Haneul’s POV

I looked at the clock, it was 8.30PM. Why is time passing so slowly today?

“Waiting for someone?” A voice said beside me suddenly, scaring the hell out of me.

“Yah! Ahjumma! Are you a ninja!?” I yelled, trying to calm myself.

“I am not. You’re just too deep in your thoughts. You have been like this for the whole day. Staring at the clock every fifteen minutes. Why? Did you think time will fly just because you keep staring at it? Or perhaps… Did you think Junhyung would jump out of the clock and say ‘HELLO!! I AM HERE!!’?” She laughed.

“What!?” I looked away.

“Aigoo aigoo! Don’t bother to hide your face. It’s so red I can see from the corner~ Hahahaha!” She teased me.

“He’s a good man.” She said, sitting beside me.

“How do you know? What if he’s a serial killer?” I said.

“I’ve lived long enough to distinguish who is a good man and who is not! Well, not very accurate at times, but just from the way he patiently waits for you, the way he looks at you and the kids, I can tell.” She said, caressing my arm.

“I know he’s good. Of course he is.” I mumbled.

“Then why are you hesitating?” She asked.

“Because of many things. Tae Hyun is not that tough, but Ji Eun hates him. I don’t know why. She just does.” I said.

“Admit it Darling, Ji Eun hates everyone.” She said.

“True.” I giggled.

“If Junhyung gets Ji Eun to like him, then it just proves something, doesn’t it?” She said.

“It’s not going to be easy.” I said.

“How do you know?” She asked.

“Because I know Junhyung, and I know Ji Eun.” I said.

“Want to bet?” She asked.

“Bet? What’s there to bet?” I asked.

“Bet that Junhyung will win over Ji Eun’s heart in a month!” She said.

“A month!? HA! That’s impossible! You remember how long it took you?” I laughed.

“That’s because it’s me. I trust that Junhyung just needs a month or less!” She said confidently.

“I think he needs forever. He isn’t good with kids.” I said.

“How do you explain making Tae Hyun eat?” She asked.

“He is just smart in that way, and lucky too because Tae Hyun is a calm kid.” I said.

“Don’t underestimate him. He may not have the thing with kids, but he has this.” She said, poking my chest where my heart is.

“I’m betting a month or less! If you lose, you’ll be in charge of cleaning, cooking, picking the kids up from school and buying groceries for a month.” She said.

“WHAT!?” I yelled.

“Betting or not?” She asked.

“What if you lose?” I asked.

“Then, anything you say.” She smiled.

“That’s a vague answer. I can do anything and everything, you know that, don’t you? You’re going to lose. Are you sure you don’t want to specify something?” I asked.

“If I lose, then so be it. But I am putting all my trust in him.” She said.

“You’re betting too much.” I said.

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, gesturing me to look behind me. I turned and saw Junhyung getting out of his car, looking a little dumb, but in a cute way. He dropped his keys and he pouted to himself. He bended down to get them but banged his head onto the side mirror when he got up. I winced a little at the sound of it.

“Pabo~” I laughed to myself.

He rubbed his head as he pouted to himself, mumbling something we couldn’t hear, but he broke into a smile as thou nothing happened when our eyes met.

“Hello! Am I late!?” He asked, running towards me.

“Hello Ahjumma!” He bowed as he ran.

“Be careful of the wall! Oh my goodness~” I grabbed him just in time before his head suffers another blow.

“Oh hahahaha~ Sorry~ Hee..” He grinned dumbly.

“You’re so cute.” Ahjumma poked his cheek.

“He’s not.” I mumbled.

“Junhyungie, I have all my bets on you huh. Don’t let me down.” She pat his back before walking off.

“What bet?” He asked me.

“Nothing of your business.” I said.

“Tell me!” He whined.

“No~~~” I said, walking off in another direction.

“Tell me!!” He whined, running behind me like some little penguin.

“No!!!!” I said.

“Umma~” I heard a voice call out.

I turned and saw Ji Eun peeking out from her room.

