CHAPTER TWO

“YongJoo-ah! Let’s go honey, we’re gonna be late if we don’t get going soon.” A sweet and tender voice beckons her.

She runs down the corridor towards the front door with her plush Winnie the Pooh tightly in hand. A smile plaster on her face as she sways side to side girlishly as she stood in front of the beautiful woman standing in front of her.

“I’m ready mommy!” She says with glee.

Her mother kneels down to her eye level, smiling sweetly back at her as she nozzles her nose with hers’.

“That’s my beautiful YongJoo! Now we just have to wait for your appa.”

YongJoo turns back around staring down the corridor. “Appa!” She shouted down the corridor.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Her father chuckles as he comes running out of his room with a duffel bag in one hand and his jacket in the other.

“Look at the two of you, like father like daughter.” Her mother teases as she stood up from her kneel as her father stood next to her, chuckling away.

Her father kneels down to her as he gaze at his little daughter, “look at your omma teasing us YongJoo, I think she doesn’t like us being alike.” He fakes a frown on his face with a pout.

YongJoo turns to look at her father and starts to giggle at his expression. She leans in and gives her a father a quick kiss at his pouting lips.

“That’s my YongJoo always know what to do to make her appa feel better.” He kisses her back, nuzzling his nose with hers’.

Her mother stood there watching them laughing away at their interaction. “Alright you two, let’s get going before we get caught up in traffic.”

Hand in hand, the three of them made their way towards their car. YongJoo sat in the back seat as she straps herself down with her seat, her mother in the passenger seat in the front and her father in the driver seat. The genuine smiles on their faces display the perfect picture of a happy family. No one could deny the happiness that she was experience at this very moment, a moment she would cherish for the rest of her life.

Sitting in the back of the car as she plays with her Winnie the Pooh plush, her father would glance at the rearview mirror with a smile at her as he drove them off on a little vacation from the bustling craziness that was the city. Her mother would do the same as she smiles at her little daughter playing in the backseat.

“YongJoo-ah.” Her father calls to her, glancing over at the rearview mirror as he drove.

She looks up at him with her wide innocent eyes.

“Are you excited about this trip? We’re gonna get to go see the beach and have campfires.”

A wide smile appears on her face as she nodded excitedly, her mother and father laughs joyously at her giddy reaction.

Ever since she could remember she had never gone on such a far trip nor has she ever left the city before, this was a first for her and she was ecstatic at the adventures that she was about to have. It was even a rarity that both her mother and father were able to take the time off to go as a whole family, that was another main reason why she was excited about this trip, what made this trip even more the worthwhile and meaningful.

The car ride took quite long as her father looks through his rearview mirror as he sees his little daughter asleep holding tightly to her plush. He smiles at the sight as he glances over at his wife; the two smiles sweetly at each other as she places a hand on his.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Why does it always happen when she was about to continue her sweet dream, one of the best dreams that she ever has.

The blaring of her alarm woke her from her sweet slumber as she grumbles under her comforter, pushing it slightly away from her face as she glance over at her alarm clock; ‘6:30…’ Either she get up now and prepare for school and avoid the embarrassment of being late again or risk it and get in another half an hour or so of extra slumber. The decisions one must make in life…

She hesitated before she groggily pushes herself up from her bed, slumming over her comforter as her long hair cascades over her face. Forcing her body to get up from the bed she slums over towards her bathroom, grabbing her towel as she did so, she paused for a second before proceeding as the remembrance of what happened yesterday morning occurred to her. She cautiously made her way to towards the bathroom door; the door was slightly ajar, feeling suspicious as she scans her bedroom to see if any signs of intrusion might have occurred: nothing. She let out a sigh of relief, maybe her brother got her warning. She straightens herself up and made her to the bathroom.

“Oppa!!!” Her high pitched screech echoes throughout her room.

There he was sitting on her toilet, pants down to his ankles, earbuds in his ears, eyes closed as he hummed along to the song that he was listening to.

He opens his eyes at the piercing screech that deepens in to his earshot, even his earbuds couldn’t block it. He stares up at her as he smiles at her innocently, taking out his earbuds.

“Morning sis.”

She glares at him in disbelieve, her eyes filled with anger and annoyance. She threw the towel in her hand at him, “I told yesterday to stay out of my room!”

