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wistfulcynic · 5 years

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Another Brick In The Wall, Chapter 5

a/n: No secret quite yet, but more clues! Plus Brothers Jones and Emma. I have to give special thanks to @darkcolinodonorgasm for giving me a new perspective on Liam, who I’ve never particularly liked as a character. I hope you like him here!

New, serious-this-time-summary: Emma Swan, sheriff’s daughter, mayor’s niece, quarterback’s girlfriend, is the undisputed princess of Storybrooke High. She is smart and confident and used to getting what she wants. What she wants is Killian Jones, the new boy in school. But Killian is not easily manipulated, and reluctant to allow the dark secrets in his past to touch the girl he is rapidly falling in love with.

Rating: T+

Read it on AO3: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Tags for: @jennjenn615 and @resident-of-storybrooke

Chapter 5:

It was astounding and rather disturbing to Killian how different his life at Storybrooke High became after Emma’s party. Where before he had been largely able to repel his classmates by hiding behind his laptop and headphones, turning Neal’s attempted frame job around on him seemed to have garnered Killian something of a reputation. Suddenly everyone was interested in knowing him better. People he didn’t think he’d ever even seen before were now greeting him by name in the halls, and the giggling girls who were so fascinated by hearing him pronounce simple words had unaccountably multiplied. He took to hiding out in a quiet corner of the library at lunchtime, just to get some peace. Fortunately the library was a bridge too far for most of his newfound fans, and only Emma managed to hunt him down there.

He didn’t mind that so much.

“I was worried people would be mad when Neal got suspended from the football team and blame you,” Emma confessed to him one Friday lunchtime in November, about three weeks after her party. “But it turns out everyone pretty much hated him and only put up with his crap because he won football games. And it helps that August has really come through. He’s a junior, and never had much chance to play until now because Neal hogged all the game time, but I really think he’s got more talent than Neal. He’s better at calling plays and doesn’t throw so many dumb interceptions because he’s trying to make a big play to make himself look good. And our running game has gotten way better because Neal always wanted to run passing plays, even on third and short yardage. It was seriously annoying sometimes.”

“Swan,” said Killian in exasperation, “You do know that I only understand about one out of every three of those words, and no one has yet been able satisfactorily to explain to me why a you call this game ‘football’ when only one player’s foot ever even touches the ball. Can we talk about something else, please?”

Emma laughed. “Sure. You doing anything this weekend?”

Killian flushed pink. “I’m going sailing with my brother, then we’re cooking dinner together.”

“That sounds great,” said Emma, wondering why he looked so embarrassed. “Any special occasion?”

Killian scratched behind his ear. “It’s my birthday,” he mumbled, almost inaudibly.

“What?!”

“It’s my birthday, okay? Today, actually. But of course I have school and Liam has work, so we’re celebrating tomorrow.” He noted with alarm her wide eyes and excited face. “Emma, no,” he begged. “Please don’t make a big deal about this.”

“But it’s your birthday!”

“And I just want it to be a low-key day, no big celebration, no stress.”

She tried not to feel deflated. “Just you and your brother.”

“Unless you’d care to come along?” Killian tried not to sound too hopeful, tried not to be too hopeful, though the idea of spending a whole Saturday with Emma, even with Liam along as well, was just about the best birthday gift he could imagine.

“Could I?” asked Emma, not troubling to hide her own hopefulness.

“Um, do you want to?”

“Well… yeah, actually. It sounds really fun. I haven’t been sailing in ages, and I’d kinda like to meet your brother. You talk about him so much I feel like I know him already.”

“Funny, he says the same about you,” said Killian without thinking.

“You talk to your brother about me?”

She had that look in her eyes again, the one she’d had at her party right before she kissed him. The one that said she wanted to kiss him again. The one that made him want to let her. Killian gave himself a mental slap. Damn it, no! “Well, you are basically my only friend, Swan, who else would I talk about?” he said, attempting to cover his slip.

