Hey guys! So, I know this chapter is short but its really just a continuation of the last chapter as we enter into the final showdown. And the battle between a brother and sister who know each other better than the other believes. So, this has two more chapters and then I am going to do the multi-fic of Playful kiss.

I want to thank everyone for reading my stuff since writing has really helped keep me sane during this tumultuous time. And I sincerely hope everyone is safe and well!

Enjoy!

The blaring of his phone made him groan as he fumbled to answer it. Seeing Woo Bin's name, he answered with a low growl. "You better be dead."

"Hey bro." Woo Bin's voice sounded highly amused. "Sorry to wake you but uh—" He stopped to call out something with a laugh. "No, don't go play with the puddles on the road."

"Woo Bin," Yi Jeong rolled blearily. "What's going on? Who are you talking too?"

"Ga Eul, she's um," he laughed again. "She's drunk."

Yi Jeong bolted upright, fully awake now. "What?"

"Yeah." Woo Bin reached out to steady a fumbling Ga Eul with a smile. "She went out with some friends from school and apparently had one too many beers. My boys called me from the club in near hysterics."

"Beer?" Yi Jeong looked at his phone in shock. "How many did she have? Ga Eul can barely finish a glass of wine…"

"Three."

"Three?"

"Yeah." Woo Bin laughed. "Your girl is a light-weight."

"Three for Ga Eul is equivalent to our twelve." Yi Jeong reminded him with an astonished laugh. "What is she doing?"

"Hold on, I will send you the video."

Yi Jeong pulled up the video and snorted in disbelief. His girlfriend was stumbling ahead of Woo Bin and bending down to talk to the bugs on the sidewalk the same way someone might a crying child. Her voice was low and teary as she apologized for all the people who have stepped on their grandmothers. Then bolting upright and jumping around.

"Ga Eul," he heard Woo Bin call out in amusement. "What are you doing?"

"Jumping in puddles," her voice rang out giddily. "Rain, rain, come down and play."

"Uh, sweetie. We haven't had rain in days. There are no puddles."

"You," Ga Eul called out loudly as she spun wildly. "HAVE NO IMAGINATION. Oof!" She clung to a pole with a giggle. "There are two of you."

Yi Jeong shook his head, a deep grin on his face as he came back on the phone. "Let me talk to her."

"Ga Eul, stop playing with the puddles for a sec. Yi Jeong wants to talk to you."

"Yi Jeong," she squealed and grabbed the phone away from Woo Bin. "My Yi Jeong."

"Hey sweetheart." He laughed quietly. "Are you all right?"

"Uh-huh," She decided it was too hard to stand up right now, so she sat down in the middle of the sidewalk. And as passengers moved around her with judgemental stares, Woo Bin simply raised his eyebrow at them. "What? Haven't you ever seen someone sitting before? Go about your business."

"Ga Eul yang," Yi Jeong leaned back into his pillows with a grin. "Did you go drinking without me?"

"Just a little." She whispered that was more like a shout. "But I only had… uh, maybe this many?" She held up her fingers not seeming to realize he couldn't see her.

"Oh." He chuckled. "Well, did you have fun?"

"Yes." She stated emphatically. "But beer tastes gross."

"Then why did you drink it?"

"Because I-I—I forget." Ga Eul finished with a laugh before sighing dramatically. "Yi Jeong, I'm tired. I am going to go to bed now."

"Maybe let Woo Bin take you home first." Yi Jeong said with a snort and she nodded. "Okay, Yi Jeong."

He laughed softly and felt a wave of melancholy that he wasn't there to take her home himself. And realizing how sick she was probably going to be in a few hours, he winced. "Baby put Woo Bin back on the phone."

"Bin Woo," She called out tiredly. "Talk."

His friend laughed as he came back on the line. "Bin Woo here."

"Very funny." Yi Jeong said dryly. "I don't want her alone tonight. She is going to be as sick as a dog soon. Her stomach is not used to—"

"Don't worry." Woo Bin hauled her upright and began leading her to his car. "I am dropping her off at Jan Di's."

He nodded, guilt roaring over him that he wasn't there to hold back her hair and rub her back. "All right, but—"

"Ga Eul," he heard Woo Bin suddenly yell in alarm. "What are you doing?"

"I's hot."

"Uh, I better go," Woo Bin said hastily. "Before your girlfriend finishes stripping in front of the entire male population of Seoul."

Yi Jeong's eyes widened. "What? She's taking off her— Yah!" He sat up with a yell. "Chu Ga Eul, don't you dare!"

"I got it," Woo Bin promised with a laugh. "Don't worry."

"Just get her to Jan Di's," Yi Jeong moaned. "Please."

"I will. And I will call you once she tucked up for the night."

"Thanks."

"Oh," Woo Bin chuckled. "I am so going to enjoy teasing her about this later though."

"Ha-ha." Yi Jeong shook his head. "Thanks for getting her."

"No problem. She is probably going to regret this tomorrow."