He catches the towel and smiles innocently at her angry response. “I told you that I like your clean bathroom better.”

“Then get yours cleaned up then!” She says through gritted teeth.

“But I like spending time with my little sis,” his smile never fading from his face as he continues to stare at her.

She couldn’t take it anymore as she shakes her body like a little child throwing a tantrum from not getting what they wanted. “Oppa! You’re really aggravating me!”

He continues to sit there as he laughs at her reaction. “Well I can’t really leave. I’m in the middle of something here.”

“Urgh!!!” She groans. “You’re such a piece of sh!t!”

“Wait.” He motions to her as he holds up his finger, “one is coming out for you.” He adds, teasing her.

She scrunches her face in disgust. “You are disgusting!”

He laughs at his own joke as she storms out of the bathroom, grabbing another towel as she made her way towards the house bathroom.

“Love you too sis!” He shouted after her.

=====

“What’s wrong today?” SeoHyun asked as she sits herself down next to YongJoo.

She let out a long sigh as she lifts her head from her rested position on the table, “just my stupid brother again.”

SeoHyun couldn’t help but let out a giggle, “ever since I’ve known you all you complain about is your brother, he’s like the only person I think that could truly get under your skin.”

“It’s like it’s his life mission to make my life miserable or something.” She expressed with a puzzling expression on her face, as if not understanding why he does such things.

SeoHyun continues with her laughter at the expression on YongJoo’s face, “just be happy you have an older brother looking out for you, being protective of you.”

“I don’t know if I would even consider it as protective, he’s just there to annoy the hell out of me. He causes me more harm than protection.”

SeoHyun laughs at YongJoo’s conclusion. “Well, either way, I’m quite envious of the relationship you have with him. I would love to have an older brother or sister to look out for me.”

“Of course you would, everyone wants what they can’t or don’t have. Well, let me warn you SeoHyun, having an older sibling is not always as great as you may think it is. The suffering and torture you have to experience because of them.” YongJoo advised, “Oh the agony!” she adds dramatically.

SeoHyun continues her laughter at YongJoo’s dramatic reaction, “well, you have a brother maybe it’s different if it was an older sister.”

“Hm… Maybe,” YongJoo contemplated, “if only I got to choose.”

“If only we got to choose our family.” SeoHyun chuckles at the thought.

YongJoo gaze at her at her statement, she continues to gaze at her, pondering about her own situation, ‘if only she got to choose her family'...

“Why don’t you ask your parents to adopt you a little brother of sister or even an older sibling if it’s possible.”

SeoHyun, now gazing at YongJoo at her statement, let out a soft laugh. “If only it were that easy. Besides, my parents are old now they won’t have the energy to take care of another young child. I give them enough worries. I doubt they would want to take on more stress and worries.”

Being best of friends for the past four years, there hasn’t been a secret that the two have kept from each other. YongJoo feels like she knows SeoHyun like the back of her hand, a reason why she understood so well why SeoHyun loves the idea of having a sibling. Being an only child in her family, there is a lot of burden placed on her, a burden in which she takes on with pride and confidence but sometimes it just feels too much for her, knowing quite well that this burden was never really meant for her but for someone before her.

YongJoo leans back on the table as she lays her chin on her folded arms on the table, letting out another long sigh. “Do your parents still remind you of him?” She asks softly, knowing the sensitive subject she was treading on.

SeoHyun sighs at the thought. “Not as much as they used to. I think they finally got the idea that it wasn’t doing me any good for them to continually remind me of someone I am never going to be.”

“Really? What changed?”

“I think they know that it’s my final year, they don’t want me to be distracted or stress over things that are out of my control.”

SeoHyun was never originally an only child. She was actually the second child of the family. Her brother was five when she was born, but a few hours before she was born her family experienced a tragedy in which no family would ever want to experience in their lifetime; her brother was killed by a drunk driver.

YongJoo nodded understandingly. The two continued their conversation as they waited for the class to start, for the school day to officially start.

Lunch time quickly rolled around as the two girls sat in their corner of the cafeteria munching away at their lunches, sharing it giddily amongst each other. As they minded their own business they couldn’t help but be distracted by the group of girls swarming around the handsome face that had just entered the cafeteria. YongJoo rolled her eyes at the sight and all SeoHyun could do was laugh her reaction.

