my heart is touched.

“I’m so bored.” Miyoon huffed as she hung upside down over her couch. She was the only one home at the moment and she was running out of things to do. And she really needed something to do. Anything.

As she stared at the room with a whole new perspective, Miyoon closed her eyes and pictured Myungsoo’s smiling face when Maerah brought out his birthday cake out. She grew bitter and a scowl prowled onto her face and before she knew it, she tumbled off the couch.

She landed on her back and decided to stay there. She stared now at the ceiling above her and moved her hand over to her aching heart. “Don’t do this to yourself. You can’t do this to yourself.” Miyoon ordered.

Next, she pulled herself up and then scurried over to the DVD collection which consisted of mainly all of her favorite movies and films. The selection was arranged this way because no one in the Wu residence with the exception of Miyoon fancied film which led her to start a collection of some of the best horror movies she had ever seen.

“Hm, which one do I want to watch?” she tapped her chin and scanned the shelves. She had a variety of choices. Movies ranging from the late 80’s to the present day. At last her eyes landed on one of her favorite movie series and she immediately plucked it out of its shelf.

“This will surely keep my mind occupied.” She certified.

Miyoon plopped the disk in and before the movie started she ran to the fridge and got out a tub of ice cream. “These kinds of days are always my favorite.” She announced turning the lights off and getting cozy.

Throughout half the movie Miyoon had intended what she had set out to do from the start. She didn’t think about Myungsoo, Maerah, love or any of that. Right now all that floating around in her mind was the deformed images of the cannibals.

Minute after minute, she indulged herself with another spoonful of the delectable delight. Her eyes were rounded the entire time and she was paying no more attention to the real world around her.

And without her knowledge, the front door to her house opened. “I’m home!” Kris announced grinning as he removed his jacket and slipped out of his shoes. He glided into the living room only to find his baby sister hurled in a blanket. While at the same time holding onto a tub of vanilla ice cream as she watched Wrong Turn 4.

Immediately he frowned since he was aware that she behaved this way only when she was upset. He sighed and walked over to her, blocking her view.

Miyoon hadn’t even realized her brother’s presence until she was no longer able to see the movie. When his tall figure stood between her and the movie, her eyes quickly shot up to his face. “Yah! Move!” she growled kicking his legs. Kris winced at her brashness, falling onto the couch right besides her.

“Yah! Why did you just kick your oppa?!” he snarled snatching the ice cream from her grasp. Miyoon’s mouth fell open as she leaned over trying to retrieve the dessert.

Swiftly, Kris got onto his feet, marched over to the trashcan and disposed of it.

The moment he released the bin, she leapt out of her seat but unfortunately she was too late. Miyoon stared down at the ice cream tub which was still a third full. She turned back to Kris and glared at him. “What’s wrong?” Hearing him ask that, her face softened.

The incident from Myungsoo’s birthday a week ago was still getting to her. So much for trying to not think about it.

Ever since that day Miyoon had been trying to avoid him but it was no use since she saw him every time he went and fetched Taela from the university.

He did that everyday thanks to his new free schedule.

And when Myungsoo saw her, he would smile and hold his arms wide open. The first time he did that, Miyoon wanted desperately to run into his embrace but when Maerah rolled down the window and waved, she stopped.

She stopped caring, crying, hurting and loving.

Well at least that’s what she led herself to believe. And seeing Maerah and Myungsoo so close again made her recall Hoya’s words for the umpteenth. Although she didn’t want to stop loving him, she was aware that she had to. What good was it going to do anybody if she kept it up?

Miyoon stared at Kris with eyes filled with sorrow and pain and he knew that his sister’s heart was breaking. He didn’t know why or what happened, but he knew that much. He pulled her into a hug and her hair. “You must have been lonely with me being gone for a week, mianhe. Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“Gwenchaniyo,” she pulled away and wiped away her tears. “I’ll live through it.” That’s what I’ve been doing for the last decade.

“Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything.” He assured.

Miyoon’s smiled at his endearing and caring behavior. Therefore she decided it was best not to worry Kris. “What’s there to tell, nothing. I’m just stressed with school that’s all. Studying to become a doctor is hard work! If I knew that I would have majored in something else!” Miyoon pouted.

Kris couldn’t help but let out a laugh hearing her whine like that. “Nothing in life is ever easy; you have to work hard for it if you really want it. And if it’s worth it, you’ll be able to do it.”

She memorized his helpful advice and nodded in comprehension. “Oh are you a philosopher now? Tch, why do you seem like you’re in a good mood? You just returned from a business trip, you hate business trips.” The younger Wu pointed out.

