Thank you everyone for your patience. I do not know if people read reviews, but I posted a review giving an update on my stories because I don't like making chapters as author's notes and getting people's hopes up that it's an update. But in that review, I said that things have been super crazy for me lately so writing has taken a backseat. I also mentioned that I have the wonderful issue right now of very specific scenes I want/need to write in my head, but the scenes to GET there have been harder to get out and sometimes they go in a different direction than I anticipated. The beginning of this chapter is a perfect example. Anyway, I hope everyone likes this chapter. Oh, one thing I want people to tell me in their reviews. I am thinking of bringing back either Oh Min Ji (yes, I know she was interested in Jun Pyo originally...) or Min Seo Hyun for Ji Hu and I want people's thoughts. I don't know if I have the time to introduce a new character for him in this story, though I am already considering writing a side story that may go over Woo Bin/Sunny's story depending on the route I go with them in this one, so I could do a story that focuses on Ji Hu and whoever I choose for him in this story.
"You can't leave!" Ga Eul frowned at the outraged, and hurt, tone that was lacing through Jun Pyo's words as they floated out of Ha Jae Kyung's hospital room as she approached with Woo Bin. The two cousins paused and glanced at each other before they both looked at Jun Hee and her husband, Ju Won. Jun Hee frowned slightly, shaking her head at Ga Eul and Woo Bin, uncertain of what was going on.
"I don't know if I am," they heard Jae Kyung say. "But we do not have to pretend anymore and since my father is convinced that your father won't push for an engagement, he doesn't feel the need for us to rem-."
"No, I won't accept you leaving," Jun Pyo interrupted. He sounded almost panicked in his tone. Ga Eul started to move forward at hearing her brother's distress, as did Jun Hee, but Woo Bin and Ju Won both kept the women from advancing. Each man shook their head. The sisters glanced at one another but did not attempt to move forward just yet, despite wanting to make sure their brother was all right.
"Jun Pyo-," Jae Kyung started.
"No!" Jun Pyo said again. "Not when I've realized how much I like you and want you with me." The silence that followed showed how much Jun Pyo's words must have stunned the usually chattery woman in the room with him.
"Let's give them time to talk," Ju Won said in a low voice so as not to alert Jae Kyung and Jun Pyo to their presence before he urged his wife to turn and walk away from the room. They had heard enough and he knew if he was in his brother-in-law's position, he would not want people to overhear his declarations to Jun Hee, not in the manner that Jun Pyo was currently. It was something private between the younger couple and they needed to give them that privacy.
Once away from the hall of Jae Kyung's room, Jun Hee slipped her arm through her sister's. "While I am happy, I admit I did not see that coming," she said.
"I did," Ju Won said as he walked behind his wife and sister-in-law and beside Woo Bin. The younger man glanced at him with an arched brow as the two women paused and glanced at him. He smirked as he shook his head. "It was obvious from the moment that he started fighting against the idea of being in a fake relationship that they had a spark."
"More like gasoline and a flintlock," Woo Bin said with a chuckle. "And not in a good way."
"Woo Bin has a point," Ga Eul said. "The things he said to her and how he treated her-."
"All pure Jun Pyo," Ju Won said. "His noona is the same way."
"What are you talking about?" Jun Hee demanded as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Ju Won grinned as he watched his wife. "How often did you argue with me when we started our relationship?" he asked.
"You were not my choice, if you remember," Jun Hee pointed out. "I was angry with you because I was told I had to marry you instead of the person-."
"That betrayed you in the end?" Ju Won reminded her softly. "And I do remember you initially hated me because of what I represented. Honestly, I am glad you don't hate me now."
Jun Hee arched a brow. "Why would I hate you now?" she asked with a slight frown.
"I was Kang Hee Soo's choice for you," Ju Won pointed out.
"So was Ha Jae Kyung for Jun Pyo," Ga Eul said. "Eonni wouldn't hold that against you since you have shown how much you love her. Same as would be true for Jae Kyung-eonni and Oppa."
"Ga Eul's right," Woo Bin said. "You aren't Kang Hee Soo. That woman has done a lot of vile things to this family, and even if it wasn't their first choices, you have been a wonderful husband to Jun Hee-noona." Despite knowing she was his cousin, Woo Bin had not dropped calling Jun Hee his elder sister after so long calling her such.