“Maybe I was your only friend, but you seem to have acquired quite a few little admirers lately.” She sounded disgruntled, and he felt absurdly pleased.

“You’re still my only friend,” he assured her. “And I would be honoured to have you accompany Liam and me on my birthday sailing trip. And to dinner too, if you like.”

“Didn’t you say you’re cooking together?” she said hesitantly. “I’m not much of a cook.”

“No, nor I, but Liam is a master of the barbecue, so we’re going to do steaks.”

“What, outside?” He nodded. “In November? In Maine?”

“We’re from England, love, if we let a little miserable weather deter us from barbecuing we’d never get steak.”

“All right,” she laughed. In that case, I’d love to.”

His answering smile was radiant, sending the familiar butterflies dancing through her belly, this time in a sophisticated cha-cha-cha. She wanted to kiss him so badly when he looked like this that resisting the urge took a physical effort.

“We’re scheduled to cast off at ten, so why don’t you meet us at the marina at nine forty-five?” he said.

“Okay,” she agreed, just as the bell rang signalling the end of lunchtime. They gathered their things and walked to their history class together, not holding hands but both definitely thinking about it, wishing they could, their arms hanging loose at their sides, hands as close as they could get without actually touching. Upon arrival they went to their desks at opposite sides of the classroom, their history teacher having assigned seats at the beginning of the semester. Emma scowled slightly as she watched Killian take his seat between Aurora and Tina, two juniors who had always giggled to each other over him but whose flirting had reached new hights of coquetry In the weeks since the party. She watched as they peppered him with questions and he smiled and charmed them with his replies, and she couldn’t believe they didn’t see how tense he was beneath the charm and how he visibly relaxed when the teacher stood up and started the class, drawing their attention away from him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So what time is your girlfriend getting here?” shouted Liam, loud enough to wake the dead.

Killian sighed. He knew that Liam was just trying to lighten the mood with his teasing but really wished he wouldn’t. His brother knew perfectly well that Emma wasn’t Killian’s girlfriend. What he didn’t know is how the knowledge that she could be tormented Killian, and how any teasing on that point just drove the knife point deeper into his heart. Knowing that he could have her, her smiles and her kisses and her hand in his as they walked through the halls at school, that all that and more was within his reach if he could only forget about all the reasons why he couldn’t take it ate away at him. If he could just bring himself not to care about the consequences, to be a heartless bastard who didn’t give a damn about anyone else, then he could have what he wanted more than he’d ever wanted anything before in his life.

But he couldn’t. No matter how much he longed for Emma, he couldn’t do it.

Liam was thrilled he’d made a friend, and that the friend was a girl. He thought it meant that Killian was forgetting, moving on, and that Emma actually becoming his girlfriend was only a matter of time.

But Liam didn’t know the worst of it, the full weight of the burden Killian carried, bearing it alone because he didn’t dare share it. As much as he wished to tell Liam or Dr Hopper or Emma or anyone —really, anyone, as long as it wouldn’t be his alone to carry anymore— he was too scared of what they might do, of the potential consequences of people bumbling in trying to fix what they didn’t understand. He would fix it, when he got back to England. It had to be him.

It had been four months. Another five to go. Nearly eight until the AP exam results would be released. Killian felt panic rising in him at the thought of that three month gap, but he swallowed it back. It would be okay. He forced himself to breathe deeply, calmly. It would be okay. He would fix it.

Before he could answer Liam’s question, Emma’s yellow bug swung into a parking space right near where their boat was moored. She hopped out, smiling brightly, and Killian’s heart leapt and tumbled in his chest. She was so impossibly beautiful, he thought, so beautiful and bright and pure and good, and just everything he could ever wish for in a girl. Everything he could have had if he hadn’t made made such terrible mistakes, hadn’t completely fucked up his life before it had even really begun. But he pushed those thoughts away. She was here now, to celebrate his birthday with him, and he intended to enjoy what time he had with her. He grinned foolishly as she approached, keeping his hands stuffed deep in his coat pockets to stop himself reaching for her.

