Jaejoong’s POV

            “Ms. Go…annyeonghaseyo!” I bow at her.

            “Oh..Jaejoong sshi! What are you doing here?” Surprise is in her face after seeing me here

in their agency’s building.

            “I decided to visit Athena. I just want to say sorry about the last time.”

            “Actually, we should be thankful. You helped her out that night.”

            “Don’t mind it..” I smile.

            “Anyway, Athena is not here now. It’s her off so she’s at home now.”

            “Ah…is that so?” I feel disappointed.

Something might have flickered in her mind. Ms. Go adjusted her eyeglass and then I noticed the 2

paper bags and a cake box in her hand.

            “Here…I’ll let you deliver it to her in my place.” She says handing over those things to me.

            “Huh? What are these?”

            “Those are the meals I prepared. Today is Athena’s birthday so bring it to her.”

I am surprised.

            “Today is her birthday?!” I didn’t have an idea. Ms. Go nodded.

            “Hm. But that kid…I bet she lost track again.” She sighs.

Ms. Go thought that I’ve never been in Athena’s place so she volunteered to drop me off.

          “She probably is curling in a ball inside her house now. Someone should at least celebrate her

birthday with her.” she further said while driving us to Athena’s place. We talked about different

things after that.

            “I didn’t know that you are the chatty type Ms. Go…” I commented.

            “I don’t look like one right?” she smiles.

I always see her in her corporate attire. Not to mention her serious face with the eyeglass and

neatly tied hair makes her look strict. But now I realized that she’s different from what I thought

she is.

            “You might be talking a lot with Athena..” I said.

            “No. She doesn’t like to talk about personal matters. Most of the conversations are about

work. I always end up having spoiled saliva when there’s nothing much work related things to

talk about.”

We both chuckled.

            “Me too. I’m a talkative person so it’s difficult to be beside her. I keep blabbering about

something. She respond…yes..but with side comments.”

We laugh harder.

            “Yes..I can imagine that…But even though she’s like that, you still like her right?”

I am caught off guard.

            “I know you like her the moment you asked me continuously to give her number to you.”

She sighs.

            “We might only have a professional relationship but I really care about her. She might be

cold and stern but she is not as bad as people are trying to label her. For unknown reason, she

keeps on making the same mistake of being on the wrong place at the wrong time and I feel

sorry for her because of that.” She became serious.

            “Want a tip? Athena never took those flings seriously. They are good for a day or two and

then they’re gone.” She says talking about Athena’s past scandals with men.

            “But I do believe that you are different for her. Before, whenever I ask her about those

guys, she immediately says that they are nothing…she was just bored…trying to play around…

but when I asked her about you, she denied quickly. She doesn’t want to talk about you. Athena

is only like that when it comes to her personal matters. As if she’s afraid about something and

tries her best to protect you but at the same time make it appears like she doesn’t care.”

I already know that. I think it’s only Athena who’s not aware of it.

            “I’ve been her manager for seven years now and not even once I loose hope that the ice

covering her heart will melt one day. I’m just hoping that it’s you…the person who would bring

warmth in her heart. That’s why, I’m supporting you all the way.” She smiles at me giving the

reason why she’s doing this favour.

_____________________________________________________________________

            “There you go.”Ms. Go unlocked the door for me. She gestured her hand for me to go in.

            “Thank you Ms. Go.” I said.

            “I’ll leave now. Fighting!” she said.

I can’t believe that I’ll find an ally in her persona.

I entered the house. It’s quiet. Is she sleeping in her room? I open the door of her room but the

bed is empty. Next, I went to the bathroom but no trace of her. Then I heard some rustling sound

in the laundry area. There is a laundry basin in the floor. Is she doing the laundry? I found her

standing there while hanging small pieces of clothing which I found out later to be under wears. I

step away from the door. I should be setting the birthday surprise and not to peek on her undies.

I went to the dining area to arrange the foods to the table.

_____________________________________________________________________

Athena’s POV

I stretch my back. Well, I cleaned my room…rearranged my closet…and now I’m done with my

laundry. I mentally crossed out my What-to-Do list. Dinner…I forgot again. Damn! I don’t think I

have foods in the fridge. Perhaps I’ll just call from the nearest restaurant and order for a delivery.

Oh God…I’ll be eating again by myself. This is what I hate from living alone. I’m totally cool with

other things aside from this one. I’ve been living by myself for seven years but still I can’t get used

to eating alone. Having the food all to myself with the empty place across from me on the dining

table…it makes me lonely. It reminds me that despite all the glamour and popularity outside, I’m

still empty and alone inside. Forget about making a delivery call, I’ll skip dinner tonight.

