Chapter 6 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Hara followed Onew towards the carpark. From a distance away, Hara was able to spot his car. As they neared the vehicle, Hara grinned wickedly the moment she saw Onew's bulging eyes. She knew he did not expect this - seeing all four tyres of his car punctured. Onew gave a low growl before taking out his phone to call someone. She heard him arguing with the person on the other line before he finally stopped talking and shoved his phone into his pocket.
"What now?" Hara pretended to ask, looking concerned.
"Let's just use your car." Onew replied, glancing at Hara.
"Great! Let's go." Hara led the way towards her car which was parked just a few metres away from his.
***
*30 minutes earlier*
"Lee Joon-ah, I need your help with something!" Hara whispered into her phone.
"Yah, when you're in need, I am always the first you'll find right? So typical of you!" Lee Joon mocked.
"Please Joonie! I know I can count on you right?" Hara pleaded.
"Hm, what is it that you want me to help you with?" Lee Joon asked. "Make sure it's something fun."
"It's fun alright."
"Sinchia? Okay, shoot!"
"How about flattening tyres? Do you dare to do it?" Hara raised an eyebrow.
"Whose car? Where? You think I don't dare do it?"
"Of course you dare. I never doubted you even for a moment." Hara smiled.
"Where's the car?"
"It's just here, at the carpark. It's just a prank actually." Hara shrugged.
"Okay what model is it? Any plate numbers?" Lee Joon asked.
"But you have to do it now!" Hara told him. "Can you?"
"I have no problems on my side. It's part of my job too actually." Lee Joon said with a smirk. "How do you think I was able to catch up on interviews with some of our celebrtities who tried to run off from us press? A punctured tyre of course! I'm great at it!"
"I know you are Joon, that's why I need your help now!"
"Okay tell me the details."
Hara grinned. "Okay, it's a black Kia Forte with the plate number..."
***
Hara drove her car skillfully towards the airport. With her behind the wheels, she suddenly felt very much in control. Onew was sulking beside her on the passenger seat. He was suddenly too quiet and that made Hara felt a little uncomfortable. She was getting used to his snickerings and with his silence in her car, she thought it felt so wrong.
The moment Hara had her car parked, Onew quickly rushed out, practically leaving her behind. Hara had to run a little to catch up with him but it was a bit hard on her since she was wearing heels. She had almost trip during her run but luckily a tall white man managed to stop her fall. Hara smiled thankfully before running off again in search for Onew.
"Yah! Slow down will you?" Hara said panting the moment she caught up with him.
"I work fast. You're the one who's slow." Onew spat. "And you have time to flirt off with some random guys? Unbelievable."
"That man? He helped me break my fall!" Hara exclaimed, clearly upset with Onew. "It's not like I threw myself on him!"
"Whatever." Onew shrugged. "I'm going to check the arrival information."
Hara watched as Onew walked away again with his confident posture. Hara gritted her teeth. He was really making her very angry. She blinked back the angry tears which were threatening to come out.
'Why must I make make the effort to explain the situation to him? I shouldn't care of what he thinks of me!' Hara told herself. 'Maybe he needs more than four punctured tyres!'
The more Hara thought about Onew, the more annoyed she became. So she sat herself on one of the seats at the waiting area, as she stared into space. She was not going to care about her work anymore. She was going to let Onew handle it all by himself since he always boasted to her that he worked better alone.
"Having some problems?" Hara turned up to see the white man who had helped her earlier, sitting beside her. He had a friendly smile on him and that made Hara smiled back in return. "Do you speak English?" He asked again.
"Y-Yes, I do." Hara replied in her most confident tone. "I'm Hara by the way. And you are?"
"I'm Mike. You can call me Mikey if you want." Mike said as he held out a hand to shake Hara's.
"Is this your first time here in Korea?" Hara asked.
"Yes. It's my first time! And I love it here!"
"Oh really?" Hara nodded. "So what aren't you sight-seeing?"
"I'm waiting for my flight back to America actually." Mike explained.
"Ah, I see. Have you checked in then?"
"Not yet. My flight is delayed because of a bad weather somewhere." Mike shrugged. "Then what about you?"
"Oh, I'm waiting for my friend." Hara said.
"I really like Korea. And the women here are so beautiful!" Mike said as he brushed a finger on Hara's cheek causing her to stiffen almost automatically. Hara could feel Mike sitting a little bit too close to her.
"Ah! I need to go now. Hope to see you again!" Hara smiled nervously as she tried to get up from her seat but Mike held her back. One hand was grasping tightly on her arm and the other on her thigh, just above her knee..
"Since I have a few more hours to wait, why don't we head on to somewhere quiet. I'll show you something extraordinary." Mike whispered into Hara's ears causing her to shriek in response.
"Let me go now! I'm not the kind of girl you think I am!" Hara said in panic. "I need to go now, my boyfriend's waiting for me. If he sees you harrassing me like this, he'll surely won't let you get away with it!"
"Boyfriend? Who? The guy earlier?" Mike sneered. "He doesn't care about you! But I do, and I'm sure I'll perform better than him."
"Let me go!" Hara struggled. She was strong, but Mike was stronger. Hara cringed when she felt Mike pulling her towards him and she could feel his hot breath on her face. Hara was sure Mike was going to force a kiss on her, so she pursed her lips tightly and closed her eyes. But the kiss did not happen and Mike's grasp was nowhere to be felt on her shoulders. Hara opened her eyes to see Mike being pushed away by someone. And that person was none other than Onew himself. Hara had never been so happy to see him there.
"Stay away from my girlfriend you bastard!" Onew shouted in fluent English, his voice full of anger.
"Onew!" Hara cried out and almost by instinct she jumped up into his arms, hugging him tightly. She felt Onew's hands circling her waist, embracing her.
"You're lucky this time. Next time, I won't hesitate to call the police!" Onew threatened Mike who was still sitting down on the floor before walking away with Hara, who was sobbing in his arms.
Onew brought Hara back to her car. Onew let go of Hara gently and handed her a piece of handkerchief. “A-Are you okay?” He asked worriedly, surprising Hara a little.
“Ne. Thank you for coming on time.” Hara replied softly, her head bent low. She accepted the handkerchief gratefully before wiping her tears. She was suddenly feeling embarrassed to look at her saviour.
“Ani, I did what I think was right.” Onew shrugged. “Besides, you looked rather uncomfortable.”
“I was.” Hara admitted. “It was my first time being in close proximity with a guy. Even my previous boyfriends never got so close like that.”
Onew nodded in understanding. “I’m sure if you wear something more proper, no guys would dare take advantage of you like that.”
Hara grimaced upon hearing Onew’s words, but she nodded absent-mindedly, knowing there’s a truth in them. “I learn my mistakes now.”
“So, uh, do you think you can drive?”
“Huh? Aren’t we waiting for the soccer team to arrive?” Hara asked, confused.
“Ani. Their flight has been cancelled because of bad weather. So I believe we should go instead of lingering here.” Onew explained. His voice was much softer and gentle this time that it made Hara shivered a little.
“Ah, I see.” Hara replied before taking out her car keys and handed them to Onew. “Here, you drive.”
Onew raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”
Hara nodded. “I’m still in shock.”
Onew grinned. “Ahrasso. Get in then!”
******
“You were late.” Seohyun said again, folding her arms across her chest, feigning anger. She kept her eyes focused on the road ahead.
“I’m sorry Seohyun-ssi. I was held up earlier.” Yonghwa said as he continued to drive his car towards Seohyun’s house. Once in a while he would throw a glance towards the girl beside him.
“I waited for you for two hours you know that?”
“I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.” Yonghwa promised. He stopped his car just in front of the gate.
“What made you so sure to make that promise to me?” Seohyun asked facing him with raised eye brows.
“Because this time, I’m going to ask you for your phone number. So if next time I’m going to be late, I would give you a call earlier to inform, so you won’t have to wait for me.” Yonghwa grinned before taking out his phone from his pocket. “Please tell me your number then.”
“Is this one of man’s tricky ways to get a girl’s number?” Seohyun asked again with a frown.
“Ani. This is what they call sincerity.” Yonghwa answered, smiling playfully.
“Ahrasso. I will give you my number, just because you look like a trustworthy person.” Seohyun grinned as she took Yonghwa’s phone from his hand and keyed in her number into his phone.
“Komawo.” Yonghwa said shyly.
“So what does this means exactly?” Seohyun questioned as she handed the phone back to Yonghwa.
“What does what means exactly?”
“You know, you asking for my phone number.” Seohyun shrugged.
“Didn’t I just explain it to you earlier?”
“Yeah you did. But is that it?” Seohyun raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
Yonghwa was confused. He was not sure what Seohyun was talking about suddenly.
“So, my number is just for safe-keeping sake?” Seohyun’s asked, annoyed.
“What are you talking about now? You’re making me confused for no reason at all.” Yonghwa said. “Can’t you just say it straight to the point?”
Seohyun sighed out loud. “Fine. I guess we won’t see each other anytime soon after this.”
“What? But why?”
“I’m out of here.” Seohyun said as she opened the car door to get off.
“Wait!” Yonghwa exclaimed causing Seohyun to look at him for a moment.
“Where’s your anklet?” Yonghwa suddenly asked as he took a peek at Seohyun’s ankle which was indeed missing the anklet.
“Oh shit! I must have dropped it!” Seohyun cried as she quickly scanned Yonghwa’s car for any sign of the anklet. “It’s not here!”
“Let’s look for it then!” Yonghwa offered.
“I think it’s better if we were to walk back rather than take your car.” Seohyun told him and Yonghwa agreed.
So both Yonghwa and Seohyun took a walk down the road back towards the place where Yonghwa had picked Seohyun up earlier. At the same time they were scanning the grounds for Seohyun’s anklet that they did not notice a familiar couple who was walking hand in hand approaching them from the opposite direction.
“Hyunnie?”
“Yonghwa?”
Both Yonghwa and Seohyun looked up to see Joori and Tony peering down at them.
“What are you doing?” Joori asked. “And who’s this Hyunnie-ah?”
“He’s my brother, Yonghwa.” Tony said before either Seohyun or Yonghwa could answer.
“Your brother?” Joori gasped. “Is he the one who always called you when we’re out on dates previously?”
“Ne. He’s the same one.”
“Hyung! Who’s this? And why are you holding her hand?” Yonghwa asked, pointing towards Tony and Joori’s linked hands.
“Yeah unnie, why are you holding hands with a stranger?” Seohyun glared at the older woman in front of her.
“Yah! Can you please don’t be so rude here.” Tony told Yonghwa. “She’s Joori. We used to date a few years ago.”
“Ah, the one you dumped previously?” Yonghwa asked to be certain. Tony just grimaced.
“Ah! You’re the ex boyfriend? Ommo!” Seohyun gasped, placing her hand on her mouth. “And you’re Yonghwa’s brother?”
“How come you are related to her?” Yonghwa asked Seohyun, as he rubbed his chin trying to remember something.
“She’s my landlord. I rent a room in her house.” Seohyun replied.
“Ah! That’s right. I remember now.” Yonghwa nodded in agreement. “I often see the three of you jogging together every Saturday.”
“You saw us?” Seohyun tilted her head towards Yonghwa. “And how do you know we jog on every Saturday?”
Yonghwa stiffened. Did he just said something he should not have?
“So you’re the girl he always climb the roof for every Saturday morning!” Tony exclaimed grinning.
“He climbed the roof just to see Seohyun?” Joori asked in shock. “Hm, but this sounds awfully familiar. Is there a balcony somewhere in your house as well?”
“There’s one in Yonghwa’s room. Why?”
Seohyun was dumbfounded. She stared at Yonghwa long and hard. Yonghwa cringed under her stares and tried to act oblivious about it.
“Is that why you’re eager to find that anklet earlier?” Seohyun asked.
Yonghwa gulped. “What anklet?”
“You know very well what I am talking about.” Seohyun said. “Are you the ‘Yong’ as in the letter?”
Yonghwa fidgeted as he threw a look at Seohyun. “Ahrasso, I admit it now. I am the ‘Yong’ okay.” Yonghwa finally confessed before heading back to his car, feeling so embarrassed suddenly. He never wanted his confession to end this way.
Seohyun gaped. So he was the guy who wrote that cheesy but romantic letter. And the best thing was, she enjoyed reading it so much. Everytime she read the letter, she felt as if she was reading lyrics from a song and that made her smile so much.
“Aren’t you going to chase him?” Tony suddenly asked causing Seohyun to jump a little.
“Ne?”
“I said, aren’t you going to chase him? I think he likes you very much you know.”
“Ah, ne!” Seohyun answered before running to catch up with Yonghwa.
“Aigoo. Kids nowadays have weird ways to fall in love.” Tony sighed, shaking his head.
“Not just them, you included!” Joori retorted as she poked into Tony’s chest.
Tony grinned. “Um, shall I show you my house first before I send you home? I don’t want to get in the kids’ way while they’re making some huge confessions.”
Joori grinned back. “Ahrasso. But not too long.”
“I know.” Tony said before leading Joori towards his house.
******
“Yah! Wait up!” Seohyun exclaimed, grabbing Yonghwa’s arm to turn him around.
Yonghwa looked at her with a pair of sorrowful eyes. He did not want her to mock him for his childish letter. He did not want her to make fun of his sincerity. He did not want her to think that whatever he did was just out of a simple playful crush. And the most important thing was that he did not want her to reject him plainly after knowing who her admirer was. After six long months of just watching from afar, he did not want this short meeting with her to end just like that.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have sent the letter in the first place.” Yonghwa said with his head bent low. “I’ll leave now.”
“No!” Seohyun shouted causing Yonghwa to gape.
“W-Wae?”
“Um, w-we no, I mean you still need to help me find the anklet.” Seohyun said.
“Bo?”
“I said, we still need to look for the anklet.” Seohyun repeated.
“We?”
“Yes we! And I want it found by tonight!” Seohyun said as she grabbed Yonghwa’s hand and held it tight. She knew she must be blushing madly right at that moment but she chose to ignore it. “Are you coming with me?”
Yonghwa looked at their linked hands. He blinked several times to get it registered in his mind again and yes, indeed they were still holding hands. “A-Are you serious?”
“Of course I am! Aren’t you the person who gave the anklet to me?”
“Ah ne.”
“Then you must help me find it!”
“So you’re not angry? Or upset with me? Or is it one of your ways to tease me?”
“Tease you? For what?” Seohyun frowned.
“A-Ani.”
“Then let’s go!” Seohyun pulled Yonghwa to follow her.
“Ah, before that, I wanted to be frank with you about earlier.” Yonghwa said as he gently wrapped his hands properly around Seohyun’s.
Seohyun smiled shyly. “What is it?”
“Do you know why I asked for your number?” Yonghwa asked with a grin.
“Why?”
“Because I want to get to know you better.” Yonghwa admitted. “Would you like to go out with me?”
Seohyun grinned nervously before nodding. “Ne, I would love to, Yong.”
Yonghwa smiled wide unable to believe what had just happened. “Let’s find the anklet together!”
Seohyun nodded and allowed Yonghwa to pull her with him, heading off towards the direction of the park.
Feb 26, 2011
Feb 20, 2011
Chapter 5 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Chapter 5 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Onew walked into his office with his head bent low. From afar, he could see her sitting at her table as she busied herself with some paper works. He headed quickly towards his table, ignoring all the morning greetings he was receiving from his fellow colleagues.
Onew sat himself down and turned on his computer, still pretending that she did not exist. It was hard. But he tried to act cool about everything. He turned his head to see her still concentrated on whatever she was doing. He smirked as he saw what she was wearing that day - a black fitted sleeveless dress with black heels.
'Is she going to a prom night or something?' Onew thought, laughing quietly.
Hara knew he had arrived, but she pretended to be oblivious about it. Now that she knew they were neighbours made it even harder to work with him. She glanced at him from the corners of her eyes. There he was looking straight into the computer. Hara felt relieved. It was a good thing that he too chose to not bring up about their encounter this morning.
The morning went on slowly for both Onew and Hara. They felt as if time was dragging by, tormenting them with the awkwardness of each other's presence. Lunch time was a breeze, it ended way too soon to their likings.
"Onew, Hara!" Mr Park called out as he strolled towards Onew and Hara's tables.
"Ne Mr Park!" Hara greeted her team leader enthusiastically. Onew on the other hand just gave a slight nod at the older man.
"I have an assignment for the two of you." Mr Park said with a smile on his lips. "There'll be students from England coming to Seoul later. They are from a soccer team from a recognized sports school there. They are going to have a friendly match with our Korean students tomorrow."
"Jeongmal? They are boys aren't they?" Hara asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Of course they are!" Mr Park said as he clapped his hands happily. "And I'm sure you'll get an interview with them just by capturing them with your charm!"
"Of course Mr Park! I can't wait to show you how brilliant my English skills are!" Hara grinned.
"Yeah, as long as you don't embarass us, then I'll be fine with it." Onew said coldly as he raised an eyebrow towards Hara.
"Yah! I'm professional enough, of course I won't embarass us!" Hara retorted.
"Onew-ah, just leave the interviewing of the players to our sweet Hara here." Mr Park warned him. "And as for you, your job is just to interview their coach. I'm sure you can handle that right?"
"Of course Mr Park." Onew answered reluctantly.
"Here are the reports which I've received from a very good source of mine. Their arrival time, the hotels they would be checking in. You may take a look at it." Mr Park handed a file towards Onew who flipped through the files without looking up.
"I hope you'll do good later! Fighting!" Mr Park said before leaving.
Hara looked over at Onew who was still busy reading the reports he received. She tried to peek over what he was reading but he glared at her from behind the file. Hara gritted her teeth in anger.
"Yah! We should discuss about it together!" Hara exclaimed.
"I don't discuss my work with anyone." Onew said as he allowed his eyes to feast on Hara's body.
Hara jumped back as she covered her chest with her hands. "W-What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to say, I don't discuss my work with anyone especially females like you who looked like a cabaret singer." Onew chuckled out before settling down in his seat once again.
"BO?!" Hara stomped her foot. "You're too much!"
"Am I? I don't care actually." Onew said grinning. Then his face turned serious. "Yah! Get ready to leave for the airport in thirty minutes."
Hara glared at the back of Onew's head with full of hatred. She vowed to get her revenge very soon. Hara took out her handphone and dialled the number she knew so well. She smirked when she heard her call being answered.
"Lee Joon-ah! I need your help with something!"
******
Jieun sighed as she sat slumped on the bench in the cafeteria. She placed her head on the table as she continued to stare into space. She had her mind filled with a certain someone. Someone by the name of Jang Wooyoung.
Jieun had chased after him this morning, with the thought of riding the same bus with him again. But the moment she reached the bus stop, he was nowhere in sight, which crushed her heart a little. She felt disappointed.
"Jieun-ah!" Soonkyu called out as she sat herself beside Jieun. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"Ani. I have no appetite." Jieun replied. "What about you?"
"My stomach is full of butterflies! I don't think I can eat anything just yet!" Soonkyu giggled happily causing Jieun to lift her head up. She looked at her best friend curiously.
"What happen to you? You look happy." Jieun said with her eyebrows raised.
"I met him again!" Soonkyu exclaimed.
"Him? Who?"
"That science lab oppa! He smiled at me!" Soonkyu giggled excitedly.
Jieun grinned knowingly. Soonkyu had been telling her of the science lab oppa for a while now. But the funny thing was, she had never seen him yet even though she was a science student herself.
"And you're happy that he smiled?" Jieun rolled her eyes.
"Of course! It's not everyday I get to see that smile from that handsome face..." Soonkyu said as she leaned her head against Jieun's shoulder.
"Yah!" Jieun shrugged Soonkyu's head off. "I'm going to the library now. You coming?"
"Ani. You go ahead first." Soonkyu said as she got herself into dreamy mode once again.
Jieun shook her head as she looked at her friend who was definitely stung by the love disease. Then she grabbed her bag before heading off towards the library, the only place which would give her the sense of peacefulness.
Jieun chose to walk through a deserted corridor away from the mass of students who were on lunch breaks right now. She hated crowds and would always avoid them at every chances she had. Just like now, the corridor which she chose to walk on was quiet without any students around. As Jieun turned a corner, she almost hit someone who was very familiar to her. It was none other than Jang Wooyoung. Jieun was startled. She had suddenly lost her ability to speak.
