Disclaimer: We don't own Boys over flowers.
A/N: Thank you to all those who are still reading this story. We really appreciate the support.
"Goodnight, Ga Eul," Yi Jeong said and was about to leave when he was stopped by Chin Hae.
Chin Hae folded his arms together. "We have to talk. You really broke someone's heart today."
Ga Eul had gone inside. She either hadn't heard what Chin Hae had said or didn't care.
Chin Hae took Yi Jeong inside. To talk like men.
_oOo_
"Chin Hae," Mr. Chu poked his head out of his room. "Who is that with you?"
"A friend."
Mr. Chu looked at the twenty-something man with his son and then called his wife. "Honey, both our children have lost it. Ga Eul wants to make Woo Shin our son-in-law and Chin Hae now hangs out with twenty-year-olds."
"Honey," Mrs. Chu said. "Find out who that is. Haven't you been watching the news lately?"
After muttering reassurances at his wife, Mr. Chu stepped out to meet Chin Hae's companion.
Yi Jeong bowed. "Hello, Mr. Chu. I'm So Yi Jeong. I'm a friend of Jan Di and Ga Eul. I had come to drop off Ga Eul , after the contest."
"And I invited him in for some beer," interrupted Chin Hae.
"What?" said both Mr. Chu and Yi Jeong.
"Come on, Appa, don't keep our guest waiting." Chin Hae grabbed his father's hand and dragged him into the kitchen.
Mr. Chu heaved a sigh of relief when he watched his son mix nothing but milk and ketchup together. Then he let the two gentlemen be and went back to working on his crossword in his room.
"Now that the grownups are out of our hair, let us get down to business," said Chin Hae dragging Yi Jeong into his room.
"Nice place you got here. So, how have you been?" asked Yi Jeong as he was being escorted into a small corner of the room where some sort of fort was built from cardboard boxes.
"No talking. You're on trial."
"Yes, sir."
" So, Mr. So Yi Jeong."
"That's my full name."
"Didn't I tell you that I'd be doing the talking?"
"Sorry, your honor."
"Confess and I may consider giving you a lighter sentence."
"What am I confessing to your most esteemed honorable one?"
"Save the big words for your vocabulary test. So that's how you choose to play it? Alright then. So, how long have you been living this life of crime?"
"I'm sorry Chin Hae, I still don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about the hole you've been filling. Was it a one-time thing?" Chin Hae inched closer to Yi Jeong. "How long has this been happening? Did you feel an ounce of guilt afterwards? I know it might have meant nothing to you. But have you considered that it might mean something to someone else. "
"Chin Hae. You must be confusing me with someone else."
"Silence! Don't you try to get out of this. I know everything. And the nerve, you just left after that? Didn't even consider telling anyone about it? Maybe. Just maybe you could have called. Is a phone call too much to expect? A few moments after…I can't even say it."
"Chin Hae, I don't."
"Confused, are we? How many holes have you been filling that you don't even remember? I trusted you Yi Jeong-ssi. You were my noona's friend. I didn't think you were the kind of guy that goes into people's homes when their parents are away…and fills holes."
"I didn't do that. I swear, nothing happened."
"Don't lie to me. I know you filled that hole in my backyard."
"The hole in your backyard? Oh. Yeah. Woo Bin and I filled that. Why? Was that a problem?"
Chin Hae gave Yi Jeong a cold stare and turned to walk away.
"Chin Hae. Chin Hae, wait. I'm sorry for filling up your hole. In your backyard. Min Sun was hiding in it and we thought she dug it. I'll fix it," said Yi Jeong as he walked behind Chin Hae.
"Min Sun? My arch nemesis? First my sister then you?" said Chin Hae turning towards Yi Jeong.
"The shovel is on the porch. I'll dig you one in the exact same spot." With that said Yi Jeong quickly dug the hole that apparently belonged to Chin Hae.
"Are we okay now? It's just how you left it."
Chin Hae came closer to the hole and looked inside.
"The hole is just as deep as your betrayal." With that said Chin Hae walked back inside the house, meeting his sister at the door." Watch out Noona. This one goes around town filling up people's holes."
Ga Eul walked towards where Yi Jeong was standing.
"Woo Bin and I filled up this hole in your backyard when we were babysitting. Apparently, the new one I dug for him is as deep as my betrayal."
