“Mysteries of attraction could not always be explained through logic. Sometimes the fractures in two separate souls became the very hinges that held them together.” 
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter

Fall

Lucy caught her hair on a ponytail and sat by Mia side almost knocking her mug with coffee.

“Be careful!” the younger women warned her friend receiving an apologetically look before Lucy grabbed her bowl with bean sprout rice.

“I’m so hungry!” She said sticking a full spoon of rice inside .

“As usual…” Alex commented eating her soup and reading her book.

Charlotte smiled drinking her coffee and rubbing her eyes.

Eating breakfast together was almost a ritual for them. They couldn’t be together during the day so eating together at breakfast was something they really tried to accomplish.

“Today…” Lucy chocked on her food and grabbed a glass of juice drinking it quickly. “Today we should have lunch together. We don’t do that in a while and I feel lonely since Max is so busy and he can’t have lunch with me!”

“Is that even a surprise?” Mia asked ironically. She didn’t like Max. She hated how he treated Lucy as if she was her employee. Actually all of them didn’t like him and wanted Lucy to break up with him. It wasn’t even a real relationship. He didn’t want to call her girlfriend and it was so obvious that he was using her. However Lucy came to Korea after him and she was so full of illusions that they were afraid to hurt her. Maybe she needed to find out for herself the kind of man he was.

“Max is really busy. He doesn’t call me in two days.”

“He is an ! He doesn’t like you and is using you! ” Mia said facing Lucy. She didn’t care anymore; Lucy was wasting her life and her heart in someone who didn’t deserve her.  “Just break up with him!”

“Ya!” Lucy exclaimed with filled with rice and kimchi. She stared at Mia and then at the others trying to see if they shared the same mind.

Alex looked away suddenly grabbing her bowl with soup and standing up and Charlotte looked down avoiding Lucy eyes.

“So you agree…” Lucy realized sadly and Charlotte gave a shy nod confirming her thoughts.

“Yes…” Alex answered from behind her bowl.

Lucy looked at the rice in front of her and at the kimchi she loved so much and suddenly she wasn’t hungry anymore. She didn’t want to believe that. She couldn’t believe she wasted years of her life on a man who didn’t love her back, on someone who just wanted to have a faithfully little puppy running after him. Lucy loved him! Didn’t she?!

She wasn’t even sure. She was never popular with men before, and when Max out of the blue said that she was beautiful and interesting, she suddenly started to feel attracted to him. He became the only man in her life and mind, besides O.

That must mean that she loves him right?!

Suddenly she felt like crying and she swallowed her rice trying to make her tears go down with the food.

“I-I need to go job hunting! Lucy, maybe you should find one too!” Alex announced and waited for Lucy answer who just nodded.

She didn’t even raise her head when Alex left the kitchen.

“I need to go too. I have the projects to work at today! I’m late!” she stood up quickly and grabbed her coat disappearing too.

Charlotte looked at Lucy not knowing what to say. She felt sorry for her but the sooner she realized that Max was an idiot, the better.

“I also need to go. I have things to prepare before class.”

Lucy didn’t even notice when she left because her vision started to blur and she covered her eyes with her hands.

The fresh air outside made Lucy smile and she slapped her cheeks softly.

Its time to find a job and do something besides following Max around. Maybe if she has some savings and does something else, Max will respect her more and realize that he loves her.

Yes! She is going to find a job!

Lucy raised her fists in the air staring at the blue sky above her.

“God if you are out there please let me find a good job! FIGHTING!”

“I’m not God but…”

Lucy jumped looking behind her at the tall man, her neighbor Lee, which was the owner of the voice and the witness of her stupidity.

“…I can help!” He smiled shyly yet cutely and Lucy couldn’t help but smile back. She didn’t know him well but he had a very charming side to him. Also she liked the usual blue tracksuit Lee used to wear. It made him look so childish and yet he didn’t use to act childish.

“Help?” she asked suspiciously watching him walk closer to her.

“My sister has a coffee shop closer to here. It’s a very special one so she can’t find someone to help around.”

“Special one?”

He smiled mysteriously and she eyed him interested. She was always the kind of person who liked a good mystery.

“I think u will like it.” He added before asking her to follow him.

“OH MY GOD!” Lucy screamed in delight with the vision in front of her: dogs everywhere.

It was a dog cafe and she couldn’t believe the cuteness of it.

The small café was filled with dark wood tables with cute little chairs shaped as bones. There was a big selection of cupcakes and precious dog shaped cookies.

“It’s cute right?” Lee asked rubbing his neck and making her look back at him, hanging open.

“Cute? This is like dream land!” she loved animals so much. How she wished she could work there and be friends with all the dogs. A big fluffy black dog was already staring at her as if waiting to meet her and Lucy waved at him. “HI!”

