When I saw that it was Yoo Chun, I immediately passed the phone to Jun Su.
“I think it’s for you,” I said.
“Huh?” Jun Su looked puzzled, but he answered the phone anyway. “Yoboseyo? Yoo Chun? Why are you calling Sierra’s phone? You can’t get through to mine? That’s odd, I didn’t turn mine off.” We started to walk out of the Cineplex towards the car park. “So how’s Europe? Great! Haha! I’ll see you when you get back,” Jun Su ended the call as we reached his car.
“What did Yoo Chun want?” I asked.
“He said that he couldn’t get through to my phone,” Jun Su said as he passed me my mobile phone.
“Weird,” I muttered as I got into the car.
“They’ll be back next week,” he said as he turned on the ignition.
“So soon?”
“Yoo Chun said that Dae In wasn’t feeling well.”
“What? Why?”
“I dunno. Don’t worry. Yoo Chun will take good care of her.”
When they finally got back, I immediately visited Dae In at Yoo Chun’s family home. It was as huge and lavish as Dae In’s, if not more.
“Onni,” Dae In smiled as she walked out onto the patio, where I was sitting, waiting for her.
“I heard you were ill,” I said in a concerned tone.
“Just a little cough,” she smiled. “Come up to my room,” she said as she pulled me into the house. “I’ve got presents for you.”
Her room was decorated in a classic European style. The carvings, the fabric, they all reminded me of the splendor a European aristocrat’s home would have. Dae In handed me a paper bag and inside it were 5 packages.
“Open them,” she smiled. “Oh… but one of them is for Jun Su oppa.”
“Komawo,” said and we sat on the lounge in a corner of the room so that I could open the packages.
She’d bought me a Dior bag, a Hermes scarf, a pair of crystal chandelier earrings and a Chanel wallet.
“Dae In,” I gasped as I unwrapped the gifts. “These are really expensive, I can’t accept them.”
“You’ve always been the onni I never had, this is nothing compared to everything you’ve done for me.”
I felt guilty when she said that. What have I ever done for her? Other than the fact that we’d been there for each other for the past year, as room mates, there was nothing I’d done for her.
“I can’t,” I said as I put the gifts back into the paper bag and handed it to her.
“Take them, onni,” she said. “I have no one else to give them to and you are the closest friend I have. I can’t return them, and I don’t want someone else to have them.”
“But…” I started, then sighed. She was right. Who was she going to give them to? The Salvation Army? “Komawo,” I said.
“No problem,” she smiled brightly.
We heard a knock on the door and we turned around to find Yoo Chun standing there.
“Having fun?” he asked as he walked in.
“I just gave onni the gifts I brought back for her,” Dae In said.
“Sierra, you’d better appreciate every single one of those gifts. I’d to endure all those shopping trips just so she could choose them for you.”
“Araso,” I smiled.
I left about half an hour later, feeling rather relieved that Dae In and Yoo Chun were finally getting along. As I walked out towards the gates, I heard footsteps behind me. Before I could react, Yoo Chun dragged me by the hand so that we were concealed by some hedges.
“What were you trying to pull the other day?” he hissed.
“Oww,” I pulled my hand away from Yoo Chun. “What are you talking about?” I frowned at him.
“Why didn’t you answer your own phone?” he asked.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Chapter 7
I sat in the spacious drawing room in Dae In’s family’s mansion, sipping tea from a delicate cup and saucer. This was the first time I’ve been to Dae In’s house and I was in awe. How did she survive all those months living in that ratty apartment with me when she lived in this mansion all her life?
“Dae In will be down in a moment,” the housekeeper informed me politely.
“Ne,” I nodded and she walked out of the room.
10 minutes later Dae In appeared.
“Onni,” she smiled.
“Dae In,” I smiled and stood up.
“Sit down,” she said and she pulled me down beside her on the lounge.
“Everything ready for the big day?” I asked her.
“Actually, I don’t have much to do except turn up for fittings and the dinner rehearsals. The rest of the decisions are taken care of by my mother.”
“Aren’t you lucky,” I teased.
“Hmm… now if only Yoo Chun oppa paid more attention to me,” she said. She was smiling when she said that, as if she was telling a joke, but I knew behind her smile she was actually sad. I hated Yoo Chun for making her feel this way. Why couldn’t he just accept his fate and make the best of it?
“I’m sure he will once you’re married,” and I prayed to god that it will happen.
“So what brings you here today?” she asked me.
“Just dropped by to see how you’re getting on without me,” I grinned. “I can see it’s much better here than back where you used to live with me.”
“Of course not, onni,” she gasped. “I feel so lonely here. How I wish you could move here and talk to me everyday.”
“And what would I do for money?” I asked her.
“My father has buckets of it. Help yourself,” she winked.
“I don’t think your father needs another daughter,” I laughed.
“Right… he’d probably marry you off to some business partner’s son if you were his daughter,” she sighed.
I had nothing to say in response to that and I was in no position to comment on it. I can’t tell her that I understand, because there is no way in this world that anyone, other than Dae In, would understand how it felt to be in this predicament. I could only hold her hand and watch her as she cried. There were no tears, but I knew in her heart, she was crying.
The day of the wedding finally came. The ceremony was held in a huge cathedral and will be followed by brunch at a 6-star hotel and it was a huge and memorable affair. Dae In looked resplendent in a white Vera Wang creation, while Yoo Chun was the white knight he was meant to be on that day. Both of them wore blissful smiles for every photo taken and it had me wondering; did their face hurt from the entire pretense?
