OST: Star by Kang Min Hyuk
When Myung Hwan entered the dining room for breakfast the next morning, he found Ga Eun pouring soup into bowls and slicing bread.
"I thought Ommoni asked you not to work for a month."
"Good morning, Doryeonnim."
"Don't pretend you didn't hear what I said."
"I'm going to disobey her just this once, Doryeonnim. Working puts things off of my mind. I feel better if I have something to do."
"You have school."
"I'm used to working when I come home."
Sighing, he pulled out a chair and sat down. "Are you sure you're going to be alright like this?"
"I am better, Doryeonnim. I am very grateful to you."
He ran his eyes on her face and was relieved to see her smile again. He grinned, "I'm glad to help. I think I've told you once, if you need my help, just ask me."
"You're very kind, Doryeonnim" she praised sincerely, laying his food for him.
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
"I have, Doryeonnim. Gamsahamnida."
He nodded in satisfaction before starting his breakfast.
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Ki Jun had no time to see Ga Eun in the morning. Only on lunch break did they promise to meet. He hastened his pace, anxious to make sure that she was at least feeling better.
When he arrived in the cafeteria, he saw her laughing heartily at Jin Yang's jokes. A closer inspection proved that she was half way to finishing her lunch, and there were no dark shadows under her eyes, a sign that she slept well last night, her hair was smoothed back into a ponytail, and her smile was not forced, but genuine as she greeted him.
"Good God! What the hell did that guy do to you?" he asked out loud, shrieking to the whole cafeteria to hear, as he stared at her, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "You were a zombie yesterday and now look at you! All glowing and radiant!"
"Yah!" she pulled him to sit down, "Lower down your voice!"
Ki Jun's eyes widened when she ate eagerly, a completely different girl than the one he saw yesterday. "What did he do to you?"
"Who did what to her?" Jin Yang asked, clueless of the head and tail of the topic.
"Lee Myung Hwa," Ki Jun answered. "What did that guy do to you? Magic?"
Ga Eun laughed, her eyes were dancing.
"Oi! Tell me!"
She shrugged. "He just.....talked to me."
"Talked to you. Hm. Where?"
"Sang Kyu."
"Sang Kyu Hotel?" Ki Jun made sure, eyes suspiciously narrowing.
"Ne."
"Hotel?" Jin Yang asked with dread.
"He talked to you?"
She nodded, drinking her green tea.
"Of what? Tell me. Next time you break down again, I'll say it too."
"Hmmm.....he said he was missing his harabeoji too."
"Ah. He lost his harabeoji. I remember it now" Jin Yang commented.
"And?"
"And he said my Appa would hate to see me mourning like that, not taking care of myself."
"And?"
"And, he asked me to move on."
Ki Jun could see that everything Lee Myung Hwan said, regardless of the things she didn't tell, was effective. He could clearly see that she was already in the process of moving on. And she did that merely because Myung Hwan asked her to.
He had been trying so hard to put her together for a week! And that guy could do it just by talking to her!
Ki Jun shook his head. And after taking a very deep breath, he said, "Whatever. I don't care how the hell he managed to make you well, as long as you are better. I'm so relieved to see you eat, Girl!"
"I'm alright, Ki Junnie."
"You looked so unwell yesterday," Jin Yang said.
"No more starving yourself!" Ki Jun warned.
"Ahrasseo."
"Can I take you anywhere? Wanna watch movies?"
"I'm working again. So, not today."
"You're what? I thought you were given one month off?"
"Working keeps my mind off negative thoughts. You wouldn't want me to feel sad all the time would you, Ki Junnie?"
"No. Of course not. But—"
She took one fried meatball from her bowl and shoved it into Ki Jun's mouth.
He shut his mouth and munched.
"I'm going to be okay. Don't worry about me," she closed the discussion, patting his palm.
With that, he finally mumbled, "Got it," and he got up to queue for his own lunch.
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In that way, life went on. Ga Eun and Myung Hwan's relationship, if not better, was at least easier. A little bit more comfortable. Sometimes when he saw her, he stopped her and asked about her day, or her school, or her friends. In turn, he told her about his days, his wishes, and the funny things that happened during that week.
For Ga Eun, everytime he called her to ask her how she was doing and told her about himself was the best time of her day.
Slowly, she took the role as the butler of the house. She could do it without failing her grades at school. Ki Jun once asked whether she was human or some kind of an alien with super power that enabled her to do several things at once.
