A.N: I don't know how else to express my gratitude for all your wonderful support for this story but to say thank you. Thousand apologies for the many mistakes in this story :(. Feel free to share your thoughts on how to improve my writings. I'm all eyes :)
To Charity, Olamy, Sophiecantik, Guest (1), YoungestCullen8, JHsgf82, Tyamutz, lolo, Cari-Bum, SweetGirlie14, blueblink, Guest (2) – I Google Translated your review ^_^ , Viki, Guest (3), Vhickiee, deonmdsouza, briendel. melay, graceo12, mystique012, sapphiiregal, yeanne and perfectlycerisia, special thanks for your reviews and support.
Take care everyone. Have you said "I love you" to your dear ones today?
Disclaimer:
I do not own all these BOF characters, but the children.
Chapter 8: The Peace
Yi Jeong and Ga Eul sat on the swings at Shinhwa Elementary School playground, holding hands. They watched Dae-Hwan and Jae Eun played catch ball with three other children seven meters away. Each time the ball landed in Jae Eun's chubby little hands, she would run away, teasing them to take the ball from her. The children laughed as they chased the little toddler around. The So parents too, laughed, joyful at the scene in front of them.
They were waiting for the school bell to ring. It was the last day of school, the end of the academic year.
It had been five months since that historical day at Shinhwa Elementary School.
Park Chung-Suk
A day after that fateful day Park Chung-Suk's wife filed for divorce. A man of his words, Jun Pyo assisted in getting her the best lawyer. A week into the divorce negotiations on terms and conditions, Park Chung-Suk was officially a divorced man. Chin-Ho's custody went to his Omma. However, Park Chung-Suk was allowed to see his son, once a week, under the supervision of an officer from the City Legal Department.
Jun Pyo too had done exactly as he had stated.
Throughout the trial period of Park Chung-Suk versus Shinwa Group, the F4 used their influence to keep the media coverage as minimum as possible. The news only reported that it was an abuse and misconduct case involving the Principal of Shinhwa Elementary School.
The F4 had to do it. They legally maneuvered the case from leading straight to the wife of an F4 member as the sole cause factor of the whole disorder. Then again, it was not her fault in the first place.
Should the information got out to the mass, the So family especially Ga Eul would be bombarded with unnecessary attentions from the scandal-hungry media and paparazzi. The F4 would never allow that to happen. So Yi Jeong would never let his family be the victims of media savagery.
A month after his divorce, Park Chung-Suk was sentenced to a year-long period in prison on the accounts of various misconducts: blackmails, false reporting and abuse. His scheduled gatherings with Chin-Ho moved to the prison, still once a week and still under the watchful eyes of the officer in charge.
During his service time, he was to attend a series of counseling and correctional sessions. His obsession with Mrs. So was way too dangerous and harmful. It was not an easy feat for the counselor especially during their first two sessions.
Park Chung-Suk was near to beating the counselor for suggesting that every time he thought of Mrs. So, he should quickly thought about her husband and children, or that he should forget Mrs. So and instead think about his son.
The counselor definitely needed to think of some other approaches to deal with Park Chung-Suk. As of now, Mrs. So remained the core reason in Park Chung-Suk's unhealthy obsessive state of mind.
Gyeong Ha Ni
Three days after the shocking event at school, Chin-Ho and his Omma moved to a new house thanks to Mr. Gu Jun Pyo. One, Jun Pyo was afraid that Park Chung-Suk would continue to hurt them and two, the bad memories in their old house with Park Chung-Suk were too much for his Omma to handle. Jun Pyo too guaranteed that Park Chung-Suk would never be able to get near them in at least 300 meters. It was Jan Di's idea.
Gyeong Ha Ni, Chin-Ho's Omma did not want to meet Ga Eul. She did not want to face the woman who had 'destroyed' her marriage. She hated THE Chu Ga Eul whom her ex-husband loved very, very much. But Ga Eul was relentless. She started to come to Ms. Gyeong's new house a day after Park Chung-Suk was sent to prison. She hoped to ask for Ms. Gyeong's forgiveness.