"Excuse me, Lee Jieun-ssi, are you alright?" Wooyoung asked as he looked at the petite girl in front of him.
"Ah? Ne, ne. Kwenchana." Jieun said quickly before looking down.
Wooyoung smiled. "Um, are you on your way somewhere?"
"Um, ne. I was heading towards the library."
"I see." Wooyoung nodded his head in understanding. Of course he knew where the library was.
"Wait a minute." Jieun looked up frowning, unconciously staring straight into Wooyoung's eyes. "Why are you here?"
"Ah! I-I was sending food orders to the professors here!" Wooyoung said quickly.
"Oh! Jeongmal?"
"Of course!"
"Ah! I see." Jieun nodded in understanding.
"Uh, I have some extra orders left with me." Wooyoung held out a plastic bag in front of Jieun's face. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"A-ani. I don't have time to eat."
"Aish! That's the unhealthy thing about being a student. Always skipping meals." Wooyoung shook his head. "Here, have some."
"Won't that be stealing the company's food?" Jieun asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. It's on me. I've paid for it." Wooyoung told her. He then took out a neatly packed sandwich and handed it towards Jieun who accepted it gratefully.
"The professors ordered sandwiches?" Jieun asked in astonishment.
"Well, yeah! I guess sandwiches are easier to eat." Wooyoung shrugged.
Jieun felt something odd about the man in front of her. He was mysterious in a certain way, but she was not able to tell it just yet.
"Um, how long have you been working at the restaurant again?" Jieun asked.
"Hm, almost six months." Wooyoung answered.
"I see."
"Okay, got to go now." Wooyoung said with a grin. "Be careful okay. And, please don't go back home too late today. I might not be around to walk you home you know."
"I won't." Jieun grinned back. "I'll get an earful again from my unnies if I were to pull that stunt again."
"I'm sure they will." Wooyoung smiled before heading the opposite direction, leaving Jieun alone once again.
******
Seohyun could not remember when was the last time she had hurried home like this. She had practically ran all the way home from the bus stop. The moment she reached the house, she had kicked her shoes off before running to her room to change into her jogging attire. She was indeed looking forward to her 'date' that evening with her new-found neighbour, Jung Yonghwa.
Before leaving, Seohyun checked herself out in the mirror to make sure that she looked presentable enough. Once she gathered her house keys and shoved them in her pockets, she ran out of her house and started her slow jog towards the park. As she passed Yonghwa's house, she noticed that his car was not in sight which worried her suddenly. But she continued to move on and decided to place her worries aside.
Just like the day before, the park was not crowded with people, unlike the weekends. Seohyun made a slow jog around the park feeling the wind making a pass through her. She enjoyed the outdoors very much. It made her feel free, alive, cheerful and relaxed. To her, this was one of the best remedy to release the stress and tension during work.
Seohyun stopped by her favourite spot which she now knew she had to share with a certain someone. She sat down by the familiar oak tree and stared straight at the calm lake ahead. She was unable to describe her feelings at the moment. Her meeting with Yonghwa was totally unexpected. The most important thing was, she got along with him easily. There was no resistant at all on her part. He made her comfortable. And she enjoyed his company very much.
As the minutes crept by, Seohyun soon noticed that it was getting dark. She sighed as she glanced at her watch. She had been waiting for almost two hours but Yonghwa was nowhere to be seen.
"I guess I've been stood up." Seohyun chuckled softly before standing up. She looked around the park for a moment before deciding to head back home with the feelings of disappointment tugging at her heartstrings.
***
Yonghwa ran as fast as he could, leaving his car by the road beside the park. He knew he was late. If only he had her number, he would have called her straight away to inform her of his delay.
"Please be there, please be there!" Yonghwa chanted as he continued to run as fast as he could towards their promised meet-up spot, just below the oak tree.
Yonghwa stopped just a distance away from the the oak tree to find it empty. She was nowhere to be seen. And it was all his fault.
"Aish! She must have thought I've stood her up!" Yonghwa groaned as he buried his face into his hands. It was getting late and Yonghwa would understand if she were to leave.
With a heavy sigh, Yonghwa dragged his feet out of the park once again, heading towards his car.
***
Walking was the only thing she was able to do at that moment. She had spend all her energy on the jog she did earlier. Walking up the narrow road towards her house was such an unpleasant journey suddenly, especially with the feeling of disappointment lingering within her.
Seohyun realised that she had just passed the ahjumma's shop. As she stole a glance at the entrance, she saw a hooded man standing there, just looking around. Seohyun smiled. She had seen him a few times before. 'He must be one of our neighbours too.' Seohyun thought.
As she was idly walking, suddenly the sound of a car horn made her jump. She turned to a see a familiar car stopping beside her. As the window of the car rolled down, Seohyun was able to see the identity of the driver clearly. She grinned as happiness crept back into her heart. "You're late." She said to Yonghwa who grinned back.
******
Tony waited. He had a feeling she would pass by the ahjumma's shop on her way home that day. He continued to wait patiently for her.
Since he saw her in the car this morning, Tony knew he needed to meet her again that same evening. And so, the moment he reached home from work, he straight away changed his clothes. He wore a simple faded jeans, a white shirt together with a black hoodie on top. And when he finally reached the ahjumma's shop, he placed the hood on his head and started with his waiting.
He had seen a few familiar faces walking up the road, as they passed by the ahjumma's shop. He even saw his brother's car zooming past him, and he was sure Yonghwa did not notice him there.
Finally, a few minutes later, he saw her walking. She had her head bent low, her eyes staring at the road ahead. She seemed to be deep in thought as she just walked pass by him without any concern at all. Tony smiled. It was a great chance for him to confront her.
"Joori?" Tony called out, softly at first.
Joori stopped walking when she heard his voice calling her name. His voice was achingly familiar. Without turning to face the intruder to her thoughts, she knew whom that voice belonged to.
"Joori?" Tony called out a little louder, in case she did not hear him the first time.
"I can hear you very well Tony." Joori answered quickly as she swiftly turned around to face him.
"Ah! So you heard me." Tony grinned.
"So what is it that you want?" Joori asked folding her arms across her chest. She braved herself to stare into his eyes.
"I don't want anything." Tony said. "Just, let me walk you home."
Joori sneered. "No thank you. I can walk home by myself." With that, Joori started walking again, not without hoping that Tony would eventually be tired with being ignored.
But of course Tony did not mind being ignored by her. He very well knew he deserved it. And so, he quickly took big steps until he was walking alongside her. He gave a timid grin when she threw him a deathly glare.
"Can you please quit following me?" Joori asked through gritted teeth. "You're becoming more like a stalker now!"
"I'll only be your stalker Joori." Tony answered without much hesitation.
"You're crazy!" Joori said, shaking her head.
"Give me another chance Joori." Tony voiced out.
"Bo? What chance?"
"Another chance to be with you."
"I don't believe this." Joori groaned, as she stopped walking. She turned to look at the man beside her. She was not sure what to think of him now.
"Believe it. I want to start over with you." Tony said confidently.
"W-what? Start over?"
"Ne. Please Joori. Give me a chance!"
"I-I can't." Joori shook her head as she continued to walk away.
Tony was not going to give up any time soon. So he did what he felt he needed to do. He quickly held onto Joori's arm and pulled her back towards him. Joori stiffened the moment her back hit his body and she could certainly felt his breath warming her ear. Joori bit her lips. This was not what she expected him to do.
"That day, when I left you years ago, I was actually already falling hard for you. What I did back then, was due to my own foolishness. And I am really sorry for what I had done. I did went back to your apartment a few days later to apologize but I was told that you moved out. I was so miserable that I finally made my decision to come back to Korea. And I swore to you, all these while, you are the only woman is my heart. No one could replace you. So when I saw u again yesterday, you couldn't imagine how happy I was. I felt alive suddenly, alive with your presence." Tony whispered, ever so tenderly, leaning his head into her hair. "So, please give me another chance. Let me show you my changed self. Please..."
Joori did not know what had gotten into her when she suddenly nodded her head. It was a stiff nod, but still, it was a nod, and it made Tony smile wide. He turned her body until she was facing him. "You're going to see a different side of me, I promise!" Tony said again, pulling her into a hug.
Joori gasped. "T-Tony, I think we should talk about this."
"Come, let's walk you home first, it's getting late." Tony smiled, as he took hold of Joori's hand.
Joori was not sure how to define the situation. She was obviously still easily smittened with his charms and she was totally aware that there was a possibility of her being hurt again. But she was not going to deny the fact that maybe, just maybe, she was still in love with him, just like before.
Onew walked into his office with his head bent low. From afar, he could see her sitting at her table as she busied herself with some paper works. He headed quickly towards his table, ignoring all the morning greetings he was receiving from his fellow colleagues.
Onew sat himself down and turned on his computer, still pretending that she did not exist. It was hard. But he tried to act cool about everything. He turned his head to see her still concentrated on whatever she was doing. He smirked as he saw what she was wearing that day - a black fitted sleeveless dress with black heels.
'Is she going to a prom night or something?' Onew thought, laughing quietly.
Hara knew he had arrived, but she pretended to be oblivious about it. Now that she knew they were neighbours made it even harder to work with him. She glanced at him from the corners of her eyes. There he was looking straight into the computer. Hara felt relieved. It was a good thing that he too chose to not bring up about their encounter this morning.
The morning went on slowly for both Onew and Hara. They felt as if time was dragging by, tormenting them with the awkwardness of each other's presence. Lunch time was a breeze, it ended way too soon to their likings.
"Onew, Hara!" Mr Park called out as he strolled towards Onew and Hara's tables.
"Ne Mr Park!" Hara greeted her team leader enthusiastically. Onew on the other hand just gave a slight nod at the older man.
"I have an assignment for the two of you." Mr Park said with a smile on his lips. "There'll be students from England coming to Seoul later. They are from a soccer team from a recognized sports school there. They are going to have a friendly match with our Korean students tomorrow."
"Jeongmal? They are boys aren't they?" Hara asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Of course they are!" Mr Park said as he clapped his hands happily. "And I'm sure you'll get an interview with them just by capturing them with your charm!"
"Of course Mr Park! I can't wait to show you how brilliant my English skills are!" Hara grinned.
"Yeah, as long as you don't embarass us, then I'll be fine with it." Onew said coldly as he raised an eyebrow towards Hara.
"Yah! I'm professional enough, of course I won't embarass us!" Hara retorted.
"Onew-ah, just leave the interviewing of the players to our sweet Hara here." Mr Park warned him. "And as for you, your job is just to interview their coach. I'm sure you can handle that right?"
"Of course Mr Park." Onew answered reluctantly.
"Here are the reports which I've received from a very good source of mine. Their arrival time, the hotels they would be checking in. You may take a look at it." Mr Park handed a file towards Onew who flipped through the files without looking up.
"I hope you'll do good later! Fighting!" Mr Park said before leaving.
Hara looked over at Onew who was still busy reading the reports he received. She tried to peek over what he was reading but he glared at her from behind the file. Hara gritted her teeth in anger.
"Yah! We should discuss about it together!" Hara exclaimed.
"I don't discuss my work with anyone." Onew said as he allowed his eyes to feast on Hara's body.
Hara jumped back as she covered her chest with her hands. "W-What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to say, I don't discuss my work with anyone especially females like you who looked like a cabaret singer." Onew chuckled out before settling down in his seat once again.
"BO?!" Hara stomped her foot. "You're too much!"
"Am I? I don't care actually." Onew said grinning. Then his face turned serious. "Yah! Get ready to leave for the airport in thirty minutes."
Hara glared at the back of Onew's head with full of hatred. She vowed to get her revenge very soon. Hara took out her handphone and dialled the number she knew so well. She smirked when she heard her call being answered.
"Lee Joon-ah! I need your help with something!"
******
Jieun sighed as she sat slumped on the bench in the cafeteria. She placed her head on the table as she continued to stare into space. She had her mind filled with a certain someone. Someone by the name of Jang Wooyoung.
Jieun had chased after him this morning, with the thought of riding the same bus with him again. But the moment she reached the bus stop, he was nowhere in sight, which crushed her heart a little. She felt disappointed.
"Jieun-ah!" Soonkyu called out as she sat herself beside Jieun. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"Ani. I have no appetite." Jieun replied. "What about you?"
"My stomach is full of butterflies! I don't think I can eat anything just yet!" Soonkyu giggled happily causing Jieun to lift her head up. She looked at her best friend curiously.
"What happen to you? You look happy." Jieun said with her eyebrows raised.
"I met him again!" Soonkyu exclaimed.
"Him? Who?"
"That science lab oppa! He smiled at me!" Soonkyu giggled excitedly.
Jieun grinned knowingly. Soonkyu had been telling her of the science lab oppa for a while now. But the funny thing was, she had never seen him yet even though she was a science student herself.
"And you're happy that he smiled?" Jieun rolled her eyes.
"Of course! It's not everyday I get to see that smile from that handsome face..." Soonkyu said as she leaned her head against Jieun's shoulder.
"Yah!" Jieun shrugged Soonkyu's head off. "I'm going to the library now. You coming?"
"Ani. You go ahead first." Soonkyu said as she got herself into dreamy mode once again.
Jieun shook her head as she looked at her friend who was definitely stung by the love disease. Then she grabbed her bag before heading off towards the library, the only place which would give her the sense of peacefulness.
Jieun chose to walk through a deserted corridor away from the mass of students who were on lunch breaks right now. She hated crowds and would always avoid them at every chances she had. Just like now, the corridor which she chose to walk on was quiet without any students around. As Jieun turned a corner, she almost hit someone who was very familiar to her. It was none other than Jang Wooyoung. Jieun was startled. She had suddenly lost her ability to speak.
"Excuse me, Lee Jieun-ssi, are you alright?" Wooyoung asked as he looked at the petite girl in front of him.
"Ah? Ne, ne. Kwenchana." Jieun said quickly before looking down.
Wooyoung smiled. "Um, are you on your way somewhere?"
"Um, ne. I was heading towards the library."
"I see." Wooyoung nodded his head in understanding. Of course he knew where the library was.
"Wait a minute." Jieun looked up frowning, unconciously staring straight into Wooyoung's eyes. "Why are you here?"
"Ah! I-I was sending food orders to the professors here!" Wooyoung said quickly.
"Oh! Jeongmal?"
"Of course!"
"Ah! I see." Jieun nodded in understanding.
"Uh, I have some extra orders left with me." Wooyoung held out a plastic bag in front of Jieun's face. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"A-ani. I don't have time to eat."
"Aish! That's the unhealthy thing about being a student. Always skipping meals." Wooyoung shook his head. "Here, have some."
"Won't that be stealing the company's food?" Jieun asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. It's on me. I've paid for it." Wooyoung told her. He then took out a neatly packed sandwich and handed it towards Jieun who accepted it gratefully.
"The professors ordered sandwiches?" Jieun asked in astonishment.
"Well, yeah! I guess sandwiches are easier to eat." Wooyoung shrugged.
Jieun felt something odd about the man in front of her. He was mysterious in a certain way, but she was not able to tell it just yet.
"Um, how long have you been working at the restaurant again?" Jieun asked.
"Hm, almost six months." Wooyoung answered.
"I see."
"Okay, got to go now." Wooyoung said with a grin. "Be careful okay. And, please don't go back home too late today. I might not be around to walk you home you know."
"I won't." Jieun grinned back. "I'll get an earful again from my unnies if I were to pull that stunt again."
"I'm sure they will." Wooyoung smiled before heading the opposite direction, leaving Jieun alone once again.
******
Seohyun could not remember when was the last time she had hurried home like this. She had practically ran all the way home from the bus stop. The moment she reached the house, she had kicked her shoes off before running to her room to change into her jogging attire. She was indeed looking forward to her 'date' that evening with her new-found neighbour, Jung Yonghwa.
Before leaving, Seohyun checked herself out in the mirror to make sure that she looked presentable enough. Once she gathered her house keys and shoved them in her pockets, she ran out of her house and started her slow jog towards the park. As she passed Yonghwa's house, she noticed that his car was not in sight which worried her suddenly. But she continued to move on and decided to place her worries aside.
Just like the day before, the park was not crowded with people, unlike the weekends. Seohyun made a slow jog around the park feeling the wind making a pass through her. She enjoyed the outdoors very much. It made her feel free, alive, cheerful and relaxed. To her, this was one of the best remedy to release the stress and tension during work.
Seohyun stopped by her favourite spot which she now knew she had to share with a certain someone. She sat down by the familiar oak tree and stared straight at the calm lake ahead. She was unable to describe her feelings at the moment. Her meeting with Yonghwa was totally unexpected. The most important thing was, she got along with him easily. There was no resistant at all on her part. He made her comfortable. And she enjoyed his company very much.
As the minutes crept by, Seohyun soon noticed that it was getting dark. She sighed as she glanced at her watch. She had been waiting for almost two hours but Yonghwa was nowhere to be seen.
"I guess I've been stood up." Seohyun chuckled softly before standing up. She looked around the park for a moment before deciding to head back home with the feelings of disappointment tugging at her heartstrings.
***
Yonghwa ran as fast as he could, leaving his car by the road beside the park. He knew he was late. If only he had her number, he would have called her straight away to inform her of his delay.
"Please be there, please be there!" Yonghwa chanted as he continued to run as fast as he could towards their promised meet-up spot, just below the oak tree.
Yonghwa stopped just a distance away from the the oak tree to find it empty. She was nowhere to be seen. And it was all his fault.
"Aish! She must have thought I've stood her up!" Yonghwa groaned as he buried his face into his hands. It was getting late and Yonghwa would understand if she were to leave.
With a heavy sigh, Yonghwa dragged his feet out of the park once again, heading towards his car.
***
Walking was the only thing she was able to do at that moment. She had spend all her energy on the jog she did earlier. Walking up the narrow road towards her house was such an unpleasant journey suddenly, especially with the feeling of disappointment lingering within her.
Seohyun realised that she had just passed the ahjumma's shop. As she stole a glance at the entrance, she saw a hooded man standing there, just looking around. Seohyun smiled. She had seen him a few times before. 'He must be one of our neighbours too.' Seohyun thought.
As she was idly walking, suddenly the sound of a car horn made her jump. She turned to a see a familiar car stopping beside her. As the window of the car rolled down, Seohyun was able to see the identity of the driver clearly. She grinned as happiness crept back into her heart. "You're late." She said to Yonghwa who grinned back.
******
Tony waited. He had a feeling she would pass by the ahjumma's shop on her way home that day. He continued to wait patiently for her.
Since he saw her in the car this morning, Tony knew he needed to meet her again that same evening. And so, the moment he reached home from work, he straight away changed his clothes. He wore a simple faded jeans, a white shirt together with a black hoodie on top. And when he finally reached the ahjumma's shop, he placed the hood on his head and started with his waiting.
He had seen a few familiar faces walking up the road, as they passed by the ahjumma's shop. He even saw his brother's car zooming past him, and he was sure Yonghwa did not notice him there.
Finally, a few minutes later, he saw her walking. She had her head bent low, her eyes staring at the road ahead. She seemed to be deep in thought as she just walked pass by him without any concern at all. Tony smiled. It was a great chance for him to confront her.
"Joori?" Tony called out, softly at first.
Joori stopped walking when she heard his voice calling her name. His voice was achingly familiar. Without turning to face the intruder to her thoughts, she knew whom that voice belonged to.
"Joori?" Tony called out a little louder, in case she did not hear him the first time.
"I can hear you very well Tony." Joori answered quickly as she swiftly turned around to face him.
"Ah! So you heard me." Tony grinned.
"So what is it that you want?" Joori asked folding her arms across her chest. She braved herself to stare into his eyes.
"I don't want anything." Tony said. "Just, let me walk you home."
Joori sneered. "No thank you. I can walk home by myself." With that, Joori started walking again, not without hoping that Tony would eventually be tired with being ignored.
But of course Tony did not mind being ignored by her. He very well knew he deserved it. And so, he quickly took big steps until he was walking alongside her. He gave a timid grin when she threw him a deathly glare.
"Can you please quit following me?" Joori asked through gritted teeth. "You're becoming more like a stalker now!"
"I'll only be your stalker Joori." Tony answered without much hesitation.
"You're crazy!" Joori said, shaking her head.
"Give me another chance Joori." Tony voiced out.
"Bo? What chance?"
"Another chance to be with you."
