LOVE ME AGAIN (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 19)

CHAPTER 19                  

“Ellie, are you sure you don’t want to move to another place? This house is already too crowded for all of us,” Krizzia complained.              

Ellie slightly laughed. “See… I knew you guys were going to complain. That’s why I didn’t want to bring you guys along.”              

“But Krizzia has a point. Have you seen how many people are actually staying here? Even though the house is big, I still think its too crowded for everyone to live and work properly,” Samar added.              

Ellie sighed. “Look, let’s just try to bear with the living conditions. It’s only for a few days. I really want to finish everything as soon as possible. Remember I still have a book to finish.”              

Krizzia looked at Samar, as if asking for some kind of help. “Ellie… can I ask you something?” she uttered slowly.              

“What is it?” Ellie asked curiously.              

“What are your plans when your work with the DBSK boys is over? I mean… we’ve noticed you’re really grown close to Micky. And we were wondering…” Krizzia was saying when Ellie immediately interrupted her.              

“The two of you are wondering what I plan to do with Micky? Is that what you were going to ask?”              

Krizzia was somehow left speechless so she just nodded her head.              

Ellie smiled and started to stare blankly at her friends. “Honestly I don’t know what to do next. I am very grateful for all the things he has done for me. But I am still undecided if I should continue my relationship with him once my work here in Japan is over. Somehow I don’t want to keep my hopes up. I know he’s just being kind. And I always try to remind myself that I did make an agreement with him. And that I shouldn’t expect anything else from it.”              

“But I think… he already likes you,” Krizzia suddenly uttered.              

Ellie stared at her friend. “Like is a very simple feeling that comes and goes. Yes, he may like me now… But will he still like me when he learns the truth? I don’t think so,” she uttered as she shook her head. “No man will be able to accept me once he learns about my past… Just look at ….”              

“Oh, don’t you even dare mention that man’s name. Just hearing his name makes me angry,” Krizzia said out loud.              

“Krizzia, you know you shouldn’t be mad with Mark. It wasn’t his own decision to stay away from Ellie,” Samar reminded her friend.              

“Yes, I know. But he’s already old enough to know what is wrong and what is right. He doesn’t have to follow everything that his parents say,” Krizzia said with anger in her voice.              

“Let’s just try to understand him. He really loves and respects his parents so much. So it’s no surprise he chose to end his relationship with me than go against his parents’ wishes,” Ellie tried to explain.              

“You still have the heart to defend that guy? Unbelievable! What kind of heart do you have? Why do you easily forgive everyone who has hurt you?” Krizzia asked back.              

Ellie suddenly paused for a few seconds before answering. “That’s not true. There are still a lot of people that I can’t forgive.”              

Krizzia quickly understood what Ellie said. “I’m sorry. I don’t have any intention of bringing up that topic,” she apologized.              

Ellie tried to smile even though it was obvious that she was already affected by what they were talking about. “It’s okay. It’s already in the past. And it’s something I can never change. All I can do now is accept everything and try to deal with all the problems that will come along the way.”              

“You’ve really grown stronger now. I am so proud of you,” Samar uttered with admiration for her friend.              

“Yes, our little sister has truly grown up. Don’t worry, no matter what happens… we will always be beside you. We will always support you in all the decisions and plans that you make,” Krizzia said with a sweet smile on her face.              

“Thank you. I wouldn’ t be able to bear all my problems without the two of you. I owe all my courage and strength to both of you,” Ellie uttered.              

Their conversation was suddenly stopped when someone knocked on the door of their room.              

“Ellie, it’s Micky. Can I come in? I need to ask you something.”              

Krizzia immediately opened the door to let Micky in.              

“Yes, what is it?” Ellie asked.              

“Well there were some problems with the transporting of some of the props needed in the shooting today. So the whole production staff decided to postpone the shooting. We’re all free to go sightseeing today. So… would you like to go out with me? We can go and have a walk ….anywhere you like,” Micky said with a  bright smile.              

Ellie couldn’t help but smile as well. Somehow Micky’s excitement and happiness was too contagious. “All right. We can have a stroll… on one condition.”              

“What?” Micky quickly asked.              

“Let’s bring Samar and Krizzia along. I don’t want them to get bored here in the room all day long,” Ellie answered.              

“Fine with me,” Micky replied. “Let’s just bring Max and the others as well.”              
“Ellie, you don’t have to worry about us. You can go and have fun with Micky, if you want to. Krizzia and I will be fine here. We’ll just sleep and rest,” Samar suddenly said with a yawn.              

