Lesson #13
The Difference Between Man and Woman
[ They say Men are from Mars as Women are from Venus. Wait ….does that mean we're all aliens? ]
The mahogany doors of Jun Pyo's room burst open revealing a panicking So Yi Jeong. "I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM AND I THINK I'M GOING INSANE!"
"Woah, what happened man?" Woo Bin asked, looking alarmed.
Yi Jeong is the last one to arrive, he's quite late actually. Today is one of F4's scheduled hang out days and this time it's at the Gu Mansion. The three are already playing cards when Yi Jeong came.
He dashed to them but then started pacing the room as his friends stare at him. "We were just there talking but I don't understand myself and then there's this thing with her ex and I didn't get to stop myself from professing I just did what I did and I don't think I can even think straight anymore and-"
"YAH!" Jun Pyo screamed. "We don't understand a single thing you're blabbing about!"
Yi Jeong stopped his frantic pacing and faced his best friends since kindergarten. "Guys I'm in trouble! I have a huge problem!" he pulled Woo Bin's collars shaking the man.
"Bro, calm down!" says Woo Bin, removing his tight grip on his polo.
Ji Hoo stood up and offered his chair for Yi Jeong. "Sit down and tell us what happened first."
Yi Jeong took the seat, he saw Jun Pyo's glass of liquor and drinks it in one go. Jun Pyo didn't even complain, he's more worried at his best man.
"We were at the hotel-"
"Who are you talking about?" Jun Pyo asked.
"Ga Eul, we were-"
"Why are you at a hotel with her?" Woo Bin asked.
"Long story but to make it short we were at the hotel having dinner-"
"So this was last night?" Woo Bin interrupted him again.
"Yes. We saw her ex-"
"That cockroach again?! You know what? I should have beaten him up the first time so he won't have his sorry face anymore. Woo Bin-ah, you think you can have your men dispose that cockroach?" says Jun Pyo.
"Definitely. Do you want me to do it today?" says Woo Bin.
"Guys, will you please let Yi Jeong finish first." says Ji Hoo. The two nodded and turn their attention back to Yi Jeong.
"So what happen with the ex?" Woo Bin asked.
"Ga Eul just wanted to talk to him but it's okay now, he's not the cause of my problem here."
"Then what is your problem?" Jun Pyo asked irritably.
"Chu Ga Eul. After the hotel she spend the night at my pad and we chatted and watched movies and …"
"And what?" the three chorused.
"We slept together."
There was silence first. It felt like the whole Gu Mansion fell silent because of this news.
And then it exploded.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Jun Pyo almost fell on his chair.
"YOU ACTUALLY PERSUADED GA EUL TO DO IT?!" Woo Bin is torn between being impress and disbelief.
"How come you got to score when I spend years and years of persuading Jan Di?!"
"No! No, what I meant is we sleep together. Side by side." Yi Jeong explained.
"In your room?" Ji Hoo asked, he's the only calm one out of the four.
"My room."
"In your bed?" Jun Pyo asked.
"My bed."
"But you're telling us nothing happened?" Woo Bin asked, narrowing his eyes at his best friend. He can't believe this day will come.
"Nothing! I didn't even kiss her!"
"Holy shit! You have a problem bro!" Woo Bin exclaims.
"Thank you! Thank you for saying that!" at least one of his friends can see his dilemma. He started pacing the room again.
Woo Bin watch him with worry, Ji Hoo stares at him blankly, doesn't really see where's the problem in that while Jun Pyo burst out laughing. Yi Jeong ignored him but he stood up and swings his arm around Yi Jeong's shoulders to stop him from pacing, he could burn a hole in his wooden floor.
"Do you wanna hear my diagnosis?" he asked him with a playful grin.
Yi Jeong was hoping it would be Ji Hoo who will offer this but since he's desperate for answers he will settle with Jun Pyo.
"You, my friend, has a serious case oflove sickness."
"What?!"
"What?!"
Ji Hoo smiles, raising his right hand. "And I confirm the diagnosis to be correct."
"What?!" The former Casanova and the Mafia Prince exclaims once again.
"You're in love with Ga Eul that's why you didn't even think of touching her." says Jun Pyo.
"Oh I did man. I did and it's not just last night. I've been thinking of doing it with her for quite sometime now. I've thought of us doing it at her house, at my house, in my studio and even in my office!" Yi Jeong answered without even thinking.
"O…kay. I don't think we need to know those details but, thanks for sharing horndog." Jun Pyo teases.
"Woah, man. I didn't know you're this sexually frustrated. How long has it been since you last got laid?" Woo Bin asked.
