A/N: Sorry, this update is a very long one, yet unfortunately, lacking in ghostly elements. I wanted to follow this story's theme as much as possible, but these things are also needed to happen in order to avoid any plot holes. Hope this won't be boring.
Chapter thirteen: Forgotten People.
Part I
Yi Jeong had truly betted everything on that chance. His pride, his charms, his attire... Everything. He had even spent three hours searching for those hand warmers Ga Eul had gifted him two years ago, which he remembered putting in a safe drawer in his large wardrobe. (Too safe actually. Even he had almost forgotten them.) But despite his greatest efforts and careful calculations, Ga Eul had almost rejected his offer. He wouldn't have stood the slightest chance if not for those two puzzle pieces supporting his argument. Well, that and the thorough explanation on the case, the seriousness of its effects and a few very sincere pleas...
Which was precisely why he didn't want Song Woo Bin to spoil this opportunity.
"And why the hell would you want us to act like a couple?" Yi Jeong glanced across the table at the girl gone pale, then dropped his voice. " You didn't tell me that before?"
Woo Bin smirked. "Yo, bro, relax. I thought that was obvious. You don't go knocking on doors, demanding permission to investigate on their dead daughters by handing over your psychic consultancy card, do you?" Yi Jeong opened his mouth to answer. "No, don't. I know you've still got those cards, but hal-abeujji would kill you, if you'd use them again. Man... didn't he warn you to put you under house arrest the last time? Where was that hotel again? Incheon?"
"Aish." Yi Jeong hissed.
"Sunbae was threatened to be put under house arrest?..." Her voice was almost a squeak, but Yi Jeong could spot curiosity sparking into life. "Was it after... the Jeju case? But why?" Ga Eul asked.
Happy now? Yi Jeong shot a glare at Woo Bin, and looked away. Perhaps he appeared a bit childish back then, as he even heard an elegant ghostly chuckle from his side. Yet he chose to avoid any eye contact with every one in that room—dead or alive. It was unbearably embarrassing, and kind of felt like betrayal. He had been careful enough not to bring any of his family matters in front of Ga Eul or Master during the whole year they had spent living under the same roof. Ten minutes with Song Woo Bin, there! All the beans have been spilt!
"Ah. Yes. Jeju... I almost forgot. Thank you, Ga Eulyang." Woo Bin gave her a warm smile, before turning back to Yi Jeong. "Plus, didn't I tell you Mi Soo's mom was a lawyer?"
"So what?"
"That's especially why the act must be perfect." JiHu interrupted.
For a considerable time, the F4's lounge fell into dead silence, as Yi Jeong studied the suspicious behaviour of his two friends—Song Woo Bin and Yoon JiHu. (Junpyo was clueless—which was perfectly normal.) Those two were acting strange. As seems they were following someone's instructions... Or perhaps... a favour...
Yi Jeong sighed inwardly.
'Master.' He thought, just as Gyeoul whispered the same in his ear.
'Neh...neh... That lit-tle devil...' She said in a sing-song way, and giggled.
Great! Now he's become a joke to the demon as well! Yi Jeong gave up.
"If you both dislike going together that much, why can't she go alone?" The 'brilliant' idea came from Gu Junpyo.
A visible cloud of disappointment hovered over the two faces of the F2. As for Yi Jeong, he tried to hide his own.
"What do you think, Ga Eulyang? Can you handle it alone?" JiHu asked in the end.
Ga Eul took some time to answer that. "I don't know." She said. "Sometimes my senses won't turn out to be exactly how I expect them to work..." She fidgeted with her handbag clasp.
Yi Jeong knew her reasons to be unsure of herself. Her most recent case had ended terribly wrong. But this was Ga Eulyang. She was never known for giving up. That's why he expected her to look up again with her bright smile. And his guess was right.
"But I can try." She said. "I will try and give my best." She wore a confident smile.
The boys stared admiringly at her courage. Yi Jeong gave a small smile and a little nod of approval. Of course, she could do that. He knew it more than anyone else.
But Woo Bin wasn't done with them yet.
"No way. Ga Eulyang. You shouldn't go alone." He said.
Yi Jeong gritted his teeth. He could almost peel the cunningness off his voice.
"If you don't feel safe going alone, I could come with you..." He gave his Don Juan smile.
Ga Eul laughed nervously. "Thanks a lot, Woo Bin Sunbae." She said. "That is really kind of you to_"
"_What do you know about demons?" Yi Jeong interrupted.
