“Look! That’s the couple! They are so sweet together!”

“It’s JaeJoong & Kyung Me!”

“That’s Kyung Me! She’s the author & singer!”

Whispers surrounded us as we passed each and every one of them. We held hands as we strolled to a park nearby. A blushing smile spread on my face, while JaeJoong looked smug to have all the attention.

“Sorry, can we take a picture with you guys?” One high school came up to us, her friends stood a little away from us, giggling nonstop.

“Sure!” JaeJoong took her phone and snapped a picture.

“Thank you! Be happy!” She run away cheerfully back to her friends, breaking out in commotion as they look at the picture. After one successful request, people start coming up to us for pictures and photos. JaeJoong gladly accepted all request from the public. Some even congratulated us as we passed them.

“Can you sign the book for me?!” One fanatic guy came up running up to me.

“Sure!” I smiled, taking over the book.

“I love your book so much! The way you write & the messages you want to convey to the teenagers is just inspiring...” The guy went on and on about the book, throwing praises at me, completely ignored the existence of JaeJoong.

“Are you actually sulking?” I stared at JaeJoong’s face humorously. He ignored me, pouting childishly. I poked him in the arms, holding in my giggles. “Come’ on tell me what’s wrong? Jealous of that guy?”

“Yes! I am! Your popularity is even higher than mine now!” JaeJoong blurted out dissatisfied. At this point, I burst into an uncontrollable laughter. JaeJoong shot me unbelievable stare. “Stop laughing! It’s not funny!”

“It…It’s…fun…ny… alright!” I held on my stomach, wiping away the tears that streamed out due to the laughter. JaeJoong stood with his arms folded, waiting impatiently for my laughter to stop. Trying to calm down, I took his hands and swing them left and right like a kid. “Come’ on, international star! Don’t be jealous of this small Korean artist.”

“To me, you’re not small at all.” JaeJoong changed positions, hilding on to my wrist now and placed them on his chest. I blushed deeply, not knowing how to respond to such words. Maybe in my story I would write, “You’re my biggest star in my eyes. I love you too.”

But who could say that? I can’t!

“Aren’t you going to explain yourself a little on the ‘angry JaeJoong’?” I clenched my fist and punched him playfully in the chest, in hope to change the topic.

“Ah, about that…” JaeJoong rubbed his neck embarrassed. We continued our original path along the park. “I’m really sorry. I couldn’t bear to hurt you any further by keeping you by my side. After all those stories I heard from Hoya and my manager, I thought of the possibilities of our future. It was dim, really hopeless. But, my heart just can’t let go. That’s when I sunk into depression, not eating properly and sleeping.”

I glanced at him worriedly. How much had he gone through by himself?

JaeJoong continued, “As I post my emotions online, it caught the attention of my fans. They were concerned and upset for they realized the actual cause was them. Then, one day, Min Jing and my fan club came up to me saying that they are sorry for everything. They admit they went too far with the protest. But, they are still persistent on forbidding the relationship.”

“When you came back, I’m still afraid to bring you more hurt. I started doubting myself. That night you came, I was utterly surprised. My first reaction was to push you away, of course. Sorry about slamming the door.” JaeJoong apologized, holding up my hands.

“It’s alright, nothing too big.” I smiled, my hands already recovered from the slam. Then, I urge him as he massaged my hands. “Tell me more!”

“Everything was so bleak till, you came up with your book.” JaeJoong grinned at me, I grinned back. “It’s really inspiring. After a day after the release, people start twitting me about how the book changed their perspective of looking at things and how much they learned. Most importantly, you left me something valuable.”

“What is it?”

“Your book with your signature on it,” JaeJoong smiled at me brilliantly. That night, I left my book together with the souvenir in the box at his door. “Your first ever book, ‘A Book of Debt’. I was surprised at first. I thought you found the author. But, your pen name gave you away. That’s when I had an idea. I sent this piece of information to the publisher, anonymously. Min Jing, well, received a copy from me too. She came to me the next day, crying and requested me to bring her to you. Well, the story from then on you should know.”

“Sorry,” I apologized guilty, keeping my head down, stopping in my tracks.

“What for?!” JaeJoong asked bewildered, as he stopped too.

“For leaving and put you through all the torture,”

“No, it’s absolutely not your fault! Because if you hadn’t leave, then I won’t realize what’s going on, then I wouldn’t go into depression and then…” JaeJoong blabbed on till I covered his mouth.

“Arraso, thank you,” I leaned in, kissed him on the cheeks.