So I'm back... ish. I apologize for a long time between updates. Live kinda went to hell with work, school, life in general, my mental health, and that all accumulated in a nasty case of writer's block. However, I am determined to get back into writing and getting these stories finished since I have ideas for others. I am kinda hoping to wrap this one up in the next five chapters at least, maybe a little more. Things are about to start getting much darker from here on out. If you are still here to read this story, I appreciate it beyond belief.
"So what is going on with you and Sung Ho?"
The question actually startled Ga Eul enough that she jumped before turning to look at Sunny, who was flipping through one of her notebooks from school. The other girl paused in flipping through the notebook to lift her eyes to look beside her where Geum Jan Di sat before glancing to the high-backed chair that had Ha Jae Kyung seated with her still healing, but uncast, leg resting on the matching ottoman. It was Jan Di who posed the question.
"What? The question was on both of your minds too," Jan Di said glancing at Sunny before looking at Jae Kyung.
"Well... true, but probably would have asked it a bit more delicately," Jae Kyung said. Jan Di wrinkled her nose.
"No you wouldn't have," she teased the girl who was as blunt as both Jan Di and Jun Pyo, but she was more tactful than Jan Di was.
"I would have!" Jae Kyung protested.
"Only slightly more than Jan Di did," Sunny teased, grinning at the tongue that Jae Kyung stuck out at her.
"So?" Jan Di prodded. "What is going on with you two?"
Ga Eul let out a sigh. She wanted to calculate how she answered because she knew that Jae Kyung would at least comment something to Jun Pyo and she was pretty certain that Sunny would say something to Woo Bin since the two seemed to be growing closer as well. While Sung Ho seemed genuine at times, there were other times were Ga Eul just did not feel comfortable with some of his advances. Most of the time she chalked it up to the fact that it was because she had feelings for Yi Jeong she had not yet resolved, but there were other times where she genuinely felt that he was pushing too hard to get closer to her in a way she did not think she was ready for.
"He wants to date me it seems," Ga Eul finally said. "But I can't help but think about Yi Jeong even though he slept with Ginger."
Sunny wrinkled her nose. "Which most likely didn't happen," she said. Ga Eul arched a brow. "Despite the pictures, let's be honest. So Yi Jeong can't stand Ginger."
"Those were some pretty strong visuals," Jan Di pointed out, earning a smack from Jae Kyung. "Well, they were!"
Sunny waved her hand. "Do we need to remind you about what happened with the pictures of you with some guy that Oh Min Ji managed to get of you?" Jan Di had the decency to blush but still shot Sunny a glare. The other simply lifted her shoulders before focusing on Ga Eul. "The point of what I am saying is that not everything is as clear as we may think. It's just a matter of proving his innocence," she said.
"But how?" Ga Eul asked. "Jan Di is right when saying they were pretty strong visuals. And Woo Bin was able to clear Jan Di pretty quickly with Yi Jeong's help. He hasn't come up with anything yet."
"I think I heard Jun Pyo say something about your eonni was looking into it," Jae Kyung said.
"Oh..." Ga Eul breathed. "That... that could prove interesting."
"Did he say why she was getting involved?" Jan Di asked.
"Something about knowing who to hide from?" Jae Kyung said.
"Makes sense," Sunny said. She blinked when three dark heads turned in her direction. "Well think about it. Whoever did that knew that the rest of the F4 would immediately do everything in their power to find out the truth. The best way to avoid having that happen is to ensure that their means won't discover anything."
"But Jun Hee-eonni is a different story," Jae Kyung finished.
"Exactly," Sunny said. "They are expecting Jun Pyo, Woo Bin, and Ji Hu to look for the truth, while they expect Yi Jeong to fall into old, and bad, habits in the wake of what is thought to be the truth. Especially if he thinks he hurt Ga Eul."
Jan Di's eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head. "You seem pretty sure of that," she said suspiciously. She jumped when Ga Eul threw a pillow at her. "What?"
"You act like Sunny had a hand in this," Ga Eul said.
"I'm just saying!" Jan Di exclaimed.
Sunny huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "Jan Di, I was cohorts with Ginger for years. I know how her mind works. Thankfully she doesn't have the brains to pull this off. Unfortunately, the likelihood is she found someone who does have the brains to pull it off to help her get what she wants. The biggest being hurting Ga Eul, but if it could even remotely get her So Yi Jeong, she's all in."
"But wouldn't that mean teaming up with someone with a huge vendetta against Yi Jeong?" Jae Kyung asked. "And potentially the rest of the F4?"
