The rain had stopped pouring and for some reason it comforted Ji hyo. At least if he was out there he wouldn’t get drenched in the rain. She walked to the window and stared outside, pretending to read the script when in fact, all she could think of was Jong kook. Around her, the crew moved around busily, orders and shouts were exchanged back and forth. It took her a while to adjust again to life on the set but that day, she just couldn’t feel too enthusiastic about being here.

 

A man watched Ji hyo sigh deeply. He knew her well enough to notice that she was not reading the script. Her sad expression greatly troubled him. After all these years, she had remained special to him. Song Joong ki never forgot Ji hyo, nor did he forget that promise he had made before.

 

“Noona, are you really quitting?” shouted Joong Ki as Ji hyo stood up to leave. The company meeting had just ended and only the two of them were left in the conference room. “Noona why? Remember during Frozen Flower, you told me how much you wanted to prove yourself. You said you wanted to be the best, that you’d –”

“It’s better this way Joong Ki-yah, thanks… but don’t worry about me anymore, neh?”

“Are you quitting because of Jong kook hyung?” Ji hyo didn’t answer right away and for the first time, Joong Ki got angry with someone whom he really liked and respected. “Noona, I know I have no right to… but I can’t bear to see you like this. You worked so hard and now you’ll just quit? I’ll go talk to Jong kook hyung.”

“Isn’t it only fitting to quit now? It’s not about Jong kook oppa.”

“But why? For years, I had watched you… had always admired you. This is not you noona.”

“Joong Ki I am glad to hear that, but I’m just not good enough. Now, knowing someone like you looked up to me as an actress, I’m really glad.” she said with a sad smile that broke Joong Ki’s heart. He wanted to tell her that she just had to do better next time, but her tone told him the conversation's over. She looked worn out, but still, he got the feeling that she was actually chasing her happiness. She didn’t look too sad about leaving and he could only wish that she’d never regret.

 

Joong ki could sense that it was not just about those people saying things about her acting. There was more but he couldn’t ask her. Ji hyo was acting in front of him and the only thing he could do for her was to pretend that he was deceived. For his noona’s last act, the only thing he could do for her was to believe.

 

“You understand dongsaeng, right? Now don’t worry about this noona and be the best actor this country has ever seen.” She bowed to him deeply and he returned the favor, hiding the fact that he was crying. Joong Ki bowed alone in front of the closed door, Ji hyo had already gone for a while but he just stayed there unmoving.

 

 One day, they won’t ever dare laugh at you again, noona… you’ll be back and we’ll show them…

 

“Ji hyo noona.” he said as he walked towards her but she didn’t seem to have heard him. “Noona, are you okay?” Joong ki asked, knowing full well that she was not fine. He handed Ji hyo a cup of coffee, which woke her up from her thoughts.

 

“Oh, Joong ki-yah… why are you here? You don’t have any schedule for today right?” she said, her voice not telling him anything but he already saw enough earlier to know how she’s really feeling. The flower boy flashed a bright smile and she tried hard to return it.

 

Joong Ki flinched seeing her force herself to appear fine. She’s still so mong even after all these years. He placed a hand over hers and he met her troubled gaze. Noona, I’m Joong Ki, you don’t have to be okay in front of me. Quit the act noona… stop pretending you’re fine.

 

“Noona, what’s wrong?” he asked, wishing his voice didn’t betray his real feelings. She didn’t respond and it didn’t escape his attention that Ji hyo discreetly pulled her hand away. He had already accepted long ago that he was just a dongsaeng who’s always there for her, but even that little connection he has with her was gone. The awkwardness was suffocating and he stepped back a little.

 

“Nothing… we were just filming for a while. I guess I haven’t adjusted yet.” She chuckled but it was painful to hear it.

 

She looked at Joong ki but it was obvious that he’s not buying it. Ji hyo looked away and sipped the coffee absentmindedly.

 

“Noona, careful—” but Ji hyo had already dropped the cup of hot liquid. Luckily, Joong ki was quick to cover her with a comforter lying around the set and she wasn’t hurt badly.

 

“Thanks Joong ki-yah…” she said but she was looking at his hand, which he quickly hid behind his back. “Joong ki-yah, your hand.”

