The Real Beast

~Beauty~ 

I was confused why Mr. Seo was still calling me continuously. I had to put my phone on silent because of that. I was furious at him for not considering my opinion. I wanted to show him that I could do things on my own. I was having fun anyway.

Everyone has a weakness and my weakness is art and music. I get immersed in it and don't even realize when time flies. It happened again, I almost forgot what time it was while thinking about design inspirations. When I looked around the gallery, I realized I was the only one there. Even Ji Hun had not returned with the drinks. 

I took my cellphone out to call him, but the battery had died. There was no other option but to look for him around the gallery. To be honest, I started getting a bit scared. There was no one there and it was already very late at night. I felt I had probably made a mistake by staying back for so long. 

"Boyoung-ssi..." Ji Hun called out and I almost jumped. 

"Y-yes..." I said. "where were you?" 

"Ah, sorry it took me some time, here is your wine," he said offering me the glass. 

"Oh, thank you..." I took it but I was hesitant to have it. I don't know why did I agree earlier. 

"You look stressed?" Ji Hun asked. 

"Umm, no... I was just thinking that it's too late so we should probably go now." 

He suddenly stepped closer and kept his hand on my shoulder. 

"Don't worry, you're going to be fine," he said with a strange smile. 

I'm not the kind of woman who would judge a man just because he was being friendly. But a woman can never be wrong about a man's touch. And his touch wasn't a good one. 

I instantly stepped back. It was horrifying to imagine that I had walked right into a trap. How could I be such a fool? Probably Mr. Seo was calling me for the same reason. I was too angry at him for what? Not listening to me? Gosh, I must have gone crazy! There was no need for me to overreact to something that he said and go to that place alone just to prove him wrong.

"What are you thinking, Boyoung-sshi?" Ji Hun asked trying to come closer. 

I knew if I tried to fight, he would use force and I would stand no chance against him. I was at his place and he had nothing to worry about. I had to think cleverly. 

"Umm, Ji Hun-sshi, can you show me where the washroom is?" I asked trying to sound genuine.

"Ohh! Sure, just go straight from here and take a left." he guided and I was sure he did not doubt me. 

"Thank you, can you hold the wine for me? I will be back soon." I said handing over the glass to him. 

I walked straight to the washroom and locked it from inside. First, I needed to calm down. I took a few deep breaths and forgave myself for being so stupid. I had to accept what had happened and use my mind to get out of the situation. 

~Beast~ 

I had told Jae Sung to try and get to the art gallery as soon as possible. Boyoung's cellphone was probably dead. I hoped that was the case and nothing else. I had never been so impatient before. Having a luxurious car was of no use. I felt I should have bought the fastest car instead. 

"Jae sung-ah, be quick," I said panicking.

"I'm trying my best, don't worry she will be okay," he said. 

"No! she is stupid," I screamed in frustration. 

"Everyone does stupid things when they are angry, Sir." 

I think Jae was taunting me at that time. But I wasn't in the mood to get offended. I just hoped that he was right and Boyoung was smart enough to realize Ji Hun's true intentions on her own. 

"We will be there in a few minutes," Jae informed and I felt even more impatient. 

But it's true that when you face one problem, sometimes you need to face another at the same time. That's when you need to decide which one needs your attention most. 

Probably that is why, when I was least expecting it, I heard a clap of thunder. 

My heart almost sunk. No! It couldn't be the rain again. It shouldn't be! 

Jae slowed down his car when he noticed some water droplets on the windshield. He tilted his head towards me and I knew what he was worried about. 

"Mr. Seo, are you going to be okay? do you want me to turn the car?" he asked. 

I had no reply. Usually, he didn't even have to ask me before turning the car around and taking me back home whenever it rained. But that night, it was different. I started shivering as the rain started pouring brutally, just like those endless nights which I wanted to forget. 

I wanted to hide, I wanted to go back. 

"Mr. Seo? should we go back?" Jae asked again. 

I was wringing my hands in nervousness. I didn't know what would happen if I went out in the rain, but what about her? I was too worried for her. She was in trouble because of me. 

"Jae Sung, I don't know if I can manage it," I said. 

"Sir, it is up to you," Jae asked. 

It made me even more anxious. Was I ready for it? Could I do it? Could I face the rain? Could I let her see what the rain does to me?

