| Fan Fiction |
by shattered teardrops
a/n:
1.) The brackets in the previous chapter was actually ME fooling around.
2.) I made Yi Jung fall on Ga Eul instead of the actual scene in the drama just because I wanted Woo Bin to tease them. Muhahaha Evil me.
Ga Eul sighed. ‘A mere phone call?’ She thought with a pout as she sat inside the porridge shop looking sad, confused and bored all at the same time. Being the sole worker inside the porridge shop seemed to weigh her down now that Jan Di was gone. Even the manager looked so down. The atmosphere definitely felt a lot different when Jan Di was around.
Jan Di gave her a mere phone call telling her that she’d be going somewhere far. She tried to call Jan Di but it she seemed to have turned off her phone. Jan Di left Jun Pyo with a memory of a happy day. She left Ji Hoo with a simple note. Couldn’t she have been crueler? And Ga Eul, her friend since kindergarten, she only gave her a phone call without much detail where she was going. She could have at least told Ga Eul where she was heading.
It had already been a few days since Jan Di had gone but for Ga Eul, it already felt like months. If she, as Jan Di’s friend, was already this miserable… What more if it was Goo Jun Pyo? What about the other F4? Ga Eul thought briefly and found herself thinking of Yi Jung. It was also a few days after their almost-kiss incident inside his work shop. Thinking back, Ga Eul didn’t know what to feel. Yi Jung’s actions were… utterly confusing.
The Casanova, although she has figured out much from his past, was still a big mystery. She couldn’t even tell what he was thinking. And after that almost-kiss, Ga Eul was even more confused. Did he intend to kiss her because he finally felt something for her? Or was it merely the Casanova at play again? Ga Eul couldn’t tell.
“Ga Eul…”
When Ga Eul looked up to see who it was, she expected it to be Yi Jung. However, she was wrong. It was no other than Choi Seung Hyun. He was looking at her with a faint smile on his face and a bouquet of flowers on his hand. After everything that has happened, Ga Eul suddenly felt a tinge of guilt. She nearly kissed Yi Jung and was actually meeting Seung Hyun now…
“Seung Hyun…” Ga Eul acknowledged.
“For you…” He smiled and handed her the bouquet of flowers.
Truth was, the flowers were beautiful. It’s just that they’re the least of her concern right now so she immediately set them aside after taking a smell of their fragrance. She turned to Seung Hyun who looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak. “Seung Hyun… I called you here today to give you my answer…” She spoke with a grim expression on her face.
Seung Hyun couldn’t help but notice how sullen her expression looked like. He knew that there was nothing but rejection that was waiting for him. “Ga Eul…” He began. “I haven’t thanked you properly yet for helping me during my match. I hope the flowers are enough as a thank you gift.” He coughed up a little to hide the awkwardness that hung between them and smiled bitterly. He missed how they talked so casually with each other. “You know what… I’ve decided to take it back… My confession to you… I’d like to take it back…” He said instead.
“Huh? You’re taking it back?” Ga Eul asked bewilderedly.
Seung Hyun nodded. “Being here right now… Listening to you talking so grimly with a very serious expression on your face, I realized that I missed seeing your carefree smile instead. I know that my confession to you only gave you burdens… So I’ll just take it back…” He replied. “Don’t get me wrong… It’s not that I don’t mean it…” He smiled bitterly. “It’s just that I don’t want to hear rejection from your lips… The least thing I want is to see Ga Eul acting awkward around me…”
“Seung Hyun, are you… going to be okay with this?” Ga Eul asked. Her eyes were round and questioning.
Seung Hyun smiled. “We’re still friends, right? That’s enough for me… Just tell me if that Yi Jung treats you badly, araso? I’ll make sure to thrash him hard and make him regret it.” He threatened jokingly as he smiled at Ga Eul. Deep inside, in reality, Seung Hyun was breaking apart. He wasjust trying to put up a brave front so that Ga Eul won’t be sad.
“Komaowo, Seung Hyun-ah…” Ga Eul finally smiled.
Seung Hyun sighed. “I think I need a hug…”
With a smile, Ga Eul stood up from where she sat. She extended her arms on both sides and gave Seung Hyun a big hug. For Seung Hyun, a hug from Ga Eul was enough. He’d forever cherish the memory of having Ga Eul in his arms. He would have to content himself with this memory than hear rejection from Ga Eul’s lips. He was afraid that if he heard Ga Eul reject him, he’d die out of pure heartbreak.
