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.

46. Chapter 46

Hello beautiful readers, I hope you are having a great week. I have created a forum for this story. I just want to remind everybody to be respectful of theirs perspectives, this is just something we all do for fun. I cant wait to read your discussions. If it doesn't spoil the story, I will make sure to answer your questions as well. I have started one topic but feel free to start your own and discus what ever topic you want. I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always I can't wait to read your comments and feedback.

P.S- to find the forum you have to go to forums. Then select Tv shows and then Boys Before Flowers/꽃보다 남자. You will find it there. It won't let me post the link here.

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Her skipping legs had a different rhythm as she exited the train and headed to the bus station. The sun hidden above the clouds; it felt like only she could feel the warm rays that had made the cold wind attacking her powerless. What cold? A broad smile on her face; the breeze that brushed against her was welcomed with open arms as she continued walking to the new rhythm of her heartbeat. The strangers she rarely paid attention to, she has given the old man walking past her a smile that would brighten his day.

The spring in her steps, she started running when she saw the bus across the light. Her cardigan flying to the wind; she was rotating in her orbit as she continued her jog to the bus station. The back seat she often takes today was the same, as she took the seat in the empty back row and opened the window slightly. In the gloomy city crowded with people covered in gray and black, she would spend the 25-minute ride noticing only the few that had dared to wear the bright colors. The smooth bus ride added to the wonderful indoor picnic she had; even what her eyes were looking at had changed to brighter things and thinking about the best three hours of her life. It was her first date, and she had nothing else to compare it to, but still, it had received the number one spot that nobody could top. Nobody else could have her joyfully mesmerized by the raindrops taping at the bus window like this. Whether this was real or not, she had chosen not to worry about it and just enjoy it for now. All the doubts would be saved for later; once she was around her advisor on the topic, Eun. She was the only one who knew about what had been brewing between the two. And just like Jihoo, Eun was the only one who saw her as a normal girl.

The bus ride to this part of town was short. The smile on her face still present as she walked up the building she recalled the boy and his mom living in. The second floor she walked up to, even her knock on apartment 12 had a rhythm. The door she kept knocking, her smile lowered when there was no response. Getting ready to leave, she had glanced back when she heard the door open from the apartment next door.

" Are you looking for them?" the old lady asked, pointing at the door Jandi was knocking with her cane.

" Yes"

"They don't live here anymore. They moved somewhere else." The old lady gave Jandi a scan. She doesn't understand how these young people dress.

'` Do you know them?' she asked, and the old lady asked examining Janid's face.

" Yes. I go to school with him," Jandi responded, trying to be respectful by taking her hands out of her pockets. She gave the old lady a bow and watched as she walked back into her house. Ignoring the odd interaction, she headed down the stairs while looking for the boy's number on her phone. If she recalled correctly, she had saved his number. And she was right; she had his number. The sight of the numbers had brought up what happened the last time she talked to him. He was in the hospital with some suited men talking to him.

" Oh God," she sighed, shocked when she remembered her assumption that Junpyo was suing them. What if he had, and they were kicked out of their house? How could she have forgotten about them? What has been taking so much of her focus to forget about them? The list of things that go wrong in her day, it made sense why her brain would not prioritize this compared to all she had to deal with.

" Hey," Lucky for her, the call was picked up on the first ring.

" Hello," her eyes on the stairs; she was happy he had an upbeat tone.

" Haven't heard from you in a while."

" I know. I came to your house, but there was nobody there. Your neighbor said you had moved." With all her anxiety depending on his answer, she joined the small lobby.

" Yes. We moved out a couple of weeks ago."

" Why?" she asked, sending her right hand to her lips and she started biting her nails. Did he really sue them and have them kicked out? How could she have forgotten about them considering it was her fault the mom did what she did to Junpyo? Would he really do it? A few weeks ago she would bet all she has that he would do it but now. Now she wasn't sure. A lot has happened for her not to be sure that he might be that cruel. He was in a run down clinic, visiting a stranger he helped her save not even 48 hours ago.

" He is a very interesting person, you know.'' The boy sounding happier than usual was leaving Jandi even more confused about who he could be talking about.
" Who?"

" Junpyo, who else?" She could hear his smile, and she was even more worried now.

" He came to visit me so many times, you know.'' His words paused her steps as even her nail hitting was halted and her right hand was sent down to her side.

" He brought so much stuff every time he came. Even the nurses were waiting for the days he would come by. The whole floor would have food for days."

" What?' was all she could say as she started walking slowly.

" Even my mom was expecting him every other day."

"What?" she repeated, her mind unable to even process what she was hearing. A quick image of all the things he brought the girl in the clinic was brought to her attention. The flowers, the snacks, magazines, the fancy chocolate... She recalled everything that was in that room.

" He wanted to move me to a different hospital, but my mom said no. She didn't want him to pay for that after paying all the hospital bills. He is even paying for my physical therapy. I go to this fancy rehabilitation center twice a week. It's so fancy. They have everything in there. I am even talking sw"

" Wait," she interrupted. Unable to process all the shocking information at this speed, she needed a second.

" He paid for your hospital bills?"

" Yes and he even got my mom a new job. She gets benefits and pensions. How do you think we were able to move out? He even had her debt wiped off. That was why the suited men were here last time you called. They were lawyers and one of them was his assistant or something." The boy had gone on as Jandi raised her eyes to the street she was crossing. Her right hand raised to her head, she squeezed. This was too much information to process.

" He even got me excused for the rest of the school year. I don't have to attend class, just exams, and the teachers will help me with my studies on weekends." the boy added and quickly reminded her of who had saved Eun from losing her scholarship by having Yijeong display his art in her place.

" He is so different from how he is at school," the boy was set on adding more to her dilemma as he continued talking about all the things he was told not to tell.

"He is so easy and fun to talk to. We talked about so many things. We even talked about this computer class we took together. He didn't remember me or even take the class. But I remember him always sitting in the back. He came in late and left early to avoid all the students who gawked at him. Oh My God, the girls. They were always trying to talk to him and get him things. Have you taken a class with him?"

" No," she whispered.

"It is ridiculous. Maybe that is why four of them don't take that many general classes."

" Did he say why he did all that?"

" Oh," now was when the boy recalled that he was asked not to mention any of it to her.

" Actually, I was told not to tell you." he was making it worse.

" What?"

" Yeah, he said not to tell you anything, but I think you should know. He made me promise not to mention anything so can you not tell him that I told you"

" Why?" she asked, her walking paused again. As the seconds the boy was taking to answer her question started adding up, her right hand was sent back to her lips and she started biting her nails.

" My mom thinks he likes you."

"WHAT?" her scream had startled the couple walking beside her, who chose to swiftly move away from her..

" Sorry," she apologized as she gave them a bow and moved to walk along the building wall.

" I KNOW," he shouted back.

" I told her that's impossible."

" He was asking a lot of questions about you, so maybe that's why she guessed." He gave her the final reason to stop her walking as she stood with her back against the wall.

" She always says crazy things, don't mind her. She doesn't know who these people are and who they hang out with. He has all those beyond gorgeous and spoiled rich girls begging for his attention. Why would he?" he stopped himself. It wasn't nice to say anything negative about the girl that had saved his life.

" I am just saying." He tried to be nice.

" What questions was he asking about me?" Making him promise not to dig into who she was was one of the best decisions she made. That was where her mind chose to focus on, why he would be asking about her.

" Just regular stuff. He asked if we were friends and if we hung out." The conversation had gone on, but Jandi's mind was stuck on all the things Junpyo had done.

Even after she hung up and started walking back to the bus station, all she could think about was why he would do such a thing. While Her right thumb received all her anxious energy, she was lost in her thoughts as she sat by the bus stop. The drizzling raindrops that had hit her shoulders, now was when she felt how wet her cardigan had gotten.

"My mom thinks he likes you," the sentence was repeated as she started laughing. With her right hand covering her lips, she apologized again to the three people sitting beside her whom she had scared with an odd laugh. What a ridiculous thought; she shook her head. Her mind, challenged to find something else to focus on, had stayed on the lines of questions she had no answer for. Why Did he do that? Why would he help them that much? Was it to fix what they had done? If that was it for the boy, what about the girl in the clinic? What about Eun? Did he just feel sorry for them? Why would he feel sorry? Those questions would be forgotten as she got to the most puzzling ones. Why on earth would anybody think that he might like her? Why would anybody assume he would even tolerate being around her? Her weird laugh was silenced by her right hand covering her mouth. Her brain was having difficulty accepting even the questions as logical.

As it has been for the last few weeks, it only took the mere thought of him to trigger her memory to pick the most interesting images of his to slowly slip in. But what was even more alarming was how the slow motions of his smiling face had become what her mind goes to. He doesn't even smile that often, but his beaming face accompanied by those dimples has become her default image of him. His serious face, she was frightened by; at least he looked more welcoming when he smiled. The weird way he would always look at her, it definitely was better to imagine his adorable dimples than think about that.

Unlike the smiling face she was thinking about, Junpyo had woken up with a gloomy one. Jihoo's non-stop calls that had forced him to wake up from the cozy bed he had planned to waste the whole day in. His fatigued body that would need something to wake it up, he knew just laying there wouldn't help. The t-shirt he didn't put on, his chest was welcomed to the cool temperature of the room as he slowly sat up. The motion sensor air condition had started heating the room when he left the bed and started walking. With the dark curtains that kept all the natural light away and the night mode all the lights were set on the room was dark except the tiny lights at the foot of the wall that turned on with every step of his, leading him to the bathroom. The quick shower he was told to take and get ready, he wasn't fully awake to realize why. It is Sunday, and Sunday afternoons were always saved for the four friends to spend together. Woobin and Yijeong who were already at their spot; Jihoo had to call seven times to remind Junpyo. During their short conversation, Jihoo had offered to pick Junpyo up. The smart house, the bathroom light had turned on as he walked in. His hair that hadn't touched a comb in weeks covering his whole face; he had chosen to ignore the mirror as he started brushing his teeth. The exhausted muscles across his body, none hurt as much as his shoulders, which he sent his right hand to ease. The alcohol he didn't drink much of last night, he couldn't blame that for it. It was the lack of a consistent diet and exercise. That and lack of adequate sleep, which his doctors have been going on and on about. His therapist had even taken away a prescription for one of his medications until he fixed his diet and sleep.

The only button he had to press was done once he walked through the shower's glass doors and pressed start on the wall monitor that had all the options for the type of shower he wanted. The setting that was already adjusted for his daily showers, which he rarely changed. The perfect temperature and pressure-controlled water started slowly massaging his head, which was already hurting. Washing his hair on such a cold day wasn't a good idea but the feeling of the water hitting his skull was magical. The eucalyptus smell that would fill the shower room; both his hands were used to brush all his hair back as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The water hitting his face, he needed deep breaths as the first thought of his not even fully awake mind was the same person he couldn't escape from, even asleep.

