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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

XXI

Six months ago

Ga Eul yang,

My lawyers assure me that by the time this letter reaches you, the situation, if I may call it that, should have improved. Jun Pyo says to let you know that he has the various media companies involved wrapped around his little finger and there will be no more reporters hounding you.

Unfortunately, I've noticed that prior to the damage control, my uh, experience with the ladies was highlighted and I have no doubt that some of these might have reached the ears of your family. Unless you want to tell your parents that we really are only good friends, I don't think I've ever met any parents who feel happy that their daughter might be involved with someone officially branded by the media as "The Casanova of Korea" (yes, the newspapers were so very creative). Actually, I've never met any parents before either. What I want to say is that you should deal with the situation in the best way that you see fit to, I won't be upset. But when I come back, and when we are ready, I should meet them and set their mind at ease. Maybe your grandmother should be around. It would be nice to have a support base. Tell her that I've changed my mind and that four is a nice number where children are concerned.

I'm glad you liked the irises, even though they brought you so much trouble. I know that they symbolise promises. They also represent virtue and wisdom, amongst other things. They remind me of you.

I won't be able to write to you for some time. Thanks to the blowout in Korea, I had to postpone the next stage of my pottery training and my mentor is furious, to say the least. To be honest, I can't blame him. Celadon is one of the hardest types of pottery to produce and it is the one thing that I've always had difficulty with. It takes years to master the skills and I only have two years left in Sweden. Therefore, he is insisting on a three month long training session during which I am not to write, take phonecalls unless it is absolutely urgent (so far, the only thing that qualifies as urgent, according to him, is a death in the family), or leave his workshop. If I do any of the above, he will send me packing. I'm not sure if I will survive this ordeal—not the pottery but having to see him everyday—but you know what they say about what doesn't kill you. And immediately after that, I have an exhibition to prepare for.

Since I'll be stuck with him during New Year's, I wanted to give you your present early. If you're going to be labelled as Casanova's wife, you'll need a ring to make it official. It's a smaller version of the one that I wear, and you'll notice that I've taken the liberty of having my name inscribed on the inner band. I've added a chain as well. That way, you can wear it and not worry about all that gossip starting again.

I hope next year will be a more peaceful one for you and I. Happy New Year in advance Ga Eul yang.

Yi Jeong

Three months ago

Sunbae,

First, here's the bad news. I've explained the situation to my father and he is still not happy. The good news though is that my mother seems a little bit more reassured of your sincerity, especially since I showed her the ring and assured her that there was no chance of any 'accidents' occurring that would result in the rumours proving to be true. My grandmother was a little disappointed when I told her about the latter though. Sometimes I can't believe that we are related.

By the way, under no circumstances am I going to mention four children to my grandmother. You have no idea what kind of trouble we will be in for if you do. And you cannot use children as a bribe to win her over! It will work but it is wrong. Besides, I'm the one who will have to do all the labour, mind you. It's a great pity that evolution overlooked men when it went to work on the seahorses.

When you read this, your three months of training should be over. How did it go? I have every confidence that you will be able to master the art of producing Celadon pottery. I spoke to Teacher Jun about Celadon and he admitted that it is notoriously hard to produce. But he also told me that someone as talented as you will be able to master it. All you need is passion, patience and vision. He showed me some pieces that he made and they are beautiful. I cannot wait to see your work. Some photos would be nice.

Thank you for the ring. Like the irises and you, it's beautiful.

I'm wearing it on the chain since people are still talking about us, at least on campus. I can't blame them; after all, it is hard to remain inconspicuous when you have an entourage of men dressed in black suits with sunglasses following you around. But I am very grateful for Woo Bin sunbae and Ji Hoo sunbae's help. They said that I don't have to repay them at the moment but mentioned something about a speech on an important day. They wouldn't elaborate though. They said to ask you about it.

I hope you like your New Year's Eve present. You mentioned happy endings in one of your letters and for now, this is the only way to give one to you.

Happy New Year sunbae, belated as this may be.

Ga Eul

Present

Everything had gone as planned. It was perfect. Yesterday's exhibition had been a success and there were several very influential businessmen and politicians in attendance who had taken a great interest in his work. One of them had already spoken to him about a private commission. There were offers to buy the works he had on display.

And best of all, he had the photos. The photographer he had spoken to had done a great job of capturing the whole exhibit. From the people to the art on display, to the lights and floral centre pieces, it was all there. There were a few shots of him but he intended to send Ga Eul only two. Yi Jeong was aware that one some level, he was vain but he was not so vain as to send her all the photos featuring him.

As he was picking out the photographs he would send her, his eyes strayed to the present she had sent him. She had modelled it after a scrabble board, although hers was smaller in scale. She had included the alphabet pieces too; these had been moulded to the base. Carefully arranged in an intricate pattern, the words read: And they lived happily ever after.

It was so like his Ga Eul yang to send something like this. It was romantic, sweet, reflective of her and it meant the world to him.

Yi Jeong had just finished picking out the photos and was about to start writing when a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Sir?"

"Yes, what is it?" Normally he would have gotten up to open the door but he remained seated, hoping his butler would take the hint and leave him in peace.

"I'm sorry to disturb you sir but your father has just arrived."

The blood drained from Yi Jeong's face. For a moment he just sat there, unable to believe what he was hearing. Mechanically, he rose to his feet and pushed the door open. He almost didn't notice his visibly worried butler trailing closely after him.

He found his father in the hall, seated comfortably on the sofa, a glass of wine in his hand. Yi Jeong made a mental note to buy a new sofa set. "What do you want?" he asked flatly, ignoring the presence of his staff who were taking his father's bags away.

So Hyun Sub looked at his son coolly, fully aware of the hostility in the latter's blank stare. "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine, as you can see."

Yi Jeong clenched his jaw, and looked away slightly. No matter what he did, his father could always get under his skin. "Let's dispense with the usual sarcasm. Why are you here?"

"Because your grandfather sent me." Hyun Sub took another sip of wine, staring into its deep red depths. "He wants me to speak to you about your marriage."

He couldn't be more stunned than if his father had hit him. "What?"

"Your marriage. The arrangements have been made. Your grandfather has already picked out your prospective bride and her family has said yes. He meant to wait until you returned but you made a mess and publicly linked yourself to a commoner. That's why he decided to bring forward the engagement. It's going to be announced within a week's time."

The irony of the moment was not lost on Hyun Sub. More than twenty years ago, that despairing young man standing in the hall had been him, and the one seated on the sofa had been his father. "I told you, son. No matter what you do or where you go, you're destined to follow in my footsteps."

Try as he might, Yi Jeong couldn't say a word. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked back to his room. Locking the door was a futile gesture but it made him feel better, as though he could keep the trap set for him at bay. Sitting down at his table, he looked at the photos. It was impossible for him to write to her now.

Once more his gaze fell on her present. Happily ever after suddenly seemed so very far away.