The Truth
A.N.: Sorry for the long delay. Writer's block again. Hopefully this one's tolerable. Thank you very much for the continuous support for this story. Have a great day everybody. Bundle up warm in the cold (enjoy the sun). Take care :)
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Published: December 13, 2016
The sky suddenly turned dark as the heavy gray and black clouds drifted in. Thunders then followed, the sounds reverberated from afar.
"Omo! Yi Jeong, it's going to rain." Ga Eul quickly broke away from their embrace and started to pack up, with him helping along.
They made it just in time. The raindrops hit the car just as both of them closed his car doors. Yi Jeong held Ga Eul's hand and gave her an apologetic pout.
"I'm sorry Ga Eul. The weather is so jealous of us. We'll continue with the story next time, OK?"
Ga Eul leaned forward and lightly kissed his pout. She then caressed his cheek. "That's alright, Yi Jeong."
He grinned widely, flashing his white perfect teeth.
"Do you want to go home or do you want to go to the lounge?" He was referring to the F4 lounge. Ga Eul pondered for a while.
"Or do you want to come to my studio? We can continue with the story there."
His smile melted her heart in an instant, and his suggestion was tempting. Her heart began to beat in frenzy. Which option should she choose?
To go home meant their date was going to be cut short. She would have to wait for their next date to meet him and knowing his busy schedule, she did not know when that next date was going to be. She wanted their date to last as long as it could.
Or should they go to the lounge? Considering it was a Saturday, the F3 and Jan Di might be there and it would also be nice to meet up with the gang. The last time she met Jan Di was two weeks ago. They were both busy that their only communications were through phone messages and calls. Furthermore, perhaps the F3 could tell her some 'secrets' about Yi Jeong. However, it also meant the two of them would not be able to spend more alone time.
Or should they just go to his studio? They were guaranteed to be alone and he could continue with his story of firsts without interruptions. But the idea of being alone with him in his studio can also be quite 'dangerous' considering what happened earlier. Ga Eul's cheeks reddened at the thought.
"Ga Eul?" Yi Jeong's eyebrows knitted at the sudden spread of blushes on her pretty face.
"I… I… Is everyone at the lounge?"
"Jun Pyo told me last night that they were just going to relax at the lounge. Everybody needs some break from work. Do you want to go see them?"
"Do you?"
Yi Jeong laughed at her answer. He sensed that she could not make up her mind yet.
"We'll go if you want to." His thumb was tracing random shapes on her hand, sending pleasurable shivers up her spine.
Ga Eul then nodded. Going to the lounge was her best option.
"Ga Eul!"
Jan Di practically dropped the game controller and jumped up from the sofa when Yi Jeong and Ga Eul entered the lounge and greeted them. She then rushed to her best friend and hugged her tight. Woo Bin was at the pool table with a beautiful tall girl. Jun Pyo waved briefly before focusing on the video game again while Ji Hoo on a chair next to him played his guitar. Yi Jeong went straight to the bar and made some green tea for him and Ga Eul. With the rain outside, it was best to have some hot drinks.
"Ga Eul, I miss you. You've been so busy lately." Jan Di looked at Yi Jeong as she spoke. "Yi Jeong Sunbae. This is all your fault. You've been hogging my best friend and keeping her away from me." Jan Di scolded the former Casanova.
Ga Eul hissed at her while Yi Jeong laughed.
"Woman, you've been busy too. You even neglected me, your boyfriend." Jun Pyo paused his game and glared at Jan Di.
"Why you. Jun Pyo, I didn't neglect you. I just didn't want to see you because I had to study for my exams." Jan Di put her hands on her hips.
"Thank goodness your exams are over. Come here, Jan Di. Let's finish up the game."
Jan Di stomped her feet as she went back to continue her game. "Ga Eul. Let's talk after I beat this bossy guy, OK?" Ga Eul laughed and went to the pool table. She had never met Woo Bin's lady companion.
"Hi, I'm Chu Ga Eul. Nice to meet you." She offered a hand.
The lady gracefully accepted. "Hi. Nice to meet you too. I'm Song Ai Lee."
