~~~ New Empire - A little braver (Uncontrollably Fond OST) ~~~

"You look terrible," Bora mumbled towards her, while they were seating themselves down by the kitchen counter the next morning.

Jihye rewarded her friend with small smile and Bora knew straight away, why Jihye looked like she just crawled out of the dungeon.

"I had a rough night," she confessed. It was only the half of the truth. The night wasn't half that bad, but that didn't change the fact she didn't sleep one bit. Though that wasn't a shocking discovery.

"That's it, I will sleep with you tonight, you need to get some sleep," Bora looked determined, when she revealed her plans for tonight and Jihye felt grateful for that. She only nodded her head, not complaining. She felt better knowing, she won't be alone tonight.

Bora pushed a bowl of cereals in front of her, encouraging her to at least eat a little to gain some of the energy she was lacking.

Baekhyun was in charge of today's breakfast, that was why they had only the milk and some unidentifiable cereals and instant coffee he made himself. He looked rather proud of his work and no one dared to burst his bubble and tell him it sucks. Thankfully she didn't have to pretend she likes the coffee as everyone knew she doesn't drink it and even if she did, she would not put her mouth anywhere near liquid that has strongly reminded her of mud water.

"We should wake up the rest of them, its almost noon," Baekhyun mumbled, his mouth full of cereals. He looked the happiest, when he could eat. She glanced at Bora, who was dreamily ogling their friend, as always, nothing changed in that department.

"No, let them sleep," Jihye killed Baekhyun's idea straight away.

She didn't mind Sehun and his girl friend waking up, but she wished Jun could get some more sleep. Because of her, he didn't get any last night.

She recalled the clock on the wall striking six in the morning, when they finally got back inside. They both were exhausted and cold, but on the other hand, oddly calm. Jun didn't divert his gaze the moment he sent her into her room, he didn't stop looking her way, until she closed the door after herself and then collapsed on the floor. She didn't understand what happened to her.

All she knew and could physically remember, was the warmth of Jun's body, providing her with the right amount of comfort. Whether it was, when he was hugging her, or when he never let go of her hand, while walking on the beach.

The thought of letting him go, crossed her mind, but obviously she had never made it happen. It probably surprised him as much as her. The fact he was not asking her any question except one, set her mind at ease.

They didn't talk much, but it wasn't uncomfortable. She didn't have to think about that, because all she could think the whole time, was the way he was treating her. She was staring at their intertwined fingers, like they were the two pieces of puzzles, fitting perfectly together, even though they were not made for each other.

The spot on her forehead was burning her, being the reminder of his bold action towards her. She for a split of second thought, he will....

Oh gosh, the memory of her crazy dream came rushing back, flooding her mind. There was no way, something like that would happen to her in reality...

"Hey, Jihye...!" Baekhyun was waving with his spoon in front of her face.

"What?" she frowned at him.

"I asked, why are we not allowed to wake up the sleepyheads?" he repeated the question, he must have asked, while she was mentally unavailable, thinking about Junmyeon.

"Just let them sleep, we can entertain ourselves well," she smiled. Bora and Baekhyun started to talk about what they should be doing today, now that everyone is refreshed after the journey yesterday. She did not feel refreshed one bit but was ready to proceed with the day.

They ended up going out on the beach, for a walk. Jihye could not complain and tell her friends, she knows every damn rock on this beach, because she spent whole night exploring it with Junmyeon. Of course, they did not only walk, they ended up sitting on this rock, not far from the house. And by sitting she meant, him hugging her tightly, without even asking first... but as she said before, last night was an exception in every aspect of her rapport with that guy.

No, it was her losing the last remaining bits of strength, which helped her not to get swept by her feelings for Jun. She was weak, and she feared, next time she faces Jun will be her giving up on her resolution to not let him into her dark world.

Though he already barged in last night, he didn't hesitate, when he provided her with the comfort she needed...

She knew now what is going on with her. Her long lived crush on him was growing bigger, without her even realising it.

"Let's build sandcastle," Baekhyun suggested. Jihye gave him the look, like he can forget about it.

"Are we kids or what?" she mumbled, shielding her eyes from the sun, as she was sitting on the sand, trying to relax on warm afternoon sun.

"Don't be such a tight butt, Ji," he insulted her on purpose. She hated, when he called her those names, meaning she has no idea how to have fun. She glared at him some more. 

"I have an idea, why don't you dig really deep hole and then I and Bora will bury you there, that sounds lie fun to me," she smirked at him, unfortunately he took it seriously, his eyes sparking up. Before she could even inhale to tell him, she was kidding, he was running towards the house to get a shovel.

"Bora, literally, can you explain to me, what exactly do you see in him?" Jihye asked her friend, while they watched Baekhyun almost kill himself while trying to run in the sand. It was hilarious to watch.

"It's like you liking your brother's best friend. You can't simply explain it," she murmured, her elbows folded on her knees, while her eyes left the object of her interest and looked directly on her friend sitting stiffly next to her.

