5 years

Stephanie opened her eyes and she saw white faces moving around. "Am I in heaven?" she mumbled closing her eyes.

"No" the person sitting beside her replied. "You're in Seoul" he said with a smile and got up.

Stephanie yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I must have been very tired" she said behind her palm and carried her bag pack. "Remember Stephanie just do what you need to do and get out of here. Resist the temptation" she told herself.

After getting her luggage and clearing up her passport and everything else she made her way outside. "No time for sightseeing, in an out" she told herself. Just then she felt a vibration in her back pocket and she stooped to take her phone out still admiring her new phone case. It cost a lot and she wanted to make it last.

Someone bumped into her and her phone went flying.

"Naruto!!" She yelled as it fell on the beautiful tiled floor. She ran towards it and inspected her phone case. She sighed in relief and hugged to her chest. Her smile disappeared and she turned her phone and there was a crack on her screen guard. She furrowed her brows in anger and looked to the culprit who didn't look sorry.

She could tell her cheeks were red with anger as she walked up to him and got all up in his face. Though he was taller, you still couldn't tell. "Can't you watch where you're going?" she asked. "You literally bumped into me. It's not like you didn't see me or you did see me and you decided to bump into me" she said without stopping to breathe.

She gasped. "You did see me but decided to bump into me and ruin my phone" she said with a frown. "You're rude" she whispered. She looked him in the eye and he looked confused. "Don't pretend you can't speak English because I'll be so angry and you don't want to see me angry".

The man shook his head. "You misunderstand, I really didn't see you" he said sincerely.

Stephanie pushed out her lips in disbelief. "Liar".

"I'm not I swear it and why would I bump into you for no reason. I even wonder how I didn't see you, a beauty like you is hard to miss" he said with a smile showing his teeth. His perfectly straight white teeth.

Stephanie shook her head. "Avoid temptation" she whispered.

"What was that?" He asked leaning closer.

Stephanie shook her head. "Nothing!" She said taking a step back and pocketing her phone. "Don't think by sweet talking me that you're getting off the hook" she warned.

"Anything to be in your beautiful company" he said with that obnoxious smile.

"Please stop that. You are going to pay for my new screen guard" she said in a no-nonsense tone.

"Of course Ms., My name is Kim Sung-min" he said stretching his hand out.

Stephanie exhaled. "I'm Stephanie and I need to go" she said with her wide fake smile and held her travelling bag.

"Wait we need to exchange numbers so I can buy you a screen guard" he said with that same obnoxiously cute smile.

Stephanie sighed and held out her hand for his phone. He lay it on her palm and she put her number. "There! Now I'm leaving. Good day" she said stepping past him and walking quickly to the door. As she stepped out, she spotted a taxi and ran towards it.

"Take me to the nearest hotel" she said hurriedly.

Few hours later, Stephanie found herself in the most beautiful hotel she had ever seen. Well it was her first time travelling outside her country. She unpacked and went to the counter and set her phone there. She opened her WhatsApp and made a video call and took off her shirt instantly getting goose bumps from the cool breeze from the air-conditioner. She closed her eyes enjoying the tingling feeling on her skin and her mind went back to Sung Min and his perfect everything, until her phone beeped.

"What were you doing?" The person on the screen asked. "Don't tell me you were about to.....

"I wasn't about to do that!" Stephanie quickly cut in.

"Then why are you on your underwear?" Another party asked appearing on her screen.

"She wants to seduce all those Korean boys" another girl said appearing on the screen.

"How was your flight?" the screen now separating into four.

"I arrived safely. Thank you for asking Eunice" Stephanie said with a smile.

"So did you seduce a Korean boy!?" Precious asked with an excited squeal.

"I am so touched to hear you care about me" Stephanie said with enough sarcasm that said friend lost her smile.

"Temi, Precious, Utibe and Eunice I arrived safely thanks for asking. But you know what the plan was" Stephanie said in a low voice.

"Go to Korea, get your surgeries and come back home" they all said in a robotic voice as if they memorized it.

"But Stephanie this has always been your dream" Temi said all dramatic.

"It was a fantasy and now I'm all grown up" Stephanie said all proud and confident and with her chest out.

"Please I don't need to see those" Utibe said.

"Stephanie, you're only nineteen and this is your chance to do it. Live why you're young" Precious said.

"No!" Stephanie screamed. "I won't fall into temptation and besides my mind is already set on a Japanese men. With curly hair, black eyes, straight white teeth, cute smile, tall and built and has a cute a....

"Spare me the details please" Utibe cut in.

"Stephanie" Eunice called getting everyone's attention. "Your explanation was very vivid. Are you sure you haven't met anyone?" Eunice asked in her soft voice.

Stephanie sighed closing her eyes, trying hard not to blush, but failing miserably.

"So you met someone!" Precious shouts.

Utibe groaned. "Precious you're shouting".

Stephanie uncovered her face. "In fact all of you are making a hell of noise and I'm tired" Stephanie said with a sly smile.

"But is there a boy?" Temi who had been suspiciously quiet asks.

"No there's no boy, and she ended the call. Stephanie sighed. There's a man" she said in a whisper. She licked her lips slowly and walked to her bedroom in the mood for a cold shower.

After her unnecessarily long shower she came out and grabbed her phone first. She needed to call her family first and tell them she arrived safely. First, she would call Daddy, then Mummy and then her siblings.

After talking with them, she puts on her pajama and is ready for bed. She's peacefully drifting off, until her phone has an alert. "There goes my sleep" she said turning on her side trying to call back her sleep, but her phone wouldn't let her have it. She tried blocking it with her pillow, but whoever was texting her didn't want to be ignored.

When she opened her phone expecting her brother to be the one texting, but it was an unknown number. She opened her WhatsApp and it was in weird figures. She quirked her brow in confusion. "I'm not in the mood for games" she grumbled.

'Who is this?' She typed in.

'Sung-min' the person typed back.

'Who?' She typed.

'The guy you met at the airport'.

Stephanie was surprised that he texted. Normally when she was younger, 17 to be exact she had come in contact with foreigners, but most only texted back once or just wanted one thing. She shook her head on the past experiences and looked down at her phone which couldn't stop with the alerts because the man wouldn't stop typing. She brings the phone up to her eyes and reads the last text.

'I would like to come pick you up tomorrow so we can go and buy your screen guard'

Stephanie sighed.

She flops down on her bed and types in 'Lotte Hotel'

'Are you sure tomorrow is convenient for you?'

'Now he asks?' Stephanie thinks rolling her eyes.

'Yes' she replies.

'Good, see you then' and that ends the conversation.

Stephanie sighs and places her phone on her chest. "You didn't come here for friends just do what you need to do and get out" she whispers to herself. She keeps whispering that until she falls asleep. Sleep brings many things that night and a peaceful dream isn't one of them.

Stephanie wakes up the next morning with a frown. She gets up from the bed still with that same frown and does everything that needs to be done with that frown. While getting dressed, someone knocks on her door. "Who is it?" she called out and there was no answer. She took a deep breath and she stomped towards her door.

She was mad and whosoever was at the door was going to get it. She opened her door. "What?" she yelled and looked at the person who wasn't intentionally irritating her. Her anger disappeared with her words when she saw the person at the door. A guy probably around her age or maybe a year older holding balloons and a teddy bear. He had light brown hair in that hairstyle she loved on teenage celebrities.

Stephanie looked at him and he just kept staring with a sheepish smile. "Why do you just keep staring?" Stephanie asked looking him straight in the eye and he averted his. "I'm pretty sure you understand English so answer me!" she demanded.

"Well, I came here to drop off something for someone, but it looks I have the wrong room" he said softly.

"I could barely hear you!" Stephanie snapped. "Why are you here and why do you keep averting your eyes?" Stephanie asked. His mouth moved, but no words came out. "If you don't speak up I'm going to call security" she threatened folding her arms touching her cold skin.

He averted his eyes and she looked down and she screamed as she was in only her bra. She covered herself and looked at the guy who was looking away. "You perv! You knew all this while. You were looking and you didn't say anything".

The guy looked back at her. "Don't look at me!" she yelled.

"I tried to tell you, but I thought you knew with the way you came out all confident".

"Are you trying say I came out shirtless intentionally?" She asked angry all over again.

"Yes" he replied quirking his brow.

"You must be stupid" Stephanie deadpanned.

"There's no need for insults" he said looking hurt, trying to play the victim.

"Leave before I call security" and she slammed the door in his stunned face.

She ran to her room and got a shirt. She finally convinced her mother to get her crop tops. Now she could wear it. She put her boots on, and wore her jacket and her phone pinged. She looked and wasn't surprised when it was from her WhatsApp.

'I'm outside, can you come out?' the question bold on her screen.

Stephanie felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. 'Why am I so nervous all of a sudden?' She debated internally. He just wants to buy my screen guard and then we'll never see each other again. Her heart just sank deeper. She carried her purse.

She spied through her peep hole and the jerk was no longer there. She walked out and made her way to the elevator and went to the ground floor. She made her way outside and she saw him. She stopped in her tracks and just stared. He hadn't not noticed she was there. He was so handsome not like any guy she had seen. He was different and she liked it. She never fancied boys normally. Her tastes were always in the unique category.

He finally noticed her and he smiled. Her spit went down the wrong pipe. She went into a coughing fit in the middle of the sidewalk drawing a lot of attention. He walked up to her and rubbed her back. She calmed her breathing and held his arm, stopping him from rubbing her back and pushing it back to him. He adjusted his glasses.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm alright, good morning" she greeted.