As the lavish brunch ended, Yoo Chun and Dae In left the hotel and got into the limo which would take them to the airport. They were going to Europe for their honeymoon. I looked on as they got in, and Jun Su came up to put his arm around me.
“Don’t worry about them,” he said. “They’ll work it out during the honeymoon and we’re gonna see a happy couple when they get back.”
“I really hope so,” I smiled.
“Let’s go in and dance some more,” he smiled and pulled me away from the verandah overlooking the entrance of the hotel.
It’s been a few days since Dae In and Yoo Chun left for Europe; I wonder how the honeymoon was going. I’m meeting Jun Su for a movie today. He’d been bugging me for a week to watch Happy Feet with him. I finally found the time and the mood today. He bought the tickets while I went to buy us some drinks and popcorn. Before the movie had even started, we were halfway through the popcorn. It got a little cold during the movie and I nudged him.
“Jun Su,” I whispered.
“Wae?” he whispered back.
“I’m cold,” I said and his arm immediately came around me and pulled me close. I snuggled against him for the rest of the movie and at some point, I fell asleep.
“Sierra,” he nudged me sometime later.
“Hmm?” I mumbled sleepily.
“The movie’s over,” he smiled. “Let’s go.”
“Already?” I asked as I stretched and yawned.
“Yes, sleepyhead. You must be really tired to be able to fall asleep like that.”
“You were so comfortable, I couldn’t help myself,” I grinned as I stood up.
As we walked out of the Cineplex, my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID; it was Yoo Chun.
“Dae In will be down in a moment,” the housekeeper informed me politely.
“Ne,” I nodded and she walked out of the room.
10 minutes later Dae In appeared.
“Onni,” she smiled.
“Dae In,” I smiled and stood up.
“Sit down,” she said and she pulled me down beside her on the lounge.
“Everything ready for the big day?” I asked her.
“Actually, I don’t have much to do except turn up for fittings and the dinner rehearsals. The rest of the decisions are taken care of by my mother.”
“Aren’t you lucky,” I teased.
“Hmm… now if only Yoo Chun oppa paid more attention to me,” she said. She was smiling when she said that, as if she was telling a joke, but I knew behind her smile she was actually sad. I hated Yoo Chun for making her feel this way. Why couldn’t he just accept his fate and make the best of it?
“I’m sure he will once you’re married,” and I prayed to god that it will happen.
“So what brings you here today?” she asked me.
“Just dropped by to see how you’re getting on without me,” I grinned. “I can see it’s much better here than back where you used to live with me.”
“Of course not, onni,” she gasped. “I feel so lonely here. How I wish you could move here and talk to me everyday.”
“And what would I do for money?” I asked her.
“My father has buckets of it. Help yourself,” she winked.
“I don’t think your father needs another daughter,” I laughed.
“Right… he’d probably marry you off to some business partner’s son if you were his daughter,” she sighed.
I had nothing to say in response to that and I was in no position to comment on it. I can’t tell her that I understand, because there is no way in this world that anyone, other than Dae In, would understand how it felt to be in this predicament. I could only hold her hand and watch her as she cried. There were no tears, but I knew in her heart, she was crying.
The day of the wedding finally came. The ceremony was held in a huge cathedral and will be followed by brunch at a 6-star hotel and it was a huge and memorable affair. Dae In looked resplendent in a white Vera Wang creation, while Yoo Chun was the white knight he was meant to be on that day. Both of them wore blissful smiles for every photo taken and it had me wondering; did their face hurt from the entire pretense?
As the lavish brunch ended, Yoo Chun and Dae In left the hotel and got into the limo which would take them to the airport. They were going to Europe for their honeymoon. I looked on as they got in, and Jun Su came up to put his arm around me.
“Don’t worry about them,” he said. “They’ll work it out during the honeymoon and we’re gonna see a happy couple when they get back.”
“I really hope so,” I smiled.
“Let’s go in and dance some more,” he smiled and pulled me away from the verandah overlooking the entrance of the hotel.
It’s been a few days since Dae In and Yoo Chun left for Europe; I wonder how the honeymoon was going. I’m meeting Jun Su for a movie today. He’d been bugging me for a week to watch Happy Feet with him. I finally found the time and the mood today. He bought the tickets while I went to buy us some drinks and popcorn. Before the movie had even started, we were halfway through the popcorn. It got a little cold during the movie and I nudged him.
“Jun Su,” I whispered.
“Wae?” he whispered back.
“I’m cold,” I said and his arm immediately came around me and pulled me close. I snuggled against him for the rest of the movie and at some point, I fell asleep.
“Sierra,” he nudged me sometime later.
“Hmm?” I mumbled sleepily.
“The movie’s over,” he smiled. “Let’s go.”
“Already?” I asked as I stretched and yawned.
“Yes, sleepyhead. You must be really tired to be able to fall asleep like that.”
“You were so comfortable, I couldn’t help myself,” I grinned as I stood up.
As we walked out of the Cineplex, my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID; it was Yoo Chun.
Chapter 6
“Mian,” I said as I ran up to Jun Su. He’d been waiting for me at the entrance of the subway station for about 30 minutes.
“Where were you?” he pouted.
“My boss held me back, the old devil,” I grumbled as we walked towards the restaurant we were having dinner at.
“That bad, huh?” he said and he put his arm around me as we weaved through the rush hour crowd.
“I long for the day when I don’t need to work anymore. I’ll stay home and pig out, watch television and maybe pop out a kid or two,” I laughed.
“You’re sure you want that kind of life? To sit at home all day and wait for your husband to come home?”
“Hmm… What other kind of life could I have?” I smiled.
“Then you’re my kinda girl,” he smiled as he gave me a kiss on my cheek.
