The rain pitter-patted against the clear windows in the room, creating rhythms that splashed around in steady beats. You looked up absent-mindedly, staring at the rain drops that rolled down the glass surface, one after another. Your right hand twitched, as you started to twirl a pencil around your thumb. Shuffling in your seat, you tucked the pencil behind an ear, mesmerized by the falling drops of rain. I think I would want to be a raindrop. A raindrop? You imagined a voice in your head sniggering at your comment. Why would you want to be a raindrop? Raindrops fall all the time! You smiled knowingly at the voice of the devil’s advocate, who was actually making sense. The sensation of falling wasn’t new to you. Like the raindrops that fell out of the clouds, you were thrown out of your comfort zone numerous times, headed towards a future clouded with uncertainty. Just like the raindrops that splattered painfully against the glass, you faced many obstacles that fueled the growing sense of hurt buried in your heart. Sighing, your thoughts wandered to the past week. Life hadn’t been the same since Seo Yeon had moved in. Sure she left you alone, if you disregarded her numerous snide remarks openly targeted towards you, but what affected you the most was her relationship with Min Hyuk. Although things between the BTOB members had been patched up, you and your step-brother’s relationship had ventured into a state of uncertainty. Seo Yeon took every opportunity, declaring her affection for Min Hyuk openly and protectively. But you could tolerate it; at the very least you could force yourself to look past her childish actions, believing that the man you loved would be wise enough to see past her hypocrisy. But every acknowledgement on his part was a dagger through your heart, and you were starting to struggle with the painful possibility that he had never loved you. Your smile faded till your lips were set in a thin line. True, raindrops fall all the time. But they never fall alone. That makes all the difference… You had no one to fall with, and the sole motivation, the one that made the very fall worth it, was drifting away from you. You tore your gaze away from the window, turning your fingers back to the canvas on the table, half of it filled with urgent sketch marks. Suddenly the door burst open, as a shrill voice called out. “Mi Youngggggg! When are the boys coming home?!” Seo Yeon whined loudly, the trinkets on her arms tinkling annoyingly. “Don’t you ever knock?” You replied sharply, rolling your eyes. This girl was really starting to get on your nerves. You swiveled around on your chair, eyes narrowing as the girl started rummaging through your stuff. She eyes your clothes draping across the bed with open distaste, and surveyed your room with obvious disgust. You cleared your throat, trying not to lose your temper. “What do you want”, you muttered in resignation. “Oh nothing~”, she sang with giggly laughter. “What time do you think my Min Hyuk oppa is coming home?” She asked with mock-obliviousness at your face that had turned a shade of light red. Your min hyuk oppa? Your heart lurched at her possessive words, your mind twitching to comprehend that he was no longer yours. She paid no attention to your disconcerting expression as she continued rummaging through your table. At that moment, the doorbell rang. “OH THEY’RE HOME. Come on let’s go!!!”She shrieked and grabbed your arm harshly, pulling you out of your room. You groaned loudly, obviously reluctant but too tired to put up any form of resistance. Not that you ever tried, because you were secretly afraid of her using her 5 inch stilettos on you. Those things could kill a person. So, you let her drag you down to the living room, ignoring the pitiful gaze that Hye Won gave you along the stairwell. You stood lifelessly in a corner, playing with your fingers as the BTOB members walked through the door. “Aniyo~ Mi Young ah!” Peniel cried enthusiastically, shooting you a rare smile. He was the first to walk through the door, and you couldn’t help but notice that he had ignored Seo Yeon who was standing next to the doorframe. Even though you had rejected his feelings, the both of you managed to stay good friends. Things were left unchanged, other than the fact that he often treated you with more concern than of a typical friend. He was always happy to see you, and often reserved that hidden smile of his for you. You greeted Peniel back with a sincere chuckle, noticing with your peripheral vision that Seo Yeon’s expression had darkened. Was she jealous? You quickly waved that thought away as she pounced on a tired looking Min Hyuk, grabbing his arm as he shot her a weak smile. A frown creased on her forehead when she faced his not-so-enthusiastic response, venting her frustration on a victimized maknae. “Aigooo so cute”, she whined in a high pitched voice, pinching Sung Jae’s unsuspecting cheeks. He yelped and brushed past her to take refuge behind you