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Summary: Four years and continents apart. What keeps Yi Jeong and Ga Eul's hope alive are the letters that they write to each other from time to time…

LOVE LETTER

V

Jan Di snuck another look at her friend. But Ga Eul looked fine. Was she really fine? Or just pretending to be fine?

"Oi, stop staring at me. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Jan Di asked doubtfully. "If you want, I could…" She swallowed her words as Ga Eul's patient dark eyes fixed on her. "I mean, I'm sure Ji Hoo sunbae would...Alright fine." She threw up her hands and admitted defeat.

"You're a good friend Jan Di ah. But I'm fine, really." Surprisingly, that was the truth. It had taken her awhile to arrive there though, to find her feet on solid ground again.

In a week the new year would arrive and she had yet to hear from Yi Jeong. Maybe her letter had frightened him off. Well, if a dreamed up date frightened him, then he wasn't worth it. And yet that explanation just didn't make sense. They had come too far for that.

The exhibition had taken place a month ago and the other F4 members had flown to Sweden in a show of support for Yi Jeong. Jan Di had declined to go in lieu of the fact that she needed extra tutorials to pass her exams but had sent her best wishes. Woo Bin had offered to fly her over but Ga Eul had turned him down politely. If Yi Jeong had wanted her to go, he would have asked her himself. She had felt disappointed, but in a strange way, relieved. A face to face encounter might rock the fragile boat they were on. Besides, the question "Why haven't you written?" wasn't exactly the best way to start a conversation.

Jun Pyo had returned to Korea with Ji Hoo and Woo Bin last week. He had managed to squeeze two days into his schedule for Jan Di and Ga Eul had never seen her best friend so happy. They had told the girls about the exhibition and how Yi Jeong's work had been hailed as an absolute success. Nobody would doubt his talent again, Jun Pyo had confidently declared. Ga Eul had felt happy that Yi Jeong had finally experienced the success he had been pursuing but simultaneously, she had been more than slightly hurt that he hadn't passed Woo Bin or Ji Hoo a letter for her.

Why on earth was he so quiet? Still, she refused to ask any questions about him and the guys had offered no extra information either. Jan Di had tried to dig information out of Jun Pyo who, in a fit of exasperation, had shouted that Yi Jeong had refused to say anything about Ga Eul to them. Not even an evening of drunken carousing could loosen his tongue.

After giving up on Jun Pyo in disgust (she was sure he had missed something), Jan Di had offered to ask the much more perceptive Ji Hoo for information but Ga Eul had stopped her. If Yi Jeong wanted to say anything, he could say it himself in a letter, Ga Eul had insisted.

"Ga Eul ah?"

"Yes?"

Ga Eul watched as her best friend since kindergarten fidgeted in her seat for a full minute before finally blurting out her question. "What if Yi Jeong sunbae doesn't write anymore?"

She had asked herself that a thousand times before. "Then I'll have to move on. I've already tried my best." Of course it would hurt like hell but she would get over him. Eventually. She had given up on him willingly once and she would be able to do it again.

…………………..

And then Ga Eul said she would give up on him and move on. Jan Di scribbled the sentence down messily before folding the paper into a tiny square and passing it to Ji Hoo. Nowadays, people used handphones for such things in class but their lecturer had a strict 'no handphones in class' rule. Besides, she had tried it once and had found out that she was too slow at messaging for that.

It sounds like Ga Eul will be fine then.

Omo, how could you say that? Didn't Yi Jeong sunbae say anything? Didn't you guys ask him ANYTHING???!

Well we tried to but he wouldn't give anything away. He was being very secretive. This is the most secretive he's ever been actually.

Did he ask how she was?

No. And we should stop now because Professor Park is looking at us.

Jan Di sighed loudly as she pretended to read her textbook. Even if Ga Eul didn't want to know anything, she did. Apparently there was some kind of promise between them, from what she gathered from Ga Eul but it was different from the one she and Jun Pyo had made each other. It was more like keeping a promise to see if anything could happen. On the other hand, Jun Pyo had promised to come back a success so that she would have to marry him. And he showered her with gifts and flowers like there was no tomorrow. Ga Eul and Yi Jeong sent letters after months on end. Jan Di couldn't quite understand it but she wanted to be supportive in spite of her own concerns. Yi Jeong had been the most notorious Casanova around. Had he changed? It seemed so. Woo Bin had mentioned that Yi Jeong had no idea which clubs to frequent in Sweden. Come to think of it, it probably had been deliberate, something to reassure Ga Eul.

As long as Yi Jeong didn't hurt her. Because if he did, Jan Di was going to practice using her scalpel on him. Ji Hoo could stitch him up once she was finished.

……………………………………………………..

For once she wasn't spending her New Year celebrations with her parents. They had run off to visit her grandparents over the weekend and since she had not wanted to follow them (since her grandmother was interested in asking only for great-grandchildren every time Ga Eul visited).

Jan Di, who had similarly been deserted by her family who had opted to spend their celebrations in the suite that Jun Pyo had booked for them, and she had made plans to have a sleepover at her place and to watch the countdown on television, accompanied by Ben and Jerry. Naturally, F4 would crash those plans. That was why she was now out of strawberry ice cream and running out of rum and raisin.

"I think this is the first time I'm spending New Year's Eve at home," Woo Bin mentioned as he lounged on her sofa.

"You mean this is the first time you have spent it in a home and not in a club," Ji Hoo corrected. "How much longer before midnight? Ga Eul, is there anymore rum and raisin?"

She had hidden one small tub right at the back of the freezer behind the meat and fish. "Nope, Ji Hoo sunbae. We're all out."

