>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

The following days become more hectic for Seunghee than they already are. Apart from her work at the Cube office in the morning and her part-time tutorials in the afternoon, she has to make time to call or text Jeonghan during her free time. From which she either gets hung up or never replied back. But it's okay to her. Despite that, she still checks him out after her schedules. One time, she brings him some homemade pancake for snacks. Another day, she brings him some freshly brewed coffee when she sees him a little exhausted inside the store. She always makes sure she gets to see him before going home if not talk to him.

It's cute if it's a teenager doing this thing to her crush almost every day, but it's a 29-year-old woman we're talking about here and a professional at that, an owner of a piano tutorial shop next door and a gorgeous looking female. Not to mention, almost queen-like and visually enchanting. So it's a wonder for the shop workers that she's doing this stuff only to get the attention of their ever mysterious boss, who looks dazzling at the counter.

The female and male sales staffs gossip about her at a distance from him.

"Hey, have you seen the lady today?" she asks.

"Not yet, I bet she'll bring something again," he replies.

"She's too pretty to be this desperate, if that's the right word. Do you think something happened to them in the past? I bet they have a past."

"Well, it's not normal for a woman to be this hopeless. Maybe they had something."

"I only know men doing this stuff. It doesn't really look nice on her. There are lots of other guys out there. She definitely has other options with a pretty face like that. But why the boss? It really keeps me thinking every time I see her."

"Maybe he's a sorcerer, he has her under his spell all these years," he laughs.

"Nonsense, maybe she's done something so bad to him-"

Jeonghan can clearly hear them despite not reacting. But he shuts them up with a command, "You there, maybe you can start your inventory now."

"Yes sir!" both the sales agents almost run to the stockroom to get their checklists.

It's almost 5PM and Seunghee hasn't shown up yet. Jeonghan stares outside the glass wall watching the people passing by. He doesn't admit it, but he's slowly getting used to her again. Every time she walks in the front door with something for him, it somehow makes his day. And today, he's actually anticipating what she has for him. But it looks like she's not coming. And he thinks that it's better for him to be this way. She can't let her in his life again. Not this early. He needs time to reassess his position in coming back here. He needs not to rush things. He needs to be on guard for everything.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Seunghee plans to invite Jeonghan for dinner. She needs to talk to him about them. She wants to start pursuing him completely so she won't have any regrets. It doesn't matter to her if she's the one chasing him. She doesn't need her pride now. Cuz it wouldn't have been like this if it weren't for her. She has all the blame on herself and she will make everything right. She just wishes there's still a place in his heart for her. If not, she'll force her way inside again but if he doesn't allow her, that's the time she won't know what to do next.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

She opens her shop earlier than usual. She finds everyday worthwhile now that Jeonghan is back. She peeks at his store time and time again, just to see him and it makes her feel delighted every time she catches a glimpse of him. How she longs to talk to him like they used to, how to laugh with him like they used to, how to be with him like they used to. She wants to bring it all back and she's slowly gonna make it happen.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

She teaches a few children each day at a maximum of 2 hours. She's a little more enthusiastic today than the other days and a parent notices it and tells her.

"You look a lot more blooming today Seunghee-shi. You look fantastic," Mrs. Kim comments.

She smiles at the person sweetly, "I just feel really good today Mrs. Kim."

"Does it have to do with a boy?"

It makes her look down at the piano with a timid face.

Mrs. Kim adds, "I'm sorry for intruding. But it's such a shame that you're still single to this day."

She doesn't respond though. She thinks of Jeonghan all along. And being single depends on how he will receive her feelings again.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Walking through the halls of Cube building, Seunghee just finished recording with her upcoming girl group. She's in high spirits and she definitely feels refreshed. She puts out her phone and dials a speed number. She has put Jeonghan's number on speed dial one and she smiles as she sees the picture she sneakily took off him. She excitedly waits to hear him answer it. But after a few rings, his voicemail automatically answers back. It's a surprise cuz it wasn't like this just the other day. It pinches her heart slowly but intensely. So he has his phone on voicemail now. Is he trying to avoid me?... she tells herself. She puts the phone down feeling downhearted. Maybe he's too busy right now. It's only been a couple of days since his store opened up anyway. And it's only her first try. She can call him again later. She can't let it affect her just yet.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Despite being busy herself, she inserts a few free hours on her schedule just to go to her shop. She doesn't have any lessons today, she just wants to talk to him.

She arrives at the area and peeks at him from outside. There are a couple of customers and he's busy entertaining them. Looks like some big names have their eyes on his supplies. Jeonghan is the only complete supplier of quality instruments from drums to pianos. He has a diverse variety of brands and one can easily pick his own preference. Moreover, the owner is knowledgeable enough of the concerns of each customer no matter what type of instrument it is. With that, it's undeniable that he'll make it big in the business.

She opens her shop and waits there. She looks outside time after time to check on him, but it seems like the customers are staying for a while. So she stays put and silently waits. She decides to play something while waiting.

