For the last half hour Sung-hee ranted about how unfair and wrong it was that Rena had the nerve to kiss Thunder after their competition the other day.  “I don’t care if it’s just the cheek and he didn’t like it.  It’s the fact she looked right at me when she did it!”  Throwing her hands up she let out another frustrated cry before kicking Hyo’s office couch as hard as she could, ignoring the slight pain it brought.  “She’s a boyfriend stealing bag!  I’m not going to let her get my Sanghyun!  He’s mine damn it!”

“Apparently the A+ won’t allow for it either.”

Sung-hee stopped her pacing and turned to her brother who was peering closely at the computer screen.  “What?”

Hyo motioned for her to come over as he scrolled through some webpage.  “There is an article on allkpop.”

Scrunching up her nose, Sung-hee stuffed her hands in her pockets and inched over unable to hide the curiosity even if she had a love hate relationship with the site.  “You read that junk?”

“Well when it concerns my little sister’s love life I do.  Now get over here and look at this.”

As per Hyo’s request Sung-hee walked over and looked down at the computer, “Soon to debut J.Tune-”

“Not that, read the comments.”

Taking the mouse from Hyo Sung-hee scrolled down until the comments were at the top of the page.  Some were congratulating Thunder on the win but most seemed to be a debate on Rena vs. Sung-hee.  And with most comments in her favor Sung-hee couldn’t help but feel victorious even as she found the harsher comments.  Those didn’t matter, as long as some of the A+ were behind her as well. Now if only she could get Thunder to see Rena was bad news.  “Makes me feel better but I still hate her guts.”

Hyo closed the webpage and turned to Sung-hee giving her a pointed look, “As long as you don’t take your anger out on Sanghyun for it then I won’t smack you for whatever silly plan you’re concocting in that head of yours.”  When Sung-hee gave him a confused look he poked her forehead, “You have a tendency to yell at the wrong people sometimes.”

Sheepishly Sung-hee stepped back and twiddled her thumbs a bit, “Speaking of yelling…about Mee-Yon I-”

Hyo shook his head a bit, “No don’t worry about it I think you might have finally gotten through that thick head of hers.  She’s seeing a therapist on her own now.”

“Maybe you should have let me yell at her sooner.” 

