A week later…
"Why does Philosophy have to be so boring!" Yoosung cried. The heel of his hands pressed into his eyes. "I was barely able to stay awake!"
Yeoja laughed at her friend as they walked. She was not going to remind him that he was the one that stayed up the night before playing LOLOL with Saeyoung and Saeran. The reason he gave that he was up so long was, he got beat pretty hard by the twins in the game, repeatedly. Thinking that one more match and he would beat them. She had heard all about it on the drive to school that morning. How they must have hacked the system or something. That there was no way they could be that good. She was also pretty sure she would hear all about it when she got home.
"Oh, what are you going to do now?" Yoosung sprung out of his whining fast to ask the question. As if he remembered something.
"Um, going home. You have that three-hour lab. So, I was just going to leave like I normally do."
"So, um, there is this new café that opened up near the school. After my lab wanna go? I heard that they have really good sweets!" He looked more like a puppy waiting for his treat. This made Yeoja laugh again, her hand came to cover her mouth.
"Were you not the person the other day complaining that they had no money? Now you want to take your best friend's girl out to a café?" This made Yoosung laugh as well.
"You're my best friend too! Well, you're more like my older sister." A faint blush dusted his cheeks, "My mom sent me a little extra money to take 'that someone special' out… well since I still don't have a girlfriend. You're the next best thing!"
"I'm honored to be a surrogate 'special someone'. Yeah, I'll hang around school until you get out." Yeoja wrapped her arms around one of Yoosung's and nuzzled her cheek into his shoulder. "Who knows your special someone might be around the corner!"
As they rounded the corner to an empty hall Yoosung's shoulders sunk. Yeoja nuzzled his shoulder again trying to make him feel a bit better.
"Sometimes I wonder how much of Saeyoung rubbed off on you."
"Well… I would go into detail, but good little boys should hear about the birds and the bees from their parents." Yeoja stood upright and act as much of a teacher as she could while holding back laughing at her beet red friend beside her.
They reached his next classroom and parted ways. He promised that he would text her as soon as he got out. Yeoja smiled before turning to walk outside.
It was warm. The sun was bright in the sky, even though it still hung low in the midday. Yeoja hummed as she made her way to the smoking pit on school grounds. Even though she had stopped smoking completely the day she found out she was pregnant. It was still the most peaceful place in school. She did not want to waste the warm day by being inside the library.
The trees had started to bud with new life. Birds singing the triumphant return of the warm weather to come. The was a light cool breeze but it felt amazing from the bitter cold that was there a few days prior. Nothing remained of the snow storm that had just happened. The snow had melted and in its wake, was left muddy patches on the ground. As if it was all just a dream.
Yeoja pulled out her phone to send a text.
From: Yeoja
To: Saeyoung
Hey going to stay late. Yoosung and I are going to this new café down the road from the school after his last class. I will see you later than normal.
With that she sent it. It was most likely Saeyoung was still sleeping. The beep of getting a text message told her otherwise.
From Saeyoung
To Yeoja
Oh, so you're leaving me for someone even younger! Fine! T0T
She could see the overdramatic flair this man was doing as she read the text. An arm over his eyes as he sunk to the ground. His voice loud as faked tears rolled down his face. As he reached the ground he would place his head down. With a fisted hand, he would beat the ground below at the indignity of his cruel fate. Wailing loudly as he cursed the cat gods above.
From Yeoja
To Saeyoung
Can I make it up to you by bringing you something from there? ^^;;
The respond was quick.
From Saeyoung
To Yeoja
Yes
She giggled as she put away her phone and walked.
The smoking pit was like a small park. It had benches along the wall of the adjacent building. Trash cans that doubled as ash trays in-between them. The small grassy area that in closed the bricked ground was squishy but the buds of flowers were starting to peek through the pine needles. There were two paths leading to the area and out to the two closest buildings. Thankfully no one was there. Knowing that if someone was there she would not have been able to stay. She loved this little area. It was far off from the campus route that unless you were a smoker, no one had a reason to come.