Sunny hesitated a moment before she nodded. "The problem with that scenario is there is legitimately only one person I can think of, maybe two, who would have the means and opportunity to pull this off," she said. "And one of them was eliminated from the scenario prior to all of this exploding."
"Who?" Ga Eul asked.
Sunny let out a breath before looking at her. "Kang Hee Soo and Park Sung Ho."
Ga Eul rested her head back against the wall as she gazed out the large window in her room. One of her favorite places that she had in her room was a large bay window that looked out over the grounds of the family's mansion. It was well padded and large enough for her to curl up on with a lot of blankets and pillows if she wanted. The first few weeks after she was feeling well enough after her attack to be somewhere other than her bed, she had actually curled up in her nook to sleep.
Ever since she had spent time with the girls earlier in the day, her mind had been occupied with what Sunny had said about who had the means and the opportunity to set up So Yi Jeong. Jun Pyo and Jun Hee had both noted how quiet she was at dinner, which had earned Sunny a glare since the young woman was staying with them after Woo Bin had requested it of his uncle. A story that neither Sunny or Woo Bin had revealed yet to anyone but Bon Hyeong. She had noted that Jun Hee had smacked their brother for the glare, which he had turned on Jun Hee for the smack. It had eased some of the tension at the antics, even earning a smile from Ga Eul.
Now that dinner was over, Ga Eul had sequestered herself in her room with her thoughts. She could not help but wonder if there really was more to Sung Ho's interest in her. She knew that her brother and the rest of the F4 did not like him because he tried to compare himself to them. She had overheard some of the rumors as well at Shinhwa about Sung Ho's less than stellar reputation and heard that he was often mean, especially to the women he dated. It was a stark contrast to how he was treating her, yet why was she hesitating in agreeing to date him? Was it solely because of her feelings for So Yi Jeong, or was something more telling her to be wary of the man?
A knock pulled Ga Eul out of her thoughts. Once giving permission to whoever was on the other side, Sunny emerged around the corner, dressed in her sleep clothes. Ga Eul shifted her legs, unnecessarily due to the size of the space, to allow Sunny to sit across from her. It was more of an unspoken signal to the other girl that she was welcome to sit and talk.
"You've been quiet since we were with Jae Kyung-eonni and Jan Di," Sunny said. "For which Jun Pyo gave me an earful over."
Ga Eul rolled her eyes. "I swear, he needs to let go of whatever grudge he has against you," she said. "Especially since Woo Bin will smack him." Her eyebrow quirked when Sunny's cheeks flushed at the mention of her cousin. "Did something happen between the two of you?"
"The more important question is about you and Sung Ho," Sunny deflected.
"You are dodging," Ga Eul said.
"So are you." That statement earned a long sigh and Ga Eul's head dropped back against the sill of her nook.
"You aren't wrong," she admitted. "But right now I am more concerned about you and the situation with Sung Ho."
Ga Eul sighed heavily and leaned her head back. "I... admit I am now more than I was before," she said.
"Because of what I said?" Sunny questioned.
"Yes and no," Ga Eul admitted. "I have had my misgivings ever since I turned to him and he was the one that got me away from the situation of seeing... well supposedly seeing Yi Jeong and Ginger together. He's always seemed a bit too attentive. What you said just seems to solidify it more and makes me even warier."
"Has he tried anything?" Sunny immediately asked, concern lacing her tone.
"Not... really," Ga Eul hedged. She glanced at Sunny who arched an eyebrow. "He just... tries to be overly persuasive and there are times it looks like he gets angry then hides it when I insist on not agreeing to go out with him or that I am not ready."
"And you haven't told Woo Bin or Jun Pyo because...?" Sunny asked.
"You know they would tear Sung Ho apart if they knew," Ga Eul explained.
"Then tell Ji Hu-sunbae," Sunny said.
"You think he wouldn't tear him apart too"? Ga Eul asked, skepticism tracing her features.
"He would be more elegant about it," Sunny said, which did make Ga Eul laugh at the idea. She knew that Sunny was not wrong, Ji Hu was just as fierce as the other men were but he did it with more artistic grace and flair that the other men did not have.
"You aren't wrong," Ga Eul finally said. She sighed and looked out the window. "Maybe I'll say something. I had merely hoped I was imagining things and being sensitive because he's not Yi Jeong."
"You know that your eonni will find something that proves Yi Jeong did not sleep with Ginger, right?" Sunny said.
"But what if she doesn't?" Ga Eul asked. "As much as Yi Jeong does hate her if he was drunk enough, could he have resisted a warm body? I mean he does have a reputation."
"The only way that would happen is if Ginger managed to drug..." Sunny trailed off, her eyes widening as she and Ga Eul looked at one another.
"She wouldn't," Ga Eul said.
