Sehun pouted outside the pharmacy. Their date had been royally ruined by, what he deemed was, a freak accident. Hana had proceeded to pester him about the burn. In all honesty, Sehun could say he didn’t care. It would heal as all burns did. He didn’t want to ruin their time together, however Hana was of another mind.

Sehun had blatantly refused to enter the door of the pharmacy hoping he could change Hana’s mind, but no. She had gone in without him. He was left with the company of a melting popsicle. Sehun stared at it, as if it were the cause of his misery.

His arm stung enough to bring tears to his eyes. His sleeve had been rolled up. The air bit at it uninvited, and flared his temper in doing do. He cursed everyone who had a hand in messing up his date, including the subway. He wasn’t a six-year-old child who needed a ‘boo-boo’ plastered up. He was almost an adult!

It occurred to him he was being rather childish in his resentful state. What did that matter anyway? Was there a rule somewhere that said he couldn’t be childish? His girlfriend had left him with a popsicle in hand. He had all the right in the world to be annoyed!

When she finally arrived, Hana didn’t even give him a smile. She frowned instead, and silenced the budding smile on Sehun’s lips. He glared at his popsicle, and while Hana was busy fumbling with a bandage roll, he tossed it into the garbage.

Sehun rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. His lower lip jutted outward in silent protest. Even then, his eyes darted towards her. Who was she? He studied her carefully as she opened packaging.

His arms unfolded automatically by an order from her.

Why did she even care about a pesky injury? Sehun wasn’t used to this at all. Her hand made contact with his arm, and upon skin contact he inhaled sharply. It wasn’t the prickly antibacterial cream. It was her, or rather the effect she had. Sehun decided to title it the ‘Hana-effect.’

The Hana-effect arose at skinship, and when she smiled, and when she frowned, and when she worried. Heck, it happened each time he was around her! His heart elated like an elevated child on candy, pumping his blood as fast as it possibly could as if it were trying to impress her. His heart wasn’t the only attention seeker that was wooed by the Hana-effect. All his senses acted crazy, to the point where his brain couldn’t think straight.

She really wasn’t helping his cause at all…

“It’s fine, let me do it,” he muttered hoarsely, reaching for the sterilize gauze bandage.

She slapped at his hand, and her brows furrowed at his actions. “Stay still!”

Sehun wanted to protest but he refrained from doing so. He gazed intently. She mumbled to herself while wrapping his arm with immense care that he didn’t deserve. She was anxious, that’s why he didn’t argue with her.

Why was she bothered? Why did she fuss?

He didn’t have the answers to those questions. He, whose knowledge brought home gold-plated prizes, didn’t know why! His heart sank into his stomach. No doubt the Hana-effect was responsible. He wanted to know what this swamp-like feeling was. He was drowning in something, but rather than snapping at her for causing this he wanted to hold her.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Suddenly, he wanted her to stop everything, but his body wasn’t in his control neither were words. He shut his eyes, and tried to solve the mystery. He felt the answer was close by. He began to deduce what he’d accumulated so far.

It had all begun when he’d rolled up his sleeve. Her expression had contorted when she’d seen his wound. She’d insistently dragged him to the pharmacy. The feeling had accelerated with her small actions.

It was almost as if seeing him in pain hurt her…

Sehun’s eyes fluttered open. Was that it? He weighed this new hypothesis with her countenance. Her brows remained furrowed in thought. He took a step away from her wanting to search her eyes.

As expected, she raised her head to query his behavior. And then he saw it. The proof. It lay crystal clear in her eyes.

It made his heart ache. His opinion dislodged and dispersed. He didn’t know anything anymore. He wanted to ask her ‘why,’ but he didn’t know how to.

Why did she care for him? In his eighteen years of living, no one had done so. Who was she to care for him? He’d never asked her to. He didn’t want her to. The act was alien to him. He didn’t like it. It glazed her eyes with sorrow. He didn’t want to see that.

