Chapter 3 After dinner, Mi Hwa, or Yoon Jungie she called herself, wanted to take a tour of the house and see her room. She ran upstairs in a blink of an eye and poof…she was gone. I wandered through the many doors of the hallway, finding all the rooms empty. Finally, I went into the master bedroom…my room. There she was, jumping on my king sized bed. I stared in terror…the sand and all the dirty junk from the park was falling into my bed, and the sturdy springs of the mattress wasn’t so sturdy anymore. “AHHH! Get off my bed!” “No~!! Ten little monkeys were jumping on the bed; one fell down and broke his neck. Mama called the doctor….” Oi~ where was she learning these weird songs from?!  Before I can do anything further, the phone rang. I sighed and left Mi Hwa jumping on the bed and went across the room to pick up the phone. “Hello?” “…” “HELLO~” “…Pil Kyo ni?” (Is it Pil Kyo?) “Argh, Mom…I don’t even want to hear about it. I’m so sick of it…I’m an adult mom and I can take care of myself! I don’t need you to tell me who to meet!” “But honey, she’s such a nice girl. Just this once…one more time…” “No mother. When I’m ready, I can find someone on my own. Besides, you said that it would be the last time I had to meet someone last week. I don’t need another disaster blind date, thank you very much. Mother…why don’t you and Pop settle down and wait a little longer until I’m ready. Don’t bother wasting time finding some desperate chick.” “But what if you don’t find someone…we’re just here to help you find someone…” “MA~!! WHAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND! I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN! PLEASE, CAN’T YOU JUST STAY OUT OF THIS?” “Well then! Since my own son doesn’t appreciate our dedication to help you find someone new, I think I’ll just go now. Hmph, don’t even bother coming home for Christmas!” Geez…it’s only August and she’s already threatening about Christmas. --;; Ever since I turned 22, my parents have been on my case about getting married. I don’t see what’s there to rush…since I’m one of those people who prefer to take time and not rush anything so…commitment-like. Remembering Mi Hwa, I turned back to the bed she was jumping on. “…!@#$%^&*…” MY BED WAS AN INSTANT GARBAGE HAIRY FAIRY LAND!!! I just stood there, “observing” all the sand, grass, creepy crawlers, and the junk the kid picked up from the playground. Dang it…you never know…how would you feel if you were to sleep at night and then you feel sand in your hair and a freakin’ bug bites you out of nowhere?! I thought so. ><;; “YURI!” “Uh oh…” “Can you give me an explanation to all this mess?” “…sniffle…are you mad at Yuri?…sniff….” I looked at her sad face…tear drops already dripping…it was the 2nd time I got really mad at her. “Don’t send me back to Banana Valley Orphanage…heuk…I promise to be a good girl!” Her face…so pitiful… So filled with anguish… Filled with memories… “…No…Yuri…I’m not mad…but…” Yuri started running…ran out of the room and started for the stairs. I took hold of her shoulders before she can go further.  Yuri tried to wiggle out, but my hands had a firm grip. “ LET GO OF ME…sniff…you’re mad at me again! Heuk…White chocolate ah juh shi…you’re mean!” Yuri stuck out her tongue at me and wiped her tears. “Yuri…I’m sorry if I’m constantly mad at you. This ah juh shi- I mean…oppa…is very tired, stress, and cranky…now stop crying…you’re making this oppa feel horrible…horrible that he can’t be nice to his Yuri. Okay?” “Sniff…I’m not Yuri…I’m Yoon Jungie!” “…!!…oi.” Chapter 4 I was at work the next morning when I got a call at the studio. “Hello?” “Mr. Shin?” “Speaking...” “Ah~ this is Banana Valley Orphanage…I’m afraid there had been some mix ups…as you are aware…you see, I wasn’t at the office for couple days and…” “Do you want her back?” “You can bring her back so that you can take home the right girl…” “…” “…” “I’ll be there during my lunch break today.” I decided not to tell Yoon Jungie about the phone call earlier today. I didn’t want to remind her of that place and it seemed like she was going to stay at my place for a long while anyway. Instead, I got off work early and called up my friend from my cell phone in the car. “Hey, Eric? Yeah, it’s me, Sungie. I know it’s kinda sudden and all, but can yuou and the guys come to the beach that’s couple miles down? Maybe we can have a belated weekend party…ya knoe…juss hang around and get some sun…play volleyball? The surf is supposed to be good this week…” “I don’t know man…I’m still at work with my fat, bitchy boss…” “I have to introduce you to someone…” “Is she hot?” Eric suddenly gathered his full interest. “What makes you think it’s a girl?” “Then who else is Mr. Shin Hye Sung gonna introduce?!” “Haha…welpz…she’s…definitely interesting…and unique.” “Doode! I’ll be right there!” “Ack! Call the other guys too! I’ll meet you at the beach shack at 6 pm.” I checked my silver watch and saw that it was only 3:30. I though of how I can kill time as I drove the rest of the way home. When I got home, Yoon Jungie had the karaoke machine on and was…::hopelessly:: attempting to “sing.” Not to be mean or anything, but it’s better classified as screeching. Besides, she was screeching in her underwear and wore her pants on her head. Only something Junjin would do when he’s pitifully drunk. I continued to watch her sing her heart out and clapped for her when the song ended. She looked shocked and surprised when she saw me standing there watching her. She looked sheepish as she realized that she was still wearing her pants on her head. “Heh heh…Choco oppa…you’re home early…” She said stupidly. “Yeah…I decided that I didn’t feel like work today…Hey Yoon Jung ah…let’s go to the beach together and meet some friends later!” “…But I can’t!” “…!