Twist Of Fate

Chapter 60

The Fundraise Event

“Jangmi?” You broke out.

Your colleague and friend glanced up from her desk with the pearls and jewelries in her hands which she currently used to make some bracelets.

You fluttered your black long lashes, gulped hard, and looked the other way. If you told her what you have done, you can imagine that her questions would flood like a river and make you wash away with a strong wave.

“Why are you quiet? You called my name.” She said and raised her brows in question.

“I need to tell you something,” You cleared your throat.

This time, she nodded and made a hand gesture for you to continue. You sighed deeply, closed your eyes for a second, and breathed out.

I have no choice but to tell her.

“I’ve invited Yongguk for the fundraise.” You breathed out and looked at her face for her reaction.

However, she didn’t act upon it and just looked at you without speaking. You blinked your eyes, feeling confused, but then the corner of curved up and her one brow lifted.

“You invited him?” She asked with a witty grin.

“Yes, we could use some help.” You shrugged.

“Yes girl, yes!” She exclaimed. You stared at her baffled, when she clapped her hands excitedly.

Just then she dropped the pearls from her palms and her eyes widened as the little colorful pearls fell.

“Oh my God!” She ducked under the desk and began to pick up the pearls which she used to make the bracelets for the fundraise.

“Jangmi, calm down.” You said as you went over to help her.

You couldn’t believe she clapped her hands when she had been holding onto pearls, who does that? You smiled at her silliness.

The both of you were under the desk, picking up the pearls and Jangmi giggled to herself. You knew this would happen. So, you sighed.

“How come you invited him?” She asked.

“He said that I don’t want him working here, so I had to do it.” You shrugged and handed her some peals in her palm.

She clutched her fist with the pearls and shook her head. You furrowed your brows. “I mean it.” You said in a clear tone, but she shook her head once more.

“Just be honest, you do want him to come by, you’ve seen how the kids adore him.” She said, suddenly sounding quite serious, and unlike herself.

You looked away and continued to pick up the pearls that were scattered on the floor. You placed her peals back in a little box on her desk.

“What kinds of bracelets have you planned to make with the kids?” You asked.

“Don’t change the subject.” She said firmly and scrunched her face at you, making you frown. You blinked your eyes and smiled sweetly.

“Tell me, why did you invite him, give me the real reason.” She said. Your sweet smile didn’t affect her.

You breathed deeply, and she looked at you, into your eyes deeply, waiting. You knew you couldn’t escape from this.

There was no going back. The both of you were ducked under her desk and you were alone in the office.

“Fine, okay, I want him to come.” You confessed.

Jangmi’s eyes lit up and a grin spread on her face. She gave you one of her knowing little looks and you knew she would tease you with this piece of information in the future.

“You are a sneaky little woman.” She giggled coyly and you rolled your eyes.

“Oh-please.” You sighed.

“And why do you want him to come by?” She asked further.

“You know why, we could use his help.” You said as you got out from under the desk and she followed you.

“Don’t give me that, I know you are lying to yourself.” She stated as she crossed her arms over her front and her big brown eyes bore in yours.

“You are cornering me.” You gasped.

“No, I am not, I am trying to help you see something you may not see.” She said.

That made you become quiet and you averted your eyes.

“Sera?” She called out.

“I’d like it if he came, I like to spend some alone time with him, although, most of the time, when we are alone together, I feel nervous for some reason.” You said and then you headed to your desk.

“Why are you nervous around him?” She asked as you seated at your desk.

“We are rarely together alone. Ki Joon is always with us, and when Ki Joon it tucked to bed, we do our separate things.” You told as you began to flip through some pages in your art book.

For a while, Jangmi didn’t speak up and you got delved into your work. Every year, the orphanage holds an annual fundraising event to gather profit for the orphanage to keep the place running.

The money that gets donated goes to the kids. For instance, the money will be spent on outings, trips, books, art supplies and other supplies for the kid’s studies.

In order to raise a profit, the kids will create paintings which they will sell, they bake and a lot of other interesting things.

Each teacher is assigned on a booth and has the responsibility for it. You were assigned to the art class.

