Jong kook watched the pieces fall, as if in slow motion. He felt relieved seeing those little pieces flutter in the air. He was happy but deep inside there is still an undeniable guilt that he was trying to suppress. The woman obviously loved him, but he is not the person she fell in love with. She had longed to be loved and she deserves more than that, but he can’t give it to her. He looked down at the hourglass; the sand on the bottom end was reassuring. It meant he had done something right but still he was uneasy. He sighed, unsure if he should thank her, hug her or say nothing.

 

“Can I ask why?”

“Last time I asked you to sign… y-you,” she took a deep breath and shook her head. “You hurt me and left. I have to make sure that I really want to stay.” He slowly absorbed the new information. It didn’t make sense. If he only married her because she was pregnant, then why did he stop her from leaving? His father had been angry at the divorce back then but Jong kook knew it was an act. His father was everything but sad about leaving. He shrugged off the memories. The situation was similar but then he had never really understood his father. What matters to him now is the situation he was in, the past just needs to be buried. “Make sure… you were testing me.” The happiness and relief in his voice must have been so obvious because it made Ji hyo frown. “Don’t think I am doing this for you. We are history now Jong kook… we are still husband and wife, but on papers only. This is for our daughter. I can’t let her lose you, not now.” I don’t want to lose you, not now… Jong kook.

 

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“Yah Jong kook-ah… how long are you going to keep this up?” Jade lazily stretched his back on the recliner, his nose almost touching the screen of the iPad. There was a crashing noise from the thing and Jade groaned. Jong kook kept on staring at the hourglass. The amount of sand was barely visible, but it was a good start. “Hey kiddo, you did something right, so what’s with that face?”

“I feel bad, me pretending to be her husband, it’s a lie. She is just doing it for Hyo Jong, to make her daughter happy... but Ji hyo. Her happiness, I can’t give her that.”

“I know. You probably think this isn’t right. Technically you two are strangers, but you have to act like a father to Hyo Jong and a changed husband in front of Ji hyo against your will because of the mission.”

“Against my will? I may be a liar but yah, I am no actor. I adore my sweet Hyo Jong and Ji hyo is a good woman and a loving mother. She is really strong although she had been through so much. At this place they are my family.” Jade smirks and gives him a knowing look, then laughs. “See? You care, that’s what matters.” Jong kook finally realized the trick Jade just played on him again. “You, just disappear. I am sleeping.”

“Oh come on kid, I’m having fun here. Didn’t you miss me? You were always begging me to stay with you.”

“No.” Jade pouted, imitating Hyo Jong but Jong kook ignored him and switched off the lamp.

 

 

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Jong kook woke up in a better mood. The oversized bed felt too big and he wished Hyo Jong was there. It was already nine, which made him bolt out from the bed. He had never slept for over five hours before, and he had prided himself for the unwavering discipline.

 

He stared at himself in the mirror as the water dripped from his face. He looked different, not older but just different. The past few days were too action packed that he never really had the time to check out the small details. This is how my future looks… it was amusing to him. He actually looked younger than eight years ago.

 

Ji hyo was in the dining room eating a fully loaded meal. Jong kook unconsciously eyed her pork bellies with disapproval, until Jong kook saw a little smile wanting to escape from her lips. He joined her for breakfast but he opted for low calorie bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruits and green herbal tea. Ji hyo grimaced at the dark green stuff he was drinking and then their gazes met. Soon they found themselves smiling.

“Jong kook, you still eat that stuff? It’s making me sick.”

“It’s healthy unlike your…”

“My what?” her tone changed from playful to serious and Jong kook was surprised. He was good at reading people but the woman in front of her is too closed. She was an actress… I will never know what she really feels unless she tells me.  He tensed up. It was still early and after last night, he really didn’t fancy another fight. She was quiet and Jong kook can’t bring himself to eat. “I like this. You not getting mad… just getting along. Eat up, I’m not mad, just grossed out.” She said more to herself than him. It was weird that they were not too awkward after everything. They are still far from having a relationship where they can openly talk but this was better. Here and there, they would throw disapproving looks at each other’s meals then chuckle.