She was dressed in chinos and deck shoes and a bright red woollen coat, with a beanie on her head and a large scarf wrapped around her neck. She laughed. “It’s freaking freezing out here, Jones,” she said. “And it’ll be even colder on the water. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“It’s not cold, Swan, it’s bracing,” he said firmly, and she laughed again. He was so caught up in the delightful sound of it that he didn’t notice Liam appearing at his elbow until his brother loudly cleared his throat. Killian glanced over, grimacing at Liam’s appraising look and raised eyebrow.

“Um, Emma, this is my brother Liam,” he said grudgingly.

“Mr Jones,” said Emma, flushing slightly and looking suddenly nervous.

Liam’s smile widened. “Call me Liam, I beg you,” he said. “There must be no undue formality between the only two people in the world able to stomach the company of my little brother.”

He elbowed Killian, who rolled his eyes. “Younger brother,” he muttered, not quite under his breath.

Liam chuckled and gestured for Emma to follow him onto the boat. “So, Emma, what sort of sailing experience do you have?”

“Well, my dad has a boat.”

“Ah, yes, Sheriff Swan. He’s been down here a few times.”

“Yeah, when I was little we used to go sailing quite a lot, but for the past couple of years it seems like we never have the time.”

“Your father mentioned you were busy with cheerleading and college applications.”

“Yeah, that’s mostly it.”

“Where are you planning to study?”

“I’m hoping for Columbia, or else NYU or Boston University.”

“Any ideas about your major?”

Killian scowled as his brother drew Emma away, busying her with pre-sailing tasks as they chatted. How the hell did Liam know so much about American universities all of a sudden, he wondered crossly. He’d only just learned what a major was himself.

“I’d like to do psychology, maybe with a criminal justice minor. I’m thinking of being a forensic psychologist.”

Killian’s scowl deepened. She’d never told him that. Of course, they’d never really discussed their plans for the future aside from his intention to return to England. Suddenly he felt desperately sad, realising that he’d likely never know if Emma achieved her goals.

Though he had little doubt that she would. She was brilliant and determined, there wouldn’t be much she couldn’t do. If only he could be there to see her succeed.

“Ahoy there, Killian, don’t just stand there like a lump!” shouted Liam. “Come and help us prepare to set sail. You check the sheets while Emma tells us what exactly a forensic psychologist does.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They sailed out to the edge of Storybrooke’s cape then around the harbour before heading back to their mooring. It was just as cold as Emma had feared, the icy wind whipping her hair into a frenzy and turning the tips of Killian’s ears so red that she worried he’d get frostbite. Pulling her beanie off her head, she thrust it at him. “Put this on,” she commanded.

“What?”

“Put the hat on, idiot, before your ears fall off.”

“And what about your ears, Swan?”

“I’ve got my scarf. See?” She wrapped the scarf over her head and around her neck, securing it underneath the collar of her coat. “It’s actually better like this because it holds my hair down. Now put on the damn hat.”

“Such language, princess,” he teased, pulling the hat on over his ears, where it looked just ridiculously cute. “I’ve never heard you curse so fluently. Is it the influence of us rough seamen?” He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed, throwing back her head and shoving him playfully in the chest.

