" Will you keep quiet?"

" What do you want to hear?"

" Anything , anything you wanna tell me"

" I don't have anything to say"

Eunjung is in the verge of going crazy , she wasted her morning reaching out to Hyomin but all she got was the pure ignorance , nothing could be more suspicious than her showing up at the apartment where Hyomin stayed, Eunjung assumed Hyomin's roommate didn't have any clue about their estrangement otherwise it would seem a bit strange , however, Eunjung had her back-up excuse " Your mom asked me to check on you and she requested that you go home" , Eunjung announced it out loud when she fetched Hyomin and Jiyeon was there, just in case Jiyeon would know they were not close , then it would save them enough reason as cousin doing a favor for her aunt, beside Eunjung doesn't like Jiyeon for some reason , and worse now that she almost got Hyomin in danger with her drink and drive issue, which made Eunjung's patience end and had to go to meet Hyomin.

" You're making me crazy!" Eunjung raises her voice for the first time in a very long time , Hyomin turns to look at her with unreadable expression

" Do you really think you are the only one? Hyomin asks

" I never make you worried by going around with someone who drinks and drives, would you realize what could happen?" Eunjung scolds

" Do I want it to happen?" Hyomin asks back, she doesn't fringe, " By the way, it's not Jiyeon's fault so please leave her alone"

" Oh , are you defending her?" Eunjung asks in disbelief

" Yes, I'm defending her because it's not her fault" Hyomin was going to reveal that it was actually her who drove the car and caused the accident but she pauses, either way Eunjung is going to be mad and could be madder than she is now.

" Huh?" Eunjung scoffs

" What is with that mock ?" Hyomin starts to get irritated 

" What were you guys doing out late at night intoxicated? Don't tell me you went out to work with her? Eunjung asks

" We went to a friend's birthday , and yes we drank" Hyomin answers confidently

" You didn't let me know anything anymore" Eunjung says, disappointed

" Because you are always like this, getting jealous over who you are not supposed too" Hyomin is getting impatient.

" You know better Hyomin" Eunjung argues, " Those eyes are not what just anyone would look at you"

" Then what kind of gaze or intimacy I suppose to pretend not to know what a man wants from my lover?" Hyomin shoots back a bitter sarcasm which only hurts herself to remember a scene when James kissed Eunjung

" He has nothing to do here and thought you know I won't let it happen" Eunjung reminds , " Besides, we are talking about your roommate who lives with you , cooks for you, drives you here and there or even going out for grocery shopping with you" Eunjung can't control her obvious jealousy

" Oh yeah, of course we do all of that" Hyomin says , " But you know what we never kiss like you do with your boyfriend" Hyomin inwardly laughs at her pathetic self

" I couldn't avoid it " Eunjung reasons , she knows she hurts Hyomin but she was upset to that night

" So are you saying you're the only who can get jealous in this relationship and I have no choice but to accept what you do ?" Hyomin asks

" I'm not saying that , and I know I hurt you , I'm sorry for that , but we are not here to talk about who can be jealous or not , my point is your roommate is eyeballing on you, I don't trust her, and she almost caused you physical injury which I'm not happy about it , and there are things you don't tell me anymore" Eunjung points out

" What is wrong with me having a friend driving me home , and stop treating me like I was ten years old girl , I have my life too , can't I just hang out with some friends when you can have a boyfriend , I'm tired Eunjung, I'm so tired? " Hyomin rants out at once .

Eunjung is taken back by Hyomin's outburst, she is about to say something but then her phone rings , she rejects the call , but it rings again , Eunjung has to answers , because Qri never calls back urgently like this.

" Yes, Qri unnie"

" If you have a TV, tune it to channel ... right now!!"

" What is going on?"

" I've got a very shocking news about your cousin, it's confirmed true"

" What is it?"

" Turn on TV right now"

" Okay"

Followed by an accident happened last night , which a famous singer Park Jiyeon drove after drinking , fortunately , nobody is injured , and involved in this accident is Park Hyomin, a mate from the same record company. While online world is discussing about the singer's undesirable habit which can be bad example to her fans and youth in general , Jiyeon has just released her public apology statement , and shortly after her company has answered a question mark stirring up when two singers were found together in the car after the accident , their company confirms that Jiyeon and Hyomin are dating after asking both of them.... this is quite shocking yet some fans are already happy for them .....

