Una Mattina - You or Nothing

Chapter 11: Min-ju

1 Hour Earlier

"You sure took your time," Woo Bin said, already four drinks deep when the man walked back into the empty bar.

"You are a genius, Prince Song!" the man exclaimed as he sat himself back down across from him. "Only you would be able to make such a connection."

"Either that, or I made a mistake and hired an idiot."

The man set down a small bundle of documents on the table, facing it towards Woo Bin. "It was very easy to find a Min-ju in relation to Ms. Park Ha Neul in the States." He cleared his throat for dramatic effect. "It was her fiancé."

Woo Bin's blood turned cold. "What did you just say?"

"Late fiancé, in fact," the man continued, looking immensely proud of himself. "It was a hushed-up engagement, because her mother was against it."

"Parents…" Woo Bin picked up the documents and flipped through it.

Father. Park Dae Jung. He was instantly familiar with the late musical performer's face. He had no idea Ha Neul was at all related to him. He was popular in the late eighties, but he hadn't been heard from since he left for the States for unknown reasons. Based on the document, he had passed away peacefully several years ago in his sleep.

Mother. Cho Eun Kyung. Now this woman bore a strong resemblance to Ha Neul—she had the same pale complexion and small nose. But Ms. Cho's eyes were cold and mean; Woo Bin felt she definitely wasn't the woman to mess with. Apparently, she was now a renowned businesswoman in the US, being a head of the company TrueK, the pioneer of Korean beauty cosmetics in the west.

And finally…Mr. Han Min-ju. Woo Bin narrowed his eyes at the photograph. He looked quite plain, but that could be his own jealousy talking. He had jet black hair that reached his shoulders. He cycled through the second available photograph and immediately felt his breath catch in his throat.

It was a photograph of him with Ha Neul. There was a familiar beach in the backdrop, which Woo Bin guessed to be in California. Min-ju looked to be almost the same height as she was, and had an arm wrapped around Ha Neul's shoulders. His smile was wide and crooked.

Ha Neul was just as happy. It reached her eyes, which Woo Bin just realized he'd never seen before.

So this is Ha Neul in love, he thought wistfully.

"What happened to him?"

The man coughed. "Mr. Han went on a fishing trip by himself somewhere on the East Coast and never returned. He was pronounced dead within a month."

"But the body was never found?"

"No," the man responded grimly. "The news was also kept hushed up, most likely by Ms. Cho."

Woo Bin leaned back in his seat, taking another swig of his beer. "When did Ha Neul return to Korea?"

"Six months after the incident," the man replied readily.

"I see," Woo Bin sighed, looking at the photograph again. His finger wandered to the side of Ha Neul's smiling face. "And what was Mr. Han's line of work?"

"It's interesting," the man said slowly. "He comes from a family of doctors, but Mr. Han Min-ju seems to have been disowned. He was a struggling musician. Practically a beggar. I could not imagine how his path would have crossed with someone like Ms. Park, with such a gap between their social status."

"It happens," Woo Bin said simply, not looking away from the photo. "If it was true love, that is."

"We still don't know how this connects to the shooting incident," the man continued, looking grim again.

"It's something," Woo Bin shrugged, dropping the photo back on the table. He lit another cigarette before waving him off, saying, "Go and keep looking. I'll be leaving after I finish this."

"What did you just say?" Ha Neul said, looking and feeling absolutely mortified. "Did…Did you investigate me?"

Woo Bin nodded once, not even looking the slightest bit apologetic.

Ha Neul quickly swiped her hand to strike him across the face. It hit him squarely in the cheek, but his head barely turned from the force. He also didn't look surprised that she'd done that, his face fixed in a cold, apathetic expression.

Her hand returned to her side, trembling. "You bastard. I told you to stop."

"I can't do that," Woo Bin murmured. "So is that why you're acting this way, and why you think you're such a terrible person? Because you think your fiancé abandoned you?"

"Bastard," she swore again, raising her hand to slap him again.

This time, Woo Bin was able to catch her wrist before she did. "Once is enough. I won't let you hit me again."

"What do you want from me?" Ha Neul cried. She tried breaking her wrist free, but he held it tightly.

"I just want you to listen," he said, his eyes burning with fervor. "It's not your fault."

"You don't know anything." Ha Neul couldn't help but sob this time, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her.

Before she could fall to the floor, Woo Bin caught her by the arms and pulled her to a tight embrace. Her face dug under the fabric of his coat, and she let herself go, letting him hold her upright. She poured her tears all over his shirt, clutching the soft cotton in her hand as she cried.

