Enjoy!
The sound of a non-stopping machine beeping was a reason for her eyelids to open, leaving her pupils exposed. All seemed blurred for a moment before her vision could finally adjust to the light that brighten the big familiar room.
Ga Eul was once again at the Song mansion, and she wondered why while she looked to her both sides, inspecting the little machine that remain making the sound. It made her head pound even more that already was.
Examining now her arms since she couldn't properly move it by how injured they were, the commoner could see bruises everywhere. This was the cons of having light skin, it could get easily marked into dark spots. The country bumpkin poked one of them to see if it still hurts, and certainly it retain the pain.
Lifting up the sheets of the bed to check if she still had the same school clothes, the country bumpkin exhaled relief to see that this time no one touch her. Even though her clothes were covered with big red spots and dust from all the dirty when she fell to the ground, she didn't like to be examined by someone else's eyes.
Wondering where everyone could be, she looked at a wooden clock that was hanging in the wall, but the sound of people speaking brought her attention quickly, forgetting to acknowledge what time was.
"She doesn't like that" a familiar female voice she heard. Ga Eul could tell by her tone that she was arguing with someone, but still she couldn't analyze from who they come from.
"Let's see about that" now a male voice was responding to the other person, and she was almost absolutely correct who were.
The door flew open by someone's kick, a thin leg with large socks on. It was definitely a girl.
"Yah! You... you can't just do that" the male voice told the girl, and the country bumpkin smiled as she knew who were the ones fighting like kids.
"I just did" Geum Jan Di's voice was much clear and close as she entered the room with a big silver tray on her hands, smiling triumphantly for coming first through the door.
Woo Bin followed her behind with another tray full of food. Quickening his pace, he passed right beside Jan Di to get to Ga Eul first, only for the commoner to start running towards her.
As they were getting near to her, the leg of the girl with short hair met the red rug who was badly placed in a corner. Trying to maintain her balance was impossible as for the tray weight more of what she could handle. Suddenly, her body went straightly to the floor and the tray she was holding fell with her. Unfortunately, thinking that she could save the food with her arms being lifted was a big mistake as her face went directly to the soup dish, dipping her head in the chowder.
After the Don Juan heard the impact, he looked back and stared at a now green-face Geum Jan Di lifting her head up from the plate and wearing a serious gaze. Bursting into a laught was inevitable as this was his revenge for her bad behavior lately in the kitchen.
Even when Ga Eul was laughing too for her funny misfortune, she leaned down from her side of the bed and ran her index finger over her cheek to get some of the green liquid on it.
Placing it in her mouth, she nodded impressive and looked at her friend with a teasing smile. "It's delicious" the country bumpkin began to giggle while the Don Juan kept laughing for her joke.
"It's not funny" Jan Di mocked their laugh and quickly exchange it for a serious gaze. Getting up from the floor she crossed her arms as she was staring at the her two supposedly friends making fun of her.
"Keep laughing" she said annoyed while an idea swiftly came into her head. An evil grin appeared on her mouth as she slowly kneeled to pick up what was left from the soup in the plate.
Widening his eyes and giving some steps backwards, he looked at the commoner devilish staring at him while she walked towards his direction.
"Geum Jan Di, don't" he command her to leave the plate down on the floor as he sensed what was going to happen next.
"It wasn't my fault you fell" the Don Juan try to gave an excuse for her to not keep moving and almost do what she had in mind.
"It is, that rug is yours, doesn't it?" the commoner looked at him with a mad stare that freaked out Woo Bin. She could sometimes be really scary for her weird behaviors.
"Plus, you laughed about me" she gave him a reason with a wicked smile.
"Ga Eul laughed too" he pointed quickly to her direction, trying to get her in the problem with him. The country bumpkin at this moment thought of what a great friend she had, sarcastically. Not having the compassion for the poor girl who was recovering from all the injuries those crazy students of Shinhwa gave her.
That didn't stop Geum Jan Di to walk in his direction as Woo Bin was her target. Putting her fingers in the soup, she let them get wet from the food and slowly raised them to throw it soon to the Don Juan. But before that, he rapidly ran away from her and she followed him behind, trying to get close to him so she could throw the green liquid to him.
