Cloudy Eyed Girl

Love Me Until...

2005-11-01T17:18:00.000+08:00

Soo-Hyuk is madly in love with Lee --- that's a given --- since she had helped him heal the wounds that Tae-Young and Ki Joo gave him when they decided to reciprocate their love for each other. He never once said that he loves Lee, but every move and every breath he took, he took for her.

Lee sees Soo-Hyuk like a god. To her, he is everything she knows --- almost literally, as she has her long term memories wiped out from an incident that even Soo-Hyuk cannot understand. Since she fell in love with him, she has never once missed a day without telling Soo-Hyuk how she loves him.

Soo-Hyuk will do everything not to get his mending heart broken again, and Lee will do everything to keep Soo-Hyuk in her life --- but can they help it if Lee begins to remember who she really is?

Join Soo-Hyuk and Lee in their journey... Love Me Until...

Epilogue

2005-10-12T17:17:00.000+08:00

ONE YEAR LATER

Dong Gun became extremely busy with a new series when he came back to Korea. The series required him to travel to different nearby countries like Thailand, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. Needless to say, he didn't have time to come back to the Philippines to see Tami again. Even his communication with Jung Wha was cut off when she went back to the United States to study fashion design.

Tami also became busy with her jobs. She continued to be a freelance photographer, covering events such as weddings, debuts, fashion shows, and establishment openings. Aside from that, she and Malyn put up a small business that catered to young men and women who are addicted to unique fashion accessoriies. Tami and Malyn went on a sale "test drive" on replicas of Tami's brass key pendant, and it clicked. In no time, their shop was known for selling antique-looking key pendants and other accessories.

From time to time, Tami would remember Dong Gun and miss him, and the only thing she could do was hold the brass key she wore around her neck. If only in her memory, she could be with him, she thought.

"Annio. There is nothing you could possibly say or do to make me change my mind. Thank you very much for everything, but now, I would like to play this role..." Dong Gun said with a smile and stood up to leave the table. He bowed to his manager and walked away.

"Dong Gun-shi!" He turned around. "What are you going to do now?" his manager asked.

Dong Gun thought for a moment and smiled, "I'm going to fly a kite."

Tami was preparing to go to Malyn's shop that day to bring a new stock of key pendants when Jammi walked up to her and pulled her sleeve.

"Ate... samahan mo naman ako sa kite-flying contest namin sa CCP."

Tami looked at Jammi, "Ha? Kailan?"

"Ngayon."

"Ano? Naku... eh paano ba 'to, may lakad ako," Tami said. She looked at him and creased his hair playfully, "Jams, next time na lang, ha? Importante kasi eh."

Jammi nodded, "Okay."

Tami continued preparing her things, but was bothered when she saw Jammi fixing his kite alone. She sighed and walked up to Jammi. "Halika na nga," she told him, "Akin na. Ako na mag-aayos niyan. Tatawagan ko na lang si Malyn para siya na lang mag-pick up ng mga pendant dito."

"Talaga Ate, sasamahan mo ako?"

Tami rolled her eyes, "Ano pa nga ba?"

"Yehey!" he exclaimed and hugged Tami, "I love you Ate!"

"O, mag-register ka muna doon," Tami told her brother when got to the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds for the kite-flying contest. Jammi ran to the registration booth while Tami stood at the entrance.

"Ma'am," a tall guy who wore an ID of the kite-flying contest committee walked up to her. "Good afternoon, my name is Tony."

Tami smiled at her, "Yes, Tony, what can I do for you?"

"I'd like to ask if you are Miss Tami Fajardo..."

"Yes, I am," Tami answered and figured somebody in the crowd knew her as a photographer. "Why?"

Tony held out a big package for her. It was covered in brown paper, and looked like it was bigger than Jammi. "Somebody wanted to give this to you. It's a gift, Ma'am."

"Who'd give this to me? I can't---"

"Don't worry, Ma'am. We've already had it checked out by security. It's only a kite.”

At that moment Jammi ran to Tami and saw the big package she was holding in her arms. "Wow, ate! Ano yan?"

She looked at Tami, "Ah, ito? Saranggola."

Jammi's eyes glowed, "Saranggola!? Ang laki!!! Yan na lang paliliparin ko, ate!"

"Ha? Ah... o sige," she told Jammi and gave him the kite. Jammi went inside the kite-flying area and excitedly opened the package. Tami faced Tony, "Thank you."

"Wala pong anuman, Ma'am. Sige po. Good luck po sa inyo," Tony said and turned around.

"Ah Tony... si-sinong nagbigay nung saranggola?" Tami asked.

Tony looked at her, "Ma'am, sabi niya kabigan niya raw po kayo."

Tami wondered who could possibly give her a kite, and who would know where she was at that exact moment. Maybe it was Kyle, but no, she thought. Kyle didn't know she was going to the kitefest, and neither did she. Her being there was a spur of the moment thing. She got lost in her thoughts and was surprised to hear Jammi calling her.

"ATE!!! ATE!!! TINGNAN MO YUNG SARANGGOLA KO!"

As if waking from a trance, Tami jumped back into reality again and looked at Jammi. Following the string that Jammi held in his hand, she looked up and saw a magnificent white kite that looked from afar like an angel spreading out its wings. As the wind blew harder, she noticed that a smaller part of the kite was unfolding slowly, like it was growing a tail.

As the tail grew longer, she noticed something written on it, and she couldn't believe her eyes. The words were in Korean, and they said: Sarang hae.

She looked around like a lost little child looking for her parents in a park. Her chest was brimming with anticipation, and her eyes were welling up with tears.

"You think you're the only one who could write something on a kite?"

Quickly, she turned around, following the voice she heard and saw Dong Gun walking towards her. As soon as he came near her, he handed her a white handkerchief.

She looked at the handkerchief and took it from Dong Gun, but before she could wipe her tears away with it, Dong Gun reached out, held her face and wiped her tears with his hands. "God, I've wanted so much to do that," he said.

"Dong Gun-shi? What are you doing here?" Tami asked.

"You were right," he said. "If you want to fly a kite, it has to be at the right time, at the right place, and with the right circumstances."

"I've tried so many times to find you, but I failed. I figured it was Fate's way of telling me that it wasn't the right time yet. But today... today is the perfect day to fly a kite." He held her shoulders, "You haven't cut the strings just yet, have you?"

Tami shook her head, "You're not supposed to be here," she said and looked around to see if there were press people around. Fortunately, the people around were very busy with the event that they seemed oblivious to Dong Gun's presence.

Dong Gun hushed her, "Please, Tami. Don't turn your back on me. I've left my world to be with you."

"You what?" Tami asked, disbelieving.

"I'm tired of playing roles, Tami. This time, I want it to be real." Dong Gun held her arms, "I want to ride bikes, dance in the rain, cook adobo, sing while no one is looking... and most importantly, fly a kite with you."

Tami cried. She was trembling all over and Dong Gun felt it. He pulled her closer and hugged her tightly. Tears fell down his face too, as he kissed her hair gently and whispered into her ear, "Mahal kita."

Surprised, Tami pulled away and look into Dong Gun's eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her lips sofly, passionately, and at that moment he felt like he owned the whole world. He held her face again after the kiss, "Don't faint..." he told her.

Tami smiled and shook her head, disbelieving everything that had just happened. Dong Gun looked over at Jammi and gave him a thumbs-up. Tami saw this gesture, "What was that for?"

Dong Gun shrugged, "Let's just say I had a little help from an angel who adores his sister very much."

Touched by his words, she embraced him again, "Sarang hae, Dong Gun-shi," she whispered. "Sarang hae."

"Ikaw ang siyang pag-ibig ko, asahan mo ang katapatan ko. Kahit ang puso ko'y nalulumbay, mananatiling ikaw pa rin..."

Jammi pulled Dong Gun's sleeve, and he bent down to hear what Jammi had to say. "Kuya Lee, do you think my Ate is pretty?" he whispered. It was Patrick and Alice's church wedding, and Tami was assigned to sing their wedding song.

Dong Gun smiled and looked at Tami who was wearing a heavenly white dress, standing at the side of the altar, singing. The rays of the bright afternoon sun glowed through the stained glass window of the church and illuminated Tami's face.

"No..." Dong Gun told Jammi. "I think she's beautiful."

Tami was the last person out of the church, and she found Dong Gun standing by the main door, waiting for her. She smiled at him when he turned around, "Let's go?" she asked.

He just looked at her from head to toe, smiling. "What? Why are you looking at me funny?" Tami asked.

After a few seconds, Dong Gun turned his back against her, "Come on. Ride my back."

"What?"

"Come on!"

"Dong Gun-shi! I'm wearing a dress!"

Dong Gun turned to her and grabbed her, letting her ride on his back. "Dong Gun-shi!!!" she wailed as he walked outside the church. "Put me down!"

"Keep still, Tami..." Dong Gun said and continued walking. "Don't you know that I've been wanting to do this with you while we were still in Seoul?"

Tami stopped wailing and flailing her arms as Dong Gun walked. "Do you miss Seoul?”" she asked.

"I won't lie. Yes, I do miss Seoul. I miss my house," Dong Gun replied, which made Tami sad that he had given up all of his conveniences for her. "But the house became nothing more than an empty space when you left."

"Dong Gun-shi... I just... I don't think you should've ---"

"Shhh..." Dong Gun hushed her, "Stop talking and look at the sky." Like a child being instructed by an elder, she was swayed. She looked at the sky and saw the horizon, beautifully lit by the setting sun. "No one can tell if the sun is still going to rise tomorrow, or if the clouds are going to hide its light from us. No one can tell if the next rainfall will be the last, or if it will flood us apart."

"Be that as it may, I want to spend every tomorrow with you... so I don't have to worry if it will be the last. As early as now, I want to tell you that I won't regret anything that I've ever done --- especially the ones I did while I was thinking of you --- because somebody told me once, that you should never regret loving anyone."

Tami remembered what she told Dong Gun in Seoul last Christmas: "You never regret loving anyone, ajushi. You shouldn't be sorry for loving, because love the best gift you could give anyone... regardless of whether he or she chooses to receive it or not."

Dong Gun continued, "Because love is the best gift you could give anyone..."

"Regardless of whether he or she chooses to receive it or not," Tami finished, and put her arms around Dong Gun. She leaned her head on her back as tears flowed from her eyes once again.

Dong Gun felt her tears on his shirt, "Are you crying?" he asked.

Tami just nodded as her eyes looked at the sky, "Thank you, God. Thank you very much," she said in her heart as a prayer. "Thank you."

Dong Gun smiled. "You shouldn't," he said. His eyes welled up with tears also, and as he continued walking, holding Tami securely behind him, he remembered Dana. "I've found her, Dana. And I promise I will be the only light that will brighten her cloudy eyes..."

The End.
May 31, 2005

Twenty-Eight

2005-09-24T17:03:00.000+08:00

Tami's mother and Jammi were watching television when she came in. Jammi squealed in delight when he saw her and pointed at the TV set, "ATE DALI! SI LEE DONG GUN!"

Tami smiled faintly, "Kung makasigaw ka naman, parang ikaw lang ang tao rito." She looked at the TV screen and saw Dong Gun sitting in front of a long table with Jeon Ji-Hyun, Mr. Jung and Mr. Lopez. She smiled when she saw him, but was worried a little when she noticed that he looked like he lost weight.

"Anak, hindi ba nakita mo na siya sa personal? Guwapo ba siya talaga?" her mother asked.

She looked at her mother, "Opo. Sobrang guwapo," she replied. "May mga pictures ako niya sa bahay. Dinala ko na, sayang naman. Mga remembrance ko rin yun sa Seoul."

"Talaga? Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi? Pagbalik natin, tingnan natin ha?"

Tami laughed. "O sige!"

"Ate... akala ko ba sabi mo, gagawin mo siyang boyfriend mo?" Jammi asked.

"Ano ka bang bata ka?" Tami asked and pinched his nose, "Nagbibiro lang ako no'n ano? Sa tingin mo ba kaya kong gawin yun?"

Jammi just smiled. "Sayang. Akala ko pa naman, magiging bayaw ko na si Martin."

"Siraulo ka talagang bata ka!!!"

That night, while Tami lay beside Jammi, she thought of Dong Gun. She thought of where might be,what he might be doing, if he was looking for her...

She shook her head. Dong Gun is too busy to do that. He might not even be looking for her anymore. Tears stung her eyes. She wanted him to look for her, find his way to her like he said in his letter. "It's impossible," she thought. "Even if he came looking for me, he'd still have to go back to his world. His life. I don't belong there."

"God, should I give up?" she asked, in prayer. "I knew the meaning of love when he embraced me tightly, but not too tight as to crush me. There was a power in his embrace that told me he wanted to keep me, but could let me go if I wanted him to. Did he really love me that much?"

The tears finally fell, "Because I do."

The two days of Dong Gun's stay had ended, and he was packing his things for the airport. He had barely five hours to pack, make a final public appearance, and board the plane to Seoul. Looking out the window, he saw the view of the city and wondered where Tami could be at that exact moment.

His phone rang. Jung Wha was calling.

"Hello, Jung Wha."

"Are you still in Manila?" Jung Wha asked.

"Yes, but I'm leaving this afternoon. Why?"

"I just got off the phone with Tami. I got her home address."

Dong Gun felt like he was going to drop the phone as his hands trembled, grabbing a pen and paper to jot down the information Jung Wha gave her.

"Dong Gun-shi, I'm sorry I don't know where the hell this is, or how you can get there... so you're on your own," Jung Wha said.

He nodded, "Don't worry. I'll manage. You've already troubled yourself too much."

"That's no problem."

"Did Tami say if she's home?" Dong Gun asked.

"She said she'll be home this afternoon. Her brother is going to get released from the hospital already."

Dong Gun smiled, "Is her brother better?"

"Yes, thank God."

"Great. I hope I can see her before I leave today..."

Right after his final press appearance, Dong Gun sneaked out from the hotel and went on looking for the address Jung Wha gave her. It was a good thing that his car's driver knew where to find it, so they got there right away.

"This is it, sir," the driver said, stopping in front of an old bungalow house.

Dong Gun looked out the window and remembered his wish as he put the phone down after speaking to Jung Wha. "If it rains today," he said, "Tami and I should be together."

"Please wait for me," he told the driver as he went out, carrying a bouquet of white roses in his arms. He walked towards the house. There was a small yard in front of the house which had little and uneven grass patches. A dog can be heard barking from afar, and from what Dong Gun could see, Tami's house looked deserted.

He knocked at the door. No one answered. He tried again. Nothing.

"She should be here any minute," he thought, looking at his watch. He had to be at the airport in less than two hours. To see Tami and talk to her for five minutes would be enough to last him three more months without her.

All of a sudden, it started to rain.

"Naku naman, umulan pa!" Tami's mother said. She and Jammi were waiting for Tami at the hospital lobby as Tami settled their accounts. "Wala pa naman tayong payong."

Tami walked quickly to them with a smile, "Halika na," she said, "Ay... umuulan?"

"Oo nga eh. Naku, paano ba ito? Magpapatila ba tayo?" her mother asked.

"Hindi na, Mommy. Dito muna kayo, kukuha lang ako ng taxi, ha?" Tami said and ran out of the hospital to hail a cab.

Jammi wondered, "Bakit ganun? Summer na summer eh umuulan?"

"Yan ang tinatawag na Agua de Mayo, anak," his mother said. "Suwerte yan pag ganyan."

"Sir, we should leave already! You'll be late for your flight!" the driver called out to Dong Gun, who was standing beside the front door of Tami's house.

"Five minutes!" he called out.

"You don't understand, sir! The traffic here becomes heavy when it rains! You might miss your flight!"

Dong Gun looked around and tried to see if Tami was anywhere near. "Tami... where are you?" he said softly. "Please... please come home."

The driver called to him again, "Please sir! Mr. Jung will get mad at me if you miss your flight!"

Defeated, Dong Gun's shoulders became limp, and he placed the bouquet of white roses gently in front of the door. He stared at them for a moment, and then looked up at the sky. It was gray and cloudy, and the rain continued to fall.

Tami ran out of the cab when they arrived home to get an umbrella for Jammi and her mother, but halfway to the door, she stopped. She saw a bouquet of white roses lying in front of their door. Only one person popped into her mind: Dong Gun.

She looked around and tried to see if he was anywhere near, but she didn't see him. Soaked in the rain, she remembered what she was there for, and ran towards the house. She picked up the bouquet and opened the door. Quickly, she went to get an umbrella and ran back to the cab.

"Mommy oh... mag-share na kayo ni Jammi," she said, handing the umbrella to her mom.

"Ikaw anak?"

"Okay na... tatakbuhin ko na lang. Basa na rin naman ako," she said and then ran off.

As soon as she got inside the house, she picked up the bouquet and put it inside her room so that her mother would not see. She closed the door of her room and just stood there, mind wandering. Could it be that Dong Gun was able to track her down, and that he was looking for her all this time? How did he get her address?

She suddenly remembered that she spoke to Jung Wha earlier, before she went to the hospital to pick Jammi and her mother up.

"Tami, can I get your home address?"

"Why?"

"I might be taking a vacation there soon... so I need to know where I can find you."

"Are you serious?"

"Sure!"

"Jung Wha... you naughty girl," she thought as she felt tears stinging her eyes again. "Thank you."

Just in time, her mother and Jammi came inside the house. "O anak, tulungan mo na ako rito sa mga gamit..."

Tami smiled. There was a new energy running through her veins. "Sige na, Mommy. Magpahinga ka na. Ako na diyan. Manood ka na lang muna ng TV. Balita na 'ata." She walked over to the TV set and switched it on.

"At para sa Showbiz Balita, Korean actor Lee Dong Gun, nakaalis na sa bansa. Nakaalis na nga sa bansa ang sikat na aktor na si Lee Dong Gun kaninang hapon matapos ang kanyang matagumpay na Philippine movie premiere..."

"Ay... nakauwi na pala siya..." Jammi said, looking at the TV screen. Tami felt like she was going to faint.

Twenty-Seven

2005-09-24T16:02:00.000+08:00

"What?" Dong Gun asked, "Can you say that again, please?"

"Tami's baby brother has been hospitalized again. She said he'd undergone an operation and is still under observation," Jung Wha said sadly. "Poor Tami. Life's been very hard on her."

Dong Gun caught on Jung Wha's last words, "Why? What's been happening to her?"

"Well, she won't say anything, but I can feel it in her voice. The only thing I know is that she's been working very hard since she went back to Manila since she's the family's breadwinner now. And Jammi's condition is not helping at all."

Dong Gun felt sad hearing the news about Tami. "Jung Wha... do you have Tami's home address?"

"No, I don't. I was supposed to ask her the last time but I forgot. I'm sorry."

Dong Gun sighed, "That's okay. Could you… give her address to me once you get a hold of it?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Pasensiya ka na, anak... nangailangan lang ang Kuya Patrick mo eh. Hindi mo ba nakita yung iniwan kong sulat kay Jammi?" Tami's mother said. She and Tami's elder brother Patrick came to the hospital the day after Jammi’s operation.

Tami couldn't believe her ears, "Mommy naman! Sa tingin mo mapapansin ko pa yung sulat na yun kung namimilipit na sa sakit si Jammi?"

"I'm sorry, Tami. Hindi ko inasahang mangyayari 'to."

"Inuna niyo pa si Kuya. Alam niyo namang mas kailangan kayo ni Jammi."

Tami's brother, who was standing by the door of the ward, reacted to Tami's words. "Hoy, Tami... tigil-tigilan mo yang pagsagot mo kay Mommy ah! Sasamain ka sa akin!"

"Ah talaga? Sige... subukan mo!" Tami said, "Wala ka na ngang naitulong, nakagulo ka pa! Eh kung yung ipinampiyansa sa iyo ni Mommy naidagdag natin sa gastos dito sa ospital, di sana hindi tayo namomroblema ngayon!"

Patrick walked over to her, but their mother got in the way. "Patrick!"

"Pagsabihan niyo nga yang si Tami," Patrick said, "Nakapunta lang ng ibang bansa, nagmamayabang na!"

"Hindi ako nagyayabang, Kuya! Nagiging praktikal lang ako!"

"Kung praktikal ka, hindi ka dapat gumastos nang malaki!"

"Wala akong pakialam kung maubos lahat ng naipon ko basta masagip ko lang ang buhay ni Jammi! Ikaw ba... naisip mo yun?"

Patrick pointed at Tami, "Hoy... kung gumastos ka ng malaking pera, wala akong kasalanan dun! Gusto mo lang atang manumbat kaya ka nagkakaganyan eh!"

Tami's blood boiled. She wanted none of the conversation anymore. She shook her head and waved Patrick off. "Mommy, pakibantayan si Jammi. Lalabas lang ako sandali," she told her mom and went out of the ward, leaving Patrick with a glare.

Dong Gun drove around Seoul to secure his documents for travel, and remembered to stop by the church Tami frequented while she stayed there. On that day, though, there was a wedding going on. He walked to the side of the church to catch a glimpse of the wedding, and saw the young couple exchanging marriage vows.

He noticed that the young lady wearing the beautiful wedding gown looked a bit like Tami, and figured that she must be Filipina too. His hunch proved correct when he heard a familiar tune being sung by a soloist after the vows have been said.

"Ikaw lamang ang pangakong mahalin..."

Dong Gun didn't understand the words, but he remembered what Tami had said to him about what the song meant.

"The song is about a vow. A vow that one person made, to love another faithfully no matter what happens."

He looked at the girl who was singing and smiled when he saw that she looked like the bride. "They must be siblings," he thought. He shook his head when he remembered Tami again. "She must be having a hard time now. My poor Tami..."

"Ikaw ang siyang pag-ibig ko. Asahan mo ang katapatan ko. Kahit ang puso ko'y nalulumbay, mananatiling ikaw pa rin..."

"It speaks of love that conquers fear... because when you love someone, you draw strength from him or her. And you will never be afraid, because you won't be alone anymore."

"Wait for me, Tami..." he said to himself as he made the sign of the cross. “I’ll find my way to you, and you will never, ever be alone anymore.”

"Ate... tingnan mo oh!" Jammi said, pointing to the TV screen. "Si Lee Dong Gun dumating dito sa atin!"

Tami just came in from the hospital pantry, bringing some warm water for Jammi's milk. "Naku, Jammi, wag mo nga akong pinaglololoko!"

"Hindi nga ate!!!" Jammi exclaimed, pressing the volume button on the remote control so that Tami could hear the news. Unfortunately, the news segment about Lee Dong Gun just ended as soon as Tami looked at the TV screen.

She smirked at Jammi, "'Kuuu... kung hindi ka lang may sakit diyan, kinurot na kita eh!"

Jammi frowned, "Totoo naman talaga eh."

Tami smiled at him and brought him his glass of milk. "O, inumin mo na muna 'to."

"Ate... malungkot ka ba?" Jammi asked. Tami just looked at him thoughtfully and didn't know quite what to say. "Kasi lagi na lang kayo nag-aaway ni Kuya Pat."

Tami pinched Jammi's nose gently, "Pasensiya ka na... kailangan mo pang marinig yung away namin ni Kuya. Siya kasi eh. Big boy na siya, pero gumagawa pa siya ng bad things."

"Bad things? Ano yun?"

"Wag mo nang isipin yun," Tami said. "Basta ngayon, ang isipin mo eh kung paano ka gagaling agad. Para makauwi na tayo. Ha?"

Jammi nodded. "Inumin mo na yan bago lumamig," Tami instructed, and Jammi followed. "Gusto mo nang kumain? Ihahanda ko na yung food mo..."

The Philippine premiere was over, and Dong Gun was only given two more days to stay in Manila. Then, it was back to Seoul for him for more projects.

"Mr. Jung... I need to go somewhere. May I be excused?" Dong Gun asked the producer while they walked out of the theatre where the premiere was held.

Mr. Jung looked up at him, "Sorry Dong Gun-shi. We have a press conference and party tonight at the Cultural Center. You'll have to freshen up for the Philippine press."

Dong Gun nodded, "I see. May I please have the itinerary for our whole stay here?"

"Alright, I'll have them sent to you to your room... but I'm afraid there's not much time for you to roam around. I'm really sorry. The schedule is very hectic."

"I understand," Dong Gun said. "I'll go ahead."

"See you later, Dong Gun-shi."

Dong Gun walked outside the theatre and went into the car that was waiting for him. He instructed the driver to take him to the hotel where he stayed, and then he closed his eyes to doze off. He hadn't been able to get some rest after he arrived earlier, and he wanted to sleep very badly.

The car coasted through the streets smoothly, passing by a hospital. Tami was crossing the street at the very same area. Her mother came to the hospital and told her to get some clothes and change since she's been in the hospital for days.

As she crossed the street, the car Dong Gun was riding in almost hit her. Luckily, the driver stopped before the car could even get an inch near her. The driver, cursed, and Tami gave him an apologetic look.

"What happened?" Dong Gun asked, waking up because of the abrupt stop.

"Crazy pedestrians," the driver said. Dong Gun looked outside the window and saw a bunch of people crossing.

He sighed, "Be careful, sir," he told the driver, and then went back to sleep.

Tami was on her way to the hospital that night when she remembered she had to buy a few things. She dropped by a small convenience store before going to the hospital. Picking up a basket, she made her way to the dairy section to get some milk for Jammi.

At the same time, Dong Gun entered the convenience store Tami was in. He asked to drop by the store so he could buy some breath mints. He kept his head down, reading the piece of paper that contained his schedule for the next two days.

He was disappointed to find out that his schedule was full, giving him no chance to go looking for Tami. He crumpled the piece of paper and threw it into the trash can. Then dragging his feet, he went straight to the counter to ask for breath mints.

Tami was on her way to the counter after picking up some milk, bread and biscuits that she, Jammi and her mother could share. Walking towards the counter, he saw a tall man wearing a suit, paying for something. She smiled, remembering Dong Gun and how good he looked wearing suits.

She was already halfway to the counter when she remembered that she forgot to get Jammi's favorite chocolate. She turned around and went back to the dairy section.

"Thank you," Dong Gun told the cashier and turned around. He saw a lady walking away, carrying a small green grocery basket. She was wearing a simple pair of jeans and a white shirt, her hair in a neat pony. He smiled and remembered Tami, and then, walked out of the grocery store.

As soon as Tami got to the counter, she overheard the cashiers talking to one another.

"Ano ka ba? Kamukha lang yun noh!" one of the lady cashiers said.

"Si Lee Dong Gun nga yon! Diba sabi sa balita nandito nga siya!"

Tami's heart raced at the mention of Dong Gun's name. She placed all the groceries she picked out on the counter and listened to the cashiers speaking.

"Imposibleng pupunta yun dito nang mag-isa. Siyempre dapat may bodyguard yun noh!"

"Malay mo naman. Eh breath mints lang naman yung binili niya. Kailangan pa ba niya ng bodyguard para dun?"

"Hoy... asikasuhin mo yung bumibili!"

"Eto na nga eh! Hi Ma'am..."

Tami smiled, "Hi."

"Ma'am pasensiya na po ha?"

"Okay lang. Uh... miss... ano yung sinasabi mo tungkol kay Lee Dong Gun?"

The cashier punched in her groceries, "Ay oo ma'am. Kasi may lalaki dito kaaalis lang. Kamukhang-kamukha po ni Lee Dong Gun! Ang tangkad ma'am... naka-coat and tie pa! Ang guwapo nga po eh!"

"Talaga?" Tami asked, feeling sick to the stomach. She wanted so much to see him again. She missed the way he was always there when she was at her lowest. She clutched the brass key hanging around her neck, "Ang suwerte niyo naman, nakita niyo siya. Sayang... hindi ko napansin.”" Then, she paid for her groceries.

The cashier smiled at her and gave her change. "Thank you ma'am... come again."

Tami walked out of the convenience store and looked around. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Finally, she thought, after three long months she and Dong Gun are breathing the same air again, and standing on the same soil.

She decided that this thought was enough for her, since she was the one who decided to leave him alone. The mere fact that they hadn't bumped into each other in that small convenience store made her believe that this is really how things should be.

Twenty-Six

2005-09-08T16:24:00.000+08:00

Several weeks passed, and Tami was back to her normal routine. She was disappointed by the fact that her elder brother had disappeared without a trace, since he would've somehow helped out in making Jammi's condition better. Since she was the head of the family now, she had to busy herself with work, work, and more work.

Dong Gun, meanwhile, was also very busy with his film and new projects. He felt relieved that there was so much work flooding him that it takes his mind away from Tami. Sometimes he even forgets to change his clothes before sleeping after a long day of work.

"Kyle... baka naman may puwede kang ipa-raket sa akin," Tami said. "Katatapos lang nung isa kong project kay Mr. Lopez eh... mababakante na naman ako."

Kyle and Tami were inside a bar owned by their friend Malyn. They were drinking and having fun since it was Tami's birthday.

Malyn hit Tami's head with her hand, "Hoy, ikaw nga magtigil! Birthday na birthday mo, puro trabaho ang iniisip mo!" she scolded her. "Ano ba naman yung mag-enjoy ka muna at kalimutan yang trabaho! Ako naman ang magbabayad nito lahat ano!"

Tami laughed, "Ano ka ba? Kailangang kumita eh!"

"Reyna ng raket yan si Tami!" Kyle explained. "Kahit nga sa Korea, kung anu-ano pinaggagagawa niyan!"

"Hay naku... paano kasi yang tinamaan ng magaling mong kapatid, imbis na makatulong sa inyo eh nakapabigat pa!" Malyn said. Tami didn't seem to hear it. Her mind stopped at the word "Korea."

Malyn hit her head again, "HUY!"

