21

The police come in as soon as they heard you're already conscious. They ask questions after questions about the incident and you feel yourself getting tired of it. 

You feel stupid, embarrassed for what happened. You try to look at it in a different way, but you still end up blaming yourself. 

"You're lucky your brother and his friends were there." The police reminds you, much to your annoyance. "If not, you would be found dead somewhere." 

"I know," you want to shout at him, but stop yourself. Tears just keep on flowing down your eyes. 

"Just sign these papers so we could officially file the complaint and we're off." 

How could this police be so insensitive.

JB talks to them about not releasing it to the press before they left. 

"Oppa," you reach out your hand to JB when the police left, "I'm sorry....and thank you." You've put your brother in a difficult spot and the guilt you feel is eating you up. 

"It's not your fault, sis. Are you feeling better?" His warm hands on yours give you a little comfort. 

"If it wasn't for my stupidity, this wouldn't have happened." 

He looks at the other boys in the room and signal them to go out. Once it's just the both of you in the room, he sits on the bed and faces you. 

"Sis," his tone is serious, "tell me the truth. Is this the first time this ever happened to you?"

You know what he means. This was your life back in Australia after breaking up with Michael. You went to clubs, pick up a guy, have sex and leave. Fortunately, the four guys you've slept with were not like Tom. 

You nod.

He heaves a sigh of relief. "Don't you ever, ever make me worry like this again. You get it?" 

You nod again. 

"Good thing Mark followed you out. If not..Ugh...Fuck...I can't even imagine what that jackass could've done to you." He's clenching his teeth and you start sobbing again. 

"I'm sorry." 

"I'm not gonna tell mom and dad about this, but you have to promise me, no more one night stands."

"I promise." 

There was a knock on the door and Jackson's head peeped in. "You have a visitor," he whispers. 

JB nods for him to let the person in. Jackson slowly opens the door and a worried Reno comes in. 

"Are you ok, Bel?" He runs to your side after seeing your bandaged head. "Oh my God, what happened to you?" He slowly takes your hand and caresses your cheek. "What the fuck did that guy do to you?" 

"I'm ok, Reno. How'd you know I was here?" 

"JB called the office and told Se-hee you're sick. I got worried so I called him."

You narrow your eyes at JB who just shrugs. 

"Uhm...I didn't know what to bring so I just got flowers." He hands you a bouquet of pink tulips. "I hope this would cheer you up. I don't know what flowers you like...so..." 

"They're beautiful. Thank you." Mark's eyebrows shoot up as you give Reno a weak smile. 

Reno receives a call from Se-hee saying he's needed in the studio. He kisses your forehead and gets on his way, leaving the seven guys gaping at you. 

"What?" You ask them. 

"Is he? Are you?" JB asks.

"NO, of course not. He's just...well...being a caring boss."

"That doesn't look like being 'a caring boss', Bel." Mark's voice gets louder, to everybody's surprise.

"There's nothing between Reno and me, MARK." Your voice gets louder, too, as you defend yourself. "We go out at times but just a casual date. Nothing to it."

"Nothing to it? Are you sure you just have a casual date? How many guys do you go out in a casual date with? HUH?" He's beside your bed now and is shouting down at you.

The other boys just watch your exchange of words, puzzled at what's going on. 

"Well, you go out on dates, too. Don't you? With your WIFE. Am I not allowed to do the same?" 

"I do it for work, Bel. But, you...you....AARRRGGGGHHH!!!" Mark exhales aloud and stomps out the room. 

"UGH..." you grumble back. 

"Woah! What was that?" Jackson shakes his head in disbelief. You realize all eyes are on you. 

"What's going on here?" Junior asks, still looking confused. 

"Ugh," you groan again and cover yourself with the blanket. 

"Is there something going on between the two of you we don't know?" Youngjae asks.

"JB-hyung, do you know about this?" You can hear Jackson asking.

"Everybody out," JB shoos the boys out the door. 

The silence of the room tells you you're left alone. Your ears are still hot with rage. "How dare Mark questions me about Reno? Why is he so angry? Why did I get angry?" The words just came out of you without even thinking. "Fuck, ISABEL." You curse at yourself for being stupid, yet again.

You were allowed to go home after three days of being in the hospital. JB was there everyday and so was Reno. Mark...well, after the spat you had he didn't return. 

Reno gave you the whole week off to rest and get better. Instead of doing just that, you take your laptop out and start working. Staying inside the house and doing nothing for the whole day makes you remember things you want to forget. Just like Mark, for instance. So you busy yourself with work. 

Your phone goes off just a few minutes after you've sent Reno an email about the first task you've finished. 

"Yes?" 

"What the heck are you doing working?" Reno sounds annoyed. He must've already seen your email and is wondering why you're not resting.

"Nothing to do. Bored." 

"Ugh...you're stubborn."

"I know."

He chuckles. "Want me to take lunch at your place?"

"No. That's ok. My stepbrother's coming over. Thanks anyway."

"Stop working and get some rest, Bel. See you on Monday."

On cue, JB bangs at your door and you run to open it. 

"Can you not use the doorbell? Do you really have to make a ruckus everytime you come over?" You shout at him. 

He just grins and hands you two plastic bags full of food. 

"This is too much for the both of us." Still wondering why he brought a lot, you hear the other boys come up the steps, bickering. 

JB shrugs, "they wanted to come visit you."

You roll your eyes at him as the boys line up to enter. 

"And somebody here," he whispers, "wants to apologize." You follow his gaze, it's Mark. Who else?

He's standing by the door with his head bent. 

After a very noisy, yet delicious meal, JB stands up and pulls you to your room. "Stay here," he says leaving you sitting at the edge of your bed. When the door opens again, Mark is standing at the door, hesitating to come in. Slowly, he steps inside and closes the door.

You stand up, "Mark, you don't have to say sorry. It's actually my fault. I was just being stupid. In fact, I have to thank you. I don't know what could've happened to me if it weren't for you. So, Thank You." All the words just came out before he could even say anything. 

He lays on the bed, staring at the ceiling, not talking. You sit at the chair on your vanity and wait for him to say something...anything. But he doesn't.

A whole minute has passed, still nothing. You get up and start for the door. 

"Wait," he suddenly says. He's already sitting when you turn to face him. "You've already heard about me being in the show. Yes, I date her. I date her for real. I wanted to forget about you, and so I asked her out, without the cameras." He puts his head on his hands. "She said she likes me. I...I don't know if I feel the same way for her." 

Like somebody took your heart out and you stop breathing suddenly. Tears are starting to form again in your eyes, fortunately, his head is bent and can't see you forcing back the tears. 

You force a smile and sit next to him. "Good for you," you say under your breath. 

He turns his head to his side to look at you. "But, Isabel," his eyes pierce through yours and you find yourself drowning in his captivating stare. "Do you know why I followed you out the club?" He then sits up straight and faces you. "I thought I've completely erased you out of my system. But when I saw you walking out with that jerk, I wanted to stop you."

"And I thank you for that."

"Do you know why I wanted to stop you?" His hands are holding yours now. "Because I still want you." 

The look on his face makes you melt. The beating of your heart get faster and faster.

"I just want to confirm something," he whispers. His palm goes to your chest and stays there. "Why is your heart beating so fast, Isabel?" 

The only thing that tells you you're still alive is the sound of his voice. Your mouth goes dry that even if you want to say something no sound comes out. You can't move...no...you REFUSE to move. You want to stay there, with him. His effect on you is still strong. His touch still makes you shiver. The sound of his voice still sends electricity all over your body. 

You like him and you damn well know it.