"Tsk... Nothing much." Woo Bin smirked. "But seeing how hard she's trying to help us, can we just stay here doing nothing? I probably won't be able to do much, but I can at least stand beside her if she needed anyone to protect her..."
Silence...
What the heck?
Yes. Yi Jeong wanted to kill his best friend.
Ga Eul opened her mouth to say something but before she could agree to his offer Yi Jeong interrupted again.
"I think it'll be better if we'd go together. I can probably do better than just standing at her side, in case she would need any help."
...
...
...
Ga Eul wondered what Yi Jeong was thinking back then, as she got into his car.
Why would he volunteer to be her assistant?
Yes. Her assistant . Because Ga Eul had expressly stated that she wants things to go her way — not his — if she would accept this case. (Partly because she hoped he would revoke the offer if he didn't have any authority on it.) But as she thought about it now, she should have been more clear about her unwillingness to conduct any 'performance' with him. Which was one of the main reasons she left their little 'company' eighteen months ago. Never mind if it was an old man's ghost in Andong, or a murderous demon in the most prestigious school of Seoul, if they work together in solving that case, the circumstances will always push them to act like something they aren't.
A Couple!
Perhaps that was what Baekga meant back when he called them 'soulmates'. Yet whatever it was, Ga Eul didn't feel comfortable about it. They both weren't —as she thought. That was why Yi Jeong first refused to follow this stupid plan, right? But then again, after how he agreed to follow it in the end... it left her wondering if this was all his plan after all...
"I've got nothing to do with this." Yi Jeong answered, as if he had read her mind. "Just like you, I had no idea what their plan was. I am as equally 'surprised' as you." He sighed.
"I had everything under control." Ga Eul said. "If Sunbae had not interfered back then."
"Everything under control? How? By going out with Woo Bin?" Yi Jeong snapped back.
Of course, she wasn't going to go out with him. She was going to politely refuse it. If Yi Jeong hadn't butted in! By the way, why would he even care in the first place?
"I thought Sunbae only wanted to solve this case as soon as possible."
"Yes, I did."
"How could that bother Sunbae, if I would go out with Woo Bin Sunbae?"
...
"He... he's not good at acting actually. Yes. Can't even lie properly..." Yi Jeong said, hands stiffened on the steering wheel and eyes glued on the road.
Ga Eul knitted her eyebrows. "But I thought Woo Bin sunbae's called F4's Don Juan? If it is going to be an act as a couple, isn't he qualified as much as you are?"
Yi Jeong could recognize the mockery in her tone— the idealistic Ga Eulyang's bitterness towards womanizers like him—which he understood, but also hurt a little.
"It's not just any act." He said. "We must be able to convince a lawyer. And if they knew anything about Woo Bin, they'll surely know that he's only into older women."
"Older women?"
"Mm. At least twice his age."
"Twice?" Ga Eul gasped.
Yi Jeong exaggerated it a bit. But he didn't have to worry unless it reached Woo Bin's ear. And to his delight the uncomfortable conversation came to an end there, just as they arrived at their destination. Yi Jeong parked his car at the entrance to the three storey building. He got out and held the car door opened for Ga Eul.
Ga Eul gazed up at the building with amaze, as she got out of the car. It was a high class salon she had never even dreamed of stepping in. Tall glass doors stood at its entrance, with golden architraves which layered inside. A magnificent chandelier peered out from above the lintel, hanging down from the golden ceiling of the brightly lit reception hall. At their left, on pitch black background, golden cursive letters held the name of the salon.
Mia Belle
"Sunbae, why are we here?"
"To get you ready, of course." He closed back the door. "And speaking of Woo Bin, you can complain him if any of the services are unsatisfying, as he owns the place. His private property."
"Eh?"
Woo Bin Sunbae? This is all his?
Yi Jeong chuckled, as Ga Eul stared astonished. He held out his hand. "So, shall we go in?"
...
...
It was supposed to be only for celebrities. But somehow there wasn't a single client present at the time they had visited. When Ga Eul asked Yi Jeong, he nonchalantly replied that all their appointments were cancelled for the day. Ga Eul wondered how brilliant the service should be, if they were so confident to cut their customers off with such a little notice, without worrying about losing them.
Well, she was right.
The staff was extremely friendly. (Probably because she was with their employer's best friend.) Even the top-notch stylists who attended to her—whose names she had previously only heard of—treated her like royalty. They washed her hair with expensive shampoo, dried it with immense care and curled them in to soft bouncy curls. When attending to her make up, they took a considerable time to match the colours with her natural skin tone, and while doing so, gave her expensive-to-follow tips on how to maintain the healthy glow of her skin, for which Ga Eul could only politely nod and agree...
