very VERY important author's note today ok?! OK?! 

It was a new day. 

Joonmyun relaxed in his bed with his hands behind his head and a bright smile rising to his face. He couldn't remember the last time he had woken up and was actually feeling this good, but he did know that he wasn't going to let anything ruin his mood. For once he was actually excited about waking up. Because today wasn't like any other day. 

No, today was a new beginning. 

His new beginning, that is. Being trapped with Chorong earlier this week had made him think so many different things and everything that has happened this summer. She cared for him. Sure, she probably wouldn't admit it if he asked her up front, but he could feel something there by the way she sympathised with him about his family problems. They were finally able to talk; really talk, and Joonmyun couldn't have been happier about that. 

He knew he needed to step up now. He finally had Chorong close to his grasp and he could feel her getting closer and closer. All he had to do was do the right thing. He had been so set on chasing after her that he was so oblivious to all the people he was hurting in the process. He was even oblivious to her own feelings about what he was doing, and yet he continued to do them. 

Joonmyun knew that he wasn't her favourite person. He was pretty sure that she hated him, but after their time together he was hoping that maybe slightly some of that hatred would fade. He wanted to be able to show her that he wasn't as bad as he came off. He wanted to prove to her that what happened in the cave was real. Sure, it would take a while. Joonmyun wasn't exactly sure if people could just change overnight. He knew that he definitely wasn't one that could. He would still make his mistakes and he probably would still hurt people. But he did know one thing for sure. 

He never wanted to hurt her again. 

The truth was he never really wanted to hurt her. He guessed that a part of him deep down inside knew this all along, but he was so set on not listening to what his conscious was saying and instead listening to what Jongdae was saying. He knew that he really hurt her by trying to trick her and then going behind her back to use her sister, even if she didn't know that for sure. And he was prepared to do anything to make her see that he's ready to try and fix this. 

Try being the keyword. 

For once he felt like he really found someone who could care for him if he gave them the chance. Someone who he could talk to about his issues with his father and all these choices he needed to make. Chorong listened and she didn't judge him one bit or try to get him to make up his mind just yet. She let him go on and on and just spill his heart out, which was completely unlike him. 

He honestly didn't know where it came from. Even with Luhan, one of his closest friends, he never really opened up and talked about his feelings about the issue on hand. But with Chorong? It almost came naturally. It scared him a little to know that this girl would have that kind of effect on him and he was even more scared that he liked that she had this quality about her. It may have confused him, but he knew down that he needed someone like this in his life. He needed her in his life. 

Joonmyun stretched out as he got off and dragged himself out into the living room. He wasn't exactly surprised when he found Jongdae sitting on the couch and running his hand up his 'girlfriend' Yeri's leg; this happened all the time. Though, it didn't make him feel any less awkward as he looked away and headed over to the small refrigerator in the corner, pulling out a bottle of water and trying to avoid looking in their direction. 

As he stood there drinking his water it hit him. If he wanted to have this new beginning and get Chorong to stop seeing him as such a bad guy he had to break off his bet with Jongdae and end things with Nayoung once and for all. The feeling was a bit unsettling, as he wasn't exactly sure how he was going to go about either of these. He knew the easiest one would be Nayoung and that still wasn't as east as it sounded. Nayoung was Chorong's sister and a part of him knew this wouldn't end well and she would take her sister's side over him any day. 

So many scenarios on how this could go played in his head as he heard someone speak up. "Joonmyun hyung," Jongdae glanced in his direction when he realised that he was no longer along with his company. He pulled out of the girl's grasp and grinned at his friend. "I didn't hear you wake up. How are you this morning?" 

Joonmyun made a slight face, not liking that he had been caught and turned to face towards Jongdae. "Great," Joonmyun mumbled as he took another sip of his water and leaned against the wall. He decided against conquering the Nayoung part of his problem first and went with the Jongdae side since he was already here. His eyes wandered to the girl next to him and a smile appeared on his face. "Could you excuse Jongdae and me? There's something I really need to talk to him about, Yeri-ah." 

Yeri just giggled in response, obviously a little flattered by Joonmyun's over intoxicating use of endearment. She ran her hand through Jongdae's hair and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing her bag and heading to the door without another word. Jongdae rubbed his lips as he watched her walk away and once the door closed his eyes darted back to Joonmyun instantly. 