As if fate had everything planned, So Yi Jung suddenly entered through the door of the porridge shop and found Ga Eul and Seung Hyun in the middle of an embrace. His pleasant expression instantly dropped as his clutch tightened around the small velvet box he was holding. For some reason, he had developed a habit of walking into Seung Hyun and Ga Eul whenever they’re caught up in an easily misinterpreted situation.
However, this time, instead of sulking and showing that he was stunned and somehow hurt, Yi Jung decided to take Seung Hyun head on. In a single heartbeat, the pleasant demeanor slid back on throughout the Casanova’s features. He casually pocketed the small velvet box he was holding and looked straightly towards Ga Eul, not even sparing a glance at Seung Hyun. He decided that if he were to pursue Ga Eul, he should not be intimidated by his adversary’s advances.
“Ga Eul, I need to talk to you…” He began.
Ga Eul was stunned to see the Casanova, of course. Of all time to come, he had to walk in on her and Seung Hyun at that exact time. Ga Eul mentally cringed thinking about what sort of misconception could arise out of the situation. Yi Jung would surely misunderstand. No doubt about it. However, when she looked at him, Yi Jung seemed to be unperturbed… which was even more scary because she couldn’t tell what was running inside his head.
Meanwhile, amongst the awkward crowd of three inside the porridge shop, Seung Hyun had a small smile on his lips as he released Ga Eul from the embrace. He knew that he was able to pull a fast one on Yi Jung and somehow, this was his little way of revenge on the Casanova. “I think it’s time for me to leave, Ga Eul… See ‘ya around…” He winked at Ga Eul and casually strode out of the porridge shop, leaving the two to talk. He knew that after today, the issues that they both had to sort through only increased.
Yi Jung took Ga Eul in a small café where they had waffles. Yi Jung was pleasant all throughout and this somehow made Ga Eul agitated. After almost kissing, she had been disturbed and deeply troubled about what to make of the situation, however, seeing Yi Jung, he seemed to be living carelessly once again. In the back of Ga Eul’s mind, she mentally scolded herself for even thinking that the Casanova could take her seriously.
“You still haven’t heard news from Jan Di?” Yi Jung began. They seem to start their every conversation with topics regarding their friends.
“Yeah…” Ga Eul nodded with a hint of sadness and worry on her face. “And I really don’t know where she might be. She only told me that she was going somewhere. After that, she turned off her phone. She didn’t even tell me which direction she’s heading.” She narrated quite sullenly.
“She’s probably fine… She’s Geum Jan Di after all.” Yi Jung responded, trying to make her feel better. Somehow, it worked and Ga Eul finally showed a faint smile.
“It seems that you know my friend more than I do…” She replied.
“I told you, I know a bit about women…” Yi Jung explained. ‘I wish I knew the same about you…’ He thought however, he held himself back from speaking his thoughts aloud. He only saw Ga Eul smiling awkwardly at his comment.
“Ah. How is Jun Pyo-sunbae doing?” She asked, trying to keep the conversation going with a topic that was once again, about their friends.
“He’s a mess. What else can we expect?” Yi Jung replied almost casually.
After talking about the situation of their friends, then came awkward silence between them. Both of them didn’t know how to proceed. It was more due to the fact that they could no longer talk about their friends. They both also knew that it was high time for them to seriously talk… about themselves… and not their friends this time.
“Ga Eul…” Yi Jung began with a hesitant voice. “Don’t you think it’s time that we talk about us?” He asked, looking straight into her eyes with a serious expression on his face. Yi Jung knew that his time left in Seoul was limited. He was going to Sweden and whatever little time he had left, he wanted to make things right before he left. He wanted to make sure that Jan Di and Jun Pyo were well. He wanted to see Woo Bin and Ji Hoo holding up with their lives.
Most of all, he wanted to settle whatever it is that he shared with Ga Eul… because he knew that whatever it is that he shared with her, he knew that it was something special. And this time, he wouldn’t just allow the opportunity to pass. Regret was by far, a very tormenting consequence.
