23^rd of December. It was just two days before Christmas but Joohyeon haven’t even gone shopping for gifts so that afternoon, she had agreed to meet Minzy, who was giddy about the idea since her parents allowed her to spend her Christmas in her motherland with their other relatives who she haven’t seen for a long time.

Joohyeon looked at her wristwatch checking for the time when she felt a hot thing press to her cheeks. She tilted her head to see Jae, holding out a hot chocolate drink. She smiled before grabbing it.

“Thanks,” she said and Jae nodded, fiddling with his own hot chocolate drink. Jae was awefully quiet so Joohyeon looked over to him and found him slightly frowning and she turned to her side, pulling one side of his lips up, since one of her hands was occupied. Jae turned to her, surprised. “Stop frowning. It doesn’t make you cute,” she teased, sticking her tongue out and it made Jae’s lower lip jut and she rolled her eyes with a lopsided smile. “Jae, I’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry.”

“Why can’t you just bring me along? I wouldn’t bother you guys, I swear,” he said and Joohyeon sighed.

“You can’t because we’re buying gifts. Why don’t you go around and buy gifts too then we can meet up later? You actually didn’t have to bring me here too,” she tried explaining but Jae just couldn’t keep calm about it. “Seriously Jae. Don’t act overprotective of me now. Did you just rub off oppa’s personality?” She was getting a little pissed off by how Jae keeps on being overprotective of her like her brother.

Jae sighed, finally giving up. “Fine. But you should contact me if anything happens okay? I’ll just be around the area---“

“Don’t follow us.” She narrowed her eyes at him and he pursed his lips, actually having hat idea already but getting busted without even trying. “Promise me.”

Jae thought for a while, trying to avoid her eyes before she saw her frowning at his peripheral vision. “Alright, I got it,” he sang monotonously.

Joohyeon smiled before they heard someone squealing out her name. They spun around to see Minzy in her winter wear running to them. “Hi. Have you been waiting? I’m sorry, I kind of got stuck in a traffic,” Minzy said and Joohyeon just shook her head, smiling.

“It’s okay,” she replied. Minzy smiled back at her before turning to Jae, cocking an eyebrow.

“Is this guy coming along? I thought it’ll only be us?” Minzy’s eyebrow furrowed in the middle and Joohyeon shook her head. “He just drove me here since my brother insisted. And well he insisted.” Joohyeon shrugged.

“Hey, you, take care of Joohyeon, got it?” Jae said and Minzy scowled at him.

“Whatever. I will take care of her even if you don't say so. Go away now.  We’ll start shopping. Shoo shoo~” Minzy said waving him off, slinging an arm on Joohyeon’s. He sneered before looking at Joohyeon and Joohyeon smiled, reassuring him.

“I’ll be alright. I’ll call you if something comes up, promise,” she said and Jae sighed, pulling off a small smile before nodding.

“I’ll see you later. Take care, alright?” He said and she nodded.

“You’re her boyfriend Jae, not her bodyguard or dad. We’ll go now. So tata~” she said before pulling Joohyeon away. Joohyeon looked back and found Jae watching them go before she smiled and Jae smiled back.

But the fear in his chest never went away.

“Never knew Jae could get even more protective than he had been when we were young, gosh,” Minzy complained and Joohyeon chuckled.

“Yeah but it’s okay. I understand since Joonmyeon oppa also tells him over and over again, like he passed some kind of ritual to Jae, I don’t even know what.” The two of them laughed at this before Minzy spotted a shop and the shopping officially begun.

The entered shop after shop, not only looking for gifts but also things for themselves since Minzy kept on telling her to try this and that. It had been an hour and a half before they really started looking for gifts after so much insisting on Minzy.

Joohyeon went inside a shoe store with Minzy just following along. She was looking through the footwears, thinking what would fit her brother when at her peripheral view, she saw someone familiar. She pretended not to see and turned, talking to Minzy about the shoes and asking her opinion. She placed it down before she asked Minzy if she wanted to grab something before continuing and Minzy was more than happy to eat. They went out the store to a coffee shop and she could still feel someone watching them and she sighed.

