Chapter 13
Hearing her cry was the most painful thing he had ever done. Yeah, Junpyo had spent the night outside leaning against her apartment door, hating himself for always making her cry. When she finally stopped crying he gathered himself and opened the door. His heart broke when he found her lying on the floor. Her eyes were closed probably too tired of crying but her shoulder would move as if she was sobbing. Even she was still crying in her sleep.
"I'm so sorry." He said as he laid her on the bed. How ironic that those were words he always said to her. He hated when people said sorry to him but here he was repeating those words to the person he loved the most over and over again. He still remembered how she looked at him with all hatred she had and how devastated she was. It was like he could feel how she was feeling, unloved.
Junpyo covered her naked body with the comforter. He wanted to kill himself for losing control. He shouldn't have done it. It didn't mean that he didn't want her. God knew he would take her then and there but he didn't want to be selfish. He didn't want her to regret it.
"Good night, beautiful." Junpyo said as he kissed her forehead. He wanted to stay by her side but he didn't want to make things even worse so he decided to leave her alone, taking a look of her one more time before closing the door.
Junpyo threw his bag that he had taken from Jandi's apartment across the room before throwing his body on the bed. Looking up at the ceiling and reminiscing what he had done. He wondered how he could make amend for all he had done to her and also the most important was would she ever forgive him?
The loud ring from his phone woke him up. He had no idea for how long he had been asleep. It was nine in the morning, he knew it from the old clock hanging on the wall. Rubbing his sleepy eyes Junpyo took his phone and he knew he had missed the call. He had three missed calls, one from Yijung and two from unknown number.
Junpyo dialed the unknown number and heard his mother's nurse greeted him. Something bad must had happened to his mother since he had requested the nurse to call him if his mother was having relapse.
He let out a sigh of relieve when she told him that his mother was fine after having fever this early morning. His mother had called her quickly so that she could help her. He owed very much to nurse Yoon.
The nurse didn't forget to remind him how his mother couldn't stay longer if his mother didn't get the healthy bone marrow transplanted. He knew where to get it but he was having trouble of informing the problem without getting him into another trouble.
Junpyo glanced at the clock again. Knowing it was time for Jandi to open the store, he took a quick shower and changed his clothes. Fifteen minutes later, he was ready to go. He was so determined to get her to listen to him no matter what happened.
When he reached the store, Jandi was already there, cleaning the store's glass door. Even from afar he could see her swollen eyes. Quickly she moved from her place after she noticed him standing in front of the store.
Taking a deep breath, Junpyo forced his legs to enter the store. He was glad there were no costumers or anyone else but them.
"Welcome to our store." She greeted from behind the counter. He hated when she treated him like he was just one of her costumers, but he deserved that after being the biggest jerk.
She didn't even look at his way as he stood there looking at her. Knowing she must be giving him a silent treatment Junpyo headed to vending machine, to serve himself coffee. He definitely needed caffeine to calm his nerves. After taking the plastic cup he was ready to pour some coffee but when he pushed the button nothing was coming out. He pushed again, still none.
"Just what the f*ck is wrong with this!" Junpyo hissed, starting to loss his patience and ended up kicking the machine.
F*ck! He kicked again then someone took the glass from his hand and pushed him aside the machine telling him that he could break the machine if he kept doing that.
Junpyo could only watch as Jandi poured him a cup of coffee. "You forget to push the ON button." She said as she handed him the cup, looking at him as if he was some kind of idiot. He probably was. How could he forget that? His head was too f*cked up because of her.
"Thanks…" Junpyo managed to say, sipping the hot coffee which to his surprise soothing his incredibly f*cked up mind.
She grunted and he swore he could hear her mumbling something sounded like 'rich boy' before turning away and left him alone.
Damn, he was offended. She was the one who had never dealt with stuff like this but she treated him like some rich boys who knew nothing about taking care of themselves.
She was checking on supplies, probably, when he stood behind her. She was too absorb with her work she didn't notice him there. Junpyo smiled as she hit his chest while turning her body.
"What?!" She looked up and rolled her eyes when she finally realized it was him.
Damn, she should have stopped doing that.
"We need to talk." Instead of answering his question she turned and walked away from him.
"Don't ignore me!" Junpyo grabbed her wrist and pulled her, trapping her in his arms. She was struggling to pull away but he was too strong for her so she gave up and faced him.
"Ignore you?!" She snapped. "Who do you think you are?" Her eyes pinned him with hatred.
"Do you know what I'm feeling right now?" She said sarcastically as to point out how bad he had messed things up. He knew, all too well, but he pushed away the thought. He needed her to listen to him.
"Why don't you answer my question? Didn't you say you wanna talk?" She said when he didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry." Junpyo said. Lame, he knew that.
Her brows furrowed then she snorted. "If sorry made everything right then there would be no need of police."
How ironic. The words she said made him even guiltier. So, this was how it felt hearing his famous line from someone else. "Do you ever think about what I'm feeling?" Junpyo said.