“Sleep and rest? Oh I see… I’m sorry. I never thought about that. I forgot you were the one who drove the car for hours. You must be tired,” Ellie said with concern.              

“The two of you can have a date… if you like. Samar and I will just stay here,” Krizzia uttered mischievously.              

Micky couldn’t help but laugh. He was somehow amused with Krizzia.              

Ellie suddenly thought of a perfect way to make her friends happy. “Okay. We’re going out for a while,” she said sweetly.              

--------------------------------------              

Minutes later….              

“So where are we going?” Micky asked curiously.              

Ellie looked at him and smiled brightly. She was somehow feeling very inspired to do something special for her friends. “Do you think we can go to the market? I want to cook a special meal for Krizzia and Samar,” she asked.              

“Sure, no problem. Just make sure the dishes you’re going to cook are good for the four of us. I would really like to taste the foods you’re going to prepare,” Micky replied.              

Ellie nodded, then laughed. “Don’t worry. I will be making enough for everyone.”              
Micky laughed. “Make sure you have enough food to feed an army. You’ll be surprised with Max’s appetite especially when he likes your dishes.”                        
“Oh, don’t worry. I already noticed,” she answered with a charming laugh.                                        

BORROWED FROM GOD (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 21)

CHAPTER 21                  

“What?” Jaejoong asked with his eyes already round with disbelief.  

While Xiah who was just listening almost coughed out all the juice he was drinking right after he heard what Micky said.  

“Oh… can you please repeat that again…” U-Know uttered to Micky, as he also stared at his friend very seriously.  

“Oh, come on you guys… don’t make a big deal out of it,” Micky uttered as he tried to brush aside the topic that he himself started.  

“Hyung, can you just clear that last statement you gave. I somehow didn’t quite get that. You know I am a little slow with things lately,” Max lied.  

Micky couldn’t help but scratch his head. He was somehow put into a difficult situation by his friends. He didn’t want to discuss what he had said earlier, but they were all making him repeat everything again.   “Look… I just said I don’t intend to sleep with Muko…” he quickly uttered as if to end the conversation.   “Why?” Jaejoong and Xiah both asked out loud.  

Max couldn’t help but laugh a bit after seeing the expressions on his friends’ faces. “I think someone’s going to be put on the hot seat today,” he commented as he continued to sip the juice he was drinking.  

“Stop asking me why…. I just don’t want to do it. End of story. I don’t want to discuss it anymore. It’s weird talking about it. And besides she might suddenly appear and hear what we are talking about,” Micky said as cautioned his friends to be careful with the words they were saying.  

“Hmm… I am really confused right now,” Max said.  

“Confused about what?” Micky asked back.  

“About you… I know you like her… But I don’t understand the reason why you don’t want to sleep with her,” Max answered as he lightly scratched his head as a sign of confusion.  

Micky started to lightly massage his forehead. Somehow he was starting to have a headache.  

“Can we just stop talking about this topic? You guys are giving me a headache,” he uttered with a frown.  

Xiah laughed. “You started it. Just bear with the consequences.”  

“Yes, now I’m really starting to think I shouldn’t have opened my mouth in the first place,” Micky replied.  

U-Know who was just silently watching and listening suddenly let out a laugh.  

Micky quickly stared at him. “You’re laughing at me too?” he asked somehow he was getting irritated.  

“Take it easy. We’re not looking for a fight. But what on earth happened to you?” U-Know asked with a grin.  

“Yes, that’s a good question. What happened to you hyung. I always thought that…” Max suddenly stopped talking before he could actually say out loud the things that were playing in his mind.  

“You always thought that?” Micky asked curiously. Somehow he was waiting  for Max to continue what he was about to say.  

“Oh nothing… just forget about what I said,” Max replied with a grin as well.  

“Stop already…. Someone might hear you guys,” Micky again said with worry.   Xiah laughed and then nudged Jaejoong who was sitting beside him. “Say something,” he said to him with a wide smile on his face.  

Jaejoong smiled as well but then became serious all of a sudden. “Look, we respect your decision… But don’t you think what you’re planning is going to affect Muko in one way or the other? I mean… she’s still your wife whether you like it or not. And as her husband… it is quite natural that… the two of you sleep together. And the way I see it, if you’re really planning to leave her alone until your marriage is over… is going to hurt her in some way. She might think that you don’t like her enough, or she might also think that you hate, that’s why you won’t do … what normal married couples do. I think you should talk to Muko about this. Try to explain to her your decision, so she won’t think something is wrong with her… Have pity on the girl, Micky.”  