“Hi Sweetheart, I thought you were asleep?” I asked, picking her up.

She snuggled her face into my neck.

“Evil Ahjusshi!” She yelled, then I realized Junhyung was behind.

“Hey, Sweetheart. He’s not evil. Why do you keep calling him evil?” I asked, putting her down.

“He is evil!” She stuck out her tongue at Junhyung.

I looked at Junhyung who was smiling at her.

“You’re Ji Eun, right?” He said, squatting down to her level.

Ji Eun scoffed at him.

“My name is Yong Junhyung. Nice to meet you.” He stretched out his hand to shake hers.

“I don’t care!” She spit into his face and smacked his hand away.

The shock and hurt on his face was so heart wrenching to see.

“JI EUN!!” I yelled.

She glared at me.

“Apologize! NOW!” I stared hard at her.

“No!!! I am not wrong!!!” She stomped her foot.

“How is this not being wrong!? You were rude to him! Did I bring you up to be like this!?” I shouted.

“He is evil!!! Evil!!! And so are you!!!! I hate you!!! You used to love me until he came!!!!” She shouted, tears staining her chubby cheeks.

“What are you talking about!?” I shouted.

“I! HATE! YOU!” She screamed into my face.

“GO AWAY!!!!!” She pushed and punched Junhyung.

Junhyung’s POV

“Why do you hate me so much?” I asked her.

“GO AWAY!!!!” She kept yelling as she hit me.

“What did I do?” I asked.

She screamed and punched me. Haneul tried to get her off but she was a strong little girl, no doubt.

I grabbed onto her hands and looked into her eyes.

“Why do you hate me?” I asked.

“I just do!!!” She struggled out of my grip, hitting me on my forehead.

Her strength wasn’t enough to make me pass out, but it was enough to make me feel dizzy for a while. I fell backwards, giving her the opportunity to push me down and jump on my chest. I felt breathless for a minute until Haneul dragged her away.

“YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO HURT SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ANGRY! DO YOU GET IT!?” Haneul yelled, grabbing her really tightly.

“LET ME GO!!!” Ji Eun struggled.

“YOU! LISTEN TO ME! YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO HURT PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ANGRY OR JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE THEM! IT IS BASIC MANNERS! WHAT HAVE I TAUGHT YOU!?” Haneul shouted.

She was angry, it was obvious in her voice.

Jace ran out from one of the rooms and stared blankly at us.

“Are you alright?” He helped me up, unexpectedly. I thought he would go to Haneul instead.

“Yea. Thanks.” I mumbled, stabling myself.

“Ha…” I was about to say something when he stopped me.

“When one parent is disciplining the child, the other keeps quiet.” He said.

“But… Ji Eun is crying.” I mumbled, feeling so heartbroken seeing Ji Eun cry so hard.

“She needs to learn the hard way, I supposed. And, you got bashed up by a little girl, why are you so concerned whether she’s crying or not?” He asked, looking at me like I am some alien.

“I don’t like it when kids cry.” I said.

“So it’s okay that adults cry?” He asked.

“What? No!” I protested.

“Just kidding~” He laughed, slapping my chest, exactly the part Ji Eun stomped on.

“Oww~” I winced.

“Sorry!” He said anxiously.

“I’m good~” I assured him.

“Go back to your room and reflect on your behavior!” Haneul shouted.

Ji Eun, who was still sniffing, shot me a death glare before stomping back to her room.

“Are you alright!?” Haneul asked as she ran towards me.

“I’m good.” I said.

“Oh, Jace. When did you come?” She asked.

“While you were scolding the girl.” Jace said.

“She’s getting out of hand.” Haneul pouted.

“She’s only four.” Jace sighed.

“That’s the point! This isn’t how a four year old should behave!” Haneul exclaimed.

“Alright! I get it, and I am with you, that’s why I didn’t interfere just now, right!?” Jace said.

Haneul looked away and sighed.

“Why are you here, by the way?” Jace asked me.

