I'm terribly sorry for the wait. The words are fails to come out of my mind for a couple of days. I hope this chap will not disappoint your expectations. By the way, this is the LAST lesson. I can't think of any lessons anymore so I'm ending it here BUT I'm going to make a pretty long epilogue to wrap up this story properly. Please anticipate for it as well.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the reads and reviews on this story. I fell in love with SoEul when I first watched BOF and when I got to watched it again on Netflix just recently, my love for them were awaken hence this story was created. I wanted to make more stories about them from now on *crossing my fingers*. And I've read A LOT of SoEul fanfics and I'm totally obsessed with them.
Alright! Let's get on with the story!
P.S. The song is I'm Going to Meet You Now by none other than Kim Bum.
*89*
Lesson #14
Live Life To The Fullest
[ You found him, haven't you? The person who makes your day brighter? The person who brings smiles into your face even for no particular reason at all. On this stage, my friend, you are no longer broken and you are even on the brick of entering a new blossoming love. That means you have successfully moved on and the first question you need to ask to yourself is this, is this one going to work or is it going to be like the last one? The answer is in your hands, hon. ]
Never trust Song Woo Bin ever again.
Earlier at the F4 Lounge ….
Woo Bin sits at the edge of the couch, staring at his friend. He's a lost case, Yi Jeong. He's completely whipped to the woman who's not even his girlfriend.
"Bro, you do realize you can just buy flowers from the shop, right?"
The excited and in high spirits Yi Jeong looked up at him. "What's the challenge in that?" Woo Bin just shook his head at him. Yi Jeong returns his eyes at the bouquet he just made. It looked perfect, he's really an art genius, he complimented himself.
"What are those on top?" Woo Bin asks as he walked closer to his mushy friend pointing at the small squared stuffs attached on top of the bouquet.
"My pictures." he answered.
"Who puts their pictures on bouquets?" Woo Bin can't hide his laughter now.
"I do!" Yi Jeong said defensively. "I thought you're going to help me with this, huh?"
Still clutching his stomach, Woo Bin patted Yi Jeong's shoulder. "Sorry, man. I just didn't know you're this cheesy when it comes to love. I don't know who's worse, you or Jun Pyo."
"You're just jealous."
"Jae Kyung doesn't like those stuff." Woo Bin answered too quickly. Both of them gasped from this little news.
"Jae Kyung?!" Yi Jeong's ears are as good as Woo Bin's but he still can't believe what his friend just uttered.
The Mafia Prince rubs his nape shyly and if Yi Jeong's eyes are good too, he believes his friend's blushing as well. "Yeah, I decided to give it a try with Monkey."
"Jun Pyo and I are not the only whipped now, are we?" he said teasingly to his best friend.
"At least Jae Kyung is not into those kind of stuffs. Actually that woman is quite hard to impress." now that his secret is out, he doesn't have to hide his own worries.
"Ga Eul too and so does Jan Di." says Yi Jeong. F4 can have all the fame, fortune and luxury in the world but when it comes to their ladies, luck is not so sympathetic to them.
"Yeah but with those two, they like simple things. Simple gestures caught their attention more and not grand ones unlike Jae Kyung. That Monkey is one hell of a woman."
Simple things. Simple gestures.
That's it! He's on the right track!
Yi Jeong looked down at his proudly made bouquet. This is it! This is his ticket to her heart. He stood up and ready to leave.
"Wait, aren't you going to put some messages on the photos?" Woo Bin asked.
"Messages?"
"Yes, like sweet nothings or love quotes. Girls like those stuff." his friend did asked him to be here and it was initially his idea for Yi Jeong to give Ga Eul flowers and chocolates to sweeten up his attempt for another confession. And since the guy is already on this level of cheesiness why not complete the package.
Yi Jeong took a sit again. What is he going to write?
One look at his friend's face and he knows the ex-Casanova is clueless on this part. Seriously, where did his smooth sweet-talker friend go? He will never doubt Ga Eul's powers ever again.
"Here. Let's search some good quotes at the 'net."
Back at the front of Chu residence ….
"Ga Eul-yang….will you be my eternal flower?"
Chu Ga Eul stares at Yi Jeong's eyes then back at the bouquet then to the photos and then to his waiting eyes again. At the back of her mind, she wanted to scream. What is this? Why is he asking me that question? Does he mean what I think he means? But why?
Questions after questions fly through her mind but not a single answer. She got lots of possible answers but they only create even more questions. Finally, after debating and beating her own brain, Ga Eul decided to choose the most safe one.
"Wow sunbae, I didn't know you're into poetry."
