대상고 (Dae Sang High) ©

Chapter 25: Idiot

2009-08-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

[Han Kyung’s POV]

I arrived at the harbor with Ryeo Wook, and we scoured the place, looking for the warehouse where my father had taken Sierra to. On our way there, we met up with my father and his entourage.

“Where is she?” I shouted at him. “What did you do to her?”

“Brat!” my father said, and slapped me in the face.

I fell over in shock. It was the first time he’d ever hit me.

“Hyung,” Ryeo Wook called out as he quickly came to help me up.

“Where’s Sierra?” I asked him.

“With her man,” he said.

“What man?” I said.

“You foolish boy. You didn’t even know she had someone else?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Take him with us,” he instructed his men, and they moved forward to grab me.

I fought as hard as I could to fend them off, but they soon wrestled me to the ground. As I lay pinned under at least 2 men, I saw Sierra walking out of the warehouse I’d been searching for. Beside her was Kim Jae Wook, supporting her body with his arm around her. There was blood on her lips, and her face was starting to bruise.

Our eyes met, and I saw her mouth my name, and tried to rush forward, but Kim Jae Wook held her back. There was something different about him. He didn’t look like the boy I’d beaten up last week. There was a big group of men following behind him. How did he managed to gather so many followers within the past few days?

I watched helplessly as my father’s men dragged me away. I could see the concern in Sierra’s eyes, but she wasn’t exactly fighting to come to my rescue. What had happened?

[Jae Wook’s POV]

Music: SHINee - 화장을 하고

“Han Kyung,” Sierra called his name, and tried to rush forward.

He was pinned down to the ground by 2 men. His follower, the punk who beat me up last week, was also pinned down by some men. I tightened my hold around her. I wasn’t going to let her leave me for him again.

“Don’t make things worse for him,” I said softly to Sierra, and she stopped struggling.

We watched as he was dragged away. All this time, his eyes never left me and Sierra, and Sierra’s never left him.

“Kaja,” I said, and we started moving towards my car.

If you’re wondering where all the men came from, my father had provided me with them. He had provided me with enough money and men to start my own gang in Seoul.

“Kwaench’ana?” I asked Sierra as we drove off.

She nodded wordlessly. I knew she was still thinking of Han Kyung. It sickened me that I could not take him off her mind. I thought I’d meant something to her, but now that I’m back, and a brand new person, it didn’t seem to have impressed her one bit.

“He’ll be fine,” I said, just to ease her worries.

Secretly, I wished that his father would teach him a lesson, but if he were to die now, he’d be on Sierra’s mind forever.

“So this is your new profession?” she asked me.

“Sort of,” I smiled. “But I’m still going to school.”

“Do you have time? You’re relatively new,” she said. “You need to work on claiming territories and establishing some sort of business to bring income for your men.”

“My father had branches here in Seoul. All I had to do was to step in and take charge.”

“Easy for you, huh,” she said.

She sounded cold and emotionless. She’d never spoken to me like this in the past 2 weeks we’d known each other. 2 weeks. That was how long since I’d met this girl, and I’ve changed myself and embraced my hateful past for her. Will she appreciate what I did for her?

“I never wanted this life,” I said.

“Then why did you do it?” she asked.

“Why else? For you!” I said.

“I don’t need this,” she said.

“If I hadn’t come back on time, you’d have been dead,” I said, “or suffered a fate worse than death.”

“You’re not the master of my fate,” she said.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked her. “I thought you’d be happy now that we can be together.”

“I hate that you’d sold your beliefs for me,” she said.

“It’s just temporary,” I assured her. “I made a deal with my father. It will only be a year.”

“Will he let you go so easily? After that 1 year?” she asked.

“I won’t allow him to patronize me,” I said.

“Look at Han Kyung,” she said. “He was fighting against his father all this while, but in the end, he still failed.”

“It won’t happen to me,” I insisted. “My father only wants 1 year from me, and it doesn’t even start now. I told him that I wanted to graduate from high school before I served my bond with him.”

“So you’re leaving Seoul after we graduate?”

“As long as you’ll come with me,” I said.

“No…” she said.

“You have till graduation to think about it,” I said. “Let’s not discuss this now.”

“I want nothing to do with you anymore, Kim Jae Wook, Ihara Rui… whatever you are now… I want nothing to do with you,” she said.

She was crying now. She looked so sad and frustrated. Every word that came from her mouth stung me, but I still wanted to hear her voice.

“Uljima,” I said, and reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“Don’t touch me,” she said, and pushed my hand away.

She covered her face with her hands, and started sobbing. I reached out and pulled her into my arms to hold her. She struggled at first, trying to pull away, but as I held her and gently rubbed her back, she calmed down, and allowed me to hold her.

“Shiro…” she sobbed.

“Saranghae…” I whispered. “Saranghae…”

“Shiro…” she cried.

“Saranghae…” I whispered again.

I pulled away from her, and held her up so that she faced me. I kissed cheeks, tasting the tears she cried. She closed her eyes, and allowed me to continue. I took it as consent, and kissed her lips.

“Saranghae…” I whispered as our lips met.

I knew somewhere inside, she did love me. No matter how much Han Kyung was able to sway her, it was only because she still had feelings for him out of habit. She loved me now, and I was sure of that. In time, she would forget him, and we will be together forever.

[Sierra’s POV]

I loved Han Kyung. Han Kyung was my first true love; the first guy who shared my sorrows and joys, the first guy who held the key to my soul. As much as I played it out as if I’d hated him after we’d broken up, I was never able to erase him from my heart.

I’d always hoped that Han Kyung would be able to break away from his father. I knew it was impossible, but I’d always hoped for it. It seems even more impossible after today.

But I loved Jae Wook too. The truth was that I was intrigued with the person he’d become. I loved him back when he was sweet and sensitive. I loved him back when he was just a normal guy, trying to win the affections of a princess. But now that he’d changed… he’d become a prince for me, I cannot say I wasn’t impressed. But I hated it all the same.

There was truth in why I’d left Han Kyung. I never liked that he had to fight each day of his life. I never liked how he had to coerce and intimidate people all the time to get his way. If Jae Wook had become such a person for my sake, I’d hate myself for it. I didn’t want him to become such a person.

“Saranghae…” he whispered as he kissed me.

The words broke my resistance and softened my stance. The moment he kissed me, I felt weak and helpless. Before this, I always felt in power when with him. Now that our roles had reversed, and he’d become my protector, I felt the natural urge to succumb to him.

I was kissing him back. It was a betrayal to Han Kyung. I promised that I would stay with him, and now I’ve broken that promise. Would he forgive me? Then again, did it matter if he didn’t? His father will never give us his blessings, and he would go to great lengths to eliminate me if he had to, as proven today. I felt as if I’d betrayed him, but I knew there was little I could do to change the situation now.

I was shocked at Jae Wook’s revelation. His father was also a gangster, and he had become one just so he could get me back. I understood why he did it. He’d barely stand a chance against Han Kyung if he wasn’t equal to him. Now that they were on par, it had become almost a fair fight, with Jae Wook having the advantage since he didn’t need anyone’s permission to be with me.

Whatever price Jae Wook had to pay now, it was for me. It wasn’t a life I wanted, but it seems to be my destiny, be it a life with Han Kyung, or a life with Jae Wook.

[Han Kyung’s POV]

My father’s words resonated in my ear. Her man… Kim Jae Wook was her man? Since when?

I’d been locked up in a room for the past hour. It was pitch dark, and musty from the lack of use. I didn’t even bother to open the drapes or turn on the lights.

“Hyung, kwaench’ana?” Ryeo Wook asked me.

He was also thrown into the room with me.

“Kwaench’ana,” I replied.

Ryeo Wook had been my companion for many years. He was my right hand, and my best friend. He’d seen me through everything; how I came to my own power today, and how Sierra had turned my life upside down. He was the truest friend in the sense that he had never reproached me for how I lived my life, and he’d supported me, no matter what I did.

“Ryeo Wook,” I called to him.

“Ne?”

“Am I an idiot?” I asked him.

“Ne?”

“Don’t you find me pathetic?” I asked him. “I’m at my lowest now, and I’m still thinking of her.”

“That’s love,” he replied simply.

“Have you loved like this before?” I asked him.

“Once,” he replied, after a moment of silence.

“And I didn’t even know about it,” I laughed. “Some brother I am.”

“You’ve taken care of me for so long,” Ryeo Wook said. “My love life should be the least of your worries.”

“You’re the one who has been taking care of me,” I said to him.

“I am where I am today because of you,” he said. “I will always support you.”

“Even when I’m being an idiot?” I asked.

“Ne,” he laughed, and I laughed with him.

“Just call me ‘idiot’ for today,” I said.

“Ne…” he replied. “Idiot…”

Chapter 24: Caught Up

2009-02-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

[Sierra’s POV]

“Wake up,” Hee Chul shook me by my shoulders.

“Hmm?” I got up, and licked my chapped lips.

“What’s up wit you?” he asked. “You don’t usually fall asleep in class.”

“Long night…” I yawned. “Don’t ask.”

He shook his head and turned away to pay attention to the lesson. I turned my head to look back, out of habit. Jae Wook wasn’t there, and Si Won caught me looking. I quickly looked back in front. With 2 guys driving me crazy now, I had no time to swoon over Si Won anymore; as hot as he may be.

I was up all night, thinking about Han Kyung, thinking about Jae Wook. Why did Jae Wook go to Japan? Was he gone for good? Then again, I didn’t care. I sent him away, and I should be relieved that he took my word and did as I asked. Then what do I do with Han Kyung? His father had never and will never approve of us. But if I lose him too, I’ll be left with no one.

Lunch time finally came. Hee Chul and Sung Min had to guide me to the cafeteria since I was still feeling blue, and I was actually feeling a little nauseous.

“Nuna…” Sung Min said. “Do you need to see the nurse?”

“She just needs to eat and take a long nap,” Hee Chul said, clucking like a mother hen.

“Why don’t you go home?” Sung Min suggested.

I shook my head in protest. Yong Min and Sang Hoon oppa have both gone on a day trip to Taiwan. There was no one at home, and I didn’t want to be alone.

“Just feed her some rice and let’s get back to class,” Hee Chul said.

“Are you okay?” I heard Si Won say.

I looked up and he was standing right in front of us in all his manly glory. If this were one week ago, I’d have just swoon and melted to the floor in a puddle. But today, I was too numb to care. I’m not even sure why I feel sick.

“I’m fine,” I smiled.

“You should really go home if you’re sick,” he said.

“We tried all morning,” Hee Chul complained.

Si Won looked at me for awhile, and he reached forward, taking my hand out of Hee Chul and Sung Min’s.

“I’ll take her home,” he said.

“I’m fine,” I protested and tried to get away from him.

“Kaja,” he said, and dragged me off before I could protest further.

What annoyed me was that Hee Chul and Sung Min just stood there and waved at me.

“Si Won!” I’d been protesting since we’d left the cafeteria. “I don’t want to go home.”

“Why?” he finally stopped walking and looked at me.

“I don’t want to be home alone!” I said.

He stared at me, as if I’d just said the weirdest thing he’d ever heard.

“Weren’t you always home alone?” he said.

“I don’t feel like it today,” I said.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll stay with you for the afternoon.”

“What?” I managed to blurt out, and he started dragging me off again.

We reached the gates, and he sat me down on a bench, then whipped out his phone to call his driver.

He’d only just gotten through to his driver, when suddenly, a car stopped in front of us. 2 men jumped out and grabbed me.

Music: M - I'm Here

“Si Won!” I screamed.

He turned around, and ran forward to try and stop them. One of the guys punched him, and he fell backward onto the ground.

“Si Won!” I screamed. “Save me!”

“Sierra!” he shouted, and scrambled to get up, but it was too late.

The men pushed me into the car. Inside was another guy, who grabbed onto me while the other pushed himself in so that they sandwiched me between them.

“Who are you?” I screamed at them. “Let me go!”

“Shut up!” of the men said, and slapped me hard.

Tear sprang from my eyes from the stinging slap he gave me. I could feel the blood in my mouth, but I wasn’t going to cry like a girl in front of them.