Lee chuckled admiring her shining eyes completely smitten by the scene. “I knew you would like it.”

“Thank you!” Lucy surprised him grabbing his hand, his heart sudenly jumping on his chest. “I would like to work here….ah…”

She seemed to forget his name and he sighed “Lee. I’m Lee!”

“Lucy!”

“I know…I mean…You told me before!”

He watched her embarrassed but she didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh can I really work here?”

“Can you start tomorrow? I can talk with my sister once she is free…”

Lucy eyed the young woman behind the counter a few meters away talking with a costumer. She was a lot like Lee and was probably already on her thirties.

“Yes! I can’t wait to start!” Lucy beamed and  left the café making him go after her, watching the spring on her step as if she was dancing, balancing her orange bag with her hands.

“Are you free?” he asked suddenly surprised with his boldness and she looked back at him, her bag stopping.

“Free?”

“To lunch?” he frowned as if he made a mistake “I mean are you going to have lunch with a friend or a boyfriend?”

“No.”

Lee smiled relieved and Lucy wondered what his idea was.

“Have lunch with me then. I’m alone too!”

Lucy wasn’t expecting an invitation for lunch but he seemed nice.

“I’m really bored.” He added “And I think you should never eat alone.”

“Food doesn’t taste the same!” she commented agreeing with him and he smiled back.

“Yes, totally!”

They stood in silence while he waited for her answer to his invitation “I’ll pay” Lee added wondering if she didn’t have money and she giggled making his heart melt.

She did have money but she wasn’t used to have a meal alone with a man beside Max, however Lee seemed to really want her company. How could she say no after he find her a job?!

“Where are we going?” she asked, her softly pink lips curving upwards.

Lucy hummed softly forgetting that she wasn’t alone and she observed the small room of the restaurant. It was simple yet it had a cozy feel.

“I come here all the time. My sister likes the food here.”

He probably spends a lot of time with his sister and that thought was cute for Lucy who had an older brother and missed him dearly.

“I like it.”

Her opinion was very important to Lee and he smiled delighted. Lee knew it was wrong but he couldn’t tell the truth to his heart: that wasn’t a date. She was probably only there with him because he helped her find a job.

She grabbed the menu and read the hangeul carefully, small wrinkles appearing in the middle of her eyes while she tried to concentrate, her lips moving silently and he couldn’t help but watch her behind his own menu card.

Lucy was a like a dream come true.  Like a cute kitty he wanted desperately to adopt and take care off. If only she would look at him with more than gratefulness.

Lee couldn’t help than exhale slowly in a very passionate way and she didn’t even notice.

“What do you want?” she asked looking up at him.

“You…” he blushed deeply correcting his mistake that she didn’t seem to notice “I mean the same as you!”

“Oh…I’m not sure yet. Maybe fried Chicken! I don’t get to eat it often because Max doesn’t like it!”

“I LOVE IT!” he exclaimed happily nodding his head vigorously.

“We have so much in common, chicken, our love for cats and dogs...”  She said it out of sympathy but he proudly smiled back until he realized that she mentioned a name.

“Who is Max?”

“My boyfriend…well kinda!” she sadly looked away and the mood changed, her eyes reflecting the ones from the day of the bento box. Max was the bento owner.

“Ah!” Lee frowned wishing to take that sadness out of her eyes and transfer it to him, even though he was already sad knowing she had a boyfriend.

“Are you dating for long?”

“Couple years.” If she could call that dating. “But lately things don’t seem to be good between us.”

He nodded looking back at the menu in front of him. Lee wasn’t going to lie and say he was sorry.

“I guess we don’t have much in common…” Lucy added making him hide even more behind the menu so she couldn’t see his smile.

She didn’t have things in common with her boyfriend but she did with him.

Winter

Charlotte walked around the desks observing her students doing the task she ordered and giving some advices. They were learning colors and body parts and she asked them to do colorful monsters with play-dough just like the ones from the story she had read before.

She walked by the table where little Eun Sun was and noticed how she stood there motionless staring at a piece of yellow play-dough in front of her.

The teacher grabbed one of the free chairs, too small for her but still good enough to sit and sat by the little girl side. “Can I do it with you?”

Eun Sun looked at her English teacher with her curious eyes and nodded “Sure!”

Charlotte caressed her student head fixing the green hair band she was wearing and asked he girl what was your favorite color.

“Blue” the girl answered in perfect English “My daddy favorite color.”

“Oh I like blue too. The color of water, the sky, ice….it’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Dad likes blue sweaters and blue underwear.”

Eun Sun comment made Charlotte blush deeply. She wasn’t supposed to know about her dad preferences on underwear.

