[locked with you]

----

# CHAPTER 1

“You’re… still so tight…” he grunted as he thrust deeply into her…

He held her thighs, opening it wider just to accommodate his size… he doesn’t care if the girl under him is
suffering because of the excruciating pain his rough thrusts were giving… all he wants is for his needs to
be satisfied.

“Unngh… Jiyong… ahh… please not… too rough… it’s painful…” she pleaded as she arched her back and
push up her hips off the bed hoping that it would help ease the pain… she threw her head side by side as
his thrusts became faster and deeper.

“Arghh… you don’t have any rights… to complain… just shut the f*ck up… and enjoy the pleasure… uhhh…
I’m giving to you…” he said as he almost pulled out his member and then ramming deeply into her
causing her to scream in pain.

For him it maybe pleasure but for her it’s a suffering that she knows she will never get to escape from…

He massaged her breast roughly as he sucked and licked on her neck… leaving red marks on it… her hands
were just clawed on the bed sheets waiting for everything to end quickly… tears started to roll down from
the side of her eyes as the man above her continuously abuse her fragile body…

Since when did her life become like this…? Back then she was a happy, innocent girl… not until she met
him… all when she was married to him… to Kwon Jiyong…

Even though it’s only been a month since they were married… all she experience from him is nothing but
pain… not only physically but especially emotionally…

He’s the one who took away her virginity… her innocence in the least expected way.
---

She bit her lip suppressing any moans to got out from her mouth… he loves it when he hears her moans…
he noticed it when he felt her stiffened… he looked up to her and an evil smirk formed in his lips.

He held both of her cheeks with his hand, squeezing it to release her from biting her lip.

“Moan for me… I know you really like it…” he said before ramming hard in her…. He succeeded… a loud
moan escaped from her throat.

“Ungghh…! Jiyong… please stop…” she said between her moans… he really loves it when he sees her in
pain… he held her hips as his pace became faster… she moaned endlessly as she felt her insides
tightening….

“F*ck…! I’m going to come…!” he said as he made his last thrust… releasing his hot seeds inside her hole…

“Ughhh….!!!” he screamed as he completely came inside her… thrusting more to make sure he releases
everything….

He rested for a while… still on top of her and his member inside her… both of them are panting… the
sheets were drenched with their fluids and sweat…

Her eyes were half opened… totally tired from the night’s suffering… but he’s still not satisfied… maybe he
had a hard day today… maybe he and his lover got into a fight again.

He got up on his knees as he pulled the girl under him… he rolled her over… lying her on her stomach… he
shifted his position… now facing her back… he pulled up her bottom and penetrated from her back…

“Ahhh…! Jiyong…!” the girl screamed as he thrust in her hard… he held her hips to make her stay still
while the girl under him kept on panting and crying endlessly… her hands still gripping on the sheets…
seeking for help even though no one could help her….

Sobs and slapping of bodies were only could be heard inside the room…

“You… want this… right….ughhh… that’s why you agreed…. To marry me…! Answer me…!” he said
between his moans as he reached for her hair and pulled her to face him… the bed shook continuously as
he rammed in her wildly…

“No…!” she screamed… a smirk formed in his lips again… he thrust faster and deeper until her body
trembled from so much pain.

“I….uhhh...! Never expect me… to love you… slut…!” he said as he let go of her hair harshly and spread her
legs more as his thrusts fasten it’s pace….

“I… know…” she whispered… she couldn’t do anything about it… but to take every painful words he say….
He always makes her remember that he’ll never love her… she didn’t care if he doesn’t love her… all she
needs from him is a little respect…

He felt his inside tightening… hinting that he’s near his climax once again…. His pace became faster… as
the girl under him became lifeless… only moans and sobs could be heard from her…

“Ughhh…! Taeyon-ah…!” Finally… with his last full thrust, he shot all of his hot seeds in her again…
He collapsed on her back… panting and sweating… trying to regain his strength…

A last drop of tear came out from her eye… as she felt him pulling out from her and rolling to the other
side… his back facing her as he pulled the sheets to cover his body… he doesn’t even dare to check on her
if she’s okay…

Even a kiss to soothe her aching body was completely ignored for he already got what he wants from her
tonight…

She rolled to her side facing his back… she heard his snores indicating he’s already asleep.

“I’m Dara… you should have at least thinking of me whenever we do it…” she whispered not expecting an
answer from him…

She turned back as she wrapped herself with the blanket…. Curling herself into a ball… trying to suppress
her sobs afraid that it would wake him up and abuse her again.
# CHAPTER 2

She’s his wife… his body maybe belongs to her but his heart belongs to another woman… she can’t blame
him for loving someone… for even herself doesn’t feel that way to him… being in an arranged marriage at
such a young age made their lives completely changed.

She already knew that marriage without her consent will come eventually… but she never expected this
kind of suffering would come with it…

He thinks she ruined his life that’s why ruining hers would pay for it… she never knew he loves someone
not until they got married… he blamed her for everything and all she could do is to apologize to him…

She never felt respected by him… not when they’re parents are in sight… sometimes he would not go home
and spend the night to his lover’s house… she tried to understand him but with him calling her out with
names and ignoring her pleads makes it hard for her.
[Flashback]

“You have to marry him in order to save this family… Don’t you care about us…?” Her dad said after she
rejected the proposal of marrying the son of her father’s business partner…

She’s been living a happy life in abroad not until the news came that their business is having a big
trouble… they’re business is one of the country’s top corporations and because of the poor state of the
economy makes it weak….

Just like the Parks, the Kwons also has the same level as them… merging the two companies would help
each other in their current state.

Her elder sister already took part in a arrange marriage their parents set for her… being in a rich family is
not as happy as what others thinking about… all that Dara wants is freedom but now that it’s her turn to
be tied with someone she doesn’t even know makes that freedom more impossible.

If only she has the strength to oppose her family…. But she has to do it… she loves her family… her
parents never neglected them and their needs and maybe doing what her father wants would repay for
those they’ve done for her.

“Yes father… I’ll accept it…”

But she didn’t know that by accepting it would ruin someone else’s life.

[End of flashback]

The Kwon family has two sons… the eldest son was suppose to be wedded with her but her ran off years
ago because he can’t take being told of what to do… Dara doesn’t know anything about him.

Kwon Jiyong… the second son accepted all the responsibilities that his brother supposed to be having and
that includes marrying one of the daughters of the Parks.

It was already enough for him being the heir of their company… but marrying someone he doesn’t love
was too much for him.

He love someone else and being apart with her would ruin him… she’s the reason why he can overcome all
the hardship his responsibilities were giving him but when the news came up that he have to marry some
spoiled brat… he felt like his world would break apart.

[Flashback]

“Dad… please don’t do this to me… I’ll do anything that you want but please don’t let me marry someone I
don’t love…” He pleaded with all his might for many times since the news came up to him.

“Jiyong, this is the only way we could make our company stronger… if only your brother’s here…” His
father explained to him once again.

It was all about wealth… he can live without it but just by having the woman he loves would sustain his
life…

He tried to run off with his lover but his dad threatened him that he’ll do everything just to ruin the her
family.

“Taeyeon-ah… you’ll always be the woman that I’ll love… don’t ever think that because I’ll be tied with
someone, it means that I’m letting go of what we have… I just want to protect you…” he said to his lover
before facing the greatest mistake of his life.

[End of flashbacks]

The first time he saw her… all he felt was hatred… because of her everything around him changed… seeing
her face makes him remember of his brother and all the responsibilities he has to endure for his family.

He lost his chance to be with the one he truly loves and by making Dara’s life miserable would make him
feel that it would repay for it…

---

She woke up as she felt the warm rays of the sun touching her face…. As soon as she moved her body, she
felt the excruciating pain which was caused by last night’s deed.

She shifted her body to face the other side just to see the empty space beside her… it was always like that…
he would always not let her wake up with him beside her…
She sighed as she felt another disappointment… after a while of resting her aching body… she sat up
grabbing the blanket to cover her body… then she heard the bathroom’s door opened revealing him
freshly showered with a towel covering his lower body.

She knows he saw her but he just ignored her presence… not even a simple ‘good morning’ was not heard
from him… she didn’t dare talking or greeting him because she already knows that it would be just
useless.

Just a simple smile coming from him would make her day a little better but that hope completely vanished
when she saw her glared at her…

He walked towards their bed holding another towel… he sat on the edge as he started drying his hair with
the towel… she just sat behind him watching his every move… she admit that the first time she saw him,
he admired his beauty… every girl would want to be with him… but now that she’s with him all those
thoughts were completely a misjudgment.

Silence just filled the room not until he spoke up first.

“Are you still taking those pills…?” he said not looking at her but busy drying his hair

“Ye-yes...” she stuttered

“Good... because I don’t want to have a b@stard growing inside of you..” he said coldly…

A b@stard...? Her baby would just be a b@stard for him… for her, it’s really better not to conceive his
child because she knows her child would only be unwanted… and by having this man to be the father of
her child would be like accepting a devil’s invitation…

She would never make herself conceive without love… he doesn’t need to remind her regularly about those
things…

“What the f*ck are you sitting there…? Are you that stupid not to think of taking a bath…? My parents are
already waiting downstairs…!” he yelled at her as he threw her the towel he used to dry his hair.

She sighed again and as soon as he went to the walk-in-closet, she immediately wrap herself on the towel
and went to the bathroom to take a bath… she needed to wash every part that man has touched her… she
feels so dirty that she wanted to stay inside the bathroom for the whole day.

After she finished and got dressed… she immediately went downstairs… he didn’t even wait for her… she
went to the dining hall and was greeted by her in-laws… good thing they’re good to her… totally opposite
of their son.

They are living at his parents’ mansion since his parents are rarely home because of their business and
plus, he doesn’t want to care about finding them their own house since after all having a family with her
doesn’t exist in his mind.

“So Dara… starting today you’ll be attending the same university as Jiyong… everything is now settled
dear… all you have to do is to attend it…” her mother-in-law said… her family decided that she won’t be
studying in abroad anymore and just stick with her husband from now on…

“Yes mom..” is all that she could say… as if she could oppose them… she looked at Jiyong who’s in front of
her and the glare he gave her doesn’t escape her eyes.

She knows why he’s mad… he thinks that she’ll be a hindrance once again since now she’ll be attending
the same university with him and his lover… maybe that’s the reason why he and his lover got into a
fight… and maybe that’s why his anger was poured on her.
“Jiyong-ah… take care of your wife arasso…” his dad said looking at them over his newspaper wearing a
warm smile.

“Of course dad… since when I didn’t take care of her…” he said while looking at her wearing his evil smile
which brought shivers down to her spine.

She quickly looked down to her food and started eating… hoping that the time could just freeze and never
run so that she wouldn’t have to go with him and experience yet another suffering.
# CHAPTER 3

“Why of all universities, you have to study to where I am studying…”He glared at her who’s sitting beside
him…

They’re inside his family car heading to their campus… she remained quiet while looking outside the
window trying to distract herself by looking at the blue sky…. It’s so beautiful… she feels so peaceful just
by looking at it… the weather outside is nice… such a waste if she’ll bother herself listening to his hurtful
words.

“And first of all… why do you still need to study…? You’re just nothing now… Just a plain, stupid b!tch
who’s just suppose to stay at home and feed my needs…” He continued…

She sighed as she shifted her gaze away from the window… she caught the eyes of their driver who’s
watching them through the rear-view mirror.

Everyone at the mansion except for his parents knows how their young master treats her… they are all
worried about her… and wondering why can’t their young master treat Dara nicely even is she’s a very
kind lady.

They also know about his lover for he always brings her to the mansion back then… they know how he
sacrificed marrying someone else just to protect his lover… but it’s not enough reason for him to abuse his
wife.

----

Dara smiled to the old man driving, assuring him that she’s fine… one month of being with him is enough
to make her feel numb by his cruel words.

“What are you smiling about…? Do you find everything that I said funny…? Huh…?” He asked her as he
pulled her arm and gripped on it tightly which caused her to wince in pain.

“No… ah… Jiyong it hurts… I’m sorry…” she answered as she tried to pull his hand off of her… he
squeezed it one last time before letting her arm go roughly… she held her arm and caressed it as she saw it
slowly starting to bruise.

“B!tch…” she heard him muttered as he glanced outside the window.

She must not cry… not this early morning… not on this fine day… she only needs to bear it for more
minutes until they arrive at their campus… for there will be her temporary freedom… she had thought
about it… going to school wouldn’t be as bad as she first thought it would be… after all they have the
different courses…. She’s in arts while he’s in business… totally away from each other.

All she has to do now is to make some new friends… since all of her friends are in abroad, she doesn’t
know anyone aside from Jiyong.

After a while they finally arrived… she sighed once again…now in relief… at last some freedom… at last
she’ll got to do what she wants for the meantime…

As soon as the car stopped, he immediately got off without even bidding goodbye to her… the driver
opened the door for her and supported her from going out.

“Thank you Mr. Lee…” she said to the old man… she heard him sighed as he reached for her almost
bruised arm.

“The young master is really going too far…” he said… she just smiled as she tapped his shoulder.

“I’m fine Mr. Lee… this is nothing… maybe he’s just in a bad mood today…” she said… he released her arm
and forced back a smile to her.

“You’re still covering up for him…I wish he could see that he’s missing someone like you in his life… I feel
sorry that you got to marry someone like him…”

It always warms her heart whenever she hears but it also falls her into thinking that she stole his
opportunity for him to be with his love and it makes her feel that she deserves everything that he’s been
doing to her… and... maybe her life is planned to be that way.

She doesn’t know about falling in love… she knows he’s in pain and those rough attitude he’s showing
towards her is an evidence of it and by seeing him like that makes her want not to fall in love with
someone… she doesn’t want to feel the same pain he’s feeling… it’s enough for her the sufferings he’s
giving her…

She also had realized that falling in love and suffered from it could make someone turn into another
person…he’s the best example of it… she have heard that back then he’s a really nice man…. Always happy
especially when his lover’s around… always giddy just by the mention of her name… it would be great if
he’s still like that now… but everything had changed when she entered the picture.

---

“I have to go now Mr. Lee… I still have to find my room…” she said as she started her tracks ad waved
back to the old man.

“Good luck on your first day Lady…” he waved back… she waited for the car to drove off first…A smile
crept on her face as thoughts of creating a wonderful day filled her mind.

[Dara’s POV]

So what if Jiyong’s in the same campus as mine…? This place is so big that it’s impossible for our ways to
meet…. I am too drown in my thoughts that I forgot paying attention to my tracks…

BAM..!

I stumbled on a rock…! I completely fell flat on the ground…! What does a rock doing on a cemented
floor…? Maybe I spoke too early about having a wonderful day…

“Ouch…” I mumbled as I felt pain on my knee… I looked around and saw my things scattered…. People
are now staring at me… This is so embarrassing…!

“Are you just going to lie down there forever…?” I heard someone said behind me… I tried to look back…
but I didn’t saw his face immediately because of the sun… not until he blocked its rays…

A calm, handsome face welcomed me… he looked tough because of the Mohawk style of his hair… Then
something hit me… I think I’ve seen him before… but the thought washed away when I saw him creased
his forehead… his eyes turned into tiny slits… he looks cute…

“You really don’t have any plan on getting up eh…?” He said…. Oh my…! I completely forgot myself…

I immediately supported myself with both of my hands as I stood up… and once I got up, I felt the sting in
my knee… I saw him got my things… he approached me again with an expressionless face.

“Here” he simply said as he gave me my things.

“Thanks…” I answered… he just nodded and started to walk away from me…

‘I thought he’s nice… he’s cold after all…’ I thought.

I started to walk but then the pain in my knee grew worse… I couldn’t even make another step… I don’t
know if I wounded myself inside my pants… I tried to walk again but then I failed and I almost fell again
when out of nowhere a strong arm caught me by the waist before I landed the cold ground..

I looked to where it came from… and surprised to see him again… he brought me up and held tightly on
my waist… our bodies so close to each other that I could feel his warmth…

“Hold on to me… I’ll bring you to the infirmary…” he said not looking at me… I was just dumbfounded and
didn’t even hear what he said… I’m just too occupied with my thoughts… I could feel my heart suddenly
racing when he looked at me… our faces are just inches away from each other.

“Aishht…” he said… as he grab my other arm and put it over his shoulder… twhile my other arm is still
holding onto my things… we started to walk inside the campus.

I looked at his face and think that I really saw him from before… but I’m sure not in the states… I’m too
focused on looking at his figure and remembering where I saw him…

“What…? Is there a dirt on my face…?” he said looking down at me as he raised a brow… I find him cute
when he did that.

“No… I’m sorry…” I quickly looked away… it was absurd of me to be watching him.

After a while we finally reached the university’s clinic… he still supported me in and sat me on the bed as
the nurse instructed him to do so.

“Thank you… again…” I said.

“You owe me…” he said in a serious tone.

“Huh…?” I was surprised with what he said… then he suddenly chuckled

“Just kidding…”

We stared at each other for a while…not until the nurse came back with the first aid kit on her hands.

“I have to go…” he suddenly said as he immediately turned back and headed out not waiting for my
answer… he’s strange… I even forgot to ask his name to properly thank him.

Just as I thought… I wounded myself on the knee because of that fall… after the nurse tended my wound…
I quickly headed out and went to my first class… I’m sure I’m already late…! Late for my first class and
especially on my first day…! What a nice impression I could give them. After a while, I finally found my
room…
“Good luck…!” I cheered myself… did I hear someone chuckled…? I looked around but then didn’t find
someone... I sighed deeply before entering…

“Ms. Kwon… You’re late…” the professor said….

“I’m sorry ma’am…” I said as I went to a seat…

I could hear some of the students whispering about me… maybe they already know about my marriage
with Jiyong… I know this will come once I stepped on the same school as his… I’m still not used to be
called Kwon since the people in the mansion just call me Lady… But that’s what I am now so I must get
used to it.

“Mr. Dong… it’s your first time to be late in my class…” I immediately shifted my gaze to the guy who
entered the room… he’s the same guy who helped me…! He’s at the same class as me…?

“Sorry… I helped some clumsy kitten on the way here…” he said… am I the one he’s talking about…? But
still… he shouldn’t be late since he just dropped me off at the clinic and headed out quickly…

“Fine… fine… just take a seat…” our professor told him… I eyed him as he slowly approached me and sat
next to me I don't know if he had seen me... and then he suddenly turned to me.

“Good luck…” he said as he flashed me a big grin then shifted his gaze back to the board.

“Eh…?” he left me dumbfounded.

# CHAPTER 4

Youngbae… Dong Youngbae….

Now I remembered where I saw you… I’m sure you’re one of his friends… You were at my wedding… but
we never got to talk to each other… Now I realized that you were the one who played that beautiful song
that keeps playing in my head until now…

How I didn’t paid attention to anyone that day… How I really wanted to know who played that song back
then… that song which somehow calmed my aching heart for awhile… it was you all along… such a waste
that we didn’t have the chance to be introduced to each other…

---

It’s just that I’m wondering why didn’t he tell me that he already knows me… did he forget that I’m his
friend’s wife…?

He’s strange… after he wished me luck, he didn’t spoke to me after that… he remained quiet and I can’t
help that once in a while I would steal glances at him… he’s now having that serious face in his face
again…

The class ended without him talking to me again… he got out of the room quickly… I want to ask him if he
could remember me but he immediately left… maybe he’s just the same as his friend… maybe it runs in
their blood… they’re all so cold.

I sighed… for I thought I would finally have my first friend in this campus… I guess he just don’t like me
just like him…

I feel so isolated… nobody wants to approach me or even talk to me… I don’t know if it’s just me or are
they really ignoring me… at least I got to manage surviving two more classes before the break without
anyone to talk to…

I limped along the hallway making my way towards the cafeteria… my mind filled with different
thoughts… is something wrong with me…? Do I have bad breath or something…? Why can’t I make
friends just like back in abroad…? I really want this day to be great…

After I bought my food… I started looking for a place to eat… the benches are all occupied… they are all in
groups which makes me feel really envious… I walked a while still trying to find myself a space… I went
outside the campus and finally found a place for me under a tree…

I started eating while looking around… watching people as they’re having fun lunch with their group…
feeling the breeze as it started to enveloped me… at least the wind wants to join me in my solitude…

I don’t want to go back inside… I know that it’s still my first day… that maybe as day pass by I could finally
have my group of friends… but the feeling is different… this place also reminds me of the mansion… his
mansion which locking me up from happiness and bringing me into deep loneliness…

I suddenly lost my appetite… as soon as I saw ‘him’ from afar… why of all people I have to see him… he’s
with Youngbae… walking towards someone… I saw a smile crept into his lips… I think it’s the first time I
saw him do that… his smile somehow brings warmth inside my chest… how I wish he could smile like that
in front of me…

I saw him approaching someone… his smile grew bigger until he reached that ‘someone’… somehow I
knew who it is… it’s his lover… my heart skipped a bit when I saw him hugging her from behind… only I
could see their backs not until they shifted their position…

How affectionate he can be with her... how sweet he can be... I wish that once he could be like that to me...
even just a simple kindness from him would be enough.

So she’s his Taeyeon… even from afar I could see that she’s a beauty… her porcelain complexion stands
out the most… her brown long hair and her slender body… the way she smiles could melt any man’s
heart… she’s perfect… no wonder he fell for her… I couldn't help but to envy her.

I saw him resting his head on her shoulder whispering something in her ears which made her laugh, his
arms wrapped around her waist … their friends started to surround them including Youngbae… all of
them are having a good time… Even her friends like her so much...

I found myself stiffened while watching them… he released her from his hold only to reach for her hand
and intertwined it with his… his smile never left his lips not until he saw me watching them… I saw him
frowned… his face became sour… I can’t help but to feel guilty for ruining his mood…

He quickly looked away as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder… threw a deadly glare on me before
walking away with her… I just bowed my head as if I’ve committed a crime for watching them… after a
while I looked up only to see that they’re already far… I sighed once again… I wonder if he’ll punish me
later once we got home…

Then something… no someone caught my eye… I saw Youngbae slowly approaching me… I fidgeted on my
position trying to stand up and just leave before he could reach me… but I was too late… he’s now
standing in front of me looking down at me… silence… just silence…

Did he see me looking at them earlier…? Did he see how stupid I looked like watching my husband with
another woman… did he see how pathetic I look like now being alone…

“Uhmmm… hi…”

I managed to say while looking up at him… he’s just wearing that still serious face…. He didn’t answer but
just bend down to meet my face… I somehow got startled on how our faces were now inches away from
each other so I quickly pulled my head back a little…

I saw him got his handkerchief from his pocket… I just watch him… then he wiped off something at the
side of my mouth… he didn’t say anything but just continued what he’s doing… he’s really strange….

“Th- thanks…”

Is all I could manage to say… he just looked at me then shifted himself and sat beside me… I heard him
sighed… I turned to him and gathered my voice to speak up.

“What are you doing here Youngbae-sshi…?” I asked him… he didn’t look back at me but continued
looking afar.

“Did you know that an average person falls in love seven times before marriage…?” he suddenly said…

“Eh…?"

“That two out of five have married their first love…”

“Huh…?”

He still continued and didn’t pay attention to me… he’s really freaking me out… why is he saying these
things…? I reached for his arm to make him stop.

“Oh… you’re here…?” He turned to me finally... his eyes widened as if he’s really surprised to see me.

“Huh…? Yes I am… you’re the one who approached me first… can’t you remember…?”

I let go of his arm… I could feel my forehead creasing because of this weird man… then suddenly, I saw
him slowly smiling.

“Ah really…? But I got here first…”

He said raising his brow… I can’t believe this guy… is he playing with me…? This conversation’s becoming
pointless… I think something’s wrong with his mind… I rolled my eyes and decided to just leave… I
grabbed my things and started to stand up but then he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me to sit
down again… I was surprise again… I almost fell down on him but he managed to hold onto my shoulders
and sat me down.

“Where are you going…?” he asked me

“I should just go… coz it seems like you’re just playing with me…”

“Why’d you think so…?”

He said with his serious tone… here he go again…. I just stared at him while pouting… I don’t want to talk
to him so the best thing is to just keep quiet…. Then he began chuckling.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to piss you… it’s just that you look all serious…”

“No I am not…”

“Yes you are…”

Silence… We looked at each other and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with his stare… so I was the one
who broke the silence first.
“So you came here just because I look serious…?

“Hmmm…. Yeah… I was bored then I saw you…”

“But I saw you with your friends…”

“So you were watching me…?” he said teasingly

“No I am not…!” as I looked away… I could feel my cheeks burning with his constant staring…

“Why are you blushing…?”

“No I am not…!” I pouted…. Why did he suddenly turn out like this…?

And then silence again… I still didn’t dare to look at him because I could still feel him looking at me…

“I don’t want to go back in there… Can you stay here with me…” he suddenly said as he rested his arms
behind his head and leaned back on the tree.

“Why…?” I finally turned to him

“It’s so boring in there…” he said as he closed his eyes… I looked at him and can't help but to admire his
beauty... I sighed once again.

I decided to stay… we heard the bell rang indicating that the class is now starting… I can't believe that I
cut class in my first day… but somehow I don’t regret it… somehow I like to just stay here with him. I also
leaned my back on the tree while looking around as people around us starting to lessen until we’re the
only ones left.

“Youngbae-sshi…” I called him

“Hmmm…?”

“Do you remember me…?”

“Hmmm…? What do you mean…?” he said still his eyes closed… can’t he really remember me..?

“Well… you played a song for my wedding… and I really liked it.... can’t you remember that…?”

He didn’t answer back… I didn’t talk anymore… silence consumed us again… maybe he’s already
sleeping… after a while… I could feel myself slowly drowsing… my eyes slowly closed and the next thing I
know is I fell into a deep sleep.

‘You were really beautiful that day…’

‘I wish I was him…’

‘I wish I am the one who’s supposed to be with you right now…’

‘Am I dreaming…? Who’s saying those things…?’

Then suddenly I felt something soft and wet landed on my lips… I slowly opened my eyes just to see
nothing… I quickly looked at my side and Youngbae’s not there anymore…

The sun is starting to set… I looked at my watch and it’s already five thirty in the afternoon… why didn’t
he wake me up…? He just left me here… that weird guy…
My phone started to ring… I quickly checked it and found that Jiyong’s calling me…My heart began to
thump hard as I started to feel nervous…

“Hey…! Where are you…?! Can’t you see that it’s already time to go home…?!”

“Uhmm Jiyong… I’m sorry… I’ll go there now…”

“Be quick or I’ll leave you b!tch…”

And with that he hanged up… I quickly stood up and ran even my knee’s still in sore… I don’t know the
way home… I’m afraid that he’ll leave me… After a while I reached the car… Mr. Lee opened the door for
me and I saw him already inside… I could see that he’s angry… well… since when did I saw him not being
angry…

I sat beside him but enough not to touch any part of him since he doesn’t like me being close to him… I
just kept quiet until Mr. Lee started the car and head home… I know why he’s angry right now… maybe it’s
because he can’t stay at his lover tonight because his parents are at home… they’ll definitely ask him why
he didn’t spend the night at the mansion.

The silence is too deafening... I find it weird for him not to hear any of his rants... maybe even ranting is
not in his mood right now... then suddenly he broke the silence.

“So… you had fun flirting with my friend…?” he stared at me coldly.

# CHAPTER 5

“So… you had fun flirting with my friend…?” he stared at me coldly

“Wha-…. What are you talking about…?”

He glared at her before turning his gaze outside the window… honestly he doesn’t know why he suddenly
got angry about it… Youngbae suddenly went missing when they were having fun earlier… then when he
looked for him… he saw Youngbae together with his wife, wiping off something on her face…

It made him curious… how did his wife knew about Youngbae…? yes… he was on their wedding but he
didn’t get to see them being introduced with each other… He really couldn’t help but to feel angry seeing
them together… maybe he just doesn’t want to see someone taking care of her.

“Don’t play innocent… you whore… cheating behind your husband’s back eh…? Fine…! F*ck around…! I
don’t give a damn peeinmypants about it…!”

It struck her hard… how could he accuse her of something she didn’t do…? When the real thing is he’s the
one doing it… She felt her chest tightened as she suppress herself from crying… no she’s not going to cry…
she had enough of it… one month of torture is now enough…

“Don’t accuse me of something you do…” she mumbled but was he was able to hear it.

“What… what did you say…?” he grabbed her by the arm but she didn’t answer… he was about to ask her
again when the car stopped.

“Uhhmmm…. Young master, lady… we’re already here…” Mr. Lee told them…
Mr. Lee feels nervous now of what will happen to his Lady… he could feel the tension between them and
it’s his first time to hear her answer back to his Young master… for him it’s the right thing for her to do
that especially with him accusing her with something his Lady would never do…

But with what he could feel in his Young master right now makes him wished that the Lady should’ve not
answered back.

Dara struggled from his hold and she was able to escape… she immediately got out of the car and went
directly inside the mansion… his anger grew more when she did that… he quickly trailed behind her… he
sure is going to punish her right now.

“Young master… your parents told us that they won’t be able to spend the night here…”

A maid told him nervously as soon as he got into the mansion… the people inside the mansion could feel
him fuming… without his parents now in the mansion would give him more chance to punish the hell out
of her… she ran towards their bedroom… and she knows she would be punished for what she did but it
didn’t make her feel nervous about it…

After a while he arrived at their room… the maids outside were already whispering with each other and
praying that their Lady would get through to his another punishment… he slammed the door real hard
which caused her to jump a bit.

He quickly marched towards her when he saw that it's as if she didn’t heard him… he pushed her hard but
she was able to control herself from falling… she held on one table and looked straight at him… she could
see him getting red in so much anger.

“Don’t you ever f*cking walk out from me when I am still talking to you…!”

He gripped her arm once again so tight that she felt so much pain but didn’t let him know… she just look
at him and didn’t answer back.

“What are you looking at b!tch…?! Answer me…! What did you say earlier…?!”

He cupped her face tightly with his other hand… she really had enough… all she could feel right now is
hate… hate for him for doing these things to her… to his wife… and hate for herself for letting him have his
way for one whole month. She slapped his hand away from her face… his eyes widen with her sudden
action.

“I’ve had enough Jiyong…! I’ve had enough of you calling me names and I’ve had enough of you abusing
me where in the first place I didn’t deserve…! Did you ever think I like being with you right now..? Did you
ever think that I didn’t plan these things to happen…?! We’re just on the same boat Jiyong…! I-…”

SLAP…!

He slapped her really hard across her face… it was the first time he did that to her… he don’t know why
but he just did it… even he too was shock with what he did but shook the thoughts away thinking that he
did the right thing…

Her face bruised immediately… she felt the stung at the side of her lips… it started to bleed… her tears
finally escaped her eyes… she remained stiffened… her face turned to the other side… she was shock…
unable to move… unable to protect herself.

He gripped her by her shoulder and then pushed her down at the edge of their bed lying on her stomach…
she didn’t say anything as her tears continued to roll down…

“When did you learn to talk so much huh…?”

He unbuckled his belt… grabbed her hands then tied it behind her back… he unbuttoned her pants and
pulled it down to her knees roughly… Her face turned to the other side… looking outside the window… the
sun is already setting out… their room starting to get dark as the sky painted itself with its most bitter
color… as if it’s joining her with her deepest torment right now…

He pulled down his pants along with his boxers… he kneeled behind her as he parted her legs with his
knee… and without further signal he rammed deep inside her…

“Ahhhhhh…!”

She let out a painful scream after a long silence from her… she’s dry and tight which made his thrust
brutally painful… she tried to struggle but with her both hands tied, it was impossible for her.

“F*cking…. So tight…!”

He held her hips as he continued his hard thrusts… he’s definitely mad that’s why he’s doing it… he’s mad
because he saw her with another guy, he’s mad because she dared to answer him back and he’s mad
because all she said was true….

Now he doesn’t know why he’s torturing her… It seems that his reasons are becoming unreasonable as day
pass by… but seeing her in pain makes him happy… or does it…?

He wants to get away from everything… and by pouring everything on her helps him… once again, he
shook away the thoughts… he would never succumb to her… he would still stand to his beliefs that she’s
one of the reasons why his life is in wreck right now.

He thrusts endlessly… blood started to trail down in her inner thighs… she moaned in pain but it’s as if he
didn’t hear anything.

“You like this right… is it because of this that’s why you’re getting b!tchy now..? Are you jealous to see me
with her earlier…?”

She didn’t answer but instead continued to cry out her pain... He pulled her hair to lift her head… he
grabbed her chin and made her turn to him and with that he crushed his lips on hers forcing his tongue
inside her mouth…

For one whole month they’ve been doing this… it’s his first time kissing her… well only except for their
wedding where they are forced to do it… he never dared to kiss her for he thinks he it’s a sign of his
affection towards her which he didn’t want her to think… but now… he doesn’t know why he did it… is it
because he saw his friend kissing her earlier…?
“Mmmmph…”

She struggled away from his mouth for she had the need to breathe… he continued abusing her mouth
until he too needs the air… he continued thrusting inside and out of her… faster and deeper as each time
passed… he let go of her chin then held her hips again.

“Uh…. Uh… uh… please… please stop…”

She pleaded at last… the pain now is really unbearable… he slowed his thrust but didn’t stop… she could
feel herself getting dizzy… both of them are now sweating… drenching both of their clothes… minutes or
maybe an hour has already passed but he still didn’t stop… she’s very exhausted by now but he didn’t care.

“Uh… uh…. I… hate you… Kwon Jiyong...”

She mumbled will all the strength she has…His pace became faster again as he felt himself getting nearer
onto his climax… his knees were now numb… she already had her orgasms out for couple of times earlier
and now she could feel herself releasing once again.

“Uhhhh…!!!”

He screamed as he leaned down on her back… gripped tightly on her hips and released everything filling
her up to the brim… she too released as the same time as him but too tired to scream more… he thrusts a
couple of times ensuring that he released everything… with his last thrust, she didn’t take it anymore… her
eyes slowly closed for she already fainted.

He collapsed on her back and didn’t have any idea that she’s already unconscious… he panted as he rest
himself on her back for a while… his member is still inside of her… when he had his strength back… he
noticed that she’s not moving anymore… he didn’t even hear her pant or screamed when she released.

He slowly pulled himself out pulling his pants up once again… their fluids started to streamed down from
her together with some of her blood… when he saw it he couldn’t help but to feel a little guilty… he shook
her but she didn’t budge… he unclasped his belt that was tied on her wrists and as soon as it’s free her
hands just fell down on her side… both were totally bruised from the tight grip…

Her creamy complexion got tainted because of him… his heart began to race hard when he saw her
unconscious… he pulled her body up from the bed… wrapped her body within his arm as he gently slap
her cheeks to wake her up.

“Dara… what’s happening to you…?”

He admits… at last he felt nervous… since it’s her first time to faint while them doing it… she remained
unconscious no matter what he do… he also saw her wound at the side of her lips…

“F*ck…”

He sighed deeply cursing himself because of the little guilt he’s feeling right now… he first pulled her
pants completely out of her because it’s also now drenched with some of her blood… he pulled the blanket
on his bed and covered her body with it..
He carried her bridal style and laid her down on the bed… it’s his first time seeing her asleep for he never
dared to look at her after they do it or whenever he wakes up before her.

He again… for the nth time admits that for the first time he noticed her beauty… her smooth face… plump
lips… was all ignored by him back then… then suddenly out of nowhere… he felt his heart skip a beat…as
he found himself gazing at her for already a while… he closed his eyes to refrain himself from feeling
something weird.

He shouldn’t be feeling this way… he has no right to feel this way… especially towards her… he sighed
once again… creasing his forehead and trying to set his mind to what he really wants… and that is to make
her life miserable just with what his life right now.

But when he opened his eyes… her face immediately welcomed him… he buried his face on his palm as he
turned around… he sat at the edge of the bed and run his hands over his hair… he feels really frustrated
right now…

Does he really want to torture her…? Or is it just his bitterness makes him do it…?

“Damn it…!”

He cursed once again… just this night… only for this night he’ll forget about being in his bitterest self… he
stood up and turned to her once again… he saw how drenched her shirt is because of her sweat… he
climbed on the bed and slowly pulled her shirt off from her… leaving her only with her bra…

He laid her down on the bed once again and covered her with the blanket…brushed away some of her
hairs away from her sweaty face then found himself watching her once again… he gulped down before
turning away…

This weird feeling doesn’t help him… he quickly stood up and took a bath… he found her still sleeping
after it… he changed into another set of clothes and decided not to spend the night at the mansion…

He doesn’t know what will happen to him if he’ll stay more… and plus… his parents won’t be home so it
means he will have a chance to be with Taeyeon… his lover… his only love… he glanced at her one last time
before leaving the room.

“Tend her wounds and prepare a hot bath for her as soon as she wakes up…”

He told one of the maids before he left the mansion.

# CHAPTER 6

I feel so tired…. I want to give up now… physically and emotionally, I’m all worn out… Maybe it’s wrong to
hope that he’ll change someday… maybe it’s wrong to fight for myself because in the end he’ll be the same
devil I knew… I will be forever locked with him… forever be tortured by the same man I gave my vows
to…

“Lady… Lady Dara…”

I heard someone calling my name… does it mean I’m still alive…? Maybe I’m just exaggerating about
dying… I know I won’t die just like that… but maybe it would be better if I did…
I slowly opened my eyes as I felt something warm touched my cheeks… I made a weak smile as I saw some
of the maids surrounding me… they all looked worried… I feel so helpless and stupid… I hate it when
people pity me… but right now I couldn’t help but to accept their sympathy… I feel so useless… incapable
of protecting myself.

“Lady… you haven’t eaten yet since last night…”

One of the maids spoke… after she said that, I quickly felt the emptiness in my stomach together with my
aching body.

“What time is it…?” I asked weakly

“It’s already time for lunch… we think you have to eat now to regain your strength…”

I noticed the first aid kit that they brought… slowly I reached for my bruised lips and felt the little band
aid attached to it.

“Thanks…”

Is the only thing I could say… they already knew what I meant and they just bowed… gently, I tried to sit
up… then an excruciating pain struck my lower abdomen.

“Uhhh…!”

I moaned in pain… the maids quickly went to me and supported me to sit up… I found my self only with
my bra so I covered my body with the blanket… then there I realized that he’s not here anymore… well
since when he waited for me to wake up…?

“Lady… The young master left last night… he told us to tend your wounds and prepare a hot bath for you
after you wake up…”

One of the maids said… really…? He has the guts to say that…? His stomach took it when he said that…?
Since when did he care for my aching body…? Is it the kindness I’ve been waiting for…? But no… after
what he did, it’ll be impossible for a sudden kindness from him…

Then I remembered…! I have classes today…! I already skipped my morning classes…! And if I don’t
attend the afternoon classes, it’ll be my second time skipping it…! So without any thinking, I grabbed the
blanket to cover myself and quickly jumped out from the bed…

I forgot my aching body so as I made my first step, great pain tingled my whole body which caused me to
crash down…

“Oh my God Lady…! You’re still weak…! You should just rest…”

They all went to help me and sat me again on the bed… I told them that I’ll definitely feel better after the
hot bath… I can’t miss my class today… so even they don’t want me to go… in the end they helped me to
stand up and get to the bathroom…

He really went far last night… my legs were both numb… I saw some blotches of my blood on the bed …
my inner thighs felt like hell… the maids helped me to clean myself… I feel really filthy… he, my husband…
raped me again…

I wanted to cry… but as much as I want to, nothing came out from my eyes… I don’t even care if the maids
would see my pathetic self but tears won’t really come out… maybe even my eyes are too tired already
from crying…

After a while… I told the maids to leave me for I could feel myself getting better… I want to drown myself
in this tub… if I die now, would he be guilty…? Will it hunt him till he dies…?

As much as I want to hurt him back… I can’t… I don’t know… but I can’t… thinking that he’s already hurt
and by me adding to his pain would be too much punishment for him… I’m so stupid… so weak that I can’t
even decide for myself… so weak that I can’t make myself to get back to him.

After the long hot bath… I checked myself in the mirror… I pity the girl in front of me… I want to help her
but I’m too frail to do that… maybe to others he’s the one torturing me… but in reality… I am the one
who’s torturing myself… since when did I became a masochist…? Just by the thought of that, a bitter smile
crept on my bruised lips.

I went to my closet and dressed up… I couldn’t even wear pants today because it’s still painful down
there… instead I wore some yellow dress I found in my closet… the length is up to my knee which revealed
the bruised I got yesterday… never in my life I have wished to collect bruises but I guess marrying a devil
would make me to expect more.

I went back in front of the mirror and took off the band aid at the side of my lips... covering up the bruise
with powder… I put on some blush on to cover up the paleness of my face… it’s never been my habit to
prepare myself whenever I go out but I can’t also show the people how feeble I look like.

I sighed… another from my best habits… another day… I wonder what more pain this day would give
me…?

I quickly went downstairs to eat… to fill myself up with the strength I would need to battle this new day…
my stomach feels so empty and yet it won’t accept any food I take… I have to push everything by drinking
water in each and every swallow I make… even by eating… it’s still a torture.

I went outside and Mr. Lee welcomed me with a warm and pitiable smile… I just gave him back a weak
smile for that’s the only move my strength could give me… I didn’t spoke and quickly entered the car… It’s
been a complete silence throughout the ride… I never liked silence but I’m too drained to speak…. It’ll still
be a long day ahead, and I don’t want to waste the remaining strength I have.

We finally arrived… I bid goodbye without uttering a single word… just a nod and a weak smile… I’m sorry
Mr. Lee but I’m too tired to be myself… I don’t know but once I made my way to the campus, people
started to look at me… I just continued to walk my way trying to ignore their stares… I hated too much
attention…

Back in abroad, it was my life to be the center of attention… it freaks me out but I can’t help but just go
with the flow… I never thought that until here it would be the same… but still, why can’t I make new
friends here…?

“So… you’re Kwon Jiyong’s wife…?”

Someone suddenly asked me when I took my seat on my class… the professor isn’t here yet… once I
stepped in the room… people started to look at me just like what happened outside… I just ignored them
all… I’m not trying to be cold but their stares make me so uncomfortable…

I realized that Youngbae isn’t in this class… I feel a little disappointed for aside from Jiyong, he’s the only
person I know here… even if he’s a little weird, I still feel happy with his company… maybe this time… it’s
my turn to seek for just a little attention.

I turned around to see who asked me that… I saw tanned cute girl with a long brown hair… her eyes were
just tiny slits… which were very cute.

“Yes… I am…”

'Unfortunately'… I simply told her… I saw her lips turned into a big grin as she lifted her right hand and
offered me a handshake… I looked at her hand then back to her face… and slowly I reached for her it and
accepted her handshake… her hand’s so warm and soft… I felt like my strength suddenly boosts up… and
my lips turned into a big smile .

“I’m Lee Chaerin… but you can call me CL…”

She said… our hands both parted but her grin didn’t vanish... then I realized, I have to tell her back my
name.

“I- I’m Sandara… Dara… you can just call me Dara…”

I saw my other classmates looking at us… and as if they’re trying to listen with every word that I say, for
everyone suddenly went quiet when I started to speak… Is this campus really this weird…?

“Oh… Sandara… what a unique name…! You’re so beautiful Dara…! No wonder Kwon Jiyong married
you…”

She exclaimed it out loud enough for the whole class to hear… I slowly glanced around and saw some of
them nodding in agreement while the others… I don’t know if it’s just me or did I really saw them raised
their eyebrows and snubbed me.

‘You’re so beautiful…’

‘No wonder Kwon Jiyong married you…’

It keeps on ringing in my head… it’s not the first time I heard about it… if only CL knew if only those
people knew… if she found the beauty in me… if the people inside this room found it too… I wonder why
Jiyong never dared to appreciate that beauty …. I wonder why every time he looks at me… his eyes were
full of hate and disgusts… only in his eyes, I feel like I’m the most hideous creature living.

Doesn’t she know that he has someone he loves…? And as if she read what I am thinking she suddenly
continued.

“But Dara… about Jiyong-sshi’s-“

I saw her face turned into a worried one… But before she could tell me what she’s about to tell me, the
professor came and everyone in the class went back to their normal routines… the class started but
somehow I’m bothered with what CL wants to tell me…

After the whole five hours of class… it’s finally time to go home…I don’t want to go back there… it’s as if
there’ll be something good that will happen once I go back home… I still didn’t get to see him this whole
day…but it’s better to be that way than always being in pain whenever we see each other.

I’m grateful that somehow I found myself someone to talk to now… CL is really a nice person… does it
mean I finally found a new friend…? We went outside the room together and walked our way out of the
campus… she talked to me about different things… I can’t help but to also ask her about 'his' lover… at
first she hesitated to tell me about it because she’s concerned about my feelings… but in the end I still
manage to make her tell me things about 'her'.

So that’s why people in my college and in my class don’t want to approach me… they think that I stole him
from her… even the people in this school loves her… I can't help but... It’s my first to really envy
someone… maybe it's the time in my life to be hated by the people around me for something I didn't
decide to happen.

“But how about you CL…? Don’t you think I also stole him from her…?”

I asked CL once we’re finally out of the campus… I saw her smile and reached for my hand.
“I don’t know… you tell me…?”

She said then she chuckled… she then held my hand tighter

“Just kidding… I know that you’re a good person… everyone of us has the point in their life wherein we’re
stuck in a situation that we can’t escape to… I know that you didn’t plan everything that has been
happening right now Dara… so I don’t have any rights to blame anyone especially you… everyone of us
deserves happiness and I wish that even in your situation right now… you could still find the happiness
that you deserves…”

Why…? Why does it feel like she could read me…? As far as I can remember, I only met her earlier… am I
that shallow that anyone could read me…? Why does every of her word bring more pain to my already
aching heart…?

Happiness…? Should I really deserve it now…? But he… who locked me made me feel that I don’t deserve
it… everyone deserves happiness…? But I am not everyone… in the end there will be always an exception
to that everyone…

“Thanks…”

My voice is shaking… I know I wanted to cry but until now, no tears wanted to come out… maybe they do
not want to wash away these pain that I am feeling right now… my body is starting to torture itself once
again…

“If you need someone… I’ll be just by your side Dara… I like you… I really do…”

She said… she then out of the blue… hugged me… this warmth… I’ve been missing this kind of warmth…
the warmth of friendship that I’ve been craving for… please don’t go… please don’t let go… I wish this
warmth would take away those cold pains and loneliness and exchange it to the happiness she’s been
telling me about… so that I could convince myself that somehow I deserve it.

But no… that warmth is only temporary… she then released me from her hug… maybe it’s time for her to
go… maybe my temporary warmth needs to go back to her life and me back to the prison I deserve to live.

“See you tomorrow Dara…”

She bids her goodbye… I just nodded and forced a weak smile… we went to separate directions as my
mind still flowing somewhere… the sun is already setting out… but not like yesterday… I can’t feel the
bitterness the sky has giving… maybe because of CL’s warm company that I didn’t feel the upcoming
coldness of the night…

I started my tracks… totally feeling down that I have to go back to that place… is he going to be there…? I
really don’t want to see him right now… Then suddenly… the silence of the place got broke when someone
called me… well at least I think it’s me it’s calling.

“Hey…”

I looked back and saw him again… Youngbae… what is he doing here…?

“Hey…”

I answered back… he slowly went towards me… why is it whenever I see him… the sun always highlighted
his beauty…? As the sun slowly set out, I saw the gentleness in his face… as the sun bids its goodbye the
ginger color it gives brought out his strong features and yet he still looks so soft.

He stood in front of me… looking down at me as our eyes met… silence… it’s always been silence whenever
our gazes meet…

“You skipped classes…”

He simply said still his eyes locked to mine…. Isn’t he going to ask me why…?

“Yes…”

Is the only thing I managed to say… he’s strange… definitely strange… then I saw his forehead creased as
his eyebrows slowly connecting with each other as if he wanted to say something more…

“You really… look good in dress…”

“Thanks…”

Why is it that I can’t answer him more…? It feels like my tongue is twisted to produce more words…
Silence again… as if he’s observing every breath that I take in and out… as if he’s reading something deep
in my eyes… I can’t help but just let him do what he wants.

“See you tomorrow… Dara…”

And with that… he passed by me… without waiting for my answer… he just went away… as I saw his back
slowly fading away… I found myself smiling… the way he spoke my name… it calmed every part of me… it
feels like his voice is music to my ears… what a weird gentle guy he is.

Mr. Lee is waiting for me once I reached the car… I smiled to him as I made my way inside… and to my
great disappointment… the devil himself is inside… I didn’t spoke a word… I quickly looked away… even a
speck of his image… I never wanted to see…
# CHAPTER 7

She stared outside the car’s window… how beautiful of the moon and its stars brightly flickering in the
now velvet sky… as she admired its beauty, she can’t help not to wish that if only she could be like one of
those stars.

For at least if she could be like one, her beauty could be appreciated… for at least she could produce her
own light… so that she would never feel any darkness in her life.

He on the other side keeps on stealing glances on her… he sighed for he can’t make himself speak to her
just like he used to do… the once little guilt that he felt last night is slowly swallowing the whole out of
him…

She looks different tonight… his forehead creased as he remembered what happened earlier.
[Flashback]
“Damn Jiyong… that’s your wife right…? San… Sandara…?”
One of his friends suddenly spoke while they were hanging outside the campus… Taeyeon was not around
since she didn’t attend school today for she’s sick… last night all he did at Taeyeon’s house was to sleep
and accompany her…. But no matter how he tried to sleep, Dara’s face kept on flashing in his mind.

He looked where his friend’s pointing at and saw his beautiful wife walking towards the campus wearing a
simple yellow dress… she really looks beautiful despite her simplicity… and maybe that simplicity was the
one that brought up her beauty….

It’s as if he can’t take his eyes off of her… his eyes followed her until she entered the campus and that’s
when he snapped back to his senses… he looked back to his friend and now raising an eyebrow to him.
“She is right…? Damn you’re so lucky man…! You now have two beautiful women with you…!”

He just kept quiet… but deep inside him… he can’t help but to start getting irritated on his friend talking
how beautiful his wife is… but later on what his friends talked about made his blood boiled.

“Damn…! Did you already laid your wife…? I’m sure you already did…! F*ck she still looks so innocent…!”

Then another one from his friends butted in

“Is she good…? Tight…?”

He started to glare at them but maybe they didn’t get what he’s telling them to do… his fists were starting
to clench… and their last statement made him snapped out from his sanity.

“Man..! You’re so damn lucky…! If I have her, I would f*ck her all day long… screw this school… I would
hump her till she asks no more…!”

His friend proudly said which earned a round of laughter from his other friends… he didn’t find it funny
but rather insulting especially to his wife’s part… he doesn’t know why he felt so mad… he lifted his fist
and ready to land a punch on his friend but before he could land the punch… out of nowhere Youngbae
came and landed the punch himself, causing their friend to stumble out of the bench.

Their other friends were shocked and was about to land a punch on Youngbae but Jiyong’s quick enough
to counter their punches… he got lost for all he could feel was anger and the wanting to beat the hell out of
his friends.

Youngbae then walked to him and tried to stop him from beating their friends before he could kill them…
but Jiyong didn’t stop beating their already unconscious friends.

People started to pack around them… his fists were now full of blood but still he didn’t stop.

“Jiyong…! Stop it now…!”

Youngbae yelled at him and tried to pull him off their friends.

“F*ckers…! Don’t you ever spoke to my wife that way…!”

Jiyong yelled to their almost lifeless friends… Youngbae finally held him up and away from the guys.

“Don’t you ever spoke of her name with your filthy mouths…! I’m really going to kill you next time if you
ever show your fugly faces to me…!”

He kicked one on its stomach one last time before Youngabe could completely stop him.
[End of flashback]

His face still has some bruises from what happened earlier… until now he doesn’t know why he did that…
it’s just that his blood completely boiled up once he heard his friends talking about his wife…

He doesn’t even know since when he did acknowledged her to be his wife… he thought of the chance of
him being jealous but shook away the thoughts immediately… he felt that he’s slowly getting insane but
maybe it was just all because of stress.

“Why are you wearing something like that…?”

Finally he broke off the long silence inside the car… he looked at her from head to the end of her knee
length dress… she was startled by his question…

She looked at him which is now looking at her but then she quickly look away and back to staring outside
the window.

“I said why are you wearing something like that…?”

His voice sounded mad but not as mad as he usually sounded… she’s starting to get irritated and at the
same time wondering why he’s asking her that question… she looked back at him once again and anger is
in her eyes.

“What do you care…? I could wear anything that I want…”

She replied to him… his eyebrow raised… he’s surprised with her tone… no… he’s surprised with her
answer…and that it’s slowly becoming her habit to talk back at him… which he’s not liking it…

He saw her stared outside the window once again… he’s starting to get annoyed at her once again but
suppressed himself for he really doesn’t want to do what he did to her yesterday… so then an evil smirk
appeared to his lips.

“Ah… yeah… you’re right… I don’t care… but do you think you look beautiful wearing those kinds of
dresses…? Pfft… do you think Youngbae will finally notice you if you wear that…? Dream on… flirt…”

He rolled his eyes and slumped back to his seat… Dara bit her lower lip to suppress herself from bursting
in anger… but she just can’t take it anymore… he insulted her once again.

“What’s your problem huh…? If you don’t have anything good to say… could you just shut your mouth…?
I’m tired listening to your insults Jiyong…”

His eyes totally went big… she talked back at him once again… and now making him to shut off… but
before he could answer her back… the car stopped for they have arrived in the mansion… which caused
him to be pissed more.

Just like yesterday, she quickly went out leaving him in the car… as much as he doesn’t want to do those
things to her again, she's really testing his patience and maybe it’s still not enough for her what he did
yesterday…

He quickly marched to their room to where she is… He ignored every person in the mansion and didn’t
even care if his parents are at home…

Once he saw her inside… he quickly grabbed her arm to make her face him… her expression is really mad
right now which made him feel a little bit uneasy…

“What’s your problem huh…?! Since when did you start talking back at me…?!”

He yelled at her… she glared at him and struggled away from his grip and managed to break out.

“You’re my problem…! What…?! Are you going to rape me again just like what you did last night…?!
Fine..! Do whatever you want…! As if I could do anything about it right…? I’m just your wife…! You’re
freaking sex slave right…?!”

He was taken aback… wondering why she’s being like this…he can’t even answer her back… it seems like
his anger is turning into confusion.

“What…? Or do you want me to strip for you…?!”

She continued as she started to take off her dress but he immediately stopped her… he pushed her to the
wall and pinned both of her hands on the wall… and with that tears from her eyes started to roll down on
her cheeks.

“What the f*ck is happening to you huh…?”

He shook her and bumped her back on the wall over and over again… she continued to cry and after a
while she finally spoke.

“I’m tired… I’m terribly tired now Jiyong…”

She said weakly… she bowed her head down as her tears continuously poured out from her eyes… creased
on his forehead increased and his brows are now connecting… he felt a pinch in his chest as he heard her
say that… even though he keeps reminding himself that this is what he wants… to see her in pain.

He let go off her… turned back as she slowly slumped on their carpeted floor and still crying…

“Stop it… stop crying…”

He ordered her while his back’s facing her… he just stood there listening as her sobs slowly went down
and finally after a while she completely stopped from crying.... silence... both of them is just waiting for
each other on who would break off the silence once again.

“Go fix yourself… we still have to eat dinner…”

He finally spoke... He turned to her… now wearing a calmed face… he watched her as she wiped her tears
off while hugging her knees… he looked up at him and she looked like a child with both of her cheeks are
now red because of crying.

He sighed as he bent down and pulled her arm for her to stand up.

“Go take a shower… you look like a mess.”

He turned around and was about to leave the room when she spoke…

“What happened to your face…?”

Her voice trembled… he felt her slowly walking towards him… he turned back to her and saw her looking
straight at him with worry in her face… the pain in his chest is starting to get worse… thinking if she’s
really concerned to him or deep inside her she’s laughing at him for finally he looked pathetic in front of
her right now.

“Have you been into a fight…?”

She continued… he just looked at her and thinking if he should tell her it’s all because of her… but in the
end of course he didn’t… he doesn’t want her to think that somehow she has a place in his life…

“Go take a shower…”

He didn's answer her question but instead ordered her once again and with that he turned around and
went out of the room not waiting for her answer.
# CHAPTER 8

“Jiyong-ah…. When are you going to give us some grandchildren…?”

His mom asked them during dinner… their parents just got home and totally oblivious to what had
happened earlier…
Jiyong and Dara both stiffened on their seats while Mr. and Mrs. Kwon were both happily waiting for their
answer… Dara looked at Jiyong who’s across from her on the table… he cleared his throat after swallowing
his food then he turned to his parents.

“Mom… we’re still in college… I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about these things…”

He answered smoothly… she just kept quiet and let him to answer them… they saw his mother frowned a
little while his dad smiled then continued eating.

“But then… me and your dad are both getting older by now… and I’m sure Dara’s parents would also be
happy to have additional grandchildren in their family… right dear…?”

His mom said as she turned to Dara… all she could do is to smile awkwardly and bowed her head… he
watched her reaction and a creased form on his forehead…

He sure doesn’t want to have a child from her… or even not from her… he’s just not ready for it yet… and it
bothers him that he’ll never be a good father once he’ll have a child… he can’t even protect the woman he
loves what more if he’ll have a child of his own.

“Hon… don’t pressure the kids… Jiyong’s right… plus it’ll be hard for Dara to conceive while studying…”

His Dad finally said… both Jiyong and Dara sighed in relief while his mom pouted in disappointment
since she really wanted to see little Jiyongs and little Daras running around their lonely mansion… and
maybe that what’s missing to make their house be finally called a home.

Mr. Kwon reached for his wife’s hand to comfort her… and her pout then turned into a sweet smile, as she
turned to her husband… love filled her eyes… and their wrinkled face showed how long they have been
together and until now… love could still be felt between them.

Dara watched the old couple and she can’t help not to feel envious of the love she felt between them… how
Mrs. Kwon’s simple smile could mean a lot whenever it is for Mr. Kwon… and how Mr. Kwon’s gaze could
mean a lot and so different whenever it is for his wife.

She felt envious and insecure for her own marriage... how she wanted to look that way with her husband...
how she wanted to hold hands with him till they grew old... and asking for grandchildren to their own
child... but it seemed all of those were just a dream and false hope for her... he would never feel that way
towards her... for not even a bit of warmth can be felt from him... and not even a speck of love can be
expected from him.

Jiyong saw her as she watched his parents… he saw how her eyes tried to suppress the tears from coming
out… and he saw how a bitter weak smile crept on her pink lips… he turned to his parents and knew why
her expression turned to be like that…

He bowed his head on his food for a while then turned to her again… and it didn’t escape his eyes the
single tear that fell from her eye… she quickly wiped it off and surely his parents didn’t notice it except for
him… he felt himself stiffened on his seat once again… then he felt something familiar… he felt the same
tingling pinch inside his chest…

She flickered her eyes and bit her lower lip suppressing herself to be emotional in front of everyone... and
as if she felt someone’s watching her… she slowly turned to him… their eyes met and stared at each other
for a while… she’s sure that it was the first time they both stared at each others eyes… the first time that
they are both drown into the deepness of his and her orbs…

She couldn’t read his eyes while he on the other side felt the sadness her eyes have been pouring out… he
doesn’t know but he can’t take his eyes off of hers and she too can’t explain why she can’t look away from
him just like she used to do… then out of nowhere… she felt something warm inside her almost cold
heart….

The burning feeling that’s been pricking her insides… she gulped down on her throat but still their eyes
didn’t left each other… to think that a simple dinner would turn out to be like this…

“Dara dear… your parents called this morning and they’re asking if how are you… they really missed
you…”

Mrs. Kwon broke off their seemed to be moment… she then didn’t have the choice but to look away first….
And he on the other hand snap back to his senses.

“Ah… yes… mom… don’t worry I’ll call them sometimes…”

His mom smiled back to her and continued eating… Dara took a quick glance on Jiyong only to see him
busily eating now… she clenched on her jaw a little and unconsciously a smile crept on her lips before she
continued on eating her dinner.

--

“Jiyong-ah… you’re still not over her… aren’t you?”

He and his dad had a talk after dinner while Dara spend some ‘girl talk’ with his mom outside at the
veranda… after their ‘eye contact’ earlier, it seemed that he can’t look at her again like he used to do…

He knows who his dad’s talking about… he knows how his dad never liked Taeyeon for him… just because
his lover never came from a rich family just like Dara… his dad had set the future for him and it does not
include Taeyeon.

He just stayed silent… for he knows his dad would never listen to any of his reasons… and in the end he
would never let him be with the one he truly loves.

“Son… I know you still love her… but you know why you can’t be with each other right…?”

Yes… he knows… it's because he's now tied with some girl he really doesn't know... if only he could blame
his dad on how he’s too selfish for him to sacrifice his own love just for the sake of their wealth…

“Dara is a very kind and beautiful girl… I heard from her parents that she too never liked to be married at
such a young age and to a person that she doesn’t even know… but she agreed to it… maybe because of her
family… her parents especially her dad was feeling guilty because for the second time in their family, they
have to sacrifice their own daughter’s happiness for the sake of their business….”

Why is his dad talking about these things…? He thought… is it for him to love her…? Care for her and to
push himself to fully accept her…?

But he’s too blind to get what his father’s talking about… he’s too selfish for his own happiness… that he
believed that Dara has the capability back then to stop everything… but she didn’t… that she too is selfish
for their own wealth.

His dad tapped his shoulder realizing that his son’s completely lost in his own thoughts.

“Please try to understand and spend time with her… I really like her son… not because her family helped
our business… set aside that fact… but because I know she’s a very caring person…for the short time me
and your mom spend time with her… we were both easily got fond by her beauty not only outside but
especially inside… we even never thought that she came from a rich family because she’s so simple and
has simple needs… son, she’s not some kind of brat rich girl that we’ve expected her to be…. ”

He sighed… his parents know that he's been treating her good but what's up with this talk... why the
sudden topic about her...? and suddenly confusion ran inside his mind… he wanted this talk to be ended
quick… but then his father isn’t finished yet.

“I never liked Taeyeon not because she’s not from a rich family… but because I could feel something
different from her once you introduced her to us back then… I know you’re truly in loved with her and
maybe that’s the reason why you can’t see things in her the things other people see in her…”

He’s surprised… it’s the first time his dad had told him these things… he can’t understand what his dad’s
talking about… he can’t think of that way especially to his lover… for him she’s the most beautiful and
purest girl he ever met… and for his dad to talk about these things were like impossible and adding more
to his confusion.

“I don’t… I can’t understand you…”

He finally blurted out… his fist clasped tightly… while he bowed his head down… and again… his dad
patted his shoulder…

“It’s okay… I know it’s hard for you… all I just want to say is… just please continue being kind to Dara…
coz I know that she too is having a hard time associating with her new family… just please be there for
her…”

His dad said… and it took him a while for him to nod at him… after that difficult topic, he finally felt a
little comfortable when they talked about other things… but still words from his dad kept on ringing inside
his head.

Why does everyone keeps on telling how beautiful she is… how they keep on pushing everything inside his
head on how perfect she is… and how come he never thought and felt that way to her… except last night…
and now, no matter how he shook off the thoughts away from his head… he just can’t help thinking about
her…

It wasn’t the stress anymore… it wasn’t the pressure from his responsibilities anymore but purely his own
thoughts of her… but why…? why is he thinking about her now…? After all those pains that he gave her…
after all the happiness and the satisfaction he felt seeing her in her torment… why is he thinking about her
now…?

Those eyes that he saw earlier… the sadness that it depicted, he knows he should be happy seeing it… the
pain that been plastered in her face… he should be happy for in the first place he wanted it… he wanted
every torture he’s giving to her… but why he can’t feel that satisfaction earlier… no… not earlier… but
maybe it started last night…

Not satisfaction… but pain… since when did it start…? Why the sudden change of feeling…? Is it even
possible…? Just like that…?

Everything in his mind right now was completely a mess… and the pricking feeling inside his chest doesn’t
seem to help his confusion… his reasons were now completely unreasonable… and that his beliefs were
completely turning out to be lies… lying to himself that he’s the victim… lying to himself that she’s the
reason of his doom…

--

He saw her standing outside and still at the veranda… his mom’s not with her anymore… he just watched
her from behind… how her tears streamed down from her face while she looked at the heavens…

Wondering what’s in her head right now… what’s the reason behind those tears… he just watched her as
she shivered from the breeze’s coldness… then again it hit him… the same pinch in his heart has been
pricking him again…
He clutched on his chest… as he watched her wiping off her own tears even it still keeps on pouring
down… his breathing went hard… his feet totally glued on the floor… his mind… totally blank… but his
heart… totally screaming its voice out… crazily beating as if it wanted to break out from its cage.

He can’t… he can’t go to her…. He can’t wrap his arms around her… he can’t give his warmth to ease her
cold body… he can’t soothe her weeping heart and he can’t wipe off those tears from her eyes.

For his only bound to keep her in pain… to bring agony to her lively life… to erase every smile and
upcoming smiles that she could produce… he has no right to give her happiness for in the end he knows it
would only bring her in more pain…and that she’s forever be bound to be locked with him and his bitter
life...
# CHAPTER 9

She went to their bedroom after she had her time washing away a bit of her never ending sadness…
surprised to see him soundly asleep on their bed… his face illuminated by a trifle of light coming from the
lamp on their bedside table… but then a muffled sigh came from her throat for she remembered he’s here
because of his parents.

Afraid to wake him up and may drive him to do abusing and filthy things to her just like he used to
whenever he spends the night at the mansion, she silently went to their bathroom to slip on her night
gown… she stayed inside for a while… looking at her reflection against the mirror once again… forcing a
smile to her tired lips but in the end failed to do so.

She went outside and good thing he’s still asleep… for tonight she could escape his lustful torture… and
again she silently and slowly went to his side… slid under the covers and reached for the lamp to turn it off
carefully and wishing he won’t wake up with her simple moves… she just want a break even just for
tonight…

She sighed in relief as she finally settled herself on her side… she closed her eyes but then she couldn’t
sleep… things about her conversation with 'his' mom kept on rewinding inside her mind… she stared at
the ceiling thinking of the words her mother-in-law told her a while ago.

[Flashback]

“Is he giving you a hard time dear…?”

Maybe she’s too stupid for her not to let out what she really feels… maybe she really loves being abused for
she can’t let out the truth… just a word away… tell her what he really does to you… but she can’t… too
afraid that it would add more to his problems… add more to his pain… she swallowed the lump on her
throat… swallowing the truth to let out another lie.

“No mom… he’s not…”

She saw her smiled and it’s enough to correct that lie… she doesn’t know why… why can’t she tell them so
that maybe they could finally give her the freedom that she wanted… but no… for maybe the last strand of
hope is still alive inside her…

His eyes that she saw earlier… the way he looked at her… she couldn’t feel the hate she used to feel… but
instead just blank... no... maybe unreadable… and perhaps it’s better to see it that way than to feel the
loath and disgust in his eyes.

“He’s really a loving child… and so responsible… sometimes I feel bad whenever I see him in so much
stress because of our business… he shouldn’t be taking all of these responsibilities alone… if only his
brother’s here…”
She heard the sadness in her mother-in-law’s voice… she reached for her hand and tried to comfort her…
it’s true… he has a lot of responsibilities… especially being the only heir of a big company… but then when
she heard about his brother… curiosity began to sprung up to her… she never heard that he has a
brother… never she did see him on their wedding… is he dead or something…? She thought.

