“Good night Reg! I'll see you tomorrow for our usual study session?” Ji Hyo asked. We had just finished filming and the actress had been kind enough to give me a lift on her way home. I really appreciated it after a long day's filming.

“Oh, about that... I'm actually going home for a couple of days. I leave in the morning.” I answered sheepishly, feeling a little bad for not informing her earlier. Perhaps I imagined it, but from the way she looked away, averting eye contact, staring at the floor, she looked a little disappointed. “There was a pretty crazy Scoot sale over the weekend. I didn't have the time to tell you.” I explained, shifting about nervously. I couldn't help but feel that I owed her an explanation. For reasons unknown to me, I felt like a child who had gotten caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

What is wrong with me? She's no one to me! I don't need to answer to her!

“I see. Yeah, home is good. You should go home. It's been almost a year since you went back?” She said, finally looking back up at me. A small smile playing at the corner of her lips.

In the blink of an eye, the time had passed us by. I had known the actress now, for almost a year. The long, hot and humid Summer days had given way to a crisp, cool Autumn, and soon after, the chills of a long drawn-out Winter took its place. It seemed like forever, but the buds of Spring eventually made its appearance as the days grew longer and warmer. We were now at that weird place between seasons, where we could still feel the nip of a Spring morning and yet enjoyed the warm evenings of Summer.

Over the past year, Running Man had really taken off and become a huge hit. It made my job harder as fans gathered to watch the filming where ever they went. Keeping an eye on my charge and keeping her safe no longer felt like a part-time, easy money job. Through it all, we also bade farewell to a member and wished him all the best.

Song Joong Ki was a well-liked kid and the day he left the show, there wasn't a dry eye among the team who had gotten to know the polite young flower boy. Ji Hyo had always been the closest to him among the all male cast and she once told me that she had worked on a movie with him. It was hard making friends in her industry(the strict age-hierarchical system in Korea not withstanding) meant that she came to treasure the few friends she made.

His last day on the show, was also the day we learnt more about each other and as a result, brought us closer.

“Thanks for the lift home, Ji Hyo. I'll see you tomorrow for our usual session.” I said as I hopped out of her car. Looking back at the actress, I saw her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Hey... You ok?” I asked carefully and she burst out crying. Startled, I reached over and turned off the ignition in her car. She was in no state to be driving home. I guess Joong Ki's leaving the show took a bigger toll on her than I thought.

“Come on up. Let's chill for a bit before you leave.” I said gently and led the way up to my apartment. As soon as we got in, I offered her a glass of warm water, hoping to soothe her. She bit her lip meekly, the act driving me nuts.

“Erm... Do you have anything stronger?” She asked.

I winced as I glanced around my apartment. I didn't drink so it would be hard-pressed to find any alcohol in my fridge, yet she looked so distraught I couldn't help but look around. “I don't drink, but Erin comes over once in a while and she brings alcohol. I'll have a look for you, ok?” I suggested.

Rushing to the fridge, I raided it for any alcoholic beverage. Finally, from the corner of my eyes, I spied a green bottle. As luck would have it, Erin had left a few bottles of soju in my fridge.

Thank you, Erin Kim!

I would have kissed that horizontally-challenged, men obsessed Korean if she were here... Ok, maybe that was going too far, but I would have thanked her. Grabbing all four bottles, I made my way to the living room where Ji Hyo sat and placed the bottles on the table together with a shot glass. She looked over at me. “Aren't you going to have some?”

“No, I don't drink. You go ahead.” I declined.

“Come on. Have a glass with me. It's no fun to drink alone.” She encouraged with a pout.

I almost gave in to her request, but I held firm. “No. I can't drink. I'm allergic to alcohol.” I said, lying through my teeth.

Truth was, despite growing up in a wealthy family, dad had an alcohol problem. He used to come home in a drunken rage and had gotten violent with my mother and me on several occasions. He has since sought help for his problem and the last I heard, he had been clean for years. But the fact that he had hit my mother and me on occasion, left a lingering hatred in me for the inebriating substance. At the time, I was too small, too weak to protect the one I loved. But never again. I swore never to allow anyone to lay a finger on me or my loved ones. And so, I took up martial arts. It gave my father a rude shock, the day I applied what I had learned, and placed him in a Guillotine choke, causing him to pass out. That incident finally led my mother into making the decision to leave and move back to Singapore. 

“Oh. That's a pity.” She said, and I smiled back at her. Knowing that most people liked to snack with their drinks, I grabbed the last packet of my favourite