Jae Kyung said that Ga Eul was crazy to do that. It was not her fault that the delusional Park Chung-Suk loved her. It was not her doing that Park Chung-Suk hurt his family. Furthermore, she was afraid that Ms. Gyeong would harm Ga Eul since she hated Ga Eul so much.
But Ga Eul wanted to explain everything to Ms. Gyeong, starting from the very first day that she met Park Chung-Suk. She felt that she was also at fault. May be it was her fault to begin with. May be her kindness and the way she treated people around her with care had led Park Chung-Suk to believe that she loved him too. Whatever it was, she felt that she played a part in his problems.
Jae Kyung asked Yi Jeong to talk Ga Eul out of it. However, Yi Jeong only shrugged his shoulders and let Ga Eul did what she thought was the right thing. He knew his wife. Once she put her mind into it, she would not budge from her stand. Yes, his wife can be stubborn too.
Every day Ga Eul waited outside of the house for one hour. If she felt tired, she would sit on the stairs. Every five minutes or so, she would call out for Ms. Gyeong to give her a chance, but Ms. Gyeong was too hurt to let her in. For seven days in a row Ga Eul came and still Ms. Gyeong did not open her door.
On the eighth day, Ga Eul brought little Jae Eun with her. It was her last effort. Yi Jeong disagreed that she dragged their youngest daughter into this situation, but Ga Eul reasoned that she had to try. Ga Eul did not like living with that guilt feeling in her heart.
Yi Jeong gave in, but made her promised that by the first sign of harm, Ga Eul should leave the house immediately. Ga Eul brushed him off saying that he was being unreasonable. Moreover, their driver would be outside waiting by the car. There was nothing to be worried about. "Honey, your number is on my first speed dial, remember?" as she further comforted her husband.
There was a pretty little girl in her mother's arms on the other side of her door. Ms. Gyeong heaved a sigh before she opened the door and let her unwanted guests in.
She offered a seat in the living room. Ga Eul said thank you and put Jae Eun on her laps. Jae Eun held her hands up for Ms. Gyeong to take. The lady was surprised but did not leave her seat.
"Up up up up Maammaaa". "No Eunnie. Sit with Omma". "Up up up" Jae Eun leaned forward to go to Ms. Gyeong.
"I'm sorry Ms. Gyeong. You have to take her. If not she'll scream her lungs out. I think she likes you." Ms. Gyeong looked like a very kind woman. She was also beautiful. It was evident that Chin-Ho got his good looks from his Omma.
Ga Eul stood up and gave Jae Eun to Ms. Gyeong. The lady hesitantly took the little girl and in an instant Jae Eun kissed Ms. Gyeong's nose and giggled. The lady was taken aback by the unexpected kiss. Ga Eul smiled. "Yes. She likes you very much."
"Ms. Gyeong, I'm Chu Ga Eul. I…"
"I know who you are. How may I help you Mrs. So?" Ms. Gyeong tried to be civil. She was still hurt from her divorce.
Ga Eul had thought of what to say hundreds of times before she came. She was going to be honest with the lady in front of her.
"I am really, really sorry for what happened… with you, Chin-Ho and Mr. Park."
Ms. Gyeong was momentarily quiet. "And why are you sorry Mrs. So? Are you his lover?" she could not resist asking that.
Ga Eul closed her eyes. She understood that the lady is front of her was still bitter. Ga Eul opened her eyes and looked straight into Ms. Gyeong's.
"I was not, am not and will never be, Mrs. Gyeong. I am in love with my husband and I love my family very much." She answered with a firm voice.
"Then what are you sorry for?"