She had picked up smoking in her first year of college. Her dead-end job barely paid her enough to eat and live off of. It was not like her parents could send her money every month to help her out. They barely made enough to live their self, she could not have asked them to send her help. Yeoja was on her own when she moved and she knew it. Picking up the habit after she learned that it kept hunger away, and it worked. For the last few years before meeting the RFA she lived off instant noodles and cigarettes. She tried not to smoke around her new friends, feeling shame that she let them down. Zen was the first to find out. Even though he did not approve he promised he would help her. Like a good big brother would, in his words. When Saeyoung found out, she felt as if her relationship with him was about to end. It was her biggest secret she kept from him. Saeyoung hated that she smoked and she promised that she would quit. she was almost there when she found out. Giving her last unopen pack to Zen. Promising that she would never go back.
Yeoja found a spot in the sun and sat down. The rays warmed her after being stuck in a cold classroom for the last hour and a half. It took her a moment of enjoying the day before she dug out a textbook. Flipping through the pages to find where they were. A voice stopped her.
"You done or do I need to give you another minute?" This made Yeoja look up to who spoke. Knowing who it was before she saw the figure standing at the entrance of the pit. It was her advisor, Dr. Park. A tall, thin woman in her mid-fifties. Dr. Park wore a bright purple shirt and jeans with a light jacket. Her wild salt and pepper hair pulled back in a hair band to keep the untamed curls out of her face.
"No, actually I quit. I still like it here though." This statement made her advisor's eyes go wide with delight. The older woman cheered as Yeoja stood and walked to her. Pulling Yeoja in a big hug.
"I knew you could do it!" No one outside of her parents and the RFA knew she was pregnant. She knew the risk of miscarriage at her age. So, she had not planned to tell anyone until she was further along. "So, then, what may I ask are you doing right now? Do you have a minute? I have someone you have to meet."
"I got a few hours until Yoosung gets out of his class." Yeoja went back to get her things.
"Good, good." Dr. Park nodded. "Come with me. Remember we were talking about who would be on your advisory committee? I know we have a few years to worry about your doctoral advisory committee, but I was talking about you to a friend of mine. She said that she would be interested in helping with your Master's Thesis. I hope you don't mind I did use your married name when telling her about you."
"No, you're good. It's not but two weeks away now so I got to get used to it at some time. Besides, our friends already do." Yeoja said adjusting her bookbag as they walked.
"Now, I will tell you a little about her. Her major was law but she also majored in psychology in her undergrad. She was a lawyer for a few years and a good one at that. She actually has daughters your age." Dr. Park rambled on. Yeoja was just excited to start forming the idea of her master's thesis. She had ideas passing through her head. Her steps were near skips as they walked to the social sciences hall. If she had access to a former lawyer, then she could cover some legal aspects that might come up in her project. "I have been meaning to ask, Yeoja. Was that Zen in your video project?"
Yeoja stopped a few feet ahead of Dr. Park and looked back at the woman. "Oh, you know Zen?" the question was met with a look as if Yeoja should have known the answer. "Yeah, that was Zen. He's one of my best friends. Sorry I keep forgetting that he's kinda well known."
This got a laugh out of the older woman as she walked up to stand with Yeoja. It was easy to forget who some of her friends were. When they were together they weren't a director of one of the largest companies in the country, an actor, an assistant, hackers, or gaming addict. They were all normal people inside the chat and when they met in person. They had their flaws and their strengths. Joking and sharing stories about what they were doing at the time. Yeoja kept most of her RFA life apart from her school life. None of her school friends knew about knew who she hung out with the outside of school, aside from Yoosung. On the other hand, everyone in the RFA knew everything about her school life. She trusted them more than anyone else in her life. They were just normal people who she loved. They were her family.
Yeoja pulled out her phone and started to flip through her pictures to find the most recent selfie of her and Zen together. He had helped her with the project since Saeran and Saeyoung were busy with work and she did not want to bother them. He was more than happy to help; writing out most of the script they used since she had no idea know to make the mock session last for over ten minutes. Even pulling most likely the best performances of his career for a school project.
"I'm a big fan of his!" This was a squeal of a fangirl and not a professor of psychology.
"I'll tell him you were happy with his performance." Yeoja beamed, then showed the selfie of herself and Zen to her teacher. The way her teacher went on about his acting, Yeoja was not going to bring up that she has been in his house. Or that the hoodie she was wearing was originally his.