"I don't know! 3? 4 months? I don't know!" raising his hands in confusion and frustration.
"That is some serious diet you got there." says Woo Bin, looking impressed.
"But you haven't done it with Ga Eul?' Ji Hoo asked.
"No. Last night I also thought about it but I also felt something more and it's not just lust. I want her, I desire her, but there's more to that. If we're going to do it, I want it to be special for her, for the both of us. The feeling is too overwhelming I think I'm losing my mind. I need to go see a doctor."
Ji Hoo stood up.
"Bro, I'm a doctor and I'm saying this to you, there's nothing wrong with you. You're totally fine. More fine than you ever been because you're in love with Ga Eul. You don't want to have random, meaningless sex with her, you want to make love with her and you chooses not to do it last night because you have so much respect in her and you feel that it's not yet time."
Silence envelops the spacious room again.
"That makes sense." Woo Bin broke that silence.
Yi Jeong sat down at the couch. These revelations are making his body and mind shiver, in a good or bad way, he doesn't know. His knees are giving up on him as well as his mentality.
"I've been feeling something lately. I thought it was attraction at first but then I can feel it was more than that then I thought it was infatuation but then I've known her since we were in high school so it couldn't be it." his voice are calm now, despite of the raging emotions flowing through him.
"It's love, bro. Accept it. You're in love with Chu Ga Eul." says Jun Pyo.
I'm in love with Ga Eul-yang?
She taught him so many things in life and she made him be the better version of himself despite of all the cruelty he showed her. She showed him possibilities and happy endings. He haven't told anybody yet but, in his four years in Sweden, there was never a day his country bumpkin didn't cross his mind.
I'm in love with Ga Eul-yang.
Her smile can light up his day even if he's having the worst day or the most boring one. With her by his side, he can feel like he can do whatever he wants. He can accomplish anything. He can be himself completely.
With her he's complete.
"I'm in love with Ga Eul-yang." he said breathlessly.
Jun Pyo clapped his hands, startling them all. "Problem solved! Why didn't I think of becoming a doctor?"
"It's not solved yet. We now know what Yi Jeong feels but the question is, does Ga Eul loves
him back?" says Ji Hoo. How does Ji Hoo knew how to strike us so hard?
The possibilities of Ga Eul not reciprocating his love is painful to even think about. He can feel the pain in his entire body especially in his heart.
"Of course she does! Didn't she have a crush on you back then?" says Woo Bin.
"Yes, but that was years ago. Ever heard of change of heart? And she did moved on with Yi Jeong when he was in Sweden hence her returning relationship with Su Pyo and it lasted for a year. I'm pretty sure that confirms she had moved on with him." says Ji Hoo.
Dr. Yoon Ji Hoo's really good at killing me.
"But that's easy! He can always win her back. Yi Jeong's not a Casanova for nothing." says Jun Pyo confidently.
At the mention of Casanova, Yi Jeong's world collapses right in front of his eyes. It was him who taught Ga Eul to be strong. It was him who taught her to resist the charms of Casanova's and playboys. It's because of his stupid pointers she would probably think he's just testing her if ever he confess yet again, to see if she will fall for it. She didn't believe his words to be true the first time he let his feelings out in the open back at the hotel. She assumed he just said those for their act hence she thanked him with a back hug.
He never thought there will come a day he will have to confess his feelings towards a girl and what more, he had already done it but to no avail.
How is he going to tell her he's in love with her?
"Yi Jeong-ah, are you okay?" Yi Jeong didn't noticed his friends are surrounding him already with worried looks in their eyes.
"Are you still listening to us?" Jun Pyo asked.
"Guys, I need your help."
*89*
"What's wrong Ga Eul? You haven't touch your food. You don't like tiramisu?" Jae Kyung asks.
"I like tiramisu, unnie. There's just something bothering me." Ga Eul answered truthfully.
"What is it?" Jan Di asks with her mouth full of the sweet delight.
Ga Eul sighed. Maybe it's time to confess to her friends.
Jae Kyung invited her and Jan Di at her mansion for a much needed girl bonding. The heiress just got back from another business trip abroad and she's dying to see her friends. Jan Di needed a time off from the hospital as well and from the stress of arranging her own wedding. Ga Eul just wanted to be around her friends after a long time, she's spending so much time in the company of that famous potter, she feels the need to surround herself with female companions before she lose her mind.
She took a deep breath before spilling out the beans. "I have a problem." she said gloomily.
Jae Kyung gasped out loud. "GA EUL YOU'RE PREGNANT?!"
