Chapter 12

Ga Eul would've skipped school that day, if she hadn't had so many absences. She'd been working overtime on the car barely doing anything else. She did nothing the whole day, but look at the clock's big hand moving so slowly it drove her to madness. She knew that glancing at it every few seconds wouldn't change the time, but she naively hoped for a miracle.

She never hated school that much. It never held much of an importance to her, but like everything else, things changed when Chun Ja died. At first, the pitiful looks and mournful glances were too hard to bear. Especially when she didn't know how to act. Should she look sad and broken or act strong? It seemed like everyone knew how to feel, how to cope besides her. It made her feel disgusting. While everyone expected her to feel miserable, she felt nothing but anger.

After a few months and a whole lot of absent days, no one took notice of her anymore. She still hated it, but it was nothing compared to what she felt right now looking at the damn clock. Mocking her, teasing her. Things had gotten worse when Jan Di left for Shinhwa, and she was stuck facing this misery all alone. Between half shut eyes, Ga Eul looked at her phone hidden behind her desk, hoping the teacher wouldn't notice or at least pretend not to.

Except from a few texts from Jan Di, all her messages were from Hong Joon who took took it upon himself to bother her in any shape or form possible. During times like these, she was so grateful she didn't tell him where she worked. He was desperate enough to message and call her every single day from a different number after she blocked each new one.

She knew she was running away from the problem, and that wouldn't do her any good on the long run, but she couldn't find any energy in her anymore to face him. She was tired. Too tired of anything related to Chun Ja. With a sigh, she put her phone in her skirt's pocket. She had used Yi Jung's car as an excuse, a distraction, to avoid the inevitable. She had to meet up with him to end it once and for all. Maybe she could see him once or twice a year for old times' sake. Other than that, she couldn't do any favors to him.

She was lucky enough that Shin Woo let her have the car to herself, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was lucky that Yi Jung had bought it off the new owner. It gave her more freedom and most importantly time.

Although she appreciated Shin Woo's intel when working together, she wanted to be completely serene and alone while working. Expect from the few visits here and there, Ga Eul was left alone and unbothered. She had been expecting Yi Jung's visit ever since they had come back from their skiing trip, so seeing him was of no surprise.

Spending more time with him, Ga Eul had realized that the more she agitated him, the more he stuck around her. Just to spite her and get some amusement. Much to her dismay, she was kind of indebted to him now, so she decided to accept her fate and his future upcoming visits whenever he felt like it which was mostly when he was depressed.

She knew he would press upon some matters one day or the other. As long as he was curious, he would pester her. She had thought about doing the same back, but push and pull never worked in her favor. Last time she tried that on him, she ended up the sore loser with favors to pay. Making the constantly tense string between them a little loose was the way to go around him, and giving him a few bits of hints on Hong Joon did its job. It was a risk, but it saved her a headache. And she trusted him to keep his mouth shut in front of Jan Di. If he wanted to, he could've ratted her out a few times before, but he never did.

Lost in thought, Ga Eul hadn't realized the bell had rung, and people around her were leaving the class for lunch. She still had to endure the rest of the day. With a soft grunt, she packed up her books and made her way with the others, hoping for the big hand on the clock to go easy on her for the rest of the day.

After school, Ga Eul had a shift at the porridge store. Jan Di had another part-time, so Ga Eul ended up being alone. She felt guilty not seeing her friend in such a long time, and as if Jan Di was reading her mind, she got a message from Jan Di.

Jan Di: Jun Pyo and the guys are having dinner at a fancy restaurant and they invited us to tag along. I already said yes on your behalf.

Ga Eul: I'll be there.

Ga Eul didn't mind seeing the F4 anymore. Not after she made peace with Yi Jung. She had accepted the fact that she would see more often of them when she saw how much fun Jan Di had with them. She knew that Jan Di would let her in on anything she enjoyed including her new friend group. She hadn't expected seeing Yi Jung so soon after his visit two days ago, and for that she suddenly felt so grateful that she had told him some of the truth. She didn't have to walk on eggshells around him or fear him running his mouth.

