A/N: Whoo, second chapter out. Progress is made. For anyone who's reading this, thank you for staying patient with me. Apologies for any ooc portrayal, or any mistakes with any BOF knowledge or certain Korean words I added. I'm not very good at Korean, although I'm in the process of studying it when I can. This chapter is abrupt & I'm sorry for not posting a more interesting one, although I hope for it to get better soon. There is only one scene in this chapter, with Jan Di's POV. The next chapter should have more than one. Enjoy.
Also, I have not written a fanfiction in a long while, so my sincerest apologies for any rusty writing, and poor execution of the story/plot and emotions.
Ring - Ring - Ring!
"Nn.. Kang San.. An.. Answer the door.." mumbled Jan Di. Sitting at her desk, arms folded on the flat surface and head nestled comfortably atop them, Jan Di groaned at the obnoxious ringing of the door of the cheap apartment they rented out. "Kang San..!" she groaned again to her brother, sighing heavily when she received no response. For a few moments, the ringing went silent, and Jan Di almost felt relieved that it was quiet again..
Ring - Ring - Ring!
"..Huh.." She jolted upwards in her seat, wincing slightly at the small amount of pain that shot through her shoulder for sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. "Ahh.." She screwed her eyes shut and massaged her shoulder temporarily before getting up out of her wooden chair; heading to the door in a stumble - walk, clearly drowsy if it weren't already obvious enough. And she carefully moved past Kang San who slept on the floor. If one of them had to wake up to answer the door, then the other should remain asleep. The two of them didn't need to suffer together. With eyelids slowly closing subconsciously, Jan Di didn't even bother asking who it was before she opened the door.
"..Mm, hi.."
"..Jan Di?" A familiar voice murmured her name. The voice sounded almost amused, although she brushed that aside and ignored it; probably because she was too tired to even think properly.
"Mhmm.."
"You really shouldn't answer the door without knowing who it is. Were you sleeping?"
"Nah.." she mumbled with a faint smile across her lips, eyes still closed. It was like she was sleepwalking. Or rather, this was like a dream itself. It was hard to tell the difference between reality and dreams now. "I.. I've been awake for some time.." she spoke, yawning as she stretched out her arms and scratched the side of her head. "Are you sleeping..?"
"..Geum Jan Di." A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders firmly. "Open your eyes."
"Hmm..?" Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, still in a dreamlike state. At first her vision was blurry, and the figure before her was unclear. Soon enough her vision did clear, and she realized that it was none other than Yoon Ji Hoo. It was only then she realized what was going on, and her eyes widened in surprise. "Sunbae! What.. What brings you here?" She gave an embarrassed grin, her cheeks heating up at the conversation the two just had.
"You haven't gone to the clinic lately, have you?" Ji Hoo asked her, keeping a serious expression.
"Ah.. I haven't.. Did harabeoji tell you that?"
Ji Hoo nodded in answer to her question. "Yeah, he mentioned how everyone's been asking for you." Jan Di frowned a bit, feeling a tad bit guilty for not being there to help him - especially with his condition. It must've been overwhelming.. It was almost as though Ji Hoo noticed the guilty expression that now took place on her face, as he offered her a faint grin of reassurance. "I'm somewhat relieved you haven't volunteered there lately." Blinking, Jan Di glanced at him with a confused yet curious look. He immediately continued with his thought, "You overwork yourself, don't you? I'm relieved you're taking time off. You need it to focus on your studies."
"Overwork..? It's nothing like that! But I do suppose.. I need to focus more on my work.." She admitted quietly, lowering her gaze away from his.
Without her notice, Ji Hoo peered into her apartment and over at the desk where a pile of work sat. The pushed out chair and open book indicated that she did in fact stay up a majority of the night again, working instead of sleeping.
"Ah, sorry Sunbae!" She finally realized she was being rude by not inviting him. Quickly she stepped aside to allow him to enter her sad excuse of a home. It was almost embarrassing to invite him into such a place unfit for someone of his standards - although he was willing to experience different things; much like like all of F4 was. Ji Hoo - with his delighted smile - entered her 'humble abode'. "I wasn't expecting guests.. Sorry for the mess." Jan Di nervously rubbed her neck as she made her way over to her desk; plopping down onto her seat while glancing at her younger sibling who slept on the floor still.
"How is he doing?" Ji Hoo asked suddenly, eyes on Kang San.
"Kang San..? He's doing well! School's never been easy for either of us, but we're making it work.." she spoke quietly, also resting her gaze on her younger sibling. Simply by staring at him as he slept, she felt her chest tighten. No child should have to live in such conditions, let alone without their parents. No child should have to work like he did.
Kang San.. I'm sorry..
Sorry I can't give you a better life. I'm sorry mother and father are unable to be here for you. I'm really sorry -
...That you have to suffer.
It was upsetting. So much was wrong yet it was normal for most people. Ji Hoo must've noticed her sudden change in mood, because before she knew it, he was directly beside her, hand firmly resting atop her shoulder.
"Jan Di.." he began quietly.
"Don't worry Sunbae. I'm fine - Kang San is fine, isn't he? That's what matters.." The last thing Geum Jan Di wanted to do was bother her senior in such a way. He didn't come for a pity party, or anything like it. "I'm glad that Kang San at least has a place to sleep. I'm grateful for that."
Suddenly a yawn came from Kang San as he rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes. "Noona?"
"Yes, Kang San?"
"Who are you talking to..?" he mumbled sleepily, clearly not entirely awake. A small chuckle came from Ji Hoo, who had attempted to stifle it.
