Fourteen
"I need a job" Kyung Mi said on a Saturday while hanging clothes with Camila. Camila shot her with a look. "I'm serious" Kyung Mi defended.
"You don't need a job" Camila said.
"I don't get it. Why can't I?" Kyung Mi frowned, "Is this my life will be? Just running away from the eruos? Can't my life be any normal than this?" she added. Frustrated. Camila took a deep sigh as Kyung Mi is glaring at her waiting for an answer. a reasonable answer. She can't believe all of a sudden her normal and free life became like this. Trapped. For Kyung Mi, ever since Camila came to her life, she feels succumbed and suffocated all at the same time. This is unfair. Kyung Mi finished the clothes and went inside the house leaving Camila. She just wanted to be alone this time. Camila on the other hand felt Kyung Mi's need. She sighed.
Kyung Mi headed to her aunt's room and opened her desktop. She's looking for a job. She needs this. The money the school is giving her is not enough let alone for her necessary needs. Ehwa University volunteered to give her full scholarship as her aunt declared only her as dependent. Kyung Mi's thankful for this but she thinks it's just not enough. A part-time job will do. That's all she is considering right now. She googled for part-time jobs near Seoul and the first on the list is as a home-cleaner. She wrote it on a scratch and put it on her pocket as she heard Camila's footsteps nearing her. She immediately closed the window and checked her Daum email instead.
"What ya doing?" Camila cheerfully asked Kyung Mi.
"Nothing. Just checking mails" Kyung Mi answered. Aloof. Camila can feel the tension. Kyung Mi just sitting, faking her attention to the email. Camila took a chair and sat beside her.
"Joselin, I want you to know that this whole thing is your destiny. It means, it's the way it should be and we can't do nothing about it".
Kyung Mi bit her lip and still reading her emails. Tears starts falling.
"I'm sorry if it feels unfair this way. But this is your life should be. God gave you this because he knows you can handle it. You are one of the few that can keep the balance between good and evil". Camila continued, "And that is why I'm here. To keep you intact and - " Kyung Mi didn't let Camila finished her sentence and instead, " - And what? To keep my life miserable that..that I can't even look for a job just like what normal people do?" Kyung Mi burst with tears. "This is insande Camila. People I love die, one by one and you keep saying this is what God want?" Kyung Mi now facing Camila both sitting, "What else does he wants from me then?". Camila didn't answer. Looking down like a daughter being scolded by her mother. Camila shook her head "I..I wish things are different, Joselin. But I can't change who you are. I'm just a guide". Kyung Mi wiping her tears, willing to win this conversation with Camila, "Okay. Just for the sake of this conversation. What happens if I get caught by the eruos. Is it end of the world? What happens if I just surrender myself to them?". Camila stunned by her questions. She didn't quite expect that anger is filling Kyung Mi's heart that she sounded like she wants to surrender this early. "Joselin, you don't want to surrender to eruos. Believe me. It's...it's unthinkable". From the look of Kyung Mi's eyes, it seems like she already know what could happen if she surrenders and it gave Camila goosebumps.
"Why are you suddenly asking me this?" Camila narrowing her eyes. As if Kyung Mi is hiding something and she wants to fish that out.
Kyung Mi shook her head "It's just.... *sigh* It's just frustrating my life is like this. Always like this"
Camila crooked her brows in question "What do you mean always like this?"
Kyung Mi swallowed hard. "Just like what you said. It's my destiny". She stood and walked out of the room, leaving Camila alone.
The sun is out and about when Kyung Mi went out to get some fresh air and to get things out from her chest after an emotional 5 minute-conversation-with-Camila. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, Oh, My life. She stood there for a while until she felt someone is outside their gate. Kyung Mi opened her eyes and scanned her surrounding. A familiar guy walking on the street, with a phone on his hand looking lost and all serious. The guy looking left and right and back to his phone and looked again left and right. Kyung Mi crooked her brows as she observed the guy from a far. While the the guy is getting near at Kyung Mi's house, she immediately recognized who he is.