“Like always, this never seems to get old.” YongJoo commented bitterly as she took a bite of her kalbi in her hand.

SeoHyun continues her giggle at YongJoo’s bitter reaction.

“YongJoo! SeoHyun!” The voice was coming from the direction of the handsome face that had just entered the cafeteria.

Quickly pushing past the group of girls swarming him he rushes over towards the girls’ table.

“Hey HyungSik.” SeoHyun greeted him with a smile and a slight bow.

YongJoo ignores him as she continues to munch on her kalbi in her hand.

HyungSik greeted SeoHyun with a smile and a bow before taking a seat across from them. “That looks good.” He said as he gazed at YongJoo’s lunch.

Noticing his gaze, she quickly pulls her lunch closer to her. “I think you have plenty of choices of other edible lunches to choose from rather than mine,” staring over at the group of girls waiting by the side for HyungSik as she took another bite of her kalbi.

HyungSik smiles sheepishly at her knowing what she was referring to and staring at. Not like YongJoo was jealous, it just annoys her that every single day since they’ve known each other HyungSik has always been getting this type of attention, and it didn’t help that the girls who fawn over him knows that she is his friend so they were constantly giving her the death glare, it annoyed the hell out of her. What was to them that he is her friend, they’ve been friends for as long as she could remember. It was too bad for them that they didn’t meet him first.

“Your fan club seems to be getting impatient with you sitting here with us.” She let out another bitter comment.

HyungSik turns towards his little group of fans and smile sweetly to them, the cafeteria was filled with echoes of swoons as the girls reacted to his simple gesture. “Sorry ladies, I’m having lunch with my best friend today.”

The cafeteria was now filled with bitter grunts and groans at his statement.

“Boo…”
“Lucky biotches!”
“What does she have that I don’t?”
“Another handsome face wasted!”

Mumbled curses and bitter statements could be heard as the girls exited the cafeteria.

Childish giggles and high pitch excited squeals could be heard from the girls of the school as the school day came to an end. YongJoo and SeoHyun were puzzled at the extra excitement from the girls of the school day ending, it wasn’t like this on any other day, what made today so special. The two girls, with confusion on their face, watched as they saw the girls rushing towards the front entrance of the school. The squeal of excitement got louder as the two of them made their way to the front. And it finally hit them right there and then at what the girls were squealing about.

YongJoo rolled her eyes at the sight. These girls were screaming and squealing like crazed fangirls seeing their favorite male idols in the flesh for the first time.

“Your brother and his friends sure know how to make an appearance.” SeoHyun whispers teasingly at YongJoo.

YongJoo couldn’t help but continue to roll her eyes at the sight. “Come on SeoHyun, I don’t have time for this.” YongJoo links arm with SeoHyun as she pushes her way past the group of girls crowding the front entrance. “Excuse me. Some of us have places to go. Let us through.” She pushes through the crowd.

“Oppa!!!”
“You’re so handsome!!!”
“I wanna be your girlfriend!!!”
“I wanna be your wife!!!”

The screams from these girls were continuous and every bit annoy to YongJoo. Seriously, did they have nothing else better to do with their time? YongJoo turn back to glare at the group of girls behind her, she had managed to push through to the front of the crowd with SeoHyun. Not caring about the glare YongJoo was giving the girls continued their fan crazed chants.

The sound of amused and satisfied chuckles caught YongJoo’s attention as she turn back to the group of boys standing in front of the school gate. She darted her eyes at the sight of her brother and his group of friends.
She marched up to them with an annoyed expression, SeoHyun following her from behind. “Yah! Don’t you have better things to do than come to my school and make idiots out of the girls?”

“Sorry sis, I can’t help that my presence affects women like this.” YongHwa chuckles at her reaction to his presence.

Her eyes in slits as she glares at him, “what are you doing here anyway? You rarely ever give me a ride to school let alone pick me up.”

SeoHyun giggles at the subtle ridicule YongJoo threw at YongHwa.

Ignoring YongJoo’s subtle diss at him, his attention quickly turned to the giggling SeoHyun standing behind her.

“Hey SeoHyun,” He greeted her sweetly with a smile on his face. He’s always had a soft spot for her ever since the first day YongJoo introduced her to him, you can say there was a small little crush that YongHwa has for her.

