CHAPTER THREE

Days turned to weeks, as YongJoo begins to miss her brother more and more. She rarely got to see him since that day he came to her school to tell her that their parents had left for their trip. She would see him for a quick minute each time he came home to check on her but that was it, a quick glimpse of him was all she got. She too was trying her best to concentrate on school to keep her mind off of missing her brother. This would be the last semester for her before she starts her studies abroad.

“YongJoo,” SeoHyun calls out to her in a hush whisper, “I had a feeling I would find you here.”

“Hey SeoHyun,” YongJoo looks up from her books.

“I swear the library has been like your second home now.” SeoHyun teased as she took a seat beside her.

YongJoo smiles at her teasing, “I’m just trying to keep myself busy. Last semester you know, got to get myself prepared for my studies abroad.”

“Glad to hear you're keeping yourself busy.” SeoHyun smiles approvingly.

“Thanks.” She returns the smile. “Trying to get in some study of your own as well?”

“That and just trying to avoid going home so soon.”

“Why? Something wrong at home?”

“My parents are at it again, arguing constantly and bringing up my brother again.” A disappointed sigh escapes SeoHyun’s lips.

“I’m sorry SeoHyun.” YongJoo sympathizes.

SeoHyun braves a smile, “don’t worry about it. It gives me a reason to avoid home and just concentrate on studying. Maybe not going abroad like you but at least I’ll get in to a good university.”

“And you will get in to the very best, I know it!” She proudly concluded with a smile.

“Thanks YongJoo.” SeoHyun smiles appreciatively at her encouragement. “Have you seen your brother as of late?”

YongJoo let out sigh, “no. It’s been a little bit over a week now. He comes home, but it’s never long enough for us to actually sit down and have a proper conversation.”

“Why don’t you just go down to the company and see him yourself.”

“I’ve thought about it, but I’m just afraid that I might bother him; that and the fact that my father has always told me to keep away from the company.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really know, but he just told me that I have no business there so there’s no reason for me to be there, which does make sense.”

“Really? So you’ve never been curious as to what goes on at the company?”

“Not really. Like my father says, I have no business there so I don’t need to concern myself with what goes on there.”

“I would be so curious.”

“Since when?” YongJoo glances over her with curious eyes, “you’re always so quiet why the sudden curiosity today?”

“I don’t know.” SeoHyun shrugs.

“Does this have to do anything with brother being at the company?” YongJoo questions teasingly.

SoeHyun quickly shook her head before the blushing of her cheeks betrays her.

YongJoo let out a good laugh, “if you wanted to see my brother you should just ask. I won’t mind taking you to see him.”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. It was just pure curiosity that’s all.” SeoHyun quickly defended.

“Don’t worry I would like to see my brother too. I’ll call HyungSik and we can all go together.”

“YongJoo, that’s not what I meant.” Her defense wasn’t working as her cheeks were still b red from embarrassment.

“SeoHyun, you’re so cute.” YongJoo appeased as she dial her phone.

=====

“And I’m here because?” HyungSik questioned as the three of them stood in front of the building.

YongJoo giggles, “I just wanted you to be here that’s all.”

HyungSik rolls his eyes at her answer, “seriously YongJoo, I could be studying.”

“Or playing your video games, it’s all the same.” She added sarcastically.

SeoHyun giggles at the comment.

“Ha ha ha, very funny. I’ll just wait for the two of you out here.”

YongJoo laughs as she watches HyungSik walk over to a bench nearby and pulled out one of his comic books.

“See? What’d I tell you,” she whispers to SeoHyun.

The two girls giggle to each other and began their descent toward the entrance.

As they were about to reach the main doors someone else was exiting. Without any disregard for anyone in front or behind, the man exiting pushed the two main doors open and glides past the two girls and whoever was in his path. Following quickly behind him were what seemed to be his business associates and bodyguards.

As YongJoo and SeoHyun watched him exit they tried their best to move to the side but it still wasn’t enough space. The man bumped his right shoulder with YongJoo’s. He stops and glances over at her, his shades covering his eyes. YongJoo had her head down as to avoid any eye contact.

“Watch where you stand,” his voice was deep and authoritative.

YongJoo slowly lifts her head up, appalled at what he had just said to her.

“Excuse me?” She manages to speak.

“I said watch where you stand.” He repeated in the same deep and authoritative tone.

“Excuse me, but you bumped in to me. Maybe you wouldn’t if you didn’t take up so much space for yourself.” She challenged, clearly offended with the tone he was taking with her.

He smirks at her challenging remarks to him. “When you see someone walking you move aside. It’s common courtesy.”