As though her smiles weren't enough, her laughs were added to his list as he recalled every laugh of hers and the way she shyly covers her face whenever she even smiles. The twinkle in her eyes whenever she laughed, the way her voice became softer and even more appealing was all too much for the boy who didn't know what to make of what was happening to him. Her leather and stressed jeans look that had become her most fascinating outfit he would spennd weeks obsessing over. The photo he took had been saved to his computer, which he spent hours staring at after making it the background and wallpaper. Sitting on the rotating chair, nothing else but the picture he couldn't stop looking at occupying his mind was how he spent the night. He knew what direction his obsession, or whatever this was, would lead him, but even then, he couldn't even force himself to think about anything else. The friendship he had agreed to, he sighed when reminded of all the things he promised. He needs to find a way to deal with whatever she is doing to him. Whatever it was, he needed to find a way to manage or eliminate it. His sixth sense was already warning him nothing good would come out of it. Whether it was a serious thing, just a fling, or even a crush; the strange vibe around her was fascinating but also a warning. Not only does she not like him, she was Jihoo's girl. His best friend's girl, he knew the mess it would cause if he did anything. Not even Woobin would be on his side this time. And even if those things weren't true, she was a scholarship student who is a gang member. His right hand pressing on the monitor, he demanded the pressure to be higher.

After the five-minute shower that took ten minutes, he left the bathroom to head to the walk-in closet. He chose the two piece black hoodie and sweatpants. The beanie he picked up, he had finally turned to the wall-to-wall mirror to look at the comfy outfit. His hair brushed back to rest against his neck; he had adjusted the beanie to cover his head down to his eyebrows. The hoodie was placed on top of the beanie; he had even added black sunglasses. The dark bedroom he walked back into, he headed to the bed to pick up his phone and the thin wallet with only his ID and bank card. And that was all he needed as he left the house.

" Good afternoon, Sir." All three security men sitting at the desk had stood up and bowed when they saw him walk out of the elevator and down the grand lobby. They hadn't even bothered to look at his face he had covered up. None of them had kept their eye on him as they returned to the game they were watching. They were used to his habits but would be left startled when one of them noticed him walk back a minute later. The steps he was taking backward, they all had sent their confused eyes to him as all started wondering what was wrong with him.

" Hello," they heard the raspy voice. His face he didn't even turn their way; they all had to look at each other to ensure this was happening. Leaving them standing, Junpyo continued walking to the door.

" Did he just talk to us?" The one on the right, leaning to the side to keep his eyes on Jun Pyo, asked.

" I think he said Hello." The one in the middle was caught off-guard by the voice he had never heard.

" Did we do something wrong?" the always scared on the left asked.

" He said hello. Did you hear his voice?' the one in the middle was still on the voice while the one on the right left the desk to look at Jun Pyo.

" He is standing there. Maybe waiting for the driver," he started reporting what he could see.

" Maybe he is not okay."

" He never says anything,"

"maybe he is on something"

" Oh, it's not his driver; it's his friend" The one leaning forward watched as Jun pyo got into Jihoo's car parked by the driveway. His eyes had stayed on the car until it left the driveway.

" You know it's Sunday, right?" Jihoo had started driving while ignoring Junpyo, working on adjusting the seat so he could lie down. He must have had a crazy night, Jihoo assumed. The glasses, the beanie, the hoodie. Jihoo scanned his friend's face to find no clue about the party from last night he was invited to but declined. The coffee he had gotten Junpyo, Jihoo had made sure it was from Junpyo's favorite cafe around the block and double shot so it could help him wake up.

" Did you have a good time?" Jihoo asked as he made a right turn and joined the main road. When he didn't get any answer, he guessed Junpyo probably had a good time from how tired he looked and the outfit he had on. But if it was that great, he would have gone to his condo with a girl and wouldn't be in his penthouse. Jihoo glancing back at Junpyo had let a small thought question why he can't recall the last time Junpyo had done that. His friend sipping the coffee he had gotten him, Jihoo should have paid attention to the question why Junpyo doesn't do that anymore but he didn't care much about it. In fact he had felt somewhat happy that his friend wasn't sleeping around or messing with random girls anymore. Even if it was for a few weeks and he wasn't even sure about it, Jihoo was happy with his friend's new behavior.

" Did you eat something'

" I just woke up," Junpyo's hoarse voice, he responded, turning his covered eyes to Jihoo. Unlike him, Jihoo's glowing face was covered with smiles.

" What's with the glasses and Beanie?" Jihoo asked, smiling at how grim his friend looked. The comfortable clothes he tends to wear often today were even sweatpants.

" Why are you dressed like that on a Sunday?' Junpyo asked, sipping his coffee and turning his eyes to Jihoo. He had caught the smile that appeared on Jihoo's face before he responded.

" I was on a date, so I had to look my best," Jihoo answered, his smile getting even bigger and changing to ear-to-ear. His eyes on the road, he had missed Junpyo's hand that had paused from bringing the coffee to his lips. Slowly turning his eyes to the road, Junpyo needed a minute to let this be how he started his day. That was it for his Sunday. It hadn't even been an hour since he woke up, and it was already ruined. The decision he couldn't seem to make about leaving this girl alone each passing day was making it harder for him to do anything but let her go. The fact that she was his best friend's crush was a headache that would only worsen if he doesn't let go. His grip on the coffee cup that tightened, he took a sip.

" It was a simple date, so I didn't want to go all out."

" I thought something casual would be nice. Do I look odd?" Jihoo turned his questioning eyes to his friend. Junpyo, knowing he had to answer, scanned Jihoo before a string. Jihoo never cared about how girls saw him, so this was new. It wasn't like Jandi cared about what he wore. That girl doesn't care about looks. Because if she did, Yijeong would have been the one to get her attention. He was beyond attractive and Junpyo was among the many who thought Yijeong was the best-looking of the group. Her liking Yijeong was a no-no. At least Jihoo was nice and wouldn't break her heart when he was done playing with her. Jihoo was the kindest one, and even though he hated it, Junpyo knew she deserved somebody like Jihoo.

" No," his response was kept short as he adjusted his seat. The discomfort he was trying to silence wasn't a result of the seat but an internal one.

" She doesn't seem like she cares about how I dress. Actually, she does; she said I looked good in the suit on Friday." Jihoo smiling like this wasn't a common sight, and Junpyo just kept glancing at his friend to make sure this really was happening. So she does know how to compliment people; Junpyo tried to recall what Jihoo wore on Friday night. Does she like suits? Jihoo always wears suits. A quick scan at his outfit, he couldn't be further away from the serious way Jihoo dresses. His comfy style fit him perfectly, just like the suits fit Jihoo's personality.

" She was dressed in these home clothes; it was so cute. Her baggy pants looked so comfortable. She looks so different than when she wears makeup," Jihoo went on, unaware that the person he was talking to had seen her in the same clothes the day before. Junpyo, sipping his coffee, wasn't even thinking that the coffee he was drinking didn't have the sugar that was still in its packet. The coffee wasn't the only thing keeping a bitter taste in his mouth.

" She was worried about being dressed down; it was so cute," Jihoo's small laugh, remembering how she was adjusting her hair in the elevator; he was in his world to notice Junpyo's silence on the topic. The coffee he was sipping had started tasting worse with every cute Jihoo used to describe her. She was indeed cute. The cutest thing ever when dressed in her oversized home clothes, but still. Anyman describing her as such would get a reaction from him and this time it was all in how he couldn't seem to find a comfortable way to sit on the seat he kept adjusting.

" We talked about so many things. It's so interesting how easy it is to talk to her about anything. She just listens like seriously listens, you know." it was so obvious how the girl Jihoo was on a date with wasn't the same girl Junpyo interacted with the night before. With the anger and hostility she always had towards him, Junpyo was aware of how much she didn't like him, but the fact that she was this different when she was with Jihoo had stung. How nice and warm she was to Jihoo was a bit annoying.

" I don't feel anxious around her at all. You know how stressful I find it when I have talk to people about myself" Jihoo's words were going in one ear and out the other as Junpyo focused on staying calm and not giving any clue as to what he thought about the whole thing. He has to learn not to react to anything Jihoo says about her, which he thought he had control over until Jihoo mentioned the kiss.

" I was so nervous but so glad I took the chance because it was so" Jihoo didn't have the right words.

" It felt so magical to kiss her " Jihoo had to turn his smiling eyes to Junpyo to check on his friend, who almost choked on the coffee he sipped.

" This wasn't even the first time, but it felt like it. She turns so shy whenever we kiss and it's so " Ignoring his friend, Jihoo was focused on the kiss he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since it happened. The coffee placed down; Junpyo's left hand was sent to tap at his chest while the right started looking for a napkin, which he pulled from the glove compartment and used to cover his mouth as he continued coughing.

" I can't explain what it feels like. It feels so different to kiss her and you just feel it." Jihoo, smiling at the way her lips parted to let him in, was in his own world.

" It feels so otherworldly"

" and I am sure she likes me back because she kissed me back." This time, he couldn't help but turn to his friend when he noticed Junpyo's coughing stop for a second and his eyes glance at him. Thankfully, his stunned eyes were hidden behind the dark glasses.

" Are you okay?" Jihoo asked the wrong question.

" There is water over there," Jihoo pointed at the back seat. His solution to Junpyo's coughing wasn't accepted as Junpyo just pulled his hoodie to cover his whole face and forced himself to stop coughing. He needed a minute in the darkness.

" You know how you used to say I should just feel it in the moment and not overthink." Jihoo had kept glancing over at Junpyo hiding in his hoodie while he continued with the topic.

" I tried not to overthink and followed the mood, and you were right. It's best to just let the mood lead you" the weird laugh that had escaped Junpyo's lips were kept hidden behind the dark fabric he had wrapped his face with. For the next five minutes, Jihoo had gone on retelling what happened, ignoring the silence and lack of participation from the one sitting next to him. Jihoo, too happy and excited about the lively day he had, can't even for a second bothered to question why his best friend didn't seem interested in the topic or happy for him. Junpyo had been silent for about 15 minutes before asking the most important question that would crush him.

" So you two are officially dating now?" Junpyo asked, interrupting Jihoo, who had changed the topic to wanting to invite her to the cruise trip scheduled for next week.

" What does official mean?" Jihoo stopping the car at the light and turned to his friend.

" I like her, and I think she likes me back. But she hadn't said it yet." The way his smile dropped, it was clear how disappointed he was about not to get that confirmation from her.