“Micky, Jaejoong is right… I think it would be better if you talk to Muko. I also think that things will become more complicated if you continue with your plans without even discussing things with her,” U-Know uttered seriously as well.  

Micky looked at his friends with a worried look on his face. “And what do you guys expect me to say? Hey Muko… is it okay if I don’t sleep with you while we’re married because I don’t want to complicate our situation. I just want to end our marriage without any strings attached. So let’s just stay out of each other’s beds okay?... Is that what you guys want me to say to her?” he asked with sarcasm.  

“Uhmm, hyung… I think you better stop talking for a while,” Max said while signaling his friend to look behind him.  

But Micky didn’t notice Max’s signal and just went on talking. “You know, even though I like her, there is still the fact that just sticks in my head. She doesn’t love me and even if I like her… like is way too different from love. So I think if I suddenly make a physical connection with her, it will just make our lives more difficult in so many ways.”  

“Hyung,” Max uttered again with a nervous tone.  

But Micky just went on with his talk. ”Look I just can’t say… sorry Muko but you see… I really have no intention of sleeping with you since I know it would only complicate a lot of things. And since we are only in an arranged marriage, it would be best if we keep our relationship as neutral as possible so when the time comes that we have to separate ways, there won’t be any problems. I want to end our marriage peacefully and problem-free. So let’s just be friends while we’re in this make-believe set-up okay. ”  

Jaejoong, Xiah, and U-Know were already pale and looking at a single direction.  

“Hyung, you don’t have to worry about telling Muko…” Max finally said as he shook his head continuously in disbelief.  

“Why?” Micky immediately asked.  

“Because… you just told her yourself,” U-Know answered and then he signaled his friend to look behind him.  

Surprised and confused, Micky turned around only to catch a glimpse of Muko as she hurriedly walked away from where they sat.  

Micky instantly felt like he wanted to just strangle himself. He was so careless and stupid. He didn’t want to hurt her. But he ended up doing it, in the worst way possible.  

“Muko…” he tried to call out her name. He wanted to explain. But it was already too late. She was already gone.  

A RACE TO MY HEART (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 31)

CHAPTER 31                  

Back in Japan…  

Max was quietly reading a book, when his phone suddenly started ringing.
“Hello,” he greeted with a bit of uncertainty.  

“Max,” a man’s voice uttered.  

“Who’s this?” Max asked curiously. Somehow the voice was familiar but he can’t remember where he heard it.  

“I’m Michael…”the man replied.  

Max’s whole body stiffened after hearing the man’s name. “Why are you calling me all of a sudden?” he asked with irritation.  

There was a long pause before Michael answered. “Look, I just called to ask … if Fate had come to you by any chance?… Or maybe if…. the two of you are together now?” Michael asked with a strange tone in his voice. He was finding it so hard to ask since he knew Max was angry with him.  

“What? Are you crazy? She left me almost a year ago? She left me without even saying a single thing… and now you’re suddenly calling me to ask if I had seen her or if we’re together? Don’t you think what you’re asking is a little bit weird? But just to put your mind at ease, I will answer your ridiculous questions. No, I haven’t seen her since she left me and even if she appeared in front of me today… I don’t think I would even talk to her,” Max said with so much bitterness in his voice.  

“I’m sorry… I was just taking a chance when I called you. I know it is very impossible that she would come to you…. but I am already desperate and going out of my mind trying to find out where she had gone to,” Michael uttered with a sad voice.   Max laughed. “Maybe she just left you… the same way she left me. I don’t think you should search for her. If she did it to me, she can do it to you too. So don’t be surprised…”  

“You don’t understand, Max. She doesn’t have to hide from me. We don’t have any relationship, in the first place. And the way she disappeared was too disturbing…” Michael suddenly blurted out.  

“Disappeared?” Max suddenly asked with concern. Even if he was angry with Fate, he still couldn’t deny the fact that he still loved her. So his true emotions just suddenly appeared again after hearing the worried tone in Michael’s voice.