She saw the shock in his face. She also noticed something else but she doesn't want to think about it, instead she decided it was time to break this weird conversation before it gets awkward than it already is.
"Would you like to come inside, sunbae? Omma's probably home already, she made some brownies, you said you liked them when you tried them last week, right?"
"Uhm, yes. Thank you for the offer but I'm needed at the office, I just sneaked out to give you the bouquet." he said with a sad smile. Why is he sad again?
"Are you okay, sunbae?"
"Yes. You should get inside, it's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow." he said before turning back and head to his car.
Poetry?! So Yi Jeong, you're the worst failure among failures.
Never trust Song Woo Bin ever again.
*89*
The universe must be punishing So Yi Jeong for all those years he spend being a Casanova and a cold-hearted playboy. Now that he knew what he wanted. Knew who he wanted to be with, the universe had decided to make it difficult for him.
His first out of the blue confession (Lavender Hotel) was a failure since Ga Eul regarded it as an act, his second attempt of professing his love (Easter Egg Hunt) was so pathetic he doesn't even wanna think about, his third failure (Poetic Sunbae) is a total disaster he almost ended up shaving Woo Bin's precious head.
The wedding is fast approaching and he haven't confessed (again) yet. He's running out of ideas and alibis every time he will pick her up after work or after her music lessons and it's even more difficult to come up with a cover during her days off. But Yi Jeong still finds himself in front of her doorstep, hoping to spend the day with her.
But everyday it feels like the words will leave him the moment he will talk to her about his feelings. He had put up a great facade over the years and even though Ga Eul had managed to see beyond that facade, Yi Jeong is still not vocal about his feelings. He finds it weird and foreign.
Everyday the wedding comes closer, everyday he will see her. The two of them working together, making sure the wedding of the century will go smoothly as planned. But on all those days, he never got the chance to tell her how he feels but his actions are doing it for him.
Sometimes he finds himself acting like he's her boyfriend. Everything a boyfriend does, he does. Well, everything except hugging and kissing both of which he truly wanted to do and it's killing him not even able to hold her hand.
He was so happy when the wedding day was just a day left. They arrived at Jeju Island with jubilant spirits two days before the wedding. Everything is set, the only thing they have to do is wait for the wonderful day to come.
Yi Jeong's beyond happy for his best friend. Gu Jun Pyo will finally settle with the woman he loves so dearly. Ga Eul is right, happy endings are the best. And now that his best friend is getting his happy ending, it is time for him to have his own and the answer to this is his other best friend, Yoon Ji Hoo.
"Ready?" Yi Jeong asked the very nervous groom beside him. They have been informed that the bride had arrived and it's time to start the wedding ceremony.
Jun Pyo met his eyes. Yi Jeong can see excitement, anticipation, nervousness and relief in his best friend's eyes. This is it. The day he had been praying for will finally come true. Woo Bin and Ji Hoo patted his back, conveying the message that they're happy for him.
The doors of the church opens, the orchestra started playing and with a determined smile, Gu Jun Pyo steps forward to a new beginning.
It was indeed the wedding of the century. For them, it feels like this is the only thing matters in the world right now. It felt like the world had stopped to witness this wonderful union of hearts.
To Yi Jeong, he felt like he saw his whole future the moment those doors revealed the maid of honor. His heart skipped a beat and his own world stopped.
Chu Ga Eul was so beautiful in her white dress as she walks in that long aisle with her radiant smile. Her cheeks are in delightful rosy shade and Yi Jeong knew it was not because of her make up and when their eyes met, fireworks exploded in him. It worked tremendous effects on him and he believes he falls more deeply in love with her if that's possible. His heart is being filled with overwhelming love for this woman.
Something clicked on him.
Tonight. He will do it tonight.
When the host called his name to present his performance to the newly weds, So Yi Jeong confidently took the front stage and started playing the piano with his eyes securely staring at loving eyes of the woman his heart desires.
Within the people I simply brush by
I wanted to find more than anyone
The eyes welled up with tears, that voice
I only want to hold you
If I miss you and call out to you my dear
Wherever I may be, it is for you
I'm calling your name again
Because I'm like this
Because your are the one I love
I'm going to see you again
A love deeper than my tears
The lamp on the street where we
First spoke shines a light on my heart
Everything that catches my eyes,everything
Are memories that remind me of you
If I tell you that I've gotten too really like you
Will you feel unsettled? I wonder
I'm calling your name again
Because I'm like this
Because you are the one I love
I'm going to see you again
A love deeper than my tears
With only you
No matter how many things
Even if I'm reborn
Will you feel unsettled? I wonder
I love you more than anyone
Inside my heart,
Because you live in my heart
I'm going to meet you now
Bringing along the promise of forever
I'm so happy to be loving you
So Yi Jeong was rewarded with applause from the crowd.