“Do you live alone with daddy?” Charlotte asked grabbing the blue play-dough and giving it to the girl who started shaping the body.

“Yes. Now I do.”

“Now?”

“When I was little…” Charlotte smiled because it was cute how she didn’t think of herself as being little anymore “Mom lived with us and….the other dad too.”

Charlotte wondered what she meant about other dad. Maybe her mother was married with another man before.

“Oh I see. Where is mommy now?”

“She died” Eun Sun said completely the torso of her monster and grabbing the black play-dough to make the head.

“Oh…I’m sorry Eun Sun!”

“It’s ok. Dad says that she is with me forever because I’m just like her. “

Charlotte smiled imagining Onew with the soft caring smile he saved only for his daughter telling her that. It was a lovely image that made her heart warmer.

“Your dad is very wise.”

“He also says that I will be stronger than her.”

“Stronger? Was she sick?”

“No….” Eun Sun tilted her head seeming confused “Yes…sometimes….dad would make her sick.”

“Would make?” Charlotte frowned losing all interest on the monster her students were doing. That was more important than some kids chatting a few tables back.

“Yes….” Eun Sun played with the head of her monster crashing the play-dough in her hands destroying the rest of it as if she was disturbed.

There was no way Charlotte was going to push that subject any longer. It wouldn’t be healthy for the girl and Onew wouldn’t certainly like it.

“It’s ok!” She grabbed the little girl hands caressing it “Let’s do something else. What’s your favorite animal?”

“Penguins like daddy.”

Oh….why is that not a surprise?!

Charlotte wandered around the school building entrance staring at her feet and rehearsing what she was going to say to Onew. She wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do but her curiosity about Eun Sun was not just nosiness, she was worried with her well-being and she was her student after all.

She bit her lip and stopped walking absent mindedly when she saw Onew coming out from the building holding his daughter hand.

“What should we do for dinner today?”  He asked the young girl.

“Can we cook together?” she asked jumping like a bunny, his hand helping her.

“Of course. I can’t cook alone. I need the help of my cute little bunny!”

Charlotte stepped in front of them ruining the daughter and father moment.

“Charlotte!” he greeted politely with a friendly smile. It was an improvement from the fake cold one. “Yes? Do you need anything?”

 Charlotte looked at Eun Sun and back at him making him frown. “Can we talk? It’s important!”

“Not now!” Onew looked back at Eun Sun making it clear he didn’t want to do it in front of his daughter.

“Yes I know….but it’s important!”

“What is it about?” he asked already knowing her answer. That woman was obsessed with Eun Sun. He knew she meant well but talking about what happened was something not only painful for the girl. It was for him too.

“Well….” Charlotte looked sideway at Eun Sun and the little girl grabbed Onew hugging him.

“Eun sun didn’t do anything!” she said quickly “I swear daddy….i did destroy the monsters though…” she added looking up with apologetically eyes.

“Monsters?” He asked confused caressing Eun Sun back and looking at Charlotte waiting for an explanation.

“It was a little game we made at class today.”

“I got frustrated because I thought about mommy.” Eun Sun added hugging him again.

“!” Onew swore leaving  Charlotte surprised. So that educated and controlled man could lose his temper too.

“Don’t swear daddy.” Eun Sun sent an upset look at Onew and raised her hand to cover his mouth.

“Sorry love.” He smiled weakly and then stared upset at Charlotte who looked back pretty embarrassed. He probably hated how she always ruined everything.  

“You never give up don’t you?”

“I worry….I worry about my student.” Charlotte explained nervously wondering if she could screw their relationship even more.

“Aigo” he exhaled deeply and looked away from the women in front of him remembering how she cried when Eun Sun disappeared. She had a good heart and she was a good teacher. He didn’t like the way she was meddling in their life but at the same time he was thankful to her.

“Ok…ok…give me your phone!” he asked surprising Charlotte. “I’ll give you my number and you can call me tonight.”

“I’m not sure about what to think.” Mia said opening her closet and wondering about what to wear the next day. “He is a complete bastard and then he is a gentleman.”

“Like a character from a manga!” Alex added from her spot on the floor where she was reading a book about important women in Korean history.

“Exactly! It’s making me crazy because Ondrew was so sweet today and yet he makes me so upset.” Mia took out a black shirt and stared at herself in the mirror.

“Isn’t that the first sign of a crush?” Alex asked tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Don’t say that!” Mia cried. She didn’t want to have a crush on Ondrew even though he was so absolutely irresistible.

Charlotte entered her room with her phone in her hand and looked at her friends. “Are you busy?”

Both looked at her wondering why Charlotte seemed so nervous.