“Minzy, I’ll just go somewhere. Can you wait for me here?” She said and Minzy nodded.

“Where to?” She asked a little worried too but Joohyeon already left her side.

She quickly walked out the café. She tried going round and round just before she finally got the chance to corner the person.

“Jae.” Her voice sounded not so amused and Jae actually felt afraid of it. It was quiet for a while before Jae sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just… I’m worried.”

“I already told you I’m okay. We’re just shopping for gifts. Not doing some harmless things---“

“You know that’s not the point here,” Jae said.

“Then what? My attacks again? Tell me what?” She said getting so pissed off then but trying not to because she didn’t want to raise her voice at Jae. The air was tensed as no one said anything for a while before Jae took a step forward to her, grabbing her hand.

“I’m sorry, okay? I’m just scared not be there if anything happens. You know that.” His voice was so soft she can’t help but giving in. She sighed, tightly holding Jae’s hand.

“Relax Jae. Nothing bad would happen. I’m with Minzy. I’m sure Minzy wouldn’t let anything happen to me or to the both of us and it’s the same for me. Trust me,” she said, smiling a little and Jae bit his lower lip before a phone rang and Joohyeon fished her phone out of her bag. “It’s Min. I need to go,” she said before quickly typing a reply and keeping her phone.

Jae was still holding onto her hand and Joohyeon put her other hand on of his. Jae finally gave up and sighed. “Alright.”

“You’re not going to follow us, okay? Promise me for real,” she said and Jae nodded slowly. “Promise.”

Joohyeon smiled before pulling her hand away and smiling. “I’ll see you later,” she said before smiling on last time and leave.

Jae watched her go. He continued to watch her until she had met with Minzy before he went the other way and tried to distract himself.

Minzy and Joohyeon returned to shopping for gifts and Joohyeon was happy Jae really stuck to his words. They entered a record store since Minzy was looking for a new album of her favorite band while she looked around.

She found some albums of her favorite singers and looked through it, thinking whether to buy it or not before resorting to just purchasing it because she really love their songs. While at the counter, she heard loud chattering sounds from the entrance of the store so she looked around, wondering who bothered the tranquility of the place.

She spotted about four boys, one looking awfully familiar until she remembered that time in the mall when she fainted.

“That’s the guy!” She thought.

“Ma’am,” the cashier lady said and she turned around and got what she bought before she looked back at the group of boys who was busy looking and arguing about who knows what.

“Joohyeon,” Minzy called from one corner of the store. She saw the guys turn rigid before they all looked up and their eyes met.

It was as if time stopped for all them as they stared at each other’s eyes before Minzy approached her and shook her awake.

“Hey. Do you know them?” She asked looking at the guys too and Joohyeon tilted her head to her, not knowing what to say. Did she know them? She really wasn’t sure but she felt a connection she couldn’t understand.

“I…” She watched as one of the guys ushered the others out but one guy looked back, meeting hers. The contact lasted for a few seconds, with her just wondering what the guy was trying the say because obviously, his eyes was telling her something but when the guy looked back up, it was too late for her to know what as the guy walked away.

“Joohyeon?” Minzy called worriedly and Joohyeon snapped out of her trance and looked at her. “Are you okay?”

Joohyeon nodded with a small smile. “I’m okay. I’m sorry. Are you done buying?” She asked trying to divert the topic and Minzy observed her for a while, wondering if she was really okay before she started beaming again and nodding. Joohyeon felt relieved for a reason unknown before they exit the store.

Three hours had passed but they were just half way through their gift buying. Joohyeon had already bought gifts for some of her oppas but some of them, she can’t seem to find the perfect gift.

They were strolling around when a shop caught Joohyeon’s eye and she pulled Minzy with her. It was shop that sold watches. She looked at the display, a silver leather wrist watch really looked inviting.

“Good day, Miss. That watch is a new arrival. Are you giving it to someone special?” The saleslady said and she looked up at her, nodding.

“Can I look at it?” She asked and the saleslady took it out of the glass display and showed it to her.

“Whoah, that looks so expensive? For your brother?” Minzy asked, looking at the wrist watch and she shook her head. “Wait. OHMY— Is it for…” Minzy didn’t need to continue before Joohyeon smiled at her.