The car lurched forward, and I could head Si Won shouting my name. I couldn’t look behind, but I could tell that he was chasing after the car. A few blocks later, I couldn’t hear him anymore.

[Han Kyung’s POV]

I’d just driven up in front of Sierra’s school. I received a tip that my father had ordered her to be brought to him. When I got there, I saw Choi Si Won walking towards the school gate, he had a black eye and bleeding nose.

“What happened?” I asked him.

“Some guys kidnapped Sierra,” he said, breathing heavily. “I couldn’t stop them.”

My father had struck, and I was too late.

“Check where they went,” I said to Ryeo Wook.

“Ne,” he said, and quickly went off to do my bidding.

“You know who did it?” Choi Si Won asked me.

“Yes,” I replied grimly.

“Hyung…” Ryeo Wook called to me, which meant he’d found out where they’d taken her.

“Let’s go,” I said, and we got back in the car.

If anything were to happen to Sierra, I’ll make my father pay…

[Sierra’s POV]

It was a long drive, and when they pushed me out of the car, we were in a warehouse. The car windows were so heavily tinted that I couldn’t see a thing outside all the way there. I could hear the horn of a ship blaring from a distance, and the place smelled fishy. We must be near the harbor.

“Who are you?” I shouted at the men around me as I tried to get to my feet.

They didn’t answer, and just then, the door opened.

“I told you to leave my son alone,” Ahn Sung Kyi said as he walked in.

“He came back for me. I didn’t go to him,” I replied as he walked up to me.

“You little tramp,” he said, and slapped me.

I fell over at the force of being hit. My head hurt, my face hurt, and now my butt hurt as well.

“I told you no good will come to you if you keep this up, didn’t I?” he said.

“What’s wrong with me?” I said. “Why am I not fit to be with Han Kyung?”

“You’re not the one,” he said simply.

“I never asked to be the one. He chose me, and I accepted,” I said, and I stood up again.

“Who are you to accept?” he asked me. “Without my approval, you’ll only be some woman in his bed. You’ll never be his bride.”

“What age do you live in, ajeosshi?” I laughed.

It wasn’t a funny situation, but hearing him talk about love and marriage like that sounded odd and hilarious.

“You’ll disrespect me, you whore!” he said and grabbed me by my hair as he swung his arm up to deliver another slap.

“Keumanhaera!” the door opened, and a familiar figure walked in.

Music: Black Beat - 날개 (Wing)

It was Jae Wook, and there were about 20 men walking behind him as he came in.

“Neo mwoya?” Ahn Sung Kyi said.

“Chairman Ahn,” Jae Wook said. “I didn’t think you’d hit women. Especially little girls.”

“Who are you, boy?” he asked Jae Wook again. “Do I need to ask again?” he added sarcastically.

“Kim Jae Wook,” Jae Wook said. “My other name would be Ihara Rui.”

“Ihara Rui?” Ahn Sung Kyi scoffed.

“Does the name, Ihara Tsuyoshi ring a bell?” Jae Wook continued.

“You’re the son of Ihara Tsuyoshi?” he said in disbelief.

He let go of me, and I fell to sit on the floor.

“Ne,” Jae Wook said.

“I never knew he had a son,” he smirked. “And why is this tramp your business?” he asked Jae Wook.

“She’s mine,” he said.

Jae Wook was calm and authoritative. I’d never seen him like this before. It was a side that was totally unknown to me. In my memory was the soft-spoken, romantic guy, who wore glasses. Now he stood before me, a totally different person.

“Yours?” Ahn Sung Kyi said.

“I believe there’s been a misunderstanding,” Jae Wook said.

“Really?” Ahn Sung Kyi laughed.

“I’ve come to take her back,” he added.

The two of them looked long and hard at each other. A lot of unspoken words were exchange, and as if Ahn Sung Kyi understood what Jae Wook wanted, he just brushed his jacket, and started walking out.

“Keep your woman away from my son,” he said, as he walked off.

“And please keep your son away from her,” Jae Wook added.

Ahn Sung Kyi snorted, but did not reply as he left the warehouse.

“Kwaench’ana?” Jae Wook said as he came to help me up.

He was wearing a slim black suit, and a skinny tie. His hair was pulled back in a half ponytail. I’d never seen him dressed like this, and it was quite attractive.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him “How did you know I was here? Who are these men? Why’s your name Ihara Rui?”

He looked intently at me as I fired my questions. When I was done, he just laughed softly.

“My birth name was Ihara Rui,” he said. “My mother changed it to Kim Jae Wook when we migrated back to Korea. My father is Ihara Tsuyoshi, a Japanese Yakuza leader. I guess the first few answers also answer your other questions.”

“Oh my god…” I said, my eyes widening.

“What? Why?” he asked, looking worried.

“Your father’s a gangster too?” I practically screamed at him.

Why did I keep attracting men like that?

Chapter 23: To The Devil

2009-01-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

“What are you doing here?” I asked Dong Hae.

“It’s about Jae Wook,” he said. “He’s gone to Japan.”

“I have nothing to do with Jae Wook. Why are you telling me this?”

“Aren’t you worried about him?” Dong Hae asked.

“Dong Hae…” I said sternly. “I’m dating Han Kyung. Not Jae Wook.”

“I’m pretty sure he went to Japan for you,” he said.

I planted my hands on my hips and glared at him. Dong Hae wasn’t really tall, which was a pity, since he was pretty cute. But I guess God ran out of materials when making Dong Hae, so all he got was a pretty face. Still, I wouldn’t be nice to him just for that. He may be a little taller than me, but when it came to presence, I beat him by a mile.

“I don’t care if he went to Japan for me, for a holiday or for good. Kim Jae Wook is no longer my concern,” I said. “If you’ll excuse me, my brothers are probably waiting for me,” I added, and turned my back on him to leave.

“But… Sierra…” he called after me, and I ignored him.

I got in, locked the door and ran up to the front door. I let myself in quickly, and was met with stares from my brothers.

Music: Park Hyo Shin - 흩어진 나날들

“Mwohae?” Sang Hoon oppa said.

They were both sitting cross-legged on the floor, papers strewn all over the place.

“Nothing…” I replied, and started walking towards the stairs.

“Come help us,” Yong Min oppa patted the empty spot on the floor beside him.

“What are these?” I asked as I sat down among the papers.

“Our old examination papers, test papers, and lecture notes,” Yong Min oppa replied.

“You’ve kept them all these years?” I exclaimed.

“You speak as if we’d graduated 10 years ago,” Sang Hoon oppa said.

“Didn’t you?” I said, and earned a smack on my back with the stack of papers he was holding.

“We’re not as lucky as you are, little princess,” Yong Min oppa smiled. “We had to start working for our father the moment we graduated, so we never got around to get these sorted.”

“You can’t blame me,” I said. “I’ve not even graduated.”

“Ne…” my brothers replied in unison.

“Why don’t you just let the staff help you?” I asked.

“They wouldn’t know what we’d like to keep,” Sang Hoon oppa replied. “And besides… I might have some old love letters hidden here.”

“Love letters?” Yong Min oppa scoffed.

“Ya! Girls have been writing me love letters since high school, and they still do now,” Sang Hoon oppa protested.

“Whatever…” we both answered in unison.

We sorted the papers, humming to a Park Hyo Shin CD playing on the sound system.

“So where were you?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.

“With Han Kyung,” I sighed. “Do you still need this?” I asked as I held up one of the papers.

“Trash,” Yong Min oppa replied. “I thought we agreed he was dangerous.”

“We forgot that he was also persistent,” I replied.

“So what are you doing about it?” Yong Min oppa asked.

“He’s gonna try to convince his father to let us be,” I said.

“And you think he’ll succeed?” Sang Hoon oppa asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“But you’re willing to trust him?” he added. “You still like him then.”

“I tried not to,” I said.

“Baby…” Yong Min oppa said, and put down his papers to put his arm around me. “You have to think rationally. What is this going to lead to?”

“I know, oppa… but what can I do? He keeps showing up, keeps following me around. He has no qualms of kidnapping me. What can I do?”

“Have you gotten rid of Jae Wook?” Sang Hoon oppa asked.

“He’s gone,” I said. “He tried to change my mind today, but I told him it was over, for real.”

“How did he take it?” Yong Min oppa asked.

“Dong Hae just dropped by,” I said. “He told me that Jae Wook went to Japan.”

“I guess you hit him pretty hard then,” Sang Hoon oppa said, and I just shrugged.

“Just be careful,” Yong Min oppa said. “We don’t know what Ahn Sung Kyi has planned. I hope that Han Kyung doesn’t try anything dumb. We may have some power, but if they do resort to dirty tricks, we’re still gonna fall.”

“Ne,” I replied.

[Han Kyung’s POV]

I got back to my apartment and found one of my father’s men stationed outside my door.

“Toryeonnim,” he bowed, and opened the door for me.

Music: Shinhwa – Vortex

“What is it, Chairman Ahn?” I said loudly, as I walked into my apartment.

“Do you think I’m senile, son?” my father asked.

He was sitting in one of my leather armchairs, which directly faced the front door.

“Only a doctor would know,” I replied.

“Your behavior towards Eunice was unsatisfactory,” he said. “I believe you owe her an apology.”

“I owe no one an apology. I hardly insulted the girl,” I said.

“The girl is your future wife,” he said.

“Really? I don’t remember the part where I agreed to marry her. I only agreed to show her around,” I said as I walked towards the bar to get myself a drink.

“Make me a Scotch,” he instructed.

I brought him his drink, and gulped down mine in a single mouthful.

“I’m going to bed,” I said.

“I know you’re still seeing that tramp,” he said.

“She’s your future daughter-in-law,” I said.

“She can be your lover for all I care, but Eunice will be your legal wife.”

“So that you can use her father?” I countered.

“He’s my business partner,” he said.

“You can also make Sierra’s father your business partner. Use his hotels to run your brothels,” I said sarcastically.

“You’re being childish, Han Kyung,” he said in a warning tone.

“You’re being a dictator,” I replied.

“You know what I can do to her if you don’t follow my plans,” he said.

“Don’t you dare!” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll quit if you touch her.”

“You can’t live without my money, Han Kyung. I’ve made you accustomed to it,” he smirked.

“I didn’t live all my life with your money. I’ll survive,” I retorted.

“Do you have to be such an insolent child?” he said.

“Why is it so important to merge with this Lee guy?” I asked him.

“He will be a useful ally in our import and export businesses,” he said.

“You don’t have to marry his daughter for that,” I said. “Just threaten him like how you’re threatening me now, and he’ll probably just fall to his knees and do whatever you want.”

“Alliance by asserting my power won’t last forever,” he said. “Alliance through forging family ties will.”

“You’ll only be family by marriage. He can still turn on you anytime,” I pointed out.

“Yes… but he'll think twice since his daughter would be a part of our family. You’re supposed to be able to control her.”

“Ha…” I scoffed. “Tough luck. She’s not as simple as you think she is.”

“So I take it that you are up for the challenge then,” he said.

“Aniyo,” I replied. “I’m marrying Sierra. Eunice can be the concubine.”

“Han Kyung… haven’t you learnt from my mistake? Look what my wife has done to me.”

“Look what you’ve done to my mother,” I replied.

“You’re marrying Eunice!” he bellowed, finally losing his cool.

“I don’t need a loveless marriage like yours,” I shouted back at him.

I have never been afraid of my father. I’ve always felt he owed me my childhood, and he owed my mother her life. For that, I will never yield to him. I will only cooperate when it suits me.

“You’re not screwing up my plans!” he said, pointing a threatening finger at me.

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever wanted me to do,” I said. “Why can’t I even choose my own happiness?”

“Happiness will come with success. Marry Eunice, and you will have both.”

“You’re seriously deluded,” I laughed. “All those women have taught you nothing, eh?”

“I’m your father. I demand your respect,” he reminded me.

“Find another illegitimate son to make your puppet. I’m not marrying that brat,” I replied.

I strode into my room and slammed the door before he could say anything else. I stood there for a moment, in silence, and listened and he walked out of my apartment and closed the door.

As soon as I heard the door bang shut, the realization of what I’d done just hit me. In a fit of anger, I picked up the metal vase beside my bed and flung it to the far corner of my room, causing shelves of books to collapse onto the floor.