Their service was so excellent that Ga Eul could barely recognize her own self when she looked up at the mirror in the end. She peeked at Yi Jeong to see whether he was amazed as well, but for her dismay, he was more engaged in a gossip magazine than her.
Of course , he should be. What was she thinking? He was So Yi Jeong, who had dated dozens of celebrities and idols and probably even foreign models. Compared to those exquisite beauties, who was she to catch his eye?
"Duraenim." Her stylist called Yi Jeong. He looked up from his magazine as she turned her chair around, so Ga Eul would face him.
Yi Jeong smiled benevolently. "You look beautiful." He said.
"Like a princess?"
"What?" He chuckled.
"Nothing." Ga Eul shook her head and smiled in response. How embarrassing? And a princess? From where did that come to her mouth? She didn't know why she asked that.
...
...
Their next stop was one of the most expensive clothing stores, where Ga Eul accidentally turned some price tags around and almost had a heart attack seeing the numbers on them. In fact, it was Yi Jeong who had most of the charge in there. Ga Eul could only gaze around and watch him as he discussed with the sales assistant on what would be the best dress for her. He seemed to be quite an expert when it came to women's fashion.
"That design's good... but, No. Green doesn't go with her complexion. Gold or pink may be... wait here." Ga Eul watched as he went to grab another few dresses. "This is of the same design, right?" And as how they compared them all to one another...
He then marched towards her, placed one of the dresses on her, and then the other. "You should try this one." He gave her a pink and white plaid dress. Ga Eul considered the dress. "This? No, Sunbae, this is probably too_"
"_Just go and try it on." He pushed her into a fit-on room, closing the door behind her. "Keep it locked while you're changing." He said. "I'll go look for the other accessories."
"Yi Jeong Sunbae!" Ga Eul protested, but Yi Jeong had already left by then. She stared at her reflection on the mirror—her old red coat, and her simple cream dress. It was hard not to compare them with the one hanging at her left. To be honest, it wasn't that far from her usual style—more like an upgraded version of it. (Long sleeves and (laced) collars...) Though it was a little shorter than what she usually wore. Ga Eul checked its material, which felt thick but soft to touch. A little like wool, but not itchy for the skin. And the price was obviously _
Ga Eul gasped at the price tag.
No. She can not buy that. Six shifts at the chicken restaurant wouldn't pay half of the price to buy that. She peeped her head out from the fit-on room, to see whether Yi Jeong was nearby. He wasn't. But the sales assistant was. Who stiffly approached her as soon as she saw her.
"Duraenim asked me to give you this." She handed a set of lingerie. Ga Eul's cheeks burned red. "He said you might like them." The woman said, completely ignoring her embarrassment. Ga Eul locked the door behind her and glared at the offensive item.
So, that was what he had in his little brain when he volunteered to come?! Agh, that little_
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Here, these too, try them on." It was Yi Jeong handing her a pair of white peep toe heels and a gold-colour-ish fur coat. Ga Eul turned around the price tag on the fur coat before he could close back the door.
Arctic Golden Island Fox...
2,599,000 won
"Yi Jeong Sunbae!" She hissed "Have you gone crazy?! A coat for two million Won? How am I going to pay for that?!"
Yi Jeong smiled, and mock whispered to her.
"Ga Eulyang, you don't have to pay for that. And aren't you a Shinhwa student? How could you be so startled by these little things?"
He smirked, and forced the door closed.
...
It was because of mere curiosity Ga Eul had tried them on, but she was stunned at the end result. Everything fitted perfectly well. From the dress to the coat, to the shoes to the tiny gold earrings she had just given... everything. She stared amazed at her own reflection on the mirror. It was as if she had reincarnated as an heir to a massive Korean empire; as a chosen daughter of heaven...
"Ga Eulyang?"
A third knock came on her door. But this time she was able to answer it less aggressively.
Yi Jeong grinned contentedly as she stepped out from the fit-on room. He was visibly pleased of his work.
"So, where are we heading now?" Ga Eul asked.
"We'll need to have lunch before anything else. And then, we can head to Kim Mi Soo's place."
"Okay then." Ga Eul smiled.
And Yi Jeong smiled in return.
They may have stared into each other's eyes for quite some time, as when they were called back to the present, the sales assistant had already packed all of Ga Eul's cloths into a paper bag. (Ga Eul didn't even notice the woman go pass her into the fit-on room.)
