A full 2 weeks had gone past and you and Taeyang had barely spoken to one another, it was as if he was avoiding you. Not to mention that Professors were handing out essay assignments as if they were sweets, stress was getting to you which was just the icing on the cake.

You were with GD at his house one night, waiting for your parents to come home from work and not wanting to be alone you decided to spend your time with your 'wonderful' cousin. You both sat in his living room on his sofa, the TV on but the was volume so low that it was nothing more than background noise.

You allowed him to ramble on about several things, not paying attention in the slightest.

“~~~~~~ ah?” GD called, you looked at him.

“Yeah?” you replied dazedly.

He frowned at you; his woolly hat perched on his head made it hard for you to take him seriously.

“You’re ignoring me, I’m quite insulted,” he teased but when he saw that you didn't reciprocate his mood he stopped and put an arm around your small shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

You wanted to tell him but he would most probably tease you about it. GD was your older brother figure, the older brother you never had and although you were glad you had him - you also hated the fact that he acted too much like a brother and mocked you whenever he had the chance.

“It’s nothing, I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” you lied. Well...it wasn't completely a lie, you did have all those essays to think about but they weren't what bothered you the most.

GD snorted and threw a pillow into your lap. “Don’t lie to me, I’m not stupid…well not completely stupid.”

That succeeded in getting you to smile, and before you could control yourself you began to spill out all of your problems. GD sat patiently and kindly, listening to you whine about your professors, and the work load.

“Are you just going to sit there and nod?!” you asked irritated that he wasn’t responding, you knew you were being unfair and mean but he offered to listen and you'd at least expected him to throw in a little snide but playful remark. Maybe even some advice from him.

GD grinned. “Well, it depends. Will you hit me if I give you my verdict?”

You narrowed your eyes into slits. “It depends,” you said and crossed your arms over your chest.

“Well, maybe it’s just because you’re on your time of the month. Girls get y when they are,” GD said casually.

You took the pillow in your lap and attacked him with it, he screamed at you to stop his eyes shut and his hands held out protectively in front him. Smirking, you stopped and took a deep breath.

“You said you wasn’t going to hit me,” GD said his tone sharp but not angry. You leaned back into the sofa quite pleased with yourself.

“I said it depends, and what you said was NOT helpful,” you explained and stuck your tongue out at him. You felt GD shift uncomfortably beside you as if he was afraid you were going to begin assaulting him with the pillow again.

“Look, have you ever thought that the Professors are giving you more work so they can help you become a better student, and eventually turn into the most amazing doctor ever?”

You blinked at him, you forgot GD could come out with some sense sometimes. “No, I guess not.” When he put it like that, it seemed almost okay.

“Maybe they just want to push you to your best potential because they want to see you achieve what you want in life, they’re probably just trying to help.”

You gaped at him. “Who are you and what have you done with my cousin?” you teased, GD rarely said anything relevant or important but occasionally he would say meaningful things and give you the best advice you could ever hope for.

GD smiled. “Ha, ha. Very funny,” but he studied your expression and noticed that you were still hiding something. He never missed anything. “There’s more.”

You huffed. “How do you do that?!”

“Do what?!”

“Know when I’m not finished letting it all out?”

GD smirked and gently tapped the side of his nose. “I have my ways, so what else is it?”

You hesitated and tried to find the best way to put it without sounding desperate and needy and also pathetic, but you couldn’t because it is pathetic.

“It’s Taeyang,” you admitted. You expected GD to laugh and tease you, but when you looked up at his face the fury was evident, a fury so feral it tore through you. His nostrils flared and his eyes full of rage, he said nothing for a full minute as you sat opposite him waiting in dreaded silence for GD to say something. Wow, he must really not like Taeyang, you thought.

“What about him?” GD asked his voice low and serious but you were glad to see his face was much more composed and calm, when you figured it was safe to answer you crossed your legs and faced him.

“It’s nothing too big actually, he’s just been avoiding me I think,” you said, you thought you saw GD sigh in relief but you wasn’t sure. “Ever since the whole car crash thing, he’s kind of been giving me the cold shoulder. Like he’s afraid to be near me.”

GD’s eyes turned dark and it was hard for you to read them, you wasn’t sure if he was angry again or he was thinking. GD felt like laughing darkly. If only you knew ~~~~~~~ ah, if only you knew, he thought to himself.