~ Beauty ~ 

It was raining heavily outside and the power supply of the art gallery got cut. No, it wasn't a coincidence. I had noticed the power board near the washroom so I sneaked out and cut the wires. 

I knew Ji Hun was searching for me in the dark. But I tried to take advantage of his huge gallery and hide somewhere.

I could still hear him calling out my name and angrily telling his security guard to check the power supply. I was looking for the back exit of the building while trying to hide from him. There was no light and even my phone was dead so it was tough to make guesses in the dark. 

I had seen a map of the building behind the washroom door and thankfully my memory is good. So I was able to trace my way to the back door. I just had to cross a passage. I took very slow steps so that no one heard me. I had to use my hands to check for obstacles on the way. 

I simply asked God for help. I had done everything that I could do to get myself out of the trouble. That's when I saw a flash of light fall on me from the back. The passage in front of me was more visible then. I froze for a moment thinking if it was the divine light. 

I turned around as my body shivered in anxiety. When the light fell on my face, I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head to one side, and guess who was in front of me? holding a torch light?

It was not God. It was Ji Hun. 

"Are you trying to run away?" he asked as if he would punish me right there. 

I gulped in and went blank. My heart was racing. I couldn't think of any way to get out of there. If I had run, he would have caught me without any problems. I stood there frozen and terrorized. That is not what I had wished for! Why would God do that with me?

"Boyoung!" I heard another voice coming from the other end. It sounded familiar. 

I turned around and Ji Hun directed the light in that direction to check who it was. I swear when the light fell on the person, I almost cried. 

"Inguk- sshi" I shouted and threw my handbag on the floor. I ran towards him as fast as I could.  It felt like running up to him was more important than my life.

He looked as worried as I was. I couldn't believe he was actually there. When I reached closer to him, I could see how impatient he had been. 

"Boyoun-" before he could finish, I wrapped my hand around his waist and pulled him in a hug. 

I can't explain why I did that. But I felt he was all that I needed. I wanted to be closer to him, I wanted to hold him to ensure he was there.

He heaved a sigh of relief and did not hesitate before wrapping his arms around my shoulders. He pulled me very gently towards him as if he was making sure I was okay, and assuring me that he was there for me. 

"Please tell me you're okay, please..." he almost begged. 

"I am okay," I said as I burst into tears. I am sure his shirt got wet. 

 "I'm so sorry!" he said putting his hand on my head. "I'm so sorry about this." 

I don't know why he was apologizing, it wasn't his fault really. It was mine. I should have been the one to apologize.

"The Beast?" Ji Hun called out and I lifted my head to look at Mr. Seo. 

He stared right at Ji Hun and had a beastly look in his eyes. I had never seen him angry before. It was very scary. 

"Let him be, let's just go-" I tried to stop him but he released me. 

"Just wait here!" he said before walking towards Ji Hun. 

"Wait! Mr. Seo!" I shouted in vain. 

He walked to Ji Hun like a grim reaper, dressed in a black suit. Ji Hun was so scared that his torchlight fell on the ground. I had no idea how to stop Mr. Seo because I felt scared too. 

He held Ji Hun by the collar and dragged him through the passage and then out of the building from the back door. 

"Don't do this!" I screamed and followed him. 

But by the time I walked out of the door, I saw that he had dragged Ji Hun to the middle of his backyard and he was punching him brutally. 

"This is not good," I shouted and ran towards them. 

It was raining heavily and the rain drops were already hurting me with their force. But Mr. Seo was unperturbed. He was on his knees and had Ji Hun pinned to the ground. While holding his collar with one hand, he was hitting him with the other. 

"Mr. Seo, please stop!" 

"How dare you!" he shouted at Ji Hun while hitting him. 

"Please let the police handle him!" I pleaded. 

"Law can't do anything about these rodents!" he said and continued to punch him. 

I panicked. I needed to stop him. He was getting out of control. I noticed Ji Hun who was about to get unconscious. The rain had completely drenched all of us but Mr. Seo wasn't stopping. 

I rushed and kneeled next to him. It was tough to hold him but I tried. 

"Stop! Just stop right now!" I screamed. "Mr. Seo stop it." 

He tried to ignore my efforts but I did not give up. I held both his shoulders and pulled him away. 

"STOP IT! " I shouted at the top of my voice and my lungs almost gave up.