"Because I was part of Mr. Park's past. I admit that years ago we were close but I was also close to our other male group mate back then. I am sorry if my behavior and actions then led to him believing that I love him, but I assure you that it was not my intention. Furthermore, I was already in a relationship with my husband when I first met Mr. Park."
Jae Eun played with Ms. Gyeong's pearl necklace and tried to put it into her mouth. "Eunnie, don't." Ms. Gyeong took Jae Eun's hand and played with her little fingers. Jae Eun giggled more.
Their conversation resumed with Ga Eul relaying everything from their charity project to her efforts to distance herself from Park Chung-Suk to her last contact with him before he left for the USA. She did not hear from him and about him until that registration day at Shinhwa Elementary School. She insisted that she did not know whether he was married until he introduced Chin-Ho to them.
Throughout the 25 minutes conversation, Mrs. Gyeong was mostly quiet. She listened to her guest attentively, trying to absorb Ga Eul's story about her ex-husband, compared them with Chung-Suk's version of the story, and eventually to decide on her guest's sincerity in coming to tell her all of these.
"Ms. Gyeong?"
She startled at Ga Eul's call.
"Ms. Gyeong, will you forgive me for what I've done to you and Chin-Ho?"
"Mrs. So."
"Chung-Suk and I met at one of the Korean community events in Maryland 13 years ago. He was very charming and kind. He courted me and a year after we got married. We were one happy family especially after Chin-Ho was born." Ms. Gyeong had that faraway look.
"Until we came back here." She now looked at Ga Eul. "Until he met you again."
"I… I…" Ga Eul had her hands over her chest.
"He told us that he loves you. He wants to marry you. He doesn't love us anymore. Just like that. Years of love and happiness chucked out of the window just like that. How do you think we'd feel? How do you think Chin-Ho feels when his Appa doesn't love him anymore?" She held her tears in. She thought that there were no more tears left in her. She was wrong.
"I told him that he is crazy. You are someone else's wife and mother. He needs to think about Chin-Ho. He got angry and hit me. One night, Chin-Ho saw him hit me. Chin-Ho tried stopping his Appa but the crazy man hit him too. It happened every day. I don't have any close relatives here to tell because all my family is in America."
Both Ms. Gyeong and Ga Eul were in tears. Fortunately for them, Jae Eun had fallen asleep in Ms. Gyeong's arms when Omma was telling her story.
"I hate you. I thought that you were his lover. He said that you were going to divorce your husband. He told us that you had fallen in love with him again. Chin-Ho hates you too but I didn't know that he hurt your children."
Ga Eul was speechless.
"Now that you are here and all these things that you've told me…" Ms. Gyeong sniffed and wiped away the path of tears under her eyes. "I realize now that you are not at fault."
It was hard for her to admit. The Chu Ga Eul in front of her did not deserve her hatred. All these time she had thought wrong of Ga Eul. It seemed that Park Chung-Suk had fed her lies after lies about Ga Eul.
"I am sorry for what Chin-Ho had done to your children. I am sorry too for believing all those lies about you." Ms. Gyeong sobbed again.
Ga Eul stood up and went to Ms. Gyeong. Carefully she wrapped her arms around her, cautious to not squash the sleeping Jae Eun. The two ladies cried on each other's shoulders.
The So Family
Dinner was not as lively as usual. Yi Jeong and Ga Eul let the children retired early. The young ones were too exhausted and overwhelmed with what had happened at school earlier. The parents decided to have the family meeting, minus Dae-Hwan and Jae Eun on the next day. The school was given a day off tomorrow. Uncle Jun Pyo said that it was an emergency off day.
That night in the vicinity of their bedroom, Yi Jeong and Ga Eul had their own talk.
Cherishing the comfort of their silk duvet, Ga Eul drew random circles on his chest while Yi Jeong wrapped his arms around her. Each was deep in his and her thoughts.
"Honey," her voice sounded sad. Yi Jeong lifted her chin with a finger so that he could see his wife's beautiful face.
He kissed the top of her head. Oh how he loved her hair's sweet scent of lily.
