CHAPTER 13
SAIA'S POV:
Gripping Ji-Hoo's arm tightly, I grit my teeth and brace myself for what lies beyond the front doors of Song Woo Bin's house. Relax! I try to tell myself. I have been through worse. One night with the infamous F4 will not kill me. I haven't said much to Ji-Hoo since we left my apartment but I have felt his piercing gaze on me the entire ride here. As we enter the front door, he suddenly steps behind me and his arms circle around my waist, pulling me up against him.
"Relax!" His deep, sexy voice breathes in my ear. "I promised you they won't bite and I meant it. I make no promises for myself however." He chuckles as I turn my head to look at him and taking advantage of it, he nips my jaw line playfully. "You look gorgeous tonight and they are going to love you." One last quick kiss on my bare shoulder and he unwinds his arms from around my waist. Why does he have to choose now of all times to be so playful? But even though I am blushing, I feel the knots in my stomach loosen a little bit. It's working. I don't feel quite as nervous now. He smiles at me and loops my hand back through his arm.
As we enter the dining room, I see several faces I recognize from pictures and others I don't. Everyone is dressed so nice and I am grateful that I chose to wear a simple, form-fitting black dress. The skirt reaches my knees but the slit along the side reaches mid-thigh and even though Boo Ki always pushes me to show more cleavage, I am grateful that this strapless dress doesn't show much. She had approved of the dress though by declaring it: "Sexy but elegant." And of course me being the new comer, all eyes are on me. Great…
"Hey, buddy! I was beginning to think you were never going to share this pretty lady with us." Woo Bin laughs. His dark red hair and dangerous aura are striking. I like him immediately and from everything Ji-Hoo told me about 'Prince Song', I am also grateful to him for trying to catch my father.
"I have seriously had second thoughts about it myself." Ji-Hoo counters calmly. Everyone laughs at the friendly exchange and I am quickly introduced to everyone.
Woo Bin's fiancée, Ha Jae Kyung, is bright and friendly. So Yi Jung and his wife Chu Ga Eul are quiet and polite but Ga Eul's warm smile as she greets me, gives me the feeling of having one new friend in the room. Gu Joon Pyo is curt but polite in his greeting but it's Geum Jan Di that baffles me the most. She is friendly and welcoming but obviously surprised about me. She gives Ji-Hoo a questioning look but neither of them says anything.
"Let's eat, Woo Bin. I'm starving!" Yi Jung says and playfully throws his arm around his friend's shoulder.
Seated between Ga Eul and Ji-Hoo, the dinner goes by pleasantly fast. Hearing the F4 mock each other and swap embarrassing stories is definitely great entertainment. Ji-Hoo is relaxed and it makes me happy to hear stories about him. Ga Eul and I have quietly conversed throughout the evening and I genuinely feel at ease with her. Hearing Jun Pyo's booming voice in the middle of another ridiculous story, I turn to talk to her again.
"Can I ask you something, Ga Eul-ssi?"
"Of course!"
"Why is Geum Jan Di so surprised to see me?" Ga Eul stiffens and she nervously licks her lips. Ji-Hoo's hand is in mine but his attention seems to be on Jun Pyo. Glancing past me at Ji-Hoo, she leans forward.
"What has Ji-Hoo Sunbae told you?" She asks.
"Not much. I know that they were close friends but they don't seem to be anymore. What happened?" I feel Ji-Hoo's hand twitch and he pulls it out of mine. Curious, I turn to look at him and my blood turns to ice at seeing the cold look he gives me. Placing his arm on the back of my chair, he leans towards me so that only I can hear him.
"Honestly Saia, the only one you should be asking those questions is me."
Refusing to be intimidated, I lift my chin and keep my eyes locked with his. "Yet every time I ask, you brush it off and change the subject."
"You don't trust me?" His grip on my chair tightens.
"I'm just curious. How can you ask me that? Of course I trust you!"
"You sure as hell aren't acting like it. Just drop it."
"Fine…" I say through my clenched teeth. Angry, I turn away and strike up another conversation with Ga Eul about pottery. I chose wisely because her overflowing enthusiasm for the topic keeps me occupied and away from Ji-Hoo. His arm continues to rest across the back of my chair till we all stand up to go to the gaming room. Standing up quickly before Ji-Hoo can help me with my chair, I link my arm with Ga Eul as we exit the dining room. We laugh about our different experiences with our teaching jobs, while the boys pair off to play pool with Jan Di and Jae Kyung debating on whether or not to join in the game.
"Baby, I know you are a great player but we all know Jan Di is dangerous with a pool stick." Woo Bin laughs as Jae Kyung playfully punches his shoulder. Jan Di laughs uncomfortably and mumbles something about "stupid Jun Pyo" which earns even more laughter from the group. Considering the F4 carefully and still a bit angry at Ji-Hoo, I make up my mind.
"I think Jae Kyung and I can take all of you on." I say. Everyone turns to me in surprise. "What do you say, Woo Bin-ssi?"
"I didn't know you could play pool, Saia." He replies with an appreciative smile.
"There's a lot you don't know about me. My father taught me. He may love to beat the crap out of his kids but he loves to gamble even more." The room has grown eerily silent at my words and everyone is torn between discomfort and shock.
"Saia…" Ji-Hoo breathes. His calm face is misleading. I can see the pain and disbelief in his eyes.