When her question had reached his ears, Kris grinned wider than the Cheshire cat. Honestly speaking, he couldn’t wait to tell her the great news. He led her back to the sofa and sat down.

He inhaled through his nose and exhaled out through his mouth. He squeezed onto her hands and nodded. “Yunnie forgives me.” He finally managed to say and to him it felt really good.

It had taken Miyoon a minute or two to compute what was going on and when she got the message, her eyes doubled in size. She yanked her hands away and stood up. “Bo?! Unnie forgave you?! Since when?! How?! You— you were off in a different country for a week! How could she have forgiven you unless it was like over the phone or something.”

“Or she was there with me?” Kris smiled.

“You didn’t,” Miyoon gasped.

“Oh but I did.”

“I’m so proud of you oppa! You put unnie before business. It’s about time!” she cheered, punching his shoulder.

“I’ll put her before anything,” he declared.

“Even me!?” Kris snapped out of his thought and looked at his sister before walking away. “Yah, yah! We’re family!” he heard her whine.

“Says who? For all we know you could be adopted!” he shouted.

“I’m going to tell unnie you said that to me!” Miyoon threatened.

“Good, you’re just giving me more time to spend with her!” Kris rebutted, shutting his door. When it was silent, he knew he had won. “I hope you feel better Xiazi.” He muttered sincerely.

“Just because I approve of Yunhee unnie, I’ll let this one go Yifan. But I really am happy for you gege. At least one of us deserves a story book ending.” Miyoon resigned as she marched back to the living room. However, she had omitted one part of every fairy tale and that part was that there was always a villain and that same night, the villain in Kris's story was prepared to ruin her brother’s happily ever after.

♦♦♦

“I can’t believe this, how could this happen?” Mrs. Wu whimpered.

“Mama, it’s okay. Gege is going to be fine.” Miyoon assured as she placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder. Then the door opened and Yunhee was rolled into a dead silent room. When she entered she locked eyes with each of Kris’s family members telling them how guilty and awful she felt.

Next, Mrs. Wu stood up and embraced her. “He really loves you Yunhee-ah but he loves his hotel as well. Please do what’s best for him.”

“Omma!” Miyoon shouted dragging her mother from Yunhee. She knew exactly where her mother was going with her statement. “Unnie just woke up from a traumatic experience and you’re discussing business with her right now? Are you serious?!”

“Xiazi do not raise your voice at your mother. She’s trying to protect Kris and his business.” Mr. Wu defended. But Yunhee however had no idea what they were referring to. She looked at her father and aunt for an explanation and then Ms. Kim reached into her bag and yanked out a stack of newspaper.

Yunhee knitted her brows but took them.

Miyoon bit her lip and looked away knowing very well Yunhee would not like the news.

And when her eyes landed on the front page, Yunhee knew now exactly what the Wu’s were getting at. The cover of the newspaper was splattered with numerous photos of her and Kris. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Although his face was never shown, anyone could point out that it was him. The article just smelled of scandal.

Reporters and journalists even the Royal Inn Hotel’s associates were beginning to question their relationship. Some even began to assume that Kris had been favoring Yunhee on business decisions and vice versa even though that was nowhere near true. Hundreds of people demanded answers and they weren’t going to rest until they got some. Yunhee looked up to Mr. Wu who was standing by the window.

She motioned for her aunt to push her over there and when she did, she spotted dozens of reporters outside. fell ajar as she shook her head. “Are his investors threatening to pull out?”

No one uttered a word, which meant that they were.

It was at that moment that she became aware that there was only one way to resolve these issues. She didn’t want to do it but she needed to. She felt her heart crying out to her as she looked at Kris’ sleeping figure. He had a cast around his arm and a bandage wrapped around his head.

Miyoon silently watched Yunhee and her heart broke as well. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Neither of them is supposed to be in this condition. What went wrong? See, I knew I should have followed him that night.

After Miyoon had finished watching Wrong Turn 4, she had passed out on the couch. However, she did wake up to find her brother leaving. She asked him what was wrong but he just said he needed some fresh air. And not thinking about it much, Miyoon dismissed any suspicions and returned to her slumber. By doing so, it led to this and Miyoon couldn’t help but blame herself.

“Can I have a moment alone with Yifan?” Yunhee finally requested.

Everyone nodded in agreement as her aunt placed her by his side before exiting herself. Yunhee took his hand and held it to her cheek. “Unnie, oppa.” Miyoon winced as she glanced through the w