He got startled for a second and that's when I turned him towards me. 

"ARE YOU GOING TO KILL HIM?" I asked panting. 

He stopped and stared at me. Water was gushing through his face and he looked exhausted. I felt he was regretting what he had done.

"Forgive me," he said and I could see tears in his eyes even when his face was drenched. 

I felt bad for him even if I didn't know what the matter was. Ji Hun got up and ran away as soon as he got the opportunity. I was relieved about that. At least there would be no more fighting. 

Mr. Seo looked around and got disturbed by the rain. I saw the panic on his face cropping up. Instinctively I held his hands and tried to console him. But I noticed that his knuckles were bleeding. 

"You're bleeding!" I looked at him in shock. He had hit Ji Hun so hard that he hurt himself. "Is it hurting? " I asked. 

"No..." he said with a straight face. "I don't feel anything..." 

I was very confused. What was happening to him? Why was he behaving that way?

"Are you ok-" before I could complete, he collapsed on the ground.

I couldn't understand what to do. I tried to pick him up but it was very difficult for me. I was growing impatient since he wasn't responding well. 

"Sir," I heard Jae sung's voice to my relief. 

He ran towards us with an umbrella although it was of no use by then.

"Let me help you," Jae sung said helping us to get up. I realized that Mr. Seo wasn't fully unconscious, he was able to stand with some help. 

"He has beaten Ji Hun very badly," I informed.

"What? I wasn't expecting that. But Don't worry, Ma'am. Let's go from here before Ji Hun's security comes." Jae said as he helped the two of us to escape. 

As we walked towards the car, I was holding on to Mr. Seo's arm worrying about what had happened to him. Somehow I was responsible for his condition. I should have listened to him when he had told me not to trust strangers. That's a basic thing we learn as a kid. I shouldn't have sent my driver away when it was so late. It was all my fault. 

But why did he become like that all of a sudden? Did he come all the way to that place just to help me? Even if he did, why did he act so strange in the rain?

Jae sung helped Mr. Seo to get on the back seat and gestured for me to sit with him. I took a seat and positioned his head properly so that it was resting on the back. His car was a huge Lamborghini and the back seat was more like a small room.

I could still talk to Jae through a small opening behind the driver's seat.

"Let's go to the hospital," I said. 

"No Ma'am, we will just go home. Don't worry" he said before starting the car as if he was unperturbed by the fact that Mr. Seo was unconscious. 

"Home? But something is wrong with him!" I objected. 

"Ma'am, it's just the medicine that he took before going out in the rain," Jae said casually. 

"What??"  I was confused.

"Rain, he has a phobia of it. He cannot face it all. If it gets unavoidable he takes his medicine which puts him to sleep after a while" Jae informed. 

"Oh, God! But why?" I asked watching Mr. Seo who looked feeble and drowsy. 

"He never tells anyone. And he doesn't want anyone to know of this condition either." Jae said. 

"We need to help him, he must be struggling with something," I said without moving my eyes away from Mr. Seo.

"We have tried. But after it stops raining, he becomes very indifferent for the next few days. Completely devoid of emotion. As if he was dead. It gets scary because he would do anything without thinking if it hurts someone or not." 

"Just because of the rain? " I felt miserable to know that. What if it was a side effect of his medicines? What if he was struggling with something serious? 

"Yes, I don't know what goes wrong with him but it lasts for a few days and then he gets back to normal. After that, we don't talk about it"  

"Does he often get violent due to that? " I asked because that would have been very concerning. 

"No, as I said...  he gets scared of the rain and hides, then after it stops, he behaves like a dead person who just lives for the sake of it, he calls himself the Beast." Jae said. "that lasts for another few days before he becomes normal again,"

"But, he wasn't afraid when he went out in the rain, he was about to beat Ji Hun to death today!" I said. And not to forget, I even saw tears in his eyes.

"That is what I am confused about Ma'am. When I dropped him at the gate, he was very scared to go out. I don't know why he became violent all of a sudden" Jae said. 

Humans cannot be devoid of emotions, they can only act like it. I needed to find out what the real matter was. 

"Ma'am, he doesn't get violent usually but he can still hurt you. I would suggest you stay away from him as much as possible, for the next few days," Jae advised. 

"Huh, I don't know if I can do that - " I said what I felt. 