…” “Why not!” “…sniff…because…I forgot how to put on my pants again! I think I keep on getting it backwards…so I just put it on my head while I sang so that when you came home, you can help me put it on again!” “…o.O…O.O…- -;;…” “Okay…come on…let’s get those pants on. After, we’ll go to the beach and go shopping in the little stores outside. I’ll buy you a dress so that you won’t have problems with the pants.” “OKAIE!!” “…><…” * Cool breeze immediately greeted us when we got off the car. I held Yoon Jungie’s hand as we walked down toward the little stores along the beach. I didn’t want to lose Yoon Jungie in such crowded place. She was surprised and flinched when I took her hand, but after that, she didn’t seem to mind at all. The little shops and the little things that people sold there amazed her. Her huge eyes popped out even more, interested in every movement people made. I suddenly felt Yoon Jungie holding me back. I looked at her and saw that she was staring at a shop window. Her eyes were huge…gazing… Mouth was slightly opened in awe… And…my eyes…slightly watered too. ::Flashback:: “Haha…oppa, that was the best soup you made! ::sigh:: We should go out camping more often. It’s so nice out here…under the stars…warm in front of the fire…in your arms…” “Yeah, isn’t it?” “Oppa…thanks for the great birthday you planned...and this lovely dress. You know how much I love white dresses…this one you gave me looks fabulous!” “I’m glad you like it~ ::muah!::” “Oppa...if we get married, let’s live in a big house, and a puppy, and a kid.” “Just one?” “Yeah…just one…one girl.” “Why not a boy?” “I don’t know…I just want a baby girl. ::yawn:: Oppa…I think I’m going to go to bed first. Good night! See you in the morning!” “Okaie…I’ll be sleeping too…after I smolder the fire…” I watched the fire a little longer…thinking over what Kyung Hee said. Little later, I decided to get up and go to sleep as well. I was putting out the fire when… “AHH! OPPA!” “Kyung Hee ya?! What’s wrong? Where are you?” “Oppa!! Help me! ::cough cough:: “Shit…Kyung Hee? Did you fall into the river!?” “Oppa…::shiver:: Hurry…I’m…cold…” “I’m coming in, Kyung Hee ya…but…I can’t see you….where are you…” “…Oppa…” For what it felt like hours, I couldn’t find Kyung Hee…the river was too big…and too deep. I tried to swim, but the water threatened me to sweep away. Going against the current, I blindly searched everywhere for her…until I couldn’t feel my body at all from the cold mountain river. I wanted to give up… But…I can’t do that…she was still in there… I plunged deeper into the water to look for her. Finally…I see a figure…floating on the water…but with one arm around a rock… “KYUNG HEE!!” I swam towards the figure and grabbed her. She was deathly cold. I slung her two arms around my neck and I carried her on my back as I attempted to swim to shore. When I reached land, I ran to my tent and lain her body in the warm sleeping bag. I zipped her up tightly and started to bundle the sleeping bag with all my warm clothes, towels and whatever I can get my hands on. As fast as I can, I tried dialing for help…but the connection was horrible out in the mountains. Putting the bundle of sleeping bag with Kyung Hee in the passenger seat, I jumped in and drove down the mountain to the nearest hospital…at the foot of the mountain. “Kyung Hee ya…are you okay? Say something…” “……..” “Anything…please…don’t scare me like this…” She said something…really softly…so softly that…I couldn’t hear what she said. “Kyung Hee ya…promise to hold on…we’re almost there.” I carried her into the hospital. The doctors and nurses swarmed around me and had a look at Kyung Hee when I unraveled her from the towels and the sleeping bag. The doctors touched her neck and hands. A grave look etched on their faces. “I’m afraid…young man…that…she’s long gone. She’s been dead for a while now.” It was so blunt…They had the nerves to say she was dead…the girl…in my arms…No. She couldn’t be dead. She talked to me in the car. There was no way she can die on me. Our future was just starting. The nurses tried to pry my fingers away from Kyung Hee so that they can take her. “NO! Why aren’t you helping her! She’s not dead!” The doctors took no heed…and like that…she was gone. ::End of Flashback:: Mi Hwa’s eyes were still gazing at the white dress…it was the same white dress I gave to Kyung Hee…before she died… “Oppa…Yoon Jungie wants that dress…” “No.” “…w…why not?” “Because I said so! Let’s go.” I grabbed Mi Hwa’s wrists and dragged her on. My mood was totally going downhill. Chapter 5 “Ch..Choco…ahjuhshi…oppa…heuk heuk…” I looked at Yoon Jung, annoyed. “What!?” “…sniff…nothing.” I rolled my eyes and continued to drag Yoon Jung down to the shore. Once we got down to where the sand was, I kicked off my shoe and dipped my feet into the warm sand and wiggled my toes. Yoon Jung was watching me, but she didn’t seem too amused. I