CHAPTER 26
SEO HYUN'S POV:
Waking up in Ji-Hoo's house is such a relief. The past few days have been hell. Slipping out of bed, I go into the closet but my things are not here. Where in the world has he put my clothes? I wander out into the living room and notice that it's late. The sun is already starting to go down. I slept for a long time.
Hearing Ji-Hoo's laughter float down the hallway, I freeze in surprise. His laugh is a very rare thing. I almost didn't recognize it. Heading towards the music room, I hear another voice along with his but I can't make out what they are saying yet. Occasional notes from the piano can be heard along with more laughter.
"-can't do that! That's cheating!" a woman's voice says.
"How is that cheating? I don't remember there being any such rule!" Ji-Hoo laughs.
Looking in, I see a woman trying to push a laughing Ji-Hoo off the piano bench with only her hip while he stubbornly keeps himself planted next to her and still trying to play part of a song. Every time he reaches around her to play the higher notes, she protests and pushes his hand away while she still tries to play her part.
"Stop it!" she laughs.
"Ji-Hoo-ah?" I ask. They both turn around at my voice but I am surprised to see the warmth leave his eyes when he looks at me. Why is he being like this? Can't he just stop being so distant already? Noticing my appearance, the girl blushes and looks away. "My luggage still isn't in your room. I'd like to change."
The girl looks at Ji-Hoo in surprise and he quickly makes his way towards me, his eyes narrowed in irritation. Grabbing my arm, he pulls me down the hallway and into a guest room. All of my luggage is in here and still packed. I look at him in confusion. He has never treated me like this before.
"Since you insist on staying here, you can stay in one of the guest rooms for now but the only reason I am even agreeing to this is because Saia asked me to. As soon as you find another place to stay you need to leave. I don't want you here." This cold Ji-Hoo I remember.
"Is Saia the girl in the music room with you? It's sweet that you have taken her under your wing. Ji-Hoo-ah, I know that I shouldn't have neglected you for so long. I'm sorry for that but I promise that I will make it up to you. I'm here to stay. I won't leave you again." I try to wrap my arms around him but he pushes me away.
"Enough! I am not the same person that you remember but you are exactly the same. My life isn't yours to play with anymore. I moved on. I'm living my life and I am doing just fine without you. Get dressed and then you are going to tell me why you are here."He storms out and I stare at the closed door in shock. He always forgives me. Why is he being so stubborn this time?
I change into my own clothes and walk into the living room. They are both waiting for me. Saia is sitting in a chair but Ji-Hoo is standing, looking out the window into the courtyard. She smiles at me and then looks expectantly at Ji-Hoo's back but he doesn't move. Realizing that he won't be making the introduction she turns towards me.
"Hello. We haven't been properly introduced yet. I'm Saia Caelum." She extends her hand and I politely shake it.
"I'm Min Seo Hyun, nice to meet you." I sit down on the couch and she pours me a cup of tea while we wait for Ji-Hoo to turn around. What I have to say doesn't involve Saia. I won't speak to him with her here. It's cute that Ji-Hoo has a new friend but he shouldn't be involving her in such things. As if hearing my thoughts, she stands up to leave.
"Please excuse me. I really need to go call my Eomma." She gives me a small bow and moves past Ji-Hoo but his hand shoots out and he catches her arm. She looks at him in surprise but there is no fear on her face. She's foolish. Ji-Hoo is definitely someone to fear along with the rest of his F4 friends.
"You don't have to leave." His voice is soft and quiet as he looks at her. The complete opposite of how he spoke to me moments ago.
"I think its best that you two talk alone and I do need to call Eomma. She needs to know I'm okay."
He nods and releases her arm. "…Use the house phone and tell her I said hello."
The silence continues even after she leaves. He sips his tea, still facing the window. I can see him occasionally glance at my reflection in the glass. He finally turns around and sits in one of the chairs.
"So?" he asks.
I begin by telling him how I had been engaged to a French diplomat named Jean-Paul Dauphin. We were together quite a while but I missed Ji-Hoo and our relationship crumbled. We were in Nice and I had finally decided to call off the engagement but as we were leaving an art exhibit that night, we were attacked and Jean-Paul was shot in the head. Jean-Paul's bodyguard helped me escape and explained to me that I needed to go someplace safe. Jean-Paul had information on an International cover up that involved someone named Isaac Caelum and Eon Su-Jeong. He also told me that the Korean Mafia had been asking a lot of questions and there were people that were moving quickly to try and silence them.
Ji-Hoo's face remains calm while I tell him this and he even seems to know what I am talking about. What the hell has the F4 gotten involved in?
"Ji-Hoo-ah, this isn't one of your silly F4 games. People's lives are at stake. My life is at stake. What possible reason do you boys have for getting mixed up in something like this?"
"You only know part of the story. There is a lot more to it than what you have been told. We are well aware that this isn't a game and I am well aware that lives are at stake. We have grown up Seo Hyun. Our lives are very different from what you remember." He stands up from his chair. "I'm going to call Woo Bin. He needs to know you're here. It would be best if you stay with him. He can protect you better than I can."
"But Ji-Hoo-"
"If you're hungry, you know where the kitchen is." He leaves me here and I watch him in disbelief. I expected him to comfort me, to tell me everything is going to be okay. That he will make sure I am safe. He must still be angry with me.
(^_^)
SAIA'S POV:
"How are the twins?"
"They are doing really well! They like it here. They miss you though. I wish they were home so you could talk to them. Scott and CJ took them out on the beach." My mother says.
"That's okay. I'll talk to them some other time. I really should go Mom. I promise I'll call again soon."
