“I didn’t remember what I said to him but it must be very nasty…it was a very difficult time for me…..but he listened to it till the very end without complaining and the next day I got a text from him saying he wants to come over and talk. I didn’t know what to do! A part of me felt guilty and nervous about how to face him after what I said to him the night before while another part really wanted explanation as to why he was treating me like a complete stranger....but before I could make up my mind he was at my door” Hwangbo chuckled “I thought well since he’s here anyway let’s hear what the kid has to say. We sat down and he said to me ‘Noona I have always respected you and after WGM I have grown to admire you as well but we can’t be together. Getting involved will hamper both of our careers and I don’t want that’ “

“What? He said that? Just like that….after all that?” Somin cried

“Yeah he did” Hwangbo laughed sadly “I was grumpy about it too and for many months I didn’t talk to him—my ego didn’t allow it. But then I understood he did it so he could protect both of us”

“So his actions have been confusing since the beginning…I thought I was the first victim of his fickle-mindedness” Somin sighed

“NO! That’s not it at all! Somin you’ve got it all wrong! ” Hwangbo cried out in protest. “Don’t you understand what I’m trying to imply? Hyunjoong has always been very determined on what he decides. Whenever he has to choose between career and love he has stuck with his career,religiously. But with you he has been different,totally different! Let alone his career,he has looked past your con and even now he’s ready to duel with his own brother for you”

Somin slowly absorbed Hwangbo’s words. ‘I have been different? Really have I?’she thought

“Somin? You still there?”

“De unnie”

“Look Somin I am not advocating Hyunjoong here…but I thought you should know this before you made your decision”

“Mmm. Khamsamhida unnie” Somin said and Hwangbo bid her farewell

Somin fidgeted with her phone and finally opened a picture of Hyunjoong and herself she took way back and looked at it  thoughtfully.

“Hwangbo unnie said he has always been straightforward about his feelings. He has never backed away from decision he had made. When he broke up with anyone he closed away that person completely. But he did get back to her inspite of everything. Is that some kind of signal? Soes that make me...different? This confusion of his, is it because….he doesn’t want to let me go?” she thought as she looked at their picture “but what if tomorrow he gets his mind around things and leaves me halfway again? Can I bear the blow?”