Jessica was in her bed, lying on her tummy while leafing through a random magazine. Her elbows propped on the white bed sheets as one hand turned the pages, the other holding a cordless phone to her ear. Her face showed nothing but pure boredom. Obviously, both the magazine and the person on the phone failed entertaining her.

"... and so I locked her out of the bedroom that night. She had to sleep on the couch. The next day I woke up and I found her on the ground! She fell down Jessi, my poor girl."

"Uh huh."

Tiffany went on telling Jessica about the quarrel between Taeyeon and her. If it was something really serious and Tiffany was down, Jessica could never be this indifferent. But the thing was just, that girl on the other end of the line was babbling about a fight two days ago. Taeyeon and her had made up now and were happily together again - making Jessica see no point in having to listen to every detail like this. Jessica had frowned in the beginning, because behind Tiffany's whining voice, she swore she had heard some kissing sounds. And after Tiffany accidentally moaned into the phone, the lie got revealed. Tiffany argued it wasn't a lie but rather an omission - she was just about to tell Jessica they had made up two days ago. Afterwards, Jessica decided to let Tiffany's voice go in one ear and out the other.  

Jessica, being the smart girl that she was, knew too well where Taeyeon and Tiffany were trying to get to. It wasn't just coincidence that the two always broached their relationship when talking to Jessica, or being even more obvious and acted all lovey-dovey in front of her. Everything was done just to make Jessica feel jealous, to remind her of how sweet a relationship - and in this case her relationship with a workaholic - could be, to force her to admit - at least to herself - that she missed Yuri. But no, Jessica wasn't going to fall into their trap.

She had made up her mind. She was not going to be naive again, not going to follow her heart blindly again. Jessica was selfish once - and she'd had to pay a terrible price. She was disgusted by Kwon Jiyong, was scared by his whole family for being behind his back, ordering him to take advantage of her feelings. Even though Kwon Yuri left her family for years, Jessica couldn't take the risk. Not when it's about a Kwon. Not again.

Jessica would forget Yuri. And it's not going to be hard - or so she hoped.

"Jessi... Are you sleeping? Jessica! Jung Sooyeon! Hello? Strawberry!? Melon!? Cucumber!? Yuw--"

"I'm not sleeping."

"Then why didn't you say anything? I asked you if you're still staying home."

"Yes, I am. I think I'll go to work next week. Dad isn't really in need of me right now."

"You haven't told uncle you will start working, have you? Well, I guess that's the advantage of being the president's daughter. Anyway, Taeyeon's calling me. Dinner time." Jessica heard an amorous chuckle coming from the other end of the line and rolled her eyes.

"Have fun."

Jessica said and hung up. Why did Tiffany and Taeyeon get together that easily? They only had to live sixteen years to find one another, and from the day they met, never once did they doubt each other's feelings. Why couldn't such a miracle happen to her as well? Why did she have to be cheated on, to be used, to be hurt and pained and still couldn't find her true love? Why was life so unfair to her?

Because you don't have faith in life, a voice inside her spoke. You don't even believe in love.

I used to believe in 'him' and his love - but he just used me, she argued.

Because he wasn't the one, the voice continued.

How am I supposed to know if Yuri is? She stubbornly asked back.

Because she simply is.

Jessica sighed. She walked to the window, staring down onto her family's garden. She didn't know what that feeling she had towards Yuri was. She didn't know where it came from, didn't know when it grew on her, didn't know how much it was already possessing her. And she didn't know why there was always that inner voice which she struggled hard to smother - but time to time popped up unexpectedly - telling her over and over again, stubborn as herself, that Yuri was the one.

No, she told herself. I've made up my mind!

She tried to focus on the flowers to distract herself. Roses, tulips, petunias, pansies, iris - her mom was such a flower-lover. She had even planted those yellow iris in the garden - reminded Jessica so much of that small garden behind the vacation house. And flowers, oh how could she forget the daisies. And speaking of daisies, how could she forget Yu--

"Cucumber!"

