" If this was how it's going to be, I shouldn't have loved,
When will I forget you?
Foolishly, I guess I loved you so foolishly."

"I'm sorry Hongki ssi. You and I, we are not meant to be together." Seolhyun said, backing off from him.

Hongki took a step forward.

"No, I'm not going anywhere Seolhyun. I won't leave you, not this time. Please let me stay." he begged.

The girl in front of him shook her head and stepped back.

"But that's what you have been doing all these while. You left me before, didn't you? If you didn't, I wouldn't have died." she started to sob. "I needed you, Hongki ssi, but you left me alone. Why did you do that?" her sobs turned loud as she cried her hearts out.

It was breaking him down. He watched as she dropped down to her knees and cried. He stepped forward, but then she stood up and watched him with hateful eyes.

"Go away. I don't need you. You're nothing, your love is nothing." she spat. His eyes widened.

"You don't mean that, Seolhyun." he replied quietly.

"But I do. I let you go." she said, turned around and ran away.

"Wait!" he went after her, and they arrived at a zebra crossing.

The light was blinking red furiously but Seolhyun didn't seem to notice. She kept running. A car came fast from the distance, and the driver was honking repeatedly.

"Seolhyun!!" he yelled, she stopped and turned around. He looked at the other direction and saw the car was closing to where she was standing.

He ran with all his might, praying that he would be there before the car arrived. He yelled at her to run away, but she didn't seem to hear. Instead she smiled at him, a sad smile he never saw before. She mouthed something just as the honking were near, and the light blinded his eyes.

***

He woke up panting and drenched in cold sweats. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He glanced briefly at the clock, it showed 2:15 am.

His hands and feet were cold, and it wasn't because of the air-conditioning.

"It was a dream. It was just a dream." he mumbled as he tried to calm himself.

He leaned back to the mattress and tried to sleep again.

***

He woke up again at 8 am. The house was very quiet as he lied there, staring at the ceiling. His dream left him shaken still and he remembered the way she looked at him before the car hit her.

She said it was his fault.

And he couldn't agreed more.

The accident itself had driven him insane, and now his dead lover was haunting his dream.

He brushed away the thoughts. Seolhyun was still alive, now, and it will stay like that. Nothing would harm her, not if he could help it. He woke up and walked to the bathroom and took a bath. After he dressed up, he walked down to the kitchen. Then his phone rang.

"Hello."

"You ungrateful kid. Where were you for this past few days? Did you know things were hectic in the office these days?" a gruffly voice shouted from the other line. Hongki sighed.

"Hey grandpa. Sorry, I had something going on." he answered politely.

"What is more important than the project!" his grandfather's voice rose and Hongki had to pull the phone off of his ear.

"I know grandpa, I will go back as soon as everything is settled." he tried to talk his grandfather out but the old man grunted, signalling that he want him to follow his order. "Grandpa, please. Just this time."

"I want you at the office this evening. We need to talk." and the line went dead.

Hongki sighed.
It was his grandfather who basically provide for him and his mother when his father died at young age. His grandfather, which was his father's father, took them in after the horrible accident that took his father's life. His father, being the only child died, and Hongki had no choice but to be the heir to his grandfather's business. He was trained from the start, his life consists of business talks, clients meeting and stuff. He never had the chance to date because he was busy.

His grandfather basically live his life for him, and he had always been the good grandchild. But now he needed to rebel a little.

Shaking his head, he walked out of the house and drove to Seolhyun house.

***

"Where are we going today?" Seolhyun asked as they drove out from her neighborhood.

"I'm taking you to somewhere important today. But first we need to eat. Have you had your breakfast?" Hongki glanced at the side mirror before making a turn.

"Nope, I woke up kind of late today." she answered shyly. She couldn't really sleep after what happened yesterday. She still can't believe that she finally met a guy that was really different from any other guy.

"Me too.. Apparently 8am is late for me." he said, trying to make fun of it, but his tone was anything but.

"Yeah.." she trailed off. 'What's wrong with him today?' she couldn't help but think.

They arrived at a restaurant and ate. After the breakfast, they walked a bit along the street of shops, until Seolhyun saw a very pretty dress. She was awed by its design. Seeing that she liked the dress, Hongki pulled her into the shop and asked her to try it. She did, and it fit nicely, but she didn't really want him to buy the dress for her, she was a grown woman, and she preferred to buy her clothes by her own, but Hongki insisted, there's nothing she can do about it.

They entered the next shop and found out that it was a shop that sell couple stuff.

"I can't believe you bought that mat." Hongki laughed.