Being the arts teacher, you would have to create art and try to sell some of your art for the fundraise to the orphanage.  

“You guys need to get closer, I mean at least for the sake of your kid.” Jangmi broke out suddenly after a long while of silence had passed by.

You had almost forgotten the last thing you mentioned to her, but when she looked at you with an almost saddened look, you remembered your words, and knew what she meant.

“It really isn’t easy, when we are both quiet around each other.” You admitted.

Jangmi sighed but nodded. Then you proceeded to work. There was only a week left for the fundraise event, so you had to get to your class and make the students finish up the paintings that they want to sell.

“But when do the two of you talk together?” She asked, breaking off the silence. It seemed like she took her time and had been thinking deeply about your answers.

“When it involves Ki Joon.” You told and gave her an empty look.

“And when else, it can’t just be only then.” She said and shook her head.

“We talk sometimes in bed.” You said.

“In bed?” She repeated with wide eyes.

“Well, you know before sleeping.” You explained and shook your head, when you saw that smug look on her face.

Jangmi leaned back into her chair and glared at you for a while until another grin spread on her face.

“So, you are telling me that you guys are into pillow talk, huh?” She wiggled her brows suggestively at you, and you scrunched your face.

“We don’t do that.” You stated baffled, but she wiggled her brows and chuckled.

“All I’ve done is rub his hair and he’s given me an arm massage, that’s it.” You blurted, and she gasped suggestively.

“It all slowly starts like that, a gentle touch here and another touch there and then its rumpy-pumpy.” She cooed as she grabbed onto her desk, and you shook your head frantically, but she laughed.

“No rumpy-pumpy.” You hissed, and she laughed harder.

The sudden sound of a hard bang on the door from outside made the both of you turn in your chairs and stare at the door.

The door to the office barged open, and in came, Mina and Hansol, aka the office couple. Your eyes widened at the sight.

Hansol had his arm wrapped around Mina and his mouth had claimed hers. He pushed her against the door, and they were really getting it down. You scrunched your face horrified.

However, once the two spotted you and Jangmi, they stiffened at the door and Mina somehow started to run red in her face and pulled away from Hansol.

Hansol coughed aloud, quite dramatically, not like he had a sore throat. You lowered your eyes and shook your head with a smile.

“No need to be shy our love birds, we’ve seen you kiss before in secret, in the office and in the halls, and somewhere el-” Jangmi said.

“Jangmi-yah!” Mina exclaimed with flushed cheeks, but Jangmi laughed bashfully.

To prevent yourself from laughing aloud, you had to cover your mouth with your palm and hide your face behind a book.

Bluntness was something known and normal to Jangmi. She was not afraid to express herself. You knew that too well.

“Jangmi, can’t you keep that to yourself?” Hansol said in a rather dry tone.

Upon hearing that, you had to peek out and see Hansol’s face as he sounded embarrassed. Hansol hadn’t shown this side to him before as he always looked so chic.  

Right now, his face was flushed beet red and even his ears had turned red. You pulled onto your bottom lip and lifted the book to hide your silent laughs. But Jangmi giggled aloud.

“Guys, be serious now.” You said as you dropped your book on your desk, but when you saw Hansol’s tomato red ears, you snickered and began to laugh. “Your ears are red.” You blurted out and covered your mouth.

Hansol lowered his eyes and hid his ears, but Mina stepped beside him and began to dramatically wave her hands at his ears to make Hansol’s ears cool down, as if that would help. You laughed even harder now.

“I’m ss-so sorry.” You stood up from your desk and excused yourself. “I have a class to attend.” You laughed as you left the office.

“Wait for me.” Jangmi broke out and rushed out. “I will give them some alone time.” Jangmi said aloud, teasing the couple, and they groaned.

The door to the office closed. Jangmi rushed to your side and grabbed onto your arm. You looked up and met her gaze, and the two of your bust out laughing.

“Did you see Hansol’s shy look. I’ve never seen him like that.” Jangmi said as you walked down the stairs, on your way to your students.

“Yes, I never thought Hansol could get embarrassed like that, but then again, they got caught in making out.” You giggled.

