[Jae Wook’s POV]
Music: 태양 - 나만 바라봐 (Tae Yang - Look At Me)
“How was the sundae? Wasn’t it heavenly?” the annoyingly perky waitress asked as she cleared the table. “Would you like some coffee while waiting for your girlfriend to come back?”
I looked up at her but decided not to say anything. I wasn’t sure if I could stop myself from attacking her in a fit of rage. She looked at me questioningly, then smiled.
“Just call if you need anything else,” she said, and walked away.
She probably sensed the vibe of hostility emanating from me.
I sat there for awhile, staring blankly. It has been such a short time since I started at Dae Sang High, and yet, it feels like I’ve been stuck in this limbo forever. I knew why Sierra had to choose Han Kyung, and yet, part of me still didn’t want to give up. It may not sound right, but it wasn’t just about having her anymore. My pride had been beaten down for as long as I could remember. So much that I am now contemplating to do something I’ve avoided for the last 10 years of my life.
Maybe it’s time to call on my father.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
Eunice practically jumped out of the car when we stopped outside her mansion.
“You’re not gonna give me a kiss before you go?” I teased.
“Kaseyo,” she said.
“Araso…” I winked at her, and closed the door.
As the car pulled away, I took out my phone and dialed Ryeo Wook’s number.
“Have you found them?”
“Hyung-su is with me,” he said. “We’re on our way back.”
“Send her to my apartment,” I said.
“Algaesseumnida,” he replied, and I hung up.
“Take me home,” I said to my driver, and he nodded.
Music: Clazziquai -금요일의 Blues
When I got there, she was laying face flat on my sofa, like she always did. This would be the first time she’d set foot into my new penthouse. In the past, she would hang out with me at my father’s house. My father spent most of his time at his office and spent his nights at the homes of his many mistresses. His wife spent most of her days going from monastery to another, claiming that she was praying to clear my father of his sins. When she wasn’t doing that, she would be at some spa retreat in Europe. My only companion, before I met Sierra, was my half-sister, Yoo In. Yoo In is a great sibling to have. She’s smart, adorable, and very talkative, but I needed a different kind of love. The kind of love I could get only from Sierra.
I sat down next to her. The sofa sank and she did not stir at all. I touched her hair lightly, then leaned down to kiss her on the top of her head. She continued to sleep. I smiled to myself as I got up and walked to my room. I could forgive her for anything; a feat which I still found to be unbelievable, coming from me. Before I met her, no one who crossed me would’ve lived. Since knowing her, I have refrained from participating in fights, and left all physical activity to my men. I only attended meetings and negotiations because I knew how much she worried when I attended fights.
I showered quickly and walked out to the living room again to see if she’d awakened. She was still asleep. I walked to the kitchen and took out 2 cups of ramyun from the cupboard and filled them with hot water. As I’d expected, she woke up to the smell of the ramyun.
“Slept well?” I asked her.
“When did you get back?” she asked as she got up in the most unladylike way, rubbing her eyes.
Sierra played the persona of an heiress to perfection. In public, she was always poised and perfect. At home, she was like any other girl; relaxed and casual. But of course, because of the habits instilled by her upbringing, no matter how unladylike she behaved, she still did it in a way that made her look graceful. I doubt Kim Jae Wook has seen this side of her. The side that was what made her attractive.
“Long enough to see that you’ve drooled on my new sofa,” I smiled and put down the 2 cups of ramyun on the coffee table in front of her.
“Mmm…” she said, her eyes fixed on the ramyun as she slid off the sofa to sit on the floor, totally ignoring my teasing.
“Here,” I said, shifting one of the cups so that it was right in front of her.
“I’m starving,” she said, and started digging in.
“That run must have exhausting,” I said, reminding her of what she did to me this afternoon.
She stopped slurping her noodles midway, looked at me, and smiled sheepishly before swallowing the mouthful. So she was going to use the cute card to get away with it this time.
“I came back,” she said sweetly.
“Aratda…” I sighed, and mussed her hair.
I picked up my cup, and we ate in silence for awhile. When she finished, she put the cup down and leaned back into the sofa.
“So what do we do now?” she said.
“What do you wanna do?” I asked her.
“I’m talking about your father,” she said. “How are you going to convince him?”
“I don’t know yet,” I replied.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” she asked. “You told me everything would be alright. Are you expecting to put my family at risk just so you could have what you want.”
“I won’t let anything happen to your family,” I assured her.
“You can promise me anything, but at the end of the day, it’s your father who will decide what he wants to do to you and to me.”
“He won’t touch you,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
“You have to come up with a plan, Han Kyung,” she said. “Otherwise, I shouldn’t even be here. We should just stay apart until you’ve handled the situation.”
“I need you,” I said. “I need you beside me while I do this. Can’t you just stay?”
“It’s too risky,” she said, and moved to stand up by the sofa. “I’d better go.”
“Kajima…” I said, tugging her arm gently.
“Han Kyung…” she sighed.
“Kajima…” I said, and hugged her around the waist.
She sighed and cupped my face with both her hands as she looked down at me.
“You’d better think of something, fast!” she said.
“Araso,” I smiled, and she tweaked my nose.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
“You’re still alive!” Dong Hae shouted as soon as he answered my phone call.
“Yes,” I replied. “I need your help.”
“Anything,” he said. “As long as I don’t need to kill somebody or get killed.”
“Get me an air ticket to Japan,” I said.
“Japan? Do you have a passport?”
“I do,” I said.
My family may be dirt poor, but my mother had insisted that Jae Joong and I renewed our passports every time they expired.
“For emergencies,” she said.
She must have known a day like this would come.
“When do you want to leave?” he asked me.
“Tonight,” I said.
“Araso,” he said. “Text me your passport number. I’ll call you as soon as I get your ticket.”
“Komawo,” I said.
“It’s fine,” he said, and hung up.
I flipped the worn and yellowed business card in my hand. I never thought I would have to use it so soon. I’ve always thought that I was able to take care of my family and myself, but I’ve suffered enough. It was time my father did something for me.
My father’s name is Ihara Tsuyoshi. He and my mother met 20 years ago when she was working in Japan and lived together for 6 years. They never married. When my mother’s work permit expired, they failed to get it renewed. By then, their relationship wasn’t as it was before, having met when they were in their early 20s and because of my mother’s gambling habits. She decided to return to Seoul and brought me and Jae Joong along. He did not stop her. He visited us briefly 5 years ago. He was now a prominent yakuza leader in Tokyo. He’d asked me to join him, but I refused. I didn’t want to leave Jae Joong and my mother back then. Jae Joong was too young and weak to join a gang, and without the both of us, my mother would probably rack up more gambling debts.
“Where are you going?” Jae Joong asked me when he came home and saw me stuffing some clothes into a rucksack.
“Class trip,” I lied.
“But I thought your class trip is next month,” he said.
“I’m just going on a trip with a few classmates,” I said.
“With Sierra nuna?” he teased.
“Yea,” I replied curtly.
It stung when he said that, but I told myself that she would soon be back on my side again.
“Asa!” he grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “You’ll be an official couple after this trip.”
“Yea,” I laughed softly.
I stuffed the last of the stuff I was taking along, checked that I had enough cash and my passport with me, then left my room.
“When will you be back?” Jae Joong asked me.
“Maybe a week,” I said.
“You’re allowed to be away from school for that long?” Jae Joong asked with a puzzled expression.
“Sierra and her friends sort of get special treatment. As long as I’m in their clique, it’s okay.”
“If you say so,” he said, still looking unconvinced.
“Take care of omma,” I said to him.
“Ne,” he replied.
I walked towards the front door and started putting on my shoes.
“Take care of yourself,” he popped his head out at the door as I was about to go down the stairs.
Music: 태양 - 나만 바라봐 (Tae Yang - Look At Me) ~ Continued
I just smiled, and went on my way. Dong Hae had sent a car to pick me up and send me to the airport. I hadn’t told him why I needed to go to Japan, and he understood enough not to ask. I guess I’d gained a friend when I least expected to.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Chapter 20: If You Love Her...
[Sierra’s POV]
I ran… I ran as fast as I could as Jae Wook lead me down the street away from our school gates. I should’ve pulled away, I should’ve let him go, and went with Han Kyung, but my legs told me otherwise. We ran for 2 blocks, 3 blocks, 5 blocks down the road, and finally, he slowed down.
“Kwaench’ana?” he panted when we stopped.
I nodded wordlessly as I bent over, panting from the exercise.
After a few minutes, he took my hand again, and led me into an ice cream shop a few steps away.
“Osseo-oseyo!” the perky waitress greeted us as we walked in.
We were ushered to a cozy booth in a secluded corner. Jae Wook slid into the booth and pulled me down to sit beside him.
“We have a couple special today,” the waitress announced in her perky voice as she set down the menu in front of us. “Would you like to try that, or would you like something else?”
“We’ll have the special,” Jae Wook quickly said before she could continue.
“Okay,” she smiled, flashing her pearly whites at us. “Be right back.”
As soon as the waitress disappeared, Jae Wook turned to me, and grinned.
“Another minute, and I’d have stuffed a sock in her mouth,” he said.
I started giggling, and he started laughing. We stifled our laughter as the waitress approached again to set down our ‘couple sundae’.
“Anything else you would like?” she asked.
“No, thank you,” Jae Wook managed to say whilst holding back his laughter, and she bobbed her head before walking away.
Music: M - Sometimes
We laughed some more after she left, and then came to an abrupt silence. As bad as this may sound, this was one of the things Jae Wook and I shared… we had the same wavelength when it came to our thoughts. We realized that on many occasions, we were actually thinking about the same things, and at this moment, we were both thinking about Han Kyung.
Instead of talking about it, he chose the other way… evasion. He picked up the long dessert spoon and started digging into the sundae, as if he were starving.
“Jae Wook-ah,” I said softly.
“Try it,” he said and quickly held a spoonful of sundae in front of my lips.
I looked at him, and at the spoonful of melting ice cream in front of me. I decided I’d evade the topic with him just for now, and opened my mouth to allow him to feed me.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
“Find them,” I said to Ryeo Wook as I slammed my fist on the top of the car.
“Ye,” he bowed, and walked off to call up the boys to start searching for Sierra and Jae Wook.
I watched her run with him, down the street, away from me. I’d expected her to brush him off and come to me, but instead, she ran with him.
“Hyung,” one of my other boys came up with me with Hee Chul firmly grasped by his collar.
“Where did they go?” I asked him.
“How would I know?” Hee Chul replied.
“You know… I really don’t want to mess up your pretty face, so it would help if you told me now… where did that loser take Sierra to?” I asked again.
“I hardly know the guy. How would I know?” he said. “And you should know I’d give anything to make sure my face stays pretty,” he added for good measure.
I may not be able to tell if Sierra had been lying to me since I was blind to all her faults, but I was a good judge of character when it came to everyone else. I could tell that Hee Chul was telling the truth.
“If you see the 2 of them, that is, if my men actually fail to find them,” I said, “tell them that I’m not letting this one slide. You get me?”
Hee Chul nodded vigorously, and I signaled my men to let him go.
Music: M - AM 07:05
The scene replayed in my mind again and again. I should have moved before him. I should have known that Sierra would still be weak since we’ve just gotten back together. The idea of killing that vermin is burning in my mind at the moment, but I can’t. If I kill him, Sierra will never be able to forget him.
What surprised me was how determined he was. All the guys I’ve dealt with in the past gave up easily. This could only mean one thing; he was genuinely in love with Sierra, or perhaps the thought of marrying into her wealthy family is driving him. He’s poor, and his family is heavily in debt. It could be an all or nothing situation for him. Do I really have to kill him?
“Oppa…” a foreign female voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to my left and realized that Eunice was still in the car. My father had insisted that I take her along with me for the day and showed her the sights. I had planned for her to meet Sierra so that she could go back and tell her father that his plan for merger will fail, but instead, I lost Sierra.
“Do you mind if I take you home now? It’s been a rough day,” I said, politely.
“Sure,” she replied timidly. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Was that your girlfriend?” she asked.
Her voice was shaking as she asked me. I guess I’ve pretty much scared her with that entire gang business scene earlier. Maybe that would’ve changed her mind about us.
“Yea,” I said. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s alright,” she said.
“You know it’s not going to work out,” I said.
“Huh?”
“You and me…” I added.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Isn’t that why you’ve moved here? Your father is planning to marry you off, into my family.”
“He never mentioned it,” she said.
This was a surprise. So she really is an innocent. She didn’t even know that her father was planning to barter her off to secure his business. Now I feel sorry for her.
“Why do you think he’s sending you here for your studies?”
“My father is moving his offices to Seoul, my whole family is moving to Seoul,” she said.
“To be closer to your future in-laws,” I smirked. “If you don’t believe me, go home and ask your daddy.”
“You seem like a nice person, oppa,” Eunice said, “but why do you act like this?”
“Act like what?” I asked.
“Cold, and rude.”
“I’m sorry if I don’t meet your standards of politeness, but this is how we talk in a mob.”
“Mob?” she said, confused.
“My father heads a mob,” I said. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that either?”
“You shouldn’t make such jokes about your father,” she said.
“I assure you I am not joking,” I said, looking at her straight on.
She looked at me for awhile, studying my expression, as if she could gain some sort of enlightenment from doing that.
“Please take me home,” she said.
“I’m already doing that,” I pointed out.
“Good,” she replied, and sat back, crossing her arms defensively.
So the rose had thorns too.
[Sierra’s POV]
We finished the sundae, and we’re now just sitting there, staring at the glass. I tried again…
“Jae Wook-ah,” I said.
“Please stay with me,” he said softly.
He wasn’t looking at me. He spoke the words as he fiddled with the dessert spoon in the glass.
“Jae Wook,” I pleaded softly.
“I can find a way out of this,” he said. “We can be together and nothing will happen to you, I promise you.”
“How?”
“I can’t tell you now, but give me time, I’ll fix this for us?” he said.
He was now looking at me; his eyes pleading me to hang on and stick it out with him. I’m confused now. I have feelings for Jae Wook, and a life with him would be less complicated than a life with Han Kyung, but part of me was still attached to Han Kyung, and I find it hard to believe that we could get out of this situation unscathed. Maybe I should never have gotten together with Jae Wook.
“Do you know how crazy you sound now?” I said to him. “What could you possibly do to fix this? Han Kyung will have his way no matter what, and you’re going to suffer if you continue this fight.”
“I have the means to continue,” he said.
“You’re being so cryptic, Jae Wook,” I said. “What is it that you’re going to use against Han Kyung?”
“I can’t tell you now, but I promise to tell you once I have it. Just promise me, Sierra. Promise me that you won’t go back to him.”
“I can’t,” I said, as I got up slowly.
Music: M - One Last Cry
I had had enough of this madness. If he wasn’t thinking for himself, I will have to think for him, and for me.
“Kajima,” he said, holding onto my hand.
“Please…” I said, pulling my hand away as I stepped away from the booth, “just come to terms with our situation. I want us to both survive. I can’t bear it if anything should happen to you because of me. Please leave me alone, for your own sake.”
I turned and walked away, out of the shop. I could hear him call my name as I did, but I didn’t turn back. I couldn’t turn back anymore. Running off with him had been a big mistake today. From now on, no more mistakes… not if I want us all to survive.
I walked out of the shop and walked right into Ryeo Wook.
“Hyung-su,” he bowed.
“Take me to Han Kyung,” I said.
“Ne,” he bowed again.
“Leave Jae Wook here,” I said, looking him in the eye as I did. “Or I won’t come with you.”
“Ne,” he replied, and motioned for me to follow him.
“Let’s go,” he called out to the rest of the guys.
“But we have not found him,” one of them said.
“We’ve found hyung-su, let’s go,” he said.
The guys immediately gathered and they too bowed to me.
“Let’s go,” I said to Ryeo Wook.
I have never gotten used to this bowing and men being at my beck and call, but I suppose I will have to, since it’s been they’re way all this time. I still don’t know how things will end for me and Han Kyung, since his father obviously did not give us his blessings. I’m praying hard that Han Kyung has a plan.
I ran… I ran as fast as I could as Jae Wook lead me down the street away from our school gates. I should’ve pulled away, I should’ve let him go, and went with Han Kyung, but my legs told me otherwise. We ran for 2 blocks, 3 blocks, 5 blocks down the road, and finally, he slowed down.
“Kwaench’ana?” he panted when we stopped.
I nodded wordlessly as I bent over, panting from the exercise.
After a few minutes, he took my hand again, and led me into an ice cream shop a few steps away.
“Osseo-oseyo!” the perky waitress greeted us as we walked in.
We were ushered to a cozy booth in a secluded corner. Jae Wook slid into the booth and pulled me down to sit beside him.
“We have a couple special today,” the waitress announced in her perky voice as she set down the menu in front of us. “Would you like to try that, or would you like something else?”
“We’ll have the special,” Jae Wook quickly said before she could continue.
“Okay,” she smiled, flashing her pearly whites at us. “Be right back.”
As soon as the waitress disappeared, Jae Wook turned to me, and grinned.
“Another minute, and I’d have stuffed a sock in her mouth,” he said.
I started giggling, and he started laughing. We stifled our laughter as the waitress approached again to set down our ‘couple sundae’.
“Anything else you would like?” she asked.
“No, thank you,” Jae Wook managed to say whilst holding back his laughter, and she bobbed her head before walking away.
Music: M - Sometimes
We laughed some more after she left, and then came to an abrupt silence. As bad as this may sound, this was one of the things Jae Wook and I shared… we had the same wavelength when it came to our thoughts. We realized that on many occasions, we were actually thinking about the same things, and at this moment, we were both thinking about Han Kyung.
Instead of talking about it, he chose the other way… evasion. He picked up the long dessert spoon and started digging into the sundae, as if he were starving.
“Jae Wook-ah,” I said softly.
“Try it,” he said and quickly held a spoonful of sundae in front of my lips.
I looked at him, and at the spoonful of melting ice cream in front of me. I decided I’d evade the topic with him just for now, and opened my mouth to allow him to feed me.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
“Find them,” I said to Ryeo Wook as I slammed my fist on the top of the car.
“Ye,” he bowed, and walked off to call up the boys to start searching for Sierra and Jae Wook.
I watched her run with him, down the street, away from me. I’d expected her to brush him off and come to me, but instead, she ran with him.
“Hyung,” one of my other boys came up with me with Hee Chul firmly grasped by his collar.
“Where did they go?” I asked him.
“How would I know?” Hee Chul replied.
“You know… I really don’t want to mess up your pretty face, so it would help if you told me now… where did that loser take Sierra to?” I asked again.
“I hardly know the guy. How would I know?” he said. “And you should know I’d give anything to make sure my face stays pretty,” he added for good measure.
I may not be able to tell if Sierra had been lying to me since I was blind to all her faults, but I was a good judge of character when it came to everyone else. I could tell that Hee Chul was telling the truth.
“If you see the 2 of them, that is, if my men actually fail to find them,” I said, “tell them that I’m not letting this one slide. You get me?”
Hee Chul nodded vigorously, and I signaled my men to let him go.
Music: M - AM 07:05
The scene replayed in my mind again and again. I should have moved before him. I should have known that Sierra would still be weak since we’ve just gotten back together. The idea of killing that vermin is burning in my mind at the moment, but I can’t. If I kill him, Sierra will never be able to forget him.
What surprised me was how determined he was. All the guys I’ve dealt with in the past gave up easily. This could only mean one thing; he was genuinely in love with Sierra, or perhaps the thought of marrying into her wealthy family is driving him. He’s poor, and his family is heavily in debt. It could be an all or nothing situation for him. Do I really have to kill him?
“Oppa…” a foreign female voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to my left and realized that Eunice was still in the car. My father had insisted that I take her along with me for the day and showed her the sights. I had planned for her to meet Sierra so that she could go back and tell her father that his plan for merger will fail, but instead, I lost Sierra.
“Do you mind if I take you home now? It’s been a rough day,” I said, politely.
