Namhae-gun, a county in South Gyeongsan Province of South Korea, a place surrounded with coastal cliffs, rough sea winds. Daraengi Village which was backed by Seolheulsan Mountain and faced a steep coastal cliff. Green tea terrace farms alongside glistening sea shore, curvy roads paved in between the high mountains connecting rural Namhae to development and blooming it's tourism. Dojun gave me the address to his Grandmother's house in Daraengi Village and I ran away from Damyang, from Moonlight resort, from Daniel…..Escaped my way to come and reside in this peaceful nature. It has been a week already, I felt like this was my space…All I've done is study, roam around in tea plantations, hang around on sea shore, help Grandma with her small café which was especially famous among tourists for different varieties of Tea served with traditional Korean snacks. She said I was her lucky charm because the number of customers visiting the café had increased since last week because of my cheerful presence and English skills which made the communication easier with foreigner tourists. It has been just a week and I already feel at home with Grandma, she loved me like my mom, this nameless café seemed like my own responsibility more than YS group established by Dad….
"Grandma!! I am going to visit Boriam temple today, don't wait for me and eat your lunch with Dojun." I said while wearing shoes.
"Dojun's coming today? But why're you suddenly visiting Boriam? It's so high up there, your feet would get a cramp my honey…." She worried as I had never experienced climbing up rocky mountains.
"It's OKAY Grandma!!! My feet have become used to these cliffs , climbing up and down from sea shore…Our house itself is located on the highest step of the village….So, don't worry!!!" I pulled her cheeks lovingly and pouting my lips to convince her.
"Ahhh!! Go… just make sure to return back before sunset, this is not your Seoul to light up after dark!"
I laughed at her and stepped out of the house.
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12:00 PM
Nestled at the top of Mount Geumans, Boriam Temple was a picturesque temple that embraces the beautiful mountainous environment and the Nama Sea, it offered stunning views of the sea, most of the climbing can be done with steps carved in black stone of Mountain, It was just under the summit which also offers great views and is a picturesque that blends in with the nice scenery.
I had always wished to visit this beautiful, peaceful, holy place with the presence of Lord Buddha. It took me nearly 3 hours to climb up the narrow stone staircase surrounded with dry grass. There was another road built for vehicles, but then I decided to trek my way up to Temple just for some adventure. As soon as I reached near the huge white stone idol of Lord Buddha my legs had no energy to even lift a feet further, yeahh…this is what you pay for a little adventure with fragile body…
Grandma had placed a bottle of orange juice and sugar candies inside my bag, so it became much easier to maintain my energy level even after hiking for more than 3 hours. I ate one of those candies and continued with my journey towards temple.
Finally after 4 whole hours I managed entering the temple. The temple was traditionally constructed with white stone and brown wood. As expected there was a epitome of peacefulness inside the temple, even though the sun was blazing hot outside, temple brought shivers on my skin with its ice cold atmosphere inside. I walked towards the Buddha idol and kneeled down before the chakra, closed my eyes and prayed with a heavy heart.
"Lord….I've committed so many mistakes in past 3 months after the burial of my parents….But.. I'd no other way than keeping myself hidden underground with this identity of Rose lee….Lee Yuri has to be kept hidden for protection of YS group successor… I even steeped low to become a prostitute for a month just to keep myself hidden from that murderer. No one recognizes me inside YS….But Seo Min hyuk, Dad's lawyer, he handed me the papers where Dad had shifted the ownership of YS to Lee Yuri secretly…Legally, after his death I should've been sitting up there inside Director office…but….my age…This minor age has come across my owner position and the greedy co-partners my Dad worked with , has choked the YS group with their corrupt practices!!! I have no other option than keeping myself undercover as Rose Lee…. And as soon as after turning 20 leave this country, train myself in the presence of Aunt Sumin in California to become a well-deserved Director Of Yu Shin Group… I've so many things ahead to do…. But…but….Why did I stumble upon Shim Daniel?? Out of nowhere why did I meet him suddenly??? Was it a part of my fate to meet him again after 8 years??? A person whom I've avoided for my entire school years…. A person whom I've seen in his worst condition, while cops were arresting him 8 years ago on that cold winter evening….The look he gave me with his teary yet raged eyes, it left me scared to death for next 3-4 days filled with extreme guilt….What did I do so wrong? The cops ran towards me as I was in the school uniform same as him and asked about where he was….I had no idea, cops were following him for arrest? Just like an innocent 10 year old, I pointed towards the park where he used to sit forever…. And…they arrested him… All I did was to point towards park… I still have no idea what crime did he commit? But the look in his eyes…I wished to never cross my paths with him ever again. But, Lord….Why did you design my destiny like this? Meeting Daniel again and getting my feelings involved…. The day when he called me with my real name, the same night I remembered that cursed evening with the look in his eyes…I had to keep my mouth shut as I thought staying in Moonlight resort was a great place to hide, but Daniel had his own plans…he tried dragging me into his secret missions as a honey trap, as a spy none of his enemies would ever doubt on…. I had to run away, yes….I ran away from him… My feelings were not important, for me all that mattered was taking over YS group within this year, as I couldn't tolerate my Dad's blood and sweat go to vain with YS group controlled by these critters…."