let go of her wrists and I settled down once I laid out a towel. I slipped off my top and started applying sun-tanning oil. I couldn’t reach down to my back so I called Yoon Jung. “Hey, put some of this on my back~” “Yuri doesn’t want to.” “Gawd…why are you like that? Geez, you’re right next to me and you refuse to help…and it’s not like you’re doing anything anyway.” Yuri gave me a nasty snare and then agreed. She squeezed a small amount on her hand and then started to rub it on my back. Her hands were so small…and soothing… I felt a weird sense of tingle…but at the same time…comfort. Just the feeling of her soft small hands running over my back… I snapped out of it and pushed the thought aside. When Yuri was done, she went back to the original place she plopped down before I called her. I just lain down and enjoyed the sun. * I woke up to the feeling of someone poking my ribs. I looked up and DANG~ I saw the light from the heavens above! It was still bright outside and I was momentarily blinded. Once the blindness went away, I saw Yoon Jung’s huge eyes staring at me fearfully. “White…um…Dark suntanned choco ah juh shi…there are weird people staring at me…” Yoon Jung whispered into my ears. “What the heck?” I rolled over and AHH~ I was blinded again! Stupid sun. Anyway, the next thing I saw was 10 other hair legs. I looked up and saw my friends…Eric, Jun Jin, Andy, Dong Wan and Minwoo. I immediately got up and happily greeted my friends. They all kind of said a faded wasabi…but their attention was on Mi Hwa. “Is this the girl you said you were gonna introduce? Dayum…she’s fine!!” Eric hooted. “Shut up Eric. You think everyone is fine…dayum…why don’t you just get your ass over there and make a drool puddle where that fat old woman is.” Dong Wan retorted. “I WANNA JOIN ERIC!!” Jun Jin said happily and was already starting to hop his way to the fat old woman. “Argh, guys, you’re not making a good example in front of Mi Hwa! Er…I mean…Yoon Jung?” I started to sound hesitant…I didn’t want Mi Hwa to blow up right there for calling her the wrong name. I looked at Mi Hwa to see if I called her by the right name, but she turned her head right before I could look at her. Mi Hwa turned away and sat down on the sand away from us. My friends gave me a WTF look and I just gave them a cheesy smile. “Come on guys…let’s play some volleyball before the sun sets in couple hours.” All six guys slid off their shirts. Just as they did, people started to crowd around and some of the ladies decided to join them in volleyball. Obviously, Eric and Jin were the first ones to check the ladies out. I looked through the crowd that was forming around to see if Mi Hwa had decided to join the flow. Yet…I didn’t see her in the crowd or the place where she sat down… “Sh~t…guys! I don’t see Mi Hwa!” “Come on Hye Sung! I’m sure your girlfriend just went to the bathroom. She’ll be back…she’s a grown girl, ya know~” My friends assured me. “…Yeah…she’s a…grown…girl…” I muttered as I looked at the sun that was slowly sinking into the waters. Being with my homies was great…so great that I forgot all about the time…and even Mi Hwa. It was getting now and our game just ended. WHO DO YOU THINK WHO WON? Of course…it was Jun Jin, Dong Wan, Eric, and this chick named Kelly. I had no choice but to be stuck with Andy and two other hopeless girls. Not that I have anything against my members…but the other team had all the muscle-y type of people. While my friends were starting up the barbeque, I spent time to look for Mi Hwa. I called out for her and searched the whole area. No answer. But I did see a figure…it was her. When I got close to her, I realized how much I neglected her, though it was only a game…a game that took several hours. There was a sand castle, or at least half of it, messy writing that are half erased by the water, and dog poop. DOG POOP?! I looked at her more closely and realized that she had a dog next to her. “Where did you get the dog?” I asked, popping out of nowhere. Yet, she didn’t seem the least bit surprised. “It’s her little French doggie!” Yoon Jungie delightfully pointed to a somewhat plump woman. It was the same fat woman that Dong Wan told Eric to make a drool puddle on. I gave the big woman a polite smile and turned to Mi Hwa. “Let’s go have some barbeque~ my friends are starting it now.” “Oppa…can we talk a little bit before we go there?” “No! I don’t want cold food! Let’s go!” I pulled her up by her arm…and failed to realize that her voice sounded different…her voice and tone matured. * For a girl who has probably been sitting on her butt all day, she had a big appetite. She ate almost just as much Jun Jin did…and dang…Jun Jin eats a lot. Mi Hwa got herself a hamburger, hotdog, fries, barbeque meat, bread, potato salad, and mashed potatoes. Everyone’s eyes popped open when they saw the pile on Mi Hwa’s plate. She didn’t seem to notice…or mind the fact that everyone was staring at the amount of food she had. She took her food and seated herself on the towel that I was sleeping on earlier. She watched the waves as she happily munched on the food. I joined her on the towel with my simple serving of a hotdog and salad. The sun was setting and we both ate in silence, just enjoying the view of another passing by. **********************************************************************