Pursuit Of Fate

Chapter 16

"Stop hiding. I know you're here." Seong Im shouted.

Her eyes were fixed on the pavement billboard. Slowly, a man stepped away from the billboard into the dimly lit road.

"Are you a stalker? Why do you keep following me?" her eyebrows drew together as she yelled at him.

"I just wanted to know if you're alright," Hee Gun replied.

"Whether I'm fine or not, it's none of your business." she said firmly. She turned to leave but he grabbed her arm.

"Why are you always leaving when I try to talk to you? Was it because of the things that I said that day? Is that why you're still upset? I've apologized to you."

"Words that had been said, can't be taken back and stop coming close to me. You're a debt collector, remember that." she reminded him yet again.

"I can't stop myself from wanting to get close to you. Seeing the fragile side of you, I can't stop myself from wanting to protect you. "

She was surprised by his words. She managed to keep a straight face and replied him with a nonchalant tone, "then force yourself to."

"Like this?" he suddenly stepped forward and pressed his lips against her's for a brief moment before pulling away. Seong Im's eyes widened and she stared at him blankly. She felt her chest tightening and a lump in her throat. He did it so swiftly that she didn't had the chance to react.

Seeing no response from her, Hee Gun attempted to kiss her again. Seong Im stepped backwards and held her arm out, preventing him fron getting closer. "Please.. Just stop. Don't make me hate you." she said to him.

"It pains my heart to see you having to spend every single night with hyung-nim."

"What can I do about it? I have no choice and there's nothing that you can do about it. Please, I'm begging you. Just.. Leave me alone." she said. Her voice trembling this time. It had been a day of rollercoaster ride of emotion for her. Mentally and physically, she could no longer take it anymore. She was on the verge of breaking down. She took a step back further away from him.

"Stop following me," she said to him one last time before turning to leave.

Hee Gun stood still and watched her leave. He doesn't want her to hate him, neither does he want to be treated as just a debt collector. It took him so long before he finally found someone who he can open his heart to and though he was afraid that history may repeat itself, he wasn't going to let her go.

She's not the same as Ji Rin, he thought to himself.

***

Seong Im woke up to the sound of someone knocking on her front door. She gently rubbed her eyes which felt puffy. She cried herself to sleep last night. The knocking got louder and soon, she heard a familiar voice shouting outside.

"Ahjumma! I'm going to break the door if you don't open it!"

"Aish, it's that shorty!" she muttered. She hurriedly got down from the bed and opened the front door.

"What is it?" She asked, feeling annoyed that he just disrupted her sleep.

Dong Hoon passed her a brown paper bag. She looked into the bag and there were some cosmetics inside. "Tonight, 9pm, Jong Kook hyung will pick you up."

"Arasseo," she replied and closed the door. She emptied the content in the bag on the dressing table - blusher, eye shadow kit, foundation cushion and lipstick. All of them looks branded. She sighed at the sight of it. She hate putting on make up, finding them a hassle to put on and remove.