Chapter 8
"Yi Jung!" Ga Eul cried out when Yi Jung appeared out of nowhere and swung a punch at the man she was standing next to. Unfortunately for Yi Jung, the man jerk his head back and was able to avoid the strike in time. All the girls nearby screamed in shock and Yi Jung fell to his knees and hands because of the force. He huffed and slowly tried to get up, but quickly fell back down on his knees in a daze.
"Yi Jung, what are you doing?!" Ga Eul said. She ran over and helped him up. The group around them grew bigger as people stop to watch what the altercation was all about.
"You!" Yi Jung shouted when he was on his feet again. "Don't you ever get close to my Ga Eul or you won't live to see tomorrow!" He clenched his fist again and was about to charge at the man, but Ga Eul held him back.
"Yi Jung! Why are you being so crazy?" Ga Eul uttered. "He didn't do anything wrong."
"Oh yeah. Then why was he flirting with you, huh?" Yi Jung said, giving a death stare to the man.
"He wasn't flirting with me. He's Ji Chang Wook, the actor from Healer and Empress Ki. We were only talking with him because he was nice enough to greet us," Ga Eul replied. The other girls, including So Min and Sung Hye, surrounded Ji Chang Wook as if they were guarding a king from the villainous Yi Jung.
"I don't give a damn if he's an actor or the president of South Korea. No one mess with my Ga Eul. You hear me, you jerk?!" Yi Jung pointed at Ji Chang Wook and Ga Eul quickly shoved his hand down.
"Yi Jung, stop being so rude!" she said.
"Yah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm," Ji Chang Wook said. He held up both of his hands like he was surrendering. "Miss Ga Eul was a fan and I…"
"Don't say her name!" Yi Jung cut in and took a step forward. The protective fangirls screamed and hissed in anger and one of them tossed her alcoholic drink towards Yi Jung's face. It got into his eyes and burned like hell.
"Aish!" Yi Jung cried. He tried rubbing the alcohol off with his hands but his eyes kept on burning. Ga Eul pulled out a napkin from the pocket of her coat and tried to wipe the alcohol away from his face.
Tiny, the bouncer, arrived at the scene and a few of the girls started pointing and begging him to take Yi Jung away. The girl that tossed the alcohol wanted Tiny to beat Yi Jung up. "Okay, sir. Time for you to go home," Tiny said, grabbing onto Yi Jung's arm.
Yi Jung was able to open one eye. It was red and still in pain, but he wanted to remember Ji Chang Wook's face one last time. He needed to know who the suspects that messes with Ga Eul are. Ga Eul slightly bow at Ji Chang Wook and apologized for Yi Jung's poor behavior, but Ji Chang Wook was being modest.
"Don't worry, Miss Ga Eul. It's not your fault and I'm sure your husband didn't mean any of this. He was just being protective of the person he loves. I would do the same too," Ji Chang Wook smiled.
"Yah! Stop saying my wife's name," Yi Jung cried in anger. He wanted to lunge at Ji Chang Wook again to shut up him for acting like a perfect angel, but decided against it because of the crazy fangirls and Tiny. "Ga Eul, let's go," he said instead. He pulled Ga Eul's arm and they headed with Tiny towards the exit.
On the whole way home, Yi Jung was still fuming with jealousy. Ga Eul had to assure him many times that she wouldn't talk with Ji Chang Wook again just to calm him down. The chances of meeting Ji Chang Wook was slim anyways, so Ga Eul wasn't too worried about it.
They sat in the back seat of the sedan car that Yi Jung had hired from his father for transportation. Yi Jung have pulled Ga Eul onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist with his head resting on her chest. His eyelids were shut because his eyes was still in pain from the alcoholic drink. Ga Eul have never seen him this jealous before. But then again, she can understand why he would be. Ji Chang Wook is an attractive man and it would be bizarre if other men weren't envious of his good looks. The jealousy also showed her how much Yi Jung still cares for her and that made her happy inside.
"Ji Chang Wook is a humble and sweet man, Yi Jung, and you were being so rude to him," Ga Eul said.
Hearing Ga Eul say nice things about Ji Chang Wook was like putting salt on a wound. Yi Jung despised Ji Chang Wook so much for being his competition in Ga Eul's thoughts. He wish he could had punch the man when he had the chance. He regretted not doing it that he had added the regret into his top five All Time Regrets List. Number one, of course, is not asking Ga Eul out the day he knew she existed.
"Ji Chang Who?" Yi Jung said. "I only want to talk about you." He hugged her tighter and wiggled his face into her cleavage.
