Chapter eight
Yi Jeong was awoken by his loudly ringing phone. He let out a grunt and tossed away the cover before combing back his hair covering his eyes, so he could blink them open to see the caller. It was Woo Bin.
" ye... Woo Bin ah.." he answered in a sleepy tone.
" Yi Jeong ah... are.. you at the studio?.. agh! ...ani... You told that you are staying at Ga Eulyang 's this weekend...didn't ya?" Woo Bin 's voice sounded weary.
" boh?... are you sick ?" Yi Jeong was concerned and lifted up himself into a sitting position. He crossed his legs and sat on the mattress.
" tsk... ani... just.." Woo Bin let out a sigh " it's just monkey..."
"Did something happened... for you to be that tired ?" Yi Jeong sheepishly asked while a grin formed on his face.
" With her?" Woo Bin scoffed. " No way!" he let out a sigh. " she made me drink five bottles of liquor!"
" Boh?" Yi Jeong smirked again, " gwaen-chana?"
" Ani... just stopped throwing out every piece of my dinner...how about you?... having a great time with Ga Eulyang?"
Yi Jeong recalled how he barely slept last night with Ga Eul's huramoni snoring aloud. It was nothing like how he expected it to be, yet at least the movie was fun..
" maybe..." he gave an answer without confirmation nor denial.
" Yoh... Yi Jeong .. what's wrong...bro?" Woo Bin was confused. Yi Jeong let out a sigh and turned his head hoping to find a sleeping Ga Eul. But surprisingly there wasn't a sleeping Ga Eul... not even her mattress. The room was still dark though there wasn't any mattress laid on the floor. They were all folded and neatly kept on a corner of the room and neither Ga Eul nor her huramoni was there to be seen. It was then it clicked his mind that there wasn't the snoring when he woke up by the call. As there was no need to continue in his whispering voice he let out a loud sigh. Ga Eul and her huramoni had already woken up.
" Yi Jeong ah..." Woo Bin called out again.
"Wae?" Yi Jeong was annoyed, not for a specific reason, but he was annoyed.
Woo Bin let out a smirk, " bianae.. for disturbing..." he said in a sincere tone. " never mind... let's catch up later.."
" Arasso.." Yi Jeong let out another sigh, " Anyeong.." He hung up the call and glanced at the time. It was four thirty in the morning. He gasped in amazement. He stared at the empty space at his bedside for about what it seemed like for ten minutes, before tossing the cover completely and standing up.
"Joeunachimiya..." As soon as Yi Jeong got out of the bed room he was greeted by a huramoni, who was too concerned on a knitting to spare him a glance. He blinked his eyes while adjusting his sight to the light and greeted her back with a slight bow before scanning the room.
" She's in the kitchen." Huramoni stated without looking up from her needles.
" boh?"
" Ga Eul. "
Yi Jeong flashed a smile and bowed her again before heading to the kitchen. As he disappeared a smile drew on the wrinkled face as well.
Yi Jeong was yawning and rubbing his eyes to drain the sleepiness when he was entering the kitchen. First thing that he felt was the warmth then the savour of some kind of deliciously fried... he searched for the name but couldn't find it though. He wasn't Junpyo nor Woo Bin to sniff to recognise the dish, so he instead slowly opened his eyes.
In contrast with his pity state, Ga Eul was energetic and vibrant . She was moving around the small kitchen in quick short steps while the pans on the stove steamed and boiled. Yi Jeong stared at her animated moves and grinned unknowingly. The little table at his left was filled with all kinds of street food and their aroma effortlessly made him starve. While Ga Eul was busy stirring and frying something, slightly coughing to the steam that rose from the neighbouring sauce pan, Yi Jeong quickly dipped his finger in one of those hot sauces and tasted it.
" this tastes good..." he couldn't help but exclaim forcing Ga Eul to jump back in amazement.
"Sunbae... you woke up?" Ga Eul looked in wide eyes.
" Hmm" Yi Jeong nodded and smiled. " thought it was a grocery shop Ga Eulyang has... but it looks more like a food stall..." he gestured at the food on the table with a smirk.
" Anniyo..." Ga Eul smiled switching her attention back to the stirring, " its Saturday... and there will be a lot of customers..."
"Hmm.." Yi Jeong nodded. Though he knew Ga Eul wasn't looking, he pointed at another dish. "what's this?"
Ga Eul glanced before answering, " ae... that's Teteobokki..."
" Teteobokki?"
" ye... has Sunbae tasted it before?"
" Ani.." Yi Jeong answered with another smirk.
" Here... have some.." Ga Eul came near with just two steps taking a piece of it from a clean spoon she had found from nowhere. She blew its heat before holding it near his mouth. Yi Jeong backed for her sudden movement but hesitantly opened his mouth.
" How's it?" Ga Eul's eyes were sparkling waiting for the answer.
" Delicious.." Yi Jeong smiled and Ga Eul sighed in relief before returning the smile.
