Love is love. Enjoy it while you can.

Confused, I let her take me out of the hall. I have a strong feeling that this has something to do with Jiyong, and I was right. With the girls’ men inches away from him, he’s talking with a girl, brunette, tall, y. I walked faster. Pumped up and joined by Lexi and Phoebe, I take in a breath and exhaled slowly, gathering myself in the most elegant way I can.

“Hey!” I said. The girl Jiyong is talking to, turned around.

With eyes gone big, she gasped, “Elle!”

Areumie, calm down. Don’t forget; elegance, class and poise.

“Sabrina!” I called cheerfully, forcing a smile.

She leaned in and kissed my cheek. Weird, to think that we hate each other back in the days.

I may not have a fierce aura and cannot even pull of a threatening look (I blame this at my being a Pediatrician. It’s just so impossible to look scary when working with children), but I can unleash the little monster inside me (all I need is concentration), if needed.

My eyes met Jiyong and he scrambled to my side with just a raise of an eyebrow. I smiled at Sabrina whose smile disappeared upon seeing us together.

“Long time no see!” she squeaked after a while.

I chuckled. “I know!”

“Well, it seems like you’re really living a good life” she said, building my curiosity. Where is she going with this? “I didn’t know you’re with a Superstar! You, lucky girl!”

I don’t know what’s with the easy-breezy treatment that is making me feel weird.

For the information of all, Sabrina is just like Amelia in my life. Though they are enemies as well. Both are popular and mean, and when I say mean, they bully people around like they’re born to do just that. The only difference is, Amelia’s attacks are weak. I hate to say this, but she’s nicer. This other however, is a nightmare. If you think you already escaped the hell of high school bullies, well with her, it continues. She does it in an adult way.

“You know each other already?” I asked Jiyong who seemed to be tensed. He looked at me and nodded. “I see” I said and faced Sabrina again.

I’m not used to seeing her alone, because she always have four dogs (girls, I mean) who follows her wherever she goes. In all fairness to her, she still look the same. Her face, that they say can pass as an angel, is untouched, even when she dated cosmetic surgeons (one of them even our professor).

“Jiyong is so much fun, you know” Sabrina is looking at my man flirtatiously. I want to shout ‘back off!’, but bit my tongue instead.

I turned to Jiyong. He turned to me, and smiled awkwardly. I just narrowed my eyes, wondering how long they spoke, what are the things they talked about, how much of his life has he shared. We’ve only been apart for not less than half an hour.

“Oh yeah?” is all I can say.

Sabrina giggled. “He told me that you were best friends since ten years old. How great is that?” her fake enthusiasm is so obvious.

“Super great” I muttered.

Phoebe laughed behind me.

Brushing my coldness, she moved forward and touched Jiyong’s arm. “Jiyong” she called, batting her lashes. I took a deep breath. Jiyong stiffened beside me. “Yes?” he politely smiled at her.

To my surprise, he grabbed my hand that is shaking in annoyance and squeezed it lightly, then intertwined his fingers to mine. He’s calming me down.

“Did you know that I used to play around Elle before?”

I tightened my grip on his hand, making him wince. “Really?” he said, brushing his thumb on my knuckles, as if massaging my pent up nerves.

Truth is, he knows everything. As a matter of fact, he curse the heck out of Sabrina every time we talk on the phone and I tell him what she did to me that day.

“” Lexi whispered, but enough for me to hear.

“Let’s get the out of here, or let’s just go inside” Robyn who is a lover, not a fighter, said.

Phoebe hissed. “This is the day Elle’s been waiting for”

Hmm. Actually, no. Fine. Sabrina is such an to me before, but I’ve already gotten pass that. Also, we’re too old to fight like teenagers.

All of a sudden, Sabrina giggled. The kind that will definitely annoy even animals. “We were rivals with Blake”.

Oh no , you didn’t bring that up.

“Know him?” she asked, as if I’m not around.

Jiyong looked at me, smiled and got back at her. “Yes”

She looked at me and smiled. I know right then and there that she’s up to something. “I was Blake’s girlfriend before her, then he came back to me after her. According to him, Elle was no fun, too studious, but he gave her straight A’s in ”

Seems like someone is asking for a fight. How dare she say this?

“Your woman’s good in bed. Well, from what I’ve heard. Unless, she kind of rust” she sounded like she’s just joking around, but I know she’s doing this to embarrass me.

What’s with her, seriously? What will she get by doing this? Jiyong? Oh please! She can tell him all the crazy things she and her ‘folks’ has done to me, all the embarrassment I got for “snatching” her guy, but she cannot shake Jiyong. He will just smile at her until she’s through.

