A Truth and A Lie Ch.8

Cha Eun Sang sat awkwardly across from Young Do at a little table in his suite. She hasn’t touched her ramen as she felt too sick to eat. Her nerves were running high and she couldn’t help but fidget. All of her being wanted to leave.

“Ya aren’t you going to eat?” Choi Young Do looked up at her from his bowl of ramen, with eyebrows raised. She shook her head at him in defiance and then looked away from his gaze. He sighed, and put his bowl down having lost his appetite.

“Fine. The food is just a courtesy anyway. I want you to tell me everything you know about Summer.” He thought that maybe if he talked about her, got his thoughts out about her, his mind could rest. His mind would be satisfied and he could be at peace.

Cha Eun Sang jerked her head in his direction, “Mwo? I thought you were ignoring her,” her curiosity was peaked. He rolled his eyes at her, “That’s not important. So, what is her favorite color? Is it green? What kind of music does she listen to?” He crossed his arms and waited for her reply.

Cha Eun Sang felt amused now, seeing the true reason he invited her over. Somehow this made her feel more at ease. She smiled ever so slightly, “You know I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I just gave out her information like that. If you weren’t ignoring her, you could just ask her yourself. I’m sure she would answer you.”

His face turned into a look of annoyance, I’m not so sure she would anymore. “Looks like you don’t really care about Joon Young.” She heard the threat in his voice and it brought her back to reality. His interest in Summer was obvious, somehow it made him softer, but she shouldn’t forget that he is dangerous.

“Ne her favorite color is green,” she spoke reluctantly. Mianhe Summer…I mean this information can’t hurt, can it? Cha Eun Sang grew more uncomfortable feeling like she was betraying her friend. She didn’t know what to do.

She was saved by a knock on the door. Omo that must be Summer! Eun Sang thought hopefully. Young Do sighed in frustration as their conversation was interrupted. He made his way to the door and was not surprised to see Rachel.

“Ya I thought you were going to take care of our little family-photoshoot?” she said the last part with as much disgust as she could mutter into a word. “Why is it still on for this weekend?” She crossed her arms.

“I said I will take care of it. Now leave, I have a guest over,” he started closing the door. She stopped the door with her arm and pushed past him, curious about who would be here other than her. The moment she saw Cha Eun Sang rage flooded her mind.

“Huh. I guess you aren’t so stupid after all. Trying to play all fields? I wonder if Kim Tan knows about this,” she immediately took out her phone. Cha Eun Sang was staring at her like a deer caught in headlights, before coming back to her senses. She stood up quickly.

“Actually I am here against my will, but will be leaving now,” she walked past Rachel and was surprised when Young Do let her through the door. He felt his distraction was ruined. Rachel scoffed and walked out after her.

Just then Summer was walking back to her suite; she saw Eun Sang who gave her a quick smile but the worry in her eyes were apparent. Before Summer had the chance to say anything, Eun Sang left quickly using the elevator. Rachel rolled her eyes at Summer when they passed, but otherwise ignored her.

Summer stopped in front of her door and looked at Young Do who was left standing in his doorway. “Please don’t sue Joon Young,” she looked up into his eyes as he was now staring at her carefully. She looked disappointed. He continued to stare not saying anything. If she were to look down she would have noticed his hands were shaking.

She turned her head and walked into her suite, closing the door behind her. He didn’t pay attention to how long he stood in his doorway, feeling hollow.

oOoOoOoOo

The next day, Young Do continued to ignore Summer, but he was acting differently. Rather than walking away every time he saw her, he would stare holes into her head when he sat behind her.

She felt his presence constantly, and yet he would look away whenever she turned in his direction. The look on his face was wounded—there were no bruises or cuts, but she saw the pain nonetheless.

She had every urge to confront him again, ask if he is okay, ask what he is thinking. But she remembered how it felt yesterday when he rejected her and tears threatened to fall. She swallowed them back.

At lunch he sat alone at a table, with a direct line of sight towards her. She felt awkward eating as he continued to look at her. He wasn’t glaring nor did he look predatorial. Does he even blink? Summer turned away from him as she tried to chat with Eun Sang and Kim Tan to distract her.

They both were aware of Young Do’s behavior but thought this was better than him walking around bullying people. He seemed to be by himself, even his lackeys weren’t around. Kim Tan patted Summer on her shoulder, trying to put her at ease, “Just ignore him”.