"Ah yeh. Thank you." Ga Eul accepted the paper bag and turned back to Yi Jeong. The downhearted sales lady, left the two for themselves.
"So... Shouldn't we be going now?" Ga Eul asked.
"Ah. Yes." Yi Jeong nodded. "But first." He went a hand to his pocket and took out a little velvet box. "For the finishing touch." He handed the box to Ga Eul.
Inside, there was a simple golden chain with a small pendant in the shape of a flower—five golden petals with pink and white gemstones embedded onto it. There were more white stones near an edge of a petal and more pink ones (even a few red) near to the centre of the flower, which blended the colours giving it the perfect realistic hues. And from the centre of the flower, tiniest thread-like golden stamens sprouted out...
A cherry blossom_ Ani. A peach blossom...
Ga Eul thought as she recognized the tear-drop shaped petals.
"I thought that would go with your dress." Yi Jeong scratched an itchy spot on his nose bridge. "Oh, and I got rid of the price tag for you." He said.
The price!
Ga Eul woke up from the spell. Indeed he had gotten rid of it.
"Sunbae, tell me, how much was it?"
Yi Jeong sighed annoyed. "I told you, Ga Eulyang doesn't have to pay for any of this. If you don't like it from me, we can put it on Junpyo's bill. This is all because of him after all."
Junpyo Sunbae's bill? Just because this involves Shinhwa? Will he pay for all of this? Ga Eul thought.
"And here, let me help you put it on." Yi Jeong marched towards her without any warning, and snatched the necklace out from her hand. It was when he brushed her curls aside that Ga Eul became aware of what he was doing.
"Sunbae, I can put it on myself."
"Shush. Stay still." He said.
It was the slightest touch; the lightest brush of his fingers on her skin, but Ga Eul didn't know why it made her heart leap out of her chest... Why it raced so fast and why it drummed so loud in her ears... Or why it made her cheeks blush so hard... She wanted to laugh as well as to cry. And she had no idea why she felt that way...
"There you go." Yi Jeong said as he clasped the necklace. And when Ga Eul looked up, he had already walked past her to the exit.
...
...
Ga Eul reached for the tiny pendant resting between the white collars of her dress. They were having lunch at a lavish restaurant facing the Han river. So far, discussing about the important parts of their act. ( :What her name would be, her parents' names, their occupations (if needed) and her excuses for 'not being able to' attend Kim Mi soo's funeral...) But yet, Ga Eul couldn't completely forget what happened at the clothing store. It felt strange. It wasn't like her; she wasn't the type to fall for his charms, was she? But then again, she wasn't even sure if it was his charms in the first place. Or was it something else. Perhaps, it was just a side-effect of her being snatched out from her private little world to this unfamiliar universe. After all, everything felt strange for her. And somewhat... uncomfortable... Ga Eul tugged down her dress.
Yi Jeong chuckled as he neatly cut through his foe grass.
"Pretending to be rich isn't as easy as it seems, is it Ga Eulyang?" He asked.
Ga Eul didn't try to answer him at all. Instead, she tilted her head to a side and observed him.
"What?" Yi Jeong asked confused.
"Sunbae, you've become quite the mind reader, you know?" She said. "Sometimes, I even wonder if you've been possessed by Baekga."
Yi Jeong smirked at his plate, not daring to look up. He then had a bite, and a sip from his wine. "So, Baekga. Is he still with you?" He asked.
"Anniyo." Ga Eul said, with hints of disappointment. " He didn't yet return after my last case..."
"He could go out?"
"Of course. He went out even back in Andong."
Yi Jeong went thoughtful for a moment, and smiled. "Then... maybe he's finally letting go of you."
"Mm. Maybe." Ga Eul answered.
A considerable silence passed as they both enjoyed their lunch. Yi Jeong awaked his voice in the end.
"I was going to ask this before. Have you ever learned any foreign languages?"
"Eh?"
"No, I mean, since you're going to be Kim Mi Soo's long gone friend... it'd come in handy if Ga Eulyang could manage a few foreign phrases. Japanese, French or even Italian maybe?" He shrugged.
"Oh, yes." Ga Eul nodded. "I took German classes for four months before I changed into visual arts. It was really hard."
Yi Jeong smiled. "That'll do then." He said. "Oh, and by the way, didn't you say you've changed some of our usual rules?"
Ga Eul's smile froze. She had almost forgotten to mention what she meant by 'her way' — her terms and conditions. After all, it was reasonable to forget them. Nothing did go according to her plan thus far.