“I wouldn’t worry, the guy seems like a anyway,” GD said turning back into his normal self, you scoffed and glared at him.

“And you know this how? Because you’re one yourself?” you asked him heatedly. GD cocked a brow at your question.

“Come on ~~~~~ ah, the guy seems like a complete idiot and he hangs around by himself like a freak. Trust me, you don’t want to be mixing with his type,” GD warned you, and you could tell there was a seriousness in his warning but you couldn’t even begin to fathom what that might even mean.

Scowling you picked up the remote and turned the TV volume up.  “Well, he seems nice to me. Don’t judge Taeyang when you don't even know him.”

GD grinned darkly. I know him better than you could imagine, he thought.

-

-

-

Days later, you were with Remi walking over to your next class.

“I’ll see you later,” you waved goodbye to her and walked into the classroom. You stopped in your tracks in a happy surprise at the newest company you had at your table.

Taeyang sat on his stool, his biceps flexed as he rested his head on his hands. His clothes clung perfectly to his delectable body, and his eyes were fixed on the board. You couldn’t help but notice that as you approached him, an invisible cloud of danger surrounded him so thick you swore you could touch it with your hand.

“Hey,” you said cheerily as you sat down beside him.

Taeyang gave you a quick smile before looking back at the board dismissing you cruelly, annoyed and hurt at him you ignored him as well.

Taeyang couldn’t concentrate with you so close to him. Damn the Professor for making me sit nearer the board, he cursed inwardly.

Your sweet scent swirled around him, and his mouth watered at the thought of dipping his head down and kissing your lips till you begged him for mercy.

*Keep you mind focused* a gruff voice in his mind warned him. He tried to obey his conscious but it was getting more difficult every darn day. It pained him to see you ignore him like this, he knew he deserved it but he enjoyed your forever optimistic smile and your laughter. He hated the fact that he made you miserable, you didn’t have to tell him what his coldness did to you. He could feel it radiating off you.

*You have a duty. You swore an oath* the gruff voice that was his conscious reminded him harshly, he cleared his throat and tired to move away from you as much as he could.

You wanted to shrivel up and hide as you heard Taeyang’s stool slowly move away from you, you had to give him credit…he moved with so much grace that a ballet dancer would envy him but it annoyed you that he did do it in the first place.

“Okay, begin the experiment. And please for the love of god, do not spill anything,” the Professor forewarned the class before sending them off.

“I guess you’re my partner for today,” Taeyang said his eyes boring into your own emerald green ones. Trying to match his indifference, you nodded and headed off to get the equipment you needed without a word to him.

Several minutes into the experiment, you barely talked. And the awkwardness was almost too much to bear, but you didn’t want to give up. You wanted him to admit that he was the one in the wrong. You continued to ignore him, and only spoke to him when necessary.

“Can you get me that?” you pointed to a measuring cylinder, not taking your eyes off the apparatus. Actually it was more like trying to keep your eyes off of Taeyang. It was extremely disturbing to have him this close to you, he was the biggest distraction ever. His strong, powerful and lethal aura should have frightened you because it seemed to frightened everyone else but it didn’t stop you from wanting to be friends with him at least.

He passed you the measuring cylinder in silence, you sighed and continued on.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Taeyang said suddenly  as you poured a solution into the cylinder. Annoyed to the brink of hitting him, you breathed out through your nose and stepped away, slamming the measuring cylinder down on the desk but carefully enough as not to spill anything.

“Fine, you can do it. Since you seem know everything,” you replied grumpily, your cheeks were most probably flushed from the anger.

Taeyang bit back a smile at your adorable attitude, he knew you wanted to seem tough and capable but in all honestly you looked more like a baby tiger having a mini tantrum. He’d never seen anything more amusing in his life, but then again he’d barely learnt to laugh till recently. That sobered his mood.

Taeyang took the solution and did as the Professor had instructed. You frowned. Damn, I was wrong, you thought.

Taeyang had poured it in the beaker and stirred. “There, now you just have to stir for the next 5 minutes.” He handed you the stirring rod.

You cast him a suspicious looks. “Are you sure I can handle such a big task,” you said sarcastically as you stirred the solution from left to right.

Taeyang hid a smile, he found you charming and sweet. He felt something warm inside him building, it was frightening and nothing but pure bliss. Around you he felt worthy and almost normal but deep down inside him he knew that he was nothing but common filth.