“It’s okay, let manager noona here take care of you.” he said, referring to Min hee who fussed around Ji hyo.

 

“Let me check it, please Joong ki-yah…” She reached for the man’s hand and he finally relented. Her hands were warm as she carefully examined the reddish spot. It should be hurting him but all he could feel was her gentle touch.

 

“Can I watch you film noona?” he asked while Ji hyo applied ointment Min hee got from the staff.

“Why don’t you just rest at home, next week you’d be really busy with your parts.”

“But I like it here, besides I can just memorize the script here and...Umm you know get in character.” He changed his gaze, looking all serious and determined. “I don’t believe in love, I am an arrogant young jerk who has a chaebol father. I am always mad until one day I fell in love.” he said, his face so straight as he recited the characteristics of a typical drama hero. He tried so hard that Ji hyo couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Joong Ki’s face softened. They both felt it, the closeness they had before was slowly coming back.  

 

I haven’t forgotten… now that you’re here, I’ll show you that you deserve to be called the best noona…

 

“Okay! Everyone, we’ll start the next scene! Everyone get ready, where’s In Sung?” said the director, signaling the start of the next scene.

 

“Joong ki-yah, I have to go now.” He nodded and Ji hyo turned to leave.

 

“Noona…” He placed a hand on her shoulder before she could walk away, and he leaned towards her, “I was really moved earlier… you were really great out there, that’s why I came to watch.” he whispered. Ji hyo didn’t turn around but seeing her slumped shoulders straighten up even a little, was enough for Joong Ki.

 

--------------------

 

“Hey! That’s mine!” A little girl’s voice echoed in the almost empty playground. She raised her balled fist, her eyes filled with anger as she stared at the boy in front of her.

“What are you gonna do? Hit me like your dad hit my dad?” the boy taunted.

“My appa does not hit anyone! My appa is not like that!”

“War freak Hyo Jong! War freaky, freak Hyo Jong!”

“You! I-I…”

“Why? Are you gonna cry? You little annoying war freaky –” the little boy stopped and he suddenly tossed the little doll back to Hyo Jong. He lowered his gaze then ran away to the farthest part of the playground.

 

 Hyo Jong turned around to see the reason why her tormentor ran and her eyes widened in surprise. “Appa! Appa!” The little girl excitedly ran to Jong kook who was watching her earlier with Jade who brought him there. He lifted her up and soon she was lost in his arms. His tears threatened to fall at the feel of her small form against his. Her flowery scent and her chuckles slowly drove his pains away.

 

 “I missed you so much angel, I really, really did. Are you all right?” he looked at her tear-streaked face, forcing a smile as he wiped her tears away with the back of his hand. “Does that kid bully you always?”

“Appa, that’s weird… have you forgotten Byul Hoon? He always likes to tease me just because he’s older. But he is such a shorty that it’s not obvious that he’s 2 years older.”

“Really? Do you want appa to talk to him?” Hyo Jong raised a small hand to his face and she touched a drop of tear, which escaped his eye. “Appa, are you crying?”

“N-no, it’s nothing… I just missed my angel. I love you baby…”

“I know appa.” She wrapped her hands on his neck and she kissed him lightly on his jaw. He couldn’t stop thinking what right had he done to deserve his little angel.

 

“Now that Hyo Jong kissed appa, he’ll feel better. You feel better now appa right? Right?” Jong kook could only nod and fight back his tears. He really did feel a lot better. Even if he couldn’t be a good father to Eunie, he could be to Hyo Jong. “Thank you, thank you so much baby…”

“Now appa promise me you won’t be sad again.” She held out her pinkie to him and he looked at it with uncertainty. What if he can’t? “And promise that you’ll never leave…” she looked at him so expectantly that it broke his heart. How could she trust him so much?

 

“Appa, you won’t leave me right? You won’t be sad again right?”

“Neh, I-I promise… I promise… I’ll always come home to Hyo Jong.” She wrapped her pinkie around his and their thumbs met. A warm feeling washed over him and for a while, Jong kook really believed that he could do it. He could fulfill the promise.