SeoHyun halted her giggle when she heard his greeting towards her. She nervously looks up to him and greeted him with a shy bow, her cheeks blushing in the process.

“Yah!” YongJoo angles her head to block his view of SeoHyun. “You didn’t answer my question, why are you here?”

Noticing her face in his view, YongHwa snapped back to reality. “Geez sis, you really know how to ruin a moment.”

“What moment?” She turns around to see SeoHyun blushing as she looked down at the ground, she turns her attention back to her brother and smirk, “don’t you dare think about trying anything with SeoHyun.” She warns, pointing her finger at him.

YongHwa rolls his eyes at her warning, his friends couldn’t help but laugh at the two’s interaction.

“YongHwa man, can you wrap this up? The rest of us have things to do you know.” One of his friends spoke.

YongJoo angled her head to see who it was that spoke, sitting in the car behind her brother was none other than two of his very best friends. She steps to the side and give them a respected bow.

“Hey YongJoo.” The two greeted her with a smile.

“Hello JunHyung oppa, SooHyun oppa.”

“How have you been?” SooHyun asked.

YongJoo could feel her cheek turning a shade of blush pink the moment SooHyun asked her such a simple question. “I’ve been well, thank you. And you?” She was unable to make eye contact with him.

Seeing her reaction, he couldn’t help but sweetly chuckle at her blushing cheeks, “I’ve been well. We should hang out together soon so we can catch up.”

She could feel her cheeks burning at his offer, she quickly raise her hands to her cheeks to cover her blushing embarrassment. Secretly smiling at his offer she nodded nervously. Everyone in their little group of friends knew how much SooHyun adored YongJoo, and she in return had the biggest crush on him anyone could imagine. The two knew about their secret hidden feelings for each other but neither one had ever had the courage to confess to each other, neither one had ever even attempted to make the first move, which everyone thought was quite strange. There was definitely a reason that both were keeping their feelings as is; hidden. And of course that reason made his presence quite known the moment he saw the interaction of the two.

“Alright there, enough with the greetings,” YongHwa cut in as he saw the crimson cheeks on his little sister, “stop trying to seduce me sister SooHyun.”

SooHyun and JunHyung laughs at his reaction. YongJoo on the other hand quickly gives him a death glare, knowing quite well that he wasn’t joking when he said it to SooHyun. She wanted to be seduce, of all the people to be seduced by, she wanted it to be SooHyun and her brother always seems to get in the way. This was the main reason SooHyun and her has kept their feelings to themselves and only able to jokingly flirt with each other.

“Anyway, I just dropped by to tell you that appa and omma left for their trip already.”

That realization woke her up from any thought she had about SooHyun and her. “Why didn’t you just wait and tell me at home?” Her voice beginning to rise up to a worried tone, “are you not coming home?”

The one thing YongJoo couldn’t stand in this world is being alone, she really didn’t need anything else in this world as long as she has someone beside her, someone she trusts, adores, or cared for, and in return feels the same for her. Every single moment in her life as of now, she had pass through the days knowing that she is surrounded by people that she loves and who loves her back, and at any single moment if any of that is not there anymore she would feel completely helpless. Even at the very thought of losing it all, she would fall in to complete depression and misery, everyone around her knows this, especially with one single episode in the past that revealed this vulnerability of hers’.

Recognizing her change of tone he quickly gave her a reassuring smile, “I’m just gonna hang out with the boys tonight, I’ll be home, if not tonight then another night, either way I’ll come home. I just need to let loose a bit more before I’m bounded by the shackles of the office. Don’t worry.” He ruffles her hair playfully.

SeoHyun walks up from behind her as she links her arm with hers’, “you want me to stay with you tonight?” She offers, knowing YongJoo’s fear of being alone.

YongJoo turns to look at SeoHyun with an appreciative smile, “thanks.”

“Thanks SeoHyun, take care of her for me.” YongHwa looks over at SeoHyun with appreciation as he smiles at her.

SeoHyun blushes at his action as she nodded understandingly.

YongHwa got in to his car as he looks up at the two girls standing by the side watching him, he glance quickly behind the girls and nods his chip up towards the person standing there. He turns back to look at YongJoo. “Get HyungSik to take you home, if anything he can stay over to keep you company too.” He smiles at them and with that he sped off with JunHyung and SooHyun.