Knowing he was definitely not going to survive from her attaxk to his beloved face and expensive clothes, he knew he got to hide away from her. Running, he thought and searched through the room when he finally saw the bathroom.
Running for his life, he quickly opened and close the door, locking himself in. A sigh he let out of relief as he was saved now from the commoner who attempted against his beautiful face and costly clothes.
"Don't you dare to get out of there" Jan Di yelled at him and kicked the door. He was clearly warned.
"You can't treat me like this in my own house" he made his voice loud so he could hear him. Even when he felt annoyed by her sudden reaction, Woo Bin was feeling more secured inside the bathroom.
Ignoring him already, she walked up to Ga Eul who was still laughing her occurrences. Jan Do sat down beside her and glanced at the girl with a sweet smile on her face, knowing that what happened to her made her laugh and be happy for a moment.
"How do you feel?" her best friend asked her while she kept staring at her very lovely.
"Much better thanks to you guys" a true smile formed her lips as she gazed at her friend's eyes.
"Ga Eul, what happened out there?" Jan Di asked very preoccupied uninformed of the late events that draw her to getting hurt physically.
"What do you mean?" the country bumpkin asked even if she knew what could her friend be possibly referring to.
"I mean those students did to you something horrible, and I know they won't be doing that if you're So Yi Jeong's girlfriend, unless..." the girl with short hair was feeling a bit uncomfortable talking about this situation, but she needed to find the answers to her friend's problem. She was her best friend, like sister. Getting into this kind of trouble wasn't easy for her to watch as she was always there to protect her before anyone could lay a finger on her, but now things were getting more complicated.
"I don't want to talk about it" Ga Eul's gaze change to a serious one. A cold stare was quickly given to Jan Di by how she dare to ask her those kind of questions. Answers were to be responded because she didn't felt like it, erasing them from her memories was the best option even if it seem difficult. Remembering those scenes was just painful for her and she didn't want to think about it and get her mood down for the rest of the day.
"Ga Eul, we worry about you" a hand was place over the country bumpkin's hand.
"She is right, Ga Eul" a scared Woo Bin agreed with what she said, not daring to leave the bathroom but just listening to their conversation with an ear placed on the door.
"Tell me, please" Geum Jan Di plead her with a concern glare in her eyes.
After a few seconds of thinking whether if to speak and tell her everything or just shutting her mouth, a sigh of frustration she let go as she looked at her friend very uneasy.
"I broke up with So Yi Jeong" she finally said and glanced at her friend very sad and disappointed of her truthful words.
"What!?" said in unison her two friends as the Don Juan quickly opened the door and they both stared at her unbelievable of what she just told them.
"As you heard it" she said and nodded to them, not knowing how to feel right now.
"But why?" Jan Di asked a bit shock for the news, not expecting this turn of events. Even when she knew the personality of the Casanova, the thought of him changing was she beginning to believe but now that Ga Eul announced their break up, she didn't know what to think and jumping into sudden conclusions wouldn't be wise of her part.
"I can't be with someone's who's heart is divided" she ironically smile for the repetition of the words she let out with the potter before.
"So, that means So Yi Jeong is..." Jan Di slowly realized what she meant for that, but before she could finish her sentence, Woo Bin interjected.
"How can you be sure about that?" he asked with a little of curiosity as he wasn't certain of her statement. The Don Juan didn't want to believe his friend was having a hard time with his heart divided in two, for two different girls. It had to be a mistake.
"I talked to him, and that's not all..." her face hardened and her gaze was very serious. It hurt her to cry now, lots of tears had run down her cheeks that she thought there was no other left.
Woo Bin and Jan Di's eyes met her glare, and they knew she was in pain but was trying to contain it. They waited for her to keep speaking, and Ga Eul slowly glanced at the Don Juan "she came after I was about to leave" she knee he would know what she was talking about.