On the rescue, Phoebe walked in between us and hold up her index finger in front of Sabrina’s face. “No. No. Darling. You will not step on the line any further” she told her, totally in control. “I cannot believe that you’re still bitter after so many years! Why don’t you just accept the fact that Elle will always be a level higher than you? Gosh!” she fanned herself with her hand. “About the straight A’s in , isn’t that something to envy? Know what? I really think that you should ask her for pointers so that you will perform better. That is, if you’re still getting laid”

How I miss Phoebe defending me. This is her role in my life when we were still in college. Back when he was still Cooper, he pranked Sabrina by leaving love notes and ual fantasy notes on her desk every Biology class, which really made her think that someone is liking and lusting on her. It went for nearly a month and ended with Cooper, sneaking in her dorm room, got (nothing at all), lie on her bed, and waited until she arrived. Sabrina was so shocked, she run down the hallway, screaming like in the horror movies.

Without any last words, Sabrina left, knocked out. I cannot believe she still have a rotten attitude up until now, and that I wasn’t able to defend myself. Oh well, maybe she really have issues with me. If only I was given the chance to talk, I will try to straighten things out, but Phoebe’s low blows are fun, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“See now why I ‘love’ reunions?” I asked Jiyong, sarcastically. He let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You’re really not a fighter, huh?” he gazed at me.

All I can do is sigh.

Rubbing my arm, “It’s good not to fight, but it’s not bad to defend yourself once in a while. You know, just to put the person in his/her right place”.

“I know”

Jiyong pushed me away from him lightly. “Aigoo. You only know how to fight me. That’s so unfair!” he whined.

I smirked and crossed my arms on my chest, looking at him. “You’re just too easy!” I teased.

He chuckled and pulled me to him, hugging me. “It’s all right, Einstein. You can always lash it out on me. I don’t mind you not fighting”. He let go and touched my cheek with the back of his hand. “I will do it for you”

Even before, I always hear this statement from him already. But there’s a deep meaning to it now. He’s shocking me with how good he is in making my stomach turn, in a good way, in a lover-kind of way.

“Uh-oh” I heard Lexi from behind me.

Robyn gasped and looked over her shoulders, at me.

And Phoebe, burst out in laughter.

Coming back to my senses from being cradled by Mr. Kwon’s sweet talk, I looked in front and saw a ‘ghost from the past’ coming towards me. My initial reaction is to hide. If only I can run away, which is impossible for Jiyong is holding on to me tightly.

“Blake!” I snapped. Eyes wide open, I scanned his face. Jiyong pulled me closer to him, as in closer, as if securing his property.

I got to say, Blake looked fine. His charm lessened with a beard, but it’s still there. His eyes are still expressive, watery. He’s still in good shape, even buffer than I remember. His smile still reaches his eyes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the who popped my cherry. The guy, who I just knew, have given me straight A’s in bed.

“Oh wow!” he scanned me from head to foot, mouth hanged open, eyes wide.

I’m sure I don’t look as stunning as half of the women in this hall. That if I’m not mistaken, he flirted and hooked up with (yeah. He’s a player).

Still in a ‘daze’, “Look at you!” he waved his arms to me “You’ve changed a lot!”

I wonder how he sees me before. From what I know, I look nothing different now from before. It’s just the color of my hair that changed – ash blonde to jet black. My eyebrows are perfectly waxed. Oh! My eyes, they are not color black as of the moment for I’m wearing brown contact lenses. Also, I lost a lot of weight.

“How are you?” Blake asked. It seems like he’s not seeing Jiyong.

I forced a smile. “I’m good. You?”

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m now running my own company. It’s just a small one. We supply tires all over Australia” he still sounds so cocky.

At least he’s not as trashy as I thought he will be. Medicine ate him raw. If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t get through second year. I was totally shocked when he graduated.

“Nice!” is all I can say.

How long will this hi-hello last?

“Blake” Phoebe entered the scene, again, walking beside him and touching his shoulder.

“Cooper?” the shock is so clear on his face.

“Yes, man. It’s me!”

Blake is flushed. He cannot believe what he’s seeing, and I cannot help but laugh. This is epic! Knowing how much he dislike gays (he thinks they are all drooling over him and he cannot take it), I’m pretty sure he’s freaked to see Cooper turned into a woman.

“Don’t stare at me!” Phoebe continuously fooled around. Flashing her engagement ring at him. “I’m engaged. That’s my fiance, Andy” she pointed at him and smiled. “I know how you hate ‘creatures’ like me, but if I happen to be single, I wouldn’t even think of hitting on you. I’m not into Johnny Bravo. Only muscles, small head”

My dear Phoebe, your loose mouth is making me crazy. It’s been a long time since my break up with Blake, but it looks like she’s still mad at him for breaking my heart.

“By the way…” Seriously, Phoebe is on a roll. Who knows what she will do next. “This wonderful man” she leaned forward and touched Jiyong’s arm, “Is Mr. Jiyong Kwon. Asian Superstar. Fashion Icon. Multi-millionaire…is Elle’s boyfriend”

I should be the one introducing him, right? I’m actually about to, if only Phoebe waited. I’m just adjusting myself to what’s happening. I’m telling you, it’s not easy to see your ex, no matter how long it has been already.

