An antique standing clock chimes as it strikes the midnight hour. Under the dim light, Hyorin sits on stool chair and has her fourth shot glass of vodka. Life stresses her so much these days. She tries to play it cool but fear keeps following her everywhere. She wants to deny but she needs to be honest to herself and admit that she feels terrified because of her stepson. Lately, she carefully watches her attitude and tries hard to avoid any friction with him. She hates it but she decides to stay low and cause no conflict since it's the only way to hide her dirty secret from her own son, Junhoe. Afterall, this is not the first time. She encountered many defeats before and she survived. She believes, this time, she will get through everything as well.

Hyorin is half sober but she still hears it when someone approaches her. She doesn't need to look yet she knows it's her husband. She just sighs and turns to see him. Junjin just returns from his so called 'urgent work' on weekend and now he proceeds to sit on a stool chair beside her. She says nothing and just takes in her liquor when she smells soft roses scent. It's new, it means he has new woman. She just ignores him, but her eyes catches him when he puts an octagon glass box on the bar table. She glances and sees diamond ring inside. There is always a little gift after an affair and it's not new.

"I'm tired, I'll rest first" Just like that, her husband leaves her alone again.

It's bitter and Hyorin just scoffs painfully. Years ago, she found out about her husband's affair through a text message. It was a raging storm but surprisingly she was able to stand tall. Yes, it hurted her but she realized, it was the price she needed to pay for her throne. She kept her mouth shut and pretended like nothing happened because in the end of the day, she was the one who wore the crown. Since then, she decided to kill her love and grew an obsession toward the family's wealth instead.

It's unspoken, but both know, they are each other's support system. They are stronger together. It's true that Junjin cheats on Hyorin so many times, but eventually he keeps crawling back to her embrace because she is the one who helps him until he gets where he is now. In the other hand, it's a privileged for her to have him around. Thank to him, she has money and power to make a lot of people under her feet. She is glorified by society because she has his last name. It's a mutual benefit.

Right now, she doesn't care anymore if her husband keeps having affairs or not. It doesn't affect her anymore. One thing, she just needs him to have it secretly and never get caught by media because it surely will put his position as chairman in danger. She wants him to be more careful as it's more dangerous now. The next successor tails behind him and one scandal will make him lose his position. If so, her world will crumble as she will worth nothing to the society and she once again will be a middle class rich people. She feels insecure.

***

Jimin returns to his bedroom and locks himself there. He refuses to join his grandmother to meet Sojung and chooses to rest. He closes his eyes as he tries to fall asleep but he is too excited right now because he knows Seulgi is inside the room beside. He really wants to disturb her from her rest but at the same time he has no heart to do so. He is in a dilemma when all of sudden he hears a knock on the door. He immediately jumps out of the bed and rushes to the door as he believes it must be her behind that door. Without thinking, he opens it and all his excitement disappears in flash.

"Hi"

This is not what he thinks of. It's not his Seulgi, but it's Sojung. He is not in a mood to meet his arrogant ex now. Truthfully he regrets his decision but just sighs lowly. He sees her smile but all he thinks about is how Seulgi's smile is prettier. Thereafter, he just stares with his straight face as he immediately tries to close and lock his door. Of course it's predictable. She reflexively stops his action and slips her body in. She manages to stand too close to him and brings her face closer to whisper on his ear.

"You can close the door now and cause a misunderstanding" Sojung smiles slyly.

Jimin openly rolls his eyes on Sojung and shows how she successfully annoys him. He keeps saying nothing and widely opens the door. He gives her a look to get out but she is stubborn enough to stay inside. He is not surprised by her attitude but it completely makes him sick since he knows her intention. Since the lunch with her father, somehow he gets a feeling that she will forcely enter his life one more time and right now his theory is proven. It's a mission impossible but she is just too full of herself to realize. Surely, she will never get it.

"Did you eat my chocolate truffles already?" Sojung starts a new conversation since she knows he nearly kicks her out.

"Hm" Jimin gives her one short answer.

"How? Tasty?" Sojung asks again.

"Hm" Jimin replies with the same respond.

Inside, Jimin really wants to scream out that he gave those chocolate truffles to his father's personal assistant and he had no idea how did they taste. Fortunately, he is still in his right mind and aware she is a daughter of his business partner. He breathes out and reminds his own self the need to hold back. He tries to fix his expression and forces a polite smile. He tells her he wants to rest but she pretends like she never hears that and wanders around his bedroom. It's his private space and she just invades it like that, how he wants to forcefully drag her out. He has no patience left and he doesn't care anymore. He needs to kick her out now.

"Kim Sojung"

Jimin raises his tone as he calls her name and gets her attention right away. She sees everything in his eyes, yes, she is so happy because she successfully irritates her ex. She puts an innocent look when he rushly approaches her with annoyance all over his face. Excitement hits her when suddenly he grabs her wrist. It's a skin to skin contact and it makes her smile though she knows what's coming next. He drags her, one step, two steps, but then suddenly he stops. She is curious and she lifts her face. There, her eyes witness as her brain thinks about this upcoming drama. Seulgi stands near the door as she watches everything. Her eyes fix on the wrist that he grips and it makes her heart skips a beat.

