Are my readers still here? :) I'm sorry this chapter took forever, and I hope it doesn't confuse any of you. >_< Please comment, tell me what you think? :)

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Zico's POV

As I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, I could tell that he was getting tired too. Fists were flying - left, right, then left again - but at this point I no longer cared. This jerk hurt someone that I care about.

"Is she okay?" I shouted for V to hear me. As Jonghyun swung his fist, I dodged, then brought my fist to meet his stomach.

"She's not breathing!"

"What do you mean she's not breathing!?" I quickly glanced over at them. Eun-ah was propped up against the wall, while V shook her, trying to wake her up.

"Go get help!"

V did as told, then ran. Jonghyun smirked as he stood straighter.

"It's funny isn't it?" He started. "We're fighting over some whore that doesn't even deserve it."

"Eun-ah is not a whore." I glared. He, in turn, merely scoffed.

"Look at it from my point of view." He stated wickedly. "You are fighting me, and this whole time I've never even seen you before. I always thought I was just fighting that V bastard. But then here you are."

Jonghyun laughed humorlessly. "You must be the guy that little whore was staying with."

"She isn't a whore!"

I threw another punch at him, but this time, he grabbed my fist, pulling me close to him. Then, he brought his knee up and hit my jaw.

I doubled over, spitting up more blood.

"Damn it!" I took a few seconds to regain my vision, but all I saw was Jonghyun manically laughing.

"Don't you get it? You can't win. I always win."

As Jonghyun came closer to me, I took a step back.

"Hey dick-head!" A voice called from behind him. "Why don't you pick on us instead?"

It was V... And all his friends. As the seven of them took him on, Jonghyun merely laughed, fighting them like it was nothing.

"Zico!" V shouted. "Take Eun-ah somewhere safe!"

"Aight!" I shouted back. I stumbled my way over to Eun-ah, propping her body over my back. God I hope she's okay.

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When we got back to my place, I gently placed Eun-ah on the couch, careful not to hurt her. I laid her head against a pillow and it was then did I notice the dark hand prints around her frail neck.

I clenched my fists.

Why couldn't I protect her?

Why couldn't I protect any of them?

Why--? I shook my head.

Sighing, I lay my head against the back half of the couch. Eun-ah's leg was resting against mine and in that moment, all I wanted to do was sleep.

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Eun-ah's POV

No air. I remember the feeling of not being able to breathe. The moment where your life flashes before your eyes, and the moment where the person who loves you, tries to strangle the life out of you.

It's not fun.

When I awoke, the feeling in my throat felt a desperate need for water, but when I looked around, I almost didn't recognize where I was.

"How did I..." My eyes trailed the opened door of the fire escape. I was back home -- Zico's home, I mean.

Slowly I got up, only to be pushed down again. My legs gave out from under me and I landed back on the couch with a thud. Taking a deep breath, I try to move again.

Using the wall as a crutch, I peered my head around the door. I gasped when I saw him.

Beaten and bruised, Zico had his back towards me. He was wearing a black tank and his pajama pants, and from how he was leaning against the rail, I could see all the defined muscles in his back. The way he looked out across the city, his eyes filled with longing, something about him made me curious, but I knew better not to pry.

"Zico?" I muttered quietly. He turned his head, acknowledging that I was there. I wobbled my way over to him, and he helped me grip onto the rail.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Sort of, I'm really dizzy." I said sheepishly, trying to smile. When I glanced at him again, the light from the moon showed all the wounds he had received. The wounds I caused...

"Oh my--"

"I'm fine." He stated abruptly, his hands gripped the railing so hard, the whites of his knuckles could be seen.

I placed my hand on top of his, trying to calm him down.

"No, you're not." I sighed, "Zi, I use that excuse all the time. You can talk to me--"

"I can't--"

"And why can't you?!" I shouted. I placed my hand around my throat as my voice gave out, and I almost fell backwards if it weren't for Zico.

Zico caught me, just as I was about to fall, and he carried me to the couch. Despite having the wounds on his body, he cared for me like I was the only thing that mattered. It was strange, but it felt nice.

He handed me a glass of water and some pain meds, I thanked him, but my eyes couldn't seem to tear away from him. His blonde hair was a mess and under his left eye held a nice, dark bruise. His lip had a small cut, and the right side of his face was a shade of purple...

"Please talk to me," I looked at him concerned. "You got hurt because of me Zico! Please just... Talk to me."

He looked down at his hands. "Drink your medicine," as he went to get up, I grabbed onto his wrist, pulling him back to the couch.

"Let me go."

"Not until you tell me what happened."

He scoffed. "You really don't remember?"

I shook my head, hesitantly taking a sip of my water.

Sighing, Zico got up, walking to grab the first aid kit from the cabinet. When he came back, he sat on the coffee table in front of me. As he began treating my wounds, his eyes never met mine. He spoke quietly.

"What do you remember from the party?"

"Jonghyun..." I muttered. "He had his hands around my throat.... And then I blacked out."

Zico sighed, and as he finished, I began to take care of his wounds.

"V and I fought of Jonghyun. And when I almost gave out, V's friends showed up and handled everything... I brought you back here where you would be safe." He clenched his fists. "I just wish I could protect you."

As Zico's body began to shake, I wrapped my arms around him, placing my head on his shoulder.

"I couldn't protect them," he muttered. "What makes me think I can protect you?"

I froze, tightening my grip around him. I rubbed his back lightly. I've never seen him like this before...

"You... Don't have to tell me." I said. "Like you've told me before, I don't want to pry either. But I'll be here whenever you need me."

When I pulled away, Zico sighed, pulling himself together.

"I'll tell you," he glanced at me. "I might as well explain myself to you."

The gaze in his eyes was dim, not the bright, charismatic gleam like he had before.

"I've been dealing with guys like Jonghyun all my life. I lost my mom, because of how my dad treated her." He glanced at the ceiling. "Suicide. I lost my sister because of how her boyfriend treated her. That one was a "car accident"... So now it's just me, my brother, and my dad."

I furrowed my brows. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I can't lose another person that I love."

I felt my heart skip a beat, and in his eyes, I saw a sincerity that I've never saw in anyone else before.

My eyes trailed from his eyes to his lips. And as he leaned in, I closed the gap between us. His lips brushed against mine and in that moment, I've never felt so wanted in my life.

"I love you too."