Chapter Text
— Sir, are you coming back from another country ?
— Oh ? How did you guess that ?
— Then… Are you coming back from Sweden ?
— Miss, you’re very smart !
— Then it’s you ! Our teacher told us that her fiancee was there…
Yi Jeong couldn’t help but laugh in front of that little overjoyed girl who was really talkative and excited whereas Ga Eul, embarrassed, was trying to keep her quiet.
He promised to come back later, because he also had to go back meet everyone else. It had been a long time since the F4 were all together.
Four years later they were finally in the same country, for a very special occasion : Jun Pyo’s proposal to Jan Di.
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— Jan Di told me the big news, Ga Eul said before taking a sip of her coffee.
Her eyes were shining like the moon, and she seemed ecstatic about it. Yi Jeong smiled at her.
— Soulmates are finally together after so many years.
— I thought you didn’t believe in those stuff, Ga Eul reminded him.
Yi Jeong’s empty gaze didn’t stop him from replying:
— I think you finally convinced me, he revealed, making Ga Eul smile too.
The waitress came with some pastries they didn’t order, and stared at Yi Jeong, stunned by his beauty. But unlike Ga Eul, he didn’t even seem to notice. Ga Eul eyed at the waitress, waiting for Yi Jeong to notice how she seemed dazzled by his beauty. Yi Jeong followed her gaze and asked the waitress:
— Hm… ? Why are you waiting here ?
The waitress blinked and apologized. After a quick bow, she rushed behind the counter. Ga Eul was certain Yi Jeong knew she was just stunned by his looks: after all, he’d been accustomed by this for a long time, now.
But before she could say anything, Yi Jeong went on:
— So… You talked to your pupils about me ? he teased her.
To his surprise, it didn’t work as he expected. Ga Eul didn’t blush before trying to justify herself with a cute embarrassing look. Instead, she let out a little laugh and said with confidence:
— I’ve been a teacher at this school for a while now, Ga Eul answered. Surprisingly, it was one of the first question they asked me at the beginning of the year, probably because I started to work on Valentine’s Day. I said that without thinking, but it seems like they remembered after all.
Yi Jeong stayed silent for a few seconds, meditating the answer while playing with his cup, studying its circumference.
— Then… is it still the same since then ? he asked.
Ga Eul didn’t really know what to say. She never forgot about him but…
Yi Jeong left the cup on the table, now focusing on her. Ga Eul could see the teasing spark in his dark eyes.
— Maybe… you finally met your soulmate, Ga Eul ? he asked, raising his eyebrow.
He saw the young lady looking down before the words came out :
— I think I have…
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— And why didn’t you tell that you were talking about him ? Jan Di exclaimed.
— What are you saying ? Ga Eul answered, playing with a syringe. Of course it’s not him ! Have you been sleeping every time I told you about Hyun Byeon ?
— Jan Di-oennie … I have to go to the bathroom, a little girl complained, pulling the white doctor’s robe of the future wife of Gu Jun Pyo.
Jan Di took her in her arms.
— You, she ordered to Ga Eul. You stay here.
She came back a few minutes later.
— I thought you were serious about Yi Jeong-sunbae, Jan Di sighed. I mean you became so adorable thanks to him.
— Hey ! Ga Eul protested. Yi Jeong never told me to wait for him.
— I was the one who told you that, Jan Di reminded her. If it were you, you would have waited until today.
Ga Eul stayed silent. She knew Jan Di was right, but she was ready to defend her new boyfriend.
— I introduced you to Hyeon Byeon ! You saw him, right ? He’s adorable.
— Yes, Jan Di sighed, and he’s a great guy. But now, everything is different. Yi Jeong has returned. How’d he take the news ?
Ga Eul frowned as she remembered.
— Actually, pretty well. He told me that if I chose him, then he must me the right one for me.
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— Park Hyun Byeon, twenty years old. He’s a model. No college education. He did some commercials, but nothing very prestigious.
Woo Bin let the file on the table, looking at Yi Jeong who took it immediately.
— Yi Jeong, Woo Bin declared. Why the hell would you want to know about such a model ? He’s not even popular !
Jun Pyo couldn’t do anything else but agree.
— Why are we ruining one of the rare afternoon the F4 can spend together to talk about useless stuffs ?
Yi Jeong as he was reading the file.
— What about his background ? he asked. How did he end up being a model ?
— He got recruited on the streets, Ji Hoo replied. a hardworking guy.