"I don't believe this." Joori groaned, as she stopped walking. She turned to look at the man beside her. She was not sure what to think of him now.
"Believe it. I want to start over with you." Tony said confidently.
"W-what? Start over?"
"Ne. Please Joori. Give me a chance!"
"I-I can't." Joori shook her head as she continued to walk away.
Tony was not going to give up any time soon. So he did what he felt he needed to do. He quickly held onto Joori's arm and pulled her back towards him. Joori stiffened the moment her back hit his body and she could certainly felt his breath warming her ear. Joori bit her lips. This was not what she expected him to do.
"That day, when I left you years ago, I was actually already falling hard for you. What I did back then, was due to my own foolishness. And I am really sorry for what I had done. I did went back to your apartment a few days later to apologize but I was told that you moved out. I was so miserable that I finally made my decision to come back to Korea. And I swore to you, all these while, you are the only woman is my heart. No one could replace you. So when I saw u again yesterday, you couldn't imagine how happy I was. I felt alive suddenly, alive with your presence." Tony whispered, ever so tenderly, leaning his head into her hair. "So, please give me another chance. Let me show you my changed self. Please..."
Joori did not know what had gotten into her when she suddenly nodded her head. It was a stiff nod, but still, it was a nod, and it made Tony smile wide. He turned her body until she was facing him. "You're going to see a different side of me, I promise!" Tony said again, pulling her into a hug.
Joori gasped. "T-Tony, I think we should talk about this."
"Come, let's walk you home first, it's getting late." Tony smiled, as he took hold of Joori's hand.
Joori was not sure how to define the situation. She was obviously still easily smittened with his charms and she was totally aware that there was a possibility of her being hurt again. But she was not going to deny the fact that maybe, just maybe, she was still in love with him, just like before.
Feb 16, 2011
Chapter 4 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
The sounds of the footsteps stopped. The only thing that Jieun was able to hear was her racing heartbeat.
"There's no point in waiting. The last bus left less than five minutes ago." A voice spoke causing Jieun to look up hurriedly. All she saw was a silhouette of a man walking towards the bus stop. As he got closer, Jieun was able to see his face more clearly.
"You!" Jieun exclaimed as she stood up. She recognised the man immediately. He was the same person she had encountered this morning.
"Are you talking to me?" Wooyoung asked as he looked around. "Hm, I'm the only one here, so you must be talking to me."
"W-why are you here? If you want money, I don't have a single cent with me." Jieun said. She could feel herself trembling with fear but she tried not to show it.
"Relax. I don't want your money." Wooyoung said raising both his hands up. "I'm just another passenger who missed his last bus too."
"I don't believe you." Jieun said glaring at the man who was towering over her.
"It's up to you to believe or not." Wooyoung shrugged. "By the way, judging from where you took the bus at the same bus stop as me this morning, I believe we do live along the same street."
"So? What has that got to do with me and y-you?"
"Well, since the last bus is gone, I thought of walking home, since it's not that far from here." Wooyoung said. "So just thought if you would like to walk home together."
"Ani. I don't walk with strangers. In fact, I shouldn't even be talking to strangers!" Jieun said, sticking her nose up high. "I'll wait for a cab then."
"Well okay. But just to let you know, it's quite hard to get a cab around here, especially at this time of night." Wooyoung informed her. "And usually around this time, there'll be a few groups of gangsters who enjoy lurking out here."
"You're lying!" Jieun accused.
Wooyoung shrugged. "I'm not forcing you to believe me. It's really up to you if you want to stay and get a cab here. I'll be off then. Take care!"
Jieun watched as the stranger walked away from her. Thinking about it again, he might be right about certain things and she had this sudden thought that he looked trustworthy enough. So Jieun took a look at the empty road again before running in a hurry in order to catch up with that stranger.
"Hey! Wait up!" Jieun shouted. "Wait!"
Wooyoung turned around to see the little miss running towards him. "What's wrong with you?"
"I-I'm just, nothing." Jieun shrugged. She stopped just a couple of metres away from the stranger who raised an eyebrow. "Okay fine, can I walk home with you?"
"Well, since you ask so nicely, sure, you may walk home with me." Wooyoung nodded his head.
The two strangers continued walking towards their destination together. The walk home was rather quiet as neither spoke a word. About twenty minutes later, Jieun smiled as she felt a tinge of comfort the moment she saw the familiar shop which was situated a few blocks away from the house which she rented.
'I guess this stranger can be trusted after all.' Jieun thought with a smile.
"So, you're a student I believe." Wooyoung asked, keeping his eyes straight on the road ahead.
"Ne. I'm a student at Yonsei University." Jieun replied. "What about you?"
"Um, well, I work part-time at a fast-food restaurant near Yonsei University." Wooyoung lied.
"Ah, I see." Jieun nodded her head in understanding. "Um, about this morning, I am really really sorry. I'm just a bit clumsy."
Wooyoung smiled. "Ani, it's okay. Just a small matter."
Suddenly Jieun realised that they had stopped in front of a house. It looked almost similar to the house that she was renting in.
"This is the house I'm staying in." Wooyoung said.
"Oh. I see. My house is further down." Jieun said pointing towards the dark road.
"I see. Come, let me walk you home first." Wooyoung said as he continued walking.
"A-ani, it's okay Mister." Jieun said quickly pulling Wooyoung by his sleeve. Wooyoung turned to find himself staring awkwardly at a pair of confused eyes. Jieun gasped, realizing her actions, before letting go of the young man's sleeve.
"It's just a few houses away right?" Wooyoung smiled nervously. "Don't worry, let me see you off."
Wooyoung gestured Jieun to walk on first, to lead the way, with him following a step behind. Jieun smiled as she obeyed whatever the young man said. They continued their walk until finally they reached their destination. Jieun turned towards Wooyoung and smiled again.
"So this is the house you're staying in?" Wooyoung asked as he looked up at the house in front of him.
"Ne. I'm staying here with a few other housemates." Jieun explained with a shy smile.
"I see." Wooyoung nodded. "Um, you better get in now. It's getting late."
"Ne." Jieun entered the gate carefully. She turned to bid goodbye to her saviour.
"I'll be off then. Bye!" Wooyoung said swiftly as he walked away slowly. Jieun bit her lips. She was not sure if she wanted their sudden meeting to end like this.
"Hey wait!" Jieun called out causing Wooyoung to stop abruptly and looked at her. "I never get to know your name."
Wooyoung smiled, a little relieved. "It's Wooyoung. Jang Wooyoung."
"Oh! I'm Lee Jieun. Thank you so much for accompanying me home." Jieun said blushing.
"I'm just being a responsible citizen." Wooyoung grinned. "Take care now."
Jieun watched as Wooyoung walked away. She wondered if she would be meeting him again tomorrow morning, at the same time, same place.
******
"Unnie, hurry up please, we're going to be late!" Hara called out as she started the car. She was waiting for Joori who was still busy looking for her handphone which she finally found sandwiched between the cushions on the sofa.
"Ahrasso! I'm coming!" Joori replied before running out. "Seohyun, Jieun, we're going off first!"
"Ne unnie. See you in the evening!" Jieun stood by the door and gave a cheery wave at her landlord.
"Ne unnie, take care!" Seohyun exclaimed grinning. "And Hara-ya, GOOD LUCK!"
"Yah! I have enough luck with me." Hara responded with a glare before entering the car. Soon, she and Joori were off to work with Hara driving. It was a routine every morning for Hara to drive Joori to work first before heading to hers, since their office were located along the same district.
"Are you looking forward to work today?" Joori asked, wiggling her eyebrows. After hearing Hara's complains the night before about her transfer to another department and having a new partner, Joori took this chance to tease her.
"Of course. I've promised myself to give my partner a hard time today, tomorrow, the day after and forever!" Hara grinned wickedly. "I just hate him!"
"Yah, you know what they say, don't hate that person too much or you'll end up loving him endlessly."
"Aish! Unnie! Don't blurt out nonsense will you!" Hara looked at Joori in horror. The older girl was laughing endlessly.
"Yah! Look out!" Joori suddenly shouted and Hara stepped on the brake in a hurry, putting the car to a sudden stop.
Hara looked ahead to see that she almost hit a car which was coming out from the sideroad. Hara felt a sudden anger arising within her and threw a glare at the driver of the other car. But what she saw was totally unexpected. It was him. The person whom she despised the most at the moment was staring back at her. Hara felt numbed suddenly. They had just talked about him, just a moment ago. Now he was right in front of her!
Joori on the other hand had also followed Hara's line of vision towards the other car. But what caught her eyes was the man who was sitting on the passenger seat and was gawking at her in surprised. He was the same man she tried to avoid the evening before.
"H-Hara, go! Just go! GO!" Joori shouted in a panic. The only thing she knew was she needed to get away from him again, as soon as possible.
"N-ne!" Hara replied, stepping on the gas pedal clumsily before zooming off. She needed to get that handsome face out of her mind too. 'No! That wretched face!' Hara corrected herself.
"Did you see him? He was just there!" Joori said worriedly.
"I know. It was scary." Hara nodded her head in agreement.
"I really had no idea he lived so close to us."
"I had no idea too."
"Ottoke? How am I going to hide myself?" Joori groaned.
"Aigoo! This is bad." Hara pouted, trying to conrcentrate on the road ahead.
"I know."
Hara frowned. "Wait. How did you know that was Onew?" Hara asked as she tilted her head to one side.
"Huh? Onew? I thought we're talking about Tony." Joori raised an eyebrow.
"Tony? Who's Tony?"
Joori groaned. "Tony was my ex-boyfriend back in the States. The one I talked about last night."
"He was in the car?"
"Yeah! Didn't you see him?"
"Bo? Onew is Tony?" Hara gasped. "You mean the driver?"
"Not the driver! The one in the passenger seat beside the driver!"
"Ah! You mean there's a passenger? I didn't notice." Hara shrugged.
"That's why I told you to go fast. I felt uncomfortable with him looking at me like that."
"At least you do not have to meet him later!" Hara pouted.
"Yah! I have a feeling we'll be meeting often after this." Joori whined. "Aigoo!"
"But still I am going to be meeting him face to face later!" Hara exclaimed. "Aish! I hate this! Why is fate so cruel sometimes?"
"Good luck to you then." Joori smirked before frowning. "But how come Onew is in the same car as Tony? Are they friends or something?"
"Aish! I don't care about any of that. The only thing I'm thinking of now is how am I going to face that brat later?" Hara whined. "This is getting out of hand!"
***
Onew froze. He was unable to believe that he had just met her earlier than expected. And of all places to meet her was in front of the house he was staying in.
"I can't believe it's her!" Onew gasped, his hands holding the steering wheel tightly, unable to start driving.
"Me too." Tony nodded. "It is such a coincident."
"Aish! Don't tell me she lives around here!" Onew groaned.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tony smiled.
"What do you mean it's a good thing? Hyung, this is crazy!"
"I'm going to find out where she lives." Tony said causing Onew to stare at him in horror.
"And why would you do that?"
"I want to woo her back."
"Are you crazy? That kind of girl doesn't suit you hyung!" Onew said shaking his head.
"I have a strong feeling that she's the right girl for me!"
"Goo Hara is your kind of girl? Hyung! Are you for real?"
"Yah!" Tony threw an annoyed look at Onew. "I'm talking about Joori, my ex-girlfriend! And who's Hara by the way?"
Onew was getting confused. "Hara's my new partner. She was the one who was driving the car earlier."
"And Joori, who was sitting at the passenger seat, was my ex-girlfriend whom I met yesterday at the ahjumma's shop."
"Oh! I see. But how come Hara is in the same car with your Joori? They're friends?" Onew scratched his head.
"I have a strong feeling they are housemates, just like us." Tony voiced out his thoughts. "And they're our neighbours."
"Aish! This is not good!" Onew exclaimed. "How am I going to face her later?"
"Just act as normal. You're good at pretending right?" Tony grinned.
"Yeah right. I am so not looking forward to work now." Onew groaned helplessly before starting his car again and soon they were off to work.
******
"Unnie, shall we walk to the bus stop together?" Jieun asked as she watched Seohyun closing the gate behind her.
"Sure. I could use some company." Seohyun grinned, falling into step beside the younger girl. "You came home quite late last night."
"Ne unnie. I was too busy studying that I had forgotten about the time." Jieun said.
"Aigoo. Don't strain yourself too hard. It could affect your health."
"I know unnie. I will try my best to keep myself healthy." Jieun smiled.
"What time did you reach home last night?"
"Um, almost one in the morning."
"Aigoo! How did you get home? There's no bus at that time!" Seohyun asked, worrisome dripping from her voice.
"Well, I walked home." Jieun grinned guiltily.
"Aish sinchia! A young girl walking home alone is dangerous you know!" Seohyun scolded. "You could at least phone me. It would be no problem for me to fetch you, you know. Hara's car is always available."
"Don't worry unnie. Someone walked me home last night." Jieun blushed as she suddenly thought of a certain Jang Wooyoung.
"Someone? Your boyfriend?"
"Ani. I don't have a boyfriend." Jieun shook her head. "Just someone whom I met at the bus stop. He lives a few houses down from ours."
"Do you know him?"
"Um no. We just met yesterday." Jieun answered.
"Aigoo! Jieun-ah, you shouldn't trust strangers! What if he was a bad person?" Seohyun asked, feeling a bit angry at Jieun's carelessness.
"Don't worry unnie. I'm safe aren't I? I promise I won't do it again." Jieun smiled.
"Ahrasso. Make sure you heed my advice!" Seohyun warned her.
"There unnie!" Jieun suddenly pointed to a house which suddenly looked familiar to her. "That's his house! The person who sent me home last night."
Seohyun looked at the house. Indeed, the design of the house looked almost similar to Joori's house. "Ah! So did you get to know his name?"
"He told me it's Jang Wooyoung. He looked kind enough." Jieun blushed.
"Aigoo! It looked as if you're smitten by his kindness." Seohyun grinned.
Just then the gate to the house was suddenly opened causing Seohyun and Jieun to froze for a moment. Seohyun gasped the moment she saw him stepping out of the gate followed closely by a tall young man. She never even think that she would meet him like this.
"Anniyohaesayo." Yonghwa greeted the moment he saw Seohyun and a younger girl. It was indeed a surprise for him this morning.
"N-ne, anniyohaesayo." Seohyun and Jieun replied shyly.
Wooyoung looked at both Jieun and Seohyun who was standing in front of him. "Ah, you two live together?" He asked rather awkwardly.
"N-ne." Jieun replied as she tried to avoid looking into Wooyoung's eyes.
"You know each other?" Yonghwa asked, pointing his finger towards Wooyoung and Jieun.
"We met yesterday, at the bus stop." Wooyoung explained.
"So he's the Jang Wooyoung you were telling me about?" Seohyun asked, wiggling her eye brows at Jieun.
"Unnie!" Jieun whined.
"Hyung, isn't she the Seo Joohyun that..." Wooyoung started to speak but Yonghwa was fast enough to cover his mouth and stopped him from talking.
"You know my name?" Seohyun asked in shock.
Yonghwa laughed nervously. "You told me yesterday, don't you remember?"
Wooyoung freed himself from Yonghwa's grasp before throwing him an annoyed look. "I'll be off then." Wooyoung waved his hands towards Yonghwa before jogging off.
"He's my housemate." Yonghwa informed Seohyun who was still standing in front of him, still feeling awkward.
"Um, I'll go off first." Jieun suddenly said. Her eyes were fixed onto the road Wooyoung had just ran off to. "I'll see you this evening unnie!" With that, Jieun walked away hurriedly, leaving Seohyun alone with her newly found neighbour.
Yonghwa shuffled his feet nervously as he once again stood alone facing Seo Joohyun. He was not sure what to say suddenly as she smiled at him.
"So, you live here?" Seohyun asked.
"Ne." Yonghwa shoved his hands into his pockets. "Um, are you going off to work?"
"Ne. You?"
"Me too." Yonghwa smiled. "Um, would like to take a ride with me? I don't mind dropping you off first."
"Uh, I don't want to trouble you." Seohyun replied shyly.
"It's no trouble at all!" Yonghwa said hurriedly. "Please, you'll reach your office in no time at all."
"Ah, ne." Seohyun nodded as she followed Yonghwa towards his car.
Yonghwa could feel his heart bursting with joy. He glanced at Seohyun who was blushing. How he loved watching that sight of hers. It made him feel good inside. Just then, he heard the tinkling of the bell again. He looked down to see the Seohyun's ankle. There it was, the anklet which he had given to her the day before as her secret admirer. Yonghwa beamed.
"Nice anklet you got there." Yonghwa said the moment the two of them were comfortably seated in the car.
"This? It's a gift from someone." Seohyun replied smiling.
"Ah, your boyfriend?"
"Ani. I don't have a boyfriend." Seohyun said quickly. "It's from a friend."
Yonghwa nodded knowingly. Of course he knew who the anklet was from but he was not going to tell Seohyun just yet. He was going to wait for the right moment to tell her the truth.
"I want to ask you this again." Seohyun said suddenly.
"What is it?" Yonghwa asked as he started to drive.
"What's your name? I'm sure you didn't tell me yesterday!" Seohyun whined causing Yonghwa to laugh.
"I didn't tell you? Hm, I thought I had." Yonghwa feigned ingorance. "My name's Jung Yonghwa."
"Jung Yonghwa. Hm, and I guess you knew mine already." Seohyun raised an eyebrow.
"Ah ne." Yonghwa bit his bottom lip. Has he been caught?
"I guess I may have accidentally blurt it out unknowingly yesterday."
"Ah, of course!" Yonghwa heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly he was not sure how he was supposed to explain the truth to Seohyun. The atmosphere in the suddenly got quiet with neither speaking a word.
"Um, just now, Jieun, is my housemate." Seohyun suddenly spoke. "She's studying in Yonsei University."
"Ah sinchia? Wooyoung's the science laboratory assistant in Yonsei University." Yonghwa said. "He's my housemate too."
"I see. I guess I have to thank Wooyoung later for sending Jieun home safely last night."
"Ah really? He didn't tell me."
"Jieun missed the last bus home. So she walked home together with Wooyoung." Seohyun smiled. "I'm relieved that Jieun met a good person. I was worried for her initially."
"Yeah! Wooyoung's a good guy." Yonghwa agreed.
Seohyun guided Yonghwa the road to her office. Once they safely arrived in front of Seohyun's office building, Yonghwa made a promise with Seohyun to meet in the afternoon at the same spot in the park. Seohyun agreed causing Yonghwa to grin wide. Yonghwa watched as Seohyun entered her office building. Yonghwa breathed in deeply. Suddenly, he could not wait for the afternoon to come.
"There's no point in waiting. The last bus left less than five minutes ago." A voice spoke causing Jieun to look up hurriedly. All she saw was a silhouette of a man walking towards the bus stop. As he got closer, Jieun was able to see his face more clearly.
"You!" Jieun exclaimed as she stood up. She recognised the man immediately. He was the same person she had encountered this morning.
"Are you talking to me?" Wooyoung asked as he looked around. "Hm, I'm the only one here, so you must be talking to me."
"W-why are you here? If you want money, I don't have a single cent with me." Jieun said. She could feel herself trembling with fear but she tried not to show it.
"Relax. I don't want your money." Wooyoung said raising both his hands up. "I'm just another passenger who missed his last bus too."
"I don't believe you." Jieun said glaring at the man who was towering over her.
"It's up to you to believe or not." Wooyoung shrugged. "By the way, judging from where you took the bus at the same bus stop as me this morning, I believe we do live along the same street."
"So? What has that got to do with me and y-you?"
"Well, since the last bus is gone, I thought of walking home, since it's not that far from here." Wooyoung said. "So just thought if you would like to walk home together."
"Ani. I don't walk with strangers. In fact, I shouldn't even be talking to strangers!" Jieun said, sticking her nose up high. "I'll wait for a cab then."
"Well okay. But just to let you know, it's quite hard to get a cab around here, especially at this time of night." Wooyoung informed her. "And usually around this time, there'll be a few groups of gangsters who enjoy lurking out here."
"You're lying!" Jieun accused.
Wooyoung shrugged. "I'm not forcing you to believe me. It's really up to you if you want to stay and get a cab here. I'll be off then. Take care!"
Jieun watched as the stranger walked away from her. Thinking about it again, he might be right about certain things and she had this sudden thought that he looked trustworthy enough. So Jieun took a look at the empty road again before running in a hurry in order to catch up with that stranger.