Yi Jeong nodded as he hung up and fought with both hilarious amusement at his innocent Ga Eul drinking only three beers which meant she began talking to bugs and so much love for his country bumpkin, he could barely stand it. He pulled out his dresser drawer and stared at the black box he bought the first day he landed in Sweden. The constant reminder of what he was fighting for so hard here so that the next time his feet permanently touched down in Korea, this ring would be on her finger and she would never have sleep alone again.

"Do you think I've my wasted time with her?" Yi Jeong asked suddenly after almost two hours of silence. His hand gripping the steering wheel tightly as his dark eyes stared at the dark empty roads. "What do you mean?" Ji Hoo asked calmly. "Waste them how?"

"Staying in Sweden for four years." Yi Jeong snapped. "With a ring just sitting in the fucking drawer. Having Ga Eul fly out every couple of months for only a few days. Not telling I love her the moment I met her. Letting my grandfather dictate my schedule—"

"Yi Jeong," Ji Hoo interrupted with a shake of his head. "The F4 has a lot of sins in our past. But this one is not on us. The only one this lays on right now is Chu Dong Soo. He caused this problem by refusing to acknowledge his son or accepting his responsibility for this mistake. Even tonight, he kept shifting all the blame for Do Hyun Woo to his mother."

He gave his friend a pitying stare. "This wasn't your fault. And even if you had come home two years ago or already married to Ga Eul, Hyun Woo still would have sought her out for revenge."

Yi Jeong tightened his jaw with a short nod and returned his attention back to the road.

Ga Eul turned at the sound of her lock clicking open. Do Hyun Woo sauntering inside with a clap of his hands. "Well, Ga Eul are you ready?"

"Ready?"

He nodded. "To call Yi Jeong. We're going to have a little chat. I'm sure he's getting worried."

"Stop this Do Hyun Woo," Ga Eul whispered. "Please. We used to be friend—"

"I also used to think my father died in a hiking accident and my uncle was the best man on earth," he snapped harshly. "Things change."

"Then let me handle my father." Ga Eul begged fiercely. "If everything you are saying is true, do honestly believe I will let him keep denying you? Or that I would be so cold that I wouldn't try and help you!"

He stared at her and she scoffed through a heavy sheen of tears. "You don't know me very well then."

"Oh Ga Eul," Hyun Woo shook his head, his voice low with mockery. "Don't you understand… I don't blame our father." He leaned forward with a dark smile. "I blame you."

"I know."

"Good. So let's get this over with, shall we?"

She nodded. "But first," she balled her fist and landed a stunning blow to the center of his face, ignoring the shock of pain radiating through her hand and was pleased to see the low trickle of blood from Hyun Woo. "That's for threatening So Yi Jeong."

He touched his nose with a noise of humor. "Nice punch."

"I am not going to stand by and let you hurt him."

"You don't have a choice." He grabbed her arm. "Now come on. I want you to witness this."

"No." She started to squirm away but he tightened his hold painfully. "I would stop fighting, Ga Eul. Otherwise, I will lose my nice guy personality."

She glared at him. "You're despicable."

"And here I thought we used to be friends." He yanked her forward and she forced herself not to call out as he slammed her roughly into the wall. "Oh and one more thing." Hyun Woo said casually. "If you ever try to hit me again, I am letting Moon Sung Ho off his leash."

With her eyes glittering steely, she clenched her teeth tightly and let him propel her forward. Her heart beating wildly as she sent up a quick prayer that the ace up her sleeve would be enough.

They drove silently for a little longer before the dinging of his phone sang ominously. Exchanging looks with Ji Hoo, Yi Jeong quietly answered it. "Hello."

"So Yi Jeong," a cheery voice called out. "Sorry, it's taken me so long to get in touch."

Yi Jeong clenched his teeth. "Where's Chu Ga Eul?"

"She's… here." The voice laughed. "Don't worry. I won't let my boys touch her. Not unless we don't get our corporation."

"Listen to me carefully." Yi Jeong said calmly. "If you want money, just tell me how much. I will have it in your account before you finish the sentence. If you want some priceless artifact from my museum, I will personally box it up for you. But if you so much as touch a hair on her head, I will kill you. In ways that are so painful, you will be begging for death by the end of it."

"I'm sure."

"Woo Bin," Ji Hoo messaged furiously beside him, knowing he could track any calls on the F4 line. "Do you have them?"

"Keep them talking for three more minutes." Woo Bin said solemnly. "I almost have it."

"Tell me what you want." Yi Jeong snapped. "Now."

"Easy. I want your hands." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I want you to choose. You either lose your art or you lose Ga Eul."

Ji Hoo's head shot up as his friend only grinned darkly. "Is that it? Fine."

He swerved his car to the curb and slammed the brakes. His face set in determination and Ji Hoo suddenly understood why Ga Eul had been so desperate earlier to keep him out of this. The pain over Yi Jeong having to hurt himself in order to rescue her would be excruciating for the both of them.

"Don't, Yi Jeong."

The potter ignored, his voice oddly calm. "So, how would you like me to do it? Punch a wall? Slam something down on them?"

The line on the other end seemed surprised by how unaffected Yi Jeong appeared. "Well, this is slightly anticlimactic; I was at least expecting a gasp or slight hesitation over your choice." Hyun Woo sighed. "How boring. But I guess... slam something down on them."

