He held his breath frozen in place as the familiar slender figure presented herself under the luminous street lamp. Moonlight’s rays added effect to eerie aurora as a strong sudden gust of wind swapped by nipping at the nape of his neck causing him to shiver violently under her quizzical gaze. It’s almost as if the weather was foretelling the confrontation about to take place. Uncertain of what the young woman was thinking as she peered back at him with unyielding eyes of notion. Taking note of the displeasure within them he continued to feel the nerves in his body become paralyze by the second. Whether it was from fear or guilt he wasn’t sure. Unable to withstand the suffocating silence any longer he opened his mouth to speak but only one word managed to escape from his lips.

“Jin?” His mind began spinning debating on the correct words to employ as his heart performed summersaults under her alarming gaze.

“Well I see you still spending your evenings with others girls.”

He flinched as hissed her distaste for Saya. Her eyes followed the glass door were she last saw her enter the building. “Jin ho, I was just walking her h_.”

“DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL!?” She barked snapping her attention back onto him. “Don’t think I don’t see what’s going between you two!”

“Baby calm down, all I did was walk her home. I swear there’s nothing goin__”

A swift palm across his face left him silenced with a short pinch of pain from furious slap. “DON’T YOU IN LIE TO ME YOUNGBAE!” He remain still listening to her false accusation ignoring the swelling under his left eye feeling the blood vessels in his cheek pulsate faster. “You think this stupid foreigner actually gives a about you? You think she likes you for who you are!? Uh? Well guess what she just like every other out there trying to be with you just so she can get her 10 minutes of fame.”

He could only stay quite listening to her degrading rants and chastisement hanging his head low in defeat. For months he had found himself becoming accustomed to the confrontations such as this. Slowly with each hurtful word and disparaging action he began believing this was normal as if he deserved to be punished for each mistake no matter how trivial.

“You unfaithful piece of …” She scuffed before continuing to scold him relentlessly. Enraged her eyes hinted she was blissfully aware of how it was affecting Youngbae almost as if she was getting off from the power trip. “You should consider yourself lucky to be with me!” She grabbed a hold of his shirt forcing his eyes to meet hers. “Because no other women could put up with you like I do…Nor accept you ungrateful .” She released him violently finishing her final statement.

Just when she was preparing to leave she paused her hand meeting the cold metal handle on the glass door of the apartment complex before turning to forewarn him. “This is your last chance Youngbae…Stay away from her!”

*:･ﾟ✧♥♥♥ ✧･ﾟ:*

As promise Youngbae had done his best completely avoid any unnecessary interaction with Saya or either of her two companions for the past 3 weeks. He had taken their last argument to heart as he eliminated any possibility for mistakes to happen on his part in order to appease his girlfriend. Luckily for him Saya was too wrapped up in her own busy world, much too inattentive to notice any change in his behavior. Focused on her own personal goals Saya tuned out needless distractions striving to meet a little bit of perfection each week.

Meanwhile Youngbae wasn’t the only one playing the lover’s edition of hide go seek. Harmony’s game of cat and mouse with Ji yong continued escalate as she’d constantly been avoiding his phone calls as well as any form of personal contact. Still apprehensive to confront the matter nor ready to handle the situation she merely decided prevention was best by completely steering clear of him. Unfortunately fate always has other plans for us, for how long did she truly intend on running from it. She was going to learn it is hard to face tomorrow, but even harder to face a future with no tomorrow.

“Harmony will you come on, you don’t need another phone case.” Saya complained exhausted from walking through the countless swap meets that Harmony had pulled her in.

“What about this one?”

“You have plenty.”

“I still need a new one.”

“No, you want a new one.” Saya groaned disappointed. This is not how she wanted to spend her weekend when she could be resting at home or working on a new song.

“I’m getting it.” Harmony declared finally making up her mind about the baby pink hello kitty iPhone cover.

“Great now can we go home? My feet are killing me and I’m starving.”

“Fine, just let me pay for this and we can go ok.”

Finally walking away from the salesmen’s cubicle the girls began to descend down the escalator preparing to exit the mall. Caught up in prattle chatter with one another a sudden memorable faces caught the attention of Saya’s eye. To the left of the slowly moving stairway she noticed Youngbae in the lunch court eating alone. The sight of his face had reminded her they’ll haven’t chatted in a while causing her to feel a ting of guilt when it had only been a couple of weeks ago they’d agreed to be friends. Suddenly her mood went from guilt to annoyance from the mere sight of Jin ho joining him at the table. Observing him from afar she watched as Jin ho smiled happily chatting with him however the expression written on his face seem less than thrilled.

