Chapter Text
Songhwa is sitting on one of the school benches while waiting for her friends to arrive. She was being lost at her own little world by staring into nothing.
Without knowing that someone is watching her every move from a far.
Everyone knows in this town the tragic accident that has happened to the Chaes which led them to lose the eldest son from the family along with his wife—and parents of two children.
It has been only three months since she lost her parents, it's been three months since her life took a turn and she still doesn't know how to get back on her feet.
She's trying though, and her friends were always there for her to cheer her up so compared from the past few months, she can now smile and joke a little bit around with them whenever they hang out at their house.
Today is their first day back at school. They are now sophomores, time sure does really flies fast. But instead of being in this place, she'd rather want to stay somewhere far and alone instead of being in this crowded school. She prefers to stay at her room because she hates to see the pity from the eyes of everyone she comes across with.
She doubts that they even understand nor knows what she's going through right now—what they're going through. And speaking of they, she was then reminded about her twin brother whom she hasn’t seen since he left first in the morning to go to their university. She looked around but didn't find him anywhere. She heaved a deep sigh and was about to call him when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Excuse me, Miss." She turned around and faced the one who suddenly approached her. She was welcome with a man wearing a dark shades. "Can I ask you a question?" He asked to her as he move even closer to where she was.
Songhwa felt something the moment she looked at him. He may be wearing a dark shades but she can still see under it that he is directly staring back at her. She can feel his intense gaze that is hotter than the sun.
He's new. I've never seen him here before, not even once, I think? Songhwa thought.
"Uhm, miss?" Which snapped her back to reality after being lost while thinking as she stares back at him.
"I'm sorry, what is it again?" She asked trying so hard to hide her embarrassment. It's just she's curious about him and caught her interest.
"Uhh, do you-- do you--" And cleared his throat while removing his shades. "By any chance, do you know someone with the name of Jung Chanyoung?"
Songhwa can now clearly see his face. He looks so much better than she had expected. The young man already looked gorgeous even while wearing shades and Songhwa saw it already. But seeing him without it—and up close at that—she felt like she saw something she doesn't deserve to. The man looks so perfect in her eyes.
So, for the second time, Songhwa was left speechless in front of him. She felt it—the connection and the deep attraction. Even herself is confused why but all she knows is she haven't felt this kind of feeling since she was born. It was like she was being pulled in and the way he looks at her makes her feel like he can see through her soul. It made her feel something which she's been longing for the past weeks.
"Hey, miss? Miss??"
The man in front of her waved his right hand and snapped his finger—only then did she was brought back to reality.
"I'm sorry, gosh this is embarrassing." She said let out a small chuckle before she asked him to repeat his question.
"No no, it's fine. It's me who should apologize for taking your time." He said and let out a lazy smile.
"It's fine, can you please repeat your question again?"
"Well.. do you happen to know someone named Jung Chanyoung?"
He asked and gave her a huge grin as he embarrassedly scratches his head using his right hand.
Cute. Hot. Gorgeous. Sexy. He looks so freaking good! Songhwa thought.
She cleared her throat first before answering his confusing and random question.
"No, sorry. Why?"
"Ohh.. sorry.. It's just--you really look so much like her so I thought you might know her--?" He said as if he was waiting for her to say her name.
Then something clicked inside Songhwa's head. She can't help but let out a smirk as she stared at him.
"Is that your way of getting my name? Kind of gross if you ask me."
The bitch Songhwa is back for a moment. She can't believe he's that type of guy.
"What? No! Of course, no! It's just that you look so much like someone I know.."
He defensively answered which strengthened Songhwa's suspicions. He looked away as he coughed lightly as if it will clear his quilt for being caught.
"And that someone just so happens have the name of Jung Chanyoung?"
She played along. Songhwa was able to see through him just for that. She can see that there's something more he wants from her.
"Well, yeah.."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you then, but I'm not her."
"Obviously.." He deadpanned answered.
"But you just had to ask me still?"
She said and raised her eyebrows as she crossed her arms at her chest.
"Just to make sure, yes.. Anyway, one last thing. Do you mind?"
She knows he is trying to change the topic, and since she doesn't want to be that nosy, she just let it go.
"Fine, shoot!"
"Where is the admission office here?"
That's when she saw that he is holding an envelope on his left hand.
"Judging from the envelope you're holding, I can only guess you are transferring here."
"Well, yeah. I just moved back here actually."
His answer made her rack her brain again to remember if she ever encountered him since this town is not really that big, so everyone knows each other mostly.
"Moved back?? I don't think I've seen you before?"