YongJoo and SeoHyun turn back towards the direction of the school to see HyungSik walking up towards them. The crowd of girls had now dispersed and the scene that was once crowding the school was now empty as all the students begins to leave for the day.

“Where’s your brother headed off to?” HyungSik wondered.

“He’s going out with his friends for the night. He probably won’t be home tonight.” YongJoo answers as she watches the car disappear out of sight. She turns back to HyungSik, “wanna come over and hang out with SeoHyun and me?” She offers with a smile.

He smiles back at her, “sure.”

“Ooo… This is gonna be so fun! We haven’t done something like this in so long. Just the three of us hanging out, having a sleep over.” She giggles with glee, her worrisome feelings fading away.

“I know! I’m excited too. We’ll make food and eat it and watch movies until the morning breaks.” SeoHyun chimes in blissfully.

“Until morning? You do realize that it’s only Wednesday right? We do have school tomorrow.” HyungSik stated the obvious, causing the two girls to frown at the realization.

“Whatever day it is, we’ll make a night out of it regardless.” YongJoo cheerily declares as she links her arms with SeoHyun and HyungSik, pulling them along as they left the school grounds.

***

Standing in the snack isle of a nearby supermarket they had entered, the three of them were now looking around to see what they could get for their hang out night together.

“Are we just getting snacks or are we making any actual food?” SeoHyun pondered as she threw a bag of Oreo cookies in to their shopping cart.

“Good question.” YongJoo responded. She quickly took out her cell phone. “Hello? Ajummah, what do we have at home to eat?... That’s all? Were you planning to make anything else?... Well I’m at the market right now, do you need to buy anything?... If I buy the ingredients can you make whatever I want for me?... Oooo! Thanks ajummah, love you. I’ll be home soon.” With that she hung up.

“Your nanny?” HyungSik asks.

YongJoo nodded, “the food is taken care of guys, so whatever you feel like eating, grab the ingredients and my nanny is ready to prepare it for us.” She says with a giggle.

“Sweet potatoes!” SeoHyun squeals excitedly.

YongJoo and HyungSik couldn’t help but laugh at SeoHyun’s childish excitement about her potatoes.

“You and your potatoes,” YongJoo teases. “Oh! You know what? I’ll call Hara out as well.”

“Yeah, you should. I haven’t seen her for so long.” SeoHyun agreed.

***

“Hara!” YongJoo greeted with open arms when she opened her front door to see another one of her best friends standing in front of her with a smile.

“YongJoo-ah!” Hara greeted back happily, leaping in to the embrace.

The two walked in to the spacious living room to see HyungSik and SeoHyun setting up their snacks, food, and pillows for the night ahead. SeoHyun turn to see Hara and quickly runs up to her to give a big hug.

“Hara! Haven’t seen you in so long,” she greeted her happily.

“Me too,” Hara giggles at the embrace. “Hi HyungSik,” she waves to him as the two girls let go of their embrace.

HyungSik waves back with a smile.

The four of them sat down in front of the flat screen television as they begin to catch up.

“So how have you been?” YongJoo asked Hara.

Hara let out a tired sigh, “tired. Seriously, this whole modeling thing is taking a toll on me. I thought it would be fun to travel the world, wear nice clothing, and be famous but it’s seriously hard work,” she vented.

HyungSik concentrated on the screen in front of him as the other two girls laughed along with Hara.

“No one said that it was easy Hara.” YongJoo commented between her laugh. “Besides, you’re getting to do something that many girls would die to do. So don’t complain.”

Hara let out a laugh, “true, I’m living out most girls’ dream.”

“Have you met any celebrity yet?” SeoHyun chimed, as interested and curious as ever.

YongJoo was surprise at her question, to her SeoHyun was never one to care for such things. “Since when were you so interested in these types of thing SeoHyun?”

“What do you mean? I’ve always been interested in the entertainment world.” She defended almost too innocently.
YongJoo and Hara laughs at her reaction.

“No one that you guys know of yet.”

“What do you mean yet?” YongJoo was now curious as well.

“I’m just starting off myself, so I interact a lot more with trainees from different agencies, they haven’t debut yet so we’ll just have to wait until they do, but trust me there are a few of them that you girls will go gaga over.” She chuckles at the thought.