Yi Jeong frowned. Something was just weird. Or maybe he was just over-reacting. Woo Bin emitted a short laugh, looking at his friend.
— How funny…Yi Jeong… did you actually believe that Ga Eul would be waiting for you ?
— What ?
Jun Pyo laughed.
— What do we have here ? Are you actually telling me you have a crush on Ga Eul ? She’s not your type !
— Jan Di was not your type either, Yi Jeong replied with a cold tone.
— Ya ! I know you’re my friend, but don’t you dare talk about Jan Di that way !
Woo Bin wasn’t expecting to deal with love issues even four years after.
— So… What are you going to do about that guy ? Kill him so that Ga Eul will love you again?
— Don’t be ridiculous, Yi Jeong answered, throwing the file on the table.
Hyeon Byeon was the good boy’s stereotype. Good-looking, shy, workaholic, taking care of his mother ever since his father ran away.
Yi Jeong wondered anyway how he ended up with Ga Eul. He was younger than her, shouldn’t he look for someone his age ? And how Ga Eul ended up with him was a mystery too. Four years ago, she had crushes on bad boys, like that stupid Su Pyo… or even him.
— So much innocence makes me want to throw up, the young potter mumbled, looking at Ga Eul’s boyfriend photos.
— He really looks like Ga Eul, Ji Hoo confessed. They really match together.
Yi Jeong pouted, but Ji Hoo was right. And it was hurting. A lot.
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Ga Eul’s birthday came. She was at this restaurant with Hyun Byeon. Yi Jeong heard it from Jan Di, but he couldn’t just stay back. So he went to a club not far from where they were to get drunk and trying to enjoy some company.
And of course, he ended up running into them. Ga Eul didn’t see him. Her eyes were captivated by her boyfriend, squeezing her hand in his. She was smiling like she was in heaven.
Yi Jeong felt disgusted. She was just a hypocrite. How could she be like this when she loved him so much ? He knew she did.
Hyun Byeon and Ga Eul had stopped on the deserted bridge, facing each other. They talked, and laughed, embarrassed.
Yi Jeong felt his heart skipping a beat. This was too much: since when did he become so ridiculous because of that girl ?
Hyun Byeon gently took Ga Eul’s hand, and leaned forward. Yi Jeong’s blood froze. Ga Eul didn’t move, and she closed her eyes.
So Yi Jeong felt rage consuming him. Ga Eul had closed her eyes four years ago, when he was about to kiss her in his studio. With that tiny shy smile on her lips. She had to stop this… she was going to open her eyes and push Hyun Byeon away, saying that she didn’t love him at all… What kind of nice girl lets herself get kissed in public like that ? Of course she would never allow it ! She was Chu Ga Eul, she was shy, noce, modest, and…
Hyun Byeon gently pressed his lips against hers. Ga Eul didn’t make a single move. And they were here, on that damn bridge, kissing each other.
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— I think you should let Ga Eul be happy now, Ji Hoo uttered.
Yi Jeong was examining a painting which will be exposed soon in the gallery. It wasn’t rare to have his friends coming to his museum to admire pieces of arts. But this time, obviously they were here to scold him.
— What are you talking about ? he mumbled.
— Yi Jeong, you really think you being sad will bring Ga Eul back ? Woo Bin joked. Are you planning on making her feel guilty ?
The young potter hung the painting.
— If you’re done talking nonsense, can you shut your mouth and leave ?
— Aish… you’re all so annoying ! Jun Pyo shouted.
They all turned to him.
— Jun Pyo, you think you can reason him ? Ji Hoo suggested. So he can get Ga Eul back ?
— I don’t want to get her back ! Yi Jeong protested.
When they all stared at him, he looked away.
— I mean..., Yi Jeong tried to explain, she had a habit to get involved with bad guys. She’ll get bored with someone like him. She’s not his type.
— Well I guess that she’s yours now, for some reason, Ji Hoo added.
— I need to think…, Yi Jeong sighed.
He needed to make her understand he came back for her. He couldn’t let her escape. Not like he did with Eun Jae. No… this time, he could feel it even ten times more. Ga Eul was the one. He had to tell her.
— You’re an idiot, Jun Pyo said. Why are you thinking so much ?
— What ? Yi Jeong said, confused.
— You’re the playboy of the F4, Jun Pyo shouted. Just do what you always do when you want a girl !
Yi Jeong stared at his friend. He remembered giving Jun Pyo the same advice years ago. He smiled.
A playboy smile. Of course.