Jessica yelled out of the blue. Phew, that was close. She closed her eyes and shook her head furiously. Looking into the garden wasn't a good idea at all. She turned around, facing her room. It looked awfully somber. Despite the white-painted wall adorned with nature paintings, the magnificently crested light-brown closet and the queen-sized bed, covered with every kind of pink hue (Tiffany had 'designed' her bed), Jessica had never seen her room more shadowed. Maybe it was simply because... her heart never felt this gloomy.

Jessica really didn't want to, but the resembling furniture arrangement made her think of the vacation house. Its walls were white-painted as well. There was also a pretty closet, filled with couple clothes, in the corner of the bedroom. The bed wasn't as big as hers at home, but it always looked the most welcome. Jessica walked to her closet, her fingers touching its surface. She had once stood in front of the closet like this, looking over to the dressing table. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she remembered the scene where Yuri didn't want to hear her calls but kept staring at her barrette. She said the girl looked cute, that's why she couldn't help seducing Yuri, but that was only half of the truth. Jessica didn't want to admit she got seduced at the first place. The way Yuri looked at the irrelevant object with that slightly open mouth was way too kiss-inviting to resist. Jessica blushed even more at the memory of Yuri picking her up, laying her down the bed, kissing her with so much passion. What would have happened if Yuri hadn't stopped? Would they have gone beyond kissing? Because Jessica knew, if Yuri hadn't questioned her, she would have gone further. But Yuri was sensible and didn't want to rush things, Jessica thought. Yuri wanted her to be completely sure, wanted her to not regret anything later. Yuri never wanted to harm her.

But she is a Kwon, she stubbornly reminded her shaking heart. All I need to do is to tell dad to change the furniture arrangements.

She heaved an inaudible sigh and got out of her room. Now she wasn't even able to stay in her own room to be not reminded of Yuri. Padding down the stairs, Jessica tried to think about something more bright - namely the dinner. Ms Ahn was an absolutely talented cook, she had told the woman this personally several times already. She inhaled deeply as she reached the end of the staircase. The smell of food was making her drool. But the faint smile on Jessica's face disappeared at instant as she entered the dining room.

"Why are there candles lit?" She frowned.

"'Cuz dad phoned home earlier and told Ms Ahn we have to celebrate tonight" Krystal came out of the kitchen, chewing on something.

"Celebrate what?" Jessica asked, confused.

But Krystal just shrugged before bending over the table, inhaling the steam coming from the hot soup pot. She then quickly covered it by the lid to keep it hot, not noticing her sister's blank expression. Jessica was tired of all this. Why did everything and everyone have to remind her of Yuri? She was trying her best to forget and ignore, but no one's supporting her. There was no explanation as to why there had to be a candlelit dinner tonight. Jessica didn't want to see candlelit dinners for the rest of her life anymore.

"Mom! Dad!" Krystal's voice pulled Jessica out of her thoughts. She followed her sister out of the dining room and saw her parents entering the foyer.

"Is it raining?" Jessica asked as she helped her mother out of the wet coat.

"Yes, seems like it's gonna turn into a real storm soon." Her father answered for his wife. "But nothing can dampen my mood tonight."

"What happened dad?" Krystal hooked arms with Mr Jung, looking at him in anticipation. "Unnie's already wondering why we have to celebrate tonight."

"We will definitely get that project! Definitely win against the Kwons!" Mr Jung couldn't hold back his joy as the family entered the dining room. "Sit down girls, I'll tell you everything."

Everyone settled down and Ms Ahn came in, poured wine for Mr and Ms Jung and Jessica, and apple spritzer for Krystal.

"Iustit has allied in a venture with us," Mr Jung began telling the story. "Iustit is one of the pretty strong companies in our area, but because its founder is such a young woman, I had never really paid attention to it."

"That's for you to see," Mrs Jung meddled in, causing him to chuckle. "Don't ever underestimate women."

"I know I know. But Iustit and our Jung Enterprise never really had any encounter, so I barely know about it. It wasn't until yesterday that I got to know Iustit had a grudge against the Kwon Enterprise as well."

Hearing that name, Jessica cocked her ears immediately.

"I was suspicious as to why that young girl would ally to us all of sudden. At first I was about to have the financial state checked but got really surprised because the company is doing very well, no checking was needed to see that. The general manger said something private happened and she has to give up on her company, so I didn't ask any further. In the end, she even assigned all her shares to us - including the 2,8% she holds of the Kim Company, which will guarantee the project to be ours. I have nothing to suspect anymore."