and Peniel. “I really hate it when she does that”, he said with a pout, massaging his soft cheeks. You chuckled when he grabbed your arm cutely. “Noona, I’m staying with you”. He muttered, making you and Peniel giggle at his child-like actions. “Since everyone’s back, how about if we all go out for supper!” Seo Yeon exclaimed with conjured enthusiasm that was a total contrary to the awkward atmosphere. Well, she was used to getting her way, and this time was no exception. The nine of you found yourselves trudging along the deserted streets at eleven in the night, heading for a 24 hours restaurant a few streets down. Eun Kwang was the one that suggested a late night stroll, and all of you were up for it … And once Seo Yeon realized that she wasn’t going to get her way this time, she stopped her incessant whining and was content to return to her place by Min Hyuk, albeit with an evil smirk. That was how you found yourself squashed between Ilhoon and Sungjae who were rambling to you about a new movie that they wanted to watch. Min Hyuk and Seo yeon were leading the pack in front, followed by Chang Sub and Peniel. Hyun Sik and Eun Kwang were trailing behind, lost in a quiet conversation. “Hyung. We’ve got to do something. We can’t sit by and do nothing”, Hyun Sik exclaimed agitatedly as the older boy shushed him. “Lower your volume. It wouldn’t do us any good if she hears us”, he chided gently. “We’ve got to find some way to get them back together”, he added in similar sentiments. “But first, we have to get rid of her”, Hyun Sik said slyly pointing at Seo Yeon who was leeching on to Min Hyuk. The two boys shot each other knowing looks, already thinking up a plan of action. Soon you arrived at a modest-sized restaurant, the fragrance of barbecued beef enticing all your senses. After ordering a huge bowl of meat, you raised an eyebrow when Eun Kwang asked for some soju. “We couldn’t forget the soju. What’s a celebration without soju?” Eun Kwang exclaimed with a glint in his eyes, as his dong saengs nodded along knowingly. All except Min Hyuk, who was giving the leader a questioning, stare. Seo Yeon though, was too busy staring at her manicured nails to even notice the strange atmosphere. “Cheers”, the leader said with a smile, and seeing the others lift their cups, you reached for a cup of soju too. Suddenly, a hand clamped over the cup in front of you, as Sung Jae shook his head at you. “You’re under aged noona”, he whispered cheekily. “YAH! I’m older than you”, you barked in response. “Nah-ah, I think my height qualifies as old enough”, he sneered with a smirk. An hour into the meal, you noticed that Eun Kwang and Hyun sik were behaving really strangely. They kept initiating drinking games that they wouldn’t let you take part in,  and what left you bewildered, was the fact that it was mostly targeted at Seo Yeon. Of course the girl had no clue, and jumped at every challenge arrogantly, earning harsh glares from Peniel. By the fifth round, Seo Yeon was clearly drunk, her porcelain cheeks tinted with red smudges. You sighed quietly, and took a sip of soju. It was then that you realized something. Your cardigan sleeve had rolled up to expose a bare left wrist. Where the bracelet was that grandmother had left you before she passed away?! You jumped in your seat, realizing that you might have dropped it on the way to the restaurant. You still remembered how its charms sat snuggly against your wrist, jiggling whenever you moved your arm. It was definitely still there when you were in your room! You stood up abruptly, wrapping a scarf haphazardly around your neck, your breaths quick and uneven with anxiousness. Immediately, the boys stared at you quizzically. “Where are you going noona!” Sung Jae called out curiously. “I dropped something important on the way here. I have to find it”, you muttered to no one in particular but loud enough for the boys to hear. Without waiting for a reply, you dashed out of the restaurant into the dead of night. “YAHH! Mi Young ah!” “Where does she think she’s going at this time of the night?” “Why did she leave? We haven’t even carried out the plan yet!” Hyun Sik whispered. “I think I know what to do”, the leader whispered under his breath. “Yah Min Hyuk! You have to go after her!” Eun Kwang shouted at a worried-stricken dong saeng beside him. Min Hyuk remained glued to his seat, his eyes trailing the empty doorway that you just disappeared down, his eyes b with anxiousness of his own. “Hyung! What are you waiting for! Go!” Ilhoon pushed urgently, hovering over the table. “Wh-aatt! Where-a-are you-g-oing Min Hy-u-kk! I’m sure she doe-sn’t ne-need you”, Seo Yeon shouted, her words slurred by the alcohol’s influence. The boy turned his head, clearly affected by her selfish words. “Go Hyung. Leave her to us”, Peniel said solemnly, pointing at Seo Yeon. That was all the encouragement he needed. With one last look at the boys, Min Hyuk grabbed his coat before disappearing out the door.  