"Aray naman!" Tami said, caressing her head, "Bakit ba?"

"Gusto mo ng raket?" Malyn asked.

Tami just nodded. Malyn reached for the brass key that Tami wore on her neck. "Alam mo, malapit na akong magtayo ng shop sa Manila. Novelty and accessory shop. Pakiramdam ko... bebenta yung mga ganitong tipo. Saan mo 'to nakuha?"

"Ahh... ito?" Tami held the brass key in her hand, "Bigay lang 'to eh."

"Papagawa tayo ng maraming ganyan. Iba't ibang design... patok yan! Ano? Gusto mong jumoin sa negosyo ko?"

Tami thought for a while. "Hindi naman talaga kuwintas 'to eh. Susi lang talaga 'to..."

Malyn looked at her, "Ng ano?"

"Eh di ano pa?" Kyle butted in, "Susi ng puso ni Lee Dong Gun!" He laughed and drank a swig of beer. "Iniwanan sa kanya ni Lee Dong Gun yung treasure chest niya! Ang sweet nga eh! Malyn, akalain mo... nakaakit ng Koreano 'tong Best ko! Ang tindi ng kamandag diba?"

"Sinabi nang hindi ako ahas eh!" Tami exclaimed, nudging Kyle sharply on the chest.

Malyn's eyes widened. "Punyeta ka! Close kayo ni Lee Dong Gun?!? Bakit hindi ka nagsasabi?" She pulled Tami's sleeve, "Huy, magkuwento ka! Paano kayo nagkakilala? Mabait ba siya? Guwapo ba talaga? Si Kwon Sang Woo nakita mo rin ba?"

Tami was confused at all of Malyn's questions that she couldn't answer. Suddenly, her phone rang and she breathed a sigh of relief as she answered the call.

"Ate!!!" She heard Jammi cry on the other line.

"Jammi? Baby, bakit ka umiiyak?"

"Ate, ang sakit-sakit ng tiyan ko!!!"

Tami panicked. "Nasaan si Mommy? Sino'ng kasama mo diyan?"

"Umalis si Mommy... kasi tumawag si Kuya... Ate... ang sakit!"

"Parating na ako, baby... hintayin mo ako!!!"

Tami found Jammi crouched on the floor of their house, half-conscious. She immediately picked him up and ran outside. She hailed a taxi, "Mama... sa PGH po. Pakibilisan na lang..."

"Ate..." Jammi cried, clutching his stomach, "Ate... ang sakit."

Caressing Jammi's hair, she whispered, "Jammi, big boy ka na, diba?"

"Opo."

"Tiisin mo muna ha?" Tami said firmly. She couldn't help but cry, wishing it was her who felt Jammi's pain. "Manong... pakibilisan na lang po, please."

"Ma'am, ito na po ang lahat ng makakaya ko. Traffic po kahit saan."

When Dong Gun went home that day, he felt extremely lonely. It was almost three months after Tami left Korea, and he had not tried to call her or communicate with her ever since. He always told himself that he would give her time, that he wouldn't rush things... and that he would make Tami miss him somehow.

Today though, he felt that his plan backfired. Not only did he see Tami everywhere in his house, he also smelled her familiar sweet perfume.

He grabbed his cellphone and stared at it for a while, thinking if he should call Tami or not. At that same moment, he received a call from the Korean producer of his movie.

"Ann yong ha seyo!" he greeted.

"Ann yong ha seyo, Dong Gun-shi! Are you busy?"

Dong Gun shook his head, "Oh, no... not really. What can I do for you, Mr. Jung?"

"I just want to tell you that we will be going to the Philippines to promote your movie. The Philippine premiere is going to be held two weeks from now, so please get ready," Mr. Jung said.

Dong Gun's heart leaped, "The Philippines? When is this again?"

"Two weeks from now."

Dong Gun smiled. Now he had all the reason to call Tami.

Tami's hands shook as she pawned all the jewelry she wore at that moment: earrings, bracelet, watch and the gold ring her mother gave her when she was still in college. She waited for the pawner to tell her how much they cost, and she was bewildered when she found out she could only get 15,000 pesos at most.

"Ma'am, baka naman po puwedeng pakisagad niyo na lang."

The pawner looked at her, "Ma'am, sagad na po yan eh."

Tami's mind went wild. She needed more money. The doctors told her that Jammi needed to undergo surgery as soon as possible, or else he might die of blood poisoning. She reached into her bag and saw her cellphone. It was still relatively new, because she had bought them just a month before leaving for Korea.

She placed it on the pawn counter, "Ma'am, tumatanggap ba kayo nito?" she asked.

The pawner looked at the cellphone carefully. "Yes, Ma'am. Puwede po ito. Bale, mga 15,000 pesos po, sagad na."

Tami nodded. "Sige... okay na yan."

Dong Gun just got off the phone with Jung Wha, and he slumped back into his chair in disappointment. He'd tried calling Tami but her phone was turned off. Thinking she might have changed her number, he called Jung Wha to confirm, but she said Tami didn't change her number at all.

He sighed. The first day he decides to call Tami is the day her phone is turned off. "Never mind," he thought, "I can call her tomorrow."

Tami held Jammi's hand while he slept. The nurses had injected a tranquilizer in him so that he could fall asleep that night, since the pain he felt was not allowing him to. She touched Jammi's pained face and prayed silently.

The door to the ward opened, and in came Kyle and Malyn. They rushed to Tami's side and gently patted her back. She had dozed off.

"Tami..."

Tami opened her eyes and saw her friends standing beside her. "Si Mommy?"

Kyle and Malyn looked at each other, "Galing kami sa bahay mo," Kyle said, "Pero wala si Tita Gina doon."

"Saan kaya nagpunta si Mommy? Bakit niya iniwan si Jammi mag-isa?" Tami asked, feeling offended by what her mother had done.

"Relax ka lang, best. Baka naman may importante lang inasikaso si Tita," Kyle said, squeezing her shoulder.

Tears fell down Tami's cheek, "Ano pa bang mas importante kay Jammi? Si Kuya? Si Kuya na nang-iwan?" She wiped her tears. "Pag may nangyaring masama kay Jammi hindi ko sila mapapatawad."

Dong Gun couldn't sleep. He kept tossing and turning in bed. He couldn't explain what he was feeling. The weather was cold, but his brow was sweating, and his heart was beating so fast. Even then, he could feel a certain emptiness inside, and he felt like crying.

He stood up and went to the kitchen to have a glass of water. As he sat in the dining area, he remembered Tami. He remembered the way he felt when he frantically searched for Tami in Dongdaemun because he felt she got lost somehow. It was exactly like this.

Running to his room, Dong Gun dialled the number of Tami's cellphone. He was disappointed to find out that it was still turned off. He sighed and put his phone on the bedside table. As he tucked himself into bed again, he felt a tear fall down his eye. He wiped it away, wondering how it could've fallen when he didn't even feel his eyes sting.

Another tear fell, and another, and another. He closed his eyes and prayed, intimately, that Tami was safe no matter where she was.

When Dong Gun woke up the next morning he felt very, very tired. Looking at his watch, he figured he'd been sleeping for the past ten hours. He went out of bed and felt woozy all over. He felt like he was going to be sick.

He picked up his phone and dialled Tami's number again. Her phone was still off. "Oh Tami... please, I need to talk to you," he whispered, as if Tami would hear. He tried a couple more times, but ended up with nothing.

"Jammi... ano'ng sabi ng Ate?" Tami asked, holding her brother's hand while the nurses wheeled Jammi into the operating room.

Jammi looked into her eyes, "Huwag akong matutulog hangga't hindi mo ako kinakantahan," he answered.

"Very good," Tami said. "Jammi, makinig ka sa akin... nandito lang ang Ate ha?"

Jammi squeezed her hand. "Alam ko, Ate."

She fought back her tears, "Hihintayin kita. Tandaan mo... hihintayin kita, ha? Pag good boy ka, mabilis lang nilang gagawin ang operasyon, so be a good boy."

"Yes, Ate."

"Ma'am," one of the nurses said, "Hanggang dito na lang po kayo. Hindi na po kayo puwede sa loob."

Tami looked up and saw a sign on top of the doorway that read: OPERATING ROOM. She took a deep breath and let go of Jammi's hand, "I love you Jams..."

Twenty-Five

2005-09-07T20:58:00.000+08:00

When Dong Gun returned home that night, he found a small, thin package lying on his doorstep. He picked it up and brought it inside the house.

Sitting down on his couch, he wondered what the package could be, and decided to open it even if he didn't know where it came from. When he did, he saw a beautiful red and blue kite that looked like a big butterfly. On it was a phrase he didn't understand: MAHAL KITA.

"Tami..." he mumbled to himself and grabbed his phone. He tried to call her but her phone was off. When he tried calling Jung Wha, it took a few tries before she answered the phone.

"Ann yong ha se yo!" Jung Wha greeted.

"Jung Wha... this is Lee Dong Gun. Is Tami there?" he asked.

"Oh... I'm sorry Dong Gun-shi. I just came from the airport to see her off. Her plane left around 30 minutes ago," Jung Wha answered sadly.

Dong Gun was crushed. "I see. Thank you."

"It's no problem," Jung Wha said. "Bye."

"Wait!" Dong Gun called out.

"Yes?"

Dong Gun looked at the kite in his hand, "By any chance... did Tami teach you how to speak her language?"

"Hmmm... a bit, yes. Why?" Jung Wha asked.

"What did she teach you?"

Jung Wha thought for a moment. "Hmmm... 'Kamusta?' means 'How are you?' 'Salamat' means 'Thank you.'"

Dong Gun remembered that word, "'Wa-lang anu-man' means 'You're welcome,'" he added.

"Yes... that's right."

Dong Gun held his breath, "Anything else?"

"I don't remember," Jung Wha said. "I'm really bad at remembering things, Dong Gun-shi. Why do you ask?"

"Do you remember 'Mahal kita?'" Dong Gun asked.

Jung Wha repeated the words almost thrice, "'Ma-hal ki---' oh, yes! I remember! 'Mahal kita' means 'I love you!'"

Dong Gun closed his eyes as his heart raced. A single tear fell from his eye, "Thank you, Jung Wha. Thank you very much."

He ended the phone call and stared at the kite intently. "She loves me," he thought, feeling a new tinge of hope in his heart. He looked at the kite again and nodded. "You were right, Tami. If you want to fly a kite, everything should be right. Everything should be perfectly in place."

My dear Tami,

I've kept this wooden chest with me for seven long years. That's how long I've kept Dana in my memory. Everything inside this chest is a symbol of our love, and by giving it to you I mean that I am surrendering my memory of my one great love.

I must admit that I tried looking for Dana in you, but in doing so I discovered a different person altogether. I loved that person.

Someday, I'll find my way to her. And when I do, I wish that we could fly a kite together.

Dong Gun

Tami fought back her tears as she she refolded Dong Gun's letter and put it inside the wooden chest. She looked at all the little things inside the chest and was amazed at how beautifully they were preserved.

She opened all the loveletters inside the chest, and even if she didn't understand anything that was wriiten on the letters, she cried as she imagined Dong Gun and Dana's love story. Somehow, she regretted leaving him, but she was decided that this was the right thing to do.

After she read all the letters, she refolded them and put them neatly back into place. She thought of Dong Gun and what he might be doing at that moment. "He's probably on the set, still working," she thought, knowing that Dong Gun would not let anybody else see what he truly feels inside.

"It would've been beautiful," Tami told herself softly and then kept the wooden chest inside her bag.

"Ate!!!" Jammi excitedly ran to his sister when he saw her enter the house. Tami welcomed her with open arms and hugged him tightly.

"Na-miss ko 'tong baby ko!" she exclaimed, "Ang laki-laki mo na!!!" She tickled him, and he laughed heartily. Hearing Jammi laugh made Tami forget all her thoughts for a moment. She hugged him again and then said, "Lika... buksan natin yung mga dala ko!"

"Anak!" Tami's mom ran to her and gave her a hug, "Ano ka ba naman! Hindi ka man lang nagpasabing uuwi ka na! Sana pinasundo kita sa Kuya mo!"

Tami smiled, "Okay lang, Mommy. Kasama ko naman si Kyle umuwi. Hinatid niya ako rito."

"Ah ganun ba?" her mom said, looking at her intently. "Magpahinga ka muna, ipagluluto kita ng paborito mong adobo."

The mention of the word adobo reminded Tami of Dong Gun, and the first time he was able to eat adobo. "He loved it," she thought and smiled, wishing she could've cooked more food for him while she stayed in Seoul.

She felt her mom squeeze her arm, "Anak..."

"Po?"

"Ang sabi ko magpahinga ka na muna. Sige na." Her mom turned to Jammi, "Jammi, anak... wag mo na munang pakialaman yang mga yan," she said, pertaining to Tami's things.

"Hindi, Mommy! Okay lang... mga pasalubong ko yan sa inyo! Sige na Jams... buksan mo na," she told Jammi with a wink. She looked at her mom, "Kamusta naman kayo rito, Mommy?"

Dong Gun opened the door to Han Sun's shop, and gave him a weary smile. "Ann yong ha se yo..."

"Oh! Dong Gun-shi! How is everything?" Han Sun asked.

He paused for a moment, and looked at Han Sun, "I gave her the key."

"Really?" Han Sun asked, his eyes glowing. "Finally!!!" He reached out and patted Dong Gun's back. He then noticed that Dong Gun was not really very happy. He stared at him and waited for him to say something.

"She already left."

Han Sun patted his back again, "Oh... you poor child."

Dong Gun sat on one of the chairs inside the shop. "Why do they leave me, Uncle?" he asked. "First, Dana... and now, Tami. I don't understand."

The old man gave him a knowing smile, "Dong Gun-shi... it's because their eyes are cloudy."

Dong Gun looked at the old man, confused, "What do you mean?"

"Because their eyes are always covered with clouds, they tend to lose their way. They think they see what they want and follow it, only to find out soon that it is not really what they wanted. They get swayed by what they see is right, but once the clouds clear up, they realize that what they saw was just a distortion of reality," Han Sun explained.

"Have you ever tried looking at something with your eyes blocked with tears?" Han Sun asked. "You barely see a thing. Or if you do, things look really hazy and blurred. That's what cloudy eyed girls see... and they see them all too often that they think it's their reality."

Dong Gun thought of Tami and remembered what she said before she left, "You have your own world, and I have mine. That's the way it should stay."

"That was what Tami believed," Dong Gun thought and remembered the incident about the newspaper articles and pictures. It must've affected Tami so much that she decided to leave, saying she didn't want to cause him any more trouble.

"With Dana... you lost her because she found another light, something much more powerful than the one you made her see. It is not that she did not want the light you gave, it is just that this other light is so much more powerful that you didn't stand a chance. With you, she found romantic love, something she treasured very much. But with Him, she found eternal love, something she was promised since the day she was born."

"I can't say why you lost Tami... but I'm pretty sure that you did not lose her for good. Because as sure as there are clouds in the sky, there is also the sun that never fails to shine." Han Sun looked at Dong Gun, "Make the sun shine for her, Dong Gun-shi. Make her see what is real."

Dong Gun sighed, "What IS real?"

"Don't you know still?" Han Sun asked. "It's your love for her. That is the only thing that's real."

Tami lay in her bed that night, clutching the brass key that Dong Gun gave her. She tied a long piece of string around it, and wore it around her neck. She tends to lose her things sometimes, and she didn't want to lose the last gift she received from him.

Lost in thought, she didn't realize that Jammi had crept up her bed and lay beside her. She only noticed when he spoke.

"Ate, hindi ako makatulog."

She looked at him, "Hus! Alam mo lang na nandito ako kaya magpapa-baby ka na naman eh!" she said. She held Jammi closer to him and stroked his hair. In a moment, she sang Jammi's favorite song.

"Ikaw lamang ang pangakong mahalin. Sa sumpang sa'yo magpakailan pa man, yakapin mo'ng bawat sandali... ang buhay kong sumpang sa iyo lamang alay. At mapapawi ang takot sa akin, pangakong walang hanggan..."

Tears fell from her eyes, and she couldn't sing anymore.

"Ate... bakit ka umiiyak?" Jammi asked, looking up at her.

She wiped her tears away quickly, and then stroked Jammi's hair again, "Wala. Matulog ka na. Paos ako ngayon eh... bukas na lang kita ulit kakantahan."

Jammi's gaze stayed with her, "Puwede bang dito ako matulog?"

Tami smiled, "Oo naman. Basta wag mo akong sisipain!"

"Big boy na ako, ate! Hindi na ako malikot matulog!" Jammi said, proudly.

"O sige. Good night na."

Jammi embraced her, "Good night, ate. I love you."

"I love you too, Jams."

Dong Gun laid some flowers on a grave that had Dana's name on it. He stared at the grave for a while, and then looked at the sky. It was cloudy and it looked like it was going to rain. He remembered the day she passed away. It was a day just like this, cloudy and bleak, as if the sky joined Dong Gun in his sorrow.

"Are you happy, Dana?" he asked her while he held her hand.

"I am very happy." Dana answered, "You should be, too."

Dong Gun shed tears, "How? How do I do it without you?"

Dana squeezed Dong Gun's hand and smiled weakly. She took a deep breath, and Dong Gun felt afraid it would be her last. "Someday... you'll find someone who will need you like I did. Don't hold back... you will need her too."

"I only need you."

For a brief moment, the clouds moved apart, and golden rays of sunshine illuminated Dana's face. Dong Gun looked at the sky and was amazed at how beautiful the rays of the sun were, piercing out of the clouds.

"Did you see that?" Dana asked, whispering. Dong Gun just nodded. "That's just how you were to me. You were the sunshine that chased away the clouds in my eyes."

She closed her eyes and smiled. "Kam sa ham nida. Sarang hae, Dong Gun-shi," she whispered as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She breathed her last.

Dong Gun cried and kissed Dana's cheek, "Sarang hae, Dana. I will see you again..."

Twenty-Four

2005-09-02T15:37:00.000+08:00

Walking in the rain, Tami cried. She felt numb all over. She was cold, but she didn't have the energy to feel it. Yoo-Jin was right, she thought. Even if she did those cruel things to her and Dong Gun, she was only thinking about Dong Gun's sake. She hated herself for not thinking straight. Her feelings were blocking her rationality.

When she got to a bus stop, she called Kyle.

"Oh, Tami... nasaan ka?"

"Kyle," she said, her voice breaking. "Sunduin mo naman ako oh."

Kyle sensed something wrong, "Tami? Tami, okay ka lang ba? Nasaan ka? Susunduin kita!"

Tami looked around, "Nasa bus stop. Malapit sa Namsan."

"O sige, sige... nandiyan na ako."

"Kyle..."

"Oh?"

Tami broke into tears, "Bilisan mo ha? Ayokong mag-isa..."

Dong Gun went out of his car and looked up the window of Jung Wha's house where he saw Tami peek out earlier. This was his last stop. He had been looking for Tami everywhere. She wasn't in the church, the pojangmachas they went to or the hotel where she stayed before. He had run out of places to look for Tami, and he figured she might have gone home.

His heart leaped when he saw the light open from the window. On the top of his lungs, he shouted, "TAMI! TAMI!"

The window opened and Jung Wha appeared, "Dong Gun-shi! What are you doing out in the rain? Please come in!"

"Jung Wha... is Tami there?"

"She hasn't returned yet."

Bewildered, Dong Gun rubbed his eyes, which were getting blocked by the raindrops. "Where could she be?"

"Please, Dong Gun-shi... come in! You're going to get sick!" Jung Wha called, now from the front door of their house. She came out with an umbrella and approached Dong Gun.

"I'm alright, Jung Wha. Thank you. Please call me if Tami comes home..." Dong Gun said, went inside his car and drove away.

"Bakit ka naman kasi nagpa-ulan?" Kyle asked Tami while he sponged her with a warm towel. "Alam mong hindi mo kaya ang lamig..."

Tami shivered under the blanket of Kyle's bed, "Bakit ang sakit?"

"Ang alin?" Kyle panicked, looking at Tami. "Ano'ng masakit sa iyo?"

"Puso ko." Tears fell from her eyes and streamed down to her pillow. "Kyle, dalhin mo ako sa ospital."

Kyle looked at her, "Seryoso ka?"

"Pa-heart transplant mo ako,' Tami sobbed. "Papalitan mo sa kanila 'tong puso ko. May pera pa ako sa bag ko..."

Kyle hit Tami's face with the towel, "Tanga ka ba? Kulang yang pera mo para magpa-heart transplant, 'no! Pag-aabonohin mo pa ata ako eh!"

Tami cried and turned away from Kyle. He didn't know what to tell her to make her feel better. He lay down beside her and embraced her, "Best..." he said. "Tahan na..."

"Sana hindi na lang umulan," Tami whispered, sobbing.

"Hayaan mo, titila rin yan."

Days passed, and Dong Gun felt like he was going crazy. He knew Tami was going home soon, but he could not contact her. Ever since the night it rained, Tami didn't go back to Jung Wha's house, and Jung Wha was clueless as to where Tami was too.

Dong Gun clasped his brass key tightly, thinking. Suddenly, an idea came into his head.

"This has got to work," Dong Gun thought. "I can't lose her like this..."

"I'm sorry for not calling you," Tami said while she packed her bags inside Jung Wha's house. "I had to iron out some things."

Jung Wha watched her sadly, "Do you need help?"

Tami shook her head, "Anni-o. I only have a few things. Don't you have work?"

"We just finished filming at our location. They're just finishing the ones in Incheon this week, so that means I'm free till the producer calls for another workday," Jung Wha said.

"I see," Tami said.

"I'll really miss you, Tami," Jung Wha said. "I hope I can come to the Philippines too... they told me you had very nice beaches."

Tami smiled, "If you decide to come, just give me a ring."

"Can I stay at your place?"

"If you want to," Tami replied. "I'm warning you though, our house is smaller than yours."

Jung Wha waved her off, "That's no problem! As long as I have a place to stay! Beggars can't be choosers, you know!" They laughed.

"I'm so glad I met you here," Tami said and hugged Jung Wha tightly, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Jung Wha released from the hug, "Will you stop? You're making me cry!!!" They laughed again. Suddenly, Tami's phone rang. She was surprised to see who it was. She answered the phone.

"Mr. Lopez?"

Mr. Lopez told Tami to come to the building compound where they held their filming before. He said she had left some things and had to clear the stuff because there was another crew who was going to use it soon.

Walking inside the building, Tami wondered what she might have left. She was sure she took everything she had, because she never left anything on the set, but she went to the building compound anyway.

She felt goosebumps on her skin when she entered the building. The place seemed deserted, and it was getting dark.

"Mr. Lopez?" she called, "Mr. Lopez? Nasaan po kayo?"

She went to the room where the wardrobe staff used to store their things. It was all cleared out. Sighing, she walked carefully to the props room and opened the door. She saw some boxes that still sat there. One of the boxes had her name on it.

She went to get the box, although unsure of what it contained. Opening it, she saw the pictures she took while she was still working as photographer for Lee Dong Gun's new film. She sighed. They must've finished using the pictures already and wanted to get rid of it.

"Tami..." She heard a familiar voice behind her. She didn't dare look back. "Tami, please talk to me."

"What do you want from me, Dong Gun-shi? Aren't you tired?"

"Of what?"

Tami shook her head, "I don't know... following me around? Bothering yourself with someone like me?"

"Someone like you? What do you mean by that?"

Tami didn't answer. "Were you the one who asked Mr. Lopez to call me?"

"You haven't learned anything," Dong Gun said, sternly. "Don't answer a question with another question."

"I don't want to answer your question!" Tami said, raising her voice. She looked down at the box she was holding and kept quiet. She felt her heart constricting. She couldn't breathe.

Dong Gun, who was standing at the doorway, took a moment before saying anything. "I just wanted to see you for the last time before you left."

A tear fell on the box Tami was holding. She could have sworn she heard it drop because of the silence in the room.

"Tami... I just wanted to talk to you."

"I don't have anything more to say," she said.

"Then just listen," Dong Gun said. Tami didn't move. She waited for what Dong Gun had to say.

Taking a deep breath, Dong Gun began. "Every year, at Dana's death anniversary I can't help but feel lonely. No matter how busy I am, or how happy I was the day before, I have this empty feeling inside of me when that day arrives."

"This year, for some reason, I was extremely lonely that I felt like crying. I didn't want anyone to know, so I looked for a place where I can hide... sit in the dark and cry. I found the perfect place, but when I opened the door I saw this girl. And even in the dark I saw the tears glistening in her eyes. She reminded me of my first love."

"I looked into her eyes and saw clouds. And rain. I knew her eyes were beautiful, and I wanted to see them clearly. All I could do then was give her my handkerchief so she can wipe her tears away. Seeing her cry made me forget what I was doing there in the first place. I felt like I saw Dana again, and I had to be strong for her."

Tami sobbed. He was recounting the first time they met. She was in the very same room, crying after a phone call from Kyle, and someone opened the door. She never realized that Dong Gun would open another door when he found her there that day. She felt that he had opened the door to her heart too.

Dong Gun continued, "As the days passed I got to know her better... and one day I was lucky enough to see those beautiful eyes of hers. They were bright and sunny, and they told me that she was worth every single handkerchief I gave her."

"When she cried again, it seemed that giving my handkerchief for her to wipe her tears was not enough for me anymore. I wanted something more. I wanted to be the one... who will reach out and wipe her tears away with my own hands."

Dong Gun fought his tears. "I wanted her to need me... because as wrong as it may sound... I needed her to keep me sane."

Tami's tears streamed down her cheeks. She wanted to face Dong Gun and embrace him tightly, but she didn't move. As she wiped her tears, she felt Dong Gun wrap his arms around her. Taking a deep breath, she relished every millisecond of his embrace.

He shut his eyes, "Don't go," he said.

"I have to," Tami managed to choke out. "You have your own world, and I have mine. That's the way it SHOULD stay."

Dong Gun sensed Tami's resolve, and knew she won't be swayed. With one kiss that he gently planted on Tami's cheek, his tears colliding with hers, he surrendered. He released Tami from his embrace and walked to the door.

"You don't know how much I prayed," Dong Gun said, "...that your world and mine would someday be the same."

Tami covered her face with her hands, muffling the sound of her cry. She waited for Dong Gun to leave her, and it seemed like eternity until she felt him walk away. She turned around and saw something lying on the floor. She approached it, knelt down, and saw a small wooden chest, a brass key, and a familiar charm bracelet.

"So... if you ever want to cry, just give this to me and I'll understand."

She clutched the charm bracelet to her chest, "Goodbye, Dong Gun-shi."

Twenty-Three

2005-09-02T15:13:00.000+08:00

"Yoo-Jin won't bother you again," Dong Gun told Tami when he brought her to Jung Wha's place that night.

Tami nodded, "I'm going back to Manila soon."

Dong Gun's half-smile faded. "Really?"

"Yeah. This might be the last time we'll see each other."

"I see," Dong Gun said faintly. "Take care of yourself."

"Ara seo," Tami said and got out of Dong Gun's car. She waved to him before she entered the house, and Dong Gun watched her until he could see her no more.

Tami cried herself to sleep that night, recalling Dong Gun's story. The moment she embraced Dong Gun, was, to her, one of the most significant moments of her life. At that point, she surrendered herself to the fact that, indeed she was in love with Dong Gun. What saddened her was the other fact that she was bound to break her heart again, just like she did with Kyle.

She remembered the first time she spent the night in Dong Gun's house, his gentle and assuring ways, the way he said goodnight. She remembered the time he went to her hotel, drunk and all. She remembered running her fingers through his hair, and feeling like she was in a movie of some sort.

Her phone rang. Kyle was calling. She rejected the call, and opened her phone's files. She saw the pictures she took of Dong Gun on Christmas day, when he was sick and looked swollen all over. She laughed quietly, tears streaming from her eyes.

"I wish I could take care of you for the rest of my life," she whispered to her phone, as if Dong Gun would hear.

Dong Gun stared at the ceiling of his room the whole night. He couldn't bring himself to sleep. The thought of Tami leaving Korea was unacceptable to him, but he knew it was inevitable. She had her own country, her own home after all.

He played with something in his hand, an old brass key that looked like it had been passed down from generation to generation. Beside him was a small wooden chest that had scratches all over.

Sitting up on the bed, he used the brass key to open the wooden chest. Inside were a handful of little things that meant worlds to Dong Gun. There were loveletters, little cards and toys, a small mirror, an old necklace and more. These were the things that he and Dana shared years ago.

"Give me a sign, Dana," Dong Gun said. He looked outside the window and saw snow continuously falling from the sky. "Let it rain tomorrow... the way it did when we said goodbye," he said, "And I promise I will never let Tami go."

Tami was surprised to wake up and see that the sun was shining very brightly that day. There was no snow falling, and the sky seemed very cheerful. She looked out of the window with a smile, greeting the morning.

At just the same time, she saw a car pull up in front of Jung Wha's house. She was surprised to see Dong Gun come out of it, "Tami!" he called.

"Dong Gun-shi! What are you doing here?"

"Come down!" Dong Gun said. "Let's spend the day together!"

Tami's brows furrowed, "But you have filming, right? Jung Wha just left for work!"

Dong Gun laughed, "Just come down!"

"Since you're leaving soon... let's go to the other places in Seoul that you haven't seen!" Dong Gun said, emphatically while driving. He handed a can of cafe latte to Tami, "Have some."

"Dong Gun-shi..."

"Hmm?"

Tami looked out the window, "What if the paparazzis follow you again? Aren't you afraid they'd take pictures of us together?"

He sighed and looked at her, "Are you afraid?"