“Busy?” Alex raised her book in the air confused and Mia closed the closet.

“Not busy, why?”

“I need to make a phone call so…” her friends got the point and Alex stood up from the floor pulling Mia with her outside.

“I hope she is calling that hot teacher she talked about.” Alex said with a low voice but loud enough for Charlotte to hear.

She searched his number on her cellphone and walked around the bedroom trying to collect courage before she made the call.

She waited, sitting on the chair of her desk and taped her feet nervously waiting for him to answer. Maybe he gave her a wrong number or maybe he forgot she was going to call.

However someone answered the call with a sleepy greeting.

“Onew-ssi?” she asked not sure if that deep voice was his.

“It’s me. I’m sorry. I feel asleep after giving Eun Sun a bath.”

That was adorable and she wasn’t sure if his voice or his actions were the most attractive to her in that moment.

“Ok. Ask me what you want!” He said clearing his voice and Charlotte clutched her handphone.

“I’m sorry if I am being very intrusive and noisy but I don’t think Eun Sun is ok. She seems to suffer from stress due to something that happened in her past. I know I don’t have anything to do with it but I’m worried with her and I want to help.”

Onew sighed “She is being followed by a therapist already.” He was a little sarcastic and Charlotte couldn’t blame him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I’m a teacher and I like to reach out for my students and I don’t seem to pass by Eun Sun defenses. It makes feel like I’m failing. I hope you understand that I’m only thinking about her well-being. She doesn’t have any friend in school and…

“I’m sorry” he interrupted Charlotte heated speech and last attempt of making him open up to her. “I’ll tell you what I can.”

What he can. He was suffering too and it was very clear to Charlotte. At that moment she wished she could help him too. Ever since she was little her parents used to say she had the ability to make others happy, to heal them from their sadness and she wished that was true and she could somehow help others around her that were suffering. She wished she could help Onew too.

“Thank you. What happened to Eun Sun mother?”

“She died when she was 3. She doesn’t remember it much.”

“How?”

Onew stood in silence for a while “She killed herself.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She felt awful now. He was probably still suffering; after all she was the mother of his child, the woman he loved. “That must have been terrible for both of you.”

“Well it was. I had to step in and raise Eun Sun.”

He was rather young too so it was probably awful for him.

“I think you did a good job!” Charlotte said it without thinking. However it was true, during the circumstances he was doing a good job.  “She has her father with her and she seems to love you a lot.”

“Actually…” his voice changed as if he was going to confess something important, something he wasn’t used to tell everyone.

He couldn’t end it because Charlotte heard a cry coming out from the other side.

“Sorry. Eun Sun woke up, she had another nightmare. I have to go!”

He actually seemed sorrowful to end that conversation but it was his duty as a father.

“Oh I’m sorry please go...”

He hung up and Charlotte stared at her handphone her fingers tracing his number.

She memorized his number as coworker Onew and Charlotte erased the name and replaced with something new “Ice Cream Onew”.

He could be cold as ice but it could also warm your heart.

Charlotte yawned. She was at the school playground supervising the kids and at the same time taking notes of what she planned to do in her following classes. She was absentmindedly looking at the pile of papers over her lap when Onew sat by her side.

She looked at him wordlessly as if she was seeing him in a different light. His eyes didn’t seem cold anymore, it was as if the ice in them was slowly melting and she was melting with it.

“I’m sorry for yesterday.” He said gently, sweetly even, smiling at her apologetically and Charlotte shook her head.

“No problem.”

She didn’t have anything to say but kept looking at him, admiring the little wrinkles in the edge of his eyes and she quickly realized what was doing and looked away.

What did Alex say yesterday?! That Mia had a crush on Ondrew?! Maybe she also had one on Onew.

“You are right!” he said rubbing his hands on his pants. “Eun Sun is not ok. She still dreams about it.”

Charlotte looked back sadly at him. “She saw?”

“Saw?”

“Her mom suicide?”

It was his time to look away, his eyes setting on the kids playing with no worries on the playground. His Eun Sun wasn’t like that. She was always afraid, always checking everywhere for the ghosts of the past. The only time she felt safe was on his arms.

“No….I was the one who did.”

“Oh….then…” Charlotte wanted to hug him but instead of acting like a lunatic she hugged her pile of papers instead.

“She saw….she saw the before.” Onew added looking back at her once again.

Charlotte didn’t know what to say. What do you say to someone who saw someone dearly die like that? To someone whose life changed in a split of a second.

“I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes briefly “I’m not good at speaking about this. I don’t think I’m ready.”

“It’s normal. Did you have help after it happened? Did you talk with anyone?”  She hesitantly moved her hand, her heart making her do things she wouldn’t do normally, but Charlotte always followed her heart.