"Good morning" he greeted back.

"So which store are you taking me to?" Stephanie asked.

"Any that is close, I really don't want to stress you" he said holding his arm out for her to take.

Stephanie smiled at the gesture but she pushed it down. She didn't want him to think she actually enjoyed his company. She took his arm interlocking his with hers.

The walk to the café was silent. She didn't say a word and he didn't talk at all. She felt kind of bad, but she didn't know why. She brushed it off as they entered the café and she was led to a table. Her mouth opened in awe. "It looks so cool" she said with a wide smile shaking his arm.

"Really?" He asked looking round. "It just looks like the way it always is" he said with a shrug.

'That's right' she thought. 'He's used to this'. She watched in utter fascination as the two Koreans conversed. At least she thought the worker was Korean.

Sung-min turned towards her and she stood there just looking into his eyes. His glasses are in the way. "Stephanie" he called softly.

"Yes" she replied.

"Your phone" he said holding his hand out.

"Oh!" Stephanie exclaimed. She handed him her phone with a smile. He turned to the man and he placed the guard on her phone. He handed it back to her and she tapped it with her fingers. 'Glass?' she thought. He paid and they left.

"How much was it?" Stephanie asked.

"There's no need to ask" he replied.

"There's a need if it was too expensive. We can return it and get a cheap one from roadside shops" she said stopping him from walking.

Sung Min smiled which made her frown. "I broke your screen guard and I was meant to pay so don't worry about the price". The look on her face told him she wasn't going to let it go. "Think of it as my gift to you" he said pulling her along effortlessly.

He laughed. "Seriously Stephanie there's no need to overreact. I'm sure many guys has given you gifts. Stephanie stopped walking causing him to stop walking also.

Stephanie looked away. "You've bought me my screen guard and I would love to go back to my hotel now".

Sung-min's jaw went slack. "Did I say something wrong?" He tried to look at her face but she kept looking away. Stephanie refused to look at him.

Obviously she was embarrassed. She always acted like words didn't get to her, but they always did even though it was a lie. But what he said really hit home. She didn't have good experiences with boys which caused her to distance herself, which caused boys not to approach her. She had never had a boyfriend, no first kiss, no romantic dates and no gifts.

"I'm sorry if you didn't like what I said" he apologized and Stephanie could hear the sincerity in his voice and she didn't want her conscience eating her up. She looked at him and tried to smile. She took his arm again.

"What you said made me remember something so please forget about it' she said it in a whisper but her tone indicated she didn't want to talk about it again.

"So are you hungry?" He asked. Stephanie wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"If you think I'm going to even let your food come close to my tongue, you thought wrong" she said with a smile.

"My food isn't bad and if not local food, what did you think you were going to eat during your stay?" He asked.

"I'm sure they should be McDonalds here or something" she replied not so sure.

"You aren't going to eat that for breakfast. I'm taking you to a nice and healthy restaurant" he said pulling her along.

"You're lucky I don't know my way if not I would have left you long ago" she said but she still followed him.

In the restaurant Sung-min watched as she talked to the waiter.

"You're such a handsome man, she began. I don't want to hear your recommendations because I won't understand. I hate noodles so please don't bring that I won't eat it. I detest fish and tofu so none of that. Please just bring me something I would enjoy" she ended with a smile.

"I'll just have a bowl of ramen" Sung-min said to the waiter who had lost his smile.

Stephanie just kept looking at her menu and after a few seconds she dropped it. "Why couldn't you guys just create a language in actual words instead of figures then maybe I would have an idea of what your menu said" she complained as she rest her head on the table.

She sat up quickly. "You keep staring at me, why?" Stephanie asked playing with her shirt.

"You're different" he replied simply. Which caused Stephanie to roll her eyes.

"Sorry, but flattery doesn't work on me". 'That came out rude' she thought.

"Not just your skin color, or your eyes, or your face, but your character" he replied leaning closer and brushing her bangs away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. "Your personality is different from women I've met and I like it. You seem like you know who you are and not what others say you are".

Stephanie looked away. "Is that a smile I see?" he teased. Stephanie put her menu in her face. "You're eccentric and I like how you speak your mind. You seem like a woman who won't let anyone put her down and it's good to try something different in a while".

'There's something hidden in that sentence' she thought.

"Different food, different environment, and different guy" he added in a whisper but Stephanie heard it. She smiled to herself.

"Maybe you're right" Stephanie whispered still not removing her menu from her face. She smiled a little when he heard him whisper a tiny yes to himself.

Their food arrived and Stephanie looked down at her plate. A bowl of rice and a weird looking sauce and barbeque pork. She said a quick prayer and dug in. She didn't want her ulcer getting worse. It didn't taste completely weird like the time she tried Chinese food. She enjoyed it and she was looking forward to more of Korean dishes.

After their plates were cleared, Sung-min decided he wanted to talk. She kept slurping her fruit juice and looking away. She was nervous and the way he was staring so intensely wasn't helping.

"So what's your full name?" he asked.

"My name is too hard for you to pronounce so just keep calling me Stephanie" she said dismissively.

"Why are you in Seoul?" He asked getting comfortable hinting they were going to be in the restaurant for a long time.

"I came for medical reasons, but don't worry about it, it's not anything serious" she said with a smile. It wasn't sincere.

"What about your family?" He asked.

"I have a family and they know that I'm here" she answered bluntly.

Stephanie noticed his smile was no longer on his lips and to irk him more, she smiled innocently like nothing was happening.

"Why are you being mean?" Sung-min asked resting his back against his chair and crossed his arms. He looked pissed.

Stephanie opened her mouth to retort, but the look in his eyes shut her up. She couldn't place the emotion, but it was making her stomach twist in guilt.

"Sorry for sounding childish, but I'm being nice to you and I'm being treated like trash. Do you hate me? Does being around me disgust you? If you feel that way, you know you can tell me and I won't bother you anymore".

Stephanie was confused. She was just teasing. 'Am I that good of an actor?' she asked herself.

"I don't hate you, she began. I was just teasing and I'm sorry if I came on too strong. Sometimes people can't tell when I'm joking and when I'm serious.

Stephanie looked up to a smirking Sung-min. 'It was a trick' she thought. He played the stupid guilt card. He had guilt tripped her.

"Yeah I thought so, I just wanted to be sure" he said then he took a sip of his coffee.

"And you said I was mean" Stephanie said furrowing her brows in anger and confusion.

"Yeah you were" he said all smug.

Stephanie sighed and got her purse out and dropped some money on the table and stood up. "Thank you".

"Do you know your way back?" He asked looking so relaxed. Not even bothered that she was leaving.

Stephanie smiled. "I have the google map" she replied with a smug look and she left.

'The nerve of that guy, who does he think he is? He just tricks me like that and he doesn't act bothered. She took her phone out and tried looking at the map and it wasn't working. She rolled her eyes and tried to retrace her steps and she bumped into someone and her phone flew from her hand. Serious dejavu.

She waited to hear the crash on the stone sidewalk but she didn't hear it. She didn't even know she had closed her eyes and made a very stupid pose. She opened her eyes and dropped her leg that she had raised and she dropped her arms she used to shield her head.

A guy was holding her phone. She gasped in relief and wanted to thank her savior but she remembered those lips. Those were the same lips that moved and words didn't come out.

"You again!" Stephanie sneered and she reached for her phone and he took his hand behind his back. Stephanie was pissed and he was making her pissed the more.

"So, not only are you a pervert but a thief" she said reaching for her phone which he put in his pocket. Stephanie groaned in frustration.

"Are you ready to listen?" He asked folding his arms and looking into her eyes.

"What do you want?" She asked slumping her shoulders.

"This morning I'm sorry for what I said, obviously you didn't come out without a shirt and it was wrong of me to assume" he said.

Stephanie rolled her eyes and groaned in annoyance. When she was done, she turned to him. "I've heard you and if that was an apology, you really need to work on it". She held her hand out her lips in a tight line. He smiled at her and shook her outstretched hand.

"My name is Lee Jin-soo, and you are?"

"Angry" she replied.

"Nice to meet you angry" he said indifferent.

She didn't have time for this and she tried to kick him hard in his shin, but he took a step back. She tried to kick him again and he jumped back. She tried to grab him and he grabbed her by both her wrists and pulled her close. She tried to free herself, but his grip was tight. 'I thought this only happened in fanfiction' she thought scared. She didn't know this guy and he could be a thief, murderer or a kidnapper. She was in trouble.

"If you don't let me go, I'll scream" she whispered.

"Just tell me your name" he whispered.

"My name is Stephanie" she replied shaking in his tight grip.

He let go and he walked away like nothing happened. Stephanie rubbed her burning wrists and glared at his retreating back. She looked up to the sky. "Why are they so weird?" She looked down and people were staring at her. It was embarrassing and she looked into her bag, and she couldn't find her phone.

"That snake!" she hissed and ran in the direction she saw him go.

A few minutes later she was panting in front of an ice cream truck. She was blessed with a fit body, but she really needed to exercise and rehydrate.

She stood up straight and an ice cream cone was grazing the bridge of her nose. She looked at the hand offering the cone. She took the cone and if she didn't really need it, she would have thrown it in his face.

"Would you like to sit down?" He asked pointing to a bench under a tree. She was tired and just wanted to go back to her room and sleep but something was against her today. She walked towards the bench and sat down licking the frozen treat before it decided to melt.