“Brrrrrr”, you shivered involuntarily when a cold breeze blew past. Rubbing your arms, you then wrapped the scarf tighter around your neck. You were tracing the same path you had trodden on earlier, hoping to catch a glimpse of the metal chain. Other than the lampposts on both sides of the road, the moon shone dimly, bathing the streets in a dark, misty glow. Using your phone as a flashlight, you swept around you, growing more anxious with each step. “It has to be here somewhere! It just has to”, you muttered to yourself convincingly, blinking in resolution. As you turned the corner, you reached the next street that was significantly darker than the other. Glancing overhead, you noticed that one of the street lamps was spoilt. As you looked down the narrow street, you saw a few dark figures leaning against a park bench ahead of you. Somehow, the mere sight of them caused your skin to crawl. You brushed all fearful thoughts away, knowing that you had no choice but to either turn back, or pass through them. “The bracelet might be somewhere in front”, you whispered to yourself. Gulping, you straightened your clothes and pulled your scarf till it covered a little of your face. Now come on Mi Young, there’s no reason to be scared. What would they want with you anyways? Holding your breath slightly, you passed by the figures, ignoring their gazes that were fixed on you. “Hold on one sec”, a rough voice called out. Inhaling deeply, you considered your options. You could try to make a run for it, but judging by the mere statures of those men, they would outrun you in a second. You turned around stiffly, burying your face in the thick material of your scarf. A boy slightly older than you walked up to you, his expression unreadable. Dressed in a leather biker jacket and black jeans, his tousled hair reminded you of something. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out here so late”, he teased, voice cold and gruff. “nhh. Just looking for something…” you mumbled nervously, avoiding his piercing gaze. “Let me guess. Looking for love?” He whispered, his face mere inches away from yours. You could feel his slimy breath on your skin, as your instincts kicked in rapidly. Before you could manage a kick in his groin, you felt a pair of rough hands grab your arm. “Yahhh! Let me go!!” You screamed, trashing non-stop. Panic filled you when you realized that the street was empty. There was no one around that could save you. Tears almost filled your wide eyes when you determined your plight. “What’s wrong with a little fun”, he sneered pushing you against a brick wall in the alley. You winced in pain when you collided roughly against the uneven bricks. The momentary pain caused you to let your guard down, and immediately, his strong arms pinned you against the wall, a glint of lust in his eyes. You gasped when his lips came crashing towards yours, and you swung your head away, refusing to give in as your limbs thrashed around hopelessly. But it was no use. His strong legs had trapped yours in between his thighs, preventing you from kicking him. When he gave you a evil glare, the tears rolled down your cheeks in desperation as he buried his face in your neck, kissing and your neck hungrily. You closed your eyes with finality, knowing that there would be no means of escape for you, now and forever.

Suddenly, the weight against you was thrown off abruptly, as the grips on your arm loosened. Opening your tear stained eyes, your legs crumbled below you as you sank to the ground, tears escaping your red-rimmed eyes.  Min Hyuk…oppa.. You managed to whisper, your voice raspy and raw. He had come to your rescue. There he was, flying across the street, his fists colliding mercilessly with the jaw of the other boy, sending him and his companions to the ground, crumpled in pain. He then came running over to your side, slipping his arm around your wrist as the both of you ran to another street. As the both of you cowered in the alley beside the Lee Family’s mansion, you lay slumped against him, a hollow expression on your face. His chest heaved in exhaustion, his breaths coming out as short and huffed. But when he looked at you, an expression of extreme despair flooded his eyes. You didn’t know it then, but as you stared into his eyes, you saw that the tears hadn’t stopped. In fact, they were streaming down steadily, falling like pearls on your unwounded scarf. When you looked back into his eyes, you saw that they were rimmed with redness, glistening with glazed tears. Suddenly, his arms s around your back, as he pulled you in against his chest; that broad, comfortable chest that always made you safe and protected. The both of you were slumped against the alley wall, sitting on the floor as he cradled you in his arms. He tightened his grip around your back, crushing you to his chest. Breathing in his musty, male scent, the tears started to fall again, dampening his grey coat. He had just saved your life. Just like that, you sobbed uncontrollably against his chest, your tears mixed with feelings of relief. “I’m so-so-sorr-y”, he whispered in a choked voice that reverberated around