Omo!

I posted the latest chaper at around 11:30 last night...

And wake up to find 17 comments within the last 10 hours? :O

Makes me so happy! ^^

So, here's another update!

I know I left you all with a huge cliff hanger, so you'll find out what happens next in this chapter.

Please look foward to it!

Previous Chapter:

“All right. We won’t be friends after this is over.”

“Good.”

“Is it good?” I said, almost hysterically, but my eyes grew wide at his next words. 

“Yes, because I want something more than that.”

Korean Vocabulary:

Oppa: Name used by a female to address her older brother, guy friend, or boyfriend

Arasso:  Okay or all right

Cha ka man nyo: Wait a minute

Deh (formal): Yes

Aniyo (formal): No

Gwen cha na: Don't worry, or it's okay.  Means 'Are you okay?" when asked in a question.

“Why not?  Isn’t that what friends do?”

“Right, friends…”

I couldn’t believe it.  She wanted to remain friends after our project was over.  Friends! Nothing hurt me more than that word.  It made my insides churn every single time I heard her say it.  I didn’t want to be just friends.  I wanted something more.

I tried to hide my expression, but something by the look of her faces tells me she knows it all.

The waiter finally arrived with our dinner and he silently set our plates in front of us.  After thanking him, he told us to call for him if we needed anything else.  After leaving, he left us to ourselves. 

I picked up my fork but for some reason, I didn’t feel like eating.  I feel like I have to let this all out before I can eat without puking out my food.  After a few minutes, I set down my fork and looked up at her.  I would tell her what I wanted to happen, and that was it.  She sat there quietly staring back at me, as if she knew I was going to say something.

“I’ll tell you.”

“You will?”

“I will.”

“Well, take your time,” she said softly, smiling at me.  I really hope this wouldn’t go the wrong way.  I don’t think I could manage to go without that smile.

I took a deep breath before speaking.

“I want this relationship to run smoothly as well…”

She nodded and waited for me to continue.

“…and I don’t want to be friends after this project is over.”

I saw her face conflicted with emotions.  First it was shock, then pain, and then finally, the one face that I hated the most, her hardened face.  She was trying to hide her emotions from me.  I took that as a bit of hope that she might feel the same way as me.

 “All right.  We won’t be friends after this is over.”

“Good.”

“Is it good?”

She seemed so surprised that I had said that.  Was she expecting for the worst? Even her voice sounded strange.

“Yes, because I want something more than that.”

Her eyes grew wide at my words.  Yes, maybe, just maybe, she was expecting the words I was about to say.

“And…what would that be?”

“I want this relationship to be real.”

“You want it to be real?”

Nodding, I replied.

“Yes, real.  Not a project where we have to pretend, but a real relationship.”

She was silent, so I took that as my cue to continue.

“I like you, and I’m not lying about it either.  I really am interested in you, ever since the first day we met officially, so I don’t want us to go back to how we were before, when we didn’t take notice of each others existence.  I want us to become a real couple.”

“I…I don’t know what to say.”

My spirits dampened with those words, but I didn’t want her to see that.  Forcing on a smile, I looked at her.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“But—”

“Just let it roll around in your brain.  Tell me what you think about it later.  If you want to remain friends after this, then I’ll respect your wishes, if not, then I guess I’ll find out, won’t I?”

I picked up my fork and began to eat silently.  After a little while I looked up to see Yun Hee eating her pasta silently as well.  I cursed inwardly, regretting my decision in telling her how I felt.  Why didn’t I do it afterward or some other time?  Now we were stuck here facing each other and eating awkwardly without any conversation.  I was so lost in my thoughts that before I knew it, I had finished everything on my plate.  Setting my utensils down, I slowly sipped at my tea, looking out the window as I waited for Yun Hee to finish.

When I looked over again, I saw that she was also staring out the window, holding onto her glass of tea with both hands.  The waiter came and placed the bill on the table.  Sensing the tense atmosphere, he left quickly.

Yun Hee looked over when the waiter left and saw the bill on the table.  I stood up and picked up the bill, walking to the counter to pay for the meal.  When I walked back to our table, I saw that Yun Hee had already laid out a couple of bills for the tip.  Seeing me, she stood up and walked quietly to my side.  Wordlessly, she slipped her hand into mine and waited for me to go.  Looking at her curiously, she shook her head and smiled softly.

I led her out of the restaurant and to my car, opening up the door for her.  Once she had gotten inside, I closed the door and walked over to my side.  Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself for what was to come before getting in and starting up the engine.  After looking on both sides, I slowly eased the car out of the parking spot and drove off.

The silence in the car was deafening.  At least in the restaurant, there was a background hum of the other people so the silence wasn’t as bad.  In the car, there was nothing to distract me.  I wanted to turn on the radio, but something told me I shouldn’t.  I can’t say I wasn’t surprised when she spoke, breaking the silence after about 15 minutes.

“Jin Ki oppa…”

“Yes?”

“About what you said…I have a response to that now.”

I snuck a glance at her before focusing back onto the road.  She was looking straight ahead.

“You do?”