He sat down beside her a little bit too close but neither said anything.

He put his hand in his pocket and gave her phone back to her. She took it without any comment.

"Sorry I took your phone, but that seemed like the only way you would come to the park" he said with a sheepish smile.

"You need to stop assuming" Stephanie said as she rest her back.

"I'm not sure I was wrong. You look like a girl who can't be convinced and you also don't seem like you love going out".

"I won't lie, but you're correct. Now that you know that I'm leaving" Stephanie said standing up. Her hand was empty showing she was done with her ice cream.

"You must have a really large appetite" he said standing up after her. "Today was kind of nice, when can we see each other again?"

Stephanie stopped in her tracks. "Are you mad?" She deadpanned. "Since you already know that I don't like to go out, get it into your pretty head that I'm not interested in going out. Bye" she stormed off.

'I can't believe him. Seriously the nerve of that guy. Just because he's cute, does he really think I'd agree to see him again?' "He's so proud" she murmured. She looked at her phone and it was already midafternoon. She had been out for a long time and she could afford to spoil herself.

"Taxi!" she yelled.

Sitting at the back seat she couldn't help but feel that she was forgetting something. It was on the tip of her tongue but it refused to come out. Maybe it was unimportant. 'Who cares anyway?' She was going to the mall and she was going to spoil herself and take some pictures and make friends jealous.

Stephanie made it to the mall and bought some clothes. She bought casual wear and she bought some cute clothes that she could take some cute pictures. Short skirts and fluffy boots. People were actually willing to take pictures with her. Two guys kissed her cheeks in one picture and she couldn't stop blushing. She was so elated, that she didn't know that it was already getting dark. When she noticed, it was 8:00pm.

She called a cab quickly and instructed him to the Lotte Hotel.

She gets there fifteen minutes later because of the traffic.

She got out after paying with her many bags and walked to the door with a spring in her step, when she heard her name.

Stephanie turned and saw Sung Min. Then it hit her. She left him in the restaurant without telling him where she had gone.

She was surprised when he hugged her. A little too tight and the iron in her bra was digging into her skin painfully. She shook in his arms.

"How long have you been standing here? You are cold and your lips are turning blue".

"I thought something bad had happened to you" he began. "After you left I felt so bad, but when I got outside you weren't there. I thought the worst had happened to you" he whispered.

"I can take care of myself, so you don't need to bother about my wellbeing or anything" she said trying to lighten the mood, but his arm tightened around her.

"Seoul isn't a fairy tale land. People still get kidnapped and murdered, and you are a guest who doesn't understand our language. You're a lady and you could easily be kidnapped. Why didn't you call me or something? I was so worried.

Stephanie felt bad. She hated being in this situation and she had made him worry over her, for nothing. She could only apologize. Though it was small and couldn't replace the guilt at least it would make him feel a little better.

"I'm sorry. I was mad at you and I really wasn't sure why. I left and decided to go shopping. I am so sorry I didn't call I really forgot. I didn't know you'd be worried. You barely know me and all so I thought......" she trailed off.

He let go of her and adjusted his glasses. "I just want you to be safe. You are a foreigner and if anything were to happen to you, it'd be my fault".

Stephanie had learnt a lot of things growing up and gratitude was one of them. She smiled at him. "Thank you".

He smiled back at her. She could tell he was still cold and the jacket wasn't doing any justice. "Would you like to come in and get warm or something? I could order tea".

"There's no need to worry about it, I really need to get home now" he said looking at the street.

"No! She yelled. I mean I insist for making you worry" she pleaded. She knew she had won when she saw him smile.

Adjusting her bags in her hands, she felt odd. Kind of free. She looked down and it might had been the cold that was playing tricks on her, but her chest looked bigger. The band of her bra wasn't digging into her skin anymore. 'It must have come undone when he hugged me. 'I hope he doesn't notice'.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"No" she lied simply and hoped her jacket was doing a good job at concealing her odd looking chest. They both walked in silence towards the door and as they entered the elevator.

"So how was the mall?" Sung Min asked.

"It was nice and I met a lot of interesting people" she replied trying to look normal. 'I always thought you guys were snubs'.

The elevator stopped at her floor and she walked out slowly. She got out of her key card. 'Of all days to wear a strapless bra' she thought annoyed.

"Are you okay?" Sung-min's voice startled her and whatever force was struggling to keep her bra in place stopped and it slid down to her stomach. She dropped her bags and clutched her stomach. She just stood there not sure of what to do.

Stephanie closed her eyes in a silent prayer that Sung-min wouldn't bother her. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she felt strong hands on her shoulders and she was spun around. She looked at him with wide eyes. Fear and embarrassment were the only emotions she was feeling.

Sung-min let go of her and he picked up her bags. "You know you could have told me if you were having an underwear malfunction. I have a sister and also a mother, so it's not a new thing.

Stephanie turned around and pushed her door open and ran to her room. Sung-min walked inside at a much slower rate. He dropped her bags on the couch and went back to close the door. Her room was warm, so he took off his jacket and sat down waiting for Stephanie to come out. 'To be honest, she gave me quite a scare but she looks like a woman capable of taking care of herself'.

Stephanie paced round her room. 'I'm not sure he saw my boobs, maybe my bra but he said it was normal'. She stopped thinking and looked into her wardrobe. Sung-min was outside and she needed something to wear. Not that she wanted to impress him, no. She just wanted to show that she wasn't a little girl and she couldn't go prancing around in her baby doll.

Something finally caught her eye and she threw it on with a black pair of socks and a headband. She quickly ordered tea for two and opened the door slowly to peek at what he was doing. He was on the phone. She tried to walk out, but her feet wouldn't move. She was shy.

She rest on the frame of her door and played with the hem of her shirt. 'Will he like it?' 'What will he think of this?' Stephanie was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't know Sung-min was now looking at her. She bit her lip and stood up straight. Her eyes connected with his and she would have ran back into the safety of her room, but her socks made her slide forward and she almost fell.

She regained her balance and saw that Sung-min had a small smile on his face. She walked towards him and took her place beside him. "Yeah I already ordered some tea, it'll be here any second now".

"Yeah" he replied and looked through his phone.

Stephanie was nervous. 'What do adults like to talk about?' she thought. Technically she was an adult according to the law, but she could tell he was more advanced and talking about anime wasn't going to help matters. The silence was suffocating and she needed to keep him talking so he wouldn't think of her as boring and maybe he would want to spend more time with her. That put a smile on her face.

"So who were you talking to?" She asked getting up to answer the door. A waiter pushed in a trolley and he dropped the tray with a tea set and some scones. When he left she sat down by his side and poured him a cup.

Sung-min took the offered cup and sipped quietly. He closed his eyes savoring the taste and sighed in relief. "I was talking with my sister" he replied simply.

"I didn't know you had a sister. You strike me as an only child" she said placing her cup on the tray not really caring for the hot beverage at the moment. "Is she younger?"

"No she's older than me" he replied. He held up his phone and Stephanie's eyes went wide in shock when the flash came on. "I told her about you and she said she wanted to see a picture of you" he said with a smile.

"You can't send that picture!" she yelled trying to get a hold of the phone. Sung-min leaned back, keeping the phone far away from her as possible.

"Why?" he asked leaning back further as she was literally on him trying to get the phone and delete the picture.

"I don't look good, I look ugly!" she whined trying to get the phone. "Please don't send it" she begged.

Sung-min quirked his brow in confusion. "You look just the same like the way you were in the morning". "I really don't know why you would call yourself ugly".

Stephanie blushed and then she realized that she was on his lap. She made a move to get up, even though his laps were more comfortable than the couch they were on. Sung-min grabbed her. She fell against him, her chest against his.

"I already sent it to her and she said she would like to meet you" he explained. "She's been away for a long time because of business and we decided to spend time with each other. I would like you to join because she seems very excited to want to meet you".

Stephanie sighed. "Fine, but only because of your sister" she replied sitting up, ignoring the warm and tingly feeling in her chest and stomach. He stood up and put on his jacket.

"Thank you for the tea it was so delicious" he smiled.

'He really loves smiling'. "So where is the outing taking place tomorrow?" Stephanie asked arranging the tea set.

"After we pick her up from the airport, we're heading to her favorite café" he replied as he walked towards the door. Stephanie followed and opened the door for him.

"About today, please never scare me like that ever!" he said in a serious voice losing his normal playfulness. Stephanie nods in a silent promise.

They just stood there staring at each other not really saying anything. Stephanie, to her utmost surprise didn't find it weird. Not anymore.

He was leaning closer very slowly. Stephanie gripped the door in panic. She wasn't ready for it and she whispered a hurried goodnight and she slammed the door in his face.

She slid down against the door and got on her knees clutching her chest. 'What did I just do?' she thought. She was too scared to open the door and look through the peephole to check if he was still there. What had happened had happened and she would deal with the awkwardness later. Now there were more pressing matters. Like what she was going to wear tomorrow.

She dashed to her room and looked through her suitcase. Everything looked too teenager. She ran back to the sitting room and got her bags and ran back to her room sliding to her bed and dumped the clothes on the bed. She didn't want to look like a child, neither did she want to appear overdressed and underdressed. She got out her phone and typed 'How to dress more mature'.

She just looked through the suggestions quickly. "Clothes that fit, dark pants, clothes that cover......... whatever blah". When she was done tossing her clothes around, she lay on her bed exhausted. Her back and her right shoulder blade hurt.