After our quick dinner, we went to a nearby jazz bar to meet up with Yoo Chun.
“Jun Su, over here,” Yoo Chun waved as we walked in.
We sat down at the booth Yoo Chun had booked for us and I realized that the girl sitting beside Yoo Chun was not Dae In.
“Where’s Dae In?” I asked him sternly.
“Dae In? She’s probably at home,” he said dismissively.
“Who is she?” I asked him as I pointed at the girl.
“Annyong!” she said brightly. “I’m Ji Min.”
“Ji Min, do you know that Yoo Chun is engaged?” I asked her.
“Sierra, hajima…” Jun Su whispered.
“Engaged? Yoo Chun, you’re engaged?” she asked him angrily.
“Yea… so?” he said without blinking an eye.
“I’m leaving,” she said and she picked up her purse and left the table.
“You happy now?” Yoo Chun asked me.
“How can you do this to Dae In?”
“I have no ties or whatsoever with Han Dae In other than the fact that I will be marrying her in month’s time. Even after that, I will do as I please. She can have boyfriends after we’re married and I won’t even care.”
“How can you be so heartless?” I yelled at him as I stood up. “She respects you and cares for you even though she is not marrying you out of love.”
“Sierra, calm down,” Jun Su put his arm around me and pulled me down. “Yoo Chun, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“Hah… Kim Jun Su, you’re as much of a player as I am. You’re in no position to judge my morals.”
“That’s not fair, Yoo Chun. You know I’ve changed since I met Sierra.”
“That’s because you love her. I don’t love Dae In. She has no power to change me.”
“I can’t take this anymore,” I said and I left. Jun Su caught up with me as I walked out through the door.
“Sierra,” he called.
“Have you really changed?” I asked him.
“You know I have,” he said.
“I don’t want us to end up like Yoo Chun and Dae In; resentful and bitter.”
“I do love you, Sierra. I’d marry you if it weren’t for the fact that we’ve only dated for a little more than 3 months.”
“Michoso,” I laughed and nudged his head.
“Keurae… na michoso,” he smiled. Whenever Jun Su smiled, he always made me feel all gooey inside. He was adorable, yet manly, and it was a lethal combination.
“What are we going to do about the both of them?” I sighed.
“It’s really none of our business,” he said.
“But they’re our friends! How can you say it’s none of our business.”
“I really feel that they’d get over it someday and everything will be alright.”
“I just can’t imagine how heartbroken Dae In will be every time Yoo Chun goes out with a different woman.”
“I’ll try to talk to him. It might not work, since he’ll be accusing me of being the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Just try… I don’t know how else we can talk some sense into him.”
“Where were you?” he pouted.
“My boss held me back, the old devil,” I grumbled as we walked towards the restaurant we were having dinner at.
“That bad, huh?” he said and he put his arm around me as we weaved through the rush hour crowd.
“I long for the day when I don’t need to work anymore. I’ll stay home and pig out, watch television and maybe pop out a kid or two,” I laughed.
“You’re sure you want that kind of life? To sit at home all day and wait for your husband to come home?”
“Hmm… What other kind of life could I have?” I smiled.
“Then you’re my kinda girl,” he smiled as he gave me a kiss on my cheek.
After our quick dinner, we went to a nearby jazz bar to meet up with Yoo Chun.
“Jun Su, over here,” Yoo Chun waved as we walked in.
We sat down at the booth Yoo Chun had booked for us and I realized that the girl sitting beside Yoo Chun was not Dae In.
“Where’s Dae In?” I asked him sternly.
“Dae In? She’s probably at home,” he said dismissively.
“Who is she?” I asked him as I pointed at the girl.
“Annyong!” she said brightly. “I’m Ji Min.”
“Ji Min, do you know that Yoo Chun is engaged?” I asked her.
“Sierra, hajima…” Jun Su whispered.
“Engaged? Yoo Chun, you’re engaged?” she asked him angrily.
“Yea… so?” he said without blinking an eye.
“I’m leaving,” she said and she picked up her purse and left the table.
“You happy now?” Yoo Chun asked me.
“How can you do this to Dae In?”
“I have no ties or whatsoever with Han Dae In other than the fact that I will be marrying her in month’s time. Even after that, I will do as I please. She can have boyfriends after we’re married and I won’t even care.”
“How can you be so heartless?” I yelled at him as I stood up. “She respects you and cares for you even though she is not marrying you out of love.”
“Sierra, calm down,” Jun Su put his arm around me and pulled me down. “Yoo Chun, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“Hah… Kim Jun Su, you’re as much of a player as I am. You’re in no position to judge my morals.”
“That’s not fair, Yoo Chun. You know I’ve changed since I met Sierra.”
“That’s because you love her. I don’t love Dae In. She has no power to change me.”
“I can’t take this anymore,” I said and I left. Jun Su caught up with me as I walked out through the door.
“Sierra,” he called.
“Have you really changed?” I asked him.
“You know I have,” he said.
“I don’t want us to end up like Yoo Chun and Dae In; resentful and bitter.”
“I do love you, Sierra. I’d marry you if it weren’t for the fact that we’ve only dated for a little more than 3 months.”
“Michoso,” I laughed and nudged his head.
“Keurae… na michoso,” he smiled. Whenever Jun Su smiled, he always made me feel all gooey inside. He was adorable, yet manly, and it was a lethal combination.
“What are we going to do about the both of them?” I sighed.
“It’s really none of our business,” he said.
“But they’re our friends! How can you say it’s none of our business.”
“I really feel that they’d get over it someday and everything will be alright.”
