Chapter 6

Ga Eul hefted the bag of groceries, trying to ignore the stabbing pain shooting up her arms. Her shins hurt from walking all the distance. On her way back from the grocery store, she'd missed the bus and was now forced to walk all the way home, a scenario she most certainly wasn't relishing. To add to her misery, thick, low-lying dark clouds were gathering in the sky and the wind was picking up speed, blowing dirt, dry leaves, paper and one persistent chocolate wrapper that just refused to get off of her.

The bags were getting heavier with each step and her arms felt like they were about to come off the sockets. The chocolate wrapper which was now lodged at the side of her neck was irritating her to no end and she kept trying unsuccessfully to use her shoulder to get it off. Then just because things weren't bad enough, little droplets started to fall on her.

"Oh for God's sake!" she cried out in frustration.

At that moment a car screeched to a halt next to her, surprising her a little. The back window rolled down and to Ga Eul's immense disbelief So Hyun Sub's face emerged from behind the tinted glass.

"Chu Ga Eul, need a lift?"

"Errm…," Ga Eul chewed the bottom of her lip, her mind and heart battling each other fiercely. Her mind said that she'd be wise to take the lift, she had quite a bit to go and the rain seemed to be increasing steadily. But her heart was warning her that she shouldn't get into the car.

"Get in Ga Eul," the man said. "I don't bite."

Ga Eul smiled weakly. Trusting her heart, she was about to thank him for the offer and politely decline but then the droplets started to get bigger and more frequent, deciding for Ga Eul. She walked to the car and Hyun Sub opened the door for her. Ga Eul settled on the seat next to him, trying to occupy as less space as was physically possible, keeping her grocery bags on her lap.

"What are you so scared of?"

She shook her head, wondering what to say, "I… umm…. I don't think I should be in the car…. Your wife…Yi Jeong." Damnit! Come up with a coherent sentence Ga Eul!

Beside her, Hyun Sub's lips curled in a humorless smirk. "What Yi Jeong and Hye Jun don't know can't hurt them."

Ga Eul gave a faltering smile, willing herself to calm down. There was no need for her to get so worked up. She took a couple of deep breaths to steady her mind when something struck her. Steeling herself she looked at the man sitting next to her, "I don't mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"I'm following you."

Ga Eul blinked. "Excuse me?"

At her chagrined expression, Hyun Sub chuckled a little, "What? Isn't that what you wanted to hear?"

"I…" she shook her head. "I… Mr So, look, I don't know what is going on but I …"

"Ms Chu," Hyun Sub interrupted. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. You were obviously struggling, what with the heavy bags and this rain. I gave you the help you needed. Don't look any deeper into the matter. Now tell the driver which way to go."

A little uncomfortable about the way the man had easily dismissed her Ga Eul gave the driver some quick instructions. The remaining drive was spent in an awkward, uncomfortable silence. Finally, to Ga Eul's relief, the car halted in front of her apartment complex and she quickly shot out of the door.

"Thanks for the lift Mr So."

Without giving any acknowledgement of having heard her, Hyun Sub closed the door and the car zoomed off.

Yi Jeong was annoyed. How could he have been so stupid to have not foreseen this? He should've known that a gesture as grandiose as the one he'd made a few days ago would have some consequences. But for some reason, the thought had never occurred to him. Wrapped up in his own fool's paradise, he had forgotten about the world outside. All he had wanted was for Ga Eul to know how special she was for him. He had known that the press would be curious but he had honestly never wanted to make life difficult for her – something that he seemed to have an uncanny knack of.

There in front of his eyes he saw a disturbing scene play out again and again on the plasma screen. In large, 72 inch screen he saw Ga Eul carrying Sang Mi, hiding the baby with her body, running inside her apartment building. With a poorly suppressed thrill the reporter declared from the other half of the screen "The charismatic So heir So Yi Jeong, who recently unveiled a new wing in his museum told the world that the said wing was named The Autumn Gallery after a very special friend of his. Naturally speculations were rife as to who this mysterious woman is and why she is so special. We at Channel 7 have located the woman and now only we can tell you that she works as a freelance journalist and is a waitress. Interestingly, she is also the mother of a six months old baby girl. We don't yet know the identity of the father of the child. Here you can see Ms Chu ducking into an apartment building that we believe is her residence. We…"

Yi Jeong switched the TV off with a click of annoyance. His phone rang and he answered it, looking for something to do, "Hello!"

