Chapter Twenty One
"Mi Nam!" Jeremy shrieked. "What are you doing?"
An innocent eyed Mi Nam turned to his hyung, "Adding salt." He looked so much like a kid; Jeremy had to refrain from yelling. How can I yell when he's giving me a look like that?
With a calmer tone he asked, "Why?"
Mi Nam stopped and blinked, making a face that said something along the lines of: I'm not supposed to be doing this?
Jeremy didn't know he was capable of a look like that. He's changed since his accident. It's like he's transforming into a different person.
He remembered the just of what Ye Eun had told him. "He really is a nice person, but it'll take him awhile to come around." Ye Eun said he's like this with people he likes the most. He and Dong Jun hated each other before they became best friends. So this really must mean he likes me the best over both our hyungs.
Then Jeremy wondered if it was really Ye Eun's doings, subliminally brainwashing him to be civil to Jeremy. He knew she had tricks up her sleeves. Nah, that's too complicated, even for Ye Eun.
He stopped the boy from adding too much salt to the vegetable dish that was boiling.
"You're not supposed to." Jeremy delicately warned, taking the salt from Mi Nam's hand.
The second he touched his hand a flashback of Ye Eun popped into his head. 'Just make sure you don't confuse Mi Nam with Jung Hwa.' How could he? Jung Hwa was a part of his life that he didn't want to revisit while Mi Nam was…he was…
"When I had this dish…" Mi Nam started, "I tasted something salty so I thought you added salt-"
"That was one of your mistakes the first time. You don't add salt to everything you cook. Especially the vegetables. Even if you were to, adding this much will make it taste bad." Jeremy tried not to sound too harsh, but Mi Nam was shaker-happy. "Don't do anything on your own and just follow my directions okay?"
Instead of snapping an attitude like he usually would have, Mi Nam didn't. He was serious about learning how to cook.
Mi Nam gave a sheepish smile. "Oh. Understood."
"Cooking even at a simple level will take time so be patient and learn how to cook basic things properly."
"Yes, teacher." Mi Nam agreed, enthusiastically, so that much he bowed. "Continue to teach me well!"
Mi Nyu suddenly walked into the kitchen. "Oh! You guys look so cute in aprons!" She squealed. Jeremy's apron was light pink with little strawberries while Mi Nam's was a basic white.
She smiled, sitting down on a chair. Both the boys had their hair tied back, only Mi Nam's was in pigtails. "Oppa, I haven't seen your hair like that since we were younger."
"I know." Mi Nam said, lightly tugging on one of his ponytails. "It's a bit refreshing."
"Can I help?" Excitement spread across her face, immediately getting up.
"No. Oppa is going to show you how well he can cook today!" Mi Nam pushed his sister back down.
"Alright, oppa! I believe in you!"
"Aigoo~, you're such a cutie." He went over to pinch his little sister's cheeks in a daze.
"Mi Nam!" Jeremy pulled him back. "Don't get distracted."
"Oh. Right."
"Here." Jeremy handed him a package of beef. "Start cutting the meat. But not too big- about this size." Jeremy held his fingers together to show the size.
Mi Nyu watched with a smile as Mi Nam and Jeremy finished making lunch together. With Mi Nyu in the room, the atmosphere got better. From her seat she gave a comment or suggestion about their cooking almost every second. The whole situation became more lighthearted as Mi Nyu watch the boys bicker, laugh and hit each other. It seems their relationship has gotten much better hasn't it? I'm glad. They look like they really enjoy each other company…
"Ah~ Jeremy hyung, it's almost done." Mi Nam rang.
Jeremy went over to the pot, "No, give it about five more minutes. It has to cook for exactly an hour."
"Why? It's not like five minutes is really going to count." Mi Nam groaned.
"I heard you." Jeremy poked Mi Nam's head.
The house suddenly was filled with an odd ratchet- a sound they barely heard. The door bell. Mi Nam and Jeremy looked at each other in confusion for a moment. The both of them had forgotten what the doorbell sounded like.