"Well... not really afraid. I'm worried," Tami said.

"Tell you what. We have a new rule."

Tami smiled, "What is it?"

"Don't think I'm Lee Dong Gun," Dong Gun said.

"How can I not think that you're not Lee Dong Gun? Michoso!!!" Tami laughed. "Besides, I don't want to think you're somebody else."

Dong Gun maneuvered to the right, and looked straight into Tami's eyes, "Why?"

"Because!" Tami answered.

"Because... what?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami opened her can of cafe latte, "Because then it wouldn't be fun anymore," she said and drank her coffee while Dong Gun continued driving, smiling.

Dong Gun and Tami rode the Namsan Cable Car, since they haven't been there the last time they went to the Tower. Tami gushed at the view below, and she was giggling in delight, taking pictures of the view with her cellphone camera. Dong Gun contented himself to watching her, keeping his right hand in his pocket, holding the brass key inside.

"This is so cool! I feel like I'm flying!" Tami exclaimed.

"You like to fly?"

Tami looked at him with bright eyes, "Sure!"

"We'll go bunjee jumping after this... if you want to."

"Are you kidding? I've always wanted to go bunjee jumping!" Tami said.

Dong Gun smiled, "Alright, we'll go bunjee jumping afterwards!"

Tami sighed, looking outside the window, "How I wish Jammi was here."

"Your brother?"

She nodded, remembering Jammi. "He's nine years old. He's my baby," she said. "My angel."

Dong Gun noticed the sudden change in Tami's mood. She stifled a sob. "I wonder if he's okay."

"Why? What's wrong?"

Tami looked sadly at Dong Gun, "He's very sick. He needs to be medicated every now and then so that he could maintain his bodily functions," she replied. "I would've returned home sooner if he hadn't been diagnosed with a liver ailment, but I decided to stay so I can earn some more money for him."

Dong Gun patted Tami's back, "I'm sure he'll be fine. With a sister like you who'd do anything for him... he'll make it through."

She looked outside the window again. The ride was about to finish. "I hope so," she said. "I truly hope so."

"Can I ask you a question?" Dong Gun's voice bounced over the walls of the church. He and Tami went there at sunset, at Tami's request.

She looked at him, "What is it?"

"Last time I found you here... you were singing something. What did it mean?" he asked.

"The song is about a vow. A vow that one person made, to love another faithfully no matter what happens. It speaks of love that conquers fear... because when you love someone, you draw strength from him or her. And you will never be afraid, because you won't be alone anymore."

Dong Gun smiled, "That's beautiful. Is it your favorite song?"

"One of my favorites. I sang it first on a cousin's wedding," Tami answered. "It is also the song I always sing to Jammi so that he could sleep."

"Do you mind... if I ask you to sing it for me?" Dong Gun requested.

Tami pouted, "Dong Gun-shi..."

"Please?"

"I sing better when no one is looking." Tami said.

Dong Gun looked at her curiously, "Why?"

"I don't know. I just tend to do things better when nobody knows I'm doing it," she replied. "Just like being in love. I can love someone better when he doesn't know I do... because the moment he realizes it, I just run away."

"But why?"

"I'm just used to it. Even I can't understand it myself," Tami said, thinking. "Maybe I'm just afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

Tami shrugged, "I don't know."

The day went by quickly, and soon, night fell. Dong Gun felt crushed because he did not feel a single drop of rain the whole day. He invited her to dinner as their final stop for that day. For the whole ride and until they reached the venue, Dong Gun was solemn. Tami sensed the quietness in Dong Gun, and she felt she needed to know why.

"Dong Gun-shi... is anything wrong?" she asked as they walked from the parking lot to the restaurant.

"Huh?" Dong Gun asked, as if awaking from a trance, "Oh... I don't know."

Tami frowned, "You look bothered."

"Have you ever hoped for something so much and believed that it would happen," Dong Gun asked, "Only to find out that it wasn't meant for you?"

Tami was surprised at Dong Gun's words. Those were her exact same sentiments. Before she fell asleep the night before, she wished it would rain that day. If it did, she said to herself while praying, she would find a way to tell Dong Gun that she loved him.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she can say anything, they already reached the front door of the restaurant, and the maitre'd ushered them in.

They sat down on one of the VIP tables, and ordered fine food. It seemed that Dong Gun’s last question was forgotten momentarily, as the waiters hustled and bustled to serve them. After they placed their orders, Dong Gun excused himself.

"I have to use the men's room," he told Tami.

"Okay..." she said and watched Dong Gun walk to the restrooms on the other side of the room. Seconds later, she found herself face to face with Yoo-Jin, who was incidentally also in the same restaurant as they were.

"Look who we have here," Yoo-Jin said, sitting across Tami. Tami didn't say anything. "Do you know how long it took for Dong Gun to be where he is right now?"

Tami looked at her, "No."

"He's built his career for almost ten years. It would be a shame for him to throw it all away. And because of what? You?" Yoo-Jin scoffed and stood up. "Think about it."

Yoo-Jin left the table and walked away. Following her with a gaze, she felt conscious when she saw the other people inside the restaurant look at her and then whisper among themselves. She was sure they'd seen who she came in with.

She stood up. She had to leave. Fast.

"The girl you're with, sir? The one with the long hair wearing jeans and a striped scarf?"

"Yes, where is she?"

"She just left," the maitre'd said. "She seemed to be in a hurry."

Dong Gun's mind raced, thinking where Tami might've gone and why she'd left. He apologized to the maitre'd and politely cancelled their order, and then he walked to his car. Before he got in, he felt something trickle on his hand. He looked up. It was raining!

He looked around the parking lot, thinking Tami was still somewhere near. He called out her name. Once, twice... until he got soaked in the rain and decided to look for Tami in his car.

As soon as he drove out of the parking lot, Tami appeared from the side of the restaurant. She was watching him the whole time, and her heart broke when she felt the rain fall on her skin. She'd been given the sign she was asking for, but she just couldn't tell him what she wanted to.

Twenty-Two

2005-08-27T17:03:00.000+08:00

"Great pictures, as usual!" Sang Woo exclaimed, looking at the pictures Tami had delivered to him. He looked at Tami, "Wait for me, I'll get your pay. Have a seat... would you like some tea?"

Tami smiled, "Tea would be nice."

Sang Woo called out to the kitchen and asked for some tea while Tami waited in the living room. On the table, she saw a bunch of newspapers lying messily upon each other. She took the papers one by one and piled them neatly on top of the other, but paused for a moment when she saw something familiar on one of the pages.

She took the paper in her hands and saw a huge picture of Dong Gun sitting on a park bench. Looking at the other end of the picture, she gasped. It was her! It was a photo taken at the amusement park the day before!

"Here, Tami..." Sang Woo said and she almost jumped out of her skin. "Hey... what's wrong?"

Tami looked up at Sang Woo. "Can you... read this for me?" she asked, pointing at the headline that accompanied the picture she saw.

Sang Woo looked at the paper, and his eyes widened. "Lee Dong Gun dating another girl?" he read, and looked at Tami. "Isn't that you?"

Tami was calling Dong Gun, but his phone was busy. She tried a couple of times, but she didn't get through. She put her phone down and waited for a bus. A few seconds later, Dong Gun was calling her.

"Meet me at Namsan. Now," Dong Gun told her.

"Dong Gun-shi..."

"I can't talk on the phone. Just go there."

Slightly panicking, Tami hailed a cab and asked the driver to drive to Namsan. In no time, she was running up the stairs, where Dong Gun was waiting for her, clad in torn jeans, a plain white shirt and a baseball cap. He looked like he was such in a hurry to meet her that he even forgot to shave.

"I'm sorry," they both said to each other at once.

"No, I'm sorry," they said, again, in unison.

Dong Gun held her arm, "Let's go to another place..."

"But, Dong Gun-shi..."

"New rule. Just follow me."

"Yoo-Jin is responsible for this," Dong Gun told Tami solemnly. The two of them were inside a shikdang, in a table farthest from the door. "What did she tell you?"

"Me? She didn't say anything..."

Dong Gun held her wrist, "Don't lie to me. I know she contacted you. She told me so herself. What did she say to you? Did she threaten you?"

Tami shook her head. "She --- just tried paying me off," she said, "In exchange for staying away from you."

"That woman has no shame."

"She has all the right to be jealous, ajushi. She is your fiancee after all and you're going to get married soon."

Dong Gun scoffed, "Married? In her dreams."

"What?"

"We're not together anymore, Tami," Dong Gun said and drank a shot of soju. "And what is it with the 'ajushi?" Did you forget the rule? Call me by name."

Tami watched Dong Gun's every move, trying to sense his mood. He got lost in his thoughts for a while. "I should get going," she said when he drank another shot of the liquor.

"Waeyo?"

"Do you want the paparazzis to see us again?" Tami asked. "Dong Gun-shi... when I left your house it was not because I hated you. It was because I was worried about you. This wouldn't have happened if you had left me alone!"

Dong Gun looked at Tami with a hurt expression, "Is that it? You want me to leave you alone now?"

Tami's tears fell on her cheeks, "Let's go back to the way we were before. I don't want to cause any more trouble. You've been so good to me... and I've repaid you with shame. I'm sorry." She stood up and quickly left the shikdang.

"Kailan ka babalik ng Maynila?" Tami asked Kyle while he was practicing his drums.

Kyle removed his headphone, "Ano?"

"Ang sabi ko, kailan ka babalik ng Maynila?"

"Next week na. Bakit? Sasabay ka ba?"

Tami sat on the stage, "Sige. Tatapusin ko na lang lahat ng trabaho ko rito, tapos uwi na tayo."

Kyle stopped practicing and sat beside Tami, "Best... may problema ba? Parang biglaan ah." Tami didn't answer, and Kyle playfully pinched her arm, "Ano?"

"Nami-miss ko na si Jammi 'no!"

"O sige," Kyle said, patting Tami's back. "Pero... bago tayo umuwi ng Maynila, siguraduhin mong wala kang maiiwan dito. Tulad niyang puso mo."

When Yoo-Jin opened the door to her house that night, she was shocked to find Dong Gun standing there. He quickly grabbed her arms and pushed her inside the house.

"Dong Gun-shi! What are you doing?"

He pinned her to the wall, "Don't you have any shame on yourself... picking on someone like Tami? She has no place in this!"

Yoo-Jin sneered, "Are you sure you're concerned about her, or are you more concerned of yourself?"

"You are testing my patience, Yoo-Jin... I'm losing it. Leave Tami out of this," Dong Gun said, sounding more like a command than a request.

"Why do you care so much about her? Do you love her?" Yoo-Jin asked.

Dong Gun laughed softly, "Why do you care?"

Yoo-Jin pushed Dong Gun away, "What do you see in her? What does she have that I don't?" she asked. Dong Gun shook his head and made his way out of Yoo-Jin's house. Yoo-Jin grabbed a hold of Dong Gun's coat and pulled it violently. "Tell me! Tell me, Dong Gun-shi! Do you love her?"

"MAYBE!" Dong Gun shouted in her face.

Yoo-Jin broke down, "How about me? Dong Gun-shi... me? Don't you love me anymore?"

Dong Gun stood at the door, back against Yoo-Jin. "I used to," he said. "Now I'm just tired."

"Mananatiling ikaw pa rin... Ikaw lamang ang pangakong mahalin, sa sumpang sa iyo magpakailanpaman..." Tami cried while she sang inside the church, kneeling on one of the pews, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. She couldn't continue singing. Her voice already broke.

"When I was 16, I fell in love."

She was surprised to hear Dong Gun's voice behind her, but she didn't look back. She stayed glued, kneeling on the church pew, listening.

"Her name was Dana. She was my cloudy eyed girl," Dong Gun recounted. He was kneeling at the church pew directly behind Tami, looking at the altar in front of them. "When I first met her, she was crying. I thought the boys in school bullied her... because she had bruises on her arms. I carried her home on my back, without even knowing her name. And ever since that day, I loved her."

Tami's tears couldn't stop falling. Somehow, she knew, this might be the last time she and Dong Gun would be together like this.

"Everyday," Dong Gun continued, "I would walk with her to school, and walk with her back home in the afternoons. I loved her voice. Boy... she could sing. But I loved it more when she smiled. There was nothing in the world I loved more than seeing her smile."

"Dong Gun-shi..."

Dong Gun wiped a tear that was about to fall, "I made a promise. Something that... to this day, never left me. I promised myself that I will never make her cry. I promised myself that I will be her sunshine."

A long moment of silence prevailed. Tami heard Dong Gun stifling a sob. It felt like eternity before he said anything else again.

"She died when I was 18. She had leukemia. The day I first met her was the day she found out she was dying."

Tami sobbed, "Did you know she was dying?"

Dong Gun sighed, "In the beginning... no. She kept her illness to herself. She would always smile at me, and laugh her hearty laugh when we were together. I wouldn't have known if she didn't tell me. She told me with a smile. I never knew her smile could break my heart too."

Tami sat on the church pew, and looked at Dong Gun, who still knelt behind her. Slowly, she held Dong Gun's arm, "I'm sorry."

"I'm not. Those were the best two years of my life," Dong Gun said. "Before she died, Dana told me something that I will never forget for the rest of my life. That I was the sunshine who chased away the clouds in her eyes."

"You were crying too, when I first saw you. You reminded me of Dana," Dong Gun said, and Tami understood then, why Dong Gun was so nice to her and all. She smiled, despite her tears, thankful for Dong Gun's concern for her. She thanked Dana too, secretly in her heart, thinking how lucky she is to be loved by such a gentle and caring person.

A flock of angels passed in between Tami and Dong Gun. "I'm sorry I made you cry," Dong Gun told Tami softly, holding her hand. She shook her head. "I'm sorry I followed you here. I know you want me to leave you alone..."

Tami shook her head again, and tears streamed from her eyes. She reached out and embraced Dong Gun as tightly as she could. This could be the last time, she thought, and she never wanted to let go.

Twenty-One

2005-08-27T16:43:00.000+08:00

Two weeks passed. Tami was still staying in Jung Wha's place, and she and Dong Gun haven't seen each other yet, despite Dong Gun's efforts. Dong Gun's film neared its last day of shooting, and Jung Wha felt guilty lying to him everytime he asked if she'd heard anything from Tami.

Tami received a call from Sang Woo, inviting her to a Charity Ball which will be happening in two days. She'd be taking photographs of the event, and her talent fee is double the amount Sang Woo paid for her first job.

"So... shall I see you in two days?" Sang Woo asked.

"Sure," Tami said.

"Great! I'll see you then!"

"Sang Woo-shi!" Tami called out as Sang Woo almost ended the call.

"Mwaeyo?"

Tami thought for a while. She was about to ask if Dong Gun was invited to the Charity Ball, but she didn't have the guts to ask. "Kam sa ham nida," she managed to say.

"K wen chah na."

Dong Gun recognized Tami from the crowd in the Charity Ball right away, because she wore the scarf he gave her as his very first gift. He felt happy to see her again, but was afraid to scare her away if he approached her.

"Dong Gun-shi!" Sang Woo greeted, "I'm so glad you came!"

He smiled, "No problem."

"Yoo-Jin uh-diyeyo?" Sang Woo asked.

Dong Gun just shook his head with a forced smile. Sang Woo understood. "Miahn hae," he said, "Get inside and have some refreshments. The program is about to start."

"Ko map suhm nida," Dong Gun said and entered the hotel function room where the Charity Ball was being held. He recognized familiar faces from the Korean press and movie industry, as well as his and Sang Woo's common friends. Even then, Dong Gun's mind wandered, thinking of Tami and how he was going to approach her.

Minutes later, an announcement was made. The program started right away. A group of children went up on stage and sang a church hymn. Dong Gun remembered Tami singing inside the church on Christmas Eve, and when he looked at the side of the stage, he saw Tami watching the children with a smile.

Sang Woo approached Tami and whispered something into her ear. She laughed. She whispered something back, and he laughed too. Dong Gun felt envious. He wanted to make Tami laugh like that too.

"Tami... I have a favor to ask of you," Sang Woo whispered into her ear.

"What is it?"

"I know this is not part of the job anymore, but... would you like to spend time with the kids? We're bringing them to Lotte World after this whole Charity Ball is over," Sang Woo said, smiling shyly.

Tami's eyes glowed, "Are you kidding? Of course I'd love to come!"

After all the guests of the Charity Ball had left, Sang Woo led Tami out of the hotel, where a bus was waiting for them, carrying the children who participated at the Charity Ball. "Ladies first," Sang Woo said, showing Tami the way in.

When Tami got up the bus, she tripped on one of the steps and almost fell face down on the floor. Luckily, someone grabbed her arms and helped her up. It was Dong Gun.

"K wen chah na yo?" he asked, a worried look painted on his face.

Tami swallowed hard. She nodded, and then passed Dong Gun, looking for a seat at the back of the bus. Sang Woo followed her, and they sat beside each other for the trip while Dong Gun sat in front, near the driver's seat.

When they got to the amusement park, the children scampered for the rides and attractions. Sang Woo, Dong Gun and Tami, along with the volunteers from the orphanage, served as their guardians. Tami saw a little boy sitting in front of the carousel, crying. From what she can surmise, he wasn't older than five.

She walked up to him, "Hi..."

The boy didn't reply. He rubbed his eyes. Tami wondered what was wrong, and saw that his shoelaces were untied. "Would you like me to tie your shoes?" she asked.

The boy looked at her and Tami bit her lip. He didn't understand her. She gently pulled the boy's leg nearer to her and started tying his shoelaces.

"There we go," Tami said when she finished.

"Kam sa ham nida..." the boy said.

"Smile?" Tami said, smiling at the boy. He smiled. "Great!" Tami exclaimed and took a picture of the little boy.

She stood up, but then felt a tug on her jeans. She looked at the boy. He was pointing at the carousel. She scooped her up in her arms and fell in line for the carousel ride. In no time, Tami and the little boy were enjoying the ride.

"Tami!!!" Sang Woo called out, waving to her.

"Sang Woo-shi, this is fun!" Tami screamed, waving back at Sang Woo. She then noticed that Dong Gun was not beside Sang Woo anymore. She felt sad all of a sudden. She wanted the ride to end.

At the end of the day, Tami was very, very tired. She sat on one of the benches, waiting for Sang Woo to come back from the refreshment stand with the kids. She stretched her legs and sighed, remembering Jammi and wishing he was there to have fun with her too.

She felt someone sit beside her and grab her wrist gently. She didn't need to look to know who it was.

"Please don't run away."

Tami sighed. "What is it, Dong Gun-shi?"

"I'm sorry about Yoo-Jin. I didn't expect she would do something like this," Dong Gun said.

"K wen chah na," Tami said. "You don't have to worry about me anymore, Dong Gun-shi. I'll be alright."

Dong Gun faced her, "Did I... offend you in any way?"

"An ni-o. You were good to me, Dong Gun-shi."

"Can you tell me why you left?"

Tami took a deep breath. She felt that she was about to cry, and she didn't want Dong Gun to see her cry once again. "Some things are better left unsaid." She stood up to leave, but Dong Gun reached for her hand. She didn't move.

Dong Gun figured there was no stopping Tami anyway and he didn't know what to say anymore, so he gently let go of her. She walked away slowly, but turned around a few steps afterwards. Dong Gun's heart raced.

"I won't forget everything you did for me, Dong Gun-shi. Kam sa ham nida."

Tears fell from Tami's eyes when she rode the bus back to Jung Wha's place that day. She didn't even say a proper goodbye to Sang Woo, because that would mean bumping into Dong Gun again.

Sang Woo called her on her cellphone while she was on the bus.

"Yeoboseyo..."

"Where are you?" Sang Woo asked.

Tami looked out the window, "I'm on my way home, Sang Woo-shi. I'm sorry... I just felt a little sick."

"You should have told me," Sang Woo said worriedly, "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you."

She heard Sang Woo take a deep breath, "Alright. I'll see you at home tomorrow so you can get your pay."

"Alright. Ann yong..."

"Ann yong..."

Tami put her phone inside her pocket, and thought of Dong Gun. She was very happy to have momentarily spent time with him, and enjoyed her stay in Seoul because of him, but reality is sinking in now.

Lee Dong Gun is Lee Dong Gun. He is an actor known for his intense acting ability, beautiful singing voice, and good reputation. He is going to get married to his fiancee this year, and soon they'll be raising a family together.

Tami sighed and remembered her daydream about Dong Gun. How silly of me, she said to herself, to think that she could possibly fit in Dong Gun's world. She put her hand over her chest and felt her heart racing. If only she can stop it from aching... for Dong Gun.

Fan Fiction Advisory

2005-08-25T19:39:00.000+08:00

Hello My Cloudy Eyed Girl readers,

First of all, thank you for all your comments and good remarks about my first Lee Dong Gun inspired fan fic My Cloudy Eyed Girl. I appreciate all the love you've given this blog, and continuously inspire me to write and share what I write. Komapsuhmnida, everyone! You make me happy with every comment you post here... and with every show of support you give to my oppa. :)

Currently, I am writing a new fan fiction entitled Be Still, My Heart, also starring Lee Dong Gun and Kwon Sang Woo. I'm aiming for it to be a beautiful yet tragic love story of four souls who found love in each other but have to eventually let it go.

For that, I'm sharing with you a sample artwork I made for the next fan fic. I hope you guys like it.

Edited as of August 26, 2005

I am hoping that you will welcome Be Still, My Heart in the manner that you have embraced My Cloudy Eyed Girl. Hopefully also, I can finish the story as soon as possible so that you will not miss the fictional but still lovable Lee Dong Gun filling in a new role.

Again, thank you very much for the time you have given My Cloudy Eyed Girl. Heaven bless your hearts!

P.S. (8.26.05) Here's an icon I made for My Cloudy Eyed Girl. If you wanna link me up to your blog, site or whatever, please use the smaller version. Click the smaller version of the icon to be able to access it from Photobucket and save it on your PC. Thanks so much!

~tara
author, My Cloudy Eyed Girl (MCEG)

Twenty

2005-08-24T12:51:00.000+08:00

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."

Nineteen

2005-08-24T12:32:00.000+08:00

Tami was silent inside the car the whole time while Dong Gun drove home. Dong Gun noticed her silence, but didn't ask anything.

When they got home, Tami asked, "Did you have your dinner yet?"

"Yes."

Tami nodded. "I'll go to bed now. Good night." She turned to the stairs, but Dong Gun got hold of her arm. She looked at him, "You want me to get you coffee?"

"What's wrong, Tami?" Dong Gun asked.

"Don't you know it's rude to answer a question with another question?"

Dong Gun pulled her closer to him, "No, I don't like coffee. If I wanted coffee I would've gotten myself a cup. Do you think you are a maid here?"

Tami looked down, "I'm tired. I have to have my pictures developed early tomorrow." She broke free from Dong Gun’s hold and went up the stairs quickly.

"Tami!" Dong Gun called. "Tami!" He ran up the stairs to follow her, but she already closed the door when he got there. "Tami! What is going on? What did I do?"

"Nothing!" Tami said, "I want to be alone now... please..."

The next morning, Dong Gun was surprised to find that Tami had left the house, bringing with her all her things. He tried calling her up but she wasn't answering her phone. Disappointed, he went about his daily routine and went to work.

At work, he saw Jung Wha and decided to ask her if she had heard from Tami. He approached her, "Hi Jung Wha..."

"Dong Gun-shi! Good morning! You're looking good!"

"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself," Dong Gun said.

"Congratulations on your wedding!" Jung Wha greeted.

Dong Gun's eyes widened, "What wedding?"

"Oh, of course it's still kind of far away... but in case I don't see you then..." Jung Wha stopped when she saw Dong Gun's expression and felt she'd gone too far. "Uhm... you need anything?"

Dong Gun scratched his head, "Have you heard from Tami?"

Jung Wha thought for a moment, "The last time she called was last Christmas. I haven't heard from her since then. Why? Is anything wrong?"

"No... I was just wondering," Dong Gun lied. "Thank you, Jung Wha."

"No problem," Jung Wha said and Dong Gun walked away.

"Great work!" Sang Woo said when he saw the pictures Tami brought. He handed her a small envelope that contained her salary. "I gave you a bonus."

"A bonus?" Tami asked, "What for?"

Sang Woo shrugged, "Because you made me laugh. And I like you."

Tami didn't know what to say. "T-thank you."

"I hope this will not be the last time I work with you," he said, holding out his hand. Tami shook it. "Ann yong hi ka se yo."

Tami nodded, "Ann yong."

Jung Wha and Tami met for dinner at a nearby shikdang, at Tami's invitation. Tami ordered the food, while Jung Wha just watched Tami, who seemed so content and happy at that moment.

"Dong Gun-shi looked for you," Jung Wha said.

Tami looked at her, "What did you say?"

"I told him what you told me to," Jung Wha answered with a pout, "Why are you hiding from him? What happened?"

"Let's not talk about him... and let's just eat, okay?" Tami said and took a bite out of her soondae.

Jung Wha watched her, "I don't understand you. Lee Dong Gun is looking for you and you don't even care! I would do anything for him to look for me!"

"We're different," Tami said. A few minutes later, her phone rang. It was Kyle. She answered her phone with a very common "Hello."

"O ano? Galit ka pa ba sa akin?" Kyle asked.

Tami poked a soondae with her knife, "Oo... gago ka! Kapal mo. Bakit ka ba tumawag?"

Kyle sighed, "Sorry na. Para ka namang bago nang bago. Lagi naman kitang tinutukso dito ah... Lambing ko lang yun!"

"Che!"

"Sorry na... nasaan ka ba?"

Tami spoke while she chewed to annoy Kyle, "Hello, malamang nasa Korea pa rin!!!"

"Saan nga?"

"Eh ano bang paki mo, makakapunta ka ba rito?" Tami asked.

Kyle didn't answer for a moment, "Napaaga ang gig namin... nandito ako ngayon sa Seoul."

Kyle was waiting in front of the COEX mall that night, waiting for Tami who told him she was on her way. In his hand he held a paper bag, a gift that he brought from Manila. Minutes later, he saw Tami get off a bus.

"Tams!!!" he called out.

Tami looked for him through the crowd, and smiled when she finally saw him. She ran to him. "Ano ka ba? Bakit dito ka sa labas naghihintay? Ang lamig kaya!"

Kyle laughed, "Ikaw naman, kaka-kita pa lang natin, inaaway mo na ako agad."

"Sino ba'ng nagsimula?" Tami asked.

He gave her the paper bag, "O... Merry Christmas."

Tami smiled and looked inside the paper bag. Inside was another wool sweater, and a small teddy bear with a heart in the middle of its stomach. Tami brought out the teddy bear, and remembered the one Dong Gun gave her for Christmas.

"Kain naman tayo, nagugutom na ako," Kyle said, "Ano bang pagkain dito bukod sa kimchi?"

"Che! Katatapos ko lang kumain noh!" Tami said, haughtily, and then smiled at Kyle. "Halika na nga! Pakakainin kita ng Korean style street food!"

Kyle frowned, "Street food? Wala bang five-star restaurant?"

"Ang yaman mo naman! Ikaw kaya magbayad?" Tami dared.

"Alam mo, mukhang masarap naman ang street food ng mga Koreano eh... nasaan na ba yan?" Kyle said and Tami laughed as they strolled along the sidewalk.

Dong Gun was driving home that night when she saw Tami walking on the street with a person unfamiliar to him. He debated with himself whether or not he'd approach her, and he decided to just watch her from his car as they went to a pojangmacha nearby.

From what he could see, Tami was already in a better mood. She was smiling and laughing even, engaging in a lively conversation with her friend. What he couldn't understand was why she left without even a note or a simple goodbye.

His phone rang. Yoo-Jin was calling. He would've ignored the call if she had not called up at least five times.

"What is it, Yoo-Jin?" he asked when he answered the phone.

"I know who she is, Dong-Gun."

"What are you talking about?"

Yoo-Jin laughed, "Do you think you can get away with this? You can kiss your good boy reputation goodbye."

"Yoo-Jin, stop talking like a lunatic." Dong Gun looked at the pojangmacha and saw that Tami and her friend weren't there anymore. He started his engine and drove. "What are you saying?"

"What do you see in her, Dong Gun? What? She is nothing!"

"Are you talking about Tami?" Dong Gun asked.

"Oh, is that her name? How ugly. No wonder... she IS ugly," Yoo-Jin said. "Break it up with her, Dong Gun-shi."

Dong Gun shook his head, "Break it up with her? She's not even my girlfriend! Look, Yoo-Jin... lay a finger on her and I will crush you."

"Ooh... I'm scared. Okay then... let's see who crushes who first," Yoo-Jin said and laughed, "Don't say I didn’t warn you!"

"Tams... may sasabihin ako sa iyo..." Kyle said when he and Tami got to a park that night.

Tami sensed the seriousness in Kyle's voice, and wondered what he was about to say. "Ano yun?"

Kyle sighed and looked at the sky, "Alam mo, nung wala ka... na-miss kita."

Tami felt butterflies in her stomach. "Oh my God..." she thought. She looked at Kyle, "Na-miss din naman kita ah..."

"Nung wala ka, na-realize ko na... may kulang sa akin. Yung kulang na hindi ko kayang punan nang ako lang mag-isa," Kyle said. "Lalo na nung nawala si Mommy, nasabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko pala kayang mag-isa. Nasanay kasi ako na lagi kang nandiyan."

Tears brimmed in Tami's eyes, "Siyempre, magkaibigan tayo eh."

"Medyo matagal din tayong nagkahiwalay. Naisip ko... paano kung wala ka na nga?" Kyle asked. "Parang hindi ko kaya."