Music: Monday Kiz - 가슴으로 외쳐 (Feat. Rhymer)

I’ve just started the war. I’ve just put Sierra in danger.

Chapter 22: Sold My Soul

2009-01-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

I touched down at Narita Airport at about 3am. I got into a taxi and showed the driver my father’s name card.

“You want to go here?” he asked me in Japanese. “But this is a business district. It would be deserted now.”

“I’ll wait,” I replied in the little Japanese I knew.

The years in Korea had made me a little rusty. What little Japanese I knew were from memories of my childhood. Jae Joong could hardly remember since he was even younger when we left Japan, but since he’d started taking it as an elective in school, it came back naturally. I didn’t bother to learn more. 1 week ago, I still hated my father and all things Japanese. Now I had to forgive him because I’m about to ask for a huge favor.

It was a tall office building; probably a huge illegal operation masquerading as a legitimate corporation. I sat on the granite edge of a raised flower bed. I had at least another 4 hours of waiting, and that is if he actually came to work on time.

I was sleeping soundly when I was rudely awakened. An old man, wearing the uniform of a security guard was yammering away at me in Japanese and pushing me off the granite. Took me a minute to figure out that he thought I was some homeless person spending the night in front of the building.

“I’m waiting for someone,” I said.

“Then wait inside. The lobby is open,” he said, pointing to the front door which was now open.

I looked at my watch. 9 am. I’d slept for more than 5 hours.

“Arigato,” I said and bowed, then started walking towards the door.

I stretched myself and straightened the collar of my jacket as I walked. Sleeping out in the open was definitely something I’m not doing again for a long, long time. I walked into the building, straight towards the reception counter.

“I’m here to see Ihara Tsuyoshi,” I said.

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.

“No, but I’m his nephew,” I lied.

I didn’t need the whole building to know I’m his son even before I reunited with him.

“Your name?” she asked me.

“Kim Jae Wook,” I replied.

“Hold on,” she smirked at me, and picked up the phone.

About 30 seconds of whispering down the phone, she replaced the phone and addressed me with newfound politeness.

“Mr. Ihara will see you now,” she smiled.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Take the elevator up to the 21st floor,” she said, and I nodded.

The elevator doors opened on the 21st floor, and I’m greeted by another lady, whom I presumed was his secretary.

“Good morning,” she bowed. “Please follow me.”

I followed her down the corridor till we came to these large double doors and she knocked discreetly before pushing them open. Inside was an office 5 times the size of my apartment in Seoul. Right in the middle sat my father at a very large and ornate desk.

As soon as I walked in, she retreated and closed the doors.

“Son,” my father stood up and smoothened his suit as he walked towards me.

“Father,” I replied.

When he reached me, he enveloped me in a bear hug, as if we’d been this close all along.

“What brings you here, my son,” he asked when he pulled away.

My father spoke Korean fluently.

“I need your help,” I said plainly.

There is no point beating around the bush. The best thing to do was to tell him my dilemma exactly and let him decide if he was going to help me.

“This is a first,” he smiled. “Didn’t you tell me that you would never come to Japan, and that you didn’t need me?”

“The circumstances are beyond my control this time,” I replied.

“Come… sit down,” he motioned me towards a set of sofas.

As soon as we sat down, the secretary came back with 2 cups of coffee and placed them on the coffee table in front of us.

“You drink coffee, don’t you?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Have you eaten? When did you arrive?”

“I arrived last night. I’ve been waiting outside for you,” I said.

“Oh? I must have missed you on my way in,” he said.

“It’s alright,” I said.

“You must stay with me. I have lots of spare rooms,” he offered.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family,” I replied.

“I have no family here. You and Jae Joong are my only family. That is why I’ve been asking you to join me here,” he said.

“My life is in Seoul,” I said. “And I need to take care of my mother.”

“She’s a wreck, and you know that. She can’t even support the both of you.”

“We’re grateful for you help all this time,” I said. “But I won’t leave her.”

“Then what are you doing here?” he asked me.

“I need your help. I will stay temporarily, and when my problem is solved, I will need to go back.”

“I guess there is no use persuading you now,” he smiled. “You’re exactly like your mother.”

“I am her son,” I replied.

“So tell me your troubles,” he said.

I took a sip of coffee as he watched me intently. Jae Joong and I looked nothing like our father. It was obvious that we took after our mother since both of us had feminine features. I’m sure there were countless of time he would’ve wondered if we were even his sons.

“There’s a girl I like,” I started.

“Ah… girl troubles,” he smiled.

“I am sure she likes me too. But there’s this guy who wouldn’t let her go,” I said.

“And that stopped you?” he asked.

“He’s not just anyone. Maybe you have heard of his father, Ahn Sung Ki.”

“You’re saying your rival is the son of Ahn Sung Ki?” he asked me.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Then you really have a strong rival,” he said.

“But the thing is, I don’t think Ahn Sung Ki approves of their relationship,” I said.

“Then this can be solved easily,” he smiled.

“But she must not get hurt,” I said.

“She must a very special girl, my future daughter-in-law,” he said.

“She is…”

“But you know me,” he said. “I’ll need something from you if you want my help.”

I knew he would proposition something, but I was ready to accept it since it was I who needed his help.

“Anything,” I said.

“All for love,” he shook his head and smiled indulgently.

“I believe you were once in my position,” I reminded him.

“Yes,” he replied. “I was once a fool as well.”

“What do you want from me?”

“You will work for me, for at least a year,” he said. “I will arrange for the girl to be brought here.”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” I said. “At least let us finish our final year of high school. Then I will come to Japan with her, and she can further her studies here.”

“You knew this would be my terms, didn’t you?” he laughed. “It’s nice to know that you understand your own father so well.”

“I am your son,” I replied.

“Fine… since we are in agreement. I will retrieve your girl, and you shall both join me here.”

“But as soon as the year is up, I’m free to go?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “But I am certain you will stay.”

“We’ll see about that,” I said as I raised my cup of coffee to my lips.

“We’ll see,” he smiled.

“One more thing I need from you, father,” I said.

“Yes?”

“I need your money now.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he beamed at me.

[Sierra’s POV]

After some long overdue alone time, Han Kyung sent me home.

Music: TVXQ - どうして君を好きになってしまったんだろう？ (Why do I love you?)

“Don’t worry,” he said to me as he stroked my hair. “I’ll handle my father.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” I smiled.

“No,” he smiled back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said as I pulled away.

“Naeil pwayo,” he replied, and blew me a kiss before turning away.

I laughed as I waved goodbye, and he drove off. As I was opening the gate to my house, I heard someone whisper my name.

“Sierra…”

I turned around, but didn’t see anyone around.

“Over here,” the voice called out.

I scanned the perimeter carefully, and spotted Dong Hae hiding behind a bush.

Chapter 21: ... Let Her Go

2008-12-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

[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.

Chapter 20: If You Love Her...

2008-11-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

[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.

Chapter 19: Can't Stay Away

2008-10-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

[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.

Chapter 18: Said I Loved You, But I Lied...

2008-10-17T02:17:00.000-07:00

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

Chapter 17: Where Do We Go From Here

2008-10-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

[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)

Chapter 16: Pieces of Me

2008-09-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

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…

Chapter 15: Healing - Hurting

2008-09-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

[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.

Chapter 14: Stirrings

2008-08-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Chapter 13: She Is...

2008-07-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

“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.

Chapter 12: Getting Down And Dirty?

2008-07-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

“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.

Chapter 11: When We Were...

2008-07-16T01:42:00.000-07:00

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 ^_^

Chapter 10: Our Loves

2008-07-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

[Jae Wook’s POV]

“So…” Si Won nudged me in the middle of our lesson, “you and Sierra are dating?”

Why did he want to know?

“Erm… I guess,” I mumbled.

“Come on,” he said. “You’re the guy. You should at least know where you stand.”

“I don’t like to discuss about my private life,” I said.

“I see… you’re being mysterious now,” he laughed softly. “Well, you’re lucky to still have a private life. Kids like Sierra and I, our live have been media spectacles since we came to age. Enjoy yourself while you still have your privacy. The moment you took her hand, you’re supposed to have given that up.”

“Isn’t that a little farfetched?” I asked him.

The way he described the whole scenario, you would think I’d dated some equivalent of Angelina Jolie.

“Just wait and see,” he smiled, and turned to pay attention to the teacher.

School had just ended. Sierra and I had different classes for the last period, and I was walking over to the lab to meet her.

“Yaaaa!!!” someone yelled like a madman.

Music: TVXQ – Dangerous Mind

The throng of students in front of me parted, and through the parted space charged Ee Teuk. He was in his aikido uniform, a red bandanna tied around his forehead and in his hand, an aiki-jo (short staff used in aikido). As he neared me, he raised the aiki-jo up and brought it down on me. I moved away just in time, before the aiki-jo hit my head.

“Ya! Myowa?” I yelled as I whirled around and he tried to charge again.

“Yaaaa!!!” he yelled and I tried to jump aside to avoid him again.

“Why are you attacking me?” I yelled as I ran behind a pillar for cover.

“Chugo!!!” he yelled like a deranged ape.

“I got that already,” I shouted at him, and ducking to avoid his next swing. “Why do you want me dead?”

“You took her from me! You took her from me!” he ranted.

“Oi!” Hee Chul shouted as he pushed through the crowd.

I’ve never heard him sound so manly before.

“Stay out of this, Kim Hee Chul,” Ee Teuk snarled.

“What are you doing?” Sung Min exclaimed in his babyish whine.

“He took my Sierra!” Ee Teuk yelled, failing his arms as he did.

“Your Sierra?” I remarked.

“Mine!” he bared his teeth at me.

“Calm down,” Hee Chul said.

“No!” Ee Teuk yelled.

“Pin him down,” Hee Chul ordered.

“Don’t you dare,” he said, pointing his aiki-jo at the guys who were advancing against him.

“Pin him down,” Hee Chul repeated, and everyone pounced on him.

“No! Let me go! You’re all gonna pay when my father finds out,” he struggled and yelled.

“Ignore him,” Hee Chul came and slung his arm on my shoulder.

“Why is he so livid? Was he dating Sierra?” I asked Hee Chul as he lead me away; Sung Min trailed behind us.

“Keep him there for the next 15 minutes,” Hee Chul turned around and instructed before turning back to me.

“Answer me,” I said impatiently.

“He’s delusional,” Hee Chul said. “He’s always thought that he and Sierra were the perfect match.”

“Thinking is one thing, but actually treating me as if I’d taken his girlfriend. That guy’s a nut!”

“That’s Ee Teuk for you. We blame his dad for his over-puffed ego. His father is worse than he is.”

“I cannot imagine someone more delusional than Ee Teuk,” I laughed. “His father must be a real work of art.”

“You bet,” Hee Chul winked and clicked his tongue, and I suddenly lost sight of his manliness.

“Jae Wook,” Sierra called out as she sprinted towards me.

“Sierra!” Sung Min squealed before I could call out her name myself.

“Kwaench’ana?” she practically grabbed my face when she got to me.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“What happened? I heard Ee Teuk tried to attack you,” she said, the concern in her voice touching my heart.

“He was just acting up again. Just like he always does whenever you get a boyfriend,” Hee Chul said.

“Yea. But he’s never actually tried to attack them. He usually threatens them,” she said.

“Well, those guys were mostly trying to get a date. Jae Wook here is already dating you,” Hee Chul pointed out.

“You mean you’ve never dated a guy before?” I asked Sierra.

“What do you take me for?” she exclaimed and smacked me on the arm. “Of course I have!”

“How many of them actually survived Ee Teuk’s threats?” I asked.

“Well… there were the seniors, Kim Jeong Hoon and Park Choong Jae, both have graduated.” Sung Min started counting. “And that junior, Kim Hyun Joong…”

“Wow… you had so many?” I laughed and she made a face at me.

“And there’s that freaky Han Kyung,” Sung Min blurted out, then covered his mouth, as if he had just revealed some deep buried secret.

“Sung Min,” Hee Chul sighed, and shook his head.

“Oops…” he squeaked.

“Han Kyung?” I said as I looked at Sierra. “That thug who knocked the lights out of me?”

