Tough Love

AHA! the emotions got the best of you

"I'm home!" Haneul announced as he entered through the door, he knew Ash was inside because he could hear the clatter of utensils, before he could change his shoes Ash came running to him and gave him her cutest brightest smile, "you're home early! you can go wash up while I prepare dinner!" she said as she pulled him inside and then towards the bathroom
Haneul scratched his head, was it the same grumpy Ash?
"okay.." he replied as he made his way to the bathroom, he saw that there were already clothes hanging in there for him, he turned to look at Ash who just winked at him and went back to the kitchen.
~

Haneul came out of the bathroom after 15 minutes, his hair was nicely brushed to the side and he looked like a little puppy with those big glasses and casual clothes on.
As he made his way to the kitchen table he saw Ash's bag and her mobile lying on the couch and her socks on the floor he then glanced at her and realized that she was still wearing the same outfit which she was wearing in the morning, which meant that she started preparing all this as soon as she reached home.
"Ash.." he said as he pulled a seat, "when did you get home?" he asked, looking at her run around in the kitchen
"I came at 6..the food's almost ready.." she said as she placed the plates in front of him
Haneul did a little calculation and realized she prepared all this in less than an hour as he came home at 7.
"can I help with something?" he asked getting up and following her to the kitchen
"no no..it's my treat.." she put the food on the table, Haneul following her back and forth, "actually.." she turned to look at him
"what is it?" Haneul asked
"I opened my clinic today!" she exclaimed as she jumped with excitement
"your clinic? your own clinic?" Haneul asked holding her shoulders and calming her down
"yes!!" she exclaimed as she hugged him and jumped
Haneul hugged her back and then patted her head, "good job doc! is that why you wanted to work in my office?" he asked as he pulled out a seat for her to sit
"actually.." she took a sip of her water, "yes, with the money I got from working in the hospital, I got the clinic from it but the money I made from working in your office.." she took a bite of the pasta she made, "hmmm..it tastes good.." she said as she gestured him to start eating
"..right, you had another motive for that money.." Haneul remembered as he too put some in his plate, he didn't find it right to ask her what she did with her money.
"I actually donated it to a school for special children..you remember that little girl from the time someone in the restaurant tried hitting me?" she asked as she took another bite
Haneul nodded, "yes, what about her?" 
"well, I promised her I'll earn money for her, so she can have air conditions in her classroom and multimedia as well..it's silly, really but I felt like I needed to fulfill my promise..so they can hire better teachers and so that she learns well.." Ash said
Haneul smiled, he was only now realizing how innocent and warm hearted she actually was, he already knew that but this was the first time he was realizing it.
"you should eat! I made this for you.." she tried feeding him, "open up!" she said as she put a spoonful in his mouth and gave a questioning look
"It's so good!" Haneul said with a full mouth, "wow.." he said as he took another bite
~

"I ate well..thank you and congratulations!" Haneul said as he took Ash's plate from her
"I was going to ask you but you're doing it yourself?" Ash asked

Haneul laughed, "I don't like other people near my sink, I like to do my own dishes because that way I'm sure they're clean!" Haneul said as he got up and went to the kitchen
Ash looked impressed, "you're different from the other CEOs..they solely focus on their work and they don't.." Ash shook her head, "that's what I've seen in the dramas, I guess it's not true.." she got up and walked to the kitchen, "I'll help you clean.." she said as she started wiping the shelves
"you've done your share of housework, I'll clean, you can clean yourself up and go to bed, you must be tired.." Haneul said
Ash nodded as she excused herself.

Haneul not only cleaned the kitchen, he also cleaned the whole house, vacuuming and mopping the floor and dusting as well, when he was done doing all the cleaning Ash came out of the bathroom, "I tried finishing up quickly but I'm still working on it.." she said as she took her glasses out of her bag and wore them, "I got prescription glasses as well..but I'm not confident to wear them in front of others yet..also.." she sat down next to him on the couch, he was very quiet, he fixed her hair
"you look really cute.." he whispered
Ash became stiff, "we still need to talk about what happened to my place..and I can't stay here longer, I can't wear your clothes to work everyday either.." Ash laughed, remembering how she wore his t-shirt with her shorts today.
"there was a man I knew, he's still alive in case you get any wrong idea.." Haneul laughed, "anyways, he was a good friend of mine and he has always helped me uptill now and one day he comes up to me and tells me that he's in big trouble and that he needs some money.." Haneul put both his feet on the couch, "he told me the whole story and I said I'll help but not with money because that would be wrong, I'll talk to the people worrying you.." he went quiet
"was he involved with a gang or something?" Ash asked as she unknowingly put her legs on haneuls lap
"he.." Haneul thought for a while, "he was involved with dangerous people..so I went to talk to them and it didn't go so well but I still didn't give them money and kept fighting with them legally but it didn't help.." his expressions turned sad