“Supposed to take Haneul out.” I said.

“Oh, your date. Haha~” Jace grinned.

“Go check on her, would you?” Haneul asked.

“At the end of the day, the lion still loves her cubs.” Jace sang as he walked off.

“I’m so sorry.” Haneul apologized to me.

“It’s fine. Besides, it doesn’t hurt much.” I assured her.

“Why didn’t you clean this off?” She asked, cleaning away the saliva Ji Eun spit on me with her bare hands.

“Let’s go.” I said.

“Alright.” She mumbled, but looking down.

“Or should we… Stay here, for today?” I asked, sensing her uneasiness.

“No, no. It’s fine. We’ll just go. Jace will look after her.” She smiled.

“You sure? Your soul seemed to have went into the room already.” I said.

“It’s really fine.” She said.

“Really, why not we just stay here? It’s the same. I still can see you, and that’s my point.” I said.

“But…” She mumbled, looking down.

“And it’s settled. We’ll just stay here tonight! But wait, let me go get something!” I said, running off.

“Where are you going!?” She yelled.

“Get something!!” I yelled back.

Haneul’s POV

I went back to my room, feeling pretty upset over what just happened. I never knew Ji Eun could be so mean to the point she got violent. She was rude to the others, but never once had she did something like what she did to Junhyung. Does she really hate him so much?

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a knock on my door.

“Just come in.” I said, knowing it was Junhyung outside.

“Quack~” I heard.

I looked up to see the Daisy Duck’s head peeking in.

“Just come in!” I laughed.

“Quack~ Quack~!” It said.

“What is it that you want?” I asked.

“Quack~” It said again.

“I’m going to slam the door into your neck if you don’t come in.” I threatened.

“Quack~” It said, still lingering at the door.

I got up and walked towards the door.

“Giving you one more chance.” I said, suppressing my laughter.

“Quack~” It said.

I closed the door into the neck of the duckie.

“QUACK!!!!! QUACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAHHHH QUACK!!!!!!” It yelled.

I laughed like a fool, opening the door.

“Quack~” It said, sounding slightly depressed.

“My duckie!” Junhyung knelt onto the floor dramatically, holding the duckie in his palms.

“How could you~” He pretended to wipe away his tears.

“I told it to come in. I warned it.” I said.

“You…. Murderer…” He wailed.

“Cut it out!” I laughed.

He continued to ‘cry’, mourning for the duckie.

“It’s not dead!” I laughed.

“It’s not moving!” He cried.

“Do CPR.” I said.

“I can’t! She’ll be so angry! I am a guy! Hur hur hur~” He wailed.

“I can’t do it too.” I said.

“But you killed it HUR!!!!” He cried louder.

I went to get my Donald Duck and pressed its beck against the Dasiy Duck’s.

“QUACK!!!!!” The Daisy Duck ‘jumped up’, tackling my Donald to the floor.

“IT’S ALIVE!!! YAY DONALD SAVED HER!!” Junhyung cheered and clapped.

I stared blankly at his one-man show.

“You’re impossible. Your image would be ruined if this goes out.” I laughed.

“Well, this is just between me and you and the four walls.” He smiled.

“What if I say, not?” I asked, showing him my phone.

His face dropped and he looked at me.

“You did not.” He mumbled.

“Maybe I did? Hmm~ Let’s see~” I by scrolling down the videos in my phone.

“Where is it?” I asked myself.

“Delete it please!!!” He begged.

“Why should I? It’s so precious? Gonna upload it on YouTube.” I continued to .

“PLEASE!! NO!!” He pouted.

I can conclude that if one hits their head too many times, they become dumb.

“What should I say about you? Dumb or cute?” I laughed, throwing myself onto the bed.

“What?!” He asked anxiously.

“My phone was on the table all along while I was there with you and the duckies. How was it possible for me to video it?” I asked.

He thought for awhile before realizing the fool he just made out of himself.

