A warm and soothing aroma from the chamomile tea relieves her stress and slowly Seulgi feels relax and comfortable. She rests her back on a cushioned Lawson sofa inside Jimin's bedroom and turns her gaze to him who sits right next to her. She smiles softly as she tries to reassure him that she is alright now but worries is still all over his face. Though he says nothing to her, she feels his sincerity and affection. It really touches her heart how he takes care of her and tries to comfort her. He is a perfect definition of action speaks louder than words.

In the other hand, Jimin sees Seulgi starts mouthing 'I'm alright' but he doesn't buy it. He looks deep into her eyes as he tries to figure out what's inside her beautiful mind. Many hours spent with her and he learnt something from those times, for sure, she always smiles and says she is alright though she is not. She always hides her pain just to erase others' worries away. She selflessly suffers in silent because she doesn't want to add problem for others and he hates it. He wants her to share it with him and let him help her or at least let him suffer with her. But then it hits him hard, he realizes all this time he has been suffered alone and drowned in pain silently. He understands now, to make her opens up, he should be the one who does it first. Thereafter, he reaches out his hand and takes his photograph with his mother. He stares at it for a while before he hands it to her.

"My mother, beautiful, right?" Jimin asks as he watches Seulgi sees the photo.

A smile appears on Seulgi's face as she adores a gorgeous woman who gave birth to such gentleman like Jimin. She slightly nods at him as she agrees. Even it's just a picture, she feels a motherly aura from his mother's smile and it warms her heart. The next second, she hears a sigh comes from him and immediately she turns to face him. She is a little bit taken aback by his expression. It shows sorrow and distress and he looks hurt. She is ready to open her mouth when suddenly he starts opening up his past.

"My mother died in a car accident" Jimin begins.

Seulgi hears it from his father but in fact the whole country already knows about this. At that time, it was the most shocking news because Jimin's mother was loved by everybody. She was almost as famous as celebrity. She was a fashion icon and a trendsetter. She was the only daughter of super rich conglomerate but at the same time she was the most polite and down to earth people of her species. There was no reason to hate her at all.

"But---" Jimin pauses immediately and sighs "---actually it wasn't an accident" He continues.

Seulgi stares at him and this really surprises her. She then listens to Jimin's explanation and it feels like a hard slap when she hears that his stepmother was behind his mother accident. This reality makes her understands what kind of relationship he has with his stepmother. She slowly touches his shoulder and caresses it gently just to show her support. He continues his story and it breaks her into pieces. He tells her everything and even his feeling towards his father who treats him as a doll, not as a son or even a human. That moment, her heart already shatters and she breaks down in silent. All this time, she has been lived in her own bubble where family is the most precious thing in life and family is the only place to go back whenever she lost, but inside his bubble, there is no such term like that. It truthfully hurts.

"Jimin---"

At first, Seulgi wants to say something to encourage him, but once she calls his name, her voice cracks. Jimin puts his attention to her and witnesses how a single drop of her tears streams down her beautiful face. In hurry, she erases her tears away because he sees it fall from her eyes. She looks down to hide her sadness but he lifts her chin up and they make an eye contact. Honestly, he never expects this kind of reaction from her. He feels her empathy.

"Why did you cry?" Jimin asks.

"I didn't know---" Seulgi shakes her head as she bites her lips and then continues "---it just hurts me somehow" She says and blinks her eyes a couple of times to avoid her tears to fall again.

Seulgi's confession touches Jimin's heart and it makes him smile. He feels grateful because he opens up to someone like her. She doesn't judge him and his past, but instead, she relates to him and his feeling. He then softly strokes her cheek and pulls her to his embrace. He closes his eyes as he holds her tighter. He is about to caress her hair but he petrifies there. He feels her hands start moving around his waist as she hugs him back and closes the gap between them.

"Thank you for surviving those hardships" He hears her whisper softly.

It's just a little thing but it has a great impact. Jimin feels something calm and warm touch the deepest place of his heart. There is no warning, it just uncontrollably spreads and fills his entire heart. It's fluttering, it's thrilling. He has no control and choice over it. All of sudden, everything strangely becomes beautiful. He is not sure when exactly it happens or when it begins but all he knows, right here, right now, he falls in love with her, deeply.

***

Fancy cars stay in a long line, waiting for their turn to enter the venue. List of invited guests consist of VIPs. Shareholders, politicians, executives and celebrities show up at Kang Minjae's inauguration party. Outside the venue, paparazzi try to snapshot and get glimpse of VIPs because they are not allowed inside. Only some eligible media reporters are invited to cover the news for publication but they are not invited for the after party. It's exclusive and private.