"Hey! Wait up!" Jieun shouted. "Wait!"
Wooyoung turned around to see the little miss running towards him. "What's wrong with you?"
"I-I'm just, nothing." Jieun shrugged. She stopped just a couple of metres away from the stranger who raised an eyebrow. "Okay fine, can I walk home with you?"
"Well, since you ask so nicely, sure, you may walk home with me." Wooyoung nodded his head.
The two strangers continued walking towards their destination together. The walk home was rather quiet as neither spoke a word. About twenty minutes later, Jieun smiled as she felt a tinge of comfort the moment she saw the familiar shop which was situated a few blocks away from the house which she rented.
'I guess this stranger can be trusted after all.' Jieun thought with a smile.
"So, you're a student I believe." Wooyoung asked, keeping his eyes straight on the road ahead.
"Ne. I'm a student at Yonsei University." Jieun replied. "What about you?"
"Um, well, I work part-time at a fast-food restaurant near Yonsei University." Wooyoung lied.
"Ah, I see." Jieun nodded her head in understanding. "Um, about this morning, I am really really sorry. I'm just a bit clumsy."
Wooyoung smiled. "Ani, it's okay. Just a small matter."
Suddenly Jieun realised that they had stopped in front of a house. It looked almost similar to the house that she was renting in.
"This is the house I'm staying in." Wooyoung said.
"Oh. I see. My house is further down." Jieun said pointing towards the dark road.
"I see. Come, let me walk you home first." Wooyoung said as he continued walking.
"A-ani, it's okay Mister." Jieun said quickly pulling Wooyoung by his sleeve. Wooyoung turned to find himself staring awkwardly at a pair of confused eyes. Jieun gasped, realizing her actions, before letting go of the young man's sleeve.
"It's just a few houses away right?" Wooyoung smiled nervously. "Don't worry, let me see you off."
Wooyoung gestured Jieun to walk on first, to lead the way, with him following a step behind. Jieun smiled as she obeyed whatever the young man said. They continued their walk until finally they reached their destination. Jieun turned towards Wooyoung and smiled again.
"So this is the house you're staying in?" Wooyoung asked as he looked up at the house in front of him.
"Ne. I'm staying here with a few other housemates." Jieun explained with a shy smile.
"I see." Wooyoung nodded. "Um, you better get in now. It's getting late."
"Ne." Jieun entered the gate carefully. She turned to bid goodbye to her saviour.
"I'll be off then. Bye!" Wooyoung said swiftly as he walked away slowly. Jieun bit her lips. She was not sure if she wanted their sudden meeting to end like this.
"Hey wait!" Jieun called out causing Wooyoung to stop abruptly and looked at her. "I never get to know your name."
Wooyoung smiled, a little relieved. "It's Wooyoung. Jang Wooyoung."
"Oh! I'm Lee Jieun. Thank you so much for accompanying me home." Jieun said blushing.
"I'm just being a responsible citizen." Wooyoung grinned. "Take care now."
Jieun watched as Wooyoung walked away. She wondered if she would be meeting him again tomorrow morning, at the same time, same place.
******
"Unnie, hurry up please, we're going to be late!" Hara called out as she started the car. She was waiting for Joori who was still busy looking for her handphone which she finally found sandwiched between the cushions on the sofa.
"Ahrasso! I'm coming!" Joori replied before running out. "Seohyun, Jieun, we're going off first!"
"Ne unnie. See you in the evening!" Jieun stood by the door and gave a cheery wave at her landlord.
"Ne unnie, take care!" Seohyun exclaimed grinning. "And Hara-ya, GOOD LUCK!"
"Yah! I have enough luck with me." Hara responded with a glare before entering the car. Soon, she and Joori were off to work with Hara driving. It was a routine every morning for Hara to drive Joori to work first before heading to hers, since their office were located along the same district.
"Are you looking forward to work today?" Joori asked, wiggling her eyebrows. After hearing Hara's complains the night before about her transfer to another department and having a new partner, Joori took this chance to tease her.
"Of course. I've promised myself to give my partner a hard time today, tomorrow, the day after and forever!" Hara grinned wickedly. "I just hate him!"
"Yah, you know what they say, don't hate that person too much or you'll end up loving him endlessly."
"Aish! Unnie! Don't blurt out nonsense will you!" Hara looked at Joori in horror. The older girl was laughing endlessly.
"Yah! Look out!" Joori suddenly shouted and Hara stepped on the brake in a hurry, putting the car to a sudden stop.
Hara looked ahead to see that she almost hit a car which was coming out from the sideroad. Hara felt a sudden anger arising within her and threw a glare at the driver of the other car. But what she saw was totally unexpected. It was him. The person whom she despised the most at the moment was staring back at her. Hara felt numbed suddenly. They had just talked about him, just a moment ago. Now he was right in front of her!
Joori on the other hand had also followed Hara's line of vision towards the other car. But what caught her eyes was the man who was sitting on the passenger seat and was gawking at her in surprised. He was the same man she tried to avoid the evening before.
"H-Hara, go! Just go! GO!" Joori shouted in a panic. The only thing she knew was she needed to get away from him again, as soon as possible.
"N-ne!" Hara replied, stepping on the gas pedal clumsily before zooming off. She needed to get that handsome face out of her mind too. 'No! That wretched face!' Hara corrected herself.
"Did you see him? He was just there!" Joori said worriedly.
"I know. It was scary." Hara nodded her head in agreement.
"I really had no idea he lived so close to us."
"I had no idea too."
"Ottoke? How am I going to hide myself?" Joori groaned.
"Aigoo! This is bad." Hara pouted, trying to conrcentrate on the road ahead.
"I know."
Hara frowned. "Wait. How did you know that was Onew?" Hara asked as she tilted her head to one side.
"Huh? Onew? I thought we're talking about Tony." Joori raised an eyebrow.
"Tony? Who's Tony?"
Joori groaned. "Tony was my ex-boyfriend back in the States. The one I talked about last night."
"He was in the car?"
"Yeah! Didn't you see him?"
"Bo? Onew is Tony?" Hara gasped. "You mean the driver?"
"Not the driver! The one in the passenger seat beside the driver!"
"Ah! You mean there's a passenger? I didn't notice." Hara shrugged.
"That's why I told you to go fast. I felt uncomfortable with him looking at me like that."
"At least you do not have to meet him later!" Hara pouted.
"Yah! I have a feeling we'll be meeting often after this." Joori whined. "Aigoo!"
"But still I am going to be meeting him face to face later!" Hara exclaimed. "Aish! I hate this! Why is fate so cruel sometimes?"
"Good luck to you then." Joori smirked before frowning. "But how come Onew is in the same car as Tony? Are they friends or something?"
"Aish! I don't care about any of that. The only thing I'm thinking of now is how am I going to face that brat later?" Hara whined. "This is getting out of hand!"
***
Onew froze. He was unable to believe that he had just met her earlier than expected. And of all places to meet her was in front of the house he was staying in.
"I can't believe it's her!" Onew gasped, his hands holding the steering wheel tightly, unable to start driving.
"Me too." Tony nodded. "It is such a coincident."
"Aish! Don't tell me she lives around here!" Onew groaned.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tony smiled.
"What do you mean it's a good thing? Hyung, this is crazy!"
"I'm going to find out where she lives." Tony said causing Onew to stare at him in horror.
"And why would you do that?"
"I want to woo her back."
"Are you crazy? That kind of girl doesn't suit you hyung!" Onew said shaking his head.
"I have a strong feeling that she's the right girl for me!"
"Goo Hara is your kind of girl? Hyung! Are you for real?"
"Yah!" Tony threw an annoyed look at Onew. "I'm talking about Joori, my ex-girlfriend! And who's Hara by the way?"
Onew was getting confused. "Hara's my new partner. She was the one who was driving the car earlier."
"And Joori, who was sitting at the passenger seat, was my ex-girlfriend whom I met yesterday at the ahjumma's shop."
"Oh! I see. But how come Hara is in the same car with your Joori? They're friends?" Onew scratched his head.
"I have a strong feeling they are housemates, just like us." Tony voiced out his thoughts. "And they're our neighbours."
"Aish! This is not good!" Onew exclaimed. "How am I going to face her later?"
"Just act as normal. You're good at pretending right?" Tony grinned.
"Yeah right. I am so not looking forward to work now." Onew groaned helplessly before starting his car again and soon they were off to work.
******
"Unnie, shall we walk to the bus stop together?" Jieun asked as she watched Seohyun closing the gate behind her.
"Sure. I could use some company." Seohyun grinned, falling into step beside the younger girl. "You came home quite late last night."
"Ne unnie. I was too busy studying that I had forgotten about the time." Jieun said.
"Aigoo. Don't strain yourself too hard. It could affect your health."
"I know unnie. I will try my best to keep myself healthy." Jieun smiled.
"What time did you reach home last night?"
"Um, almost one in the morning."
"Aigoo! How did you get home? There's no bus at that time!" Seohyun asked, worrisome dripping from her voice.
"Well, I walked home." Jieun grinned guiltily.
"Aish sinchia! A young girl walking home alone is dangerous you know!" Seohyun scolded. "You could at least phone me. It would be no problem for me to fetch you, you know. Hara's car is always available."
"Don't worry unnie. Someone walked me home last night." Jieun blushed as she suddenly thought of a certain Jang Wooyoung.
"Someone? Your boyfriend?"
"Ani. I don't have a boyfriend." Jieun shook her head. "Just someone whom I met at the bus stop. He lives a few houses down from ours."
"Do you know him?"
"Um no. We just met yesterday." Jieun answered.
"Aigoo! Jieun-ah, you shouldn't trust strangers! What if he was a bad person?" Seohyun asked, feeling a bit angry at Jieun's carelessness.
"Don't worry unnie. I'm safe aren't I? I promise I won't do it again." Jieun smiled.
"Ahrasso. Make sure you heed my advice!" Seohyun warned her.
"There unnie!" Jieun suddenly pointed to a house which suddenly looked familiar to her. "That's his house! The person who sent me home last night."
Seohyun looked at the house. Indeed, the design of the house looked almost similar to Joori's house. "Ah! So did you get to know his name?"
"He told me it's Jang Wooyoung. He looked kind enough." Jieun blushed.
"Aigoo! It looked as if you're smitten by his kindness." Seohyun grinned.
Just then the gate to the house was suddenly opened causing Seohyun and Jieun to froze for a moment. Seohyun gasped the moment she saw him stepping out of the gate followed closely by a tall young man. She never even think that she would meet him like this.
"Anniyohaesayo." Yonghwa greeted the moment he saw Seohyun and a younger girl. It was indeed a surprise for him this morning.
"N-ne, anniyohaesayo." Seohyun and Jieun replied shyly.
Wooyoung looked at both Jieun and Seohyun who was standing in front of him. "Ah, you two live together?" He asked rather awkwardly.
"N-ne." Jieun replied as she tried to avoid looking into Wooyoung's eyes.
"You know each other?" Yonghwa asked, pointing his finger towards Wooyoung and Jieun.
"We met yesterday, at the bus stop." Wooyoung explained.
"So he's the Jang Wooyoung you were telling me about?" Seohyun asked, wiggling her eye brows at Jieun.
"Unnie!" Jieun whined.
"Hyung, isn't she the Seo Joohyun that..." Wooyoung started to speak but Yonghwa was fast enough to cover his mouth and stopped him from talking.
"You know my name?" Seohyun asked in shock.
Yonghwa laughed nervously. "You told me yesterday, don't you remember?"
Wooyoung freed himself from Yonghwa's grasp before throwing him an annoyed look. "I'll be off then." Wooyoung waved his hands towards Yonghwa before jogging off.
"He's my housemate." Yonghwa informed Seohyun who was still standing in front of him, still feeling awkward.
"Um, I'll go off first." Jieun suddenly said. Her eyes were fixed onto the road Wooyoung had just ran off to. "I'll see you this evening unnie!" With that, Jieun walked away hurriedly, leaving Seohyun alone with her newly found neighbour.
Yonghwa shuffled his feet nervously as he once again stood alone facing Seo Joohyun. He was not sure what to say suddenly as she smiled at him.
"So, you live here?" Seohyun asked.
"Ne." Yonghwa shoved his hands into his pockets. "Um, are you going off to work?"
"Ne. You?"
"Me too." Yonghwa smiled. "Um, would like to take a ride with me? I don't mind dropping you off first."
"Uh, I don't want to trouble you." Seohyun replied shyly.
"It's no trouble at all!" Yonghwa said hurriedly. "Please, you'll reach your office in no time at all."
"Ah, ne." Seohyun nodded as she followed Yonghwa towards his car.
Yonghwa could feel his heart bursting with joy. He glanced at Seohyun who was blushing. How he loved watching that sight of hers. It made him feel good inside. Just then, he heard the tinkling of the bell again. He looked down to see the Seohyun's ankle. There it was, the anklet which he had given to her the day before as her secret admirer. Yonghwa beamed.
"Nice anklet you got there." Yonghwa said the moment the two of them were comfortably seated in the car.
"This? It's a gift from someone." Seohyun replied smiling.
"Ah, your boyfriend?"
"Ani. I don't have a boyfriend." Seohyun said quickly. "It's from a friend."
Yonghwa nodded knowingly. Of course he knew who the anklet was from but he was not going to tell Seohyun just yet. He was going to wait for the right moment to tell her the truth.
"I want to ask you this again." Seohyun said suddenly.
"What is it?" Yonghwa asked as he started to drive.
"What's your name? I'm sure you didn't tell me yesterday!" Seohyun whined causing Yonghwa to laugh.
"I didn't tell you? Hm, I thought I had." Yonghwa feigned ingorance. "My name's Jung Yonghwa."
"Jung Yonghwa. Hm, and I guess you knew mine already." Seohyun raised an eyebrow.
"Ah ne." Yonghwa bit his bottom lip. Has he been caught?
"I guess I may have accidentally blurt it out unknowingly yesterday."
"Ah, of course!" Yonghwa heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly he was not sure how he was supposed to explain the truth to Seohyun. The atmosphere in the suddenly got quiet with neither speaking a word.
"Um, just now, Jieun, is my housemate." Seohyun suddenly spoke. "She's studying in Yonsei University."
"Ah sinchia? Wooyoung's the science laboratory assistant in Yonsei University." Yonghwa said. "He's my housemate too."
"I see. I guess I have to thank Wooyoung later for sending Jieun home safely last night."
"Ah really? He didn't tell me."
"Jieun missed the last bus home. So she walked home together with Wooyoung." Seohyun smiled. "I'm relieved that Jieun met a good person. I was worried for her initially."
"Yeah! Wooyoung's a good guy." Yonghwa agreed.
Seohyun guided Yonghwa the road to her office. Once they safely arrived in front of Seohyun's office building, Yonghwa made a promise with Seohyun to meet in the afternoon at the same spot in the park. Seohyun agreed causing Yonghwa to grin wide. Yonghwa watched as Seohyun entered her office building. Yonghwa breathed in deeply. Suddenly, he could not wait for the afternoon to come.
Feb 12, 2011
Chapter 3 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Tony Jung walked into his house to see his brother wrapped in a thick blanket as he lied down on the sofa watching the television. He was sneezing and coughing at the same time. Tony shook his head as he threw the packet of ramen which he had bought earlier towards his brother who jumped in shock. Yonghwa looked up to see his brother grinning wide.
"Hyung! Can't you just pass it to me nicely? I'm sick you know!" Yonghwa exclaimed, grabbing the packet of ramen and placing it on the table.
"So that's what the ramen is for." Tony said knowingly. It was a habit of Yonghwa who would always asked for ramen whenever he fell ill. "How come you're sick all of a sudden? You look fine this morning."
"He came back drenched. That's how he got sick." Onew suddenly appeared smirking.
"I was just a little drenched." Yonghwa replied shrugging.
"Yeah right! Not only were you drenched from head to toe, you were also shivering crazily!" Onew exclaimed as he shook his head. "Pabo!"
"My brother's always a little stupid when it comes to things like this." Tony said causing Onew to laugh hard.
"Shut up you!" Yonghwa threw a cushion towards his friend who was not able to stop laughing. "Go and cook some ramen for me."
"Ahrasso. I'm just cooking for you because I am hungry as well." Onew said with his eyebrows raised.
"Cook for me a packet too please." Tony winked at Onew. "I'm going up to shower first. I'll be down soon."
"Ne hyung." Onew replied before heading towards the kitchen to start cooking.
Onew had been renting out a room at Tony's house since four years ago. He had a conflict with his father. Onew had a terrible ego and his temper was just undescribable. Because of something his father had said, Onew made a decision to move out of his family's house to live on his own. From then on, he had never met his family anymore. However, he had a younger sister whom he doted on. He loved his sister very much and would always give some pocket money to her every month as she was still schooling. But recently, for about six months back, he was extremely busy with work that he was not able to find the time to meet up with her.
Yonghwa was the one who actually begged Tony to allow Onew to stay with them. In return, Yonghwa promised his brother that he too would pay rents every month. And so Tony agreed and allowed Onew to rent a room in the house. Yonghwa did pay his rent to his brother every month without fail. But without Yonghwa knowing, Tony actually set aside those payments made by Yonghwa in a secret account under Yonghwa's name. Tony considered that as a savings account for Yonghwa's emergency use. At the same time, Yonghwa had learnt to be more independent and thrifty.
Tony was previously studying and working at the same time in America and he had even thought of settling down there. But after few years of working, he made a sudden decision to come back to Korea. And so at that time, he had enough savings to buy his own house and invited his brother to stay together with him. At first Onew was the only one out of the family to rent a room in the house. Then Wooyoung came along. He was from Busan and had came to Seoul to work. And soon the four bachelors were finally living in the same house together.
"Onew-ah! Is it ready yet?" Yonghwa whined from across the living room.
"Yah! Come and help me if you want it to be ready as fast as possible!" Onew said, throwing Yonghwa a dirty look.
"Mianhe. Take your time then." Yonghwa grinned before letting out another sneeze.
"You seem different eversince you come home just now. Did anything happened?" Onew inquired.
"You won't believe it even if I tell you." Yonghwa said as he stood up and walked towards the kitchen dragging his blanket with him.
"Well, try me."
"I met her." Yonghwa finally blurted out.
"Met who?" Onew asked, confused.
"Her. Seo Joohyun!"
"Ne?"
"Yes. I met Seo Joohyun just now!"
"Seo Joohyun? The jogging girl?!" Onew gaped.
"Yes! That Seo Joohyun!"
"Sinchia?"
"Sinchia! We even talked to each other!" Yonghwa told his friend excitedly.
"Daebak! How did this happen?"
"Well, I did write a letter to her and placed it inside her house letter box."
"Hah! It must have been cheesy right?" Onew laughed.
"What must have been cheesy?" Tony asked the moment he entered the kitchen, freshly showered.
"Yong sent a cheesy letter to a girl." Onew said.
"Bo?!"
"Aniyo! It's nothing like that!" Yonghwa said quickly as he made a grab for Onew's neck before covering Onew's mouth with his hands. He needed to keep his friend's lips sealed.
"You write letters to girls?" Tony asked, his grin widening.
"Wae? I can't write letters to females is it?" Yonghwa asked his brother before letting go of Onew.
"Well, you can. But isn't it a little old fashioned?" Tony said as he sat himself down at the dining area.
"He's just shy hyung." Onew added chuckling. He had finished preparing a big pot of ramen and brought it to the dining table. Then he grab three bowls and chopsticks and handed them to Yonghwa and Tony.
"So who's the girl? Is she the reason you two always climb up to the roof?" Tony eyed the two men in front of him.
"He forced me to go up with him hyung. I'm innocent." Onew said, defending himself.
"Yah. There's no need to tell tales Onew-ah!" Yonghwa glared at his friend.
"Ahrasso. It doesn't matter anyway. I just want to know, who's the girl?" Tony asked again as he fed himself a mouthful of ramen.
"Well, she just lives a few houses down the street." Yonghwa replied, smiling shyly. "I've been spying on her for quite a while. And just today, I finally had a chance to talk to her personally."
"Sinchia? That's cool."
"And she's the reason I don't mind getting wet in the rain!"
"Well, that's stupid." Onew mocked as he pointed his chopsticks at Yonghwa.
Tony laughed. "Sometimes we do stupid things because of a girl." Tony said. "By the way, I met an old friend too earlier at the shop."