" She likes you," Junpyo, checking his pockets, whispered. He needs a cigarette or his medication to deal with this. His pills he didn't have with him, the cigarette was almost to let the words he was saying not sting as much they were. This was not okay.

" How do you know?" Jihoo asked as he kept his eyes on the cigarette Junpyo pulled out and started lighting.

"She spends her day attached to you at school," the annoyed and bit angry tone of Junpyo's voice, Jihoo was missing all the clues Yijeong would pick on when the topic was brought back up.

" That's because she works for me"

" Have you seen how she looks at you or talks about you ?" Junpyo, placing the cigarette he lit in between his lips, turned to Jihoo, waiting for his friend to have a quick answer.

" I helped her maybe that is why

" Stop it Ji Hoo." Junpyo opened the window and raised his voice.

" She likes you" the white smoke he breathed out, he turned his eyes to Jihoo, who's whole face had the word happy stamped all over it Lucky for Jihoo the black shades were covering the true feelings of his friends.

" you said she kissed you back" the nicotine he breathed in wasn't helping fast enough.

" What more do you need?" his low whisperer was followed by his face he turned to the cold wind gushing in from the window by his side.

" You are right," Jihoo agreed. If she didn't like him, she would have pushed him away. Junpyo was right; why would she let him kiss her if she didn't like him in some way. When she would confess and tell him how much she liked him, he was so beyond happy just thinking about it. And that was what Jihoo focused on as the car turned silent. Junpyo sitting next to him, inhaling the toxins as though they were nutrients his body needed to function properly, he was clueless about what was really happening to him.

This Sunday, scheduled to be spent at the famous game floors on Woobin's family owned mall, Jihoo and Junpho had walked into the game room that was reserved only for them to be welcomed by Yijeong and Woobin playing pool. It didn't even take a few minutes of being in the room before the date was brought back up, thanks to Yijeong, who asked where Jihoo was.

" An indoor picnic date. You get an 8/10." Yijeong was also the one to congratulate Jihoo first. He had even given him a fist bump. This was a huge achievement for their friend they all had assumed wouldn't date until years later after what happened the last time he liked someone.

" What did you two do, Just talk?" Woobin asked; the pool game he was trying to win, his eyes were on that. The date getting their whole attention, neither have paid attention to Junpyo walking past the pool table.

"We hung out. What else were we supposed to do?" Jihoo, getting himself one of the lemonade drinks, asked. His friends were the more experienced ones, and he was open to listening to their ideas. This was an unofficial first date and he had guessed it would be best not to do much. Was he wrong?

" Depends on what you want from the date," Woo Bin winked, glancing at the smiling Yijeong. Jihoo, enjoying his sips, tried to ignore what they were hinting at.

" Don't listen to him," Yijeong added while his eyes followed Junpyo to the sofa set in front of the massive TV. His legs crossed and sent to rest on the table, Junpyo had laid down on the sofa. The glass he took and threw it on the sofa; Yijeong was the only one to notice how Junpyo hadn't even said hi, let alone participate in the conversation they were all excited to talk about.

" I am sure you're not really interested in her so make it fun and exciting" Woobin was the only one who enjoyed intentionally angering Jihoo.

" Might as well make your moves and see what you can get"

" What does that mean?" Jihoo, crossing his arms, asked. The way he raised his voice had gotten Yijeong's attention.

"Don't ask," Yijeong stepped in.

" You don't need to do all these fancy things if you just want to sleep with her," Woobin glanced up, eagerly waiting for Jihoo's reaction. He, along with the others, had missed the way Junpyo had looked at him from the other side.

" WHAT?" Jihoo's loud voice, he had slammed the lemonade bottle on the pool table.
" I told you not to ask" Yijeong, smiling, glanced back at Jun Pyo when he heard the Tv was turning on.

" Isn't that why you are doing all this?' Woobin asked, glancing around the room to find somebody who agreed.

" Are you really interested in her?' Woobin asked; this question, getting him supporters as Yijeong also sent his curious eyes to Jihoo.

" Why not?"

" Are you serious?' Woobin, throwing his pool stick on the table started smiling.

" You must have lost your mind,"he added as his smile turned into a burst of laughter.

" Are you really into her like that?" Yijeong, grabbing his beer, asked.

"Like what?" Jihoo, sounding angry, turned his eyes to the laughing Woobin.

" Are you seriously going to date her?"

" Yes. Why is that surprising?"

" Do you know who she is?" Woobin asked. His baffled eyes showcased the utter disbelief.

" Do you know who you are?" He added, using his pool stick to poke at Jihoo's chest as he walked past him.

" What is that supposed to mean"

" You two are very different people" Yijeong tried to explain nicely.

" Have you forgotten who your family is?" Woobin added, startling and silencing Jihoo. Not even once had it crossed his mind that seriously liking her would require more than just having feelings.

" It's fun to do whatever you want with her, but what do you think your mom is going to do if she sees her next to you?" Woobin asked as all took in the look on Jihoo's face. As always Yijeong was the empathetic one to step in.

" You don't have to worry about that now" he started waking to Jihoo.

" What you need to worry about right now is enjoying having a crush," Yijeong, putting his arms around Jihoo's shoulder, asked.

" We all agree you deserve it. You more than any of us deserve to have some fun" he involved everybody.

" But if it's going to be serious, you might need to think about this one," he advised as he patted Jihoo's head.

" That is all he is saying"

" There is a reason we don't have girlfriends' ' Woo Bin was not used to keeping things as nicely as Yijeong could but he was right. They might mess with a lot of girls but the moment it becomes serious it is the end before it even starts. The tight leash their families had on them included making sure no girl that didn't have a respected last name ever got close enough to even be considered for the position of a girlfriend.

" I am still in shock that you even like her at all; that girl is weird" Woobin was set on making things worse.

" But I will give it to you, she looks good in a dress and some makeup," he winked at Jihoo.

" So I understand why you want her," he added with another smirk and wink. Jihoo, still caught up on the questions around how much he liked her and what dating her officially would bring, had chosen to let Woobin say whatever and not make a big deal about it.

" Considering what she does, she might be fun," Woobin had whispered, knowing he could get Jihoo to react with this one.

" What did you say?" Jihoo asked. More than Jihoo, Yijeong's eyes were forced to turn back to Jun Pyo, who had turned to Woobin. The scary eyes of his, Yijeong was able to look past the white smoke Junpyo breathed out to catch the way he was looking at Woo Bin.

" He is joking." Yijeong, turning to Jihoo, tried to calm him down.

" But then again, she slapped Junpyo so that he might be right." he added, trying to pull Junpyo into the conversation. And it had worked as all eyes had turned to Junpyo. Finally all had questioned if he had even said a word since he walked in. The cigarette he was inhaling, all assumed he was still exhausted from last night. But he had left early, Yijeong tried to remember if Junpyo had stayed until 3 am like them. He had left earlier and hadn't even drank much. Maybe he was sick, they had all made excuses for his behavior.

" I think this is good for you." Yijeong returned the focus to Jihoo. The always fascinating way Woobin and Jihoo bicker and try to annoy each other, he was always the one to step in the middle and resolve it.

" You need somebody as bold as her to bring you out of this weird phase you are in"

" Have you at least kissed yet? '' Woobin , sipping his beer, asked. Rather than Jihoo's potential response Yijeong's eyes were sent to Jun Pyo again. The way he had pulled the beanie away from his head and threw it on the table, Yijeong zoomed in on Junpyo's face to note the odd look. Something is up with him.

" That is none of your business"

" That means yes; how was it?" Woobin dropping his pool stick asked. He seemed more excited about this than any part of the conversation.

" You guys have kissed?" Even Yijeong was pulled back into the conversation.

" When? He added, seriously curious about all the things he had missed about Jihoo and this girl's relationship.

" I am not telling you two anything" Trying to get away before the two held him, Jihoo started walking away from the pool table.

" Oh come on. We even tell you everything about our girls all the time"

" I never asked you to"

" Did you tell him about it?" Yijeong asked, pointing at Jun Pyo.

" I see," Yijeong smirked. Jihoo's silence meant he had told Junpyo.

" Did they kiss already?" Woobin forced all eyes on Junpyo. The channels he was changing, Junpyo didn't even acknowledge they were talking to him let alone answer the question.

" You know he is not going to tell." Yijeong reminded Woo Bin that Junpyo never talks about anything Jihoo tells him in private.

" Just tell us?" Woobin walking to Jihoo, demanded.

" I want to know if she is a good kisser" Woobin was beyond excited about the topic as he sat down next to Jihoo. Even Yijeong had joined them as they sat around the sofa, bringing the conversation he was trying to avoid to Junpyo.

The girl they would spend their afternoon talking about wasn't thinking about any of them as she walked into the hidden room in the car shop she was expected to report to at 7 pm which was ten minutes ago.

" You are late." Ctrl, who opened the door for her, had started the moment she walked into the room. Ignoring all, her eyes were sent to Bom sitting at the corner enjoying his snacks. His eyes kept on his food, she had prayed he would look up but he hadn't. Her cardigan she pulled to cover her fingers, she continued with her walk to sit next to him. She gave the wrestler a head node as she walked past him. The twins sitting on the other side, had given her a smile she didn't pay attention to. They had always found it adorable that Bom had his daughter with him no matter what. That's what she was referred to as. She was always in the back doing something else when they reported to him, and they found it cute how he didn't hide anything from her. None of them were aware of who she was or how involved she was with the work they did.

" Sorry," she had whispered as she sat next to Bom, who still hadn't looked at her and was busy munching on the chips. The delicious-looking snack he was enjoying, he had given the twins the node they needed to start.

" We followed him for about 30 hours," The one wearing the green sweater had started as he pressed on the already prepared projector and the first image popped up to display Woobin's brother.

" His name is Kang Dae, Age 31"

" He changed his name, which was one of the reasons why we couldn't find anything about him for his family records" Ctrl jumped in and explained why he had failed to find anything on this man who seemed to have gotten a new start with a new name.

" You have to go through the courts and have a public announcement when changing names, but I couldn't find anything about him. Maybe it was a paid judge that signed off on it" He added, his words instantly reminding Jandi why the Woo family is close with Jihoo's, which was filled with judges and lawyers. Would anybody in Jihoo's family be the judge that allowed it? No matter how much she didn't want to accept it, it was still a possibility.

" We were able to follow him to his house. He lives in two places."

" He stopped by this address, which we assume is the family home." The image displayed of the Woo family residence, which the rest of the team, apart from the twins, was aware of. The grand state was one that was passed for generations and the second oldest, who was running their organization, might inherit. The fact that the oldest wasn't even the one in line, they were all now suspicious of all the cover-up the family had done to hide the oldest.

