A/N: Took down chapter 19. The first part is the old update and the continuation at the end is a new one.

The set was filled with people walking around in a hurry. They were all doing something and the place seemed very busy. In one corner, an actress was reading her lines as she hummed a familiar melody.

"Unni, you miss him, don't you?" Her stylist suddenly murmured in her ear.  

"What? Ya, Bo Mi-ya just mind your own business, okay?" She burst out with her reddened face. 

"Anyone can tell that you're humming 'December'. You can tell me, unni. I know how long you haven't seen him. It must have been so hard to be in the entertainment business when all eyes are on you." She continued to babble only to their hearing.

"I just hum it because it's...already December." She tried to make an excuse for getting caught red-handed. Ji Hyo already told, or more appropriately admitted to her stylist that she's seeing Jong Kook after a few interrogations from her. She didn't know how it happened, but it didn't seem so bad for her to be talking to Bo Mi compared to her past stylists. While still engrossed of thinking about when she started to be comfortable with the young lady, a man became visible to their sights. 

"Noona." He called, with all the energy he has left. "Someone's looking for you. He's waiting inside our van." 

She watched him talk and breathe alternately and thought of how difficult his job must be. Just like most of the people in that place, he looked exhausted and drained. She shrugged her thoughts after catching herself concerned with her manager. "Who?"

"My guess, han namja!" Bo Mi answered enthusiastically, receiving a scold from Kang Hyeon.

"Noona, you should go, before this girl spill everything."

She walked with him to the van, leaving Bo Mi behind. She also told her manager about her relationship since he's always with her.

"He's inside. I'll wait here and stand watch."

She nodded and opened the door to the car. "Oppa." Ji Hyo smiled brightly, better than she ever did in the past few days. She entered the car as the door closed behind her. "What are you doing here? It's what? Like 2 in the morning?" She guessed after being clueless of the time from shooting late for hours. 

"Is that how you say hi?"

"Ahh, I'm sorry." She went up from her seat and hugged him tightly. "It's really nice to see you."

"I'm sorry we rarely meet." He enveloped his muscular arms around her and whispered. "By the way, it's 4 Ji Hyo."

They separated and Ji Hyo immediately checked his watch. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I just finished recording. I was going to visit you at home, but no one's answering your house phone so I called Kang Hyeon-ssi. So, you were shooting since you last called?" 

"Hmm, not really shooting the whole time since I'm on standby, but I haven't left since last night."

"Standby again? Can't they just call you when it's your scene?" His voice started to sound pissed. 

"You know it doesn't work that way, oppa." She tried to calm him down.

After a few minutes of catching up with each other, they heard a knock on the door. "Noona, you need to get ready." 

She sadly looked at Jong Kook. "Sorry."

He sighed and pulled her closer into his arms. "Do your best." He kissed the top of her head. "And don't kiss anyone." He whispered. 

Ji Hyo chuckled as she broke their hug. "You're joking, right?" 

"Of course, I am. I'm not a pathetic, jealous boyfriend." He proudly exclaimed. "But seriously, don't enjoy it. Especially with that guy."

She laughed for a bit before opening the car door. "He's not even here. Take care on your way home." She saw him nod and she finally left to do her work.

"Ji Hyo." 

She turned her head to the side and she was stunned to see a man running towards her. The staff behind them were already packing up and Kang Hyeon went ahead of her to the van. She almost felt like shouting if it weren't for the voice being familiar. Little by little his face became visible and her heart rate started to slow down. She cleared her head along with . "Ohh, Ji Hoon-ah, what are you doing here? I thought you didn't have a scene to shoot." The movie she was shooting casts Ji Hoon as the male protagonist and her as one of the antagonists.

"I just thought I'd jog around, my place is near this park. I didn't expect that the shooting will last until morning. And since I'm here, I took a tour around. What about you?"

"Oh, I'm about to leave. I had a pretty rough day." She smiled while biting her chapped lower lips.

"Figures. Here, let me carry that for you." He took her coat and bag. "So, where are you going?" 

She had no strength to resist so she just whispered a 'thank you' and pointed to the left side of the road. "Somewhere there."

They started walking together as Ji Hoon continued their conversation. "We work together, but I rarely see you."

"Well, it's not like I have a huge role."

