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

Continuation of Flashback
(Six months ago)

After the wushu boy's air-defying stunt, the security guards have arrived and taken the hooded guy into custody. People who saw the feat are clapping their hands admiring the boy's courage, who is now bowing shyly at them with the bag on his hands. Seunghee stands nearby still amazed of the incident after being interrogated by the guards of what really occurred.

The boy, who looks somewhat Chinese, approaches Seunghee in style with a straight face, handing over the bag he just retrieved. She has a clear view of him now. He's medium built but has toned muscles. And to top it all, he's really good-looking.

"Here's your bag miss," he says coolly.

Seunghee takes it from him saying, "Thank you," and her curiosity takes over her. "How did you do that? That was amazing! Do you practice kungfu or any martial arts? That was awesome! I thought I'd see something like that only in movies."

"It's actually wushu," he replies and smiles at her eager face. "What's you name miss?"

"Okay... It's Seunghee. Oh Seunghee."

She flashes her beautiful smile at him and that moment, something in him clicks and he can't take his eyes off her.

"What's yours?"

"I'm Wen Junhui. You can call me Jun."

"Well Jun-shi, for helping me get my bag back, let me treat you lunch, how about that?"

"Sure. I won't say no to that."

From there, she treats him lunch and acquires a little chit-chat. Somehow, Seunghee feels at home with him. It's their first meeting, but she feels light being with him. Maybe because he saved her bag and she can't thank him enough for that.

For him, it's love at first sight. Jun can't explain it but as he spends time with her, he's drawn more and more to her charms.

And it so happens that they're attending the same university. That way, he slowly crawls his way closer to her day by day.

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

It's been a month since the incident and Jun has become Seunghee's friend in that time frame. He will show up everytime he's free. He won't waste a moment not seeing her. He will pester on her about things, simple but necessary things. Seunghee doesn't mind though. He's fun to be with and she really enjoys his company. He reminds her of someone she used to take care of in her younger days. But he's more childish and she just can't ignore him.

"Seunghee noona!" Jun calls onto her upon seeing her at the dean's office. He's gone to the point of calling her noona too.

Seunghee smiles at him but reprimands him, "Can you stop shouting my name? I don't want everyone to know it you know."

He scratches the back of his head apologizing, "I'm sorry, I just love saying your name. Can I take you home today?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean can I walk you home? Or take a ride with you home? I mean..." he's finding it hard to explain because she's taking a 30-minute ride on the subway station since her house is a little far from the campus.

But she understands where he's aiming at, "Okay, I get it. But why though?"

"I just have lots of free time today. And I want to explore Korea you know."

"By reaching my place?"

"Well yah. It's a start."

"Okay. I'll take you on a tour. I'm early today."

"Yes! Thank you noona!"

"Meet me at gate 1 by 3pm."

"I'll be there before you know it."

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

Seunghee takes Jun around her town for a while. He's like a child trying to grasp every fact that she's imparting to him. He's so eager to learn of things. And he's genuinely innocent of some things he encounters first hand. She's enjoying looking after him, just like the little brother she never had, except this one's a bit huge for one.

They sit by the lake where Seunghee used to spend time in her early years.

"This is where I usually spent time singing in my elementary days. Ah... It feels nostalgic. It's been a while since I last sat here."

Jun is taking in the view of the place, with her beside him. It's perfect.

"It's perfect noona. This place and you."

Seunghee raises her eyebrows at him, "You're weird today." Then she giggles.

"I love your laugh noona."

It makes her turn to him seriously, catching him all eyes on her.

"I know it's a bit early for this but I really like you. And I think I'm falling in love with you. Ever since that day at the center."

She chuckles nervously. It's the first time a guy ever confessed to her. She has no idea what to tell him.

"And... I'd like you to be my girlfriend."

She pauses for a moment, and stares right at him. He's kind, good-looking and she feels like he'll be her friend for a long time, but she knows one thing for sure, she doesn't want to be in a relationship with him. She doesn't want to be anyone's girlfriend but that person's. So she tells him that straight.

"Well, thank you. I'm really happy you treat me especial. But I don't think I see you that way Jun. I actually... like someone else. And I'm still waiting for him."

Jun doesn't react for a second. He gazes at her, trying to analyse the situation. Then he calmly sighs in defeat.

"I get it noona. But I'm not giving up on you. Is that okay?"

She smiles at him. She can't imagine losing his company. She doesn't really understand why but she wants him by her side.

"Yah."

They stay like that for hours till dusk. Enjoying each other's company, strengthening their bond.

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

Jun makes sure his efforts are not half-assed and lacking when it comes to Seunghee. After being rejected, he doubles his time for her. Mostly only looking after her, that way, he gets acquainted with Sehun and Areum too. And eventually Sorn appears in their circle soon. He will be there even when it's late, just to take her home almost every day. He will be present on days she needs help for school work and even personal things. He will give her all his time during the day and even at night if she needs it.

Seunghee feels special around him. Maybe that's why she can't just push him away. No one has ever treated her that way. It's her first time getting a suitor to date. And she feels happy about it. She knows she's being unfair though. But she has told him she likes someone else right? It's up to him if he finds another girl or not. She won't mind.