“What do you mean disappeared? Please… tell me.”   Michael paused for a few seconds before speaking again. He was trying to decide whether to tell Max the truth or not. “We were in a concert yesterday… and I just left her for a few minutes to call someone… and when I returned she was gone. We had already informed the police and many people are already looking for her now… She’s already missing for more than a day now… I am going crazy just worrying about her. And I suddenly thought about you… I was hoping that maybe she had gone back to you or something… I am still hoping that she…. she’s somewhere… and safe…” Michael voice’s sounded full of fear.  

Max’s heart was already beating wildly. Somehow he wanted to go where Michael was and try to find Fate himself… “Where are you? Tell me… I want to help in finding her,” he suddenly asked Michael. He still cared about Fate and he wasn’t going to stand around waiting… He was going to find her no matter what it took.  

“Sorry, Max… Even if I tell you, it won’t be any use…. You’re just going to waste your time coming here. Many people are already searching for Fate. I will just call you once we find her…” Michael answered.  

“Don’t do this to me. Don’t tell me what I can and can not do. I want to help in finding her. I want to help her… If you didn’t have any intention of telling me the truth, then you shouldn’t have called me in the first place,” Max uttered with anger.  

Michael sighed. Max was right. “I am sorry for suddenly disturbing you… But I really don’t think that you should know where we are… It is for your own good too…”  


“You’re despicable. How can you have the heart to call me out of the blue and disturb my already peaceful life and then just decide to leave me hanging like I don’t have the right to get some  answers,” Max said with a raised tone.  

“If I tell you where we are… what will you do? You’re going to come here… and then what? The police are already looking for her and they haven’t found a single clue as to where she is. What do you think you can do to make a difference? You’re not the police…. So stop raising your voice… It won’t help,” Michael with irritation as well.  

Max sighed. “I…. I am just worried… Sorry…. If…”   “I understand… But I really can’t tell you where we are… Her father already gave strict instructions to never let you get near Fate again. I’m really sorry,” Michael uttered.  

“Please… Michael…” Max begged.   “I will just call you when something important comes up… or if we finally find her. Sorry, that’s all I can do,” Michael said as he hurriedly closed his phone.  

“No… Michael, wait… please. I still need to talk to you,” Max shouted but Michael had already closed his phone.  

“What’s wrong Max?” Jaejoong asked as he quickly went to Max’s side. All the other DBSK members were instantly alarmed after hearing the conversation that Max was having on his phone.  

Max looked at his friends with worry and fear written all over his face. “That was Michael… He was just asking me if I had seen Fate by any chance… it seems she’s been missing since yesterday,” he uttered with a quivering voice.  

“What? Fate’s missing? But why would he even think that Fate will come to see you? The two of you haven’t seen each other since the day that she left… and that was months ago?” Xiah asked as he shook his head in disbelief.  

“He was just taking a chance, that’s all. I think he’s really desperate to find her. Honestly…. I am very worried as well. But I don’t know what to do. Michael won’t even tell me where they are right now. He says that Fate’s father has already forbidden Fate to get in touch with me… What should I do?” Max asked his friends.  

“There’s nothing you can do, Max. All you can do now is just wait…” Jaejoong uttered.  

That night as Max closed his eyes, the only image he could see was Fate sadly staring at him and somehow reaching out to him….    

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

Somewhere….  

Fate sadly stared at her reflection in the mirror… as a hand gently touched her shoulder…  

“I hope you already know what to do now?” a voice asked.   Fate just kept on staring at her reflection as if she wasn’t herself anymore. She then nodded slowly…  

“Good… That’s a good girl,” the voice uttered again with a frightening laugh.    

LOVE ME AGAIN (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 18)

CHAPTER 18                

“Ellie,” Samar uttered as she slowly entered the room.              

“Yes, what is it?” she replied while still fixing the bag she was bringing to work.              
“What time did you arrive? And you’re leaving already?” Samar asked again as she shook her head in disapproval.              

Ellie lightly laughed. “Well, it’s work. I don’t have any right to complain.”               “Did you even get enough sleep? Aren’t you tired? Maybe you can sleep for a few hours more. What if you suddenly become sick again?” Samar continuously said with concern.              

“I’m all right. Don’t worry. I will certainly take a rest once I get tired,” Ellie replied as she closed and placed the bag she was carrying near the door of her room.              
“Do you want me and Krizzia to come with you? She said that you told her that you wouldn’t be coming home for 3 days. Why?” Samar inquired carefully.              
Ellie sat down on her bed and faced her friend. “Well the next shooting is quite far from here. And all the staff members and the DBSK boys will be staying in a rented house so they wouldn’t have any problem getting on the location and coming home to rest. Some of the female crew said I could stay there as well. And I have analyzed their suggestion. And I think it would really be more convenient for me if I stayed there as well.”              