Liam watched their byplay, not bothering to hide his delighted grin. It warmed his heart to see his brother smiling like that again, and after meeting Emma he had no qualms about encouraging their relationship. They were both so obviously smitten, the looks they gave each other so positively brimming with teenage angst and longing that Liam felt it could only be a matter of time before Killian finally gave in and asked her out properly. He had clung far longer than Liam had expected to this obligation he seemed to feel towards Milah Gold, but that was firmly in the past now, and Liam had no intention of letting his brother stumble down a similar path ever again. Killian was seeing Dr Hopper regularly and making good progress, according to the psychiatrist’s reports. He was getting good marks in school, seemed to enjoy playing his music again, and now he had a pretty girl his age who was clearly crazy about him. The tight knot of anxiety that had taken up residence in Liam’s chest the previous summer and had been his constant companion ever since eased slightly. The decision to move Killian to America despite his vehement protests had been the right one, Liam was more sure of that now than ever. His little brother was healing, slowly, but he would get there. Soon he would be his old self again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was well past eleven when Emma finally dragged herself away from the Jones house after one of the single best days she could remember, sailing and grilling and eating steak and loaded baked potatoes and birthday cake until she couldn’t eat any more. Killian had played his guitar and Liam had sung along; even she had joined in after considerable coaxing and teasing from both of them. She didn’t think she’d ever laughed so hard in her life. Resolutely, she ignored the plaintive voice in her head urging her to stay just a few minutes longer, knowing that she needed time to drive slowly through the icy streets in order to make it home for her midnight curfew.

Killian walked her to her car. “Thanks for coming today, Emma,” he said softly, taking the beanie from his pocket and pulling it down onto her head, letting his fingertips brush through her hair as he did. “It was the best birthday I’ve had in a while.”

“I had a great time,” she replied. He dropped his hands from her hair but she caught them and placed them on her hips, stepping closer and leaning her head against his shoulder, smiling as she heard him catch his breath. She let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding her own breath for an anxious few seconds until he finally pulled her close, his arms enclosing her tightly. Sighing, she melted into the hug. “Happy birthday, Killian,” she whispered.

They stood like that for as long as Emma dared, until finally she knew she had to get going. As she started to pull back Killian’s arms tightened around her almost reflexively, as if not wishing to let her go. She looked up at him, their faces so close there was barely a breath between them, and willed him to kiss her.

She knew it had to be his move. She’d made the last one, now it was up to him.

He swayed towards her, his eyes fixed on her lips as his own parted slightly, and she fisted her hands in his coat, forcing herself to wait. She could almost feel the conflict within him as he struggled against his attraction to her, and against whatever he was holding inside that wouldn’t allow him to act on it. The tension stretched her nerves tight and the butterflies performed an energetic jitterbug in her belly until Killian seemed to pull himself out of a trance, blinking rapidly and shaking himself and then abruptly his arms were gone and he was stepping away.

“Drive safely, love,” he said hoarsely.

Emma hid her disappointment behind a bright smile. “See you at fencing club tomorrow?” she asked, her own voice lower than normal.

“I’ll be there.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the door of Dr Hopper’s office, Neal waited. This time of year darkness fell quite early in Maine, and the sun had long since set by the time the psychiatrist went home for the day, whistling as he went. The office door closed behind him with a decisive click and he followed an eager Pongo to the exit, not noticing the boy hidden in the deep shadows of the darkened hallway.

Once he was sure he was alone Neal knelt in front of the door, withdrawing a set of lock picks from his pocket and quickly jimmying the door open. No security at all, he thought scornfully. You’d think the man guarding Storybrooke’s darkest secrets would have a sturdier lock. He hurried to the filing cabinet, picking that lock just as easily, and soon he had in his hands the thick manila file bearing the name of Killian Jones. Placing it on the coffee table, he made himself comfortable on the sofa and flipped the file open, illuminating its contents with the flashlight from his phone.

Several minutes later he sat back, feeling gleeful and exhilarated, and thoroughly pleased with himself. This was fucking huge and with it he could annihilate Killian, not just at school but also with Emma. There was no way she would forgive him. Not a prissy little prude like her. Not for this.

Grinning smugly, he snapped a few pictures with his phone then returned the file to the cabinet and locked everything behind him as he left. For the first time in his life, he couldn't wait to get back to school

(We’ll get the secret in the next chapter, I promise!)