"Four o'clock." She cleared her throat. "Or maximum five. I mean, we should be there before dark. So we'll have more time to look around, when there's still day light."
Yi Jeong grinned. "Ahrasso." And checked his wrist watch. "It's one thirty already. Then we'd better be going now. So, Ga Eulyang, are we done? "
"Neh." Ga Eul nodded.
Yi Jeong called for the hostess and asked her to bring their bill. 780,000 won. Ga Eul didn't have to peek at it, she had it calculated in her head.(As a habit she had grown, since the very morning.) A simple makeover, a dress and a meal... that was all she had experienced for the day. Yet, she felt like she'd visited a different world—a world that breaths in, and feasts on, money notes.
"Gaja." Yi Jeong stood up, as soon as he stuffed his black credit card back in his wallet. He didn't bother a glance at the receipt, or whatever chit that was folded underneath it.
Ga Eul stood right after him sparing a reluctant glance at her unfinished plate. She was so full, she couldn't eat any more. But, she could have asked them to package it for her. Unfortunately, there was no time for that. They were already running late.
"Ga Eulyang." Yi Jeong suddenly turned around, making her bump onto him.
He smiled, and reached for a napkin. "You've got some ketchup right here."
Ga Eul slightly jerked, and closed her eyes, as he leaned in to wipe the end of her lips.
Yi Jeong chuckled. "There." He said, after carefully wiping it away. "You're now ready to fight."
For the briefest split second, a vision flashed in front of her eyes. Pink petals rained down, sailed on the gentle breeze and rested on her palm. A breath of wind blew through her hair, sending a cold shiver down her spine. Beams of sunlight, trickled from high leafed canopies, and bathed her in warmth... Birds sang in distance ... and all around... and a soft sweet scent, tickled her nose...
There! Now you're ready!
Said a man.
"Ga Eulyang?"
She opened her eyes.
Yi Jeong was standing near the exit with a questioning look.
"Oh, um... Yes." Ga Eul quickly grabbed her designer hand bag and hurried after him.
...
...
...
It was a three-hour ride from Seoul to Daegu and they reached Kim Mi Soo's house by around four forty-five. It was a decent neighbourhood—surprisingly for Ga Eul who was told that the girl committed suicide unable to withstand poverty. Perhaps, for the chosen daughters of heaven, it was a big deal to get kicked out of their mansions. Either that, or there was some other reason for it, which they would soon find out—Ga Eul thought, as she followed after Yi Jeong to the entrance.
It first seemed no one was at home. After ringing the bell for a few more times, Yi Jeong peeped above the iron gate.
"It's locked from inside." He said. "Someone has to be home."
They rang the bell another few times.
The windows lit up on the second floor, followed by the sound of a door sliding open. Foot steps hurried towards the gate and a pair of keys rattled inside the lock.
"Bianae, bianae... I fell asleep for a minute. I thought Manim would give a call just how you usually_"
The gates opened.
"_Do."
It was a short plump lady who was probably in her late sixties. She wore an old brown sweater a black shirt and a long brown skirt. Her short grey hair was combed back and tied into a lose ponytail.
The lady stared at them for a good five minutes.
"Who are you?" She asked.
Yi Jeong smiled, and stepped forward. "We_ I mean, my girlfriend here, was a friend of Mi Soo ssi. We couldn't attend to her funeral so..."
"Are you here to meet Madam Jeong ?"
"Neh." Yi Jeong grinned.
"Come in." She stepped aside.
...
...
She led them through a small shabby garden into a little traditional living room, where a short table with four cushions around it, sat on the middle. A few old paintings hung on the whitewashed wall, as a middle-sized glass display cupboard stood right in front of the staircase to the upper floor. A filament bulb lit the room with orange light.
Yi Jeong looked around. It was a plain house, non-extravagant, but clean and pleasant. He turned to the maid and smiled.
"Okay then." She said. "You both could wait here until Manim arrives. She normally returns home by this hour, but something's probably driving her late..." She checked her watch. "Traffic maybe." And smiled.
"Neh." Yi Jeong nodded. "Oh, and... It has been a long journey so, Eun Ae here..." He glanced at a perplexed Ga Eul. "Can you show her where the bathroom is?"
"Ah. Yes." The maid chuckled understandingly. "There's one; the small room to the right, straight through that corridor. But you could use the one on the upper floor too, if you'd want. Madam won't mind since you're a friend of uri Mi Soo." She said. "Call me if you'd need anything, I'll be in the garden."
Both Yi Jeong and Ga Eul watched as she left the room.