 

Hyo Jong ran to the swings and motioned for her father to push her. He smiled at her and he obliged, giving her a little push. He was scared that she’d hurt herself but the little angel pouted her lips in disappointment.

 

“Appa! Push harder!” He did and soon the playground was filled with her laughter. She was so much like her mother with her demands. They were both so brave and perfect that he wondered why he deserved them.

 

Jong kook should start worrying about her getting thrown off, but her face was so filled with joy that he didn’t dared stop. He wished everyday could be that simple and happy. He didn’t realize that he was also laughing along with her. The mission and the painful past were forgotten for a while.

 

“Did you have fun Hyo Jong-ah?” he asked as they walked to the bus station. The little girl nodded at him eagerly, happily her ice cream. “Did you like the swing that much? Were you so happy because of that?”

 

“Silly appa, Hyo Jong liked it a lot because… it was my first time.” He looked at her with a confused expression. It didn’t feel like it was her first time on the swing. “It was my first time playing with appa here… let’s play again next time huh?” Jong kook stopped for a bit, he grasped her hand tightly in his. Another promise was made, “of course angel, we’ll do that a lot from now on.”

 

Hyo Jong smiled brightly at him, her face smeared with ice cream. She began to talk of her friends and about her favorite class. He knew so little about her and right there he promised again himself, it won’t be the last and he’ll listen to her stories every day.

“Are you happy?”

“Of course! I‘m really, really happy.”

 

--------------------

 

 

The whole crew of Mrs. Kim celebrated their first week of filming in a restaurant but Ji hyo wanted nothing but to go home. She didn’t have a choice but join everyone. Now sandwiched between In Sung and the director, she could only nod and try hard to make small talk. All the while Joong Ki watched her.

 

After sitting there uncomfortably for almost an hour, Joong Ki just couldn’t bear to see her struggle. “Ji Hyo noona, has Hyo Jong recovered well? You mentioned that she caught some cold right?” Ji hyo was of course surprised, but she quickly caught up with her dongsaeng’s act. “She’s getting better, thanks Joong Ki-yah.”

“Ji hyo-yah, why haven’t you said anything? Do you want to go home now? Poor child.” said the director. Ji hyo hesitated for a while but In Sung had already stood up. “I’ll take you home Ji hyo.”

“No, let me take her home In Sung hyung.” Joong Ki said firmly. Everyone was already looking at their table and Ji hyo ended up walking to her car between two handsome men. When she was already inside her car, she let out a sigh.

 

When Ji hyo arrived, it was almost midnight. She went first to Hyo Jong’s room. The little one has a smile on her face and beside her sleeping soundly was Jong kook.

 

Ji hyo felt so relieved seeing him. Why she felt like crying seeing the people she loved the most was beyond her, it just felt so surreal watching the scene before her. Jong kook protectively has his arm around their daughter and she was surprised to see both of their pinkies together as if they fell asleep with a promise.

 

She made sure her husband and daughter were covered up, kissed Hyo Jong in her forehead. Then she kissed Jong kook’s lips, her lips lingering lightly in his until he felt him respond to her. She pulled back in surprise, and her husband was grinning at her.

 

“Ji hyo-yah…”

“Yah, you were just pretending to be asleep, right?” Jong kook carefully eased out of Hyo Jong’s bed to Ji hyo.

 

“I’m sorry I made you worried, Ji hyo-yah.” He pulled her gently to him, engulfing her in his warm embrace. “You and Hyo Jong… you’re my miracles.” He sighed as he rested his head on the crook of her neck, nuzzling and drowning himself with her scent. Slowly, the pain, regrets, the guilt he felt over Eunie and Eun hye blurred. They were still there but with Ji hyo and Hyo Jong by his side, it was easier to bear them.

 

“Jong kook-ah… what happened?” He didn’t answer her but he led her out to their room. He closed the door and sat on the bed. “Tell me yeobo.”

“Ji hyo, it is something that could hurt you.” He wanted to tell her, but he didn’t want her to know that for years, the future he had always held on to the past, and somehow he felt like Eun Hye would have wanted it to be a secret.

 

“It was her birthday yesterday… it has something to do with it right?” Jong kook looked at her in surprise and she sat beside him. “We were close… we’ve been on Goong. I even remember celebrating her birthday on set.” She placed a hand on his thigh and it took all his self-control not to break down in front of her.