“That was my biggest mistake,” Sierra said, almost looking remorseful.

[Han Kyung’s POV]

I picked up the photo book; our photo book. She’d made it when we first started out.

Music: Super Junior - So I

“What’s this for?” I’d asked her.

“To document every day we spend together,” she said.

We took a Polaroid every day. Whenever we met up and when we were doing something she felt memorable, she’d take a picture with her pearl blue Polaroid camera, and paste the photo in the book.

When we were together, I did things I would never have done with any other girl. I did almost anything she wanted me to. Most of the girls I knew just fawned around me and followed me wherever I went. They did whatever I wanted to do, they ate whatever I wanted to eat; they were more like pets than girlfriends. I guess I have to blame it on my social status.

I was the illegitimate son of Ahn Sung Ki, the leader of the largest mob in Seoul. My mother, a Chinese actress, died when I was 5, and my father, having no male heir from his legal marriage, decided to officially bring me back into the fold. My surname, ‘Han’, was my mother’s name. I had refused to have it changed to Ahn, in her memory. My father consented.

I grew up watching my father at work and learning to come to the power that would be mine someday. By the time I was in high school, I was already actively involved in my father’s businesses, and it was during my sophomore year that I met Sierra.

We met under the most unlikely circumstances. My father was often invited to high society balls and social gatherings. While my father was viewed as riffraff among high society, their fear of his power ensured that they turned a blind eye to his unsavory businesses and treated him like they would any respectable head of a conglomerate. I met Sierra at one such social gathering.

Music: TVXQ – Whatever They Say

“Sierra,” the host called out to a slim girl in a short, filmy dress. “I’d like you to meet Han Kyung, the godson of Chairman Ahn.”

In polite society, I was often referred to as my father’s godson, even though everyone knew the truth.

“Han Kyung-imnida,” I bowed.

“Sierra-imnida,” she bowed in return.

“Sierra’s the daughter of Chairman Hwang,” the host proceeded with the introduction.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” I said.

“Likewise,” she replied.

“I’ll let you two youngsters enjoy each other’s company,” the host smiled and walked off.

We, or actually, I stood there awkwardly for awhile, and it was Sierra who finally broke the ice.

“So…” Sierra said. “Wanna get out of here?”

Chapter 9: The Morning After

2008-07-02T01:36:00.000-07:00

[Jae Wook’s POV]

“Hyung!!!” a familiar voice yelled, and I sat up quickly.

“I’m up,” I mumbled, and my head lolled around as I tried to stay awake.

“Come on,” my brother yelled. “I’m gonna be late.”

I dragged myself up and out of my room, then sat down in front of the table. As always, my brother had prepared breakfast. It’s really my mother’s job, but she’s either drunk and sleeping it off, or out gambling, so my brother and I pretty much took care of ourselves; I worked for the money, he took care of our home and meals.

“Come on,” he said. “Eat up. Or you’ll have to wash the dishes. I don’t want to be late.”

“Wae? You got punished the last time?”

“Ne…” he said and continued to stuff his face.

My brother didn’t do as well as I did in school, so he didn’t get into a school of our choice. His school was about an hour away, so he had to wake up earlier and commute daily.

“Jae Joong-ah…” I said. “Do you want to try again?”

“Mwo?”

“Applying to my school?” I asked him.

“I’m fine, hyung. It was like winning the lottery when you got in. I don’t think that kinda thing happens twice.”

“I could ask around, now that I’m in,” I said, and gulped a mouthful of seaweed soup.

“Wae? Do you have friends in high places now?” he joked.

“Well…”

“I’m fine,” he said. “I’ll get used to it.”

“I’ll just ask around,” I said.

“Keurae… just ask around. But I don’t need you to waste your time on it, ne?”

“Ne,” I smiled, and reached out to ruffle his hair.

“Ya…” he grumbled smacked my hand away. “Now I’ll need to waste more time fixing this.”

My brother and I… we had the same fair skin, the same expressive eyes, but somehow… his features ended up looking more feminine. I have feminine features too, but my brother could actually pass off as a girl if he wanted to. Being a pretty boy was a curse when you’re in school. The girls would love you to death, and the guys would love to beat you to death. Because of that, he spent most of his free time working out, and he ended up with a better figure than I had i.e. he had some real muscles and abs.

After we’d eaten and cleared up, Jae Joong put all the leftovers in one bowl and left it on the table beside a bowl of rice. My mother would eat that when she woke up. He then left for school, and I went back to my room to snooze another 15 minutes before I got ready for school.

[Sierra’s POV]

Sweat rolled down my back as I checked the oven again. Why did I agree to make breakfast for Sang Hoon oppa?

“Sierra-ya… paegop’a… where’s breakfast?”

“Soon,” I said. “Stop bugging me.”

He smiled, walked towards the radio in the kitchen, and flicked on the switch.

Music: Big Bang – Last Farewell

“Come on, come on… let’s dance!” Sang Hoon oppa yelled as he jumped around, then grabbed me to join him.

“Ya!” I laughed, then joined him anyway.

Sang Hoon oppa was the one who taught me to dance. During his stint as a rebel, he did a lot of street dancing too. Within seconds of the song, we were dancing one of the dances he’d choreographed some time ago.

“Ya… michoso?” Yong Min oppa laughed as he walked into the kitchen.

“What’s that smell?” Sang Hoon oppa said, and I realized that I’d almost forgotten about the food I was cooking in the oven.

“Is it burnt?” Yong Min oppa asked.

“No,” I said as I took out the dish and placed it on the counter as I beamed with pride.

“Wa…” Sang Hoon oppa said as he peered at the dish. “Lasagna for breakfast.”

One of the few things I was good at was basic Italian cuisine; pizza, lasagna, spaghetti.

“I thought we would get rice,” Yong Min oppa said.

“Oppa!” I glared at him. “You didn’t say you wanted rice, and you know I don’t cook rice.”

Yes… I still haven’t learnt to make dishes, but I mix a mean bibimbap. Most people tend to think that my mother was Chinese, I would at least be able to make Chinese dishes.

“Pap hae…” Yong Min oppa said.

“The only rice dishes I can give you are bibimbap and fried rice, and you know it.”

“Just eat it,” Sang Hoon oppa grinned, and started taking out 3 plates from the nearby cabinet. “Or we’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Araso, araso…” Yong Min oppa smiled as he raised him hands in defeat.

[Jae Wook’s POV]

Just in time… another few minutes and I’d have been late. I didn’t need the cane on my butt. I probably wouldn’t be able to take the pain since it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten in trouble like that.

I felt pretty good today. This morning, when I woke up, everything that happened yesterday felt so surreal. I had to see her today… I didn’t dare tell my brother yet in case it was just a dream. Or maybe Sierra was just humoring me yesterday, and she’d avoid me today.

As I walked into the school grounds, my eyes immediately scanned around the vicinity for Sierra’s face. She wasn’t here yet.

“Yo!” Dong Hae slapped my back and jumped in front of me.

“How did it go with your brother?” I asked him.

“I managed to sneak the bike in without him knowing,” Dong Hae grinned.

“Good for you,” I said. “Thanks for risking your neck to help me out.”

“Hey… what are buddies for?” he grinned.

“Ahem…” someone said as she tapped my shoulder.

Music: Super Junior - Marry U

I turned around and there she was; the face in my dreams.

“Hi Sierra,” Dong Hae squeaked.

“Hi Dong Hae,” she replied.

Just then the first bell rang.

“You’re late,” I smiled.

“I’m just in time,” she said.

“Shall we?” I said as I extended her my arm.

“I’d love to,” she smiled, and linked her arm in mine as we walked towards class.

As soon as we took 2 steps, a few other unmistakable voices appeared.

“Omo… are you guys dating already?” Hee Chul exclaimed.

“Omigod! Omigod!” Sung Min squealed, and I grinded my teeth at the sound of his voice.

“Pipe down…” Sierra said, shushing the 2 pretty brothers. “I don’t need the whole school staring.”

“But you’re holding hands. Does it make a difference?” Hee Chul said.

“Yah… you might as well yell ‘Look everyone!!! Sierra and Jae Wook are holding hands!’” she said sarcastically.

“Yea… but no one would know who Jae Wook is,” Hee Chul laughed.

“That’s right!” Sung Min exclaimed. “We should have you introduced to the school.”

“Who? Who? Who?” Shin Dong bounded up to us.

Now the whole motley crew was complete.

“Jae Wook,” Sung Min said.

“Who?” Shin Dong said, still not realizing what was going on.

“He wasn’t there when Jae Wook ‘saved’ Sierra,” Hee Chul said, smacking Sung Min on the head.

“Oh… right!” Sung Min giggled.

“He saved Sierra?” Shin Dong said, and gave me a once-over with the look of disbelief.

“Yea,” Sierra said, and she hugged me around my waist.

I had to control myself from puffing my chest up with pride. I didn’t do anything, and yet here she was, telling all he friends that I was her hero.

“From who?” Shin Dong asked.

“Han Kyung,” Sung Min said.

“Han Kyung?” Shin Dong gasped, and from this moment on, he looked at me in awe.

“I didn’t do anything, really…” I said.

I was starting to feel embarrassed with all the attention they were giving me.

“But you saved her from Han Kyung,” Shin Dong said, rapturously.

“What about Han Kyung?” a deep voice said, and our little group parted to make way for him.

“Hi Si Won,” Hee Chul waved, and I felt Sierra’s hands suddenly tighten around my arm.

[Sierra’s POV]

Drats… he’s done it again. I thought that I’d be over Si Won the moment I had someone like Jae Wook. It didn’t work. He still made me feel weak in the knees. Jae Wook snaked his arm around my waist just in time to stop me from sliding to the ground.

“Are you alright?” he asked me, softly.

“Yea,” I said. I can imagine how flustered I looked as I tried to straightened myself.

“Jae Wook saved Sierra from Han Kyung,” Shin Dong now repeated like a trained parrot.

“Really?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“He did!” Sung Min piped up.

“I think we should get to class,” Dong Hae suddenly said, totally steering us away from the topic.

Everyone looked at him for a moment, as if he were an alien who had just invaded their turf.

“Right,” Si Won said, simply, and started walking away.

“Let’s get to class,” Hee Chul said, and we followed behind Si Won.

“Are you okay?” Jae Wook asked me as we walked.

“I’m alright,” I smiled. “I just happen to have a knee problem every now and then.”

I can’t let him know why I’d collapsed. Was he on to me?

“I see,” he smiled. “Well… you’re in luck. I’ll be here to catch you when you fall from now on.”

I couldn’t find a reply to his statement. Had it been yesterday, I might have felt tingles. But today, with Si Won’s over-powering aura… I was no longer able to connect to Jae Wook. What am I going to do now?

Music: Tim - 내 안의 전쟁 (The War In My Mind)

Chapter 8: Oh, brothers...

2008-06-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

[Sierra’s POV]

I’d just sat down on the couch in my room when I heard a knock on my door.

“Sierra…” Sang Hoon oppa called out.

“Come in,” I said. “I didn’t lock the door.”

He opened the door, walked in, and closed it softly.

“Is Yong Min home?” he asked me.

“He’s in the study,” I said.

“Workaholic,” he said, and shook his head. “Well… well… where have we been today?”

“Huh?”

“You went somewhere with your new boyfriend?” he teased.

“He’s not my new boyfriend,” I said as I pretended to pick the lint off my skirt.

“No? Are you sure? Then who else went out with the 2 of you.”

“It was just the 2 of us,” I said.

“And did you know that bike wasn’t his?” he asked me.

“I know. He said he borrowed it from his friend.”

“And his friend borrowed it from my friend. I’m not even sure if he actually borrowed of just took it.”

“What are you saying?”

“The bike belonged to Dong Wook, you remember? My friend, Lee Dong Wook?”

“Ah… ara… his brother’s in my class. Lee Dong Hae,” I said.

“Dong Wook’s known to be super possessive with his bikes. If he found out his brother had lent it to a friend, god knows… he could erupt like a volcano.”

“Jae Wook knew how to drive it. Nothing happened to it.”

“I should hope so, for Dong Hae’s sake. Dong Wook probably keeps count of the number of scratches on the bike’s body. He finds one extra, he’s gonna get to the bottom of it.”

