It was just one of those days when you would be thankful to just stay at home and laze around. And for 2AM, that kind of time does not come often. On some days, they would have schedules until 2-3am, and on the better days, they’d be lucky to be home by 1am. Today, however, had been luckier than most. Their schedule was supposed to finish at 2am (oh the irony), but due to some rescheduling, they managed to be home at 12am. And that was literally a 2 in 10 chance.

It was also lucky that all the thunder had resulted in a rain storm after they arrived home. The sound of the strong winds were piercing the night, but right now, that was the only sound in their apartment, other than the sound of rain smashing the windows.

Jinwoon had just came out of the shower not too long ago. He volunteered to be the last to use the bathroom, as he was so tired, he didn’t think he would be able to drag himself to the bathroom and wash himself just yet. He dropped himself on the couch as soon as they entered their apartment, and just behind him, Jo Kwon and Changmin were arguing over who got to bathe first. Amidst their bickering, Seulong had managed to sneak past them, grab his stuff, and dash to the bathroom before either of the two realised it.

Tired, Jinwoon didn’t get to hear much after that, as he dozed off shortly after. It wasn’t until Changmin woke him up (Jo Kwon must have won the ‘fight’) that he stumbled to the bathroom, half awake, to shower. But now that he’s all clean and fresh, sleep has ebbed him, and he found himself sitting back on the couch with the TV on. Although, it was more for the sound than anything, because there was something that has been bugging him lately; bugging his thoughts.

He found it harder to concentrate on things, but he hadn’t known what the problem was until a few days ago.

As he was trying to sort his thoughts out, there was a sudden loud knock on the apartment door, making him jump a little.

 Jinwoon wondered who could be at his door at this hour, and during a rain storm like this. Everyone was warned to stay indoors and not go out until the rain storm subsided, and the roads safe enough to drive. Besides, he didn't think that anyone in their right minds would even TRY to travel in this crazy weather. So could it possibly be someone from the apartment?

Jinwoon walked to the door and pulled it open. And for a moment, he froze, unsure of what to make of what was standing in front of him.

"you noona?"

you was one of his closest friends since their trainee days, and although she was a mere few months older than he was, he insisted on calling her ‘noona’, originally to jokingly  imply that she was old, but then it sort of stuck to him and it became an affectionate gesture.

And there she stood, in front of his door, drenched to her bone, head bowed.

Alarmed, he couldn’t manage to say anything for a while. But once common sense kicked in, he invited her in. He immediately excused himself to go and get a towel to keep her warm. Rustling through his wardrobe, he grabbed for the thickest and longest towel he could find.

When he went back to the living room, he found that you had not moved. He quickly wrapped the towel around her, and pulled her in for a hug. His heart hammered in his chest as he thought of how long she was in the rain for, and what made her do it. you loved the rain, he knew, but she was not the type who would deliberately get herself soaked in a rain storm the first chance she gets.

Something was troubling you, and he had a feeling he knew what it was. It had been the only thing that upset her that much for the past few months.

He led her to the couch, and she sat on it. For a while, neither one of them said anything. Jinwoon just observed her, trying to make out the person who had always been bubbly and energetic for as long as he knew her. It was then that he noticed she was shivering, and her lips purple.

Jinwoon wanted to ask her what was wrong. He wanted very badly to hear it from you herself, who had caused her to do something like that. But she needed to get out of those clothes first if she didn’t want to get pneumonia.

“Noona, why don’t you go ahead and have a warm shower? You can lend my clothes and whatever else you need. You have got to get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.”

For the first time that night, you looked up and her eyes met his. He felt his heart  constrict as he saw pain and sadness in them. Her eyes had somehow lost its sparkle and life.

you gave him a weak smile, and nodded.

Jinwoon helped her get everything she needed, and left her to shower. In the kitchen, he started on some hot chocolate and tteokbokki. He figured that she would take a while, so he thought of cooking something up to keep her warm. you loved hot chocolates on cold days, and she had taught him how to make them when they were both trainees.