Rolling his eyes Hyo kicked at her a bit though the hint of a smile on his face was unmistakable.  “Your methods don’t always work you know.”  Sung-hee didn’t respond but laughed instead for the first time that day as Hyo started to chase her around the room.

~~~~~

Sung-hee wasn’t sure what compelled her to come back to the old café, as she had affectionately called it, but her feet seemed to carry her there.  The coffee and cookies were just as good as she remembered them being.  Sitting with Hyo solving the problem had been easy, but now that she was alone it was like all her fears were taking over again and she couldn’t think straight to save her life.  So what if she’s ten times prettier and sings amazing he’s with me and I won’t let that change.  But a small part of her still doubted that.  Looking around she was slightly surprised that next to none of the old staff worked there and she hadn’t seen Bae-hyung anywhere.  “Probably moved up to the office.”  She mumbled darkly still bitter that he was so willing to get rid of her when she merely defended her integrity.  Pride told her to not support the café but at the same time when she arrived she couldn’t deny their coffee and cookies had always been her best pick me up.

Before she could get too nostalgic her phone vibrated against her leg and she pulled it out of her pocket half expecting Hyo or Delphine to be the number, instead it was Thunder.  “Hey you,” Despite herself she smiled and shifted in her seat excitedly, “aren’t you supposed to be in practice right now?”

“Well I couldn’t stop thinking about you and I wanted to hear your voice.”

An embarrassed and dark blush covered Sung-hee’s face and she hid her face the best she could from the rest of the people in the café, though she couldn’t find herself complaining at his sudden sweet talk.  “If you’re trying to woo me through the phone sir it’s working.”

Thunder laughed a bit and she could hear the others in the background laughing as well.  “That’s half the intention.”

Raising her brow, Sung-hee sipped on her coffee and chuckled a little bit, “And the other half?”

There was a short pause and suddenly the loud sounds of the dance room disappeared leading Sung-hee to believe he had stepped out into the hallway or possibly the recording room nearby.  “You think you can stay up till around two?”

When they first started dating hearing a request like that wasn’t exactly something that Sung-hee was able to do or understood.  Now it was common practice to meet somewhere around three am and talk, even just for a little while.  Sometimes he would come over and they would only talk for a few minutes before he would fall asleep.  “I guess so.  Why?”

“Good I’m bringing Chinese over.”  She could practically hear the smile in his voice.  He knew that Chinese food was one of her greatest weaknesses.  In general, Sung-hee had a love for food that the average Korean female didn’t.  Got her teased quite a bit in high school and college.

“What are you up to Mr. Visual maknae?”

He pretended to sound greatly offended for a moment before a light laugh gave him away.  “Nothing I just miss you.”

Her heart fluttered happily hearing that and of course she had missed him terribly, especially when she knew Rena got to see him every day.  But, as happy as she was something in the back of her mind was nagging her that she had to get him to understand.  “If you’re trying to get me to not be mad it’s not you I’m mad at Sanghyun.”

The sigh of relief in his side of the phone was unmistakable and instantly Sung-hee felt a little better knowing he understood.  “Oh I know.”

Of course he would still try and cover it up with his usual cool exterior, not that she blamed him for that.  Sighing in defeat, she leaned against the bench and thought for a moment.  “Alright fine, beef and broccoli with rice?”

Once again she could practically hear the smile in his voice, “Of course.”

It never failed to impress Sung-hee that he managed to remember all her favorite foods a feat that not even Delphine was able to do.  “I love you.”

“I love you too I,” Suddenly he was interrupted by another, who’s voice Sung-hee vaguely recognized as one of their choreographers, “Damn it, I’ve got to go hyung is back.” 

Though her heart sunk at that since she barely had ten minutes to talk with him but she found some comfort in the fact he was just as disappointed as she was.  She always had to remember this was the type of relationship she signed up for.  “Aw alright, fighting!”  They exchanged I love you’s and she was left to her thoughts again. 

She wasn’t left alone for too long.  A shadow suddenly fell over her, expecting Bae-hyung or someone of that nature she turned hesitantly only to find someone she never thought she’d see again.  “Daniel?”  She didn’t even bothering hiding the shock in her voice.

He smiled down at her and nodded, “It’s been a long time huh Sung-hee?”

She nodded slowly, still in disbelief that he was there.  Out of all the places she could possibly run into him, a place that had just as much history to her as he did.  “Yeah nearly four years.  How have you been?”

He shrugged a bit and shuffled his weight while shoving his hands in his pockets.  “Oh I’ve had my ups and downs what about you?”

Looking up at him in disbelief for a moment she suddenly chuckled and shook her head a bit.  “Hmm if you really want to know you might want to sit down, it’s a long story.”

There was no thought in her head that he would actually accept her offer.  So when he shrugged once again and took a seat across from her she didn’t even notice how her jaw dropped and her eyes widened in surprise.  Laughing, he leaned back in the chair and looked expectant.  “I think I’ve got time.”

Clearing , Sung-hee nibbled on a cookie before finally having the courage to start, “Well I’m not dating Lee anymore.”

He interrupted her with a short laugh, “That much I figured.  My sister is a big fan of MBLAQ you know?”  Sung-hee blushed and looked away, “Oh don’t be like that it’s good to see you happy with someone.  But why did you and Lee split?”

Hesitantly Sung-hee started explaining everything that happened in the past few years.  Everything.  She had honestly forgotten how easy it was to talk to Daniel, when they were dating he had always listened to her rant and rave with such a patient ear that she was convinced he was a saint.  For the better part of half an hour she explained, calmer than she expected everything from Lee, to dating Thunder and finally everything going on with Rena.  “So I basically want to punch her in the face but Sanghyun is constantly telling me to be nice to her even if she doesn’t deserve it.” 

“Well from what my sister says he’s known to be nice right?”  She nodded a bit, “So I wouldn’t let that bother you but I say that you cut right to the root of the problem don’t give up just because some girl is trying to steal him from you.  You did that with me and if I regretted it,” Now that was something that Sung-hee hadn’t expected to hear, “I can’t even imagine how he would feel.”  He leaned over the table pointing one of the cookies he had ordered at her, “You love him right?” 

Blinking in surprise Sung-hee nodded slowly, “Well yeah.”  There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she loved Thunder but the question had thrown her for a loop, no one had questioned that in a long time either.    

Daniel smiled and leaned back in his chair a bit not concerned at all now.  “Then use that stubbornness that used to drive me crazy and get rid of her.” 

Pouting a little she kicked at his shoe under the table.  In a way it was just like old times and Sung-hee couldn’t help but appreciate the familiarity that she felt with him.  Not that she’d want to have it every day but right now his advice, no matter how basic, seemed to get through to her somehow.  “Easier said than done.” 

“Maybe but you’ll figure it out.  I mean I’ve seen pictures of that Rena girl she’s really not that great looking.”  He waved his hand dismissively before shoving a cookie in his mouth. 

Giving him a disapproving look even though she was smiling the whole time she picked up her coffee and chuckled, “You just don’t like people who have dyed red hair.”

Laughing he tapped his chin pretending to contemplate what she said, “Hmmm this is true but still.”

After taking a sip of her now cold coffee, Sung-hee looked over at Daniel with curiosity shinning in her eyes, “Why are you helping me anyway?  Aren’t we supposed to be awkward or enemies or something?” 

He stopped laughing and glanced down at his plate before answering, “Sung-hee honestly I can’t make myself hate you if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have found Amara.  So if I see you at this café again pouting at your coffee cup I’m giving you a stern talking to.” 

“Sure you will Daniel.”

“I will.”

Rolling her eyes and waving her hand dismissively she noticed he was trying hard to not grin, “Whatever enough about me.  Update me on your life; it’s only fair for you to spill too.”  He didn’t even hesitate and dived right into explaining.  After high school, Mira and him broke up almost instantly and Daniel had fallen into a bit of a depression that he had let Sung-hee go.  After a while he decided to study abroad in Japan and there he met Amara who was also studying abroad, on a scholarship.  He fell for her quickly but she wanted almost nothing to do with him.  It took him a year to convince her to even one date, but after that their relationship quickly progressed.  They had been dating for nearly two years now and were getting married in the fall. 

“I don’t know what I would do without her; honestly she’s my stre-” Before he could continue his phone rang and after getting a nod from Sung-hee that it was alright he answered.  “Hey yeobo…uh huh…right I’m sorry I ran into an old friend…yeah I’ll be there soon I’m on my way now.”  Turning back to Sung-hee gave an apologetic smile.  “I’ve got to help pick out the flowers for the reception.”

Waving her hand dismissively Sung-hee took a bite of her last cookie.  “It’s alright I’ve kept you around long enough.”

“Well we had a lot to catch up on,” They both laughed at that, “I’ll see you around then?”

Giving him a small smile she nodded a little bit.  “Maybe.”  Honestly she doubted they would run into each other again.

He quickly paid for his half of the bill and started to leave.  When he was about halfway to the door he turned back and gave her a small smile, “Really Sung-hee, it was good to see you.”

Nodding a little she smiled a bit in return, “You too Daniel.”

