Chapter three

The last light of dusk was pouring from the windows of the kindergarten. Ga Eul was busy tidying up the mess her students had made. She sat on a chair for a moment not before the memories of that wailing night came to her mind. She remembered how he cried all night, how he made up his mind to to drop her at her place and especially how, at her doorstep he again wore that mask politely asking her to forget about everything that happened. Ga Eul was confused; Ga Eul was more than confused.

She never got to contact him again even when it had been weeks past that particular night. At least for her own curiosity there wasn't any information, not even his whereabouts that she had made aware of.

When she tidied the room, when she got in to the bus, when she worked at the porridge shop and when the shop was to be closed, she was wondering what might had happened. And it was at last when she greeted the master with a farewell she got a call from him. Yet again it was a Song Woo Bin who answered.

"Yoh..Ga Eulyang…" the voice sounded weary. "we…. Need your help."

Woo Bin picked her from the shop and drove her to a certain club. It was a high class one ; one which the Songs themselves had owned. "I….. could come in with you, if in any case…" Woo Bin knew how much Ga Eul disliked the drunken in there. So he accompanied her on the way to a very-much-drunken-already-passed-out Yi Jeong.

"Yi Jeong ah…" Woo Bin shook him and the pretended-to-be-passed out jerked his hand. "He doesn't listen to us…" he looked at Ga Eul and let out a sigh. "Not anymore…."

"Yi Jeong sunbae…." Ga Eul placed her hand on his and Yi Jeong didn't seems to care.

"Sunbae…" Ga Eul pulled a bit harder from his hand. " let's get out from here… " and with Woo Bin's help she made him stand up. They both guided him out of the night club.

Yi Jeong and Ga Eul was seated in the back seat while Woo Bin sat in the front with his driver. The car drove to Yi Jeong's studio and Woo Bin could not help but notice Yi Jeong's head resting on Ga Eul's chest. A smile drew on his face ;a smile for his friend's happiness. They both guided him in and made him lay down on a bench. Just when Ga Eul turned to leave she felt her wrist caught in a grip.

"Stay….." Yi Jeong muttered. Ga Eul was blushing and she tried to free her hand but Yi Jeong despite his state held it firm. Ga Eul stared at him for a moment before looking up at Woo Bin who smiled in return. " I'll…. Be .. staying out" he gestured in awkward motions and left the studio. Ga Eul sat besides Yi Jeong and made him place his head on her lap. She gently stroked his hair before her phone rang loud. Yi Jeong flinched a bit and Ga Eul answered that call.

"ye…omma.." the call continued while she kept staring at Yi Jeong.

"I…. Can I stay at Jandi's for tonight?" she was hesitant.

"ye… we've got a lot of catching up to do…."

"Arasso."she smiled at the end yet the guilt was so obvious on her face. She let out a sigh before starting to stroke his silky hair once again. Hours passed and Ga Eul might not had known when she herself fell asleep nor when a certain Woo Bin came to check on them.

"Yoh!...Yi Jeong… where did you lost the Casanova?" She probably missed his comment which followed an amused smirk and as for Woo Bin he lead himself out of the studio, casually switching off the lights.

The first rays of daylight fell on Yi Jeong's face as his eyes blinked for a moment before getting hold of his surroundings. As he straightened up to see a still asleep Ga Eulyang memories from the last night came flooding to his mind; how much he drank at the club, how Woo Bin begged him to stop and how Ga Eulyang showed up from nowhere dragging him out from there. A smile drew on his face while he studied the delicate features of a sleeping Ga Eulyang. He then took off his coat and put it on her so it would serve as a blanket for her cozy sleep. He smiled to himself before going to the pantry to prepare some tea. His phone rang and he glanced at Ga Eul, afraid if the sound might wake her up, he went to a more internal part of the studio before answering the call.

Ga Eul woke up feeling a familiar sweet cologne and found herself in Yi Jeong studio. Within a matter of seconds she recalled the events of the past night. She looked around but Yi Jeong was nowhere to be found. She stood up and straightened her dress before heading to find Yi Jeong. She lead herself to the store room where she found a lot of still unpacked boxes.

"Joeun achimiya.." a voice greeted from behind. Ga Eul turned to see a grinning Yi Jeong and she returned the greeting."sunbae… what are those?" Ga Eul pointed at the boxes. " go ahead …. Ga Eulyang might like them." Yi Jeong watched as Ga Eul opened one of them.

"Ippeudo…" Ga Eul exclaimed and Yi Jeong let out a smirk.

"How is it?"

"sunbae…. Your pottery, it has really become better…" Ga Eul could not help but laugh with joy and the grin never left Yi Jeong's face.

"I'll…. Go and make us some tea.." Yi Jeong left the studio still grinning wide.