Eunjung looks at Hyomin demanding an answer. Hyomin is shocked to hear it too, , this is not what she discussed with the CEO after Jiyeon left, though she agreed to him that she has accepted the choice to help Jiyeon out but it wouldn't be this sudden and so soon, she needed to talk to Jiyeon and also tells a person in front of her right now before she can confirm with him , but it doesn't seem that thing go the way she thought it would , he is so cunning and cruel than she thought.

" Tell me what they just confirmed it's not from your word" Eunjung demands

" It's more complicated" Hyomin says

" Did you tell your company you are dating her?" Eunjung asks

" I can explain" Hyomin says

" Explain to me" Eunjung requests

Then Hyomin's phone rings , she looks for it in her bag, and as expect , Jiyeon is calling

" Jiyeon, I'm in the middle of something , can I call you back?" Hyomin tells

" Guess you you know everything"

" Yes, I'll talk to you when I get home"

" Okay, I'll wait"

Hyomin hangs up , she puts her phone back to her bag, contemplating how she should start, she inwardly sighs , this is more messy than for her to figure it out at once. Hyomin decides to grab her bag which stands in the middle of the sofa table .

" I'll get going to take care of something, I'll talk to you later" Hyomin puts the bag strap into her shoulder

" Are you going your home to meet her ?" Eunjung asks angrily

" Yes " Hyomin has enough, she answers before taking her step to leave but Eunjung holds her back

"You're not done with the explaination" Eunjung reasons

" I said we will talk later" Hyomin says

" I want to hear it now" Eunjung demands

" Eunjung!" Hyomin is mad

" I'm not letting you go" Eunjung pulls Hyomin's arm , she drags her to a room

" You can't do this to me" Hyomin fights back

" Why not , I'm your lover , and I won't let you run to someone else" Eunjung is overwhelmed with her jealousy

" Control your emotion Eunjung, this is not you" Hyomin sees the sign, a side of Enjung that Hyomin scares the most.

" Yeah , it's me , it's me who love you more than anyone else" Eunjung pulls Hyomin to a room

" Let's go of me, I'm hurt" Hyomin cries out

" What's about me , I'm hurt too , in here" Eunjung knocks her hand on her heart.

" Eunjung" Hyomin warns

" I'm sorry but I can't let you go" Eunjung puts Hyomin into a room

" I can't believe you are doing this to me" Hyomin shakes her head in disbelief

" Me too , I can't believe what I just heard and you've already known about it but have no gut to tell me " Eunjung reaches for key hanging in the wall

" I'll be back" Eunjung closes the door and misses to see Hyomin's painful expression.

Hyomin feels her body drained, all feelings attack at once; Puzzled , mad and hurt , Hyomin sits down tiredly , she looks around this room, it's a room Eunjung has it specially designed as a recreational room where they always spend their time watching movie together , with a giant half- wall- size TV

" Why can this room be locked from outside but can't be open from inside when it's locked? Hyomin asked as she was in Eunjung's arm watching a movie

" It was a mistake, I can't figure out how they could do that" Eunung answered

" It's funny" Hyomin commented

" I was thinking about having them to fix it , but I changed my mind"

" Why ?"

" In the event I have to hide you" Eunjung responded amusingly, but in that subtle joke , it hinted with bitter meaning

" Will you lock me away?" Hyomin was skeptic

" I don't want , but when we run out of choice" Eunjung sadly said

" Do you doubt I would run away? Hyomin pondered

" I don't , and never did , I would only lock you away when I can't afford to lose you"

------------------------------------------------

" Are there packages delivered to me ?" Eunjung is walking toward her PA's desk

" Yes , one arrived late yesterday evening and one just now" She hands her a couple of packages

" Great , thank you"

" Oh, Eunjung ssi , the president nim was looking for you" She informs

" Ah, did he ask where I went?" Eunjung wonders what he wants to see her for , for sure she must think of any reason why she disappeared all morning

" Yes , I told the president nim that you were out for a personal meeting" She told

" Okay , thank you" Eunjung gets in to her office , dropping her packages and leaves to meet her father .

