Chapter four

Ga Eul opened the tap and water splashed on to the sink. She looked up at the mirror before wiping out all of her makeup from the damped cloth. When she saw herself on the mirror it was her hair which now barely touched her shoulder that caught her attention. It was another thing that she lost due to her contract with Yi Jeong's hurabeujji. She could have always left but that photo with the three year old boy in his ommanim's hands was carved into her mind. That same boy after twenty one years was wailing in her own arms only a few weeks ago. She wanted him to smile again, not a fake one which would be plastered to his face in every occasion but that innocent one he had long ago, so she accepted the 'offer' and tried to give her best.

"omma… wasn't like that before… I mean she waited for abeujji and was suicidal but she never tried to kill anyone else before….. it was after Yi Jeong left….. that she became that ….. violent…. I'm not blaming him of course I don't have any right …but it was four busy years for us as well…. We got married and we had our daughter ….so…. omma was … left out….. " . Ga Eul recalled the words from Yi Jeong's hyungnim as she dressed herself with the ragged cloths; the only way she could appear before Madam So. She heard a loud scream and she ran to her room which had a strong smell of …kerosene. Five or six nurses were crowded around Madam So who had had bathed herself from kerosene.

"Don't come near me! … Just call him, call my sons , any one of them or I will_"

"_ anniyo we'll call them ….please Manim do calm yourself…" the head nurse was begging her.

"try to take a call for them again!" and she ordered another nurse..

" anniyo none of them picks up "

"Manim… please give us that candle …"

"anniyo ! None of them really want me, do they?" she let out a smirk. "arasso then , they won't even mind if I would burn my self !" and she dropped the candle to the floor which was damped in kerosene as well. The flame rose high and the nurse backed but Ga Eul stepped forward and pulled her out of the flames.

"Let me go! Let me go!" she waved her hands, hit her and even scratched her, but Ga Eul held her in a tight embrace and whispered in to her ear: " anniyo… they want you, they love you. More than anything else they care for you ….. please Manim don't ever leave them ….. they love you… ye ….they love you…a lot….. " and as her voice calmed her for a bit the nurses took that as a chance to sedate her. As her hands dropped to the floor indicating the sedate was successful Ga Eul let her go and placed her on the bed with the help of the nurses. The rest of the evening was calm as for Madam So being under sedate. It was just when Ga Eul was going to leave, that she spoke a word at last.

"Do you…..really think that they love me?...do you think that… they would come to me?...you…were…lying weren't you…?" it was a whisper and a sob that made Ga Eul to freeze on her spot. She came and sat on her bed and smiled before answering, " anniyo I wasn't…..…..even after turned upside down, stepped on, cut over and over, heated in the kiln in thirteen hundred degrees celsius….if Manim's love would stay strong pure and true….. they will come to Manim, they will indeed ….one day." And for the first time during her month of working as a maid to Madam So, Ga Eul saw her smile . A weary but true one. And she patted on her hand:" your omma… must be very lucky to have a daughter like you…." and she let out another smirk before Ga Eul slipped out from her room. Of course Ga Eul knew that; any stoned heart could be melted with kindness and love. She had learned that long before.

Another few weeks passed in which Madam So grew more fond of Ga Eul and one day there was an unexpected visit from none other than the Head master So. He was accompanied by another man who was a noted psychiatrist and who examined Madam So before giving a report that now she was eligible to be treated at home and there's no such need to admit her back to the Asylum. Ga Eul was happy to know that and so was Il Hyun and Eun Jae who joined them later that evening. A dinner was held to celebrate the joy of her recovery for which the doctor himself joined as well, who was as Ga Eul later came to know a close friend of the Head master himself.

Ga Eul was going to dress up in her normal cloths when Head Master So cleared his throat. "Ga Eulshshi, it would be nice if you could join us as well…." He turned to leave, " though we are doing an act , we should do it perfectly till the end… you… have heard that before, haven't you?" he let out a smirk. Ga Eul was taken aback for a moment seeing how much Head Master had known about them. Nonetheless she joined as instructed, in her ragged cloths. All was going fine for about fifteen minutes until she heard Yi Jeong excusing himself to join with them.