"What do you mean?" He asked confusedly.
"This town is very small and almost everyone knows each other and most of the kids here kind of grew up together since--since like forever."
Songhwa explained. It was true though, most of the kids here, especially those who are with the same age and doesn't have big age gap grew up altogether. They were each other’s playmates and friends since childhood. Even her closest friends were her best friends since she can remember.
Even the families here have a very close and tight bonds which were passed down to their children. Especially those families who are part of the council—which are also the founding family members who runs this town.
The whole town and every neighborhood are united and gets along well with each other. All of the people here are very kind always abide the law. This town is also known as one of the safest places in the world. There were very least to no crimes and accidents that happens and it's a very peaceful and a beautiful town.
Songhwa couldn't be prouder to grew up here and live here. Despite losing both of her parents from this very same town due to accident, she still would never consider leaving this town as long as she can. She has a lot of happy and memorable memories here. This is her only home.
"Ohh.. actually, we stayed here until I was maybe around two or three before my family decided to move abroad. So, yeah.."
His reasoning is not enough for her to believe him and to fully trust him, yet. But she can't do anything except to accept it because even though it's not enough for her, his reason still makes sense. Though she also thinks there's more to what he said.
He is acting so strange and being suspicious which completely piqued her interest. He is something she wants to get to know more to slowly get him lower his guard.
"Maybe that's why. Anyway, welcome back to our humble and beautiful town of Yulje and welcome to our university. I bet this is very small compared to the universities from abroad."
She doesn't even know why she doesn't want to end their conversation yet. She's surprised to herself, but she wants this, no, she actually needs this.
"Not really, this school is way cooler and better. Feels like home to me. I think I'm going to have so much fun here and will probably enjoy my stay."
He said as he stared deeply at her eyes. Songhwa felt it. There was something with the way he stares at her and with the way how he uttered those words. She's not sure if it's only her but she can feel that he meant something deeper than what it seems from what he is implying.
She can feel the pressure coming from his stare and the way she felt like she's having a hard time to breathe. Like he was sucking all the air around them without leaving her any of it to support her breathing.
She did not find her voice for a while. But she knows that if she doesn’t do anything right now, something not good will happen.
"Who is she, by the way? Only if you don't mind of course."
This time, it was her who changed their topic because she couldn't take his gaze anymore. It's becoming too much for her.
He was confused at first but the same expression from a while ago came back to his face the moment, he realized who she was referring to.
"Someone that owes me a lot. Someone who I've been looking for a long time already."
If a while ago, he only looked at her intensely, this time she can feel his dark aura. His face completely changed after she asked her question. Honestly, she felt scared for a moment, but she braced herself and calmed down.
"Hmm.. She must be very important to you. She must be someone special? Your woman?"
She must be really looking forward to her death for bravely asking these questions despite already knowing the effect of the name of that woman has on him.
"No! I mean not anymore."
His voice is icy cold. So cold to the point that Songhwa felt it—the chills run down her spine—which is being partnered with his murderous glare.
He shook his head after a while as if he was clearing his thoughts and the shift of his expression gave Songhwa another chills. He gave her a sweet smile acting as if he was not looking like a murderous hunter a while ago.
"Anyways it was nice meeting you?"
He instantly went back to the same man who approached her a while ago. She finds that interesting. And the way he is still waiting for her to say her name is adorable in her eyes. She let out a small smile secretly before she closed her eyes and looked at him too.
"Psh, fine! Since you must really want to see her again, I'll give you my name. Though I don't how the two is connected. Anyway, I'm Chae Songhwa, nice meeting you too?"
"Lee Jinseok."
"Lee?!?"
The moment she heard his name, she can't help but raised her voice as she asked him for his confirmation. Other students who were near them and heard her shout looked at them which made her suddenly feel conscious and embarrassed.
She had totally forgot that they are currently at school and in the middle of the open school ground to be exact.
"Uhh yeah??" He said questioningly as he raised his eyebrows.
"You're from the Lees? The Lees who were also part of the founding family members?"
She had already heard quite a lot of things about the Lees. They are one of the most influential and prominent clan in their town—including the Chaes, Chus, Jangs, and the Yangs. The five families who were the core members of the council. The most influential families that made the town to what it is today, and still keep on doing so per generation.
"Is there something wrong with that?" He asked with a 'duhh' tone.
"No, but are you really from that Lee clan that I know? "
"Again, yes. Is there even another Lee clan aside of ours?"
He must be thinking how dumb she is right now. Even herself doesn't know why she is acting like this, but this is his effect on her.
