Akihabara, Tokyo

(03:58pm)

"Won again!"

I raised my hands in triumph.

"I'm just letting you win, you know," said Jin Yeong, crossing his arms. He tried to appear haughty, but his expression was all out amused.

I snorted. "Uso." Liar.

We were at one of the arcade basements in Akihabara, where the world of mangas and animes lived. There were arcades everywhere, shops where you could buy figurines and anime merch, and bookstores where you could buy all sorts of mangas. It was an otaku heaven.

I was literally the only girl here in this arcade but I was with Jin Yeong so that didn't bother me.

Placing my hands on the console, I looked at him. "Another round?"

"Aren't you getting tired of beating me?"

I grinned. "Never."

He laughed at that. All of a sudden, I had a light bulb moment.

"Let's go to a maid cafe!" I practically bounced in my seat from excitement.

"You serious?" he asked, looking slightly terrified.

Whoa, that was new. I'd never seen him make that expression before.

"Why not?" I got to my feet and tugged his shirt, because now I wanted to take him there even more. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

He watched my face for a moment before smiling and shaking his head like he couldn't believe he was letting me have my way. Standing up, he nodded and gestured his hand toward the exit.

"Alright, lead the way."

I beamed. "There's a maid cafe along main street."

"You really know your way around here," he remarked, as we stepped out to the streets.

"Like the back of my hand," I replied proudly.

He looked around, observing. "It's not that much different from Seoul."

"Well," I dragged, shrugging, "I don't get racist comments from the Eun Hye's of the world."

He blinked as if just remembering that tiny incident, then he groaned.

"You still remember that?"

It was hard to forget, especially when I'd been wondering if she was finally able to snatch him and make him his boyfriend like she was dying to.

"Sharp memory," I simply said, playing it cool.

When Jin Yeong didn't say anything for a while as we walked, I sneaked a glance at him. He looked like he was deep in thought.

"Something wrong?"

He raised his head and met my eyes. "Do you still remember the things we talked about?"

"We talked about a lot of things." I laughed.

"Yeah, we did." He smiled. "Hmm, about right timings."

I nodded, looking at him sideways.

The conversation came back to me. We were having dinner at Namsan Tower, watching couples add their locks to the railings when I asked him something about meeting the right person.

'What if you happen to meet that person, but you both know it wouldn't last? How will you be able to let go?'

'I won't.'

'You won't... let go?'

'Why would I let go of something that rare?'

'Maybe it's not the right time.'

'That's the funny thing about fate, there's no such thing as wrong timing.'

I was never really able to forget what he said that day. A part of me wanted to believe it, but circumstances made it hard for me to hope for something like that to be true.

"Do you still stand by what you said?" I asked in curiosity.

His smiled like he had an inside joke with himself. "A hundred percent."

Looking to my front, I admitted, "I wish I could say the same."

I could feel his eyes on me, but I pretended not to notice. I stopped walking and pointed to the poster of the maid cafe I was telling him about.

"We're here," I announced. Flashing him a mischievous grin, I asked, "Are you ready?"

He chuckled as if he still couldn't believe he let me drag him into this. "Let's go," he said, before grabbing my hand and pulling me inside the building.

We rode the elevator to the fifth floor where the maid cafe was. The moment the doors slid open, we stepped out. But then halted as I let him take it all in. Everywhere we looked was covered in pink.

Pink walls.

Pink lights.

Pink tables.

Pink chairs.

Pink maid costumes.

I caught his adam's apple bob up and down, and I covered my mouth with my free hand to stop myself from laughing.

What was he so nervous about?

A lolita maid came up to us and ushered us to a vacant table. Jin Yeong was like a little kid who couldn't stop staring at his surroundings. He only stopped when the lolita maid came back and gave us animal ear headbands.

I never saw him look more surprised.

"We have to wear these?"

"Hai," confirmed the lolita maid, nodding cheerfully at him.

This time, I covered my mouth with both of my hands to muffle my laughter. He studied the grey headband with puppy ears. I took it from his hands and carefully put it on his head.

My hands stopped midair as I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

Oh, my God! Could he look any cuter?!

"Kawaii!" I gushed, reaching out and pinching both of his cheeks.

Trying to pull away from my grasp, he warned, "Hajima." Stop it.

I burst out laughing, making him blush even more. Now I got it! He was nervous because he was shy. This was so out of his comfort zone.

"Kawaii, Jin Yeong~"

"'Kakkoii.'" It's cool.

I shook my head, grinning from ear to ear. "Iie, kakkoii janai. Honto ni ka – wa – ii." No, it's not cool. It's really cu – te.

He sighed. "Fine, you win."

Giggling, I was about to retrieve my hands from his face when he grabbed them with his and held them.

"Your hands are cold," he commented.

Before I could say or do anything, he brought them closer to his mouth and blew hot breath to warm them. To say I blushed was the understatement of the millenia, pal. I probably looked like I dipped my face in hot sauce.

I tried not to let it show how much this little move affected me, especially when he looked so natural doing it. Was he always this smooth?

"There," he finally said, letting my hands go.

"Arigatou," I mumbled, before focusing on the menu.

We ordered ice cream for each of us and an omurice to share. Whenever we needed to ask for water or extra tissue, Jin Yeong made me call for their attention because he was too shy to use their catchphrase.

Here, they wouldn't go to you if you simply say 'sumimasen' (excuse me), you actually had to say 'meow meow.' I tried to get him to do it but he absolutely refused.

