Chapter 3

“I…I was…” I couldn’t help but to sob. I could feel Yunho sudden reaction to hug me, trying to stop me from crying. I buried my face on his board chest, trying to calm down by hearing his heartbeat. But the opposite happened, I couldn’t stop, my tears and pain that I’ve been endured for years, maybe it’s time to let them out.

I cried. Yunho caressed my hair, telling me that he couldn’t bear to see me crying. I didn’t know what that meant, but I could feel the warmness covered me. Yunho wiped my tears. That’s when Yunho touched my lips with his for the second time. The difference was just I didn’t resist anymore this time. I let Yunho took me away from my pain, he gave me enlightened feeling. I didn’t know why, but I enjoyed the teasing that Yunho’s tongue gave. Wanting to explorer him more, I opened my mouth as he entered. I couldn’t help but to moan. We could taste my tears between the kisses. He my air, and I couldn’t breathe, I tried to get as much air I could in the gasps. Yunho, what you have done to me? Why I let you kissed me? Why I wanted you more?

I really lost my breath; that’s when I broke from it. I didn’t cry anymore. Yunho wiped the dried tears. I looked at his eyes, there’s love, or so I thought.

“Jae ah, you know what? It’s hurt to see cry like this. It just you’re not you…I miss Jae that always rebels against me…The strong headed Jae, where have he gone?” Yunho asked me as he caressed my blushing cheek.

“What if…” my voice still hard to control, because the crying,” If, the real me…isn’t as strong as you think? What if, I’m weak?” 

“Then…I’ll protect you…” Yunho said as he cherished me, my eyes started to feel heavy. It’s 1 o’clock in the morning I thought. Seeing I’m rubbing my puffy eyes, Yunho asked me to take a sleep. He promised would listen to my story the next time.

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“Jae ah…” I could hear Yunho was calling my name as he entered the kitchen. I’d almost done preparing the breakfast. He hugged me from the back sleepily, asking me what I made.

“I made salad for our breakfast, do you like salad?” I asked. I didn’t know why, the scene last night didn’t seem to bother me. It just made me wanted to be with Yunho more. Yunho nodded as he tasted the pasta with the lettuce. “How is it?” 

Yunho smiled, he said,” The most delicious salad I ever ate…” Then, he helped to bring the dishes to the dining table. We ate as we’re fooling around, chatting about common things, yet, I was feeling so happy. Yunho took the tomato and potato, he wrapped it with the lettuce, didn’t forgot to add some cheese and corn, the last one was the mayonnaise. He put thousand island creams on the top of it and he gave it to me.

“Eat it…” he ordered. I did as he told me. It’s so delicious; Yunho really knew how to combine the ingredients. After that, we washed the dishes together.

“Jae ah, I already cancelled your schedule today…” Yunho said. I was so surprised, why, I asked. He just smiled.

“Go on date with me…” I stunned at Yunho’s words as I stopped washing. What? Date? I mean, REAL DATE?! Seeing my confused reaction, Yunho tried to enlighten the atmosphere, he put some foam on my nose. 

“…Yaaa! What are you doing?!” I finally came back to my sense as I chased Yunho around the kitchen. I succeeded to fight back, spraying some water and foam on Yunho’s arm. But, I wanted his face! That’s when I felt my body was flying around, and the floor would hit me. I slipped.

“JAE!!!” Yunho tried to catch me. Luckily, he succeeded. If he’s not, my perfectly pointed-nose would turn into crooked one.

“Are you OK?” he asked me worriedly. I stayed silent. I needed to use this chance! I put the foam on his both cheeks with my both palms. Yunho seemed surprised as I grinned in winning. After that, I realized that our face became closer as our lips touch. I could feel the foam between our cheeks, it’s kind of tickling, but I didn’t mind it. Yunho’s tongue already travelled in, my breath away.

“Hmmm…Yun…I…need to………hmm……..breathe…!” I said as I broke the kiss. Yunho smiled proudly, like he’s the one who’s wining now. Yes, he won; he let the foam on his cheeks into mine from the kissing.

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“Yunnie~ Wait for me…” I said as I chased him. Yunho held my hand as I arrived next to him. He smiled, and I asked why he’s smiling. He seems to smile a lot today.

