Disclaimer: We don't own Boys over flowers.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin?

"Woo Bin, have you seen my phone ?" yelled Yi Jeong from across the room.

If I can't help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea….

"Ahaha found it. It was under the couch cushion. It's Ga Eul" said Woo Bin looking at the caller ID.

Yi Jeong took his cellphone from Woo Bin's hands and dismissed the call.

"Why did you do that?" exclaimed Woo Bin.

"I'm busy. And why did you change my ringtone again. Stop doing that."

"Why are you avoiding her calls? This isn't going to work. You canceled pottery class today. What are you going to do tomorrow? Or the day after that. Stop being ridiculous. Just call her."

"Trust me. This is the right thing to do. As much as I hate my dad…."

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

Shall I …

"Seriously Woo Bin change it back. Seriously, you put a password for that? And I don't even know how you programmed it into my phone. I don't even have this song on my playlist."

"Pick up Yi Jeong's. She's calling again."

Yi Jeong glared at Woo Bin as he dismissed Ga Eul's call again.

_oOo_

Ga Eul was already outside Yi Jeong's studio by the time she received his text message. Usually when it was time for her to arrive, Yi Jeong would leave the door open for her. However, today it was welded shut. She took out her phone to check whether she was on time, which was when she saw Yi Jeong's text.

Dear Pupil,

Pottery classes will be suspended today until further notice. Students are recommended to commit to any other activities he/she wishes to engage in as the hiatus is undetermined.

What was this supposed to mean? She bet Woo Bin sunbae is behind it.

Ga Eul decided to take a peek into Yi Jeong's studio anyway, hoping he'd be there.

"Good Morning …," greeted Ga Eul as she entered. However, the young potter wasn't there. Instead she found Il Hyun sitting on a bench working on a pot. He looked up from his piece and smiled at her.

"I'm sorry Il Hyun sunbae. I was looking for Yi Jeong."

"Take a seat. I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Ga Eul sat there awkwardly looking around the studio. It's not like she had anything to look for. She had been here millions of times, every weekend and sometimes on weekdays too. By now she had heard Yi Jeong talk about almost every pottery piece he had in here. She settled on watching the art consultant work on his piece.

"Care to join me?" inquired Il Hyun.

"Umm.."

"I know. I'm no Yi Jeong but I do know a thing or two about pottery. After all, it's in my blood," said Il Hyun making air-quotes with his fingers.

Il Hyun scoffed at that last statement. Not in a negative way. Not in a regretful way either. Just in a way when you accept the realities of life. The good and the bad. And it no longer bothers you. A scoff of acceptance. Not meaning to be disrespectful, Ga Eul brought out the pottery piece that she was working on in her previous class and brought a trimming tool to trim her piece . Then she took a seat in front of Il Hyun.

"You should hold onto that until Yi Jeong comes. I meant grab some fresh clay . Spin the wheel a bit, with me. I wouldn't want you to work on a piece that you're working on for class. That's Yi Jeong's department. Wouldn't want to mess with his teachings. I work the wheel sometimes for fun. He's the expert though. He really is. Some people say that my opinion is biased. I don't think so. I think he is the best in the field. Not because he's my brother. It's because pottery has been his life and soul. And even though it could have been close to what I was looking for, it wasn't quite it. My father says that the pottery gods chose him. And although that's true, I think he chose pottery as well. And the gods just couldn't help themselves."

"He is really talented. Everyone thinks so," said Ga Eul.

"He really is. You must be thinking what a phoney I am. Just sitting here. Praising my brother like I've seen it all. Like I've seen his transition from an enthusiast to a professional. Well considering he was a prodigy, I guess I have seen most of it. Although, I do wish that I could have seen more. I really do. Our father claims that I could no longer stand to watch my brother take over pottery like it was mere child's play. But truth be told, he didn't take over anything. He just got what was rightfully his. And nothing made me happier than watching him get just that. I'm not trying to defend myself in anyway. That just doesn't seem possible anymore."

