“Gotcha.” His deep, calm voice huskily whispered into her ear.

She shivered lightly at the contact of his breath against her slender neck. His agile hands s around her slim, fit waist and rested there while he gently pressed his toned chest to her back. A short gasp escaped her pink, pouty lips when she felt herself enclosed by her lover’s warmth.

“How’d you find me?” She questioned, leaning her entire body further into his strong safe arms.

Head leaning back and resting on his shoulder, she peeked up from her long lashes to his flawless, smooth face. A serene smile grazed his full lips as his dark brown eyes looked into her chestnut brown ones. The heat of her blush tainting her silky skin crept up slowly.

“I could find you anywhere, love.” He simply replied, tightening his grasp on her.

She seemed so small and fragile in his arms by the way he held her. It was like she would break with the slightest of touch, but he knew better than that. His girl was strong – stronger than any ox out there.

“Oppa, don’t you have to go back?” Her velvet voice came out a whisper.

Slowly turning her around, he cupped her face and gently kissed her lips. He tenderly brushed over , passionately devouring her sweet breath. Melting to his touch, she feverishly kissed him back, enjoying the intimate moment they were sharing. Her soft hands travelled up his chest and into his thick tousle of hair.

“I don’t have to go back... not tonight.” He told her, pulling away to catch his breath.

She graciously smiled up at him, bumping her forehead to his “Can you teach me to play the piano then? I’ve been dying to learn.”

With a nod, he pecked her lips once more and closely held her body in his embrace. “Of course, love. Of course.”

-----

“Aisha! Where the hell were you last night? Everyone was looking for you, girl. Especially a Mr. Kim Junsu. Do you know he went ballistic finding out you gone missing? It was totally hilarious.” Tiffany whined, tugging on her friend’s arm.

Laughing heartily, Aisha watched the perky girl continue on with her ranting. The two chatted for a few more minutes before they headed to meet up with another friend of theirs. They were getting fitted for an upcoming wedding. Her bestfriend’s wedding.

“So tell me. There’s a guy, right? Who is he? Who’s got my dear Aisha all bundled up that she forgot about me and a certain guy? Come on, spill it.” Tiffany squealed, trying to dish out some gossip from her friend.

Aisha rolled her eyes and entered the shop. “No one, Tiff. There’s no one. Now stop talking before Jessica hears you. You know she loves a good gossip.”

“Gossip? What’s new?” Jessica suddenly popped out of nowhere, startling both the girls.

Clutching her chest, Aisha shook her head and ignored the two giggling girls. She headed farther inside the receiving area and browsed through the numerous collections of dresses that were all on display. Some were splashes of color, others the traditional white. As she imagined herself in one particular dress that caught her eye, she hadn’t noticed the pair of piercing eyes on her back.

“Oppa!” Jessica’s excited voice bounced around the room.

Looking back, Aisha caught a glimpse of her friend hugging her dear fiancée. A small pang of pain struck her heart while she gazed at the two lovers entangled with one another. Shifting her gaze away from the sight before her, she looked at Tiffany make her way to greet the soon-to-be-groom.

“Yoochun-sshi! It’s nice to see that you’re here.” Tiffany said a little annoyed.

Yoochun smiled politely, eyes still on a certain person. “Nice to see you too, Tiffany.”

Approaching cautiously, Aisha kept her head down. “Yoochun-sshi.” Her voice small and supple.

He sadly casted a smile at her, seeing she was avoiding his eyes. “Aisha-yah. You’re here again, I see. What a great friend you are, always by my baby’s side. Unlike some people I know.”

“What? Yah! Yoochun-sshi! Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Cuz you better not, if you know what’s good for you!” Tiffany retorted, completely upset from the words said.

Laughing happily, Jessica hugged her man tighter and cuddled in her face to his chest. Aisha slightly cringed, once again, catching sight of the two closely together. She quickly glanced to some uninteresting dresses behind her and averted feeling more hurt than she already was. Yoochun saw her fighting the urge to cry. Guilt raged inside of him, hating seeing her feel sad. Though he wanted to pull away from the woman in his arms and hug the girl he truly loved, he couldn’t do anything – well, not at that moment.

The four of them continued their business in the shop. It took 3 long hours of fitting dresses, stolen glances, and sweet kisses before they finally finished. When everything was settled, they all bid their goodbyes and parted home.