"What was that for?" Ga Eul asked as soon the old lady disappeared behind a thorny vine, over grown around a metal arch.
"What?" Yi Jeong whispered back. "You need an excuse to go upstairs, right? That's probably where Mi Soo's room would be..." He said.
"Eh?" Ga Eul gave him a quizzical look. She nodded registering what he said, and sighed.
...
...
Yi Jeong could totally understand why Ga Eul felt hesitant about this whole 'investigation' thing. He wasn't completely comfortable about it either. Intruding into someone's house and investigating on things that could be sensitive for them, was not something he approved himself. Even if they would completely forget about the manners, it wouldn't be wise to get into a commotion, in a neighbourhood like this. Especially given his reputation as an F4 member, that could be disastrous. That's why, though reluctantly, he had to remain downstairs, while Ga Eul went to investigate Mi Soo's room.
But of course Yi Jeong couldn't just sit there and send Ga Eul to the dead girl's room! The case obviously involved a demon, and the reasons for her to become one, was probably in that room. Ga Eul was heading towards a promising disaster. But, unfortunately, Yi Jeong couldn't follow her. And that's why he chose to linger on the first two steps of the staircase—hesitant to go up, and scared to stay down. Leaning on the railing he chose to glue his eyes on the wooden display cupboard, studying its items, just to pass his time.
There were a few ornaments in there—a Jade lion, a music box, and a few porcelain sculptures. Some medals hung from the sides of the framed certificates, and a few filled some dusted little trophies. But most of the shelves were crowded with framed photos of the dead girl—her, as a toddler, grinning in a pink fairy dress, her, holding a meddle to the camera, her, in an extravagant hanbok, and a lot more with her, during various family vacations. (Yi Jeong could reckon the white beaches of Maldives, some deserts in middle east, somewhere in the wilds of Africa, and some vast landscapes... probably in Tibet...)Seems the family had been quite the adventurers during their good old days...
Yet there was an ornamental vase, placed right in front of the framed wedding photo, as if no one bothered to look at it anymore. Or maybe—Yi Jeong thought—it was because they couldn't bring themselves to throw it away...
He smirked. For some reason, that clinginess felt familiar...
But his smirk vanished, when he saw another small photograph, almost hidden behind a porcelain fairy. He stepped forward to take a closer look. Yi Jeong could tell that the wooden frame once held a golden pattern of entangled vines, which had mostly peeled off with time. The photo itself was browned, and its edges had started to discolour. Yet the two teenage girls who were in their vintage school uniforms, grinning cheek to cheek, caught his eye. Especially that particular one on the left, with long hair, beaming eyes and a dimpled smile...
"Eomma?" Yi Jeong whispered to himself.
There was the key to the cupboard's door, inside its key hole, right in front of him. But Yi Jeong couldn't get a closer look at the photo because two things distracted him just then.
First—The rattling noise of the gate been unlocked, followed by the friendly maid's greetings for her Mistress.
Second—Ga Eul. Who returned from upstairs right in time. Not running, though startled, and disturbed and confused more than Yi Jeong had ever seen. She tripped on the last step, and almost collapsed onto him.
"Ga Eulyang, are you alright?" Yi Jeong caught her in his arms and asked her alarmed. Ga Eul looked up at him, her face gone paper-white and tears in her eyes.
"Sunbae, it was much, much worse than we thought." She said in an almost whisper.
"What do you mean?" Yi Jeong asked.
But she couldn't answer him, as just then the doors slid open, and a woman entered the room, followed by her maid.
...
...
...
Surprised— would have been an understatement to describe a woman's expression, who had just found one of her late daughter's friends, who she didn't remember at all, and who had arrived without any notice, and at the moment, was entangled in a celebrity boy's arms, in such an inappropriate way, in her house, during a late hour like that...
And both Yi Jeong and Ga Eul understood it very well, which was why they jumped aside and straightened their attires, just as the intense stare registered on their heads.
Yi Jeong was able to regain his composure before Ga Eul did. And so he bowed first. "Nice to meet you. Mrs. Jeong ." He said, and grinned politely, exposing his dimples.
The woman regarded them for a considerable time. "Pleased to meet you too." And smiled in response. "Please, have a seat." She gestured at the table.
...
"So, You must be So Yi Jeong, if I remember your name right." After hanging her coat away, Mrs. Jeong took a seat across them.
"Yeh." Yi Jeong nodded.
"Mm." She smiled. "You certainly have her face. Especially that smile." Ga Eul glanced at Yi Jeong, confused. "Oh, and Mrs. Park told me that your girlfriend was a friend of uri Mi Soo. What a coincidence when we think about it, isn't it?" She chuckled.
