Jin purred, stretching in contentment against the soft cotton sheets, her body seeking the warmth of So's. She was getting used to waking up next to him. Turning on her side, she noticed that he was wide awake. "But I wanted to snuggle." She mewled a complaint. He usually got up at the crack of dawn to run before showering and going to the museum or to his office.
"I'll give you all the snuggling you want." He chuckled as his hand curved around her waist, pulling her closer. She giggled as he bent over her, his lips finding hers.
She smiled up at him, loving the comforting weight of him leaning over her. "Oh, yes. And good morning to you too." Running her fingers through his hair, she lamented. "I wish it was longer. I miss the way your hair flowed over us when you made love to me in Goryeo. I always thought of it as being sheltered in our own world."
"I don't mind growing it out." So murmured in her ear as his lips skimmed her jawline. Jin shifted under him, giving him access to her neck, her hands caressed his shoulders.
"Your mother would be scandalized." She breathed as So's heated kisses traveled lower, his large hands cupping her breasts.
So lifted his head up from her collar bone to peer down at her. "Who cares. Please don't bring up my mother while I'm making love to you now." He scolded her, flicking a thumb over a sensitive nipple. Jin's laugher quickly turned into moans when he bent his head to pay attention to perky nub.
"I'm glad Ok Mun Sook-ssi was able to get my accounts unfrozen. He called before you got here to let me know that his PI located Pak Hyun Shik's girlfriend Shin Chae Yeul. So and I will meet with her at Mun Sook-ssi office at 9AM tomorrow morning. So, I'm sort of celebrating." Jin explained to Eun Ji as she adjusted the package in her arm while she entered in the security code to So's condo.
"That's terrific news, Jinnie!" Eun Ji cried out, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet as Jin got the door opened. "We should celebrate!"
"This tea set is a god-send. The Chinese tea market was lovely this morning." Jin sighed.
"Yeah,that was enlightening." Eun Ji replied as she placed the parcels of tea on the kitchen counter. She turned to her sister, grousing. "Do you think you bought enough loose leaf tea?"
"I have to practice. Bok Soon will be over around noon." Jin answered as she pulled out the clay Yixing teapot, examining the aged ceramic again. She set the cups out on the tray. All those years of rising early to season the royal teapots before tending to the vats returned with a vengeance. She felt as though she could turn around and Lady Oh would be giving her that stern look, making her practice the tea ceremony again if she didn't get it right.
"So when did you become fluent in Mandarin?" Eun Ji asked, snapping Jin back to the present.
"It's just something I picked up along the way." Jin vaguely replied, then changed the subject. "So, you're quitting the agency."
Eun Ji traced a finger over a brick red tea cup. "They are really quite plain." She sighed softly. "I'm getting too old to be an idol. I talked with Yi Rae-ssi and I think I might try acting or managing. I'm just not sure what I want to do right now."
"You're really good with organization and keeping up with schedules. Being a manager might be a good move for you." Jin nodded. "Why not? I'm changing my career too."
Heading for the living room, Eun Ji laughed over her shoulder at Jin. "We're upgrading our careers. Growing up." She flopped down on the couch, pulling a pillow onto her lap. "So...did eomma call last night?"
"Eun Ji, how could you do that to me?" Jin scowled at her sister, hitting her with the other pillow.
Eun Ji rolled her eyes at her older sister. "Eomma called me because she had one of her crazy dreams. She panicked and since she couldn't reach you..." She returned the accusing glare, then nonchalantly explained. "I might have let it slip about you living with So."
"Brat." Jin muttered under her breath, sighing. "So and I will go see them once this mess with Hyun Shik is cleared up.
A cheshire grin spread across Eun Ji's lips. She leaned forward in anticipation, poking her finger into Jin's arm. "So...are you and So getting remarried?"
"Ow!" Jin playfully pushed her sister away, not able to keep from giggling. "Yes, we are."
"Yes!" Eun Ji threw her arms around Jin both women laughing. Jin pulled back as the laughter died down. Oh, god, I missed her so much. She held Eun Ji's hands in hers as memories of Chae Ryung slipped in. This is why that girl was so important to me. Her sweet innocence that had turned to betrayal of the worst kind. If only… Jin shook her head to clear it. I can't go there. Chae Ryung was another lifetime ago. She was a tenth century girl who paid for her sins. She was not my real sister.
"What is it, Jinnie?" Eun Ji squeezed Jin's hand reassuringly.