"Geudae tteonan geu huro
Neomu seulpeo haru jongil ureotda
Jeongmariji jeongmal kkumman gataseo
Nae gaseumi jakku doemureobodeora
Eodiro gaya hanyago
Eodiro gaya hanyago
Naege mutneunde eotteoke mworago daedaphaeya haneunji

Always sarangeul sum swige haetgo
Always nae gyeote meomulleojwotgo
Always nae gaseum sumswineun dongan geudae dasi olkka tto olkka tto olkka
Neoreul bureugo neoreul bureugo always

Nareul gipeun got geu badaro
Molgo gan uri sirin sarang
Jiwojijido annneun neoui heunjeok sogeuro
Deulliji anhado neukkyeojineun uri chueok sogeuro

Always sarangeul sumswige haetgo
Always nae gyeote meomulleojwotgo
Always nae gaseum sumswineun dongan geudae dasi olkka tto olkka tto olkka
Neoreul bureugo neoreul bureugo neoreul bulleodo

Ije na geogiro tteonanda
Sarangui chueokgwa ttatteutan gaseumeul gareuchyeojun geu jari"

She smiles to herself as she reminisces the old times. He has always been the only one, from then, until now. Taehyung was just an instrument she needed to prove herself how much she really loves him. It was just unfortunate that she had to hurt him along the way. But she'll never repeat that. Now that he's back, everything that she kept all these years will finally reach him. She'll reach him, no matter how distant he is right now. No matter how cold he's grown to be. She can't let him go again. There's no way she'll let that happen even if she becomes the fool.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

After a few hours, when it's almost time for his shop to close, that's the time he's finally free. She has been waiting for almost three hours now and she can't wait for another day to ask him. She walks in his shop again, catching the attention of the sales agents nearby.

"Good evening Oh-nim," they all greet. They all know her by now. It's only been a while but with her almost coming in every single day, they are familiar with her already.

Seunghee smiles at them and walks over to Jeonghan who's busy checking the list of stocks at the counter. He hasn't seem to notice her when she stops in front of him.

"You seem busy, Jeonghan-ssi," she starts.

That's the time he turns to her with an uninterested face, "Yeah. I'm just thinking about something. What is it Seunghee-ssi? Can I do anything for you? The shop's already closing."

She doesn't want to beat around the bush so she goes on with it, "Well, I was just thinking if you're free tonight."

"Why is that?"

"Well, if you're free I want to ask you out for dinner."

Jeonghan pauses for a split second that she doesn't even catch it and responds quickly, "No, I'm sorry I can't go out today. Maybe some other time Seunghee-ssi."

She knows this will happen. So she isn't really surprised that he turns her down, "I see. Alright, I'll ask you again next time okay? I hope you can clear out your schedule for me soon. Thanks for your time Jeonghan-ssi. I'll get going now."

With a smile, she walks out of the place. She takes a deep breath but she can deal with. She knows it won't be easy to get him back. This is part of her trials. This is part of achieving her goal. She can't give up with a single rejection. She deserves this, even after eight long years. And she'll accept it.

As she walks out to the road, Jeonghan refrains himself from giving her a glance but he can't help it. He finally looks out at her before disappearing from the view. He still has the evident poker face he's wearing all the time these days but today, his eyes are different. There is something intriguing in his stare. Even a salesperson notices the difference.

She whispers at her colleague, "Hey, did you see that?"

"See what?" the other person retorts, while busy checking out the stocks. "I'm busy here."

"I think our boss is just playing hard to get," she claims.

"What are you talking about? Just help me finish this so we can get out of here."

"Yeah, yeah. I was just hypothesizing."

"Mind your own life. You haven't even had a proper boyfriend yet."

"Why are lashing it out on me now?"

The two employees continue arguing nonsense as they handle their respected works and forgets about the issue at hand.

Meanwhile, Jeonghan still bears those eyes. Those eyes with longing and wanting. Those eyes he can't let Seunghee see yet again. Not yet again.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Seunghee calls him, sends him messages and even talks to him about scheduling the dinner almost every chance she gets. But his reply is always the same. He can't go out, he's busy. For about another week, she tries and tries only to fail consecutively.

Seunghee drops by Areum and Sehun's condo unit tonight. She's almost out of it after the nonstop rejection. It's been how many times Jeonghan has rejected her invite for dinner now? She can't even count it anymore. She feels like going insane already. She barges in on her seniors home just to whine like a lovesick puppy.

"I'm starting to hate this. He's just tossing me out the window every time! If he doesn't want to have dinner with me then he can just tell it straight to my face!" Seunghee exclaims.

She's sitting on the couch as Sehun and Areum are standing across her. It's 11 PM and they think she has no plans in going home.

"Are you planning to stay the night? You must be kidding me Seunghee," Areum utters.

Seunghee just frowns where she's at. She's still whining but they both just wants her to go home.

"We're not kids anymore Seunghee. We're middle-aged people now. I hope you understand where I'm getting at," Areum says.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Sehun offers.

But she'd rather not have them meddling in her affairs now. Cuz like Areum said, they're middle-aged people now. "No thanks. I'm leaving."

She directly walks out the door without another word and the couple sighs in defeat as the door closes.

"She really has to get her acts straight," Areum tells Sehun.

"She's just not used to doing this," Sehun replies.

"But she doesn't want us to help her. Where will we stand now? Ah, before I decide to go and talk to him, let's just forget about it. She can handle herself," Areum finally lets it go.

They're all worried about Seunghee. But it's matter only they can solve and get over with. It's a matter out of anyone's control.

Seunghee drives herself home alone and upset. But she won't stop here. Every time she remembers hurting him, she recoils. It's nothing compared to what she's done to him. This pain is something she has to win over.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

To be continued...

(16.12.14)