The Second Coming Of Autumn

Chap1 Kindred Spirits

A first attempt in writing. bringing out different shades in Ga Eul and Ji Hoo's emotions on Jan Di's engagement; personally, felt that both their characters and plot was underutilized. In this Yi Jung never made any promises to Ga eul

Please do Review.

13days before the proposal and Yi Jung's Return

7:45pm

Dr. Yoon Ji Hoo or prince charming as he was called frowned at the anonymous mail he had been receiving photos of abused children from one of the child shelters his family ran. Children below 15 had lots of bruises and hand marks and cuts. The problem was that the sender was anonymous and couldn't be tracked down. The abuser was smarter and there was no proof of his ministrations. His security, the guards, including the CCTV was clear. Taking the issue to his grandfather was out of question

Jihoo pinched the bridge of his nose, the caffeine in the portable container did little to ease his pounding head. It was not easy with a thesis waiting for desertion; management of the Yoon fortune and constant all-nighters were driving him insane. On top of all his call with Jun-Pyo, his best friend disturbed him. He had a vague idea of his friend wanting to propose Geum Jan Di. The commoner girl who caught the hearts of both the friends of F4.

He picked up his keys and shut the system off. It was going to be a one hour drive to the said shelter.

Sarah was a 12-year-old who slowly moved in the shadows of the children's shelter as quietly as possible. She had to get out somehow. She promised to save the young ones of the house. It started at random initially, the beatings were few and rare, but they grew to a point which had become unbearable. Right now, she was on the backside of the building, almost close to a partially opened gate. Looking around she spotted two guards talking to each other in a distance. Taking a deep breath, she dashed out onto the road after stumbling over a stool which alerted the guards. She ran as fast as her legs could carry. She heard shouts and threats behind her but did not stop and then slammed into a something and fell.

Chu Ga Eul was not having the best of luck that day. She returned home after 8 months of attending a course on child psychology. Fate had it and she caught the last flight home. Hailing a taxi home was not the wisest decision she made. Half the way she noted that the driver was driving through isolated roads. She panicked instantly as any woman would. Carrying only a sling bag and a hiking bag which weighed moderately. She took a deep breath and slowly slid to the right-side door. Spotting a patch of sand, she instantly reacted by throwing herself out of the car and rolled towards the trees. Scrambling up she ran into the woods with the driver on her pursuit. After 15 minutes, she came to a deserted road with minimal lighting. Fumbling she pulled out her mobile to see it out of battery. She cursed – "Great. What a fucked-up day". It was then a little package slammed into her. She switched her torch on and immediately realized that something was wrong, the child had burn marks, torn clothes and a black eye.

She heard footsteps of more than one person running towards them. Her instincts kicked in; grabbing the girl she ran for a second time that night. She carried the girl on her hips. Maternal instincts of the said woman held the little girl protectively and ran ignoring her own bleeding knees and palms from the previous encounter. Running into the trees she least bothered about the thorns scratching her, hair dragging leaves,twigs,mud and everything else.

That moment of aderline finally shortened as she spotted a car coming on the road.

Ji Hoo was finding it very hard to hold the vehicle in his tired condition. A figure suddenly jumped on the road and he hit the brakes. He jumped out to check on the stranger.

Ga Eul- "Ji Hoo Sunbae. Thank god…" Relief very evident in her voice.

Ji Hoo took a minute to recognize her- "Ga Eul shi?"

A little voice interrupted the minute- "Dr. Yoon."

His blood froze as he saw the condition of the little girl. One second he was seeing her, the next minute calling cops and his buddy Song Woo Bin. What seemed like hours took a tad lesser time. The shelter was raided and culprits arrested (more of this in subsequent chapters). The highlight was that all the kids had surrounded Ga Eul and refused to budge away from her. The night spent by providing first aid to many children. When Ji Hoo came to he was asleep on the chair with a sour neck and throat. His feet and hands ached. He picked his glasses farther away from the table and spotted her on the sofa.

She was fast asleep with her bangs rolling on her cheeks. Features soft and serine. Her bandaged palms on Sarah's head. Another kid on her right side. Ji Hoo accepted that the woman being there yesterday was a blessing in disguise. He had nearly killed the culprit when she hugged him from behind. She spoke in a soft and firm tone asking him to remember that he had little eyes watching him. He did not know what exactly, her very touch had soothed him and voice calmed his senses. Woo Bin's men except for two had run to catch multiple others in the forest, coming back to the present he took her sleeping form in. Gone was the innocent and naïve country bumpkin mentioned by Yi Jung. Before him was a brave and daring woman, who saved a kid despite her own personal misadventure.

A few days later.

