“Dad, it’s a party. How do you expect me to enjoy if they’re going to be sneaking at my back all the time?” she stomps her feet as she emerged from a luxurious car.

“Dear, you know I wouldn’t let you go without a bodyguard. And that is settled. Deal with that or go home with me this immediate!” The man in his fifties said with much steel in his voice his daughter couldn’t find the strength to argue more.

“Okay, but only one okay? And he’s staying out of my sight. I don’t want people staying away from me just because I have an armed man on my tail. Please?”

“Deal. But be safe okay? I love you.” And the old man smiled a kind smile at her.

“Thank you. I love you too, Dad. Tell mom I love her too when you get home.” She waved goodbye to her father.

--------

“Okay, I’m here at the lobby, where can I find you? I see lots of people. What is this, your birthday party or a town’s fiesta?” A man handsomely clad in black tux and dignified posture said on his phone as he walks towards the venue of the party.

“Man, you know how Mom likes these kinds of parties. If it was my choice, we could be on a joyride outside of the city while drinking until the morning.” The man on the other end of the line laughs.

“Yeah, I know, Aunt is just like that. But you know, the night is still young, we can still do that after I say hello to your parents.” The young man in tux mischievously smiled as he slides himself inside the ball room.

“Oh, I see you now. Looking good, huh!” He waved at his friend when he sees him enter the room.

The two men exchanged handshakes and brotherly hug, and the party began.

Just when everybody is enjoying the night, a sudden shake of the ground stopped them from doing what they’re doing. They even stopped breathing to conclude what just happened. Then it came again. The ground shakes in tremendous magnitude, people started to panic.

The wall started to crack, the great chandelier hanging in the middle of the room already fell leaving shattered glasses on the floor.

People shouts and run, others cry, while others are frozen on their tracks.

Given her fast reflexes, she immediately run and took cover under a huge mahogany table by the far end of the room. She can hear cries of people being hit by the falling pieces of the building but she couldn’t do anything about it. She knows she doesn’t have the strength.

Covering her head in fear with both her arms, and tucking her legs on her chest, she sobs and pray silently for the earthquake to stop but nature wouldn’t listen to her tears. Looking up once again at the people she earlier is partying with, she saw one man trying to help people evacuate the area. She can see him yelling orders and guiding people out of the room.

He stands with his back on her a few meters away. He was helping an old lady out when the ground shake more vigorously making bigger broken pieces of the ceiling to fall at almost exactly where he’s standing. He managed to push the old lady out of immediate death before ducking himself out of harm’s way.

When he opens his eyes, he couldn’t see anything but black. The shaking has ceased but he couldn’t get out. He realized that the part of the ceiling that fall earlier blocked his way out of there and trapped him in a cramped place with a sobbing girl beside him.

--------

“Hey, don’t cry. We’re alive so we should be thankful about that.” He tried consoling the girl while blindly trying to reach out to her to calm her.

Still crying slightly, she managed to answer. “I saw what you did there, you saved people. Can you save us too from here? My parents would be very devastated if I couldn’t come home.” And she sobs yet again.

By this time, he has already touched her shoulder and lightly taps it to comfort her fear. “I don’t think I can do anything now. We are trapped. Our backs are literally on the wall right now and we couldn’t escape either since rubble have trapped us here. We could only hope for help to come for us.”

“You’re right. My parents would certainly look for me. Yours too, right?” she looked up at the man he’s sharing the same fate with but she couldn’t see his face at all. It’s total darkness in there.

“Of course! And our friends too, they’d all look for us.” He calmly answered.

Hours have passed and they would be frightened over and over as aftershocks would still pass by and renew their fears. To his surprise, she has fallen asleep even in the chaos they are in. He can’t hear her sobs anymore and he can only hear her even breathing which relaxes him a bit.