"Neh." Yi Jeong smiled politely. "But she has been abroad, for a very long time. Actually she returned just a week ago. And..." He glanced at Ga Eul, who was still a little pale. "And it was devastating... to find out... the news."
"Neh. Neh." Mrs. Jeong nodded. "I can understand."
A brief silence passed as they both observed each other. The maid brought and placed a tray with three tea cups and a porcelain kettle on the table.
"So, abroad, you said?" Mrs. Jeong asked, as she poured a cup of tea. "Where, may I ask?" She shot a suspicious glance at Yi Jeong.
"Germany." He replied confidently.
"Germany?"
"Neh."
"Oh, good." She smiled. "My aunt lives in Germany too." She served Yi Jeong with his tea and poured another.
"Und Sie sind, junge Frau...?(And you are... Miss?)" She asked Ga Eul, as she served her with her tea. Ga Eul looked up, and Yi Jeong almost coughed on his tea. They were not expecting that.
Ga Eul chuckled a bit nervously. "Eun Ae." She said.
"Freut mich Sie einmal kennen zu lernen.(So pleased to meet you.)" Mrs. Jeong smiled.
"Danke. (Thank you.)" Ga Eul replied, still with shock.
"Sie waren mit Mi Soo befreundet? Wie lange schon?"
"Seit dem Kindergarten."
"Verstehe, das ist lange her. Vielleicht kann ich mich deshalb nicht an dich erinnern. Ich darf doch "du" sagen.(I understand, It has been a long time. Maybe that's what I can't remember you...)"
Ga Eul chuckled again. "Ich war nicht so lange in Korea. (I haven't been in Korea for that long.) "
"Verstehe." Mrs. Jeong nodded politely. "Aber du waren in dieser kurzen Zeit so gute Freunde geworden.(But you two had become very good friends in that short time.)"
Ga Eul smiled in response and quickly had a sip from her tea.
For their utmost delight, the lady had to excuse from the table then, as her maid was leaving and she had to pay her shift. Given the chance, Ga Eul shot a glare at Yi Jeong who seemed to be meditating on his tea.
"Sunbae! Don't tell me you knew nothing about this? How are you not supposed to know that she's this fluent in German?" She whispered in one breath.
Yi Jeong sighed. Of course! How could Woo Bin had missed it? That punk had only one job to do! He shot an apologetic smile at Ga Eul.
"It's okay, Ga Eulyang. You're managing it fine..." He whispered back.
Ga Eul rolled her eyes.
Managing? My foot! She hissed and looked away. This wasn't what she signed up for.
"Please excuse me for that." Mrs. Jeong returned to the table. "Her son was sick. So, she needed a day off today." She said, and turned back to Ga Eul. "Und, was macht dein Vater? In welchem Bereich ist er tätig?( So, what does your father do? In which field does he work?)
Oh! Good! She's not yet done with her...
Ga Eul smiled politely, much to hide her frustration. "Er ist Bauunternehmer. (He's a Constructor.)" She answered.
"Und deine Mutter?" (And your mother?)
"Modedesignerin, aber sie ist nicht sehr bekannt." (A fashion designer. But she's not that famous after all.)
...
Ga Eul wondered why Yi Jeong dropped his head in defeat right then. As if they had been caught... She didn't say anything wrong, did she? Those were the answers they've agreed while on lunch... She turned at the lady who silently stared at her. Ga Eul had no idea why everyone had gone dead silent.
"Modedesignerin." Mrs. Jeong repeated calmly. "The stress should be on the first syllable, not on the fourth." She said. "And yet you told you lived in Germany, all these years..."
...
Ga Eul was lost in words. Yi Jeong reached for her folded hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I suppose, what Eun Ae ssi was trying to say was_"
"_Please. Yi Jeong ssi. Enough is enough." Mrs. Jeong sighed; a deep, sad sigh. "I don't know who you really are or what you want from us, but please, don't relate it to my daughter..." She said with tears in her eyes for the first time since they've met. "Mi Soo was very precious to me. And I don't want to hear anyone making fun of her."
A cord twisted in Ga Eul's belly. She could no longer look straight into the woman's eyes. Yes. What they did was terribly wrong, and she didn't even know how to apologise... They shouldn't have come here in the first place—she thought. They should at least leave right now. And yes, enough was enough...
