Following Ji Hyo to her car, I waited till she had unlocked it and got into the front passenger seat. The cabin was filled with an awkward silence. Looking out the window, I sighed tiredly. “You wanted to talk?” I asked softly, before turning to face the actress.

Ji Hyo shifted about uncomfortably in her seat, and I watched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. She was a little nervous, a little unsure. I smiled reassuringly at her. “Ji Hyo, relax. You can tell me anything. No holds barred. You know that.” I assured gently.

She finally looked up at me. “Erin passed me the letter. I've finished reading it, and I just...” She trailed off uncertainly. She appeared frustrated at her inability to find the words to say as she impatiently ran a hand through her hair.

In an effort to soothe her, I placed a hand on her lap. “Look, it doesn't matter. I wasn't expecting an answer when I wrote that. I just needed to say what my heart wanted to say.” I said softly.

“But it does matter! To me!” She cried out, and I blinked in surprise. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I think I've always known... how you feel.” She continued quietly, her voice filled with wonder. “But I just chose to run from it. To ignore it. Because I was scared.” She admitted.

I looked down at my lap, studying the fabric of my jeans, unable to endure another rejection. “Because of what I feel for you as well.” She revealed in a shaky voice.

My eyes widened at her revelation, and I stared in shock at my lap. Reaching for me, she cupped my cheeks with both her hands, turning me to face her. “I was scared because if I acknowledged that I’m attracted to you... Am I a lesbian? Or bi-ual? What then, is my uality? It's like what you told me in your letter. I too thought I had everything figured out. Then you came and made me re-examine everything I'd ever known. Everything I'm familiar with. You made me ask questions I had never thought of before.”

I stared into her eyes. Her brown orbs were open and honest, filled with tenderness and love. She brushed the hair from my face as she went on, speaking softly. “And that scared me. So I ignored the feelings, hoping they would go away. Then I realised... I was more afraid of losing you.”

“Erin-ssi? Annyeonghaseyo.” Ji Hyo greeted as she bowed politely before taking a seat next to her in Anne's café. Erin returned the greeting, and Ji Hyo smiled before taking a sip of the Americano that Erin had bought. “Mmm... Thanks for getting coffee. And how can I help you? Over the phone, you said it was urgent and that it was imperative that you speak with me.”

Reaching for a bulky bag on the ground next to her, Erin passed the bag to the actress. Opening it, Ji Hyo scanned the contents before staring at Erin, a puzzled frown crossing her features. “It's a Harry Potter collector's book set. Why are you giving this to me?” She asked.

“Reggie got this for you. As a surprise. She was going to pass it to you herself. In fact, she ran off with the books the other night. But for some reason, we later found the books in her apartment, and she asked that I give them to you.” Erin explained.

Ji Hyo thought back to the night in Singapore when Reg had confessed to her, admitting that she had feelings for her. The bodyguard had revealed that she had tried to call her before turning up at her place. The actress wrecked her brain, sifting through the memories. She was quite sure she knew which night that was. It was the night she had gone on a date with Gary. The events of that night were a little hazy. She recalled having a beer to go with her meal, but she couldn't – for the life of her, remember what she and Gary spoke about.

It wasn't that she didn't like him, or that she didn't enjoy spending time with him, but it felt like she was unable to concentrate on what he was saying. The rapper, with his flair for words, was his usual charming self. He was maybe a little shy whenever she initiated any form of skinship, and it made her think of Reg and how shy and awkward the bodyguard could get too. The only difference was that she lacked Gary's gift of gab, preferring to hide behind a grumpy, gruff exterior that belied her softer side and hid a gentle, kind heart. She recalled with fondness, how Reg had taken Eun Chul out for a burger, helping the young boy cope with the pain of losing his mother. 

As Ji Hyo sipped on her beer, something she rarely did with Reg as she was aware of the other woman's aversion to alcohol, she couldn't help but make the comparison between the two. While Gary was open with his emotions and his words, Reg maintained tight control over hers. The bodyguard's voice was always low and controlled, but at times, got curiously emotional. Especially when she let her mask slip and got passionate about the things or people she cared about. In a way, she was like Gary: both wore their hearts on their sleeves, making them easy to read.

Why am I even thinking about Reg? I should be enjoying the time with Gary oppa. Aish, Cheong Seong-im! What is wrong with you tonight?

Shaking her head, Ji Hyo tried to focus on what Gary was telling her, remembering to nod and smile at appropriate junctures. But as their food arrived and Gary began grilling the beef, she couldn't help but think of Reg and her ability to polish off a platter of meat by herself whenever they visited their favourite barbeque restaurant.

After their date, Gary sent her home. As he dropped her off at her apartment, the rapper had kissed her goodnight. Ji Hyo was a little taken aback by his sudden action. Maybe it was the lovely dinner that they just shared and the romantic atmosphere enveloping the pair in the privacy of the car, or the alcohol – which was sending a pleasant buzz to her head, but she had returned the kiss. She was fond of Gary and had been aware of his affections for her for a time now. She figured it was expected after a date, especially since this wasn't their first date. But she found herself thinking that it was something Reg would never expect from her. Ji Hyo found herself frowning once again, baffled as to why she continued making the comparisons.

As she left the car and made her way up to her apartment, Ji Hyo touched her lips. This time analysing the differences between the kiss Gary had just given her, to the time she had kissed Reg. How aggressive Gary's kiss felt, so unquestionably male. While on the other hand, although the bodyguard had that spark of aggression in her, her initial kisses were soft and tentative, it was almost as though she was afraid of giving in to that aggression and was instead, suppressing it. Ji Hyo knew that it was out of respect that Reg held back. She had seen the conflict between Reg's righteousness and desire as they waged war behind her fierce amber eyes. It had sent a thrill of excitement down her spine when the bodyguard finally gave in and begun returning her kisses with equal passion. She found herself blushing at the memory. Ji Hyo was roused from her reverie by the sound of Erin's voice.

“Reggie left a letter for you.”

Blinking in surprise, she looked back at Erin. “Left?” She wondered softly, bewildered.

Erin sighed and ran her hand through her hair. “Yes. Reg's leaving.” She answered, her voice clipped, observing as a crestfallen expression appeared on the actress's face. “She left you a letter. Read it. It'll probably hold a better explanation.” She encouraged gently, handing Ji Hyo a sealed envelope.

Not wasting a single second, Ji Hyo tore open the envelope. Her eyes moved back and forth as she scanned the contents quickly, taking in the words Reg had written. When she finished reading the letter, she set it down on the coffee table in front of her and found herself blinking back tears. Was this grief she felt? There was a sudden, but immediate emptiness in her heart. And if she were honest, it was in the shape of a certain someone. Someone who not only guarded her physical well-being but her emotional one too. Someone, who even as they speak, might be leaving. Ji Hyo shivered at the thought, suddenly feeling as though she was being gripped in an ice-cold vice.

Erin saw the distress on Ji Hyo's face and placed a comforting hand on her lap. “Although none of it is your fault, sadly the progress you and Gary are making together is leaving Reg in the dust. Hurting and unable to express it to anyone. As a friend, I feel terrible for her because it's causing her to turtle again. Redrawing into her shell... denying that she’s hurt.” She commented, before gesturing to the books.

“I think the night she rushed off with these books she meant to confess her feelings to you.” She hypothesized.

Ji Hyo stared mournfully back at Erin, unable to deny the fact. “Reggie tries to exude this gruff, ‘I don't give a ’ attitude. But I'm sure that you know it's far from the truth. By now, you of all people know that she gets very passionate in all that she engages herself in. She just tends to hide that part of her.” Er