“I just can’t imagine how heartbroken Dae In will be every time Yoo Chun goes out with a different woman.”
“I’ll try to talk to him. It might not work, since he’ll be accusing me of being the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Just try… I don’t know how else we can talk some sense into him.”
Chapter 5
Sunday came, and it was the day of Yoo Chun and Dae In’s engagement. I sat with Dae In in her room at the hotel where the banquet will be held. She looked beautiful, despite looking pale and wan, as she sat facing the window. She had on a beautiful off-white, chiffon Dior gown. It had a simple toga top which flowed down, all the way to her feet, clinging to her curves lightly and on her feet was a pair of strappy, sparkling Jimmy Choos. She’d let her hair down and had it blown out to look a little wavy. Her father had spent a fortune on today’s event; her union with Yoo Chun must really be a big merger.
“Dae In,” I walked up to her. “Do you want some water?”
“I’m fine,” she murmured as she stared blankly at the skyline outside the window.
“Just holler if you need anything,” I said. “I’m gonna zip to the loo for a bit.”
She nodded wordlessly, still not looking at me. I was worried about Dae In. Ever since the day she found out she was to marry Yoo Chun, she’d become a zombie. Did she hate Yoo Chun? Was she hurt by Yoo Chun’s attitude? I could kill that guy. Ssagaji…
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a strapless, bluish-grey dress which ended and flared out just above my knees. I studied my face. What attracted Jun Su in the first place? And now, what attracted Yoo Chun? I did not fulfill the conventional criterias for a Korean beauty. I’d always looked foreign. Perhaps that translated as exotic in some twisted way. I’d kept Yoo Chun’s confession from Dae In. Actually, I’d pretended it never happened. I didn’t have that sort of feelings for Yoo Chun and I never will. At this moment, all I want is to put the incident behind me and make sure that Dae In is happily married. As much as I wish for her freedom from this, I knew it was impossible. Her life had been mapped out for her from the day she was born.
I walked beside Dae In as we entered the holding room adjoining the banquet hall. Yoo Chun was waiting there with Jun Su.
“Sierra, waseo!” Jun Su smiled brightly when he saw me. He walked towards me, then grabbed me by the hand and twirled me. I laughed as I spun giddily. “You look beautiful today,” he said.
“It’s called the power of money,” I smiled. Dae In’s father had paid for my gown since I was to be the maid of honor.
“I love this dress, it makes you look so hot,” he said as he put his arm around my waist and we walked towards Yoo Chun and Dae In, who were getting ready for their entrance behind the door leading to the banquet hall.
“You’re here,” Yoo Chun said. He didn’t smile and his eyes looked emotionless. He was nothing like the Yoo Chun I used to see. I actually felt sorry for him, but quickly shook it off when I was reminded how he’d treated Dae In.
“Congratulations,” I said.
“Thanks, I guess,” he smiled, and you could see it was one of those bitter, half-hearted smiles. “Ready?” he asked Dae In as he held out his arm.
“Ne,” she said softly linked her arm through his.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the reasons we are here today, Park Yoo Chun-shi and Han Dae In-shi…” we heard the MC announce.
The doors opened and we were blinded by the spotlights that were trained onto Yoo Chun and Dae In. A Rachmaninoff’s 18th variation of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini played as Yoo Chun and Dae In walked towards the stage. Jun Su and I walked out of the room the moment the spotlights followed them away from the door and sat at the table we’d been assigned to.
Yoo Chun and Dae In’s fathers made a speech while the both of them sat at a table on the stage. They thanked all the family, friends and business associates for attending and ended their speech with a toast.
“To the Han and Park empire!” Yoo Chun’s father said as he raised his glass.
“From now on, we shall be united and stronger than ever,” Dae In’s father bellowed.
It sickened me to hear the way the two of their fathers’ talked. It felt like their children were bred for the sole purpose of expanding their empires. I pitied Dae In and Yoo Chun. Their lives will always be at the mercy of their parents. I turned to look at Jun Su and he smiled at me.
“Don’t worry about the two of them,” he whispered. “They’ll get over it soon enough. Yoo Chun’s not a total brat. He’ll be nice to Dae In.” He squeezed my hand reassuringly, and I squeezed back.
We cheered loudly as Yoo Chun and Dae In cut their engagement cake. They looked like such a great couple; Dae In in her off-white Dior gown and Yoo Chun in his off-white Armani tuxedo. They were smiling for the photographers, and they actually looked happy. Dae In told me much later that they’d been trained to smile for the press since they were teenagers. It was all part of being the offspring of the CEOs of the two largest conglomerates in Korea.
After the banquet, I walked up to Dae In and touched her arm lightly.
“Onni,” she smiled as she turned to look at me. “Thank you for being here today.”
“It’s the least I could do,” I smiled. “It's a new life for you from now on,” I said. I could feel tears in my eyes as I looked at her sad expression.
“I know,” she smiled bravely.
“You’ll do great,” I said, and I hugged her.
“Komawo, onni,” she whispered.
“Dae In,” I walked up to her. “Do you want some water?”
“I’m fine,” she murmured as she stared blankly at the skyline outside the window.
“Just holler if you need anything,” I said. “I’m gonna zip to the loo for a bit.”
