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Disclaimer:
I do not own Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 - 도깨비)
Year 2 -Mid-term
Year 1 of university went by in the blink of an eye. Eun Tak and Kyung Hye were busy with her modules and helping out in the laboratory.
Despite her busy schedule, Eun Tak made sure she always had at least one meal with Kim Shin. Her classmates, especially Joo Hee's clique were as malicious as ever but she learnt ways to ignore them and their condescending attitude and treatment towards majority of her classmates, including herself. Kim Shin would frequently pick her up from college after her classes and Eun Tak was aware that her classmates, particularly Joo Hee noticed this routine.
Before their class started, Eun Tak went to the washroom. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Joo Hee and her clique in the toilet, fixing their makeup. She rushed into a cubicle and hoped they would leave before she finished her business. However, the clique started having a conversation regarding Eun Tak and Kim Shin and ensured they were audible to Eun Tak.
"Oh wow look at her, I don't understand how she can pretend nothing happened at all." One of Joo Hee's minions, Ri Ah stated.
"People like her are so shameless they trap older and rich guys and use their money. Oh my gosh, she's like an escort." Hye Bin said as she scrunched her face in disgust and the three of them started laughing.
It took every ounce of willpower in her body to suppress her temper and not burst open the door to give them a piece of her mind. Joo Hee and her clique look at the cubicle Eun Tak was in and smiled mockingly.
"I bet the amount of sponsoring she gets depends on how she treats that man and what she does with him." Joo Hee declared crudely.
"It's so dejecting isn't it, I mean we have to go to class for four years with such a low and vulgar person." Hye Bin said venomously.
Unable to hear their crude and appalling remarks, Eun Tak swinged the cubicle door open and glared at them. Joo Hee, Ri Ah and Hye Bin giggled and walked out of the toilet before Eun Tak could retaliate.
She entered the classroom and as she was walking to her seat, she made eye contact with Joo Hee who was smirking at her. She ignored Joo Hee and sat down.
"Ya Ji Eun Tak, why do you look so pale? Did something happen? Oh my god, did you see a ghost? I knew this college was haunted, I knew it." Kyung Hye said, her voice shaky as she looked around.
This made Eun Tak chuckle and she forgot about the incident in the washroom. She thought about how ironic it was that Kyung Hye whom she met as a ghost in her first lifetime was frightened of ghosts in this lifetime. During the lecture, Eun Tak was so focused on the lesson that she did not realize a classmate glaring at her the entire time.
Joo Hee glared at Eun Tak and felt an unexplained rage rising within her. Eun Tak had things she did not even deserve, she reminisced about the first time she saw a man leaning against his car with his arms folded.
**Flashback**
He was tall, lean and classically handsome. Joo Hee felt herself falling for the stranger. She was surprised she didn't notice him, especially since she walked past the particular car park daily.
Before she could observe whom he was waiting for, Ji Ah rushed her to go to the library. Over the next few days, she tried to figure out who he was. After extensive research, she found out the man's name to be Kim Shin and he's the CEO of ILOOM Group of Companies.
iWow he's rich. If I make him fall for me, my life will be set. I won't have to worry about anything at all. /i
Joo Hee thought to herself as she continued searching for his net worth and other successful businesses related to ILOOM. Despite walking past the car park daily, Kim Shin did not show up. However, several weeks later, after their Criminology lecture ended in the evening, as she was walking past the car park, she noticed Kim Shin leaning against his car.
She told her clique to go on without her, she adjusted her sweater and checked her make up before walking towards him. Suddenly he unfolded his arms and started smiling in her direction, almost as if he was mesmerized by her. She plastered a smile on her face and just as she was about to approach him, someone familiar ran past her and right in his awaiting arms. Joo Hee gaped with incomprehension as she watched them embrace. Moreover, she was close enough to overhear their conversation.
"Hey…. I missed you." Kim Shin said as he stroked Eun Tak's hair.
Eun Tak pulled back and stared up into his face, "I missed you too!" She hugged him more tightly.
Joo Hee felt a heart aching bile of jealousy rising within her as she watched them interact. Kim Shin opened the door to his car for Eun Tak and drive off. Joo Hee realizes all this while, he was waiting for Eun Tak. She chided herself for feeling inferior and envying Eun Tak. She despised feeling this way when it came to Eun Tak.
Eun Tak was the top student in every module, she had a scholarship and their classmates adored her. On top of that, she had such a capable man as her boyfriend. She could not let her have everything. No one could have everything in their lives, especially when she was around.
The next day, she informed her clique and they started spreading malicious rumors regarding Eun Tak. However, none of their classmates even bothered about the gossip and their relation with Eun Tak had not wavered. Thus, they aimed for a different approach, by directly criticizing and making thinly veiled threats to Eun Tak.
