Chapter 5 DongWan looked at him with his mouth wide open.  How long has it been?  He stepped forward first, leaving an astonished SooKyung.  DongWan sat across from him and asked, “Are you the one that sent SooKyung the flowers?” The guy nodded and said, “Do you remember me, Kim DongWan?” DongWan muttered, “Jung PilGyo…” He laughed right out loud and said, “PilGyo?  Do you know how old that name is?  It’s HyeSung now…  Shin HyeSung.” DongWan answered, “Really?  SooKyung ah! Come here!” SooKyung seemed to wake up from a trance as she slowly walked towards him.  “PilGyo oppa?  Is that really you?” HyeSung shook his head and said, “It’s HyeSung.  PilGyo’s gone now.” SooKyung looked speechless and sat down.  HyeSung motioned to the waitress and asked, “You didn’t eat right?  Let’s have some…” ”No… we ate, oppa.  Can I just have cold water please.  I need something to cool me down.” HyeSung shrugged and said, “DongWan?  What do you want?” DongWan said, “Ice coffee.” HyeSung said, “Okay.  One ice coffee, cold water, and a fruit punch.  That’ll be all.” The waitress bowed and went to get their orders.  HyeSung turned to face SooKyung and asked, “Did you miss me?” ”………..” ”Say something, Kim SooKyung.  I know you missed me.  You wondered everyday where I had gone to huh?” SooKyung shook her head and said, “I… oppa… why are you here?  How did you know where we lived?” HyeSung grinned and said, “I'm here to see you.  I missed you Kim SooKyung.  I knew where you lived by asking around… looking in phone books…  Didn’t you miss me?  I feel hurt now…” ”Oppa… how did you know that the white rose was my favorite?” ”I know a lot of things about you that you don’t know…” ”What is that supposed to mean?” ”It means… I know things about you, Kim SooKyung… but you don’t know that I know…” SooKyung frowned and looked at DongWan oppa.  What did he know?  How far did he know? SooKyung looked straight into HyeSung, which gave him the chills.  “Oppa… I want you to tell me all you know… everything.” HyeSung shrugged and said, “I can’t tell you all of it… it’ll take to long.  Little by little… a couple everyday, okay?” SooKyung sighed and said, “Oppa… this is so shocking.  How could you come back to us after 8 years?  You made us… me suffer for 8 years!” ”I'm sorry… I didn’t know it was going to take that long…” ”You knew very well that it was going to take long! You promised me… you promised me that you’ll be back…” DongWan stopped SooKyung, who was screaming.  DongWan hugged her and whispered into her hair, “SooKyung ah… it’s okay.  Stop screaming. I'm here… sh…”  He looked up at HyeSung and asked, “Pil… HyeSung ah… why did you come now?  Why?  Do you know how long SooKyung’s been waiting for you?” HyeSung looked down at the table and fidgeted with the tablecloth.  DongWan sighed and continued, “Look… I know that you’ve finally come back for her… but I think it’s too late.  Right after you left, she didn’t eat for two weeks… she was taken to a hospital after and they had force the food into her stomach by a tube.  It hurt me so much… she was only eight.  And now she’s 15, going on 16.  Do you want to ruin her life?  You already ruined it once, HyeSung.  Don’t do it again…” HyeSung sighed and closed his eyes.  He opened them and said, “DongWan… do you know why I came back after all these years?  I… I realized I made a bad mistake…  In America, I was treated… treated like a prince.  I could have everything I wanted with my uncle.  He bought me everything… but there was one little thing that he couldn’t give me.  And that was SooKyung.  For all my life, she had been the only person I could lean on… and she was gone.  I asked my uncle thousands of times if I could go back to Korea.  But of course, he refused and I was stuck on America.  Recently, my uncle…” ”I don’t care!  You hurt my sister…  She finally forgot about you and you have to come back!” SooKyung shook her head and said, “Oppa… that’s not true.  I never forgot about Pil… HyeSung oppa.  I thought about him everyday ever since he went away.  Just last night…” DongWan looked mad and started to raise his voice, “Kim SooKyung!  You and HyeSung are over!  There is nothing between you!  I don’t care what happened when you were 6… when you were 7… I DON’T CARE!  