“Sure,” she replied timidly. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Was that your girlfriend?” she asked.
Her voice was shaking as she asked me. I guess I’ve pretty much scared her with that entire gang business scene earlier. Maybe that would’ve changed her mind about us.
“Yea,” I said. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s alright,” she said.
“You know it’s not going to work out,” I said.
“Huh?”
“You and me…” I added.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Isn’t that why you’ve moved here? Your father is planning to marry you off, into my family.”
“He never mentioned it,” she said.
This was a surprise. So she really is an innocent. She didn’t even know that her father was planning to barter her off to secure his business. Now I feel sorry for her.
“Why do you think he’s sending you here for your studies?”
“My father is moving his offices to Seoul, my whole family is moving to Seoul,” she said.
“To be closer to your future in-laws,” I smirked. “If you don’t believe me, go home and ask your daddy.”
“You seem like a nice person, oppa,” Eunice said, “but why do you act like this?”
“Act like what?” I asked.
“Cold, and rude.”
“I’m sorry if I don’t meet your standards of politeness, but this is how we talk in a mob.”
“Mob?” she said, confused.
“My father heads a mob,” I said. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that either?”
“You shouldn’t make such jokes about your father,” she said.
“I assure you I am not joking,” I said, looking at her straight on.
She looked at me for awhile, studying my expression, as if she could gain some sort of enlightenment from doing that.
“Please take me home,” she said.
“I’m already doing that,” I pointed out.
“Good,” she replied, and sat back, crossing her arms defensively.
So the rose had thorns too.
[Sierra’s POV]
We finished the sundae, and we’re now just sitting there, staring at the glass. I tried again…
“Jae Wook-ah,” I said.
“Please stay with me,” he said softly.
He wasn’t looking at me. He spoke the words as he fiddled with the dessert spoon in the glass.
“Jae Wook,” I pleaded softly.
“I can find a way out of this,” he said. “We can be together and nothing will happen to you, I promise you.”
“How?”
“I can’t tell you now, but give me time, I’ll fix this for us?” he said.
He was now looking at me; his eyes pleading me to hang on and stick it out with him. I’m confused now. I have feelings for Jae Wook, and a life with him would be less complicated than a life with Han Kyung, but part of me was still attached to Han Kyung, and I find it hard to believe that we could get out of this situation unscathed. Maybe I should never have gotten together with Jae Wook.
“Do you know how crazy you sound now?” I said to him. “What could you possibly do to fix this? Han Kyung will have his way no matter what, and you’re going to suffer if you continue this fight.”
“I have the means to continue,” he said.
“You’re being so cryptic, Jae Wook,” I said. “What is it that you’re going to use against Han Kyung?”
“I can’t tell you now, but I promise to tell you once I have it. Just promise me, Sierra. Promise me that you won’t go back to him.”
“I can’t,” I said, as I got up slowly.
Music: M - One Last Cry
I had had enough of this madness. If he wasn’t thinking for himself, I will have to think for him, and for me.
“Kajima,” he said, holding onto my hand.
“Please…” I said, pulling my hand away as I stepped away from the booth, “just come to terms with our situation. I want us to both survive. I can’t bear it if anything should happen to you because of me. Please leave me alone, for your own sake.”
I turned and walked away, out of the shop. I could hear him call my name as I did, but I didn’t turn back. I couldn’t turn back anymore. Running off with him had been a big mistake today. From now on, no more mistakes… not if I want us all to survive.
I walked out of the shop and walked right into Ryeo Wook.
“Hyung-su,” he bowed.
“Take me to Han Kyung,” I said.
“Ne,” he bowed again.
“Leave Jae Wook here,” I said, looking him in the eye as I did. “Or I won’t come with you.”
“Ne,” he replied, and motioned for me to follow him.
“Let’s go,” he called out to the rest of the guys.
“But we have not found him,” one of them said.
“We’ve found hyung-su, let’s go,” he said.
The guys immediately gathered and they too bowed to me.
“Let’s go,” I said to Ryeo Wook.
I have never gotten used to this bowing and men being at my beck and call, but I suppose I will have to, since it’s been they’re way all this time. I still don’t know how things will end for me and Han Kyung, since his father obviously did not give us his blessings. I’m praying hard that Han Kyung has a plan.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Chapter 19: Can't Stay Away
[Sierra’s POV]
School was a drag today. I spent the whole day reminding myself not to turn around so that I didn’t have to look at Jae Wook’s face.
“You’re going to get stiff neck by the end of the day,” Hee Chul whispered to me when he realized what I was doing.
“I don’t want to look at him. His expression is killing me,” I whispered back.
“What expression?” he said and turned to look.
“Don’t!” I hissed at him and grabbed him by the shirt so that he wouldn’t turn.
“He’s not even looking at you,” Hee Chul smirked.
I took a quick peek and saw him staring intently at the textbook in front of him.
“He was, this morning…” I said.
“Well he isn’t now,” he said, but that didn’t put me at ease.
During lunch, instead of joining our group like he had been doing for the past week, he dragged Dong Hae off with him to a table far away from ours. Dong Hae looked pretty confused, but so did Sung Min and Shin Dong. I haven’t told them about the breakup yet. So they thought that we were having a fight or something.
“What’s going on?” Sung Min whispered to Hee Chul, thinking that I couldn’t hear him.
“Mind your own business,” Hee Chul said as he continued eating.
“Did they have a fight?” Shin Dong piped in.
“Ask Sierra,” Hee Chul said, loud enough for me to hear, and the 2 of them looked at me, willing me to put their curious minds to rest.
“I’ll tell you guys later,” I said. “I’m not in the mood today.”
As soon as the last bell rang, I packed up quickly and stood up, ready to bolt out of the classroom. In my hurry, I collided with Jae Wook; he was probably also thinking of the same thing.
Music: Loveholic – Leave Me
“Mian,” I mumbled, and quickly walked out ahead of him.
“Wait up,” Hee Chul called out and sprinted after me.
I walked as fast as I could until the school gates were in sight.
“You don’t have to run away from the poor guy,” Hee Chul said, trying to keep up with me.
“Han Kyung said he’d pick me up. I don’t want him to see me leaving with Han Kyung,” I said.
“Araso… araso…” he said and followed me quietly.
Hee Chul stood outside the school gates with me for a good half an hour. Han Kyung hadn’t shown up.
“Where’s lover boy?” Hee Chul asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied, and adjusted the straps of my backpack on my shoulders.
“Here…” Hee Chul said and took the backpack from me. “I’ll carry it,” he smiled.
“Thanks,” I said, and rubbed my tired shoulders.
“Why don’t you call him?” he asked.
“I don’t want to,” I said.
“You’re such a stubborn pig,” Hee Chul laughed. “Here you are, standing under the hot sun, waiting for the jerk, and yet you wouldn’t call him.”
“You know why…” I said, and exhaled sharply.
“Oh yea… that pride. Sierra Hwang should never have to call a guy for services. Men should beg to serve you,” he joked.
“You know this isn’t a good time to be lame…” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Ne… samonim…” he laughed.
“Where is he?” I muttered to myself as we continued to wait.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
Dong Hae and I were walking towards the school gates when suddenly he grabbed my arm and tugged me in another direction.
“What… Dong Hae… the school gate’s that way,” I said.
“Let’s take the side gate,” he said and continued to walk hurriedly.
He was being downright odd, so I decided to see if there was something he was pulling me away from. I turned my head, and saw Sierra and Hee Chul loitering at the gate. Shouldn’t she have gone home by now? I stopped walking, and just stood and watched as she and Hee Chul talked and paced about at the gates. Then I realized that she must be waiting for Han Kyung.
“Let’s go,” Dong Hae tugged at my arm.
I brushed Dong Hae off and started walking towards Sierra.
“Jae Wook… don’t do this,” he said as he followed me.
“Go home,” I said to him. “This is my business.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” he said.
I’d told Dong Hae the whole story while we were waiting in the classroom earlier.
“Mwo?” he practically screeched. “She dated Han Kyung? Are we talking about the same Han Kyung?”
“The one who punched me because of you,” I said.
“The god-son of the supreme jjang, Ahn Sung Ki?”
“One and the same,” I sighed.
“Dude… you could’ve died… for real,” he said, in a tone which could only be indentified as disbelief.
“What do you take me for? A dweeb?” I said. “I know I look and act like I’m the confused freshie. I only do that to be inconspicuous.”
“Inconspicuous?” Dong Hae snorted. “You date the queen-ka of the school within the first week and you think you’re being inconspicuous?”
“I planned to be, until I met Sierra, until I met you. You encouraged me,” I pointed out to him.
“Well… I didn’t know she had such a complicated background. I always thought that she was just being picky. I didn’t know that the reason she couldn’t date any guy for long was because of that psycho. I’m beginning to realise that Ee Teuk didn’t scare them off. Han Kyung must’ve been behind all of those failed relationships.”
“How many has she had?” I asked.
“Quite a few,” he contemplated. “They barely last a week, let alone a month.”
“So you’re saying me being dumped in the 2nd week was lucky.”
“Sort of,” he shrugged.
“I’m not letting go,” I said, and I turned to walk towards Sierra as I had initially planned.
Music: Buzz – 남자를 몰라 (You Don’t Know Men)
I strode towards Sierra and Hee Chul. As I approached, they looked up towards my direction. Hee Chul smiled a knowing smile, and Sierra tried to maintain the expressionless look she had been giving me the entire day.
“Can we talk?” I said as I stood in front of her.
“Umm… I’ll be just around the corner,” Hee Chul said and turned to walk away.
“Stay,” Sierra said as she reached out and grabbed him arm to pull him back.
“I need to talk to you, alone,” I emphasized.
“Hee Chul is practically family to me, he can hear whatever you have to say,” she said.
“Sierra, please…” I said.
“Talk to him,” Hee Chul said, and walked away before she could stop him again.
After Hee Chul walked off, she turned away from me, facing the road outside the school gates. It’s obvious that since I’ve not known her for long, I’m having a hard time reading her signals. As much as I’d like to believe that love made you more perceptive of the person you loved, it’s pretty much a myth.
“Sierra,” I said her name softly.
“I’ve said all I needed to,” she said to me. “What else have I not made clear to you?”
“You were very clear,” I said.
“Then why are you still here?” she demanded.
“To tell you that I’m not giving up,” I said.
She glared at me, and bit her lip gently, contemplating a suitable reply to me. Her final answer was a little unexpected.
“Jae Wook-ah… hajima…” she said softly.
“Wae hajima?” I asked her.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she said.
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt,” I said.
“What if you have to die for me?” she asked.
“I’m not going to die for you,” I said. “I will stay alive because I want to be with you.”
“It’s not going to work,” she said, shaking her head sadly.
“Sierra!” I pleaded as I grasped her shoulders with both my hands.
What did I have to do to make her see that this could work?
Just as I was about to say more, a black limo pulled up in front of the school gates. The passenger door swung open and out stepped Han Kyung, obviously fuming at the sight of the 2 of us standing together.
“Take your hands off her,” he said.
“No,” I said, and pulled her towards me, wrapping in arm around her.
“Let me go,” she said.
“You heard her,” Han Kyung said.
“No,” I replied.
“You’re really asking for it, aren’t you?” Han Kyung said.
“What are you gonna do? Kill me?” I mocked him.
“Let go of her,” he said.
“No,” I said.
I released her, only to grasp her arm in my hand, and I started running, dragging her along with me. I prayed hard before I did that. I prayed that she would run with me, and not pull me back and refuse to leave with me. My prayers were answered… she was running beside me, and I hoped that this meant that she was with me again.
School was a drag today. I spent the whole day reminding myself not to turn around so that I didn’t have to look at Jae Wook’s face.
“You’re going to get stiff neck by the end of the day,” Hee Chul whispered to me when he realized what I was doing.
“I don’t want to look at him. His expression is killing me,” I whispered back.
“What expression?” he said and turned to look.
“Don’t!” I hissed at him and grabbed him by the shirt so that he wouldn’t turn.
“He’s not even looking at you,” Hee Chul smirked.
I took a quick peek and saw him staring intently at the textbook in front of him.
“He was, this morning…” I said.
“Well he isn’t now,” he said, but that didn’t put me at ease.
During lunch, instead of joining our group like he had been doing for the past week, he dragged Dong Hae off with him to a table far away from ours. Dong Hae looked pretty confused, but so did Sung Min and Shin Dong. I haven’t told them about the breakup yet. So they thought that we were having a fight or something.
“What’s going on?” Sung Min whispered to Hee Chul, thinking that I couldn’t hear him.
“Mind your own business,” Hee Chul said as he continued eating.
“Did they have a fight?” Shin Dong piped in.
“Ask Sierra,” Hee Chul said, loud enough for me to hear, and the 2 of them looked at me, willing me to put their curious minds to rest.
“I’ll tell you guys later,” I said. “I’m not in the mood today.”
As soon as the last bell rang, I packed up quickly and stood up, ready to bolt out of the classroom. In my hurry, I collided with Jae Wook; he was probably also thinking of the same thing.
Music: Loveholic – Leave Me
“Mian,” I mumbled, and quickly walked out ahead of him.
“Wait up,” Hee Chul called out and sprinted after me.
I walked as fast as I could until the school gates were in sight.
“You don’t have to run away from the poor guy,” Hee Chul said, trying to keep up with me.
“Han Kyung said he’d pick me up. I don’t want him to see me leaving with Han Kyung,” I said.
“Araso… araso…” he said and followed me quietly.
Hee Chul stood outside the school gates with me for a good half an hour. Han Kyung hadn’t shown up.
“Where’s lover boy?” Hee Chul asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied, and adjusted the straps of my backpack on my shoulders.
“Here…” Hee Chul said and took the backpack from me. “I’ll carry it,” he smiled.
“Thanks,” I said, and rubbed my tired shoulders.
“Why don’t you call him?” he asked.
“I don’t want to,” I said.
“You’re such a stubborn pig,” Hee Chul laughed. “Here you are, standing under the hot sun, waiting for the jerk, and yet you wouldn’t call him.”
“You know why…” I said, and exhaled sharply.
“Oh yea… that pride. Sierra Hwang should never have to call a guy for services. Men should beg to serve you,” he joked.
“You know this isn’t a good time to be lame…” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Ne… samonim…” he laughed.
“Where is he?” I muttered to myself as we continued to wait.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
Dong Hae and I were walking towards the school gates when suddenly he grabbed my arm and tugged me in another direction.
“What… Dong Hae… the school gate’s that way,” I said.
“Let’s take the side gate,” he said and continued to walk hurriedly.
He was being downright odd, so I decided to see if there was something he was pulling me away from. I turned my head, and saw Sierra and Hee Chul loitering at the gate. Shouldn’t she have gone home by now? I stopped walking, and just stood and watched as she and Hee Chul talked and paced about at the gates. Then I realized that she must be waiting for Han Kyung.
“Let’s go,” Dong Hae tugged at my arm.
I brushed Dong Hae off and started walking towards Sierra.
“Jae Wook… don’t do this,” he said as he followed me.
“Go home,” I said to him. “This is my business.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” he said.
I’d told Dong Hae the whole story while we were waiting in the classroom earlier.
“Mwo?” he practically screeched. “She dated Han Kyung? Are we talking about the same Han Kyung?”
“The one who punched me because of you,” I said.
“The god-son of the supreme jjang, Ahn Sung Ki?”
“One and the same,” I sighed.
“Dude… you could’ve died… for real,” he said, in a tone which could only be indentified as disbelief.
“What do you take me for? A dweeb?” I said. “I know I look and act like I’m the confused freshie. I only do that to be inconspicuous.”
“Inconspicuous?” Dong Hae snorted. “You date the queen-ka of the school within the first week and you think you’re being inconspicuous?”
“I planned to be, until I met Sierra, until I met you. You encouraged me,” I pointed out to him.
“Well… I didn’t know she had such a complicated background. I always thought that she was just being picky. I didn’t know that the reason she couldn’t date any guy for long was because of that psycho. I’m beginning to realise that Ee Teuk didn’t scare them off. Han Kyung must’ve been behind all of those failed relationships.”
“How many has she had?” I asked.
“Quite a few,” he contemplated. “They barely last a week, let alone a month.”
“So you’re saying me being dumped in the 2nd week was lucky.”
“Sort of,” he shrugged.
“I’m not letting go,” I said, and I turned to walk towards Sierra as I had initially planned.
Music: Buzz – 남자를 몰라 (You Don’t Know Men)
I strode towards Sierra and Hee Chul. As I approached, they looked up towards my direction. Hee Chul smiled a knowing smile, and Sierra tried to maintain the expressionless look she had been giving me the entire day.
“Can we talk?” I said as I stood in front of her.
“Umm… I’ll be just around the corner,” Hee Chul said and turned to walk away.
“Stay,” Sierra said as she reached out and grabbed him arm to pull him back.
“I need to talk to you, alone,” I emphasized.
“Hee Chul is practically family to me, he can hear whatever you have to say,” she said.
“Sierra, please…” I said.
“Talk to him,” Hee Chul said, and walked away before she could stop him again.
After Hee Chul walked off, she turned away from me, facing the road outside the school gates. It’s obvious that since I’ve not known her for long, I’m having a hard time reading her signals. As much as I’d like to believe that love made you more perceptive of the person you loved, it’s pretty much a myth.
“Sierra,” I said her name softly.
“I’ve said all I needed to,” she said to me. “What else have I not made clear to you?”
“You were very clear,” I said.
“Then why are you still here?” she demanded.
“To tell you that I’m not giving up,” I said.
She glared at me, and bit her lip gently, contemplating a suitable reply to me. Her final answer was a little unexpected.
“Jae Wook-ah… hajima…” she said softly.
“Wae hajima?” I asked her.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she said.
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt,” I said.
“What if you have to die for me?” she asked.
“I’m not going to die for you,” I said. “I will stay alive because I want to be with you.”
“It’s not going to work,” she said, shaking her head sadly.
“Sierra!” I pleaded as I grasped her shoulders with both my hands.
What did I have to do to make her see that this could work?
Just as I was about to say more, a black limo pulled up in front of the school gates. The passenger door swung open and out stepped Han Kyung, obviously fuming at the sight of the 2 of us standing together.
“Take your hands off her,” he said.
“No,” I said, and pulled her towards me, wrapping in arm around her.
“Let me go,” she said.
“You heard her,” Han Kyung said.
“No,” I replied.
“You’re really asking for it, aren’t you?” Han Kyung said.
“What are you gonna do? Kill me?” I mocked him.
“Let go of her,” he said.
“No,” I said.
I released her, only to grasp her arm in my hand, and I started running, dragging her along with me. I prayed hard before I did that. I prayed that she would run with me, and not pull me back and refuse to leave with me. My prayers were answered… she was running beside me, and I hoped that this meant that she was with me again.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Chapter 18: Said I Loved You, But I Lied...
I could only stand there and watch as Han Kyung kissed Sierra’s forehead affectionately and told her he’d be back to pick her up after school. He glared at me, as if warning me to stay away from her before he got into the car and drove off.
“Sierra?” I called her name, questioningly.
She turned to look at me, but she didn’t smile. There was no expression on her face. It was blank… but most of all… it was cold.
“We’re going to be late for class,” she said, and walked off without looking back.
Music: TVXQ – 하루달 (Harudal)
What did she mean? I was utterly bewildered. After all that we went through last night, she’d decided to get back with that thug. She hasn’t asked me for a breakup, but she’s not exactly holding my hands and telling me that she was with me either. What the hell is going on?
“Wait up,” I finally said, and ran up to her side. “What was that?” I asked her.
“What was what?” she said, as if the scene she’d set before me a minute ago hadn’t happened at all.
“Are you back together with him?” I asked her.
“What does it look like?” she said, coldly.
“Sierra… you said we’d stick together,” I reminded her.
“Situations change, life goes on,” she said.
“Not overnight!” I exclaimed.
She stopped walking and turned to face me.