She nodded wordlessly, still not looking at me. I was worried about Dae In. Ever since the day she found out she was to marry Yoo Chun, she’d become a zombie. Did she hate Yoo Chun? Was she hurt by Yoo Chun’s attitude? I could kill that guy. Ssagaji…
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a strapless, bluish-grey dress which ended and flared out just above my knees. I studied my face. What attracted Jun Su in the first place? And now, what attracted Yoo Chun? I did not fulfill the conventional criterias for a Korean beauty. I’d always looked foreign. Perhaps that translated as exotic in some twisted way. I’d kept Yoo Chun’s confession from Dae In. Actually, I’d pretended it never happened. I didn’t have that sort of feelings for Yoo Chun and I never will. At this moment, all I want is to put the incident behind me and make sure that Dae In is happily married. As much as I wish for her freedom from this, I knew it was impossible. Her life had been mapped out for her from the day she was born.
I walked beside Dae In as we entered the holding room adjoining the banquet hall. Yoo Chun was waiting there with Jun Su.
“Sierra, waseo!” Jun Su smiled brightly when he saw me. He walked towards me, then grabbed me by the hand and twirled me. I laughed as I spun giddily. “You look beautiful today,” he said.
“It’s called the power of money,” I smiled. Dae In’s father had paid for my gown since I was to be the maid of honor.
“I love this dress, it makes you look so hot,” he said as he put his arm around my waist and we walked towards Yoo Chun and Dae In, who were getting ready for their entrance behind the door leading to the banquet hall.
“You’re here,” Yoo Chun said. He didn’t smile and his eyes looked emotionless. He was nothing like the Yoo Chun I used to see. I actually felt sorry for him, but quickly shook it off when I was reminded how he’d treated Dae In.
“Congratulations,” I said.
“Thanks, I guess,” he smiled, and you could see it was one of those bitter, half-hearted smiles. “Ready?” he asked Dae In as he held out his arm.
“Ne,” she said softly linked her arm through his.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the reasons we are here today, Park Yoo Chun-shi and Han Dae In-shi…” we heard the MC announce.
The doors opened and we were blinded by the spotlights that were trained onto Yoo Chun and Dae In. A Rachmaninoff’s 18th variation of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini played as Yoo Chun and Dae In walked towards the stage. Jun Su and I walked out of the room the moment the spotlights followed them away from the door and sat at the table we’d been assigned to.
Yoo Chun and Dae In’s fathers made a speech while the both of them sat at a table on the stage. They thanked all the family, friends and business associates for attending and ended their speech with a toast.
“To the Han and Park empire!” Yoo Chun’s father said as he raised his glass.
“From now on, we shall be united and stronger than ever,” Dae In’s father bellowed.
It sickened me to hear the way the two of their fathers’ talked. It felt like their children were bred for the sole purpose of expanding their empires. I pitied Dae In and Yoo Chun. Their lives will always be at the mercy of their parents. I turned to look at Jun Su and he smiled at me.
“Don’t worry about the two of them,” he whispered. “They’ll get over it soon enough. Yoo Chun’s not a total brat. He’ll be nice to Dae In.” He squeezed my hand reassuringly, and I squeezed back.
We cheered loudly as Yoo Chun and Dae In cut their engagement cake. They looked like such a great couple; Dae In in her off-white Dior gown and Yoo Chun in his off-white Armani tuxedo. They were smiling for the photographers, and they actually looked happy. Dae In told me much later that they’d been trained to smile for the press since they were teenagers. It was all part of being the offspring of the CEOs of the two largest conglomerates in Korea.
After the banquet, I walked up to Dae In and touched her arm lightly.
“Onni,” she smiled as she turned to look at me. “Thank you for being here today.”
“It’s the least I could do,” I smiled. “It's a new life for you from now on,” I said. I could feel tears in my eyes as I looked at her sad expression.
“I know,” she smiled bravely.
“You’ll do great,” I said, and I hugged her.
“Komawo, onni,” she whispered.
Chapter 4
“Engagement?” we all exclaimed as we stared at him.
“Didn’t I tell you, Jun Su? My father have arranged for me to marry the daughter of one of their friends. Friend my foot! It’s just a way for him to make another business merger,” Yoo Chun bit out angrily.
I knew Yoo Chun was rich, but I didn’t think he had a father who would try to run his life.
“But you’re not working for your father, are you?” I asked him.
“I will be, after I get married,” he sighed.
“What a coincidence,” Dae In said. “I’m getting engaged this weekend too.”
“You are?” Yoo Chun looked at her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your full name earlier. What was it?”
“Han Dae In,” Dae In said slowly and as soon as she did, Yoo Chun’s face lit up in recognition, and it wasn’t the happy kind of recognition.
“So it’s you,” he said darkly.
“What?” I exclaimed.
“You’re Park Yoo Chun?” Dae In exclaimed.
“Yes, pangapsumnida,” he said sarcastically. “I’m leaving,” he said as he threw down some bills from his wallet. “Talk to you later, Jun Su.”
I was aghast at Yoo Chun’s behavior. I felt so bad for Dae In, who was sitting there looking really upset. I know that Yoo Chun wasn’t the nicest of guys, but he was being a real jerk about this. It’s not like Dae In wasn’t forced into this. I got up and chased after him.
“Sierra,” Jun Su called after me.
“Be right back,” I said as I walked out the door.
“Yah!! Yoo Chun!” I shouted at him. He ignored me and continued walking.
“Park Yoo Chun,” I shouted again and this time he stopped, but did not turn around. I caught up with him and turned him around by grabbing his shoulder. “What was that back there?”
“What do you mean?” he said.
“You were so freakin’ rude to Dae In. What’s your problem?” I yelled at him.
“She is,” he said.
“She wasn’t a willing party either. And you’re the guy, you can reject the marriage much more easily than she can.”
“You think it’s so simple? Our parents are power crazy. They think this ‘merger’ will make them undefeatable.”
“So? It’s your parents, not her. I was right to have a bad feeling when she told me she had an arranged marriage. It did turn out that she was to marry a ssagaji like you!”
