Pauline finally reached the Hosiah Cliff where Mr. Grim was waiting for her. The moment she finally stepped the rung, the ocean wind blew to her face. Standing in front of her was Mr. Grim, he was on the edge of the cliff. His back was on her and was staring at the horizon like it was the moment they'd been looking for. Pauline silently walked and stopped, giving each other space enough for them to contemplate the episode they were having.
Pauline heaved a sigh. She couldn't believe this was happening. She got to finally see Mr. Grim in person. This was the last chance of knowing him and she wouldn't want to miss it on her lifetime.
"Grim," she called.
Mr. Grim turned but she couldn't see his face since the moonlight was shining upon him, like a silhouette.
She cleared her throat. "Mr. Grim..."
Even if she couldn't see his face, she knew he was smiling at her hearing his name.
He looked back at the horizon and shoved his hands onto his pockets.
"You're truly an amazing woman, Ms. Pauline or should I say My Pauline?" he said in a deep voice that any woman could swayed.
Her stomach churned in as she heard his baritone voice resonating. Something inside her ignited as she finally came face to face with Mr. Grim.
My Grim...
"Your white flower fell from the box you gave me and the scarf that you embroidered, I immediately knew it was you."
He heaved a sigh and turned his body towards her. She couldn't see his face but she knew she was smiling at her.
He offered his hand with her. "Come, let me tell you the story of the legend between the lovers here in Hosiah Cliff."
Pauline eyed his hand and eventually, she touched his hand and he helped her to sit on the edge of the cliff. She could feel his breathing and heartbeat as he assisted her. Her whole system was gone wild when he put his hand on her waist and supported her from not falling down to the ocean.
"There was man named Hee Jeon, he was born poor and unfortunate. His parents died in an accident when he was a child and only his grandmother who helped him grow to become a righteous man. That's the only thing that his grandmother could give him."
Pauline closed her eyes as she listened to his story. She couldn't contained the feelings she was having knowing that Mr. Grim was so close to her. Her head was almost touching on the side of his neck and she was tempting to lean her body to his. His voice sounded like ASMR and the sound of the ocean just make the atmosphere more romantic and special.
"And there's Jae Dee, the crowned princess who was betrothed to marry the wealthiest merchant of the country, Gu Chen. Jae Dee didn't approve with the marriage since she knew that Gu Chen involved on illegal activities for his business. The King forced her to approve but before they knew it, Jae Dee escaped and landed to the town where no one else could find her.
"While pulling the cart of their harvested carrots, Hee Jeon saw a woman lying on the street. He attended her and brought her to his grandma's house. They aided her wounds and a day after, the lady woke up and saw Hee Jeon sleeping on the table with a rug on his hands."
"It was Jae Dee, wasn't it?" Pauline asked enthusiastically.
He nodded, pleased. "Yes."
"Hee Jeon and Jae Dee became friends but Hee Jeon never knew the history of Jae Dee, her life and her past," he continued. "Hee Jeon was so intrigued by her and because of that, he became more drawn towards her and never knew that he was starting to fall in love with the crowned princess. Hee Jeon wooed her and was also surprised that Jae Dee felt the same way and they became lovers."
Pauline couldn't stand it anymore, she finally leaned her head on his shoulders. She heard him sucked his breath in stunned but he pulled her close and felt his head on the top of her head.
"Sleepy?" he asked lovingly.
She shook her head. "No. Please continue the story."
Mr. Grim chuckled and continued. "But one night, the soldiers ransacked the town in search for the crowned princess. Jae Dee, upon hearing the commotion, went directly to Hee Jeon. Both of them escaped from the warfare and guess what where they went."
"Here," she whispered.
He nodded. "Yes. The soldiers found them and ran after them. Gu Chen cornered them with a spear and threatened Hee Jeon to kill all his kin if he wouldn't give Jae Dee. He also offered Hee Jeon to be his General and give a lot of gold and silver in return for Jae Dee but Hee Jeon's love was stronger than any material Gu Chen offered. He protected Jae Dee and he didn't care if he died.
Gu Chen had gone furious and threw the spear to Hee Jeon. Hee Jeon was pierced directly to the heart, little did they know that Jae Dee was also pierced. Both of them fell backward here in this place, where their bodies smashed down to the ocean."
"How cruel," she mused.
"Yes, it is but their love for each other prevailed till the end," he said looking down at her.
Pauline met his gaze and stared deeply at him. His dimples deepened as he watched lovingly at her. She never thought that this beautiful man would be head over heels in love with her. All girls were dying to be on her spot right now and wished to be with him. She remembered when she watched their performance at MAMA Award last year, the moment he sang his lines all girls went wild. No wonder he was the visual and the center of ASUS.
Tae Soo was simply breathtaking.
His lips curved amusedly. "What?"
Pauline moved away from him to get a closer look to his face. Her face remained neutral. "Why me, Tae Soo?"
Tae Soo smiled and looked at the night sky like he was transferred to other timeline.
"It all started when I was fifteen years old, I don't know if you remember but you defended and protected me from the bullies," he said.
