Chapter 139: 너 사랑 안에 (In Your Love)

“Nakata,” Yuk Hee cooed. “Where are you taking me?”

“Not long, now…” I said.

“At least give me a clue,” she said.

“You’re too smart. If I gave you a clue, you’d guess it for sure.”

“Ha… ha…” she laughed sarcastically.

“Ah… the laugh of an angel,” I said mockingly, and she reached out to tug my earlobe.

I turned on the stereo and selected a Helix CD.

“Are you trying to convert me?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “I’m trying to practice.”

My part came on, and I started singing.

“ You waited around, but you never meant it
You said now you’ve found me, and you’ll never let me go
You cried as I was leaving, and you held on to me
So why are you the one who’s leaving ”

“Somehow, I feel like you’re directing this to me,” she laughed.

“This song was written long before I met you,” I said.

“I know that. I’m talking about the emotions you have in your voice,” she said.

“I’m just being serious when I practice,” I grinned.

“Sure you are…” she smirked, “ever the professional.”

[Yuk Hee’s POV]

We soon arrived at the destination, and I was a little baffled that he had chosen such a place.

“Myowa…” I exclaimed as he pulled into the parking lot.

“I just thought we’d have a little fun… violent fun,” he winked.

We were at a paintball park.

“Shiro… I’m not gonna become your shooting target,” I said as I crossed my arms.

“Aww… come on,” he said, as he reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt for me. “I’ll go easy on you.”

“I don’t wanna get bruised all over. I still have episodes to shoot tomorrow.”

“I’ll only hit you on the vest. Okay?”

“Are you sure you have such good aim?” I said, still not budging.

“Yes… I’m a trained shooter,” he laughed.

“All the better for you to hit me,” I squirmed against the car door behind my back.

“Come on…” he coaxed, and he reached out to pull me towards him and I tried to shove myself away by putting my hands on his chest. “I’ll buy you dinner. Just play with me, okay?”

“Andwae…” I whined.

“I promise,” he said, tightening his arms around my waist.

I stopped for a moment, and looked at his face. He seemed really earnest, and I realized that I was beginning to have a soft spot for him.

“1 round,” I conceded.

“3 rounds,” he said.

“1,” I insisted.

“Fine… 2,” he said.

“2? Then dinner’s going to cost you,” I smiled.

“I don’t mind,” he smiled back, and kissed me on the tip of my nose.

“Let’s go,” I said and tried to move away, but realized that he still had his arms tightly around my waist.

“In a minute,” he whispered, and he kissed me on the lips.

Sometime later, we finally emerged from the car, looking a little disheveled. We walked casually towards the counter where he paid and collected all the gear. We distributed the vests and guns, and I made a quick trip to the washroom to make sure my hair didn’t resemble a rat’s nest.

“Chunbihae?” he asked me when I walked out from the washroom.

“Ne,” I smiled as I pulled down my goggles. “Let’s go.”

As I had anticipated, the moment the staff shut the fence, Nakata shot me in the back. I whirled around and fired blindly at him, almost shooting him in the face.

“Yah… don’t kill me,” he yelled.

“You don’t shoot people in the back,” I yelled back, and shot him on the leg before running for cover.

I was gasping for breath as I crawled behind the barriers, hiding from him. I was a little surprised that I’d managed to shoot him on the leg. I thought that I’d miss.

“Come out, baby… you know you can’t hide from me,” he teased as he searched for me.

I lifted my head up a little to see where he was.

“Oi!” he yelled from behind me and before I could jump out of the way, I felt the pellet hit me on my butt.

“Yah!” I exclaimed as I turned around to glare at him.

He stuck his tongue out at me and ran off to hide.

“Run, you sissy,” I yelled.

I was on fire now, and yet, having the time of my life. It’s been a long time since I’d let loose like this. Trust him to know how to push my buttons.

“Come on, Jin Yuk Hee,” he popped up from behind a crate and yelled. “You’re too slow for me.”

I gave a war cry, and ran towards him. Today… I’ll just give in to the moment.

[Sierra’s POV]

We were working on the title song of our next album ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’, which will be released as a digital single. There were so many versions of this song, but since we liked, the Scottish band, Deacon Blue’s 1990 version the best, and also because theirs had a female part in it, it was the most suitable for us.