**Present Day**
After class, as they were packing up, Joo Hee and her minions walked past them and smirked at them. Kyung Hye immediately stood up and blocked their path and glared at them.
"Move it scumbag." Hye Bin hissed, but Kyung Hye did not budge and continued glaring at her.
"I can see why that baseball Sunbae dumped you." Kyung Hye smirked.
Hye Bin gasped, flabbergasted that Kyung Hye knew she was dumped even though she broadcasted to the entire world that she dumped her ex-boyfriend. Kyung Hye flashed a victory smiled at them as she linked arms with Eun Tak and walked towards the door.
"That's not true! Oh my god you told them didn't you?" Hye Bin accused Ji Ah.
"Get a grip. No one cares about your dating life." Joo Hee responded. Eun Tak and Kyung Hye did not stay to hear the three of them bicker as they walked out of the classroom.
Just like any other day, Eun Tak was staying late and working on her research in the laboratory. The Professor overlooking her experiments and the laboratory technicians left so it she was all alone. She was so focused on her work, when the laboratory door opened, she jumped in surprise. Taking light steps, she approached the door that was opened in the room connected to the laboratory. Her heart sank when she realized it was Jo Hee.
"You're still doing your research? Or is your Ajusshi not coming to pick you up? Oh let me guess you had a fight over the generation gap." Jo Hee mockingly said.
"What do you need? You can't be in the laboratory at this hour." Eun Tak sighed and ignored her remarks.
"What are YOU doing in the lab? Seriously you need a life. There's more to life other than studying and doing lame reports like these." Jo Hee glanced over the table where Eun Tak's books and reports were scattered.
"I volunteered to be a lab technician. Anyway you should leave before I notify the Professors." Eun Tak tried to suppress her anger as she walked over to the table to continue doing her laboratory report.
"Whatever. Ya, tell me where did you get that handsome old man? He sponsors you with clothes and such doesn't he? I'm jealous. I need one of those myself. But you do more than go out with him don't you, in private" Jo Hee stated, a hint of sarcasm evident in her voice.
That remark did it for Eun Tak, she slammed the book down on the table and stood up. "First of all he's is not my sponsor, he's my fiancé. Not that you would understand that. Secondly I did not GET him, he's not some goal or object that can be obtained. And lastly, what's your problem? Is my dating life affecting your life in anyway at all? If I break up with him will your life become better? Will you become a better person or smarter? No you won't so back off and mind your own business. Maybe use this time to study so you won't have to retake Year 2."
Joo Hee was shocked at Eun Tak's retaliation, it took her a few seconds before she could compose herself. "Calm down genius. I was trying to start a conversation with, it's not like you have any friends anyway." Joo Hee rolled her eyes.
"Your need for attention is exhausting and you are expending too much effort trying to undermine me." Eun Tak responded.
Just then, Eun Tak's phone started ringing. Joo Hee peeked and saw the caller ID. "Kim Shin-shii! Ne, I'll be out in a minute!"
Seizing this opportunity, Joo Hee left the laboratory and started walking briskly towards the car park. She stopped in her tracks the moment she saw Kim Shin. He looked more dashing than ever.
"Anyeonghaseyo, I am Joo Hee. You must be looking for Eun Tak." Joo Hee said as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Ah ne ne. Anyeonghaseyo, I am Kim Shin." Kim Shin awkwardly said. He was aware that Joo Hee pestering Eun Tak and her friends but he did not want to say or do anything to induce more incidents.
"Omo, I know Eun Tak told us. You're her fiancé aren't you? She's very lucky to have you or else which poor guy would want her." Joo Hee said sweetly.
"I'm the one who is lucky. She is so smart and competent and she can date anyone. Yet she chose me. You're very blessed to be in the same class as her too." Kim Shin said firmly.
"Kim Shin-shi! I'm so sorry, I was finishing up the last bit of my report." Eun Tak ran to Kim Shin, her smile faded when she saw Joo Hee conversing with Kim Shin. "Joo Hee what are you doing here? What do you want now?" Eun Tak asked, trying to hide her irritation.
"Oh nothing. I was on my way out. See you. See you soon Kim Shin-shi. It was pleasure to meet you. We should hang out sometime." Joo Hee said, flashing a flirtatious smile in his direction.
As they drove, Eun Tak kept glaring at Kim Shin. He glanced at her and smiled before focusing on driving. "You could not stop smiling when she was speaking to you. What did you talk about? What did she say?
"Aniya! She just said how she knows who I am and that you told her. That's all." Kim Shin pouted.
To Eun Tak's surprise, they drove past the café they frequently visited. "Oh oh…. why are you driving past the café? Are we going somewhere?"
"You'll see. I have a surprise for you." Kim Shin excitedly said.
"Wah! Are we going to Quebec to eat beef? You know how to make me feel better Kim Shin-shi." Eun Tak said as she pinched his cheeks.
