A new chapter. Thank you for your patience. :)
The strong smell of antiseptics assaulted Mi Young as she sat down on the hospital bench. Her younger sister, Si Young, had recently been released from hospital due to the fact that the cancer had responded to treatment. Still Si Young had to come in three weeks for chemotherapy sessions. This brought Mi Young to her current predicament. As Si Young's older sister, she insisted to accompany her to every session yet every time she was anxious. Her hands trembled as she waited with waning patience for her sister to come out. "Come on Si Young-ah…" she whispered gently, her eyes fixing on the doors.
As if having heard her, Si Young came out through the door, her small body looking frail and tired. "Hey baby girl." Mi Young greeted her in a sweet hushed voice. The younger sibling blinked sluggishly and mumbled something back, offering a smile. A nurse stood behind her and greeted Mi Young politely before turning back and going to do her job. "How are you? Tired?" The question was unnecessary as Si Young's eyelids were dropping already. Bending over, Mi Young picked her sister up and grabbed her handbag. She sighed softly when her sister's head dropped on her shoulder. 'She must be very tired.' Holding onto her, Mi Young exited the hospital and hailed a taxi.
The ride home was silent, with Si Young sleeping and her older sister occasionally running her fingers through her frail hair. 'I should get her hair cut one of these days. All this chemo treatment is ruining it.' However, Mi Young realised that unless she'd also get her hair shortened her sister wouldn't agree to it. A small sigh marked the small bit of insight. 'What will Woo Bin think when I show up with my hair chopped?' As much as his reaction would amuse her under normal circumstances, now it didn't sit too well with her. But of course Woo Bin wasn't the man to let a chance as insignificant as hair length change his overall opinion of Mi Young.
Ga Eul sat on her bed, a book in hand and a notebook resting on the white mattresses. Coloured pens were thrown carelessly next to the notebook. Ga Eul was reading out of the, mouthing the words and from time to time taking a peek over the notes. The neat writing on the pages sparkled with colours, standing out against the stark white of the paper. One finger followed the text line and Ga Eul continued to whisper silently. Picking up a pencil she underlined something on her textbook and jotted it down in her notebook. On a whim she looked at the clock and was surprised to find that it was already late. She closed the book and set it on her nightstand before clearing away the objects placed on the bed.
In truth, Ga Eul didn't like sitting idle. The stillness was dangerous for the simple fact that it gave her time to think. And most of the time her thoughts prowled on unsafe grounds, always stopping of 'what ifs' and 'maybes'. Furthermore, Yi Jeong lurked in the recess of her mind like a hunter stalking its prey, just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Ga Eul knew that one moment of weakness could make her resolve crumble. One second he was nice to her and the next he shoved her like she was a useless rag doll. 'I'm tired of this. I can't take anymore. I wish everything wasn't so complicated. If only I what to do now.'
Maybe Yi Jeong had been telling the truth when he said they weren't soul mates. Ga Eul's eyes started filling with tears at the thought that maybe, just maybe, that was the truth. But if he wasn't her other half surely she would've known. And what of Jan Di, then, who had two soul mates? Or was Ji Hoo Hana's soul mate? Was it even possible to love somebody so much without being their other half? Was she really wrong? Ga Eul couldn't answer any of those questions. She only knew that she loved Yi Jeong more than anyone else.
Yi Jeong shifted in his seat, unable to keep his anxiety at bay. In front of him his grandmother sipped her tea as her eyes drilled through him, taking in any movement. Although Yi Jeong knew it was a bit silly to be so nervous in the presence of his grandmother he couldn't help it. Something told him she wasn't exactly happy with him at this particular time. That meant of course that she'd nag and then his mother would get involved, and God knew his mother was having a hard enough time as it was; his father made sure of it.
"You are too much like your father boy." Mok Chun Hei, Yi Jeong's grandmother, finally said while setting her teacup down. She eyes him with a vague disappointment before saying, "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. Really, I hoped it would be different."
"Halmoni what are you saying?" Yi Jeong asked feigning ignorance. "I'm just like my father? What do you mean by that?"
"Don't play stupid. It doesn't become you." Chun Hei warned her grandson with a stern look. It was the kind of look that made grown man fall to their knees and it allowed no arguments. "Anyway, I didn't call you here to berate you. What I have to say is more important than such trivialities. Listen carefully because it concerns you directly. I don't want you complaining later."