Seolhyun beamed as she stared down at the bag in her hand. There was matching mats in it which she bought for her and Hongki, much to his surprise. "It's cute. We'll have matching mats."

Hongki shook his head. "Other couples will go for matching outfits, or shoes, and you bought mats." he laughed again.

"Stop don't laugh again. Or you'll puke your breakfast out." she mocked playfully and stuck her tongue out.

"Okay okay. So you want me to put this in front of my door?" he stopped laughing and peered into the bag.

Seolhyun nodded eagerly.
"Yes!"

"Then you'll have to hold my hand." he held out his hand and she accepted it happily.

He shook his head again and they walked into another shop.

They were walking around the shop, trying things out, and then when they decided to go out Hongki noticed something shiny at the counter nearby. He stopped by and saw a bronze pocket watch. He picked it up and studied it.

It was a nice watch, with roman numeric. Behind it, 'keeping the time' was engraved beautifully. Instantly, he remembered everything from Seolhyun's death until now, where he travelled back in time somehow. He didn't know how, but he did came with a mission: to change the fate.

"It suits you, young man." a voice pulled him back to the present.

Accross the counter stood an older woman who was smiling at them.
Hongki smiled, and put the watch back where it belonged.

"Nevermind. Thank you." he replied politely at her and to Seolhyun he said, "Let's go."

She trotted behind him, but not before taking a last look at the beautiful watch.

"So where are we going next?" she asked as they arrived at his car.

"I'm bringing you to meet my father."

"Oh, don't you think it's too soon?" she said. She was already feeling nervous. Why so sudden? He didn't mention about meeting his parents.

"It's only father. He will love you, I promise." he assured, but it didn't help a bit.

"Oh God, why didn't you tell me? Should I know about this in advance I would've brought fruits or something. At least I'll wear something nice!" she exclaimed as she scanned through her body. The dark navy dress she was wearing was not suitable for first meeting with the parents.

"You looked good, don't worry about it."

"You're doing this on purpose, don't you Hongki ssi." she whined.

When they stopped at the parking area, Seolhyun was turning around her body to look at the surroundings.

"I thought you said we were going to meet your father." she asked. Suspicion built inside her heart.

"We are." he answered, unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car.

She looked around at deserted area once again before dragging her own feet out.

They walked until they reached a clearing with only one headstone around. Seolhyun was still scanning around for any signs of other human.

"Hello father." he said and she snapped her head around. When she saw the headstone, her eyes widened.
"I brought someone special to meet you today. This is Seolhyun, my girlfriend." he added and looked over his shoulder to her direction. At first, she looked lost, but then she regained her composure and bowed.

"Hello."

Hongki smiled. "Father, I came today because I want your blessings. I know we just met, but she means a lot to me. I think I've lived all my life just to meet her."

If she wasn't surprised, she would've burst into tears right there. Not because she was sad, but because she finally felt like she worth a lot to someone.

"I will do anything to make this work. Although.." he exhaled. "you'd probably know it, right father?" he smiled a little.

He was quiet after that, the only sound that they could hear was the rusling of leaves by the wind.

"I will be sure to make everything work between us too," Seolhyun suddenly talked. Hongki turned to look at her and she shot him a smile. Holding his hand tightly, she said, "so please give us your blessing, okay, father?"

***

It was already dark when Hongki drove to the office, but he knew his grandfather will be there, considering he never left early.

He knocked the door and someone grunted 'come in'. His grandfather was watching him like hawk as he closed the door behind him and marched to sit in front of the massive desk with 'CEO' plate tag on it.

"How are you grandpa."

"Did you know what time is this?" the old man snapped.

"Grandpa, I.."

"If you weren't my successor I will kick you out of this building." he said again. Hongki visibly sighed.

"Grandpa, I have always listened to you. Have I ever deny you?" He asked, but when the old man didn't reply he continued. "This is the first time I'm asking you a favour, and probably the last. I need a few days off work, grandpa, can I?"

"You know we have a very important meeting coming up, and you've been absent for the last few meetings." his grandfather said through gritted teeth.
"Grandpa please.."

"No." his voice boomed through the space. "I won't let you ruin this."

"Then this time I'll have to defy you. I'm sorry grandpa, you left me with no choice." Hongki realized there's no winning the fight without doing it. He stood up and walked to the door.

"If you walk out, don't mind to come back." the voice made him stop on his track. He turned around and smiled to the man he considered his father. But this time he had to choose.

"Anything you wish, sir." he said and bowed, before walking out of the door.