"Arasso" and Ga Eul did not care to look up at him as she was mesmerized by the beautiful piece of pottery. "ippeudo…." She again exclaimed as she opened another box.

Yi Jeong lighted the lamp and followed the ritual of tea making, another thing he was very much used to do. He heard the studio door opening and looked up expecting some one like Woo Bin. But his grin stiffened when he saw a Cha Eun Jae standing right in front of him. Much to his dismay Ga Eul came out of the store room with a piece of pottery in her hand praising it wildly before she herself froze seeing the guest. The two girls stared at each other for a moment though it almost fell like eternity for all three of them. Eun Jae was a bit amazed and Ga Eul was amazed and guilty. Yi Jeong on the other hand was dumbfounded and hesitant while his sight was fixed on Ga Eul.

It didn't took more than three seconds for Ga Eul to place the pottery on the table, grab her purse and run pass Eun Jae out of the studio. She ran as fast as she could, until she reached the bus stop. It was hard for her to catch her breath and even harder to stop her tears. There followed another silent weeks which was again interrupted at the kindergarten by an expected visit from Cha Eun Jae.

"Ga Eulshshi, hasn't it been a long time?"

They sat in her class before starting a conversation. Ga Eul hesitated for a moment but she never wanted to pretend.

"Saseongnim… about that day.._"

"_ ah… I have got nothing to do with that….." she smiled "Yi Jeongah… told me that Ga Eulshshi is a good friend…. And I …am glad he got someone like you.."

"saseongnim…." Ga Eul felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Ga Eulshshi, haven't I told you that I got no more lingering feelings about him?"

"Saseongnim.. but.." Ga Eul tried to interrupt but Eun Jae continued nonetheless.

"Ga Eulshshi, remember that piece from the puzzle I gave to you?" Ga Eul nodded. "That was how much my feelings were left for him; lost and incomplete…." A little silence followed and Eun Jae again smiled at the end." I'm glad that Ga Eulshshi put it back in its place..I was able to make myself complete with that…"

"Deh?"

"I…am a married woman now…"Eun Jae pretended to be embarrassed.

"deh?"

"Ga Eulshshi should come and visit us one day…"

"Arasso " Ga Eul smiled not before she nodded in realization.

"But before that.."she stood up. "there will be somewhere else Ga Eulshshi may come with me.."

"Eodissaeyo..?" and Eun Jae again smiled in return.

Ga Eul was surprised to see a black Audi waiting at the doorstep of the kindergarten. It appeared as if her saseongnim has got married to a wealthy family after all. The car drove off and stopped at a manor for which Ga Eul awed in amazement.

"Saseongnime…. Do you really live in here?"

"Anniyo" Eun Jae smirked but she was amazed at Ga Eul's unawareness.

They were lead through a hallway to a well furnished living room. Ga Eul looked at all the pieces of pottery kept on uniquely designed racks. A servant ushered them to a seat in front of an old man of his late eighties. It didn't took much time for Ga Eul to recognize him as the freedom fighter So Yoon Hee and Ga Eul had never been that confused nor nervous than then.

"You must be this 'Ga Eulyang' uri Yi Jeong is always talking about…" the man smiled. Unlike the man she was introduced as his father by Yi Jeong himself, So Yoon Hee was gleaming with power and pride.

"Ye " Ga Eul said with her utmost politeness.

"Please…have a seat."

Ga Eul glanced at Eun Jae who was very much uncertain as well at the moment and they both sat on the couch facing So Yoon Hee. After the tea was served the servants left the room.

"I …. First must thank you, for everything you have done for our Yi Jeong." If not he was having a sip from his tea he must have seen Ga Eul almost choking on her own. "Yi Jeong… could be very much stubborn sometimes.." a little smile drew on Ga Eul's face. "and childish..too….." he stared at Ga Eul eyeing her from tip to toe." I heard… from our Eun Jae, that you were the one who pesuated him in pottery… I must thank you for that indeed…." The man smiled again.

"It was my pleasure.." Ga Eul said with a little bow. The man let out a smirk. "Ga Eulshshi, if you don't mind would you do us another favor?" And Eun Jae became even more uncomfortable.

"It must have been from his ommanim, Yi Jeong has got his stubbornness… Yi Jeong's ommanim is not a bit well these days… Ga Eulshshi, I would like it… if you could be by her side, at least for a month…"

"Deh?"

"Ga Eulshshi, would you like to help us… by being her maid?"

Those last words from that conversation echoed in her mind while they are lead by a servant to a particular room in that manor."Ga Eulshshi !" Eun Jae stopped her when she was going to open the door. Ga Eulshshi doesn't have to accept it … it's just an offer…" a tear rolled on Ga Eul's cheek. It didn't went unnoticed to Eun Jae. "I didn't know something like this would happen if then I won't_ Ga Eulyang don't go in there!" but Ga Eul jerked her hand and went in. Eun Jae watched Ga Eul entering the room an expression with worry and guilt was worn on her face.