"There's about forty five minutes to go," Woo Bin replied, his eyes glued to the screen. No wonder, it was Lee Hyori's turn to perform at the New Year Concert that all the stations were broadcasting. Ga Eul barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. It was so typical.

In forty five minutes, the New Year would be upon them and she still hadn't heard from Yi Jeong. Jan DI was currently occupied on the phone with Jun Pyo who had insisted they usher in the New Year together, even if it was via the phone. Ga Eul couldn't help but feel envious.

She wondered how Yi Jeong had celebrated the New Year. It had been a little surprising to find out that he had no plans to return to Korea. Apparently his stay was turning into a kind of mini-exile.

"Ga Eul yang," Woo Bin called out, interrupting her thoughts. "Someone is ringing the doorbell."

Ga Eul stared at Woo Bin who was still happily sprawled out on her sofa. It was clear he had no intention of moving. Apparently even princes did have days when they turned into frogs. Ga Eul made a face at him before going to open the door.

"Miss Chu, this is for you."

"Ah?" Ga Eul could only stare at the man who was holding out a large package to her. "Are you sure you have the right place?" And what kind of delivery man wore a smart black uniform like that?

"I'm sure this is the right place. This is for you from Master So Yi Jeong."

"Oh." It felt like a giant fist had squeezed her heart. And then she felt sweet relief. So he hadn't run away after all. Taking the package in her arms, she thanked the man and closed the door. When she entered the hall, both Ji Hoo and Woo Bin were grinning.

"It's from Yi Jeong." Ji Hoo stated and held out his hand to Woo Bin who reluctantly took out his wallet.

"We had a bet about when he would send another letter, or in this case, a gift. Ji Hoo bet on New Year's Eve but I was so sure he would send it on the first day of the new year. Aish… Ga Eul yang, aren't you going to open it up?"

"Not in front of you two. Go back to looking at Lee Hyori." Ga Eul smiled as she walked up the stairs, the sound of their laughter in her ears.

………………………………………………

Gently, Ga Eul pulled the tape off the box after she had removed the decorative wrapping. Slipping open the lid, she took the letter that was lying atop the protective stuffing. Opening the envelope, she unfolded the letter. Until then, she hadn't really known how she had missed seeing that familiar flowing script.

Ga Eul yang,

You'll pardon me if this first part of the letter is a bit untidy. It's the opening night of the exhibition and I'm currently in a small area of the museum where there are thankfully no people. I need a little break from the endless hobnobbing. Plus, I'm being hounded by some very persistent women, one of which must be at least the same age as Jun Pyo's mother and actually looks a little of her. I'm going to tell him that later; I'm sure he'll freak out.

Anyway, by now you ought to know that I did manage to participate in the exhibition and as my teacher puts it, not humiliate myself or him. It was hard but worth it. I didn't manage to send any pictures because there was barely any time but if you have seen them on the news or online, I hope you liked what I made. As I recall, you once said you had high standards and I assume this applies to pottery as well as men.

Trust him to remember that she had said that. But Ga Eul had seen pictures online and she had to admit it was some of the best she had seen.

I'm a little nervous but the critics look pleased and I think the reviews will be good. It reminds me a little of my debut at the Venice Biennale. I'm quite glad to see Jun Pyo, Woo Bin and Ji Hoo here; familiarity is comforting. I don't know anyone else here, I know their names and what they do but the only friends I have here are those three.

Oh dear. I've been spotted by those ladies. Hold on a second.

Okay, that took more than a second but I'm now holed up in a bastion of safety: the men's room. It's not as bad as it sounds, the floors are carpeted, there are sofas, wall to wall mirrors and the whole place is scented with something that's a bit too feminine for a men's room but never mind.

Ga Eul bit back a chuckle. Casanova hiding from the ladies. Who would've expected that?

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I tried out that dream outing you had and I must say, it was fun. Of course, it would have been better if you had been there.

He'd done what? Ga Eul could feel herself blushing and her hand shook slightly. That last sentence especially made her heart beat faster.

By the time this letter reaches you, it should be less than an hour to the New Year. I hope you didn't think I had forgotten to write, but I need all the time I can get. I have exams coming up, plus there's some business with my family's museum that I have to settle. And what I want to give you is going to be hard to make. Have you looked at it yet (I bet you read the letter first.)?

Arrghh…she could just see him smirking as he was writing that sentence. But the man did know her, she had to give that to him.

Don't forget to look out the window at midnight.

Happy New Year.

Yi Jeong

There was five more minutes to go before the clock struck twelve. Digging through the stuffing, Ga Eul unearthed her present. "Oh," she gasped as she took it out. It was the most exquisite dish she had ever seen. The diameter was fairly wide and every inch of the surface, save for a small circle in the centre, was covered in a minute flower motif. He had used a cobalt blue and gold lustre and the dish shone brightly as light danced across its surface. And in the centre of the dish, he had written her name.

It was the most beautiful thing she had ever received. Lifting it in her hands, Ga Eul held it against her heart, pressing her cheek against the cool ceramic edge. But it was precious because Yi Jeong had made it for her. Below she could hear Woo Bin, Ji Hoo and Jan Di excitedly counting down.

At their shout of "Happy New Year!" she looked out of her window. There was a sound like soft thunder in the distance and then the sky above her window erupted in a blaze of glimmering gold, blue, red and green. For a moment she was back at the skating rink and Yi Jeong was in front of her, snapping his fingers and lighting up the sky with fireworks.

He'd done it again.

Ga Eul was sure that the new year would be a good one. But the best thing about it so far was that she was now one year closer to seeing him again.