I couldn't even take my eyes off him. I wanted to make sure he was alright. He was mumbling something and I noticed that his head suddenly dropped to one side. 

I immediately held him and made his head rest on my shoulder. 

"Are you okay?" I asked caressing his head. How could someone leave him alone when he looked so sick and weak? How scary could he get that Jae suggested I stay away? 

Mr. Seo did not respond but I kept patting him gently on the head. I noticed that Jae was watching us from the corner of his eye. He smiled and pressed a button. 

"I'll give you some privacy," he said and a blind dropped which covered the opening between the back seat and front seats.

What? I didn't need privacy with him. Was Jae trying to tease me in that situation? Gosh, I was so mad at him. But that was not the right time to fuss over such things. I noticed that Mr. Seo held my hand which I had kept on his lap. 

Be it getting scared of the rain or becoming a beast after that, I knew it was not the same when he was with me. I needed to dig deeper into his condition.

When we reached home, Jae carried him to his room and changed his wet clothes. By the time I slipped into my night dress, Mrs. Cha had prepared hot chicken soup for the two of us. I wanted to have it with Mr. Seo but she did not let me. I had to sit with her in the dining area while his soup was taken to his room.

"But is he awake now?" I asked her.

"Yes, he told us to leave him alone," she informed. 

"It is not right to let him be on his own in this condition," I said. 

"I know how you feel Boyoung-sshi. But we know him well, leaving him alone is the best thing to do whenever this happens," she said. "He doesn't listen to anyone. He might even fire all of us if we don't follow what he says."  

I did not want to argue with her so I just kept quiet after that. I waited for the time everyone went to sleep. Then I took my night robe and wrapped it around me before walking toward his room. 

I was a bit nervous because of all the things people had said about him. Of course, he was a beast as a businessman. He didn't care about others but only about his company. He was a beast in terms of his rules and regulations. He didn't forgive my father for a small thing. I think he did all of that after it rained. But I couldn't avoid him even when people repeatedly told me to stay away from him. 

I pushed his room's door and it was open. I know I should have knocked but he wouldn't have allowed me in. So I just walked into the room and looked around. It was larger than mine but very different. He had collected everything expensive starting from his large wooden bed to his dressing table and sofa set. The room was immensely clean and smelled of the world's finest perfumes. 

I saw a photograph kept next to his bed and wanted to see it, but as soon as I took a step forward, I heard the door shut behind me. 

I was startled and I turned around.

Mr. Seo was standing right there at the door and glaring at me as if he was about to scold me for barging into his room. I gulped in and tried to act calm. 

"Oh, I thought you were not in the room," I said. 

"What do you want?" he asked with a straight face. His eyes were piercing through me. 

"Umm, why did you shut the door?" I have no idea why I asked that out of all the other questions that I had in my mind. 

"I asked what do you want?" he was unperturbed.

"I wanted to check if you were okay," I said in a low voice. I was getting afraid of his intense eyes. He looked pale and stiff.

"Miss Park," he said as he started walking towards me. I shuddered but I couldn't walk back since my legs felt frozen. He came very close and studied my face minutely. "you should leave me alone before I do something wrong. I won't even realize it if I did." 

It was scary to look him in the eyes. But how could I just leave him without having my questions answered?

"I will, but at least let me thank you for helping me today," I started by saying something in his favor. 

"I had to help you because you did a stupid thing," he said without any expression on his face. 

"I know. It was my fault and I apologize for it," I said.

I was truly guilty for it. 

"Good, now leave me alone," he commanded and turned to the other side. 

"But what happened to you all of a sudden? I heard that you are afraid of the rain. Why?" 

I think I got too ahead of myself. He turned back and charged at me. I thought I would fall but he grabbed me by both my shoulders. 

"It's none of your business," he said glaring at me in anger. A beast with no emotions? No, that wasn't him. I was scared but I knew that was the only way to get my answers. 

"Why did you come to save me? " I could see a change in his fierce eyes when I asked that. "Why did you come even when it was raining? Why did you hit Ji Hun so badly?"

I could have said more if I had not felt extreme pain in my arms as he held me tighter and swung me towards the door. Before I knew what he was doing, I felt my back hit the door and I screamed. 

"Shut up!" he shouted and I slowly opened my eyes. 