you. There in his embrace, you felt immensely secure and safe, and you could feel the scaring experience fade away. Your eyelids fluttered open when you felt something wet fall against your cheek. Pulling away from him, you glanced up and gasped when you saw a trail of tears on his cheek. “Do-don’t cry oppa.” You said softly, your heart aching at his broken expression. Brushing your thumb across his cheek, you wiped away his tears with quivering arms, managing a small smile. “How can you still smil-smile. I can’t e-even bear to imagine what-would have happened if I hadn’t found-you-“ he whispered painfully before you interrupted him by placing a finger against his lips. “Shh oppa. You found me in the end didn’t you, and you saved me. That’s all that matters”, you whispered bravely, finding strength in his mere embrace as you shot him a smile. Nodding his head slightly, he then wrapped his arms around you again, guiding you back to his warm embrace. You smiled against his chest, missing the mere feelings of his arms around you. There in his embrace, you would find the strength to stand again. Suddenly from the corner of your eye, you noticed something glimmering in the moonlight. “OH MY GOSH!!” You squealed, prying yourself from his embrace. “What!” he asked shocked, albeit reluctant to let you go. Scrambling over, you felt the familiar cold metal chain around your fingers as you raised the bracelet triumphantly in the air, hearing its charms tinkle comfortingly. “Yah! Is that all that matters to you! Do you know how worried I was when you ran out! What could be more important than your safety?” Min Hyuk exclaimed agonizingly, his handsome features scrunched up in a serious frown. “Aish oppa! Don’t you read those stories where the damsel in distress always gets saved by a prince, and in the nick of time too. I knew you would save me”, you said with forced nonchalance and a planted smile. It was obvious that you were pretty shaken up by the incident, but was trying to cover it up. You didn’t want to see him worry. With a last brave smile, you started to get up on your feet, brushing the dirt off your jeans. It shocked you then, when you felt hands encircle your wrist gently, pulling you back towards the ground. You stumbled slightly, falling onto his lap as he slipped an arm around your neck and pulled you in. You felt his lips, chapped from the wind, brush yours gently. Your breath hitched, as your eyelids fluttered close, pink tinges flooding your face. He then pulled away, but only slightly, such that both your faces were still mere millimeters apart. He watched your blushing expression intently, not wanting to scare you further. Still shocked by his sudden actions, you opened your mouth to say something but no words could form. Seeing the intense blush creeping up your face, he scanned your expression with his soft gaze. Suddenly, his lips crashed against your with more urgency as his arms moved to cup your face. You felt your limp arms crawl up his side, wrapping around his back, pulling him in. The both of you wanted this; this moment that had been too long overdue. All the hidden feelings were poured out into this kiss that was hungry, tender and filled with fireworks. He tilted his head, his lips moving over yours steadily, nuzzling your lips. When you returned the kiss with as much passion as he felt, he gently bit on your lower lip, making you gasp for air. Slipping his tongue into your mouth, he ventured in slowly, wanting to give you the opportunity to stop whenever you felt uncomfortable. When he felt your tongue touch his slightly, his arms dropped to your waist to pull you onto his lap. Tongues danced around, breaths fast and rapid, heads moving steadily to a silent rhythm. He wanted dominance and you willingly gave it to him, caught up in the love he was pouring out to you. The both of you pulled away moments later, both gasping for air. You hair was disheveled, and your face flushed with a pink hue as you realized that you were still sitting on his lap. What had just happened? You looked down in embarrassment, a warm fuzzy feeling melting your insides. You felt his arm move from your waist back to your face, as he tucked a stray wavy lock of hair back behind your ear. “I’ve always wanted to do that”, he mumbled vaguely, a loving smile plastered on his handsome face. “Do…what”, you asked timidly then almost smacking yourself mentally at the awkward question. “I’m talking about tucking your hair behind your ear! Yahh such a ert! What did you think I was referring to?” He asked innocently with a sly smirk. Upon seeing your face flush even further at his accusation, a warm smile crept up his face as his eyes curved into half-crescents. “Ah arasso arasso. Mian hae”, he whispered a soft apology at the playful accusation before pressing his lips against your forehead again…
 

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Hi everyoneee! I apologize for the long wait, but i came back with a really long chappie so I hope it's enough to make it up to you guys <3HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER! please leave me your comments <3