CHAPTER 2
-Noona! – The boys shouted happily.
-Hey guys, how are you? -
She embraced them all at the same time, they were happy to see their beloved noona; Sandra just watched silently, Moo Kyul had sat down.
-It's been a long time Seo Joon. You came to see the boys?- interrupted Lee.
-Of course! I've missed seeing Absolute Perfection on stage for a long time, but I got a big surprise- She turned to Sandra and then spoke to Moo Kyul -Never thought you would accept a woman in the band-
- No! No!- Both denied with an accompanying shake of their hands, then they looked at each other.
-She is not in the band- Stated Moo Kyul –she is only an intruder- He regarded the girl beside him with great contempt.
-Hey! What's wrong with you? You should thank me- The girl said, annoyed.
-Thank you for what?- The singer stood up -Nobody asked you to come up to the stage- after speaking, his cough attacked him again.
-Do you think you were going to be able to sing well? If not for her intervention, it would have been a disaster- Challenged Seo Joon.
The boy, coughing and angry, stood up, picked up his guitar and left. The rest of the musicians looked at each other.
-You'd better go with him- The actress said -Ri No, you are the most responsible, make sure that he goes home and gets some rest, he's very ill- The boys went after Moo Kyul, Seo Joon stared at Sandra.
-Seo Joon, she is Darksan- Lee introduce her.
-You sing very well- She told Sandra smiling.
-Thanks!-
Lee also left when he was told someone needed him at bar, and the girls were left alone.
-I liked the strength you have in your voice, it conveys a lot. Do you belong to any band?- Seo Joon asked.
-I used to lead one a long time ago- Sandra answered.
-Then you're back- the actress stated.
-No, no, I'm in Seoul for business- she clarified -I have a few days off before starting work, I wanted to have a good time and things just turned out this way-
-But, do you already know Absolute Perfection? You knew the lyrics to perfection-
-Lee gave me a CD of the band a few days ago, I liked it, I learned from listening so much to the songs- She said, then paused –Mmm, can I ask you something?-
-Sure-
-Is your friend is always so stubborn and rude?- Referring to Moo Kyul.
-Ha ha!- the actress smiled -Yeah, that guy is like that, so he always ends up alone, no one wants to be by his side- The girl looked thoughtful, and rather than responding, it was like she was thinking out loud, Sandra didn't understand well what Seo Joon was referring to.
-What do you mean he always ends up alone? I thought he would be drowning in women, he's cute, stylish, has attitude ... -
-Yes, but he is so indomitable, he always does everything to his way, without considering others, he doesn't listen, he believes everything he thinks to be true-Seo Joon kept noticing some nostalgia in her words.
-You were his girlfriend- affirmed Sandra.
-Huh? How did you know?- The words of the other girl took her out of the memories that came to her mind when she talked about that rocker boy.
-It shows, it is clear that there was "something" between you-
-Well, yes, it was almost four years ago, and it only lasted a month-
-Do you still like him?-
-Noo, no it's not like that, I have a great affection for Moo Kyul, that's all-
-Ok- The girl nodded -I think I'll have a drink, but elsewhere, it's too noisy here, don't tell Lee- She winked the actress and started to leave.
-Wait- Seo Joon stopped her -Do you mind if I join you?- She asked -I also want a drink-
-Of course! Let's go-
They both emerged from backstage and said goodbye to Lee. They went to a place a few streets away from the bar, a restaurant where the band was unlikely to go.
-I like this place- claimed the actress as they sat at a table near a window- also, the guys never come here, we can talk calmly-
-What's so bad about running into them?- Sandra asked.
-It's just that they are very annoying and always looking for a girlfriend for Moo Kyul since ... - Seo Joon was silent.
-Since what? If I can know-
-Well, since...- She was quiet for a few seconds- I think that I trust you enough to tell you the story-
Sandra watched her curiously, the actress put her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand as she looked out the window.
The restaurant ahjumma brought them bottles of soju, Seo Joon poured a couple of glasses and began the story.
After a few seconds of silence and a sigh, she began to tell Sandra everything.
She told her the story of Moo Kyul and Mae Ri, that took place a little over three years ago. When Sandra heard about the one hundred day marriage contract between them and Jung In, she laughed, she couldn't believe that someone like that boy, rocker, stubborn and arrogant, had agreed to do something like that.
She also registered the name of the other guy, Jung In, but ignored it and decided not to interrupt Seo Joon's story.
Seo Joon told Sandra how things happened and that finally, Moo Kyul and Mae Ri had stayed together.
It was never the perfect relationship, from the fake marriage with Jung In, they were calm, broke up and got back together so many times, that it was a bit stressful at times. From time to time, her father would reproach her for choosing Moo Kyul who was not as good as Jung In. After nearly a year of their relationship, all the magic had dissipated completely, and they didn't get along like before. Mae Ri had matured enough to attend college and gain new friendships.
However, Moo Kyul was the same as always, and Mae Ri was fed up with that calm demeanor which he always brought with him when he arrived home at seven o'clock in the morning. He served as a good alarm clock to wake up and to go to college, but in the end they didn't see each other's faces all day long.
His attitude was indifferent, she would ask him how the show or rehearsal was, depending on the occasion and rocker only answered with a muffled "Fine", and he would throw himself on the bed and fall asleep immediately.