"That's not what I meant." He immediately faced her with a worried face. 

"No, I know, don't worry." She waved her hands in the air. 

He walked backwards such that he's moving while still looking at her. "Sorry about that. Anyway, I was going to say that we rarely meet so we should have lunch together."

She stopped walking and her cheeks flushed. "Ohhh, I'm so stupid. I still owe you that lunch. I'm really sorry. We should go this weekend, my treat."

"What? I was just kidding about that before, but if you insist. This weekend is fine with me." He replied with a smirk. 

"Ohh, I can see the van." Ji Hoon turned around while still walking. They saw a familiar short man coming closer to them.

"Ohh, Ji Hoon-ssi. I didn't know you were here." Kang Hyeon spoke while reaching for Ji Hyo's stuff.

Ji Hoon bowed to him as soon as his hands were free. "I was just passing by. And I decided to lend her a hand." He looked at the actress and patted the side of her shoulder. "I'll go ahead, I'll just contact you. Take care."

"Okay, thanks Ji Hoon-ah."

"Anytime." He waved his right hand while he kept the other in his pocket. "I'll see you around." He told the manager. 

She watched as the young actor jog away from them. "You're really close with him, noona?"

"He's a good friend, but it has been really long since we last hung out together. I worked with him before and we rarely talk since then. I even forgot about having a meal with him for a couple of times now."

"Aigoo, it's not because you grew distant noona. You're just really blank most of the times. You forget about a lot of stuff."

"Ya, even you? I'm having lunch with him this weekend so you should remind me that."

"E-hem." Someone suddenly appeared behind them. 

"That shocked me." Kang Hyeon muttered while clenching his chest. "I-I'll go ahead, noona." 

"Don't wait for her, I'll send her home." He ordered coldly. 

"Ahh, I understand, hyung."

"Let's go?" He extended an arm forward while his small eyes looked at her intensely.

"Thank you for today Kang Hyeon-ssi. Tell Bo Mi I'll go ahead." She left him a short smile and started walking to the tiger's car.

They were finally in the car and Ji Hyo sat beside Jong Kook like usual. She watched him fix the mirror and do all the driving stuff. He didn't seem to notice her presence and it made her really uncomfortable. He started the engine and she felt more anxious since he always wears the seatbelt for her and even though it's really easy, she lets him do it because she finds it really sweet. But this time, he just drove quietly. "Y-you, you didn't put my seatbelt on." She tried to break the ice, hoping he'd answer her.

He looked at her sharply and he shrugged his shoulders. "What, you don't have hands?" He replied sarcastically. 

She scoffed. "Oh! Right! Here they are." She raised her hands enthusiastically. "How silly of me to forget. I do have hands!" She shouted and clipped the seat belt on like a little girl throwing a fit.

Jong Kook didn't talk for a while since he was really fuming in anger. He just couldn't stand seeing her with that guy and he unintentionally made Ji Hyo mad. She must think that I'm really nuts. He slightly turned his head to see what she was doing. "Nice going, Miss Song." He shook his head as he parked the car to the side of the road. Ji Hyo had fallen asleep while resting her head on the window. "You must be really tired. I'm sorry." He inched closer to kiss her forehead and fix her chair. He leaned it to the back so that Ji Hyo could sleep properly. After making sure that she didn't wake up, he continued driving to her house. 

"Ohh, I see. No, don't wake her up. Okay, thank you Lizzy." Gap Jin watched as Jong Kook ended the call and sat back in his chair while looking out to nowhere.  

"Problem?"

"She's been sleeping for 14 hours. How could someone do that?" He turned to him in a serious tone.

"What's the big deal? She had done this for a couple of times. I thought by now, you're used to it." Gap Jin asked while giving him a water bottle. He wondered why Jong Kook had been so unfocused since this afternoon.

"I am. The thing is, I don't know her schedule these days and now she's still sleeping, so I have no plan at all."

"Plan for what?"

"Just something for her."

"Why, what's the occasion?"

"Hmm, nothing."

"You're really something. You're very busy yet you're still planning these cheesy things for nothing."

"Hey, it's not cheesy. And there doesn't have to be an occasion for me to do something for her. So...do you have any idea, on what two people could do this weekend?"