She took out her phone and for the first time, she wasn't sure of what to do. 'Call Sung-min' she thought. 'Call friends?' No too noisy and she couldn't keep things from them. She stood up. She decided to just watch TV until she couldn't keep her eyes open.

She turned on the TV and kept surfing, until she stopped in a music channel. It looked like fun. They weren't that good looking, but they were tolerable. Even though she didn't understand their language and only liked one of the many songs. She got bored in the next ten minutes.

She turned the TV off and walked to her room and flopped onto the bed. She kicked the clothes to the other side and as she closed her eyes, she was out like a light. Tomorrow was going to be a stressful day and she needed all her energy to face it.

Sung-min sighed as he flopped onto his bed. "How can I be so stupid?" he groaned into his palms. "Now I'm sure she'll think I'm a huge pervert who just wants to get some. I need to apologize". He got out his phone and dialed her number, but he hung up. "It's already late and I'm sure she'll yell at me". He dropped his phone and his glasses on his nightstand. He rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"Till tomorrow" and he turned off his lights.

Stephanie twirled in front of her phone. "I'm tired of changing and I'm going with this no matter what you guys say" she crossed her arms indicating she was annoyed.

"It's your third day in Korea and you already have a date and now we're the ones you're mad at?" Eunice asked.

"It's not a date! Stephanie denied. We're just going to pick up his sister from the airport and then we're taking her to her favorite café".

"Seems like Sister is in the way" Utibe laughed.

"Get rid of her" Precious joked.

"What happened to your plan of getting your surgeries and coming back?" Temi asked with a grin.

Stephanie's hand stopped halfway of placing her club sandwich in her mouth. "I'm working on it" she smiled sheepishly.

"It's evening there, isn't it?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah but not that late" Precious replied.

"If you like this guy, you shouldn't be a tag along. Tell him next time you want it to be only the two of you" Eunice advised.

Stephanie sighed and glared at her food and looked back at them. "I'm not sure that's possible because after last night I think he's going to have second thoughts".

"What did you do?" Temi asked.

"Why do you think I did something? Maybe it was him?" Stephanie knew they weren't convinced when they didn't reply.

"He tried to kiss me" Stephanie replied trying not to smile.

"And you slapped him" Utibe completed.

"Worse" Stephanie groaned.

"You kicked him in his family" Eunice squeaked covering her mouth.

"No!" she yelled frustrated because if she had done that it would have been better.

"Then what?" Precious asked.

"I slammed the door in is face so I'm sure he's going to think I hate him" she moaned.

"But do you like him?" Utibe asked.

"Three days is too short to say if I like him or not" Stephanie replied.

"But you're interested and you don't want to come off as desperate" Precious concluded.

"That's exactly what I'm feeling" Stephanie said kissing her screen.

"I feel so loved" Precious joked.

"You know you can just tell him how you're feeling. You said you're trying to be mature yeah? Talking is one of them" Temi said.

"Is this the first time you're liking someone up to this extent?" Eunice asked. Stephanie shook her head in a positive gesture.

"Then explain your actions. If he really likes you enough to try to kiss you on the third day and you guys aren't even dating, I'm sure he'll understand" Eunice said all smiles.

"And if he doesn't?" Stephanie asked sitting up feeling a bit better.

"Fuck him!" They chorused.

Stephanie smiled and continued with her breakfast.

Sung-min's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. He could already see the tall structure of the hotel Stephanie stayed in and he considered going back home. 'Would she be mad?' 'Would she cancel?' 'Would she hate him?' Those were the questions that were running through his mind.

He went back to the video call he had with his sister in the morning. He couldn't decide on what to wear so he called her to ask for her opinion.

"Sung-min if the girl really likes you, she won't care about what you wear" She drawled. She was getting bored of him showing her different clothes.

"I don't know" he said sitting down on the bed.

"What did you do to her?" she asked with a wide grin.

"I tried to kiss her and she banged the door in my face" he sighed and lay on his bed.

"Is that it?" his sister asked tiredly.

"Do you understand the damage I've done?" He asked sitting up abruptly.

"Which is?" She asked.

Sung-min didn't reply and his sister gave a big eye roll that it looked that her eyes would fall out.

"She isn't a child that she'll just assume that you're a pervert. And also relax it has only been three days and you already want to kiss her. Do you remember?" she asked.

"Don't rush into things or they'll think you're desperate" he said remembering her advice of years ago.

"And also did you stop to think if she knew if you wanted to kiss her, or if she just panicked or if she was overwhelmed".

"I really didn't think about that" Sung-min said rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.

"You really need to stop doing that. You're not a teenager" she chastised but the warning effect was lost when she yawned.

"I'm tired so please let me rest and also don't keep me waiting at the airport" she said with a fond smile.

"Thank you" he whispered.

"Sung-min if you really like this girl, just explain yourself I'm sure she'll understand".

"And if she doesn't?" he asked unsure.

"Trust me when I say she'll understand" and she ended the video call.

Sung-min parked close to the sidewalk and got out his phone to text Stephanie. His fingers couldn't stop shaking as he did that.

Stephanie jumped from the chair at the counter. She looked at her friends and they didn't look a little bit tired. "How do I look?" She asked checking herself out in front of the mirror. She was dressed in a green cotton shirt that just covered her forearms and black pants with black flats. She had a black purse with her and applied dark brown lipstick. 'Thank the internet' she thought.

"Is he here?" Temi asked all giddy.

"Yeah" Stephanie replied shoving her last sandwich into her mouth.

"When do we get to see him?" Precious asked.

"Yeah so we can see if you selected the handsome one or the ugly one" Eunice said which caused everyone to mumble.

"Sorry, but you guys aren't coming on this with me. Bye" and she hung up.

She cleaned her mouth with a napkin and rearranged her bangs and took her key card and made her way downstairs.

Sung-min leaned against his car nervously playing with his fingers. He looked up and he saw Stephanie walking towards him with a smile on her face. He gulped not really knowing what to expect.

"Good morning" she greets.

"Good morning" he replied back.

"Are you ready?" she asks.

"Yeah" he replied.

He opened the door for her and she whispered a quick thank you. He got into the driver's seat and made his way to the airport.

"So what's your sister's name?"

'She acts like nothing happened yesterday. Maybe it's a sign that she won't bring up the topic, best to go with the flow'. "Her name is Kim Mi-na" he replied.

"She's not married?" Stephanie asked.

"No" he replied.

"What is she like?" Stephanie asked curious. She really wanted the whole scoop on how he relates with his sister.

"She's a nice woman and a good sister. She's always there when you need her and gives the greatest advice. I really love her a lot, but she's a designer so she has to travel".

"That's really sweet" Stephanie cooed. "I can't wait to meet her".

"You said it, I really hope you won't regret it" Sung-min cautioned.

'He rhymed, so cute' she squealed internally.

Sung-min parked the car and handed Stephanie a big white cards with words she couldn't decipher.

"What is this?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah I need to make a call and I can't do it inside because of the noise, so I am hoping if you could go inside first?"

Stephanie furrowed her brows. "You want me to meet your sister?" She asked 'alone' she thought.

"Yeah, she liked your picture, so I'm sure the two of you will get along well".

Stephanie took a deep breath. "You owe me" she said as she got out of the car and walked to the glass doors of the airport.

She smiled as she passed the spot where she and Sung-min met.

She stood where others were standing and they were also holding cards. She held her card out against her chest and looked at all the people passing. She then realized that she didn't know what Mi-na looked like and she didn't know if the woman knew she would be the one to pick her up. She put the card under her arm and dug through her purse for her phone.

A woman stood pulling her travelling bag with her with a shiny leather bag. She looked round looking for her brother's tall figure. She walked forward and her pointy heels hitting the floor. She stopped as she looked at all the people waiting. Her sunglasses covered eyes went wide and she walked towards Stephanie who just got out her phone.

Stephanie flinched as a tall woman approached her. She really looked intimidating with the heels adding to her height. 'Is this is how short people feel?' she thought leaning back as the woman kept leaning towards her.

The woman was dressed in a sleeveless turtle neck tucked into purple pants that stopped at her knees and black pointy heels. Her hair was styled in a neat bun and had and equal fringe that covered her forehead. She took off her glasses slowly and bit the end and smiled.

'This woman is weird. Sung-min where are you?' She was overwhelmed with the sudden urge to run and she would have done that if the woman didn't clear her throat.

"You're Stephanie, aren't you?" she asked assessing her and being very obvious about it.

"Yes I am. You must be Mi-na? Sung-min had to make a call" she explained.

"Is that so?" She asked placing her glasses back on her face. Her slow deep voice sent shivers down her spine.

"Yes" she replied.

Mi-na smiled. "Are you his girlfriend?"

"What?!" Stephanie gasped shocked at the accusation. "I mean we just met and we barely know each other, and I'm sure three days is too short to already start saying things like that".

Mi-na laughed. "You like him, it's good to know".

"I never said........" Just then Sung-min came running.

"He hugged Mi-na and she hugged him back.

He let go of her and faced Stephanie and he had that dazzling smile that secretly made her knees weak. "I forgot to tell you that my sister can get a little overwhelming". This caused said person to hit him behind his head.

"Are you sure little is the word you're meant to use?" Stephanie asked.

Sung-min shrugged. "You said you wouldn't regret it".

Mi-na walked towards Stephanie and looked her in the eye. It was kind of funny because her glasses were still on her face covering her eyes.