"Don't worry. He's been watching a lot of dramas with Omma lately. He'll be fine."
_oOo_
Yi Jeong took another look at the dress he had purchased for Ga Eul. It was a satin red Swarovski crystals beaded mermaid gown. He put it in his bag and made his way to the Chu house.
Chin Hae, who was sitting on the porch, gave him a stare that could freeze the sun.
"Hello, Chin Hae."
"Don't talk to me. I know everything. You fed Min Sun cookies, played with her then bought her three dolls, a dollhouse, and two candy bars."
"Well we had agreed on three dolls but she wanted Woo Bin to take the clothes off of one doll and put it on the other. So he just bought her four."
Chin Hae glared at him.
"I don't know why I said that. That wasn't helpful at all."
"Noona, your traitor hole-filling friend is here." He turned to Yi Jeong. "Remember, I have a say in who Noona marries. I can disqualify anyone from the race."
"That is fair. You should have a say in who becomes your sister's groom." He caught Chin Hae at the door. "By the way, I may have babysat Chin Sun and Min Sun but you are, and will always be, my favorite six-year-old."
"That's the kind of sweet talk you use on my Noona, isn't it?"
"I brought you something." Yi Jeong handed Chin Hae the heart-shaped box of chocolates that Woo Bin had given him.
"I don't care much for the box, but I do like chocolates. I'll consider forgiving you."
Yi Jeong took out another box from his bag. "I also got you this."
"A remote-controlled helicopter. Ok. I guess it was an honest mistake. Noona is here. I'll see you around, Yi Jeong Hyung."
_oOo_
"How about this one?" asked Woo Bin.
"No, that'll make me look like a poodle," sighed Jae Kyung.
Everything was fine. Two hours ago, before So Yi Jeong had decided to create chaos in other people's lives along with his own.
Two Hours Earlier
"And so, I explained to my teacher that if I don't do well in his class, I'll go to the U.S. and take part in that show- Naked and Afraid," said Woo Bin.
"You know those people don't get paid for it, right?"
"Oh. That's not a viable career choice then. That's probably why he kicked me out. Okay, then I'll go on that show where they pretend to be married. I think you need to be a celebrity for that though. But I'm an F4 member, we're basically celebrities. What do you think? Jae?"
Woo Bin's ideas were often rejected. It was something he had come to terms with. However, they were never ignored, especially by an excellent listener like Jae Kyung. Which is why her lack of a response was troubling. She was staring at her phone for the past seventeen minutes and, at her reading level, she should have been done with whatever she was looking at.
"Is everything alright?" asked Woo Bin.
Jae Kyung handed Woo Bin her phone which had a picture of an exquisite dress.
"Nice, are you going to buy that?"
"It's Ga Eul's dress that Yi Jeong bought for her."
"Whatever I may say about Yi Jeong, the guy sure has taste."
Jae Kyung was staring into space with a vacant expression in her eyes. It was making him uneasy.
"I don't have a dress for this occasion. Now I'm going to be the only one standing out."
"That's alright. Nobody would care."
"Two people make a statement Woo Bin, one makes a scofflaw." Jae Kyung frowned.
"Well, the invitation didn't say black tie. Oh, it does," said Woo Bin reading the card Jae Kyung held up in front of him. "I'll help you look."
And now here he was, the great Song Woo Bin, supremely handsome, enormously talented, hilarious, and charming, rummaging through a girl's closet, completely powerless.
"How about this one?" He handed her a satin green dress.
"It's the color of vomit."
Vomit was not green, but Woo Bin did not think that reminding Jae Kyung of that would help matters.
"Here. This is nice. Elegant. Classy," said Woo Bin handing Jae Kyung a dress.
"I'm not rich enough to fit into this."
"Neither is Ga Eul. Nobody cares."
Jae Kyung removed the heap of rejected dresses from her bed and sat down. "Woo Bin. Independence, albeit liberating, has not done wonders for my figure. Or maybe it has, depending on your perception."
"Oh. Yeah. You have lost weight. Not that there was anything wrong with you before. Good, healthy weight. As a nineteen-year-old should have."
Jae Kyung's frown deepened.
"Wait, you're nineteen, right? Even if you're not, still good, and healthy."
"Woo Bin."
Jae Kyung's eyes lacked their usual luster. When she spoke her tone was devoid of its carefree charm and it wasn't a look that suited her. Woo Bin rattled his mind for possible solutions.