" Can I try that too?" Yi Jeong pointed at the fish cakes.
" Sunbae..." Ga Eul chuckled, " if Sunbae is going to eat them all ... what am I going to sell?.."
Yi Jeong grinned and Ga Eul chuckled again. " Arasso.. then.. just one..."
There came two hours in which Ga Eul trained Yi Jeong how to cut the vegetables and how to clean the seafood. Yi Jeong was used as taster when making kimchi as if the fish sauce was enough or not and it seemed a bit like pottery when they made the rice balls. Those two hours were filled with laughter whistling, commenting, chattering , tasting and packing.
After that, Yi Jeong was asked to sweep the whole back garden while Ga Eul took a wash before going to the shop. Ga Eul 's huramoni sat on the step waving a fan and inspecting him, pointing the leaves fallen here and there and making comments about how lazy he was.
" ah... these youngsters Your bodies have grown stiff without work..."
She made sure that Yi Jeong hand picked every leaf that was fallen on the ground and made him collect them in to a pile before putting them in to a sack. Despite the cool breeze of dawn Yi Jeong was sweating and tired. It was only the thought of refreshing himself with a wash that he had on his mind while he was sliding the door. He paused right after he opened the door. The unexpected sight had numbed his fingers while his eyes opened wide.
It took a while for his brain to register what he actually saw ; Ga Eul was standing right in the middle of the room naked if not for the towel that she had draped around her and was drying her hair with another white towel. Her skin was smooth and fair like yoghurt while her dark hair still wet from the bath reached slightly lower than her shoulders. The pink towel was a bit tight around her that it gave little hints about the curvature of her body. She was facing her back at Yi Jeong and had no idea that someone was staring at her. Yi Jeong on the other hand had gone completely numb, though he had seen many women completely naked before a semi naked Ga Eul was stealing his breath out and he felt as if his heart was beating faster. It worsened when the towel wrapped around her loosened and almost going to fall to the ground if not Ga Eul had caught it before that. If so it could have been the worst but yet in her attempt, it gave a glimpse of her little round breast. Yi Jeong felt as if his face was burning and his throat was strangling. He slowly closed the door without making any noise and turned around to catch his breath. He grabbed his throat and closed his eyes breathing rapidly and swallowing as to clear his mind and wipe out the redness of his face. After few exhales he managed to calm himself down. So Yi Jeong, the Casanova that he was called, though he himself now smirked for that idea, how Ga Eul that little country bumpkin had challenged his reputation and has made it a complete joke.
He had the second heart attack when he opened his eyes. The old woman was again glaring at him with narrowed eyes.
" I.. I..I was just.." he found himself babbling and cursed himself inwardly commanding to stop it.
Just in time Ga Eul came out of the room completely dressed in skirt and a blouse, unaware of anything that had happened. She smiled at both Yi Jeong and huramoni and politely asked why they were staring at her.
" Its just nothing..." huramoni waved off and left to the kitchen and Yi Jeong managed to return the smile preserving his cool.
The rest of the day when they were working at the shop though there were girls flocking around him partly amazed to see an F4 member working as a part-timer and partly because they just wanted to have a glimpse of those handsome features, Yi Jeong was having just one thought. It didn't matter how much times he shook his head to chase that thought away it didn't help and every time when he looked at Ga Eul who was either offering the change at the cashier or organising the items on the racks, the image of her with a towel draped around her was what conquered his mind. So during that whole day he wore those hints of red on his face though successfully buried under his signature grin.
The day passed quickly and night fell in no time. The shop was about to be closed and Ga Eul bowed to one of the last customers, when a man dressed in a full suit entered the shop.
" Anyeongsaeyo.." Ga Eul bowed him. Despite her polite greeting the man eyed her from head to toe.
" How can I help you sir?"
But the man continued to ignore her and scanned the room with concern. Ga Eul was a bit a confused till Yi Jeong came out from the little warehouse asking as if it was over for that day. The mans eyes widened seeing him in the dark green apron worn over the plain white t-shirt and trousers.
Yi Jeong froze on his position seeing him but his courage came back when after a moment the man bowed him.
" Young master Yi Jeong, head master So is expecting to meet you at the So manor."
" boh?" Yi Jeong raised one of his eyebrows. " Why now?"
" He asked to make you aware.. that if you won't return immediately... your expenses for the next month.. will be cut off.."
Yi Jeon smirked, " is it the worst he could do?" and asked with a sarcastic tone. Ga Eul was feeling uncomfortable about the situation and the man kept persuading.
" Young master_"
_" just tell him.." Yi Jeong 's smile vanished and a smug expression took its place, " that I'm busy.." and he turned around to head back to the warehouse.
Ga Eul followed him to the warehouse and the man in the suit waited for them.
" Sunbae..." Yi Jeong turned to meet her eyes.
" Sunbae... I think it's better if Sunbae would leave..." Ga Eul hesitated, " I mean just see... whether it's an emergency or_"
_" what if he won't let me come back?"