Starting back on their trip to the hall, Yeoja had to tell Dr. Park how they met. Or what she had told people about why she went missing for two weeks. Lying that she needed a few days off for her "mental health" that lead to her having a family emergency. So, she had to leave for a bit to take care of her family. In this time, she had met Zen, Jumin, the Choi twins, Jaehee. Yoosung was the easiest to lie about since they attended the same school. As it turned out having a class together before they met. She had never noticed him. The others were harder to tell how they met. In time, she came up with a believable enough story. That through Yoosung she met the rest. The Choi's are his best friend. While Zen and Jumin were close personal friends of his family. Since Jaehee worked for Jumin, she was a tag along. For some reason, this story worked. Then again how they really met might have sounded more of a lie than the story she told.
"I guess I can't be surprised anymore with who you know. I mean if Mr. Han is personally funding your education then I guess it's easy to think that you would know an actor or two." Dr. Park stated as they walked up the granite stairs to the red brick building with white letters the name of the person who gave to most money to the school for the building.
Jumin somehow found out about her lack of money and school funding. Even though Saeyoung played innocent she was sure it was him. Unlike Yoosung who had a scholarship that paid more than enough to go to school, get his books, and live off of. Yeoja had to take massive student loans out. Jumin offered her a deal when she came back from her trip to get Saeran. Keep her grades up and he would pay off the loans she already had and pay for the rest of her schooling as long as she needed. Even paying her a little each month to live on, saying that was her payment for the work she did within the RFA.
Entering the building they were greeting by two boards up for college updates and another one for student news that students posted their self at the entrance. To the right side was the student lounge complete with vending machines, a couch, TV, and a couple of tables. To the left were the stairs and elevator. The halls were deserted. With the muffled sounds of the various lectors going on behind the closed doors. Everything from Psychology to History was housed in here.
The pair took the stairs. The bright blue and a gold that glittered in the sun of the school's colors welcomed them. The click of heels and shuffle of sneakers echoed off the walls as they made the hike up the next two floors. They went in silence only letting their footsteps speak for them. Bright sunlight poured in through the windows, warming the stairwell. When they reached the floor, the two made a sharp turn into a back hallway where the professor's offices were hidden. As they passed an open door a deep male voice rang out.
"Dr. Park got Yeoja for smoking again!" He teased. They stopped and Yeoja walked back to his door and looked inside. A large smile beamed from him. "Such a bad student you are, Yeoja. I mean really" sarcasm dripped from each word he spoke.
Yeoja grabbed her heart and acted as if she was wounded, "Oh, yes, I am truly the worst of them all."
With a shared laugh, she waved at the teacher and started back with Dr. Park. The rest of the way was short. They stopped at a door with Dr. Park's name on it. The older woman opened the door and let Yeoja enter first.
"I would like you to meet my friend, Chaeha Chon." Yeoja stopped as the second older woman stood.
"You're the Prime Minister's wife!" Yeoja gasped then quickly bowed to the woman. Her heart thundered in her chest. She was the one that said she would help? No way she could be this lucky. This had to be a crazy dream. No one was this lucky.
Chaeha was about Yeoja's height at 5'4". Short cropped black hair framed the older woman's thin face. She looked as if she had just stepped off of a runway. Dressed in a white pantsuit with a black blouse underneath. Nothing out of place. There was no stray hair or piece of lint on this woman.
"Nice to see you again Mrs. Choi." Chaeha smiled to the young woman extending a hand to her. Yeoja took a step in a jerking movement to take Chaeha's hand.
"Oh? You two have met?" Dr. Park looked between the two, puzzled.
"Yes, briefly, when I went to lunch with Chairman Han. She was there with Mr. Han." Chaeha gave a thin smile to her friend, as she sat back down. The older woman then turned her attention to the younger woman in front of her. Deep chocolate eyes studied the student before her.
"Yeah, I had to talk to him about my grades." The words had come out quick as Yeoja lied. Praying that Chaeha would not say anything about the RFA. How would she explain that to her teacher?
The two older women talked about little things in hopes to make Yeoja feel more comfortable. In time, Yeoja began to enter the conversation. Stuttering her words at first then becoming more comfortable in her speech. Still, every time Chaeha's gaze went to her, Yeoja had to look away. Finding many of the little figures and posters that lined the walls of the room very interesting. There was something in her stare that made her feel uncomfortable. Maybe it was just her nerves acting up on her. This woman had been a politician's wife for many years. She was powerful. Having to hold her own for many years. Maybe this is what made her feel unease towards the woman. This could have been seen nothing more as a job interview.