"What is it Jagiya?"
Ga Eul's teargate was about to open. A drop leaked out, followed by another and another.
"Jagiya? Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong?"
Ga Eul buried her face against her husband's chest. "I'm sorry Honey, I'm so sorry". As she whispered those words, Yi Jeong felt her tears streamed down dampening his nightshirt.
"Jagiya. Why are you saying sorry? It's not your fault."
Yi Jeong tried to make Ga Eul look at him but she tightened her grip on Yi Jeong's arm and kept her face buried.
"I'm sorry that our children had to suffer from Park Chung-Suk's craziness. I'm sorry that Park Chung-Suk thought that I love him. I'm sorry that I made you hit him. I'm sorry that because of me he called you heartless and no good. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about him before. If ever I didn't meet him, all of these would not happen. Our children would not be hurt. You would not be hurt. I'm sorry Honey. I'm sorry Yi Jeong. I'm sorry Yi Jeong Sunbae. This is all my fault."
She wept and wept. Her body shook with her sobs.
"Oh Ga Eul Jagiya,"
Yi Jeong could only tighten his arms around his crying wife to comfort her. His strong hearted wife had finally broken down. The emotions and guilt were too much for her kind heart to contain.
They were in that position for quite a long time. Yi Jeong let Ga Eul cried to her heart's content. She needed to get the overwhelming emotions out of her system before he could lend her his loving words.
His heart ached too for the things that had happened to his children. Yi Jeong wiped off the tears that had fallen down his cheeks.
Once in a while, Yi Jeong placed his kisses on her forehead or the top of her head. Every few minutes or so, he wiped her tears away, only to be instantly replaced by a new trail of drops.
The cries continued for another ten minutes.
"Honey?" her voice coarse from her cries, her head was still against his chest.
"Yes, my love." He caressed her damped cheeks gently.
"Saranghae Yi Jeong."
"Nado saranghae Ga Eul. Nado saranghae."
"Please forgive me Honey."
"Jagiya. Please don't say that. It's not your fault. It's him. He is not right in his mind. Please don't burden yourself with this guilt."
"I'm afraid, Honey. I didn't expect him to still love me after all these years. He…"
"No one is allowed to love you Jagiya. No one. You are mine and mine only. Only I can love you." Yi Jeong pulled her closer to him, if ever that was even possible, afraid that she would be taken away from him.
"I am worried about you and the children if he stays in Seoul. I will protect you and our children from him, and I hope that Jun Pyo too, will deal with him soon."
Ga Eul lifted her face to meet his eyes. His eyes too were sad and worried but she did not miss his look of love for her. Ga Eul pushed herself up a little and placed a deep kiss on her husband's lips.
"I love you with all my heart So Yi Jeong," she whispered against his soft lips.
He returned her kiss. "Ditto my love."
Yi Jeong showered his love with a few more kisses, and more.
The next day came. They discussed about the children's actions in each incident with Chin-Ho, Mr. Park's unjust behaviors towards them and the teachers' punishments. It took a lot of explanations to make the children understand the whole fiasco, especially to the young Dae-Jung. His innocent mind could not compute on how some people had the heart to hurt others.
Although it was clear that Mr. Park, Chin-Ho and the teachers had done them wrong, Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa as well as Dae-Jung were not left unpunished. The children should have told their parents about all of these confrontations. The parents too were not happy that Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa 'brought' their wrestling skills outside of the house. "There are other ways to solve the problems," said Appa.
Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa were grounded for two weeks and Dae-Jung, one. Also, during the punishment period, there would be no pottery classes with Appa for Dae-Hyun and no cooking lessons with Omma for Jae Hwa while Dae-Jung's puzzle books and blocks were to be taken away. The children pouted, disappointed but accepted their punishments.
"Appa, Omma?" Dae-Jung's right hand was up.
"Yes Baby?" both parents responded at the same time.
