[A/N: The long wait is over. Happy holidays, everyone. If it helps, refer to the previous chapter!]

"Because I'm in love with you, Ah Reum!"

The words fell from Chanyeol's mouth. She heard it. She saw it. She felt it.

Suddenly, her office became two degrees warmer. Just ten seconds ago, Chanyeol had pulled her body against his chest, and they remained that way- Ah Reum unable to move, stunned by the confession.

"What did you just say?" She asked. She heard, but she had to. It was one of those golden moments where you heard everything, but hearing once was not enough.

Chanyeol released his hold- a move he seemed to be unsure of. 

"Don't make me repeat something I said aloud. Your move." He said.

Huh? Her move? What was that supposed to mean?

"Everything that happens from now is up to you. Your move, Ah Reum." Chanyeol added, seemingly reading her mind.

She was stuck in a situation. Her unbelievably smart mind cannot process every single thing that lapsed a minute ago, but Ah Reum was not going to fool herself. This was not shoujo manga for her to play dumb and blind. Things have passed from one ear to another, but there was one thing she clearly understood.

Chanyeol was in love with her.

If Chanyeol had said this some four or five months ago, it would have been ideal. By now, they would have been together- living the couple life, but no. The present condition was way different. Ji Hoon was in Ah Reum's life, and her stubborn heart won't allow one more person in. Ji Hoon was her dream after all. She cannot give up The Im Ji Hoon. She had waited years to touch and love Ji Hoon. One man's sudden confession cannot change her undying feelings for Im Ji Hoon. 

In her mind, body, and soul, only Im Ji Hoon had the right to her love. No matter how sincere Chanyeol was, she cannot jump from one guy to another. No matter how much stronger Chanyeol was in bed, she won't trade Ji Hoon for anyone else. No matter how dangerously attractive Chanyeol was, Ji Hoon's conservative, handsome visuals will always be number one.

She believed in Chanyeol's love, though. This was not the time to doubt Chanyeol because the way he looked at her, the way he held her sold everything.

It's true; he was in love with Ah Reum, and she knew it.

Of course, they cannot be. Chanyeol ought to know that Ji Hoon Ji Hoon Ji Hoon was the only man. It was an unspoken word, an unspoken rule that Ah Reum shall only love Ji Hoon. She would apologize and tell Chanyeol that Ji Hoon was her love. Despite the organized thinking, before she could even say something, Chanyeol in.

"And don't ask me what I want to happen. Because-b-because, I don't know. For the third time,your move. Your reply. Bye gotta go.." He stammered like a teenager falling in love for the first time and ran his way out of her office.

"He confesses, tells me it is my move, then leaves? That was confusing..." She thought to herself.

And the award for the most coward man of all time goes to....

Park Chanyeol.

He had confessed, yes. He had told her his feelings, yes. But he found himself running away from Ah Reum's reply. To be very honest, the only reason why he ran away was simple. 

Rejection.

Funny how he used to not care about being accepted by girls. He was the one who did the accepting and rejecting. He did not believe in spiritual phenomena, but this was probably the infamous karma kicking his . And where was he now?

Lonely, longing for that woman who once had feelings for him, longing for that woman who's now getting the man of her dreams. Whether Ah Reum believed his confession or not, he was so convinced that Ah Reum would politely reject him with the predictable,

"I apologize, Chanyeol. I hope you know that Ji Hoon.."

Hohoho. Damn you, Ji Hoon. Can't even give Ah Reum pleasure, happiness and self-esteem. Tsk tsk tsk.

You could say that Chanyeol just saved himself from rejection. It was a dead-end for him, but at least, he finally said the words to Ah Reum. Okay, let's be fr