"Oh? Are you and Woo Bin Sunbae related?"
"We're cousins. Ai Lee has just moved back to Korea a week ago. My uncle handled the family business there. They moved when Ai Lee was 7 years old. The family's still there, but my uncle wants Ai Lee to stay here. " Woo Bin answered but his eyes were kept on Ai Lee. Ga Eul could see tenderness in his eyes, the way that he only gave the F3, Jan Di and her.
Ai Lee smiled at Woo Bin and turned to Ga Eul. "I'm going to enroll in Shinhwa University for my Master degree in Business Administration and Finance. So I'm staying at Woo Bin's place."
"Well, welcome back to Korea." Ga Eul shook Ai Lee's hand again.
"Ga Eul, your tea. Careful. It's hot." Yi Jeong passed her tea. "Thanks, Yi Jeong." Ga Eul gave him her best smile. Yi Jeong sipped his and put the cup on the table next to the pool table. He then rubbed his palms together and clasped.
"Alright. Woo Bin, let's play. Loser gets to treat us all dinner at that new restaurant in Gangnam."
"You're on bro. Let the game begins."
Ga Eul and Ai Lee watched and cheered the two. Both were equally good but in the end, Woo Bin won. He automatically pulled Ai Lee and hugged her before placing a kiss on her lips. Ga Eul and Yi Jeong cocked their eyebrows. Yi Jeong approached Ga Eul and put one arm around her shoulder while she put hers around his waist as they gave both Woo Bin and Ai Lee questioning looks.
"Woo Bin and Ai Lee are going to tie the knot." It was Ji Hoo.
"What?"
All except the said duo were surprised at Ji Hoo's words. He was still playing his guitar even if everybody was impatiently waiting for him to further elaborate. Woo Bin and Ai Lee chuckled at their friends' reactions.
The four people then went to join the three on the sofa. Ai Lee sat on Woo Bin's lap while Ga Eul sat next to Yi Jeong. Jun Pyo and Jan Di had already stopped with their video game. Jun Pyo started to feel a little upset because they were there at the lounge since after lunch and Woo Bin did not tell them anything.
"Yes, we're getting married in six months."
Yi Jeong too, felt hurt because Woo Bin did not tell him about Ai Lee. "Woo Bin, you…"
"Yi Jeong, do you remember when we were in High School? I told you about Appa wanting to arrange my marriage, to my cousin." Woo Bin cut his best friend. He knew what Yi Jeong wanted to say.
"Yes. So it's true? I thought your Appa was just joking."
"Yes. I thought the same too. Appa told me again six months ago. But I didn't want to tell you then because when I gave further thought about it, it might be best if I go with Appa's plan, but I also needed to see if Ai Lee is the one for me. So I decided to rekindle my relationship with Ai Lee." Woo Bin tightened his arms around Ai Lee's waist. "But I did have a crush on you before you moved, Ai Lee." He then looked at everybody else. "And here we are now."
"I was mad at my Appa when he told me about it. I was totally against arranged marriage, what more within the families. Hey, it's the modern age. We don't do arranged marriage anymore." Ai Lee chuckled and continued. "But as we talked and met a few times when Woo Bin came to China, I fall in love with him. Appa wants me to come back to Korea and stay with Woo Bin and his family so that I can adapt to Korea again before the wedding."
Ga Eul and Jan Di aahed and oohed at Ai Lee's story. Both were happy that Woo Bin Sunbae had finally found his soul mate and that meant his Don Juan life would be put to rest.
Jun Pyo and Yi Jeong were digesting the new fact about their protector and big brother. Yes, they were of the same age, but among the four, Woo Bin was the most matured and was their protector. He was also their voice of reasons.
True, Woo Bin was the Don Juan of the F4. Girls, women, and clubs were his playthings, but during some moments between Yi Jeong and him, he told Yi Jeong that he did not want to live that kind of life forever. He wanted to have his own family. After Woo Bin told him about his desires, Yi Jeong thought the girl who was going to be his wife would need to be a very special strong woman. Except for the entertainment, real estate, and construction businesses, his families' other businesses were not of the norm. They had enemies all around them. The woman who was going to be his wife should be prepared for the risks of marrying a Song. And now, looking at his best friend and his cousin Ai Lee, Yi Jeong knew that she was the best for Woo Bin. Ai Lee should already know their family's business.