"Ah! I'll go get it." Mi Nyu shot up like a rocket out of the room.
Go Mi Nyu hurriedly skipped to the door. Who could it be? She wondered, peaking through the hole. There was a short, brown haired girl there. But it was odd. They never got visitors unless it was the manager, president or Coordinator. And they rarely used the doorbell.
Mi Nyu opened the door to a doll-faced foreigner with a small suitcase beside her. Her eyes were wide with curiosity and anxiety. The girl was on the short side, an inch or two shorter than Mi Nyu, with beautiful brown eyes. She had wavy hair that went past her shoulders and was wearing snow boots, stockings and a white sweater dress.
"Um, hello…" The girl stuttered in English then into Korean. "I mean, 'hello'."
"Hello." Mi Nyu replied with her Basic English skills. She didn't know how much she could keep up because it had been forever since she used them conversationally. "Can I help you?"
"Is there a Jeremy Kang here?" The girl asked in Korean. "Oh, I hope I came to the right place. Grace told me this was it…." She ended, mumbling nervously in English.
"You're looking for Jeremy?" Mi Nyu knew enough to understand who she was asking for. "Jeremy is here. Um… But, who are you exactly?"
"I'm sorry. My name is Julie Fletching. I'm a friend of Jeremy's."
"Julie Fletching?" Mi Nyu repeated successfully. "Oh. Jeremy's friend? Well, then…a friend of Jeremy is a friend of mine. Would you like to come in while I get him for you?"
"Yes, thank you." Julie replied.
She invited the gorgeous stranger into their dormitory, not even taking ten steps before both she and Mi Nyu heard an animated scream from the side. An excited blonde boy sprinted out of the kitchen, still in his apron. "JULIANNE BETH FLETCHING~!" Within seconds, the girl was picked up off the ground and spun around.
Unknown to them all, the brunette keyboarder was watching. And he didn't like what he saw. He scoffed. I know Jeremy likes skin ship but still do they have to be so touchy? It's like they're lovers that haven't seen...Right. They're ex boyfriend and girlfriend.
He continued to observe as she laughed in pure delight as Jeremy continued to spin her. She was indeed very pretty. So this is Julie? He doesn't have the worst taste in girls.
"OPPA!" She screamed excitedly.
Mi Nam simply narrowed his eyes, getting back to the lunch that was cooking. I don't why she's here but I hope her stay is short. He got a weird feeling watching the two together...one that he couldn't put his finger on.
Mi Nyu watched in amazement as he continued to spin her.
"I'll go get some tea for our guest!" Mi Nyu perked. Oh yay, guests. She thought. Just in time for lunch too. How wonderful. I've never seen Jeremy this happy before.
"Okay Mi Nyu!" Jeremy replied, putting Julie down with a smile. "Sorry! I just can't believe you are here! It's been forever! I mean, what brings you here?" It had been about two years since he last saw her in person.
"I just..." She grabbed his hands. "I really missed you. Even though it's not cheap to come to Korea, I got a week long vacation and I had been saving money so I could finally afford to come and see you again! Sorry I didn't tell you, it's just…I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, I'm surprised! And oh my gosh~ I missed you too!" He hugged her again tightly. "And your Korean has gotten so much better."
"Thank you! Grace told me the same thing. I'm staying over with her."
"You should stay here with me and the band!"
"I don't want to be a burden."
"You're no burden! They love you. Plus, we have an extra room!"
"Is it really okay?" Julie asked.
"Of course! I'll show you to the room! Then we can have some tea and have lunch!" Jeremy's excitement could not be killed.
"Sounds wonderful!" He grabbed her hand and began the climb up the stairs.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mi Nyu found her brother continuing to chop the beef. He seemed a bit...agitated? "Oppa, are you alright?"
"Why?" He continued chopping the meat.
"Because...you're slicing the board."
Mi Nam looked down; he had in fact finished chopping the meat and was now making dents in the plastic cutting board. "Oh." He went over to the stove, putting it in the pan to fry. "So, the doorbell rang. Who was it?" Even though he knew, he asked anyhow.