Songhwa cleared her throat first by coughing lightly before she spoke again.
"So, you are one of the infamous two Lee brothers that has been mysterious all this time. Everyone has been looking forward to when you two will be back in town and when your uncle said, 'soon', everyone is just dying to see you two."
Songhwa heard about them countless times ever since she was young. She grew up listening to countless stories about the residents of this town. Those who still lives here, those who left and came back, those who left but never came back, and those who were part of the town even though they weren't born and raised here because their parents were. But most of them are just stories for her.
And recently, the talk of the town aside from her parents' accident and death is the return of the Lee siblings. She doesn’t remember hearing about them or maybe she did, but she just forgot. But based on what she heard from her friends, the Lee siblings were very famous topics for the whole town because only very few people know them and had seen them, the rest? They had no idea that's why everyone is curious.
It all started during one of the meetings of the council, when a question was raised because the representative from the Lee clan was not even from the direct descendant of the family. He was only one of their distant family members so he was asked if anyone from them is planning to go back. Which then was he confirmed that the two brothers are planning to go back soon.
Since then, everyone has been excitedly waiting for their return—even though she's not sure if it is considered as a return knowing they hardly stayed here and only few numbers of people can attest that they were indeed truly existing.
And now, here it is. The Lee brothers indeed exist and very much alive because one of them is standing in front of her.
"Ohh.. I didn't know that. I don't quite remember the last time I was here."
He said with his tone that he doesn't care. He also looks he couldn't be bothered with them.
"Exactly! No one knows. But since your family is also part of the council, everyone sure does want to meet the next representative from your clan after your uncle died."
Songhwa wanted to smack her head so bad. She knows more than anyone else how one will feel with this kind of talk and how she acted is what she herself despised the most.
She bit her lip and looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry about that. Condolences, by the way."
"No, it's okay. Thank you. You, too. C---"
But before he can even continue, Songhwa already cut him off.
"What do you mean with that?"
She asked confusedly and a little bit surprised.
"About your parents, I mean."
"How did you know that? Do you know me?"
Songhwa asked cautiously. Her expression changed and her tone also changed. Jinseok noticed every little details of changes from her face to her subtle actions and realized that he badly messed up. He panicked for a very short while before he thought something as an excuse.
"Like what you said, this town is very small. I heard people talking about it and pointing their fingers at your back."
He answered nervously and hoping she will not see through his blatant lie. She can't find out that he did look about her, not yet.
"Right, which I don't appreciate. Thank you very much."
She said and let out a heavy breath as she looked around and saw most of their schoolmates watching them talk.
"I'm sorry.." He suddenly said and brought her attention back at him.
"As if that will change anything right? It sucks. Those people, I mean, not you." She cleared and they both laugh.
"Honestly, yeah. I get it. People love to gossip."
"Uhuhh.." She nodded.
"Anyways, I really have to go. See you around, Songhwa."
Songhwa was taken aback with him suddenly wanting to leave. She wants to talk more to him and asked him questions, but she doesn't know which question to ask first. She felt kind of disappointed, but it is how it is.
But then, one question popped up in her head so before he can even leave, she asked him about it.
"Wait! Where's your brother?"
She asked as she grabbed his arm to stop him from walking out.
"I came back alone. Bye!"
And poof! he's gone. She was left alone while staring to where he was standing a while ago.
When she came back to her senses, she was about to run after him when Minha suddenly appeared on her side. She was surprised to see her friend, but she was more surprised to realize that they were in the middle of their school grounds. No wonder why everyone was looking at them a while ago.
"Who was that Chae Songhwa?" Minha asked with her full of curiosity as she followed the man she was just talking to, through her eyes.
By the looks she is giving him and how her cheeks turned bright red while her eyes sparkled with so much delight, Songhwa already knew where this talk is going.
"He's so hot!! Oh my gosh! Is he a new student? He is definitely my type!!" Minha squealed as she looked at her with so much happiness. Songhwa can't help but shake her head and let out a smile in amusement.
She can't argue with that because she agrees that Lee Jinseok is indeed hot and gorgeous. Not to mention that he looks even sexy with his black outfit.
"Oh my gosh, you didn't deny it!! You're such a bitch, I love it girl!"
With that, Songhwa can't help but let out a loud laugh which made the other students near them turned their head to their direction with their raised eyebrows. She was about to hush Minha when Gyeoul suddenly arrived with the words that suddenly brought her back to reality.
"And you both just so happen to be hoes in the middle of the school ground where everyone can see you flirt with a new guy?" Songhwa felt that her smile disappeared.