"Must be important if you're ruining my good time," Jongdae almost grumbled as he crossed one leg over the other and turned his full attention to Joonmyun. "What do you need to talk to me about, hm? You seem a little troubled, hyung." 

Joonmyun couldn't help but notice that every word that came from Jongdae's mouth were always so hypnotising. The man obviously had a way with words and it was no surprise to Joonmyun that he worked so well with the ladies. He could only imagine how many women he had gotten before he brought Joonmyun into this 'lifestyle.' And a part of him worried about this considering what he had to say next. 

He took in a big breath before letting it stagger out of his mouth. "It's about our little game." Joonmyun tapped his fingers over the bottle he was holding, his nerves getting the best of him. He wasn't exactly sure how he was supposed to tell Jongdae all of this, but he knew that he couldn't drag it on any longer. He knew that he had to prove to Chorong that he could be trusted and he wasn't going to let this stupid game ruin anything that could potentially happen with the girl he wanted. He finally glanced up from the bottle and met his friend's eyes. "I want out." 

Joonmyun didn't know what kind of response he was expecting from Jongdae, but it definitely wasn't the one he had gotten. Jongdae's eyes lit up as the words left Joonmyun's mouth and the silence started to rise within the room. He didn't know what Jongdae was thinking and the blank expression he held was no help to him at all. Though, if he had to guess, he would guess that Jongdae wasn't exactly happy with Joonmyun's decision. 

He knew Jongdae better than anyone else and he knew that this could possibly start a war. 

But yet, Jongdae seemed to remain calm. Joonmyun didn't notice any change in his position; no anger rising to his eyes, no swift movements towards him, no nothing. That's what worried Joonmyun the most, to be honest. Jongdae was calm; too calm. He was up to something and Joonmyun wasn't exactly sure what. 

Though he did know one thing; it wouldn't be good. 

Jongdae finally made a movement and crossed his arms over his chest, though his expression stayed the same. "Is this about Chorong?" Joonmyun shuffled uncomfortably in his stance and sat his water on the table. He was like an open book to Jongdae; the guy could read him any day and his pages were obviously open today. "I knew it. I knew the moment you told me about her that she'd be trouble." 

"Look," Joonmyun interrupted him with a sigh, "it's not just her, okay? It's me. It's everything." He wasn't exactly lying. It wasn't just Chorong, but his own feelings too. He didn't really know if what he was doing was the right thing anymore. "It's this life." 

If someone had asked Joonmyun his thoughts on this a month ago he definitely would have never responded this way. He would have never guess that by now his opinions about this would have changed. He was so certain of everything at the beginning of summer and now? Now it was all changing. He was changing. 

She was changing him. 

Jongdae scoffed, a little annoyed with Joonmyun's response. "This life? What's wrong with this life, Joonmyun?" Jongdae couldn't help but grin slightly as that look appeared in his eyes. 

Joonmyun's stomach immediately plummeted as he watched Jongdae's eyes. They were filled with both confusion and amusement, and that was a mix that Joonmyun hated more than anything. He definitely knew Jongdae was up to something now. He had seen this look many times before they had gotten into some kind of trouble. He had also seen it once more before all of this even started. 

And that was around the time Joonmyun first met him. 

It was about four years ago when Joonmyun was home in Seoul and finishing up his final year of home schooling. He had the option of going to a private school and being able to mingle with people very similar to him, but he never really wanted to. Nobody would have guessed it by looking at him now, but Joonmyun wasn't as cool, calm and collected back then. If he was being honest with himself, he was a bit of a nerd and definitely full of way too many anxieties. He chose the more sheltered life and was just too afraid to let people in because of his family name. 

The Kims were one of the most known people throughout the country. They were a powerful business group that dealt with a big part of South Korea's trading system. His father, the chairman of the entire company, was also considered one of the most powerful men to go with their business label. His mother and father were always away on business so it left Joonmyun alone and vulnerable most of the time. He ached for some attention or company, but there wasn't anybody he felt like he could let in. 

People always wanted something from him and he was sure it was around the time he was eight that he started to build up his own walls. He didn't want to let anyone in and ruin everything. He didn't want to let anyone in, period. 