“Uhm… mom… I never heard that he has a brother…”

She weakly said… she then saw a hint of surprise in ‘his’ mom’s face… she covered her mouth with her free
hand… and as if she said something she shouldn’t have… Dara can’t help but to raise an eyebrow when she
felt ‘his’ mom’s hesitation to tell her the things she doesn’t know…

Then after a while… her mother-in-law sighed… she put down her hand only to hold both of her hands…
she looked at Dara apologetically before she started speaking.

“We’re very sorry if we kept everything to you… you’re family also know about our other son but then we
decided to just keep it to ourselves since after all it wouldn’t cause any troubles or changes once you knew
about him…”

Why…? What’s wrong… is he really dead…? But why did they need to keep it if it won’t cause anything…?
She thought… but what ‘his’ mother told her next made her heart almost stop.

“The truth is… he should have been your husband now… if he didn’t left home three years ago maybe he’s
the one who’s with you right now… but then he left… because he couldn’t take being told… his father and
him always argue back then until one day he just disappeared… Jiyong had always been looking up to his
brother… admiring his strong will… and when his brother left… Jiyong felt really depressed about it… and
there he started to change… adding up were those responsibilities that supposed to be for his brother…”

She was left in awe… everything was not suppose to happen after all… thinking that if she married his
brother, would her life turn out like this…? Would he be like Jiyong…? But then…. Thinking that his
brother doesn’t like responsibilities... maybe there wouldn’t be a change after all… just like her mother-in-
law said.

She truly stole a part of Jiyong’s life… another responsibility that he must abide to... another suffering that
would slowly ruin his life.

“But I am really happy that our Jiyong got to meet someone like you… if by any chance he hurt or
offended you… please just do understand him… maybe he’s just tired of everything that has been
happening… I know you are just forced in this marriage… but I really like you dear… and I hope that in no
time you could adjust in your new life now… me and my husband and especially Jiyong are all just here
when you need us… I’m sure that by having you with Jiyong would help him ease his stress…”

His mother then smiled at her… she reached for Dara’s face and caressed it… tucking her loose hair
behind her ears… she felt so loved by his parents… as if she’s really their child… and that love added to her
last hope…

“We’re sorry if he is sometimes cold to you or uncomfortable... please just bear with him for a while... I'm
sure he's also in the midst of adjusting himself..."

All Dara could do was to give a weak smile… nodding to every of her words and agreeing to stay by her
child’s side… attending to his needs as his wife… maybe it’s her turn to carry those responsibilities even if
it cause her own happiness… and her own freedom.

[End of flashback]
Still staring at the ceiling… she thought that those tears earlier were just to wash out the selfishness and
sadness that she feels… even it’s not enough to wash all the agony she feels in her marriage… at least it
lessened the pain.

Thinking that if she’s married to his brother, would she be crying outside earlier…? Would she be wishing
that she should never exist…? And would she feel every torment that Kwon Jiyong has been giving to her
life…? Maybe she still would…

She shifted her position… now facing his back… she watched how his side heaved up and down as he
breathes… he shouldn’t be the one on her side by now… he should be with the one he loves right now…
and maybe he should be happy having his freedom by now…

“I’m sorry…”

Her weak voice reverberated to the silence of the night… not really waiting for a reply but just to let out
what she really feels… how could she be selfish thinking that she’s the only one hurting… maybe she’s a
fool to apologize to someone who made her life miserable… but thinking that he too had that life made her
feel sorry for him.

She sighed once again… she somehow wanted to reach for him… tell him that she now understands him…
but she can’t… that she would be the last person he would want a pity from…

She shifted one again and now facing the open window… their backs facing each other… as she watched
how the wind blew the curtains… revealing the stars that she once wished to be with and be one of… and
finally a weak smile crept to her lips… thinking that she couldn’t be one of them yet…

She still needs to be with him… just like as she promised his mom… she would stay by his side… no matter
how painful it would be… for maybe her life is suppose to be locked with him together with the pain that
comes with it.

--

‘I’m Sorry…’

It kept on rewinding in his mind… last night he was all awake when she went inside their bedroom…
maybe he did wait for her… for an hour she was outside, crying her eyes out and he can’t do anything
about it… he knew how she silently sneaked inside their room… heard every sighs she made… thinking
that maybe he’ll wake up and abuse her once again.

But he can’t… he doesn’t know why… as if it’s something new to him… why he can’t open his eyes and tell
her that he’s been waiting for her…? Why he can’t abuse her fragile body just like he used to so that all of
his frustrations would be finally released…? He doesn’t know… everything is truly a mess now for him.

And those words… why did she suddenly said those words…? He felt himself almost turn to her and ask
her… her sweet voice… that is now ringing inside his head… why did she suddenly said those words…
wouldn’t he be the one who should said those words…? But why did she say it…?

“Oppa… are you okay…?”

Taeyeon snaked her arm around his which made him snapped from his deep thoughts… throughout the
morning he couldn’t face Dara… he just remained silent even on the entire ride…Dara was surprised by
his silence and even he too was surprise by himself… it’s just that he’s deep in his own thoughts.

“Yes I am… come on… let’s eat... you shouldn’t skip meals since you just recovered...”
He smiled down to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they made their way towards the
cafeteria… everyone knows about their relationship…. Everyone also knows about his marriage but it
doesn’t keep him from being affectionate towards his lover… for at least he could do what he wants even
just in this campus…

“Oppa… I heard that you got into a fight yesterday… what happened…? Are you hurt…?”

She sounded so worried that made his heart melt once again… he really loves it whenever she cares for
him… how could his dad told him those things about her...? But then when he remembered the incident
yesterday… the reason why he got into a fight, something different pinched his inside once again…

“Uhmm… that was nothing… just a little misunderstanding and I was not hurt so don’t worry…”

He pinched her cheek which earned him a giggle from her… they got their food and went outside to meet
with their other friends… upon reaching their table… he then caught something or someone familiar
sitting under a tree…

“Uhmmm… where’s Youngbae oppa…?”

Taeyeon asked the group as they reached their bench… They sat but still Jiyong’s eyes kept glued on the
girl having her lunch alone under the tree… until someone familiar once again slowly approached her…

“I don’t know… he said we could just go eat first… maybe he has something to do…”

One of their friends said… and by that Jiyong knew what that ‘something’ Youngbae has to do… the two
were far from their bench but still he managed to see what they were doing… he doesn’t know why he can’t
just look away…

Until he realized that he’s been watching them for a while… he saw how his friend stood in front of his
wife… how she looked up with a confused face but then slowly smiled when she knew who it was… he saw
how his friend said something to her which made her nod and her smile grew big… and realized that
maybe his friend was asking if he could join her…

He saw how his friend watch her as she eats… something in his eyes that he can’t read for it’s a little far…
but definitely it was different from all of his other gazes... he saw how she started to talk… maybe offering
her food to him… and saw his friend took a piece and again another smile came from her…

That made him into thinking… did she ever smiled to him like that…? The same pinch inside his chest
began to bother him once again… he lowered his face staring down to his untouched food… something’s
wrong with him… that he can’t make himself have his appetite back…

He turned towards them once again… totally ignored everyone even his food… even the pain inside his
chest grew… he just couldn’t take his eyes off of them… watch them as they smile at each other… and
would steal glances at each other…

‘Am I jealous…?’

He thought… for the fact that seeing his wife having some moment with another man… he shook away the
thoughts… and pushing inside his head that he’s not liking what he’s seeing because she’s happy… and she
doesn’t deserve that sweet smile on her face… but then… thinking that way just made his heart ache
more…

‘Please… take this pain away…’

He thought once again… and as if his wish was heard… something warm touched his hand… holding it
tight and brought him back to the world… he glanced down and saw Taeyeon’s hand holding his as she ate
and talked with their other friends… totally oblivious of him having a lost moment.
He was thankful for the distraction… the pain inside him finally subsided as he gazed his lover's face… a
smile crept on his lips.

Surely his heart only beats for her… but then after a while the smile slowly vanished… but how come it
almost killed him when he saw Dara… and how come it feels like he ran millions of miles just because his
heart thump endlessly when he saw her smile… the smile that wasn’t meant for him.

‘Is this my punishment for all the pain I caused you..?’

He thought as he stole one last glance towards the two who were now both staring afar… talking while
leaning against the big trunk of their found sanctuary.

--

“Youngbae-sshi… Doesn’t your friends looking for you…?”

Dara finished her food and now having a rest for they still have some time before the class starts… she
didn’t saw CL since she doesn’t know her room during the morning class… at first she thought she would
be spending her lunch alone again… but good thing Youngbae came to her and joined her once again.

“They could manage without me…”

He said… now she doesn’t find him that weird anymore… for maybe that’s really the way he is used to
act… during class, he would just stay quiet then just leave when the class dismissed… then suddenly
popping out of nowhere and then ask to join her.

“Ah….”

She just nodded… and silence consumed them once again… she would steal glances to him… but still he
would stay looking afar… she pouted for she really wants to know him more but maybe he doesn’t feel
same way back to her.

“Is it really your habit to steal glances on someone…?”

Her eyes widen after she just did steal a glance on him… her face heated and blushed… he then turned to
her waiting for an answer… raising a brow which made her blush more.

“Ha-ha… no… and I am not glancing at you…”

She quickly looked away but she could still feel that he’s still staring at her

“Yes you were…”

“Ha-ha… no I am not Youngbae-sshi…”

“Yes you were…”

“I said I am not…”

Then silence… she slowly glanced back to him only to find him still staring at her.

“See… you really do steal glances at me…”

And with that she completely turned to him and pouted… he just shrugged and then leaned on the tree
once again… resting his arms behind his head as he closed his eyes… just like the other day…. She
remembered how handsome he is when he sleeps.
“So you also like watching me sleeping…?”

He said while his eyes closed… and again she blushed but then can’t help not to smile at him… she leaned
back to the tree and just preferred to watch the people… afraid that she would skip the class and be left by
him again if she decided to sleep.

How she wished that this little happiness... and temporarily freedom would last long…

“I wish I could be the only man in your eyes…”

“Huh…?”

She glanced to him only to see him sleeping… she wondered if she really heard him or did someone really
spoke those words… she looked around the tree but didn’t find someone… she shivered when she thought
of another reason but shook away the thoughts… it’s too early for ghosts to wander around…

Odd… for she always hears someone whenever she’s under this tree… and giggled to her own silliness
when she thought that maybe the tree was the one who spoke those words…. Never did she know that the
man beside her stole a smile as he watched her scantly figuring out her confusion.

--

She was in all smile when she reached their car… her day was really great… with Youngbae’s weird but
funny moves up to CL’s warm company… she couldn’t ask for more of this day…

“Lady… you seem so happy... did something happen…?”

Mr. Lee bowed to her as she reached their car…

“Oh Mr. Lee… I really had a great day…”

She smiled once again… he opened the door for her… and once she saw ‘him’ sitting on the other side…
her big smile slowly vanished… she knows he doesn’t want to see her in happiness… it disgusts him… so to
help him not to start his bad mood… she decided to hide her happiness.

She slowly sat down and quickly looked outside the window… and just like earlier this morning… the ride
was in full silence… she wondered why is he acting like this… but better to be this way than to hear his
hurtful words…

They arrived at the mansion in no time…the maids welcomed them and a hint of happiness could be felt in
them for maybe because they arrived peacefully not like the last two days…

“Lady… your brother-in-law is inside…”

One of the maids said to her… and upon hearing it… her lips curved into a wide smile… she quickly went
inside leaving Jiyong at the car…. He raised a brow wondering who that brother-in-law is…

“Who is it..?”

He asked one of the maids once he got out of the car.

“Young master… it’s Mr. Choi Seunghyun”

He nodded and made his way inside… he knows Seunghyun is her late sister’s husband… the heir of the
Choi’s group of companies… but what is he doing here…? Paying a visit on his wife..?

And once he reached the living room… he saw how his wife hugged Seunghyun and he hugged her back…
and something inside him began to bother him that it wasn’t a simple hug…

He just watched them as they released each other… and the way Seunghyun looked at his wife… and the
way he smiles to her… there’s something different in it once again… he just felt himself clenching his fist…
his wife with another man once again… and this time inside their very house…
# CHAPTER 10

“Oppa…! I missed you so much…! I haven’t heard from you for a very long time… you didn’t even went to
my wedding…”

Her voice trailed off a bit as she said those last words… Seunghyun released her from his hug and
chuckled a bit as he saw her infamous pout… how he missed that cute expression of her… He then reached
for her face and caressed it a bit… which earned a raising eyebrow from her totally ignored husband.

“Dara-ah… I’m really sorry… I was really busy at work and so… when I got the opportunity to escape…
well I quickly went here… I’m sorry…”

He pinched her cheek and so the pout on her lips finally curved into a sweet smile… They continued their
‘moment’ totally oblivious to the man standing not from afar… clenching his fist because of the
unexplainable feeling inside him…

And finally their sweet moment of reunion broke as they heard someone clearing his throat… Seunghyun
and Dara turned to where the sound came from and saw a blank faced Jiyong slowly walking up to them.

“Mr. Choi… I think this is the first time we got to see each other personally… it’s so nice of you to bother
visiting us apart from your busy schedule…”

Still with a raised brow he then half heartedly offered his hand for a handshake… Dara watched her
husband and knew immediately that he does not like Seunghyun’s visit… but then Seunghyun who’s
oblivious to the tension of the other man gratefully accepted his hand… he smiled towards the other man
only to earn nothing but a cold expression from Jiyong.

“Just call me Seunghyun… well… I really wouldn’t mind ditching my meetings for Dara…”

He said as he turned to the girl beside him and gave her a playful wink…

“And since I have some business to do here in Korea… might as well visit my favorite sister-in-law…”

He continued… Jiyong isn’t really interested with what he’s talking about… Choi Seunghyun looked like a
really warm and friendly person but then he can’t make himself to like him… if he’s just another man from
their field of business maybe his impression to him would please him… but then seeing him hugging
someone’s wife earlier… and more so ‘his’ wife… making him dislike him that instant.

Jiyong just nodded… turned to his wife and sighed a bit… Dara swallowed the lump on her throat when
their gazes meet… she bowed her head to be able to look away from him…

Jiyong then turned back to Seunghyun who’s still can’t notice the unwelcome atmosphere the former has
been giving him…

“Then… might as well… spend the night here… it seems like you have many things to catch up with my
wife…”
As much as he doesn’t want to offer him his hospitality… by the looks of his wife… it seems like she needed
to catch some things with her brother-in-law that badly… looks like she really missed him so much… and
not that Jiyong’s concerned about it… he just think it would be a sign of courtesy a human being should
give to the other one.

His voice still with a hint of coldness in it but absolutely emphasizing the word ‘wife’ in it… cautious that
Seunghyun must have forgotten that she’s not only his favorite sister-in-law but mostly she’s Kwon
Jiyong’s wife.

Jiyong excused himself when Seunghyun accepted his invitation… telling him that he will inform the
maids to fix the guest room for him... He looked at his wife one last time before exiting the scene… a part
of him wants to stay glued on the ground… not wanting to leave her with another man’s company… but a
great part of him dominated… telling him he doesn’t give a sh!t to whoever his so called wife flirt with.

As Jiyong finally got out of sight… Dara then heaved a deep sigh of relief… turned to Seunghyun and
finally managed to bring back her smile.

“Where’s Soo Jin…?”

She really missed her niece since she’s the only one left that reminds her of her late sister… When Dara
was still living in abroad… she more likely stood as Soo Jin’s second mother…

Bom… Dara’s sister died after giving birth to her child… even the doctors told her that it would be
dangerous for her to conceive… and Seunghyun telling her that he doesn’t need anything but for her to
stay at his side and be healthy… she still continued having the child thinking that an angel as precious as
that baby should be given a chance to live… And in the end… she sacrificed her own life to give the little
angel her life.

Dara and Seunghyun showered Soo Jin every love that she deserved… Dara never failed to give her the
warmth that a mother gives to her own child… and she really considered her as her own especially when
Seunghyun’s away… and it really breaks her when the time came that she needed to be apart from the
child to marry someone.

“She’s at my parents’… they’ll be coming here tomorrow so maybe you could see her by then… I can’t bring
her today since my parents wouldn’t allow me… they said that I might carry her like one of my suitcase…
how silly could that be…! Of course I wouldn’t do that to my own child…!”

He ranted which earned a big laugh from Dara… he still hasn’t changed… always the joker one and always
could bring a satisfying laugh from her… He watched her as she continued chuckling… how he missed her
soothing voice… that he calms every part of him.

Dara really gave him a big hoist up especially when the time he got depressed from his wife’s death… every
smile… every words of encouragement and her warm care brought back his life… and with that he admits
that by each day that passed back then… the once feeling of brotherly towards her changed… that he
regretted failing to pay more time with her and his child…

How sorry he felt for loving his wife's sister... he even visited Bom's grave cried everything, asking for
forgiveness and to tell her how he feels for Dara... but then he was too late to confess... too late that now
she’s already tied with someone… every feeling towards her were kept locked inside him… and decided to
himself that he should just shower those feeling towards his little angel.

“Oh… oppa… you’re still the same…”

She wiped the forming tears at the side of her eyes after the long laugh… and by that simple move from
her Seunghyun couldn’t take not to reach for her face and help her to wipe her other eye… how innocent
was she back then not to notice his growing feelings for her… but that’s what he liked and loved about
her… her pure innocence that until now… he’s grateful that it had never been tainted.
--

They talked for a while… catching up some things from each other… until Dara realized that Jiyong never
came back to them… it’s not that she’s really looking for him… but maybe… just maybe… she’s concerned
about his cold treatment towards Seunghyun earlier… wondering why he’s acting like that… and
wondering why he’s been acting odd since this morning.

She excused herself and told Seunghyun he should rest first before having their dinner… she walked him
towards the guest room which is just beside their bedroom…

She then headed towards their room and sighed before turning the knob of its door… she’s sure he’s in
there… but why locking up himself… while he could just talk with Seunghyun and sure they will
understand each other since they have the same field…

And surely she found him inside… laying on the bed while his arms behind his head… his eyes were both
closed and breathing evenly… probably sleeping…

She walked slowly towards him when she realized he’s still wearing his shoes… thinking that he must have
been really tired to bother taking off his shoes…

For a cruel and cold guy like him… he looks like a child… vulnerable while sleeping… how could a man
with a calm face like his could be so cold hearted towards her… she thought… a smile formed on her lips…
she went to his side and carefully loosened him out from his shoes… he didn’t stirred from his deep sleep
after she took his shoes off… placed it back on his walk-in-closet.

She went to take a short shower and changed her clothes… his parents wouldn’t be at home again and
sighed thinking that maybe he’ll go to his lover’s house again later… she walked out from their bathroom
only to see him still sleeping and by now shifted to his other side crouching like a baby… how could he
look so cute… she thought and a light giggle came from her throat which she immediately stopped…
covering her mouth with her hand afraid it would wake him up.

She found herself sitting beside him once again… it’s her second time seeing him asleep… and suddenly…
she felt a skip on her heart when she saw his lips turned into a slight smile… wondering what he’s
dreaming about… and can’t help but to feel a little disappointed and surprised to her own disappointment
when she thought that maybe he’s dreaming about his lover.

And then… once again… she found herself reaching for his face… her hand moved unconsciously brushing
his hair away from his forehead… noticing the little mole on his right cheek… this is the first time she had
examine his face closely… regretted coming close to him… for now she’s too drown observing his calm
face… how it could drive her too into tranquility.

She felt another skip from her heart… when his lips parted… she then totally got lost… watching herself as
she reached for his lips… this is wrong… she couldn’t be doing this…not to a person who had hurt her…
not to a person who loves another woman… not to him… but then… she failed… a tear escaped her eye
from too much suppression that failed… an unexplainable feeling formed inside her as her slender fingers
touched his soft thin lips…

Touching it with a lot care… as if… his lips would break… her hand trailed from his lips towards his face…
how smooth and soft it can be… the face that is meant to be looked at not by her but by someone else…
how foolish she could be to get caught in this trap…. admiring someone who will never admire her back...

‘If we met each other as different people… not having to be bound with each other… would you also
smile for me just like how you smile towards her…?’

She thought… how stupid could she get to wish for a smile from him… how fool could she get to envy
someone just for his smile… a smile from the devil itself…
“What are you doing…?”

She woke up from her reverie once she felt a warm soft hand on her wrist… a voice that reminded her of
the reality… her eyes widen in surprise… but still a trail of her tear could be seen on her cheek… their eyes
locked with each other while her voice got trapped inside her throat.

He slowly sat up and still holding her wrist… not as tight as he used to hold her… but just a simple hold
that surprised her more… his face is still blank as he turned to his feet and saw that he’s not wearing his
shoes anymore… he turned back to her still not letting go of her wrist.

“I said… what are you doing…?”

His voice is cold… eyes still locked with hers but then shifted towards her cheek when he noticed a trail of
tear on it… and unconsciously… his other hand reached for it and wiped it off… she stiffened… it’s her first
time feeling his warm and caring hand on her face… the first time she felt his hand brought her so much
pain but now… all she could feel is his warmth that soothes the ache it brought her once.

He then noticed her sudden tautness and realized why… surprised from his own action, he quickly moved
away from her… finally letting go of her other wrist and looked away from her… silence then filled their
room.

“I… I’m sorry…”

She stuttered… and by her words… he remembered what he heard last night… the same exact words which
he can’t explain why she’s telling him… his brows slowly connecting due to the sudden confusion forming
inside his head once again… why can’t he just talk to her and ask her why… his voice is too trapped when
it comes to her… how he could abuse her to death but couldn’t deal with a simple talk with her.

And when he was about to let out his voice… a knock came from the outside… telling them that the dinner
is finally ready… Dara turned to him as if waiting for what he’s about to say… he stood up from the bed
and slowly stripped his shirt off… Dara looked away too shy to see his bare body.

“I’ll go take a shower… you go first… I’m sure your visitor has been waiting for you by now…”

--

The dinner went smoothly… Jiyong stayed quiet the whole time… can’t help but to observe the two…
glancing to his wife once in while… while thinking of what happened earlier… what's that tear for…? And
apologizing to him for the second time…

The two continued with their talk and totally ignored his presence… and then again a wave of pain struck
him… he even accidentally let go of his utensil which made quite a loud noise and made the two stopped
from talking… he just then ignored them and picked his utensil and continued eating… Dara on the other
side really can’t help but to think about him… and throughout her conversation with Seunghyun all she is
concerned is about Jiyong’s odd behavior the entire day… and how she never heard any insults from him...
it may be a good thing but it still bothers her.

‘Is this another torture for me…?’

Jiyong thought as he continuously watched her… her smile for another man… the same smile that he saw
in his dream earlier… the same smile that he saw for his friend earlier… and now the same smile that is
not meant for him once again…

How until in his dream it haunts him… the same torture that he felt earlier at the campus has been
haunting him until in his sleep… but then… why in his dream he could see himself accepting those smiles
from her… that added more to his torture thinking that he doesn’t deserve it…. For he will forever be
bound to take that happiness away… for he already tainted the once fragile innocence of hers… keeping
her in sadness and torment… a little happiness from her towards him… would never deserve him.

--

He walked towards their room… his parents are not home… a great opportunity for him to escape and be
with his lover… but he can’t… something’s pulling him not to leave his wife in another man’s arm… maybe
because of him thinking that she’s already his possession… a mere thing that shouldn’t be shared to
others… another lie that he’s been feeding himself.

As he made his way… he saw them… at the veranda… where he saw her that night… crying off her
sadness… but now with another man… maybe the one who could wash that agony… another man for it will
never be him…

How it became his habit watching her from afar… suppressing every feeling that’s been bothering him
inside… torturing himself once again with the unexplainable feeling that’s been slowly killing him… and
just then… he concluded once again… that it’s just anger… for no other man should have been given any
right to touch his possession… the lie that he has been feeding himself a while ago… finally took over him
again.

He made one last glance to them… seeing her smile… the smile that she’s not suppose to show especially
when he’s around… walking back to their room… sliding himself to the door once he closed it…burying his
face on his palm totally confused on what’s bothering him…

One thing that is clear to him… he doesn’t want her to be seen with other men beside him… not a smile
should she give to them… for he, her own husband doesn’t deserve it… and by that no one will.
# CHAPTER 11

“So how’s married life…?”

Seunghyun finally asked her as they had the time to continue their talk after their dinner… it was a little
hard for him to ask her for he himself is still adjusting that Dara’s already married with someone… that
she’s not same sweet sister-in-law that used to be always there for him… for she’s now has someone she
needs to be always there and take care of.

“Uhmm… I’m still adjusting… but so far…it’s good… they are all nice to me…”

She told him while looking afar… another lie that she has to utter in order to protect herself and her
husband… protecting herself from shame of being frail while protecting her husband from getting hurt
more… stupid it may be… but she now understands his pain… that she’s ready to take anything just to help
the man in which she stole a part in its life.

And for the reason that Seunghyun would be the last person she would tell the truth… knowing that he’s a
very protective brother-in-law to her… and that he wouldn’t deal with it easily , would cause everything
worse for her and especially to Jiyong.

“That’s good to know…”

He said weakly and so Dara noticed his dreary self… she turned to him and even by the streak of light
coming from the wall light… she’s surprised to see the sadness painted on Seunghyun’s face…

“Oppa… what’s wrong…?”

She asked him… wrapping his hand with hers on the top of the railing… Seunghyun then felt stiffened
with their sudden contact… her soft and warm hands… that for long that he’s been keeping his feelings for
her… he always wished that he could hold her hand forever…
He then lifted his hand in order for him to hold hers tightly… turned to her and flashed her with a weak
smile.

“Nothing… maybe I just missed you so much… and that you won’t be always there for me anymore…
saddens me…”

He pouted a little… that she can’t help but to smile by her cuteness… but then felt a little sad by what he
said… after overcoming the sadness his wife’s death brought him… it’s the first time she saw him being
lonely once again…

With her free hand… she reached for his face and caressed it… their eyes locked with each other… sorrow
could be read from his eyes…

“Oh oppa… don’t think about that… I am and will always be here for you… after all… you’re the only
brother who came in which that I have wished to have…”

She pinched his cheek trying to set him back to his jolly self… which he half heartedly gave her…
pretending that he’s happy and contented but deep inside is been suffering.

‘Brother’ the word that he hates when it comes to Dara… the word that he started to loath when his
brotherly feelings for her changed as time passed by having her with him… if only he tried his hardest just
to make her understand that he doesn’t see her as his sister anymore… but he failed… too busy with other
things… thinking that no one would take her away… but in the end… someone did… to the point that he
could never get her back… that his love for her would remain unspoken and locked deeply inside him.

“I love you…”

But then… he betrayed his own self… unconsciously blurting out the three words that most explain his
every feeling for her… staking up his everything and trying to push his luck on getting her back… but just
as he expected it to be… she misunderstood him once again.

“Oppa… you know I love you too… now come on… stop being so emotional… I’m not used to you being so
sad like that...”

She said… he then sighed… another failure… maybe it’s meant for him to just focus his life to his child…
he thought… she’s really innocent… or just insensitive…? Her innocence that he loves and at the same
time drives to kill his heart…

She hugged him… resting her head on his chest… both seeking for warmth and strength… for him just by
her warmth he could battle any stress his work brings him and even healing his aching heart… as for her…
feeling his warmth added more to her strength… good enough to battle a one whole day of coldness
coming from her husband.

--

She headed to their room… really not expecting ‘him’ to be there… she purposely spent almost the whole
night together with Seunghyun... for being alone in her room would remind her of her undying sadness
again.

Seunghyun bid goodnight as he too entered the guestroom just beside their room…

But as she entered… she was surprised to see Jiyong… sitting on a couch at the other end of the room…
reading a book as his back facing her and as if he didn’t noticed her presence… she then walked silently
towards their bathroom… she knows he doesn’t want to be disturbed… especially when he’s doing
something… but then she can’t help but to wonder why he’s here and especially reading at the middle of
the night..
‘Is he… by any chance… waiting for me…?’

She thought but quickly shook the thought off… smiling to her own silliness.

After changing to her sleeping wear, she then found him lying on the bed… back still facing her… she’s
now cautious as to what to do… realizing that she shouldn’t do the foolishness she did earlier… doesn’t
deserve to gaze and admire his beauty.

She then went to her side… tucked herself under the covers… back facing each other and a big gap
between them… she can’t sleep… bothering herself on why he’s here… and just then the silence suddenly
got interrupted by him which made her startled.

“Done with your brother-in-law…?”

Still her back facing him… she was caught in surprise… what did he meant by that…? She thought…
Hesitating to turn around and face him… she just answered him still not facing him.

“What do you mean…?”

She asked but all she got was silence from him… until after a while… her covers then slowly been lifted up
from her… she could feel something warm behind her… hot breath tickling her nape and something hard
is starting to press on her back.

“Show me what you two did earlier…”

He then reach for her shoulders and made her lie on her back… hovering over her… her eyes widen but
then after a while got the idea of what he’s about to do next… he wants ‘it’ tonight… that’s why he didn’t
went to his lover’s house is because he wants to do ‘it’ with her tonight… maybe paying for the last night’s
supposed to be deeds…

Noticing her silence… his brows furrowed… grabbing both of her hands and pulling them both above her
head and looking straight at her… he can’t help but to feel angry again… for she arrived at their room so
late and it’s all because of her brother-in-law… ignoring him once again… a lot of thoughts quickly ran
inside his mind… thinking what they did with those hours that she’s with him.

“What…? Is he good…? Better than me…?”

He said with his jaw clenched tightly… he then pressed his body over her more… forcing to part her legs
with his knee and resting himself between them and just then it hit her… how could he accused her
again…? She thought… and by the mention of his brother-in-law she realized that he’s just on the other
room… suddenly felt afraid that he’ll hear them and especially her… once they continue doing their deed.

“What are you talking about…? We just talked and that’s all…”

She explained to him with a hint of anger in her voice… it’s the second time he accused her of something
that he himself is the one doing…

He smirked… deep inside a feel of relief brushed his mind… he knows she wouldn't do it... but just wanted
to hurt her again... he then pushed his hips forward… making her feel the hard bulge on his boxers… she
gasped, still looking straight at him… she can’t do this… not tonight… not when Seunghyun’s just a wall
apart…

“Stop…”

She said weakly… trying to release her arms from his grasp but he held both of her wrists securely… he
then buried his face onto her neck… sniffing her sweet scent… still grinding his lower body with hers over
their clothes.

“Please Jiyong… not tonight…”

She pleaded… suppressing any moans to come out and luckily for her, he stopped… bringing up his head…
brows were now connected as his anger started to get to him again because of her continuous pleading.

“Why…? I’m your husband… you’re supposed to tend my needs…”

He said angrily… he doesn’t know why he even asked for her reason… because he doesn’t really care for
her pleads… all he wants is for his need to be satisfied… but now… why the sudden care…? Even
surprising himself with his sudden concern… she didn’t noticed it but just focused on finding a reason.

“Just… not tonight… please…”

She told him whisperingly… it angered him more… why can’t she tell him when he gave her a chance to…
and after a while… he then realized her reason… she’s now looking away… while he on the other side just
stared at her… he knew it’s because of her brother-in-law… that she doesn’t want him to know what she
does with her husband… he gritted his teeth… she’s still being concerned with another guy until now…
until now that she's facing her own husband... not jealousy… but he’s sure that it’s rage that he’s feeling.

With his freehand... he then reached for her chin to make her turn to him… he looked at her wondering
eyes and abruptly crashed his lips with hers… her eyes widen in surprise because of his kiss… the third
time she felt his lips… their eyes both glued with each other as his eyes filled with anger…

Her body stiffened as he moved his lips… licking and nibbling her lower lip… his tongue tried to part her
lips… asking to get through and when she failed to comply… he grinded himself to her once again earning
a moan from her and took the chance to slip his tongue inside her mouth… it wandered inside… savoring
the sweetness of her mouth… tasting every corner… not leaving a spot untouched… as both of their eyes
slowly shut tight…

Saliva dripping at the side of her mouth…and finally their tongues met each other… started to battle for
dominance… dancing with each other… his kiss was sweet… gentle as she felt… not like the other night
which was hungry and so much demanding… she then got lost… giving into the pleasure his kiss was
giving her… something inside her suddenly skipped… she felt warm… and her heart started to beat fast…
something that she felt earlier when she gazed at his face suddenly grew more inside of her…

‘What is this feeling…?’

She thought.

For a while… his lips never left hers… for he too already got lost into their kiss… such a wonderful feeling
having her lips with his… something new and good sensation… and as if his anger suddenly disappeared…
focusing on her soft lips and the sweetness of her wet cavern…

She then felt the need of air…as much as she doesn’t want to break their kiss she started to struggle …
wriggling herself under him to gasp for air… but he’s too absorb in their kiss that he forgot that he too
needs the air…

She then succeeded to release one of her hand and quickly pushed him off… she took a deep breath
immediately as she wiped the wetness on the side of her mouth… and just then he realized the need of
air… propping himself up with his elbows and still between her legs… both of them panted…

Seeing her now swollen lips made him wanted to kiss her again… but succeeded to restrain himself…
afraid that he’ll be lost once again… but then as his eyes drawn to hers… such a bad idea for then he totally
got lost once again…
Half of her face highlighted by the dim light from the lampshade…. Her eyes that twinkled as her long
lashes brushed when she winked… finally… he grasped and saw for himself the beauty what the others
have been telling him about… even just under the trifle of light he could still see it… how it could drive
him deeply into the bliss just by staring at her... he even thought that his voice got caught up in his
throat... and finally he managed to let out his words...

“I want you…”

His throat let out the words together with his deep breath… eyes locked with hers not a blink could he
make for the beauty in front of him captivated all of him...
# CHAPTER 12

She stiffened… unable to move… trying to decipher what he just said… their eyes still locked with each
other… she felt her heart almost exploded from its fast beats… his eyes… not filled with lust but with
something else… her voice got caught in her throat… and confusion started to fill her head…

‘Why is he acting this way…?’

‘Why is he saying these things to me…?’

‘Why is he being so gentle…?’

Series of thoughts came running inside her head… he on the other side just looked at her… mind was all
blank… complying as to what his body is telling him… as his heart kept its hard and fast beats…

“Ji-… I-…”

She stuttered… and as if he can’t for her answer anymore… he sealed her lips with his once again… totally
breaking his restraints… nothing could stop the urge to feel her lips once again… his eyes were both closed
only savoring her sweet and soft lips… she on the other hand’s still in the state of shock…

But after a while… she too got lost… his lips moved… with the rhythm of nothing but gentleness… her eyes
then closed as her arms wrapped around his neck... pulling him into the deepness of their kiss… how
could she feel such pleasure from this man… she doesn’t know…

He held her waist… arching her back off the bed… caressing her body… moans between their kiss could be
heard… feeling each others now heating bodies…

“Uh…”

She released a moan as he finally released her lips… sucking her neck once again as his hands wandered
around her body… he reached for the end of her night gown… pulling it up until her stomach… her hands
brushed along his hair… throwing her head up in ecstasy as he continued nibbling her creamy neck…

Another sweet moan came from her throat as she felt his hands roamed around her bare stomach…
trailing from her slender waist to her bare back… trying to caress her wholeness…

He pulled back his hands… pulling his face from her neck too leaving several marks along her neck and
collarbone… they both panted… her eyes were half opened watching what he’ll do next…

He reached for the strap of her night gown along with her bra… about to pull it down her shoulders but
she stopped him remembering the man who’s staying at the other room… he leaned down to her face…
hands still on her straps...

“Ssshhh…”
He whispered to her ears as he showered her face with wet kisses… distracting her… and finally slipped
down her straps… revealing her chest… the cups of her bra only covering her peaks…

“Mmmm…”

She tried to suppress from releasing loud moans… keeping her face to the side while biting her lower lip…
he began massaging her breast over her cups… arching her back off the bed once again… he grinded his
lower body to her… making her feel the hard and big bulge in his boxers…

“Don’t hold back… I want to hear it…”

He said… and started to pull her cups out completely from her peaks… her night gown along with her bra
were now both collected along her waist…

“Uhhh…!”

And finally she let out a loud moan as he dove to one of her peaks… sucking it like a baby while giving the
other one with the same treatment as he kneaded it…. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead…. Her
hands stayed on his hair holding on for support…

His other hand trailed down to her legs… which were both bent off the bed while his body’s between
them… trailing from her bare stomach to her lower abdomen… she had goosebumps as she felt his warm
hand caressing her bareness…

Softness… made her surprised… ecstatic… something new to her… yet pleasurable…

After feasting each of her breasts…. He finally lifted his face making her let go of his hair… Leaving her
nipple hard and erected… he looked at her face… her eyes were still closed… her mouth was half opened…
and her breathing is fast… and can’t help but a slight smile curved in his lips…

He slipped his other hand under her underwear… she gasped when he started caressing it… her eyes shut
open seeing him looking at her straight in the eyes again… she gripped on the bed sheets… her body
twitched along with her expression as he inserted one finger in her… she sat up and reached for his arm to
stop.

“It… uh… hurts….”

Still looking at him with a painful expression… she still hasn’t recovered from the other night’s torture and
the sudden intrusion brought so much pain to her… his other hand reach for her face and caressed as if
he’s cooing her… making the pain go away… he pulled out his finger out of her… and another surprise hit
her…

He pushed her down the bed gently…. No words came out from him… she just complied… still thinking
that she can’t escape this night… still thinking it is another torture she has to endure…

But she’s wrong… for since the moment they started it… she felt nothing but gentleness from him… a little
pain… that only caused by the other night’s deed… but still replaced by his gentleness once again.

He pulled himself down her body… holding to her legs as his other hand pulled her underwear off of her…
she didn’t struggle… she still doesn’t know why…. maybe thrilled because of his new attitude… wanting to
feel more softness from him… even just for tonight.

He pulled her underwear off from her other leg… but didn’t bother to pull it off completely from the other
one… he wanted this to end quickly… but with his soft actions… every second of the deed counts.

He spread her legs wider… resting one of his hand on her abdomen while his other spreading her folds…
her eyes widen as she saw him facing her womanhood… it’s his first time doing that... she felt her cheeks
burned as she tried to close her legs… but his hand stopped her from doing so…

“Ji- Jiyong… what… uhhh…”

Her back arched from the bed again… hands gripping tight on the sheets as she felt something warm and
wet touched her insides… he massaged her abdomen with his other hand… as he continued licking her wet
and hot folds…

Series of moans escaped her mouth… throwing her head side by side… too much ecstasy has she been
feeling now… he continued licking and sucking… preparing her aching folds to their upcoming deed…

She tasted so sweet… that he too can’t get enough of her… he inserted his tongue… reaching the farthest
that he can make… wanting to taste her everything…after a while he felt her walls clenched… her liquid
started to gush out… her climax is officially near…

He continued sucking it… expecting for her juice to come out… and just then… her whole body trembled…
a loud moan escaped from her throat once again… reaching for his hair to make him stop… too much for
her to handle… and her juice flowed from her folds… swallowing all of it in his mouth… not wanting to
miss any drop from her womanhood…

She collapsed on the bed totally exhausted… gasping for air… while he licked her clean… licking the side of
his lips before pulling himself up again to see her face…

He pulled her up… supporting her back… her body totally limped… he looked at her face for a while... still
can't get over from her beauty.... he kissed her lips one again… inserting his tongue to make her taste
herself… she’s now too lost to think… just letting him what he wants… for she too wants more.

He pulled out from their kiss… brushing some of her hair off of her sweaty face… making her head rest to
his shoulder… his white shirt also now drenched with his sweat…

He tried inserting one finger inside of her once again… he heard her winced in pain… he caressed her bare
back with his other hand as he started to move his finger in and out of her… when he felt her relaxed… he
now inserted another one… its pace started slow until it reached it fastest speed… he felt her walls
contracted and once again she climaxed onto his hand….

He felt her sighed deeply… laid her back on the bed and pulled his fingers out of her… she seemed like
she’s totally knocked out…for her chest heaved up and down fast and her eyes were both closed.... he
licked his fingers clean while watching her face… and realized that he wanted more of her…

He leaned down to her face… and kissed her forehead… she on other hand was now oblivious to what he’s
doing… he touched her lips and smiled again to himself…

‘I’m really now out of my mind… I badly want you… ’

He thought as he rested himself once again between her legs… pulled his boxers down up to his knees… he
glanced at her now ‘like’ sleeping state.

“I’ll be gentle tonight…”

He whispered not earning a reply from her… not really sure if she even heard him… but he hoped she
didn’t…

He pulled her hips closer to his aching member… lifting her legs over his… spreading her folds and slowly
inserted his now big member inside of her.

“uuuuhhhhhhh….”
A long moan finally released her throat… he smiled upon hearing her sweet moan again… he totally lost
himself… smiling… loving her moans… loving to touch every part of her… wanting to feel her… he totally
went nuts… he thought.

He lifted her again… hugging her body to his with his member inside of her… letting her sit on his lap
while her head back to his shoulder… he didn’t move first… letting her adjust to his size… putting her
arms around his neck… his other hand continuously caressed her head and back while the other one
supported her hips.

“Uh… Uh… Ji-… Jiyong…”

She moaned as he started to move in and out of her… supporting her hips as he bounced their bodies…
she buried her face to his neck as she now clamped her hands to his shoulder along with his shirt… feeling
a little pain but overcame it as pleasure hits her again...

He kissed her neck as he continued bouncing themselves… letting both of his hands hold her hips…
pulling her body up from his member and pushing it down again…

It seems the pain from the other night totally vanished for only hotness and pleasure filled her… no pain
could be felt from his thrusts…

“Moan… uh… my name again…”

He said between his thrusts… wanting to hear his name from her mouth once… only could make him
satisfied that no man other than him could make her feel good…

“Ji-… Jiyong… uh…”

She complied not really thinking why he wanted to hear it from her… he smiled again pulling her head to
face him and crushing his lips to hers once again… his pace went faster and harder… both of them moaned
in each others mouth…

He laid her back down the bed… making her legs wrapped around his waist as he thrust in her
continuously… he massaged her breast with his other hand as the other wandered around her body… and
find its way to her butt and squeezed it tight… making her arch her back to make himself push more inside
her… thrusting his member deeply… wanting to reach the most inside of her…

Their body rocked… dancing to the same rhythm… totally forgetting the world around them…. Both
drenched in their sweat and seemed nothing could stop their deed…

Both hungry for each other… it could be because of lust… or maybe something else… only do they know is
they’re both drowned into their blissful deed…

“Uh… uh… I-…”

She said as they parted lips…

“Not yet…”

He moaned to her ear.... slowed his pace making her suffer a bit… he doesn’t want to end it yet… he still
wants her… for he’s sure that by tomorrow she will be back to whoever man she will be with… so at least
just by tonight… he could have her all by himself… not to her brother-in-law… and not with his best
friend…

She moaned continuously… bit the pillow beside her for she can’t take it anymore… his slow pace is the
one torturing her now and not by his thrust himself… her body asked for more… and even though her
mind wants it too… she remained composed… letting him to do his way… just like back then…
And as much as he doesn’t want to end it now…. He too can’t take it anymore… he held her hips tight…
went back to his fast pace… until he felt his stomach tightened… and her walls clenched once again….

“Dara-ah…”

He moaned whisperingly… unable for her to hear before crushing his lips with hers once again… they both
climaxed… ending their last moans in each others mouth… her back arch off the bed… pouring
everything… their fluids mixed together inside her womb… he hugged her tight… thrusting more to
release his everything…

He collapsed on top of her… his member still inside… his head heaved up and down as he rested it on her
chest… he tried to look up only to see her tired face…. She now passed out unaware that he finally
managed to call her by her name…

He rested himself for a while still on top of her… recovering his strength before lifting his body and pulling
himself slowly out of her… her member drenched with both of their fluids and some spilled out of her as
he pulled out… he pulled his boxers up tiredly…

He too is tired but still managed to fixed her clothes back… pushing himself to his side… he closed her legs
and fixed her night gown back… brushing some of her disarrayed hair out of her face… not failing to
caress her face in the process…

He looked at her before covering her body with their blanket… and once again… he felt one last hard skip
inside his chest…

He lied down… now both facing each other…he gazed at her sleeping face… suppressing himself to touch
her again… forcing himself to think that he already got what wanted from her… he gritted his teeth for he
cant still take his eyes off of her…

‘Did I bring you pain again…?’ he thought

“I’d rather see you in pain… than to see your smile that will never be meant for me…”

He whispered… using the chance because she’s deep in her sleep… even what he said doesn’t worth
saying… he just wanted to let out everything… making the most out of his foolishness… just for this night
he would act soft… for he’s afraid that if it continues he would be someone he shouldn’t be towards her…

“Mianhe…”

His throat let out one last time before slowly closing his eyes…
# CHAPTER 13

Rays of light slipping from the slight opening of the curtains indicated the new morning… the once dark
room slowly lightened its space… it was quiet inside… while humming of birds and the alive neighborhood
could be heard outside.

She stirred from her sleep…groaning as a ray of sunlight touched her smooth face… her eyes twitched… as
her hands found its way to her forehead…

She slowly opened her eyes to see the morning through the space between those curtains… she rubbed her
eyes as she sighed… And just then she remembered something…

‘Was it all a dream…?’

She thought... still looking at the curtained windows… but as she shifted her body on the bed… a little pain
below her abdomen made her realized that it really happened…

She pulled her covers… looking under it only to find herself fully clothed… another wonder that hits her…
did he fixed her clothes for her…? She thought… and just by that… unconsciously a little smile curved on
her pink lips.

All the gentleness… the first softness she felt from him… overwhelmed her feelings… the once last strand
of hope she has inside suddenly bloomed…

‘Is he still here…?’

She thought once again… hoping that he would be at her side once she turned to his side… her smile grew
wide… not really knowing where the happiness are coming from… and slowly, she rolled herself… turning
to his side only to see an empty space beside her…

She sighed… lowered her vision…

“What am I thinking… of course he wouldn’t be here…”

She mumbled… touching the disarrayed sheets beside her… she slowly sat up… groaning a bit from the
little pain between her legs… hugging her knees to her chest still looking at her side… thinking what
happened last night was all about…?

Another false happiness that she’s trying to feed herself… he would never be soft towards her… maybe that
was all just for last night… trapping her into thinking that he is… so that he could get what he wants…

And now… sadness once again enveloped her… he already got it… and maybe he’s now back to his lover’s
arms… showering her the love that she’s somehow envied…
The fact hitting her that she would always be only his wife… a mere thing for replacement and only to feed
his desires… and she on the other side would never escape it… a payment for ruining his chance to be free.

Still oblivious as to what happened for the rest of last night… that it will maybe forever kept a secret from
her that his gentleness wasn’t all a lie to lure her… that the man she’s thinking about is having a hard time
trying to right his mind... his mind that is now filled with nothing but her.

She dragged her still tired body towards their bathroom… thankful that there will be no classes until
tomorrow… their school is celebrating its anniversary…

At least she could take her time curing herself both physically and emotionally… but a little disappointed
for she won’t be able to see her two friends…

Soothing her aching body by taking a hot bath… she closed her eyes… can’t help but to remember what
happened last night… fragments of her memory of him… those actions… as much as she doesn’t want
to…still feel a little thankful… even it was just all a lie… but still a little softness coming from him is
enough to cure the lie behind it.

She stayed on the tub for a while until suddenly her eyes widen as she remembered something… no…
someone… her face painted a mixture of horror and embarrassment as the deed last night replayed on her
mind and as the man on the other room probably heard it all.

She gasped not knowing what to do if she sees him later… hoping that the walls were thick enough for her
shameful moans not to be heard through them…

She quickly went out of the tub… drying off herself and wearing her clothes… her heart beat so fast out of
nervousness… not really knowing why she should be… but cant help but to feel it.

Arriving at their dining hall… she didn’t see any of them… only maids who are busily preparing foods…
she sighed… her husband’s really not home… but as if someone read her mind… a maid spoke to her
telling that her husband is in his office… and wouldn’t be able to join them in breakfast.

Her face somehow lightened… he didn’t go off… he didn’t go to his lover’s house… he chose to stay… but
can’t help but to wonder why is he working so early…?

“Did he already have his breakfast…?”

She asked the maid… answering her back that he doesn’t like to be disturbed and he would just ask the
maids when he’s hungry…

She nodded… a little concerned about her husband… today is a free day… but he’s still working… she
sighed once again as she took a seat…

And just then another man came… her brother-in-law… whose head is a bit bowed down… and with a
blank expression painted on his face… she saw it and cant help but to be bothered… setting aside the
thought if he heard them last night… she quickly stood up and went to him.

He stiffened as he felt her hand on his arm… bringing him back to the world…

“Oppa… are you okay…?”

She asked him… he just looked at her blankly… nothing is okay in his already abused heart…

He sure heard them last night… at first he thought it was all his imagination… but her muffled voice that
still escaped the thick walls hunted him… he tried to escape…tried to throw himself out of his bed but he
couldn’t…

His body stayed glued on it… while his ears torturing itself by hearing her moans for another man…
maybe his body wanted to tell his mind and his heart to stop hoping for more… that she would never be
his… that he would always be a brother to her…

And now seeing her once again… after a night of torture for him… made it clear that she really is now
someone else’s… seeing some marks on her neck… her blooming aura… everything shouted that she’s now
someone’s possession…

At last… after his series of trying… he finally curved a slight smile… anything for her… he could endure
any pretending…

“I’m okay… I’m just hungry…”

He reached for her face and caressed it a bit… she smiled and quickly dragged him to the table… putting
foods on his plate… totally forgot the last night’s happening…

He just watched her… busily tending him in his needs… he can’t help but to feel envious of her husband…
for any man having her would definitely be the luckiest man.

“He’s so lucky to have you…”

He mumbled after she finished preparing his food…

“Huh…? Did you say something oppa..?”

She asked him…

“Nothing…”
He shook his head and went to eat his food… she pouted while nodding… tilted her head wondering why
she always hear voices in her head… shivered and giggled a bit to herself thinking that she must’ve been
slowly losing her own mind…

The two ate silently until she remembered her niece’s arrival… her eyes widen in delight as she turned to
Seunghyun.

“Oppa..! Soojin will arrive today right..? Are you going to pick her up at the airport…? Can I come…?”

She asked him while smiling like a child… all the heartaches that he’s feeling right now suddenly subside
upon seeing her smile… he nodded for approval which made her smile grew big… she sure is really excited
to see her little angel.

--
Seunghyun went back to his room to change…

Dara prepared some breakfast for her husband… holding a tray on her hand, she nervously went to his
office… the door is slight opened… peeking through it… she saw him busily reading some papers… his
desk’s full of documents…

Her forehead creased… totally concerned about him… she sighed before slowly pushing the door to open…

He didn’t look up… maybe thinking it was just some maid…

“Uhmm… Jiyong… I… I prepared some breakfast for you… I think you should eat first…”

She nervously said, standing a little far from him while still holding the tray…. Upon hearing her voice, he
immediately looked up…

The woman whom he supposedly avoiding… burying himself to work early in the morning so that he
wouldn’t be able to see her… totally forgetting that he could have just went to his lover to clear his mind…

After a moment of silence between them… he finally cleared his throat… looking away and back to his
papers…

“I’m not yet hungry… just put it over there…”

He said coldly… she complied and put down the tray on a coffee table… she then went back in front of
him… standing and hesitating a bit to tell him that she’s going to accompany Seunghyun at the airport.

Jiyong noticed it… he slowly looked back at her and raised a brow.

“What…?”

He asked in his still cold voice.

“Uhmm… can I go with oppa at the airport…? We… we will just fetch someone there…?”

He wondered who it is… at first hearing the word airport suddenly made him a bit uneasy… thought that
she would run away with him… but why bothering asking for his permission…?

He clicked his tongue for his silly thought… he sure is still in his foolish self…

“Why are you asking for my permission...? Go wherever you want to go… go with whoever you want to go
with… I don’t give a sh!t … Just leave… you’re bothering me…”
His voice trailed off a bit… not really knowing if he really wanted to say those words… he saw the tinge of
pain in her face and in which he immediately looked away …

“Mi-… mianhe…”

She said weakly…. She looked at him one last time before bowing her head… He heard her trails as she
made her way out of the room… and as soon as heard the door closed… his hand found its way to his
hair… brushing it as he throw his head back… slumping on his seat and sighed deeply…

His eyes glued on the closed door as his other hand crumpled the papers he’s been holding for the past
hours… still not deciphering what he has been reading for quite a while… for the last night’s deeds keep on
rewinding inside his head.

After a while… he stood up… went to the coffee table and glanced at the tray of food prepared for him… he
reached for one sandwich and took a bite… closing his eyes before swallowing the food… and just then he
heard some noises outside his window…

He slowly went to it… setting the curtain aside… stared outside and seeing her with her brother-in-law…
he saw how he carefully escorted her in his car… and again a pinch of pain struck his chest… painful
seeing her going off with some other man… much more painful than seeing her smiling…

And as the car as about to head off… their eyes suddenly meet each other as she glanced through the car’s
window… tried to have a one last look on his room’s window…

Jiyong quickly let go of the curtain… turning himself… his back pinned on the wall… clutching his chest
and wondering if she saw him… and lastly hoping that she didn’t.

‘If you didn’t want her to leave… you could’ve just told her…’

He heard something inside his mind… shook his head to brush off the thought… feeding himself yet again
another lie… that he doesn’t care is she leaves… and better yet she would never come back…
# CHAPTER 14

It’s maybe already two and a half hours that have passed since she left…

Jiyong still locked himself in his office… still trying to bury himself busily at his work… but cant help not
to listen outside… maybe waiting for a car to arrive…

The papers that he has been holding since the last couple of hours were still glued on his hands… can’t
really focus on his work for his mind is clearly filled with still the thoughts of her… the night that they
shared… him hearing his name from her lips… totally made him went nuts…

The tray on the coffee table was now empty… his head slowly laying on his desk… tired from too much
thinking… and slowly… his eyes went heavy… and as soon as his eyes closed… her face greeted him in his
reverie.

--

He immediately stirred from his sleep as he heard the door opened… he pulled his head up from his
desk… stretching his arms and rubbing his eyes with his hand…

The door’s open… but no one came in… his brow raised a bit… until he heard some small footsteps slowly
coming to him…

He glanced to the side of his desk… peeking where the sound is coming from… that’s why he didn’t see
someone coming in…

A little girl with pink chubby cheeks… wearing a pink small dress and a red ribbon tied on a fistful of her
hair… standing in front of him… smiling…

Both of his eyebrows were now connecting… wondering if he’s still dreaming… he rubbed his eyes once
again but still the little girl’s standing in front of him… she somehow looked familiar… until he realized
that the little girl looked a like his wife… same porcelain skin… pink lips and dark long hair… seemed a
small version of her.

He stood up… went slowly to the girl… his head bowed down for the little girl is just about as tall as the
height of his knees… concluded that maybe the little girl is just 3-4 yrs old…

“Who are you…?”

He simply asked the little girl… her big round eyes twinkled as she looked up to him… her smile never left
her lips which made Jiyong’s brow raised once again.

“What are you doing here…? Where are your parents…?”

He sounded cold but the little girl didn’t notice it… it’s his first time dealing with a kid… so he doesn’t
know how to address and how to act in front of one…

And just then he heard someone outside the room… his gaze went from the little girl towards the door.

“Soojin-ah… baby where are you…?”

It’s Dara’s voice… his glance went back to the little girl with nothing but still a sweet smile on its face.

He saw Dara passed by the room and quickly went back when she saw the little girl… her face looked so
worried as she quickly marched inside the room… totally ignored his presence.

“Oh… God… There you are baby… I’ve been looking for you for minutes… your –“

Dara scooped her up in her arms and suddenly cut herself from speaking more as she realized what room
she’s at…

She stiffened as she realized Jiyong’s standing and watching them… she slowly turned to him and bowed a
bit with the girl in her arms.

“I’m sorry Jiyong… did she bothered you…? I’m really sorry…”

She bowed while the little girl has her arms snaked around her neck and still looking at the man standing
in front of them.

“Who is she…?”
He ignored her apologies… as curiosity about the little girl hit him.

“Ah… she’s Soojin… my niece…”

She said to him… he looked at the little girl with still a blank expression… they really looked the same…

“Omma… who is he…?”

The little girl finally spoke… her tiny cute voice broke the slowly starting silence between them…

And quickly Jiyong wondered once again… Omma…? He thought… the little girl just called his wife
‘Omma’…

“Oh… Soojin-ah… He’s uncle Jiyong…”

He saw his wife smiled sweetly at the little girl… Soojin looked at him and flashed him a sweet smile once
again… he suddenly felt warm inside his chest… seeing the little girl somehow made him feel calm.

“Omma… is uncle Jiyong… friend of appa…?”

Appa… she’s definitely talking about her dad… to think that the child’s considering his wife as her mom…
made him a bit uneasy…

“Yes baby…”

Dara pinched the little girl’s cheek which made the girl giggle… the two looked really like a mother and
child… which made his chest felt a little heavy… he just found himself standing there… watching the two
while trying to understand what he’s feeling inside.

“Baby… we better go… we shouldn’t bother uncle Jiyong… your appa is also looking for you…”

She told the girl before turning back to Jiyong.

“Jiyong… sorry for bothering you… she really is a fast runner and likes to hide that I didn’t catch her
before she went here…”

She unconsciously chuckled which made his insides jumped a bit… it’s his first time hearing it from her…
and upon realizing what she just did, her cheeks warmed and blushed… she quickly bowed and was about
to make her way out but the little girl clutched on her hair a bit to stop her.

“Baby… what is it…?”

Soojin pouted and turned to Jiyong…

“Omma... Soojin wants to play with uncle Jiyong…”

Dara’s eyes widen and immediately felt nervous… afraid that Jiyong will punish her later for bothering his
work.
“Baby… uncle Jiyong’s busy… appa and I will just play with you neh…?”

She tried to convince the little girl but Soojin continuously pouted… too stubborn to let it go… totally got
her attitude from her biological mom.

She looked at the girl helplessly and turned to Jiyong… while the man can’t help but to admire inside him
the cuteness of the little girl… he turned to Dara and saw that she’s having a hard time convincing the
kid… he sighed and reached for the girl’s cheek.

“I’ll go out later and play with you arasso…”

Pinched Soojin’s cheek which brought back her smile again

“I’ll just finish some things here first…”

He said to Dara… she nodded and finally her face calmed…

“Thank you…”

She whispered… he just snubbed her by turning his back and went back to his desk… he heard the door
closed and turned to it and gave off another sigh.

‘What am I getting myself to…’

He thought as once again brushing his hair with his hand

--

“Soojin never saw her mom personally but only through her pictures… Dara and I were both glad that
despite her young age she already understood that Dara isn’t her mom… but still she calls her omma since
she never saw anyone as her mom other than Dara and my wife… I’m so grateful of her that she
wholeheartedly treated my daughter as if she’s her own…”

Seunghyun said to Jiyong once they had a chance talking with each other… both seated at the bench
outside… watching Soojin and Dara played at the garden…

As soon as Jiyong went out of the room, Soojin immediately ran up to him and quickly reached both of her
hands for him to carry her… Dara looked at him shyly… her face painted apologies on it…

It’s his first time carrying a kid… the little girl seemed as if she doesn’t care if she doesn’t know the man
well… and somehow… deep inside him… he find something soft towards the little girl… they played a bit…
carrying her on his shoulder pretending that they’re flying… totally forgot himself once again… something
new to him yet really enjoyed.

Dara found herself watching the two… her heart fluttered seeing him having a good time with her niece…
those delicate smile that he showed… warmed her heart… how she wished he could also smile like that
towards her…
Then their eyes locked once again… can’t help but to smile a bit at him… which made his heart skipped
once again… thinking if she really did that simple gesture to him… he stiffened… put a halt on playing…
and slowly brought the kid down from his shoulder… thinking that he’s now having an illusion of her
smile… which in reality really happened.

And now… seeing her smiling once again… having a sweet moment with her niece… seeing her how she
cared for the little girl as she’s really her own… brought back the skip on his heart…

As far as he knows, Taeyeon doesn’t like kids just like he is… they never talked about having a family of
their own… but why seeing Dara with Soojin somehow changed his perspective about having children…

“You’re so lucky to have her… I’m sure your future kids will be the luckiest with her having their mom…
she never missed any moment of Soojin’s growth… not like me…”

Seunghyun chuckled before continuing

“She’s more worried than I am whenever my daughter gets sick… she would even skip her class just to
look after her… I really am a failure without her…”

And that put Jiyong into thinking again… ‘a failure without her…’

‘What does he mean by that…?’

‘Does he know that he’s talking with his sister-in-law’s husband…?’

Series of thoughts trailed inside his mind… and as if Seunghyun read it… he quickly justified his
statement.

“I mean back then… but now I am really working my best to be a great father for my daughter… it’s not as
if Dara would always be there for us right…?”

He saw Seunghyun smiled as he looked at his wife… followed his gaze to see Dara’s beauty once again…
her smile that added u to her beauty… having the time of her life with her niece.

While he’s still drown in his thoughts… Seunghyun made his way towards the two girls… joining their
happy time… the two tickled Dara together until she crashed down the grass… her continuous chuckling
brought back Jiyong from his thoughts.

He turned to the three… the skipped from his heart stopped… brought back the pain once again… how
could the three looked like a family… complete with a mom and dad… and a baby that looked like her…

There he saw once again how Seunghyun looked at his wife… saw how he could make her smile… he could
read it all… Seunghyun really has something special for his wife… and too bad it would never be able to let
out from his system… and once again… apart from the pain he’s feeling… a bitter smile crept into his lips.

He stood up… leaving the three to have their bonding time… just this time he would let her have it… going
back to his office and locking himself once again… away from the pain… and the happiness that he almost
felt watching her in her own happiness…
--

Soojin fell asleep… cradling her in her arms… she made her way towards their room… settling the little
girl and tucked her to bed… Seunghyun needed to go… he has an appointment he needed to attend to…
Dara agreed to let Soojin stay in their house for her grandparents were also busy…

She watched the little girl as she sleeps… caressing her little chubby cheeks and smiled to herself… she
really wanted to have an adorable daughter like her…

And then she remembered her husband… knew that he went back to his office… she wanted to thank him
again… sparing his time just to play with her niece is something really big for her.

She went to his office once again… slowly opened the door and found him reading again.

“Oppa already went off… he was in a hurry that’s why he didn’t get to say goodbye… he said thank you for
accommodating him… and I just let Soojin to spend some days here since she doesn’t have someone to
take care of her… I hope you won’t mind…”

She said with her head bowed a bit… biting her lower lip while her husband looked at her…

“And… uhmm… thanks for spending your time with Soojin… she really likes you... I’m sorry if she’s a bit
stubborn…”

She said… he slowly stood up from his seat…. Leaving the papers down on his desk… Walked towards
her… she stiffened as soon as he stood beside her.

“I’m going out…”

He coldly said glancing a bit at her… she already knows what he meant… she just continuously bowed her
head as he completely passed by her… as she heard the door closed she felt like she would break down…
why does it feel painful thinking he would go to his lover…? She thought while clutching on her chest.

--

He closed his eyes… trying to focus on her lips… wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her
closer to him… he moved his lips… wanting to deepen their kiss… but as soon as he felt her opening her
mouth… Dara’s face flashed in his mind…

He pulled out… pushing the girl a bit away from him…

“Oppa… what’s wrong…?”

Taeyeon asked him as she leaned to him and planted soft kisses along his jaw… his hand left her waist… as
he slumped his back on her bed… putting his arm above his forehead… he sighed… totally ignored the girl
before him.

She noticed his different self… pulled her head from his jaw and looked down on him… he’s mind is really
flying off somewhere which made her a bit annoyed.
She reached for his buttons… slowly stripped him out of his clothes but suddenly he stopped her before
she could completely unbutton his shirt.

“Why oppa… what’s wrong…?”

She asked him… he just hold her hand to stop her.

“Not tonight…”

He said coldly… first time for her to hear him sound like that… she got curious as to what’s happening to
him so she asked him once again.

“Just… I’m not in the mood… I’m sorry…”

He answered… she can’t help but to feel uneasy… she leaned down again… resting her head on his chest
and wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Oppa… if something’s bothering you… just tell me okay… I’m worried about you…”

She said… he looked down to see her head… hugged her tight and caressed her hair… how could he be
thinking of another girl when the one he loves is right here in front of him… and just then he thought of
something.

“Taeyeon-ah… what do you think of having a family of our own…?”

He blurted out… which made her sat up and looked at him with a bit of horror on her face… he saw her
eyes looked at the side and her lips slightly twitched… indicating she doesn’t want to talk about those
things… back then he would find her expression cute… but now he can’t make himself to… She then after a
while forced out a smile…

“Oppa… what’s with the sudden topic…? I thought you don’t even like kids…”

She said… he somehow felt a little disappointed… remembered how Dara smiled towards the kid that she
doesn’t even own…

“Nothing…”

The girl smiled and went back laying her head on his chest… while he stared outside her window…first
time of anticipating for the night with his lover to end.

--

He went back to the mansion in the middle of the night… can’t make himself sleep on his lover’s house…
just realizing himself of going back… leaving his lover alone deep in her sleep… and now finding himself
standing outside their room…

He slowly opened the room… the lamp beside their bedside table is still opened… while she’s now asleep…
she left it opened for something inside of her kept on telling that he’ll be back… waiting for him until she
fell asleep… and just like her feeling… here he is now standing at their door watching her sleeping form
from afar.

He walked towards their bed only to find another figure beside her… his heart then began to skip once
again… seeing the little replica of his wife… both sleeping peacefully as the little girl safely secured in her
arms…

Somehow wondering if he would have a family… would this image in front of him would always welcome
him once he got home…? Seeing two of his beautiful girls waiting for his arrival…? How it made his heart
feel heavy again for maybe he will never experience such dream…

He turned the lamp off as he made his way to the couch… resting himself on it… hugging himself to
sleep… pretending he didn’t think and hoped for those things to happen… reminding himself to put stop
on his once again foolishness…

# CHAPTER 15

He stirred from his sleep… his forehead creased and slowly his eyes fluttered open…

A small figure standing at his side… looking directly at him while continuously poking his face with it’s
little finger… chuckling on the process…

He grunted and rubbed his eyes to adjust his vision… and there he saw the little replica of his wife…
wearing a very cute rabbit pajamas… flashing him yet again another sweet smile… her hair disheveled a
bit… and her chubby pink cheeks were now rosy in its color… she really looked adorably cute.

“Is uncle Jiyong finally awake…?”

The little girl’s cute voice broke the silence…

He propped himself up with his elbow… and immediately Soojin wrapped her arms around his neck… his
eyes widen in surprise… he almost fell on the floor if not for his hands caught himself before falling.

The little girl giggled… he held her tiny waist and brought themselves up and seated on the couch… the
little girl comfortably seated on his lap…

He felt warm again… somehow wondering how the little girl could be so comfortable with him…

“What’s wrong baby…?”

After gathering his voice to spoke such affection… he finally managed to sound soft towards the little
girl…

With her arms still snaked along his neck… she looked up to him…

“Uncle Jiyong… Soojin is hungry…”

She said pouting a bit… which he can’t help but for his lips to curve into a slight smile… he then
unconsciously reached for the kid’s cheek and pinched it a bit…

“Where’s your omma…?”

