Had she ever felt this way before in any man’s territory? Had she actually ever risked herself in any man’s territory she thought afterwards? ‘Never’, yet she found herself drawn into this man’s heart, soul so deep that she was the one initiating steps towards her own loss. Lost in his zone.

- I wish I could welcome you better than this, I never thought that the first time you would come to my place would be while my brother is running away from his marriage only few hours after he tied the knot…in fact I’ve never imagined any of what happened this evening…he said embarrassed and taking her coat and bag from her as she was silently roaming his space with her eyes and smiling at his comment. He had fine taste. It was a dark but very warm interior, cozy with a lot of sensibility. It looked like him. He had chosen a dark grey color for the walls contrasting with the floor to ceiling windows. There was a luxurious approach of an industrial influence in the dining room given to the chairs in smooth metallic upholstery. There was a huge wine rack with perforated steel shelves matching the dining room and the living room, as it was the separation between both spaces. The red bottles of wine, the pillows on the couch and few houseplants added colors in the dark environment. The kitchen was modern and useful; the stools represent the sole sculptural touch enhanced by designer’s objects.

- So you’ve been thinking about it…she finally said breaking his nervous imagination as he was trying to guess what she was thinking while looking around his place.

- About what? He asked.

- About me coming to your place…she said this time locking eyes with him before going to the rack of wine. He laughed.

- Pretty much all the time since I heard you were back in town. He honestly confessed as she stopped on her track needing some time to process what he’d just said. He saw her froze on her spot and regretted immediately his words. He needed to be careful; the last thing he wanted was to scare her. He knew it. It’s just that there was this part of him wanting to throw his feelings at her. Constantly. – Do you want some wine? I’ll open a bottle for you…

- No…no…it’s really nice of you but let’s do that another time…I don’t think you’re in the mood for that…

- So you’re willing to come back…shall I get your written commitment…he asked as she laughed and he felt relieved at the light mood.

- No you’re gonna have to trust my words…

- I’ll try…he said after faking hesitance only to .

- Is it ok If I run to the shower I’ll be very quick-

- Yes please go don’t mind me…

- Make yourself confortable, if you want to drink eat order-

- Oppa…please go…she ordered as he tried to add something before resigning and leaving. She looked at him disappear and couldn’t help but put her hand on her chest as she felt her heart taken by this overwhelming feeling taking slowly her whole body. She felt a wave of tenderness filling her whole body and he was the only object of it. She had to restrain herself from hugging him tighter than she ever hugged anyone and hushing him that “everything was going to be fine” but she couldn’t, she didn’t trust herself, she didn’t trust him either. He happened to be the person also who had made her feel the emptier when suddenly disappearing leaving her to the worst. She shook her hand at these sad thoughts and decided to make some tea to ease her mind. It was almost 2 in the morning. She could’ve gone for coffee to stay awake but ironically her mind and body were too excited. She need to ease herself, she needed to calm down. She closed her eyes waiting for the water boil and worked on her breathing when she jumped out of surprise when a phone started ringing. She looked around then proceeded to the room where the sound seemed to be coming. His office. It was dark but she could see the landline from where the sound was coming. It was too late. The person had hung up. She thought of ignoring it and waiting for him to come out when it started ringing for the second time. She took the receiver and walked towards the bathroom that was on the opposite of the flat when she decided to take the call after she realized it was past 2 in the morning and his brother was nowhere to be found. This must be important.

- Why the hell you’re not answering your mobile, I’ve called you more than 10 times, your brother is missing for god’s sake do you know how tensed I am right now, DO NOT ADD UP TO MY TENSION-

- He’s in the shower… she spoke carelessly as she realized her phone was going off as Gongju was calling her. Who is it?

- Who the hell are you?

- Huh do you need to be that rude? If I recall this conversation I don’t think you had the chance to introduce yourself either? She spoke as the other woman scoffed. Did he have girlfriend, a fiancée, this would explain so much things. She felt anger filling her blood when the woman spoke again:

- Since when do I need to introduce myself while calling my own son? Now her blood froze. His mother. Obviously it made much more sense.