It felt great to have someone on her side. The only thing that could've possibly ruined her night was that she had to go to her parents' house to find a dress suitable enough. If she was fortunate, they would be still at work, and she wouldn't have to run into them.

Fancy was too weak of a word to describe the restaurant. Apart from the people sitting across from her at the table, there was no one. Not that it lacked customers rather than theirs was the only table available. It must only accept a table at a time. She knew that some restaurants did that. Only for the stupendously rich though. The kind that would entertain such a vain idea of exclusivity. The kind that had so much—too much—money to spare like the four guys sitting on her table right now. She had been expecting dinner worth a fortune the moment she was sat down, and her eyes fell on the refined plates and the fine white velvet clothing covering their table, but nothing could have prepared her for the prices she saw on that menu. Even for billionaires that had to be too much. How out of touch could these guys really be? If she felt overwhelmed, she didn't show it in contrast to Jan Di who looked on the brink of breaking down. Her friend was spaced out looking out at the painting hung on the wall in front of her. One could assume she was admiring the art, but Ga Eul could tell Jan Di was feeling intimidated again. Not that she could blame her. Up to this point they had only been to luxurious hotels and resorts which could've cost much more than this, but they had never been exposed to real numbers—actual pricing before. Everything was left to their imagination, but this in front of them was reality not speculation. Seeing them all order so easily as if the numbers weren't outrageous, not that she expected them to be phased, was all too much.

Her shock could never be hard as Jan Di who was dating one of them. One could even expect their relationship to develop into something more in the far future. Trying to distract her friend, Ga Eul racked her brain to come up with something—anything—to get her morales up again, but Woo was quick to get their attention.

"They only accept one team per week. I've made a reservation a month ago,but I haven't heard from them. How did you do it?" And just as Woo Bin asked Yi Jung, the answer to the question came up to their table laying their plates in front of them before hovering a little and stealing glances at Yi Jung. It wasn't a normal waitress but the actual chef who served their food. A gorgeous blonde at that who Ga Eul assumed was in her mid twenties. It seemed like he had a thing for blondes. Her eyes kept traveling to him every few seconds until she left their table.

"I met her by chance in an antiques' shop. I could tell by looking at her hands musing over the antiquities that she was an exquisite chef." Yi Jung said.

"Do players know things just by looking at a woman's hand?" Jun Pyo asked, impressed.

"You need to at least know she's a Michelin starred chef in order to be a player." Yi Jung replied.

"So you're saying you manipulated that poor woman into getting us a reservation?" Jan Di exclaimed.

"Who said I manipulated anyone? I only charmed her a little." Yi Jung said, with a smirk.

"Still that's called being immoral. You pride yourself on being a liar and call it being a player." Said Jan Di, between angry bites of the steak before her.

"I never lied. See, I don't date fools." Yi Jung replied

"All I hear is excuses." Jan Di said.

"What do you think, Ga Eul?" Yi Jung asked.

"I don't see a problem as long as you're not deceiving anyone." Ga Eul replied.

"I can't believe you're taking his side." Jan Di said, disappointed in Ga Eul.

"I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm just saying both parties know what they're getting themselves into. Not everyone wants to be in a committed relationship and that's fine." Ga Eul said.

"Thank you. That's exactly my point." Yi Jung replied.

"That's pretty open-minded of you, Ga Eul. You seem like you have a lot of dating experience." Woo Bin said, with a snicker on his face.

"I can't compare to you of course." Ga Eul replied.

"No, but really. Humor me." Woo Bin pestered.

"I haven't dated anyone before." Ga Eul replied.

"What about Su Pyo?" Jan Di asked.

"Well, that could hardly count as a relationship. We only talked for a short while." Ga Eul said.

"That must explain why it ended so ridiculously fast." Woo Bin mischievously added.

"That can't compare to how fast I stole yesterday's girl from you." Yi Jung shot Woo Bin.

"That was because you used your pottery card on her. That was unfair and you know it." Woo Bin retorted.

"Whatever you say." Yi Jung said before taking a sip of his water, and sharing a lightening quick glance with Ga Eul. A grateful glance for changing the subject.