"Geunyeoneun yeppeun. Naega dangsin-ilamyeon, naneun geunyeoleul nae anaelo mandeulgeoya daleun nugungaga delyeo ogi jeon-e".

Stephanie blinked multiple times in confusion. "I don't understand Korean" she said because it was so obvious and there was no need to rub it in her face.

"Dear, I wasn't talking to you" she said looking back to Sung-min who had a contemplative look on his face.

"What did you say?" She asked with a small smile.

"You can ask Sung-min later" she said pulling Stephanie by her arm towards the doors. Sung-min sighed. 'Why did I agree to do this again?' he thought as he pulled her surprisingly heavy bag along.

Stephanie opened the door to the backseat and got in. Mi-na looked at her brother and wriggled her eyebrows. "Take my advice" she whispered.

She got into the backseat much to Stephanie's disappointment.

"So I need to know the full details on how you met" Mi-na said as Sung-min put the car in motion.

"I'm sure Sung-min already told you everything, because he told me last night he talked to you about me" Stephanie replied trying to put a little space between them. Either Mi-na didn't care or she didn't know what personal space was because she drew nearer.

"I would like to hear it from you" she said resting her back and looking at her hopefully.

"There's not much to say honestly. We met each other at the airport when he bumped into me. I told him he would pay for my screen guard and every other thing led to today" Stephanie explained.

"Has anything happened between the two of you for the past three days?"

Stephanie choked.

"Mi-na" her younger brother chastised.

The older woman took off her glasses. "Why don't we play a game, Stephanie?"

"I'm not sure playing any games with you will be safe" Stephanie said honestly.

"It's a word game. I say something in Korean and you say it, while you say something in English and I try to say it".

"But you know English so it'd be in your favor" Stephanie said quirking her brow.

"I don't know English that well, that's why I'm talking slowly. I had to stay up all night just to perfect my English because Sung-min told me he's bringing a foreigner over".

Stephanie sighed. "Fine".

Mi-na smiled and made a gesture with her finger for Stephanie to come closer. She was already regretting it. She wrapped her arm round Stephanie's shoulders and whispered into her ear.

"I can't say that" Stephanie said.

"Why? Do you know the meaning?" Mi-na asked with an amused smile.

"No, it's actually impossible for me to say" Stephanie said defeated.

"I'll give you until the end of today and if you can say it, I'll give you my sunglasses" Mi-na said taking it off.

Stephanie hummed in thought. "You have yourself a deal".

Mi-na smiled in victory. 'This will be good'.

The ride was a long one, but they finally arrived at the cafe. Stephanie couldn't read it, so she looked to Mi-na for an explanation.

"This is my favorite café. You'll love it" Mi-na assured her.

Stephanie looked to Sung-min for help, who was just staring at his sister in disbelief. 'Why did I agree to this again?' she thought.

She was pulled out quickly. She smiled at Sung-min and when she opened her mouth, a hand was clamped over it. "No asking Sung-min for help with the word". Stephanie had the urge to lick her hand, but it would make her look bad. She simply held her wrist and dropped her hand.

"I wasn't going to do that" she grumbled.

Sung-min walked ahead of them and held out the door for them. 'Who said chivalry is dead'.

They sat down looking at the menu. They looked like they knew what they would order, but Stephanie was going through a crisis. Teenagers didn't go to cafes and she had never been in one before. She hadn't the faintest idea what to order. Maybe Lipton? No it was too normal. Adults like to drink coffee.

A waiter walked up to them and she smiled at him. "I'd like a cup of coffee with and a slice of chocolate cake".

"I'll have a latte with a croissant" Mi-na ordered.

"Just give me a cup of coffee, black" he added.

The waiter left and Stephanie smiled on the inside that she didn't mess that up. Now it dawned on her that she was left with two adults. What was she to do?

Their orders came and Stephanie eyed her chocolate cake lovingly. She brought the coffee to her lips and blew air into the cup. She just took a tiny sip.

"Just seeing you two, I can already hear wedding bells in the future" Mi-na said as she raised her cup as if giving a toast.

Sung-min rolled his eyes, but Stephanie swallowed wrong and she went into a coughing fit and the hot beverage was running down her nose. Sung-min rubbed her back, while she still kept coughing into a napkin.

"You can't just say something like that" her brother whispered.

"Do I lie?" she asked licking her lips. "Through her attitude I can see she likes you and you wouldn't even bother to put up an effort if you didn't like her".

"Are you okay?" Sung-min asked ignoring his sister.

Stephanie sat up. "Yes I am, it's just that sometimes the word that comes out of your sister's mouth catches me off guard".

"You two are so cute together and I give you both my blessing" she stated.

"Just ignore her, it always helped me" Sung-min said trying to help which caused Mi-na to frown.

She cleared her throat gaining Stephanie's attention which was lost in her brothers' eyes. "So Stephanie can you tell me about you?"

Stephanie could feel her heart beat increase. She was only nineteen, she didn't have a job and was here with her parent's money. 'What would they think of me?' 'A child that's for sure and I'm sure of it and Sung-min wouldn't even bother himself about me'. 'What does a man like him want with a girl like me?' Her mood was all sour and it wasn't because of the coffee.

Sung-min noticed her change in mood and looked at his sister. They communicated with their eyes and Mi-na agreed to drop it for now.

Stephanie stayed quiet the whole time. She hoped Mi-na didn't think it was about her. She had to be quiet to get everything together and also she didn't want to forget. After their lunch, Sung-min paid and they were off. Stephanie decided she was ready.

"Thank you both" she said with a smile.

Mi-na smiled. "Thank goodness!" She exclaimed. "I thought I had gone over board and had scared you. I thought you were reconsidering being friends with him because of me".

"No" Stephanie dragged. "I just remembered something" she lied with her fingers crossed hoping Mi-na would believe it. She smiled which had Stephanie jumping on the inside. Either Mi-na trusted easily or she had gotten real good at lying.

She got into the backseat with Mi-na and they got to talking.

"So how old are you?"

"I'm twenty years old" Stephanie replied.

"Do you work?"

"I'm a writer" she replied shyly.

"Really? Remind me later to take a look at one of your books" she said with wide eyes and a huge smile.

"What type of books do you write?" Mi-na asked leaning in closer like they were children sharing secrets. That grin never left her face.

"Well I write fantasy novels, murder, dark, gothic and romance".

"I love romance. Do you write erotic books?" Mi-na asked. Her face was turning red all of a sudden.

"If I feel like, why?" Stephanie asked with a mischievous smile.

Mi-na looked to her brother. "We'll talk about that later" she whispered moving away.

"Why are you in Seoul?"

"I'm here for medical purposes, but don't worry its nothing serious" she said with a wave.

Mi-na smiled and she looked at the rear view mirror and she smiled at him and he just chuckled. "She's a keeper" she mouthed.

The drive was longer than the one to the café. When the car finally stopped, it was at a beautiful house. A beach house maybe, because she could see the sea behind the house. She got out with Mi-na pulling her out.

"The house didn't change" she stated. "It's like I never left" she added in a tiny whisper.

Stephanie looked to Sung-min who she hadn't really spoken to throughout the day. His sister had taken all her attention and she felt guilty. She walked up to him with a smile and he smiled back at her.

"How has your day been?" he asked.

"Fine, your sister is really something" she replied closing the trunk as he finally got her bag out.

"I thought she might have done something wrong when you suddenly went quiet at the café, but you said you were thinking about something".

"Yeah" she replied quickly.

"If you don't mind me asking, what were you thinking about?"

Stephanie had to think of something fast and she did. "I was thinking about Mi-na's challenge".

Sung-min didn't look convinced and his stare wasn't helping and she would have fallen if his sister didn't use that exact moment to call them inside.

While inside, Mi-na had left the two to unpack and they both knew that they had to talk about what happened last night.

"I have something to tell you" they said in unison.

"You first" they said again.

"I'll go first!" she said sharply. She was nervous and the two of them saying things at the same time made her more nervous.

"About last night, she began. I'm sorry. I sort of panicked and I acted on impulse and slammed the door. So please don't think it's about you or I don't like you anymore because you tried to kiss me". Stephanie felt good to finally have it off her chest.

She looked to Sung-min and he had a smile on his face. "What?" she asked, scared of his reply. She hoped he wasn't going to laugh and say 'why would you think I was going to kiss you'.

"Well that's what I wanted to ask you, he began. I was kind of scared that I might have done something bad or you weren't interested in me that way. Now I think I have a chance" he said with a smile.

Stephanie was sitting on the backrest of the couch. Sung-min walked up to her and she had to brace herself so she wouldn't fall. She looked up at him. She found the position funny and would have laughed if the situation wasn't serious.

"Can I kiss you now?" He asked leaning forward. Stephanie wasn't expecting him to ask. She really thought he would just go for it. Now she had to answer him. She bit her lower lip in thought and hoped he would just forget about it, but he still stood there looking.

Stephanie closed her eyes. "Sure".

She could hear shifting and she opened one eye curiously and saw that Sung-min had taken off his glasses. She placed her hands on his chest and they were hard, but she didn't dwell on it, she would get to it later.

"Am I moving too fast?" He asked brushing her bangs aside with his fingers. His fingertips on her skin sent sparks up her spine and she had to tighten her hold on his chest. She took a deep breath.