“Araso…” I laughed. “Keundae… I didn’t know Dong Hae was such good friend with Jae Wook. Jae Wook’s only been in school for barely a week.”

“That kid… he’s always up to something; working on a project.”

“Are you saying that his new project is helping Jae Wook get me?”

“Maybe… just be careful, baby sister. I don’t wanna see you hurt,” he said as he reached out to ruffle my hair.

“Araso… don’t mess with my hair…” I complained.

“I’m going to bed,” he said as he got up. “You get to bed too. It’s late. What would aboji say if he knew you were up so late on a school night?” he winked.

“Don’t you dare tell him!” I said.

“You could always buy my silence,” he grinned.

“No…”

“Yes…”

“I am not going to make you breakfast…” I said as I shook my head vigorously.

“Yes, you are” he smiled. “And I want mine with an egg, sunny side up.”

“You’re evil,” I pouted.

“And you’re so adorable,” he said as he pinched my cheeks.

“Aaahh… appuh!” I whined as I rubbed my cheeks.

“Good night…” he sang and left my room.

That’s my brother, Sang Hoon. He’s older than Yong Min oppa, but if you judged from appearance, he looked more like the younger brother. He was tall and slim, just like me and Yong Min oppa, the only thing that set him apart from us was his appearance. He’d always been a rebel. We believe it’s some kind of inferiority complex.

It could be that he’s been pressured from childhood; told that he would someday have to takeover my father’s business. From the moment he realized what great things he was destined for, he started to rebel. He mixed with the wrong crowd, got piercings, smoked, and totally wrecked his rich heir image. It took a near death experience to bring him back to us. 5 years ago, Sang Hoon oppa was almost killed while street racing. His bike had collided with someone else’s and they were dragged by their bikes for about 20 feet. It was a miracle that he only got some cuts and bruises. I guess it was because he had on proper racing attire. The other fella wasn’t so lucky; he died.

After the accident, oppa had a long talk with my father. They agreed that instead of him inheriting my father’s position, Yong Min oppa would inherit it instead. Yong Min oppa had always been interested in the family business, and he’d always been the more grounded of my 2 brothers. Sang Hoon oppa went back to school, and instead of taking on a high pressure position like Yong Min oppa’s when he graduated, he was contented with being in second place. He had changed so much in the past 5 years, but he still liked to look the rebel, hence the hair coloring, and keeping his multiple piercings.

Yong Min oppa… sometimes he’s like a 2nd father to me. My father traveled most of the time during my childhood, and when Yong Min oppa was still in school, he would spend most of his spare time with me. He’d help me with my homework when he came home from school. He’d play with me, even if it were Barbie dolls I was playing with. Most of all, he was the one who put me to bed each night.

I remember, once, my father asked him why he didn’t just get me a tutor.

“I like teaching Sierra,” he said. “It helps me learn too, and I think she needs someone to spend time with.”

“You’re wasting time,” my father said. “I could use your help at the company, and you need to start training soon.”

“I’ll pickup really quick, aboji,” he said. “But my tongsaeng will not remain a little girl forever. She needs family the most at this age, and since no one else has time for her, I will make time,” he said.

I remembered my father getting all huffy and scolding Yong Min oppa, and he just nodded, but stood his ground. Till this day, Yong Min oppa has always been my mentor. No matter how busy he is and how often he has to travel, when he came home, he’d ask about my school work, and put me to bed.

It was 11pm. I showered quickly and put on my pajamas. Just as I slipped under my covers, Yong Min oppa knocked on my door.

“Come in,” I said.

“Ha! Gotcha!” he smiled. “Why did you shower so late?”

“I just got home awhile ago…” I said.

“Date?” he asked and raised an eyebrow.

“Erm…” I said.

“Sang Hoon told me,” he said.

“Tattle-tale…” I sighed.

“Sometimes, I feel like I’m the older one, and you both are my tongsaeng.”

“Well… stop acting like an old man then,” I smiled.

“So what did you do today,” he asked as he came to sit beside on my bed; both of us with our backs against the headboard.

“I went to school,” I said innocently.

“And…?” he prompted.

“Someone took me out on a picnic,” I continued.

“And…?”

“He sent me home,” I said.

“That’s all?” he asked me.

“Well… there was some bubbly and fireworks during the picnic,” I added.

“You were drinking?” he asked, in that tone that meant that I was in trouble if I was.

“It was apple cider,” I said.

“Good. I’d hate to have to find that boy and teach him a lesson.”

“Now you sound like Han Kyung,” I said.

“Han Kyung?”

“Remember… that boy I dated a few years back?” I sighed.

“Oh… I remember him; that freaky kid.”

“Right… that freaky kid…” I said.

“Does he still bother you?” he asked as he put an arm around me.

“Occasionally, but it’s just harmless teasing,” I said.

“If it happens too often, it may get out of hand. You need to tell me if he keeps bothering you. Araso?”

“Ne,” I smiled.

“It’s late,” he said as he got up. “I need to finish up my work, and you need to go to sleep. G’nite.”

“G’nite, oppa,” I said.

I lay on my pillow and oppa pulled the covers over my shoulders.

“Sweet dreams,” he said and kissed me lightly on my head.

“Oppa,” I called out to him as he stood in the light of the corridor after he’d turned off the lights in my room.

“Ne?”

“I’m making Sang Hoon oppa breakfast tomorrow. Do you want breakfast?”

“Of course,” he laughed. “It isn’t every day Princess Sierra wakes up early to make us breakfast.”

“Miweo…” I yawned and he closed the door, still laughing.

I lay in the darkness, thinking, after oppa had left. I wonder what will Han Kyung do when he finds out that Jae Wook and I have become an item?

Chapter 7: Do That To Me One More Time

2008-06-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

[Jae Wook]

Music: Shinhwa - Voyage (continued from the last chapter)

It was better than I’d thought. I’d rehearsed this scene with Dong Hae so many times… not the kissing scene… duh... the whole plan to bring her on that motorcycle ride, to bring her to the jetty and the picnic, then the fireworks. I’d wanted the fireworks to happen before I kissed her. I wasn’t even banking on getting kissed, but here we were, lip to lip. It felt like a connection of 2 souls.

I pulled away slowly and looked at her. Her lips were a little red from the kiss, her face was flushed, her eyelids were heavy; I wanted to just kiss her forever.

“Sierra,” I whispered her name, and she smiled.

“What was that about?” she said softly.

“I…”

Great… I’m back to being a dweeb again.

“You know,” she said. “You didn’t have to do so much if all you wanted was a kiss.”

“Huh?” was all I could say, and she smiled mischievously.

“I’d have kissed you that day, outside my house, if you’d asked.”

I laughed softly when I remembered that day. I felt the tension between us. It was like as if that accidental romp on the bed had made us feel… unfulfilled.

“Do you make it a habit to plan to kiss guys on the first day you meet them?” I joked.

“Only those who take a punch for me,” she giggled, and she sneezed.

“Are you cold?”

We’d been so engrossed with the kiss and the fireworks; we’d almost forgotten that night had already fallen.

“Let’s get you home,” I said as I put an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder to keep her warm.

“In a minute,” she said as she made herself comfortable and laid her head on my shoulder.

Well… I could barely argue when the girl of my dreams wants to lay her head on my shoulder and let me put my arm around her. We stayed there for almost another hour, before we decided we’d had enough of the cold wind.

I drove her right up to her doorstep. She wobbled when she got off the bike, probably because the ride from the beach to her house took a little longer than it did from our school.

“Kwaench’ana?” I asked as I steadied her.

“I’m okay,” she said as she took off her helmet.

I laughed at her daze expression. No wonder she’d been silent for half the journey… she’d been sleeping.

“You fell asleep?” I asked her.

“Kinda,” she smiled sheepishly.

“Did you drool on my back?” I said as I tried to check the back of my blazer; we were still in our uniforms.

“I had a helmet on,” she reminded me. “All the drool would be collected in here,” she said as she handed the helmet over to me.

I pretended to peer into the helmet to check for drool.

“Hmm… it is kinda damp,” I said as I squinted at the helmet under the dim street lights.

“I did not drool,” she protested.

“But I swear… the helmet is damp…” I said in a very serious tone.

“Where?” she asked me as she grabbed it from me to inspect it herself.

“There…” I said as I pointed at a spot on the helmet.

“Odi?” she asked, still looking.

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was refreshing to realize that she was actually a little gullible. I wasn’t such a dweeb after all.

“Opso...” I finally said.

“Yah!” she exclaimed and tossed me the helmet.

Good thing I had pretty fast reflexes, and I caught it just before it hit my face.

“Good catch,” she smiled and started walking to the side gate.

“You’re going in now?” I asked her.

“Yea…” she said as she turned to face me. “Am I not allowed into my house yet?”

“No… I mean…” I mumbled.

Dweeb!!!

“Ah…” she said, as she smiled knowingly.

She walked towards me, leant forward, and kissed me on the cheek.

Music: Super Junior - Marry U

“Good night,” she said and opened the gate, while I stood there, a little stunned from her kiss attack.

“Good night,” I finally mustered since she was standing at her gate, waiting for me to say goodbye.

She just smiled, and closed the gate, not taking her eyes off me.

“Asa!!!” I said as soon as I heard her footsteps getting further away from the gates.

“I guess you scored?” I heard a voice come from behind me.

I turned around and gave a shout when I saw who it was.

“S-S-Sang Hoon hyung,” I stammered.

His long dark hair had been bleached. I wonder why he did that. Was this look in style now? This was the 2nd time I’ve seen someone sport it; the first was that gangster, Han Kyung.

“Wae? Do I look scary?” he laughed as he touched his hair consciously.

“A little,” I said.

“My friends dared me to,” he explained. “Sounds a bit juvenile, I know. I’m planning to dye it back before my father returns.”

“Good idea,” I said.

“My long hair is already enough of an annoyance for him,” he smiled.

“I guess I’ll go now,” I said as I put on the helmet and straddled the bike.

“Wait a minute,” he said as he put a hand on my shoulder.

“Ne?”

“Did you take my baby sister out on that thing?” he asked me.

“Erm… only for a short distance,” I lied.

“Are you sure?” he asked me.

“Yes,” I said.

“You’d better be. If I hear of you taking her on long distance trips with that thing, my brother and I are gonna kick your ass. Araji?”

“Ne,” I said.

“The number plate’s familiar. Does this bike belong to you?” he asked.

“It’s a friend’s,” I admitted.

“Is his surname Lee?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“That brat,” he laughed.

“What’s wrong?”

“This bike,” he said. “It doesn’t belong to your friend.”

“Chintcha?”

“Dong Hae’s your friend?” he asked me.

“Yea,” I said.

“Well, it belongs to his elder brother, Dong Wook.”

“I see. Then I’d better return it before he gets in trouble.”

“You’d better. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Dong Wook’s temper,” he laughed. “See you around,” he said, as he too went in through the side gate.

I drove towards the bus stop near Sierra’s house, and sure enough, Dong Hae was waiting there as we’d agreed.

“What took you so long?” he said, his tone nervous.

“I got held up,” I said.

“By?”

“Sierra’s brother.”

“Which one?”

“Your brother’s friend,” I said.

“Oh… but both her brothers are friends of my brother,” he said.

“Sang Hoon,” I said.

“Damn… he’s so gonna tell hyung,” Dong Hae bit his lip.

“Then I suggest you take this bike home before your hyung kills you,” I said. “Thanks for allowing me to borrow it.”

“No problem,” he said. “I’ll go now.”

“Okay… bye,” I said as I waved him off, then waited for the next bus to come and take me home.

******

Celebrity Tidbits

I'm not sure if anyone ever noticed... Lee Dong Wook, the actor, and Lee Dong Hae, from Super Junior, both have almost the same names, and coincidentally, they kinda look alike. They're not related... but since the resemblance is there, I've always wanted to make them brothers in a fic ^_^ If you don't believe me... look up their photos. If I find some, I'll post them here.

Chapter 6: What He Wants

2008-06-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

[Jae Wook’s POV]

“Yah!” Dong Hae sneaked up on me after classes the next day. “How did it go with Han Kyung?”