"Yi Jung, stop that," Ga Eul said when he got rough. She lifted his face up by his chin and realize he still haven't open his eyes. "How's your eyes? Let me check." She open his left eyelid up and his eye were swollen red. "Omo. It looks like it's infected. You're going to need medication."
When they got home, Ga Eul's mother was in the living room watching a variety show called, "Running Man". She didn't hear Yi Jung and Ga Eul entering the house until the sound of Yi Jung dragging his feet startled her. "What happened, Ga Eul? Is Yi Jung okay?" she asked. She got off the couch to get a better look.
Yi Jung's arm dangled on Ga Eul's shoulder as Ga Eul help guide him to their room. "He's okay. Don't worry, omma," Ga Eul answer.
"What happen to his eyes?" Ga Eul's mother wanted to know.
"It's...allergy." Ga Eul lied. She didn't want her mother to know how obnoxious Yi Jung was.
Ga Eul's mother gave a sympathetic look. "He doesn't look good. Go take care of him, Ga Eul, and I'll stay over tonight and watch Yoo Eun."
After stripped Yi Jung down to his boxer, Ga Eul help bathe him in a hot bubble bath because he couldn't see well. Then she added some eye drop medicine and a warm wet towel on his eyes when he was in bed. Take caring of Yi Jung was a much tougher job than taking care of Yoo Eun, she realized. She snuggled into his arm and instantly fell asleep before he did.
"How's Yi Jung?" Ga Eul's mother asked in the kitchen when she saw Ga Eul the following morning. She was done cooking some rice and kimchi stew and was in the middle of making a hangover soup for Yi Jung.
"He looks much better than last night," Ga Eul replied. Ga Eul was wearing a pink robe with a bath towel wrapped around her hair from a recent shower. She stood by the counter and watch her mother slice up some green onions. Her mother was a few inches shorter than her with shoulder length, curly hair. She was in her early-50s, but is often mistaken as Ga Eul's sister. Ga Eul notice the dish her mother was cooking. "Omma, you don't have to make us breakfast. It must had been a long night for you and you should go home and be with appa. Appa must be lonely and worried."
"You know your appa," Ga Eul's mother said. "He has lots of friends and is never lonely. He's probably out at a park right now playing chess with his friends." She softly chuckled.
Ga Eul helped her mother set up the table and they decided to eat first. The kimchi stew with rice reminded Ga Eul of the days when she used to live with her parents. It was one of their favorite meals. She took a bite of the kimchi and smiled. It had the perfect bitterness to it. "Omma, I still can't make it as good as you," she said.
"Everything takes practice, Ga Eul. You'll get there." They ate in silence for awhile until her mother spoke again. "You and Yi Jung will be bring Yoo Eun over for Christmas, right? I'm looking forward to that day. I've bought a lot of presents for little Yoo Eun."
Ga Eul was about to eat a pork belly from her kimchi soup, but placed it on her rice bowl. "Yes, we're coming...except Yi Jung won't be there. He's going on a business trip for two weeks."
"That's too bad Yi Jung can't spend the holiday with us. But if it's work, then he must do it. It's part of being the head of the household," her mother said. "And you, young lady, do not forget to always be patient and support your husband no matter what. When you were still a child, your appa was a fisherman and lived on the sea for months to earn money. He almost lost his life during one of the storms, but with the prayer of God, he survived it. Men risk a lot to support their families, Ga Eul. So it is very important that the wives have to take good care of them."
It was a story and lecture Ga Eul have heard many times from her mother. Be patient. Be supportive. Love your husband. Her parents were the biggest supporter when Ga Eul decided to quit her teaching job and travel with Yi Jung. For as long as she can remember, her parents have always been conservative. They wanted Ga Eul to marry an honorable man who have good manners. She was worried when she had told them she was going to marry Yi Jung. She wasn't sure how much her parents knew about his reputation. Luckily, they didn't know much other than he was an heir to the So Arts Museum. They happily accepted Yi Jung as their son-in-law and knew he will give financial stability for Ga Eul.
"Omma," Yoo Eun cried with tears in her eyes. She was by the kitchen doorway in her wet pajamas and carrying a Hello Kitty doll in one hand.
Ga Eul quickly left the table and lifted Yoo Eun up into her arms. "Oh no. Yoo Eun, you leak through your diaper and wet yourself. You're going to need a bath."
Ga Eul's mother got up from her seat and held out both of her arms. "Here, give little Yoo Eun to me. I'll go give her a bath. Take the hangover soup to Yi Jung before it cools down. It's best eaten when it's fresh and hot."
