You're My Star

Chapter 16

2008-03-22T03:05:00.005+08:00

Few days later in the sportswear level at the Lotte YoungPlaza in Myeong-Dong, Pong Ky is busy picking out a bikini set for herself while Eunhye looks at the one-piece designs collection.

“Look at this, Pong!” Eunhye picks out a jewel blue one-piece and shows it to Pong, who raised her eyebrow in disbelief.

“No-no! That’s definitely not coming with us, Eunhye. What are you thinking?” Pong Ky speaks of her disapproval of Eunhye’s selection while pointing to the swimming suit.

“Why not? It looks perfectly alright to me…” Eunhye flashes her smile, “besides… we are going there for work, not holiday.”

“Does it matter if its for work or holiday? Eunhye ah, you’ll look like a fifty year old ajumoni in this costume!” Pong Ky grabs the costume from Eunhye’s hand and chuck it back into the hang rail, “come with me!”

Pong Ky pulls Eunhye to another section displaying the bikinis. Several young ladies seemingly in their late teens and early twenties are browsing through the collection and at times, whispering and giggling among themselves.

“There, this one suits you!”

An hour later.

“Hi! Shin,” Pong Ky greets and waves to Shin who is sipping on his daily brew at the café.

“How’s your shopping?” Shin looks up at Pong Ky and then Eunhye, signaling for them to take the seats across from him while he stands up to collect the shopping bags from them and placed it in the empty seat next to his.

“It was great! But I can’t believe how conservative Eunhye is, Shin!” Pong Ky was a little too eager to expose Eunhye.

“Madams, may I take your order please?”

A waiter in neatly pressed uniform came up to the two new patrons and place two menus before them.

“Coffee, black please.” Pong Ky said with a smile, without bothering to flip through the menu.

“Do you serve chilled earl grey tea? Could you add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to it?”

“Eunhye ya! You’ll grow five pounds after drinking that! I don’t think they have a size bigger in the store…” Pong Ky exclaims and points to the shopping bags.

Knowing what Pong Ky is referring to, Eunhye quickly changes her order, “Make it just a chilled one without the ice cream, thanks!” and the waiter left with the revised orders.

“What are the two of you up to? What five pounds? Eunhye can make do with a little more weight, she’s too skinny now.” Shin bends forward and pick up his cup of coffee.

“Ah… We bought Eunhye a sexy little bikini! You know how stubborn she is? Eunhye insisted on buying a one-piece! Come one, who wears a one-piece nowadays? I told her she should flaunt what she has when she’s still young, furthermore she’s still single, who knows some nice rich man or resort owner will fall for her charm and propose to her right away!”

Shin was smiling at he listens to Pong Ky relate their shopping experience but his eyes went pencil thin when he heard the last line.

“Do you think you will have time for leisure?” Shin narrows his eyes once more and directed the question at Eunhye.

“Why not? We are not going to work 24 hours…” Pong Ky said but Eunhye quickly stops her from continuing, noticing the steam coming out from Shin’s nose.

“Shin!! Do you think you can teach me how to swim? I heard from CT that you were on the school team! Will you teach me? I promise to be a good student!” Pong Ky diverts the topic.

Back at home.

Shin found it hard to swallow what he heard just now, “was Pong telling the truth? You bought a biniki to seduce rich men?” pacing back and forth while Eunhye sits at the foot of the wardrobe, packing his luggage for the bali trip.

“No! Pong was only joking, why are you taking it so seriously? Am I that kind of girl in your eyes?” Eunhye holds down the piece of singlet she’s folding and shot a killer stare at Shin.

“Then why do you need to get a bikini? One-piece is just fine! You should have stuck to your decision!”

“Fine, let’s not talk about this anymore. I’ll bring it back to the store for an exchange tomorrow. This is getting us nowhere and is giving me a headache.” Eunhye continues folding the clothes and remains quiet. Shin instantly felt sorry for raising his voice at Eunhye and being unreasonable. He just couldn’t contain his jealousy with the thought that Eunhye will wear a bikini and other men would ogle at her body.

“Its not …” Shin wanted to explain but decided to keep this mouth shut and slums into his armchair, picking up the book PING that he had picked up from the mall’s book section that afternoon.

After Eunhye was done with packing, she left Shin’s room without a word, Shin looks up from the book that was in his hand, it has remained on the same page one since he opened it half an hour ago.

“Damn it! I should apologise to her…”

“Eunhye ah~” Shin calls for Eunhye from the kitchen, after deciding to make dinner for them both, as an apology to Eunhye.

Hearing no response, Shin creeps up the staircase to her room and knocks lightly.

“Eunhye ah, dinner is ready. I cooked steak tonight. Eunhye ah~” there is still no response from Eunhye, Shin turns the door knob and stepped inside her room.

“Ah, so you’re sleeping…” Shin said to himself. He walks slowly over to Eunhye, and bends forward to call her again, now realizing there were streaks of dried tear stains on her cheeks. Shin instinctively rubs her cheek and feels even more remorseful for making his angel cry.

“Eunhye ah… Eunhye…~ Angel… wake up… time for dinner…” Shin speaks softly into Eunhye’s ears.

“Oh, Shin-goon…what’s the time now?” Eunhye peels her eyes open and forces herself to sit up on her bed.

“Its almost 7..” Shin tells Eunhye.

“Gosh, I should go and prepare dinner now!” having said so, Eunhye makes an effort to get out of bed.

“Eunhye ah… I’m so sorry…”

“Sorry about what?” Eunhye seems to have forgotten the little bickering that took place earlier.

“Sorry for being a fool, sorry for raising my voice at you, sorry for making you cry…” Shin cups Eunhye’s face and continues to explain, “I’m probably conservative like an old man, its not that I didn’t want you to look pretty and sexy… if it makes you happy, I shouldn’t stop you… but I… its just that I don’t want the idea of other guys hitting on you, you’re my angel and mine alone… I know it’s a little selfish of me, no! It’s very selfish of me to be thinking like that… its….. its just… I’m… just… please… Please forgive me?” Shin pleads with his eyes when he couldn’t find the right words to explain his actions.

“You’re such a fool! I’m not even half as gorgeous, only a fool like you would fall for me,” Eunhye smiles and pinches Shin’s nose, “and…. I have already given you my heart,” Eunhye takes hold of Shin’s hand and place it on the left side of her chest, “can you feel that it’s only beating for you?”

Feeling a sudden sensation flowing through his blood, Shin instantly removes his hand and pulls Eunhye in for a hug.

“You… have… forgiven me then?” Shin pulls away and flash his boyish smile like a little boy culprit who admits to stealing cookies from the jar.

Eunhye nods her head, and before she could mention cooking dinner again, Shin pulls her out of bed and head downstairs hand in hand for the dinner he has prepared as an offer of apology.

The next morning, at Incheon airport.

“What time did the rest say they will come and meet us here?” Shin asks

“7.30am, our flight departs at 10.35am” Eunhye reports and looks at her wrist watch once more.

“Let’s check in now, they should be here any time. I’ll send them a text message.” Shin said, as he was about to type his text message, the phone vibrates with an in-coming call indication.

“Shin speaking, yes, hi Jun Kang!.”

“We are stuck in early morning traffic here, CT told us to pick up some documents & kits from the office before we leave and now, Pong Ky, Minie, Kihyun and Moke and myself are stuck in this jam. I think we need to have our tickets changed. You and Eunhye go ahead to Bali first alright? There will be airport pickup by The Bale resort. Bale spells B-A-L-E. We’ll try to fly over as soon as possible. Call me once you had checked in. Don’t forget to claim your international roaming phone at the rental booth. Alright, see you soon!”

Shin hangs up the call in disbelief and threw his hands in mid-air and looks at Eunhye.

“Why? Is anything wrong?” Eunhye tucks at Shin’s jacket sleeve.

“Unfortunately, they got stuck in a traffic jam, Jun Kang said they had to pick up some documents and permits from the office before they come, well, CT told them to… and now they can’t reach in time. He just told me that we should proceed as planned and they will come as soon as they could get themselves on the next available flight.”

“How unexpected… so it’s only you and me?” Eunhye looks cheekily into Shin’s eyes as Shin tries to mask his uneasiness.

Shin crosses his arms over his chest, and playfully said “What do you want from me?! No!!” and runs out of Eunhye’s reach.

Eunhye runs after Shin, she didn’t see a tall blonde guy crossing her path and gets knocked down by him. The foreigner immediately bends down and helps Eunhye to her feet.

Shin turns around and saw Eunhye on her knees, trying to get up with the help of a golden-haired young man.

“Please pardon me, I hope you are alright.” the foreigner with water blue eyes and lucent lips says and he dusts the dirt off the knees of her jeans.

“I’m fine, it’s ok.” Eunhye replies, and couldn’t help staring at the blueness in his eyes.

“Eunhye, what’d happened?” Shin came around and gives Eunhye a hand.

“I’m sorry for knocking down your friend.” the foreigner apologies.

“Girlfriend.” Shin corrects him, “no, its our fault, we were playing with each other, and she was trying to catch hold of me.”

“Ah, it’s cool, no worries.” the foreigner bows slightly and go on his way to the check-in counter.

“Are you hurt?” Shin looks back at Eunhye and asks caringly.

“No, no.. I’m fine.” Eunhye smiles back.

“You…. Look besotted. With him.” Shin pouts.

“Since when?! Oh well… just a little” Eunhye pouts with her confession.

And Shin walks off without answering Eunhye.

At the check-in counter.

“Shin-goon.” Eunhye pokes at Shin’s back.

“Shin-goon.” Eunhye repeats and pokes harder. Still no response from Shin.

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All that I need

I'm sorry that I hurt you
I took for granted all you gave so freely to me
I prayed it's not too late
To save you from a broken heart
To promise you I'll make a brand new start
Believe me when i say

You are all that I need
The only treasure I see
You're the air that helps me breathe
through the darkest night
When I fall down on my knees
I was blind but now I see
You are all that I need

When no one far from perfect
Like a child that needs a guiding hand
Can you stay here with me
I finally understand
You've always been the missing part
Complete the jigsaw puzzle of my heart
Please hear me when i say

You are all that I need
The only treasure I see
You're the air that helps me breathe
through the darkest night
When I fall down on my knees
I was blind but now I see
You are all that I need

Please let me hear your voice again
Let me hear you say your love will never end
That whatever it takes you'll be there
When I say

You are all that I need
The only treasure I see
You're the air that helps me breathe
through the darkest night
When I fall down on my knees
I was blind but now I see
You are all that I need
You are all that I need...

Chapter 15

2007-10-14T04:37:00.000+08:00

“and I thought she was kidding me when she said you are in the same company too. It’s a small world, I would never imagine that you and Shin would be working partners.”

“Ah…. I’m heading out to watch Shin perform…. ” Eunhye said and pointed her finger restlessly at the exit door leading to the main hall.

“Let’s go together! Its been so long since I last seen him play too.” Jun Kang shrugged his shoulders, hands hooked on his jean’s pockets.

At the door between backstage and main hall, Eunhye tried to camouflage herself with the door curtain, having Shin see her and Jun Kang together is the last thing she would have wanted to happen. Although Shin’s back-facing them from where they are standing, Eunhye couldn’t focus on appreciating the performance thoroughly with Jun Kang standing close next to her.

“Could you lend me your phone?” Jun Kang asked Eunhye after Shin finished his performance and Eunhye was about to head back to the dressing room.

“Sure…” although Eunhye isn’t sure why he would want to borrow her phone, she handed it to him, not wanting to refuse Jun Kang’s little request.

Jun Kang started pressing numbers but he didn’t make any call but instead handed the cell phone back to Eunhye.

“It’s my number there. We should catch each other sometime.” Jun Kang winked at Eunhye and takes his leave.

“Were you out there watching me perform?” Shin turned around and asked when Eunhye comes back to the dressing room.

“Yes… of course! How could I stay here and watch you on that small television set?” Eunhye smiles and pointed to the little set on the corner of the dressing room.

Shin walks over to Eunhye and tousles her fringe.

“Aigoo… I love you for that!” Shin cups Eunhye’s face squeezing her cheeks together and plants on kiss lightly on Eunhye’s lips.

** end of flash back **

Few days later…

Shin and Eunhye heads to the office but this time round, it is Eunhye behind the wheels. Shin has wanted to drive the car himself but Eunhye insisted that the assistants and managers for artistes should be chauffeur, not the artistes themselves. Shin couldn’t discourage Eunhye since it is nothing but a real fact.

Shin can hardly keep himself still in the passenger seat and took out his camera and started snapping the streets, the passerby on the walkway, the clear blue sky when they passed the kangnam river… the last picture was taken of Eunhye when she pulled to a stop at the office building.

“Angel, should we tell CT about us?” Shin turned to Eunhye and asked with a serious face.

Stunned, Eunhye doesn’t know how to answer Shin and remain dumbfounded.

“Got yah!” Shin pinches Eunhye’s cheek and hop out of the car.

“Come on, let’s go!” Shin says cheerfully, “there’s someone we should meet!”

Eunhye found herself worrying… “Is Shin-goon referring to Jun Kang?”

3 minutes later.

Shin walks on ahead with Eunhye lagging behind, still occupied with thoughts and worries about who the person that Shin has mentioned really is. He refused to tell her anything when they were in the lift.

Shin pushed through the door and immediately extended his hand to greet the female guest standing next to CT.