“The same can be said to you. We moved aside and you still manage to bump in to me. Rather than an apology from you I get belittled by your comment. When you bump in to someone you apologize, it’s only common courtesy.” She challenged with his comment.

He scoffs, “do you know who I am little girl?”

“Do I need to? Right now you seem like an arrogant and rude jerk that clearly needs to be taught some proper manners.”

He chuckles at her remark, “this girl has got a mouth on her.”

“YongJoo,” SeoHyun whispers to her as she tries to pull her back from any confrontation.

“I still have yet to hear an apology from you.”

“Apologize?” He scoffs, “you have got to be kidding me. You’ve got some nerve on you. You’re lucky...” He was about to continue when a voice interrupted his speech.

“YongJoo?” Everyone turned their directions towards the voice.

YongHwa came running out towards the entrance when he noticed the crowd.

“Your name is YongJoo?” The man smirks, “interesting name.”

YongJoo shot him a glare at his remark.

YongHwa made his way towards YongJoo, “what are you doing here?”

“You know this girl?” The man asked.

YongHwa turns his attention towards the man asking the question, “SiWon, what are you still doing here?”

“I was on my out but I came upon this interesting young lady here.”

YongJoo shot him another glare.

YongHwa quickly turns back to YongJoo, “I’m sorry, let me introduce you. This is my little sister Jung YongJoo. YongJoo, this is Choi SiWon, he’s one of father’s business associates.”

“This is your sister?” SiWon smirked at the introduction.

“Father’s business associates?” YongJoo mutters, regret begins to plague her face as she faced him.

SiWon smiles arrogantly at her, sensing the regret in her expression, “nice to meet you YongJoo.”

The two shook hands, he was suspiciously enthusiastic at the contact while she was hesitant. The whole time they shook hands she couldn’t help but feel suspicious at him. What was he trying with her?

“I wish I could stay longer but I have other arrangements I must attend to. YongJoo, I hope to see you again. I’ll see you soon YongHwa.” With that SiWon bid his farewell.

“He looked quite young to be in such a high position.” YongJoo asked suspiciously.

“He’s only two years older than me.” YongHwa answers nonchalantly, he turns back to YongJoo, “what are you doing here anyway? Didn’t father tell you to stay away from the company?”

“I just came by to see you. I haven’t seen you for a while now so I thought maybe we could have a nice dinner together or something.”

A guilty expression plagued his face after hearing her answer; he regretted asking her such a question. All she wanted to do was see him because she missed him. He let out an appreciative sigh.

“Sorry YongJoo, I’ve been really busy with school and work lately that I’ve completely forgot about my little sister. How about we go out for a nice dinner tonight?” He offers, “Mr. Hwang can you arrange something for me and YongJoo?” He turns to his advisor Mr. Hwang, who nodded with a smile.

YongJoo smiles at the offer. “Oh! SeoHyun and HyungSik as well, I dragged them here so the least I can do is to invite them to dinner too.”

YongHwa chuckles at her reply. “That’s fine. The more the merrier.”

“Besides, I’m not the only one that misses you and wanted to see you.” YongJoo added as she nudges SeoHyun.

SeoHyun was now turning a crimson red with YongHwa turning his attention to her.

“Hi SeoHyun, long time no see.” He smiles at her.

SeoHyun couldn’t look at him as she bowed to him.

YongJoo continues her laugh at SeoHyun’s reaction.

“Where’s HyungSik?” YongHwa asks.

“He’s at the front waiting for us.” YongJoo answers.

“Go wait with him and I’ll see you guys in a few minutes. Let me just go grab my things.”

=====

“So how are things with you guys?” YongHwa began the conversation once they placed their orders.

“Everything is good. We’re just prepping ourselves for the upcoming exams.” HyungSik answers.

“That’s right, your last semester. Well, good luck to you guys.”

“Thanks hyung.”

Their conversation continued as such, catching up with what they have been doing the past month.

“So your birthday is coming up YongJoo, got any plans on what you want to do?” YongHwa asks sweetly to his sister.

YongJoo turns to him and smile as she took her last bite of her meal. “Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it. I really don’t know what I want to do.”

“You should do something big YongJoo, it’s not every day you turn eighteen,” SeoHyun encouraged.

YongJoo laughs at her comment, “hopefully not.”

“We should plan a party. Invite all our classmates. I mean it could possibly be your last birthday to celebrate with us before you go abroad.” HyungSik added as his voice became more somber at the mention of YongJoo going abroad.

“That is true YongJoo. You should throw a big party before going abroad, what better time than your birthday.” YongHwa added in agreement.

YongJoo nodded hesitantly. The thought of her leaving and the effect that it will have on the people around her never truly hit her until this sudden moment with HyungSik mentioning her birthday and how it will be her last to celebrate it with her friends and family.