#cs ff au #high school au #captain duckling #profdanglaisstuff #another brick in the wall

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americannoona · 7 years

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Dressing Zico:: Chapter Twenty-Three:: I’m gonna do it until it strains my Heart... (18+)

My mornings always began the same way now. I had breakfast with one of my very favorite people in the world. Kim Marco. My big strong teddy bear was hanging in there. Everyone had given up on him. Everyone but me. I knew him too well to think he would leave this world without a fight. Zico had made sure that he was kept in the best private room in the best hospital in South Korea with the best care possible. He liked to act like a cold hard-ass to the world but Zico’s heart was as tender as Marco’s when he thought no one was looking. I knew he blamed himself for Marco getting hurt. He blamed himself for everything whether it was his fault or not. He paid for two private nurses to stay with Marco at all times but when I came in the mornings, I gave the morning nurse a short break. I liked to be alone with him. We talked, well I talked, as I ate and then I rubbed salve into his wounds. He had lost so much weight that he didn’t look quite like himself. I thought that if Vita were still here, she could fatten him up in no time flat. Thinking of Vita made me tear up. I began to wonder if I was a jinx. So many people had been hurt or even killed since I came to Korea. Even though Vita’s death had nothing to do with me, I thought that Kim Marco’s stabbing did.

I bought a new gold earring for him. It was a teddy bear. He never would have worn it if he had been awake but right now he had no choice. I laughed a little to myself as I put it in his ear and thought of this big beast of a man being at my mercy. “I love you, Kim Marco,” I told him and kissed his cheek. “I need you so you need to wake up and help me with my plans.” I sat and talked to Marco and told him all about what had been going on. I told him about Ji-Yong. I told him about being in the hospital and how his brother had stepped into his place while he was away. I let him know how wonderful Kim Hwan had been. Absently, I started to draw doodles on the notepad beside his bed. As I talked, I began to make a little list. “Marco,” I paused and waited to see if he would say “Polo” but he didn’t. “I have decided to take my life back. It really isn’t like me to back down so easily and I’ve been acting like a helpless victim in this whole thing. The first thing I’m going to do is get my job back. I still have a contract with Zico so technically, the job is still mine.” Absently, I tore the doodle sheet off and wrote a 1 at the top of the clean sheet. Then I wrote MY JOB beside it. “The second thing I’m going to do is get my room back in Zico’s hotel. Even if he is staying with Horse-face! At least I’ll have my foot back in the door. Physical proximity is key.” I wrote a 2 under the first one and beside it I wrote MY ROOM. “I know I can’t make Zico love me or want me but I don’t think I have to. All of his actions lately have said that he still wants me. He stayed with me in the hospital. He even fought Ji-Yong for me. Oh yeah… remind me to tell you about that some time.” I laughed to myself and shook my head. “I don’t think it would take much to get him back though. He and Alicia seem to fight all the time. I could be wrong but I don’t think I am. I believe Alicia confused him and even he is realizing that he made a mistake. I hope,” I said wistfully as I wrote a 3 under the 2 and wrote out MY ZICO beside it. “The last thing I have to do, Marco, is to get rid of Alicia Wright for good.” I laughed again because it sounded like I was planning a homicide. “She needs to go back to the US and stay far away from us. I have no idea how I’m going to do that but I’ll think of something. That’s why you need to wake up so that you can help me. You always have the best ideas.” I wrote a big 4 and then GOODBYE ALICIA WRIGHT! Tearing out the page and folding it in half, I put it in my pocket and bent down to kiss Marco. “Tomorrow we should have biscuits and gravy. Don’t you agree?” One thing I didn’t discuss with Marco was maybe the biggest problem I had. Ji-Yong. I really liked him. REALLY liked him. I didn’t know what to do about him so I decided to think about it later. Now I was going to go to see him and enjoy being in his presence. He exuded happiness and energy and it was contagious. Two things I could use a lot of right