Students would walk by him, but not dare to disturb him as everyone knew better than to bother Choi Young Do. As time went by and classes finished for the day, Summer couldn’t wait to get away. She was itching to escape to her sanctuary.

oOoOoOoOo

Young Do went straight home after school and plopped on top of his bed. He felt guilt chewing at his insides all day. He wanted to talk to her, wanted things to go back to the way they were when they first met.

He exhaled a deep breath and to his back, putting an arm over his eyes. He tried to control his breathing as he learned in Judo. One breath in, a longer breath out. Images flashed through his mind as he tried to pinpoint exactly what he was feeling. He thought among the guilt there may be an answer to all the questions that riddled his mind.

One memory in particular stood out to him, and he grasped it like a thread in the wind. He held it in his hand tightly.

He followed her after school one day. He was ignoring her at the time, but wanted to be near her. He thought she would go somewhere familiar, but she brought him somewhere new. An acoustic café. He waited outside for a bit before walking in. He saw through the glass that it was packed with people and the lights were hazy.

He was in the back where he felt most unseen. A stool was empty, as if waiting for him, so he took a seat. He was tall enough to see the stage up front. It was a small wooden stage. She was sitting with a guitar, tuning it he thought.

He could tell she was not aware that he was watching her. She seemed nervous especially when the lights dimmed on the audience. She was about to start playing. Was she going to sing too? He remembered waiting in anticipation. His palms were sweaty.

It wasn’t new for him to watch people, as he always let his curiosity get the best of him and he was very good at being inconspicuous if he wanted to be. It was a way for him to not feel lonely, but also be at peace.

But he remembered feeling nervous, as if he was about to see something intimate. Something that he felt he didn’t have the privilege to watch. This was new to him.

She began to play the guitar and a few of the people in the crowd recognized the song and started clapping. She smiled, looking more confident, and began to sing. She closed her eyes.

He understood most of the English words, but the words in the moment did not matter. He felt his stomach jolt again—everything he experienced since the day he ran into her in the elevator has been a mystery to him. I think I know what it is now.

He couldn’t move from his spot. His body recreated the goosebumps he felt that day. He left the café before she knew he was there. He saw her more clearly, and now it was as if he was looking into a mirror.

He slowly opened his eyes as he moved his arm down to his chest. The room seemed so still, he couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not. He smiled as tears streamed from both eyes down to his ears. He released the imaginary thread his hand was holding.

“Ne, Joahaeyo Summer,” he said it aloud to himself, feeling the words escape his lips like something being set free. Each tear was a small piece of the pain he held onto which he was finally starting to let go.

A knock on the door startled him. He shot up from his bed thinking it was Summer, he didn’t bother to wipe away the tears. He quickly opened his door only to be terrified of who he was facing.

“A-a-beoji?” Young Do’s pupils dilated at the realization that his father was now staring at him and could see his tear streaked face. His father who was already glaring, grabbed his face roughly and turned it to the side to get a better view.

He pushed him inside and slammed the door behind them both.

oOoOoOoOo

Summer thanked the organizer again for lending her his guitar as she made her way off stage and sat down at a little table by the window. She sighed happily as she drank her latte, feeling less stressed now that she sang her heart out. This time she sang Golden Love by Midnight Youth.

She came here a few times since she moved to Korea, finding this place to be her outlet since she could no longer go surfing. She loved singing and playing the guitar but it was a secret talent. No one knew except her father. She felt too nervous, too exposed to play in front of other people.

Summer watched people passing by the window as they made their way down the street. It started to drizzle lightly which further eased her mind. As she continued looking at the street she remembered when she was here last week.

She came to sing Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood. The audience expressed to her that they enjoyed her singing in English to which she happily obliged, missing America sometimes. It was raining that day too.

She recalled thinking she saw Young Do’s motorcycle, remembering how her core trembled at the possibility of him seeing her here. The image was gone a few seconds later, so she assumed it was just a figment of her imagination. He wouldn’t possibly come here.

If she was being honest with herself, she missed him. She missed him then and she missed him now. Summer sighed and put her head down on the table. She still felt hurt after he rejected her hug. Could I really just give up on him?

She pulled at the sides of her hair in frustration. Ani. I know I can’t. She was having a mental battle with herself, the anxiety finding its way into her veins again. She breathed deeply, reminding herself to calm down.

So what if he rejected my hug? I mean, maybe he was just not prepared for it? He did run into his room quickly rather than saying something mean...

Summer nodded to herself as she came up with reasons for the way things turned out.

Ne, he hurt you. Ne, he is rough around the edges. But remember those soft eyes you see sometimes. Remember that smile he gave you?