"Wait, how come Ji Hoo knew about this before us?" asked Jun Pyo.
"I happened to be at the restaurant where they were having a family dinner. His Appa told me about the arrangement." Ji Hoo answered, and received some "Ooh" and "Aaa I see" from the group.
"Yeah, Appa was too excited about it. I really wanted for us to have a gathering and both of us will announce the news. I guess this smart guy here just can't keep the secret ey?" Woo Bin faked a scowl at Ji Hoo, to which the latter grinned widely.
"You are too slow, Song Woo Bin." Ji Hoo laughed out loud.
"Congratulations Woo Bin Sunbae, Ai Lee-shii." Ga Eul exclaimed, happy. Jan Di, as well as Yi Jeong and Jun Pyo, wished them the same.
Everybody had been very busy now that they had their own work and study. They seldom had the chance to meet up and exchanges news and stories. So they were grateful for this gathering today.
"So, Ga Eul, Yi Jeong, where did you come from again?" asked Jan Di.
"My favorite spot up on the hill. We went for a picnic, then come here when it rains." Yi Jeong took Ga Eul's hand in his.
"Jan Di, why haven't you brought me to your favorite place?" Jun Pyo nudged his girlfriend.
She nudged him back. "Pabo. The beach where we had our picnic, that's my favorite place."
"What do you do on picnics?" asked Ai Lee. She had never been to one.
"We can go on one if you want," said Woo Bin. She nodded her head and smiled.
"We didn't do much. Just some cloud guessing games, lazed around, ate and drank, enjoyed the city view and most importantly enjoyed each other's company." Ga Eul glanced at Yi Jeong who was all smiles.
"Aish Yi Jeong. Didn't know you'd be one to go on picnics." Jun Pyo teased the ex-Casanova. Yi Jeong simply laughed at the latter's comment. True, his former self would not have dreamt or thought about picnics. The clubs and bars were his preferred choices. But for Ga Eul, he was willing to try new things.
"For the love of my life, I'll do and try anything for her." Yi Jeong gazed at his girlfriend lovingly. Ga Eul's cheeks went crimson. The two other girls awed.
"Yi Jeong Sunbae, so romantic," said Jan Di. "Yah! Jun Pyo. Why can't you be romantic like Yi Jeong Sunbae?"
Jun Pyo scowled at her. "Of course I can. Did you forget that I even took you up on that helicopter to see my heart and the lunch on the beach in New Caledonia?" He rolled his eyes playfully, to which everybody laughed, except for Jan Di who pouted and gave a sorry look. She then leaned her head against Jun Pyo's arm to further apologized.
"Ga Eul, do you know that lover boy here told me that he experienced a lot of firsts since he met you?" Woo Bin gestured to Yi Jeong, to which the latter chuckled. Ga Eul's cheeks went crimson again.
"Firsts? What firsts?" "How come you didn't tell me, Yi Jeong?" Jan Di and Jun Pyo spoke simultaneously.
"Woo Bin, did you have your man following Ga Eul and me?"
"Ey?" asked Woo Bin, not understanding what Yi Jeong meant.
"I was telling Ga Eul about them earlier."
"Really?"
"Yes, Woo Bin Sunbae." Ga Eul smiled at him.
"Aaah yes. I remember when we went sightseeing in New Caledonia Yi Jeong couldn't take his eyes off of you, Ga Eul. He might be with the girl, but most of the times his eyes were on you. I also found it interesting that he didn't join Woo Bin's small party after the fireworks. I saw him went back to his cabin alone. That was definitely a first for him." Ji Hoo nonchalantly chipped in.
Woo Bin turned to Yi Jeong in surprise. "But you told me you had an upset stomach from dinner."