I found myself pinned against him on the door behind me. I could not breathe because he was too close to me and I was terrified. His grip on my shoulders was so strong that it felt as if it burned my flesh. But I wasn't giving up. 

"You said you don't feel anything, that's the lie you tell everyone isn't it?" I said with all the courage I had because I knew I was right. 

He was panting as if he was angry and afraid at the same time. He did not like what I said and he did not like the fact that he was showing emotions in front of me. 

"Look, I know you are not a beast, just tell me what the truth is! Why do you hide from the rain? Why do you run away from your feelings all the time?" I asked.

He smirked and rolled his eyes as if he was mocking me. I frowned but did not move my gaze away from him. 

"Oh really? You think you know me better than others?" he said to ridicule me and his eyes turned fierce again.

I opened my mouth to say something but before that, he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me towards him. I panicked and grabbed his shoulders before he pressed me harder against the door.

I needed some air but there was no space for me to breathe. My chest was on the verge of getting crushed against him. 

 "W-what are you doing?" I asked while my body started shaking in terror.

"What if you are wrong about me, Miss Park?" he whispered in a heavy voice. 

I felt him take one of his hands up my waist and bring it to my face. I did not move or resist him at all. 

"What if I am the bad guy and  -"  he said as he brushed the back of his fingers on my cheek. I flinched at his touch but I did not move my eyes away. 

I just observed him move his face closer to my ear. He leaned and took his hand at the back to hold the knob of the door. 

"And you- " he said, " - just walked into my room so late in the night?" he completed before locking the door. 

I heard the lock and felt his nose brush against my ear. I swallowed a lump in my throat. He firmly held me by the waist with the other hand and I couldn't move a bit. I shut my eyes when he lifted his head to look at me. 

"Tell me, what if you're wrong about me?" he asked sternly and I could feel that he was gritting his teeth. 

Yes, I was shivering and shaking by that time. My stomach was churning and my heart was beating fast. But I still knew, I wasn't wrong about him. 

"I know I'm not wrong about you," I said without opening my eyes and moved my head down. 

He grabbed my chin and lifted my face. I flashed my eyes open. I gasped for air while his forehead touched my temple. I saw him read my face and stare at my lips.

"Would you say that even if I do something to you?" he asked with rage in his eyes.

I was blinking uncontrollably in anxiousness but I still trusted my guts. My jaws tightened in his strong grip.

"Go ahead, do it. I know you won't harm me." I challenged him. 

He looked confused and defeated. He was probably even more frustrated. 

"Why are you so sure of it?" he said trying to press me harder against the door.

I kept watching him as he fell weak with every passing moment. 

"Because your touch is not a bad touch," I replied in a low voice. 

He winced and crossed his brows. I am sure he wasn't expecting that. 

"What?" he asked getting confused. 

"Yes, you're holding me firmly but still gentle enough to let me go if I resisted," I spoke. He kept scanning my eyes in disbelief. "you're close but not close enough to cross the line." 

His face softened and he looked helpless. He released me immediately and stood quietly. 

I grabbed his hand and brought it up. His knuckles were badly injured. 

"You need to put medicine on it. Okay? I will go if you want me to." I said. 

He did not say anything and took a step back as if he was afraid of me. It was tragic because he had no idea how afraid I had been. But I had to act strong because I knew he wasn't what he was claiming to be. I unlocked the door and stepped out. I took a sigh of relief and went back to my room. 

~Beast~ 

I cannot explain how terrible the rain makes me feel. I never want others to know how afraid I am of it. The few days after it rains are tough for me. It brings back all the sour memories. My medicines help me to keep my mind straight. But emotions trouble me. I live my life much better without them.

Miss Park is a threat to me. I have learned to cope with my weaknesses and she is the one who is trying to bring them back. I should have never asked her to come and stay with me. Even after trying my best to scare her away, she seems unperturbed. Why? 

She made a stupid mistake by trusting that man. Thankfully I was there on time otherwise I would have never forgiven myself. But why did it have to rain at the wrong moment? I was worried she would see me scared of it, and she would know I was not a strong person. And then she would see the heartless beast I become after it stops raining.

When I was going to help her out of that tragic situation, I thought I would just bring her back with me. I had planned to hand Ji Hun over to the police. But when I saw her, I don't know why I got so worried. And when I saw Ji Hun, I felt he needed to be punished for trying to harm her. Why did I hit him so much? Why did I drag him out in the rain even when I knew I was afraid of it? I acted too irrational because of Miss Park.

