“Oppa”, a chirpy voice suddenly turned up behind him.

He turned his head, a smile forming on his face, “Morning, Ji Hyo.” he felt a ray of golden sunlight shone onto his gloomy day. “Sit down, the usual?” he stood up, wanting to help her ordered breakfast.

“Oppa, continue your breakfast, I had ordered.” she made a face, after analyzing his breakfast. “Same boring breakfast, I see… Why don’t you try some of the new things on the menu.”

“You know the reasons .. so I won’t even bother to explain.” he decided not to be bait by her. “And for the record, it is not boring.” they slipped into a comfortable conversation while they enjoyed their breakfast.  

It was one of their mornings, the kind that he wished there was more to it and not just to old friends met up and had breakfast. They had been friends for the past 15 years, since that incident. It had been fifteen years, time really flew fast, they had grown up so much and he witnessed her transformation from a girl to a woman. Something he had tried to deny, wanting to keep the young girl image in his heart so he could continue to treat her as his sister.

“Oppa, Oppa… planet earth to Kim Jong Kook. Do you mind landing now?” He was startled from his trance. Her face was just millimeters away, he could feel her warm breath on his face. He jumped apart, face turning totally red, he was unprepared for this much closeness, he felt his heart jumping excitedly just from been this near to her.

She frowned slightly, "Am I so scary?” She asked, hurt started to register in her eyes.

He quickly denied, “no, Ji Hyo, I was just day dreaming and you sorted of caught me by surprise. You are the most gentle and kind woman I know, how could you be scary?” He blubbered, anxious to wipe the hurt he had caused.

“Really?” She wanted to hear more what he thought of her.

“Yap, we know each other for so long, there is no point I buff you right?” he looked at her earnestly. “I just cannot believe we knew each other for so long already.

She giggled, “Ahh.. the golden axe.” remembering a younger him, he had not changed much, but his eyes had become more gentle, the lines on his face had softened and he grew more handsome, something she quite unwilling to admit openly. He was not the rough boy he used to be, but he still stood up for what he felt was right.

His face turned red, ‘Golden Axe’ a name from his younger days, she had been there all the way when he turned rebellious from the young child. She had been patient, watching him from afar. Whenever he fell or injured, she will always be there, he was grateful even if he never told her about it.

They were so young when they knew each other, he was eight and she was three. Their mothers were the best friends but his first memory of her was that particular moment. Her mother had dressed her as a princess and his mother had made him her prince. He didn't know why he had agreed, maybe it the sword that his mother had finally agreed to let him carry. She was cute, he noted whenever he saw their photos.  They were going to a Halloween party and he was tasked to protect the princess for the whole time. He remembered he had turned sulky in the midst of it since he couldn’t play with the other boys, he had given his mother a solemn promise. The young girl looked at his unhappy face, then she asked,” Do you want to play with them?” her tiny fingers pointing to the rough boys playing knights and warriors. He nodded, staying beside her was boring. “Let’s go over and play with them,” she suggested. Excitement flashed through his eyes, “Better not, they are a bunch of idiots. Later they tore your beautiful dress. We will just go play with the rides.” The young couple played in each other company that day. He thanked goodness that the other boys were terrified of him.

They met up and play with each other every time they mother met. He had great tolerance for her since he quite like the gutsy little girl. Her only fears were ghost and insects. He had been her hero since he would help her took care of her fears. And she loved him like an older brother, even when his own mother doubted his words, she would believe in him.

They grew up, even in his most rebellious days, she was by his side. Even in her most rebellious day, he was still her most faithful protector. And now, they were in the same university, her mother had entrusted him to take care of her, he sighed, that is where the problem started.

He had discovered his feeling for her one day, he had wanted to give her a surprise and went to look for her in her high school. He waited patiently in the shadow of a tree when he saw her walked out with a boy. They were talking so happily, her eyes were shiny, her smile beamed. He had felt something went through his heart and he could not even breathe. His small eyes followed the happy couple till they were too small to be seen. He stood there frozen, biting his lower lips. The boy and she looked so perfect, the boy should have been the prince and he .. he was only the Frog who thought too highly of himself.

After that day, he ignored her, he knew if he heard her told him she had a boyfriend, he would lose his mind. He went into hiding, trying to get his heart mend before facing her again. That’s when he decided to get enlisted, people seldom get enlisted straight after high school. He went against his parents wish to complete university first, and became a soldier for two years. In the two years, she wrote to him numerous letters but he refused to read any. Yet he had treasure these letters while giving his heart the time to forget her.

He thought he had already forgotten her, but the day he was delisted, and there she was standing beside his family, his heart betrayed him immediately. It beat so fast, then he felt his face turned hot. He stood there foolishly, looking at her. It was then he knew he would never forget her, he was meant to be her knight all along. Maybe the princess would come to love a knight instead of her Prince Charming… he learned to hide his feeling since.

They got into the same university, he had tried to distance himself again but it seems fate would not allow it. He got into music while she studied accountancy. And to make it worse, they stayed in the same dorm, and she would always pop by. He was both happy and sad at the same time, able to see her all of the time and yet she would be a thousand meters away.

One of the things she would make them do together is to have breakfast on weekends. Sometimes they would eat in a cafe, sometimes she would cook and they would eat in his room. She always insisted he was consistent, and yes he was, that was why he knew he would never stop loving her.

His biggest fear was she would have a boyfriend, his heart would shatter and yet relief. Maybe then she would leave him alone and he would take his time to heal his heart. Maybe then she would forget about him, and he would have all the peace he needs. Maybe then she would marry her sweetheart and he would glimpse her happiest day in her life would be. And the best part was it would be without him.