"I suppose it runs in the family?" Ji Hoo teased Jan Di, grinning faintly as he glanced over at her; clearly amused.
Her cheeks flushed lightly as she folded her arms across her chest. "No! Well, I mean.. not necessarily.." By now, Kang San was fully awake. His eyes, however, were focused on Ji Hoo; his mouth agape. Jan Di tilted her head to the side slightly, blinking. "Kang San..?"
"J-J-J-Ji.. Ji Hoo.."
Oh.
She almost forgotten her brother had yet to grow used to seeing Ji Hoo - or any of the famous F4 males for that matter. By now, Jan Di had already grown used to being by their side. When she wasn't, it almost felt abnormal. But that was because she attended Shinhwa Highschool. Of course it'd be different for her sibling, whom only met the well-known and talented Yoon Ji Hoo.
"Kang San," greeted Ji Hoo as he gave a small wave to her younger sibling.
"Wh-what is he doing here, noona?" Jan Di suddenly looked over at her friend in curiosity yet again, only just now realizing even she did not know why he had visited.
"Ah, I was going to ask your sister if she wanted to go out for a while."
Kang San's eyes widened and he immediately moved onto his feet, grabbing his sister's wrist and dragging her out of the chair and into the opposite side of the room. Upon doing so, Jan Di gave a small yelp out of surprise as she was dragged away from her friend. Even though the distance from Ji Hoo wasn't much, it was enough for Kang San apparently. He motioned for her to lean down a little bit.
"Noona, are you dating Ji Hoo?" asked Kang San in a whisper-like voice, clearly trying to avoid Ji Hoo from overhearing. When Jan Di glanced over to where he stood, she noticed that he was giving them as much privacy as possible, devoting his complete and utter attention to the book on her desk; examining what homework she was exactly completing. "Are you?"
"..What? No, of course not! What makes you think that, Kang San?"
"He's basically asking you out on a date..!" Kang San argued, although their voices remained quiet. "How could you not notice?"
"Because we are just friends Kang San! Just friends! Get your mind out of the gutter, why don't you?"
"Are you going to go out with him?"
"Eh? No, I'm not - "
"Why not?!"
"Kang San - it's my job to watch over you while eomeoni and appa aren't able to!"
"What's a few hours, Jan Di!"
"Um, if I may.." began a voice behind them. Both Jan Di and Kang San glanced over their shoulders at Ji Hoo, who'd begun to approach them. "Kang San, if you'd like, you can come along. I'm sure you and Geum Jan Di are hungry?"
At the mention of food, Kang San immediately nodded. "Y-yes..!"
"Ji Hoo Sunbae.." murmured Jan Di.
"It's my treat." Ji Hoo smiled politely. "I couldn't take Kang San's sister out without him, now could I?"
"Right, right!" agreed Kang San suddenly. Jan Di smacked him lightly upside the head, scoffing faintly. "Ouch!" Kang San rubbed his head where she smacked him.
"Says the one who almost insisted I leave.." grumbled Jan Di, folding her arms across her chest. "Besides, don't I have to agree before you?"
Ji Hoo cocked his head to the side. "Then, Geum Jan Di, do you and your brother want to go out for breakfast with me?"
Jan Di was about to accept his invitation when she suddenly remembered she had to work at the porridge shop that very morning. "Er.. I can't, Ji Hoo Sunbae.."
He blinked, a little confused. "You can't?"
Kang San was just as startled as Ji Hoo; clearly surprised to have heard her decline such a wonderful offer. "Noona?"
"I have work today.. I'm sorry, Sunbae. I really want to.. But.."
We're short on money.
She didn't need to finish her sentence; it seemed he already understood by her disappointment. "I understand, Jan Di."
Kang San also looked a little disappointed. Jan Di bent over a little to her brother's height, resting a hand on his shoulder with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Kang San.. I really ruined your morning, haven't I?"
Before he could reply, Ji Hoo spoke up. "Kang San and I could still go out for breakfast, Jan Di." An arm was draped around her sibling's shoulder as he pulled him a bit close. "You won't have to worry."
At first Jan Di was about to object such a generous offer, but after seeing the pleading expression on her brother's face, she couldn't decline further. Instead she nodded, with a small smile curving her lips. "Thank you, Sunbae.. I'll pay you back."
"That won't be necessary. It'll be fun." Ji Hoo grinned again as he exchanged glances with Kang San, who was eager to start off the day in such a way. "We'll be fine. And we'll stop by as soon as we finish, won't we?"
"Yes!" Kang San exclaimed in agreement. "I'll get ready!"
Ji Hoo nodded slowly as he made his way to the door, hands in his pockets. "I'll be waiting outside, Kang San." Afterwards, he exited their home; leaving Kang San and his elder sister alone in the silence.
"Noona! Are you sure you can't tag along?" mumbled Kang San. "Ji Hoo did come for you, after all.."
"I can't. I need to make money for the both of us. But I can guarantee you that Ji Hoo Sunbae will give you a wonderful time," she promised, bending over and smiling. "Now get ready. You don't want to leave him waiting, now do you?"
Kang San nodded.
As he began to get ready, Jan Di moved over by the window to peer out of it. There, outside the door to their apartment, stood Yoon Ji Hoo; looking absolutely handsome in the morning sunlight. She bit her lower lip, her smile still expressed on her features.
Thank you, Yoon Ji Hoo. Thank you a lot for helping me..
A/N: Apologies for the abrupt ending. I understand it probably didn't flow smoothly.