"Why did Mr. Park Sir say that he loves Omma? Why did he say that Appa steal Omma from him? Is Appa a thief? Appa, what is a playboy Casanova? Baby don't like it when Mr. Park Sir said that Appa is no good playboy. Appa was a good boy when Appa was young, right Appa? Appa played sports in school, right Appa? Was Appa good in sports too?"
The four So members were stunned, mouth opened and eyes seemed to nearly pop out of their sockets.
Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa looked at each other, then at their brother and lastly at Appa and Omma. They too wanted to know the real story about Mr. Park, Omma and Appa.
Yi Jeong and Ga Eul groaned inwardly. Those were the two topics that the parents dreaded and were hoping for the children to not remember. It was now or later. Oh the 'perks' of having a curious little smart innocent child.
Yi Jeong looked at his wife. His eyes showed worry and nervousness. How was he going to tell his young sons and daughter about it? He was not proud of that part of his past. That was his life without love, his life that was filled with hatred towards his father and towards his own self.
Ga Eul took her husband's hands in hers. She caressed them softly. She too was contemplating on the best possible way to make the children understand the whole situation without degrading or misjudging anybody, not even Mr. Park the Principal.
After some silent exchange of messages between the husband and wife, they decided that the time to tell would be now. There should be no more secrets among them.
"Well…" Yi Jeong tried to calm his nervous heart.
"First of all, yes. Appa was a good boy when Appa was young. Appa got good grades at school. Appa too was good in basketball, soccer, chess, swimming and Appa can play saxophone very well too."
Ga Eul nudged her husband. She gave him the 'What was that?' look. Yi Jeong returned a 'What? It was true. All of it.' face.
The children were all smiles, proud to have an Appa who was a good student and multi-talented too.
"Emm. Unfortunately a playboy Casanova is not a good boy."
Jae Hwa and Dae-Jung had a puzzled look on their faces. But Appa just said that Appa was a good boy. Dae-Hyun knew what a playboy was. He looked down at the floor.
Yi Jeong was nervous again.
"When Appa was much younger, before Appa met Omma, Appa was a bad playboy. Appa was very naughty."
Ga Eul held her husband's hands firmly.
"Girls liked Appa very, very much because Appa is handsome and rich."
Ga Eul rolled her eyes at the handsome part, but it was true. So Yi Jeong was still handsome and rich. Unfortunately for Ga Eul, up to this day, though with three sons and two daughters, her husband still received advances and flirts from some unabashed women, much to her annoyance.
"Appa went out with them. Appa played with the girls but Appa did not love them."
"That is OK Appa. We can go out with other people whom we don't love. We can just be acquaintances or friends. Right, Omma?"
Ga Eul did not know how to answer Jae Hwa's question. She suppressed her laugh of amusement at her eldest daughter's innocent remark. Yi Jeong too, sported an amused expression. After a moment of silence, Ga Eul nodded to Jae Hwa, agreeing with her statement.
"True Darling but Appa was not friends with them. Appa was very bad." Yi Jeong lowered his gaze.
"Now Appa is ashamed that Appa had behaved very badly." Yi Jeong looked at Ga Eul. His wife mouthed "Saranghae Honey. I'm very proud of you."
She was. Ga Eul was proud that her husband was brave to share this used-to-be bad side of him with his children with the hope that they would not follow in his footsteps of becoming a playboy or a playgirl.
Yi Jeong nodded his head and smiled. He then turned to look at the children. All of them did not know what to say. Then Dae-Hyun nodded. He was able to catch on Appa's message.
Jae Hwa and Dae-Jung might still be too young to really understand the true meaning of a playboy, but by the look on their faces Yi Jeong was relieved that they at least now knew that the word playboy was associated with something that was not good.
"Appa, did Appa steal Omma from Mr. Park?" Jae Hwa repeated her brother's question. This was the first time that they were venturing into the topic of girlfriend and boyfriend.
