I Gotta Say:
Sorry for the late update, been busy! Anyway, I just watched the Phantom of the Opera live on Broadway today!!!!!! SOOO AWESOME! I'll be working on the next chapter soon :)
Ninth, Key
"Omma, are you okay?" Ga Eul quietly sat beside her mom who looked pale. There was a sense of serenity surrounding them. Ga Eul was always close to her mom. Her mom was like a piece of her soul; they had a strong connection. Her mom knew exactly what Ga Eul was feeling and she could tell when Ga Eul was feeling vulnerable.
"Mmm…Ga Eul…you're home?" she said as she slowly opened her eyes. Ga Eul put her hand on her mother's and nodded.
"Of course I'm home, omma! I won't leave you, especially under this condition." Ga Eul's mom gave her a weak smile.
"You know…there was a nice young man who came here the other day asking for you."
"Hmm?" Ga Eul had no idea who it was. The only person who knew where she lived were Jan Di and the F4. Even her school mates didn't know where her house was.
"Mmm…he left a note for you. I placed it on the kitchen table. Go on and get it." Her mother said weakly. Ga Eul obeyed and stood up. She saw an envelope addressed to her, so she figured that was it. She continuously wondered who it came from as she opened it.
Dearest Ga Eul,
It's been a while since we last saw each other. I was starting to wonder if I freaked you when I asked you out. I've been trying to persuade myself you wouldn't do that, but it's been quite tricky. I thought you needed time to think things through, since I sense that you're not the kind of person who rushes into things. I know we've only had a conversation twice, but I miss talking to you and I miss you. Anyway, if you're afraid to reject me, please do say so…I'm not really good with being a silent-talker and I've never really been patient waiting. Just tell me if you think I should move on, alright? I know what pain and heart break feels like, so don't be hesitant to reject me. I wish I could talk to you…tell you how I feel. Haha, you're probably thinking I'm such a wuss for writing everything down in a letter or card. But yeah…
I hope you're doing well, Ga Eul!
Sincerely,
Seung Bum
Ga Eul walked back beside her mom, the letter still in her hand. Seung Bum really liked her…she officially knew it. But she didn't know what to do. He's just like her…
"Could he be my soul mate?" she asked herself.
"Sweetie, are you alright?" her mom asked. She sensed something was bothering her.
"What did the young man write?"
"He umm…"
"He likes you, doesn't he?" her mom's response shocked Ga Eul.
"H-how…?" Ga Eul stammered.
"That lad…you should've seen his face when he came here," her mom chuckled. "He wasn't sure whether he arrived at the right address or not. He looked so innocent; it was hard not to smile when the sight just looked so familiar. He was very respectful too. Do you know that he brought flowers with him? He said that they reminded him of you. I didn't even get the chance to introduce myself at first because right after he mentioned the flowers, he started talking about you and how much he thinks about you. He also said things like how thoughtful you could be and how you see the brighter side out of everything. When he realized that he's been rambling off, he introduced himself. When he found out I was your mother, he looked so embarrassed, it was so precious. He reminded me so much of you."
Ga Eul was preparing dinner when she heard footsteps enter the door. She wiped her hands on the cloth nearby to see who it was.
"Appa!" Ga Eul exclaimed and ran to hug her father.
"Ga Eul, you're home!" her father chuckled happily and hugged her back.
"The food's done so you can eat now. I'll bring some food to omma."
"It's okay, I'm not that hungry yet. I'll take care of your omma for now. You go rest." Her father said with a smile. Ga Eul nodded.
The door bell rang and Ga Eul told her father she'd get the door.
"Ga Eul!"
"Seung Bum?" Ga Eul opened the door and saw him standing right in front of her. "Hey." She smiled.
"Hey," he smiled in return. "So uh…how are you?"
Ga Eul giggled. "I've been fine. Do you wanna come in?"
"Is 'fine' really a feeling?" he asked as he entered her house.
"Good evening, Mr. Chu." Seung Bum respectfully bowed.
"Seung Bum-ah! Good to see you. I was just about to bring food to my wife, so please make yourself at home."