Eunhye lower herself to peep through the partially frosted panel of the meeting room, two women were waiting inside. Eunhye heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the two pair of legs were wearing lady shoes.

“Good afternoon Ms Pong Ky! Nice to meet you finally!” Shin said with smiles.

“And I believe you had met Eunhye ssi..” Shin turned and waited for Eunhye to come in.

When Eunhye walks through the door, she immediately recognizes the tanned girl whom she met in Thailand and now connects through instant messenger.

“Pong!!! Oh my god!! It’s you!!!” Eunhye couldn’t hide her excitement to see her friend again.

Pong Ky cross over from the other side of the table and gives Eunhye a tight bear hug.

“Why didn’t you tell me you are coming? I could have gone to the airport to fetch you! It’s so nice to see you again!!”

“It’s a better surprise to meet in such a way isn’t it?” Pong Ky pull herself away and smiles at her Eunhye.

At this moment, CT spoke up but with a smile wide across her face.

“Ladies, catch up later, now on to business.”

CT kicks off the meeting explaining why Pong Ky has been invited to Korea.

“Ms Pong Ky is an up and coming young designer and beginning to gain recognition for her talent in this area. Shin is new and we had thought about engaging an industry well-known name to be his fashion stylist, but there are more cons compared to pros if we go for the first option.”

“We need new ideas and believe someone new to this circle could help inject new concepts and innovative thinking around this whole thing…”

Two hours later at Chaeri’s café in the late afternoon, the café was playing some soft soothing music when they stepped in. Chaeri is doing the accounts in the backroom behind the counter.

Pong Ky, Eunhye, and Shin takes their seat at the usual table reserved for Shin, sipping chamomile and lattes.

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What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces, of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, sayin' "how do you do?"
They're really sayin' "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself, what a wonderful world

“Pinch me, Pong, I’m still having trouble believing it!” Eunhye said and turns to Shin.

“How could you keep me in the dark?!” Eunhye pouts but quickly give her sweetest smile to Shin, “Thank you, Shin-goon!”

“Tell me what has been happening in your life, I haven’t been able to get online since I started work here.” Eunhye begins her questioning

Chaeri was still busy with her accounts books and Shin didn’t want to disturb her and he didn’t want to interrupt the girls as well, so Shin just sits and pretends that he’s not listening in on their talk while filming through the National Geographic magazine.

Pong Ky and Eunhye are so engrossed and forgot his existence, unaware that Shin has been pressing his lips together trying not to laugh at their girly topics and jokes. Once Shin couldn’t help it and his laughter is quickly disguised as a short cough.

“I’m sorry… I choked on … (cough) the.. (cough) chocolate bits…” Shin cooked up an excuse, but Eunhye knows that Shin hasn’t touch any of the cookies served. There are still as many pieces as when it was first sent to the table.

“Mianhe... Shin-goon, we should not have outcast you..” Eunhye said apologetically and quickly bring his cup of tea to him, although she knows that Shin is merely faking out the choking part.

“Its alright, I’m ok here with my magazine.” Shin said and attempt to get back to his reading.

“Let’s take pictures, shall we?” Eunhye suggested.

“Sure!” Shin is glad he can finally move and not sit still like a little one, quickly fishes out his camera and gets ready to be photographer for the girls.

“A little to the left, correct… put your faces closer together… yes, that’s right! Ready? Smile!!” Shin commands like a real photographer.

No flash light came on and Shin fiddles the camera and tries to figure out what is wrong. Then he looks up and said “Sorry, ran out of negatives!”

Both girls make faces at Shin and right there and then, Shin presses the shutter release button and catches them in candid moment.

“Hey! Is that how your boss is?” Pong Ky tease with a raised eyebrow.

“Anything’s wrong with me?” Shin acts innocent.

“No no no… you’re perfectly fine. It must be fun working with you. No boring moments. Right girl?” Pong Ky said to Shin and then turns towards Eunhye.

“It must be the pizza he ate last week. Since then he hasn’t been himself. He even fell ill after the pizza, to think that CT said he’s strong as a bull, and now he’s getting cranky too….”

“Yah! How could you say that of your bbbbooy. ss?!”

Eunhye winks at Shin and playfully sticks her tongue out as she rests her head on Pong Ky’s shoulder.

“Hey, what’s happening here? You guys are having so much fun huh?” Chaeri steps up from behind and at the same time, the door’s bells rings loudly and a familiar figure, a stout strong build, walks in.

“Wow, all of you are here? Waiting for me?” Jun Kang greeted everyone.

The three of them turned to look at Jun Kang at the same time…

“Hey mate, didn’t see you at the agency just now. How are you doing? CT gave you a lot of work yet?” Shin asks, full of concern for his high school buddy.

“Sure, I’m coping well. Just headed to the travel agency for these.” Jun Kang took out a stack of thick papers that looks like air tickets and informs the few faces staring at him curiously.

“We are going to Bali.”

Chapter 14

2007-06-24T04:42:00.000+08:00

"No..." Eunhye almost couldn’t say it out with Shin’s full body weight leaning on her as he lay motionless as his head fell to rest on Eunhye’s shoulder.

"Shin-goon? Shin-goon!"

Shin couldn’t hear Eunhye calling his name.

"Yoboseyo~ CT, its me Eunhye… Shin is running a fever, is there a family doctor that I can contact? He’s too heavy for me to carry to the car….. yes, his number is on the notebook? Alright, I’ll call for Doctor Oh and wait for you here."

After Eunhye puts down the phone with Doctor Oh’s assistant, she went over to check on Shin and covers him well with the blanket she brought down from the room. Eunhye clutches her chest trying to calm her own heartbeat..

"What did you say to me just now..? Eunhye looks endearingly at Shin while she mumbles to herself.

"Thank you Dr Oh for coming over to take a look at Shin. We’ll make sure he rest well." CT said to Dr Oh as he takes his leave after giving Shin a full examination.

Eunhye stood still as CT turns to her and then look at her son who is still laying asleep on the sofa. Eunhye was prepared to be reprimanded by CT for not taking good care of Shin but CT instead gave an assuring smile to Eunhye.

"Eunhye-yah, why do you look so tense? You think I’m going to give you a good scolding?"

"Yesss.. it is my job to take care of Shin but its only been a week and he’s fallen ill.." Eunhye can’t help but to blames herself.

"How did you manage to get him on the sofa? Was he already sitting here when he passed out?" CT asked.

Not knowing if she should honestly tell CT what they had been up to just moments before Shin lost consciousness, Eunhye mumbles a little but was quick to reply: "Errmm.. Shin was sitting on the floor…. I have always been strong, see this?" Eunhye raised her arm and flex her arm muscles to show CT.

"They used to call me warrior girl in school.” Eunhye beams a smile at CT and silently thank the Lord that CT didn’t probed further.

"I wonder if we should call off his performance at the concert in 2 days’ time? Although my boy… I mean Shin will recover in a day, I don’t want him to burn out, the album preparations are starting very very soon."

"I don’t know, I guess… he will be fine, I know he doesn’t want to miss the show."

"Great. I’m happy to know you already know him so well within a week! We picked the right person." CT proudly proclaimed and turns around to pick up her bag from the coffee table.

"Are you leaving already?" Eunhye asks.

"Yes, there are still matters to take care of back in the company. We are a handful now, one of our boy was caught dating a married woman… aigoo… we’ll manage." CT is always steady and not easily shaken.

"Alright, we’ll keep you informed of the performance, to go or not to go."

2 hours later.

Eunhye was seated on the floor and wiping away the perspiration on Shin’s face when he slowly move his head to the side and opens his eyes, seems to have come out of a deep slumber.

"Shin-goon, you’re awake?"

"My head... is so heavy..." Shin put a hand to his head and could feel it throbbing.

"What happened to me?"

"Do you really want to know?" Eunhye asks.

"You passed out in the middle of our... kiss." Eunhye teases Shin but immediately regretted having said that.

"Aww…. Were you disappointed? Haha~" Shin teases Eunhye back.

"Yah! You can’t say that to a girl!" Eunhye slaps his hand.

"Ouch!! My head… its splitting apart!" Shin grabs his head with both hands and seems to be in excruciating pain.

"Shin-goon! Are you ok? Don’t frighten me please!!" Eunhye begs as Shin scoops her up from the floor with all the remaining strength he has left and hug Eunhye tightly.

"I’ll be fine as long as you are here."

"Now, take one of each of these.” Eunhye takes out the tablets from the packets of medicine Dr Oh prescribed for Shin and put it in his palm.

"No..."

"Be good and take them all. Here’s water. Go on, take them. You should be thankful Dr Oh has already given you a jab just now, otherwise its double the dosage!"

"Jab where? Here? Shin points to his arm and tries to look for the injection wound.

"Not there." Eunhye is trying hard not to giggle.

"On my back?!" Shin’s eyes went wide.

"Yes... that’s the most effective spot." Eunhye imitated Dr Oh’s speaking when CT asked if he could give a jab on Shin’s arm instead of his buttocks.

"Rest assured I wouldn’t tell anyone you are... naturally... fair." Eunhye gives Shin a naughty but assuring smile.

"CT was here, and needed a helping hand to flip you up… I couldn’t say no…” Eunhye was still smiling as she recalls what happened to Shin.

Shin's reaction was out of Eunhye's expectation.

"Now that you seen it all, you must marry me, I’m all yours. Nobody else would want me already." Shin pretends to sulk and look sorry for himself.

"Don’t try to change the topic. You still need to take your medicine!" Eunhye commands.

Shin couldn’t remember anything moments before he passed out until he came around more than 2 hours later. He was still trying hard to recall while he obediently swallows those dry pills and quickly washes them down with the water Eunhye handed to him.

2 days later. At the Richard Clayderman concert.

"Mr Shin, the audience love you!!" Richard’s manager said to Shin in his French-accented English as Richard is back on stage for the remaining of the night’s performance.

"Thank you Olivier. Its my honour and pleasure to share the same stage with Richard." Shin said with a slight bow.

"Please send my apologies that I couldn’t stay for the party."

"We love to have you join us but understand you need to rest well having just recovered." Olivier extends his hand to take Shin’s hand in his.

"Remember to send us your album when it’s released!" Olivier added.

"Yes, of course!"

Shin gave another bow to Olivier and his wife Olivia as Eunhye and himself take their leave from the backstage.

All these while Eunhye was extremely quiet, Shin had thought that she might be more hyperactive than her usual self after having met her idol.

Shin snap his fingers in Eunhye’s face to bring her back to reality. She didn’t realise they had gotten back to the car.

"Mesmerised by Mr Clayderman’s good looks?"

"Ah? No... I was... Thinking things."

"Regarding?"

"Nothing… just random stuff..."

Shin now turns to face Eunhye. She’s more than not being her usual self.

"So you weren’t excited about meeting Richard, nor were you happy to get his autograph on your most cherished album..." Shin stops halfway when he realizes Eunhye wasn’t even listening.

Eunhye lost herself in her own thoughts again and she almost jumped she she saw Shin’s eyes just staring down at her.

"I’m sorry... I’m just... tired... lets’ go home." Eunhye makes up an excuse to stop Shin from asking what is wrong with her.

Eunhye has been tired of course, waking up in the middle of the night to take medicine to Shin, ensuring he is taking them every 6 hourly…

Eunhye couldn’t decide if she should tell Shin whom she saw in the audience when she ran out to the front to watch him perform.

** flash back **

Eunhye was on her way out to the audience seats when she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Eunhye ssi! Eunhye ssi! Its really you?!" Ko Jun Kang said and smiled widely as he calls out to the woman whom he has once hurt some years ago.

Eunhye turns around and looks at the man who seem so familiar and yet feeling like a total stranger. But she could put that man’s name to his face. Ko Jun Kang.

"Jun Kang ssi...annyeong... haseyo" Eunhye froze in her path.

"How have you been Eunhye ssi... I know I have no right to say this but I had always wanted to know if you are well and even looked for you."

"I’m... good!" Eunhye puts on a smile to hide her awkwardness.

"Chaeri said you would be here tonight, that’s why I’m here too." Jun Kang told Eunhye.

"But why are you in the backstage area?"

"Oh, I told CT I wanted to come and watch this performance and she arranged with the organizer for a backstage pass for me."

"CT? You know… CT?" Eunhye is puzzled, why would he know CT?

"Ah... I’m signed on to CT’s company now."

Chapter 13

2007-05-01T20:52:00.000+08:00

Shin opens his eyes when he didn’t receive a response from Eunhye. His girl fell asleep right under his breathe!

“Aigoo… the medicine made you this drowsy?” Shin heaved a sigh but breaks into a smile.

Shin carries Eunhye back to her room and tuck her in. Shin pulls the door but left it ajar. When Shin’s footsteps walking down the stairs become faint, Eunhye opens her eyes and held her hands close to her heart that has been pounding furiously when Shin’s mouth came down on hers…. A troubled expression dwell on Eunhye’s face as she fights back the ‘what ifs’ questions clouding her mind now. Before she tells Shin the truth, Eunhye is not ready for anything more intimate with Shin now… Eunhye quickly shuts her eyes and goes back to pretending being asleep when she heard Shin’s footsteps.

Shin came back up with the book he was reading and comes back to Eunhye’s room. He settles into the other single bed and continues to read. When the sky became dark and the room got too dim for Shin to read comfortably, he puts his book down and check on Eunhye, who has really fallen asleep by now.