“Aye~ I knew all along. Just playing along with you.” He said, picking up the duckies and leaving them on the table with Donald Duck still on top of Daisy, becks touching each other.

“Can’t you put them side by side?” I asked, feeling a little grossed out.

“How can I separate their kiss?” He asked.

“They have kissed enough! Their becks are going to drop out!” I said.

“They have not kissed enough.” He said.

“What’s that?” He pointed to the corner of my room.

“What?” I asked, looking at him.

“THAT!” He pointed frantically.

“Tsk~ Trying to trick me or something?” I said, but still turned to look.

There was nothing, how dumb of you, Haneul.

“How old are you!?” I yelled as I turned back.

“Three, maybe?” He grinned. His face was so close to mine my eyes widened and I thought I stopped breathing for that split second.

“What…” I mumbled. I could feel my face and ears heat up. I wanted to push him away but I couldn’t seem to move my hands.

“For you.” He smiled, raising a stalk of lavender rose in between our faces.

He backed away, handing the rose to me.

“Th…. Thank you..” I mumbled, still unable to stable myself.

“I love it when your cheeks and ears turn red. You become extra, extra cute.” He smiled, squashing my cheeks.

“Move away!” I yelled, pushing his hands away when I finally came back to my senses.

How embarrassing!

“Hahaha! Someone’s embarrassed? Heee~ You ought to be, because, I am the JOKER!!!” He yelled, jumping around the room.

He totally spoilt the moment with his lunatic act, but I realized that’s what I liked about him; His madness.

“Why the sudden rose giving?” I asked, smelling the lavender rose.

It smelt like his cologne. Did he spray it on them?

“Well~ When I finally remembered everything, that time, and I was alone, I sat down and started counting the things I have done for you. I thought it would take me forever to count because we had so many memories together, but I was wrong. I was done in awhile, because I realized most of the memories were created by you for me, not by me for you.” He said, sitting on the floor, facing me.

“And then I also realized, despite all the stuff I bought you, I actually never bought you the simplest and cheapest but most meaningful gift. Roses.” He said, looking at me.

Sincerity is what I saw in his eyes.

I could feel my eyes welled up with tears.

“Flowers aren’t cheap.” I said.

“But they are meaningful, whether you like it or not.” He said.

“How meaningful?” I asked.

“One stalk of rose means ‘you’re the one’. A lavender rose means love at first sight.” He said.

I was speechless. I was never a flower fan, neither have I gave it much thought as to why he never gave me roses, maybe that’s why I never demanded any from him. I always wonder why girls wanted flowers from their boyfriends so much? What so great about them? But now I know, it’s great. It’s just so great receiving it from someone you love. And it’s even greater to know the effort he put in. Even thou it’s just one stalk, it’s the meaning behind it.

“I lost three years with you. I am not getting it back no matter how much I try to turn the clock or adjust my calendar. I’ve lost it and it’s a fact. But since you gave me the chance, I am going to prove to you that I mean it when I say you’re the one.” He said.

“I’m not going to let myself regret again for the things I have not done for you. I don’t dare to say that we’re going to last forever, because what happens tomorrow, we’re all unsure. I am not saying it’s going to happen, but I may die, who knows? But as long as I have one more day with you, or even just one hour, one minute, I’m going to make it last, I’m going to make it worth remembering. And then when the day that we really have to part comes, be it because of death or what, at least we could look back and count more happy memories than the regretful ones.” He said.

“Why the sudden burst of wisdom in you?” I laughed, trying to cover up my tears.

“No idea~” He said, chuckling, but I could see tears swimming in his eyes.

“Don’t cry.” I wiped off his tears with my thumb.

“You too.” He said, doing the same for me.

“I just don’t wish to regret anything anymore. I don’t know what’s going to happen if I lose you again. I’m just so scared.” He mumbled, looking down.

“Nothing is going to happen, Pabo.” I pinched his cheek lightly.

We lied on my bed, with me resting on his chest and his arm circling around me.

“So, what does two roses mean?” I asked.

“Not telling.” He laughed.