An inner voice spoke out to her and she began to smile. She stood up quickly from her seat putting a fist into the air.

“I will not give up on him!”

She said aloud to herself and awkwardly walked out of the café as people gave her a strange look at her seemingly random action.

She ran through the drizzling rain hoping to catch Young Do at his suite.

When she arrived at his door her hair was a frizzy mess and her clothes hung to her body. She didn’t care what she looked like. She just knew she had to keep trying. She knocked on his door.

She knocked on his door again after a few minutes of no answer. Still nothing.

She pouted her lips and took out her phone.

Choi Young Do, where are you?

After texting him she went into her suite to shower.

Fine. Looks like you are still ignoring me. Well I wanted to say I’m not going to give up on you.

She ate dinner and watched a tv show.

I hope you’re okay. Please don’t push me away.

She laid on her bed watching her ceiling fan and texted him one last time before sleep overtook her.

Let’s get ramen after school tomorrow. My treat.

oOoOoOoOo

Young Do decided to skip his first class as his body still ached from the fight with his father. He thought he could beat him this time, especially now that he had motive. He wanted to prove to himself that liking someone wasn’t weak. He wanted to show his father that he was stronger now.

His father cheated by choking him to the ground.

Another lesson learned. How you win doesn’t matter, people only care about the results. His father’s words went through his mind as he rubbed his sore neck. He filed a lawsuit against Joon Young shortly after his father left.

He didn’t really know why he decided to do it. He just felt helpless, out of control.

When the bell rang and students went out to switch their books, he waited by his locker hoping to see Summer walk by. He saw her texts late last night but couldn’t bring himself to reply after he did exactly what she didn’t want him to.

He felt torn in two directions—feeling like he didn’t deserve her attention and yet giving into the desire of wanting to see her. Instead Joon Young walked up to him; he was as white as a ghost. “Jebal Choi Young Do, I beg you, take back the lawsuit. Jeongmal Mianhae!”

Young Do decided that this was the universe sending him a sign and he was willing to comply. He was eager to dig his own grave, I am already too far gone, why stop now? “How far will you go for me to take it back?” At this point students started crowding around watching their interaction.

“I’ll do anything. Jebal.” He started bowing, but Young Do grabbed his shoulder roughly to stop him, “How about you kneel when you beg?” He smiled down at him. Joon Young’s eyes widened at his request but nonetheless he slowly began to go down to his knees, shaking in the process.

Everyone that was watching were appalled at the scene but kept silent. No one wanted to be in his position and they could tell Young Do felt particularly sinister today. The students felt this was the worst way to break someone down, by taking their dignity.

Yet just as Joon Young’s knees hit the floor, someone grabbed his shoulder. “Get back up,” Kim Tan, who had run over to them, looked at him in reassurance. Joon Young pushed his hand off before Young Do could react to the new presence, “I don’t want your help. You’re no better than him.”

Kim Tan’s expression changed to a look of confusion, “Did I bully you too?” His eyes showed sadness, but Joon Young felt no pity, “At least he remembers who I am.” Joon Young looked back up at Young Do getting ready to beg again.

Young Do smirked at his response, but then a fist collided with his jaw and for a split second he heard gasps and shouts from the crowd. Then a newfound ringing in his ears drowned it out.

Kim Tan felt the urge to redeem his past actions and in his mind this was the best way to do it. He put up his fist again, ready to throw another punch. Young Do, who fell back, regained his footing and his bottom lip, tasting blood.

He turned his head to the side and laughed, “Omo look who’s back,” Young Do’s face burned and a bruise was already forming, but this is exactly what he wanted. He felt this was the proper punishment, yet he couldn’t help himself.

Just like the good old times.

He lunged at Kim Tan, but before they collided a teacher behind them shouted loudly, stopping them mid-action. “Choi Young Do. Kim Tan. Principal’s Office. NOW.” Both Young Do and Kim Tan looked back at the seonsaengnim, knowing this was not going to end well.

The crowd of students quickly dispersed, pretending they hadn’t seen a thing. By then Joon Young had already taken the opportunity to remove himself from the situation. He understood now that begging would get him nowhere.

Right next to the seonsaengnim stood Summer. As soon as she saw Young Do’s bruised face and bleeding lip her face sunk. She then noticed Kim Tan and realized what transpired. Her best friend punched him. Why the are they fighting now?

She groaned at the thought, but her hand twitched as they walked by, almost reaching, yearning.