" He also has a condo at Oakwood luxury building at 87-gil. Gangnam," the address they mentioned, Bom had glanced at Ctrl, who was on his computer. Ctrl had given him a nod confirming that this was also what he found. The building blueprint he had gotten hold of, he was still working on hacking into the security camera system for the building. Once he does, they will be sending somebody in to go though his condo. Which most likely was going to be Jandi, but they had to wait until he had access to all security systems before they could decide on who.

" He had lunch with two friends" the photos they had taken of the people he had lunch with, Jandi had moved closer to the screen to focus on the one smoking that looked very familiar. He looked like the one from Friday night that had dropped the girl at the hotel but she would need a clear picture, which she would get later.

" They were talking about some work project they are collaborating on. I am guessing they are work friends. They have a meeting for Monday afternoon to discuss the project" Bom had gotten a head shake from Jandi letting him know they were not work friends. The faces she recognized, she would save until the twins were gone before she mentioned they were school friends.

" They went to play golf after lunch. He only met one person after that," the one in the green sweater pressed next to bring the next picture on the projector. Ctrl had changed his eyes to Bom the moment he saw the picture of Junpyo's sister and Woobin's brother standing next to each other.

" He picked her up from her office or what seems like her office and dropped her off at her home." The picture that changed was indeed her office. The way she was laughing at whatever he was saying, even Jandi was taken aback by the dynamics between these two she couldn't seem to figure out. She had heard about how he had a crush on her since high school, but what she couldn't understand was Junpyo's sister's behavior. If they were correct and this man was who they were looking for, it means Junpyo's sister was there when it all happened. And she had chosen to stay friends with them after all that. These people always stick together. But Jandi couldn't accept that as a reason. Somehow, the beautiful women she had only met once didn't seem the type to be friends with such evil people. But then again, the evidence was displayed on the big screen before her.

" She canceled the dinner they were supposed to have Saturday night. So he just drove her home." The picture had turned to Woobin's brother's car driving into her estate.

"They agreed to have dinner today. They are meeting at Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul at 9" the twin sitting down added, giving all a smile. They were beyond proud of how they had gotten all that information in such a short time.

" They seem close," the wrestler, looking at the way Woobin's brother was looking at her.

" I think he likes her," Ctrl added, zooming in on their faces.

" Who wouldn't? She is so beautiful. Look at this," the one in the green sweater had circled her smiling face.

" She is married, so I wonder what her husband thinks of this."The other twin, who had been the one with the camera and forced to watch her smiling, shared his perspective.

" He was the perfect gentleman around her, opening doors and whatnot." The one in the green sweater gave the team the clue they needed.

" She seems very close to him and might know a lot," he added. And that was the first plan put on their board. Her picture was placed next to the picture of Woobin's brother, which was circled.

" We need to get her to talk." The wrestler added a question mark next to her name as he walked by the board to get himself a drink. The close relationship between her and Woobin's brother, it was clear she was a key figure and might know more than anybody. Not their primary priority, they couldn't agree on who and how they should get that information out of her and the meeting would be shifted to the more important figures. The detective and the four people he had dinners with. The next couple of hours they would spend creating the spider web that connected all the detectives, Ctrl had to take the lead for this portion.

" Detective Kim Min Su, a newly appointed detective in the narcotics department." Ctrl had started the briefing on the number one man on their list. The way Bom had adjusted his seating, only Jandi next to him had caught the way he was looking at the photo of the cop.

" His uncle is the deputy police chief of the city," Ctrl pressed next as he went on about all the connections the detective had before switching to the other men. The twins, being the best at what they do, would be assigned to track Detective Kim Min Su and dismissed from the meeting halfway through. They had gotten enough information on what they needed to know. Everything else was none of their business.

" I don't need to explain who this is." Ctrl had changed the picture to the retired officer; all in the picture were bowing too. The man they were all very familiar with didn't need any introduction.

" The fact that he's back means this was a bigger case that needed to be handled carefully," he added, reminding all of Detective Park, who was an expert on handling these types of cases. His most famous case might be Bom's sister's but that wasn't the only reason he was on their list but because he had been an advisor on so many similar cases.

" You said the girl was asked to deliver goods and service people. Detective Kim Min Su delivers them to somebody else." What Ctrl said was also what Bom had heard from the old man who had gotten him the name.

" I don't have information about who he works for or where he takes them"

" They didn't do a rape kit?" the wrestler going through the police file they had stolen asked, getting a head shake from Ctrl.

" We could pay somebody on the inside to do one," the wrestler suggested.

" I doubt we would get anybody to touch her. The way they had wrapped up this case, I am surprised we even got photos." All of them had been glancing at Bom, questioning what he was thinking about.

" We could use the mother to file a case and demand an investigation," Ctrl suggested as all again turned to Bom and waited for him to say anything.

" We are not going to find anything. This is an obvious cover-up." The wrestler closing the file started looking for his cigarette.

" Why do you think they are cremating the body tomorrow?" Bom asked, silencing all questions around using a police investigation to find out more.

" Then we need to find a way to get to the men he works for"

"We work backward" Bom taking a cigarette out of the box the wrestler threw for him, started

" There are some girls who have done the job before. I need you to find them and find everything they know" Bom assigned Wrestler with his task for the week.

" Use all connections' ' he gave the Wrestler permission to use whatever.

" I will put some of our girls around the clubs to see if he will pick one of them. If he does, we will put you on a mission." he pointed at Jandi, who would be sent not only to spy on but to protect the girls who don't even know she was there as their protection.

" I might know a place we could start from," Jandi whispered as all eyes turned her way.

" A couple of days ago, I followed him to a club on the east side," she added, glancing at Bom putting the cigarette in between his lips and inhaling.

" There were some girls there who looked a bit odd," she added, turning her eyes away from Bom.

" Who were you trailing?" the wrestler asked. Her right hand was raised, and she pointed at Woobin's brother.

" Oh," the wrestler sighed. They all needed a second to take in that all these people might be connected one way or another.

" Wait a minute." The wrestler stood up and started walking to the board with all the names and pictures. It was overwhelming to think this could be how they solved their puzzle. The club would also be added to the list of things both Ctrl and the wrestler had to dig into in separate ways. Although Jandi had repeated how she was just making assumptions, they knew to trust her intuition. The girl she had rescued, she had kept from sharing about her. She would rather interrogate the girl herself than Bom find out about who she was with that night. She needs to get as much information out of her as soon as possible, and it was added as the next thing to do on her list. Her assignment was still to dig deep into Woobin's brother. The meeting that ended with everybody having assigned tasks, priority number one for all except Jandi, was Detective Kim Min Su. That was the one they all had their eyes on, and each of them had left the car shop to start their assigned tasks.

Woobin's brother's case placed as a second priority, and Bom would be the only one left to pick up the tracking device from the car they don't need to trace anymore. On a rainy evening, his mind was on the detective he wanted to rip to pieces as he drove silently. The luxury restaurant he parked his car in, he zipped up his jacket when he was welcomed by the cold wind trying to keep the dark clouds from pouring down the rain they were holding. The car he recognized, he had put on his gloves as he started his slow walk to it. The cigarette box he pulled from his pocket dropped; he had used that as a way to lean down. Sending his right hand under the car, he picked up the tracking device from exactly where he had left it. The tracker turned off,he didn't wait until his door was fully open as he threw the tracker to the passenger seat. Quickly returning back to his seat, his right hand sent to start the engine would return when he caught the two people walking down the stairs to the parking lot.

Her all-white outfit, the cream-white long pants and dress shirt, even on a sunny day looked like she had just come out of a meeting. The two top buttons of her dress shirt were left open; the wind didn't even wait a second before moving her dress shirt left and right to expose her neck and the thin necklace she had on. Her beautiful hair moving along the wind; had mimicked the flowy movement of the wind leaving her stunning face fully exposed. Bom's eyes had to shift from her to Woobin's brother, who had removed his coat and placed it on her back. The way she smiled whenever she was around this man, Only Bom had questioned her disarming smile that didn't seem genuine. Even the way she had looked at the jacket placed on her, Bom zoomed his eyes on every reaction of hers as they continued walking to their cars.

The cigarette he pulled placed between his lips, he sat back; focusing all his attention on the two. The jacket she took off her shoulders, he witnessed as she had to fight to return it back. The goodbye she was trying to keep short by acting like she was cold was followed by a hug. Even from afar, he had caught how her hands had stayed by her side as she was hugged. Her face turned to the side; she had even taken a step back to create even a little gap between their bodies he was pulling to be close. Acting all proper was her thing; she was a married woman, after all. He had spent enough time watching her from afar to know that. The longer he kept his arms around her, the more Bom caught every smile of hers that was trying to end it. Lucky for her, the hug had only lasted a minute before she was freed and had gotten in her car. Bom hadn't even thought much about the two expensive cars that would leave back to back as he decided to follow them. Woobin's brother's car following hers, Bom had stayed behind him to see if he really was following her or just happened to go in the same direction.

The way she kept glancing at Woobin's car following her explained why she had made the turn and joined the wrong freeway. Bom, smiling at what she had done just to escape being followed, made the same turn. The freeway she had joined would take him to his side of town anyway. The next exit in ten minutes, he was somewhat curious how she would react when she made that exit and ended up at that side of town she shouldn't be at this time of the night. The white smoke he blew out, he opened his window and sat comfortably. One hand on the steering wheel as he adjusted his speed to the one she was driving by. Somehow, it made sense why she wasn't driving a rare car but still had chosen a luxury car. Her speed exactly the recommended one for the freeway; her whole attention was somewhere else to question the car following her behind.

" Come on," she shouted at the gas sign blinking for her attention. Her night was only worsening as she reached for her phone to find it at 1% battery. Throwing her phone back to the passenger seat; she started pressing the button on the car GPS to locate the closest gas station for her. The exit he assumed she would take, Bom was surprised when she missed it and continued. The zip codes changing further away from her side of the city; she had missed another exit before taking the next one. He should have driven straight ahead to his exit that was 25 minutes away but somehow had chosen to see where this woman was going as he made the same exit as her. As they came to a stop at the light, he had even dared to stop right behind her to see if she would notice she was being followed. Her attention fully focused on her screen; she hadn't even glanced back at her rearview mirror as she made a right and joined the dark street that was only getting darker.

The shortcuts her GPS was recalculating, she was directed to make another left before noticing the gas station at the corner. The old gas station, even the sign, was hard to read as she slowed her speed and drove to it. The clear signs to avoid this place were all over, but she had dismissed them as she pulled to the station in front. Although she had noticed the two cars on the other side and the group of men standing by them, she had chosen not to make assumptions as she turned off her engine. Her door left open; she had stepped out to be welcomed by the aggressive wind attacking her instantly. She pressed the station's screen without worrying about her body sending signs about the cold it couldn't handle. The sign telling customers to pay inside the store, she had seen it after a few tries. "Huh," with a frustrated sigh, she wrapped her arms around her cold body as she started her walk to the store. The warm store she had walked into looked as old as the gas station.