"A girl for Jeremy, she says she's his friend. It's exciting to have guests. Maybe I can take her on a tour?"
"Yeah, you do that." He flipped the meat. "You, Jeremy and Julie. Have fun!"
"Why don't you come too Oppa?" She brought out a tea kettle and filled it with the water from the tap.
"Huh."
"Maybe we can invite Ye Eun too?"
"She'll probably be busy like always. You're going to be seeing her later this week any way aren't you?"
The tone of Mi Nam's voice instantly tipped Mi Nyu off, "Oppa, are you and Ye Eun having problems?"
"Why would you think that?"
She shrugged. "I just have a feeling."
"In any case it's my fault."
Mi Nam and Mi Nyu were now side by side, one continuing to sautee the meat and season per Jeremy's direction, and the other finishing the tea.
"What happened?"
"We kissed."
"What's the problem with that?"
"It's just... spending all this time with her has got me thinking about the possibility of being with her again. And I don't know how I feel about that. When I'm with her she takes my mind off of some things and make me feel good, but then old feelings keep coming up and mixed with my hormones...It's really making things difficult for me." Lately it felt like he couldn't keep his hormones in check. He was going through mood swings, which he believed he had successfully hid from his bandmates. He knew he couldn't keep avoiding her forever, but he needed time.
"Are you afraid of her leaving you again or you afraid of loving her?"
"I… don't know. if I'll be able to put my whole heart into it. Like I'll only love half of what I used to. I want to love, but I feel somewhat distracted. My heart is somewhere else. I don't even know where I'd find it at his point."
"Do you want to be with Ye Eun?"
"I know it's hard for Ye Eun. The family life she wanted is so close but she can't have it because of the circumstances. I honestly don't think a relationship will happen. If it does, it'll take a while." He scooped the rest of the rice out.
"Have you talked lately?"
"No. I wouldn't even know where to start."
"Well, you should soon." The tea kettle whistled. "Oh, tea is done! Let's go have tea and lunch with our guest!"
Mi Nyu quickly set spots at the table with her brother before going to fetch Tae Kyung. He was deep in music composition when she last left him, nose cancelling headphones over his ears at his desk slowly writings lyrics.
"Hyung-nim~" When she had opened the door he was no longer doing what she had left him. His laptop was out and he had a notepad beside him, writing notes? I wonder what he's up to. She thought, quickly sneaking in to their room.
Tae Kyung's expression was a bit stressed and he furrowed his eyebrows. Recognizing she was approaching him, probably to figure out what he was doing, he shut his laptop quickly and threw his notepad into the drawer- trying not to look suspicious. "Yes?"
"Lunch is ready!" She stood in front of his desk, holding her hands in front of her. "I also made some tea!"
Tae Kyung couldn't help but smile, she looked so cute- whatever she did. "So, I assume that our guest is someone important to Jeremy?"
"Huh? How did you-"
He got up from his desk. "I heard his squealing."
Mi Nyu made a face as Tae Kyung walked in front of her. "But I thought you had your nose cancelling headphones on?"
"I didn't have them on the whole time, and even if I did I can hear Jeremy's 'excited' squeal across the whole peninsula of Korea. It's hard to miss; he hardly ever makes that sound."
"Really?" She asked as he grabbed her hand, taking her out the room.
"Yes." He closed the door behind them before entering the hallway, "It's Julie right?"
Mi Nyu nodded.
"I wish he would've told us that he was inviting his girlfriend."
"That's his girlfriend?"
"Ex-girlfriend." Tae Kyung corrected himself, continuing down the stairs with his girlfriend. "They might as well be un-exed with the way I've seen them act."
"You've seen them together before?"
"When we first debuted, yes. I've only seen her in person a few times since then." Tae Kyung stopped at the last stair. "Wait. Did you and Jeremy make this lunch or did you let Mr. Salts-A-Lot try?"
"Hyung-nim!"
"Don't hyung-nim me! Do you want my blood pressure to shoot through the roof?"