“Neh, I went to her grave to say good bye… but I found out something. I found out things I didn’t know about her and she… she asked for my forgiveness.” he said, lowering his gaze as he nervously bit his lip.

 

“Did you think I’d be mad? I know you loved her a lot but… look at me Jong kook-ah.” She cupped his face and he guiltily looked at her. Instead of anger, there was only understanding and love in her eyes. “Jong kook-ah… I love you and I trust you. What you had before doesn’t matter to me. You don’t have to tell me and don’t feel too guilty about it, we can’t undo the past but we can still decide the future.”

“I can tell you if you really want to know Ji hyo… I hate keeping secrets from you.”

“It’s okay if you don’t but if you need to talk about it I’d listen to you.”

“I-I found out something, that her accident wasn’t what it looked like. I had a daughter Ji hyo-yah and Eun Hye died because she wanted to save the baby, but some people… I felt so mad at myself because I thought if she lived you and Hyo Jong won’t be here but I didn’t want her dead –”

“Enough Jong kook-ah… I really hate it when you think like this. What could you have done? If she lived, you wouldn’t even know about any of this. I could have been married happily to someone else. You two could’ve been happy with kids… we never know where we end up. Please don’t hurt yourself anymore. Please…” she pleaded, she just wanted to hug him and take away his pains. Knowing how sentimental and what an idiot he is, she couldn’t even imagine how painful it was for him.

 

“I… I guess it’s hard to be cured of being a fool.” She s her arms around his neck and she pulled him close to her. “I love you… you idiot.”

“Ji hyo, I can’t even begin to describe how much I love you…”

“Then show me,” she said as she pulled him closer until their lips met. He gently lowered her to the bed as he stared intently at those brown orbs. He leaned closer and kissed her forehead, then her eyes, her nose, brushing her lips lightly with his. He lay on top of her, his weight pressing her down. She moaned when he lower lip, gently nibbling, running his tongue on her jaw. She wanted more.

 

“Jong kook-ah… I need you.” she whispered huskily when he chose to nuzzle her neck instead. She felt him roll over to the other side of the bed, panting heavily and with his eyes closed.

 

“You must be tired Ji hyo-yah… let’s go to sleep.” Instead of an answer, a guttural moan echoed in the darkened room, and it was Jong kook’s.

 

Ji hyo sat on top of her husband, pressing her bum on his growing arousal, making him twitch in pain. He strained under her, his eyes dark and wild. He sat up and their lips met, gently at first, until Ji hyo cupped his face to pull him closer. Their tongues danced a rhythm known to only them. His hands didn’t waste time idling as he reached inside her shirt, caressing the soft, warm flesh.  

 

In a flash Ji hyo was lying on her back and he was straddling her, his legs on either side of her. She swallowed hard when she saw the passion and desire etched in his face and she knows she was mirroring the same look in hers. He lowered himself to her and he began his slow torture of kissing her gently and leaving her burning for more.

 

For a while, Jong kook stopped his ministrations and held her close, feeling her warmth and softness, wishing it would never end. He knows even if he has to go back they’d see each other again, but what are the chances everything would be like this. He smiled. But then, he was being an idiot again… it doesn’t matter what really happens. If it’s her, whatever happens, as long as it’s her everything would be perfect. He'd still love her and he was sure she'd love him back too.

 

Ji hyo blushed under his intense gaze but she never looked away. She wanted him to see it in her eyes. Everything would be all right as long as they are together. “Jong kook-ah…” She ran a finger on her jaw, willing him to continue her but he caught her hand and kissed it gently.

 

“I love you Ji hyo-yah…”

 

-------------------------

 

Kim Jong kook don’t forget your promise… even if it hurts, you have to do it my boy. It’s the only way out.

 

 

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Just a short update (well it's not really short but my updates always range on 4000 words lol) I hope you enjoy the lightness of this chapter. I wanted to tahnk everyone who commented on the previous chaps, you all gave me motivation to go back here and continue this story. Thaks a lot and happy reading :)

(I was in a hurry so I'm sorry if this is not a polished chap)