Not really comfortable addressing his wife as the little girl’s mom… he still managed for he knows it would
be unfamiliar for the little girl to be called his wife her aunt…

And upon asking the girl… he turned his gaze to their bed and saw his wife still sleeping peacefully... he
dropped his gaze… and just then he felt little hands cupping his face.

“Soojin wants uncle Jiyong to cook… omma won’t wake up... I think omma’s tired from waiting for
someone last night…”

The little girl now’s playing with her fingers… he wondered… is she waiting for him last night…? He
turned to his wife once again… gritted his teeth and shook off the thought…

He carried the little girl to his arms as she snaked her arms to his neck again…

“Arasso… let’s get you something to eat neh..?”

He said to the little girl… she giggled and when he’s about to walk their way out of the room… the little girl
tugged on his shirt for him to stop his tracks… he brought his face back to see the little girl.

“What’s wrong…?”

He asked…

“Soojin forgot to kiss omma a good morning kiss…”

The little girl wriggled her little and short legs from his hold… he then gently put the little girl down…
watched her as she ran towards their bed and hopped on to reach his wife…

The little girl cupped his wife’s face and gave her a soft kiss on her lips… he looked away for he can’t take
seeing a sweet moment from the two… but immediately turned back his gaze when he noticed his wife
stirred a bit from her sleep…

“Soojin-ah… come on baby… let your omma have her sleep..”

He called the girl silently… Soojin nodded and quickly went down from the bed and ran towards him… he
cupped her up to his arms and made their way out… glancing to his wife one last time before closing the
door.

--

The maids gathered at the entrance of the kitchen… all were peeking through the sides… watching the two
figures inside… a man busily working on a pancake… and a little girl seated on a counter watching the
man with her short legs dangling back and forth.

The maids giggled to themselves seeing their young master having a hard time flipping the pancake…
while the, oblivious to the eyes watching behind his back is totally focused on what he’s doing.

He didn’t complain… no words came out from him… totally battling the pan to flip off the pancake… while
the little girl watched him in amazement when at last he finally flip it off without ruining its form.

The little girl clapped her small hands which brought Jiyong back from his seriousness… he put his very
first pancake on one plate... wiped off the forming sweat on his forehead before readying himself to cook
another one…

He could’ve just ask the maids to cook it for the kid… but the little girl’s stubbornness made him to do it…
pouting on him and throwing a tantrum made him a bit uneasy… his first time of cooking… all because of
a little girl…

“Uncle Jiyong…”

Her tiny voice called him… he didn’t turn to her but continuously worked on his second pancake… the girl
called him again…

“Ah… yes…?”

He asked still not turning around.

“Is uncle Jiyong a friend of omma too…?”

He then suddenly stiffened… merely forgot to flip the pancake and almost burned it… he quickly turned
the stove off…

Unable to hear his answer the little girl asked him again… tilting her head to the side…

He forgot the fact that the little girl still doesn’t know about them… now hesitating if he should tell her…
concerned if her young mind would understand that her omma’s his wife.

“Uhmm… yes… I am…”

Just agreeing to the little child’s assumptions… even thinking that a term ‘friend’ for Dara would never
deserve him.

“Omma is beautiful… neh uncle Jiyong…?”

He turned on the stove and continued to cook… listening to the little girl’s story about his wife…

“I want to be as beautiful as omma when I grow up… appa said that I look like omma…”

He’s now on the third pancake… and still Soojin continued on her stories… if it’s just some person, he
would now maybe annoyed… but now, he just can’t help but to admire the little girl’s jolliness…

Thinking that Dara raised her… did the kid’s jolliness have it from his wife…? He never seen her being like
this… well of course for he never let her be… and maybe would never let her for he’s afraid he would also
have the same fondness towards her… wouldn’t take it anymore if he would discover another
unexplainable feelings towards the girl he is supposed to loath.

--
Her eyes slowly opened… groaned a bit and stretched off her body… her lips curved into a smile expecting
to see her little angel beside her… but as she looked down she didn’t saw her niece… she turned to the
other side but still Soojin’s can’t be found…

“Soojin-ah… baby…”

She called but only to be answered by the silence f the room… she quickly got off the bed… forgetting to
put a robe on top of her night gown… she scanned every room but she didn’t see her angel…

She quickly went down and called the maids… but no one came… she wondered not until she heard some
noise near the kitchen…

She went towards it and saw almost all the maids gathered at the entrance of the kitchen… her brow
raised wondering what’s happening… but hook off the thought when she remembered her niece.

“Have you seen Soojin…?”

The maids jumped a bit upon hearing her voice… they all stood up straight and fixed their uniforms…

“Ah… Lady… good morning…”

They all greeted her… she greeted them back and asked them where her niece is…

They all glanced towards the kitchen… she sighed in relief and made her way inside…

Her eyes widen upon seeing her husband… together with her angel… both their backs facing her… Jiyong
who’s still busily cooking the little girl’s breakfast… while her niece kept on blabbing random things about
her…

‘Why is he here…?’

‘Did he spend the night here…?’

She just stood there… her feet totally glued on the floor… such a wonderful view for her… her heart then
started to beat fast… seeing him even his back’s facing her… yet another soft image of him… she felt her
eyes slowly tearing up… a sweet smile slowly forming on her lips…

And just then Soojin stopped from her talking… the little girl noticed her presence and which she quickly
turned her gaze to her…

“Omma..!”

She was startled by the little girl’s voice… quickly sucked up the forming tears on her eyes… she smiled
towards the girl… while her husband felt himself jumped a bit… he looked back and saw her… almost had
his eyes locked on her seeing her only in her sleeping wear…

Soojin immediately jumped off from the counter which made both the two adult almost ran to her to catch
her… good thing she landed safely on her feet… the two sighed in relief and slightly glanced at each
other… Jiyong quickly stared away and went back to his cooking.
“Baby… don’t do that again… you might hurt yourself…”

Dara said worriedly as soon as Soojin ran up to her…

“Yes omma… mianhe…”

The little girl giggled and reached her arms up to her, wanted to be carried by Dara… she scooped up the
little girl and kissed its chubby cheek… Her eyes then went towards Jiyong totally wondering why he’s the
one cooking… and as if on cue Soojin answered her thoughts.

“Omma… uncle Jiyong’s cooking Soojin’s breakfast…”

Her eyes widen upon hearing… thinking how could he be cooking for her niece… nervous that he would
get mad later at her…

“Aigoo baby… why did you not just wake me up or ask the maids… uncle Jiyong’s a busy person you
shouldn’t have asked him to do the cooking…”

She told the girl… hearing another scolding from her aunt… Soojin pouted

“Mianhe omma…”

The girl said sadly bowing her head… Jiyong heard the sad voice of the little girl… he then turned off the
stove upon finishing his last pancake… he turned around and walked towards them with a blank
expression…

“Don’t scold her… you didn’t wake up no matter what she did… she’s really hungry… I don’t have anything
to do after all so I cooked for her…”

Even covering up the tantrums the little girl made he reached for Soojin and pulled her from Dara’s
cradle… got the kid on his arms he pinched her cheeks which brought the little girl’s smile back.

“Oh… is… is that so… Mianhe Soojin-ah… omma was really tired… sorry for not waking up on you…”

She caressed the little girl’s back which earned her a sweet smile from Soojin.

“Thanks”

She said shyly towards her husband… he just snubbed her once again and put Soojin on a chair near the
counter… set her plate and put some pancakes on it…

Dara felt a little out of place as the two started to eat… even if she’s happy to see her husband with her
niece… she can’t help but to feel sad for she doesn’t know if she can join them.

Soojin who’s busily eating totally forgot about her aunt… while Jiyong finally noticed her silence… he
looked up and saw her still standing while her head bowed down a bit and playing with her fingers… he
sighed and raised a brow.
“Don’t just stand there… these pancakes are too much for Soojin and I…”

He said coldly… she quickly looked up and nodded… he watched her as she hurriedly got a plate and
seated next to Soojin… being the child sat between them… the three ate silently…

The maids outside watched the scene… first time to see such beautiful scene between the married couple…
totally looking like a family… some even got their eyes starting to tear… some were really touched and
having sweet smiles on their faces…. They all decided to leave the three alone… hoping that a good
morning start would bring happiness throughout the day.

--

He watched at the side of his eyes as she feed her niece… smiling towards the child and wiping off the
crumbs on the side of Soojin’s lips… at first the little girl almost choke when she ate the pancake all by
herself…

“Omma… when’s appa coming back…?”

He felt a little kick inside upon hearing the child talking about her dad…

“Oh baby... he would be back after a few days… don’t worry he’ll back as soon as he finishes his work…
we’ll go play with appa as soon as he gets back… want that..?”

The little girl cheered in delight… totally excited to play again with her dad… He fastened his eating… not
really wanting to hear more… soon he finished his food… he stood up and brought his plate to the sink.

“I’ll head first…”

He said not looking at her but towards the little girl… she nodded but a little disappointed for not being
able to spend more time with him.

“Thank you for the delicious food uncle…”

Soojin said… he just smiled towards girl and still not looking at Dara... he then left towards their room to
take a bath.

Dara sighed… went back to eating and feeding Soojin… after a while a maid came holding a phone for
her…

“Who is it…?”

She asked… the maid said it’s CL which made her sad face went to a happy one… she quickly took the
phone and talked to CL on the other line while her other hand continued to feed her niece…

“Dara-ah… are you going to the university’s fair tonight…?”

She almost forgot… today’s the last day of their school’s celebration…

“Uhmm… sure if you’ll come… since I don’t want to go there alone…”

“Aren’t you going with Jiyong…?”

Her friend’s voice kinda sounded hoping… She looked down… thinking the obvious fact that he would
never go to the fair with her… and would come there only to spend it with his lover.

“Maybe I would be the last person he would want to spend it with…”

She chuckled bitterly which caught her niece’s attention… Soojin looked up and saw the sadness on her
aunt’s face… Dara gave her another piece of pancake but she didn’t eat it… telling her aunt that she’s
already full.

“Oh… sorry for bringing that up… but please come tonight arasso… I’ll wait for you there…”

She agreed and soon after they bid goodbye… she turned to her niece whose round eyes were gaping at her
curiously…

“What is it baby…?”

She asked, caressing the child’s cheeks…

“Omma why are you sad…?”

Soojin asked… which took her aback… she tried to think of an excuse and after a while she finally thought
of one.

“Oh nothing baby… would you like to come with omma tonight…? We’ll go out and play…!”

She said excitingly just to hide the earlier sadness… and just as she thought… Soojin completely forgot
about it and her face expression delighted…

“Play…?! Soojin wants to come…!!”

She yelled throwing her hands up in the air… Dara giggled and she too forgot the once sadness she felt…
she hugged her niece tight… grateful for her presence… truly an angel that could erase her loneliness.

# CHAPTER 16

“I want to have a little sister… but appa said it’s impossible since my real omma is now dead… I asked for
‘omma’ to give me a little sister… she laughed at me telling she would give me one someday… I can’t wait
for that day to come…”
Those words from the little girl were still fresh in his memory… made his inside turned upside down…
how could an innocent child easily stir his feelings…
Expecting for the little girl to be disappointed in the end… he’s hoping that may her young mind forget
that wish as time pass by.

His thoughts then got interrupted when he heard the door opened…

Again… he chose to lock himself inside his office… waiting for the night to come to finally have a reason to
go out… after what happened earlier with ‘her’ niece, he came to a realization that he shouldn’t make
himself too attached on the little girl… for seeing Soojin always reminds him of nothing but his wife.

And yet… now… here ‘she’ is again…

As if no matter what he does to stay away… something would still pull her towards him…

“What do you want…? Can’t you see I’m busy…?”

He told her with his always cold voice.

“Uhmm… sorry for bothering you… Soojin and I will just go to the university’s fair… I’m wondering if you
would want to join us…”

She thought of asking him for the whole day… even though she knows what his answer would be… she still
tried her chance.

He looked up… she gasped as upon seeing his infuriated expression that all said the incoming rejection
from him.

“Are you kidding me…? Join you..? I’m done babysitting your niece… and you of all people should know
first who I want to be with… just keep your booty away from my sight…”

Just as she thought… but maybe she just wanted to be insulted again… maybe it became her routine to be
daggered by his painful words… maybe it wouldn’t complete her day of not being tortured by his cold
treatment…

But no… since yesterday… and especially this morning… something’s been pushing her to see him again…
hoping she would be able to see another side of him.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat… the same feeling of her heart being ripped apart struck her… and
again… she could feel the moist forming inside her orbs.

“Mi-… mianhe… I… I should go… sorry for bothering you again…”

She stuttered… quickly turned around… hiding her pathetic looking face from the man who brought her
pain again…

As soon as he heard the door closed… he collapsed his upper frame on his desk… his face turned to the
side… gazing at the closed door… mouth half opened trying to gasped a fistful of air to breath…

Clutching once again on his aching chest… trying to interpret yet again the confusing and painful feeling
that’s been bothering him for days.

--
Her niece sure enjoyed the fair… running around and dragging her from booth to booth… good thing CL
was there to help her control the little girl’s energetic self…
The fair was wonderful… colorful lights surrounded the field… there were so much booths with different
activities in it… and later there would be a fireworks display to end the school’s celebration.

Everything that happened earlier at ‘his’ office were now completely out of her system… focusing her time
together with her niece was the best resort not to remind herself the pain that almost ruined her day.

CL was too fond by the little girl’s adorableness… even compared Dara to her niece that she too should act
like the little girl… too much waste of her beauty… Dara just blushed and shrugged off her friend’s teasing.

“Omma… I’m thirsty…”

The little girl tugged her pants as they were walking towards another booth… she looked down and
brought the kid up to her arms…

“Oh… Soojin-ah… do you want to come with me…? I’ll buy us and your omma some drinks and food…”

Her friend got Soojin from her… the two went with the little girl still on her hyped energy…

She smiled to herself as she watched Soojin waved at her from the booth where they’re buying… and just
then someone caught her attention.

Past the direction where her friend and her niece were… she saw ‘him’… in his most casual clothes…
wearing just a shirt and baggy pants… with a red beanie on his head… he looked more of his young age…

Despite the crowd surrounding the event… her eyes still caught his figure… there she saw his smile once
again… totally forgetting where that smile is being given to… she just admired it… memorizing every
movements of his lips… not missing and forgetting every detail of his smile…

Not until someone woke her up from her so called ‘site-seeing’

“Yo…”

She heard a familiar voice coming behind her… there she finally managed to blink her eyes… there she
finally realized where those smiles were for… there she saw her husband happily being with his lover…

She slowly looked back… almost forgetting the man who called for her…

And there she saw her him again… too bad the sun already set out… for she really wants to see his unique
beauty whenever the sun highlights his physique…

But seeing him tonight doesn’t lessen that beauty… seeing him too in his most causal clothes brought up
his tough image… thankful that at least the colorful lights still helped her see his weird yet soft aura…

“Hi…”

She smiled towards him… and she saw how his tiny eyes went into slits as he gave her back a warm
smile…

Silence… she’s now used to his silence… he’s not really a talker… and maybe she would be surprised once
he will suddenly talk more than one sentence or two…

“Are you here just by yourself…?”

And as usual she broke the silence between them first.

“I believe you were just looking awhile ago where my friends are…”

She raised a brow… he sometimes has this stinger side of him… but maybe that’s what she liked about
him… for even his words were full of sarcasm… still could bring her some happiness.

“You really like being alone eh..?”

He asked her… his hands both inside his pockets

“No… why would I come here alone…? Of course I’m with someone…”

She defended… but he just shrugged… looking to where her husband is… maybe rubbing it to her face as
to who she’s calling her companion… she followed his gaze but quickly looked back at him… can’t bear to
look at the intertwined hands of the lovers…

She cleared her throat to gain his attention back… he just looked at her at the side of his eyes… still his
face turned sideways.

“Why are you here…? Aren’t you supposed to be with your friends…?”

He then turned to her still wearing a blank face.

“Can’t I wander around and leave my friends for a while…? I told you once that they are old enough to
manage themselves… I just found you and wouldn’t be a courtesy to greet an acquaintance of mine…?”

Her eyes widen… as far as she can remember… that was the longest statement she heard from him… and
instead of being disappointed to yet another of sarcasm from him… she can’t help not to hide the slowly
curving smile on her lips.

He raised an eyebrow wondering on her sudden reaction… thinking if the woman in front of him is slowly
losing her mind because of always being alone…

And just then… their weird moment got interrupted as two figures came on the scene…

“Omma…! CL-roo bought lots for Soojin… she almost forgot buying something for omma…”

The little girl yelled and reached for Dara to be carried by her… CL needed to take a call so she let
Youngbae to carry their foods first.

He stiffened for a bit upon hearing the kid calling Dara her omma…

Felt his insides skipped when he noticed the little girl totally looked like her… and when Dara noticed the
uneasy expression painted on his face… she quickly told him what’s her relationship with the little girl.

“She’s my niece…”

And that’s when Youngbae finally broke his gaze towards the kid… looked at Dara and relieved hearing
her words… thinking why he should be bothered…? For sooner or later maybe she would have a child of
her own… especially that now she’s tied with someone.

“Are you another friend of omma…?”

The little girl asked him looking at him with its round big eyes…

“Yes…

He answered earning a smile from Dara… she watched how Youngbae would react towards her niece’s
charms…

“Are you a friend of uncle Jiyong too…? And appa…? And CL-roo…?”

The girl asked him again… he looked at Dara doesn’t know how not to complicate explaining things to the
little girl’s mind.
Dara chuckled and kissed the side of the little girl’s head… Soojin turned to her.

“Baby… he’s uncle Youngbae… uncle Jiyong and omma’s friend…”

She explained… he just watched how Dara talked to her niece… the two really looked the same… both
beautiful and adorable…

The little girl pouted.

“But not appa’s and CL-roo’s friends…?”

Dara chuckled again… supported the weight of the kid with her arm for her other hand to reach her cheek
and pinch it a bit.

“We can let appa meet uncle Youngbae so they can be friends neh…”

Soojin finally nodded… how her innocence could bring confusion to the adults….

The little girl turned to Youngbae again and flashed her sweet smile… the other guy just smiled back at
her… feeling awkward for he too never had any experience with a kid.

And just then CL went back to them with a bothered face.

“What’s wrong…?”

Dara asked… her friend sighed deeply.

“I need to go home now… mianhe…”

Her shoulders were both slumped heavily… and her lips were pouting

“Family matters…”
Sadness could be felt from her voice… Dara immediately felt concerned about her friend… while the other
two both kept quiet…

“Oh… CL… sure you can go… don’t worry… if I could help you just call me neh…?”

Her friend just nodded and let out a weak smile… she can’t help but to wonder what her friend’s problem
is.

“CL-roo… Soojin will play with you next time okay…”

Her friend looked up and finally let out a big smile… she reached for the kid’s cheek and caressed it a bit.

“Sure baby… we’ll play next time…”

And soon after she left… leaving the three standing at the middle of the fair… she turned to Youngbae and
saw the foods he’s carrying on his arms…

“Oh… mianhe… CL made you to carry those… let me-…”

“I can manage… plus you’re carrying your niece…do you think how you can carry all of these…?”

He cut her off… she pouted… she really doesn’t want to be a bother…

“Maybe Soojin and I will just go home…”

She muttered… the little girl’s eyes widen in protest… Youngbae saw it and can’t help but to chuckle a bit…

He grabbed Dara’s arm with his free hand and dragged her to a bench… putting down the foods between
them and pulling the little girl on his lap.

“Soojin-ah… do you want to go home already…?”

Dara just watch the two… she saw how her niece pouted and shook her head… she saw how Youngbae
smiled towards her kid… really can’t help but to feel warm inside her… she then got startled when he
turned to her.

“I guess we could stay here for a while…”

She said making the little girl cheered in happiness… she looked back at Youngbae who’s now holding her
niece on its tiny waist supporting as Soojin jumped on his lap…

“Eat these foods first… you still haven’t had your dinner right…? It’s not good to skip meals…”

Suddenly Youngbae said out of the blue… she stared at him who’s still busily playing and feeding her
niece… raising a brow for his sudden concern.

“What…?”

He asked… she just shook her head… thinking that maybe she just found it weird again in him…

The three ate and played at the bench… the night was still young… seeing another side of Youngbae just
because of her niece made her happy… completely forgetting his cold side.

And there ‘he’ is… watching the three from afar… eyes couldn’t leave the scene of yet another happy
‘family’… taking to himself once again… suppressing the forming pain that’s been hunting him…

There ‘he’ is… finally with his lover… should be enjoying the night with her… but instead busying himself
feeling bitter and envious of the scene…

There ‘he’ is… would always watch her from afar… watching her happy time… her moment with another
man… blaming the pride inside of him for not letting himself to give in to what he really wanted… for
maybe in the first place, he really doesn’t know what he wants… and doesn’t even understand his own
feelings…

Taking in another torture of seeing her smile from afar.

--
“Youngbae-sshi… I could really carry her myself…”

She tugged his shirt once again as they walked around the fair… after eating at the bench… Youngbae has
been carrying her niece for quite a while now… she just walked beside them totally felt shy and bothered
for making him carry her niece… reasoning out to him that he could just join his friends and just let her
deal with her niece… but she never thought he would be too stubborn to ignore her and just walk with her
niece who’s now sitting on his shoulders.

“Just enjoy the fair will you… you’re not here to just babysit your niece…”

He finally spoke to her… she pouted again which didn’t escape his eyes…
“Look at her… she really enjoys it even she’s just looking around the area… loosen up a bit… you worry too
much…”

True… Soojin has her eyes wide open for almost the whole night… even ignoring the two… they can only
hear her giggling on his shoulders… pointing at random things and then giggle again… seemed like she
doesn’t know how to feel tired.

She sighed… thinking that he’s right… he watched her through the side of his eyes… letting go of one of
Soojin’s hand… as he saw Dara’s free hand dangling at her side… feeling the urge to hold it in his hand…
Just an inch away… almost touching it… he then got interrupted when suddenly the little girl yelled.

“Omma… I want that teddybear…! Omma..! Omma..!”

She yelled while pointing on one stall… he pulled back his hand… totally felt defeated… he then held on
Soojin’s legs afraid that the child might fall.

They quickly went to the stall… the little girl was too persuasive to let it go…

--
“Thank you uncle Youngbae…!”

The little girl’s cheek blushed upon getting the bear… Youngbae played almost a couple of times… Dara
watched him being so focused to hit all the toy soldiers with the pellet gun… she chuckled while holding
her niece as he became frustrated and almost break the gun he’s holding when he didn’t hit the last toy
soldier… but after almost half an hour of playing… he finally hit them all… wiped off the sweat and sighed
in relief… he sure would never stop until he got that teddybear.

He pinched the girl’s chubby cheek as she hugged the teddybear…

“Thanks…”

Dara told him shyly… he just nodded…

And soon they were back from walking… Soojin on Youngbae’s arms while the Dara’s carrying the
teddybear…
“The fireworks will start later… let’s go find a place to stay first…”
Youngbae said as they noticed the slowly drowsing Soojin resting her head on his shoulder… Dara reached
for the child’s cheek and caressed it a bit…

“She really had a great fun…”

She chuckled… as the child finally closed its eyes… they walked towards the tree they used to hang out at…
Sat under it… Dara got the kid from Youngbae… settling her on her lap while caressing the little girl’s
hair…

“She really looks like you…”

He said as he watched the little girl sleeping peacefully.

“Maybe because I was with her since she’s still a baby…”

He just nodded and again silence enveloped them…

He cleared his throat… feeling awkward for the sudden silence

“Do you want something to drink…? I’ll just go buy us some…”

But before she could answer… he already stood up and told her he’ll be quick… she smiled and rested her
back on the tree…

After a while someone came… it was a little dark at their area… thinking it was Youngbae she didn’t bother
asking who it is.

But as the figure went closer… her eyes then widen and her heart began to beat fast… she wanted to stand
up… but remembered that her niece’s on her lap… just stayed seated afraid to wake up her angel… she
looked up as the figure stood in front of her.

And just then the first batch of the fireworks launched on the heavens… colored it with bits of colorful fire
balls… as if the stars showered the earth with it’s beauty and color… he just stood there… looking down at
her… as the fireworks continued its wonders…
Their eyes locked once again… the time stilled… only the sound of the fireworks’ explosions and the beats
of their hearts could be heard…once again lost in each other orbs…
While another guy from afar dropped the bottles of drinks he and the girl he’s been wanting supposed to
share… watching the two under his and hers supposed to be haven… having their moment…
A bitter smile crept on his lips… his heart sunk deeply… felt his breath caught in his throat… he bowed
down… picked up the bottles... and slowly he turned around… leaving behind the girl he loves together
with the person that truly owns her now….
# CHAPTER 17

All throughout the night all he could think of is her… no matter how he shift his eyes especially his mind
towards the girl he suppose to spend a happy night with… all he could see and think of is his wife…
Seeing her with his friend once again was really like a dagger being plunged inside his chest… how her
smile could still melt his heart… how she could look good together with other men… and then suddenly it
hit his mind if he too could look good with her… after all she’s his wife… but then… as usual… he brushed
off the foolish thought… feeding himself especially his pride yet another lie…

But as much as he lock himself away and deny everything… in the end he still lose to himself… totally
forgetting his pride once again… it now became his habit to succumb to his own self control…
She became like a drug… a drug that could enthrall every fiber of his body… a drug that he couldn’t escape
to… at the same time a drug that continuously and slowly killing his heart….

No matter how he think of it… the reason behind the torture he’s suffering… he couldn’t make himself to
get the right answer… for whenever he’s close to answering it… he would always drop out… cowardly
accepting defeat for he doesn’t want and never wanted to pursue the one and only answer his mind could
give him…

Since when did he learn to compare his lover to his wife… since when did he anticipate for his lover to get
tired and ask him to bring her home… and since when did he focus his attention to some other girl beside
his lover… he’s now a wreck… totally confused and in pain… too much torture adding up to his stress… he
just wanted to escape it for once… the night should give him his time to break free… but in the end… he
would still be locked up together with his own suffering… that the girl he should pass on the pain he’s
carrying inside became the primary reason of his torture.

--

He should see Taeyeon cute whenever she ask for him to do the tasks in every booth… he should be feeling
fluttered whenever Taeyeon wrap her arms along with his… his heart should applause for excitement
whenever Taeyeon peck on his lips…he should feel disappointed when Taeyeon told him she’s already
tired from walking around…and he should be feeling down thinking she couldn’t join him in watching the
fireworks…

But he didn’t… blaming himself why doesn’t he feel the same for her just like back then… why he cant
make himself head over heels drooling for her company… all through out he did was trying to just look at
her… the face of the girl he fell in love with… the woman his heart should beat loudly… but he can’t… why
can’t he feel the same…? Since when did it all started…?
Such a peculiar feeling… his heart wouldn’t do somersault anymore whenever her sweet smile crept on her
lips… his heart wouldn’t beat twice faster than it normally beats whenever she says she loves him… the
voice that he always wanted to hear became just like any other sound… being mixed with the noise of the
fair… how could everything change so fast…

It’s his first to see her became disappointed when he didn’t get her what she wanted… or maybe he already
did saw her back then but too blinded to see that she really liked throwing tantrums whenever she didn’t
get what she wants…. It’s his first to notice how her expression changes from serene to being irritated
whenever they would have to try another booth… it’s his first to notice that she wasn’t really fond of
walking around and instead insisting that they would just go to her house and spend the time there… he
really wanted to enjoy the fair… especially watch the fireworks with her… but to his disappointment it’s
his first to know that she never liked watching fireworks… telling him that it’s too smoky whenever it
ends…

In the end she decided to go home… slightly telling him through her actions that she shouldn’t have
agreed coming to the fair… constantly dusting of her dress when they were in his car… fixing herself each
minute… totally ignoring the bear he worked hard for… for she would pout the entire night if he couldn’t
get it for her…

He was silent… just listening to her small rants about how could the university allow outsiders to join the
fair… that the fair shouldn’t be held in the field for it’s too dusty… and that it should just be a concert
rather than a lame fair…

Since when she became such a nagger…? he realized… Until he found himself sighing after every of her
complaints…

A wave of relief showered him when they got to her house… she invited him in but being with her
somehow made him tired… he managed to get himself excused… telling her he have some business to
finish… she pouted… obviously disappointed again…

That night he didn’t kiss her goodbye… just a small wave after series of persuasion to let him go…

And after that… here he go again… finding himself going back to the fair… hoping that ‘she’ would still be
there… it bothers him thinking if she’s still with his friend… how foolish could he get deciding to go back
and still pushing his luck finding her alone…

His heart paced hardly when he’s finally close to the fair… his feet dragged him quickly as soon as he
arrived… looking for her around the area… and literally for him… he felt the time stopped when he saw
her familiar figure under that fateful tree…

How could he forget looking first to her sanctuary… and just then… he felt himself being carried away by
the wind… towards her… in front of her… together with her little angel… and still… to his wonder, how her
eyes could draw him out of his consciousness…

He heard the first batch of the fireworks… saw it through the reflection of her eyes how the glitters of light
showered upon the heavens… and there… his heart skipped once again… and his breath caught up in his
throat… afraid he would choke… he managed to heaved a deep sigh….

Maybe together with the relief of seeing her alone… and maybe together with the relief of finally finding
her…

The colorful heavens lightened up her face… how breath taking her beauty could be… maybe more
beautiful than the joint lights of the fireworks… immaculate… just perfect…

--

They sat quietly beside each other… the fireworks continued its wonders… both of them had their eyes to
the heavens…the sounds momentarily broke the formed awkwardness between them… and still under
their own world… with nothing could be heard other than the simultaneously hard beats of their hearts
and the sounds of the fireworks…

How she wished for the moment not to stop… how he wished the same…

How she felt wonderful having her heart beats wildly… how he felt the same…

How happy could she be at this moment… and how he felt the same…
Another unforgettable night… not only for her… but definitely for him…

Both oblivious as to what the other feels at the moment… keeping only to themselves the stolen happiness
they’re both unknowingly sharing…

And just then his hand landed to hers… both stiffened at the sudden contact… but he didn’t pull it back…
loving the warmth that her hand is giving him… that she too couldn’t resist…

Minutes passed… still no one spoke a word… the fireworks lessened… until the last batch were blown in
the skies… the light slowly subsided… until it revealed back the velvet paint of night….

People started to go home… the once noisy and lively fair slowly silenced… everything now ended… and
together by their earlier moment… it would remain part of the university’s memory…
Soojin stirred from her sleep… breaking the two back from their reverie… their hands parted as Dara
caressed the back of her little angel…

Jiyong did the same… and when he noticed a slight shiver from the little girl… he took off his sweater and
wrapped it around the child… Dara looked at him shyly… he looked at her but quickly broke the gaze…
bringing himself back to reality….

“We should go home…”

He said monotonously as he stood up… she nodded and tried to scoop up Soojin but almost fall back if not
for her husband’s support… her legs felt numb for letting Soojin sleep on her lap for quite a while.

He held her on her waist… and noticed her numbed legs… he sighed and got Soojin from her arms…
letting the child’s head on his shoulder as it continued her slumber…
He let go of her… got the teddy bear from the ground and gave it to his wife…

“Can you walk…?”

He said in his always cold voice.

“Ye- yes…”

She stuttered as she nods… he looked at her first before turning his back and started his track… holding
the little girl securely on his arms.

Unconsciously, a smile curved on her lips… she hugged the teddy bear on her arms and walked after her
husband…

--
The ride was quiet… Soojin’s now on Dara’s arms… while she too has fallen asleep… He didn’t notice it not
until they got home…

He looked at his side when he noticed that she’s still not getting out from the car… his jaw tightened as he
felt another wave of weird skip inside his chest awhen he saw her sleeping form…

He sighed and a crease formed on his forehead… it’s now been quite a while since they got home… but he
cant make himself to wake her up… he ran his hand along his hair while he’s slumped on his seat.

He looked at her again and saw her lips parted a bit… the lips that made him lose himself once seemed
like taking an effect on him again…

His hand then suddenly reached for her smooth face… trailing his fingers from her cheek down to her
plump lips…

He wanted to feel it again in his… such a cruel intention of him while a little angel is still on her arms…

She then finally stirred from her sleep when she felt something warm touching her lips… he quickly pulled
back his hand… she rubbed her eyes with her other hand and yawned a bit… he just found himself
watching every of her moves… he could’ve just get out of the car instantly but he chose to stay.

“Omo… we’re already home…”

She said sleepily as she looked around… she found him staring at her and can’t help but to feel a little
guilty thinking if he had waited for her to wake up

“Mianhe…”

She bowed her head a bit to him.

He gasped upon hearing the word again....He began to hate that word when she said that night’s ago… he
looked away… and didn’t answer her back… he just went outside of his car… she too did the same…

The maids started to come and greet them back… quite surprised to see them together but definitely
happy to the scene before them.

“Let them take her in…”

He said to her as he made his way inside… The maids got Soojin from her.

“Uhmm… Jiyong… can she sleep in our room…?”

She called to him… he looked back… for she thought he would go to his lover’s house… better yet let her
niece join her in sleep.... soon after the two were left alone on the entrance.

“Can’t she sleep alone in the guest room…?”

He suddenly blurted out… his eyes widen a bit upon saying those words… the thoughts of having her
tonight lingered his mind that he completely forgot controlling his own words… but relieved that she
seemed didn't notice his intentions…

“Uhmmm well she can but-…”

“Fine… I’ll go sleep in the guest room…”

He cut her off and walked away but she ran after him… she caught up with him and grabbed his hand… he
stiffened feeling her hand with his again but managed to look back… it all sunk in to her now that he
wouldn’t be going to his lover’s house tonight.

“You can still sleep in our room… the bed is too big for the three of us…”

He jaw tightened again... a moment of stillness until he crept a smirk… he turned around and leaned
closer to her.

“Do you want me to do it with you in front of your niece…?”

She shivered a bit… realized why he doesn’t want her niece to sleep in their room… she looked down and
let go of his hand… hearing those words from him hit her hard… admitting to herself that maybe she’s
slowly falling into their lustful deed… she wanted to feel his gentleness once again… she knows it’s
stupid… totally low of her to think about those things… he had raped her multiple times but here she is
now wanting for more just because of that one night.

He looked at her… thinking that of course she wouldn’t want it… he looked away and clicked his tongue.

“It’s already late… go to sleep…”

And with that he left her standing there… went to the guest room and flopping himself down against the
door… hugging his knees and pulling his hair a bit by his hands… and after a while he groaned and run a
hand on his hair while leaning himself on the door…

Remembering her porcelain skin… her pink lips… soft hands… plump cheeks… his chest began to throb
hard again… memories of what happened between them that night repeated inside his mind once again…
his lips parted as his breathing got heavy…

“I want you so badly…”

He whispered painfully looking ahead of the room… hitting the back of his head at the door hoping the
thought would come off while clutching his chest with his other hand...

'This is wrong.... I couldn't succumb to her... why is this happening...? I can't... not to you Sandara....

He held covered his mouth as he felt another wave of pain...

'I couldn't be in love with you...'

# CHAPTER 18

I woke up early just to see him not home already…

The maids said he left home first thing in the morning…

Last night… I had the hardest time putting myself to sleep… thinking about him who’s just a wall away
from me…

It keeps on bothering me why he didn’t go to his lover’s house… he could’ve just spend the night with
her… rather than spending it alone in that cold room…

I kept on shifting my body on the bed to every side... but no matter what, his face kept on flashing inside
my mind… I don’t know why… but it keeps on bothering me to follow him… thinking that he’s alone in
there wants me to check on him…
But that would just be a big mistake… I know I’ll be the last person he would want to see… I’ll be the last
person he would want to be with, especially now that he’s alone… just by thinking how disgusted he is
when it comes to me feels like my insides are burning like hell…

And if by any chance he would not be disgusted by my presence… there will be only one reason behind
that… the fact that I am just a thing to feed his needs…a mere thing just to satisfy the lust inside of him.

Pathetic… I really am pathetic am I…? A strand of hope is enough but how come and since when did I
start being too full of myself.

But still no matter how I restrain myself from thinking how much he’s changed… how much of an odd
thing it is to see him and to feel from him some slight of tenderness… there’s something inside me that
keeps on pushing me to read him further…

Understanding him is not enough… I feel like I want to know more about him… even if it would mean that
I’ll receive more pain from him in the process.
--
His eyes… Those same eyes that I saw during that dinner… the same eyes that drawn me into a deep bliss
after that one gentle night from him… I felt my heart stopped when I saw it again last night… from the
man who brought pain to me… how it could give remedy to my aching heart…

And the warmth of his hand… the soft touch that until now I could still feel on my hand… how I wished to
be held by him that way… even just for a while… that stolen moment was like a gift from the heavens…
another gentleness from him that surely is enough to cure the pain he had inflicted in me that day.
--
“Omma where’s uncle Jiyong…?”

She heard her little angel’s voice… she flinched a bit thinking that he’s probably with his lover right now…
spending the weekend together with her, especially that his parents won’t be around… A normal moment
with him, just like the last night’s would remain as a stolen happiness for her…

She reached for the little girl’s face and wiped off the crumbs on the side of its lips… she forced her lips to
curve a smile, hiding the forming sadness inside of her.

“Baby… you know uncle Jiyong’s a busy person right…? So he wouldn’t be able to join us today…”

She saw the little girl pouted in disappointment.

“Omma, uncle Jiyong is busy just like appa…?”

She asked again while chewing on her food.

“Yes baby he is…”

She said weakly… her niece pouted once again which made her chuckled a bit… Soojin never fails to bring
happiness to her even just by her smallest act.

“But Soojin wants to play more with uncle… why is it that, they’re always busy omma…? Appa… uncle and
sometimes even omma…”

Dara sighed… here her niece again with her tantrums…

She lifted her niece by its waist after she finished her food… settling her on the counter as she brought its
plate to the sink… and again, she heard her niece spoke.

“But how about CL-roo…? Or uncle Youngbae…! Omma…! I want to play again with uncle Youngbae…!”
Soojin’s eyes widen in delight… she sure had a great time with Youngbae last night… and just then, there
she finally remembered about Youngbae.
‘Why didn’t he come back…?’

‘Did something bad happen to him…?’

Trails of thoughts immediately filled her mind… she suddenly felt nervous thinking how could she forget
about him… she was too absorbed with her own stolen happiness that she forgot about the man who
helped her to have a wonderful night.

But a part of her… a selfish part of her says that maybe it was somewhat a good thing that Youngbae
wasn’t there… that whatever his reasons are for not coming back gave her the chance to have another
moment with her husband… another chance to see another side of Jiyong once again…

She shook her head… how could she think of that…?

She turned back… leaving her niece looking at her wonderingly… she got the phone and was about to dial
a number but she stopped… remembering she doesn’t even know Youngbae’s number… she stayed in her
spot while continuously looking at the phone on her hand.

“Omma…? What’s wrong…?”

Soojin’s little voice interrupted her thoughts… she shifted her gaze towards her niece who’s still seated at
the counter… she then smiled.
“Ah… baby I’m planning to call uncle Youngbae but omma doesn’t know his home’s phone number…”

She chuckled at her own silliness which made the little girl join her in a round of laughter.

“Maybe uncle Jiyong knows his number omma…”

Her niece then smartly stated… she was somewhat taken aback with her niece’s suggestion… of course he
would know since he’s his best friend… but it would definitely be a wrong choice to call her husband and
bother him to whatever he is doing just to ask him for his friend’s number.

Even though she really wanted to check on Youngbae, she wouldn’t want to take the chance to be insulted
by Jiyong again in the process of finding a way to contact Youngbae… and plus… the thought of seeing
him in class after the weekends would be enough to make her at peace.

But while she was busy with her own thoughts again, the phone she’s holding suddenly rang which made
her jumped a bit and almost drop it… Soojin chuckled again upon seeing her aunt’s clumsiness.

Dara quickly answered the phone and as if someone heard her thoughts awhile ago, a familiar voice
responded on the other line.

“Y- Youngbae-sshi…?”

Her eyes widen a bit… somehow a wave of relief brushed upon her after hearing his gentle yet weak voice
on the other line.

And as if on cue, hearing her aunt mentioning Youngbae’s name, Soojin’s hands clasped with each other…
turning towards her aunt, trying her best to reach as far as she could just to hear her aunt’s conversation.

“Yes… it’s me…”

He answered back… his voice sure is weak… a hint of sadness could be felt… but as innocent as Dara is,
she didn’t notice it… oblivious to the fact that the man on the other line is now suffering from a
heartbreak.

“I’m sorry if I left you last night without bidding goodbye… something came up that I really have to leave
quickly...”

Upon hearing it, she waved her other hand in front of her as if she’s talking with him in person.

“Ani..! It’s okay… I was just worried that something bad might have happened to you… good thing you’re
fine… and even I’m already quite used to you leaving without any notice, I still could be worried about
you, you know…”

She kid him a bit… earning a slight smile from him on the other line… how could the girl who brought him
the heartbreak could also be the one who could heal that wound…

She heard him sighed on the other line… she just waited for him to speak first… but again, just like what
they are used to do… silence consumed them…

Soojin’s brow raised, totally wondering why her aunt isn’t speaking anymore…

“Dara-ah…”

She heard him finally spoke… somehow she felt the weakness in his voice… and she was about to answer
him back…ask him what’s wrong… but her niece beats her to speak…

“Omma…! I want to talk to uncle Youngbae..! Tell him to come here and play with me..!”

Soojin cheered on her seat… Dara quickly went to her when her niece almost fell off from the counter…
and just then, the little girl quickly stole the phone from her…

Her eyes widen but didn’t bother getting the phone back from her niece… seeing how happy she is when it
comes to Youngbae, made her happy too…

She watched her niece having her conversation with Youngbae… the little girl won’t stop from giggling
and nodding… she just hoped that Youngbae won’t be easily fed up by her niece’s childishness.

She bit her lip and felt uneasy when she heard her niece persistent invitation to Youngbae to come and
play with her…

After a while… Soojin finally gave her back the phone… smiling sweetly at her while extending her arms
towards her… wanting to be put down on the ground… and after she put her down, the little girl quickly
ran outside the kitchen.

“Yehey..! Uncle Youngbae will come and play with Soojin..! Beach..! Soojin loves the beach…!”

Dara’s eyes widen again… the little girl kept on yelling… until she heard her running upstairs… she quickly
turned herself to the phone…

“Jiyong’s not home…?”

She heard him asked.

“N-no… he’s not… what did you tell Soojin…? Beach…? What beach…?”
“I’ll pick you two later... I’ll be there in a minute…”

He casually said.
“Huh..?! Wait…! What..?! Youngbae-sshi you don’t have to-“

“I don’t have anything to do in here… I’m bored… plus I want to make up for last night…I’ll be going there
now…”

“Wait…-“
But before she could speak more… he already hanged up.

She sighed… looking at the phone in disbelief.

--
After a couple of minutes of collecting back her thoughts… she snapped back… sinking into her that
Youngbae’s really coming any minutes by now...

She quickly put the phone down on the counter and immediately made her way out of the kitchen and
back to their room to change…

She saw her niece happily skipping her way out from their room… wearing her cute yellow summer dress
and holding a hat on her hand.

“Soojin-ah… baby… you’re already dressed up…? You did it all alone…?”

The little girl nodded flashing a wide grin and went to her back and pushed her legs for her to move.

“Omma hurry up..! Uncle Youngbae is already on his way here…! You have to change quickly…!”

She chuckled… her niece is really cute whenever she’s excited about something…

“Arasso arasso… you just go downstairs and wait for uncle Youngbae.. okay baby..?”

She turned around and bent down to meet her niece’s height… fixed the big bow on its dress and pinched
its chubby cheeks… the little girl giggled once again and skipped her way downstairs.
“Soojin-ah… careful…!”

She called to her… but the little girl seemed too deaf because of too much excitement… she shook her head
side to side as she made her way inside their room to change.
--
She just decided to wear anything she could find in her closet… just a plain white summer dress but
enough to bring up her beauty… looking at herself in the mirror, she can’t help but to smile… slowly
closing her eyes as happiness took over her once again… it’s really been a while since she last went to a
beach…

Back then it was her sanctuary… the most peaceful place she could go to… releasing every stress and
sadness that she’s been keeping inside… it was a truly heaven for her whenever she hears the dancing of
the waves… smell the salty yet fragrant scent of the ocean… she sighed… at last she could feel those things
again…

She slowly opened her eyes only to see someone through the mirror looking at her from behind…

Standing at the opened door… there he is… the man she was looking for early this morning… the man she
thought had left her again in her cage… Looking straight at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
# CHAPTER 19

He left the mansion at the middle of the night… drove around the dark city just to clear his messed up
mind…
Making a stop at one familiar place… a place where he and his brother used to go… a place where they
used to release all of their stress… drinking their minds out just to forget their problems for a while…

He never expected himself going back to that place… since his brother left, he never tried going back in
there again… what’s the use of it…? If the one who showed him that refuge… the one who always told him
not to give up was the first one who gave up and left him…

Looking over at the city… he stopped at a hilltop… dragged himself out of his car and leaned on it as he
watched over the flickering lights of the now quiet city…

Suppressing himself to close his eyes for he would always see ‘her’ face… would always bring him an
excruciating wave of pain whenever he sees it…

And just then, a drop of tear escaped his eye… too shock of what happened, he quickly wiped it off…

‘Is this really my payment for the pain I caused you…?’

A thought brushed his mind as he watched the city.

He chuckled at his own thought… now, he can’t even control the works of his mind… seemed like
everything is completely going on out of his hands already…

A night away from her… away from reality… hoping that after the night he could go back to his tracks…
clearing his system of thoughts of her… but in the end… he just still couldn’t…
--
And just right after he arrived at the mansion… yet again, he found himself looking for her… just like last
night… the way his body dragged itself towards her… it all happened too fast that he couldn’t stop himself.

He just found himself watching her again… even just by her reflection, it already fed the emptiness he’s
feeling inside… and just like it’s already normal for him… he was not surprised feeling his insides
thumping really hard… now used to the tightening of his chest he just stood there… stayed still as he
watched her beauty that outlined the mirror… watched her having her moment reminiscing her
memories…

He stayed glued on the ground… unable to speak, unable to move…

Until she opened her eyes he came back to his senses as well…

She quickly turned around to face him… a few steps of gap between them… they shared another eye
contact…
He looked away first… finally able to control himself… he made his way inside and towards his closet… she
watched him… wondering why he’s there…

He rummaged through his closet… brushing away the awkward feeling inside him… got new pair of
clothes and went directly to their bathroom…

She waited for him… still standing in front of the mirror…

He went back wearing his new clothes… noticing that she’s still there, he looked at her…

She blinked her eyes and cleared her throat before speaking.

“Ah… Ji- Jiyong… since when uhmmm… I thought you’re-….”

She stuttered... can’t figure out the right words she wants to say…. Wants to ask him why’s he there…?
How come he’s not in his lover’s house…? Where did he spend the night…?
He cut her off…

“I went somewhere last night…”

He heard himself explaining… it just came automatically from him…

Her eyes widen a bit… first time he bothered explaining to her… and just like that, silence then consumed
them.

“Oh…”

The only word that she managed to say.

He noticed the forming awkwardness once again… his turn to clear his throat… he walked towards their
bed finishing to button up his shirt.

“You’re going somewhere…?”

He asked without looking at her… but before she could speak… they heard her niece yelling in excitement
as it made its way towards their room.

“Omma…! Omma…! Uncle Youngbae’s finally here…!”

Soojin ran inside their room and towards her aunt with a wide smile plastered on her face… but as soon as
she saw Jiyong sitting on the bed her smile got wider and ran towards the man.

“Uncle Jiyong…!”

She yelled once again… extending her arms as for him to carry her.

Jiyong stood up and carried the little girl in his arms.

“Hi there angel...”

He reached for the child’s face and pinched its chubby cheek which earned a giggle from the child… his
wife on the other hand blushed upon hearing him saying such sweet words towards her niece… even for
the fact that it’s not directed to her… hearing him saying soft words could already make her flutter.

“Uncle… since when did you come back…? Where did you go…? Omma said you’re busy…”

The little girl immediately bombarded him with lots of questions… he looked at Dara before turning back
at the child…

Dara just stood in front of the two… clasping her hands tight in front of her and bowing her head a bit.

“I went somewhere last night baby…”

He explained again… and then turned back to Dara

“Why’s Youngbae here..?”

He asked her monotonously… she quickly looked up.

“We’re… uhmm-“

She started but her energetic niece beats her.

“Uncle Youngbae will bring Soojin and omma to the beach..!”

She cheered on his arms… throwing her arms up in the air and then back at wrapping it along Jiyong’s
neck.

Upon hearing it… he unconsciously raised a brow… and continuously looked at his wife.

“I told him, he shouldn’t have to…”

Her voice trailed off a bit… afraid he would get mad at her again…

Deep inside he’s really starting to get mad… not really knowing why but he just felt it…

And just then he felt the little girl calling in for his attention… he looked at her and saw a sweet smile on
the child’s face.

“Uncle… come and join us too… Soojin wants to play with uncle Jiyong too…”

She said while smiling.

Dara quickly went to them and got Soojin from her husband.

“Baby I told you uncle Jiyong’s busy…”

She persisted… her niece started to pout in disappointment.

“I’ll go…”

She heard him say… her niece quickly wriggled on her hold as she cheered…

Dara’s eyes widen just like him… both were surprised…especially him hearing himself say that.

“Yehey…!!! Uncle Jiyong will come…!”

Dara put her down and quickly she ran out of the room telling that she’ll tell Youngbae that her uncle
Jiyong will come…

As soon as the little girl left… silence filled the room once again.

“Ji-… Jiyong… you don’t have to come…”

She said in a weak voice.

It was like a pinch inside of him hearing it from her… for him it was like he’s not welcome… pushing him
away to have her own time with another man…

He walked towards her until the gap slowly lessened between them… he looked at her with just blankness
inside his eyes before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Why…? Is it because I’ll just ruin your moment with my friend…? Is that it…?”

She quickly looked at him in disbelief… here he is again accusing her of something… she just doesn’t want
to bother him… she knows he got more things to do than to force himself to babysit her niece but again, he
misunderstood her.

“It’s not that..-”

She said as she got cut off again by him.

“You think I would let my wife cheat on me…?”

He grabbed her chin with his hand… made her to face him directly… he heard a loud thump inside his
chest but shook it away as he saw fear in her eyes… his forehead creased in frustration… since when did he
hate seeing fear in her…?

“I won’t let that happen…”

He said in a cold voice as his lips slowly landed on hers… her eyes widen in shock once again… her body
stiffened as both orbs locked with each other as well… he moved his lips but not enough to deepen their
kiss…

The sound of their lips as it parted rang the entire silence around the two.

The kiss was short but enough for her to feel the deepness of the mark it left her… it was not forceful or
anything… it supposed to make her feel more fear but she can’t help but to feel the possessiveness behind
the kiss… as if marking her as his… along with the hidden gentleness that comes with it… but that was just
all in her mind.... she thought…

Thinking that for him it would always be just a simple plain kiss…

But for him, it was like the first right thing he did out of all the uncontrolled actions that he made these
past few days…

Seeing her shocked reaction, he can’t help but to form a smirk…

He walked past her towards the door… looking at his side enough to have a glimpse of her.

“Hurry up in there… your man’s still waiting for you downstairs…”

He said as he completely went out of the room.

--
“Oh... You’re here… Dara said you left…”

Youngbae said as soon as he went downstairs, trailing his wife behind him… a tinge of disappointment
could be felt but he was quickly able to hide it.

He raised a brow once again… hearing how his friend just called his wife by her nickname so casually in
front of him… while his wife just stayed silent behind…still couldn’t get over of what had happened in
their room earlier.

“I just came back… so… are we heading off now…?”

He said with a smirk… Soojin cheered in delight and ran towards Jiyong… he quickly carried her and
flashed the child with a sweet smile…

Youngbae was a bit dumbstruck… his eyes then landed towards Dara and noticed her silence…

“Dara…”

He called her softly enough for her to snap back from her thoughts… she looked up to Youngbae with a
questioning expression painted on her face.

Jiyong clearly saw how his friend looked at his wife… anger started to boil up once again… he just doesn’t
want someone looking at his wife with those kinds of stares… his brows then slowly connected… and when
his friend was about to go to his wife… he quickly went to her with Soojin in his other arm… he wrapped
his other arm along his wife’s shoulder…

She gasped in surprise with the sudden contact… looked up to her husband but he didn’t looked down to
her.

“Shall we go…?”

Jiyong spoke… his friend dropped its gaze towards his wife and turned to him and nod.

As they got out… two cars were waiting for them.

“The three of us will just go take my car… we’ll just follow you Bae…”

Jiyong stated… all his friend could do is nod and steal some quick glances on Dara…

Another heartbreak for him… he shouldn’t have insisted bringing her to the beach if he knows he would
just see another painful moment of her and the man who owns her now.

Throughout the ride she was just silent… too absorbed thinking why her husband’s acting so odd once
again… only the voice of her niece continuously singing beat the silence inside his car… he too was silent…
just observing her while thinking if he’s doing the right thing… if this is still part of his way to hurt her…

--

Soon they arrived at the beach…

And soon she forgot what’s been bothering her…

Seeing the broad sea… smelling the familiar salty scent of the beach… feeling the breeze as it blew past
her…

As if automatically, she started taking off her sandals… putting it inside the car… feeling the warm sand on
her bare foot… this is what she saw wanting… the feeling of tranquility… stillness and away from her pain.

Together with her niece… they started running towards the shore… forgetting everything as happiness
showered her once again…

“Omma…! Catch me…!”

Leaving the two men watching them from afar…

Both eyes were directed to the same girl… both eyes watched how she smiled and laugh with her niece…
and both felt the same pace inside their chest… both beating wildly as they watch her…
“Jiyong-ah…”

His friend started… both were now leaning on the car as they continuously watched the two girls who were
now playing at the waters.

He turned to his friend… saw how its eyes were all glued watching his wife… he cleared his throat trying to
gain his friend’s attention.

His friend turned to him wearing a serious expression on his face which made him a bit uneasy…

“Jiyong-ah… you do love Taeyeon right…?”

He heard his friend asking… thought of why he’s asking him that… he opened his mouth, only to close it
again… he just couldn’t answer him… surprised with himself why he couldn’t… he do loves Taeyeon for all
he knows… she was the first girl who made his heart do somersault… the first one who treasured him the
most… the first one who gave him the strength when he needed the most… of course he loves her… ‘For all
he knows’

Hearing nothing from him… his friend then curved a slight smile… facing the sea once again his eyes
followed every of ‘her’ moves… he heaved up a sigh.

Jiyong just watch him… waited for another bomb that his friend would inflict him… and just as he
thought… the next words his friend told him felt more like the death itself…

“Actually… I think I’m in love with your wife…”

# CHAPTER 20

His lips parted… unable to speak and produce a sound he just looked at his friend with an unreadable
expression on his face…

He blinked his eyes for a couple of times before looking away and ahead the sea… felt a sudden stung in
his eyes but can’t understand what he’s feeling right now…

“I’ve known the Parks back then… I have seen her before together with her sister… but I guess it’s her first
time to see me in your wedding… and to think I was the one who played that one song…”

His friend curved another bitter smile…

“I never thought she would be the one whom you’ll marry...-“

“Why are you telling me these things…?”

He cut him off… his hand were slowly forming into a fist because of the sudden annoyance that hit him…

Youngbae felt a change in ‘his’ voice… turned to his friend before he continued.

“I don’t know… maybe I’m still hoping for a chance to be with her…”

His eyes widen… gritted in his teeth to suppress his forming anger… thinking why he should be…?

--

“Soojin-ah… don’t go too far…!”

She yelled as she ran after the little girl… sure her niece is a fast runner… she’s already tired just right
after a couple of minutes of running and playing around but it seemed that her niece doesn’t really know
how to feel tired.

The two guys were far by now… she continuously ran towards her niece.

She came to a stop when she saw Soojin talking to a man…

She made her way towards the two and called her niece once again… Soojin looked back at her, smiling…
she ran towards her aunt and extended her hands to show her something.

“Omma… that man gave me this…”

The little girl showed her a beautiful handmade craft made from seashells…

“Oh… it’s beautiful…”

She muttered… and before she could speak more… her niece quickly dragged her towards the man.

“Soojin-ah…”

“Mister… my omma said it’s beautiful…”

Her niece tugged the man’s pants and slowly the man turned around with wondering eyes… and as soon
as he saw ‘her’, his face turned into a warm and happy one.

“Oh… I’m glad you liked it…”

The man spoke in a low manly voice… he’s tall and a bit tanned… has a big frame and she’s a bit surprised
to know that a man like him could make such handcraft.

She turned to her niece and scooped her up to her arms

“Baby… did you already say thank you to him…?”

The little girl quickly smiled and turned to the man

“Thank you mister…!”

She said with full glee as she curiously examined the handcraft…

The man chuckled in his low voice watching the little girl… he then turned to ‘her’ and flash her again
another smile…

“You have a very adorable daughter…”

He stated…

“Oh… she’s my niece…”

He just nodded and another smile crept on his lips as he looked down…. Feeling the forming silence… she
cleared her throat…

“Uhmmm… I think we should go now… they’re probably looking for us by now… thanks again…”

Show bowed a bit to him and he did the same…

He sighed as he watched her turning her back on him… waved when the little girl waved goodbye to him…
he shook his head a bit as he turned around and walk the opposite way… he smiled to himself… almost got
lost because of the beauty he just saw right now.

--

“You can’t…”

He mumbled… looking blank on the sand as his throat just worked on its own.

“She’s my wife…”

He continued…his knuckles were all white by now because of his hard gritting… his friend noticed his
uneasiness… wondering why he’s acting that way… he gasped as a thought came to him.

“Do you love her…?”

Jiyong then quickly snapped back after hearing that word… he was astounded… how did his friend think
of that way… he looked at him but unable to let out his voice once again… he could have just answer him
instantly... but he can't... doesn't even know what to answer...

“What about Taeyeon…?”

His friend threw him another painful question… painful for he could feel his head breaking from too much
thinking… and more painful on what he feels inside his chest.

And just he was about to explode… she then came together with her niece on her arms…

Somehow, he felt a little peace inside of him seeing her smile… even if it’s not darted to him but instead to
his friend… she even barely look at him… but even so… he felt the calmness that replaced the one anxiety
inside of him.

His friend quickly turned to his wife… now that ‘he’ already knows his friend’s true feeling towards his
wife… it made it more painful to him watching them together… as if something’s telling him to take her
away from this place… lock her again to that sad mansion… choosing to see her in pain and loneliness
rather than seeing her happy with his friend… call him selfish and evil but that what he truly feels right
now.

And as if his voice finally able to let out from its cage he managed to speak.

“Let’s go home…”

He looked directly at her, telling her with full authority… ignoring the presence of the other two… he
looked at her with a blank expression.

“Uncle Jiyong look a man gave me this…! It’s beautiful neh…?!”

He just let out a slight smile towards the little girl before turning his back and walk towards his car… his
friend just watch him and could really feel something behind his actions.
She was a bit surprised to the way he’s acting… earlier he wasn’t like that… but what’s with the sudden
mood…?

Her head hanged low… felt a little disappointed for she would like to stay a little bit more… while the little
oblivious to what’s happening… to absorbed on her handcraft…

Youngbae tapped her shoulder… she quickly looked up to see his warm smile… thinking it was the first
time he smiled that way towards her.

“There’s still a next time…”

He said and she just nodded… he petted Soojin’s head and smiled goodbye to the child…

He sighed watching her leaving… he shouldn’t have told her husband those words… for maybe she would
stay longer with him…

Jiyong just watched them inside his car…. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he felt a little
impatient of her just bidding goodbye… thinking as if they won’t see each other when class resumes…
“You really took your time eh…”

He instantly said as soon as she got inside…

“Sorry…”

He flinched a bit hearing that word again…

He didn’t reply… just focusing himself on the road… silence filled the car as the little girl fell asleep on
Dara’s arms… his mind filled with his friend’s words which made him gripped on the steering wheel
tighter…

She glanced at him and could see his jaws clenching tightly… her forehead creased with worry thinking if
she did something wrong…? Or if something bad happened earlier that made him pissed…

Soon they arrived at the mansion… just then he felt the relief for maybe he finally took her back to her
cage… he told the maids to take Soojin to the guestroom and let the child sleep there…

He looked at Dara as if telling her to follow him… she felt her heart raced because of nervousness… had
the hint of what he’s planning to do… but thinking that it’s still early… she hoped that what she’s thinking
wrongly…

He went to their bedroom… trailing her behind him… she closed the door and waited for his next move…

With his back facing her… he ran his fingers to his hair… closed his eyes shut in confusion… she just stood
there in front the closed door… watching his back and playing with her fingers as she felt uneasy with his
odd actions…

He turned around and quickly marched towards her… her eyes widen a bit as she saw his angry expression
painted on his face… he pinned her to the door gripping on both of her shoulders… her hands immediately
went to his chest.

“What’s between you and Youngbae…?”

He said in a angry voice… she really felt scared by him now… and to think that he’s thinking of that thing
again made her uneasy… why did he think of it once again…?

“We- we’re… j-just friends…”

Her voice trembled making her stuttered… and as if he wasn’t satisfied with her answer… he gripped on
her shoulders tight… his breathing got heavy…

“I told you I won’t let you cheat on me…”

He said in a very angry tone…

“Jiyong… it-…it hurts…”

Her hands were still resting on his chest but she never pushed him for she doesn’t want to make things
worse…

He then released her roughly… pushing her to the side a bit but she was able to balance and not fall down.

He went to their bed and slumped himself down on the floor beside it… bending his legs and running his
fingers again to his hair as he rest his head on the edge of the bed, closing his eyes shut… doesn’t care if
she could see his pathetic state right now… he just want to release all of these confusions inside his head.

Dara gripped on her shoulders… but forgot the pain when she saw his state... felt a little skip inside her
again… she didn’t think twice as her feet dragged her to him… she walked slowly… watching him as he was
like feeling in pain… she slowly kneeled down before him…her hand trembling, reaching for him.

“Jiyong… are you okay…?”

She asked him in full worry… touched his knee to gain his attention…

He slowly opened his eyes and stared at her for a while… before a sudden push inside of him made him do
his next moves…

He pulled her hands which made her crash down to him… held her face with his other hand as he quickly
covered her lips with his…

He let go of her hand only to pull her waist towards him… her hands quickly held on to his shoulders to
push him a bit… totally shocked by his sudden action… but he didn’t let go… pulled her body more to
him… he kissed her hungrily while directly looking at her eyes…

“Mmmmph…”

She moaned in his mouth… felt his hand slowly trailing down to her dress and lifting it up to her legs… he
held onto her waist and lifted her up a bit to his lap still with their lips locked with each other… spreading
her legs to rest himself between them.

He pulled out from the kiss first… pecking on her lips once in a while undoing his pants… she just rest on
his lap, straddling him… not really knowing what he’s thinking… he lifted his hips as he pulled down his
pants a bit along with his boxers…

She blushed upon seeing his member in daylight… looked away and gasped as he lifted her up once
again… setting aside her underwear he lowered her hips to meet his aching member…

“Uhhhuhh….!”

She unconsciously hugged him tight closing her eyes as tears started to form… screamed in pain for she
was still dry and tight… her hands reached for her mouth to let herself bite her fingers…

He didn’t move yet… letting her to adjust… he hugged her body… he then heard her soft sobs on his
shoulder… his brows slowly meet and decided to just stop doing his deed… he held her waist and was
about to pull himself out when one of her hands suddenly stopped his arm… as if she knew what he was
planning to do

“Just do it…”

She said in a weak voice… thinking if this would help him to ease his pain she’s ready to do her part as his
wife… seeing him in his state a while ago made her in pain too…

She released his arm to wrap her arms again to his neck… she did the first move making him know that
it’s okay to do it… she moved her hips up and the down again to meet his flesh…

“Ungghhh…”

She let out another painful moan once again… she moved her hips again… spreading her legs wider
hoping it would ease the pain… while he stayed seated on the floor thinking why she’s doing it even if she’s
in pain…

“Stop this…”

He told her as he held onto her hips… her painful moans didn’t aroused him anymore like he used to feel…
it felt like it’s bringing in more pain to him.

She pulled from her hug… pushed herself to meet his face… she looked at him with tears in her eyes… he
quickly wiped off the tears that’s been rolling on her cheeks…

“Why…?”

He said under his breath… her brows twitched… hearing his voice like this made her cry more… why does
it feel so different…? Why is he acting this way…? Why making her stop wherein the first place this is what
she is to him…?

She opened her mouth only to close it again… with his flesh still throbbing inside of her she just looked
down, unable to speak…
“Why are you doing this…? If you’re in pain why doing this…?! You really are stupid…!”

He yelled at her… such an awkward atmosphere surrounded them… she didn’t speak… just continued to
sob… sure he wanted her again… but it bothers him hearing her in pain… totally opposite to what he
should feel…

He unconsciously hugged her… letting her cry on his shoulder he patted her back… ignoring the fact that
their bodies were still connected under her dress…

“I… call me stupid… but I’m your wife… thinking that this is the last thing… I could do for you…. if this
would help you release your stress… I’m ready to bear the pain… ”

She said between her sobs… he just felt his heart sunk by what she just said… his lips parted as he
breathes heavily…

He didn’t speak anymore… with his other hand he held her back…. While the other held her hip to support
his thrusts…

“Uhh… mmmm… nghhh…”

She buried her lips onto his shoulder as they began to move… she felt herself getting wet which helped
him to slide in and out of her…

“Just…relax…”

He grunted… holding on both of her hips to sliding her to his lap…

Her painful moans got replaced by her soft moans… letting him guide every of her moves… still with his
mind full of confusions… the words of his friend… his pace went faster and faster…
“I’m not… uhh… cheating on… you….”

She managed to say between his powerful thrusts…. He didn’t answer back for he already knows it… he
just held her tight and continued to finish what they had started

Hitting his back onto their bed… rubbing his bare bottom on the carpeted floor… she continued to ride
him…

“I… uhhh….!”

She threw her head back and bit on her lower lip as she felt herself finally releasing… before she slumped
back on to his chest…

He held onto her waist and thrust a couple fast one… and finally reaching his edge… he leaned down…
squeezing her body between his and his legs… grunting her name as he spilled his seeds inside of her…

Moving his hips a few more times to empty himself before sitting up again…

They both panted...resting her head on his chest and his now limp member inside of her they both took
the time to rest… supporting her back to keep her in place.

The day’s still very young… he looked at the window… could see the some rays of the sun making its way
inside their room… he listened to her breathing until it got even… there he decided to pull himself out and
fixed themselves…

He scooped her up and put her to their bed… tucked her down to their thick blanket and brushed away
some her hairs away from her now sweaty forehead…

‘Do you love her…?’

He bit his lower lip as the thought brushed his mind once again… his palm made its way towards his
forehead as his face scrunched in confusion… looking down at his wife as his heart beats wild again…

“I may not deserve you… but I won’t let anyone to take you away from me… loath me… hate me… call
me selfish… but I won’t let you ever to walk away from me…”

He mumbled… as a tear escaped his eye… not answering his thought but just let out what’s been bothering
him…for she said it herself… she’s his wife… bound by their vows and no one could separate them… telling
to her face that she’ll forever stay with him and his bitter life… she should endure more pain that comes
with it… taking advantage of her pure heart only for it to be broken by his wicked self…

He won’t let her have her own happiness… leaving him rot by himself… he would cage her down… if that
will take her to stay with him forever…

He stood up and just like he used to do… he left her alone in the room… running away yet again from his
true feeling he’s scared to admit…

# CHAPTER 21

“Thanks for taking care of my daughter…”

Seunghyun just came back from his business trip… he quickly went directly to the Kwon’s mansion to see
Dara and especially his daughter even didn’t bother to change from his business suit… but upon reaching
their house, Jiyong was the only one who welcomed him… learning that his two angels were still sleeping
after playing in the beach earlier.