"An old friend? A girl is it?" Onew grinned.
"Well, yeah. She used to be my girlfriend when we were back in the States."
"Wo! You never mentioned to me that you used to have a girlfriend there!" Yonghwa raised an eyebrow.
"You never ask." Tony shrugged.
"Well, did she recognize you then?" Onew asked again.
"Ne, she did. But she was still angry with me, so we didn't talk long."
"Angry? Why would she be angry? Did you hurt her?"
"Hm, I think I did." Tony said, a little regretful. "I broke up with her actually."
"Aish! I didn't know that my brother is this cruel." Yonghwa shook his head.
"Yah! I was young at that time! It was a dare from my friends to date her for a while and then I was supposed to leave her!" Tony exclaimed, suddenly angry. "I had no choice but to do it!"
"Okay, okay. I understand now. There's no need to get so worked up right." Yonghwa said as carefully as possible.
"I know I did something horrible. I still remember her expression at that time." Tony sighed.
"But did you not have any feelings for her then?" Onew asked.
"After getting to know her, I admit, I did develop feelings for her." Tony smiled. "She was just a great girl to be with. Understands me well. But like I said, I was stupid. I let her go and never had the courage to face her again."
"Tragic." Yongwha said simply as he shook his head.
"You really didn't look for her to apologize?"
"Oh yeah I did. A few days after that incident, I did look for her to patch things up between us. But she was gone." Tony shrugged yet again.
"Aigoo! You hurt her big time."
"I know I did." Tony nodded his head sadly. "And when I saw her in the shop earlier, I was stunned. She is actually here! In Korea!"
"So did you get her number?" Onew grinned.
"No. She avoided me well." Tony smiled. "I thought of sending her home, so at least I could find out where she lives, but she just ran off into the rain."
"I have a strong feeling, she lives around this area." Onew said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"I think so too. I hope we would meet again." Tony smiled.
"You still harbour feelings for her?" Yonghwa asked yet again.
"I'm not sure. But when I saw her just now, I felt as if I was twenty-one again." Tony sighed. "And she looks awesome! So different from when she was in the States."
"Was she a geek then?" Onew chuckled.
"Even worse! She would always had her hair tied up in a bun, with thick black rimmed glasses and she dressed up like a typical grandmother!" Tony laughed as he remembered the past. "But damn! She was a good kisser!"
"Okay, I don't think I want to hear that." Yonghwa shook his head as he let out another sneeze.
"So how did she look now? She sure must have changed right? Judging from your expression when you are talking about her."
"Well, she looked different now. Pretty." Tony blushed.
"Argh! My brother's in love!" Yonghwa teased.
"You are not any different from me." Tony said causing Yonghwa to blush too.
"At least the two of you met some nice girls today." Onew said, pushing his bowl away from him.
"Wae? You met a girl as well?" Tony asked.
"Yeah. I was assigned with a new partner for my sports column! Can you imagine that!" Onew exclaimed. "And that partner is a girl who knows nothing about sports! And she looks like as if she's working in a pub or something! Too little clothes!"
"Ah sinchia? I should follow you to work tomorrow then." Yonghwa grinned mischievously.
"Not funny Yong." Onew shot his friend a death glare.
"Don't worry Onew, she'll learn slowly." Tony pat Onew's back encouragingly.
"My working life is hell!" Onew whined as he hit his head on the table lightly.
"It'll be fine my dear friend." Yonghwa said.
"Aish. I hope so."
"Hm, I just realised," Tony said as he looked around the house. "Where's Wooyoung? He's not back yet?"
"He texted me earlier. He said he'll be back late." Onew replied as he stood up to clear the table.
"This boy really has no life at all." Tony shook his head. "He should meet some girls as well! Not just spending his time at work till late night!"
"Hyung, let Wooyoung be. He's happier that way." Yonghwa said. "When the time comes, he'll know when to find his woman."
"True hyung. Anyway, he's still young." Onew added. Tony just nodded in understanding.
******
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella with you unnie?" Seohyun asked as she passed a box of tissue papers towards Joori. She had caught the cold after running in the rain earlier in the evening.
"I forgotten to bring it. Mianhe." Joori replied pouting.
"Here unnie, drink this." Hara came out from the kitchen before handing out a glass of drink towards Joori.
Joori accepted it and straight away brought it near to her nose to smell it. She cringed. "What is this? Lime?"
"Ne. Drink it all up okay?" Seohyun told her.
"It's going to be sour!" Joori whined.
"Just drink it up unnie! It'll cure the cold for now." Hara said.
"Ahrasso." Joori pouted as she took a sip from the lime juice drink Hara had prepared. Her face changed when she tasted the sourness of the lime juice.
"Aigoo! You could have call me to fetch you at the shop earlier." Seohyun said, shaking her head. "It isn't that far."
"I know." Joori nodded. "But I just needed to get away from the shop as fast as possible."
"Ah wae?" Hara asked.
"Um, well, you see, I met my ex boyfriend there." Joori confessed.
"Sinchia?" Both Hara and Seohyun said before leaning in further to hear the rest of the story.
"Is he handsome?"
"Is he tall?"
"Is he married?"
Questions after questions were asked by Hara and Seohyun causing Joori to cover her ears. "Can the two of you please ask your questions one at a time? You're making me dizzy."
"Okay fine!" Hara grinned. "How did you get attached to him?"
"I was together with him when we were studying in the States." Joori smiled.
"You said he was your ex-boyfriend. Why did you break up?" Seohyun's turn to ask.
"It's a long story." Joori shrugged. "We're both young. And I was naive."
"So you were the one who broke up with him first?" Seohyun gaped.
Joori laughed. "Ani. He broke up with me. You would too if you were him."
"Ah wae?" Both girls shouted.
"Well, I was a nerd and I seriously had no sense of fashion." Joori explained. "He just got tired of me I guess. Anyway, it's all in the past. No point remembering."
"But you're beautiful now unnie! I think, when he saw you just now, he must have regretted his actions back then!" Hara said.
"That's right unnie!" Seohyun added.
"Aish! You girls have great imagination." Joori chuckled. "Who knows if he's married now. It's been quite a while anyway."
"Well unnie, is he good-looking then?" Seohyun wiggled her eyebrows.
"Um, well, he looks cuter now, I must admit!" Joori grinned.
"Aigoo! Compared to you, I met the most horrible guy today!" Hara pouted.
"What do you mean?" Joori asked.
"I was transferred to another department today." Hara confessed.
"Ah sinchia? Wae?" Seohyun frowned.
"It does not matter why. Just to let you know, I was tranferred to the sports department. So from now onwards, I'll be the sports coloumn journalist."
"Don't they have their own famous sports journalist? If I'm not mistaken by the name of Onew?" Seohyun suddenly asked.
"You read the sports column too? Ne, his name is Onew." Hara replied.
"Hara-ya, I read anything with words written, you forget?" Seohyun winked.
"Hah! Of course you do." Hara nodded, rolling her eyes.
"Yah! You haven't tell us yet who's the horrible guy?" Joori exclaimed with impatience.
"Actually we've mentioned him already. He's that Onew guy!" Hara said as she made a grab for a cushion and gave it an angry squeeze. "Such a stuck-up jerk!"
"Wae? What did he do?"
"He's just horrible! The worst partner ever!" Hara shook her head. "I have the feeling he's not going to give me an easy time as long as I'm there."
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything's going to be alright." Seohyun smiled.
"What's wrong with you?" Hara asked as she looked at Seohyun. "You've been smiling like this ever since you came back from your jog."
"You went jogging today? I thought we're only doing it on Saturdays?" Joori asked confused.
"We're still doing it on every Saturday unnie, just today was a bit special." Seohyun told her housemates. "Give me a moment." Seohyun suddenly ran up the stairs towards her room to retrieve the letter which she received this afternoon. Once she was back at the living room, she passed the letter to Joori and Hara to read.
"Oh! My! God!" Hara exclaimed. "This is so romantic!"
"Aish! It's kind of scary to me." Joori frowned. "You sure he's not a stalker?"
"Hm, I don't think so unnie. Anyway, I didn't see anybody lingering at the balcony of any houses when I was jogging just now." Seohyun shrugged.
"Of course you won't. Today is Monday. He only lingers at the balcony on every Saturday morning." Joori corrected her housemate.
"You're right unnie." Seohyun pouted with a hunched back.
"Don't worry Hyunnie, I'm sure you'll meet this myterious 'Yong' someday." Hara grinned. "How I wish someone would send me surprising letters like this."
"But you know something, I did meet someone interesting in the park just now." Seohyun smiled.
"Sinchia? And who is this person?" Joori asked.
"Hm, actually I don't know who he is. He is just a random stranger who loves sitting under the oak tree as well." Seohyun said. "He's a music teacher and I find it so comfortable talking to him. There was no awkwardness at all."
"Is he cute?" Hara raised an eyebrow.
"Well, he is, I must admit." Seohyun answered blushing.
"Aigoo! You like him!" Joori accused.
"Ani unnie! I just like talking to him!"
"What's his name?" Hara continued with her interrogations.
Seohyun sighed out loud. "That's the only thing I don't know. Aish!"
"Don't worry Hyun-ah. I'm sure you'll meet each other soon." Joori gave Seohyun an encouraging squeeze on her shoulder.
"Ne unnie." Seohyun smiled as she leaned her head against Joori's shoulder.
"Ah! Where is Jieun? Has she arrived home yet?" Joori asked, looking around the house.
"Aniyo. I bet she's still at school studying." Hara replied. "She did mention that her mid-terms exam is just round the corner."
"Don't worry unnie, I'm sure she'll be home soon." Seohyun added.
"Ne. She's a big girl. I guess I worry too much." Joori said as she smiled nervously.
******
At a bus stop near Yonsei University, Jieun continued to wait for the last bus to go home. But it was getting late and there was not a single bus in sight. She was the only miserable soul there along the empty streets.
Suddenly, Jieun could here sounds of footsteps approaching. Jieun stiffened as the sounds got louder and louder.
"Hyung! Can't you just pass it to me nicely? I'm sick you know!" Yonghwa exclaimed, grabbing the packet of ramen and placing it on the table.
"So that's what the ramen is for." Tony said knowingly. It was a habit of Yonghwa who would always asked for ramen whenever he fell ill. "How come you're sick all of a sudden? You look fine this morning."
"He came back drenched. That's how he got sick." Onew suddenly appeared smirking.
"I was just a little drenched." Yonghwa replied shrugging.
"Yeah right! Not only were you drenched from head to toe, you were also shivering crazily!" Onew exclaimed as he shook his head. "Pabo!"
"My brother's always a little stupid when it comes to things like this." Tony said causing Onew to laugh hard.
"Shut up you!" Yonghwa threw a cushion towards his friend who was not able to stop laughing. "Go and cook some ramen for me."
"Ahrasso. I'm just cooking for you because I am hungry as well." Onew said with his eyebrows raised.
"Cook for me a packet too please." Tony winked at Onew. "I'm going up to shower first. I'll be down soon."
"Ne hyung." Onew replied before heading towards the kitchen to start cooking.
Onew had been renting out a room at Tony's house since four years ago. He had a conflict with his father. Onew had a terrible ego and his temper was just undescribable. Because of something his father had said, Onew made a decision to move out of his family's house to live on his own. From then on, he had never met his family anymore. However, he had a younger sister whom he doted on. He loved his sister very much and would always give some pocket money to her every month as she was still schooling. But recently, for about six months back, he was extremely busy with work that he was not able to find the time to meet up with her.
Yonghwa was the one who actually begged Tony to allow Onew to stay with them. In return, Yonghwa promised his brother that he too would pay rents every month. And so Tony agreed and allowed Onew to rent a room in the house. Yonghwa did pay his rent to his brother every month without fail. But without Yonghwa knowing, Tony actually set aside those payments made by Yonghwa in a secret account under Yonghwa's name. Tony considered that as a savings account for Yonghwa's emergency use. At the same time, Yonghwa had learnt to be more independent and thrifty.
Tony was previously studying and working at the same time in America and he had even thought of settling down there. But after few years of working, he made a sudden decision to come back to Korea. And so at that time, he had enough savings to buy his own house and invited his brother to stay together with him. At first Onew was the only one out of the family to rent a room in the house. Then Wooyoung came along. He was from Busan and had came to Seoul to work. And soon the four bachelors were finally living in the same house together.
"Onew-ah! Is it ready yet?" Yonghwa whined from across the living room.
"Yah! Come and help me if you want it to be ready as fast as possible!" Onew said, throwing Yonghwa a dirty look.
"Mianhe. Take your time then." Yonghwa grinned before letting out another sneeze.
"You seem different eversince you come home just now. Did anything happened?" Onew inquired.
"You won't believe it even if I tell you." Yonghwa said as he stood up and walked towards the kitchen dragging his blanket with him.
"Well, try me."
"I met her." Yonghwa finally blurted out.
"Met who?" Onew asked, confused.
"Her. Seo Joohyun!"
"Ne?"
"Yes. I met Seo Joohyun just now!"
"Seo Joohyun? The jogging girl?!" Onew gaped.
"Yes! That Seo Joohyun!"
"Sinchia?"
"Sinchia! We even talked to each other!" Yonghwa told his friend excitedly.
"Daebak! How did this happen?"
"Well, I did write a letter to her and placed it inside her house letter box."
"Hah! It must have been cheesy right?" Onew laughed.
"What must have been cheesy?" Tony asked the moment he entered the kitchen, freshly showered.
"Yong sent a cheesy letter to a girl." Onew said.
"Bo?!"
"Aniyo! It's nothing like that!" Yonghwa said quickly as he made a grab for Onew's neck before covering Onew's mouth with his hands. He needed to keep his friend's lips sealed.
"You write letters to girls?" Tony asked, his grin widening.
"Wae? I can't write letters to females is it?" Yonghwa asked his brother before letting go of Onew.
"Well, you can. But isn't it a little old fashioned?" Tony said as he sat himself down at the dining area.
"He's just shy hyung." Onew added chuckling. He had finished preparing a big pot of ramen and brought it to the dining table. Then he grab three bowls and chopsticks and handed them to Yonghwa and Tony.
"So who's the girl? Is she the reason you two always climb up to the roof?" Tony eyed the two men in front of him.
"He forced me to go up with him hyung. I'm innocent." Onew said, defending himself.
"Yah. There's no need to tell tales Onew-ah!" Yonghwa glared at his friend.
"Ahrasso. It doesn't matter anyway. I just want to know, who's the girl?" Tony asked again as he fed himself a mouthful of ramen.
"Well, she just lives a few houses down the street." Yonghwa replied, smiling shyly. "I've been spying on her for quite a while. And just today, I finally had a chance to talk to her personally."
"Sinchia? That's cool."
"And she's the reason I don't mind getting wet in the rain!"
"Well, that's stupid." Onew mocked as he pointed his chopsticks at Yonghwa.
Tony laughed. "Sometimes we do stupid things because of a girl." Tony said. "By the way, I met an old friend too earlier at the shop."
"An old friend? A girl is it?" Onew grinned.
"Well, yeah. She used to be my girlfriend when we were back in the States."
"Wo! You never mentioned to me that you used to have a girlfriend there!" Yonghwa raised an eyebrow.
"You never ask." Tony shrugged.
"Well, did she recognize you then?" Onew asked again.
"Ne, she did. But she was still angry with me, so we didn't talk long."
"Angry? Why would she be angry? Did you hurt her?"
"Hm, I think I did." Tony said, a little regretful. "I broke up with her actually."
"Aish! I didn't know that my brother is this cruel." Yonghwa shook his head.
"Yah! I was young at that time! It was a dare from my friends to date her for a while and then I was supposed to leave her!" Tony exclaimed, suddenly angry. "I had no choice but to do it!"
"Okay, okay. I understand now. There's no need to get so worked up right." Yonghwa said as carefully as possible.
"I know I did something horrible. I still remember her expression at that time." Tony sighed.
"But did you not have any feelings for her then?" Onew asked.
"After getting to know her, I admit, I did develop feelings for her." Tony smiled. "She was just a great girl to be with. Understands me well. But like I said, I was stupid. I let her go and never had the courage to face her again."
"Tragic." Yongwha said simply as he shook his head.
"You really didn't look for her to apologize?"
"Oh yeah I did. A few days after that incident, I did look for her to patch things up between us. But she was gone." Tony shrugged yet again.
"Aigoo! You hurt her big time."
"I know I did." Tony nodded his head sadly. "And when I saw her in the shop earlier, I was stunned. She is actually here! In Korea!"
"So did you get her number?" Onew grinned.
"No. She avoided me well." Tony smiled. "I thought of sending her home, so at least I could find out where she lives, but she just ran off into the rain."
"I have a strong feeling, she lives around this area." Onew said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"I think so too. I hope we would meet again." Tony smiled.
"You still harbour feelings for her?" Yonghwa asked yet again.
"I'm not sure. But when I saw her just now, I felt as if I was twenty-one again." Tony sighed. "And she looks awesome! So different from when she was in the States."
"Was she a geek then?" Onew chuckled.
"Even worse! She would always had her hair tied up in a bun, with thick black rimmed glasses and she dressed up like a typical grandmother!" Tony laughed as he remembered the past. "But damn! She was a good kisser!"
"Okay, I don't think I want to hear that." Yonghwa shook his head as he let out another sneeze.
"So how did she look now? She sure must have changed right? Judging from your expression when you are talking about her."
"Well, she looked different now. Pretty." Tony blushed.
"Argh! My brother's in love!" Yonghwa teased.
"You are not any different from me." Tony said causing Yonghwa to blush too.
"At least the two of you met some nice girls today." Onew said, pushing his bowl away from him.
"Wae? You met a girl as well?" Tony asked.
"Yeah. I was assigned with a new partner for my sports column! Can you imagine that!" Onew exclaimed. "And that partner is a girl who knows nothing about sports! And she looks like as if she's working in a pub or something! Too little clothes!"
"Ah sinchia? I should follow you to work tomorrow then." Yonghwa grinned mischievously.
"Not funny Yong." Onew shot his friend a death glare.
"Don't worry Onew, she'll learn slowly." Tony pat Onew's back encouragingly.
"My working life is hell!" Onew whined as he hit his head on the table lightly.
"It'll be fine my dear friend." Yonghwa said.
"Aish. I hope so."
"Hm, I just realised," Tony said as he looked around the house. "Where's Wooyoung? He's not back yet?"
"He texted me earlier. He said he'll be back late." Onew replied as he stood up to clear the table.
"This boy really has no life at all." Tony shook his head. "He should meet some girls as well! Not just spending his time at work till late night!"
"Hyung, let Wooyoung be. He's happier that way." Yonghwa said. "When the time comes, he'll know when to find his woman."
"True hyung. Anyway, he's still young." Onew added. Tony just nodded in understanding.
******
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella with you unnie?" Seohyun asked as she passed a box of tissue papers towards Joori. She had caught the cold after running in the rain earlier in the evening.
"I forgotten to bring it. Mianhe." Joori replied pouting.
"Here unnie, drink this." Hara came out from the kitchen before handing out a glass of drink towards Joori.
Joori accepted it and straight away brought it near to her nose to smell it. She cringed. "What is this? Lime?"
"Ne. Drink it all up okay?" Seohyun told her.
"It's going to be sour!" Joori whined.
"Just drink it up unnie! It'll cure the cold for now." Hara said.
"Ahrasso." Joori pouted as she took a sip from the lime juice drink Hara had prepared. Her face changed when she tasted the sourness of the lime juice.
"Aigoo! You could have call me to fetch you at the shop earlier." Seohyun said, shaking her head. "It isn't that far."
"I know." Joori nodded. "But I just needed to get away from the shop as fast as possible."
"Ah wae?" Hara asked.
"Um, well, you see, I met my ex boyfriend there." Joori confessed.
"Sinchia?" Both Hara and Seohyun said before leaning in further to hear the rest of the story.
"Is he handsome?"
"Is he tall?"
"Is he married?"
Questions after questions were asked by Hara and Seohyun causing Joori to cover her ears. "Can the two of you please ask your questions one at a time? You're making me dizzy."
"Okay fine!" Hara grinned. "How did you get attached to him?"
"I was together with him when we were studying in the States." Joori smiled.
"You said he was your ex-boyfriend. Why did you break up?" Seohyun's turn to ask.