As the first-born child he’d learnt to live without it. Whether it was his parents or his sister, no one had cared for him like this before. He’d always been on the nursing end of things. He’d persevered finely through everything on his own since as far back as his memory could recall.

He’d never asked for help! He’d never needed it, nor had he been offered it and at the odd stages that someone had extended a hand he’d played it off because he didn’t like it. Letting others worry was weakness in his eyes, and he was anything but frail.

“I’m fine,” Sehun sighed, and distanced himself from her reach. Her eyes depicted more concern than he was comfortable seeing. He broke her gaze not wanting to see this side of her. He wasn’t feeble, and he refused to be acknowledged as such!

“You’re not fine, you’re hurt!” Hana interjected his belief in a troubled tone that cut through his heart like a sword. He clutched it for a moment wondering whether he should have been alive after such a blow.

She held his hand in hers, dousing him in emotions he’d always thought he were incapable of feeling. Comfort, warmth and spiraling agony were feelings he didn’t know how to class. They were contradictory of each other.

Sehun finally whisked to look at her, and then he understood the meaning of his senseless-self. It permeated from her eyes; everything poured from that glistening set.

“I don’t want to see you worry.” He offered her a smile of solace hoping to distance her from her compassionate aching. She didn’t need to be stressed for his sake. Her tears didn’t need to cling to her lashes. He didn’t want to be the reason she cried.

Hana bit the inside of her cheek, her features illuminated with sorrow.

 “If I can’t worry about you, who should I worry for?” Her voice was barely over a whisper, yet her words engraved in Sehun’s heart. He smiled again at the idea of being precious to someone.

“It’s okay,” Hana continued. Her tone faltered and she took a deep breath before resuming, “I won’t hurt your tough-guy image, as long as you let me treat you.”

Sehun wanted to laugh out of joy, but he refrained not wanting to injure her sincerity. He her cheek, overwhelmed by what a few words from her could make him feel.

“I’d rather be treated to a kiss, instead.” He breathed. His words were truthful, but she furrowed her brows at him as if he were making fun of her.

Hana hesitated and averted her eyes from his before uttering, “Only if you act like a big boy!”

She blushed at her boldness and ran a hand through her hair to disguise herself.

Sehun stuck out his lower lip before pressing his lips together in a pout that made Hana laugh. He s an arm around her, tugging her close, and causing her laughter to cease.

He expected a scolding of sorts, but she surprised him by tightly fastening her arms around him in a hug, and declaring, “Thank you.”

“For what?” He asked baffled that she was thanking him at all.

“For protecting me.” She replied, snuggling into his chest.

“I might do it more often if you opt to be my personal nurse.” Sehun chuckled, pressing his lips against her crown.

This must have been the wrong answer because Hana pulled away from him, to give him a look he couldn’t decipher.

“I don’t want you to get hurt for my sake.”

Sehun sighed deeply as if all the burdens of the world rested on his shoulders. His shoulders, despite their broadness, were not large enough to accept that proposal.

If he hadn’t in. He would never have been able to forgive himself. His perception had been sharp enough to save her from scalding. Did she expect him to stay put and watch her bear an affliction on her face?

Sehun cringed at the notion.

“I couldn’t watch you get hurt.” He admitted avoiding her eyes because he thought she might berate him further. He didn’t like to peeve her either. What was happening to him? Was he steadily turning mad?

“How do you think I feel then?” Hana asked. Her eyes trailed to the bandage she’d fastened. Under it sat irritated, puffy, red skin with an outer coating of crusted black, and purple. It stung her to know she was the cause of it. Yet, she was grateful that he’d chosen to protect her. For that, she felt guilt. Her expression must have shown because Sehun changed the subject.

“Let’s do something fun,” he suggested.

-

The former teacher grumbled to himself. He wondered how the essay would vanish. Presently, there was a fabrication in place regarding Yang’s death. What people in power could do without batting a lash was terrifying. There were high officials involved to mask his crime. Still, he didn’t feel safe because it was them. He didn’t trust them.