Stiff from being enclosed, and chilling from the cold winter season, he couldn’t sleep at all. His teeth are almost chattering but he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He’s not good at cold weather. This is the season he hates the most that’s why he would always wear heavy jackets. But this time, since they are indoors, he has left his overcoat at the entrance of the room. All he has now is his thin layered polo shirt, pants and shoes.

When he couldn’t handle it anymore, he inched closer to wear she is and wondered how is she able to sleep this terrible cold out. Then the thought hit him. What if she’s already frozen to death? He quickly reached out to her and tried shaking her. When she stirred, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Whew! I thought you’ve already frozen!” he exclaimed but his voice is broken due to his teeth chattering.

“Why would I? My body’s accustomed to cold weather. This is just enough for me to relax and sleep.” She sluggishly answered as she is still sleepy.

“R-really? Th-That’s good to h-hear.” He withdrew his hand.

“Why are you chattering? Are you alright? Are you scared? Don’t be, please. If you show weakness now, I don’t think I can survive this. I can sleep peacefully here because I feel like I can rely on you. So please, hold on, help would surely come.” She pleaded, all sleep gone from her senses now.

“I-I’m not s-scared.” He managed saying.

“If you’re not scared then are you.. cold?” she tried inching closer to him to see for herself but to no avail, she couldn’t see anything at all.

When he didn’t respond, she scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Wh-what are you d-doing?” He tried shaking her hands off.

“Ssshh… I can’t let you freeze here to death, you are getting us out of here, right?” she smiled but she knows he couldn’t see it so she just tightens her hold on him and leans her head on his shoulder. “I didn’t know you’re a big guy. Well, considering your deep voice, I should’ve had an idea, right? Oh gee, how am I going to warm a big guy like you when I’m this small?” she huffs.

“D-doesn’t m-matter. You’re d-doing just f-fine.” Now he’s stuttering not because of the cold but because of her soft and warm body against his. “H-how come you’re warm despite the freezing w-weather?”

“I don’t know. I always have a warm temperature that’s why I don’t have problems with winter. This is actually my favorite weather since I sweat a lot if it’s the summer.” She grins. He doesn’t know this man but somewhat, she felt safe and at ease with him.

“Tomorrow, when the sun comes up, we would have light in here, maybe then we could devise a plan to get out if the rescue team couldn’t arrive yet.”

“Hmmm… sounds like a plan. But let’s sleep first, we need energy to smash that rock that locks us here.”

He smiles at her positivity and wit, he close his eyes to sleep.

--------

They were awakened with yet another great magnitude, she couldn’t stop herself from clinging closer to him. The sun has already risen, they can tell from the light seeping from the cracks of the pile of stones around them.

But as it did so, they also find that there’s really no way out for them if not a force from the outside would dig them out. Her shoulders slump and the fact that they can hear strong howls of the wind outside indicating a snow storm added to the weight. She felt all hope drain out.

“Hey, cheer up. Where’s the positive and witty girl I am with last night?” He tried lightening the mood.

“Look at me, do I look all positive now? I’m hungry, and scared. I mean, I’m not afraid to die, I just don’t wanna die yet! I’m too young. And my mom’s heart would shatter. I don’t want her to suffer.” And she sobs in her palms yet again. His heart breaks upon seeing her in that state. Sure, they have spent roughly five hours with each other; he doesn’t even know this girl. But something… something about her is driving him towards her.

“Sshh, please don’t cry. Just like you, I don’t want my mom to be sad too. And just like you, it’s from you I’m getting strength from to escape this. We only have each other now. Let’s not break each other’s spirits.” He said gently.

“O-okay. I won’t cry anymore.” She wiped her tears after a while and smiled at him.

He smiled back.

“Okay, I am hungry but obviously, there aren’t any food here so what do we do?” she asked.

“Hmmm… let’s just tell stories about each other. But first…” he moved closer to the side of the last piece of the ceiling that locked them inside and cupped his hands on his mouth before shouting. “Heeeeeyyyyyy! Are there any other people theeeeeeerrrreeeee?” he waited for someone to answer but they hear none. He did it again. “Heeeeeeyyyyyy! Anybody? Answer me please!!! We’re trapped here.” Still, no answer.

