rate of Shin Hye’s heart increased tremendously upon reading what he wrote. She took a deep calming breath before meeting his eyes. “O-Of course. L-Love… is a kind of affection feeling that everyone should have. It could improve your mood and make you feel happy. It could…”
The remaining words were stuck in her throat when he suddenly moved closer, caging her in between the kitchen countertop with his arms. She looked up and his intense gaze took her breath away.
“It could what?” He asked, mouthing the words silently.
Shin Hye bit her lower lip and froze in place
Min Ho smirked at her nervousness. “Breathe…” He mouthed to her again, the same word she said to him on the first day they met.
Clenching her palms tightly in fists, she gathered all her strength and pushed him away from her. She can see that she startled him but she don’t care. She needs to run away from him before something happen.
Shin Hye quickly rushed out from the kitchen and inhaled deeply when she was standing at the living room. Park Shin Hye, stay controlled. You are a doctor. You are professional and you can’t let confused yourself. This is just a case you need to handle. He is a case that you need to settle. Her inner voice keeps reminding her inside. She almost jumps when Min Ho patted her arm, brought her back from her deep thoughts. She cleared her throat awkwardly as she pointed at the bag.
“Hmmm… I have another thing for you.” She said as she took the second bag that was still lying on the floor. Without waiting for him to ask, she held the bag up and walked towards the hallway, heading to his bedroom.
When Shin Hye stepped into his bedroom, she walked to the large window that was covered by the black curtains and put the bag down in front of her. She turned around and smiled at Min Ho who was already standing there looking at her.
“Since I’m your doctor and it’s my responsible to heal you, I think we should change to another method to make the therapy become more effective. I find that the pace of our therapy is very slow now. So this time, we will concentrate on your daily life and your surrounding. In order to pull you out from your imaginary dark world, we have to make some changes. And for the start, we should make a change with your apartment.”
A deep sigh escaped Min Ho’s throat as he crossed his arms, still staring at her. He can hear how she emphasized the word ‘doctor’ and ‘therapy’. She was trying to remind him and herself about their doctor-patient relationship.
Shin Hye took something out from the bag and held it up for him to see. “New curtain. Do you like this colour?” She asked with a smile. “Turquoise colour helps to open the lines of communication between the heart and the spoken word. It presents as a friendly and happy colour of enjoying life. This colour could recharge our spirits during times of mental stress and tiredness, alleviating feelings of loneliness. It also encourages inner healing through its ability to enhance empathy and caring. It heightens our intuitive ability and opens the door to spiritual growth.”
Min Ho didn’t quite concentrate on what she said about the curtain or the colour but his mood turned bad by every passing second when she tried so hard to maintain a certain safe distance between them. She knows it very clearly that their relationship is not as simple as just a doctor and a patient now. They can both feel the tension and intensity between them. She is avoiding it but he won’t let her escape.
He took a few steps forward and stopped right in front of her. He smirked when he heard a startle gasp came out from her alluring lips. She is very nervous but trying hard to stay calm.
“I don’t think you have the right to change anything in my apartment.”
Shin Hye gulped as she looked up to meet his darkened gaze. “Since I’m your psychiatrist and my responsible is to help you, I have every right to do anything that will make you better. We have to work together and you have to cooperate with me in order to make this work.”
He let out a soft chuckle before he wrote on his notepad again.
“I like the idea of working together. If I agree to cooperate with you, will you do the same too?”
Shin Hye raised her brows in confusion. “W-What do you want me to do?”
“You said you want to make this work, right? Are you saying that you will do anything just to make me better? What if I tell you that the person who can make me recover is you? Will you give yourself to me?”
♩ ♪ ♫ ♩ ♪ ♫
Remember that you’re not alone
Even if the world always hurts you
♩ ♪ ♫ ♩ ♪ ♫
Shin Hye widened her eyes and held her breath. Park Shin Hye, stay calm. He is just trying to scare you.
“I… I will… help you with… counselling… We can…” She stuttered nervously as she keep taking steps backward.
“We can what?”
Min Ho’s gaze burned into hers as he walked forward, closing the gaps between them. As she keeps stepping backwards, he noticed the bed was just behind her. And before she could escape, he pushed her hard and both of them landed onto the bed together.
Shin Hye gasped loudly as she looked at him in shock. “L-Lee Min Ho-sshi… w-what are you doing?” Their position now is exactly the same like that night when he pinned her under him on the chaise lounge chair.
