Author's Note: I don't own anything! So don't sue me :P
Thanks for reading!
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Chapter One: Fantasy Failed
Yi Jeong straightened his bowtie for the 637th time. No, it's tilted too much to the left, he thought to himself as he adjusted the tie again. He took a few steps back, reflecting on his appearance in the mirror. He looked as good as he possibly could in black dress pants, a white collared shirt, and a black vest over it; a servant will always be a servant, no matter what type of tuxedos he adorned himself with.
He obtained a tiny vial of cologne from the shelf behind the mirror, a sample from Armani that his friend Woo Bin gave him. Even though they were both servants, Woo Bin had an extravagant lifestyle full of expensive suits and different types of caviar. Yi Jeong often questioned why Woo Bin didn't choose a different profession, but Woo Bin enjoyed wooing rich, married, and lonely housewives in exchange for generous gifts and pocket money. The thought of doing the same appeared in Yi Jeong's mind before, but he always dismissed the idea. Although he was an orphan, his master—Grandfather Chu—was kind enough to take him in, and taught him to be an honest person and live a straight life. In exchange for food and shelter, he offered his services, and worked in the Chu household ever since he could remember.
Random thoughts were appearing in his mind, clouding him from the task at hand. It was amazing what the brain could do when a person was nervous. He took a deep breath and poured a few drops of cologne on his wrist, spreading the fragrance on his other wrist before dabbing some on his neck. The cologne wasn't too strong, which was good, and it reminded him the refreshing scent after the rain.
He leaned in—his face so close to the mirror that he was making condensation appear—to check his complexion. Luckily, there weren't any stress-induced pimples that decided to make a last minute appearance, and he was very happy that he had a clear complexion. He stroked the edge of his straight bangs with his pinky, separating the few lagging strands of hair to the respective areas.
After a few more minutes of adjustments, he stood up straight to see how an entire night's preparation did for him. Looking at himself in the mirror, he had a flashback to twelve years ago, when he did the same thing, also for her.
Little Yi Jeong stood in front of the mirror, rolling up the sleeves of the dress shirt that was too big for him. He ran his hands under the running water and wet his hair, straightening his unruly hair for a few seconds before it bounced back into messy curls. Time was running out, and he had no choice but to abandon the sink and run for the front door.
"Aish!" Yi Jeong sulked as he dashed, the water evaporating as the wind hit him, dragging his hair in the air for an even bigger ball of curliness.
"Agasshi!" He had caught her right on time, before her small frame entered the black limo. She flipped her body around anxiously, and her once saddened face lit up immediately. The little rectangular suitcase was dropped, and she ran towards him with her left hand holding her beige sunhat in place.
In the final few meters of the sprint, she stretched her hands out in an embrace, and the sunhat took off, leaving her natural black hair swaying with the wind. The next thing Yi Jeong felt was a whiplash of hair in his face, and the scent of strawberry banana shampoo engulfed his nostrils. She had jumped on him, her legs clutching his waist and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"I thought you weren't going to see me goodbye," she whispered softly.
Yi Jeong tried to reply, but the pounding in his chest made it hard to talk. He had this feeling to lesser degrees when she was around, and only felt this intensity one other time, when they were on that mountain. Last time he blamed it on the hike and the cold, but he knew a second ago his heart was perfectly calm. His knees started shaking then, and he leaned backwards, hoping it would reduce the weight on his legs, but it only tipped his balance and they ended up falling on the concrete floor.
"Oh no! Jeongie, are you okay?" Ga Eul stood up and pulled on his arm to help him get up. She saw the dirt all over the back of his pants, and started to pat on the fabric to get the dust off. Yi Jeong took a step to his left instantly and pushed her hands away.
"Why what's wrong? Your pants got dirty!" Ga Eul looked at Yi Jeong with wide eyes, but he avoided her gaze, fully aware of the burning sensation in his cheeks.
"Ga Eul-ee! It's time to go!" Ga Eul's mother shouted from the car, waving her hand for Ga Eul to come over.
"I'll be right there!" Ga Eul shouted back. "Jeongie, I guess we'll see each other later. Don't forget my promise okay? Pinky-swear."
Ga Eul held out her pinky for Yi Jeong to take, and he reluctantly linked his pinky with hers, and pressed their thumbs together for the "stamp of promise". He still didn't look at her, in fear that the tears of separation would come when he saw her cute face. They stayed with their fingers interlocked for a few seconds as Yi Jeong shuffled his feet nervously. He finally reached inside his pocket and pulled out a toy car.
"Something to remember me by," he muttered and shoved the car into her hand.
"But it's your only toy!"
"I don't need toys anymore, I'm going to be a man, and work hard." So I can take care of you later on. He was too embarrassed to share his thoughts with her, but he would inform her once he becomes a man.
"Oh, okay." Ga Eul nodded and rubbed the orange plastic frame of the car with her thumbs.
"It's a Lotus, I hope to own it one day."
"Oh, okay." Ga Eul twiddled her fingers a little more, wondering if he would say or do something.
"Ga Eul-ee, we're going to miss our flight again!" Ga Eul's mother called again.
"I guess this is goodbye then." Ga Eul sighed.
"I'll miss…" Yi Jeong and Ga Eul said simultaneously, and Ga Eul broke into a giggle. She threw her arms around his neck once again, but before he could reciprocate, she had pulled away already. As she ran for the car, she turned her head back and waved at him with the toy car in her hand. "I'll see you in a few years Jeongie!"