He glanced at his watch. "We still have five hours. I'll buy you one."
"No, Song Woo Bin, No." Jae Kyung put her face in between her palms. "You know I can't let you do that. It defeats the whole purpose of what I'm trying to prove."
"Jae," Woo Bin sat next to her. "It's a party thrown and attended by old people. Everyone is poorly dressed. You'd be the hottest one there."
Woo Bin wrapped a bedsheet around himself and proceeded to dance. "I feel so pretty, so very pretty."
Jae Kyung rewarded him by smiling a real smile- one that illuminated her features and caused her eyes to light up.
"Woo Bin," Jae Kyung engulfed him in a hug.
She smelled like lavender, grass, and the seashore. A scent that could permeate even through the curtains he was wrapped in. He had never realized that grass smelled so good.
"I'll call Ga Eul. She'll come up with something."
"No, don't. Then she won't wear her dress."
"Fine. Jan Di then." Woo Bin proceeded to dial Jan Di's number. Luckily, since he was calling for Jae Kyung, she agreed to meet them immediately.
"Jae Kyung Unnie, you don't have to wear a dress. Why are women expected to dress in uncomfortable outfits that stunt their growth?"
"Jan Di, that was in the eighteenth century. Besides, dresses are so pretty."
"I still think you should make a statement. Wear a tuxedo. But since you insist." She took out her phone and called Ji Hoo. "Ji Hoo will have this dress fitted in no time."
"Jan Di," Woo Bin made his way to her. "Thanks for agreeing to help Jae. And for steaming my suit."
Jan Di smiled at him "Sunbae, it was no trouble."
"You are a real friend, Geum Jan Di. Bro hug."
Jan Di did not oblige. Woo Bin would never understand why all his friends rejected his show of comradery.
_oOo_
Yi Jeong fixed his tie for the third time that evening. He looked fine. There was no use getting worked up over nothing. This was a normal evening amongst friends. Nothing else.
"Do you girls want something to drink? Let us get you something. Yi Jeong." Woo Bin gestured to Yi Jeong to follow.
As soon as they put enough distance between themselves and the girls, Woo Bin got straight into Yi Jeong's face.
"Woo Bin. I told you about this party a month ago. I know that they are not exactly top-notch entertainment but you agreed to this."
Woo Bin gave him his coldest stare. "Because of you, I spend four hours dealing with a very upset girl."
"Woo Bin, it's not my fault you don't know how to break up with women."
"When you bought Ga Eul a dress didn't it occur to you to buy Jae Kyung one as well?"
Yi Jeong had the grace to look embarrassed. "She didn't have one? Why didn't you buy her something?"
"Haven't you heard of this thing called her 'Going Solo' movement? She wouldn't let me. She was very upset. I had to call Jan Di to help, who then gave me a two hour long lecture on the evolution of clothing and its relation to the Women's rights movement."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to impose on her style. I have gotten into trouble for that before."
"Mr. So," a middle-aged man interrupted. "How lovely to see you again."
"Hello, Mr. Yoon, your pottery is an inspiration to us all."
The man then turned to Woo Bin. "We haven't met before. A new face in the art industry?"
Woo Bin and Yi Jeong had one of their telepathic moments. Thankfully, for the sake of Yi Jeong's career, Woo Bin refrained from pretending to be a troubled starving artist. Even though it would spice up this boring party.
"No, I'm just here to support Yi Jeong."
"Okay, well Mr. So, we'll talk about your newest piece when you have a minute."
"Of course. Excuse us."
With that said the duo walked back towards Ga Eul and Jae Kyung.
"They haven't started serving drinks yet."
"Champagne or Orange juice for you, sir?" asked a waiter carrying a tray full of drinks.
Yi Jeong picked up a glass of juice.
"And for the lovely lady?" said the waiter turning to Ga Eul.
"All four of us came together. All of us. As a group. All platonic friends."
"That's fine sir," said the waiter as he went on to serve drinks to the rest.
"Yi Jeong, how come Jan Di and the rest of the F4 didn't come?"
"Well. You know Jan Di and Ji Hoo. Super busy. Always studying."
_oOo_
"Why didn't Yi Jeong Sunbae invite us?" asked Jan Di as she used her striker to knock over one of Jun Pyo's marble.
