The biggest curse in life is not loosing your love,
but not being loved by someone you love.

The lunch was a calming experience, and your mood noticeably lifted in Seokjin's presence. You dearly missed the infectious laughter that came from him. He exuded confidence and contentment in life, as if untouched by any scars during his growth.

Sighing deeply, your eyes darted to the chrome clock on the kitchen wall-it was almost 4 pm.

Meeting his amused gaze, you shared, "Seokjin, I need to get home. My family will wonder why I haven't contacted them since this morning."

Frowning, Seokjin suggested, "Why don't you call them and inform them that you are safe-"

You admitted sheepishly, "Er...I can't...someone bumped into me, and my phone fell into a puddle of water. It's completely dead," sighing dejectedly.

Seokjin smirked, a chuckle escaping his lips, "I guess you hurled all the profanities at that unfortunate person. But no worries, Puppy face, I'll organize one for you-"

Your eyes widened, shaking your head vehemently, "No, please no! I...I will buy myself one. Don't stress yourself over something so trivial," nervously chuckling.

As you left his presence, you were determined not to owe him anything.

Seokjin's eyes sparkled, "You're not going to reject a gift from me, will you, Puppy?" he grinned lopsidedly, looking intensely into your warm eyes.

Inhaling deeply, you explained, "It's not that! I don't want to owe anyone."

Seokjin's eyes widened, "Puppy-"

You interrupted quickly, "Seokjin, would you just please call me Mayla...please."

Seokjin grinned, "Mayla...nope. You are my 'puppy face.' So...puppy, what happened to you after I left Switzerland? I came back for a visit and found out you transferred to another university for your third year, and you even moved-I got your contacts, but somehow your cell number didn't work," he looked a little saddened.

You pursed your lips and looked down at your drink, inhaling deeply, "After...um, my dad's death, my Swiss grandparents urged us to move to Zurich, and I got a last-minute transfer to Le Cuisine cooking school."

"Whoa, that's so cool. You were the top student in Lucerne, but why did you transfer? You could've just completed your degree," he looked flabbergasted and perplexed.

Inhaling deeply, you shared, "I didn't want to transfer, but suddenly I got a letter before we got our results that my final scholarship renewal was denied. We were shocked, my mom tried to reason, but the dean couldn't do anything because they allocated the funds to new, more deserving first years. But I knew your girlfriend was involved because her dad was on the committee, and it needed his final signature. I was warned several times. So I simply decided it wasn't worth it to fight a lost cause, and my grades were so high that Le Cuisine immediately took me in for my third year-"

Seokjin's eyes widened, "Oh my gosh! She told me she'd drive you out if I didn't stop my friendship with you..." he looked regrettable at your emotionless face. You loved that Academy; it was your dream academy.

"Puppy, I'm so sorry...I found out later. But I never knew she was so vindictive. I broke up with her on my graduation day when I moved back to Seoul after my stint on the modeling ramps," his eyes looked pained.

"It's okay, Seokjin. She paid her revenge for ruining her relationship. It's not your fault. I was the culprit. She just did that to fight for your love. I know...I was too much for her mental health," you scoffed softly.

Seokjin looked a little furious, "She has no right to ruin your life like that. I never knew that. I'm so sorry for doing nothing about it."

You just grinned, "I love Le Cuisine. It was the best choice I could make. I won every competition, and then I got the prestige award of my academy. I worked for two years as a pastry chef in one of the top restaurant lines in the world. I got asked to be a judge on several baking and cooking shows. I became a national baking celebrity, and my mom and I even published a pastry and confectionary book. It placed my name in the elite cooking world. I filled my days in creating the best kiddies' theme birthday cakes and cupcakes. Emelia specialized in Wedding and anniversary creations. So my life is okay. My mom and I decided to come back to Korea and established ourselves again, and we started 'Dilly Dally cafe,' which is a great success."

Seokjin looked with admiration at you, "You did so well...I'm proud of you, Puppy. So, are you...involved with anyone? I don't see a ring...so I just assume," he asked hesitantly, his heart racing awaiting her answer.

You pursed your lips, "Er...no, I'm not involved with anyone right now...but there is a K-drama actor who wants to date me, he asked me out on several occasions, and I did go to dinner with him. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with him...but I don't want to get involved with anyone. No marriage in the cards for me. I...I don't believe in love anymore," you said with a flat tone.