“Don’t mention it… my wife was really happy during Soojin’s stay here... and I’m sure she’ll be sad once
you guys went back abroad…”

Seunghyun smiled upon hearing it from ‘her’ husband… could feel that Jiyong’s concern towards his
wife… and somehow felt relieved that ‘she’ married a good man… for once he knew she’s sad and hurting…
he’ll definitely not just step back and do nothing about it…

The two men continued talking about different things especially in business… with their young age they’re
now both aware of every sides inside that particular industry…

Jiyong almost forgot that he was talking to another guy with the same feeling as his friend towards his
wife… Their talk was only got stop when a familiar little voice called Seunghyun from upstairs…

“Appa…!”

The little girl ran downstairs that made the two men quickly stood up and almost run towards the little
girl…

“Soojin-ah…! Don’t run…”

But the little girl was too excited to listen… she still ran her way towards his dad while extending her
arms… Seunghyun chuckled on his daughter’s adorableness and lifted her up on in his arms… not
minding if he’s still quite tired from his trip…

Jiyong just watched the father and daughter at the side… can’t but to feel a tinge of envy seeing the little
girl so happy with his father… and suddenly his mind flied towards his wife who’s still in their room…

“Did my baby behaved during her stay here…?”

Seunghyun’s tone immediately changed when he talked to his daughter… his serious image instantly got
replaced by his pure fatherly image… the little girl chuckled and nodded… hugging her dad tight for she
truly missed him.

Jiyong bowed his head down… thinking if there would be a time he would have that moment with his own
child… that with his situation right now… would there be a time that his child would hug him and miss
him like that…?

“Soojin met with omma’s friends… uncle Youngbae, CL-roo… [Link]…-”

The little girl started to tell things about her stay to his dad… Seunghyun just listened to her and would
once in while glance at Jiyong… smiling to the other guy hinting that her daughter may take time to tell
her whole story… and Jiyong got the hint…

“I’ll just check on Dara…”

Seunghyun nodded before lifting her daughter out in the garden to hear more of her stories…

Jiyong made his way upstairs… finally got over to what had happened hours ago in their room… but upon
making his way towards their room… she then just got out of their room freshly showered…

He quickly stopped in his tracks just like her… she didn’t expect him to still be at their house… but can’t
but to feel at least happy to know that he is… but the awkward atmosphere between them right now is
becoming suffocating… he cleared his throat before speaking.

“Seunghyun’s downstairs…”

“Oppa…?”

She quickly asked in reply… her husband flinched a bit upon hearing her calling her brother-in-law in
such way again… and he still didn’t like it…

Dara quickly quickened her tracks… excitement could be seen on her face and that didn’t escape his eyes…
and as soon as she got near him… he quickly held on to her arm… as if he didn’t want her to go downstairs
and meet with her brother-in-law… since when did he became this possessive..?

She looked at him wonderingly… he quickly let go of her arm, surprised with his own actions…

“Ask him to stay for dinner…and don’t ever flirt around inside my house”

And with that he walked past her… but before he could walk further, she spoke.

“Aren’t you going down…?”

She asked which made him stop from his track… didn’t she hear what he just told her…?

“Why..? Do you want me to ruin your time with your dear oppa…?”

His tone sounded to sharp… and yet she can’t make herself get mad with him... just confused to his
sudden change of mood…

“I… I just thought you don’t have anything to do in here… better just join us-…”

“I’ll go downstairs… geez can’t I just have take my shower first…?”

He rolled his eyes before continuing on with his tracks… taking his time for he really doesn’t want to ruin
her last time together with the two downstairs… not minding his sudden concern for her… or just keeping
himself away from feeling another envy he would feel once he join them…

He went down went it’s already time for dinner… seeing the three having the time of their life… he played
blank and careless… Dara watched him as he sat next to her… quite bothered why he’s been acting so
quiet… the dinner wasn’t quiet thanks to Soojin for making it alive…

--

“When’s your flight…?”

Dara approached Seunghyun after dinner… while her husband accompanied Soojin to somewhere…

Her voice showed sadness… hoping their flight would be at least moved by tomorrow so that she could
spend more time with her niece…

“This night… I still have to catch up a meeting once we got there…”

Her sadness then got replaced by worry… he’s been working too much… and now that no ones there to
take care of him, it worries her more…

“What’s with the face…? Don’t worry… I still eat and sleep on time… I should be the one worrying about
you…”

Her bro raised… she looked at him wonderingly while he just chuckled at her…

“You’re way too busy with your husband now that you may eventually forget about your oppa…”

Here he is again with his childish jealousy… until the end he still managed to joke… she smiled before
reaching for his arm.

“Nah… you’ll be my one and only oppa…” She never fails to bring a smile on him.

“Good to know that…”

She continuously looked at him… wanting to ask him something but having second thoughts if she
should… Seunghyun noticed her uneasy stares… looked back at her and asked her what she wants to tell
him…

“Oppa…”

She started… he looked at her curiously when she shyly smiled at him.

“Aren’t you planning on giving Soojin a new mom…? Plus I’m getting worried that no ones there to take
care of you… I know my sister wouldn’t mind if you would look for someone new…”
He dropped his gaze from her and sighed… what she just said were like another painful rejection from
her… it felt like she was truly pushing him away now… but she’s right… she will never be there to take care
of him now… never will she be there to complete his family.

“You know I’m a busy man… I don’t have much time to look for some new love… I’m afraid I would be
only leaving her always… and would only be a nanny to Soojin… plus, you know my daughter… she’s a
very jealous girl just like her mom… I’m sure she wouldn’t like me mingling with other women besides
you… I’m already fine having you, Soojin and my parents in my life…”

Her eyes shined for admiration towards him… doesn't have any idea that it was only her that he has been
waiting for... and that it will forever be just his greatest defeat...

“I guess your right… but please oppa… don’t wear out yourself too much…”

“Neh omma…”

And with that, the two burst out in laughter… watching her in happiness is really enough for him to let her
go…

--

“Uncle Jiyong…”

Soojin came back from the guestroom holding on something… it was the handcraft she received earlier
from the man in the beach… she extended her arms, giving Jiyong the seashell on her hands…

“Are you giving this to me baby…?”

He lifted her up to his arms… the little girl nodded and smiled…

“But I thought you like it…”

“Yes uncle…that’s why I’m giving it to you… so that when uncle sees it… he would remember Soojin…”

The little girl flashed her another sweet smile… he admits… this child could really move him… with every
of her adorable moves… any person could turn soft towards the child…

“And uncle…”

The little girl continued… pouting her lips for some unknown reasons… sure he would miss that
expression of hers… he just listened to her… while carrying her in his arms…

“Promise to visit me together with omma, uncle Youngbae and CL-roo… and please take care of omma…”
her voice then began to trailed off… as if she’s thinking of something deep…

“She’s really clumsy and weak… appa and I would always take care of her when we’re still in abroad… she
would even often lost her way that’s why we always fetch her from her school… omma’s just not good in
directions… take care of her neh…? So that she’ll be healthy and would be able to give Soojin a baby
sister… promise me uncle…”

He was a bit taken aback with her last words… how this little angel could be so smart and innocent at the
same time… Soojin wriggled her legs upon not hearing any response from him… that’s when he snapped
back from his trance and held the little girl tighter…

“I will baby… I promise…”

Soojin giggled in content and that’s when they heard her dad calling her for they already need to go…

--

Upon reaching the front porch… that’s when Soojin began to cry… ran to her ‘omma’ and hugged her
tight… Dara sat down to meet her niece’s height… hugging the little child’s frame and patting her back to
make her stop from crying… her husband stayed on the side together with her brother-in-law… giving the
two a time to say goodbye with ach other…

“Omma… just come with us…”

Soojin said between her sobs… Dara smiled before releasing the child from her hold and reached for its
cheeks to wipe off her tears… this was just like what happened when she left her back then in abroad…
and it’s still breaks her heart until now that she has to be separated from her again…

“Baby I can’t…”

Is all that she could manage to say… Soojin pouted her lips before she met with Jiyong’s gaze who winked
a bit at her… reminding her the promise he made… and that’s enough for Soojin to let go…

Dara was quite surprised because of the quick change from Soojin’s mood… now, the little girl’s looking at
her with a sweet smile on her face… Dara gave back an uneasy smile…

“Okay omma… but promise me you’ll give me my baby sister once you visit neh…?”

Soojin said with full glee… which made all the adults surrounded her stiffed on their spots… the maids
around widen their eyes before bowing down… Jiyong looked away while Dara and Seunghyun almost
choke of what Soojin just asked her aunt…

“S- Soojin-ah… time to go now baby…”

Seunghyun broke the awkward atmosphere first… quickly went to his daughter before Soojin could
request more awkward things…

“Omma… prom-..”

“Soojin-ah…”

Seunghyun lifted her up and quickly put her inside his car… he sighed before turning back to the couple…

“I’m really sorry about that…”

He said without looking at the two especially to Dara…

“It’s okay… it’s not as if she said something wrong…”

Jiyong quickly replied which made Dara looked back at him… he just ignored her surprised stare and went
to her… wrapping his arm around her shoulders… which made her stiffened more…

“Ah… yes… well… thanks for the warm hospitality…”

Seunghyun uneasily said as he bowed to the two… leaning a bit to Dara.

“Take care arasso…”

And with that, he pecked on her cheek… just like he usually do when they were still in abroad… but still
it’s Jiyong’s first time seeing others doing such thing towards his wife… he unconsciously tightened his
hold on her shoulder but Dara didn’t notice it… too absorbed now on the sadness she’s feeling.

She just nodded to him… Seunghyun and Jiyong bid goodbye with each other before the former went
inside his car… he gave the two one last sincere smile before starting on his car… Dara’s eyes began to
moisten…

“Uncle… omma visit us okay…!”

Soojin yelled out to her window one last time before the car started making its way out from their front
yard…

And just then Jiyong felt her shoulder began to tremble… saw her hand making its way to her face…
maybe wiping off her tears… yet his arm won’t pull itself off from her yet… even though the car was
already out of their gate… he just can’t let go of her… and still doesn’t know why….

The maids already made their way inside… leaving the two outside… and after a while he finally put down
his arm… turned back from her and before he could start his track, he spoke…

“Get inside… you’ll catch cold when you stay out here long…”

He ordered her not with his usual cold voice… she glanced at the side a bit before wiping off her tears
again…

“I- I’ll go later…”

He knows she wanted some time alone… he stayed rooted on his spot for quite long… looking at her
trembling shoulder with an unreadable expression on his face… just like the night he saw her on the
terrace… she’s now again crying alone under the cold night…

He should have just ignored her and just continue his way inside… he should have been feeling glad for at
least now she’s in pain again… but no… everything’s he’s feeling right now is the total opposite of it…

And with that… he went back towards her… grabbing her towards him and wrapping his arm back again
to her shoulders… making her face buried on his chest… she was startled once again… thought that he
already left her… but now here he is somehow comforting her… why…? she thought… but didn’t bother
answering her own question for the warmth she’s feeling right now made her clear her mind from all the
sadness … got replaced by just pure peace which she’s wanting to feel … she closed her eyes as the tears
slowly subsided…

Both stayed quiet… he never utter a word… he just look ahead… his mind was blank… doesn’t know what
made him do what he just did but at least didn’t feel the same regret he felt the once he ignored himself
comforting her that one night… how funny it is to think that the woman who’s causing him confusion was
also now the reason he’s feeling the same peace she’s feeling…
# CHAPTER 22

A smile crept on her thin lips… as her hand stride a curve pattern… holding on a paint brush, guiding the
black line on her chosen path… her mind’s drifting off somewhere… specifically as to every details of what
happened last night…

There she is… being surrounded by frames of familiar art works… familiar events that were now caught on
a wooden frame… touched with different colors… painted in different angles…
And now, she’s working on something magnificent once again… not minding her now untidy appearance…
she’s almost finished… and the thrill inside of her flamed more… and after a couple of strokes… the last
detail of her masterpiece was finally executed.
A contented smile curved her lips… looking at the image in front of her… another good memory that she
beautifully recorded… there… two figures of a man and a woman… hugging each other under the velvet
sky… both backs were facing her.. as if taken by someone who’s watching the two last night.

She glanced on her side and saw the same exact event that she just painted… but both figures were caught,
rather painted with a clear view of their faces… she closed her eyes, trying to remember the feeling of last
night… and as she opened her eyes… the same feeling of warmth can be felt on the canvas in front of her…

There were more around the room… she kept it all in there… the feeling of happiness could be felt by each
and every piece of her art… she painted them all well and very detailed… afraid that she might forget it…
better yet store it on her arts…

Whenever he’s not there… just like today… she would lock up herself to here in this room… more likely the
storage room… but she requested for it to be given to her as her personal space… with a key that only she
has… that neither him doesn’t have or even know of…

Such a little secret… but definitely a treasure that she’s preserving… she doesn’t know what he’ll do once
he sees the contains of this room… but probably he wouldn’t care… much more maybe he’ll think of her as
a fool…

She stood up… groaned a bit for she was sitting in there for hours… didn’t even noticed the time… apart
the pain she felt, contentment filled her mind… she brought her completed work beside another frame…
allowing it to try itself… she glanced on the line of frames… looked like it was planned to be that way…
more of… sequence of familiar events… counted joyful events… and could be seen that every frame has the
same figure of a man and a woman… the man that’s bringing coldness as to whoever sees the arts and the
woman who gives off the feeling of hope…

There’s a single work wherein a picture of that man was painted in detail… she wiped off her hands first
on the apron she’s wearing before tracing the lines of his face on the canvas… mostly touching its lips…
the smile of the man that could bring her heart in rejoice… from the day she saw him smiled on his lover…
his smile was instantly recorded in her mind…

‘It’s enough to see your smile from afar or even just here… it’s enough for me to hope that one day you’ll
smile for me too…’

She thought before drawing off her hand away from the frame…

She took off her apron and cleaned herself a bit… she glanced in the room one last time before going out
and locking it… she placed her key back to her necklace and hid it under her clothes…

Maybe the maids are now looking all over for her… she missed lunch… and they will probably scold her if
she’ll miss the dinner too… she giggled to herself upon thinking it…

He’s not home… he was summoned by his dad to fix something out of town… another task for their
company… he left last night… right after their moment, his father called him… he never spoke to her, he
just looked at her… but she knew he must leave… couldn’t read in his eyes if he’s somewhat sorry that he
must leave… or probably tired that he must do another responsibility that’s not his…

She prepared his things… he just let her… she bid goodbye but he never replied… he just walked away just
like he used to do that she too already got used to… it’s enough for her she told herself again… she must
not expect more from him she added… because she’ll just hurt herself once her cruel selfishness hits her…
it’s enough because in the first place she was just a task he must abide to…that never she would have a
place in his life…

--

He’s still not home the next day… seating on the backseat alone… a smile was still plastered on her face
which made the old driver felt finally relieved to see his Miss not in her usual lonely state… for he too
witnessed what happened the other night… first time seeing such affection from his young master towards
its wife… in his mind, thanking the little angel that visited their lonely mansion who probably is the
reason that made his young master’s cold heart softened a bit…

He watched Dara through the rear view mirror… didn’t bother ruining her own moment… smiling to
himself and just continued driving… the ride was quiet until they reached her campus…

“May you have a good day Miss...”

He told her once she got out of the car… she quickly flashed the old man a warm smile…

“Thanks Mr. Lee…”

Soon she was alone again… but it didn’t pass a minute for someone to take place as her company…

“Yo…”

She was walking her way inside the building when a familiar voice spoke behind her… she turned around
and flashed the man a knowing smile…

At first, Youngbae just looked at her wonderingly… until he just shrugged off the obvious change of mood
from Dara… not really wanting himself to think that something good might happened between the couple
after they left the beach that day… feeling a little selfish over her… that he would rather want to see her
lonely… most especially alone… so that he could be like her man in shining armor… ready to heed and
comfort her… at least she would be able to see him… at least he would be able to claim her for a
while…just a time with her is enough to satisfy his hidden desire…

“Good morning…”

She greeted him… which earned a slight nod from him… she’s already used to his snobbish treatment…
and feeling grateful that despite his coldness… he could still afford to give her the company she’s
needing… never did she know how he’s been suppressing himself not to be vulnerable in front of her…
weak when it comes to her… still blaming himself… pounding his own sanity as to why did he fall for her…
never did he believed in love at first sight… but she… broke that belief… and now… even breaking his
heart…

They walked together towards their room… he never spoke… she too didn’t bother breaking his preferred
atmosphere… the students quieted a bit when they arrived together… eyeing the two when they took their
seats besides each other… and back to their own businesses while the two is still caged in their own
silence…

After the class dismissed… he left the room without bidding goodbye once again… she sighed… for sure
he’ll pop out of nowhere again later…upon leaving the room she hit someone on her way… caused for her
books to dropped off from her arms…

The students didn’t even bother helping her… they just pass by her… some just watched… she immediately
stoop down to gather her things until someone came to her and helped her… she suddenly heard
whisperings from the students around… and she gasped when she turn to the person who just helped
her…

“T-…Thank you… Taeyeon-sshi…”

She thanked her once they got up… Taeyeon was a bit surprised that Dara knows her…even she already
knew why…she flashed her, her infamous smile which made the whispers grew louder… she truly can melt
anyone’s heart by her smile… she thought… and she on the other hand was starting to feel
uncomfortable… why of all people… is this campus not big enough for their ways not to meet…? Trails of
thoughts filled her mind.

“You’re welcome…”

Taeyeon said again with a smile… Dara courteously bowed to her… feeling really shy towards the other,
better yet just leave… she could even hear the students mentioning her name… she could hear them saying
how nice of a person Taeyeon is… and she could hear them saying how ungrateful of a person she is… and
that finally she met the ‘real girl’ of her husband… she started her way and pass by the other…

Taeyeon’s brow raised a bit… she turned to Dara and followed her… Dara gasped as she felt someone
tugged her wrist… she looked back and saw Taeyeon looking at her with an unreadable expression…

“Sandara-sshi… can we have a talk for a moment…?”

She winced a bit… felt a little pain from Taeyeon’s tight grip… having second thoughts of talking with
her… Dara just nodded… that’s when Taeyeon loosened her grasp from her… Taeyeon started her way…
walking past her… Dara looked around… finally realized that the people were still watching them… she
bowed her head a bit and followed Taeyeon… feeling a little bit uneasy as to what they were going to talk
about…

--

“Do you know where Jiyong is…?”

They were on a café outside the campus… Dara didn’t even bother ordering something while the other
casually ordered a drink… she felt really uncomfortable wherein the first place she shouldn’t… after all
she’s Jiyong’s wife… but why is it that she feels more mortified than the other…

Hearing Taeyeon asking her, she wondered why she doesn’t know about Jiyong’s work... why didn’t he tell
her…? She thought.

“He… he needed to help his father…”

She answered… she saw Taeyeon sighed before slumping on its seat… saw the bothered look on the other’s
face…

“He didn’t tell me again… why does he keep on doing this…? he knows I would be more worried if I don’t
know where he is…”

She heard Taeyeon mumbling… of course… that’s his reason… for his lover not to worry about him… but
somehow she felt a little hurt upon realizing it… Noticing Dara’s spacing out… Taeyeon looked up.

“Oh… sorry about that…”

Dara quickly woke up from her trance… welcomed by Taeyeon’s sweet smile…she awkwardly smiled
towards the other… how could Taeyeon be so comfortable around her…

“Sandara-sshi… don’t you have anyone you love…?”

[Dara’s POV]

I was taken aback… why is she asking me this…? I stayed stiff on my seat while she leaned towards me… I
just saw her brow raised…? Why is she staring at me like this…? I don’t know but the way she looks at
me… I feel like suffocating…

I opened my mouth only to close it after… what should I tell her…? Would it be such a shame if I tell her
that I never experienced love…? I bowed a bit and when I looked up I saw a slight smile on her lips as she
looked away from me…

“I guess you don’t have… since what’s the use right…? Rich people like you are bound to arrange
marriages after all…”

Yes…she’s right… such a pity to have my life planned that way… I never asked for wealth… yet my life had
given me that gift with a greater exchange… even that my own freedom was at stake… She sipped on her
drink before turning to me…

“And unfortunately for us… Jiyong was one of those rich people…”

Her voice trailed off… I know she’s suppressing herself to express her sadness in front of me…

“But I never regret loving him… being with him is one of the greatest times in my life… I know he just
agreed to get married because he doesn’t want me to get more hurt… I know he’s just protecting me…”

My mind suddenly stopped… I could see her lips moving but I can’t hear any more sound coming from it…
what she just told me was like a dagger that been plunged to me… I know what she said was true… Jiyong
really married me for his lover’s sake… but why does it feel painful to hear it especially from others…?
Rubbing it to my face over and over again…

Am I that unwanted…? My family gave me away just to save our wealth… and my husband of all people
would probably be the first one to claim hate against me… where should I put my self…? I kept on tossing
around like a ball… but no one… ever wanted me to stay… Maybe this is my punishment for ruining his
life… and now here I am in front of his lover… taking more painful punishments…

“Sandara-sshi…”

Taeyeon’s voice suddenly sounded serious… that’s when I woke up again from my trance… I still stayed
silent… I felt numb… for I don’t even know what to say…

“I envy you…”

Did I hear her right…? She envies me…? But why…? Why would she be…? I should be the one to envy
her… what should be envied from me…? I was nothing but an unwanted person… my life is a ball of
torment…

“For in reality… you have him… in the eyes of everyone… I’m nothing but an obstruction in your
marriage… if only I don’t love him… but I really do… I know it’s wrong… I know I should stop seeing him
now… but I can’t… I’m sorry I can’t…”

I could see that her eyes are starting to tear… it pains me to see someone hurting like this… she’s not the
obstruction… but I am… I broke them apart… I don’t deserve her apology… here I am feeling so happy
whenever I’m having a moment with her love… while I know that both of them are having this kind of
torment that I brought them… since when did I became this selfish…?

“I… I’m sorry…”

That was the only thing I could tell her… I saw a glimpse of her smile… maybe telling me that it’s okay… if
only I could turn back time…

--

“Hey… where did you go…?”

Youngbae called her once she went back to their campus… the once happy state she had when she went to
the campus early this morning was completely got replaced by her sadness again… Everyone was right…
Taeyeon was nothing but a good person… she really loves Jiyong and it pains her to see someone like
Taeyeon suffering because of her… guilt is slowly swallowing her whole…

‘I know someday… Jiyong and I will still be together…’

That was the last statement that marked in her… she never thought about it… too absorbed in being a
good wife… but now realized that Taeyeon’s probably right… ‘she’ could never be with Jiyong forever… she
doesn’t own him… so much for trying to make their marriage work… for in the end they will surely break
apart… but why… does it feel painful thinking about it…? she thought….

Youngbae noticed her sudden change… she wasn’t in their usual place earlier at lunch… he looked for her
everywhere but then he failed to see her… and now she came back with a blank expression on her face…

He knew Jiyong wasn’t there because of work… and just from a bit far… he saw Taeyeon entering the
campus too… being welcomed by her other friends… and upon seeing him and Dara together she quickly
looked away… his brow raised a bit… wondering why he get that kind of reaction from Taeyeon…

He shrugged it off… focused on the girl in front of him… he went closer to Dara and tapped its shoulder to
gain her attention… it seemed like she’s been spacing out since she came back from somewhere… after a
while she looked up to him but her eyes isn’t looking directly at him…

“What happened…?”

He asked her didn’t even bother if his voice sounded so worried… finally she looked at him and realized
the worry in his voice… she immediately shook her head and tried to smile on front of him…

“Nothing Youngbae-sshi..”

He looked at her for a moment… his brows slowly meeting for he knows she’s hiding something… he
sighed… before his expression went calm again…

“Have you already eaten lunch…?”

Her eyes widen a bit… she forgot about lunch… and there isn’t much time left to eat…

“You still didn’t…? Where did you go in the first place…? You shouldn’t skip lunch just so you can play
around…”

He started scolding her… which made her taken aback… not because of the fact that he’s scolding her but
because he’s talking to her nonstop now… the loneliness that she’s feeling was once again got replaced my
happiness and amazement, thanks to her friend… her lips slowly curved into a wide smile… that’s when he
stopped from talking…

Realizing what he just did… he blushed and looked away….and to hide his embarrassment… he cleared off
his throat… he grabbed her wrist and dragged her somewhere…

“Youngbae-sshi… where are you going to take me…?”

She asked but he didn’t reply… instead he looked for somewhere they could sit… he sighted a bench and
went there… pulling her to sit down with him, he pulled out something from the paper bag he was holding
since earlier…

“Eat…”

He gave her the sandwich he bought for himself earlier… he too hasn’t had his lunch because he was
looking all over for her…
“Eh…? But…”

“Just eat…”

He coldly said… she slowly got the sandwich from his hand.

“How about you…?”

“I already ate…”

He lied… he watched her through the side of his eyes… at first she pouted then he heard her sighed.

“Thanks…”

He looked at her and nodded a bit before looking ahead again… he waited for her… didn’t quite feel the
hunger for he’s satisfied being beside her right now… he wanted to ask her what happened as to why she
was gone but preferred to skip that part for he knows it’ll just bring back the sad atmosphere.

Dara then told him about her niece’s departure… mixed surprise and sadness came to him… he would
surely miss the child’s adorableness… thanking the child that at least somehow he was able to spend time
with Dara even just for a while because of her… felt so happy when Dara told him that her niece’s asking
them to visit her sometimes in abroad…

--

“Thanks again for the sandwich Youngbae-sshi…”

She bowed to him… he slipped his hands inside his pocket and scoffed… she looked up and pouted a
wonderingly…

“You owe me again…”

He seriously said…

“Eh…?”

He rolled his eyes… why should she be this clueless yet so cute…

“Forget it… don’t skip lunch again…”

He said before turning back and headed towards the other building…

“I’ll treat you sometimes Youngbae-sshi…”

She yelled and waved goodbye to him… he just smiled to himself… seeing her smiling to him… having the
accomplishment to make her happy… is really enough to complete his day…

Upon walking towards his room he saw Taeyeon once again with her friends along the hallway, laughing
with them… it was natural to see them like that but hearing Dara’s raised curiosity in him… he went
towards the group and upon seeing that he’s coming, her friends quickly went away, leaving Taeyeon and
Youngbae…

“Oppa…”

She innocently greeted him… flashing yet again her infamous sweet smile
“Don’t you have a class…?”

“Oh… I have… well… I better go now…”

He felt that she’s somewhat staying away from him… before she could go to the opposite direction, he
grabbed her wrist to make her stop… Taeyeon was a bit taken aback…

“Taeyeon-ah… what were you girls talking about earlier…?”

Her eyes widen a bit… but she maintained to act cool…

“Nothing oppa… some girl stuffs… I’m going to be late for my next class… let’s just talk about this
sometimes neh…?”

Youngbae observed her for a moment before he let go of her… Taeyeon managed to let out one last smile
before leaving him… Youngbae surely is now having suspicion against Taeyeon’s behavior… and if it
involves Dara… he would surely not let Taeyeon have her way that easily even if she’s his best friend’s
girl…
# CHAPTER 23

“My dad wants me to marry some spoiled brat jerk…”

CL angrily told her once their class dismissed… Dara noticed her friend’s gloominess throughout the
period… she didn’t talk a bit just like she used to… and so noticing the sudden change from her friend,
Dara asked her once they got out of the room…

Dara was surprised… speechless hearing what her friend just told her… the same nightmare that she had
is now hunting her friend…

“The night of the fair… I was supposed to meet the son of my friend’s dad… but I ditched that jerk… my
dad knew about it and he was so furious... I really don’t want to marry… not now… not to someone I don’t
even know…”

CL’s voice was shaking… tears could be seen in her eyes… Dara understood what her friend’s feeling right
now… the feeling of being cornered and unable to escape… she immediately reached for her friend and
hugged her tight… thinking this is what her friend needs right now… someone whom she could lean on…
something that she didn’t got when she was in her friend’s place back then…

“Everything’s going to be alright…”

She cooed her friend… hoping that everything would really be alright… wishing that if such marriage
would proceed… her marriage would be far better than hers…

--

“I saw that jerk one time in a party… and seriously he’s nothing but an arrogant fart… he does nothing but
to show off his cars and money… plus he’s a big flirt… showing off too his so-called charm to girls… Never
I imagine myself being with a guy like that…”

They were out for a drink… accompanying her friend for CL doesn’t want to go home yet… she listened to
her friend’s tirades… letting her out everything… and the alcohol helped her friend to let it all out… while
she on the other side was having her thoughts drifted to somewhere else…

Her friend noticed her lack of presence… saw the bothered look on her face and so, CL reached for her
hand beside her which automatically brought her back from her deep thoughts…
“What’s wrong…?”

Her friend asked her… she sighed thinking if she should tell her what happened between her and ‘his’
lover earlier… concerned that her friend already has her own problem… and adding up to it would be too
much…

“Dara… tell me… is there something bothering you…? I think you should at least share it to me right… I’m
your friend now…”

So much for her friend’s convincing… she decided to just tell CL everything…

“I had a talk with Taeyeon earlier…”

Her friend’s eyes widen but no words came out from her…she just listened… wearing an unexplainable
expression on her face… and oblivious to her friend’s reaction she continued…

“I really feel guilty for everything… I feel sorry for them to experience such heartaches… if only I could
turn back the time…”

Dara bowed her head… brows slowly meeting each other for guilt was haunting her once again… her
friend’s face finally showed emotion… touched by Dara’s kindness and unselfishness… how could such
person suffer in this kind of situation… she thought… CL tightened her hold on her hand…

“It’s not your fault… no ones at fault Dara…”

Her friend’s gentle voice calmed her… she knows it’s not… but she can’t help but to think that somehow
she’s still at fault… if only she insisted back then… if only she just ran away… if only she knew about
them…

“Dara…”

CL tried to wake her up again from her thoughts… she knows that Dara’s battling with herself…she knows
that Dara’s still blaming herself until now… such a kind person to think of somebody else’s situation… but
too much kindness from her could bring her in more pain…

“Don’t listen to anyone… you of all people should know to yourself that it’s not your fault… you… we… are
just victims of the selfishness of others…”

CL’s voice trailed off… ‘she’ looked at her friend with still a bothered face… it’s true that both of them are
now in the same situation… both locked up to something they have to pay which they didn’t even owe…

After so much convincing from her friend… Dara was able to feel the lightness inside once again… noticing
that her friend’s thinking of something, she asked CL…

“I don’t feel good towards Taeyeon… I think that angel looking girl is up to something…”

She looked at her friend wonderingly… thinking why CL thought of that way towards Jiyong’s lover…
throughout their conversation earlier… she didn’t feel any bad vibes from the other… except from the
uncomfortable atmosphere that she already expected to happen…

“I mean… how could she be so casual towards you…? Telling you those things which in the first place are I
think she shouldn’t have to since you already know their relationship… she doesn’t even know you… I
believe that was the first time you met each other…”

Dara shook her head… thinking what would be his lover’s reason if she’s planning on something… the first
time she saw Taeyeon… she was quickly amazed by the girl’s beauty… no wonder why he fell for her… and
much to her amazement she’s better off when she had a talk with her… sure she is a talker but her words
were full of love… towards her husband…

And as much as she want to deny in herself… she felt the pain listening how she talked of nothing but
goodness about her husband… talking about their love… probably the feeling of envy or maybe something
else that she couldn’t understand in herself…

“I think she’s not that kind of a person… I know technically right now I’m Jiyong’s wife… but she still has
the right to tell me those things for in the first place I don’t own him and especially his heart…”

CL looked at her in pity… creasing her forehead… is she really this kind…? She thought… and in the end
she just sighed… nodding her head.

“But still… you better stay away from her…”

Dara chuckled at her friend’s last statement… thinking that it was just the effect of the alcohol she just
agreed…

They stayed there for a couple of hours more just until her friend couldn’t take it anymore… she too had a
couple of drinks… being a person with a low alcohol tolerance, she was a bit tipsy but good thing she still
managed to contact Mr. Lee to fetch them.

Mr. Lee was a bit surprised seeing his miss in such condition… first time to see her in that state… they
were all worried about her when she wasn’t in her campus when he fetch her earlier… she didn’t tell him
where she would go…

After bringing her friend back to her house, soon they arrived at the mansion… the maids had the same
reaction as the old man… and it added more to their worry that their young master’s now finally home…
just an hour when Mr. Lee came to pick her up… Dara giggled as she felt being supported by the maids… it
was sure so long since her last drink… the alcohol was now getting the most out of her…

“Where’d you come from…?”

She just stopped once she heard someone… a familiar voice that broke her own moment of happiness… he
was there standing at the entrance, looking at her with another blank expression on his face.

He just got home… totally tired from helping his father in their company… seemed like his now old father
couldn’t handle the pressure in their business all by himself… and that he, the remaining son is now
mostly have to carry the responsibility of their whole company…and as unfair it may seem… he can’t help
but to think of some other woman other than his lover who was now seemed to be forgotten by him.

And upon knowing that he’ll be able to go home that day… his weary feeling got replaced by a bit of
happiness and maybe anticipation… not really knowing why… maybe because he knows that finally he
would be able to get his rest… another assumption that he’s feeding his mind..

When he arrived… he somehow expected her to be there… probably in their room again, locking herself…
but much to his surprise… he felt disappointed and worried for she was still not home… he arrived quite
late… and his wife’s still not home… realizing from the maids that Mr. Lee just received a call from her
and wanted to be fetch from somewhere…

He waited… forgetting his own tired body… forgetting to even change his clothes, he waited for her… and
now seeing her in such state made him a bit furious inside… what was she been doing while he’s out…? He
thought…

Her lips turned into a wide smile… feeling so much happiness to finally see him home… forgetting to
suppress herself to feel that way… forgetting the once guilt that she felt earlier… maybe because of the
alcohol which now took over her system.
“You’re home…”

She said… the maids supported her walk… he just watched her until she reach him… first time seeing her
in such state… and he’s not liking it.

“Did you drink…?”

He asked her with a hint of anger in his voice…she just smiled at him which made him taken aback…
feeling awkward seeing her smiling towards him… but knowing it was just the effect of alcohol, he brushed
off the indescribable feeling inside him and directed his gaze towards the maid.

“Take her to the room…”

--

Her vision’s spinning… feeling the lightness of her head, she closed her eyes once she felt herself being
laid down on something soft… she was still awake… still had her mind knowing that he’s finally home…
she tried to stay awake… but the dizziness took over her… making her eyes heavy and making her drift
into deep rest…

The maids changed her clothes… the stench of alcohol was still seeping throughout her body… her
husband stayed outside… not really knowing why he cares but seeing her in that state somehow bothered
him…

“Where did she come from…?

He asked the old chauffer, who’s also worried about his miss’s condition… thinking if the stress is really
getting on her now… she was okay this morning…but upon seeing her in the restaurant with her friend…
the once happy feature was all gone in her face got replaced by her usual sad state… even the fact that she
was lost in herself… he could still feel that something’s wrong with her again…

“Sir, she and her friend were drinking at one restaurant downtown… she just called me to pick them up…
if I know that she would be drinking I should have just waited for her at her campus… I’m sorry…”

The old man bowed in apology… he turned to Mr. Lee once he heard that his wife’s with someone earlier…
and to think that she was drinking with that ‘someone’ makes his insides quiver a bit.

“Who… who was she with…?”

He said while looking at the old man with curious eyes…

“She was with Ms. Lee earlier… the young lady was so wasted that I had to bring her back to her house
too… I really apologize for not being able to look after…-“

“You’re not in fault… just let her be…”

He managed to get back on himself… hearing that she’s not with someone whom he was thinking is
enough to make him at peace… after seeing the maids got out of their room… he quickly walked out from
the old man and went inside… he glanced over his wife for a while before deciding to take a shower and
cool off his already stressed mind…

--

He sat beside her… drying off his hair… and can’t help but to watch her sleep… why does it feel that each
day, he gets magnetized in watching her... what have this woman done to him…? It has becoming so often
that he loses himself to her… and every he tries to stay away… he would still find himself looking for her…
mostly, watching her from afar…

His phone suddenly rang… bringing him back to his senses… he immediately got it from the bedside
table… checking if she stirred… at the other side of his mind he’s thinking why the hell did he care…? Too
late for his body already cared not to wake her up…

“Oppa…”

Another wake up call for him… how could he forget her…?

“T- Taeyeon-ah…?”

He asked as if he didn’t recognized her voice… still sinking to himself why didn’t he remember thinking of
her… his lover…

“Yes oppa it’s me… why aren’t you answering my calls and messages…? Are you still busy…? You didn’t
attend school today…”

He continuously heard her voice… she continued speaking from the other line while he on the other side
was once again drown in his thoughts… how could he…? He thought… thinking of another woman while
the woman he loves was there and worried about him… how could he…?

Again and again… it kept on repeating in his mind… brushing off such absurd thought that suddenly hit
his mind… together with the skip in his heart upon thinking of that reason…

“Oppa…? Are you still there…?”

A tinge of impatience could be felt from her voice but he didn’t notice it, instead trying his best to just
focus on listening to her…

“Yes…? I’m so sorry… I was busy these past few days… I only got home tonight…”

He heard her… in which guilt immediately hit him… he couldn’t imagine how disappointed she may look
right now…

“Can you come here right now oppa…? I miss you…?”

Her voice suddenly changed… seductively asking him to come to her house tonight… but for some reasons
he didn’t feel even a single fiber in his body to be moved and be aroused… blaming it to the weariness he’s
feeling physically especially mentally…

“Oppa… please… I really miss you…”

She tried once again… he sighed… feeling sorry for his lover… he’s been neglecting her for days now… and
one night probably won’t matter… of course it wouldn’t for she’s his lover… he even promised back then
that he’ll always be there for her… but now… it seemed he’s slowly breaking that promise…

He then turned to his wife… clutching on his phone thinking why can’t he just say yes… just like back then
that whenever he hears his lover’s voice… as if he could literally fly to wherever she is… since when did it
feel so hard meeting with her…? And why is it so heavy to leave the woman in front of him now…?

It made heavier for him when he suddenly saw the tear that escaped from his wife’s eye… trailing down
from the side of her eyes… her lips started to tremble… and just then the unexplainable feeling hit him
again… the same feeling that hit him the other night… and by that he knew he’ll lose himself once again…
but can’t seem to stop it for maybe… he too wanted it to happen…
“Oppa…?”

“S…sorry Taeyeon-ah… I… can’t tonight… I still have to finish something…”

He choked right after he said those words… why did he reject her…? More so, why did he lie to her…? But
his heart’s pounding so hard right now… looking down on his wife… making those questions left
unanswered…

He heard her whined… but all he could do was to apologize… telling her he will make it up to her… and by
tomorrow they will see each other again…

On the other side of the line… she sighed… clutching on the phone tightly… gritting her teeth for she
clearly knows that he’s hiding something… and the woman she just talked to earlier was probably one of
those reasons why he can’t see him tonight…

She hanged up the phone… glanced towards the frame beside her table… it was the picture of ‘him’ and
her… she glared on it before throwing it on her bed… biting on her lower lip, suppressing herself before
she would burst out in anger… it was the first time he ever rejected her… and to think that probably it was
all because of someone who he just met a month ago made her feel so uneasy…

--

“Oppa…”

He was still battling to himself about rejecting his lover when he heard her speak…his eyes widen a bit…
he heard her calling her oppa… why was she calling him…? Why him…? He thought… felt the heaviness
inside him grew more…

With his now trembling hand… he reached for her tears… shrugging off what he just heard from her
earlier… but as much as he want to… she doesn’t let him off that easily… for she called her ‘oppa’ once
again…

He gritted his teeth… before reaching her face and wipe off the tears on her cheeks, his hand formed into a
tight fist… suppressing the forming anger inside him… she’s calling another man in her dreams… another
man once again…

“I feel so bad oppa….”

He saw her brows slowly connecting… probably feeling the awful effect of the alcohol…

“You shouldn’t have drunk a lot in the first place…”

He pulled back his hand before he looked away… decided to just settle himself on his side… he needed his
sleep… but before he could get what he needed… her face welcomed him once he laid down… she was
turned to his side… still had her tears in her eyes… lips parted and body curled like a fetus… And again…
here he goes… watching her once again… with a big gap between them… setting the border himself… for a
couple of times he already broke his rules… at least this time may he able to control himself again…

And before he could even close his eyes… to end his tiring day… an unbearable pain struck him once he
heard the words that came out from her lips…

“Please… take me back home… oppa…”

# CHAPTER 24

‘Oppa… please take me back home…’

I was running after Seunghyun oppa and Soojin but it seemed like I wasn’t leaving my spot… I felt myself
getting tired… only to see them slowly drifting away from my sight… I screamed their name for a couple of
time but still they won’t turn back…

‘Soojin-ah… oppa… please take me back home…’

Soon everything went black… I couldn’t see them anymore… just darkness and coldness enveloped me… I
stopped from my tracks… gasping for someone… something to hold on to but still I couldn’t see a thing….
Soon I slumped down… crying my eyes out… wishing they would come back for me… just anyone… just
someone to heed my dying hope…

Just then the coldness suddenly subsided… warmth slowly crept up on me… and I felt something strong
and firm pulled me up from where I was… enveloping me in its security… I finally felt the calmness
inside…

I looked up and despite the blur brought by my tears… I could still see the familiar cold eyes of someone…
I knew at that point who it came from… such an irony to feel warmth on someone as cold as he… I felt his
hold got tighter… as if not wanting to let go of me… I was supposed to get suffocate… feel the pain from
it… but surprisingly… I felt nothing but peace and happiness…

‘Stay with me…’

--

My eyes slowly opened… wanting to see where that voice came from… I immediately sat up only to be
welcomed by a massive headache… I cringed in pain… brought both of my hands on my head… it hurts so
much… just what happened last night…?

As soon as the pain subsided a bit, I scanned the place… I’m in our room… and as usual he’s not at my
side…

Was it all just a dream…?

Even so, it felt so real…

That voice... I'm sure it belongs to him...

I really am thinking too much… that until in my dreams I am still blinded by my selfishness… how could I
even think of him that way…? Hoping he would actually ask for me to stay… pathetic…

--

He was here last night… he finally came back home… did he spend the night here…? Trails of thoughts
quickly filled my mind… anticipation hits me… as my heart suddenly raced fast… what is this I feeling…?

His always expressionless face was the only clear memory from last night… he was there when I arrived…
looking at me with those dead eyes… those empty orbs…blank… odd it may seem… but seeing at least
those eyes could bring happiness to me… for at least it wasn’t those hurtful stares from before… not those
disgusted look that would remind me how horrible of a person I am… and pathetic it may seem… it is
better for me to be looked at by his dead eyes for a sudden little change from him is enough to heighten up
the last hope I have…

And now here I am… wanting to see him… wanting to see those eyes again… hoping that he’s still here…
would it be absurd for me to hope just to see him…? Just to know that he stayed here with me…? Would it
be too much for me to wish that he didn’t choose staying with his lover last night…?

I am really being blinded by my selfishness… too drown in my own bliss…trying to capture that one
person that never I deserve and never I should look at to… why am I being like this…?

After a while of resting, I managed to pull myself up from the bed…my head is still a bit spinning… I never
thought a couple of drinks would make me feel this bad… how did I act when he’s here last night…? Did he
saw me in that state…? He probably got disgusted in me more…

Why am I this conscious of what he thinks of me…? That alcohol really got me hard….

--

It’s still early… I still could manage to catch up for my first class… yesterday was like a rollercoaster of
events… but never did I enjoy the ride… and never would I want to experience it again… Cl’s probably
right… I should just let myself stay away from his lover’s way because it would just only give me more
heartache… wherein the first place I couldn’t decipher why should I feel that pain…? Am I worthy to feel
hurt hearing those words from her…? Am I worthy to feel sorry for myself being the most pathetic wife of
someone…? And most especially… am I worthy of hoping for a happy marriage with her lover…?

I let the cold water rinse off those unanswered questions… together with the sadness that is slowly
creeping up on me again… today’s another day… I shouldn’t be worrying about yesterday’s heartaches and
just focus on trying to make something new and happy today…but how long have I been doing these
trials…? Each day I always try… but in the end… I always fail… am I really incapable of making myself
worthy of that happiness…?

--

‘I know someday… Jiyong and I will still be together…’

So much for making myself forget… as much as I want to shift my thoughts to somewhere, I would always
fall for that one statement… why am I bothering myself to feel in pain thinking about those words…? I was
once a prisoner of him and my cowardliness… it would be a great chance to have my freedom once they
get back into each others arms… I should be feeling happy by then… but why… why do I feel the opposite
thing…

Slowly suffocating me… thinking what will happen to me once he left…? Am I back into being a mere thing
being sold just to free my family from its debt…? Never have I wanted to have such pitiful life…

And why is that a bigger part of me is now screaming for him not to leave me… not to go with her… Have I
finally got accustomed to his painful treatment… Since when have I wanting for him to stay with me…?
Such a cruel intention to someone I do not own and never will…

“What took you so long…?”

And just then… after a very tiring moment of battling with myself, asking myself with those impossible
questions… a voice finally woke me up from my deep trance… thank god someone did for I could feel my
self slowly being numb from all of these mixed sadness I’ve been feeding myself…

Shifting my gaze towards the person who asked me… my eyes widen… and I felt a familiar skip in my
heart when I saw ‘his’ face… my voice suddenly got caught up in my throat…
He’s here… and to think that earlier I was thinking of him leaving me alone… now he’s actually here…

The same feeling of that other night showered me once again… feeling the lightness inside of me despite
the heavy and cold stare he’s giving me… I probably am slowly losing my mind…

--

His brow raised upon not receiving a response from her… she was just standing at the end of the table
with her head bowed down…

He was waiting for her… doesn’t know why he should but just finding himself unable to start with his food
without her… and still being bothered about her words from last night… and especially about his own
words… still blaming his weary self for blurting out those unacceptable words…

“What are you waiting for in there…? We’ll be late for class…”

She then hurriedly went to her seat across from him… the maids prepared her food… and a thought
brushed her mind realizing this was probably their first breakfast together… with just the two of them…
with that, she suddenly looked up… didn’t took a while for their eyes to meet once again…

“What…?”

He asked… but again, her voice preferred to lock itself inside her… looking at him with grateful eyes…
while he on the other side couldn’t decipher such feeling having her attention… did she hear him last
night…? Did she notice him waiting for her…?

He cleared his throat and brushed off the thoughts…

“Dad wants to have dinner with us later… if you have some plans of going out with someone better move it
to next time…”

He sternly said… she was a bit taken aback… he sounded angry… but his words were not harsh just like
before… and to think he’s been like that these past few days raised wonders in her more…

“I… I am sorry about last night… my friend was-…”

“Just don’t drink too much if you can’t even take it…”

He cut her off… slamming down his fork which produced quite a loud sound… she jumped on her seat a
bit...

“Plus, call whenever you’re about to go somewhere… don’t make the people here worry about your
whereabouts… you’re so careless…”

“I’m sorry…”

Her voice trailed off… gripping on her utensils tightly as she bowed her head… she never thought she
would cause racket about what she did last night… he saw her reaction… he gritted his teeth… and heaved
up a sigh…

“Finish your food now…”

She bit her lower lip and slightly nod… he would slightly glance and watched her finish her food…
remembering about his father’s words before he left for home… the old man really missed her… and
despite his busy schedule… he and his wife still wanted to see her… doesn’t want to neglect their only
daughter in law… she really made his parent’s hearts softened… and that now he too unknowingly is
slowly being drawn to his soft side…

--

A deafening silence filled the car… he never spoke after the breakfast… and me too preferred that silence…
I watched him at the side of my eyes… he was staring outside with a calm expression plastered on his
face…

As much as I want to ignore it… but I can’t help but to wonder why he never spoke harshly to me… these
past few days, he never called me by different hurtful names… and for a couple of times now, he preferred
staying at the mansion and not go in his lover’s house… are they having another argument…? But hearing
his lover yesterday… it’s the exact opposite of my assumption…

--

“Don’t be late… don’t go anywhere else… I don’t want to make my dad wait… he’s busy…”

Before I could respond he already left… I heard Mr. Lee sighing behind me…I turned around and saw him
shaking his head… and just then he suddenly smiled at me…

“He was worried about you last night…”

I was a bit startled by what he said… who is he talking about…?

“I know he doesn’t show it that much but I know he was… I think the young master is slowly going back
on his old self…”

“But Mr. Lee… I think you’re just misunderstanding him… I don’t think he would..-“

“I know him too well… he’s already like a son to me… I just wish that he’ll continually change for the
better because you don’t deserve any cruel treatment from anyone and especially from him…”

I preferred to stay silent… he couldn’t be worried on me… why would he… where in the first place he’s the
first person who wanted my pain… but somehow learning it from someone makes me feel uplifted… I just
wish Mr. Lee’s words were true enough to justify my renewed strength.

--

The day passed so slow… but maybe it’s because I was anticipating for it to end quick… I really miss my
father-in-law… even though it’s only been days that I haven’t see him… just like my dad… he showed me
nothing but warm welcome…probably filling up for their son’s coldness towards me…

“You’re spacing out again…”

There goes Youngbae… popping out once again on our found sanctuary… I looked up to him and just
smiled… earning just a nod from him… I already ate my lunch… and up until now I haven’t seen ‘them’
anywhere… probably out to somewhere, making up for the days they are not together…

“What’s with the sad face…?”

I never realized the contorted expression my face has been giving off for quite a while now... He sat beside
me offering me his sandwich… I almost forgot about his treat last time…

“Youngbae-sshi… I still haven’t paid for your sandwich last time…”

“Yes… you still owe me…”

“Y… yes… well… how much for the sandwich…?”

I saw his brow rose a bit… and a slight smile crept on his thin lips… he suddenly turned to me which made
me taken aback a bit… our faces were a bit close from each other and suddenly I felt awkward with that
little distance between us… for a moment he looked at me while I couldn’t help but to stay stiffened at my
place…

“Let me paint you…”

He suddenly blurted out… with a serious expression on his face... I blinked and tried to register what he
just told me.

“Huh…? Wha-.. what are you talking about…?”

And just then he looked away and leaned back on the tree behind us.... I heard him chuckle which made
me raise a brow.

“I have a project on this one subject… I’m lazy to find a model and now you came…”

I was a bit disappointed… I thought there’s a deeper meaning behind his reason of me being his model… I
rolled my eyes and pouted… I’m sure he saw it for he chuckled once again.

“Are you going to be my model or what…? You still owe me remember…?”

“Pfft… fine fine Youngbae-sshi… when…? Where..?”

“Now… I have my things ready in the art room..”

“Don’t tell me you planned all this…?”

“No…”

He simply said, back to his cold voice as he stood up… offering his hand to pull me up… he really is a
weird guy…

We were walking back to the Arts building when I noticed that I left my phone under the tree… I called
Youngbae and told him I’ll just follow him at the room… once I got my phone I quickly went after him
only to hear a familiar voice of a woman from the side of the building… I was about to ignore it but then I
heard another voice this time from a man…

I shouldn’t have minded other people’s business… but my curiosity got over me… I heard the girl
struggling… while I could feel the suppression from the man’s voice…

My eyes widen when I saw where the voices came from… I saw Taeyeon being pinned on the wall by some
guy… she was struggling while the man is gripping on her hand tight… what is he doing to her…? Where is
Jiyong…?

I just found myself marching towards them…Taeyeon saw me and her eyes immediately widen… she
pushed the guy in front of her which made the guy turned on me… I could feel that they are both surprised
by my sudden appearance… is it just me or does Taeyeon know the guy…?

As soon as I got closer to them, the guy immediately sped off… leaving me and Taeyeon alone… I didn’t
bother thinking who the guy is when I saw the clear marks on Taeyeon’s wrists… she slumped down the
floor and I quickly went to her…

“Are you okay Taeyeon-sshi…?”

She looked up and I saw fear in her eyes… but her eyes suddenly shifted past me… and what happened
next almost broke me …

“Sandara-sshi… please don’t… I love Jiyong… please don’t do this to us…-“

What is she talking about...? I was about to ask her... when suddenly another familiar voice beat me to it...

“What’s happening here…?”

I turned around and saw Jiyong looking at us with a surprised look on his face…
# CHAPTER 25

I instantly felt suffocated… I looked down at Taeyeon and back at Jiyong… he’s looking at me with an
unreadable expression in his eyes… this isn’t happening… please God please tell me this is just a dream…

Jiyong quickly went towards us… pushing me a bit to the side… I felt my body weakened and I thought I
would fall if not for me remembering to support myself…

‘No… it’s not what it looks like…’

I want to say those words so bad… but my voice betrayed me and preferred to be unheard… my body
stiffened… as I looked at him , hurriedly stoop down to Taeyeon supporting her to stand up…

I could hear the hard pounding inside my chest… it’s starting to hurt… I tried blinking my eyes hoping
everything would just be back to normal… but then… the scene in front of me won’t disappear in my
sight…

I looked around and people started to surround us… I felt my legs trembling as noise filled the once silent
space… I could hear my name being whispered by the bystanders…

‘No… it’s not what it looks like…’

Please… just tell those words…don’t let them misunderstood you once again… please give yourself some
confidence to at least blurt out those words…

“Who did this to you…?”

I snapped out from my thoughts when I heard Jiyong asking his lover… bringing up her marked wrists
enough for the people around us to see… my gaze landed to Taeyeon… she didn’t speak but her slight stare
on me made everyone concluded who the culprit is…

I shook my head and turned to Jiyong… who was too looking at me… I could feel the sting in my eyes… I
could feel the hate from people’s eyes… and I could feel the disappointment and disbelief in his eyes…

‘Please don’t look at me that way…’

I want to shout it out loud… by my voice… why am I betraying myself… why am I hurting myself more…

He didn’t spoke a word… he just looked at me… I was expecting a cold stare from him… but I got
welcomed by hurt in his eyes… why are you looking at me like that…? I turned my gaze back at Taeyeon
but she now buried her face on his shoulder… I heard her cry… and I saw how Jiyong wrapped his arms
around her… just then… I realized my defeat…

I felt a great pain inside my chest… crushing my beating muscle… stopping the circulation of my
blood…his contorted expression said it all… but I won’t accept it quickly… I have been hurt a million of
times before… been misunderstood by people for a couple of times… am I not worthy to save myself
now…?

My lips were trembling… tears started to fill my eyes and I could feel that any minute by now it would
burst its way out…

“It’s not…-“

“Why…?”

My mouth left hanged open as he cut me off… why…? What does he mean by why…?

“Jiyong… I didn’t-…”

“You almost got me…”

I saw him shook his head, still looking at me with those eyes… what is he talking about…? I tried to speak
more but they started walking and pass by me… I felt my breath leaving me for a while when I felt his
shoulder hit mine…

I quickly turned around and grabbed his wrist… a slight touch that send shivers down my spine… he
turned back and did I just saw anticipation in his eyes…?

‘Just at least listen to me first… never did you listened to my words… al least for now… listen to me…’

“Please… believe me… I just saw her-…”

“Oppa..”

And now her voice beats me to it… grabbing his hand and holding it securely in hers… just then I felt
myself loosened my hold on him… what am I thinking…? Why am I still gasping for his attention and
understanding… even though I know in the end I will still not be the person who he will believe to… he
and the people around us… they are all blinded by their hate for me… so what’s the use of saving myself…?
if I’m already convicted instantly in the first place…

I saw his lips parted… expecting another hurtful statement from him… I bowed my head… and couldn’t
help for a tear to finally escape my eyes… I really am so weak… up until now I couldn’t fight for myself…

But surprisingly… I didn’t hear a thing from him… I looked up only to see his back facing me… together
with her… they left me broken and misunderstood… leaving me surrounded by the scrutinizing eyes of
everyone… leaving me to be judged by the hate of these people…

Someone… just someone… please save me…

Tears continuously rolled down on my cheeks… now... I’m being pathetic in front of everyone… do I still
have some dignity left in myself…? Oh God, how I wish to just disappear right at this moment… but maybe
even you has already hated me…for a simple pride I couldn’t even give myself…

Luckily, I felt my feet dragging me off somewhere… my vision’s spinning together with the blur that
brought by my tears… I just want to escape… just for now… I wanted to be alone… to have time mocking
myself… why am I so weak…?

My feet continuously dragged me to somewhere… … hitting people along my way… I don’t care where my
feet bring me… I just want to get out of this place…at least by staying away from this hell I could save
myself… what have I done to deserve all of this…?

It’s so painful… seeing him looking at me with such disbelief in his eyes… it’s more painful hearing him
with those hurtful and insulting words… I should expect that from him… I should know that he of all
people would be the last person who will believe me… but why is it so painful…?

Taeyeon… oh God…I hope what I just saw earlier is not really what it looked like… how could she do those
things behind her lover’s back… Jiyong who doesn’t know anything will be hurt once he knew the truth
about the incident earlier… doesn’t she know how much he loves her…? Isn’t it enough for her to know
how ‘he’ breaks me everyday shoving to my face that never I would replace her in his heart…

Is he that blinded by his love to her…? That he couldn’t see what she really is behind those angelic eyes of
hers… those smile that could melt everyone… her wholeness was just a lie… and would it be even her love
for him….? I should have listened to Cl… I shouldn’t have mind those noises earlier… I should have just
followed Youngbae immediately… I should have… up until now… these regrets were the one hunting me…
slowly killing me regrets after regrets… I’m a big failure of my own life…

--

“Oppa…”

They were in the infirmary room… he was silent after the incident earlier… looking blankly on the thin
air… ‘her’ face… ‘her’ crying face was the last memory he registered in his mind…

Confusion filled his mind… he’s sure ‘she’ couldn’t do it to his lover… ‘she’ doesn’t even know her well…
but still he can’t help but to stay in his lover’s side… for he had been with her longer than his wife… he
knew her too well to know if she’s lying to him… but his wife’s face… those eyes that were seeking for
understanding… was once again like a dagger being plunged deep inside his heart…

Who’s telling the truth…?

Taeyeon brought her hand to his face… caressing his cheek to gain his attention… and just then he
snapped back from his thoughts… shifting his gaze towards his lover…but still didn’t speak a single word…

“Saranghae…”

She told him… he just looked at her… too guilty for he never felt any skip inside when she told him that
word… and instead his wife’s words were ringing inside his mind…

‘Please… believe me…’

He dropped his gaze which made Taeyeon’s brow raised a bit… gritted her teeth and formed her hand into
a tight fist… but before she could lose herself… she realized something…

She still have him… the incident earlier proved that he still loves her… seeing the other woman being so
broken raised happiness inside of her… at least she knew Jiyong’s still in her hands… and enough for her
to feel at peace… she wouldn’t take losing such great wealth just because of some rich vulnerable girl who
popped out of nowhere…

She reached for him… he was like a dead body being instructed what to do… she wrapped her arms
around him and pulled him closer to her… hugging him tight as if she doesn’t want to let go of him… and
behind his back, a slight contented smile formed on her lips.

--

As soon as he brought Taeyeon back to her classroom… Jiyong got welcomed by his infuriating friend…
“What the hell did you do…?”

Youngbae grabbed his collar and pinned him to the wall… he knew why he’s mad… probably he learned
what happened earlier… Jiyong preferred to stay silent… he’s too tired to speak… too tired to even think…

Youngbae waited for her in the art’s room… everything was set and she’s the only one who’s missing…
there wasn’t really any project for him to pass on a subject… how gullible she is to even believe for a music
major to have such project… he just wanted to paint her... capture her beauty for his own good… also
wanting to spend more time with her… as if he’s not contented by just seeing her everyday… he himself
wanted to capture the beauty that made him fall deep…

And upon realizing what just happened between the three earlier made his blood boil… imagining how she
looked like being misjudged by the people earlier… and imagining how her husband just stood there…
watching her being broken… he should have just waited for her there… he should have just went with her
and never leave her side… he should have been there to protect her…

He gripped on Jiyong’s collar tighter… not minding if he’s already suffocating his best friend… and
together with the forming hate he’s feeling towards Taeyeon… he knew she was up to something, how
could he forget that…?

“What do you want me to do…?”

Jiyong finally spoke… but a hint of aloof could be felt in his voice… Youngbae was more pissed… he
roughly let go of friend and tried to calm himself down

“I couldn’t find her anywhere… she didn’t attend her next class”

Jiyong’s eyes widen a bit… and his gaze quickly shifted to his friend…

“Didn’t you understand me…? I said she’s missing… your wife is missing and it’s all because of you..!”

He yelled… good thing the hallway was empty… Jiyong’s hand formed into a fist... trying himself not to
budge… feeding himself to become numb… he already hurt her for not believing her earlier… what’s the
use of finding her now…?

“Forget it… if I find her myself… don’t expect that I’ll bring her back to you…”

His friend’s voice was serious… looking at him with such cold eyes… his fist loosened… and lips parted…
Youngbae turned around and left him to find Dara… leaving the other man confused and broken…

Jiyong leaned on the wall… sliding down… not minding he’s still in the hallways of their campus… burying
his face on his arm as he hit the back of his head on the wall for a couple of times…

He looked to where Youngbae went… now with only the empty hallway he was battling to himself if he
should look for her… what if his friend’s telling the truth… what if his friend finds her… is she going with
him…?

In the end he dropped his gaze… together with those thoughts… for once he had the chance to make her
stay… but his lies got over him again… drowning him only to hurt her and send her away from him again…

--

After hours of just walking… she found herself reaching the beach that once Soojin and her went to…she
never thought it was just a bit close from their campus… she gasped as she smelled the salty scent of the
sea… this was what she needs right now… a refuge for her to heal her wounds…

Despite her now numb feet… she managed to run towards the shore… tears started to feel her eyes once
again… looking towards the waves of the sea… she broke into tears… her body collapsed… slumping down
on the sands… burying her face on her hands… she cried all the tears she could manage to pour out…
thanking the sound of the waves to cover up for her loud sobs…

Her whole body shook… never she would have a place in his life… never she would be heard by him…
never he would pay a sight for her… for there’s only one person who deserve all those attention from
him… and sadly… it’s not her…

--

Why am I feeling this way…? Your cold face would always appear inside my head… that could bring me to
such peace just knowing your there… your words that maybe so hurtful yet I couldn’t help but to keep on
listening… those smiles that I secretly watch from afar… and you seeing with your lover feels so painful…
Jiyong… have I already fallen for you…?

Would it be a crime to at least fall for you…?

Why of all people should I feel this way towards you…?

You, who only know how to inflict pain in me…

Why should I feel this way towards you…?

I hope my tears would drown me together with this unacceptable feelings… may this sea swallow me
whole… numb me and my emotions… I’m so tired… my head hurts so much… and especially my heart…
please… take this pain away…

Just then… a warm touch brought me from the coldness I am feeling… I looked up from my hands feeling
someone holding onto my shoulder… I looked to my side and saw a hand… and I looked up to see a
familiar man looking down at me with a worried look on his face… for a moment we were drown in each
other’s orbs… my tears stopped... blurring my vision but I still managed to see the warm smile crept on his
thin lips… enough for the whole coldness inside of me to subside…
# CHAPTER 26

Flashback

“What happened…?”

He had the chance to ask his lover while they were still inside the infirmary room… Taeyeon broke out
from his hug and face him with again, tears in her eyes…

She didn’t speak but instead had her head bowed down, sobbing… which confused him more… he just
watched her… brows nearly knitted with each other…

“Oppa… am I that bad to love you…? I never wished for us to be like this… I know that I am nothing now
but your mistress in front of everyone… but oppa… I love you…”

She looked at him with a painful expression plastered on her face… he dropped his gaze and looked
away… he couldn’t bear seeing her like that…. after a while he looked back at her… with much painful
feeling inside his chest… and now, seemingly with a different reason.
“Did… did she do something to you earlier…? Tell me the truth Taeyeon-ah…”

His face is still… holding her on her shoulders… that made her a bit startled… and boiled her more
inside… now, he’s even doubting her… and it’s all because of that other woman… she thought…

She gulped down… and didn’t speak… the painful gaze she showed him is enough to cover up for her lies…
enough to ruin ‘her’ in his eyes… she will never give up that easily… not to a rich spoiled girl who just
popped in and suddenly ruin their years of relationship… she thought…

He closed his lips… if only he arrived there early… if only he saw what really happened… if only he didn’t
took sides earlier… maybe he wouldn’t be feeling so guilty and confused right now…

“Just… just please don’t leave me Jiyong-ah…”

Taeyeon reached for his face and pulled him closer to her, landing her lips on top of his… he was like a
robot… being told on what to do… felt numb like a cold iron… but been rusting and breaking inside…

--

“Sir… the young lady isn’t here yet…”

Mr. Lee spoke… bringing me back from my deep daze… why am I feeling this way…? My insides were like
eating itself… torturing me painfully by my own body… my mind filled with this unexplainable worry…
thinking ‘she’s’ still hasn’t come back… thinking that maybe now Youngbae has finally found her…
thinking that probably she won’t be coming back anymore… the pain is excruciating… I don’t even know
why I am hurting myself... enduring this painful torture not knowing the reason behind it…

“My dad’s probably waiting now…”

I simply told Mr. Lee as I went directly inside the car… I glanced outside and saw the bothered look on his
face as he gazed back on our campus…

What should I do…? I feel so useless… stupid for I don’t know anymore what I should feel or even what I
want…

I should be contented of seeing the pain in your face… I should have the peace of mind thinking that I
didn’t fall for your act… but, how could you look at me with those eyes earlier…? Why am I feeling so
regretful taking her side and not even listening to you…?

It’s slowly breaking me apart knowing that you’re somewhere that I couldn’t see you… and probably by
now… you’re safe within his arms… I should be the one torturing you and not the other way around….

I couldn’t be…

No… I should not…

--

A tear escaped the side of his eyes as he was gazing outside the car’s window… eyes were wandering as to
where their car passed, gripping tight on the knee of his pants… hoping to at least see her on their way to
his dad…

The old chauffer saw the bothered look on his young master’s face… never did he saw him like that
before… and he was sure of the reason why his young master’s acting like that…

When will there be peace in his young master’s heart…? He thought…

--

Her tears blurred her vision… her lips parted… wanting to ask who the guy is but her voice got stuck in her
throat… she quickly wiped the forming tears in her eyes…

“Are you okay miss…?”

