When You Love .....

Amor didn't realize Dojangs vary greatly, but what sort of things should a newbie like her know before walking through the door the first time? Like, she literally has no idea what to expect she honestly feels intimidated. In Taekwondo competition, fighters compete against other fighters of the same sex thus her sparring partner is a female. She has now changed to wear the dobok (white taekwondo uniform that competitors wear). Scoring in a Taekwondo match is simple. A player gets one point for a basic attack to the opponent's torso, two points for a spinning kick to the opponent's torso, and three points for a kick to the head. "I'll just play dead right away," she told herself. They started with a good stretching and warmup first, Do Yun also changed into dobok but only as an onlooker.

"Don't worry ma'am we'll focus on the most basic of techniques: basic blocks, basic punches, basic kicks, and others," assured Amor's sparring partner.

"Huh?" Amor can only make out the words blocks, punches, and kicks. But what do others mean?

"The two most basic blocks taught in Taekwondo are knife hand blocks and closed fist blocks. Both are designed to block specific attacks."

"Attack? Who will attack me??" she thought.

"Knife Hand Blocks: These blocks are designed to parry, catch, grab, and deflect attacks. When you use these blocks, your guards are up and you're hands are open. Your fingers are all connected and your hands resemble knives. (Hence the name knife-hands.) With this block, you use the outer ridge of your hand to block attacks."

"Seriously?" she wants to ask her sparring partner.

"When someone throws a punch, you can have your knife-hand guard up and deflect the punches away from your face. Also grabbing their wrist and counter-attacking. Let's try it."

Her sparring partner demonstrated the block and Amor obediently followed.

"Can I dance my way through this instead?" she thought.

"Next is Closed Hand Blocks: Unlike knife-hands, your hands are closed when using these blocks. Sometimes your guards resemble guards in boxing when blocking attacks. Your hands are in a frame position and use your forearms to block strikes from an opponent."

"Opponent? Who am I going to oppose to??" she asked herself.

"When someone is throwing front kicks to your face or head you can deflect the attacks using these blocks. Let's try it."

Her sparring partner demonstrated the block and Amor obediently followed still. They took turns going back and forth practicing specific blocks with her partner throwing attacks at less than half speed to perfect the block.

"That's it for today," then her sparring partner bowed and Amor bowed in return.

"At least I learned 2 basic blocks today," she thought while practicing in the air when a fist lightly landed on her cheek.

"If this was a real attack, what could have become of your face?" Do Yun asked.

"Ah..... Mr. Kim, I.....," Amor tried to explain but Do Yun already entered the locker room to change.

Do Yun was already waiting in the car when Amor finished changing thus she hurriedly got inside the car.

Before Do Yun could get inside their unit Amor called him out, "Oh..... Mr. Kim can I ask, will I be taking regular Taekwondo lessons starting today?"

"I'm more surprised you didn't ask why I wanted you to take Taekwondo lessons in the first place."

"Uhm..... I also wondered about it but I trust you Mr. Kim."

"Good, but I don't trust you."

"Huh?"

"You said if you lack something then I need to tell you what to do and you'll try your best to learn how to be better, right?"

"Ah..... of course Mr. Kim."

"You lack my trust in you, so take Taekwondo lessons and we'll see if you'll earn my trust," and he closed the door behind him.

"Am I a personal bodyguard also?" she asked herself.

Driiiiin. Driiiiin. Driiiiin.

Amor was already awakened even before the sound of the old alarm clock, "I need to start with a good stretching and warmup first," she thought. Chloe's bed has been made up so it means she is awake already. "I didn't know you are into sports, Amor?" Layla asked while tidying up her bed.

"Oh..... I think Mr. Kim wants me to be his personal bodyguard also because he asked me to take Taekwondo lessons."

"Bodyguard?" Layla howled in laughter. "Amor, you really don't know Mr. Kim that much yet."

"Huh?" but before Amor can ask more questions Layla headed out from their quarters already.

She tucked a T-shirt into her mid-length skirt and freshen up the outfit by rocking a pair of chunky boots and even upped the ante with delicate accessories of drop earrings and an elegant bracelet which Do Yun approved when they bought the clothes, "I hope he will forget about me being a personal bodyguard," she told herself.

Amor got ready a little early so she can still make a call to her mother while she is outside unit 615. She then took her personal phone and dialed her mother's number, after a few rings someone answered on the other line.

"Hello?"

"Hello, ma."

"Amor, how are you? Why did you call this early?"

"Uhm..... I might be busy later that's why I decided to call you now. How are the kids? Are they awake already?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course not, for sure they will get up later around 9 am to take their brunch."

"What time will you leave for the check-up?"

"Around 7 am perhaps, I'm just waiting for Evelyn so that she can help me look after the children while we are away."

"I see, is Theo there?"

Amor can hear her mother calling out Theo in the background.

"Theo, I have Amor on the phone do you want to talk to her now?"

But there was silence in the background.

"Just wait a while, Amor, I think Theo is still getting ready in his room."

"I don't think Theo will come out to talk to me, just tell him I called."

"It's fine, what's important is you're okay and we're able to talk right now."

"Thank you again, ma."

"Anytime, bye."

"Bye."

Standing outside unit 615, she straightened her skirt pressed her lips, and lightly knocked thrice then David opened the door, "Wow, you look like a celebrity today Amor. Come in," teased David.

"Cut the crap David," Amor got embarrassed as usual.

"Good..... good morning Mr.....," Amor stuttered but Do Yun was not there. "Good..... good morning Mrs. Kim," but Ae Cha stood up to enter their room. She saw Mila sitting on the sofa thus she sat beside her. After the children have finished their breakfast, Mila took notice of what happened earlier "I didn't see Mr. Kim joined his family during breakfast."

"Ah..... that I don't know."

Mila suddenly stood up but before Amor could give her greeting Ae Cha sat beside them. Wearing a chiffon midi floral dress, Amor can never equal her cuteness no matter what she wears. Amor and Mila want to look at each other but dared not move in case they offend Ae Cha.

"What is Do Yun's schedule for today?" Ae Cha asked.

"Oh..... he will meet with his international team through a video conference call and....." but before Amor can continue Do Yun came out from their room and headed out to the door thus Amor hurriedly followed.

"Uhm..... I'll take my leave now Mrs. Kim."

Before reaching the elevator Do Yun suddenly stopped and Amor was not able to stop her pace on time thus she bumped her forehead against his back. Do Yun slowly turned around to face Amor and leaned his head forward to meet her gaze. A familiar scene she promised to avoid but his scent of woody floral musk made her betray that promise.

And here she goes, she can hear those trumpets blow again from her heart.