- …

- Excuse me?

- Well I guess you have the right to be rude…

- Oh you think? I didn’t know I would live that long to witness my two sons getting that wasted, one decides to disappear after surviving two hours of marriage and the other is having in his house like his family is not about to crash down… oh and I just revealed her for the second time in less than 10 seconds a secret she can use to extort money from me for the rest of her life…

- Mrs. JI you’re seriously being overdramatic right now. First of all I don’t need your money. Second, it’s not what you think. I haven’t slept with your son. At least not tonight. Thirdly, the situation is under control. We know where your son is and our people are on their way to him, they should reach him in one hour. Please calm down.

- Who the hell are you?

- I’m sorry but I absolutely can’t reveal my identity, you’re just going to have to trust my words.

- Who are you talking to? He spoke a little concerned dressed in his bathrobe drying his hair with a towel.

- Oh oppa…it’s-

- Oh my god. You’re younger than him?

- Excuse me?

- You’re younger than my son, my son never slept with a woman younger than him. Now I’m curious…W-h-o-a-r-e-y-o-u?

- And here I thought you were already tensed, I see not enough to calm down your curiosity…she teased as she woman let a small scoff before adding:

- Especially when my elder-bachelor-heir-son’s love life is involved…spoke sarcastically the other woman as she felt her heart skip a beat as she mentioned, “love”.

- It was really nice to speak with you but let’s pretend this conversation never happened. At least for now. She added before handing the receiver to him: - your mother…

- WHAT?

- Don’t reveal my identity I’m not ready…she spoke as he looked at her with a mix of amused  and confused expression.

- Mom? I’m sorry I was in the- huh wait a second…you said you’re not ready?

- Yes…she frowned at him as she had gone to her phone dialing Gongju's number. Haven’t he started a conversation with his mom?

- So you’re saying that you might be one day…

- Shut up and talk to you mom!

- Yes mom…what’s going on?

- You mean beside the fact that you lil bro is missing and you’re lovey-doving around, now I’m worried, she’s not one your no strings attached Noonas isn’t she? Who-is-she?

- Mom not now, you said it yourself Mino is missing, what’s going on?

- You have to be careful, I think his father in law found out…

- Yes I know don’t worry we have it under control…

- What do you mean you know? How do you know?

- WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS COMING HERE…Ok ok I got it… I got it don’t worry I’ll fix it… He glanced at her frowning.

- Oppa we have a problem…she spoke after hanging up the phone.

- Mom I’ll call you later ok…

- What’s going on… what do you mean pro-

- Mom…trust me everything is going to be fine…I’ll call you later…what?

- Park Dae Chul is coming to your place.

- WHAT?

- He’s on his way he should be there in 5 minutes…

- How…why…what do I do? Pretend I’m not here?

- No of course not…you’ll have to open...

- I have to dress up-

- No actually don’t, you’re gonna have to act really surprise…like what the hell are you doing here…

- Well I don’t think I would need to pretend…

- No but not in a way “lord did he find out my bro is missing” but more like “I’m chilling home” kind of way…

- At 2:20 in the morning? He spoke as his interphone went off. – Oh my lord…

- Calm down…she whispered. Take your time, play the game…pretend everything is alright…he knows you’re fixing the situation he’s gonna try to defeat you sooner and you can’t let him do that so as far as you’re concerned your brother is at the Shilla banging his newly wife ok?

- Huh yeah well you didn’t have to be that precise…it rang for a second time.

- I should get it…

- Take your time…its 2:30 in the morning…he's interrupting you... I’ll be hidding in your room…just breath ok…you can do it…she ran to his room where she put her ears against the wall but that was the most soundproof wall she’s ever had the chance to try. No wonder he absolutely didn’t hear the landline opposite his room. She saw her phone going off as he was calling her she took the call and realized he was giving her a chance to listen to the conversation.