She softly placed her hand over his on his thigh and he looked at her in a different way, his eyes searching something on hers.

“Yes but…I’ve been thinking about this lately. I’ve been to many therapists after all happened and I’ve never been to talk about it. Eun Sun too…but since you came into our lives she started talking about her mom, making questions. I think she likes you, that she feels safe around you.”

“Really? I…” Charlotte moved her hand but he grabbed it making her look nervously at him. What was he doing?

“She can’t stop talking about how she looks forward to your class, and I understand her because I look forward to talking with you.”

Charlotte blushed with his comment. What did he mean?! Did he like her or...

“Don’t take me wrong. I just feel like I can talk about it with you. Is it weird?” he tilted his head, his beautiful eyes watching her reaction, her pink cheeks and surprised expression “Does it creeps you out?”

“NO! “She answered too loud “No. Anytime you want to talk with me I’m here.”

He smiled, his hand grasping hers and sighed deeply staring at the blue sky. Charlotte heart exploded. She definitely had a crush on him and what he was doing wasn’t helping at all.

“It’s settled then!” he said firmly staring at her once again “Want to have dinner with me tomorrow?”

Onew was asking her on a date and her mind didn’t know what to order her to do. Once again she let her heart made a decision. She stared at his cold yet warm eyes, just like Ice Cream.

“Yes!”

Spring

Alex closed the door of the apartment upset and threw her shoes to the floor.

She spent the whole morning and part of the afternoon searching for a job and nothing. Not even a stupid part-time job.

She sighed feeling unlucky and wondering where she was going to do job hunting the next day when she heard noise coming from outside. She turned around approaching the door and peeked from the peep hole.

Their landlord was talking with the weird neighborhood next door and she bit her lip trying to watch them. Sadly the old man was covering her vision and she couldn’t see Jinki clearly. Damn she was so curious and that was a good importunity. Besides he seemed to be wearing normal clothes. She could see his legs, the blue jeans and yellow sweater he was wearing, but not his face.

“So are you going with me to get it?” the landlord asked with his rusty voice.

“Now?” Jinki answered back with his gentle one. How can a rude man have such a gentle voice?!

“Now! That package is on my apartment for three days already. I’m throwing it away if you don’t go and collect it.”

Jinki nodded and Alex saw him close the door of his apartment and follow the landlord down the stairs. She was able to see his broad back and she bit her lip in curiosity.

Finally Jinki left his apartment and she smiled knowing that if that was a mystery book that would be the perfect time to check his apartment. Wait! She could do that! She had the means to do it. She didn’t think twice or she would realize how stupid that idea was, and ran to her bedroom.

Alex opened the balcony door and carefully and barefooted placed her feet on the wall of her balcony, climbing it upwards. She grabbed the wall carefully placing her left foot on the wall of his balcony. She trembled for a second realizing that she forgot her glasses and couldn’t see well. That moment was enough for her feet to almost slip and she swiftly jumped into her neighbor balcony, falling in a weird angle and hurting her leg.

“!” she swore in a low voice rubbing it for a few seconds. What she was doing?! How would she go back now?!

He heart jumped in her chest, the adrenaline pumping in her veins because she realized she could have killed herself. That was the most stupid idea she had in a while. However there was no way back and she needed to do it. She could always leave by the front door.

Luckily the balcony door was open and Alex walked inside. The first thing she noticed was how clean and modest everything was. His bedroom had a double bed with a green cover and pictures of nature and animals where on the white walls. Maybe he liked to travel a lot, which was weird since he didn’t set a foot outside his house often.

Alex hit her cheeks softly waking her up and making her move. She needed clues of him being a murderer so she needed to work fast.

She quickly ran to the closest closet and opened one of the drawers. It was filled with sweaters and she moved them around a little. Nothing.  Only an awful amount of green sweaters.

She closed the drawer and opened another one.

“Oh!” she blushed realizing it was his underwear drawers. Lots of green too. He was boring!

She closed it not wanting to touch murderer underwear.

Alex left the bedroom and entered the living room. She almost screamed in delight. Books, books everywhere; all kind of books on the shelves on the wall and only a small couch with a television. So he liked to read a lot. They weren’t that different after all.

She decided to enter the kitchen next and wasn’t even surprised to see how neatly and empty it was. It was as if no one lived there. She opened the fridge and it was filled with food. So he had a cleaning obsession or something. It would be useful if someone in her apartment had one too. Then she wouldn’t have to clean after everyone’s mess.

Alex walked back to the living room looking around. There were still three doors left to open but she didn’t have time to choose which one she would open first because Alex heard the familiar sound of someone entering the code at the entrance door.

He was back and she was still inside the apartment.