"You're right," he whispered against the top of her head. His hand reached up to caress her hair as he spoke. "I couldn't possibly understand it because I was never there. I never came close to experience anything like what you had."

Ha Neul stifled a sob.

"But I do know you can't live like this forever," he continued. "Please believe me."

She pushed herself slightly away, finally regaining her footing. She looked up at his face and studied his face, which was so close to hers. He looked down on her from his height with gentle sadness. He was sincere.

"You deserve to be happy, too," he said seriously.

"Do I?" she whispered despite herself.

His eyes darted down to her lips. He nodded once.

She sighed, stepping backwards once more until there was at least three feet between them. "I'm cold."

Woo Bin wordlessly shrugged off his long coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. "I should tie a coat around your neck each time you leave. I'll stalk you at your house if I have to."

Ha Neul watched as he fussed over her, tightening the belt of the coat around her waist. The rest of his face was calm and collected, but his eyes were kind. She stood before him, letting someone take care of her. Did she really deserve it?

Then again, it was the same advice she'd offered Ji Hoo earlier. You should stop running away from destiny. You should accept it wholeheartedly.

"Will you let me take you home?" Woo Bin asked finally.

She smiled softly at him, for the first time that night. Despite slapping him and yelling at him…He wanted to take her home. She was wrong, he wasn't uncomplicated at all.

For the first time, she wondered whether she was right to want that in the first place.

"Yes," she breathed.

Ji Hoo sat in a corner booth of the club, still deep in thought. He hated these places, but that was exactly the point. He let the loudness of the crowd and the tasteless music fill his ears, using it like it was white noise, to focus on the events that had transpired earlier that night.

As if on cue, his cellphone rang on the table. It was Yi Jeong. He merely watched as it rang, his fingers drumming on the surface of the table next to it.

When Ji Hoo didn't answer, Yi Jeong sent a text instead. At least text me to say that you're alive

Sighing, he typed a response. Alive

She left w/ WB. Just thought u should know

Ji Hoo's fingers stopped drumming on the table, and he narrowed his eyes at the text. In the end, he decided not to respond. It was just as he expected—Woo Bin wasn't about to give up.

Am I giving up? he asked himself.

"Hello, mister."

Ji Hoo looked up at the newcomer. It was a girl, a stranger in a sequined crop top and lowcut jeans. She was a bit pretty, he supposed. She smiled sweetly at him.

"Mister," she greeted again, raising two bottles of alcohol in her hands. "I saw you sitting here on your own without a drink. Can I offer you some?"

"I'm not interested."

The girl looked unfazed by his response. "No, it's okay. I'll just leave the bottle here."

She put down one of the bottles on his table, despite him gesturing to her not to.

"I'll be at that table over there," she said, pointing towards the booth adjacent to him. "Have a good night."

And just like that, she waved and turned to leave.

Strange, he thought. Women were usually more persistent, based on his experience. He picked up the cheap bottle and twirled it in his hands—

He found it immediately. Minjae was written on the label with a black felt tip pen, along with a string of numbers that was most likely her cell. Of course, he thought.

Ji Hoo sighed. He opened the bottle and took a long swig.

Ha Neul stared at Woo Bin as he drove them to her house. She had wrapped his coat around her like a blanket. It was when his eyes began slightly drooping that she noticed the dark bags around his eyes and his pale lips.

"You didn't sleep again, did you?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said curtly, still staring at the road.

"Stop the car. I'll drive."

He raised a hand to wave her off. "I'm not going to crash the car or anything. We're almost at your house."

Ha Neul looked out the window, and they were nowhere near her village yet. It was how she spotted the bright lights of a convenience store a couple of blocks away. "I…want instant noodles. Stop there."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm craving," she insisted. "Just stop the car already."

Sighing, Woo Bin obliged. He parked the Lotus directly in front of the convenience store. "Instant noodles," he grumbled as he got out, opening the car door for her.

She took her time in browsing the displays, taking stolen glances towards to the man next to her. It was the only time she got to study his outfit: he was dressed more casually than she was, in a cozy black sweater and blue jeans. He followed her patiently and quietly, occasionally rubbing his hooded eyes as he did. He really is tired this time, she thought, instantly feeling a twisting in her chest.

"What do you think about this one?" she asked, picking out an orange packet.

"I don't know," he said, stretching his arms and yawning. "I don't eat instant noodles."

"Why not? You're such a snob."

"Maybe I am," he shrugged. He bowed his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as he read the various labels. "Hmm. This one looks good."