His stern voice rang her whole body… he was the man she met at this same beach days ago…

“I… I am…”

Her voice started to crack up again… looking away from the man… feeling the comfort from another
person’s company, can’t stop herself from crying… she looked up again and now saw the worry on his
face…

She couldn’t bother him… not even someone to be poured out by her deep heartaches…she already caused
trouble for a lot of people before… and now… she couldn’t be so selfish to include a stranger in her
problem…

She tried to stand up but the weariness from walking was slowly enveloping her frail body… the guy tried
to support her from standing but she shifted herself away…

“Miss…”

He called her… remembered that she was the woman from before… the same beauty that made him
captivated was now being tainted by her tears…

“I… I am sorry… if I bothered you…I was just-…”

“Wait…”

He held her on her elbow as she started walking away… she looked back at him wearing a pleading look on
her face… she just needed to be alone…

“Please…”

His brows connected… what’s with the painful look on her face… he wondered… seeing her right now was
totally different from the first time they met…

Her voice trailed off… and just then… her eyes slowly closed and her body swayed back… his eyes widen as
he saw her slowly collapsing… but before she could reach the cold sand… his strong arms immediately
caught her…

He continuously called her… tapping her cheek to bring her back to consciousness… what made him stop
was when she started mumbling someone’s name in her sleep…

“Jiyong…”

He gasped and was taken aback… he shook off the thought that suddenly brushed his mind and carried
the broken girl in his arms… he looked down at her felt a weird skip inside his chest… couldn’t bear seeing
the pain on her face… how could such girl bring different emotions inside him…

--

“Jiyong-ah… why are you alone…? Where’s your wife…?”

His father asked him once he arrived… the worry inside him got worse… it’s already dark outside… he kept
checking on his phone battling himself if he should call his best friend or not…

“Dad… she’s… she has something to finish in her class… she won’t make it tonight…”

It came out to him naturally… giving himself some credit for at least he’s good at pretending… he saw the
tinge of disappointment on his dad’s face… he couldn’t blame him, the old man really misses his daughter-
in-law…

“That’s sad… I was planning to at least see her before we fly abroad…”

There were some problems on their business that needs to be checked… His mom’s already there while his
dad was left behind to finish some things first in Korea… and it would probably take them a month to go
back… He apologized to his dad which the old Kwon understood…

“Still having a hard time on your marriage…?”

His dad asked him at the middle of their dinner… he was silent throughout their dinner and it didn’t
escape his dad to think that something’s wrong with him… he was aware of his son being so hyped up in
work just to get home the past few days… he was thinking that probably, his son was having a change of
heart towards its wife… it would be the best thing for him… who wouldn’t fall for a daughter-in-law like
Dara…? He thought… and now… seeing his son with a bothered expression on his face raced wonders to
him…

Jiyong looked up from his food… gripping his utensils tight in his hands… should he ask for help..? Should
he ask for some advice…? But no… this is his marriage… this is his life… this is just a little confusion that
he needed to think and rest for…

Mr. Kwon curved a slight smile… he knew his son well… and he knew Jiyong really liked keeping his
problems to himself…

“Jiyong-ah… is something holding you back…?”

Jiyong’s brow raised a bit… he didn’t get what his dad meant by his question… but he didn’t speak…
hoping for his dad to at least read what he feels…

“If you want to tell her something… show her something… do something nice for her… don’t hold back…
she’s your wife now Jiyong…”

He heard his dad chuckling… while he on the other side stayed stiff on his seat…

“Dara wouldn’t mock you or something… just let yourself do what your heart tells you to do… it wouldn’t
hurt you to try… your mom and I was once in your position… having an arranged marriage was really
hard… we were both strangers… both grasping to know each other… but I was glad, grateful to have her as
my wife… and until now, I don’t imagine myself not having her by my side…”

Jiyong bowed his head… remembering his wife’s face earlier… remembering how much pain he had
caused her until now…would he still deserve her…? Would she still agree to stay by his side…?

“I… I’ve hurt her…”

He mumbled… and again Mr. Kwon curved out another smile…

“We can’t avoid hurting people sometimes… that’s why we are capable to apologize… make up for that
mistake and start anew… don’t let yourself be swallowed by that one mistake only to produce another
one… it will only hurt you in the end… you’re confused right now, maybe that’s why did that…”

And maybe that pain is what he’s feeling right now… his bit his inner cheeks… suppressing himself to be
emotional especially in front of his father… if only his father knows what torture he had given her for the
past month… would he still be able to understand him…? he thought…

“Jiyong-ah…”

His dad called him… he looked up… tightening his jaws while his dad’s still wearing a calm face…

“Give her a chance… give yourself a chance… we look too much that we didn’t realize that what we’re truly
looking for is just in front of us… we stayed deaf and blind… because we’re afraid it would hurt us in the
end… but what’s happening is… we’re already hurting ourselves because we’re preventing ourselves to be
happy and experience that one thing we are looking for…”

But what about his lover…? What about their promise for each other…? Just because of this marriage, he
now completely neglecting her…? It was not her fault… if his marriage didn’t persist in the first place…
none of these things were probably happening right now… lies… Until now… he’s feeding himself lies…

“Everything happens for a reason… all you have to do is to go with the flow… do not hold yourself back…
don’t let regrets come in your way in the end son…"
# CHAPTER 27

She stirred in her sleep… the man that found her earlier immediately went up to her side… and grabbed
her hand… she had been calling the same name for couple of times during her sleep… while he on the
other side… watched her in her sleep…
He had taken her to a nearby clinic…knew that it was because of too much exhaustion that’s why she
passed out… he wondered why she was so sad when he found her… totally different from her blooming
aura when they first met…

She’s really beautiful… that he cant take his eyes off of her… he even skipped his job just to stay and wait
for her to wake up… he just wanted to know that she’s now okay… her face looked really tired and painful
earlier… that he too couldn’t help but to feel her pain…

Her eyes slowly fluttered open… she first stared on the ceiling… not realizing where she is… but upon
seeing the bright light inside the room… she couldn’t help but to think if she’s already dead… she didn’t
bother shifting her gaze… but stayed staring straight up… if she’s dead, it’s probably for the better… she
thought… at least she wouldn’t feel any pain now… or better she wouldn’t feel a thing now…

But a sudden voice brought her back to reality… the same voice that she heard earlier at the beach is now
calling her again… feeling something warm enveloping her hand… she then finally shifted her gaze to the
side…

He was smiling at her… still not letting go of her hand… for he found the comfort holding it in his big
hands… and hoping that she too feels the same comfort he’s feeling…

“Are you okay now…?”

He asked her… she looked at him with wondering eyes but managed to nod at his words…he couldn’t help
but to giggle a bit because of her innocent, child-like look… her gaze shifted as to where her hand was
resting and her eyes widen a bit seeing it wrapped tightly with his hand…He noticed her gaze and quickly
let go of her hand as he faked out a cough…

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hold it for so long…”

He said while looking away… she smiled as she saw him blushing… for a while she forgot about
everything… thanks to the stranger she met just a while ago…
He immediately stood up from his seat when he saw her trying to sat up… he went towards her and helped
her..

“Thanks…”

She shyly said…she looked around… wondering where she is… he told her she’s in the clinic…

“Omo… I’m sorry for bothering you...”

She quickly sat at the edge of the bed and bowed to him in apology… he shook his hands in front of him
telling her it’s okay… she’s not only beautiful, but also a kind hearted one… he thought…

“I think you should rest first… you look so tired…”

“Ani… I already bothered you too much… I should just go… plus I think it’s already late… they’re probably
looking for me now…”

She lied… thinking her husband would probably the happiest man tonight… seeing her all gone was his
lifetime dream… she just doesn’t want to be a trouble for other peope anymore… her whole body,
especially her feet were all sore from walking too much… but definitely it’s nothing compared as to what
she’s feeling right now…

He saw the sudden change in her face… she’s slowly going back from being sad… somehow it bothers him
seeing her like that… but what could he do…? He’s not on he right place to ask her about her problem…

“Miss.. “

He tried garnering her attention…

“I know I’m not in the right place to ask you of your problem… but I’ve seen how broken you are earlier…
I’m sure and hope you can get through to what you’re dealing right now… well… you went to the right
place earlier to calm yourself… I, too find the comfort going to that beach… just be strong… it doesn’t suit
seeing such a beautiful lady crying her eyes out…”

She blushed with his last statement… unconsciously biting her lower lip… thinking she just found herself
another weird man yet sweet man…

“T... thanks…”

He chuckled at her reaction… she looked at him again with wondering eyes before her lips curved a sweet
smile… just then he felt something skipped inside of him again…

--

They were walking outside… she insisted going home despite the already deepening night… he offered to
escort her to her house even though he doesn’t even have a car of his own… he’s just worried of her
travelling alone… but in the end she still declined… he was just able to convinced her when he told her
he’ll just escort her to the bus stop…

“We have met each other before if I have not mistaken…”

He broke the silence between them… the bus stop as a bit far from the beach…

“You were with a cute little girl… your niece right…?”

“Ah… yes…”

She remembered that day… one of those happiest day… together with her angel…

“She really looks like you… I even thought she’s your daughter… but then, you’re too young to be a mom,
so I thought probably her older sister… I never thought you’re her aunt…”

He chuckled again… somehow she felt her Seunghyun oppa with the company of this man… they are both
a talker and have that same warm smile… maybe that’s why she felt easily comfortable around him.

“Why are you here in this beach…? Are you a life guard or something…?”

He looked down at her and shook his head no…

“I’m working over there…”

He pointed somewhere far at the beach… it was like a construction site… with people still working around
it…

“Someone’s planning to build a restaurant near the beach…”

She nodded with her mouth wide forming an ‘o’… he bit his lower lip to suppress himself from feeling so
giddy about her expressions… even just by the slight light coming from the moon and the light posts
round the beach, her beauty is still noticeable…

“Good luck on it…”

“Well… I hope you could visit once it’s done…”

“Sure…”

He stole one last glance to see her smile… contented to at least not seeing any trails of sadness on her
face…

--

He helped her what station she should stop at… good thing he was familiar with the place… they waited
for the bus… he kept her company… talking about random things… throwing jokes at her… as if he had
already known her for so long… he doesn’t even know why he felt so comfortable around her… she’s just
too easy to approach… he was curious about the name she’s been calling earlier but decided to pass from
asking her about it… minding his words not to cause sadness again in her…

The bus finally came… she went inside but then turned back to him when he called her back…

“Take care miss…?”

“Sandara… Dara for short…”

For minutes that they have been talking they forgot to introduce themselves to each other... he reached for
her hand and shook it with his…

“Well nice meeting you Dara… I’m… Yunho… I hope we could see each other again…”
“Yunho…”

She repeated his name and nodded… she went inside the bus and waved at him at the window… he waved
back and sighed when he watched the bus slowly drifting away… lastly a smile curved up on his lips again
as he repeated her name in his mind…

--

I looked outside the window… and reality hits me again… I’m again going back to my cell… I’m again
going back to my torture… should I still go back…? Was ‘he’ looking for me…? Just then a bitter smile
crept on my lips upon thinking of my last thought… until now I’m making myself believe in such false
hope…

My hands suddenly reached for my chest… trying to grasp my necklace… but then, I stiffened… not feeling
anything on my hands or neither around my neck…

“Where is it..?”

I mumbled as I looked around… where did I drop it…?

But isn’t a great chance for me truly forget everything…? To let all those memories… unrequited happiness
be locked down inside that room… for me to be able to move on and to stop feeding myself another false
hopes and lies…

Should I just let all of those things be forgotten…?

--

The bus stopped on one station… she was still seated, battling to herself to just let go… she had been hurt
a lot… by the same man she learned to love… but then, suddenly she stood up from her seat… and stopped
the driver before he closed the door… she went out with nothing but the desire to find that key…

She could have asked for a duplicate…or she could have just let it be lost forever… but a part of her wants
to find it herself… she couldn’t just forget about those memories… just like that key… she couldn’t just let
go of those moments with him… for every event marked deep inside her… bring thrill in her blood… and
even pounding her heart to keep its pace… he maybe the cause of her pain… but he surely is the great
cause of her happiness…

She maybe too stupid to see him that way… too stupid to not loathe him… but her heart wouldn’t want to
listen what her mind’s telling it to do…

She backtracked her way… there’s no way she could see it this time… the place was already dark… and she
doesn’t even know where she dropped it…

“Where is it…?”

She continuously chanted… tears forming inside her eyes once again… sweat forming on her forehead…
after minutes of finding it… she still failed… she doesn’t even know where she is by now…

She slumped down on the road… feeling so defeated… he already lost him earlier, and now even losing her
memories of him…

She cried on the dark road… shivering when the wind blew past her… she looked around and nothing…
she couldn’t see anything… just like in her dreams the other night… everything is so dark…everything is so
cold…

Just then…
Something warm enveloped her body… just like in her dreams… the same warmth was now wrapping her
in this reality… she looked up… those eyes… those same cold eyes… was now filled with worry was looking
down at her…

She broke out in more tears… her lips parted… wanted to call out to him… just to make sure she’s not just
hallucinating things…

“Ji… Jiyong…”

Her voice was shaking together with her body… he wrapped his jacket more to ease the coldness in her
body as he lifted her to stand up…

“What were you thinking…? You’re so stupid… Look at you… you’re freezing…”

He rubbed her shoulders… not looking straight in her eyes… he wrapped his other arm around her
shoulders as he made his way towards his car… her sobs lessened… but her body was still shaking from
crying… he put her on the passenger’s seat, without another word from him… he went to the other side
and reached out for her to buckle her seat belt…

She didn’t speak either… doesn’t even know what to say… she closed her eyes… and rested herself on her
seat… she needed her energy… she knew about his silence… expecting for a punishment to come in her
way…

He glanced at her… saw her eyes both closed… he wanted to reach for her… brush away those hair that’s
blocking her face… wipe off the formed sweat on her forehead… but he kept himself in his place…

“Don’t hold yourself back”

He remembered what his dad told him earlier…

He immediately drove his way to find her once he got home from the dinner with his dad… got a call from
Youngbae seeking for his help to find her, he didn’t take a second thought about it… felt at least grateful
finding out that his friend hasn’t find her yet… feeling a little selfish for himself on finding her..

Taeyeon was calling him… and it took him much strength to ignore her call… it was his first time feeling so
helpless… worried… and when he saw her slumping on the road… he just want to rip himself apart for
much trouble he had cause…

--

They reached their house… the maids quickly escorted her out… he called his friend who was still on the
search for his wife… telling him that he finally found her… despite the sadness in Youngbae’s voice, he was
grateful that there nothing bad happened to her…

“Please Jiyong-ah… don’t hurt her anymore… she must be so tired by now…”

He heard his friend plead on the other line… it felt like a dagger being pleaded not to harm his wife…

“Don’t worry… I won’t...” and with that he hanged up his phone…

He went to their room… saw her lying down on their bed still wearing her dirty clothes… she was so
tired… both physically and emotionally… she felt so failed not obtaining her necklace back and now
probably would taste another punishment from him…

He sat on the other side of their bed… both back facing each other…
“Why did you do that…? Why did you run away…?”

She was startled by his question moreover with his tone… he sounded worried far from his always cold
voice… he glanced to his side… hearing her sobbing once again…

“I’m so tired now Jiyong… what do you really want me to do…?”

She slowly sat up… facing him… he turned around to meet her face… saw the weariness on her face…

“You wanted me to disappear right…? You wanted me to just go away right…? Then why are you asking
me this now…? Why… I… I don’t understand you anymore…”

She said between her sobs… he was left in awe… watched her as she drown herself in tears…

“I don’t know what to do anymore… I’m just… I’m just so tired of everything…”

She looked down and gripped tightly on the sheets under her…

“Don’t…”

He mumbled… choking on his own words as tears started to fill the rim of his eyes… she looked up not
getting what he just said…

“Don’t leave me…”

# CHAPTER 28

“I’ll stay…”

Hearing those words from her brought a tingling sensation down my spine… I wanted to look up… see her
face once again… but right now… what we have between us is enough to feed the emptiness inside me…
I’ve done enough… I’ve said enough… I’m afraid I would lose myself more if this persists…

I could hear her heartbeats… sounded like music to my ears… I closed my eyes… feeling her breathing
against my body… never I felt this contented before… why am I feeling this way…? Am I on the right
track…?

‘Do you love her…?’

And again… Youngbae’s words rang inside my mind… bringing up another confusion in my already
troubled mind… I can’t… that’s not it… I already have someone that I love… it’s only guilt that I am feeling
for her and nothing more… I can’t…

Just then I felt her arms wrapped along me tighter… enough for my heart to go crazy, beating wildly inside
my chest… oh please… make it stop….

After a while of excruciating minutes… her hold finally loosened… I felt her breathing got even… and
finally my heart went back to its normal pace… I carefully looked up and saw her already sleeping… my
hands unconsciously went up to her face… hoping the weary look on her face would vanish…

I rolled to my side… and stood up from the bed…

‘Don’t hold back’

I’m just doing a good deed that’s all… repaying for all the bad things I’ve done to her… hoping the guilt
inside me would vanish… it really is breaking me apart…

--

He went back from their bathroom with a small basin and a towel in his hands… he sat at the edge of their
bed and carefully lifted up her blanket…

He saw how bruised her feet were because of too much walking from earlier… another wave of pain struck
his chest thinking it was all his fault… he dipped the towel in the warm water soaking it before he gently
massaged her feet with it…

He watched her slowly stirring in her sleep… but grateful that she’s a deep sleeper, he carefully continued
with his job…he probably gave everything to Taeyeon before but never did he done this before… lowering
himself just for another person… lowering himself to the person he once hated the most…

The night was in its deepest but still he hasn’t finish with what he’s doing… easing her aching body with a
lot of care… at least with a little deed from him would be enough for all the tears she had shed this day…

--

She groaned in her sleep… rolled to her side when she hit her forehead with something warm and hard…
her eyes flinched a bit… before it slowly fluttered open… there she saw a familiar chest right in front of her
face… at first she was stilled… still processing her just awakened mind… after a while, her eyes widen a
bit… it can’t be… she thought…

Remembering the last night’s events made her cheeks flushed red… she shook her head before she looked
up only to be welcomed by her husband’s sleeping face…

‘Why is he still here…?’

She thought in disbelief… the first time catching him still sleeping beside her put her in great awe…

She carefully shifted herself to meet his face… she gasped and covered her mouth when she saw him
stirred in his sleep… she was stiff while looking at him hoping she didn’t wake him up… but much to her
horror his eyes slowly opened leaving her stiffer in her position both eyes wide open looking straight at
him…

She didn’t blink… both eyes were focused on the pair of orbs in front of her… just then, he blinked, once…
twice… until his eyes slowly went close again… she heard a muffle snore from him, indicating he’s back in
his sleep… she sighed in relief… but doesn’t took her wonder away on why he’s still here…

She examined his face and saw the dark circles under his eyes… that added more to her curiosity… didn’t
he sleep last night…? She thought… her forehead creased in worry… thinking how he cried last night…
what he told her about how confused he is… probably he really didn’t have a comfortable sleep…

She sighed… what’s happening to him...? She thought once again… she sighed thinking maybe it’s all
because of the stress in his work… she decided to head downstairs and tell the maids to just prepare a
breakfast in bed for him…

When she was about to sit up… she noticed the lighter feeling of her body... the aching of her body
especially her feet were all gone now... the long sleep really worked... and when she was about to stand up
she suddenly felt his grip on her wrist… she heard him groan which made her to immediately look down at
him…

“Where are you going…?”

He said in a husky, sleepy voice…

“I’m… just going downstairs…”

She was a bit taken aback by his question but manage to answer him in a stuttering voice… he squeezed
her wrist a bit first before letting her go and went back to bed to sleep some more…

Her brows knitted… he’s acting weird again…

“Aren’t you going to school today…? You’re going to be late…”

“I’m not… I’m so sleepy...”

He sounded like a child, whining… he even answered her with his eyes still shut tight…

“You…? You’re going to be late…”

He continued… she lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip…

“I… I’m not…”

He slowly opened his eyes to have a look on her… saw the sadness on her face again… he knows why she
doesn’t want to go today… who would want if almost all the people in their campus thinks that she’s a two-
faced b*tch…

He suddenly sat up and then began stretching… as if forgetting his sleepiness… she was startled again by
his sudden moves but remained on her spot, watching him…

“I’ll go later to the construction site of one of Dad’s friend’s business… come with me…”

He simply said as he stood up from their bed and headed for the bathroom… she was stunned… he’s
inviting her somewhere… but the plan of looking for her necklace today hit her mind… but thinking it’s his
first time inviting her somewhere battled with her plan…

“Dad talked about you… and his friend said he wants to meet you… I’ll tell him we’ll go later”

She sighed and nodded… suddenly felt warm inside her anticipating for later… it will be their first time
going out as husband and wife…a slight smile curved on her lips… which didn’t escape his eyes when he
looked back to see her reaction… somehow he too felt the same warmth inside of him seeing that simple
smile…
--

He waited for her in his car… the people around the house were all in happiness despite the incident last
night… keeping to themselves and talking to each other about their young master’s and his wife’s first so
called ‘date’… their young master even told Mr. Lee that they’ll use his car and drive it himself…

Saw how worried their young master last night when he went back to look for his wife… as if all their
prayers were slowly being granted…

“I’m sorry if I made you wait…”

She’s finally done fixing herself and as usual… her beauty’s breath-taking even just wearing a simple dress
and a light make up on her face… he was left in awe for a second… looking at her when she get on her seat
beside him… he just snapped back to his consciousness when she turned to him and looked at him in
curiosity…

He finally managed to blink and shift his gaze ahead… he didn’t speak… which made her to do the same
too…

It felt awkward… for the silence is too much… she played with her fingers looking at the radio of his car…
but she doesn’t want to touch it… too conscious of the fact that it’s his car… she decided to just look
outside the window beside her…after all, maybe the ride wouldn’t be that long… suddenly the deafening
silence got replaced by a soft music coming from the stereo of his car… her gaze immediately shifted to it
only to see him turning it on… she opened her mouth only to close it after… she wanted to thank him… but
her shyness beats her to it…

He saw all of her expressions… saw how she fidgeted with her fingers looking at his radio and saw how her
eyes widen in amazement when he turned on the radio… he didn’t know that she has this child-like side of
her…

As she watched the road they passed… somehow she felt familiar about the place… her eyes widen when
realization hits her… it’s the same road they went to when they went to the beach back then… the same
road that she tiredly walk yesterday…

Her heart began to throb fast once again… wishing that their destination is close to the beach she went
yesterday… so that she could still have the chance to look for her necklace even if it’s impossible to see it
now…

“Are we going to the beach…?”

Her curiosity made her blurt out those words… he glanced at her for a second and saw how she
anticipated to her his answer while looking outside the window…

“Yes”

He simply said… she quickly looked at him and her lips turned into a big smile… she wanted to say more…
ask why they would go to the beach if they’re supposed to go to a construction site… but kept her words to
herself and just stayed in silence… suppressing herself to express her happiness…
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel… he knows how happy she is right now… another good deed…
he thought to himself… remembered how happy she looked like when they went to the beach together
with her niece back then… and remembering that one of his father’s friends has a business near the beach
that is under construction…probably a chance to make her experience the beauty of the beach again…

“Thank you…”

He suddenly heard her whisper… he glanced again towards her and saw her smiling at him… enough to
make him almost forgot that he’s driving and enough for his heart to almost jump out from his chest…

He immediately look back again on the road… calming himself down… but deep inside he could hear the
loud drumming inside his chest… her smile… finally a smile that is meant for him…

# CHAPTER 30

Her hair flowed as the wind blew past her… her dress waved as she walked towards the shore… and her
eyes… nothing beats the gleams in her eyes even the sparkling bed of ocean in front of them…

He watched her as she began to drown to her own reverie… as if forgetting everything around her and
even him… he was about to drop his gaze from her… when she suddenly turned her gaze towards him and
again, wearing her warm smile…

How could such simple gesture could set flame inside him… a tingling sensation that he cant explain…
that could drive him to lose himself… never did he expected to feel contented seeing a smile from the
woman who only wished to be in pain…

As if it was the most beautiful thing he had ever lay his eyes to… couldn’t even budge a single step away
from her or even set his eyes to something other than her… he subconsciously gulped down… seeing her
slowly making her way towards him… somehow felt nervous as her eyes stayed lock with his the whole
time…

She stood in front of him…her gaze shifted somewhere else and pursed her lips waiting for him…

Finally he snapped back to his self and managed to look away… he cleared out his throat which caught her
attention back to him…

“Let’s go…”

He started with his tracks and she immediately followed him behind… she looked around and her eyes
widen upon seeing where they were heading… it was the same construction site from yesterday… she
thought…

He suddenly stopped which made her almost bumped on him from behind… the next thing he did almost
choked her in surprise…

He glanced to his side, enough to see her confused face…and without another word from him, his hand
reached for hers…surprised on how perfect it is for her hand to fit with his…as he realized…

A sudden push to make him do what he did… remembering last night’s incident… seeing her alone and
helpless put much guilty in him…and worse was seeing her running away from him… leaving him behind
that almost break him apart…

Holding her hand as if she will leave him again… a fear that he can’t even explain to himself why… and
just then, while holding her hand, he felt a familiar stir inside his chest… there goes that skip again that
now he even got accustomed to… painful yet could drive him to thrill of contentment…

She was left in awe… blinking her eyes thinking if it was just her imagination… wondering if it is just lack
of sleep… but no matter how many times she tried blinking her eyes… it still doesn’t change that in fact it’s
really happening…

Her heart raced… pounding inside her chest like wild drums… she became conscious… for her hand
started to sweat because of the unusual feeling his hold has given to her…

Suddenly she felt her eyes started to sting… how silly could she get feeling teary-eyed just because of his
hand… but honestly… she can’t explain even to herself the overwhelming feeling inside of her that
moment… probably it was just a simple touch… but it could drive her to insanity because of too much
happiness…

He looked over his shoulder to see her face… saw the astonishment on it…he held her hand tight… not
another word from him they started to walk hand-in-hand…why would she be that surprised…? She’s his
wife in the first place…he thought…

It wasn’t his first time holding someone’s hand… but definitely it’s his first time feeling such happiness…
the warmth of her hand… sharing with his… it’s just indescribable… lost again from his own bliss…
selfishly hoping for that feeling to never come to its end…

“Jiyong-ah..!You’re here…”

A voice from an old man brought them back from their own trance… Jiyong smiled towards the older man
while Dara stayed beside him in her silence… being the shy girl she is…

“Mr. Jang…”

The old man walked up to them wearing a warm smile… directing his gaze a bit towards the silent girl
beside his friend’s son… Dara curved out a slight smile but her gaze dropped when he suddenly let go of
her hand…

He shook hands with the older man and the sudden loss was quickly mended as he held her hand once
again…her eyes widen a bit before she looked at their hands with tenderness in her eyes… even if it is just
an act on front of someone… even if it will be just for a moment… and even if he’s not feeling the same
bliss she’s feeling… it is enough for her to be grateful… with his sudden affection even if it is just a lie… it
would be all right for her to ride-on with his pretending… if it entails the opportunity to held his soft warm
hand… to stand next to him… to own him in front of someone else’s eyes for just a while…

Her face flushed red and it didn’t escape the older man’s eyes… the old man looked at her with
amazement… seeing the loving gaze from her eyes towards her husband… young love... they look so
perfect together…
“And this beautiful lady’s probably your wife…”

Dara quickly shifted her gaze towards the old man… hearing such compliment made her blushed some
more… and it added more to the old man’s amazement towards her…

The whole time, he didn’t let go of her hand… on the other hand… she was busy looking around the
place… as the old man told them about the plan for the construction… her eyes wandered around…
searching for her new friend that she met yesterday… probably he could help her find her necklace… she
thought…

She pouted, she couldn’t find him anywhere… they already toured around the place but there weren’t even
much workers around…
The old man suddenly chuckled…Jiyong looked at him in wonder… the old man was looking at his
wife…he was keeping an eye on her the whole time…

“Are you okay dear…? It seems like you’re upset on something…”

She quickly shook her hand in front of her… not wanting to cause some misunderstandings or bothering
them especially now that her husband’s there looking at her in confusion…

“I’m fine sir… I’m sorry…”

The old man’s eyes widen a bit in surprise… Jiyong just watched her… noticed that something;s bothering
her…

“Oh no… it’s okay dear… is there something you want to do or go somewhere...?”

Dara’s gaze landed on Jiyong’s but she shyly looked away and back at the older man…she looked like a
child, keeping something to herself…

“Do you want to stroll around beach…?”

Finally, her husband spoke… she looked at him with hesitation in her eyes…

“She really likes beaches…”

He informed the old man, who just nodded and looked back to Dara…

“C… can I…?”

She stuttered…

He couldn’t help but to smile… there’s something in her that could drive him a bit giddy inside… another
discovery he made that day…

“Of course…”

His voice was gentle… he let go of her hand and nodded for her that she can go stroll around… she bowed
a bit towards the old man… and gazed at her husband before the smile in her face vanished… can’t brush
away in her mind the thoughts of him probably trying too hard to pretend… why is he doing this…? She
thought… but then his voice beat her thoughts as he called her…

“Don’t go too far…”

He followed her for a bit… he’s looking at her with the same eyes from last night… and he ended it with a
smile across his face… a clear smile from him hidden from the eyes of others…finally a smile that is only
meant for her…
# CHAPTER 31

Her head was tilted to the other side… still cant get over the incident from earlier… she smiled to herself…
selfishly keeping to herself the giddiness she’s feeling… never she experienced the tickling sensation inside
of her…

With that just simple smile… from a cold-hearted man… from the man who she thought who could only
give her heartaches… it felt like a miracle…

“Hey..!”
She was snapped back from her blissful reverie when someone called her attention… she searched where
the voice came from and her gaze landed on the familiar man who’s now lying under a tree… looking
directly at her…

She walked up to him with a big smile plastered on her face… he quickly stood up… and it’s obvious in his
face how happy and surprised he is seeing her there… thought it was just his imagination… probably
because of too much thinking about her…

Too grateful that she’s actually there… wearing again her beautiful smile just like the first time he met
her… which was far from her miserable look from yesterday…

“You went back too soon…”

He teased her a bit… remembering yesterday’s promise that she made…

She just smiled at him enough to flutter his insides again…

“What are you doing here..? I thought you’re working in the construction site…”

His brow rose a bit looking at her with a smirk across his face…

“Oh… so you were looking for me…?”

He mockingly said… she gasped… it seemed like she already heard that one from before… just then, she
rolled her eyes upon remembering Youngbae… how could such man be warm just like her oppa and at the
same time as weird as her friend Youngbae…

Upon seeing her reaction, he let out a laugh… covering up the giddiness he felt from her charming
expression…

“It’s lunch time… our break…”

Her mouth turned into an ‘oh’ as she nodded like a child… his gaze then landed on her pink full lips…
looked at it for a while before his eyes fluttered away and a slight smile curved on his face… never he was
tempted that much before… almost lost himself because of the innocent woman right before him… he just
met her for just three days including their encounter that day…and at first he was feeling it was normal to
admire her beauty… but there’s something in her… aside from her looks that makes him more drawn to
her… something in her that he himself couldn’t figure out what, leaving him thinking too much about
her…

“So… what made you visit here again… aside from seeing me…?”

He continued teasing her… but deep inside hoping that he was partly right… how silly could he get to
expect something from her where in the mere fact that he was nothing but still a stranger to her…

“I just realized that my husband knew the owner of the restaurant you were building… and we’re here to
visit him…”

He suddenly stiffened… did he just hear her right…? Yes… she just said husband… for a moment he felt
himself lost again… but now, far from the blissful feeling we was drown into awhile ago…

“Husband…?” His voice was hesitant

She innocently nodded… for a moment, he just looked at her… until after awhile he looked away and
chuckled… her head tilted to the side… confused by his sudden reaction…

“Yeah right…”
He said… her eyes widen in disbelief and her mouth puffed…

“What do you mean by that…? I’m really married you know…”

She reached out for her hand… showing him her wedding ring with much proud… he glanced on it a bit…
sure it’s as beautiful as her… perfectly fitted in her slender hand… he snickered…

“Nice ring… I wonder how much you bought it…”

Her mouth hanged open… jaw dropped because of what he said…

“I didn’t..! This is my wedding ring you know…!”

She held her hand on her chest… looked down at her wedding ring… looking like a child being picked by
him... his brow slightly connected until he heaved out a sigh and forced out a laugh…

“I’m just kidding… it’s just that you look too young to be married...”
His voice trailed off… she finally put her hands down to her side…and a slight smile curved on her lips…
not noticing his sudden gloomy tone…

“Well… I thought about that same thing too at first…”

She whispered as she looked down… his brow rose in wonder and bowed his head to follow her gaze…

“Are you okay…?”

She quickly snapped back and looked up… noses almost touched each other…as there was only a small
space between their faces… for a while their gaze locked with each others orbs… until she first gasped and
stepped aback…

“I… I am fine…”

She chuckled… felt uncomfortable with the sudden awkwardness between them… he looked away and
cleared out his throat… that was close… he thought….

She too looked away…suddenly felt scared when she felt an uncomfortable pounding inside her chest…

“Y… Yunho-sshi… I think I should go now…”

She stuttered and bowed at him a bit before she turned back to start her tracks… but before she could walk
away… she was stopped by a sudden grip on her wrist…

“Wait…”

She stiffened by his hold… read something that she can’t explain from his face… she stayed quiet… waited
for his next moves….

His other hand slipped inside his pocket… her gaze followed it and her eyes widen when she saw what he
got in his hand…

It was her lost necklace…

“Yunho-sshi… where did you get this…?!”

She quickly grabbed it from him because of too much happiness… finally… her worries were solved…
“The nurse from the clinic gave it to me last night… and I thought it was you who left it... well I guess
there’s no need to ask you..-“

He was cut when she suddenly hugged him… he almost lost his balance if not for him able to hold on to
her waist… totally forgot that he was still a stranger… but being able to find her lost key because of him, a
simple hug isn’t enough to express her gratitude…

“Dara-sshi… I’m dirty…”

He anxiously told her… too conscious that he was all in sweat because of his work...

“Thank you so much…! I thought I lost it already…”

She gave him a last squeeze before letting him go… felt a little disappointed with the sudden loss he felt…
making a fool of himself for feeling that way towards someone who’s already married…

“It seems like it’s really important to you…”

“Yes it is..!”

She quickly replied as she smiled at him… totally forgetting the once awkward atmosphere they had
earlier as she carefully placed her necklace back to her neck…

“Thank you..!”

“You already said that to me earlier… but… you’re welcome…”

He watched her as she gazed at the pendant of her necklace… it was just a simple key… he noticed… after a
while, he sighed in relief… at least she’s not uncomfortable around him anymore… he thought…

--

He walked her back to the construction site… she was still in full glee… just because of a simple key…
weird it may seem, he cant help but to be amazed by her innocence…

“Well I guess… this is goodbye again…”

“Oh… why…? Aren’t you going on the same way I as I do…?”

“I’m assigned on the other side…”

He gently said… reaching out his hand offering a handshake which she gladly accepted…

“Thank you again...”

“It’s fine… I hope this wouldn’t be the last time I would see you Mrs…?”

She blushed upon hearing him asking her of her surname…

“Kwon…”

She shyly answered… still flustered by the fact that she’s already carrying Jiyong’s name…

That was supposed to be another tease yet he was the one who felt like being stunned… he was a bit taken
aback but managed to quickly shook off his thoughts… of course there are a lot around who has that same
surname… he thought… but remembering the name she spoke off yesterday… his eyes widen… it can’t
be…

“Yunho-sshi..?”

“Ah… well… yes… see you Dara…”

He almost choked by the sudden realization that hit him… but it can’t be… the world is too big for them…
he kept telling himself… she didn’t notice his uneasiness… too caught up by the fulfillment inside of her…

“Yes… see you Yunho-sshi…”

She waved back at him and started her tracks back to where her husband was… surprised to see Jiyong
standing at the entrance, as if waiting to where they parted awhile ago…

“Jiyong…”

His name just came out to her automatically upon reaching him… the old man was not in sight so her gaze
wandered around to look for him…

“Let’s go take a lunch…”

And without another word from him again… he reached out for her hand to hold it with his again… her
eyes widen in surprise… almost jumped together with the skip inside her chest… he just held her once
again… away from someone’s eyes… was that all still part of his pretending…? But no one’s watching
anymore… she thought… dropping her gaze and unconsciously squeezed his hand…if this is all just a
pretending to him… she wished that if they could just pretend everyday… just to feed the selfish happiness
of her shameful heart…

A pair of eyes was watching the two as they walked towards their car… couldn’t believe what he’s seeing…
his mouth was half opened… eyes locked with the woman who’s now wearing a discreet smile on her
face… he then shifted his gaze towards the man she was holding hands with… tears almost filled his eyes…
for years he haven’t seen his face… he had matured… he thought… remembering the betrayal he did years
ago when he left his younger brother alone and with false hopes…
# CHAPTER 32

“Young love really makes me envy…”

The older man dreamingly said… Jiyong could only watch him in wonder until he shifted his gaze across
the beach… his eyes wandered around as if looking for the figure of his wife… he then suddenly heard a
light chuckle coming from the older man beside him, which made him turn his gaze back to him…
“Don’t worry son… no one will take her away from you in here… she’ll be back to you later…”

Jiyong was taken aback… eyes immediately left the beach as he face the old man again… couldn’t able to
react with what the other told him… he then opened his mouth… about to deny the old man’s
assumptions… but only to be cut by him.

“Looking at you two earlier… made me miss my wife more…”

The old man’s lips curved into a genuine smile… had his gaze still set across the sea… leaving Jiyong
putting away his thoughts for a while and be curious about the old man’s wife…

“Why Mr. Jang…? Where’s your wife…?”

Just then, the old man turned to him… with still that warm smile on his wrinkled yet gentle face…
“She already passed away three years ago…”

Jiyong gulped down and immediately apologized as he bowed to the old man… earning a light tap on his
shoulder…

“It’s fine son… those last few years with her were nothing but pure bliss for both of us… she too liked
beaches… here in this beach I could still remember that fine afternoon… after a long day of my work…
where we first had our real date… I really wanted to bring her in at least a fine restaurant downtown… or
at least accompany her in strolling down the park or probably buy her a beautiful dress… but I was just a
mere errand boy back then… only able to bring her here… to the cheapest place I could think of… luckily
she likes the sea and so… with only a piece of baguette my boss gave me that day which was also my first
time to taste it… we had our first date…”

The old man momentarily stopped as he bowed down and chuckled… Jiyong could see the happiness in
him… despite the forming tears in the old man’s eyes…

“But we were happy… rather, she’s the happiest that day while I, on the other side felt so insecure of the
things I could only give her… but then she told me that she doesn’t need anything… and she doesn’t want
to be anywhere else other than being by my side… that being with me was enough to make her the
happiest person… I didn’t know she had that side of her… that day… I promised myself to do my hardest
just to make her always happy… and I’m grateful that even on the last day we shared together I was still
able to give her that happiness…and that was probably one of the greatest achievements in my life…”

The old man heaved out a deep sigh after blinking his eyes a couple of times… Jiyong could only bow
down for he couldn’t even decipher the forming pain inside him… even though all he was hearing right
now was nothing but a story of happiness… he couldn’t feel a tinge of bliss rather, all he could feel was
sadness…

Imagining his wife’s face… the pain in it… the suffering she went through with him… could he ever give
her that same happiness that the old man told him just now…? His thoughts were suddenly got
interrupted when the old man continued speaking…

“That’s why I decided to build this place in here… I want to share to everyone the same happiness that me
and my wife shared that day…and I want people to feel the same contentment we felt that day that is,
sharing this place with someone special to them…”

The old man looked around the still unfinished building and smiled again to himself before turning back
to the younger guy and noticed its silence… his brow raised a bit in curiosity before he reached out again
to him and tapped the side of its shoulder…

“I know she feels the same happiness that my wife felt that day…”

Jiyong looked up and looked at the old man in confusion…

“Your wife… she looked so happy and in-love earlier with you…”

Jiyong’s eyes widen in surprise… wondering what the old man was talking about… only to earn another
smile from the other…

“That’s why I said I envy you… she must really love you that much eh Jiyong-ah…?”

Love…? He though as he felt stiffened on his spot… while his thoughts revolve around the word that the
old man just spoke of… Mr. Jang tilted his head to the side a bit…

“Why do you look so surprise about it Jiyong…? Something wrong son…?”

Definitely, there’s something wrong with that… he added in his thoughts… for he would probably be the
last man she would love… no… someone like him doesn’t even deserve that last piece of opportunity for
her love… the old man was probably too engrossed in his own happiness that he mistook their little
charade a while ago… for he knew that all she wants was to get away from him… as much as he wants her
to be locked with him… in the end she would go away… to escape him and that is definitely far from the
love that the old man just said awhile ago…

Mr. Jang suddenly got bothered by the silence of the younger man… remembering what Jiyong’s father
told him about his son’s marriage with Sandara… the old man then closed his eyes for a bit and heaved out
a sigh… it must be really hard to have an arranged marriage…

“Is Jiyong having a trouble with his feelings towards his wife…?”

The old man asked him with enthusiasm like a father asking his little son…

“Eh..?”

A faint sound finally came out in from his throat… the old man suppressed his laughter upon seeing the
confused expression from the younger man’s face… he didn’t expect young people to be this oblivious in
their own feelings… he looked away but kept his gaze on the side, watching Jiyong’s stuttered expression…

“The way you hold hands together earlier… seemed like you don’t want to let go of each other … the way
she looked at you seemed like you’re the only person she could see… the way you smiled at her seemed
like she’s your only happiness…and the way your eyes kept on looking for her seemed like you don’t want
her to be away from you even just for a while… tell me Jiyong-ah… do you still feel troubled with your
feelings…? Was that all just an act to please me…?”

Jiyong couldn’t answer back… he felt like he got tongue-tied… he never expect that the old man would be
able to observe all of those things… and surprisingly, he never expected them to look like that in front of
the old man… he was just going on with his instincts… probably going on with that ‘something’ he could
feel inside him… as if it was the most right thing to do at the moment that he couldn’t even control himself
but to just do it… and no… it was never an act just to please someone… or anyone…

“No… it wasn’t Mr. Jang… I was just… I never thought…”

Jiyong was out of words… first time he stuttered in explaining himself… and the old man’s curious stares
didn’t helped him at all… after a while the old man chuckled… bringing Jiyong back from his thoughts…
he looked back to the older man before him…
“I never thought the heir of Kwon’s corporation would stutter in front of me just because of his wife…”

Jiyong could only look at him in awe… his forehead were all creased… he just doesn’t want to be
misunderstood… but he himself couldn’t even distinguish what’s wrong or not anymore…

“Why are you holding back son…? Do you think it would do you good…? You two both looked like shells
keeping itself closed… away to see each other… why don’t you first open up for her…? Be a man…!”

He was a bit shaken when the old man tapped both of his sides… squeezing him a bit…

“And that way… maybe she would be able to open up with you… and you would also see the things I saw in
her earlier while she was looking at you… I know it will took a lot of courage for one to start something…
to open up yourself… to awaken yourself from the lies that you’ve been feeding yourself… but trust me
son… there will never be regrets after that… far from keeping yourself behind her all the time… far from
just watching her… far from keeping yourself in pain from suppressing what you truly feels…”

And that made him completely speechless… he could only look away, blinked his eyes for a couple of
times… while breathing heavily…
He bit his lower lip… how could the older man read him that fast…? Was it really enough for him and his
lies..? But what was really the truth…? He couldn’t even understand what he feels right now… torn
between his past and his present…

He momentarily closed his eyes as his hand form into a fist… until after a while… he let out a deep sigh…
he looked back at the old man beside him and a slight smile formed on his lips…

“Do you really think she’s happy with me..?”

Hesitation could be felt from his voice, as if he was embarrassed to even ask that silly question… never did
he expect himself to be curious about how she feels for him… on the other hand, the old man was a bit
startled by Jiyong’s question, until his expression went to a gentle one…

“I know she is…”

Jiyong couldn’t help but smile… a sudden feeling hit him again upon hearing others say that…

“But would it be better if you would ask her this yourself…?”

And his smile slowly vanished…the bliss that he once felt suddenly got replaced by fear…he was
surprisingly afraid… first time that he had doubt in himself… afraid he wouldn’t get the same answer from
her… afraid of being rejected by her… and just then… a thought brushed his mind… was he now having an
unrequited feeling towards her…?
# CHAPTER 33

The old man left them first for he had an emergency meeting to attend to… but before leaving, he again
encouraged Jiyong to speak off what he truly feels… remembering it… he was again went drown with his
thoughts...

“Don’t let her feelings for you to slowly vanish before you collect enough courage to tell her how you
feels… she’s a beautiful and kind woman Jiyong, a lot would do everything to gain her attention… and
even though she’s your wife, it doesn’t mean that you entirely own her… give her heart enough reasons
for her to still love you… that is… if you feel that way towards her…”

He tightly held on to the railings of the unfinished villa… as he again closed his eyes and let himself to
think deeply of what the old man mean with what he said…

‘If you feel that way towards her’

Just then his thoughts got cut when he opened his eyes and landed on the woman he’s been waiting for a
while now… talking with someone on her way back… his head tilted a bit on the side… thinking, who’s she
with…? And somewhat the man looked a bit familiar to him… but that quickly brushed away upon seeing
his wife shook hands with that stranger… saw that warm smile again on her face as she waved back to the
other man…

A sudden possessiveness took over him once again… completely forgetting his once confused state as he
watched her slowly walking towards him… just like the old man said awhile ago… she did came back…

“Jiyong…”

How could it be such music to his ears upon hearing her say his name…? How could he miss seeing her
face even though they were apart for just probably an hour…? And how could he be so possessive of her
upon seeing her a while ago with someone, where in fact he doesn’t even own a piece of her..?

“Let’s go take a lunch…”

Just then… setting aside every matters inside his still confused mind… without a word, he reached again
for her hand… perfectly fitted with his… he thought as a slight smile formed at the side of his lips… may he
looked ridiculous… may he looked odd in front of her… he would take it as long as he could feed that
selfish side in him… wanting to hold her every time… or even just for a while…

“But where’s Mr. Jang…?”

She spoke upon their way towards his car… he looked a bit to his side, enough to slightly see her face…

“He left already… he needed to attend an emergency meeting…”

He saw her nodded… and felt her tightened her hold on his hand… enough for his insides to rejoice…
suppressing his selfish happiness… hiding it once again to his oblivious and confused wife…

Was it just her or did he really parked his car far…? She thought, as she could feel that they’ve been
holding each others hands now for quite awhile… longer than when they arrived earlier… it’s not that she’s
not liking it… for in fact she’s even wishing if they could just walk their way towards where they would
have their lunch… she’s just worried about him… is it really okay for him to do this…? To hold the hand of
the woman he hated the most…? But why is he doing this…? Has he gone mad already…? Or is he really
having a change of heart after his apology last night…?

She couldn’t help but to be drown with a lot of thoughts… bugging her mind with worries of him… setting
aside her selfishness… thinking he doesn’t need to do this for her to accept his apology… and thinking, he
doesn’t need to endure holding her ‘filthy’ hand for him to let go of all the guilt in him… and just then…
the once bliss she felt simply vanished as sadness took over her like a blink of an eye…

Finding herself in the comfort of his car… she sighed… kept her silence but kept herself aware of his
moves… thinking that his every good deed was far from the product of what she think he feels for her… it
will remain that she’s the only one who will forever have that unrequited feelings towards him…

“I know a place where they serve delicious sea foods…”

He glanced at her only to earn as shy nod from her… he could only let out a sigh before starting his car…
he would check her through the side of his eyes… would gradually tilt his head to the side upon seeing the
same sad expression on her face… thinking if he did something again to bring up that bitter feeling again
in her… how could she be so open to even a mere stranger while he, her own husband would only receive
nothing but silence and sad look from her…?

His shoulder dropped in defeat… of course it’s because for her he’s still a monster… she probably could
only feel fear whenever he’s there…

He then cleared his throat… gaining his wife’s attention… she turned a bit to him, which he took the
opportunity to speak…

“Earlier… who was the man you were with…?”

Without any tinge of coldness in his voice… he spoke in his most casual way…

Dara’s lips parted as her eyes widen a bit… she then completely turned to him… and felt a tad startled with
his tone… he’s actually talking with her normally…

“J… just someone me and Soojin met when we went to the beach last time…”

She stuttered… she saw him nod… she waited for him to speak again…but upon receiving silence, she
hesitantly turned her head back facing the window, only to turn it back again facing him as he suddenly
speak…
“Next time… don’t easily talk to strangers…”

She was taken a back for awhile… could only look at his face before she enthusiastically nodded at him…
the only thing she knows to do as of the moment…

She bit her lower lip as she looked down to her lap and played with her fingers… that was probably the
most uncomfortable moment for her… she could feel her heart beating so fast and hard… and felt her
hands started to sweat… thinking that was probably the longest normal conversation with him… she
thought…

The rest of their trip was spent in silence… both stealing glances to each other… both keeping their own
happiness inside them again….

--

He raised a brow… noticing several stares they receive upon reaching their destination… he could have
ignored them… but he couldn’t, especially when those stares were all directed to his wife beside him…
from men around the place who likely didn’t even notice that she’s with someone… and that’s him… her
husband…

He unconsciously gritted his teeth… glanced a bit to his side to see her… and saw that she’s oblivious to
the attention she’s garnering from every men around them… and without second thought, he again acted
on his possessive instincts… wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him… she’s
his wife after all… that made her a bit startled once again and looked up to him only to see him looking
straight wearing a serious expression on his face…

He didn’t say anything… aside from thanking the hostess as she guide them to their seats… that’s when
Dara saw his face clearly… he somehow looked mad about something…as his eyes wandered around the
place… she followed his gaze and pursed her lips a bit upon seeing nothing unusual around them…

They ate in silence… another awkward and uncomfortable moment in her life… she’s supposed to save this
moment in her memory… another part of her dream that now came true… but she couldn’t help but to feel
down once again… thinking if he’s really hurting her in purpose…? Was he that mad to be around her…?
But why kept on pushing himself…? That that was worse than being physically abused… his silence,
especially his coldness was more painful than being hit hardly…

She accidentally dropped her fork on her plate… making him a bit startled and woke up from his trance…
what was he doing…? He asked himself… he was caught up, busying himself throwing glares to men
around them… acting worse than a jealous boyfriend to his lover… he looked at her in wonder and saw a
blank expression on her face…

“What’s wrong…? Is the food bad…?”

He asked… her round eyes looked at him for a moment… now, he’s completely different again… showing a
concerned look on his face… why kept on pretending in front of her…? What is he up to now…? She asked
herself…

She slightly shook her head and looked down on her food… she just want to cry… run again, and away
from this torture… being with him always brings heartaches to her… she sighed and picked up her fork to
continue eating… she just need to endure a day… a day of nothing but pretending…

His brows furrowed a bit… was Mr. Jang saying the truth to him a while ago…? Sure she was happy
knowing he would bring her to the beach earlier… but aside from that, he never saw that warm smile on
her face once again… he could only probably able to bring her pain… and nothing more…

Their lunch passed like a blink of an eye… another moment that was wasted… by the two who still kept
themselves inside their own shells…
His shoulders dropped in defeat as he watched her back as they were walking back to their car…

“I know you feel uncomfortable around me… I know you’re wondering why the sudden change in me…
and probably you don’t even want to be here with me right now… but be forced to because you’re probably
scared of me… but please… could you at least pretend that your happy with me… even just for a
while…even just this day… just like I said last night… please bear with me for a while…”

She was stunned by what he suddenly said… she stopped from her tracks and looked back him as he
looked at her with now a pained expression on his face…

“Even just for today… forget everything that happened in the past between us… I just want to go out with
you like a normal husband would do with his wife… I just… I just want to at least make you happy…”

Her eyes blinked for a couple of times… and her lips parted but she couldn’t say anything… sinking in to
her every bit of what he said… she purse her lips together… suppressing the forming stinging feeling
inside her orbs… her lips parted once again as she let out a hard breathe as she looked down…

His gaze then dropped… and felt a great stung inside his chest… he let out a sigh… how could he be so
stupid…? How could he let his guard off, only to be rejected by her…?

“Just forget it… come on I’ll just take you home… I shouldn’t have..-“

He passed by her… only to be stopped when he felt her gripped on the suit he was wearing…

“I…”

Her voice trembled as she looked up… which made him glance over his shoulder and saw the forming
tears in her eyes…

“I am happy…”

It came out like a whisper… as her tears trailed down her cheeks… she was still gripping on his suit as he
was left stunned and unable to react… and could only feel the fast beats that were going on inside his
chest…

“I am happy… I really am… even though I don’t know why you’re doing this… even though I know I am the
least person you want to be with… I am honestly happy… I am… I am just...”

He cut her off as he turned around and without second thoughts, cupped her face between his hands… her
eyes widen as she realized that his face was so near to hers… she looked away but her tears kept flowing
from her eyes…

He doesn’t care if they were still in a public place… doesn’t care if millions of eyes would see them like
this… a recklessness he would gladly let to happen all because of this one girl… he thought…

With his thumbs, he wiped off the tears on her cheeks… that’s when she shifted her gaze back to him…

“I’m sorry for making you confused… I could only really make you cry eh…?”

He whispered… that came out too hard for him… it was so heavy inside his chest to even acknowledge that
fact… he bit his lower lip… no, he wouldn’t be emotional once again…he looked down and crept out a
bitter smile… before he slowly let go of her face…

“How about some dessert… I know one place…-“

He enthusiastically said… as if nothing happened earlier… he smiled a bit to her… who remained flustered
on her spot… but before he could grab her hand… he saw it turned into a fist…

“Please… just stop Jiyong…”

He heard her whisper… he looked at her and could see that she’s mad…

“Stop from pretending… Why are you doing this all of a sudden…?! I cannot read minds you know…? And
I cannot endure being happy alone when I know you feel so disgusted of me being here with you… so just
stop this… is it just to hurt me again…? Well you already succeeded Jiyong… please just stop…”

He was taken aback… and let out a defeated sigh… all this time, she’s been bothered by his actions… who
wouldn’t be…? But he never expected her to think that he’s just pretending… for what..? He thought… for
Mr. Jang’s eyes…? For the people around them…? How could she even think of that where in honestly, he
would feel like everyone around them would suddenly vanish… holding her felt like it was the most right
thing to do… that he would lose himself and forget for the meantime that both of them doesn’t even own
each other…

“Would it be too much to ask you if I would like us to start a new..?”

Her mouth hanged open… her hand stayed holding on to his arm…

“I told you… even just for today… forget about everything… and see that I could also do something
different… I’m tired of hurting people around me… tired of blaming everyone just because I couldn’t
change what already happened… it only falls back to me in the end… I thought hurting you would lessen
the pain I feel inside… but truthfully, it added more to my suffering… I don’t know… but… I just want to
stop this now… and start a new…”

Her hands slowly loosened…

And the next thing she knew was her body got enveloped by his warm hug… his soft hand caressing her
back….

“You can hate me as long as you want… hurt me… if that would take the pain I caused you… I just couldn’t
hurt you anymore Dara…”

Her tears stopped… she closed her eyes as she snuggled her face on his chest… her hands slowly been
lifted up from her sides… wrapping it around him and gripped on his back… he rested his head on hers…
and smiled as he felt her calmed…

“I’m a really bad actor… I couldn’t possibly pretend that long… however, all this time, it never occurred in
my mind to pretend…”
# CHAPTER 34

His legs were crossed as he was sitting… one of his hands was on the table, fingers were tapping it while
his other arm was resting on top of the backrest of his seat… face was turned to the side as if he’s watching
the view outside from the window… but in fact, eyes were straining from keeping his gaze to his side …

A slight smile curved on the side of his lips as he heard his wife hummed once again after she ate another
spoon of her ice cream… he has been watching her for a while now… would gradually smile whenever he
would see her eyes widen in delight… lips would curve into a smile after she would taste another spoon of
her favorite vanilla ice cream…

She looked like a kid… which made him remember about his wife’s niece… he looked down a bit…
thinking how’s little Soojin’s doing right now… and remembering about his promise to her… he nearly let
out a laugh… but one thing he’s sure that he’ll be able to do now… and that is to not cause Dara any more
harm… at least… it’s close to taking care of her…
He turned his gaze back to his wife… how could she be so innocent in every of her actions…? Just a while
ago… she was as quiet as the wind… but now, she looked so lost once again just because of a simple
dessert… amazing as to how simple little things could bring her great happiness…

He didn’t realize, his head was already shifted… facing her now as he continuously watched her…
She stiffened after what she heard…crumpling his smooth suit as her hands were still gripping tight on
his back…she lifted her face… facing his broad chest… still shivering a bit from crying earlier…

Mouth was half opened as she breathes… she couldn’t move a bit… too astonished of what she had heard
from him… even thinking if she’s hearing things once again… was it still from the stress...? Or was it
from her too much hope…?

“I can’t hurt you anymore…”

He said it again so clear that she felt reality hit her hard… it’s all true…his voice kept ringing inside his
head, screaming that it’s really happening…

Her mouth was half opened… she looked up and finally met his eyes… lips quivered and tears filled her
eyes once again…

The moment she’s been waiting for finally came true… all those sufferings… hopes… were now being
rewarded… she never expected this day to happen… even setting herself to just hold on to those hopes…
but now… it’s actually happening… it all came out directly from him… too overwhelmed to figure out
how to react… she could only cry…

She buried her face back on his chest… bawling… while he caressed her back to make her calm… smiling
to himself despite the tears she’s been pouring out…

Because he knew by then that… he finally did something right…

She then looked up… while he immediately shifted his gaze back to the window but would steal glances on
her at the side of his eyes… saw her pouting at him… with a bit of vanilla ice cream at the side of her lips…
his brows curled… heart started to pound fast once again… why is she looking at him…? He thought

“Aren’t you going to eat…?”

She finally let out that sweet voice of hers…

He turned to her wearing an innocent look on his face… pretending as if he didn’t hear her the first time
she asked him…

“Their ice cream is really good… aren’t you going to eat…?”

She repeated… his gaze went to her lips and smiled…

“I’m not a fan of desserts or anything that is sweet… “

He said before he reached for a napkin and leaned a bit forward to wipe off the side of her lips acting as if
it’s the most casual thing in the world… her eyes widen and cheeks quickly flushed red… she even almost
dropped her spoon…

Jiyong noticed it but didn’t bother feeling odd about his… why so…? She’s his wife after all… he pulled his
hand back and placed the napkin back on the table while she stayed stiffened on her seat for a while until
she cleared out her throat and looked down on her dessert.
“I mean… there’s no harm in trying… it’s really good… plus… it would nicer if I’m not the only one
eating…”

Her voice trailed off when she said her last words…

Jiyong sighed… which Dara heard making her to look up at him…

“But if you really don’t want it’s fine… I won’t force you…j…just forget it…”

She waved her hands in front of her as she stuttered in speaking… her round eyes dilated for being so
pushy around him… how could she be so absurd…? She thought…

Jiyong’s brows rose in surprise a bit before he let out a slight smile… he called one of the waiters asking
for another spoon…

Dara watched him and her eyes widen once again when her husband reached for her dessert and scooped
a spoon of it without another word… eyes set to him and continued watching him as scooped for another
one…

“Why aren’t you eating…? Want me to finish all of this..?”

“Eh..?”

Jiyong pointed the bowl with his spoon… Dara contemplated a bit… would it be okay…?

She looked at him first who now seemed busy eating the other side of her ice cream, she then bit her lower
lip as she slowly took a spoonful of the other side… they ate in silence…her cheeks were as red as
tomatoes, blushing like a high school girl having her first date with her crush… which she honestly
admitted to herself that it’s greater on what she really feels right that moment…

She would steal glances at him… and would bow her head down whenever he would look up to her… after
a while she just sat there… watching him as he eats… a warm smile slowly crept on her lips… such an
overwhelming feeling upon seeing the changes in him…up until now she couldn’t help but to feel
everything’s so surreal…

But as she watched him, the smile on her lips slowly vanished… gaze dropped as she realized something…
never she felt this selfish before… but cant help even though she knows it’s bad…but for a day like this
with him, she would stake the last pride she has in herself, just feeding that unrequited feelings for him…
hoping for the day not to end… hoping for the time to stop… hoping that he would not go back to his
lovers arms…hoping she could be like this with him ‘forever’…

And then again, apart from those selfish thoughts… she can’t help but to be afraid that this change in him
would draw her feelings for him deeper… and that would mean more pain for her when reality hits back…
when it’s time for them to part ways…

He noticed her sudden stillness which made him look up and saw her in a deep trance…

“What’s wrong…?”

His gentle voice rang inside her mind that instant which brought her back from her trance… she looked up
to him and saw the curious look on his face…

He was a bit taken a back when she suddenly smiled at him… how could that simple act from her makes
his insides quiver… could drive the bundle of nerves inside his chest thump fast and would leave him
breathless yet asking for more… such a feeling that he knows he shouldn’t feel… yet can’t control his
shameless self to like it…
She shook her head, still wearing that warm smile on her face…

“Brain freeze…”

She faintly said, shyly looking at him upon seeing him looking straight at her… he could only just look at
her… leaving himself still in awe… until after a while he managed to blink and look away... he suddenly
laughed making her startled and looked at him in curiosity.

“Well then…no more ice cream for you…”

Her eyes widen and jaw dropped upon seeing him eating the remaining bits in the bowl…

“I thought you didn’t like it…?”

She pouted… looking at the now empty bowl…

“Well… it’s good…”

“You ate it all…”

Her brows were curled in disappointment… still looking at the bowl in front of her…Jiyong’s brows were
raised, surprised at her expression… she’s seriously disappointed by it…? He thought… he almost laugh…
who could be shallower than her…?

“Yah… it’s bad to have too much you know…”

“But…-“

“Arasso… I’ll just buy you again later when we go home…”

And just then, her face quickly lightened up… eyes became rounded and her pink lips curved into a wide
smile once again… Jiyong could only watch her in amazement… almost forgetting that he’s with his wife,
for all he could see is a little girl having one of her greatest time in her life…

“Really..? Wow… thank you Jiyong… it’s just that… I never had ice cream for such a long time… I really
miss it you know… can we also buy a strawberry flavor…and-..”

She stopped, upon realizing what she’s doing… she looked up and saw her husband’s startled expression…
she bit her lower lip before she sighed…

“I’m sorry…”

She was back again in playing with her fingers on top of her lap… looking down in shame for being so
abrupt… only to look up after she heard him speak.

“Just make sure you won’t eat it all at once… it’s bad for the stomach if it’s too much…”

She blinked for a couple of times before she excitedly nodded her head… Jiyong could only let out a
discreet smile as he slightly shook his head…

‘What are you doing to me Sandara…?’

--

They were inside his car… with her looking outside the window watching as the sun sets down… she
sighed…
‘So, this is the end…?’

She thought… why is it time passes so quickly when you’re having fun…?

He watched her at the side of his eyes… a bit curious as to what she’s thinking right now…

She probably wants to go home right now… a sigh of relief for finally she’s done being with him… he
knows a day is not enough for her to be comfortable with him that instant… there’s still some other time…
even though he doesn’t know when would it be again… but he wouldn’t push more for now… for once, he
would be sensitive about how she feels…

“Tomorrow…”

He started… earning her attention… turning her head to him…

“No more skipping of class arasso…”

He saw the sudden distress on her face… and before she could speak, he beats her to it.

“Just ignore them all…you know what really happened so there’s no reason for you to be afraid of
them…running away is like also telling them that you’re guilty of something...”

He then glanced to her and gave her that assuring smile… enough for her broken pride to regain itself
back… and enough for her confidence to boost up.

“Don’t worry I’ll be there...”

And that settled it all… she wasn’t able to answer him back… too overwhelmed by his support… so it’s
true… he really believes her… as long as he's there... she thought…

She looked away and set her gaze back to the window as she bit her upper lip… she really has no control of
her emotions… especially when it comes to the guy beside him… better yet keep it to herself… her hand
made its way to her eyes and quickly wiped off the forming tears inside her eyes… here she goes again with
her tears… feeling herself lost whenever he would do a sudden act…and would take her a long time to
regain herself back…

He smiled to himself as he continued driving… one of his hand pulled out his handkerchief from his
pocket and carefully gave it to her… she looked at him wearing a surprised look on her face… as if he
didn’t hear her sobs… he thought…

“T… thank you…” She weakly said… he just nodded and continued to drive… would gradually check on
her…and after awhile saw her again wearing a smile on her face… just then he felt peace inside him…

--

As soon as they got home… a maid quickly ran up to them just right after he got out from his car…

Dara was still in all smiles having Jiyong open the door for her and guided her out of his car…

“Bring the bags inside… her ice creams might melt…”

Jiyong told the maid as he walked his way inside their house but stopped upon noticing the uneasiness
plastered on the maid’s face…

“What’s wrong…?”

Dara looked back to them as she too stopped with her tracks…
“Young master… Miss..-“

The maid was cut when another woman’s voice came between them, calling Jiyong… Dara quickly turned
her gaze towards the familiar voice, her eyes widen in surprise upon seeing who it is…

“Taeyeon-ah…”

Jiyong said in surprise upon seeing his lover inside their house looking at them with an obvious angry
expression on her face…
# CHAPTER 35

I saw Taeyeon shifted her gaze towards me… and I quickly felt the tremors running down my spine as I
saw the disgusted look on her face… I bit my lower lip and tried to look away as guilt slowly swallowed
me…

How could such little selfishness bring me more pain in the end…?

And even though I don’t feel any regrets… still that guilt is slowly killing me…

Fantasies that are meant to just stay inside my mind…

His eyes… especially his love that will never be directed to me…

Am I not really worthy enough to at least feel a tinge of happiness…?

Maybe I really am not…

If it would mean having an unrequited feeling towards the man who already belongs to someone… I
should have expected every consequences of this painful love… if only I could tell this shameless heart to
stop from its foolishness, I had done it ages ago… but I can’t… too mute to even spoke to myself… too deaf
to hear what reality has continuously been shouting me yet to only hear my heart’s rejoicing beats
whenever he’s there… too blind to see others, too blind to see the pain I’ve inflicted to others for my eyes
are only cast to see only him…

Up until now… I’m still frail… feeble to stand on my own… back then he was my pain, a torture that slowly
kills me… but now, he became the strength that I need… his warmth that would quickly cure the coldness
inside my being…and forever be a desire that I will never have…

“Taeyeon-ah… what are you doing here…?”

I heard Jiyong spoke… for a second I thought he wasn’t there… and thank God he was for I think would be
suffocated from this guilt her gaze has been telling me to feel…

My gaze landed to Jiyong… I watched him as he slowly walked towards his lover… oh God…how much I
just wanted to close my eyes for I think I know what will happen next… seeing him hold her… seeing him
to just have his eyes on her… completely breaks my heart… but before I could even give myself a credit to
do it… I saw him stood between Taeyeon and me…a fair distance between me and him… and between him
and his lover…
He looked over his shoulder, enough for our eyes to meet for a while… enough for me to know that ‘he’s
really there’…

‘What are you doing Jiyong…?’

“Why…? Can’t I visit my boyfriend now…?”

I gasped as I heard her sharp voice… as if rubbing salt on my already wounded heart…making me realize
that it really is such a pity, for up until inside this mansion… I still don’t have a tinge of right to own a
piece of him…

“Taeyo-..”

“Why…? Is it because you already have a wife, that I can’t visit you anymore…?”

I saw Jiyong’s fist formed into a fist… is he mad…?

“Stop it…” I heard Jiyong say… his voice was cold…and it scares me to hear that tone again but I can’t help
but to just stand there… stiff on my spot watching and listening to them.

“Why Jiyong…? Am I not allowed in here anymore…?! Huh…?!”

“I said stop it…!”