"Buddy," Woo Bin's voice floated through. "You're seeing this?"

"Yes," even to his own ears he sounded sullen.

"Jae Kyung is freaking out. She's telling me that if I don't get Ga Eul out of there now, she'll withhold sex and then I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

Yi Jeong's face scrunched, "Ugh gross. Spare me the sordid details of your sex life and yes, get her and Sang Mi out of there. I was about to call you."

"Consider it done."

"Woo Bin," Yi Jeong said softly. "They'll stay at my place."

His declaration was met with silence. "Woo Bin, you still there?"

"Yes."

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

The other man sighed, "Yi Jeong, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? My daughter stays with me, what's so wrong about that?"

Woo Bin seemed to weigh his words before he spoke, "If it were just Sang Mi, I wouldn't have thought twice. She's your daughter and you have every right to want her to stay with you. But it's not just her. We have to think about Ga Eul as well. You named a museum wing after her. That's huge. People are going to question. Now you want her to move in with you? After that, no one will believe you that there's nothing going on between the two of you, even if scream it from rooftops. And even if all of that weren't a problem, we still have your parents to think about. They may have allowed you to name the gallery after her, but there's no way they'll let her move in with you."

"My parents don't control my life," Yi Jeong snapped.

"Perhaps. But they control the money that controls your life- money that the three of you now need, desperately if I may add."

Yi Jeong closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He knew Woo Bin was right. But that didn't mean he had to like it.

"Honestly though, I didn't expect this from you," his friend was saying.

"What?"

"By any chance were you possessed by Jun Pyo? What made you do something like that? How did you not see what was coming? This is not like you Yi Jeong!"

It was Yi Jeong's turn to sigh, "Yeah. It was stupid of me to have not anticipated this. But honestly, all I wanted was to show how grateful I'm and how much she means to me. I never wanted to make things difficult for her."

He could almost visualize Woo Bin shaking his head, "I know. I wish you'd run the idea by us once. We'd have dissuaded you from doing this. There are other ways of showing Ga Eul that you love her."

Yi Jeong rolled his eyes, "When will you and your wife stop with your matchmaking? Why don't you get it, I don't love her?"

"I think the damsel doth protests very much," Woo Bin said.

"Who's channeling Jun Pyo now?" Yi Jeong laughed. "It's 'the lady doth protest too much, methinks.'."

"Yeah well whatever, I'll call you once it's done. Nerd."

"Jerk."

"Asshole."

"Bastard."

The two men laughed and disconnected the call.

Ga Eul sat on the chair, clutching on to Sang Mi tightly, shivering a little. The infant though was blissfully unaware of her mother's mental condition and was now busily examining the fabric of the chair, trying to pick up part of the design.

"Here," Jae Kyung handed her a cup of hot cocoa. "I'll hold her for a while."

Reluctantly Ga Eul let go of her daughter and curled her fingers around the drink. Woo Bin seemed to have caught on and leaned over to pat her knee reassuringly. "Relax. The media won't have a clue you're here."

"Is this how it is for you all Sunbae?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the cup of cocoa. "How can you live your life under such constant scrutiny?"

Jae Kyung looked up from her game of peek-a-boo with Sang Mi, "You get used to it after a while."

"Really?"

Woo Bin nodded in agreement, "I know it can be nerve wracking, and as impossible as it may seem now, all this will die down in a few days. All you have to do is lie low for the next couple of days. Stay here, enjoy a respite from your insane schedule and soon something else will happen and people will forget all about this. People's memory is very short."

Ga Eul shuddered at the memory. She had taken Sang Mi out for a stroll so that the kid could get some fresh air when she had suddenly been accosted by two people, one wielding a camera, another holding a mic. They had begun to rapidly ask questions about her and Sang Mi. Ga Eul stood stunned, unable to comprehend a proper reaction when suddenly, from the corner of her eyes, she saw the cameraman trying to focus on Sang Mi. Anger spurred her into action as she covered her daughter with one hand and shoved the camera man aside.