Eunjung's father talked to her about the business expansion plan and other business related stuff , he looks as serious as he is , but he also seems worried about something that Eunjung assumes it's about Hyomin's news that could spread nationwide right now. Sometimes Eunjung wonders if her father loves Hyomin as much as he loves her , and at some point, it's obvious that he seems to love Hyomin, his niece more than her who is his only daughter, it's not wrong and Eunjung is happy that her father really adores Hyomin, on the top of that it makes Eunjung feels like he loves and treats her as if Hyomin is his daughter while Hyomin's mother treats her well too but it's not there , that's mother's love.

" Can you get the report for me by this evening?" He asks

" Yes, I will" Eunjung is not sure but she accepts his request

" I know you can do it" He smiles proudly

" Is there any else , if not I'll get going and start on it"

" I don't think that's all , you can go ahead"

" Thank you appa" Eunjung gets up

" Oh, Eunjung, did you hear about your cousin?"

" Yes, a bit" Eunjung lies

" I don't know what made you guys distanced from one another , but remember that Hyomin is still a family member, talk to her sometimes , she may need your support or may need to talk to someone at the same age" He says .

Eunjung listens to it with a heavy heart , they never drift apart , but always there for each other but just in a different way, but how she's gonna tell anyone , not her family who she tries hard to hide it.

" I'll try my best" Eunjung says

Eunjung walks back to her own office, she first checks through the packages, a tiny flash drive is found in one package and another with a stack of photos , she doesn't waste anytime , but plugging in a small flashdrive to her computer , Qri is always cautious , a passcode is required to get access , but that's not problem , Eunjung has it , she clicks on a folder with confidential letter which displays 3 different sub-folders : Voice / Video / Images , Eunjung is excited to get through them one by one. Eunjung should be taken back for what she is viewing, but she is less surprised because she quite expects it, but what shocks her are the voice recording files , she never imagines hearing them .

Eunjung is only aware of the time when she finishes a report for her father, she mentally curses at herself, it's 15 past 6 pm now and she hasn't returned home yet. Eunjung quikcly summits sending the file to her father and hoping she won't hear any feedback until the next day because she can't stay in the office any longer , she has to leave now, frantically. She originally planned to come for a package only, and now her heart sinks in quilt.

And the moment Eunjung arrives at her place, she sees Hyomin's bag is still where it was, she fishes out a key and opens the door with her shaking hand to find Hyomin sleeping on the couch, Eunjung can't help but being mad at herself now, she has locked Hyomin in here for more than 6 hours now, her legs go weak, she has no strength to stand, her heart is sinking in heavy guilt, Hyomin must've cried herself to sleep with trace of tear visible on her face.

" I'm a bad person" Eunjung talks with her wrenching heart , she stares at a sleeping woman until Hyomin blinks her eyes

" I'm sorry" All Eunjung can say , Hyomin doesn't say anything , she gets up from the couch , and stands on her feet , Eunjung suddenly feels lost in Hyomin's ignorance and cold treatment, she watches Hyomin's back as she is leaving the room, and her heart is trembling .

" Please don't leave" Eunjung's suddenly gives a slim figure a backhug making Hyomin stumble while she is grabbing her bag.

" I'm sorry" Eunjung apologizes guiltily, her hands lock so tight around Hyomin's waist.

Hyomin takes a deep breath, she musters her courage to remove Eunjung's hands , this time she is not going to give in.

" I need to go" Hyomin never understands why a same person who loves her can hurt her this much, and before her heart surrenders, she takes a chance and leaves.

Eunjung feels her whole body numb, she can't move, even the door closes behind her, she still stands at the same spot.

------------------------------------------------

Soyeon looks back and forth between Hyomin and Jiyeon , this is what she least expected in years of her career managing successful artist after artist, but now she sees more mess coming thing lets to another , this is not only media play but a game under their CEO's control , Soyeon knows better where he is leading this story too .