I almost jumped when I heard him shout… no… this shouldn’t be happening… I never asked for any of this
to happen… I only asked for a little happiness… I never wanted to ruin someone else’s relationship… and
now I can’t help but to blame myself…I know I’m getting in between them…

I saw the surprise in Taeyeon’s face… and it pricked my insides when I see the tears that escaped her
eyes… it brings back the memories of the day I almost break in front of everyone… being in the lowest
point in front of ‘him’… I know how painful it is… but why am I only thinking of this right now… it’s all too
late to even care about how she feels…

She then turned to me while all I could do is to just stand there, having my breath still caught up in my
throat… I saw the tears that continuously streamed down her cheeks… what have I done…?

“Are you happy now..?”

--

Tayeon’s voice was shaking… she turned to Jiyong as she wiped off her tears, throwing him a glare before
she stormed out of the mansion…

The two stood there for a while… both stiffened on their spot after what happened… Jiyong was surprised
as to how he had reacted… never did he raise his voice to Taeyeon before…and now he wanted to slap
himself for doing it and upon seeing the look on his lover’s face almost broke his heart…
Dara was no far from her husband’s state… confused as to what’s happening and wishing that’s it’s only
just a nightmare for both of them…

Her lips parted… numbness took over her as she continuously gazed at her husband’s back… after a while,
Jiyong stirred from his spot and gaze landed to where Taeyeon ran… Dara followed his gaze before she
turned it back to Jiyong…

“Ji… Jiyong… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to-…”

“It’s not your fault…”

He immediately cut her off as he faced her… but even though he said that, it still didn’t lessen the guilt
inside of her… seeing the clear agony in his face, hearing that cold voice from him once again… how could
she think that she’s not at fault… hearing his lover said those words to her earlier, how could she think
that she’s not a nuisance between them…?

She slightly bit her lower lip… brows curved upon seeing that he couldn’t even look at her straight…

‘Im sorry…’

She kept repeating inside her mind… hoping that he would hear her pleads to be forgiven…

Finally, he looked up… their eyes managed to meet each other for a while before he looked away first… she
heard him sighed before he spoke…

“Really… it’s not your fault… don’t think about it… I’m sorry if she acted that way…”

The coldness in his voice was far from being heard now as he looked at her with an apologetic look on his
face…

She managed to curve out a slight smile… for she couldn’t do anything aside from that as of the moment…
she saw him looked towards the entrance of the mansion once again before looking back to her wearing a
hesitating expression on his face…

Is he asking for her permission…? She thought… Dara could just nod… confused as to what he wants… but
she’s sure to herself that he should go to his lover… she looked back at Jiyong… wondering why he’s still
wearing that look on his face but she remained quiet, afraid that she would betray herself and ask him to
just not go…

“I’ll be back…”

She heard him speak with an obvious pain in his voice… felt the warmth pressed on her shoulder, only to
see that it was his hand…

“I’ll just…-“

“It’s okay… you should go Jiyong…”

Giving credit to herself that her voice didn’t break as she managed to put lies on her words… he was taken
aback for a bit… could only look at her while she tried not to be swayed away by his gaze… until after a
while, his gaze finally softened…

“I’ll be back…”

He whispered before giving her an assuring smile… Dara could only smile back and nod her head… hiding
the uneasiness she could feel inside…pushing herself to believe his words… despite the impossibility
behind it…

She just stood there… keeping herself stable…watching him as he went away… watched as his figure
vanished through the night… wearing a pained expression on her face… hands unconsciously formed into
a tight fist, as slowly she could feel the stinging feeling inside her chest… as if her heart was being
squeezed into pulp…

Again, she should have expected it… should have expected every pain that would come with it… but being
feeble as she is now… how would she even expect herself to survive more pain that she would encounter,
for even seeing him went away like that…feeling the slightest pain could already slowly kill her heart…

“Please come back…”

Finally…she heard herself mumbling those words that have been repeating inside her head… too late to be
heard by him… too late for her to stop him from going…

--

“Taeyeon-ah… get in here… it’s cold out there…”

He called his lover from inside his car, following Taeyeon as she stride her way still crying her eyes out…

He frowned upon receiving nothing from her… as if she didn’t even hear him asking her over and over
again… he gritted his jaw… and sighed… before he sped up his car, passing by her and blocking her way…

Taeyeon finally stopped and had her head bowed down as she continued to cry… and upon hearing Jiyong
got out of his car, she looked up and threw him a glare before she tried escaping him only to be held on
her shoulders and be pinned against his car…

“Let go of me..!”

She yelled as she struggled from his hold, useless for he’s stronger than her… he kept his silence…
watching her with still a pained expression on his face…

She hit him everywhere… he took it without wincing in pain… soon, after a while she stopped… had her
arms dropped on her sides, her head bowed down… she just cried…

“Taeyeon-ah…”

He finally called her with his gentle voice… only to hear her cries in return…
“Taeyeon-…”

“What’s happening to us Jiyong…?”

She finally spoke… voice was breaking and gaze still set on the ground… Jiyong’s brows curved in
confusion upon hearing her statement…

“Tell me… why are you hurting me Jiyong…?”

His eyes widen… one of his hand finally let go of her arm as he held her chin and lift it to face him… guilt
overcame him upon seeing her crying face…

“I’ve been trying to reach you the whole day… since last night I was worried as to where you are… you
didn’t attend school today… you didn’t even told me why…”

She was choking by her own tears… while he could only watch and listen to her words…

“You always tell me everything you do Jiyong…! But why… since that woman came in the picture..! I feel
that you’re slowly being distant from me… I feel like you’re not the Jiyong I know anymore… and now…
seeing you with her…? What, all this time, you two were dating…? Why… why is this happening…?”

Her voice was full of disbelief…he could only hug her and caressed her back… cooing her from crying…

“That’s not true…” he whispered… even persuading himself with those words…

“Even Youngbae oppa…! He came up to me earlier… he was so mad blaming me for hurting that
woman…!”

She pushed him away to face him before she continued…

“Tell me what she fed you turning you all to side her…?! Tell me what that b!tch did to make me look like
the bad person here…?!"

“Taeyeon-ah..!”

He yelled making her stop from speaking more… eyes set looking at him… and upon realizing what she
said, she bit her lower lip and looked away…

Jiyong was surprised by her words… never did he hear Taeyeon spoke of something ill against someone…
and he admitted… he felt ‘hurt’ upon hearing her say those words against his wife…

He held her by her shoulder once again, making her face him… but she never look at him straight, having
her eyes set to somewhere else…

“She did nothing wrong… it’s my entire fault… I was the one neglecting you…please don’t blame her to it…
it was all me… I was…”

Taeyeon brought her gaze back to Jiyong, had her eyes widen and mouth slightly opened as something hit
her…
“Don’t tell me… oh God Jiyong… don’t tell me you love her…?”

She said as her tears started to stream down her eyes once again… Jiyong was stunned by her words for a
while… couldn’t speak to deny or to even agree with her words… and before he could even wake himself
out from his trance… Taeyeon had already pulled him into a tight hug…

“Please… tell me it’s not true… Jiyong… you promised me..! Jiyong I love you…”

She said between her tears and that’s when Jiyong snapped out…remembering his promise to her…his
eyes were blank as he stared ahead… he brought his arms up and slowly wrapped it around his lover’s
frame…

“I love you… please… don’t leave me oppa… you promised me…”

Taeyeon was shaking… that’s when Jiyong’s gaze dropped and he sighed…

‘What the hell is wrong with me…?’

‘How could I hurt you like this Taeyeon…?’

He caressed the back of her head… rubbing his cheek against the side of it…

“I’m sorry… I won’t… I promise…”

He whispered…an obvious pain could be felt from his voice… for up until this moment… Dara’s pained
expression when he said he will come back kept flashing inside his mind…

He could only close his eyes… leaned down and hugged his lover tight…

‘I’m sorry… I can’t…’

# CHAPTER 36

His gaze was set to the ceiling… hands continuously caressed his lover’s head that was resting on his
chest… many times he had already tried to close his eyes and wished for slumber to hit him… but no
matter how many times he tried, he always failed… feeling something’s lacking… making him feel so
uneasy…

He glanced down, carefully checked if his lover’s now sleeping and upon seeing she already is… he again,
carefully shifted her on her bed… resting her head on the pillow and tucking her inside the blanket…

He glanced at her one last time… brushed her hair away from her face before he sat down on the edge of
the bed…

He sighed… resting both of his elbows on his thighs… hands rubbing his face… he glanced over the clock
on the bedside table… it’s already eleven in the evening… eventually dropped his gaze before he sighed
once again…
‘Is she waiting…?’

Words that's been bothering his mind for a while now…

His gaze then landed to his phone on the bedside table… the next thing he knew were his feet were
dragging him towards it… then eventually seeing himself seated on the sofa inside Taeyeon’s room…

He stared on his phone for a while… battling with himself if he would call ‘her’ or not…

--

Had her eyes directed on the window… watching the night inside ‘their’ bedroom… still having her hopes
that ‘he’ would come back… she waited…

She rolled herself on the bed… now staring at the empty space beside her, she sighed… thinking if he will
not really come home…

‘Don’t be ridiculous Dara…’

Scolding herself… hand reaching for the space beside her…

‘You won’t love me back… won’t you…?’

Her long lashes fluttered in sadness… lips trying to curve out a bitter smile… in the end she let out a long
deep sigh…

She rolled herself again… facing ahead as she closed her eyes… reminiscing everything that had happened
the entire day… finally, a smile curved on her lips… remembering those smiles of his… those warm hugs
that he had given her… his voice that sounded better than the music itself… oh how blissful it is yet
bittersweet for it ended miserably…

She opened her eyes as she placed her hand on her chest… felt her heart beating so fast…

‘Why are you being stubborn…?’

Scolding herself once again only to receive nothing but still the loud beats of her heart…

“Now I’m talking to myself...”

She mumbled… only to be distracted when she heard the ringtone of her phone echoed inside the room…

She lazily stood up from the bed… glanced over the clock on the wall seeing it’s already eleven in the
evening… wondering who would be calling her in the middle of the night… she picked up her phone on the
vanity table and without checking who’s calling, she quickly answered it…

“Dara…?”

She immediately went stiff on her spot upon hearing that voice… she then checked her phone if she’s
really hearing the voice of her husband… and her eyes went big upon realizing she really is…
“Are you still there..?”

She hastily put the phone back against her ears as she went back to the bed… sitting on its edge stiffly…

“Ye… yes… why… what made you call…? Do you need something…?”

She stuttered… biting her lower lip for she really doesn’t know what to tell him… a long silence was heard
from the other line that made her brows slowly connected in worry… after a while she heard him sigh…

“Why are you still awake…?”

His voice was a bit husky… sounded whisperingly… her hand then moved on its own, reaching for her
chest, clutching on it and once again feeling the hard beats of her heart…

Her eyes blinked for a couple of times when he answered her with another question and upon realizing
what his question is about…

“Ahm… I was…”

“Were you waiting for me…?”

She gulped down… bowed her head down and now her hand reached for the end of her shirt… playing
with it…

A smile crept at the side of his lips... hearing silence in return… thinking that she really was waiting for
him made him a bit happy inside… he leaned back on the sofa he was seated at… and turned his gaze
outside the window watching the night as he waited for her to speak…

“I was worried… about what happened earlier… I’m…”

“Don’t be…please don’t think about it… I’m sorry if she acted that way earlier…”

And just then…silence got in between them once again…

“Dar-..”

“Ji-..”

They spoke in unison making them both stopped from what they were about to say… Jiyong let out a
slight giggle making ‘her’ insides quiver upon hearing it over the phone…

“Have you eaten dinner already…?”

Dara’s brow raised a bit with his odd question… he probably forgot about the time… she thought…

“Yes… and you…?”

“Ah… yes…”

Silence… another awkward silence surrounded them… as if she even forgot what she wanted to say
earlier… too absorbed in just hearing his voice…

“Those ice creams that we bought… you didn’t eat them all… didn’t you…? It could give you stomach ache
if you did…”

Dara finally managed to curve out a smile… twirling the fabric of her shirt on her finger…
“No I didn’t… I was thinking of eating it together with you once you come home…”

Her voice trailed off with her last statement… mentally hitting herself to even mention it to him…
forgetting her words once again…

“Of course… I’ve been missing the taste of it already…”

She sighed in relief… and smiled to herself once again… not noticing herself blushing because of his
words…

She opened her mouth only to close it after… hesitating to open a conversation with him…

While he… on the other side… waited for her to speak… first time having such long conversation with
someone over the phone… not even with his lover once… his lips pursed, brows rose in wonder if she
already fell asleep on the other line… he was about to speak… ask her if she’s still there only to be beaten
when she finally spoke…

“Jiyong-ah…”

His eyes widen a bit upon hearing her gentle voice speaking of his name… he gritted his teeth… biting his
inner cheeks upon feeling his heart beating so fast and loud… he didn’t respond, instead waited for her to
continue…

“This is my first time hearing you not shouting at me over the phone…”

He was stunned for a bit… before his expression softened and another smile crept on his lips…

“And now, I even like your voice like this better than in person…”

He laughed a bit… dropped his gaze upon hearing her voice starting to break…

“I was really waiting for you… because I thought you’ll be back… I got worried as to why you’re still not
here that’s why I’m still awake… and now, hearing your voice seemed like you’re fine… so….”

“I’m sorry if I can’t go home...-“

“No… It’s fine… I mean… I was just worried that something might happen to you that’s why… and she…
she needs you… Jiyong…”

His brow twitched with her last statement… bit his lower lip for lost of words…

Upon hearing his silence… she cleared her throat… regretting to even telling that to him… she just pouted
her lips for ruining the mood… after a moment of another silence… she sighed in disappointment which
he heard from the other line… with that he smiled once again…

“Let’s go out again next time… it was fun…”

She immediately sat up straight upon hearing him say that… felt the hotness of her cheeks and couldn’t
even find words to answer him back…

“It’s late now… you should already be sleeping… plus there’s still school tomorrow…”

“Ah… yes…”

“See you…”

“Yes…”
She heard him let out a low laugh on the other line… how many times did she hear him laugh tonight...?
she thought... while she could only bow her head and continued to blush…

“Good night…”

“Good night…” she whispered back… waited for him to hang up the phone first and upon hearing him…
she looked at her phone dreamingly… smiled to herself and threw herself back on her bed…

“Good night…”

She mumbled once again… clutching the phone on her chest… she closed her eyes... wearing a sweet smile
n her lips... she could finally sleep in peace…

--

He looked at his phone… even had second thoughts about hanging up earlier… mentally scolding himself
upon acting like a school boy a while ago…

He shook his head… gaze then landed on the sleeping Taeyeon… he sighed… but then smiled upon
remembering ‘her’ voice… it was so clear… so close as if she’s really there… yet in reality… too far to even
reach her…

“Good night…”

He mumbled one last time…looking down on his phone with a slight smile on his lips.
# CHAPTER 37

She glanced outside through the window of the car…her forehead’s creasing as she bit on her inner
cheeks… she shifted her gaze away from the window… looking down on her lap, watching her hands
gripping on the fabric of her dress… she then sighed, which earned a worried look from the old driver
she’s with…

The car has been parked in front of her campus for a while now… keeping herself in silence since she left
the mansion raised curiosity to her driver… the old man watched her through the rear-view mirror…would
put a slight smile on his face whenever he would see his young miss pout then sigh…

Seeing them together last night was like an answer to their prayers… finally a time seeing them not
arguing and finally seeing his young master giving such affection towards his wife… just by observing
them these past few days, seeing a vast change from his young master, he knew by then that something’s
forming between the two… such a pity for they’re both holding back… may it because they are both
oblivious to it… but a big part was because one of them is still compelled with his past… he may look
unfair for not feeling sorry for Taeyeon, but seeing Dara and Jiyong happy and especially being together
just like last night… may the heavens punish him for wishing that Taeyeon would just let the two and find
herself another man that would love her more than Jiyong did.

“Miss… aren’t you going to your class yet…? You might get late on your first period…”

Dara looked up to him… anxiousness written all over her face that made the old man got more curious
about what’s holding her back to go to her class…

Dara let out a faint smile as her gaze dropped once again and bit on her bottom lip…

‘You didn’t do anything wrong… so why are you this afraid, Dara…?'
She asked herself… only to sigh on her own thoughts…

‘Will he really be there…?’

Her sad gaze landed on the window once again, watching the students passing by her car… thinking about
what her husband told her yesterday…

And as if Mr. Lee heard her thoughts… finally getting the situation, a warm smile crept on the old man’s
lips…

“The young master even called me a while ago… telling me to drop you off to school early so you won’t be
late… he said he’ll just see you there…”

The old man simply said not looking at her through the mirror… that made Dara looked up, with clear
hope and joy in her eyes… before her gaze shifted to the side and finally, a smile crept on her lips… the old
man peeked on her and it warmed his heart to see the change in her mood… he then shook his head with a
smile on his face and headed out to open the door for her…

‘Kids these days, really… making simple things so complicated than they should be…’

He thought as he guided her out of the car…

Dara then flashed him her warmest smile and startled the old man when Dara suddenly hugged him tight.
“Thank you Mr. Lee…”

She whispered before she let go of the old man… Mr. Lee nodded and reached for her head and gently
tapped it like a father to his daughter…

“You shouldn’t worry too much about things… it would make you grow old fast...”

He teased, which earned a light chuckle from Dara…

“Arasso… I better go now Mr. Lee…”

She then started with her tracks, waving goodbye to the old man…

A smile was still plastered on her face… thinking Jiyong would probably just around her campus by this
time… looking forward to see even a glimpse of him… but then as she neared her building, she then
started to feel the scrutinizing gazes of the students around her…

That made her slowed on her tracks… felt heavy as she took each steps… her smile slowly faltered,
meeting the gaze of the students, started to hear them whisper to each other… she almost just wanted
herself to be swallowed by the concrete ground she’s walking at… as shame slowly crept up to her…albeit
the fact that she shouldn’t feel even a tinge of it… all she wanted was to be kept away from that place.

‘Running away is like also telling them that you’re guilty of something’

Just then, ‘his’ words rang inside her mind… giving her enough strength to push herself up from being
swallowed by her own fear.
With that, she straightened herself up… peeling off her gaze from the students around her and instead,
just stare ahead and continued with her tracks… playing deaf from hearing insults that the students throw
at her… not caring about the piercing gazes from them… for they don’t anything for her to care about they
think…

They don’t know how much pain she had been through to get to her place now… they don’t know how
much tears she had shed just to gather that strength she has her now… and they don’t know how much
happiness she had given up just to stay beside her husband, going through any consequences that their
vows to each other brings her... and they don’t even have the slightest knowledge how painful it is to love
someone who would never love you back…

Those insults… those bad thoughts they have for her were nothing as to what she had been through… and
certainly they wouldn’t know… for they’re too caught up being blind and deaf… busying themselves to pull
someone that they don’t even know down…

--

Finally arriving in front of their classroom, she sighed in relief… giving herself a credit passing through a
‘battle’ awhile ago… but delaying her celebration for as soon as she entered her classroom… another
‘battle’ had been waiting for her after all…

She could only sigh… gathering herself tighter, keeping her head up as she quietly went to her seat…

‘Good thing I’m not yet late…’

Smiling to herself, distracting herself with her thoughts... finding that their professor wasn’t there yet…

She looked around, searching for her friend and wondered as to why he wasn’t there yet… only for her
thoughts to be answered when she heard the door of their classroom opened, as an expressionless
Youngbae entered the room…

His gaze was set to the side… as if listening to the talks of their classmates… his face was cold… not until
he heard ‘her’ name being mentioned by one of their classmates… that’s when his gaze landed on her
direction…

The expression on Youngbae’s face instantly changed upon seeing her… a clear surprise was in his eyes
apart from the other unreadable expressions on his face…their eyes locked for a moment… until Dara
broke out a smile…

And as if he didn’t want to blink his eyes, he kept his gaze on hers… started with his tracks going towards
her… making Dara a bit conscious with his stares she could only smile at him…

Her eyes then wandered around, with him standing in front of her and looking down at her… hearing the
silence that suddenly filled the room, she saw their classmates looking at them… her gaze then snapped
back at him when she heard him speak…

“You’re here…”

It came out from him almost like a whisper… saying those words with mixed disbelief from his voice… his
gaze finally softened but still wearing that bland expression… Dara pursed her lips in wonder before it
curved out into a smile again.

“Yes I am…”
Thinking it was just one of those ‘odd Youngbae’ moments, she just ride on to his antics…

After a while, he finally looked away from her and it startled Dara when Youngbae suddenly smiled… she
raised a brow, about to ask him what’s wrong but got stopped when their professor entered the room.

She watched him as he silently went to his seat beside her… now facing ahead as if nothing just
happened… she shook her head… thinking, she will never understand her weird friend…

--

“Youngbae-sshi…”

They were seated under the tree… as if it became a habit of them to spend their lunch time together in that
place… Youngbae had never said a word after the incident earlier in their classroom… and until now he
would just keep quiet, even has his earphones, with his eyes closed listening to some music…

Dara pouted upon not getting any response from him… even though Youngbae never left her side, she still
felt like he was not there for he won’t even talk to her… he would just nod at her words and would just
look at her.

She pushed herself forward, enough to see his face… quite annoyed for the lack of attention from her
friend… she pulled his arm and waved it a bit…

Youngbae opened his eyes, welcomed by a pouting look from her… he raised a brow questioningly which
made Dara’s eyes formed into tiny slits.

She then pointed on her ears telling him about his earphones… he lazily obliged to her pulling the
earphones from his ears and again looked at her with a raised brow.

Ignoring the wondering look from him, Dara’s pouted lips finally curved out into a contented smile…

“What do you want…?”

He asked her in a flat tone… earning another pout from her lips in disappointment…

Youngbae almost forgot himself with that smile, moreover with that another pout… almost pulled her to
him and just crash his lips on her pink ones… so much for his self-control, he managed to just stare at
her… her, acting like a child always makes him weak… wondering if she too does it in front of Jiyong…
breaks his heart knowing that other guys are openly able to see what he sees in her… if only she’s his…

“You wouldn’t talk to me… is there something wrong…? Did I do something wrong…?”

Then suddenly, her eyes widen upon remembering something… Youngbae’s brows furrowed… what is she
thinking of now…? He thought…

“Omo..! The painting… your painting…!”

She yelled in realization… even slightly jumped from being seated…

His expression then calmed… saw her hand landed on his stretched leg... he smiled and just looked away…

“I’m so sorry…! But I’m sure you were able to find yourself a new model right..? Aigoo… I’m really sorry…”

He bit his inner cheeks, suppressing himself from laughing at her apologetic tone… doesn’t even want to
look at her face for he knows it would be worse…

How could she be that concerned about other people…? Of course he knew why she wasn’t able to come…
he even almost beat ‘her’ husband that day… and almost scared the hell out of Taeyeon yesterday because
of his anger…

Blaming himself for not looking out for ‘her’… leaving her that day just to be harshly scrutinized by the
people who knows nothing but to pry on somebody else’s business…

And now, she’s even concerned about ‘his painting’…? The least thing she could worry about yet now,
asking for an apology from him…

He almost laugh… how could this woman be so oblivious, insensitive yet could make him fall for her
deeper as each days pass…? Her innocence that had dangerously owned his heart… is making him weak
for her… making him wants her…

He then looked back at her… finally let out a chuckle upon seeing the despair on her face… oh how much
he just wanted to reach for it and caress it in his hand… she’s such a temptation… such a test to his self-
control…

“I wasn’t able to make it…” and that made Dara’s eyes widen even more…

“What..?! Why…?! But how about your project…? You’ll fail it Youngbae-ah…” She said in full worry…
gripping on his leg tighter…

“I won’t paint it… as long as it’s not you…”

His stern voice brought shivers down her spine, especially the look on his eyes that made her gasped and
out of her words… for a while, they looked at each other… her words were now simply stuck in her throat,
unable to speak, she just shyly looked away.

Youngbae sighed, before reaching for his earphones again and put it in his ears as he comfortably leaned
back on the tree behind him and closed his eyes… Dara then snapped her gaze back to Youngbae brushing
off the awkwardness brought by his statement awhile ago…

“Yah… then you’ll fail your subject… you might blame me for it… aigoo… Youngbae-ah…”

She playfully slapped his leg, not really believing his words earlier… he opened his eyes and easily caught
one of her hand which made her startle a bit and looked up to him…

He squeezed her hand… caressed the back of it with his thumb… she just playfully chuckled acting like a
child once again… taking advantage of her obliviousness, he tried memorizing how soft her hand is… for it
maybe his first and last time to hold it…
And it was just heaven…and would be great… if only he could hold her hand forever…

Still holding her hand, he placed it beside him… sometimes, he gives credit to that innocence she has… for
times like this… he’s able to use that to stole at least little moment to own her as his…

“You’re too loud… I want to sleep…”

He said to her who just finished from chuckling… holding her hand tighter as if he doesn’t have any plans
to let go of it…

She just pouted at him again and stuck out her tongue… Youngbae just closed his eyes shut… holding on
to the last thread of self-control he has in himself… feeling her warmth in his hand… she’s making him
crazier…

After a while, he felt her stilled… not hearing her voice beside the soft music he’s listening at… he opened
his eyes… only to see the side of her face as she looked ahead… he was still holding her hand… almost
smiled to himself not until he noticed where she’s looking at…

--

She was watching Youngbae sleeps… had her eyes into tiny slits again for her friend keeps on ignoring…
she sighed and as she turned her gaze to the side… she then caught Jiyong looking at her, slightly far from
where they are…

Just then, she felt everything instantly stopped… her gaze softened and felt her heart suddenly raced as
she watched him got closer to where she is… he then stopped as he talked to someone… saw him looking
at her while talking to that person…remembering his voice from last night… remembering how close she
heard that voice… she missed him already… even though just yesterday they were together almost the
whole day… she just missed him…

Seemed that each day that passed she becomes more and more obsessive of him… wanting to see him…
wanting to hear him each and every while…

And even though it was still a bit far, it never escaped her eyes to see his smile at her once he finished
talking with that person… her mouth half opened… wanted to pant for her heart wont stop from beating
so loud that it makes her feel tired…

‘It’s just Jiyong Dara… why you being like this…?’

Scolding herself for acting like a love sick… and towards her own husband…

But before he could even reach enough distance to clearly see each other… his lover came from his
behind… hugging him from the back…

She saw Jiyong’s surprised face…who quickly turned around to meet his lover…

Just then, she felt her heart faintly dropped its hard beats… watching the two from afar… watching the
man she loves in the arms of another woman again…

She should get used to it… having her heart rejoiced then die at the same time… she should get used to
seeing such view if she wanted to see him… and she should endure each pain that would be inflicted to her
whenever she would see him pour out his affections towards the woman he truly loves…

She blinked her eyes in despair… unaware of the tears that’s been forming in it… she continuously
watched the two… couldn’t take her eyes off… showing herself the reality… that she just making a fool out
of herself with that unrequited feeling she has for Jiyong…

A gasped escaped her lips upon seeing Jiyong looked over his shoulder to see her only for Taeyeon to wrap
her arms around Jiyong’s neck… making him face her before pulling him down for a kiss…

Her heart was ready to take another pain… she was ready to carry out the shame for herself but it was all
brushed away when something landed on both of her ears… music started to play inside her head her body
being pulled up to stand… and the next thing she felt was a hard and warmth feeling against her cheek…

I'll sing it one last time for you

Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

Arms that securely wrapped around her head… as if blocking her view from something that she really
don’t want to see…

And I can barely look at you

But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

She was stilled for a while… unable to comprehend what’s happening… as the music continued to play
against her ears… that’s when… a tear escaped the side of her eye…

Light up, light up

As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

She buried her face on Youngbae’s chest… drowning herself in the music…until now… even she was able
to see ‘him’… even he already told her himself that 'he'll be there'... still the heartaches for her heart will
never vanish… for as long as ‘he’s’ the one her heart yells for… she would always feel the same pain over
and over again… for Kwon Jiyong is her love… and as well as her heartache…
# CHAPTER 38

He looked at her… only to receive nothing but silence… she never talked or even greeted him when they
saw each other again… the whole ride to home was awfully quiet that it bothered him… she was not like
that from last night…and what bothers him more now was the whole incident from earlier…

Seeing her and Youngbae together…

Seeing her in his arms…

What were those all about…?

Thoughts filled his mind…and thinking about those things over and over again makes him totally uneasy…
connecting it to Youngbae’s confession… are they together now…? He almost dropped his utensils as he
turned his gaze back towards her…

She didn’t bother checking on him… busy on finishing her food silently… and it bothered him more… for
since earlier, she never looked at him…

Was it because of the kiss…?

He too was surprised at the sudden move from Taeyeon…but thinking that Dara already knows about him
and Taeyeon… why would she be upset about it…?

His forehead creased… gripping on his utensils as the thoughts and images of her and Youngbae kept on
repeating inside his head…
Gritted his teeth for even caring about it… why would he…? He’s just her husband by papers and in the
eyes of everyone…just as well as she’s just his wife… and nothing more…

How could he be so selfish for thinking that she couldn’t belong to someone else… what is her to him…?

He already had Taeyeon… and definitely there’s nothing that he feels for Dara… as far as he knows…

In the end, he dropped his gaze…

He couldn’t possibly love her…? He loves Taeyeon… as far as he knows…

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Dara stood up from her seat… he looked up in surprise upon
seeing her simply walked away after finishing her food… he felt his insides dropped when she left without
another word… without even glancing at him…

Confused as to what’s happening…and earning a cold treatment from her… he suppressed himself from
getting mad… he continued finishing his dinner still trying to figure out why she’s acting that way.

--

She locked herself inside her secret room… staring at ‘his’ portrait that she made… with a pained
expression on her face…

After a while, her tears finally stopped… she just then realized that she’s being hugged by Youngbae…
her eyes snapped open and was about to pull herself away, only to be stopped when his arms snaked
around her frame, hugging her tighter and closer to him…

“Youngbae-ah…”

She called him in worry… unable to hear even herself because of the music playing against her ears…

“Let’s just stay like this for a while…”

Yongbae said as he watched Jiyong who’s now looking at them with a clear confused look on his face…
Youngbae’s hand formed into a fist…curling the fabric of her dress in his hand…

He then closed his eyes… leaned down as he caressed his cheek on the side of her head…

Dara was confused… her hands then reached up and rested on his back…

He probably saw what she’s looking at earlier… what could be more pathetic than that…?

Her eyes fluttered sadly… seeking more strength from her friend… she pulled him closer as she snuggled
her face on his shoulder…

“Thank you Youngbae-ah…”

Jiyong was watching them from afar… couldn't decipher what he’s feeling inside not until his blank
thought was interrupted by Taeyeon…tugging on his arm… he looked at her with an unreadable
expression on his face…

“Let’s go oppa…”

She simply said as she locked her hand with his…he couldn’t even speak nor think of what to do…he was
there to see Dara…but everything went too fast before he could even realize what’s happening… finding
himself being dragged away… he could only look back… seeing the image of them hugging each other
immediately brought an immense pain inside his chest…

“I already know you’re hers… but why kept on shoving it to my face Jiyong-ah…?”

“You said you won’t hurt me again… but why am I always left hurt in the end…?”

She whispered as if she’s really talking with him…

“I didn’t even know when it started… but why can’t I stop myself from loving you…?”

She said as she sighed… tracing the smiling portrait of him with her finger, she let out a bitter smile…

‘Everybody gets tired in the end… and I know you’ll get tired from loving him too…’

Telling herself as she clutched on her chest… she had endured a lot of things already… and waiting for her
feelings to vanish would be another thing that she should endure now…

--

He was drying himself off when she entered their room… he looked up upon hearing the door closed, their
eyes met for a minute before she continued her way towards the bathroom… only to be stopped when he
spoke.

“Where did you go…?”

He calmly asked her… holding the towel he used from drying his hair on his lap.

“Just outside…”

Dara plainly answered without even facing him.

Jiyong’s brows twitched before he sighed… enduring yet another cold treatment from her.

“What did you do…?”

It took Dara a period of time before answering… she looked over her shoulder, slightly saw Jiyong still
waiting for her answer.

“Catching some fresh air…”

“But it’s too cold outside…”

He immediately retaliated back… Dara could only sigh before starting again with her tracks.

“I’ll just go change…”

Upon hearing the bathroom door closed, Jiyong let out a frustrated groan as he harshly threw the towel on
the floor…his hand then reached for his forehead and massaged it in much frustration…

‘What did you do this time Jiyong…?’ He asked himself…

--

It took her a while inside the bathroom but he waited for her… seated on one sofa inside their room, he
looked up upon seeing her coming out…
“Can we have a talk for a moment…?”

He tried his best to be calm… but her continuous cold treatment doesn’t help him to do so… she just
looked at him… not bothering to sit… she just waited for him to continue…

He stood up from his seat and walked towards her… saw that she wouldn’t even look at him straight.

“Are you okay…? Did something happen earlier at the campus…? Did they bully you or something…?”

He looked more like a dad interrogating his daughter than a husband asking his wife… Dara just shook
her head as she speaks…

“Nothing… there’s nothing wrong…” she plainly said…

Jiyong looked away for a moment… his jaw tightened and brows connected as he sighed in irritation…

“Then why are you acting like this…?”

Dara finally looked at him… for a while she just stayed watching his confused face before she finally
spoke…

“Really… there’s nothing wrong with me…” With that she passed by him.

“We still have a class tomorrow… we should go..-“

Her sentence got interrupted when he gripped on her arm and made her face him…

“Something’s wrong is it…?”

Jiyong’s voice was a bit impatient… and his grip on her arm was a bit tight… her eyes locked on his
worried one for a while… until she looked away and shook her head no again… that made Jiyong snapped
out the last patience he had in himself…

“Damnit..! Then why are you acting like this…?!”

He yelled at her still gripping on her arm tight… Dara’s eyes widen with his outburst.

“What do you want me to do huh…?! How am I supposed to act for you to be contented that nothing’s
wrong… huh Jiyong…?! I already told you that I’m okay… why can’t you just drop off and move on…?”

She answered him back with the same tone as his… making him startled a bit.

“Is it because of the kiss earlier…?”

His voice trailed off… and Dara just looked away as she bit her inner cheeks suppressing herself to
remember what happened earlier… Jiyong’s brows furrowed some more upon receiving silence from her…
after a while, he then shook his head as he let go of her arm.

“Is it because of that…?” He asked in disbelief…

“But why… I mean…-“ he couldn’t even find the right words to say… until Dara snapped her gaze back to
him and cut him off with his sentence…

“It’s not because of that… why would I concern myself about it…? You can kiss whoever you want for all I
care Jiyong… it’s just… don’t make promises that you can’t even keep…”

Her voice was shaking… and Jiyong saw the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes… she looked
away as her hands reached for her face to wipe off the tears from her eyes…

Jiyong was left stiffened on his spot… unable to speak more as her words continuously rewind inside his
head… leaving him more confused about her last statement…

He then heard her steps as she walked away from him, leaving him still glued on his spot…

“Where are you going…?”

He asked with a plain tone…

“I want to have my sleep now if you wouldn’t mind…”

He then shifted himself, now facing her back…

“But where…-“

“I’ll be just in the guest room…”

And with that, not waiting for another word from him, she left their room…

He was still gazing on the door… unable to move at first… before he advanced his way out only to be
stopped when her words brushed his mind once again…

‘Don’t make promises that you can’t even keep’

His tight hold on the knob of the door slowly loosened… until his hand dropped on his side… staring down
on the floor… his other hand then reached for his forehead before brushing his fingers through his hair…

“I’m sorry…” he could only mumble in despair… only to be answered by silence…

--

The week slowly passed with them not talking with each other… mostly with her not talking to him… with
her, avoiding him… and it caused him immense pain that he had never expected he would feel…

Without hearing her voice… without seeing her smile… it just felt so empty…

He could only watch her… endure her silent treatment… would stay up late every night watching her
back… true… she was there… she had stayed by his side as his wife… but her being like this, he just wished
he could turn back the time… on that day… he should’ve tried some more… he should’ve just stayed with
her…

And now, seeing her with his best friend… them being together always, it just added more to that pain…
he couldn’t take seeing her with another man… couldn’t take seeing her smile towards other men beside
him…

And even though he knew how dangerous it is for him to let himself fall deeper to what he’s feeling… he
couldn’t help himself but to go on with the flow… for all he cares… he just want to make things right…

--

Locking himself inside his office again… facing the window with a glass of wine in his hand… he watched
as the sun sets down… just this morning, his wife went out without him even knowing where she went to…
busying himself waiting for the time to pass… not minding several calls from Taeyeon… he drank down
another glass…
He turned his chair around… about to pour some more alcohol to his glass only to see the bottle already
empty…

He growled in frustration… letting go of his glass as he slumped down on his desk… resting his forehead
on his arm… he yelled out loud… not minding his voice might echoed and pass through the room… he just
want to let out everything…

“You’re f*cked up now Jiyong…”

Mumbling to himself as his face shifted to the side… seeing Dara’s face flashed his mind… his lips started
to tremble… closing his eyes to suppress himself from being emotional… until slumber slowly hit him…

--

His eyes twitched before it slowly opened upon hearing the creaking sound of the door of his office… it
was already dark… only having the lamp on his table serving as the only source of light…

He sluggishly pulled himself up… felt his head aching from the alcohol he just drank awhile ago… he tried
adjusting his sight… rubbing his eyes to see the person who just came in…

“Jiyong-ah… the maids said you still haven’t eaten anything yet…”

He was blinded when Dara opened the lights in his office… had his arm over his eyes for awhile… trying to
see his wife… who was standing by the door holding on to a tray of food…

Just then, an overwhelming feeling immediately brushed his entire body… hearing that voice again…
speaking of his name… hearing her worried tone… he could only look at her…

Dara slowly went towards the coffee table as she set down the tray before looking back at Jiyong who
likely too astounded to even speak a word.

“Aren’t you hungry…? You should at least eat something Jiyong…”

“Say that again…” he commanded with a cold voice…

“Huh…? What…? What do you mean…?”

He slowly stood up from his seat and walked towards her…

“My name… say that again…” he said with now a clear anticipation written all over his face…

“Jiyong… what’s wrong..?”

She then saw him closed his eyes as he smiled… her gaze landed on the empty bottle on his desk… has he
been drinking…? She thought…

And before she could even ask him to it… Jiyong had quickly advanced towards her… she gasped upon
feeling her self being pinned on the wall…

“Jiyong..!”

She tried to push him away only for her hands to be locked with his and pinned on the wall on both sides
of her head.

“Why are you avoiding me huh…? Why are you avoiding your husband…?”
She smelled the stench of alcohol in him… and saw his tired eyes looking straight at her… she looked away
and tried to push him again…

“Stop this Jiyong… you’re drunk…”

She struggled from his hold… until she felt him snuggling on her neck…
“You’re avoiding me again… why…? I just want to know why… do you know how I wanted to punch
Youngbae whenever I see you two together…? Huh…? You don’t even know…”

He was not making any sense which scared Dara a bit…

“Jiyong… you’re drunk okay… let’s talk about this next time…”
She was about to push him off only to be pushed back again…

“I’m not f*cking drunk okay…! I know what I am talking about… So you don’t f*cking tell me what to
do…!”

Her eyes widen in fear… and felt angry upon hearing his harsh words again… he really loves hurting her in
every way he could… she thought…and with that, she gathered her strength to completely push him off of
her… and immediately ran towards the door…

Jiyong let out a low groan before he ran after her… stopping her before she could even open the door…
pushing the door close with his hand over her as he stood behind her…

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to yell… I just…. I just don’t know what to do with you anymore…”

Dara smiled bitterly before she dropped her gaze on the floor…

“How many times have you told that to me Jiyong…? How many times should I hear how confused you
are…? I think you should just stop from mentioning it to me over and over again because in the end you’ll
just end up hurting me anyway…”

He watched the back of her head for a while… his vision blurred as tears started to form in his eyes…

“Do you think it’s that easy to tell you these things over and over again…?”

Dara looked up and felt Jiyong’s hands on her shoulders as he turned her around to face him.

“Do you think it’s that easy to just tell you how I feel…? I can’t just stake my chance… I’m not supposed to
feel this way towards you…I don’t know… I just don’t know why…”

Dara couldn’t grasp what he’s trying to say… he’s clearly in the influence of alcohol… that’s probably why
he’s acting that way… and as if he read what she’s thinking… he trapped her face between his bent arms as
he pinned her on the door and leaned down to her…

“I’m not drunk… and I think... I love you…”

He huskily whispered… making Dara gasped and widen her eyes with his words…

"I missed you..."

He added as his hand reached for her face…he watched it as it caressed her pale complexion… smiled to
himself as he saw her stunned expression, before holding the side of her head and leaned down to claim
her lips…
# CHAPTER 39
Both eyes were wide open as she watched him slowly leaned towards her…and the next thing she felt was
his soft lips against her and the taste of the alcohol from his mouth… her hands reached up against his
chest… tried to put the distance between them… hands that were supposed to stop him…supposed to push
him away from her…ended up on gripping on his clothes tightly… pulling him closer to her… as if his lips
was still not enough for her to feel his presence…

She never regretted any actions that she did the past week… but she couldn’t deny to herself that she
missed hearing from him… what does she expect from herself…?

And now, she’s just supposed to check on him… finally letting her guards down after having a talk with
someone a while ago… but she never expected herself being caught in such situation…

Sinking into her the words that his mouth just spoke awhile ago…and now seeing herself falling into his
trap once again… her brows furrowed as her vision slowly blurred and tears formed on the rim of her
eyes…

‘He thinks…’

A bitter smile almost creepy on the side of her lips… why does she keep on falling for it…?

For a while she watched his closed eyes… before her own eyes slowly fluttered close… letting her tears
escaped through the sides of her orbs, streaming down on her cheeks…

He held both sides of her face… before one of his hands trailed at the back of her head…fingers buried
through her hair… pulling her face to him even more… deepening their kiss, he tilted his head to the side…
eagerly taking her lips, nibbling and licking on it… parting it with his tongue to taste her more…

Because just seeing her wasn’t enough to fill the emptiness in him… telling her those words wasn’t enough
for him to feel that contentment… and as if claiming her like this is still wasn’t enough to fill up that
emptiness…

His tongue desperately parted her lips to pass through… but before he could even succeed to do it… he felt
her pushed him away from her… hands were still gripping tightly on his clothes as she bowed her head
down…

“Don’t… please don’t do this to me…”

She whispered… letting out her muffled cries…Jiyong looked down at her, brows furrowed in despair, felt
the tightening in his chest upon hearing her words…his hands were about to reach for her but failed to do
so when she slapped them away…

She looked up… her hand reached up to her lips, wiping it off with the back of her hand…

For a while they looked at each other… her eyes that send nothing but sadness while he looked at her with
much longing from his own orbs…

And without another word, she pulled herself out from his hold… easily escaping from him, she went out
of his office still crying…

After hearing the loud thud of the door… he just stood there for a while… lips are slightly parted as his
eyes blinked for a couple of times… sinking into him what her action just meant…

Rejection… never did he expect for it to be this painful…

He clutched on his chest while his other hand rested against the door… he looked down and let out a bitter
laugh to himself…
But other than that… imagining her with someone other than him… seeing her happy with someone else is
more painful than being rejected by her… and by that… he would stoop down to his lowest… just to feed
that selfishness in him…

He looked up… and without thinking twice, he hastily opened the door and followed her… mentally
slapping himself on why did he drown himself in alcohol… making him almost stumble with his tracks…
sure he feels the dizziness it brought… but his mind is clear as crystal… and he knows every of what he’s
doing…

She walked faster… almost ran just to get away from him… still crying her eyes out, she walked past their
bedroom and continued her way out along the hallway of ‘his’ house…

What does he know about loving her…? If for him only Taeyeon is love while she’s only his torture… was is
just one of his ways to make her stay…? But why…?

Those thoughts kept on repeating inside her mind… but before she could even reach the stairs… she then
felt a hand tightly gripping on her arm, stopping her to make another step…

She looked back and saw her husband looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face… she tried
struggling away from his hold but his gripped just went tighter as he began tugging her back along the
hallway…

“Let go of me..!”

She shouted only earning silence from him… he forcefully dragged her back… not in his office but this
time in their bedroom…

He roughly let go of her and pushed her inside before he slammed the door shut behind him…

She stood in the middle of the room… looking at Jiyong who was blocking the door with now an obvious
anger in his face… everything was too familiar to her… would she get a beating from him this time…?

Holding on to her arm easing the pain from his hold…she looked away, wiped her tears and tried to
speak… only for him to cut her off…
“You’re not going anywhere…”

That’s when Dara snapped her gaze back to Jiyong, looking at him with such disbelief in her eyes…

“You don’t have the rights to tell me what to do…-“

“I’m your husband..! And if I tell you to stay… you will stay..! If I have to lock you up in here… I will
Sandara… I will…”

He was gritting on his teeth… both hands were formed into a fist as he slowly advanced towards her… and
as their distance lessen, his expression slowly softened…

“Dara… ple-…”

She cut him off when she slapped him across the face… he just stood there... face shifted to the side… she
gasped and quickly retrieved her hand and held it against her chest… but instead of apologizing, she bit
her trembling lip and straightened up herself…

“You don’t own me…”

She whispered and about to walk away from him again but he stopped her… pulling her to a hug, ending
her up to slap him from everywhere… he didn’t let go… nor wince from the pain… and instead wrapping
his arms around her tighter… carrying her up and walked themselves to their bed… was it because he told
her that he ‘only thinks he loves her’ that she’s this mad at him…? A little whim but enough to add more to
her heartache…

“You don’t own me..!”

She repeated it over and over again as she continued slapping and scratching him from everywhere,
telling it also to herself just so to finally stop her foolishness, but no matter how many times she repeated
it…. it’s still far from the fact that he does own her and most especially her heart…

Crashing them both on the bed… he hovered over her… trapping her body between his legs… he continued
accepting her beatings… he watched her struggling… crying… and it really breaks his heart thinking that it
was all because of him… does he really want them to end up like this…? Maybe he does… for this is the
only way to make her stay…

After a while, her hands slowed down…slowly pounding on his chest until she grew tired and reached up
her hands to cover her face as she cried…

“You don’t own me… so don’t say these things Jiyong… don’t…”

Jiyong swallowed down the lump on his throat… biting his inner cheeks to suppress his tears from coming
out… it’s just too painful to hear it from her… after a while of watching her… his hands reached out to
hers… pulling it off from her face… he brought it up to his face and kissed it before locking it with each of
his hands and resting it down on the bed on both sides of her face…

He leaned down… enduring the painful look from her face, he swallowed every restraint he has and letting
his selfishness over took him… giving a little credit to the alcohol for boosting up his confidence…

“Then let me make you mine…”

He whispered… he saw her parted her lips as she was ready to speak back… using the opportunity, he
leaned down to her… closing his eyes, he sealed off her words with his lips…
# CHAPTER 40

Dara gripped on his hands and tried to push it off from her but he stayed pinning them down on the
bed…she began kicking her legs to escape from him but he securely trapped her between his legs… his
eyes were tightly shut… bearing her struggles beneath him… he tightly held her…slipping in his tongue
inside her mouth… easily finding hers… their tongues began to battle for dominance…

Tears continued to stream down from the side of her eyes… slowly, her body calmed, hands settled on just
holding his…her eyes slowly fluttered close… as she lifted up her head, wanting to deepen their kiss… may
it because of the alcohol or may it because he has completely gone mad…she doesn’t know what to feel…
what to even think as of the moment… just letting herself go on with the flow… fooling herself once again
just to steal this little moment with him…

He let go one of her hands… which she immediately took the opportunity for her hand to reach for his face
and trailed its way to the back of his head… holding him closer… desperately holding on to him…

His free hand wandered along the sides of her body… reached out to the end of her shirt… slipping it
inside to caress her bare stomach which earned a moan from her between their kiss… he pushed in his
legs between hers… parting it with his, he settled himself between her legs…

Not another word, with only the sound of their lips being heard… they continued taking in each others
mouth… the once sloppy kiss slowly turned into a passionate one… pouring out every desires, longing,
desperation and heartaches on that one simple act…

As he let go of her other hand, she wrapped both of her arms around his neck… tilting her head for him to
gain more access… his hand reached down to her pants… fiddling with its button, trying to take it off from
her while his other hand trailed from her stomach up to one of her breast, slipping in his hand under her
bra to caress one of her soft peaks…

She arched her back against the bed… throwing her head back and moaned out loud, making them broke
out from their kiss… leaving them both panting, gasping for air… she was about to open her eyes to see
him but was held back and shut it close again when he started showering wet kisses all around her face…
eagerly nipping on her jaw, trailing its way down to her neck…

Successfully unbuttoning her pants, he hastily pulled it down to her thighs, revealing her underwear…
before his hand trailed up to cup her other breast…

“Uhhh…”

A long moan escaped her lips… arching her back once again and bending her knees up…head was thrown
aback… still holding on to his hair, while his lips settled on her neck… licking and sucking on it… making
as much marks as his lips can, just to make it clear that she’s his… his hands gently massaged her
breasts… sending shivers down her spine whenever his fingers would squeeze on her hardened nipples…

He pulled himself down on her… pulling her shirt up together with her bra to reveal her peaks… and with
that, he took one of her breasts in his mouth earning another moan from her… one of her hands let go of
his hair… pulling it up to her face and bit on her finger as she threw her head to the side… her face was
flushed red… eyes were now half opened as she panted and moaned at the same time…

Jiyong’s free hand fiddled with the belt of his pants… stripping it off of him, kicking it off, and leaving him
with his boxers… he continued sucking her breast like a baby, not neglecting the other one as his hand
continuously massaged it…

“Uhmmm… Jiyong….”

She whisperingly moaned his name… feeling his aching lust that brushed on her thighs…and upon hearing
his name, he accidentally bit her nipple causing her to let out another loud moan… soothing the pain by
blowing his hot breath on it before taking it into his mouth once again…

His other hand trailed from her breast down caressing her waist as his free hand reached between her…
earning a gasp from her when he slipped in his hand inside her underwear… her hand then let go of his
hair to follow his hand, covering it with hers as he began rubbing her wetness…

“Huhhmm… Ji…”

She flinched… biting on to the back of her hand, she closed her eyes tight…her hips buckled up, meeting
his hand, while he pushed her waist down with his other hand… he pulled his mouth away from her
breast… trailing his kisses down her stomach, her body trembled from his kisses… he reached her navel
ended up on blowing his hot breath around it before placing a kiss on it…
He continued showering kisses around her body, spreading his marks around it… he pulled his hand out
of her underwear making her let out a deep sigh… he sat on his knees… reached for her underwear before
pulling it down completely out of her together with her pants and shoes…

She closed her legs and shifted her body to the side… hiding her bareness away from him… a slight smile
formed on his lips… he stripped himself out from his remaining clothes before he went back to her…

He reached for one of her legs… gently stretching it to him and placed kisses along her inner thigh… she
sat up and moaned out his name again… reached for the side of his face and caressed it with her hand… he
smiled before placing one last kiss on her leg…

He gently placed it down before reaching for her hand this time showering it with his kisses… as if his lips
didn’t feel tired from doing it… he kissed it lovingly… trailing up to her arms… while her other hand was
gripping on the sheets… holding on to it just as like she was holding on to her sanity…

He placed one last kiss on her shoulder before he leaned towards her, claiming her lips again and started
another passionate kiss… he reached for her shirt… stripped her off between their kiss… and after
unclasping her bra, he pulled out from their kiss… pulling himself away from her for a moment… looking
at her bareness with nothing but pure love in his eyes…

She quickly looked away and pulled the blanket to cover herself… but before she could even succeed,
Jiyong’s hand stopped hers… she shyly looked at him while he gave her back a smile… squeezing her
hand… his other hand reached for her face tucking the loose strands of her hair at the back of her ear…

“You’re so beautiful…”

He whispered… earning a stunned expression from her he chuckled inside… and upon recovering from
what he said, she could only look down and bit her lower lip as she blushed… his hand then trailed to her
cheek and softly caressed it before lifting her chin up to make her face him…

“You’re beautiful…”

He said it again… earning another silence from her… he went closer to her… his other hand rested on her
back, pushing her to him… she gasped and looked down upon feeling his throbbing shaft brushed her bare
thigh…

“You’re beautiful… and I want you to be mine Sandara…”

She looked up again… felt more flattered because of his intense stare… but decided to look away placed
her hands against his chest again… realizing what reality has for them…

“You can’t… you have-…”

“I love you…”

He repeated the same words over and over again… he started sounding like he was pleading just to block
her from saying anything… and ended up on saying the words confidently as if he was hit with something
called ‘realization’…
Dara could only cry in response… as she felt her husband’s kisses all around her…

Jiyong pushed her down the bed… parting her legs once again and placed himself between them…

Her hands trailed to his shoulders and rested them on it… feeling his member brushing along her
entrance… she threw her head to the side and waited for the pain… but instead, feeling his lips on the side
of her eyes… kissing her tears as he swiftly inserted himself inside her…

A long moan escaped her lips as she closed her eyes… Jiyong didn’t move for a while, letting her adjust on
his length … holding on to her waist with one of his hands while the other made Dara to make her face
him…

“Open your eyes Dara…”

She whispered… kissing on her forehead, she complied with his words…

“Look only at me…”

His words meant a lot of things… and she clearly knew what he meant… with that, he claimed her lips
once again, distracting her when he started pulling himself out of her and pushing in… hands gripped on
her bottom, lifting it up to push himself more…

She moaned in his mouth… digging her nails on his shoulder while one of her legs wrapped around his
waist…

“Uh… huh… uh…”

Moans and groans filled their room right after they broke out from their kiss… Dara’s head was thrown
aback with Jiyong, busily sucking on her neck again… hips were moving on its own as he continuously
thrust himself in and out of her…

Dara hooked her arms with Jiyong’s… caressing his bare back and clawing on it whenever he would hit a
sensitive spot… she lifted her hips up helping him to meet his thrust… both wanting to reach deeper…
both wanting to feel each other more…

“Uh… Dara-ah…”

He moaned out her name… pulling himself up… his hands reached up and massaged her breasts… he
looked down and watched how their connected bodies strained as they rocked against each other…

His hands then trailed down to her knees… pulling both of her legs, closing them and bent them against
her chest… he sat on his knees and continued ramming inside of her… Dara’s hands were now gripping on
the sheets beside her… he watched her body with his half lidded eyes… lips were parted with him groaning
out loud… sweat trickling down from his neck down to his chest he heard her continuously moaning out
his name making his pace grew faster… beads of sweat formed on her forehead… her hair were sprawled
everywhere… sticking on her sweaty neck and chest making her more alluring in her husband’s eyes…

Jiyong pulled one of her legs and placed it on his shoulder… he held on to it, placing kisses along it while
his other hand lifted her hips more and desperately pushed himself deeper in her… completely setting
aside her worries, she endlessly moaned out his name… repeatedly called him when she felt herself
nearing her edge…

And feeling the same tension building up inside him… he placed her legs down, spreading his legs and
placing each on top of his… he held on to her waist and pulled her closer… with that, he leaned down and
kissed her on the lips again…

“Jiyong… uhh…I can’t… I’m coming…”

She said between their kiss… Jiyong’s hips thrust faster and deeper… hitting her sensitive spot over and
over again… her hands were on his back once again… wandering on the flat of his back…

“Ugh… a little more…”

Their breathing became heavier… loud cries escaped his lips… until with his one last thrust both of their
bodies stiffened… her toes curled, back arched and nails buried deeply on his back… he wrapped his arms
around her waists… hugging her tight against his sweaty body, he pushed in some more… emptying
himself inside her awaiting womb… she shut her eyes tight… feeling the warm fluids shooting inside of
her… after a while, a contented sigh escaped from the both of them…he leaned up and reached for her lips
before their bodies collapsed on the bed…

The heat inside them has finally subsided… the emptiness in him has finally been nourished… he was still
on top of her… their drenched bodies still against each other…with that, he pushed himself up, placing a
kiss on her forehead before he smiled, caressing her tired face… he brushed away the hair from her sweaty
face, hearing her mumbling his name, he smiled once again… he rolled their still connected bodies…
placing her on top of him and covering them with their discarded blanket… letting her head rest on his
chest… he reached down for her hand… brought it up to his face and stared on her wedding ring…

The only thing that bounds them together… he smiled in gratefulness…

He locked her hand with his… placing it on his chest… he watched the top of her head… after a while, she
stirred… slowly looked up to meet his gaze… squeezing her hand on his chest… his other hand reached for
her head and caressed it…

“I’ll fix everything…”

He started… she just looked at him with a bothered look on her face again… he wrapped her head with his
arm and reached for her cheek…

“No need to worry… just stay with me…”

He tenderly told her… while she could only smile back and snuggled on his chest… they will worry about
everything tomorrow… for right now, she just wanted to feel him next to her… feel the reality that finally
her feeling is now far from being unrequited… as long as he’s there… everything will be alright…

He reached for the blanket and covered her more… wrapping his arm around her… the dizziness brought
by alcohol was long gone… for all he could feel right now is the overflowing love towards the woman
before him… he may not know what she feels for him…for all he knows, that everything has finally came to
its proper place… with her right beside him… with him, loving her…

# CHAPTER 41

He rolled to the other side of his bed once again… couldn’t find the right spot for him to
feel the slumber hit him… still thinking about ‘her’ words from earlier… never in his life
was he this bothered… excited… and regretful at the same time… mixed feelings that he
doesn’t know how to let out…

He finally sat up and buried his face on his hands…

“Why now…?”

--

“What made you visit…?”

He excitedly asked her as he carefully went down from working on the roof of the restaurant they were
building. Earning loud cheers from his coworkers; he could only scratch the back of his head and looked
at her in embarrassment… she just let out a friendly smile towards the others before she turned back to
him and lifted the plastic bag she was holding in front of him… his brow curved up in wonder and lips
pouted at her.

“I brought you lunch…”

She simply told him, still wearing her warm smile… earning another round of cheers from the other
workers…

Yunho felt his cheeks burned, never he had felt like being a grade-schooler giddying over his crush… but
right now, it’s even greater than that… he felt bunch of his nerves fluttered and just then, butterflies filled
his stomach once again… just like the first time he met her…

Hearing the loud beats of his heart… he turned his head to the side… hiding the clear bliss on his face yet
couldn’t suppress himself for his lips to let out a slight smile…

--

“Sorry about the guys…”

Scratching the back of his head, he remembered how his co-workers teased them more when they went off
from their work to have their lunch… and it took him much effort to deny that she’s seeing him… and most
of all, it took him a lot of strength to tell the men that she’s already married...

Dara shook her head as she rummaged inside her plastic bag…

“It’s okay… don’t be bothered about it…”

He let out a smile in relief as he put his hand down…he watched the top of her head, felt his insides
quivered once again and had the urge to touch and caress it… luckily, he woke up from his trance and
quickly shook his head… instead, he just gripped tightly on his not-so-clean towel and let out a sigh.

“Here…”
He turned back to her and looked down on the wooden lunchbox she was holding.

“I made it myself… well… it’s been a long time since I last cooked… and I’m not really a good cook… but I
tried my best… aigoo… but I think I should’ve just bought lunch instead of cooking it myself…”

He was a bit startled by her sudden rattling… she then pouted and looked down and was about to take
back her lunchbox but he managed to hold and stop her from doing it.

“Yah… I haven’t even tasted it yet… how come you’re already taking it away…?”

He almost chuckled from the cute expression on her face… those pouted lips that are really tempting him
to break out from his restraints… he could only bit on his lower lip and tried to smile at her.

“She’s your younger brother’s wife for Christ’s sake Yunho…” He kept reminding himself…

“But… it might not taste-..”

He cut her off as he pulled the lunchbox from her and turned to the other side to shield it from her… she
pouted at him but soon her lips curved out into a smile, partly wishing he wouldn’t get poisoned from her
cooking.

“So… how is it…?”

She asked him but didn’t get a reply… her brow arched in wonder and after a while she asked him again…
instead, earning her another silence from him…

“Yunho-ssi…”

She couldn’t help herself anymore as she held his shoulder and pulled him a bit to face her… worried that
the food might have numbed his tongue or something…

“I told you it’s not…-“

“It’s delicious…”

He told her as he swallowed another piece of her kimchi pancake that she made… Dara widen her eyes in
surprise before it turned into slits together as her lips curved out into a contented smile…

“Really…?”

She clasped her hands together earning a nod from Yunho… she then watched him as he slowly ate up the
food that she made… after a while, her gaze started to drift away from him as a sudden thought brushed
her mind…

‘Is ‘she’ a good cook Jiyong..? Such a shame that I could only cook a simple pancake like this…’

She bit on her lower lip as insecurity showered over her again… for this past week she tried to act numb…
from all the heart aches, the pain of seeing ‘him’ and her… she tried to act blind and deaf… she just
couldn’t expect Jiyong to do all the ‘trying’ part himself… but still, no matter how she tries, she would still
find herself looking at his direction… seeking for him whenever she would miss a sight of him… would
listen to his words from afar… she just couldn’t make herself to loath him… for all her heart knows is to
love him…

She then shook her head… she’s not here to think of these things… she didn’t come here to busy her mind
with those problems… she needed a break… at least something she could have in herself once she goes
back in their mansion and face ‘him’ again… it was supposed to be CL that she needed to seek on some
strength but she knew her friend has some serious problems to deal with too… that Cl didn’t even
attended her class the whole week, making Dara much worried about her friend.

Noticing her sudden cold silence, Yunho stopped from eating and glanced up to her… his forehead creased
a bit as he slightly bit the side of his lips before he spoke.

“Dara-ssi…” His gentle voice quickly brought her back from her trance… she then turned to him and got
welcomed by his warm smile.

“How about you… have you eaten lunch already…?”

With a hint of worry in his voice, he placed his chopsticks down…

After a period of processing what he had just said, her eyes blinked for a couple of times before she found
her voice to speak back.

“Ah… yes… I already did… I’m sorry if it’s only a kimchi pancake…”

Her lips pouted a bit which earned a light chuckle from the other…

“Well… it’s the best kimchi pancake I have ever tasted…”

He told her… and with that, her smile came back to her lips…

“Aigoo… was it because maybe it’s your first time to taste this food…”

It was supposed to be a joke… but she was taken aback when Yunho looked at her with innocent eyes
before he nodded… and he saw how her expression changed once again, he could only chuckle inside,
guilty for playing with her… but before she could even get the lunchbox away from him again he then
spoke to stop her.

“Just kidding… I have eaten this pancake for like three times already… and I must say yours is the best…”

Earning a still displeased look from her, he then placed down the lunchbox on the bench as he reached for
her cheek and slightly pinched on it… totally forgetting about his actions.

“Cute…”

With that, the sour expression on her face slowly vanished, replacing it with a bland one before she felt
her cheeks warmed… Yunho noticed her blushing, making him quickly let go of her and cleared his
throat… he let out a forced laugh before he reached for the lunch and resumed from eating… soon, an
awkward atmosphere enveloped them…

‘What were you thinking…’ he scolded himself… peeking on her through the side of his eyes and saw how
she’s now smiling at him… she probably thought it was just a friendly gesture from him…

‘Right… just a friendly gesture…’ he continued telling himself…

He looked up to the sky, watched as the clouds passed by over them… he sighed in slight agony, blaming
himself for causing such a deafening silence…

He bit his lower lip… watched as Dara fixed the now empty lunchbox back inside the plastic bag… he
sighed again, tried to think of something just to recover from the awkward atmosphere that he caused…
his lips parted and was ready to speak out just anything to break the silence but Dara beat him to it.

“Yunho-sshi… where’s your family by the way..? Are you all alone in here…?”
Dara looked at him with much curiosity in her eyes while he could only look back at her… sinking into him
her question… remembering his little brother… he blinked his eyes for a couple of times before he looked
ahead.

“They… they’re living in another place… I’m all alone in here”

His voice was weak… he saw her nodded at the side of his eyes, with that he looked back at her, saw as
how her brows slowly furrowed… a slight smile curved out from the side of his lips as at the back of his
mind, he was thinking of what she’s probably thinking by now.

“That must be hard for you… working here away from them…my family’s in abroad and I miss them… I’m
sure you miss your family too… “

It didn’t escape him how he felt another tumble inside his chest… his eyes fluttered in bliss as he saw the
worry in her face… how could she be so pure…? And how he liked to reach for that face and take away the
worry in it…

Letting go of his towel, that more likely the thread he was hanging onto to suppress himself… he reached
for her head and slide his hand on it… almost not touching it, afraid that his callused hand would ruin the
perfection in her… he let out a big smile.

“True, I miss them… but thinking that they are living well and I will be able to see them again someday, I
don’t feel sad about it…”

Dara instantly looked up to him; her round eyes went into slits together as her lips curved into a wide
smile. Yunho looked at her wonderingly, thinking what she’s up to now.

“You really remind me of someone Yunho-ssi…”

Dara whispered with mix longing and happiness as she remembered her ‘oppa’ once again… Yunho’s head
was tilted to the side… a little curious as to who she was talking about.

“I’m sure anyone would love to have a big brother like you…”

And that made him stiffened on his seat; guilt immediately washed over him, until he could only look
away from her… to hide the shame that was slowly forming in his expression.

Dara noticed the sudden silence from him… she peeked to see his face but he immediately bowed down
his head… her brows furrowed as she knew that there’s something wrong with him.

“Yunho-ssi..?”

She reached for his hand… covered it with her smaller one on top of his lap… he could only look up at
her… praying in himself that she wouldn’t ask more… he just doesn’t want to recall the cowardliness that
he did.

“Is there something wrong?”

No there isn’t… he wanted to tell her, but the obvious sadness in his face didn’t help him to convince her…
instead, he saw the curiosity in her eyes… the worry that he never wanted to see in it… but what would she
think of him if he would tell her how he ran away from everything…? How he left his little brother broken
and trapped…? And how he ruined Jiyong’s life just because of his selfishness…? He’s sure no one would
forgive him and that includes Dara… and just by thinking about it… he just wanted to stand up from the
bench and just send her home, ask her to never visit him again… but no, her warm hand tells him to go on
and let out the sadness that’s been hunting him… the comfort in her care tells him that she’ll be there to
listen and understand… that she’s the exception of that everyone…

“Have you ever felt like escaping from your current life…?”

His voice was slightly shaking; his eyes were casted on his lap, watching how her warm hand continuously
held on to him… Dara didn’t respond instead she continued to listen….

“Felt like you’re being suffocated from all the people who tell you what to do and not… accepting
everything because they tell you it’s what’s good for you… that you wanted to break free from that
imprisonment… at least see what it looks like outside the world you grew up with… but you can’t… it’s
because someone’s been holding you… because someone’s depending on you… and that someone is very
special to you that you wouldn’t want to see him break once you left him…”

And slowly, as she listened to his words, she felt a pinch inside of her. Why does it feel so familiar to
her…? That upon listening to Yunho, it is only Jiyong that she could think of… her only reason for
staying…

She almost let go of his hand but when she heard his voice slowly trailed off… she brushed away every
thought inside her mind and continued to hold on to him and listen.

“But in the end… you felt coward… that you couldn’t stand up for what you promised… that, that
selfishness took over you… and in the end you still left… leaving that one person who believed in you…
that one person who had given you strength as he was too was leaning on you… and right now…as you
finally got the freedom that you wanted yet it’s still not enough… because at the end of the day, you still
feel so regretful for leaving… not because you miss the things that you grew up with but because you knew
that someone that you truly treasured was left behind and that probably until now, he was still asking
why…”

Her vision suddenly blurred… until she realized that tears had been forming inside her eyes…

‘But it’s just so painful to stay…’

Those things kept on rewinding at the back of her head… how could Yunho’s words plunge deep right
through her…?