"Okay baby. I love you."
"…I love you too mom." It's still a little strange talking to her after so many years apart but I am happy that we have another chance to be a part of each other's lives.
I hang up the phone and feel Ji-Hoo's arms slide around me from behind.
"How is everyone?"
"Good. They miss us though."
"…We need to talk." I turn my head to look up at him. His voice is so serious that it makes me nervous. I nod my head and he takes my hand, leading me back to the music room.
After we sit down, he tells me about him and Min Seo Hyun. What their relationship had been, about following her to France, and why he came back. He also tells me what happened to her a few days ago. I sit in a panic. Not because of Min Seo Hyun but because it seems that this nightmare involving my father never seems to end. He grows quiet and I can feel him watching me but my head is spinning. I focus on a spot in the rug, trying to sort through my thoughts.
"Things between Seo Hyun and I have been over for a long time now…" He says quietly. I look up at him in surprise. He misunderstands my silence.
"I know that. It doesn't bother me that she is your first love. All I care about is being your last."
He smiles and softly brushes my cheek with his hand. "You definitely are the last and the only one that matters."
I blush and smile up at him. "You are the only one for me. I just wish this whole thing with my father was over. It just never seems to end. And now more people have been hurt… What if they come after you? Or Boo Ki or the rest of the F4?"
He looks me in the eyes and cups my face in his hands. "We will do everything we can to keep everyone safe. I promise."
I know he will try and keep that promise but I am suddenly very afraid. This is bigger than I ever thought possible. My eyes start to burn with the thought of losing him again. I won't be able to survive it. I bury my face in his chest and hug him tightly to me.
"Hey… It'll be okay. I'm not going anywhere."
(^_^)
WOO BIN'S POV:
"Seo Hyun's at your house? Well that's just… awkward…" I say to Ji-Hoo.
"…We need to protect her. Things are moving much more quickly than we thought."
"Agreed. I'm sending some of my men to watch over your house. Yi-Jung and Ga Eul are already safe at Jun Pyo's house. He has enough security that they should be safe for now."
"What about Boo Ki?"
"My men are watching over her. She refuses to stay with anyone but I'm hoping I can convince her… How is Saia handling all this?"
"…She is amazing as always. She isn't bothered by Seo Hyun. But she is afraid of anyone getting hurt… She's already been through a lot. I'm worried about her Woo Bin-ah."
"Hey buddy. She's a tough one. She'll be okay. Let's meet up at Jun Pyo's house tomorrow morning. We need to plan what we are going to do."
"Arasso."
After getting off the phone with Ji-Hoo I try to call Boo Ki again. Stubborn woman! She needs to pick up the phone! It's important! After it goes to voicemail, I hang up and dial her number again. After the 3rd try she finally picks up.
"Usually when people don't answer it's because they are busy. Or are the infamous F4 members just not used to waiting?"
"Actually no, I'm not. But then again no woman has ever made me wait before either."
"Lucky you…" She says sarcastically and I grin. "If you have a reason for calling, can you please make it fast? I, unlike you, am working and we are very busy tonight."
"You need to stay here for awhile. It's not safe."
"We have already had this argument Woo Bin-ssi. I'm not going to run away and hide. I have responsibilities and people who depend on me. I can't just drop everything. Besides, nobody has any reason to come after me."
"Bullshit. You have been a huge help in this whole investigation. They will know you're involved."
"How? Did you tell them? Or did your men? Honestly Woo Bin-ssi-"
"Why are you being so stubborn and why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you. I'm just going back to my life and you can go back to yours."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I have to go Woo Bin. Take care of the others."
"Wait!" Did she just hang up on me? "Ya…YA! Aish!" She hung up on me! I slam my phone down on my desk in frustration. She never listens to me! She is the most infuriating woman I have ever met! She isn't invisible yet she acts like nothing can hurt her. Why does she have to be so damn independent?
(^_^)
TAE-MU POV:
"Are you sure about this? Going after them will raise a lot of suspicion."
"That's why we need to make sure it looks like an accident. We don't know what they have uncovered so far. Do you really want to lose everything because some bored Chaebols stuck their noses where they don't belong?" I say as I glance at the men around the table. Men from all over the world, from different governments, we formed an alliance in our desire for power. It's easy to point the finger away from yourself when another country takes care of your rivals for you.
"This isn't going to be as easy as the other times. There are a lot more people involved this time."
"So? That doesn't mean it can't be done. We have killed ambassadors, presidents, prime ministers, and other elected officials and covered them all up quietly every time." I argue.
"This is different. These people are popular. They are always in the spotlight. Everywhere they go people watch them."
"I am not willing to take any chances. They need to be dealt with quickly. We have to be in complete agreement with this. I am not going to let some punk kids take away everything I worked so hard for. Are we in agreement or not? Let's put it to a vote. All of those in favor of taking no action?" I watch the table closely.
"All of those in favor of taking action?" All 9 men raise their hands. It's unanimous. I lean back in my chair in satisfaction. The fate of the F4 is sealed.
A/N: firehorse549- Since I can't PM you, I wanted to leave you this little note. ^_^ I am really happy you like my story so far and appreciate your encouragement. It means a lot to me. I am only sorry that I am this late in telling you. As far as the mystery goes, I think that part is more fun than the drama, don't you think? ^^ Thank you so much for reading!
TO ALL MY DEAR READERS: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Lol. It always makes me happy to know you are reading my story and I must admit my favorite part in this chapter was Boo Ki and Woo Bin's argument. ^^ See you all next chapter! ^_^