She looked around desperately and ran into one of the rooms, the one with the door slightly open. It was dark inside, the windows closed and curtains pulled down and she couldn’t see anything inside but at least he wouldn’t see her too. She only wished that behind her, in that dark room wasn’t something she was desperately searching before, clues of his murders.

Alex peeked from the fringe of the door and tried to steady her breathing and her crazily beating heart.

She could hear him walking into the living room and soon she saw him carrying a big box that he placed on the floor.

She can’t see him clearly, because of her short vision problem, but he seemed young like she was told. She didn’t care anymore; Alex only wanted to leave that place alive. She searched the pockets of her jeans realizing that she forgot her cellphone. Alex covered her head with her hands. She was so stupid! What spy goes on a mission without her phone?

“Ah finally!” she peeked again just in time to see him laughing. “I was expecting this. My new book!” he opened a small box and took a book from inside it hugging it.

What a weirdo! She would think that if she wasn’t used to have that kind of reactions too.

She widened her eyes when she saw what he did after. He danced, his hands moving on the air while he moved his hips in a very dorky victory dance.

What the…?!

Alex frowned wondering what kind of book was that. Maybe it was a book about murders. She swallowed nervous and sat on the floor against the dark wall, her eyes slowly getting used to the dark so she could see the outlines of things around her. She closed her eyes because she didn’t want to even imagine what was around her.

She heard noise outside and she peeked once again, standing up. He was on the couch now, eating something from a bowl, the TV playing. She could see his cheeks filled with food making him look like a hamster and she wondered if all criminal minds were weird like that man. 

He giggled cutely and Alex stared at him confused. How can someone dangerous like him look cute?!

She watched him for a while wondering when it will be her time to run away. She only needed him to go to the bathroom or something so she had enough time to run to the entrance door and leave.

Jinki yawned and stood up leaving for his bedroom. It was the moment she was waiting for and Alex opened the door softly and walked as silently as she could into the living room. However she had to turn back quickly and come back inside the room because he came out wearing only a towel around his waist. He was going to shower and she couldn’t help but look at his body, thankfully he was wearing a towel.

Damn she couldn’t see well but she could see enough to notice how hot he was.

He entered the bathroom and she heard him open the water. It’s her opportunity again. Alex bit her lip wondering if she would have enough time. Besides the door of the bathroom was open and she would have to pass by it if she wanted to reach freedom.

It wasn’t worth it. She needed to wait until he went to sleep.

Alex closed her eyes desperate and sat on the floor waiting for him to finish his shower. It was quick and soon she heard his footsteps. She peeked and saw his and his uncovered .

Alex blushed and looked inside the dark room once again.

That was the first time she saw a man so and so close. She swallowed embarrassed wishing that he would go sleep already.

Once again she heard him entering the living room and this time he was wearing a cute pajama with sloths.

Alex felt like crying and she wondered if anyone was worried with her. The girls were home by now wondering where she went barefoot, without her glasses and phone. Maybe they would call the police and they would save her.

Suddenly she heard footsteps getting closer and she stood up in alert.

Alex could see the light coming from the living room disappearing because he was approaching the room, his body blocking the light.

! What is she going to do now?!

She stepped back and her back hit something that fall to the ground. By the sound it was probably glass and luckily she wasn’t hurt. However the noise she heard was heard by Jinki too.

“Who is there?” he asked making her jump on her spot. She saw the shadow moving away and she peeked watching him come out from the kitchen with a knife.

That was it. She was going to die there. Alex wouldn’t see the girls anymore or her family. She would never fall in love for the first time and marry.

It was the end.

She couldn’t help it anymore and released a cry.

“Who is there?” Jinki asked more urgently making Alex act.

She touched all around her searching for something that could help her defend herself. She only wished she had enough time for that.

Summer

The library was filled with students but the silence was deadly, everyone studying diligently and Mia yawned covering . She wasn’t there to study; she was waiting for Ondrew so they could work on the project.

Now that the wall was all painted they needed to start drawing something on it.

She scanned the entrance for the 20th time that day and saw him enter the library.

She was going to frown and scold him but once he saw her he walked faster to sit in front of her.

Somehow that small action made her lose the will to argue with him.

“Sorry I’m late!” he said fixing his perfect hair. “I overslept.”

Mia frowned trying to convince herself that the most important thing was that he was honest.

“Ok. Do you have any idea?” she asked determinedly.  She was there because of work and no other reasons. She didn’t have a crush on him, not at all.

“Idea? For what?” he smiled knowing exactly that he was making her upset and she exhaled frustrated.

“Clearly you don’t!” she paused, her lips pressed into two thin lines.  “I have some ideas.”