“Jae Wook… it was fun while it lasted, but you’re obviously no match for Han Kyung. He’s rich and powerful, and you are… let’s say… close to nothing. You need to get your head on straight.”
“You think I don’t know that? I know I am nothing next to that rich thug… but at least I had your support. You promised we’d stick together and weather it out together,” I said.
“I have no power to support you. Even my family would have to bow to his. So let’s make this painless for all of us, shall we?” she said.
“I really can’t believe you’d do this,” I said. “I thought you had more integrity.”
“Integrity’s for those who have nothing else in life. I have a long future before me, and if surviving means having to be with him, I will survive,” she said.
She said those words with such conviction. She’d obviously become another person overnight. The girl I’d held, the girl I’d kissed last night… she was gone. She’d been replaced by the kind of girl I’d expected someone like her to be, a selfish and callous brat.
“I hope you’re happy,” I said simply, and walked off without looking back at her.
Last night, I was ready to lay down my life for her. Last night, we’d shared a bond that I thought was unbreakable. Last night, I gave my heart and soul to her… and today… she threw it all in my face.
[Sierra’s POV]
I watched as Jae Wook walked off. My heart was beating like crazy. I’d successfully driven him away. I lied, I put on my best poker face, and said the words I needed to drive him away.
“Mianhae…” I whispered, as he walked off.
I trailed behind him slowly. Watching his proud but defeated figure walk towards the building where our homeroom was. Halfway there, I was intercepted by Hee Chul. If he hadn’t found me then, I’d probably had run off to the bathroom to cry.
“Sierra,” he called out. “Why aren’t you walking with lover boy?”
“Shush…” I hissed at him, and he looked at me, at Jae Wook’s back, and then back at me with a look of confusion.
“Don’t tell me it’s over,” he said in a hushed tone.
“It’s over,” I said.
Music: TVXQ - Kissしたまま、さよなら
I walked towards a nearby bench and sat down. Hee Chul came and sat next to me.
“You know…” he said, “you can cry if you want to,” he smiled warmly.
“I don’t think tears would help now,” I said.
I looked down at the ground, staring at my shoes, trying to distract my eyes so that the tear ducts wouldn’t give in.
“Sierra…” he said and put a brotherly arm around my shoulder, “it’s alright. It’s just us. You can cry if you want to.”
“Stop it, Hee Chul,” I said. “I don’t want to cry.”
No sooner had I said it, the tears started pooling in my eyes, and a single tear found it’s way down my cheek. Hee Chul pulled me closer so that my head rested on his shoulder, and the tears just continued flowing as I cried silently.
We sat there for about half an hour, until I’d calmed down. Then Hee Chul started interrogating me.
“So? Are you telling or not?” he asked.
“You can’t tell anyone,” I said to him, and he nodded. “Not even Sung Min and Shin Dong,” I emphasized.
“Araso…” he said.
“I’m back with Han Kyung,” I said, and his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
“Back with Han Kyung?” he exclaimed. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
“He was threatening to kill Jae Wook. I had no choice.”
“Ah… so this is about Jae Wook,” he smiled.
“I can’t let Han Kyung go around killing guys for me.”
“Yea… even Ee Teuk isn’t that scary.”
“Ee Teuk is nothing, compared to Han Kyung,” I said.
“But you like Han Kyung, don’t you?” he said.
I never knew that Hee Chul was able to see through me. All this while, I thought that I’d put on a pretty good act when it came to my feelings for Han Kyung.
“What do you mean?” I said.
I had to try again, anyhow.
“I’ve noticed your reactions whenever he appeared,” he smiled. “You tried too hard to hate him.”
“It’s a long story,” I sighed.
“One that you won’t be telling me,” he said.
“Yep…”
“Oh well…” he laughed. “So what’s the plan now? Do we need to handle Jae Wook for you?”
“No… just let him be. Hopefully, he’ll get over it.”
“Get over you?” Hee Chul said. “That’s going to be some feat,” he laughed.
“You know…” I smiled. “Your flattery isn’t going to do anything for you at this point.”
“I know…” he laughed. “It’s just fun to see your expression when I say stuff like that.”
“Let’s get to class,” I said as I stood up.
When we walked into class, the teacher just looked up briefly, then continued teaching. They would never reprimand us for anything. As Hee Chul and I took our seats, I could feel Jae Wook’s gaze. I turned around, briefly, to hang my blazer on the back of my chair, and I saw him watching me. I looked up at him, and he didn’t turn away. I could hear the words from his mind just by looking at him.
“Why did you do this to us?” he said.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I skipped classes today. I wasn’t in the mood to go to school since my mind was working overtime. Now that I’ve promised Sierra that we could be together, how was I going to make that happen? I’ve never brought her up in front of my father. He’d told me how he got rid of her. That was all he did. He told me… no explanations, no sympathy.
“She’s not the girl for you,” he said, and left it at that.
I was too stunned to react or do anything. When Sierra broke up with me, I was devastated and bewildered. I hadn’t seen it coming at all. A few weeks later, my father casually told me that he’d warned Sierra off, over dinner.
My instincts told me not to react immediately. My father obviously realized how much Sierra meant to me. He’d have expected me to blow up, but I decided to play it cool and just pretend it didn’t affect me that much.
“If you see her again,” he said, “I’ll ruin her whole family.”
“Araso…” was all I could say.
He would ruin her whole family… I’ve seen him do this before; mercilessly ruining the lives of those who opposed him or stood in his way. I wasn’t sure how I could change his mind, or how I could protect Sierra and her family from his wrath. My best bet at the time was to stay put, and bide my time.
The time is now…
My father had recently transferred the majority of his assets to me, much to the annoyance of the rest of the family. I’ve been put in charge of a larger territory, and I been overseeing the majority of the projects we’re working on. Now he has given me more responsibility, I was pretty sure that I had more bargaining power when it came to my life.
“Hyung?” Ryeo Wook looked at me questioningly.
“My father’s office,” I said, and he nodded.
I had to set it straight with my father today, or Sierra and I may never have a future together.
We arrived at my father’s office. As I walked in towards his room, the staff all stood up to greet me. Each and every one of them probably sneered at me behind my back since they knew I was an illegitimate child, but at the end of the day, I will get the last laugh since they’d all report to me and take my orders.
“Toryeonnim… the Chairman is receiving guests,” my father’s assistant greeted me as I approached his door.
“Who?” I asked her.
“A Chairman Lee and his daughter,” she said. “You should wait here.”
“I don’t like waiting out here,” I said. “I’ll join them.”
I opened the door and strode in before she could stop me. My father and his guests looked up at me, and my father smiled.
“Han Kyung,” he said. “Just the person we were looking for.”
“I wasn’t aware we had guests today, father,” I said, and bowed.
“I was going to invite them to dinner with us, but now we can just have lunch instead. Chairman Lee is a busy man.”
“Han Kyung… I have heard so much about you,” Chairman Lee beamed and offered to shake my hand.
“Really?” I smiled and shook his hand.
“This is my daughter, Eunice,” he said.
“Annyeong,” Eunice smiled.
She was slim and of average height, but I suppose you could classify her as pretty.
“Eunice will be relocating to Seoul, and I’ve recommended that she attend Dae Sang High since it’s near your school.”
“I’ll be depending on you to look out for my Eunice,” Chairman Lee said as he patted Eunice on the head.
“Appa!” she exclaimed, embarrassed by her father’s show of fatherly affection.
I began to take in the scene. What Sierra had predicted had come true. My father had found me a bride.
Music: TVXQ – All in Vain
“Sierra?” I called her name, questioningly.
She turned to look at me, but she didn’t smile. There was no expression on her face. It was blank… but most of all… it was cold.
“We’re going to be late for class,” she said, and walked off without looking back.
Music: TVXQ – 하루달 (Harudal)
What did she mean? I was utterly bewildered. After all that we went through last night, she’d decided to get back with that thug. She hasn’t asked me for a breakup, but she’s not exactly holding my hands and telling me that she was with me either. What the hell is going on?
“Wait up,” I finally said, and ran up to her side. “What was that?” I asked her.
“What was what?” she said, as if the scene she’d set before me a minute ago hadn’t happened at all.
“Are you back together with him?” I asked her.
“What does it look like?” she said, coldly.
“Sierra… you said we’d stick together,” I reminded her.
“Situations change, life goes on,” she said.
“Not overnight!” I exclaimed.
She stopped walking and turned to face me.
“Jae Wook… it was fun while it lasted, but you’re obviously no match for Han Kyung. He’s rich and powerful, and you are… let’s say… close to nothing. You need to get your head on straight.”
“You think I don’t know that? I know I am nothing next to that rich thug… but at least I had your support. You promised we’d stick together and weather it out together,” I said.
“I have no power to support you. Even my family would have to bow to his. So let’s make this painless for all of us, shall we?” she said.
“I really can’t believe you’d do this,” I said. “I thought you had more integrity.”
“Integrity’s for those who have nothing else in life. I have a long future before me, and if surviving means having to be with him, I will survive,” she said.
She said those words with such conviction. She’d obviously become another person overnight. The girl I’d held, the girl I’d kissed last night… she was gone. She’d been replaced by the kind of girl I’d expected someone like her to be, a selfish and callous brat.
“I hope you’re happy,” I said simply, and walked off without looking back at her.
Last night, I was ready to lay down my life for her. Last night, we’d shared a bond that I thought was unbreakable. Last night, I gave my heart and soul to her… and today… she threw it all in my face.
[Sierra’s POV]
I watched as Jae Wook walked off. My heart was beating like crazy. I’d successfully driven him away. I lied, I put on my best poker face, and said the words I needed to drive him away.
“Mianhae…” I whispered, as he walked off.
I trailed behind him slowly. Watching his proud but defeated figure walk towards the building where our homeroom was. Halfway there, I was intercepted by Hee Chul. If he hadn’t found me then, I’d probably had run off to the bathroom to cry.
“Sierra,” he called out. “Why aren’t you walking with lover boy?”
“Shush…” I hissed at him, and he looked at me, at Jae Wook’s back, and then back at me with a look of confusion.
“Don’t tell me it’s over,” he said in a hushed tone.
“It’s over,” I said.
Music: TVXQ - Kissしたまま、さよなら
I walked towards a nearby bench and sat down. Hee Chul came and sat next to me.
“You know…” he said, “you can cry if you want to,” he smiled warmly.
“I don’t think tears would help now,” I said.
I looked down at the ground, staring at my shoes, trying to distract my eyes so that the tear ducts wouldn’t give in.
“Sierra…” he said and put a brotherly arm around my shoulder, “it’s alright. It’s just us. You can cry if you want to.”
“Stop it, Hee Chul,” I said. “I don’t want to cry.”
No sooner had I said it, the tears started pooling in my eyes, and a single tear found it’s way down my cheek. Hee Chul pulled me closer so that my head rested on his shoulder, and the tears just continued flowing as I cried silently.
We sat there for about half an hour, until I’d calmed down. Then Hee Chul started interrogating me.
“So? Are you telling or not?” he asked.
“You can’t tell anyone,” I said to him, and he nodded. “Not even Sung Min and Shin Dong,” I emphasized.
“Araso…” he said.
“I’m back with Han Kyung,” I said, and his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
“Back with Han Kyung?” he exclaimed. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
“He was threatening to kill Jae Wook. I had no choice.”
“Ah… so this is about Jae Wook,” he smiled.
“I can’t let Han Kyung go around killing guys for me.”
“Yea… even Ee Teuk isn’t that scary.”
“Ee Teuk is nothing, compared to Han Kyung,” I said.
“But you like Han Kyung, don’t you?” he said.
I never knew that Hee Chul was able to see through me. All this while, I thought that I’d put on a pretty good act when it came to my feelings for Han Kyung.
“What do you mean?” I said.
I had to try again, anyhow.
“I’ve noticed your reactions whenever he appeared,” he smiled. “You tried too hard to hate him.”
“It’s a long story,” I sighed.
“One that you won’t be telling me,” he said.
“Yep…”
“Oh well…” he laughed. “So what’s the plan now? Do we need to handle Jae Wook for you?”
“No… just let him be. Hopefully, he’ll get over it.”
“Get over you?” Hee Chul said. “That’s going to be some feat,” he laughed.
“You know…” I smiled. “Your flattery isn’t going to do anything for you at this point.”
“I know…” he laughed. “It’s just fun to see your expression when I say stuff like that.”
“Let’s get to class,” I said as I stood up.
When we walked into class, the teacher just looked up briefly, then continued teaching. They would never reprimand us for anything. As Hee Chul and I took our seats, I could feel Jae Wook’s gaze. I turned around, briefly, to hang my blazer on the back of my chair, and I saw him watching me. I looked up at him, and he didn’t turn away. I could hear the words from his mind just by looking at him.
“Why did you do this to us?” he said.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I skipped classes today. I wasn’t in the mood to go to school since my mind was working overtime. Now that I’ve promised Sierra that we could be together, how was I going to make that happen? I’ve never brought her up in front of my father. He’d told me how he got rid of her. That was all he did. He told me… no explanations, no sympathy.
“She’s not the girl for you,” he said, and left it at that.
I was too stunned to react or do anything. When Sierra broke up with me, I was devastated and bewildered. I hadn’t seen it coming at all. A few weeks later, my father casually told me that he’d warned Sierra off, over dinner.
My instincts told me not to react immediately. My father obviously realized how much Sierra meant to me. He’d have expected me to blow up, but I decided to play it cool and just pretend it didn’t affect me that much.
“If you see her again,” he said, “I’ll ruin her whole family.”
“Araso…” was all I could say.
He would ruin her whole family… I’ve seen him do this before; mercilessly ruining the lives of those who opposed him or stood in his way. I wasn’t sure how I could change his mind, or how I could protect Sierra and her family from his wrath. My best bet at the time was to stay put, and bide my time.
The time is now…
My father had recently transferred the majority of his assets to me, much to the annoyance of the rest of the family. I’ve been put in charge of a larger territory, and I been overseeing the majority of the projects we’re working on. Now he has given me more responsibility, I was pretty sure that I had more bargaining power when it came to my life.
“Hyung?” Ryeo Wook looked at me questioningly.
“My father’s office,” I said, and he nodded.
I had to set it straight with my father today, or Sierra and I may never have a future together.
We arrived at my father’s office. As I walked in towards his room, the staff all stood up to greet me. Each and every one of them probably sneered at me behind my back since they knew I was an illegitimate child, but at the end of the day, I will get the last laugh since they’d all report to me and take my orders.
“Toryeonnim… the Chairman is receiving guests,” my father’s assistant greeted me as I approached his door.
“Who?” I asked her.
“A Chairman Lee and his daughter,” she said. “You should wait here.”
“I don’t like waiting out here,” I said. “I’ll join them.”
I opened the door and strode in before she could stop me. My father and his guests looked up at me, and my father smiled.
“Han Kyung,” he said. “Just the person we were looking for.”
“I wasn’t aware we had guests today, father,” I said, and bowed.
“I was going to invite them to dinner with us, but now we can just have lunch instead. Chairman Lee is a busy man.”
“Han Kyung… I have heard so much about you,” Chairman Lee beamed and offered to shake my hand.
“Really?” I smiled and shook his hand.
“This is my daughter, Eunice,” he said.
“Annyeong,” Eunice smiled.
She was slim and of average height, but I suppose you could classify her as pretty.
“Eunice will be relocating to Seoul, and I’ve recommended that she attend Dae Sang High since it’s near your school.”
“I’ll be depending on you to look out for my Eunice,” Chairman Lee said as he patted Eunice on the head.
“Appa!” she exclaimed, embarrassed by her father’s show of fatherly affection.
I began to take in the scene. What Sierra had predicted had come true. My father had found me a bride.
Music: TVXQ – All in Vain
Friday, October 3, 2008
Chapter 17: Where Do We Go From Here
[Sierra’s POV]
“I need to go,” I whispered as I pulled away from Han Kyung.
“Can we meet tomorrow?” he asked.
I nodded silently. I wasn’t in the position or mind to argue with him anymore. He had succeeded in breaking down the wall I had built to keep him out. If it wasn’t for Jae Wook, I’d have never met up with him again. I should have just stayed away.
My driver’s eyes widened when he saw Han Kyung walking me to the car. He’d not seen Han Kyung in a long time. Naturally, he was surprised.
“Call me when you get home,” he said as he leaned down, against the car door.
“Araso,” I replied, and he smiled and shut the door.
All the way home… his kiss replayed in my mind. I had sworn that I would not let him win me back, no matter what. So much was at stake if we were reunited. Now that I had failed, I didn’t know what to do. I was lost, and the responsibility I bore on my own now weighed on me mercilessly.
Music: TVXQ - Kissしたまま、さよなら
I kept my emotions inside throughout the car ride, not wanting to alarm my driver. I rushed out of the car as soon as it stopped and quickly let myself into the house. As soon as the door shut behind me, my tears started falling freely. I slumped to the ground, and sobbed. I’ve put myself in such a huge mess now. I have Jae Wook on one arm and Han Kyung holding on to my other. How would I explain the whole situation to Jae Wook? I have no more strength to push Han Kyung away, and yet I felt incredibly guilty towards Jae Wook, even if we’ve been together for less than a week.
“Sierra?” I heard a voice coming from the top of the stairs.
I looked up and through my blurry vision I could see Sang Hoon oppa running down the stairs.
“Oppa…” I sobbed, as he came to kneel down beside me.
“Kwaench’ana?” he asked me as he checked me, thinking I had hurt myself or something.
My brothers had this habit. Whenever I cried, they’d always this it’s because I was physically injured. Perhaps it was because I was such a klutz during my childhood, but now that I’m almost an adult, it seemed a little silly for them to still be checking me like that.
“Oppa…” I cried out and put my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder.
“Sierra… odi ap’a? You have to tell me, or I can’t help you,” he said as he stroked my back.
“I don’t know what to do…” I sobbed.
“Do what?” he asked gently, still stroking me.
“Han Kyung,” I said.
“Why? Is he bothering you again?”
“I think… I think we’re back together,” I said.
“You think?” he said incredulously. “What do you mean you think?”
“I don’t know…” I started crying again.
“What’s wrong?” I heard Yong Min oppa’s voice.
“That Han Kyung’s at it again,” Sang Hoon oppa said.
“Again?”
“Bring her into the drawing room,” Yong Min oppa said as he walked towards the room and flipped on the lights.
“Come on,” Sang Hoon oppa said as he helped me to my feet.
Sang Hoon oppa sat me on the couch, then sat beside me. Yong Min oppa sat in an armchair.
“What happened Sierra?” Yong Min oppa asked, and I started to tell him the whole story.
Both my brothers knew how Han Kyung’s father had threatened me, and both had supported me when I decided to break up with him. Now that I had unwittingly got into contact with Han Kyung again, I wasn’t sure how my brothers would react.
“First of all,” Sang Hoon oppa said, “who do you love?”
“Me and Han Kyung,” I sighed. “We’ve been through so much together. It’s hard to push him out of my life.”
“But haven’t you been doing it for the past year?” Yong Min oppa said.
“I have, but only by pretending that he and I didn’t have a past. I made myself believe that we had nothing to do with each other, that we weren’t connected in any way.”
“And where does this new guy, Jae Wook, stand?” Yong Min oppa asked.
“I’m beginning to think that I should never have dragged him into this,” I said. “It was my mistake for trying to start a relationship with him.”
“He had a part in it too,” Sang Hoon oppa said. “Unless you were the one who seduced him,” he laughed, and I smacked him on the arm.
“Not funny…” I said.
“Mian…” Sang Hoon oppa smiled sheepishly.
“But I allowed him to invest his emotions on me,” I said.
“He was very willing to make that investment,” Yong Min oppa said. “So you needn’t feel guilty.”
“He’s taken so many hits for me,” I said.
“Han Kyung had him beat up?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.
“Twice,” I said.
“Oh my… you’re definitely indebted to him then,” Sang Hoon oppa laughed.
“How do you plan to explain yourself to Jae Wook?” Yong Min oppa asked.
