Disclaimer: We don't own boys over flowers.
A/N: Greetings readers! Thank you cookie bee, guest, Cari-Bum, heartluv, guest and sakurauchahichan for reviewing. Lots of love to those who reviewed for all the chapters. It's our sincere request that you review because it gives us an idea of whether you're liking our story or not. It also gives us the motivation to write and work harder on our story. Take care everyone and enjoy!
As some of the reveiws pointed out, the transition from the ski trip to the shopping mall was a bit abrupt, so we decided to move it. Enjoy!
"Can you believe that guy? All I asked was to bring a guest along to the ski trip," said Woo Bin, raising both his hands in the air. "Not his daughter's hand in marriage."
Jae Kyung curled her legs on the F4 lounge couch. "Authority figures tend to be a little on the unreasonable side. In my experience."
"Fair point. Anyway," he said, leaning back against the cushion, "I was done reasoning with him. It was time to change tactics. I leveled him with an intimidating stare until he cowered before me. He was much more amiable after that."
Crossing her arms, Jae Kyung regarded him with an expression that was both thoroughly amused and utterly unconvinced.
"Fine. If you insist on ruining the story. I had Jun Pyo's sister call him up. I don't know what magic she pulled, but he changed his tune immediately."
"I'm glad it worked out. I've a good feeling about this. Ga Eul and Yi Jeong. Skiing down a slope together." She rubbed her hands. "So much potential."
"You know the best part? This wasn't even my idea." Woo Bin grinned wider than a child with a giant candy bar.
"Don't tell me you involved other people in this?"
"Of course not. Yi Jeong asked me to bring her."
"That's an interesting development."
"He said something like it'd cheer her up. And she'd have fun there. I didn't press for details. It's not like he would've told me anyway."
"At any rate, it's the perfect opportunity to commence Phase I." She munched on an apple. "Before I forget, what in Aphrodite's name are these?" She pointed to the stack of papers on the center table.
"Applications to join the F4."
Jae Kyung's inquisitive expression prompted him to continue.
"My family origin is a bit of a mystery. In fact. I think there's a rumor going around that I'm adopted."
She chose not to pry, but her face betrayed her curiosity.
"I'm not. But this did convince half the school that anyone can join the F4. So, every year, students apply for membership. As a membership fee, they have to do my homework."
"Hasn't anyone figured out it's a farce yet?"
"It's not, technically. I select one person to be a member for a week."
Jae Kyung looked deep in thought, as if contemplating this. "So, what do your folks do?"
"My dad's a construction mogul. But he travels a lot." He hid his guilty expression behind the stack of membership applications. "So I mostly live with Gran. Her family owns the M&N group."
"Cool, want some?" Jae Kyung asked, offering Woo Bin an apple.
_oOo_
"I don't know Woo Bin Sunbae, my parents can be a little overprotective," said Ga Eul.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. I'm great with parents."
"I guess. I mean, you did talk them into the New Caledonia thing."
He turned away from her. Her parents had no idea about that trip. They thought she was at Jan Di's. Not even the Don Juan could ask a girl's parents to let them take her to a place that far away.
_oOo_
"Yes, I'm straight. No, I'm single. I assure you, Mr. Chu, my intentions with your daughter are completely pure," said Woo Bin.
He held the phone away. In an effort to keep their voices from dismantling his eardrums. Overprotective was an understatement.
"What was that?" He brought the phone closer. "I completely understand. The Shinwa staff and faculty will be present at all times. So would the fire brigade, ambulance, and all other essential services. It's completely safe." He combed through his hair. "No, Mr. Chu, the police won't be there. Why? Because nothing of that sort ever happens on college trips."
"Sunbae…"
Forcing himself to smile, he gave Ga Eul a thumbs-up. "Yes, not even on trips for rich people, Mrs. Chu. You want me to guarantee that your daughter won't get shot? Fine, fine, I take responsibility. No one will harm your daughter. I can understand your concern. But like I said, it's a sponsored trip organized by Shinwa so we can interact with other students."
He took a deep breath. He was doing this for Yi Jeong.
Fighting.
In his calmest voice, he said, "No, that's not a euphemism for commoners."
