Chapter twenty two.

Gangnamgu... not at the heart of it but more to its edge, a three storey manor stood at the middle of a garden, desolated from its busy neighbourhood for it's own serenity. Its brick walls harmonized with the greenery of the surrounded garden, with four wide opened French windows, two at the each side of its main entrance letting the cool breeze of the early morning inside its hallways. Ga Eul lead herself through them, the entrance guided to the long corridor with a kitchen at the end and a dining and a living space at the sides of it. She climbed up the stairs spiralling around as guided to the second floor and found herself standing on a cosy lobby. With a mini pantry at one of its sides it acted as a junction for three corridors of which stood a large room at their ends accompanied by two smaller ones at its sides.

Ga Eul lead herself into one of those larger rooms, the one at the second corridor. It was .. large, of course bigger than her own bedroom back at her parents' house, but it was not the large ness that first registered in her mind. It was the large window, that faced the garden just like the one at one of the halls of the museum.

which reminded her,

"Oh.. did Sunbae know that I was coming?"

" ani..." and with a chuckle he had continued. " But it was only one girl that I knew, who would be more interested in a pouring rain than the precious exhibits the hall has held..."

Her mind ran to one of those days when they were dating-those days that was free of the fears of future...

At least they got to stay together...

She sighed.

And he remembered..

She smiled.

"I thought jagiya would like to have large windows..." his voice echoed in the hollow room as Ga Eul turned around to see Yi Jeong entering. "I've seen Ga Eulyang staring at them a lot frequently then..."

She chuckled.

"Sunbae, can we take this?"

"Mwo?" he gave her a quizzical look.

"I mean.. as our bedroom.." the word 'our' was spelled as a whisper.

"Arasso.." Yi Jeong chuckled. " This whole house is ours though... "

Ga Eul flashed a smile, sticking a strand of hair at the back of her ear. She was still not used for it.

Right after their honeymoon at Paris, Yi Jeong drove her to that manor. The manor, she from then on would be calling as home. She learnt that it was something Yi Jeong had brought from the profit of his last exhibition the one at which he attempted to propose her before everything took drastic turns. It was a result of their efforts, both of them – the exhibition-as he called it. As it was the best investment to buy their home from its profit earned, so it would be something they both had paid off. And of course, it was one of those safest properties Yi Jeong had, brought from what he had earned, and not having any connection to the museum or the studio or to their own art schools it was one that he himself owned from the start to end, and that hurabeujji did not.

Their wedding was too surprising and sudden for the house to be prepared first, though the living, kitchen and the dining were fully furnished, the second floor still had a lot to be completed. As that particular room was chosen as their bedroom, and another larger one as a study, all the rest were to be guest rooms-as so they would be called by Ga Eul who never knew of the late Casanova's intentions.

A wolfish grin drew on his face when she asked why they needed that much bedrooms. For her, the manor was too large and less intimate as the space would decrease the intimacy. But the potter had other reasons for which his wife was too innocent to understand.

In second thoughts, they were better left unknown- he thought as he suggested one to be turned into a mini studio if needed. Of course there was a high chance for him to lose his after all.

For that night, that bedroom would be prepared and the rest would be there after. That was the reason for Yi Jeong to suggest a longer stay at Paris, well, more precisely, a longer honeymoon.. at least it was one of the reasons... but unfortunately Ga Eul required to attend at the kindergarten.

So, leaving the rest to the workers the couple departed from their home. It was the first time they were going to attend their jobs as married people. It made nothing new for Yi Jeong, as it was mostly paperwork he had to take care of the museum, at least before meeting hurabeujji. After all the paperwork was mostly about that meeting, which would supposedly won't be much enjoyable.

But for Ga Eul, it was different. It was as if she was stepping in to a whole new world, when she at last entered the kindergarten. First of all, it was her first time entering from the back door. As the reporters had flooded to its main entrance once they were there. It was the same when they returned to Seoul. The F4, especially a bit of Junpyo's and Woo Bin's security was needed to safely exit from there. It appeared that the news had leaked, that the potter prodigy and heir to Woo Seong had married a commoner kindergarten teacher secretly in the blessings of their friends. It was more detailed though as in some reporting it highlighted the word 'eloped'. Woo Bin suspected Lee Ji Ah, as once their engagement broke, the news had clearly dropped their share prices.