“I don’t know…” I groaned and covered my face with my hands.
“You do plan to tell him, right?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.
“I don’t know…” I groaned again.
“You said you were back with Han Kyung, so don’t tell me you’re still going to stay with Jae Wook?” Yong Min oppa said.
“How can I tell him? After all he’s been through for me and after he’d sworn to protect me. How do I tell him?”
“He thinks he can protect you?” Sang Hoon oppa scoffed.
“Sierra… you have to make a decision. You can’t string them both along,” Yong Min oppa said.
“Wrong… she’s stringing one along. Han Kyung will have that poor kid bumped out of the scene entirely,” Sang Hoon oppa said.
“Don’t remind me…” I winced.
“Did he finally get his father’s blessing?” Sang Hoon oppa asked me.
“No… and that’s the problem.”
“Then why is he even bothering?” Sang Hoon oppa exclaimed. “Is he trying to get us killed too?”
“He said he’d get through to his father,” I said.
“Like hell he will,” Sang Hoon oppa said. “You’re not getting back with that Han Kyung. He’s gonna drag us all down to the pits with him.”
“But how do I get rid of him?” I asked. “I told him it wouldn’t work out, but he just wouldn’t listen.”
“Geez… what did you do to him, little sis?” Sang Hoon oppa asked. “You’ve totally possessed the guy.”
“I didn’t do anything. We just dated!” I said.
“Stop it, the two of you. We’ll need a plan,” Yong Min oppa said. “You’ll have to be firm, Sierra. I know you still like him, but he’s going to ruin our family if you stay together.”
“I know…” I said.
“Pretend nothing happened for now,” Yong Min oppa said.
“With whom? Han Kyung or Jae Wook?” I asked
“You’ll have to let Jae Wook go. He’s in danger as long as he stays by your side,” Yong Min oppa said.
“How am I going to tell him?” I asked.
“You just need to show him,” Sang Hoon oppa said, grimly.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
I woke up this morning and my body ached all over. Damn those thugs… they really got me good this time.
“Hyung…” Jae Joong called as he came into the room. “Feeling better?”
“Worse…” I coughed.
“Can you get to school?”
“Yea… I’ll be fine. Just some aches and bruises.”
“I need to go now,” Jae Joong said as he shrugged on his blazer. “Breakfast is on the table. I’ve put aside omma’s share. Just eat yours and leave it in the sink.”
“Araso… omma,” I smiled.
“Bye…” he said and left the house in a hurry.
I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I checked out the bruise on my face, and smiled at the recollection of last night. I knew for certain that I was in for a bumpy ride, but I promised Sierra we’d stick together.
Sierra had some powers alright. She looks like a strong girl, but she still needs my protection, and I plan to do what I promised; protect her. The connection we shared yesterday was undeniable. I’d never felt the need to be with anyone before. I actually felt that I needed to be with her, I had to be with her. My life won’t be right without her.
I got ready for school and arrived just in time before the first bell. As I walked in, a car pulled up in front of the gate. It was a familiar black car. I jumped back when I saw Han Kyung step out of it. He smirked at me, and extended his hand to help the other passenger out.
It was Sierra.
Music: Tim - 내 안의 전쟁 (The War In My Mind)
“I need to go,” I whispered as I pulled away from Han Kyung.
“Can we meet tomorrow?” he asked.
I nodded silently. I wasn’t in the position or mind to argue with him anymore. He had succeeded in breaking down the wall I had built to keep him out. If it wasn’t for Jae Wook, I’d have never met up with him again. I should have just stayed away.
My driver’s eyes widened when he saw Han Kyung walking me to the car. He’d not seen Han Kyung in a long time. Naturally, he was surprised.
“Call me when you get home,” he said as he leaned down, against the car door.
“Araso,” I replied, and he smiled and shut the door.
All the way home… his kiss replayed in my mind. I had sworn that I would not let him win me back, no matter what. So much was at stake if we were reunited. Now that I had failed, I didn’t know what to do. I was lost, and the responsibility I bore on my own now weighed on me mercilessly.
Music: TVXQ - Kissしたまま、さよなら
I kept my emotions inside throughout the car ride, not wanting to alarm my driver. I rushed out of the car as soon as it stopped and quickly let myself into the house. As soon as the door shut behind me, my tears started falling freely. I slumped to the ground, and sobbed. I’ve put myself in such a huge mess now. I have Jae Wook on one arm and Han Kyung holding on to my other. How would I explain the whole situation to Jae Wook? I have no more strength to push Han Kyung away, and yet I felt incredibly guilty towards Jae Wook, even if we’ve been together for less than a week.
“Sierra?” I heard a voice coming from the top of the stairs.
I looked up and through my blurry vision I could see Sang Hoon oppa running down the stairs.
“Oppa…” I sobbed, as he came to kneel down beside me.
“Kwaench’ana?” he asked me as he checked me, thinking I had hurt myself or something.
My brothers had this habit. Whenever I cried, they’d always this it’s because I was physically injured. Perhaps it was because I was such a klutz during my childhood, but now that I’m almost an adult, it seemed a little silly for them to still be checking me like that.
“Oppa…” I cried out and put my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder.
“Sierra… odi ap’a? You have to tell me, or I can’t help you,” he said as he stroked my back.
“I don’t know what to do…” I sobbed.
“Do what?” he asked gently, still stroking me.
“Han Kyung,” I said.
“Why? Is he bothering you again?”
“I think… I think we’re back together,” I said.
“You think?” he said incredulously. “What do you mean you think?”
“I don’t know…” I started crying again.
“What’s wrong?” I heard Yong Min oppa’s voice.
“That Han Kyung’s at it again,” Sang Hoon oppa said.
“Again?”
“Bring her into the drawing room,” Yong Min oppa said as he walked towards the room and flipped on the lights.
“Come on,” Sang Hoon oppa said as he helped me to my feet.
Sang Hoon oppa sat me on the couch, then sat beside me. Yong Min oppa sat in an armchair.
“What happened Sierra?” Yong Min oppa asked, and I started to tell him the whole story.
Both my brothers knew how Han Kyung’s father had threatened me, and both had supported me when I decided to break up with him. Now that I had unwittingly got into contact with Han Kyung again, I wasn’t sure how my brothers would react.
“First of all,” Sang Hoon oppa said, “who do you love?”
“Me and Han Kyung,” I sighed. “We’ve been through so much together. It’s hard to push him out of my life.”
“But haven’t you been doing it for the past year?” Yong Min oppa said.
“I have, but only by pretending that he and I didn’t have a past. I made myself believe that we had nothing to do with each other, that we weren’t connected in any way.”
“And where does this new guy, Jae Wook, stand?” Yong Min oppa asked.
“I’m beginning to think that I should never have dragged him into this,” I said. “It was my mistake for trying to start a relationship with him.”
“He had a part in it too,” Sang Hoon oppa said. “Unless you were the one who seduced him,” he laughed, and I smacked him on the arm.
“Not funny…” I said.
“Mian…” Sang Hoon oppa smiled sheepishly.
“But I allowed him to invest his emotions on me,” I said.
“He was very willing to make that investment,” Yong Min oppa said. “So you needn’t feel guilty.”
“He’s taken so many hits for me,” I said.
“Han Kyung had him beat up?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.
“Twice,” I said.
“Oh my… you’re definitely indebted to him then,” Sang Hoon oppa laughed.
“How do you plan to explain yourself to Jae Wook?” Yong Min oppa asked.
“I don’t know…” I groaned and covered my face with my hands.
“You do plan to tell him, right?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.
“I don’t know…” I groaned again.
“You said you were back with Han Kyung, so don’t tell me you’re still going to stay with Jae Wook?” Yong Min oppa said.
“How can I tell him? After all he’s been through for me and after he’d sworn to protect me. How do I tell him?”
“He thinks he can protect you?” Sang Hoon oppa scoffed.
“Sierra… you have to make a decision. You can’t string them both along,” Yong Min oppa said.
“Wrong… she’s stringing one along. Han Kyung will have that poor kid bumped out of the scene entirely,” Sang Hoon oppa said.
“Don’t remind me…” I winced.
“Did he finally get his father’s blessing?” Sang Hoon oppa asked me.
“No… and that’s the problem.”
“Then why is he even bothering?” Sang Hoon oppa exclaimed. “Is he trying to get us killed too?”
“He said he’d get through to his father,” I said.
“Like hell he will,” Sang Hoon oppa said. “You’re not getting back with that Han Kyung. He’s gonna drag us all down to the pits with him.”
“But how do I get rid of him?” I asked. “I told him it wouldn’t work out, but he just wouldn’t listen.”
“Geez… what did you do to him, little sis?” Sang Hoon oppa asked. “You’ve totally possessed the guy.”
“I didn’t do anything. We just dated!” I said.
“Stop it, the two of you. We’ll need a plan,” Yong Min oppa said. “You’ll have to be firm, Sierra. I know you still like him, but he’s going to ruin our family if you stay together.”
“I know…” I said.
“Pretend nothing happened for now,” Yong Min oppa said.
“With whom? Han Kyung or Jae Wook?” I asked
“You’ll have to let Jae Wook go. He’s in danger as long as he stays by your side,” Yong Min oppa said.
“How am I going to tell him?” I asked.
“You just need to show him,” Sang Hoon oppa said, grimly.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
I woke up this morning and my body ached all over. Damn those thugs… they really got me good this time.
“Hyung…” Jae Joong called as he came into the room. “Feeling better?”
“Worse…” I coughed.
“Can you get to school?”
“Yea… I’ll be fine. Just some aches and bruises.”
“I need to go now,” Jae Joong said as he shrugged on his blazer. “Breakfast is on the table. I’ve put aside omma’s share. Just eat yours and leave it in the sink.”
“Araso… omma,” I smiled.
“Bye…” he said and left the house in a hurry.
I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I checked out the bruise on my face, and smiled at the recollection of last night. I knew for certain that I was in for a bumpy ride, but I promised Sierra we’d stick together.
Sierra had some powers alright. She looks like a strong girl, but she still needs my protection, and I plan to do what I promised; protect her. The connection we shared yesterday was undeniable. I’d never felt the need to be with anyone before. I actually felt that I needed to be with her, I had to be with her. My life won’t be right without her.
I got ready for school and arrived just in time before the first bell. As I walked in, a car pulled up in front of the gate. It was a familiar black car. I jumped back when I saw Han Kyung step out of it. He smirked at me, and extended his hand to help the other passenger out.
It was Sierra.
Music: Tim - 내 안의 전쟁 (The War In My Mind)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Chapter 16: Pieces of Me
We stood there in silence as the car reached the top, and the doors opened.
“I need to go,” she said, suddenly.
“You don’t want to take a walk up here?” I asked her.
“No… I need to go home,” she repeated.
“Let’s just take a walk,” I said.
“Yong Min oppa’s waiting for me,” she said.
“Araso,” I sighed.
At least her brothers would keep her safe. I’ve never met Sierra’s brothers, but from her constant complaints of how protective they were, I knew that they loved her dearly; even though they were only half-siblings.
I made a call to the person in charge and minutes later, the doors closed and the car started moving downwards.
“Please leave Jae Wook alone,” she said, reminding me of the purpose she’d wanted to meet.
“Leave him, and I will leave him alone,” I said.
“Why must you always resort to this?”
“You’re pushing me to it!”
“This is your choice, not mine,” she said.
“And my choice doesn’t matter?”
“Your choice? What about my choice? Don’t you want me to be happy, Han Kyung?” she asked, catching me by surprise.
Music: Super Junior - 거울 (Mirror)
For all this time, I wanted to protect her from all hurt and sadness. But by doing this, was I giving her any happiness? I believed that she would be happy with me, but up till now, she has been fighting me off. How should I prove to her that we were meant to be?
[Sierra’s POV]
“I never wanted to hurt you,” he replied.
“I’m hurting now,” I said. “Because you’re threatening to hurt a person I care about.”
“Why won’t you care about me then? This guy whom you’ve met for less than 2 weeks… you’re choosing to care about his well-being more than mine.”
“Are you unwell?” I asked him.
“Since you left me… I have never recovered.”
“You need to stop dwelling on that.”
“I will stop if you can prove that you don’t feel anything for me. I know that you still love me. In some way… our hearts are still connected,” he said.
“No…”
“I know why you left,” he suddenly said.
I stiffened at the statement, and looked up at him. It was impossible that he knew, and yet when I looked at him, the look of resolution on his face showed me that he wasn’t bluffing.
“I know my father had threatened you,” he said.
It was the 5th month into our relationship. Han Kyung was out of town for a day, and I decided to hang out with Hee Chul, Sung Min and Shin Dong at a nearby mall. We were browsing through the shops when a man in a suit approached me.
“Sierra-shi,” he said.
“Ne?” I looked at him.
I had never seen him before, and I was puzzled that he knew my name.
“Our chairman would like to speak to you,” he said.
“Who is your chairman?” I asked.
“Chairman Ahn,” he said, and I recognized the name immediately.
What did Han Kyung’s father want from me? The man led me to a nearby exit, and as we left the building, I was brought to a limousine. He opened the door and indicated that I entered the car.
Inside the car sat Han Kyung’s father. I’ve seen his portraits when I visited Han Kyung’s house, and now that I am meeting him, I realized that they hardly did him justice. He was a very dignified looking man. He looked like royalty, if you will, even though he was in fact the head of a mob.
“Annyeonghashimnikka,” I bowed slightly.
“Let’s cut to the chase,” he smiled grimly.
“Ne?” I said, confused.
“Stop seeing my son,” he said.
I was stunned and speechless. My mouth hung open as he continued to speak.
“Indeed your pedigree is quite impeccable, and you’re quite suited to Han Kyung since you’re both half-bred,” he said, referring to our births as if he was breeding dogs, “but you’re not the girl I have picked for him. I have yet to find the right girl for his wife, and I am sure that she will be nothing like you.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “But what’s wrong with me?”
“You don’t have the connections I am looking for. I don’t intend to invest in the hotel business. Someone from a family with a business more suited to mine would be ideal.”
“But we’re not getting married,” I said.
“I know my son,” he cut me off. “He has never bothered with girls, no matter how beautiful they were and how they threw themselves at him. The fact that he is actually officially dating you means that he’s serious.”
“We’re still too young,” I said.
“I don’t see that as an issue. If you were the girl I approved of, the both of you could marry and still go to school. I would allow it… if only you were the right girl. But you aren’t.”
“I don’t want to marry your son,” I said. “We’re just dating.”
“My son doesn’t just date. Trust me… he has plans to marry you if I don’t stop him.”
I was speechless. Han Kyung had never spoken of marriage, but it was true that he was very serious when it came to us. He did everything possible for our relationship to work. He did whatever I wanted just so I couldn’t find fault with him or us. Did this really mean he was that serious about us?
I felt a short moment of elation when I realized how much he cared about me, but then I remembered what his father had just said. The very same reason that is making me happy would be the same reason that my happiness will be taken away.
Han Kyung’s father gave me an ultimatum; to stop seeing Han Kyung, or he will see that me, my family and my friends will feel his wrath. I have not witnessed his power, but Han Kyung had told me stories of how his father caused trouble for his enemies; crippling their businesses, ruining their credibility and good names. His father was capable of all these.
“Your father built his empire from nothing but a pile of sand,” he said. “I’d hate to see a good man lose everything he had worked for with his own blood and sweat.”
“You can’t do this…” I said.
“Yes I can…” he said. “I could take away everything from your family, and it would be all because their little princess decided to indulge in her puppy love.”
I knew that my father had put his entire life into his business. To lose it would mean seeing his entire world crumble before him. I couldn’t let that happen. As for my friends, I didn’t want to imagine what Han Kyung’s father might do to them. I loved Han Kyung, but more people were going to get hurt if we stayed together. It may seem a little over-melodramatic, but I had to make the sacrifice.
“Sierra…” Han Kyung called out to me, and I pulled myself out of my thoughts.
“Since you know… you shouldn’t push me further,” I said.
“I can convince my father,” he said. “We don’t have to do this.”
“And you have managed to convince him?” I asked.
“Not yet,” he said. “But I will.”
“He probably has someone else in mind for you. Why don’t you just accept your fate?” I said.
“This isn’t my fate,” he said. “I am as much of a victim as you are.”
“We’re just going around in circles,” I pointed out. “Your father will never change his mind, and I’ve found someone new. Let it go, Han Kyung.”
“No…” he said, stubbornly.
“Please…” I begged as I grasped his arm. “We have no choice. More people will suffer if we stay together.”
“What about me? It’s alright for me to suffer?” he asked as he pulled me towards him.
Music: SS501 – FIND
We were face to face now; our bodies just inches apart and our lips a breath away.
“Is it right for the ones I love to suffer?” I asked him.
“I’ll fix this,” he said softly.
“You can’t,” I said, my voice cracking.
“Wo bu neng shi qu ni,” he whispered. (I can’t lose you.)
“Please stop…” I pleaded.
He stared at me for a moment, then in an act of defiance, he kissed me. He pulled me towards him, and covered my lips with his. My hands came up to his chest, wanting to push him away and scream at him for his audacity, but my heart betrayed me. The tiny shreds of emotions I felt for him began to entwine again. I’d torn that emotion to shreds and left it scattered, within my heart, hoping that they would someday just fade to nothingness. But his kiss… his kiss had brought them back together again. How will I ever be able to let go this time?
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I had never forgotten the way her lips tasted. She was a drug… one that I had tried to be rid off, but will never succeed. The moment I felt her giving in, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer, until our bodies were against each other, absorbed in each other’s, and I prayed as the kiss went on. I prayed that she will never ever leave me again… even if it meant giving up our lives for this love.
“Stop…” she whispered against my lips.
She pulled away, but came back again, as if there were a magnet drawing her back towards me.
“No,” I whispered back, and I moved my lips off hers to start kissing her neck.
“I can’t do this,” she said.
Tears started trickling down her face, and I tasted them as I tried to kiss them away.
“Don’t leave me,” I whispered as I rained her face with kisses. “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.
She sighed, and wrapped her arms around me tightly, burying her face into my shoulder.
I felt the pain of our separation slowly dissipating. She was back in my arms, and I knew that she was back in my life. She didn’t say it, but her actions told me enough. I’m never letting her leave… never…
“I need to go,” she said, suddenly.
“You don’t want to take a walk up here?” I asked her.
“No… I need to go home,” she repeated.
“Let’s just take a walk,” I said.
“Yong Min oppa’s waiting for me,” she said.
“Araso,” I sighed.
At least her brothers would keep her safe. I’ve never met Sierra’s brothers, but from her constant complaints of how protective they were, I knew that they loved her dearly; even though they were only half-siblings.
I made a call to the person in charge and minutes later, the doors closed and the car started moving downwards.
“Please leave Jae Wook alone,” she said, reminding me of the purpose she’d wanted to meet.
“Leave him, and I will leave him alone,” I said.
“Why must you always resort to this?”
“You’re pushing me to it!”
“This is your choice, not mine,” she said.
“And my choice doesn’t matter?”
“Your choice? What about my choice? Don’t you want me to be happy, Han Kyung?” she asked, catching me by surprise.
Music: Super Junior - 거울 (Mirror)
For all this time, I wanted to protect her from all hurt and sadness. But by doing this, was I giving her any happiness? I believed that she would be happy with me, but up till now, she has been fighting me off. How should I prove to her that we were meant to be?
[Sierra’s POV]
“I never wanted to hurt you,” he replied.
“I’m hurting now,” I said. “Because you’re threatening to hurt a person I care about.”
“Why won’t you care about me then? This guy whom you’ve met for less than 2 weeks… you’re choosing to care about his well-being more than mine.”
“Are you unwell?” I asked him.
“Since you left me… I have never recovered.”
“You need to stop dwelling on that.”
“I will stop if you can prove that you don’t feel anything for me. I know that you still love me. In some way… our hearts are still connected,” he said.
“No…”
“I know why you left,” he suddenly said.