Just then a servant came and bowed. " Head master So is waiting down stairs expecting you." . She informed her and Eun Jae with much hesitance left the room.

The room had a wooden interior and yellowish light was illuminating the place. The floor was maroon; carpeted with the finest of middle east. On the walls there was again the uniquely designed racks but with fewer pieces of pottery on them. Instead there were artifacts such as small souvenirs and statues made of marble or jade or some other precious stone Ga Eul did not know to name. The room, just like the rest of the manor was well furnished and even the scent felt luxurious.

"Are you the new maid?" a femine voice stopped Ga Eul from gazing around. She flinched a bit before answering.

"Ye … Manim" she bowed. The woman looked up from polishing her nails. The woman; had a slightly long face, bright eyes, puffy lips and sharp aristocratic features for which Ga Eul felt a bit familiar. Her figure was well maintained and despite her age there wasn't a single wrinkle on her face or maybe they were buried under her heavy makeup. The most attractive thing about her was her silky long hair. It was long enough to reach her knees if she stood up, and in contrast with her creamy smooth skin it was dark black just like the satin gown she wore.

She looked at Ga Eul who was staring at her beauty with wide eyes. "Come closer…" she smiled and Ga Eul went to stand in front of her just a few feets away. The woman stood up and went to Ga Eul. Her forefinger traced along Ga Eul's features and rubbed against Ga Eul's cheek. Ga Eul flinched and the woman let out a smirk rubbing her finger with her thumb. "makeup….. are you… wearing makeup?" she grinned. Ga Eul was confused but she answered "ye… Manim." The woman smirked again before retreating back to the couch and starting to polish her nails." Get me a basin of hot water… my toes are aching.." She ordered without sparing a glance at Ga Eul.

Ga Eul got a wooden basin and poured some hot water in it. She place it at madam So 's feet and she put her feet in it.

"Would you mind massaging my feet?

"Arasso" Ga Eul obeyed.

"A little bit harder.." and Ga Eul bent lower putting her whole strength to her hands and the woman, without any warning drowned Ga Eul's head in the basin. Ga Eul tried to free her self but she held her hands and kept Ga Eul's head under water.

"How dare you would come in front of me dressed like that? Is that….. is that… how you'll try to seduce my husband? Don't you have any shame?... why would he stay with women like you but not with me? WHY?...WHY? …JUST TELL ME WHY?

Just then five other maids came running to the room with Eun Jae herself . The servants held back Madam So releasing Ga Eul. Ga Eul took her head out from the water and took rapid breaths.

"gwean-chana?" Eun Jae asked and Ga Eul nodded.

"Get her medicine!" Eun Jae ordered to one of the servants and with a matter of seconds Madam So was put under sedate. After Ga Eul caught her breath Eun Jae took her to a coffee shop.

"I told you not go in there because of that." Eun Jae let out a sigh.

"is that.. Yi Jeong sunbae's ommanim?"

"Ye… she has been like that ever since I could remember….. I mean not like that, but she was always dressed like that and waiting for her husband."

"But does he_"

"_anniyo he doesn't, he doesn't even care_"

"_ if she is dead or alive.."

"Ye …. But how does Ga Eulshshi knows that?"

"Yi Jeong sunbae….. once…"she let out a sigh.

"She went after him for a long time but now it is Yi Jeong whom she makes to go after him…and threatens him that she would kill herself if not."

"deh?"

"Ye.. but when Yi Jeong was back in Sweden he discarded all her calls and handed over her full responsibilities to my husband."

"Eh?"

"Mian… if I took too long for your order miss…" a tall young boy got their order and sat besides Eun Jae with a smirk.

"Yeobe… this is Ga Eulshshi…"

"oh!... is this uri Yi Jeong's chingu ?" he emphasized on the last word with another smirk. "I … am So Il Hyun, Yi Jeong's hyungnim."

"Eh?"Ga Eul was genuinely surprised.

" I… am ashamed to be called that though… I wasn't able to be with him when he wanted us the most… Ga Eulyang…. I am so glad he met some one like you at last…" and he bowed his head as if he was pleading " and please…. Never leave Uri Yi Jeong… he… needs you the most….."

A/N:

Writing this chapter was really hard as all of the characters except for Yi Jeong, Ga Eul and Woo Bin, are complex characters with both good and bad behaviors. I am trying to depict there characteristics as much as possible and again writing a story in third person narration is really hard too. This story will consist a lot of hints and I recommend you to notice every little incident. The theme would be about it's flow and I'll guarantee a happy ending for you. :)

This is my first SoEul fic and my first fanfiction as well. But I have read a lot before. I might not be a good writer nor a good storyteller but if you don't mind please spare a moment to leave a review.