Lesson #2

Fight or Flight

[ FIGHT – If the love is worth it, fight for it.

FLIGHT – But one must also know when it is time to let go. ]

"Yi Jeong sunbae ...let's go on a date."

He thinks his ears are deceiving him.

He's been staring at the newly transformed swan as she stares at her own reflection in the mirror, his other senses have dulled momentarily. He has seen Ga Eul dressed up nicely before and admittedly he finds her attractive. With her sweet smile and her eyes that mirrors innocence, it had surprisingly given him a warm feeling inside. There even once a time when he thought he's in lo...

He shook his head, shaking the thought.

The moment those curtains reveal Ga Eul, he had unconsciously held his breath. He knew she's pretty, even prettier than Jan Di in his opinion (just don't let Jun Pyo hear about it), but Ga Eul's the simplest girl he had ever met. Her face is all natural, she would put a thin layer of make up that probably stretches from face powders to lipstick, maybe a tint of blush on too but that's it. She carries herself as natural as she is but all the while retaining her true beauty. Now with a good amount of make up to highlight what she already has, a pair of glistening slippers that can make any girl feel like a princess, a nice dress to bring out the lady in her completed with her signature sweet innocent look, he thinks Ga Eul just might be the prettiest girl he had ever seen. And that's saying a lot since he's in the constant company of beautiful women wherever he goes.

But something is wrong. Yi Jeong believes he heard her ask him on a date. He blinked several times to wake all of his senses.

"Huh?"

Ga Eul flash her pearly white teeth to him as she smiles. "Sunbae I'm asking you on a date."

Okay, at least that means he's not hearing things.

"Are you still delirious?" He put the back of his palm at her forehead. It's the same temperature as his and she looks perfectly fine to him, too fine actually.

Ga Eul pulls his hand from her forehead and shakes his arm as she takes a step back. "Tell me how I look."

Yi Jeong surveys her from head to toe. The dress he personally picked for her is hugging her body, emphasizing her slim figure. The exposed skin is also like a delicate tease to any man. It's been years since he last saw her in a swimwear and that's back in their high school years. Puberty gave justice to her once child-like figure. There are curves on the right areas and her milky skin that has never been exposed before gives a great hint that it's smooth to the touch.

She slowly twirls for him, giving him a close up view of her bare back. Yi Jeong had a half mind to run the back of his hand to her skin just to feel if it's as soft as it looks but fought back the thought.

This is Ga Eul-yang we're talking about man, get your horny thoughts to yourself.

She's off limits. Jun Pyo wouldn't want to spend their honeymoon in jail if his wife will commit murder. But now that Ga Eul is giving him the permission to really look at her, he can't help his mind going else where and it's not helping that just a couple of hours ago he had seen it all.

He forced his brain to come up with a good and honest response but can't find the right words.

"You look great." That's the best he can do at the moment.

"Exactly!" says Ga Eul.

Yi Jeong let out a sigh, thanking the heavens she didn't ask for more elaborate details.

"I look great that means I can win back Su Pyo."

That killed the warm feeling he had.

"And you're going to use me to make him jealous."

"If he sees us he'll realize what he's been missing."

"And if he comes back to you, you will accept him with open arms like nothing happened?" he is not liking this plan one bit.

"Yes, I will."

Yi Jeong stares at her eyes. Her pleading eyes. He hates every part of this so-called plan of hers, but he knew her stubbornness – one of the remarkable things about her – is unshakable and arguing with a girl is not in his nature even if it is Ga Eul so with closed eyes he nods, confirming his needed participation.

Ga Eul squeals in delight. For the first time in days her spirits were lifted, anticipation and excitement rushing through her blood. She can't wait to get her boyfriend back.

She turns around and went back to the mirror and appreciates the beauty she sees in the reflection, seeing herself in a new light.

Maybe he is right. Make over can really bring back a person from the dead.

Papers, magazines, brochures and laptops were spread at the round table. Everyone's busy planning for what the people call 'the wedding of the century'.

