...Flower of Evil...

During the whole cruise ship journey, she hid her neck injury from Mr.Cheon and ignored her brothers in every possible ways. After the party ended,she came back home.

In the next day, she left the mansion to have a breath. She couldn't stay there with the pressure.

As she was at the park,looking at people,she felt someone approaching her. She smiled when that person covered her eyes.

"I know it's you", she simply said and removed his hands.

Linghe smiled cheekily and sat next to her. "So,how was the party? I couldn't attend because of a freaking business trip"

"It's good you didn't come. It was boring anyways", she said and placed her head on his shoulders.

"Was it that boring? I thought it was fun"

Iseul sighed as she felt relaxed.

"You look tired. What's wrong? Are you sick?", He asked worriedly and touched her forehead. "Wait! You really have a fever!"

Iseul didn't even know she was sick. Her physical pain didn't bother her. But seeing Linghe worked up,she felt guilty for making him worried.

"Did you take any medicine? Why did you even come out from home? Idiot! Let's go to a hospital "

Iseul grabbed him by his arm and stopped him. "I'm fine. Don't worry. Just stay with me"

He couldn't rest at all. "You even have dark eye bags under your eyes. Didn't you sleep well? This won't do. I'm taking you to the hospital — "

Iseul immediately hugged him to stop him. She pressed her face on his chest. "It's uncomfortable there. I want to be in a silent place"

Linghe softened his eyes as he stroked her hair. He knew that she has so many things in her heart that she hasn't said yet. She isn't opening up to him. She would always smile whenever she sees him and will make him feel loved and comfortable. But he knew that under the mask of smile,she hides something.

"Would you like to go to my place?", He asked hesitantly. It was a risky question. Though she is almost 18,she is still a teenager while he is 26. He didn't want to take big steps because of their age gap. He wanted to wait and see if they are compatible with each other. Plus,he always felt wrong about the relationship because of the age gap. He didn't know why he fell for a student. He never had the interest to be in a relationship and never understood the meaning of love.

But that is until Danbi came to his life. They hadn't known each other for a long time but there was something in Danbi which made his heart uncomfortable. Whenever he saw her,he felt sorrowful. He felt ridiculous at first so he got angry with her. But seeing her in pain worsened his heart ache for her.

He was a notorious stubborn person before. He only knew how to do business and never wanted to understand the feelings of a person. He thought if he had money, then he'll be happy.

His attitude was ugly and that's why his father sent him to a school to learn from kids. Teach them and try to understand kids. Start from there,his father said.

But it wasn't those kids who changed his mind set but the person next to him. The reason is unknown. Why did he feel attached to her? It's not like he hasn't seen bullied kids before. He never really cared. But why Danbi?

He felt wrong to love her but at the same time it felt right. Love? No,maybe it was a simple liking? He couldn't jump into the conclusion that he loved her because of the short amount of time they spent with each other. They still had a long way to go and see if they are meant to be with each other.

He brought Iseul to his apartment and made her lie on his bed. She immediately fell asleep.

Linghe heaved a sigh.

He brought a water basin and wet her forehead with a towel. He noticed how eyebrows furrowed together like she was having a nightmare.

He stroked her cheek softly. "It's okay. I'm here"

It seems like his voice reached her. She softened her expression but her eyes slightly opened. She stared at Linghe and muttered something.

He didn't hear it clearly so he leaned forward. "Hm? I didn't hear you"

"..xie ming"

Linghe blinked twice. He didn't know who is Xie Ming. "Who?"

"..m – ming. Xie ming", she mumbled in her feverish state.

Linghe, "Who is that? Xie Ming? Is he her ex boyfriend?", He talked to himself. He was about to ask her but she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

He felt some uneasiness in his chest. He stood up and walked out from the room. "Is she still in love with her ex? No right?"

He tilted his head and subconsciously pouted. "Xie Ming,you bastard. Go away from her mind!", he scoffed. "Why do I feel angry?"

He went to the kitchen and made some porridge and then went to the pharmacy next to the apartment complex. After buying medicines for fever,he went back.

Iseul was still sleeping when he came back. He decided to let her sleep peacefully.

Till she wakes up,he decided to reply to his emails. He had a lot of emails to reply from the work. He sat in his home office but he was still worried thinking about Iseul. He wasn't at peace when she was alone in the room.

After heaving a sigh,he took his laptop to his bedroom and next to her. Leaning back against the headboard, he started doing his work. When he was done with his emails,he started doing a project out of habit as he was too engulfed in his works. He didn't even notice that Iseul had been awake for a while now. She was staring at him until he noticed but nope.