They were finally done after five hours of gift buying-slash-shopping for themselves. Their feet was already hurting by then and they decided to go to a fast food chain to rest and grab some dinner, like how they used to back in the States.

Joohyeon brought out her phone to see messages she had missed to see. She read through it, some from her brother and her other oppas while some were from Jae. He had around three text messages asking where she was and if she was okay. She can’t help but smile because even if she doesn’t like Jae being overprotective of her, she was happy that Jae really cares for her. There were also a couple of missed calls from him and she was afraid that he would think something bad already happened to her because she wasn’t returning it. She was about to call when she felt someone settle beside her and she looked up to be surprised to see Jae.

“So you girls are done?” He said looking at them and Joohyeon knew that he was kind of pissed with how he was acting and she couldn’t blame him after not being able to answer any of his calls nor text messages.

“I was just about to call you. We’re planning to eat dinner out,” Joohyeon said.

“Are you ordering yet?” He asked, but he was obviously avoiding Joohyeon and Minzy noticed it so she decided to stand up, not wanting to be caught up between the two’s lover’s quarrel.

“I’ll go order for us. The usual right? Great. I’ll be back.” Minzy said not even waiting for their answers.

Once the two was alone at the table, it was so quiet. “Are you mad?” Joohyeon asked, breaking the ice.

“Of course not, is there a reason to be?” He said, and Joohyeon knew he was being sarcastic.

“Stop being sarcastic, Jae. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to return it immediately. I didn’t know my phone was ringing,” she said.

“You should’ve at least checked your phone once in a while,” he said, keeping his voice as calm as possible.

“I’m already sorry, okay?” She said, frowning and Jae avoided her, looking away.

No one said anything until Minzy came back with a waiter helping her with their orders. It was no mistaking that the air was quite thick in their table and Minzy tried to lighten up the mood by talking nonstop.

“Oh Joohyeon! You know the guys inside the record store earlier?” Minzy said before munching on her burger. Jae perked up at the word ‘guys’ but kept his gaze on his food.

“Yeah. What about them?” She asked, trying to act nonchalant about it although the reminder of it made her think again.

“They look cute and one looked really handsome. The tall one?” She said and Joohyeon chuckled at her best friend.

“Want me to help you with him?” Joohyeon joked but Jae already got annoyed by it, stopping midway in his meal.

“Can we talk about something else?” He said.

“O…kay,” Minzy said but no one said a word after until they finished their meal and decided to go home.

“Are you sure you’re okay here by yourself? You know we can wait ‘til your driver arrives,” Joohyeon said and Minzy shook her head with a smile. She leaned to her ears and whispered, “You go talk with your boyfriend. I know something is up.” She grinned and Joohyeon smiled a little.

“Alright. Text me when you get home, okay?” Joohyeon said and Minzy nodded.

A little later, after a quiet walk back to Jae’s car, they were already out in the road back to home. Jae drove in silence while Joohyeon stared in front, side glancing at him once in a while. She really doesn’t know what to do then because it was their first fight if it’s even counted, since they got together. They had fought quite a lot before but their relationship before and now was already different, and it’s not about small things like before.

The ride was like that until they reached the corner before their street and Jae suddenly stopped his car at the side, surprising Joohyeon but she didn’t dare to ask why because she quite knew why.

It was quiet for a while before Jae cleared his throat, leaning back on his seat. “Are you going to say something?” He asked, tilting his head a little to look at her and Joohyeon looked down on her lap.

“I already said sorry a while ago,” she muttered but Jae caught it and mumbled under his breath. "Stubborn as always." She frowned hearing it. "I'm sorry, alright. You know that I forget about my cellphone once I'm busy with something," she explained, turning away because she was already feeling a little annoyed.

Jae turned her way and sighed. He tilted her head to him but she refused to look straight to his eyes. “You know where I’m coming from, right?” He said and she slowly nodded.

The air inside was still for a while before Jae turned and brought his hand up to her face and wiped the tears that had fell off. It was just then she noticed it and Jae sighed. “Don’t cry, please. You know I hate it when you cry, right?” Jae said, feeling so annoyed with himself for making her even shed a tear.