“Ah case of unrequited love, I see.” Harmony brought Saya back to the conversation between them as she’d noticed her friend’s attention had been drawn elsewhere.

“Come on, cut it out. How many times do I have to say it’s not even like that Harm.” Saya shook off Harmony’s last statement growing more accustomed to her friends and peers teasing her for unspoken crush. “We agreed to be friends and that’s all. It’s just… I haven’t seen him in a while.”

Her last words trialed off as she returned her bothered stare back to the handsome boy in the fitted black cap. After going through her own thoughts for a moment Harmony’s comment just ignite a reminder within her. “Oh yeah?…” Harmony cringed a bit somewhat afraid of what she might ask her when saw the light return to Saya’s eyes. “How’s avoiding Ji yong going for you?”

Jackpot the question she had been dreading to hear finally presented itself on the table. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well I do.”

“Please can we not?” Harmony reverted he gaze to the ground when the escalator finally met the tilted floor. Quickly stepping through the doors of the mall she waved her hand desperately trying to flag down a taxi.

“Why not? I mean since we’re bringing up requited love?”

“You know why?”

“I do, but I wanna know why you still ducking him?”

“I’m not ducking him?”

“Harm…? Look at me; come on. You know we can do this the easy way of the hard way.” Saya warned fully prepared to interrogate her more than the police as they seated themselves comfortably in the back seat of the taxi cab.

The entire ride home they went back and forth endlessly. Saya relentlessly pestered her about her logical reasoning for her fear of starting anew. Harmony only presented her stubborn unwavering shield of denial claiming there was no problem that she’d been running from. The argument continued until they arrived at their destination. It wasn’t until the silver doors on the elevator of their apartment closed did Harmony finally decided cave into Saya’s merciless interrogation.

“Is it because of David still?”

“No, yes… I mean… I don’t know.”

“Ok, are you saying you fear that you may get hurt again?”

“No!”

“Then I don’t understand. Why can’t you at least just give Ji yong a chance!?”

“BECAUSE I’M AFRAID I MIGHT HURT HIM OK!”

Harmony bellowed finally able to give Saya an appeasing answer. Seeing the concern on Saya’s face Harmony immediately took it upon herself to explain the matter further.

She exhaled a weary sigh filtering through her thoughts on Ji yong. “It’s…It’s not that I’m not attracted to him, it’s not that I don’t like him or feel like he’s insincere.” She admitted for the first time realizing how guilty she feels that their early friendship has come to this.

“I still have my own demons that I’m battling. So how can I be with someone else if don’t accept myself yet? It’ll only end terribly for him…” She paused briefly in fear of her emotions getting the best of her. “So right now I’d wish he leave me be.”

At last on the same wave of thought as Harmony, Saya finally realized there was some truth to her friend’s message. “Have you ever told him any of this?” She questioned.

Acknowledging apart of her did have a fear confronting Ji yong one on one; she grew still biting her lower lip nervously for a moment gathering her thoughts. “No, no I haven’t.”

“Harmony…Come one at least give him the politeness to know why the situation between you two is like this.”

“Look, I’m not ready to talk about it with him yet. And besides what I’m doing is working for me right now.” She admitted feeling a bit selfish listening to her on logic. Inserting her key into the lock of their apartment door she exhaled another forlorn breath of disappointment. “As long as I have time away from him to work on me I’m sure everything will work it’s self out eventually.

She gave the knob a turn entering the apartment. An unexpected aroma of boiling stew and raw veggies greeted their noses as well as two familiar male voices. Both were completely dumbfounded to see Dae sung, Sango and Ji yong in aprons in the kitchen working together. Harmony eyes enlarged and when she spotted Ji yong actively moving about in their kitchen causing her heart to race triple speed. Colliding fiercely against the walls of her chest Harmony felt her cheeks turn a flush shade of red from embarrassment and a hit of anger when she felt Saya’s amused smirk form across her lips.

“As you were saying?” Saya playfully nudge Harmony’s rib cage earning a hostile glare of death for her smart I told you so look plastered upon her smug face.

“Oh Harmony-ish, Saya noona annyeong.” Dae sung was among the first to greet the confuse pair’s gazes. With his usual bright smiley face the girls couldn’t help but mirror his happy charm smiling in return. Sango on the other hand knew although she was smiling on the outside but in reality she knew Harmony wanted to murder Sango for allowing the boys to come over unannounced, especially Ji yong.

“Hi Dae sung hi Ji yong.” Saya smiled waving back enjoying Harmony’s misfortune ever so much.