-----

Yoochun shut his eyes. Memories of the previous night replayed in his mind. Butterfly kisses over smooth, perfect skin and audible contented sighs fluttered to his thoughts. The sight of an innocent angel laid against black mahogany wood kept playing back over and over while pants, grunts, and moans clearly echoed in his ear. A pulsating tightness from deep within the pit of his stomach surged out to the sole person he was connected both physically and emotionally. Her voice murmuring his name off her pure lips...

“Oppa? Are you ok? You’re sweating.” Jessica’s voice broke through his revenue.

Coming down from his high, he opened his eyes to the bright light of his room. Greeting him back to reality was a concerned face. He gave her a small smile, adjusting himself on the leather seat to accommodate her on his lap.

“I’m fine. Just tired.” He explained, wrapping his arms across her waist.

“Seems like you’re sick. Did you eat something you didn’t like?” Jessica asked, checking his forehead for a fever.

He courteously pushed her hand away and shook his head. “Stop worrying, will you? I’m not a child that needs to be taken care of. Ok?”

“Are you getting cold feet?” She abruptly inquired, biting her lower lip.

With a defeated sigh, he buried his face to the croon of her neck. “No. It’s not that. I’m just exhausted, that’s all. This wedding thing is all tiring and I just want it over.” He lied.

Truthfully, it wasn’t about the wedding preparations. It was the wedding itself. He wasn’t planning to get engaged to Jessica. He was forced to. By some God-forbidden reason, his mother had decided to interfere with his life and decided, for him, to marry the daughter of the Jung’s. Of course, it’s not that it was a bad idea, but he was already planning something else – or more like someone else. He wanted to marry Aisha.

Ever since he met her on a subway in New York, he fell completely head-over-heels for her. She was the whole package – intelligent, polite, charming, gorgeous. She was everything he wanted, everything he needed. Being together for 2 whole years, he knew that they were meant for a lifetime. A lifetime that was now bound to someone he didn’t love.

“Ahh. I see. Why don’t we... elope. It’s much simpler and costs less. I can always ask Aisha to witness for us...” Jessica started chatting.

Heaving a sigh again, he raised his hand to stop her. “Eloping is for those whose parents don’t approve of their union. Both our parents approve of our coming together, so there is no need to elope. With the cost and everything, it doesn’t matter. Money is not the issue. I just dislike having to follow up on so many things that don’t require my attention. If you know what I mean. THAT’S what I was trying to say.”

“OOH. Ok.” She squeaked and shut .

Yoochun kindly smiled and helped her off. Rising from the chair, he picked up his jacket that sat on the stool across from him and wore it. He kissed his fiancée’s forehead and headed out.

“I’ll take a walk. Don’t wait up for me.” He said, fully leaving her alone.

-----

KNOCK.KNOCK.

Aisha stumbled out of her bed to the sounds of a knock on her door. Quickly wearing her robe, she loosely tied a knot around her waist and rushed over the persistent visitor she had.

“Hold on. I’m almost there.” She cried, hurrying up her pace.

Unhooking the chain and unlocking the lock, she flung the door open. Her eyes widened in acknowledgment to who was banging on her door. Taking a step back, she let the person in and shut the door close.

“You shouldn’t be here. Jessica will look for you.” She spoke, her voice still cracking from sleepiness.

“She won’t. I told her I was going for a walk... Why aren’t you wearing descent clothes by the way?” Yoochun snapped back at her, his attention to the large grand piano resting in the far west of her living room.

She scoffed, securing the robe over her body. “If you haven’t realized, it’s already night time. I don’t need to wear descent clothes when I’m already sleeping. Now get out! I want some rest.”

Whipping around to face her, he closed the short gap between them with 3 long strides and towered over her. He sharply glared into her eyes, seeing the challenge in them. Taking in a deep breath, he groaned at her nightwear, cursing the way it snugly fit her curves.

“Not if you’re answering the door, you do. What if it wasn’t me there? What would you do if some maniac came in and you once you opened up? Do you think wearing THAT would help you? I beg to differ. From now on, you’ll no longer wear whatever you are wearing... not as long if you’re showing me that is.” He glowered, but immediately grinned.