Ha Neul fished out the packet for him. "Spicy ramen with cheese? Interesting."

"I like cheese," he said simply. "How about some soju?"

She shook her head. "Coffee's better. I'll go get us some."

They ended up seated at one of the outdoor tables of the convenience store. It was late at night, so there was barely anyone out in the streets. They ate their ramen in comfortable silence across from each other.

"How is it?" she asked midway through her meal.

Woo Bin lifted the plastic bowl, already drinking the last bits of his food. He let out a satisfied sigh once he set it back down. "It's okay."

"Okay? You downed that pretty quickly." Ha Neul chuckled. "Finish your coffee, too."

"My coffee––" Woo Bin suddenly stopped in the middle of sipping his drink. "Wait a minute. Did you make us go here so that I could wake myself up?"

Ha Neul smiled, nodding once.

To her surprise, Woo Bin's expression turned to disappointment. He set the coffee down roughly and got ready to stand up and leave. "Let's go."

"What?" Ha Neul stood up and followed him. She then grabbed the ends of his shirt to face him towards her. "Hey, you didn't––"

"Don't do that," he said, his words biting.

"Do what?"

"Try to care for me," he said, shrugging his shirt away from her hand. "It's leading me on."

He said that so casually that Ha Neul thought she'd misheard him. In that moment, she began to study her own actions. Yes, that was probably the first time she did something for him that didn't seem to be for her own benefit. She'd been selfish and unkind to him.

Was she leading him on? Or did she actually care about him?

To her own surprise, the answer seemed simple to her.

"I'm not leading you on," she said seriously.

Woo Bin stared down at her, blinking rapidly.

She began to talk quickly so she wouldn't chicken out in saying the words. "Don't misunderstand me, I'm still not up to it. Opening up completely to anyone, I mean. But I'm willing to admit…You mean a lot to me, Song Woo Bin. I care about you, and if things were different…"

I might actually like you. She didn't have to say it out loud.

He stepped forward, his expression unreadable. Ha Neul focused on not keeping her feet planted on the ground instead of shying away from his gaze. His hands slowly reached out to the sides of her arms, gently caressing them.

"Say that again for me."

Ha Neul closed her eyes, sighing softly. "I care about you."

When she opened her eyes, Woo Bin was smiling softly at her. "One more time?"

"Stop it," she said, laughing nervously. "If you're not going to finish that coffee, can you take me home now?"

"Of course," he chuckled, putting an arm around her shoulders, and walking them slowly to the car. "This time, I'm really awake."

"Sorry I took long," Ha Neul sighed as she stepped out of the bathroom after her quick shower, wearing nothing but her bathrobe. "Do you want anything––"

She trailed off once she saw him lying on the lounge in her room, an arm over his eyes as he slept. She found it endearing how he was much too tall for the couch, leaving his legs awkwardly propped on top of one of the arm rests.

I guess he's staying tonight, she thought, smiling to herself.

Before she got dressed, she decided to pull out a spare blanket from the top level of her dresser. She went over to Woo Bin, who was fixed in the same position, and wrapped the fabric over him. Since it was quite cold that night, she decided to tuck him in, too. She took the arm over his eyes and placed it on his side for him.

He looked so…peaceful. Apparently, his neutral scowl disappeared in his sleep. She couldn't help but trace the side of his cheek––

Suddenly, his eyes fluttered slightly open, and his hand reached up to grab her by the wrist. He then swiftly––and yet still gently––flipped her by the waist that she ended up spooned against him. He didn't seem to mind that her hair was still a bit damp.

It was a fairly uncomfortable position, but she had to admit…She enjoyed being this close to him.

Then, she felt him sigh against the side of her neck, making her a different kind of uncomfortable.

"Woo Bin," she whispered. "Are you awake?"

"Hmm" was all he replied, and his voice vibrated against her nape.

"Y-You're too big for this couch."

Silence.

Ha Neul sighed, turning around to face him. His face was so close. It's strange––it wasn't as if she'd never been this up close to him. It wasn't as if she'd never kissed him, hell, she'd even had sex with him before.

But for some reason…This was different. As her eyes wandered his tired and yet still alluring face, something within her heart twisted. A certain warmth that wasn't there before.

I care about you.

Was that the reason? Finally admitting something as simple as that?

But no…She can't be too greedy. She can't open up like that, not to anyone. Not in her state.

Woo Bin's eyes fluttered open again, and suddenly, her hesitation dissipated. At least for tonight, he was different.