Ga Eul, Eun Jae and even Il Hyun was restricted to inform anything about this 'offer' to Yi Jeong, so it was a surprise for him indeed when he saw Ga Eulyang present at the dinner seated opposite to the very seat he was ushered to. Her clothing was what confused him the most and it didn't took much time for him to understand that they were caught in one of his hurabeujji's traps. So Yoon Hee, unlike Madam Kang, wasn't someone who would directly demand to stop things he did not approve, he'd rather preferred to guide them to a path which would lead them to make the decision he wanted them to make. Yi Jeong from all the people, knew this very well. It was one of the skills he himself had inherited from his hurabeujji, not his hyungnim nor his abeujji had mastered it as much as he had. It was one of the skills that made him the F4's greatest Casanova after all. So he knew how to play this little game. Surprising both of his hyungnim and sister-in-law he grinned wide and completely ignored Ga Eul.

"Mian…. I was late…had a meeting to attend."

"A meeting… did that involve with any…..girls?" The doctor asked and Head master let out a laugh.

"Anniyo… it was about the museum after all…." Yi Jeong let out a smirk ". hurabeujji, there are suggestions to expand our Japanese sections."

" We should consider them of course…."

" Don't you think it would be better if you would leave it to be discussed later? I am not much interested in your pots and vases after all." The doctor ,Head master and Yi Jeong joined in laughter as the other three remained very much uncomfortable and silent.

" It would be more interesting to hear about your other affairs…..of course if this Eun Jaeshshi wasn't present in here at the moment….." the older people continued their laughter and Yi Jeong never retreated less than to a smile.

"Il Hyun, heard you had a daughter… I congratulate you….but remember, it would be hard…to raise a daughter…. I'm telling from my personal experience…." He laughed.

" Gumsampnida…" Il Hyun bowed.

"of course it is quite hard to not to notice the difference between my son and daughter…. Though they are married and have their own children she has still not stopped reporting…..and complaining.." he exchanged another laugh with Head master So.

"Yi Jeong I heard you were in Sweden for the last four years… so how was it?"

" Not much interesting.." and the doctor let out a smirk before asking:

"Wae?... Wasn't there any girls that caught your eye?" and Yi Jeong let out another smirk before looking down at his own lap. When he looked up he met Ga Eul's eyes. They stared at each other enough for their talkative guest to notice their unexpected behavior.

"Do you …. Know each other?" the doctor asked. Yi Jeong blinked for a moment and looked aside before giving his attention back to his hurabeujji's friend.

So Yoon Hee's lips twisted in to a smile " Yi Jeong, Ajushshi Lee has asked you something….."

"deh?"

"Do you…. Some how know this Ga Eulyang,here?" there, he was cornered. Yi Jeong spared another apologetic glance at Ga Eul before answering,

"Anniyo"

Ga Eul went even more silent and bended her head even lower. Yi Jeong forced a smile and held the urge to change his answer by clutching his fist.

"He might have seen her before…. After all she was his ommanim's maid." The hurabeujji's eyes never left his grandson who was at the moment staring at his own plate.

" It is very generous of you to invite such a maid to dine with you ….. Ajushshi So I really appreciate it." The doctor told in a sincere tone.

"We were almost going to forget the very reason for this special dinner…..Yeon Woo's recovery…." Head master straightened on his chair.

"There's a special person among us for whom has to go all the credits…" and Eun Jae looked at Ga Eul who was still staring at her plate, hoping she would hear Ga Eul's name, but instead,

"It's of course…. Uri Eun Jae…." She heard her own. She shot a glare at So Yoon Hee but he smiled in return. The rest of the dinner was filled with conversations among the elderly while the younger four remained silent. When at last the horrible dinner had ended Ga Eul stepped out of the So manor silently and unnoticed and Yi Jeong searched everywhere in the manor hoping to have a word with her.

The next day Ga Eul was at the kindergarten teaching her students and the bell indicating the recess rang loud. she made seongmi keep a few things on the racks before leaving the class. It was then the little girl noticed , an Yi Jeong leaning on his car and waiting out side. She reported that to her saseongnim but she advised her to go out and enjoy her recess. Ga Eul didn't went out of her class and chose to enter the latest assignments instead. But little Seong Mi was too loyal to Yi Jeong so she politely informed him that her saseongnim was in their class entering the assignments. Yi Jeong thanked her and went in to the building. He found Ga Eul at the little table, just as he was told. Yi Jeong smiled to himself before he pulled out the chair next to Ga Eul and sat down. Ga Eul pretended to ignore him. He let out a smirk. " Have I told you before that it is really scary to see someone as cute as you being angry?"

