Kill me now
I have befriended you for twenty odd years. It's hard for me to kill you now. Find someone else.
I hate you and you'll be sorry to see me go
You'll learn to love me again. In time.
I'm going to stay with beefcake for a week or two
FUCKING WHAT!
I thought so
But WHY?
He's acting like a big badass older brother thingy at the moment.
Blablabla shouldn't stay alone.
Blablabla safe with me.
It's just easier to say whatever to shut him up
Do not fall for that brotherly thingy trap!
He's not interested in me JanDi….. He never does…
Oh Ga Eul, darling, that is not true.
Just stay with us.
And risking Jun Pyo's polka dot underwear on my face again?
It's YEARS AGO and just that one time..…
Yeah. No. Until he learns not to walk out of the bathroom naked when there's a GUEST in your apartment, I'm staying away from there.
We've moved to a HOUSE now, Ga Eul, you know that.
Doh. Obviously. But don't worry Jan Di, I'll be FINEEEE. I'm just, you know, letting you know before you freak the hell out on me..
Am not some sort of a rabid woman.
That's what she said.
Piss off.

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#

On Monday morning, the office hallway was buzzed with excitement. Yi Jung had somehow insisted on dropping her off personally, citing that her office was located conveniently on the way to the museum from his house anyway. Which, of course, was a blatant lie. If anything, he took a detour just so he could say, 'See, here's your office, and the museum is just over there.' Over there being the other side of town.

He made a great show of opening the car door when they were going to leave the house. But she beat him down to it when they arrived at the office. It's enough for her office mates to get into fits of frenzy about the fact that the famous Casanova had not only dropped her to work but also walked her all the way to the door of the main lobby.

'Seriously, Yi Jeong Sunbae,' she was almost hissing like an angry cat. 'You are being ridiculous.'
'What did I do?' he asked all innocently.
'I can perfectly walk by myself from the car park to the office.'
'I know that…'
'And I'm pretty sure there is not going to be a disaster between your car and my office. Which is only, like, fifty meters apart.'
'Yeah, I know that as well.'
'You don't really have to guard me like a bodyguard.'
'I know that too well.'
'So why are you following me here.'
'Because I want to?'
'Errr...'
'Have you taken into consideration that I might just do things because I like doing it, Ga Eul?'
'Umm...'

He smiled and handed her a black plastic folder where she kept her half finished draft of an article she was writing for next month edition.
'You left this in the car.'
He winked and laughed at her flabbergasted expression.

By then, they had already reached the automatic door to the main lobby and he bid her goodbye. But not before throwing a mock salute at her and a quick smile at some people who were just arriving at the building as well.

They stole a curious glance at her and Yi Jeong (no doubt thinking how in the world the mostly-quiet-and-kept-to-herself editor managed to have someone like the obscenely rich and famous Casanova carrying her stuff) before gaping openly at his flashy ride. Damn So Yi Jeong for choosing his black Porche to drive today. She was positive he did all that only to further infuriate her.

She counted to five and took a long deep sigh, reminding herself again and again that this was just a temporary arrangement, before slowly dragged her feet inside. Since when did her life become this complicated?

Ga Eul walked to her office cubicle rather unenthusiastic and dropped her bag on the floor before deposited herself on the chair and slumped her body rather ungracefully on her desk.

'Rough night?'
She raised her head to see her boss standing by her computer.
'Quite.' She straightened her posture and turned on her desk top.
'You can fill me in on that. Come on, let's grab a coffee. You need a cheer up.'

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#

Song Woo Bin, second in command for SONG Constructions, future head of his family underground organization, and all around nice guy, was busy studying the large blue print of the newly design football stadium on the table when Yi Jeong burst into the meeting room.

'Well, hello?' he raised his hand in salute at his friend. 'I thought we agreed on after lunch?'
'Yeah, I have a few other things to sort out this afternoon, though. Do you mind?'
Woo Bin glanced at the silver Rolex on his wrist.
'No that's fine. Meeting's not until 10 or something.'
He signaled his friend to follow him to his office suite and closed the door after.

'Did you watch the football last night?' Woo Bin said as he stopped by his desk for a while and checked his calendar for the day. 'Fucking Arsenal got toasted, I can't even…. You know how much I lost on the bet?'
'Nothing more than your key to the shittiest place in the city, I hope.' Yi jeong looked around. The office had changed a bit since the last time he dropped by, maybe a little more than a year ago.
'Hey! That is the most expensive wine cellars in Seoul.
'Exactly.'
Woo Bin scowled at him.
'Fuck you, man. Jae Kyung is batshit crazy this morning. Presumably from Ga Eul staying over at your house.'
'Nothing happened between us. How many times do I have to say it? Jeez…' he furrowed his brow together. 'Wait. What do they say to each other?'

'Fuck if I know,' Woo Bin sniggered as his friend scowled at him. 'So what happened' the future mafia boss (although he did not see himself that way) seated himself comfortably on the couch and reached for the phone. 'You want coffee?'
'Espresso, please.'
Woo Bin spoke to his secretary to bring along some cakes along with the coffee. He shrugged his shoulders when Yi Jeong raised his eyebrows.

'Here's a free advice, Bro. Don't start living with a woman. It's totally fucking dangerous. First they invade your wardrobe. You know, my large and spacious wardrobe. It's only tooth brush and a set of clothes for the morning after at first, pajamas and matching bathrobes follow after. Then, there were bags and make up and shoes and sportswear. Before you know it, you get only a quarter of the space. Then they invade your kitchen. Did you ever see the state of my kitchen before? Yeah, exactly. Nothing there. Now I even have bread maker and cheese grater. Have you seen my new set of measuring cups and spoon? They are amazing. The cake? That comes after. I can't go without morning tea and treats now. Fuck my life, man. Now I even have to start exercising. God!'