In that moment, Yi Jung saved her from her turmoil. Her throat had closed at the mention of Su Pyo, and she had thought of no lies prior to back her up assuming that it was a closed case. She wondered why it kept getting brought up. Clearly Woo Bin found it diverting since she was lying. She was lucky enough to fool a dull Jun Pyo and an unsuspecting Jan Di. The others caught on quickly because of her awful lying skills. Of all names she had to come up with the name Su Pyo. Ga Eul had managed to keep meeting with Hong Joon hidden from Jan Di this far because she was good at hiding not lying. It was also in her favor that Jan Di was all too trusting when it came to Ga Eul.

She couldn't focus on their conversation during the rest of their dinner as her head got preoccupied with thoughts of lies, Jan Di and Yi Jung.

After their dinner, Jan Di and Jun Pyo left together, and Yi Jung offered to take Ga Eul home. Ga Eul accepted hoping to thank him privately. She gave him the directions to a bus stop near her parents' house since she didn't want anyone seeing her getting out of his car.

"Thank you by the way for covering up for me back then." Ga Eul said.

"You're welcome. Although I feel like I deserve to know what I'm covering up for." Yi Jung replied.

"No, you don't have to. Plus you should focus on driving." She said.

"I'm very capable of both driving and talking. For all I know, you could be a murderer. Don't you think I have to know what is going on in order to help you better in the future?" He asked.

"I hope I won't have to lie about anything in the future, so I wouldn't need your help. That is if your friend could try not to play funny games with me."

"Please, he was just curious. It was a ridiculous lie." Yi Jung said.

"I know. Just tell him to stop prying next time. I mean it." Ga Eul warned.

"I have to be bribed." Yi Jung retorted.

"Fine. But it's a trade. A secret for one."

"I'm in. So tell me. Who's he? And why do care so much about hiding that you meet him from Jan Di?" Yi Jung said.

"He's my older sister's ex fiancé." Ga Eul finally admitted.

Yi Jung didn't respond for a second before he asked, "And are you afraid your sister will find out?"

"No. God no. Our relationship isn't like that. At all. He's more like an older brother for me." Ga Eul replied, quickly.

"But you care about your sister thinking that you guys are together." He asked.

"No, she died two years ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know." He apologize, shocked.

"It's okay." Ga Eul said. Her eyes darkened at the mention of her sister. It wasn't like it was a secret. But it left a disgusting taste on her tongue. Shame.

She felt Yi Jung tense at her revelation, so she took it upon herself to lighten the mood. "I can tell that you're still curious. You can ask me what's on your mind."

"You don't have to." He said.

"I'm fine. Ask me."

"I still don't understand why you hide it from Jan Di." He asked.

"Jan Di loathes him. She thinks he's a bad influence on me." Ga Eul admitted.

"Is he?"

"Maybe." Ga Eul said. "Now you owe me a secret of yours."

"Ask away." He said, confidently.

"That day in the basketball court, you were having a bad day because of something related to your family, right?" She asked.

Yi Jung's jaw clenched for a second before he answered, "Yes."

"Okay."

"Don't you want to know more?" He asked.

"I think that's enough secrets for me and you both. And you're very close to my bus stop anyway."

"Are you sure you don't want to me to drop you to your house?" He asked.

"Yes, it's more comfortable for me that way."

After Ga Eul took a shower, she dropped onto her bed glad that the day was finally over. She didn't have the energy to sleep in a sauna or the workshop. Not to mention, she had to get out of her fancy dress and put on her regular clothes. Migrating from place to place was taking a toll on her, but she had no other options. She had to rely on this house because all her stuff was there. Her clothes, her possessions however how trivial. She could depend on the workshop or the sauna for a place to sleep, but in the end she still needed that house.

She felt foreign relief after she told Yi Jung about Hong Joon. That was the first time she confided in someone other than Jan Di, and she was surprised that Yi Jung was the one she confided to. It was surprisingly comforting. Her eyes started to get heavier, and she found herself drifting off to sleep.