Ga Eul nodded and her mother took Yoo Eun to the bathroom. Ga Eul made a bowl of the hangover soup and took it to her bedroom. Yi Jung was sleeping on his stomach and all she saw was his bare back. She sat down next to him on the side of the bed and placed the bowl on the lamp table.
"Yi Jung," she said, stroking Yi Jung's back tenderly like he was a baby. "Are you awake yet?"
Yi Jung mumbled something into his pillow and Ga Eul wasn't sure if he was actually awake or if he was talking in his sleep. She poked his back and called his name again.
"My head," Yi Jung mumbled. "It hurts."
Ga Eul scooted herself in closer to him and placed both of her hands on the temple of his head. She began massaging it gently. "How's your eyes?" she asked when she notice he had them closed.
"Hm. Better."
"My omma made some soup for you. You should eat them so you'll feel better."
"Rub them harder," Yi Jung groaned. His brain felt like it was about to explode and Ga Eul was going too slow. When the throbbing pain eased, he requested Ga Eul to massage his neck and back too.
"Do you remember what happen last night?" Ga Eul asked when she was done massaging a knot out of his neck and was now working on his back.
"Ji Chang Who," he moan in his pillow. "What? You thought I'll forget that easily?" Yi Jung shifted his body to his side. He may had been buzzed and blind last night, but he never forgets the faces of his targets. He pulled Ga Eul by her waist and into his arms. "You're mine, right?"
"Of course I'm yours," Ga Eul said, half meaning it and half to pleased Yi Jung. "Now sit up so you can eat some of these soup. My omma makes them the best." Yi Jung sighed and sat up. He rested his back on the headboard and began eating the soup.
It was almost noon by the time Ga Eul's mother went home and Yoo Eun was done with her breakfast. The only time Yi Jung came out of the bedroom was to greet and thank Ga Eul's mother for the soup. Then he was gone again. A curious Ga Eul went searching for him and found him in his office room by his desk. He was focused on the computer screen with a crooked smile on his face. She took that as a good sign and walked in with Yoo Eun in her arms.
"Appa!" Yoo Eun called out.
The call startled Yi Jung and he sat up in his chair and smiled. "How's my little Yoo Eun this morning?" he asked with his arms out. Ga Eul was about to hand Yoo Eun over to him, but when she approach him, he yanked her and Yoo Eun onto his lap.
"Yi Jung, be careful. I have Yoo Eun with me too," she scowl.
Yoo Eun giggled and took it as a thrill ride. "Appa! Again!"
Yi Jung chuckled, kissed Yoo Eun's cheek and wrapped his arms around Ga Eul's belly. He nodded towards the computer screen. "Check that out, Ga Eul."
Ga Eul squinted her eyes into the screen. It was the stock market page. She scanned down through all the red and blue charts and eventually found a chart for So Arts Museum. It had a 24% increase in stocks. Ga Eul smiled. "24%? That's amazing, Yi Jung."
"It's one of the largest increase I've ever seen. We've been rising for the last week and half, but this is a big jump."
She glanced at him and found him staring at her with a grin. "I'm so happy for you," she said.
"No, don't be happy for me. Be happy for us," Yi Jung boost. "For us."
"For us," Yoo Eun cheer. Yoo Eun hugged Yi Jung's neck and giggled when Yi Jung tickled her in the embrace. The bright smile and laughter from Yoo Eun and Yi Jung gave Ga Eul an idea.
"We should celebrate this occasion by going out," Ga Eul suggested.
"What do you have in mind?" Yi Jung asked.
"Well, we can take Yoo Eun to the zoo. She haven't been there yet."
Yi Jung look down at Yoo Eun. "Then let's go see some animals."
The day was cold, but with a beaming sun in the clear sky, it balance out the weather to make it a perfect outing. Seoul zoo was a huge zoo with many different animals from around the world. Ga Eul and Yi Jung brought a stroller for Yoo Eun, but Yoo Eun spent most of the time running everywhere. They saw bears, tigers, rhinos, elephants, various monkeys, birds, and reptiles. Yoo Eun's favorite animal were the giraffes because she got to hand feed them with some lettuces. During a stop at one of the playgrounds, someone notice Yi Jung and called him out.
"Mr. So Yi Jung?" a clean-shaved, older man said from behind Yi Jung.
Yi Jung was in the middle of pushing Yoo Eun on a swing. He turned around to see who had called him. "Mr. Kang," he smiled and held out one of his hands.
Mr. Kang shook his hand and smiled back. "I almost didn't recognize you. You're not dressed in your usual suit." Yi Jung was wearing his walking shoe, a khaki pants, a gray hoodie, and a black beanie with a Nike logo on it.
