Chapter 15 The Girl Talk
Disclaimer: The characters from BBF are clearly not mine no matter how much I wished I had Joon Pyo :)
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I'm sorry for the grammar mistakes. But, here is another chapter. Enjoy :)
Jan Di was walking toward the restaurant where she and Joon Hee had promised to meet. Jan Di could see a couple of bodyguards were waiting in front of the lobby of the restaurant from the windows. They straightened up when they saw Jan Di entering the restaurant. They bowed down to Jan Di. "Miss Geum Jan Di, Miss Joon Hee is already waiting at the east wing," one of them informed Jan Di.
Jan Di nodded her head quietly. She was still getting used to the treatment of Shinhwa's employee toward her. She silently prayed that Joon Hee hadn't rented the restaurant just for them. She sighed in relief when she saw that there were some other people who were eating. The restaurant was divided into four section, west wing, north wing, east wing, and south wing. It seemed like Joon Hee just rented the east wing, because only the east wing looked empty. Jan Di tried to walk to the east wing when the hostess stopped her.
"I'm sorry, Miss. Do you have reservation or do you want a table?" she asked Jan Di while eyeing Jan Di's appearance in disparaging stares.
Jan Di frowned when she finally understand the meaning of that stare. "No, actually I have appointment with Miss Goo Joon Hee," she answered coolly.
The hostess didn't look convinced. However, before she could state her disbelief, one of the bodyguards came to their direction. The hostess who saw him first, straightened up her posture. "I'm sorry, Sir. She wanted to meet Miss Goo Joon Hee," she informed him while throwing accusation glare to Jan Di.
The bodyguard ignored her, but he caught the glare. He bowed to Jan Di to show his respect. "Is there anything wrong, Miss Geum Jan Di?" he asked politely. That action made the hostess widened her eyes. She didn't realize that Jan Di was an important guest by seeing Jan Di's appearance.
Jan Di shook her head. "Nothing. I was just trying to meet Joon Hee-unni," she said simply.
"Certainly, Miss. Please this way," the bodyguard escorted her to the east wing. They left the hostess who was still shaking from the fear of being fired. "I'm sorry to ask, Miss. But, did she cause you any trouble?" the bodyguard asked Jan Di when they were already out of the hostess' earshot.
"Not at all," Jan Di answered easily. She turned serious when she realized the reason why the bodyguard asked. She stopped and turned to the bodyguard. "Don't do anything to her," she ordered firmly.
The bodyguard looked surprise, but he nodded his head. "Certainly, Miss if that's what you want," he agreed immediately.
Joon Hee was clicking something on her iPad when Jan Di finally saw her. She stopped clicking when she heard Jan Di coming. She looked up and smiled widely when she saw Jan Di. She set her iPad aside and stood up to greet Jan Di. She pulled Jan Di into a hug before she invited Jan DI to sit.
Joon Hee was looking at Jan Di after they ordered their lunch. "So, have you thought about the engagement party plan?" she asked teasingly.
Jan Di groaned. "Uggh.. I hope you didn't ask me to have lunch with you just to talk about that, unni," Jan Di answered making Joon Hee chuckled. "I don't know, unni. I'm not really a party type of girl," Jan Di admitted.
Joon Hee chuckled. "I know. But, it's really not just about the party. You know it," she advised.
Jan Di sighed and shrugged. "I haven't told Joon Pyo yet," she reasoned.
"He knows that there should be an engagement party. Maybe he just hasn't got the chance to talk to you about it," Joon Hee replied.
"Then maybe I should wait for him to bring it up."
Joon Hee smiled, but she shook her head. "It's up to you," she finally said. "Alright, enough with the party then. I need to talk to you about something," Joon Hee said seriously.
It made Jan Di felt concerned seeing how serious Joon Hee was. "What is it, unni?"
"I didn't ask you about this last night because I didn't think that it was important. But, now that I've thought about it, I think it's best if I just ask you directly," Joon Hee said mysteriously.
"Unni, just ask the question. You're scaring me," Jan Di said honestly.
"I just want to know. Is there something going on with you and Ji Hoo?"
"What?" Jan Di practically yelped when she heard the question.
"Look, I didn't mean to accuse you or something. I just want to know if there is something.."