"Is he going to propose?" Tami thought.

Kyle got hold of her hand, "Tami... diba pag mahal mo ang isang tao, gugustuhin mong maging masaya siya palagi?"

"Oo naman."

"Alam mo ba... nakita ko na yung magpapasaya sa akin. Ang tagal kong hinanap... nasa tabi ko lang pala," Kyle said and looked into Tami’s eyes. "Tams..."

"This is it..." Tami said to herself. "I can’t believe it..."

"May girlfriend na ako..."

Tami felt like she got punched in the stomach. Her tears fell on her cheeks. She didn't know what to say.

"Tams, finally! Sinagot na ako ni Catherine!"

"Talaga?" Tami asked, almost choking on the words, "Kailan?"

"Bago ako umalis... sa airport. Sinagot niya ako. Muntik na nga akong hindi tumuloy eh..." Kyle said, happily, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Excited na excited nga akong makita ka kasi gusto ko ikaw ang unang makaalam."

Tami felt like her heart was going to explode.

"O ano? Hindi ka ba masaya para sa akin?"

She embraced him tightly, "Masaya," she said, her tears flowing. "Masayang-masaya ako, Kyle."

Eighteen

2005-08-19T15:37:00.000+08:00

Dong Gun was getting mad and worried. When he got to Sang Woo's house that night, the caretakers told him that Sang Woo left with a young woman, Tami. He tried calling both of them but none were answering their phones, so he decided to wait for them inside Sang Woo's house.

About two hours have passed, but Sang Woo and Tami hadn't returned yet. Dong Gun figured Sang Woo might've dropped Tami home, so he went out of Sang Woo's house and drove home. Before he could use his key to open the door, Tami opened it for him.

"Hi ajushi!" she greeted, but Dong Gun didn't greet her the way she was expecting. He looked at her with piercing eyes.

"Why weren't you answering your phone?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami remembered she saw Dong Gun's missed calls on her cellphone LCD, "Oh... I'm sorry ajushi! I was supposed to call you but I forgot! Sang Woo-shi and I were having so much fun!" she said with a big smile.

"Next time... when I tell you that I'm coming back for you, you should stay right where you are," Dong Gun said, walking around the house and removing his coat. "Do you know how long I waited for you? I didn't even know where you were or what was happening to you!"

"Ajushi... miahn hae..." Tami said, softly, following Dong Gun to the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down the table. Tami didn't know what to say. It was the first time she encountered Dong Gun in such a mood, and it was not nice to see.

More minutes of silence passed. Tami just stood at the doorway of the kitchen, while Dong Gun finished his cup of coffee. After he was through, he washed his cup and left the kitchen, passing Tami without a word.

Tami was restless that night. She tried talking to Dong Gun, but he was not answering her. She knocked at his door, but he didn't open it. She was sad that she made Dong Gun upset, and she wondered what could make him forgive her.

It was four in the morning, and she still couldn't sleep. She tiptoed down the stairs and went to the kitchen to get a drink. While she was at it, she looked through all the stuff that Dong Gun had in the kitchen to see if there was anything special she could cook for him. Once she found some things she figured she could experiment with, she started cooking, humming and singing like she did whenever she cooked.

Little did she know that Dong Gun woke up in the wee hours also, and silently watched her while she worked. Even then, he didn't say anything. After a while, he went up and got some sleep again.

It was almost six in the morning when Tami finished cooking, and she started washing all the dishes she used before serving the food she cooked. She worked quickly, even though she already felt very tired and cold because of the water running through the faucet. Before seven, a lovely breakfast was waiting for Dong Gun on the table. She smiled at her work, and then tiptoed upstairs into the room she was staying in, where she finally fell asleep.

Just a few minutes after Tami went into the room, Dong Gun woke up and went down to the kitchen. He found the food that Tami cooked, along with a note written in Korean, saying: "I'm sorry, ajushi."

Dong Gun smiled and shook his head. He sighed. He must've terrified the poor girl.

It was almost noon when Tami woke up. She remembered what she'd done earlier, and thought that Dong Gun might've eaten the food she cooked already. Immediately, she sat up on the bed, and then saw a long-stemmed white rose lying just below her feet. She picked it up and found a note hanging on one of the leaves:

Dress up, sleepyhead.

Quickly, Tami freshened up and got dressed. She checked herself in the mirror to see if she looked alright, and then, holding the rose in her hand, she got out of the door.

"Good morning," Dong Gun greeted, standing just outside the door, holding a big bouquet of white roses in his hands. "I was wondering, if you had taken longer, these roses will miss their sister." He handed her the bouquet.

"Thank you..." Tami said, uneasily. She looked down at the roses, avoiding eye contact with Dong Gun.

Dong Gun lifted her chin up and saw tears clouding up her eyes, "Rule number one: no tears today," he said. Tami wiped them away before they fell on her cheeks. "Rule number two: forget last night, it didn't happen. Rule number three: let's go have some fun!" Dong Gun exclaimed, flashing his bright smile at Tami.

Tami smiled back, and Dong Gun pulled her arm, "Let's go! We've got lots of things to do!"

"We have a new rule," Dong Gun announced that afternoon while they sat on one of the benches of the amusement park they went to.

"What is it?" Tami asked.

"Call me by name."

Surprised, Tami said, "Dong Gun-shi?"

He smiled, "Right."

"But why?"

"I just want to."

"Ara seo..." Tami said. "Can I add a new rule too?"

Dong Gun peered at her, "Sure. What is it?"

"Let's buy cotton candy."

Dong Gun laughed, "Great! Let's go get some!"

Tami and Dong Gun went to the cotton candy stand and bought a stick each of cotton candy. From not so far away, Tami heard a little boy screaming. She looked back and saw a little boy pulling his mom's arm, and pointing to the cotton candy stand. Apparently, the boy's mother didn't want to buy him cotton candy, so the kid was wailing.

"Tami, here." Dong Gun gave her the cotton candy and noticed the distraction in Tami's face. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes..." Tami said, "Will you excuse me? I have to make a phone call."

"Mabuti naman. Balitaan niyo ako pag nakalabas na si Jammi ha? Baka makapagpadala na ako ng pera early next week," Tami said to her mother over the phone. She was standing a few feet away from Dong Gun, near a stall selling kites.

"Sige anak..."

"Mommy, pakausap naman kay Jammi."

Tami's mom passed the phone to her brother Jammi. "Hi, ate."

Tami smiled, "Jams, hulaan mo kung ano'ng tinitingnan ko ngayon."

"Ano?"

"Napakaraming saranggola!" Tami said, "Ang gaganda, Jams! Parang yung ginawa natin noon!" Tami exclaimed.

"Talaga, ate! Ano'ng klase?" Jammi asked.

Tami looked at the kites, "Iba-iba eh. May simple lang, may box types."

"Pagbalik mo rito, magpapalipad uli tayo ng saranggola! Gagawa ako ng box type!" Jammi said, proudly, "Tuturuan daw ako ni Kuya Kyle!"

Tami smiled at the thought of Kyle teaching Jammi how to make a kite. "Talaga?"

"Oo ate! Ay... ate, ba-bye na muna. Kasi kailangan ko nang uminom ng gamot."

"Ah, oo sige. Tatawag na lang ako uli ha?" Tami said and heard the other line go off. Tami continued looking at the kites and got hold of a red and blue kite that somewhat resembled a big butterfly. She bought the kite and walked over to Dong Gun.

"What's with the kite?" Dong Gun asked.

"I like kites." she replied, proudly, clutching the kite to her chest.

Dong Gun shook his head, "You can't fly that until spring, though."

Tami smiled, remembering something, "You know what?"

"What?"

"Someone told me once that loving a person is just like flying a kite," Tami said.

Dong Gun peered at her, "Why did he say that?"

"Because... when you fly a kite, you need to be at the right place, at the right time, and with the right circumstances. If you're not, then the kite won’t fly... or it will crash just as instantly as it took off." Tami explained. "When you love someone... everything has to be in the right place, the right time and the right circumstances, or else, it won't work."

"So are you saying that your kite is the one you love?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami looked at him, "Could be, yes. Even if the one you love is very far away from you, even if you can barely see him or her... you feel secure because you hold the strings. The strings connect you to each other. And no matter how far your loved one is, as long as you don't cut the strings... you will always be together."

Dong Gun sighed, thinking of Tami's words. Tami looked up at him, "What shall we do next?" she asked, breaking the silence. "Do we have a new rule?"

"Yup! It's called: Last one to the carousel pays for dinner!!!" Dong Gun said, laughing, and dashed towards the carousel, with Tami running and laughing along.

Christmas vacation was over, at least for Dong Gun. It was Monday morning, and he was on his way to the film set. He'd brought Tami over to Sang Woo's house so that she could finish her job there, and then he drove straight to work.

On the way to the set, he got a phone call from Yoo-Jin, inviting him to dinner. He agreed seeing her after the shoot, but she insisted to come visit him on the set.

"What for?" Dong Gun asked, "You'll just get tired."

"I just want to take a look at your set... is that too bad?"

Dong Gun sighed, "All right. Call me if you're on your way."

"Okay..."

Dong Gun ended the call and thought if he was doing the right thing, being nice to Yoo-Jin and all, preparing her for a formal break-up. He would've wanted to break it off with her over dinner that night after Christmas, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Damn..." he thought, "I must tell Yoo-Jin tonight."

"He did? Really?" Sang Woo asked when Tami told him not to take her anywhere anymore because Dong Gun got mad the last time. "Since when did he become so protective?" Sang Woo laughed.

"I think its because he's tired of looking for me when I get lost," Tami said. "I already got lost a couple of times in Seoul."

Sang Woo smiled at her, "I won't get tired. I'll look for you no matter how many times you get lost."

Tami blushed. "You can get all your pictures tomorrow afternoon after I get them developed. Do you have specifications on the pictures?"

"What do you mean, specifications?"

"I mean... if you want them to be 4R, 5R or 8R sized... if you want them glossy or matte, and if you want them to have borders," Tami explained.

Sang Woo shook his head, "Just make them big," he said and laughed. Tami laughed along. "You wanna watch TV?" he asked.

"If it's Korean, you have to translate for me!" Tami quipped.

"No problem!" Sang Woo said and turned the TV set on. The nightly news was already on, and there was a reporter interviewing Jeon Ji-Hyun and Lee Dong Gun on their movie set. It caught Tami's attention.

"Their movie is already being finished," Sang Woo said, obviously translating what Jeon Ji-Hyun was saying. "It might take another three weeks of shooting, and then another month or two of editing and they're ready to go."

The reporter turned to Dong Gun. "Ohh... it seems Choi Yoo-Jin was seen at the set tonight," Sang Woo said, "The reporter is grilling Dong Gun!"

Tami felt disappointed when she heard Yoo-Jin's name. "Dong Gun said she's just visiting the set. Oh... there she is!" Sang Woo said, pointing at the TV screen, "Have you seen Yoo-Jin yet? She's one of the prettiest singers I've ever seen."

"Yes. At the press ball," Tami said, forcing a smile. "She and Dong Gun-shi are very sweet."

"Ah... typical of Dong Gun, the romantic at work!" Sang Woo exclaimed. "Oh, you heard that? Oh... I’m sorry," Sang Woo said, "Yoo-Jin said she and Dong Gun might tie the knot this year! That's great! It's about time!”

Tami felt sick to the stomach.

Dong Gun waited for all the press people to leave the movie set and then pulled Yoo-Jin to one side, “"What the hell were you talking about back there? What wedding?"

"Aren't we going to get ---"

"Married?" Dong Gun asked, "Are you crazy? After what you did to me?"

Yoo-Jin pouted like a little girl, "I thought you already forgave me."

"Forgave you, yes. Loved you... again... no. It's over, Yoo-Jin," Dong Gun said, "I finally had the courage to say it, thanks to you."

"What? It can't be over!!!"

"It is. It has long been over," Dong Gun said softly, "You just loved playing pretend you got so used to it."

Seventeen

2005-08-19T15:23:00.000+08:00

Yoo-Jin almost lost her mind when she got home and saw the pictures that Investigator Kang gave her. She could not believe that Dong Gun was going out of his way for someone who, in her opinion, was nothing compared to her.

She put down the pictures and dialled Dong Gun's number.

"Yoo-Jin... are you better?" Dong Gun asked immediately upon answering the phone.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital," Yoo-Jin said. "Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner."

"Oh... I'm sorry, Yoo-Jin. I'm still sick."

Yoo-Jin's eyebrow arched, "Sick? What happened?"

"I kind of... accidentally ate something I'm not supposed to. I can drop by your place tomorrow, if you want," Dong Gun said.

"Alright then. Tomorrow, at 6pm."

"Alright."

Yoo-Jin ended the call with her customary "good night," and put down her phone. "Liar," Yoo-Jin said to herself, "Dong Gun-shi, you'd better watch your back..."

Dong Gun put down his phone and started his car's engine. They were on their way to the hotel where Tami stayed to pick up her things and check her out. Tami noticed the change in Dong Gun's mood while he drove, but she decided against saying anything.

"Tami, can I ask you a question?"

She looked at him, "Sure."

"Have you ever regretted loving someone so much?"

Tami was surprised at the question. It was very personal, and she didn't expect Dong Gun to ask her such. She didn't have a ready answer, and all she managed to blurt out was, "That's a loaded question, ajushi."

"What do you mean?" Dong Gun asked.

"By asking that, you also assume that I have already loved someone a lot... and I might've been hurt by that someone, and that's why...” she stopped when she saw Dong Gun shake his head.

"Never mind."

Tami fell silent on her seat and played with the buckle on her seatbelt. They never said anything after that, until they got to the hotel.

"I'll wait for you here," Dong Gun said.

She nodded and removed her seatbelt. Before she went out of the car, she turned to Dong Gun and said, "You never regret loving anyone, ajushi. You shouldn't be sorry for loving, because love the best gift you could give anyone... regardless of whether he or she chooses to receive it or not."

"Tams, pasensiya ka na, nakalimutan kong tawagan ka. Merry Christmas ha?"

Tami pulled the sheets up to her waist, "Okay lang. Naging busy rin naman ako. Tsaka, sina Mommy lang ang tinatawagan ko lately."

"Oo nga pala... nabalitaan ko yung kay Jammi."

"Yeah," Tami said. "Kaya nga doble kayod ako ngayon dito."

She heard Kyle sigh on the other line, "Hayaan mo, titingnan-tingnan ko sila rito para sa iyo. Ako nang bahala sa kanila."

"Salamat, Kyle ha?"

"Sus, ano ka ba? Para ka namang iba."

The door to the room Tami was staying in opened suddenly, "Do you need extra blankets? It's..." Dong Gun stopped when he saw that Tami was on the phone. "Very cold..." he continued and bowed slightly as if to apologize for just barging in.

"Tami, sino yun?" Kyle asked.

Tami looked at Dong Gun, "Thank you. Good night." He bowed to her again, and, without a word, left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Tami..."

She smiled, "Ano yun?"

"Sino yung nagsalita? May kasama kang lalaki?" Kyle asked.

"Boyfriend ko, bakit?" Tami said and laughed.

Kyle laughed along, "Ulol! Roomboy yun ano?"

"Ayan ka na naman Kyle eh... nang-aasar ka na naman! Bakit, sa tingin mo, walang magkakagusto sa akin dito?" Tami asked, raising her voice. "Kapal mo! 'Kala mo naman kung sino'ng guwapo. Ba-bye na nga!"

"Uy, ano ka ba? Tami..."

"Good night!" Tami said and put down the phone. "Peste!"

The next day, Tami and Dong Gun started off early. Dong Gun drove Tami to his friend's place, where she will be taking photographs for a catalogue.

Tami's eyes almost fell off their sockets when she saw the big white mansion owned by Dong Gun's friend, as they entered the driveway in Dong Gun's car. Aside from the mansion, there was a huge garden covered in snow, and Tami knew that it would look fabulous during the spring.

Dong Gun escorted her to the door, where Tami had another surprise of her life. At the doorway stood a tall and handsome young man, and Tami recognized him right away as Kwon Sang Woo.

"Ann yong ha se yo!" Sang Woo greeted them. Dong Gun shook the Sang Woo's hand, and whispered something to him. Afterwards, he walked up to Tami, "Hi, Tami."

"Hi."

"Come in. I'll show you the rest of the house. Did you bring your camera?" Sang Woo asked.

"Yes."

Sang Woo smiled, "You're pretty quiet. Let's go?"

After touring the whole house, Sang Woo led Tami and Dong Gun into the dining room, where some coffee and snacks was served to them.

"Be my guest," Sang Woo said. "Please sit down."

Dong Gun pulled a chair up for Tami and let her sit. "Sang Woo-shi, I’'d better get going."

Tami looked up at Dong Gun, "Ajushi?"

He smiled at her, "You'll be okay," he said and faced Sang Woo. "I have an appointment for dinner, and I have to make preparations."

"I see," Sang Woo said, "Alright. You don't have to worry about your friend. I'll take care of her."

Dong Gun nodded, "I trust that." He reached for Tami's shoulder and squeezed it. "I'll be back tonight to pick you up. Do a great job... ara seo?" he said with a smile, his clenched fist in the air.

"Ara seo..." Tami said, halfheartedly, imitating Dong Gun's action.

Sang Woo saw Dong Gun to the door, and then he went back to the dining room. "So... how long have you been taking pictures?"

"Oh... since college. About six years," Tami answered.

"Dong Gun said you take good pictures. How did you guys meet?" Sang Woo asked.

Tami remembered the first time she and Dong Gun met, and she spaced out for a moment. "At work. I was still photographer for his movie then."

"He said you were from the Philippines..."

"Yes, I am."

"Great! I love the Philippines! Ever been to Boracay?"

Yoo-Jin was already inside the restaurant when Dong Gun came. He placed a rectangular box on the table before sitting down across her.

"What is it?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"Open it."

Yoo-Jin picked up the box and held it in her hand. Slowly, she pulled the bow off the box and opened it. Inside was a simple silver necklace with a cross pendant. "I figured you needed something to remind you of your faith," Dong Gun said. "I realized that when you had your accident."

Dong Gun stood up, held the necklace in his hand and placed it over Yoo-Jin's neck. "Merry Christmas," he greeted.

Yoo-Jin wasn't quite sure how to react. Could it be that she won him over again, and that her little "accident" was the key?

"Yoo-Jin... are you alright?" Dong Gun asked.

"Yes... thank you. It's very nice," Yoo-Jin said, touching the pendant hanging from her neck.

He smiled, "So... shall we order?" he asked and waved for a waiter.

"Dong Gun ui oppa..."

Dong Gun looked at her. "What is it?"

"Don't you think it's time for us to patch things up? I mean, its Christmas time..." Yoo-Jin said, "Whatever it is I've done, I'm sorry."

Solemnly, Dong Gun reached for Yoo-Jin's hands across the table. He looked into her eyes, contemplated for a moment, and then a waiter came by the table and asked for their order. Dong Gun smiled at her, "Let's talk over dinner."

"Dong Gun was right! You do take good pictures!" Sang Woo exclaimed when he saw Tami's shots through the LCD of her digital SLR camera. "I'm going to be able to sell this house in no time!"

Tami smiled while she watched Sang Woo looking at the pictures she took. The first moment she saw Sang Woo that day, she wanted to scream and call one of her bestfriends Malyn, who has a major crush on Sang Woo. But of course, she couldn't do that, so she decided to call Malyn when she got home.

"Hey... are you bored?" Sang Woo asked.

"Oh, no. Not at all."

Sang Woo smiled at her, "You know, I rarely have visitors in this house, and you really made me happy today... so... let's go out and have dinner! My treat!" He stood up and walked up to Tami.

"What?"

"Yes, come on!" Sang Woo said, pulling Tami's arm, "And then you can teach me some more Filipino words, because I'm planning to go to Boracay again soon!"

"Where are we going!? Lee songsaengnim might come back any minute!" Tami said.

Sang Woo looked at Tami when he heard her say "songsaengnim." "You speak Korean?" he asked.

"A little bit," Tami said.

"Alright!" Sang Woo exclaimed and gave Tami a hug, "I love Filipinas! Let's go!" Sang Woo walked towards the door, leaving Tami speechless and shocked at what Sang Woo just did.

Sixteen

2005-07-25T15:10:00.000+08:00

When Tami woke up the next day, she was happy to find Dong Gun sleeping just across her. They had spent the whole night talking, laughing and eating ramyeon in Dong Gun's living room that they fell asleep right there in front of all the dirty dishes and uneaten cookies and ramyeon.

Carefully, Tami picked up the dishes and stacked them one by one. Then, she carried them all to the kitchen and washed them, carefully still, so that she will not wake Dong Gun up. But then, a few minutes later, she heard Dong Gun call out her name.

"I'm in the kitchen, ajushi!" she said.

Dong Gun walked sleepily to the kitchen, "What are you doing? You're not supposed to do that."

Tami turned around with a smile, "Aju---" she stopped and gasped when she saw Dong Gun. There were big red spots on his face and his arms that looked swollen. "What are those?" she asked. "What happened to you?"

Dong Gun looked at his arms calmly, as if nothing was wrong, "Oh... this," he said and sighed, "I shouldn't have made you spend the night." He turned around, and Tami followed him. She grabbed his arms and looked at the spots carefully, and then she shifted to his face.

"Does this happen all the time? Maybe you're sick," she said and reached for his face. He turned away, but she persisted on touching him. He felt hot. "You're having a fever!!!" she said, panicking.

"I'm okay, Tami. This is normal..."

"Normal? What do you mean 'this is normal'? You can't just have all those red spots on your body and ---"

Dong Gun grabbed her shoulders and stopped her from talking. "It's my body's normal reaction to chocolate."

Tami's eyes widened, "You're allergic to chocolates?" Dong Gun nodded, shyly. "Why didn't you say so? I wouldn't have made you eat all those cookies!" she cried, feeling guilty.

"Hey... don't cry."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tami asked.

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. He sighed. "You were so happy about the gift you made... I didn't have the heart to tell you..."

"But I made you sick!" she cried.

Dong Gun held her hand and led her to the dining table. He sat her down across him. "Can I ask you two favors?" he asked.

Tami wiped her tears and nodded.

"I ate quite a lot of the cookies you made, and I'm sure this ---" he looked at the swollen spots in his arms, "--- will not be all that's coming. Could you... stay with me and take care of me for a while?"

"Of course!" Tami exclaimed, "I would do it even if you didn't ask."

Dong Gun smiled, and nodded.

"You said two favors..." Tami said.

"Oh, yes. And, uhh ---" Dong Gun scratched his head shyly, "Could you not tell anyone that you saw me like this?"

Tami laughed softly and nodded. "It'll be our little secret," she said. "Now... do you have any medicine for this?"

"It's in the top shelf of my bathroom cabinet. The one with the blue label."

"I HATE YOU!"

"Yoo-Jin... what is the matter with you?" Yoo-Jin's mom, Mrs. Choi asked.

Yoo-Jin shrieked, "Why did you come here? You made Dong Gun leave!"

"He called us up and told us about your accident. Of course we had to come!" Mrs. Choi said.

Yoo-Jin almost lost her mind and screamed in frustration. "Bring Dong Gun back to me!!! I want him to take care of me!!!"

"Yoo-Jin, please calm down. Please."

"I won't calm down until I see Dong Gun! Bring him back!!!"

Tami looked at the thermometer and sighed. Dong Gun's fever rose to a 38.5 degrees Celsius from 38 degrees earlier. She removed the towel on Dong Gun's forehead and soaked it in cold water. Afterwards, she placed it on his forehead again. It's a good thing she had convinced him to go back to sleep, otherwise, she would've had a hard time taking care of him and his stubbornness.

She stood up and carried the bowl of water to the kitchen to replace it with a fresh one. For a moment while filling the bowl with water from the sink, Tami felt very, very happy. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like if she and Dong Gun got married and lived together. Images of a beautiful white wedding streamed her head.

She saw their children playing in a big garden full of butterflies, bright afternoons flying kites and riding bikes with their dad. And in the evening, after a wonderful dinner, she and Dong Gun would each tuck their kids into bed, kissing them lovingly as their eyes closed for the night. Then, she and Dong Gun would walk to the veranda hand in hand, looking at the bright moon shining above them and wish that time would stand still.

And then, tiny raindrops will fall on them as they look at the evening sky. They seal the night with a warm kiss on the lips, as the raindrops grow bigger and fall harder on their skin.

Tami sighed, "How real," she thought of her wonderful daydream. "I could even feel the rain on my hands." She looked at her hands and gasped when she saw water overflowing on the sink. She had been daydreaming for so long that she forgot to turn the faucet off!

"Shit!" she exclaimed, whispering, afraid that Dong Gun would hear and wake up. She turned the faucet off and looked for a towel to wipe the floor off. In a matter of minutes, she was able to clean the kitchen floor quietly, and she was relieved that when she peeked at Dong Gun on the sofa, he was still asleep.

Jung Wha called Tami that afternoon, while she was naughtily taking pictures of Dong Gun's almost bloated face with her cellphone camera. Tami immediately answered the phone.

"Merry Christmas, Jung Wha!" Tami greeted.

"Merry Christmas to you too..." Jung Wha greeted, "How are you? I thought you were moving in yesterday."

Tami bit her lip, "There's been a slight change of plans."

"I see," Jung Wha said, "So, where are you?"

"Uhh... I'm staying with a friend. I spent the night here," Tami said, thinking up an excuse. "Actually, I'm staying with my mom's friend. We saw each other yesterday and he offered me to stay with his family."

"Good for you, then!" Jung Wha said, happily. Tami was relieved that Jung Wha bought her excuse. "Well, have you found a job yet?"

It was then that Tami was jolted into reality once again. "A job? Oh... yes. Uhh... not yet. I'm going to look for one tomorrow. I'll have to stay inside today because it's very cold outside."

"Okay. Do drop by here tomorrow, alright? I have a present for you under the tree."

Tami smiled, "Okay. I'll bring you a present too."

"Alright! See you tomorrow then! Bye!"

Tami ended the call and kept the phone in her hands, thinking how and where she could find a job the next day. She sat on a one-seater couch beside the sofa Dong Gun was sleeping in and put her head between her hands. She groaned. It was impossible.

"Tami..."

Surprised, Tami almost jumped out of her skin when she looked at Dong Gun. "Ajushi..." She rushed to his side and felt his forehead.

"You need a job?"

"Investigator Kang... do you have anything to tell me?"

"Actually, Miss Choi, I already have a couple of pictures that are ready to be sent. If you'd only give me your mailing address," Investigator Kang said.

"No need. Meet me at the Seoul Tower at 8pm."

Over coffee, Dong Gun talked to Tami about her situation. Although embarrassed to ask Dong Gun for help, Tami swallowed her pride.

"Don't worry about a thing," Dong Gun said. "I'll handle it. I have friends I can talk to who could refer you to certain jobs. What do you want to do?"

Tami looked down at her cup, "I'm just asking for help, ajushi. I can't be choosy."

"Photography?" he asked. "You take good pictures, I remember."

"Anything."

Dong Gun looked at Tami. He sensed that something other than getting fired from her job bothered her. He stood up, left the table and went to the other room to place a call.

Tami was left in front of the table, looking at her cup of coffee, thinking if it was right to ask even Dong Gun for help with her situation. She thought it was disgraceful of her to do so, but she didn't have a choice. She didn't know anyone else in Seoul, and Dong Gun she felt, was one of those who genuinely cared.

"I got you a job," Dong Gun said when he entered the room again. "My friend is selling his mansion soon. He needs someone to take photographs of his mansion for a catalogue. I told him you were fit for the job. He asked if you could see him tomorrow."

Tami was surprised at how quick things were happening. A minute later she was jobless, and now, just after a phone call, Dong Gun got her a job!

"Tami?"

"Oh... yeah?"

"I asked if you could see him tomorrow..."

"But... who's going to take care of you?" Tami asked.

Dong Gun waved her off, "Are you kidding? By the way you took care of me today, I'm sure I'll be fine tomorrow. I'll take you to his place."

Flattered by Dong Gun's words, Tami blushed, and she hid it by looking down at her cup again. "Thank you, ajushi."

"And also..." Dong Gun began, lifting his coffee cup to his lips, "You can stay here for a while until you can find your own place. I won't be home all day anyway because of work, so you can have the house all to yourself."

"Oh no... I could---"

Dong Gun stood up, "I'm so used to living by myself. It would be wonderful to have someone greet me at the door when I come home."

Tami didn't continue what she wanted to say. She was touched by Dong Gun's words. There's no arguing with that.

Fifteen

2005-07-25T14:40:00.000+08:00

Dong Gun drove furiously in the streets of Seoul, trying to see if any of the people still walking on the streets was Tami. "She can't be looking for a job on a night like this!" he thought to himself.

Just then, he remembered something. "Could she be---?" he said to himself and drove the other way.

"Merry Christmas, Jammi!"

"Ate! Merry Christmas! Nasaan ka?" Jammi asked.

Tami looked around and sighed. She was all alone, save for the big cookie jar she was supposed to give Dong Gun, inside the same church she'd visited before when she felt very, very lonely at the death of Kyle's mother. "Nasa simbahan," Tami said. "Binati ko si Baby Jesus ng Happy Birthday."

"Ay, kami... hindi nakapagsimba."

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Naiintindihan Niya naman yun. May sakit ka pa, kailangan mo pang magpagaling," Tami said reassuringly.

"Ate, nag-Noche Buena ka ba?" Jammi asked, and she smiled. She forgot all about Noche Buena that she didn't even have dinner yet, and she wasn't about to eat any of those cookies she baked.