"I lied? Sorry, Woo Bin." Yi Jeong grinned sheepishly while Jan Di and Jun Pyo had their mouths opened in disbelief.
"Oh, when we arrived at the airport and went to our cars, he muttered some things. I heard Ji Hoo, Ga Eul, talk, crush among other words. What was that, Yi Jeong?" Woo Bin added.
Yi Jeong chuckled again. "I was upset with Ji Hoo."
"Me? Why? What did I do?" The 'guilty' F4 asked.
"I wanted to finish some conversation with Ga Eul. But you took Ga Eul and Jan Di home." Yi Jeong glanced at his pretty girlfriend.
The New Caledonia trip was cut short when Jun Pyo left the place after he caught Ji Hoo kissing Jan Di the night before. The F3 and the girls had to take a boat to the mainland before they came back on Woo Bin's private jet. During the flight, Yi Jeong did not have the chance to talk to Ga Eul since she never left Jan Di's side. When they arrived at the airport, he wanted to send her home but Ji Hoo offered to do so.
"You must have cursed me for that." It was rather a statement than a question, by Ji Hoo.
"A little." Woo Bin said.
"Moreover, I should be the one to take Ga Eul home since I dragged her out from the shop." Yi Jeong added in.
"You should have seen his face, the way he glared at you Ji Hoo." Woo Bin widened his eyes and stared at Ji Hoo, recalling the potter's expression.
Ji Hoo laughed and said, "You should have just told me so So Yi Jeong." Yi Jeong just shrugged his shoulders.
"What conversation Yi Jeong? Did you get to finish it?" asked Jun Pyo, not wanting to be left out in their conversation.
"No I didn't, but I got my answer not long after," was his only reply.
Ga Eul looked at her boyfriend. There was a slight glint of sadness in her eyes. She remembered well the shocking event that entailed the trip: Jun Pyo announced that Ji Hoo was no longer an F4 and Jan Di and Ji Hoo were to be expelled from Shinhwa a week after. Yi Jeong felt her sadness and squeezed her hand. She gave him a small smile.
"So, what else were his firsts?" asked Ga Eul. She needed to divert the others before they went back down memory lane to those challenging times for the F4 and Jan Di.
"I think you made him jealous of another man, and Jun Pyo. That's definitely a first."
"Another man?" "Who?" "Me?" Ga Eul, Jan Di, and Jun Pyo spoke at the same time upon hearing Ji Hoo.
"The double date, the two of you and Ga Eul with that guy."
"I remember that jerk," exclaimed Jun Pyo. "I'm glad I punched him. He deserved the punches and kicks." He continued proudly.
Ga Eul looked at Yi Jeong who was pouting and nodding his head. She then gently traced his cheek with her knuckle.
Yi Jeong looked at Ga Eul tenderly. "Yes, when Jun Po said that Jan Di asked him to go on a double date, my mind went straight to you and the thought of you going on a date with another guy stirred something in me. I didn't like the feeling because I was jealous of the guy and Jun Pyo. So I acted like I didn't care much."
"But you offered to go in place of Jun Pyo. What was your reason again?" Woo Bin scratched his non-itchy chin before pointing to Yi Jeong. "Aaa yes. You'd like to see how the commoners date." Woo Bin gave out a laugh while Yi Jeong kept smiling at Ga Eul.
"Thank goodness I went on with the date," said Jun Pyo. "You wouldn't survive the date, Yi Jeong, but I think you'd do that jerk the same as I did."
Yi Jeong nodded in agreement. "I'd probably punched him straight to the hospital," earning him a slap on the arm from Ga Eul.
"Hey, now I remember. Yi Jeong, you were restless that whole day and kept looking at your watch. You said you were worried about Jun Pyo going into the commoners' world. Was that just an act? You were not worried about Jun Pyo, rather about Ga Eul? No wonder you suggested that we follow them." Woo Bin laughed out loud.
"Ga Eul, your boyfriend here was also worried when Jan Di came over to make Jun Pyo apologize to that guy and said that you cried." Woo Bin addressed her.
