This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you. You are not alone. You are infinitely precious. And the trauma you endured is not your fault. Know that you are so loved. And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you. You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.
Rated M for Mature. This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.
To celebrate, Yoongi and Stasia went grocery shopping. They had to pick up butter, sweetened condensed milk, flaked coconut, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
“We have oil, flour, and brown sugar already,” Stasia noted before they left for the store.
It felt strange to walk around a grocery store with two bodyguards. At least today they were dressed in normal clothes. So she guessed it looked like she was hanging out with three buddies. But she and Yoongi were the only ones actually shopping. They each grabbed two items and made their way to the checkout stand.
After they got all the ingredients they still needed, Yoongi took her to lunch. She ordered bulgogi, and he got galbi. As they waited for their order, Yoongi studied her face. He knew that she was still waiting for a few more test results, but she looked younger. It was obvious that a huge load had been removed from her shoulders today. Her relief was invading his heart in ways he hadn’t anticipated. He realized that he really did feel connected to this girl. He liked her. A lot.
But he also knew that a good relationship had to be based on more than his rescue of her. So it was time that he got to know her. Outside of her problem. He cleared his throat.
“Tell me about yourself.”
She glanced up at him. “What?”
“You know…your dreams, your likes, your interests, why you came to Korea, why you stayed even when met with difficulty.”
“Um…” Why did she suddenly feel self-conscious? “I’m the youngest of three children, but my brothers are several years older than I am. My parents divorced when I was three years old. My brothers went to live with my dad. I lived with my mum. She and I have always been close. But I barely know my dad or my brothers.”
That explained a lot. She didn’t have much experience with men, apparently.
“I went through a rough time in my senior year of high school. I was bullied by some girls. I…I contemplated suicide for a while. My mom was working long hours trying to make ends meet. I barely saw her. I began to believe that her life would be easier if she didn’t have to take care of me. And the girls at school hated me so much. They were so cruel. They encouraged me to hurt myself. I…one day I bought a bunch of pills. I was getting ready to take the whole bottle when I found you.”
She took a deep breath before plunging on, “I was on YouTube, and Just One Day came up. You began to rap to me. I didn’t know at first what you were saying. I couldn’t understand Korean. But something about you grabbed me. So did the melody.
“I googled the lyrics once I’d watched the video through twice. And then I discovered why your presence had wrapped around me so compellingly despite the language barrier. Your words saved my life. You were the first man in my life to tell me I was precious.”
A tear invaded her eye as she quoted the lines that had become her lifesaver, “‘I appreciate the masterpiece that is you because your existence alone is art.’” Then she laughed. “For years I wore my straight hair long because of that song.”
Yoongi smiled. “I like your hair.”
“But it doesn’t reveal my neck because I don’t wear it up.”
Yoongi glanced at the back of her head. Then he turned towards her, and facing her, he ran his fingers through her hair lifting it up off her neck. “There. Yep. I can see it. You have a breathtaking neck.”
She shivered at his touch and laughed at his words. “Are you poking fun at me?”
“Hmm…only a little. Really, I’m touched that my words moved you that much.” His low voice was gruff with emotion. It was teasing all her nerves.
“They didn’t just move me. They saved me. Yoongi, you saved my life that day. I turned around and threw the pills into the trash can. You saved me. Now, you’ve done it twice.” She held his gaze while he sat, his hands still buried in her hair.
He wanted to kiss her again. He pulled her face towards his. Until their foreheads were touching.
“You move me, Anastasia. You move me so much. You are a masterpiece. Your existence is art. I’m so glad you didn’t take your life. Back then and now. I’m so happy you didn’t give up.”
His eyes traveled from her eyes to her mouth and back up again. It was obvious that he was drinking her in. His gaze had lingered on her lips for a few moments as his silence stretched on. She could feel the tension between them elongating, stretching to fill every void.
Then his eyes met hers in a blaze of longing as he murmured, “I’m so drawn to you. You make my heart ache. For things I’ve never given much thought to before.”