"It's not bad, Jeremy helped him."
"I'll take your word. But you have to taste my food first." He smirked.
After a nice lunch and tea, Jeremy and Julie hopped away to go spend quality time together. This left Shin Woo, Mi Nyu, Mi Nam and Tae Kyung who was too consumed doing something on his phone to really pay attention to the conversation.
"I haven't seen Jeremy like this in awhile." Shin Woo said, finishing up his tea. "It's nice that Julie came to visit again."
Mi Nam scoffed, arms crossed. "She's come before?"
"Yes. But she hasn't visited in awhile. At least not since you joined." Shin Woo replied. From what he could tell, Mi Nam wasn't taking onto Julie like the rest of them had. "Julie is an interesting girl. You guys should get to know each other."
Before Mi Nam could even reply, surprisingly his sister came into the conversation. "Tomorrow, we've decided to go out to a sauna!" She added. Honestly, he was quite glad she did that.
"You're going to take her to a place to sweat? Why don't you take her on a tour of Seoul?" Tae Kyung lifted his eyebrow, still fiddling with his phone.
"That's what I suggested but Jeremy wanted to take her there first. I mean, the sauna is relaxing and she said she wouldn't mind going. So…"
"Hm." Tae Kyung sounded. Julie had quite the affect on Jeremy. He had always acted more hyperactive with her around through. Now Tae Kyung thought about it, Shin Woo's behavior had been somewhat different too.
Maybe it was just him, but he seemed to be smiling more...It was weird, whatever was making him like that. Maybe it's like a new tea flavor he hadn't tasted. Or he's plotting to take over the world…
"I wish I could go with you but…Tae Kyung and I have some filming to do for the drama tomorrow." Shin Woo expressed. "Ah, Mi Nam do you want to help me practice?"
"You're already good. You're practicing more?" Mi Nam almost objected, but then saw Shin Woo's expression. He wanted to give Mi Nyu and Tae Kyung alone time. He quickly got up with his hyung. "Okay hyung! I'll help!" and left the couple alone at the table.
"So…" Mi Nyu stirred her tea. "What time does your shooting for the drama end tomorrow? You don't have to come with Ye Eun and I dress shopping but afterwards we're looking at some venues. You remembered, right?"
"How could I forget, silly?" He then pondered his scheduling. "Shin Woo and I should be done sometime in-between noon and three. Hopefully noon. Even though acting is 'fun' and all, it gets tiring pretty quickly. It should be over in the middle of your forced sweating ritual."
"What time are you leaving?" She wanted to make him a big breakfast to give him energy.
"Seven. What a ridiculous time. Mi Nam's lucky his injuries prevented him to film." With his recovery more important than the drama filming, he and the crew felt it was best to not have him film. Jeremy dropped himself as well. Instead, the two would become regular radio hosts together. Tae Kyung was quite surprised that Jeremy followed in his footsteps. He probably didn't want Mi Nam to feel too badly for not being able to film.
"He's much happier now he's in a cast that allows him to move his hands. You should have seen him making lunch."
"I'm surprised at them getting along, but it probably won't last."
"Why would you say that?"
Tae Kyung shrugged looking at the article on his phone 'Top Destinations to Honeymoon For The Modern Couple'. It was about the tenth he had looked at. Tae Kyung was attempting to finish honeymoon research he had started earlier when Mi Nyu left the room. "Just have a feeling."
"Jeremy just told they were official best friends."
"Really?" Tae Kyung laughed. "That's…" He seriously didn't see that one coming. "I really don't understand those two at all." He ended, somewhat distracted.
Mi Nyu took note of this, still sipping on her tea.
"Mi Nyu, tell me a place you've always wanted to go." Tae Kyung was stuck and didn't know what to choose. There were so many places in the world to go, but what would be the perfect place for him and his young bride? He didn't want use the method of asking her, indirectly or directly, but he didn't have much of a choice.
She tapped her fingers on the table after setting down her tea cup. "I could tell you but it's way too expensive, that and…"
"What?"
