| Fan Fiction |
by shattered teardrops
Although Ga Eul’s father had been laid off from work, they soon received good news that he was hired as an employee of Woosung Museum, which was directly connected to Yi Jung… and of course, his Grandmother. For this, Ga Eul was extremely thankful.
“Halmoni, komaowoyo… I don’t know if I could ever repay you…” Ga Eul gushed as she held the elder woman’s hand in hers.
They were inside the porridge shop where Halmoni and Yi Jung came to announce that they were giving Ga Eul’s father a job at the Museum. Of course, Ga Eul was extremely happy and thankful at the same time. Grandma Haejin was happy to help and Yi Jung was contented in seeing a smile on Ga Eul’s face. He knew that his Grandmother wouldn’t leave Ga Eul out. The old lady had a great weakness for Ga Eul… Just as Yi Jung had…
“Nonsense! All you have to do is marry Yi Jung and I won’t have any more problems!” She teased.
Ga Eul couldn’t help but blush and chuckle at the elder lady’s blunt reply. The moment Ga Eul knew that Yi Jung was Grandma Haejin’s Grandson, she knew that the elder woman had been planning to set them up together. She found it amusing at first but she was uncomfortable at first, knowing that Yi Jung didn’t feel at all inclined to be with her. Gradually, she got used to it as Yi Jung slowly warmed up.
Before Yi Jung and Grandma Haejin left, Yi Jung took her hand in his and lifted it up. He grazed his thumb across his fingers and planted a soft kiss as he directly looked at her. Yi Jung made sure that Grandma Haejin wouldn’t witness what he did because he made sure that she was currently getting inside the car as he took Ga Eul’s hand.
“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.” He said.
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.
‘But what?’
In her frustration and puzzlement, Ga Eul decided to open the box where she had kept Yi Jung’s piece named Jagiya for so long. She did not dare open it ever since she received for fear that just by looking at such a beautiful piece, she’d be tempted to believe that she indeed was the inspiration for it. Up until now, Ga Eul could not make herself believe that she had inspired Yi Jung to create a wonderful masterpiece.
She placed the pot on her study table and stared at it, trying to find out what secret it was keeping. She looked inside and found nothing. She looked at the bottom of its base and there was also nothing. Not even a hint of a note or a message. Personally, although Ga Eul wanted to give up on Yi Jung, she still could not find it in herself to simply give up chasing after him without first knowing what he hid from her for so long.
Ga Eul continued to stare at the beautiful pot, partly attracted by its beautiful contour and appearance, and partly caught in wonder and pure puzzle as to the secret it hid. Carefully, almost like a tender graze, she began to trace the intricate carvings adorning its body. With a pout on her lips as she concentrated, she began turning the pot around as she grazed her hand upon its delicate and intricately carved surface.
Then, as if a light bulb suddenly lit up, Ga Eul’s eyes widened in awe and sat straight on her seat. She lifted the pot up and grazed her hand on its surface once more. That’s it! She had been so busy admiring its intricate carvings that she failed to notice that other than the fact that the carvings looked like small cryptographs, some parts actually made sense.
She grazed her hands on the pot’s surface as she brought it nearer her face in order to stare at its intricate carvings. Her determination to find out whatever secret message Yi Jung had given her was stronger now more than ever. This time, she would definitely find it out and answer Yi Jung.
-oOo-
Jan Di was back in Seoul. But this was news that no one would be happy about. Although Jan Di was back, Goo Jun Pyo was in the hospital for being intentionally hit by a car. When he awoke, he seemed fine and even started bickering with the other F4. The only thing that was different was that he couldn’t seem to remember Jan Di.
It was almost a week after Jan Di had gone back to Seoul. Jun Pyo was still at the hospital and there were no new developments with the other F4. However, Jan Di and Ga Eul was surprised to have received a sudden visit from Yi Jung and Woo Bin. They didn’t even tell them why they came. They simply ordered porridges and began eating heartily. Both Jan Di and Ga Eul couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was definitely up.