"Oops"

Sojung purposely reacts. She enjoys this drama a little bit too much. She doesn't know that Seulgi is there but universe is on her side and makes everything happened like that. It's interesting and she patiently waits to watch the scene. In the other hand, Jimin just gets his sense back and instantly frees Sojung's hand. He then looks at Seulgi to check her expression. He fears this whole thing leads into a misunderstanding and he accidentally hurt her, but the next thing he sees, is her smiling softly. He isn't sure because she is good at hiding her feeling. He walks to her and as they are close enough, he makes an eye contact with her. He looks deep into hers but still it's not easy to read her.

"Seulgi---" Jimin just wants to talk to her, but in the background, Sojung cuts him off.

"Oh hello, you're Kang Seulgi, right?" Sojung asks as she approaches "I'm Kim Sojung,---" She smiles, half smirking, and reaches out her hand to Seulgi "---Jimin's ex" She adds it right when Seulgi is about to answer. She purposely tells to trigger Seulgi and she looks forward to Seulgi's reaction.

"Ah, yes, I'm Kang Seulgi, nice to meet you" Seulgi hides her true feeling behind her kindness.

"So, the rumor is real, I guess?"

Sojung asks as she folds her arms. She doesn't really care actually. She just seeks a reason to provoke more. As she waits, she stares up and down, from top to toe. She extremely has an audacity to judge Seulgi and think she is better when Seulgi is Korea's darling. This cause uncomfortableness for Seulgi and Jimin is aware. Sojung's attitude successfully gets into his nerve. He has to protect Seulgi.

"Neither of you want to answer me?" Sojung smiles like a fox.

Seulgi just stares as she doesn't know what to say. She thinks she is not obliged to answer since it's very private. She ends up turning her face to Jimin and looks at him as she asks him to decide. He looks back at her as slowly he takes her hand and holds it. It warms her heart because he silently confirms everything with his action. Yes, he always is a gentleman who knows that action speaks louder than words.

"Sojung, I need to talk with Seulgi privately, do you mind?" Jimin asks as he gives a gesture to leave.

Sojung can't belive, Jimin really shoos her infront of Seulgi. She is mad but she acts like it doesn't even affect her. She fakes a smile and nods. Then she walks out and still has guts to glare at Seulgi. Once Sojung disappears, Jimin brings Seulgi in and closes the door behind. He prepares himself to explain everything to her and clears the misunderstanding. He whispers her name and manages to look deep into her eyes.

"I'm sorry, you must be feel uncomfortable" Jimin apologizes.

"No---" Seulgi slightly shakes her head as she smiles softly "---don't worry, really" She continues as she reaches out her hand and touches his cheek. There, she caresses him and gazes into his eyes. No one talks and a comfortable silence grows between them.

In the other hand, Jimin is speechless. He honestly doesn't know what he has done in his past life to deserve Seulgi in his current life. It's a blessing and he is grateful. He smiles at her and he remembers about his grandmother's engagement ring. It's still inside his pocket and out of all time, he thinks this moment is the rightest time. He ignores how fast his heart beats and just braves himself. He puts his hand inside his pocket and holds the little velvety box tightly inside. It's now or never.

"Seulgi-ya" Jimin starts as he pulls out the box but still hides it from her.

"Hm?" Seulgi blinks her eyes, looking pure with a smile.

Jimin says nothing and brings up the box until Seulgi notices it. Her smile disappears as her knees suddenly turn weak. She watches him flips the box open and lies on there, an elegant beautiful ring. She unconsciously holds her breath back. Yes, it's breathtaking moment and it makes her heart flutters uncontrolably. She switches her sight back to him. He already stares warmly at her. He says nothing for a while but he moves his other hand slowly to embrace her waist and leave no gap between them.

"I know it's a little bit too early, but still, I want to ask you to spend the rest of your life with me---" Jimin pauses and changes his tone into a whispery one "---marry me, Kang Seulgi?" He continues and finds it hard to contain his own feeling. He never mentioned it before but he is truly in love with her.

Jimin is not on his knee but for Seulgi it feels more intimate. The eye contact drowns them deep into the moment. They hear each other's heartbeat and that's how they realize, they stand too close to each other but no one plans to pull away. They passionately embrace the intimacy as they know it's only the two of them alone. To be honest, it's the most beautiful moment in Seulgi's life. She met him not long ago and in a short period of time he managed to make her feel something magical. Yes, this man is the one who effortlessly melts and warms her heart with his little care. Yes, there is no doubt, she wants to fall asleep beside him everynight and wake up to his face everymorning. Yes, she nods eventually.

***

It's late, but happy new year :)