now. Big Bang was taping a variety show and Ji-Yong invited me to come and watch. I was excited to see him and to see the rest of the group again. It was a taping of the show Weekly Idol and Ji-Yong really didn’t want to go. He hated the silly things they made them do on these kinds of shows but it was all a part of being an idol. Being a circus monkey was part of the business. But instead of dancing for peanuts, people were throwing money. Lots of it. I really wished I was the designer for Big Bang. I would completely rethink their wardrobe. A makeover for that group was way overdue in my opinion. I figured with them being so close to military age, the company didn’t think it was worth the effort to repackage them. Sad. I had so many ideas! When I got to the studio, Ji-Yong had left instructions with the attendant that I be taken to the front and given a drink that he had purchased himself and that was still sealed. I couldn’t help but smile. It was a lemon drink. I hated lemon so I laughed, popped it open, and stuck my straw in. There was no way I wasn’t going to drink it. After I took a sip, I told myself it really wasn’t that bad. Yes it is, I thought. I might have to make a trip to the bathroom…and pour it down the sink. Either way, that drink was going to be empty by the end of the taping. Then, out of nowhere, I thought, Zico would have gotten me tea. I love tea. I shook Zico right out of my head. The MC Cony came over and introduced himself. He didn’t speak English so all he could really do was make the introduction and smile at me. It was very sweet. The taping began shortly after and when the boys came out Ji-Yong winked at me and Young-bae grinned. I blushed. Ji-Yong was right. They did make them do really stupid things but I found myself laughing at most of them. Especially T.O.P. He was really good at showmanship. Ji-Yong was quiet. Seungri tried to hog the spotlight whenever he got the opportunity. Daesung was quiet too unless the attention was on him. Young-bae never wanted the attention on him. When the taping was over, the attendant came and took me backstage. He waited outside while I made a quick stop at the bathroom. I honestly did have to pee…and pour that hideous drink down the drain. What Ji-Yong didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. I waited in a cute little sitting room with bright pink chairs that I sunk into when I sat down. It was so soft and squishy that it practically swallowed me. I felt like a little girl but I also felt like I could sleep there. Comfortably. Ji-Yong laughed at me when he came in to get me. “Oh, you are laughing at me? You were pretty funny driving that tiny car during the show you know!” I said as I laughed too. “Come on jjing-jjing-i . Lets have lunch,” he said. I tried to get out of the chair but it was just too squishy. It was eating me. I couldn’t get my feet on the ground to help push myself up. Ji-Yong watched me for a minute and instead of helping me, he fell into the chair opposite mine and died laughing. He was laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach and had tears at the corners of his incredible eyes. “Ji-Yong!” I whined. “Stop! Come and help me!” He laughed harder. Finally, Daesung came to the door and stood there watching the show. He looked very confused. I know I was red-faced, both from trying to get out of the chair and from embarrassment and Ji-Yong was red-faced from laughing so hard. I didn’t know him but I decided to beg his help anyway. “Daesung, will you please give me a hand? And then can you punch Ji-Yong in the face for me?” I asked with a straight face. He considered a minute, my remark making Ji-Yong laugh so hard that he couldn’t breath, and shrugged. “Sure!” Daesung came over and offered his hand. I took it and pulled myself out of the chair. We stood there watching Ji-Yong laughing which only made him worse. Then Daesung couldn’t help himself and started laughing too. I stared at him. “Okay! You said you would punch him in the face!” I said with the straightest face I could make. Then I couldn’t do it anymore. I joined in the merriment. I mean, it really was funny. Ji-Yong finally stopped laughing and lay there in the big pink squishy chair staring up at us and holding his tummy. “I love you guys!” he said. The restaurant was quiet and cool and Ji-Yong led me in with his hand on the small of my back. For some reason, that has always been very sensual to me. It makes me feel a little bit possessed. And being possessed by G-Dragon didn’t seem to be a bad