Disclaimer: I do not own BOF- its original plot, characters, etc. I'm just a mere fan who loves the SoEul couple. :D
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Chapter 11: Families Meet
Yi Jung and Ga Eul were driving off back to Seoul after spending the day with Grandfather Chu. Yi Jung, after his talk with Ga Eul's grandfather, has stayed unusually quiet the whole day. He was contemplating if what Grandfather Chu said to him about Ga Eul loving him for the past two years is real. Why didn't he feel it all these years? Ga Eul was his friend and he never sensed it? Is she such a good actress or Grandfather Chu was just playing a trick on him?
"Sunbae." Ga Eul called him as he stopped for a red light. "Are you okay? You've been quiet for the whole day. Is something bothering you?"
"Nothing, Ga Eul- yang. Don't worry about me."
Ga Eul looked at her fiancé with so much worry. Yi Jung has never been like this before. Did her grandfather tell him something? 'Aish.'
Yi Jung pulled his car in front of the Chu mansion. He got out of the car to open the door for his fiancée. "Good night Ga Eul- yang. Sweet dreams."
"Good night too Sunbae. Be careful." She bid him goodbye. Afterwards, Ga Eul went inside the mansion.
Yi Jung stared at her as she vanished from his sight. "Is it true Ga Eul- yang?" He asked. "Do you really love me?"
c,")
Inside the Chu mansion, luggage and boxes lay on the floor. Ga Eul was puzzled to see these much things in the sala. "Ah Lu!" She called the housemaid. "Why are there luggage and boxes here?"
"My dear!" Madame Chu said to her daughter. "You don't even know that we're coming back today?"
"Omma!" Ga Eul came running to her mother and gave her a hug. "Omo. I'm sorry. I forgot. I was too occupied by other things. I missed you."
"Your fiancé?" Madame Chu eyed the diamond ring. "I would say that he has a good taste. That one's beautiful."
"May I see it too?" Mr. Chu said to his daughter.
Ga Eul broke her hug from her mother and went to her father to give him one as well. "Appa. I missed you too."
"Ga Eul- ah." Her father said. "How was he? Do you like him?"
"He's very nice Appa." Ga Eul responded. "See, he gave me this. And he is actually my friend so we're not that awkward towards each other."
"Omo? He is your friend? Why didn't you tell us that you and So Yi Jung are friends?" her mother asked.
"I said that Jan Di and I hang out with the F4 in Shinhwa since Jan Di's boyfriend is Gu Jun Pyo. You could have not heard me, Omma."
"Maybe."
"Jae Mi." Mr. Chu called his wife. "You're getting older." Ga Eul laughed at this.
"I'm not!" Madame Chu defended. "You are the one who's getting old Il Bok."
Ga Eul smiled at the sight of her parents. Surely, her parents have been married for a long time now but she could still see the sweetness between her parents. "Omma, Appa, how's the exhibit?"
"It's tiring." Jae Mi said to her daughter.
"All our pieces were sold out. We had fun. Especially your mom. She shopped and shopped after the exhibit. Look at those boxes!"Il Bok said to his daughter.
"Ga Eul!Let's go to your room. I bought you new clothes, shoes and bags. You're going to love those dear! I already asked the maids to bring it to your room. Let's go dear." Madame Chu invited Ga Eul. Together, the two women left Il Bok downstairs.
Once they reached her room, Ga Eul's eyes widened at what she saw. Boxes of different sizes and kinds lay on her floor. "Omma, thank you."
"You're always welcome dear. You open that by yourself later. I just want to be with you. So tell me, how was he?" The two settled on Ga Eul's bed.
"Who?"
"Your fiancé! So Yi Jung. I haven't seen that kid for a while."
"Oh. He's nice. I already told you. He gave me a ring."
"How did he react when he knew that you two were engaged? Sorry dear. Your father and I were not able to stop your grandfather. But I see that he made a good choice."
"Well…" Ga Eul reminisced on Yi Jung's birthday when they knew that they were engaged at the So estate. "Of course, we're both shocked. We didn't expect things to be like that. I even asked grandfather to cancel the engagement."
"But your grandfather didn't approve, right?"
Ga Eul nodded. Her mother sighed afterwards. "Seriously, I can't understand your grandfather." Jae Mi confessed to her daughter. "He didn't arrange a marriage for your father. And for Master So, I never heard that Hyun Sub's and Yoo Min's marriage was an arranged one too. I can't get it why those two old men did that."
Ga Eul giggled at the reaction of her mother. Sometimes, her mother acts just like a friend to her. "Omma."
"Why are you laughing? Didn't you find it weird?"
"Somehow. But I can't do anything about it."
"Good thing Yi Jung agreed. Well, of course, who wouldn't agree to marry you? Chu Ga Eul. Simply one of the most beautiful girls here on earth."
"Omma!"
"Why? Isn't it true my dear? Anyways, I want to meet the So family. I'll call Grandfather Chu to ask for a meeting."
"Huh?!"