Throwing all the secrets out of my mouth in front of Lord Buddha loosened my tightly closed heart, made a heavy load of unspoken words lift over my shoulders… My back relaxed on the stone wall and the cool wind blowing inside the temple closed my eyes and pushed me into deep slumber….
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4:00 PM
A leaf settled on my nose, tickling skin… My neck was stiffened by leaning on the hard rock… The temple turned colder as the sunset approached… I opened my eyes and saw Sunrays outside the temple were disappearing slowly. Suddenly it reminded me of Grandma's words, to not be late and return home before sunset. I rushed down the mountain, but taking staircase to reach down would be madness now after 4 pm as in Namhae, Sun went down by 5:30 pm….I walked towards the concrete road for vehicles. There were no cars or bikes on the road which tourists rented to visit the temple.
"Ahhhh…Why am I always the unlucky one? Not a single bicycle? Waahhh…Okay!! Fineee!! I have my own two legs!! No other vehicle is better than my legs!! Come on my pretty feet let's go!!" I started walking down the steep, mountain road. After walking out of the woods, I could see the seashore from the top. The Sun was setting down slowly and quietly.
"I should've carried the cell phone with me, at least calling Dojun would've been possibe….Ahhh…how long it's gonna take now!!" I increased my speed of walking and practically ran down the curvy, narrow road. As I walked down the mountain by 5:45 pm, sun had already rested down deep in the blue sea. Darkness covered Namhae into its cold black sheets. Few streetlights were twinkling like stars on the dark road towards Daraengi village, I had to still climb up till the highest terrace farm step where Dojun's house was situated. Just as I was walking up, my instincts were alarming me….a shadow followed me since I entered the village… I used my old trick to not let stalker know that I've noticed him…I walked quietly through the silent night. I left a deep sigh of relief, as Dojun's house became visible over the top of the mountain. But those footsteps grew even more loudly walking on the dried leaves. I felt like, this matter would disturb Grandma's business and decided to take care of the stalker out of the house. If something goes wrong, all I had to do is scream and whole village would fight for me, against that person. I turned back and found a tall, dark shadow two-three meters apart from me. He just stood there silently without taking a step towards me. Even from two meters distance in complete darkness, I could recognize that person…He had that strong impression over my mind….
"You could've just called me out, there was no need to stalk me." I said coldly.
He didn't open his mouth, kept standing there like a ghost.
"Aren't you interested to talk with me? Then why're you here for?" I got annoyed with his silence.
But still, he didn't speak a word and stood there without moving forward.
"You seriously love to get on my nerves, right?? Can you speak up? I've got tons of work to finish in the café and no time for you!!!" My voice raised as he continued with his annoying silent behavior.
Again…no words from other side….
"Ohhh!! Is this the way to confront me?? Ohh, okay….Yes I ran away!! Huhh!! I ran away from Damyang!! And what's the big deal? This is how I am!! What are you gonna do about it? Is it fine, now that I've accepted?" I shouted over him.
As I was shouting loudly, he walked towards me and came out of the darkness. The streetlight beside me kept on blinking which made his face shine through the darkness for one moment and blacken up in the next moment. As he walked towards me, his handsome face sent goosebumps into my stomach. My legs froze in the same position and heart was beating loudly. My eyes were stuck on his glistening face, the same feeling which made me go wild that night a week before… I was trying to control myself badly…to not get swayed with my feelings for him…But his presence, his scent, his face was good enough to drive me crazy.
Daniel stood in front of me, right in front of my eyes….not even a cm apart… He looked down in my eyes which were staring at him shamelessly.
"How dare you?" He whispered.
"Wh…what?" I stuttered.
"How dare you run away from Moonlight? You think I'm a joke? Just another man you're playing with?" He said with an anger filled face. He was literally interrogating me with most dangerous tone of his cold voice but still it seemed extremely attractive and sensuous to me.
"What are talking about? Why would I play with you? In fact you were the who's playing with me!! Training me for spy…. Is that what you wanted me to become? How is that any different from being a prostitute? And still you've got the guts to stand here in front of and interrogate me!!"
"How can it be similar to prostitute? You were just going to be my undercover agent and bring information about my rivals, that's it!!"
"That's it? That's it??!!! Didn't I made clear with you? I am going to do your job just for one month!! ONE MONTH!! And you thought I'm dumb enough to get trapped with your spy missions forever? Mr. Shim Daniel, even though I look like a pathetic homeless broke girl….I've got other things to do in my life….I've got no time to become your spy so just leave me alone and go back to Damyang!!" I turned around to leave but Daniel grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.
"Leave you alone? Hmm….that's not a great option for you….Did you forget about the contract you had signed with Maya? Ahh…I see, your little brain forgot the most important thing…. The…" As soon as Daniel was about to speak further Grandma walked out of the café and saw me with Daniel.