" It's cold." Her adorable smile had caught the old man off guard, and so had her beautiful face and outfit. He had never seen anybody in this store who looked like this.

" It is, and you are not wearing anything warm." The old man standing from his chair brought her attention to her thin shirt.

" You should go home before it rains and gets even colder," he added, scanning her again. She definitely doesn't live around here.

" I am trying to. Can I get some gas at that one?" she pointed at her car as she opened her bag and pulled out her card.

" Of course. Do you need anything else?"

" Some tea or something," he offered, giving her a big smile.

" No, thank you." She knew how to reject people in the politest ways, and she had hoped that would be her last interaction with a stranger tonight, but she had worse waiting for her as she started walking to her car.

" She's beautiful." The two men who walked from the cars at the corner were waiting for her by her car. One had even pulled her tank cap open to help her fill the gas.

" Hello," her arms sent behind her; she greeted both with a smile. Being nice her default setting, she had nothing else to use against the men that looked suspicious.

" We just wanted to help you." the one filling her gas had smiled back at her.

" This is a nice car," the other one circling her car, her eyes from them were sent to the two other ones still by their car smiling at her. Her eyes doing a quick scan, couldn't find any other living thing around, let alone people. Bom's car turned off and hiding behind the tree on the street, he had chosen just to sit there and watch what she was going to do. The cigarette he inhaled, his eyes had started at her feet and scanned up, questioning why she didn't look remotely scared. Her hands crossed, she had actually walken to her car and was talking to the men, rather than run away and try to find help. Either she was too bold or had no idea what could happen to her. Either way, Bom had found her confidence fascinating to watch.

" Thank you." Trying to force herself to stay focused on finding a way to get out of there, she forced herself to keep smiling and get the conversation going.

" There is a newer version that is better," she added as she walked to her passenger seat and opened the door to throw her wallet into her bag. Her phone she glanced at, her anxiety was slowly starting when she realized it was off. The driver that was assigned to her she doesn't use, now was when she was reminded why she was assigned one to begin with. Her car she spent some seconds thinking about it, she had no item that could be used as a weapon.

" Do you mind if I ?" the one examining her car had opened the driver's door as he asked. As he got into the driver seat, he hadn't waited for an answer. The car he was examining, her eyes quickly looked around, only finding the other men giving her a smile. There were four of them and nothing and no one else around. The dark road, there wasn't even any other car driving by as her eyes turned to the store and the only one who could even call the cops if anything happened. The old man looking out the window, she had gotten a good look at his apologetic eyes as he turned away and returned to his chair. She didn't need any other sign to know he wasn't going to help. There wasn't anybody who would be a witness, let alone help her out of the situation.

" What's your name?" the one holding the gas asked as he started scanning her up and down. The menacing way his eyes were looking at her, it was hard to keep conniving herself she could get away from this. The respect she gets from most men she knew, she had forgotten how her last name had protected her from even being looked at the way she was being looked at right now.

" Joon hee"

"That's a beautiful name" The smiles the two men were exchanging, she was glad when she saw the gas was done.

" Thank you so much for helping me with that. '' She had given him a small bow. Walking to the driver's side of her car, she tried to keep her anxiety hidden as she used her smile to look calm and not scared. The people who could protect her; it was interesting how her husband wasn't the first she thought of, nor was her father, who she doesn't know even if he was in the country. The first one that came to mind was her assigned driver, whom she had dismissed for the week. The next would be her brother. Those two were the only ones she trusted to do anything & everything to protect her.

" You are leaving." The one that had helped her with the gas had taken a step closer to her as he pushed the door she opened and closed it.

" Why the rush?" The other one had walked to stand by her left side. The cigarette and alcohol she could smell from their cloth, now was when things started becoming alarming and her frightened eyes turned to the store, which was the only place she could run to.

" Don't worry; we just want to chat?" the one on her right had given her a smile that would finally get rid of her fake smiles and reveal the scared stiff state she was in. Her legs she couldn't even order to take a step, even her hands had stayed down as only her eyes were moving around to find the other two men start walking their way.

" Why are you bothering this beautiful woman?" The two coming into the small light were adding to her alarmed state as she noticed the tattoos on their arms. The tattoos all over their arms meant one and only one thing.

" Are they bothering you?" the bald one asked, sipping from the beer he still had in his hands.

" I" her voice disappearing resulting from the one on her right that had moved closer, entering her personal space. The cigarette and alcohol she could smell all over him wasn't as revolting as his eyes; they were intentional as they followed the buttons she had left open to lower their gaze to her chest, moving up and down to keep up with the anxious way she was breathing. The disgusting feeling that washed over her skin, she wasn't even aware of when her hands had started fidgeting as she brought the right one to start buttoning her shirt.

" She doesn't look like she lives around here," the bald one had added as he opened the passenger side of her car, pulled her bag out, and placed it on the top of the car. Her dark phone he threw back into her bag; he couldn't even find a single money note in her wallet. There was nothing useful they could even take.

" Where do you live?" the one next to him had asked, which she didn't respond to.

" Is that diamond?" the bald one had asked, pointing at her neck.

" Seems like it," the one on her right, who was already inches away from her skin, responded as he leaned closer to the necklace.

" You smell good," he added as he sniffed her neck. His nose brushed against her neck, the touch had triggered something in her as her right hand came to her defense.

" Wow" was all their response as they saw the way her right hand had swung to slap him. Her instinctual reaction, the man she had slapped would return even more furious as he walked back to her. His angry eyes were less scary than his odd smile as he caressed the cheek she had slapped. She had only made him angrier and that realization was causing her anxiety to scream for her to run away. She doesn't even know the name of her neighborhood, let alone where to run to. The heel she was wearing, she knew she wouldn't even make it to the end of the station tension if she attempted to run away. The fear that had taken over her, she was frozen, surrounded by them. The fighting skills she didn't have, trying to imagine fighting four men was out of the question.

" Here," the necklace she had pulled away from her neck would be offered to the one on her right, who she hoped would step away from her. The necklace she would throw to the bald one who asked her to throw it to him, but her attention was brought back to the one on her right when he stepped even closer. What he wanted wasn't something she could get away with by just giving them her necklace.

" Oh, your neck," the red mark she had left on her soft skin when she pulled the necklace. The pain from it was nothing to the terrified way her eyes had followed his right hand that landed on her neck. A man's hand that rarely touches her skin, her reaction to it had been the same as her right hand was brought back to slap him again but had failed as he grabbed her arm and pushed her against the car. The moment his cold hand landed and grabbed her neck to pin her against the car, a new type of fear washed over her as she closed her eyes.

" You hurt this soft skin of yours," he whispered as his other hand started patting her head. His ugly voice filled her ears, she had to close her eyes and hope that her anxiety would lead her fear to be signed to madness or anything else that could give her the power to fight back. Every pat his hand landed on her hair sending waves down her shaken body, her eyes had only opened when she heard an engine. All the men around her had also turned their eyes to the black car that started driving into the gas station. The slow car, her frightened eyes weren't quick to notice the face of the driver as it passed them. Even if she tried, the hoodie he had on was covering him as he drove past her car. Just like her, the men's eyes had followed the slow car that stopped right behind hers.

" What the fuck" The two with tattoos on the passenger side of her car, had taken a step to his car as they saw the driver's door open. The man that stepped out, her frightened eyes started scanning from his shoes. His long legs, and the jeans he was wearing were ignored as she scanned the worn-out jacket on top of the black hoodie he had on. His right hand pulling the hoodie down to reveal his face, and he turned to face them all. Her eyes that increasing in size the moment she saw his face; he wasn't paying any attention to her as much as the man who had her pinned to the driver's door of her car.

" You," she whispered , only to be caught by the man next to her.

" Who the fuck are you" the bald one had asked as he took another step closer to Bom's car. Bom didn't answer his question as he started walking to her car. Walking past them to head to the gas tank and ensure it was properly closed. Everyone was confused by what he was doing as they followed him.

" Do you know this man?" the man on her left, stepping away from her, asked as he walked to stand in front of Bom.

" Yes," her response; she kept her eyes on Bom who was now looking only at her. She couldn't help but smile when she recognized his eyes.

" It would be best if you get back in that car and drive away" The one standing in front of him started warning Bom.

"Huh" Bom had only sighed, finally turning his eyes to the one standing before him.

" Do you want this to be your last day?" the man asked. His question ignored; Bom had even pushed him to the side as he walked past him and took the two steps to her. His eyes coming back to her had slowly landed on her neck, where there was a hint of redness. The man's hand was on her neck, Bom had taken note of the hand that was touching her seconds ago. His car's engine started the moment he saw the man touch her neck, watching her being pinned against her car had gotten a different reaction. The way he was examining her neck, even Joon hee had glanced down at her neck when she noticed the dark look in Bom's eyes.

" I think we have to teach him a lesson" the one angry about being ignored asked his hyong's for permission. The tattooed ones were the ones who had the sense to question why this man wasn't even remotely scared of them. He wasn't even paying any attention to them. Even Joonhee was weirded out by how he didn't seem scared of any of them. But she didn't have much time to question him, as she took a deep breath the moment her personal space was given back to her. Her neck she was holding, she had returned her eyes to Bm to catch his eyes directing her to come to his side. His lack of words, she was quick to pick up his message as she took a step and stood by his side. His right side.

" You are going to regret the day you were born." The one who had been touching her had started fixing his stance as he started warning Bom, who seemed way too relaxed about four men getting ready to attack them. His left hand still in his pocket, he had even sent his right to his pocket as he stood and waited for them to start doing something rather than keep talking. Joon hee confused by how on earth they were going to get away from these four, had turned her eyes back to Bom, whom she was standing next to. What was his plan?

" Omma." She was the only one to voice her reaction to the punch that came his way which he avoided by just leaning back. He was too quick. His nonchalant way of avoiding it had made the man who sent the punch angrier. The man who had been breathing down her neck minutes ago, seemed like he was fuming as all saw the smirk that escaped Bom's lips.

" I am going to fuck you up" The angry man cursing had unzipped his jacket.

" Oh God," Joon Hee had whispered, sending her hands to her lips as she saw the man pull out a small knife. She seemed to be the only one horrified as her terror-struck eyes were lowered when she noticed Bom's right hand slowly slipped out of his pocket and came to her. His eyes still on the knife; his right hand had slightly pushed her as she followed his push to move behind him. Her eyes still on him; she didn't question what he was doing as she stood hidden behind him. His tall body shielding her, somehow she knew to trust and feel safe standing behind him. Hidden behind, she hadn't seen the bigger knife the other one had pulled out. Two knives, four men, might take him maybe a little over a minute to end them all, but it was too risky to have her there. A quick scan of his environment and situation and Bom had decided it was best to not have her around.