Before Aisha could answer back, Yoochun cupped her nape and yanked to his. He crushed his hungry lips over hers; taking everything and anything she could offer. Prying his hand to the dainty robe of hers, he tore it off and threw it across the room. Pulling away, she eyed him evilly turning to see where her clothing went off to.

“Yah! That cost alot! You shouldn’t have ripped it.” She exclaimed, crossing her arms across her chest.

He chuckled at the sight of her keyed up over a piece of clothing and pulled her into a hug. “I’ll buy you another one. I’ll buy you anything. I’d give you all I have and all I own. I love you, Aisha. I love you so much.”

“Yoochun oppa... please... don’t say that...” Aisha began, a little caught off guard.

“I’ll say what I want to! I love you! Why can’t you see that? Is it because you don’t love me in return?” Yoochun nearly yelled at her, emotions built up.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t deny his true feelings anymore. The more he tried, the more he couldn’t. It felt like it was eating him from the inside out if he continued to. He just couldn’t take it.

“I do love you, oppa... It’s just I can’t. It’s not right. I don’t want to hurt Jessica. She’s my bestfriend and hurting her is something I can’t do. You know that.” She begged, increasing the gap between them again.

But he closed it, refusing her to move an inch. “How about hurting me? Can you do that? GOD! Aisha, I hate this. I hate that I can’t love you. I hate seeing you and not be able to hug and kiss you. I hate this engagement I’m in. I hate all of it. Why can’t we just go back to the way things used to be? When you were just Aisha, the girl I met 2 years ago, and I was just Yoochun, the boy you fell in-love with? No more Jessica’s bestfriend and Jessica’s fiancée, but just us. Why can’t we do that?”

“It’s because we can’t and we shouldn’t. I love you Yoochun. I really really do, but choosing between you and Jessica is like choosing between whether to breathe or not. It’s just impossible to do. I’m sorry oppa. I’m sorry.” Aisha responded, finally getting out of his touch.

Nodding slowly, he brushed passed her and to the door. Before stepping out, he looked back at her one more time and sadly sighed.

“I’m sorry too, Aisha. Sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. Remember, whatever happens I’ll always love you. You and no one else.” With that, he was gone.

-----

Tears fell from her eyes. Jessica called her up that morning and said that Yoochun – her Yoochun – was dead. Throwing the phone across the empty living room, she bawled up in her hands and let out all the hurt she was in. The love of her life... dead.

When she was invited to the funeral, Aisha adequately declined. She wouldn’t be able to bear seeing him lie inside a coffin for hours. Her heart wouldn’t allowt her. Instead, she packed her bags and got on the first plane out of Seoul to New York. It was better to spend the rest of her life there, where it all began.

A peaceful 4 years passed and the agonizing memory of Yoochun was all in her past. She got a suitable flat to live in, including a roommate to split the rent. After she graduated from college, she immediately found work at a design studio on Broadway. The pay was good and the load was light. It easily got her mind off of everything.

Aisha rushed her way up the steps to her apartment. Since Yoona was out with her boyfriend, she had the whole place to herself. Slipping through the door, she dropped all her belongings to the floor and trailed up to the antique wall piano she bought a few months back. Even with him out of her system, she couldn’t help but buy the instrument to let out dissatisfaction she kept bundled up inside her.

Sitting on the oak colored bench, she leisurely glided her fingers over the keys, playing a piece she knew by heart. The up and down of notes flitted through the air as she lost her thoughts into the song. Drifting her pent up emotions, shy tears cascaded down her cheek, revelling in shame.

Hurt. Pain. Suffering.

How could love be accompanied by these negative feelings? She never knew the answer nor did she want to find out. For her, it was enough to experience them once. And once was all she gave.

A faint knock broke her trance and her fingers halted instantly. Rising up, she headed to her door, wondering who it was. She gasped in surprise, seeing a being she longed for for so long. His face was as it used to be, perfect and flawless. His body still fit and inviting. How could it be that he was standing before her now? Had she gone mad? The moment his lips settled over hers that she realized she wasn’t dreaming. This was real. He was real. He was alive.

So many questions filled her mind, but she didn’t bother to ask any. She was content at the given moment... and that’s all she could ask for.

-----

Love hurts, as everyone says.

It just does.