I stiffened at the statement, and looked up at him. It was impossible that he knew, and yet when I looked at him, the look of resolution on his face showed me that he wasn’t bluffing.
“I know my father had threatened you,” he said.
It was the 5th month into our relationship. Han Kyung was out of town for a day, and I decided to hang out with Hee Chul, Sung Min and Shin Dong at a nearby mall. We were browsing through the shops when a man in a suit approached me.
“Sierra-shi,” he said.
“Ne?” I looked at him.
I had never seen him before, and I was puzzled that he knew my name.
“Our chairman would like to speak to you,” he said.
“Who is your chairman?” I asked.
“Chairman Ahn,” he said, and I recognized the name immediately.
What did Han Kyung’s father want from me? The man led me to a nearby exit, and as we left the building, I was brought to a limousine. He opened the door and indicated that I entered the car.
Inside the car sat Han Kyung’s father. I’ve seen his portraits when I visited Han Kyung’s house, and now that I am meeting him, I realized that they hardly did him justice. He was a very dignified looking man. He looked like royalty, if you will, even though he was in fact the head of a mob.
“Annyeonghashimnikka,” I bowed slightly.
“Let’s cut to the chase,” he smiled grimly.
“Ne?” I said, confused.
“Stop seeing my son,” he said.
I was stunned and speechless. My mouth hung open as he continued to speak.
“Indeed your pedigree is quite impeccable, and you’re quite suited to Han Kyung since you’re both half-bred,” he said, referring to our births as if he was breeding dogs, “but you’re not the girl I have picked for him. I have yet to find the right girl for his wife, and I am sure that she will be nothing like you.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “But what’s wrong with me?”
“You don’t have the connections I am looking for. I don’t intend to invest in the hotel business. Someone from a family with a business more suited to mine would be ideal.”
“But we’re not getting married,” I said.
“I know my son,” he cut me off. “He has never bothered with girls, no matter how beautiful they were and how they threw themselves at him. The fact that he is actually officially dating you means that he’s serious.”
“We’re still too young,” I said.
“I don’t see that as an issue. If you were the girl I approved of, the both of you could marry and still go to school. I would allow it… if only you were the right girl. But you aren’t.”
“I don’t want to marry your son,” I said. “We’re just dating.”
“My son doesn’t just date. Trust me… he has plans to marry you if I don’t stop him.”
I was speechless. Han Kyung had never spoken of marriage, but it was true that he was very serious when it came to us. He did everything possible for our relationship to work. He did whatever I wanted just so I couldn’t find fault with him or us. Did this really mean he was that serious about us?
I felt a short moment of elation when I realized how much he cared about me, but then I remembered what his father had just said. The very same reason that is making me happy would be the same reason that my happiness will be taken away.
Han Kyung’s father gave me an ultimatum; to stop seeing Han Kyung, or he will see that me, my family and my friends will feel his wrath. I have not witnessed his power, but Han Kyung had told me stories of how his father caused trouble for his enemies; crippling their businesses, ruining their credibility and good names. His father was capable of all these.
“Your father built his empire from nothing but a pile of sand,” he said. “I’d hate to see a good man lose everything he had worked for with his own blood and sweat.”
“You can’t do this…” I said.
“Yes I can…” he said. “I could take away everything from your family, and it would be all because their little princess decided to indulge in her puppy love.”
I knew that my father had put his entire life into his business. To lose it would mean seeing his entire world crumble before him. I couldn’t let that happen. As for my friends, I didn’t want to imagine what Han Kyung’s father might do to them. I loved Han Kyung, but more people were going to get hurt if we stayed together. It may seem a little over-melodramatic, but I had to make the sacrifice.
“Sierra…” Han Kyung called out to me, and I pulled myself out of my thoughts.
“Since you know… you shouldn’t push me further,” I said.
“I can convince my father,” he said. “We don’t have to do this.”
“And you have managed to convince him?” I asked.
“Not yet,” he said. “But I will.”
“He probably has someone else in mind for you. Why don’t you just accept your fate?” I said.
“This isn’t my fate,” he said. “I am as much of a victim as you are.”
“We’re just going around in circles,” I pointed out. “Your father will never change his mind, and I’ve found someone new. Let it go, Han Kyung.”
“No…” he said, stubbornly.
“Please…” I begged as I grasped his arm. “We have no choice. More people will suffer if we stay together.”
“What about me? It’s alright for me to suffer?” he asked as he pulled me towards him.
Music: SS501 – FIND
We were face to face now; our bodies just inches apart and our lips a breath away.
“Is it right for the ones I love to suffer?” I asked him.
“I’ll fix this,” he said softly.
“You can’t,” I said, my voice cracking.
“Wo bu neng shi qu ni,” he whispered. (I can’t lose you.)
“Please stop…” I pleaded.
He stared at me for a moment, then in an act of defiance, he kissed me. He pulled me towards him, and covered my lips with his. My hands came up to his chest, wanting to push him away and scream at him for his audacity, but my heart betrayed me. The tiny shreds of emotions I felt for him began to entwine again. I’d torn that emotion to shreds and left it scattered, within my heart, hoping that they would someday just fade to nothingness. But his kiss… his kiss had brought them back together again. How will I ever be able to let go this time?
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I had never forgotten the way her lips tasted. She was a drug… one that I had tried to be rid off, but will never succeed. The moment I felt her giving in, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer, until our bodies were against each other, absorbed in each other’s, and I prayed as the kiss went on. I prayed that she will never ever leave me again… even if it meant giving up our lives for this love.
“Stop…” she whispered against my lips.
She pulled away, but came back again, as if there were a magnet drawing her back towards me.
“No,” I whispered back, and I moved my lips off hers to start kissing her neck.
“I can’t do this,” she said.
Tears started trickling down her face, and I tasted them as I tried to kiss them away.
“Don’t leave me,” I whispered as I rained her face with kisses. “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.
She sighed, and wrapped her arms around me tightly, burying her face into my shoulder.
I felt the pain of our separation slowly dissipating. She was back in my arms, and I knew that she was back in my life. She didn’t say it, but her actions told me enough. I’m never letting her leave… never…
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Chapter 15: Healing - Hurting
[Sierra’s POV]
“Is he okay?” I asked Jae Joong as I walked back into the apartment.
I was outside awhile ago, calling Han Kyung. I’d had enough of this craziness, and I wanted him to stop trying to interfere with my life. I had to meet him and end it tonight.
“Yea…” Jae Joong said as he stuck a band aid on the bridge of Jae Wook’s nose. “He’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse.”
“Worse?” I exclaimed.
“Shh…” the both of them shushed me.
“Omma’s asleep,” Jae Joong said.
“Mian,” I grinned sheepishly.
“Hyung’s been beaten up worse before. But that was long ago,” Jae Joong said.
“It’s your fault,” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… yes…” Jae Joong nodded.
“Why?”
“I used to get picked on in school, and one time, it was by a group of thugs. Hyung stepped in and got beaten up really badly.”
“I couldn’t well run away, or watch my baby brother get smashed, could I?”
“No,” I smiled. “You’re such a wannabe,” I laughed.
“Wannabe?” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… a hero wannabe,” I said, and Jae Joong snickered.
“This is what you get for looking out for you own brother,” Jae Wook sighed.
“Is this why you’re so fit now?” I asked Jae Joong as I gave him a once over.
“I’m not fit,” Jae Joong blushed. “I just tried to beef up a little so that I didn’t look like a wimp. Then my hyung wouldn’t get beaten up for me ever again,” he said.
“Why don’t you beef up?” I asked Jae Wook.
“I need to work,” he said. “I don’t have time for sports.”
“Excuses…” I said as I shook my finger at him.
“I need to work,” he protested.
“Araso… araso…” Jae Joong patted him on the back. “You don’t have time… kwaench’ana,” he said.
“I’m toned, alright,” he said. “Jae Joong is buff.”
“Araso…” I laughed. “I’m just teasing,” I added, as I stood up and walked down the steps.
“You’re leaving now?” Jae Wook asked.
“Yes. It’s late,” I said.
“Okay… I’ll walk you out,” he said as he tried to stand up.
“Kwaench’ana… Stay there,” I said, but he still tried to stand. “Keep him there, Jae Joong,” I added, for good measure.
“Ya!” Jae Wook exclaimed as Jae Joong grabbed onto him.
“Chalga, nuna,” Jae Joong said as he tried to hold Jae Wook down.
“Bye guys,” I said as I walked out.
“I can’t believe it,” Jae Wook said. “Why are guys always listening to her orders?”
I laughed at his disbelief that his brother had just acted on my command.
“Cos she’s hot,” Jae Joong laughed as I closed the door behind me.
I took a deep breath as I walked out the building, onto the street.
“Shall I take you home, Miss Sierra?” my driver asked.
“No. Take me to Namsan Tower,” I said.
“At this hour?” he asked.
I looked at my watch and realized it was almost 11pm. My brothers would have a fit if I didn’t return home soon, but I had to see Han Kyung.
“Ne,” I said, as I got into the car. “Take me there. I’ll call Yong Min oppa to explain my lateness.”
“As you wish,” he said, and closed the door.
“Sierra… odiya?” Yong Min oppa asked as soon as he picked up my call.
“I need to meet a friend,” I said. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay?”
“Araso… be careful, and be home before 1,” he said.
“Ne,” I replied.
“If you’re not home by 1am, I’m calling the police,” he threatened.
“Ne,” I laughed. “I’ll be home before 1.”
“Good,” he said.
“See you later,” I said.
“Right,” he said, and hung up.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I paced back and forth as I waited for her at the cable car station. I’d rushed there as soon as she called, even though she’d clearly said that she would be there in an hour. Sure enough, an hour later, she turned up. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself as she walked towards me.
“You wanna go up?” I asked her.
“Sure,” she said, and I followed behind her as she walked towards the cable car waiting for us.
When she said that she’d wanted to meet there, I’d immediately made a call to make sure there was a cable car available for us.
She walked in and went to stand at one end of the car. I stood at the other, giving her the space she clearly wanted. The doors closed and the cable car started moving.
“Did you want to talk to me?” I asked her.
“Why are you doing this?” she said.
She was looking out of the window, staring intently at the ground we were leaving, trying so hard not to look at me.
“You asked to meet,” I said, pretending to misunderstand.
“Han Kyung… you know what I’m talking about,” she said. “Why did you ask Ryeo Wook to beat up Jae Wook?”
“I didn’t,” I lied.
“I saw your car,” she pressed on.
“I was only there to talk to him,” I said.
“Why? You have no reason to speak to him. Do you know him?”
“I know he could hurt you,” I said.
“You don’t know that,” she said. “That’s for me to find out. No one knows if anyone would hurt me.”
“I know that most men cannot be trusted, and I don’t trust this guy.”
“But this isn’t your business, is it?” she said, now turning to look at me.
Music: SS501 - Find
Her eyes glistened with her unshed tears each time the lights from outside the car shone in through the window. All I wanted to do was to walk towards her and hold her in my arms.
“You’ll always be my business, Sierra,” I said.
“No!” she yelled at me. “I am no longer your business! I was no longer your business the moment we broke up.”
“You broke up with me,” I pointed out. “I didn’t break up with you.”
“It makes no difference,” she said. “I want nothing to do with you.”
I looked at her straight on when she said those words, not showing her how much they hurt me.
“Do you really believe that?” I challenged her.
“Why else would I be here tonight?” she said. “You didn’t think I was here so that we could reunite, did you?”
I felt the last shred of patience within me shatter with her last sentence. I had hoped. Of course I had hoped. But being ridiculed for it was hurting me more than I’d imagined.
“I thought you’d come to beg me to take you back,” I said.
My mask was coming on now; the mask that hid my insecurities and disappointment. I never liked putting on my mask in front of her, but she pushed me to it.
“Oh please…” she practically sneered at me. “You’re the last guy I would beg for anything.”
“Really?” I said as I started moving towards her. “Would you come begging if I said I’d kill Kim Jae Wook? I could kill his whole family just so you’d come begging me to stop,” I bit out as I came face to face with her.
“Han Kyung…” she said, visibly shocked at my words.
“Who’s begging now?” I sneered back at her, and she took a step back as if I were about to attack.
“He has done nothing to you,” she said.
“He took my woman,” I said.
“I am not yours.”
“You were mine.”
“Were… would be the operative word,” she said.
“You still are,” I said, lowering my tone this time.
“It’s over Han Kyung… it was over long ago,” she said. “Please… let me live my life.”
“I want you back in my life,” I said. “As long as you come back, I would do anything for you.”
“We can’t be together,” she said.
“Why? And don’t say that you don’t love me, cos I know that’s a lie,” I said as I reached out and held her by both her arms.
“I don’t love you,” she said, not looking at me.
“Say it to my face,” I said softly.
She looked up slowly, and as if my prayers were answered, she turned away wordlessly. She still loved me.
“Is he okay?” I asked Jae Joong as I walked back into the apartment.
I was outside awhile ago, calling Han Kyung. I’d had enough of this craziness, and I wanted him to stop trying to interfere with my life. I had to meet him and end it tonight.
“Yea…” Jae Joong said as he stuck a band aid on the bridge of Jae Wook’s nose. “He’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse.”
“Worse?” I exclaimed.
“Shh…” the both of them shushed me.
“Omma’s asleep,” Jae Joong said.
“Mian,” I grinned sheepishly.
“Hyung’s been beaten up worse before. But that was long ago,” Jae Joong said.
“It’s your fault,” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… yes…” Jae Joong nodded.
“Why?”
“I used to get picked on in school, and one time, it was by a group of thugs. Hyung stepped in and got beaten up really badly.”
“I couldn’t well run away, or watch my baby brother get smashed, could I?”
“No,” I smiled. “You’re such a wannabe,” I laughed.
“Wannabe?” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… a hero wannabe,” I said, and Jae Joong snickered.
“This is what you get for looking out for you own brother,” Jae Wook sighed.
“Is this why you’re so fit now?” I asked Jae Joong as I gave him a once over.
“I’m not fit,” Jae Joong blushed. “I just tried to beef up a little so that I didn’t look like a wimp. Then my hyung wouldn’t get beaten up for me ever again,” he said.
“Why don’t you beef up?” I asked Jae Wook.
“I need to work,” he said. “I don’t have time for sports.”
“Excuses…” I said as I shook my finger at him.
“I need to work,” he protested.
“Araso… araso…” Jae Joong patted him on the back. “You don’t have time… kwaench’ana,” he said.
“I’m toned, alright,” he said. “Jae Joong is buff.”
“Araso…” I laughed. “I’m just teasing,” I added, as I stood up and walked down the steps.
“You’re leaving now?” Jae Wook asked.
“Yes. It’s late,” I said.
“Okay… I’ll walk you out,” he said as he tried to stand up.
“Kwaench’ana… Stay there,” I said, but he still tried to stand. “Keep him there, Jae Joong,” I added, for good measure.
“Ya!” Jae Wook exclaimed as Jae Joong grabbed onto him.
“Chalga, nuna,” Jae Joong said as he tried to hold Jae Wook down.
“Bye guys,” I said as I walked out.
“I can’t believe it,” Jae Wook said. “Why are guys always listening to her orders?”
I laughed at his disbelief that his brother had just acted on my command.
“Cos she’s hot,” Jae Joong laughed as I closed the door behind me.
I took a deep breath as I walked out the building, onto the street.
“Shall I take you home, Miss Sierra?” my driver asked.
“No. Take me to Namsan Tower,” I said.
“At this hour?” he asked.
I looked at my watch and realized it was almost 11pm. My brothers would have a fit if I didn’t return home soon, but I had to see Han Kyung.
“Ne,” I said, as I got into the car. “Take me there. I’ll call Yong Min oppa to explain my lateness.”
“As you wish,” he said, and closed the door.
“Sierra… odiya?” Yong Min oppa asked as soon as he picked up my call.
“I need to meet a friend,” I said. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay?”
“Araso… be careful, and be home before 1,” he said.
“Ne,” I replied.
“If you’re not home by 1am, I’m calling the police,” he threatened.
“Ne,” I laughed. “I’ll be home before 1.”
“Good,” he said.
“See you later,” I said.
“Right,” he said, and hung up.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I paced back and forth as I waited for her at the cable car station. I’d rushed there as soon as she called, even though she’d clearly said that she would be there in an hour. Sure enough, an hour later, she turned up. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself as she walked towards me.
“You wanna go up?” I asked her.
“Sure,” she said, and I followed behind her as she walked towards the cable car waiting for us.
When she said that she’d wanted to meet there, I’d immediately made a call to make sure there was a cable car available for us.
She walked in and went to stand at one end of the car. I stood at the other, giving her the space she clearly wanted. The doors closed and the cable car started moving.
“Did you want to talk to me?” I asked her.
“Why are you doing this?” she said.
She was looking out of the window, staring intently at the ground we were leaving, trying so hard not to look at me.
“You asked to meet,” I said, pretending to misunderstand.
“Han Kyung… you know what I’m talking about,” she said. “Why did you ask Ryeo Wook to beat up Jae Wook?”
“I didn’t,” I lied.
“I saw your car,” she pressed on.
“I was only there to talk to him,” I said.
“Why? You have no reason to speak to him. Do you know him?”
“I know he could hurt you,” I said.
“You don’t know that,” she said. “That’s for me to find out. No one knows if anyone would hurt me.”
“I know that most men cannot be trusted, and I don’t trust this guy.”
“But this isn’t your business, is it?” she said, now turning to look at me.
Music: SS501 - Find
Her eyes glistened with her unshed tears each time the lights from outside the car shone in through the window. All I wanted to do was to walk towards her and hold her in my arms.
“You’ll always be my business, Sierra,” I said.
“No!” she yelled at me. “I am no longer your business! I was no longer your business the moment we broke up.”
“You broke up with me,” I pointed out. “I didn’t break up with you.”
“It makes no difference,” she said. “I want nothing to do with you.”
I looked at her straight on when she said those words, not showing her how much they hurt me.
“Do you really believe that?” I challenged her.
“Why else would I be here tonight?” she said. “You didn’t think I was here so that we could reunite, did you?”
I felt the last shred of patience within me shatter with her last sentence. I had hoped. Of course I had hoped. But being ridiculed for it was hurting me more than I’d imagined.
“I thought you’d come to beg me to take you back,” I said.
My mask was coming on now; the mask that hid my insecurities and disappointment. I never liked putting on my mask in front of her, but she pushed me to it.
“Oh please…” she practically sneered at me. “You’re the last guy I would beg for anything.”
“Really?” I said as I started moving towards her. “Would you come begging if I said I’d kill Kim Jae Wook? I could kill his whole family just so you’d come begging me to stop,” I bit out as I came face to face with her.
“Han Kyung…” she said, visibly shocked at my words.
“Who’s begging now?” I sneered back at her, and she took a step back as if I were about to attack.
“He has done nothing to you,” she said.
“He took my woman,” I said.
“I am not yours.”
“You were mine.”
“Were… would be the operative word,” she said.
“You still are,” I said, lowering my tone this time.
“It’s over Han Kyung… it was over long ago,” she said. “Please… let me live my life.”
“I want you back in my life,” I said. “As long as you come back, I would do anything for you.”
“We can’t be together,” she said.
“Why? And don’t say that you don’t love me, cos I know that’s a lie,” I said as I reached out and held her by both her arms.
“I don’t love you,” she said, not looking at me.
“Say it to my face,” I said softly.
She looked up slowly, and as if my prayers were answered, she turned away wordlessly. She still loved me.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Chapter 14: Stirrings
The punk pushed me into the car and there was that freaky guy again, sitting in the car, looking as if he owned the world.
“You again,” I exclaimed.
“Yes…” he said grimly.
“What do you want?”
“Stay away from Sierra,” he said.
“Why should I listen to you?”
“You really have no idea who I am, do you?” he asked me.
“Don’t know, don’t care…” I said.
“Well, I know you, and your mother, and your little brother,” he said. “If you want no harm to come to them, stay away from Sierra.”