“Hello.” Ji yong greeted them in meek voice attempting focus on his task at hand. “We wanted to surprise you guys by making you dinner since we haven’t hung out in a while.” He ran over to the sink and began rinsing off the cabbage before turn offing the water as his gaze fell upon Harmony. “I hope you don’t mind.” He flashed her another innocent smile directly at her knowing there’s been awkward chemistry between them ever since the night club encounter.

Harmony’s mouth continued to gape open unsure how to respond the situation at hand but right on time Saya immediately jumped into normalize the atmosphere once again. “Of course she doesn’t Ji yong oppa.” She smiled cheerfully throwing her arm around Harmony’s neck. “So what are you guys making for us tonight?”

“Gamjatang.” Dae sung answer happily helping Sango make the broth for the stew.

“Gam…What now?” Saya questioned once again feeling very out of touch with her Korean roots.

“Honestly woman are you sure your part Korean at all?” Sango noted sarcastically causing the group laugh at her lack of Korean taste pallet. “It’s pork spinal cord stew silly, get it together.”

“Oh damnit…” All eyes were drawn to Dae sung pacing around the kitchen looking through all the shopping bags.

“What’s wrong love?” Sango questioned with concern watching him run around continuously like a crazy man.

“We forgot to buy one of most important ingredients for Gamjatang.” The three foreign girls stood in silence puzzled completely oblivious to what the hell he was going on about.

“You forgot to get the potatoes again didn’t you?” Ji yong answered still rinsing off the veggies.

“Yup…”

“Well its fine Oppa we can just run down the store and get them right quick.” Sango suggested lowering the heat on the stove knowing it may take a bit to get the final item.

“Ji yong can you manage by yourself?” Dae sung asked worriedly scratching the back of his head.

“I’m usually the one making you guys food at the condo I’m pretty sure I can cute veggies by myself.”

With that Dae sung and Sango began to head out the door for their task leaving Saya, Harmony and Ji yong in a semi-awkward atmosphere. Taking advantage of the other couples absent Saya saw this an opportunity for payback to Harmony for weeks to teasing her about her friendship with Youngbae. A smooth sly smile cruised across her lips as her brows formed hinting mischievous plot to employ cutting her eyes toward Harmony like daggers.

“Well boy am I tired.” She stretched her limbs pretending to have a more tiresome day than she really endured. “I think I’ll a shower and have quick little nap now… Harmony?” Harmony eyed her friend suspiciously following Saya’s cruel revenge plot. “Be a dear and help Ji yong oppa along with the dinner preparation will ya, hun?” Satisfied with herself Saya smirked happily before nearly shoving her in the kitchen next to Ji yong.

Ji yong laughed silently to himself pretending not to know what was happening before him as he continued to sort the foods. “I’m gonna take a nice…LONG, shower and nap. Let me know when dinner is done will ya?” Saya waved her fingers towards her friend before disappearing hiding in the hallway toward the bathroom, leaving Harmony the sweet gift of her middle finger making certain she knew payback was a .

Harmony could only watch secretly hating her for the position she deliberately put her in after the talk they just shared moments ago. Mouthing the words I hate you to her friendnemy leaving the scene.

Realizing Ji yong and her were the only ones remaining in the room her anger immediately subsided in to bashfulness when his cordial eyes land upon her. Her gaze quickly fell to the floor playing with the silver bangles in her right wrist unsure how to act around him. She dare not to look at him on account of recalling the conversation she had with Saya moments pier.

                                                                                                                “Are afraid of dogs?”

“Uh?” Her brows formed in confused to the bizarre question he posed.

“You’re acting as if I’m stray dog with rabies about to bite you.” Harmony’s shoulders slumped lower bowing her head guilty for making him fell like his presence was not wanted even though it was the truth. Although it wasn’t ideal for her to be left in the room with Ji yong alone at the same time she didn’t want him to think her rude.

“I’m sorry.” She spoke softly still fidgeting with her bangles as she rested her back upon the refrigerator door.

Once Ji yong noticed her disheartening facial expression coursing through her he to felt a slight hint of embarrassment hoping his comment would be taken as a simple ice breaking joke rather unintended guilt trip.

“I was joking silly. But don’t just stand there with that expression. It hearts my feelings.” He admitted jokingly attempting once again to lighten the mood. “Come, help me out over here.” He reached out grabbing a hold of her hand pulling her gently towards the cutting board near the sink.

“What would you like me to do?” She questioned unsure how to prepare the foreign dish.

He smiled seeing how clueless she was about some of the alien ingredients around her like a wide eyed doe. Ji yong quickly searched through the silverware draws for moment trying find the correct utensil for cutting vegetables. “Here you go.” He carefully handed her a sharp knife over to get her started. “Cut the carrots into thins slices as well as the green onions, ok.”