"Rose!!! I told you to return before the sunset, why are you so late!! It's past 7 pm now….Ohhh? And who…who is this person? Do you know him?" Grandma said while walking down the stairs.
"Grandma….He…He's my Senior. Don't make any assumptions, Grandma…. He's 8 years older than me!! He's just a high school senior, nothing else!!" It was a horrible truth which even startled Daniel that he let go off my wrist in shock.
"Ahhhhh!!! That means you're also Dojun's senior!! Good to see seniors these days are taking care of junior students….Why are you standing here in cold? Come let's go inside." Grandma patted over Daniel's back, he smiled back shyly at her.
It was my first time seeing Daniel go completely in an awkward, shy mood. He just kept quiet while having dinner with us. Dojun was looking at him with scared eyes, I wondered if he was the one who brought Daniel to Namhae…If Daniel threatened him over something and Dojun had to do bring him here… Grandma was full of praises towards Daniel, like how gentleman he was while eating, how good looking he was, how his dressing sense was perfect, blah blah….
"Gentleman? Huhh…" I spoke softly with a smirk.
But as Daniel stared back at me with eyes wide open, I looked away and continued eating my rice.
Why does he never act shy in front of me? I wondered…
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12 PM after midnight.
I slept inside my room with grandma. But a rustling sound from trees awakened me, I stood up from the mattress and walked near the window. I saw Daniel walking out in the backyard.
"It's literally 12:30? Is he really a ghost to roam around like this?" I was tired of Daniel being such a weird guy but still don't know what was so attractive about him being so weird. I pulled over my hoodie and went outside behind him. He was sitting down on the large stone boulder. I went near and stood beside him.
"What're you doing here? Just go and sleep." I said.
He looked above at me, "I'm here to take you back to Damyang with me….not to sleep and rest…"
"I've already told you, leave me alone and get lost tomorrow morning. I'm not going back with you." I said calmly, I was also tired of having arguments with Daniel regularly.
"And I've already told you, that you have signed an exclusive contract with me. So breaching that contract would hammer a huge amount of penalty over you! Can't you understand?" He said coldly but still I could sense the desperation in his voice.
"Whatever….I'm not going back…" I said controlling hard to show my feelings for him.
He held my hand tightly and pulled me down to sit beside him. I was so used with this push and pull from Daniel that it no more affected me.
"Rose, listen to me…"
"No. I'm not going back."
"How could you be this stone hearted? After spending those beautiful moments with me…." He looked into my eyes with a sensuous gaze. I tried hard holding myself back from surrendering myself to this good looking devil again.
"Yes, that's what…those were just some moments… And are you crazy? You thought I've fallen for you or something? Haha…" I laughed through pain of holding myself back when Daniel was just few fingers away from me.
"No….you really don't have any idea whom you're playing with? Hmmm…My feelings for you are genuine…but those feelings could become dangerous at any moment right now….you know right?" He slid down his hand inside my hoodie while smirking at me. His warm hands was gripping my waist tightly and pulled me even closer to him.
"Daniel, stop it… Someone could walk outside the house any second…." I pleaded him to show some mercy as it was really difficult to hold myself back now.
"They're sleeping soundly….let's not disturb them…hmm?" He placed his other hand on my face and lifted me, made me sit on between his lap.
"Daniel….please…I just can't….hold myself back…." I was losing control over myself.
"That's good…let's make this moment dangerous…."
He kissed me fiercely and I finally lost it. I lost myself again to him, his temptation…. We were kissing wildly inside the woods. I felt like a fire had ignited within my body, I just couldn't stop myself….His hands went up inside my hoodie and my hands were busy unbuttoning his shirt which he didn't even stop me like last time. I moved my fingers over his abs….he was unhooking my bra while kissing my neck and me pulling his hair with this unfamiliar feeling of getting raised up sexually….It was my first time doing this but doing it with Daniel made me feel secured…. Our heat had peaked up during that moment… I wished someone called me out and woke me up from this temptation…. But Daniel had left me with no choice but to get along with whatever he was doing with me…He was that attractive…Maybe he has always been that attractive to me that was the reason why I always avoided him even in the past…Just when I was lost in my thoughts , Daniel placed a love bite over my neck which made me moan out loudly.
"Focus on me…" He whispered softly in my ears.
That deep husky voice drove me crazy and I kissed him roughly, grabbing his neck and pulled towards myself…we just went on and on with that smooch until I was left breathless. I was completely out of control… But suddenly, Daniel pushed me down on the ground gently. I was confused with this move…
"Go inside and sleep" He said while buttoning up his white shirt.
"What…" I said with puzzled face.
"Let's save it for your 20th birthday…next month…so you cannot leave me until next month…until we do it…" He said with smiling at me sarcastically.
Daniel was annoying the hell out of me….Am I a toy for him to play with me like this every time? No….No…I'm not going to get swayed again!! I'm not going back with him….Let him do whatever he wants to do….I'm not going back….