Arthur's Note: My first fanfic online. ^_^ (So please be nice. LOL) I don't consider myself a good writer, but reading other SoEul fanfics have really inspired me. Hope you enjoy my take!

Chapter 1

"Happy New Year!"

The clock had just struck midnight and the Auld Lang Syne tune came on. Fireworks exploded in the sky as the sound of ohs and awes was heard from the crowd below. Champagne bottles were being popped open and drinks were being toasted. Families and friends were gathered around, laughing and celebrating the new year at the lavish backyard of Jun Pyo and Jan Di's mansion.

No one was paying attention to the couple that sat a few feet away from them. Yi Jung and Ga Eul had been cuddling each other in the same position for the last hour. Their eyes gazing into each other's soul. They had made a promise to be the last and first person to see each other as the old year leaves and the new year enter.

"Ga Eul," Yi Jung said in his husky voice. "Saranghae." He cupped one of her cheeks and gently kissed her lips.

"Nado saranghae, Yi Jung," Ga Eul kissed him back.

Yi Jung whisper into Ga Eul's ear some encouraging words of his undying love for her. She held him tighter at every word, worried that she may lose the only thing that made her heart beat.

When the party settle down and the fireworks was done, Yi Jung smiled and took Ga Eul's hand. He led her to the center of the crowd and one of the servants brought over his saxophone. Everyone got quiet and watched as Yi Jung held his saxophone and stood in front of Ga Eul.

"Ga Eul, I first played this song to you when you stole my heart. Now I'm playing it again because it belongs to you forever," Yi Jung said.

How can I not love this man? Ga Eul thought. She gave a heartwarming smile as Yi Jung began performing the same music he played for her the night of their pretend date at the nightclub. Her heart flutter at each note and she reminisced how she fell head over heels for this handsome man who captured her heart with his charisma, smile, and touch.

She had waited patiently for him during the three years he went to study and improve his pottery skills in Sweden. She trusted he will come back for her and even rejected some men when they asked her out. Her parents got worried for her not being in the dating scene, yet she assured them by using the excuse that she didn't have time for dating because her studies of becoming a teacher was more important.

She later question herself the last year of waiting for Yi Jung. Was waiting for him worth it? What if he came back and found her unattractive or different? What if he was too busy to even meet her? They had kept in close contact throughout the years with text and phone calls. However, that was never the same as seeing each other in person.

Ga Eul knew that falling for Yi Jung, came with baggage. He was a drinker, loved the party scene, and was a well-known playboy throughout the country of South Korea. He also grew up in a wealthy family and is an heir to the famous So Arts Museum. The museum is the most visited museum in South Korea and Yi Jung was to become the third generation to inherit the company. When people hear of the museum, they not only know of the artworks found in the building, they also know of the So family heritage.

Ga Eul's doubts on her relationship with Yi Jung disappeared the day he unexpectedly showed up at her job. Out of all the days, it was the day she was teaching her kindergarten students some pottery skills. His husky voice and enchanting smile at the door steps took her back to the first time she saw him. It only took a blink of an eye for all her feelings to come rushing back. He asked her out that night and they made love for the first time a month later at a secluded beach in JeJu island as the sun was setting.

That was six months ago, and here they are, still together, more in love than Romeo and Juliet. The crowd applauded as Yi Jung was done performing. Ga Eul was about to embrace him because he was too perfect, she needed to check if he was still human. But he held her hands before she could make her move.

"Ga Eul," Yi Jung said, gazing into her eyes. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Even my dreams are only of you. I want to see you every second of every day in every year. I want you to be the last person I see when I go to sleep and the first person I see when I wake up."

He got on one knee and looked up into her eyes. He can feel his heart thumping so hard. This has been a night he had been rehearsing in his head ever since he realized Ga Eul was the one. He didn't want anything to go wrong.

"You taught me how soulmates truly do exist. May you also teach me how soulmates can grow old together?"

Ga Eul nodded in shock. Her hands couldn't stop shaking at what was happening.