She looked up… only to feel his thumb wiped off the tear that just escaped her eye… Yunho was smiling at
her… he was supposed to be the one who’s crying… but everything was turned the other way… as if it was
her who did those things…

Dara immediately reached for her face and wiped off her tears, Yunho just kept his silence, his gaze
dropped when she grabbed his hands again… she looked at him for a moment before another smile slowly
curved on her lips…

“But I’m sure that, that ‘someone’ is still waiting for you…”

--

Yunho’s hand reached for his temple as Dara’s words kept on repeating inside his head…

‘But I’m sure that that ‘someone’ is still waiting for you’

He let out a deep sigh… it’s as if everything that she said was so easy to believe at… that
even how much he would tell her how impossible it may be… her words would make it up
to it and make it possible in any way…

‘Don’t let regret eat you up your whole life… it’s not as if that he is deaf not to hear your
explanations… it is only you who could answer his questions… it is you who he needed to
hear it from to… if it was cowardliness that made you leave… let it be your strength make
you to face him again and right every mistakes that you’ve done…’

“But it seemed like meeting you now added up to those mistakes…”

He whispered upon remembering the revelation that he shouldn’t have not heard from her
earlier…

--

He tried to laugh off the conversation that they had… tried to replace the gloomy atmosphere for it’s only
seldom for her to visit him… might as well create a happy moment from it… and as if she got his message,
she never asked him again… but hoping that she at least helped him with his problem…

“How’s married life by the way…?”

That made Dara stopped and instantly looked back at him…

He hesitated to look at her, sarcastically crediting himself for thinking a great question to ask her, there he
is trying to divert their conversation away from talking about ‘him’, yet still ended up from asking about
it… but standing up to his question, he managed to let out a smile… and as he turned to her, it didn’t
escape his eyes the tinge of sadness in her eyes despite the cheerful expression plastered on her face…
soon the wide smile on his lips slowly went flat as he saw how she tried to curve out a forceful smile…for
he knew by then, something’s wrong between Jiyong and her…

“It’s fine… I guess… well… we’re fine…”

She let out a laugh… not meeting his gaze…upon realizing about Jiyong’s lover…he became worried and
without any hesitations…he reached for her hand which made her a bit startled…

“Something’s wrong…”

Dara looked up to him, a clear hesitation was in her face and as she was about to say something, he cut her
off…

“I’m a good listener…” He told her with much tender, looking at her with his gentle eyes.

With that, Dara finally curved out a sincere smile and looked away…

--

“I shouldn’t have just asked her about it…”

Telling and blaming himself for being so curious… he was just supposed to know how
Jiyong’s doing… how they are…but asking her was a mistake that he just wanted to forget
about but couldn’t…
--

“I felt like, I’ve ruined his life… he’s not supposed to carry the responsibility to marry me… but I don’t
blame anyone for it... I just… want to bring back the time and should’ve just ran away when I had the
chance to…”

Her voice was weak, looking down on her lap… upon hearing it, his eyes slowly widen, he looked at her in
surprise…hearing such thing suddenly sparked up his curiosity even more…

“What… what do you mean you’re not supposed to marry him…?”

He tried to speak as casual as he could but the thoughts that immediately filled his mind failed him to do
so… Dara looked up at him with her pursed lips… not really thinking about her words…

“Well... I’m supposed to marry his brother… but I guess when he heard of the marriage thing… he ran
away…”

She let it out like a joke… chuckling to herself while leaving him stunned and in much disbelief… with
that, he looked away from her and set his gaze ahead the sea for an unexplainable feeling immediately
filled his entire being…

“But I don’t want to think of it anymore… for I know this marriage won’t really last forever… I just need to
wait…”

Her voice trailed off… making him looked back at her in despair…

‘How could Jiyong not love someone like her…?’ The only thing that he heard himself thinking of.

--

Those tears that she shed when he met her the second time… were all those for him…? Has
she been hurting all this time…?

And to think that all those was because of him…

He placed his hand on his knees… tightly gripping on his pants…

If he would show himself… would that really solve everything…? Will Jiyong forgive him…?
And will he be able to take away that sadness from Dara…?

He deeply sighed… remembering her tears… remembering how sad she is whenever they
would talk about her husband… with that he stood up from his bed… grabbed his phone
from his bedside table… and having his last thought, he dialed a number…

A couple of rings were heard before the other line picked up his call…

He gulped down… preparing himself for the consequences of his decision…

“Dad… it’s me… Yunho…”

# CHAPTER 42
One of his hands reached up to his face… covering his eyes with the back of his hand as he felt the warm
rays of the morning escaped through the spaces between each curtains, brightening up the once dark
room…

He felt pressure against his other arm… with that, he slowly slid his hand off from his eyes… squeezed his
eyes shut tight before slowly opening it…

But soon, his hand quickly went back to his forehead, slightly massaged it as he felt a wave of pain flooded
his head… a soft groan escaped his lips as he continuously massaged his forehead and again, he felt the
pressure on his now likely numbed arm…

Slowly, the pain subsided, replacing it as fragments of the memories of last night gradually filled his
mind… his lips parted and eyes widen a bit… for a while his gaze was set on the ceiling, until he heard the
loud thumping of he thought were drums beating… only to realize that the sound was coming from inside
his chest…and until he realized that it was the bunch of nerves inside his chest that was wildly beating and
seemed to be trying to escape from his ribs…

Recollecting the memories of last night… his heart continuously rejoiced like there’s no tomorrow, until
he found himself smiling from those memories… wished to himself that it wasn’t just a dream… because if
it was, he could kill himself for even waking up…but that worry instantly vanished when he felt a familiar
warmth beside him… the pressure on his arm… may the blood not circulate in it for all he cares…

And just as he thought… as he looked down… he saw the top of ‘her’ head welcoming him… his arm played
as her pillow… and soon, he almost pretended to be back in sleeping when he felt her stirred in her sleep…
only to see her snuggled closer to him… with that, the smile on his face grew wider, and his heart finally
calmed for right that moment, he felt at peace thinking that everything was not just his dream…

Forgetting about the numbness of his arm… he carefully shifted himself up a bit… cradled her head with
much gentle; he lifted it up with the help of his other hand.

“Ji…”

A smile formed on his lips once again upon hearing her whispered his name in her sleep… he lay her head
down on his bare chest… wrapped his arm around her frame to keep her close, while his other hand
reached for their blanket and pulled it to cover her more…

He caressed the back of her head with much care, watched her flushed cheeks as she peacefully sleeps,
and as if he couldn’t hold himself back, he strained to reach down on her before placing a long kiss on the
top of her head… he lied back on the bed… with still that sweet smile on his lips, he slowly closed his eyes
back… not minding the time… not minding everything around them… finally felt that comfort of just being
here with her is enough to stop his world from revolving…

--

She stirred from her sleep… soft mumbles escaped through her lips as she continuously felt something
warm on her bare back…

Her eyes slowly fluttered open… regretted waking up for that sleep was one of the most comfortable sleeps
that she had…her hand reached to rub her eyes and adjust her sight from the brightness of the
morning…and it took her a little while to realize how this morning was much different from the other
mornings that she had woken up to…

Finding herself woke up on ‘his’ bare chest… saw how her other arm was wrapped along his bare waist…
realized that it was ‘his’ hand that sent that warmth against her back… and remembering ‘everything’ from
last night… she could only feel her cheeks warmed until it flushed red… with that, she bit on her lower
lip… suppressing the forming smile to completely take over her lips…

She lifted her hand off from his chest… carefully shifted herself away from him as she held on to the
blanket to cover herself… but before she could even move an inch away from him, she felt his arm
wrapped around her waist over their blanket… pulling her closer and back to his chest…

She gasped upon laying her head back on his chest… kept her hand up a bit not to place any contact
against his bareness…
“Hmm… where are you going…?”

With that being heard, she felt her heart started racing because of his husky voice…his arm tightened
around her… almost squeezing her body against his… while his other hand caught hers and placed it back
on his chest… she gulped down as she slowly looked up and got welcomed by a newly awake expression on
his face… he was looking down at her, with his lips pursed a bit and eyes that were slightly swollen…but he
still looked too adorable in her eyes… and with that, she felt herself blushed even more…

Upon seeing it, another smile crept on his lips… he squeezed her hand with his before bringing it up to his
face and kissed it… Dara could only watch his actions… her other hand continuously held on to the
blanket, tightly clutching it on her chest while she bit her lower lip…

With his closed eyes, he caressed her hand on his cheek… feeling her comforting warmth against his
skin… thinking that he could do this all day long…

After a while, he looked down on her again… their eyes locked for a minute before she broke their eye
contact and shyly snuggled down on the crook of his neck…

“What are you doing…?” he said with a chuckle…

He let go of her hand and shifted himself to the side so he could see her… she was curled up in a ball,
facing him… but snuggled closer back to him to hide her flushed face…

Het let out a chuckle before he reached for her and lifted her chin to make her face him… but seeing her
face up close like that, immediately pulled his boldness down… as if the night that they shared
immediately drained out from his system… for he was back to being like a grade-schooler, all shy around
his crush…

He slowly pulled his hand back as his lips strained to form out smile… he cleared out his throat before he
spoke.

“Good morning…”

She saw the hesitation written all over his face… she could only smile at it… and without thinking twice,
her hand reached out to him and touched his face…

His eyes widen in surprise before it fluttered tenderly… he too… slowly lifted his hand and placed it on her
cheek… caressing her porcelain skin… they just stayed like that… caught up in their own little world… just
the two of them…

“I was not drunk last night… or even today…”

He whispered to her… still caressing her face, while she could only bite her inner cheeks and stay silent in
return… until now he still insist that thing…

“Stay with me arasso…”

His voice was completely filled with anticipation… almost pleading… but he didn’t care… as long as he
could make her stay…
Her finger then trailed from his face down to his lips… followed by her stare, she finally smiled at him…

“If I say no… are you even going to let me…?”

And this time, it was his turn to creep out a smile… he pulled his hand from her cheek and got hers from
his face… letting it intertwined with his hand, his other arm slid under her and wrapped along her waist to
pull her towards him.

“I was not even giving you an option in the first place…”

The next thing she realized was she’s being hugged by him… he had already placed her arm around his
neck as his hands were holding her so close as if he couldn’t completely feel her....and lastly, felt his lips
against hers…

It was probably because of his rough and cold treatment that made her fall for him… it was probably
because of his selfishness that she couldn’t make herself to stay away…but no matter what the reason is…
all she knows was that with every little deed that he would do… would definitely put her heart into
millions of summersaults… a feeling that would ease any pain that she might feel in the process of loving
him…

“Saranghae…”

He whispered between their kiss… closed his eyes as he continuously savored her lips with his… as if he
hasn’t had enough of her from last night… he shifted himself; slowly hovering over her… both of her arms
were securely wrapped around his neck… her hands were playing through the locks of his hair as her eyes
were closed as well…

The sounds of their lips echoed across the room… recalling their almost hazy deed from last night… he
tilted his head, slipping his tongue inside her mouth… nipping on her lips slowly as he could ever do…

With one of his arms wrapped around her bare waist, the other trailed to touch her face… before resting
his hand on her collarbone… caressing it which brought much shivers down her spine…

She broke out from their kiss as a moan escaped from her throat and threw her head back… his touch was
just too much for her to handle…

His eyes fluttered open… looked up to her before placing a kiss on her jaw line… his hand then trailed on
her shoulder… slowly pulling their blanket down to expose her for his eyes to see… thanking the
brightness of the morning for he could see her beauty much clearer than last night…

He leaned down to her… placed couple of wet kisses on her neck… and upon seeing the clear red marks
that he made last night, the smile on his lips went wider…

Another moan escaped her lips upon feeling his hand trailed down inside the blanket to touch one of her
peaks… her hands were now on his back… caressing the broadness of it as he continuously brought her
pleasure with his touches… his other arm pulled away from her waist, settling it on one of her thighs… and
the constant caressing that he’s doing was enough for her to know that he wanted ‘everything’ that
happened last night to be repeated again…

She gasped and tried to look down upon feeling his hardness brushed on her thigh when he settled
himself between her legs… but he welcomed her with another breath-taking kiss as his hands were busy
wandering around her now hot body… her eyes instantly close… making her feel his ‘needs’ as he
continuously grinded his hips on hers… for apparently, making love to her the whole day would be much
of a contentment to him…
But upon remembering something, Dara’s eyes immediately snapped open… and before he could continue
with his ministrations, her hands slid between them and pushed him away from her; breaking them from
their already deep kiss…

He looked down on her with an obvious confused and worried expression on his face… both of his arms
settled on both sides of her face… with one of his hands brushed away the strands of her hair away from
her face…

“What’s wrong..?”

He asked her whisperingly… now caressing the side of her lips with one of his fingers…

“What time is it…?”

She looked away from him… looked over to their bedside table to see the time… but before she could sat
up and see it, Jiyong held her down and made her to face him with one of his hands…

“Why..? What’s with the time..?”

He asked curiously… looked over to the clock and saw that it’s almost lunchtime before he turned back to
her…

Her round eyes looked up to him; almost chuckled with the curiosity in his face.

“I have to meet up with someone”

She whispered… hands were still resting against his chest… for a while he just looked at her, before his
brow arched up after sinking into him what she said…

“Meet up with someone..? Who..?”

She was about to answer him but upon remembering something, Jiyong cut her off.

“Wait… you were out yesterday as well… you didn’t even tell me where you went… and now you’re going
out again..?”

She could feel the sudden annoyance in his voice… he pushed himself up and sat on the bed with his
upper body was exposed… Dara sat up as well, holding on to the blanket to cover herself…

He was still looking at her with a raised brow… with that, she pouted.

“But you told me once that I don’t need to tell you whenever I would go out…”

With that, his expression got worse… with his brows slowly met and his forehead started to crease… he
looked at her with an obvious displeased look on his face.

“Who were you with yesterday…? Were you with Youngbae…?”

His voice was cold again… and upon hearing Youngbae’s name… Dara tilted her head to the side as
confusion immediately filled her mind…

“No… why would I..? I was with a friend yesterday…”

She scooted closer to him… not minding his sudden change of mood, she reached for his face… he looked
at her, still not replacing the annoyed look on his face…

“Who’s this friend of yours…? What did you do…? Next time you’ll tell-..”
He was cut off when Dara suddenly hugged him… arms wrapped along his waist… her head resting against
his chest… she snuggled on him, caressing the side of her head on his chest… while Jiyong’s arms stayed
still on his sides… still displeased upon not knowing where she went yesterday…

“Even if I told you his name, you wouldn’t know him anyway… he’s the same beach guy that me and
Soojin met once… I just went back to the beach yesterday and hang out with him”

But despite telling him, his brows arched up some more… he held on to her shoulders and about to push
her to face him but she hugged him tight… doesn’t even know to herself since when she had the courage to
act bold like that…

With that, he sighed and dropped his shoulders in defeat… one of his hands stayed on her shoulder while
the other reached down on the blanket behind her and covered her now exposed back…

“Who’s this guy anyway…? You still meet with him…? Are you sure he’s a good guy…? What if…-“

Worry was now clear in his voice… and Dara smiled at it as she looked up to him and cut him from talking
more.

“I just remember Seunghyun oppa in him… he’s really a good guy Jiyong… and he’s not cold like you or
Youngbae…”

And upon seeing his brow arched once again, she chuckled

“Just kidding… but really, he’s a good guy… you should meet with him once…”
Jiyong watched her face for a moment… a part of him was happy to hear her speaking to him like this…
she even smiles at him now without ease… but something in him feels a bit sad… thinking she was all
alone with a guy he doesn’t even know….his eyes closed and he heaved out a sigh… he opened his eyes and
looked down again at her, only to be welcomed with nothing but a smile in her face… with that, he felt his
heart race again… that smile… he sometimes blame that smile for breaking his restraints into pieces… for
making him like a lovesick kid… yet still loving that feeling…

“I just hate seeing you with some guy…”

He mumbled but enough for her to hear it… with that, she felt herself blushed … for despite the tinge of
anger in his voice, she couldn’t help but to feel overwhelmed from hearing it… letting herself to freely
think that it was because of jealousy… which definitely was clear from his tone…

And upon realizing his words, he cleared out his throat and sighed…

“Today… who are you going to meet with…?”

Dara pulled out from their hug, still holding on to the blanket, she looked over to the clock… Cl’s probably
waiting for her now… she agreed to meet her before lunch yet she’s now probably late for it…

“I’m going to meet with Cl… she told me she needs to tell me something…”

“Ms. Lee…?”

Jiyong asked back… trying to remember if she’s really the person she’s talking about… he saw her nodded
and before he could even ask more she beat him to it.

“Can I go…?”

She looked like a daughter asking her dad for permission… Jiyong looked to the side and let out a sigh in
disappointment… he really wants her to stay for the whole day with him…
“I can’t…?”

She asked him again… with now a clear sadness in her voice… the smile on her face was also long gone as
she looked down… and it quickly raised alarm in him…

“I was just worried about her since she didn’t attend the class for the whole week…”

She suddenly looked up which startled him a bit.

“But it’s okay… I’ll just call her to know how she is…”

She told him with an obvious forced smile in her lips… Jiyong’s lips curved into a smile… he shook his
head a bit before coming closer to her and reached her…

Dara’s eyes widen a bit when she felt his lips touched her forehead… he caressed the back of her head
gently before pulling away from her and face her.

“Of course you can…”

He told her with nothing but tenderness in his voice now… Dara looked up at him and her lips quickly
went into a sweet smile upon realizing his words…

“Just don’t stay too long in there arasso…”

She quickly nodded at his words until after a while… silence enveloped them…

His gaze wandered on her figure… the heat inside him still hasn’t subsided yet… and the way she looked
right now didn’t help him to ease that heat in him…

“Do you really have to go…?”

His voice was deep… never had he seen himself feeling desperate about such thing… leaving his wife
confused about his tone…

Jiyong eyes settled his gaze on her lips… she spoke of something but as if he was too drown in thinking of
what he wanted to do with those lips, he was too deaf to hear her…

“Jiyong…?”

That’s when he snapped out from his trance… he cleared out his throat and immediately looked away from
her… started to shift his mind away and started to look for his clothes…

Dara immediately looked away when Jiyong pulled himself out of the bed… her cheeks blushed upon
realizing that they were still both naked under their sheets… her hands played with the blanket on her
chest as she waited for him…she heard him wore his clothes and when she was certain that he’s now
clothed, she turned back to his way only to be greeted by a kiss on her lips…

Jiyong smiled between the kiss… the surprise look on her face… he could never get tired from looking at
her and from feeling her lips against his…

He pulled out from their kiss and tapped her head…

“Go on… you don’t want Ms. Lee to wait too long… do you..?”

She bit her lower lip and nodded… still the blush on her cheeks were clear… she hesitated to stand up
from the bed… with him watching her, she couldn’t move an inch…
She then heard him chuckled before he turned around and walked towards their clothes that were
scattered on the floor… she almost laugh… first time seeing her husband walking around with only a pair
of boxers… but she saved it as she took the opportunity to stand up and ran towards their bathroom…

Another smile crept on his lips upon hearing the bathroom door closed… couldn’t count in himself how
many times he had smiled this morning… but seeing the woman he loves each day would be even worth a
million smiles…

--

Another giggle escaped her lips upon remembering everything from earlier… and she was in the middle of
taking a shower when she almost jumped upon feeling a pair of warm arms wrapped around her waist…

She instantly looked over her shoulder and surprised to see Jiyong who’s also now drenched behind her…

“Jiyong what are you…-“

She was cut off when he turned her around… eventually her back hit the wall as he pinned her on it and
without another word, he took her lips with his…

Her eyes immediately went wide…both hands were placed on his shoulder… and her cheeks instantly
flushed red upon realizing that they’re both naked under the running water…

He nibbled on her already swollen lips… took a slight bite on her lower lip before he broke out from their
kiss… one of his arms was still wrapped along her waist while the other was up on the side of her face with
his hand caressing her cheek…

“On second thought, I think she won’t mind you being late…”

His deep voice tickled her ear… he caressed his cheek with hers… blowing his hot breath on her earlobes…
he thought he could get through without her for a while… but he never felt the extreme need to touch her
before… he just wanted to feel the same exact contentment he felt from last night… wanted to at least
prove to himself that they’re really one now…

She could only close her eyes, gasped upon feeling his hardness brushed along her entrance when he
spread her legs with his… her arms wrapped along his neck, her hands immediately reached up to the
back of his head, placing her head on one of his shoulders as slowly, she felt herself succumb to the
forming pleasure she’s feeling inside…

#CHAPTER 43
“What do you mean you’re still not done with it..? The construction’s going to start next month, and we
won’t be able to start it until there are still residents living in there..! I already gave you much time to do
it, and you can’t even do a simple task of chasing them away…!”

Dara almost jumped from the shouting voice of her husband… as soon as she got out from the changing
room Jiyong’s angry voice welcomed her… the same voice that she usually hear from him back then, the
voice that was so different from how he sounded earlier as he whispered sweet nothings to her during
their intimate time inside the shower.
He was talking with someone over the phone… and it’s clear on his face that he does not like what he’s
hearing over the line… he’s already dressed with his usual business attire… less his coat and the still not
done buttons of his shirt… clearly he’s distracted to even fix himself.

But as soon as he saw her… the rage on his face slowly calmed and a slight smile formed on his lips as he
looked at her from head to toe… Dara smiled back, played on the hem of her shirt before she saw him
walked towards her, bringing with him his tie.

“Arasso… I’ll go there myself… wait for me”

The anger in his voice was all gone as his eyes fixed on hers. He pulled his phone away from his face
before hanging up on the other line.

She shyly looked away when he’s just a foot away from her… cheeks would blush whenever their activity
from earlier would brush her mind…

Another smile formed on his lips upon seeing it… he walked closer to her and trapped her body between
his arms as he leaned over the cabinet behind her and placed his phone over it… Dara bit on her lower
lip… her heart just won’t stop from beating out loud, and her husband’s sudden affection towards her
doesn’t help her to calm her nerves down.

Jiyong closed his eyes for a second as soon as he smelled her scent… didn’t forget to place a gentle peck on
the side of her head before he reached for her hands.

“Put this on for me please”

He told her, talking about the tie on her hands… Dara looked up to him innocently… and he chuckled on
how her lips pouted at what he said, with that he leaned down to her and placed another peck on her lips…
his poor wife could only gasp, blush and blink her eyes for a couple of times as she look down for a bit
before she started to reach around his neck to put on his tie.

“Did you tell Ms. Lee that you’ll be late? Sorry about earlier”

He whispered… hand reached to caress her cheek, as if he still hasn’t had enough to touch her… he knows
he’d been forcing himself to her since last night… but if that’s the only way he could express how he feels,
no matter what she thinks of him… he’ll still do what he feels like… because everything becomes all right
when it comes to loving her.

“It’s okay… I already called her and she said she’s still doing something, so she would probably be late as
well… by the way, who are… you talking with earlier?”

She hesitated to ask him… voice trailing off and gaze immediately darted away from his when she saw him
raised a brow… he smiled, his finger tapped the tip of her nose to catch her attention back which she
immediately complied.
“That was just someone from work… we just had some problems and I guess I need to go there myself to
fix it…”

She just nodded at him…rested her hands on his chest as soon as she finished fixing his tie… about to pull
herself away from their close distance… Jiyong’s arm wrapped around her frame… putting her still on her
place… pulling her even closer against him…

“Jiyong… I thought you still need to…-“

She shyly told him… kept her hands between them… his other hand held hers on his chest before his gaze
landed on the necklace she was wearing.

“They can wait… by the way… I always see you wearing this… what’s the key for…?”

He reached for the key on her necklace and Dara’s hand immediately came to catch his even before he
could examine it further… placing it inside the shirt she’s wearing… she looked up and saw the curious
expression on her husband’s face.

“It’s nothing… oppa gave this to me back then, it just meant nothing…”

She lied… but enough to put a tinge of jealousy on her husband after hearing her talking about her
brother-in-law…

“Seunghyun-ssi…?”

He asked… earning an eager nod from her… for a while he just looked at her… never he did gave her
anything… just a wedding ring which was even decided upon by his parents…bitterness, just what he
needed to add more to the jealous feeling inside him…

“What’s wrong…?”

Her voice snapped him back from his trance… he immediately turned his gaze back to her and gave her
back a smile… letting the thoughts be brushed away, he lifted his hand and reached for the loose strands
of her hair… tucking it behind her ear, didn’t let the chance pass to caress her cheek with his thumb…
before freeing her from his hug…

“I’ll drop you off to your meeting place…”

He said as he turned around to get his coat on the bed… she immediately followed to help him wear it… he
looked over his shoulder and smiled at her…

“No Jiyong… I’ll just ask Mr. Lee to drop me off… your employees are probably waiting for you now…”
As soon as he wore his coat, he sighed… he really wanted to spend the whole day with her... never he had
felt this disappointed before… he turned around to look at her with a blank expression on his face like he
used to… and upon seeing it, Dara immediately went worried… it’s probably about the phone call earlier…
she thought…

“Are you really okay…?”

He scanned her face for a while… making her more uncomfortable with the sudden silence from him… she
was about to speak, about to tell him, he might be late with his appointment when he cut her off with his
words…

“Call me if you need something arasso…” she could only nod… he reached for her hand and pulled her
closer to him…

“I’ll try to go home early…” his voice trailing off as he pulled her much closer to him… she just nodded
once again… looking away as their distance grew smaller with him continuously pulling her to him…

“Do you love me…?”

It came out to him as a sudden… probably just a slip out of his tongue because he was too engrossed on
waiting for her to at least say those words to him… and just as he expected in her… he saw how she was
surprised with his statement… lips parted and eyes locked with him for a while…he could only let out a
slight bitter smile and without waiting for any words to come out from her… he suddenly leaned down and
planted a soft peck on her lips… her eyes widen at first… why does he keep on catching her off guard…
after a while, her eyes slowly closed, just letting herself fall for the overflowing bliss he’s showering over
her… Jiyong held her with both of his hands… and upon seeing her closed her eyes… he smiled between
their kiss before slowly closing his eyes as well…

For a while they stayed like that… lost in their own world once again… letting the time pass… both heart
beats that were even beyond its capacity… indulging themselves from their newly found love… at least for
him…

--

“You’ve been smiling since I arrived… did something good happen while I was away…?”

Cl’s words woke me up from my trance… I just realized I had been dreaming awake since I left the house…
how can I not if my mind was filled with nothing but the thoughts of Jiyong and my heart won’t stop from
beating so fast whenever I would once again feel the warmth of his kisses against my skin… everything
was just so fast and as if it was all still like a dream… I could only be dazed and replay everything in my
mind over and over again…

“You know what Cl… I don’t know if it was too fast, rather if this is really happening to me now… I’m
just… I’m just so happy right now…”
I heard her chuckled… wouldn’t blame her to it because it’s probably her first time seeing me acting so
giddy over such a thing…

“Well… that’s good to know that you’re happy… but it would be better to know the reason behind it…”

I took a sip on my tea before tucking in a loose strand of hair behind my ear… couldn’t help but to crept
out another smile as I turned back to her.

“Jiyong… Jiyong said he loves me…”

And just what I expected… the smile on my lips went wider upon seeing her obvious surprised expression.

“He did what…? Really…?”

She almost forgot that were not the only people inside the restaurant as her voice slightly went loud… I
could only nod at her words… took another sip of my drink as I listened to her who seemed to be still in a
state of shock with my news… who wouldn’t be…?

The man who knew nothing but to hurt me… said the sickest words he could throw at me… stabbed my
heart over and over again… was also now the same man who told me how beautiful I am… said the
loveliest words that could ever flutter my heart… and now the same man who’s drowning me in a deep
trance together with the rejoicing beats inside my heart…

“If that’s the case… I’m so happy for you Dara-ah… just in time he should realize how precious you should
be to him… what… what did you say to him..?”

She asked in anticipation… and with her words… I was made into a stop… the smile on my face slowly
faltered as realization came to me…

Cl probably noticed the sudden change in me as I felt her hand covering mine… I looked up to her and saw
the clear worry in her face…

“Why…? You haven’t told him how you feel yet…? What’s wrong…? Is it because of her…?”

And that added more to the blandness I feel inside… everything sunk in to me as reality shouted its voice
inside my head… how could I forget about ‘her’…? I was to engaged in the bliss of this selfish act that I
forgot about the other party that was involved… and it was probably one of the reasons why I can’t make
myself say to Jiyong the selfish words I had been feeling for him even before he had realized what I am to
him… how can I be happy, if the guilt inside me was pushing me to think that I stole Jiyong from ‘her’…

“I’ll fix everything…”

And his words started to rang inside my head… believing in his words would be enough right…?
“Dara-ah…”

Cl’s voice brought me back again from my deep thoughts… I saw her smiled to me as she let go of my
hand…

“You’re not doing anything wrong… he’s your husband… so if there’s someone that needs to back-off, it
shouldn’t be you…”

I was a bit startled by her words… but knowing her strong personality, I could only smile at it… eventually
let out a sigh… why do I keep on making things hard for everyone around me…?

“Arasso…? So stop worrying about everything… what matters is that you two love each other right… so you
better tell him what you feel Dara-ah…”

I could only bit my lower lip… heard her teased me about it and blushed a bit from what she said for even
thinking about it, made me already shy inside…

“What about you…? Why were you absent the whole week by the way…?”

And this time… it was my turn to see the forming redness on her cheeks… I was a bit surprised by it… first
time seeing her in such state and it drew me more to curiosity when she all went silent…

“Are you okay..?” I asked her… only to see her extended her arm towards me… I looked at her in curiosity
until my gaze landed on her hand… my eyes widen upon seeing a diamond ring on one of her fingers…

“Omo… you’re-…”

“I’m engaged… and I’ll be marrying him next month…”

She cut me off… I was expecting a gloomy feeling from her words… expecting her to be feeling so down
just by the mention of it… but seeing her now blushing by it… something good probably happened…

“I guess he’s not a jerk that I think he was…”

And upon listening to her, I couldn’t help but to smile… good thing she found a nice guy to marry… if only
Jiyong and I started in good terms… I wouldn’t be bothered each day to tell him how I feel…

I continuously watched her... she was far from the girl who I as with drinking her worries away for she
looked so happy and excited about her wedding… what kind of guy is she marrying for making her giddy
this way…? I’m so happy for her, but couldn’t help but to feel a little bit sad because Cl won’t be around
the school for the whole semester… I’ll miss her… and now… I’m stuck with Youngbae… that cold
snobbish guy…
--

“I’m about to go home as well… oh really..? Okay… I’ll wait for you… take care on your way here…”

Another smile crept on her lips and it didn’t escape her friend’s eyes to see it… and as soon as Dara
hanged up the phone… a gasp escaped from her as Cl pulled her into a tight hug… soon, all she could do
was to smile and wrap her arms around her friend as well…

“I wish you happiness Dara-ah… I’ll miss you” Cl whispered… Dara tightened her hug around her...

“I wish the same for you… and I’ll miss you too Chaerin-ah…”

--

“So… I better go now… they are still waiting for me… look forward for my invitation arasso…!”

Cl waved good bye as soon as she got inside her waiting car… Dara waved back and watched as her friend
go… a sigh of relief escaped from her and still the smile on her face didn’t falter a bit…

After a while another familiar car came and sopped in front of her… she doesn’t need to know who was
inside for she’s sure it’s her husband… and just as she thought… as soon as the window of the car was
brought down, Jiyong’s smiling face welcomed her…

“Did you wait long…?”

He asked and all she could do was to shake her head no before opening the door and sat herself beside
him… he asked her about her meeting with Cl and she gladly told him about her upcoming marriage…
after that silence immediately surrounded them… with him watching her at the side of his eyes… with her
doing the same thing… and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she turned to look at him… didn’t escape
her eyes to see the weariness in it… and couldn’t help but to worry that with just a short time he was gone
to his work… he’s looking weary like that already…

“Jiyong-ah… are you-..”

“Where do you-..”

They both talked in unison and both stopped to let the other spoke… Jiyong glanced at her a bit and crept
out a slight smile to let her speak first…
“You look tired…” was the only thing she could tell him… and with that, another smile curved on the side
of his lips…

“Yes I am… actually my head hurts right now…”

Dara’s eyes widen a bit… and upon seeing it, he chuckled… he immediately lifted his hand to reach for her
face… caressed her chin for a while before going back to driving…

“Where do you want to go for dinner…?”

He asked instead… she continuously looked at him in worry and when she thought of something, a smile
finally curved on her lips…

“Do you want me to cook for you instead…? It would be more tiring for you if we would go to somewhere
else…”

He looked at her curiously… while she just continuously looked at him with that smile on her face and
surely whenever he would see it, a skip in his heart would always tickle his insides…

“You know how to cook…?”

Dara pouted a bit with his question… suddenly realized what she just told him… thinking that she only
knows how to cook one food… she could only bit on her lower lip.

“Ah… well I cooked when I was still in abroad… but well… I guess we should just better ask the maids to
cook for us… I just don’t want you to tire yourself more...”

She heard him chuckle before seeing him turn to the road back to their house…

“Cook for me when we get back…”

He simply said without looking at her… she could only smile and slowly look away and when she did, he
glanced at her a bit… a smile formed on his lips once again before turning back to the road…

--

She excitedly got out from the car and immediately made her way towards their kitchen… trailing behind
her the maids that were all surprised to see them together but more surprised to see their young lady all
hyped up… just last night they were hearing them quarrelling again but then this morning they were
together… its almost lunch that they came out from their room… the maids could only talk to each other
about their own conclusions about what happened… and now seeing them together again… could just
make them all feel giddy inside for the two…

Jiyong watched her as she sped of inside their house… could only smile to himself as he gave his things to
their maid and tiredly walked his way inside… it seemed like handling their business was making him
tired each day… dealing with people with different perspective as his added more to that stress…

He followed her to the kitchen… saw her already wearing an apron with the maids all around her helping
her as she started preparing for what she’s planning to cook…

He could only sigh in contentment and made his way upstairs to change clothes… tiredly dropped himself
on the bed and instantly closed his eyes…

“If your father’s here… he wouldn’t like the way you handle things… you rush things to be done
immediately...”

“You’re really too young for this…”

“If you would keep up to your attitude… and be pressured at such small things… how can you handle the
whole company all by yourself…?”

Another sigh escaped from him as he massaged his forehead… pulling himself up, his hands came to his
face and for a while he stayed like that to calm himself…

‘Why do you keep on messing up Jiyong…?’ he asked himself… only to be answered by those statements
that kept on repeating inside his head.

--

Dara was still in all smile as she flipped her infamous kimchi pancake on the pan… she told the maids that
she could handle it herself and so… they all left her alone, with some of them peeking at how she’s doing
through the entrance of the kitchen…

Then suddenly… a pair of arms slowly wrapped around her waist… almost made her jump not until he
placed his head over her shoulder to keep her down…

“Jiyong what are doing…?”

She whisperingly asked… immediately put the cooked pancake on the plate she was holding and placed it
on the counter… her hands quickly held on to his arms to pull it away from her while trying to look behind
her… shy to be caught by their maids… but he held her tight… even closing his eyes… he snuggled his face
on the crook of her neck and smelled her scent…

“Jiyong the maids…”

She bit her lower lip as she continuously mumbled… and just as she expected… their maids were all
crowded on the entrance of the kitchen…all eyes were wide open upon seeing the scene in front of them…
that was better than seeing them the last time with Dara’s niece…

Jiyong looked over his shoulder… saw their nosy maids all watching them… but instead of letting go… he
turned back to her… a smirk formed on the side of his lips before he leaned down and placed a kiss on her
neck as she titled her head a bit to the side, still trying to look over her shoulder to see if people were
watching them…

Dara’s eyes widen with his sudden move… the hold on his arms went tighter as she could only blush from
it… she’s just not completely used by his affections… and upon feeling her sudden silence… he smiled…
before he pulled one of his arms off her and reached to slice a piece on her pancake…

“So… what do we have for dinner…?

Dara snapped back from her trance as she saw her husband got a piece of her pancake… she followed his
hand as he ate it… still holding on to her with his other arm, he got another one and ate it again in
silence… Dara just watched him with her round eyes, anticipating for his feedback… remembering
someone with her husband’s silence…

“How is it…?”

She finally asked… Jiyong pursed his lips as he looked down at her…

“Whatever it is… it’s delicious…”

He innocently told her… she was stilled for a second before she broke out a chuckle… he doesn’t even
know what a kinchi pancake is… she was about to pull herself out from his hug to prepare their plates but
he pulled her back.

“Stay…” he simply said… reached for the pancake once again and this time, brought it in front of her face…
she looked up to him with her brow slightly raised… he pushed the pancake to her mouth telling her to
open it which she eventually complied… he smiled at her before slicing another one… with him still
holding her close against his body…

“We can just eat dinner here… I’m actually comfortable just by being like this…”
Dara managed to look over her shoulder and saw the maids who hurriedly hid upon seeing her saw them…
she immediately turned her gaze back and blushed… bit on her lower lip again as her hands reached for
the fabric of the apron she’s wearing and played with it…

Jiyong placed the chopsticks down on the plate and reached for the side of her face and caressed it as he
peeked down on her…

“What’s wrong…?” he said with a chuckle… clearly knowing why she’s being like that…

“They are watching…” She mumbled, continuously played with her apron… she tilted her head to the side
to avoid his touch for it just adds more to the blush on her face…

“And so…? What’s wrong… we’re married…”

He always use that reason… she thought, but couldn’t help but to blush some more whenever she would
hear him acknowledging that…

“Can you just not think of others for a while…?”

She slowly shifted her gaze to the side… her hands already stopped from playing with her apron as he
caught one of her hands and wrapped it again around her waist… his other hand came to her face once
again, caressing it with much gentle…

“I know you’re probably feeling uncomfortable with all these… and I guess all my trying makes you more
uncomfortable… but let it be then… I just… I just want to do this…”

He dropped his other hand only to get her other free hand and wrapped it around her with his arm just
like what he did earlier… he leaned down and placed his head again on her shoulder as he squeezed her
body tight against his…Dara’s lips parted, gasped upon the tightness of his hold and moreover because of
the wild beatings inside her chest again…

“I’ve already wasted so much time… so please let me do this now that I can…”

She looked further to her side to see his face…with his eyes closed… he hugged her tight… just by her
warmth all the worries in him was all long gone… and with that, a smile slowly formed on her lips as her
eyes fluttered with much love as she watched his peaceful face…

For a while… they stayed like that… her pancake was already forgotten… not that she still cares… gasps
and a bunch of teary eyes were watching them from behind… with smiles on their faces they decided to
leave the young couple alone… enough proof that their prayers were now all granted…

# CHAPTER 44

“You ate most of the ice creams all by yourself..?”

He asked her as he stared at the single gallon of ice cream on the table… as soon as the two finished her
‘cold kimchi pancake’… they headed to watch a movie in their entertainment room… with her just
complying with his words… even though she already asked him to rest, he stubbornly forced her to watch
a movie with him…

“No… Mr. Lee and the other maids joined me… you were just so busy, I don’t want to bother you…”

He was about to tell her that he was not… that she was the one who’s avoiding her during those times, but
he just dropped the topic… careful not to ruin the peaceful mood… he just got the ice cream and started to
share it with her as the movie started…

“Come here…”

Not waiting for her to comply with his words… he had already pulled her beside him on the sofa bed they
were lying at… throwing his arm around her shoulders to let her lean on him…

Dara’s eyes were fixed on the screen but her mind was far from the chic flick they were watching… even
stopped from eating her bowl of ice cream… for all she could think of was him… the amazing change in
him… wishing for the day not to end… wishing for him to just tell those words to her over and over
again…

His hand would gradually rub her shoulder despite that he was focused on what he’s watching… and Dara
looked up to steal a glance on him… chuckled to herself realizing that they were watching some romance
movie… never that she thought he likes to watch those kinds of movies…

“What’s funny huh…?”

He asked her… not breaking his gaze away from the screen… it took her a while to respond at him…

“Jiyong…”

“Hmmm…?”

This time, he looked down at her… placed the bowl of his ice cream on the table beside him before he
reached down to the side of her lips and wiped off the stains… as usual she’s still as clumsy as ever…

“Thank you…” she whispered… he raised a brow at first, watched her face, with her round eyes sparkling
as she looked at him … after a while, his lips slowly turned into a smile… he doesn’t know what she meant
by it… but hearing it from her was enough to make him smile… what more if he would hear the words he’s
dreaming to hear from her…

With that, he leaned down and placed a peck on the top of her head before getting his bowl back and
continued watching the movie… Dara did the same… snuggled closer to him as she brought her gaze back
to the screen and continued to watch the movie with him…

--

He carefully took the empty bowl of her ice cream away from her arm… she had been hugging it for the
whole time that she was sleeping… and watching her like that just put a smile on his face… she fell asleep
in the middle of the movie and Jiyong just felt it when something heavy landed on his shoulder only to see
that it was her head…

“Sssh…”

He placed a finger on his lips to tell the maids to be careful not to wake her up… they all bowed and just
stayed on their spots and watched him as he scoop her up in his arms… they were about to help him carry
her but he shook his head no…

“I can manage…” he said as he smiled at them before making his way out to their room.

Just then she suddenly stirred from her sleep when she felt herself being lifted… arms immediately came
to wrap around his neck as she turned to hug him and rest her head on his shoulder…

“Ji…?” She sleepily asked… not opening her eyes probably thinking it was just her dream…

He smiled at that… quickened with his walk before she completely woke up…

Gently placed her down on their bed… he took off her slippers and tucked her inside the blanket… not
minding his own tired body… he sat beside her and watched her for a while as she slept… placed a kiss on
her forehead and caressed her cheek for a while before letting out a deep sigh and brows furrowed a bit…

“I can fix this Dara-ah…” he whispered… scanned her face first before he stood up and left their room as
he went to his office…

He placed his phone against his ear… waited for the other line to pick up… his other hand came behind his
neck… still wearing a bothered expression on his face… with his heart beating so fast because of
anxiousness… another deep sigh came out from him when the other line finally picked his call…

--

She scampered as soon as she saw who was calling her… her heart jumped upon seeing the name and
immediately sat up on her on the edge of her bed, only with her blanket covering her bareness…

“Oppa… what… what made you call…?”

She stuttered… pushed her hair back with her hand as she tried to calm herself down…

“Taeyeon-ah… are you okay…?”

She shut her eyes tight for a second, calming herself down… looked over her shoulder, blaming herself for
her stupidity… what if Jiyong will come this night…? What if he’s already on his way…?

“Ah… oppa yes… I was just sleeping when you called… are you… are you going here…? Where are you…?”

Suddenly, a pair of arms slowly wrapped along her waist… and a kiss landed on her bare shoulder…
trailing its way to her neck and upon feeling it… she immediately looked at the man doing those things to
her and threw him a glare… only for her to earn a smirk from the man as he continued showering kisses
on her body…

“No… I’m here in my house… I just called to tell you I won’t be able to come to school tomorrow…”

“Oh… why…?” She continued to struggle from the man’s hold but failed to escape.

“I still have some business to do but Taeyeon-ah… I need to meet with you tomorrow… Ill drop by on the
café near the school before lunch… I need to tell you something…”
She was made into a stop after hearing it… the man behind her gladly took the opportunity of her
blankness… almost dropped the phone she was holding for fear started to creep up on her… with Jiyong’s
voice… and their meeting tomorrow… after realizing what it’s all about… she bit on her lower lip before
gritting on her teeth… the hold on her phone tightened… almost broke it in her hand…

“Why… why don’t you just tell it to me now oppa… or you can just come here and talk about it…”

She was suppressing herself to burst out… and the man behind her felt her sudden change with that, he
stopped and just watched her…

“No Taeyeon-ah… let’s just talk about this tomorrow arasso… it’s already late…”

“Arasso…” her voice was cold… not minding if he would feel it or not… not waiting for him to bid
goodbye… she already hanged up the phone… hand was a bit shaking from anger, she placed her phone
back on the bed side table…

“What’s wrong…?”

The man asked… making her face him… and when she stayed silent… he chuckled…

“That was your rich boyfriend was it…? Is Mr. Rich boyfriend going to break up with you now…?” He
continuously laughed…

Her breathing got heavy… hands were gripping tight on the sheets beside her… she turned around and
threw another glare on the man.

“Shut up…! no he will not… not now… not forever… I still haven’t got anything from those years that I
sickeningly shared with him… just because of that b!tch…? Huh… no he will not…”

Her gaze darted to her man when she heard him clapped his hands…

“Wow… feisty… that’s what I like about you…”

And as he was about to touch her… she slapped his hand away only to be grabbed roughly by him on her
hair… she clutched the blanket on her chest as he harshly dragged her to make her face him…

“You f*cking b!tch don’t you ever show me some attitude or I’m going to f*ck you so hard you won’t be
able to walk and see that Mr. Rich guy again I tell you… you’re mine arasso… keep that in your little head
of yours…”

She continuously glared at him… holding on to the back of her head as he continuously held her tight… if
not for this guy she won’t push herself and stoop down to act all proper for Jiyong… she’s her only chance
to get out from the hell she’s living… with Jiyong’s money she won’t have to be enslaved by the same man
she treated as her only family…

“What..? I told you that big fish won’t help you… you’re stuck with me… so you better f*cking spread those
legs now and shut your little mouth… don’t you ever try running away from me because you don’t know
what I am capable of doing Taeyeon-ah…”

Her lips trembled and the only thing she could do was to let out a cry…

The man smirked upon seeing her tears… his other hand immediately cupped her face and pulled her to
crash his lips on hers… muffling her cries… she could only shut her eyes tight… no… she won’t give up…
her life wouldn’t end just as hell as this…

--

His fingers ran through the locks of his hair… pushing his hair back in frustration… he slumped back on
his seat… of course he had expected it to be this difficult… he can’t remember when his feelings for her
started to falter… blaming himself for making her hoped with those promises that he gave her… but what
can he do…? He needed to fix everything…

He let out another sigh… he had already decided… making things right will include telling Taeyeon how he
feels now… he just don’t want to hurt her anymore and especially Dara…

He picked himself up… about to leave his office and back to their room when his phone started to ring…
he thought it was Taeyeon… but seeing his father the one calling him made him curious..

“Dad… what made you call..?”

He heard his father sighed on the other line… couldn’t help but to think if it was because of the incident
earlier at their company that made him call…

“Is it because of the project…? I can do it…-“

“No Jiyong… this isn’t about the company… tomorrow your mom and I will fly back in there… I want you
and Dara to meet us for dinner…”

Jiyong was a bit bothered with their sudden plan of going home… and just because they wanted to have
dinner with them…?

“Why dad…? What’s wrong…?”

“Ah… nothing’s wrong don’t worry… just tell your wife that you’ll meet with us tomorrow arasso… your
mom already misses you both…”

And the worry in him slowly vanished upon hearing his father say it… it was probably because of his
mom…

“Arasso… I’ll tell her… take care on your trip back…”

A small smile crept on his lips as soon as he hanged up… thinking Dara would be delighted to see his
parents again… his worries were all gone once again even just for a short while…

--

He slipped in beside her right after he took a long shower… she was facing him and surely was deep asleep
that she didn’t felt him lie beside her…his hand brushed away the hair that’s been covering her face and
smiled upon watching her sleeping… reached for the blanket to cover her more, he slipped in his arm
inside their blanket to pull her closer to him and hug her…

Finally feeling contented… he slowly closed his eyes… not forgetting to place a peck on her forehead…
“Everything will be fine… I promise…”

He mumbled… not minding if she could not hear him… just letting it all out as if giving himself the
strength that he needed for tomorrow…

--

# Chapter 45
She was sitting on their bed…her pink lips pouted in curiosity... her brown hair tumble in disarray over
her shoulders… and her round eyes followed every move of her husband who was pacing around their
room, busily fixing himself while talking with someone over his phone… she just woke up… technically
woke up from the impatient voice of her husband... it was still early yet he looked like he’s in a great hurry
to leave…

Her brows slowly connected as she heard him scolded the person over the other line… hair was still
untidy; fresh from coming out from the shower… he was now seated on a chair putting on his shoes…

Just then she jumped a bit when she heard him curse after he hanged up…hesitated to approach him, she
just stayed on their bed and continuously watched him in worry… clearly he didn’t notice her already
awake… tightly gripping on his phone before bringing up the back of his hand on his forehead and
slumped on the chair he was seated at… silence instantly filled their room as he continuously stayed like
that, face twisted from thinking… drown in so much stress…

“Jiyong…”

Her soft voice echoed across their room…startling him, he immediately woke him up from his trance and
made him to quickly sit straight on his seat… hands dropped on both arm rests as his head darted towards
their bed and found his beautiful wife looking at him with much distress in her face…

“Are you okay…?”

She asked… and just by hearing that… his once troubled expression slowly calmed… forcing himself to let
out a smile… hiding his weary soul… he just don’t want to see that bothered look on his wife’s face…

He stood up from his seat; put his phone back inside his pants’ pocket as he walked towards her…
brushing out the stress in his mind… he fixed his gaze on his wife’s face… despite the worry in her face…
she still looked beautiful… like a lost kid with some strands of her hair sticking out from its flow… and her
cherry lips slightly curled in sadness… such a waste for that one whole month for not appreciating this
beauty before… but it could only warm his heart now thinking that every morning he would be able to
admire her beauty… the first man who could have a glimpse of her angel-like face…

“I’m fine…”

He said softly as he sat beside her… his eyes fluttered with affection as he lifted his hand and reached for
her… gently caressed the back of her head; smoothening her hair… his gaze wandered along her face…
admiring every contour of her smooth skin as he smiled in himself…

But despite hearing that, she clearly knew that he’s not… his eyes clearly depicted it…if only she could take
away that weariness inside him… with that, her hand came to reach for his face, startling him a bit… she
caressed his face…

“Please don’t stress yourself too much…”

She mumbled… upon hearing it, the smile on his lips grew wider… held her hand on his face with his free
hand, he brought it down on his lap before leaning down towards her and placed a long gentle kiss on her
forehead…

Her furrowed brows slowly calmed… bit on her lower lip as she squeezed his hand with hers…

He smiled as he faced her again… pat her head before tapping her nose with his finger…

“You look cute when you’re worried about me… but as much as I want to see it… I don’t want you to get
worried… especially when there’s nothing to be worried about…”

He felt his intestines tied into knots upon seeing her confused face… gaze landed on her still pouting
lips…he bit his lower lip to suppress himself from ‘wanting’ her early in the morning… realizing that he
had some business that he needed to do…

With that, he gave her hand one last squeeze before he stood up from their bed…

“I won’t be able to attend class today because I still need to fix something at work…”

He said as he walked back to his closet to finish fixing himself…

She could only let out an ‘oh’… a bit sad that he won’t be with her later… after a while stood up from their
bed and went towards her closet to prepare herself as well for school…

“Oh… before I forgot… mom and dad will be back… dad said they’ll be here at dinner…”

Jiyong said as he went out from his closet and wore his coat… and upon hearing it… Dara’s face
immediately beamed in happiness… she missed her in-laws just as she missed her parents…

“Really…?!”

When she turned around Jiyong was already standing in front of her, startling her…

“Yes… so no more hanging out with your friend for a while arasso… go home early…”

She looked at him wonderingly… which earned a light chuckle from her husband…

“I’ll call you later if I’ll be able to go home early and pick you up…”

She was about to tell him that he doesn’t need to… Mr. Lee can pick her up instead… but he already beat
her to it as he leaned down to peck on her lips…

“I have to go now…” he whispered… all she could do was to nod…

About to turn on to his heels… he found himself stayed rooted before her… and as if he hasn’t had
enough… he went closer to her… making her to step back and hit her back on one of the cabinets inside
her closet… he wrapped one of his arms around her waist and pulled her body to his, placing his forehead
against hers to make her face him… he watched her for a while… lost in her beauty once again…

“You’ll be late for your class now…”

His brown orbs were fixed into watching the curve of her lips… his free hand then reached for it and
tapped the soft flesh of her lips with his two fingers… her hands came on both of his sides, holding on to
him, burying her fingers on the fabric of his slacks… her breathing slowly became erratic as the beatings of
her heart started to quicken…

“They are all waiting for me now…”

He mumbled once again… but between them he’s likely the one who don’t want to let go the most… his
arm tightly wrapped along her waist, keeping her so close…

The tips of their noses brushed against each other… and after a while of pondering and playing with her
lips… he had found himself again taking her lips with his… instantly closing his eyes as he savored the
softness of it… his free hand immediately came to the back of her head to deepen their kiss…

She on the other hand could only hook both of her arms under his… tightly holding on to his back and
shoulder, closing her eyes as well… tongues easily slipped in inside both warm wet cavern… the two flesh
danced with each other without restraints… she moaned inside his mouth… enough to awaken every fibers
of his desire for her…

Now drown in the bliss of their now heated kiss… he totally forgot about everything… hand started to
wander around her back… about to slip it inside her shirt to touch her skin… only to be stopped when his
phone started to ring... immediately bringing them both back to reality… with that, they finally broke out
from their kiss…

His brow twitched as he looked at her… doesn’t want to answer the call not until his Dara pulled her arms
away from him as she look away and composed herself back…

With a sigh, he got his phone inside his pocket… it was once again from their company…and with a
displeased tone he told the other line that he’s about to leave…

Dara looked at him with a smile on her face as soon as he hanged up…

“You should go now…” She said as she touched his clothes and straightened it out… he let out another sigh
before he gave her one last peck on the cheek…

“I’ll call you…” She nodded back, still wearing that sweet smile on her face… giving her one last look
before he dropped his gaze as went out of her closet… she stayed inside… listened as the door of their
room opened then closed after awhile… she could only sigh… telling herself that she would still see him
later…and upon remembering their kiss, the smile on her lips grew wider and her fingers immediately
came to her lips to touch it… giddying like a high school girl over her own husband…

--

He turned his head to the side… eyes landed on the woman beside him… wearing a bit confused look on
his face… he watched how she would gradually smile while looking afar… she would bit on her lower lip
then would bow down… she looked so drown in her own world that she didn’t even notice him looking at
her…and just then, he felt something that suddenly prick inside his chest…seeing her smiling like that
immediately created a heavy feeling inside him… felt something different behind those smiles…

His gaze slowly fell… he should feel happy seeing that curve on her lips… but instead, something’s telling
him that he shouldn’t… especially that he’s having a feeling that it’s his ‘friend’ who’s the reason behind
her sudden happiness…

This past week, he used the slightest opportunity of her being sad… making her happy with his company…
made use of his selfish desires and that she would need him better than her husband… he did his best…
yet it still wasn’t enough for her to notice it… not enough for her to even look on his way… not enough to
replace the guy that she’s all been thinking about… for, for that whole week… it’s only today that she had
completely curved out a true smile…

As much as he don’t want to admit… it’s clear in her that she’s in-love with her husband… in-love with the
man who doesn’t even acknowledge her love… in-love with the man who clearly could only give her pain…
and as much as he wants to take her away, she herself won’t even give him a chance to do so… such irony
to find her happiness from the pain the man she loves could only give her…

He darted his gaze back to her when he felt her look on his way… still wearing that warm smile on her
lips… he could only stare at her… lost for words… heart’s breaking yet still don’t want to give up on his
foolish feelings for her… for the more she won’t look at his way… the more he would strive hard to make
her do so… even the fact that he’s just making a fool out of himself…

“What’s wrong Youngbae-ssi…?”

She looked at him wonderingly… his gaze then landed on her pouting lips…sure any man would be
tempted to place a kiss on it, including him…and he did it once, stole a chance of her being drown in her
slumber… a secret that he would bring to grave… if only he could do that over and over again… yet he’s far
from having the right of doing that… such cruel fate to give that right to the man that least deserved it…

He looked away… ignoring her question; he put his earphones in his ears before folding his arms on the
back of his head and leaned back against the tree…

Something had really happened between her and her husband… he’s sure about it… yet can’t make himself
to ask her… for right in the beginning, he don’t want to know even the slightest detail of it… and the fact
that she doesn’t even need to put it into words… for it’s all clear in her eyes… screaming… pounding his
mind to drop off whatever desires he has for her… that it’s Jiyong… always Jiyong… could give her the
happiness that he’s been dying to give her…

Dara pouted… being playful she is in front of her friend; she reached for one of Youngbae’s earphones…
startling the guy she put it in her ear and leaned back against the tree just like him…humming together
with the music that’s playing in her ear… her shoulder brushing against his… her, being so close to him…
such torture to have her so close yet so far for her to even notice him…

He gritted on his teeth… jaw clenched and forehead creased as he could feel the heaviness inside his
chest… swallowing the painful lump on his throat, he heaved out a sigh…

“Stop smiling at me like that…” He mumbled…

“Eh..?” She immediately looked up to him… seeing him looking away.

Just then, Youngbae turned to her, wearing an unreadable expression on his face…

“Why is it that when it comes to you… I feel like I’m the most useless person…?”

Dara’s eyes widen… slowly pulled the earphone from her… she looked at him in confusion…

“Youngbae-ah… what are you..-“

“Why can’t I make you smile the way he can make you to…? No… I shouldn’t be asking you that… I should
first ask myself why…? Why does it need to be you…?”

Dara stayed silent… can’t figure out what he’s talking about… worrying her with the now pained
expression plastered on his face… for just a while ago he’s fine…

“Why does it need to be you Sandara…?”

He mumbled… gaze slowly darted away… facing ahead… could only put all the blame to himself… on why
does it need to be her… out of all the girls around… why does it need for his eyes want to see only her…
and why does it need for his heart wants to beat only her name…

Dara slowly shook her head… still oblivious to her friend’s words… just then, Youngbae suddenly let out a
bitter soft laugh… immediately added up to the confusion in her… he turned to her… forcing his lips to
curve out a smile… he reached for her head and gently tapped it…

“Why are you so small…?”

Asking her with a completely different tone from before…

“Eh…?” her brow raised… eyes widen once again when he slowly stood up from the ground…

“I need to go… still need to finish something…”

Still wearing that fake smile on his lips… and she immediately stood up when he started with his tracks…
called for him but he only gave her back a wave… not even looking back…

She could only tilt her shoulder… brows curled in confusion… tried to reminisce every word that he told
her earlier… yet still can’t figure out why he would say those to her…

And as the distance between them slowly increased… the smile on his lips slowly vanished as well… until
now, hiding his breaking self away from her eyes… for aside from being good at music… being good at
hiding his feelings was also probably one of his talents…

--

Despite the busy café… despite the mixed voices of the people that were having conversations… a
deafening silence enveloped the two since they came inside… no one bothered to broke it first… especially
her that’s been fearing to even listen to a word that the man before her was planning to say…

She looked at him, who was leaning back on his seat, gaze was fixed on his drink… surely he was lost in his
thoughts…

She blinked her eyes… bit on her lower lip before looking away… she gritted on her teeth, grasping for
strength… hoping to make it through this day without hearing from him what she’s thinking he’s about to
tell her…

With that, she swallowed hard… sighed before turning to him and forcing out herself to let out a warm
smile that she used to show him…

“Oppa… I missed you…”

She told him with much love in her voice… an act that hated the most yet she got used to… all just for
him…

Jiyong immediately woke up from his trance and looked up to her… upon seeing that warm smile on
Taeyeon’s face… added up more to the heaviness he’s feeling inside… she sure doesn’t deserve to be in
pain… yet, there he was… about to give her one…

“Taeyeon-ah…” he mumbled… voice was weak… eyes fluttered in sadness as he looked at her… Taeyeon
kept up on her composure… the smile on her face never faltered…
“I… I need to tell you something…”

Hearing him stutter… a smirk slowly formed on her lips…

“Are you going to break-up with me now…?”

Her tone was a bit cold… but it was her words that made Jiyong taken aback… his eyes widen a bit… and
voice suddenly got caught up in his throat… that he could only look at her…

She let out a sigh… wore an unreadable expression on her face… she never set her gaze away from him…

“I’m right, am I…?”

“Taeyeon-ah… it’s…-“

“Do you think I would just easily let you do that to me…?”

She cut him off with a sharp statement that made him more surprised…

#Chapter 46
His pupils dilated… gaze stayed fixed on the woman before him… too stunned to even blink his eyes…his
brows slowly connected as confusion gradually filled his mind… couldn’t find the right words to say for
how could he respond to a statement that he never expected her to say…

Taeyeon clearly saw the surprise expression on his face… saw the confusion that soon joined it…

She lost herself… wasn’t expecting herself to do something irrational yet her anger got to her head even
before she could think of something else to say… she just hated that pity look on his face as he stared at
her a while ago… it just reminded her of how hell her life was… how she lived under fear and how she had
always ran away… that she had thought that meeting him would end her misery yet just like everyone else
that she thought would put a stop to it… he was there… about to abandon her again…

With that, her gaze faltered… slowly set it away from him… her brows slowly curled and forehead creased
as she again, put up another act that she was sure he won’t be able to ignore…

“You have always protected me… even to the point of marrying that woman just so I won’t be hurt… you
endured a lot for me… what more do they want from us…?”

Jiyong was immediately baffled by what he had heard… about to tell her that it was not what she was
thinking, only for her to beat him to it…

“I love you… and even if it will cost me to wait for you forever… I will oppa… just please, don’t give up so
easily…”

A muffled gasp escaped from him… heart was torn apart from what he heard from her… how can she
manage to say that where in fact it was clear that she was hurting…? And how selfish he was for keeping
her all this time despite the great odds of hurting her in the end…? She had done nothing but to be always
there for him… yet all he could give her was nothing but pain and empty promises…

His jaw clenched… hands curled into fist on the table as he locked his gaze to her…
He was a selfish man… blamed everyone for what his life had gone to… and until now, he was still selfish…
as if pushing away the only woman who gave him strength before… was it just because he had finally
found his real love…? That having Dara will be the only thing that mattered to him now..? No… for he
knew to himself that caging Taeyeon would be much more selfishness… setting her free from all the pain
he had caused her would look selfish in her eyes, let it be then… if it’ll be the only way that she will find
her true happiness…

He gulped down the forming lump in his throat... determination was written all over his face and upon
seeing it, Taeyeon couldn’t help but to feel a flash of defeat starting to cut right through her…

“You’ve already been hurt too much because of my selfishness… I should’ve let you go back then when
things were starting to get bad... but I was scared… too coward to face my responsibilities alone… I used
you as an excuse to hate the obligations that was given to me… used you as the reason to put blame on
others and to hurt the people who had done nothing but to understand me…”

His last words came out like a stifled whisper as he remembered everything he had done to Dara… and it
was enough for him to flinch a bit as if his heart was being stabbed again by millions of needles… his
hatred towards himself was starting to fill him again… how could he do those things to her…? Fed his
mind with nothing but lies… created a false reason to put all the blame to her… too frail to confess to
himself his incompetency… that he was all along just like his brother… too irresponsible of accepting
everything that life had given him… seeking for an easy way to get to what he wanted… always thinking of
what he wants…

Taeyeon kept her gaze locked with his, wearing an unreadable expression on her face as she continuously
kept her silence…

Jiyong slowly reached for her hands… she didn’t protest… allowed his hands to envelope hers and held it
tight…

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at her… he knew she won’t accept it easily… knew how much she
was in pain right now… and he hated himself more for being the one inflicting it to her again… yet he
knew it was the only way to set her free…

“I’m sorry Taeyeon-ah… but I can’t lock you from the life you truly deserve… I’m sorry for being so selfish
all this time… I loved you… it was all true…you’re the first woman who had introduced me that foreign
feeling… please don’t doubt the years we’ve been together…”

He tightened his hold on her hands as he let out a deep sigh…

“But I am not the man who could give you the happiness and freedom that you deserve…”

Jiyong said with a faint smile on his lips… eyes full of affection as he looked at Taeyeon whose expression
slowly gave out something differently from the blankness a while ago…

For upon hearing those words from him… something had suddenly pricked her insides… the walls she had
created in herself shook a bit that her eyes automatically blinked the tears away that almost filled it…

“You are so carefree… you love life better than I do… you have dreams you need to fulfill for yourself and I
won’t be the person who will be the reason for you not to accomplish them… that every time I look into
your eyes I would always feel a great guilt... for all along I’m only giving you false hope… I can’t be the
destruction of your happiness Taeyeon-ah…”

Silence consumed them right after his last word… as if the busy café suddenly became isolated for her…
she was looking at him yet it was again emptiness that sheathed her expression… until after a while, her
gaze faltered… she woke up from her trance as something cold touched her cheek only to realize a drop of
her tears managed to escape her eye and stained her beautiful face…
How could this man break her defense with just those words…? All because of one woman, there she
was… being told to what on what she needed in her miserable life… freedom…? Happiness…? The world
was a cage itself… how can such things exist…? And how can a person like him, say those things as if he
knew the meaning of it, if all his life he felt nothing but suffocation… and now being locked up once again
with that woman she had learned to loathe… she doubted he would deny it was love…

Love… Taeyeon could only scoff by the mention of it… the idea of it was just too good to be true… and she
could be the last person who would be of need of it… hated such illusion for she knew, she would gain
nothing from it…

She hated herself for being frail before him… knew by then that an argument with him would be futile for
the look in his eyes had said it all… she was nothing but just another speck on this earth… just like what
others see in her as they look at her…

Hatred and bitterness filled her cold heart once again that she had missed the concern written all over his
face… the hope in his eyes that she would hopefully be happy now that she’s free from him… for all she
could think was the side of being abandoned again…

A light chuckle escaped from her as she lowered her gaze towards their joined hands; immediately, disgust
had stirred her insides… and Jiyong could only look at her in wonder…

How could he not do that, if her own parents abandoned her to the devil who knew nothing but to torment
her life…? Of course… just like everyone else… he just used her… and now that he found someone new…
he would just throw her away like a stinky, rotten trash… and she’ll be back to the hell she had loathed,
because it was the only home she knew she had…

She curled her hands to fist before pulling it away from his hold… she kept her head down as one of her
hands reached for her face to wipe off her tears… awful… she felt awful towards herself for showing him a
vulnerable side of her… it was more awful than feeling his lips against her skin… for she knows, looking
like that in front of him would make him pity her more…

Jiyong kept his silence as he waited for her to regain herself… he was worried about her… wanted to
comfort her but he doesn’t even know how to start… doesn’t even have the right to… how could he even do
that if he was the one that caused her to be on that state? He could only hope that someone, much better
than him could heal the pain he caused her… give her everything that she deserved… make her forget
every bitterness that he inflicted in her…

After a while, Taeyeon set her hands down on her lap as she slowly gazed up to face him again…

Cold, hard expression met his gaze… a different Taeyeon had immerged in front of him that he could only
stare in awe…

“Do you love her Jiyong…?”

It came out as bland as her cold expression… almost made him choke from such intimidating atmosphere
that surrounded her… yet he managed to stay at ease… gaze softened by the thought of Dara, that he even
completely forget the woman before him…

“I love her…”

Sounded as deep as where it came from… his heart pounded mercilessly after uttering the words with
Dara’s face floating inside his mind…

Taeyeon’s lips twitched before a slight smirk of disgust formed on it… she would surely enjoy seeing his
face in great agony once the love he truly believed would be futile against the unfairly judgment of
reality… for she couldn’t be humiliated just like that… he could not just throw her away as if he has
nothing to do with her… she could not just always accept defeat like a pathetic loser she was all her life…

“She’s lucky to have you oppa…”

She whispered… Jiyong was immediately startled by her response, a bit bothered by the stillness of her
expression only to brush the thought away as her hand topped his and gave it a squeeze… he could only
look at her in wonder again… watched as an empty smile curved on her lips before she stood up from her
seat…

The next thing he knew, he was seating alone in the middle of a busy café… his eyes fixed towards the
entrance of the café where Taeyeon had gone off…

Something inside him was a bit bothered… probably because he knew she was hurting inside… he could
only bow his head in shame… kept telling himself it was all for the better yet can’t help but to hate himself
for doing it to the woman he loved before…

--

She looked at her friend with a faint of sadness in her eyes… she let out a deep sigh as he just looked at her
with those dead eyes…

“Are you mad at me…?”