“That’s exactly what you and Yongguk need to do.” She giggled coyly.

“You are too much.” You smacked her arm, earning a sweet little laughter from her and a side hug.

The both of you went your separate ways and into your different classrooms. The evening class went by smoothly.

In preparations for the fundraise event, the kids would work even harder around this time of the year.

The kids knew the significance and importance of the whole event and loved being a part of it. They tried their best to create good things that would sell, so they could bring a profit for the institution.

Their hard work was admirable, and something told you that Yongguk should see this, seen as he likes to do volunteer work.

When you suddenly thought of Yongguk during your class, you shook your head as this was becoming too much. He was invading your thoughts.

It was break time, so you brought out your phone from your purse and checked through your social medias quickly.

I wonder if Yongguk has had lunch.

What should I make for dinner?

I wonder if Ki Joon is having a good day at kindergarten.

“Teacher, what are you doing?” A student asked.

You looked up from the screen of your phone, just when you were looking at the updates from the kindergarten’s webpage. A smile spread on your face.

“Do you want to see my boy?” You asked and the young boy nodded.

Suddenly a lot of the youngsters swarmed around you, wanting to see pictures of Ki Joon. They awed at the cute pictures of the boy.

“He is so adorable.” One said.

“How old is he?” Another asked.

“He is four.” You smiled.

“Is he adapting to living with you?” Another one asked.

This question made you pause, caught you off guard and made your heart clench and swell up of the pain.

The youngsters had it the hardest, because they were the ones, who usually wouldn’t get adopted, because they were often seen as troublemakers, when they aren’t. In fact, they are the sweetest.

You took your time to carefully explain about Ki Joon’s start in his new home with you and Yongguk.

They were quiet as you spoke about Ki Joon, and you even mentioned how he was getting new friends. How he had been shy. The kids seemed to nod at the things you said, as they had felt it too.

“That’s so good for him.” A student girl said, and you smiled.

“We want to meet him.” Another one said.

“I will bring him over some day, when he is truly ready.” You said, and they nodded with full understanding.

They chimed aloud, making you laugh. The smile on your face faded as soon as the students went back to their tables and to their friends.

Truthfully, there had been many times when you had wanted to bring Ki Joon to your work and introduce him to the kids and your colleagues.

However, you don’t know how he will react, once he hears and sees that you are working in an orphanage.

You don’t know if he will respond positively to it. You don’t know if he will think of his days of when he lived in the orphanage. Hence, you hadn’t mentioned much about your work to him nor brought him over.

Neither was it fair to keep things from him, but you just don’t want to risk bringing out bad or uncomfortable memories to him. In such situations, you could really need Yongguk’s advice.

“The break is over kids, let’s finish the paintings. We are almost ready for next week.” You announced, and they cooed.

You laughed with them, feeling just as excited as they were, but also slightly anxious as there were a lot of things to prepare before the event would start.

~❋~

The sound of the morning alarm woke you up instantly, you sat up in bed abruptly, getting panicked for a second, thinking you had slept through.

But then you looked at the clock on the nightstand at your side and sighed deeply. You woke up in good time.

Your eyes drifted to your other side and you watched him. He was still sleeping so soundly that you didn’t feel like waking him up this early, but he had said that he wanted to join this event.

Your hand slowly reached out and you laid it on his shoulder and shook him gently, trying to wake him up from his deep sleep, but he just scrunched his nose.

“Bang?” You called out.

He huffed and suddenly turned over to his other side, turning his back to you, and you stared at him, feeling baffled for a moment. However, you knew that you had to wake him up.

“Yongguk?”

You called once more, but he wouldn’t respond, so you shook him a bit harder, trying to wake him up. He let out another sound, a quite displeased sound.

This didn’t work. You sighed deeply. You had to be out of bed and get ready. You scooted over to his side of the bed and leaned over him to look at his sleeping face.

“Hey, toad wake up.” You said.

“Hmm, what?” He hummed deeply.

“Toad?” You called out once more as you laid your hand on his shoulder. You gazed at his face, inches away from him. His eyes were closed. His full lips were slightly parted as he breathed in deeply.