"I need a job" Kyung Mi said on a Saturday while hanging clothes with Camila. Camila shot her with a look. "I'm serious" Kyung Mi defended.
"You don't need a job" Camila said.
"I don't get it. Why can't I?" Kyung Mi frowned, "Is this my life will be? Just running away from the eruos? Can't my life be any normal than this?" she added. Frustrated. Camila took a deep sigh as Kyung Mi is glaring at her waiting for an answer. a reasonable answer. She can't believe all of a sudden her normal and free life became like this. Trapped. For Kyung Mi, ever since Camila came to her life, she feels succumbed and suffocated all at the same time. This is unfair. Kyung Mi finished the clothes and went inside the house leaving Camila. She just wanted to be alone this time. Camila on the other hand felt Kyung Mi's need. She sighed.
Kyung Mi headed to her aunt's room and opened her desktop. She's looking for a job. She needs this. The money the school is giving her is not enough let alone for her necessary needs. Ehwa University volunteered to give her full scholarship as her aunt declared only her as dependent. Kyung Mi's thankful for this but she thinks it's just not enough. A part-time job will do. That's all she is considering right now. She googled for part-time jobs near Seoul and the first on the list is as a home-cleaner. She wrote it on a scratch and put it on her pocket as she heard Camila's footsteps nearing her. She immediately closed the window and checked her Daum email instead.
"What ya doing?" Camila cheerfully asked Kyung Mi.
"Nothing. Just checking mails" Kyung Mi answered. Aloof. Camila can feel the tension. Kyung Mi just sitting, faking her attention to the email. Camila took a chair and sat beside her.
"Joselin, I want you to know that this whole thing is your destiny. It means, it's the way it should be and we can't do nothing about it".
Kyung Mi bit her lip and still reading her emails. Tears starts falling.
"I'm sorry if it feels unfair this way. But this is your life should be. God gave you this because he knows you can handle it. You are one of the few that can keep the balance between good and evil". Camila continued, "And that is why I'm here. To keep you intact and - " Kyung Mi didn't let Camila finished her sentence and instead, " - And what? To keep my life miserable that..that I can't even look for a job just like what normal people do?" Kyung Mi burst with tears. "This is insande Camila. People I love die, one by one and you keep saying this is what God want?" Kyung Mi now facing Camila both sitting, "What else does he wants from me then?". Camila didn't answer. Looking down like a daughter being scolded by her mother. Camila shook her head "I..I wish things are different, Joselin. But I can't change who you are. I'm just a guide". Kyung Mi wiping her tears, willing to win this conversation with Camila, "Okay. Just for the sake of this conversation. What happens if I get caught by the eruos. Is it end of the world? What happens if I just surrender myself to them?". Camila stunned by her questions. She didn't quite expect that anger is filling Kyung Mi's heart that she sounded like she wants to surrender this early. "Joselin, you don't want to surrender to eruos. Believe me. It's...it's unthinkable". From the look of Kyung Mi's eyes, it seems like she already know what could happen if she surrenders and it gave Camila goosebumps.
"Why are you suddenly asking me this?" Camila narrowing her eyes. As if Kyung Mi is hiding something and she wants to fish that out.
Kyung Mi shook her head "It's just.... *sigh* It's just frustrating my life is like this. Always like this"
Camila crooked her brows in question "What do you mean always like this?"
Kyung Mi swallowed hard. "Just like what you said. It's my destiny". She stood and walked out of the room, leaving Camila alone.
The sun is out and about when Kyung Mi went out to get some fresh air and to get things out from her chest after an emotional 5 minute-conversation-with-Camila. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, Oh, My life. She stood there for a while until she felt someone is outside their gate. Kyung Mi opened her eyes and scanned her surrounding. A familiar guy walking on the street, with a phone on his hand looking lost and all serious. The guy looking left and right and back to his phone and looked again left and right. Kyung Mi crooked her brows as she observed the guy from a far. While the the guy is getting near at Kyung Mi's house, she immediately recognized who he is.