Shin takes a seat on the floor next to Eunhye’s bed and caresses Eunhye’s face lovingly. “I can probably stare at you the whole day and never get tired at all….” Shin grabs Eunhye’s hand and held it in his as he lay his head on Eunhye’s bed to rest for a while.

Eunhye woke up to find her hand tightly clutched in Shin’s. Eunhye runs her hand through his mop of hair.. “how could I ever resist your touch now that I’m so loved by you…”

Shin wakes up suddenly and asks Eunhye if she was saying something to him.

“Shin-goon, what time is it now? I should be making dinner.”

“Nah, you stay in bed, you are in no condition to do anything. Let’s have a take-out. How does pizza sound? Which flavor do you like?”

“Seafood.” Eunhye smiles and stares back at Shin.

“Seafood it shall be! I’ll call for delivery now.” Shin picks up his phone and starts to dial the number when Eunhye jumps out of bed and pulls Shin off the floor and nudges him out of her room.

“I take a quick shower and come right now.” Eunhye winks at Shin and closes the door before Shin protests.

“What’s with this girl today? So much for the mood swings..” Shin said to himself and shakes his head, walking down the stairs to make the call for pizza delivery.

After Shin ended the call for pizza ordering, his phone rings and it is CT on the line.

“Hey mom~ how you doing?”

“I should be the one asking you that question! Eunhye’s not around you?”

“Yeah, I’m alone now. What’s up?”

“How’s your songwriting going on? How’s the rehearsal for the concert? I haven’t heard from any of you for days! How is Eunhye?”

“Aigoo..one question at a time please… I’m ermm… making progress, I just went for on location rehearsal yesterday, its pretty good, what could go wrong with Mr Clayderman’s personal piano right? And you have a son whose so talented on the piano, he needs no practice, hahaha! Eunhye.. she’s doing well.” Shin said with a big grin on his face at the mere mention of Eunhye’s name.

“Good. Don’t ever let her find out our relationship just yet, she doesn’t need to know I personally picked her from the list. And you better live up to your promise son, it doesn’t help that you are my son, I need someone who can produce good compositions, on time. You get me?”

“Yes, madam!”

“By the way, come in to office tomorrow or after the concert, I have invited two image consultants here for your album make-over.”

“Sure, I’ll probably pop by tomorrow. I’ll give you a call first before going.”

The door bell rings twice and a voice calls out from behind the door.

“Milah Pizza Delivery~”

Shin pays for the pizza and carries the piping hot pizzas to the living room and put them on the coffee table.

Eunhye came down with her hair still wet, she’s famished and couldn’t wait to blow dry her hair.

“Are we having it here?” Eunhye points to the coffee table.

“Why not? For a change…” Shin suggests, standing straight with his hands on his hips.

“Ok, I’ll bring plates.” Eunhye says and about to turn to go to the kitchen when Shin calls her back.

“No need for plates my Angel, we can eat straight from the boxes. Save the trouble for washing later.” Shin nods at his own smart answer, and puts out his hand to welcome Eunhye to join him.

“Sofa or floor?”

Without giving Shin an answer, Eunhye sits on the carpeted floor and signals for Shin to sit next to her.

“Wow, this looks delicious!” Eunhye opens the box and all set to tuck in.

“I’m so hungry I could probably finish half of it!”

“Leave half of it for me, I’m afraid you might eat up the whole pizza!” Shin teases Eunhye.

“Are you saying I’m a big eater?!” Eunhye glares at Shin.

“No…. I just had to carry you up the stairs again you know… if you keep falling asleep down here, I’ll break my back in no time, just watch your weight abit yah” Shin continues to poke fun at Eunhye.

Eunhye feels so vulnerable with what Shin just told her and a tear forms in her eye. She’s never been one to take offence at such jokes but she just can’t help thinking if Shin’s words might have some truth in them.

Eunhye makes a move to get up before Shin sees that she was affected by what he said. Shin sensed he might have said the wrong things to Eunhye, who is having PMS tension and quickly stood up and hugged her from behind and apologised.

“Mianhe, I’m only pulling your leg, Eunhye, I’m as strong as a bull, see my arms?” Shin said and tries to flex his arm muscles for Eunhye to see, while not letting her walk away. He rest his head on top of hers hair and tighten the grip of his arms around her waist.

“Chongmal mianhe… I didn’t mean it, no matter how big you become I’ll still love you as much as now, if not, even more… if you become bigger, I will have more of you to love..”

Eunhye breaks into a smile at his assurance and laughs at that.

“More of me to love.”

Shin turns Eunhye around and wipes the lone tear that has fallen from the eye.

“Yes, more of you to love. Please don’t be angry with me, if you don’t forgive me now, I’ll feel so bad and can’t sleep nor eat and I’ll have to cancel the concert performance and…”

Eunhye puts her index finger to Shin’s lips to stop him from continuing.

“I want nothing of that to happen to you, you have to bring me to see my idol.” Eunhye said, reminding Shin of her request, and her stomach starts to play a tune of its own.

Shin looks down at her stomach and laughs, pulling her to sit down again without further explanation.

Eunhye cuts a piece of pizza and pops it into his mouth while Shin grab hold of another piece and feed it to Eunhye.

“Oh my gaw…..” Eunhye exclaims as she pulls the pizza away from her mouth and the tangy cheese becomes so elastic it threatens to fall right onto her shirt, but Eunhye soon found Shin’s mouth covering hers as he scoops the falling cheese into his mouth and eats it all up until his mouth found Eunhye’s…

Eunhye fights back by pretending to bite him and the other free hand makes the shape of a claw, threatening to scratch Shin if he doesn’t back off.

“Be obedient! Stay still!!” Eunhye warns

“Let’s see whose in whose clutches!” and Shin bends over to tickle her on her waist, sending Eunhye falling to the ground as she giggles and tries to escape from Shin.

“Yah!!!! The pizza’s getting cold..” Eunhye found her voice and got up with the help of Shin.

Eunhye shot Shin a killer look and threatens Shin

“I’m quitting my job, go find yourself another assistant!” Eunhye continues to tuck into the pizza.

Shin picks up his cell phone and pretends to call CT but before he could press the ‘dial’ button, Eunhye grabs the phone out of his hand.

“Shin-goon!!! You!! You can’t wait to get rid of me?!”

“Well, you wanted to leave this job, I ought to let CT know, so that she can find me another pretty and charming lady assistant…”

On hearing that, Eunhye throws Shin’s cell phone back at him.

“Go ahead, I’m not stopping you now….” Tears fill Eunhye’s eyes and streaking down her face.

“Aigoo, my baby, I’m only pulling your leg..” Shin pulls Eunhye towards him and hug her tightly.

“My Angel and her mood swings is killing me, she can pull a joke on me but I can’t do the same” Shin says as he rocks Eunhye in his arms.

“Life’s so unfair!” Shin sighs and pulls Eunhye away a little, bending forward to kiss away her tears.

“Who can blame me for being madly in love with this barbaric Angel here?” Shin says in between his kisses.

Shin’s mouth found Eunhye’s again, welcoming his soft kisses. Eunhye offers her soft sweet lips to Shin as a shot of sensation runs through her body when their tongues meet and start to explore each others warm mouths. Shin embraces Eunhye by her waist as his tongue caresses and probes hers all at the same time, while Eunhye’s hands trace his face, neck and hair…

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Truly Madly Deeply

I'll be your dream,
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope,
I'll be your love be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do..
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on
A new beginning.
A reason for living.
A deeper meaning.
I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
til the sky falls down on me...
And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish send it to heaven then make you want to cry..
The tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty.
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of..
The highest power. In lonely hours. The tears devour you..
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...
Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'cause it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come...
I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do...
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...

“I… want… you… Eunhye…” Shin whispers between his kisses and his hand reaches under Eunhye’s shirt, Eunhye’s head starts to spin as she feels the room moving around her and it was as though she has been struck by lightning as she gathers her remaining strength to push herself a little away from Shin’s face and grasps for air…

Chapter 12

2007-04-14T20:26:00.000+08:00

“Eunhye, see what you have done! Instant break-out!” Shin said, pointing to a red spot on his left cheek.

“It was already there this morning, you just didn’t noticed it!” Eunhye sticks out her tongue and runs ahead towards the car.

Shin runs after her and got into pace with her without much effort.

“Where do you think you are going, without me?” Shin tried to say it casually and immediately reached out for Eunhye’s hand and clasps her hand tightly in his.

Eunhye stops in her track and looks down at their joined palms and raised her eyebrow again.

“Home?”

“Nah, let’s take a walk… after a meal…” Before Shin could finish his sentence.

“Alright!” Eunhye agrees with a big smile on her face.

Eunhye’s p.o.v.:
He’s looking for any chance to hold my hands… hahaha… how cute… gosh.. is this really happening? Am I dreaming? I fell out of love in 7 days and found new love within half a week… no… it’s longer than that. At least for Shin-goon he found me long ago before I had even known him. Eunhye can’t contain her smile as the thoughts ran through her mind.

Shin’s p.o.v.:
I don’t care if Eunhye finds me possessive… we are finally together after all these years, I can’t lose her already! God, is this really what you have planned for me? Making me wait all these years when she doesn’t even knew of my existence? Good things come to those who wait. Thank you good Lord!

“Why are you looking at the sky and smiling?”

“I suppose it will not rain again? The sky’s all clear now.” Shin looks back down at Eunhye.

A gust of wind blew in their direction and made Eunhye snuggle closer to Shin.

“Eunhye, you are feeling cold aren’t you? Let’s go back to the car.”

“It’s ok, Shin-goon. Your hand keeps me warm.” Raising their clenched palms.

Shin smiles and put both their hands into the pocket of his jacket.

“I need to get a couple of things there.” Eunhye points in the opposite direction at 7-Eleven with her other free hand.

The couple waited to cross at the traffic junction when Eunhye let out a little sneeze.

“Aichewwwwwww~” Eunhye sniffs.

“Are you ok dear? We better buy some medicine for cold… just in case yah?”

Shin let go of Eunhye’s hand and stands behind her, opens his jacket and draws her in to keep her warm. His gesture makes Eunhye’s heart float into the evening sky as warm tears well in her eyes but she blink them away before Shin sees them.

“I have always wanted to know how does it feels like to care for my girl like this. Holding her close, covering her when she’s cold, and not hiding the feelings I have for her.”

“Shin-goon, komawo~ I never thought that I could find happiness again..” Eunhye turns around and wraps her arms around Shin.

“I thank God for you.” Eunhye says without looking up at Shin, her face pressed against his chest and Shin could feel her voice and words imprinted onto his heart.

They stood there hugging each other, giving each other their body warmth and enjoying a couple’s moment….

Shin picks up a shopper’s basket and follows Eunhye as she goes around the convenience store picking out things they needed back home. Toothpaste, shower gel, a handy first aid kit…

Eunhye passes by a shelf, took a peek but decided not to get it, yet, walking on straight to the cashier.

“Eunhye, you wanted to get this?” Shin points to the shelf that is stocked with women’s sanitary goods.

“No no no…” Eunhye shakes her head violently to deny.

“Just get them now if you need to, so we don’t have to run another trip here.” Shin says.

Eunhye drags her feet to where Shin is and reluctantly draws out a bottle of shampoo on the rack which is next to the women’s sanitary goods. Knowing Eunhye is probably too shy to buy women’s stuff with him around, he just let her be and they paid for their shopping and left the store.

“Yah… what is there to be embarrassed about?” Shin asked as he settles into the driver’s seat for the drive home but Eunhye just turns on the music player to avoid his question.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me good night?” Shin says as Eunhye turns to go back to her room.

Eunhye’s heart is beating rapidly when she turn and smile at Shin. Eunhye is worried that they are progressing too fast and with them alone in the house, things may happen without their realization and they would have to bear the consequences. They are after all, a couple in love.

“Just a good night kiss…” Shin’s eyes seems to beg her.

“Alright!” Eunhye comes back to Shin and give him peck on his cheek.

“That’s all?” Shin asks and points to his lips.

“Yah Shin-goon!” Eunhye wanted to say something to reject him but her heart couldn’t bear to turn him down, so Eunhye gives another peck on his lips and hurriedly turn around and walks briskly back to her room before Shin could further protests.

That night, the series of events kept Eunhye awake. Counting her blessings, having met Shin-goon, the feeling of being in love and Eunhye is thinking of who would be the first person that she wanna share her new found happiness with… Chaeli? Eunhye is feeling some hesitation, after all they had lost touch for some years and she isn’t sure if they still feel the same closeness as before. Will Chaeli feel happy for her?

Shin couldn’t wipe off that huge grin on his face as he lay in his bed after a good hot shower. His perseverance in waiting for the right time to pursue his true love has finally paid off. Shin couldn’t sleep due to the overwhelming excitement that is running through his body and mind, he decides to call Eunhye on her handphone. He’s already terribly missing her even though she’s just across in the other room!

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Eunhye was startled as the familiar voice came through on her phone. She realizes it’s a recording of Shin’s greeting… “that fella hahahah…, when did he change my ring tone?”

The name flashing on the LCD screen screams “Nae Sarang” (My Love). When Shin and Eunhye got home and Eunhye went to put the shopping bags away, Shin reached for Eunhye’s jacket which was left on the sofa and took out her handphone. He quickly recorded his voice and changed his name entry on her phone while she put their things away in the cabinets.