"Thank you, but I don't think I'll be staying for a while though."
"Mmm, why not?" a curious Mr. Chu asked.
"If it's okay with you, sir, I'd like to bring Ms. Ga Eul out? Just for a bite, nothing big…if it's fine with her." Seung Bum turned to Ga Eul.
"I…I'm alright with it."
"You two go ahead then. Don't stay out too late!" Ga Eul's dad said and went to the room.
Ga Eul got her coat and they both went outside.
"So where exactly are we going?" she asked as she sat in the front seat of his car.
"Hmm…I don't know…I didn't think you'd agree…" Seung Bum said quietly, looking from his steering wheel to her. "Are you hungry?"
"Um, sure, yeah…"
"How 'bout some crepe?"
"I love crepe! Sounds good to me." Ga Eul said excitedly. She was hungry and she didn't get the chance to eat dinner at home, so why not?
Seung Bum drove to a Baskin 'N Robins store where they sold crepe. The night was going pretty great for them. Lots of conversation going and they felt very comfortable. But every time Seung Bum smiled, showing his dimple, Ga Eul's thoughts would always go to Yi Jung. There was no doubt that she missed him. She hasn't seen him for 2 days, but it to her, it feels like she hasn't seen him for a week. Guilt was starting to come over her while chatting with Seung Bum. She was just taking her chances and everyone deserved a chance, so why should Seung Bum be deprived of it?
"Ga Eul? Are you alright? It's like you spaced out for a bit." Seung Bum was shaking his hand in front of her eyes. She nodded.
"Ga Eul…I hope you're not thinking I'm rushing things. Truth is, I've never thought about anything less in my whole life, but I have this strong feeling that I want to be with you."
Ga Eul stared at him. Her heart started beating faster…faster.
"I really like you. I know I might sound like a teenager confessing for the first time, but I can't think of any other way to do it. Telling you this via letter doesn't seem like a very bright idea. So…what do you say? Will you go out with me?" he looked at her with utmost sincerity and truth.
"So? SO?! Why does he keep saying Yi Jung's last name??" Ga Eul asked herself. Again, Yi Jung entered her mind.
And right then…her phone rang.
"Um…sorry, phone ringing." Ga Eul gave him a nervous smile and took out her cellphone.
"Hello?"
"What? No 'aloha' for me??" the voice at the other end of the line teased. Ga Eul giggled.
"Woo Bin sunbae!" she cheerfully greeted. The picture of Woo Bin falling into the swimming pool entered her mind. She couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Yeah, yeah, I know I'm such a bucket of joy. People just go insanely happy when they hear my voice." He laughed.
"Okay, Mr. Bucket of Joy, why'd you call?" Ga Eul asked and took a bite of her crepe.
"I'm bored…so I decided to call my friends and check up on them. Hey, are you eating something?"
Ga Eul raised an eyebrow.
"How'd you know?" she asked curiously. "Are you stalking me?"
"Nah, I just have sharp hearing. What are you eating?"
Ga Eul rolled her eyes. "If you had such sharp hearing, you'd know what I was eating."
"I didn't say I had super hearing powers! So what are you eating?" he asked again, kinda annoyed, but enjoying himself at the same time.
"Crepe."
"Wha-I want some! Why didn't you tell me to go with you?" Woo Bin exclaimed.
"Umm, because you're in an island, which I don't know the name of?" Ga Eul answered.
"Fine, fine. Why are you eating crepe by yourself then?" he asked. Ga Eul suddenly remembered Seung Bum was right in front of her.
"Sorry!" she mouthed at him, but Seung Bum just shook his head in understanding.
"I'm not alone. I'm not a loner, Woo Bin sunbae, I do have friends." Ga Eul ensured him.
"I didn't say you were a loner. Girls tend to over think things too much, geez." She laughed at what he said, it was true sometimes, she admitted to herself. "So who are you with?"
"Okaayyy, I didn't know you'd ask that many questions. You're so cheeky. But anyway, to prevent you from asking another question, I'm with Seung Bum." She put the phone near Seung Bum and motioned for him to say something.
