Chapter 8
A/N: Sorry that I took so long :( Thanks for all the reviews, as always. I love you guys. Marry me.
Ga Eul's POV
With shaky hands, I reached down picked up my phone from the carpet. What was that phone call about? Was it even real?
I didn't even know where I was supposed to go. The person didn't tell me. I had the urge to sit in a corner and weep, but I had to find my dad.
~o-o~
Come to the basement in the Pond Café. Alone. The door is unlocked.
Those words kept ringing in my head as I ran through the dark of the night. But why the Pond Café?
I stopped in front of the door of the café. Unwillingly, I turned the handle and slowly stepped inside. I cautiously looked around. I could barely see anything. It was so dark.
I went into the kitchen, where the person told me the basement would be. In a trap door.
"Hello?" I quietly called out, my voice shaking. I looked in the corner, where I could barely make out a square shape. Probably the trap door. Slowly, I walked towards it, being careful not to crash into anything. I bent down and put my hand on the handle. I hesitated for a moment, but then I flung it open.
"Stay still." A menacing voice whispered into my ear. The person pulled me up from behind, holding my neck. I couldn't see him. He held a kitchen knife to my neck.
"Good. Now go down the trap door. Don't turn around." He said. Quickly, I obeyed him. I stood still in the middle of the dark, dusty room, trying not to faint. The person grabbed me again.
"What's the password?" He asked, pressing the knife to my neck again.
"W-Where's my dad?" I squeaked. Silently, tears rolled down my face.
"Trap," He said simply. "Now, what's the password?"
"I d-don't know what you're t-talking about..." I whispered.
"SO YI JUNG'S BANK ACCOUNT PASSWORD!" He screamed. I shut my eyes tightly and flinched.
"I-I don't know it,"
"Yes you do! You're his girlfriend! What is it?!" He shouted again. More tears fell.
"I really don't know," I said, sobbing in between my words.
How did this person know about our relationship? It wasn't released to the press yet.
"You useless bitch! I would kill you right now if I couldn't use you as bait!" He cut the side of my throat roughly and pushed me to the ground. I held my neck, sobbing.
"Shut up!" He screamed. I didn't dare look at his face.
~o-o~
Woo Bin's POV
"I'm bored," I say, spinning the knife around in my hand.
"Please, young master, get your elbows off the table and sit properly." Butler Han said, bowing.
"Shut up," I grumbled. I put down the knife, grabbed my fork, and stabbed a scallop.
"Hey, one of you henchmen," I said with my mouth full. "Look for any gang activity around the area. I wanna fight,"
"Prince Song, I don't think that's the best—" I silenced the bald man with my hand, still chewing.
"Look for the information." I demanded after swallowing. All of the men bowed and scurried out of the room.
"Was I too scary?" I blinked, looking over at Butler Han and the maids.
"No, young master." They all replied in unison.
"You guys are creepy." I put down my fork, wiped my mouth with a napkin, and stood up.
"Where are you going, young master?" Butler Han asked. "You've only had a few bites,"
"I'm going to check on the men's work. And your creepiness made me lose my appetite." I playfully punched Butler Han's shoulder and walked towards the computer room.
~o-o~
"Prince! We found the information you were looking for," The bald man said.
"Yeah, yeah, hold on," I held up my index finger. "What's your name again?"
"Please, call me Taeh." He bowed slightly.
"What the hell, man? I didn't even get your actual name."
"T-Taeh Gyoong," He said quickly, quietly apologizing. I laughed.
"I wasn't even mad. I was just messin' with ya," I bonked his forehead lightly. He stumbled backwards.
"So what's the info?" I asked Taeh.
He quickly straightened up.
"There is some gang activity near the other side of town," He said. "Plenty, actually."
"Anything else?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Just some unusual activity around the west side of Seoul. It's not a gang, though." He said.
"Huh? Then how did that...anyways, look that up." I snapped my fingers.
After a few minutes, Taeh came back with the papers.
"It's, uh, at the Pond Café. They're probably robbing it, or vandalizing." He said. I slowly nodded.
"I want to go there," I pointed at the screen. "Look inside the café."
He pulled up a live stream. It was dark, and no one was inside.
"Is there an attic?" I asked.
"No, sir. There are no stairs."
"What about a basement? Someone could be hiding in there," I suggested. Taeh nodded and searched for the basement. Sometimes, having money was the best thing in the world. I had access to every single security camera in South Korea. Who needs to hack into the system when you can just pay?
"I found a trapdoor. It might be the basement, or just a food storage." Taeh started typing something.