"It's just that I'm nervous. I really don't have that much experience with kissing" she said looking away. Her face was burning with embarrassment and she felt like running away. 'Why did I say that? That sounded extremely childish'.

A soft hand was placed on her cheek and she was back to facing him and looking up. Her neck was hurting a little bit. He leaned down completely towering over her.

"Just relax" he whispered.

Stephanie held her breath. Was she meant to close her eyes? Was she meant to keep them open? Was tongue meant to be involved or just lips?

"Relax" he said against her lips. His breath was warm against her lips and he still had the scent of coffee. She closed her eyes pushing out her lips a little. She really hoped she didn't look stupid. Their lips were almost there. She could feel the faint tickle of his lips against hers and then the familiar sound of pointed heels had him pulling away.

Stephanie sighed in disappointment and she got off the couch.

Mi-na had a suspicious smile on her face. Stephanie didn't seem to notice and Sung-min just glared at her. She shook her head fondly.

"I'm making dinner! She announced. How does spaghetti sound?"

"It sounds good, Stephanie replied. I'll help......" She didn't finish because Sung-min placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Stephanie and I will be going outside for some fresh air" he stated sternly.

The sad look his sister had on her face still didn't make him change his decision. "You've been with her all day breathing down her neck, give her a break" and he pulled her outside through the backdoor.

Stephanie was kind of shocked but still relieved. She was sure she couldn't take more of Mi-na's questions without something happening to her throat. She saw a swing chair and she had to contain her excitement so she wouldn't run and start swinging because she wasn't a child. She was an adult.

She held his arm and pulled him towards the chair and making him sit down by her side. Very close. She played with the hem of her shirt as she looked to the sea.

"So I've told you about myself, well it was your sister. Can you tell me about you?" Stephanie asked.

"My name is Kim Sung-min, I'm 24 years old and I'm a designer in Mi-na's company. As hobbies I like to surf and take pictures and one day I would just drop everything and travel the world".

Stephanie nods after he stops talking.

"I really enjoyed today Sung-min, but I think I should get going" Stephanie said with a tiny smile.

Sung-min groaned. "You spent all day with my sister and now you want to blow me off. Fine you can go" he said resting his back.

Stephanie held down her laugh. "You're not jealous, are you?" she asked with a devious smile. There was no response. "Are you really sure you want to leave me by myself?"

Sung-min didn't say anything still. Stephanie huffed and stood up. "I think I'll just go and hang out with your sister. At least she enjoys my company".

Stephanie took a step forward and she was pulled back immediately. She fell by his side and she rest her back a little bit dizzy. She turned to glare at him, but her eyes softened and instantly their lips collided. It was just a simple press of lips and it had her pulling back.

Sung-min just kept staring at her intensely and she had the sudden urge to hide her face. Stephanie touched her lips. She had never felt something that soft before. 'What was running through his mind?' "I didn't mean to push you away" she whispered before she knew.

"You didn't" he replied with a smile, but Stephanie knew it was different. It looked forced. She put her shyness and inexperience aside. She didn't feel grossed out and she actually felt something instead of nothing. She raised her hand.

"Can I?" She asked without waiting for his answer and removed his glasses.

She pressed her lips against him and he kissed back. Stephanie held onto his shirt and he placed his finger and his thumb under her chin tilting her head to the right and his other hand went round her waist. She kept her lips open a little and he took her bottom lip between his. That made his upper lip to be in between hers and she kissed him.

Sung-min pulled away and Stephanie's eyes fluttered open. She looked at him with red cheeks and he had his smile back and he looked flushed. Stephanie looked at his lips and it was red instead of pink. 'Did I do something wrong?' she asked herself.

She then noticed that his arm was still round her waist and her hands were still gripping his chest. She couldn't look him in the eye and she hugged him and buried her face in his chest. "That was nice. You're really a good kisser".

She could feel his chest vibrate which meant he was laughing. "Glad to know I was good" he said into her hair.

"Do you still want to hang out with Mi-na?" he teased.

"No, Stephanie replied. You're way better than her" she said sitting up and touching him on his nose playfully.

The sound of the glass door sliding open had them separating quickly. Mi-na had changed from her heels.

Stephanie looked at the time and it was already six. 'How was she going to get home?'

"Stephanie, you're staying for dinner right?" she asked assessing her with her eyes. It was now getting creepy.

"Yes I'm staying for dinner" she replied standing up.

"Good because I already have the wine out". She turned around making her way back to the kitchen and she came to an abrupt halt. "You two weren't kissing, were you?" she asked without turning her back.

Stephanie looked to Sung-min who just waved at her not to worry. She turned to Mi-na who had just witnessed the silent conversation and she wagged her finger like a mother chastising a child. "Not in the house" she laughed as she walked into the house. She rolled her eyes and didn't bother to look back at him. If she did she would have seen the fond smile on his lips.

Stephanie sat silently as she was served. The spaghetti and Bolognese sauce looked appetizing and smelt really good and the chicken looked heavenly, but that wasn't the problem. It was the wine between the serving dishes. The dark bottle looking at her.

'Of course' she thought. 'Adult don't drink soda they drink wine', but the bottle didn't look like a family wine. MI-na smiled at her.

"It's French for blackbird. I was given at a fashion show and I wanted to share with my brother and now that he brought you over, we can all drink it". She poured into three tall glasses.

She had never drank alcohol before, unless you counts the time she sipped Baileys from half empty glasses during parties. She took her glass silently. 'She was an adult and she could do this'. She twirled the glass and inhaled softly.

It didn't smell bad. It smelt good actually and she took a sip. It tasted of grapes and faintly of chocolate. She put it by her side and picked up her fork to eat. Nothing was said from that moment. 'Maybe it was a rule between the two of them not to talk while they ate or maybe adults didn't really talk while they had dinner'.

Stephanie was only able to eat half because she still had scones in her stomach. The wine was so addictive and she couldn't get enough. Mi-na poured her another glass. "Finally a girl that can drink like me". Sung-min sighed and continued with his food.

Time passed and it looked like the two ladies didn't look like they would get up. They would whisper and then giggle uncontrollably. Sung-min knew he would be the one doing the dishes. He stood up annoyed. Mi-na had succeeded in stealing her attention again. "As always" he muttered.

"Stephanie, do you remember what I told you? The game?" she asked wiggling her brows. Stephanie looked confused for a while, then realization struck.

"Oh!" Stephanie exclaimed loudly and dramatically. It had Sung-min peering from the kitchen. "I remember" she said in a singsong voice.

Stephanie pulled on her hair. "I've been practicing all day in my mind" she whispered.

"Are you ready?" Mi-na asked getting her phone out. Stephanie nods wildly. "I want you to shout it" she whispered.

Stephanie stood up and looked to Mi-na who gave her a thumbs up. "N-naneun seongmin-eul sa-salanghanda!" she sat back down and the sound of plates hitting each other and fast footsteps followed soon after.

"What did you make her say?" Sung-min asked his sister with disbelief all over his face. She just smiled and put her phone in her pocket. She stood up staggering a little.

"I'm done for the night. Please take care of Stephanie and you guys shouldn't have too much fun remember it's only been four days" she said as she walked slowly to the stairs.

Sung-min looked to Stephanie and she had her elbow propped on the table supporting her face. She was asleep and if he allowed it any longer with the way her head kept tipping back and forth, she could hit her head on the table or fall on the floor.

"Unbelievable" he groaned in frustration.

He helped Stephanie up, who opened her eyes a little. "I can't move my legs" she whispered and then burst into a fit of giggles.

He put her arm round his neck and he put one arm round her waist and pulled her to the guest room that was close to the stairs. He paused when he didn't see the key. 'Maybe it's open' he thought hopefully.

He jiggled the handle and the door didn't open. He could hear his sister laughing at the back of his mind. He looked to Stephanie who was peacefully asleep. He carried her in his arms and made his way up the stairs.

He stood in front of his sister's door knocking. His arms were getting tired and she wasn't opening up. "She's probably passed out" he mumbled and walked to his room lucky for him it wasn't locked.

He dropped her softly on the bed and stretched his tired arms. He knelt by the bed and brushed her bangs from her face. Stephanie's eyes fluttered open and she looked at him. She smiled and pulled him closer.

He lay by her side looking up to the ceiling. "I spoke Korean, she whispered. What was the meaning of what I said?"

Sung-min sighed. Luckily he had a lifetime of experience dealing with a drunk.

"It's not important, so don't worry about it" he replied running his fingers through her hair.

He could hear her moving and soon her arms were round his neck and her face was buried in his neck. "Stay with me please" those were the last words she uttered before she fell asleep.

Sung-min smiled as he covered her with the duvet. Her hold was tight and she still had her shoes on. Tomorrow he was going to have a long talk with his sister and her inappropriate behavior. He kissed her on her forehead and kept watching her before he succumbed to sleep.

Stephanie wanted to sleep some more, but her body wanted to get up. She opened her eyes and they were as heavy as a mountain. She rest her arm on her forehead and took in her room, then it hit her.

"This isn't my room" she whispered confused and scared.

She heard a door open and she closed her eyes quickly. She heard light footsteps. She opened one eye and spied and it was Sung-min. "What happened last night?" she asked herself. 'And why was Sung-min in a bathrobe?' Not that she was complaining.

Her head throbbed when she tried to think back to last night. She looked to Sung-min who had her back to him and was in the process of taking off the only thing covering his modesty. He had loosened the belt and it was going down slowly. It had passed his shoulder exposing nice shoulder blades and a nice muscular back, but not too muscled. When it got to his waist, he stopped and pulled the curtain open.