"You'll laugh at me." She frowned.
"Why would I laugh?" What could possibly be funny about an expensive place?
"Promise you won't."
"I promise I won't laugh. Now tell me."
"I've always wanted to go the moon. You know, just to see what's it's like to look at the earth from there." Mi Nyu spoke dreamily.
A huge smile had spread across Tae Kyung's face when she said that and a chuckle couldn't help but come with it.
"You said you wouldn't laugh!" Mi Nyu instantly pouted.
"I'm sorry, but…you looked so…" His laughter died down. "You're so cute. I couldn't help it."
"You think it's stupid don't you?" She put her head down.
"No, it's not. It's just different. Different and really expensive." He stopped. "So, could you do tell me something that's more…attainable? You know, that's on earth maybe?"
"Since I've seen the beach, maybe somewhere with snow. Like the mountains. They're pretty."
"Ah. The mountains…" Mi Nyu watched as typed something into his phone that she knew wasn't a text.
"Is that what you're planning on-" Mi Nyu began to ask, but Tae Kyung stopped her.
"No." Tae Kyung flatly replied.
"Really?" Mi Nyu smiled. She had totally caught him. So that is what he was going earlier!
"Don't even try using that that pig nose of yours to try to sniff this one out. I just asked you a question."
She was on to him and he knew. Of course, why would he get so defensive? "Can you handle the snow, hyung-nim?"
"Do I look like I'm some sensitive child in a bubble? Don't talk like that!"
Coordinator Wang came into work the next morning in a daze. I can't believe Shin Woo said that to me. It was wonderful. No, you shouldn't be thinking that! You work for him. With him. Oh. This is wrong. About as wrong as me asking him to do this in the first place. She slapped herself on the forehead.
"Hey! Chae Rim-ssi! What's wrong with you?" Manager Ma strolled around to her office desk. It was a place she wasn't very often. But when she wasn't tending to A.N Jell or anyone else, she liked to come here. It was sort of calming in a since to look over things and do paper work, running errands here and there.
"Oh, nothing."
He bent down, resting his head on her desk. "You know…I've been noticing you and Shin Woo seem to be talking an awful lot lately. Don't tell me..."
She lifted an eyebrow. He couldn't possibly know!
"...you're working on some secret project with him?"
She sighed in relief. Manager Ma is too dense to notice it. He hadn't gotten suspicious. Yet.
"We haven't been around him more than usual. You're imagining me. Stop hanging around me- go get your work done. Don't the kids have schedules you need to wrangle them up for?"
"Right!" He laughed. "Off to A.N Jell land!" He hopped away, leaving the Stylist to wallow in her thoughts.
What exactly does this mean for us, then? He likes me? How could he like me? Really like me? I guess it's not impossible. I'm Wang Chae Rim. Men practically drool when I walk down the street. Or maybe my vision's just bad.
But I'm his noona. He should be dating a girl more his age…and standard. Aish. I didn't sign up for this. I just wanted to prove my mother wrong. How can life me for me and against me at the same time? This is impossible.
Her phone rang and she looked at the screen. Of course. It had to be that Kang Shin Woo. "Hello?"
"After Tae Kyung and I finish shooting for the drama, I have an abundance of free time in which I would like to fill. Escort me?"
"I can't." Coordinator automatically declined.
"I'm sorry. I didn't ask. Are you going to be busy then?"
"Yes. Very." She lied. She didn't have any serious business until the next day.
"When will you be free? I'll wait."
Ah, Shin Woo why are you so determined? Coordinator sighed. He's making this even harder for me to say no.
However, the thought of someone waiting for her made her giddy, "Really?"
"Of course, we're dating now aren't we, noona?"
"Don't say that out loud!"
"Then, would you like me to use telepathy?"
"Oh haha."
"Coffee then? At 8:00? There's a very nice cafe I've wanted to visit." Shin woo said.
There was silence on the line as Coordinator debated her next choice of words. Yes or No. Yes or No.
"Noona- don't hang up either. I'll call you back until you give me an answer. Preferably a positive one."