He hurt you and you know that.  Let him go!” HyeSung said, “DongWan.  She may be able to let me go… and I see that you already have let me go… but one thing… I will never let SooKyung go.  Never…” Chapter 6 Until the waitress came with their drinks, it was silent.  SooKyung looked down at the table and said, “Oppa… why… why did you leave?” HyeSung sighed and looked up into her eyes.  “SooKyung ah.  I didn’t want to.  After my parents died, I had nowhere to go except to my uncle.  He owned a big company in America.  So I went… so I could live.  Don’t you realize that if I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t be sitting in front of you right now?” SooKyung turned to DongWan oppa and said, “Oppa… I’ll see you at home.  I think HyeSung oppa and I need a little talk.” DongWan glared at HyeSung and said, “I’d be happy to leave…  See you SooKyung!”  He left and HyeSung sighed.  “He still hates me, doesn’t he?” SooKyung nodded and he said, “Of course… he hated every guy that liked his precious little sister.” SooKyung glared at him and said, “Oppa… DongWan oppa’s only trying to protect me.  He loves me and I love him.” ”But has he ever thought that you would want to love someone else?  Not only him.  You’re not his you know… you need to go on with your life soon.  You’re turning 16 soon.  You have to make your own decisions soon.  You have to go to college!” ”I'm… I'm not going to college.” ”What?” ”DongWan oppa and I have decided that it’s too expensive to go to college.  It might take half of our savings?” ”SooKyung ah… when you were little, your only dream was to become a designer.  Then a model, then a doctor, after that, a teacher.  You can’t do any of that without college.  You have to go.  I’ll pay for it if I have to.” ”Oppa… I… I don’t think you should try to get into our personal business.  Last time you did…” ”Last time I did it, I saved your life!  You know it, Kim SooKyung!  Why don’t you like me?  I like you so much.  I’ve always liked you.” SooKyung looked up at HyeSung’s blurry eyes.  “Are you crying oppa?” HyeSung wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and shook his head.  “SooKyung ah!  Please… let’s not talk about college.” ”There’s nothing else to talk about with you.” ”I… Kim SooKyung.” ”What?” ”Look at me.” SooKyung slowly lifted her head to look at HyeSung.  “Why are you crying?” “……………..” ”Why are you crying?  SooKyung ah… did I make you cry?  Is that why you’re crying?” ”Oppa… did you know how hard it has been for us?  I… your uncle called me the day I got kidnapped.  Right before DongWan oppa and I got kidnapped, your uncle called.  He said: Kim SooKyung shi?  I said: Yes…  He told me that he was your uncle and that Jung PilGyo was going to go.  Going to somewhere far away.  I didn’t understand and hung up.  I wish that I had listened to him.  Then I would have been able to say goodbye when you rescued us.  But all I got to do was to wave you… I couldn’t even hug you.  I… we were put in an orphanage after our parents died and recently, DongWan oppa became old enough to live alone.  He took me in and we lived together ever since he was 18.  It was hard…   You, on the other hand, live an easy life.  You got everything you wanted.” ”SooKyung ah…  It wasn’t easy for me…  I liked you.  That day you got kidnapped.  I needed to ask you…  I was going to ask you to… to be my girlfriend.” SooKyung shook her head and said, “Oppa… don’t you see?  That was ten years ago.  It’s too late now.  Back then, we were just kids… making small decisions.  Now, we have to make grown up ones.  One little decision could affect our whole lives.” HyeSung calmly said, “SooKyung ah.  I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend right now.  I'm asking you to keep on seeing me.  Until we’re comfortable… like we used to be.” ”Life will never return to those times… it will never be like it used to be.  You have to understand that things have changed.  I don’t know you anymore.  I'm not the Kim SooKyung as before.  If you excuse me, I have to go.” SooKyung stood up to go and HyeSung stood up as well.  SooKyung took one long glance at him and whispered, “Don’t come back oppa.  I’ve missed you enough… and I’ve just gotten over it.  