Rules of A Forbidden Romance

S

anned from the past and prepare for the

EPUBLIC OF

0 P

tinuing to walk. I looked at my phone to see the time and I still had an hour and a half left before I cou

ht need to ride a taxi going to this hotel in Seoul. But,

simple businessman. He is the founder of the famous Seoul Arts and Design Institute – a university focusin

er the course of Multimedia Arts. Now that my mom is in love again – and I'm not mad about that –

ht now, preparing for the quick wedding ceremony between her and her fiance. It's a good thing Mr. Woo-jin is

hat busy or eve

s the quickest public transport next to taking cabs. In only an hour, I will be in the heart of Seoul. But, even t

ed that it was pretty dark, so I decided to contact my mom. She wasn't answering my call. I decided to send

ays happens when I feel scared of something. Since this is my first time coming to a different country, I will admit that I'm pretty anxious about my surroundin

om behind. It was a man, a mature one wearing a suit. He looks like a businessman and he began talking to me in Kor

gestured as I spoke to him. I actually got

me in English. His pronunciation is not t

not from

Yes. I'm no

se before realizing that I actually needed a bit of h

aimed. "Yes.

olling on the screen before showing it to the man.

if he was focused on what I was showing him

as trying his best to analyze how he would tell it to me in

My jaw dropped while listening and staring at him. I just wish I could understand what he

can't really understand what you were

o me. "Come with me. I w

sed to go is stressing me. So, I carefully followed him and we walked a little far off from the main

hought that this car might kidnap me, so I quickly walked away following the man who was trying to help

he road's

me into an alley, the reason for m

oing?" I asked

wly, approaching me, closer and closer like a perverted man. His

!" I begged him, but

call for help. So, I quickly stood up before trying to run across him to esc

for help, but he sud

ously not in English, the reason I couldn't understand anything he said. That kept me from knowing what to do in this kind of situation. I don't even

is my

ld help me. But, this is the real world an

GH

he was no longer standing in front of me. I don't know what ha

t right? He spoke to me in English! But, before I could even answer him, he just

ued catching his breath. Based on his features, he looked young and he seemed like a university student. He also w

you o

's because I'm surprised to see so

you h

s pan

er finally getting my full attentio

talking to someone who wasn't even listeni

okay," he said. "You wer

d. But, when it came to the point of feeling

ied, still staring at him. I kept

his waists as he started to look around the

m supposed to look f

ittle bit intimidating because of the wa

el?" He as

ing is a posh hotel in a contemporary

de via Lotte World. It would be faster if you

o book. There's no available ride. I ha

t his wristwatch. "I

HA

ngue as he put his hand

can't be late! I don't want

nly grabbed my arm as we look

uh

hen I realized he was also grabbing my luggage. We just ran and ran like someone was ch

e to sit. We sat beside each other as we pant continuously, then we accidentally loo

ing with him. "Why d

ust can't let you go by yo

while staring at him. Is he so

out me?" I asked hi

for a short time. "W-Worried? Not really

t him. I can see that he's feeli

be in my conscience if I ev

im. "May I kn

light surprise in his ey

im. "So, that means

you?" He smirked. "Well, s

ame lingered on m

y become nice to me. They told me that I might get scammed if I continue with that kind of habit. But, I couldn't help

ame." I looked back at him and

," I

? Is that even a name?

A," I r

ing, it should be pr

nounced as EYE-lah. Just like

nspired from the islan

ountry has 7,107 islands. And my name m

invested in giving you a rare na

the bus window. There are so many people outside their h

why are you g

already looking at me. "Today is

ddi

Korean businessman she met in our home coun

you won't even bother coming here,

t help but smile. Is he tryin

smiling at?"

ing you this, but... I think

day with me and get to know me more for you to s

kindness he showed earlier

" I suddenly ch

abou

n Korea?" I asked. "Are yo

m Japan. I've been here for abou

at means you're fluen

d..." He suddenly scoffed

ing him. "Oh come on! You

en. I'm not even fluent in Japanese, so

"Well, I won't blame you. It must be d

spoken here unless you're a student fro

ternational school," I smir

s about to ask him which school he comes from, tha

both went out of the bus. We also found ourselves standing n

" I heard him say that, so I looked at him. "We still

told me that the hotel I'm looking for will only be a walking d

traveling alone?" I heard

m even though I have no one accompanying me to c

looked at him again and he was just

at all. Mostly, it's my life. Sigh... I think I just

ly reminisce about the painful scenario I witnessed.

aling, but now... I have done a selfish thing. I waited for a few seconds after giving him my res

I'm

ightly shaking my head.

continued walking like we were strolling o

dings." I looked at him as he suddenly spoke to me again. "The man earli

s.

preferably foreigners like you who are alone. It's a daily routine for people

lt f

ng about po

e to help you. I would admit since I saw you walking

g his heroic

ht in shining armor," I told him wi

tion. And when I looked at it, I was shocked to see bombard

?" I talked

rong?" I heard

one. "She's asking where I am right now becau

ne named Eun-woo?"

es left, even the previous ones. And I suddenly felt cold

y sh

is it

remain at the bus stop as someone will be fetching me. All I hav

n who is supposed to fetch you from the bus

Mizuki saved me from the perverted man in the alley. Was the black car tha

looked at my phone. "Wh

hat should I do?! I don't want to be scolded

m sure it's fine

cking. I'm just feeling anxious," I to

you so anx

is still there

ough not to realize they are waiting for such a long time and t

ght. And it would be an idiot of me if I still g

.m. when I last saw the time from my phone. I still have more time to prep

," I ca

at me. "W

him and I cannot deny the fact that I wanted to cry fo

xpression. It was totally different from the w

ant to find m

el

matter." H

friend and he wasn't comfortable with me yet. The time is almost up and we are now st

n go," he said. "It's n

ore turning his back from me, ready to walk away. But

, Miz

took him a few seconds before tu

g my life. Words are not enough

orry. I will see you again, and

tarted walking away. I watched him go further before I decided

i deaete

t understand Japanese. Should I ask him back? I don't know. He migh

ve met him. I can't believe that my first impression after seeing him was that he's a rude and

next time I wil