"You also held me up when I found out what Lee Hyun Beow did," Jun Hee reminded her husband. "Finding out that the man I thought was the love of my life was nothing more than a low-life pedophile and rapist was... soul-crushing. You also refused to allow Kang Hee Soo to gloat when it came to light."
"That woman had no right to speak to you the way she did," Ju Won said. "And I-."
"Well, well," a new female voice said. Ga Eul frowned as she saw Woo Bin stiffen. "Long time no see, Song Woo Bin." Turning, Ga Eul saw a woman that looked very similar to Sunny, except this woman reminded Ga Eul of Ginger and what she envisioned Kang Hee Soo was like when she was younger as well.
"Park Sun Lee," Woo Bin said, his tone harder than Ga Eul was used to. There was also a hint of something else that she had never heard in her cousin's voice before. Sun Lee let her eyes travel over Ga Eul and tilted her head.
"New girlfriend? She looks a bit young for your tastes," she said with a saccharine-sweet tone that belied her true nature. Evidenced by the smirk that formed before she spoke again. "Does she know what your family does?"
"Surely you aren't that stupid," Jun Hee said, stepping up to her cousin and sister. "To not know who my yeodongsaeng is now. Or to know that Woo Bin is related to the Gu family."
Park Sun Lee crossed her arms over her chest, arching a brow at Jun Hee. Once upon a time, she had wanted to be friends with the slightly older woman, but like Park Sung Ho, she was never given the time of the day by the Queen of Shinhwa in the same way that the F4 often snubbed Park Sung Ho. Finally, she snapped her fingers.
"Oh, that's right," she said. She tilted her head. "You gained some more family, but they must not have wanted to be associated with organized crime if it took this long for it to come out."
"Watch your mouth, Park Sun Lee," Jun Hee snapped. "Do not think you know our family or our reasons for why things were done as they were."
Sun Lee simply smirked before looking at Ga Eul. "So this is the little tripe that keeps bullying the girl I consider my dongsaeng and keeping So Yi Jeong from seeing what is right in front of him," she said. She let her dark eyes travel over Ga Eul's form before smirking again. "You don't even hold a candle to-."
"Sun Lee," a familiar voice said. Ga Eul looked over and arched an eyebrow at the very different look of Sunny standing down the hall from the group. While her clothes were obviously still designer, it was odd for Ga Eul to see the other girl in a pair of slim jeans, a white flowing blouse, a long jacket, and barely heeled boots. What was even more surprising to her was how little makeup Sunny was wearing, her hair loose around her shoulders without being overly teased or with ridiculous accessories in it, and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She glanced at Sun Lee and saw the older woman's face harden before her eyes were rolling as she turned to glance at her sister.
"What, Sun Ja?" she questioned.
"Halmeoni and eomeoni are done waiting," Sunny said. "They want to leave if you are done with your appointment here."
"More like you are being impatient," Sun Lee said snidely as she looked at her sister. "I highly doubt halmeoni and eomeoni would want to rush me when it involves the health of their future sonju." She turned to smile sweetly at Woo Bin. "My nampyeon and I are expecting our first baby."
Sunny grit her teeth and walked over to her sister and wrapped her fingers around her arm. "You aren't married yet," she reminded her. "Now let's go."
Sun Lee jerked her arm away and immediately slapped Sunny, whose head jerked to the side from the impact. "Don't get cheeky, you stupid-," she started.
"Sun Lee!" Woo Bin looked over Sun Lee's shoulder to see the Park sisters' mother and grandmother approaching. Their grandmother had been the one to snap Sun Lee's name. The two women approached and Sunny's grandmother's face softened when she saw Woo Bin.
"It has been a long time, Song Woo Bin," she said. She looked at Jun Hee. "Congratulations on finding your dongsaeng, Gu Jun Hee."
Jun Hee bowed. "Thank you, Madame Kim," Jun Hee said. "This is her, Gu Ga Eul. Ga Eul, this is Kim Soon Shi. She is Park Sun Lee and Park Sun Ja's halmeoni."
Ga Eul bowed her respect to the elder woman. "It's nice to meet you, Madame Kim," she said.