thing. He ordered for us, which made me a bit nervous. I don’t usually like men ordering for me because I have picky taste-buds but Ji-Yong promised me I would like this dish. Zico would order for me but he usually ordered steak and never gave me a choice. I hadn’t minded. Much. I thought about him sitting across from me pouring salt into his hand and making a mess. Looking over at Ji-Yong sitting quietly like a perfect gentleman made me miss Zico a little more. STOP thinking about Zico, you idiot! G-Dragon is sitting across from you and looking at you like he wants to devour you. Millions of girls want to be in your place! MILLIONS! I smiled at Ji-Yong and reached over to caress his hand. He pulled my fingers in between his fingers and thumb and held them there. “I wanted to ask you something,” he said. My heart sped up. When someone has to warn you that they are going to ask something, it’s never a good question. “Oh. Okay,” I said, my mouth dry. “Will you be my date for the MAMA’s?” I sucked in a breath and realized I hadn’t been breathing. “Oh my gosh! You scared me to death!” I said and laughed, lightly covering my mouth with my free hand. “Why? I’m sorry. Did you think I was going to say something horrible?” he asked. “Yes! You sounded so serious!” “Well, it is serious. Sort of. It’s months ahead and kind of a big deal.” “Are you sure you want to commit to that this early?” I asked. “Absolutely,” he said and letting go of my hand he sipped his water. “I don’t want to go with anyone else and I know I won’t change my mind. But will you?” Would I? “I would love to go with you,” I said. “Aaaaand you just made my night,” he said and kissed my hand. I smiled up at him with a blush brightening my cheeks. He leaned in for a kiss and as I put my lips against his I saw something over his shoulder. There was a man at a table behind us trying to hide the fact that he was taking pictures of us with his phone. “Ji-Yong, there is a man behind you taking pictures of us,” I whispered. He turned and looked at the man. “Come on man! We are having a private moment here! If those pictures are for your daughter, she won’t want them since I’m here with another woman.” “I don’t know what you are talking about!” The man said and laid his phone on the table, covering it with his napkin. “Look, I get it. And normally I don’t care but this beautiful young woman that I’m with isn’t in the business and deserves to have her privacy respected just like everyone else. Please stop.” “Is she your fiance?” asked the man. Ji-Yong stared at him for a moment. He turned back to me and said, “Turn around and keep your back to that man.” “Um, okay. Why?” I was very confused. “Just do it and I’ll explain in a moment,” he said, getting up from the table. I turned around and watched Ji-Yong walk to the back of the restaurant and go through a door that I was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to go into. I was dying to know what was going on and what the strange man was doing now but I didn’t turn around to look. Soon, Ji-Yong came out with two men from the restaurant. He pointed behind me and sat back down at our table. “You can turn around now,” he said and tapped my arm. I turned and watched as the two large gentlemen talked to the man at the other table. After a moment, they escorted him outside. “What was that about?” I asked. “He was a reporter for some trashy magazine so I had him ejected,” Ji-Yong said and spread his napkin on his lap. “You can just do that?” I asked, impressed. He grinned his little boy grin and said, “He was harassing you and I won’t have that.” “Uh, he was harassing you,” I said. “No, I’m a public figure and expect to be photographed and written about. You aren’t. So I had him bounced.” I laughed. “I know it’s horrible of me but that is so impressive.” “Good! I love to shock you. It keeps you interested.” He laughed too because he knew he sounded ridiculous. Our food came out then and it smelled delicious. It looked a little questionable but I was going to try it anyway. I started to ask him what I was about to put into my mouth but I saw something that made my stomach sour. For the second time that night I saw something I didn’t want to see over Ji-Yong’s shoulder. Coming through the restaurant door was Zico and Alicia. I noted that his hand was nowhere near the small of her back. I put my chopsticks down. “Are you okay? What is it?” Ji-Yong looked at me with concern. “Are you sick?” “I am now,” I said. “Can you have them ejected?” “What? Who?” He asked and turned around