“What? Are you sure about what you’re doing?” Samar asked with horror written all over her face.              

Ellie looked at her friend curiously. “Why? What’s wrong if I stayed there? Why are you so afraid?”              

Samar tried to hide her nervousness. “Uhmm, it’s just that I am worried about you being near so many male staff. You know you don’t really have control of yourself once you’re already mixed up with men,” she tried to explain.              

“Oh, about that…. I am also worried about that. What do you suggest I do? I really need to stay near the new location if I want to finish all my work on time,” Ellie said with a sigh.              

Samar suddenly started to think of a solution. She was afraid of so many things. She was afraid that Ellie might suddenly have an attack while being in the company of the male crew members. Even if it was accidental or just a quick contact, she was sure that it would still have a negative effect on Ellie. Aside from that, she was also worried that Ellie might unexpectedly discover that she and Krizzia had already told the DBSK boys about her real identity and her real condition. And it was the thing she was most worried about.              

“How about we just come with you? Look we won’t be a bother. We will just be looking out for you like we usually do. While you’re on the set, Krizzia and I can go around the house… cleaning and cooking. I think the other staff members won’t mind, if you bring us along,” Samar tried to convince her friend.              

“But… “ Ellie started to utter.              

“Come on. You need us. If we suddenly find out that there is no more place for us to stay there, we can just rent a hotel room or another house near the place where they are staying. You should have told me about it much sooner so I could have searched for a place where we can all stay,” Samar said in a convincing way.              

Ellie stared at her friend again. She knew that she had a point. She really needed her friends beside her wherever she goes. “Okay. I will just call the director and inform him that I will be bringing you guys along.”              

Samar smiled then nodded. “Yes, that’s good. So I will be packing my things now. I will also tell Krizzia that we will be coming along.”              

“Yes. I think she would be totally thrilled. I know she wants to come along also judging by the way she was talking and asking me about things,” Ellie quickly replied.              

“You’re totally right about that,” a voice suddenly said.              

Ellie and Samar both turned to look at the door and saw Krizzia smiling happily at them.              

“So when are we leaving?” she asked with a grin on her face.                        

Ellie laughed out loud. “See… I told you she was so interested,” she said to Samar.              

Samar laughed also. “Yes, I can see that. Well you better start packing Krizzia. We’re going as soon as possible.”              

Krizzia gave a much wider grin. “You don’t have to tell me. I already packed. All my things are already waiting near the front door.”              

“What?” Ellie asked with a shock expression on her face. “So you were really planning to come along even if I didn’t say so?”              

Krizzia nodded. “Yes. Do you really think I would allow you to go to a far place without me? You’re my baby sister. And I won’t be able to sleep if you go without me,” she said sweetly as she approached Ellie and lovingly hugged her.              
Ellie couldn’t help but smile. She was very lucky to have Samar and Krizzia with her. They have been her constant companions during the rough times of her life. And she knew she wouldn’t be able to pass all those horrible years without them. She owed them her life.              

Samar sighed. “Hey, let’s start moving. I will just arrange my things and we can leave right away.”              

Krizzia stared at Samar. “I already locked the windows and I already checked the whole apartment. And I already arranged your bag as well. It’s beside my bag outside,” she said with a giggle.              

Samar started to laugh again. “Oh, Krizzia. Sometimes I wonder if you’re a mind reader or something.”                        

“Hey, we have been with each other for so many years. I can basically read your minds already. So don’t wonder…” Krizzia replied with a smile.              

“Well, if both of you are already set to go… Then let’s leave already. I don’t want to be late,” Ellie said.              

Samar and Krizzia immediately went straight to the door. “Let’s go…” they uttered cheerfully.                                    

Before Ellie left her room, she suddenly grabbed a small item from her drawer. She didn’t know why. But she always brought that small item with her wherever she goes. Some might say it was her lucky charm. But she knew it had a different meaning for her.  

That small item had its own dark secret just like her. It is something that connects her to the past. And it is what constantly reminds her to always set her feet on the ground. That small item… just like her is already incomplete. And no matter what happens there will never be a chance for her and for that special item to be whole again.  

Ellie carefully placed the mysterious item in a secret pocket of her bag.  

“Ellie, come on. Hurry,” Krizzia called out.  