“Seems like there’s only the two of us here. I wonder how they managed to get out while we get to be stuck in here.” She said.

He shrugs his shoulder before slumping back on his former position beside her under the huge table.

They let the hours and the snow storm pass with hilarious stories of his misadventures during his childhood days and the crazy things he and his group of friends do whenever they are together. She couldn’t help but forget that they are actually trapped under the rubble and that they haven’t eaten anything since the earthquake occurred, she just laughed silly at his stories.

“Your turn.” He said.

“Hmm.. I don’t have any stories like that. My life is bo-ring!” she sings song the last word before smiling up at him. The little rays of light seeping through isn’t enough to let her see his whole face but it is enough for her to tell that he has a kind and gentle face, she smiled even more.

“What do you mean nothing? Of course there are, you just don’t wanna tell. Come on. There’s nobody else to hear your story but me.” He’s smiling heartily at her. He’s feeling all light and happy talking with her. That’s when they both hear movements around the area.

They haven’t noticed that the storm has long pass and that people have gathered to get them out. When they heard a man’s voice calling out for survivors, their eyes grew wide of excitement, they hugged and couldn’t help but feel so happy about it.

“Did you hear that? Help is here!” she exclaimed as she broke the hug.

“Heeeeyyyy! We’re here!” He shouted and started knocking on the wooden table that served as their roof. She followed him and did the same while the both of them shout to grab the attention of the rescue team.

“Oh, there are people there!” A man shouted. “How many are you in there?” the voice is nearer them now, they guessed that the man is actually in front of the huge block of cement that’s blocking their way out.

“Two!” He answered.

“Anybody injured?”

“No, we’re both fine. Please let us out of here.” She pleaded.

“Okay. Now, I need you two to back away as far as you can. We will try to create a hole from this pillar so that we can get you out, you hear me?”

“Yes.” The both of them shouted back.

“Now, tell me when you have backed away. Okay?”

With him roping a protective arm around her, they backed away until their backs are on the wall. “We’ve moved to the wall now.” He shouted and tightens his grip on her shoulders.

When finally a hole was made and they can pass through, they crawled out with his arms still around her, she felt more secured than ever. He let her step out first. After she safely step out of the rubble, the pillar where the hole has been made suddenly collapsed knocking him unconscious. The last he heard was her shrill cry.

--------

“Dear, his family is here now. We have to go. You have to rest yourself.” Her mother came to her when she chose to remain beside him until he wakes up. Luckily, he only receives a minor injury and is expected to wake up soon. She wanted to wait for him to wake up. Theirs is a bond nobody else can explain but the two of them. She wanna thank him personally and know him more after what they’ve been through. But maybe now’s not the time for all of that.

Looking at his sleeping face, she couldn’t help but smile. True to how she felt it, he really has a kind and gentle face. And he is totally handsome. Wow, she couldn’t believe she was actually trapped in there with a man this handsome. She smiled at the thought.

--------

He woke up a little dizzy. He looked around him and saw his mom. He smiled and when he saw her crying, he wiped her tears away even though his arms are still weak. “Don’t cry, Mom, I’m fine.” He smiled at her.

With this, she cried even more and hugged her only son. “Oh, I was so scared. I thought I’d lost you.”

“Ssshh now…” he his mother’s hair to calm her. “Anyways, where’s the girl I am with under those rubble? Is she okay? Where is she? I wanna see her.”

“Oh, she’s fine. She told me how you helped her, such a good kid, that girl.”

“So, where is she now? Is she outside? Please send her in.” He looked at the door, waiting to see a girl to emerge from there.

“Oh, that. Her parents took her home an hour ago. She wouldn’t go until the doctor said you’re going to be fine.” His mother smiled at him. Though feeling happy that she is safe, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed that they would part without him knowing her name, or anything else about her. He wanna see her again.

That’s when he saw something on his palm.