He laughed manically to himself when the children didn’t heed his advice about clothes. Had they followed his direction, they would have run into more than just boiling water.

A deep frown plastered onto his visage as he peered. He couldn’t stick around for long to keep an eye on the brats.

He uttered foul words, and struck the ground with his foot because they had avoided the accident that had been waiting for them.

“Take a picture of them!” He demanded at the shadow that had been instructed to follow him.

The lackey didn’t entertain the teacher’s words. Rather than following instructions he glanced at the pair that were the cause of distress. There was nothing interesting about a couple of kids buying matching shirts, in his opinion.

“They are dangerous!” The ex-educator persisted like a bubble bee.

It was enough to offset the taller of the two. He gave a nasty snarl before lifted the teacher by his collars.

“I only work for the Young Master, not some drug addict that he took pity on.”

“Those kids will mess up your master’s plan!”

The vassal the murderer aside, and started at the young pair, memorizing each feature until their copies were imprinted into his mind.

“There are no need for pictures,” he spat shortly afterwards. The Young Master would not be pleased if his worker succumbed to the commands of an inferior.

“But, but, but you have to!”

The teacher’s whining resulted in a severe punch to his cheek, knees hitting the ground, he held it and howled in pain.

This must have antagonized his companion because a foot dug into his stomach, knocking him onto his back. A heel pressed against his chest, threatening to break his ribs.

His sight wavered after the brusque attack. He felt as if the lackey was capable of much worse. Fear palpitated through him, although he was aware he wouldn’t be killed so easily. All rational left him in the face of possible death.

“You’re only alive because you need to do things, not because you’re special. Don’t forget that!”

The warning was punctuated with a blow to his side that left the teacher writing in discomfort.

The evil Young Master would toss him out once he was finished using him. He only worried for his own gain. The killer was a pawn in the game, or lower. The sinister fellow was more corrupted than he, who had blood on his hands. The handsome young man most likely carried blood too. He just didn’t use his hands. He used money instead.

The un-convicted convict decided to forget him for now, and let the young couple take up his attentiveness. He couldn’t harm them, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t keep his eyes on them, like a stalker in the shadows.

-

They were walking through the couple-busy street in Gangnam.

“I still think we should go to hospital,” Hana advised, interlacing her fingers with his protectively. The wound on his arm pricked at her conscience.

“It doesn’t hurt that much.” Sehun shrugged and brushed away the thought with a smile.

“What? It hurts?” Hana paled a little. “Should we go home?” She blurted. He needed to rest for the pain to subside.

“Seriously, I’m fine! It’s cuz someone bumped into me, and aggravated the injury.”

Hana nodded unsurely.

She had been on edge ever since someone had accidently bumped against Sehun. After that she’d chosen to stand guard by his shoulder, but the damage had been done. He’d winced, his physiognomy had contorted while his hand had reached to clutched the damaged area. His eyes had watered instinctively, but he’d laughed it off as if it were no big deal. Still, it had been ‘a big deal’ for her.

 “Thank you for caring.” He squeezed her hand amused that she’d offered to become some kind of dainty bodyguard. Had he been four-years-old he’d have agreed, but he was much older than that.

Having a girl as his ‘bodyguard’ was cringe-worthy – it dented his ideals. He’d rather protect her instead of the other way. Nevertheless, it added to her cuteness. The thought touched him, even if he would never entertain it.

“You got hurt because of me.” Hana muttered.

“It was an accident, but I keep thinking I’m jinxing you somehow. You almost always get hurt with me around. I should be more careful.” Sehun retorted.

“How is that your fault? It’s not.”

“You don’t know that for sure. Maybe, it’s all my fault. What if that teacher did it on purpose because he doesn’t like me?”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Hana laughed but wondered if Sehun was right in thinking that.

The teacher hadn’t look remorseful at all.  His eyes had been stone cold, contrary to his words.

Hana shook her head, lately it seemed to her that everyone was plotting something devious under the guise of friendship. Why was that? Perhaps she just over analyzing things…

“Maybe we should think about things more.” Sehun injected.