"So, next semester you will be working for your master's degree?" Chaeha questioned. Sitting forward in her chair. Elbows coming to rest on her knees. Yeoja shifted again under the watch of the older woman.
"Um, Yeah," Yeoja mumbled. Taking a deep breath to calm herself. She had to make sure the next words she spoke came in clear. "I mean I am taking next semester off. I will be back in January." She went to stand straight. Even if she was feeling flustered at that moment, she could not show it.
Another thin smile came to the prime minister's wife as she sat back in her chair. "Do you have an idea about what you want to do? With your project that is?"
"I had an outline but now that I know you're willing to help me then I might need to change it. Maybe something with political implications. Still in Psychology that is." The more Yeoja spoke the more comfortable she felt. Becoming braver with each word that came from her mouth. "My interest is in art therapy, but I do not think my paper has to just focus just in that. Maybe the psychological and political impact of single mothers or something in the family."
Chaeha laugh ranged loudly, "I see what you meant by this girl will try and change the world."
Yeoja rocked back on her heels, a large grin on her lips. She was happy with how the prime minister's wife reacted to her. It seemed as if Dr. Park was happy as well.
"Well, we are about to go eat. You should join us, I'll pay." Yeoja looked at her advisor when she clapped her hands. "I mean I might be bragging here to try and get more funding. But Yeoja is one of my best students."
"I'm sorry." Yeoja joked back. Then looking at her phone. It had only been 20 minutes since she left Yoosung. She still had time and no college student in their right mind would ever pass up free food. Free food and the chance to pick the brain of a former lawyer. "I have a little time. Yoosung won't get out for like another two hours."
A cat like grin went over Chaeha's lips. "Oh, Yoosung is your husband, right?"
"He's like my little brother. My husband's name is Saeyoung, Saeyoung Choi." Yeoja laughed at what Yoosung would have looked like being called her husband. How the blonde's face would have red. Stumbling over each word as he tried to clear his name. The genius redhead would blow a circuit laughing at his friend.
"Does your husband know you hang around other men?" Chaeha teased.
"I would hope so since Yoosung is like family to him as well. My other guy friends, we also count as our family. One big dysfunctional family." This was true. They were their family. "Oh, I need to go to my car to drop off my stuff. I'll be back."
Before Yeoja reached the door, Dr. Park caught her, "No, I can drive you there."
"But, um…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Chaeha.
"Are you worried about what she'll think of you if she sees your car? Sweetie, we both were college students. We know it's almost mandatory to drive a shitty car."
*_*_*
Saeyoung typed away, only to pull away for a chip or a drink. He was reviewing the logs that he had hacked from his father. Call log, internet searches, documents, anything that would give Saeyoung an idea about what the Prime Minister was doing. In the week since the meeting, he had done this every day. Still, the man did nothing to even look for the Choi's. Saeyoung had wracked his brain in ways that he could think of that Chon might try. Nothing. He had not tried to contact either of the twins. He was keeping his word. Hell, the man did not even look up porn on any of his devices.
Placing his head in his hands Saeyoung let out an annoyed groan. As he looked back at the computer screen he noticed something for the next day. He would be talking to a group of new hires. Maybe doing a bit of recon would give him more data.
"Hey," Saeyoung waited until he heard Saeran grunt to let him know to start speaking again, "So how would you feel if I said I was going to be a new hire under the prime minister?"
"I would say that you're fucking stupid. Did you get that earpiece fixed?" Saeran was getting just as frustrated with dealing with the Prime Minister as Saeyoung was. Unlike Saeyoung, Saeran could drop the subject and move on with life. If he was leaving them alone then he would do the same thing. Saeyoung just could not leave it alone. Within the past couple of days checking his location on his cell. Checking every day what the man did. Saeran knew his brother's reason, to keep everyone safe.
"I fixed it so you can hear me." Saeyoung turned in his chair to face his younger brother. He turned back to the screen and began to hack the server again to put his information down.
Name: Luciel Choi
Age: 23
Gender:
Saeyoung stopped as he thought about the last question. He could go as a woman. Luciel could be a woman's name or a man's name. That's was one of the reasoning he liked it.
"Yeoja doesn't like it when you dress as a woman." Saeran's voice in his ear made him jump.
As if on cue the computer beeped to let them know that she had entered the gate. It was a short time later that she walked in the door. The hackers greeted her as she entered the kitchen.
"Babe, so dress or suit?" Saeyoung purred in Yeoja's ear.