She pushed a sheet of paper in his direction and he grabbed it studying it. Mia made several drawings, of several scenes of the students at the campus and he turned the paper backwards grabbing one of her pencils.

“What are you doing?” she asked watching him draw over her paper. “Hey that’s mine!”

He ignored her still making doodles on the paper.

“My idea!” Ondrew gave her the paper back and she looked at it laughing.

He made what seemed like a group of students, who weren’t more than stick figures talking and playing music on the front garden on the college.

“Well….your drawings…”

“I’m good aren’t I?” he asked leaning back on the chair and smiling perfectly at her making Mia look away quickly. What a tease!

“It’s adorable!” she said sincerely making him bent forward so he was closer to her. She looked up feeling her cheeks hot and he eyed her with a serious expression.

“You are adorable!” 

She watched him for a while wondering if he was serious but once he smiled with that cocky smile of his she grabbed the paper and rubbed it on his face.

“Let’s try and draw that on the wall. I think it’s funny and at the same time it represents what we defend right?” she cleared her voice trying to act professional and make her heart stop beating crazily.

He grabbed the paper and looked at her. She looked so pretty all embarrassed and he didn’t lie at all. She was adorable!

“Which is? “ he tilted his head and she blinked her eyes.

“Having fun with friends on campus? Also I like the childish side of it.”

“Are you saying that I am childish?”

She didn’t answer but smiled mysteriously and Ondrew frowned. She was adorable and very frustrating and lately he couldn’t stop thinking about her.  Also why was her so serious about that stupid assignment?!

“I wasn’t lying you know!” Ondrew said making her freeze and look up at him. He wasn’t smiling and when she realized his fingers were touching her wrist.

He slowly caressed her skin, his thumb moving over the veins of her pulse and Mia couldn’t stop looking at him.

“Also your smile is beautiful.”

She couldn’t help staring at him and his lips, his fingers slowly moving down her the palm of her hand.

“Mia….” He whispered making her wake up from the daze she fell in and she moved her hand away.

What was she feeling?! She couldn’t. He was an idiot!

Ondrew looked at her confused for a while until he smiled victoriously.

He was making fun of her and she felt stupid for falling for his devious technics.

“Then lets meet later to start drawing it.” She said collecting her things quickly getting ready to run away.

“Yes. Whatever you want!”

Mia brushed her curly hair away from her face and walked down the stairs in the direction of the wall. She was feeling a little nervous about seeing Ondrew again and she felt stupid for that. She was a modern, intelligent woman and she wasn’t going to fall for his cheap tricks.

Mia smiled confidently until she saw Ondrew, looking perfect as always with his black shirt and pants and blue jacket. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a really short skirt was by his side.

Mia felt a hint of jealousy and rolled her eyes at her own heart, walking closer to the couple.

They didn’t even notice when she approached them, both busy, the blonde whispering things on Ondrew ear.

Mia cleared noisily making them look at her. “I thought you understood the fact that we are here to work not to play.”

Ondrew smiled softly and the blonde sent Mia a dirty look she ignored.

“Can we talk later?” Ondrew asked the blonde, his hands on the pocket of his jacket.

“Sure. Call me!” the blonde sang in a cutesy voice before walking away, her wiggling a little and making Ondrew tilt his head to watch it better.

“Men are pigs!” Mia said disapprovingly and Ondrew chuckled brushing his beautiful brown hair away from his eyes. “Is she your girlfriend at least?”

She had to ask because she was burning in jealousy.

“No. Just a girl I ed before!”

His answer made Mia blush and look away upset. “You are a bastard…I’m disgusted!”

Ondrew laughed, placing his hand on the newly painted white wall.

“Isn’t that what you were expecting to hear?” Mia looked at his eyes “I was joking. I never touched her. “He seemed sincere and she swallowed when he stepped closer to her. “For the way she acts around me I think she wished it was true…” he stepped even closer, inches from her and Mia felt as if he was obliterating everything around her with each centimeter he erased between them “….it isn’t though.”

“I…I didn’t ask!”

“I wanted to tell you!” he moved his hand to her cheek and Mia closed her eyes feeling the touch of his fingers.

She shouldn’t have closed her eyes because she missed the way Ondrew stared at her. He felt exactly like he did on the day he volunteered to do that stupid assignment with her. It was as if he never seen anyone so precious like her before.

He quickly recovered his mind grabbing the paper on her hand instead and turning around.

Mia opened her eyes once she felt his fingers move away from her skin, noticing how he had his back to her, checking the drawing he made hours before as if nothing happened between them.

They worked for a while, using a pencil to draw the best they could on the wall and now they were starting to paint the details. Mia was painting the small clouds she drew and Ondrew was painting the grass.