Hana suddenly stopped walking. Her reverie jerked to a close, and she stared at Sehun as if he’d grown scales. Something inside her snapped, and out tumbled her distress.

“Why do you need to do that? Don’t you ever thing about how I might feel? I… I like you a lot. I’ve liked you for a very long time, and now that we’re together you’re thinking about reconsidering me?” Her face reddened in pique.

Why did he always say what he wanted without thinking about her? Had he always been insensitive?

“I’m not reconsidering you at all.” Sehun elaborated. His expression puzzled for a moment at her strained tone. It was unlike her to burst out of the blue.

“I like spending time with you. Even if we’re studying, I still like it!” Hana confessed with an elongated sigh. She brushed her hair out of her face, and wondered how people dealt with relationships. Were they all as draining as Sehun’s words?

“I do to.” Sehun concurred quietly.

“Then why?!”

“I’m thinking of protecting you, not reconsidering you.”

“How will you protect me if you’re not by my side? What does ‘protecting’ mean to you? If it means we shouldn’t hang out, then you don’t have to protect me. Do you think I’m incapable of taking care of myself? I’ve been doing just fine for the past eighteen years. I’m fully capable of defending myself when I need to.”

“Hey! I said it because I’m worried about you. No need to get angry.”

Hana crossed her arms to avoid holding his. She could feel fury flare through her. Why was he like that? She didn’t understand him at all! She refused to believe in his way of thinking. He was wrong.

Of all the things he could be wrong about, he chose their relationship! It was safe to say she was infuriated with him for almost casting her aside. What added to her rage was that even after his declaration she still wanted to remain by his side. What was wrong with her?

Sehun hurried after her after she stormed away from him. He wanted to ask what he’d done wrong, but was afraid of inducing further misunderstandings. She was refusing to even look at him.

It feels like years since I last updated! I don't know if you guys know, or if I've already complained about it, but I pretty much beta-read through this fic and trust me, it wasn't exactly fun. Good thing is, that I've fixed small mistakes here, and there. Bad thing is, that after doing all that I hated this fic cuz beta reading via computer just makes your eyes dry and tired.

So after being a beta I decided two things,
1) I will always hereby adhere to proof reading, and
2) I never want to be a beta reader, ever!

I conclude the rant.

Wow, it's been so, so long. I missed you guys. Did you miss me too? You know I meant to come back here, but my brother was home for his holidays and we practically went out every day, so had absolutely no time or energy to update. Also after that beta thing, I kinda wanted to stay away from this fic since I was still dizzy from looking at my writing.

I actually stopped writing stuff lol. I didn't like my writing style etc because I'd been reading it for weeks! Then I decided to enter a writing contest after being pestered by my irl chingu, gaksitalGaksital. I entered it solely so she would stop asking me to join a contest. I wrote a horror story because erm, was so sick of romance. It was giving me heeby-jeebies at that point. So I wrote a horror fic-let and gaksitalGaksital was happy hence I'm happy too xD.

That horror one-shot, Cheque Mate, took a whole week to write, and took two hours to proof read (It's long, very long, takes ages to read, so keep away from it.  I imagined seeing things in the dark after writing it. I'm quite proud of it but you've been warned. Don't read it unless you're warm to the idea of nightmares) after which I took a day off and then came here.

OMG SEHANA'S DATE WENT FROM 'SWEET,' TO 'SCARY,' TO 'WHY ARE YOU GUYS FIGHTING?!' These kids.... Their relationship seems slow but in case anyone missed it let me tell you, Sehun is falling in lurve~ True love, not the 'omg lets kiss' love but the 'I love you' love. He already protected her and now he's feeling guilty about upsetting her and making her worry about him. It's love guys! <3

That teacher though... There's a whole conspiracy behind Yang's death. Where there's money there is corruption, and if anyone was wondering what this fic is about it's corruption and betrayal jk jk. This is a romance fic but there are other things going on too. By the end of this fic, I hope to leave you guys with a message as well as a story :)