"Gyeoul-ah.." Minha tried to stop her but who can really stop their friend? Gyeoul is always like this. And as much she's more thankful for having such a friend, there were also times where she hates her for doing reality-check—especially when she just felt happy in a while.
"And it just so happens too that you're doing it in front of your ex-boyfriend who you just broke his heart three weeks ago, I might add." Gyeoul sarcasticly added as she rolls her eyes which made Minha shut her mouth.
Songhwa rolled her eyes too but deep down she felt hurt and guilty. She looked around and found Jeongwon and Seokhyeong who seems to be talking but stopped to watch her move. She can see the sadness and longing from Jeongwon's eyes when their eyes met.
No matter how much Songhwa feels guilty, she already reached the point where she believes that it was the right thing to do. She decided for this outcome with Jeongwon's welfare in mind. This is the best for the both of them, especially for him. She doesn't want him to be stuck in a relationship that has no future and with someone like her who is not sure. He doesn't deserve it because she knows he deserves better. And that better is not her.
She just gave him a small smile with a wave which he curtly returned before she turned around and pulled away her friends. Songhwa heard Gyeoul's grunts of disapproval then Minha silently followed while pouting like a child.
While they walk, the three friends were silent. But Gyeoul spoke again after they reach the cafeteria.
"Do you really don't like him anymore, Songhwa-ya?" She suddenly asked with her eyes full of curiosity. Minha also looked at her as she waited for an answer.
Songhwa sigh as she sits when they found a table.
"Yes. I really don't feel anything for him anymore." She answered straightforwardly.
"I can't believe it." Minha gasped. "Did the feelings just suddenly disappear? Was that even possible?" She asked because she can't understand what Songhwa meant.
"It's hard to explain, okay? Even I don’t know why. It just--it just happened." Songhwa doesn't know how to properly explain it.
"And you just gave up just because there were no feelings involved anymore?" Gyeoul asked once more.
"I didn't just give up Gyeoul-ah!" Songhwa frustratedly answered. "I just--I just don't see the point why we had to continue the relationship if we're both just going to stay miserable."
And her two friends were left speechless. Gyeoul can only sigh in defeat.
"I'm sorry. I just feel like you're making the wrong choice here. I just don't want you to regret anything later on. I really hope this decision of yours is for the best."
"In Gyeoul's defense, no offense meant, Songhwa-ya but Jeongwon is the best guy in town. He's the most handsome, kind, caring, sweet, and all the positive things you could list. He's got it all and having him means you also have it all. It's a pity that you had to break up. I mean the two of you are hottest couple and the perfect match! Everyone just loves and adores the two of you, especially him."
"And he has a good influence on you, no doubt about that. We just want to make sure that you are already sure with your decision and not just a spur of the moment emotion. We only want what's best for you, Songhwa-ya. You deserve to be happy again." Gyeoul added.
Songhwa knows that. She knows they are just worried for her and only wants what's best for her. But she's really decided, and no one can change her mind anymore. Although no one understands her decision, she knows that they will get it in time. Jeongwon and her, they are not just meant to be together more than as friends.
"I know.. It's just that, like what you guys said back then, I already know what I feel, and I was just afraid to do it. And now that I did it, I just hope you guys will respect and support my decision." She said and gave them a smile.
Gyeoul held her hand and directly stared at her eyes.
.
"I know, Songhwa-ya, I know. And believe me, I get it. But I just don't want you to have a space for regret for later, that's why I'm being like this I hope you also get what I mean."
"I am just glad you did what you think is right, Songhwa-ya. And you know that I support you. Jeongwon will understand too, just give him time." Minha said and squeezed her hand that's resting on the table.
"I really hope so, Minha-ya. I really hope. I don't want to completely lost Jeongwon, he is my best friend too."
"You will not lose him, Songhwa-ya. Just give him time." Gyeoul affirmed.
The two just gave her back a pat before they changed their topic for the upcoming back to school party that they were used in doing ever since. It's just that it keeps on evolving each year with the courtesy pf Chu Minha.
Songhwa always find this thing fun, even the preparation for it since it's usually her and her friends who always takes the initiative for the planning and preparations. But this time, she can't help but think about Lee Jinseok. He is a mystery for her. There was something that she couldn't quite pinpoint after her encounter with him. Also, there's Jeongwon. She hasn’t talked to him again after they broke up.
She was lost in her deep thoughts when the bell rang and the two had to pat her shoulders simultaneously before she was back to reality. The three of them walked to their classroom and first day of class started just like that.