Her face changed as she looked at him. "You're that boy?"
He sheepishly nodded. "Yes. That time, you never leave my side. You even wiped your handkerchief the blood on my face and accompanied me to the nearest hospital to aid my wounds. You never left me until my grandmother showed up. I would never forget that day. The day when at least someone helped me in my distress that I thought the world was cruel for me. I'd met an angel that could change my life forever and that was you, Pauline."
"But I only helped you because what they did was so wrong I had to do something," she explained.
"I knew that what you did was just small for you but for me, it means a lot to me. It means that the world wasn't that cruel as I thought it could be.
"From then on, I searched for you and I was beyond happy when I knew that we were on the same school attended. You were very famous that time and many people adored and liked you back then. I've found out that you're the Supreme Student President of our school and I was so proud of you. You were also active in your band and you're the vocalist. I never missed anything of your gig and I was just listening to your voice. It calmed me in every way and that when I realized that I was falling in love with you."
Pauline stared at him in astonishment. She never thought that the boy she helped would be the bridge on meeting Mr. Grim. And as she continued listening to him, her heart swelled up with a squeeze she couldn't comprehend.
She, too, was falling for this boy.
"But my self-esteem degraded me when I've found out about you more. How am I able to show my feelings when you're too far away from me. You were beyond my reach. You were so confident, smart and invincible. I was so coward and I let you slip through off my fingers."
Pauline saw the pain on his eyes as he was telling her about his first encounter with her. She could feel the misery he had gone through his early age. She recalled that he mentioned that both of his parents died on an accident and it must had been hard for him to move forward and thought that the world was against him.
"But one day, I realized I have to put myself together. My friend pushed me to do an audition at LV Entertainment. At first, I was hesitant but then I have to do something to prove to myself that I can. I needed to break the chain that I've been holding and never be enslaved by it. So, I took the challenge and auditioned to be the trainee at the agency and after two years, I debuted as an ASUS member.
"Many opportunities had come but my heart was still not at ease and I always thought about you. I went back to my hometown and I came across to meet your best friend."
"You mean, Lee Shin?" she asked.
Tae Soo nodded. "Yes. I asked her about you but her answer made my heart broken."
Pauline nodded, knowing what he was about to say. "I went to Japan to continue on pursuing my studies. I was granted a scholarship at Tokyo University and grabbed the opportunity."
He wistfully smiled. "I thought I never see you again. That time, I was really ready to face and tell you how much I adored you but it was too late."
Pauline reached for his face and made him looked at her. "But it was never, right?"
His eyes twinkled as he stared deeply in her eyes and slowly covered her hand to his. "Never."
They stayed that way for a while and contemplating the silence between them. They savored each other's feelings like a lost lovers from the past.
Just like Hee Jeon and Jae Dee.
"Three years after our debut, that's when that miracle happened," Tae Soo smiled. "I saw you walked down the hallway in LV Entertainment and my world just stopped."
"I confronted Bin Young about it. I thought it was him."
"He was trying to divert your attention to him because Bin Young knew I was failing," he explained.
"But it never crossed my mind that it was you. We never talked much except in the rooftop."
Tae Soo pouted. "It's because Bin Young forbid me not to talk to you. How cruel."
She laughed in disbelief. "Really? But why?"
"Like I said before, I was failing to hide my feelings so Bin Young was on the rescue and hide me away from you."
"I never thought he would do something like that."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "He may act nonchalant but he actually cares."
Pauline made a mental note to apologize and thank him for what he did. She misjudged him.
Tae Soo suddenly stood up and Pauline just stared at him. He looked down at her with loving eyes towards her. She couldn't help but gazed deeply in his eyes and her heart began to thump achingly towards him. She knew that her feelings for him intensified and didn't know when she would be able to recover.
He offered his hand towards her and she gladly accepted it just like she accepted him to her life.
When they both faced each other, Tae Soo put his hands over shoulders and leaned closer to her.
"I'm willing to wait just like before, My Cherie. I'm not going to rush you," he said in a low voice that made her heart skipped a beat.
Tae Soo suddenly moved away from her and walked but before he could get away, Pauline pulled his wrist.
"You don't have to. The waiting is finally over."
Before he could say anything, Pauline leaned in towards him and gave him a swift kiss on the side of his lips. She moved away to see his face and almost laughed when his face reddened and flushed.
"Cute," she teased.
His eyes darkened in mischief. "That wasn't enough."
Her eyes widened. "Tae Soo – "
Pauline felt his hand on her nape and her world stopped when his lips met hers. He gently moved his lips to hers and she finally gave in the spell. Both of them were lost in their magic they'd created and this moment they had would finally last forever.
Tae Soo pulled away and stared at her with a happiness and love. "Is that a yes?"
Pauline, still flushed and unable to speak, nodded.
He carried and twirled her around. "Finally!"
Pauline let out a squeak as Tae Soo was twirling her.
He stopped and gazed at her deeply. "I love you, My Pauline."
Pauline smiled and reflected the same feelings towards him.
"I love you more, My Mr. Grim."
And they kissed the night away.
*** THE END ***