"We just signed the contracts today." Mrs Jung added. "That was a sweet girl. I wonder why she has to give up."

"Congrats mom and dad." Jessica smiled to her parents. "I'll go to work with you from next week on, dad."

"That's another reason to celebrate!" Mr Jung laughed heartily. Finally, his daughter agreed to follow his business. He never forced Jessica, but clearly stated his desire. He was giving her a year to think about it, which was very generous. Mr Jung wanted his little girl to replace him in future, but he wanted her to be truly happy even more.

"Dear, imagine our Jessica to become a talented business woman like Yuri." Mrs Jung almost had tears in her eyes.

Jessica spoon immediately fell down on her plate with a sharp noise, catching everyone's attention. She couldn't care less, though.

"Mom, what Yuri?!" She asked, her eyes widened in shock.

"The CEO of Iustit." Her mom answered, giving her a confused look. "That girl we are talking about all the time. Yuri is her name. The funny thing is, her surname is also Kwon."

Jessica jumped up at instant, startling all three family members. She run out of the dining room into the foyer and put on her shoes and coat.

"Where are you going?!"

She heard her mom calling, heard noises of chairs being pulled back as the rest of her family was about to follow her out.

"Don't worry about me!"

She shouted before shutting the door, ignoring her mother's calls. Jessica had no time to spare.

----------

Yuri went home early today. It wasn't because of the news about the terrible storm tonight, nor was it because she'd missed her apartment which she hadn't seen for almost a week. The past several days, Yuri was still staying 24/24 in her office, returning to her workaholic life. But there was no work for her anymore.

Kwon Yuri was officially jobless from today on.

Sooyoung had called her thousand times, but she didn't pick up once. She felt a little guilty as she didn't tell her best friend a word about transferring all her administrative rights to the Jung Enterprise. But she had been too scared, afraid of changing her mind. She had locked herself in her office, doing nothing but staring at the wall until it was time to meet President Jung.

Yuri knew too well doing this didn't mean getting Jessica back. It wouldn't even help the slightest bit - she had all the money, power, might before and couldn't win Jessica's heart, so what was she supposed to do with nothing in her hands now? But she wanted to prove her feelings. She wanted to show, more to herself than to anyone else, that her feelings for Jessica were more valuable than work. Because Yuri wasn't a workaholic anymore, she was an in-love-with-Jessica-Jung. Besides all that, it was the only way Yuri could somehow pay off what her family owed the Jungs. She knew it wasn't her fault, but she was a Kwon after all. She knew fully well why Jessica despised her.

Emotions, desires, guilt, everything mixed up, led her to this decision. And there was no going back anymore.

Yuri opened the bottle of wine she found on the kitchen counter and poured herself a glass. The rain was drumming against the windows harshly, showing no sign of a soon stop. The bad weather made her already cold apartment feel even more cold and lonely. And Yuri feeling empty inside wasn't helping at all. Yuri finished each glass in one shot and refilled it immediately. She was getting lightly light-headed when she heard the apartment bell ringing.

"No one's home!" She shouted, irritated.

But the ringings didn't stop. Yuri roared before walking reluctantly to the door and opened it.

"What the--"

She froze. It was as if someone poured a barrel of ice water on her head as she saw the figure standing in front of her. Yuri was fully awake from her light-headedness.

"Sica..."

Yuri uttered weakly. The girl was drenching wet, standing in front of her apartment, not moving, not saying a word, just staring her into the eyes.

"How--how did you find my--" Yuri's voice cracked and she tried her best pulling herself together and not to swoop down on Jessica. She looked on the floor before turning to Jessica again. "Please, Sica... Come in first. We can talk inside. Please."

Yuri was afraid Jessica disagreed. In fact, she was scared Jessica came to tell her taking her company back. She knew Jessica would never agree receiving anything from a Kwon, that's why she tried to not let her parents know about her connection to both Jessica and the Kwon Enterprises. Mr and Mrs Jung just thought she was another coincidental Kwon person. But Jessica, of course the girl knew.