Leave me alone.” SooKyung walked out, leaving a heartbroken HyeSung behind.  HyeSung only thought of SooKyung… and the happy times he could have spent with her… only if he hadn’t left… <CENTER>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ </CENTER> *ring ring* ”Hello?  This is the Lee Corporations.  How may I help you?” ”Um… may I speak to Lee MinWoo please?” ”Oh.  Just a moment please.  May I ask who’s calling?” ”Kim… SooKyung.” The secretary connected to MinWoo’s phone and said, “Sajangnim.  Kim SooKyung called.” SooKyung heard his faint voice say: Put her through.  Soon, MinWoo’s voice came loud and clear, “Hello?  SooKyung?” SooKyung nodded and realizing she was on the phone, she quickly said, “MinWoo?” ”I was waiting for your call.  What took so long to call me?” ”I… I met him today.  The sender of the rose.” ”Who was it?” ”It was an old friend of mine.” ”Oh…  hey… I have to go to a meeting right now.  Do you think you could come to Hope Restaurant at 6:30?  Bring DongWan too.  Can you come?  Try to okay?  I have to go.  Bye, SooKyung!” ”Bye!  I’ll be there!” *click* SooKyung yelled to her brother, “Oppa!  We have a dinner appointment at 6:30!  At Hope Restaurant with MinWoo.” A muffled sound came from his room and SooKyung peeped her head in.  “What?” DongWan said, “I said, ‘Okay.’  Did you call MinWoo?” SooKyung nodded and said, “He’s so nice, oppa.  Don’t you think?” DongWan shrugged and said, “Maybe… he’s an okay kid.  SooKyung ah… are you…” SooKyung shook her head and said, “Of course not oppa!  Don’t get ideas!  He’s not my type.” DongWan shrugged again and watched SooKyung go out.  HyeSung was right.  He didn’t like other guys liking his sister.  She was the only person she had and he couldn’t lose her.  SooKyung was everything to him. Chapter 7 Soon, it was 6 PM and SooKyung and DongWan were getting ready to meet MinWoo.  SooKyung wore a thin layer of makeup and wore hip hop pants, a baby blue t-shirt, and white sneakers.  DongWan wore silver pants, a black beater, and a thin white jacket.  They stepped out into the evening air and SooKyung took a deep breath.  “Isn’t it beautiful oppa?” DongWan nodded as they stepped up onto the bus.  They took a seat together and waited until they were in front of Hope Restaurant.  They went in and looked around for MinWoo.  The person in the front asked, “Are you looking for someone?” SooKyung nodded and said, “Lee MinWoo…” The person nodded and a waiter led them to a V.I.P. room in the back of the restaurant.  MinWoo held up his hand and said, “SooKyung… DongWan.  You’re here.  Sit here, the food will be coming soon.” ”The food?  You ordered already?” ”I didn’t want you to wait that long, so I ordered for you.  If you want something else or you don’t like it, we could just change it for something else.  I'm a V.I.P. here…”  MinWoo smiled and SooKyung grinned.  DongWan just stared ahead, drinking his water. After they had dinner, they decided to go to a nearby club.  For a second, SooKyung looked frightened, but when DongWan put his arm around her, any fear was gone.  She smiled as they slowly walked in the summer night.  MinWoo ran to the door of the club and opened it.  He bowed to DongWan and said, “Hyung neem… muhn juh deul uh gah shib shi yoh.” DongWan smiled and SooKyung laughed.  DongWan thought to himself, ‘This kid’s okay… he’s okay…’ When SooKyung approached, MinWoo bent down to kiss her hand.  “How is our miss doing tonight?” SooKyung bowed and they all laughed.  They went in and took a seat in the corner.  MinWoo leaned back on his chair and said, “Whew… I'm so full.  Hey… do you care if I invite some of my friends over?  They’re probably around here somewhere…” SooKyung and DongWan shrugged and MinWoo nodded to the waiter.  He whispered something into the waiter’s ear.  Soon, the music stopped for a moment and the speakers said, “IF JUN JIN, ERIC MUN, AND ANDY LEE ARE HERE, PLEASE REPORT TO THE FRONT OF THE CLUB… THANK YOU.”  The music continued and a few minutes later, three guys headed towards their table. MinWoo stood up and said, “Hey you guys!  I thought you’d be here.  Jin, Eric, Andy… meet SooKyung and DongWan.  