"It's a long story." Joori shrugged. "We're both young. And I was naive."
"So you were the one who broke up with him first?" Seohyun gaped.
Joori laughed. "Ani. He broke up with me. You would too if you were him."
"Ah wae?" Both girls shouted.
"Well, I was a nerd and I seriously had no sense of fashion." Joori explained. "He just got tired of me I guess. Anyway, it's all in the past. No point remembering."
"But you're beautiful now unnie! I think, when he saw you just now, he must have regretted his actions back then!" Hara said.
"That's right unnie!" Seohyun added.
"Aish! You girls have great imagination." Joori chuckled. "Who knows if he's married now. It's been quite a while anyway."
"Well unnie, is he good-looking then?" Seohyun wiggled her eyebrows.
"Um, well, he looks cuter now, I must admit!" Joori grinned.
"Aigoo! Compared to you, I met the most horrible guy today!" Hara pouted.
"What do you mean?" Joori asked.
"I was transferred to another department today." Hara confessed.
"Ah sinchia? Wae?" Seohyun frowned.
"It does not matter why. Just to let you know, I was tranferred to the sports department. So from now onwards, I'll be the sports coloumn journalist."
"Don't they have their own famous sports journalist? If I'm not mistaken by the name of Onew?" Seohyun suddenly asked.
"You read the sports column too? Ne, his name is Onew." Hara replied.
"Hara-ya, I read anything with words written, you forget?" Seohyun winked.
"Hah! Of course you do." Hara nodded, rolling her eyes.
"Yah! You haven't tell us yet who's the horrible guy?" Joori exclaimed with impatience.
"Actually we've mentioned him already. He's that Onew guy!" Hara said as she made a grab for a cushion and gave it an angry squeeze. "Such a stuck-up jerk!"
"Wae? What did he do?"
"He's just horrible! The worst partner ever!" Hara shook her head. "I have the feeling he's not going to give me an easy time as long as I'm there."
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything's going to be alright." Seohyun smiled.
"What's wrong with you?" Hara asked as she looked at Seohyun. "You've been smiling like this ever since you came back from your jog."
"You went jogging today? I thought we're only doing it on Saturdays?" Joori asked confused.
"We're still doing it on every Saturday unnie, just today was a bit special." Seohyun told her housemates. "Give me a moment." Seohyun suddenly ran up the stairs towards her room to retrieve the letter which she received this afternoon. Once she was back at the living room, she passed the letter to Joori and Hara to read.
"Oh! My! God!" Hara exclaimed. "This is so romantic!"
"Aish! It's kind of scary to me." Joori frowned. "You sure he's not a stalker?"
"Hm, I don't think so unnie. Anyway, I didn't see anybody lingering at the balcony of any houses when I was jogging just now." Seohyun shrugged.
"Of course you won't. Today is Monday. He only lingers at the balcony on every Saturday morning." Joori corrected her housemate.
"You're right unnie." Seohyun pouted with a hunched back.
"Don't worry Hyunnie, I'm sure you'll meet this myterious 'Yong' someday." Hara grinned. "How I wish someone would send me surprising letters like this."
"But you know something, I did meet someone interesting in the park just now." Seohyun smiled.
"Sinchia? And who is this person?" Joori asked.
"Hm, actually I don't know who he is. He is just a random stranger who loves sitting under the oak tree as well." Seohyun said. "He's a music teacher and I find it so comfortable talking to him. There was no awkwardness at all."
"Is he cute?" Hara raised an eyebrow.
"Well, he is, I must admit." Seohyun answered blushing.
"Aigoo! You like him!" Joori accused.
"Ani unnie! I just like talking to him!"
"What's his name?" Hara continued with her interrogations.
Seohyun sighed out loud. "That's the only thing I don't know. Aish!"
"Don't worry Hyun-ah. I'm sure you'll meet each other soon." Joori gave Seohyun an encouraging squeeze on her shoulder.
"Ne unnie." Seohyun smiled as she leaned her head against Joori's shoulder.
"Ah! Where is Jieun? Has she arrived home yet?" Joori asked, looking around the house.
"Aniyo. I bet she's still at school studying." Hara replied. "She did mention that her mid-terms exam is just round the corner."
"Don't worry unnie, I'm sure she'll be home soon." Seohyun added.
"Ne. She's a big girl. I guess I worry too much." Joori said as she smiled nervously.
******
At a bus stop near Yonsei University, Jieun continued to wait for the last bus to go home. But it was getting late and there was not a single bus in sight. She was the only miserable soul there along the empty streets.
Suddenly, Jieun could here sounds of footsteps approaching. Jieun stiffened as the sounds got louder and louder.
Feb 10, 2011
Chapter 2 - Maybe I'm in Love With You
Wooyoung sighed as he leaned agaist the street lamp. Then he plucked on his earphones and turned on his MP3 player at full blast. He was waiting for the bus which will take him to his workplace just a few stops away. The bus arrived a few minutes later causing Wooyoung to smile finally. As he was about to go aboard the bus, he felt himself pushed slightly to the side. Irritation suddenly rise up within him as he turned to look at the person who had pushed him, accidentally or purposely. His eyes came across a small looking person who had her head down in a bow and continuously chanting her apology. Wooyoung raised an eyebrow and decided to shrug it off.
"It's okay." Wooyoung replied faintly as he gave a slight nod before hurrying up the bus.
***
Jieun groaned inwardly. Her clumsiness was such a bother. She was lucky that the stranger whom she had knocked against earlier did not make such a big fuss over the incident. She boarded the bus quickly and just sat herself down on the first empty seat she saw.
A few bus stops later, Jieun got herself ready to alight. Jieun stood up just before the bus gave an emergency break causing Jieun to lost her balance and ultimately felt herself falling. Jieun quickly gathered her thoughts and looked up to see a pair of curious eyes looking back at her. Then she realised where she had fallen on - she was practically being embraced by the same stranger she had accidentally knocked into earlier.
"Argh! Mianhe, mianhe!" Jieun cried, standing up straight before giving a few ninety degrees bows. Then she turned around and quickly ran down the bus. She continued running and never looked back.
***
Wooyoung tilted his head in confusion before alighting from the bus. He looked at the direction where the girl had ran off to and smirked. The moment she had fallen on top of him just a few minutes ago, he swore his heart started racing. Those pair of eyes were just too cute to not to be noticed by him. He did not know her but she had managed to make him nervous. He had never seen her before. In fact, today was the first he saw her.
'Ah! Pabo! She's just a random stranger.' Wooyoung chastised himself before letting out a soft chuckle.
Wooyoung continued walking towards Yonsei University which he was working in as a Science Laboratory Assistant. He walked through the gates to be greeted by a few female students who would shamelessly flirt with him every morning. They would always seem to know when he will arrive to work every single day. But as always, Wooyoung would never pay attention to any of the daring comments thrown to him by those females. He would just give a curt nod and a wink as a service to them. Those simple actions from him would always invite huge reactions from the students.
'Aigoo! It's hard being a handsome stud!' Wooyoung thought as he strode into the science faculty building with a grin on his face.
******
Hara half-walked and half-ran towards her office building with one hand holding onto a steaming hot coffee. She was already five minutes late. She ran through an elevator door which was about to close and had barely made it. She was safely standing in the elevator amidst the crowd she was facing at the moment. She let out an awkward grin before apologizing to the people who were already inside the the elevator.
As soon as the elevator reached the eighth floor, Hara quickly stepped out and ran towards her table. She needed to be there before her team leader noticed her absence.
"Finally you're here! It's the third time you're late you know that?!" Lee Joon, her co-worker exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
"Okay, okay! I know. Just calm down will you?" Hara raised her eyebrows as she settled down in her seat.
"How can you relax in a time like this? You're crazy!" Lee Joon continued nagging causing Hara to roll her eyes.
"Was she here?" Hara asked as she peeked around.
"Of course she was here! And she is waiting for you right now in her office." Lee Joon shook his head. "I've told you so many times Hara, to be punctual, but no, you don't seem to listen to your friend here!"
"Ahrasso! Stop nagging Joonie! You're giving me a headache!"
"Bo? I'm giving you a headache? It's you who's giving me a headache you know that!" Lee Joon said in an annoyed tone. "I have to face with that witch's questions every morning and all I did was help to cover you up and this is what I get? You're heartless!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry Joonie-ah." Hara said quickly. "I am really thankful for all that you've done for me. Really!"
"Sinchia?"
"Sinchia, sinchia!" Hara grinned.
"Ahrasso. I'm not mad at you anymore." Lee Joon grinned back.
"Anyway, do you think she'll really transfer me to another department?" Hara asked in a worried tone. "I thought she was just joking around."
"I'm really not sure Hara-ah. But from the looks of it, I think it's going to be true."
"Aigoo! Pabo!" Hara knocked her own head. Her team leader had threatened her to have her transferred to another department if she was late for the third time. And indeed it was her third time that day.
Hara stood up with a hunched back as she dragged her feet towards her team leader's office. She braced herself before entering. She could feel her heart beat faster as she knew she was about to find out the fate of her future.
***
"Onew! I have a happy news for you!" Mr Park exclaimed as he neared the latter's table.
"Ah, good morning Mr Park!" Onew quickly stood up as he gave a bow to his team leader.
"Ne, ne, good morning to you too!" Mr Park replied, smiling wide. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that you'll be having a new partner to work with for the sports column. She's from the entertainment department and she's a great article writer!"
"Entertainment department? But Mr Park, will she be familiar with sports? I doubt so." Onew said a little worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she has the basic knowledge on sports." Mr Park winked. "You just concerntrate on the game whereas she will concerntrate on interviewing the players. I'm sure she'll do great on that!"
"But Mr Park,"
"No more buts Jinki-ssi." Mr Park said with a frown causing Onew to flinch. "Or would you prefer me calling you Onew?"
"I'd prefer you calling me Onew sir." Onew replied hesitantly.
"Great! So, she's coming in a few minutes. So please, prepare a table for her. And clear up the mess here." Mr Park said as he pointed to the piles of papers and files which were scattered on the tables before leaving.
Onew groaned. This was not what he was hoping for. He felt that he had done a great job with the sports coloumn alone. He did not need a partner or an assistant. Especially if it was a female who might know nothing about sports to begin with. Onew could feel the frustrations rising within him as he started to clear the table, to get rid of the mess before welcoming his brand new partner.
***
Hara sighed. This was not what she had planned to happen. But she knew she deserved it. But sports? That was so not her! She loved entertainment! She loved writing about them! But sports was so boring! She could not live with that!
Hara dragged her feet towards the elevator with a box filled with her personal stuff in her hands. She entered the elevator and punched the button towards level six. The moment she got off the elevator, she gave a gasp. Level six was indeed unfamiliar to her. She knew no one from the sports department. That worried her terribly.
"Ah! Hara-ssi! I've heard so much about you!" A man came forward towards her with his arms outstretched. He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little too roughly, messing up her hair. "Welcome!"
"Ah, n-n-ne." Hara replied. "And you are?"
"I'm Park Hang Gul! I'm the sports column team leader!" Mr Park introduced himself with a bow. "And of course, you may call me just Mr Park, or Hang Gul, or just Gul-ssi, or better still, oppa?"
Hara widened her eyes in shock. "Ah? I think I'll just stick to Mr Park."
"Okay! No problem! For Hara, I don't mind anything." Mr Park let out a wide grin.
"Um, so where is my table Mr Park?"
"I've assigned you to be partners with our best sports writer here, Onew-ssi!"
"Ah sinchia? I've seen his names in the papers but never had the chance to read his articles." Hara admitted, feeling a bit ashamed of herself.
"Ah no worries. It's the same for Onew-ssi too. He's seen your names before but never read any of your articles." Mr Park informed her. "Isn't that a shame? Such a stupid guy!"
Mr Park led Hara towards her new table. Hara groaned inwardly as she took a view around the messy office. There were a lot of men here which made Hara a bit uncomfortable. But then she cheered up the moment she saw an empty table which looked decent enough for her. But before they reached her table, Hara suddenly realized their path was blocked by someone. Hara looked up to see a face of a man, who to her was quite good looking. His stare on her was sharp which made Hara's heart beat too fast.
"Ah! Hara, this is your partner, Onew." Mr Park said. "And Onew, this is the famous Hara I was telling you about!"
"Ne." Onew replied as he took in the appearance of the woman in front of him - short, tight skirt, low-neck pink blouse covered with a black but tight cardigan, high stilettos. Onew finally made a decision - she was not his type.
"Onew-ssi, please tell Hara where her table is. And if you could be sweet enough, please introduce her to the rest of the staff." Mr Park said. "I have to attend a meeting soon. I'll see you later."
Hara and Onew watched as Mr Park walked away in a hurry. Onew took another look at Hara and gave a tiny smirk.
"That's your table and this is mine." Onew pointed to the empty table to Hara. "You do your work and I'll do mine and the most important thing is, we don't get into each other's way. Ahrasso?"
Hara looked at the man in front of her in disbelief as he walked away from her and sat comfortably in his seat. He just left her standing there like a fool. Hara could feel her anger rising up. She stomped her foot before heading towards her table.
'Relax Hara. Cool down. He doesn't know you yet.' Hara told herself as she breathed in and out continuously. 'I'll make your next few days miserable. I'll promise you that Onew-ssi."
******
Seohyun skipped back towards the house with her spirits soaring high. She had just finished editing another new story from another awesome writer at work today. She indeed enjoyed her line of work so much.
As she reached the front gate, Seohyun went to check the letter box. She took hold of the stack of letters and walked into the house. Then she started sorting the letters by the personalised mail box which she and Hara had made just above the shoe rack.
"One, two, three, four, five letters for Joori unnie. One, two, three letters for Hara. One letter for Jieun and one, two letters for me!" Seohyun said as she placed the letters into the personalised mail boxes.
She took a look closer at one of the letters posted to her. It does not look like one of her bills which she usually received. Instead, it comes in a pretty pink envelope decorated with cute Keroro stickers. Seohyun brought her letters in with her and headed up towards her room.
"Hm, that's weird. I've never received letters this kind before." Seohyun frowned as she slowly tear open the envelope. She pulled out a nice scented paper from the envelope and started reading.
Seo Joohyun,
I have a story to tell.
One day I was standing at my balcony early in the morning, to greet the morning air and the sun as it rises to inform us of the new day.
I was busy admiring God's work of art when suddenly I saw a girl and her friends jogging past the house I'm staying in.
I strained my head to get a better look at her. I was stunned.
I was not able to describe my feelings then. I was mesmerized. She looks beautiful just like a Goddess who descended on Earth to create happiness.
With her long hair tied in a messy ponytail as it swished left and right during her jog.
Then I heard her laughter which reminds me of bells jinggling. It made me smile unconciously and I was addicted.
And as magicly as she appeared, she was gone.
I told myself to be patient and I came back to the balcony the next morning to catch a glimpse of her.
But I was disappointed. She didn't come.
I did not give up hope, and so I waited again for the next few days.
After a few days of disappointment, finally my friend told me to give it up.
A week after the first time I saw her, I woke up and laid in bed. I never went near the balcony again. I couldn't bear to feel another tinge of disappointment.
But then, I heard the laughter again, like the melodious sounds of bells jinggling.
I ran towards the balcony and true enough I saw her! She was there again! My heart soared with joy upon seeing her. It lifted my hopes up once again.
From that day onwards, I finally knew she only went for her jog on the same day every week.
And so, I look forward to meeting her every Saturday. Even if it's from afar, I feel very happy just to see the smile on her face.
And I'm sure by now you know who I am referring to. That girl is you, Seo Joohyun.
Attached with this letter is an anklet made from silver. There is a bell on the anklet which reminds me of your sweet laughter.
Please do wear it so I would know whenever you passed by my house.
Your admirer from afar,
Yong.
Seohyun gasped. She was not sure if she was supposed to be happy or surprised or even scared by this. From the writing, it looked as if he was definitely sincere about his interest towards her. She could not help but found it kind of sweet.
Seohyun had lots of admirers before but she had never really paid any attention to them that much. But this admirer was somewhat different. He wrote letters for goodness sake! And adding to that, she just so love reading anything which was written sincerely. Then she remembered of the anklet which was mentioned earlier in the letter. Seohyun made a dive for the envelope which she had casually placed aside on her table. She rummaged through it and soon enough she found the thing which she was searching for.
The silver anklet was beautiful. And as promised by her admirer, there is a bell on the anklet which made a beautiful sound. Seohyun was pleased and carefully put the anklet on. Seohyun stood up and danced around her room. And true enough, the bell made a synchronized sweet sound according to her graceful movements.
"I need to find out who this person is!" Seohyun said to herself as she got her jogging attire out of her wardrobe.
It was a Monday evening and she was definitely going jogging!
***
Yonghwa entered his room with a loud moan. His job as a music lecturer down at Hanyang University was as tiring as a soccer player. He had just prepared the theory versions of the examination questions earlier in the morning and indeed, he had a hard time preparing them. But nonetheless, he was done with it.
Yonghwa placed his guitar down on the guitar stand before heading out towards the balcony to enjoy the evening air. He looked at the road just in front of him. He closed his eyes as he imagined her jogging past his house. He smiled. He could never forget how wonderful she looked.
Yonghwa grinned as he remembered the letter which he had posted into her letter box early this morning. 'She must have read it by now.' Yonghwa thought with glee. Yonghwa sighed before entering his room again to get himself ready for an evening jog.
The evening was quite cooling and Yonghwa enjoyed the coolness as it hit the bare skin of his arms. He started with a slow jog towards the park which was situated just a few blocks away from his house. He decided to stop for a moment just by a small lake. He allowed himself to sit on the grass patch, leaning against a big oak tree, and watching the fantastic scenery before him. He was so immersed in watching a group of children feeding the ducks by the lake that he almost failed to hear the jiggling of bells just behind him.
However Yonghwa was sharp enough to hear the familair sounds of the bells. He quickly turned his head to the left but he saw no one. The sounds of the bells had stopped and for a moment, Yonghwa thought he was just hallucinating. 'I guess my mind is just too obsessed with Seo Joohyun.' He chuckled to himself.
"Do you mind if I share the tree with you?" Seohyun asked as she looked at the man who was comfortably leaning against the oak tree.
Yonghwa looked up and he was once again mesmerised. Seo Joohyun was standing before him. His eyes travelled all the way down to her ankle. And there it was, the anklet fitting her ankle nicely. He beamed.
"Well, may I?" Seohyun asked again.
"Ah, n-ne. Please do." Yonghwa replied as he scooted over to give her some room to sit.
"This spot is nice right? You could see all the nice things from here." Seohyun said.
"Ne. This is my favourite spot in this park." Yonghwa said shyly. He looked up to see Seohyun smiling as she watched the scenery before her.
"Ah jeongmal? This is my favourite spot too!" Seohyun exclaimed.
"So, we have the same interest in this park." Yonghwa grinned.
"I think so too! Sometimes I would come here to get inspirations to write."
"You're a writer?"
"No, I'm a book editor actually. But I love to write as well." Seohyun said excitedly. She just love sharing her line of work with others, even if it was with strangers.
"Jeongmal? I do write as well. But I write music notes."
"Ah! You're a composer?!"
"Ani, ani. Nothing like that." Yonghwa chuckled, enjoying the look on her face. "I'm a music teacher."
"Jeongmal? Which kinds of instruments do you teach then?"
"Well, string instruments mostly."
"Guitar?" Seohyun asked with a wide smile. "I love the sounds of guitar!"
'Well I love the sounds of bells.' Yonghwa grinned to himself. "Ah ne, guitar is one of the instruments I do play."
"Wow! That's great!" Seohyun smiled.
The two strangers talked for a while longer before Yonghwa stood up to take his leave. "I'll be off first, hope to meet you again." Yonghwa said before jogging off.
"Hey wait!" Seohyun shouted at his retreating back. "I don't even know your name!"
Yonghwa turned and jogged on the spot. A smile spreading across his face. "I've told you already!" Yonghwa shouted a reply. "Bye!" Yonghwa jogged off, never wanting to look back.
Seohyun felt a jab of disappointment piercing through her heart. She tried to remember clearly when he had actually told his name to her during their conversation. But there was none. Seohyun led out a sigh as she too left the park the moment she felt raindrops hitting the top of her head.