"Mianhe Jun Pyo. I was too harsh on you that day. I thought because you punched him, he took it out on Ga Eul." Jan Di held her boyfriend's hand.
"You should have believed me." Jun Pyo patted Jan Di's hand to assure her that she was forgiven long ago.
"Who is this guy?" Ai Lee was lost. There was so much that she needed to know and learn about the F3, Jan Di, and Ga Eul.
"My ex-boyfriend, or not. He asked me out when I was walking to school one day. He's quite good looking. He… ouch! Yi Jeong?" Yi Jeong lightly pinched her cheek and scowled. "He's not good looking. I'm good looking and you can't look at other guys." The rest of the gang laughed at his statement. He was surely a jealous guy.
"Arasso, arasso." Ga Eul rolled her eyes and pinched his cheek. "So, as I was saying before this jealous good looking guy interrupted me, Soo Pyo didn't reply any of my messages and calls after that double date. When Jan Di and I went to find him, we saw him walking with a woman. We heard the real reason why Jun Pyo Sunbae punched him. He said bad things about us and suggested that Jun Pyo Sunbae ditched us for other 'hot' girls at a club."
"The douchebag scolded Ga Eul, telling Ga Eul to stop contacting him. He even called Ga Eul ugly. So naturally, I gave him the spin kick and a punch. One for Ga Eul and another for Jun Pyo." Jan Di proudly said as she looked at Jun Pyo who was smiling at her.
"He called you ugly?" Yi Jeong was upset. Nobody called his girlfriend ugly. He held Ga Eul's hand tightly.
"After Jan Di told us that you cried because of that guy and Jun Pyo, I wanted to come find you but I needed to get more information about the guy first. Once I got his name from Jun Pyo, I asked my men to dig for his information."
"Oh! Was that why you took me to the club? I wondered how it was a coincidence that you took me to the place where he was."
"What? Yi Jeong Sunbae took you to a club? Ga Eul? Yi Jeong Sunbae?" Jan Di was surprised at this new revelation. Ga Eul never told him anything about it. Ga Eul mouthed "Sorry" to Jan Di.
"I was in my car when I saw Ga Eul walked along the road in her bright yellow canary coat, her head lowered. At first, I didn't want to stop since I was having a bad share of a day myself. But when I saw Ga Eul stopped and sat on the steps in front of the Mart, I knew I had to go to her. A voice in my heart told me to and that this had got to do with that guy." Yi Jeong looked at everybody and lastly at Ga Eul. "My heart couldn't stand seeing you cry, Ga Eul. Still can't." Ga Eul tried to hold her tears. His words touched her heart.
Yi Jeong suddenly laughed, startling everybody.
"Jan Di, do you know that your best friend here sure is something?"
"Eh?" Jan Di did not know what Yi Jeong meant.
"That day, it was the first time that I stopped a car to help someone. Oh, that someone? She was the first and only girl who made me looked like the bad guy, in public." Yi Jeong laughed again when Ga Eul pouted.
"I told her sometimes girls think they look pretty when they cry, but they are wrong. Do you know what she did?" Jan Di and Ai Lee shook their heads while the F3 listened attentively. "Ga Eul cried louder and the passers-by thought that I was the villain." The F4 laughed out loud.
"I kept pleading Ga Eul to stop crying but noooo. She cried even louder. I had to tell people that it wasn't me, it wasn't me."
"Imagine that. For the first time, people looked at So Yi Jeong angrily." Woo Bin laughed hard. "Way to go Ga Eul."
Ga Eul smiled guiltily. Even she did not know how she could break down in public like that. "Sorry, Yi Jeong. You must be embarrassed." She clasped her palms together as her apology. Yi Jeong then took her hands and kissed the back of her hands. "That's OK."
"What happened after that?" Jun Pyo was curious.
"Hmmm. Took Ga Eul forever to stop crying." Ga Eul rolled her eyes, to which Yi Jeong laughed again. "I dragged her into my car and brought her to my studio."
"Yi Jeong Sunbae?" Jan Di was on high alert.