If Yi Jeong had been under the impression that his grandmother's visit had been a social one, which he wasn't really, now would have been the time he realised it was not so. "What is it halmonim?" he asked and his lips straightened in a thin line, all humour seeping out of his eyes. Apparently this wasn't the time to be a charmer, not that it would've worked on his halmoni anyway.
Hana leaned against the closed door of her room. Yu Han was sitting at her desk writing something for school, trying to ignore the yells coming from behind the wall to their parent's room. Something crashed to the floor and it sounded like it broke. 'Maybe a vase.' mussed Hana and moved closer to her brother. She looked over his shoulder and nodded approvingly when he turned to her with a questioning gaze. Once again yells could be heard and both siblings sighed, partly with annoyance, partly in worry. It seemed like their parents couldn't get along even for a short amount of time, which was sad really, considering that it hadn't always been like that.
The sound of slamming door sounded through. Usually that meant that the argument was closed for a while, at least until their parents were forced to share a small space again. Sometimes Hana found herself wishing that the people raising her and her brother were different. It wasn't that she didn't love her parents; however they were hard to get along with.
Kim Hyun Ki and his wife, Su Young Mi, were both doctors. That in itself should tell very much. Both were stubborn and slightly irritable. It was no wonder they couldn't make their relationship work. But the worst thing about it was that Hana and Yu Han got dragged into these fights almost as often as they happened. No matter what the fight was about at the begging, the subject always seemed to lead to the couple's children.
"I think it's safe to go out now." Yu Han said as he closed his notebook. He nodded once at his sister and opened the door. Despite his earlier claim he looked cautiously around before skidding all the way to his room.
Hana herself looked around before making her way to the kitchen. It just wouldn't do to run into one of her parents. After such fights they were always upset and very difficult to talk to so Hana and Yu Han took to avoiding them in such situations. It was certainly easier than dealing it them. With silent and precise movements Hana poured herself a cup of tea and walked back to her room.
"Halmoni!" Yi Jeong exclaimed, his eyes widening. He choked on his own words barely managing to get you a protest. The young potter couldn't believe his ears.
"Listen child, you are old enough to understand." Chun Hei tried to soothe her grandson. Just like his father before him the boy's eyes were wide as saucers, dread and shock swimming in those soulful pools. "Don't make this harder than it's supposed to be."
"Halmonim please reconsider. Surely this isn't so urgent." The pain in his voice almost made Chun Hei weaver, almost. However, the grandmother steeled her gaze and set her lips in a grim line.
This kind of response took her back in time, many years ago, when her son acted the same way. Hyun Sub, Yi Jeong's father, had raged and yelled until he nearly collapsed, and at that time had been just as cold-blooded. Despite his protest Hyun Sub had been made to marry Baek Se Na. Together they had Il Hyun and Yi Jeong, and the family line continued. But now that Il Hyun had left, becoming estranged, it fell to Yi Jeong to carry this burden.
Yi Jeong looked at his grandmother, barely being able to keep his emotions bottled up. He couldn't possibly do what she asked him, even if he were to be disowned. Not after finally making up his mind to pursue his soul mate. After careful consideration and many glasses of wine Yi Jeong had promised himself last time, at that party, that he wouldn't let Ga Eul slip through his fingers anymore. There was no way he could turn his back on that promise.
"So Yi Jeong I mean it. Don't oppose this needlessly." Chun Hei advised calmly. "This is your duty to your family."
He scoffed and guided his stare to hers. "I won't do it. I can't do it. If I'm coerced into marrying that woman will end up like my poor mother. So don't ask me to do this."
"I though you'd say that. For this reason I propose a truce." The old woman said and placed her hand on Yi Jeong's. "I'll let you choose the woman you marry."
"What?" Yi Jeong asked, a look of wonder crossing his features.
"I have only one demand." Chun Hei hoped that this would work. "Whoever you chose, she must be deserving."
"Deserving? What do you mean by that?"
Jan Di sat on the bed directing the coldest glare she could muster to an unsuspecting Jun Pyo. He had this special ability of pissing her off and doing stupid thing at the most inappropriate moments. That had been the exact case of the evening's dinner. President Kang, his mother, had taken her meal with them and by some weird turn of conversation they broached a rather sensitive topic. Grandchildren. Although Jan Di didn't oppose to the possibility of having children with Jun Pyo this wasn't the right time. They weren't married and she hasn't even finished her studies yet. And what about her dream of becoming a doctor. But of course Jun Pyo had opened his big mouth and said a stupid thing.
