The Confession

"What are you saying- you are 23 and you don't drink!? But, like, why? Is there any specific reason behind it, or you just don't like the taste of it? Kaoru asked Nitya, while Chang Min was also looking at her with amazement. The party had just started after the cake cutting ceremony, because Hyeon had to leave early due to some of his shoots being incomplete.

"Actually, I have really low alcohol tolerance; the only reason I even know that is because one time, my brothers accidentally made me drink just one gulp of it and I was a total mess after that. So after that, I simply try to ignore it; and I never really liked to visit clubs or parties so there is no compulsion for it as well."

She completed her sentence with a smile, when Ho-jin spoke, chirping like a bird "Look guys, wasn't I telling you all that both of them resemble each other to the complete extent? They have opposite fears but complement each other in the rest of the things that either of them lack; as if they are the perfect combination of the last two pieces of the broken picture-" Ho-jin was going to rave on about them when Dae Jung interrupted him.

"Who taught you to give examples like broken pictures, they are anything but broken! And let's stop talking and order ourselves some hard drinks, and some soft drinks or rather, soda for these two."

Ji-hun was sitting in a corner extremely quietly, stealing glances from her as he himself was overwhelmed after seeing her dressed up for the party. Even on their return, he was unable to find a word to start a conversation and it appeared that she didn't either. He could sense that she was also fearing something, but what!?

Ho-jin noticed that Ji-hun was lost somewhere, he quickly walked over and quietly brought his mouth near his ear and spoke, "Hyung you know that we will be returning back tomorrow, right? If you won't confess today, I don't think you will have the chance again in near future. So I am telling you, this is right time- please have some guts and go on! I am here for you, and let me tell everyone else present here will be as well, so don't panic. Don't even think even twice, just think- the more you will delay this confession, the less number of days you will get to spend with her while holding her hands and putting her head on your shoulder. And if you are in a dilemma about whether she likes you back or not, then let me tell you that she also does like you. I can see in her eyes that every time she sees one of us and every time she sees you, there is a very evident difference in the way her eyes glitter."

Chang Min noticed the younger ones whispering, while Dae Jung was busy asking Nitya more questions about how her life in her country was, would she miss them when she returns back and what not; and Kaoru was busy making the schedule for tomorrow's departure. Chang Min finally spoke up, "Now everyone stop whatever you are doing and enjoy the meal, this our last meal in this country till our next visit. And the second most important thing is that I am the birthday boy, so everybody should be giving me attention, but you all are already busy talking to each other!"

Nitya felt guilty on behalf of Chang Min, while others started laughing, being well-acquainted with the attention grabbing nature of Chang Min. Kaoru finally said, "Hyung seriously?! I was managing the schedule now, just so that I can spend more time with you; and you are accusing me, this is so unfair!" He completed the sentence with a pouty face, making everyone laugh again. That was when Nitya spoke out, pulling a small package out of her bag.

"Hyung, I don't know whether you will like it or not, but I am really sorry that I couldn't bring anything more than this: I don't know what can I buy for you that you don't already have, and moreover, I don't know what your specific likes and dislikes are. I hope you will like this- I made this a while ago, just after coming here." She completed her sentence and extended her hand, offering the package to him.

Chang Min opened the package carefully so as to not spoil the wrapping sheet, while correcting her "Thank you so much, but I'm technically 'oppa' to you, not 'hyung' because you are a girl! But it is to be expected, given that you are new to this cultur-"

Nitya interrupted him with a light cough. "Actually, I am familiar with the appropriate terms according to genders, but I'm also well-aware of the flirty connotations with 'oppa'! And I want nothing to do with it- so if you don't mind, I shall continue referring to you as hyung, because you are just like my elder brother!"

Nitya's explanation made everyone laugh, meanwhile Chang Min smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. He had unwrapped the package by then, to find out that it was a beautiful painting of a sunrise on a small sheet of canvas, along with a hand-made charm bracelet. He jumped out of his chair like an excited kid, saying "Wow! Nobody has ever gifted me something this beautiful!"

This sentence was enough to make Ji-hun scream out "Seriously Hyung?! I have literally booked the whole cruise for you to have your birthday party in peace, and you are giving her all the credit!" Before he could have completed his sentence, all of them had burst into laughter. Nitya grabbed a glass of water from the nearby tray to drink, as she had almost choked due to laughing too hard. Ji-hun also grabbed a glass to drink and pacify his anger; before anyone could have stopped them, they both had gulped down raw whiskey. Ji-hun made a face, while Nitya started coughing and asked "Why does this soda taste so weird?"

Everyone was already aware of how Ji-hun behaved after getting drunk, but Nitya had only been able to issue a warning about the incoming storm. Ji-hun had a slightly higher capacity for alcohol than this, but they had to worry about Nitya first. So Kaoru rushed to the reception to ask about anti hangover medicine, Chang Min left Ho-jin and Dae Jung after instructing to look after the two, and to take them to the gallery so that they could have some air. He then rushed off, saying that he would return quickly after placing his gift in his room to avoid getting it spoiled.

Ho-jin and Dae Jung did as Chang Min directed them to do, and went back inside to get jackets for the two of them, leaving them in the gallery, fearing that they might catch a cold.

Just after Ho-jin had left her hand, she swayed a little, as her legs were not loyal to her anymore. They had been wounded already, and now the alcohol was making her lose her balance, even though Ho-jin had made her hold the railing before leaving. Ji-hun noticed it and quickly grabbed her by the waist, steadying her. He then chuckled, saying, "You really can't take care of yourself, can you? But you tend to take of care everybody else in this world, isn't it funny?"

Nitya stopped him from speaking further by putting her finger on his lips. She then began "Do you know what is funnier? Let me tell you- there are seven billion people in this whole world and I have fallen for you, despite knowing the fact that you are a celebrity. What is funny, that the only profession in this world I used to hate most, is the profession of the person I love most in the world. What is funnier, is that the thing which makes you lovable in the eyes of everyone else on this earth is the only thing stopping me from loving you back. But what should I do? I love you, I love you more than I could ever imagine loving someone. I love you more than anyone has ever loved anyone before. Be happy, Kim Ji-hun...that Nitya Jaikar loves you. The girl for whom love was just an emotion parallel to a waste of time, that was the girl who used to claim that she can't fall for anybody and if she ever does, she would end up proposing to them first. So here then, be happy- I am confessing my love to you! And one more thing: you don't have to reply, I know that you can never love a girl like me. I am aware that I am quite difficult to love and-"

She was still blabbering when she felt a set of lips on her own lips, which make her stop whatever she had been saying. She could still hear some noises from the background- the sounds that belonged to Kaoru, Chang Min, Ho-jin and Dae Jung. But the only thing she remembered before falling asleep was that she was kissing the boy back while her eyes were fully shut.

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Amélie looked back at Aldrick with a shaky smile and said,

"Please pray for her, as she has just had the dream which is going to open her heart up again.

Behold, the storm has been initiated; the pressure has already built up, now all we can do is to wait for the cyclone to come, and watch how much destruction is caused!"

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