I turned around and grabbed him by the collar.

“Lee Dong Hae…” I snarled.

“Ne?” he squeaked.

“Try that one more time, and I’ll get rid of you once and for all,” I said.

“Araso…” he wheezed, and I let him go.

“You nearly got me killed. Good thing it was just a little bruise.”

“You just need more practice,” he said, and I glared at him.

“Mwo?”

“Nothing… mian,” he quickly said.

“Good,” I said. “Now I need your help.”

“Yes?” he said, in a very eager tone.

“How do I get a girl like Sierra?”

[Han Kyung’s POV]

“Hyung… I’ve dug up some interesting details about that guy you punched out yesterday,” my assistant, Ryeo Wook said.

“And?”

“He’s new in the neighbourhood, but I found out that his family owes some of our ‘funding agencies’ a rather huge sum of money.”

“Really?” I smiled to myself.

“Shall I let them know where he is?”

“It’s okay,” I said as I held out my hand. “We’ll lay low for now. This information will come useful someday.”

“But what about Sierra?” Ryeo Wook reminded me, being the loyal assistant he is.

“He isn’t capable enough to steal her away. If he was, I would’ve been punched out instead,” I laughed and he just smiled at the fact I’d just pointed out.

[Sierra’s POV]

“Hai…” I sighed as I tried to fix my hair in front of my little vanity mirror.

“What’s with all the moaning and sighing?” Hee Chul said.

“Hee Chul… do you think I scare away most of the boys in this school?”

“No… that’s Park Jung Su’s job,” he snorted.

“Come on!” I said and slapped him on the back. “Be serious.”

“Why don’t you ever believe me?” he said as he looked at me wearily.

“Cos you’ve never told me the truth,” I pointed out.

“I do tell you the truth!” he exclaimed. “Since when have I lied? Name me one incident!”

“I can’t remember them all,” I said.

It’s true that he’s duped me for more times than I can remember. If he thinks he can weasel his way out of this one, he’s got another think coming.

“Can’t remember, can you?” he laughed his high-pitched laugh. “You see… there aren’t any incidents worth remembering.”

Just when I was about to blurt out one, I felt someone standing beside us. Hee Chul and I turned look at the person. It was Jae Wook.

“Sierra,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Can you please come with me?” he said.

“Huh?”

“I need you take you somewhere,” he said.

“Where?”

“Must you spoil his surprise?” Hee Chul said, and he looked as excited as Jae Wook; as if he had a hand in planning the surprise.

“Yea,” Jae Wook smiled. “It’s kind of a surprise.”

“What’s with all the secrecy?” I asked him.

“You’ll see,” he said, and he took me hand to pull me off the seat.

“Have fun, lovebirds,” Hee Chul waved as we walked out of the little gazebo we were studying in.

We came to the school gates, and a yellow Ducati Superbike was waiting for us.

“Is this yours?” I asked him.

“Nah… it’s my friend’s” he said.

At least he was honest.

“Hop on,” he said as he handed me a helmet.

“Am I gonna get helmet hair?” I asked him.

“It’s alright,” he winked. “I brought my Gatsby Moving Rubber. We can fix that helmet hair just like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.

I laughed at his little joke, and put the helmet on.

“Now you look hot,” he said.

“Cos you can’t see my face?” I said.

“No… I love a chick in a motorcycle helmet,” he laughed.

I straddled the backseat and put my arms around his waist.

“Feel free to hang on tight,” he said as he revved the engine.

“Don’t mind if I do,” I said. “I’d like to stay alive.”

We sped out of the little lanes that led us away from our school gates and then onto the main street. He wove through the traffic like a pro. I actually felt a little rush of thrill from riding on the bike. Honestly, I’ve never been on a bike before, and if my brothers or father ever found out, there’s a slight chance that Jae Wook will not live to see the daylight.

“Are you alright?” he yelled in his helmet as we got onto the expressway.

“Yea,” I yelled back. “This is fun.”

“Scream if you wanna go faster,” he said.

I threw my hands in the air and screamed as loud as I could before put my arms back around his waist. He laughed and increased the speed of the motorcycle.

Sometime later, we neared a hilly area with the sea in view just over it. Where was he taking me? We came to a stop near a wooden jetty. At the end of it was a little platform, and on it was a checkered table cloth with a picnic basket sitting on it.

“Did you plan this?” I asked him.

“Hmm?” he said as he took off his helmet.

“Did you plan this whole thing?” I repeated.

“I had help,” he smiled as he took my helmet out of my hands and carried it for me as we walked towards the platform.

He had his longish hair bunched up in a ponytail behind his head. I’d just noticed. He looked kinda cute with this hairstyle.

“Sit,” he said as he gestured to the little pillow on the table cloth.

I sat on the pillow and he sat on the other. We sat side by side, looking out at the sea and enjoying the silence and the sound of the sea. Just then, I realized another thing that was different about him today.

“Jae Wook?” I said.

“Hmm?” he replied as he turned to face me.

“Are you wearing contact lenses?” I asked.

He smiled, and nodded. No wonder he didn’t look so nerdy today.

“Want a drink?” he said as he rummaged the picnic basket and fished out 2 glasses and a bottle of apple cider.

He poured out the cider and handed me a glass. It was cold, which meant that his friend had probably put the basket here not too long ago.

“I’m curious,” I said, after taking the first sip. “Who is this friend of yours who has went through such extent to help you prepare this whole surprise?”

“Let’s just call him my little elf,” Jae Wook smiled as he sipped his drink.

“This is a nice place,” I said as we watched the sun set.

“Well… I picked it, if that’s any consolation,” he said.

“Good job,” I laughed and patted him on the back and there was a moment of awkward silence.

“Jae Wook-ya…” I said.

“Ne?” he said.

“Can you at least answer this question?” I said.

“What?” he asked.

“Do you promise to answer?”

“Hmm…”

“Come on,” I said as I held out my pinkie. “Yaksok…”

“Alright… alright,” he laughed and hooked his pinkie with mine. “What is the big question?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? The truth,” I said.

“Erm…” he said, and went silent for awhile.

“You promised,” I reminded him, and he nodded silently.

He gave a loud sigh, after seeming in deep thought for at least a minute.

“Can you close your eyes?” he said.

“Wae?”

“I’m too embarrassed to tell it to your face,” he said. “I can’t tell you with you looking at me expectantly.”

“Why? Is it such a big deal?” I asked him.

I’d suspected that he might like me, and yes, I am coaxing him into telling me that he likes me. Why? The truth was that I liked him a little too.

“Yes it is, so can you please close your eyes?” he said.

“Araso… araso…” I laughed and closed my eyes.

“Well…” he said. “I brought you here… so that… so that I could…” he said, and he suddenly stopped talking.

“You could what?” I said.

Music: Vink - Last Train Home

“Do this,” he said, and I opened my eyes.

His face was right in front of mine, his eyes staring right into mine. I could feel his breath on my lips. He gently cupped my chin, and closed the distance between us to kiss me.

I closed my eyes as our lips met, and I opened my mouth so that he could really, really kiss me. I thought it was my imagination, but when we kissed, I could practically hear fireworks. The sounds got louder, and I opened my eyes. There were real fireworks… they were being fired from a boat some distance away from the jetty.

Music: Shinhwa - Voyage

“Did you plan the fireworks too?” I asked him when we pulled apart for a breather.

“Yea,” he smiled, and we kissed again.

Chapter 5: Getting To Know You

2008-06-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

“Yong Min oppa,” she said as she scrambled off the bed and ran towards him.

“Hey baby girl,” he smiled, and they hugged.

Baby girl? Damn… did I just lose her to another guy? Then again, I never had her in the first place.

“Erm… Jae Wook,” she said as she turned to me. “This is my oppa, Yong Min.”

“Hi!” was all I could muster.

“So what were you doing with my baby sister, under my father’s roof?” her brother said in a stern tone.

He was a tall, slim and handsome fella. Sierra was tall and slim herself, but they just didn’t look like siblings to me.

“Oppa… nothing happened.”

“Nothing?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“It was I who was clumsy. I fell on top of him and we couldn’t disentangle ourselves from each other.”

“How convenient,” he smiled. “And how is it you managed to do it the moment I walked in?”

“Oppa!” she exclaimed and smacked him on the arm. “Stop teasing! It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry,” I spoke up. “It really was a misunderstanding. It’s not what it seemed like.”

“Araso,” he laughed. “Sierra looks ready to explode. I’d better stop teasing her.”

“Hmmph,” Sierra huffed, and walked out of the room.

[Sierra’s POV]

Since Yong Min oppa had come home, we’d decided to have tea on the patio. Oppa sat at the head of the table and I sat on his right. At the other end from oppa was Hee Chul. Sung Min sat beside me, and Jae Wook opposite me.

“Are you really siblings?” Jae Wook asked oppa and me.

“Well…” oppa said. “Don’t you see the resemblance?”

“Don’t pay attention to him. If I looked anything like him… the first thing I would have is his small eyes,” I said.

“Then how are you both related?”

“We share the same father, but different mothers,” oppa explained.

“I see,” Jae Wook said.

“My mother died when I was 2, and my father remarried soon after,” he said.

“Wow… but the both of you seem so close. I’d never have guessed you were half-siblings,” Jae Wook said.

“Well… I’m a big-hearted person and I believe everything happened for a reason. You can’t choose your family.”

“Aww… Yong Min hyung,” Hee Chull cooed, “you’re just too sweet.”

“Oppa, how long are you staying this time?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. But aboji asked me to stick around longer since he won’t be back for another few weeks. I’m supposed to make sure you stay out of trouble.”

“Did Sang Hoon oppa come back with you?”

“Ne, but you know him. He’s run off to meet his friends as usual.”

“Talking about me?”

“Sang Hoon oppa!” I cried out and ran to hug him.

“Speak of the devil,” Yong Min oppa joked.

“Wow... So how many brothers do you have? I’m starting to get confused,” Jae Wook said.

“Just us two,” Yong Min oppa said to Jae Wook. “This is my brother, Sang Hoon,” Yong Min oppa introduced. “This is Jae Wook,” he said to Sang Hoon oppa, “Sierra’s new boyfriend.”

“Hi,” he said, and sat down next to Jae Wook.

“No he’s not!” I protested, feeling hot all over. “I just met him today.”

“Well, you sure work fast these days, baby sister,” Sang Hoon oppa teased, and I pouted.

“So who’s older?” Jae Wook asked.

“Sang Hoon is,” Yong Min oppa replied. “But we’re born in the same year. So it’s really no difference.”

“There is…” Sang Hoon oppa said. “You see… our parents were overeager for another child… I was born in March, and in December, came Yong Min.”

“Whoah!!!” Hee Chul exclaimed. “I never realized that.”

“You do now, eh?” Sang Hoon oppa winked.

“But anyway… we started school the same year and we did everything together, as if we were twins. Except that we looked worlds apart.”

That, what pretty evident. Yong Min oppa was always looked like the gentleman, while Sang Hoon oppa looked more like the rebel with his long hair and piercings.

“Hey Sierra,” Jae Wook said.

“Hmm?”

“What’s your surname?”

“Hwang,” I replied.

“Hwang Yong Min, Hwang Sang Hoon, then Sierra Hwang? Why don’t you have a Korean name?”

“She does… but because her mother is Chinese and insisted on a Chinese name, it turned out really ugly in Korean,” Sang Hoon oppa laughed.

“So she has an English name,” Yong Min oppa said.

“So what’s your ugly Korean name?” Jae Wook asked.

“I know!” Sung Min exclaimed and raised his hand.

“You say it, you’re dead,” I warned Sung Min, and shot daggers at him with my eyes.

“Party pooper,” Sung Min grumbled.

“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked me.

“I don’t tell strangers my real name,” I smiled sweetly.

“Stranger? Do you invite strangers to have tea in your house?” he pointed out.

“Yea… do you, sis?” Sang Hoon oppa remarked.

“You guys are driving me nuts,” I complained. “I’m not telling and if anyone does, you’re gonna get it from me,” I said and glared at everyone at the table, except Jae Wook.

“Stay out of her hair,” Sang Hoon oppa said in a stage whisper. “She’s got this really scary temper.”