"W... what?" she let out. She was having a hard time to play it cool. More like, she didn't have chance to do so, because what Bora said was more than unexpected. Bora smiled at her warmly. Her eyes melting into hers, telling her about all that she knew. Jihye was shook.

There was no use to deny anything and she would never lie to her friend, what she was doing before about this touchy topic, was not mentioning it at all. There was no reason to do so, because Jihye never planned to take things with her crush to another level.

"How long do you know?" she breathed out shakily, her cheeks already flaming up. Bora rested her head on her folded arms, still gazing at her.

"Few weeks. I always had the feeling, after your good for nothing brother accidently spilled the beans about you spending whole evening with Junmyeon and I saw the look in your eyes... I was almost sure. I noticed the way you steal the glances at him, but what was more evident, was the way, he looks at you," Bora told her all that and she only slowly digested it.

"I never saw him look at you before, that's why it took me by surprise," Bora added up deep in thoughts.

"He looks at me?" Jihye repeated silently. She was right then, even Bora who had no idea about her little crush on him, saw the difference between before and now.

"Yes. Also I can't believe, you never told me about your crush on Kim!" Bora frowned at her, pouting her lips.

"It is just a crush, Bora," she blushed.

"I have a small crush as well and I tell you all about it," Bora whined.

"I am sorry. You want to end up with Baekhyun one day, but my situation is different... I...," Jihye thought how to make her friend feel better. She didn't mean anything by not telling her about this. She never thought its important. Her priorities are organised differently than Bora's. She quickly sat close to her best friend and hugged her around her shoulders, giving her small smile.

"What do you mean?" Bora wanted to play hard to get, but couldn't resist, wanting to know more about how Jihye feels.

"I don't want Junmyeon in my life, while I'm struggling to simply live it. He doesn't need it. He is going to go to University and that's how it ends," Jihyes shared with Bora, something that was on her mind instantly as a reminder.

"But Ji, I think he might be liking you and you do to. Why complicate it," Bora looked concerned.

"I liked him since we were kids, Bora. I'm good at controlling myself," she chuckled watching Bora's reaction to her words. "As for him, it's temporary," she added up, more seriously.

"Jihye, I think you are wrong in both your points, but I know it's hard on you. I just don't want you to be hurt later, when you think of this moment, when you let him go, without even trying it. I don't want you to regret it," Bora told her with seriousness and Jihye didn't have anything to say back. Bora planted the seeds of doubt in her mind, which she could not talk back at.

"Girls!" they heard Baek's voice calling them to come back.

When they walked back, Bora told her told her they will talk more about it in the evening, as they found there was slight change of plans. The sleepyheads were up and ready to take off for the trip.

She was doing all in her means to not look directly on Jun, but she knew even without seeing it that he was staring at her, inspecting her current state. She made sure, she tries to look as lively as possible. She is not going to give a reason to worry about her.

"Let's go," Sehun put his arm around Min Jee and walked past Bora, who gave him dry look. Baekhyun took her and Bora's hand, overtaking Sehun and his girl, almost like mocking Sehun, but didn't let it show on his calm face.

"Let's go with one car. Min Jee can sit on my lap," Sehun suggested with triumphant smug grin his face.

They ended up really squashing in one car. Bora going against her own happiness, pushed Jihye on the passenger's seat, right next to Jun. Baekhyun was sitting in the middle, while Bora was on one side and Sehun on the other side, with Min Jee seated on his lap, as he predicted. Jihye didn't understand what was Sehun trying to pull, but Bora had more than composed expression in her face.

Jihye checked the rear mirror to find Sehun glancing at Bora, over Baekhyun's head to see if she is losing her patience or not and when he found out she is as calm as ever, he pouted his lips, looking very displeased.

"Will you navigate me? I can't remember the way well," Jun's soft voice pulled her out of her thoughts, she forgot about her determination to not look directly into his eyes and did exactly that.

Oh god...

Her mind became fuzzy instantly, she lost her voice, so she only nodded her head.

She was giving him directions, which led them through small village to this place, with beautiful green hills, with perfect view from the cliff. It was popular place to go to and they always visited it, when they were down here. It didn't take them too long, because unlike Baekhyun, Junmyeon was a good driver and listened to her instruction with no hesitation.

When they arrived their small group took a stroll on the paths, while Jun was taking pictures with his own camera.

"Baekhyun, take one for me," Junmyeon asked overexcited Baek. She was walking behind Jun, with Bora, when he turned around, gazing directly at her, when he was giving Baekhyun his camera. He stepped closer to her, startling her. She wanted to back away, but Bora stopped her with her arm, actually pushing her towards Junmyeon and disappearing before Jihye comprehended what is happening.

He took her hand and pulled her next to him. Her heart sped up, even over simple physical contact, this was ridiculous.

"Say, Kimchi," Baekhyun positioned himself as photographer.

Instead of smiling, she looked up at Junmyeon to find him doing the same. They locked eyes, while Baekhyun took the pictures. The moment was almost like magic. The wind was flying around them, Jun's hand was resting on her waist, holding her close to his body.