She sniffed before wiping her tears away. “I just got scared when you won’t return any of my messages and calls. I thought something already happened to you. Even Minzy wasn’t answering when I tried calling.” Jae explained and she bit her lower lip looking down on her lap.

“I’m sorry for getting you worried,” she said softly. “And sorry for crying right now,” she added embarrassedly and Jae softly smiled.

“Joohyeon…” He said but Joohyeon remained to look down on her lap. He then held her chin and carefully tilted her head but Joohyeon avoided his gaze and he sighed. “Please look at me,” he said and Joohyeon hesitated before looking at him. When their eyes met, both of their hearts started beating fast and Jae immediately let go of her chin and held her hand inside. “I’m…sorry for today. It won’t happen again, I promise.” He smiled and Joohyeon nodded and smiled a little.

They stayed there in silence as Jae held her hands tightly intertwining them. Joohyeon took that time to relax herself and think about everything that happened that day while Jae thought to himself about how they were alone inside the vehicle and how his heart was skipping a beat.

When he was reminded of what Minzy said a while ago, about the guys they saw, he can’t help but be afraid once again. Even if he knew he shouldn’t get jealous of it, he can’t help it, especially that he wasn’t even able to see who those guys there. And the way Joohyeon replied to Minzy a while ago, he could hint something in her voice he couldn’t just pinpoint what but he knew it was something not good. Not the thought of Joohyeon liking one of those boys because he knew Joohyeon wouldn’t do that to him but if one of those guys is possibly Joohyeon’s ex-lover then he fears it. Afterall, only the mind forgets, not the heart.

“Joohyeon,” he called and Joohyeon looked at him. “You know that I love you right?” He said and Joohyeon felt her heart jump. She nodded, smiling.

“Don’t get mad but…” Jae hesitated because it sounded so wrong but he wanted to know.

“What is it?” Joohyeon asked but Jae just shook his head.

“I love you,” Jae said instead and Joohyeon’s heart beat sped up. Jae looked at her eyes softly and she could tell he was true to what he said and she didn’t doubt him. Joohyeon smiled and nodded.

“I love you too, Jae,” she replied and Jae smiled, knowing that was what he was just yearning to hear since it was the first time Joohyeon actually said that to him and he was more than happy to know that then, Joohyeon already felt the same for him.

Jae stared at her, looking from her eyes to her nose to her pink lips that looked really inviting. He gulped. He didn’t know if it was really the right time but if he waited for that, what if it would be already too late for everything? He told himself that if Joohyeon would reject it by any means, he wouldn’t force himself to her.

Slowly, he leaned to her, closing the gap in between their faces. Joohyeon wouldn’t say that she doesn’t know what Jae was trying to do but she herself doesn’t know how to react because it was her first time, or at least after the accident it is. Her brother didn’t tell her about having any boyfriends before and she believed him because she knew well that her parents don’t allow her. When it was just a few centimeters away, she did what she usually sees in movies or in dramas she watched and what her body actually thought of doing, and that was closing her eyes

Taehyung took the familiar route back to his home again after a long walk. He knew he shouldn’t pass by that way but he would often find himself walking that path, as if it had become a part of his life, like how taking a bath every day is. Before he would walk across the road though, a car caught his attention just parked at the corner, and inside, he saw two figures, and even with the little light because it was already dark, he could tell who the people were and it made him cringe in pain.

He watched them even if what he should’ve done was turn away. He let the throbbing in his heart wash over him until he turned numb. He held back his tears until it hurt. He knew it was stupid, that it was pathetic but he stayed where he is, and when the two individuals’ distance had finally closed in his view, he didn’t know if it was already game over and he hasn’t even started yet.

A/N:

Waddup guys!

I'm back for a new chapter. Yey, two consecutive days update lololol

I decided to update for one reason: I need to move a little faster for the story flow. I know that you've all been waiting for our two 'star-croseed' lovers to meet again. I, too, am excited for the meeting. Just wait for a little longer.

Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment! Even if it's short, I'll be appreciating it! Thank you! :)

>_<

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Love ya'llllllllllll

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