- Park Dae-nim? What a surprise to see you here…at this time…I…I’m sorry I’m absolutely not presentable…he said looking at himself. – Is everything all right?

- Were you expecting someone else?

- Pardon me?

- It’s 2:30 in the morning, you look fresh and showered, shouldn’t you be sleeping…

- I…he looked towards his room. I actually ordered some food…I was waiting for the delivery guy…I have insomnia. ‘Oh my god’ she whispered to herself. He was bad. Very bad. She needed to do something.

- Oh really…funny for someone who haven’t slept since almost 20 hours, your little brother getting married must have really got into your mind…or is it something else that kept your mind busy…spoke the old man now in the middle of his flat scanning around.

- I don’t see what your talking about sir…but what about you? What does make your mind so busy to come to my place at 2:30 in the morning? Is everything all right?  ‘Good’…she thought. That was a better move.

- Well…I married my daughter, my only one and precious daughter…you know how painful is it…

- I…I can imagine sir…he spoke feeling the tension the elder was building.

- No you can’t. He answered coldly. - I never agreed on that wedding. he stated now taking place on his couch.  - I never liked your brother. I don’t trust him. He spoke again as he looked at him. He didn’t answer anything. He knew anything coming out from his mouth would be dangerous. - He’s an empty shell. A weak man who thought of ending his life because of mere school love. He clenched his fists, crooked his head. This was not going anywhere good. Then he realized she had probably heard what he tried so hard to keep as a secret. Yes she had heard it. She put a hand in to to restrain her gasp of horror.

- We…weren’t happy with that wedding either Park Dae-nim…he said this time acting as his guts told me too as she widened her eyes.  

- Excuse me?

- Your daughter wasn’t an ideal choice for us either…

- Why not? Shouted this time the man standing up and as his voice betrayed his emotions. - What is wrong with my daughter beside the fact that she literally got obsessed with someone who will never love her the quarter that she does, beside the fact that she decided to dedicate her whole self to someone who doesn’t deserve it? What’s wrong with my daughter Chang-wook-ssi so that these chaebols would humiliate her in the most important day of her life… you tell me what is wrong with my daughter? He stood silent, closed his eyes and took a breath. Having her hearing the conversation was definitely not a good idea.

- What do you want sir; I’m not sure to understand your motives.

 -Warn you.

- Warn me?

- If I were to find out that your scum brother mistreated my daughter I won’t stay still, I-

- If you insult my brother one more time sir I’m afraid I’ll be the one who won’t be able to stay still. He spoke this time his anger taking the best of him as he saw the man widening his eyes before letting a small laugh, then another one. Then another one. He frowned at the scary vision.

- You’re threatening me? Spoke the man in disbelief.

- You should leave…

- And now you’re throwing me out, I see your parents have mastered your education haven’t they?

- Listen to me you-

- Oh my god I’m so hungry, is the food- Omo…ahjusshi…she spoke faking innocence and bringing her hands to . He widened his eyes. Her hair was wet as she was dressed in one of his bathrobe that thankfully was big enough to cover most of her body but the vision still spoke for itself.  The old man’s eyes ball were about to stick out before he looked away.

- Chang wook SSI, you should’ve told me you had some visit, I – he stopped on his track as another person rang at the door.

- That must be the food…I’ll get it! She spoke heading to the door, the food? He was trying to understand how did she managed to make his lie a truth when he snapped back:

- Subin let me get it, you’re-

- Don’t worry Oppa I’ve got the money as she quickly grabbed her wallet left on the kitchen… she winked at him, as the scary man seemed suddenly very amused by the situation. She had just given him much more than what he came for in the first place.

- I wasn’t really referring to the money…he spoke for himself putting his fingers on his forehand.

- Hi…here you go, you can keep the change thank you!  She quickly opened the door and took the pizza from the delivery guy who had his eyes wide open at the situation in front of him.

- I should leave…well Chang-wook ssi…Subin-ssi…spoke the old man stealing a glance at her and proceeding to the door from where she was standing with the pizza still in hand.