“I’m missing you already, Little Angel…” Shin says in a low husky tone, trying to sound sexy.

“Me too…” even though they weren’t face-to-face, Eunhye could feel her cheeks turning warm…

They both chatted and whispered lovely words till late until Eunhye fell asleep on Shin. Shin still couldn’t make himself sleep so he he got up and went down to his work room in the basement to sort out some demos of his new compositions.

“My little Angel, time to wake up.” Shin calls out to Eunhye as he knocks on the door but didn’t get a response from her. As Shin is getting anxious as to why Eunhye is not answering the door, he decides to go in and check on her.

Eunhye is couched into a ball with a pillow against her stomach and cold perspiration is breaking out all over her forehead. She open her eyes weakly and could barely manage a “Hi~” as Shin kneels down and check what is wrong with his love.

“Eunhye, are you sick?” Shin move some hair that was stuck to Eunhye’s forehead and check if she’s running a temperature with the back of his palm.

“I’m ok…” Eunhye answered feebly.

“I’ll take you to the hospital now Eunhye..”

“No… Shin….goon… I’m … …. Cramps…” Eunhye is in so much pain she could not even complete her sentence.

“Ah… I’ll go get you some painkillers… Hang in there Eunhye! I’ll be right back okie!”

Shin ran out of the house practically with only his house clothes on after grabbing his wallet from his room, forgetting to throw on a jacket and only realizes that only after having ran some distance away from the house. The cold wind makes him shiver but seeing Eunhye is in so much pain just now, Shin decides to just go without his jacket and runs all the way to the pharmacy which was near the convenience store they went to last night.

“Come, take some porridge first and take medicine later. You can’t take it on an empty stomach.” Shin says while helping Eunhye to sit up.

“Did you cook this for me?”

“I would have wanted to, but no, I bought it at the restaurant, so you can quickly take some food and have your medicine.”

Shin cools the hot porridge by gently blowing at it before feeding it to Eunhye in small spoonfuls. After Shin has feed her the medicine he lay her down to rest and it wasn’t long for Eunhye who is in a daze due to the pain in her abdomen, dozes off and the pain on her face ceases gradually.

When Eunhye woke up, it was almost noon. The pain wasn’t as severe and Eunhye felt better after taking the medicine. So Eunhye decides to get up for a shower, feeling sticky after perspiring so much earlier on. As she opens the door to her bathroom, she notices a pack of Bubbly brand of women’s sanitary napkins on the vanity table. It wasn’t there the night before. It must be Shin’s doing. “Is there any more such thoughtful and observant guy than my Shin-goon out there?” Eunhye picks up the pack and smiles to herself. It was exactly what she wanted to get from the store last night.

Shin is in the kitchen humming to the tune playing from the FM receiver while reheating the breakfast he cooked that morning when Eunhye came down to see what he’s doing.

Song playing:

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You are the sunshine of my life

You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

I feel like this is the beginning,
Though I've loved you for a million years,
And if I thought our love was ending,
I'd find myself drowning in my own tears.

You are the sunshine of my life,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart,

You must have known that I was lonely,
Because you came to my rescue,
And I know that this must be heaven,
How could so much love be inside of you?

You are the sunshine of my life, yeah,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart.

Eunhye goes behind Shin quietly and stand there wrapping her arms around him.

“I was in so much pain but you are in such high spirits.” Eunhye’s voice is still weak and takes some effort to mouth those words.

“Go rest in bed some more, I’m just reheating this for lunch.” Shin says as he turns around and grab Eunhye by her shoulders, much afraid that she’ll fall down on her knees as her face is pale as paper.

“I’ll just sit here and watch you.”

“Aish… you never listen to me!” Shin pretends to be angry but wasn’t good at it, finally smiling back at the face smiling at him.

“Alright, sit here and don’t move!” Shin puts on a commanding tone and pulls the chair out from under the dining table and carefully releases his grip on Eunhye as she settles herself into the chair.

After they finished lunch, Shin decides to just sit back and spend time with Eunhye. They read their own books with Eunhye lying down in Shin’s lap, comfortable with the quiet afternoon silence and simply enjoying being near one another.

Suddenly, Shin sweeps Eunhye’s book out of her view and bends down to kiss her, taking in her bottom lip and gently nibbling it…. and Eunhye’s book fell from her hands...

till the next chapter ^^

Chapter 11

2007-04-01T07:22:00.001+08:00

“Come, let’s dig in.” Shin invites Eunhye to start eating the Samgytang that was served in the little Korean eatery five minutes away from home.

“I’d picked out the bones.” Shin pushed the clay pot to Eunhye and smiled at her.

Eunhye is feeling all giddy with what has happened just half an hour ago.

** flash back **

“Hey, what is so funny?” Eunhye sulks.

“Nothing…” Shin continues laughing and then when he finally stopped, he signaled Eunhye to come near with his hand, which Eunhye obediently did.

Shin bends over and carefully pick out the little bit of tissue stuck to her left cheek near her mouth. Eunhye was a little taken aback… is he getting too comfortable with her or simply doesn’t know how he should observe the personal space between people… always so touchy with those around him? Maybe its because of his living in the States before… but he’s back in Korea now he should know to follow the culture. Shin could have told her and she could have removed it herself…. Eunhye complains in her heart but……. she couldn’t stop the fluttering in her heart as she froze in her seat!

“Close your eyes and don’t move, Shin-chan” Shin picks up a fresh piece of tissue and started wiping the tails of her eye brows and her temple.

“Shin-chan?” Eunhye shut her eyes closed, full of embarrassment now…. And so afraid to see the smirk on Shin’s face… she had used brow pencils to fill in her eye brows that morning… gosh… she must have smudged them when dabbing the tissues on her face just now… why must she always embarrass herself before him?! Tissue bits stuck on her face and now smudged eyebrows?!

As Shin goes about gently cleaning up Eunhye’s brows, he studies Eunhye’s face and features, lovely as they are, and for a while, he just stared at her pouting lips….

Sensing Shin has stopped cleaning her forehead, Eunhye opened her eyes to find Shin staring down at her… Eunhye remains frozen in her seat.

After ten seconds of silence, Shin finally spoke.

“Eunhye…”

“Yeeessss… Shin-goon…”

“Has anyone said you are very attractive?”

Eunhye could only stare back at Shin, at a total lost for words.

“I’m attracted to you. Deeply attracted.” Shin finally confessed.

“Shin-goon… I’m truly flattered…but I think we should keep our relationship at a professional level… you are the boss and I’m your assistant….”

“Are you rejecting me now?” Shin’s voice became lower than his usual speaking tone and Eunhye could sense his disappointment. She wonders what could she say to Shin to get her safely out of this situation. Even though she’s attracted to him as well… Eunhye is not confident of herself to believe that Shin is not pulling her leg.

“No… I mean… we hardly know each other… its barely a week since I started working with you…”

“So… you are not rejecting me… but the time length of our knowing each other is a concern to you?”

“Yeah.. sort of… and I wouldn’t want to make the same mistake twice.”

“But I have known you long enough! And, I’m not Ko Jun Kang, Eunhye..”

“Ko Jun Kang… you know Jun Kang ssi? How did you know him? How are you related to him?” Eunhye is surprised that Shin knows her former boyfriend, her first-love liar boyfriend. Eunhye sounded excited instead of shock. It came as a relief to Shin as he didn’t know how to tell her about them before.

“Eunhye… you had really forgotten about me didn’t you?” A smile finally came back to Shin’s face.

“Do I know you before this?” Eunhye asked back, twitching her now cleaned eyebrows.

“Where did we meet? How come I have no memory of you?” Eunhye continues to probe, determined to find out the story behind them – the two of them.

“Jun Kang is my buddy in high school… yes, we attended the same high school. You and me. And of course, Jun Kang.”

“On one of the community days, our classes happened to be assigned to visit the same orphanage, that’s when I first met you, but I guess I wasn’t every girl’s dream guy, nobody took notice of me, and I was so skinny back then, haha~”

“Oh!! Really?! All the girls must regret it once you release your album.” Eunhye flashed her toothy grin smile.

“Jun Kang and Tony were the two most popular ones, do you remember?”

“Yes, yes, haha! So many girls followed them around…”

“That’s right… all the girls from your class crowd around them when we did our community service that day, but you were there playing with the kids.”

“So you were the one who came to the playhouse and play with the kids too? Are you that guy?”

“Yes…”

“So you liked me since then?”

“No, it was much later, haha!”

“Oh?”

“After graduating from High School, during the holidays, because of a lovers’ quarrel, Jun Kang made use of you to spite Chun Young to make her jealous and return to him… After your breakup with Jun Kang, your girl pals brought you to the piano bar… where I was working, during the evenings.”

“Cunto’s Piano Bar?! The one owned by CT??”

“Yes… its owned by CT, you are right.”

“Oh my god…. I can’t believe this… you are the singing-pianist?!”

“Yes I am… and you always took the corner table but you were always back-facing me...”

“You still remember!”

“Yes… I remember the lady who always tears up whenever I start playing, dabbing tissues and I had thought you were just crying over the breakup. But when John-Hoon, the other performer takes to the stage, you never had the same reactions….”

“…..” Eunhye nods her head.

“You came almost every day and at the end of the second week, I received a card from you which you had asked one of the waiters there, to pass the card to me…”

“Thank you for healing my broken heart with your voice and music.” Eunhye remembered what she wrote on the card.

“Right… I had wanted to reintroduce myself to you after I received the card, but you stopped coming the next day and day after and you never did show up again. Few months later, I left to study in the States.

“That only answers half of my questions…There’s one more that you have not answered.”

“Ahh…. I won’t tell you now.” Shin grins back.

“Fine! Shall I give you my answer now?”

“I will not…”

“Eunhye! Ok ok, you win! I’ll tell you.” Shin’s heart became so weak he didn’t think he could take a “No” for an answer.

“It was your tears.” Shin becomes serious and looks at Eunhye in the eyes.

“I cannot erase off the images of your tears… which later I found out from your card, was because you were touched by my music. Nobody has ever shed tears while listening to my music, Eunhye. All my life, I’d wanted to make music that touch the heartstrings of people, that is why I studied music therapy as my core subject for my major in the States. You kept me going, Eunhye, your tears became my source of motivation…. I thought of you all the time and it became so evident to me… that… I am in love with you.”

“And trust me, I didn’t plan for CT to bring you to me… I didn’t know it would turn out to be you Eunhye… I didn’t’ know what to do when I saw you again. I have no idea how to tell all these to you and I have no idea how you would respond…Eunhye..”

Eunhye sprang up from her seat and hooked her arms around Shin’s neck and and planted a kiss on Shin’s lips, catching him by surprise, but he soon responded to the kiss… and their lips remained locked in a wet French kiss… when Shin and Eunhye’s mouths finally parted for some oxygen… Eunhye shyly confessed ‘I think I love you too, Shin-goon. You had captured my heart with your music at that time, but I never know it was you...’.

“Eunhye, thank you! Thank you for coming back into my life!”

“Shin-goon, thank you for healing my heart and soul!”

And they continued kissing until Eunhye’s stomach started growling...

** end of flash back **

Eunhye wonders if she was possessed just now. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t hve initiated a kiss with a guy. Well, she only has one boyfriend… but the fact that Ko Jun Kang was making use of her, he never initiated any intimate contact that normal dating couples would do.

“What are you thinking, Eunhye? In a daydream again? Was that really you just now?” Shin teased.

“Yah~ I don’t do that to anyone… only to the guy who stole my first kiss…” Eunhye blushed and shyly retorted Shin..

“First kiss…. That morning was your first kiss?”

Eunhye nods her head as she picks up the chopsticks to pick out the chicken meat and put a piece into her mouth.

“Yah… its my first kiss too…” Shin lowers his head and continues speaking.

"I thought you had a girlfriend... so who were you waiting for? The Yes-and-No answer..."

"It was you Eunhye... I wasn't sure if I could give up on you, never knew if I would ever meet you again when I comes back to Korea. To be honest…I’m glad Jun Kang wasn’t serious about you at that time, otherwise I might not stand a chance at all… not back then, not now.”

Eunhye picks another piece of meat and put it to Shin’s mouth which Shin gladly accepted.

“So you bringing me out these few days was really a scheme to make me fall in love with you right?” Eunhye questions.

Shin chokes on the meat he was chewing and Eunhye quickly passed him his glass of water.

“Kwenchanah?” Eunhye quickly rushed to Shin’s side of the table and pats his back.

“Yes… yes… I’m alright…”

Shin turns to Eunhye and give her a tight hug.

“We are truly meant for each other Eunhye. We know what’s on each other’s mind! Haha!”

Shin pulls away and give a light peck on Eunhye’s mouth.

“Yah! Its oily!” Eunhye makes a face at Shin and Eunhye grabs Shin’s face and starts to plant oily kisses all over his face to get back at him.

The other patrons in the eatery, some of them smile and several of them laugh at this mischievous couple’s public display of affection.