"Why should I?" Jandi said as she tried to pull away from him. "You're the one who left."
"Did it ever occur to you that I was hurting too?" Junpyo was losing his patience.
She opened her lips about to say something but then closed again, spinning her heels to leave him.
Damn!
Junpyo closed his eyes, taking a very deep calming breath. Geum Jandi was really something when she was mad, a lesson for him to not make her mad in the future.
He was about to chase her when his phone went off. His father's name appeared on the screen. He definitely chose the wrong time to call.
What the heck was happening?
Junpyo was wondering why his father called. The old man had never called him himself. He would ask his secretary to call him. He let the phone rang few times, thinking if he should pick up the call or not. There must be something important if his father called. Junpyo brought the phone closer to his ear to answer the call.
"Good morning, Father." He greeted shortly.
"I cannot believe you waited too long to answer my call." Junpyo smiled knowing that he had irritated his father.
"I was just coming out from the bathroom." Junpyo lied. He had to hold his laugh.
"Look, Junpyo. I don't care what happens between the two of you. I want you to bring her back before Monday."
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"My men told me, Son." Junpyo swore he could see his father's smug smile.
F*ck! He should have known that.
"They told me you're looking for Ms. Geum. Just what the heck did you do to her?"
"I…" Junpyo stammered, knowing that how easily his father knew about his love life. His father was the one who told him to stop playing around and started to get serious with his work. One day he told him that he could have proven himself useful instead of screwing someone's daughter just to irritate him. He wondered how he knew and he told him he had been there had done that. Guess an apple would not fall far from its tree.
"I don't care what you have to do to bring her back. We are going to announce your engagement on Monday that means you two have to be there. I don't want you to ruin my friendship with Mr. Geum."
Who cared about his friendship? Junpyo had his own problem to solve, but still he felt guilty. He wondered how his father had this ability to make him feel like he was five years old. "I'm working on it, Father."
"Just do it faster, Son." Then the line went dead.
Junpyo swore his father had lowered his tone, almost fatherly, which sounded to him as if he was telling him that he could do better, that prevent him from throwing his phone across the room. His father definitely had this weird ability to make him feel irritated and better at the same time.
When he was finally calm he headed to where Jandi was. Jealousy washed over him when he saw Jandi smiling far too bright to whoever the costumer was. He knew that expression. He remembered her admiring him after the first time they met before everything went wrong. That was what she was doing to the blond guy stood before her. Who the heck dyed their hair in blond color?
"Good morning…" She said cheerfully. The guy didn't answer since who was busy putting his purchases on the cashier table. His clothes told him he was rich. His white expensive suit wasn't fit with the neighborhood. He probably just only was passing by.
"Morning." The blond said shortly, still not looking at her.
"Hi…" Jandi said, waving her hand when he finally looked her way. The blond guy tilted his head trying to recognize her.
"Hey, I know you. You stay at the apartment, don't you?" This time Jandi raised her brows.
"The apartment by the street, I live there too." The blond explained. There was only one apartment in the neighborhood.
"Really?!" Her eyes could grow bigger if it was even possible which made the blond laugh before he answered her question.
"Yeah, I do." He answered and they laughed.
What the f*ck?
"Hi, I'm Yoon Jihoo." The blond offered his hand to Jandi.
Yoon Jihoo? Was he the same Yoon Jihoo he knew? Impossible. There were lots of Yoon Jihoo in South Korea.
"Hi, I'm Jandi." Jandi took his hand, smiling. Junpyo felt his blood boiled in his veins. He watched as they shook their hands.
"Jandi?" This Jihoo guy must be wondering if she was telling the truth about her name.
"Yeah…" Jandi said awkwardly.
"Why don't you come to my apartment so we can have dinner sometime? I think we can be a good neighbor." Jihoo said.
"Sure." Jandi nodded at his question too eagerly as she batted her lashes. What the heck? Did she just do that? Junpyo had to clench his knuckles so he didn't hit the blond guy on the face.
Junpyo was sure this Jihoo guy was flirting with Jandi. He was also a guy for God sake. He knew when a guy tried to make a move. He had the need to stop this blond guy from flirting with Jandi and he couldn't hold it any longer. It was the time for him to step up.
Junpyo cleared his throat and said. "She is taken, Mr. Yoon."
The guy turned around to face him.
"Gu Junpyo!"
"Yoon Jihoo!"
They both called at the same time.
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"It's been long time." Geum Jandi could only watch as the two guys were hugging each other like they were some close friends who just met after very long time. Maybe they were friends.
"I thought you're still in the US." Junpyo said as he pulled away. She could see how excited he was seeing his old friend.
"I'm back to Korea since two years ago. My grandfather needs me to take care of the hospital." Jihoo said and they ended talking something about university, works and stuffs she didn't know. Jandi felt left out.