"Tell them about Jan Di," Ga Eul whispered.
"Jan Di is going to be there too. So you really have nothing to worry about. I'm glad. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Chu. It's been a pleasure." He turned to Ga Eul. "Like I said, easy-peasy."
"That was easy?"
"Sure, this is normal. Low-key, actually. It could get a lot worse."
"Well, thanks, Sunbae. I'll see you there."
After she left, Woo Bin sighed. This mission just got a whole lot harder.
_oOo_
Where could she be? Yi Jeong was getting a little worried. He hadn't seen Ga Eul since they arrived. After another fifteen minutes of fruitless searching, he finally spotted her talking to two guys.
"Listen, Ga Eul yang—"
Someone elbowed Yi Jeong. "Back off. We saw her first."
"Hey, who's trying to cut the line?" another guy asked.
It took a second for the words to register. Apparently, there was a line? Was Ji Hoo sleeping nearby? No, that didn't make any sense. This wasn't a bunch of noisy girls on standby, hoping that one day, Ji Hoo would wake up. The line was all guys.
_oOo_
"So, what school are you guys from?" asked Ga Eul.
She was excited to get to know the other students invited to Shinwa's communal ski trip.
"She thinks we're from a different school," he whispered to his friend.
"Who cares? Pretty girls never talk to us. Don't go against the Goddess of Luck, or you will be punished."
"She's not even running after the F4."
"We go to Shinwa. I'm Sang Min Ki, and this is Ju Won."
"Nice to meet you. Hang on one second," said Ga Eul. She bent down to tie her laces.
"Talk to someone your own league," someone said.
When Ga Eul looked back up, those guys were gone. This was the weirdest school ever.
_oOo_
The guy Ga Eul was talking to earlier was now talking to a plant. "Hey, I think I'm going to call you Planty," said What's-his-face, smiling to himself, or rather at his plant.
Yi Jeong had no idea where that plant came from. Did he bring it on this trip with him? A tinge of sympathy swept across Yi Jeong's face, but it only lasted for a split second. He had his own problems to deal with: the rowdy guys who were blocking the route to Ga Eul.
"Don't feel sorry for him. It's each man for himself here," said some other Rando.
"She's so pretty. And how often do you find a girl who is not drooling after the F4? I hope I get the chance to talk to her. Girls never talk to me," someone else said.
While jostling past them, Yi Jeong overheard a conversation between the journalism kids.
"Hyun Woo said she's from some other school? I hope I can interview her for my blog," said the editor-in-chief.
"How did she get here?"
"What's her story? What does the outside world think of Shinwa?"
"So many questions."
"Do you think she'll sign my face? I've been a fan of Blank Pink since forever," said the guy behind Yi Jeong.
So they're all here to talk to Ga Eul? Some for an interview. Some because they confused her with a pop star. And some others to flirt or leer. Which was a little creepy. Even by Shinwa's standards.
The public believed Shinwavians were rich, sophisticated, and worldly. Nothing could be further from the truth: Shinwa was filled with weirdos. Like that guy talking to a plant. Or the one pointing binoculars at Ga Eul.
Wait.
Yi Jeong did a double-take. There was a guy pointing binoculars at Ga Eul.
Yi Jeong tapped him on the shoulder. "Could you, maybe, not do that?"
"Listen, Mr. F4—"
Someone yanked Yi Jeong's shirt. "I don't mean to be rude. But you've to go to the back of the line. We've been waiting longer."
"Yeah, man. We finally have a chance with a girl, and here you are again. Sweeping in."
"You tell him, Tae Suk. You F4 members are always steeling our women."
"Like my girlfriend, Da Eun," said Tae Suk.
"Da Eun was not your girlfriend." Yi Jeong fixed his tie. "Also, that was Woo Bin. Not me."
"Whatever. This one's mine."
This crowd was getting on Yi Jeong's nerves. Their failure with women was not on him. Maybe instead of blaming the F4, they should invest in some skincare, or deodorant, or a new personality.
If Woo Bin was here, they wouldn't dare be so rude.
"Don't worry. You can talk to Planty. There's no line to talk to her," What's-his-face suggested.