"Joo Hyun-ssi!" She yelled and Joo Hyun heard her right away. He ran the remaining few steps to Kyung Mi's house with a plastic bag on his left hand. He gave it to Kyung Mi without saying a word. Smiling. Kyung Mi, puzzled. She looked at him and Joo Hyun still handling her the plastic, just like saying "Here, take it!".
"What's this?" finally, Kyung Mi spoke.
"I heard about your aunt. My condolences"
Kyung Mi surprised, "Oh.. Thanks. You shouldn't have" she reached for the plastic bag and peeked in it. It's a dozen of pears.
"Yup. I'll go ahead. See you around" Joo Hyun made a saluting gesture and turned his back.
"W-wait!" Kyung Mi said and reached for his shoulders, "I'm sure this is delicious when eaten with some.... friend". Joo Hyun turned around and said, "Lovely!". Kyung Mi opened the gate and let him in.
For Kyung Mi, Joo Hyun is like a fresh morning dew that came to miserable life just in time. He's like a sunshine that's about to make a new start on her life. He is hope. Something to smile about. They talked all the while they were together at her house, eating pears and Camila was introduced as Kyung Mi's guardian.
"Oh. Yeah. I got it. Now that you're technically an orphan, she's taking you to be your guardian, right?" Joo Hyun asked, curious while nibbling the pear, "How old is she by the way?" he added.
"Yeah. Right. Ask like I'm not here" Camila said rolling her eyes. She's half annoyed half show-off about her age. Part of her is proud that she's actually younger than she looks but part of her is pissed that no matter how strong she is, she still aged. While Kyung Mi is giggling, Camila elbowed her and cleared her throat, "Apparently, I'm 30-ish. And you can't tell. Can't you?". Just when Joo Hyun is about to take a sip on his juice, he blurted out upon hearing the '30-ish' Camila had said. Kyung Mi laughed out loud. "Yeah. Apparently, he really couldn't tell! haha" and they all laughed their lungs out. For Kyung Mi, this is a good day, well except the little conversation she had with Camila at her aunt's room early this morning. She felt like a big thorn had just removed from her chest and she's grateful for that. Thankful for Joo Hyun. It's like he's an angel sent from heaven to ease the pain she's feeling inside.
Kyung Mi invited Joo Hyun to stay for a little longer to have lunch with them. "I'll be cooking, Stay for a while" and as expected Joo Hyun agreed. Camila almost thought Joo Hyun likes Kyung Mi. She narrowed her eyes while Kyung Mi is cooking and Joo Hyun pretending to read a magazine covering his face when in fact, he's peeking beside to catch a glimpse of Kyung Mi. Camila cleared her throat and Joo Hyun almost jumped from his seat. He also cleared his throat.
"What are you reading?" Camila kept nosy about him. The maternal feel inside her suddenly began to ignite.
"Uhmmm..." Joo Hyun handed Camila the magazine about cars that Kyung Mi's late father used to read often. Awkwardness grew between them as Camila sat beside him to keep him company and destructed. Flipping the pages, Camila randomly talked about this car model, "This one's cute though..." pointing to the model. Joo Hyun take a look at the model and recognized it.
"That's model Lee Dae Hyun. He's quite famous for a model" Joo Hyun said.
"Oh. It's obvious he's famous 'coz you know him" Camila answered.
"Most of the guys knows him. Guys who loves cars".
"So that's basically 100% of guys in Korea" Camila joked.
"Hehe yeah." Camila can't believe he just agreed. So that's how he's famous? But for Camila, he's not that handsome at all. She flips the page looking for more, something to talk about to keep him occupied. As the magazine ran out of page, she immediately closed it, "Okay. Why are you here? Do you like Joselin?". Caught off guard, Camila didn't notice she called Kyung Mi her old name.
"I'm sorry?" Joo Hyun asked, crooking his eye brows. But Camila doesn't seem to notice it yet. Joo Hyun repeated, "Joselin? Who's Joselin?", and that kind of slapped Camila on her face, Oh shoot.