Ga eul stepped inside to hear shouts of welcome from the kids as she walked Ji Hoo. She had offered to watch over the kids and give physiological counselling to the kids seeing how welcome she was with the children. Ji Hoo sat looking at managerial documents on the couch when he heard it, a melody. Being an instrument player himself he walked to the next room to see Ga Eul's finger gliding angelically over the keys. The notes were vibrant with a small hint of sadness and longing. It clearly reflected his own state of mind. While his own heart longed for Jan Di his head stopped it with logic and friendship.

Vaguely he heard his brain telling that he had not sought out Jan Di once in the last week. His mind went to a conversation they had a few days ago.

Ji Hoo-" Ga eul thank you for all of your help the past few days."

Ga eul-" Sunbae I would have done it for anyone. The kids did not deserve to go through any of the trauma they did.

Ji-" What are you doing next?"

Ga-" Have applied to be a teacher for primary school including Shinwa but no response as of now."

Ji-" I have a proposal no more of a request and help"

Ga-" Please let me hear it"

Ji -" You saw how the kids are towards a new person coming in right. I want you to take up the managerial activities and teaching the students. We will recruit helping hands once the kids get better physically and mentally."

Ga Eul-" What is the package details?"

Chu Ga Eul had started working for The Yoon group. She barely held a personal conversation with Ji Hoo but gave him his personal space but however kept an eye on his activities. She would be silently monitoring his sleeping patterns. Despite the dread of the upcoming heart break ,Ji Hoo found himself distracted for large periods of time. Ga Eul was a very hard working woman and brought about a lot of innovation and calm to both the children and him. Her coffee was a killer and Ji Hoo found his tongue addicted to it instantly after the first time.

It was a very slow and gradual but some kids still had nightmares and panic attacks due to the past events. She tirelessly worked with them and slowly the dark clouds covering them begin to fade.

On the day of Proposal..

Ji hoo was numb to everything and anything. He walked slowly behind them as the remaining two play boys teased Jun Pyo. The pain made him want to cut his heart out but he did not as he was a coward.

The laughing and noisy group ignored the cat calls from the female nurses and doctors..They relaxed immediately entering into the private cabinet of one doctor Yoon.

Jun Pyo sat on the couch pulling Jan Di to him and asked-" So how is all your lives going?"

Song Woo Bin-" Speaking of which Ji Hoo ,what was the emergency in your shelter two weeks ago ?" He was out on business calls and could not look into the issue personally

Before Ji Hoo could answer a pint size package rushed into the room and jumped on Ji Hoo. The group looked questioningly at the white prince when a female voice called out-" Sarah how many times have I told you not to disturb a doctor?"

In Yi Jung's eye An angel stepped in, She was beyond beautiful with a light complexion, big eyes and pink lips. An hour glass figure with brown curls .She was dressed in a white dress that came up to above her knees. Matching heels on her feet with a anklet on the left and a star tattoo on the right ankle. His heart begin to beat louder and faster and all he could see was the enchantress in white.

" Ga Eul" Jan Di got up with happiness and leapt to hug her .This broke the trance they were all in. The two playboys couldn't believe their eyes at the girl who was Jan Di's best friend. Ga eul hugged Jandi and congratulated her on her engagement when Ji Hoo broke the trance.

Ji Hoo-" Ga Eul what are you doing here?"

Ga Eul immediately straightened and spoke-" Dr Yoon,there is something that might interest you with correlation to the activities of previous management. So if you would please." None of the others could make out the connection and wondered how Ga Eul was acquainted with Ji Hoo.

Jun Pyo-" Can't it wait, we need to catch up on a lot." In his usual arrogant tone, ignoring Jan di's glares

Ga Eul -" I am sorry but it is very urgent" she walked to Ji Hoo ,caught his wrist and begin to walk out with the kids following them.

Woo Bin spoke only one phrase-" What The Hell is going on?" The remaining members looked equally clueless

The only sound one could hear was the waves crashing on the stones and Sea Gulls .The children ran back to the group playing football ,on noting it Ga eul relaxed her grip and spoke-" Sunbae are you okay? You know I am a good listener and I don't mind you yelling , screaming or doing anything else." Ji hoo stayed silent and unseeing.

She continued-" I am not your friend and that I know but I can be concerned about you even if we are professionals but also because more than anything I know the hell when the person you love ,is madly in love with someone else..Trust me I have been in your place just not long back. Stop bottling it and let it out I won't judge you any way ". A tug was what she felt and the next moment Ji Hoo had hugged her .His face buried into her neck Her hands stroked him softly and gently. He let it out ,unable to bottle the pain eating him from inside. Ji Hoo had seen the concern in Ga Eul's eyes and tried to brush it off as pity but not any longer. It looked like hours but she was just there listening to his sobs and anguish. The hug was not something as intimate as lovers or familial bonds did, not of force but of plain support and understanding. The waves washed the shores trying to remove the pain.

Unaware of the fact that a certain potter was watching the interaction with his fists clenched tightly and anger in his eyes.

Can I continue this here? Updates will be a bit slow.