But Yi Jeong stopped her from doing whatever she was going to do; apologising or standing up to leave. He blankly stared into the woman's eyes, unaffected by her words. "Mrs. Jeong Chae Yeong." He spoke firmly. "If you know anything about my mother, you should know as well, that this isn't something I could joke with." He said sternly. "Mi Soo ssi has been wronged and her death was not due to your sudden bankruptcy. She had been lying to every one, in her last letter, most likely to protect you. Tell me, Park Tae Min, wasn't he Mi Soo's last boyfriend ?"
...
Yes, they had guessed (and now confirmed) that this case involved tragedy. A wrongful death—which was one of the main reasons Ga Eul had accepted it in the first place. (Because she was yet to learn to look away and mind her own business, when an injustice occurs.) But she did not expect Yi Jeong to be that harsh, and spill everything, right in front of the said girl's mother.
And he didn't even stop there.
"In fact, Park Tae Min, Num Jeong Hui and Choi Do Yun. She was friends with all three of them, during the time Mr. Kim's case was being heard in the court." Yi Jeong took in a breath. "Are you aware that Mi Soo had been locked in the boys's restroom by them, for whole six hours?"
...Silence...
Ga Eul closed her eyes. She saw how the girl got trapped inside, her confusion and her fears, how she banged on the door and how she rattled the handle...Yes. Those visions had been vivid when she touched that broken mirror hanging above the sink in the bathroom upstairs... Er, not the bathroom she had been permitted to use—but the other one, which was attached to Mi Soo's bedroom... Another code twisted in Ga Eul's belly.
"I... I don't understand..." Mrs. Jeong shook her head in disbelief. "How could that be? I thought... I thought they were good friends..."
Friends? Ga Eul could have almost scoffed at the word. How could such horrible people be friends with anyone? And the locking up was only the beginning of everything... Ga Eul shivered at the thought of her next visions...
"Perhaps you were too busy with your husband's lawsuit." Yi Jeong said. "Choi Do Yun had confessed it himself, that they locked up a girl in a bathroom for fun. But I hardly believe that's just it."
"Locked her up? For fun?" Mrs. Jeong laughed, in a sad, hysterical way.
"Yes. That was what he said." Yi Jeong sighed. "I was just quoting his words."
The woman went silent for a considerable time, before she again woke her voice. "But, how?... How could you be so sure that 'the girl' was our Mi Soo?" she asked with hints of hope.
Yi Jeong sighed. That was a hard question to answer. Because of various reasons...
He glanced at Ga Eul and the silent translucent figure who sat besides her. "We know." He said.
The woman considered his answer for a while and looked up at Yi Jeong in the end. There was disbelief, as well as an unknown familiarity in her eyes. As if it wasn't the first time she had heard something like that... such an absurd answer...
"So, can you see them too?" She asked in a calmer, more self gripping tone. "Forgotten people... That's what she called them, right?"
–to be continued.
A/N:
In this story, Ga Eul hadn't much interacted with the F4 in a casual manner as in the original BOF drama. So that's why she was amazed to be suddenly exposed to their massive wealth.
The following is the full translation of the dialogue in German.
Mrs. Jeong- And you are, young lady...?
Ga Eul- Eun Ae.
Mrs. Jeong- Pleased to meet you.
Ga Eul-Thank you.
Mrs. Jeong-You had been friends with Mi Soo? How long had you been friends with Mi Soo?
Ga Eul-Since kindergarten.
Mrs. Jeong- I see, that was a long time ago. Maybe that's why I can't remember you. I'm allowed to say "you" after all. (* Mrs. Jeong had formally asked permission to change the addressing from 'Sie' to 'du'. But she didn't offer permission for Ga Eul to do so; implying that she didn't fully trust her.)
Ga Eul- I wasn't in Korea for that long.
Mrs. Jeong- I understand. But you two had become very good friends in that short time.
--
Mrs. Jeong-And what does your father do? What kind of business is he in?
Ga Eul-He is a builder.
Mrs. Jeong -And your mother?
Ga Eul- A fashion designer, but she's not very well known.
...
I also wanted to say that I've inserted a tiny scene for Chapter ten (A New Year For The Dead.) to make it known that Yi Jeong still had the blight (the bruise caused by being possessed by Gyeoul) on him, which would be a piece of information you'll need to know in the coming chapters. But you don't have to re-read the chapter. For some reason (please forgive me for my incompetence) I've forgotten to write it back then. Again, you don't have to re-read it *because* of this. It's just a little scene, and your knowledge about Yi Jeong still having the blight is more than enough.
:) Any way, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Leave a review and tell me what you think!