For Yi Jeong it was just another reason to fear facing hurabeujji.

And he managed to keep his fears secret to his wife as he knew she then had better things to fear about.

The thing about publicity was just as frightening and new to Ga Eul. It was not that she disliked to accept that she was his wife in front of the public but she was annoyed with all of their questions about their life which she highly wanted to keep private, she felt depressed on how most of them questioned her intentions.. that how they hinted or sometimes some of Yi Jeong's fangirls publicly declared that: it is obvious that she is some kind of a gold digger.. uri Jeong sshi... and tired of hearing their squealing voices that happened to sound sympathycal for her husband.. or how they were interrupted in most of their quality times as a husband and wife.

Most of all she was terrified of how her acts, her responses would worsen the situation, how her simple act of rolling her eyes for a stupid question asked by a reporter would affect on Yi Jeong's long preserved reputation. Not only his, but also his family's.

She was annoyed, depressed and terrified. And it was just the start.

Ye. Everything that happened at the kindergarten the first day she went there after marriage- it was just the beginning..

Ga Eul thought.

Principal Choi, complaining about the reporters that would scare the children, some of her colleagues being overly fond of her all of a sudden and some sparing glares disgusting her so called intentions. And most of all when she was openly addressed as So Yi Jeong's wife.. she, who was Ga Eulshshi..

Especially when Han Jae did.

It was not that she disliked to be called as that. It was more like she hated to be pampered because of that. Hated or pampered, Ga Eul disliked both of the extremes. She wanted it to be like before. Normal- she called it. But that was so far for her to reach then.

And that's what made her depressed, so badly wanted some other person to treat her the way they treated her before. That was one of the main reasons for her to end at So Manim's that first evening.

The woman was glad to see her and so was Ga Eul.

Madam So raised an eyebrow when she saw her wedding ring and gave her quizzical look for which Ga Eul smiled with flushed cheeks. She was then dragged to the sofa and made to sit down. The maids served them tea as the lady asked her with glistening eyes.

"So, what happened?" she was excited, but Ga Eul was blushing.

"So.. he proposed you... and both of you got married the same day? Oh my!" she gasped.

Ga Eul gave a nod with a smile as she received a warm hug from Madam So. "Oh.. I am so happy for you!..."

"gumsumnida.." Ga Eul chuckled. But her expression grew darker then after.

" Waeyo?"

She explained her what happened with her parents. It followed a sob which she was soothed, then again she continued about her current situation, everything about the reporters and fangirls.

"Ah.. don't worry about them.." Madam So reached for her hand to give it a squeeze. " If he was brave enough to marry you that way...tsk.. he would be certainly brave enough to stand with you..." she wiped a tear strolling down her cheek. " Ga Eulyang should be happy that now she had got to marry her soulmate..." she emphasized the word 'Soulmate ' which made Ga Eul chuckle herself.

"And I wish you two would always be together.." and that was the warmest smile Ga Eul had ever seen, for which she could not help smiling herself.

"So then!..." she patted her hand. " Ga Eul sshi, better get going..." and leaned in to whisper her ear." It's better not to leave your husband waiting.." both women exchanged a chuckle, before Madam So collected herself to stand up. " unless... if Ga Eul sshi.. had got something else to tell me..." Ga Eul did not see her slightest smirk as she had already turned around then.

It was a great thing that she visited Madam So in the first place- Ga Eul told herself. As the evening grew more fond to Ga Eul it was quite contrary for Yi Jeong who was seated across the low table in front of his hurabeujji, who was more concerned about his tea than the confession or the explanation his grandson was giving on.

"It is she that I love and will love forever... actually it was from her that I learned what love is.. and.. for me .. all the rest of the women would be just the same..."

Yi Jeon ended his by-heart explanation. Explanation for him and confession for his hurabeujji. Though he had not stated a word about regret. After all, it was the first question from the old man.