I was so frustrated at my actions already and then she showed up in my room asking all the wrong questions. If I tell her the truth she would sympathize with me. I don't want that. 

I tried to scare her so that she doesn't ever try to dig further. But she... trusted me? How weird is that woman? She met me hardly a few months ago and she trusts me already? How did she know I didn't want to harm her? And then she behaved as if all she cared about was my wounds! 

No, I cannot be weak. I must continue to remain the way I have always been. Sentiments would only make me lose. Emotions are the cause of all disasters. It makes me restless.

I must do something to make her go away. 

 ~ Beauty ~ 

I got ready for the office and I knew Mr. Seo wouldn't be going that day. I understood what kept him away from the office on all those days. He avoids people because he doesn't want anyone to affect him. But I am not giving up. I will make sure I make him accept the fact that he is not a real beast. It is all in his head.

I went to his office room in the house to take some signatures before I left for the office. But his secretary was already there. 

I knocked on the door and Mr. Seo gestured for me to have a seat. 

"We want to shoot a music video for the launch of your new textile brand. Nowadays such things are in trend." his secretary said.

"No, I don't think I can..." he replied with a straight face.

"It would be good for the launch Sir, why don't you sing something in it?" 

"You sing?" I blurted since I was surprised. 

Mr. Seo stared at me as if he would kill me. 

"No, I don't," he said. 

Both I and his secretary thought it was better not to argue any further so I just nodded and gave him the papers which he needed to sign. 

I am sure he remembered all about the last night but he acted as if he didn't. If he thought I would give up, he was wrong. 

"I'll go now," said the secretary and walked out of the room. 

I didn't say anything because I was already late for the office. After he signed the papers, I took them and got ready to leave. 

"Where do you think you're going Miss Park?" he asked. 

"Umm, to the office, of course?" I replied but I couldn't understand why he asked such an obvious question. 

He smirked and I felt there was something suspicious. But I was getting late so I walked out immediately. 

But when I stepped out of the door of his castle-like house, I did not see my driver there. I took my cellphone out and called him to ask where he was. His reply shocked me. 

"I came to pick you up Ma'am but the security outside the gate did not let me in," he said. 

"What? what do you mean? why didn't they?" I asked. 

"They said you are grounded for the next few days," he said awkwardly. 

"Grounded?" I was so shocked that I didn't know how to react. "Why would they say that?" 

"They said... it was the Beast's orders," he informed. 

That was just too much! Who was he to ground me? I cut the call and rushed back to his office room. It seemed as if he was waiting for me already. 

"What nonsense is this? What do you mean by grounded?" I shouted. 

"It means you cannot go out of here," he replied as if it wasn't a big deal. 

"And who are you to do that?" I questioned. 

"I told you I've held you as a hostage here, this is my house," he smirked. 

"Woah! you think you can just order me to not go outside and I'd listen?"

"Go ahead, all the gates are locked and you cannot jump any boundaries, even if you go out you won't be able to find your way to the city.." 

I was so angry at him. Why was he doing that to me? Because I caught the lies he tells to himself and others?

"Ya! this was not part of our deal !" I reminded him that I wasn't his slave!

"You promised you will grow a rose, remember? So since I'm going to be here for the next few days, I want you to learn it so that I can watch over you," he explained. 

"But there is no need to ground me for that!" I said. 

"Well, I am going to teach you so you need to be here all the time," he said. 

"What! You're just! I hate you!" I shouted and turned around to leave. He was making me mad. 

"Be in the tulip garden after breakfast!" he called out but I ignored him. 

The whole day was so frustrating to me that I almost felt like giving up on the deal and running away. He had told me to search for a particular kind of weed flower to prepare the manure. He said he would not let me enter the blue rose garden until I did so. 

But I couldn't find it anywhere in his garden. The worst part was, that Mrs. Cha was on leave too! I had no help at all. I roamed around the entire area and finally landed up at a corner where I saw a small gate. I was sure it lead to the back side of the castle. Of course, it was a great chance for me to just run away but I wasn't giving up that soon.

However, I needed the weed flower, and checking that area was the only option left. There was no lock on the gate so I simply opened the hinge and got out. 