From a distant, from behind the tree, Yonghwa peeked out to see his dream girl jogging off. He smiled. He had never felt this happy before. As the rain continued to pour, Yonghwa managed to whisper to no one in particular, "My name is Yong. I told you before."
******
Tony entered the small shop with his umbrella in tow. It was raining very heavily. If it was not for his brother pleading him to buy a packet of ramen, he would not even dream of stopping down by the shop. He started to browse through the shop, the ramen section to be exact.
The shop was rather small that it was a bit impossible to move around leisurely. Tony grabed a packet of ramen before he slowly made his way down the narrow aisle towards the cashier. But along his way he found himself standing face to face with another person who was also having difficulty trying to move out from the ramen section. Tony looked down to see a pair of familiar eyes looking back at him.
"YOU!" Tony and the other person shouted at the same time.
Joori was taken aback. She was not sure how to react at that time. Yes, she was surprised to see him standing in front of her but it was just impossible to meet him here of all places!
"J-J-Joori!" Tony stammered as he tried to pronounce her name. It had been years since he last say out that name.
"Tony." Joori nodded her head.
"How, I mean why, no I mean what are you doing here?" Tony asked a little too unsure.
"Buying some ramen." Joori replied. She knew her heart was racing but she just could not allow him to know.
"No, I mean,"
"I need to go." Joori quickly cut him and turned to head out towards the cashier to pay for her ramen.
"Wait!" Tony found himself chasing after her. He stopped beside the cashier as he observed her face. It was still the same. The innocent eyes, that sweet ruby lips he remembered kissing so much a long time ago. The only different thing about her was she looked more matured and more shapely in the important areas, unlike the scrawny and nerdy girl he knew before. "Joori, how are you?"
"Well, I'm healthy enough to start living properly after you left me a few years ago." Joori replied in a calm tone. "Is that what you wanted to know Tony?"
"A-ani. I-I was just asking out of concern for a friend."
"And to answer your question Tony, I am doing very well right now. Thank you so much for asking." Joori said before heading out of the shop. The rain was still pouring down heavily causing her to groan out loud.
"Joori! How are you heading home? It's raining rather heavily here." Tony said with a nervous smile. "Come, let me send you home. I have my car with me."
Joori smirked. She knew Tony well enough to know what he is up to. "No, it's okay. I'll be off now. Bye!"
Before Tony could say anything else, Joori quickly ran off through the rain. Tony felt numbed. He had never felt this frustrated before. All because of that one girl whose heart he had shattered a few years ago.
"It's okay." Wooyoung replied faintly as he gave a slight nod before hurrying up the bus.
***
Jieun groaned inwardly. Her clumsiness was such a bother. She was lucky that the stranger whom she had knocked against earlier did not make such a big fuss over the incident. She boarded the bus quickly and just sat herself down on the first empty seat she saw.
A few bus stops later, Jieun got herself ready to alight. Jieun stood up just before the bus gave an emergency break causing Jieun to lost her balance and ultimately felt herself falling. Jieun quickly gathered her thoughts and looked up to see a pair of curious eyes looking back at her. Then she realised where she had fallen on - she was practically being embraced by the same stranger she had accidentally knocked into earlier.
"Argh! Mianhe, mianhe!" Jieun cried, standing up straight before giving a few ninety degrees bows. Then she turned around and quickly ran down the bus. She continued running and never looked back.
***
Wooyoung tilted his head in confusion before alighting from the bus. He looked at the direction where the girl had ran off to and smirked. The moment she had fallen on top of him just a few minutes ago, he swore his heart started racing. Those pair of eyes were just too cute to not to be noticed by him. He did not know her but she had managed to make him nervous. He had never seen her before. In fact, today was the first he saw her.
'Ah! Pabo! She's just a random stranger.' Wooyoung chastised himself before letting out a soft chuckle.
Wooyoung continued walking towards Yonsei University which he was working in as a Science Laboratory Assistant. He walked through the gates to be greeted by a few female students who would shamelessly flirt with him every morning. They would always seem to know when he will arrive to work every single day. But as always, Wooyoung would never pay attention to any of the daring comments thrown to him by those females. He would just give a curt nod and a wink as a service to them. Those simple actions from him would always invite huge reactions from the students.
'Aigoo! It's hard being a handsome stud!' Wooyoung thought as he strode into the science faculty building with a grin on his face.
******
Hara half-walked and half-ran towards her office building with one hand holding onto a steaming hot coffee. She was already five minutes late. She ran through an elevator door which was about to close and had barely made it. She was safely standing in the elevator amidst the crowd she was facing at the moment. She let out an awkward grin before apologizing to the people who were already inside the the elevator.
As soon as the elevator reached the eighth floor, Hara quickly stepped out and ran towards her table. She needed to be there before her team leader noticed her absence.
"Finally you're here! It's the third time you're late you know that?!" Lee Joon, her co-worker exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
"Okay, okay! I know. Just calm down will you?" Hara raised her eyebrows as she settled down in her seat.
"How can you relax in a time like this? You're crazy!" Lee Joon continued nagging causing Hara to roll her eyes.
"Was she here?" Hara asked as she peeked around.
"Of course she was here! And she is waiting for you right now in her office." Lee Joon shook his head. "I've told you so many times Hara, to be punctual, but no, you don't seem to listen to your friend here!"
"Ahrasso! Stop nagging Joonie! You're giving me a headache!"
"Bo? I'm giving you a headache? It's you who's giving me a headache you know that!" Lee Joon said in an annoyed tone. "I have to face with that witch's questions every morning and all I did was help to cover you up and this is what I get? You're heartless!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry Joonie-ah." Hara said quickly. "I am really thankful for all that you've done for me. Really!"
"Sinchia?"
"Sinchia, sinchia!" Hara grinned.
"Ahrasso. I'm not mad at you anymore." Lee Joon grinned back.
"Anyway, do you think she'll really transfer me to another department?" Hara asked in a worried tone. "I thought she was just joking around."
"I'm really not sure Hara-ah. But from the looks of it, I think it's going to be true."
"Aigoo! Pabo!" Hara knocked her own head. Her team leader had threatened her to have her transferred to another department if she was late for the third time. And indeed it was her third time that day.
Hara stood up with a hunched back as she dragged her feet towards her team leader's office. She braced herself before entering. She could feel her heart beat faster as she knew she was about to find out the fate of her future.
***
"Onew! I have a happy news for you!" Mr Park exclaimed as he neared the latter's table.
"Ah, good morning Mr Park!" Onew quickly stood up as he gave a bow to his team leader.
"Ne, ne, good morning to you too!" Mr Park replied, smiling wide. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that you'll be having a new partner to work with for the sports column. She's from the entertainment department and she's a great article writer!"
"Entertainment department? But Mr Park, will she be familiar with sports? I doubt so." Onew said a little worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she has the basic knowledge on sports." Mr Park winked. "You just concerntrate on the game whereas she will concerntrate on interviewing the players. I'm sure she'll do great on that!"
"But Mr Park,"
"No more buts Jinki-ssi." Mr Park said with a frown causing Onew to flinch. "Or would you prefer me calling you Onew?"
"I'd prefer you calling me Onew sir." Onew replied hesitantly.
"Great! So, she's coming in a few minutes. So please, prepare a table for her. And clear up the mess here." Mr Park said as he pointed to the piles of papers and files which were scattered on the tables before leaving.
Onew groaned. This was not what he was hoping for. He felt that he had done a great job with the sports coloumn alone. He did not need a partner or an assistant. Especially if it was a female who might know nothing about sports to begin with. Onew could feel the frustrations rising within him as he started to clear the table, to get rid of the mess before welcoming his brand new partner.
***
Hara sighed. This was not what she had planned to happen. But she knew she deserved it. But sports? That was so not her! She loved entertainment! She loved writing about them! But sports was so boring! She could not live with that!
Hara dragged her feet towards the elevator with a box filled with her personal stuff in her hands. She entered the elevator and punched the button towards level six. The moment she got off the elevator, she gave a gasp. Level six was indeed unfamiliar to her. She knew no one from the sports department. That worried her terribly.
"Ah! Hara-ssi! I've heard so much about you!" A man came forward towards her with his arms outstretched. He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little too roughly, messing up her hair. "Welcome!"
"Ah, n-n-ne." Hara replied. "And you are?"
"I'm Park Hang Gul! I'm the sports column team leader!" Mr Park introduced himself with a bow. "And of course, you may call me just Mr Park, or Hang Gul, or just Gul-ssi, or better still, oppa?"
Hara widened her eyes in shock. "Ah? I think I'll just stick to Mr Park."
"Okay! No problem! For Hara, I don't mind anything." Mr Park let out a wide grin.
"Um, so where is my table Mr Park?"
"I've assigned you to be partners with our best sports writer here, Onew-ssi!"
"Ah sinchia? I've seen his names in the papers but never had the chance to read his articles." Hara admitted, feeling a bit ashamed of herself.
"Ah no worries. It's the same for Onew-ssi too. He's seen your names before but never read any of your articles." Mr Park informed her. "Isn't that a shame? Such a stupid guy!"
Mr Park led Hara towards her new table. Hara groaned inwardly as she took a view around the messy office. There were a lot of men here which made Hara a bit uncomfortable. But then she cheered up the moment she saw an empty table which looked decent enough for her. But before they reached her table, Hara suddenly realized their path was blocked by someone. Hara looked up to see a face of a man, who to her was quite good looking. His stare on her was sharp which made Hara's heart beat too fast.
"Ah! Hara, this is your partner, Onew." Mr Park said. "And Onew, this is the famous Hara I was telling you about!"
"Ne." Onew replied as he took in the appearance of the woman in front of him - short, tight skirt, low-neck pink blouse covered with a black but tight cardigan, high stilettos. Onew finally made a decision - she was not his type.
"Onew-ssi, please tell Hara where her table is. And if you could be sweet enough, please introduce her to the rest of the staff." Mr Park said. "I have to attend a meeting soon. I'll see you later."
Hara and Onew watched as Mr Park walked away in a hurry. Onew took another look at Hara and gave a tiny smirk.
"That's your table and this is mine." Onew pointed to the empty table to Hara. "You do your work and I'll do mine and the most important thing is, we don't get into each other's way. Ahrasso?"
Hara looked at the man in front of her in disbelief as he walked away from her and sat comfortably in his seat. He just left her standing there like a fool. Hara could feel her anger rising up. She stomped her foot before heading towards her table.
'Relax Hara. Cool down. He doesn't know you yet.' Hara told herself as she breathed in and out continuously. 'I'll make your next few days miserable. I'll promise you that Onew-ssi."
******
Seohyun skipped back towards the house with her spirits soaring high. She had just finished editing another new story from another awesome writer at work today. She indeed enjoyed her line of work so much.
As she reached the front gate, Seohyun went to check the letter box. She took hold of the stack of letters and walked into the house. Then she started sorting the letters by the personalised mail box which she and Hara had made just above the shoe rack.
"One, two, three, four, five letters for Joori unnie. One, two, three letters for Hara. One letter for Jieun and one, two letters for me!" Seohyun said as she placed the letters into the personalised mail boxes.
She took a look closer at one of the letters posted to her. It does not look like one of her bills which she usually received. Instead, it comes in a pretty pink envelope decorated with cute Keroro stickers. Seohyun brought her letters in with her and headed up towards her room.
"Hm, that's weird. I've never received letters this kind before." Seohyun frowned as she slowly tear open the envelope. She pulled out a nice scented paper from the envelope and started reading.
Seo Joohyun,
I have a story to tell.
One day I was standing at my balcony early in the morning, to greet the morning air and the sun as it rises to inform us of the new day.
I was busy admiring God's work of art when suddenly I saw a girl and her friends jogging past the house I'm staying in.
I strained my head to get a better look at her. I was stunned.
I was not able to describe my feelings then. I was mesmerized. She looks beautiful just like a Goddess who descended on Earth to create happiness.
With her long hair tied in a messy ponytail as it swished left and right during her jog.
Then I heard her laughter which reminds me of bells jinggling. It made me smile unconciously and I was addicted.
And as magicly as she appeared, she was gone.
I told myself to be patient and I came back to the balcony the next morning to catch a glimpse of her.
But I was disappointed. She didn't come.
I did not give up hope, and so I waited again for the next few days.
After a few days of disappointment, finally my friend told me to give it up.
A week after the first time I saw her, I woke up and laid in bed. I never went near the balcony again. I couldn't bear to feel another tinge of disappointment.
But then, I heard the laughter again, like the melodious sounds of bells jinggling.
I ran towards the balcony and true enough I saw her! She was there again! My heart soared with joy upon seeing her. It lifted my hopes up once again.
From that day onwards, I finally knew she only went for her jog on the same day every week.
And so, I look forward to meeting her every Saturday. Even if it's from afar, I feel very happy just to see the smile on her face.
And I'm sure by now you know who I am referring to. That girl is you, Seo Joohyun.
Attached with this letter is an anklet made from silver. There is a bell on the anklet which reminds me of your sweet laughter.
Please do wear it so I would know whenever you passed by my house.
Your admirer from afar,
Yong.
Seohyun gasped. She was not sure if she was supposed to be happy or surprised or even scared by this. From the writing, it looked as if he was definitely sincere about his interest towards her. She could not help but found it kind of sweet.
Seohyun had lots of admirers before but she had never really paid any attention to them that much. But this admirer was somewhat different. He wrote letters for goodness sake! And adding to that, she just so love reading anything which was written sincerely. Then she remembered of the anklet which was mentioned earlier in the letter. Seohyun made a dive for the envelope which she had casually placed aside on her table. She rummaged through it and soon enough she found the thing which she was searching for.
The silver anklet was beautiful. And as promised by her admirer, there is a bell on the anklet which made a beautiful sound. Seohyun was pleased and carefully put the anklet on. Seohyun stood up and danced around her room. And true enough, the bell made a synchronized sweet sound according to her graceful movements.
"I need to find out who this person is!" Seohyun said to herself as she got her jogging attire out of her wardrobe.
It was a Monday evening and she was definitely going jogging!
***
Yonghwa entered his room with a loud moan. His job as a music lecturer down at Hanyang University was as tiring as a soccer player. He had just prepared the theory versions of the examination questions earlier in the morning and indeed, he had a hard time preparing them. But nonetheless, he was done with it.
Yonghwa placed his guitar down on the guitar stand before heading out towards the balcony to enjoy the evening air. He looked at the road just in front of him. He closed his eyes as he imagined her jogging past his house. He smiled. He could never forget how wonderful she looked.
Yonghwa grinned as he remembered the letter which he had posted into her letter box early this morning. 'She must have read it by now.' Yonghwa thought with glee. Yonghwa sighed before entering his room again to get himself ready for an evening jog.
The evening was quite cooling and Yonghwa enjoyed the coolness as it hit the bare skin of his arms. He started with a slow jog towards the park which was situated just a few blocks away from his house. He decided to stop for a moment just by a small lake. He allowed himself to sit on the grass patch, leaning against a big oak tree, and watching the fantastic scenery before him. He was so immersed in watching a group of children feeding the ducks by the lake that he almost failed to hear the jiggling of bells just behind him.
However Yonghwa was sharp enough to hear the familair sounds of the bells. He quickly turned his head to the left but he saw no one. The sounds of the bells had stopped and for a moment, Yonghwa thought he was just hallucinating. 'I guess my mind is just too obsessed with Seo Joohyun.' He chuckled to himself.
"Do you mind if I share the tree with you?" Seohyun asked as she looked at the man who was comfortably leaning against the oak tree.
Yonghwa looked up and he was once again mesmerised. Seo Joohyun was standing before him. His eyes travelled all the way down to her ankle. And there it was, the anklet fitting her ankle nicely. He beamed.
"Well, may I?" Seohyun asked again.
"Ah, n-ne. Please do." Yonghwa replied as he scooted over to give her some room to sit.
"This spot is nice right? You could see all the nice things from here." Seohyun said.
"Ne. This is my favourite spot in this park." Yonghwa said shyly. He looked up to see Seohyun smiling as she watched the scenery before her.
"Ah jeongmal? This is my favourite spot too!" Seohyun exclaimed.
"So, we have the same interest in this park." Yonghwa grinned.
"I think so too! Sometimes I would come here to get inspirations to write."
"You're a writer?"
"No, I'm a book editor actually. But I love to write as well." Seohyun said excitedly. She just love sharing her line of work with others, even if it was with strangers.
"Jeongmal? I do write as well. But I write music notes."
"Ah! You're a composer?!"
"Ani, ani. Nothing like that." Yonghwa chuckled, enjoying the look on her face. "I'm a music teacher."
"Jeongmal? Which kinds of instruments do you teach then?"
"Well, string instruments mostly."
"Guitar?" Seohyun asked with a wide smile. "I love the sounds of guitar!"
'Well I love the sounds of bells.' Yonghwa grinned to himself. "Ah ne, guitar is one of the instruments I do play."
"Wow! That's great!" Seohyun smiled.
The two strangers talked for a while longer before Yonghwa stood up to take his leave. "I'll be off first, hope to meet you again." Yonghwa said before jogging off.
"Hey wait!" Seohyun shouted at his retreating back. "I don't even know your name!"
Yonghwa turned and jogged on the spot. A smile spreading across his face. "I've told you already!" Yonghwa shouted a reply. "Bye!" Yonghwa jogged off, never wanting to look back.
Seohyun felt a jab of disappointment piercing through her heart. She tried to remember clearly when he had actually told his name to her during their conversation. But there was none. Seohyun led out a sigh as she too left the park the moment she felt raindrops hitting the top of her head.
From a distant, from behind the tree, Yonghwa peeked out to see his dream girl jogging off. He smiled. He had never felt this happy before. As the rain continued to pour, Yonghwa managed to whisper to no one in particular, "My name is Yong. I told you before."
******
Tony entered the small shop with his umbrella in tow. It was raining very heavily. If it was not for his brother pleading him to buy a packet of ramen, he would not even dream of stopping down by the shop. He started to browse through the shop, the ramen section to be exact.
The shop was rather small that it was a bit impossible to move around leisurely. Tony grabed a packet of ramen before he slowly made his way down the narrow aisle towards the cashier. But along his way he found himself standing face to face with another person who was also having difficulty trying to move out from the ramen section. Tony looked down to see a pair of familiar eyes looking back at him.
"YOU!" Tony and the other person shouted at the same time.
Joori was taken aback. She was not sure how to react at that time. Yes, she was surprised to see him standing in front of her but it was just impossible to meet him here of all places!
"J-J-Joori!" Tony stammered as he tried to pronounce her name. It had been years since he last say out that name.
"Tony." Joori nodded her head.
"How, I mean why, no I mean what are you doing here?" Tony asked a little too unsure.
"Buying some ramen." Joori replied. She knew her heart was racing but she just could not allow him to know.
"No, I mean,"
"I need to go." Joori quickly cut him and turned to head out towards the cashier to pay for her ramen.
"Wait!" Tony found himself chasing after her. He stopped beside the cashier as he observed her face. It was still the same. The innocent eyes, that sweet ruby lips he remembered kissing so much a long time ago. The only different thing about her was she looked more matured and more shapely in the important areas, unlike the scrawny and nerdy girl he knew before. "Joori, how are you?"
"Well, I'm healthy enough to start living properly after you left me a few years ago." Joori replied in a calm tone. "Is that what you wanted to know Tony?"
"A-ani. I-I was just asking out of concern for a friend."
"And to answer your question Tony, I am doing very well right now. Thank you so much for asking." Joori said before heading out of the shop. The rain was still pouring down heavily causing her to groan out loud.
"Joori! How are you heading home? It's raining rather heavily here." Tony said with a nervous smile. "Come, let me send you home. I have my car with me."
Joori smirked. She knew Tony well enough to know what he is up to. "No, it's okay. I'll be off now. Bye!"
Before Tony could say anything else, Joori quickly ran off through the rain. Tony felt numbed. He had never felt this frustrated before. All because of that one girl whose heart he had shattered a few years ago.
Feb 9, 2011
Chapter 1 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Disclaimer: _
Hi! It's me again! With a brand new chaptered story...:)
And so, this story started small in my mind and I just had to post it up. I don't know how long this story would be but I promise it will have an ending. And so, this is another chaptered story by me. And I know, I bubbled up my own words. Mianhe...
Please do enjoy reading...
Chapter 1 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Jieun walked up the main street pulling her luggage behind her until she saw the house number she had been looking for. She pressed the bell and waited until a voice spoke out from the intercom.