Seokjin's eyes looked shocked, "Puppy!...you're so beautiful. Why not? You are caring, kind, and so forgiving. You are wife-material and you'll be a great mom also. Please don't give up on love."

Your eyes looked intensely into his widened eyes; he looked utterly shook at your confession, "Seokjin...you know for a fact that I'm too invested when it comes to love. I...fell for you so deep that I landed in a dark pit after you left. I became so depressed after my dad died, after you left and after I lost my placement in the academy. I was so lost and spent a few years in therapy. I fell in love with love itself and I forgot to live for myself. I loved you too much, Seokjin, and it cost me my sanity. After intense therapy, I found myself but...in the process, I renounced love-" you exhaled your bated breath.

Seokjin inhaled deeply and abruptly jumped up and came and knelt before you taking both your hands in his. You looked shocked at his intense demeanor. Seokjin is so different now.

"Puppy face...please don't give up on love. You have so much to offer. I know I'm to blame also...I'm so sorry I've never acknowledged you...you showered me with your love and care and I've never really thanked you for it," his hands cupped your soft face as he softly made you look at his intense eyes. Your warm brown eyes looked teary.

"Seokjin-don't," you softly uttered. When he looks so vulnerable, you'll be melting in no time.

"Puppy please...give me a chance to make it up to you...please let me be in your life," he pleaded. He adamantly refused to let you exit his life.

You shook your head, eyes moist, "I'm scared, Seokjin. Love hurts too much."

You were too afraid to give in to love again. Loving Seokjin could jeopardize your sanity and health. You'd been in therapy for years to combat your intense feelings for him. It was obsessive, overpowering, overwhelming, but it caused too much harm to your mental health. You loved him too much, yet you were afraid that love never truly died.

Seokjin wasn't having any of it, "Kang Mayla...I want the happy and optimistic 'puppy face' back. I want you back...to your old self."

Seokjin knew he wanted her back, not just her old self but in his life. He searched for her for years. If he had known she moved to Zürich, he would've gone after her with all his might.

Your eyes widened, "I'm grown up now, Seokjin. You don't have to worry about me. I can handle life now...you're out of my league in any case, and I accepted it and moved on. It took eight years, but I conquered it. So stop worrying. Carry on with your fabulous life. I'm sure there are hundreds of girls who want to marry you...I told you that I'll never ever be a nuisance in your life again." You looked away.

Seojin's eyes were clouded, "I missed you, Puppy. I've never stopped thinking about you. You were my little sunshine-"

You laughed humorously, "How can you say that, Seokjin? I've wrecked your relationships with Sung. She hated me for being around you. I never want to ever let that happen to you again. So just forget that you ever knew me...it will be best for both of us."

Seokjin stood up and pulled you from the chair until you stood in his personal space. Your heart raced violently, and you knew if you didn't fight these feelings, you'd be in so much trouble again. But Seokjin glanced down on you, and with one arm, he pulled you into his embrace, tightly around your waist, and with his other hand, he cupped your face, lifting your chin up to meet his stare.

Your heart was beating erratically at the intensity of his gaze. You didn't know what to do when his thumb caressed your face gently and when he slowly leaned in and his soft lips softly kissed your cool lips, you felt as if electricity charged the atmosphere. A soft kiss had so much effect on you that you gasped softly. It was your first kiss.

He lifted his lips slowly from yours, his intense eyes deeply fixed on your awed ones. You felt as if you were transported to another realm when he tilted his head, and with his fingers entangled behind your neck, he kissed you with more intensity as your lips slowly gave him entrance to explore the warm world of your mouth.

Your hands slowly moved up his silk shirt until your hand found the nape of his head, and with a little vigor, you answered his intense kisses back. Your lips were dancing in sync, and Seokjin's mouth was a heated furnace as your hearts started to beat erratically.

Your bodies were ablaze as both of you stood in the luxurious kitchen, devouring each other's mouths. Seokjin couldn't get enough of your sweet kisses as he pulled you up by your thighs and placed you on the kitchen counter without breaking the kiss.

Standing intimately between your legs, you were both breathing hard, not caring about anything around you. All you knew is that you were kissing the guy you were yearning for all your life-that moment he was yours...utterly yours.

Your lips were swollen as he lifted his head, and your noses and foreheads touched, looking deeply into each other's eyes.

"Puppy..." he breathed against your mouth, "I don't care about your thoughts on love. But I'm going to make you love again."