Ga Eul let out a mimicking smirk before asking," sunbae what brought you here?"

" I came to meet Ga Eulyang."

"I am… busy right now..can we catch up later?"

" Anniyo.I could wait till Ga Eulyang would be finished with your work." He looked around the class and smiled seeing the tea cups. He switched back his attention to Ga Eul.

"I could help if you want…"

"Anniyo . I could do it myself." Yi Jeong grinned which slowly retreated in to a smile." About yesterday….."

"Shall we pretend that it never happened? Arasso" Ga Eul let out another smirk. Yi Jeong's expression became more sincere. " at least…. It was better than being offered to sunbae's abeujji_"

"_ Ga Eulyang_"

"_ sunbae… I .. understand it very well" and Ga Eul stood up to leave but Yi Jeong caught her hand. "Don't you think that Ga Eulyang ,you are not good at understanding things?"

"boh?"

"That was the same thing Ga Eulyang said back at Namsan four years ago… do you remember?"

"That doesn't have_" she was cut off as Yi Jeong pulled her back to her seat. He let go of her hand and looked aside. " you are not leaving again without giving me a chance to explain."

"What is there to be explained?"

"Its because of hurabeujji …. I ignored you… yesterday… could Ga Eulyang give me chance to make it right?" he was hesitant but he forced a smile.

Ga Eul let out a long sigh, " does sunbae think that I will get used to forgiving you?"

"boh?"

""Arasso" Ga Eul let out another sigh before she smiled back. Yi Jeong let out a smirk before standing up. "Then …. Shall we leave ?"

"Where?" Instead of answering Yi Jeong again got her hand and dragged her out of the class.

"sunbae…. The school is not over yet.." just then they met HanJae to the front. She let out a squeak seeing the couple hand in hand . Yi Jeong let out another smirk and stopped by her,

"Can you….please inform the principle that_

"_ ARASSO ! I will …..you two may take your own time.." and the overexcited woman even waved them good bye.

The car drove to the So Manor and Yi Jeong guided Ga Eul to one of it's rooms. It wasn't like the one which Madam So was but a rather illuminated and brighter one with white walls and carpets. As for the resemblance to the other parts of the manor there was again those uniquely designed racks with pieces of pottery, magazines and novels.

"Anyeongsaeyo.. young master" few maids who were waiting for them bowed.

They dressed up Ga Eul ; they curled her hair and applied makeup on her. They made her wear an emerald green strapless evening gown which hung till her knees. Yi Jeong went to another room to dress himself up and after about an hour had passed he returned back to Ga Eul to find himself staring at her beauty.

"Shall we?" he gave his arm and Ga Eul hesitantly accepted the offer.

He lead them through hallways to a large door which was opened by another two servants for them. The doors opened to a magnificent ball room where people were chatting and complimenting each other with wine or champagne glasses on their hands. Ga Eul felt a bit nervous seeing such a big crowd at once. Yi Jeong sensed it and bent lower to whisper in her ear,

"We are here for some unfinished business."

"Unfinished business?"

Yi Jeong nodded."hm.. this is our turn to make the move." And his lips twisted in to a smile.

"To make the move?" Ga Eul was still confused.

"Ye… just follow my lead." And with that he dragged them both in. The crowd stopped for a moment to stare at the couple and the young women who were most probably the Casanova's admirers, stared daggers at them. There were actresses actors models and a lot more celebrities staring at them and Ga Eul felt as if her knees were melting which made her hold tight in to Yi Jeong's arm.

"Agh! At last..thought the party was going to be commenced without it's host." A man at about his mid fifties patted on Yi Jeong's shoulder. Yi Jeong grinned in response and without another minute delayed the guests returned back to their conversations yet most of the girls kept staring at the couple. They walked to a Song Woo Bin,Yoon Ji hoo and A Gu Jun Pyo who were waiting at a corner of the hall.

"you've never told us that you are gonna bring Ga Eul for your return party?" Ji hoo let out a smirk for Jun pyo's comment.

"Do I have to ask for your permission when this is my party? Yi Jeong questioned him back.

"Ga Eulyang, you really look beautiful today."

"gumao , Woo Bin sunbae.. " Ga Eul gave a little bow. They chatted for a while till Yi Jeong got caught for a chat with another older man. Ga Eul noticed the large windows viewing a beautiful garden and walked near it. She sinked her self in the vast curtains and after finding out that the windows were opened she slowly slipped out of the ball room in to the garden. She walked through the yellow daffodils and enjoyed how they waved in the wind along with her dress.