No. It was easier to handle because all the household staff worked there for years and really respected her father. In turn, they respected her too. She only needed to order them to do what they needed to do, requesting things when necessary, and everything went smoothly at the house.
Meals were cooked on time and perfectly, the family were dropped and picked up by their chosen cars and drivers without any hitch, the place and all the things inside were kept spotless, shiny and clean. If not for the fact, nobody would realize that Kim Sang Ok was not there anymore, for everything went exactly the same as when he was still controlling the house.
The only thing Ga Eun managed alone was the household budget. She received the money to buy groceries, made sure that the whole household staff were paid correctly according to the working hours (she had to work with Lee Chung Ho's accountant for that—but she too, knew Ga Eun and trusted her – so it was easy to deal with), the money to buy gas for the cars and the cars' maintenance fee, and all the other expenses in between.
She was sensible enough not to use anything for herself. Besides, if it could be believed, the Lee Family still paid Kim Sang Ok's salary each month, transferring it to her account together with her own salary. She could be considered wealthy enough not to work anymore, but the thought had never crossed her mind.
In that way, a year passed. She missed her Appa, always. But as the months passed by, came the feeling of acceptance, of making peace with her own grief.
True, Appa is not here anymore. True, I wish it's otherwise. I wish he could be beside me and witness every step of my life. But it is not the case. I love him, I always will be. But I need to move on, I need to take care of this family that Appa loved so much he dedicated his life to them to the very end.
She didn't realize it, but she got more independent and stronger. She wouldn't know, but her ability could surpass any high class manager anywhere in the country. She was always humble because she didn't know anyone else in her position.
It's Ki Jun who realized it. He often randomly blurted, "You're an amazing little thing, do you know that?" while caressing her head. She would only smile questioningly at him and continued whatever she was doing that time.
Lee Myung Hwan realized it too. He told her, "I don't know how we would manage without you, Ga Eun. Thank you for everything you do."
That always made her beam and bow low in immense gratitude.
Then Myung Hwan graduated from university. His parents and Ga Eun were present again at the ceremony. After that, he started his preparation to enlist in the army.
His parents and his late Harabeoji thought that he would stay grounded if he spent his time in the army first before he went to New York to get his master degree.
As the time for his departure got nearer, the weight in Ga Eun's heart got heavier and heavier. She knew this day would come, she was aware of the plan. But it would be a very long time without seeing his presence. All this time, she felt happy enough if she could see him everyday. But then he would be in the army for two years. Afterwards, she knew he would be allowed only a little time at home before he would have to leave for New York for another two years.
Four years....four years without him.
She knew that afterwards, he would always be there. Most probably marrying a beautiful lady and raising equally beautiful children. From that time on, she would always be able to see him. But how could she survive the four long years?
She didn't know. Could not even begin to imagine it.
She got sad, so sad until Ki Jun was worried for her again. "He'll come back. You know that, don't you? There's no need to look like he's going to die!"
"I know. But—four years is a very long time."
"You'll be studying in a university. You'll be too busy chasing straight A's that you won't notice he left."
She turned to her best friend and smiled bitterly.
"Or. Better still, maybe now that he'll leave, you'll start seeing Jin Yang as someone cool and start a real relationship with him."
A groan was her only answer.
"You'll be okay. Besides, I'm here. I'll guard you like a loyal greyhound."
Ga Eun burst out laughing, before linking her arms with his.
"Oh, Ki Junnie, my life would be completely boring without you!"
"Of course it would be. Tell me something I don't know!"
"Don't be that arrogant!"
"I'm not!"
"Okay you're not. You just love to act like a diva!"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. You're my perfect Ki Junnie the clown!"
"Now should I slap you or hug you for that?"
"Hug me."
Comfortably, he leaned down and hugged her, his hands went around her neck.
"It's gonna be okay, chingoo-yah."
"I hope so."
"I hope these four years could be good for you. See the world in a different perspective."
"I don't know about that. But you're here, so I have a shoulder to cry on if I need to."
"Seo Ki Jun is always ready to serve you," he assured, bowing.
She laughed again and pushed his shoulder, wanting him to stand on her level, wishing their height was the same, which was impossible. But he obliged by trying to walk while crouching his body. It made him look like some random grandpa with a stylish hairdo.
And she laughed until her voice was hoarse.
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