" Sunbae..." her voice was almost a whisper. " What if omma.. has again..."
It was then it clicked to Yi Jeong 's mind and his expression grew sincere.
" Sunbae... you should go... and check it out..." after a long silence he agreed.
" Arasso ... then..." he let out a sigh, " Ga Eulyang, I will come back ... wait for me..."
Ga Eul nodded and Yi Jeong placed a kiss on her lips before going back with his Hurabeujji's man.
When he entered the manor it made clear that Ga Eul's guess was right. The servants were running here and there while loud screams were heard from upstairs. Yi Jeong ran at its direction and found his omma pointing a knife at the nurses threatening them to back off. It was the same request again and again that she asked. She, wanted to talk with her sons. Yi Jeong though hesitantly stepped in to her room. The nurses had flocked around his omma that she was barely visible for him and he was to her. The head nurse had the sedate and as usual she was begging her to calm down. From the wailing that Yi Jeong recognised that his mother was holding a hostage and it was clear for him once again, that if something would happen to that young nurse.. his mother .. would again be sent to the asylum.
" Omma.." the tears were streaming when he spelled that word.. it had been months he had last uttered it.
The screaming stopped and the nurses made way so the lady could see him and Yi Jeong could see her. Her crying stopped immediately and she released the nurse who was catching her breath after almost being strangled to death. Madam So...ran to Yi Jeong, took his arm and touched his face.
" adal..." and the nurse took it as the chance to sedate her. Though the needle striked deep his mother stared at him and ... smiled.
Within moments she fell unconscious and Yi Jeong grabbed her and kept her on the bed. He did not waited another moment there partly because he couldn't bare to see her like that as it made his rage for his father go insanely high and partly because his conscience was blaming him as well. So as soon as she was laid on the bed he left without sparing another glance at her pity state. As for the man in the suit, he reported these to Head Master So as well as that Yi Jeong had left immediately there after. Head Master So, let out a sigh,
" For now... let him be wherever he want...after all... those moments won't likely to last long..."
When he returned back to Ga Eul 's house it was way past midnight. He was hesitant on opening the door and he expected everyone to be gone fast asleep. Well of course everyone had gone fast asleep, but not everyone in their bedrooms. Ga Eul had fallen asleep at the little dinning table, her head buried in her arms. She was asked to wait and just as before she had waited ..for him.
Despite all the stressful events, a smile drew on Yi Jeong 's face as he sat beside Ga Eul. He rested his head on its usual place; on Ga Eul 's chest and Ga Eul though sleepily pulled the blanket over him. She was tired , it was obvious in her breath. And he was shattered . So they cuddled up under that blanket sharing their breaths as it was in the other's embrace they found home.
The next morning was glorious though the last night 's events hung a dark cloud over its sky. Ga Eul's parents returned earlier than they'd originally planned. So at the dinner they were all present. They treated Yi Jeong better than anytime before as, though they had never known, huramoni had reported everything to them. At the dinner table surprising both of them, Ga Eul' s omma and appa addressed Yi Jeong as ' So saebong'. It was a silent indication that they would like to accept him as their son-in- law.
When at the end of the night Yi Jeong stepped out to leave, Ga Eul, again came running after him.
" Sunbae..." Yi Jeong was just going to open the car's door when he paused and turned around to meet her eyes once again. Those eyes which shine even in the dark.
" Ga Eulyang... am I forgetting something.." he asked.
" Ani.." she flashed a smile before grabbing his wrist. She took a piece of black thread which had about two colourful beads and a sea shell.
" This is probably an anklet... but thought it would be nice as a bracelet too..." she told while tying it around his wrist.
" boh?" Yi Jeong smirked. " where did Ga Eulyang find that.."
" I bought it from a shack... back when we were in new Caledonia..." she turned his wrist around to see how it suits him and approved her self with a nod. Yi Jeong let out another smirk as he saw how pleased she was to see him wearing that tacky bracelet or anklet or whatever it was.
" You are not expecting me to wear this ..are you?"
" Its a reward... sunbae... it's better if Sunbae... won't loose it..." she slightly kissed on his cheek and left back inside. She waved him good bye with a smile for a one last time before completely disappearing back to her house. Yi Jeong smirked again looking at that tacky thing before he drove out to the night.
Of course at the next F4 gathering that bracelet became a reason for him to be teased by Woo Bin. That wasn't what surprised him but when Junpyo asked the stupid question as if Jandi had given it to him. Yi Jeong was curios , so he asked from Jandi.
" Ye ... I remember Ga Eul showing me that... its supposed to be given to the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life time... means something like...don't run away..."
A/N:
Firstly, I am really sorry if I had disappointed you not writing the thing about Jihoo. I was going to write it but the weekend stay turned out to be longer than I expected it to be. And I thought if I would write it along with this, it would screw up both of the settings. I'll write it in the next chapter with a fresh beginning. Again I really am sorry.
Secondly, about the romance,
Remember the bracelet...it will serve a major purpose... :)