21 Finally Over

Pauline was lying on her bed, unable to sleep. She couldn't erase the thought of the last letter Mr. Grim had given her. She looked at the letter again and read, trying to decipher the hidden message inside.

That's exactly why I fell in love with you at the first place.

Your voice and all.

And for the second time, I was able to hear your voice again.

Making me love you even more, my Cherie.

Pauline highlighted the first and the third line of his letter. She pondered for a while on what Mr. Grim he was referring to. She knew that she never performed and sang in front of any of the staff of LV Entertainment except for Shin Woo who forced her to sing when she was applying for the position of his company. A thought came to her like a thunderstruck.

Is Shin Woo Mr. Grim?

She shook her head. Shin Woo wasn't a type of person who could do something like that. He wasn't as sentimental and mysterious like Mr. Grim. Pauline could predict and tell what Shin Woo was thinking in just a snap of her fingers.

Ryeo Tan?

She, again, shook her head. Like Shin Woo, Ryeo Tan was a type of guy that if he really likes, he eventually do whatever it takes to get it.

What about Bin Young?

She stopped. Pauline recalled what happened for the past few weeks when she was trying to find Mr. Grim. Every time she was close on finding him, Bin Young always showed up like a mushroom. At the park when she searched for Mr. Grim and getting bumped on Bin Young. When she saw Bin Young's phone was ringing the moment she called Mr. Grim's phone. The moment when she laid his eyes on him that day and the way he stared at her.

But deep inside her, there was something deeper that she couldn't scratch. Something told her that it wasn't Bin Young. That maybe, it was a mere coincidence. That Bin Young was just a façade just to hide the true identity of Mr. Grim. Her eyes widened as realization hit her.

Pauline hurriedly ran through the door and stopped when she saw the person in front of her room.

The person she was looking for.

Her heart raced so fast that she could feel the blood rushing through her system. They both looked wide eyed at each other and no words came from their mouths.

"Bin Young..." she panted.

Bin Young just stared at her impassively and didn't respond.

Pauline realized that he was holding a pink box on his hands. She opened her mouth to say but knew already what it was.

It was Mr. Grim's present to her.

"You knew him, did you?"

He nodded, carefully. "Yes."

"How come?"

Bin Young scoffed. "He was painfully staring at you from afar like a doll he couldn't reach. It was a pain in my eyes and decided I have to end his fantasy at once."

Pauline was just staring at him, waiting for him to continue.

"When I confronted him, he tried so hard to deny it but his eyes couldn't lie. I threatened him to tell you about his undying feelings for you and eventually he gave up. He told me everything from the beginning.

"It was my idea to give you a daily letter but he was the one who wrote and subtly delivered it to you without being noticed. I credit him for that. He was a sneaky rat that I never thought he would," Bin Young laughed.

"You helped him?"

He smirked. "What else can I do? He's too adorable to get rejected. I even bait myself to cover his traces just to make sure he won't get busted."

"I thought you were him."

Bin Young shook his head. "I'm sorry but you're not my type."

Pauline glared at him.

"But it was very effective, wasn't it?"

She gave him a confused look. "What?"

His lips curved upward like Cheshire cat. "You fell on the trap. You fell in love with him even if you don't see him as a person."

Pauline diverted her eyes from him and blushed.

She heard him chuckled and jumped as Bin Young pushed the box on her.

"Open the box and you'll see the answer you're looking for. Good luck."

Before she could say anything, Bin Young disappeared in front of her. She stared at the box, unable to move. She traced the cover of the box and her heart was racing again in anticipation. Pauline slowly opened the lid of the box and saw a folded letter. She picked the letter and read.

My Cherie

I am now ready to reveal Mr. Grim to you, my Cherie.

The search and run is finally over.

Meet me at Hosiah Cliff so I can tell you the story behind the legend of the two lovers where they fought their love until the end of their lives.

I'll be waiting, Pauline.

Finally over,

Mr. Grim

PS: Wear the scarf in your neck. It will be cold outside.

I love you.

Her heart swelled up and tears finally flowed from her eyes. Finally, she could meet and see her Mr. Grim. Pauline raised the pink scarf he gave and traced it to her fingers. Her fingers stopped when she saw her name engraved on it.

My Cherie, Pauline Park.

As she stared at it, she jumped when she heard a loud thud on the floor. Pauline squatted and picked the thing.

Seconds later, she frantically ran to where Mr. Grim was waiting. She knew.

She finally knew the person behind Mr. Grim's letter.

*****