“HyungSik and I can help plan everything for you.” SeoHyun added with a smile.

***

“Oppa, do you mind taking SoeHyun home for me? It’s late and I don’t want her going by herself.” YongJoo suggested as the four of them stood in front of the restaurant waiting for the valet to bring YongHwa’s car.

“What about you?” YongHwa responded.

“HyungSik can take me home. I know you’ll probably end up going back to your office or your dorm after this so to save you the trouble of going back and forth I’ll just go with HyungSik.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay over with you YongJoo?” SeoHyun offers.

“It’s ok, don’t worry about me. I got to see my brother tonight and have dinner with him, I think I’ll be fine tonight,” a smile on her face as she reassures her friend.

SeoHyun smiles back as the two embrace in a hug.

The valet pulls up with YongHwa’s car.

“Now go before it gets late.” YongJoo gently pushes SeoHyun towards her brother. She turns to YongHwa and the two embrace in a hug as well. “Drive her home safely for me oppa.”

“I’ll try to come more often.” YongHwa whispers to her during their hug to assure her that he hasn’t forgotten about her.

She smiles at his gesture, “thanks oppa. I love you.”

“Love you too.” YongHwa turns to HyungsSik, “get her home safely.”

“Yes hyung.” HyungSik bows to YongHwa.

YongJoo and HyungSik waved goodbye to them as they sped off.

***

“Are you sure you’re gonna be ok tonight by yourself?” HyungSik asked as the two of them sped down the streets of Seoul on his bike.

YongJoo didn’t respond. She remained silent for the rest of the ride. The only signal HyungSik got from her was her hold on him. He knew that she was in deep thought and it was best that he just leave her be. A sheepish smile crosses his lips as he felt her hold on him tightened.

***

“Thank you for the ride oppa.” SeoHyun sheepishly thanked as she sat beside him in the passenger seat.

YongHwa smiles at her sheepish action. “Don’t think too much of it, it’s the least I can do for someone who’s been helping me out so much with YongJoo. I should be thanking you.”

SeoHyun slowly turns her gaze towards him with a smile. “I guess I should get started on planning YongJoo’s birthday for her. It would be nice for her to celebrate one last birthday before she goes abroad.”

“Thank you for always thinking about her.”

“She would do the same for me.”

“It would be nice to surprise her with a big party. A nice memory she can take with her when she leaves for her studies abroad.”

SeoHyun hesitated for a bit, she contemplated whether or not to ask something that she has been curious about for the past four years of her and YongJoo’s friendship.

“Oppa,” she began.

“Huh?” YongHwa responded nonchalantly as he concentrated on the road.

“There’s something that I have always been curious about, concerning YongJoo.”

“What is it?”

“Her whole insistent on going abroad to study, I always thought it was because she just wanted to explore the world but as the years continued I feel as if there is more to it than just her need for adventures. We always talk about her leaving her family and friends but it seems that she never even considered those factors at all.”

YongHwa took a quick glance at her and smiles, “you never asked her yourself?”

“I didn’t think it was right of me to ask. She was so adamant on leaving that all I really could and wanted to do was support her decision.”

YongHwa chuckles at her reply, “I appreciate that, and I think she would too.”

She nodded carelessly and then begins to shake her head, “forget I asked anything. She probably has her own reasons so I’m not gonna pry, if she wanted to tell me then she would’ve already.”

He continues his chuckling at her own regret, “she does have her own reasons. I don’t know if I should tell you though.” He jokingly .

She glances up at him and then quickly looked away and shook her head. “It’s ok. You don’t need to tell me. If she has her reasons than that’s all I really need to know. I don’t need to know the details.”

He continues his chuckling at her reaction. “It’s not some big secret or anything SeoHyun. I don’t mind telling you, and I don’t think YongJoo would mind either. It’s probably because she considers it such a small and minor reason that she didn’t even bother telling you. I don’t think even HyungSik knows.”

She turns her attention towards him and quietly listens.

“You know that she was adopted in to my family,” she nodded, “and she’s probably told you that her relationship with my parents are not always on the best of terms, they put up with her and she puts up with them out of respect but there has never been any true connection even after all these years.”

“Really? But she has always seemed so happy when we talk about our families.”

“Like I said, out of respect and gratitude,” he assured, “but in all honesty, my father has never really warmed up to her and I could never really understood why. When my parents brought her home I wasn’t too fond of her either but she grew on me and I couldn’t help but want to protect her and treat her like a true brother would treat his own blood sister.” He let out a reminiscent sigh.

SeoHyun smiles at his expression, as if he was so proud to have YongJoo as his little sister, “no wonder every time we talk about our family you’re always the one person she talks about the most. There’s always this twinkle in her eyes whenever she mentions you.”