SooKyung, DongWan… meet Jin, Eric, and Andy.” They all greeted each other and Jin, Eric, and Andy slid into seats next to MinWoo.  Eric said, “MinWoo… met more people to tease?” MinWoo frowned and stuck his tongue out at him.  They all laughed and Eric said, “SooKyung shi… if he ever bugs you, smack him.” SooKyung blushed and said, “SooKyung… not SooKyung shi…” Eric grinned and Andy said, “How old are you?” ”I'm 15… turning 16 on August 12.  DongWan oppa’s 19.” Jin said, “Oh… Andy, our ggoh mah is 17.  Eric’s 19, MinWoo’s 18, and I'm 18.  Hey, someone’s not here.” MinWoo sipped his drink and said, “My cousin.” ”Oh yeah!  That guy… he’s okay.  But he can’t drink man… The only thing he can do is talk and sing.” MinWoo glared and said, “Hey! That’s my cousin you’re talking about!” JunJin grinned and said, “Sorry~  SooKyung shi… do you know how to dance?” SooKyung shook her head as DongWan laughed.  “She does… she always looks at singers and dances to their music.” SooKyung hit him in the arm and DongWan grinned.  He hadn’t had this much fun in his life.  Jin pulled up SooKyung and said, “Come on… let’s see how well you can dance.” SooKyung shook her head and looked at MinWoo and DongWan for help.  But they were both laughing, trying to avoid her gaze.  SooKyung finally gave up and went up onto the dance floor with Jin.  Jin asked, “What can you do?” SooKyung sighed and shook her head.  Jin hit her lightly and said, “Come on… there must be something you can do.” She looked at MinWoo, who was making a phone call.  She looked at DongWan, who was clapping and cheering her on.  Eric and Andy seemed to be involved in some kind of game they made up.  SooKyung sighed and shook her head.  She ran to where the others were to escape from JunJin.  Jin sighed and said, “That’s one tough sister you’ve got there, DongWan.” DongWan laughed and said, “I know…”  SooKyung took a seat next to DongWan as she took a drink of water.  She asked, “MinWoo oppa… who were you making the call to?” ”My cousin… he’s coming soon…” They went back to talking and joking.  MinWoo kept on looking at his watch, waiting for his cousin.  SooKyung put her hand on his arm, and said, “I'm sure he’ll come… don’t worry.”  Just then, MinWoo stood up and said, “HyeSung eeh hyung! Over here!” SooKyung whipped around to see his cousin, then whipped back to look at MinWoo.  <I>Had she heard correctly? </I> “What did you just say?” asked SooKyung.  MinWoo looked at her and answered, “I just said: HyeSung eeh hyung…” SooKyung leaned back on her chair and sank into it.  This couldn’t be happening… this couldn’t… but it was… Chapter 8 HyeSung walked towards MinWoo and gave him one of those “manly hugs.”  MinWoo laughed and said, “Hyung… how is it been going?” HyeSung smiled and looked at him.  MinWoo led him towards the table and HyeSung saw SooKyung.  He stared at her and blinked once… twice.  He said, “SooKyung?  What… what are you doing here?” MinWoo smiled and said, “Oh… hyung, meet SooKyung.  SooKyung meet HyeSung.  I’ve known him ever since I was born… he’s so nice. You should get to know him.” SooKyung muttered something under her breath and MinWoo frowned.  “What?” he asked. SooKyung shook her head and HyeSung stood there, mesmerized that MinWoo knew SooKyung.  He sat down next to MinWoo and asked, “How did you meet her?” MinWoo smiled and said, “I was going to grandfather’s grave and I bumped into her.  I think I broke her foot or something… so we went to the hospital and got a brace for her.  We kept in touch.  Why?” HyeSung shook his head and took a sip of MinWoo’s drink.  MinWoo could tell that SooKyung and DongWan’s attitudes had changed.  DongWan looked at SooKyung to see that she wasn’t looking up at anyone.  He got up and pulled SooKyung up with him.  “I think we have to go now.  Thanks for inviting us, MinWoo.  We’ll call you okay?” MinWoo stood up and said, “You’re going already?  Oh… SooKyung needs the rest, I guess… Well, call okay?” DongWan nodded and led SooKyung out the door.  Andy looked at them walk out and said, “SooKyung looks nice… she is, isn’t she MinWoo?” MinWoo nodded and said, “She’s a really sweet girl…”  His eyes grew hazy as he thought about the ride in the car.  Eric nudged Andy and said, “Don’t say anything… MinWoo’s getting a crush again.  