“Ok got it.” She took the knife from him a bit apprehensive of her cutting abilities with such an enormous knife. Spoiled in her own country where she could normally just buy thinly slice vegetables that had already been prepared to toss in a meal she found slightly annoying she had no such opinion but to try her luck.  

“Be careful and watch your fingers.” Ji yong began to warn as he turned his attention over to a pot of boiling water. “Knifes like that are very shar_”

                     “OUCH!”

“Sharp…” He ended his sentence shaking head disappointingly foretelling the future as he turned back to Harmony seeing that she indeed did slit open a piece of her finger already. Blood immediately began to trickle down the fingers into the palm of her hand . She ran over to the sink to rinse her abused finger. Quickly Ji yong run to get a nearby paper towels in addition to search for the emergency first aid kit grabbing it from on top of the refrigerator. “Come, let me take a look at it.” He quickly motioned with his hand waving her over toward the living room sofa inviting her to come join him.

“No it’s ok… I got it…Ahh!” She groaned in pain still attempting to speak in a reassuring tone in order to hide her embarrassment.

“Running it under the water won’t stop the bleeding or infection.”

“Its fine I can handle it.”

Ji yong sighed giving her strained laugh. Feed up with her stubborn awkwardness he began rising from the couch moving closer toward her. He gently leaned over Harmony’s shoulder, causing her body to tingle with hesitant excitement as she was greeted by his warm breath feathering over her.

He slowly parted his lips with his next selection of alluring words sent a jolt of unexcepted excitement and elation. “I’m going to help you out whether you want to me or not Dove.”

Her eyes bloomed open in shock of how enchanting his voice sounded causing her mind to become swamped with hidden lust. Frozen from his hot breath gliding over her hair onto her skin Harmony couldn’t help but think wickedly sinful thoughts. She could feel his slender figure slightly pressed behind her, sending sparks of electricity causing the hairs on her body to rise sending a heat wave through her porcelain skin.

 In a flash Ji yong scooped Harmony up in his arms bridal style no longer allowing her stubborn ways to stop him from aiding her. Taken by surprise with his bold actions Harmony had absolutely no idea how to react as her heart drummed on her chest feverishly. Apart of her defensive nature wanted nothing else but to slap him for being way to comfortable with skinship, however the other found his actions seductively irresistible. Unable to have time protest she did the only thing could by stay still allowing him to help with her injury.

Gently placing her in the cozy sofa making certain she was comfortable first before adjusting himself in a position to get a better glimpse of the damaged finger. “Let me see.” He motion for her hand to lay inside of his own but she appeared to be bit reluctant so do so.

“Ji yong…I’m fine, I can_” She immediately cut her sentence short upon noticing his stern facial expression not willing to take no for an answer. He softly pulled her hand towards him so he could begin to repair the damage. She trembled from her his comforting touch as his fingertips lightly caressed the rip skin.

Engulfed in the silence amongst them Harmony couldn’t help but to take notice of his shear handsomeness seeing how this is the closest they’ve ever been. “Well you don’t need stitches, so that’s good news.” Ji yong leaned in a bit closer to get better lighting of her cut. His inviting smooth voice was soft enough provide with soothing comfort yet still felt powerful enough for him to impede  her own thoughts. He feed her another encouraging smile before wrapping her finger tightly with a paper towel.  His fingers innocently lingered on the palm her hand further inspecting the knifes handy work causing Harmony stir inside.

 “Here…Make sure you hold on to the finger and apply a lot of pressure to stop the bleeding.” Harmony did as she was instructed watching Ji yong pull a few more items out of the first aid box then placed them on a the coffee table. Immediately she jerked her hand away upon seeming the mere sight of rubbing alcohol.

Again he smiled sensing her concern for the pain yet come. “I’m gonna need to see you finger again.” He paused hesitantly before staring into her distant eyes. “I’m going to be honest this going to hurt a little bit so bare with me, ok?” Harmony nodded mindlessly in agreement knowing it was going to have to be disinfected whether she’d liked it or not. “So who’s you favorite Kpop star?”

Harmony was taking a back once again due to his tendencies to ask random questions that have nothing to do with the situation at hand. “Umm, well my favorite is Rain.” She admitted shyly realizing her soft spot for the handsome ninja assassin.

“Who?” Ji yong questioned once again.

“Bi R____OUCH!!!!!!! MOTHER!.... MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!...GOD DAMNIT!!! SON OF A !!”