" Go inside," his rough voice had ordered her without turning her way. His eyes on the tattooed men who started walking around to be behind him. She definitely was too risky to have around.

" Get some snacks." His smiling eyes had turned as he added, her brain unable to understand how he was behaving; she had decided just to do as told as her frantic legs had started running to the store. Leaving him behind didn't feel right, not even a little bit, but she knew to trust his eyes, which convinced her he knew what he was doing. Waiting until she got into the store, he had taken the time to also scan for cameras around the gas station to find none.

" You should have minded your business." The one coming at him with the small knife was grabbed before he landed the knife anywhere close to Bom. The fist his right hand grabbed, Bom had kept his eye on the man as he twisted the fist; even after the knife was dropped, he had held the wrist, choosing to twist and break it. The crack of the bone he dislocated, Bom had kept his eyes dead on the man that minutes ago was touching her. The loud scream had gotten a smirk from Bom as he sent his right hand to the man's neck to silence him. The broken wrist still in his grip; he had dunked to avoid the one behind him who was using the beer bottle to hit him. His left hand still in his pocket; this was child's play for the highly trained man who used to fight groups of people whenever he was bored. He only had to use his right leg to kick the man's knee to have him land against her car. His hair grabbed, Bom smashed the man's face against her car again and again until he dropped the beer bottle, which would be kicked under her car. The other two sending punches his way, he was avoiding all at a speed they had never seen. Which should have been their clue to leave this man alone, but no. They had continued until he decided to end this quickly. All the light punches he was landing, he was enjoying this more than he should as he questioned what gang they were part of that they didn't even have basic boxing skills to know; he could tell their moves by their feet movements. The one with the smashed face covered with blood was the most furious as he picked up the bottle and tried coming for Bom again. The bottle he had avoided, Bom had grabbed the man's arm and twisted it behind him as he sent his face to land against her car window. With the smashed window, the man was done as his unconscious body slid down to the ground. One down, three to go, Bom had dropped him as he turned to the three that needed a second to look at their friend on the ground surrounded by the tiny pieces of the broken window and his own blood.

" Omg," her loud scream grabbing his attention; Bom had turned her way to miss the one coming from behind and the knife that had slashed his left arm. The sharp metal he felt against his skin, past three layers of cloth, Bom's surprised eyes had turned to the one with the knife. His own blood he hadn't seen in a while; Bom was surprised this punk was able to get this close to him and gave him props before he pulled his left hand out of his pocket.

" Go back inside," he had ordered, not even looking at the woman standing by the broom she had dropped. The broom she had grabbed to give him or use to support him, she was stunned when she came out to find the unconscious man covered in blood next to her car. Her eyes stayed on him for a few seconds before she started rushing back into the store like she was told to.

Not only she, but even the store owner had chosen not to even look as both stayed by the counter where she started making a call to her driver. Her shaking hands, now, was when she remembered noticing some tattoos on his arm the last time he helped them. Being a gang member was the best explanation for the fighting he was doing, which she had chosen not to witness. The sight of blood always causes a physical reaction in her stomach; she had stayed in the corner, her arms wrapped around her.

" Do you know him?" the old man had asked as he passed her a water bottle.

" Yes. Well No," her broken voice, she didn't know how to explain it.

" You are okay now. Those thugs are getting what they deserve" The old man was somewhat happy to see her open the water and start drinking.

" Why can't we call the police?" she had asked to get a smile from the old man.

" You really don't live around here" his smile had gotten bigger as he noticed she really had no idea.

" The police can't do anything to them."

" I have to pay those thugs to stay in business so they don't ruin this place. They are the police around here" Her baffled eyes, it was cute to see how adorably dumbfounded she was about what he was talking about.

" That man is risking his life for you."

" They are going to find him after this and destroy his life." The old man walking back to his counter had returned their focus to the fight outside. The car sounds they heard; both took steps to the window to look out at the two cars driving away. Bom standing in the middle of the station, their baffled eyes were on how terrifying he looked standing surrounded by blood all over the ground. The calm way he was just standing there, more terrifying than the men who usually disturb his station, the old man was the only one deeply worried about Bom.

" Who the hell is this man?" the old man had raised a question she didn't have an answer for or wouldn't have any time soon.

" Omg, he is coming," the old man whispered as he started walking away from the window and back to the counter. He was scared to even look at Bom walking to the store. Unlike him, her eyes were on every step he was taking as her memory repeated what the old man had said about him saving her by risking his own safety. The door he opened, her eyes were the only thing that followed him as he walked past her and headed to the counter.

" Can I. Can I help you?" the old man asked, trying to avoid Bom's eyes.

" Tape," Bom's right hand pointed at the big tape beside the batteries.

" Of course," the old man, stepping on the stool, had gotten one tape from the counter. Bom didn't say anything as he picked up the tape from the counter and also took the scissors from the counter cup with all the pens. Walking past her again, Bom left the store to return to her car.

" He is so scary," the old man's words were ignored as she followed Bom out of the store. The window behind the driver's seat smashed to pieces; it took her seconds to realize he was planning to use the tape to cover it. The tape he was cutting and lining horizontally on the car, she was steps away from him as she stood there just looking at what he was doing.

" Thank you" was all she could say as she stepped forward. She didn't get any response from the man who had tapped the window horizontally and had switched to adding vertical lines to make sure it was thick enough to withstand the wind she would drive in.

" You don't have to do that. I will get it fixed tomorrow." Taking one more step, she came to his side. She picked up the scissors he was looking for from the floor and moved closer to help him cut. She had to be that close to him to notice some of the blood drops that were on his worn-out jacket. Did he really beat up four people? She coudln't accept it even though she had seen one lying unconscious and covered in blood. What type of person knows how to fight a group?

" Why did you help me?" she asked as she moved closer to the last tape he put on. The red scissor cutting the tape, her eyes were sent to him as she waited for a response. His eyes coming her way; he didn't respond but just looked at her for a few seconds before he started walking to the other side. Her necklace he had forced the bald man to drop by breaking his arm; he picked it up as he started walking back to her side.

" Thank you," her open right hand, the necklace was slowly dropped into her palm. Her eyes still on him, this time taking their time examining every scary feature of his striking face she wasn't scared of even after witnessing what he could do. His words he kept to a minimum; even his eyes that were avoiding her were deemed mysterious as she stood there, making it clear she was waiting for him to say something.

" Aren't you scared they will look for you?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the steps he was taking away from her. The broom he picked from where she had dropped it; her baffled eyes stayed on him as she watched him start cleaning the glass pieces scattered around her car. What kind of gang member cleans the space after a fight? Even the old man staring out from the window was confused by the behavior he couldn't understand. What type of gang member is this helpful? She questioned as she recalled how he had helped them last time too. Maybe being a gang member wasn't a choice and he had to do it even though he was a good person, she was making assumptions left and right. Assumptions he would use to his advantage to get what he wants from her.

" What's your name?" she asked, crossing her arms. His eyes glanced up at her; he didn't answer this question either as he walked around her to get the rest of the smashed glass. The small smile that escaped her lips, she had turned around to follow him as he kept cleaning around her. The smile on her face would fade away as she noticed his left arm. The coat with the dark blood spots running down, her reaction was quick as she took the steps separating them and grabbed his arm. His immediate reaction to get his arm out of her grip had failed as she pulled him even closer. His arm pulled to her side; she had taken a step to be as close as she could to see if it was a major cut.

" You are bleeding." Her worry-filled eyes had zoomed in on the spot before she raised it to his face. His lack of concern alarming her even more, she sent her right hand to the spot to press on it. The reaction from his arm was enough to let her know the cut was deep.

" You're hurt." The concern in her eyes was interesting as he chose not to pull his arm away from her this time. It was cute how such a minor thing for him was a big deal for her. Was she really worried about him? Or was this just as fake as the smiles she gives to everyone? If the tiny cut got this much worry from her, he wondered what she would say if she ever realized what he did.

" We need to stop the bleeding." His arm still in her hand she had started leading the way, only to take two steps before she realized he wasn't moving.

" Drop this." Walking back, she snatched the broom away from his right hand and threw it on the ground. His hurt left arm she was pulling, but he was still not moving. His beguiled eyes glued to her, he had watched as she turned back again.

" Or do you want to go to a hospital?" she asked, knowing he wouldn't choose that. There was no way a gang member would walk into a hospital with a knife cut from a fight.

" Come on then," she had started dragging him again. The slow steps he started taking, he had saved his smirk for himself. He was still not concerned about his arm but more curious about what she plans to do as he followed behind. She couldn't even use the clues around her to avoid the dangerous situation she was in; what was she going to do to his arm?

The small raindrops that started falling down, his eyes were forced to notice how they were lading on the silk dress shirt she had on. The water drops forcing the silk to stick to her soft skin, his eyes were quickly diverted to his left arm. The tight grip of her slender fingers. Her small hand around his arm, his eyes had landed on the ring on her ring finger. The rare diamond piece that Ctrl had claimed cost around 3 billion won, his eyes had glanced up back to her. The only daughter of the Shinwa family empire, of course, she would have such a ring. Who would dare to ask for her hand if not prepared to present her with the rarest of diamonds? She was the most precious member of the family, whose marriage was the talk of the town thanks to the extravagant wedding that made it to the news for being so exclusive. Of course, she would freak out seeing a drop of blood. With her privileged life, he even questioned if she fully understood what type of situation she was saved from. He was somewhat happy she was living in her own world to understand all the things that could have happened to her. This was the type of privilege he wished the girl he cared about had.

" Go sit over there," she had ordered him, pointing at the chairs facing the window customers use to eat their snacks. Bom glancing at the chairs then back at her, focused more on the direct command she had given him. Only one woman dares to give him orders and it's his mother figure, Mrs. Kim. Keeping his amusement to himself, he started walking to the plastic chairs and long tables. Choosing to take the one facing the door, he sent his eyes to the raindrops tapping at the window. The rain that had started pouring down suddenly had his attention until she came to the table. Her hand was filled with items that she placed on the table. The second he saw the first aid kit, he raised his eyes to her. The gloves she was putting on, she was looking at him as though he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do.

" Take it off," she commanded as she continued with her gloves.

" Your clothes." Crossing her arms, she was confused by why he looked startled.

" I can't help you if you don't take off yours," she stooped.

" I know you have tattoos. Even he knows you're a gang member, so no need to hide" she added, assuming that could be why he was not doing as she asked.

