10

There is an obvious smile on my face as I walk down the stairs with my glasses on, my hands in my trousers pockets as I pause on the last stair when I smell it.

Eggs and bacon.

I shake my head, still walking ahead as I turn to the dining area, meeting a Baek serving plates on the table, dressed in a casual t shirt and knee-length shorts.

He is whistling, a wistful look on his face that disappears as I say "Someone's happy too"

He jolts, turning "Shit, you scared me"

"Sorry"

I walk to him as he pauses "Morning"

I stare at the table, then at him, folding my hands "What makes you happy?"

"It's just a thank you breakfast that's all" He says as he brings out a chair "Come sit?"

"Thank you? I already said it was nothing, this isn't necessary"

"Could you just stop fussing and eat please?" He says "I am hungry too and would like to eat, or do you have somewhere to go?"

I shake my head as I walk to open the chair and sit "No"

I adjust it back as he sits next to me, a smile still on his face as he says "You look happy too"

I smile, taking a slice of the egg and then bacon, chewing as I swallow and sat "I did state that in the beginning"

"Is it because of the man that came yesterday?"

I pause mid chew as I stare at him before he shakes his head "Nevermind. You don't have to answer, I just..."

"Yes"

He stops talking, staring at me as I finish chewing and then take a sip from the orange juice glass next to me "He is"

"He... He's the one you spoke about?" He asks "The gay one?"

"Isn't that accusatory right now?"

"No I'm just asking because you guys, you know..."

"Kissed" I say "We kissed"

He nods there "Yes"

I keep eating "It was nothing"

"Eul Song..."

"We are not dating and he is gay. Don't think much about it" I say "And if you want to give me some lecture about how kissing anyone I meet is inappropriate, please do remember that I am no longer the seventeen year old hoobae you left behind seven years ago. I can make choices now without having to loose my head or anything while it happens. Are we clear on that?"

He stares at me for a while before he laughs and pulls at my cheeks "Ya, I really need to teach you some manners again don't I?"

I sigh when his hand is off "Besides, if anything happens, I have you, Oppa, Appa and Noona to watch my back. Everything is going fine and there is nothing to worry ab...."

The door suddenly opens as Noona walks in, shouting "Eul Yi Song!"

I shake my head, sipping my orange juice "I believe I spoke too early"

"Jan Song?"

Noona freezes as she turns to Baek, her eyes widening as the male stands up, a smile coming on his face "Hey, it's been a while"

She seems to stare at him, her mouth opened with nothing coming out as she just keeps choking.

My eyes go back and forth with them as I sigh, standing up "I apologize Sunbae for her sudden choking, she usually eats me when she has the chance to. Excuse us"

I go to her, dragging her by the arm and taking her into the kitchen.

Immediately I shut the door, she is pressing me on the door, a wild look on her face as she snaps "What is he doing here?"

"You are hurting me"

"Answer me! Did you do this on purpose?! Because I wouldn't let the thing you have with Kim die down, you bring him along?"

"Do you remember Jan Yi Song, back in high school, when all the girls were over Baek Ji Daewi, and I could care less, but you were okay with me being around him because you knew that I could not have feelings for him?"

"That's not the answer to my question Eul Song"

"You trust me, which means that you know my limits. I can not and will not use Baek Ji Daewi as leverage. He is not just your long lost love, but he is also a friend of mine. Will you let me go?"

Her eyes slowly lose their predatorial glare as she back away while I sigh, crossing my hands "Don't apologize. Just tell me why you came barging into my house and I'd explain why he is here after"

"I am still going to apologize"

"Oh bother"

"I should not have hit you like that and I'm sorry"

"It's okay. It is the Yi Song way"

"What?"

"To be agressive when our love interests are involved. Why are you here?"

She licks her lips, showing me the envelope she had in the back of her jean pockets "Open it"

I take it from her, doing as she says as I bring out pictures.

"Do you remember that?"

Oh course.

This are pictures of Kim Geon Woo infront of my house last night, kissing.

"Who took this?" I ask.

"If you don't remember, your Father actually likes stalking you and is worried about your safety so therefore has cameras planted everywhere to watch you, which he does every morning from about five am to seven or longer if he has the time"

I sigh there "Has he seen this?"

"No. I have not been submitting series of your videos lately to him and he is getting angry. He thinks something has happened and wants to see you"

"When?"

"Today"

"What if he asks for the clips?"

"Zephyr and I have already found a way to wipe it off but I would not have known this if I was not just having a casual sweep of your videos. I thought you said you would be careful?"

I move away from there, staring at the picture.

It's obvious that he is the one holding me from moving, an image like this could look like assault if people did not already know that I was consent because of the fierce and possessive way he was holding me.

Like a baby grabbing his toy.

"Are you actually smiling about this?"

I turn to her "I would like to keep it"

"Eul Song"

"I like it" I say.

"Do you not understand the implications here?" She says "First, if this goes out, by mistake, if a reporter spots you both out, by mistake, he would know the truth and there would be fire on his ass. You know of his criminal records? And it is not a hidden fact that he is a man whore...."

"Enough"

She stops as I say, my voice cold as ice "It does not become you to shame people's choices"

She immediately bows her head "Forgive me" Then looks up "I'm just looking out for you"

"Do you remember Noona?"

"Remember?"

"Our Mother always gave you a hard time because of me? She said that you had to make sure I stayed in line because I was rebellious" I say "Do you remember?"

She snorts "How can I forget? She gave me hell because of you"

"She is dead now"

"Eul Yi Song"

"You can rest a bit" I say "I have been good for the past years since her death. I know that watching out for me is all you have done since my arrival and I always felt guilty that you never did live a normal life for my sake and I know that stopping you too would be hard, but do not go at Kim Geon Woo. I won't accept that"

Her eyes seem to water there as she says "I can't believe you mentioned Eomma like that"

I move to her, touching her face "We have each other. We will be okay"

Nothing will happen to you as long as I live Jan Yi Song.

I owe Mother that.