Jimin is stuck inside the car with his family. It's suffocating because his stepmother keeps talking along the way and trying so hard to impress his grandmother. Thankfully no one attempts to make conversation with him. He looks outside and finally their car reaches the lobby but it's unfortunate because paparazzi flood there. The car stops and men in uniform open the door for them. His father steps out first and his stepmother is right behind him. He then follows and helps his grandmother. Once paparazzi land their cameras on them, they are in frenzy and start to blitz their cameras.

"Park Jimin, what's your relationship with Kang Seulgi?"

"Is it right that you are involved romantically with her?"

"Please tell us"

Jimin hears everything and it annoys him immediately. He rolls his eyes secretly and says nothing as he keeps guiding his grandma to enter the venue because their questions begin to get wild. He needs to go now or else, he will punch them in the face one by one. He hates it so much when people try to cross the line and violate his privacy. Not today, but one day he will probably sue them all.

In front of the ballroom door, two men stand and ask for their invitation. Jimin hands his invitation and watches the men check his name on the list and let him in once they find it. He enters the ballroom and the organizer escorts him to his table. He shares his table with his family and also Seojoon and Minyoung who are already there and welcome them warmly. He takes a seat beside Seojoon and starts talking to him. In the middle of his conversation, his eyes catch Seulgi who successfully takes his breath away. She looks stunning and elegant, even her aura is no joke. The off shoulder evening dress makes her collar bone stands out and the classic Van Cleef & Arpels white gold-diamond necklace from his grandmother gracefully completes her appearance. She perfectly looks beautiful tonight.

Unluckily, Jimin needs to hold himself back because there is a couple of media and cameras. It's not easy to stay calm and cool when he watches young men come close to Seulgi and try to get her attention. Only God knows how much he wants to run there and claim her as his. His hearts beats in jealousy and he breathes out to shoo it away. It's crazy how young men inside this ballroom crowd around her and hardly try to win her heart. It irritates him and a loud sigh leaves his lips which followed by Seojoon's chuckle.

"If I was you, I would never stand that, those bastards stand too close to her" Seojoon whispers to Jimin's ear.

"Hyung, stop it, jealousy is for someone who is not confident with their own selves" Jimin plays it cool though Seojoon's words provoke him.

"And you're not confident right now" Seojoon raises his eyebrow to Jimin.

Jimin just does side eye to Seojoon but he says nothing because Seojoon is not wrong. He has zero confidence right now because those men make Seulgi smile and laugh. He doesn't know what to do so he just stares at her intensively, hoping she will turn her face and make eye contact with him. Inside his heart, he keeps screaming 'look at me' and he doesn't understand how but she suddenly turns her face to him, making eye contact and sending him a little pretty smile. He immediately loses his mind.

In the other hand, once Seulgi sees Jimin and smiles at him, she excuses herself from everybody and approaches Jimin's family's table. She knows reporters are there but it's impolite to not come and talk to them. She immediately bows and nods to everybody in the table after she greets them politely. His father praises her beauty but it just triggers his stepmother. Hyorin doesn't even try to fake a smile as she just frowns straightly and shows how envious she is after she spots Van Cleef & Arpels around Seulgi's neck.

"It looks good on you" Grandmother refers to the necklace.

Seulgi just smiles and says thank you. She talks a little to grandma as sometimes glances to Jimin's stepmother. She sees how dark his stepmother expression is, but she decides to ignore it tonight. She then turns to Seojoon and Minyoung, asking about their wedding preparation and anything. Thereafter, she lands her gaze on Jimin and gives him a smile. She really wants to talk and hear his voice but she believes it will draw attention. Even right now, all eyes already on them and scream curiosity. She nods to him and she swears she sees him mouthing 'pretty' to her. In the end, she excuses herself and leaves to her seat because the inauguration will start.

The inauguration starts with a performance of famous pianist, Kim Yongjin which gets a loud applause from guests. The emcee then reads a recitation of achievements and accomplishments of Seulgi's father, Kang Hyunjung chairman. The emcee welcomes her father to the platform to deliver his speech and announce the new chairman of the corporations. Everybody applaud for his contribution and for the new chairman, Kang Minjae. Minjae comes to the stage and gives his first speech as chairman of the corporations. He encourages every individual to push their selves beyond their limit and climb every obstacle together with their teammates. Eventually he closes his speech and bows.

After the formal event, the servants serve the three course meal and the ballroom immediately fills with clinking sound. In between, all VIPs socialize with each others and talk about nation's issue or business. Jimin is busy to listen and discuss about business with all these businessmen and build connection. Honestly he likes it more to talk to older generation chairmen because of their experience and humbleness, while the younger and newer generation CEOs really love to boast their specs and point who is richer than who, who is smarter than who, who is more capable than who. It's an unnecessary competition.

