Ga Eun, Jin Yang and Ki Joon finished their bachelor degree in the same year. All the late nights typing of papers, all the days scribbling notes at classes had finally ended and they could proudly say they have done their best. On one of the days when the three of them had lunch together, Jin Yang said, "Compared to you both, it seems that my college life is so relaxed! As if I didn't have to work hard at all!".
"It's not true, Jin Yangie. We just have different situations, that's all," Ga Eun countered.
"It is! Ki Joon is studying while working his ass off at that diner until early morning, because he's paying for himself. And you, Ga Eun, you study while managing that big house day and night. Compared to you both, I feel like a lazy guy!"
"Well, I am amazing, I admit. But only if you insist," Ki Joon stated conceitedly, earning a laugh from Jin Yang and a slap at his shoulder from Ga Eun.
"Really. I admire you both. I think you're very hard working and awesome."
"If you like us that much, you can pay for our lunch," Ki Joon suggested.
"Yah!" she protested. "It's not like we can't afford it!"
"It's okay. I'll do it gladly. To cheer you both for the upcoming finals," he said, as it was two months before their graduation finals, and they were all busy writing their thesis.
It was all done and over with on time, successfully.
And the time when Lee Myung Hwan graduated with his master degree had also come. His parents flew to NY to attend his graduation. After another two weeks, he came back to Korea, and would permanently stay there.
His coming home had made her happy, of course. Her days were much more meaningful because she could serve him again. But the continuous phone calls she heard, and the times he went outside with spring in his steps, confirmed that he was very attached to Crystal Agassi. Furthermore, undeniable proof was confirmed when pictures of the two at the most popular Seoulites hang out places flooded the internet and gossip news.
The question was only when it would all really start. She started to teach herself to be strong. To surrender everything to fate.
And so, the day finally came.
"Miss Kim!" one of the maids called her, her voice high and excited. "Miss Kim!" the maid called louder, shouting at her. She frowned in annoyance. She was sitting with Kim Ae Mi's secretary, discussing the next social function that would be held at Sang Kyu Hotel. She was on good terms with all the chefs, decorator, and event organizers Sang Kyu Hotel Seoul had. Whenever Lee Chung Ho and Kim Ae Mi had an event, they said to their secretaries, "Arrange it with Kim Ga Eun. She knew what we prefer. I don't have time to go into details with you. She'll answer your questions.''
That was why Ga Eun was completely annoyed with the new maid.
The girl knocked the door in a hurried manner, opening it harshly after she said "Come in!"
"Miss Kim, there's—"
"Mi Hee, don't shout in the house. It's one of the basic rules. You know that, right?"
The girl flustered and immediately bowed in embarrassment, "Mianheyo, Miss Kim, I guess I am too excited."
You don't explain, you just apologize. That's what her father taught her. If you made a mistake to the Lee Family, just apologize. Explaining means you're looking for excuses.
I'll teach this to her some other time.
"What makes you so excited?"
"Doryeonnim is coming!"
"And?"
"She's bringing Crystal Agassi with him!" the girl informed excitedly, her expression was a mixture of curiosity and excitement. At that moment, she understood. She wanted to see this girl for herself too.
"I'm sorry, Mi Hyang-ssi, I have to attend to this."
Mi Hyang, Kim Ae Mi's secretary, smiled at her. "It's alright. We'll talk on the phone later tonight?"
"Of course."
"To be honest, I'm curious about this girl, too. Maybe I'll take a peek when I walk out," Hwang Mi Hyang confessed .
She managed to smile. "Everybody wants to see this Agassi."
After bowing to Hwang Mi Hyang, she followed Mi Hee to the front door, quickly passing all the sitting rooms in between. By that time, Lee Myung Hwan's car just entered the main gate and drove slowly to the front porch.
Two of the stewards opened the door, just in time for her to see Myung Hwan coming out of his car, opened the door for his girlfriend, and helped her to get out.
On the first and closer look, Crystal was pretty with all the glory of a young miss from a wealthy family. Her face was a classic Korean, her form slender, and her walk brisk.
Ga Eun bowed low to welcome them. "Doryeonnim, Jung Soo Jin Agassi."
Crystal, who was taking a look at the park around her, finally laid her eyes on Ga Eun. "Nobody calls me like that. Crystal works better."
"Oh. Mianheyo, Crystal Agassi."
"She thinks Jung Soo Jin sounds very old-fashioned," Myung Hwan said, smiling to Ga Eun. He entered the house, and everybody followed behind him. Crystal opened her coat and immediately gave it to Ga Eun.
For one second, she froze to immobility. Before she composed herself, bowed, and took Krystal's coat.
"Crys! Nobody does that to her," Myung Hwan admonished.
"Hm? Wae?"
"Kim Ga Eun is not a mere maid. She's a friend of the family. She's our butler. Nobody gives her coats or jackets to hold on to. We have other maids to do that."
Crystal spun around and took a better look at her. "You're the butler? But you're a girl and you're so young!"
"There's a long story behind it," Myung Hwan answered, as Ga Eun just stood there, doing nothing except listening.
"What's your name?"
"Kim Ga Eun, Agassi."
"I'll remember that. I think in the future I need to get used to you."
Nobody responded. The atmosphere was somehow tense and awkward. The two stewards who opened the door looked anywhere but at the three people. Everybody in the house had always treated Ga Eun with respect. But for this Agassi, obviously, she was just a mere servant.
"For now, you could bring me a drink. Iced green tea. The day is rather hot," Crystal said to Ga Eun.