“Coming,” she quickly replied as she hurriedly went out of her room.  

While on their way to the new location, Ellie unexpectedly fell asleep. Samar who was sitting beside her just allowed her to sleep thinking that she needed more rest.  

*************************  

Deeper and deeper….  

Ellie started to dream of something…… something quite familiar.  

“Hello pretty baby… I will be taking care of you tonight. So don’t worry and just enjoy what I’m going to do with you. I will be your very first teacher,” a male voice said with a deafening laugh.  

Ellie tried to set herself free from the tight grip of the men who were holding her down. The man on top of her was already moving back and forth. Her mind was already screaming for the man to stop. The pain was unbearable.  

Unexpectedly, she was able to loosen her right hand. She tried to push the man on top of her with just one hand. But she was weak and small. The only thing she was able to do was grab the necklace and pendant of the man on top of her.  

A small item came loose, but not the whole pendant.   One of the men held her hand tightly again. And her agony started all over. This time there was nothing she could do but cry and hold on to the other half of the pendant that was tightly locked up in her hand.  

It was a part of her now… a part of her past and her future.              

BORROWED FROM GOD (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 20)

CHAPTER 20     
          

“What?” Eve asked with her eyes already round with shock.              

Muko quickly blushed and tried to hide her face with the magazine she was holding. She and her friends were sitting in a private portion of one of the restaurants in the Satou hotel.              

Rainny just looked at Muko and started to smile like crazy. While Jija’s face was already red because she was trying to stop herself from laughing.              

“Uhmm… can you please repeat … what you said?” Yuuki also asked with her eyes focused on Muko.              

“Oh… please stop asking already. I am already regretting that I even opened up the topic to you guys,” Muko said as if she was about to cry.               Ah Sang couldn’t control herself any longer, so she just let out her long suppressed laughter.              

“Ah Sang! You’re embarrassing me,” Muko whined.              

“Sorry… sorry. I just couldn’t help it… You’re so… so…” Ah Sang uttered as she suddenly started laughing again.              

Muko’s face quickly reddened and her eyes were already tearing up.               “Hey, why are you guys teasing my sister?” Hikaru suddenly asked as she slowly sat down beside Muko and stared at Muko’s friends with one of her eyebrows raised.              

“Uh-oh… evil sister on the loose,” Syaira uttered with a low voice.              

“Hey, I heard that. So why are you guys teasing Muko? You better have a nice explanation,” Hikaru said as she slowly started tapping her fingertips on the table in front of her while waiting for Muko’s friends to answer              

“Well, you better ask her yourself. I know you will also die of laughing once you heard what she said,” Anam suddenly replied.              

Hikaru then looked at her sister with a questioning look. “What are they talking about Muko?”              

Muko looked at her friends as if asking for help. But they all turned their eyes into different directions. They weren’t prepared to lie to Hikaru. She was a very nice friend, but also a very enemy. So they didn’t want to mess around with her.              
“I… I just asked them… “ Muko didn’t know how to continue what she was supposed to say.              

“Asked them what?” Hikaru asked impatiently.              

“I… I… I just asked them about… “ Muko started to continue again.              

“About?” Hikaru was already very curious.              

“I…” Muko uttered again.              

“Oh Muko, please stop saying … I… I… Just continue with what you’re going to say,” Hikaru uttered with annoyance in her voice.              

Muko looked at her sister’s reaction and just lowered her head. Then she slowly talked. “I… just asked them if it was all right if… Micky didn’t sleep with me… on our first night together.”              

Hikaru’s facial expression quickly changed. Then she also laughed.              

Muko looked at her sister, quite shocked. She didn’t expect Hikaru to laugh as well. “You’re laughing at me too?” she asked with a hurt expression on her face.              
“Now do you understand why we were laughing?” Karin asked Hikaru.               Hikaru smiled, then nodded. “Yes, now I understand,” she answered with a light laugh.              

“I should have just stayed quiet. Now all of you are making fun of me,” Muko uttered with a hurt look on her face. She was like a small child that was feeling lost and alone.              

Hikaru gave her sister a loving look, then she quickly stood up and embraced her from behind. “Hey, don’t feel sad Muko. You know, I always love teasing you. But that doesn’t mean I love you any less.”              

Muko sighed. Somehow Hikaru’s embrace made her feel better. “Hikaru, thank you. You always know how to make me happy.”              