Kim Shin laughed, he removed his right hand from the steering wheel and laced his fingers through hers and kissed her hand.
"Oh. Why are we stopping here?" Eun Tak asked.
Kim Shin opened the door of the car for Eun Tak and she climbed out. They entered the main building of ILOOM Group of Companies. "You'll see. Follow me." He said, taking her hand.
The employees of ILOOM bowed and greeted Kim Shin and Eun Tak walk past them. Both Kim Shin and Eun Tak smiled and greeted them back. After they entered Kim Shin's office on the 35th floor, the receptionists squealed.
"They so adorable together! He has been smiling so often after they started dating." One of the receptionists, Yu Ra mused.
"Ya ya ya! They are engaged." The other receptionist, Choi Hee revealed.
"Daebak. Engaged? When? How? How come I didn't know about this? How come you know about this?" Yu Ra grabbed Choi Hee's arm and demanded.
"I overheard Manager Deok Hwa talking to President Kim several days ago. Apparently since Ji Eun Tak-shi is still in college they will get married after she graduates." Choi Hee whispered.
"Ahhh I'm so jealous. I wish a man would wait for me like President Kim. I'm happy for them. The way they look at each other and interact with each other. I should start dating too." Yu Ra sighed.
"Well, I already have a boyfriend." Choi Hee teased her.
As they entered Kim Shin's office, Eun Tak stopped in her tracks and stared at the man waiting in the office.
"President Kim. I have all the documents ready. Anyeonghaseyo, I am Secretary Kim Do Young." Secretary Kim introduced himself.
"Wah." Eun Tak gasped. "Ah anyeonghaseyo, I am Ji Eun Tak." Eun Tak responded, still staring at Secretary Kim in shock.
Kim Shin tried to suppress his laughter by pursing his lips. They sat down and while Eun Tak and Secretary Kim had a conversation, Kim Shin looked over the documents. After handling Kim Shin more documents, Secretary Kim left the office and Eun Tak started screaming.
"Ani, what? When? Why didn't you tell me? How could you hide this from me for so long? What is wrong with you?" She smacked Kim Shin's arm and glared at him.
"Well he has been working for ILOOM for almost 10 years. He was away on sabbatical and he just came back. I wanted to surprise you, I thought you would be overjoyed." Kim Shin pouted and slouched on the sofa.
"I am! I'm delighted! It's great to see Secretary Kim again, he was always such a big part of our lives. I really missed him. I'm glad he's in our life, I think the deities are being really kind to us. Our last lifetime." Eun Tak smiled weakly and sat beside Kim Shin on the sofa.
Kim Shin turned towards Eun Tak and cradled her face. "Are you upset or scared because this is our last life?" Kim Shin asked, worried.
"No no, I'm neither scared nor upset. A little relieved actually. Everyone we love is in our lives, I do miss Sajangnim but I'm happy and thankful. I get to spend my life with you, I couldn't ask for more." Eun Tak put her hand over Kim Shin's.
She slides her hand down to his wrist and stops at his watch, gasping. "You're still wearing the watch I gave you as a wedding gift!"
"Of course I am. Well I was not wearing it for a while because it's a rare piece and they needed a little more time to find spare parts and repair it but I got it back yesterday." Kim Shin gazed at his watch fondly.
"Wow, that watch has been with us for so many lifetimes. I feel like it's cherishing our time together." Her fingers reverently brushed over the exquisite and precious watch.
"When you were not with me, I would look at this watch and our memories would come flooding back. It felt like when you gave me this watch, you gave me a part of you. I sought solace in this watch as I waited for you." Kim Shin's eyes stayed trained on Eun Tak's, unblinking.
They gazed into each other's eyes, smiling radiantly at each other. Kim Shin kissed her forehead and Eun Tak mimics him by kissing his forehead. Kim Shin chuckles and kissed her on the lips. A warm, gentle and soft kiss. Eun Tak smiles and steals another kiss.
Before they could continue, Eun Tak's stomach growled and they burst out laughing. "Let's have beef for dinner." They walk hand in hand as they open a door leading to Quebec.
Several days later, after Eun Tak's class ended, she rushed to SNU baseball field to meet her brother Seo Jun. She stopped right outside the field at the sidewalk and watched the baseball team play. When suddenly a baseball flew above past her and smashed into a motorcycle driving past her. The sudden hit caused the motorcyclist to lose his balance and fall off, however, the motorcycle was sliding towards Eun Tak at full speed.
Eun Tak froze and stared at the motorcycle, she braced herself for the impact as she fell to the ground but all she felt was a strong pair of arms embracing her. She propped herself and stared down at the man who saved her.
Thank you for waiting, reading & commenting. Have a great week :)
Fanfic- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo/달의 연인-보보경심 려:Brace yourself from here on out, I won't ever let you go.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo/달의 연인-보보경심 려: