Please don't stare at me," his meek voice woke her up from her imagination and back to the man she was staring at.

" I can feel it" his response made her even more confused about how he knew what she was curious about; her eyes stayed right on him as he turned her way.

" I don't like people staring at me like that"

"Like what?"

" Like that"

" Anything else you don't like" The hint of sassy attitude he could sense in her voice, he smiled inwards as he pressed on the crossing to get to the other side of the road.

" I don't like it when you don't say what you want." His eyes she was waiting for; it was interesting what she felt when they finally came to her.

" I thought you weren't scared of me." The smile he gave her was doing something to the girl who hadn't created an armor against his adorable dimples yet.

" You are very scary" Her eyes were quickly turned away from him and onto the traffic they were getting ready to cross.

" How am I scary?"

Beep Beep Beep - the cross sign started alarming that it was time for them to cross the road.

" Don't say Shinwa '' he warned right when her eyes turned to him. She didn't have to say it, the universe was on her side as a big truck carrying delivery for the Shinwa supermarkets came to a full stop at the light they were getting ready to cross. Her eyes directed him to the truck; she couldn't hide her smile at the look on his face when he saw the logo on the truck they were walking past. His last name, this wasn't the first time he was angry just looking at it.

" You can't escape it" the hint of glee in her voice.

" Why not?" his honest question; he was observant enough to pick on how strong the wind had gotten. Even she couldn't hide how almost all of the clothing she had on was flying to the harsh wind. The few steps he took ahead, he tried using his body to shield her from the cold wind that was coming from his side.

" I am sure a gang member and an escort is not all you want to be seen as" he gave her something to forget the cold wind about.

" That's not how I see you." Everything that was coming out of his lips leaving her more confused than the one before, she even forgot what she wanted to ask and switched to a question she needed a clear answer for.

" What do you see me as?" The honest answer she demanded, she had even slowed her step as she waited for an answer. The only thing she got was his dark eyes slowly removing everything else out of her view. The traffic they were in the middle of forgotten about for a second, she got the first red flag as what his eyes were telling her were blocked from reaching her.

" You don't want to know." The disappointment she felt at not getting a clear answer was compensated by how he slowly moved around to again be on the outside of the road they started walking on once they finished crossing. The way his eyes were avoiding her, she took a second to dismiss her own thoughts of what they could be hiding. Why is he doing this? She was now more confused as she couldn't help but notice how he had made sure to be on the outside of the road with every turn they made. The last turn was when she finally recognized where they were as she noticed the tall building she had been to multiple times. This would mark the first time she would walk through the front door with Junpyo. Not just her but even the security guards were shocked to see her walking in with the boy; they all stood and bowed. She had been the only one to give them a small bow, getting a smile back. His hoodie still covering his face, he had walked straight to the elevator that welcomed them. How he doesn't even glance at the people bowing for him. This wasn't the first time she saw it, but this was the first time she couldn't just let it go.

The elevator button pressed to the penthouse along with its password; Junpyo took the left corner of the glass elevator while she took a right.

" Why don't you greet them?"

" Is it hard to say hi, or are they not important enough for it? " she added, crossing her arms. She knew he had no answer for her even though she had waited for one.

" Huh," he just had to smirk off the obvious way she would mistake his behavior.

" or I don't like being bowed to," his small voice; he took off his hoodie as he brought his face from where it was hiding.

" I want people to look at me and not. " he didn't need to finish his sentence as he dismissed it as irrelevant. There was no way she would understand when she was hellbent on misunderstanding everything about him.

" If you treat them as people, maybe they just might" Her words he always takes to heart, this one was underlined when he noticed how it was a sincere suggestion. How could he still be lying to himself about what he felt for this girl when a simple sentence from her, accompanied by her bewitching brown eyes, was melting his heart just like this?

" They probably would like you to see them eye to eye and treat them like humans too," she added, turning her eyes away from him and onto the glass by her side. The way he was looking at her was too much not to turn away from. Even when she wasn't aware of much, she knew looking into those dark eyes of his when he looked at her like that was dangerous. The whole left side of the elevator he was in, she had turned away from.

" Okay" he whispered, hoping she would return her eyes to him and she had. Not sure what to make of how easily he gives in to whatever she asks him to do, Jandi didn't respond fast enough to the red flag being waved for her. Her crossed arms, her hands she squeezed into fists were the ones to react to what those gloomy eyes were doing in silence. Somehow, her fidgety fingers seemed more nervous than even when he had notified her of the fingerprints he had. His simple okay has done more to freeze her mind; unable to understand what is happening to her thoughts which he can't seem to keep organized.

Click- the elevator door had opened at the perfect time, giving both a distraction from the tension that had taken over the small space they were imprisoned in. It took Jandi seconds to realize he was letting her get off first. She walked into the hallway of his penthouse, where she even knew where to put her shoes. She let him lead the way into the house she was starting to get very familiar with. The wall-to-wall glass window of the living room, her eyes were sent to it as she followed him to the couch set. His coat thrown on the couch, Junpyo turned left. Leaving her behind, he continued his walk. Her eyes from the window turned to Junpyo leaving the room.

" Oh, I need to grab something," he turned around right before she asked.

"Make yourself at home," his right hand brushing his hair; he gave her a small smile before he walked into the corner and disappeared.

What does make yourself mean? She was left standing in the living room. The warmth of the house, letting her arms let go of the cardigan she was holding for dear life. She slowly started walking to the window in front and the grand view of the city. Her body slowly warming up as the minutes went on, Jandi was lost in the view of the city getting ready to be cleansed by the rain from the dark clouds hanging above. A view she would get addicted to; she wasn't aware of how she was giving him another thing to obsess over, too. This wasn't the first time he had caught her standing there, looking out into the city but this was the first time she hadn't noticed he was back. There was something about seeing her in his space, calmly standing there and looking out.

" There is a better view above," his voice startled her; she turned around to find Junpyo standing on the other side and looking at her. The water bottle in his hand was brought to his lips, and he took a small sip as he started leading the way. Crossing her arms, she started following behind. Past the hallway dividing the living room and kitchen, he turned them right, bringing them to the stairs up. Her amazement she was trying to keep to a minimum. She had lost it the moment they got halfway down the stairs, and she noticed the wall-to-wall bookshelf they were walking up to. Even Junoyo had glanced back to see her reaction to the amazing book collection he had inherited. Her emotions she was always in control of, her eyes were trying their hardest as they couldn't look away from the bookshelf covering the whole wall of the floor they walked into.

" Do you want to borrow any? '' Taking another sip, he asked Jandi, who couldn't even walk one more step and had just to stand and look at the shocking shelf of books.

" Books" the water bottle placed down on the table, he took note of what seemed to leave her speechless. Getting to the couch by the window he spent most of his time by, he kept his eyes on the frozen girl. The blanket on the floor that usually covers his sleeping body that lays on the soft carpet, Junpyo hadn't thought about how easy it felt to bring her to spaces not even Jihoo was allowed in. Not only did it feel easy, but somehow, it felt right for her to be here. His right hand pressed the buttons to open the window; he waited until her eyes turned to the view. Her honest reaction he wants to take a mental picture of; he waited as the window curtains started parting left and right.

The unbelievable view, she had to turn her eyes his way to make sure this was real. So this is why he keeps himself locked in this house. This is what an unmeasurable amount of wealth can get you.

" You can come here when you want to hide from everyone." his offer was presented nonchalantly. The book spread across the floor he was collecting; he had only glanced up to see the startled look all over her.

" Since we're friends now," he tried saving it with an excuse even he didn't buy. What did he just offer her? even he was confused by how casually it had escaped his lips.

" And when I want to hide from you?"

" Aren't you always hiding away from me?" The books he collected were placed on the couch, and he raised his eyes to the girl staring at him from the other side of the room.

" You're scary, that's why."

" So are you?" his hand busy adjusting the mess he had left around the blanket he slept on; Junpyo was finding it odd how it had become this easy to talk to her.

" You are terrifying when you silently look at me like that."

" Still scared I will attack you."

" No" he placed the other handful of books he picked on the couch; he sent his hands to his pockets and stood upright.

"Am scared you might never forgive me or let me prove that am not that bad"