"No." There was a loud female cry in the background. "Stop it."

"Aww." Hyun Woo said in relief. "There's my drama. Thank you, Ga Eul. I was getting worried."

"Let me talk to her." Yi Jeong said hoarsely. "Now."

"Oh fine." He heard shuffling and slamming of doors as Ga Eul finally came on the line. "No, Yi Jeong." She cried loudly. "You promised me."

"I am not letting him keep you." Yi Jeong shook his head. "I don't care about my hands."

"I do!" She turned to Do Hyun Woo. Tears strolling down her face. "Take me instead."

"No!"

She ignored the furious roar and focused her attention on her cousin. "I will do whatever you ask. Just leave him alone."

"Anything?" Hyun Woo asked slowly and she nodded. "Yes."

"Fine." He yanked the phone back from Ga Eul with an apologetic cluck. "So sorry. I will have to call you back. I just received a very tempting counteroffer."

"No, Ga Eul!" Yi Jeong yelled and she closed her eyes at the raw fury in his voice. "Stop this."

She didn't answer nor did offer up any resistance as her cousin's henchman grabbed her arm, yanking her back to her cell. Hyun Woo smiling at the desperation evident between the two. "You are a very devoted couple. I'm impressed."

"I swear to god," Yi Jeong growled. "I'm going to rip you apart."

"I'm sure you will try." Hyun Woo laughed darkly. "Oh… And tell Song Woo Bin who is currently tracking this call sorry but I stopped being stupid a long time ago. No doubt he is getting a signal for the docks and the only view of water we have right now is in my water bottle."

Ji Hoo threw his phone down in disgust since he knew they had just wasted their time. Yi Jeong though didn't physically react, his voice steady with rage. "No matter what Ga Eul says or does, you are to leave her alone."

"We'll see." Hyun Woo shrugged. "After all, having her disappear completely does have some appeal."

"I will kill you."

"Aww. So sweet." Came the mocking reply before the line clicked off and Yi Jeong stared at his phone in furious anger. "How dare she do this to me?"

"Yi Jeong," Ji Hoo said wearily. "Think like Ga Eul for a second. If you were taken against your will by a vengeful family member who wanted to seek revenge against you. So, he told Ga Eul to get you back, she only had to hurt herself… Would you let her?"

Yi Jeong didn't even bother to answer and Ji Hoo dipped his head in agreement. "You can't ask her not to love you as much as you love her."

He turned his head and the cold stare was almost as dark as the heavy night sky. "He wanted me."

"No." Ji Hoo whispered. "He just knew her weak spot. Even if you were to break every bone in your body right now, he still wouldn't give her back. He has officially lost something when it comes to Ga Eul. He is not rationale, Yi Jeong… It has nothing to do with you. This is about her."

"He thinks I will eventually hate her." Yi Jeong whispered in realization. "That if he takes away my hands, I will blame her for it." He scrubbed his face roughly. "Ga Eul is mine. I love her more than… I don't care about my hands."

Ji Hoo nodded. "He doesn't understand that. That's why he's taunting you. He doesn't understand that it won''t matter where he goes or what he does, you will never stop until you find them."

"And he can give me his ass of an apology himself after I drop his broken body in the river." Woo Bin said suddenly from the window with a dark smirk. "I don't like people who believe they can outsmart me on a normal basis. Also, he is not nearly as smart as his sister, who by the way, I really should stop training so well."

"What do you mean?"

"I wasn't tracking his call…" The mafia prince grinned. "Ga Eul left her phone on. The one she stole and called from earlier. She kept the line open for us to trace. I just needed a starting off point and the minute this punk called you, it dinged their mutual satellite." He slapped the hood. "I got her."

Yi Jeong immediately climbed out the driver seat as Woo Bin slipped behind the wheel. Ji Hoo hurrying to jump in next to Gu Jun Pyo who didn't even bother to stop completely as the doctor slid through the open passenger window.

"You will have two minutes," Woo Bin told him as Yi Jeong pulled on his gloves. "Before the cameras flip and the guard spots you."

"I won't need two minutes." Yi Jeong swore as the warehouse finally came into view. Hyun Woo was holed up hours outside of the city in a remote pice of land surrounded by woods so it was not visible unless you were looking for it.

Yi Jeong felt a sudden rush of new fear pass through him at how easy it would be for Gal Eul to just have disappeared here without any of them ever knowing.

The worn-down building glared almost hauntingly at them as Gu Jun Pyo pulled up silently behind them waiting for their signal. Reading the layout and the best spot to attack, Woo Bin dipped his head. "Ready?"

Yi Jeong simply opened his sunroof and began climbing out as Woo Bin killed his lights. And with one silent leap, he was climbing the wall to the roof. Woo Bin smirked as his friends beat his personal record and disappeared over the ledge. "Show off."

Ga Eul sat in the darkened room, her dress ripped and dirty. Her heart beating wildly as she stared at the phone she had hidden in the loose plaster but her eyes were clear as she waited. And finally hearing the low shuffle of feet above her, she gave her first smile of the night. "Hello, Yi Jeong."