“How do you know my family? What is up with you? What’s your relationship with Sierra?”
I get that she’s a hot girl, but this guy has got to be as lost as Ee Teuk to go around threatening people for her.
“She and I have unfinished business. It’ll do you good to stay away from her,” he said.
“And what do you intend to do with her if I do?” I asked.
“That is between Sierra and me,” he said.
“And if I don’t?” I challenged.
“You’ll regret it,” he said. “You mother’s debts are considerable. If you’re willing to leave Sierra, I may be able to overlook them.”
“How do you know?”
“I own those establishments,” he said. “And as for your little brother, some of my boys go to the same school. If you comply with my terms, I’ll make sure he’s protected. If you don’t, my boys will take him down.”
“Stay away from my family,” I said.
“Then stay away from my Sierra,” he said.
“I believe she’s mine now,” I said.
“If you had a brain, you wouldn’t repeat what you’d just said.”
“I’ll say whatever I want,” I said defiantly.
“You leave me no choice then” he said.
He leaned over, opened the door and practically kicked me out of the car.
“Deal with him,” he said to the punk waiting outside.
“Algaesseumnida!” he replied and dragged me up by the collar.
Music: The TRAX - Paradox
The car drove off, and as if he had conjured them, 2 more thugs appeared. They grabbed by my arms and dragged me to the wall, pinning me to it.
“This is what happens to people who mess with us,” the guy said, as he put on some leather gloves.
I struggled to get out of their grasps, and the guy ran over and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over in pain, and that was when he kneed my face.
“Stop!” I heard a familiar voice shout as the punk was about to punch me in the face again.
“Hyung-su,” the punk stood at attention immediately, and bowed to her.
“I am not your sister-in-law!” she shouted at him. “Let him go!” she shouted at the other two, and they meekly complied.
“Hyung-su…” the punk started.
“Ipta!” she shouted at him, practically breathing fire, then she rushed towards me and put her arms around me. “Jae Wook, kwaench’ana?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Ryeo Wook!” she said sharply without looking at him.
“Ne,” he said.
“Tell Han Kyung to deal with me, and me alone,” she said. “If he touches Jae Wook again, I will make sure he pays.”
“Ne,” he said.
“Ka! Karago!” she said, and they scuttled away like crabs.
“Jae Wook,” she crouched down beside me and touched my swelling cheek.
“I’m alright,” I said as I started standing up.
“Are you sure? Let’s get you to a hospital,” she said as she helped me up.
“Nah… I’m fine,” I assured her. “Jae Joong can clean me up.”
“He’s not a professional,” she said. “Let’s get you checked up.”
“He’s cleaned me up a few times. I’ve cleaned him up a few times,” I smiled, then winced at the pain.
“What?” she exclaimed.
“Hey… don’t worry. We’re guys, and we grew up on the streets. We can take care of ourselves.”
“You call this taking care of yourselves?”
“Well… I didn’t see this one coming.”
“He can kill you,” Sierra shouted at me. “I know Han Kyung. He could kill you if he wanted to.”
“He’d have to be above the law to do that,” I coughed.
“If it weren’t for me tonight, you’d be dead,” she continued.
“You mean he is above the law?” I scoffed.
“He is,” she said. “He could order your death sentence, and there would be people to take the rap for him. He doesn’t need to lift a finger. He just needs to give the order.”
“Damn…”
“Han Kyung was giving you a chance in his own way when he knocked you out the other day,” she said. “He could’ve beaten you up like Ryeo Wook was instructed to, and prolonged the pain for you.”
“Araso!” I replied, raising my voice in frustration. “You think I don’t know what these guys do?”
Music: Tim – 난 어떻게
This Han Kyung was obviously big. But would it do for me to back down whenever someone bigger tried to push me off? I was sick enough of my life as it is. My mother was a drunkard and addicted to the gambling tables. My brother and I barely scrape by our lives each day, trying to get a decent education and survive in the crappy environment that had become a fixture in our lives. Now, without knowing better, I’d picked a girl I can’t have. I’m sick of giving up on the things I wanted and taking a step back. I’m sick of bowing to the power of another, but was she worth losing my life over?
“Jae Wook… I’m not trying to patronize you,” she said softly. “I’m just worried because of Han Kyung’s intentions.”
“I didn’t know at first, but now I know what I’ve gotten myself into,” I said as I leaned against the wall.
“Maybe… maybe we should stop,” she said.
“Mwo?” I stared at her.
“I think it’s a mistake… us being together,” she said. “I should never have started this relationship with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll probably never get another boyfriend, and that’s because of my stupidity. I got myself involved with the wrong guy long ago, and now I can never be rid of him.”
“Don’t say that,” I said as I inched towards her.
“It’s true. I should’ve known better the moment I met him, but I chose to ignore the signs. I decided to be reckless and let myself be swayed by the moment.”
Tears were slowly forming in her eyes now. I reached out and put an arm around her.
“Sierra… if my calculations were correct, you were only a kid when you met this guy. You couldn’t have known better. Everyone has given into a moment of weakness at least once in their lives. Yours was with Han Kyung, and mine… I think mine would be with you,” I smiled as I finished my sentence.
“Jae Wook-ah…” she started, but I wouldn’t let her continue.
“I’m not as tough as Han Kyung or his guys, but I won’t back down,” I said as I came to stand in front of her, face to face.
Her back was against the wall, and I raised my hands to cup either sides of her face.
“Neoreul… naekkoya,” I whispered. “Araji?”
She looked straight at me, her eyes still brimming with tears, and she nodded wordlessly.
“We’re in this together,” I said, “Araji?”
She nodded again and I leaned in to kiss her.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I couldn’t sit back and watch any longer. My sources had informed me that Kim Jae Wook had survived the common obstacle Sierra’s suitors would face, Park Jung Su. Park Jung Su never knew about Sierra and I, but if he did, he was nothing for me either. I thought that Kim Jae Wook would’ve been scared off like all the others had been, but I was wrong. He seems determined to stick by her.
I felt a little irrational tonight. Initially, all I planned to do was to scare him off with my status, but this guy was a tough nut, and he was dumb enough to challenge me. That’s when I decided that I needed to teach him a lesson.
“Hyung,” Ryeo Wook came into my office and bowed low.
His face told me all I needed to know. He’d failed in his task tonight.
“What happened?”
“Hyung-su…” he started, and that was all he needed to say.
“Sierra showed up?” I sighed.
It was equally my fault that he’d failed. It was my fault for telling them that Sierra was to be respected as my wife would be, and that her orders could override mine. I’d always given her what she wanted, and this time, my generosity had foiled my plans.
“Choesonghaeyo,” he bowed again.
“Ani… it’s not your fault. You did right. Sierra would’ve gotten more upset and hated me more if you’d killed him. That little scare will do,” I said.
“I can still get him tomorrow,” Ryeo Wook insisted.
“It’s fine. Leave him for now,” I said.
“Ye,” he replied.
I swirled my chair 180 degrees, after Ryeo Wook left, to gaze out at Seoul’s city lights. Contrary to what people believed, my office wasn’t in some dingy shipyard. My father also ran a legitimate business as a cover for his illegal ones, and I had an office with a view in the building.
I thought about Sierra as I stared at the night traffic below. This was the first time she’d progressed so quickly with a guy. She may not know it, but I had been keeping tabs on all the guys she’d dated after we broke up. It may look as if I was a stalker, but I had her best interests at heart. Most men are scum, and I didn’t want her to get hurt. This scum… Kim Jae Wook… he may be the guy who will take her away from me forever.
It was as if thinking about her would conjure her, my phone starting ringing, and that familiar ring tone played.
Music: Super Junior - 거울 (Mirror)
“Yeoboseyo,” I answered calmly.
“Meet me,” she said curtly.
“Where?” I asked.
“The tower,” she replied.
“Ok,” I said. “Half an hour?”
“One hour,” she said. “I’m attending to Jae Wook’s injuries,” she added, just to spite me.
“Araso,” I said, and she hung up.
“You again,” I exclaimed.
“Yes…” he said grimly.
“What do you want?”
“Stay away from Sierra,” he said.
“Why should I listen to you?”
“You really have no idea who I am, do you?” he asked me.
“Don’t know, don’t care…” I said.
“Well, I know you, and your mother, and your little brother,” he said. “If you want no harm to come to them, stay away from Sierra.”
“How do you know my family? What is up with you? What’s your relationship with Sierra?”
I get that she’s a hot girl, but this guy has got to be as lost as Ee Teuk to go around threatening people for her.
“She and I have unfinished business. It’ll do you good to stay away from her,” he said.
“And what do you intend to do with her if I do?” I asked.
“That is between Sierra and me,” he said.
“And if I don’t?” I challenged.
“You’ll regret it,” he said. “You mother’s debts are considerable. If you’re willing to leave Sierra, I may be able to overlook them.”
“How do you know?”
“I own those establishments,” he said. “And as for your little brother, some of my boys go to the same school. If you comply with my terms, I’ll make sure he’s protected. If you don’t, my boys will take him down.”
“Stay away from my family,” I said.
“Then stay away from my Sierra,” he said.
“I believe she’s mine now,” I said.
“If you had a brain, you wouldn’t repeat what you’d just said.”
“I’ll say whatever I want,” I said defiantly.
“You leave me no choice then” he said.
He leaned over, opened the door and practically kicked me out of the car.
“Deal with him,” he said to the punk waiting outside.
“Algaesseumnida!” he replied and dragged me up by the collar.
Music: The TRAX - Paradox
The car drove off, and as if he had conjured them, 2 more thugs appeared. They grabbed by my arms and dragged me to the wall, pinning me to it.
“This is what happens to people who mess with us,” the guy said, as he put on some leather gloves.
I struggled to get out of their grasps, and the guy ran over and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over in pain, and that was when he kneed my face.
“Stop!” I heard a familiar voice shout as the punk was about to punch me in the face again.
“Hyung-su,” the punk stood at attention immediately, and bowed to her.
“I am not your sister-in-law!” she shouted at him. “Let him go!” she shouted at the other two, and they meekly complied.
“Hyung-su…” the punk started.
“Ipta!” she shouted at him, practically breathing fire, then she rushed towards me and put her arms around me. “Jae Wook, kwaench’ana?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Ryeo Wook!” she said sharply without looking at him.
“Ne,” he said.
“Tell Han Kyung to deal with me, and me alone,” she said. “If he touches Jae Wook again, I will make sure he pays.”
“Ne,” he said.
“Ka! Karago!” she said, and they scuttled away like crabs.
“Jae Wook,” she crouched down beside me and touched my swelling cheek.
“I’m alright,” I said as I started standing up.
“Are you sure? Let’s get you to a hospital,” she said as she helped me up.
“Nah… I’m fine,” I assured her. “Jae Joong can clean me up.”
“He’s not a professional,” she said. “Let’s get you checked up.”
“He’s cleaned me up a few times. I’ve cleaned him up a few times,” I smiled, then winced at the pain.
“What?” she exclaimed.
“Hey… don’t worry. We’re guys, and we grew up on the streets. We can take care of ourselves.”
“You call this taking care of yourselves?”
“Well… I didn’t see this one coming.”
“He can kill you,” Sierra shouted at me. “I know Han Kyung. He could kill you if he wanted to.”
“He’d have to be above the law to do that,” I coughed.
“If it weren’t for me tonight, you’d be dead,” she continued.
“You mean he is above the law?” I scoffed.
“He is,” she said. “He could order your death sentence, and there would be people to take the rap for him. He doesn’t need to lift a finger. He just needs to give the order.”
“Damn…”
“Han Kyung was giving you a chance in his own way when he knocked you out the other day,” she said. “He could’ve beaten you up like Ryeo Wook was instructed to, and prolonged the pain for you.”
“Araso!” I replied, raising my voice in frustration. “You think I don’t know what these guys do?”
Music: Tim – 난 어떻게
This Han Kyung was obviously big. But would it do for me to back down whenever someone bigger tried to push me off? I was sick enough of my life as it is. My mother was a drunkard and addicted to the gambling tables. My brother and I barely scrape by our lives each day, trying to get a decent education and survive in the crappy environment that had become a fixture in our lives. Now, without knowing better, I’d picked a girl I can’t have. I’m sick of giving up on the things I wanted and taking a step back. I’m sick of bowing to the power of another, but was she worth losing my life over?
“Jae Wook… I’m not trying to patronize you,” she said softly. “I’m just worried because of Han Kyung’s intentions.”
“I didn’t know at first, but now I know what I’ve gotten myself into,” I said as I leaned against the wall.
“Maybe… maybe we should stop,” she said.
“Mwo?” I stared at her.
“I think it’s a mistake… us being together,” she said. “I should never have started this relationship with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll probably never get another boyfriend, and that’s because of my stupidity. I got myself involved with the wrong guy long ago, and now I can never be rid of him.”
“Don’t say that,” I said as I inched towards her.
“It’s true. I should’ve known better the moment I met him, but I chose to ignore the signs. I decided to be reckless and let myself be swayed by the moment.”
Tears were slowly forming in her eyes now. I reached out and put an arm around her.
“Sierra… if my calculations were correct, you were only a kid when you met this guy. You couldn’t have known better. Everyone has given into a moment of weakness at least once in their lives. Yours was with Han Kyung, and mine… I think mine would be with you,” I smiled as I finished my sentence.
“Jae Wook-ah…” she started, but I wouldn’t let her continue.
“I’m not as tough as Han Kyung or his guys, but I won’t back down,” I said as I came to stand in front of her, face to face.
Her back was against the wall, and I raised my hands to cup either sides of her face.
“Neoreul… naekkoya,” I whispered. “Araji?”
She looked straight at me, her eyes still brimming with tears, and she nodded wordlessly.
“We’re in this together,” I said, “Araji?”
She nodded again and I leaned in to kiss her.
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I couldn’t sit back and watch any longer. My sources had informed me that Kim Jae Wook had survived the common obstacle Sierra’s suitors would face, Park Jung Su. Park Jung Su never knew about Sierra and I, but if he did, he was nothing for me either. I thought that Kim Jae Wook would’ve been scared off like all the others had been, but I was wrong. He seems determined to stick by her.
I felt a little irrational tonight. Initially, all I planned to do was to scare him off with my status, but this guy was a tough nut, and he was dumb enough to challenge me. That’s when I decided that I needed to teach him a lesson.
“Hyung,” Ryeo Wook came into my office and bowed low.
His face told me all I needed to know. He’d failed in his task tonight.
“What happened?”
“Hyung-su…” he started, and that was all he needed to say.
“Sierra showed up?” I sighed.
It was equally my fault that he’d failed. It was my fault for telling them that Sierra was to be respected as my wife would be, and that her orders could override mine. I’d always given her what she wanted, and this time, my generosity had foiled my plans.
“Choesonghaeyo,” he bowed again.
“Ani… it’s not your fault. You did right. Sierra would’ve gotten more upset and hated me more if you’d killed him. That little scare will do,” I said.
“I can still get him tomorrow,” Ryeo Wook insisted.
“It’s fine. Leave him for now,” I said.
“Ye,” he replied.
I swirled my chair 180 degrees, after Ryeo Wook left, to gaze out at Seoul’s city lights. Contrary to what people believed, my office wasn’t in some dingy shipyard. My father also ran a legitimate business as a cover for his illegal ones, and I had an office with a view in the building.
I thought about Sierra as I stared at the night traffic below. This was the first time she’d progressed so quickly with a guy. She may not know it, but I had been keeping tabs on all the guys she’d dated after we broke up. It may look as if I was a stalker, but I had her best interests at heart. Most men are scum, and I didn’t want her to get hurt. This scum… Kim Jae Wook… he may be the guy who will take her away from me forever.
It was as if thinking about her would conjure her, my phone starting ringing, and that familiar ring tone played.
Music: Super Junior - 거울 (Mirror)
“Yeoboseyo,” I answered calmly.
“Meet me,” she said curtly.
“Where?” I asked.
“The tower,” she replied.
“Ok,” I said. “Half an hour?”
“One hour,” she said. “I’m attending to Jae Wook’s injuries,” she added, just to spite me.
“Araso,” I said, and she hung up.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Chapter 13: She Is...
“Your brother is cute,” I said to Jae Wook.
“Cuter than me?” Jae Wook pouted.
“Erm…” I contemplated. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” he exclaimed.
“Of course you’re cuter,” I said, and he smiled smugly. “Otherwise I’d be dating your brother instead,” I added, and he frowned at me.
“Girls are so fickle these days,” he grumbled.
“Aigoo…” I teased and pinched him on the cheek.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
Music: Super Junior - You're My Endless Love
I was a little worried. I was worried that Sierra was going to turn around and leave as soon as she got off that bus. Instead, she walked the filthy streets with me, entered my humble apartment, and she even wants to have a meal with me and Jae Joong.
“Where’s your mother?” she asked.
“She’s out, somewhere,” I sighed.
“I see,” she replied, and sensing that I didn’t want to talk about my mother, she didn’t probe further.
“Nuna,” Jae Joong called from the kitchen. “Can you handle spicy food?”
“Not really,” she replied. “Mildly spicy is okay, though.”
“Arasoyo,” he said.
“Can you handle spicy?” she asked me, and I was definitely sensing a pun.
“Oh yeah…” I replied. “I can handle spicy.”
She laughed, covering her face as she did.
“Wae?” I asked her.
“I should’ve had my phone ready for that expression.”
“What expression?”
“That wolf-like expression,” she laughed.
“I do not have a wolf-like expression,” I said.
“Awooo…” Jae Joong howled as he walked out of the kitchen with a tray of side dishes.
“Shut up,” I said, and Sierra was rolling around on the floor, giggling.
“You shouldn’t eavesdrop,” I said to Jae Joong.
“I wasn’t. All I heard was the word ‘wolf’,” he grinned.
“Is this all?” Sierra asked as she studied the dishes that Jae Joong placed, one by one, on the table.
“More… coming soon,” he said, in a deep voice, and smiled.
“You’re amazing!” Sierra said. “I’ve never seen a guy cook like that.”
“Hey… I can do this too,” I protested.
“Then why aren’t you doing it?” she asked.
“I need to entertain you, so he’s doing the cooking on my behalf.”
“I don’t need entertaining. Why don’t you help your brother?”
“He’s never needed my help,” I said.
“Right,” Jae Joong said, sarcastically as he put down a pot of soup on the table mat.
“Miyuk-kuk!” Sierra exclaimed.
“You like seaweed soup?” Jae Joong asked.
“Yea,” she said.
“Then you and hyung are gonna have lots of babies someday,” he laughed.
“Yah…” I said, and smacked his butt half-heartedly.
“Mian… I shouldn’t embarrass you, hyung-su,” Jae Joong said trying not to laugh now.
“Not so soon,” she said. “You can keep calling me nuna for now.”
I lips twitched as I tried not to laugh with Jae Joong. He was really teasing her, but I actually felt happy seeing my brother get along with my girlfriend. Sierra’s being shy about the teasing made me feel that she was in a way more involved in this relationship than I’d expected.
“I like your apron,” Sierra said, admiring Jae Joong’s apron. “I’ve never seen a denim apron before.”
“I can make you one,” he grinned proudly.
“You made it?” she said, in awe.
“Yea. There aren’t that many manly aprons being sold, and if I had to wear one every day, I’d want to look macho,” he laughed.
“It’s really chic,” she said. “If I had one, I’d cook more often too.”
“Make her one, Jae Joong,” I laughed. “I want to taste some of her cooking.
“Okay,” he laughed. “As long as I’m invited too.”
“The day you deliver my apron, I’ll cook you guys a meal,” she said.
“Make sure it’s edible,” I said, and she made a face at me and started picking at the side dishes.
Jae Joong went all out tonight, knowing I had a guest to impress. He made egg rolls, fried chicken and pork ribs to go along with the seaweed soup and side dishes. For dessert, he managed to produce a plate of fruits topped with ice cream, from which the three of us ate directly off.
“Wow…” Sierra gushed. “I can’t move.”
