FATE PLAYS DIRTY

CHAPTER 4

KIM JI AH's P.O.V

"You look so cute when you're afraid" he said, his breathe on my hair.. I quickly pulled away from him…such a bastard…he pulled me closer and turned me making my back face the wall, then he slowly ran his fingers on my face down to my neck….gosh that was certainly rude jerk… but the feeling was so amazing I had admit to myself.

"You are so beautiful Ji ah" He whispered " but you look a lot prettier when you fall your hair" and with that, he removed the band holding my hair and my hair gracefully fell. Part of it on my face, he gently brushed them aside and brought his lips closer to mine….Omo

I closed my eyes and kept muttering "Hajima" in my heart.

"Ji ah?" A voice called from the top of the stairs and that disentangled us. I turned to the direction from which the voice came, it was Manuel, dressed in jeans and a plain shirt.

"Ma, Manuel.," i stammered and pushed Miguel away then hurriedly climbed the stairs to go and meet him.

MANUEL's P.O.V

Just as she got to the top of the stairs, I grabbed her arm and pulled her in a warm embrace. I shot a deadly stare at Miguel which clearly states 'back off, she's mine'

Ji ah was surprised, I could tell from her tensed attitude it took a while before she wrapped her arms around me.

"Welcome" I breathed on her hair and half watched as Miguel dragged himself away. Then I disengaged from the hug and led her to my room.

Once, in my room, I ushered her a chair and went downstairs to fetch a drink.

Minutes earlier, I had gone to my parents room to greet them and as usual, they showered me with lots of kisses and hugs then Miguel came to inform me that Ji ah was downstairs. He then made a comment that she was looking beautiful and beautiful things belonged to him…. that annoyed me and I dared him to try touching her which, of course he did stupid Miguel.

"Ji ah is mine" I muttered to myself.

KIM JI AH's P.O.V

I sat still and tried to think through what and just happened… I was nearly kissed by Miguel and hugged tightly by Manuel…. I suddenly felt hot as adrenaline rushed through… I scanned round Manuel's room, he had a king sized bed, a big sturdy wardrobe, a study table and chair….. and was that Park Seung Jo's picture on the wall close to the study table, I was a biggggggg fan and had a huge crush on him.

I stood up and walked closer to have a look… gosh… Oppa Seung Jo was so beautifully framed. My gaze traveled from the picture to the single piece of paper on the study table. I know I'm not supposed to touch stuffs that's aren't mine but curiosity got the better part of me. I picked up the paper and saw my bucket list written at the top. I read the list quickly cos I didn't want to be caught in such an awkward act.

Was this list for Manuel ? If yes, why would he write 'close my eyes and never open them again' right after 'surprise my parents and left them know how much I love them'.

Does he plan on dying before his parents or what?? .. but wait.. 'kiss a girl of my dreams and make her mine for the few months I have left' is he going away? I quickly kept the paper when I heard foot steps and rushed to the seat to compose myself.

Manuel returned with a tray of Soju and cups..uh?? Soju? Here in America?

"Omo" I exclaimed in surprise as I saw the bottle of soju, to be sincere, I wasn't expecting to see that here. I wasn't even allowed to drink it back in Korea cos I was considered underage.

"What?" Manuel asked smiling "you thought Koreans were the only ones who drank soju?"

"Ne" I answered in Korean

"Aniyo" he said and I gasped….. he speaks Korean too?

"You should see the look on your face.. it's like you saw a ghost" he teased and began pouring the drinks. Done pouring, he handed me a cup and I gulped it down and twisted my face.

"Come with me" he suddenly said and pulled me up from my seat.

"Where are we headed?" I asked.. the heat of the drink felt like it was hitting the back of my head ..it was a good sensation.

"To hell" he smirked….. he is just like rude jerk, I thought.

MANUEL's P.O.V

I lead her to the garden, the main reason I wanted her to come visit me was right here, I had a surprise for her.

"Why are we here?" Ji ah asked.