Ondrew peeked at her once in a while, noticing the sweat on her temple and down her neck. It was hot outside and he felt hot inside too every time he looked at her. She was making him and he wasn’t sure he could do that work anymore, not when he couldn’t stop imagining the sweat in the middle of her perky s.

“I’m done!” he announced making her jump surprised, too lost on what she was doing. He wasn’t tired at all but she was and he knew it. Besides he couldn’t be like that around her.

“I’m going to get something to drink. Want some?” He said gently brushing her hair away from her sweaty forehead.

Mia watched him thankfully and nodded. She needed the break and something to drink.

“Water?”

“Iced Coffee?” she suggested making him smile widely and blink his eye at her.

How could he do that to her heart?!

“Good choice! I’ll be back…”

She watched him walk away; unintentionally doing the same he did before, tilting her head to admire his better. Damn he had a really good !

She was too distracted that she didn’t even notice someone who jumped behind her grabbing her waist and pushing her against the wall, the blue paint of the clouds dirtying her hair.

 “Oh you ed it!” a tall man, she was used to saw with Ondrew complained. His eyes were blue, his hair had a beautiful shade of light brown and he was one of the most handsome men on the campus. Still Ondrew was more handsome, at least on Mia opinion.  That friend of his scared her a little. “And look at your hair!” he said touching the blue locks of curly hair.

“Your lovely hair!” he shook his head “I’m sorry that I scared you!”

He moved away from her and Mia sighed of relief. He was so close that she could smell his cologne and she felt uneasy.

“Please don’t do that again.” She said weakly, her heart still beating wildly from the scare.

“My bad!” He touched his chest and once again leaned against her making Mia step backwards. The wall was behind her and she had no place to run away. “So…” his face got closer to hers, his blue eyes watching her “Want to go out with me sometime?”

Mia blinked her eyes nervous. “I don’t know you.”

“But I do know you…” he frowned in thought “Mia is your name right?” He moved his hand to her hair and curled one of her locks with his finger. The gesture would be y if he was Ondrew but he wasn’t and she was a little scared.

“Can you stop doing that?”

“Are you upset?” Ondrew friend asked smirking as if it was all a game for him.

“Yes!”

He chuckled once again until someone interrupted the scene.

“I’m upset too!”

The man with blue eyes moved away immediately as if he was scared and both looked to their right where Ondrew was holding two cups of iced coffee with very deadly eyes that were stuck on his friend.  

“Ondrew…” his friend mumbled.

“Back away and stop touching her.” It was an order even though Ondrew said it casually. The power he was emanating was deadly and somehow very arousing to Mia.

“Oh hyung…” the other said raising his hands.

“Don’t call me that and off.” Ondrew spit out, getting upset.

“I know you said she was…”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’ll deal with you later. Just go!”

Deal? Mia wondered what he meant.

“Ok hyung don’t be upset…I’m going.”

Both watched the other man walking away as if he was a little kid being scolded by his parents.

Ondrew walked closer to Mia and offered her one of the cups with coffee.

“Thanks!” she showed her appreciation awkwardly grabbing the coffee.

“Don’t, I did nothing.”

“You did!” He kinda saved her; at least she felt it that way. It was actually hot and she never felt something like that. It was as if they were two wolves fighting for a female and she was happy he won. It was very arousing.   

She sipped her coffee, the coldness not being able to take away the burning sensation that the scene left on her.

“Be careful. “ Ondrew warned Mia making her look up at him. “He doesn’t accept a no for an answer. He is an and dangerous!”

“Really? Isn’t he your friend?”

“When you are an heir of a big company you have no friends.”

He said it casually and walked back to the part of the wall he was painting. Mia felt a little sorry for him. It must feel lonely not to know with whom you can count. At least she knew what a true friendship was.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He didn’t even look at her and drank his coffee instead.

“But why did he mention that you said something about me?” she asked suddenly making him his lips, catching his attention again.

“Oh” Ondrew smiled grabbing a handkerchief from his pocket and walked closer to her so he could clean the paint from her hair. “That…I told him you were mine.”

Mia blushed her heart skipping a beat, her eyes lost on his once again.

She is his.

The thought made her equally upset and excited.

She loved the way he “battled” for her but at the same time she wasn’t an object to be his.  

“I’ll take you home today.” He announced not even asking her what she wanted. “He won’t bother you anymore.”

Mia nodded without even realizing. He certainly cast a spell on her.

Who was him after all? The arrogant man who slept with all the girls on campus, thinking he owned everyone or the sweet lonely one who wanted to protect the people he liked?

Does that mean he wanted to own her? Did he like her or did he only see her as a one of his preys?

Changing into a fragment of snow

An angel descends onto the sweet town

Done! 

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