"This weekend? Why are you in such a hurry? You have like a day or two to plan. Just forget it, hyung. Besides, didn't you remember that we're going to Busan this weekend?"

"Huh? What for?"

"Jang Hyuk's birthday?"

"Ohh, right. Is Ji Hyo invited to that?"

"Yeah, I think he invited her too, and some other actors and actresses even the whole running man cast. It's really a big party since they're celebrating his recent movie and his current drama. I just realized how busy that guy must be-." He stopped after seeing Jong Kook walking to the door. "Where are you going?"

"I'm getting him a gift. Just to make sure we're going."

In a split second, he was alone in their office. "I thought we're buying the gift together. Ohh well, I guess I'm going alone."

Ji Hyo walked back and forth in their living room. Jong Kook hadn't called her since they last fought and she's guessing that, it's still about Ji Hoon having lunch with her. "I know it's not right for me to be having lunch with him, just the two of us when I have a boyfriend, but it's just going to take, more or less an hour and he's a very good friend of mine so I'm sure there's nothing to get jealous about."

Lizzy leaned her chin over her hand as if she's solving a difficult problem. "I think, that's actually the reason why he's jealous. You're very close and close friends tend to, you know, do unfriendly things."

"Ya, do you think, I'll be doing that. I'd get bashed by millions of Ji Hoon's fans if I hold his hand in public."

"And one really, really angry tiger, for sure. Why don't you call him?"

"He was very mad, Lizzy. I'm not sure if calling him first is a good idea."

"Really? Or maybe you did something wrong." She eyed her suspiciously.

"Me?"

"Uh-huh! You can be bad Ji-."

"Ya! I was just pissed off that time."

"So that's why." Lizzy nodded her head and looked like she now understood their situation after being in it for a couple of times. "A guy 'friend' is coming to get you and you still haven't told your boyfriend properly. Are you insane?"

Before Ji Hyo could answer, they heard a knock on the door. 

"Ohh, it came earlier. Heh! I'll get it." She walked to the door proudly. "Hi! Ohh-. Oppa, you're here."

Ji Hyo curiously followed Lizzy and as soon as she got there the young idol tapped her shoulder lightly and whispered 'good luck'.

"Ohh, I smell my kimchi burning. I'll go get them." She ran and was completely out of their sights.

"S-She doesn't really know how to cook. What brought you here, oppa?"

"I'm picking you up." Jong Kook replied.

"Ohh, yeah. Hmm, right, you're picking me up! I-I'm sorry, but why is that again?" She stammered. 

"Ji Hyo, I'm not mad, okay? I'm sorry I didn't call you, I was just busy." He held her shoulders and Ji Hyo had never felt more relieved. 

"I'm sorry, oppa. You know, how rarely we meet and I really didn't want to upset you, but I was so tired and-."

"I know, but we need to hurry, we're gonna be late."

"Where?"

"To Busan, it's Jang Hyuk's birthday. You were invited, right?" 

"Ohh, yeah." She paused and took a long, deep breath. "Actually, I'm not going. I really forgot to tell you, because of the fight. You see, I have a shooting schedule tomorrow morning and the place is pretty far. I already told Jang Hyuk oppa that I'm not coming."

Jong Kook looked really tired and frustrated that it broke her heart. "What? Everyone's going to be there. Wait, are you still meeting Ji Hoon?"

"I-I promised him already, but-."

"Is that why you're not going?" His eyes looked lost that she couldn't read them anymore.

"No. It's not like that, I-."

"I was actually hoping that we can finally have some time together through this party and we can't because you're meeting some guy."

Ji Hyo was left speechless and she was frozen in place. "I didn't know about this, okay? I said no, even before Ji Hoon asked me to have lunch with him. His invitation has nothing to do with me not going to that party."

"But it never occurred to you that I'm going to that party before you said no?"

"I have a job, oppa."

"I have a job too, but I always tried to make time for you. Why can't you ever do that for me?"

"You know how much I need this job and with just one mistake, I'm out." She reached for his hands and held it tightly in hers. 

He looked deep into her eyes and sighed. "Let's stop this, I'm not having one of these fights again. I'm going to the party. Have fun with your lunch." His voice was calm and he gently took his hands away. 