Ha Neul merely closed her eyes when he leaned in to kiss her. Fuck, even kissing him felt different now. He kissed her lazily and sleepily, but she couldn't have enough.

He let out a slight grunt of surprise when Ha Neul shifted their position so that she was on top of him, throwing the blanket aside as she deepened her kiss desperately. She soon felt his desire pressed up between her legs, and she let out a soft sigh of pleasure.

She wanted him and only him. Why did it take so long for her to figure that out?

Her enthusiasm seemed to have reinvigorated him somehow, because he soon propped himself up with one of his arms so that he was in a seated position, with his lips still locked with hers. His other hand began snaking itself up her waist, expertly untying the belt of her robe.

Woo Bin's eyes darkened as she watched her hastily shimmy out of her robe until it all piled up on the floor. He wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her as he stood, before laying her down on the bed––

"No," she insisted, flipping them over so that she was on top of him again.

This time, she wanted to do the work for him.

"Ha Neul––"

Woo Bin ceased his complaints when Ha Neul crawled down his legs and unbuttoned his pants for him. She deftly undressed him and Woo Bin let out a soft groan when she wrapped her hand around his cock.

She lost all inhibition and she wrapped her lips around the tip of his member. As she took him in and out of her mouth, she looked up and marveled at the way his face contorted into pure lust and desire. All for her. Her ardor was fueled further when his hands wandered up to the back of her head and clutched her hair, forcing her to take him faster.

"Come here," he whispered a while later, pulling her up to straddle him. He sat up again to meet her lips and wrap her arms almost protectively around her torso.

Ha Neul leaned down to kiss him just as she sank to take him inside her.

"Fuck––" he swore against her lips as she rode him.

Even this felt different. They'd done this before, and yet he feels so much closer to her. And her to him. She looked into his eyes and for a second, she could see that he, too, can feel the difference.

If things were different, I might actually like you.

They came eventually like that, at almost exactly the same time. As they lay next to each other after pure bliss, Woo Bin peppered kisses on her shoulder and neck.

"We could stay like this forever, you know," Woo Bin murmured before he completely dozed off.

Woo Bin stepped out of Ha Neul's house early that morning. While he was only able to catch a few hours of sleep after sleeping with her, he felt more energized than he'd ever felt before.

I care about you.

He smiled to himself as he walked towards the car, only realizing later that someone else was leaning against it.

Ji Hoo had his arms crossed as he watched him approach. He didn't look like he slept at all, and he reeked of alcohol. That was unlike him.

"Have you been standing there for long?" Woo Bin asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I thought it was my job to watch over her yesterday," he said with an unreadable expression. "Why did you step in?"

"From what I heard from her, she left the event willingly." He stepped forward once. "She left you."

Ji Hoo nodded slowly. "She told me she wanted to be alone. I was going to tail her after an hour until Yi Jeong said she was with you. So you just happened to pass by her?"

"Ji Hoo," Woo Bin warned in a low tone. "She's not a child we're co-parenting. I can see her whenever I like."

"So I can do that too?" Ji Hoo asked, tilting his head. "I thought you still wanted me to stay away from her."

Woo Bin pulled his own head to the side to stretch his neck. "Ah, and I was having such a nice morning. I'm going to work."

"I kissed her."

He stopped in his tracks, his hand frozen a few inches from the door handle. What the fuck did he just say?

"Last night, I took my shot and kissed her," Ji Hoo continued, standing up straight. "Did she mention that to you, too?"

"Do you get off on this type of shit?" Woo Bin snapped. "First, with Jun Pyo and Jan Di––"

"They have nothing to do with this," Ji Hoo cut him off, taking a step forward to cut the distance between them. "Why must everything I do always have something to do with that woman?"

"Because everything does," Woo Bin replied angrily. "Or did you just magically forget the past several years? If you truly want to be a good person for Ha Neul, you need to first take a good look at yourself and settle your past. Be fucking honest with yourself."

Ji Hoo scoffed but said nothing.

"Are you honestly telling me that you're over Jan Di before Ha Neul? Isn't Ha Neul just a convenient device for you to use to get over her?"

"Hey––"

"I said take a good look at yourself instead of being defensive about it," Woo Bin cut off, finally opening the car door. "I'm not stopping you from seeing her anymore. But you'll have to remember that Ha Neul will eventually see you for what you really are. That's up to you to determine."

He didn't wait for Ji Hoo to respond before revving the car's engine to life, leaving the village.

Woo Bin had played it off too cool earlier. To be honest, it really bothered him.

Last night, I took my shot and kissed her. Did she mention that to you?