You couldn’t believe that he actually responded to that nickname. You pursed your lips, trying not to laugh.

“Wake up.” You said, and he grunted.  

Calling his name just didn’t do. You slid out of bed, thinking about your only solution to wake him up from his sleep.

Besides, he had done the same thing to you, when you had moved into his house, months ago. Maybe this was your time for revenge.

With a glass of water in your hand, you stopped in front of him and looked at his peaceful sleeping face.

He looked so sweet, tender, innocent and like a sleeping prince, making you wonder sometimes about how this peaceful looking man could be so difficult and such a toad at times.

You breathed deeply. You had to give him one last chance before splashing cold water on his face. You weren’t that evil.

“Yongguk wake up, we have to be out early for the fundraise event. You said you wanted to join us and help.” You said in a clear tone.

Unfortunately, he didn’t respond. You breathed out, reached your hand with the glass in front of Yongguk’s face and in a close distance. You had given him a chance and that didn’t work. This was your final solution.

“I’ve done this so many times to Hyuk, I might as well do it to Yongguk too now.” You said aloud as you slowly tipped the glass over.

“One last chance.” A single water drop fell on his face. Surprisingly he didn’t react to it. You really had no choice then.

You poured the whole glass of ice-cold water on Yongguk’s face, awakening the prince from his beauty sleep.

He gasped, his eyes widened of shock and he leaned up abruptly. The water trickled down his face. At least, he was awake now.

However, you hoped that this prince wouldn’t turn into a grumpy toad. That look on his face told you that he was no longer a prince but a grumpy toad.

You gulped hard, hoping he wouldn’t snap your bones into two, but a grin formed on your face, helplessly at his priceless reaction. A small giggle slipped through your throat. He was raging.

“Good morning.” You chimed.

The instant, he caught the grin on your face and saw the empty glass in your hand, he knew what you had done to him.

In a flash, he reached his hand out, gripped your wrist, and hauled you towards him. You couldn’t respond or pull back as it happened so quickly. Your eyes widened, a gasp of surprise slid through your throat and your feet slipped off the ground.

The glass in your hand dropped to the ground and you heard the glass shatter, but luckily, your feet weren’t on the ground as you were suddenly on top of Yongguk, what a twist of fate.

Your eyes flickered up to his dark eyes that pierced through you, burning with a hot flame. You could turn into ashes by that gaze of his. He breathed sharply. His face was wet, his bangs got soaked and even his shirt.

His grip on your wrist tightened, but you remained frozen on top of him, numb, dumbfounded to what was happening.

“D-did, you just-”

“Yes, I poured water on you.” You broke out.

He breathed in through his nostrils, his nostrils flared, and he clenched his teeth, staring into your eyes with such a strong gaze, but it didn’t throw you off the slightest.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because you wouldn’t wake up.” You replied with a frown.

You bit onto your bottom lip, when you saw the water from close, trickle down his forehead, his dark lashes were wet, and he blinked his eyes.

With his free hand he rubbed his hand down the length of his face, getting rid of water from his face, he breathed out deeply, staring intently into your eyes, but you were somehow unmovable. 

He still had a tight grip on your wrist. You were pressed too closely to him, to close, possibly crossing some boundaries.

You gulped hard, your lips parted, but your heart started to act jittery, the words wouldn’t form in your mind.

“Y-Yon-”

“Yeah?” He breathed out harshly, annoyed.

You stared into his eyes. He didn’t move, didn’t let go of you, and then he suddenly grabbed your other wrist.

You wanted to ask him about when he’d let go of you, but you couldn’t, somehow. Time was running and you had to be out of the house early today.

In a swift and quick movement, you were underneath him and your eyes widened, stunned, but dazed, dazed to the fact that he was a few inches away from you.

His body that felt hard like marble was pressed even closer to yours, his legs brushed up against your sides, keeping you locked, and you couldn’t help but to think about how his thighs felt so toned and hard.

This was worse compared to your other position. He had topped you with your wrists pinned above your head, he leaned down to you. The water drops trickled from his hair and onto your face, wetting your skin.

“Don’t wake me up by splashing water on me.” His deep voice sounded like a warning.