“Mwo? Ssagaji?”
“Yes, you ssagaji! Ssagaji!!” I yelled at him.
Suddenly, Yoo Chun grabbed me and kissed me hard on the lips. It took me split second to realized what he was doing since I was in shock. I pushed away and swung my arm, slapping his face.
“Neo michoso?” I yelled at him.
“Keurae, na michin,” he laughed bitterly as his hand went to his cheek. “I’m going mad because of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The main reason I don’t want to get married, is because of you. Saranghae,” Yoo Chun said.
I continued to stare at him, speechless. Had he really gone mad? I was dating Jun Su. How can he love me if I was dating Jun Su?
“I don’t believe you,” I said.
“I didn’t want to tell you,” he said. “I thought I had time. I didn’t think Jun Su would date you for more than 2 months. He usually ended his relationships within a month. He must really like you.”
“Keuman,” I said softly. “Stop this right, now.”
“I can’t,” he said. “I’m already in too deep.”
“Didn’t I tell you, Jun Su? My father have arranged for me to marry the daughter of one of their friends. Friend my foot! It’s just a way for him to make another business merger,” Yoo Chun bit out angrily.
I knew Yoo Chun was rich, but I didn’t think he had a father who would try to run his life.
“But you’re not working for your father, are you?” I asked him.
“I will be, after I get married,” he sighed.
“What a coincidence,” Dae In said. “I’m getting engaged this weekend too.”
“You are?” Yoo Chun looked at her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your full name earlier. What was it?”
“Han Dae In,” Dae In said slowly and as soon as she did, Yoo Chun’s face lit up in recognition, and it wasn’t the happy kind of recognition.
“So it’s you,” he said darkly.
“What?” I exclaimed.
“You’re Park Yoo Chun?” Dae In exclaimed.
“Yes, pangapsumnida,” he said sarcastically. “I’m leaving,” he said as he threw down some bills from his wallet. “Talk to you later, Jun Su.”
I was aghast at Yoo Chun’s behavior. I felt so bad for Dae In, who was sitting there looking really upset. I know that Yoo Chun wasn’t the nicest of guys, but he was being a real jerk about this. It’s not like Dae In wasn’t forced into this. I got up and chased after him.
“Sierra,” Jun Su called after me.
“Be right back,” I said as I walked out the door.
“Yah!! Yoo Chun!” I shouted at him. He ignored me and continued walking.
“Park Yoo Chun,” I shouted again and this time he stopped, but did not turn around. I caught up with him and turned him around by grabbing his shoulder. “What was that back there?”
“What do you mean?” he said.
“You were so freakin’ rude to Dae In. What’s your problem?” I yelled at him.
“She is,” he said.
“She wasn’t a willing party either. And you’re the guy, you can reject the marriage much more easily than she can.”
“You think it’s so simple? Our parents are power crazy. They think this ‘merger’ will make them undefeatable.”
“So? It’s your parents, not her. I was right to have a bad feeling when she told me she had an arranged marriage. It did turn out that she was to marry a ssagaji like you!”
“Mwo? Ssagaji?”
“Yes, you ssagaji! Ssagaji!!” I yelled at him.
Suddenly, Yoo Chun grabbed me and kissed me hard on the lips. It took me split second to realized what he was doing since I was in shock. I pushed away and swung my arm, slapping his face.
“Neo michoso?” I yelled at him.
“Keurae, na michin,” he laughed bitterly as his hand went to his cheek. “I’m going mad because of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The main reason I don’t want to get married, is because of you. Saranghae,” Yoo Chun said.
I continued to stare at him, speechless. Had he really gone mad? I was dating Jun Su. How can he love me if I was dating Jun Su?
“I don’t believe you,” I said.
“I didn’t want to tell you,” he said. “I thought I had time. I didn’t think Jun Su would date you for more than 2 months. He usually ended his relationships within a month. He must really like you.”
“Keuman,” I said softly. “Stop this right, now.”
“I can’t,” he said. “I’m already in too deep.”
Chapter 3
I reached home an hour later, dragged myself up the stairs to my apartment, and collapsed through the main door.
“Onni, waseo!” Dae In smiled. Han Dae In is my room mate. She’s actually pretty rich and has no reason to be living in this dump with me, but she’d asked her father for a year of independence, before she was married off to some guy her family had promised her to. This was the last week of her independence.
“Oh… You’re home pretty early.”
“We closed up pretty early today, since the boss had some family matter to attend to.”
Dae In worked at a dessert shop nearby. It wasn’t a glam job, but she loved it.
“I can learn to make desserts for my future husband,” she smiled.
I salute Dae In. Here she is, enjoying her final year of freedom before she had to marry some ssagaji of a guy, and she talks about making him dessert in the future. I feared for Dae In. What if her husband turned out to be a horrible man?
“What do you want for dinner?” I asked her. I’d promised to take her out for dinner everyday of the week until her last day as my roomie.
“Can we go to that little bistro we saw the other day?”
“You wanna try out a new place?” I asked her.
“Why not?” she smiled.
“Sure, it’s your call this week,” I said as I plopped down on the sofa. “We have another 3 hours to dinner time,” I added after looking at the clock on the wall.
“Let’s watch a movie!” she said as she rustled through our collection of DVDs. She pulled out our favorite movie, ‘Ever After’. We loved Drew Barrymore. She’s such a great actress. To bad in real life, there are so many rumors about her being a nasty person. As we watched the ending, Dae In passed me a box of tissues. We always cried at the ending. It was so romantic, we couldn’t help ourselves.