"A pleasure to meet you, Gu Ga Eul," she said. "You go to school with our Sun Ja, don't you?"
"I do," Ga Eul said. "We share many classes together."
"You must be a good girl too, then," Kim Soon Shi said. She turned and patted Sunny's hand. "Now that you aren't around those other two idiots, you should be friends with young Ga Eul. Much more suited for-."
"I think her oppa and sachon would prefer she have better friends than me, Halmeoni," Sunny quickly said. "And we should go so we are not late at the boutique."
"Sun Ja is right," Sun Lee interjected. "I have wedding dresses to-."
"Do not interrupt, Park Sun Lee," Soon Shi said sternly. "This wedding is happening only to save face now that you have embarrassed this family." She looked back at Sunny. "And why would Gu Jun Pyo and Song Woo Bin not want you as friends to their family."
"Why would you even want Sun Ja associating with gangsters?" Sun Lee grumbled under her breath. She yelped when her mother gripped her arm and her grandmother once more looked at her sternly.
"Gangsters?" Kim Soon Shi said. "You dare call the Songs such when you sullied yourself with the Keng heir?" She turned to her granddaughter. "You have always spoken before you thought, Park Sun Lee. We are leaving now. Go." Sun Lee's face flushed bright red before she lifted her chin determinedly and turned to walk down the hospital hallway away from the group.
Kim Soon Shi turned and looked at Woo Bin fondly. "I apologize for her words to you, Song Woo Bin. We never agreed with the things she did so long ago," she said. "I knew your abeoji's bumonim since we were young ourselves. I am sorry that our families have not been as close as they once were. I was sad to see when it seemed the Song, Gu, So, and Yun families became distant to each other. It warms my heart to see they came back together and I am glad to know that the romances I saw forming when your bumonim were younger did in fact come to fruition."
"You saw our bumonim as they grew closer?" Jun Hee asked. She rested a comforting hand against Woo Bin's back, feeling how tense his muscles were. She did not have to see his face to see the surprise at what Kim Soon Shi said about knowing his paternal grandparents and having watched the love that had formed between his parents and her parents.
"Oh yes," Soon Shi said with a smile. "I was even at your abeoji's wedding to your eomeoni. It made my heart ache when I heard of the news of her passing and what I thought was the passing of the little one she carried." Her gentle dark eyes looked at Ga Eul and she reached up to buss her cheek. "It warms this old heart to know that you made it, dear. And that you are back where you belong."
"Eomeonim," Sunny's mother said. "Perhaps you can speak to them all later. We should go so we are not late."
Soon Shi sighed heavily but nodded. "Of course, my dear. It may not be what we want, but it is necessary in light of what Sun Lee has done," she said. "It was still a pleasure to see you again and to meet you." She nodded to the group. "Sun Ja, my darling, walk with me to the car."
"Of course, Halmeoni," Sunny said softly as she stepped beside her grandmother, putting an arm around the older woman and lead her down the hall. Her mother remained before turning to the group.
"Like my eomeonim said, I apologize for Sun Lee's words," she said. "And that you had to hear about our family's shame because of them. I will be sure to teach her better so that she does not teach such things to the child she carries." She quickly bowed to them and turned to follow her mother-in-law and daughter before they could respond.
"What... just happened?" Ju Won could not help but ask as he glanced at his wife.
"I... honestly do not know," Jun Hee said. "It was certainly unexpected. But Madame Kim was correct. Park Sun Lee always did speak out of turn." She glanced at Woo Bin. "As much as it hurt you, I am glad that you never ended up trapped by that viper."
"Come on," Ju Won said, taking the focus off Woo Bin. "Let's get some coffee before heading back to Jun Pyo's room. I suspect the private part of his conversation with Jae Kyung should be done by the time we get back."
"Let's hope so and that they haven't moved on to something else private," Jun Hee said.
"Not something I want to think about or see, Eonni," Ga Eul said with a laugh. She paused when she noticed Woo Bin had not moved. She looked at his face, which seemed troubled as he watched where the display of drama had just occurred. She rested a hand on his forearm. "Woo Bin?" It took a moment before he seemed to shake his head and come back to himself before he looked at his cousin.
"Everything okay?" Ga Eul asked.
