Familiar Hero

Tears, starting to well in JiU's eyes as she feels powerless yet again. With one last attempt, she tried to whip her head back to his but this time he is prepared as he keeps his on the side, "The same trick won't happen again my love." JiU tries to struggle free but the more she struggled, the more his grip around her tightened that it is starting to get hard for her to breathe. He spins around away from the door and walking towards the wall. Once again the image of two years ago flashed in her mind and her body begins to give in to fear.

The door open of the VIP room swings open followed by Tiffany's voice, "Let her go!" A split second later, she can hear Ji Hoon grunt loudly in pain with the sound of something breaking. Her captor staggered and his grip on her loosened. JiU shakes her self free from his grip with a strong helping hand making it possible. Tiffany quickly reacts to embrace her best friend when a man steps over between her and Ji Hoon. This man's hand is gripping Ji Hoon's arm and in a quick flash, the man throws a strong right hook to Ji Hoon's face which resulted in the latter falling right to the floor.

A spine curling chuckle came out from Ji Hoon as he lays on the floor clutching her right side, "Haha... You... broke my ribs..." JiU couldn't see Ji Hoon's disoriented face since her rescuer stands right in front of her.

"You touch her again," the man's voice surprised JiU since she is very Familiar as to who it belongs to, "You ribs won't be the only thing that's broken." The man turns around to look at JiU.

"Changwook?" JiU was too speechless to utter any other words before blacking out. Ji Changwook is quick at his feet as he catches JiU and lifting her up effortlessly in a bridal style then walks out with Tiffany in tow without sparing a moment to look at the fallen man on the floor.

Arriving at Tiffany's car, Changwook places JiU in the backseat with Tiffany joining right after. Changwook took the keys from Tiffany and drives the car to the nearest hospital to check on her condition. The ride was quiet as Tiffany gently caressed her best friend's red locks. "How is she?" Changwook glanced at the rearview mirror to catch a glimpse of JiU.

"Her breathing is alright so far Changwook-ah," Tiffany sighs gently with a tear trickling on her cheek when she watches her best friend on her lap, "I don't know what would've happened if you didn't come on time, I shouldn't have left her that long." Tiffany felt very apologetic that it was her fault for leaving her best friend.

Changwook, who wanted to surprise her, also felt bad for what had happened with their best friend. The ride continues quietly before they finally arrived at the hospital. Changwook takes JiU off from the back seat and carried her bridal style into the hospital while Tiffany takes the car and parks it nearby and joins them soon after. The nurses present immediately directed them to the ER to get her checked. And a doctor was fortunately available that very moment to check on her condition.

"She is in sheer shock and her body couldn't take the stress of it, hence her state now," the doctor speaks with JiU's two concerned best friends, "But she will recover very soon, don't you worry but for future precaution, please refrain from letting her face such situations again. A human mind and body can only take so much."

"Yes, we will keep that in mind, doctor, thank you so much," Tiffany bowed and smiled before the doctor takes his leave.

Tiffany and Changwook waited for around 20 minutes before Changwook's phone go off, "It's my mom," he whispered to Tiffany before going out of the ward to receive the call. Tiffany caressed her friend's hand and once again sighed. "I'm sorry, Minji-ah."

"Fany-ah," Changwook came back with a defeated look in his face, "I have to go since I promised my family I will be seeing them soon and I have to pick up my little sister too, which I also promised to do."

"It's okay, JiU will understand," Tiffany smiles assuringly, "You should go, we can meet up soon."

Changwook sighed and turns to look at JiU as he takes her hand and kissing it gently, "See you soon Minji-ah," then he goes to Tiffany to give her a brief yet gentle hug before finally leaving the two ladies on their own. Tiffany had to inform the company about her current situation and that she might be late in coming back after lunchtime.

Right after Tiffany puts her phone down, JiU wakes up and looks around the room then immediately sits up. "Yah... yah.. take it slow will you?" Tiffany rushed to help her friend to sit up.

"Where's Changwook?" the first question that comes to her mind was her best friend that he hadn't seen in a while.

"He had to leave early to meet his family and pick up his sister," Tiffany sits closer to take hold of JiU's hand, "Minji-ah..."

"Gwaenchanha," JiU smiles kindly towards her friend, "You don't have to be sorry, no one expected that to happen today."

"But..." Tiffany's words are cut short once again with JiU placing her finger onto her lips.

"It's ok alright?" JiU smiled and pats her friend's hand, "But there is something you can do to repay me," this time JiU is the one with a smirk on her face as she looks at Tiffany.

Tiffany shakes her head with a soft chuckle, "What is it?"

"I want a beef stew on my table after we get back to the office," JiU hums with her fingers on her chin, "And fish cakes, spicy ones."

"Geurae ara, anything else?" Tiffany smiled and asked her friend who seems to be coming back to her normal self.

"We need to go back to the office," JiU immediately grabs for her purse and looks for her shoes as if nothing had happened earlier.

"Jeongmal? Do you know? You're the only lady I know who's first thought is to come back to the office after an incident like today," Tiffany shakes her but she too is getting ready to leave since it is impossible to make JiU think otherwise when she's made up her mind.

"I know," she turned and winked towards Tiffany after putting on her shoes, "I'm sexy like that."

The two ladies took care of the administrations of the hospital before leaving soon after. In the car, everything was light and simple just like it was before they left for the restaurant. JiU asked about Changwook and how did he arrange such a meeting to surprise her when Tiffany shared that she too was shocked. Tiffany explained that the text says to not let JiU until Changwook had arrived. Then their conversation continued as light as ever with laughter and teasing until they arrived at the company's VIP parking section reserved only for the executives of the company including Tiffany and JiU's who got two parking spots all on her own.

"Fany-ah, I'll be going to that place for a bit," Tiffany needed no explanation since she knows exactly what JiU meant.

"Mhmm alright," Tiffany smiles and later watches her friend take the secret elevator that only she and Tiffany can access up to the 15th Floor.

Once arriving on the 15th floor, JiU looked around first before completely stepping out of the elevator. Once she sees that no one is around, she proceeds to her secret place. Since the 15th floor had unfinished construction like she had intended, no one ever wanted to venture into the area. She did this with the purpose so she can keep her secret place hidden and not many people know about it except Tiffany and JiU's very own private gardening team. This place had been made by JiU ever since she was a high school student when her father was still CEO. She managed to convince her father to give her access to the unfinished side of the 15th floor. Taking that into her advantage, she had turned the place into a beautiful garden containing all sorts of plants and flowers that are very dear to her heart. This place had become JiU's very own place of comfort and solitude when she needs to calm down or get things off her mind.

JiU entered into a door located between two pillars and not minding to check the door as she proceeds inside. The sweet smell of her favorite flowers welcomed her as she smiled. She proceeds to the left side of the building to her very own awning. However, each step seems to get heavier as she keeps walking. The incident today hasn't really left her mind, she had only behaved she is fine in front of Tiffany to keep her from being too worried. JiU could barely reach her favorite spot as she breaks down in tears. She had never thought she will see him so soon and once again she was rendered powerless against his advancements. Her emotions were too much to keep in that she continues to cry until she hears a faint footstep right on the other side of the wall she is leaning on. The steps stopped, and she turned to the source of the sound to see what it was when someone beats her to it.

A man in a funny hairstyle and rather oddly shaped nose with glasses, peeked from the wall she was about to check. He turned to look at her just as she laid her eyes onto his, and all she could say is, "Who are you?" No one else, certainly not this man, knows about this place except the ones she trusts enough.