"Oo," she said, feeling guilty about lying in front of Jesus. She said a little "sorry" in her heart for telling Jammi a lie, and a bigger one for what she is about to tell.

"Sino'ng kasama mo?"

"Mga kaibigan ko dito. Ang saya nga eh. Alam mo ba, kanina, naglaro kami sa snow!"

She heard Jammi gasp on the other line. "Wow! Buti ka pa, ate!" he said. "Alam mo ate, dapat magpapadala ako ng regalo diyan. Kaya lang naibili na ni Mommy ng gamot eh. Sorry ha?"

Tami felt tears stinging in her eyes, "Okay lang. Ang regalo mo na lang sa akin, yung magaling ka na pagbalik ko," she said, trying not to break down and cry. "Magtatrabaho ako nang mabuti para makakuha ng maraming pera, para magamot ka agad ha? Para hindi na sasakit ang tiyan mo, ha?"

"Oo, ate."

She wiped her tears. "Nakuha mo ba yung regalong pinadala ko?"

"Wala pa ate, eh. Sabi ni Mommy, baka daw next week pa dumating. Pero okay lang. Ate..."

"Oh?"

"Kantahan mo na lang ako."

Another tear fell down Tami's cheek. Ever since Jammi was little, she sang to him every night so that he could fall asleep. Her mother discovered that it was Tami's singing that could rock him to sleep when Jammi fell asleep in church while Tami sang a solo on a relative's wedding. Since then, when Jammi was having trouble sleeping, Tami would sing him a song.

"Bakit... gusto mo na bang matulog?" she asked.

"Hindi. Na-miss ko lang."

Dong Gun walked towards the church. The lights were still on, but the main door was already shut. He looked at the side entrance, and saw light coming through one door. He walked towards it, but stopped in his tracks when he heard someone singing.

"Ikaw lamang ang pangakong mahalin. Sa sumpang sa'yo magpakailan pa man, yakapin mo'ng bawat sandali... ang buhay kong sumpang sa iyo lamang alay..."

He slowly started walking again, careful not to make any noise as he might scare away the one who was singing. When he got to the door, he saw Tami standing in front of the altar, singing, as if someone was watching her.

"At mapapawi ang takot sa 'kin... pangakong walang hanggan..."

Dong Gun saw Tami's cellphone sitting on one of the pews, facing Tami. It seems, to him, that she was singing to someone on the phone. He saw the warm yellow lights of the church make Tami's face glow like an angel's, and he suddenly felt warm hearing her sweet, mellow voice even though he didn't understand a word she was singing.

"Ikaw lamang ang pangakong susundin. Sa takbo sakdal, liwanagan ang daan, yakapin mong bawat sandali... ang buhay kong sumpang sa'yo lamang alay. At mapapawi ang takot sa 'kin... pangakong walang hanggan..."

Tami heard Jammi clapping on her cellphone, which she turned to loudspeaker mode, and bowed. She then walked to the pew and took her phone.

"Mukhang hindi kita napatulog ngayon ah," Tami told Jammi.

"Kagigising ko lang naman, Ate eh."

Tami laughed softly, "Oo nga pala. O sige na. Mag-Noche Buena na kayo."

"Ikaw, Ate? Ano'ng gagawin mo?"

"Ha?" Tami thought of something to say, "Pupunta muna kami sa bahay ng isa kong kaibigan. Doon naman kami magpa-party. Tapos uuwi na ako."

"Ah... sige Ate, ingat ka ha?"

"Ikaw rin. Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat... I love you, Jammi." Tami said.

"I love you too, Ate. Merry Christmas."

Dong Gun saw Tami terminate the call, stare at her cellphone for a few moments and kiss its LCD while the tears that fell from her eyes glistened in the light. He felt sad seeing her like that, and he thought she must be very upset and disappointed for being fired from her job. He wanted to walk in on her and comfort her, but he thought it would be rude. He decided to walk away and just wait for Tami to leave the church.

It was past twelve when Dong Gun saw Tami come out of the church, carrying a big jar with her. He immediately got out of the car and shouted, "Merry Christmas, Tami!"

She spun around, and her eyes glowed when she saw Dong Gun, "Ajushi!?"

He nodded and ran to her, enveloping her in a hug when he reached her. "I am so sorry..." he said, almost in a whisper. "I'm sorry."

Tami felt like her heart was going to explode any moment. She was so happy and sad at the same time, she didn't know what she was going to feel first. She didn't even know what to say. Dong Gun released her from the embrace, held her face with his hands and looked into her eyes. She tried to look away, but his hands stopped her from doing so.

"You must be hungry," he said.

"A bit," Tami said.

He smiled, "Let's have dinner."

Dinner was over, and Dong Gun was driving Tami home when he remembered he left his present for him at home.

"Tami, would it be okay if I took you home tonight?"

Tami just looked at him. She didn't know what to say.

"I left my present for you at home," Dong Gun explained. "You have to open it tonight."

After a while of silence, Tami nodded, clutching the big jar she had to her chest. Dong Gun smiled at her answer, and then noticed the jar again. "By the way... what's that for?" he asked, looking at the jar. "Is that my gift?"

Tami looked down, "Maybe."

"What do you mean, 'maybe'?"

"If you want it, then its yours," Tami asked.

"Did you make it yourself?" Dong Gun asked.

She just nodded. "Then I want it. I want it very much."

Tami almost squealed in delight when she brought out a big cream-colored teddy bear out of the gift bag Dong Gun gave her. It had a big red heart on its round stomach, and felt very soft and cuddly. Tami hugged it with all her might.

"Merry Christmas!" Dong Gun greeted, "Did you like it?"

"Yes! Thank you!"

"Unfortunately, that's not my gift," he said.

Tami was taken aback, and released the teddy bear from her hug. "Oh..."

"That's only part of it," Dong Gun said, teasingly. "Open the heart."

Tami looked at the big red heart on the teddy bear's tummy and saw that it had a small button. She undid the button, and saw a tiny box inside. She looked at Dong Gun questioningly, and he just nodded, as if telling her to go on and open it.

Slowly, she opened the box, and inside she saw a pair of tear-shaped earrings that glimmered like diamonds. Dong Gun sat beside her, "Those look familiar, don't they?" he asked.

Tami just gazed at him, disbelieving every single moment that was passing. He was smiling, looking at the earrings that Tami held in her hands. He looked at her, "They look exactly like the ones I saw in your eyes the first time I saw you."

Tears brimmed in Tami's eyes once again. "There they are!" Dong Gun exclaimed. He took the earrings out of the box and lifted it for Tami to see. "See?"

"Ajushi..." Tami said, tears running down her cheeks. She wanted to say so much, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. He leaned over, slowly, and kissed a tear that ran down her left cheek. Tami felt the world stand still.

"Your tears," he whispered into her left ear, "They're beautiful."

"What is this?" Dong Gun asked when he opened the jar that Tami gave her.

"Cookies," she replied.

He took out one cookie and bit into it. "Mmm... good," he said, and then stopped chewing. Tami noticed.

"What's wrong? Taste bad?"

"Is this chocolate?" he asked.

"It's actually oatmeal but I put some chocolate chips to sweeten them," Tami explained. "Is there anything wrong?"

Dong Gun smiled, uneasily, and then took another bite, "No. Nothing. It's good!"

Tami smiled back. "Great!" she said and felt relief in her chest, "Whew! I had a hard time thinking of what to give you! It's a good thing you liked my cookies!"

Fourteen

2005-07-25T14:20:00.000+08:00

Christmas Eve day came, and at ten in the morning, Dong Gun drove to Yoo-Jin's place as promised a few days before. As he drove, he picked up the phone and dialled Tami's number. A bright-voiced Tami answered her call.

"Ann yong ha sae yo!!! Tami greeted, "Merry Christmas!"

Dong Gun laughed, "My my... you definitely had a good start today, have you?"

"Of course!" Tami lied, looking at all her luggage. She'd fixed all of them the night before, as today was the day she was moving in to Jung Wha's place. "How about you?"

"Great! Now that I've heard your voice!"

Tami laughed, "Oh, yeah right! Where are you?"

Dong Gun turned into a corner, "I'm out. I'm just going to pick up something from a friend's house. Are you ready for our dinner tonight?"

"Dinner? What dinner?"

"I can't believe you forgot! I invited you to Christmas dinner, right? And you said yes?" Dong Gun reminded.

Tami's heart raced, "Oh no," she thought. She forgot all about the dinner!

"Tami?"

"Of course I didn't forget," Tami lied again. "I was just messing with you!"

Dong Gun smiled as he parked his car in front of Yoo-Jin's house, "Alright then... I'll pick you up at six."

Alarmed, Tami looked at her luggage again, "Oh, that's not necessary. I can go to wherever you want me to go. Don't bother yourself too much."

"I already bothered myself calling you this early, so I might as well get along with it." Dong Gun said, "I'll pick you up at six. Don't forget my gift, okay?"

"Shit... what am I going to do?" Tami said to herself. She didn't have much money to buy Dong Gun a gift, and she was running out of ideas. She thought. Hard. She had the whole day to get the perfect Christmas gift for Dong Gun, and she had better start looking for it now.

Dong Gun rang the doorbell of Yoo-Jin's house, and she opened the door immediately. "What a lovely way to start my Christmas Eve! Come in!"

"I won't be long, Yoo-Jin," Dong Gun reminded.

She waved him off, "Yes, yes... I know. Wait a sec. I'm going to get your present." She walked upstairs to her room. "Dong Gun-shi, why don't you sit down?"

Dong Gun sat down on one of the couches and waited. A few minutes later, he heard a loud thud upstairs. He stood up and called out, "Yoo-Jin!? Yoo-Jin, are you alright?"

Yoo Jin didn't answer.

Dong Gun decided to go up the stairs, still calling out Yoo-Jin's name. When he got to her room, he saw her lying down the floor, unconscious, palms open with a gift box beside her. He ran to her side. "Yoo-Jin! Yoo-Jin!" he said, shaking her shoulders.

She did not wake up.

Tami smiled when she smelled the cookies she was baking that afternoon. She was reminded of the first time she learned how to bake them. She was in High School then, and Jammi was just five years old.

Jammi loved her cookies so much that he ate almost all of them and suffered stomachaches the next day. Afterwards, Tami didn't bake cookies for a while, for fear that the incident might happen again.

She opened the oven and checked if the cookies were already done. She pulled out one of the trays and stuck a fork on one heart-shaped cookie. As she pulled the fork out, she saw that the fork was clean. The cookies were ready.

Hoping that Dong Gun will like the cookies, she went on to placing the cookies in a big cookie jar, and then tying the lid with a bright red ribbon.

It was 6:30 in the evening, and Dong Gun wasn't arriving just yet. Tami was already dressed, in a light pink blouse, jeans, dark blue denims jacket, and the white-and-blue striped scarf Dong Gun gave her.

While she waited for Dong Gun, she decided to call home. Her mom answered the phone. "Mommy... Merry Christmas!!!"

"Merry Christmas din anak! Ang aga mo namang tumawag!"

"Baka kasi busy na kayo mamaya," Tami said.

"Ano ka ba? Dito lang naman kami sa ospital magpa-Pasko."

Tami sighed, "Mommy, kamusta si Jammi? May resulta na ba?" she asked.

There was a short pause on the other line, "May sakit sa atay si Jammi, pero ang sabi ng doktor, kaya pang kunin ng gamot. Hindi kailangan ng operasyon."

Tami's heart got caught up in her throat. "Kung ano man ang kailangan, mommy, sabihin niyo lang. Magpapadala ako diyan."

"Hayaan mo anak... gagawa rin naman kami ng paraan dito. Huwag kang masyadong magpagod diyan. Pag nagkasakit ka, walang mag-aalaga sa iyo," her mom said.

Tami smiled when she remembered how Dong Gun took care of her when she got hypothermia. She thought he was the sweetest, most selfless man alive. "Huwag kang mag-alala mommy. May friends din naman ako rito. Mababait sila," she said, "Puwede ko bang makausap si Jammi?"

"Naku, katutulog lang. Kagabi kasi inatake, hindi nakatulog sa sakit ng tiyan."

"Ganun ba? Kamusta na siya ngayon?"

"Mabuti-buti na. Nakakain na bago pa matulog. Pero mamaya gigisingin ko para makapag-Noche Buena kami. Nagluto si Alice."

The name was foreign to Tami. "Alice? Sino’ng Alice?"

Tami's mom didn't answer at once. She felt her mom wasn't supposed to have said that. "Asawa ng Kuya mo."

At nine in the evening, Dong Gun was restless. He was still in the hospital standing by Yoo-Jin, waiting for her parents to come see her. He tried calling Tami but her cellphone was busy, and nobody was answering the phone in her hotel room. Dong Gun was worried she might have waited for him outside in the cold, but he couldn't leave Yoo-Jin alone.

Meanwhile, Tami was waiting in a coffee shop in front of the hotel. She was still on the phone with her mom, asking out details of the things she missed when she left Manila almost three months ago. She had the big jar of cookies with her, and was having a cup of latte while talking on the phone.

She looked at her watch and saw that it was about to strike ten in the evening. She wondered what was taking Dong Gun so long, and then realized she was on the phone for hours. Dong Gun might be calling her because something came up, but he can't come through because she is talking to someone. Politely, she said goodbye to her mother and put the phone down.

Not a minute has passed, and Dong Gun's name flashed on her LCD screen. She answered the call.

"Ajushi! I'm so sorry... I was on the phone with my mom!" she said quickly.

"Tami, I'm sorry too. We might not be able to have dinner tonight," Dong Gun said apologetically.

Tami's heart sank, "Oh... did something happen? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am. It's my friend. She had an accident, and I'm looking after her now because her parents aren't here yet. I'm really sorry, Tami."

Tami tried to sound okay, "That's fine. Take care of her well like you did to me."

Dong Gun sighed, "I will."

"Bye," Tami said.

"Tami..."

"Yes?"

"I would've been really fun spending this night with you. Merry Christmas," Dong Gun said, softly.

Tami was dumbfounded for a moment by what she heard. "It's alright. Merry Christmas to you too."

Yoo-Jin's parents arrived at the hospital at half-past ten, and Dong Gun's heart leaped. Mr. and Mrs. Choi thanked Dong Gun for looking after Yoo-Jin, and advised him to go home for his family Christmas dinner. Dong Gun thanked them also, and ran out of the hospital and into his car.

Grabbing his cellphone, he immediately called Tami up. As with what had happened earlier, her phone was busy. He tried calling after a few minutes, but it was still busy. He thought that Tami might just have resorted to calling her family and friends in Manila because she didn't have anyone to spend Christmas with, and he felt sad for her.

He tried calling her hotel phone, but no one was answering. "Where could she be?" he thought, still driving.

"Good evening, sorry for the late call. Is this Park Jung Wha?"

"Yes, it is. Who is this?" Jung Wha asked.

"Hi Jung Wha, this is Lee Dong Gun."

Jung Wha almost fell out of her seat, "Lee Dong Gun?"

"Yes... Merry Christmas, Jung Wha."

"Merry Christmas to you too."

"Uhh... listen," Dong Gun began shyly, "I know that I'm in no position to ask this, but --- is Tami with you?"

Jung Wha's brow furrowed, "It's funny you should ask. She was supposed to move in with me today, but she never came. She didn't even call. Maybe she's still upset."

Dong Gun wondered, "Upset? Why so?"

Jung Wha stopped for a moment and thought if it would be fine to tell Dong Gun about Tami's concerns as of the moment. "Well... she got fired from her job, and she needs to earn money before she goes home."

Thirteen

2005-07-10T17:03:00.000+08:00

Tami received bad news when she got back from the hospital. The Korean producer left a message with the concierge, saying that Tami's contact is already terminated, and she is not required to report to work the next week.

Tami felt like she was about to faint. She didn't know what to do. Without that job, she wouldn't be able to live in Korea for long. She might as well go back home.

Rummaging through her things, she found that her money was just enough to buy a plane ticket back to Manila and for some pocket money.

"I might be able to spend Christmas at home after all," she thought.

She got up, charged her phone and turned it on so she could receive calls and messages. Five new messages came in.

Tams, bakit nka-off phone mo? - Kyle

Lowbatt ka na naman no? Tawagan mo ako ha? - Kyle

Anak, tumawag ka dito sa bahay. Emergency. - Mommy

Bakit naka-off ang phone mo?
Tawag ka agad sa bahay pag nabasa mo ang message ko. - Mommy

Anak, dito ka na lang sa cellphone ko tumawag.
Sinugod namin sa ospital si Jammi. Walang tao sa bahay. - Mommy

Tami almost dropped her phone at the last message she read. She dialled her mom's number and waited for her to answer.

"Tami, anak..."

"Mommy, ano'ng nangyari kay Jammi?" Tami asked.

"Hindi pa rin alam ng mga doktor, anak. Sinugod na lang namin agad dito kaninang umaga. Dangan kasi'y sumasakit ang tiyan at isinusuka lahat ng kinakain."

Dong Gun passed by the shop where he bought the scarf for Tami. He went inside and greeted the old man at the counter.

"Uncle Han Sun!" he greeted.

"Dong Gun-shi!" the old man greeted. "You're alone?"

Dong Gun nodded, "How's business?"

"Same old, same old. And how are you? Did your cloudy eyed girl leave already?" Han Sun asked.

"No. She's staying for a little while. I'm getting her a Christmas present." Dong Gun looked around. "What do you think should I get for her?"

"Let me ask you one question."

"What is it?" Dong Gun asked.

"Did you make the sun shine yet?" Han Sun asked with a smile.

Dong Gun looked down at his feet, smiling, and then looked back at Han Sun, "Maybe."

The old man shook his head, grinning, "I think a more special gift will be appropriate."

"You don't mean the key, do you?"

"No... well, at least not yet."

"Kamusta na ang baby ko?" Tami asked her brother Jammi over the phone.

"Okay na ako Ate. Hindi na sumasakit ang tiyan ko."

Tami felt sorry for her brother, "Masakit na masakit ba?"

"Hindi naman, Ate. Kaya ko naman. Big boy na ako eh!"

Tami smiled, "O, basta... susundin mo lahat ng sinabi ng doktor para gumaling ka agad ha? Wag mong bibigyan ng sakit ng ulo si Mommy at Kuya."

"Wala naman si Kuya dito eh."

"Bakit? Nasa trabaho ba?" Tami asked.

"Hindi, Ate. Matagal nang hindi umuuwi si Kuya. Hindi nga alam ni Mommy ---" Jammi's voice trailed off, and Tami could her hear mom saying something to her brother. She then heard her mom's voice on the phone.

"A-anak... sige na. Mahal na 'tong binabayaran mo," her mom said.

"Mommy, nasaan si Kuya?"

Silence.

"Mommy..."

"Anak, wag mo na munang alalahanin ang Kuya mo. Sige na. Magpahinga ka na't gabi na," her mom said and ended the call.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Tami half-shouted when she heard her mom say goodbye. She wondered what could have happened to her big brother for him not to come home anymore, as Jammi had reported.

She thought of Jammi's condition and decided she cannot go home without earning some more money because there might not be any job waiting for her in Manila. But who can she ask for help?

Dong Gun tried to call Tami that night before he went to bed, but she didn't answer the phone. He figured she might already be asleep, so he put his phone away and lay down in bed. He smiled when he remembered the gift he picked out for Tami earlier. He just knew she would like it, and he was reminded of how Tami's eyes glistened with tears when she saw the scarf he gave her weeks back. He knew he made her smile, and it brought a certain joy into his heart also.

His phone rang, and he quickly got out of bed to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Ann yong ha sae yo?"

Disappointed, Dong Gun sighed. "What is it, Yoo-Jin?"

"I was just thinking... Christmas is just around the corner. Would you like to have Christmas dinner with me?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"I can't, Yoo-Jin. I'm going to my parents' house on Christmas Eve," Dong Gun replied, "I'll be spending Christmas there."

"Is that so?" Yoo-Jin asked, "That's too bad. Well, then maybe you could just drop by here at home before you go to your parents' house."

Dong Gun shook his head, "What for?"

"I just have a gift for you, that's all. Is that too bad?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"Alright. I'll drop by Christmas Eve morning. Good night," Dong Gun said and immediately terminated the call.

Tami was already up at eight in the morning the next day. She barely had any sleep, thinking of how she can earn some money while in Korea. She'd called Mr. Lopez when she woke up, but he was sorry he won't be able to help her anymore. He was willing to let her borrow some money, though, but Tami refused it.

Picking up her phone again, she dialled Jung Wha's number.

"Hi, Tami... what's up?"

"Hi Jung Wha."

Jung Wha noticed Tami's sad tone, "Is anything wrong?"

"Yeah. Actually, Mr. Jung fired me last night because of the incident the other day," Tami replied.

Jung Wha gasped, "Oh my! That's too bad... where are you?"

"I'm still at the hotel, but I have to check out before this week ends."

"Are you leaving for Manila already?" Jung Wha asked.

Tami walked to the window and looked out at the city. "No, but I can't afford to stay here at the hotel anymore."

"Where are you going to stay?"

"I'm going to find a place. Jung Wha... the reason I called... I want to ask for help," Tami said and sighed. "I'm really, really ashamed to admit that I don't have much money anymore, and I need to earn. Can you help me find a job? I mean... a part-time job where I can earn some more money? I can't go back to Manila without anything."

Jung Wha sighed, worrying about her friend. She thought that if she had anything she can do to help her, it would be to give her a place to stay. "I don't know about the job, Tami. As you know, I'm just new here in Korea myself, studying in the States and all..."

"Oh... okay..."

"But, hey... you can stay here in our house if you want. We have a vacant guest room you can stay in. It's a bit small, but it's cozy. And best of all, it's free!" Jung Wha said.

Tami wasn't able to say anything.

"So, what do you think?"

Twelve

2005-07-10T16:58:00.000+08:00

"Salamat," Tami gently told Dong Gun while she watched him prepare her food on a bed tray. Dong Gun looked at her and smiled. He brought the tray over to the bed and lay it down in front of Tami.

"What's 'sa-la-mat'?" Dong Gun asked.

"It means 'thanks' in Filipino, our language."

Dong Gun nodded, "I see. Hmmm... how do you say 'You're welcome'?"

"Walang anuman," Tami replied.

"Wa-lang anu-man?" Dong Gun said in a funny way. Tami stifled a giggle. "Walang anuman!" Dong Gun told her. "You should eat now."

"How about you?" she asked.

"I'm going to buy some food outside. Will it be okay if I left you here for a minute?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami nodded. Dong Gun stood up, "Great!" He walked to a sofa across Tami's bed and picked up his coat. "I'll be back. You start eating. Anything you want me to buy for you?"

"No. I'm okay."

"Really? Nothing? Gimbap? Ramyeon? Soju?"

Tami giggled, "No, thank you. I'll be fine."

Dong Gun wore his coat, "Okay. See you later," he said and left the room.

Yoo-Jin was driving her car along the street when she saw Dong Gun come out of a hospital. She wondered why he went there and who he was with. Could it be that he was visiting someone in the hospital? Could it be the one he often called when they were together?

Quickly, she maneuvered the car, took a U-Turn and followed Dong Gun. He was wearing a black coat and a rugged blue baseball cap, one that she gave him long ago, and he was walking in the direction of a small restaurant. Thinking that Dong Gun would not reveal to her where he was going if she asked, she decided to just tail him around.

From her point of view, she saw Dong Gun enter the small restaurant and order some food. Minutes later, he went out of the restaurant with a bag of food and crossed the street. She followed him, and found herself watching Dong Gun buy a bunch of white flowers --- roses, to be exact --- from a flower shop.

Yoo-Jin's face flushed with anger. She knew it was Dong Gun's habit to buy white roses for someone he likes. She herself received bouquets over bouquets of white roses when their relationship started blossoming two years ago. And now, watching Dong Gun buy a bunch of white roses, and knowing that they're not for her, sickened her.

She followed him until he got into the hospital, and watched him enter the hospital building. Immediately, she parked her car in front of the building and followed him inside carefully, making sure he did not see her.

When Dong Gun entered Tami's room, he was alarmed to see that Tami's food had barely been touched, although he saw that some of it spilled on the tray and the sheets. Tami was sulking when he saw her, "What's wrong?" he asked.

She raised her right hand in front of him, and he saw that it was shaking badly. "I can't hold anything well," Tami answered.

Dong Gun felt bad. It must've been the fatigue that caused Tami's hands to tremble like that. He put down the food and flowers he bought and sat down beside Tami. "You mean to say you haven't eaten a piece of anything yet?"

Tami shook her head. Dong Gun sighed. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and began to clean the small mess Tami made on the tray and the sheets. Then, he took the spoon in his hand, scooped some soup from the bowl and motioned for Tami to open her mouth and eat.

"Ajushi... this is too much."

"Oh... I'm sorry," Dong Gun said and spilt some of the soup on the bowl, "Here you go."

Tami shook her head, "No, ajushi. I mean THIS. You shouldn't be doing this anymore."

He looked at her. "Nonsense. I just became your private nurse for today. Aren't you glad? It's not everyday you get me as your private nurse!" he said with a grin.

"God, he is so beautiful," Tami said to herself, looking into Dong Gun's eyes. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Come on, " Dong Gun said, still holding the spoon in his hand, "Later, I'll massage your hands so that you can eat by yourself at dinnertime... if you're too embarrassed to be fed like this."

Unknown to Dong Gun and Tami, Yoo-Jin was at the door of Tami's room, peeking at the partly open doow and listening to their conversation. She was furious at Dong Gun for not telling her the truth, but she was more furious at the girl he was with for getting in the way of her and Dong Gun's relationship.

She left the hospital building in a huff, vowing that Dong Gun and that girl will soon learn that no one messes with Yoo-Jin.

"Really? How much money do you have in your bag?" Dong Gun asked.

It was later that day, almost dinnertime, and Dong Gun hasn't left Tami's room ever since he came from the restaurant to buy his lunch. He was siiting on a chair beside Tami's bed, massaging Tami's left hand, while Tami told him of what happened to her the day before at Dongdaemun.

"Not much. But I have Miss Kim's change there too," Tami said with a sigh.

"Do you remember who took it?"

"No."

"Come on... you must remember something. Anything..." Dong Gun encouraged.

Tami shook her head, "No. It was dark, and there were too many people."

Dong Gun sighed, "Next time, you should really be careful." He continued massaging Tami's hand while he looked away at the window across Tami's bed.

Tami watched Dong Gun as he seemed to slip into a reverie while looking at the bright lights of Seoul from her hospital room window. She wondered what good she had done to deserve this much attention from him, and she thanked the Lord once more that she is secure in Dong Gun's side. Dong Gun caught her smiling.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

Tami was caught off-guard, and she looked at Dong Gun with wide eyes. "What?"

He smiled a mischievous smile, "Maybe you're thinking about someone... someone you like?"

As soon as Dong Gun said that, Tami remembered Kyle, and remembered that he was supposed to call her again. "My phone! Did you see my phone?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, we don't have the same brand. I might've charged it for you if we have." Dong Gun pulled the bedside table drawer out and gave Tami her phone. "Do you need to call anyone? You can use my phone..."

"Can I?" Tami asked.

"Of course!"

Investigator Kang got a call in his cellphone that night. A woman was asking to have her boyfriend investigated on because she feels like he's being unfaithful to her. He shook his head at the woman's attitude. Loud, aggressive and quite arrogant, he thought her boyfriend was bound to find someone better than her.

"Just shut up and do the job! I will take care of your compensation. Just remember... you don't know me, and this conversation never happened!"

"Yes, Miss Choi. I understand."

"Get to work! I will be the one to call you."

"Nag-alala ako sa iyo ah. Akala ko kung napaano ka na..."

"Hindi, wala. Namatay lang talaga ang phone ko. Tapos nakaligtaan ko lang i-charge," Tami said and looked at Dong Gun who was standing near the window and looking outside.

"Nasaan ka ngayon?" Kyle asked.

"Andito lang sa bahay. Ang lamig kasi sa labas," she lied.

"Christmas na nga eh. Sayang wala ka rito."

Tami looked down at the sheets and smiled, "Pareho kayo ni Jammi ng sinabi. Miss mo rin ako noh?"

"Hindi ah. Kapal mo!" Kyle scoffed.

"Ang daya!"

Kyle laughed. Tami laughed too, and was relieved that Kyle was feeling so much better now. "Hindi... siyempre miss din kita. Hindi ko lang iniisip para hindi malungkot. Kasi parang masaya ka naman diyan eh."

She looked at Dong Gun, "Medyo," she said and then laughed again.

"Medyo raw. Eh parang nakakuha ka na ata ng Koreanong boyfriend eh! Balita sa akin ni Jammi, nakita mo na raw diyan yung crush mo!"

"Oo nga, eh ano ngayon? Selos ka?" Tami asked.

Kyle burst out in laughter. Tami was quite hurt. "Yan naman ang hinding-hindi mangyayari, Tams. Siyempre, kung masaya ka, doble ang saya ko! Isipin mo... may pumatol na sa iyo sa wakas!"

"Ang yabang mo naman! Bakit, pangit ba ako?"

"O... nagalit ka naman agad. Biro lang yun, ito naman."

Tami smirked, "Sige na nga... ba-bye na!"

"O sige... ingat ka diyan Tams, ha? Labyu!"

A small smile crept up Tami's face, "I love you too!"

Dong Gun didn't understand the words Tami was saying, but he did understand that one last sentence. He looked back at Tami, his brows furrowed, and wondered if she really meant what she had said.