"So you do not regret?"

Yi Jeong smirked. What the use of asking that? – he thought. It was what he was telling him all that time. Well then, if he wanted a direct answer,

"Anniyo, hurabeujji. "

The old man nodded placing his tea cup. "Have you prepared the papers?"

Yi Jeong again smirked. Just as he thought, he was not to be forgiven.

"Ye. Hurabeujji." And placed the files;The papers regarding his lost of the museum, the studio and every property of So name. The official declaration of his exile from the family. For what when mentioned to Junpyo and Woo Bin, gasped and went silent.

"Life would be harder for you from now on my boy... " he smirked. " and this will be the last time I will address you such like wise..."

Yi Jeong simply smiled and bowed, excusing himself. It was civilised compared for happened with Ga Eul's parents though it was actually no different from that. He did not know if life would be easier or harder for him from then. As stated by hurabeujji, maybe it would be harder for them. But Yi Jeong was glad that now he at least had something called life, at least to hold on; for not to give up.

So despite everything he had lost, he grinned wide when seeing his wife, who offered to take off his coat and hung it in a coat hanger, grabbing his wrist and dragging him to the dining where the dinner was served.

Ga Eul had prepared dinner for them. And he couldn't help but stare amused at her and chuckle at her unlikely request.

"Sunbae, since it is our first night at our home... shall I light some candles on the table?.. I mean.. would it sound silly?"

And he couldn't help but smirk seeing how cute she was when so eagerly placing the candles on the table and lighting them up. He offered himself to help her and took the seat as Ga Eul sat, just before she again stood up and ran to switch off the lights.

Ah.. Ga Eulyang ... the romantic...

He chuckled even more when she told him what to eat first and how to eat. As if he did not know anything, he obediently enjoyed his wife's excitement.

It appeared visiting Madam So had lifted up Ga Eul's mood.

"So.. did you tell omma?" Yi Jeong asked as Ga Eul boned the fish for him and placed the pieces on his bowl of rice.

"Eh?" she paused. "Ani... I was afraid if she might_"

"_tsk she won't.. trust me.. and we'll tell her some other time then.." he was not in mood to ruin hers.

Ga Eul smiled.

"By the way.. Sunbae, why didn't you tell Jihoo Sunbae about Seo Hyun unnie?" They had met Min Seo Hyun during their stroll around Paris, and she was sincerely curios of why Yi Jeong did not mention it to Jihoo when he had the chance to. Had he forgot it?

"Tsk.. " Yi Jeong smirked. " some things are better left unsaid.. after all Jihoo had begun to settle down now.." and they exchanged a chuckle reminiscing about the clumsy nurse, a bit triumphant about them being the reason for the couple to meet.

Ga Eu then grabbed her chopsticks and got a piece of her cooking, before holding it closer to his mouth.

"Sunbae, say AAAH .." she made the sound herself.

"Mwo?" he smirked, again he couldn't help, seeing her cute face, and slowly opened his mouth obeying her.

"Umm it's good.. " he said unusually with his mouthful.

Ga Eul giggled. " I told you so..." and made another gesture to feed him.

And the dinner went on, with the young couple playing with it, feeding each other or more precisely attempting, as sometimes the curries were spilled on their cloths.

But despite their cloths being destroyed, they enjoyed it and the manor filled with giggles and laughter or some complain-like accusation for the said cloths being destroyed.

The whole night was uninterrupted and fun.

Till Yi Jeong received a message just before they were going to climb on to their bed.

It was a message from someone he did not expect.

It was a simple text, read:

Dongseong ah.. hope to meet you, soon.

From none other than So Il Hyun.

A/N:

Maria Rosa cisi was right. Ga Eul needed someone who understands them. But unfortunately it won't be hurabeujji, but madam So would be nice. And just as myrslayer told she would be able to live her new life happily.

Thanks for all the guests who reviewed and keep reviewing. Ok?

The story will be continued.

Just wanted to thank you all for reading and reviewing, including the guests for whom that I can not PM. And especially JodiMarie2910 for being such a good adviser all the time.

Again, The story WILL be continued . Hehe..