Wrapping my arm around Jiyong’s waist, making us super close (we can actually morph into one already), “Yes, that’s right. This man….” I turned to Jiyong, smiling beautifully “Is my boyfriend”

I can hear shrieks from behind us. Robyn and Lexi.

“Oh!” Blake hold out his hand “Nice to meet you. I’m Blake Woodly. Elle’s…”

“Ex-boyfriend” Jiyong continued for him, coolly.

I can see playfulness in his eyes. He love this. He may act and look like this is nothing to him, but I know deep inside, it’s something. Just the way he holds me close to him all this time, I can tell that he’s being protective. Good thing he’s not cursing or beating the out of Blake, for he’s so mad at him, for breaking my heart into pieces.

And there’s awkward silence.

With nothing more to say, Blake holds out his hand to me and said, “I’m so happy to see you Elle”. That I replied with, “Same here, Blake”

The night is getting deeper. The girls have drink enough to cradle them through the night, though it looks like Phoebe and Andy will stretch their bodies out in bed before resting. Gosh! They are making out in front of me and Jiyong, for I don’t know how long already.

I leaned in to him. “Last time I was in this sticky situation, it was you making out with…”

He wrapped his arm around my neck then cupped my mouth with his hand. “Stop it right there”

Isn’t he the sweetest? He just shut his girlfriend’s mouth by cupping it with his hand instead of kissing her.

Oh, and am I not allowed to bring back the past anymore? It really doesn’t matter to me at all. We can talk about his ex-girlfriends, it won’t shake me.

“I’m just saying” I said, when he removed his hand.

He stared at me with narrow eyes.

I sighed. “Are you going to kiss me or I’ll do it, because I’ve been waiting for it the whole night”

TOO BOLD!

“You want to compete with them” he pointed at Phoebe and Andy.

I laughed. “We won’t win”

We were the first one to leave. The girls and their men are still having a good time, while we’re too worn out to even entertain ourselves.

In the car, the air suddenly became awkward. I don’t know why, but we’re sitting on both ends of the backseat.

“Hmmm…” I slowly looked at him, and he does too. “Did you have fun?”

Smiling, “Yeah. Except for Sabrina and Blake’s appearance, the night went well”

“I agree”

Silence.

“Ugh!” Jiyong grunted and next thing I know it, he’s pulling me close to him already.

Carefully, he placed his hand on my back, and the other s on my nape. He looked straight into my eyes. I see nothing but love. I smiled, and he smiled back. He wet his lips and claimed mine after.

My. My. My. This kiss is more passionate than the first. He almost moved me to sit on his lap when he deepened the kiss.

“We’re here” the driver said, bursting our bubble.

I panicked for some reason and slide out of the car, blushing. My cheeks are so hot.

“You have your own room?” I asked in the elevator.

He looked at me and shook his head. “Nope”

I looked at him, mouth open.

“What?” he shrugged “As if we’re not used to sleeping in one room”

True.

“But…”

He smirked. “Yah! If you think I’m going to crawl on top of you in the middle of the night, you’re wrong”

As if I’ll let him.

The moment we arrived at my room, I went straight to the bathroom. I need some time alone. I had a hot bath and changed into my bed clothes. Jiyong followed after.

In a loose gray shirt and overly printed but super comfy looking shorts, “I’ll call room service for extra pillows” he said and grabbed the telephone.

With his extra pillows, he pulled the duvet on my bed, surprising me. “Don’t have the energy to call for room service anymore. You’re good with a thin blanket, right?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah. The cold never bothered me anyway” I said, and he laughed his out loud.

“You can sleep on the couch, you know” I said, while watching him fix his ‘bed’.

“Don’t like”

“Why?”

He stopped what he’s doing, ran his fingers on his hair, and smiled. “I want to sleep next to you”

GAAAAAAAAH!

My innards are doing back flips and cartwheels.

“OK” I crawled to my pillow, biting my lower lip so I won’t scream.

Looking at the ceiling, “How do you do it?”

“Huh?”

“You transitioned fast” I said, not moving an inch.

He chuckled. “Did I?”

“Yeah” I take a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “You already mastered leaping from friendship to love, which is so amazing because I’m still figuring it out”

“It’s easy”

“How?”

“Just be who you are. Go with what you feel. I didn’t change a single thing. In my head and heart, you’re my best friend and girlfriend. There’s no line in between. Maybe you’re thinking that something changed, but there’s really none. Don’t think about it too much. I’m telling you, it’ll just ruin everything for you. And if sooner or later, things between us changes, just go with it, coz it’s part of it all”

As expected, lovely words from a lovely man. MY lovely man.

Turning to my stomach, I looked down at him. He’s looking at me, smiling as well. I hold out my hand to him “I love you”

He hold out his hand too, intertwining his fingers to mine, “I love you more” then kissed my fingers.

                                                                                                *****