Yi Jeong had a glimpse of Ga Eul slipping through the curtains and he himself went to the window to be mesmerized at the sight of Ga Eul strolling in a ripe daffodil field with a sun setting in the far horizon.

" is it that hard to confess a girl?" he was waken from his dreams by an Eun Jae.

He grinned before answering, " ah… here is the last person I would take advice about confessing."

"Wae?" Eun Jae giggled." Didn't I do it too well back then?" they both let out a chuckle.

"you don't confess, you give unsolvable puzzles." Yi Jeong let out a smirk and a silence followed. Eun Jae became sincere,

"Yi Jeongah… don't you think some puzzles are best unsolved?"

There followed another silence and Yi Jeong awaked his voice at the end. "Cha Eun Jae.. wae? Why did you make it that hard?"

"Wae?...who knows? I thought you'd get it."

"But you knew_"

"_Yi Jeongah… I never knew you… just happen to find you…..you …were a math problem which I could not solve so happened to throw away…"another silence followed. Eun Jae let out a chuckle at the end." To think about it…... we both should be happy that it ended that way….."

"Hmm…"Yi Jeong nodded in approval.

"After all …there's some one who had actually solved it…"

"Boh?"

"Chu Ga Eul" Eun Jae let out another chuckle and Yi Jeong's grin grew wider. "You should be happy to have someone like her"

"ye…. Don't know if I could be any happier.." Yi Jeong let out another chuckle with a nod.

Eun Jae become sincere again, " you don't know how much she had been through for you…"

Yi Jeong's smile stiffened and Eun Jae continued,

"I…. Haven't seen such a selfless love before…."she looked up at Yi Jeong " Yi Jeong ah….. you'd better not loose her…. Because unlike the wind.. if you'd loose your air, your whole life will be suffocated…."

As the given advise he went after the Ga Eul who was wandering to the sunset between the yellow daffodils.

"You've still not lost the habit of going off wondering.." his voice made Ga Eul stop and turn around.

"Yi Jeong sunbae… aren't you supposed to be at the party?

"Aren't you supposed to be there too?" Yi Jeong stood by her side when she looked at the daffodil field stretching to the sunset.

" I didn't know sunbae has such a good taste of gardening.."

" in that case…." Yi Jeong looked up from her, " we have got staff to take care about." And let out a smirk.

"Oh"Ga Eul gave a nod. They lead themselves to a garden bench and sat down before starting the conversation. A cold wind blew for which Ga Eul gave a shiver resultiy Yi Jeong to take off his coat and put it on her. She smiled shyly while Yi Jeong did the same looking aside, avoiding her eyes.

"Head master So….. must really love sunbae a lot to throw such a big party for Sunbae's return…."

"ye…." Yi Jeong nodded with a sigh. "hurabeujji… was the one who took care of us all these years…."

"Us?"

"Hmm.." he nodded." Me and hyung."

"oh….. Head master seems to be …. More generous than he appears…." Yi Jeong let out a chuckle before his expression turned serious.

"Ga Eulyang….Eun Jae told me everything you've been through with my ommanim… Ga Eulyang doesn't have to_"

"_ anniyo… she's a loving soul after all…. It's just….. that she's lonely…"

"Ga Eulyang_"

"_sunbae she's not like that anymore…we've now become good friends…" a long silence followed of which at the end Yi Jeong let out another chuckle.

"It seems Ga Eulyang has come to know my ommanim better than me…." Ga Eul smiled, " I thought sunbae has noticed it by now…"

"Boh?"

" That I have got a little knowledge when it comes to children…" and they both let out a chuckle before Yi Jeong stood up."come ..we'd better go in side now…. It grows a lot colder out here…" and he lease the way but stopped when he noticed that Ga Eul was not following him.

" sunbae…. I must go now… or else It would be late when I reach home.."

" but_"

"_sunbae gumao….for everything…." She bowed and smirked before returning back the coat and just like at the Namsan four years ago she left without letting him to say anything else. Yi Jeong stared at her disappear to the early night.

With his confession gone wrong Yi Jeong was a bit frustrated. In the following days he was thinking a better way to confess and it was just when he stepped out of his studio he got the message from Woo Bin:

"F4, let's meet!"