Download (if player doesn't show up or unable to stream) Till The End

All these precious moments
With you by my side
Must be a gift from heaven
That's holding me all night
I don't know how I found you
I'm thankful that I have
Now that I have a love so true
To hold, to keep, to share

In my heart,
I can no longer hold inside
All of the love I used to hide
I'll always be
With you until the very end

In this world,
There is no place I'd rather be
You are my life, my soul, my girl
And through it all
I know that you've come to see
That you're the one
Till the end

All my friends around me
Say you'd be gone too soon
Baby, I'm gonna make them see
We've found our way
Back home

In my heart,
I can no longer hold inside
All of the love I used to hide
I'll always be
With you until the very end

In this world,
There is no place I'd rather be
You are my life, my soul, my girl
And through it all
I know that
You've come to see that
You’re the one
Till the end

We'll always be
Till the end

Chapter 10

2007-03-24T22:07:00.000+08:00

So Shin is waiting for an ex-girlfriend?

Eunhye felt her heart cringed when she heard Shin’s ambiguous answer. Its been a long time since she felt tugging in her heart… especially one caused by a man, since her break-up with Jun Kang. She probably knows why already but is not going to show it to anyone. She cannot fall in love with her boss.

“What’s on your mind?” Shin snapped his fingers before Eunhye several times before he finally got her attention.

“Oh~ I’m just thinking what to make for lunch.” Eunhye came up with a lame excuse.

“Lunch? We are just having breakfast now mind you…” Shin can’t believe what he’d heard.

“It doesn’t hurt to plan early…” Eunhye sticks out her tongue.

“Anyway, we are not staying in, again, today.” Shin informs.

“Again?”

“Yep.” Shin nods his head continuously until Eunhye gives in.

“Arraseo..”

“Shin-goon, it looks like its gonna rain anytime….”

“Ok, let’s take the car.”

On the way to whatever place that Shin is taking her to, Eunhye was unusually quiet and Shin was feeling uneasy to find Eunhye so moody all of a sudden.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

“No… nothing important…”

“You have been like that since just now.”

Eunhye didn’t feel like talking at all, so she turned back to stare out the window and continue psyching herself., but Shin is not about to give up, just yet.

“Hey, is it anything I said that you are not happy about? You are not happy about coming out?”

“No….”

“Arh… I know… it’s the time of the month… haha~”

“No!”

They were like that throughout the half hour drive, Shin making a question-statement and Eunhye would deny vehemently yet refuse to tell Shin what is bothering her.

When they arrived at Andalasa Concert Hall, a marshal at the entrance directed them to the open-air carpark facing the main door of the building. Several workers were loading things off a truck at the side of the building. Two long banners were hung on the banner stand outside the main door, announcing the two major events up-coming in that month.

As they walk towards the building, the top banner writings became clear to Eunhye.

Richard Clayderman Live in Concert
28 February, Only Stop in Asia.
"Special Guest Performance: Lee Shin"

“Omo~ you are performing?! With Richard Clayderman?!”

“What’s wrong? And nope, I’m doing a solo.”

“CT said you are a rookie in this line… but it didn’t seem to be so… you get to work and perform with big names like Richard Clayderman! It’s just one week away from now…”

Shin just turned to Eunhye and smiled when Olivia Senneville met them along the corridor. They exchanged greetings and Shin introduced Eunhye to Olivia. Olivia then guided them into the concert hall for stage rehearsal.

Eunhye stood on the side to watch Shin have a feel of the stage and the grand piano that Richard Cladyerman is going to use during the concert, feeling so in awe of all these happenings.

Rehearsal Song:

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After Shin was done rehearsing, he chatted with Olivia and asked about Richard. Olivia told Shin that Richard is still in Paris and would only arrive in Seoul two days before the performance and she would call Shin to have a meet up with Richard once he arrives in town. They then said their goodbyes.

Eunhye handed Shin’s coat to him as they leave the concert hall.

“Shin-goon, how did you get to know Richard Clayderman? How is it he like? Will you introduce me to him when he arrives in Seoul? Can I bring an album for his autograph?...”

“Hey Shin-goon, why aren’t you answering me…”

Shin stopped in his walk and turns around to make a face at Eunhye.

“You have been asking me non-stop, which questions should I answer first?”

“Hahaha… I’m just so excited! I’m been listening to him since young! How could I forget about his coming to Seoul! Now thanks to you I can watch him for free, the tickets are very expensive you know?...” Eunhye went on and on non-stop.

Shin knows how excited she is, but its his turn to for sweet revenge as Eunhye didn’t want to tell him what’s bothering her just now.

“You can find out for yourself how he’s like in three days’ time. What I know is that many fans and media reporters from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are flying in for this concert as it is the only stop in Asia this time. The hall will be filled for sure.”

“Wow, you mean you will be playing before 10,000-strong audience?! You’ll be known in Asia just by this performance alone… aren’t you nervous? Why are you playing that song? It’s the hit song that made Richard Clayderman really famous! Why isn’t him playing it himself? What…..” Eunhye blabbers on as they walk down the corridor.

“It’s raining so heavily!” Both of them exclaimed as they stood at the main door.

“How are we going to get to the car? We left the umbrellas in the boot.” Eunhye said… hitting herself in the head again for forgetting to bring them along when they got out of the car.

“Hey, stop hitting yourself! You’ll become stupid if you do that too often. Didn’t I just praised you for being smart yesterday? I don’t want to slap myself in the face so soon yah?” Shin teased.

“Come, use this.”

Shin took off his coat and put it over his and Eunhye’s head to act as shelter.

“Let’s make a dash there.” Shin pointed to the car.

Eunhye nods her head in agreement.

“One, two, three! Let’s go!”

Shin held up his coat with two hands as they ran out, but his right hand came down to hug Eunhye close to his side as they make their way to the car in the torrential rain. Eunhye felt his warm body against her own and wished time would stand still…

“Are you ok?” Shin asked when he got into the car after letting Eunhye get in first.

“Yes, I’m alright... just a little wet.” Eunhye smiles while dabbing her hair and face dry with tissues, and handed some to Shin.

But Shin missed the wet parts of his hair and Eunhye took over to dry it for him.

Shin looks into Eunhye’s face and was controlling himself not to laugh, but he can’t help it and finally broke it.

“Hey, what is so funny?” Eunhye sulks.

“Nothing…” but Shin continues to laugh uncontrollably for a good thirty seconds until he sees Eunhye is really fuming mad.

Shin signals Eunhye to come near with his hand, although Eunhye is getting really mad, she can’t throw a tantrum at her boss, so she obediently tilt herself towards Shin, waiting to hear what he has to say... or do to her.

Chapter 9

2007-03-18T17:54:00.000+08:00

Ling was jumping and rubbing her hands from the cold when Shin and Eunhye reached home.

“Mianh~ we rushed home right after CT called. Did you waited long? Have you taken your lunch?” Shin asks, full of concern.

“Its alright, I was ten minutes early. Didn’t expect the temperature to drop again… its freezing cold!” Ling said through gritted teeth.

Inside the house, Ling turns to Eunhye and makes introduction.

“You must be Eunhye, hi, I’m Ling. CT told me about you.” Ling smiles and stretches out her hand for a handshake.

“Yes, how do you do.” Eunhye smiles and displays her toothy grin.

“Would you like some hot tea?” Shin asks.

“I would love to have some!”

Shin moves to go into the kitchen but Eunhye stops him and offers to do so, so Shin briefly tells Eunhye what to make and where to get them, and goes back and sits right next to Ling.

Shin and Ling looks very engaged in the conversation and so often Ling would make Shin laugh out loud. Eunhye hears his happy laughter from inside the kitchen and wonders what are they chatting about. Just yesterday, when CT introduced Eunhye to Shin, he looks so serious. And today he looks like a nice easy-going person. Eunhye had thought that Shin might be difficult to get along when CT warned her about Shin’s temperament. Eunhye always believe that when a person could laugh heartily, that person is bound to have a good heart.

“If only I could make him laugh like that too…”

Eunhye comes back with a pot of warm lingzhi honey tea and sits down with them. But all they talk about was nothing that she could understand or take part in the conversation – their trip to Cebu just the week before. Perhaps that’s why Shin is so tanned… must be from the beach basking…

“Let’s go” Shin pulls Ling out of the seat.

“Eunhye, we’ll be at the basement and do not wish to be interrupted.”

“What’s the hurry Shinnie dear? I said I would show you a new technique…” Ling’s voice trails off as Shin pulls her down the staircase leading to the basement work room.

“Technique? Huh?” Eunhye tries to brush off funny thoughts of what Shin and Ling could be doing in the basement.

Eunhye sits around in the living room, moving from the sofa to the piano seat to the day bed and back to the sofa, waiting, just in case Shin might come out asking for her if he needs anything. As the minutes pass, she got more restless and started coming out with a possibility list of “what could they be doing”. She feels so bored!

Five hours passed and they are not out yet. Curiosity is killing Eunhye. She is torn in her decision to tiptoe down the staircase to eavesdrop in on them and risk getting caught doing so if they were to come out before she even reaches the door! Eunhye could now feel a little orchestra playing inside her so she decides to fix dinner enough for three – if Ling stays for dinner. No. If they ever come out by then…

Eunhye turns on the tv but there was no interesting program showing. To be exact, no program catches her interest. Her mind is inside the work room. As she lay her head to rest on the arm of the sofa, it wasn’t long before she drifted away and dreamt of her breakup with her first and only boyfriend, Ko Jun Kang.

** dream **

“Eunhye… I’m sorry to have done this to you… I’m despicable and I hate myself for making use of you! But please, please forgive me!” Jun Kang goes down on his knees and pleads with Eunhye.

Eunhye turns and looks at Jun Kang with tears pouring out from her swollen eyes. She couldn’t believe her first love is coming to an end just after one week. Although she knows that many first loves do not last, she simply couldn’t bring herself to come to terms with the fact that she’s also being made used by this man to spit his former girlfriend in his bid to patch up with her using a jealousy tactic. Why of all suitors she has picked a pretender!

“Thank you, Mr Ko, because of you, I don’t know if I can ever trust men again…” Eunhye speaks to her own heart. She wished her best friend Chaeri is by her side to lend her a shoulder to cry her heart out.

“I choose to forgive you…” Eunhye simply couldn’t bring those words ‘I hate you!’ out of her lips, even though she is hurting inside, she doesn’t want to hurt the person back in any way.

“Please bring Chunyoung happinessssssssssss.”

Eunhye’s voice trails off.

** end of dream **

After sending Ling out, Shin saw that Eunhye has prepared dinner for them but she fell asleep on the sofa waiting. He stands at the sofa looking down upon Eunhye and saw tears falling and she is even sobbing in her dream.

“Are you dreaming of him again?” Shin whispers to himself as he kneels down next to the sofa and wipes off the tears from Eunhye’s face and he wanted so badly to just embrace her to comfort her… instead he lifted her from the sofa and carried her back to her room.

Shin lays Eunhye down and tuck her in. Eunhye has stopped sobbing by now and seems peaceful in her sleep. Shin went back down to the dining table but sits there staring at the food. He didn’t have any appetite so he packs them into the fridge and heads back to the work room to clean up but feels all energy drained out of him already so he changed his mind and decided to sleep early instead.

When morning came and the alarm on the bedside table goes off, waking Eunhye. She sits up and stretches herself, and realizes that she didn’t come up to her room by herself. She was still in the clothes she went out in yesterday.

“He carried me?”

Nobody would be around to carry her to her bedroom, that’s for sure. Unless Ling helped Shin?

Eunhye gets ready and heads down to the kitchen to check on the food she cooked last night. Its not on the dining table. She checks the trash bin. Nothing there except orange skins and egg shells from yesterday. She opens the door to the fridge and found the dinner packed in tubberware and neatly stacked inside.

“A very tidy man indeed.”

“You are up?” Shin greets Eunhye from behind and he takes a seat at the dining table.

Although startled by him again Eunhye didn’t show it this time. She turns around and smiles her sweetest smile at Shin.

“Oh you are early today, Shin-goon. Don’t want to lay down some more? I’m just getting ready to make breakfast.”

“No worries, take your time.”

“By the way, thanks for last night…”

“Last night? What did I do?”

“Umm.. you know…. carrying me… back to my room…”

“Oh…. Speaking of that, my back is aching now!” Shin pretends to massage his back.

“Really?! Are you hurt? Omo~..” Eunhye runs to Shin and checks his back.

“You have no choice but to marry me now Eunhye.”

Eunhye stops what she’s doing and immediately keep a distance away.

“What?! Just because you carried me to the room?! Where’s the logic in that?” Eunhye protested.

“Who asked you to sleep on the sofa, I don’t want your drool to stain the seat so I have no choice but to carry you up to the room… but in the process of doing so, I strained my back and its still hurting now. Who would marry a guy with a strained back?” Shin speaks in a very composed manner, trying to put on a straight face and not to laugh.

“Strained back…. Yah! Shin-goon you pervert!” Eunhye finally gets the underlying meaning.

“Ok ok, I’m just kidding, haha! I’m perfectly ok! I have a strong back, see…” Shin stands up and stretches.

In an effort to change the topic, Eunhye asks what Shin wants for breakfast.

“Whatever you make for me, I’ll eat them. I’m not picky.”

“But would you mind cleaning up the work room in the basement first? I just can’t stand the sight of papers all over the floor.” Now its Shin’s turn to turn on his charming smile.

Eunhye heads down to the basement, it is her first time to go in there. She didn’t know of the side staircase leading to the basement until Ling was there and Shin mentioned it.