Coordinator was a bit shocked at how serious and forward Shin Woo was being. Was there any way she could say no? Still she was split, somewhat under the impression Shin Woo's actions were just a joke as payback for what happened on that night with her parents. But how could it be…? "I'll go. But you're paying."
"Good. I'll see you tonight."
The second she put her phone down she got a text.
She growled. "Seriously? WHO IS it now?" Seeing it was a text from Mi Nam, she opened it.
[-NOONA YOU HAVE TO HELP ME ! ! !]
Coordinator Wang groaned, typing in a reply. [-What did you do this time?]
[-Just meet me at the Sauna.]
[-I have things to do!]
[-Please? Promise me an hour. Please? I'll do something for you. Anything. Just get over here by noon.]
[-Alright, give me your reason.]
[-Julie Fletching.]
[-Julie? Jeremy's Julie?]
[-Thank god you know about her. Anyway, she's in Korea now. Jeremy and Mi Nyu are all about taking her on tour and for some reason HE wants to start off by taking her to a sauna. Now I'm here at the sauna with these lovebirds and Mi Nyu is going to leaving me...so, show up and act like you've come by coincidence!]
[-You ARE SO LUCKY I'm on your side of town.]
[-Thank you so much noona!]
Go Mi Nam felt like he was going to puke if he had to look at one more second of Julie and Jeremy. He wanted to rip Julie and Jeremy apart. But they were inseparable. Their public displays of affection was so overbearing, it attracted the attention of strangers. But Jeremy didn't notice. He was too caught up to care. That annoyed Mi Nam the most. He was practically ignoring him, not to mention everyone else now that she was here.
He inwardly groaned. And today's only her first day here? How will I survive?
"Mi Nyu, why did you make me come with you again?" He asked, turning his eyes from the couple to his baby sister.
"It's good for your health. It'll help you heal even faster." She said with an angelic-like grin, patting her brother's hand lightly. Yeah, that was the only reason. His sister was persuasive when she wanted to be.
They were all now sitting in a circle out in the lounge area of the sauna, Jeremy and Julie sitting next to each other. Their hands had been attached since both of them woke up this morning and didn't change when they left and came to the sauna. The only time they had separated was to go to the bathroom.
A voice suddenly knocked him out of his thinking. "You remind me a snake, Mi Nam."
"WHAT?" He looked over to the owner of that voice, Julie. She had an innocent face plastered on, and it made him want to throw an object at her. WHY am I the only one that thinks she's obnoxious?
"You think so?" Jeremy interrupted. "I've told him a million time that if he keeps his eyes narrowed they're going to stay that way. Soon, he won't be able to see anymore."
Mi Nam didn't know he had his eyes narrowed in the first place. Of course, Jeremy takes her side. Tch.
"I didn't mean to offend you! You're really cool, Mi Nam!"
"Ah, Julie." Jeremy piped,"Let's go get some food."
"Food? Okay. We'll be back!" The couple got up and linked arms before hopping away.
Mi Nam tried his best not to roll his eyes. Instead he rolled his head to the side, to look at his sister and ask, "You're really leaving me alone with them?"
"Mi Nam, don't be like that. I'm not leaving you."
"It's like we don't even exist until we're convenient for them or they need to ask us some question. We might as well not even be here! It's like we're both third wheels! And when you leave I will be the third wheel!"
"Would you like to come with me and Ye Eun then? We're going to go dress shopping, and then we're-"
"No, you know I can't. Not only will it be boring, but it's your thing. I don't want to ruin it."
"You won't be ruining anything. Don't think like that Oppa."
"What's this talk I hear?" Coordinator came in scene, with sauna attire and her hair tied back. "My favorite pair of twins."
"Coordinator!" Mi Nam sighed in relief.
"Hello, unni! When did you get here?"
"Just now~! I needed a break. Who knew I find you all here?" Coordinator feigned awareness. "Oh, Mi Nam~" She said sitting next to him. Mi Nyu was oblivious to the undertone Coordinator was giving him.