I stopped when I saw someone in the dining area.

            “Athena!”Jaejoong calls my name with a smile.

            “What are you…?”                                                 

            “I delivered these from manager Go.” He answers in a very calm tone. My eyes linger on

the table. It is filled with homemade foods.

            “You should sit and eat before they get cool.” He grabs me and sits me to the chair. My

mind is blank because I’m not sure if this is true or imagination. There’s a cake in the middle and

he lit the candles on it. Is it my birthday today? Did I forget about it again? He sits in front of me

and clears his throat.

“Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday to you…

Happy birthday dear Athena…

Happy birthday…….to….you…”

He sang while staring straight to my eyes. His voice sounds great that I want to take a record of it

in my head.

            “Make a wish and blow the candles.” He said.

I wish that I won’t find you gone after I blow them….

I blew on the candles ‘till the last one lose its light. He clapped.

            “Happy birthday! I’m sorry I wasn’t able to prepare a gift.” He said.  So he’s really in front

of me…

I stare at him.

            “Manager Go said that it’s your birthday and she was supposed to bring these to you but

something came up so she asked me to come instead…But I’m really glad to be here today.”

I didn’t speak but just stare at him. I saw worry registered on his face.

            “Don’t you want me to be here? Am I making you uncomfortable? Alright….I’ll leave

now..Just eat all of this.” He stands from his seat.

            “Don’t leave.” I said. He stopped.

            “Sit down and eat with me…just don’t be noisy..” I said without looking at him. He returns

to his seat.  Without any words, we eat the food together. With him sitting across from me, having

this dinner in my birthday…my heart…it feels warm and my tears suddenly shows up

uncontrollably. I let them fall freely.

_____________________________________________________________________

Jaejoong’s POV

Her tears keep on rolling down her face as she eats. I don’t know what the reason is but I didn’t

dare to ask. We didn’t say anything over dinner.

Time passes so quickly. After having dinner and washing the dishes, no words had been exchanged

between us. I don’t have the urge to go and she doesn’t have the will to send me away either.

She lies down the floor and so did I. We are lying back to back...apprehending each other’s

breathing.

            “Why can’t you accept me?” I whisper breaking that silence.

            “I told you....I can’t.” She whispers back.

            “Is it because someone hurt you in the past?” I ask in which she didn’t answer.

            “But it’s coward to swear off love because your first one failed. There’s always a

possibility that you’ll meet a nice person the second time around” I said.

            “I don’t want to entertain such expectations. I don’t wish to be fed with false hopes

again.” She says.

I remained silent and listen to her.

            “Opening your heart for someone requires trust. I loved those people so much that I put

all my trust in their hands. There comes a time that everything hits me here and there and I just

didn’t care because I know that I have them but in the end....I was abandoned...that trust was

shattered before my very eyes.”

Even though I couldn’t see her face, I could feel that her tears are flowing again. Pain is in her

voice. My chest aches. What she experienced in the past turned her into a person who’s afraid to

trust and love again. She’s scared and lonely that I wish that I was there for her.   

            “After you came...honestly, I start thinking about it. If I am still capable of trusting and

giving...though my heart is unfit right now, I’d like to commit to you but that would be

unjust...for you..” she admits in a softer voice.

            “But..”

            “Can’t you see?...I’m the least person you should choose to love...with me, you’ll always be

in trouble. Breathing might be even more difficult.” She follows.

            “I kept reminding myself that but the more I stay away, the more I feel uneasy. My body

doesn’t go with my mind as if I’m suffering from a disorder.” I chuckle on my own words.

            “This is so frustrating...but still, I want to be that man next to you. It’s clear to me how

much I wanted to be with you so there’s nothing that you would do that can drive me away.” I

said trying to make her understand how sincere I am towards her.

She didn’t say anything after that. Everything turns quiet as I close my eyes.

Athena’s POV

My emotion is overflowing right now.

            “After you came...honestly, I start thinking about it. If I am still capable of trusting and

giving...though my heart is unfit right now, I’d like to commit to you but that would be

unjust...for you..” I decided not to conceal it anymore and tell him what I really think of it.

            “Can’t you see?...I’m the least person you should choose to love...with me, you’ll always be

in trouble. Breathing might be even more difficult.” I added.

            “I kept reminding myself that but the more I stay away, the more I feel uneasy. My body

doesn’t go with my mind as if I’m suffering from a disorder.” He chuckles.

            “This is frustrating...but still, I want to be that man next to you. It’s clear to me how much

I wanted to be with you so there’s nothing that you would do that can drive me away.”

My heart is overwhelmed. I didn’t say anything more. I close my eyes with a mild smile on my lips.