"No Darling no," Omma quickly replied. It was now Omma's turn to tell.
"Mr. Park was Omma's senior at university. We were close because we worked in the same project. We helped special needs children at Uncle Jun Pyo's hospital. At that time Omma was already with Appa but Appa went to Sweden to study. Appa was in Sweden for four years."
"Appa, why didn't Appa bring Omma to Sweden too? Poor Omma." Dae-Jung hugged Omma.
Ga Eul thought about her son's question. She remembered that day years ago.
They were already a month into their relationship. Yi Jeong suggested that Ga Eul followed him to Sweden. She could do her undergraduate degree there too. It would also serve as a good opportunity for her to experience a different school of thoughts that might be beneficial to her career when she returned to South Korea.
Truth was, Yi Jeong was afraid that Ga Eul would be snatched by another man if he left his beautiful girlfriend in South Korea, to which Ga Eul laughed and ruffled his hair. Plus, he wanted to be able to see her every day. They could share an apartment there if she was worried about expenses. Ga Eul blushed furiously at his last suggestion.
Ga Eul could not accept his proposal.
One, she and her family did not have enough funds to sustain her three year study in Sweden. She quickly declined Yi Jeong's offer to sponsor her. She did not want people to think that she was a gold digger. She too refused his offer for a loan. She felt weird taking a loan from her boyfriend.
Two, she was reluctant to leave her Omma and Appa. Her harabeoji passed away two months ago and her halmoni was sick. Omma and Appa brought halmoni to live with them. She had been helping Omma in taking care of halmoni. If she went to study abroad, Omma will be short handed with halmoni.
Three, Ga Eul did not trust her own self whenever she was with Yi Jeong. His presence near her was always making her young hormones chaotic. So sharing an apartment with him? No no no no Ga Eul. A big NO. She had made a vow that she would save herself for her husband.
"That's OK Baby. Omma and Appa were fine with that arrangement." Ga Eul rubbed his son's back gently. Yi Jeong gave her that heart-melting smile of his. It seemed that he too remembered that day.
"But Omma, why does Mr. Park love Omma?" Dae-Hyun needed to know.
"Well Omma don't know Dae-Hyun. Omma actually don't know why. Omma treated Mr. Park just like Omma's any other close friends. We spent a lot of time together with that charity work at the hospital."
"But Mr. Park is married and Chin-Ho is his son. Why does he still love Omma?" Jae Hwa was still puzzled by it.
"Omma don't know Darling." Ga Eul shook her head.
"The matter of the heart is mysterious Darling." Everybody looked at Appa.
"Love hits us when we are not looking. Love comes to us although we think that we don't need it. Love works in its own way. Love has its own mind. Once love sets itself in our heart, it is normally hard to get rid of love."
This was the first time that Ga Eul heard Yi Jeong talked about love so philosophically. She fell in love with him again.
"In the case of Mr. Park, maybe Omma is the first woman that he loves. You know how wonderful a person Omma is, right? He fell in love with Omma. Omma was kind to him and Omma treated him well. Maybe he had mistaken Omma's attentiveness for love. Even though Omma told him that Omma doesn't love him, maybe his love for Omma is too deep that it blinds him."
"Appa do not like the idea of another man loving Omma like Appa love Omma, but Appa can't control his love for Omma. What Appa can do is hope that he accepts the fact that Omma is Appa's wife, that Omma loves Appa and not him."
Ga Eul held her tears.
"If Mr. Park still loves Omma, we can always team up and smack him down."
"HONEY!"
Yi Jeong chuckled. The expressions on his children's faces were priceless. Did Appa just say yes to smacking Mr. Park? Then, what was all those talk about no wrestling outside of the house all about?
"Hahahaha! I'm just joking Jagiya." Ga Eul slapped his arm.
"And no, kids. We don't hurt people." Yi Jeong knew his children well.
Five minutes after, the five So members left their family living room. It was time for lunch.