Jan Di stood up, slamming both her hands at the coffee table. "YAAH! I'M GOING TO KILL YI JEONG SUNBAE!"
Ga Eul grabbed Jan Di's shoulders and pulled her back to her seat. "I'm not pregnant! Don't jump into conclusions I haven't said anything yet." This is why she kept her silence for a while, she knew her friends will overreact.
"Are you sure you're not pregnant?" Jae Kyung asks, her eyes as round as the full moon outside.
"Yes. I'm ….I'm still pure, unnie." she said shyly. Her cheeks are burning up, making the two eventually believe in her. What is with girls and their definition of 'problem' as 'pregnancy'?
The two let out a breath of relief.
Jae Kyung scooped a spoonful of her tiramisu and shoved it in her mouth. "Wow. My respect to So Yi Jeong went up suddenly ….unlike his other friend." she said somewhat bitterly.
"But what's your problem then?" Jan Di asked, still full of worry.
Ga Eul sighed once again. "It's about Yi Jeong sunbae."
Jan Di slammed her fists on the table again, almost making their drinks fall. "Can I kill him now?!"
This time, Jae Kyung and Ga Eul both pulled her back to her seat.
"Jan Di-ah…"
"Jan Di calm down. No one's killing anyone. Yet." says Jae Kyung.
Now Ga Eul doubted if confiding to her best friends is still a good idea. They reacted this way she haven't even revealed the true issue.
"Come on Ga Eul tell us what that chaebol did to you.' says Jan Di, sensing her hesitance.
"Yeah, it's alright, and we won't judge you." says Jae Kyung as she caress her hand.
Taking a deep breath again, she closes her eyes.
"I think my feelings for Yi Jeong sunbae are coming back."
Ga Eul heard a gasp but then nothing follows. When the silence stretched to more than a minute, she opens her eyes, wondering if her friends even heard her.
Jan Di and Jae Kyung are still there, leaning a little closer towards her, waiting for her next move.
"I said I think I have feelings for Yi Jeong sunbae again. That's my problem." she repeated, maybe they didn't get her point.
"How did that become a problem?" Jae Kyung asks, totally confused.
"Yeah, how?" even Jan Di asked to Ga Eul's surprise.
"Because it's So Yi Jeong! I've killed my feelings for him years ago. He didn't like me back then he doesn't like me now. I'll end up heartbroken again and I don't want to go through that misery anymore. I owe myself a little happiness, I can't keep on doing this." her tears are brimming in her eyes. Jae Kyung stood up and take her in her arms.
"This is not going to be like last time, Ga Eul." Jan Di said softly, all her anger gone upon seeing her best friend crying. Ga Eul crying had always been her weakness.
Ga Eul looked at her puzzled through her tearing eyes. It was really a surprise that Jan Di doesn't see this as a problem. She was always against her and Yi Jeong even before for she knew his playboy side but she is taking the news very calmly unlike earlier. What happened to her best friend?
"It will, I'm sure of it." Ga Eul said as her eyes can't hold the tears anymore.
"We may not know Yi Jeong like you do but there's something I know about." Jae Kyung tucks a strand of Ga Eul's hair to her ear while rubbing her back tenderly. "He cares for you, Ga Eul. He truly does. And this is not the kind of care you see in just friends. I can feel he cares for you more than just a friend."
"As much as I don't want to admit it but, it's true. Even Jun Pyo noticed it as well as Ji Hoo sunbae." says Jan Di, her hand rubbing Ga Eul's arm and the other is wiping her tears.
"And Woo Bin too." says Jae Kyung.
"Yi Jeong is a changed man now and that's because of you Ga Eul." Jan Di said, looking straight to Ga Eul's eyes.
"Why don't you give each other a chance again? Isn't it they say it's sweeter the second time around?" says Jae Kyung cheerily.
Ga Eul did not expect this at all. She was sure Jan Di will be itching to let Yi Jeong have a taste of her spinning kick and Jae Kyung, being her faithful fairy godmother would maybe even set her on dates just so to divert her attention to someone else other than their potter friend but these reactions and encouragements from them surprised her but somehow it lifted the weight on her chest.
It always feels good to talk with friends. And with friends like Jan Di and Jae Kyung, nothing can beat a heart to heart talk.
But the question still remains, what is she going to do?
*89*
Yi Jeong throws the empty basket at the back of his car. This is definitely not his day. He pulled out his phone and dialed the number he thought was suppose to be his best friend.
"Yoon Ji Hoo I'm leaving." he immediately said the second the call was answered.
"Oh? You're still at the hospital? Woo Bin and Jun Pyo's already gone when you left." says Ji Hoo on the line.