Yi Jung grin. "It was a nice day, so my wife and I decided to bring our daughter to the zoo."
"I'm here with my family as well." Mr. Kang pointed to a playhouse nearby where a woman was watching some children play. "There's my wife and my eight years old son is somewhere in that playhouse with the other children." He smiled and faced Yi Jung again. "My son loves the tigers. We come here three to four times a year just to see them." He chuckled. "How's your appa and grandfather doing?"
"They're doing fine. And how's your grandfather?"
Mr. Kang lower his head and sighed. "Ah, Mr. So, he's only getting older. He's turning 96 next year and his speech isn't getting any better. I'm just glad he can still feed himself. Some of the elders at the care center are now being hand fed." He shook his head. "You should visit my grandfather some time. He often ask me when you'll come back and see him. He still have many great stories to share about the war."
Ga Eul had gone to the use the restroom and when she approached Yi Jung and Yoo Eun at the playground, she had heard the last part of Mr. Kang's conversation.
"This is my wife, Chu Ga Eul," Yi Jung said when he saw Ga Eul. Yi Jung placed his hand on Ga Eul's back. "Ga Eul, this is Mr. Kang Hyun Sang." Ga Eul quickly greeted Mr. Kang with a bow.
Mr. Kang bowed back. "Hello. You're a very beautiful woman. Mr. So's one lucky man."
Ga Eul blushed and formally thanked Mr. Kang. Yoo Eun started squirming in the swing and Yi Jung went back to pushing her.
"You're also very lucky to have a good husband like Mr. So," Mr. Kang said. "He's one of the most generous man I know. My grandfather's care center wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for his monthly donations."
Donations? Ga Eul had no idea Yi Jung was a philanthropist. She have seen his banking account many times, but there was always so many bills he paid for, she never cared enough to read through each one. She glanced over at Yi Jung who was busy pushing Yoo Eun on the swing. She smile and imagine Yi Jung writing a check to the director of the care center, then greeting each elder and listening to their stories. Learning something positive about Yi Jung warm her heart. "I am lucky to have him," she agreed with Mr. Kang.
They spend the next few hours touring the whole zoo and stopped by a gift shop to buy Yoo Eun a giraffe puppet, a bubble machine where bubbles blows out from a monkey's mouth and a theme zoo picture frame. When they left the shop, Yi Jung surprised Ga Eul with a bouquet of pink roses.
"Yi Jung," Ga Eul said in shock, taking the roses. "What is this for?"
"For you being so beautiful on this lovely day," Yi Jung replied.
Ga Eul smiled and took a sniff of the roses. "Thank you, Jungie. I love it."
She kissed his cheek and folded her arm into his arm. Yi Jung pushed the stroller with a napping Yoo Eun in it and they exited the zoo and went to a park next door. Ga Eul had come prepared to picnic at the park. She had brought a blanket and a basket filled with homemade sandwiches and drinks. They sat and ate under a tree.
Yi Jung was in such a good mood, he pretended be a zombie and chased a wide awake Yoo Eun around the park. When Yoo Eun ran to Ga Eul for protection, Yi Jung ended up chasing the both of them. Each time Yi Jung caught them, he would carry Yoo Eun up and blow a fart noise on her belly. He tried doing the same with Ga Eul, but she was too embarrassed, so he did it on her neck instead. They laughed and ran for half a mile, back and forth in the same area, and around their blanket and the tree, until they ran out of breath and rested on the blanket.
"Omo. I'm so tired," Ga Eul moan and huffed. She felt like she have been running a marathon. She pulled a water bottle out from the basket and briskly drink almost half of it in one shot.
Yi Jung was laying on his back with Yoo Eun resting on top of him. He also drank a water bottle and shared his with Yoo Eun. When it was empty, he tossed it to the side and wiggled his way closer to Ga Eul causing Yoo Eun to giggle. Ga Eul collapsed into Yi Jung's arm when she felt him next to her. "Yi Jung, I'm so exhausted," she said through her breath.
Yi Jung wrapped his arm around her so she can have a comfortable snuggle into him. He have taken off his beanie and hoodie earlier during their zombie game and was now wearing a white tshirt. He watched Ga Eul closed her eyes and with his hand, he gently removed a few strand of hair that was covering her face. She opened her eyes and smiled when she felt his touch.
"Why are you always so beautiful?" he asked, gazing into her eyes.
"The same reason why you're so handsome," Ga Eul grin.
Yi Jung smirk and pucker his lips for a kiss. Ga Eul reach in, closing the gap between them until her lips met his. She shriek and pulled herself back when Yi Jung wanted more.