Besides, he couldn’t get too close to you. The results could be catastrophic.

Taeyang leant on his elbows against the table. “Well, you know me. I want to get the little people involved,” he teased.

Your cheeks flushed a flattering shade of red, and as much as you willed yourself to be angry at him you just couldn’t bring yourself to it.

“I’m about to hold a flask of sulphuric acid, so if we you want to keep your lovely skin intact, I suggest you help me,” you snapped but it was nothing more than playful bantering.

You felt Taeyang’s heavy gaze on you, you wanted to look at him but you were afraid that if you did you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from running your hand down his cheek.

“You think I have lovely skin?” he asked, your cheeks reddened even more from embarrassment. You tried to save yourself.

“I meant you think you have lovely skin,” but it was no use, you really were a terrible liar. One side of Taeyang’s mouth quirked up into a charming smile, making your heart drum faster and faster.

“I guess I can help…” Taeyang pointed to the apparatus, you were about to move aside for him but he stood directly behind you encasing you in his powerful arms that made you shiver in delight.

You didn’t realize that something like this could make you feel so…wanted. His scent was a mixture of his own manly smell and expensive cologne that made you want to inhale deeply. So much for ignoring him, you thought to yourself dejectedly.

Taeyang wanted to gasp at how perfectly you fit against him; how he wished he was born into a boring family and lived an incredibly boring life. He wished that he was in a better situation than in his current one. Damn my life, he thought.

“Keep stirring…” Taeyang said,  his lips close to your ear. His hot breath raising goose bumps on your neck, gods this guy was amazing.

“Not bad,” Taeyang commented, but he spoke too soon. Excited that you had gotten praise from him, you began to stir more vigorously till the contents spilled over onto the desks. Both of you jumping back, you quickly grabbed tissues from the lab sink while Taeyang hurriedly moved both your notes away from the spillage.

“Did you two not listen to my warning before we began?” the Professor asked, his glasses at the tip of his nose. You both nodded your head meekly, but you wanted to laugh. You’d never seen Taeyang loose composure like that, his calm demeanour always made you wander if he ever was anxious.

The professor left with a shake of hos head and the two of you flew to the desk and began to clean up.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Taeyang repeated over low chuckles, and you couldn’t help but giggle along.

Taeyang enjoyed sharing laughter with you and by the time you both had finished clearing up the class was over.

“Well thanks for the…eventful lesson,” you said, as you struggled to find the right word for it. You saw a twinkle in his eyes, assuring you that he too thought it was eventful. “I’ll see you around.”

“~~~~~~ ah,” he called after you. The way he said your name made you smile in delight, it sounded smooth and pleasing to the ears.

“Yes?”

“Want to grab a bite to eat with me?” he asked, his hands in his pockets. You wanted to laugh at how shy he had become, for a guy who was incredibly good looking he seemed to lack flirting skills. It shouldn’t have surprised you, he had turned down more girls than you could have thought possible.

“Sure why not,” and you quickly skipped to his side.

Taeyang was glad you had accepted his invitation, but soon regretted asking you. He had no idea what to do, how to act or even what to say. He lacked social skills; nobody thought he would ever need it for what he had to do. His orders were to stay low and complete his duties, gods how he wanted to escape from them so bad but it was too late to go back.

-

-

-

Remi and GD were with the others, and they were goofing around.

“Is that ~~~~~ ah?” Daesung asked, pointing to a short girl next to a tall well built guy. TOP looked and squinted, then nodded in agreement.

“I guess it is, who’s with her.”

GD stood up so fast it was nothing but a hazy blur, he began to stalk off in your direction but he was pulled back by Remi.

“No oppa, not now. It’ll be too much of a public display,” she hissed at him, her eyes nervous. GD growled and glared at Taeyang’s back.

“He shouldn’t be anywhere near her,” GD snarled through clenched teeth, Remi took his hand into hers and squeezed it tight.

“I know, but don’t worry we’re here to look out for her,” she turned behind her. “Right guys?”

“Of course,” Daesung, TOP and Seung Ri all agreed. GD sighed and nodded in defeat.

“I swore an oath Remi, to protect ~~~~~~ ah-…”

Remi cupped his face in her small hands. “And you have, no one doubts you. But it’s all working out according to plan, in due time we will be able to make a move.”

Her words comforted GD and he soon relaxed by her side.

“You’re right. Everything will happen soon.”