Shoei: What do you get when you fall in love
A girl with a pin to burst your bubble
That’s what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again

Skye: What do you get when you kiss a girl
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do she'll never phone you
I'll never fall in love again

Sierra: Don't tell me what it’s all about
Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of the chains, the chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you, ooh…

Shoei: What do you get when you fall in love
Skye: Nothing but pain, lies and sorrow
Shoei: So for at least until tomorrow
Skye: I'll never fall in love again
Sierra: Mmm…
Shoei: I’ll never fall in love again

Sierra: What do you get when you fall in love
What do you get when you fall in love
Shoei: I'll never fall in love
Sierra: What do you get when you fall in love
Skye: I'll never fall in love
Sierra: What do you get when you fall in love
Shoei: I'll never fall in love
Sierra: What do you get when you fall in love
Skye: I'll never fall in love

Jae Joong left on the latest possible flight that day.

“Take care,” he said as he reached out to stroke my cheek.

“Araso,” I smiled and caught his hand in mine.

We were outside the studios since I had to work late. He’d been sitting in for our recording session the whole day, giving us lots of useful input.

“Work on that pitch,” he said.

“Araso,” I said. “I do better when you’re not here to watch. It’s hard to deliver when your idol is there watching you sing,” I joked.

“I thought that I’d long fallen off that pedestal. I thought I’d become mortal to you already,” he laughed.

“You’re kinda like Hercules to me now; half-man, half-god.”

“What a way to describe me,” he said, and hugged me.

“Aren’t you the hero of TVXQ?” I teased. “Then what difference does it make; Hercules and hero?”

“Okay… that’s enough flattery,” he smiled. “You’re wearing me down with those honey lips.”

“Honey lips, huh,” I winked.

“Honey lips,” he murmured, and pulled me close to kiss me on the lips.

“Kayo…” I whispered when we broke apart. “You’re gonna be late.”

“1 more minute,” he said, and kissed me on the crook of my neck.

I let him hold me for a minute, and then we both reluctantly let go of each other.

“Call me when you’ve arrived in Tokyo,” I said.

“Araso,” he said. “Take care.”

“I will,” I said.

“Saranghae,” he said, pinching my cheek playfully.

“Saranghae,” I replied, pressing his palm to my face.

Another minute flew by.

“I better go before I miss my flight for real,” he laughed softly.

“Mmm…” I nodded. “I’ll go back to the studios now,” I said. “I don’t want to watch you leave.”

“Okay,” he said.

I turned and walked into the building, never once looking back. I knew myself well enough. My tears would start falling if I had to watch his car pull away from the building. As I got into the elevator, my cell phone rang.

I love you. Wait for me.

He wrote his text message in English, thinking that whenever he tried to speak in the language I knew best, he could be sure that the message went straight to my heart. I’ve never told him this, but for a long time now, it didn’t matter what language he spoke to me, as long as it was from him, I would hold it in my heart for always.

“Nuna!” Skye greeted me as I walked back into the studio.

“Kwaench’ana?” Shoei asked me, knowing that I just had a tearful farewell with Jae Joong.

“Kwaench’ana,” I said. “Let’s continue.”

[Nakata’s POV]

I got my 3 rounds. Yuk Hee ended up having so much fun that we stayed at the paintball park a little longer that she had wanted to, initially. The sun was setting, and we were sitting at the small snack area overlooking the park, drinking and cooling off from our workout.

“Paintball wasn’t that bad, was it?” I asked her.

“It’s alright,” she said.

“I didn’t give you any bruises, did I?”

“Not where people could see,” she said, and pointed at her posterior.

“I made sure I hit you where it won’t show,” I winked.

“Thank you so much, darling,” she said in mock sweetness. “You always take such good care of me.”

“Dangyunhajyo…” I laughed, and she smirked.

“So what’s for dinner,” she asked and took a sip of her juice.

“Hmm… I still haven’t thought of it yet,” I said, scratching my head. “What would you like?” I asked me.

“I told you it’s gonna cost you,” she reminded me.

“Ah… that’s no problem. Helix is doing well these days,” I laughed.

“Good to hear,” she said. “Let’s leave then,” she said.

“Where to?” I asked her.

“I’ll drive,” she said, and held out her hand for my keys.

“Do you have a license?” I asked her.

“Yes, I do,” she said indignantly.

“Let me see it,” I said.

“No way…” she said.

“Then you can’t drive,” I said.

“Why don’t you trust me?” she asked.

“This is my baby we’re talking about,” I said. “I’ll need some ID before you can take it on the road.”

“Fine,” she said, and she started digging through her purse for her driving license.

When she finally produced it, I tried very hard, but couldn’t hide the look of surprise on my face.