She wrote her phone number! He smiled silly after realizing what she did. He immediately looked for his phone and dialed the number.

--------

“Hello. Who is this?” He heard a woman say on the other line but he’s certain this is not ‘her’ voice.

“Hmm… may I know if this is…” Gee! I don’t know her name! What should I say? “the girl whom I’m with during the earthquake’s phone?” what is that? He scolded himself but there’s nothing else to do now, he doesn’t even know her name.

“Oh, are you the man my daughter is with during the accident? She’s been talking about you. Thank you for saving her. Anyway, are you still in the hospital? She doesn’t wanna leave you there but somehow I convinced her to go home and have some rest herself.”

He smiled after hearing those words. “I’m fine now, Ma’am. Thank you for asking. Uhm, can I talk to her?” he hoped to hear her voice again, and talk to her again.

“Uh, actually you can’t right now.”

“Why?”

“She’s sleeping. You see, both of you needs to rest to regain your strengths.”

His shoulders slumped and he couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“Is this your number?” he was fished out from his gloom when he heard her mom speak again.

“Uh, yeah.”

“So, shall I send you our address so that you can visit her when the both of you are better?”

As immediate as his face falls upon hearing that he can’t talk to her, his face lit up and his mouth stretched into a big smile.

--------

A week has passed after she left him in the hospital and from then on, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“I wrote my phone number on your palm, why haven’t you contacted me yet? The hospital wouldn’t give me your contact details, so how can I contact you?” she pouts as she sits on top of her bed. She decided on reading a book but her concentration wasn’t on it at all. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“Maybe he has a girlfriend already? That means, he’s not interested in me at all. Maybe he’s just really kind. So, I should stop.” She huffs before taking out her guitar from its case and started playing.

After a while, she’s relaxed. That’s when she decided on facing her book again.

She was in the middle of the story when she heard a knock on her door followed by her mom’s gentle voice.

“Honey, somebody has come to see you. Can we come in?”

“Yes, mom.” She answered without looking up from her book, without even bothering to think who might her visitor be.

When she felt her mom standing beside her on her room’s terrace, she looked up and saw him. As natural as breathing, her face lifts up into a smile. She couldn’t hide her happiness upon seeing him again.

While she is so happy to see him again, he is so stunned to speak upon seeing her face. This is the first time he is seeing her face and he couldn’t believe his eyes. Could I have really spent time with this beautiful girl?

“Okay, I am leaving you two.” Her mom excused herself.

“Uh, thanks mom.” She said without taking her eyes off of him.

For some minutes, they just stood there, staring and smiling at each other. It was him who broke the silence.

“You didn’t tell me you are the president’s daughter.” He smiled casually though inside, his heart has been beating abnormally since the moment he laid eyes on her.

She laughed. “Well, you didn’t ask.”

Again, they are back to just staring and smiling at each other. After a while, she composed herself and asked him to sit which he did without taking his eyes off her.

“So, how did you find who I was?” she started off casually.

“Actually, I wouldn’t have found out if not for your bodyguards all around the place.” He smiled.

“Did they frisk you?” her eyes are dancing in amusement.

“That they did. And I must say, they did a thorough job at it.”

She laughs. “They always do that.”

A moment of silence.

“You’re unfair.” She suddenly said.

“Huh? How come?” his brows furrowed.

“You know who I am but I don’t know who you are.” She said fumbling on the pages of the book she’s reading earlier.

He laughs. “Ah, that. Well, what if we start all over again?”

She smiled.

“Okay. Hi, my name is Bang Minsoo. Yes, I already know your name but.. from now on can I call you ‘mine’?”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Weee! Sure C.A.P I’m yours. Wholly yours. LOL! How do you like this? I’m spazzing HOHEMGEE! Somebody save me. Kyaaa! ^_^

Fact about me: It’s not his pretty face or hot body that I like most about C.A.P, but his great love and respect for his mom. That trait of him makes my heart melt ALL THE TIME. (sighs)