JanDi!
JanDI!
JANDI
JANDI!
What! I'm at JunPyo's mom house! Stop sending me messages!
I think I'm gonna throw up.
You always say that whenever you're going to go on a date.
I'm not
Yes you are
Not.
Yes.
AM NOT
YES YOU ARE
Oh OK.
I'm meeting So Yi Jeong. The one and only.
WHAT!
WHAT!
WHAT?
I'm sitting in the museum's meeting room, waiting for him. If he's not here in the next five minutes I think I might have to go to the bathroom to wash this cold sweat.
WHY ARE YOU THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE!
Stop shouting. Jeezz..
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEVER WANT TO SEE HIM WHENEVER I INVITE YOU TO COME OVER. I'M ALLOWED TO SHOUT NOW
Jun Pyo's mom is so going to kill you if you kept sending me text.
GA EUL!
Sssshhh he's coming. GTG
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She turned off her mobile phone as the door opened to reveal the man behind. Man, he's still looking so fine. The numerous pictures of the Casanova So Yi Jeong often plastered on the front of those rag magazines really couldn't hold a candle to the real person just entering the room. She took in his lean frame, perfectly coiffed hair, immaculate shirt and jacket, his long legs, his charming smile and sighed deep down inside.
Life was just too kind for the likes of him, she thought as she put a smile on her face. There was no doubt Yi Jeong had taken a good care of himself. Again she stole a glance at his sculpted build. Those muscles must come from the gym, not the long hard labor under the sun. Which explained why his skin looked healthy without any signs of crow feet at the corner of his eyes. Damn him. No wonder they always had this over abundance of confidence when they strutted into the room, no matter who was on the other side.
There's something different about him, though, she thought after a passing second. He looked calmer than she had ever seen him before. These past four years had done him good.
For his part, it took Yi Jeong a fair while to regain his composure. Sitting primly on the couch was the girl from the past. She looked beautiful with her hair hung all the way to her lower back. Her rather endearing chubby feature was gone, replaced by the sharper jaw line and more mature face. She had grown up, of that he was sure. But grew up to be this beautiful? He must be mad to let her go from his life.
It's that silence you sometimes watched in the movie, Ga Eul thought when Yi Jeong stopped in his track and stood still for some delayed seconds before he found his easy smile back and walked over quickly to greet her.
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'I still can't believe it is you.'
Oh, groan. A couple of hours had passed and they had been talking about family, friends, business, life and everything under the sun and still Yi Jeong seemed to pause here and there and said 'I still can't believe it is you.' It's annoying after the first ten times, even if they had been said with affection.
Yes, it had been her business to make sure that, after months of no show from that day he appeared at the kindergarten she was working at the time, she forever disappeared from his world as well. How long does a girl need to wait for someone to really, really notice her anyway? So she started making less and less appearance at JanDi and F4's gathering to the point of nothing at all.
It stung a little that Yi Jeong did not seem to care enough to chase her, but at the end it's probably for the best she thought bitterly. Switch your focus and all that jazz, amongst the many reasons why she chose to leave her kindergarten job.
'I heard about your plan to expand your philanthropy cause, spending time with underprivileged children to teach pottery.'
'Yes, but Ga Eul, can we stop talking about me for a while?'
She looked up in surprise. 'But Yi Jeong Sunbae, this IS your interview...'
'And maybe stop calling me Sunbae as well?'
'But…'
'How about dinner?'
'Come, it's almost time to leave the office anyway.'
'I….' she looked down to see her skinny black pants and cream silk shirt. She looked nice, she knew that. She had to, they were about the nicest pair of pants and shirt she had ever owned. And the most expensive ones as well. She still shuddered when thinking about the price tags.
She spent a good part of two hours getting ready in the morning just to prepare for this. Her bed at home were still covered with the clothes she rejected one after the other.
Mini skirt? Too sexy.
Long skirt? Too prudish.
Sheer? Not professional enough.
Shapeless sack dress? She looked like a nun.
Baby blue? She looked like a fifteen year-old.
Bold red? What was it? She's going to a bar?
It was exhausting. And that was even before she put on her make-up.
Red lipstick? Pink lipstick? Smoky eyes? Pink foundation? Yellow foundation? She almost experienced a total meltdown. Not to mention another touch up after lunch time before she flagged a taxi to take her to the museum.
She looked nice; with her almost nude make-up and hair slightly styled just enough to give the impression that she didn't really style her hair. Whoever said it's easy being a woman was just a stupid ignorant fool.
But having dinner with Yi Jeong usually meant going somewhere with special dress code way above her paycheck, and she's wary about letting him have his way again this time.
'Actually, I have plan for dinner already,' she surprised to hear herself spoke so confidently.
'Really?'
'Yes, really,' she smiled at him. 'I have to meet my chief editor later this evening.' She actually had no such plan and was going to pick up some packets of noodle and eggs from the supermarket before heading home.
'That's too bad.' He frowned a little, and man if he didn't look cute and manly at the same time, Ga Eul gritted her teeth at her own thought. What was it about this man to have such a hold on her?
'Maybe we can pick up this interview some time later next week, Sunbae?'
He stood still while looking at her intently. His fingers rubbed his chin slowly as if he was considering something in his mind. 'I see. How about coming with me tomorrow to check one of those pottery schools you mentioned before. I actually had them built in conjunction to each of our resorts. If you're interested you should really check them out. I could ask permission to your editor if you're worry about schedule clash or something.'
Ga Eul narrowed her eyes as he smiled broadly at her. Oh, he's good. He's really good at this game.
'Of course,' she managed a smile and pretended to consult her agenda even though she knew perfectly well it's empty except for her weekly grocery shopping and yoga class. 'Where shall I meet you?'
'I'll pick you up, of course. What's your address and phone number?'
Oh God, she could almost see his wide grin despite her closing eyes in defeat.
After reluctantly giving him her address, she said goodbye and took her leave. Walking away, she could feel his stare following her out. This was so not according to plan, she lamented. Why was the world conspiring against her?
'Oh Ga Eul?' he called her just as she reached for the door.
'Yes?' she turned around and watched him started to loosen his tie.
'Stop calling me Sunbae. Please'
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