YongHwa couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment, “what does she say about me? Good things I hope.”

SeoHyun giggles along, “not really. Mostly badmouthing you but there was never denying how happy she was to talk about you.”

YongHwa broke out in to a laugh at her admittance. “Don’t believe everything she says.”

“I’ll try not to.” She teased.

“Of all people, you’re the only person I hope that won’t perceive me in a negative light.”

SeoHyun couldn’t help but blush at his statement as she turns her gaze away from him and to the front of the road.

He took a quick glance at her and saw her blushing cheeks. A smile crept over his lips seeing her reaction.

“As I was saying,” he changed the subject as to not create an uncomfortable atmosphere for her, “YongJoo did her best to make a bad situation good. She obeyed everything my father told her to do just so she would get on his good side. When my father offered the chance to go abroad she hesitated for a bit but eventually agreed to it.”

“She hesitated? I would never have thought she would with the way she talked about going.”

YongHwa let an empathetic sigh, “she might not have said it out loud but I knew what she was feeling. To her this was an excuse for my father to send her away, so then he won’t have to see or deal with her.”

SeoHyun was surprise at the sudden revelation, “does he not like her that much?”

Another sigh escapes YongHwa’s lips, “my father is not much of an affectionate man. He was never really keen on the idea of adopting YongJoo in to our family. It was my mother who was persistent in doing so.”

“YongJoo.” SeoHyun softly utters, her voice fill with sympathy towards her best friend.

“You see her smiling and always happy, it’s because she’s hiding all these pain she’s going through. Knowing her she probably doesn’t want to burden people with her problems.”

“Have you ever talked to her about this?”

“Trust me, I’ve tried, but she would just change the subject and veer it towards something completely unrelated to her. She seems strong on the outside, but she’s very vulnerable and fragile on the inside.”

“But your parents are gone now right? So wouldn’t she consider staying?” Her voice was hopeful.

“Maybe, but after all these years, I don’t think with my parents being gone she’ll reconsider. She has warmed up to the idea after all these years. I think she really just wants to figure herself out on her own now. Grow to be more independent.”

SeoHyun let out a disappointed sigh, “I guess.”

“I know that she truly appreciate the friendship that she has with you and HyungSik. She tells me constantly how much she appreciates having you guys in her life.”

SeoHyun smiles at YongHwa’s admittance. An appreciative sigh escapes her lips as she turns to him, “honestly oppa, what you told me was definitely a bigger secret than you made it out to be.”

YongHwa chuckles nervously at her deduction, “really? Well then I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell YongJoo that I told you.”

SeoHyun giggles at his nervousness, “I won’t. This just gives me more of a reason to plan a big birthday bash for her.”

YongHwa smiles appreciatively at her, “if you need any help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask. You have my number, just call me any time.”

The car came to a stop in front of a high rise building. SeoHyun got out of the car and bowed to YongHwa.

“Thank you for the ride home oppa.”

“Any time, and SeoHyun,” she gazed at him, “thank you for being there for YongJoo and me.”

She blushes at his comment. She closes the car door and watches the car speed off. She made her way up to the entrance of the building to notice an elderly woman sitting on the bench by the entrance.

“Omma?” She ran up to the woman and bent down to the same level, a worried expression on her face, “Omma, what are you doing out here? Come, let me take you back in.”

The woman didn’t reply back but did as she was told.

=====

“Thanks for the ride HyungSik,” she thanked as she handed him her helmet.

“You sure you’re gonna be ok being alone tonight?”

She smiles appreciatively to him, “yeah, I’ll be fine. I think I just need some alone time to think some things through.”

“You know that I’m here for you if you need anything, if you need someone to talk to just call me.”

“Thank you.” She smiles at him.

With that she made her way towards her front door. The dinner tonight really stirred up some thoughts in her head that she needs to figure out.

=====

“Sir,” the young man bowed, “you requested for me?”

“Yes, I need you to do something for me.”

“Yes sir.”

“I need you to find out some information for me about the Jungs.”

“Again? I thought we already have all the information we needed.”

“That was until I found out they had a daughter. I need you to find out about this daughter of theirs’ and why this information was never brought up.”

“Any specific reason sir?” The young man was curious as to how a girl would be of any use.

He shrugs, “no real specific reason, I just want to know some information about her. I guess you can say to quench my own curiosity.”

“Yes sir,” the young man bows, knowing not to ask any further questions, “I’ll find what I can.” With that he exits the room.

“Jung... YongJoo...” The man sat at his desk as he ponders the name. “Interesting name. Interesting personality.” He smirks to himself.