"What's wrong?" Yi Jung asked. "I still want to taste those delicious lips."
"Why do you always have to be such a bad boy in public?" Ga Eul said. She gave a light slap on Yi Jung's lips when he mockingly pucker them again. Yi Jung softly laugh and Yoo Eun laughed along, enjoying a game she thought her parents were playing. Yi Jung pulled Yoo Eun up with his other arm and kissed her lips. Yoo Eun giggled and gave a kiss back to Yi Jung.
"My Yoo Eun is going to be a great kisser one day," he chuckled.
He reached for his hoodie and covered the three of them under it. When all they saw was darkness, Yi Jung pulled Ga Eul in closer and they kissed more eagerly. It was only when Yoo Eun cried because she got scared for being in the dark too long, did Yi Jung and Ga Eul stop.
"Aish, Yoo Eun," Yi Jung said in disappointment. He tickled her and it cheered her up.
"Let's take a picture together," Ga Eul said. She wanted to keep this happy memory and wish it can last forever. She took out her cell phone from her purse and the three of them snuggled close together. With a huge smile on each of their faces and at the count to three, they took a selfie. The picture came out as one perfect family.
That night in bed, Ga Eul got her wish as the three of them laid in the same position like they did under the tree. Yi Jung was shirtless this time and Ga Eul and Yoo Eun were in their pajamas. Yoo Eun had cried and made a tantrum when Ga Eul tried putting her in her own bed. She wanted to sleep with her parents. The family time at the park had made Yoo Eun want to continue the skinship. She ended up cuddling in between her parents. When Yoo Eun fell asleep, Yi Jung and Ga Eul sandwiched her in as they kissed passionately, playful using their tongues and biting each other's lips. They wanted to do more, but with Yoo Eun in the same bed, they left it at that.
"So I heard you're a charitable man," Ga Eul said in the dark. She can see Yi Jung's bright eyes gazing back at her a few inches away.
"Mm...Mr. Kang told you?" Yi Jung asked.
Ga Eul traced the long sideburn on the side of his face with her index finger. "Yes." She peck his nose with a kiss and whisper into his face. "How come you never told me you give donation or do community service?"
Yi Jung shrugged. "I never thought it was something worth telling anyone about."
"Tell me more about this care center. I'm curious." She kissed his upper lip. "Please."
"It's a facility where most of the elderly residents are war veterans. Some of them are good friends with my grandfather. Mr. Kang's grandfather was the captain for my grandfather's squad."
Ga Eul smiled. "What other secrets do you have that you don't want to share with me?"
"I don't have any secrets."
Ga Eul gave a small sigh. "I have to be honest. You're full of surprises."
"You think a former playboy can't have a good heart." His hand that have been rested on Ga Eul's butt, gave one of her buttcheek a hard squeeze.
Ga Eul softly yelped. "Jungie, what was that for?" She frown and slap his shoulder.
"I'm full of surprises, right?" He chuckled.
The tease made Ga Eul grin and they went back to their kissing exercise until they fell asleep. A half hour later, Ga Eul woke up and watched Yoo Eun and Yi Jung snore. She laid awake, admiring every wrinkle, birthmark, and texture on Yi Jung's face. She compared his eyes, nose, mouth and ears with Yoo Eun and smiled at their similarities. Even the way how they sleep with their mouths half open looked alike.
Her eyelids kept closing as she can feel herself dozing off. She tried hard to fight it off and to keep them open for as long as she can. She didn't want the night to end just yet because she wanted to take advantage of every good day she can have with Yi Jung. She thought of what Jan Di told her a week ago. How she shouldn't wait for the Yi Jung she fell in love with and to try to move on. However, for the last week, Yi Jung have proven to her that there is hope. The jealousy, the roses, his gorgeous smiles, the way he plays with Yoo Eun, his generosity, and his lovemaking. All reasons why she shouldn't give up. She assumed it may be the new her that have sparked an interest in him again. Whichever the case, she needs to keep it up because it has kept him happy and that has been all she wanted.
Staring at his beautiful face reminded her of their promised. To always be the first person to see each other when they wake up and to be the last person to see each other when they fall asleep. It was the same promised they made for new year's. New year. Ga Eul almost shed a tear as she suddenly remember how Yi Jung won't be there with her for the holidays. She have kept his business trip in the back of her mind and now that the day he leaves is looming closer, she have no choice but to face it. Still, she have another day left before Yi Jung takes off and she wanted to enjoy it with him as much as possible, so she decided to bury the thought for now.
With one last glimpse before her eyes closed, she smiled and whispered in his face, "Saranghae, Jungie." She hope he heard her in his dream.