"Jan Di, Yi Jeong taught me that there are things we have to go through in order to become stronger and to find our true selves. The heartbreak with Soo Pyo was needed to make me stronger. I learned a valuable lesson that night."
"Thank you, Yi Jeong." Ga Eul leaned her head against Yi Jeong's shoulder. "You are welcome, my love."
"Yi Jeong even helped me taught Soo Pyo a lesson."
"I knew where the guy's usual hang out club was. So I took Ga Eul for a makeover and gave a killer dress. You should have seen Ga Eul. She was gorgeous."
Ga Eul's cheeks went redder as Jan Di and Ai Lee awed. The F3 smiled as they saw the admiration on Yi Jeong's face when he gazed at Ga Eul.
"Ga Eul, I have a confession to make." Yi Jeong kept his eyes on her.
"At the salon, you looked beautiful that my heart skipped a beat."
"Awwwwwww." Both Jan Di and Ai Lee simultaneously placed a hand on their chest.
His eyes searched hers. Ga Eul felt her heart beat faster. "Do you remember what I said at the club?" asked Yi Jeong.
Ga Eul nodded. How could she not?
"This young lady is the one who stole my heart. Ga Eul-yang, stop torturing me and come to me now." Both of them spoke at the same time, much to the awe of the others.
Yi Jeong leaned forward and claimed Ga Eul's soft lips. The world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in bliss. Jan Di's jaw dropped while the F3 and Ai Lee smiled.
"Ehem. Ehem." A minute later, Ji Hoo cleared his throat, pulling the lovebirds out of their world. Ga Eul's cheeks went redder if that was even possible for they seldom kissed in front of their friends. Yi Jeong simply flashed his heart-melting smile at her.
"Surely you didn't mean it Yi Jeong Sunbae? Ga Eul stealing your heart? You were… were still…" Jan Di was still unsure.
"Yes, I did. I realized that when I took Ga Eul back to my studio, my feelings for Ga Eul were different. They became stronger. I felt that I needed to protect Ga Eul more. At the boutique, when Ga Eul came out from the changing room, my heart stopped for the longest second of my life and it pounded faster for what I saw in front of me was a beautiful angel with a broken wing. My needs to heal this angel heightened and I wanted to see her soar high in happiness. When we were at the club, I fought the urge to tear Soo Pyo's limbs and pounded him badly for breaking Ga Eul's heart, breaking my Ga Eul's heart. I wanted to be the one who avenged and healed her heart."
Yi Jeong then kissed Ga Eul's hand and wiped away her now falling tears. "At the club, that was when I really fell in love with you but I was still afraid of my other feelings. I needed to sort them out first before I could say out loud that I love you."
It was now Ga Eul's jaw which dropped upon his confession. She could not believe it. The F3 and the other two girls felt the same.
"That was why I told you outside of the club that what happened inside was just an act. Because I was afraid, for me and also for you."
"Yi Jeong…" Ga Eul was in tears, again.
"I'm sorry Ga Eul and I also want to admit something. It broke my heart that I had to crush your feelings on that Valentine's Day. I had to do it. I had to lie and be cruel to you."
"Yi Jeong-shii, you broke her heart on Valentine's Day?" Ai Lee had a palm over her mouth. For her, Valentine's Day is the day to give and receive love, not to take away someone's love and crushed his or her heart. Woo Bin immediately patted her thighs to appease her.
"Which Valentine's Day was this?" Jan Di asked Ga Eul.
Ji Hoo and Jun Pyo looked at the 'guilty' potter. Deep in their hearts, there were also some guilt feelings. During that time, Jun Pyo and Ji Hoo were deep in their own 'situations' that involved Jan Di and Jun Pyo's mother, that they did not know what happened in the lives of their two other best friends.
"The one when I gave you the chocolates at the porridge shop."
"Oh, the chocolates you said you want to make as thank you gifts were for Yi Jeong Sunbae?"
Ga Eul nodded.
"Ga Eul, Your chocolates were delicious. I ate them after I asked the two girls to go home. They left ten minutes after you."