"I'm sure you had your reasons."

"Everybody does. Who doesn't? Ultimately it comes down to what happens in the long run? Do the pros outweigh the cons, or does it happen the other way around?"

Ga Eul just sat there listening to Il Hyun's life lessons. She had no idea why he felt the need to justify himself. Yet she really wanted to know.

"Have you ever tried snatching a candy-bar from a child's hands, Ga Eul?"

"Umm…what?"

"That's how I felt when after a few weeks of being on my own I came across a homeless man. I looked for spare change in my pocket but stopped myself. For the first time in my life, I had to wonder , would need the money later?"

"It must have been hard, being on your own?"

Il Hyung turned on the tap and began to wash his hands. Then he went inside and brought her some tea. "After coming from an interview, I spend the day under a bus stop because I couldn't afford another suit. But I stayed, despite the hunger, despite the poor living conditions despite all of it, I stayed. Because I preferred that to living under my father's roof."

Ga Eul stopped her own work and walked towards Il Hyun. She wasn't sure what to say to him. For a long time, neither of them said a word.

"I came back once, when Yi Jeong was fourteen. I had planned on staying but that went to hell. A few nights after Omma was discharged from the hospital my father and I had a huge fight. 'So Il Hyun, what happened, the fire died down, realized that without my name you don't amount to much. It's really easy to talk big while living in a mansion and eating from a silver spoon. A few days out in the real world was enough to send you crawling back. But it's fine you can live off of my success until I live and after that your brother's, sorry your little brother's', " Il Hyun gripped the table top. "I let his words get to me. I had started working as an assistant to an art consultant then. It wasn't the best job and I still had little money but I deemed dealing with poverty better than dealing with my father. I vowed never to step foot in my father's house again. Ga Eul…" He held her gaze. "Ga Eul…I regretted letting my father drive me out of my brother's life. My father was always an expert at manipulating people to do what he wanted and I let him. He was wrong though, Yi Jeong wasn't better off without me and he isn't better off without...his friends."

_oOo_

Yi Jeong stepped out from behind the tree. Ga Eul was leaving the studio. Woo Bin could call his actions cowardly but he didn't want to face Ga Eul at this moment. When he was sure that the coast was clear, he made his way back to the studio.

Il Hyun was spinning the wheel. "Yi Jeong, Ga Eul was here looking for you."

Yi Jeong went to stand next to his brother. Despite what his father thought, Yi Jeong always found his brother's work to be beautiful. "That was the first time I had a real fight with our father."

Il Hyun stopped the wheel.

Yi Jeong looked at his shoes. "The day you left, for the second time."

He had had smaller disagreements with his father before but he considered that to be their first real fight. Hyung had finally come back and it looked like he would stay, but his dad ruined it, like always. Yi Jeong was in his room but he could hear the voices clearly.

"I will never set a foot inside your house again," his brother yelled.

Yi Jeong made it out of his room in time to watch his brother slam the door on his way out. Somehow, he knew that he wouldn't be hearing from his Hyung again for a long time. He made his way to his pottery room, the only place in the house where he found peace, but in a few minutes that peace would be gone.

"The pot is coming out well but perhaps it could still need some adjustments." His father stepped into the room. "This is a very important competition, Yi Jeong. Only your best work would be acceptable." Yi Jeong stopped spinning the wheel. "No, no…don't let me stop you." He patted his son's head. "I'm glad that I can be proud of at least one of my son's"

Yi Jeong stopped the wheel. His father looked up at him with confusion. Yi Jeong scoped up the clay in his palm and then stood up, his eyes an approaching tornado.

"Yi Jeong," his father glared at him.

Yi Jeong smashed the lump of clay, crumbling it, the fragments slipping from the gaps between his fingers. "You see this; this is what you have done to my life."

As he narrated that incident, he watched his brother's face become grim.