Ji yong couldn’t help but to laugh towards her reaction to pain seeing how she was no longer the timid shy girl he laid eyes on less 30 minutes ago in kitchen. “You think this is funny?!” Ji yong was unable to seize his laughter seeing her personality do a complete 360 switch within just 10 seconds. “Is this what you like to do all day walked around pour fiery stringing alcohol into peoples wounds.”

“No, no… I’m sorry.” He spoke to between breathes trying to control his laughter. “It just that I didn’t expect to get such a strong reaction from you.” Harmony blushed realizing she had given the true nature of her personality away. “Usually when I distract people with something like that they don’t notice when I’m fixing their injures.” He informed seeing she was no longer upset with the pain he unintentionally inflected.

Harmony closed her eyes utterly embarrassed she allowed her bad potty mouth get the best of her. “I’m sorry for my language…But next time warn me that really hurt.” She pouted blowing on her index finger.

Noticing humiliation engrave on her face Ji yong smiled grabbing a hold of her tender hand placing a soft slow kiss upon her index finger leaving her speechless. As if sensing the humility forming on her face from his sudden actions he allowed a devilish confident smile to display across his lips. “Consider that the last time I do anything to hurt.”

 A furious chills run through the veins of her body whether it was from fear or excitement his of tone feeling far more alluring than she would’ve like it to be. Almost hypnotic to his words danced in her eyes leaving warm imprint within her.

“What makes you think you can promise something of that status?” She responded unconsciously challenging his enchanting stare with siren’s gaze of her own.

He turned to her, as the dim lighting the living room created an illuming seductive aura in his eyes.

                                                                           Oh no…She heard the psyche warn her.

Unsure if it was her imagination running wild she watched those eyes turn a shade darker with a trace of feverish need hidden behind them. The look a lover might reflect before claiming his woman in the bedroom. Unable to sustain their eye contact in fear he might be able to read her mind or the windows to her eyes she reverted her them back to her injury.

It was a miracle she remembered how to breathe as the air around her suddenly became insufficient. She gulped with effort and struggled fought the shred of dignity she had left to resist his cunning charms. She found disappointment within herself noting the effect he was having on her, hurting her pride a bit realizing he wasn’t even trying hard to captivate her attention.

He smiled deciding to test his luck liking the new confident Harmony in front of him as side of her he’d never witnessed before. Taking a moment to stare upon her torn finger he placed his mark on seconds ago he slowly locked eyes with her as he began massaging the palm of her hand. He chuckled slightly feeling a bit bolder than usual.

Ji yong spared another agonizing prolonged moment to stare at her lips before responding. “What makes you think I wouldn’t?” He returned her challenge.

“Well you never know these days.” She spoke softly reflecting on her on thoughts. “Whoever came up with words promise...Liars are sure making use of the word.” He watched the light in her eyes suddenly becoming dimmer and slowly more distant.

He gave her a hesitant look observing her expression suddenly turning sullen. Ji yong merely titled his head understandingly scanning through thoughts of his own before proceeding on.  “You know.” A charismatic grin swap across his lips as began. “Even though people view me as a rebel in Korea…I still believe there are some rules that should not ever get broken.” Harmonies met his eyes with a spark curiosity and interest as he held up fingers in front of her face. “Hearts… Promises… and my album records.”

They shared a brief laugh hearing Ji yong absurd comment before he returned back to his flirtatious aura. He smiled a crafty smile gazing upon her with the utmost pleasure inscribed on his face. That smile she began finding a fondness of hate for it repeatedly capturing her immediate focus causing her to feel hot all over. Almost as if reading her mind Ji yong smiled seeing in her eyes how much she hated the desirous appeal radiating off of him. His vision was once again drawn to her lips then back to her seemingly calm; yet anxious hazel eyes.

Reading into her zealous desires Ji yong studied her for moment as if he was debating with in his own thoughts in flash of hesitancy. His enticing mouth drew near causing Harmony to tremble in fearful desperation as she fingers clinched to the fabric of the sofa. Ji Yong’s signature smug smile graced his mouth watching her eyes transform from brief tension into burning with a lusty passionate. Bating in the warmness of his breath as his slowly feathered closer and closer to her intensify the frantic rhythm of her eager heartbeat with unmatched exhilaration.

                                                                                                                       …Kiss me…

Heard you herself beg inwardly as her heart continued to pound vigorously.

Kiss me…

With delighted eyes as if he heard her internal request he leaned in nearly closing the gap between them. Her eyes began to close feeling his mouth merely a whisper away from meeting her burning lips.

Horrified her blood curled with sudden sense of humiliating fear came over her when she saw the pair astonished eyes darting at her and Ji Yong.

                                               “Umm…hey we’re back?”