"No way," Jan Di interrupted Joon Hee's words firmly. "There never was, is, and will be anything going on with Ji Hoo-sunbae and me," Jan Di answered clearly.
"Are you sure?" Joon Hee asked carefully.
Jan DI sighed. "Unni, I had a crush on him years ago, but that's not exactly a secret. However, after that there's nothing going on between us," Jan Di tried to explain. "Why do you ask, unni?"
"I'm really sorry to ask, but I just need to know," Joon Hee said apologetically. "Mother asked about Ji Hoo's hospital last night. And the way she said that just indicated something there. Also the fact that Ji Hoo was at the village when Joon Pyo got into the accident just made me curious, you know?" Joon Hee tried to explain. "I'm not trying to accuse or even judge you. If, just if, something's really going on between you and Ji Hoo, I won't even blame you. Every one falls in and out of love every day. And there's no one to blame about that. That's why I just want to ask you. I just want us to be honest with each other."
"Do you really think that if something's going on with me and Ji Hoo-sunbae, I would still accept Joon Pyo's proposal, unni?" Jan Di asked back, feeling slightly annoyed.
Joon Hee sighed. "I don't know, Jan Di. I just don't want to suspect anyone about anything. That's why I ask you directly. You're already like a sister to me. I just don't want to hide anything between us. I'm sorry, okay?"
Jan Di sighed. "I just feel like it's useless. Even you doubted me and Joon Pyo, then how can we convince anyone else that we're real?" she asked in defeat.
"Please don't think like that. I'm not doubting you," Joon Hee tried to calm her.
"But you asked, unni. You asked that question," Jan Di said. There was slight angry tone in her voice.
"I know and I'm really sorry about that," Joon Hee apologized again. "I can't help it. Especially because there was history between you," Joon Hee pointed out.
"There's no history between me and Ji Hoo-sunbae. Just because I had a crush on him years ago, that doesn't mean that there's history between us," Jan Di protested.
"Are you honestly telling me that the feeling between you and Ji Hoo stopped at the crush?" Joon Hee asked again.
Jan Di opened her mouth to confirm that, but she suddenly remembered things. Things like the reason Ji Hoo had been at the village that time. The things like why Ji Hoo had helped her so much in Macau. Jan Di sighed. Joon Hee was right, the disarray of feeling between them didn't stop at the crush, especially from Ji Hoo's side. "No, they didn't stop at the crush," Jan Di finally admitted.
"What do you mean?" Joon Hee asked curiously. There really was no judging or accusing on her face.
"Ji Hoo-sunbae confessed his feeling to me once. That's why he was at the village that time," Jan Di confessed honestly.
"And?" Joon Hee asked carefully.
"Nothing," Jan Di shook her head. "I couldn't stop thinking about Joon Pyo. Even when we broke up, I couldn't just replace him with somebody else, not even Ji Hoo-sunbae," she answered honestly. "The truth is once Joon Pyo finally broke through my defenses and got into my heart, he never left. And no one can chase him out of here," Jan Di put her hand on her chest. "Not even me."
Joon Hee sighed and looked really touched hearing Jan Di's confession. "I'm really happy that you and Joon Pyo can finally be together."
"But what should I do, unni? Everyone's doubting us," Jan Di moaned.
"That doesn't matter," Joon Hee interjected.
"What?" Jan Di asked in disbelief.
"The most important thing is Joon Pyo believe you. You trust each other. That's just one thing you must always do. You trust each other not to hurt one another. No matter what," Joon Hee advised. "What people may think or say about you aren't important. They don't know anything. Only you two can understand each other."
Jan Di was silent. She didn't know what to say.
"I just want to advise you one thing," Joon Hee continued. "Just be careful. I told you last night that enemies are everywhere. The lies, the gossips can hurt you. But, that doesn't mean that they are important. As long as you don't care and as long as both of you don't believe about what they say, everything's gonna be alright." Joon Hee reached out her hand to hold Jan Di's hand. "And one thing that both of you should always have is communication. Don't forget to ask each other before accusing or judging the other."
Jan Di smiled a little. "Thanks, unni."
"Okay, one more thing," Joon Hee said suddenly. "It just can't get out of my head if I don't ask you. Are you sure that Ji Hoo really doesn't have feeling about you anymore?"