"It's just…" Jin blinked rapidly, then replied with a chuckle. "I missed you, Ji-ya."
"You acting weird. Like you haven't seen me in years, Unnie." Eun Ji frowned at her in concern. "Seriously, did you hit your head when you nearly drowned?"
Jin was silent for a moment, staring down at their clasped hands. "Actually, I did hit my head." As Hae Soo. She raised her head, placing her hand up to halt her sister's questions. "Eun Ji, it's a long story. I've been trying to make up my mind if I should tell you or not, but I can't keep it from you."
"I don't understand." Eun Ji replied, confused at Jin's cryptic words. "Does this have to do with Gi So-ssi? You didn't meet him in Rome, did you? Were you ever married to him?"
Jin took a deep breath. She shut her eyes, blurting out before she lost her nerve. "Yes, it does. No, we didn't." Then paused, opening them to look into Eun Ji's expectant gaze. "Yes, but...not in this century."
Eun Ji regarded Jin in disbelief, then smacked Jin on the arm. "Stop kidding around, Unnie."
Jin picked at the non existent lint on the pillow, unsure where to start. "Bok Soon will be here soon. I'll explain everything then." The buzzer sounded causing Jin to hop up from the couch. "That must be her." She hit the intercom and Bok Soon appeared on the video feed. "Bok Soon, please come up. The door is open."
When Bok Soon entered the condo she dropped her tote carrying her art supplies onto the table. She slipped a clean sketch pad out of it. "I figured I could draw the palaces and courtyards as you describe them." Looking up, she caught sight of Eun Ji peering suspiciously at her from over the couch. "Oh, hello."
"Bok Soon, this is my younger sister, Go Eun Ji." Jin said as she shut the door. "Ji-ya, this is So's colleague from the museum. She's become a good friend."
"It's great to meet you." Bok Soon replied as she sat down cross legged in the chair across from Eun Ji.
"Um, yes, me too." Eun Ji's eyes darted between the women. "Jinnie told me that you and she are working on a project together. What do you do for the museum?"
"Yes. I work on restoring classical artwork for the National Museum. I recently finished restoring the portrait of Queen Gwangmyeong." She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, flipping through it. "Do you want to see? It's surprising how much your sister looks like her." She winked at Eun Ji as she handed the phone over, then noticed the tea set on the coffee table. "Cool. Hajin, that's the Yixing teapot and cups you texted me about." She lifted the clay teapot up, gently flipping it over to view the artist chop mark on the bottom. "Wow, 1938. Hajin, this is a rare find."
Eun Ji stared at the restoration of the tenth century queen who looked exactly like the woman standing over her, sans pregnancy. Her eyes rose up to meet her sister's in shock, distracting Bok Soon from the tea set. "Go Ha Jin, what is going on?"
Jin gave Eun Ji a wan smile. "That's why you are here. I feel like I have to tell both of you everything." She said, crossing over to sit opposite of Eun Ji and Bok Soon. Biting her bottom lip, she continued. "Bok Soon knows some of it because she was there the day So saved me from drowning. And you are my sister, I don't want to hide this from you. That is me in the portrait."
Silence filled the room as Eun Ji stared Bok Soon, then at Jin. "Is this your idea of a joke, Go Ha Jin?"
"No." Jin replied her tone serious. "Bok Soon, please show her the portrait of Gwangjong."
Bok Soon nodded at Jin. Eun Ji held the cell phone in her hand, almost forgetting it was there. "Eun Ji-ssi, flip to the next photo." Bok Soon gently instructed.
Eun Ji's hand trembled as it hovered over the the screen. "Jinnie?" She whispered, not wanting to believe it. "It's So-ssi, right?" Holding her breath, she slid her finger along the glass surface, slowly pulling up the first portrait of the fourth Goryeo emperor. "How?" She asked, nearly dropping it as she handed the phone back to Bok Soon. "I think I need a drink."
"That sounds like a plan." Bok Soon agreed as put away her phone. "Forget the tea. We need soju and beer for this."
"It's barely noon." Jin complained as Bok Soon got up to raid So's fridge.
"Hush, Ha Jin." Her new best friend scolded. "It's 6PM somewhere in the world and your sister needs a drink." Raising her head up from the door, she frowned at Jin. "What the hell, there is no booze."
"I ordered some chicken feet." Eun Ji held up her phone, stating flatly. "I need beer and chicken feet."