" So CEO nim has discussed with you guys earlier?" Soyeon asks as to make sure because she wasn't attending a private meeting with them that day

" Yes" Hyomin answered

" Did you both agree at first?" Soyeon knows Jiyeon way better

" Jiyeon didn't but it was me who agreed on this, I'm sorry " Hyomin steals a glance at Jiyeon who remains calm that is a bit hard to predict what she is thinking.

" I should be the one to apologize, you're trying to help here and don't deserve this" Jiyeon suddenly speaks, Hyomin turns her head at her.

" You have no idea , I can't imagine what damage I could have been bearing if you didn't..." Hyomin hesitates, as she catches a glimpse of Jiyeon's warning signal.

" What did you say?" Soyeon is interested

" We made a mess" Jiyeon says , drawing Soyeon's attention

" Of course you guys did" Soyeon is being sarcastic then sighing .

" By the way , did the CEO advise what he would do afterward?" Soyeon turns her attention back to Hyomin

" He didn't , and honestly I didn't expect to release the news this soon, I didn't even get a chance to tell Jiyeon before the news broke to the media"

" That's who he is" Jiyeon adds

" I don't wonder" Soyeon says

" Is it a bad thing?" Hyomin asks naively

" You don't know him well enough" Soyeon comments

" I guess" Hyomin regrets

" Well, it's not all bad actually, he is good at handling thing which makes him money. He wouldn't suggest you guys to do so if it would cause more damage to your fame, he wouldn't destroy what he built, on the contrary he is smart enough to save and gain at the same time" Soyeon explains cleverly

" Yeah " Jiyeon agrees ironically , while Hyomin tries to catch up and she understands thing in a bigger picture now.

" From what I've checked on the trend , your dating news is actually a real surprise and it totally covers the news of the accident, people avert their attention to dating news instead , besides it makes sense that you were seen together for your supposedly dates , even the songs you were collaborating now is back to the digital chartz with high ranking beating new release tracks, not to mention the viewer rating on MV and other shows" Soyeon looks through her ipad

"Then it's not too bad" Hyomin says, Soyeon looks at Hyomin then to Jiyeon

"What?" Hyomin asks, doesn't understand the way Soyeon and Jiyeon's exchanging their look

" Of course it helps Jiyeon out , well at least in a better seat now" Soyeon looks at Jiyeon " But what we have to figure it out , how you're gonna live with this lie" Soyeon remarks

" I'm sorry it didn't occur to me at that time" Hyomin regrets

" Stop saying sorry , it's not your fault" Jiyeon frowns

" Well, it happened, all we need to do now is how you guys are supposed to play along" Soyeon suggests, and this is a whole point why they are sitting here. The truth hits before they could even prepare and both Hyomin and Jiyeon know it, it's no one to be responsible for this dating news but them.

------------------------------------------------

" I can't believe you didn't tell me" Minkyung is whining on the phone with hint of being upset

" It's complicated Minky , can you not call and give me more headache?" Hyomin snaps at her friend

" Am I giving you a headache , in case you haven't noticed I'm your friend and I'm worried about you" Minkyung is hurt

" I'm sorry , it's a rough day and I have enough explaining things" Hyomin sounds guilty and tired , Minkyung understands the situation

" I am sorry too my friend, it's kinda shocking when Haeri unnie and I heard the news" Minkyung says

" Thanks , but please don't worry about me, I'm okay and we're dealing with it" Hyomin reassures

" Yeah , of course " We" Minkyung suddenly giggles

" Ok, that sounds like you now" Hyomin shakes her head

" Oh , Minky , I'll have to hang up now , I'm getting home and I'll to deal with mom" Hyomin is entering the grand mansion

" Uh oh, good luck , wait , Haeri unnie says take care" Minkyung says

" Thank you" Hyomin quickly says , before she finally hangs up and puts her phone on her pocket .

Hyomin is both physically and mentally tired , and now she is prepared to deal with her family , but she hopes it would be much difficult to tell her mother , she decided to come home after her mom calling her regarding what is going on , she doesn't have to but she wants to take a break , and saves her from awkwardness to be around the apartment .

Hyomin is greeted with surprise to see her mom, her uncle and the one she wants to avoid the most now .... Eunjung . They are together in the dinning room like they are waiting for her to come home. She knows right away, this is more than a mess.