He knew Ji Hoo's idea worked. His song is a direct message conveying what he failed to deliver repeatedly with words. He knew Ga Eul got the message based from her blush and the understanding in her eyes throughout his whole performance. He's down to the final stage of his mission.
Woo Bin's ideas didn't work but at least Ga Eul now thinks Yi Jeong can be sweet too if he wants to, Ji Hoo's serenade style gave him a huge boost and a hundred percent clarity that he's dead sincere and now he was left with Jun Pyo's crazy ideas which he chooses not to follow. It involves kidnapping and things most people consider as human rights violation and can be even categorized as harassment so he'll just stick to what he have in mind rather than end up in jail.
Eye to eye, heart to heart, soul to soul. He made a promise to himself, tonight, he will have the rightful claim to his soulmate.
As they watch the new Mr. and Mrs. Gu Jun Pyo take their first dance in the middle of the wedding reception, Chu Ga Eul drinks in her champagne. Why is that she feels like something big is about to happen?
After that performance of Yi Jeong, her heart had not stopped from pounding on her chest. Throughout his song, his eyes never left hers and it even felt like he was singing for her and not for Jun Pyo and Jan Di.
He said eyes can never tell lies, if that is the case, is it safe to say that what they feel for each other is now mutual? For the past week she saw the change in them. She felt the change. It was not just him. Her feelings betrayed her as well.
So Yi Jeong, here you are again in confusing my heart.
"Ga Eul-yang."
The deep husky voice that can make her heart flutter uncontrollably broke her confused thoughts. She looks up at him.
"May I have this dance?" he asked with a smile, raising his inviting hand.
She badly wanted to say no, to reject his offer and pretend her feet are sore because of the shoes but her hand moved, betraying her as well. This man can really make her crazy. She's not in control of herself when this man's involve.
They danced in silence. Both are in their deep thoughts but then after a while Yi Jeong stopped and whispered in her ears. "Come with me."
He pulled her towards the door. Ga Eul just let him drag her. He stopped when they reached the sea shore. She had to take off her shoes as the sand meets their feet. She knew this place, it was here when he introduced her to his dear friend Jack Daniels.
"Ga Eul-yang, there's something I wanted to tell you but I want you to promise me something first." his voice is calm but its effects on her are the opposite.
When she didn't answer, Yi Jeong continued. "Can you promise you won't run away from me?"
Confusion struck her. Why would I run away?
She nodded her head slightly.
"Can you promise not to interrupt me?"
Another uncertain nod.
"Can you promise to hear me out and possibly consider what I'm about to say?"
"Sunbae wha-"
"Ga Eul-yang you promised not to interrupt." he said almost pleadingly.
She sighed and then nodded for the third time.
"Lastly, can you promise to answer me with all honesty?"
She stares at his eyes as the words came out of her mouth even before she can think of it. "I promise."
Yi Jeong took a deep breath. It's now or never. He opened his mouth, waiting for the words to come out but then he closed it again and scratched his head.
"Sunbae?"
He sighed again. "You know, I prepared a good long confession for you."
"Confession?"
"Yes, but apparently it disappeared in my brain so I'm just going to do this."
He cupped her face with his two hands and did what he should have done years ago. She eyes grew wide in shock as his lips touched hers. Everything she was worrying about disappears as their lips dance with each other. It was sweet at first but when Yi Jeong felt her responding to him accordingly, he let his guard down and kissed her with all the passion he had.
This is his confession. Kisses not words.
They pulled apart after a moment, both panting from lack of air. Yi Jeong rested his forehead in hers, her eyes are still closed but he wanted to see them.
"Ga Eul-yang."
Ga Eul heard him call her name. She wanted to open her eyes and answer but she's scared. She loves him. Her heart belongs to him, there's no doubt about it. It chooses to love him those years ago when he called her name in front of that convenience store she was crying at. He was her soulmate, she knew it but what if …
"Please don't let go of me."
Her eyes flew open. Yi Jeong's eyes are staring down at her. He looked sad and scared, a hand went to his face, it causes her pain to see him like this.
"Please don't say you will let go of me again. Please don't say you're giving up on me again. Please Ga Eul-yang. Don't kill me again."
She gasped.