“Onni…” Dae In sniffed. “How I wish I could have a romantic ending like that!”
“You can,” I said. “Your wedding is going to be as beautiful as the one Drew Barrymore had in Ever After.”
“Chintcha?” she asked me.
“Yes… of course,” I smiled reassuringly.
It was about 6pm and we started walking to this little French bistro near our place. I’d called Jun Su and asked him to meet us there for dinner. We spotted him, waiting outside with Yoo Chun, as we approached. I wrinkled my nose as I approached them; Yoo Chun was smoking again.
“Yoo Chun, you need to quit,” I said. He smiled as he dropped the fag on the floor and grinded on it with the heel of his shoe.
“Let’s go in,” Jun Su said as he put his hand on my back to guide me. I turned to look behind as we walked.
“Sorry, I forgot to introduce you guys. Yoo Chun, this is Dae In, my room mate.”
“Annyong,” Dae In said shyly as she nodded.
“Annyong,” Yoo Chun smiled at her. “Nuna, you didn’t tell me you had such a cute roomie.”
“Of course not,” I laughed. “I wouldn’t want her to fall into your clutches.”
Dinner turned out to be mediocre. This was probably the last time we were going to set foot in this bistro. However, the company was great, as usual. Whenever Jun Su and Yoo Chun were together, they've never ceased to crack me up. In the middle of one of their jokes, Yoo Chun's mobile phone rang. He picked it up and answered it without even looking who had called.
"Yoboseyo," he laughed into the phone and all at once, his face changed.
"Nae," he replied to the other person. "Nae," he repeated once again. "I'll be there," he finally said and he ended the call.
"Who was that?" Jun Su asked.
"My father."
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No. He just called to remind me of my engagement, this weekend."
“Onni, waseo!” Dae In smiled. Han Dae In is my room mate. She’s actually pretty rich and has no reason to be living in this dump with me, but she’d asked her father for a year of independence, before she was married off to some guy her family had promised her to. This was the last week of her independence.
“Oh… You’re home pretty early.”
“We closed up pretty early today, since the boss had some family matter to attend to.”
Dae In worked at a dessert shop nearby. It wasn’t a glam job, but she loved it.
“I can learn to make desserts for my future husband,” she smiled.
I salute Dae In. Here she is, enjoying her final year of freedom before she had to marry some ssagaji of a guy, and she talks about making him dessert in the future. I feared for Dae In. What if her husband turned out to be a horrible man?
“What do you want for dinner?” I asked her. I’d promised to take her out for dinner everyday of the week until her last day as my roomie.
“Can we go to that little bistro we saw the other day?”
“You wanna try out a new place?” I asked her.
“Why not?” she smiled.
“Sure, it’s your call this week,” I said as I plopped down on the sofa. “We have another 3 hours to dinner time,” I added after looking at the clock on the wall.
“Let’s watch a movie!” she said as she rustled through our collection of DVDs. She pulled out our favorite movie, ‘Ever After’. We loved Drew Barrymore. She’s such a great actress. To bad in real life, there are so many rumors about her being a nasty person. As we watched the ending, Dae In passed me a box of tissues. We always cried at the ending. It was so romantic, we couldn’t help ourselves.
“Onni…” Dae In sniffed. “How I wish I could have a romantic ending like that!”
“You can,” I said. “Your wedding is going to be as beautiful as the one Drew Barrymore had in Ever After.”
“Chintcha?” she asked me.
“Yes… of course,” I smiled reassuringly.
It was about 6pm and we started walking to this little French bistro near our place. I’d called Jun Su and asked him to meet us there for dinner. We spotted him, waiting outside with Yoo Chun, as we approached. I wrinkled my nose as I approached them; Yoo Chun was smoking again.
“Yoo Chun, you need to quit,” I said. He smiled as he dropped the fag on the floor and grinded on it with the heel of his shoe.
“Let’s go in,” Jun Su said as he put his hand on my back to guide me. I turned to look behind as we walked.
“Sorry, I forgot to introduce you guys. Yoo Chun, this is Dae In, my room mate.”
“Annyong,” Dae In said shyly as she nodded.
“Annyong,” Yoo Chun smiled at her. “Nuna, you didn’t tell me you had such a cute roomie.”
“Of course not,” I laughed. “I wouldn’t want her to fall into your clutches.”
Dinner turned out to be mediocre. This was probably the last time we were going to set foot in this bistro. However, the company was great, as usual. Whenever Jun Su and Yoo Chun were together, they've never ceased to crack me up. In the middle of one of their jokes, Yoo Chun's mobile phone rang. He picked it up and answered it without even looking who had called.
"Yoboseyo," he laughed into the phone and all at once, his face changed.
"Nae," he replied to the other person. "Nae," he repeated once again. "I'll be there," he finally said and he ended the call.
"Who was that?" Jun Su asked.
"My father."
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No. He just called to remind me of my engagement, this weekend."
Chapter 2
Jun Su pulled away suddenly. He licked his lips quickly, tasting my tears.
“Sierra… uljima,” he said as his thumb came to wipe my tears away. He put his hands behind my head and pulled me into his embrace. I started sobbing uncontrollably. “Sierra, mianhae,” he sighed.
“I don’t want an apology,” I cried against his shoulder. “I want the truth.”
“I was telling the truth,” he said as he pulled away to look me. “She meant nothing to me.”
“She meant nothing to you as in she was just a fling? Or she meant nothing to you as in you really had no idea what she wanted with you?” I asked, sniffing.
“The 2nd one,” he said, quietly.
“Look at me, Jun Su,” I said. “Look into my eyes,” I said. He looked up at me, straight at me.