Yi Jung reach inside his pants pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. He held it up and open it, and a huge diamond ring was exposed. Ga Eul gasp along with the crowd.

"Ga Eul, will you marry me?" he finally said.

Tears swell up in Ga Eul's eyes and she felt like she was in heaven. "Yes," she choked out. "Yes!"

"Ga Eul! Saranghae!" Yi Jung jump up with joy into her arms. "Saranghae!"

They embraced and kissed passionately as everyone cheered them on with tears in their eyes. Another set of firework show came on in the sky. This time it was filled with colorful hearts and stars. Even though Yi Jung was the one that ordered this last set of fireworks, he couldn't keep his eyes off his new fiancee.

"You're so damn beautiful," he told her as their forehead rest against each other.

"And you're so damn sexy," she replied back.

Three months later, they had a beautiful and small wedding with their families and close friends at a beach in Bali. Sixteen months after their wedding, their daughter Yoo Eun was born.

Ga Eul thought Yoo Eun was going to make life much better for her and Yi Jung. Their daughter was a gift they created together and the joy the baby brought should only make them closer. However, to Ga Eul's surprise, Yi Jung became more distance. She notice that he wasn't smiling as much as he used to and he would often come home from work in silent.

At first, she let it go, believing that the inherited of the So Arts Museum and his new position as the president was the reason for his changed behavior. She believed it was only going to be temporary. Yet, a year later, his attitude remain the same.

Yi Jung spends half of the year traveling to different countries to give lectures, attend auction exhibitions, or have business meetings. Ga Eul thought those lonely nights was the problem for his behavior. She made the difficult decision to quit her teaching job so she travel with him. Yi Jung wasn't happy about the idea but she insisted it was best for their relationship. She even bribed him by giving him one of the best nights of his life. After their four hours strenuous exercise in bed, Yi Jung finally gave in to a tired, yet happy Ga Eul.

Traveling with Yi Jung seem to work and Ga Eul was pleased to see him smiling again. Even their sex life was becoming more better and often. But things changed when Yoo Eun was 19 months old. It was during one of Yi Jung's business trips to Los Angeles, California.

Yi Jung had two lectures at the University of California, Los Angeles and a forum to attend at an art convention. He had to cancel all the events because Yoo Eun got sick the second day they arrived. They spend the whole week at the hospital and even had to stay a few extra days, missing their flight home because the doctor had advised them that a sudden change in environment may cause Yoo Eun to get sick again.

It was the longest trip of their lives. They were hoping that during Yi Jung's days off from work, they can visit some of the popular landmarks the city had to offer. It was their first time in Los Angeles. Ga Eul had always wanted to walk on Hollywood Blvd and taste one of the burgers at the popular In & Out Burgers joint. Yi Jung wanted to take his family to Disneyland or relax at the Santa Monica beach. Yet, they did none of their plans because their mind was only focus on Yoo Eun.

When Yi Jung agreed to let Ga Eul travel with him, he also had Yoo Eun in mind to go with them. Sure, he can always hire a nanny to babysit their daughter. But the thought of leaving Yoo Eun for weeks end in the care of another person with neither of him nor Ga Eul around didn't sit well with him.

When they landed back in South Korea again, Yi Jung made it clear to Ga Eul that Ga Eul and Yoo Eun can no longer travel with him. He couldn't risk another scare like that, especially at a different country. It made Ga Eul upset and she pleaded that they should hire a nanny. But Yi Jung was having none of it. He even avoided Ga Eul for a few days because he didn't want to fall for another one of her tricks.

He told Ga Eul to go back to her teaching job, but she didn't want to. She was worried that going back, things may go back to their old ways again and that was the last thing she wanted. She later learn that it didn't matter if she have or a job or not. Within six weeks of not traveling together anymore, their relationship was back to Yi Jung being distance and Ga Eul finding ways to make it work out.

Ga Eul felt hopeless and wonder if she will ever see the Yi Jung she fell in love with. She has never felt so lonely.