Stephanie groaned as she felt a searing pain through her skull. She gripped the duvet and covered her face. With the way she kept wiggling, she would have fallen off the bed. She could hear Sung-min chuckling.

"You are so mean" she said into the duvet.

"And you are a peeping Tom" he said as he walked into the bathroom holding clothes that he was going to wear.

"I wasn't, she denied. I don't even know where I am" she said with tiny tears escaping her eyes. She wasn't even crying.

Sung-min came out with a plastic bottle and he gave her a bottle of water which he got from the fridge at the side of his bed.

"You and Mi-na drank a lot yesterday, but on the plus side you make a pretty cute drunk" he said with a smile.

She sat up slowly and the pounding only increased. She wasn't looking to alcohol anytime soon. She took two pills and swallowed with a gulp of water.

"I think I've already overstayed my welcome. I'd love to go to my hotel room now so I can recover properly" she said pushing the duvet away.

"You aren't an inconvenience, but if you want to leave, I can't force you to stay" he said helping her up.

"I feel sick" she stated and she rest on him for comfort.

Sung-min smiled and wrapped his arms round her waist. Stephanie looked up at him squinting her eyes. "If it's a kiss you want I'm sure my breath smells bad" she said into his chest.

"It's not a problem really because you slept with your mouth open and drooled all over me". He got a hit on his chest.

Sung-min tilts her head up and kisses her at the side of her lips. "There all better".

Stephanie rolls her eyes. "Please just take me home" she whispers. The eye rolling just increased the pain.

He led her downstairs and in the kitchen Mi-na was in her bathrobe with a steaming cup of tea below her nose.

"Good morning you two, she greets. How was your night? I hope you didn't do anything too wild" she asked wriggling her brows and then her face scrunches up in pain.

"Nothing of that sort happened" Sung-min stated.

"But a woman slept in your bed, in your room, alone with you" she teased and then took a sip of tea.

"I slept in your room? Why?" Stephanie asked shocked.

Mi-na shrugged innocently.

Sung-min wasn't amused and his sister didn't look affected. She had the nerve to raise her brow in question.

"Let's just go Stephanie" Sung-min said getting his keys off the table.

"See you soon Stephanie she said with a wave. If you look inside your purse I already put my glasses inside. You really should learn Korean".

Sung-min ushered Stephanie outside who had gone quiet and had a contemplative look on her face.

He really needed to talk to Mi-na when he got back.

The ride back was silent. Stephanie had her face to the window and she looked so far away. He couldn't just have left her to sleep on the couch. He slapped himself mentally. He was the one meant to sleep on the couch. He wondered what was going through her mind.

When they arrived at the hotel, Stephanie didn't even utter a thanks. She opened her door and her foot was out, when Sung-min held her hand.

She looked at him. "What?"

"I know what Mi-na said has you freaked out, but I assure you that nothing happened" he said letting go of her hand.

Stephanie just kept looking at him and then her eyes softened. "Stop making me feel guilty. Anytime you look at me like a kicked puppy, it pains my heart" she said looking away.

"I'm not mad at you, I was just thinking. I'm a woman and I was in your bed and nothing happened. If it were someone else I don't know if I'd be standing on my own two feet. Just put yourself in my shoes that's all I'm saying".

Sung-min hugged her and kissed her on her forehead. "Trust me when I say I'm not going to do anything bad to you" he whispered into her hair.

"I trust you" she whispered into his neck and kissed him. She pulled away and got out closing the door softly not to worsen her headache.

"So when can we go out again?" he asked rolling the window down.

'I'll call you when I'm free. We'll talk later" she said with a smile and turned around making her way to the glass doors.

As soon as she got to her room, she took a cold shower which helped with her headache. She ordered breakfast and after eating brushed her teeth. She would call her friends later and tell them how the previous day went.

She was still tired. She turned on the air conditioner and got into bed covering herself up. She yawned and as soon as her head touched the pillow, she was out. If she was lucky, she would get to stay in bed all day.

Stephanie felt like she was on a cloud, just floating up in the sky. But she felt a pull trying to break her fantasy. She tried to concentrate harder, but then she heard knocking and her dream disappeared. She opened her heavy eyes and yawned. The knocking was becoming more persistent.

'Maybe if I don't answer whoever is there might get bored and leave' she thought turning on her side and closing her eyes drifting back to sleep, when the person knocking decided to be more annoying.

She threw the duvet off and jumped out of bed. 'Someone is going to get it'. She opened the door with a little more force and looked at the culprit.

"You" she said pointing and wanted to bang the door when something was shoved into her face almost making her go cross-eyed.

"A peace offering" Jin-soo said holding the pizza box out with a smile.

Stephanie still had her hand on the door handle, but a whiff of what smelled like pepperoni and she stepped aside. He had a stupid victorious grin on his face.

"It looks like I was right. A girl with an appetite like yours won't be able to resist a little treat" he said as he set the box on the table. He made an attempt to open it, but Stephanie hit his hand.

"It's mine. Don't touch it!" she warned. He rubbed his sore hands with a pout.

"What are you doing here anyway? Last time I checked we weren't friends and you accused me of purposely displaying my nudity".

"Yeah, last time you insulted me" he said softly looking up at her.

"State your business before I throw you out!" she threatened.

He smiled and stood up. "You have only been in Korea for a few days and you haven't gone out to explore, to see the wonders of Seoul" he said all this as he opened the curtains making the sunlight flood in. Stephanie groaned.

"I didn't come here for a holiday" she told him firmly as she flopped on the couch turning the TV on.

"Why?" He asked towering over her with his arms on his hips.

"None of your business" she replied bluntly.

Jin-soo wasn't having any of it and he pulled her up. She wasn't expecting it and was pulled up easily and her face hit his chest.

"Well if you don't want to go out, I'll just have to drag you out in your sleepwear" he whispered.

"You can't" Stephanie replied.

"Is that a dare?" he asked with a grin which reminded her of a cat and she didn't like it.

"If I go, will you shut up and promise not to come back?" she asked tiredly.

"I make no promises" he said with a small smile.

Stephanie walked back to her room. An insult right on her tongue, but she held it in and closed her door loudly hoping he would get the idea that she was displeased.

She looked through her wardrobe and was getting out a simple pair of pants, when she realized that this wasn't Sung-min. She dropped it back and picked up her dark blue leggings and a teal shirt and a pair of sneakers.

Her head was cold and she put on a beanie and she took her father's jacket and looked in the mirror. 'No one is looking at me anyway' she thought with a shrug. She walked into the bathroom and washed her face and didn't forget to brush her teeth.

She came out looking tired. Jin-soo walked towards her and smiled.

He put two fingers on his cheeks and opened his eyes at her. "Don't act like you hate it".

"I hate you and I want to go back to bed" she replied with a yawn and she looked at him hopefully he would get the message, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her out. She just sighed as she let herself be pulled. 'If I just let him for today, I'm sure he'll leave me alone' she thought.

"Where are we going?" Stephanie asked pulling her jacket closer. The cold had woken her up and she needed to get warmth.

"It's a surprise" he replied with a wink and Stephanie felt the sudden urge to slap him really hard.

"I don't have time for this" she said seriously as she turned around to go back, but was pulled back and she lost her footing and flailed her arms as she was doing down, but she felt strong hands hold her by her waist and she held onto her savior.

"Kill me!" she whispered with fury.

He helped her up and she pushed him away. A taxi had already stopped and she opened the door and got in sitting down and looking out the window. She heard him say something to the driver in Korean and he started moving.

She tried to make a side glance, but her eyes met his and she averted her eyes. 'Why is he staring?' she asked herself getting self-conscious all of a sudden. Asking questions like 'Is my hair okay?' Is something on my face?' 'Why didn't I put makeup on?'

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't know that the car had stopped moving.

"Stephanie?" Jin-soo called.

That had her sitting straight and looking round. "When did we get here? We just left".

"Yeah a long time ago" Jin-soo replied.

"Are you ready?" He asked as he held out his hand.

Stephanie took his hand and was pulled out. She wasn't expecting to see what she saw when she got out. He must have seen her surprise and he went "Ta-da" in a very comical way.

"I've always wanted to go to an amusement park, she squealed. Always wanted to go to a haunted house and ride bumper cars. My siblings would have loved this and they would be so jealous".

Stephanie got out her phone and took multiple pictures and then she hugged Jin-soo squeezing him. As soon as it dawned on her that she just acted so out of character, she let go of him as if she was burnt and straightened her jacket.

"Sorry, it's just that there are no amusement parks where I come from" she said with a blush.

Jin-soo smiled. "Don't worry, you were totally adorable while doing it. I'm sure that that these are signs that the date is going to go well".

"Date? I didn't agree to a date. You said we were just going out" Stephanie said confused. He was already assuming and Stephanie didn't like it. 'He better not start jumping to conclusions'.

"How old are you anyway?" He asked as they entered after he gave their tickets.

"Nineteen" Stephanie replied without thinking and she noticed her slipup just seconds after. She looked at him and bit her lip. She couldn't change that now and she could only suck it up and enjoy it.

Jin-soo was her age she was completely sure of it. She could act her age around him and was relieved she didn't need to research on how to dress or how to act around him. She felt free and she could act like the way she was.

"Do you want ice cream?" he asked.

"You don't need to ask me when it comes to sweets" Stephanie said with a smile linking their arms together.