- Also ahjusshi…I hope you could forget what happened tonight…my father doesn’t know about us, he would kill me… can I count on you Ahjusshi? She spoke not really embarrassed but faking some whining as the old man cleared his throat.

- Of course Agassi… you know I’ve always been on your team don’t you? He spoke as she let a small laugh of disbelief.

- I know…she answered with the same meaningful look as he disappeared. She rested her body on the door with her fists firmly clenched. – Freaking Monster…

- What the hell did just happened, are you mad??? “Ahjusshi”, “team” since when were you that closer to him?

- My family has been financing that political party for decades you didn’t think I was going to “Park-Dae-nim” him around? She spoke confidently as he couldn’t help but remember a particular friend of him.

- You do know that the first thing he’s gonna do after meeting your father is to point out your little secret, he’s got your weakness now, he-

- Not if I tell him first…

- What?

- It won’t be a secret if I tell my father first. She spoke seriously. He frowned.

- I’m not sure to understand here… he crooked his head.

- We’re going official. That’s what it means… she added walking towards the room hoping to avoid the confrontation.

- You didn’t have to do that.

​- I know.

- Then why did you do it?

- Why didn’t you tell me?

- Tell you what?

- That Mino had tried to...to  kill himself. All that time I was bashing on him in front of you, blaming him for dumping my best friend for breaking her heart for…she stopped as her voice cracked, took a breath and added: - what exactly happened in London?

- Look…he took also a deep breath. Whatever happened none of them was at wrong, they both had their heart broke and-

- So she dumped him. She’s the one who broke up with him right?

- Sue…

- Is that why you never told me, because you didn’t want me to feel ‘guilty’?

- You don’t owe me or my brother anything…you should’ve stayed in that room you should’ve have not came out from that room, you don’t know what you got in yourself to, you-

- I know exactly what I got myself into Oppa! She shouted cutting his words as he widened his eyes – god you still see me as a little girl don’t you? He frowned. If we’re gonna do this you’re gonna have to stop trying to control me because guess what ...you can’t…

- You think I haven’t figured yet?

- Then why do you keep on taking decisions for both of us?

- Oh so now I’m the one who takes decisions for both of us? Weren’t you the one who set up the rules of this game from day 1? Wasn’t I the one left with no option but to go with it?

- Oh yes and you did play the game diligently, or at least you pretended thinking that I wasn’t mature enough to know what I really wanted or needed which might be true somehow but you never had the guts to confront me, or challenge me in a game where you also happen to be a player, thus you decided by yourself what would be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ for both of us, you decided by yourself that it would be right to leave me…

-  but Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? he yelled not believing what he'd heard. 

- No that’s what you thought I wanted! She yelled back at him using the same tone as he widened his eyes lost in the demeanor of their talk. Never have they really talked about it, not because he didn’t want to. Because he thought she wouldn’t want to. He always thought ‘something’ when it came to her.

- What do you want then? He dared to ask more calm now.

- I want you to stop thinking for me. She simply stated very calm too and relieved. – If I want to do something for you you’re going to have to let me do it. If I decide to confront my dad you’re gonna have to let me handle it…

- Sue it’s just that-

- You don’t owe anything either Oppa. You can’t protect me from my own wishes or feelings. What’s the worst thing that could happen? What are you  afraid of? That I get my heart broke? Well I’m free to take the risk… and as a matter of a fact you already did…she said as he looked up to her at the last words not knowing what to say or to add. When he thought of knowing everything she had to blow his mind again. – Are we good now? She added after a small but awkward silence. She wanted to give him a way out. She hadn’t planned to throw her thoughts at him, especially not tonight. He was already going through a lot.

- Good…we…we’re good…he said still a bit disturbed but thankful for her move.

- Great…now all of this made me really hungry let’s eat…she spoke running towards the pizza and making herself confortable in his space. Now he knew it. He felt it. The fact that opposite of what he thought would be possible. She did care. A lot, much more than she imagined. And it made him feel stupidly and terribly happy.