"I mean, do you like Kyung Mi?" Camila stood straight and folded her arms and chin up to give a shot of authority to Joo Hyun.
"I..... I guess so. I think she's nice" Joo Hyun still crooking his brows like trying to convince himself that he actually like Kyung Mi but still not aware of it. Camila nodded like a mother goose protecting her children, "So are you planning to come here often? Because that's better than courting her outside". Now it's time for Joo Hyun to got caught off his guard.
"I think I'm not yet in the position to do that." Joo Hyun also sitting up straight making him taller than Camila, "And besides, I thought we're good friends now and I'd like to keep it that way". Camila nodded while looking down to her feet, "Yes. Fair enough. That's a good answer" and shook his hands out of nowhere. The smell of the food Kyung Mi is cooking made Joo Hyun's stomach growl like a monster but he's thanking the heavens Camila didn't hear it. Camila stood up and clapped her hands "Okay! Time to eat!".
While at the table, Joo Hyun sat in front of Kyung Mi making him alone at the other side.
"I'm sure you'll forget what you just said to me a while ago after you tasted Kyung Mi's cooking" Camila said.
Kyung Mi unaware of what they had talk about while she was cooking, she asked "What about it?" but Joo Hyun immediately answered with an evil smirked "I bet on that".
On the other hand.
Jin Ae decided to get back to work after she took a shower. There's no way staying home while thinking about Dae Hyun. She thinks it's a suicide. Making herself busy is the best way out. Best way to get rid of Dae Hyun out from her mind. That feeling, the feeling of loving again, is slowly eating her up. She can't let this happen. Again. Ever. She would rather became an old maid than to love and get hurt again. She's so sure that if someone loves someone, their end print would most likely to get hurt and that's not gonna happen to her. Not in her conscious mind. She dressed up and went straight to a coffee shop and get to work.
Hours after she arrived, she heard a car door closed in front her while working. She glanced up and put her paper works down onto the table. It's Dae Hyun's father and the shock on her face almost gave he the look like she just saw a ghost. This is the last thing she wishes to happen. To meet Dae Hyun's father again face to face after that incident is like facing the angel of death and she's so not ready for that yet. Not yet.
"What's this?" finally, Kyung Mi spoke.
"I heard about your aunt. My condolences"
Kyung Mi surprised, "Oh.. Thanks. You shouldn't have" she reached for the plastic bag and peeked in it. It's a dozen of pears.
"Yup. I'll go ahead. See you around" Joo Hyun made a saluting gesture and turned his back.
"W-wait!" Kyung Mi said and reached for his shoulders, "I'm sure this is delicious when eaten with some.... friend". Joo Hyun turned around and said, "Lovely!". Kyung Mi opened the gate and let him in.
For Kyung Mi, Joo Hyun is like a fresh morning dew that came to miserable life just in time. He's like a sunshine that's about to make a new start on her life. He is hope. Something to smile about. They talked all the while they were together at her house, eating pears and Camila was introduced as Kyung Mi's guardian.
"Oh. Yeah. I got it. Now that you're technically an orphan, she's taking you to be your guardian, right?" Joo Hyun asked, curious while nibbling the pear, "How old is she by the way?" he added.
"Yeah. Right. Ask like I'm not here" Camila said rolling her eyes. She's half annoyed half show-off about her age. Part of her is proud that she's actually younger than she looks but part of her is pissed that no matter how strong she is, she still aged. While Kyung Mi is giggling, Camila elbowed her and cleared her throat, "Apparently, I'm 30-ish. And you can't tell. Can't you?". Just when Joo Hyun is about to take a sip on his juice, he blurted out upon hearing the '30-ish' Camila had said. Kyung Mi laughed out loud. "Yeah. Apparently, he really couldn't tell! haha" and they all laughed their lungs out. For Kyung Mi, this is a good day, well except the little conversation she had with Camila at her aunt's room early this morning. She felt like a big thorn had just removed from her chest and she's grateful for that. Thankful for Joo Hyun. It's like he's an angel sent from heaven to ease the pain she's feeling inside.