"Tell me why I'm here again." Coordinator said under her breath.
"Oh you know, I just wanted your company." Mi Nam whispered, a bit sarcastically. "Because I need to talk to you of course!"
"You made me come all the way here just to talk? YOU-"
Coordinator's whisper was interrupted by Jeremy and Julie who came back with the snacks, which consisted mostly of fruit.
"Hey you guys! We're back~" Jeremy sang, putting the tray down. "OH! Noona!" He excited exclaimed upon noticing Coordinator's presence. "When did you get here?" Jeremy asked, sitting down with Julie.
"Just now, dear."
"Julie, this is our Coordinator."
"Hello, nice to meet you." Julie bowed her head. "I'm Julie Fletching. Have we met?"
"I'm not sure. But in any case it's nice to meet you, Julie-ssi." Coordinator was impressed by the foreigner, no doubt.
"You know what I think? An occasion this joyous needs drinks. Coordinator and I will go get them!" Go Mi Nam interrupted.
"Yes, why don't we?" Coordinator agreed, sensing urgency to get away from the situation at hand.
Coordinator Wang and Mi Nam quickly left to find a more private place. He stopped them when they were far from the group and out of ear shot of other people.
"There is something wrong with off." Mi Nam automatically griped. "Something I don't like."
"Off? How can even say that? She's only been here for a day. Stop acting like a brat and get over your foreigner prejudice."
"It has nothing to do with her being a foreigner!" Mi Nam defended. "And I'm not a brat!"
"Mi Nam, if you wanted me to come and be with you at the sauna so you wouldn't feel like the third wheel that's fine. I can understand. But you telling me you want to talk about Jeremy's ex is too much."
"Just listen to me."
Coordinator put her hands on her hips. "Then tell me. What's making you think like this?"
"They haven't seen each other in months and she "suddenly" shows up and is all over him!"
Coordinator suppressed a laugh. I've never heard Mi Nam like this; he's so obviously jealous.
"Have you seen them? Rubbing noses, holding hands! This morning they were feeding each other breakfast. Tae Kyung and Mi Nyu aren't even like that and they're engaged! It's practically like they're dating. This level of affection is not appropriate on any level for exes! It's like she's-"
"Making up for lost time, Mi Nam. So they're overly affectionate with each other even though they've broken up. They were close friends before they dated. I can't believe that makes you think she's up to something. I mean, okay, to some extent I agree. It's weird. But you know how Jeremy is with skinship."
"She told me I looked like a snake! A snake!"
"Honestly Mi Nam, you sound like a jealous boyfriend."
"Jealous? Jealous." Mi Nam laughed in spite. "I am not jealous. She might act innocent and sweet but I just feel it. She is up to something!"
"Mi Nam, stop being paranoid." Coordinator put her hands on his shoulders. "Calm down. She's not going to be here forever. Give it time and I'm sure you'll get along."
"But noona-"
"Mi Nam." Coordinator affirmed. "Stop over thinking."
"Fine." Mi Nam grunted. "Then I have question for you." Looking at his noona straight in the eyes he asked, "Why didn't you tell me about Shin Woo?"
Coordinator's face dropped, and so did the hands placed on his shoulders. "You know?"
"It's been a while." Ye Eun had not been called, but texted by her ex to meet her at a local restaurant. Although 'awhile' wasn't that long in reality, it had felt long to them.
"Yeah." Mi Nam replied while Ye Eun smiled weakly, sitting in front of him. There was no food, and probably wasn't going to be. Neither one of them was hungry.
"Have Mi Nyu and Tae Kyung set a date for their wedding? Found a venue? You guys were gone practically the whole day." Mi Nam wanted to start a causal conversation.
"Oh." She responded, the air between them getting less awkward. "They want to get married in the winter. Other than that I can't tell anymore. It'll ruin the surprise."
"I suppose that's good. It'll avoid most of Tae Kyung- hyung's allergies. Unless he's allergic to the cold." He sighed.
Not in the mood for idle conversation, Ye Eun straightforwardly spoke, "I've got something to say."