"Get off my daughter!" she screamed and had taken off running. For once, she was thankful that she had chosen to carry Sang Mi in a Bjorn and not a stroller. She had run into her apartment complex and had rushed into her house. Thankfully they had not been able to capture Sang Mi's face, nor had they been able to locate her exact apartment, but she knew that was just a matter of time. They knew the building she lived in, how long would it take for them to find out the exact apartment? For the first time she realized how beneficial it was to be friends with Song Woo Bin, the uncrowned king of Korean Mafia. He had called her to tell her to lock the front door, pack some stuff and be ready for a knock on her window.

Baffled by the instructions and shaken by the incident, Ga Eul had done exactly as told. She had barely finished throwing some essentials for Sang Mi into a bag when a knock sounded on her window. She cranked it open to find a black tuxedo wearing man step into the tiny apartment through the window. Looking as though he had done this a million times before, he courteously asked her if she needed help with packing. Ga Eul shook her head and proceeded to continue packing while the man waited patiently. After she'd packed for a few days, he told her to go to the window and instructed her to keep Sang Mi in the Bjorn.

Not knowing what to expect Ga Eul tentatively peered out of her window and almost fainted. There, resting against her window was a ladder.

She whirled around looking at the man bug-eyed "You expect me to climb down five floors using a ladder? While carrying a baby?"

"No madam," the man said in a calm voice. "You'll only have to go to the fourth floor. From there we'll use the fire exit."

"Why can't I use the fire-exit on this floor?"

In answer to that, the man brought out his Smart phone and showed her a snap of reporters waiting outside her apartment. She sighed. "Alright. Let's get this over with."

"I'll go first madam, so that I can catch you, should you be scared."

She nodded and watched as the man smoothly climbed out of the window and on to the ladder, while carrying her bag with him. She took more time because she had to worry about Sang Mi and it wasn't easy for her to get her legs around the ledge. The man helped her though and slowly she managed to get to the fourth floor where she had repeat her action of climbing through the window into the house of an elderly couple who for some reason were very happy to help her. Ga Eul noticed another black tuxedo clad man in their house and she didn't even want to know how they'd convinced the couple to help a complete stranger. She smiled apologetically and thanked them profusely before leaving their house. Finally using the fire exit, she was out of the building and into an unmarked car. The car took her someway and she was asked to change vehicles. She had to change four unmarked vehicles, each of them identical, before she finally managed to reach a house she had never seen before. She learned later that the cars had been changed so often to shake off any persistent followers, and that the house she was in now belonged to the Song family and was a highly guarded and secure location.

"I do look forward to relaxing for a couple of days," Ga Eul acknowledged. "But I have a feeling that my job won't be there for me when I return."

Woo Bin grinned, "Oh no. It will be there. I assure you. Yi Jeong will kill me if I didn't. Speaking of, he's on his way here. He has to dodge a few reporters himself, but are you up to seeing him now?"

She looked up confused, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Woo Bin and Jae Kyung exchanged a quick look and Jae Kyung hurried to explain. "Given how shaken you are…," she trailed off, unable to find appropriate words.

Ga Eul smiled a little, "If I know Yi Jeong, he's freaking out about Sang Mi at the moment."

At that very moment, Yi Jeong walked into the room, followed closely by the rest of the gang. Jan Di was about to rush to Ga Eul but Jun Pyo held her back. Unmindful of everyone around, Yi Jeong walked over to Sang Mi and scooped her up into his lap, clutching her tightly. The infant was extremely happy to see her father and let out a delighted giggle, instantly dissipating the tension in the air. Ga Eul walked up to the two and Yi Jeong looked at her, his face taut with concern.

"Are you alright?"

Behind them, Woo Bin indicated that the three be left alone. Jan Di was extremely reluctant to leave her best friend, but Jun Pyo wasn't willing to listen and dragged his wife.

"I'm fine," Ga Eul answered. "Just a little shaken, that's all."