Aish, I hated these short answers.

“Yes.  I’m flattered that you want to have a real relationship with me.  I really am.  I never thought you would say that.  I didn’t think you would be interested in me.”

That tone…I know what that means.  Here comes the ‘but’ part of it.

“But I have to honestly say that I want that to happen as well.”

Wait, did I just hear that right?

“I was so surprised when I heard you say that that I couldn’t say anything in return.  I was in shock.  I’m sorry if you thought I was upset with you.”

“Aniyo, it’s okay.  But, I need to get this straight.  I don’t quite understand it. You don’t want to be just friends after this project ends, right?  You want to have a real relationship with me, right?”

I was met with the dang silence again.  What was Yun Hee thinking?  I think at this point I would give anything to read her mind, even for just a second.  The silence grew for about another 5 minutes.  Then, all of a sudden, I heard giggling coming from her.  Stopping a red light, I looked over incredulously at her.  She was laughing at a time like this?

She looked up at me and grinned.  She shook her head and pointed to the lights in front of me.  The red lights had turned green, and I sped up to prevent any drivers behind me from hitting their horns. 

We had finally reached her house after we passed the light, and I parked on the street quickly, shutting off the engine.  Before I could react, Yun Hee had already opened her door and stepped out.  I hurriedly unbuckled my seatbelt and rushed out of the car, slamming the door to half run and jog toward the front of the car where she was.

“Why were you laughing?! Is it that fun—”

My words were cut off when she placed her fingers over my lips.  Gulping nervously, I looked at her as she removed her fingers.

“Oppa, gwen cha na.  I’m not laughing because you were worried.  I was laughing at how clueless you were.  If you want to me to put it into simpler words, then fine.  Yes, I want to go out with your for real.  If you want me to get any clearer than that, then I don’t know how to say it.”

I can’t tell you how much my heart soared at those words.  Grinning, I whooped and picked her up, spinning her around.  Her arms immediately wrapped around my neck, holding on while I spun her around, laughing.  After awhile, I set her down gently, and she unwrapped her arms.  I would be wrong to say I didn’t miss the warmth.

“Well oppa, if you don’t have anything else you want to hear, then I suggest you get going.”

“You want to get rid of me so fast?’

“No, but it is getting late, and I don’t want your parents to worry about you.”

Grinning, I shook my head.  Of course she would be the one to think of that.

“Arasso, oppa will go now.  I’ll see you Monday, yes?”

She raised a hand and waved to me.  I turned around but was stopped.

“Cha ka man nyo!”

“Deh?”

I turned around but couldn’t comprehend what really happened next.  Yun Hee had run up to me from where she stood and stood up on her toes.  With her hands on my shoulders, she leaned up and kissed me softly on the cheek.  Pulling back, she looked at me and smiled, blushing slightly before turning around and running into her house.

I think I stood there for a full 5 minutes, frozen like a statue touching the spot where she kissed me.  I couldn’t get the dazed look off my face, even when I got home.  I don’t even know how I got into my room, though I do remember greeting my parents as I arrived home and tripping up the stairs.  After closing the door to my room, I ran and threw myself on my bed.  Taking in a deep breath, I let out a satisfied sigh.

Tonight was a great night.

Ohh...so how was that update?  Good, no good? xD

Again, thank you all so much for the great responses.

And in the little amount of time as well.

It really makes me happy to read them all :D

And...*drumroll*

We've hit 1k views! Manse! LOL

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<3 WinterRose

shineefan829: Yeah...I don't like cliffhangers either..but it's a tactic to keep readers..LOL (Don't be mad at me :L)

fila_violetlove: Thank you for the compliment!  Here's another update!

u-knowkey: Yup yup, you'll have to read on to find out!

theclumsywitch: Jin Ki is definitely a heartthrob xD And you're welcome, for the update.  It was only in return for such awesome responses!

Ricexpuff: Lol, good to know ^^ Here's another update for ya!

MonsterMonsteur: Yup, sweet like candy! Lololol

rialoves: Will she be happy? :o LOL Just read on to find out! And you're very welcome.

forgetfulxangel: Yes, about how she reacts....read on to find out ^^

SHINeepoofs: Aww, you don't know how happy it makes me to see that.  I really would like this story to be featured.  It's my number one goal on here...in addition to writing stories that will interest people :D

ForeverInLove: Yes! There is love for this story..xD

crazy4you: Will do, so here's a brand new chapter! (lol, aren't they always?)

Maiko_chan: Right?  I'd take the pleasure to be his girlfriend as well...xD

amyra961: It would be very mean of me to make her reject him..oops. You didn't read that, arasso? xD Just read on, yes?

Vengeance: No, no, no.  You don't have to worry about the story ending yet.  I still have a long way to go, so gwen cha na! ^^

zoeystar: Yeah, sorry about the cliff hanger, but I am updating today, so hope that makes you happy!

Sparklicious22: I hope the suspense hasn't killed you yet...because this chapter will tell everything! (Well, not everything, but it will at least have your answer!)

damsel6533: I hope it's the good kind of shivers! ^^ Here's an update!