"Certainly, Agassi. Will you be staying for lunch?"
Crystal turned to Myung Hwan for an answer. "Yes. Abeoji and Ommoni is also coming for lunch."
"I thought they had meetings until dinner time, Doryeonnim?"
"They canceled everything."
Because their future daughter-in-law is coming, Ga Eun continued the answer inwardly.
"What do you want to drink, Doryeonnim?"
"Me? Just water."
"Algesseumnida. Which sitting room will you use?" she asked, as they walked along with Crystal, who was taking a look around the front hall.
"Hmmm. The one facing Ommoni's garden?"
"I'll prepare—"
"What sitting room, Oppa? I prefer to see your bedroom, where you grew up and always spend your time," Crystal cut in.
He turned to Crystal and smiled at her.
"Okay then, I'll show it to you."
With that, he reached her hand and mounted the stairs, leaving Ga Eun downstairs to do her duty.
Don't cry now, don't cry now, don't cry now.
It was what she repeated inside as she watched the couple talking softly to each other and disappeared from her view.
She was proud of herself. She managed to control her expression and behaved normally when she came upstairs with one of the maids and served the drinks at Myung Hwan's bedroom. He was sitting on his couch, watching ESPN, while Crystal sat on the bed, pouring over picture albums of him since he was a child, praising how cute he was.
"Yah! Don't call me cute! I hate it!" he protested, slicing the tiramisu cake Ga Eun gave.
"So what do you want to hear, Oppa?" she asked, her voice was dripping with aegyo.
"I'd rather hear you say that I'm cool," he chuckled.
"Well, your high school pictures did look cool. It won't be a lie if I call you that."
"Anything else, Doryeonnim?" Ga Eun asked, wanting to immediately leave the room.
"No, Ga Eun. Gomawo."
"Lunch will be ready in an hour."
"Just call me when it's ready."
"Algesseumnida, Doryeonnim," she bowed and then thankfully, left the room.
************************************
Lunch was commencing the next time Ga Eun forced herself not to cry, as she stood behind Lee Chung Ho's chair, ready to assist anybody who needed it.
She witnessed how Myung Hwan's parents welcomed Crystal earlier. In her white Fendi dress and Louboutin shoes, her hair clipped above her head, she looked like she was standing where she belonged. Between Lee Chung Ho, Kim Ae Mi, and their son.
Lee Chung Ho and Kim Ae Mi warmed to her immediately. Everybody seemed to accept readily that this was Myung Hwan's choice and would become a permanent part of their lives.
Her world crumbled as she witnessed them mingling and talking at the dining table.
She found out that the new Sang Kyu Hong Kong's employees, from the cleaning service to the managers, would be supplied by Crystal's parents company. It would ensure and strengthen the bond between their families.
"How is he treating you? And...what is the status of your relationship?" Kim Ae Mi asked Crystal conversationally, mixing her fruit salad.
"He is incredible, Ommonim. He's like a friend, a brother, and a lover mixed into one."
Myung Hwan laughed in an embarrassed tone beside her.
Kim Ae Mi gave his son a questioning look. Myung Hwan just shrugged.
"And..." Crystal continued, "he already proposed, Imo," she announced, her hand showing off the glinting diamond ring on her fourth finger.
Behind them, Ga Eun had to struggle to just breathe. Her throat hurt with the sobs she suppressed, her eyes busy blinking back tears. She took a deep breath while looking down, moving as little as possible to avoid anybody noticing her.
You know this is going to happen. You'll survive, you'll survive, you'll survive...
Tears refused to stay inside as she heard Lee Chung Ho congratulating his son, Myung Hwan's thank yous, Crystal's laugh...
Somebody take me away. Take me away. Because I can't take this pain.
This is too much, too painful, too cruel. I can't stand this.
I know this is going to happen. I've prepared myself for years to get through this. But I can't take this now when it's happening before my very eyes.
Just please stop this, somebody, anybody, take me away from this pain.
And then she looked up. She shouldn't do that, she realized that later.
Because at that precise second, Kim Ae Mi also looked at her. She was frowning at Ga Eun's direction. Kim Ae Mi sat opposite her husband on the dining table, facing straight at her. They were far enough. Or close enough?
As if in slow motion, she saw Kim Ae Mi's expression changed from confusion, shock, understanding, and then to pity. She didn't see disgust in her expression. But it was something she couldn't rejoice in.
But oh my God, now Samonim knows! Ottoke?
The rest was busy with the discussion of how Myung Hwan proposed, while Kim Ae Mi stared at her, who was as pale as a sheet and trembling in grief. A tear leaked from her eyes and fell to her cheek. She cursed herself from it, but her inside battle was too much, seeing Myung Hwan and this girl, and Kim Ae Mi finding out her deepest secret.
"Ga Eun-ah," Kim Ae Mi called.
She looked down and breathed in, praying she sounded normal when she answered, "Ne, Samonim?"
"I need my cell phone. Please take it in my study, Child. I forgot to bring it."
"Ne, Samonim" she bowed before hurrying out of the dining room.
She ran to Kim Ae Mi's study, grateful that there were no other servants around, locked the door, and fell down crying on the floor. She sat hugging her knees and cried her heart out. The pain is tearing her apart. Knowing that he had chosen a girl, a beautiful girl with the perfect background to match him. Knowing that she had been and always would be meaningless for him. Knowing this pain would never stop.
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Author's Note:
It was a painful chapter.
I hope you're ok reading this.