He looked at the woman in front of him, studying her features, wondering how long he would have before she would stop having breakfast with him, instead, she would be having it with her boyfriend. He felt his heart winced at the thought. He forced a smile on his face, she could not know his secret. “Ji Hyo, where are you going later?” he asked, out of curiosity and habits.

“I am meeting one of my seniors. He had promised to teach me on the topic I hated the most,” she said nonchalantly. His heart skipped a beat, a male senior, is he after her?

“Is he handsome?” he heard himself asking.

“Well, if you think Song Joong Ki is handsome, then he is,” she said picking up an egg. “Strange though, he doesn't have a girlfriend since his last one 3 months ago. I thought a lot of girls would want that position.”

He could not breathe. It sounds like a hunter out for a hunt, and the prey was the woman in front of him. “So you wanted to be his girlfriend?” he stuttered.

She laughed, “I am not pretty enough to attract him, he is just kind.” He wanted to say she was too pretty actually, no man would miss her. “Anyway, I also wanted to stay alive, instead of becoming public enemy no 1.”

“So what kind of man you like?” he blundered out the question. What was he hoping for? He chilled himself.  

Her face turned red, she looked so cute. “A man that could understand me most in the world, a man that would protect me and shield me from the world.” His heart grew cold, from jumping excitedly to limping slowly in pain. He was not that man, how could he be so greedy he thought he might have a chance. He wished he could protect and shield her but he was a coward, he wished he could read her like an open book and alas he could not even guess her next move.

An insect crawled onto the tabletop, before she could even scream, he gently picked up the insect and walked out of the door. He slowly put it on a leaf before going back to the cafe. He washed his hands and then sat down again before her. He had welcomed the distraction, hoping to end a topic he should not have started. “Let’s go for a walk, the weather looking fine today.” she nodded her head. They walked out of the cafe, and towards a little park by the side of their university.

“How about you?” he heard her asked.

“What about me?” he was confessed, mainly because he was still thinking of what she was saying.

“The kind of woman you like?” she repeated her question.

“Me?” he was stunned, didn't know what to answer. “I like a kind woman, someone who knows me, and not bother about my looks,” he answered most sincerely. “A woman who knows how to take care of me.”

“But what is so bad about your looks?” she picked on his weakest point.

“My eyes are too small .. I don't have double eyelid and ..” he started to rattle what he thought was his ugliest feature.

“Your eyes are not too small! In fact, those eyes make you look mysterious. If you are ugly, you would not be the heartthrob of the school“ she had stopped and her hands were on her waist. “You know how many women would love to be in my place right now.” she rumbled.

“Really?” he just wanted one woman, was she among the women who liked him for his looks?

“Come on, Kim Jong Kook, when is your confidence?” she asked.

“My confidence did not come from my looks, apparently.” he laughed dryly. He did not know where his courage came from, and the million dollar question slipped from his mouth, “So you are one of them?”

Her eyes blinked furiously. She was stunned then she looked down, her cheeks turned bright red and she did not answer. His heart regained jumping madly. Is it she found him attracting too?

“Well .. not too bad.” she finally answered.

“Not too bad, means good.” he good naturedly answered. He felt his mood getting lifted more and more.

She looked away “ok bah.” and her steps get faster. He had to break into a jog to keep up with her.

“So what other girls say about me?” he asked.

Suddenly, she stopped. Her eyes filled with anger, “I don't know, I don't feel like walking anymore. I'm going back.” she turned and was about to leave.

“Hi, I am sorry I angered you.” he pulled her arm trying to stop her leaving. Maybe he didn’t his strength, she was pulled back and fell against him. He immediately caught her in his embrace, he could felt her in his arms. In his wildest dreams, he had dreamt of holding her like this.

They stayed like that, breathing the same air, feeling each other temperature. It was she that broke the embrace, “Thank you. I need to leave.” she said. He caught some tears in her eyes and wondered what did he do wrong. He could not let her leave like this, he just could not!

He reached for her hand, “Ji Hyo, I am sorry. Don’t leave like this.” his voice softened. “I…” he pulled her back to him, “I don't need to hear what other girls think about me if that displeased you.” he stopped, maybe he had thought too highly of himself,  he quickly let go of her. “If it's because of what I just did, I… I  am terribly sorry, I … “ he didn’t know how to continue, he was afraid it was because she felt offended he had hugged her. Why did he do that! He scolded himself.

“YOU ARE SORRY YOU WHAT!” her eyes were throwing daggers now.

“I .. please don’t get angry. I just want you not to be angry. I will do anything.” he replied.

“Then you would make me your girlfriend!” she demanded, then her eyes grew big. Both of them were early stunned at that outburst. “Forget it.” she quickly dismissed her words, turning to leave again.

“What.. forget about what?” this time it was him that demanded. “I am not going to.” he declared.

She turned and looked at him, her eyes asking “what are you talking about”

“I will become your boyfriend.” he sworn. “This had been my wish for the longest time since it had been your wish too apparently, I declare I am going to make you mine. If I cannot grab this chance, then I am not fitted to be a guy. Especially one that had already loved you so long.” Tears now welled up in her eyes, was she hearing wrongly.

“Are you sure, this is not just a phase.” she asked timidly.

“I, Kim Jong Kook, had loved Song Ji Hyo since high school. I had wasted enough time because I was afraid you don’t love me and now hearing it was your wish all along, how could I abandon our wishes. I am going to start chasing you now, this moment, Song Ji Hyo.” His hands reached for hers, holding them tight. He felt her hands tightened around his, and he smiled. “Let’s go home, we had much to discuss.” She nodded her head, his hand did not let go of hers, and they both walked back home hand in hand.

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Sorry, I took so long .. but there just too many distraction everywhere! Hee Hee.. hopefully my next story wont need that long.