"Well I have something to show you" I told her "wait here" I walked towards a small wooden house in the garden and brought the gift before walking back to meet Ji ah.

"Here" I said displaying her gift.

" Omo" I heard her gasped and covered her hands with her hands….I laughed.

The gift was actually a painting I made of her covering her mouth with her hand just like she did when she saw blood on my nose and just like she was doing right now. Lol.

"Don't tell me you did that" I could hear the excitement in her voice, like she was about to pop with joy.

"Don't tell me you don't like it"

"Of course I do…I love it" she shrieked.

'And I love you' I said in my head though.

Her phone suddenly rang and the beautiful moment was ruined as she brought out her phone from her pocket answer the call.

KIM JI AH's P.O.V

"Hello" I said to the caller at the other end.

"Ji ah where are you??… your mom is bleeding" the caller who was supposedly little witch said…wait did she just say my mom was bleeding?

"What happened?" I asked getting tensed.

"She fell…she slipped and fell" the line went dead.

I needed to get home. I stared at Manuel and his gift..gosh my first day was a total disaster..

"I'm so sorry but I have to go" I said and made to leave when Manuel choked on -God knows what- and started coughing… blood dripped down his nose just like it did weeks ago.

"Are you alright?" I asked and dropped the painting so I could hold him and tap his back gently.

"I'm dying Ji ah" I heard him muttered before he slumped.

I froze for a second and once out of my frozen state, I rushed to the sitting room through the back door which led to the garden. I met Miguel sitted and watching T.v

"Miguel" I yelled "Manuel…Manuel" I called repeatedly pointing towards the garden. It was as if he got the message cos he got up swiftly and raced to the garden, i followed suit.

"Manuel!!" Miguel called, he bent over and checked Manuel's pulse…gosh.. what was happening?

"He has a pulse" Miguel announced and made to lift Manuel…I went forward to help him and he placed Manuel on his back.. in the process, Manuel's cap came off along with a huge chunk of hair.

Miguel carried Manuel out of the garden to his car parked outside…it was freaking locked.

"Ji ah get me the car keys quickly" he yelled, it was obvious he was more worried than me… how exactly do I find his car keys? As though he read my mind he added "Go to the room beside Manuel's, my keys are on my study table"

I quickly raced back into the house, up the stairs and into the room closest to Manuel's.. it was a lot fancier than Manuel's but that was not the point now, I located the study table, grabbed all the keys I could find and raced back to Miguel. It was then I sorted out the car key and opened the car.

Manuel was laid at the backseat carefully while I sat in front with Miguel who was still shirtless. I never knew he could be this caring towards his brother.

The drive to the hospital appeared to be extremely long since a life was at stake..sighing the hospital, I remembered my mom. I better call little witch.. I reached into my pocket for my phone…sheesh… I had dropped it alongside the painting back in Manuel's garden.

MIGUEL's P.O.V

Lot of crazy thoughts drove through me as I drove to the hospital, staring at Manuel, the reality once again hit me he was going to die. Even if he survives today what about the next year senior prom and graduation was only four months away would he be able to make it?

I drove into the hospital's premise and beckoned on some staffs to help me take Manuel in. It was only when he had been admitted that I realize I had left the house shirtless.

Ji ah was looking so tensed on where she was seated. I walked towards her and sat beside her. I wanted to strike a conversation with her, but it didn't seem like the right moments not when she was fidgeting, and I was shirtless in public.

We sat for a while in silence, till Doc Ben, Manuel's personal doctor came to inform us that Manuel had been stabilized.

Ji ah and I rushed into his ward to see him. He was partially seated, and partially laying down on the hospital bed with a half grin on his face. he didn't look like someone who was going to die soon.

"Oh my gosh.. Manuel how are you?" Ji ah asked rushing to embrace him.

"I'm perfectly fine scaredy cat" he teased while I stood watching Ji ah smile and stroke his chin… they look perfectly fine together.

I just wish, I mean, I really wish I was the one dying instead of Manuel.