"Do the cameras even go in there?"
"Yes." The scene switched from the kitchen, to a dark room with a few dim lightbulbs hanging from the low ceiling. There was a tall dark figure in the corner, who seemed to be talking on a phone. In the middle of the room, was a person lying on the floor. Almost as if they were...dead. Blood was staining the floor around the person's neck.
"Quick! Close-up on that person's face!" I pointed to the slumped figure. Taeh obeyed. As soon as he did, I froze.
"Pond Café?" I asked, my voice panicky.
"Pardon, sir?"
"THIS IS AT THE POND CAFÉ, RIGHT?" I shouted. Everyone turned to look at me. Taeh looked down and nodded quickly. I ran out of the room. Out of the house.
~o-o~
Yi Jung's POV
"Ga Eul's in danger! She's been kidnapped! Come to the Pond Café, now!" Woo Bin's panicked and rushed voice made me anxious.
I sprinted out of the studio and into my car.
~o-o~
"What HAPPENED TO HER?!' I screamed into the phone. I was almost there.
"I can't tell you now! You need to concentrate! You'll probably crash your car if I told you!" The bastard Woo Bin said. I hung up.
I parked in front of the café. Woo Bin pulled in right behind me. We ran inside.
"Be quiet. She was kidnapped. I think." Woo Bin whispered, going into the kitchen. I followed.
"Who's there?" A voice called out. We stopped.
"Come out, if you're someone who wants to save that girl." I heard the smirk in his voice. I walked towards him.
"Yi Jung!" Woo Bin whispered fiercely. I ignored him. I ran straight up to him and punched him in the face, repeatedly.
"What the hell did you do to her?!" I kicked the bitch to the ground.
"Be glad I cut lightly. If I cut her just a bit deeper, she would have been dead by now. But you never know." He gave me a bloody smile. I stepped on his face and went down to the basement, with Woo Bin following close behind.
~o-o~
Ga Eul's POV
I lie there limp. I slowly moved my arms to my sides.
"Ga Eul yang!" I heard the all-too-familiar angelic voice.
"Is she dead?" I heard Woo Bin sunbae whisper.
"She better not be," Yi Jung rushed up to me right before I closed my eyes.
~o-o~
I opened my eyes. It was too bright in the room.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I turned to find the source of the sound. It was a heart monitor. How did I get to a hospital?
I reached up and touched my neck. There was gauze on my wound. Like an idiot, I poked it.
"Ow!" I shouted.
"Ga Eul?" I heard Yi Jung's voice. I looked in the corner. Yi Jung was sitting on the recliner. His hair was messy, but it was cute. He rubbed his eyes.
"Hi," I whispered.
"What happened?" He came towards me and kneeled by my bed.
"Obviously, I was violated." I rolled my eyes.
"Why?"
"Uh...he asked for your bank password, and I said I didn't know it, so he cut me,"
"So you're like this because of me?" He frowned. "I'm so sorry,"
"It's not your fault. Hey, what happened to him?" I asked, sitting up a bit more. Yi Jung put me back in my normal position.
"Jail," He shrugged.
"That's good..."
"I'm sorry." He held my hand.
"It's not your fault."
He leaned in to kiss me.
"Yo, Yi J—" Woo Bin flung the door open and stopped talking when he saw us.
"It's okay. Go on. It'll be like I'm not even here." He sat down on the recliner, smirking.
"Damn you, Woo Bin." Yi Jung leaned away from my face.
"Guess what!" Woo Bin turned to me.
"What?" I replied.
Woo Bin snapped his finger. A nurse rolled a cart into the room, full of pots and bouquets of flowers.
"Enjoy!" Woo Bin grabbed some roses and plucked the petals off. He threw them onto Yi Jung and I.
"Go for it, Yi Jung! She barely injured her neck. Her other parts are perfectly fine," He winked. I felt myself blush.
"Get out," Yi Jung laughed and waved him away.
As soon as Woo Bin closed the door, Yi Jung kissed my forehead.
"I'm really sorry." He touched his forehead to mine.
"I told you already, it wasn't your fault!"
"But still." He looked away.
~o-o~
2 Weeks Later...
Ga Eul's POV
"New Caledonia? Again?" I asked. Jan Di nodded.
"Joon Pyo actually asked me this time. And I'm free this weekend. What do you say? Can you come with me?" She clapped her hands together, looking hopeful.
"I don't know...I don't want to bother you and Joon Pyo..."
"Oh, no! The whole F4 is coming, just like last time!" She smiled brightly. "And Yi Jung sunbae planned the trip, so he's coming anyway..."