They were walking along side each other down a long flight of stairs. Both had been awkwardly silent as they didn’t know how to begin speaking to each other about the things that had long been obvious between them but somehow, had been hidden. Both also knew that right from the start, it had been there… The attraction, the connection… the unexplainable fondness for each other. It had always been there. Right from when Yi Jung fetched Ga Eul from the porridge shop to New Caledonia. For some reason unknown to him, he had been on the lookout for her ever since then. And not just because Jun Pyo had bribed him with fine and expensive tea cups... It was due to something more…
Yi Jung, unable to take it anymore, turned to Ga Eul with a distraught and heavily serious expression on his face. He had never talked so seriously with a female in all his life regarding matters of inter-personal relationships. This was actually his first time in confronting a woman about his true feelings and surprisingly, he didn’t seem like a Casanova at all. For one, he looked like a typical man who was nervously preparing to confess his love to someone.
“Ga Eul… I…” He began, but was soon cut off by Ga Eul’s brave-sounding voice.
“I’ll start first…” She announced. Her expression was brave an undaunted as she tried to choke out the words she’d like to tell Yi Jung as of that very moment. “You don’t have to feel burdened by my presence anymore…” She explained. To be honest, all along, she knew that she had been treading into his business for far too long. But she was glad that she did... for she was able to do her best to show him how much she liked him.
“I’ve come to understand everything that you feel, Sunbae… I mean, you’ve been honest with me right from the start… So I’ve decided that I won’t come looking for you anymore…” Her eyes were downcast as she was unable to meet his own. She refused to look straight unto him for fear that upon seeing his eyes, she would take back everything she said.
“Aniyo…” Yi Jung replied. His expression was sullen and dejected and his subconscious mind was screaming in protest to the words she spoke to him. “Ga Eul… Was this because of Seung Hyun?” He asked. If it was indeed because of Seung Hyun, he would back out like a gentleman… but if it isn’t, all the more reason why he must pursue her.
“Aniyo… Seung Hyun and I… We chose to remain friends…” Ga Eul explained, and hearing this, Yi Jung somehow breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Then… Why?” He asked.
“My teacher – No, I mean, Eun Jae told me that she did everything her heart could withstand therefore she had no regrets.” She narrated with a somehow acrid smile playing across her lips. “Thank you for giving me a chance to do everything I can…” She looked away and smiled, mustering enough courage to put up a brave front for him. “If Jan Di contacts me, I’ll let you know…” She said and gave him a final nod before walking off, leaving the Casanova stunned rooted to the ground.
Yi Jung’s heart was thumping wildly inside his chest as pain tore through his heart. Seeing Ga Eul’s back as she walked away from him was an image that haunted him. Her words were truthful but he could not help but mourn in agony upon her decision. Was this… really the end for both of them?
“Ga Eul!” He called out with pain and agony written all over his features. “The truth is… I haven’t been honest with you…” He began and looked into Ga Eul’s face which was filled with unuttered bewilderment as he spoke to her. He took a deep breath before proceeding to speak to her. “I grew up keeping my emotions inside, hiding every bit of it, masking every detail… But I wasn’t a perfect pretender… I had to let out those emotions or else I would break…” He narrated.
“You…” He smiled almost shyly. “The truth is… I’ve told you what I really felt all along… I was only waiting for you to find it…” He said mysteriously. “Remember Ga Eul… You are my Jagiya… And you will always be… Remember the night of my exhibit? I’ve told a lot of people that I have been keeping a secret…”
To Be Continued…
- - - - - - - - - - - -Preview of Chapter Thirty: “Yi Jung’s Secret”
“Two weeks… That is how long I can wait before I leave… I will be waiting for your answer to my secret Ga Eul. Find me.” Yi Jung’s words echoed inside Ga Eul’s mind. Biting her lips in frustration, she had been replaying the events on Yi Jung’s exhibit inside her head. Up until now, she could not decipher what he meant.
At the start of the night, Yi Jung told her to smile. He introduced her five most favorite pieces. They were… Primadonna, Gillian, Ruby and what was the other one? It was the name of a constellation. After that, his most favorite piece among the five was the piece he called Jagiya. Then… he introduced her as the inspiration behind the piece named Jagiya… Then…
Wait!
Ga Eul suddenly scrambled from where she sat inside her room and immediately took out the box which contained Yi Jung’s pot named Jagiya which he gave her. ‘He was right!’ She thought. ‘He really did mention about a secret that night!’ If she remembered it correctly, Yi Jung mentioned that Jagiya had a secret.
-oOo-
a/n: I hope the little suspense won’t kill you guys. I just love leaving cliffhangers, don’t you? muhahaha Now, if you would like to see the clue to Yi Jung’s secret, scroll back to CHAPTER 04!
-oOo-
Date Written: May29,’09
Date Posted: May29,’09