"Great." Jin muttered as she opened up a cabinet. "He keeps the soju in here"
Once the delivery guy left and the tea set moved to a safe distance, the girls settled in laying out the booze and bowls of snacks. Jin licked her fingers, gasping. "Hot!" Then wiped her fingers on a napkin. "I don't understand how I wound up in Goryeo. It's just that one minute I was sinking deeper into the water and the next I was in the Damiwon." Bok Soon pulled out her sketch pad and pencils as Jin began to tell her story as Hae Soo.
Eun Ji sat, rapt as Jin described her first day meeting the princes in the eighth prince's household. "Omo, your first day you were caught spying on the princes while they bathed. Then the second day, you were literally swept off your feet by So. Not bad, Unnie!" Eun Ji exclaimed, giggling as she started on her second beer. "You had a fight with two princes that day. You always were so hot tempered, but the tenth prince deserved to have his ass kicked for spying on her."
Bok Soon chewed on a foot while her hand flew over the paper. "Tell me more about the Damiwon." She demanded, tossing the foot onto the table.
Three hours later and several beers in, Jin finished telling her odyssey as Hae Soo. "...and then I woke up in the hospital. God, I never want to experience natural childbirth again." She shuddered, cracking open her next can of Cass. "I'm glad to be back!" Sitting up, she grinned at Bok Soon and Eun Ji. "I think we need to celebrate for real."
So stepped out of his car to find Jung waiting for him in the parking lot. "Jung-a, what brings you here?" He asked his baby brother.
"The station got a noise complaint coming from your condo." He leaned against his cycle. "I said I would check it out since it's not like you."
"Bok Soon is up there, hyung." Baek ah turned a worried gaze to So.
"Let's go check it out." So nodded.
The three men stood within the door, surveying the chaos of empty beer cans and ravaged chicken feet. "Go, Jinnie!" Bok Soon shouted as the three women stood, striking S poises.
"Jaammmmmmmmm..it's all over my body." Jin sang, her arms running seductively down her body as she belted out the IU song. Eun Ji danced provocatively next to her sister, harmonizing with the song. Jin gave So a sloe eyed gaze, crooking her finger. "I need some sugar. I need something fake...Melt me before I cool down, babe."
So shook his head at Jin as he approached her. "Gentlemen, I think we need to break up this party. Baek ah, I'll leave it to you to get your girlfriend home."
"Come on, Bok Soon-a, it's nap time." Baek ah crooned as he swept her up in his arms. She snuggled into his arms as So handed her tote to his friend.
So held Jin around the waist. "Damn, you were a mean, handsome bastard when I first met you." She pouted at him. "Why did you have to go and knock me off your horse? You were so..so mean to me when we first met, but I love you anyways." She sighed up at him, grinning with drunken triumph. "I won against the fierce, Wang So."
"I concede to your victory, Jinnie." So shook his head at Baek ah's amused grin and Jung's frown. "I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he saw them out the door. Jung stood to the side, his arms crossed as he watched Eun Ji groan, laying on the couch.
"Hyung, I know where Go Eun Ji lives." Jung advised as he advanced on the younger Go female. "I'll take her home."
"Thank you, Jung-a." So said as Jin flung her arms around him, muttering his name into his chest. "I have my hands full with Jin."
"No problem." The younger Hwang said as he gathered up Eun Ji, digging around in her purse for her car keys. "I'll come back for my bike later."
The cool breeze caused Eun Ji to want to burrow into Jung's leather jacket. Jung reached for her as she stumbled out of the elevator into the parking garage. "Nooo...:" Eun Ji moaned as she fell into Jung's arms. "You're cute." She giggled.
"You're drunk." Jung deadpanned as he lifted her up into his arms.
"If you ask nice, I'll let you handcuff me, officer." She poked him the chest as he got the passenger side door open, buckling her in.
"That's detective, Go Eun Ji." Jung replied before he gently shut the door. "You need to sleep it off."
"You are no fun." She complained as she nestled down into the seat. Jung slid into the driver's side, turning to look at her. "Jung Hwa, why do I feel the world spinning?"
"Oh, shit! Do you feel sick, Ji-ya?" He asked before he started the car.
Eun Ji closed her eyes, curling up to face him.. "No. Sleepy." She murmured, drowsy. Jung looked over at her soft, full cheeks that made her appear like an innocent girl instead of a grown woman. She looked beautiful, even drunk and snoring. He remembered the kiss from the night before. Damn, what is it about these Go women that make us Hwang men go weak? He mused as he put the car into gear, pulling out of the parking space.