"Aish!" he exclaims, hitting the stirring wheel in front of him. Ji Hoo on the line however just laughed at him.
"This is your fault! I looked ridiculous in front of Ga Eul!" he finally let out his frustrations.
Ji Hoo tried controlling his amusement. "Sorry bro, but a bet is a bet. And she called you cute, remember?" then another set of fits followed. Yi Jeong cursed him mentally, the dude is probably with Jan Di right now, watching his video.
"Yoon Ji Hoo." he said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry Yi Jeong, sorry. I'll make it up to you. If Woo Bin's strategy didn't work, which I have a strong believe it won't, come to me and I'll help you." the doctor said before ending the call.
Yi Jeong tossed his phone at the back, joining the cursed basket. It's not just the basket he felt like destroying, the outfit he's in is also a slap on his face. He drove off out of the hospital parking lot, he can't wait to go home and burn this outfit.
It started with a bet.
Back at the Gu Mansion, when Yi Jeong had calmed down and after several shots, the F4 had engaged in a game of poker. Ji Hoo was the winner. F4 had long stopped betting money when they're playing, it doesn't make their game interesting so instead they offer something that none of them are willing to sacrifice.
Submission.
In other words, slavery.
By far, this is the worst slavery the F4 had gone through. Yoon Ji Hoo is a devil in his white doctor's uniform.
"Dude you look ridiculous." says a pissed Yi Jeong to his friend.
"Dude, you're wearing the same thing." Woo Bin answers him with equal annoyance.
"Nobody say a word or I might kill a doctor right now." says Jun Pyo, his teeth gritting in frustration but keeping a straight face in front of the children.
"Smile bunnies, it's Easter Egg Hunt." says Dr. Yoon with a huge smile plastered on his face.
Jun Pyo, Yi Jeong and Woo Bin are all dressed in the same rabbit costume for the festivity. Ji Hoo asked (forced) them to be the mascots of this year's Easter Egg Hunt. All the patients at the hospital are invited to join the hunt.
"You're dead meat." says Jun Pyo.
"I'll have my men ready your burial. You choose, six feet on the ground or ashes on Yi Jeong's special pot." says Woo Bin.
"If Ga Eul-yang sees me in this hideous clothes I swear to God Yoon Ji Hoo you will-"
"Sunbae?"
Yi Jeong closes his eyes, praying the hospital floor will swallow him whole. He didn't turn to face the woman he wished so hard to be in her day off but she walked to them instead.
And the first thing she did was to laugh. "Aww, cute little bunnies!" she said, even patting the F3's long ears.
"Ga Eul, move between them, I'll take a picture." Jan Di offers. She's been documenting this wonderful event with a video camera and it's taking all of her not to laugh hysterically at her friends and fiance but obviously failing since she's been laughing at them since they stepped out of Ji Hoo's office.
Ga Eul nodded excitedly and even give her hand phone to Jan Di so she can take pictures using her phone. The F3 stood there like stuffed rabbit statues.
Jun Pyo chased Jan Di at the corridors, he will not let the camera or the phone unscratched with those pictures. Ji Hoo pushed Woo Bin to give treats to the kids since Yi Jeong's basket is now almost empty. Ga Eul picked up a bunny ears headband from Yi Jeong's basket and put it on her head.
Yi Jeong had the strong desire to kiss her in the lips. She looks so darn cute!
"This is so nice of you sunbae." she said with a warm smile he always adores.
"I wanted to take the credit but honestly we were just forced into this humiliation." he answered. Ji Hoo instructed him to take the patients on the next floor. With Ga Eul's help Yi Jeong continued to be the Santa of Easter.
Ga Eul's highly energetic for the event and even pinching Yi Jeong's rabbit nose. "But you still did and it brought happiness to the patients especially the kids. Thank you sunbae."
His heart started beating erratically in his chest. Her smile, her cute small face, her beautiful hair, her innocent look, everything. His friends are right. He's truly, madly and irrevocably in love with Chu Ga Eul.
This is not what he have in mind when he planned on seeing her again and maybe even confessing again. He would love to talk to her about it with that bright smile of hers but not in this ridiculous clothing. But So Yi Jeong can't stop himself anymore. He needed to tell her how he feels or he might explode any minute.
"Ga Eul-yang."
"Hmm?" she's helping him on giving out the remaining treats from his basket.
"Ga Eul-yang."
"Yes, Yi Jeong sunbae?" she gave the last piece of candy to the young boy before looking up at Yi Jeong.