"What?" Her tone caught his attention the most. It seemed at bit distant.
"I'm leaving Seoul."
"Why? Is it a job offer?" Mi Nam calmly replied, much to Ye Eun's surprise. She thought he would flip out at the notion of her leaving.
Maybe it'll make this easier? Ye Eun gulped. She had decided to she was going to leave; somewhat under He Yi's influence. It had been perfect timing she saw an ad for a cooking school online and it was a series of simple clicks that got in her application.
She took out a pamphlet she received from the school in the mail, and pushed it in front of Mi Nam. "I've applied culinary school and…I got accepted."
"That's great?" He started, somewhat happily, picking up the pamphlet. He looked over it quickly and realized the school was in Japan. "You're leaving Korea?" Ye Eun wasn't financially stable, how could she afford that? Beyond that, going to a country where she barely understood the language? "Why…all of a sudden?"
"It might seem sudden and maybe rash to you. I hadn't told you when I was thinking about it rather to do it or not, and I made the decision without even telling you. And for that I'm sorry. But I…just felt like I had to take this chance." Mi Nam still felt like there was something wrong. She continued on, "Can you be happy for me?"
"Not until you tell me the real reason as to why you're leaving." He pushed the pamphlet away.
"The real reason? This is my dream. The one that I put on hold when I got pregnant with your child. I've finally got this... and that's all you can say?"
"Ye Eun, I know when you're running away from something. So you should tell me what that is, before I get really angry."
"I'm not running from anything, Mi Nam. What's so hard about this for your brain to process? I applied to culinary school. I got in. I'm going."
"You're just going to take Min Jee away from me?"
"She's been living apart from you for the last four years of her life!" Ye Eun felt horrible after saying those words.
Those words hurt him as much as she thought and more. "So that means it doesn't matter right? It doesn't matter how I feel? What about her? We've barely started to get to know each other and you're threatening to move to a completely different country?"
"I've gotten an opportunity to make both of our lives better, Mi Nam. Please don't do this to me."
"I don't have a say in this at all? You're just going to pack up everything here and move to Japan?"
"It's not like I'm leaving right away. I'm not going to go until the summer."
"I can't believe you." Even though Mi Nam was angry, he kept it inside.
"It's not like there's much of a choice Mi Nam. You can't take care of her."
"So you're just going to leave for another four years?"
"There's a possibility I might not come back." She had to face it. There wasn't much for her in Korea except pain and trouble.
"There's no way I can do that. I can't. I can't go another four, five who knows how many years without seeing my daughter."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
"Why are you so determined to leave?" Why couldn't he just tell her what was wrong?
"If anything else happens to you because of me I don't think I can take it. But if something happens to my daughter, I won't be able to live with myself."
"Is that what you're afraid of? What makes you think that something is going to happen?"
"Because things already have Mi Nam. And I have to make my move before it gets any worse."
Something already had? "What did I tell you? If there's something wrong you have to tell me! I just put my faith back in you and you can't do something simple as that?" He fought not to raise his voice.
"There are just things I can't tell you!"
"Stop trying to protect me, Ye Eun-"
"This isn't about protecting you or me. This is about our daughter. I thought I could handle it, living in the shadow and doing things secretly. But I know if we get any closer the truth will come out that the truth will and once that happens, it's over. You can only cover so much, Mi Nam. If I don't do this now, make some sort of move, Min Jee's life might not be normal... and I'm scared. of that the most."Honestly she wasn't frightened as to what He Yi could do, but to how the media would take it out of control.
"I'd break every bone in my body to make sure that she grows up happy. And I know, the way things are now, it's not ideal. It may never be ideal, but we're not perfect. But as long as she's happy and healthy…" Mi Nam thought seriously about the next words. "Ye Eun, I know this is your dream. And I guess, I support it. If that requires you leaving Korea then fine. But I can't let you just take Min Jee."
"Then what do you plan on doing?"
A/N: Sorry for the sucky last chapter. I hope this is better. Tell me what you think? :) -L.C