Kang Hee Soo had smiled sardonically Jan Di's way and returned to her plate. It took all of her restrain to keep from hitting Jun Pyo over the head.
Now that they were in the safety of his room she could berate him properly for his idiocy. "I can't believe you said that to her!"
"Yah, Geum Jan Di! What's your problem?" Jun Pyo yelled in reply.
"You are what's wrong. Stop saying and doing whatever you want without even checking with me first."
Woo Bin sat at the desk in his room. Worry touched his handsome face. Dimly he could hear his sisters playing outside, the sound of their footsteps was clear. His thoughts went, immediately, to Mi Young. She had been acting strange and it bothered him. If he were honest, what bothered him was that he couldn't do anything to help her. Of course he'd be unable to help if that stubborn woman kept it to herself. He had half a mind to drag it out of her. He was Prince Song, Don Juan for heaven's sake! Finding out what bothered his girlfriend shouldn't have been a problem for him.
And if that wasn't enough, Yi Jeong was making it worse. His inability to see what was really important vexed him to no end. If he kept acting the way he was it would only lead to a tragedy.
"What are you thinking about?" The sudden question startled Woo Bin to the point he almost jumped out of his chair. He turned around to look at the intruder. Woo Bin's mother sat on the edge of his bed with a knowing smile on her face. "Is there nothing you wish to say to me?"
Woo Bin looked at her with confusion and eased back in his chair. "What are you talking about ommonim?"
"Why, I'm referring to that gorgeous girl who accompanied you to the function." The smile on her face stretched to epic proportions.
"Her? She's my girlfriend." Woo Bin answered hoping to avoid the conversation altogether.
"That's obvious!" his mother exclaimed. "What I want to know is if she's any different from all the other women you've dated before."
"Ommonim, don't ever compare to those women. To me she's special." Woo Bin indulged her curiosity.
"Of course. Well, just be sure to introduce her to me soon" With that his mother stood up, her bright pink dress swishing. She smiled at him once more before dragging her fingers through her hair and leaving her son's room.
"Harabeoji what are you doing out this late?" Ji Hoo asked kindly. His grandfather was sitting on the veranda looking into the darkness. His mind seemed to be far off as he barely acknowledged him. "Is something wrong?"
"Anyo. Of course that everything is fine. I was just reminiscing." The older man said and patted the free seat next to him. Ji Hoo sat down and stared straight ahead. "How come I haven't seen the little lady for some days now?"
"Hana has been busy. But she promised to come over at the clinic tomorrow." The answer had a melancholic tinge to it.
"Do you, by any chance, miss her already?" Ji Hoo's grandfather questioned with a small smile.
"Mmm." Ji Hoo affirmed and continued to look ahead of him. He hadn't seen Hana for a few days, meeting her for a few short seconds at the porridge shop didn't count. He missed spending time with her. Silently he laughed at the situation; he was acting like a lovesick puppy, always craving the loving warmth of his girlfriend. It was incredible to think that he was hooked after such a short while spent with her. Hana was different from all the other women who threw themselves at the F4. With her there was no ulterior motive, only a sense of security.
Ji Hoo had been pulled in by Hana since the first time he met her. At that time however he was already in love with Jan Di and the attraction he felt towards her friend was only an afterthought. When Jan Di chose Jun Pyo someone else entered his life. Hye Kyo had been a good distraction; they shared similar tastes in music and had close opinions about almost everything. Once again Hana was pushed at the back of his mind.
But then that trip had happened. Seeing Hana like that, all smiles and sweetness made his feelings for her all the more apparent. And the alcohol, the rush and her kiss; those made him finally realise that he needed her. Truthfully he felt sorry about hurting Hye Kyo but when his ex-girlfriend talked that way about Hana, it made him angry. He was very happy and grateful to have Hana in his life.
Yi Jeong's mouth opened as if to form words but nothing came out. "By deserving I mean that she must be all the things you need in a woman. If you can't find anyone like that, then I will find someone for you." Chun Hei told him. "Is there anyone like that? Do you know such a person?"
The young man nodded somewhat dejectedly. "Yes. But I'm afraid I may have ruined my chance to be with her."
"Nothing is over until you give up." The old woman wisely said. "Then I leave this to you my grandson. I hope to meet this woman soon."
I hope you liked it. If you did, feel free to drop a line. :)