Chapter 16: Kwon Tae Hyun?!

I chuckled at Chaerin's stupid assumptions; she did not know how damn right she was about the last part. "No." I shook my head. I paused briefly, then decided to add, "Well, apart from being officially single and getting my cute ass dumped, I got sacked at Luxola as well."

I didn't know why I didn't tell her about the marriage proposal. I guess a part of me felt that because I hadn't actually decided what I was going to do with it, I didn't want to tell her yet. I paused momentarily at the thought, a few hours ago I was so sure that I wouldn't be accepting the proposal – but somehow after everything, I felt that it could provide me with a chance, a change for the better.

But I was gambling my happiness on my line, I knew that it was serious decision that would affect my life forever, so I chose to bury it in the back of my mind for now and concentrated on cheering up than sulking and worrying over it.

Her gaze softened and she looked at me apologetically, she wrapped her arms around me. "Pretty sucky day for you huh. Cheer up, I can help you ask around for another job if you want."

I patted her arm as a form of thanks.

I opened up my third bottle, and opened Chaerin's one as well handing it over to her. I shook my head and my eyes pointed to her bottle. "No thanks, I can do it myself. Here drink up."

Chaerin groaned and looked at the opened bottle, she took her and gave it a small gulp. "You're sending me home later since you're forcing a saint like me to drink! I tell you, my appa would freak when I come home drunk." She chuckled amusingly and took another gulp.

"Sure." I gave her a grin that reflected hers and drank from my bottle as well. I watched her complexion getting redder by the minute; I knew she was going to be drunk tonight.

We both continued to drink, taking drag after drag. Pretty soon after the fourth bottle, Chaerin was so out of it that she could hardly speak. I on the other hand was still somewhat semi-sober. My head was hurting but it was probably because of the loud horrible techno music blasting from the street stall.

Chaerin mumbled incoherently until she drank to the very last drop her soju bottle and I took the cue to pack up and send her back home. Chaerin kept on insisting that she was fine, but when she got up she started swaying and I swooped in to steady her before she fell over.

She was swaying dangerously from lucidity to incoherence; the only difference in her appearance was that her eyes had turned into slits while she fought hard to keep herself awake and her face was flushed. No question needed, I knew she was out of it. The alcohol had definitely taken over her body.

But while Chaerin was drunk to the very core, I was only starting to get tipsy.

Standing at 5'2, it was a wonder to anyhow how someone like me could have such high tolerance when it came to consumption of alcohol. It was definitely impressive that my body had an astounding ability to handle large intake of alcohol. I grabbed Chaerin and struggled to support her because she seemed to gain an extra ten pounds from all the alcohol she had consumed.

The night air felt good for once I got into the main street, leaving the music reverberating behind us and the street stall clouded with stuffy cigarette smoke. The cold crisp night air engulfs my nostrils and I sighed, the fresh air felt like heaven.

Flagging an available cab, I opened the door and carefully helped Chaerin in, her bleached blonde hair falling listlessly over her face when I did this. "Careful." I whispered soothingly.

Once she was fully situated in her seat, I helped pushed her drunk self to the further left hand corner of the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. I told the cab driver her address and handed him a few wads of notes. The cab went off in a cloud of smoke, leaving me coughing for fresh air.

I strolled down the streets, clutching onto my furry jacket. It was a cold winter night in Seoul, and I quicken my pace to warm my body up; not that I needed to, the alcohol was doing a fine job at it. I just wanted to get home quickly. My house was within walking distance of where I was.

Much like every other Saturday night, the streets of my neighborhood were busy with people swaying about and giggling, enjoying the night while they meandered the streets. They were happy and joyful, but I was just plain exhausted.

Sighing tiredly at the distance of the long street ahead of me, the long strands of my black hair swayed gently in the cool wind while I swam through the busy street, skirting around fellow pedestrians.

The further I threaded out of the busy main street scene, the more serene and peaceful the street became as well. The block had gotten quieter, foot traffic had thinned immensely and pretty soon, the street ahead of me was just plain quiet – leaving me in the company of just a few street lamps that illuminated the calm road.

I gave a sigh of relief when I finally threaded into the street my house was in, enjoying the peaceful silence that it held. Unlike the main street, my house was located in one of the more unknown and hidden corners of the neighbor and was eerily silent. I felt a smile bloom across my face, as I was now able to enjoy the relaxation of the night.

It was extremely quiet but I paid no mind to it because I felt no fear and continued my journey back home.

I stopped for a moment and tilted my head to gaze up at the night's sky. The full moon was hovering in view, the stars smiling and blinking down in unison and the dim illumination of the city lights flickered in the distance. Along with the peace and serenity, my heart warmed at the picturesque scene and peace.

But the peace didn't last for long when I heard a voice behind me.

"Hey you, stop."

I tried so hard not to flinch when I heard that masculine voice and tried hard not appear frighten and draw back in panic. I felt my throat grow dry and my nerves recoiling back in fright at the awareness of potential danger trailing behind me. He couldn't be talking to anyone else right?

I knew that I was the only one here just a moment ago, so he was definitely talking to me.

I started to panic but I remained frozen solid.

Slowly and vigilantly, I turned my head hesitantly and my eyes fell on him. Though I didn't overly flinch in fear, I knew that whoever was there would catch the unease dancing in my flustered gaze.

I tried to make out his face in the dimness of the night and it took a couple of seconds for my eyes to become acclimated with the darkness that cloaked over him. I could feel the soju messing with my head when I finally recognized his facial features and I screamed.

"AHHHHH! What the heck?! I shrieked in absolute horror.

I was half-expecting the stalker to be a heavily tattooed buffed dude looking to mug me for some money but as I inspected his features, which were now clearly visible as he stepped into the light, did I finally realize who he was.

"YAH!" He walked over me with quick strides, wanting to cover my mouth but I dodged him quickly and scurried away from him. "Shut up! People will wake up from all the commotion you are making!" He hissed sharply, his glares searing into me.

My mysterious 'buffed' and 'heavily tattooed mugger', turned out to be one and only Kwon Tae Hyun.