I thought that place was close to a forest so I could have found the weed there. It wasn't very dense and there was still some light so I thought it wasn't a bad idea to go and look for it. 

It took me longer than I imagined. But I was overjoyed when I finally found the weed! However, it was already dark by that time and I got anxious when I looked around and couldn't remember where to go. 

"Ah, I am in trouble!" I said to myself as I realized I had even forgotten my cellphone in my room. 

I looked around and tried not to lose my mind. I needed to think about where I came from so that I could trace my path back. But Alas! it was dark and I couldn't find the way!

"Gosh!! what am I supposed to do!!!" I shouted and squatted down. 

"You need a map, probably!" said a voice that I wasn't really expecting. 

I looked up and Mr. Seo was standing there with a smug face. I stood straight and frowned at him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. 

"You should be happy I'm here, right?" he smirked. 

"No, I don't need you!" I said, even though I felt relieved he was there. 

"See, I told you I needed to watch over you all the time." he shrugged. 

I sighed and smiled at him. "Just go away, I will find my way back !" I wasn't confident but I said it in rage. 

"Okay!" he nodded and started walking away.

I panicked. It was dark, I had no phone and I was in the middle of a forest probably. It wasn't the right time to fight with him I guess. 

"Wait, I- I'll come with you," I tried to make it as quick as possible. But he stopped. 

"No, I don't want to help you now. Find your own way" he said with a wicked smile. 

I hate him so much for that! Why was he being ridiculous? 

"Please, it's a request." I had to give in because I needed his help after all. 

"I'm not taking any requests!" he replied coldly. 

"PLEASE! don't be absurd, I found the weed flower, what else do you want me to do?" 

"I just don't want to take you with me, come on your own." he shrugged and started walking away. 

I wanted to hit him and punch him! He was getting on my nerves. But that was not the time to think about all that. I needed to be back home.

"Don't follow me, or else I might mislead you even more," he warned.

"Wait wait wait," I ran up to him. "Don't do this to me, okay, I - I am sorry. I will do whatever you say, just take me home." I said with puppy eyes.

He stopped and thought for a while.

"Umm, okay, so I will take you home on one condition," he said while smirking at me. 

"Sure, I am ready for it. Let's go." I grabbed his hand and smiled brightly. 

He held my hand and took it away from his arm, but kept holding on to it. I watched him in confusion.

"My condition is,- " he spoke. 

"I said I agree, let's go already. Quick." I wanted to get home before he changed his mind again. 

But he stopped me and pulled me close.

"What?" I asked trying to study his eyes. 

He leaned closer to my face and took a long pause before he spoke.

"You'd let me kiss you, wherever I want to," he said with an evil smile. 

I was shocked. What was he even planning to do? I swear my stomach twisted and my breathing hitched when he said that.

"What ?" I asked pulling my hand away from him and stepping back. I was in disbelief.

"Okay, then come on your own bye!" he smiled victoriously and turned away. 

Was he stupid? What kind of a condition was that? What was his motive behind it? I had to think cleverly.

Was he doing it just so that I said 'No' and he won? I wasn't letting him do that! 

"Wait!" I called out to stop him. 

He turned back at me with a smirk. 

"Yes?" 

I took a deep breath. 

"I am ready, I'll let you kiss me, wherever you want," I said walking towards him. "Now let's go?"

He was shocked and defeated. He did not see that coming. It looked like he was even judging me for that. I bet he didn't know whom he was messing with!

~

Sneak Peek 

"Wait, where are you taking me so late in the night?" Boyoung shouted at Inguk who wasn't ready to tell her where they were going. He had put a blindfold on her eyes and grabbed both her hands in his. 

"Just shut up and come with me," he replied as he reached the edge of the staircase. "there are steps, be careful," he said. 

"I won't come with you," Boyoung said stopping right there.

Inguk immediately leaned and picked her in his arms. 

"What!!!!" Boyoung shouted. "Put me down!" 

"It's going to be the best night of your life" Inguk replied while he took her down the stairs.

**************

A/N: Surprise early update! How was it? Please let me know :D Sorry for any mistakes :( See you all in the next chapter ;-) <3 

PS: Just so that you all don't get confused, the POV is written as if Beauty and the Beast are writing a journal daily after the events occur, so I switch between past and present often. I hope it is not confusing to you.