Right at eight, the emcee pleases the invited one to move to the next room for the after party. Jimin asks his grandma if she wants to come but she decides to go home first because she is tired. As a good grandson, he walks her to the car and makes sure she sits comfortably inside the car before says his goodbye. When the car disappears, he returns for the after party and slow music accompanies him. He sees Seulgi's brother and sister in law on the dance floor with several couples, slow dancing. He then spots Seulgi on the side, sitting on a comfortable sofa with her niece on her lap. It's his time to talk privately without any worries about cameras but on his way there, like always men approach her and this time he will show them who is her belong to.

"Seulgi-ya"

Jimin calls her name and Seulgi instantly looks up at him. She smiles at him and all the men around are ignored by her. He takes a step closer and one by one leaves them alone except this one man, Kim Donghyun, the heir of all Kim's clan venture. Donghyun sits next to Seulgi and this view causes resentment. He smirks at Jimin and moves closer to her. He calls her name to get attention but she still has her eyes on Jimin. She then asks Jimin to sit on the ottoman next to her which immediately he obeys.

"Seola-ya, greet uncle Jimin" Seulgi talks to her niece.

Seola waves at Jimin shyly and hides her face from him as she giggles. He just chuckles and touches her little arm, shaking it gently as trying to make her face him. He really likes kids and her niece totally looks cute and adorable. All this time Seulgi watches his interaction with her niece and the idea of him with kid is really hot. She bites her lips as she tries to hold back her smile. She really drowns into them and forgets about Donghyun until he speaks up.

"Are you close with him?" Donghyun asks in a degrading tone.

"Ah---" Seulgi hangs her answer there and glances at Jimin who already gives a cold stare at Donghyun "---yes, we are close" She continues.

"As close as we were back than?" Donghyun asks Seulgi and at the same time he smirks at Jimin.

Jimin is aware of Donghyun's purpose but he is not able to control his jealousy. It burns his heart and Seulgi realizes it. She later explains, Donghyun was her senior back then but Donghyun keeps provoking Jimin and says he met Seulgi in a lot of charity events and parties. He even adds, they often came to fashion show event together. There, it completely blinds Jimin. He stares at Seulgi as a hint for her to clarify this misunderstanding.

"Yes, because one of the subsidiary collaborates with fashion brand of his company" Seulgi clears it. Somehow she just understands his body language that shouts for clarification.

"That's right, remember? That time everybody labeled us as couple" Donghyun is not done yet.

"Are you flirting with her?" Jimin snaps because it triggers him.

"You look mad, man, you okay?" Donghyun makes fun of him.

Seulgi is dumbfounded at first and just watches them argue but it hits her when they begin to raise their tone. She needs to step in before they throw fists. She calls them both and says she is thirsty. Donghyun wants to show her that he is a gentleman and immediately offers to bring her champagne. She agrees and he leaves to get one. Finally, Jimin and Seulgi have their some time alone.

"I hate him" Jimin confesses as he looks at Seulgi.

"Don't mind him, okay?" She asks softly to calm him.

"How?---" Jimin pauses as he realizes what sentence is on the tip of his tongue right now. He eats his words and says it inside his heart instead. He tries to steal my girl. He sighs as he moves to sit on the sofa next to her, taking Donghyun's seat.

"---Okay" Eventually Jimin agrees.

"Kang Seulgi---" Jimin calls her name delicately as he makes eye contact with her and smiles "---you look beautiful tonight" He praises her in a whisper.

Seulgi's heart skips a beat but the next moment it beats extremely fast as Jimin touches her fingers and holds her hand. He smiles and his eyes land on her lips. He stares at those red plum lips and there is a powerful force that draws his face closer to hers. The crowded room feels empty and there is only the two of them. He tilts his face as he closes the gap between their lips but suddenly pair of little hands pushes him away and he just realizes the existence of this kid.

"Uncle, what about Seola?---" Seola talks as she blinks her round eyes at Jimin "---Seola look beautiful like aunt Seulgi, right?" She asks innocently and she has no idea that she just ruins something intimate between the adults but also she is the one who makes them laugh.

"Of course, you look beautiful too" Jimin smiles until his eyes disappear as he ruffles Seola's hair.

Fortunately it's Seola who messes their moment. If it was any body else, 100%, Jimin would kill. Alright, he just takes this as a lesson, it's not the right time yet and it's also not the right place. He looks around and thankfully no one really puts attention on them. He then turns his gaze on Seulgi again and smiles at her as his fingers caresses the back of her hand. Once more, he whispers 'beautiful' to her and makes sure this time Seola can't hear him. His word makes a smile appears on her face. It's hard to explain, but knowing he is the reason behind that sweet smile, he feels lucky.

***

Here is a new chapter for you all. Thank you for all support. Thank you for voting and leaving comments that encourage me to continue. Thank you :)