“That’s why I am your sister. Remember I promised that I will always take care of you… forever,” Hikaru uttered. But somehow the last word got stuck in her throat. She was suddenly having difficulty saying it. Sadness quickly took over her heart, but she just brushed it aside and tried to act like normal. She then slowly released Muko from her embrace and just stood behind her, with her hands on Muko’s shoulders.              

“So our little innocent Muko is finally a full grown woman. You’re already curious about … sleeping together,” Nitoome uttered with a wide grin on her face.              
“Oh please … stop it already… Just pretend I didn’t say anything,” Muko begged.              

Hikaru laughed again. “Hey enough with the teasing! Let’s just focus on the question … shall we?” she said with a grin as well.              

“Oh yes… let’s focus on the million dollar question…. What is wrong with your husband Muko? Is he numb or just a saint?” Alexa said with weird expression on her face. Somehow she couldn’t believe that a man could actually pass the chance to sleep with someone so beautiful like Muko.              

Kumiko laughed continuously before finally speaking what was on her mind. “Maybe he’s just waiting for the perfect timing,” she uttered with a giggle.              
“Perfect timing? What could be more perfect than your very first night as husband and wife? Maybe he’s gay or something,” Kumiko uttered with irritation.              

“Gay? I don’t think so. I have seen the way he looks at Muko. There is certainly the spark of desire in his eyes whenever he looks at her. So that is totally out of the possible answers,” Tantan suddenly voiced out.              

“Then what? Can you say guys give a possible reason why he didn’t take the chance to sleep with Muko?” Ah Sang asked her friends.              

Muko just continued to stare at her friends, unable to believe what she was hearing. They were all discussing something so personal to her… in a way like they were discussing a common topic. Again she felt so embarrassed.              

“Maybe he was just tired?” Jija uttered with uncertainty. She was also unsure if what she said was true.              

Eve let out a laugh. “You can make a man work out in a gym for days and then make him see a beautiful woman in bed… and he will surely forget about being tired.”              

Muko felt a shiver as she heard what Eve said. She just covered her face as if to hide herself from the humiliating situation she was in.              

“You know Eve has a point. So being tired is out of the possible answers as well,” Nitoome said again.              

“Maybe…  he’s planning to keep her as a virgin until their marriage is finally over. We all know their marriage is just an arrangement. So maybe he’s thinking he has no right to touch her,” Anam suddenly blurted out.              

Yuuki and the others exchanged glances with each other. Somehow what Anam made more sense and was more believable.              

Hikaru looked at Muko’s friends. She also thought about that possibility. But she just didn’t want to voice it out.              

“If he is really planning to do that…. then I salute him. He is surely one extra ordinary man,” Rainny uttered.              

“Oh, I can’t believe it. He’s really like that? I mean…. he’s a man. And I actually thought all men were wolves. The first chance they get to ravage on something … they immediately do it,” Karin said with a smirk on her face.              

“God, Karin. What a word! ‘Ravage’? Are you comparing Muko to a meat now?” Syaira said as she shook her head in disapproval of what her friend said.              
“Ooppss… Sorry. I went over board again. I didn’t think about what I was saying. Sorry,” Karin said apologetically.              

“But honestly, I also have the feeling that maybe Micky is really thinking of leaving Muko alone as is. I believe he’s quite a respectable man. So I think he’s really planning of not sleeping with her until they can finally separate ways. At least that way, they can easily move on without any strange attachments involved,” Ah Sang suddenly said with a sigh. She didn’t like the idea that was in her head. She wants Muko to stay with Micky forever. For her, they looked so good together. And she also had the feeling that he would make a perfect husband for her friend. She was really hoping that their arranged marriage would somehow turn into a more serious one, for Muko’s sake. She knew her friend had already fallen for Micky. And seeing her heart broken because of him was unbearable for her.              

Muko’s heart sank deeper and deeper into a pit of loneliness and sadness, while listening quietly to her friends’ opinions. Somehow she wanted to cry. So she was really just a simple arrangement for Micky. She was somehow hoping that the look he was giving her had a different meaning. She was somehow hoping that the feeling of attraction that they both had for each other was strong enough to bind them together. But she was wrong… She was just another contract that he had signed and was planning to honor until it finally expired.              
Now she knew ‘like’ was very different from ‘love’.              

A RACE TO MY HEART (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 30)

CHAPTER 30          
     

During the whole concert, Fate just cheered and screamed just like any ordinary fan. She was having such a good time that she didn’t even care about the curious looks that some of the other fans were giving her.              