Yi Jeong and Ga Eul were grateful that today's discussion was fruitful. Lessons were sent and learnt. The children now knew what they should do if ever similar situation arose again.
Shinhwa Elementary School
The school welcomed its new Principal three weeks after Mr. Park was fired. This time Gu Jun Pyo got himself directly involved with the whole process. The screening sessions were tight and strict. He wanted to make sure that he hired the best candidate. The same procedure was applied to the teachers' vacancies.
Park Chin-Ho had asked for forgiveness from the So children and the other students whom he had wronged. He remained in Jae Hwa's class. It was her request. If Uncle Jun Pyo was willing to give Chin-Ho another chance, then why wouldn't she? She had understood that what he did before was out of his frustration for the lack of attention and love from his Appa. She had forgiven him for all the things that he had done to her.
To show that she and her brothers did not hold any grudge against Chin-Ho, they invited him to join their table during recess. Dae-Hyun too had offered him to be in his soccer team. Chin-Ho was also invited to Dae-Hwan's 6th birthday party at the So Mansion. Omma was also a friend of Chin-Ho's Omma now.
Shinhwa Elementary School was in peace, at last.
Present time
Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa came out of the main building, side by side. They were in a heated conversation. Jae Hwa slapped her Oppa's shoulder at something that Oppa said and Dae-Hyun just cackled out loud at his sister's reaction. When they saw the awaiting family, they quickened their pace.
"Hyung! Noona!" called Dae-Hwan, excitedly. He ran and met Hyung midway. The two boys then raced towards their parents. The person who reached Appa and Omma first got to decide on what the next family movie outing would be. Dae-Hwan won and jumped up and down, happily. Of course Hyung had let him.
"Yung, Uuunnaaaa!" the little girl in Omma's arms mimicked her Hwannie Oppa.
Little Jae Eun held her hands up for Noona to take her. She loved to smother Noona's face with her kisses. "Hi Dae-Hyun, Darling. Where's your brother?" Omma asked after she hugged them. Ga Eul stretched her neck, searching for Dae-Jung.
"Did he forget about today?" This time it was Appa. Appa too was looking straight at the main building.
Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa turned their heads following Appa and Omma's lines of sight. Jae Eun was now pulling Jae Hwa's headband and tried to put it on her head.
"I don't know Omma. Maybe he's still in his class? You know how sad he always is on the last day of school. I think he's saying goodbye to his table, chair and classroom right now." Dae-Hyun and Jae Hwa laughed as they imagined Dae-Jung's pouting mouth and sad face. Dae-Hwan laughed too, even though he did not really understand what Hyung was talking about.
"But he definitely did not forget about today. He couldn't stop talking about it during recess," added Jae Hwa who was now helping Jae Eun with the headband.
In six hours, they would be on the plane heading for Mexico City. This year's family holiday was going to be a long trip to Mexico, Argentina and Spain. Last year they went to India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Next year would be Kazakhstan, Iceland, and Singapore.
"You kids, stop saying things about your brother. But Appa think that he's doing exactly that too." Yi Jeong joined in on the laughs, to which he was immediately rewarded with a pinch on his arm by his wife.
"Ouch! Jagiya? It is true. You know it too." Yi Jeong continued with his laugh. Ga Eul rolled her eyes. Her husband sure liked to tease Dae-Jung too for the boy was a little nerdy. No. The correct term would be adorable cute nerd. Ga Eul chuckled at that very thought.
"Omma, Appa, can Hwannie bring Hwannie's camera too?" He was referring to his Polaroid camera.
"Yes of course Sweetheart." Ga Eul lightly pinched his chubby cheeks. Dae-Hwan was more on the chubby side. "Hwannie is huggable like Harabeoji," as he would say whenever Dae-Hyun teased him about his weight.
"Even if Hwannie is chubby, Hwannie is handsome like Appa. Hwannie is a lot cuter than Hyung too." Dae-Hwan would then hug Appa, happy that Appa was on his side against Hyung's teases.