"Ginger wants what she wants," Sunny said. "I think she's capable of anything if it means getting her hooks into So Yi Jeong."
"I should say something to eonni," Ga Eul said.
"Let's go," Sunny said as she uncurled her legs as both girls rose from the window seat. They were just starting down the stairs when there was a fast knock and Jun Pyo walked into the room, Woo Bin directly behind him. A quick glance also saw Yi Jeong and Ji Hu in the hallway.
"Oppa?" Ga Eul asked.
"We have a problem," Jun Pyo said. "Appa wouldn't say what, but told me to come to get you two and meet in the family room."
"We should go then," Ga Eul said. Jun Pyo nodded and he turned, his long legs taking fast strides out of the room. Even though the other men were not nearly as tall, they kept up with Jun Pyo easily, which left Ga Eul and Sunny walking much faster, almost jogging to keep up with the members of the F4.
"Appa, what's going on?" Jun Hee asked as she made her way into the room, her husband directly behind her just after the F4, Ga Eul, and Sunny entered. Jae Kyung was already in the room, having waited as Jun Pyo went to get the girls.
"I just received word that someone posted bail for Kang Hee Soo," Bon Hyeong said, his voice hard as he poured two fingers of whiskey into a crystal glass.
"What?!" the F4 all demanded.
"Who the hell would help that woman?" Jun Hee demanded. "Especially considering the money paid to Ga Eul's former caretakers to kidnap her was traced back to her."
"Apparently the judge sees that as a technicality," Bon Hyeong said just as Bon Ha and Lee Bin walked into the room. He glanced at the other man. "You heard?"
"I was informed," Lee Bin said. "I'm already searching for who is responsible for posting her bail."
"Is there nothing that woman is going to be held responsible for?" Bon Ha asked. "The evidence all pointed to her connection to Shan Gi's accident, Ga Eul's placement with those evil bastards called caretakers, and since then the attack that got Jun Pyo injured as well as Ga Eul's kidnapping. The only thing she hasn't been officially linked to is Ga Eul's attack."
"Though I am positive she was behind it," Lee Bin said.
"So she has some strong connections still even though she isn't associated with us or Shinhwa," Bon Hyeong said.
"There are those who will align themselves with anyone they think can get them higher in society," Ji Hu said. "And if anyone thinks Kang Hee Soo still has influence, they may think they can get farther at her side than attempting to align themselves directly with our families."
"Could she have had a hand in Yi Jeong's situation?" Jun Pyo asked.
"At this rate, I wouldn't put anything past her," Jun Hee said.
"Yi Jeong's situation?" Bon Ha and Lee Bin questioned. They glanced at one another when Yi Jeong blushed and ducked his head.
"We are working on it," Woo Bin assured his parents. "Once we know more, and if further action needs to be taken, you'll be the first to know."
Lee Bin arched a brow and glanced at Jun Hee, who inclined her own head to him. He simply nodded, knowing she would fill him in later. If she had knowledge of the situation, it meant that it was more serious than the boys were letting on. Since the revelation of their familial connections came to light, the boys had become more secretive at times with their elders other than Jun Hee. However, it also meant that Bon Ha became more protective of all the boys, especially when it came to Ji Hu and Yi Jeong. With Ji Hu's mother gone and Yi Jeong's mother essentially so, especially since Lee Bin had sent her to a rehab facility to deal with her mental health recently, Bon Ha felt more responsible for the two young men. The two elder Songs now made sure they were far more involved in Yi Jeong and Ji Hu's lives, even with Yi Jeong's grandparents stepping up more and Ji Hu's grandfather back in his life.
"Regardless, this woman just won't go away," Ga Eul said. "After all she's done, she continues to find ways to get away with things."
"She won't get away with anything," Bon Hyeong said. "She might be out on bail, she still has a fight on her hands to disprove everything found against her."
"She made bail," Ji Hu pointed out. "That alone says she has someone willing to assist her, which means they will find a way to get her off."
"We need to be on our toes," Lee Bin said. "Which we will. Especially as she will strike out to those she thinks she can get to."
"Meaning me," Ga Eul said. "She has the most against me, really. If not for me, her entire world would not have come crashing down."
"She targets you, she'll regret it," Jun Pyo grumbled.
"Ga Eul, unfortunately, is not wrong in her assessment," Bon Hyeong said. "Kang Hee Soo is going to see her as the reason she is in the situation she's in. But you will be protected."
"I have no doubts there, Appa," Ga Eul said with a small smile. "In the meantime, what do we do?"
"Sadly, all we can do is wait," Lee Bin said. "We can't make a move against her unless she makes a move against us, so all we can do right now is wait and watch."