Kyung Mi invited Joo Hyun to stay for a little longer to have lunch with them. "I'll be cooking, Stay for a while" and as expected Joo Hyun agreed. Camila almost thought Joo Hyun likes Kyung Mi. She narrowed her eyes while Kyung Mi is cooking and Joo Hyun pretending to read a magazine covering his face when in fact, he's peeking beside to catch a glimpse of Kyung Mi. Camila cleared her throat and Joo Hyun almost jumped from his seat. He also cleared his throat.
"What are you reading?" Camila kept nosy about him. The maternal feel inside her suddenly began to ignite.
"Uhmmm..." Joo Hyun handed Camila the magazine about cars that Kyung Mi's late father used to read often. Awkwardness grew between them as Camila sat beside him to keep him company and destructed. Flipping the pages, Camila randomly talked about this car model, "This one's cute though..." pointing to the model. Joo Hyun take a look at the model and recognized it.
"That's model Lee Dae Hyun. He's quite famous for a model" Joo Hyun said.
"Oh. It's obvious he's famous 'coz you know him" Camila answered.
"Most of the guys knows him. Guys who loves cars".
"So that's basically 100% of guys in Korea" Camila joked.
"Hehe yeah." Camila can't believe he just agreed. So that's how he's famous? But for Camila, he's not that handsome at all. She flips the page looking for more, something to talk about to keep him occupied. As the magazine ran out of page, she immediately closed it, "Okay. Why are you here? Do you like Joselin?". Caught off guard, Camila didn't notice she called Kyung Mi her old name.
"I'm sorry?" Joo Hyun asked, crooking his eye brows. But Camila doesn't seem to notice it yet. Joo Hyun repeated, "Joselin? Who's Joselin?", and that kind of slapped Camila on her face, Oh shoot.
"I mean, do you like Kyung Mi?" Camila stood straight and folded her arms and chin up to give a shot of authority to Joo Hyun.
"I..... I guess so. I think she's nice" Joo Hyun still crooking his brows like trying to convince himself that he actually like Kyung Mi but still not aware of it. Camila nodded like a mother goose protecting her children, "So are you planning to come here often? Because that's better than courting her outside". Now it's time for Joo Hyun to got caught off his guard.
"I think I'm not yet in the position to do that." Joo Hyun also sitting up straight making him taller than Camila, "And besides, I thought we're good friends now and I'd like to keep it that way". Camila nodded while looking down to her feet, "Yes. Fair enough. That's a good answer" and shook his hands out of nowhere. The smell of the food Kyung Mi is cooking made Joo Hyun's stomach growl like a monster but he's thanking the heavens Camila didn't hear it. Camila stood up and clapped her hands "Okay! Time to eat!".
While at the table, Joo Hyun sat in front of Kyung Mi making him alone at the other side.
"I'm sure you'll forget what you just said to me a while ago after you tasted Kyung Mi's cooking" Camila said.
Kyung Mi unaware of what they had talk about while she was cooking, she asked "What about it?" but Joo Hyun immediately answered with an evil smirked "I bet on that".
On the other hand.
Jin Ae decided to get back to work after she took a shower. There's no way staying home while thinking about Dae Hyun. She thinks it's a suicide. Making herself busy is the best way out. Best way to get rid of Dae Hyun out from her mind. That feeling, the feeling of loving again, is slowly eating her up. She can't let this happen. Again. Ever. She would rather became an old maid than to love and get hurt again. She's so sure that if someone loves someone, their end print would most likely to get hurt and that's not gonna happen to her. Not in her conscious mind. She dressed up and went straight to a coffee shop and get to work.
Hours after she arrived, she heard a car door closed in front her while working. She glanced up and put her paper works down onto the table. It's Dae Hyun's father and the shock on her face almost gave he the look like she just saw a ghost. This is the last thing she wishes to happen. To meet Dae Hyun's father again face to face after that incident is like facing the angel of death and she's so not ready for that yet. Not yet.