He led her to a stand and he ordered two cones.

"So what are we going to try?" Stephanie asked.

"How about everything" Jin-soo replied pulling her along to the first ride which was a rocking ship. She got in with him and her ice cream cone and a whole lot of other people.

"I hope you won't get scared" Jin-soo teased.

"Like that would ever happen" Stephanie shot back.

The ship began rocking and Stephanie tried to become one with her chair. She should have kept quiet instead. She didn't know it would be this intense. She held onto his arm and squeezed. Jin-soo smiled at her and raised her hand screaming. That made her calm down a little and she screamed this time for fun.

After King Viking that was what Jin-soo told her, he decided to take a break. The break was because of her mostly. She was done with her treat and was trying to fix her hair. She gave up with a frustrated groan and put the beanie over it.

"Definitely never gone on a Viking ship ride before" he commented handing her a covered treat.

"Cotton candy" she said with a smile.

"Are you ready to go on another one?" he asked.

Stephanie didn't give a verbal reply, but her smile spoke for her.

Jin-soo smiled and held his hand out.

'How bad could it possibly be?' she thought.

That was how she found herself strapped to a Shot Drop as Jin-soo called it. 'I really need to keep my mouth shut' she thought. What was funny was that Jin-soo wasn't getting on it with her.

"You're just going to leave me here with all these strangers?" she asked eyeing the people by her side warily.

"You're a tough girl, you can handle it. Besides I need a video".

Stephanie broke into a nervous sweat when she heard the machine warming.

"Last chance to get off" he said bringing his phone out and taking a picture.

"You know what I think I'll just......." She didn't complete it because she shot up into the sky and screamed all the while.

When she was up, the ride stopped for a while and she looked down. Her head felt like it was going to fall off her neck and she could feel her ice cream and cotton candy rise up to her throat. She flung her head back screaming as she went down again.

Jin-soo had a smile on his face the whole time and he was sure he could hear her screaming out of all the people in the park.

The ride finally ended and Stephanie's hair was looking more disheveled than earlier. She staggered as she walked up to him and she rest on his chest.

"Do you still want to go on more rides?" he asked the panting girl. He heard her inhale and exhale deeply and then she stood up straight.

"I ride a roller coaster and then we are done" she said in a stern voice.

"As you wish Stephanie" he said as he took her hand. Stephanie felt all warm. She felt like a princess and she liked it. 'Is this what I've been missing out on?'

Now they both sat down next to each other. They had their seatbelts on and she was mumbling a prayer.

"Don't be scared" he whispered directly into her ear which made her shiver visibly.

"Stop that! I'm very sensitive there" she said trying to cover her ear and neck from him and his hot breath.

"I guess I'll just have to remember that" he said with a wink.

Stephanie didn't care. He was acting all pervy and she was going to slap some sense into him. She raised her hand to slap him, when a sudden jerk had her holding onto him.

The ride started off slow, until it was going fast and they were going through loops or something like that. It was all tumbles and twist and she had to cover her mouth with her other hand. Jin-soo the unobservant fool he was just kept screaming.

When they were done, Stephanie had to lean on him for support or she was going to faint. Those were her exact words.

"I think I'm ready to go now" Stephanie whispered in a soft voice that would put shy people to shame.

Jin-soo sighed. "Come on Stephanie don't be a party pooper. Live a little" he said shaking her to make his point.

"I'll be a party puke if I don't go home" she mumbled.

"I'll buy you a chicken burger" he offered.

Stephanie's shoulders slumped in defeat because there was no need to argue because she knew she had already lost.

He hugged her and was waddling like a penguin with her in his arms. "I promise you that it's the last one" he whispered with his warm wet lips against her neck.

Stephanie pushed the pervert away. "Get me my burger before I change my mind" she said trying to act unaffected by his earlier ministrations.

"On it" he said running to the nearest food stand,

Stephane shook her head smiling. "Boys".

Jin-soo got her the burger and led her to what looked like a merry go round. She frowned openly but a promise was a promise.

She squeezed the empty bag in anger as they both got into the ride that was made for two each. It clicked and she groaned at how oblivious she had been.

She looked at him and sat up, but the way the ride was moving round, round and just going round had her breathing deeply and her throat was hot. 'Oh no'.

She lay her head on his shoulder and squeezed his shirt.

She was trying to say something, but if she opened her mouth wider, there was a chance she could puke on him and she did not want that for him because he thought he was on a date, and being the nice person she was she didn't want to be a bad date.

She felt him lift her chin up and they were both looking into each other's eyes. He was coming closer and with the way her head was tilted she could talk.

"I have to puke!" she said quickly.

That had his eyes going wide and he stood up and pulled her along. The ride was still moving as they ran out which made Stephanie stumble and everything go to her throat. There was no way she was going to keep it all in. She couldn't keep swallowing and a very convenient trashcan caught her eye and she walked quickly and emptied all she had earlier. To put it in a nice way, she was embarrassed.

She could see Jin-soo being scolded by security and people were staring at her like they had nothing better to do. Like they didn't come here with their families or their significant other.

She stood up straight suddenly self-conscious and she wanted to leave quickly. As she walked to Jin-soo she could hear them murmuring. She didn't understand their language and they might have been insulting her for all she knew.

She tugged on his arm. "I want to leave now" she said not looking at him.

"Yeah I think it's best" he said reaching out for her hand, but she felt so disgusted with herself. She just puked and didn't want to talk or start doing intimate stuff.

She put her hands in her pocket and looked away. She didn't want to see how his face looked like. They walked out, he called a Taxi and they rode in silence.

When they got back to her room, she ran to her room slamming the door hard and brushed her teeth like she meant it. Her hand slipped and she hit her gum and now she was spitting out blood.

Stephanie threw her brush into the sink. She threw off her beanie and jacket and sat at the edge of the tub. 'Why am I so angry anyway?' 'He's not even my friend'.

She rinsed her mouth and made her way back to the living room and he was watching TV with his feet on the couch.

She cleared her throat and he smiled at her. "Are you feeling better now?"

She quirked her brow in question and also in irritation.

"I won't think different of you just because you puked, it happens. I just kind of feel bad that you didn't tell me earlier and it's like I kept forcing you to enjoy yourself so sorry about that" he explained with a bashful smile.

Stephanie couldn't fight the smile that graced her face. She felt better which was odd, but she was too exhausted mentally to think.

She looked out the window and it was already sundown. A beautiful end to a wonderful day. A sudden flash had her blinking.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Nothing" he replied pocketing his phone. He got up from the couch and walked towards her.

"You enjoyed yourself today, right?" he asked hopefully.

Stephanie folded her arms and looked away. "When did I say I enjoyed myself?" she asked mockingly.

Jin-soo laughed. "So when are we going to do this again?"

"I don't know, I'll call you when I'm free" she replied with a smile and it slowly faded. 'Why did I just say that?'

He hugged her and slowly his lips met hers.

She pulled away after some seconds so he wouldn't feel insulted and she caressed his face. He smiled foolishly.

"SMACK"

Stephanie had a smug smile on her face as she saw him holding his cheek. 'It wasn't even that hard'.

"I've wanted to do that ever since the beginning of today" she said as she pushed him out of her room.

She pushed the door, but he put his hand in the way stopping it from happening.

"Okay I'm sorry, next time I'll ask before I make such a drastic move" he said casually leaning against the doorframe.

"Yeah, goodnight" she whispered trying to close the door.

He quickly removed his hand and gave her a chaste peck on her cheek and backed away before she could do anymore damage to his face.

"Goodnight" he waved as he walked towards the elevator.

"So cocky" she murmured with her hand on her cheek as she closed the door.

Stephanie sighed as she got to her room taking off her clothes and getting into the shower stall.

'Hopefully he'll get the message and stay away, but I'm not sure he got it with what happened earlier. He's no Sung-min but he's good looking for a teenager' she debated. She rinsed off the soap from her body and cleaned herself and flopped onto her bed after throwing on a large shirt.

She turned on her phone and she had a message. It was an unfamiliar number with a familiar face. She smiled into her pillow and opened it.

Her smile faded when she saw a video of herself on the Sky Drop and a picture of herself in her living room looking out the window.

'When I see you next I'll hit you so hard' she typed frantic.

'I never knew you were so violent' he typed with a laughing emoji.

'Delete them now!' she typed back with an angry face.

'Why? You look pretty' he typed with a wink and a kissy face.

'Do it now' she typed with a tired face.

'I'll do it, in fact I'll give you my phone to delete if you agree to go out with me' he typed with a blushing emoji.

'No' she typed back instantly.

'Don't be like that' he typed with a sad face. 'You enjoyed yourself today even though you puked'.

'I hate you so much right now' she typed with an "are you serious?" face emoji.

He replied back with the crying face. Lots of them.

'How does ice-skating sound to you?'

Stephanie sat up straight. 'Ice-skating? Are you serious?'

He sent a big smug emoji. 'Is that a yes?'

'Maybe' she replied with a tired face. 'I'm not making any promises I might change my mind'.

'I know you won't' he typed with a wink and a kissy face.

'Goodnight' she typed.

'You too and please don't delete my number'.

Stephanie lay on her side with a smile on her face and her phone clutched to her chest.

She looked at her and Sung-min's picture caught her eye. 'Best not to think about it because it's nothing' she thought placing her phone under her pillow. She would call her friends in the morning and tell them about her amazing day. Maybe Korea was a good idea.