When the food arrived, I was so happy that I clapped and made little delighted noises. I was about to dig in when I caught Jin Yeong watching me.

"Nani?" What?

He shook his head, and started to eat his ice cream. "Nandemonai." Nothing.

"Uso." Liar.

I followed his lead and started eating, too. But I didn't speak, waiting for him to say what was on his mind like I knew he would.

Eventually, he did.

"You've changed." He didn't sound sad, it was more like he was only making an observation. "But it some ways, you also haven't." When I didn't reply, he continued, "I know you said you've grown a thicker skin ever since, and I can see the walls you've built up that weren't there before."

Had I changed that much?

"I guess it's just nostalgic to see the Yuki I know is still there, only a bit more closed in."

"I'm not the only one with walls built up," I pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "Yours have grown higher from what I remember."

He nodded as his eyes hardened. Did he remember something unpleasant?

"These past years have been eye-opening."

I frowned in concern. "What happened?"

"I started to get into the family business as soon as I graduated two years ago," he said quietly, as though he was guilty to admit it but at the same time he was owning up to it.

"But didn't you say that you didn't want any part of it?"

A humorless laugh came out of him, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I guess like you, I realized that there was no point in running away from what was meant to be mine. Might as well be prepared and knowledgeable as much as I could."

Silence engulfed us as I watched him swirl his spoon on the melting ice cream. It seemed like I wasn't the only one who went through a hard time over the years.

I missed the laid-back Jin Yeong who lived his life the way he wanted to. I missed the easy way he moved and carried himself. I missed him being playful.

I wanted to see him laugh so carefree that the child in him would come out.

"So... do I need to break down your walls again?" I asked, trying to make things light.

I thought it worked because there was a ghost of a real smile playing on his lips.

"In due time," he replied.

I rolled my eyes. "There you go with your cryptic words again."

Trying to hide the fact that I was sad with what he just shared with me, I spooned a big chunk of my ice cream and put it in my mouth. Big mistake because – BRAIN FREEZE.

I made a face and dropped my jaw, trying to slowly melt the ice cream in my mouth. At this, I could hear Jin Yeong snickering from across the table.

"Gwiyeobda." Cute.

Even though I could feel my face reddened with what he said, I was more thrilled at the fact that the old him peeped through just now.

"So tell me," he started, when I've calmed down enough to stop flinching, "how come you still don't have a boyfriend?"

Oh, wow. We were jumping to that already, huh?

I wet my lips, avoiding his eyes. "That's because... my father will kill anyone who tries to ask me out on a date."

"How come?"

"He wants me to marry someone he chose for me."

There, I said it. Now he knew. What would he think? How would he react? Would he say something?

After a moment, he finally spoke. "Nu gu?" Who?

I sighed. "This... Geondal Wangja."

He didn't look fazed. But then again, he already knew about my family background. It never failed to amaze me how he could be so chill about everything, especially now that he was in my father's territory.

Nodding, he let my words sink in. "You don't know him?"

"I only know that he's the second son and he's currently in charge of their Busan arm." I shrugged. "I've been too busy trying to prove that we didn't need the marriage agreement to get an alliance that I had no time to know more about Jesam." I leaned back in my chair, and sighed. "Not that there's much info on him, anyway. The Triple Tigers are secretive like that."

"Did you convince your father?"

I crossed my arms, looking away as I glowered. "He wouldn't listen."

"Why don't you try getting to know this Jesam?" suggested Jin Yeong, in a casual way that slightly bothered me. "You might change your mind."

"They've controlled every part of my life. Not once have they heard a complaint from me, except this time. This is the only part in my life that needs to be my decision – and mine alone." I shook my head, feeling my eyes started to sting. "I won't let Papa or anyone take that away from me."

"You should try talking to this Geondal Wangja. He's in the same predicament. Maybe you can work this out together."

I turned my head, my eyes landing on him. "Are you serious?" I tried to keep the hurt from my voice, I badly hoped I succeeded.

He blinked, completely looking innocent. "What?"

Did he really not think there was anything wrong with his indifference? Did he really not know how it was starting to feel like a blow to me?

"You're not going to –"

Nope, not going there.

"Going to what?" he urged, watching me.

Going to try and take me away? Rescue me? Fight this with me?

But then... it wasn't like we were ever together. We just had a connection... three years ago. It was too long ago now. Sure, we had 'something' back then. That didn't mean it would lead to anything more than a mere memory.

Who are you kidding, Yuki?

I forced myself to let out a weak laugh, waving my hand dismissively.

"Betsuni." Nevermind.

He opened his mouth but I waved him off.

"You're right," I said quickly, cutting him off.

I couldn't let him turn me down. I wouldn't be able to take it if I heard from him what I already knew to myself.

"I'll talk to Jesam as soon as he arrives next week. By that time, you'll probably be back in Seoul. We'll remain friends, alright? That's what we're meant to be, anyway. Always will be."

I flashed him the best unaffected smile I could muster right now. He only kept his gaze on me, his expression growing more intense by the second. Good thing the lights suddenly dimmed and the lolita maids began their dancing routine. Otherwise, I would've melted on the spot.

I kept my eyes on them and pretended to be amazed even though I'd seen this performance a hundred times... even though all I wanted to do at that moment was to go back to that time in Seoul... even though all I wanted was to cry because I realized no one else will fight with me.

I was on my own.

_____________

Why won't Jin Yeong just tell Yuki that he's Jesam? But is he really Jesam? Is there another Jesam? Hmm...

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