The eyes of the boy grew wide as he was surprised for what she just told him. So Yi Jeong was definitely a lost case for him. He wondered how many times did he had the opportunity to be happy and yet he rejected each and every one of them. Ga Eul was the only one who he miraculously give a chance to love, but he screwed up really bad. Woo Bin didn't know if it was for his inexperience of having just one girlfriend or if the potter was terribly cursed that he was always suffering the consequences of his awful actions and decisions.
Thereafter Ga Eul had to explain everything to her best friend who was a bit angry at her for not telling everything that was happening in her life and with So Yi Jeong. Each time she describe details of that night at the birthday party or when she confronted the Casanova in the lounge, the mouth of Geum Jan Di slowly got more open. She couldn't believe how much the potter hurt Ga Eul, but seeing her eight that mood impressed her more. The commoner could tell her friend was just tired of crying even when in her eyes lay sadness. The country bumpkin was strong, that's what Jan Di.
"Well, enough for today" Woo Bin told the commoner as she wanted to know more and more about the situation. But the Don Juan gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to get up from the bed.
"Why don't we let Ga Eul rest some more?" The Don Juan heaved a desperate sigh as he pulled and push Jan Di towards the direction of the door, walking behind her so she wouldn't stop or turn to go to the country bumpkin.
Before they could leave, Ga Eul called Woo Bin and indicated to him to get close to her. With a sweet smile on her face she watched how he awkwardly walked towards her with his rubbing the back of his neck, a little uncomfortable.
"What is it country bumpkin?" he asked while being by the side of the bed, looking down to her.
"I-I wanted to apologize for screaming at you, and pushing you" she innocently looked at the Don Juan, but still carrying a guilty glare.
"Oh! That? I didn't remember that at all" he exhaled very calm and trying to act cool, but he definitely remember what happened but not wanting to touch that subject and just moving on was better for him. Woo Bin didn't like someone to apologize to him in a cheesy way like Ga Eul would do, that's why he try to evade those kind of moments.
Before turning around to leave before could say something else, she grabbed his hand and stopped him. The Don Juan seemed a little frustrated by his vain attempt of escaping.
Pulling him close to her, this made Woo Bin obligately turn as she embraced him around her arms. "You're a great friend, Song Woo Bin sunbae. You're very special to me" she said this while still hugging him. The Don Juan's cheeks for the first time felt very warm, gaining a little color.
Receiving this affection made him feel something for a long time he hasn't felt; be appreciated from someone. The words of the country bumpkin really get through him and felt his heart more warm and touch by her. Even though he was feeling this way, he hated it too. Thinking how could possibly a commoner could make him feel this special was making him a little annoyed. No other girl, even when they said more meaningful words, could make him feel special like the country bumpkin.
It broke his heart to see her going through all the pain from love. She deserved to be happy and he knew she could be with So Yi Jeong, he just needed to make him realize that. Ga Eul was a sister he could never had and he was feeling protective of her each time she got hurt. But knowing it was his best friend who hurt her was more difficult. He cares for the Casanova as the country bumpkin too, and he needed to help them both.
"Okay, Ga Eul. You can let me go now" he said with an annoyed tone but still looked sweetly at her in the eyes and messed her hair before leaving.
Moments ago
Looking around the fine pieces that were displayed everywhere, her eyes met with the complete puzzle piece and a smile grew wide on her mouth.
"I can see you still have it" she ran her fingers over it while reading what it said.
The Casanova had invited her to his workshop before giving her a proper answer to the question she wanted to know back at the lounge. This would make him have more time to think about his real feelings and clear out his mind from any negative thought of what happened before.
Standing by her side he nodded to her while glancing at the puzzle piece they once made with lots of love, not daring to look at her face for even one second.
Turning to see him, Eun Jae glare at him with happiness, watching how he has grown to be a mature men. Remembering every memory she lived with him was extraordinary for her. So Yi Jeong made her life be different, full of excitement and passion for the arts of pottery. This is what united them even more, having in common of what they lived and spend most of there time for. The pottery was what brought them together and share with each other experiences of their family, social and love life. She knew him better than anyone, of all he went through, of memories he wasn't willing to share with anybody unless they had witnessed his childhood events. Eun Jae felt proud to be around him almost for his entire life, but bringing the back the memory of leaving him alone and running away was just the decision she most hated to had made.