You furrowed your brows.

“Oh, you did the same to me too once, remember?” You hissed.

His eyes drifted off, his lips parted, and he seemed to recall the memory. It had been one of your first days in this house.

“That..” He paused and you raised your brows at him in question. But he didn’t speak.

Instead, his face became hard, hard like granite, and he clenched his jaw. He seemed to be bothered.

“You.” He breathed out deeply.

You nodded.

“What are you wearing?” He asked sharply.

You looked at him confused. Why was he asking about that?

“My pajamas.” You replied annoyed.

His lips trembled, his left eye twitched, and he clenched his jaw tightly. His face looked harder than before, harder than marble.

“What. Are. You. Wearing.. Under.. Your.. Pajama? Is what I want to know, woman.” He breathed out each word and the last sentence came quicker.

You batted your long dark lashes multiple times within seconds as you stared into his coal dark eyes.

As it dawned on you, what you weren’t wearing underneath your shirt, and why you could feel his hard chest and his muscles pressed on you so much, you gasped with wide eyes.

Yongguk managed to pull off a look, before your hands pulled free from his vice-grip, flew out and pushed onto his chest so hard that he staggered away from you. He fell onto the ground in a loud thud.

“Ow!” He groaned aloud.

You didn’t know where that strength came from, panic? Adrenaline? Embarrassment? You didn’t know. You acted out of instincts.

But you were lost in your own thoughts to think about Yongguk whom you had just pushed off the bed and onto the ground somehow.

How much did he feel? What did he feel? Oh my God, I am so.. so embarrassed.

You reached your hand out to the bed, grabbed a blanket, and pulled it over your body, and turned around, hiding for some apparent reason.

“Kwon?” He called out.

“Don’t look.” You panicked and began to wrap yourself up.

“Why aren’t you wearing it?” He hissed.

You gasped, turned around and looked at him as you clutched onto the blanket, covering up your front. His eyes were locked with yours.

“You are a man.” You broke out.

He stared at you with a blank look, still seated on the ground, eyes locked with yours. He blinked his eyes, not taking his eyes off from you, not even for a second.

Although you could sense that your face had turned red as your cheeks were burning, you took in a deep breath, remained steadfast, and eyes locked with his. He let you speak, so you continued, even when it was rather an embarrassing topic.

“Y-you’ve no idea how uncomfortable it is to be a woman and to wear a.” You swallowed hard, staring into his eyes that remained fixed on you, making it even harder to say the word. “A bra.” You whispered and fluttered your lashes, but he just looked silently at you. “And.. and I don’t sleep with that on.” You said firmly.

You breathed deeply, cheeks flushed, face that had turned hot in an instant, you stared on his face as he was seated on the ground in front of you.

But his face was still so hard. His body seemed stiff like a statue. He didn’t say anything now. Your face continued to heat up, rising in temperature.

It felt like you were in a sauna. You wanted to fan yourself, but couldn’t, had to look cool after all.

Suddenly, your foot tapped against the wooden floor. You had to fix your posture and remind yourself not to fret over this rather unusual situation.

If you weren’t mistaken, his skin tone had changed color. His usual warm caramel tone and smooth complexion seemed to be beet red now.

He reached his hand out and rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes drifted away. Then he ruffled his messy morning hair that looked like a nest, it looked too great.

“Whatever, okay.” He breathed out deeply as he looked away and at the dark grey wall.

“Hmm- Okay?” You said quietly and blinked your eyes, staring at him.

You tossed the blanket on the bed, feeling silly now for covering yourself up. It isn’t as though you are . He didn’t care either.

He doesn’t think of me as the opposite . Why do I even care? Why am I getting shy and nervous? But still, he is a man, I should cover myself up. I should be careful.

Your blouse is loose, but not loose enough to cover up that too voluptuousness of your protruding front.

You shook your head, folded your arms over your front, trying to cover up what might be visible to the eyes, but you didn’t dare to glance down your body to check, because then, it be even more awkward.

“I’m going to take a shower and get ready.” He said.

He finally stood up from floor, without looking at you. His voice was rather low, husky, and strained. He cleared his throat.