++++++++++++++++

Eunjung lays down on her stomach , she is watching the bright stars shining through the glass roof of the attic that is above her bedroom . Once a happy hiding place for her and young Hyomin, Eunjung has a sad smile on her face , reminiscing those carefree time that they could be playing around, spending all those youth together freely and happily without the care of the world. They were a happy family back then , Eunjung was so happy since Hyomin came into her life , a little girl who was innocent and cute at every silly things she did , Eunjung couldn't help but adored the younger girl that Eunjung treated like her little sister and she was too young to understand what those possessive and overprotective feelings meant , she was sad to see Hyomin cry and happy when she saw the younger girl smile , she promised to be happy when Hyomin was happy but today , it was crushing her heart to hear Hyomin admitting in front of the family-like members that she was dating her label mate , and she was smiling when she said so, everyone seemed so calm as well as her who pretended to be clam but inside of her was breaking. Eunjung refused to believe it and still trusts in Hyomin, this is a whole reason why she is here tonight , she would have gone crazy to be at her place alone , she needed to know what was actually going on

On the other room , Hyomin is stepping out of the shower , glancing at her phone , she realizes she gets some messages but she is not going to open or read them , it's already too much for today and it's 1:45 am now and it's time for her to get some rest , so many things happened in a day and it seems so surreal to her until now . Anyway , as expected , her mother seems to take it well , even though she is just neutral , neither being happy nor against it but that's her mom , she wouldn't burden her more than she has already weighed in her shoulder , her mother is always understanding , but what surprises her a bit , it's her uncle , though he is calm , it's obvious in his verbal opinions that he is not really happy about the news , but Hyomin couldn't careless , and she is not Eunjung who would obey her father's instruction . Speaking of which , Hyomin is still hurt by the fact that the latter was doing with her , and she doesn't plan to talk to her soon .

As Hyomin is going to turn off the light , she hears a knock on the balcony sliding door

" Hyomin" Faint and far away as the voice may sound , but Hyomin remembers this voice by heart, she frowns before walking toward the balcony door , she slides away the curtain to find a figure standing outside a her balcony

" Please let me in" Eunjung says , though doesn't hear well enough Hyomin can read Eunjung's mouth

" How did you get here?" Hyomin annoyingly asks though the glass door , on the other side, not letting Eunjung in. She can't be wrong , Eunjung just did a stupid dangerous thing by climbing through her balcony from her room.

" Please let me in , I need to talk to you" Eunjung begs

Hyomin is still mad , and more angry now , she can't let herself giving in to Eunjung this time, Hyomin closes her curtain and walks away , she ignores Eunjung and turns off the light, but in the dark Hyomin can't have a peaceful mind , she is battling with her own desire , and as Hyomin is going to success being cold to Eunjung , the rustling sound outside the door indicating that it's raining . Hyomin gets out of her bed to check if Eunjung is still outside the balcony , and when she un-blind the curtain , Eunjung is still there, her back leading on the door, hugging her knee and with the direction where the wind blows , Eunjung is literarily being showered by the rain , and that makes a cold wall Hyomin built come crumbling down , she quickly slides the door open , Eunjung looks up and smiles .

Hyomin hopes one day she will learn how to say no and has more strength to break her own heart. But is that what she really wishes for ? Hyomin doubts it when all she needs is to stay forever in this woman's arm.

Hyomin surrenders with her heart and soul, she is weak and ain't got any strength to fight back her desire. Her touch, her kiss, and her warm embrace, Hyomin can't never be without them. The older woman brings her closer to her chest, as they are wrapped under the blanket, Hyomin snuggles closer seeking for the warmth . If she could wish upon the star, Hyomin prays that she could cuddles into sleep in Eunjung's arm every night.

---------------------- TBC --------------------------

Just got chance to update this after we are entering 2018 , it's still January , so Happy New Year everyone , wishing you a sweet and happy year to come . But not for this chapter , as we are still in the pool of tension and complicated circle of love , and I guess our Hyomin will never learn from it as she just gives in again and Eunjung doesn't seem to let her go , and for those who stand for MinYeon , we'll wait and see.  See you next chapter !!