To Yuri's surprise and relief, Jessica didn't yell nor slap her yet. Instead, the girl really followed her words and entered the apartment. Yuri closed the door quietly, not daring to turn around facing Jessica. She inhaled deeply.

"Sica, I--"

Yuri got stuck in her words as she finally realized why Jessica hadn't spoken a word. The girl was trembling in the attempt to hold back her tears - she failed badly. Despite the dim light of the apartment and the rain water that was already wetting Jessica, Yuri could see the river flowing out of Jessica's beautiful eyes. The girl was trying to speak, to say something, but she was helpless against her own body, just trembling, ready to fall any second.

Instinctively, Yuri embraced the frail body with her arms, holding Jessica tight to her own body. Immediately, the girl in her arms let go of the cry-barrier and sobbed loudly against her shoulder. Yuri tightened the grip as she felt Jessica's hands enfolding her waist, not caring a bit about herself getting wet as well.

"I--I'm so sorry--"

Jessica cried, harder each second, her heart beating rapidly against her chest. It was exactly like the day Yuri found her in the forest. Everytime, Yuri was willing to hold her again, regardless of how stubborn or stupid she acted before. Jessica felt her heart burst, in relief, happiness, guilt and remorse at the same time, sobbing loudly as Yuri just kept her tight, caressing her back, comforting her, continuously saying 'it's okay'.

The loud sobs turned into quiet cries, the quiet cries into small snivels, the snivels subsided to irregular breaths - and Yuri was still hugging Jessica protectively tight. As the girl was almost sliding down onto the floor, Yuri quickly moved one hand to Jessica's waist, holding her up straight. Either Jessica had fallen half asleep, or she was semi-unconscious.

"I'm sorry..."

Yuri heard her keep mumbling, but the eyes were closed. She helped Jessica pulling off the shoes and coat before picking the girl up, carrying her into the bedroom. She had missed Jessica lying in her arms like this. Awfully, awfully missed it.

Carefully, Yuri laid the girl down and sat herself on the edge of the bed. Jessica was still stirring, mumbling barely understandable words which Yuri assumed were still 'I'm sorry'.

"You don't need to..."

She whispered, her hand running through Jessica's wet hair. It wasn't until then that Yuri realised Jessica was still in her wet clothes. Without dwelling on it at all, Yuri unbuttoned Jessica's shirt and pulled it out. Her brain seemed to stop functioning properly the moment she realized what she was doing. Not being able to hold back, she leaned in placing a soft kiss on Jessica's exposed shoulder. The milky-white skin was still having that strawberry scent. Yuri backed away quickly, breathing faster, mentally kicking herself. She tried her best to gather herself together. With trembling hands, Yuri unzipped Jessica's jeans and pulled it out, struggling as the fabric didn't really want to cooperate. She couldn't let Jessica get sick - neither the jeans nor her conscience could keep her away from undressing Jessica.

She shuddered as her finger grazed Jessica's tight lightly. No, she wasn't a person who would take advantage of the situation. She couldn't imagine the consequences if she was not able to control herself right now.

Yuri bent over, kissing Jessica on the forehead before reaching for the blanket. She felt Jessica stir and thought the girl was cold. Swiftly, she covered the half-exposed body with the blanket. Yuri then searched for Jessica's hand and held it - this was the only thing she allowed herself. But she got surprised where her own hand was led to... by Jessica's hand. Her eyes opened wide in shock as her full arm was pulled into the blanket with Jessica's body. She was pulled closer, close enough to see that Jessica already had her eyes open.

"Why did you stop..."

The girl whispered, gazing her in the eyes. Jessica's eyes were still watery and swollen due to crying earlier, but Yuri could again see the sparkles in them.

"Sica, are you--"

But their lips had already met as Jessica pulled her in. Yuri couldn't think properly anymore and closed her eyes, moving her lips against Jessica's soft ones. She had missed these kissed damn badly, and there was no reason to hold it back right now. Getting their tongues entangling, the kisses became hotter and more passionate each second. Yuri felt shivers down her spine as Jessica's hand slid up her also wet top due to Jessica's sobs, moving against her skin inside.

"I want you."

