Pay With Your Heart

Dan-Han could feel his heart thud at the sight of his friend who looked electrified by what was happening in front of him, but he didn't feel sorry. It was either this or he risks having his girl lose a friend and she gets bothered about it. And there was also the fear of losing her too. He just couldn't take all those risk.

The kiss was quick but it was enough to send the message he wanted to pass. Dan-Han pulled away from the kiss and he noticed Eun-sun's cheeks were flushed red. He could tell she was feeling embarrassed because of In-Ha's presence. And as if to confirm his thoughts, Eun-sun pinched him on his side.

"In-Ha's watching." Eun-sun scolded him as she whispered under her breath with her flushed face. He had taken her unaware with the kiss.

Kissing her forehead he replied, "I know." That was the idea afterall.

"I'll see you tomorrow. And remember to call me when you're back." Dan-Han told her, while she nodded.

"I love you."

"I know." Dan-Han smiled at her response.

He turned towards In-Ha who looked thunderstruck. He was staring at them but Dan-Han could tell his brain was in a haze. And from how still he was standing while he stared at them, he could tell In-Ha wasn't breathing.

This was a shock to him, no doubt, but it was something that must be done.

"Take care of her." Was all he said before turning and walking away. He didn't think there was much to be said. He had said all he wanted to say via his actions, but if In-Ha wanted to talk about this, he'd listen and they could talk things over.

With his mission accomplished, Dan-Han hopped into his car and drove away, not paying another look at them.

Eun-sun waved at him before turning to In-Ha who was still glued to the same spot, a happy smile plastered on her face which suddenly faltered when she saw the way he was looking at her. She was surprised to see his gaze fixed on her so intently and he was staring at her in an indescribable way.

"In-Ha, are you okay?" She called out when he kept staring at her unblinkingly, but he didn't respond to her.

Was he okay? No, he didn't think he was. He was stupified, shocked, bewildered... confused. He didn't understand what was going on with him right now, but he knew he wasn't fine.

He couldn't describe what he was feeling right now. Was it shock, disappointment, betrayal, heartbreak or maybe all he didn't know, but he felt like he had ran out of air. His heart was beating out of rhythm, as a matter of fact there wasn't any rhythm at all. It felt like each beat was lower than the last, and his chest was constricting tightly.

What had just happened right now? He asked himself in disbelief.

'Did...did they–'

He couldn't complete his sentence because his thoughts were incoherent. This wasn't real right? It couldn't be! He was about to confess his feelings to her. He had prepared a very emotional speech for her. He had just wanted to bare his heart and soul to her....so what just happened? This wasn't supposed to happen.

In-Ha was in denial even though what happened was real, and it had just taken place in front of him.

He still didn't want to believe this.

"In-Ha?" Eun-sun called out worriedly when In-Ha remained in a daze.

"Y..you and.... Dan-Han-?" He couldn't bring himself to complete this question.

Eun-sun understood what he was trying to say and she nodded smilingly.

"Yes."

In-Ha felt like cold water had been poured on him, chills ran down his spine and his heart constricted so badly he felt choked. His heart was hurting but his body felt numb. He wasn't expecting this. He didn't plan for this.

Just when he thought he had found something real for himself he couldn't get it? Just when he felt warmth in his cold heart after a long time he got thrown in the cold again?

Dan-Han was really brutal. He was indeed the demon people really called him.

Why did he do this?

He had just told him about his feelings two days ago and he got betrayed? That man was really a devil wasn't he? How cruel could he be?

In-Ha didn't know when he started laughing. It was a dry and humourless laugh, which surprised Eun-sun.

"In-Ha are you okay?" She asked again with concern. He was acting really strange.

Shaking his head, he said "No, I'm not." He wasn't okay, because right now he felt like crying. Yes, he was a man and he shouldn't be affected this much but he couldn't help it. He felt like crying so bad and his eyes were already stinging with tears and his heart was acting weirdly. He couldn't even breath because he was trying to stop himself from crying. This was evil!. Dan-Han had hurt him with this.

Was he cursed at love or what? Why was nature so against him in finding love?

He had thought this was his chance at finding love and leaving his lifestyle behind, but he guess that wasn't going to happen.

Eun-sun was perplexed with his awkward attitude, she didn't even know what was wrong with him.

"In-Ha, tell me what's wrong?" Eun-sun inquired. He looked at her, and he didn't know what to say to her. What was he suppose to tell her, the truth?

"Eun-sun If I say we should cancel this outing, would you be angry?" Was he could say. He didn't think he would be able to control himself right now. He should probably go and sulk somewhere else other than in her presence, because he knew he was probably going to affect her mood with his if they should go out right now.

A frown appeared on Eun-sun's face as she scowled at him. What was he saying now?

"Yes I would." She bluntly replied him. He was acting strange and he wasn't answering her question which was making her worried. Now he wants to go home, after all the preparations?

"I would be angry, unless you tell me what's wrong with you. Why are you acting this way? What happened?" She wasn't angry at him per say, but she was concerned.

In-Ha stared at her for a couple of seconds before nodding his head apologetically. "I'm sorry. I thought I...." He paused and shook his head before forcing a small smile at her. "Come on let's go."

Eun-sun gave him a skeptical look before asking, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I've been looking forward today, so let's not waste it." He said before taking her hand and leading her to the passenger side of the car. 

.....

At the park

In-Ha hasn't said a word since they left her house, and Eun-sun couldn't help but feel awkward. His behavior was awkward and foreign. He hasn't been like this before, he was always the chatty one while she was the one who got bored of all his questions but right now he was being too quiet and it was boring.

Eun-sun dropped the cookie in her hand, jolt up to her feet and stood in front of In-Ha with a serious look on her face.

"In-Ha what is wrong with you? You've been so quiet and I have been doing all the talking but you aren't even responding? Don't you want to hang out anymore? Are you angry? Did I do something wrong?" Eun-sun asked with an annoyed tone making In-Ha sigh as he looked at her.

Yes, he was angry but not at her. He was angry at that traitor he called his friend. He was angry that the one thing he wanted Dan-Han had taken it away from him and he had to let him know in such a cruel way.

He has been thinking about it and he had a feeling Dan-Han had been aware that the person who he had feelings for was Eun-sun, else why would he choose this morning to be at her house, and why did he had to let him know in such a cruel way.

He looked at Eun-sun who was staring at him with fierce looking eyes. She looked just as beautiful as the first day he had seen her. That tenacious look in her eyes was what had held him bound, and made him fall for her. She had turned him into a masochist, and even now when he was hurting because he had lost her, he was still sitting there with her enjoying his pain. Dan-Han had been so brutal with his move he didn't even get a chance to tell her he likes her.

"Kang In-Ha." Eun-sun snapped at him.

"Eun-sun stop yelling at me, I'm hurt already and you're not making it better." He blurted out.

"What?" Eun-sun asked confusedly. "What happened? Why are you hurting?" Eun-sun asked with concern as she crouched down to him, and held his arms.

In-Ha looked at her hand placed on him, he wanted nothing but to hug. He wanted to pull her close to his chest and tell her he loved her, tell her to be with him instead of Dan-Han, but he couldn't.

"Because I fell in love with what I can't have." He told her, making Eun-sun blink at him in confusion. In-Ha hissed and looked away before muttering under his breath, "I still wasn't given a chance to fight for what I love."