“I’ll have to roll you home then?” I joked, and she punched me lightly on the arm.
“I expect to be carried,” she said.
“I think we’ll need to borrow the neighbor’s truck,” Jae Joong joked.
“Ya…” Sierra exclaimed.
“I think a wheelbarrow is enough,” I said, and that earned me another thump on my arm.
After all that joy and laughter, I knew there had to be an anti-climax for the day. In the midst of our cheerful atmosphere, my mother stumbled into the apartment, drunk, as usual.
“Jae Wook-ah…” she called out as she practically crawled up the step to the living area.
“Oma…” Jae Joong exclaimed in exasperation and went over to help her up.
“Ah… it’s my other son. My other Jae…” she giggled.
“Oma… this is my school mate, Sierra,” I introduced quickly and stood up to help Jae Joong bring her to her room.
“You brought a girl home?” she said, stopping midway towards the room to turn around and eye Sierra.
“Omoni,” Sierra sat up, and gave a little bow while on her knees.
“Hmm…” she laughed. “My son sure knows how to pick ‘em.”
“Let’s put you to bed,” I said.
“Aniya… aniya… nan kwaench’ana. Go sit with your girl,” she said as she tried to brush me off.
“I’ll take care of her,” Jae Joong said.
I sighed and nodded, then closed the room door as soon as Jae Joong and my mother went in.
“Your mother seems nice,” Sierra said.
The whole atmosphere was awkward now. There was a pink elephant in the room, i.e. my mother, and I wasn’t inclined to elaborate.
“She’s having one of her better days,” I smiled grimly.
“Maybe you should help Jae Joong,” she suggested.
“He can handle her,” I said. “He usually does since I work most nights.”
“Did I stop you from working tonight?” she asked me.
“Ani… I just moved here, so I’m still looking for a job,” I said.
“Oh…”
“I know that ‘Oh…’. You don’t have to help me get a job. I’ll find one. Don’t worry,” I said.
“I just…” she said, and bit her lip.
“Don’t call in favors for me, alright?” I said as I reached over to take her hand in mine.
“Araso,” she smiled.
We had another brief moment of silence and I could hear my mother speaking to Jae Joong in her drunken gibberish. It’s been a long time since I felt like this. I thought I’d gotten used to her being like this, but tonight I actually resented her for being like this.
“I should send you home,” I said, as I started to stand up.
“No… it’s alright. I’ll just get my driver to pick me up,” she said.
“I can send you home,” I said.
“Jae Wook,” she said, this time in a firm tone, and I looked at her. “I’ll get home on my own,” she said, and then she leaned over to kiss me softly on the cheek.
“Okay,” I said, touching my cheek and smiling as she pulled away.
She picked up her phone and while she called her driver, I busied myself by cleaning up the dishes.
“He’s here,” she said, moments later.
“Araso,” I said, and dried my hands and joined her at the door to walk her out.
Music: M - Sweet Sound
“Good night,” she said, turning to face me at the entrance of my building.
“Good night,” I said, and leaned down to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
“Is that all, Mr. Kim?” she smiled.
“Your driver,” I reminded her.
“Ah yes…” she laughed. “See you tomorrow,” she waved and walked towards her car.
“See ya,” I said, and I stood there to watch her car pull away.
I turned around to walk in as soon as her car was out of sight, and I felt a hand tap me on my shoulder. I turned around, and there was a punk-haired guy in a suit whom I’ve never met.
Music: The TRAX - Paradox
“My boss wants to speak to you,” he said.
“Who’s your boss?” I asked him.
“You’ll know when you see him,” he said, and motioned towards a black car waiting at the corner of the street.
“Cuter than me?” Jae Wook pouted.
“Erm…” I contemplated. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” he exclaimed.
“Of course you’re cuter,” I said, and he smiled smugly. “Otherwise I’d be dating your brother instead,” I added, and he frowned at me.
“Girls are so fickle these days,” he grumbled.
“Aigoo…” I teased and pinched him on the cheek.
[Jae Wook’s POV]
Music: Super Junior - You're My Endless Love
I was a little worried. I was worried that Sierra was going to turn around and leave as soon as she got off that bus. Instead, she walked the filthy streets with me, entered my humble apartment, and she even wants to have a meal with me and Jae Joong.
“Where’s your mother?” she asked.
“She’s out, somewhere,” I sighed.
“I see,” she replied, and sensing that I didn’t want to talk about my mother, she didn’t probe further.
“Nuna,” Jae Joong called from the kitchen. “Can you handle spicy food?”
“Not really,” she replied. “Mildly spicy is okay, though.”
“Arasoyo,” he said.
“Can you handle spicy?” she asked me, and I was definitely sensing a pun.
“Oh yeah…” I replied. “I can handle spicy.”
She laughed, covering her face as she did.
“Wae?” I asked her.
“I should’ve had my phone ready for that expression.”
“What expression?”
“That wolf-like expression,” she laughed.
“I do not have a wolf-like expression,” I said.
“Awooo…” Jae Joong howled as he walked out of the kitchen with a tray of side dishes.
“Shut up,” I said, and Sierra was rolling around on the floor, giggling.
“You shouldn’t eavesdrop,” I said to Jae Joong.
“I wasn’t. All I heard was the word ‘wolf’,” he grinned.
“Is this all?” Sierra asked as she studied the dishes that Jae Joong placed, one by one, on the table.
“More… coming soon,” he said, in a deep voice, and smiled.
“You’re amazing!” Sierra said. “I’ve never seen a guy cook like that.”
“Hey… I can do this too,” I protested.
“Then why aren’t you doing it?” she asked.
“I need to entertain you, so he’s doing the cooking on my behalf.”
“I don’t need entertaining. Why don’t you help your brother?”
“He’s never needed my help,” I said.
“Right,” Jae Joong said, sarcastically as he put down a pot of soup on the table mat.
“Miyuk-kuk!” Sierra exclaimed.
“You like seaweed soup?” Jae Joong asked.
“Yea,” she said.
“Then you and hyung are gonna have lots of babies someday,” he laughed.
“Yah…” I said, and smacked his butt half-heartedly.
“Mian… I shouldn’t embarrass you, hyung-su,” Jae Joong said trying not to laugh now.
“Not so soon,” she said. “You can keep calling me nuna for now.”
I lips twitched as I tried not to laugh with Jae Joong. He was really teasing her, but I actually felt happy seeing my brother get along with my girlfriend. Sierra’s being shy about the teasing made me feel that she was in a way more involved in this relationship than I’d expected.
“I like your apron,” Sierra said, admiring Jae Joong’s apron. “I’ve never seen a denim apron before.”
“I can make you one,” he grinned proudly.
“You made it?” she said, in awe.
“Yea. There aren’t that many manly aprons being sold, and if I had to wear one every day, I’d want to look macho,” he laughed.
“It’s really chic,” she said. “If I had one, I’d cook more often too.”
“Make her one, Jae Joong,” I laughed. “I want to taste some of her cooking.
“Okay,” he laughed. “As long as I’m invited too.”
“The day you deliver my apron, I’ll cook you guys a meal,” she said.
“Make sure it’s edible,” I said, and she made a face at me and started picking at the side dishes.
Jae Joong went all out tonight, knowing I had a guest to impress. He made egg rolls, fried chicken and pork ribs to go along with the seaweed soup and side dishes. For dessert, he managed to produce a plate of fruits topped with ice cream, from which the three of us ate directly off.
“Wow…” Sierra gushed. “I can’t move.”
“I’ll have to roll you home then?” I joked, and she punched me lightly on the arm.
“I expect to be carried,” she said.
“I think we’ll need to borrow the neighbor’s truck,” Jae Joong joked.
“Ya…” Sierra exclaimed.
“I think a wheelbarrow is enough,” I said, and that earned me another thump on my arm.
After all that joy and laughter, I knew there had to be an anti-climax for the day. In the midst of our cheerful atmosphere, my mother stumbled into the apartment, drunk, as usual.
“Jae Wook-ah…” she called out as she practically crawled up the step to the living area.
“Oma…” Jae Joong exclaimed in exasperation and went over to help her up.
“Ah… it’s my other son. My other Jae…” she giggled.
“Oma… this is my school mate, Sierra,” I introduced quickly and stood up to help Jae Joong bring her to her room.
“You brought a girl home?” she said, stopping midway towards the room to turn around and eye Sierra.
“Omoni,” Sierra sat up, and gave a little bow while on her knees.
“Hmm…” she laughed. “My son sure knows how to pick ‘em.”
“Let’s put you to bed,” I said.
“Aniya… aniya… nan kwaench’ana. Go sit with your girl,” she said as she tried to brush me off.
“I’ll take care of her,” Jae Joong said.
I sighed and nodded, then closed the room door as soon as Jae Joong and my mother went in.
“Your mother seems nice,” Sierra said.
The whole atmosphere was awkward now. There was a pink elephant in the room, i.e. my mother, and I wasn’t inclined to elaborate.
“She’s having one of her better days,” I smiled grimly.
“Maybe you should help Jae Joong,” she suggested.
“He can handle her,” I said. “He usually does since I work most nights.”
“Did I stop you from working tonight?” she asked me.
“Ani… I just moved here, so I’m still looking for a job,” I said.
“Oh…”
“I know that ‘Oh…’. You don’t have to help me get a job. I’ll find one. Don’t worry,” I said.
“I just…” she said, and bit her lip.
“Don’t call in favors for me, alright?” I said as I reached over to take her hand in mine.
“Araso,” she smiled.
We had another brief moment of silence and I could hear my mother speaking to Jae Joong in her drunken gibberish. It’s been a long time since I felt like this. I thought I’d gotten used to her being like this, but tonight I actually resented her for being like this.
“I should send you home,” I said, as I started to stand up.
“No… it’s alright. I’ll just get my driver to pick me up,” she said.
“I can send you home,” I said.
“Jae Wook,” she said, this time in a firm tone, and I looked at her. “I’ll get home on my own,” she said, and then she leaned over to kiss me softly on the cheek.
“Okay,” I said, touching my cheek and smiling as she pulled away.
She picked up her phone and while she called her driver, I busied myself by cleaning up the dishes.
“He’s here,” she said, moments later.
“Araso,” I said, and dried my hands and joined her at the door to walk her out.
Music: M - Sweet Sound
“Good night,” she said, turning to face me at the entrance of my building.
“Good night,” I said, and leaned down to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
“Is that all, Mr. Kim?” she smiled.
“Your driver,” I reminded her.
“Ah yes…” she laughed. “See you tomorrow,” she waved and walked towards her car.
“See ya,” I said, and I stood there to watch her car pull away.
I turned around to walk in as soon as her car was out of sight, and I felt a hand tap me on my shoulder. I turned around, and there was a punk-haired guy in a suit whom I’ve never met.
Music: The TRAX - Paradox
“My boss wants to speak to you,” he said.
“Who’s your boss?” I asked him.
“You’ll know when you see him,” he said, and motioned towards a black car waiting at the corner of the street.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Chapter 12: Getting Down And Dirty?
“You guys had better leave,” Hee Chul said. “Ee Teuk might come after Jae Wook again.”
“I can’t run forever,” Jae Wook said. “What about tomorrow?”
“I’ll call his family later,” Hee Chul said. “That loon needs to be put away.”
“You know his family?” Jae Wook asked.
“His father and mine are golfing buddies. I’ll make sure his father talks to him tonight. That usually works.”
“Can I go with nuna?” Sung Min asked.
“You stay here with me,” Hee Chul said, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him away from Jae Wook and me.
“Let’s go,” Jae Wook said and we started walking.
“See you guys tomorrow,” I waved at Hee Chul and Sung Min.
“Where are we going?” Jae Wook asked.
“Your place or mine?” I asked in return.
“You wanna go to my place?” he said incredulously.
“Why?”
“I live in the slums, Sierra,” he said.
“What slums? There are no slums in Seoul,” I said.
“Sierra… Sierra…” he laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders.
“What?”
“I am now certain that you have been living a very sheltered life,” he said. “Then I guess we should go to my place.”
“Okay…” I said.
“You won’t be okay once we get there…” he said.
“We’ll see,” I said indignantly.
I refused to be scared off. I seriously did not believe that his home was in some kind of slum because I had never seen one before.
“Where are you going?” I asked as he led me past my car, which was waiting in front of the school gates.
“You, Miss Sierra, need a dose of common life. We’re taking the bus,” he said.
“I don’t have a T-Money card,” I said.
“Ah… at least you know you need one,” he laughed.
“I may be pampered, but I’m not totally ignorant,” I huffed.
“At least you know you’re pampered,” he added.
“I’m going home,” I said, turning the other way.
“Hajima…” he coaxed, and caught my hand in his. “I won’t make fun of you anymore.”
“You’d better,” I said, glaring at him with the corner of my eye.
“Araso, araso,” he said, hugging me with one arm. “Kaja…”
Music: Clazziquai Project – Romeo N Juliet
We took a short walk to the bus stop near our school and hopped onto the bus.
“You can pay your fare with coins,” he said, in a tone a teacher would use on a pre-schooler, and dropped some coins into the till.
“That’s one…” I warned, and he grinned.
The bus was quite full, and we had to stand the entire journey.
“Hang on to me,” he said as he held on to the bar and pulled one of my arms to wrap around his waist.
“If this wasn’t obviously a method of keeping me safe, I’d think that you were trying to take advantage of me,” I said as I put both arms around his waist.
“Hey… all couples ride the bus like this,” he said, and nudged me to towards the direction of another couple.
Instead of the guy holding onto the girl, they’d found a corner where they could stand and snuggle. Both guy and girl had their arms wrapped around each other, and not long after, they started necking.
“Omigod… get a room,” I whispered.
“Shh…” he said. “You don’t want him to punch me for having a nosy girlfriend.”
“You’ve taken one for me. Another would be a piece of cake,” I said, smiling smugly.
“Sure…” he sighed. “Piece of cake…”
The bus got more and more crowded. At one point, a group of sweaty football players got onto the bus. We were all sandwiched together, and the sweaty guys were surrounding us.
“I can’t breathe,” I whispered at Jae Wook.
“Just a few more stops,” he said, and grimaced when the bus jerked and the sweaty people around us were squashed further against us.
I wrapped my arms tighter around Jae Wook and pressed my face to his chest. Thank god he smelled nice. I inhaled the clean scent of his shirt, trying to drown the smell of sweat at grime which wafted around the bus.
“That was fun,” he said, as soon as we jumped off the bus at our stop.
“Fun?” I glared at him.
“I had fun,” he grinned mischievously.
“Sure you did. We were pressed against each other from head to toe. Of course it was fun for you,” I said.
“At least I’m vocal with my appreciation,” he laughed. “Let’s go now… it’s just another 10 minutes from here.”
It was then that I’d noticed where I was. He was right, it was the slums.
“This is the main street, so it’s a little well-kept compared to my street,” he said.
If he considered this well-kept, I cannot imagine what his street looked like. These were old buildings, really old buildings. The paint was peeling off the walls, trash cans overflowing with rubbish, clothes hung out of the windows on the dilapidated balconies.
We turned the corner and I was startled when a dog rushed out and barked ferociously. Jae Wook swung his backpack at the dog and yelled at it. His scare tactic worked, and the dog backed off with its tail between its legs.
“You’re afraid of dogs?” he asked me.
“Only stray beasts,” I said.
“That’s the only one here. I think he does it as a game, to see how many people he could scare each day,” Jae Wook smiled and rubbed my shoulder to calm me down.
We finally reached his building, and my first reaction was to thump him on the arm when I saw it.
“Yaa…” he exclaimed and rubbed his arm.
His house was the nicest one on the street. It was actually a small apartment block which was done up recently.
“You said the main street was better-kept than yours,” I said.
“I said the street,” he laughed. “Let’s go up.”
“There had better be no more surprises,” I said.
“Yes, your highness…” he smiled, and held my hand as we walked up the stairs.
2 flights of stairs later, we arrived at the door of his apartment.
“Tada!!!” he announced as he flung open the door.
We took off our shoes and took a step up. A small table sat in the middle of the living cum dining room. His living room was smaller than my bathroom.
“That’s the bathroom,” he said, pointing to one of the 3 closed doors. “My mother’s room, and this room, I share with my brother,” he said and opened the door.
Inside were 2 thin mattresses on the floor, 2 pillows and 2 sets of blankets neatly folded at the foot of the mattresses.
“You have a brother?” I asked.
“Yea.”
“I’ve never seen him in school,” I said.
“He doesn’t go to our school,” he said. “His results didn’t qualify him a spot.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said. “My father is on the school board. He could’ve gotten your brother in.”
“I just didn’t think it was the right time. I’m not the kind to ask for favors from someone I’ve just met.”
“Well… ask me when you get to know me better then,” I smiled.
“Hyung?” a shirtless guy suddenly popped his head out of the bathroom.
Music: Sorea - 이 노래를 부를게요 (I Would Sing This Song)
I quickly covered my eyes, and he covered his chest with his arms.
“Jae Joong,” Jae Wook laughed. “This is Sierra. Sierra… this is my brother, Jae Joong.”
“Hi,” Jae Joong squeaked and shut the door.
“Have a seat,” Jae Wook said as he gestured to the cushions on the floor.
I sat down and Jae Wook placed a glass of water in front of me.
“So what do you want to eat?” he asked me.
“You’re cooking me dinner?”
“No…” Jae Joong said as he walked out of the bathroom, “I am.”
“My brother does most of the cooking around here,” he said.
“You mean you can’t cook?” I asked.
“Of course I can,” he said.
“Yea… ramyun…” Jae Joong snickered.
Jae Wook and his brother were tall, slim, fair, and very, very good looking. What made them both more endearing were their slightly flawed beauty; birthmarks on their fair and flawless skin.
“Ya! When you were a baby, I was the one who made your ch’uk every day,” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… and I’ve never heard the end of it. Ever since I could reach the stove, I’ve cooked you rice every day,” Jae Joong countered.
“Ya… ima…” Jae Wook said.
“Ok… stop… stop… keumanhae… I’m dying of hunger while the both of you fight,” I laughed.
“What would you like, nuna?” Jae Joong asked.
“Whatever you can make me,” I said.
“Okay…” he smiled, and walked off to the kitchen.
“I can’t run forever,” Jae Wook said. “What about tomorrow?”
“I’ll call his family later,” Hee Chul said. “That loon needs to be put away.”
“You know his family?” Jae Wook asked.
“His father and mine are golfing buddies. I’ll make sure his father talks to him tonight. That usually works.”
“Can I go with nuna?” Sung Min asked.
“You stay here with me,” Hee Chul said, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him away from Jae Wook and me.
“Let’s go,” Jae Wook said and we started walking.
“See you guys tomorrow,” I waved at Hee Chul and Sung Min.
“Where are we going?” Jae Wook asked.
“Your place or mine?” I asked in return.
“You wanna go to my place?” he said incredulously.
“Why?”
“I live in the slums, Sierra,” he said.
“What slums? There are no slums in Seoul,” I said.
“Sierra… Sierra…” he laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders.
“What?”
“I am now certain that you have been living a very sheltered life,” he said. “Then I guess we should go to my place.”
“Okay…” I said.
“You won’t be okay once we get there…” he said.
“We’ll see,” I said indignantly.
I refused to be scared off. I seriously did not believe that his home was in some kind of slum because I had never seen one before.
“Where are you going?” I asked as he led me past my car, which was waiting in front of the school gates.
“You, Miss Sierra, need a dose of common life. We’re taking the bus,” he said.
“I don’t have a T-Money card,” I said.
“Ah… at least you know you need one,” he laughed.
“I may be pampered, but I’m not totally ignorant,” I huffed.
“At least you know you’re pampered,” he added.
“I’m going home,” I said, turning the other way.
“Hajima…” he coaxed, and caught my hand in his. “I won’t make fun of you anymore.”
“You’d better,” I said, glaring at him with the corner of my eye.
