DEUNGHAE POV

*drin drin* the alarm rings, of course too early. It’s only 6am, that means that I’ve slept only two hours

« Ya, what are you doing up? » HyeRim asks me when she notices that I’m awake

« Getting ready to go to work… »

« But, you know you fainted yesterday, right? »

« I know, but we can’t drop the guard. More of this, if the stalker is someone of the staff, he will surely try something today, since he will think I’m not going to be there » I smile « But I’ll be there, and we will catch him, if I’m right, even if I doubt of that »

« This brat! » HyeRim laughs

While getting ready, she asks me: « Why did you shirk from HyunKi’s kiss? »

« Well… » I start, blushing a little « Well, that’s because…. » I don’t know what to say without exposing my feelings

« Let’s say that too many people were watching, right? » she continues for me, smiling. “She must have sensed it” I think

« Yes, is it so obvious? » I ask, a little worried

« No, only for me who know you, and also because I’m in the same condition as you »

« Really? I haven’t noticed » I admit

« Really »

« But I can imagine who he is » I smile « And I also bet you know who is mine… let’s do like this: today, when we meet them, we will greet them as Italians do. Three kisses to the one that the other likes. Deal? » I propose  [well, not a real kiss, just a cheek-to-cheek contact]

« Deal » she smiles

So we head to the main building. There’s no one around; well, it’s 7.30, who can be here so early? No one of course

A few minutes later, the guys arrive. « DeungHae! » they all exclaim surprised

« Hi guys! » HyeRim and I say, looking at each other. Me first.

I head toward the guys and hug them one by one: two “kisses” for JR, two for Minhyun, two for Baekho, three for Aron, and two of Ren.

Then it’s HyeRim turn: two for JR, two for Minhyun, two for Baekho, two for Aron and three for Ren.

We look at each other and smile: we did right. Then we look at the guys and laugh loud

« What-what was that? » Baekho asks

« Why are you laughing? » JR asks

« You should see your faces… Hilarious!! » I say

« And that is the way Italians greet with a friend after not seeing him for a long time » HyeRim explains

« Always hugging? » Aron asks

« No. if it’s between relatives or really close friends, you hug, if not you can just shake hands » I answer

« Ah ok, anyway, are you fine now? » Minhyun asks me

« Never been better » I smile

« Then let’s go practice » Aron says, trying to be enthusiast, but without a good result.

After 4 hours of practice, they ask their choreographer if they can go home: they’re too tired to do anything.

« Then, let’s do this: you go home and rest. See you at 5pm for some other practice » the choreographer decides

« YE! Thank you! » they bow and run out to go the their dorm

« Shall we go home too? » I ask HyeRim

« Yes, I think we should rest too »

At 5pm we are all back to the practice room. They practice for other 3 hours.

« Omo, I’m so tired » Baekho sighs

« Me too, and we still need to decide the new official make-up for the video » Ren sighs too

« Girls, can you come to our dorm to set it? So that we can relax more… » JR proposes

I look at HyeRim, who nod « No problem, what time? » I ask

« Not before 10pm please » Aron says

« Ok, see you later » HyeRim and I say and then walk to our dorm to take a shower

« HyeRim, it’s ok if I leave first? I have somewhere to go to… » I ask her, after I got ready

« Of course, don’t worry for me. See you there » she smiles

So I walk out. Actually, I don’t have to go anywhere, I just want to be alone with my thoughts for a while. I’m so lost in them that I feel that someone is following me only when it’s too late: I’m already heading to the guys’ dorm. But I can’t drag this person to them. “Oh well, I will be late this time” I think, while changing direction. After a while I stop and immediately turn around: it’s dark, but the figure seems familiar.

« Hi, my child » a deep voice says.

« Mr. Park » I answer

« It’s been a long time, did you miss me? » he asks me

« It’s been 10 years right? » I ask, even if I’m sure of it: I will never forget what happened on my first mission

« That’s fine. You’ve grown as pretty girl, my child. How are fine? »

« I’m fine. And you? How does it feel to be alone? » I ask, being mean

« Oh, don’t be like that. Anyway, I’m fine, I really wanted to see you again »

« Me too »

« Really girl? » he asks surprised

« Yes » I smile. At that moment my phone rings: it’s HyeRim. Probably she wants to know where I am, since I’m never late and this time I’m already 20 minutes late.

« Aren’t you picking up? »

« Well, it’s a friend. You know, I already has an appointment for tonight »

« Then let’s go there together. I’m sure it’s going to be funnier »

« Actually… » I start, pretending to be disappointed

« Actually? » he repeats curious, “Good, it’s working” I think

« Actually, I really want to play with you »

« Then let’s go »

« I want to play with you alone, only the two of us: you and me, as 10 years ago… if I remember right, you weren’t really happy of how I acted back then… »

« Well, you were quite weak, a little under my standard » he admits

« But now I’m stronger, I practiced a lot… do you really want to miss the opportunity to play with me alone? » I ask him smiling and leaking my lips

« Well, if you say it like that… » he smiles and run toward me. “Damn, he’s fast” I have to recognize. “It’s going to be hard”. So the fight starts: I can block some of fists and kicks, but I also get hit a lot of times. I bear it for quite a long time, but at the end he manages to block me at the ground

« Not bad my child. You’ve grown prettier and stronger » he admits « But it’s not enough » he adds smiling

« And smarter » I say, kicking between his legs. “Now I’m free, but I won’t last much longer…. Thin DeungHae, think…”

He gets up and  he’s getting ready to hit me again. “I’ve already lived this, but this time it won’t end the same”. I’m organizing my plan when I hear a voice calling me:

« DeungHae! Where are you! »

« It seems like we have company » Mr. Park says

« I’ve told I had to meet some friends. If you leave now I promise we’ll play together again, and this time until the end » I hope to persuade him

« Swear! »

« I swear »

« This is your lucky day, my child. See you » Mr. Park says and runs away

I try to get up, but I don’t have the strength: actually I feel like all my strength is leaving me. I try hard to keep my eyes opened. The last thing I see is Ren, who after seeing me tries to follow Mr. Park. The last thing I remember is grabbing his ankle to stop him