"Oppa!" Ji Hyo called him out, but he didn't look back and drove off with his car. Now it's worse. Ji Hyo thought. 

They were already 10 months into their relationship and for the past 6 of those, they constantly fight. Their bickering was cute and lovely, but little by little they turned into immature and childish quarrels that Ji Hyo thought is driving them apart. They would make up, but they never really learned. Their busy schedule is not helping them and ever since, Ji Hyo had always wished she never entered the business. It drove her crazy. She used to not care about what others were saying about her, but now it's different. Jong Kook had been paired up with actresses who have really respectable backgrounds and it was a lot of pressure on her. She knew she flunked. She made a lot of mistakes that they could use against her and she's doing her best to patch them up with good ones now. She sat down in front of their door and hugged her knees. She knew how she disappointed Jong Kook and he can't blame him for feeling that way. He's right. She can't make time for him because as much as she wanted people to accept her, and as much as this job is killing her, she loves what she's doing. 

"Hey."

She looked up and smiled to the person in front of her. "Hi."

"Can I sit?" Ji Hoon asked and pointed to the spot beside her.

"Only if you fit."

He sat on the a little farther away from her. "So, is this where we're eating?"

She chuckled and looked far away. "If only we could."

"Of course."

"No, I was joking."

"I don't think you were. Stay here and...can I go in and look around your kitchen?"

"Okay. It's across the hall to your left." 

"I'm back with 2 cup noodles."

She looked at him and laughed apologetically. "I'm sorry, we don't buy real food."

He sat beside her while handing her a cup. "Ohh no it's fine. I ran into Lizzy and she helped me."

"You did? She didn't do stuff that isn't normal, right?"

"No, she was cool." 

She put down the hot noodles she was holding and looked at Ji Hoon, who was happily slurping down the instant ramen. "Look, I'm really sorry Ji Hoon-ah. You shouldn't be here, eating cup noodles. I'm a mess right now and I feel really bad dragging you along." 

"I want to be here, Ji Hyo. And these aren't that bad." He held out the cup to her. "So, what's the problem?"

She sighed and grabbed her ramen. "I don't think-."

"Hey, I'm eating ramen with you in front of your house, you cannot tell me nothing."

His face turned serious and she felt less uncomfortable to talk to him. Besides, she used to tell him everything, that's why they were close before. "Have you ever given up something for acting?"

"Yeah, I think all of us in the industry did."

"Will you ever give up acting for something?"

He seemed to have been taken aback by the question that he kept quiet for some time. Then, he stared back at her while clearing his throat. "If ever I will, maybe it's for the same reason why I gave things up for this job, and it's because I love it."

"And you can give it up just like that?"

"No, I mean giving up is not that easy, but if it's for something that I really, really care about, I guess, it wouldn't be as painful." He suddenly frowned. "Are you quitting?"

It was then her turn to think, but it wasn't too difficult before she could decide because she knew her answer right from the beginning. She looked at Ji Hoon's worried face and she was glad to have him around. "I am not quitting, but I have to go to Busan."

"Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up." The phone rang continuously. Ji Hyo held the steering wheel tightly while ending the call and dialing his number again. "Okay, you're not picking up." She had been calling him for a couple of times since she left her house, but he wasn't answering.

She stepped harder on the gas pedal and soon after, she arrived at the party. She parked the car immediately and jogged her way inside the building. Upon entering, she scanned for Jong Kook's face and stopped only when somebody recognizes and greets her. After desperately trying to find Jong Kook in that huge crowd, she came across the table where her running man family were seated.

She walked closer and the face she had been looking for, came to her sight. "Oppa." He greeted everyone in the table. 

"Ya, Mong Ji." Jae Suk noticed her first and stood up to give her a hug. He walked her to the table and she sat down beside him. Everyone started annoying her about her outfit and she realized how stupid she was to exchange this moment with this group of people for her job.

Across the table, Jong Kook was looking at her and she shyly smiled at him. He replied with his smile. The one that always makes Ji Hyo's heart flutter and it didn't fail this time, again. It was a feeling that never went away whenever she's with him. He's the only person who can make her feel sad and happy at the same time. And he's the only one in the world that even after they fight and no matter how much she hates him, she would always, always come back to him.

(Part 2)