Woo Bin offered his cousin a soft smile before putting his arm around her. "Of course," he said. "Let's go get that coffee." He was not ready yet to discuss his history with Park Sun Lee, but he suspected that Ga Eul had a general idea after that display of insanity and Jun Hee's words about him being trapped by her. As much as it hurt to see the older woman that had broken his heart, he found himself curious over the change in Sunny more than anything or the words Madame Kim had uttered about her not being around the two idiots as she had put it. He knew immediately that she meant Miranda and Ginger. He did remember that Kim Soon Shi was not fond of either girl, though he had forgotten just how fond of him she was. Instead of going down that particular path of memories now, he put his arm around Ga Eul and led her after Jun Hee and Ju Won.
Even though Woo Bin had not enlightened Ga Eul on what Park Sun Lee and Kim Soon Shi's words had all meant during the scene they had caused at the hospital a few days ago, she had gotten the general idea that there was obviously history between Sun Lee and Woo Bin. Later when she had asked her sister, all Jun Hee had said was that Woo Bin's current reputation was due to his heart break over how Sun Lee had treated him. It also made Ga Eul very curious if that was when Sunny started liking Woo Bin since she knew that the other woman had feelings for her cousin. The longer she was at Shinhwa and around those there, the more she realized how much like a soap opera drama life was. She was sure that similar issues happened to those she used to be around a lot, but she felt that it was more obvious amongst the elite class than those who spent more time worrying about getting good grades or working hard to be able to pay their bills.
"Oh!" Ga Eul said, startled when she almost ran into someone in her daze. She lifted her eyes to look into Park Sung Ho's amused gaze.
"Head in the clouds?" he teased her.
Ga Eul laughed a little. "No, but I was deep in thought," she admitted. "Are you all right? I didn't hit your injured arm, did I?" She looked at his arm, which was without a sling.
"You didn't," he reassured her. "And my arm is doing a lot better, hence no sling."
"Isn't that too soon?" Ga Eul wondered. "It hasn't been that long."
Sung Ho could not help the grin that formed at the concern in her tone, but he kept it from being too lascivious and pleased in order to keep up the appearance he was giving to win her over. "Truly, it's all right. Doctors said so. What about you? How is your head doing?" he asked. "Shouldn't you also be resting?"
"I've been cleared," Ga Eul said with a smile. "In fact just the other day when I was at the hospital also visiting Jae Kyung-eonni."
"How is she doing? And Geum Jan Di?" Sung Ho asked. "I admit I haven't seen Geum Jan Di at all since the incident happened. Though we didn't really share any classes so I didn't think anything of it."
"She's taken leave for the rest of this week due to damage to her shoulder. They are making sure it's not permanent and that it could affect if she can swim anymore," Ga Eul admitted. "Jae Kyung-eonni is still in the hospital." She was not going to bring up the potential that she was leaving, not when Jun Pyo was trying everything in his power to convince her otherwise.
"She was the worst hurt in the accident, wasn't she?" Sung Ho asked.
Ga Eul hummed in agreement. "She's had surgery but the doctors are still monitoring her leg to make sure another isn't needed," she said. "That's why Jun Pyo hasn't been here either, since he's been with her."
"I wasn't aware he liked her that way," Sung Ho said, genuinely surprised at the woman's words. "I know they were arranged to be married..."
"A lot can happen when you get to know someone and almost lose them," Ga Eul said with a gentle smile. She glanced at her wrist and jumped. "Omo! I need to go. I'm sorry, Sung Ho."
"No, I've held you up," he said. "Please, don't let me keep you." Ga Eul smiled gently and started to walk past him. "Ga Eul." She paused and turned to look at the man again.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I..." Sung Ho paused for effect before he spoke again. "I really like you. I was hoping maybe we could go out to dinner sometime?"
Ga Eul felt her cheeks flush a little as she bit her lip. She would be a fool to not see how attractive the man was, but anytime she thought of anyone else, a cute face with a dimpled smile would fill her thoughts and she realized how much she actually did like So Yi Jeong.
"I... I'm flattered," she said. "But-."
"You aren't interested," Sung Ho said, feigning a sad smile. "I get it."