She sat up slowly and leaned closer to him. "Babe"

He almost had a heart attack. With wide eyes,he looked at his side. Her lips almost touched his lips. He sucked on air because of the sudden shock.

She leaned back giving him space. "Did I disturb you?"

He couldn't believe her. After giving him a major heart attack,she is acting innocent now. She is cunning.

He cleared his throat. "No. Uh are you feeling okay now? Wait,I made some porridge. I'll reheat and bring at back. Wait here"

He immediately escaped from the room. He really looked flustered. He always kept a little distance from her because of her age and didn't have a lot of skinship with her. They only shared some occasional kisses and that's also limited to a quick peck. He was very careful around her like a criminal who is committing a crime. She felt it.

As Iseul was thinking about this,he came back with a tray. It had a porridge bowl and some medicines. He placed it on the bed side table and sat next to her. He fed her porridge and gave medicines.

He took the tray back to the kitchen and started washing the bowl. He felt two pair of arms wrapping around him. He went stiff.

She sighed feeling it. Slowly, she backed away. It wasn't the first time he acted that way. She could say that he is still feeling uncomfortable because of her age. But how ironic,it was her who is older than him.

"Are you uncomfortable with me?", she asked. "Is it because of my age?"

No reply.

"I guess,it is", she mumbled. She didn't want to make him feel like that. She loved him too much so she couldn't bare to see him like that. "It's getting late. I'll head home now"

She turned around to leave but her wrist was grabbed by him.

"...It's not like that", he muttered.

She smiled sadly. "You don't have to feel guilty. I do understand your situation", she said without turning back. "So,it's okay. Maybe,we can take a break or something —"

She gasped loudly when she was turned back forcefully. She didn't even have time to react when his lips landed on hers. His lips moved roughly as he kissed her hard.

She was shocked because of the unexpected kiss. She was even more shocked when she was lifted up and sat on the kitchen counter.

He deepened the kiss,tilting his head.

As much as she wanted to kiss him,she couldn't do it. Not when he is having these insecurities. What if he regret?

She slightly pushed him and breathed heavily. "I said it's fine. Y–You don't have to. I can wait. I can wait until you feel comfortable. It's not like I'm going to stay 18 forever "

He shook his head. "I don't want to. I was insecure. That's right. But I don't want to take a break"

She sighed softly and stroked his cheek. "It's just a break. You are emotionally worked up now. First,you have to listen to yourself. I'm asking to take a break because I don't want to lose you. If we continue like this with insecurities, then we'll have to break up for real. I don't want that to happen"

She was just 18 but why is she so matured? She is even mature than him right now. He was scared when she said about the break but she was calm like a river. She knows how to handle things in a mature way.

Linghe looked down like a kid who got punished. "What if you lost the interest in me?"

She smiled. Only if he knew how much she loved him.

"What makes you think like that?", she asked.

He looked her. "Xie Ming. Who is he?"

She was taken back. She went pale for a second. "H –How do you —"

"You were sleep talking. You said his name. As far as I know,your dad's name is Hyunbin. And you don't have a brother with the name Xie Ming. You don't have a friend with that name either. Is he your ex?"

He looked like a kid who is complaining and whining. She wanted to laugh but suppressed her laughter. He really looked cute in her eyes. This person is a bit different from the Xie Ming back then. Linghe had a cute whining side while Xie Ming was always so full of himself.

She liked them both.

"Yeah. He is my ex", she said.

His face didn't look good now.

"Are you perhaps jealous?", she asked teasingly.

He scoffed. "Me? Why would I be jealous? It's that bastard's lose that he couldn't keep you with him. He should be the one to be jealous with me"

Iseul didn't know whether to cry or laugh. He is seriously jealous with himself.

"Alright", she said with a smile. "You are the best. No one can compete with you"

A blush appeared on his cheeks when she said that. He looked away trying to hide the blush but it was no use.

"Now,what do you think about the break?", she asked again.

His face again turned ugly. "Do we have to?"

She nodded. "We have to. I'll come back as a woman. Till then,don't even look at other women. If you do,I'll pluck out your eye balls"

He nodded obediently. "You too. Don't you dare think about Xie Ming"

She pecked his lips and gave a small nod.

..............

When Linghe drop her home,it was almost 7 in the evening. She watched his car driving away.

The reason why she asked a break wasn't only because of his insecurities. It was because of the cruise ship incident. Someone from her past has come back. She needed to stay away from Linghe to keep him save.

She couldn't lose him this time. She wouldn't let him leave again.

She would rather feel this small heart ache rather than feeling the agonising pain of losing him forever.

It's better this way as long as he is alive.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Hey guys

Hope you enjoyed

See ya soon

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