Eleven

2005-07-10T16:47:00.000+08:00

It was the week before Christmas, and the last day of shooting before the staff takes a week off to celebrate the season. Tami was on the bus, on the way to Dongdaemun Market because Miss Kim asked her to buy some linen needed for the shoot. She fixed her scarf --- the one Dong Gun gave her --- and covered up almost half her face because she felt very cold.

She went down on the station near Dongdaemun and checked her watch. It was 6:30 in the evening. She had less than two hours to buy the linen and go back to the set in time for set dressing. Rubbing her hands on her arms, she made her way to the market.

While walking, she heard her phone ring. She picked it up and saw that it was Kyle calling her. Smiling, she picked up the phone.

"Kyle! 'Langya... bakit ngayon ka lang tumawag?" she said.

"Pasensiya na, Tams ha? Busy lang kasi. Guess what?" Kyle asked, excitement in his voice.

Tami stopped walking, "What?"

"Natanggap ako dun sa isang audition na pinuntahan ko! Bandmember na ako!!!"

"OH MY GOD!!!" Tami screamed. She saw the people in Dongdaemun look at her, and she bowed at them shyly and walked on with her down down. "Kyle! Shucks... I can't believe it!"

Kyle laughed at the other end of the line, "I know! Ako rin eh, hindi makapaniwala! At eto pa... hindi ka maniniwala!"

"O ano naman?"

"Yung nagma-manage sa banda namin may kaibigan diyan sa Korea. Dadalhin daw kami diyan sa January!"

Tami continued walking, "Hindi nga?"

"Oo nga! Magkikita na uli tayo sa wakas!!!"

Kyle and Tami went on talking for the next couple of minutes, while Tami kept walking around the market. Soon, she noticed that she didn't know where she was already, and her heart raced. She looked around. No stall was familiar anymore.

"Tami, hello? Andiyan ka pa?"

"Ha? Oo, oo! Uhm... Kyle, sige na. May gagawin pa kasi ako eh," Tami said, still looking around.

"Ah, o sige. Tatawagan na lang kita uli, ha?"

"Sige. Ingat ka. Bye..."

"It's almost 8:00, where could Tami be? Jung Wha, did you call her up already?" Miss Kim asked.

Jung Wha nodded, "Yes, Miss Kim, but her phone is turned off."

Miss Kim shook her head in dismay.

"Miss Kim, let's wait a little more. Maybe she just had a hard time finding what you needed."

Tami cursed hell and high waters when she saw her phone shut off. She forgot to recharge it the night before, and the long phone call she had with Kyle emptied her battery charge. She walked inside the market, which, at that time, had been packed with a lot of people already. Already, she had bought the linen that Miss Kim asked her to get, but she couldn't find her way out.

Tami shivered in the cold, and the falling snow didn't help. She felt her hands and feet freezing already, but she kept walking, looking for anyone who can speak English and help her get to the bus station. She picked up her phone again and tried to turn it on in the hopes that she could make a phone call to Jung Wha or Miss Kim, but then she felt a strong tug on her arm, and it was then that she realized someone snatched her bag!

"Hey!!! Come back!!!" Tami screamed and ran after the man who snatched her bag. It was not long after she lost track of the man because there were so many people in the market. She slumped down on the street, holding the linen she bought and her cellphone.

Tears fell down Tami's cheek. Her bag contained all her money, and even if she found the bus station now, she wouldn't have money to ride the bus to the set.

A few moments later, she noticed that there were people looking at her as she was sitting in the middle of the market. She wiped her tears and stood up. She started walking again, looking for her way to the bus station.

It was 12 midnight when the producers packed up shooting. They'd sent another person to buy linen when Tami didn't show up at 8 in the evening, and they resumed shooting at around 9 o' clock.

"When you see Tami, tell her to report to our producer right away. She made a big mistake this time..." Miss Kim said, "There's nothing I can do to cover up for her."

Jung Wha nodded, "Yes, Miss Kim." She went out of the wardrobe room and walked out of the set. She didn't notice that Dong Gun was waiting for her.

"Park Jung Wha!" he called out.

Jung Wha turned around and saw Dong Gun, "Oh... Dong Gun-shi. Do you need anything?"

"What happened to Tami? Why didn't she show up?" Dong Gun asked.

"I don't know," Jung Wha said and shrugged, "She told me she'd go to Dongdaemun to buy the linen, but she didn't come back. It's so unlike her."

Dong Gun looked at Jung Wha, "Dongdaemun?" He remembered the time Tami almost had an accident at Dongdaemun. Could it be, he thought, that she had a similar accident again?

"Yes. Miss Kim asked her to buy linen..." Jung Wha explained, but was only halfway through her sentence when Dong Gun ran.

He waved at her. "Thank you, Jung Wha!"

Jung Wha's brow wrinkled. "Dong Gun is weird."

Dong Gun tried to call Tami on her cellphone while he drove to Dongdaemun, but it was turned off. Hurriedly, he parked his car in front of the Dongdaemun entrance and went out.

"Tami! Tami!" Dong Gun shouted when he entered the market. His mind was racing. If Tami had an accident in Dongdaemun, she would've been brought to the hospital by now. Or, she might just have been lost in the sea of people who are still shopping inside. He called out her name again a couple of times, but he couldn't see her.

"Could she be home?" he thought. He ran all the way back to his car, and decided to check up on Tami's hotel. He drove to the hotel, but he wasn't far from Dongdaemun when he saw Tami sitting in a waiting shed, eyes closed, her hands covering both of her arms to cover herself from the cold She had a roll of linen lying on the bench she was siiting on, and Dong Gun gathered it was the linen that she was asked to buy.

He parked his car in front of the waiting shed and walked over to Tami. "Tami... what are you doing here?"

Feebly, Tami opened her eyes. "Ajushi..." she whispered and reached out her hand to him. Dong Gun grabbed her hand and helped her stand up. She could barely stand on her own, and he felt that. He held her close to him as he picked up the linen she bought. He then felt Tami fall heavy against him.

He looked at Tami, "Tami, are you alright?"

Tami didn't answer.

The doctor said Tami suffered from hypothermia, and she had to be confined at the hospital. Dong Gun was concerned nobody would take care of Tami, so he took her as his responsibility.

Looking at the frail Tami lying asleep on the hospital bed, he sighed, thinking what she must've felt out in the frezing cold. He thought of what could've happened to her if he hadn't come sooner, and, figuring that it was a worst case scenario, he shook it off his mind.

He walked over to Tami's bedside and made sure that she was comfortable lying there, and for the rest of the night, he stayed at Tami's bedside and prayed she will be alright.

"What are you talking about? Your producer said you have the Christmas week off!"

Yoo-Jin walked into a hotel restaurant, speaking to Dong Gun on the phone. She asked him to have lunch with her there, but he refused to go, saying he has something important to do.

"Yoo-Jin, I said I can't."

Yoo-Jin stopped walking and tried to listen to the ambient sound on the other end of the line. It was very silent, like Dong Gun was inside a church. "Dong Gun-shi, where are you?" she asked.

"Look, Yoo-Jin... it's none of your business," Dong Gun said.

"And why is that?"

Dong Gun gritted his teeth, "Because we're not together anymore, Yoo-Jin! What else do you want from me? You want the press to still believe that we're happy together so you can save yourself? Face the facts, Yoo-Jin. It was your fault this relationship fell apart."

"Dong Gun-shi!"

"I've already suffered too much. It's your turn," Dong Gun said and ended the call.

Yoo-Jin's hands trembled in anger. "You're asking for it, Dong Gun," she thought. "You're really asking for it..."

In his anger, Dong Gun absentmindedly threw his cellphone against the wall. It fell on the floor in pieces. He only remembered where he was when he heard a groan from behind him. He looked back, Tami was already awake.

He walked to the side of her bed, "How are you feeling?"

She squinted at him and took a moment before she recognized it was Dong Gun asking her the question, "Where am I?"

Dong Gun let out a small laugh, "Don't you know it's rude to answer a question with another question?"

Pouting, Tami tried to sit up on the bed. Dong Gun gave her a hand. "I'm okay, I guess," she asnwered, rubbing her eyes.

"You're in the hospital," Dong Gun said. "Because you were foolish enough to stay in that cold for so long, you silly girl." He pinched her nose. "Did you get lost?"

Tami nodded shyly and Dong Gun laughed heartily.

Ten

2005-06-25T02:14:00.000+08:00

"Hold still, Tami!" Jung Wha said with a giggle, pinning together a bodice she made for Tami. It was for the press ball that was going to happen that week, and Jung Wha put an effort to create a very nice gown for Tami.

Initially, Tami refused to have Jung Wha make a gown for her, but Jung Wha was persistent. She said it would be a shame if Tami didn't go to the press ball, and that she would miss a lot of things. Besides, Jung Wha said, she's doing this for free.

"If it looks good on you, then I will have my first success!" Jung Wha exclaimed.

"I really don't know about that. I'm not very used to wearing gowns," Tami said.

Jung Wha placed the last pin on the bodice, "Not a problem, dear. Okay... now look at yourself in the mirror."

Tami turned around and saw herself in the black gown Jung Wha tailored for her. She was floored. She could barely say a word to Jung Wha.

It was a simple tube topped long gown. There were no beads nor frills. There was only a one-inch deep red lace running from the back and over Tami's left shoulder, serving as a strap, to the bottom seams of the dress to accentuate the whole number. Everything was made of silk, and Tami loved it.

"So... what do you think?" Jung Wha asked.

Tami looked at Jung Wha in amazement, "I love it, Jung Wha! Thank you so much!!!"

Jung Wha jumped and clapped her hands in excitement. "Yipee! I told you it would look good on you! Now all we have to do is get you a pair of shoes... I think you're my size so let's not worry too much about that. And... look for a hairstyle that will match the gown. Of course you have to wear make-up, I'll make sure those eyes of yours shine! You shouldn't keep them behind your hair, you know."

Tami shook her head in disbelief at Jung Wha's excitement. Nevertheless, she was thankful having a friend like her. Jung Wha makes her forget the things that make her upset, and she needed that. She needed that.

On the day of the press ball, Dong Gun came with Yoo-Jin by his side, and the press swarmed around them like flies. The function hall of the hotel where the press ball was being held looked like a setting of a fairy tale. It was grand and beautifully decorated, fit for a king, as they say. Dong Gun and Yoo-Jin took a seat on the VIP table, and waited for the press interviews to formally begin.

"Is she here?" Yoo-Jin whispered.

"Who?"

"The girl you were calling?"

Dong Gun sighed, "Please, Yoo-Jin. Not now. We're in a press ball. Do you like to show these people how rotten this relationship is?"

Yoo-Jin kicked Dong Gun's foot under the table, and he tried his very best not to show that he was hurt. He looked at her and flashed her a smile, that looked like a romantic gaze to the press people around them. Underneath the table though, Dong Gun gripped Yoo-Jin's hand tightly. He leaned over to her and whispered, "Not here, Yoo-Jin."

It was then that Tami and Jung Wha came into the ballroom. Tami was scared stiff when she saw all the people present in the event, and she held Jung Wha's hand.

"I want to go home," she said.

Jung Wha pinched her arm, "That's nonsense. Relax... you'll get the hang of it."

"I feel like I'm going to trip on these shoes of yours. I'm going to make a fool of myself."

Dong Gun looked at the direction of the big ballroom door. He then saw Tami and Jung Wha standing there. He was amazed at the sight of Tami wearing the black gown, her hair swept up neatly. A simple pair of pearl earrings accented her face, and a pearl necklace adorned her neck. He noticed she was wearing make-up too, and it made a big difference on the way she looked.

Unfortunately, he couldn't just approach Tami, else he would cause Yoo-Jin to suspect anything. He just watched Tami look for a seat with Jung Wha across the ballroom.

Tami saw Dong Gun when she and Jung Wha sat themselves down. She could see him whispering to a girl in what looked to her like a very expensive red gown with white fur elegantly draped over her shoulders, staring at her in the eyes from moment to moment. She felt a tinge of envy for the girl, and she asked Jung Wha about her.

"Oh... that's Choi Yoo-Jin. She's a singer. I heard she and Dong Gun have been dating for a long time."

Tami nodded and then looked down at the table. "Stop it, Tami," she thought to herself. "It's enough that Dong Gun knows you're alive, and shows concern for you every once in a while. Don't ask for too much."

"Hey Tami... I'm going to the ladies' room. Want to come?"

"You look beautiful tonight."

Tami turned around and saw Dong Gun standing there, smiling at her. They were outside the restrooms. Tami was waiting for Jung Wha, and Dong Gun appeared to have used the restroom himself.

"Thanks," she simply said.

Dong Gun looked at her and pouted, "Aren't you going to say anything about me?" he said, jokingly.

She smiled. "You look good in whatever you wear. That's why you're a star," Tami said. "That's right, Tami... he's a star, and you're --- well --- a nobody."

He laughed heartily, and then pinched her nose. "I'll see you later," he said and walked away.

Just then, an announcement blared around the ballroom. Tami didn't understand what it meant, but she was sure that it signalled the start of the event because she saw the cast and the movie director walk towards the stage.

She watched Dong Gun's every move, and saw him flicker a wave to Yoo-Jin who was sitting near the stage. She felt sad all of a sudden.

"What are you thinking, Tami?" she thought to herself and slapped her face gently a couple of times.

Jung Wha just came out of the ladies room and saw Tami slapping herself. She walked over to her and held her arm, "What are you doing? Are you drunk?" she asked.

Tami was surprised at Jung Wha, "Oh... no. I'm just --- well --- sleepy."

"Sleepy? It's too early!" Jung Wha said and then looked at the stage. She saw that the program was starting. "Come on, Tami!!!" she said and pulled Tami's arm.

The two walked quickly back to their table and sat themselves there. Dong Gun looked at their direction and smiled. Jung Wha saw this, and she pinched Tami's arm.

"Oww! Jung Wha!"

"Lee Dong Gun smiled at us!" Jung Wha exclaimed, pointing at Dong Gun. When Tami looked at Dong Gun on stage, he was busy answering a question from one of the press people.

She glared at Jung Wha, "Stop kidding!"

The press ball had ended, and the ballroom was opened for a little dancing and socializing. Tami begged that they go home. Her feet were already aching because of the high-heeled shoes that Jung Wha let her borrow.

"Please Tami... let's wait for just a little while," Jung Wha said.

"Why?" Tami asked.

Tami leaned over to whisper into Tami's ear, "Did you see Hyun Woo?"

"Hyun Woo? The props master?"

"Yes! Look at him! Doesn't he look cute? I've been trying to gather my courage and ask him to dance with me!" Jung Wha said.

Tami laughed, "Oh my God! You have a crush on Hyun Woo!?"

"TAMI!!!" Jung Wha shrieked and covered Tami's mouth with her hand. Tami struggled to break free, but Jung Wha kept her hand on Tami's mouth. "Will you be quiet?" she asked. Tami nodded, and Jung Wha slowly removed her hand on Tami's face.

"I'm sorry," Tami said. "Why don't you just ask him? Look, it doesn't seem like he's with someone."

"Do you think he'll dance with me?" Jung Wha asked.

Tami looked at Jung Wha and smiled, "Why not? You are beautiful, Jung Wha! He can't resist you!"

"Really?" Jung Wha exclaimed and Tami just nodded with a big smile on her face. Jung Wha fixed her hair for a moment and then stood up. "Wish me luck!"

"Good luck!"

Jung Wha casually walked across the ballroom and approached Hyun Woo. Tami watched as Jung Wha sat beside Hyun Woo and began talking to him. Jung Wha can really carry herself well, she thought, and grinned when she saw Hyun Woo lead Jung Wha to the dance floor.

She watched them dance a slow, sweet song, and she imagined dancing with Dong Gun. Once she realized she was romanticizing again, she snapped herself out of her reverie and paid attention to her feet. They were aching like crazy.

Looking under the table, she realized that nobody will be able to see her feet if she removed her shoes because the mantles that covered the tables reached the floor. She crouched a little and slowly removed her shoes. It felt like heaven to be free from it. She wiggled her toes freely under the table, and enjoyed watching Jung Wha, Hyun Woo and the other people dance in the ballroom.

"I don't care if you walk away from here, Yoo-Jin," Dong Gun whispered. He and Yoo-Jin were dancing among the crowd inside the ballroom. "You're being so unreasonable!"

Yoo-Jin looked up at Dong Gun and caressed his face, "Why are you acting like this, Dong Gun-shi? Could it be... that what I suspect is true?"

"She is not here."

"Really?" Yoo-Jin asked, "Then why are you so tense?"

Dong Gun looked into her eyes, "You are the one making all these up, Yoo-Jin. Don't make me look bad to cover up for your shameful actions!"

Yoo-Jin stopped dancing, cupped Dong Gun's face with her hands and kissed him fully on the lips. Dong Gun was surprised at her actions, but couldn't get himself to push Yoo-Jin away.

Tami watched Dong Gun and Yoo-Jin dance from across the table she was sitting in, and her heart sank when she saw them kissing. He must adore her, she thought, for him to kiss her like that, and in public where everyone can see. Yoo-Jin sure is one lucky girl.

Nine

2005-06-25T02:11:00.000+08:00

Weeks passed, and Tami felt like she walking walking on thin ice everytime she went to work. It became her habit to go to a church and pray everyday before going to work, and it somehow helped her through her everyday routine.

Kyle hasn't called in a while after his mom was buried, and it made her sad not hearing anything from him. Nevertheless, she welcomed the silence between her and Kyle, mainly because she didn't have anything to worry about that would make her upset and lose her concentration on work.

Dong Gun was still his old, warm self. Every once in a while, he'd call her and check up on her if she's okay, but they never went out again after the incident in Dongdaemun. Tami thought he must've learned that sticking with her means meeting freak accidents.

During break hour, the Korean producer called all the staff and crew to make an announcement. A big press ball will be held the next week to announce their upcoming movie. Tami was delighted, but was saddened when she heard that they would have to wear formal clothing, meaning gowns for the ladies and suits for the men. She decided not to go right then.

Her phone rang. Jung Wha was calling.

"Ann yong ha sae yo!" Tami greeted when she answered the phone.

"Hello Tami! How've you been?" Jung Wha asked.

"Pretty okay. I'm here at work. How about you?" she asked.

"Look behind you."

Surprised, she looked behind her and saw Jung Wha standing there, waving at her. She approached Jung Wha, "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'm back! The doctor said I could work already!" Jung Wha said.

Tami panicked deep inside. Jung Wha read the expression on her face, "Don't worry. They won't send you home. They'll keep you for wardrobe, and I'll take over for props. The props person went on leave, so the producers called me."

"Oh," Tami said, relieved. "That's great news."

"So... what are you wearing to the press ball?" Jung Wha asked.

Tami looked down, "I'm not going."

"What? Why not?"

"I don't have anything to wear."

Jung Wha laughed, "Well, what do you have me here for?"

Tami and Jung Wha walked to the bus station that night, and they felt the first drops of snow on their skin.

"It's snowing!!! Tami, look!"

Tami looked around and was amazed at the sight. White flakes were falling everywhere and landed on the trees, the streets, the car windows...

She picked up her phone and dialled home. "Hello, mommy! Si Jammi?" she asked. She and Jung Wha continued walking, feeling the snow on their feet.

"Sandali lang."

Moments later, Tami heard her little brother's voice. "Ate!"

"Hi Jammi! Guess what?"

"What?"

"Nags-snow rito sa Korea!"

"Talaga, ate? Maganda ba?"

Tami looked up at the sky, "Oo, ang ganda. Ang lamig-lamig! Nahahawakan ko yung snowflakes!"

"Ay... sana nandiyan din ako," Jammi said sadly.

She felt sad at the tone of Jammi's voice. "Wag kang mag-alala. Pag nagka-pera ako, dadalhin ko rin kayong lahat dito!"

"Yehey!!! Ate... maganda ba diyan? Malamig ba talaga? Tsaka... nakita mo na ba yung crush mo? Si Martin?"

Tami laughed at his last question, "Andami mo namang tanong! Oo!"

Jammi laughed too. "Oo saan?"

"Sa lahat!"

"Wow... talaga ate!? Nakita mo na si Martin? Mabait ba siya? Diba sabi mo, pag nakita mo siya diyan, gagawin mo siyang boyfriend mo?" Jammi asked.

Tami laughed out loudly at Jammi's question. "Ano ka ba, Jammi! Wag ka nang makulit! O sige na... mahal na 'tong tawag ko!"

Jammi sighed. Tami heard it on the other line. "Ate... sana nandito ka sa Pasko. Kasi mas masarap kang magluto ng spaghetti kaysa kay Mommy eh."

She felt warm tears run down her cold cheeks, "Ikaw talagang bata ka! Gusto mo lang pala akong paglutuin ng spaghetti! Akala ko naman, nami-miss mo na ako."

"Siyempre nami-miss kita, ate..."

"Sus!" Tami wiped her tears away, "O sige na! Kamusta na lang kay Mommy tsaka kay Kuya ha? Be a good boy!"

"Yes, ate. I love you."

Tami broke down in tears, "I love you too, Jams," she said and ended the call.

"Who was that?" Jung Wha asked.

"My brother," Tami replied.

"I didn't understand a word you were saying, but I can tell you love him very much."

Tami nodded and looked at Jung Wha, "Yes I do."

"Who are you calling?"

Dong Gun looked at the person who asked. "Don't ask," he said, his phone on his ear.

"Dong Gun-shi, I'm asking nicely. Don't you think you should answer in the same manner?"

He sighed. "A friend."

"A he or a she?"

"Yoo-Jin, I don't have time for this," Dong Gun said and re-dialled the number he was calling. Yoo-Jin stood up from across Dong Gun's seat and grabbed his phone. She looked at the phone LCD.

"Who is this?" she asked, looking at Dong Gun.

Dong Gun shook his head and slightly pinched the bridge of his nose. "Give me my phone back. Please." He held his hand out for Yoo-Jin to put his phone in it.

"Since when did you learn to call anyone else while we're out together?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"Since you started learning the same thing." Dong Gun stood up, grabbed his phone from Yoo-Jin's hand and left the restaurant they were in.

Tami was in the middle of preparing her dinner that night when she heard a knock on the door. She placed the plate she was holding on the table and walked to the door. She was surprised to see Dong Gun outside when she opened the door.

He didn't say anything when he saw Tami. He just smiled.

"Come in," Tami said. Dong Gun walked inside Tami's room. Before Tami could walk to the kitchen, Dong Gun held out a bottle of wine.

"For the cold," he said.

Tami reached for the bottle, "Thanks. Take a seat. I'm just about to have dinner. Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No."

"Oh. Do you want some ramen? I could cook some for you," Tami said, while busying herself in the kitchen.

Dong Gun followed her to the kitchen and watched her. She turned around and showed him a pack of instant ramen. She smiled, shyly, "I don't know how to cook real Korean food."

"That's okay." Dong Gun smelled something that was unfamiliar to his senses but felt good to smell anyway. "What's that smell?"

Tami smiled and pointed to a casserole. "This is adobo. It's one of the easiest Filipino dishes to make."

"It smells good. Can I try it?" Dong Gun asked.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure! You already tasted Korean food, so I have to taste yours also!" Dong Gun said and smiled.

Tami nodded, "Right. Okay... just wait for me at the table. I'll set this up for us."

"Mmmm... this is good!" Dong Gun exclaimed when he tasted the adobo that Tami cooked.

Tami was happy that Dong Gun appreciated her cooking. For a moment, she spaced out and imagined cooking some more Filipino food for him, welcoming him everyday when he gets home from work…

"Tami?"

"Oh... yeah?" Tami asked. She wasn't quite sure if Dong Gun said anything.

Dong Gun examined her face, "You seem preoccupied. Are you alright?"

She smiled, "Yes. I'm glad you like the food." He winked at her and took another mouthful of adobo and rice. She almost laughed at the way he looked. He makes the simplest of movements, like chewing, so endearing.

"Do you really know how to cook?" Dong Gun asked.

"Yes... a little bit. Not much of the fancy stuff. I just know simple recipes."

"Wow. I'd like to taste some more of your food soon." Dong Gun took a drink off his glass of water. Then, he watched Tami while she ate. "Where were you when the snow fell?" he asked.

Tami looked up at him, "I was with Jung Wha... waiting for a bus."

"Do you know that here in Korea, the day of the first snow is considered a romantic day for lovers?"

"I see..." Tami said and thought of Kyle. She brushed him off her mind. "That's okay. I called someone really special when I saw the snow fall."

Dong Gun's expression changed. "Really? Who?"

"My brother, Jammi."

He smiled, and unexpectedly felt relief in his chest. Tami continued to eat, and so did he. The night almost silently passed by, save for a few words and laughs exchanged between them. Even then, Dong Gun felt it was one of the most precious conversations he'd ever had.

Eight

2005-06-25T02:08:00.000+08:00

Shooting has been resumed, and Dong Gun drove to the set with a smile on his face. He was going to see Tami again today, and somehow he felt that he is growing fond of her. He remembered how pretty she looked the last time, wearing that dress he bought for her. He didn't think it would fit her, because he always only saw her in jeans and sweaters, but he was pleased that it fit her just right.

He parked his car in his usual spot and walked to the set. He saw Tami sorting out some clothes inside the wardrobe room. He tried waving at her, but she was preoccupied with her work that she didn't notice him. He was glad, though, when he saw her wearing the blue and white scarf he gave her the night before.

"Dong Gun-shi... here's your script," the production assistant told Dong Gun and gave him a copy of the script. "Please dress up. We'll start shooting in 30 minutes."

"Thank you," Dong Gun said and went to his dressing room. The clothes he will be wearing are already inside the room, as well as all the accessories he needed. Tami must've went to work very early, he thought, and picked up his clothes.

As soon as he is dressed, he heard a knock on the door. "Dong Gun-shi... it's Miss Kim."

Dong Gun opened the door, "Yes, Miss Kim?"

Miss Kim's eyes widened when she saw what Dong Gun was wearing. "Why are you wearing that?"

"This is what Tami brought in here," Dong Gun said.

"But that's supposed to be for tomorrow's shoot..." Miss Kim said and sighed. "Please wait. I'm going to get the right set of clothes. I'm very sorry."

"What's going on with you, Tami?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Kim. I just..."

"Are you sick?"

Tami shook her head. Miss Kim just looked at her in dismay. "Bring this to Ji-Hyun's room. Pay attention to the script, Tami! If the producer learns about this, he'll be furious."

"Yes, Miss Kim... I'm sorry," Tami said and picked up the clothes that she'll bring Ji-Hyun. Her mind was drifting. Kyle cried on the phone the whole night, and she wished she was there to comfort him. Unfortunately, she couldn't. If things go as planned, she will only be going home not later than February.

"Tami..."

She looked up. It was Dong Gun.

"Excuse me, ajushi," she said, "I'm very busy." She passed by him, head bowed down. He watched her as she walked away and wondered why she was very low.

It was break time, and Dong Gun immediately looked for Tami amongst the staff. He saw her sneaking out of the set, and he followed her. She kept her head down while walking on the street. She hailed a cab.

Dong Gun put out his phone and called her. She wasn't answering. He hailed a cab for himself and asked the driver to follow Tami's cab. Tami's cab stopped at a church. He saw her go down the cab and pay the driver. He paid the driver of his cab as well, and followed Tami inside the church.

He saw her kneeling in one of the front pews. Watching her from behind, he could see that she was praying very deeply. He thought she might be crying again, but he dismissed that thought. She might just want to pray. Filipinos are devout Catholics after all, he said to himself. He turned around and left the church even before Tami finished praying. He didn't want her to know he followed her, else she might think he was stalking her.

Riding a cab back to the set, he thought what he could do to make her smile again.

At the end of the shooting day, Miss Kim told Tami to go to the producer's office. Tami held her breath. She made so many mistakes that day, and she knew she was going to get it.

"Ms. Fajardo, please sit down."

Tami sat down in front of the producer, Mr. Jung.

"I think you already know why I asked you to come here."

"Yes, sir."

Mr. Jung sighed, "I thought it would be okay if we kept you for this production, but it seems I thought wrong. Just today, you've been mixing up all the wardrobe sets for all the actors! Do you know how much hassle that is?"

Tami just kept her head down. She nodded.

"I am losing my patience, Ms. Fajardo."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jung. Its just... I'm not feeling very well."

"Well, you should've called in sick instead of causing this much trouble today!" Mr. Jung said, his voice rising.

Tami felt tears sting her eyes, "I'm very sorry..."

Mr. Jung shook his head, "I'm warning you, Ms. Fajardo... one more and I will order for your termination from this project. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"What we need here is focus, Ms. Fajardo. It's already bad enough that you don't understand or speak our language, so you might as well make it up to us by staying focused on the job."

"Yes sir."

"I'm reminding you, Ms. Fajardo. One more mistake and I'm going to have to terminate you."

Tami walked towards the waiting shed, thinking of Kyle and what he must be doing at the moment. She pulled out her cellphone and dialled his number, but before his phone rang, she put down the phone. Kyle should be busy taking care of his mom's funeral services, and she didn't want to bother him.

Maybe later, she thought.

She sat on the bench of the waiting shed, waiting for a bus to arrive. She didn't want to go home just yet, so she planned to ride a bus and get lost in Seoul to be alone for a while.

All of a sudden, she heard her phone ring. She picked it up and answered it.

"Where are you?"

"Ajushi?"

"I've been looking all over for you. Where are you?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami sighed, "I just want to be alone now, ajushi."

"Nonsense. If you're not going to say where you are, I'm going to find you."

The bus stopped in front of her, and she got up. "Please don't waste your time on me. I want to be alone," she said. She ended the call.