“Yea…” Hee Chul said.

“I do not!” I protested.

“Right…” Sang Hoon oppa said.

“Oppa!” I said in exasperation as I looked at Yong Min oppa.

Why do my brothers always have to embarrass me in front of my friends?

“Right… stop…” he laughed. “Look at Sierra… can’t you see the smoke rising above her head?”

“I’m going to take a shower,” Sang Hoon oppa said as he got up. “See you guys around.”

“Bye hyung!” Hee Chul and Sung Min waved.

“I think I’d better go too,” Jae Wook said. “My family must be wondering where I am.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I said, and I got up.

As we got to the gates, we stopped for a moment to say goodbye.

Music: TVXQ - Keyword

“Thanks for today,” I said to him.

“I didn’t do anything,” Jae Wook said. “I got knocked out with the first punch, remember?”

“At least you tried,” I smiled.

“Well…” he laughed shyly, he was actually kinda cute when he got shy.

“Bye…” I said, and quickly ran in, towards the house.

As I reached the door, I turned back to watch him walk down the long driveway, towards the gates. He was skipping…

******

Celebrity Tidbits

Hwang Yong Min is Tim, the sexy fella who sang Saranghamnida.

Hwang Sang Hoon is a member of Black Beat, a group under SM Entertainment. You can watch Sang Hoon on YouTube.

Chapter 4: Freaky Time!!!

2008-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

[Sierra’s POV]

The last bell had just rang. I packed up my stationery and stood up to leave the classroom.

“Where to, Sierra?” Hee Chul asked me.

“Home,” I said. “I’m kinda pooped today.”

“Nuna!!!” Sung Min squealed and rushed into the classroom. “Can we go home with you? We just love hanging out at your place!”

“Didn’t you hear?” Hee Chul said. “Your Sierra nuna is tired. You shouldn’t bug her at her home.”

“But I want to go to nuna’s house…” he whined.

“It’s alright Hee Chul. As long you guys stay in the entertainment room.”

“Chongmal?” Sung Min squealed again.

“Ne,” I smiled, and reached out to ruffle his hair.

We were walking out the school gates, when we ran into my other pain…

Music: Shinhwa feat. David Kim - We Can Get It On

Han Kyung… aka Freaky Dude, as Hee Chul likes to call him because of his bleached hair. His father is the head of the biggest gang in Seoul, and he is the heir apparent. He goes to the private boys’ school nearby, which may explain why he likes to venture onto our turf to pick up chicks.

“Sierra, baby…” he smiled. “Jui jin hao ma?” (How have you been lately?)

Han Kyung’s mother is Chinese, hence the use of Mandarin at really weird times. I guess he thinks that it makes him seem sexier, speaking a foreign language and all, but since I was half-Chinese myself, I didn’t find it at all impressive. He must think we have some relation in that sense. In way… it’s as delusional as Ee Teuk thinking that he and I have some connection.

“Kan dao ni jiu bu hao…” I quipped. (Not well, now that you're here.)

“Hey, hey… do you always have to be this nasty when we meet?” he said as he tried to put an arm around me.

Granted he wasn’t greasy like Ee Teuk. He knew where he stood and he knew how to work it, but he’s still freaky. I mean… look at that hair!

“Get off!” I said, as I tried to shrug out of his arms.

If you’re wondering where Hee Chul and Sung Min were, they’d already scampered off to hide behind a lamp post since they were both terrified of Han Kyung.

“Hey!” a guy’s voice came from behind us, and we all turned around.

There stood Kim Jae Wook, the new transfer.

“Take your hands off her,” he said.

“Who?” Han Kyung said, pretending he couldn’t hear.

“It’s alright,” I said. “I can handle him.”

“Oh… you mean her?” Han Kyung gestured to me, and then planted a kiss on the side of my head.

“Eww!” I squealed, and started rubbing the spot he’d kissed.

Jae Wook walked forward, and pushed Han Kyung off me.

“What the…” Han Kyung bit out.

The gang he had brought with him immediately rushed forward, but he spread out his arms, signaling for them to stop.

“Well, well, Sierra…” he said. “When did you get a new bodyguard?”

“None of your business,” I said.

Jae Wook stepped in front of me, facing Han Kyung, to shield me.

“Look at him,” Han Kyung sneered as he prodded Jae Wook on the chest. “At least let me offer you one of my guys. This guy’s all bones. How can he protect you?”

“Wanna bet?” Jae Wook said.

“Jae Wook,” I called out, and tried to pull him back.

“You wanna fight me?” Han Kyung said; his tone incredulous.

“Yea,” Jae Wook said.

He threw down his satchel and shrugged off his blazer, but before he could react, Han Kyung delivered his first punch.

[Jae Wook’s POV]

I woke up in a daze and my face hurt like crazy.

“He’s awake!” I heard someone squeal and I could feel my headache coming back.

“Jae Wook,” I heard her call out to me, and I opened my eyes slowly.

My vision started to clear, and I saw her…

“How are you feeling?” she asked me.

“I’m fine,” I said. “What happened?”

“You got knocked out by Han Kyung,” another voice said.

I turned to look and saw the pretty boy, Kim Hee Chul.

“I was?” I groaned.

I racked my brain, trying to recall what had happened. Did that jerk really knock me out with just 1 punch?

This is all Dong Hae’s fault…

“Look! Isn’t that Sierra,” Dong Hae said as he shook my arm.

We were walking towards the school gates when we saw Sierra being harassed by this freaky blond guy.

“Whoa… isn’t that Han Kyung?” Dong Hae exclaimed.

“Who is he?” I asked him.

“He’s from another school and his dad’s the head of the biggest gang in Seoul.”

“What does he want with Sierra?”

“He’s always had a crush on her,” Dong Hae said. “Don’t we all.”

“Hmm,” I said.

“Here’s your chance,” Dong Hae grabbed my arm as I was about to walk away. “Go save her!”

“Are you crazy? Didn’t you just say his father was a gang leader?”

“Well,” he shrugged. “You have to start somewhere,” he said.

“I will not,” I said.

I had enough problems with the mafias as it is. I didn’t need another on my back.

“Hey!” Dong Hae yelled in their direction, and ran off as fast as he could.

The freak and Sierra turned, and both of them were staring at me. It’s now or never…

“Take your hands off her,” I said, and boy… do I regret saying that.

“Are you alright?” Sierra asked again.

“I’m fine,” I smiled.

Bad idea… it hurt my face more.

“Would you like some water?” she asked me, and I nodded.

Hee Chul and the other pretty boy, Sung Min, helped me up, and Sierra brought a glass of water to my lips.

“You didn’t have to come to my rescue,” she said. “I can handle Han Kyung.”

“Really?” I asked her.

“Well… he would have left eventually,” she said.

“But not before taking advantage of you,” I reminded her.

“That’s nothing,” she smiled. “Han Kyung and I go way back.”

“I see. So I was interrupting reconciliation?”

“Not exactly,” she grimaced.

“Hey Sierra,” Hee Chul suddenly piped up. “Me and Sung Min will be in the entertainment room if you need us.”

“But I wanna stay here,” Sung Min whined, and Hee Chul just dragged him out with an apologetic smile on his face.

“Komawo,” she said.

“For what?” I asked.

“For taking that hit for me,” she said.

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine,” I said and I tried to sit up.

“Why don’t you rest some more?” she said.

“I’ve intruded long enough. I should get home,” I said.

I swung my foot off the bed and stood up quickly, too quickly. Bad idea… I suddenly felt dizzy and started to fall back down towards the bed.

“Careful,” she said, as she tried to steady me, but obviously she couldn’t, since I was heavier, and she fell on top of me.

“Oww…” I groaned as our bodies collided.

“Mian,” she said, as she tried to get up, but our arms and legs seemed to have entangled themselves with each other.

This is the pain of being tall… your limbs get in the way. But then again, this is kinda nice, being close to her. I could smell her perfume, and she smelled heavenly. The other plus was, her face was just inches away, and I could’ve kissed her if I wanted to.

“Ahem!” we suddenly heard a voice, and we both froze. “What are you both doing?”

A guy stood at the door, glaring at the both of us.

“Oppa…” she exclaimed, and suddenly, as if we had been performing some magic show, our limbs disentangled and she could sit up on the bed.

Oppa? He sure didn’t look like her brother. Was he her boyfriend?

Chapter 3: He's Hot!

2008-05-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

“What’s wrong with you, Sierra?” Hee Chul exclaimed, then realized he’d spoken too soon.

Walking towards us was my biggest crush… my dream boy… the ultimate king-ka… Choi Si Won.

Music: Big Bang - We Belong Together

I’m sorry… but I had to use this picture since I had to make a point on how hot he really is. He sizzles!!! Choi Si Won… he’s in my class, his father owns one of the largest supermarket chains in all of South Korea… and did I mention he was hot?

“Upsie-daisie,” Sung Min said, and they pushed me back onto my two feet.

The 2nd bell rang, and that prompted all the other students, except the privileged kids, to rush to class.

“Si Won!” I managed to squeak, just as he was walking past.

“O… Sierra,” he smiled, and I felt like I was going to faint again.

“Hi, Si Won,” Hee Chul smiled. “You’re looking good. Been working out lately?”

“Not much. I spent most of my holidays in Africa with the Peace Corps,” he said.

Rich… and gives a damn about the world. Where else can you find a nicer guy?

“Are you going for the class trip next month?” I asked him.

“Yes,” he said.

“Nice,” Hee Chul answered for me. “Don’t we need to get to class?”

“Yea…” Si Won said. “Let’s go,” he added, and we allowed him to lead the way.

Just as we were entering the classroom, Si Won’s path was blocked by a tall, lanky guy.

“Shillaehamnida,” Si Won said.

“Oh,” the guy said as he turned around and stepped out of the way.

It was the guy my driver nearly ran over this morning.

“It’s okay,” Si Won smiled. “After you,” he said.

“After you,” the guy replied. “I need to wait for sonsaengnim.”

“Okay,” Si Won said, and we walked in after him.

Let’s pause the story for a moment. You’ve met most of the main characters by now, and I bet you must be thinking, “These are all nice, rich kids… where’s the joy in the whole story?” Well… it’s coming up…. ^_^

I was wondering why I had never seen him in school before. Turns out that he’s the new transfer student. He was as tall as Si Won, maybe taller. Slim, and yet not skinny. He looked like a Japanese model… at least that’s what I noticed the moment I looked at him. But too bad he had on these glasses that made him look kinda geeky.

“Hi,” I smiled at him as I walked past.

“Erm… hi,” he replied and he forced on a smile.

It was as if he was afraid of me or something. Did I look scary?

“Do I look alright today?” I whispered to Hee Chul as we took out seats next to each other.

“Why do you ask?”

“Cos that guy looked like I was going to eat him alive,” I said.

“Well… you tend to forget your queen-ka status, don’t you? That poor boy was terrified because he was in awe of your presence,” Hee Chul said.

“You’re crazy,” I laughed, and I sneaked a peek at the new guy who was still standing outside the classroom. He too was peeking at me.

[Jae Wook’s POV]

She caught me looking at her… I could feel my face turning red. I saw her telling that guy off in the hallways on my way to the teacher’s room, earlier. She sure was a spit-fire. And yet, she could turn into such a sweet, friendly girl in just a blink of an eye. Which was the real her?

“Ahem,” the teacher cleared his throat, and I jumped at the suddenness of his appearance.

I bowed, and he signaled for me to follow him in.

“This is our new transfer student, Kim Jae Wook,” the teacher introduced me. “Be nice.”

“Annyeong,” I said, and I bowed. “Kim Jae Wook-imnida. Pangapseumnida.”

“Take a seat next to Choi Si Won,” the teacher said.

“Ne,” I bowed again, and went to take my seat next to the guy I’d bumped into earlier.

“Choi Si Won,” he smiled and held out his hand.

“Kim Jae Wook,” I smiled back, and shook his hand.

“Are you local?” he asked.

“My mother’s Korean, my father’s Japanese,” I answered.

“You must get that all the time,” he said.

“I do,” I replied. “But I guess the chicks would dig it, wouldn’t they?” I laughed.

“I guess,” he said, and he laughed.