I slapped his stomach.

“Tell me!” I whined.

“No~” He grabbed my hand before I could smack him.

“How did you remember everything?” I asked, realizing I have never asked him this before.

“Your letter.” He said.

“My letter?” I asked.

“Yea.” He moved a little, taking out his wallet from his back pocket.

“See.” He took out a folded stack of paper.

“You…” I mumbled, looking at it.

“How did you think I survived three years without you if I did not carry something from you everywhere I go?” I asked.

“Aww~” I smiled.

“The contents of your letter were as violent as you are.” He laughed.

“Yah!” I smacked him lightly.

“Hahaha~ Kidding. But it’s true! They acted like bricks, throwing itself at me as I read. After I was done, I passed out.” He said.

“So dramatic!?” I laughed.

“It’s true.” He said seriously.

“You really did?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Then when I woke up, it was like as thou I got smacked back into reality, but you were gone. For awhile, I did not have memory for that period of time, but it slowly came back, then the pieces fell together and I had a conclusion; I drove you away.” He smiled bitterly.

I kept quiet, but rested my head against his shoulder.

“But then I found you. Hee~” He said, twirling my hair with his finger.

“I guess it was a good thing that you left, or else I may never learn to appreciate your presence.” He continued.

“True.” I laughed.

“Yah~” He whined.

“But when Jace came and told me you committed suicide, I died inside.” He said.

“I’m sorry about that. I really didn’t know.” I said.

“It’s alright. He did it for your purpose.” He said.

“And then?” I asked.

“Life was like living hell for everyone. But I knew you were alive. Something inside me just kept telling me you are alive.” He said.

“Hahaha~ But what if I am really dead?” I asked.

“Then… I don’t know.” He mumbled.

“I almost did. But I’m grateful I never took that step. Jace saved my life.” I said.

“I know.” He smiled.

He continued telling me more about how he survived after Jace and my parents told him I died, how his mother came to look for him and so on.

“I was monitoring your performance all the while.” I confessed.

“You were!?” He asked, surprised.

“Of course! I was there for the concert in Japan.” I said, looking up at him.

“FT Island~~~” I poked his cheek, and he blushed.

“Aish you~” He mumbled, looking away.

As he continued to talk, his voice got softer and he sounded like he was drunk.

“We all missed you.. Duckie was my best friend, and so they used him to get me to do stuff…” He mumbled.

“What stuff?” I asked.

No response.

“What stuff?” I asked again.

“Stu..ff..” He mumbled.

I looked up and saw him with his eyes closed, asleep.

“How could you sleep while talking!? No. It should be how dare you sleep on your date?” I asked his unconscious self.

“Are you really asleep? Yah~~” I poked his arm.

He did not even move. The only indication that he was asleep and not dead was his calm breathing.

“Alright, I know you’re tired.” I said.

It was almost 1AM, no wonder he fell asleep. He was already tired to start with.

I sat beside him, playing with his arm while he slept.

“So veiny~” I commented, poking one of the veins that stood out on his arm, freaking myself out.

“Ewww~” I felt goose bumps all over.

“Do you bathe with milk everyday? Or are you a bar of soap? How can your skin be so smooth?” I asked, touching his cheek.

After having my fun with him, I dimmed the lights and went off to surf the net while waiting for him to wake up.

Junhyung’s POV

I opened my eyes to a dim room. What happened? I thought Haneul and I were chatting. Did I fall asleep while talking to her!? Oh my gosh, Yong Junhyung, how could you!?

She wasn’t in the room but her laptop was still on, so I supposed she’s somewhere outside. The duckies that I left on the table were separated, each hanging on the hook by its neck on the side of the room. There was a note stuck to my feet.

‘I can’t believe you fell asleep on our date. Am I that boring? I am SO disappointed >=(‘

***
When Ji Eun yells, punches, pushes and spits on him~

When he sees Ji Eun crying~

When Haneul and him chats, he can't stop talking XD

When he realized he fell asleep on their date =X