"What, Ji-Hoo-ssi? Too soon?" I ask in a deceptively friendly tone. Desperately reigning in my anger at him, I turn back to Jae Kyung in what I pray is a friendly smile. "What do you say, Jae Kyung-ssi? Shall we teach these boys a thing or two?" She smiles brightly and nods her head eagerly at me.
An hour later, the boys are staring at us both in disbelief after we manage to beat all of them soundly.
"That was amazing, you two!" Ga Eul smiles at us.
"This is the first time in awhile that Jun Pyo has nothing to say." Jan Di laughs. "Here's to you both!" she says and we clink our beer bottles together in victory. Chatting with them is nice. They are friendly and very down to earth. They are not at all what I expected.
After awhile, Woo Bin manages to pull me away from the others. He leads me out to a balcony overlooking a huge pool and garden. The moon is out and the night is starting to get cool.
"Saia-ssi, I wanted to ask you something real quick." His face is serious and I am pretty sure I know what it is about. "Did you know your father was in the military?"
"Yes, but he never talks about it. Why?"
"I am just curious. I can't seem to find out anything about it. What do you remember about your mother?"
"Not a lot. She wasn't around much and then she let dad bring me here from the US. I haven't spoken to her in years. I'm sure she's forgotten about me."
He nods at me. "I promise you we will find him. He won't hurt you or your brother and sister again."
I shake my head. "Ani. I'm not worried about that. I just don't want anything to happen to you or Ji-Hoo, especially not because of me. He isn't worth it Woo Bin-ssi."
His face softens and he smiles at me. "No he isn't but you are, Saia. Ji-Hoo really cares about you. Don't be too hard on him, ok? Though, letting him squirm a little might do him some good." He winks. "Ready to go back inside?"
"Not yet. I think I'll stay out here for a few more minutes." He nods and leaves me to go back inside as I enjoy the fresh air.
My back is turned towards the door but I know as soon as Ji-Hoo comes outside. He doesn't make a sound but I am so attuned to him that I still know he is there. In no mood to spar with him anymore, I ignore him as he stops right behind me. I can feel the heat from his body but he isn't touching me.
"Still angry?" he asks me.
"Ani."
He sighs. "Then look at me."
"Ani."
His long arms come up on either side of me and brace against the railing of the balcony, trapping me but still not touching me. "Look at me…Please?"
Turning around I finally look at him but keep my face completely blank and my arms crossed. Raising an eyebrow, I wait for him to speak.
"Jan Di and I-" Cutting him off by putting two fingers on his mouth, he looks at me in surprise.
"I really don't want to know anymore, Ji-Hoo. Whatever happened between you two is in the past. I just find it unfair that my life has been an open book to you but your life is always a mystery to me." Turning my back to him, I sigh. "I know how private you are and if you don't want to tell me, you must have your reasons. I accept that and I don't want to fight with you. Jan Di is great. I like her and I trust you. That is all I have to know." I feel him step forward to press his warm body against mine. His heart is pounding in his chest and mirroring my own.
"Can you feel that? How my heart is pounding? That's because you are my heart's song. It beats like this for you. I know I am not the best at communicating things but you can always trust my heart and how I feel about you. Arasso?" His voice is gentle and his breath tickles my neck.
Freeing his hands from the railing, I pull his arms around me and lean back into his embrace.
"Arasso." I sigh letting my head rest on his shoulder. "I would do anything for you. I hope you know that." I whisper.
"I would do anything for you too." He says as his lips brush my cheek and he hugs me tightly. "We should go back inside. It's getting cold out here." I nod and reluctantly slide out of his arms to go back inside.
Everyone is sitting comfortably and chatting as we come in. Welcoming us back, they hand us glasses of wine as Woo Bin continues re-telling one of the F4's crazy high school stories. Ji-Hoo sits down in a huge overstuffed chair and playfully pulls me down beside him. Tucking me close to his side, he wraps an arm around my waist as we listen to Woo Bin. Yi Jung's laughing accusations and Jun Pyo's loud protests throughout his story are what make it the most comical. Ji-Hoo simply hides his smirks and chuckles behind my head, choosing only to defend or bring attention to any points of the story that makes any of them look the most ridiculous.
Hours later, the room begins to quiet down as everyone grows sleepy from the wine and quiet conversation. Leaning against Ji-Hoo with his arm now draped over my shoulder, I feel him lazily nuzzle my ear as I try to hide a large yawn.
"Before everyone heads home, I want to propose a toast." Woo Bin says. "To our new friend and to each other: May we always remain close, always stick together, and never forget what is most important-"
"The wine?" Yi Jung jokingly interrupts. Woo Bin squeezes his eyes shut and groans. Everyone laughs and Yi Jung earns an elbow in the ribs from his wife.
"As I was saying, may we spend many more nights together-"
"Woo Bin that was supposed to be a secret between the two of us." Ji-Hoo jokes with a serious look on his face.
"And I think I see your ugly faces enough as it is." Jun Pyo says with a chuckle.
Woo Bin rolls his eyes in mock exasperation and raises his glass again. "To my brothers: may we always have each other's backs. And to our girl's: if we don't…You can always stay at my house." He says with a mischievous grin.
"I'll drink to that." Ji-Hoo shrugs.
We all laugh and raise our glasses. "Cheers!"