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

Then an unfortunate event happens just once again.

It's already 10 PM, Seunghee and Jun are just walking to the subway because of the demo Seunghee had to finish and pass the next day. Jun waited for her to finish and is now walking her to the station.

Seunghee and Jun are almost running cuz the last trip on the train is 10:30PM, "Ah! I might not make it!"

"There's still time. Come on, noona!"

They are running now, but Seunghee is not athletic and can't keep up with Jun. They can almost make it, but they are just a split second late when they reach the ticket booth. It's closed.

Still panting, Seunghee is almost crying, she can't be late the next day. Her wardrobe for tomorrow's program is still at home, and she has to be going home now. She has a lot to prepare.

"No! Just when I needed to be here on time tomorrow," she exclaims.

Jun silently adjusts his breathing and tells her, "I'll take you home."

"With what? Are we gonna fly?"

"I have a ride at home. I'll just call the chauffeur."

"Chauffeur?"

Seunghee is surprised, he is actually calling someone, in his Chinese tongue. Is he rich or something? Does he have a butler too? She muses. He puts the phone down in an instant.

"He'll be here in five minutes."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Just trust me noona. You won't be late tomorrow."

She leers at him quite dubiously. But he can't be joking at a time like this or she really will be mad at him.

They walk up the highway soon and in a flash of five minutes, a dazzling sports car stops infront of them. And a chauffeur, well if that's what Jun calls him, gets off of it bringing the keys to him.

"Your mother said to be careful sir," the person in black suit says.

"I will and, tell her I'll be home by 12. And thanks," Jun replies.

"No problem sir."

Seunghee is just tongue-tied. What in the world is happening here? She's bewildered.

"Come on noona."

"Ah, yeah."

Seunghee obliges and hops in the car with Jun. Inside, she just can't believe her eyes.

"This is a luxury car, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's the latest model. I haven't used it much since the campus is just so close to my unit."

"Do you actually know how to drive this thing? I won't pay for damages."

"Just sit back and relax noona."

"This trip is free right? I don't have to pay for extra fare right?"

"Don't mind a thing. Here we go."

Jun is a flawless driver. And like he said, Seunghee is relaxed the whole trip, though she keeps interrogating him about himself. She learns that he's the eldest of two and that his parents are stockholders in China. He may be a little spoiled, but Seunghee can't see the high and mighty successor type of person in Jun. Maybe that's why she gets stuck with him. Cuz he's really down-to-earth despite his family's riches.

In a span of 20 minutes, even faster than the railway transit, Seunghee is finally infront of her house.

"Wow. That was fast. And I didn't even feel it," Seunghee states.

Jun only chuckles at her. "I love you noona."

Seunghee sighs at him, "Just where did that come from?"

"I'm confessing to you again noona, for the third time. And I will never give up till you say yes. So will you be my girlfriend?"

He says it straightforwardly and she just shakes her head at him.

"Jun... my answer is unchanged. And... I really have to go now. Thank you for giving me a ride and take care on your way home okay?"

She smiles at him dearly and with that, he's not hurt. He won't feel hurt by her rejections anymore, as long as he gets to stay with her. And no one else is trying to take her away from him.

"Alright noona. I'll be here tomorrow too. So you won't have to ride the train."

"Really? But I'm not obliging you okay?"

"Yes, it's my pleasure."

"Okay, be careful okay? Send me a message when you get home."

"Alright. Good night noona."

"Good night Jun."

After unloading the car and entering her yard, Seunghee waves at him goodbye and Jun speeds up away. It's like they're almost with each other but not officially. Everytime people see them, they think like that. But for Seunghee they're just friends, as for Jun, he seriously thinks they have a chance.

End of flashback

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

"And because of that incident, I decided to find an apartment. And here I am, together with you. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I had to miss the train that night so I can be here with you today," Seunghee says still snuggling beside Jeonghan on the couch, in his apartment.

"Maybe. But I say it wasn't much. He's just a guy who's pursuing girl. It's ordinary he'd go that far for you," Jeonghan is being nasty. He doesn't want to give him the credit he deserves. "I'm here now, so you won't have to lean on him for anything."

"But he still has done so much for me. I want to repay him even for the last time. Please don't hinder me from tending to him now that he needs it."

"I'm not a bad person so okay. But don't mislead him. He might think you're trying to keep him again."

"I'll make sure he completely understands this time."

"Okay. And just don't be sad anymore, everything will be okay."

She only nods at his chest, still thinking about Jun. She wants to help him. Her priority now is to help him recover. Hoping Jeonghan will not take it wrongly. But she pledges to do it no matter what.

Spending the rest of the evening like that, Jeonghan finally understands why Seunghee treasures Jun so much. He left a good impression at her, that she thinks no one else will be able to do for her. It makes him regret the times he was idling his feelings away in his room when he should've been the one with her those times.  But all he can do now is make up for lost time and offer Seunghee everything he has only for her.

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

To be continued...

(16.02.23)