"So Yi Jeong..." she wanted to bring his attention by seeing he didn't notice her look-at-me stare.
Slowly he turned his head to look at her, snapping back from his trance and making a doubtful sigh.
"...I want to know if we can have back all of this" she pointed with her eyes to the puzzle piece, referring to how their friendship almost relationship was left.
The Casanova glanced at the piece one more time and stood there, staring at it and looking back at the past, where they share lots of times being here at this workshop.
Noticing the hopeful look Eun Jae was giving him, he felt really nervous on what to respond. He didn't knew what he was feeling right now and sorting them out seem the correct decision, but having his first true love standing in front of him and pressuring him to tell her was making him feel anxious and frustrated.
"Would you like some tea?" he asked trying to avoid the real response she was waiting from him, gaining more time to organize his thoughts.
Nodding, she forced a smile at him and sat down to wait for him to prepare the tea. Feeling a little uncomfortable for not having a direct answer was making the tension grew more in the room.
So Yi Jeong try to make the tea as slow as he could, not being prepared to sit down in front of her and tell her a response he didn't even knew himself. But even if he slow down all the process of avoiding for a long time the question, he finished the tea and walked to her, wishing that for somehow she could understand what he was about to tell her.
Placing the little cup in front of her, she grabbed it and started to drink it, hoping that the potter could be the one who first speaks.
So Yi Jeong just looked at her with sad eyes when she was staring at him. "Eun Jae..." he called her name to bring her attention. His voice was low as he kept thinking about the right words to say, looking to his cup of tea instead of meeting her eyes.
"About us..." he paused and heaved a sigh before continuing "I can't give you an answer now, sorry" he then raised his eyes to see the face of Eun Jae turning very confused and sad.
"I have always been a Casanova and you more than anyone know it" he kept talking before she could say anything, wanting explain a reason that just involved him and nobody else.
"All those years of suffering because of me and you're still in love with this cold-blooded Casanova" he pitifully smiled at his remark, remembering who he was. "I admire that" the potter truthfuly said and glance at her with a small smirk on his face.
A grin came across her mouth as she was happy he could recognize the love she always had for him no matter what.
"But I don't want to break anymore hearts, and I think that's what I will finish doing to you again" he leaned back to have a better view of her face, grabbing the cup of tea and drinking from it, signaling he finished with what he had to say.
"I understand that" she looked to both sides of her, still a little bit confused. "But what I don't is that that night, you received very well that kiss. I thought that was going to change everything" Eun Jae said while holding her cup tight with both her hands, supressing any negative feeling that wanted to come out for how he responded back.
"I don't want to hurt you and it has been a long time since we haven't seen each other" So Yi Jeong leaned to the front again so she could see he was serious and wasn't telling a lie.
Eun Jae then understood he was right. Coming back after two years being separated and wanting to desperately be together wasn't right. They needed time to think about it before giving the step that they once were about to give. Nodding, she gave a small smile to him "So Yi Jeong, I am willing to wait for you" she said determined of her decision. This time she was sure he had change to a good and mature boy, and she wanted that now from him.
His eyes grew wide a bit preoccupied that she misunderstood what he really wanted to say. The intention was to tell her he didn't want to try anything since he was scared of hurting her, and even more when he wasnt sure those feelings where still one-hundred-percent there.
But before he could clear it out, his phone began to vibrate and he took it out of his pocket. Looking at the screen he saw the name of his friend, Ji Hoo, and answered the call. Eun Jae just waited until he could finish.
"Yoboseyo?" So Yi Jeong said a little weird that his friend was unexpectedly calling him.
"I know I shouldn't say this to you since what you did, but I know you still care for her" the violinist didn't even greet him and went straight to the point. The eyes of the Casanova grew wide as he knew that the word 'her' meant Ga Eul.
"What happened?" he stood up afraid of the answr he could receive while Eun Jae looked at him very preoccupied for his odd reaction.
After telling him all the violinist and his friends witnessed of what happened to the country bumpkin, So Yi Jeong hung up the phone quickly and took his jacket.