Your eyes welled up as you looked into his intense, determined eyes. "Seokjin...we shouldn't have done this-it was a-" you gulped painfully.

"No, Puppy...it wasn't a mistake. Please open your heart again...please," he said, breathing against your mouth, pecking your lips a few times.

You just looked at him wordlessly.

Closing your eyes for a second, you breathed in deeply. "Opening my heart means getting hurt again. I'm scared to love you, Seokjin. If I open my heart...someone will come and snatch you up again, and I will be left picking up the pieces. I really can't do that ever again."

When your young girl heart confessed her love, his beautiful girlfriend came on the scene.

You slid from the table against his body, which made you flush bright red at the intimate way you grazed against him. Seokjin smirked softly at your adorable innocence. Kissing Puppy brought the man out of him. He wants this girl...he needs her.

He grabbed your hand when you wanted to move away from his personal space and pulled you back, embracing you tightly against his heart. His chin was nestled in your shiny hair.

Seokjin softly murmured, "I'm going to fight for your love, Puppy. I'm not going to lose you again-ever."

You pursed your lips against his broad chest. You dreamt and desired this moment in his arms so much...but loving him again will open up a new type of obsession. You are so afraid to fall again...because you know yourself. If you fall, you fall to never stand up again. Seokjin is a temptation you'll never be able to afford.

"Seokjin...I'm not the same anymore," you uttered, regretfully, still enjoying the warmth of his embrace.

"I don't care...just don't send me away, please. Let me prove to you how important you are in my life," he whispered in your hair, embracing you tighter against his body, and he closed his eyes and said softly in his mind, "I love you, Mayla," knowing he cannot say that aloud hence she'll run off.

Your ears could hear the erratic thumping of his heart...and you know that your love for this man was still deeply dormant in your heart, but you are afraid to love him again...because losing him to another woman again will send you to an early grave, and you cannot afford to open your heart for him.

......

After sharing soft, nervous smiles with each other, Jin decided to show you the rest of his house. You were pleasantly surprised at such a huge mansion. He had done well in the past eight years, owning one of the top-notch Japanese restaurants here in Seoul and others across Asia, making Seokjin a sought-after bachelor. It was still amazing that no woman could capture his attention enough for him to get married.

But you were sure that his gorgeous PA is hopelessly in love with him. Seokjin's allure is dangerous, and one kiss already made your heart race in a frenzy.

It was almost 5 pm when Seokjin dropped you off in front of your house. He used a different sport car to drive you The drive back home was quiet as you both reminisced being in each other's arms.

He looked sideways at you as you sat with a very worried expression on your face watching the sights as you drove by. You knew kissing Seokjin was a mistake. It would pull you back into depression or worse, into being overly obsessed with him again.

"Puppy..." his eyes were pleadingly on you, "please let me see you again?"

You looked at him intensely, "Why are you so adamant to see me?"

Seokjin inhaled deeply, "I care about you, Puppy." He took your hand in his as his eyes roamed over your beautiful fresh face. He wished he could embrace you again and just kiss you passionately without restraint.

You press your lips tighter,"Seokjin...I don't think we should see each other. It's asking for trouble---" you grab your shopping packets.

Without looking at him you softly state," I'll dry clean the clothes and sent it back. Thank you for rescuing me today----"your other hand on the chrome car door handle.

Seokjin eyes looked clouded with an undefined sadness," Please Mayla--," he clenches his grip on your hand, preventing you from fleeing his grasp.

"No!--do you have any idea what the worst feeling is right now? It's falling for someone repeatedly, knowing they won't be there to catch you "As your gaze fixed on his broken expression, you inhaled deeply with regret...

You shook your head and looked at him with renewed determination, "Bye, Seokjin," and with that, you opened the car door and fled to your gate, without looking back.

Seokjin sat stunned, gazing at the place where you vanished. He rested his head on his steering wheel.

He sighed deeply and muttered, "Kang Mayla, I'm not giving up on you ever-"

He maneuvered his white sports car and drove away with speed.

A/n : Seokjin is adamant in fighting for Maylas love.

A big shout out to all the comments @Maple06 @MariKarlsson3 @AlicisCummings2 @thebtsff

1. Do you think Mayla can trust Jin?

2. Will she give love a chance?

3. Was the kiss a mistake?

4. Do you think Jin got competition?

5. Will Seokjin fight for her love.