"If you do not get away now I will throw up on you. You reek." An arm braced her on the counter while the other was around her middle. Saeyoung stepped behind his brother. "If we are talking about the wedding then suit. Any other time I don't care. If that's all I'm going to bed."
"Saeran said that you didn't like it when I wore a dress."
"I don't like you having nicer legs than me. There is a big difference." She said as she left the room.
Saeran looked at Saeyoung as they went back to the computer room, "I thought it was called morning sickness because it only happened in the morning."
That earned a laugh from Yeoja from down the hallway, "It's the biggest lie ever. Morning sickness will hit whenever it damn well pleases." She shouted.
Saeyoung went back to the file.
Gender:
It was still blank. He only had his female wigs in red. If he wore a skirt and button down he would be a mirror image of the legal twin. With a sigh, he put that he was male. Then filled out the rest. Brown hair and eyes. Saeyoung groaned at the idea of another day with contacts in. The wig was bearable, enjoyable sometimes. For some reason his eyes hated contacts. With a few more details he placed his file with the rest of the new hires.
Saeyoung went to check on Yeoja. Entering the room the lava lamp gave a low glow that let the glow in the dark stars still work. Yeoja was in the middle of the bed with the blankets wrapped around her.
"Change or you're not getting near me." This earned a chuckle from the hacker. He complied with her demand before slipping in behind her under the blankets. He loved how she fit just right in his arms and against his body.
"My poor baby. What's wrong." He kissed the back of her head.
"Your children do not like me eating. Also, they must have been cold because they lit my heart up. I have some epic heartburn." Saeyoung quickly rolled over and grabbed his phone. She just shook her head as the messenger beeped. It took her a moment before she reached her phone to find out what her favorite hacker was giggling like a school girl about.
Saeyoung: I
Saeyoung: have
Saeyoung: breaking
Saeyoung: news
Saeyoung: ((((DRUMROLL))
Zen: Quit spamming!
Saeyoung: We
Saeyoung: are
Saeyoung: having
Saeyoung: girls
Saeyoung: !
Saeyoung then flooded the chat with his love emoji.
Yeoja has entered the chat
Zen: I said quit it damn it
Zen: Do you know what he is talking about?
Yeoja: Yeah, I just told him I had heartburn and he got on here.
Zen: Saeyoung I don't think that's how it works!
Saeyoung posted a picture of the last ultrasound.
Saeyoung: Aren't my girls beautiful?
Saeyoung: I would like to introduce the RFA to my girls
Saeyoung: Porsche and Elizabeth
Zen: No!
Yeoja: Not Porsche
Yeoja: Elizabeth is fine though
Saeyoung: Their first language they're going to learn is binary
Zen: No!
Yeoja: Hell no!
Jaehee has entered the chat
Zen: As those two godfather I will not stand for you to do that to them
Zen: They will learn Korean first
Jaehee: Since when did you become their Godfather, Zen?
Zen: … well
Zen: I was never asked…
Zen: But I am!
Yeoja: Well, I was going to ask all of the RFA to be the Godparents to them. So he isn't wrong.
Saeyoung: My pretty girls!
Saeyoung: Curly red hair and gold eyes!
Jaehee: Saeyoung you can not tell the sex of your children by just her having heartburn.
Saeyoung: I read it online…
Yeoja has left the chat.
Zen: Is she okay?
Saeyoung looked over to see Yeoja putting away her phone quickly as she dashed out the room.
Saeyoung: She's sick I should go take care of my girls!
Saeyoung posted another picture of the ultrasound.
Saeyoung has left the chat
It was a while before she returned. Just as she entered Yeoja turned around and ran back into the bathroom. He rolled onto his back and covered his eyes with his arm. Saeyoung wished there was more he could do for her. Yeoja did not like the ginger tea he'd made to help and threw up the ginger ale. It was times like these he hated. There was nothing he could do to help. After the third attempt, Yeoja made it back to bed.
"Hey lay on your back." She did as he asked.
Saeyoung moved to be close to her side. Then began to rub around the bump higher to her stomach then back to circle around the bump again. He pressed a kiss to her forehead as his hand made another go around her torso.
"I'm sorry baby." Yeoja shook her head as he peppered the side of head and neck with kisses.
"No, thank you, I'm starting to feel better." Saeyoung smiled as he kissed her hair.
"I'll make it all better."