Tami came out of the bank that day, after depositing her salary to her mother's account, and called home. "Mommy, nagpadala ako ng pera, ngayon lang. Kamusta si Jammi?"

"Maayos naman. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang gamot pero hindi na inaatake."

Tami smiled, "Salamat naman. O sige mommy, trabaho muna ako ha?" She hailed a cab and rode it.

"Siya sige, mag-iingat ka. I love you anak," her mother said.

"Love you, mommy."

As soon as Tami put down the phone, she received a call from an unknown number. "Hello?"

"Is this Tami?"

Tami was surprised that the person who called knew her name, "Yes, it is. Who is this?"

"This is Sang Woo's friend... he recommended you to me for a photography job. Could you come meet me at Cafe Vida today?"

Tami's heart leaped. Another job was waiting for her! "Oh, of course! What time?"

"Can you make it at 3pm?"

Tami looked at her watch. That was in an hour. "Sure! May I know your name, please?"

"Choi Yoo-Jin."



Tami's heart was beating like crazy when she entered Cafe Vida and saw Yoo-Jin sitting on a couch near the counter. "Ann yong ha se yo," she greeted her and bowed.

"Please sit down," Yoo-Jin said.

Even up front, Tami could see that Yoo-Jin was very beautiful. She had very fair complexion, flawless skin and thin red lips that highlighted her almost pale face. She had little make-up on, but she was still beautiful. No wonder Dong Gun adored her, she thought.

"Tami... oh, can I call you Tami?"

Tami nodded, "Yes, please."

"Alright, Tami... let's keep this meeting short because I'm running late for another appointment. You understand," Yoo-Jin said.

"Of course."

"How much do you want?"

Tami blinked and her brows furrowed, "I'm sorry?"

Yoo-Jin repeated the question, "How much do you want?"

"It depends on the kind of job you want me to do and how long it will take ---"

"The job is simple, Tami. Stay away from my fiancee."

Taken aback by Yoo-Jin's words, Tami almost gasped, "What?"

"Stay away from Dong Gun. I'll write you a check. How much do you want? A million? Two? I could write you a check for five million."

Tami stood up, "I'm sorry, Ms. Choi, you must be mistaken. I'm not the kind of person you think I am. If you want me to stay away from Dong Gun-shi, I've already done so. This insult was not necessary. Excuse me..." she said and left Café Vida in a hurry.



Dong Gun was getting worried sick about Tami and her whereabouts. He was upset because Tami always ignored or rejected his calls. All he wanted to know was if she's okay, and why she decided to leave like that.

"Sang Woo-shi... have you heard from Tami?" Dong Gun asked over the phone.

"Not since she came here to deliver the pictures. Why? Is anything wrong?" Sang Woo asked back.

Dong Gun sighed, "No... nothing."

"Yoo-Jin called me yesterday and got Tami's number. She said she needed a photographer for a certain job. I recommended Tami since you know her..."

"What?" Dong Gun asked, "Yoo-Jin got Tami's number?"

"Yes."

Dong Gun terminated his call to Sang Woo and called Yoo-Jin.

"Yes, dear ex-boyfriend... what do you want?" Yoo-Jin asked when she answered the phone.

In between gritted teeth, Dong Gun asked, "Did you call Tami?"

"Oh, not only that. I just met her."

"Why?" he asked. "What did you say to her?"

"Nothing!" Yoo-Jin said, teasingly, "I was only trying to help the poor thing. It's sad, though, she didn't accept my check for a job I asked her to do."

Dong Gun's blood rose to his cheek, "What job?"

"Leave you..."



"Ano ka ba naman? Puso mo..." Kyle told Tami, rubbing her back. They were inside a club that afternoon, waiting for Kyle's bandmates to come for rehearsal. "Pakita mo sa 'kin yang Yoo-Jin na yan, sasapakin ko!"

Tami clenched and unclenched her fists, "Ang ganda nga niya, ang pangit naman ng ugali niya. Ano'ng kala niya sa akin? Mukhang pera? Nilayuan ko na nga yung boyfriend niya nang kusa nung nalaman kong ikakasal na sila eh!"

Kyle gave Tami a glass of water, "O, inuman mo muna yan para bumaba presyon mo," he said and Tami drank some. "Ikaw naman kasi... yang kamandag mo!"

"Ano na naman? Mang-aasar ka na naman?"

"Hindi ko akalain na isang Koreano pala ang matutuklaw ng kamandag mo!" Kyle teased.

Tami hit Kyle's back, "Ano ka ba? Hindi ako ahas, no!"

"Eh bakit ka sumama dun kay... ano nga'ng pangalan nun?"

"DONG GUN!"

"Ayun... Dong Gun! Bakit ka sumama kay Dong Gun kung alam mong may fiancee na siya?" Kyle asked.

Tami thought for a moment. She did make a mistake, letting Dong Gun help her out like that, like she was someone special. She was wrong, she knew it at first, but it felt so good that she wanted more.

Kyle pinched her arm, "Huy! Ano? Naku... wag mo sabihing in love ka sa Koreanong yan?"

She glared at him, "Ewan ko sa iyo!"

"Ayan na nga!!! Bingo!" Kyle exclaimed and sat down behind his drumset. He played a slow and steady beat, just like the beating of the heart. "Tami... ang tao, sa normal na pagkakataon, nakakapag-isip at nakakasagot nang tama."

The beat gradually became quicker, "Pero pag nagsimula nang manghimasok ang puso, nag-iiba na lahat. Ang irasyonal, nagiging rasyonal. Kung minsan, ang mali, nagiging tama."

Tami remembered the first time she met Dong Gun until the last time they talked. She definitely wanted the attention Dong Gun gave her, but she didn’t want this to happen.

"Hanggang sa hindi mo na alam ang ginagawa mo," Kyle said, his drumbeat getting wilder and wilder, "Takbo ka nang takbo, bigay ka nang bigay, tanggap ka nang tanggap... nasasaktan ka pero hindi mo iniinda, nakakasakit ka pero hindi mo namamalayan. At kahit hindi ka na makahinga, gusto mo pa ring tumibok ang puso mo para sa kanya…"

Tami felt tears sting her eyes. Kyle was right. She did have feelings for Dong Gun, and she just didn't want to admit it.

"Ganun ba, Tami? In love na ba ang bestfriend ko?"

Tami kept her head down, "Matagal na 'kong in love. Hindi mo lang napapansin," she said and ran out of the club.



Dong Gun entered his Uncle Han Sun's shop once again, and this time, the old man noticed a very solemn Dong Gun.

"Something bothering you, son?" Han Sun asked.

Dong Gun sighed, "I can't find her," he said.

"Who?"

Dong Gun looked at Han Sun, eyes almost teary, "Tami. My cloudy-eyed girl."

"What happened?" Han Sun asked thoughtfully.

"I don't understand, uncle. I don't understand."

"Sit down, son," Han Sun said, leading Dong Gun into the shop’s small office. "I'll get you some tea."

Dong Gun did as he was told, and Han Sun just watched Dong Gun while he prepared his tea. He smiled when he handed the cup to Dong Gun. "You know... that face..." he said, "It looks so familiar."

"What do you mean?" Dong Gun asked curiously.

The old man gave out a soft laugh and patted Dong Gun's cheek, "You look just like you did years back when you learned Dana was dying from leukemia."

Dong Gun couldn't answer.

"Cheer up," Han Sun said. "Your cloudy eyed girl will see the sun shine soon. Just wish you'll be the first one she lays her eyes on."