"I'm sorry," Ga Eul said. "It's just... I like someone else and I don't think it would be fair to go out with you when I know I like someone else."
"I understand," Sung Ho said. "And I appreciate your honesty. Some girls don't do that in the hopes that they can make it work despite feelings elsewhere. But if you ever change your mind, I'm here." He feigned another sad smile before tucking one hand into his pocket as he turned to walk away. He pulled out his phone with the other and quickly typed out a text message.
"Phase one started. The next step happening soon, so keep your eyes on the lookout for your chance to take advantage."
Woo Bin unwound the wrapping on his hands as he finished his workout, his breathing heavy as he let his mind wander. The problem was his mind kept wandering back to a few days ago when he, Ga Eul, Jun Hee, and Ju Won had run into Park Sun Lee and her family at the hospital. He distinctly remembered the day that the older girl had pretty much shattered his heart. He had honestly seen a future with her, but after she had ripped his heart out he had turned into the Don Juan everyone had come to know him for, never staying with a single girl long enough to risk his emotions.
Sun Lee had told him that her family would never accept a man like him, not with the less than peaceful business dealings he sometimes had to participate in and his family had always been a part of. Despite his father and grandfather working to make a name for themselves legitimately in addition to the original business they had always been a part of with the mafia, she had pushed the buttons that had often hit close to him for Woo Bin and that he would never be accepted because of the more violent business he participated in. And yet, it would appear that she had gotten herself involved with an even worse reputation than the Songs supposedly had and that her own grandmother would have preferred to welcome Woo Bin with open arms than the person Sun Lee was now involved with. It was a puzzle that Woo Bin was having a hard time piecing together.
Then there was the enigma of Kim Soon Shi's words regarding Sunny, not to mention her change in appearance. He had to admit that when he thought on it, he had barely seen Sunny with Miranda or Ginger when he had been at Shinhwa recently, but he paid little attention to it because he had more to focus on with his family and everything that had surrounded Ga Eul's abduction. Had Sunny really cut ties with the two girls she normally was around? When had she started wearing her glasses again and stopped dressing like she was trying to lure any man willing to hop in a pretty girl's bed?
The biggest question he was now asking himself as well was when had he started to even care about why he would see such changes in Sunny? He was no fool to her feelings towards him, but when he had sworn off committed relationships he had also sworn off the potential of ever getting close to anyone related to Park Sun Lee.
Yet his mind had been on her quite frequently without realization ever since the day she had come to the lounge and told him about her concerns regarding Ginger's obsession with Yi Jeong and her hatred towards Ga Eul. He could not even say that his thoughts were because of her words regarding Ga Eul. Instead, his thoughts were on her parting words to him about herself. How she said she knew how little she was valued and that she knew she never had a chance with him, despite her own feelings. Of course, he had known she had a crush on him while he was dating her sister, but did her feelings truly run deeper than that even now? Did she not see him as a potential golden ticket because he was F4?
The bigger questions he had to ask himself were if he cared enough to find out and did he trust her enough to find out?
There was something in the air that immediately made Sunny's skin crawl the moment she walked into Shinhwa that morning. Something that was just off and it made her very uneasy. She had gotten a few strange looks the first day she had arrived at school without doing her makeup and hair as she normally used to now that she had separated from Ginger and Miranda, but the looks she was getting and the whispers behind hands as she walked by were worse and left her feeling very unsettled. They were reminiscent of things she used to do with Ginger and Miranda before all hell would break loose around the person they would snicker about.
The feeling got worse when she saw Ginger and Miranda practically salivating in glee as they watched her approach her locker. She had to force her hand not to shake as she reached up to work the combination. She paused and let her eyes glance to either side of her as she saw people starting to gather. Swallowing, she finished the combination and slowly opened her locker. What was inside had her heart dropping to her toes and her entire body felt like it was going numb as she stared at the red card hanging in her locker.
Tears filled her eyes and slowly started spilling onto her cheeks as she shakily reached up to pull the infamous F4 red card down from the notch it was in and she stared at the skull, crossbones, and F4 emblazoned in black on the card's red surface. She felt bile rising in her throat as she tried to calm her shaking body. A single tear fell, landing on the card.
*Do you truly hate me and what my sister did to you that much, Song Woo Bin?*