CHAPTER FIVE - SURPRISES
Yi Jung yawned and stretched as he padded down the hallway to his guest room. He hadn't been surprised at Woo Bin's impromptu sleep over last night – his home had often provided a refuge for his best friend whenever he needed space from his father. Although they never actually talked about it, he always knew what Woo Bin was brooding over and tried to provide whatever would snap him out of it, whether that was time, distraction or simply a place to get away.
The one thing he wasn't willing to grant him during those periods was solitude. That episode at the bridge years before had scared Yi Jung enough to want to make sure he knew where his best friend was whenever he started getting moody. This was the first occurrence since Yi Jung had returned home and it suddenly occurred to him to wonder what Woo Bin had done while he was away.
Pushing open the door to Woo Bin's unofficial room, he called out, "Ya! Woo Bin-ah, time to get up already! Why don't we head over to…" Surprise stopped his words as Yi Jung realized that Woo Bin was already gone.
oOo
Jan Di was smiling to herself as she approached the temple the next morning. She wasn't sure if she had helped Woo Bin the day before (as she still didn't understand what had been wrong) but he had seemed happier when he left. She wasn't sure now if she should just let things be, or call him to check up on him or maybe call Yi Jung to check up on him, or maybe call Ga Eul to talk to Yi Jung about checking up on him…
She paused outside the meditation room to force herself to shelve these thoughts for now. When she felt her mind was clearer and more prepared for the day's meditation, she stepped into the room…and stopped short in surprise. Already seated ahead of her was Woo Bin!
"Woo Bin Sunbae?! What are you doing here?" she cried, a little too loudly.
Woo Bin gave her a mock glare and put his finger to his lips.
Jan Di clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed as she glanced around the room. Bowing to the monk, she whispered, "Chaesamnida, Sunim!" So much for clearing my mind, she thought, as her brain began whirling with curiosity…
An hour later, Jan Di waited impatiently outside the meditation room for Woo Bin. He smiled sheepishly at her as he emerged, anticipating the interrogation he was sure was coming.
"So…you came back?" was all she said.
"Ne," was all he replied.
"Do you want to get lunch?" she asked tentatively.
"Ummm…actually, the Sunim invited me to stay for Balugongyang, so…"
"Oh! Good. Well…see you tomorrow?" she asked wonderingly.
"For reals, yo!" he said, slipping back into his typical hip hop speak.
Jan Di rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile and turned to walk away. Just as quickly she swung around and called out, "Did you at least sleep indoors last night, Woo Bin-ah?"
"Ne, ne Oma!" he replied with a smirk. If they hadn't been in such a reverent place she would've hit him.
oOo
Chung Ho Sunim watched as Woo Bin and Jan Di walked out through the temple gates toward the outside world and their lives in it. They had been attending meditations at the temple together for several weeks. He had counseled some with Woo Bin and knew who he was now.
He still hadn't gotten to the bottom of what was disturbing the young man, but as time went on it seemed that whatever it was, was slowly drawing closer to the surface. If his soul had been a pond, churned up and muddied before, it was now becoming calmer and clearer, as if his troubles, like so much accumulated sediment, were gradually being dredged up and out.
As Woo Bin became more detached from his thoughts and emotions, the issues they stemmed from began to come into focus and he could examine them without feeling threatened or overwhelmed. He seemed to have taken on a new confidence, one that had nothing to do with money, status or power.
The Sunim smiled as he reflected on the subtle changes that had begun to take place in his young friend…and then frowned as he saw, for the third time that week, the low, black car trailing slowly behind the oblivious couple as they walked away from the temple. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he had a feeling it did not bode well.