 

After breakfast, Jong kook wandered around the house. He wanted to work out but he just ate and he was bored. He felt like something was missing. There was no television in the house and they worked in the entertainment field. He peeked in the other rooms but there was nothing. He remembered that he could watch in the laptop, but he still prefers the box.

 

He wandered in the second floor and discovered a stair hidden behind a spare room. It looks like it leads to an attic. He carefully went up. It was clean and not dusty unlike all the other attics he knows. He reached the upper landing and opened the door with a gasp. Inside was a very large television that almost covered the whole wall. It was sleek, all black and intimidating. There were weird boxes and other wiry stuff that were so alien to him. Jong kook almost backed off out of the room. He felt suffocated with all the blatant technology as he is ignorant with techie stuff. Before he crashes everything he stepped back. He was about to go when he noticed that the walls are actually shelves and they are filled with discs. There were many posters too, of him in Turbo, bands, singers and movies. Ji hyo’s posters caught his attention. He walked closer, admiring her. He felt like he was peeping or something but she looked so different. This is Ji hyo the actress... A shelf on the corner looked familiar. It was his albums. It was complete from his Turbo days up to the future. He refrained from looking at the newer and unfamiliar titles. It would be cheating. He walked around and saw a complete set of X-man, Family Outing and Running man.

 

X-man. For a second, he thought of hiding them. He was like a criminal wanting to hide the evidence. Jong kook felt confused. Why does he want to hide Eun hye? What if Hyo Jong sees it? What if Ji hyo watched it? The thought of it made him uncomfortable. The other side of the room has a pink shelf and Ji hyo’s movies are in it. There was not a lot, in fact the place had more movies of some familiar people. He only counted 15 movies and 6 dramas.  A DVD caught his eye, Goong. He pulled it out from its rack and examined the cover. It was her… Eun hye. She and Ji hyo made a drama, how did he forget? He promised Eun hye to watch it when he had the time, but forgot about it since it was not his thing and frankly, he hated seeing her with the prince. It was their link. Eun hye was their common link even before Running Man.

 

Jong kook lifelessly returned the DVD and then sat down on a plush chair. He doesn’t  know what to make of the new information. Eun hye had never introduced him to her friends from Goong since they weren’t public yet at that time. Ji hyo obviously knew about everything since the room doesn't look untouched. She must have watched Xman too. Didn't she feel bothered? He eyed the Running Man series and decided to watch a random episode. He pulled out a DVD and popped it in the player with great difficulty. He sighed thinking of how hard it was to live in the advanced time.

 

‘The birth of the strongest pair on Running Man history.’

There were two people, the camera zooms in. It was him and Ji hyo. You two started there… Crap this is what Jade was talking about? Me and the ace… me and her.

 

Jong kook watched in awe. She is the Running man’s ace, and he can’t deny that they do make a good team. He tried to see if between two of them it looked like there was something going on but it was clean.  Jade was suddenly beside him munching on chips. He offered Jong kook some but he only eyed the snacks with disapproval. “KJ Kim Jong, Kill Joy. As if you could really live for 200 years.” He muttered then he was gone again as the episode played the final credits. Jong kook doesn’t know what to do next. He just saw Running man. They look close but not in a romantic way, they are just friends. Ji hyo as always, is blank. Looking at her expressions revealed no clues. As for himself, there was no sign that he liked her too. It was just one episode… It was too early and it doesn’t really look like we fell for each other at first sight. If it was love at first sight, then I should have felt something when I first saw her.

 

He stood up and decided to watch a movie of Ji hyo. He eyed Goong, but it would take him days and it has Eun hye. He doesn’t want to be caught watching that. He scanned the movies. There was a horror one about stairs. It made him shudder and he slammed the disc back. He looked up at the ceiling and randomly picked something. He put the disc in the player without looking at the title then he sat down to watch.