For Ga Eul, although she badly wanted to talk to Yi Jung in private, once again, she chose to set aside her business for the sake of her friend. She knew that whatever it was that was between her and Yi Jung, it would come out in due time. For now, she would have to content herself with the fact that she was able to uncover the Casanova’s cryptic message.
Woo Bin smiled at them and made a thumb sign saying that the porridges were good. As proof, he and Yi Jung were able to finish off everything clean. “Ah… I’m so full…” Yi Jung announced and leaned back on his seat.
“It was good.” Woo Bin seconded.
“Now, tell us, what brought you two here?” Ga Eul finally asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
It was Woo Bin who answered. “We have some good news for Jan Di who can’t even take care of her boyfriend because of her part time job…” He began with a smile on his face.
“Ehh?” Jan Di was filled with puzzle.
“Jun Pyo… was discharged from the hospital.” Yi Jung confirmed.
“Really?” Jan Di replied, almost in disbelief but was obviously glad to have heard such news.
“Aish… How could you have told us something that important after you finished your porridges?” Ga Eul complained.
“Hurry and go…” Woo Bin told Jan Di who immediately smiled awkwardly and got off of her apron.
Jan Di hurriedly took her bag and bid Ga Eul good-bye in order to see Jun Pyo. As soon as Jan Di was out of the porridge shop, she was immediately followed by Woo Bin who opted to drive her knowing full well that Yi Jung had some personal business that he needed to take care of. And those personal businesses can be summed up in one name: Chu Ga Eul.
Ga Eul smiled warmly as she bid her friend good-bye. She was about to turn back and clean the table when she realized that Yi Jung was still there, still sitting on the table, with a charming smile on her face. “Sunbae… aren’t you leaving?” She asked.
The smile on Yi Jung’s face didn’t disappear. “The truth is, I came because I have something to say to you…” He began.
And so, Yi Jung brought Ga Eul to the kiln, where most of the pots experience extreme heat to harden. As they were sitting side by side in front of a burning kiln, Yi Jung could not help but stare at Ga Eu’s face. He wanted to tell her so many things but he didn’t know where to start. Instead, he picked up a blanket and placed it on Ga Eul’s shoulder.
What followed soon, was a minute-full of awkward silence. Yi Jung didn’t know what to say. It was Ga Eul who took courage to break the deafening silence. “They look happy… The pots inside the kiln, I mean…” She said. “For some reason, rather than seeing them in pain as they are burned, I see them happy.”
“Why?” Yi Jung asked.
“Because they know that if they endured the heat, they could eventually come out and be loved…” She replied as she stared dreamily unto the burning kiln.
Yi Jung smiled. “This is definitely something that only Ga Eul would say…”
Ga Eul smiled and looked sideways towards Yi Jung. “I also know something that only Yi Jung-sunbae would say…”
This time, her remark caught Yi Jung’s attention. He turned to face her and intently looked at her face. ‘Was she able to find out the secret behind Jagiya?’ He asked himself. Pretty soon, Yi Jung found himself falling pawn to his curiosity. “And what would that be?” He asked.
“I want someone to notice me… I want someone to love me passionately… Although I’m a Casanova, in fact, I’m a gentle person… I’m a jealous type of lover…” Ga Eul enumerated. “And lastly… Jagiya… Joahaeyo… but only in secret…”
As far as Yi Jung was concerned the only message he encrypted in Jagiya was the last one, the one saying ‘I like you… but only in secret…’. The other messages… He couldn’t understand how Ga Eul came up with them. “So… You found out Jagiya’s secret…” He said with a faint smile. “I knew you’d find it…” He added.
“Yeah… I found it. But not only that… There are also other things I’ve found out…” She said. “I realized that the traits of people that you personify in your pots… are actually your own.” She intently looked into his eyes and smiled.
“Primadonna… because although you’re always showered with attention, you still want more… You want people to notice the ‘you’ that has been overshadowed by the Casanova’s deceitful image. Ruby, fiery red and passion… You want someone to love you that way… Gillian, tall and gentle… In fact, although you’re deemed as a heartless playboy, the truth is, you’re a very gentle person… And Cassiopeia, you said that she’s a possessive kind of girl… Aren’t you like that, Sunbae? You’ve labeled me early on as your Jagiya… Isn’t that possessiveness already?”