"Of course, I want a formal meeting about your engagement! And we need to settle things for your engagement party too! Oh. I miss my friend Yoo Min. Anyways, look at the things I bought you. I'm going to take my beauty rest now. Good night Ga Eul."
"Good night too Omma." She kissed her mother and saw her leave her room.
C,")
The week after, the So and Chu families have agreed to have dinner at the famous Italian Restaurant in Seoul. From the So family came Grandfather So, Hyun Sub, Yoo Min, Il Hyun, Eun Jae and Yi Jung. For the Chu family, Grandfather Chu, Il Bok, Jae Min and Ga Eul were all present.
"How are you, my friend?" Grandfather So greeted the other elder.
"I'm fine Min Kyu, how about you?"
"Same here my friend."
The two grandfathers occupied the end seats of the long table they reserved for the night. Yi Jung and Ga Eul settled themselves beside Grandfather So while the rest took their places on the other seats. For the night, the two families ate dinner- a 5- course meal. After an hour or so, they finished eating and were down to the dessert. This was the part where Grandfather So asked them, "So, when will be the engagement party? Ga Eul's already wearing the ring. I should say that my grandson has a good taste. The ring's simple yet elegant."
Yi Jung smiled at the compliment while Ga Eul blushed. The rest just laughed at the reaction of the young couple.
"Why don't we do it two weeks from now?" Grandfather Chu recommended.
"Isn't that too long?" Hyun Sub asked.
"I don't think so Hyun Sub." Jae Mi answered. "We need to prepare a lot of things for the party like the food, the guests list, of course."
"And dear," Yoo Min added. "I'm sure everyone in the art world is occupied next week. You know how they are. They set plans for the week ahead. Jae Mi's right. It'll take a lot of time for us to prepare."
"How many do you intend to invite?" Yi Jung asked.
"When I was engaged, a thousand came. Remember?" Il Hyun answered his brother.
"A thousand?!" Ga Eul exclaimed.
Everyone once again laughed for Ga Eul's reaction. She looks like a child at that expression.
"Of course dear, there would be a lot of people. It's not an ordinary engagement we're talking about here." Grandfather Chu replied.
"It's an engagement between a So and a Chu. Surely, you know how popular the two families are when it comes to the arts. There would also be politicians and businessmen."
"Woo Bin's right. There would be a lot more people in our engagement party." Yi Jung whispered to his fiancée.
"So, two weeks from now, is it? Saturday?" Yoo Min asked.
"Yes." The two elders chorused.
"Where will it be?" Eun Jae asked.
"Will all the guests, let's say a thousand, fit in Seoul Hotel? Or should we have another venue?" Il Bok asked.
"They'll fit, I guess." Hyun Sub answered. "I'll reserve it. The staff will arrange the venue for us. We don't need to worry about that."
"I'll help you father." Il Hyun added. Hyun Sub just nodded.
"Let me and Il Bok handle the food." Jae Mi volunteered.
"Eun Jae and I will fix the guests list." Yoo Min said.
"What will we do?" Ga Eul asked.
"You two just need to prepare yourselves. Ga Eul, let's go shopping tomorrow." Jae Mi said.
Yi Jung and Ga Eul looked at each other. "Let's just trust them" Yi Jung said.
"You two actually look good together." Jae Mi commented.
Her mother's comment made Ga Eul blush once more. And not only that, Yi Jung also, blushed. Yes, his cheeks turned pink.
"I know right?" Yoo Min said. "If you look at them, you won't figure out that it's actually arranged marriage. It seems that the wedding is their will."
"Stop it you two." Hyun Sub interrupted. "You're just making them flush."
The whole table roared into laughter again besides Yi Jung and Ga Eul who were now really pink from the comments they heard from their parents. While they were having fun, a tall middle- aged man came towards their table. "Master So." He bowed down to the head of the So family. "Sorry to interrupt you but I ought to say hello. Master Chu." He bowed once again for the other elder.
"Kang Han Joo!" the two elders chorused once again.
"It's been a while since I saw you." Grandfather So commented. At that same moment, a girl's voice can be heard echoing inside the restaurant. "Father!" the girl approached the table.
Yi Jung's and Ga Eul's eyes widened at the girl who arrived. "Rae Min." the two said in unison.
"Omo! Yi Jung Sunbae! Ga Eul! Hello!" Rae Min greeted the two.
"Master So, Master Chu, I want you to meet my daughter, Kang Rae Min." Kang Han Joo introduced his daughter to the rest.
"Good evening! My name's Kang Rae Min." she bowed down to the rest with a smirk on her face.
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*a/n: Rae Min's back! :D What will she do now? Let me know your comments on this chapter. Reviews are very much appreciated. :D Thanks to all those reading (and reviewing)! :D
ilithyaSAFIRA- thanks for the support! :D
mae- oh so sorry for bothering your mind. hehe. :D
Rockongurl19- see that for yourself in the next chaps. :D
Hopeless Feathers- thanks for pointing those out. i really appreacite it. :D
satomika- yeah. it is. :D