Jan Di sighed. "Well, I can't know that for sure. But, I think that we had cleared about it years ago that we're not meant to be together. I think Ji Hoo-sunbae has known this and has tried to erase his feeling for me," she admitted. "Besides, I'm working on hooking him up with a girl," she added.
"Oh yeah?" Joon Hee looked enthusiastic and eager. "And how's that going?"
"I think it's going good. They're really suitable for each other, unni. You should see how cute they are together," Jan Di said eagerly too.
"Oh, I can't wait for them to be really together. Over the years, I've been worried about Ji Hoo. You know F4 is really like brothers to me, well except one of them is really my brother. The other three have found good girls and Ji Hoo is the only who hasn't found a girl yet. I'm really waiting for him to get a girlfriend," Joon Hee explained. "Moreover, after Min Seo Hyun, I'm being more worried about him."
"Yeah. Us too, actually. That's why the girls want to help Eun Jae to get together with Ji Hoo-sunbae," Jan Di added.
"You have to call when they finally get together, okay?" Joon Hee demanded.
"Okay, unni. Promise!" Jan Di agreed.
Their meal came and they didn't talk much when they ate. After they were done eating their meal, they ordered desert so they could talk more. Jan Di was taking a bite of her cheese cake when she suddenly remembered something. "Unni, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Joon Hee answered readily.
"It was just something that happened almost a week ago. I didn't really see it from the beginning, but I got an idea of what was happening," Jan Di started. "Joon Pyo was surrounded by some girls and he said something harsh to them and even threatened them, so they would leave him alone. I demanded explanation from him, but instead of apologized, he told me that I should learn manner. He said that it was right for him threatening the girls like that so they leave him alone. Is that true, unni?" Jan Di asked. "I mean all my life, I thought that we have to treat other people nicely, but now I was told to treat some people bad. I'm really confused."
Joon Hee chuckled when she was listening to the story. "Well, that's Joon Pyo, alright?" she commented. "I can't say that you're wrong, but I also can't blame Joon Pyo for doing that. You see, Jan Di. We were born to luxury and power. We never have to work for anything and we never want for anything. No matter how bad we treated people, they would always treat us with respect. So we never really learned how to respect someone, especially ones who are beneath us," Joon Hee explained.
Jan Di was frowning the whole time she was listening Joon Hee's explanation. Joon Hee noticed Jan Di's expression and chuckled.
"Joon Pyo didn't handle them right. I can tell you that," Joon Hee tried to explain more. "But sometimes people just can't take the hint. That's why sometimes Joon Pyo has to use threatening way. You don't have to learn to act like that. But you should know which people you can respect and which people you should stay away from."
"So, in short you agree with Joon Pyo's action?" Jan Di asked, still frowning.
Joon Hee chuckled, looking at Jan Di's expression. "Joon Pyo's action wasn't exactly wrong. He could have handled it better, but it didn't mean that it was wrong," Joon Hee said trying to be fair.
"If you're the one who is surrounded by men like that, what will you do?" Jan Di asked hypothetically.
"I won't do anything," Joon Hee started, giving Jan Di a little hope. "Because my bodyguards will handle them before they get close enough to me," Joon Hee continued, smirking.
Jan Di's frown deepened when she heard the words. "Why?" she demanded explanation.
"You see, Jan Di, my bodyguards won't let strange men get close enough to me. I had bad experience with strangers. They tried to kidnap me once when my bodyguards let down their defenses. So from then on, my bodyguards won't let any strangers to come close to me without my approval," Joon Hee explained.
Jan Di didn't question it any further. She finally understood what Joon Pyo and Joon Hee had meant. She finally saw that they lived in different kind of life. Goo siblings had their own reasons for their action. Jan Di finally understood that even though that didn't mean she agreed with their actions.
Jan Di's thought was still on the conversation between her and Joon Hee. She didn't realize that she had walked pass the classroom door until someone called her name. Jan Di turned her body and saw Eun Jae was waving at her.
"Hey, you. Where were you going?" Eun Jae asked teasingly. The truth was she had seen Jan Di lost in thought and walked pass the classroom door.
Jan Di scoffed. "I guess you've seen my mistake, huh?"
Eun Jae chuckled. "Come on," she just said and grabbed Jan Di's hand.