Yi Jeong had wanted to reminisce more, but the hammering on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Yo Yi Jeong! Can you stop being a girl in there and come out already? How long have you been in the bathroom? Do you want someone to help you do your hair?" Woo Bin teased from the other side of the bathroom.
Yi Jeong swung the door open, gave Woo Bin a threatening glare, and continued down the hallway for the main entrance.
"Hey I was just kidding you know! I just didn't want you to miss your special girl's homecoming. You've waited for this day long enough." Woo Bin started to head in another direction when he received instructions from the earpiece. "You go enjoy your moment. I'll have to pick up something for her."
When Woo Bin disappeared from the view, Yi Jeong felt safe enough to take out the old and broken pocket watch that Grandfather Chu gave him when he took him in. It no longer told time correctly, but it was Yi Jeong's first piece of possession, and it gave him an excuse to procrastinate during the rare occasions when he felt lazy. He also kept the watch because there was a picture of him and Ga Eul attached to the hunter case. Grandfather Chu had taken this picture on his 60th birthday, a special day for Yi Jeong too, and Yi Jeong had kept the two items together to remind himself of the important things in his life.
A small smile escaped the corner of his lips when he saw the picture, Ga Eul wearing a yellow sundress and linking her arms with Yi Jeong, who had his oversized uniform on as always. Yi Jeong wondered how Ga Eul would greet him: would she approach him, showcasing her slim but strong legs, and give him a handshake; or would she run towards him and jump on him again? He looked around to make sure no one was there, and quickly flexed his arms to double check that his muscles were still there. Ever since he fell when she jumped on him the first time, he vowed to work out enough so he could support her, unless she became obese, but he didn't want to toy with that idea.
Finally he reached the twin doors encased by white frames, but there was already a crowd. Even Gu Jun Pyo, the snobby rich heir from the mansion next door joined them with his handful of personal servants. Somehow, Yi Jeong managed to squeeze through, and he stood next to Jan Di, one of Jun Pyo's servants that he had played with along with Ga Eul. He could have sworn he saw Jun Pyo sneak an arm around Jan Di, but he could spare no more time to look because everyone started to shout about the incoming car.
Just hearing their uncoordinated yelling about the car was able to get his heart pumping. He focused his attention at the gate and saw a heavily tinted black car approach them, and even though it was driving at moderate speed, he felt like someone had pressed the slow motion button in his world, and the sedan scaled the small slope at snail speed.
After what seemed like forever, the car stopped before them, and Grandfather Chu came out of the side farther away from them, which meant Ga Eul was going to be looking straight at him very soon. He swallowed, even though his mouth was completely dry, but if he didn't his heart may jump out.
Ga Eul turned the door handle and pushed the door open to be welcomed by more of the Seoul sunshine that she missed so dearly. The air may not be as clean as Sweden's, but there was something magical about it. Slamming the door behind her, she stared at the crowd that gathered before the door. She scanned each person, looking for her favorite Jeongie, but her forehead formed a frown when she didn't see a man with curly hair.
Yi Jeong wanted to look away, or try not to appear like a creeper by staring at her so intently, but he couldn't pull away. She was exactly like how he imagined her—a beautiful woman with a hint of childish charms. He could tell by the way her eyes moved among them; it was the exact same look he remembered from so many years ago.
Ga Eul pursed her lips, refusing to believe that her best friend from childhood didn't come to see her, especially since they had pinky-swore. Maybe he is fulfilling his army service, Ga Eul thought as she ran through each person's face again, determined to find him. Her eyes landed on Yi Jeong and saw that he had a different expression as everyone else. The others appeared either excited or curious, but there was anxiety, and almost fear in his eyes. It can't be Jeongie can it? He's far too handsome to be Jeongie, and looks stronger than Jeongie too.
Ga Eul decided to get the dirt on the new hottie from Jan Di later, but for now she must perform her signature greeting. Putting a devious smile on her face, she once again held her beige sun hat in place with her left hand and ran for Jan Di.
Her smile and her moves were too familiar to Yi Jeong, and because Jan Di was standing in such a close proximity to Yi Jeong, it looked as if she was running towards him.
When Ga Eul stretched her arms and let the hat fly away, there was no doubt in Yi Jeong's heart that she was going to jump on him. He lifted his arms a little to catch her, and closed his eyes in anticipation for the hair whip, and wondered what shampoo she switched to. Yi Jeong's idiotic smile grew even bigger when he smelled the same strawberry banana scent, but the wind simply rushed past him, and the next thing he heard was Jan Di yelping very loudly.
"Jan Di-yah! It's been so long!" Ga Eul exclaimed, smothering Jan Di until breathing was difficult. The jump was also very strong, and if it weren't for Jun Pyo supporting Jan Di from behind, Jan Di would have flopped down on her butt for sure.
"How many times do I have to tell you I do not appreciate this type of hugs? A normal one would get the message through just fine," Jan Di said when Ga Eul jumped down, and she rubbed her chest to smooth out the blockage of air.
"Ah… agasshi…" Yi Jeong had been mouthing the word for a few seconds, but only now was he able to bring the sound up to a whisper.
"Hmm?" Ga Eul turned to the handsome servant next to Jan Di, still looking a little shocked, but this time his face was ten times redder. "I haven't seen you before, but I suppose a lot of servants come and go. I'm Ga Eul, what is your name?"
The last few words turned Yi Jeong's apprehension into shock. He had fantasized about various greetings, but this was definitely not one of them. Did she forget who I was?