“Araso, araso,” he said, hugging me with one arm. “Kaja…”
Music: Clazziquai Project – Romeo N Juliet
We took a short walk to the bus stop near our school and hopped onto the bus.
“You can pay your fare with coins,” he said, in a tone a teacher would use on a pre-schooler, and dropped some coins into the till.
“That’s one…” I warned, and he grinned.
The bus was quite full, and we had to stand the entire journey.
“Hang on to me,” he said as he held on to the bar and pulled one of my arms to wrap around his waist.
“If this wasn’t obviously a method of keeping me safe, I’d think that you were trying to take advantage of me,” I said as I put both arms around his waist.
“Hey… all couples ride the bus like this,” he said, and nudged me to towards the direction of another couple.
Instead of the guy holding onto the girl, they’d found a corner where they could stand and snuggle. Both guy and girl had their arms wrapped around each other, and not long after, they started necking.
“Omigod… get a room,” I whispered.
“Shh…” he said. “You don’t want him to punch me for having a nosy girlfriend.”
“You’ve taken one for me. Another would be a piece of cake,” I said, smiling smugly.
“Sure…” he sighed. “Piece of cake…”
The bus got more and more crowded. At one point, a group of sweaty football players got onto the bus. We were all sandwiched together, and the sweaty guys were surrounding us.
“I can’t breathe,” I whispered at Jae Wook.
“Just a few more stops,” he said, and grimaced when the bus jerked and the sweaty people around us were squashed further against us.
I wrapped my arms tighter around Jae Wook and pressed my face to his chest. Thank god he smelled nice. I inhaled the clean scent of his shirt, trying to drown the smell of sweat at grime which wafted around the bus.
“That was fun,” he said, as soon as we jumped off the bus at our stop.
“Fun?” I glared at him.
“I had fun,” he grinned mischievously.
“Sure you did. We were pressed against each other from head to toe. Of course it was fun for you,” I said.
“At least I’m vocal with my appreciation,” he laughed. “Let’s go now… it’s just another 10 minutes from here.”
It was then that I’d noticed where I was. He was right, it was the slums.
“This is the main street, so it’s a little well-kept compared to my street,” he said.
If he considered this well-kept, I cannot imagine what his street looked like. These were old buildings, really old buildings. The paint was peeling off the walls, trash cans overflowing with rubbish, clothes hung out of the windows on the dilapidated balconies.
We turned the corner and I was startled when a dog rushed out and barked ferociously. Jae Wook swung his backpack at the dog and yelled at it. His scare tactic worked, and the dog backed off with its tail between its legs.
“You’re afraid of dogs?” he asked me.
“Only stray beasts,” I said.
“That’s the only one here. I think he does it as a game, to see how many people he could scare each day,” Jae Wook smiled and rubbed my shoulder to calm me down.
We finally reached his building, and my first reaction was to thump him on the arm when I saw it.
“Yaa…” he exclaimed and rubbed his arm.
His house was the nicest one on the street. It was actually a small apartment block which was done up recently.
“You said the main street was better-kept than yours,” I said.
“I said the street,” he laughed. “Let’s go up.”
“There had better be no more surprises,” I said.
“Yes, your highness…” he smiled, and held my hand as we walked up the stairs.
2 flights of stairs later, we arrived at the door of his apartment.
“Tada!!!” he announced as he flung open the door.
We took off our shoes and took a step up. A small table sat in the middle of the living cum dining room. His living room was smaller than my bathroom.
“That’s the bathroom,” he said, pointing to one of the 3 closed doors. “My mother’s room, and this room, I share with my brother,” he said and opened the door.
Inside were 2 thin mattresses on the floor, 2 pillows and 2 sets of blankets neatly folded at the foot of the mattresses.
“You have a brother?” I asked.
“Yea.”
“I’ve never seen him in school,” I said.
“He doesn’t go to our school,” he said. “His results didn’t qualify him a spot.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said. “My father is on the school board. He could’ve gotten your brother in.”
“I just didn’t think it was the right time. I’m not the kind to ask for favors from someone I’ve just met.”
“Well… ask me when you get to know me better then,” I smiled.
“Hyung?” a shirtless guy suddenly popped his head out of the bathroom.
Music: Sorea - 이 노래를 부를게요 (I Would Sing This Song)
I quickly covered my eyes, and he covered his chest with his arms.
“Jae Joong,” Jae Wook laughed. “This is Sierra. Sierra… this is my brother, Jae Joong.”
“Hi,” Jae Joong squeaked and shut the door.
“Have a seat,” Jae Wook said as he gestured to the cushions on the floor.
I sat down and Jae Wook placed a glass of water in front of me.
“So what do you want to eat?” he asked me.
“You’re cooking me dinner?”
“No…” Jae Joong said as he walked out of the bathroom, “I am.”
“My brother does most of the cooking around here,” he said.
“You mean you can’t cook?” I asked.
“Of course I can,” he said.
“Yea… ramyun…” Jae Joong snickered.
Jae Wook and his brother were tall, slim, fair, and very, very good looking. What made them both more endearing were their slightly flawed beauty; birthmarks on their fair and flawless skin.
“Ya! When you were a baby, I was the one who made your ch’uk every day,” Jae Wook said.
“Yes… and I’ve never heard the end of it. Ever since I could reach the stove, I’ve cooked you rice every day,” Jae Joong countered.
“Ya… ima…” Jae Wook said.
“Ok… stop… stop… keumanhae… I’m dying of hunger while the both of you fight,” I laughed.
“What would you like, nuna?” Jae Joong asked.
“Whatever you can make me,” I said.
“Okay…” he smiled, and walked off to the kitchen.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Chapter 11: When We Were...
We left the party and went off in my car. It felt a bit odd to just run off with a stranger, but somehow, it felt comfortable to be with her. She looked every bit like an heiress, but her character bespoke of her otherwise.
“Where would you like to go?” I asked her.
“You decide,” she said. “I just want to be anywhere but there.”
“Why?”
“My father’s sole purpose of propping me there was so that I could meet some eligible young men who would someday be his son-in-law.”
“Am I one of them?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Should I call him to check if you’re on his list?” she smiled.
“I think you’d better not,” I said. “I would be on his list, alright; the black list.”
“Why?”
“Do you know who I am?” I asked her.
“Well… you must be rich enough to be at that party. And from the way you’re dressed, you don’t seem to be out of place. Why would you be on his black list?”
“My father… godfather… Chairman Ahn.”
“Right… I really don’t know who he is,” she said. “What sort of industry does your godfather dabble in?”
“Let’s say we do quite a bit of imports and financing…” I said.
“Oh…”
“The illegal kind,” I added.
“Oh…” she said, this time in a softer tone.
“I was only invited because they were afraid of him,” I said. “And he sent me there with the same purpose as your father’s.”
“To find you a guy?” she said, suddenly.
I looked at her, and realized that for once, I had struck gold. Not only was she not afraid of my background, she had enough guts to joke about it. My face cracked into a smile, and soon, we were laughing together.
“I know where we should go,” I said decisively.
“It had better be good,” she said.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “For you, only the best will do.”
[Sierra’s POV]
Music: Alex - 기다리게 해서 미안해 (I’m Sorry To Keep You Waiting)
It was a baseball park, and there was a batting range where people would come to practice their batting skills with the machines. I was in a dress and high heels, but I just kicked my shoes off and hiked up my dress. He took off his blazer and tie, and rolled up his sleeves.
He took out 2 metal baseball bats from the trunk of his Lamborghini; I didn’t want to imagine what else he did with those bats. I was a little shocked when I found out what his family did for a living, but I was still here, walking behind him as he led me towards the batting range. Something about him called out to me, as if we shared the same soul, a common pain in life.
“Watch closely,” he said as he prepared for his first hit.
He was inside one of the booths or cages, whatever you call them, and I was standing behind him, watching. The ball shot out from the machine, and I guess he wasn’t ready, because he had to duck before the ball hit him in the head. He swore in Mandarin.
“You speak Chinese?” I exclaimed in Mandarin.
He turned around and stared at me.
“Did you just say that in Chinese?” he said, and just then, another ball shot out and hit him on the back of his head.
He yelped, and rubbed his head. I opened the gate and beckoned him out before another ball flew over to give him brain damage.
“You speak Chinese?” we said in unison, and laughed.
“My mother’s Chinese,” he said.
“So is my mother,” I said.
“Wow…” he exclaimed.
“This is weird…” I said.
“Very…” he agreed.
“What are the odds?” I smiled.
“I guess that was why we clicked,” he said.
“You think so?”
“Don’t you think we click?” he asked.
“A little,” I smiled.
“A little?” he raised an eyebrow.
“Sorta…” I laughed.
In the end, we spent the rest of the day sitting on a bench nearby, discovering the other things we had in common.
Jae Wook and I barely know each other, but as I did with Han Kyung, I felt a connection with him. Would things end well for us this time?
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I never saw it coming. We had so much good times together that it was hard to believe that it would end just like that. We used to spend every waking moment together. I went to a private boys’ school near hers, and I would always meet her after school and we would spend the day together. Sometimes she’d come to my place, and sometimes we’d go to hers’ since none of our parents were ever around. Sierra was a little luckier since her brothers were around pretty often. I know that she missed her family whenever they were out of town, and I never begrudged her of her time with them even when it meant me spending my day alone.
In my mind, she was the one. We were still young, but I knew that I wanted someone like her by my side for always. I was planning to arrange a meeting between her and my father, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. 6 months into our relationship, she started to avoid me. I followed her one day and managed to catch her alone.
Music: Alex – 화분 (Flower Pot)
“What’s wrong Sierra?” I asked her.
“What do you mean?” she said innocently.
“Why are you avoiding me?” I asked directly.
She sighed, and refused to meet my eye.
“Is there someone else?” I asked.
“No…” she said.
“Then what’s wrong? Your brothers?”
“No…” she said.
“Your father found out about us?”
“Ani…” she shook her head.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” I said.
I was pleading for her to talk to me. I was almost in tears. I’d never felt so deeply for anyone like I did to her. So why didn’t she return my feelings? Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?
“I can’t do this anymore,” she finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“I know what you do whenever you can’t meet me. I can’t sit at home knowing that you’re endangering your life.”
“You knew this was what I did from the beginning,” I reminded her.
“I thought you just sat back and watched. I didn’t know you were involved physically.”
“What’s the difference? I have to start out like this, to earn the respect of my followers.”
“I can’t deal with it. I still can’t adjust to hearing you want to beat someone, anyone up, just because they offended me or you. I need a normal guy.”
“Define a normal guy, Sierra,” I said.
“I want someone who leads a normal life like me,” she said, she was close to tears now.
“Someone with a trust fund and a chauffeur?”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said.
“Someone who goes to an elite school, who plans to attend an Ivy League university in the USA? Someone who will inherit a multibillion dollar conglomerate when his father dies?”
“Stop it, Han Kyung… stop it?”
“Aren’t I getting closer to the point?”
“It’s not about money and status,” she said.
“Then what? Tell me! What do you want from me? You want me to give up the mob? You want me to break away from my father?” I said, raising my voice.
“I can never ask you to do that,” she said, softly.
“Then what can I do to keep us together?” I asked.
Tears were streaming down my face now. My legs felt so weak that I just decided to get on my knees and kneel before her.
“Get up, Han Kyung,” she said, tugging at my shirt, urging me to get up on my feet.
“No… not until you tell me how. How can I keep you?” he said.
“You can’t,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “Dui bu qi (I’m sorry),” she said.
“No, Sierra… Don’t do this to us,” I said, latching on to her arm.
“I have to go,” she said as she started inching away from me, pulling her arm out of my grasp.
“No…” I said; my hands now sprawled on the ground from trying to hold on to her.
“Dui bu qi…” she said, and left.
[Sierra’s POV]
Music: Alex – 화분 (Flower Pot) ~ continued
The day I left Han Kyung there in the street, kneeling and begging for me to stay, I had left him behind as just a figment in my imagination. Only my brothers knew what he had meant to me. To the rest of the world, and I have to remind myself this every single day, we never met under those circumstances, we were never together, we never dated, and we were never in love…
******
Celebrity Tidbits
If you have noticed, I'm using quite a few of Alex's songs to set the mood for my scenes. FYI to those who don't know who Alex is. He is the vocalist for the Clazziquai Project, a Korean band. He is well known for singing 'She Is', the theme song for the hit drama series, 'My Name is Kim Sam Soon', with bandmate, Horan. He recently recorded a solo album and appeared on the hit reality series We Got Married on MBC. The song '화분 (Flower Pot)', originally by Loveholic was a song he also performed on the show when he had to leave his 'bride' Shin Ae to focus on his solo album.
I've always found Alex's voice to be sexy and filled with expression. His songs never fail to touch me, particularly my first choice in the beginning of this chapter, '기다리게 해서 미안해 (I’m Sorry To Keep You Waiting)'. Do buy or if you can't get his album, download it, and listen. You won't be sorry ^_^
“Where would you like to go?” I asked her.
“You decide,” she said. “I just want to be anywhere but there.”
“Why?”
“My father’s sole purpose of propping me there was so that I could meet some eligible young men who would someday be his son-in-law.”
“Am I one of them?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Should I call him to check if you’re on his list?” she smiled.
“I think you’d better not,” I said. “I would be on his list, alright; the black list.”
“Why?”
“Do you know who I am?” I asked her.
“Well… you must be rich enough to be at that party. And from the way you’re dressed, you don’t seem to be out of place. Why would you be on his black list?”
“My father… godfather… Chairman Ahn.”
“Right… I really don’t know who he is,” she said. “What sort of industry does your godfather dabble in?”
“Let’s say we do quite a bit of imports and financing…” I said.
“Oh…”
“The illegal kind,” I added.
“Oh…” she said, this time in a softer tone.
“I was only invited because they were afraid of him,” I said. “And he sent me there with the same purpose as your father’s.”
“To find you a guy?” she said, suddenly.
I looked at her, and realized that for once, I had struck gold. Not only was she not afraid of my background, she had enough guts to joke about it. My face cracked into a smile, and soon, we were laughing together.
“I know where we should go,” I said decisively.
“It had better be good,” she said.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “For you, only the best will do.”
[Sierra’s POV]
Music: Alex - 기다리게 해서 미안해 (I’m Sorry To Keep You Waiting)
It was a baseball park, and there was a batting range where people would come to practice their batting skills with the machines. I was in a dress and high heels, but I just kicked my shoes off and hiked up my dress. He took off his blazer and tie, and rolled up his sleeves.
He took out 2 metal baseball bats from the trunk of his Lamborghini; I didn’t want to imagine what else he did with those bats. I was a little shocked when I found out what his family did for a living, but I was still here, walking behind him as he led me towards the batting range. Something about him called out to me, as if we shared the same soul, a common pain in life.
“Watch closely,” he said as he prepared for his first hit.
He was inside one of the booths or cages, whatever you call them, and I was standing behind him, watching. The ball shot out from the machine, and I guess he wasn’t ready, because he had to duck before the ball hit him in the head. He swore in Mandarin.
“You speak Chinese?” I exclaimed in Mandarin.
He turned around and stared at me.
“Did you just say that in Chinese?” he said, and just then, another ball shot out and hit him on the back of his head.
He yelped, and rubbed his head. I opened the gate and beckoned him out before another ball flew over to give him brain damage.
“You speak Chinese?” we said in unison, and laughed.
“My mother’s Chinese,” he said.
“So is my mother,” I said.
“Wow…” he exclaimed.
“This is weird…” I said.
“Very…” he agreed.
“What are the odds?” I smiled.
“I guess that was why we clicked,” he said.
“You think so?”
“Don’t you think we click?” he asked.
“A little,” I smiled.
“A little?” he raised an eyebrow.
“Sorta…” I laughed.
In the end, we spent the rest of the day sitting on a bench nearby, discovering the other things we had in common.
Jae Wook and I barely know each other, but as I did with Han Kyung, I felt a connection with him. Would things end well for us this time?
[Han Kyung’s POV]
I never saw it coming. We had so much good times together that it was hard to believe that it would end just like that. We used to spend every waking moment together. I went to a private boys’ school near hers, and I would always meet her after school and we would spend the day together. Sometimes she’d come to my place, and sometimes we’d go to hers’ since none of our parents were ever around. Sierra was a little luckier since her brothers were around pretty often. I know that she missed her family whenever they were out of town, and I never begrudged her of her time with them even when it meant me spending my day alone.
In my mind, she was the one. We were still young, but I knew that I wanted someone like her by my side for always. I was planning to arrange a meeting between her and my father, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. 6 months into our relationship, she started to avoid me. I followed her one day and managed to catch her alone.
Music: Alex – 화분 (Flower Pot)
“What’s wrong Sierra?” I asked her.
“What do you mean?” she said innocently.
“Why are you avoiding me?” I asked directly.
She sighed, and refused to meet my eye.
“Is there someone else?” I asked.
“No…” she said.
“Then what’s wrong? Your brothers?”
“No…” she said.
“Your father found out about us?”
“Ani…” she shook her head.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” I said.
I was pleading for her to talk to me. I was almost in tears. I’d never felt so deeply for anyone like I did to her. So why didn’t she return my feelings? Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?
“I can’t do this anymore,” she finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“I know what you do whenever you can’t meet me. I can’t sit at home knowing that you’re endangering your life.”
“You knew this was what I did from the beginning,” I reminded her.
“I thought you just sat back and watched. I didn’t know you were involved physically.”
“What’s the difference? I have to start out like this, to earn the respect of my followers.”
“I can’t deal with it. I still can’t adjust to hearing you want to beat someone, anyone up, just because they offended me or you. I need a normal guy.”
“Define a normal guy, Sierra,” I said.
“I want someone who leads a normal life like me,” she said, she was close to tears now.
“Someone with a trust fund and a chauffeur?”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said.
“Someone who goes to an elite school, who plans to attend an Ivy League university in the USA? Someone who will inherit a multibillion dollar conglomerate when his father dies?”
“Stop it, Han Kyung… stop it?”
“Aren’t I getting closer to the point?”
“It’s not about money and status,” she said.
“Then what? Tell me! What do you want from me? You want me to give up the mob? You want me to break away from my father?” I said, raising my voice.
“I can never ask you to do that,” she said, softly.
“Then what can I do to keep us together?” I asked.
Tears were streaming down my face now. My legs felt so weak that I just decided to get on my knees and kneel before her.
“Get up, Han Kyung,” she said, tugging at my shirt, urging me to get up on my feet.
“No… not until you tell me how. How can I keep you?” he said.
“You can’t,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “Dui bu qi (I’m sorry),” she said.
“No, Sierra… Don’t do this to us,” I said, latching on to her arm.
“I have to go,” she said as she started inching away from me, pulling her arm out of my grasp.
“No…” I said; my hands now sprawled on the ground from trying to hold on to her.
“Dui bu qi…” she said, and left.
[Sierra’s POV]
Music: Alex – 화분 (Flower Pot) ~ continued
The day I left Han Kyung there in the street, kneeling and begging for me to stay, I had left him behind as just a figment in my imagination. Only my brothers knew what he had meant to me. To the rest of the world, and I have to remind myself this every single day, we never met under those circumstances, we were never together, we never dated, and we were never in love…
******
Celebrity Tidbits
If you have noticed, I'm using quite a few of Alex's songs to set the mood for my scenes. FYI to those who don't know who Alex is. He is the vocalist for the Clazziquai Project, a Korean band. He is well known for singing 'She Is', the theme song for the hit drama series, 'My Name is Kim Sam Soon', with bandmate, Horan. He recently recorded a solo album and appeared on the hit reality series We Got Married on MBC. The song '화분 (Flower Pot)', originally by Loveholic was a song he also performed on the show when he had to leave his 'bride' Shin Ae to focus on his solo album.
I've always found Alex's voice to be sexy and filled with expression. His songs never fail to touch me, particularly my first choice in the beginning of this chapter, '기다리게 해서 미안해 (I’m Sorry To Keep You Waiting)'. Do buy or if you can't get his album, download it, and listen. You won't be sorry ^_^
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