“Fate,” Michael whispered into her ear.              

“What?” She asked curiously.              

“I think the other fans already know who we are. I already spotted some guys were pointing at you. I think we should leave,” he answered with worry written all over his face.              

“But how? I already put on a disguise,” she asked back.              

Michael lightly laughed. “Just tying your hair back into a ponytail, putting on a cap and wearing thick glasses won’t help dear.”              

“But the concert isn’t finished yet. Besides what’s wrong if they see me here? There’s no law against watching a concert. I can basically do anything I want,” she protested.              

Michael shook his head. Fate was back to her normal and stubborn way.              
“We should have brought some body guards with us when we came here,” he uttered.              

Fate looked at him, then laughed. “Bodyguards? What on earth for? Stop worrying and just enjoy the concert. You know, you’re always worrying about everything. Just relax.”              

Michael just sighed. He knew it was useless to talk to Fate. She was really enjoying so it was impossible to make her leave early. “Look, I am just going to make a phone for a few minutes. Do you think I can leave you for a while?”              
Fate just nodded her head, and didn’t even bother to look at Michael. “Oh sure! I can take care of myself. Don’t worry. Just go and make your call.”              

“Are you sure, you’re going to be all right? Maybe you can just come with me. It will only take a few minutes,” he said.              

Fate shook her head and then smiled. “I will be fine. Just go, make your call and return okay.”  

“But…” he wanted to say something else when she interrupted him.              

“What could possibly happen to me here? I am in the middle of a large crowd. I can easily scream out for help. So don’t worry… make your call… I will be here when you come back. Promise,” she said with a sweet smile.              

Michael stared at her for a few minutes before finally leaving her in the middle of the large group of screaming female fans. The rock band they were watching had just started to play a new song, and everyone was already singing to the tune.              

He left in a hurry. He just needed to make a short call to one of Fate’s body guards. So they can come to the concert and his mind can finally be at ease. Somehow something was bothering, but he didn’t know what it was. He was having a strange feeling that something was going to happen.              

After finishing his call, he immediately went back to where Fate was. But …              
“Where is she?” he started to ask himself as he nervously searched around the place where he left her. He searched around, looked left and right. But she was nowhere to be found.              

There were a lot of female fans so it was a little hard to search, but he patiently searched from one spot to another. He then suddenly thought of something. He quickly took out his phone and started to call Fate. But her phone just kept on ringing, making him more worried.              

“Fate, where are you?” Michael uttered again in frustration. His hands were starting to get cold because of the fear that was slowly creeping into his heart.              
He hurriedly went out of the concert grounds and straight to his car. But she wasn’t there either. With trembling hands, he started to call Fate’s body guard again.              

“Where are you guys? You have to come here quickly… Fate’s gone.  She just disappeared. I… I can’t find her anywhere. You guys have to hurry,” he said with a trembling voice. His hands were already cold. He started to look from right to left, expecting Fate to just appear and come walking up to him.              

“Fate, where did you go? Come on. Stop playing. I am so worried already,” he uttered again. He then started to dial Fate’s number. But the phone kept on ringing just like before. “What happened Fate? I should have never left you alone… I should have just brought you along when I made that stupid call…” he said as he covered his face with his trembling hands.              

***Two hours passed….              

“Michael, we have searched the entire concert grounds. Everyone has left already. The place is completely deserted. And there is really no trace of Fate anywhere. Some of my men are already searching the videos taken by the security cameras at the entrance and exit points,” the man in-charge of Fate’s body guards informed him.              

“Have you told Fate’s father about this?” Michael worriedly asked.               “Yes. He has instructed us to call him as soon as we found out something. He will be here in half an hour,” the man replied.              

“I don’t know what happened. I just left her for maybe 10 minutes. How could something like this happen?” Michael again uttered with frustration.              

“Michael, don’t blame your self. It’s not your fault. It’s really impossible for someone to actually abduct her in a middle of a large crowd. And besides, there’s no reason for her to be abducted anyway. So no one can really tell that this kind of thing would actually happen,” the older man said as he gently patted Michael’s shoulder as a sign of support.              

“But I was supposed to take care of her,” Michael said with his voice already starting to quiver. While tears were somehow trying to form in his eyes, he continuously blamed himself. He knew it was his fault. He shouldn’t have left her alone.              

“Where are you Fate? Where are you?” he continuously uttered to himself.