" You don't have to take the whole thing off, Just the jacket and the hoodie," she suggested as she leaned right to catch the small smirk she had thought she saw on his face when she called him a gang member.

" huh" she sighed as she turned her focus to the items she started preparing. The alcohol wipes she was even arranging the cotton wipes next to the bottle of alcohol she had gotten. The first aid training she takes every year, along with every staff of her organization, she knew the importance of cleaning the wounds before anything else. The way he had slowly slid off the chair to stand up, she had kept her attention on what she was doing as he took off the jacket he would throw to the empty chair behind him. Her hands separating the cotton pieces; this time, her eyes had failed her as they turned to catch the hoodie he had lifted. His t-shirt stuck to his hoodie; both were lifted up, exposing his skin. The white t-shirt getting lifted up; her eyes had gotten a good view of the skin covering his well-toned abs. Her eyes following the clear lines of his muscles until the first ink mark on his side became visible. The well-defined muscles, her eyes wanted a longer look but she had forced herself to turn her attention back to the cotton. His hoodie he placed on his coat, he made sure to pull his shirt down as he sat down.

" Thank you," she had whispered as she turned to him. She couldn't even hide her first reaction to his arms covered with the tattoos as she just stood there. His eyes on her, both knew she was startled by what she was looking at. How she was trying to act not frightened, he found it interesting just to watch her as she sent her hands to his left arm. His left side she moved to face her; she started by slowly folding the sleeves of his shirt up. The signs, numbers, and letters covering his arm she couldn't decipher the meaning but was somewhat captivated by the design of the marks as she kept her eyes on every mark on his upper arm. These weren't gangster tattoos, but then again, she didn't know much about the type of tattoos they got. Her only reference was movies. The tattoos distracting her from having any reaction to the blood, she had another distraction when she grabbed his arm. His dark eyes on her making it hard not to be alarmed by how this was her first time touching tattooed skin. The hint of nervousness he could sense from her; he was enjoying and questioning if she had ever even done this. Her eyes only glancing at him to make sure he was still looking at her and her shaken hands, Bom had chosen to look away and give her a break. The heavy raindrops he was staring at, he had let her do whatever. More than what she was doing, what got his attention was the worry in her eyes as she got the alcohol wipes closer to the cut. The pain he couldn't feel, she seemed to be the one processing it as she gently placed the wipe next to the cut.

" This might hurt," she had whispered as she moved even closer and brought the wipe closer to the cut. The reaction she didn't get had come when she had followed her wipe with a soft blow. The warm air that landed on his skin, she had kept blowing as her eyes were sent up when she saw his arm move.

" It will make it less painful," she answered the question in his eyes as she pulled his arm back. Another gentle wipe was followed by the soft blow that had gotten the same reaction.

" Stop it," she had commanded as she pulled his arm again. His right hand came to the table, she followed it as he picked up the alcohol bottle. The bottle held by the cut he had started pouring it down.

" Omma." Her shocked eyes, doubling in size, were glued to his reactionless ones as he kept pouring. The clear alcohol washing the blood away from the cut, her scared eyes had turned soft when she realized how senseless one has to be to not feel anything from this.

" STOP" she was quick as she snatched the bottle away from him. The cotton pieces she picked, she started cleaning the wound he had washed to reveal how the knife had cut deeper than just his skin. Focusing all her attention, she cleaned his arm using all the alcohol he had poured.

" You must be one of those people who don't feel any pain," her eyes focused on the bandage she was preparing, she started talking. The answer she didn't get; she had smiled at how he doesn't talk much. Her two fingers used to apply the cream gently; her soft fingers, even past the gloves, could feel the strong muscle underneath the inked skin. His face turned to the window; her curious eyes had decided to take advantage as they slowly rose from his arm to his shoulder and neck. The black marks she could see peeking from his shirt made her shift her gaze to his face when her subconscious wondered what the t-shirt was hiding. His right profile and the strong bone structure of his face attracted her attention. When he turned her way, she instantly looked down to where her fingers were touching.

" or are you desensitized to violence?" she asked, raising her eyes back up once she saw him turn back to the window.

" Does that come with the job?"

" Is the mechanic thing a cover?" she asked, this one getting his attention. The smile she gave him, she was fascinated to catch his lack of reaction to it.

" A daytime mechanic and a gang member at night." The bandage she was applying to his arm, her smile had only gotten sweeter every time he turned his eyes away from the rain and brought it to her.

" Are you really a gang member?" she asked as she moved closer to start wrapping the cloth around his arm. Her sugary sweet perfume, the way her hair had brushed against his arm, she had sent her captivating smile along with them. His immediate reaction to it all had been to lean back. She was too close.

" Yes," his response was short as he watched her slowly move away from him.

" I see." She had examined her work one more time before she started cleaning everything she used off the table and into the trashcan next to the table. The thank you she didn't get, he had turned around to quickly put his clothes back on. The hoodie he was putting on, her eyes had landed on his back he had turned her way. The white t-shirt wasn't doing much to hide the muscles and bones that made up his upper body. His towering body he had used as a shield to protect her minutes ago, she had blamed that for why she couldn't seem to look away from it. The small gesture of his to push her to hide behind him, she had underestimated how much that small gesture had meant to her.

" Here," the old man had gotten both their attention to the table.

" I made you special ones." The old man placing the ramen on the table had given both a smile. The snacks next to the ramen, he had even added some eggs to the hot ramen, making it look as delicious as possible.

"This is the best one to eat on a rainy night," he added, pointing at the rain that had only worsened. This was the best he could do to help the girl he felt somewhat bad for not helping her.

" You can't drive on this road, so enjoy this," he pointed at the delicious-looking food.

" Thank you so much." Joon Hee was the only one to thank him as she started helping him remove all the first aid materials.

" Bathroom in the back," the old man had directed Bom, whom he saw looking around for napkins to clean his hands. Both had kept their eyes on Bom walking away. The old man had been the one to look away as his curious eyes came to Joon hee and the way she was looking at the man who walked into the bathroom.

" He doesn't seem as scary as he looks," the old man, giving her a smile, whispered.

" Hu," she had just smiled back as she started unrolling her sleeves. So she wasn't the only one who could sense that he wasn't as scary as he looked.

" It's cold in here, isn't it? The heater doesn't work" the old man smiled at how she shook her body. Her hands busy buttoning her cuffs; she wasn't ready for Bom's jacket that was thrown her way.

" Here, wear his jacket,' the old man had thrown the jacket that landed on her.

" I don't think he would mind," the old man had added as both looked at the closed door of the bathroom.

" I am not wearing it," she whispered.

" He saved your life; I think he would be okay with you wearing this." The old man had cut her short as he walked to her side, picked up the jacket, and held it so she could wear it.

" I don't think I could."

" Hey, I am giving your jacket to her before she freezes," the old man shouted right when he heard the bathroom door open.

" Here" the old man forcing her to put it on didn't even wait for a reply.

" I made her do it," the old man said before walking away from them.

The jacket loosely hanging on her, her eyes had waited for a reaction from Bom, who had walked back to the table. Scanning her up and down was all he did before sitting on the chair. His lack of verbal response, she was learning how to read and she had taken that as an okay as she started adjusting the jacket to wear it properly. Her arms going through the soft inside fabric, the worn-out jacket felt warm. The zipper pulled all the way up; she couldn't help but smile at how small she felt wearing it.

" Thank you," she whispered as she sat on the chair next to him. The ramen cup pulled to her side; she sniffed its amazing smell. Whatever this was called, it looked and smelled beyond delicious.

" This smells so good." Her hands raised, she brushed all her hair to push it into the jacket she had zipped to cover her neck. The zipper she was holding by her chin, she had leaned closer to smell the ramen again. The chapstick she picked with her right hand, she had followed his lead as she took her first bite. He had tried to enjoy his food in silence but couldn't help but turn her way to make sure the reaction she was having to the first sip she took was real. The compliments she was giving the old man, every sound she made about it, it was all baffling to Bom who couldn't help but keep glancing her way.

" I have never had this," she had responded to the question in Bom's eyes.

" Do you eat this often?" she had asked a question that would never get an answer.

" This is so good." The way she kept repeating it, he had stopped eating just to look at her. The starved way she was eating the food was alarming. Especially knowing this girl comes from the family that owns the company that makes it. Keeping her attention on the delicious food, she had even forgotten about Bom, who was eating slower than she was. A few minutes just to focus on her food, she was enjoying even the weather of the rain tapping at the window. His warm jacket wrapped around her, she was too happy about eating the delicious food.

" Does not talking come with being a gangster?" she asked as she sipped the delicious broth.

" You have to be all manly and not say anything to keep up with the look," she added, glancing his way. How he looked at her was a bit different now and had everything to do with how she was stuffing her mouth.

" It doesn't make you more scary, you know."

" You are not that scary," she added, giving him a big smile. The spark in her eyes, he was too busy taking note of what she looked like covered in his clothes to be bothered by what she was saying. She looked different when she had his jacket on. And this was when it clicked how he could take advantage of her friendly nature to get whatever he needed from her. Not only that, but the fact that he has helped her twice, this time even saving her from disaster, was something he could use to his advantage once he figured out the best way to get information out of her. That was all they needed from her. All the things she knows. She was a means to an end, just like most things he did.

" I am not scared of you." Another smile was sent his way as she even leaned closer. Her shoulder brushing against his, he glanced at the place of contact before returning his eyes to her smile. How is she this comfortable around a stranger she doesn't know? He kept his question to himself. His personal space she kept leaning into was only a bother for him.

" You should be." His low voice that matched his look perfectly, she was happy to hear it. Her intrigued eyes slowly turning his way, he didn't know what to make of why she was surprised by his voice.

" You should be." She mimicked his deep voice. The small laugh of hers came from the smirk that escaped his lips she caught this time. He looked even less frightening when his face wasn't reactionless and softened even a little bit.

" You should try smoking so you can roughen up your voice more. It's not scary enough"

" It has to match the scary look you are going for with all this." She leaned away to notice his small smirk that had gotten a bit bigger. That definitely was a smile. Did he just smile? She leaned forward to catch his face and he turned away.

" and maybe a buzz cut." She pointed at his hair.

" You would look really scary if you had a buzz cut or even go bald." She smiled at the image she was painting for herself while Bom was too lost thinking about how the girl who was shaking in fear around the men minutes ago is smiling at him and talking like this.

"Just like the haircut you had when you served in the military" The mention of the military had gotten his focus back to the conversation.

" I'm sure you completed your service, right?"

" Do they let you in with all these tattoos?'' This was a more interesting question as she kept her eyes on him while sipping the delicious broth.

" No" he responded, leaving her surprised at how he was talking to her now.