He heard the water turn on, and he smiled to himself. But that smile was quickly replaced with a frown, as he remembered the state she was in. As far as he knew, only one person had the ability to reduce her to such heartache and self-doubt.

It was her boyfriend, Jin Seob.

Or rather, a sorry excuse for a boyfriend, Jinwoon  thought, grumbling. He couldn’t understand why you couldn’t just leave him for someone better. It was not like she was ugly. But even if that’s what everyone else thought of her, she would still be as beautiful as ever in his eyes.

It wasn’t as if she was not popular with the guys. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The guys were lining up for her, and Jinwoon was sure that everybody else BUT you knew that. She was beautiful and he knew it. He knew it the moment he saw her, but knew that he was way out of her league. It was one of those sad situations where being friendzoned was inevitable.  But Jinwoon would rather be frienzoned and have her as a best friend, rather than insisting they have something more and never be close.

On the other hand, you had image issues. Well, not so much now, but she used to degrade herself so much (thanks to her mother), that is made Jinwoon sick. To see someone he cared about go on about how she was complete and utter crap and didn’t deserve anything good happen to her was just too much for Jinwoon to take. Thankfully, he had managed to slowly get her out of that mindset in time (a LONG time at that). The only thing left that you needed to improve on was her idea that she didn’t believe in marriage anymore.

Thanks to that of a boyfriend, you had also lost faith in a happily ever after with a partner.

Jinwoon knew that you would probably only ever see him as a good friend, and nothing more. He knew the chances of her falling for him was slim. But he felt like he had to change her mindset. If not towards him, then for her future husband, at least. He felt that he had to at least do that for her.

“OW!”

Jinwoon flinched as his fingers accidentally touched the hot stove. It had been hard to pay attention to cooking when his head were filled with every kind of thought on you. He on his finger and brought the finished tteokbokki off of the fire and into two plates.

Jinwoon heard the shower turn off, and smiled. Just about time too, he thought, as he brought the flask of hot chocolate to the table, poured two cups, and sprinkled some marshmallows in it. Just the way she loved it.

He turned back to wash everything up while she got ready, and by the time she came out of the room quietly (Jinwoon almost didn’t hear her, and jumped a little when he saw her), he was done.

He discreetly looked her up and down, and felt his insides flutter. She wore one of his house shirts that now hung loosely on her frame, and he saw that she had tied the end of one side up so that her stomach was bared. Her semi-wet hair was flowing down to her waist, and he could see patches of water from her hair on the shirt. The long pants held dangerously on her hip, and although she had pulled the drawstrings to make it fit her, Jinwoon couldn’t help but feel the chills as he imagined if, somehow, they fell down. He turned away, closing his eyes tightly shut, willing for the image to go away before she found him out.

When he finally felt it safe enough, he turned to look at her.

“I made you some hot chocolate and tteokbokki,” he started, “to warm you up.”

He looked as you look the dishes over, smiling. “You didn’t have to,” she said softly, but he protested. He was just glad to hear her talking again.

Outside, the rain storm was still going on, though the rain was not as heavy as it was before. As they both sat down on the chair, the smell of the tteokbokki warmed their senses up. Picking up her chopstick, you took some and put it in . Jinwoon watched her expectedly. Her eyes lighted up, and she looked at him. “Jinwoon-ah, this is delicious!”

Jinwoon grinned. He was glad to see that she was slowly beginning to look and behave like her old self again. Perhaps that shower really did her some good.

“Of course it is. I cooked it,” he grinned at her, and felt relieved when she smiled back. It wasn’t her usual smile, but it looked sincere nonetheless.

They finished up, feeling considerably warmer and in you’s case, much better. Jinwoon insisted on cleaning up the plates, as he shooed her to the couch. When he was done, he joined her, and both of them were silent for a while, staring at the TV.

Jinwoon didn’t  know how to break the silence about what happened to her without it sounding awkward. He was going through possible ice-breakers in his head, but as it turned out, he didn’t even have to, because you spoke first.

“We finally broke up.”

“Oh.” Jinwoon frantically searched for something to say, not wanting to sound too happy or relieved at the news.