Dong Gun smiled. He was watching Tami from the other side of the street all along. He started his car's engine and followed the bus. He tried calling Tami again, but she turned her phone off. Minutes later, he saw Tami get off at the Dongdaemun Market. Without second thoughts, he parked his car outside the marketplace and followed Tami.

She walked listlessly amongst the crowd, not recognizing anything or anyone. She got bumped and softly thrown away by the people around her. Thoughtlessly, she picked up her phone, turned it on and tried calling Kyle. The line was busy. She tried dialling again, but her phone was thrown away by a passersby who bumped into her.

Tami knelt down to pick up her phone. She didn't notice a merchant pulling a big trolley full of boxes going towards her direction. The merchant didn't notice her either, and he bumped into her, causing all the boxes to shake.

Dong Gun saw all this and was sure one of the boxes will fall on Tami. He ran towards her and protected her from the falling boxes.

When Tami opened her eyes, she saw Dong Gun's face nearly touching hers.

"Tami... are you alright?" Dong Gun asked.

Tears fell from her eyes. She embraced him. "Are you alright?" she asked back.

Dong Gun laughed. He looked up at the merchant bringing the boxes and said something to him in Korean. Tami gathered he apologized to the merchant and paid for the products that had been destroyed by the fall. Dong Gun helped Tami stand up.

"I told you I'd find you," he said and winced, holding his back.

"Are you hurt?" Tami asked worriedly.

Dong Gun looked at her with a pained face. She looked back at him worriedly. Then, he smiled and laughed.

"Ajushi!!!" Tami said when she realized that Dong Gun was just playing with her. He pinched her cheek and her nose, and she smiled too.

"Great! You're smiling!" Dong Gun said. "I thought I would have to take you to dinner to make you smile, but as it turns out... I don't have to spend anything!"

Tami laughed, making Dong Gun laugh along. He gently pulled her beside him and walked out of the Dongdaemun Market.

Seven

2005-06-22T14:29:00.000+08:00

Dong Gun was already inside the Namsan Tower, looking at the beautiful view of Seoul. He held the box in his hand, and waited patiently for Tami to arrive. It was already quarter past six, and he was still alone.

Five minutes later, he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Ajushi!"

He turned around. It was Tami, dressed in the clothes he bought for her at the hotel, looking prettier with her hair down. It seemed, to him, that her eyes shone brighter now, and he felt a strange feeling of sadness when he saw that. She walked towards him with a shy smile.

"You're late!" he said, looking at his watch.

"Miahn hae..." she said.

Dong Gun laughed, and then his face turned stern, "You think that could make up for your behavior?"

Tami's eyes widened.

"You have to be punished for that!" Dong Gun said and walked past Tami. Tami followed him, and he didn't stop walking until he felt that Tami wasn't following her anymore. He looked back and smiled playfully at her. Then, he ran to her, grabbed her arm and both of them started running through the hallways.

"Where are we going?" Tami asked.

Dong Gun didn't reply. They just kept on running around the hallways, passing the same places over and over.

Tami could hardly keep up with him, "Ajushi! What are we doing?"

A few moments later, and they come to a halt. Dong Gun slumped on the floor, laughing like crazy. Tami just stood there and watched him, heaving breaths.

"Tired yet?" Dong Gun asked.

Tami just nodded. Dong Gun pulled her arm and let her sit down on the floor beside him. He laughed again, "That's your punishment for being late!" he said.

"You could've just told me to run..." Tami said, pouting.

He smiled and pinched Tami's nose, and then gave her the box he was holding earlier. "Here."

"What is it?" Tami asked.

"Just open it!"

Tami looked at the box and smiled. She was getting a present from Lee Dong Gun! Carefully, she pulled the bow loose, and then opened the box. Inside, there was a striped powder blue and white scarf which was neatly folded and carefully covered with thin paper.

"Remember when I made you wait outside a shop two days ago? That was what I bought. I just forgot to give it to you," he said, scratching his head and smiling bashfully.

Tears brimmed from Tami's eyes. She couldn't speak.

Dong Gun worriedly looked at her. "Do you like it?"

She looked at him and smiled. A tear fell down from her eye, "It's beautiful!" she said and gave him a hug. Dong Gun was taken aback by this gesture of hers, and it took him a while before he reciprocated.

He ran his hands against Tami's back, and he felt an extraordinary feeling of peace while locked in her embrace. He broke away, and looked into Tami's eyes. "Hungry?"

Tami nodded.

"Let's go!"

Dong Gun noticed Tami's restlessness while at the dinner table. She kept on looking around listlessly, checking her cellphone, which she kept lying beside her plate, and staring at her plate. She would respond to his questions properly, but he could see she was uncomfortable.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh, yes. Yes, I am."

"Are you expecting a call?"

Tami looked at her phone, grabbed it and kept it inside her bag, "No. No... I'm sorry."

Dong Gun just looked at her, observing her every move. Tami noticed this, so she smiled at him and said, "I'm just nervous. I'm not accustomed to eating at fancy restaurants like this... and wearing a dress."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Wait a minute." Dong Gun took a sip from his glass and stood up. He walked towards the counter and talked to the lady standing there. A few moments later, Dong Gun walked up to her, smiling. "Let's go," he said, offering his hand.

"Go where?"

"Just come with me..." he said, and they walked side by side, her arm tangled in his, outside the restaurant. A cold breeze welcomed them, and Tami shivered in the cold. Dong Gun took off his jacket and placed it gently over Tami's shoulders. Then they walked to his car.

"Wear your seatbelt," he told her, and then drove away. Minutes later, they stopped in front of a pojangmacha, or a small food stall on the street. Dong Gun led Tami to the pojangmacha, and she noticed people staring and whispering to each other when they saw Dong Gun. He was a big Korean star after all, what would he be doing in a pojangmacha?

Dong Gun smiled at the lady vendor and spoke to her while they sat down. A moment later, the lady brought them several dishes. Dong Gun looked at Tami and offered her a bowl of soup first.

"Have some of this first. I think you're very cold."

"Thank you."

"This is gimbap..." Dong Gun said and showed Tami a Korean delicacy which, to her, looked like an unsliced roll of sushi. "It has everything you need to eat," he quipped. "Rice, vegetables, meat..." He took a bite out of it and chewed the food like a child who's just learning how to chew.

Tami almost spit out the soup she had in her mouth when he saw Dong Gun act like that. She laughed afterwards.

"You should try one," Dong Gun said. "And this one too. This is called soondae. It's Korean sausage. And these are dumplings, they're called mandu."

Tami had a great time trying all the food Dong Gun ordered for them. By the time they finished, she was already very full that she felt like she was going to explode. She then noticed Dong Gun order a bottle of liquid that looked to her like liquor.

"What's that?" she asked.

"It's soju."

"Is it alcohol?"

Dong Gun took a while before he answered. "Yes."

Tami just nodded, and then took the last bite off her gimbap. Dong Gun noticed the change in Tami's expression, so he put the soju away and asked the lady vendor for water instead. "Tami... about last night..."

She looked up at him.

"Thank you."

"Its nothing," she said, shaking her head. "You did the same thing for me. We can call it quits."

Dong Gun's brow furrowed, "Quits?"

"When you pay a person back for what he has done for you… that's called quits," Tami explained.

"Quits," Dong Gun repeated.

"Quits. That's right." Tami smiled. She then remembered Dong Gun mumbling words in Korean when he went to her hotel. She wondered what they might have meant. "Ajushi... can I ask you a question?"

He looked at her attentively, "Mwaeyo?"

"Why did you drink so much last night? Was something bothering you?"

The flicker in Dong Gun's eyes faded, and Tami was alarmed at this. She groped for words to say, "Y-you... you don't have to... answer if you don't want to," she said.

Dong Gun looked down, nodded and then looked at Tami once again. "I'll take you home."

"I'm sorry I made you wear that dress," Dong Gun told Tami when he walked her to the lobby of the hotel she was staying in.

"Why?" she asked.

Dong Gun held her arms, "Because you were shivering the whole time." He smiled and then pinched her nose. "Next time, I won't make you wear anything uncomfortable."

Tami grinned. "I had to wear it because you paid for it."

"Exactly," Dong Gun said and then looked up at the sky. "If you're going out tomorrow, better bring an umbrella. No stars out tonight. It might rain."

Tami looked up at the sky also, "I won't be going out tomorrow anyway. But thanks..."

"I'll be going," Dong Gun said. "Have a good night."

Tami bowed to him, "You too."

Dong Gun smiled and walked away. Tami watched him as he walked to his car. As soon as he got inside the car, Tami called out to him. "Ajushi!!!"

He pushed a button to open the side window of his car, "Mwaeyo?"

Tami ran to Dong Gun's car, and then peeked into the open window. She caught her breath before she spoke. "I just want to thank you for tonight..." she said. "And... uhh... I know that this may sound a bit off, but I'll say it anyway..."

Dong Gun looked at her, quite amused, "What is it?"

She pulled out a small charm bracelet from her little bag. "When I cry, it seems that you're always there. I didn't want to admit it at first, but I appreciated you being there. So... if you ever want to cry..." she handed him the charm bracelet, "just give this to me, and I'll understand."

He took the bracelet in his hands and examined it with a smile.

"I know that you might have other close friends with whom you want to cry with... but sometimes friends ask too many questions. I won't. I'll just let you cry, and cry with you if you want me to."

"Thank you, Tami," Dong Gun said, and kept the bracelet in his pocket. "Thank you."

There was a big smile on Tami's face when she started dressing for bed that night. She could've just dreamt of everything that just happened, but she didn't care. She looked at the dress that Dong Gun bought for her. It was lying down her bed. She sat beside it and gazed at it like it was the most beautiful and marvelous thing in the whole world.

She caressed the dress' material with her hands, and then lifted it up, proudly, as if she was lifting her own baby for the world to see. She then placed it in her lap and folded it carefully.

She remembered the gift he gave her: the powder blue and white striped scarf. She smiled as she took the box again and opened it. She wore the scarf around her neck and looked at herself in the mirror.

"I'm going to wear this tomorrow," she thought, and then ran to the closet to look for clothes that will match the scarf. It was then that she heard her cellphone ringing. She rushed to see who was calling. It was Kyle.

"Kyle?"

"Hi Tami..."

Tami couldn't hide the excitement in her voice, "Hi Kyle! Kamusta na? Si mommy mo?"

Silence.

"Kyle?"

She heard a long sigh from the other end of the line. A moment later, tears fell down her cheeks and her phone fell on the floor.

Six

2005-06-22T14:27:00.000+08:00

"How are you, Jung Wha?"

Jung Wha smiled when she saw Tami, "Tami! I'm so glad you came! How did you know where I was?"

Tami gave out a little laugh, "Believe it or not, I had a hard time finding out where you were, so let's not talk about it because its kind of a long story... and visiting hours are almost through!"

Jung Wha smiled, "Okay. So... how was your first day doing my job? Was Ms. Kim rough on you?"

"Yeah, well... its understandable. I wasn't really very good doing the job," Tami said.

"Nonsense. You'll get the hang of it," Jung Wha said.

Tami noticed that Jung Wha made a little frown, "Why? Aren't you coming back?"

"I have a long stitch on my head because of the light bulb that crashed on me. The doctor said I shouldn't work very soon because the wound might open up."

Tami cringed. "Really? I'm so sorry."

"Nah. It's not your fault. It was me who played naughty at the set," Jung Wha said, "Oh, hey... so what happened to Lee Dong Gun? Did you two talk? Did he say why he was looking for you?"

"No..." Tami said, and recalled what had happened earlier. "No, we didn't talk."

Jung Wha frowned, "You should've went up to him and talked to him. Its not everyday Lee Dong Gun looks for you, you know."

"It's probably just about the pictures I took..." Tami said.

"So? Who cares how tiny the reason is!? Its still Lee Dong Gun!!!"

"Yeah, you should be thankful Lee Dong Gun is talking to you... so stop shoving him away," Tami said to herself while walking down the street. "Now I have to wait two days before I can see him again," she thought. No shooting for the next two days, the producer ordered. She passed by a posh restaurant and thought she saw Dong Gun sitting inside.

She frowned. "I'm seeing things again..." she thought, and took another look.

It WAS Dong Gun!

He was sitting there, wearing a light green polo, talking to someone that Tami couldn't see from where she was standing. She looked for a way to be able to see who Dong Gun was with, and the only way she figured is to get inside the restaurant.

Unfortunately, she didn't have money to be able to buy even clam chowder and survive in Korea for the next two weeks, so she contented herself to looking through the window.

"Who's he with?" he asked herself. She thought it might be a girlfriend, and frowned. She sighed, "Anyone who's as good-looking as him is bound to have a girlfriend." Looking down the ground, she thought that the person he's meeting might be the one Dong Gun has been speaking to the phone with.

"If it is... she better not make him cry. Or else..." she thought, took another look inside the restaurant and decided to head home.

Tami thought she was dreaming when she heard her cellphone ringing at three in the morning. She would've ignored the call if it hadn't been so persistent. Her phone must've rang four times before she grabbed it. Lee Dong Gun was calling her! At three in the morning!

"Ann yong ha sae yo?" she answered.

"Tami..."

"Ajushi, what's the matter?" Tami asked when Dong Gun didn't speak for a while afterwards.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tami. You should go to bed."

Tami's brow furrowed, "What are you talking about? You already woke me up, so why tell me to go back to sleep? What's the matter?" she asked, slightly getting irritated.

A few seconds of silence transpired. "I'm in front of your hotel."

Dressed only in her pajamas and her red woolen sweater, Tami ran furiously down the lobby of the hotel she was staying in, holding her cellphone in her hand. She ran out of the hotel lobby and saw Dong Gun barely standing, leaning on one of the pillars across the lobby entrance.

"Ajushi!!!" she called out.

Dong Gun looked up at her and smiled at her. Tami looked around. There were no other people there, save for the valet standing far away from them. She ran to Dong Gun, "Are you alright?"

"K wen chah na yo..." he said, and then went on speaking in Korean. Even if Tami didn't understand a word he was saying, she noticed that his speech slurred, his knuckles red and almost looked swollen, and he smelled of alcohol.

"Have you been drinking all night? You should rest, ajushi."

He said something again in Korean, and then slumped towards Tami. She was surprised at this, and her body can't sustain Dong Gun's weight that she was afraid they might end up sprawled on the floor. She called for the valet to help, and the three of them brought Dong Gun to Tami's room.

Tami rubbed her eyes while figuring out what to do next with Dong Gun, who was already laying on her bed. It seemed to her that he was asleep, but she would hear him muttering some words in Korean every now and then. Right then, Tami hated herself for not being able to understand his language, else, she would've been able to know what was going on.

She went to the little kitchen that her room had, and went on to boil some water. Back in Manila, when she got drunk, Kyle would sponge her arms, neck and back with lukewarm water, especially when the alcohol she drank would cause red spots to appear on her skin. After that one incident that she got extremely drunk, Tami vowed never to drink alcohol again. Her body just couldn't handle alcohol that well.

In a few minutes, the water came to a boil. She poured some of it on a bowl, and mixed some cold water in it. Dipping her fingers, she felt that the water was warm enough to relieve Dong Gun. She grabbed a clean towel from her closet and walked over to her bed, carrying the bowl of water with her.

"Ajushi..." she whispered, shaking Dong Gun's shoulder gently to wake him up at least. No reply. He was already passed out. Nervously, she folded up Dong Gun's sleeves and then wiped it with the towel she dipped in lukewarm water. She did it a few times over, also running the towel against his neck, and his chest.

Tami couldn't breathe. A year ago she would've fainted at the mere sight of Lee Dong Gun, and now she is making physical, slightly intimate, contact with him! She could not believe it, debating whether or not what she is doing is a good thing.

It was already five in the morning when she finished, and she was exhausted. Even so, she smiled at the sight of Dong Gun sleeping so peacefully, like a baby, although she knew something bad was bothering him. She gave in to the guilty pleasure of running her fingers through his hair, and was amazed at how soft they were.

"Sleep well, ajushi," she whispered, and then fell into a deep sleep.

Dong Gun's head ached when he awoke. He squinted at the bright sunlight that hit his eyes. He lay motionless for a moment, and then realized that he was in an unfamiliar place. He almost jumped out of bed. Looking around him, he saw that he was inside a hotel room, and he tried to remember what had happened in the night.

It was only when he saw Tami lying asleep on the floor that he realized what had happened. Right, he thought. He called Tami up, in the wee hours of morning, and she ran out of the hotel for him. He stood up and knelt down beside Tami, looking at her wistfully.

"I'm so sorry, Tami," he said, carefully lifting her up from the carpeted floor and laying her down on the bed. He covered her up with the sheets. He sighed. He didn't have the heart to wake her up.

Dong Gun then managed to fix himself up inside Tami's bathroom. When he got out, he noticed the bowl of water and towel beside Tami's bed. He shook his head. She didn't have to, he thought. He found a piece of paper and pen on Tami's bedside table and scribbled something down. Then, he took one last look at Tami, and then left the hotel room.

"Excuse me... ann yong ha sae yo," Tami greeted the concierge of the hotel she's staying in.

The male concierge smiled, "Ann yong ha sae yo!"

"I would like to ask help for something," Tami said, and then lifted a piece of paper for the concierge to see. "I don't understand what it says... save for my name." She pointed to the Romanized spelling of her name, followed by words written in Korean. "Can you help me?"

"Sure ma'am," the concierge said and read the message on the piece of paper. "It says, Meet me at the Namsan Tower, 6 o clock. Dong Gun"

Tami looked at her watch. It was already 3 o' clock. Her brow wrinkled, "Namsan Tower?"

The concierge handed her the piece of paper, "We can arrange transportation for you to Namsan Tower, if you don't know how to get there..."

Tami was reluctant. She only had little money left. "Is it far from here?"

"No, not really."

"How much will it cost?" she asked.

"Are you staying in room 1420?" the concierge asked back.

She was surprised, "Yes... why?"

The concierge smiled and bowed. "This way, ma'am." He led Tami to a beautiful well-lit room full of clothes, shoes and bags. "Please sit down."

"What's going on?"

"Mr. Lee asked us to give you something very special for tonight," the concierge replied. With a snap, a group of ladies came out of a small room, rolling in a mannequin with them. The mannequin wore a simple off-white dress that looked very summery, with white ribbon straps and dainty sky blue butterfly prints running at the skirt's seams.

"Ms. Tami... Mr. Lee bought this for you," the concierge said, pointing to the dress. He also brought out white shoes from a box, and told Tami it was hers.

Tami couldn't believe her eyes and ears, "But why?" she asked.

The concierge and the group of ladies just smiled at her. "Please wear it. So that we can make necessary adjustments if you are uncomfortable in it," one of the ladies said.

She smiled back, "Excuse me for a moment, will you?" she said and put out her phone. She dialled Dong Gun's number.

Dong Gun smiled and shook his head while looking at the present he bought for Tami days ago. Finally, he will be able to give it to her when they meet at the Namsan Tower tonight. He walked towards the door when his phone rang. He smiled again when he saw who was calling.

"Are you wearing the dress yet?" he asked when he answered the phone.

"What?"

"The dress... are you wearing it?"

"I don't understand, ajushi. Why---"

Dong Gun laughed, "Just wear it. And meet me at Namsan Tower. I'm on my way there already. You'd better not be late!"

"But, ajushi!"

"Don't be late!" he said and ended the call. He then ran out of the house and went inside his car.

"Ajushi! Ajushi!!!" Tami said through her phone. The line was already cut off.

The concierge approached her, "Is there any problem, Ms. Tami?"

Tami looked at him thoughtfully, "No. No, there's no problem."

"Very well. Put on the clothes then while I arranged your transportation to Namsan Tower. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Five

2005-06-22T14:22:00.000+08:00

The day went by smoothly, save for Jung Wha's freak accident earlier, and Tami made her way to the developing center that night to get the pictures she had developed the day before.

While waiting, she dialled Kyle's number. She had to tell him that her leaving Korea has been cancelled for the meantime. The phone kept ringing, but he wasn't answering the call. She tried a couple more times until the man in the counter called her to give her the pictures.

She stood up and went to the counter to check all the pictures. She didn't notice that there were tears falling from her eyes already. One of them strayed on one of the pictures.

"Shit..." she whispered, and wiped away her tear on the picture. Too late. It was already blemished.

Her phone rang. Immediately, she picked it up and answered the phone. "Kyle?"

Nobody answered. She looked at her cellphone screen and saw an unknown number.

"Hello?" she asked. "Who is this?"

"What did I tell you about crying? Its your last night in Korea and you're still sad?" she heard a voice say.

She looked around and tried to see who it was calling her. "Who is this? How did you get my number?"

The door of the developing center opened, "We work together, remember? I could've easily gotten your number from our boss."

Tami looked behind her and saw Dong Gun smiling at her, holding his phone against his ear.

"Ann yong ha sae yo?" Dong Gun teased.

Tami put her phone down, and so did he. "Oh... you already got the photos developed!" Dong Gun said and started browsing the pictures while Tami just stared at him in amazement.

"You take great shots..." he said, and then saw the picture he took of Tami, "But I take better ones!" He raised the photo in front of Tami and made a face. Tami just looked at him.

Dong Gun's expression changed. "What? Is there anything wrong?"

Tami grabbed all the pictures on the counter and ran outside. Dong Gun followed her. "Tami! Tami, wait! What's the matter?"

She spun around to face him, "Nothing!"

"Why are you running away?"

Tami broke down on the pavement. The pictures scattered everywhere. Dong Gun tried his best to get them all back, but some got blown away by the wind.

He compiled them all neatly in his hand and walked towards Tami. "Tami... what's wrong? Tell me."

"Ajushi... I wanna go home..."

Wrapped in a big blue comforter, Tami sipped some hot tea that Dong Gun gave her. He brought her to his house after she almost insanely broke down in the streets of Seoul.

"I really should go home now," Tami said.

"With what you did earlier, I don't believe you are in proper condition to take care of yourself. You could stay here for the night. We'll go to work together tomorrow," he said.

"Ajushi..."

He looked at her.

"Why are you doing this?"

His brows furrowed. "Why am I doing what?"

"This." Tami looked around her and then shrugged her shoulders. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Dong Gun smiled playfully, "That's because you're a fan," he said. "No, seriously..." he stopped for a second. His phone was ringing. "I'll be back..." he said and ran off to take the call.

Tami gazed around the room. It was neat and well-kept. The sheets smelled familiar, of the same scent that laced Dong Gun's handkerchief. He probably slept in his work clothes because of exhaustion, she thought.

On the bedside table lay his cellphone, a lamp, and a picture frame that had its face down. She was tempted to see what picture was there, and why he had to put it face down like that. She reached over to touch it, but then she heard footsteps coming up. She sat back on the bed.

Dong Gun stood at the door, "Will you be okay here?" he asked, his face suddenly sullen.

Tami looked at him questioningly. "Ajushi..."

"If you need anything, I'll be downstairs," he said, and pulled the door to close. "Good night."

When Dong Gun awoke the next day, the first thing he did was check up on Tami. But when he got to her room, it was already empty. His clothes, which she wore to bed, were neatly folded and placed on top of the sheets, with a small piece of paper that said:

Ajushi,

Its just a dream, isn't it? Well, if it is, I don't want to wake up just yet. If it isn't...

Thanks for taking care of me last night.

Tami

Dong Gun smiled, folded the note and kept it inside his drawer. Checking the time, he saw that he barely had two hours to prepare and get to work, so he ran to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.

When he got to the kitchen, he saw some dishes lying on the table. Another note was there, and it read:

Ajushi,

Sorry I messed up with your things. I don't know how to thank you.

I also don't know how to make bean paste stew like Jung Sook in Sweet 18. Sorry.

Tami

Dong Gun lifted the covers and found some fried eggs and ham. Looking at the counter, she saw that Tami had also brewed coffee for him. He ate some of the eggs and ham she cooked and drank his coffee, and then he took a bath.

After dressing up, he checked his watch. He still had ample time to drive to the movie set without driving very fast, so he took his time and called Tami.

He found it weird though, because she wasn't answering the phone. He tried to call a few more times, but Tami still wasn't answering. He decided to just drive to the set and talk to Tami during break hour. After all, she will be staying in Korea the whole three months. He has all the time in the world.

"Tami... do you have the set of clothes we need for all the scenes we'll be shooting today?" Ms. Kim, the wardrobe master asked.

"Oh... um, I'm still doing a double check on all of the sets."

"Well, then hurry up!!! We're shooting in half an hour!" Ms. Kim almost shrieked, and Tami almost jumped out of her skin.

Jung Wha was right in saying she was a pain, Tami thought, doing a checklist of the costumes which are going to be used that day. A few more minutes, and she brought the clothes to the different dressing rooms assigned to the actors and actresses.

The last dressing room she went to was Dong Gun's. She knocked at the door, but no one asnwered.

"He might still not be here," she thought, so she took the liberty of opening the door. True enough, the dressing room was empty, so she just left Dong Gun's wardrobe inside the closet of the room.

When she left the room, she bumped into Dong Gun. "Good morning!" she greeted.

He smiled and pinched her nose playfully, "Good morning to you too..." he said, "Thank you for the nice breakfast."

"That's not a problem," she said. "Excuse me for a while, ajushi... I got work to do."

"Oh, yes... sure," Dong Gun said with a smile and raised his fist up in the air. "Aja!?"

"Aja!!!"

It was break hour, and Tami was nowhere to be found. Dong Gun suspected that she'd been hiding inside the props room again, so he went over there to check. Before he opened the door, he heard Tami's voice. He couldn't understand everything she said, but he grasped a few lines.

"I'm really, really sorry Kyle. I didn't expect things to turn out this way..."

"How's your mom? Is she getting better?"

"Do you still have money left? You could call Kuya and borrow from him if you---"

"Okay... you take care of yourself. Kyle... I'm sorry. I'll be praying..."

Dong Gun sighed. He was not about to see Tami cry again; it would be too distracting. He decided to leave her alone and walked away from the props room.

"TAMI!!!" Ms. Kim's voice filled the whole set. "TAMI!!! WHERE ARE YOU?"

Dong Gun, who was busy reading his script while being made up by the make-up artist looked up from what he was doing. He then saw Tami running towards the back part of the set.

"What have you done? Do you know how expensive this suit is?" Ms. Kim asked Tami and showed her one of the suits she brought to Dong Gun's dressing room. It had a long gash on the left sleeve, and even repairing it would not do any good.s

Tami was horrified. She didn't know what happened. "I'm sorry... Ms. Kim. I really don't know---"

Ms. Kim then started speaking in Korean, and Tami just strained her ears and vainly tried to understand what she was saying. The only thing she understood was "babo," which meant "stupid."

Tami opened her mouth to speak, but another voice spoke, firmly, in Korean. She looked behind her, and it was Dong Gun, his face grim. She barely understood a word he said, but she was scared at how he talked to Ms. Kim.

Ms. Kim couldn't speak. A few seconds later, Ms. Kim apologized to Tami with her head bowed down.

"I'm sorry, Tami. I didn't know..."

Tami's forehead wrinkled in confusion, "Ms. Kim? What?"

"Excuse me..." Ms. Kim said and went inside the wardrobe room, bringing the damaged suit in with her.

It was then that Tami felt a hand hold her left arm, "Let's go, Tami."

"What did you say to her? She looked so upset."

Dong Gun shook his head, as if to tell her not to worry.

"I don't know if I should thank you. I think you hurt her feelings." Tami said, reluctantly.

"Then don't if you don't want to. I'm not asking you to thank me. I just wanted to help you out..." Dong Gun said, looking hurt, and walked away.

"Why?" Tami asked.

"Just because..."

Shooting ended early, and Tami kept on debating with herself whether or not to talk to Dong Gun about what had happened earlier. He seemed hurt by what she said, but she wasn't so sure.

After putting all the clothes in place, Tami said goodbye to Ms. Kim.

"I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Ms. Kim. I didn't know what he told you, but I'm really sorry if you got offended."

Ms. Kim just nodded. "I'll see you in two days, Tami."

Tami bowed down, "Have a good night, Ms. Kim," she said and left the room.

Walking out of the set, she decided she'd visit Jung Wha at the hospital. She browsed through her bag and tried to count how much money she had left after she deposited majority of it in Kyle's account. She didn't have much, and she was pretty disappointed she wouldn't be able to buy some flowers for her friend.

She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking out, when she saw Dong Gun in the hallway again.

"Ajushi!" she called out, but he didn't look back. He was engrossed in another phone call, like he was two days ago when she saw him in the same hallway. She already passed him, but he didn't notice her.

"Who could he be talking to? He looks very upset again." she wondered, and then tried to forget all about it.

Four

2005-06-09T02:31:00.000+08:00

"How long do you think your shooting will last?" Tami asked. She was sitting in the passenger's seat of Dong Gun's car while he drove.

He glanced at her, "Well, we just started. With everything else okay, we might finish in two months or so."

Tami nodded. "It's too bad I can't stay," she said.

"Do you want to?" Dong Gun asked.

"Half of me does."

"And the other half?"

Tami looked at Dong Gun and forced a smile. She opened her mouth to speak, but then her cellphone started ringing. She dug inside her bag and saw that it was Kyle who was calling. She immediately answered the call.

"Kyle! Finally!!! Ano bang nangyari sa iyo? Kagabi pa kita tine-text... di ka naman nagre-reply!" Tami exclaimed.

"Tami..."

"O ano na? Ano'ng balita?"

Silence. Tami sensed that something was wrong. "Kyle... okay ka lang?"

"Nandito ako sa ospital."

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Si Mama. Inatake siya sa puso kahapon. Naging busy dito, kaya hindi ako naka-reply. Sorry..."