"Where are you going?" Eun Jae asked worried, standing up from her seat.
"I need to leave" he only replied and walked towards the door very fast, but Eun Jae stopped him by grabbing his arm.
"Please, stay with me" she begged him and looked at him with a puppy-eyes that could make anyone surrener to her charms, but not this time as So Yi Jeong heaved a sigh desperate to leave.
"I need to do something very important. Goodbye, Eun Jae" with that said he opened the door and ran to his car, leaving the poor girl glancing through the glass door very disappointed.
Getting out of his car quickly at the entrance of the Song mansion, he boldly entered as everybody he was more than welcome anytime he came. Running through the huge corridors, he searched for his friend and the country bumpkin. Exhaling and inhaling deeply while he ran was making him tired of all that exercise.
"But I had more questions for her" he heard a familiar female voice and followed the sound.
"She needs to rest, don't you understand?" that was definitely the annoying voice of his friend as he was getting near.
"Arasso" Jan Di told him in defeat and lowered her shoulders angry.
Standing still in front of the room where Ga Eul was at, they turned to leave but then they saw So Yi Jeong breathing deeply, regaining his air after all that running. Surprised and without a word to say, they waited for him to speak.
"Where's Ga Eul? I need to see her" he took some steps forward to try to open the doorknob, but Jan Di quickly stopped him. Raising one palm of her hand, it swiftly fly down to his cheek very hard.
"Who do you think you are to come here and see Ga Eul whenever you want!" she screamed at him while he pressed the red warm cheek she left him. The Casanova was clearly upset by her action but was obviously obligated to just listen to her.
Geum Jan Di was about to hit him again but the hand of the Don Juan stopped her and she stared at him in disbelief that he was defending the potter.
"Just leave" he held a serious gaze while still holding the arm of the commoner, lowering it.
"I need to see her" So Yi Jeong said and waited for his answer.
Turning to look at Jan Di, he let go of her arm. "Wait for me at the entrance" the Don Juan told her very serious but this made her grunt in disbelief.
"Why don't you just leave Ga Eul alone, she has suffered a lot because of you!" she yelled at him, trying to ignore the request of Woo Bin.
"Geum Jan Di, please" the Song boy said while stil glancing furiously at his friend.
Then the commoner could see the cold stares that each one was giving to each other and she knew it was better to leave them alone. Nodding, she slowly left to wait for him at the entrance, hoping that Ga Eul was going to be fine.
"Let me ask you a question" Woo Bin said still blocking his way to get in the room. "That night at the party, did you liked her kiss?" he boldly and drectly asked him without hesitating a single bit.
"Why are you asking me this?" said frustrated as he just wanted to enter the room and check on Ga Eul.
"Just answer" his voice was getting louder, annoyed that his friend was trying to evade the question.
"I don't know..." a slight hint of doubt could be heard in his voice as he try to look at him very serious. But Woo Bin crossed his arms not buying that answer.
"I did" So Yi Jeong said defeated by the power his friend had to make him tell the truth.
"What were you thinking when you kissed her back?" the Don Juan said frustrated as he raised his voice and slightly hit his friend's arm.
"I guess I just wanted to feel for the first time her lips, know what felt after a long time desiring it" the Casanova was telling the truth to someone, and what could be better than his best friend who always try to help him.
"Did you thought about how Ga Eul would feel at that moment?" he was still with his arms crossed, leaning to the front to stare at him more closely.
"Yes, a lot" he lowered his head, disappointed that even if he thought about her at that moment, he didn't ressisted to kiss back Eun Jae.
"What did you talked with her in the lounge?" he was like a father scolding his child, and So Yi Jeong really hated it but he knew the Don Juan had the right to speak to him like that. He deserved answers.
The Casanova knew by his glare that he was talking about Eun Jae and not of Ga Eul. The country bumpkin must've told him everything that happened in the lounge, he thought.
"She wanted to know what was going to happen with us" he heaved a sigh very sad, knowing his friend was getting disappointed on him.
Widening his eyes, Woo Bin was afraid to ask him the next question he thought, but he needed to know. "What happened, So Yi Jeong?" the Song boy asked getting angry at him, expecting an awful answer of his part. When his complete name was mentioned in an arguement, the Casanova knew he was infuriated.
