‘Shin Hye, you’ve come a long way.’ Her therapist warmly hugged her.

‘Gwamo Dr. Kim, thanks for lending your ears to listen to my boring story.’ Shin Hye pulled away and was happy that Woo Bin brought her to see Dr. Kim the day after her mental breakdown on his rooftop.

‘I hope you stay away from those Melatonin pills to help with your sleep.’

‘Thanks for the gentle reminder Dr. Kim, It was hard to stop taking them for the first week.  But after taking your suggestion to exercise or play some music when I can’t sleep, I was able to go cold turkey and remove it from my system altogether. I’ve been Melatonin free for the last two weeks.  I don’t think I would have been able to do it without your help, thank you’ a tear escaped from the corner of her eye.

‘I’m happy to hear that my recommendations worked for you.  Hang in there Shin Hye, I’m confident that you will work things out with Andrew and everything will go back to normal.’

Shin Hye knew that the conversations between her and Dr. Kim were private and would not be disclosed.  But, when you work in the entertainment industry, you are taught to trust no one but yourself.  Although Dr. Kim was a highly professional therapist in Seoul who treated many famous clients, she wasn’t an exception.  Shin Hye poured out her heart and soul to her but masked Min Ho’s identity as Andrew to limit the risk of her story leaking the public.  This was the least she could to do protect him and her to some extent.

‘Thank you for everything!  I can’t thank you enough.  I owe you coffee next time I see you.’ Shin Hye gave her one last hug before she walked out of her therapist’s serene office.

‘I hope the next time we see each other we will be in a coffee shop and not here.’ Dr. Kim waved and warmly smiled at her wishing her all the best.

***********

Shin Hye was in her room putting the final pieces of clothing into her suitcase.  Her appa was right, she was already 25 and no longer a young girl in a matter of years she might be replaced by a younger, prettier actress.  She needed to follow her dreams and take some time to work on herself and further her skills to better prepare herself in the entertainment industry.  So if that young starlet comes and steals her spotlight, it’s ok, she’ll have another trade up her sleeve and can produce or, better yet, direct her own drama or movie. 

It’s now or never, Shin He you’re not getting any younger.  In the last 3 weeks, you’ve learned to forgive, to forget and to move on now you just have to follow through.  You need to focus on yourself because no one will.  It’s ok you’re not deserting anyone, you’re just taking a mini hiatus, it’s for your own good.  If they love you, they’ll understand and support you in the decision.  Now you just have to tell Min Ho.  I know it’s hard, but remember what Dr. Kim told you be open and honest, that’s all he can ask for and he must do the same.  If he truly loves me, he’ll make an effort to make it work.  Breathe, Shin Hye, you can do this…fighting!

She walked up to her desk and neatly placed her important documents into her oversized handbag.  She returned her gaze to the corner of her desk and eyed the glass star shaped jar with folded paper stars in them.  She was intently running all the possibilities through her mind as to what would happen later today after her heart to heart talk with him.  She closed her eyes tightly shut and began to count to 3.  It was another trick Dr. Kim thought her to do when she felt nervous to calm her nerves and clear her mind before she made any irrational decisions or said anything that she couldn’t take back.

1…2…3…breathe

She obediently opened her eyes and reached for the glass star jar carefully placing it into her bag, hoping that she won’t have to use it later that night.  She took one last look in the mirror to make sure she looked fine and walked out her room to find her appa.

‘Shin Hye ah, my princess, are you ready?’ her appa held onto the sides of her shoulder as they wee standing in the living room.

‘Ready as I can ever be’ she smiled and tightly hugged him for support.

‘I’m happy to have my old Shin Hye back.  Promise me you’ll call.’

‘Appa, of course I’ll call.  Appa, take care’ she gave him her most confident smile as she pulled away.

‘Don’t worry about us, I’ll hold down the fort.  Remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally.  Shin Hye my beautiful, smart, courageous daughter you can do it, fighting!’ her appa made a fighting gesture to lighten the serious mood.

‘Appa fighting!’ she mimicked him while giggling.  She threw her oversized handbag over her shoulder and gave her appa one last wave before going to see Min Ho.

***************

‘Oppa, I’m here.  Where are you?’ Shin Hye had her phone pressed to her ear and she was scanning the park facing the Han River.

‘Shin Hye ah, look up.  Do you see my hand?’ Min Ho opened his car’s sunroof and waved his hand through it.

‘I see you, give me 5 minutes’ she hung up the phone and placed it into the zipper compartment inside her bag as she walked towards his heavily tinted black Mercedes sports car.

‘Shin Hye, I missed you’ he pulled her into a tight embrace and nuzzled his face against her neck inhaling her lavender scented hair the moment she opened the door. 

He was in China again for the past three weeks filming for commercials and he pleaded for her to join him, but she told him that her schedule was fully booked and if she played hooky her agency would kill her.  She promised that she would call him every night to make it seem like she was there with him, he whined that it wasn’t the same.  He wanted her there next to him so he could be around her every waking minute and hold off any hungry wolves ready to pounce on her the minute he wasn’t by her side protecting her.  It was plain and simple, his body and heart yearned to be with her.

‘Yah oppa! The door is open’ She fought to push him off so she could close the door to give them some privacy.

‘Who cares, they can look all they want. I just want to hold you a bit longer.  My body and heart missed you, it needs to make up for lost time’ he held her tightly in place unwilling to let her go so easily.

‘If you don’t let me close the door, we can’t do anything more that needs privacy to be done’ she whispered into his ears. 

He immediately let her go, got out of his side of the car and walked around to her door to slam it shut.  He quickly ran back to his seat and closed his door.