"They what? Why? You ate them? But you said that…"
"I will hold on to them until you find your soul mate. The truth was I was so angry at myself for making you cry and saying those words to you that I needed to be alone. Do you know that when I looked at all those gifts and presents on the table, they didn't compare to your chocolates? I didn't know why but I felt your sincere heart when I looked at the chocolates. I felt your message through the chocolates, Ga Eul. I understood your heart. I knew that you were falling for me after that avenge night. That was why I ate them. To you, I was your soul mate, right?"
Ga Eul was crying softly by now. That Valentine's Day was truly a day that she would remember all her life. How her heart broke, four times during that short period of time. First, when she saw him with the two beautiful ladies on his sides. Second, when she saw the mountain of beautifully wrapped boxes of presents on the table, and when Yi Jeong nonchalantly asked her to put her small bag on that table. Third, when he chased for her outside of the studio and told her that she was a naïve girl and that what happened at the club before was just an act. Fourth, when he took her bag of chocolate reasoning to hold on to it until she found her soul mate. She felt humiliated as if he was mocking that she would never find that one soul mate.
Yi Jeong mouthed "I'm sorry" to Ga Eul and leaned his forehead against hers as he, again, wiped her tears away.
"That Valentine's Day was one that I will always remember. I know I said that I don't like to see you cry and yet, I was the one who did so."
"But why?" Ai Lee asked again.
"It's a long sad story. But just know that I hated myself for hurting Ga Eul." He truly regretted that day.
Silence engulfed the room for some moments. Each one of them was deep in their thoughts. Who knew that the moment Jan Di stepped her feet on the soil of Shinhwa High School, their lives would forever be changed. Destiny wrote that each one of the F4, Jan Di and Ga Eul were to be linked together by that one moment.
Jun Pyo cleared his throat when he felt that the silence was too much. "Hey, the cold from the rain is making me hungry. Come on, let's go for dinner. Yi Jeong's buying."
Dinner at the new restaurant was delicious and a pleasant event with the F3, Jan Di, and Ai Lee. Laughter filled the private room that they had requested for. Jan Di and Ga Eul asked Ai Lee loads of questions. They wanted to know her better for she was part of the group now. The men, too, shared stories from their childhood.
Yi Jeong and Ga Eul were now in front of her apartment's front door. She lived alone since she started work. Yi Jeong held Ga Eul's hands as the two of them faced each other, smiling.
"Thanks, Yi Jeong. I had a great day today."
"Thank you too, Ga Eul, for sharing your favorite place with me. It's becoming my favorite place too. We should go there again."
Ga Eul nodded, happy that Yi Jeong loved it too. They continued to gaze lovingly at each other for a few minutes more.
"Ga Eul, sorry because I am not able to finish with all my firsts. There are a lot more." He pouted in apology.
"Oh? There are more?"
"Yes. Looks like they have to wait until our next date."
Ga Eul fidgeted a little. She bit her bottom lip as she looked into his eyes, thinking hard about something. Her cheeks then turned rosy.
"Yi Jeong, would… would you like to come in for coffee or tea?"
"Ga Eul?"
This was a first. He had never been into her apartment. Each time, he would only send her to her front door because he did not want her neighbors to think bad about her letting a guy into her apartment. But the real reason was that he did not really trust himself being alone with the girl he loved, what more in her apartment or his house or studio, for that matter.
Ga Eul lowered her head, shy. "I… I want to know more. You are leaving for San Francisco the day after tomorrow and we don't know when our next date is going to be. And I… I want to spend as much time as possible with you before you leave." Her voice trailed off to a whisper at the end.
Yi Jeong's heart began to thump wilder in his chest upon hearing her words. He brought up a hand and placed a finger under her chin. He then lifted her head up and smiled. Slowly, he leaned down and captured her red soft sweet lips. Ga Eul's free hand held his waist as her knees weakened by the high pleasurable sensations from his kiss. Some moments later, they parted to catch some air and Yi Jeong leaned his forehead against hers.
In a whisper, "I want to spend as much time as possible with you too, Ga Eul."
Ga Eul then pressed the code to her door and opened it. She held his hand as she led him inside and locked the door.