Remember last time?? When he got a crush?” Andy nodded and said, “He followed her around everywhere.  But when she told him that she didn’t like him, he still followed her.  He was so surprised that a girl didn’t like him.” Eric and Andy laughed and MinWoo glared at them.  He thought to himself, ‘I will make you like me Kim SooKyung… I will.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “How could HyeSung and MinWoo be cousins?  They seem so different from each other…” DongWan shrugged as SooKyung walked frantically around the living room.  DongWan looked up at her and said, “Calm down…  You’re going to forget about HyeSung, remember?  MinWoo seems like a nice guy.” SooKyung took one look at DongWan and said, “Oppa… you know how long I’ve been waiting for HyeSung oppa.  It took me 8 years to forget about him!  And he comes back.  He’s in my mind again oppa…  I’ve missed him so much.  I can’t forget about him anymore.  Those times…” DongWan shook his head and said, “SooKyung ah.  Those were long time ago.  Forget it.  HyeSung didn’t know what love was.  You were only 8!  He was 11!” SooKyung got a look on her face.  She thought about if HyeSung oppa DID know what love was… ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ <I>”Oppa!  You forgot this one!”  a 8 year-old SooKyung shouted. HyeSung studied the doll and said, “That’s too ugly to be our child.  You’re too pretty to be its mom.” SooKyung pouted her lips and started to cry.  “But…  it’s my favorite doll…  we have to take it.” HyeSung couldn’t stand SooKyung crying and put his arm around her.  “Okay… okay…”  He hugged the doll tightly in his arms and said, “This doll will be our first child then… He’ll be my favorite too.” SooKyung smiled again and HyeSung giggled.  “You’re so cute, SooKyung ah!” SooKyung blushed and said, “Oppa… will we be together?  All the time?  Everyday?” HyeSung nodded and said, “Of course… I’ll never let you go.  I’ll always be there for you.” SooKyung blushed and HyeSung stepped forward to hug her.  HyeSung whispered into her hair, “I love you… forever and forever and forever…” </I> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ SooKyung tossed and turned in her bed.  Somehow, she couldn’t seem to sleep tonight.  She thought, ‘There’s only one person that could comfort me now.’ She pushed back her blankets and quietly tiptoed to the phone.  She searched the phone book for his phone number and dialed it.  The phone rang five times before he answered it.  “Hello?”  a drowsy voice answered. SooKyung took a deep breath and said, “Hello?  Oppa?” ”Excuse me?  Do I know you?” ”Oppa… it’s me… SooKyung eeh!” ”I'm sorry… I don’t know anyone named SooKyung.  Good night.” SooKyung stared at the phone after the person had hung up.  She was sure she had dialed the right number.  She cocked her head and redialed the number. “Hello?”  a voice answered. SooKyung stayed silent for a few minutes before saying something.  “Um… isn’t this HyeSung oppa?” The voice answered, “HyeSung?  Shin HyeSung?  Were you the person that called before?” SooKyung nodded then realized she was on the phone.  “Yeah… I was.  Is HyeSung oppa there?” The person on the other line said, “Wait up…”   He shouted, “SHIN HYE SUNG! YAH!  SHIN HYE SUNG!  PHONE FOR YOU!” SooKyung held the phone away from her ear as she heard HyeSung oppa get out of the bed and fall on the floor.  The other person laughed and said, “Hurry!  It’s some girl!  Hurry! I have to get back to my studying!” HyeSung said, “Fine!  I got it!  Hello?” SooKyung meekly said, “Hello?” “Who is this?” ”Oppa… it’s me… SooKyung eeh.” It was silent for a moment and after a while, SooKyung said, “Oppa, you there?” HyeSung hesitated for a moment and said, “SooKyung ah… I… *ahem* yeah…” ”Can you meet me?” ”Right now?” “………..” ”SooKyung ah… right now, I'm kind of busy…  It’s 2:00 AM!  Sleep for now, and I’ll call you later…  Give me your number.” ”583-1938” ”Okay… I’ll call you.  AhnNyung, SooKyung.” *click* SooKyung stared at the phone after she put it down.  <I>HyeSung oppa…  I never forgot you…  Did you forget me?  I never forgot you oppa… Please… I want to come back to you… please give me one more chance… </I> **************************************************