"I-I told her that I didn't want to hurt her, that she just came back. I thought of Ga Eul getting heartbroken, and I didn't want that with Eun Jae too" it hurt him as he always thought he was born to be like his father, a player. Giving chance to open the gates of love was a bad choice as he now knew the consequences for trying to love, but hurting was all he thought he knew he could do as it was confirmed with the relationship he had with Ga Eul.
"Please, let me see her" he implored him with his watery eyes.
"Fine" he sighed and step beside. "Just don't-" he quickly was interjected.
"I won't" So Yi Jeong said with a determined voice.
Opening the door slowly, his face changed into a shock expression when he saw who was right in front of him, in front of the door. A tear rolled down her cheek as she try to maintain a serious gaze.
"Ga Eul, what-" before he could finish asking what she was doing there at the door, she immediately interrupted him.
"So Yi Jeong sunbae, what are you doing here?" she asked with a dry tone.
The country bumpkin definitely heard everything they talked about. Hearing the yells of Geum Jan Di brought her attention and went to see what was happening, but before she grabbed the doorknob, she realized the Casanova was there and soon enough she listened to all of their conversation.
"I wanted to see you" he took a step forwards to her but she just stood there, almost emotionless.
"Why?" she asked getting a bit angry.
"Ga Eul, what you heard before is-" he once again got interjected by her.
"is the truth, I know" she forced a smile as she heaved a sigh, trying to maintain her cool.
"So Yi Jeong sunbae, you shouldn't be here" she said and giggled a bit of how stupid this situation was turning to be after all she heard.
"What do you mean?" he asked confused since he still cared for her and she knew it.
"You should be with Eun Jae" she advised him with hurt hinted on her voice. "I guess you were meant to be together. I was just a nuisance, someone who thought you were my soul mate. But now I see she was the only one for you" nodding to herself, she try to convince him and herself of the words she just said.
"Ga Eul..." So Yi Jeong didn't know what to say, he was deeply in pain for seeing her like that. Suffering physically and emotionally for his fault.
"Don't worry about me, So Yi Jeong sunbae. I'm going to be fine, I know this wasn't our destiny" she sweetly smiled to him. Convinced that she was over him, but inside of her she was stil hurt for all that she was telling him.
Calling him traitor, cheater, or a player wouldn't solve anything and she wasn't that kind of girl to yell mean words to him. She try to accept that this wasn't her destiny, that maybe So Yi Jeong was just someone who was there to make her strong by knowing how love could be felt in a sad way. For the next time she could be more prepared on who and which one to love.
"Don't say that, please" he begged her as the potter could see he was losing her. Grabbing her arms, he shook them a bit knowing she had bruises, trying to bring her to her senses.
"Please, just leave" she politely asked him while glancing at his horrified eyes for what she just said.
Turning around to not see his face anymore she says "It's over, So Yi Jeong. Be happy with her, because I couldn't accomplish that" she held her right arm with her left hand, waiting for him to finally leave.
Even when the Casanova didn't want to go away, the country bumpkin ordered him to leave her alone and he didnt want to disturbe her anymore.
His heart was sinking in pain as he closed the door. Sliding down to the floor against the door, he couldn't contain any longer and cried. Loud sobs came from his mouth and Ga Eul could clearly hear him, and a few tears rolled down her cheek.
Touching his chest, he felt how his heart wanted to rip out from his body. This wasn't the Ga Eul he met, this wasn't the girl who was in love with him and did everything to just be with him. This was a different girl, determined in finishing what so ever relationship was between them, not caring if there was still strong feelings involved. That's when he knew he really messed up everything that was good in his life, and that 'everything' was Ga Eul.
So what do you think of Woo Bin and Ga Eul's friendship?
Did Ga Eul did the right thing to speak to him like that?
Was she giving up easily or was just considering what she thought it was right?
Leave your reviews as a reward for my hard work!
Thank you/ Gracias/ 감사합니다
Clarification: Ga Eul and Woo Bin are just friends. There would be no more than that between them.