She asked him… only to hear a slight scoff from him as he tore his gaze away from her and looked to the
side…

She immediately looked for Youngbae right after her last class… a bit bothered on what happened earlier
during lunch… he was just acting weirder than he usually was… making her bothered if she had done
something to displeased him… her silliness got her to think that he had probably failed his subject because
he wasn’t able to pass the project he asked for her to model…

Youngbae was a silent guy and a very unpredictable one…if only she could read minds… he always left her
wondering with everything he does and right now was not an exemption of it, leaving her with the
slightest idea of what was happening…

“I’m sorry…”

She whispered mournfully as her lips pouted… she caught him behind their building, on his way out the
back gate of the campus… she lowered her head, hands clasped together… completely blaming herself
from the thought of him failing his subject because of her…

Youngbae’s eyes immediately widen and head snapped back towards her… his brow rose upon seeing her
state but overall startled upon hearing her apology…

“What for…?”

He can’t help but ask… wasn’t able to control himself to sound worried for that was what he really felt that
moment… wondering what came to her mind this time for her to apologize to him suddenly…

He watched her as she played with her thumb as she clasped her hands together…

“For the painting… did you fail your subject…? I told you, you should have looked for someone else…”

He almost choked with what she said… couldn’t believe that she still had not forgotten about it… and as he
contemplated with her words… he almost rolled his eyes… how could she be so innocent…?
He let out a deep sigh… his gaze softened as he continuously looked at her… he didn’t mean to make her
feel bad… probably she was confused by what he acted earlier… but he himself was suffering from the
same confusion, only it had almost driven him crazy… for the past week, she was nothing but a walking
epitome of sadness because of Jiyong and it had drained him all the strength to make her happy not until
earlier… the smile that he had been persistently working on the past week was plastered on her face... only
it was not because of him… but because of the same guy that inflicted her the agony she once suffering…

Never in his life he had felt this great need to be with someone… just the fact that he doesn’t have the right
to even hold her hand was tearing him apart… he knew he had to stay away, not to spoil this stupid
illusion he was creating in himself… yet no matter what he does, he couldn’t help himself not to stay away
from her… there was just something in her that had driven him to think and for his body to act on its own
to always be there for her and protect her…

How could he be so careless, that now, he was causing her to be confused and sad because of him…? He
thought… and with that, another sigh escaped him as he slowly lifted his hand and reached for her…

A slight smile formed on his lips as he lifted her chin to face him and saw how her lips pouted… oh, he
really was trapped under this woman’s spell… such a sin to be wishing of kissing her lips… stop… just
stop… he kept telling himself…

“You sure have a wide imagination…”

Her round eyes immediately filled with wonder… still, the pout on her lips didn’t vanish and when a
strand of her hair fell loose on her face, Youngbae lost his control… reached for it and tucked it behind her
ear, not missing to caress her face in the process… it felt so soft against his skin… and the way the ginger
color of sunset hit her angelic face… she looked so divine that had driven him to completely lose himself
just by looking at her…

“I lied…”

He continued… Dara kept her silence and slowly her head tilted to the side… Youngbae held his gaze
towards her… maintained a calm expression on his face… despite the turmoil inside him as he battled
against his overflowing feelings…

“There was never been a project… music is my course Dara… I just wanted to paint you…”

He simply said… it had lessened Dara’s confusion a bit, but can’t help but to be curious this time… slowly
the pout on her lips disappeared and got replaced by a smile…

“Why..? Why would you want to paint me Youngbae-ah…?”

She asked teasingly… never knew the effect on him of what she was asking him…

He slowly put down his hand against his side… never tore his gaze away from her… feeding himself by her
beauty and once again, drowning himself to the bliss of being able to see her…

“My father wanted me to be an architect just like him… he said I wont get anything from playing those
stupid instruments… from creating noise… I thought he was right… almost gave up music because I
thought I was just really making a fool out of my hobby… not until one girl caught me sneaking in their
family’s piano during his father’s birthday… I thought I was the happiest that night not until I saw the
look on her face when I ended a piece, I thought music was beauty not until I saw her…she was just
breathtaking… the way she smiled, the way her eyes twinkled as she looked at me… she was the one
admiring but for me, it was the other way around…”

It had already been years since it happened but for Youngbae it was as if it just happened yesterday…
everything was so clear to him… it was insanity for others, but for him it became his only inspiration to
continue on with the music that he loved…

“She told me how I played beautifully, I could sneer at her statement, doubted that she was just bluffing…
for it was my first time hearing someone praised the only thing that I know I am good at… but the way she
looked at me… every doubt inside me immediately vanished… she told me I should play some more… as if
it was the easiest thing… yet I couldn’t help but to agree… she… she just made me feel weak even though it
was our first time meeting each other…”

Dara just looked at him, and he knew that she had probably forgot about it already… the memory that he
had treasured the most was just one of those ordinary moments in her life… such shame…

“That girl… made me swore to myself to play… to continue on with my music… to be better with it… to
create more beautiful music for her… and it wasn’t just the idea of playing was my goal anymore but to be
able to play for her again… to see that smile on her face as she watches me… the feeling of having someone
loving what I am doing… she had become the reason on why I am doing what I do now…”

Dara’s face lightened… having the slightest idea that she was the one he was talking about, for she was just
too overwhelmed by the fact that her silent friend was finally opening up to her… couldn’t help but to feel
happy and lucky for the woman he was talking about…

“Who is she..? Have you seen her again…?”

Her curiosity got over her that she missed the sadness that flashed his eyes after she asked him…

“I was scared to approach her again… she was just too amazing that I cant help but be intimidated and
could only watch her from afar… always wondering if she could still remember me… but I guess not… she
loved art… she and her sister would go to art galleries… and I would be there to just watch her… too
coward to approach her… until the day came that my family had to leave…”

The smile on her face slowly disappeared not just because of what happened to him but because at the
back of her mind, something in his story had caught her attention… the party… the boy that was playing in
their family’s piano, the girl’s love for art… her eyes slowly widen as realization came to her little by
little…

“I became better… had talked to my dad that I couldn’t do anything aside from music… and when the
moment came that I was able to play before her again… it broke me apart for it was the same day that she
said her vows to another man, and to make things worse it was my friend…”

He could only let out a bitter smile as his gaze slowly fell on the ground…

Dara’s body stiffened… her heart jolted in shock as she put the pieces together…

‘It can’t be…’ she thought…

It can’t be her…

Youngbae gaze up to her once again and saw the clear surprise on her face… it was just suffocating to keep
it to himself all this time… he feared it would break him down if he won’t be able to let it out… his crazy
admiration for her… and he thought just by telling her this would make him have his peace… but it
didn’t… it just drove him more to push further more…

“I wanted to have a moment with that girl… even for a while… I wanted to see that smile again, capture it
for myself… I’ve been making fool of myself for still loving someone who’s already bound to another… but
I can’t help it… not when I can see that she’s hurting… not when the man that supposed to care for her has
someone else in his life…”

She gasped… couldn’t breath as she heard each word that escaped his lips… this was not one of those
weird moments of her friend anymore… she’s supposed to be happy that for once he was normal… but
with what was telling her… her heart was slowly tearing apart…

“I love you Dara…”

He whispered yet enough for her to hear each word… she was immediately taken aback… felt her knees
weak that he needed to hold her on one of her shoulders to keep her on her posture…

“That it breaks me knowing I can’t have you no matter what I do… that forever, I’ll be just a shadow
watching you from afar… I don’t care… just… just let me love you even just from afar…”

And that completely broke her… tears spilled out from her eyes and ran down her cheeks… it felt so
surreal… couldn’t believe that she was actually hearing those things from her… what did he see from
her…? She doesn’t deserve it… he couldn’t love her… not when her heart’s beating Jiyong’s name…

“Y- Youngbae-ah…”

Her voice shook but before she could even say more… he reached for her face and wiped off her tears
stained face with his thumbs… he cupped her face… his brows slowly met, cursing himself for making her
cry… and couldn’t help but feel remorse with himself once again for the rejection that was written all over
her face…

He shook his head… with a slight smile on his lips he signaled her not to speak…

“I know… and I don’t want you to feel bad about it… it’s my own feelings and not yours to control… I’m
sorry for being so cold to you… it’s my only way to control my feelings… I’m still afraid that once I told
you, you’ll run away from me… but now that I told you… are you going to…? It’s okay if you do… it won’t
lessen my feelings for you anyway…”

She looked at him incredulously… not because of his persistent confession but because of the thought of
her not being his friend anymore…

She immediately shook her head no as she held on to his hands that were cupping her face…

“I won’t do that to you Youngbae-ah… I only have few friends… b-but… why… why me…?”

She whispered her last words… his story was just not enough basis on why he should love her…

He smiled down at her… his thumbs continuously caressed her chubby cheeks, taking this opportunity to
hold her even for a while…

“I have my reasons…and I tend to keep it to myself”

He simply said as he let go of her face… he won’t push himself more… don’t want to hurt her more than
what she was probably feeling right now… for he knew it will be futile anyway… he was already too late,
was just too blind to admit it to himself back then… but knew from the start that it always been his friend
that filled her heart… despite the pain Jiyong caused her… still, it was him that Youngbae could see in her
eyes…

“Can I just hug you for once Dara… but… it’s okay if you don’t want… I mean, I’ve been so-“

Before he could even finish his statement, Dara had already thrown herself in his arms… buried her face
on his chest and started to cry again… Youngbae’s heart swelled in bliss… couldn’t believe that finally he
had felt her in his arms… with that, with his shaking hands, he slowly wrapped his arms around her and
bowed down his head as he inhaled her scent… didn’t manage to contain his tears as it slipped out of his
eyes…

They stayed like that for a moment… he was shaking as he held her tight… not minding the people that
could see them… for finally one of his dreams came true… he felt lighter than before… he would protect
her… always, not as a lover but as a friend… he would make sure no one would cause her harm as long as
he lives…

--

“Are you okay…? Did you cry..? Why are your eyes so puffy like that…?”

Jiyong asked her as soon as he arrived and saw her standing at the balcony of their room… he was feeling
so heavy right after his conversation with Taeyeon… something inside him still told him that everything
was not in their proper place yet… but that uneasiness got replaced when he saw his wife… replaced by the
worry on how she looked like when she faced him… he immediately darted towards her and gathered her
in his arms… cupped her face between his hands and made her look up to him…

Dara shook her head as she wrapped her arms around his frame and struggled from his hands and
manage to bury her face on his chest… she doesn’t want to talk about what happened between Youngbae
and her earlier… decided to keep it to herself for the meantime for even just remembering it put pain in
her heart…

“Dara-ah…”

He called worriedly… caressing the back of her head to soothe her on whatever she was thinking…

“Tell me what’s wrong…”

He kept his voice tender…now containing himself from feeling mad to whoever made her upset…

She slowly looked up to meet his worried gaze… and before he could ask her again what’s wrong, she
tipped on her toe as she reached for his face and kissed him on his lips…

Jiyong’s eyes widen… his heart jumped and he thought it even escaped out his ribs… she just kissed her on
her own…

It was a simple and fast peck on his lips but enough to send shivers through his entire body…

The night started to deepen… she kept her gaze locked with his as an overwhelming feeling washed over
her for her to blurt out the words she had been protecting not to tell him…

“I love you…”

She whispered… and tears started to fill her eyes again… this was just too much for her… she was staking
everything now… she knew telling him those words would take away the last card she had… but no matter
what the consequences would be, she will face it…

“Wha… what did you say…?”

His voice trembled… he could be just mistaken with what he heard because he was too eager to hear it
from her…

“I said… I love you…”

She said as her face twisted and her lips curled as she broke out to tears... her next words came out as a
blur as she choked on her own tears… Jiyong couldn’t help but to let a slight laugh… he cupped her face
again before crushing his lips with hers…

#Chapter 47
He kissed her with so much passion… squeezing her face between his hands, pulling her more towards
him… their lips were soon to bruise yet both didn’t care… too caught up again in their own world, letting
the heavens their only witness as they both drown themselves in the bliss of feeling each others lips…
without restraints… with same hearts beating erratically, shouting each others name…

Dara continuously cried between their kiss, staining his face as well… couldn’t believe that she was living
this day… didn’t even expect herself to be with the man she loved… thought she would forever hide it in
herself, was convinced that loving such man would only give her more pain… but there she was, with every
fiber of her being completely rejoicing… thought loving him was a crime she would forever pay… yet after
telling him… after completely surrendering herself to him… she could only feel contentment and
happiness… she waited for a pang of regret or pain to come… yet it never came… it just felt so right… as if
those words were the only missing pieces to complete her puzzle…

She wrapped her arms around him, hands were clutching on his back for support… too afraid her knees
will completely fail her…

One of his hands slipped through her hair on to the back of her head… completely lost himself from the
spell brought by her lips… he clutched on her hair, a little rougher than he intended to be, he tilted her
head to the side to gain more access… his other hand made its way on her back, holding her close against
him… leaning her body against his for support…

Both eyes were closed, no words were spoken… letting their lips show their need for each other… he
licked, sucked and bit on her lips… drew out a moan from her when he tightened his hold on her hair and
used it as the opportunity to slip in his tongue inside her warm wet cavern… he sighed inside her mouth…
never felt so satisfied before… as if her lips were made for him to kiss… and he’ll be damned if it’ll be the
last time he could kiss her; would exchange anything for a lifetime just to taste her mouth again…

His tongue snaked everywhere inside her mouth… quickly finding her tongue and the two fleshes
immediately tangoed with each other… loving the softness and warmth of each others tongue, they took
each others mouth eagerly. He probed his tongue deeper inside her mouth… hoping to taste more of her
sweetness… such a delicate taste he would never get tired from… and she continuously moaned inside his
mouth… lungs soon to deflate but none of them attempted to break the kiss…

His hands began to roam around her body… stroked her back… traced the curves of her waist… and then
he felt it… the warmth inside his body started to make him ache… feeling her skin against his brought
tingles to every of his veins… was making him dizzy… waking up the hunger deep inside him that needed
to be satiated.

And every tension inside his body pooled between his legs…the hard, throbbing flesh that needed to be
aided that only her body could give. He needed to feel her more… wanted to be wrapped by her warmth…
craved to fill her of his love… dying to worship her body once again and let themselves to completely fall
under the ecstasy of their love… he had totally lost it… yet being concerned was far for his mind to think as
of the moment… as long as he could have her…

He wrapped his arms around her waist and began to lift her off the ground… she automatically wrapped
her arms around his neck for support…

She finally opened her eyes, finally broke out from their kiss, she gazed down at him…

He was looking up to her… eyes filled with affection and desire… her gaze fall on his swollen lips…
enticing her again to taste it, she leaned down and pecked on it... and it didn’t escape her to feel the smile
that curved on his lips…

His hands slowly trailed down to her rear… squeezing every part his hand would touch, earning him soft
moans from her… he would hear his name being sighed against his lips with each and every stroke he
would give her body… such music to his ears that hearing it soothed his very soul and at the same time
brought more tension in his already throbbing flesh… he won’t mind the excruciating pain… for heaven
was already in his arms, moaning out his name…

He had her legs wrapped around his waist… their lips continuously stayed locked against each other as he
walked them back inside their room…

Carefully, he laid her down on their bed… with him lying between her legs… placed one last peck on her
lips as they broke out from their kiss…

He stared down at her face… her brown hair laid scattered over the pillow, the once pale flesh of her face
was flushed and her pink lips all swollen, parted as she filled her lungs with the forgotten air… yet the
goddess-like beauty she portrayed got tainted with a flaw… that despite the affection inside her brown
orbs, he could see a tinge of sadness in it… her smooth face stained with tears that ran down against it just
a while ago… he immediately felt a pinch of pain inside him… his forehead creased in worry only for it to
immediately vanish when she reached for his face and cupped it between her hands…

For a while they stayed looking at each other, without any words being uttered…she looked at him,
managed to drift herself away from the doubts that were starting to creep inside her… taking in the sight
of him looking at her with those love-filled eyes, she could only let out a satisfied sigh…

A moment had passed… one of his hands took hers and slowly placed it against his chest… their gaze
never faltered… she could feel his heart beating rapidly and knew that the state of her heart was not far
from his.

“Can you feel it…?”

She slightly nodded her head… watched as his lips curved out a smile once again…

“Don’t be surprised if I die out of heart attack… I need you by my side yet I don’t know how to control my
heart whenever you’re near…”

Oh if only he knew she was feeling the same…

He leaned down to her… buried his face on the side of her neck, inhaling her scent…

“I love you Dara… just you and me… with nothing else matters… I love you…”

He chanted over and over again… tears began to stream down the sides of her eyes from an overwhelming
happiness and she wanted to pound herself for always crying… would she always cry whenever he would
utter those words to her…? Probably she will…

She wrapped her arms around him… placed her hands on the back of his head and played with his hair…

‘With nothing else matters…’

“I love you Jiyong…”

She whispered back…

And that made him stop… heart swelled in bliss once again… he would probably have to always prepare
himself whenever she would say those words… it just sounded so surreal… especially coming from her…
did she really mean it…? Was he deserving of any of it…? After all the things he had done to her…? Was it
why she was crying…? Was it that painful to tell him she loves him…? He couldn’t help but ask himself…

“Please say that again…”

He whispered as he began kissing the side of her face… trailed along her jaw… down to her neck…

Dara closed her eyes… exhaled out another moan and threw her head back to give him more access… her
hands gripped on his hair as his hands began to wander along her body… slipped through her shirt, he
began caressing her bare stomach…

“I… love you…”

Her voice was near inaudible as her mind started to drift off from every reason… his touches brought her
shivers despite the fact that her skin burnt and melted from it…

Her body arched off the bed as his hands traced the curves of her hips… lifted her shirt off from her
leaving her with her bra to cover her top…

“Again… Dara… tell me…”

His hot breath brought goosebumps along her skin… blew hot kisses along her jaw… watched as her body
trembled underneath him… listened to her moans together with the words he had wanted her to chant
over and over again… he closed his eyes for a moment, sinking into him every words she would utter… he
kissed her shoulder... the skin that connected between it… her neck… and every skin his lips would
touch…

“Jiyong….”

Another labored moan escaped her lips as she felt one of his hands trailed to her breast… cupping it with
much gentleness…

He swallowed her moans as he took her mouth with his once again… felt incredibly stirred up once he felt
that soft flesh against his hand…

His other hand trailed behind her… managed to take off the offending garment that covered her breasts…
and she shivered a bit as the cold air brushed along her now exposed skin…

He pulled out from their kiss as he pushed himself down to meet her breasts… with one of his hands
kneading one of it, he took the other by his mouth… and his name immediately came out from her as a cry
of pleasure… her fingers curled to the tangles of his hair… body arching as a pleasurable torment slowly
filled her being… she held on to him tightly as if her sanity depended on it…

He sucked on her breast impatiently as if he was starved for months… played with its bud with his soft
tongue, he swirled around it… felt her nipple began to harden inside his mouth with his ministrations…
and if not for the aching need between his legs, he won’t pull out from tasting her breasts … the scorching
feeling of his lust was making him uncomfortable beyond tolerable… pleading to be freed… desperately
wanting to be wrapped around the security of the woman before him.
With that, he pulled out from tasting her breast… left the soft flesh defiled… nipple was hard yet aching to
be tasted some more…

He lowered his lips along her body… kissed her stomach… his fingers played with her navel as he drew
circles around it… his hands then trailed to the buttons of her pants… trembling… barely in control of
himself not to completely rip it out from her waist…

He let out a hoarse groan as soon as he slipped her pants off her… her eyes were barely looking at him…
half-lidded as she panted, can’t stop the moans that was escaping her mouth whenever he would run his
hands through the smoothness of her skin… anticipation was coursing through her body… hotness was
piercing deep in her core… and her arousal was clear in the dampness pooling between her legs…

He took in her beauty… licked his lips as his gaze wander along her body…

He started unbuttoning his shirt with one of his hands as the other reached for her lips… traced it, almost
grazing against her teeth… it trailed down her chin… on to the shallow of her neck… and she shivered,
hands curled on the sheets beneath her, back arched once again once it traveled along the valley of her
breasts down to the flatness of her stomach…

“Beautiful…”

He murmured… a very satisfied smile curved on his lips as he continuously watched her body writhe from
his burning touches…

Once free from his clothing… he crawled back closer to her… his hard, throbbing cock brushed along her
inner thighs causing her to shiver some more and open her eyes to see him…

Their gazes locked with each other as his hand traveled down her side and played with the band of her
panties…

“Say it again…”

He whispered… almost pleadingly… and she almost forgot what he was talking about… too occupied with
the thoughts of him filling her… full of anticipation to feel him again…

Her brows curled and slowly met each other… her hands tightened its hold on the sheets once she felt his
hand slipped in her underwear… easily cupping her dripping lust…

“I love you… Jiyong…”

It came out as a cry as she threw her head back… he leaned down to her neck… snuggled, kissed and suck
a portion on the skin below her ear… he held her with his other arm… wrapped along her waist securely…
his lips trailed to her cheek… began kissing her face everywhere…

“I love you too Dara… I love you…”

He watched her expression began to twist… her cheeks as red as cherries… her half lidded eyes struggling
to keep her gaze towards him as his hand began to stroke her dripping cunt… his fingers teasing her clit…
making her to completely lose her sanity…

One of her hands came to her mouth… bit on her fingers, trying to stay calm even though it was
impossible… and the other held on to his arm… seeking for strength…

Her hips began to circle… rubbing herself against his hand… giving herself up from his tortures…

Oh God… how could she looked so heavenly and sinful at the same time…? He kept asking himself… his
face twisted as well, brought down his mouth against her chin, he bit her… trying to contain himself from
pounding in to her… knew that the last strand of control was slowly slipping out from him....

He inserted two of his fingers inside her cunt and he cursed inside once he felt her warm tightness
wrapped around his fingers… squeezing him…

He groaned against her chin… both bodies started to sweat from the tension between them…

He began thrusting his fingers in and out of her core… and each time, his cock would twitch in need…
pleading for attention… yet he kept both of them under this pleasurable torture… prolonging to reach
heaven for having hell at the moment was too good to cast off…

“Jiyong… I… uhh can’t…”

Her words came out with shallow breaths as she began throwing her head side by side… he reached down
to her breast and took it in his mouth as he continued assaulting her aching hole with his fingers… her
legs were trembling… toes were curling against the sheets as she squirmed beneath him…

The sounds of her juices licking out from her core… his fingers going in and out of her added up to the
music her moans were creating for him…

She kept calling his name… voice was shaking and eyes were tightly close, she could feel herself near her
release…

He pinched her clit which made her to almost thrash her body off the bed… and when he felt her losing
it… he pulled out his fingers…

Dara almost cried out in protest… only for her cries to be swallowed again by his mouth… all grace was
long gone as the two of them battled for their own satisfaction…

He pulled his hand out from her underwear… setting aside the fabric against the lips of her slit and
without any warning he thrust himself deep and hard inside her…

Her eyes widen and moaned out loud inside his mouth… her hands immediately went to his sides and
squeezed his hips from the painful thrust… and soon her body trembled wildly as flood of her hot juices
leaked out from her core, coating his cock that was embedded deep inside her…

He held her body… kept her down and waited for her release to subside… and he thought feeling her juices
would make him have his own release as well…

He twirled his tongue against hers… stilling his body on top of her… her body calmed after a while…

He widened his legs… taking her legs as well, completely fitting himself between her…

His hands traced her body… caressed her hips and then cupped both cheeks of her ass… squeezed it and
tilted it up for her hips to meet his more… completely wanting to fill her to hilt…

And then he began moving… taking her with him to the point of no return… thrusts met thrusts… their
hips joined in the same erotic dance… flesh met flesh… their slick bodies rubbed against each other,
sharing the same warmth… having the same hunger that needed to be satiated…

“Tight… fu-… oh God… you feel so wonderful Dara-ah…”

He grunted out as they broke their kiss… his powerful thrusts had completely marked deep inside her…
not minding for her to be raw after their love making, for with each pain would remind her of him and on
how they celebrated their love…
Her hands stroke his back… her nails grazed over his skin… scratching him yet he didn’t mind the pain…

“More… Jiyong… I want to feel… uhhh… you more…”

She cried as she curled her fingers in his hair… feeling herself again near her release yet she wanted
more…

With that he pushed himself up, her legs over his… looking over her body, he held tightly on her hips as he
slammed himself harder and deeper in her… he smiled at her before his gaze trailed down their
connection… watched how his cock barely came out from her because of his fast pace…

She bit her lower lip… one of her hands gripped on the sheets as the other reached for him… traced his
hard body… ran her hand over his sweating abdomen… she watched him drowning himself in pleasure as
he watched their union…

Jiyong caught her hand… squeezed it before bringing it down to her slit… instructing her fingers to rub
her clit and by doing so, her walls tightened around his cock more…

“God Jiyong..! Oh God… st-… op…!”

She screamed… wanted to roll herself to escape his torture, too drained to have another release but he
held her hips tightly…

He let go of her hand and she immediately gripped the sheets just like the other…

He leaned down again… licked her neck… savoring the salty taste of her sweat before his mouth went
down and took in her breast again…

He could feel himself reaching his end… his cock expanded inside her, squeezing itself in her warmth and
he loved every feeling of it…

He leaned back as he gathered her legs and squeezed it together… kissed her knees as he folded her legs
against her chest… slamming himself deeper inside her… their bed banged against the wall of their room…
creaking, joining them in their music…

“I love you… oh God… I love you…! f*cking shi-… I’m near…”

He cursed… body tightening from the forming intolerable pain inside his stomach… his pace grew faster…
she cried his name as she held tightly on his arms… her juices began leaking from her and that made him
lose all of it…

He roughly parted her legs again and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in a tight embrace as he
slammed in her over and over again… her body arched in his embrace… arms wrapped around his neck,
squeezing him… toes curled once again as she threw her head back and cried out without any sound
leaving her throat…

He buried his face on the crook of her neck… his body stilled as he let out a loud growl and joined her in
reaching heaven… strings of his seeds shot right through her womb… filling her… soothing her hole from
the assault he did with his cock…

A moment of silence sheathed the end of their love making before her legs began trembling and body
stiffened… he began thrusting his hips towards hers, emptying himself… not leaving a drop of his child-
giving seed…

He opened his mouth and latched it against her neck as her body became limp… collapsing against the
bed… he heard her let out a tired sigh… felt his cock started to shrink inside her… their juices leaked out of
her, drenching their thighs and created a puddle beneath them…
“I love you Jiyong…”

He heard her whisper in her tired voice… he kissed her neck… a smile curving on his lips as the doubt
inside him finally vanished…

He was still on top of her… too tired to pull out and roll over to the side, he kept his arms around her
body… continued to suck on her neck… taking advantage of her stillness…

And when he heard her moan… body being squeezed by his heavy weight… he finally rolled himself to the
side… taking her with him… keeping their connection, he laid her on top of him… head resting over his
shoulder… he caressed her hair... stroke her back couldn’t get enough from touching her body…

“I love you too Dara…”

He whispered… kissing the side of her head before he closed his eyes…

After a while she began stirring in his embrace… he opened his eyes to see her looking at him… he reached
for her face… brushed away the hair that stuck on her sweaty face…

“I advice you to stop wriggling… I don’t mind making love to you again… hell, I’m barely keeping myself
calm right now… but you need to rest…”

He said as he kissed her forehead… he watched her lips pouted a bit… her eyes widen from his words
before her brows curled in worry…

“What’s wrong…?” He immediately asked in worry…

“The dinner…”

She whispered and enough for him to collapse his head against the pillow and threw it to the side as he let
out a curse… he totally forgot about it… since he saw her at the balcony with her eyes swollen, clearly from
crying…

He doesn’t want to go… he only wanted to stay in their bed… their bodies locked with each other… and
make love all throughout the night…

He snapped his head back to her… felt her slowly pulling herself out from his embrace and so he
immediately tighten his hold around her, keeping her down… and felt himself started to hard inside her
again when she accidentally squeezed him…

“Let’s just stay here…”

He whispered as he reached for her face and pecked on her lips…

Her brows furrow and lips pouted more and he knew by then that his protest had became futile against
himself as well…

“But your parents are going to wait for us… I want to see them too Jiyong…”

She whispered… hands curled against his chest… and seeing her expression wanted him to pound himself
for being so possessive…

He let out a sigh of defeat… pushed himself up, taking her with him… straddling him…

He watched her face for a while and sighed once again…

And without another word… with his renewed strength… he pushed their body off their bed… still
connected with each other, her eyes widen and feet about to reach for the floor but he had her legs
wrapped around his waist… holding her ass cheeks tightly, she could only wrap her arms around his
neck…

“What are you doing Jiyong…?”

She asked in disbelief and worry…

He walked them towards the bathroom of their room… felt himself completely in need to have another
round with her…

“You don’t want them smelling us of sex, are you…?”

He said with a smirk and watched how her eyes widen and cheeks flushed in embarrassment…

It didn’t took a while for them to reach the shower stall… for her back pinned against the wall and for the
hot water running down their body…

“But why-...”

Her protests were once again sealed off by his lips… his hips began moving on its own… eliciting moans
from her as he pounded in her against the wall…

“I love you…”

He whispered against her lips… she was about to say something again but instead of words… moans
escaped her lips… she could only close her eyes… rest her head over his shoulder… wrapping her legs
around him tighter as he started pummeling himself deep inside her…

--

She felt him tighten his hold on her hand… she immediately tore her gaze away from the window of their
car and gaze back to him…

He let go of her hand only for his arm wrap around her shoulders and pulled her towards him and kissed
the side of her head…

“What are you thinking about…?”

He asked before turning his gaze back on the road…

“Jiyong… is it really okay to love you…?”

She whispered… and upon hearing it, he couldn’t help but be surprised yet manage to let out a chuckle…

“What do you mean…?”

He asked between his chuckles… couldn’t believe she would even ask that after they tirelessly took each
other earlier. She pouted at him before turning her gaze down her lap… she began playing with her
fingers… we watched her through the side of his eyes… he really loved whenever she would do that… she
looked like a kid, confessing to her crush…

“I don’t know… I mean… don’t know if I’m doing it in the right time… there are a lot of things going on…”
He stayed quiet for a while... turning their car to the side of the street and parked it…

He turned to her… could see the worry in her face… he reached for it and caressed her cheek…

“As much as I am not worthy of your love Dara… I am truly grateful the moment those words came out
from your mouth… with all the things I’ve done to you… there isn’t any reason for you to love me… I’ve
hurt you… I can’t forgive myself from doing those things to you… but when you said those words… every
reason I could put to hate myself slowly vanished… you, loving me is the greatest thing that happened to
me so far… pulled me out from insecurity… I wanted this… this kind of happiness and contentment… and
with you I can feel it… with those words I can feel it… now tell me, if it isn’t okay for you to love me…
because Dara I just couldn’t see myself spending the rest of my life without you…”

She gasped… eyes unable to blink with what he said… she bit her lip, controlling her emotions again and
after a while, a smile slowly curved on her lips… and before she knew it, her arms had already wrapped
itself around his neck…

“I love you… I just want you Dara…”

He said as he caressed the back of her head…

“I love you too Jiyong…”

She replied as she pulled out from their embrace… cheeks were blushing again…

“With nothing else matters alright…?”

She nodded and closed her eyes as she felt his lips descended on hers…

--

They were in all smiles… hands tightly draped with each other as they arrived the restaurant where his
parents were waiting for them… thinking for a better excuse as to why they were late, yet he could only
remember how their bodies twisted against each other he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle… she looked
up to him and stared at him in wonder, while he just smiled down at her and pulled her closer to him…

And once they reached where his parents were… the smile on his lips slowly vanish… eyes landed on
someone whose back was facing their direction…

Dara excitedly called her in-laws… let go of his hand as she immediately walked up to them… totally did
not notice the other person in the table…

Jiyong saw how his parents looked up to them… warm smiles plastered on their lips as they look at his
wife… and when they turned to him, a clear worry was written all over their faces… he felt his heart started
to race… something was strange about this night… only to find the answer to his question when the guy
slowly turned his head towards his direction…

His eyes widen… glued to his spot as his body stiffened… felt the air in his lungs slowly faded… together
with the happiness that was once flowing through his veins…

There he was, face to face with the man he loathed for years… the man who broke his trust… who made
him believe into something he himself broke… who left him facing everything alone…who ruined his life…
the one he once called his brother…
Yunho stayed silent… eyes full of agony as he looked at his younger brother… he wanted to run towards
him… hug him like he usually do years ago… tell him how he missed him… how he was sorry for
everything… yet he knew he can’t… knew his position... knew that he would be the last person his brother
would wish to see…

“What’s going on…?”

Jiyong whispered coldly… not breaking his gaze with his brother… jaw starting to clench as hate started to
wrap his heart and whole being…

“Yunho-sshi…?”

Dara’s voice broke Jiyong in his trance… eyes immediately darted towards his wife who was looking at his
older brother with a clear surprise in her face… and his brow started to twitch… confusion filled him as to
why his wife knew his brother… and before he knew it, he was once again looking at his brother only for
him to see him looking at his wife…

He felt a great pain shooting right through his chest because of the scene before him… everything was so
slow that he didn’t miss that look in his brother’s eyes as he looked at his wife, didn’t miss that warm
smile that curved on his lips… and the fact of how their life should be hit him so hard that he flinched in
pain…

Losing himself… he dashed towards his wife… gripped on Dara’s wrist and pulled her to his side before
throwing a glare towards his brother…

“What’s going on…?”

He asked once again… holding on to Dara tightly he didn’t mind if it would hurt… Yunho’s gaze went back
to him… the smile was all long gone but he stayed silent… and by doing so, put more hate in Jiyong’s
body…

“Jiyong… son… we need to talk…”

And upon hearing his father, Jiyong snapped his gaze towards his parents… ‘talk’ he knew what they will
put into his mind this time and he couldn’t help but feel betrayed…

His breathing went heavy… slowly shook his head and he could feel himself slowly losing every reason…
not to throw himself towards his brother and land a fist on him…

And when he thought hell would break… Dara’s other hand touched his arm…

He looked down at her… could see the worry in her face together with confusion in it… he wanted to
soothe it away… yet with his state, he knew he won’t be able to give it to her… instead, he tightened his
hold on her wrist before turning around…

“We’re going home…”

Jiyong coldly stated… not paying a look towards his parents, he began with his steps… pulling his wife
with him… he just wanted to get away from there… forget about that part of the night… go home and love
his wife… even though meeting his brother again was far from being forgotten…

“Jiyong… please…”

He heard his mom pleading… but he was too occupied with his hate to even care… Yunho held his
mother’s arm when the old woman was about to run after her youngest son… telling her Jiyong’s too far to
listen to anyone at the moment…

Dara looked back towards her in-laws and Yunho… saw him smiled at her… she was so confused about
what’s happening… but more worried about her husband… he was hurting her with his tight hold… but
she couldn’t make herself pull her hand out of his grasp… instead, she followed him in silence… watched
the back of his head… praying everything would be alright…

The ride back home was in complete silence… she watched him as he occupied himself with his own
thoughts… his silence was breaking her… he was completely shutting himself from everyone even her…
she wanted to know what was happening… wanted to take away that coldness in him yet she doesn’t know
how to…

She closed her eyes for a moment… wishing it was not happening yet as she opened her eyes he was still
too caught up in his own thoughts… how could everything turn out to be completely different as easily as
that…? Earlier they were so deep in bliss… he was smiling at her… eyes full of love… but now… he was the
same cold guy he was and it scared her…

He parked his car before the entrance of their house… silence still enveloped the atmosphere… and when
she couldn’t take it anymore… she turned to him…

“Jiyong…”

She called… voice was shaking and in pain…

He looked at her… hated himself for being like that in front of her yet he couldn’t control himself…

“Go inside Dara…”

He struggled to keep his voice calm… saw the fear in her expression as she looked at him wide-eyed…

“No… let’s go inside… let’s talk about this Jiyong…”

She worriedly protest only for him to cup her face… and kissed her lips…

“I need to be alone for a while… please”

He whispered… forced out a smile… praying she would just go… doesn’t want to show her this side of him
again…

Dara sighed in defeat… lowered her face and silently stepped out of the car…

Jiyong didn’t even tell her if he would go back later or as to where he would go… she could only watch his
car drift away… and just like that… the once blissful night got replaced by another agony she would suffer
alone…

#Chapter 48
Jiyong just continuously drove his car… not knowing where he would go… but mostly didn’t care
where his car would take him. His mind was blank… as well as the expression that was painted on his
face.

After a while… his brows slowly met as finally, everything that happened earlier, all sunk into him.
He gripped tightly on the steering wheel… stepped on the gas as anger slowly filled his mind.
He felt utterly used and betrayed by his parents… he can’t believe that they would easily forget what
his brother had done… or even welcome him back as easily as that. Just when he thought everything
had already in its proper place… his brother had just to go back and ruin everything… had to bring
the memories that were supposed to be buried deeply in the past. And with that, he couldn’t help but
to fear that he’ll hurt Dara again… that he won’t be able to control himself again and the man he was
once will go back and hurt her again…

He was drowned in his own thoughts that he wasn’t able to notice that he already lapsed away from
his lane… only to be waken up by a loud horn coming from the car in front of him.

His eyes widened and immediately, he maneuvered his car back to his lane…

He sighed in relief… heart was racing and just then, Dara’s face flashed in his mind… the hurt in her
expression earlier when he left her.

She must probably worried about him… probably staying up, waiting for him…

His jaw clenched… groaned from his carelessness. Finally realized that his intention of not hurting
her… of just going away so she won’t see that bad side of him again was actually… probably was
hurting her more…

He heaved out another sigh…

‘How many times will I run away from my problems…?’

‘How long should I stay coward facing them…?’

Those thoughts kept repeating inside his head and just then… he found himself turning the car…
going on a u-turn, he went back to the place he had supposed to be at earlier.

--

She stayed rooted at the entrance of their house… not minding to stand there since her husband
brought her home… the maids had already told her that they’ll just tell her once her husband arrive
but she just shook her head no… and told them she’ll wait for him there…

Wearing a worried and pained expression on her face… she hugged herself as the cold wind brushed
past her, one of her hands was clutching on her chest… could feel her heart beating so hard… worried
on what was her husband was doing… where he was… but especially if he was okay…

She hated herself for being useless… unable to help him… unable to take away the pain inside him…
she should be with him right now… should be sharing the loneliness he was shouldering alone… yet
there she was… couldn’t do anything but to just wait for him to come back…

Just then her thoughts faded away when she saw a car approaching… only to realize that it was not
Jiyong’s car but instead… it his parents’ car.
She stood by the door… wondering if they were with Yunho… and upon thinking about it… upon
finally realizing that Yunho was the missing brother of Jiyong, confusion immediately filled her
mind…

She can’t believe how small the world was… couldn’t believe that Jiyong’s long lost brother would be
the same man she met at the beach… and somehow… she couldn’t help but to feel a bit bad for not
knowing…

The man who was supposed to be her husband… the same man who Jiyong loathe the most was the
same man who she found refuge from… and the man she treated as a friend.

“Dara dear… why are you still up…? Where’s Jiyong…?”

Mrs. Kwon immediately asked her once they got off the car… just then, Dara felt a little relief when
she realized that Yunho wasn’t with them…

A slight smile curved on her lips yet it was still clear in her face the worry and sadness that she was
feeling.

“I don’t know where he is… he just dropped me off and went away… I’m so worried right now…”

Mr. Kwon groaned at the side… blaming himself for what was happening… he didn’t expect it would
turn out like as bad as this.

“I just want them to get along again… they were really close before. I just want this family to be the
way we were before…” he struggled to say as his voice shook.

Upon hearing this, his wife tapped him on the back… told him that everything will be back and that it
wasn’t his fault.

“You should go rest now… everything will be okay once Jiyong is back… we’ll try to talk to him
again…”

Mr. Kwon looked at Dara with a clear guilty expression on his face. Dara smiled back to him, nodding
at Mrs. Kwon’s words before she approached him and gave him a hug.

“I’ll talk to him Dad… you shouldn’t be thinking too much… everything will be alright…”

Releasing him from her hug… the old man caressed the side of her face…

“Sorry for dragging you into this Dara… if only I wasn’t too selfish of only thinking about our
business before…-“she cut him as she reached for his hand and held it tight.

“No… if not because of you I won’t be able to meet Jiyong… and I’ll always stay at his side whether
how good or bad the situation is… not only because I’m his wife but especially because I love him.”

Jiyong’s parents were left in awe… were speechless for a while before a smile slowly crept on both of
their lips…

Mrs. Kwon approached her and patted her on her head…

“You kids are really adorable… thank you Dara… our son is really lucky to have you.”

She nodded at the older woman before telling them to go on and rest…

“I’m sure he’s safe… he just probably needs time to think…” Mr. Kwon assured her.

“Are you sure you’re going to wait for him…?” while the older woman asked her in worry.

“Yes… I won’t be able to sleep until he comes back…”

Her in-laws smiled at her as they both give her a hug before going to their room and rest.

Dara sighed… turned to the open door and watched the night sky with still a worried expression on
her face…

“Jiyong… please come back home…” she whispered through the cold night.

--

As he arrived at the restaurant that he and Dara were supposed to go earlier to meet his parents, he
found out that his parents had already gone home… sighing, he decided to just go home… for sure
that his wife was already worried, waiting for him…

Yet, when he was on his way back to his car… he was stopped on his tracks when someone suddenly
appeared in front of him.

Looking up… the expression on his face slowly went blank once again… and as much as he wanted to
control himself… anger slowly seeped in to his veins…

“Jiyong…”

At first, Yunho looked at him with a same blank expression on his face before a slight smile curved on
his lips…

--

Dara became restless… heart was in full pain as hours passed but Jiyong wasn’t there yet… she
wanted to go out… look for him yet she didn’t know where she would start… many times it passed her
mind to call Youngbae… ask him to help her look for Jiyong but she decided not to. For this wasn’t
his problem… it was only between her and Jiyong yet as time pass by… she couldn’t help but feel
more helpless and worried…
And just when she was about to go out there and find him herself… she saw a familiar car slowly
approaching…

Her heart immediately jumped in relief upon realizing that it was Jiyong’s car… she wanted to run
towards him yet she stayed glued on her spot, controlling herself not to cry…

Jiyong got off from his car and upon seeing his wife, whose face filled with worry… he walked fast
towards her and hugged her.

“I’m sorry…” he mumbled… squeezing her tight in his embrace…

And upon hearing it, Dara wasn’t able to control himself anymore and finally burst out in tears…

Jiyong quickly pulled out from their embrace once he noticed her crying… he cupped her face
between her hands… and wiped off the tears on her cheeks with his thumbs…

“Why are you crying…? I’m sorry for making you wait…”

Dara looked at him for a while before more tears escaped her eyes… as if she wasn’t able to control
her eyes from crying… with that, she pulled Jiyong and buried her face on his chest.

“I thought something bad already happened to you… I was so worried… please don’t do this again
Jiyong. I know you’re hurting right now… I know your mad but please don’t push me away… tell me
everything that hurts you… even though I don’t know how to take them away… but please let me
share the same pain that you’re feeling… don’t push me away…”

Jiyong smiled at her words… she began choking on her tears and so, Jiyong began stroking her back
to calm her down…

“Sssssh… I’m sorry…” He whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

When she calmed a bit… Jiyong pulled her out from his embrace and cupped her face between his
hands again…

Her eyes and lips were swollen, her whole face was blushing yet she was still beautiful…

He caressed her cheek with his thumb… heart ached by the sight of his crying wife… but mostly
because of what Yunho told him awhile ago…

He leaned down… brushed her lips with his other thumb.

“I love you Dara… it's all true... I'm sorry... I love you…”

She looked at him wonderingly until the next thing she felt was his lips against hers as he kissed her.

He held her face securely between his hands… deepened the kiss, hoping that the words inside his
mind would fade away yet no matter what he did… it kept repeating inside his mind…

“I came back not because I want money or anything Ji… I came back because I need to save Dara…
she’s been hurt because of your selfishness. She’s not supposed to have this kind of life you’re giving
 her. She’s supposed to be mine in the first place… and so, I came back to get her… and give her the
life she deserves and which you failed to give…”

#Chapter 49
He sat on an armchair by the end of their bed. Resting his face on his palm, he gazed on his sleeping
wife with a clear pained expression on his face. He closed his eyes as he let out a sigh, he buried his
face on his hands for a while before one of his hands came to run his fingers through his hair.

“How’s everything?” Yunho asked in a gentle tone, speaking the way he had spoken to his younger
brother before… yet instead of feeling warm and happy about it the way Jiyong had felt listening to it
before, his stomach turned as if sickened by the sound of it.

Jiyong’s brow arched up, his hands curled into a fist on his knees as he kept his gaze away from his
brother.

“Everything was doing fine until you came back.” He replied with a hard cold tone.

Yunho sighed and momentarily closed his eyes before he gazed on his younger brother. A grim blank
line formed on his lips and his eyes fluttered in sadness upon seeing a stranger in his brother. Jiyong
had grown distant, impassive and it was all because of him. His heart pricked in so much pain as he
continuously looked at his younger brother, and with that, his gaze fell on the cemented ground.

“And here I thought leaving was the most stupid thing I’ve done to you…” Yunho mumbled
sarcastically. He knew he shouldn’t be acting like that, but he wanted to see some emotions from
Jiyong… that it was better to receive a punch or a good beating from him than his excruciating
silence.

Jiyong’s head snapped towards him as his eyes held a stunned expression and gaze was piercing
through him.

“Why did you come back?” Jiyong asked in a sharp tone.

Yunho’s jaw clenched… creases slowly formed on his forehead as he watched how anger completely
filled his brother… his loving, warm and dependent brother had gone completely cold. And never had
he wanted to cry not until he saw Jiyong’s state.

“I’m sorry…” Yunho whispered in a wounded tone.

Jiyong flinched from his brother’s words… that even though he had expected those words from
Yunho, he couldn’t help but to feel the painful tug in his guts… scalding, tempting his self-control,
and wanted to answer his brother’s apology with a hard punch on his face. But he won’t… he was not
worth the effort.

Jiyong’s lips curved out a bitter smile… mocking his brother’s apology, showing Yunho as if his words
were off a joke even though deep inside it was tearing him inside. His apology was so hurtful, as if it
was more like a slap on his face rather than to soothe him. The words that were supposed to mend
the broken ties between them were offending. It wasn’t enough. Can’t Yunho see that…? Not a simple
apology could take away everything… could change everything that happened…
Yet…

Jiyong’s eyes blinked as he watched the remorseful expression on his brother’s face.

Where was all this hate coming from..? Jiyong couldn’t help but be confused. Did he really want for
everything not to go the way it went..? That included meeting Dara… If his brother hadn’t left… if
Yunho stayed and complied with every responsibility his parents had wanted him to do…

Jiyong flinched from the thought… his heart ached upon thinking Dara being his brother’s wife. The
thought was suffocating… never he had felt the urge of wanting someone as bad as this… and now
seeing his brother back, he knew why the hate in him was worse than he should feel.

It wasn’t only because Yunho left him all of his responsibilities… had taken his freedom away from
him… ruined his trust... for seeing him again had brought Jiyong fear… triggering the hate in him
beyond reason.

Jiyong realized that by hating his brother because of his abandonment alone was petty… but because
deep inside he was scared of his brother’s appearance… and the fact that Dara seemed like she
already met Yunho by some incident had made that fear in him grew even more.

What did they talk about? How long did they know each other?

And many more questions filled his mind that it was becoming nerve-wrecking.

Why… just now that everything was supposed to be on its proper place should his brother show up?

When Dara had became his world should his brother come back and shake it…

He couldn’t feel anything but fear and hate…

He glared at Yunho… jaw was clenched and chest was heavy from all the tension inside him.

“If you’re truly sorry… you shouldn’t have come back. You left with a purpose and that was to run
away from everything. And now, don’t expect everything to be on its place the way it was before
because it wasn’t anymore and it’ll never be the same anymore.” Jiyong told him in a cold
unwavering tone.

Yunho gasped, watched his brother in surprise before his gaze softened.

“But I just can’t let you change… not this way Jiyong. You hate me but you’re punishing yourself and
the people around you.”

Upon hearing it, Jiyong felt his insides quivered. His brother’s words had once again brought back
the memories of the things he had done to himself and to others, especially to Dara. And he
wondered how his brother knew everything when he was not there to witness it…

And just then, he suddenly thought of Dara… the look on her face when she saw Yunho… and the
surprise in her voice and expression as she gazed his brother. She probably told him everything…
Jiyong suddenly felt shivers running through his spine upon remembering her talking about some
guy she met at the beach… was it really Yunho? He felt his heart being squeezed imagining his wife
running to his older brother for help… crying out to Yunho every pain that he had inflicted in her.

Yunho had become her confidant… not knowing that he was supposed to be her husband, that if she
was with him… undoubtedly she won’t be in pain. The expression on Jiyong’s face became
unreadable. The fear was escalating through his veins… slowly suffocating him, slowly tearing him
apart.

“You don’t know anything…” He mumbled… mind was in clutter.

And it was Yunho’s turn to be mad. Despite the fact that he didn’t have the rights to be angry at his
younger brother - remembering what Dara had went through… how he wanted to take the pain in
her… how he wanted to shower her nothing but happiness and how he wanted to hate the person
who was the reason of her agony, not knowing it was his brother - he was mad… hated Jiyong and
especially himself for putting Dara through every pain that she didn’t deserve.

“I’ve seen her cry… I’ve seen her break and even though I’ve known her only for a short while it is
enough for me to put a stop on this, after all it’s my entire fault. Jiyong… -“

Yunho’s expression softened as if he was in pain… which, the way he was feeling right now was
beyond being hurt... never he was mad at Jiyong… and it was hard.

“- she doesn’t deserve all of this… she’s a great person… she doesn’t deserve to be hurt like this… like
the way you are doing to her right now…”

Jiyong gasped… felt the hollowness of his mind and suddenly felt the urge of wanting to be buried
deeply into the ground as he once again remembered every detail of what he had done to Dara.

‘I know…’

‘That was before…’

‘That was before I woke up from all the lies I fed to myself…’

‘Before I fell in-love with her.’

He wanted to scream the words yet his voice was trapped inside him… his throat felt dry to the point
that it was choking him.

Yunho ignored Jiyong’s mortified reaction… and as if Yunho’s previous words were not enough to
completely break him apart… his next words were worse than a blade, slicing through him… and had
completely ripped him apart.

“I came back not because I want money or anything Ji… I came back because I need to save Dara…
she’s been hurt because of your selfishness. She’s not supposed to have this kind of life you’re giving
her. She’s supposed to be mine in the first place… and so, I came back to get her… and give her the
life she deserves and which you failed to give…”

Jiyong cringed from the memory of his encounter with his brother…
Selfish? He talked about Jiyong being selfish... but what about him? What about the selfishness he
had done when he left his younger brother to face all the responsibilities that he was supposed to
shoulder? Jiyong couldn’t help but for his body to tremble from so much hate he was feeling right
now.

Was it selfishness that made him faced everything that his brother failed to do? Selfish, that it drove
him to hurt everyone and lose trust even towards himself? And was he that selfish enough for him to
feel the loathe towards himself whenever he would remember every pain he had inflicted to Dara and
that until now… even she herself had told him she loved him… he just couldn’t erase to himself that
he didn’t deserve that love? Were all of those things a product of what his brother had termed for…
selfishness?

Probably… especially that now… now that he had every reason to be selfish. Never had he wanted
anything more than freedom when he felt love in Dara, because in her he could feel that freedom he
had wanted before… in her warmth he found the satisfaction that any man could crave for and being
in-loved with her was the greatest feeling he had ever felt. And how he wanted to tell his brother
earlier that he can’t take Dara away… not now… not forever yet he stayed petrified, swallowed by his
fear… gaping at his brother as Yunho told him those words…

‘Does he love Dara…?’ Jiyong groaned from the thought.

Just when everything was going the way they should be…

“Oh God, is this my punishment?” he mumbled… tears were slowly filling the rim of his eyes.

‘Can’t I really be happy? Can’t I really have what I had wanted?’

The thought of losing Dara was enough for the tears to run down the sides of his eyes. He
immediately wiped it off and let out a long sigh. His gaze drifted up to his sleeping wife and for a
moment he felt peace.

The tremor inside his cluttered mind slowly faded; replaced with stillness as he continuously
watched Dara’s sleeping form.

The things she did to him… just even with the sight of her… uneasiness would vanish, replacing with
the calmest feeling he could impossibly feel. And a small smile kissed his pale lips as he realized how
impossible things became possible when it came to her. He even doubted she won’t calm a storm just
with that sweet smile of her…

As long as she was there… all reasons were right… he won’t think of the consequences… won’t think
of what will happen tomorrow for he couldn’t and wouldn’t attempt to imagine a lifetime without
her, unable to spend nights like this… couldn’t touch her or even watch her in her sleep.

Just then, Dara stirred in her sleep. She reached beside her and when she found the space empty…
her eyes slowly fluttered open.

“Jiyong…” Her sleepy, alarmed voice echoed across the room. Soft, sweet voice that caressed his
ears… oh how beautiful his name sounded when it came from her lips. He closed his eyes for a
moment, savoring the sound of her voice… taking in little pleasures such as this deep in his bones.

As he opened them, he watched his wife in amusement… the restlessness was gone in his system as
rested his arm on the armrest and cupped the side of his face with his hand. The smile on his lips was
inerasable as he took in the image of his newly awake beautiful wife. Seated on their bed, rubbing her
eyes like a child as her hair messily tumbled on her small shoulders…

She looked so adorable… beautiful and breath-taking and he wouldn’t get tired from watching her.
And the longer he did, the more he had craved to touch her.

He stood up from his seat and finally, their eyes locked under the dim light of their room.

Worry tainted her beautiful face and he couldn’t help but to flinch from the sight of it. He wanted to
kiss her worries away… wanted her to just feel the warmth of his love and nothing more.

He sat beside her on the bed; he saw her sighed, probably relieved to know that he was still there…
and how he wanted to tell her that he didn’t want to be anywhere but in her arms. But he stayed
silent… wearing a warm smile on his lips and a calm expression on his face; he watched the forming
creases between his wife’s brow. And with that, he reached for Dara… cupped the side of her face and
watched how her eyes fluttered close upon feeling his warm hand. One of her hands came up and
placed it on top of his.

“I thought you left again… you suddenly made me worried.” Dara whispered.

Jiyong’s smile grew wider. His other hand came up to cup the other side of her face. Dara’s eyes
slowly opened and gazed up to see Jiyong looking at her with those warm brown eyes.

Without another word, Jiyong leaned down as he pulled Dara’s face. Their lips touched briefly before
he spoke.

“I terribly want you right now…” He spoke against her lips… the huskiness of his voice brought
tingles against her skin, making her feel hot.

He gazed down on her lips… his forehead against hers as he waited for her words.

Dara blushed upon hearing him. She thought he left again. She thought she would go through to
worrying about him again. And when she found him watching her, she couldn’t explain how relieved
she was and now, hearing him spoke of those words were just too overwhelming. And who was she to
deny him for she herself had wanted to feel him as well… be enveloped in his arms all day if it was
possible.

“Make love to me Jiyong…” her soft voice were enough for him to squeeze her face between his
hands, to latch his lips with her in much fervor and for the urge to be deep inside her quickly grew.

He kissed her as if he hadn’t kissed her just a while ago. Dara closed her eyes as she titled her head to
the side and kissed him back. Her hands were on both sides of his neck, holding on to him as he
slowly pushed her back down their bed. His kiss felt so desperate as he sucked her lips… nibbled it,
eagerly wanting to taste more. He parted her lips with his tongue… easily slipped in the soft flesh and
found hers. She trembled as she felt his tongue inside her mouth… tasting every corner of her
mouth… mating with her tongue, sucking the life out of her.

She moaned inside his mouth as one of his hands traveled down her sides, caressing her curves… her
back arched off the bed as he pulled the end of her nightgown up her thighs and caressed her bare
hips.
He settled between her legs… grinding himself against her warm, damped core, letting her feel the
stiff, hard lust, nestling between his legs.

He wanted her now… all the tension inside his body from the moment Yunho appeared until those
confusing thoughts invaded his mind had been building up inside him… and he wanted to let it all
out… like this… with her… He knew, only in her arms he would feel comfort and he will have comfort
now.

With that, he pulled out from their kiss… Dara threw back her head with a loud moan as Jiyong
kissed her down her neck… sucking her pale flesh… marking her as his.

Her fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed the hollow of her throat… down her collar bone and
settled his lips on her bare shoulder... he groaned out her name as the need to be inside her slowly
became unbearable.

One of his hand came up to pull down the strap of her nightgown… exposing her… releasing one of
her breast.

Her nipples hardened from both the coldness of the night and hotness of her own arousal and it
wasn’t long enough for Jiyong’s mouth to soothe it… his teeth grazed on the sensitive bud which
made Dara’s body to tremble and arched off the bed to feel his mouth more.

Her fingers tightened its hold on his hair as he squeezed her other breast with his other hand over
the thin silk of her nightgown.

Her breathing slowly became fast and heavy… the warmth inside her abdomen scorched and the
dampness between her legs trickled… oh how much she wanted to tell him to take her now… yet her
words were swallowed by her moans… she could only wait… torturing herself from his sinful touch.

“Jiyong…. hmmm… please…”

Her voice trembled… tears filled her eyes from too much pleasure… she could feel herself slowly
reaching her edge. His tongue circled her nipple one last time before he pulled out with a pop and
gazed up at the lust-filled expression on her face.

“Oh… God, Dara…” He groaned as he reached for his boxers and pulled it down to release his aching
member…

He took a short intake of breath as his sensitive dick brushed against her thigh.

He lifted her hips and reached inside her nightgown to pull down her now drenched under wear, only
managed to release one of her legs from it and let it dangle on the other.

He leaned down to kiss her again… in haste… desperate… the end of her nightgown pooled on her
waist as he spread her legs wider and pulled her towards him.

Dara watched him in half-lidded eyes… her back arched off the bed once again and her mouth
formed into ‘o’ as Jiyong eased himself inside her in a one swift move.

They both groan from the intrusion. She was wet… tight and so warm that he feared for a moment
that his self-control would fail him and he would explode inside her immediately.
Dara reached for him and draped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
He settled on top of her for a while, not moving… letting her adjust from him. With one of his arms
wrapped around her waist as the other hooked her leg on it… he began to move.

Dara shut her eyes close and bit her lip, containing her moans… Jiyong’s head settled on her
shoulder… beads of sweat began to form on his forehead as he kept his slow rhythm… savoring the
feeling of her wet tight core.

And as he couldn’t control his moans… he latched his lips on her bare shoulders… molesting her soft
skin as he sucked and bit on it.

Dara gripped on his back… fisting on his sweat-drenched shirt as her body writhed from the
pleasure. She grinded her hips… lifted it to meet his slow deep thrust and when she felt she wanted
more, her other leg wrapped around his waist… pushing his hips.

“More… uhhh… please… Ji… uhh…”

And upon hearing it… he released her leg from his other arm… let it wrapped around his waist,
joining the other. Both of his arms circled along her waist and he began pummeling harder and faster
inside her…

Both their moans became louder… joining the sounds of their meeting flesh… their clothes became
drenched from their joined sweats… as their bodies writhed against each other.

His thrust became faster and more demanding… while her breathing became heavier and faster.
They were both near the edge of their desire yet still wanted more.

“Dara… Dara… I love you…”

He mumbled over and over again as he gazed on her face. She kept her eyes closed her lips were
parted as she was too drowned as the overwhelming pleasure flooded through her… unable to hear
him say the words.

“Oh God Jiyong…!” She gasped out the words as her body trembled and arched from her release.

With that, he leaned down and took her lips… felt her squeezed him… felt her walls quivering around
him as her warm juices coated his hardness. And it didn’t take a while for his face to contort… his
body stiffened and strings of hot sperm shot through her womb. He thrust in her for a while,
emptying himself before he completely collapsed on top of her.

They were both panting… spent and satisfied… He stayed on top of her for a while… not wanting to
break their connection but when she moaned from his heavy weight… he sighed and pulled out from
her and rolled over to her side.

After a while a smile crept on his lips as he gazed on his wife… she still looked so beautiful even
exhausted… the afterglow of their love making outlined her beauty even more.

Despite his tired body, he sat up and righted both of their clothes before he laid down beside her. She
was on her side… gazing up at him with her beautiful rounded eyes.
He scooped her in his arm and pulled her closer to him and kissed her on her forehead. And just then
he felt her drawing circles on his chest… he gazed down and looked at her in wonder.

Dara smiled at him before she reached up and pecked on his lips.

“I love you too Jiyong…”

He was startled for a moment before his smile grew wider. Hearing those words from her were
enough to make the uneasiness completely gone in him. He knew he shouldn’t fear whatever may
happen. They both loved each other… and that was what it all mattered.

--

Their breakfast was in complete silence… only the sounds of their utensils clinging against each other
could be heard. Just this morning, as they woke up in each others arms… Jiyong and Dara both had
inerasable smiles on their lips not until Jiyong found his parents in the dining table. He almost
forgot about them… almost forgot everything that happened yesterday aside from making love to his
wife.

Dara stayed at his side… holding his hand… squeezing it in comfort and whenever he would stop
from eating and gazed angrily at his parents. He looked like some kid or a wild beast that needed to
be held by his trainer. Yet his was grateful for Dara’s presence… he wanted to be civil as long as
possible and he didn’t want to make her worry even more.

“Jiyong… you need to talk with your brother.” And there went his father, finally breaking the
deafening silence.

Jiyong completely stopped from eating this time. Settling his plate aside, he gazed at his father. He
could see Dara at the corner of his eyes; looking at him in worry again… he reached for her hand and
held it tight on his thigh.

“I already did… last night…” he said in a cold, hard tone…

He glanced at Dara for a moment… answering her question as to where he went last night, before he
gazed back to his father. He saw the confused expression on his parents’ face but he stayed
impassive, wanting for this conversation to end sooner.

“What… how did it went? Jiyong, Yunho was very sorry for leaving us… you…”

His mother uttered sadly… and he flinched upon hearing how Yunho was sorry. No, he was not… he
wanted to tell them. He was not sorry because apparently, he was back to ruin everything again…

“And how’d I wish he didn’t come back…” He watched the horror in his mother’s face. He didn’t want
to hurt her feelings but it was inevitable… for once, he wanted them to know that they couldn’t
control him all his life.
“Jiyong… stop acting like a child. You didn’t want running the business… and now that you’re
brother’s back… you are now free to do what you want… isn’t that what you want?”

Mr. Kwon was exhausted from reaching out for his youngest son... he didn’t want for those words to
sound cruel as they had… yet how could he do this when he didn’t even know what Jiyong wanted.

Jiyong’s brows slowly met, the hold on Dara’s hand became tighter that made his wife gasp from
pain… anger filled him upon hearing what his father said.

‘Free to do what you want…’

The words chanted in his mind over and over again.

He felt sick… after everything he went through? They will just dispose of him as if he was just some
kind of substitute. Now that his brother was back… they will easily set him aside and give everything
back to his brother? He never felt so used before… just what was he in this family?

“Jiyong…”

And just then, Dara’s voice broke him out from his trance. He blinked, gazed down on their hands
and immediately released her hand from his tight grasp. Yet Dara didn’t let go as she held his hand
again and smiled at him despite the worry that was clear in her eyes.

Oh how he wanted to run from all of this and just be with her… Freedom was at arm’s length yet it
was his pride that prevailed this time. With that he gazed up to his parents… his eyes filled with
anger.

“No.” He told them, and his parents looked at him in wonder. Mr. Kwon stiffened on his seat as
Jiyong looked at him with such coldness in his eyes.

“I worked hard to get to this point… you will not dispose of me after all the things I’ve went through…
you will not do this to me again. You will not tell me what to do just what you’ve done to me before. I
will finish what I’ve started and not because your other son’s is back it doesn’t mean something will
change. I forgave you for what you’ve done to me before… but if you keep on running my life for me…
God help me, I may forget you are my parents.”

The stunned expressions on his parents’ face were enough for Jiyong to know that he made his point
clear. He didn’t know if his decision was right yet feeling superior for once… being the one to make
decisions for himself for a change felt completely different and good.

He stood up from his seat… holding on to Dara’s hand, he slightly tugged on her. Dara on the other
hand, gazed on Jiyong’s parents… her heart was breaking from what was happening… and she was
confused as to why was Jiyong doing this…

She gaze up… met her husband’s cold eyes before he smiled down to her.

“Come… I’ll drive us.”

She hesitated… wanted for everything to be settled first yet she didn’t even know if it was possible
now to repair this broken ties between Jiyong and his parents. With a heavy sigh she glanced to
Jiyong’s parents who nodded at her, their eyes looked at her apologetically as they smiled at her. And
even before Jiyong’s mom could bid them goodbye, Jiyong pulled her and dragged her out of the
house.

He guided her inside his car and quickly went to the driver’s seat. Without another word, he sped
off… driving fast… just to get away from their house as quickly as possible. He was driving really fast
and Dara felt scared for a moment that she held on to her seat. And when she noticed him drown in
his thoughts… she held on to his arm and called on to him.

Jiyong finally slowed down his car. Sighed and swerved to the side and parked his car.

He unbuckled both their seatbelts and without another word, he pulled her into his embrace.
Squeezing her body in his arms, he inhaled her scent and closed her eyes, seeking for refuge in her
warmth.

Dara was stunned for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him as well and gently stroked
his back.

“I don’t know what to do anymore…” She heard Jiyong [Link] settled her head on his
shoulder and kissed it as she continuously stroked his back, calming him. She wanted to tell him that
everything will be fine… everything will pass and worries will end yet she didn’t. Not when she
herself was not sure about it. After a while, he let out a long sigh.

“I don’t want to go to school…”

This time, Dara finally managed to smile from his words…for a moment, he sounded like a child. She
bit her lower lip before speaking.

“We can skip if you want.”

And with that, Jiyong pulled out from their hug and looked at her with raised brow.

“What a bad influence you are…” He teased and it was enough to make Dara blush and look down.

“I just thought… you wanted… well… it was just a suggestion-“

Jiyong chuckled and lifted her chin up to meet his gaze. He smiled at her flushed expression before
he leaned down and pecked on her lips.

“Let’s go somewhere, shall we…” He looked at her with warm eyes… far from those piercing cold eyes
from earlier. Oh how she wished he would be like this at all times… yet life was too cruel on him…
driving him to become a man she had feared in him before…

She nodded and buckled herself on her seat again… she gazed outside the window. The blue sky
gazed over them, the sun shined brightly indicating a bright new day… and she knew that being with
Jiyong would always have a beautiful new day she would always look forward to… despite the heart
aches and the pains during its darkest hours.