Yi Jung smiled. Ga Eul had once again proven to him that she was a force to reckon with. He took her hand in his and held it with both his hands. With everything he had heard from Ga Eul, he was too dumbstruck to speak. He didn’t know where to start. His smile eventually faded into a frown.
“I’m ready, Sunbae… You have something to tell me, don’t you?” Ga Eul encouraged.
“Should I start with the bad news this time as well?” Yi Jung asked. His face hinted uttered seriousness. “I’m… leaving…” He finally broke the news he long withheld from her. The only clue he gave her was the two weeks time he gave her to find out Jagiya’s secret. Hearing his news, Ga Eul’s eyes widened. Her expression suddenly dropped as she turned to look at him with an unfathomable demeanor on his face.
“But then again, for you, I don’t think this news would be too bad…” Yi Jung continued.
“Where are you going?” Ga Eul asked without reacting to his comment.
“Sweden…” He merely replied.
“When… I mean… How long?” She asked again.
“Soon… Maybe 4 to 5 years…”
Although it was obvious that Ga Eul was devastated by the news he broke to her, she still decided to look on the bright side and not burden Yi Jung by holding him to stay. “That’s great…” She said almost lifelessly. Although she wanted to cheer him on, her voice and facial expression betrayed her. She didn’t want Yi Jung to go. “You’ll become an even more amazing potter when you return…” She added, trying to sound a bit cheerful. “Now that I think about it… It does sound like good news as well… So, what’s the other news?”
“When I return…” Yi Jung began and squeezed Ga Eul’s hand tightly. “You’ll be the first person I’ll come looking for…” He turned to face her and stared directly into her eyes. This caught Ga Eul in sheer surprise.
“Sunbae…” She said in pure awe.
A bit embarrassed by what he said, Yi Jung momentarily looked away. “I’m just saying… That if you still haven’t found your soul mate by that time… Well, it’s going to be too bad for him because I’m going to take that space beside you… And… And… I’m not going to give it up. Ever.” He said with a soft hue invading his face.
Ga Eul couldn’t help but smile. Although it wasn’t a confession of love, she was happy. It was the reformed Casanova’s version of telling her that he was going to be faithful from now on and that in the four years that would follow, he would only think of Ga Eul. It was also his way of telling not to go looking for her soul mate because he would be coming back for her after four years.
“Also… I have… Um… From now on, don’t call me Sunbae…” Yi Jung spoke.
“Ehh?”
“Call me Yi Jung… You have four years to practice calling me Yi Jung. It would be awkward to be calling your future boyfriend as Sunbae, right? Aniyo… No, that’s not right… What I meant is, it would be awkward to call your future husband– Wait. Forget I said that.” Yi Jung rambled on quite awkwardly.
“Mworagu?” Ga Eul asked in pure disbelief. “How can you be so sure that I wouldn’t find my soul mate within the next four years? And how can you be so sure that you would me by future boyfriend?” She asked with a small smile playing on her lips.
“Well… Because you’re already engaged.” Yi Jung replied seriously.
“Engaged? Since when?” Ga Eul asked.
“Since now.” Yi Jung took out a velvet box from his pocket. He opened it and got the silver diamond ring inside. Without another word, he placed the ring on Ga Eul’s left ring finger and wordlessly walked away, leaving Ga Eul with a stunned expression on her face as she stared at the ring on her finger in pure shock. Yi Jung remembered that Ga Eul pulled that trick on him before Jan Di left for Macau. He chuckled to himself as he thought of how she got a dose of her own medicine.
When Ga Eul finally recovered from the shock of getting an engagement ring from Yi Jung, she ultimately found herself infuriated. “Yah! You haven’t even courted me yet! And you haven’t even told me you loved me yet! You haven’t even kissed me or proposed to me! How can we be engaged?!”
To Ga Eul’s surprise, Yi Jung suddenly took abrupt steps back and stood in front of her. “Right… I forgot about this…” He said and without another word, he placed both his hands on either sides of her face and planted a sweet kiss on her lips, one that definitely took away Ga Eul’s breath. He wasn’t a Casanova for nothing. (keke)