Ash could feel the sadness as well but instead of saying something she waited for him to speak
"Yoona's accident was not just an accident..I destroyed my sisters life..if only I had given them the money. If only I had paid attention to their threats..maybe..Yoona-" Haneul went quiet again, he had tears in his eyes, he tried speaking but he choked on his words, Ash moved near him and rubbed his arm but kept quiet
"I.." he took a deep breath, "still kept fighting and finally I was able to drag him to prison, the man who killed my brother in law and ruined my sisters life..but who was he?" Haneul lowered his head, Ash held his hand and gently rubbed it, "he was nothing but a puppet being controlled by someone with more power..why did I promise to help him? For a while I regretted it. I made a mistake by agreeing to help him but now I need to do my best to make sure I fulfill my promise, to help him out of this problem..but Ash, he's at it again, and he doesn't care about my friend whatsoever, he is after me now..he already killed me once by ruining my sisters life but he isn't satisfied so I got a call from him and he doesn't want money now.." Haneul held his head in his hands, "now that I'm offering money to him..he doesn't need my money..he wants to ruin me truly, so I cannot find my way back to life, that's what he wants.." Haneul was overflowing with emotions, he was feeling sad and desperate. He was angry and scared.
"He'll try to hurt you and that day, you were lucky that you weren't at home otherwise.." Haneul didn't say anything , he lowered his gaze, "I'm sorry..I'm really really sorry.." he kept apologizing

Ash was a little shocked, obviously, but she knew Haneul never intended her to be involved in this
"it's okay, really..that day too..you were the reason I wasn't at home, you saved me that day. You'll protect me in the future as well. But..what about the others? your grandmother and Yoona and your..brother?" Ash asked
"I haven't told them the whole story but I somehow got them to go to our vacation house in Jeju, they're safe there..that house is just like this place, no one knows about it..but I'm worried about your grandparents.." Haneul gave a questioning look to Ash
"mhm..they aren't around here most of the time, they're always travelling..they're in Rome these days..free souls.." Ash laughed

Haneul smiled, "then you're the only one I need to protect? In any case, I'm going to meet him tomorrow.." he said
Ash furrowed her brows as she held his hand suddenly, "no. Where? alone?" she asked
Haneul nodded, "there's a ware- uh there is a place where we're supposed to meet..I'll be alone.." he explained
" no! what if they hurt you? what about that friend of yours who is the reason for all this?" Ash asked
"France. I sent him there. I'll be okay, Ash." he replied briefly, he looked nervous and not so confident.
"..I'll go with you!" she exclaimed, "or at least take the police with you!" Ash suggested
"no no..neither you nor the police..they want to play dirty so that's what I'll have to do. If they shoot me at the spot then that's..not okay but still that'll be the end." he said

Ash hit his arm, "shut up! don't say those kind of things! what if they come find me and try to hurt me? who'll protect me?" she asked but she was crying
"aw, don't cry, I'll make sure I don't die even if they shoot me.." Haneul teased her
Ash pushed him away and started weeping
"why are you crying? it's not like you care anyways.." Haneul teased her even more
"I do care! Because I love you!" she shouted as she pushed him back, causing her to fall on top of him
"this is the perfect pose like in your dramas, no?" he teased again but Ash knew well what was going on in his heart, how nervous and scared he was, she leaned in further until their bodies were completely touching and kissed his lips. She gave a small peck and was backing away but Haneul stopped her, "my blood pressure feels low.." he whispered
"so..?" she asked in a cute shy voice
"I need salt.." he whispered as he pulled her forward and kissed her again, biting her lower lip, it was a deep but scared kiss. Like he might not be able to taste these lips again and that he wanted more but was controlling himself.
Ash pulled away when she could no longer breathe and fell on him, his chest rising and falling under her head, "I feel better now.." he whispered
"when you come back tomorrow, I'll prepare a bowl of my tears for you so you can fix your bp later.." Ash joked back but she was too shy to face him so she ran to her room and closed the door.
"what did I just do.." she asked herself as she tossed and turned in the bed, "I wasn't supposed to fall for him..I was supposed to hate him..why did I kiss him!?" she threw the pillow over her face and hit the blanket with her legs
Haneul on the other hand was lying on the couch, facing the ceiling with a smile on his face, it was a sad smile, "I'd like to kiss her again, once I come back home tomorrow..can I do that, God? Will you let me do that?" Haneul shook his head as he sat on the couch and thougth for a while before speaking, "no no..I won't kiss her,