"Do you think it's because I embarrass him?" asked Jun Pyo.
"No, Jun Pyo. You don't embarrass anybody. I think it's because I asked for your blazer at his last party."
"Jan Di, none of us had a problem with you wearing a blazer over the dress Yi Jeong gave you. We minded when you insisted on wearing the dress pants as well," Ji Hoo added.
"Then why are you here?" said Jan Di cocking her eyebrows at Ji Hoo.
"Children. Children. When one fair gentleman fancies a young lady.
Being upfront and taking her in isolation would seem a bit shady.
So this young lad turns a hopeful eye to his companion
whose similar circumstance would put him back up on the stallion."
"Ji Hoo that made no sense," informed Jun Pyo.
"Yi Jeong is using Woo Bin as an excuse to …make an impression on a girl."
" Best case scenario, he ditched us for some woman he might meet at the party? Or worst case scenario, he's trying to hit on Ga Eul. He told me they were just friends. This is insane and messed up on so many levels."
"I know, right? She's my best friend. Doesn't this go against your bro code or something?"
"Jan Di, sweetheart, the bro code isn't something we concern ourselves with." Jun Pyo walked inside his room in the F4 lounge and brought back a book with him. "This goes against Section 3, Article 4 of the F4 constitution. The F4, under no circumstances, will lie to each other unless it's life-threatening, a planned surprise, or done to protect a family member/significant other's privacy. I've got it right here," said Jun Pyo pointing at the aforementioned law in their official, leather-bound, F4 rulebook.
_oOo_
Woo Bin handed Jae Kyung her plate. "It's something called Tarte au Pistou . I'm really sorry about this Jae. If it was up to me you wouldn't be spending your free time like this."
"It's alright. This isn't so bad. You should have seen some of the parties my parent's made me attend as a kid. There was no music, no dancing, and no kids. Really, the closest person to my age were the waitresses."
"And people wonder why kids rebel. Hey Jae, look, that picture on the wall, it kind of looks like Pumba."
"What is a Pumba?"
"Pumba? From Lion King."
"Oh. I have never watched that movie."
"Really? Jae, you have got to see it. It's the best animated movie of all time. I saw it when I was five with my dad and Gran." He waved his hands in the air. "Hakuna matata. It means no worry."
Jae Kyung stopped eating. She stared into the distance with a slight frown on her face. "It's nice that you got to see movies with your dad and grandma . We never really had a family's night."
"I wouldn't really say I was lucky. Movie night wasn't all that pleasant." Woo Bin looked away from her.
"What do you mean?"
He considered not saying anything but the concern in her eyes prompted him to continue. "Well, how do I put this. Gran and dad aren't each other's favorite people. So sometimes family night ends up with me feeling like a child of divorce."
"In-law relations is the top reason my parents give for backing up arrange marriage."
"Your parents had an arranged marriage?"
"Don't most of our parents. In a way."
"I guess, I never had to worry about that."
Jae Kyung didn't say anything for a while. She roamed her eyes around the room and finally settled on watching Ga Eul and Yi Jeong. Ga Eul was talking animatedly about something, and Yi Jeong was looking at her with a shiny glint in his eyes and a wide smile that was his default around her. "I really hope it works out for them. It would be nice if one of us gets to break free from the pattern."
She smiled at him, a pained hollow kind of smile. He wanted to say something, to uplift her mood, or even to fill the void of silence. But for the first time in his life, Song Woo Bin had no idea what to say. So, he let Jae Kyung's introspection run its course.
"You know, Ga Eul and Yi Jeong kind of remind me of Cassy and Nick from 'Yours Truly''"
"Jun Pyo really loved that movie. I never got the appeal of love letters. Always found them a bit cheesy."
"It wasn't just love letters. Cassy received notes from her mom in her lunchbox, from her best friend during boring classes. Besides, a hand-written form of communication has a personal touch to it."
"Woo Bin," Yi Jeong and Ga Eul came walking towards them. "We have now spent enough time to make an excuse. I told them that Ga Eul is feeling under the weather."
"Now it's my turn baby," said Woo Bin as they exited the venue.
_oOo_
" Your friends throw a mean party Woo Bin," commented Yi Jeong.
They were staring at a room full of twenty people, dressed in formal wear, sipping tea in fancy china. Unfortunately, the people in those expensive suits were senior citizens.