Date has been set, Jan Di wanted to be a June bride, she and Jun Pyo are now looking for a perfect date that will not overlap with any other business related events. Yi Jeong's looking through the brochures for the possible beach wedding location while Ga Eul's busy flipping pages after pages of designed wedding dresses. Apparently, Yi Jeong is the race winner hence his required presence here.

When the two boys went outside for a quick break, Jan Di pulls her chair next to Ga Eul. "Why are you two late?" she asked, eyeing Ga Eul suspiciously.

Without leaving her eyes from the magazine Ga Eul answered. "Yi Jeong sunbae generously offered me a make over because I look like crap when he arrived at my house this morning."

Even though Jan Di is her best friend, she has no plans on telling her that she was almost at the brick of dying hours ago. And it's also best not to mention her plan on winning back her ex.

"Ahhh, so that's why you look like that."

Ga Eul turns her head at Jan Di. "What do you think, Jan Di-ah? Do I look pretty?" she asked eagerly.

"Yeah." Jan Di answered, nodding her head. "When you walked through that door I thought you're a model. For a second I thought Yi Jeong sunbae had brought her date here."

Ga Eul smiles at her best friend's comment. If she looks good enough to pass as Yi Jeong sunbae's date that means, there's a huge chance of capturing Su Pyo's heart again.

As the day goes by her anticipation is rising and by the time she and Yi Jeong enters the club that Su Pyo manages, her nerves were on the roof, she just froze when she saw him again after a full week of not seeing him.

He still looks the same. Same cocky smile that he has and same spiky hair that she used to hate but learned to love through their time together. She watches as he delivers a story, probably a joke to his friends.

Yi Jeong scans the club, eyes already adjusted to the dark surroundings, trying to find Ga Eul's useless ex-boyfriend but she beat him to it. He felt her body stiffen beside him, she had her arm around his for their act. He followed her gaze and there he is, her bastard ex.

They watch from where they are standing as Su Pyo puts his arm around the girl seating beside him. She giggles then eagerly connects her too glossy lips to his.

Yi Jeong turns his eyes back at Ga Eul when she flinched. She's in the verge of tears. He panics. He needs to take her away from here before she started crying on him again and have a repeat of what happened that night he found her on the streets.

He moved her body, almost half carrying her to the exits. When the cold air made contact with her skin, Yi Jeong saw goosebumps run to her smooth arms, shoulders and back. He quickly covers her with her coat.

It woke her up.

She raised her hand at him. "Give me five minutes."

Ga Eul closes her eyes, hands in her heart, calming herself as Yi Jeong patiently waits at her side. After a few minutes, she let out a breath and straighten her body. "Okay, I'm ready now."

"No, we're leaving."

Yi Jeong pulls her hand towards his car.

"But Yi Jeong sunbae this is our chance." She tries to break free from his grip.

"We'll go back there and you will freeze again. You're not ready for this Ga Eul-yang." He drags her more forcefully since she's trying to pull back.

"But I want to fight!" Ga Eul pulls her hand from him, stopping them both in the middle of the parking lot.

"I want to fight for my love. I guess this is something a playboy like you wouldn't understand. I want him back, Yi Jeong sunbae. I want my Su Pyo back."

"You know what? The saying is wrong, love doesn't make the person blind, it makes them stupid. That bastard is not worth your affection Ga Eul-yang."

"You don't know him."

"Any guy who fucks another girl in front of their girlfriend is an asshole. I know him enough to tell he's a sick pig!"

Slap.

The stinging pain in his left cheek confirms that Ga Eul had indeed slapped him.

"Take that back!"

"No. You can hit me all you want but I will not take back my words."

Despite of her furious eyes glaring at him, he took a step closer to her. "You're better than this Ga Eul-yang. It's time for you to let go."

For the second time, Yi Jeong took her to his home and let her cry. It's all he can do for now.

*89*