"Still..."
"PLEEEEEEEEASE!" She screamed.
"Aish! Araso, araso. I'll go."
"Yay! Thank you! Apparently, the plane leaves in an hour! So get ready!" She ran out the door.
"Yah! Were still at work!" I shouted to her back.
"Mianhaeyo, boss... have to go." I handed him my apron and left too.
~o-o~
"Damn! One hour?" I mumbled to myself while packing my things. I smiled to myself. Maybe this time would be a do-over.
Ring ring ring.
"Yoboseyo?"
"Ga Eul! You have 30 minutes! Are you being picked up? Joon Pyo and I can..." Jan Di spoke quickly.
"Uh...sure...okay."
~o-o~
The plane looked exactly the same as last time. I looked over to Jan Di. Joon Pyo probably took her shopping again. She was wearing a dark blue expensive-looking sundress. I looked down at my pink ruffled halter tank top and white cut-offs.
Why am I comparing my outfit to hers?
"Hello, this is your pilot speaking. We are now prepared for takeoff to New Caledonia. Please fasten your seatbelts." A voice came over the intercom.
"Yah! Goo Joon Pyo!" Jan Di turned to the curly haired boy across the aisle.
"Aish! What! Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" He replied with an agitated voice.
"M-Mwo? Goo Joon Pyo! You think you can just talk to me like that, you little dung fly! Huh?" She raised a fist at him. They started having an "argument".
"Bye." I said to Jan Di. She stopped shouted to wave at me and then went back to Joon Pyo.
Covering my ears, I went to the back row. Woo Bin and Yi Jung were sitting together again. Yi Jung was sleeping, and Woo Bin was looking out the window. I looked over to the other side of the aisle, where Ji Hoo was sitting alone, listening to music. I sat down in front of him.
"Do you have any extra headphones?" I asked. He took off his headphones.
"Sorry. What did you say?" He asked in the calmest, softest voice I've ever heard.
"Um...do you have any extra headphones?" I asked. He slowly shook his head.
"Oh. Sorry." I looked out the window. I saw Ji Hoo lean over the table. He put the headphones on me.
"Gomawoyo..."I looked down. He took out a book. Ji Hoo was really independent and quiet. I plugged in the headphones to my iPod and leaned back.
~o-o~
My eyes flickered open.
"We still have one hour of the flight to go," Ji Hoo said quietly.
"Okay. Gomawoyo."
He looked out the window. I felt really awkward.
"Ga Euuuul!" Jan DI sang as she came into the aisle.
"Ssh! Yi Jung and Woo Bin are asleep!" I whispered. She covered her mouth and sat down on my lap.
"Anyonghaseyo, Ji Hoo sunbae!" She beamed.
"Anyong, Jan Di." He smiled brightly. Woah. He was actually smiling? This was too intense.
"What were you guys doing while this amazing person wasn't here?" She gestured to herself.
"Nothing much, actually. And why are you calling yourself amazing? You still haven't payed me your debts." He laughed.
"Aish! I gave you your modeling fee at least! Can't that be enough?" She sighed. They started bickering and laughing. Wherever Jan Di went, it was always loud.
"Is there another room?" I interrupted Jan Di. She looked towards Ji Hoo quizzically. He pointed to the back, where there was a door.
"It's the smallest aisle." He said. I nodded and went back there, smiling as the noise started up again.
~o-o~
Yi Jung's POV
"Damn! You guys are so loud! Shut up!" I said, annoyed. Jan Di and Ji Hoo woke me up from their loud conversation.
"M-Mianhaeyo, Yi Jung sunbae." Jan Di laughed nervously. Ji Hoo stopped smiling and went back to his normal face.
"Aish! I'm going to sit with Ga Eul and Joon Pyo!" I stood up to go the first aisle.
Actually...sunabe...Joon Pyo's in the first aisle, and Ga Eul went to the back because it had a door." Jan Di told me.
"Well, I need a damn door too!" I opened the door and went inside.
Ga Eul was sleeping, but I didn't know how she managed to do that with all the noise. Still watching her sleeping form, I closed the door. It banged my hand and slammed loudly.
"Shit!" I shouted. I quickly covered my mouth.
"Yi Jung sunbae? What are you doing in here?" Ga Eul asked, her eyes half open.
"Jan Di and Ji Hoo," I explained. She smiled and nodded.
"Are we there yet?" She asked, sitting up.
"About another 45 minutes," I said coolly.
"Oh. It felt like I slept longer than that." She smoothed down her hair. "Anyways, I can't wait to get there! It was so pretty last time!"