"There's a slight possibility that I might have made a mistake while noting down the address. I'll call and confirm."
After a short conversation with his friend over the phone, Woo Bin escorted the group to the actual party.
Frat parties have a general vibe. Blasting loud music, flashing lights, irresponsible youngsters drinking their problems away and convincing themselves that this is how you're supposed to have fun. Party number three was a typical frat party, and they were dressed quite elegantly for such an event.
"Yo yo yo, Woo Bin, my man. Glad you could make it." Woo Bin's friend bumped his fists against his. "You look great. Grab a beer. And I know we don't get to see each other often but seriously, don't be a stranger. Now tell me all about it. I'm sorry, I'm being quite rude." He turned to the girls. "Hello, I'm Kim Joon, nice to meet all of you. Now, Woo Bin which one of these ladies is the mother of your child?"
"Just a rumor Joon, see you around. Don't spread the word. It's not true."
"What was that all about?" asked Jae Kyung.
"They saw me at the supermarket buying baby stuff when we were babysitting and now, they think I'm a dad."
Woo Bin's tale of possible fatherhood could not be discussed for long as the group's attention was diverted towards the scene being played out in front of them. On one end, a guy held upside down was chugging alcohol while two people were making sure he remained in an inverted position. The place was packed with sweaty college students dancing on top of each other. Being judgmental wasn't an option because before they could pass a comment, they were pulled into the chaos.
"Woo Bin, this is your idea of..." Yi Jeong couldn't complete his sentence as a chair came flying in their direction.
Yi Jeong's first instinct was to shield Ga Eul but a massive wave of drunkards coming in their direction restricted his movement. When the crowd cleared, the girls were gone.
"Woo Bin, what's wrong with you? I can understand you dragging me to these parties, but you thought it was a good idea to bring Jae Kyung and Ga Eul here? And what is wrong with these people?"
"Don't worry we'll find them. And it's not like it's a drug party. We're college students, Yi Jeong, live a little. I'm sure your precious Ga Eul can handle a few guys. It's not like she isn't used to the attention. She's been to the ski trip. She knows these people. Okay, I'm going. I'm going. No need to get violent. Stop glaring at me."
"Well, your girlfriend already doesn't like Shinwa. And you dragged her into a place where all the maniacs from our university hang out," replied Yi Jeong.
"No need to point fingers. Jae Kyung and I are just platonic friends. That is probably a foreign feeling to you. Oh wait, look. Over there," said Woo Bin pointing to a couple making out in the corner.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think that girl is Ga Eul?"
_oOo_
"And people will always try to pull you down. But that just means that you're closer to the top."
Although Jae Kyung cherished all the friends she had made in Seoul, sometimes one finds solace in a stranger's words. From an outward glance, one would be looking at Shinwa's most rotten and barbaric group of students, but like always, even here, Jae Kyung managed to run into the best.
"Yeah. My family always thought my methods to be unconventional. But ever since I left home, I feel like I can finally breathe out again. Being on my own is tough and I'm not accustomed to this lifestyle but I still have a lot to prove."
"And you feel like until you have achieved what you've set out to do, there's no turning back? I feel you, man. It's like we're the same person. We're free birds. Not Blue Jays or Robins. We can't sit pretty and take the common route. But we still want to spread our wings and don't wish to be trapped in a gilded cage. A cage made of doubt and unacceptance."
"So, your family wasn't very supportive of your entrepreneurship?"
"No, it's not conventional. They just don't understand. Passion lives in the darkest corners of the forest and only the right flashlight would help you find your way."
"That's so beautiful. What is it that you do again?"
"I sell little drops of heaven. They just wake your soul and give you that zest you need to go on. You could use some. Here, the first gram is free. My offering to you."
"No... I'm not a cocaine person."
"Everyone says that initially. But don't worry. Don't look so afraid. I'll start you off with something small, here is some weed. After seven joints a day, you'll be more relaxed and open to taking new risks. Then we can talk coke."
"I have to go," said Jae Kyung as she rushed to blend into the crowd situated in the middle of the room.
_oOo_
"You look really beautiful in that dress,"
"Thank you, I like your dress too."
"You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still the same polite, sweet, charming soul."
"I'm sorry, have we met?"