"That must have earned you a slap. That was always one of our father's go to moves," Il Hyun said.

Yi Jeong was still not looking up at his brother. He knew that Il Hyun had always been more on the receiving end of his father's slaps than Yi Jeong and a lot of it was because up until he had left, he had always acted as a Yi Jeong's shield. When five year old Yi Jeong had heard his mother cry because his father had to go to a business meeting, he hid the car key. Il Hyun took the blame for that and for many other things.

Yi Jeong smiled at his brother. "I'm glad you are back, Il Hyun Hyung."

Yi Jeong made his way to the opposite side of the display area and picked up a distorted pottery piece, Ga Eul's distorted pottery piece. He tucked it in one of the drawers.

"What did you do that for?"

"It didn't belong with the others."

Il Hyun looked at him for a long time. "Let's go grab a bite."

_oOo_

"Darts?" asked Woo Bin

"Nope. Sorry," Jae Kyung replied.

"We could work on the SoEul planner."

"I'd love to Woo Bin, but I really have to catch up on my assignments. Also I have a test coming up."

"Alright, we can study for a while. I guess."

"I'm sorry, Woo Bin. I know this isn't what you were hoping for. You could always go hang out with the others. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow or maybe on the weekend."

"No, it's okay. The others are busy and I'd rather hang out with you," he smiled at her. "I didn't bring a book though."

"Here, you can borrow one of mine. It's a Management Concepts and Practices book. You should be able to understand it."

"Thanks. I'll take notes for you."

Jae Kyung watched Woo Bin trying to focus on the book in front of him. Her glance would wander and he'd be bopping his head randomly. It didn't take a Sherlock to figure out that Woo Bin wasn't particularly enjoying himself. Or maybe he was. Unlike the popular opinion, Woo Bin wasn't always easy to read. This didn't top the list of activities he'd rather be doing, yet he didn't look annoyed. He had a calm smile on his face as opposed to the general mischievous grin he wore when he was with Yi Jeong. She didn't mind it though. It was nice to have company. It made everything easier. In a city where things could get really lonely, she would gladly take an unsolicited, desultory, study session.

"Here, I took some notes for you. On Bureaucracy Theory of Management," said Woo Bin handing Jae Kyung her notebook.

"Woo Bin, what is this?"

"It's a rap song. Give me a beat. Fine, I'll just give myself a beat."

Beaurocracy in this industry

was what Max Weaver was trying to preach.

An organization with rigid rules

And a stick in the ass. Hierarchy that rules!

"No, Woo Bin. Hierarchy doesn't rule. The bureaucracy theory had its setbacks that's why they had to improve on it."

"Then why did that Max guy come up with all this junk. Could have saved us all this time."

"Fair point."

"A place with structure, where people worked in their boundaries

A place where rules and regulations take the cake

Is the reason why Maxy's theory went to shittt!

She smiled. "I like it. It captures the gist quite nicely."

_oOo_

"Yi Jeong. Great. I found you."

"You did? I mean. Do you require my assistance? I mean, Woo Bin would be here soon. Jan Di. Jan Di would be. Jun Pyo . Ji Hoo is here. He'd be of much better help. I'll go wake him up."

"I told you Yi Jeong.. If we had pottery three times a week , then you'd get sick of me. Don't worry. I just want you to go over my application."

"What application? "

"For the contest, of course. There are three rounds. First we fill out an online application. Then we have to send in a dish. Then the final step is going to the assigned location and making the dish they ask us to make on the spot. Even going over the procedure makes me woozy," said Ga Eul holding onto her churning stomach. Yi Jeong held her by her shoulders to calm her down. However, then he also gently shoved her aside. Maybe that was some new technique he had learned in his yoga & meditation class.

"So, how was yoga & meditation class, Yi Jeong?" asked Ga Eul while handing Yi Jeong her form.

"What class? Oh I don't take that . Oh you mean the one that I joined today? It's good. Very nice. Very relaxing."