~~~~~

It was nearly two-thirty.  Sung-hee was getting dangerously close to passing out despite her resolve to stay up until Thunder arrived.  After a few minutes she resorted to walking around the house hoping the movement would wake her up a little bit and contemplated making some coffee.  Before she managed to get to the kitchen though the door opened a bit, drawing her attention.  “I come bearing gifts!”

Laughing quietly she opened the door for him and took some of the bags from him, noting his tired appearance despite the smile that he gave her and how happy he looked.  As soon as she placed the food down on the counter she practically pounced on him, wrapping her arms around him as tightly as she could.  “Are you alright?”  Concern laced his voice though he held her just as tightly. 

“I just missed you so much.”

“I missed you too I’m still convinced you should move into the dorm.”

Laughing a little Sung-hee looked up at him an amused twinkle in her eyes.  “I don’t think Hyo or your managers would like that.”  The pair had joked around often about Sung-hee moving into the dorm or the two of them moving into a dorm near the others.  No one had budged on the subject yet but as time went on Sung-hee couldn’t help but hope that it would actually happen.

With a smile Thunder leaned down and kissed her lips softly before taking her hand.  “True but for now let’s eat dumplings and hope they’ll change their minds.”  Easily he picked up the bags and led Sung-hee over to the couch for their late night dinner.  Even though I can barely stay awake it’s moments like this I’ll never forget and I wouldn’t change for the world.  Smiling, she kissed his cheek and moved close to him, relaxing against his side and took her chopsticks with a soft thank you. 

Just before they started to eat she turned and kissed his lips again a soft smile on her face, “I love you.”

Visibly brightening Thunder tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “I love you too.”  Holding a piece of beef and broccoli between his chopsticks he turned to her, “Now say ‘ah’.”  Laughing she obliged and ate the pieces he offered that fluttery feeling from before recharging her entire body.  Yup I never want this to change.  Glancing at the clock she chuckled a bit, well except maybe make it a little earlier.