" Seo- yeon, don't be ridiculous. You can't erase Mi Cha's name from your heart that easily. I know it was all my fault. There, I'm apologizing. But you know how difficult it is. Our families, society, finances. But we can fight all that…" she said tucking a strand of Ga Eul's hair behind her ear. "Together."
"Oh, no. I'm not Seo- Yeon. And I'm straight. I'm here with my friends. They're probably looking for me."
"Seo-yeon, don't say that. I know you're angry and upset but don't let this happen. Don't end it like this," said Mi Cha holding on to Ga Eul's left wrist.
"I told you, woman, I'm not Seo-yeon."
"You have every right to be mad."
"How about you get me a drink and we'll talk this through Mi Cha ssi."
Ga Eul saw her chance and sprinted towards the first thing she could find, a walk- in- closet.
_oOo_
After Woo Bin had made that awful comment, Yi Jeong had no desire to work with him and had gone out to search for the girls on his own. While passing by the sofa he saw a silhouette of someone that could have been Jae Kyung. He was about to go towards her when the sight of his Ethical Business professor made him stop. Woo Bin would call him cowardly but a confrontation with that unreasonable man was the last thing he needed. The last time Yi Jeong had attended his class, about a month ago, the man had told him off.
"Only pots and bowls are important to you, is it? The laws of the country you want to do business in don't matter? Do you even know how many tax eversions you could be guilty of? Of course, you wouldn't. The great So Yi Jeong wouldn't concern himself with these things." Those were his professor's exact words.
Yi Jeong did not need another lecture at this point. Yi Jeong made his way to the couple making out in the corner. There he discovered two things. One: angry couples can give Geum Jan Di real competition in the staring department. Two: Woo Bin was right, in the dark the girl did look a lot like Ga Eul, except for her shorter hair.
_oOo_
"Dae Ho, have you seen a girl in a black and white dress, shoulder length hair, this high", said Woo Bin pointing to his neck.
"I don't know man. That's a vague description."
"Wait. Wait, I have a picture," said Woo Bin showing Dae Ho a picture of Jae Kyung from one of her social media accounts.
"Oh yeah, she was somewhere over there. Near the beer fountain."
"Thanks, man."
Woo Bin started walking towards the instructed direction until a voice he never wanted to hear again called his name.
"Woo Bin. You rascal," Da Eun, his ex called out.
Woo Bin did the best thing he could do given the circumstances. He hid underneath the table.
_oOo_
From the dim lights of the dusty corner, from in between the cracks of people legs, Yi Jeong managed to catch a glimpse of the woman in the red dress. He was knelt down in a corner and even in the dim lighting, she stood out from the rest, slowly tiptoeing her way out of a closet.
"Yi Jeong, there you are. Where are Woo Bin and Jae Kyung?"
"I don't know. We were looking for you and Jae Kyung."
_oOo_
While Yi Jeong and Ga Eul were enjoying a moment of peace, on the other side of the room, Woo Bin finally heaved a sigh of relief as Jae Kyung slid underneath the table to join him.
"Woo Bin. Here you are. They're selling stuff here Woo Bin. Stuff. Where were you guys? Where are Ga Eul and Yi Jeong?"
"Not sure. Yi Jeong just ditched me because some girl who looked like Ga Eul was making out in the corner with somebody."
"There they are," exclaimed Woo Bin and Jae Kyung.
The group sprinted towards each other and met in the middle of the dance floor and shared a group embrace as they exuberantly jumped up and down.
"Okay, we need to leave. Now," said Woo Bin.
"We can't use the front door. Coke dude is blocking it with his other cronies."
Woo Bin raised an eyebrow but decided to ask questions later. "There is only one way then, we'll have to jump out of there," said Woo Bin pointing to the balcony.
"Don't be crazy. We'll die," yelled Yi Jeong.
The group scanned the room for other forms of escape until one, albeit undesirable, but so far, the only viable solution, presented itself.
"We have to use the fire escape. There is no other way," Jae Kyung explained.
The girls took their heels in their hands and one by one, they all climbed down.
For a split second, all seemed well until Woo Bin spotted his ex, Da Eun coming towards them with a murderous expression.
"Song Woo Bin, it has hardly been a year since you completely abandoned me, and you already found two replacements."
To Woo Bin's utter horror, she made her way towards the girls. He stepped in front of them, in his attempt to shield them but it was no use. She shoved him at the girls and all three of them fell into the pool. Yi Jeong jumped in after them.