"Ga Eul, I'm so sorry. I don't even know why I didn't see this coming."

She tore her eyes from Sang Mi who was now playing with Yi Jeong's tie, "What on Earth are you apologizing for?"

Yi Jeong looked perplexed, "For bringing all of this to your doorstep. If I hadn't named that gallery after you or called you on to the stage, all this wouldn't have happened."

Ga Eul smiled a little, "Yes. I agree. But if not this, then something else would've happened. To be honest, I'm surprised that something like this hasn't happened earlier."

"What?"

She nodded and walked over to the chair she was occupying earlier. "Actually I've been waiting for something like this to happen ever since we decided to half Sang Mi's responsibility. Given who you are, your high profile life style, I always knew that something like this was going to happen. I thought I was prepared for it. But apparently, I wasn't. What's bothering me more is what happens now?"

She wasn't angry? How was she not angry? After everything that she'd been through, she should've been furious. How was she so calm? He shook his head and sat down on the space previously occupied by Woo Bin. "Ga Eul, I don't understand. How can you not be angry?"

She looked at him, "Do you want me to be angry?"

"Yes," he said vehemently. "You're not reacting normally and that's freaking me out. Are you in shock?"

Ga Eul sighed, "No Yi Jeong. I'm not in shock. I didn't like what happened, true. I was shocked for a bit, that's also true but no longer. I'm fine now. Most importantly, I don't blame you for all this."

"Why not?"

"Because Yi Jeong, what you did back there, it is the best thing anyone has done for me, ever. I will not begrudge you for something so wonderful."

If Yi Jeong hadn't been sitting at that moment, he'd have hugged her. He shook his head and ran a hand over Sang Mi's tiny back. "I can't bear the thought of those guys anywhere near her… or you for that matter. I keep thinking that I put my daughter I danger."

Ga Eul sighed, "Just stop feeling guilty Yi Jeong. I'm not blaming you, so you too need to stop blaming yourself. Is that clear? Woo Bin Sunbae told me to stay here for a few days, till such time as the furor dies. So you don't have to worry. He'll look after us."

Yi Jeong smiled, "I know. I'm so lucky that those guys have my back. Anyway, let's go. Jan Di is worried sick about you, the longer I keep you here, the more worked up she'll be."

He stood up and took a couple of steps only to realize that Ga Eul hadn't budged. He turned to look at her with a frown. She sat on the chair, head bowed, nervously fiddling her fingers. "Ga Eul? What's wrong?"

"Yi Jeong," she spoke in a barely audible voice. "C- can I… can I get a hug?"

Slowly his lips curved into a smile. He adjusted Sang Mi and he held out his other hand for her. Ga Eul flew into his arm and buried her head into his shoulder while he wrapped the hand around her and rested his cheek on her head. He felt her tremble slightly.

"I was so scared Yi Jeong. Carrying Sang Mi down that ladder… I was so afraid that she was going to fall," tears were rolling down her cheeks. "I … I was terrified. What if I couldn't save her Yi Jeong?"

"My brave little country bumpkin," he said softly. "You'll never let anything happen to her. I for one couldn't have asked for a better mother for my daughter."

Through her tears, Ga Eul smiled and stepped back. Instantly Yi Jeong felt deprived, like something very important had been taken away from him.

"There was something else I needed to tell you," Ga Eul's face was scrunched in concentration. "Something important. But for the world of me, I can't remember."

"So tell me when you remember it," He answered simply and put up a mischievous smile. "Now come on, wipe your tears. Unless you want Jan Di to spin-kick me for making you cry that is."

Despite herself, Ga Eul chuckled and wiped her tears. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

Jan Di was the first to run up to Ga Eul and hug her when they reached the dining room where everyone was waiting. "Ga Eul ah! How are you?"

"I'm fine Jan Di," she replied, hugging the other girl. "Just a little shaken."

"Oh God, I was so worried!" Jan Di took a step back and assessed her friend. "You were crying?"

Ga Eul sighed. She had never been able to hide anything from Jan Di. "A little. I was scared for Sang Mi."