" Are you really a gang member?"

" Yes"
" May I ask why you joined?"

" You ask a lot of questions," he said a full sentence.

" Well, I am trying to get to know you. We have to ask each other questions to get to know each other" The smile on her face, she was saying whatever, but it was interesting how his hand paused right when she said it.

" I am Joon hee" Her chopsticks were placed down on the napkin, and she sent her right hand his way.

" This is the part where you say your name so we are not strangers anymore"
"And if I don't want to know you " his sharp words had gotten rid of her smile. Her right hand started pulling back to her side, every emotion she was feeling was so easy to see on her face.

" I get it" she had whispered as she sent her eyes to the food she started slowly eating. The change in her voice, she had even stopped looking at him as she kept her eyes on the delicious food. The raindrops hitting the window were the only thing heard as they sat in silence.

What just happened? He had questioned as he glanced her way. Her reflection in the window, it was so obvious she was avoiding even looking at his reflection as she kept taking quick sips. She was laughing seconds ago, and now she seemed angry. What just happened? His questioning eyes had turned to her again. What on earth was he even thinking about? He shook his head. Why does he even care, he concluded as he decided to enjoy the food in the silence she had given him. The ramen that had gotten cold all of a sudden, it was worrying how he couldn't keep his eyes from glancing at her every time she moved. The words he was expecting her to say never came as they sat in silence for the five minutes it took her to finish her food.

" Are they for you?" The old man's voice broke the silence as all turned their eyes to the two SUVs that started pulling into the gas station.

" My God" the old man was the only one reacting as the cars stopped and the suited men stepped out of the car. the big umbrellas they were holding only two were walking to the store as the other two stayed by the car.

" They are here for you?" the old man walking to the table asked.

" You have security?" he added another question, turning his eyes from the men walking to the store to her. Ignoring him, she cleaned her side of the table by throwing the ramen cup.

" Thank you so much for this." Her smile was back, but only when she had turned to face the old man she had even given a bow to. The jacket she had unzipped, she had gently placed it on the chair she was sitting on. Her words she saved; she hadn't even looked up at him as she gave Bom a proper bow. That was the most respectful way she could have thanked him.

The small smile the old man gave her as she walked past him, he kept his eyes on her as she headed to men who walked into the store.

" Miss" was the first word the men used and the old man had turned to Bom to make sure he was also witnessing how the men had bowed to her. The one holding the umbrella had stepped back as the other one took his coat off. His long coat placed on her shoulder, and he was the one to ask if she was okay.

" Let's go," was all she said as she put the coat on. The one who had given her the coat had looked at the two men by the table, his intimidating eyes focused more on Bom. The one holding the umbrella was quick to open the door for her as she led the way. The umbrella held right above to make sure not even a drop landed on her; the old man had moved closer to Bom to keep watching. The man who had handed her his coat, Bom knew, was her driver, which explained why his arm was around her as he guided her to the second Suv. Why Bom's eyes were quick to notice how her driver's arm was around her or the coat she was wearing, he tried to distract himself by wondering if they were armed. Who wouldn't be armed to save her from what she could have gotten herself into? Her useless husband was probably sleeping somewhere; it made so much sense why her driver was the most concerned one who had come to her rescue.

" She made a call only 10 minute ago," the old man, recalling how she had only said she wanted them to pick her up and had only given them the address, was too stunned by what he was watching.

" She must be a very important person. '' The old man had gone on as they watched all the men bow down to her. The back door of the SUV held open for her; her driver had given her his arm, which she would hold as she got in. The interaction between the two Bom was paying close attention to, he had even noticed the soft smile she gave the driver as he closed the door. One of the men was assigned to drive her car as all got in the Suvs.

" They seem scarier than the four thugs." The old man paused when he saw her driver turn to the window and look at them. To be more specific, look at Bom.

" Do you know them?" the old man had asked as he watched the look the two men had exchanged. Something felt off about the way the driver looked at Bom. The driver was too smart not to pick on how Bom had been the one to save her from whatever situation she had called him to come pick her up from. All the questions he would save until she got enough rest, the driver had made sure to take a mental picture of Bom.

" What an entourage," the old man said as the cars left the station.

" She shouldn't be driving alone at night if she could have this type of security."

" Maybe she comes from a rich family. Maybe a rich husband"

" Did you see her ring? Definitely a rich husband. She is too beautiful not to have one." The old man from the counter went on talking while Bom started cleaning the table. The cigarette he lit and placed in between his lips, he was beyond ready to leave this place and end his night. The jacket he picked up, let alone put it on, he couldn't even bring it close to himself without smelling her perfume that was still lingering on it. The store he left a few minutes later, he had hoped this to be the last thing of his night but the moment he got in his car, his phone rang to bring him more things to do. The jacket he thrown to the back seat; Ctrl had called to inform him of all the items he needed by morning.

" Where is Jandi?"

" She is having a sleepover at Mrs Kims' ' Ctrl had said it so nonchalantly until he noticed the silence he got from Bom.

" Oh, sometimes she sleeps over there on the weekends. You know the girl , Eun. They spend a lot of time together. Mrs Kim said it was good for her and let her sleeps over."

" I see," was all Bom said before he hung up. In a span of two days, he had found out a lot about what Jandi had been doing with all her free time. The bonds she was forming with all these people, only he understood it to be too risky for the path they were on. But he knew not to call Mrs Kim and argue about it. She had the perfect answer to dismiss his claims. For now, he had worse things to worry about.

The girl he was worried about was not even remotely concerned about any of the things that occupied his mind as she lay next to Eun in their matching Pajamas; Mrs. Kim had given them money to get them. Not just the two-piece Pjs, but even the socks and the fluffy hair bows matched for their sleepovers. The opposite of Jandi, Eun was in charge of their outfits and preparing everything for their sleepovers. After the second one, Jandi learned to participate more and be in charge of making the snacks. Not just their nightly routine, their uniform and school supplies were perfectly folded and placed on her desks for tomorrow morning; everything in the room was in twos. The water bottles they were sipping their lemonade from, the snack boxes Eun had made them, and even the pillows were matched. The cozy room Eun was given, which they had turned into a nook; the whole floor was covered with the matters they had pulled to the floor to make a large floor bed. The roof Eun had painted with stars, and the night galaxy lamp they added to it had added the perfect night view of the sky on the roof. The window opened slightly to let the falling rain sound in; they were in their own world as they lay there facing the roof.

" So you talked about school and college and life, what else?" Eun, holding her hand up to make shadow signs on the wall, asked. The face mask glued to her face, she hated how she couldn't make any facial movement or reactions to what she was hearing about.

" Get to the juicy stuff," she suggested as she turned to face Jandi, who had found the moon Eun had painted on the roof interesting to stare at. .

" What is Juicy stuff"

" Did he hold your hand? Did you guys kiss? "

" OHHH, DID HE KISS YOU? '' Eun had jumped up right when she noticed a reaction from Jandi.

" HUSH" Jandi, sending both her hands to Eun's lips, tried silencing her while both glanced at the door they had locked. The towel they had stuffed to the bottom, they had made sure it was soundproof.
"Did he?' pushing Jandi's hands away, " Eun asked. Her body lifted up, and she sat crossing her legs. Her eager eyes were waiting for a response.

" yes' 'Jandi had whispered as she turned her eyes to the roof. The face mask she had on her face wasn't helping hide anything as the soft pink that was appearing on Jandi's face.

" OH My God"

" You kissed the school president." Both Eun's hands were used to start pushing Jandi around. Even though she knew they were close and she had even helped Jandi dress up for the dinner on Friday Eun was shocked to hear that the relationship between her new friend and Jihoo was a romantic one.

" How was it?"

" What kind of question was that?" Jandi tried to avoid even looking at Eun, trying to hide her smile by biting her lips. Any mention of anything related to Jihoo somehow gets her lips to part and smile at even the most ridiculous things.

" A question that needs an answer"

" Well?" her hands grabbing Jandi's face and holding her still, Eun asked.

"I don't

" Was he gentle and soft, or was it a passionate, aggressive kiss?" Eun listed all the options as she started acting them out. The laughs she was getting from Jandi, she had continued as she used the pillow as a prop.

" How do you know all about this?"

" I read a lot about it," was Eun's response.

" Now answer." she shook Jandi's face, trying to get her to focus.

" I don't know.

" I just know it felt nice" Jandi's shy whispers were too adorable.

" Ohhhhh," Eun squealing and kicking the pillow was the most endearing thing Jandi had seen, and she couldn't help but smile at the reaction she was getting. This was why she wanted to tell Eun. She was the only one who would be this excited about it and join Jandi in being happy about it. All she needed was somebody to be happy with her and Eun was doing more than that as she seemed way more excited about it than Jandi.

" He does look like he gives soft kisses"

" He does," Jandi whispered as a big smile took over her face. Her face she buried in the pillow, her feet kicking up in the air were a result of the memory of the wonderful kiss she would think about every minute of the day until the next one.

" Oh, look at you already raving about your boyfriend"

"Haha" Jandi laughed, the embarrassment and excitement that she couldn't hide needed to be managed. This was too much emotion for the girl, who didn't know how to process it, let alone know what to do with it. Thankfully the heavens had sent her a friend who would become an important part of the new part of her life she was entering.

" You are not even arguing that he is not your boyfriend anymore"

" He is n"
" Oh, please stop it. He officially is. You literally just had your first date" Eun confirming that this was a first date, was what Jandi needed to hear. Her eyes staring at the painted stars on the roof were moments away from crying happy tears as she accepted that she really was on a date with the boy who had become the man of her dreams. Someone had finally seen her as worthy of not only his time but affection. Not just someone but Jihoo. The happiness she couldn't contain wasn't just a result of him though. It was coming from a darker place where she had accepted that she didn't deserve to be liked let alone adored.

" You really have gotten the school president to be your boyfriend," Eun, who had guessed there was something going on since she heard the name come out of Jandi's lips a couple of times, was still in shock that this was true. One of the F4 boys likes Jandi, the odd girl who they all thought was mute. This was beyond shocking.

" I can't wait until school" Eun stopped herself. The dark thought that came in, she needed to stop it then. Now wasn't the time to be concerned about how anybody at that school would react to the news. Now was the time to be happy for her friend.

" So, are you going to introduce me to your BOYFRIEND?" her question had gotten her hit by the pillow.

" I can't wait until he starts spoiling you beyond imaginable" Eun started the wild scenarios they would spend the next hour talking and giggling about.

" Imagine you walking around saying yes, that's my boyfriend"

" I can't even imagine what date night would look like with him'' Eun leading the conversation they would spend the night giggling about, the reality of the world they lived in was forgotten about until Monday morning and they walked into the school.