The door opens into a soundproof studio fully equipped with the latest recording gadgets in the industry. Papers with doodles and of musical notes is all over the floor, water from a drinking glass was spilled on the table.

“Oh my… what did they do in here…” weird thoughts and imaginations started to fill Eunhye’s mind as she starts picking up the paper one by one.

Inside the kitchen, Shin starts to prepare breakfast. He was making creamy mushroom soup when Eunhye comes back in. Toasted garlic bread was already set on the table.

“Shin-goon, I’ll take over, its my job.”

“Kwenchanah, you can help me instead. Pass me the potato cubes there please.”

Shin and Eunhye work well like partners, not getting into each other’s way like some people do. With two pairs of hands working, breakfast was ready in no time.

“Wow, where did you learn to cook this?” Eunhye samples the mushroom soup.

“It’s delicious!” She compliments.

“I lived in the States remember? I have to cook for myself back then.”

“You didn’t have a girlfriend to do that for you?”

“No…”

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be asking about your personal life.” Eunhye apologies for getting carried away.

“It’s ok, there was nothing wrong with that. Even though you receive salary to stay here and work with me, I hope, really, that we can behave like friends.” Shin pauses for a while and continues dipping the bread into the soup.

Silence crept in.

“I was waiting for someone then, so I didn’t have any girlfriends.” Shin said after a while.

“Oh…. So…. Are you still waiting for her now?”

“Yes and No.”

“Huh? Is it a Yes or No? How can it be both?” Eunhye didn’t look up as she goes on drinking her soup.

“Just because… it is so.”

Shin's Theme

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I was born to love you

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yes, I was born to take care of you, ha
Every single day...
Alright, hey hey

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yes, I was born to take care of you
Every single day of my life

You are the one for me
I am the man for you
You we're made for me
You're my ecstasy
If I was given every opportunity
I'd kill for your love

So take a chance with me
Let me romance with you
I'm caught in a dream
And my dream's come true
So hard to believe
This is happening to me
An amazing feeling
Comin' through -

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yes, I was born to take care of you, honey
Every single day of my life

I wanna love you
I love every little thing about you
I wanna love you, love you, love you
Born - to love you
Born - to love you
Yes I was born to love you
Born - to love you
Born - to love you
Every single day - day of my life
Woh

An amazing feeling
Comin' through

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yeah, I was born to take care of you
Every single day of my life
Yeah I was born to love you
Every single day of my life

Go, woh, I love you babe, hey
Born to love you
Yes, I was born to love you hey
I wanna love you, love you, love you
I wanna love you
Yeah yeah
Ha ha ha ha ha it's magic
What ha ha ha
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, yeah
I want to love you
It's magic
Love you, love you
Yeah, give it to me

Chapter 8

2007-03-17T04:01:00.000+08:00

Eunhye reads the signboard – “Chaeri’s Fusion Café”. The name Chaeri rings a bell to Eunhye….

Shin and Eunhye crossed over to the other side of the road to go to the café and there was a group who look like university students waiting outside for their table as the café is fully packed. Business looks good!

“Shin-goon, the place is packed, let’s go somewhere else. We won’t be able to find seats.”

“Don’t worry, come on in. I know people here.”

Nikki was out on the floor clearing the tables when she heard the bell on the door tinkles and looks up to find Shin walking in through the door, with a lady right behind him.

Shin signals to Nikki and she immediately goes over to escort them to an empty table marked “RESERVED” which was by the window, looking out onto the street.

“Hi Nikki! Where’s Chaeri?”

“Oh, she went out to run an errand, should be back soon. Here’s the menu.” Nikki hands out the menu to Shin and Eunhye, and observed Eunhye for a second. Eunhye looks at Shin, unsure if she should self-introduce.

“Nikki, this is Eunhye, my new assistant. Eunhye, this is Nikki, shop manager for Chaeri’s”

Eunhye and Nikki greeted each other briefly and Nikki went back to the table she was cleaning up before they came in.

“They are famous for their house blend here in this area, but I would say they are the best in Korea! Wanna try some?” Shin suggested to Eunhye.

Eunhye looks at the prices on the menu and were glad they weren’t too expensive. Shin saw her glances on the price column and let out a smile.

“Don’t worry about the price, when you come out with me its all company paid for.” Shin assures her.

“Oh, alright, I’ll get one house blend then.” Eunhye smiles back.

Shin waves to Nikki to come and take their order.

“Two house blends… hold on~”

“How about some muffins or pastries to go with the coffee?” Shin looks back at Eunhye but gave the order to Nikki before Eunhye could respond.

“and two banana chocolate muffins please”

“Two house blends, two banana chocolate muffins. Be right back with your order!”

Eunhye looks around the café, nicely and warmly decorated with abstract paintings, every red mini lounge-sofa is occupied, long white color threads were hung from the ceiling to form curtains around the tables, to give some sort of privacy from table to table. A black grand piano stands on a little raised platfrom in the middle of the shop space. There are groups of twos and threes, mostly couples and young working adults on their lunch break.

“Uhmmm~ the coffee’s aroma……” Eunhye takes a deep breathe when the coffees and muffins is served to their table.

“It smell so good!” Eunhye exclaims like a little girl.

Shin just smiles and take a sip, and then takes out his notebook and started scribbling into it.

Eunhye decides not to disturb him and starts to dig into the muffin. When Shin looks up after he was done with this writing, he quietly takes out his handphone to take a picture of Eunhye.

When Eunhye saw the flash from his camera, it was too late. He’s caught the look of her with crumbs sticking to the side of her mouth! Eunhye doesn’t know what is going on until Shin’s hand comes near her face and brushes off those crumbs for her.

“Oh my gawd~ how embarrassing!” Eunhye wanted to dig a hole in the ground to hide but immediately decides that it is better to act cool about it.

“Thaaankks~” Eunhye forced it out of her mouth.

“Shin, a regular customer asks if you could play a piece today?”

Shin nods and walks off to the piano, sits down, lifts the case and started playing.

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At the same time, Chaeri came back and saw Shin playing on the piano. She stood at the door hearing him till he finished.

When Shin finished playing, the guests in the café all gave their applause for the good showmanship he displayed.

“Annyeong~ … Shin! That was beautiful! Does it signify your mood?” Chaeri looks at Shin smilingly, glad that a dear friend like him is feeling happy again.

Shin brushes his hair away from his face and makes a face. He is indeed happy, Chaeri knows him inside out.

“I’m not alone today, come meet my new assistant.”

Chaeri glance over to Shin’s favourite corner and saw the girl sitting there who also looked back with open jaw. Before Shin could lead Chaeri to Eunhye, Chaeri has already run across to her.

“Ahhh, Eunhye ya, its you?! It’s been so long!” Chaeri saw who the girl with Shin was, it was none other than her high school best friend, Yoon Eunhye!

“Omo~ Chaeri!!! My dear Chaeri!!!!”Eunhye jumps up from her seat and hugs Chaeri tightly and they both did a little barnyard dance. Chaeri and Eunhye are as good as sisters, all friends around them envied their closeness, unfortunately they lost contact after they got busy with studies in university.

“You two know each other?”

“Yes, Shin! Eunhye’s my best friend in school, but we lost contact with each other after I left to study in the States.” Chaeri and Eunhye hold each others’ hands tightly, tears well up in their eyes, feeling so blessed to be able to find each other again and they both turn to Shin,

“Shin, thank you for bringing Eunhye back to me!”

“Shin-goon, thank you for bringing me here!”

“Aish.. what should I say? Hahaha~ I didn’t expect these….” Shin’s phone rings before he finish speaking.

Chaeri and Eunhye catches up on lost time as Shin takes his call.

“Alright, I’ll be back by then. Bye.”

“Eunhye, we need to go now. Sorry Chaeri, catch up with you another time. CT is sending someone over to my place in an hour’s time.”

“No problem, oh before I forget, Eunhye yah, take this.” Chaeri pulls out a calling card from her handbag.

“Call me when you are free to meet or come over okie? Without Shin.” Chaeri winks cheekily at Shin and hugs Eunhye again before she leaves.

Shin hugs Chaeri goodbye and left the café with Eunhye.

Chapter 7

2007-03-12T00:44:00.000+08:00

“I haven’t asked, where are we heading to?” Eunhye popped the question after they both got off the bus.

“I need to pick up some music samples at the records store first, after that what we’ll do we’ll decide later.”

As Shin and Eunhye steps into a huge records store, the attendant behind the cashier counter greeted Shin the moment they stepped in.

“Shin! I was expecting you!” Cindy flipped up the counter ‘door’ and came out to meet Shin.

“Good morning Cindy! Its great to see you again.” Shin stepped in to give Cindy a tight hug.

“I have got what you want!” Cindy winks at Shin and pointed to a bag in the display shelf behind the counter.

“Thanks!! You are the best, Cindy!” Shin patted Cindy on the shoulders.

“Anytime!” Cindy said as her gaze turns towards Eunhye.

“Hello, I’m Cindy, you are..?” Cindy didn’t wait for Shin to introduce them.

“Hello, I’m Eunhye, Shin-goo… I mean I’m Shin’s new assistant. Nice to meet you!”

“I see… haha… nice to meet you Eunhye ssi… I had almost mistaken you for Shin’s girlfriend.” Cindy looks at Shin and cannot help teasing him.

“Yah, Noona, stop joking, you’ll frighten her.” Shin tries to put a stop to it.

“Sorry Eunhye ssi, I’m just kidding, hope you don’t mind. Anyway, I have to get back to work, please feel free to take a look around here and just call me if you guys need any assistance.” Cindy made a gesture towards the box of CDs that she was busy tagging when they both came in.

“Come on Eunhye, let’s go up.” Shin tugged at Eunhye’s hand to pull her towards the in-store escalator before she could reply Cindy.

“When did you last meet Cindy ssi?”

“Just last week, why?”

“Oh…. Nothing….”

“Come on, there must be a reason why you asked that.” Shin probed, eager to know the reason behind.

“I thought you had not seen her for months…. or even years…”

“Huh, why would you think so….. ahhhhhh… because I hugged her?” Shin exclaims, as though he had found enlightenment.

“hahaha~ Cindy’s my god-sister… oh well, to be more accurate, she’s my mom’s god-daughter.” Shin offers the explanation.

“Cindy’s a great noona to me. Just a sister. Don’t be jealous of her alright.”

“Hey, no I’m not!!!!” Eunhye protests.

“Sshhhhhh” Shin puts a finger to his lips as the few customers lingering on the second storey of the store looks up at them.

Eunhye bows several times to ‘apologise’ for the commotion.

“I’m gonna be in that small room” Shin said, pointing towards a glass room.

“Take a look around, if there are albums you like just take them, I’ll put it on the company’s account. I’ll come and get you when I’m done.” Shin heads off towards the glass room right after he finished that sentence.

Eunhye’s face lit up, looking at the huge array of CDs and albums neatly arranged in the racks. At her previous company, Eunhye always loves the outings to the various record stores, checking out what is popular and topping the charts, sampling music at the kiosks, she never consider it as part of her job but something that gave her immerse pleasure and enjoyment.

An hour later, Eunhye went over to the glass room to find out what is taking Shin so long.

Shin sits comfortably in the Orange sofa with a headset over his head. There is a smile on his face and his fingers seem to be tapping along to the rhythm that he’s hearing.

Because You Live

Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
It's the end of the world in my mind
Then your voice pulls me back
Like a wake-up call

I've been looking for the answer
Somewhere
I couldn't see that it was right there
But now I know, what I didn't know

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

It's all right, I survived, I'm alive again
Cause of you, made it through every storm
What is life, what's the use
If you're killing time

I'm so glad I found an angel
Someone who was there when all my hopes fell
I wanna fly, looking in your eyes

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

Because you live, I live

Because you live, there's a reason why
I carry on when I lose the fight
I want to give what you've given me
Always

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has everything I need to survive
Because you live, I live, I live

Believing that he might take some more time, Eunhye went to the new-age music section to pick up some CDs and took them to the listening station.

When Shin came to pick Eunhye, she seems to be off to dreamland….

“Eunhye… Eunhye…” Shin calls out her name softly.

Eunhye wakes up and wonders how long have she fallen asleep. She looks at her watch, its almost noon time.

“What hypnotizing music were you listening to?”

“Oh…. ” Eunhye holds up the Stella Mirus CD.

“Its very soothing, can I get this one?” Eunhye asks for Shin’s permission since he had said he’ll sign it to the company’s account.

“Are you having insomnia or what? I wonder if the producer Kazumasa Yoshioka and Eri Sugai would laugh or cry at your purpose for getting the CD, haha!”

“Wow, you sure know a lot about music, Shin-goon! You know who Stella Mirus is made up of?!” Eunhye is amazed with his knowledge.

“Let’s go grab a bite? I’m hungry.” Shin suggested and again walks off towards the escalator, leaving Eunhye behind still seated in the sofa at the kiosk.

Shin picks up the bag Cindy set aside for him at the counter, paid for some of CDs he picked out and the one Eunhye wanted.

“You need some coffee.” Shin stares at Eunhye’s eyes when they came out of the store.

“Let’s go there.” Shin points at the coffee house across the road.

Chapter 6

2007-03-11T20:58:00.000+08:00

Eunhye wonders if she’s having fever as she look into the wardrobe. Too much body contact. Eunhye picks out her favourite green sweater with the vintage print across the chest --- “PONG KY”. It was a gift from someone Eunhye befriended in Thailand during a holiday 2 years ago.