Yi Jeong had no words. What could anyone possibly say to such a suggestion? Should he stay here and comfort Plant-guy? He seemed two steps away from an emotional breakdown. That is, if he wasn't already clinically insane.
Yi Jeong did the next best thing: run.
_oOo_
Woo Bin adjusted his earbuds. Jun Pyo was being melodramatic. Like usual. Jan Di was attempting to reason with him. Like usual.
"You sure they didn't put something in it?"
"Jun Pyo, how many times do I have to tell you, your tongue got burned because you drank your hot chocolate too quickly," said Jan Di. "Wait. What's she doing here?"
"Who?" asked Jun Pyo.
"Ga Eul, over there. How come she's here on our trip?"
"Jan Di-ah, look closely. Can't you tell? Ga Eul is talking with... What's-his-face over there."
"And those guys crowding her, why don't they back off? It's like tenth grade all over again."
Yi Jeong gulped down a bottle of water. "What happened in tenth grade?"
"That," said Jan Di, pointing towards Ga Eul.
"It's pretty darn hard to get to her. I've been trying to for like an hour."
Woo Bin moved closer to the direction Jan Di had pointed. And sure enough, there was Ga Eul, surrounded by a mob. He aimed his cell phone at her. "Look, Jae, she's pretty, right? And did you hear what he said? He's been trying to get to her. Watch, this is so gonna work."
"I'm totally fangirling over here," said Jae Kyung.
"They think they can go and hit on my best friend, and I'll just watch in silence. Who do they think they are? Thinking my Ga Eul would settle for just anybody. Before they can even look at her with those creepy, unworthy eyes, they'd have to face Geum Jan Di first." She turned to Woo Bin. "Sunbae. Stop staring at her."
"What? I wasn't staring. Ga Eul's like my sister. Really, I swear."
Woo Bin hid his phone behind his back. It was too early to let Jan Di discover their plans.
"You're lucky I've got other priorities right now."
"How come I'm the only one you'd suspect?"
"Well, Jun Pyo's my boyfriend, and Ji Hoo Sunbae is"—she scanned their surroundings—"sleeping. And Yi Jeong Sunbae is... you know."
"I'm what? What is the end of that sentence?"
"She means you're a wuss," said Woo Bin.
"I'm not a wuss."
"Aren't you being a little overprotective, Jan Di? Who knows? Maybe some of those guys are good guys," said Ji Hoo, who had now woken up.
"I've seen that type. All throughout tenth grade. Lurking around. Waiting for any opportunity to pounce on my Ga Eul. They even threw me a farewell party when I left." Jan Di mindlessly added more kimbap to her plate, all the while fuming and staring into the horizon.
"I like this one. What did you say her name was?" asked Jae Kyung.
His friends were too busy watching Jan Di with a mixture of awe and fear to notice that Woo Bin was video chatting with Jae Kyung. "Jan Di. Ga Eul's best friend. And Jun Pyo's latest obsession."
"So they threw you a farewell party. That seems nice, actually," said Ji Hoo.
"No, they were happy that Ga Eul's guardian angel was leaving. The cake said, Hoping that the ties that bind you and Shinwa are everlasting."
"But what can we do? There are too many of them," said Yi Jeong.
"Watch and learn." Jan Di handed her plate to Jun Pyo. "This is a ski trip. Go back to skiing. This isn't a ramp walk. Move it!" She tore through the crowd, dismantling it in her wake. "And you, stop staring at her. My boyfriend is going to scoop out your eyeballs."
"I'm going to do what?"
"And you, Mr. Night Vision Goggles. Ten. Feet. Away."
"They're not night vision goggles. It's daytime."
"No, she isn't in any band. There's nothing to see over here. Run along."
Within five minutes, Jan Di cleared the mob, proving that miracles do, in fact, exist. She wasn't called Shinwa's wonder woman for nothing.
"Jan Di," said Woo Bin. "Jun Pyo has to show you something."
"I Do?"
"Remember. You had to show her that thing with the stuff."
He hoped that Jun Pyo's romance obsession would come in handy. He'd think of something. He's Jun Pyo, after all. He won't let the chance of expressing a romantic gesture slip away.
"Sure. Right. There is something I want to show you."