"Yes, may I know who's there?" A female voice called out.
"Ne, anniyohaesayo! I'm Jieun, I called up earlier about coming here today to rent the room?" Jieun replied towards the intercom nervously.
"Ah! You're Lee Jieun is it?"
"Ne."
"Give me a moment."
Jieun stood back and waited again. Suddenly the front gate to the house was opened, revealing a tall young woman in her late twenties. She had long wavy brown hair which was tied up in a single pleat. She had a fair complexion and slightly chubby pink cheeks. Jieun thought she looked beautiful.
"Hi Jieun! I'm Joori, Kim Joori." The woman introduced herself, holding out her hand.
Jieun accepted the handshake rather shyly. "Hi, I'm Jieun. Lee Jieun."
"Come on in! I'm the owner of this house." Joori said as she grasped Jieun's hand and pulled her inside.
Jieun clumsily followed Joori in. She tried to match with Joori's hurried walking pace especially with her luggage trailing behind her. They passed the front yard which was big enough for a swimming pool (but too bad there was not any) before entering the main door which led them to the living room.
"Wah! Your house is big!" Jieun said in awe, as her eyes feasted on the interior designs of the house. She did not even realize that her jaw was dropping.
"Is it?" Joori asked shrugging. "I don't really care. Living in a big house all alone is boring actually. That's why I want roommates!"
"I see." Jieun nodded her head in understanding.
"How old are you Jieun-ah?"
"I'm turning twenty this year."
"Ah sinchia! Then you can call me unnie. Easier for you right?" Joori grinned as she pulled Jieun down to sit on the sofa beside her.
"N-ne." Jieun smiled.
"Okay, your room's on the second floor. The rules are simple, we will always have breakfast and dinner together. All of us will be responsible for our own mess and the most important thing is we must always keep the house clean. I am so particular about cleanliness. But if you want to mess up your own room, then I'm totally fine with it, it's your privacy so I don't really care." Joori said. "And every Saturday morning, we go for a jog together. And on Sunday morning, we will have to go to the supermarket to get out weekly supplies of food. And we shall take turns to cook unless you are really busy of course."
"Um, when you say we, is it just us two?" Jieun asked, confused.
"Oh mianhe. I forget to tell you that I already have two other tenants living here." Joori explained. "But don't worry, they're all females. They are your unnies too."
"Jeongmal?" Jieun said, her voice slightly nervous.
"Don't worry. They're all good people. One is a journalist. Her name is Goo Hara and the other is a book editor, Seo Joohyun. Hara is like a wildcat and Seohyun is a bookworm. Hara is too noisy whereas Seohyun is too quiet. But they are good friends though. They get to know each other since they rented a room here."
"Wow! I bet they'll feel awkward with me around." Jieun said, her voice almost toned down to a whisper.
"Don't worry. They adapt well to strangers!" Joori grinned again. "So are you still interested to stay here?"
"Ne. Of course." Jieun nodded. "How is the payment of the rent like?"
"You need to pay for the first three months of rent the moment you move in. Then starting on the fourth month, you just need to pay your monthly rent on fifth of every month. Is it alright with you?"
"Ne unnie. Don't worry. My appa will be transferring the money to you later." Jieun said. Joori nodded.
"Sorry. But why are you not staying with your family? Your parents chased you out?" Joori asked.
"Ani unnie. It's just that I wanted a place which is near to my school." Jieun said. "I usually tend to stay out late in school doing my assignments and studying. So it'll help if the place which I stay is nearer to the school. And so appa found this place for me. At the same time, I could learn to be more independent."
"Aigoo! You must be a bookworm as well. You and Seohyun can click well."
"I hope so unnie."
"Ahrasso. Come, let me show you to your room." Joori stood up, pulling Jieun up as well before gesturing the younger girl to follow her upstairs. Soon, Jieun found herself standing in front of her room. Joori left her alone to sort out her things and organize her stuff before reminding her to come down in half an hours time for breakfast.
******
Hara felt like dragging herself back to the house. She was inwardly cursing Seohyun for forcing her to go for a jog early in the morning. She remembered clearly Joori unnie had said that she was not going for the routined Saturday jog last night as she had to meet with a new tenant. So Hara had thought that the jog will be cancelled and had stayed up the whole of last night watching variety shows. She only started to fall asleep at five a.m. in the morning only to be roughly woken up at six by Seohyun to go for the jog.
And now, after a good two hours of exercising, finally they are walking back slowly towards the house. Hara groaned, trying to hold her tired body up.
"Yah! Why must we go jogging when Joori unnie didn't have to?" Hara complained.
"She has to meet her new tenant! She told us that yesterday didn't she?" Seohyun replied as she shook her head.
"The next time, if she can't go for the jog, then the two of us do not need to go as well okay."
"Ne? Andwae! She has a perfect excuse for missing this jog, but not us." Seohyun shook her head in disbelief. "Besides, jogging is a form of exercise which is good for the body!"
"Aigoo! I won't be able to win this debate with you aren't I?" Hara groaned.
"You know, that's right!" Seohyun smiled victoriously. "Pali! I bet Joori unnie has prepared breakfast for us! You don't want to be late for breakfast do you?"
"Yeah! You know me very well Hyunnie-ah!" Hara finally grinned. "Come, race you there!"
Hara ran quickly, leaving the surprised Seohyun behind. "Yah! Wait for me!"
******
"Unnie! We're home!" Hara called out as she entered the door followed closely by Seohyun.
"Hara, Seohyun, come to the kitchen! I'm here!" Joori replied.
Hara and Seohyun walked into the kitchen to find Joori standing next to a petite girl. Both of them were preparing pancakes for breakfast.
"Ah, anniyohaesayo." Jieun greeted the moment she saw the two women whom Joori had casually mentioned earlier.
"Finally! Hara, Seohyun, this is Lee Jieun. The new addition to the family!" Joori exclaimed. "Jieun, this is Hara, and this is Seohyun."
"Anniyohaesayo." Hara and Seohyun greeted back, smiling widely.
"Jieun is only twenty, so you both better show her a good example. Ahrasso?" Joori said grinning.
"Ahrasso unnie. What do you think we are?" Hara said as she stepped forward to hug Jieun. "You're so cute! Are you still schooling?"
"Ne unnie. I heard that you're a journalist. It's such an interesting job!" Jieun replied smiling.
"It is fun. But very tiring. You should ask our book editor here. Her job's interesting as well." Hara nudged Seohyun.
"Ne. Both of your jobs are absolutely cool. I really like jobs which requires reading and writing!"
"Sinchia? Let me show you some books which I've helped to edit before." Seohyun said excitedly.
"Jeongmal? Gamsahamnida unnie! I would love to!" Jieun bowed towards Seohyun who just chuckled.
"Show the books to her later. It's time for breakfast first." Joori interrupted as she pushed the three ladies out towards the dining table.
******
"Is she there? Did you see her?" Yonghwa asked excitedly.
"Ne. She's there! Take a look!" Onew passed the binoculars to his friend who accepted it willingly.
Yonghwa looked into the binoculars and sure enough he saw her. She was there doing her usual weekly jog. And as always, she looked refreshingly beautiful. Yonghwa grinned. Saturday had always been his favourite day eversince six months ago.
"Yah! Are you done yet?" Onew asked impatiently. "Let's go down."
"Aish! Can you wait? Let me enjoy this view first before it lasts." Yonghwa replied.
"You're just impossible!" Onew groaned.
"Yah! Can you just be silent for a while?"
"Whatever you say my dear chingu. But I'm getting off the roof this instant!" Onew said.
"You go down first, I'll follow in a while." Yonghwa said, still concerntrating in watching his dream girl via the binoculars.
Onew shook his head as he looked at his friend before he slowly made his way down the roof, towards their room balcony. Every Saturday morning, he and Yonghwa would always climb up to the roof of their rented house to catch a glimpse of Yonghwa's crush. She lived only a few houses away but in actual fact, they were never fated to meet. Onew had suggested to his friend to just introduce himself to her, but Yonghwa was always against the idea. One day, Wooyoung, another one of their housemate, came home running to say that he accidentally bumped into Yonghwa's crush causing her to drop the things that she was carrying in her hands. One of the things that she was carrying was a book. So, during the process, Wooyoung actually saw her name which was written on the book that made him ran all the way home.
Seo Joohyun. That was her name. Yonghwa had spent a week of sleepless nights just thinking about that name, causing Onew to have his own fair share of sleepless nights as well due to Yonghwa keep bugging him int he middle of the night.
"Yah! Come down already!" Onew called out in a hushed whisper. "Hyung's going to kill us! Please hurry!"
"Ahrasso! I'm coming now." Yonghwa said as he slowly climbed down towards the balcony as well.
"Tell me, why am I doing these things for you again?" Onew asked.
"Because you care for me?" Yonghwa grinned as he batted his eyelashes towards Onew.
"Aish! Sinchia!" Onew pushed his friend away from him. "And go get a shower! You stink!"
"Yeah right! Have you smelled yourself recently?"
"Well, yeah I did. And I thought I smelled better than you." Onew smirked playfully. "I bet Seo Joohyun would faint if she were to stand next to you right now!"
"Yah! Who gives you the right to just say her name so casually?" Yonghwa punched Onew playfully on the shoulder.
"Even Wooyoung is saying her name casually. And who are you? You're not even her boyfriend."
"Someday. I'll be her boyfriend someday." Yonghwa grinned.
"Aigoo! How are you going to be her boyfriend you tell me? You're even too shy to approach her!"
"Well, I'm going to approach her soon." Yonghwa said a little timidly.
"I'll be looking forward to that day!" Onew grinned widely. "I bet you would freak out!"
"Fine! I'll show you what I can do!" Yonghwa said, suddenly feeling a bit threatened by his friend's teasing. "This is Jung Yonghwa! I'll never back down from anything!"
"Ok, fine! Next Saturday. How about it?" Onew held out his hand towards his friend who was shuffling his feet nervously.
"F-fine! Next Saturday it is!" Yonghwa accepted Onew's hand in a promise handshake.
Hi! It's me again! With a brand new chaptered story...:)
And so, this story started small in my mind and I just had to post it up. I don't know how long this story would be but I promise it will have an ending. And so, this is another chaptered story by me. And I know, I bubbled up my own words. Mianhe...
Please do enjoy reading...
Chapter 1 - Maybe I'm in Love With You...
Jieun walked up the main street pulling her luggage behind her until she saw the house number she had been looking for. She pressed the bell and waited until a voice spoke out from the intercom.
"Yes, may I know who's there?" A female voice called out.
"Ne, anniyohaesayo! I'm Jieun, I called up earlier about coming here today to rent the room?" Jieun replied towards the intercom nervously.
"Ah! You're Lee Jieun is it?"
"Ne."
"Give me a moment."
Jieun stood back and waited again. Suddenly the front gate to the house was opened, revealing a tall young woman in her late twenties. She had long wavy brown hair which was tied up in a single pleat. She had a fair complexion and slightly chubby pink cheeks. Jieun thought she looked beautiful.
"Hi Jieun! I'm Joori, Kim Joori." The woman introduced herself, holding out her hand.
Jieun accepted the handshake rather shyly. "Hi, I'm Jieun. Lee Jieun."
"Come on in! I'm the owner of this house." Joori said as she grasped Jieun's hand and pulled her inside.
Jieun clumsily followed Joori in. She tried to match with Joori's hurried walking pace especially with her luggage trailing behind her. They passed the front yard which was big enough for a swimming pool (but too bad there was not any) before entering the main door which led them to the living room.
"Wah! Your house is big!" Jieun said in awe, as her eyes feasted on the interior designs of the house. She did not even realize that her jaw was dropping.
"Is it?" Joori asked shrugging. "I don't really care. Living in a big house all alone is boring actually. That's why I want roommates!"
"I see." Jieun nodded her head in understanding.
"How old are you Jieun-ah?"
"I'm turning twenty this year."
"Ah sinchia! Then you can call me unnie. Easier for you right?" Joori grinned as she pulled Jieun down to sit on the sofa beside her.
"N-ne." Jieun smiled.
"Okay, your room's on the second floor. The rules are simple, we will always have breakfast and dinner together. All of us will be responsible for our own mess and the most important thing is we must always keep the house clean. I am so particular about cleanliness. But if you want to mess up your own room, then I'm totally fine with it, it's your privacy so I don't really care." Joori said. "And every Saturday morning, we go for a jog together. And on Sunday morning, we will have to go to the supermarket to get out weekly supplies of food. And we shall take turns to cook unless you are really busy of course."
"Um, when you say we, is it just us two?" Jieun asked, confused.
"Oh mianhe. I forget to tell you that I already have two other tenants living here." Joori explained. "But don't worry, they're all females. They are your unnies too."
"Jeongmal?" Jieun said, her voice slightly nervous.
"Don't worry. They're all good people. One is a journalist. Her name is Goo Hara and the other is a book editor, Seo Joohyun. Hara is like a wildcat and Seohyun is a bookworm. Hara is too noisy whereas Seohyun is too quiet. But they are good friends though. They get to know each other since they rented a room here."
"Wow! I bet they'll feel awkward with me around." Jieun said, her voice almost toned down to a whisper.
"Don't worry. They adapt well to strangers!" Joori grinned again. "So are you still interested to stay here?"
"Ne. Of course." Jieun nodded. "How is the payment of the rent like?"
"You need to pay for the first three months of rent the moment you move in. Then starting on the fourth month, you just need to pay your monthly rent on fifth of every month. Is it alright with you?"
"Ne unnie. Don't worry. My appa will be transferring the money to you later." Jieun said. Joori nodded.
"Sorry. But why are you not staying with your family? Your parents chased you out?" Joori asked.
"Ani unnie. It's just that I wanted a place which is near to my school." Jieun said. "I usually tend to stay out late in school doing my assignments and studying. So it'll help if the place which I stay is nearer to the school. And so appa found this place for me. At the same time, I could learn to be more independent."
"Aigoo! You must be a bookworm as well. You and Seohyun can click well."
"I hope so unnie."
"Ahrasso. Come, let me show you to your room." Joori stood up, pulling Jieun up as well before gesturing the younger girl to follow her upstairs. Soon, Jieun found herself standing in front of her room. Joori left her alone to sort out her things and organize her stuff before reminding her to come down in half an hours time for breakfast.
******
Hara felt like dragging herself back to the house. She was inwardly cursing Seohyun for forcing her to go for a jog early in the morning. She remembered clearly Joori unnie had said that she was not going for the routined Saturday jog last night as she had to meet with a new tenant. So Hara had thought that the jog will be cancelled and had stayed up the whole of last night watching variety shows. She only started to fall asleep at five a.m. in the morning only to be roughly woken up at six by Seohyun to go for the jog.
And now, after a good two hours of exercising, finally they are walking back slowly towards the house. Hara groaned, trying to hold her tired body up.
"Yah! Why must we go jogging when Joori unnie didn't have to?" Hara complained.
"She has to meet her new tenant! She told us that yesterday didn't she?" Seohyun replied as she shook her head.
"The next time, if she can't go for the jog, then the two of us do not need to go as well okay."
"Ne? Andwae! She has a perfect excuse for missing this jog, but not us." Seohyun shook her head in disbelief. "Besides, jogging is a form of exercise which is good for the body!"
"Aigoo! I won't be able to win this debate with you aren't I?" Hara groaned.
"You know, that's right!" Seohyun smiled victoriously. "Pali! I bet Joori unnie has prepared breakfast for us! You don't want to be late for breakfast do you?"
"Yeah! You know me very well Hyunnie-ah!" Hara finally grinned. "Come, race you there!"
Hara ran quickly, leaving the surprised Seohyun behind. "Yah! Wait for me!"
******
"Unnie! We're home!" Hara called out as she entered the door followed closely by Seohyun.
"Hara, Seohyun, come to the kitchen! I'm here!" Joori replied.
Hara and Seohyun walked into the kitchen to find Joori standing next to a petite girl. Both of them were preparing pancakes for breakfast.
"Ah, anniyohaesayo." Jieun greeted the moment she saw the two women whom Joori had casually mentioned earlier.
"Finally! Hara, Seohyun, this is Lee Jieun. The new addition to the family!" Joori exclaimed. "Jieun, this is Hara, and this is Seohyun."
"Anniyohaesayo." Hara and Seohyun greeted back, smiling widely.
"Jieun is only twenty, so you both better show her a good example. Ahrasso?" Joori said grinning.
"Ahrasso unnie. What do you think we are?" Hara said as she stepped forward to hug Jieun. "You're so cute! Are you still schooling?"
"Ne unnie. I heard that you're a journalist. It's such an interesting job!" Jieun replied smiling.
"It is fun. But very tiring. You should ask our book editor here. Her job's interesting as well." Hara nudged Seohyun.
"Ne. Both of your jobs are absolutely cool. I really like jobs which requires reading and writing!"
"Sinchia? Let me show you some books which I've helped to edit before." Seohyun said excitedly.
"Jeongmal? Gamsahamnida unnie! I would love to!" Jieun bowed towards Seohyun who just chuckled.
"Show the books to her later. It's time for breakfast first." Joori interrupted as she pushed the three ladies out towards the dining table.
******
"Is she there? Did you see her?" Yonghwa asked excitedly.
"Ne. She's there! Take a look!" Onew passed the binoculars to his friend who accepted it willingly.
Yonghwa looked into the binoculars and sure enough he saw her. She was there doing her usual weekly jog. And as always, she looked refreshingly beautiful. Yonghwa grinned. Saturday had always been his favourite day eversince six months ago.
"Yah! Are you done yet?" Onew asked impatiently. "Let's go down."
"Aish! Can you wait? Let me enjoy this view first before it lasts." Yonghwa replied.
"You're just impossible!" Onew groaned.
"Yah! Can you just be silent for a while?"
"Whatever you say my dear chingu. But I'm getting off the roof this instant!" Onew said.
"You go down first, I'll follow in a while." Yonghwa said, still concerntrating in watching his dream girl via the binoculars.
Onew shook his head as he looked at his friend before he slowly made his way down the roof, towards their room balcony. Every Saturday morning, he and Yonghwa would always climb up to the roof of their rented house to catch a glimpse of Yonghwa's crush. She lived only a few houses away but in actual fact, they were never fated to meet. Onew had suggested to his friend to just introduce himself to her, but Yonghwa was always against the idea. One day, Wooyoung, another one of their housemate, came home running to say that he accidentally bumped into Yonghwa's crush causing her to drop the things that she was carrying in her hands. One of the things that she was carrying was a book. So, during the process, Wooyoung actually saw her name which was written on the book that made him ran all the way home.
Seo Joohyun. That was her name. Yonghwa had spent a week of sleepless nights just thinking about that name, causing Onew to have his own fair share of sleepless nights as well due to Yonghwa keep bugging him int he middle of the night.
"Yah! Come down already!" Onew called out in a hushed whisper. "Hyung's going to kill us! Please hurry!"
"Ahrasso! I'm coming now." Yonghwa said as he slowly climbed down towards the balcony as well.
"Tell me, why am I doing these things for you again?" Onew asked.
"Because you care for me?" Yonghwa grinned as he batted his eyelashes towards Onew.
"Aish! Sinchia!" Onew pushed his friend away from him. "And go get a shower! You stink!"
"Yeah right! Have you smelled yourself recently?"
"Well, yeah I did. And I thought I smelled better than you." Onew smirked playfully. "I bet Seo Joohyun would faint if she were to stand next to you right now!"
"Yah! Who gives you the right to just say her name so casually?" Yonghwa punched Onew playfully on the shoulder.
"Even Wooyoung is saying her name casually. And who are you? You're not even her boyfriend."
"Someday. I'll be her boyfriend someday." Yonghwa grinned.
"Aigoo! How are you going to be her boyfriend you tell me? You're even too shy to approach her!"
"Well, I'm going to approach her soon." Yonghwa said a little timidly.
"I'll be looking forward to that day!" Onew grinned widely. "I bet you would freak out!"
"Fine! I'll show you what I can do!" Yonghwa said, suddenly feeling a bit threatened by his friend's teasing. "This is Jung Yonghwa! I'll never back down from anything!"
"Ok, fine! Next Saturday. How about it?" Onew held out his hand towards his friend who was shuffling his feet nervously.
"F-fine! Next Saturday it is!" Yonghwa accepted Onew's hand in a promise handshake.
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