Jessica whispered through the kiss and pulled the fabric out. That was the end of Yuri's hesitation. She climbed onto the bed, replacing the blanket covering Jessica while still resuming the hot kisses.

----------

The apartment was quiet. Almost dead silent. The foyer was quiet, the kitchen was quiet, the living room and bathroom were quiet. The only noises came from the bedroom, faintly and unobtrusively disturbing the nighttime peace.  

Rain and wind almost drowned the noises of the bed cracking in rhythm as the figures on it were engrossed in their activities. Heavy breaths and stifled moans were the only sounds that didn't fit in the harmonization. The pace was accelerated as the cracking sounds of the bed became more pressing and the breaths, as well as the moans, got louder and more urgent each second. Finally, a loud sigh was heaved and everything died down in complete silence. Left were only sounds of raindrops whipping against the window.

Yuri lied, exhausted, on top of Jessica. She was too tired to even roll off.

"Replay?"

The girl beneath whispered and Yuri shot her head up, staring incredulously at Jessica.

"Look at you," she heard Jessica giggle as the girl cupped her cheeks, giving her a tender kiss on the lips. "Now who is the silly one, huh?"

"I really thought you were serious." Yuri chuckled as she lay down next to Jessica, closing her eyes, hugging the girl from aside.

"What's so bad about it anyway? Unless you didn't like it."

"We wouldn't have gone through it twenty times if I didn't like it." Yuri assured, hearing the hint of sulkiness in Jessica's voice.

"You're exaggerating way too much."

Yuri opened her eyes to see Jessica blushing. A smile crept on her face as she pulled the blanket over their bodies, pulling Jessica closer.

"Yuri."

"Hm?"

"I will never let you go again, I promise."

The next second, she felt Jessica's lips again on hers, sealing her promise with a short, but sincere kiss.

"Sica..."

"I'm sorry about everything, Yuri." Jessica's voice sounded so weak all of sudden. "I... I should have--"

"Shhhh..." Yuri had laid one finger on Jessica's lips, shushing the girl. "It's okay Sica. I know how you feel. Your revulsion at my cousin is palpable, and understandable. I should be the one who's sorry."

A lone tear rolled down Jessica's cheek. Yuri quickly used her thumb wiping it away.

"It's not your fault, Yuri. It never was. He--"

Yuri placed her lips onto Jessica's, silencing the girl once again.

"Forget what he has done to you. I'm here now."

Jessica looked into Yuri's eyes and nodded slowly. Yuri smiled before kissing Jessica's forehead, then pulled the girl's head to her neck. Jessica instinctively cuddled closer, hugging Yuri tighter.

"After all those days without you being by my side... do you know what I've realized?"

Yuri asked in a whisper as she also tightened her hug around Jessica's body. The girl didn't reply, but Yuri knew, due to the held-in breath on her neck, Jessica was waiting for her to continue. So she softly, but clearly whispered each word she had been longing to tell all these days into the girl's ear.

"I'm so desperately in love with you, Sica baby."

----------

In an office, far away from Yuri's apartment complex, a person was sitting in the dark, looking at the storm outside. A glass of the same type of wine Yuri drank earlier was held in one of the person's hand, the other hand lay on the desk, fingers tapping on the surface. It wasn't until the phone on the desk started to vibrate that the finger-tapping stopped. Calmly, the person placed the glass onto the desk before picking the vibrating object up. Looking at the caller ID, the person waited another two rings before pressed on the accept-call button.

"Speak."

Coldly ordered.

"The bird has entered the cage, boss."

"Good. What's happening inside?"

"I don't know, boss. The rain's heavy and I'm on the opposite building's roof. There's only dim light coming from the living room."

There was a short silence before the other end continued.

"But... they're in the bedroom. I, er--think they're doing some... bed sports."

The person frowned in the dark upon hearing that news.

"I didn't want it that detailed. You're dismissed for tonight."

"Thanks, boss. Have a good night."

The person didn't bother replying but tossed the phone onto the table. Grabbing the wine bottle, the dark figure refilled the half-empty glass before taking a sip of the liquid, letting it burningly flow down the throat.

Bed time, the person thought. The game's finally restarted.