Park Sung Ho knew immediately something was off as he walked into the apartment that he kept for his trysts and to keep things out of the eye of his father, especially as the old man was sniffing around more to find out what Sung Ho had been up to and trying to keep him under his thumb. Particularly because he knew that Sung Ho was attempting to get with Ga Eul. The elder Park saw it as a chance to get in with Shinhwa once and for all.
"Did you miss me?" Immediately Sung Ho's nerves were set on edge as he turned to see Kang Hee Soo sitting lazily in a nearby chair, a glass of wine in her hand. Despite her time in prison, she managed to look elegant once more.
"I'm surprised to see you," Sung Ho said. "How did you get in here?"
"I still have a key," Hee Soo said as she twirled her wine. She smirked. "Or have you forgotten how you came to have this little love nest?"
Sung Ho crossed his arms over his chest, returning her smirk. "If you think you are the first older woman, let alone married one, that I have spent time with here, you are sadly mistaken," he said. "I had this place well before you ever managed to make your way into my bed."
Hee Soo's face shifted to a cold mask as the lines around her mouth tightened. She had suspected since he seemed too familiar with the apartment when they had come here the first time, but she had never entirely expected him to admit it. Sipping at her wine, she forced her anger down. "You never came to visit, which was shocking," she said.
"It shouldn't have been," Sung Ho said as he removed his jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. "You knew my end goal and to associate myself with you, even to visit as you say, would have been suspect."
Hee Soo's eyes leveled at the younger man, her jaw tightening further. "And what of the incident that involved that piece of trash's guardians?" she asked. "How is it that I ended up linked to the kidnapping before they were killed?"
"You are asking me as if I know," Sung Ho said, loosening his tie before he settled himself on the arm of the chair in the room. "You were the one paying them to keep her away from Gu Bon Hyeong and he found her despite your best efforts. It's clear that you do not take to being betrayed well and considering he cut you off well, it's no surprise if you wanted to handle them."
Hee Soo slammed the wine glass down on the nearby table, some of its contents sloshing over the edge as she leaned forward. "Do not toy with me, Park Sung Ho," she snapped. "You had something to do with that situation which was pinned on me."
"And what evidence do you have I did?" Sung Ho asked. "Hmm?"
"I had already been arrested when-," she started.
"And?" Sung Ho interrupted her. "I have no idea what dealings you had in the attempt to tie up your loose ends when it came to that entire situation. Just because you were arrested does not mean you did not have something else in the works when it happened."
"I know you were there when they were killed!" she snapped.
Sung Ho shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course, I was there," he said. "I was informed of a disturbance at one of the warehouses you were attempting to use in a deal when there should have been no one there, when I arrived they were there with Ga Eul and I rescued her. I even was shot in the process."
Hee Soo hissed and rose to her feet, advancing on him. "I know you have people in your back pocket, especially amongst the police," she said. "You could have easily staged everything."
Sung Ho slowly rose, his tall frame towering over her. "Yet again I said, what evidence do you have, Kang Hee Soo? Do I have connections? Of course, everyone that moves in our circles... excuse me my circles and your former circles have connections. You are implying I manipulated the law to my own whim."
"I am doing more than implying," Kang Hee Soo said. She reached up and brushed her fingers along Sung Ho's chest. "Remember, little boy, I know what your intentions towards Chu Ga Eul-."
"Her name is Gu Ga Eul," Sung Ho interrupted.
Hee Soo merely smirked. "That little bitch doesn't deserve the name of Gu and never did," she said. "Regardless of that, I know your intentions towards her and the plans you started putting in place to get her and to allow that little bitch snip, Ginger, to get her claws into So Yi Jeong. I suggest you play your cards right, or all will be exposed and neither of you will ever have a chance to get what you want."
"You think you have clout still?" Sung Ho asked with a smirk. "Because as I see it, you are nothing and have nothing. So what exactly do you think you can possibly accomplish?"
"Test me, little boy, and you'll find out exactly what sort of clout I still have," Hee Soo said. She gave Sung Ho a withering look before moving past him and grabbing her coat and purse before she was slamming the door behind her as she left the apartment.
Sung Ho's nostrils flared as he watched her leave, his fist clenching. Turning, he grabbed his coat and pulled his cell phone out of the pocket before he was dialing a number and lifted the phone to his ear.
"Saeng Yu, it's me," he said. "Kang Hee Soo is out of prison and making waves."
"What do you need me to do?" Kim Saeng Yu said on the other end.
"If she talks, she'll create further problems I don't need," Sung Ho said, staring at the door. "She's a loose end that could be explosive."
"How do you want it handled?"
"Make her go away. Permanently."