 

The movie is historical. He recognized Joo Jin Moo and Jo In Sung right away. It was a good movie but there was no Ji hyo yet. Crap! The king is gay! He felt uneasy but now that he started it, he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he just stopped watching. Then Ji hyo appeared on the scene. Jong kook never really liked Goryeo era style of women, but Ji hyo looked so beautiful in her flowing black hair and white robes. At the same time, she looked tantalizing, mysterious and he wanted to discover the mystery. It made him want to protect her. He was reminded of her pains and he wanted to make it go away. He remembered the time he caressed her cheek, her skin so smooth and warm to his touch.. Jong kook realized where his thoughts were leading to and he slapped himself for distraction.

 

She was the queen in the movie but he felt bad for her character. She was given to the king who didn’t love her. He fast-forwarded the steamy scene between the king and his warrior, as it made him feel bothered. The king loved his warrior so much and Ji hyo had to watch in a corner and pretend to be okay even if it was tearing her apart. She was just a display to protect the king from mainland China. He felt angry at the king for hurting Ji hyo. Jong kook almost stood up when the king discussed heirs with the queen. She is a human you crap-king! How can you just make her… Jong kook swallowed hard. He didn’t know that the movie would be so realistic and . He kept on staring on the screen No! Don’t touch her… Jong kook get a grip! Shut. It. Down. He found himself breathing hard as he stared at the body of Ji hyo. It was making him hot, but his mind had stopped functioning already. His body can't deny anymore the effects she had on him despite everything. It felt wrong but he couldn’t stop it. He continued watching, then he heard steps, waking him up from his trance. Oh no! What if that is Hyo Jong or Ji hyo!  He scrambled to the remote but all he managed was to do was drop it and the batteries rolled out of his reach. Jong kook had never felt so unfortunate in his life as he cursed silently. He managed to get the batteries but the hateful remote is giving him hell as he tried to figure out how to put back its batteries. The door opened. Jong kook abruptly ran to the television to cover the intense scene between Ji hyo and In Sung.

 

“What are you doing? Are you a ert?” shouted Ji hyo as she eyed the flustered and sweating Jong kook as he miserably failed to cover the screen or himself. Ji hyo eyed the box in the coffee table, Frozen Flower. The moans from the television kept getting louder making Jong kook wince. It was even more embarrassing than getting caught watching by his mother. He can’t even look at Ji hyo. He wanted to hide and just disappear but he was frozen in his place.

“Move away.”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t… I'm not a ert, I was just...” Great way to defend yourself Jong kook! He shut his mouth as he felt redder and more flustered with each passing minute. “I am not embarrassed of it. It is my craft. My best.” Her voice sounded proud, but sad. It is her craft… it is her art, just like how I am proud of my songs. She managed to fix the remote quickly and then stopped the movie. He eyed her carefully but the images from earlier were hard to shake off, especially his own thoughts about it. Especially when there were only the two of them in that room. It was getting too warm and Jong kook wondered why Ji hyo seemed so unaffected.

 

She put back the DVD in it's place. She lovingly looked at the movies with a little smile. This is Ji hyo the actress… Her gaze was tender as she slowly fixed the cases he messed up. It was another different side of Ji hyo he was seeing, gentle, passionate, and longing. The Ji hyo in front of him is the one who loves movies and acting. Jong kook wondered why she stopped. Did he make her? He wanted to know so badly but he can’t risk it yet. Frankly, in the current situation it was too hard. Jong kook found himself moving away from the TV. He felt stupid.  He had only looked at the face value of the movie but then the raw emotions, the message, the acting and the efforts poured to the piece. They all did their best to make something new even if it was unconventional.  It was not to his taste, but it was honest and brave. He looked at Ji hyo with newfound respect. She makes him feel proud. She always surprises him with her unexpected sides. Jong kook finally realized what he could do for her. Acting can make her happy too, not just love.  

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Unnie sorry for disappointing you but I had to make a light-not-so-fluffy chapter.

I’m taking it slow now, so thank you for reading. Please let me know if this is fine, or you want me to go back giving out suspense to everyone haha honestly I am getting pressured and nervous with the comments, this is not great and I am bound to mess up someday but still thank you to everyone^^

and hey little sis Happy Birthday to you! XD

Please don't laugh >.< at least they kind of resemble the family right?