Of course she didn't mention it to him, she had no reason to. Ha Neul had made it clear that she still wasn't up to opening up to anyone. They weren't dating, not even casually.

But they were…something. At least, potentially, especially after last night. To him. God, the universe really was giving him the finger.

"Fuck," he swore, slamming the laptop shut on his desk, where he had been pretending to work. He put his face in his hands, sighing loudly.

His office door suddenly opened. It was his secretary. "Good morning, Mr. Song. Your meeting is about to start soon."

"I don't care, have it cancelled," he mumbled, his face still half-buried in his hands.

"Come again?" the secretary said, looking bewildered. "Sir, this––It's the monthly town hall."

"Then have it without me," he shrugged, leaning back in his chair and opening his laptop again. "Have Mr. Seo take minutes for me."

"Sorry?"

"Are you really going to make me repeat myself?" he asked flatly, raising a brow.

"No, of course, I understand," she stammered, bowing low. "I apologize, sir."

As soon as she closed the door gently behind her, he sighed again and leaned further back, facing the ceiling. He picked up his cellphone from the desk and checked his messages. She still hadn't responded to his good morning text. Checking the time, he guessed she was already at work.

He began to type. Hey, I have a question––

Immediately, he erased it.

Are u playing with me––

Erased again.

Ji Hoo told me something interesting––

Erased.

"Why do I sound stupid no matter how I ask?" he mumbled to himself, dropping his phone back on the table. He jumped however, when it suddenly vibrated against his desk.

He picked it up and read the message. It was from Ha Neul.

Morning, are u at work?

Despite himself, his heart skipped a beat at the greeting. He didn't hesitate to message back, Yep. Y? Miss me already?

It only took a few seconds for her to text back. Wanna have lunch?

"Is she asking me out?" he whispered, putting a hand on his mouth. Before he could text back, however, she sent another message.

I need ur help with something

"Ah," he sighed, chuckling to himself. Of course there was a reason. No matter, he thought, typing and sending out his simple response.

Pick u up at 12

"Who are you texting that's making you smile like that?"

Ha Neul jumped at the voice, instinctively putting her phone back in her pocket. She looked up and saw one of the other musical producers––Duri, if she remembered correctly––leaning down on the electric piano in front of her with a curious tilt from his head.

"No one," Ha Neul stammered.

Duri hummed in response and stood back up. "So that makes you single, then?"

"What?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Everyone's been asking. If you have a boyfriend, I mean."

"No," Ha Neul said, laughing nervously. She was really uncomfortable now. "I'm done recording this, I'll head back to my desk. See you."

She walked out of the studio before Duri could respond. She suddenly remembered the reason why she was reluctant to get an office job. She hated interacting with people, especially those that gave her too much attention.

As she began to edit the samples on her computer, she couldn't help but check the time as it passed. It seemed to tick slower than usual. As soon as it turned to 11:30, she stood up from her seat and started packing her bag.

It was when she zipped the bag too quickly that the zipper got stuck that she stopped suddenly, thinking about what she was doing.

Everyone's been asking. If you have a boyfriend, I mean.

She'd instinctively told Woo Bin that she needed his help with something, but in truth, she just really wanted to see him. As soon as she'd woken up that morning without him next to her, she'd been looking for Woo Bin. Ever since she'd admitted to herself that she cared about him, and that night…

Is this a glimpse of what it would be like to have someone again? Was it so bad?

"Ms. Park," a woman suddenly said, peeking through the doorway of the office. It was the lady at the floor's reception. "A man's here to see you. He's waiting in the lobby downstairs."

He's early, she thought to herself with a smile. "Got it. I'll be out for lunch today."

The woman smiled knowingly. "Is it your boyfriend?"

"No, I don't have one," she chuckled nervously as she put her coat back on and strapped on her bag. "I'll see you later."

Ha Neul walked as quickly as she could without running towards the elevator doors, pressing the button several times. As soon as she stepped inside, she patted her hair down and adjusted the collar of her inner blouse. It's not so bad, she finally decided, to have someone to care about again.

She let herself be excited again. She walked out the doors and nearly ran to the lobby couches. Sure enough, a man in a dark suit was waiting for her, facing her directly.

But her heart dropped to her stomach as soon as she realized that it wasn't Woo Bin at all.

"You," she muttered, dropping her bag to the floor.

It had been several years, but she instantly recognized him from his shoulder-length jet black hair and soft features. And that smile…

"Hello, Ha Neul. You made it difficult to find you. It's been a while."