Ha Neul’s POV

When I returned to the apartment the next morning it was just barely one hour before lectures started and I thus was in one hell of a hurry. Onew oppa had woken me up too late because he thought that I could use some sleep… Such a sweet guy…! *^^* (And yes, I stayed over at his apartment… apparently. He told me that I had fallen asleep at some point and he just decided to take me to his apartment…)

I fiddled with my bunch of keys and tried to get the key into the keyhole but, of course, whenever you’re in a hurry you’ll keep missing the darn thing! Why did that guy with a liking for traditional things need to have his lock exchanged for a conventional one?! If he still had the very convenient and uncomplicated modern lock then I would have simply needed to swipe the card, punch in a code, and be done with it!

But now, my bunch of keys was clinking loudly against the door until I finally managed to hit the keyhole. I was just about to turn it around, when the door suddenly opened and revealed a quite scary appearance.

My first reaction was to take a step back, frightened that a robber might have broken in. But then I recognised that the person standing in the door frame was no other than my dear landlord! Just that his hair was dishevelled and looked as if he had slept on a couch without getting the hair gel out of it first. I also noticed that his clothes were still the same ones that he had worn yesterday and that he had dark circles under his eyes that let one think he went without sleep for days… In fact he looked like he’d been brooding about something for the whole night without allowing himself any rest… Just what had happened for him to—

Oh .

I knew perfectly well what had happened and yet I’d just left him alone like that! How could I?! This night, his nightmares must have been worse than ever!! He’d confided in me and what did I do?! Left him hanging when he needed someone by his side the most!!

But the emotional rollercoaster from the whole day threw you completely off track! A small voice in my head argued. So it was perfectly legitimate to act the way you did!

But I didn’t get to analyse that argument any further, as Jonghyun forcefully grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the apartment. He strode into the living room and without saying a single word pushed me down to sit onto the couch.

“Where have you been?” He demanded in a hoarse voice.

I tried to read his expression. I had never seen him like this. He was angry. No doubt about that! Fuming even! His glare was literally burning holes into my skull!!

But at the same time he looked like he was immensely relieved about something… Though, that didn’t make any sense… Because what would he be relieved about?

“Didn’t you hear me?!” He repeated, starting to lose it. “I asked you where you have been for the whole goddamn night!!”

I widened my eyes at him. Huh? Where I have been?? Why did he want to know that? What did it matter to him anyway…?

But one glance into his blazing eyes made it plain that not answering wasn’t an option. “I… I stayed over at a friend’s…” Somehow, mentioning Onew oppa in this situation just didn’t feel right…

Jonghyun squinted his eyes at me. “A friend’s? I didn’t know you had other friends beside Hyo Rin…?”

Eh? So he actually knew what situation he’d got me into, by telling my best friend what he’d told her? And he still went ahead with it…?!

“Y-yes!” I stuttered. Darn, where did my famous convincing talent go…?!

“Hmmm…” He still eyed me suspiciously. “Then why didn’t you call?”

WHUT??! CALL??!! Since when was I supposed to call him and inform him on where I would spend the night?!

“My cell phone ran out of battery…” I replied nonetheless. It actually did. Just that it wasn’t the reason why I didn’t call… I mean, why would I?!

He stared at me for a few seconds before he spoke to me again. “Just remember to call next time…!” He grumbled.

I gave him my most puzzled look yet. “Wae??”

“Err… Because then I can fill the little monster’s bowl before I go to sleep and thus ensure that I won’t get woken up by its hungry howl in the middle of the night…!”

…

Oh my God, Shil Hye!!!

I immediately jumped up from the couch and wanted to take off towards the kitchen but Jonghyun held me back by grabbing onto my arm.

“Don’t sweat it; I already fed her…” He said nonchalantly as if they hadn’t been mortal enemies since day one…!

“You what…?!” I gaped at him.

He rolled his eyes. “I said I already fed her… I’m not that heartless to let the poor thing starve while her irresponsible owner spends the night out!” And he gave me an accusing glare at the last words.

O-kay? Now, it was ‘the poor thing’ already?? Something was seriously off right here…!

“Okay, I’m sorry!” I gave in. “Next time, I’ll call…”

And finally, he seemed to calm down. Though, I had absolutely no clue why! The only explanation I could think of was that he had been worried about me, but that was utterly ridiculous! We might have reached something like a truce during the recent days but the fact that I barged into his apartment by blackmailing him would never change…!

“Good…!” I heard Jonghyun sigh. “But just so you know… I know that there is still something you're not telling me. But I’ll be kind enough and won’t poke around…! Though I’m really curious who that friend of yours, that is not Hyo Rin, is…!” He mumbled and gave me a suspecting look.