Pong Ky is a fashion designer who was learning Korean at that time when they met in a shopping district by chance. Eunhye was trying to make a bargain at that time but the shop attendant doesn’t speak English, Pong Ky happened to pass by and seeing that Eunhye speaks Korean-accented English, stopped to offer her assistance. Since then, they had become good friends and kept in touch via emails and online messenger.

Eunhye quickly pulled on a pair of jeans, grabbed her bag and ran downstairs as she doesn’t want her ‘boss’ Shin to be the one waiting. She’s the employee and its only right that the employee waits for the boss, not the other way round.

Shin came out of his room and was right behind her when he saw her dashing down the stairs, and he quickens his walk down the steps.

“You are pretty agile.” Shin’s voice came from behind as he teased Eunhye when she stopped to catch her breathe on the last step.

Eunhye turns around and asked, “Agile?”

“You meant I was fast in preparing myself, didn’t you?”

“No, I really meant it, A-G-I-L-E.” Shin pronounced the word to Eunhye.

Shin stood on the last step of the staircase, dressed in green cashmere and matched with stone-washed ripped jeans.

“I had never seen any girls run down steps like that, and not risk a sprain, hahaha!”

“In other words, I need to behave more lady-like….” Eunhye looks down, she has always been guilty that she was never quite the lady that everyone around her expects her to be.

“No, no, I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I’m sorry if you are offended, Eunhye!” Shin offered his apology as he came and stood in front of her.

“Nah.. I am too used to people telling me that I’m a tomboy, I need to behave like a lady blah blah blah..”

“I like you the way you are, really!” Shin smiles and put his hand to Eunhye’s head and lightly patted her to assure her that he’s telling the truth.

“Come on let’s go, we’ll miss the bus at this rate, it only comes by every half an hour!

Shin walks off and Eunhye runs after him.

There’s a black sedan and a red vespa parked in the porch but Shin just walked past them and head towards the gate.

Shin slowed down so that Eunhye can catch up with him. Standing at 1.87m tall, Shin is taller than the average Korean man. His strides are long but he never likes to walk any quicker than necessary so that he can enjoy making observations of his surroundings.

“Shin-goo…..” Eunhye calls out but stopped halfway.

“Shin-goo? What did you just call me?”

“Shin-goon….” Eunhye hesitated in her reply.

“Oh… nickname for me?”

“Sort of… I never have friends or colleagues with one-character name… so it feels kind of word to call you just ‘Shin’, hehehe” Eunhye laughs sheepishly.

“Ahhh.. haha.. no problem, you may call me by any name you like” Shin winks at Eunhye and continue walking down the slope leading to the bus-stop.

“Shin-goon, the car and motorbike…. the company provides them to you too or you own them?”

“Nah, I’m not that rich to own both, haha! The car belongs to the company, but the vespa is mine.”

“So why aren’t you using it today?”

“Would you prefer me to drive us into town instead?”

“Oh no… I’m just curious.”

The sun is smiling brightly, adding some warmth to the winter breeze blowing in their direction. The moment they arrived at the bus-stop, the bus that would bring them into town came into view around the bend of the road.

“Oh, the bus is here!” Shin pointed in the direction of the bus.

Shin and Eunhye hopped on and found an empty couple seat near the front entrace, after they settled down, Shin elaborated:

“Sometimes I prefer not to drive or take my bike, you know when we drive, all our attention is focused on the road and traffic conditions. I love to take to public transport so that I can observe the people, the surroundings.”

“Ohh… seeing different things, that we normally wouldn’t get to see.” Eunhye nods her head to affirm her understanding of Shin’s words.

“Right! You are a really smart girl, Eunhye, I’m so glad CT brought you to me.” Shin said, looking into Eunhye’s eyes.

“Thank you!” Eunhye grins back at Shin upon hearing the compliment.

“You are very different.”

“Me? Different? How?”

“You are not afraid to accept compliments, haha! By this I’m not implying that you are thick-skin or anything, so please don’t misunderstand me alright.” Shin adds. Shin is fast to realize that Eunhye is also a sensitive person and might get him wrong if he doesn’t explain himself correctly.

“Most female friends and colleagues I know are really shy when they are being complimented. As I lived in the States for 2 years, the culture there is totally different. When people offer compliments, the person being complimented would simply accept them with a ‘Thank You!’ like what you just did.

Eunhye smiles quietly at Shin’s assurance, that he didn’t think of her as being thick-skinned and that she doesn’t know what being humble is about.

“Also, since I have company today, it would be more fun to take the bus so that we can chat during the journey…”

Soon, more passengers board the bus and taken up all the seats, an old couple came up the bus and the youngsters who took the seats reserved for senior citizens made no intention to give it up, Eunhye and Shin stood up at the same time and called out to the old couple unanimously. They then look at each other and laugh at their uncoordinated but unanimous reaction.

The bus moves at a snail speed once it reaches town, Eunhye held onto the hand rail with her right hand as her left hand reaches into her bag to check if she has brought along her digital camera.

At that moment, the bus picks up full speed, only to jerk and come to a screeching halt a few seconds later. The sudden impact threw Eunhye right into Shin’s arms, her face pressed against his chest. Shin hangs on for dear life with the overhead hand rings.

Eunhye quickly steady herself as Shin rubs his wrists to ease the pain. The bus driver got off to check on the tyres and make sure the vehicle didn’t hit the puppy that has dashed out onto the main road suddenly.

“Are you alright?!” They both asked each other with a worried face.

”I’m not hurt, Shin-goon are you ok? Your hands? Pabo me! I should have hang on with both hands…” Eunhye is about to break into sobs, worried that Shin’s hands are injured because of shielding her from the fall.

“Don’t worry girl, I’m fine!” Shin said and shows his hands to Eunhye, making turns and twists to show that his wrists are ok.

“I don’t know how to face CT if you get hurt because of me…” a tear wells up in Eunhye’s eyes.

“Hush now.. I’m really ok, and don’t tell CT about this alright, there’s no need to report everything to her. Even if I do get hurt, it’s not your fault, its unforeseen circumstance…” Shin assures, patting Eunhye on the head a second time the same day.

The bus driver apologises to his passengers for the incident and checks if everyone is alright. Nobody reported that they had sustained any injuries and the bus continues to move.

This time, Eunhye plants her two hands firmly on the hand rail. Shin adjusted his position to stand behind her, as the old couple looks up to them, smile knowingly to themselves about this young couple both dressed in green tops…

Something about you

I dont know what you do to me but
Everytime I'm with you its a natural high
its like re-discovering Eden
with chocolate-coated rainbows and cotton candy skies
And everytime you look my way
I wish i had the guts to say

There's something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Something in the way you move me
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
Make me want to cry
I'm falling in love with you.

I think i'll hire Cupid
He'll make you see I'm more than your friend
You'll be tossing and turning
Counting the hours til you see me again
And when we meet you'll
Kiss my hand and say the words I've longed to hear

There's something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Something in the way you move me
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
I'm falling in love with you
You make me want to sing
Make me want to dance
Make me want to cry
I'm falling in love with you.

Chapter 5

2007-03-08T00:51:00.000+08:00

“Oh my god~~~~” Eunhye screams inside her heart.

Eunhye stares right into Shin’s eyes and she could feel a chill running down her spine as his eyes smile back at her!

Shin started to respond to the unexpected morning greeting as Eunhye’s body went totally numb. She wanted to move away and not receive that kiss yet her body is not doing anything to fight back! Worst of all, Shin now have her in his embrace!! Blood engorged her lips and Eunhye felt them burn, but at the very same instant, Eunhye’s willpower took over before her body and soul betrays her!

Eunhye pushed herself against Shin’s chest to break free from his hug and kiss. Her unknown warrior force threw herself back and she fell sitting down onto the carpeted floor.

Thud!

“Ouch!!!!!” Eunhye screams in pain. The pain didn’t come from her burning lips but from her bruised bottom!

Shin sits himself up on the bed and didn’t wipe away that smile.

“Good morning Eunhye … ss” Shin cut short of greeting her ‘ssi’ since CT, Shin and Eunhye had all wanted to be less formal and friendly with each other.

Eunhye remains seated on the floor, one hand rubbing her bruise and using the other hand’s back of the palm to wipe her lips.

“What an unusual morning greeting! Is this how you would greet me every day from now? Although I’d just said it last night that you should knock on the door before coming in… if that’s the case then you may have my permission not to knock the door in the morning…” Shin chuckled.

Having heard his words, Eunhye blushed but tried to defend herself. She’s not an easy girl, who does he think she is?!

“No!! I only wanted to check if you are alright here…. And I’m not who you think I am ok! I had merely lost my balance and ………..” Eunhye didn’t know how to continue, she couldn’t possibly let him know that it was her first kiss!

Although Eunhye has had a boyfriend before but they separated just one week into their relationship, so they didn’t had the chance to get to that stage of sharing a couple’s first kiss.

“Anyway, I’m here to let you know that breakfast is ready.”

“Alright, I’ll wash up and come right down in a jiffy… if you could leave me for now… I am not fully dressed under the sheets…” Shin teased her.

Eunhye’s telling eyes went wide as she tries to fight away the imagination creeping into her mind.

Shin nodded at her, seeming to affirm what is on her mind.

“Oh no!! He could read my mind?!” the alarm went off in Eunhye’s heart.

Eunhye blushed like a tomato and quickly pick herself off the floor and ran out the room at the speed of lightning…. Only to return 2 seconds later to grab the door knob and close the door firmly shut behind her.

Shin sat there smiling for awhile, couldn’t help counting this incident as one of his blessings!

Outside the door, Eunhye stood there frozen in her own thoughts again.

“There goes my first kiss!”

“All my fantasies about it being a romantic one…. Aigooooooooo” Eunhye pouts her lips and pretend to cry.

"hmm...."

“At least he’s not a bad looking guy…. and a superstar to be… Its not my lost right good Lord?” Her pout turns into a foolish grin and she can’t believe that these thoughts were from her own mind. Where did the Yoon Eunhye of yesterday gone to?

As Shin walks down the stairs he used his fist to ‘hammer’ himself around the aching parts of his body, serves him right for falling asleep in the armchair! Fortunately he woke an hour later and washed up before crawling into bed, or else his neck would be even stiffer than now!

“What do we have for breakfast today?”

“Bacon, eggs and orange juice!” Eunhye looks up smilingly at Shin and replied him, trying to sound her usual self to forget about the whole incident few moments ago.

“Wow, you know what I like! Did CT tell you to make this?”

“Nope she didn't… I just looked at what’s inside the fridge just now and decided to come up with this, there isn’t any rice so I can’t cook you a good Korean breakfast.”

“This is perfectly fine with me, thanks for making breakfast for me.” Shin thanks Eunhye, the appreciation genuinely glowing in his eyes.

“This feels like you are the wife making breakfast for the husband…” Shin teases Eunhye as he takes a big gulp of the orange juice.

“Ymmmm, this is nice! Its different from the normal orange juice I had before. Just what did you add inside? You didn’t add poison to it right? Taking revenge?” Shin’s face turned pale at the thought of it.

“woahahhahahaahah! You guessed it right!!”

“You~~~~~~~~~~~” Shin grabbed his throat, pretending to faint.

“I added lemon detergent to it, hiak hiak hiak…” Eunhye gave a diabolic grin before bursting into laughter.

“Nahhhh, I’m an Angel sent from Heaven you know” Eunhye grins at Shin.

“It was lemon grass.” Eunhye finally owns up, telling Shin what was the special ingredient that she had added to the juice.

“Ahh…. Hahahaha… I’m pulling your leg too! Thank you Angel!”

“Let’s get out of the house after we are done.” Shin said.

“Where to? Aren’t you suppose to be concentrating on writing your song compositions?”

“That’s right!”

Eunhye looked at Shin blankly, not getting what he’s trying to get at.

“Composing doesn’t need to be done alone or indoors. I get inspirations from people walking down the street, ajummas in the shiktang (korean restaurants/eating houses), or even from ajushis at the namtang, chatting with you…..”

“Ah… drawing inspirations from everyday life….”

“Aigoo…. You are so smart!” Shin pinched Eunhye on both her cheeks.

Eunhye’s cheeks didn’t turn red because of Shin’s pinching but she was really blushing from the body contact….

“Let’s go get ready!”

Chapter 4

2007-03-02T00:36:00.000+08:00

Eunhye laid still in bed as she stare at the ceiling. A fresh new day has come and marked a new chapter in her life.

Sunlight peeked into her room through the gap in the curtains. Eunhye should feel happy now that she’s got a new job, yet her breathe was heavy as she’s still trying to come to terms with the fact…. 6 hours passed and she’d hardly slept, normally she would fall asleep within 5 minutes when her head hits the pillow.... she doesn’t understand why her body and mind is reacting like that, is it really because of her fear of staying with a man? A man two years her senior….

Eunhye didn’t get any answer to her own question, as she got sick of just laying there, she decided to get up and get ready for the new day.

Its only 8am when Eunhye came out of the bathroom, so she took her time to towel dry her hair. Eunhye is one who takes good care of her hair, avoiding blow-drying it after a wash, so her hair is as smooth as silk.

After she was done, Eunhye went downstairs to take a look of the surroundings since it was already dark when they got home last night, she could now get a clear view in the morning sunlight.