The two girls squealed with excitement. “Tell us their names.” SeoHyun inquires.

“How cute are they?” YongJoo added with seriousness.

Hara laughs at their reactions. “I can’t reveal anything to you guys, you just have to be patience. But I’ll promise that once I’m established and they’ve debut I’ll introduce you guys to them.”

“Oh my gosh!!!” The two girls squealed again.

Hara continues to laugh as she glance over to HyungSik to see him sitting comfortably with his finger in his ears staring straight at the screen in front of him. Hara laughs at his position. She kneels over and pulled a finger out of his left ear. He quickly turns over to her with a blank expression.

She smiles at him, “not enjoying the conversation?” She jokingly .

He chuckles nervously at her, “not my favorite topic of conversation.”

The other girls turned around to him and they all laughed.

“Sorry HyungSik.” YongJoo apologized as she pinched his cheek teasingly, “I forgot that you were the guy here. How about do each others' hair, make-up, and nails?” She added jokingly.

The girls erupted with laughter.

With her feelings of being alone for the night fading away YongJoo could now concentrate on having a fun night with her friends. The only worry thought she had on her mind now is of her brother and what he was doing. She knows that he’s a bit stressed and annoyed with taking over their father’s position at the company during his absence, but she never really knows what he could be up to especially when he’s around his friends.

One thought led to another and her mind was now occupied with the fact their parents will not be around for the rest of the year or even possibly longer. Though she didn’t have the best of relationship with their father, she still knows better than to hate him, he did take her in and took care of her since the age of six. He provided her with everything that a child could ever need or possibly want. She does feel a bit of relief that she won’t have to see him every day and face him, but she still felt uneasy not having both of the people who have become like her real parents around. She could never hate her parents, especially her father, and she doesn’t think that she would ever will, though he never expressed how he feels about her she knows that he does care for her, maybe not as his own flesh and blood but still as his own daughter nonetheless. He had his own way of showing her how he cares and she knew so.

Though they might not be bonded by blood, but her brother, whom she considers as her own blood brother, has become a strong point of support for her. Their relationship has blossomed through the years and she feels like there is no one who understands her more than her brother. He has been the one person in their family that has made her feel like she truly is a part of their family. Having her brother around would be good enough for her to survive and push through the year until she finally leaves for her studies abroad.

Other than her family the only people that she would consider the stabilization in her life were her best friends HyungSik, SeoHyun, and Hara.

HyungSik is a boy whom she met when she first moved in with the Jungs, a nice and cute neighborhood boy whom she came to adore and consider as her best friend, no more, no less. Though sometimes she knows he thinks otherwise, she would always try to stray him away from the thought, she just doesn’t want to ruin the relationship they have with each other. Their friendship is too precious and one that she treasures deeply for anything to ruin it. Though she will admit that at times he surprises her and makes her change her mind slightly about something more than friendship with him, but of course she would never act upon such momentary thoughts.

SeoHyun is a girl she met on the first day of high school. The moment they met they just bonded like long lost sisters finally finding each other. They had a few things in common but their differences far outweighed their similarities but somehow they managed to be the best of friends. SeoHyun’s quiet and reserved personality was on the opposite spectrum of YongJoo’s outgoing and social personality. But one can say that opposite attracts, and this was the clear example of such statement.

Hara is a girl whom YongJoo met at the orphanage when she was bought there after the horrible accident. They were in the same situation and that was how they began their friendship. Out of all her friends, Hara would be considered as the closest and longest friend that she has. The two were inseparable during their time at the orphanage until YongJoo was adopted in to the Jung family. Hara was not as lucky as she was left to fend for herself through her years of growing up. She made a promise to herself that no matter what she would do things her way, make a success of herself through her own hard work. She is an independent woman in this world and she wouldn’t have it any other way. YongJoo can't help but admire her for it, an attitude towards life in which she wished she possess in herself.

Her friendships with these three and the relationship she has with her brother not only solidified her sanity in this world that has been so cruel to her, but they also provided her with a sense normalcy. Especially with all that she has gone through since that horrid accident in her past that completely turned her world upside down, you can say that was the first domino that fell to catalyst the events that had occurred and were to come.