Well, anyone other than Luhan. The boy who lived in the same area from him was the only one Joonmyun truly trusted and the only one who never wanted anything from him. Even so, Joonmyun still kept up those same walls. He was apprehensive about it and he just wanted to feel a bit of safety. It was nice having Luhan around, of course. The years the two boys grew up were amazing and Joonmyun had really grown fond of the boy. 

And then it was ruined when Luhan announced he was leaving for China two years ago. Of course Joonmyun didn't understand the sudden change, but he wasn't going to stop him either. He would put on forced smile and try to make it through the loneliness without his best friend. It broke his heart though. He had nobody now that Luhan was leaving. He didn't know what to do with himself. 

And then it happened. 

Luhan's going away party was probably the first social event Joonmyun had ever been to in his twenty-one years of life, other than his parents' business parties. He felt so out of place and along, even when he was completely surrounded by tons of people. They were all like him, of course; young adults who came from wealthy families and have everything they ever wanted. Even so, Joonmyun still felt like he didn't belong. 

He would never truly belong unless someone came in and taught him how to actually let go and live for once. 

He guessed that was around the time when Jongdae came into the picture; the night of Luhan's going away party. He had come up to Joonmyun and introduced himself and it was like everything was all gone from there. Jongdae seemed different than anyone he had ever met; even Luhan. He had such a way with words that it immediately drew Joonmyun in and he had his hooks in him. They really connected and Jongdae made it so easy for Joonmyun to just talk for once. They seemed to have so much in common that Joonmyun didn't mind telling him all these things. 

And Joonmyun felt good. Oh, he felt really good for once. He felt like he had finally found a new friend who he could open up to and have around while Luhan was gone. Someone who wouldn't make him felt lonely and who he could rely on if he needed someone. He definitely thought Jongdae would be a good friend for him. He just never would have realised what all Jongdae would do for him.

It was around that time that Jongdae introduced him to her. She was the most beautiful girl Joonmyun had ever seen; Seohyun. She was one of those girls who could light up the room when she walked in and everyone's jaws would be on the floor. So, of course, it made Joonmyun curious when she came up and talked to him of all people. The girls he knew never went for him, unless it was to use him in some way. Nobody wanted to be near the kid with social anxieties. There were tons of guys that Seohyun could have gone straight to, but she chose the one who definitely didn't fit in. 

And Joonmyun was hooked. Oh, he was completely hooked on her. He had always been told he wore his heart on his sleeve, and in this case that observation wasn't wrong. He went in hard and head first and didn't care what happened. He put so much into her and gave her everything she ever wanted. He did anything she wanted and all he wanted to do was please her. And it seemed to work, too. She seemed so captivated by him, which was definitely okay because he was so captivated by her as well.

He really loved her. 

But that a long time ago and things change. People change. Joonmyun definitely had after the whole ordeal and it was all because of Jongdae. He was there to pick up the pieces immediately after his heart was broken so badly. It was like he was waiting for the moment to storm in and help Joonmyun fix his life after everything shattered. 

And Joonmyun let him. He let him help and do whatever he needed. He was like a ragdoll, being tossed around and changed all at once. Jongdae definitely changed everything. He changed Joonmyun's look, his way of thinking, and, even, his personality if that were possible. For once Joonmyun felt cool. He felt like he belonged. He didn't need anyone except Jongdae and Jongdae made sure to show him that. He didn't need a girlfriend or to fall in love or anything. He did as Jongdae said and just had fun and broke some hearts like how his own had.

And it was around that time when Jongdae was changing Joonmyun that he first saw that look. The look as if he were planning something. Joonmyun didn't know what it meant at that time; he still didn't exactly know. He did, however, know that he was seeing that look right now and that it could only be trouble for him. 

Joonmyun looked at Jongdae after a while and let out another breath. "Everything." He finally answered him and stood his ground. "Everything is wrong with this, Dae. I can finally see clearly now and I don't want to do this anymore. I've hurt so many people, especially Chorong, and now I just want to go back to who I was before all of this." 

Jongdae only continued to smile in return as he shifted his legs into the opposite position and tossed his hair slightly. His eyes burned into Joonmyun as h