If Yoon Jihoo had given her sign that he was interested in her before, now she felt like she was nothing as he and Junpyo were talking about things she didn't understand. They looked like they were so close to each other.
It was supposed to be her making Junpyo jealous. She felt so good seeing his nose flared as he watched her flirt with this Yoon Jihoo guy. The idea popped up in her head the moment he entered the store. He was so handsome and she couldn't help but admiring him. She thought she finally had returned Junpyo the favor after what he had done to her last night. She was so mad at him.
Jandi cleared her throat, feeling annoyed as the two kept ignoring her.
"I almost forgot. You have known her already, this is Geum Jandi, my girlfriend." Junpyo said proudly as he wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulder as if he was telling Jihoo that she was his.
"I'm not!" Jandi protested, trying to yank his hand off her, but Junpyo laughed at her and held her even tighter.
"We're just having a little fight." Junpyo said awkwardly.
Really?! Jandi threw him a deadly glare. He and his arrogance were starting to annoy the hell out of her.
"I also live at the apartment, maybe we can have dinner together." Junpyo added trying to change the subject which got him chuckle from Jihoo.
"Sounds like a great plan." Jihoo said then he checked his wrist. "I'm late for work. How much should I pay?"
"Twenty two thousand Won." Jandi handed him his plastic bag while Junpyo's hand still wrapped her shoulder.
"Nice meeting you Miss Geum." Jihoo said as he gave her the money. "And Junpyo, we should go out drinking don't forget to bring Yijung and Woobin."
"Sure." Junpyo said, grinning, as they watched Jihoo exiting the store.
"Get off me!" Jandi finally was able to throw away his arm. It was annoying to see his grin. She decided that she had to stay away from him.
"You're really something." She said as she brushed pass him. Just few steps later she felt someone wrapped her from behind.
"What I have to do to make you forgive me?" His hot breath against her neck had made her brain stopped working.
"Did you think how I was feeling when you left me?" Her voice was shaky. "If you were hurting then try to be ignored by someone you care the most!" She wished he didn't hear last part she said.
Quickly, Junpyo turned her around pulled her into his arms and wrapped her tightly inside his arms. He didn't say anything.
"I hate you." She said, sniffling.
"Please, don't hate me. I love you so much I could die."
She should have learned her lesson but the moment when he said those words, absently she snaked her arms to his waist and hugged him back. Heaven knew how bad she wanted to hear those words coming out from his lips.
"I hate you…" She said again. She hated him for making her fell so deep.
"I love you…" He replied as he squeezed her harder than before. She was melting in his arms.
"I love you too…" Without even realizing it those words she had been dying to say to him slipped out from her lips.
"Then let me bring you back."
Even if she loved him very much but the thought of going back to her father was way not interesting.
Jandi shook her head no against his chest.
"Our father had decided to make our arranged marriage known to the world on Monday." He explained as he caressed her hair. That was her father's business, she cared no more of what he was about to do. She was finally away from him, there was no way she came back to that place again.
"I don't want to come back."
"Look. If I could find you here, do you really think your father couldn't?" He tried to convince her as he held her cheeks in his palms. He had a point of course, but she liked her life here, free from her father claws.
"You don't think that your fabricated letter from your school will trick him any longer?"
Wait! How did he know?
He chuckled. He must have looked at her weird expression. "Your father told me about your fake field trip he even gave me the letter too. I was thinking of following you to Cambodia before I knew it was a fake letter."
Jandi was wondering how close Junpyo was to her father. They must be close enough to make her father gave any information about her easily. It was Gaeul's idea to make that letter and sent it to his father so he wouldn't be suspicious of why she was missing. They had set the fake field trip quite long considering she and Junpyo would need some times to finally settle which was very far from reality since she ended up running away alone. And the fact that her father wasn't suspicious made her very proud of Gaeul.
"I have to admit that your friend is very good." Jandi smiled at that. She was so proud of her best friend.
The date of her fake field trip was supposed to be expire this Friday so that was why their father had planned to announce their arrange marriage.
"So, are you going home with me?" She wanted to but she didn't want to miss this chance to stay away from her father. She had enough.
Jandi didn't answer him directly but questioned him instead. "Why don't you just stay here with me?"
He looked at her for a while before he answered her. "I want to, so bad but we know what your father is capable of."
Yeah, Junpyo was right. Jandi knew that her father would turn the world upside down if he knew she was running away from him. But she had made up her mind. She was not coming back. She was going to stay here no matter what.
"No, Junpyo. I don't want to come back." Jandi said weakly.
"Please, Jandi don't be hot headed."
Jandi pulled away from him. If he didn't want to stay here with her then it was his loss. He would stay with her if he really loved her like he had said.
"Just come back to your place Junpyo. This isn't your place." Jandi said and turned away from him.
She knew she shouldn't have set her hope too high but wished that he would change his mind but he didn't, instead he said something that she had never thought he would say. "I don't know if you will listen to me or no, but I know your mother. Comeback with me and I will tell you where she is."