Jun Pyo left with Jan Di. Just as planned. "Operation SoEul is now in motion," Woo Bin said to Jae Kyung. He turned to Ga Eul and Yi Jeong. "Let's go skiing. That's why we're here, right?"
_oOo_
"You've to hold them at an angle and make a swift rotation," said Yi Jeong.
"I don't think the watering method for pottery is gonna work here," said Woo Bin. "Don't mind him. Yi Jeong can't describe anything unless it's about his pots."
"That's not true."
"Right, I forgot. Or his bowls."
Yi Jeong rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna get some hot chocolate. Be right back."
"All jokes aside, Yi Jeong is a pretty cool guy. Did you know that he's the youngest potter to win Korea's Face of Creativity Award?"
"I know. He has it displayed in his studio."
"One of his art pieces is exhibited in The British Museum."
She nodded. "He showed me when he was teaching me about contours."
He didn't like the idea of standing here and making a fool of himself. But he had no other choice.
"Take one for the team," said Jae Kyung. "All your endeavors may not be a bowl of fish cakes. But at the end of the day, you have to remember that there's a greater purpose to your actions. Do it for Yi Jeong. Do it for Ga Eul. Do it for hotness."
Woo Bin swallowed his pride. "I remember it like it was yesterday. When he was voted number two in The Top Five Sexiest Prodigies Across The World by People's Magazine. We were all so proud."
"I've seen it. He has it framed in his studio. Right next to Patricia."
Ga Eul looked minutes away from asking if the cold was getting to his head.
He turned back to his phone. "I don't know what else to say. The fact that Yi Jeong keeps all his accomplishments displayed isn't helping either."
"It's time to think outside the box."
"Did you know he has a spotless driving record?"
"No, I didn't."
Detecting his first victory, Woo Bin continued, "He keeps his house and surroundings clean. Doesn't snore. Smells great. Showers twice a day, and he's got an impeccable fashion sense."
"I see."
"Tell her about the farting," said Jae Kyung.
"I almost forgot. He doesn't fart in public. I've heard that's important to girls."
"That's nice… I'm gonna go check on our hot chocolate."
"And. He's got a huge heart."
She cracked a smile. "I know."
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Yi Jeong while handing Woo Bin his hot chocolate.
_oOo_
"I don't want to buy a bonding bracelet," said Jan Di, trying to shoo her boyfriend away from the vendor.
"But it looks cute."
Before she could respond, she noticed Woo Bin Sunbae in the distance. Talking to himself. Or at least that's how it looked.
"Let's go join the others." She dragged Jun Pyo towards their friends. It was best to get him away from the vendors. Before some other trashy trinket caught his eye.
"Take off your skies," said Woo Bin.
"What? Why?" asked Yi Jeong.
"I don't have time for this."
Woo Bin turned around, as if to walk away, only to take a last-second U-turn. Running towards Yi Jeong at full speed, Woo Bin shoved him to the ground and removed his skies.
"What the hell—"
"Look." Woo Bin pointed at something in the distance.
Jan Di froze. A drunk skier came rushing towards Ga Eul. Without missing a beat, Yi Jeong raced towards her, pushing her to safety.
A tangled mess of arms and limbs, both of them fell to the ground. "Ga Eul, are you okay? Can you hear me? Open your eyes. Look at me," said Yi Jeong.
"I'm OK. It's just a little bump on the head. Thanks a lot," Ga Eul said.
Regaining her senses, Jan Di ran to her side. She put her arms around Ga Eul. "Let's head back inside. I think I have had enough adventure for a day."
_oOo_
Five Minutes Earlier
Today was Woo Bin's lucky day. If he were poor, he would be on his way to buy a lottery ticket. Amidst all this confusion, nobody noticed that he was video chatting on his phone.
"So, what do you think? A concerned friend or a man in love?" asked Woo Bin while pointing the back camera at Yi Jeong.
"I can't tell. Bring me closer," said Jae Kyung.
Woo Bin did as she instructed.
A/N: So what do you think of this chapter? What about Woo Bin and Jae Kyung's plan? What were your favorite parts? Tell us in the reviews!
And…
Stay Awesome!