The other girl threw an accusatory look at Yi Jeong, but mercifully stayed quiet. It was Woo Bin who spoke next. "Ga Eul is going to be staying here for a few days. But this place can get lonely, so anyone volunteering to stay here with her?"

"I could do it," Ji Hoo said unexpectedly. "Out of all of you, I'm the least conspicuous. Media kind of leaves me alone."

"That's a fantastic idea!" Jun Pyo yelled enthusiastically. "That way Jan Di won't insist on staying here."

"Shouldn't Jae Kyung be the obvious choice?" Yi Jeong interjected. "Seeing as this is her house."

Jae Kyung giggled, "Ji Hoo, promise Yi Jeong that you'll stay at least ten feet away from Ga Eul at all times."

Ga Eul blushed and Yi Jeong sputtered as Ji Hoo grinned widely, "I swear I won't come near her with a barge pole."

"That is NOT the point," Yi Jeong hollered.

"Then what is the point?" Woo Bin asked a little too innocently.

The potter opened and closed his mouth, "Never mind. It's useless trying to explain anything to you guys."

"Ga Eul, you're alright with Ji Hoo staying here, right?" Jan Di asked to which Ga Eul nodded. "I'll drop by as often as I can."

"We all will," Jae Kyung added. "And I'm pretty sure Yi Jeong is going to practically plant himself here anyway."

"No he won't," Ga Eul interjected. "Stop teasing him."

Woo Bin cleared his throat very pointedly, his eyes gleaming. Yi Jeong rolled his eyes and handed Sang Mi over to Ga Eul. "Call me if you need anything."

"Will do."

Next morning Ga Eul woke up and stretched on the bed. Her eyes fell on Sang Mi sleeping next to her and she let out a small smile at the peaceful look on the baby's face. Very slowly, so as to not wake the little girl up, Ga Eul stepped off the bed. Curiously she distinctly remembered where she was and there was absolutely no confusion in her mind as to where she was. After freshening up, she moved into the dining room to find Ji Hoo sitting there, having a cup of coffee and reading something on his tablet. Sensing her he looked up and grinned, "Good morning Ga Eul."

"Good morning Sunbae."

"Coffee?"

She nodded and sat down on a bar stool. Shortly afterward, Ji Hoo handed her a cup. "Did you sleep well?"

Ga Eul sipped from the cup, "Oh this coffee is perfect. And yes, which is odd actually. I usually have a tough time falling asleep in new places. What about you?"

Ji Hoo grinned, "I can sleep just about anywhere. All I need is some place to sit."

Ga Eul laughed. "That's a gift I tell you. I wish I could do that."

"Indeed it is. I've been saved many of Jun Pyo's monologues because of that blessing."

Ga Eul chuckled at that.

"Can I ask you something Ga Eul?"

She frowned at the sudden change but nodded nonetheless.

Ji Hoo fingered the rim of his cup and carefully chose his words, "What happens when you get married?"

Ga Eul shrugged, "What happens? Nothing. I don't think I'm getting married, at least not any time in near future. I don't want to let just about any man near Sang Mi. I should trust him implicitly and know that he'll take care of her."

Ji Hoo nodded in understanding, "And what about Yi Jeong?"

"What about him?"

"Once he gets married, which he will, given that he's already thirty one and his parents would want an heir soon, I doubt his wife will allow him to provide for Sang Mi."

Ga Eul nodded, "I have thought about that, but I haven't quite been able to bring it up before him. But that's a choice he'll have to make. I can't do it for him."

After a period of comfortable silence Ga Eul asked, "What about you Sunbae? How long will you stay single?"

The musician shrugged, "I'm more than willing to settle down, but I need a girl for that."

"Don't tell me you never found a girl!"

He smiled amiably, "I did, once. But I was too late, she had already fallen for someone else."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But did you ever tell her about your feelings?"

He shook his head, "No. No one knows. Not even the F4."

Ga Eul's eyes widened at the realization that he'd just shared a big secret with her, "Thank you for trusting me enough to share something like this with me."

"Breakfast?" Ji Hoo asked and Ga Eul knew that he was not willing to tell anything more.