Hours flew past, and it was soon lunch break. I followed behind the crowd, towards the cafeteria, got my food, and found an empty table to sit at.

“Yah! Kim Jae Wook!” someone said as he plonked down his tray on my table.

“Yes?” I replied as I looked up.

“Wow… you sure are cool,” he said, as he started sitting down.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Do you know who you’re sitting next to?” he asked me as he stabbed his bottle of drink with a straw.

“Choi Si Won?”

“And do you know what’s his status in our school?” he asked me.

“Erm…”

“The ultimate king-ka…” he finished for me.

“So?”

“You’re lucky he’s even talking to you,” he said, and stuffed a spoonful of rice into his mouth. “He’s usually a man of a few words.”

“He’s just being nice to a new classmate, and his new partner,” I said, and I started eating my lunch.

“Yea… he’s just being nice. So don’t think you’re going to get to have lunch at his table,” he scoffed; a single grain of rice flew out of his mouth onto my tray.

I looked at the grain of rice sitting on the edge of my tray, then back up at him.

“Oops,” he smiled, and reached over to flick it off for me. “Mianhae…”

“Who are you anyway?” I asked him.

“Me?” he smiled. “I’m Lee Dong Hae,” he said, and looked at me expectantly.

“And you are…”

“Nobody,” he sighed. “We’re nobodies.”

“And your point is?”

“That’s why we need to stick to each other,” he said.

“Why?”

“I see potential in you,” he said.

“Potential in me? For what?”

“I can make you king-ka,” he said.

“Right…” I laughed.

“I’ve seen the way you looked at Sierra,” he teased. “And I know you like what you see.”

“Sierra?”

“That pretty girl who sits next to that pretty boy, Kim Hee Chul.”

So her name’s Sierra…

“She’s a beautiful girl. So?”

“She’s also the school’s ultimate queen-ka,” he said. “You don’t even look at her… unless you consider yourself a king-ka like Choi Si Won.

“So you’re telling me she’s his other half?”

“Duh…. So in order to become a king-ka, you’ll need to consult me,” he said, in flourish, like as if he was the hottest thing since sliced bread.

“Erm… if you’re such a know-it-all, why aren’t you a king-ka?” I pointed out.

“Well…” he said, and suddenly, he didn’t look too upbeat about the idea anymore. “I’m too short,” he said, and sniffed.

“If it’s any consolation to you, I think you’d make great king-ka material yourself,” I said.

“Komawo,” he smiled and continued chattering.

I spent the whole lunch hour listening to Dong Hae chattering about how he’s going to make me a star. Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Sierra, who was sitting just a few tables away with her clique, whom Dong Hae had helpfully introduced as the “Pretty Boys”. I’ve had girlfriends before, but for once, here is a girl who intrigued me, to the point of me becoming a total dweeb. From the looks of the school I’ve landed myself in, I’d better not be a dweeb, or I’m going to end up like Dong Hae.

Chapter 2: My Pretty Boys

2008-05-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

[Sierra’s POV]

I walked in the main archway of the school building, and all at once I was bombarded by my friends.

“Nuna!” Sung Min yelled, and pelted me with marshmallows.

Music: Super Junior - Wonder Boy

Meet Sung Min… he’s the younger brother I’ve never had. Not the adorable and lovely kind, but the annoying and noisy kind.

“Sung Min! Oww…” I exclaimed.

“Cut it out, Sung Min,” Hee Chul said. “Do you have to be this hyper in the morning?”

This is Hee Chul. Sung Min’s elder brother and the big sister I never had. I mean… just look at him. He just doesn’t look manly to me. He’s never admitted it, but I’ve always suspected he was gay. I mean… look at him!!!

“Yea, Sung Min,” I grumbled and tried to straighten my hair. “You just messed up my hair.”

“And you know how your Sierra nuna is so sensitive about her hair,” he said and he planted a hand on his hip and glared at Sung Min.

“Sung Min!” Shin Dong bellowed. “You threw my marshmallows at nuna?” he rushed forward and grabbed the bag of marshmallows away from Sung Min.

This is Shin Dong, our teddy bear… ‘nuff said.

“Mwoya?” Sung Min whined and tried to grab the bag from Shin Dong.

“These are precious!” Shin Dong yelled at Sung Min. “I got them on my vacation in New York, from Dylan’s Candy Bar. Do you know how much these cost?”

“It’s not like you can’t afford another bag?” Sung Min yelled back.

“But I won’t be going again anytime soon! And you don’t throw away good food,” he ranted on.

“Fine!” Sung Min said.

He picked up a marshmallow from the ground and popped it into his mouth.

“Ewww!” the 3 of us screamed at Sung Min.

The whole school was suddenly silent, and everyone was looking at us, looking at Sung Min who had half a marshmallow still sticking out of his mouth.

“What?” he said, looking at us with his Bambi eyes.

“You’re disgusting,” Hee Chul said. “Come on, Sierra,” he said, and we walked away from the scene.

“Aisshiii!!!” Shin Dong exclaimed and hugged his marshmallows tight as he followed us.

We haven’t even covered 2 feet when we bumped into a major pain. My major pain in the butt…

Music: Girlfriends - Maybe I Love You

“Helloo… Sierra,” he cooed, and I gagged.

“Hello, Jung Su,” Hee Chul replied for me.

“It’s Ee Teuk,” he snapped at Hee Chul, then turned on his ‘charming’ smile for me.

Park Jung Su, or more popularly known for his self-bestowed name, Ee Teuk. He’s supposedly my equal in school. The king-ka to my queen-ka… whatever… pffft… His father, Chairman Park Myung Soo aka the Prince of the Sea, owned a large shipping company. Chairman Park and my father are both huge benefactors to the school, making us untouchable to everyone. I wonder why he still calls himself the ‘Prince’ of the Sea. Isn’t he a little too old for that?

But anyway… Ee Teuk is a pain, a really greasy pain. He has had it in his mind that we were an item since we both entered the school. He’d been threatening every single guy who’s ever laid eyes on me, and as a result, I have never dated in all my years of high school. If it wasn’t because Hee Chul, Sung Min and Shin Dong were known as the ‘Pretty Boys’ in school i.e. pansies or possibly gay, he might have chased them off too. Then again, their fathers’ were also benefactors, which meant that they shared our status. I loathe Park Jung Su!!!

“Yes, Ee Teuk?” I replied.

“We never got together during the semester break. Where did you run off to?” he asked me.

“Well… let me see,” I pretended to think. “I was in Paris, Tokyo, New York, London, Shanghai… I was all over the world.”

“But I didn’t bump into you at all,” he said.

“Why would you?” I asked him. “Unless you had my schedule…”

“Umm… why would you think that?” he said.

This wasn’t the first time Ee Teuk had tried to mastermind an accidental meeting between the both of us during our holidays. I’ve gotten smarter this time, and changed my traveling schedule a day before I was due to take off to the first location.

“Gee… I don’t know. Maybe it’s cos you had it the last time?” I raised my voice at him.

“Aww… come on, Sierra, honey… don’t get upset. I was just hoping for some quality time with you,” he said and smiled his greasy smile.

“Don’t honey me!” I yelled at him. “I have nothing to do with you, Park Jung Su. We have no connections… nada… zero… kong!!! If you keep harassing me, I will have my father speak with yours! You got that?”

“Yes,” he squeaked.

“Good,” I said, and the 4 of us walked past him; 4 because Sung Min had just joined us awhile ago.

Just at I walked past Ee Teuk, I saw something… someone… and I immediately felt weak in the knees.

“Whoa!” the guys exclaimed and caught me before I fell on my butt.

Chapter 1: We Meet

2008-05-14T01:10:00.000-07:00

Wherever she’s from… every girl has a dream, a fairytale… Every girl had a ‘Prince Charming’ in mind; be it the rebel, the athlete, the scholar or the most popular guy in school. I had my ‘Prince Charming’… but before he became my prince, he was just another guy in school. And his life was turned around, because of me…

Music: Kangta & Vanness - Good Vibrations

Sierra popped 1 eye open, closed it, and started to stretch. She looked at her alarm clock, out of habit, knowing that it was 8am as always, since she’d set her alarm for 8am. On her alarm clock was a color screen, and as the music played, photographs of her, her family and her friends floated across the screen. She rubbed her eyes, and sat up on her bed.

A discreet knock sounded on her door. As always, her maid was right on time with her uniform and breakfast. She’d always suspected that her maid probably put her ear to the door each morning to listen for her alarm clock before she knocked.

“Good morning, Miss Sierra,” her maid said as she walked in.

She hung up Sierra’s uniform and put her breakfast on the little breakfast table in her room.

“Good morning, Yuna,” she said, as she stood up and padded towards the breakfast table.

“I’ll be back to collect your tray,” she bowed, and left the room.

It was the same routine each morning. Sierra would wake up to an empty home, Yuna would bring her breakfast, then she’d get ready, and go to school, and… there wasn’t really any need to describe the rest of the day.

Sierra sighed to herself, and started eating her breakfast. Sometimes she wished that she could have breakfast with her parents. Other than Sundays, she rarely gets to see her parents. They’re always busy flying around the world, running the countless hotels her family owns.

Half an hour later, Sierra gets into her personal Bentley, and her driver takes her to school. In another month's time, Sierra would have her own driving license, and her parents had promised to get her a car of her own. Somehow, the thought of a new car didn’t seem exciting at all. She would have liked it better if her mother accompanied her on her car ride to school occasionally.

Today felt like any other day to Sierra, but Sierra always told herself that maybe... maybe today her life would change forever.

Jae Wook trudged up the hill towards the school gates. This was his 2nd transfer this year, but he could hardly protest or argue since his family had to move. His mother will never learn her lesson, and her gambling would one day tear their whole family apart. They had to move several times a year to run away from the loan sharks. He’d pointed out to his mother that someday, they would have nowhere to run, except out of Korea, and even then, they would not have enough money for passports and tickets. In short, they’re going to be killed someday if she didn’t stop her habit.

Dae Sang High was one of the top schools in this district. So how did Jae Wook get in? Despite his lifestyle, he was a good student, and with results like his, he could school-hop all year round and they’d still take him in since he fit their description of a model student.

“대상고” (Dae Sang Go) the sign in front of the school read. Jae Wook stepped off the pavement, onto the street, to cross it, and then, he heard the loud screeching of tyres. A black Bentley came to a halt just inches before him.

“Yah!” he yelled at the car, as soon as he realized he would have almost been killed. “Do you know how to drive?”

The driver of the car stepped out. He was wearing a suit and dark sunglasses, and he ignored Jae Wook.

“Oi!” he yelled at the guy again, and just as he was about to let out some expletives, the driver opened the door and out stepped a girl.

Music: Super Junior - Marry U

She wore the Dae Sang High’s school uniform, but somehow, seeing it on her made it look like designer wear. She pushed back her sunglasses on her head like a headband, adjusted the straps of her bag on her shoulders, and straightened her skirt. Jae Wook had never seen anyone do these 3 things as if it were like a film he was watching. The girl turned to look at him, then started to walk towards him.

She came to a stop a foot away from him, and all Jae Wook was thinking was how to not hyperventilate, or worse, throw up in front of this girl.

“I’m so sorry,” she smiled. “Are you okay?” she added.

“Erm… erm…” Jae Wook said, tongue tied.

“You’d better get moving,” she said kindly. “We’re going to be late for class.”

“Erm… yea… thanks,” he finally muttered.

The girl smiled again, and turned to walk towards the school gates.

Jae Wook took about a minute to calm down, and that's when he heard the bell ring.

"Damn!" he muttered under his breath and raced towards the school gates before it closed.

Introduction

2008-05-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

I've read countless high school romance themed fictions, and I've decided that I need to write one; at least to get it out of my system. Out of the many I've read, some were truly original, some needed polishing and some are just your run of the mill reenactment of every high school romance you've ever read.

I will try to be as original as possible, but I cannot promise that I won't parody some of the stories of read. My aim here would be to take the quality of high school romance themed fan fictions a notch up. So here it is...

The stars of this high school romance are:

Sierra
Kim Jae Wook
Super Junior
And a myriad of other K-Stars

Dae Sang High is also available on Soompi ^_^