They stepped into the classroom and saw that there were not many people in the class. "Wow, I never saw this class this empty," Jan Di commented when she realized that almost half of the class didn't come.
"Yeah. We, the third year students, just got Professor Oh's assignment," Eun Jae responded.
"Ouch. The big report?" Jan Di asked in sympathetic tone.
Eun Jae nodded her head. "The big report," she clarified.
"Aww. I remember working my ass off for that report last year," Jan Di commented.
"Tell me about it," Eun Jae grumbled. "I think I'm planning to just stay in my room until the deadline come," she added before groaning.
Jan Di chuckled. "Good luck," she said. "But I'm still surprised that this many people didn't come to this class."
"Well, besides that big report, there's this rumor from the morning class that Ji Hoo-sunbae didn't come, so many students just decided to play hooky and just work on their assignment," Eun Jae explained.
Jan Di frowned. "Ji Hoo-sunbae won't come. Why?"
Eun Jae sighed. "I don't really know, but this is the thing I want to ask you about," she said.
"What thing?" Jan Di looked concerned.
"We should talk about it after class. Are you busy?" Eun Jae asked back.
"No," Jan Di replied immediately. "Let's talk about it after class then."
Jan Di and Eun Jae decided to talk about whatever it was Eun Jae wanted to talk at the coffee shop when they met Ga Eul last week. After they got a table, Jan Di stared at Eun Jae and waited until she finally talked. Eun Jae didn't notice and just sipped her coffee. Jan Di sighed. "Okay, what is it you want to talk about?" she asked curiously.
This time, it was Eun Jae's turn to sigh. She put her coffee at the table and looked back at Jan Di. "I want to talk about Ji Hoo-sunbae," she confessed.
Jan Di frowned. Why is with everyone want to talk about Ji Hoo-sunbae today? Jan Di silently groaned, but she didn't let it show. "What about him?" she asked calmly.
Eun Jae shrugged. "I just.. I just want to know what he was like."
"What do you mean?" Jan Di asked looking confused.
"Well, I got a chance to chat with him yesterday. And he was really nice and even fun. That's why I want to know if that meant something to him or not," she explained. She tried to avoid Min Seo Hyun topic as long as she could. "So what do you think?"
Jan Di was silent for a minute before shrugging her shoulder. "I don't really know, Eun Jae," she admitted with apologetic smile.
Eun Jae grimaced. "I know. It's not like you would know what Ji Hoo-sunbae feels or anything, right?" she sighed. "I just want to know if I have a chance to be with him or not."
"Why won't you have a chance?" Jan Di wondered.
"Maybe because he's so great, he's cute, he's smart, he's brilliant, and the best part is his ex-girlfriend is a freaking model," Eun Jae said passionately. She looked tense.
Jan Di looked at her with confused expression. "What does Min Seo Hyun-unni have anything to do with it?"
Eun Jae sighed in defeat. "Because she's so beautiful. And smart. And brilliant. And as amazing as Ji Hoo-sunbae." Her shoulder was slumped down.
"Well, Min Seo Hyun-unni is great," Jan Di agreed. "But you really don't have to worry about her anymore," she added.
"How do you know that?" Eun Jae asked. She still didn't believe Jan Di's words.
"Because I'm pretty sure that Ji Hoo-sunbae has already got over her long time ago," Jan Di answered.
"Oh yeah? How can you be so sure? Did he ever date someone? Because that's gonna be a relief for me if the last girlfriend he had was not a perfect model," Eun Jae admitted.
Jan Di grimaced. "Well, as far as I know, Ji Hoo-sunbae didn't date anyone after Min Seo Hyun-unni," she admitted. Eun Jae sipped her coffee sullenly. Jan Di stared at her friend with sympathetic eyes before she remembered something. She was considering if she should tell Eun Jae or not. Jan Di took a deep breath before opened her mouth. "Eun Jae, there's something I should tell you," she said carefully.
Eun Jae raised her eyebrows. "What is it?" she asked curiously.
"First of all, please don't think anything strange okay? Because there was really nothing happened. I told you this, just so you understand the big picture," Jan Di said making Eun Jae felt curious. "Four years ago, Ji Hoo-sunbae confessed his feeling to me," Jan Di said carefully.