"Namsan Stairs. Did you know I grew an irrational hatred to that place? I hated seeing it, I don't even wanna hear others mentioning that place. When you said goodbye to me on those steps, it felt like someone ripped my heart, my soul. I wanted to stop you from leaving me."
"But you didn't." The memories of that unfaithful day is still fresh as today. The echoes of her heels coming down the famous stairs had managed to calm her crying heart back then. Even if she said those words, deep down she was still hoping he will stop her.
"I was too frozen on my feet, my brain stopped functioning. I never got rejected in my entire life. No one ever dared to say goodbye to me. I was always the one leaving others behind, not the other way around but you… you said those words when I was about to tell you I wanted to give our relationship a try."
Tears escaped her eyes. If she had heard this on that day, will everything be different now?
"My soulmate said goodbye to me. I was left heartbroken."
"Soulmate?" she haven't used that word in a long time. Part of her believed she had lost the meaning of that word but right now Yi Jeong is even declaring her as his soulmate. She doesn't know what to think anymore.
"Ga Eul-yang, I know I'm years too late for this but please, can you still accept me as your soulmate?"
It all boils down to this question. Is she ready to accept him in her heart again?
Ga Eul knew the answer. She placed her hands on his neck and pulled his head down to hers, capturing his lips. When they pulled apart they were both breathless.
"You're already my soulmate even before I got to realize it."
He chuckled at this. Her rosy cheeks were burning in his cold hands as he caress her face. He had been wanting to do this so bad and hearing those words from her is making his heart swell in delight.
"I can't believe that I got to kiss you after 6 years."
"Has it been six years already?"
He nodded. "Yes, six years from that day I borrowed you from the porridge shop."
"By borrowed you mean kidnapped."
He laughed out loud. "Who would have thought I would love that feisty little girl who's so loyal to her best friend my charms didn't even stand a chance."
"What charms are we talking about?" she asked playfully.
Yi Jeong laughed again and didn't stop himself from stealing another peck her sweet lips.
His kisses are melting her, making those butterflies wreck havoc in her but she still wanted to tease this man. Her man. "No, seriously what is it sunbae? Is it the tea?"
"Alright Ga Eul-yang, no need to rub that you're not smitten over me back then."
"Oh even up to this day, Yi Jeong sunbae." she said mischievously.
Yi Jeong looked like he was about to cry to defend himself but then Ga Eul was surprised to see him smirk and took a step back.
His left hand reached to her hand, she can feel the coldness in them. "One."
Ga Eul gasped when he suddenly yank her towards him closing the gap in their bodies.
"Two." he breathes.
Without letting go of her, he raised his right hand and slowly slides the back of his index finger along her nose line. "Three."
Ga Eul's brows formed into a frown. Why is he counting?
She gasped again when Yi Jeong bends her body from the waist up, repeating that position they were in years ago on his studio when she slipped from the clay. "Four."
Ga Eul had to hold to his arms to prevent her from falling. "Sunbae what are you-"
"Five." he lowered his head and captured her moving lips. It stopped her from talking and it also gave him the right entrance he needed. His tongue invaded her sweet cavern. Ga Eul flinched from the foreign contact but didn't stop him. He felt her body stiffen from his tongue's explorations but the sensation is too much for him to stop.
She started responding but when a moan escaped from her throat, Yi Jeong had to pull his lips from hers before his self-control will say goodbye to him and join the carefree ocean water. He straighten her up, eyes teasingly adoring her flustered face.
"Are you sure you can still dismiss my charms?"
She smacked him in the chest. He laughed again. Chu Ga Eul and her famous slaps.
They stared in each others' eyes as they let this wonderful moment imprint into their memory. Loud explosions from above made them break that silent gazing and looked up at the colorful eruptions of fireworks in the evening sky.
"Is this your doing, sunbae?"
"I badly wanted to claim yes but unfortunately, no. That's Jun Pyo's suave move for his wife." he answered truthfully. He pulled Ga Eul in his arms with a back hug as they watch in awe at the pyrotechnics in the sky.
This reminded both of them the night of their 'pretend date'. Yes it was not a real date but it felt real to both of them. It was the first time they got to spend a whole day with each other with just the two of them. Even back then she knew she was with the real Yi Jeong on that date. She felt in her heart that he's the one.
Yi Jeong looks down at Ga Eul in his arms. Jun Pyo and Jan Di will start their happily ever after from this day onwards and he can't be more than happy for his best friend. He wanted to have that happily ever after too and he knew the answer to that is this country bumpkin in his arms.
Someday. Someday it'll be his turn. Their turn.
He tighten his hold on her, kissing the top of her head. A lovely smile spreading across their lips.
Someday.
*89*