I remembered last time. The first spark of affection I felt towards her. I didn't realize it then. I was just following her around and teasing her. She was gorgeous, but more than the other girls I've been with. She was cute and innocent. She didn't like me...yet. She didn't try hard to impress me, even though she knew who I was. I liked that about her, so I stalked her.
"Yeah. It was pretty fun." I shrugged.
"Gosh, that feels like a million years ago!" She grinned.
"I know, we barely knew eachother," I said, laughing.
"Right..." She gave a small smile.
~o-o~
Ga Eul's POV
"We're here!" Jan Di said enthusiastically. She hopped out of the plane, dragging Joon Pyo along. Ji Hoo followed them. I got out after the silent boy.
"I haven't been here in a while..." Ji Hoo said to me. He looked around the beautiful island.
"It must be nice for you to be able to come to places like this often," I smiled at him.
He stayed silent and kept walking.
"So...um...do you think we'll be staying at the same cabins again?" I asked, trying to strike up a conversation.
"Joon Pyo owns this island," He reminded me.
"Oh. Right." I didn't talk with him further.
We walked some more and reached the small bridge that lead us to our cabins. The same girls as last time ran up to us, but this time they didn't swim to meet us. And this time they weren't barely clothed.
"Woo Bin!" One of the girls said, saying it in an American accent. The other girl held on to Yi Jung, smiling up at him. I pretended not to notice, especially when he left her alone to practically grope him.
~o-o~
I finished unpacking all of my things. We would be staying here for two weeks.
"Jeez, Jan Di, you didn't tell me we were staying here for so long," I mumbled to myself.
"Ga Eul! We're going swimming! Get dressed!" Jan Di shouted, knocking on my door. I heard her leave. Quickly, I put on a pale pink bandeau bikini. I threw on a big yellow shirt over it, put my hair in a high bun, and ran out the door.
"Crap." I stopped in my tracks. I decided to put on sun lotion in my cabin. I ran back inside, did the task, and ran for the beach.
~o-o~
"Come on!" Jan Di saw me from a distance and waved me over. I ran up to her.
"Wow, Geum Jan Di. You've changed ever since you met Joon Pyo. I stared at her bikini in awe.
"Aish, it wasn't my choice! Joon Pyo secretly threw out all of my swimsuits and packed these!" She gestured to herself and put on her swim cap and goggles.
"Yah! Jan Di! Take those off!" Joon Pyo shouted from his beach chair, pointing at her head. She stuck her tongue out at him and jumped into the water.
"Hello," The girl who had been holding onto Yi Jung earlier came up to me right when I sat down on the chair the was isolated from the rest.
"H-Hi." I said, thanking the heavens that I took English classes a few years back. I was ready for a conversation.
"I'm Evelyn. What's your name?" She asked, sitting down next to me.
"Ga Eul." I gave her a tight smile.
"You're really pretty," She gave me a big smile.
"Thanks. So are you. Very pretty."
"Thank you! So, who do you think is hottest?" She giggled.
"Huh?"
"The boys, silly," She said. "Who's the cutest?"
"I...uh..."
"I think Yi Jung. He comes here every year, and we hang out, like, all the time!" She twirled her hair around her finger. "He came a few times earlier this year too, and, like, we totally had a blast." She winked.
"That's...that's cool." I nodded. I tried smiling, but my face was frozen.
"So, who's the cutest to you?" She leaned in.
"I don't know." I shrugged. "Yi Jung."
"I know right! But, do you think I'll have a chance?" She asked.
"Maybe," I said quietly.
"He's a playboy. And he's really good in bed, but of course," She rolled her eyes. "I'd like a piece of that again," She turned to Yi Jung, who was having a conversation with Woo Bin. I forced myself to laugh. It sounded more like a hiccup.
Again?
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to go get my flirt on." She stood up to leave. "Do you want a go at it? He might like you. You're seriously really pretty."
"I'm okay," She looked up at her and smiled. She was so gorgeous. And exotic. And well proportioned.
But what was this about "again"?
I saw Jan Di swimming back to shore. I ran out to her, trying to distract myself.
"I can't believe you always swim. Wherever we go," I handed her my towel. She took it and dried herself.
"It's my life. I don't care about my shoulder anymore. I feel fine." She moved her arm around.
"Careful!"
She laughed and stopped. We went back to sit down in the shade together. Rudely, in the middle of our conversation, Joon Pyo whisked her away to take her somewhere.
"Hey," Yi Jung came up to me and sat down. His face came closer.