He stopped as the secretary brought inside one cup of espresso for Yi Jeong, a cappuccino for Woo Bin, and a plate of carrot cake slices.

'Uh, this is good.' Woo Bin took a slice out of the tray and start munching. 'Anyway, yes, so what happened?'

Yi Jeong watched his friend in amusement for a while before he took his cup and had a sip.

He explained briefly what happened over weekend while Woo Bin sat there listening.

'So that's why Ga Eul is staying with you now? That's a bit excessive, don't you think?'
'Yeah, well, the thing is, I can't shake the feeling that this is not just something happened in random, you know.'
'What do you mean?'

'About a year ago, another colleague mentioned about donating one of his collection of art to the museum. We're talking about artifact from 17th century here, so it worth quite a lot. We spoke a few times but it didn't fell through. Mostly because he suddenly ceased all contacts and I didn't want to pressure him just in case he wanted to donate another piece of his collection to the museum. Anyway, last I heard it was sold in an underhand deal to an unnamed collector.

Then a few months ago something similar happened. The difference was that the art did not change ownership, but the deal was off. I did not push either. Sometimes it's personal, you know, when people decided to part with their art. Anyway, last month Mr. Lee, my colleague who died, mentioned that there's been someone pressuring him not to release the painting to the museum. He didn't say who it was but it sounded a bit shady.

On Saturday I was suppose to sign a few papers at his house. I was expecting a full set of papers waiting for me already. But the police did not find anything at all at his desk, which was rather suspicious. I mean, I got a call from his lawyer a few days ago saying everything was ready for the signing.

This is just a hunch, but do you think someone especially targeting me here? And if it's true, then why?' I can't find a valid reason. I just don't think I've done something bad enough to warrant a revenge or something.'

Woo Bin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
'It does seem highly suspicious,' he nodded slowly. 'You don't have any suspect at all?'
'No. and I have more nagging feeling here with the passing of Mr. Lee. I believe the killer knew I was coming that day and set it up so it would seem I'd be in the guilty party. However, he didn't count on Ga Eul coming with me. Which is lucky and at the same time unfortunate. Lucky because she basically provided me with alibi and unfortunate because now she has become a witness and someone the killer knows about.'

'You think Ga Eul is in danger?'
'You don't think it's the case?'
'I don't know…'
'Think about it, man, she's with me on a Saturday morning drive. Prim and proper, she doesn't look like someone who frequents clubs on Friday nights. She calls me Sunbae all the freaking time, which makes me raging quietly inside, come to think of it….. She just doesn't fit the stereotypical women I usually get involved with. She must be someone close to me.'

'Yeah, well, you usually hook up on Monday and dump them by Wednesday. And they call you honeycakes or something.'
'Fuck off.'

Woo Bin took a cigarette pack from his pocket and lighted one.
'Does ga Eul knows about any of this?'
Yi Jeong sighed and shook his head. 'Fuck no. She already hates me. I'm rather reluctant to reveal another part of me that will make her wary even more.'
'You should, though.'
Yi jeong made a distressed sound.
'Yeah, I know. Maybe in a couple of days. Plus she's writing an article about me. This is all off the record stuff.'
'Get her a bit of credit. She knows better than that, you know that.'
'Yeah….' He moved restlessly in his chair.

Woo Bin took a puff of his cigarette. The no smoking signs everywhere inside the building apparently did not apply to him. Yi Jeong stored the information for future ribbing.

'Assuming this is someone who is going his way to get you, what's your plan from here ahead?'
'That's just it, isn't it? I don't have a plan other than to keep Ga Eul safe. I don't care about the artwork that much, but I do care about someone had been killed just because this person's out for revenge or something.'
'And where do I come in this?'
'Find him. Please.'
'Did you tell the police everything you told me?'
'Well, not everything. I don't really want to sound like a lunatic with over inflated ego…'
'Not more than you already are?'
'Pppssshhh, you're talking about Jun Pyo.'
'Yeah, well, fair enough, I guess.'

Yi Jeong finished his espresso.
'So? What do you think?'
'I will tell my guys to find out the words on the street. Don't worry about it.'
'Yeah I just want to make sure nothing bad is going to happen to Ga Eul now that she's linked to me.'
'About that…' Woo Bin smiled and raised his eyebrows suggestively 'Are you going to tell me anything juicy? I mean your story is all exciting and stuff but come on man, where is the saucy stuff? What's up with you and Ga Eul?'

Yi Jeong scowled at his friend.
'There is literary nothing to talk about.'
'You didn't sleep with her?'
'Well…'
'AH-HA!'
'Shut up. It's not like that.'
'If you say so,' Woo Bin laughed at his expression. 'Tell me, what are you going to do?'
'What do you mean?'
'Because if you're going to fuck up again, the girls are going to roast you alive. You know that, right?'
'I know, I know.' He sighed deeply, 'I don't know, man, she's pretty hard to read.'

Woo Bin raised his eyebrows.

'Tell me I'm hearing things…'
'Oh shut up. I like her, OK?'
'Shall I tell Jae Kyung about this?'
'No. Don't tell her anything. God, what is wrong with you.'
'She might help you mend things up with her.'
'Well I don't want any help.' Yi Jeong frowned and stood up. 'I better get going. Say hi to the beautiful monkey.'
'Hey, watch out there.'
'I said beautiful.'
'Get out!'

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#