"Yi Jeong," Woo Bin pulled Yi Jeong's head out of the water. "You are not the best swimmer. Why the hell did you jump in?"
"I guessed that Da Eun wouldn't leave until all of your companions were drenched."
Woo Bin found it ridiculous but even he couldn't deny the fact that Da Eun was gone.
"Woo Bin, who was that?" asked Jae Kyung.
"An ex. Sort of."
"What did you do to her? Let me guess, you thought you were hanging out and she thought you were in a committed relationship?" teased Yi Jeong.
"No, she thought we were getting married."
Looking at the aghast faces staring back at him, Woo Bin continued. "Apparently, she is still mad about me not showing up to the wedding she did not tell me about." Woo Bin helped the girls out of the pool and then gave his hand to Yi Jeong. "It was going to be a small ceremony. Not that many people. A quiet wedding by the lake."
"That sounds beautiful," said Yi Jeong.
Fully drenched and a little chilly, the group made it to the F4 lounge, where they were greeted by a surprised Ji Hoo.
"Don't ask," said Yi Jeong as they all entered the lounge.
_oOo_
Ga Eul looked at her phone for the thirty-second time that day. Ever since they had come back from the party, Ga Eul had been incessantly checking her email for the results.
"Ga Eul," you need to calm down. Jae Kyung took the phone from her. "let's go for lunch."
"Just a minute, I want to show you something."
Jae Kyung followed Ga Eul inside the porridge shop from where she brought out a wrapped package from her bag. "An early Christmas present."
Jae Kyung opened up the packaging to find a full-length blue dress with a bow in the center.
"You could have told me, Unnie. We are friends. Friends tell each other things."
"Tell your friend this, what about this contest has gotten you so worked up?" Jae Kyung gave Ga Eul a chance to answer but the other girl was silent, so she continued. "You have been a little snappy lately. Is it just nervousness?"
"It's not nervousness. It's more like," Ga Eul fumbled with her words, "like something that was a distant dream now seems achievable. I have wanted this since I was five and I got my first easy bake oven. Cooking was what I did whenever I felt sad or happy or anything for that matter. The more items I cross off of my list the more I realize that even if I get all twenty but fail at this, none of it will matter."
Jae Kyung stared at Ga Eul with a blank expression. "List?"
Ga Eul took out an envelope from her purse and handed it to Jae Kyung. It contained a piece of paper. Seven items were crossed out and two items, numbers 19 and 20 were blank.
Jae Kyung pointed to the blank items. "Ga Eul, there seems to be a sight miscalculation."
Ga Eul smiled at her. "Those are just for me."
"It seems like you have been writing this for a long time."
Ga Eul nodded. Then stared at the ground in silence, in an attempt to untangle her thoughts. "I had thought about not entering the contest this year. Before Yi Jeong handed me the form. I had tried before. It seemed pointless to get my hopes up for no reason. I thought making progress on my list would be enough but."
" But It wasn't. But you did enter, and you have almost made it," Jae Kyung squeezed her hand.
Ga Eul took a whisk from the kitchen counter. "Unnie, what is this?"
"An equipment we pretended was a wand when we made our bodyguard dress up in a mini skirt and pretend to be a fairy princess."
"Now imagine if after growing up you learn that you really are a princess and have to run your own kingdom. It's no longer an innocent dream but a responsibility that if you fail at, you have only yourself to blame." Ga Eul looked at her shoes. "I have already failed at this once."
"Ga Eul, your porridge is better than half the gourmet dishes I have tasted and we both know that Woo Bin will vouch for your cookies any day."
Ga Eul's phone beeped. Jae Kyung handed it back to her. She had six miscalls from Yi Jeong. Before she could call him back, he and Woo Bin entered the porridge shop, wearing huge grins. Yi Jong walked up to her and scooped her in a hug.
Woo Bin and Jae Kyung exchanged a look. "I don't know where he got this sudden dose of courage from either," Woo Bin whispered
"Check Chef Lee's website. He has published the list." Woo Bin and Jae Kyung joined in on the hug.
" You got in."
No matter what challenges lay ahead, for those few moments, Ga Eul felt pure euphoria.
A/N Hello, all our awesome readers! How did you like the chapter? What was your favorite part? Please tell us in the reviews. We really appreciate your comments.