to see what had upset me. “Oh.” I saw the look on Ji-Yong’s face and was instantly sorry that I had said anything. “You know what?” I asked. “Who cares? Let’s ignore them. They have nothing to do with us.” “No, you are right. They don’t. Can you ignore them?” he asked. He had deflated a little. “Of course. I’ve gotten very good at it in fact,” I said. We looked at each other and laughed a little. I raised my fork and said, “Now, what in the hell is this?” The atmosphere of the restaurant seemed even colder after that but we both did our best to ignore the creep show that was going on at the table just beyond ours. It was harder for me since they were behind Ji-Yong and I could see Zico very clearly. Either he hadn’t spotted me or he was pretending that he hadn’t. Compared to my date he was a mess. He had a suit on but it was rumpled and his tie was crooked. His hair was perfect except for a small cowlick in the very back. He was leaning back in his chair and wasn’t paying any attention to Alicia at all. She looked exceptional as always. Everything in its place without any visible imperfections. Hair perfect. Clothes perfect even if they were slutty. Perfect makeup and skin. God I hate her! I looked at Ji-Yong and he was staring at me. “You aren’t ignoring them,” he said. “I’m sorry. Was I looking at them?” I asked innocently. “More like memorizing,” he said. “Ji-Yong! I was not!” I tried to play with him to ease the tension. It didn’t work. “You still love him,” he said and took a drink of his wine. My mouth gaped open. I couldn’t believe he just went there. “I do not,” I said and began putting food into my mouth a little too quickly. “He’s still in love with you too. He just fucked up and now he doesn’t know how to fix it. He’s stuck.” Not only did he go there… he went farther! “Ji-Yong, that is far from the truth. He made his choice and I’m sure he’s happy with it.” He turned around in his seat, unabashedly, and took in the couple behind us that was clearly having a fight. “Yes. He looks like a man that is ecstatic to be with his date.” He faced me again and picked up his chopsticks. “The same man that felt he had the right to let himself into your apartment and proceeded to try and beat my brains in because he thought I was doing something ungodly to you.” “He’s just protective,” I said. “Of his designer?” Ji-Yong asked. “Yes. Of all of his staff. He would do the same for any of them.” I didn’t want to have this conversation. “Elizabeth, you know I’m right.” I didn’t answer. Instead I watched as Alicia made her way to the bathroom and Zico finally noticed me. The oddest look came over his face. I’ve seen that look before. It was the same look he always got when he was about to do something that he shouldn’t. The cocky way he held his mouth. Partly open, bottom jaw a little crooked. It’s the same look he gets when he is about to pounce and have his way with you. I thought and felt a tickle in the pit of my stomach. Don’t come over here. Please, don’t. Do Not Come Over Here, Zico! DON’T DO IT. He did it. “So, how are the love birds this evening? What’s on the agenda tonight? Candle wax? Hot Fudge? Whips and chains?” asked Zico as he straightened his tie. “What do you want Zico? Come over to make sure I’m not putting poison in the food?” asked Ji-Yong. He sat back in his seat and crossed his arms as he looked up at Zico. “Maybe. Did you?” Zico asked. If a person could stare daggers then both of these men would have one stuck right between their eyes. I couldn’t do anything but stare back and forth from one to the other. I didn’t know what to say or if I should say anything. It didn’t seem to have anything to do with me. “Not ours,” said Ji-Yong without missing a beat. “We were just finishing up so if you don’t mind, we will be going. We have a dungeon room reserved and waiting for us.” He stood and offered his hand to me and it took me a moment to understand that we were really leaving. I took his hand and tried not to look at Zico, who didn’t move so that I could stand up. I had to move my chair over. I could smell him. Zico had a special cologne made just for him and it was unmistakable. And sexy as hell. I couldn’t help but breath him in and close my eyes as I scooted past him. Ji-Yong wrapped his arm around my waist tightly and led me out the door as Zico stood there and watched us go. I looked back once more and felt a twinge of pity as his look changed from cocky to sad and he looked down at his feet. Oh, Zico…

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