See, he totally doesn’t care about it…

Right…

I am just…

An…

Potato…

Darn him!

“Alright, I’ll make breakfast.” You almost whispered, staring at his back view.

“Okay, I won’t take long in the shower. You can come in after to take a shower.” He said.

“Yes.” You said.

He headed out and closed the door behind him.

And you internally screamed.

Why did this have to happen to me? Why God, why are you testing me? I feel like a predator.

You hugged yourself as a shudder rushed down your body at the remembrance of how his body had been closely glued to yours, and the fact that only a piece of clothing was in the way.

You grabbed onto your hair and whimpered silently. Letting your body fall onto the bed, you groaned into the pillows, muffling your dramatic cries.

Suddenly, the door opened, and you quickly gathered yourself, looking like you were the one who had gotten cold water splashed on you now. You blinked your eyes innocently as Yongguk stepped back into the room.

For a moment, he looked at you, and the corner of his lip curved up. You furrowed your brows, when you caught a grin on his face that quickly got replaced by his expressionless face.

“I forgot my clothes.” Yongguk broke out as he headed to the closet.

You didn’t say anything and combed your hair with your fingers, trying to look natural. He found his clothes, closed the closet, and turned to look at you, catching your gaze.

The smirk was back on his face. Your eyes widened, and you gasped. He thought this was amusing. That toad of a man. You scrunched your face in anger. He let out a low chuckle as he looked at you.

“Go ahead and fret again, sweetheart.” He grinned as he turned his back towards you and strode away.

“Yah! Bang Yongguk.”

You grabbed the nearest pillow and tossed it as hard as you could, but it was too late. He shut the door, leaving you alone. You huffed out deeply, as though you had run a marathon.  

At the dining table, surprisingly, Yongguk kept quiet. You didn’t say much either, well, not to him. Mostly, you spoke to Ki Joon about what he would do today in kindergarten.

Obviously, he couldn’t wait to meet his friends and especially Bora. However, in the back of your mind, you tried hard not to think back to what had happened just minutes ago in your bedroom.  

“Ki Joon, I will be at mom’s work today, so auntie Natasha will come to pick you up with Min Jun, is that alright?” Yongguk finally said something, and Ki Joon’s big eyes widened. You knew he’d be happy to hear his cousin’s name.

“Yes. I want to play with Min Jun.” He chimed, and giggled, happily.

“And, Kwon?” His voice changed from that soft and smoothness he has whenever he speaks with the kid to his usual hauntingly deep voice that almost made you quiver.  

“Yes?” You looked at him.

“We will drop him off at kindergarten and go to your work together.” He said, and you nodded.

“Alright.” You said.

After finishing up breakfast, you headed out to the yard. But Tigger let out small sounds from behind you and you knew those little sounds well. It made your chest tighten.

You stopped, turned around and squatted in front of the brown poodle. You brought it up and into your embrace.

“You won’t stay alone for too long my little friend.” You said as you its back. “Dad filled your bowl with food and Natasha will come by later.” You added with a smile and Tigger let out another sound before you put it back down and locked the door.

You glanced out to the yard and happened to meet Yongguk’s gaze that only lasted for a second as he returned his attention to Ki Joon. He must have seen you saying goodbye to his dog.

Yongguk led the way to his car followed by Ki Joon, who jumped on his little feet, skipping a few steps, and chiming to a tune aloud. You hurried up to the two boys.

“Is Tigger alright?” Yongguk asked as he helped the boy get inside his car.

So, he had been looking at you, and why did that make you feel something? You had just opened the door to the passenger seat, when he asked about his dog and in a tone of worry that you couldn’t help but to notice.

He always spoke about Tigger as if it was his little baby, but it was somehow his second child. He treated Tigger with so much care and affection.

“Tigger is fine. I think he was sad to see us all leave at once, because we don’t do that often.” You told, and he nodded.

“Can your sister really babysit Ki Joon for a few hours?” You had to ask.

“Yes, of course. She’ll bring the kids over.” He told, and you slowly nodded.

He looked at you for a moment without saying anything further. But just as you were about to get inside the car, he reached his hand out, and prevented you from ge