Dong Gun parked the car in front of the address that Tami gave him a while ago. He looked at Tami. She was still on the phone. Her eyes were teary, and her voice was breaking.

"Okay lang. Kyle, okay ka lang? Magdasal tayo... she's going to be fine."

"Sana. Pangatlo na 'to, Tami."

"Kaya niya yan. Alagaan mo siyang mabuti..."

Dong Gun looked away. There is something about a girl crying that makes him feel that the world is unfair. He reached inside his coat pocket and brought out a handkerchief. He handed it to Tami as soon as she ended her phone call.

Tami just looked at the handkerchief, and then at Dong Gun.

"Take it."

"I already have one of yours," Tami said shyly.

Dong Gun gave out a soft snort, "Don't worry, I won't make you pay for them. Besides, everybody has to have a collection, right?"

Still, Tami didn't take it. Dong Gun sighed. He leaned over and wiped away her tears with his handkerchief himself.

"You shouldn't cry all the time, you know. Things are better looking when there are no tears in your eyes," Dong Gun said and left his handkerchief in her hand.

"Thank you..." Tami said, "I have to go."

"Oh... right." Dong Gun got out of the car as Tami freed herself from the seatbelt. He opened the door for her. "Don't cry anymore, alright?" he said, handing Tami's shopping bags to her.

Tami nodded, "I'll try. Thank you very much. Good night," she said and walked to her hotel.

Dong Gun watched her walk away until she was out of his sight, and then he rode his car home. While driving, he saw a familiar object lying at the back of his car. It was the present he was supposed to give Tami.

"Damn..." he thought. "Tomorrow."

"Mr. Lopez, do we already have the replacement for Ms. Fajardo?" Mr. Jung asked during a breakfast meeting of the production bosses.

"Yes, sir. The replacement will be coming tomorrow. It will be Ms. Fajardo's last day today."

"Okay. Good... see to it that she gets paid before she leaves Seoul, and that she turns over her materials properly to the replacement..."

"Yes, sir."

"Hi Tami!" Jung Wha greeted when Tami came to the set.

Tami gave a weak smile. "Hello, Jung Wha."

Jung Wha noticed this. "Hey... what's wrong? Are you sick?"

"No. I just didn't have enough sleep last night," Tami replied, "But I'm alright."

"Oh. I bet you miss your home, don't you? I'm kinda like that when I'm new to some place. I have a hard time getting sleep."

Tami sat down and brought out her things, preparing them for the day's work. Kyle hasn't called or texted at all since last night, making her worry even more of his and his mom's condition.

"I'll leave you here for a while, okay? I just need to see the script and check if I have all the clothes I need for today's shoot," Jung Wha said. Tami just nodded and smiled, and Jung Wha ran off.

Tami was testing her flash when Mr. Lopez approached her, "Good morning, Tami. Kamusta?"

She looked up, "Oh... good morning sir!" she said and motioned to stand.

"Sige lang... umupo ka lang."

"Oh... okay. Okay naman ako sir. Kayo po?" she asked.

"Fine, fine," Mr. Lopez said. He put two envelopes on Tami's table. "These are for you. Mr. Jung also said that you should turn over all your materials properly so that your replacement could compile them also."

Tami nodded, "Yes, sir. Salamat po."

"Okay, that's it. Pupunta ako sa Incheon location, so you won't be seeing me for the whole day. Tawag ka lang pag may problema, ha?" Mr. Lopez said and left.

Tami opened the first envelope. It had her plane ticket for Manila the next day. She was supposed to leave at eight in the evening. Good, she thought, she has all the time to turn over her materials, and take a quick tour of Korea to take pictures.

The second envelope contained her salary. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked at her watch. It was nine in the morning. Shooting doesn't start until 11. She picked up her bag and went to the nearest international bank.

Dong Gun arrived on set at ten in the morning, carrying the present he bought for Tami. He looked around for her, but he couldn't find her, even when he checked inside the props room.

"Where could she be?" he thought. "Today's supposed to be her last day."

"Ann yong ha sae yo!" Jung Wha greeted him when she saw him pass by.

"Oh... ann yong ha sae yo," he greeted back with a smile. "Have you seen Tami?"

"She's right there!" Jung Wha said, pointing to the staff table a few meters away. She gasped when she saw that Tami wasn't there anymore. "Oh... she was there a moment ago. I don't know where she went."

Dong Gun nodded, "That's okay. Thank you."

"Dong Gun! We'll have to start soon, so don't go anywhere, okay?" the production assistant told him.

"Alright. I'll just go back to my car."

"Thanks, Tami. Hindi mo naman dapat ginawa yun," Kyle said over the phone.

"Ano ka ba? Para kang sira... tulong ko yan sa iyo. Besides, mababayaran mo naman ako pag sikat ka na noh!" Tami said, lightening up the conversation.

"KUNG sisikat ako."

"Ano ba? Talented ka naman ah... tsaka hindi ka naman pangit. I'm sure may makakapansin din sa iyo... maghintay lang tayo!"

Tami checked her watch. Shoot time was almost starting. She walked briskly to the set, while still on the phone.

"Oo na."

"O sige... kailangan ko nang pumasok. Last day ko ngayon kaya dapat maaga!" she said.

"Okay, sige. Good luck! Text mo ako pag nakaalis ka na ng Korea."

"Sure. Ba-bye!"

Tami entered the set and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the cameras were not yet rolling. Jung Wha grabbed her arm as soon as she got there.

"Where have you been?" she whispered.

Tami's eyes widened, "Why? Did anybody look for me?"

"Yes!"

"The boss? Is he mad?" she asked worriedly.

Jung Wha pulled her to the side and pointed to a man being made up in front of the cameras. "Lee Dong Gun!"

"He looked for me?"

"Oh my God, Tami, yes!!! I know I didn't really grow up here in Korea but I know for a fact that he is one of the hottest actors here! Too bad, he's already got a girlfriend... but who cares? As long as he knows my name, that's enough for me!"

Tami looked at Dong Gun from a distance and her heart smiled deep inside. He was her crush after all, and she'd only dreamt of being with him since she was assigned to this project. And now, news that Dong Gun was actually looking for her on the set really gladdened her.

"I have to get back to work," she whispered to Jung Wha.

"Oh, is that all there is? Five more minutes... let's just look at Dong Gun! Come on!!!" Jung Wha teased.

"You can look at him through my camera LCD! Let's go!" Tami said and pulled Jung Wha's arm.

Jung Wha flailed her arm to resist Tami's pull, and she was able to, but she lost her balance and hit one of the big light stands near her.

She fell hard on the floor, and by the time Tami came to her aid, she already had a head injury, thanks to a broken light bulb that crashed on her head.

Gasps were heard. Some of the crew ran over and helped Jung Wha up. She was unconscious, and her head was bleeding.

Tami felt a cold shudder down her spine. It was her fault Jung Wha had an accident. What if she was seriously hurt? What will the Korean bosses say about her?

In a matter of minutes, the chaos dissipated and the cameras started rolling again. Tami tried to concentrate and do her job, but her hands were quivering while she took the photos.

Break hour arrived, and one of the production assistants announced that Park-Jung Wha was already rushed to the hospital and was being examined. He also announced that Jung Wha was already out of danger.

Tami was relieved. She put down her camera and sat down in front of the staff table.

"Ms. Fajardo?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Lopez would like to see you."

Tami's jaw dropped open. "Sir?"

"I am very sorry Tami, but some of the crew are blaming you for the accident that happened, kahit na inamin na ni Ms. Park na siya ang may kasalanan. Anyway, kailangan lang naman ng staff ng replacement ni Ms. Park, at sabi niya, kayang-kaya mo naman daw ang trabaho."

"But sir..."

"Alam ko... aalis ka na dapat bukas, but starting tomorrow, the crew's jobs are going to be very hectic that we don't have time to find another replacement..."

Tami looked down on the floor, "There's one more thing, sir."

Mr. Lopez looked at Tami thoughtfully, "Ano yun, Tami?"

"Yung suweldo ko po... nai-deposito ko na sa mga bank account sa Manila. Kasi po..."

Mr. Lopez waved his hand in front of Tami, "Don't explain anymore, Tami. I understand. That will be our little secret."

"But..."

"Basta pumasok ka bukas at mag-wardrobe assistant ka muna. Medyo mas malaki ang kikitain niya kaysa sa iyo, so I'll just give you the additional pay after this movie's over, okay ba yun?"

Bewildered, Tami just nodded. Her contract with the production has not yet been terminated after all. She bowed to Mr. Lopez and made her way out of his office. But before she walked out, she turned to him again.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Tami?"

"One more question... hanggang kailan po kaya ang shooting natin?" Tami asked.

"Well, the contract says three months. So... I'm really sorry you can't spend Christmas at home with your family."

Three

2005-06-06T00:33:00.000+08:00

Tami put out her used memory card on the counter and asked for an order sheet. She filled out the necessary information needed and then paid for the developing fee. The man in the counter processed her request and asked her to wait for a few minutes.

While waiting, Tami thought of Dong Gun. She never saw him act that way, except maybe when she was watching him in those Korean dramas she loved. Ever since she met him a day ago, he was always smiling, making everybody --- including her --- smile too.

Suddenly, she heard her phone ringing. Excited, she rummaged through her bag and picked up the phone.

Mr. Lopez ... calling ...

She sighed in disappointment. She'd been waiting for Kyle to call since last night, and the first call she receives since then was from her employer. She answered the call and tried to sound cheery.

"Hello, Mr. Lopez!"

"Hello, Tami... good news! Na-book na namin ang flight mo. Sa makalawa na ang alis mo, so last day mo na sa trabaho bukas." Mr. Lopez said.

"Okay... salamat, sir!" Tami said, enthusiastically and then put down the phone.

She looked at her watch. It was already seven in the evening. "There's still time to shop," she thought with a smile.

Dong Gun looked at his watch. He was supposed to be having dinner already, but the person he was supposed to have dinner with hasn't shown up yet.

He sighed ang looked around, checking if there's someone new coming inside the restaurant. He picked up his cellphone and placed a call. No one was answering.

A waiter went over his table and gave him a glass of red wine. He thanked the waiter, and then took a sip off the glass. He placed another call. Still, nobody answered. He looked at his watch again. It was already half past eight. He'd been waiting in that restaurant for around two hours already.

He cringed at the sound of music playing from the far side of the restaurant. Its as if he wanted to strangle whoever it is who was playing "Moon River" on the piano.

Minutes passed by, and still, Dong Gun was alone. Irritated, he called the waiter over and asked for the bill. While waiting for the bill, he tried calling again, but this time, the phone he was calling was already turned off.

The waiter brought the bill over, but Dong Gun already left, leaving a sum of money which is five times bigger than he was supposed to pay for.

Dong Gun briskly walked out of the restaurant. He didn't notice the people passing by, so he was startled when he bumped into somebody on the street.

"Aray!"

"Choe song ham ni da!" he said to the girl he bumped into. The girl's shoulder-length hair sprawled over her face, and the things she had been bringing with her scattered on the sidewalk.

"Sorry... sorry..." the girl also said.

Dong Gun crouched on the sidewalk to help the girl pick up her things. It didn't take long until he recognized who he bumped into.

"Tami?"

The girl looked up, "Ajushi!?"

Dong Gun looked at her thoughtfully, "I'm really sorry. I didn't---"

"It's okay. I wasn't looking where I was going. Seoul is a really big place," Tami said, picking up the last few stuff she had scattered on the pavement.

"Are you hurt?" Dong Gun asked, taking her arm and helping her up while holding some of Tami's things.

"No, no... I'm alright."

"You should be careful," he said, and handed Tami the things he helped pick up.

Tami bowed, "Yes, I should. Thank you. Have a good night," she said and walked away.

Dong Gun watched her walk away. He felt something strange, seeing her walk awkwardly like that, like she was lost in such a big, busy place. He called her.

"Tami!" Dong Gun called.

Tami looked back.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?"

At dinner, Tami was relatively quiet. Dong Gun was the one opening up the conversation, and she often replied, but wouldn't offer too much information. He noticed also that Tami wasn't eating very well, and he gathered it must be because she is new to Korean food.

He used his chopsticks to put some bulgogi on Tami's bowl of rice. "Have some. Its good. Its barbecued beef," he said.

"Thank you," Tami said and smiled weakly.

"You don't know much about our food here, do you?"

"No. I only know kimchi."

Dong Gun nodded, "I see. You should try this too. Its kimchi... but of a different kind," he said and put some of it in Tami's bowl.

Just then, one of Tami's shopping bags fell open on the floor. Tami rushed to get it, while Dong Gun just watched her.

"Why do you have so many things with you?" he asked.

Tami looked at the things she bought, "Oh… these. I bought these for my family and friends in Manila."

"Why so soon? Are you leaving already?"

"Yes."

Startled, Dong Gun asked, "Why? We haven't finished filming yet…"

"It was a mistake --- me being sent here --- that is. I don't know Korean very well, and the producer thought it would be difficult for both parties."

"But you know Korean," Dong Gun teased.

"That's because I watch Korean dramas back home. I picked up some words…"

"Like?"

Tami thought for a while, "Like… kam sa ham ni da. Mmmm... ann yong ha sae yo?"

Dong Gun nodded. "What else?"

"Miahn hae???" Tami said, "That's 'sorry' right?"

"Yes, good. And?"

"Babo?"

Dong Gun burst into a smile. "You know all the Korean you should know."

Tami just laughed.

"What kinds of dramas do you watch? Have you watched mine?" Dong Gun asked.

"Oh, yes... lots of times. I've seen Lovers in Paris first. And then Sweet 18. And then Stained Glass," Tami replied.

Dong Gun smiled, "Looks like I've got a fan here."

Tami smiled.

"I was just kidding. Anyway... what did you buy for your family and friends?" he asked.

"Oh... nothing much. I don't have much to begin with, so I just bought little presents. Souvenirs from Korea."

Dong Gun looked over, "It figures. You bought them at the mall. We should've bumped into each other earlier, so I could help you shop at Dongdaemun Market. Most of the products there are cheaper. May I see?"

"Oh, sure." Tami handed the things she bought to Dong Gun. He examined each and every one of them, each one Tami tagged for her mom, her brothers, her bestfriend, and so on, and so forth.

"Nothing for the one who made you cry?"

Tami was dumbfounded. So was Dong Gun with what came out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry," Dong Gun said softly, apologetically.

She smiled, "That's okay."

"Nothing for you?" Dong Gun asked.

"I'm the one who's seen Korea. That's enough a souvenir for me," Tami said, faking a smile.

Dong Gun looked at her with a smile. "Let's go!" he said, standing up and pulling her arm.

"Go? Go where?"

"Tami... do you trust me?" he asked.

"God, this is just like a scene off a K-drama," Tami thought.

"Do you?"

She just nodded.

"Then come on!"

Dong Gun led Tami to another shopping mall, but asked her to stay a while outside a certain shop.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you here," Dong Gun said, seeing the worry in Tami's eyes. "Here…" he said, handing her his cellphone, "My phone is very important to me. I'll leave this with you so that you'll know I'll be coming back for you."

"Okay."

"I won't take long. If you want, you can browse around the shops here."

"No, I'll just sit over there," Tami said and pointed to a bench outside the shop.

Dong Gun nodded, "Okay. That'd be great. It'll just be a minute," he said and went inside the shop.

"Dong Gun-shi! Nice of you to drop by!" an old man in the counter greeted.

"Uncle Han Sun! Ann yong ha sae yo?"

"Kwen cha nah yo! What can I do for you?"

Dong Gun thought for a while, "I have a new friend waiting outside. She's new here. She's from the Philippines... and she's leaving soon. I want to get something very special for her."

The old man looked out the window and saw Tami sitting outside, looking around, observing the people passing by. "I see. Another cloudy eyed girl?"

Dong Gun smiled.

"I just know you wouldn't be able to resist those types. Why don't you give her a scarf? Look at her... she looks like she's about to freeze to death!"

Dong Gun looked outside. Tami was blowing into her palms to warm them up.

"A scarf then. But not just any scarf, okay?"

It was already very cold. The air was piercing Tami's skin. She stood up and tried to walk around so she won't feel cold, but it wasn't working. Suddenly, she heard an unfamiliar ring tone.

Dong Gun's phone was ringing!

Tami took out Dong Gun's phone from her bag, and looked at it. She couldn't understand what the flashing characters meant, but she was sure it was a phone call because the phone icon was blinking.

She just looked at the phone, battling it out in her mind if she would answer it or not. Just then, Dong Gun went out of the shop with a beautifully ribboned box in his hand.

"Ajushi! Your phone..." Tami said and handed Dong Gun's phone to him.

Dong Gun grabbed it from Tami's hand and looked at who was calling. As soon as he saw who it was, his expression turned stern. He terminated the call and put the phone in his pocket.

Then, he looked at Tami with a smile on his face, "I told you I won't take long. Come on, I'll take you home. Its getting late and cold."

Two

2005-06-03T23:41:00.000+08:00

It was break hour once again, and Tami was, as usual, inside the props room. She was waiting for Kyle to call, but he didn't call or even send one message ever since she texted him the night before.

Kyle, busy ka? Kuha mo ba text ko kagabi?

Uuwi na ako... :)

Kung gusto mo, ako na tatawag sa iyo.

Hindi ka ba excited na uuwi na ako?

She sighed. Kyle wasn't answering, and break hour was due to end soon. She decided she might as well join the others in their meals, but was worried Mr. Lopez wasn't there. Aside from her, Mr. Lopez was the only Filipino in the production set. The rest were divided into the different locations, and she was the only one assigned in her location.

She stood up and grabbed her bag. The door opened. It was Dong Gun.

"I knew I would find you here," he said. "Ottok'ke ch nae sae yo?"

"What?"

He smiled playfully, "How are you?"

She bowed, "I'm fine. Thanks."

"Why don't you join the rest of us? You haven't eaten your lunch yet, have you?"

"Wow... he is fluent in English. Though he has a funny accent," she thought.

"Ta- Tami?"

Surprised, she asked, "How did you know my name?"

He pointed to the ID hanging around her neck. "There."

Tami looked down and was embarrassed that her ID picture can be seen. She turned it over and then smiled sheepishly at Dong Gun.

He looked at her thoughtfully, "Why did you do that?"

"Oh... nothing."

"It's a good picture of you."

"No, it isn't."

Dong Gun smiled. It was a signature smile; the one when the left side of his mouth goes up, and ends up looking like a naughty smirk. "You were smiling in the picture. So it's a good picture," he insisted. "Ara so?"

She smiled. "Ara so."

He playfully grabbed her camera and then took a picture of her. She was taken by surprise at how quick he moved.

"Ajushi!" she squealed and reached for the camera, which he gave back without resistance.

"Give me a copy," he said and walked away. "Have your lunch already!" he added, his voice resounding in the hallway.

Tami checked her cellphone. No calls and no messages received. She sighed. Kyle must be very busy for him to ignore her like this.

She put her cellphone away and began to work again. She was assigned to take behind the scenes photos of the shoot, so she was just roaming around the set and taking pictures of the production people at work.

Once the movie camera rolled, she went over to the set and tried to get a good angle of Lee Dong Gun and his co-actress, Jeon Ji Hyun, of My Sassy Girl fame. The movie they were shooting was a romantic comedy, and the scene that was to be shot was a light scene which required Ji Hyun to chase after Dong Gun in the streets of Seoul because she wants to return something that he let her borrow.

Tami focused her camera. Ji Hyun's character had already caught up with Dong Gun's character, and they were already having a conversation.

"That is a nice shot you have there."

Tami looked behind her and saw a Korean girl standing close to her, looking at the LCD screen of her digital SLR camera. She had beautiful black hair that waved across her shoulders, and pretty eyes that shone like black pearls.

"Oh, thank you," she said and took the picture.

"For someone so young, you definitely have a good sense of imagery. By the way, I'm Park-Jung Wha."

Tami smiled and took another shot. She looked at the girl again, "My name is Tami. Tami Fajardo." They shook hands.

"Where are you from?" Jung Wha asked.

"The Philippines."

"Ah, yes. Oh... I heard there are many good designers in your country. I've always wanted to become a designer so here I am, trying my luck," Jung Wha said.

Tami nodded, "What's your job here?"

"I'm the assistant to the wardrobe master. Say... I don't see you around the set often. Did you just arrive?"

"No," Tami shyly answered, "I spend my break hours inside the props room."

"Why?"

"I don't know anyone here. Save for my employer. All the staff that came from the Philippines were assigned to different locations. I'm the only one here, and I don't know much Korean," Tami said.

Tami and Jung Wha walked with the crew as they transferred to another location. While walking, Tami unloaded her memory card and put in a new one.

"That's too bad. Hey... I can be your friend!" Jung Wha volunteered.

A smile painted Tami's face, "Thank you."

"Oh, no need. I need someone to talk to also. If I may say so, the wardrobe master is a pain!" Jung Wha said dramatically, and then burst into a giggle.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but that's okay. I'm used to dealing with people like them. I grew up in the States, so there'd be a lot of bullies... you know... asking you for lunch money and stuff."

After loading her camera, Tami went on to work again, with Jung Wha following her around. She took almost 50 pictures by the time the shooting ended and made way for break hour.

"Tami! Here!!!" Jung Wha called, pointing to an empty seat on the staff table. Tami carried her tray of food to the table and sat beside Jung Wha.

"Do you like kimchi?" Jung Wha asked.

She nodded. "I think its very good."

"Great! I cook delicious kimchi also. You know what I do best?"

Tami looked at Jung Wha and took a guess, "Design clothes?"

Jung Wha's eyes sparkled, "You're a genius!!! How did you know?"

Break hour was extended since one of the cameras that were to be used experienced a slight malfunction. For the first time since she came to Korea and to the set of the movie, Tami spent her break hour outside the props room and inside the wardrobe room.

"Look at this... what do you think?" Jung Wha asked, showing Tami a sketch of her design.

Tami examined the sketch for a while, and then said, "Well… what's your target market?"

"Mmmm... teenagers?"

"Are you considering selling these clothes to other countries? Like mine, for example?" Tami asked.

"Yes, of course!"

"The design would suit Koreans, since its made of very thick and warm fabric. The colors are nice too, but I'd go for solid colors more and slightly smaller prints... if you really want prints," Tami said. "And if you want to sell that to the Philippines, you'd have to adjust the fabric. It's very hot in our country, believe me."

Jung Wha nodded, "Really? Wow... you also are good in this! Did you study design also?"

"Not really. I just have a couple of friends in Manila who are very good at this. Their fashion sense kind of rubbed off on me," Tami said and smiled.

"I know! When I become a fashion designer, we should start a business! I design the clothes, and you take the photos for the catalog!" Jung Wha gushed with excitement.

"That's a nice idea..." Tami said, looking at her watch. "But we'd have to finish our work here first. Break time's almost over. Let's go!" she said and they went out of the wardrobe room.

Shooting's over, and Tami was busy labelling her material so she could bring them over to the developing studio later. Jung Wha already bade her goodbye minutes later, and promised to show her more of her designs the next day.

The rest of the crew were still carefully keeping the equipment, and there was noise all around. Tami checked her phone again. Still no calls and no messages. She sighed, kept her phone and lifted her bag.

She looked at the crew and waved to them with a smile.

"Ann yong hi ka sae yo!!!" the crew shouted and waved to her as well.

"Thank you!" she said and made her way out of the studio. While walking down the hallway, she saw Dong Gun. He was talking to someone on the phone, and he seemed upset.

She walked slowly, trying to see if he would notice her. But before she could pass him, he ended his phone call and walked briskly towards her. He didn't even notice Tami when he passed her, leaving her wondering what could possibly have made him so upset.

One

2005-06-02T03:40:00.000+08:00

"Sobrang lamig ba talaga diyan?"

She stifled a sob, her left hand covering the mouthpiece of her cellphone, careful not to let him hear, "Oo. Sobra. Kahit tirik na tirik ang araw, malamig pa rin. Magpa-Pasko na rin kasi."

"Talaga? Buti hindi ka pa nagkakasakit."

She didn't answer.

"Tami? Hello... andiyan ka pa?"

"Ah... oo. Choppy ka kasi... Kyle, kailangan ko nang bumalik sa trabaho. Tapos na break."

"Ah okay... sige," he said.

Her tears fell. "Sige... ah, oo nga pala... salamat ha?"

"Para saan?"

She spaced out for a moment, "Sa sweater na binigay mo. Suot ko ngayon..."

"Sus, para yan lang. O sige na, baka mapagalitan ka pa ng mga Koreano diyan. Ba-bye na."

He hung up. She cried, said a silent goodbye and ended the call. She carefully wiped her cellphone screen with the sleeve of her red woolen sweater, the one Kyle gave, and took a deep breath. She looked around the room she was in.

It was a props storage room, and she'd been hiding there for the rest of the break hour because she wasn't comfortable with the people she's working with. Looking at her watch, she saw that the break hour was going to end in five minutes, so she straightened up her clothes and moved to get out of the room.

Just then, her phone beeped. An incoming message came in. She opened it. It was from Kyle.

Ei, cheer up! Mamamalayan mo na lang, andito ka na. Don't miss me so much. Hehe. Take care.

With that, she felt a stab in her chest and cried again. This time, much harder. She sat down on one of the makeshift chairs inside the props room and tried to send a message to Kyle.

It was then that the door to the props room opened. A tall man in a green shirt and black suit hovered over her. Startled, she dropped her phone on the floor.

"Oh... choe song ham ni da," the man said.

She just bowed down, and then picked up her phone from the floor. "I'm sorry, sir..." she said, her head bowed still.

The man looked at her with curiosity, and then walked over to her. He gently lifted her chin, and saw that she'd been crying.

"Wae yo? Weniri sae yo?" he murmured.

She looked at him questioningly. She didn't understand what he said. A shout came from outside. He looked behind him and then looked at her again. Then, he pulled out a white handkerchief from the pocket of his suit and handed it to her, smiling gently.

"You can keep it," he said, trying hard to sound right.

She gazed up at him in surprise. He smiled at her again and then went out of the door. She ran after him. "Ajushi!" she called.

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her with amazement.

"Kam sa ham ni da..." she said and bowed down.

"You can speak Korean?" he asked.

She made a motion with her hand, shyly, meaning she knew just a little. She could have sworn she heard him laugh a bit.

"Good. I'll see you later..."

Inside a meeting room, the Korean production boss and the Philippine production boss were talking about the project at hand. The Korean boss was quite dissatisfied when he found out that one of the production staff assigned to the sets couldn't speak Korean.

"I thought we were clear on this, Mr. Lopez. I need a team whom we can relate to easily for this project. I understand that your people are very talented, but it will be difficult for both parties if we have this language barrier between us," Mr. Jung, the Korean producer said.

Mr. Lopez nodded, "I'm sorry, sir. There has been some mistake."

"I hope this mistake doesn't happen all the time, Mr. Lopez. Or else we will be forced not to renew your contract with our company for the next production."

"Oh, no sir! This is the first time it happened! You see---"

"I don't want explanations, Mr. Lopez. See to it that your 'mistake' is corrected as soon as possible."

"Yes, Mr. Jung. Right away."

Tami was adjusting the settings of her camera when she saw the man who talked to her inside the props room a while back. He was sitting on the sofa, being made up by a make-up artist while holding up sheets of papers so he could read. She gasped when she recognized who it was.

"Tami!"

She looked behind her and saw Mr. Lopez, motioning for her to come over. She briskly walked to him. "Yes, sir?"

"I'm sorry, Tami... may problema tayo. We have to send you back to Manila as soon as possible, so can you just fill in for the photographer we initially booked for this project while we take care of your flight back?"

"Oh... yes sir. No problem."

"Pasensiya ka na, Tami. I'm very sorry this had to happen."

Tami shook her head. "Not at all, sir. I understand. Alam ko namang mas preferred talaga nila ang Korean speaking staff, kaya nagulat rin ako na ako ang ipinadala rito."

Mr. Lopez breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sure we could find you a nice project that will suit your expertise when you get back in Manila."

"Thank you, sir."

"Okay then," Mr. Lopez patted her back, "Back to work."

"Uh... sir? Puwedeng magtanong lang?" Tami asked.

"O, ano yun?"

Tami looked in the direction of the man she met earlier. "Sir... si Lee Dong Gun ba yun?"

"Oo. Siya ang bida rito sa pelikulang shinu-shoot natin!"

For a second there, she felt her heart stop beating.

"Grabe... hindi ako makapaniwala. Nakita ko na si Lee Dong Gun!!! Haaayy, akala ko hanggang panaginip lang siya... shet! Ang guwapo talaga niya sa personal! Ang tanga-tanga ko nga... hindi ko pa siya nakilala nung una ko siyang nakita. Madilim kasi..."

"Ang bait niya... super bait. Tsaka laging naka-smile! Ang cute! Hindi talaga ako makapaniwalang nakita ko na siya... at katrabaho ko pa!"

Tami turned her recorder off and smiled. She looked over her bed and saw the white handkerchief that Dong Gun handed over to her earlier when he saw her crying inside the props room.

She walked over to her bed, picked up the handkerchief and tried to get a whiff of it. It smelled sweet, but she didn't recognize what scent it was. She wasn't really an expert.

She smiled. Going to Korea was not very bad after all. She got to meet Lee Dong Gun, and now she's bound to go back to Manila in a few days' time. Not to mention the company will be paying her in full even if her services will not be completed.

She picked up her cellphone and tried calling Kyle. He wasn't answering the phone. Must be asleep already, she thought, so she just texted him.

Ui, malapit na akong umuwi! Basta text kita. Tawagan mo ko pag nakuha mo 'to.

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