“Saranghae,” he said, as his eyes looked at me meaningfully.
“I love you too,” I sighed and we hugged.
Sometime later, I’d left Jun Su’s work place. I was actually there to meet him for lunch when I caught him with that girl. I think her name’s Ri In. I bumped into Yoo Chun, Jun Su’s colleague, on my way out.
“Oh! Nuna!” Yoo Chun called out to me when he saw me.
Just in case anyone is interested, yes, I’m older than Jun Su. He found out I was older on our 3rd date.
“What? You’re like… 3 years older than I am,” he exclaimed.
“Sure… say it out loud. You were the one who forced me to date you in the first place. Now you regret because I’m old?”
“Aniyo,” he smiled. “Why would I regret? It’s cool to date an older girl these days. Won’t want to miss out on the trend,” he laughed.
“Yah!!!” I smacked him. “Am I some kinda trophy girlfriend to you? Just so you can keep up with the dating trend? I knew you were a player…”
“Of course not,” he said, rubbing his arm. “I prefer mature girls,” he said. “But I’m definitely not getting the vibe that you’re older, or even more mature than I am,” he added.
“Yah!” I yelled and I smacked him. He laughed and took my hands. He turned my palms up and studied the lines on them. “What are you looking at?” I asked him.
“Your fate,” he said as he ran hi thumb across my life line.
“And what’s my destiny?” I smiled.
“I am,” he said.
“Nuna,” Yoo Chun called again, and I was awakened from my reverie. “Did you hear what I just said?”
“Mian…” I said, sheepishly. “I blanked out for a moment there.”
“Have you been crying?” Yoo Chun asked as he peered at my face.
“Crying?” I said and my hands automatically came up to touch my puffy eyes.
“Your eyes look swollen. Has Jun Su been bullying you?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“No… I just need some sleep,” I smiled.
“Come on, nuna. You can tell me. If Jun Su bullied you, I’d beat the hell out of him.”
“He didn’t. Don’t worry about me, Yoo Chun.”
“If you say so,” he sighed.
“Don’t you need to get back to work?” I asked him. He looked at his watch, then looked back at me.
“Yea, I’d better go.”
“See you around,” I smiled.
“See ya,” he grinned at me.
Yoo Chun was a nice guy. It was just too bad that he had a lot of vices. He smoked, he drank and he had a very active social life. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why he bothers to spend the time to talk to me when there are so many girls starving for his attention. It’s probably because I was dating Jun Su. I shook my head and laughed to myself as I walked out of the building.
“Sierra… uljima,” he said as his thumb came to wipe my tears away. He put his hands behind my head and pulled me into his embrace. I started sobbing uncontrollably. “Sierra, mianhae,” he sighed.
“I don’t want an apology,” I cried against his shoulder. “I want the truth.”
“I was telling the truth,” he said as he pulled away to look me. “She meant nothing to me.”
“She meant nothing to you as in she was just a fling? Or she meant nothing to you as in you really had no idea what she wanted with you?” I asked, sniffing.
“The 2nd one,” he said, quietly.
“Look at me, Jun Su,” I said. “Look into my eyes,” I said. He looked up at me, straight at me.
“Saranghae,” he said, as his eyes looked at me meaningfully.
“I love you too,” I sighed and we hugged.
Sometime later, I’d left Jun Su’s work place. I was actually there to meet him for lunch when I caught him with that girl. I think her name’s Ri In. I bumped into Yoo Chun, Jun Su’s colleague, on my way out.
“Oh! Nuna!” Yoo Chun called out to me when he saw me.
Just in case anyone is interested, yes, I’m older than Jun Su. He found out I was older on our 3rd date.
“What? You’re like… 3 years older than I am,” he exclaimed.
“Sure… say it out loud. You were the one who forced me to date you in the first place. Now you regret because I’m old?”
“Aniyo,” he smiled. “Why would I regret? It’s cool to date an older girl these days. Won’t want to miss out on the trend,” he laughed.
“Yah!!!” I smacked him. “Am I some kinda trophy girlfriend to you? Just so you can keep up with the dating trend? I knew you were a player…”
“Of course not,” he said, rubbing his arm. “I prefer mature girls,” he said. “But I’m definitely not getting the vibe that you’re older, or even more mature than I am,” he added.
“Yah!” I yelled and I smacked him. He laughed and took my hands. He turned my palms up and studied the lines on them. “What are you looking at?” I asked him.
“Your fate,” he said as he ran hi thumb across my life line.
“And what’s my destiny?” I smiled.
“I am,” he said.
“Nuna,” Yoo Chun called again, and I was awakened from my reverie. “Did you hear what I just said?”
“Mian…” I said, sheepishly. “I blanked out for a moment there.”
“Have you been crying?” Yoo Chun asked as he peered at my face.
“Crying?” I said and my hands automatically came up to touch my puffy eyes.
“Your eyes look swollen. Has Jun Su been bullying you?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“No… I just need some sleep,” I smiled.
“Come on, nuna. You can tell me. If Jun Su bullied you, I’d beat the hell out of him.”
“He didn’t. Don’t worry about me, Yoo Chun.”
“If you say so,” he sighed.
“Don’t you need to get back to work?” I asked him. He looked at his watch, then looked back at me.
“Yea, I’d better go.”
“See you around,” I smiled.
“See ya,” he grinned at me.
Yoo Chun was a nice guy. It was just too bad that he had a lot of vices. He smoked, he drank and he had a very active social life. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why he bothers to spend the time to talk to me when there are so many girls starving for his attention. It’s probably because I was dating Jun Su. I shook my head and laughed to myself as I walked out of the building.
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