“W-What… are you doing?” She asked again when she didn’t get an answer from him.
Leaning his weight on his left arm, he threw the notepad on the bed, taking the pen and struggled to write on it. Damn. He cursed silently. He almost lost his patience and want to just speak to her. But he can’t. Not now. Not yet.
After he finished writing, he held the notepad up at her.
“You said you want to help me, right? Then help me.”
Shin Hye looked at him in confusion. “I-I’m helping you all this while. But… but you… you seems to misunderstand something.”
Min Ho inhaled sharply before he wrote again.
“Am I? Then why not you tell me what did I misunderstood.”
“D-Don’t.” Shin Hye shook her head, looking at him. Her eyes started to get teary. She felt overwhelmed by him and she couldn’t breathe. “You asked me not to cross your dangerous line and not to trespass your limit. But why are you doing the same thing to me now?” She bit her lip hard. “I’m scared.” She said in a shaky voice. “I admit I’m scared now. You are scaring me.”
A pang of pain hit Min Ho’s chest when he saw the tears forming in her eyes. He saw the fear in his eyes. He threw the notepad and the pen away from them as his hand slowly moved upward, cupping her jaw.
Let her go, Lee Min Ho. You don’t deserve her. Don’t drag her into your dark world. A loud voice was screaming inside his head. But… that voice is not strong enough to stop him. The desire of wanting her is so much stronger. Ignoring his inner voice, he leaned down to capture her lips with his. He expected her to resist but to his surprise, she didn’t.
Her eyes were closed the moment his lips touched hers. She hates herself for being so weak. She should push him away but the warmth of his lips stopped her from thinking straight. Her lips, her mind and even her heart were fully conquered by him.
When she didn’t push him away, he braved himself to deepen the kiss. Her sweet scent is driving him crazy and he couldn’t stop himself anymore. He brushed his tongue along her lips, teasing her. He gently nibbled on her lower lip, making her parted slightly and allowed his entrance. His arm circled tightly around her waist as he invaded the sweetness in her mouth.
After a long minute, they finally broke apart, both were panting heavily for breath. She slowly opened her heavy-lidded eyes and gazed at him. Her cheeks were burning in deep blush as she was still dazzled by the kiss.
Min Ho pressed his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes as his lips mouthed silent words to her.
♩ ♪ ♫ ♩ ♪ ♫
Even when you feel lonely or sad, don’t cry
I’ll wordlessly hug you, I’ll listen to you
Look back, I’ll be here
I’ll wipe away all your tears
Even all your loneliness
♩ ♪ ♫ ♩ ♪ ♫
“I need you. I want you.”
-------------------------------------------------------------
Preview for next chapter…
Min Ho: “I give you freedom to do whatever you want doesn’t mean you can go beyond the limit… beyond my limit!”
Shin Hye: “You can’t avoid the reality forever. You have to stand up from where you fall down.”
Min Ho: “Let go of me and mind your own business. You are just my psychiatrist. I don’t understand why you are doing so much.”
Shin Hye: “Because I care… because I care for you.”
Min Ho: “You don’t know what you are talking. You care for me just because I’m your patient.”
Shin Hye: “I care for you because you are…”
Min Ho: “If you dare to come any closer, you are going to regret for the rest of your life.”
~~~~~
So Eun: “You don’t need to come over next month.”
Shin Hye: “Why?”
So Eun: “Sajang-nim will be away to Paris for a month.”
Shin Hye: “But he didn’t tell me.”
So Eun: “He is your patient, not your friend. He doesn’t need to report anything to you.”
~~~~~
Shin Hye: “I think I’m not doing a good job. Instead of healing him, I might worsen his condition even more.”
Professor Kim: “Why did you think that?”
Shin Hye: “He seems to be running away from me.”
Professor Kim: “Because he is going to Paris for a month?”
Shin Hye: “How do you know he is going to Paris?”
Professor Kim: “He went to Paris every year around this time.”
~~~~~
Min Ho: “You are not suppose to be here.”
Shin Hye: “Why? I’ll stay very quiet and will not disturb you.”
Min Ho: “Every year around this time, my mood will be very bad and I can’t promise I will stay in controlled. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Shin Hye: “Have you forgotten my occupation? I’m a psychiatrist. I’ll know how to keep you in controlled.”
Min Ho: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If anything happen, you