"Honey, I'm worried."
"I'll go and …" Yi Jeong was about to go look for his third born when he saw Dae-Jung came out with a taller boy. The boy looked like the actor Kim Joon from that Boys Over Flower drama. He was cute and attractive.
"Appa!" Dae-Jung jumped on Appa and nearly knocked Appa down. He then hugged and kissed Appa's cheeks repeatedly.
Dae-Hyun nudged Jae Hwa. Both rolled their eyes at Dae-Jung's antics. He was already coming to 9 years old in another month and he still kissed Appa as if Appa was going to leave the country. Omma hissed at them. The two siblings smiled sheepishly. Ooopsss… Busted.
"Yuuungggg!" Jae Eun leaned herself forward and tried to grab Dae-Jung's hair.
"Annyeong Mr. and Mrs. So, Dae-Hyun-shii, Jae Hwa yang," the tall boy bowed at the So family. "My name is Gong Sang-Ki." He was Dae-Hyun's age.
The So family bowed too. Each So member looked at the boy curiously. All except Dae-Hyun had never met him before and they did not remember Dae-Jung's mention of him. Gong Sang-Ki's classroom was next to Dae-Hyun's.
"Annyeong Mr. Gong," said Yi Jeong. "How may we help you? Are you Dae-Jung's friend?"
"Yes Sir, Madam. I am. We become friends just four months ago when I first transferred here. We are in the same Mathematics Club."
"Appa, Omma, Sang-Ki Hyung wants to say something but he is shy."
"What is it Sang-Ki? You don't have to be shy with us." Ga Eul gave him her wide smile.
Gong Sang-Ki seemed nervous. Hues of crimson began to color his cheeks. "I… I…"
"Go on Sang-Ki Hyung. Tell her." All the other So members looked at Dae-Jung. Tell her? Her who?
"I… I… I wanted to give these to Jae Hwa yang. I would like to be Jae Hwa yang's friend."
When did he take out the scented card and yellow rose?
Jae Hwa's jaw dropped, as well as Dae-Hyun's and Appa's. Dae-Jung clasped his hands, a wide grin plastered on his face. Dae-Hwan blinked his eyes repeatedly, still did not understand what was going on. Jae Eun twirled Jae Hwa's hair with her chubby fingers. Omma's smile became wider. She looked at the boy lovingly.
"Sang-Ki!" a man's voice suddenly called for the boy. Gong Sang-Ki turned to see his father waving at him. He nodded and turned back to face the Sos.
"I'm sorry. I have to go. Appa is here."
He then gave the card and rose to Ga Eul. The three So members were still stunned.
Gong Sang-Ki bowed to them.
"Enjoy your holiday Jae Hwa yang. Have a safe trip. Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. So, Dae-Hyun-shii, Dae-Jung, Jae Hwa yang. It's great to finally meet all of you."
Ga Eul, Dae-Hwan and Jae Eun waved goodbye. Gong Sang-Ki then ran to his father.
"Wha…" "What just happened?" "What was that?" Jae Hwa, Yi Jeong and Dae-Hyun finally found their voices back.
"Sang-Ki Hyung likes Noona." The excited Dae-Jung wiggled his eyebrows at Noona.
"No way! No!" said Dae-Hyun. His face was almost beet red.
"I won't allow it. I won't allow this. I'm going to have a talk with this boy." said Yi Jeong. His hands were in his silky soft jet black hair that Ga Eul loved to touch. He felt a headache coming.
"…" Jae Hwa was speechless.
Ga Eul laughed at their responds. This was going to be interesting.
She kissed her husband on his cheeks, hooked one arm with his and pulled him towards the car.
"Come on you naughty Sos. Let's get ready for our trip."
So Jae Hwa, her Oppa and Appa better not create another chaos when the school opened next semester.
- T. H. E. E. N. D -