"Hi!" I bent forward and touched my toes.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm, uh, stretching," I said.
"Can you get back up? I want to talk to you."
I sat up straight again. "What do you need?" I tried to sound casual.
"Nothing. I just haven't talked to you the whole time we were here so far," He put his arm around me.
"Where's Evelyn?" I asked, sounding a bit more bitter than I had intended.
"Huh? Why?"
"Oh, um, because she's my friend. She's really fun,"
"Yeah. She is." He shrugged. I gritted my teeth.
"So where is she?"
"Going around the island with Ara."
"So do you come here often?" I asked, looking away.
"Yeah. But you knew that." He kissed me on the cheek as Joon Pyo waved him over. "See you later." He left.
Why do I feel like this? It's not like I have complete power over his choices. We just became a couple.
~o-o~
"It's so hot," I waved myself with my magazine. We had been at the beach for over an hour, with the blazing sun on us. I wanted to go back to my cool, shaded cabin.
"Here's another lemonade if you want one," Ji Hoo held out a glass. Eagerly, I reached for it. I gulped it down.
"Gomawoyo," I said. He nodded and went around to the others, offering glasses.
I looked over and saw Woo Bin inappropriately touching Ara while rubbing some lotion on her. I looked away, disgusted. Everyone could see them. I searched for Yi Jung. He wasn't there.
"Ga Eul..." Jan Di tapped me on the shoulder. "When do you think we'll be going back?"
I shrugged.
"Woo Bin sunbae," I called out. "Can we go back to our cabins?"
"Sure. But you guys will be alone." He didn't stop touching Ara.
"Okay, bye everyone!" I grabbed Jan Di's wrist and dragged her along.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" She pulled her arm from my grasp. "That's the first time you've hurt me," She rubbed her wrist.
"Mianhae," I frowned.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing," I lied.
"What did Mister Playboy do?" She stopped walking and crossed her arms.
"Nothing! I said nothing's wrong!"
"Mhm. I see him over there, with the girl." Slowly, she pointed behind me. I turned around and saw them kiss. It was chaste, but still a kiss.
"So?" I tried to keep my voice normal.
"Let's get his attention."
"What? No!"
"Yes. It's either that, or I kick him in places he doesn't want to be kicked. I'll kick his kids!" She started jumping back and forth with her fists up.
"You know what? I'll go with neither." I turned to walk away, so I could cry into my pillow, but Jan Di stopped me and pushed me into the water. I fell off of the wood, and got engulfed by the blue.
"Pretend you tripped!" Jan Di whispered before running off to her cabin.
This was the first time she'd done something like this. Normally, she would've gone up to Yi Jung and kicked him in the face. She really changed.
I accidentally swallowed some water and started to cough loudly.
Crap! I have to be quiet!
"Ga Eul!" I heard Yi Jung shout. He ran towards me. I swam away from him a little, but barely. Some tears fell, but he didn't notice. I'm glad that my face was already wet. He leaned over and held out his hand.
"Come on, get out of there," He said. Silently, I took his hand and got pulled out.
"What happened?" He asked, looking concerned.
"I tripped," I looked away.
"Jeez, be more careful next time," He took my hand and led my to my cabin. He sat me on a chair. He left and came back with a towel. He helped me stand up and draped the towel over my head.
"I can do this myself," I said. "You can leave and go play,"
"No, it's a bit boring now," He gently dried my hair.
~o-o~
Yi Jung's POV
Ga Eul peeked up at me through her lashes. She was so gorgeous. I put the towel around her back and pulled her to me.
"Seriously, Yi Jung sunbae," Ga Eul turned her head away. "Leave," She said coldly.
Why was she being like this?
"Hey, what's wrong? Did you fall into some angry waters?" I joked.
"No," She sighed.
I turned her head to face me and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing,"
"Sure," I mumbled under my breath.
She tried to pull away from my hold.
"Stay," I whispered, pulling her closer and hugging her. She stayed silent. I lightly touched her scar on her neck. It was fading.
"I'm sorry. It was my fault that you were in danger,"
"It's not your fault, sunbae. Just leave it at that," She pushed me away and walked into her bathroom. I heard the shower turn on. I left.
~o-o~
Ga Eul's POV
When I got out of the shower, my eyes were puffy, and Yi Jung was gone. I kept wondering why he had kissed her. Was it his choice? He was smiling. I had to know what happened. I sent a text.
Can I talk to you? I hit send and got an instant reply.
Yeah. Where?
The beach...
Okay.
I made my way toward the sand.
A/N: Okay, so...um..yeah. That's it:) until next time!