The structure of the house is very modern on the outer façade. White painted walls, a small garden of green leafy plants and there’s even a mid-sized swimming pool!

Eunhye stood in the garden for a while to bask in the morning sun. Eunhye always love the sun and she was mostly tanned throughout her years in school and university. After working in the society, chances of getting under the sun became lesser and now Eunhye is just as fair as any lady walking down the street.

As she turn her face towards the sun, its as though she is receiving energy for the new job, the new day, the new…… man….

Eunhye open her eyes and looked at her wrist watch. 8.30am. Time to make breakfast!

Inside the kitchen, Eunhye looked into the refrigerator to check what ingredients she can use to make breakfast. It seems pretty well-stocked to her!

Eunhye is a pretty good cook, although she’d been living with her parents, Eunhye’s omonim made sure she knows how to cook, as no man would want a wife who couldn’t go into the kitchen!

“Let’s see, what shall we have for today?” Eunhye said to herself as she takes stock of what she could prepare with the ingredients.

“omo… what does he likes to eat? I’d forgot to ask him?!”

“He’s still sleeping now… aish…. Ok! Let’s make bacon and eggs! Couldn’t go too wrong” Eunhye decided :P

As Eunhye went about busying in the kitchen, Shin lies in his bed still soundly asleep.

It didn’t take Eunhye a long time to finish frying the bacon and egg, so she decided to make orange-banana juice for both of them.

As the time ticks away, Eunhye heard the alarm went off at quarter to 10am….

Beep beep~

Beep beep beep~

Beep beep beep beep~

Beep beep beep beep~

It was just in time after breakfast was ready, but Eunhye left the bacon and eggs on the hot plate to keep them warm. Eunhye sat there and waited for Shin to come down.

After 15 minutes, there is still no sight of Shin. The alarm clock went off a second time.

Eunhye decided to go wake him up before the breakfast gets old and cold.

Eunhye puts her ears to the door to find out if there’s any movement from inside the room, as she doesn’t want to barge in like how she did last night… she still can’t help blushing when she thought about it!

*knock knock*

*knock knock*

*knock knock*

No response.

“Oh dear, I hope Shin didn’t faint inside the bathroom!”

Eunhye fumbled on the door knob and quickly pushed open the door, only to heave a sigh of relieve to see Shin lying in his bed.

She went near to take a look at him, just to make sure he’s still alive.

“Shin goon~”

“Shiiinnn goooon~”

No response.

Eunhye tip her body over and put a finger to his nose.

“Good, he’s still breathing!” Eunhye giggled as she’s beginning to feel like a detective there.

Eunhye remained bending and can’t help but admire his peaceful sleeping look.

“You must be a nice person, right? You look so angelic….” as Eunhye engrossed herself in that thought, Shin open and rubbed his eyes, and he couldn’t believe that Eunhye was standing right there looking at him.

With Eunhye looking at him eye-to-eye, Shin’s sudden waking caught her by surprise and made her lose her balance!

In that instant, Eunhye wished she didn’t take up the job as their lips met and time seems to have come to a standstill…

Chapter 3

2007-02-24T02:33:00.000+08:00

The sudden voice behind Eunhye startled her.

"erh... yah.. yes.. its awesome!" Eunhye stammers... forcing a smile out of her face.

“Did I scare you? Sorry if I did… I hope you aren’t afraid of me… you are stammering, hahaha.." Shin said and gave up making effort to strike a conversation.

"No! No! I'm not... ermm... haha.. I'm like that whenever I'm at a new place... hehehhe.." Eunhye tried to cover up with an excuse.

“I’m sorry about just now Shin, I have other thoughts occupying my mind and I forgot what CT told me” Eunhye apologized again and blushed when she recalled what she’d bumped into just now.

“Now now…you are making me embarrassed… aish.. kwenchanayo… just forget about it alright?… but please bear in mind to knock first if you ever need to come inside my room, hahahah!!! I’m not used to locking up, not even when I stayed with my parents or in school hostel… I know what you did wasn’t intentional.” Shin laughs.

"Cham, this place gets cold at night, don’t stay out there too long. It’s late, you have a good rest! And by the way, I'm not an early person, I normally wake up around 10am... you can get ready my breakfast around that time, I'm sure CT would have told you that..." Shin said.

"Yes, CT told me... Good night! See you tomorrow!" Eunhye replied... not knowing what else to say, waving good night to Shin... after she realised she behaved like a little kid she quickly put her hands down and turned back and hugged herself in the breeze, pretending to continue enjoying it when the cold breeze is starting to send a chill down her spine.

Hearing Shin walked away, Eunhye ran to close her bedroom door as lightly as possible and even click the lock as softly as possible, hoping Shin wouldn't hear it.

Eunhye sat herself on the right side of the bed facing the window, it’s the softest bed that she has ever sat on, she’s sure she would have the sweetest dreams too when she sleeps on it. But now if only she didn’t have to start staying with the man she’d only known for half a day, it would have been perfect! A room to herself, a nice bed, a nice view from her room…

Eunhye opens her bag and brought out her organizer, Shin's piece of folded paper with his schedule falls out onto her lap. Eunhye opens and stares at it.

Monday to Sunday.

11am to 11pm.

Home.

Song-Writing.

Eunhye flips the schedule to the other side where CT has scribbled some notes for her.

It reads, “Eunhye’s job scope”

1. Making 3 meals
2. Chat with Shin. *** It gives him inspiration ***
Note. House-cleaning would be taken care off by part-time housekeeper who comes by on alternate days.

“Cooking is simple enough, but to chat with him?” Eunhye wonders if she can make it…

"Ottoke???? We're gonna see only each other for the next few days or even weeks?!! Aigoo... Omma...ottoke... God, I pray Shin will write faster… grant him lots of inspirations okie?? Please???" Eunhye sulked... deciding to accept her fate for now, Eunhye changed into her pyjamas and get ready for bed.

"ok... no point worrying... let's take a day at a time.... he won't do anything to me... I… hope.. and I’m not even beautiful for any man’s taste… not anymore" That night, Eunhye had a hard time falling asleep, and kept reminding herself not to worry about staying alone with Shin…

Back in his room, Shin took a seat in the arm chair next to his bed. He pull out a cigarette but didn't light it...

"She doesn't recognise me?" Shin thought to himself.

"And she even locked the door.. hahaha... " Shin found it amusing that Eunhye would lock the door. He sat there and the flash back came back on how they met.... not long after, the cigarette fell from his hands and his heavy eyelids finally come down as he lay soundly asleep in the armchair...

Chapter 2

2007-02-21T01:18:00.000+08:00

It was already past 10pm when the threesome left the agency and head for 'home'.

"Eunhye, this is where you will be staying, come on in!" CT told Eunhye.

Its not even an apartment or hostel, Eunhye told herself, too stunned for words when she got out of CT’s car and stared at the bungalow before her eyes. The bungalow has ceiling-tall window panes all over!

“Come on Eunhye, what are you staring at?” CT nudged Eunhye to move as Shin took out the keys to the house.

Eunhye is puzzled... why is Shin the one opening the door?

“There are 2 bedrooms upstairs, the room on the right, is yours, and the one on the left is Shin's." CT informed Eunhye.

"What?! I'm staying with him?!" Eunhye can't help asking.

"just temporary arrangement, Eunhye... Shin's gonna be staying home from now on and concentrate on composing for his first album, its better that you stay with him and take care of his needs." CT smiled guiltily at Eunhye.

"for how long, CT? Gosh.. I'd never lived with another man in my life... " Eunhye's voice trailed off as she saw Shin staring at her... from the corner of her eyes...

"until Shin finishes his writing... or until you throw in your towel and don't want the job anymore, which I sincerely hope isn't the latter." CT winked at Eunhye.

"but I'm sure Shin will mind having me in the house..." Eunhye tried to protest.

Shin who remained silent all this time finally spoke up.

"As a matter of fact, I don't mind at all." Shin shrugged his shoulders and headed upstairs.

"Call me if you have problems.... I'll take my leave now. Here's the duplicate keys to this house." CT turned and walked out the door quickly and closing it behind her.

At a lost, Eunhye stood there for a minute staring at the door and didn't know what to do. The thought of being trapped in the house with a man... makes her nervous...

When Eunhye finally regained her composure, she picks up her bag containing some belongings and dragged herself up the stairs. Forgetting CT’s words, Eunhye opened the first door and walked in… not realizing its NOT her room!

“Yah! What are you doing?” Shin shouted as he saw Eunhye’s reflection from the wardrobe’s mirror panes and immediately pulled his long t-shirt down to cover himself.
Eunhye looked up and to her great shock and embarrassment, found out that it isn’t her room!

“I’m so sorry! Omg.. I didn’t do it on purpose!! I’m … yah……..” Eunhye lost her power of speech altogether as she stood rooted to the ground.

“Eunhye ssi.. yyyouuuuu wanna just stand there and look at me change? Aishhh… I should have locked the door… I forgot I’m no longer staying here alone!” Shin shouted across the room.

“Really really sorry… aish.. mianheyo!!!” Eunhye quickly apologized and stepped back out.

“Aigoo… what’s up with me?! My room’s on the right!!” Eunhye lamented as she hit herself on her head and ran towards the other door.

Eunhye opens the door and take a peep inside the room which is now hers. Her Room. The spacious room is painted in apple green and wallpaper lined the lower halves of the walls, cartoon images of flowers, making the room look cheery. Two single beds filled up one side of the room, on one side of the room is a big wardrobe with mirrors fitted onto the doors. A dressing table in white-paint sat next to it. The windows open out to the balcony, Eunhye can’t help but be amazed at how generous the company is in getting such a posh bungalow for someone who hasn’t yet bring in money for the company! She pushed open the door and let herself out onto the balcony to take in the evening breeze.

"You like your room?" Shin asks and he leans against the door frame of the balcony.

Chapter 1

2007-02-20T23:23:00.000+08:00

On a Monday morning in February...

*knock knock* CT opens the door to the small conference room before a reply was given. Inside the room sits Lee Shin, he would use that room whenever he visits the agency.

"Yes?" Shin said, without looking up, as he lay on the sofa reading a thick book.

"Shin, meet your assistant... Yoon Eunhye ssi..." CT introduced the new assistant.

Shin looks up from his book and peeped at Eunhye through his reading glasses for a second and lowered his eyes again.

"Eun Hye ssi, from now on you will be Shin's personal assistant... " CT announced.

"Annyeong haseyo! I'm Eunhye, nice to meet you!" Eunhye greeted nervously, but she tried to hide the anxiety in her voice.

It is Eunhye's second job after working as a coordinator with another music label for 4 years until the company had to close down a month ago, losing to the fight against music piracy. Fortunately her previous company was able to recommend some other jobs to their staff and Eunhye was matched to this one. Eunhye doesn't care what kind of job it is for now, she needed a new one to support her family, and this job seems to offer what she wanted, an industry she's familiar with and work she think that she would exel in.

"Shin, Eunhye ssi will start work today, and I have more things to brief her on, we will see you again later." with that, CT closes the door behind her and pulled Eunhye into another meeting room so that she can brief Eunhye on the job scope.

"I'm sure you two will get along just fine, Eunhye ssi." CT tries to assure Eunhye.

"CT, you can call me Eunhye, just as I address you as CT, let's not be so formal with each other."

CT smiles and nods in agreement.

"As I'd told you Eunhye, you need alot of patience with Shin, we know he can be demanding at times but please try to understand, he's under alot of pressure being as we are putting our hopes on him to be the top-selling singer under our label this year.." An woman in her mid 40s, CT is one of the pioneers of the firm and highly respected in the industry for her foresight in recognising and nurturing talent.

"This is his schedule for this week... and ermmm.. make sure you get him what he wants and if you are able to pull through this week, I'll give you the schedule for the following weeks to come...

"Ok CT, no problem! I'll try my best!" Eunhye said, beaming her brightest smile at CT. With Shin out of her sight she's regained her usual cheerful self.

Eunhye hasn’t heard of Shin as he has yet to launch his album. Shin is the new secret weapon of the company. Young, goodlooking and CT said he’s got the best voice that she has ever heard. Well, Eunhye decides to find out for herself later.

"Oh yah, Eunhye, since you live outside of Seoul, it maybe more convenient to move into our company's apartment, are you good moving in tonight?"

"Sure!!" Eunhye can't help but giggle at the thought... she'd wanted to move out of her parents' home in Incheon since she started working, commuting more than 2 hours to and fro everyday is no joke... now that she didn't have to pay for accommodation, she'll jump at the chance!

"Gosh, this is the dream job of many girls... assistant to a star-to-be, if he becomes really famous I would be the envy of many!!" Eunhye said to herself... she picks up her cell phone and called home.

"Omma~ this is Eunhye... Omma, I’m offered the new job today, Omma! But Omma.... the new company wants me to move into their hostel.... neh Omma... I'll take care of myself! Don't worry about me Omma... I'll call you again in a few days neh, bye Omma!"

Meanwhile in the room....

Shin couldn't believe whom he'd seen just now, that new assistant CT brought in to meet him just now... his heart is beating fast and he couldn't think of what to do now...

Prologue

2007-02-19T23:15:00.000+08:00

“You made me feel like a star tonight”.

Eunhye plant a kiss on Shin’s lips and Shin watches Eunhye through their reflections on the mirror……