"Well, you deserved the break."

"It's good, Ga Eul. Seems decent enough. Run it by Jan Di before turning it in. I have some work to do. I got to go. Good luck with the contest Ga Eul."

"What do you mean? Aren't you going to come watch me.?Not even for the final round. If that is. I make it that far. "

"Of course. I meant good luck with next step."

"I'll see you around Yi Jeong."

"Bye"

"Okay, bye," said Ga Eul as she started to make her way towards the exit. Yi Jeong seemed a bit weird. He was probably tired. She would let him get some rest.

"Look Woo Bin's here. Hi Woo Bin. How are you?"

"Are you talking to me Yi Jeong? What's wrong with you? Have you started drinking or something," said Woo Bin as he greeted Ga Eul on his way in.

"Oh. You've lost it because you can't see you're lady love. I mean you can see her. It's not like she's invisible. That would be really cool though. I mean the separation is getting to you. It has only been a day, how are you going to survive a lifetime?" teased Woo Bin.

"Shut up."

"Did you buy the grape juice like I asked?"

"It's in the fridge. Go get it yourself."

"Alright. Alright. Someone is on edge today. Wonder why," said Woo Bin as he made his way towards the kitchen.

"Hey Yi Jeong. What is this?" yelled Woo Bin from the kitchen. He walked towards Yi Jeong with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Nothing. Here give that to me."

Woo Bin stormed to the other side of the lounge and open the folded piece of paper. He proceeded to read the contents out loud.

"1. Move 2. Get Jan Di to forbid Ga Eul from seeing me 3. Get involved in Ji Hoo's job so I have no time to socialize 4. Block Ga Eul's number. 5….

Could you be any lamer. By the way, what was number 5? The one that you scratched out seven times."

"Getting Ga Eul a boyfriend so she pulls away from me."

"Aww possessive are we," Woo Bin snickered.

Yi Jeong snatched the list from Woo Bin's hand.

"You're so dramatic Yi Jeong. Why don't you do what those women in romantic comedies do. Make a list about the things you hate about her. Try a disguise. Or snap a rubber-band on your wrist every time you think about her."

"You mean like avoidance therapy." Yi Jeong proceeded to add those three ideas to his list.

"You're kidding?"

"Leave me alone."

"I would leave you alone. Her thoughts won't though." Woo Bin stuck his tongue out.

Yi Jeong took the glass of grape juice from Woo bin's hand and drank it.

"Hey. Why did you do that. Jerk. Hate on me all you want. But if your thoughts are occupied by someone, it's not healthy to try to avoid them. Science says so. Right Madison?" said Woo Bin while he talked to Yi Jeong's pot.

"What if you make someone believe that someone else is on your mind?"

Woo Bin got himself another glass of grape juice. "What? Oh I get it, you're going to confess your undying love for her?"

"No, you moron . I'm going to hire someone to be my girlfriend." Yi Jeong gulped down Woo Bin's second glass of grape juice.

"Just because you have a girlfriend, doesn't mean Ga Eul would want to stop being friends with you. She might if you continue drinking her juice."

"I'll just block her number. Simple and full proof."

"No, Yi Jeong . Don't."

"Too late. I already got my phone out. I'm navigating through it. I'm in the contacts section of my phone and you can't stop me."

"Maybe the fumes from your kiln have gotten to your head."

"You're right. She might need me . For a serious situation."

_oOo_

Ga Eul looked at her phone. She had gotten a text from Jan Di.

Ga Eul,

I forbid you from spending time with Yi Jeong.

That was strange, maybe Jan Di and Yi Jeong had some argument over mediation techniques. She would ask her later.

A/N: Just a reminder that the pottery piece Yi Jeong hid away is the one Ga Eul made the day she had broken up with her boyfriend, in chapter 4 and it reappeared in chapter 8. Also the SoEul planner is the binder mentioned in the previous chapter.