Young Do and Kim Tan followed the seonsaengnim to the office, both avoiding Summer’s gaze.

Kurae, I got my punishment. Do I warrant her attention now?

Young Do looked up at nothing in particular; he wasn’t sure who he was asking.

oOoOoOoOo

Summer decided to wait for Young Do after school by his motorcycle. She didn’t see either of them at lunch or in the hallways. She knew he would come out eventually. He wouldn’t leave his bike at, school would he?

She wasn’t sure what happened at the office and Kim Tan hasn’t answered any of her texts.

Ya Kim Tan why did you punch Young Do?

Tan !! What happened between you guys?

Tan-ah don’t leave me hanging, are you okay?

She was leaning on Young Do’s bike when her phone buzzed, making her jump.

Ya Summer gwenchana. I punched him because he deserved it! Duh!

She was working on her reply, unaware that Young Do was approaching. He was so surprised to see her he stopped in his tracks and blinked a few times. Aish did Kim Tan injure my brain? He shook his head and slowly continued his way over to her.

Once he was in front of her he reached out and poked her in the forehead to confirm she was really there. She was so enthralled in her texting that only when she felt someone touch her did she come back to reality.

She looked up quickly and jumped back, but as she was leaning on his bike she began to fall backwards as the bike began to tip.

He quickly grabbed her on both sides of her arms, stopping her from falling and stopping the bike from tipping over. He pulled her forward until she was upright and had her balance. “Ya, America, what are you doing?”

She was looking up at him now—she dropped her phone, and her face looked confused.

She couldn’t form words so she pulled put a band-aid from her pocket and held it up. He was still holding the sides of her arms, and it seemed that just as she noticed this detail so did he, as he quickly let go and stepped back.  

It was his turn to look confused. He didn’t understand why she was holding a band-aid and not saying anything. He bent down and picked up her phone and held it out to her.

She took it with her other hand and smiled softly, “Lean on your bike for a minute.” She moved to the side and motioned with her hand towards the bike. He did as he was told, though hesitantly. He realized in that moment how much he missed her.

While she dug in her bag for something else, he watched her. He watched the way her eyes closed when she blinked and the way her hair fell in front of her face when she looked down. The way her lips moved when she found whatever she was looking for.

Bogoshipda.

She pulled out a little medical kit and smiled at him. “I am going to take care of your face so hold still.” She wasn’t sure why he wasn’t ignoring her anymore, but relief engulfed her. She moved closer to him and moved her free hand reaching up to steady his face.

Bogoshipda.

He grabbed her hand before she could touch his face. Their eyes were mirrors to each other.

“Why do you do the things you do?”

She smiled at the familiarity of his words. His hand was warm against hers.

“Because I want to. Now can I continue?”

He was silent for a brief moment, and then gently let go of her hand and nodded.

Bogoshipda Summer.

She steadied his face as she cleaned his bottom lip. There was another small cut on his bruised cheek.

He was turning red at her touch and he tried to look away but she held his face firmly. He closed his eyes.

“Does it hurt?”

He tried shaking his head no. It did, but he didn’t want her to stop.

“Did you sue Joon Young? Is that why Kim Tan punched you?” She took out the band-aid and was applying it to his cheek. He could feel her breath on his face by her proximity.

He gulped and didn’t say anything, letting her finish. Once she was done she rubbed the band-aid carefully to make sure it would stay on, and then put a hand on his right shoulder. “There. That’s a little better. But you need to ice it when you get home, arasso?”

Her eyes dug through him and before he could stop them, the words slipped from his mouth, “I didn’t sue him.” He physically cringed, feeling remorseful for the lie but afraid of disappointing her, “… But I deserved the punch.”

She looked concerned all of a sudden, “Hajima. No one deserves to be hurt like that.” She put another hand on his left shoulder forcing him to really look at her, “Komawo for not suing Joon Young. Now did you hear me about ice? You have to ice it when you get home.”

He looked away and nodded.

The lie was eating his insides.

She let go of him, feeling his discomfort, and attempted to change the subject, perhaps I am being too touchy… “Now then, are you hungry?” She smiled at him and created more distance between them.

He looked back at her, shoving his thoughts aside, “Ne, and you owe me ramen.” He stood up fully and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer again. She blushed looking down, and then looked up as he put the spare helmet on her head, letting go of her hand only to adjust the strap.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hey readers! I am curious, what is your favorite scene so far? Mine is when Young Do realized he likes Summer. Writing that flashback gave me goosebumps ahhhh! Stay tuned for more!