“Because you called me with a nickname…” he said, I blushed,” Maybe I should call you Joongie then…”

Still blushing, Yunho dragged me into a skating arena. He bought two tickets for us. Then, the arena officer gave us two pair of skating shoes. I never skating before this, that’s why I definitely didn’t have any idea what I should do. Seeing how confused I was, Yunho help me put the shoes.

“Yunnie…I can’t stand if the shoes are like this…” I said, there’s a sharp blade below the shoes. I’d no idea how should I walk.

“Just hang on me, I’ll guide you…” he said. So, I leaned on him till we reached the place. The river had frozen, and many people skating on it. The frozen river seemed to be so beautiful to me, but it scared me. I adjusted my position as Yunho taught me how to stand on the ice. I could do it less in a minute, but walking was a problem.

“Yun! Don’t let me go!” I was so scared. To tell you the truth I really didn’t like the idea of skating, especially on frozen river, that’s why I never did it before. That just made me remembered the memory. My thought was interrupted when bunch of boys passed between me and Yunho. Our connected hand disconnected. The last thing I knew was my body hit the ice. I was in horror, it’s like I the ice broke and I was drowned again. I couldn’t breathe. The terror was attacking me.

“Jae!” Yunho’s voice brought me back to reality. I wasn’t drowned, I was just fallen down. But seeing the fear in my eyes, Yunho hugged me as he helped me got up.

“Yun…Can we….go out?” I asked. Yunho seemed to surprised by my sudden outburst, my tears were just unbearable. Yunho nodded as he helped me got out from the ice. He told me to wait him on a bench there as he gave back the shoes. I tried to calm myself down. Kenchana! Kenchana! I said again and again.

“Jae, are you OK?” Yunho asked, I could see he’s extremely worried,” Is there anything hurt?” I shook my head.

“Yunnie, I want to go home…” Yunho didn’t complain, he took me back to his car, ready to go home.

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We were in Yunho’s car when my stomach growled, but not too loud, just I the one could hear it. We were stuck in traffic. I didn’t know why, but I felt guilty because today I said I wanted to go home in my first date with Yunho. Yunho sighed because the cars in front of him didn’t move even an inch.

“Yunnie…” I called for the first time after the scene before.

“Hmm? What is it, Jae?” he asked. Seeing I put my palm on my stomach, he asked, whether I’d stomachache or not.

“No, it’s not that…I’m hungry…” Yunho looked at his watch, it’s passed 7 o’clock. He said he’d park the car on the side, then, we could look for food.

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It was a Chinese-designed-shop. They sold dumplings and many others. I told Yunho this restaurant was great. I once ate it with my dongsaeng, so we decided to eat here. I asked for Xiao Long Pao (a kind of dumpling) and Xiao Mai. Yunho ordered Mayonnaise Shrimps and Chicken foot. There’re also other dishes too.

“Jae, are you sure you’re OK?” Yunho asked again. I nodded.

“Yunnie, mianhe…I was our first date but I…”

Seeing the guilt in my face, Yunho chuckled. He said,” It’s fine, Jae. I didn’t know you don’t like skiing, it’s my fault…”

“No! It’s…I like skiing, but I…I…I’m afraid of the water…” I said. Yunho was about to ask more, but the waiter already gave us the food.

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The traffic was still bad, that’s why I and Yunho decided to take a little walk on the park nearby. The snow started to fall upon us.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Yunho asked and I nodded. He continued,” But nothing more beautiful that you, Joongie ah. Your mine!” He pecked me on the lips, I smiled. We sat on the bench and hugged each other, trying to warm our body.

“Yunnie, about the skiing…Can we do it again one day? But not in a frozen river, I mean, they have skiing facility on mall too right?” I asked.

“Yeah. We’ll. But Jae, what’s wrong with the river?” he asked,” You said you’re afraid of the…water?”

“I…There’s one time when I almost died…” I said. I could feel Yunho’s grasp became more powerful when I said it. He seemed to be shock with my word.

“Jae…” he called my name as he caressed my cheek.

“I’m fine Yunho, you promise to listen to my story…” I said.

“…OK, I’ll listen…” he said. And so I began.