He put his arm around her and hugged her close. “You know you deserve better, right? He’s an .”

you looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. “Everyone I’ve dated somehow managed to be in your bad books, Jinwoon-ah. You sure that that’s really it, and that you’re not just being the overprotective best friend again?” She accused playfully, punching him lightly on the arm.

Jinwoon rubbed his arm and pouted cutely.

“Well, it true! I have high expectations for you, just like you have for me.” He stuck his tongue out in merong at her.

“Oh?” she narrowed her eyes. “Then tell me, who do you think would ‘meet that expectation’? ” she teased, folded her arms.

Me, he wanted to say so badly. I’ve been right in front of you all along, silently calling for you.

“Well… I.. uh, have something to say about that,” Jinwoon blurted out, having a mental battle in his head if he should tell her.

you dropped her hands, her face suddenly serious. “What is it? Did you know something about Jin Seob that I didn’t know about?”

Her voice wasn’t accusing, but it was guarded. As if she was preparing for the worst.

Suddenly, Jinwoon felt like he couldn’t look at her. His head bowed down, and he let out a huff. “I… don’t know how to tell you..” he said softly. “I could… show you, but… I wouldn’t want you to be mad at me…”

The words were coming out before Jinwoon could stop it. He scrunched his eyes, and rubbed the bridge of his nose, frustrated.

you took his hand away from his face, and held it in hers. “Then show me, Jinwoon-ah. If it’s something I need to know, I need you to tell me. Please.. ”

Jinwoon looked at their hands, and couldn’t help feeling how her hands fitted perfectly with his. This is the way it should be. But…

He looked up at her, his eyes pleading. Are you sure? He wanted to say. Are you sure that if I do show you, that you wouldn’t get mad at me? Because I don’t want things to get awkward between us, and I don’t want you to avoid me… I don’t think I could take that.

Jinwoon looked up at her. “Promise you won’t get mad?”

She smiled, but he could see the worry behind her eyes.  She nodded.

Jinwoon looked down again to collect his thoughts. There was no backing out now. She wouldn’t let him off until he told her, he knew.

He took a deep breath, sighed, and looked up again. Her eyes caught his, and he found himself lost in them.

“Well…” he began slowly, trying not to let his voice quiver. “It begins like this…” he looked down again, took another deep breath, and looked up again into her eyes.

And then almost as if on impulse, he leaned forward and kissed her.

It was slow, gentle, cautious. He felt you stiffen, but he never stopped. He wasn’t going to back out now. Since he did it, he might as well do it properly.

He pulled back a little bit, ghosting his lips on hers, opening his eyes a crack. He saw that her eyes were closed too, but before he could make much sense of that, he felt her holding his hand as she kissed him back.

His heart jumped as he felt her responding, and he took that as a sign to really show her how he felt.

One hand rubbed her waist, while the other played with her hair as he pulled her closer. He kissed her harder, more urgently. She responded with equal urgency. He her lips, and opened slightly to moan. He took that as an advantage to slip his tongue in and dominate her.

She moaned again, and Jinwoon knew where this would lead if he let it. But he didn’t want to take her that way. Not yet.

When they were both out of breath, he pulled away and saw you pout cutely. He chuckled, his heart expanding.

“Since when?” she asked.

“Honestly? Since the first day I met you. ”

He saw surprise in her eyes, and then she smacked him on the arm. “That’s for not telling me until now.”

Jinwoon laughed now, a huge weight off his chest. “When did you…?” he began, and saw a blush creeping up you’s cheeks.

“Since… Jin Seob started treating me like trash.” She admitted, ears red. “I kept comparing him to you, and he got pissed.”

Jinwoon was surprised, but he had to admit that he was glad they broke it off finally.

“So…“ Jinwoon whispered, smirking as he got closer to you, “You’re all mine now, noona.”

you grinned as she draped her arms around his shoulder.

“All yours, Jinwoon-ah.”

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YAY! I think I did pretty well for this fic, if I do say so myself... =B

Also, thanks to Tinesha for giving me that nudge! ^^ <333

Comments are love, you guys! ^^