Contemporary
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Author's Ramblings: Hi guys, remember to read and review!
The next few weeks became Nogook centered. She was one of those girls who planned her wedding ever since she could walk. She had her little doll brides riding in carriages, and had her doll couples kiss, with the boy giving flowers to the girl. She was either too naive or too self-assured, but she never doubted that once Gongmin figured out that he liked her, he would become the groom in her dream wedding. So she began her bridal preparations back in high school, when Gongmin oppa was not even looking at her. She made a scrapbook, which she filled with photographs and cut outs from magazines, where she wrote down ideas and glued on cards of the flower shops she liked. She even attended a bridal expo 2 years ago, long before Gongmin proposed, and had a whole bag filled with flyers stuffed in her drawer. She had it all planned out, down to the colors, bouquet, the set up, what, where and when. She was not one of the hapless girls who woke up one day wondering how to go about preparing for their wedding. So after choosing Eun Soo as her maid of honor, she arrived at her apartment bright and early in the morning, knocking on the door.
Choi Young, who was staying over, heard the knock and grunting strolled to the door.
"Who is there?"
"Oppa?"
"Nogook?"
"I came to see Unnie, open up." She had the audacity to ask to be let in! Not amused by his sister's sudden visit Choi Young turned around and did not even bother.
"Oppa, let me in, please, oppa!" he heard the screams behind the closed the door.
He got back into bed, luckily Eun Soo was not disturbed by all the noise or his quiet touches as he wrapped around her, and closed his eyes. Surely, she would get the hint and disappear. But they were not siblings for nothing, stubbornness was in their blood: Eun Soo's phone rang, then his. He turned off both. Then the front door bell chimed loudly.
"I will kill her," grumbled Choi Young and kissing the woman who was still blissfully unaware of the chaos about to descend onto her home, he got out of bed one more time. Now he was really upset!
He stomped to the entrance and slammed the door open, catching it at the last second, to avoid making noise for Eun Soo's sake.
Nogook was patiently standing by the door; she had a wheeled suitcase with her and looking innocently at her brother, she played dumb "Did I bother you guys? Is Unnie awake?" Then she added. "If you are trying to shock me coming out in your underwear, it did not w..." and her eyes popped out in shock, when Choi Young's large palm pressed against her mouth.
"Shut up, you little, ah!" She bit his hand, and made Choi Young realize this was one of those moments Choi Young wished she was a boy, so that he could smack her senseless and then some. He wished she was not his sister, then he could kick her sorry ass out without thinking twice. He glared at her with pure anger in his eyes, making her back away.
"Oppa, I'm sorry," her eyes quickly filled with tears. He could not tell if it was genuine or she was acting, but he knew that his intensity could be scary. He closed the door behind him, leaving a small opening so that the security alarm would not engage.
"How selfish and self absorbed can you be? Do you have any frigging idea how busy and tired Imja is? Do you think the world revolves around you? Why do you show up on her doorstep in the morning unannounced? Who gave you the right?"
"But I thought I would surprise her and we could have some fun together. You know Unnie likes to spend time with women, too. You are the one who is selfish. You have taken up all of her free time. I bet she secretly wishes you would be sent on a business trip, so that she could hang out with me or her other friends!"
That hit a currently raw nerve. He gulped, pressing his lips tightly, quickly losing his steam. The reality was not as simple as he constructed in his mind. Nogook was not the only selfish one here, as she so poignantly noted. They were both cut from the same selfish cloth. For a moment, Choi Young felt naked and cold, standing in the hallway where any of the neighbors could have seen him at any moment, creating unnecessary gossip for Eun Soo. He did not think, he just reacted as usual - doing first, thinking second.
"How about this? Go home. I'll take your bag, so that you don't have to drag it here again. Once she is awake, I'll have her call you."
"Oppa, I'm really sorry. I got too excited. I've asked Unnie to be my maid of honor. And when you become Gongmin's best man… Oops!" she covered her mouth, realizing she said something she should not have, "Then you would make the most handsome couple after us." And she smiled, hoping to appease her brother with this happy news.
"Fine, sorry if I was a bit much, somebody has to say 'no' to you, I know Imja is too nice to do that."
"Always the protector, I know." And the girl turned around, waving goodbye, leaving her luggage under his care.
"Sweetie," Asked Eun Soo's sleepy voice, through a yawn; she was awake, calling out to him. He rolled the bag inside, closed the door and returned to her. He kissed her good morning and Eun Soo asked about the bag, prompting Choi Young to tell the story of his sister's visit quickly. Eun Soo found the story amusing and laughed to her heart's content, imagining almost naked Choi Young having a discussion with his sister in the hallway. "You guys are quite the pair!"
"So, you are not mad?"
"Why would I be? You sister can be a lot at times, but so can you. This intensity thing, it suits you guys. It's the Choi family trademark. And it might actually be fun to do a little shopping and have some girl time. Lately all I do is work and work, and study…" Choi Young's heart beat anxiously inside his chest – Nogook was right, Eun Soo needed that something extra that he could not provide. As if reading his mind, Eun Soo added, "I don't want you to think that I am tired of spending all my free time with you, I would not trade it for the world, but just like you like to hang out with guys once in a while, I also want a woman's company. You understand?"
"Sure, Imja. Of course, go have fun. Let me know if you ever need a chauffeur, I'll be there," and he forced himself to smile and kiss her.
He was on edge all this time, and spent a lot of energy on keeping himself calm, blocking his conscious mind from intrusive irrational thoughts that plagued him at night in the form of vividly unpleasant nightmares. In all of them starred Director Gi Cheol. Eun Soo had no idea that the constant barrage of insinuating e-mails and texts became an everyday occurrence. Choi Young kept it all to himself; and when they were together, he never showed any signs of being upset or worried. This woman sitting in front of him, wearing his t-shirt directly off his back, simply because she said that it made her feel safer to sleep in; she put her head on his chest at night, because his heartbeat soothed her, she called out to him first thing after waking up in the morning, because not having him next to her made her sad. How could he ever tell her that her boss was harassing him incessantly?
"Imja, as long as you are happy, whatever you do, I'll be OK."
"That's why you are the best boyfriend in the universe!"