"What's up, Woo Bin?" Seung Bum shouted coolly at her phone.
"Seung Bum?" Woo Bin said, a tad bit too loud.
"SEUNG BUM?!" a freaked out Yi Jung shouted.
"YAH! Don't scream on my ear, bro!" Woo Bin whispered.
"Woo Bin sunbae??" Ga Eul called him. "Are you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm still here. So how's crepe with Seung Bum going, Ga Eul?" he asked yet again.
"It's going good, Woo Bin sunbae. I have to go now…you can flood me with all your questions the next time you call." "Which, I hope is not any time soon." She said to herself. "I'll see you next time. Bye." She hung up after he could complain.
"I'm sorry, I never thought he'd be so interested in every single detail of what's going on right now." Ga Eul apologized to Seung Bum.
Meanwhile…on another unknown island…
"Chill, bro. She's just eating crepe." Woo Bin tried calming Yi Jung down. Ji Hoo chuckled to himself. Even his 'calm aura' couldn't help Yi Jung. But then again, his 'calm aura' never really worked on the F4.
"Yeah, Yi Jung. Don't put your heels on your head." Jun Pyo added.
"Heels on your head?! What the…" Woo Bin slapped his own face in embarrassment for his friend.
"Dumbo! It's 'don't fall head over heels' or 'you're head over heels over her'!" Ji Hoo corrected, also ashamed of Jun Pyo at that moment.
"That's what I said! And who's Dumbo? Is he better than me?!" Jun Pyo annoyingly responded.
Ji Hoo, Woo Bin, and Yi Jung looked at him in a disgusted way. They shook their heads and decided to just let it go.
"She's out with Seung Bum." Yi Jung said to himself again for the 212th time.
"Did she say she was gonna go out with him again?"
"Relax. She didn't say she was on a date with him. She just said she was eating crepe with him." Woo Bin reassured him again for the 212th time.
"It's your fault anyway. You rejected her a way too many times." Ji Hoo said.
"Wha- How'd you know?!" Yi Jung asked. He didn't mention telling Ji Hoo that he rejected her that many times. He just told him he rejected her around 3…times?
"Ga Eul told me. You see, we have this strong connection with each other." Ji Hoo explained.
Silence came afterwards.
"I'm kidding. Stop looking at me like that!" Ji Hoo threw a pillow at Yi Jung. They were in the V.I.P. hotel lounge.
"Jun Pyo, what happened to Jan Di?" Ji Hoo asked.
"Yah! She escaped! I knew she was gonna camp out beside the swimming pool!" Jun Pyo snapped his fingers and ran to the elevators. Ji Hoo and Woo Bin shook their heads again.
"I know!" Yi Jung exclaimed. Woo Bin and Ji Hoo looked at him.
"I'm gonna spy on her! Jan Di style, except in a less-obvious way…ninja-style." Yi Jung explained, telling them his plan.
"What?! Have you gone out of your mind?!" Woo Bin disgustedly stared at him.
"Fine. It's probably not a good idea. What should I do then?" Yi Jung leaned his head back on the couch.
"Let it be. If she feels the same way as you do, then she wouldn't lead Seung Bum on. Don't worry about her." Ji Hoo smiled.
"Yi Jung-ah, you weren't expecting her to wait for you forever, were you?" Woo Bin suddenly asked. Ji Hoo and Woo Bin's eyes were all on Yi Jung.
Yi Jung sighed. "I know I took her for granted. I'm trying to make it all up to her if she'll let me. I've been falling for her for a long time now…but I don't know if she's falling along with me."
"Well, sometimes people don't fall in the same direction. She saved you from losing your mind, you know? You handed her to your father, but she took care of you that night when you were all drunk. You might still be falling, but maybe this time she wouldn't be there to save you." Ji Hoo said quietly.
"What are you saying?" Yi Jung asked.
"What I'm saying is…"
"Is that she's at the end waiting for you." Woo Bin finished.
"All you have to do is prove it to her that you're worth the wait." Jan Di stood at the entrance with Jun Pyo and finished, smiling an approvingly.