Right! That reminds me again! How dare he talk to Hyo Rin without telling me first?! Not that I really minded… But him leaving me in the dark lead to me spilling his secret…!

“Hyo Rin, huh?” I said and pursed my lips. “You know, you might as well have told me that you met with her…! You would have been able to avoid a lot of trouble….!”

“Why should I? Someone didn’t feel like calling to tell she was spending the night outside either…!” Oh my gosh, was he SULKING?! O.o (How cute!! Okay, ignore I just said that.) But then he frowned. “But what do you mean with I could have avoided a lot of trouble?”

For some stupid reason I lowered my head, feeling guilty. What the hell?! Why should I be feeling guilty?! This was entirely his fault!!

I pushed the guilty feeling to the back of my mind, raised my head, and put on a nonchalant (hopefully) expression. “Well, because I didn’t even know that you met up with her and even less how much exactly you had told her, she was able to trick me into telling her that you attend our univers—“

“You WHAT?!!! Are you CRAZY?!!”

I probably did flinch a little but I think I was playing the cool me quite well. “I thought she already knew. I thought I was just affirming what you had already told her.”

I shrugged my shoulders while he turned away and tore his hair. “’Already told her’ she says…!” He huffed with incredulity. “’Already told her’! Why the hell would I tell her, HUH?!! Do think I’m stupid?!!” He had whirled around again and was now yelling straight at my face.

But somehow, I didn’t feel intimidated by it at all. Maybe it was because I felt that he wasn’t truly angry at me? It was more like he was just venting his frustration and I just happened to be there at that moment. But from his point of view he certainly must be holding me responsible, right…? Strange… So very strange...

“Um, I’m sorry but I have to ask this. So… what should I tell Hyo Rin? Because she’ll surely manage to track me down sooner or later…” Even I was surprised at myself that I had the courage to ask again after his outburst…

He glowered at me but still answered. “I guess we don’t have much of a choice, do we?” Although it obviously was a rhetorical question I shook my head. “She’s not dumb and you told her straight out that I’m attending our university…” I lowered my eyes and he sighed. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to tell her the truth, then…”

My eyes immediately jerked up again. “The truth?! You mean everything?! About me living with you and all?!!” I stared at him wide-eyed.

“Pabo…” He flicked my head and I winced. I rubbed my sore forehead and blinked stupidly. Had he really just flicked my forehead and called me a pabo?? Seriously, what was happening here?

“I meant just about me attending Seoul University disguised as Kang Jonghyun, of course… And don’t you dare spill even a single word more than that!” He wiggled his finger at me and I couldn’t help but grin at his gesture. Heh, he looked like a father reprimanding his son who had just walked through the whole house after playing in the mud… But like hell I was going to tell him that!

“What are you grinning at?”

Crap.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not!”

“Spill it!”

“It’s nothing! Really!”

“You know I won’t let you go to your lectures until you tell me…!”

Lectures!! Oh, !

I quickly glanced at my wristwatch; half past ahhh, I’m laaaaate!!

I attempted another dash towards the door but Jonghyun had grabbed my arm again before I had even taken a single step.

“Nu-uh, not so fast…!” He sang with a smug grin on his face.

“Can’t we postpone it until tonight? I’m REALLY late!!” I tried wriggling out of his grasp but it was no use.

“I’m listening…?” He stubbornly insisted and I sighed.

“Then you drive me!” I demanded. “Don’t you have lectures today too, anyway?”

He paused and I saw a chance for escaping. But as soon as he felt me struggling he tightened his grip again. “Fine, I’ll drive you—“

“Deal?” I held out my free hand.

He rolled his eyes at my over-cautiousness but still shook my hand. “Deal. So…? What where you grinning at?”

“You’re really not going to let this go, huh?” I tried one last time.

“Nope.”

“Urghh! Alright, I just thought that when you were wriggling your finger like that,” I imitated his movement earlier. “You looked like a dad reprimanding his son who just dirtied your precious CD collection…”

For an instant, Jonghyun loosened his grasp on my arm and I took the chance to run to the door. And not a second too early.

“GHOSTYYYY~!!!” He hollered. “YOU WANNA DIE?!!!”

I giggled like a madwoman while I darted out the door and into the elevator. I quickly pressed the parking lot button and before the doors closed I caught a glimpse of a fuming Alien Terrorist chasing after me. Kehehehehehehehehe

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Heyyyy, my dear readers!!!

Thank you guys so much for being patient with me and all your good wishes!!! I'm so touched!! X')) (Although I imposed an AFF ban on myself I until the test, I couldn't help but sneak a peek on several occasions and read your encouraging comments and replies...! ^^ Ahh, really, I love you guys so much!! XDD)

Well anyway, now, I'm back!