His eyes are getting lost in her enchanting doe eyes. How can she have this power over him?
"Will you …. help me at the Museum?"
Stupid Yi Jeong! Stupid, stupid Yi Jeong! PABO!
"Why? What's wrong at the Museum?" worry crossed her eyes.
"Nothing. We just have a new exhibit there tomorrow." this is true but this is definitely not the one he wanted to ask her.
"Oh." she felt relief the Woo Song Museum is not in trouble but also felt sad. "Sorry sunbae, I have evening shift tomorrow. I won't be free until 11pm."
"No worries. It's okay." That's too bad, obviously today's attempt is a failure and he was kinda hoping to redeem his self tomorrow night and possibly with the appropriate attire. If she can accompany him then he will start planning for his confession right about now, ditching this Easter slavery.
She smiled at him apologetically again before bidding goodbye to return to work. Yi Jeong didn't wait for his friends to finish their job, he went back to his car without telling them. His brain failed him when he needed it the most and he's beating himself up because of it.
Using his right hand, he took his phone from the back seat, his fingers expertly dialed another best friend of his.
"Woo Bin-ah."
"Yi Jeong why did you left me there with Ji Hoo?!" the angry voice of Woo Bin echoed to his car.
"Where are you?"
"On my way home, going to pick up my dignity there."
"Meet me at the F4 Lounge in 30 minutes."
"F4 Lounge? At Shinwha?" Woo Bin's tone is not angry now. This is not Yi Jeong's fault anyway.
"Yes. I'll go home first to burn this ugly costume then head there."
The Mafia Prince didn't ask for more details since they're going to meet up in less than an hour. Yi Jeong hangs up and stepped on the pedal. Ga Eul-yang you just wait, you're about to get wooed.
*89*
Ga Eul's walking home. She's walking in a slow pace as she checks the pictures on her phone that Jan Di had miraculously saved from her fiancee. Every picture earns a laugh from her and there's even a video of the guys hopping lazily towards the kids.
The last picture of the day is her and Yi Jeong. They were looking at each others' eyes. This is that time he was about to ask her to help him at the Museum. Jan Di got a stolen shot from it and proudly showed it to Ga Eul when the F3 left.
Ga Eul had a huge smile while Yi Jeong stares at her lovingly but she can see a trace of nervousness in him.
Looking at Yi Jeong's face at the screen, Ga Eul had to accept that her friends are right, Yi Jeong does shows care towards her. Even through this picture she can see that he cherish her.
But to what extent?
Is that care good enough to confidently assume he likes her too? What if he's just like that because they became close again? This is the closest they have become after Sweden. No, scratch that, it is the closest they had ever been.
There's only one way to know the truth and frankly, she's scared to confess to him about her feelings again. She failed to reach him the first time, will the second time be the same? If she will confess then what's next?
Only two directions ahead; they will venture to the happy road of being together or they will go separate ways again.
The risks are too high, she doesn't know if she can take the consequences.
"Aish Yi Jeong sunbae! Why are you making me crazy again?!"
She reached her house with a gasp.
There at the side of her house is So Yi Jeong in the flesh, sitting with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
What is he doing here? Did he wait for me?
Ga Eul's heart started beating so fast and so loud her ears are going to explode.
"Yi Jeong sunbae."
Yi Jeong turned, his eyes fell to Ga Eul. She saw sadness in them. Why is he sad?
It took a few seconds for Yi Jeong before he realize that Ga Eul is really there. He thought his second attempt will fail again. Slowly, an uncontrollable smile spread to his lips, showing his deep dimples.
A little shyly, he stood up and passed her the bouquet he made himself. Despite of being an F4, So Yi Jeong is not a flower kind of guy. He's not fond of buying flowers. The only time he bought flowers on his own will was when he was misinformed of the birthday of this very same lady in front of him. He made the flower arrangement himself and was greatly satisfied with the result.
Lavander. The flower he associated with her.
"For me?" she asked with wide eyes. Did he mixed this day as my birthday again?
He nodded so she took it and sniffed them. They're lovely but they're not just flowers. There are small pictures on top of them.
She surveys them one by one.
They are pictures of Yi Jeong holding up this bouquet on different angles and there were writings on each photo.
You smile like a flower, not only with your lips but with your whole being.
A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, but you can because you are the sunshine.
I asked God for a flower, he gave me a bouquet.
Asked God for a minute, he gave me a day.
I asked God for true love, he gave me that too.
I asked God for an angel, he gave me you.
Confused, she looked up at him. "Sunbae, what's all of these?"
"Ga Eul-yang….will you be my eternal flower?"
*89*