When she came to have lunch with him, he would still be sleeping, it was almost impossible to wake him and if she managed to do it, the boy would eat, get up and go compose music in his mini studio on the other side of the house.
After a few months, Mae Ri saw Jung In and he offered her to continue working on the scripts of dramas that he produced, alongside writer Lee. She thought that was a great idea as well, they both had a story that had united them since they were kids, aside from the one hundred days contract.
This decision brought trouble to the relationship of the girl and the rocker, they began to have heated arguments, little by little, they became disenchanted with each other.
By working together, Jung In and Mae Ri became closer and closer, he had never ceased to feel the love he felt in his heart towards her, and she was confused at times.
All this, Seo Joon knew, because eventually she became quite close to Mae Ri. They would get together and talk, the actress had overcome her feelings for the singer, she was worried about other things like work and had always had a special affection for the girl, despite everything that had happened. She also understood her, as she was well acquainted Moo Kyul.
Mae Ri became more and more confused, the hours spent at work with the director and the absence of the rocker, were causing conflicting feelings in her.
One day, she and the manager stayed working late at the office, they were behind in producing a drama. Jung In, made up his mind and dared to kiss her, the girl didn't refuse, and in that kiss she realized that she had fallen in love with him.
Mae Ri finally decided to end her relationship with Moo Kyul, the boy was hurt, not expecting it, he had felt sure of her and never recognized that he was largely to blame, although deep down he knew the truth.
Both of their parents began wedding preparations as they had the first time, but now the bride really was in love with the director.
Wi Dae Han, Mae Ri's father, was beside himself with happiness, finally fulfilling his desire to see his daughter married to the son of Jung Suk as he had always dreamed.
Meanwhile, Jung In was happy, he had finally gotten the girl he had loved for so long, but there was something that bothered him. Long ago, he had seen in her father's wallet a photograph of Mae Ri's mother.
On that occasion he recalled from his childhood, the arguments between his father and his mother were constant, always for the same reason, his mother always asked her husband who was the woman in the picture, the silence of Jung Suk was always the answer.
He decided to investigate since no matter how many times he had asked his father, he never got an explanation.
He was almost always lost in thought. His girlfriend noticed this and was very insistent in asking him to tell her what was worrying him. Jung In couldn't hide it anymore, the girl was also involved in all of that. It concerned her mother and she had a right to know what it was that Jung Suk was hiding about his past with her.
After finding out what was worrying Jung In, Mae Ri accompanied him in his search for the truth.
-Jung In, what if we look in the room where we found that picture?-
-Bokugairu? The one of us when I carried you because you fell?- The boy stroked her forehead, where Mae Ri had the scar, she nodded giving him a smile.
They got in the car and went to Jung In's father's house, as he was busy with the wedding preparations, he wouldn't be in all day.
When they entered the house, they went straight to that room, searched everywhere, in books, folders, anywhere that could have any clues, but found nothing.
They decided to go through all the rooms, checking everything, both were determined to clear their doubts.
After a few hours of fruitless searching, there was only the attic left, they climbed and crawled, it was full of dust and cobwebs.
There were toys, furniture and hundreds of old items. Jung In moved some boxes of board games and found a locked trunk.
He tried to open it by pulling hard, but couldn't. Mae Ri left the room and returned with a hammer, the boy hit the lock and it cracked open.
Among the pictures and books, they found a clue, a diary, it was Jung Suk's diary.
The boy began to read, inside was the story of his father and Ae Ri, the mother of Mae Ri. The friendship between them had begun ten years before the birth of the girl.
With astonishment they found that after about three years they had begun a relationship, and apparently, they had loved each other very much; but Jung Suk had been engaged to marry another woman, the mother of Jung In.
They both looked at each other, they were concerned about the outcome of the story they were reading.
In the diary, it was reported that the arranged marriage took place as planned, it also said that the relationship between Jung Suk and Ae Ri never finished. They continued together secretly, their love had been defeated.
After a few years, Jung In was born, this caused a big problem between Jung Suk and his lover. Even so, they continued their relationship, their love was stronger.
When Jung In was about four, Jung Suk introduced Ae Ri to Wi Dae Han, they became good friends. They hung out together, had fun, Dae Han didn't suspect the relationship between the girl and his friend, little by little, he was falling in love with her.
This situation was uncomfortable to Jung Suk, his lover was spending too much time with this other man, she looked happy when she was with him.
After ten months, Jung Suk had to travel to Japan on business, he was absent for a couple of months. On his return, Ae Ri called to talk to him, and gave him some unpleasant news: She was in love with Dae Han, she wanted to get married and also was pregnant.
When he asked the girl how many months pregnant she was, she never responded.
The news hit him like a bucket of cold water, he refused to accept the reality, but he knew well that he had no right to object, he was married and had a son with his wife. He convinced himself that he needed to support them, he wanted the woman he loved to be happy, but something was bothering him. After their wedding, he went to Japan again on business.
The story in the diary stopped there. After that there were only dates and meaningless phrases, listed on the following pages.
Jung In continued flipping through the pages of the book, among them he found an envelope containing the birth certificate of Mae Ri and a DNA test. That paper said that the biological father of the girl was Jung Suk.
The girl burst into tears when she saw it, Jung In, in disbelief, held her tightly. After a few minutes they separated and looked at each other with sadness.