She loved the colour of his eyes softening for some reason, when she looked at him. In the light of late afternoon sun, they had this rich coffee colour. The warmth has surrounded her, like everytime she was in his presence, no matter how cold she felt, he possesses the power to melt the ice wall around her, down.

The moment past in just few seconds, but it felt like hours she was drowning in his irises. They eventually had to step away from each other. Jun claimed his camera back, looking at the pictures Baekhyun took for him.

He smiled, and she felt like crying. He was too beautiful to be true.

She also wanted to see the picture but bit her lip as soon as she wanted to open her mouth to ask him to show it to her.

Bora came back to her, smiling happily.

"This is exactly, why I didn't want you to know, Boraaaa," she hissed at her, as her friend linked her arm with hers.

"I figured, you need a bit of a push," she defended herself innocently and she only groaned. She felt like pushing her friend of the cliff, if anything.

They continued walking slowly. Sehun was far ahead of them, with Min Jee. They didn't seem to be as close as they were in the car earlier. Sehun was kicking stone on the ground continuously, ignoring his girl buddy.

She decided to talk to her brother, when she has the chance. It looked like the hormones were taking its toll on him lately.

Jun spent the rest of the time on the cliff taking photographs. She was stealing glances at him, enjoying to watch him doing something he loved to do. If it was possible, she was becoming more mesmerised by him. All she could think about the whole time they were up in the hills, was what Bora told her earlier.

She didn't stop thinking about it even when they were back in the house. They had a dinner in the restaurant in the village, because no one wanted to cook, again.

She was beyond tired, when they finally went to bed. Bora was staying with her today, which made her feel assured. Maybe she will get some sleep tonight. Bora was definitely getting some, because she was already asleep on the other side of the mattress. There goes the talk she was planning to have. Jihye smiled at her snoring friend.

Even thought her body was exhausted, her mind was frantically swirling around.

She didn't fall asleep even after one hour laying on the bed, that was when she heard soft knock on the door. She quickly sat up, staring at the door. She got up and walked to the doorframe... maybe she overheard... there went another knock. She pulled on the door knob, opening it at last.

Junmyeon was standing there, in his t-shirt and pyjama bottoms, looking rather lost.

"Jun?" she whispered, is she dreaming again, perhaps?

"Ah, Hey," he whispered again, rubbing the back of his neck. She didn't resist and smiled. This was not dream, the rapid beating of her heart and his presence was too real.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, when it looked like he is not going to explain himself.

"Well, I thought... that maybe I could sleep with you tonight...," he let out. She widened her eyes at him. He did the same, when he realised how the sentence came out, then she started to laugh as quietly as possible.

"I didn't mean, I mean... I was thinking maybe you will sleep more calmly, if someone is with you," his cheeks were bright red and she was getting swayed by this view. He was adorable. She thought of what he said, her heart melting even more than a second ago. How is he real?

"That's true, but you are tiny bit late," she confessed, opening the door a bit more to let him see Bora, who decided to claim the whole bed hers, now that she was no in it anymore.

"Oh," Junmyeon cheeks were getting redder every passing second.

"I'm sorry," he apologised and then turned on his heel, dashing back to his room, by the end of the hallway. She stared after him and then went back inside of her room, trying to figure out what just happened. He came to her...

She was half way to her bed, where she stopped.

Don't regret later, that you didn't give him a chance...

Bora's words echoed in her head as she looked at her friend, at the same moment she made a U-turn, walking out of her room, before she could form a reasonable thought and change her mind. She is crazy, doing this.

She didn't stop even in front of his door, knuckles taking care of the rest.

He opened the door in the next second, her heart stopped, when she realised what she did.

"Does the offer still stand?" she let out breathlessly, her body trembling. He nodded his head, stepping away from the doorframe. And she made the step. She didn't know yet if she will regret or not, but she decided to quit being coward.

All she needs to do is to make the step towards him and that Is what she was doing right now.

~~~

haha well, whatcha think? :D

did I go too far with the end of the chapter?? Idek anymore :D but I was feeling it for sure!

But surely like how the tension grows every passing chapter, cuz simply, you all are thristy and waiting for something racy to happen haha and I can just feel you already dying over the fact, she just ended up on Jun' s room??

wondering what is going to happen next?? use you imagination and let me know :D

I also hope you enjoyed the little convo between two best friends, idk for me it felt very natural and actually, I was very happy while writing this chapter... but the thing is I'm always happy when writing hah... if I could spend my days, only writing?

I'd be happiest bean in the universe :D

anyways, patiently wait for the next chapter, it's going to be ... interesting?

Also, one thing I would like to mention is, I've entered Wattys 2018! I'm not hoping to win or anything, I'm doing it for the sake of fun, this is my fist time entering with story written in English and it makes me excited. I do lack in so many aspects as a writer, but what counts it's the love I pour in my writing I think?

so please, continue supporting my work, if you enjoy it and share it between your book loving friends.

thank you

love ya