"What?" Eun Jae asked half-yelling.
"Wait..wait.. You have to hear the whole story first, please," Jan Di asked practically begging. Eun Jae didn't say anything, but her scowl said much. Jan Di sighed. "I had trouble with Joon Pyo. His mother didn't approve of me, so she tried to break us up. Long story short, she kinda succeeded. I broke up with Joon Pyo even though we still loved each other. Ji Hoo-sunbae helped me so much. We got closer during the process. Maybe that was why he developed his feeling for me. However, I couldn't stop thinking about Joon Pyo. In my mind, Joon Pyo couldn't, can't, be replaced. And I told Ji Hoo-sunbae as much. Not long after that Joon Pyo got into accident. I think Ji Hoo-sunbae finally saw that I care so much about Joon Pyo, so he finally let go."
Eun jae was still silent, but the scowl was lessening.
"There was nothing happened between Ji Hoo-sunbae and me. I would never leave Joon Pyo and Ji Hoo-sunbae understood that," Jan Di continued. "So please don't worry about that."
"How can you say that?" Eun Jae finally spoke up. "Maybe you will never leave Joon Pyo-ssi, but that doesn't mean that Ji Hoo-sunbae has got over you. The proof is Ji Hoo-sunbae never date anyone after he confessed to you, right?"
"The fact that he didn't date anyone has nothing to do with me. Ji Hoo-sunbae just hadn't found someone that suited him yet," Jan Di tried to convince Eun Jae. "Or maybe he was waiting for someone like you," Jan Di added.
"Don't flatter," Eun Jae warned. "It won't work!"
Jan Di sighed. "Seriously, I never saw Ji Hoo-sunbae got closed to anyone before. You're the first girl that I've ever seen Ji Hoo-sunbae talk easily like that. And from my point of view, I honestly think that both of you were flirting a little, when I saw you talked to each other," Jan Di explained.
This time it was Eun Jae's turn to sigh. "I don't know, Jan Di. Are you sure that there won't be anything that can happen between Ji Hoo-sunbae and you?" she asked still not convinced.
"I'm absolutely sure. Because I kinda see Ji Hoo-sunbae as my big brother, you know? I love him, but I can't feel any romantic feeling toward him," Jan Di explained firmly. "And I'm pretty sure that he sees me as a little sister too," she added helpfully.
Eun Jae sighed. "What about Min Seo Hyun-ssi?"
Jan Di grimaced. "You really don't have to worry about her. First, Ji Hoo-sunbae was already over her since a long time ago. Second, she's not even here.."
"She's coming back," Eun Jae cut off Jan Di's words.
"What?" this time it was Jan Di's turn to yell.
Then Eun Jae told her about everything that had happened the day before. "That's why I wonder if Ji Hoo-sunbae is still not over her. His expression was really.. I don't know.. there was something on his expression that looked really emotional," Eun Jae finished her story.
Jan Di frowned. "I think I should talk to F4 about this. They really need to help Ji Hoo-sunbae about it," she said, more to herself than to Eun Jae.
"I think Ga Eul had talked to Yi Jeong-ssi last night after I told her," Eun Jae said helpfully.
"You told Ga Eul? Why didn't you tell me?" Jan Di pouted.
Eun Jae rolled her eyes. "Because you're supposed to be busy with your big dinner plan, remember?" she reminded Jan Di.
"Oh, right," Jan Di said. "Fine, then. I'll ask F4 about it later. Don't worry, Eun Jae. Ga Eul, Jae Kyung-unni, and I will support you fully about this. You know what that means? The other F4 will support you too, because they won't dare to be against us," Jan Di said confidently.
Eun Jae chuckled, hearing the possibility of F4, who was really powerful, had to obey what their girlfriends' say. But, seeing how they had been when they spent the weekend, Eun Jae couldn't help but believe what Jan Di had said.
A/N: So what do you think? Hope you like it :)
Thank you for people who had reviewed for the last chapter. Camy, Sleepyreader319, missshay16, Mikaelv, iamsunshine18, lorafairy, ladyofthedragons1, and a guest. Thank you so much for taking time to comment on the last chapter. Love you guys..
Thanks for your time. Please don't forget to write comment in the box below to let me know what you think about this chapter. Next is The Boy Talk. See ya..