The class was finally over for the day and now Ga Eul found herself walking side by side with Yi Jeong. There were no words exchanged, none since they had left the classroom. He had sat with her and her students until the final bell. He had taught them how to roll the clay and laugh with them. He had even answered their many, if not endless questions. He had done so patiently and he hadn't even brought up the blunder earlier where her student had asked an unnecessary question and embarrassed her in the process. "About..." Ga Eul began and stopped when she realized Yi Jeong had started to speak as well. Awkward, was the best term to describe the situation they were in.
"Ladies first," Yi Jeong said, allowing Ga Eul to speak her mind. Watching her anxious was not a sight he was hoping to see. He was looking forward to see her smile, hearing her laughter but so far he hadn't dared to hope for more. Ga Eul nodded, she was fiddling with her fingers trying to form a proper sentence in her head. "About what my student said," She began, her palms were sweating and she was going down like a nervous wreck. She had pictured in her head a million times and not once had she pictured him walking into her class. She felt stupid.
"They didn't know what they're talking about," Ga Eul said, she was swallowing hard. She wasn't sure how Yi Jeong would react; he hadn't reacted to the statement at all. In fact, he had spent the entire evening talking about everything else but. It was Sweden this, the delicacy, pottery and many other things but how her student had referred him as her boyfriend. Ga Eul could feel her face burned remembering the scene. "That's fine," Yi Jeong stated causing Ga Eul to focus her attention to him, staring into his eyes. "They are kids after all," He added and it was not the follow up Ga Eul had wanted to hear but she didn't show her disappointment. She had gotten better to hide those.
"So, have you found your soul mate yet?" Yi Jeong asked immediately after, changing the subject was never a good sign. Ga Eul could feel her heart sank; it was like as if it had dropped to the bottom of the abyss. "Not yet," Ga Eul managed. Yi Jeong was still the same, she must have had put too much hope that when he should return to her that he would change. That he would run to her and kiss her worries away. She had hoped he would – She didn't know how many times she had hoped but she knew many of them involving him telling her that he felt the way she did.
"Good," Yi Jeong spoke again. Good? Ga Eul knew she shouldn't allow it, to hope but she did and she was sent crushing again. "You should have time to accompany me on my tour, it's been a while since I've been back and I'm sure a lot had changed," Yi Jeong added nonchalantly. It was as if he hadn't noticed what he was doing to her. It was like he was there to toy with her emotion. Ga Eul vowed to herself that she was not going to cry, no, she was braver than she was four years ago. She had waited for him and yet he still didn't return her feelings.
"I'm only available until the next good looking guy walk by," Ga Eul replied, trying her very best to pull a playful tone. She must have succeeded because as soon as she finished Yi Jeong started to laugh. She allowed him to continue to laugh and nurse her heart silently when she put on a show and laugh along with him. "There's a better looking guy out there?" Yi Jeong asked with his infamous lopsided smile playing on his face. Ga Eul couldn't quite catch her breath but she managed a reply nonetheless; "Narcissist," She stuck her tongue out and made a face causing Yi Jeong to laugh again.
"We're going to see Jan Di later today, Jun Pyo told us it would be important for us to be there," Yi Jeong stated, the mention of Jan Di's name lighten up the mood and sparked a sudden interest in Ga Eul. "Can I come?" Ga Eul asked before she could stop herself from doing just that and surely enough, it caused Yi Jeong to smile broadly. "Why else do you think I'm here?" Yi Jeong stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Oh! So that's why he's here. Ga Eul thought, she should have known better to hope that he was there to keep his promise to her four years ago. Ga Eul couldn't deny the fact that she was disappointed that he wasn't there for her.
"When are we leaving?" Ga Eul asked, not bothering to answer Yi Jeong's question. It was safe to talk about Jan Di and the impending trip rather than about him or her. It would only cause her to want more than he was willing to give which was nothing. Plus, she hadn't had the time to meet her friend lately, what with her classes and her teaching. Their usual conversation had been held over the phone instead of face to face as well. It was going to be great to see Jan Di again; it should take her mind off of Yi Jeong, at least temporarily.
"Now, my car's right over there," Yi Jeong said, pointing at the direction of a new made Ferrari parked just a few meters away from where they were standing. It was parked farther from the school, he must have taken the time to walk there and she couldn't help but felt slightly grateful he hadn't barge in with such expensive ride. She would never hear the end of who he was and what relationship they were having from her colleague if he had. She wouldn't know what to tell them, she wouldn't be able to answer the questions because she didn't know what he was to her. Was he a friend? He was too close to be one.
"Now?" Ga Eul snapped, finally processing her runaway thought. "I have to change, I've been with preschoolers all day you know," She stated, horrified at the thought of seeing her friend looking like a mess. Yi Jeong decided what Ga Eul said was funny and started to laugh. She looked beautiful but he couldn't tell her that, not without giving her hope of things he wasn't willing to offer. He was still unsure of his own feelings, himself at that. He had quit his womanizing days, in some ways he had remained faithful to her but it was not as easy to allow the words fall from his lips.
"I've sorted that out," Yi Jeong replied simply. She shouldn't be surprised, but she was anyway. It wasn't the fact that he could snap his fingers and get anything delivered even out in the wilderness. It was the fact that he knew her size. Saying that he had it all sorted out, it was like he knew her more than she knew herself. "Sorted that out?" Ga Eul asked suspiciously, inviting that mischievous grin on Yi Jeong's face. "Yes, I've sorted it all out, now come on," He answered with such great ambiguity that Ga Eul didn't know what to think. Yet, she allowed him to pull her along towards the car and sat in the passenger side when he opened it for her. She waited for him to close it and run around to his side before driving off.