20 June 2018, 7:30 AM

Two days later, in the morning, I came out to the living room while tying up my hair with a hairband. Mom watched me from the dining table. "Can't you keep your hair down sometimes?" She asked. "It's so pretty when it's lying free. Do you have to tie it up so tightly all the time?"

"Yes." I ignored her. I am used to tying my hair in a tight ponytail. I am used to this style. Plus this is so convenient while working. My mobile rang while I was putting on my shoes. "Yes, Actor Kim WooHyun's Manager speaking..." I answered the call. Mom was still watching me from the dining table as Yuri came out dressed up in her uniform. Mom began to give her food.

"She doesn't get one phone call for herself." Mom was telling Yuri. "It's always 'Kim WoooHyun's manager' speaking. I don't know if she even remembers her own name."

"Yes, Yes, Sir... Or course he will be available. I will check his schedule and call you back." I told the guy who had called to know if Hyun was available to shoot a commercial, and finished tying my shoes and hung up.

"This is why she always fails in dating and the guys left her." Mom snapped. I ignored her, thinking she will shut up eventually anyway. But mom continued. "She won't even give the guys any time. So obviously they will leave... God, How will she ever get married if she is like this?" Mom said. I glared at her.

"What are you staring at? Come eat food before you leave;" She snapped at me.

"I am not hungry," I said irritated. "And I am getting late." I turned to leave. YuRi suddenly ran to me.

"Unni, Unni, Unni..." I stopped. "My tuition fees?" She extended her hands.

"I gave you last week." I had.

"That was for study tuition centre. This is for Art tuition." She said. YuRi has a passion for drawing and takes art classes. She aspires to become a webtoon writer one day.

"Do you really have to go to art classes?" I asked. I still thought it was best for her to focus on her studies more. It was not like anyone can be a successful writer and make money out of that.

"I have to." She said. "And really you look out for it. I am really going to be a successful webtoon writer one day."

"If you say so." I fetched out my purse "It's ₩800000, right?" I asked and found that I only had ₩500000 right then. I handed it to YuRi. "I will give you the rest later."

"Later when?" She asked.

I felt irritated at her tone. I mean...It's not like I am a moving talking ATM machine. "I said I will give later. Have I ever refused to give you fees or something important? Why are you being this stingy...?"

"This girl..." Mom got angry now. "Why are you getting angry at your little sister? Do you feel bad about giving her the money? She is just a kid. She is your little sister."

I turned to mom, totally irritated. "When did I say that I don't want to give her money? Mom, if I stopped giving money, in this house you won't really be eating that breakfast you are eating right now." I was really irritated and pissed.

Since YuRi has started High School the cash going into her studies and tuitions and stuff is not a small amount. Over the years mom's backache has gone so bad that she can't work at all. This house was entirely dependent on my salary. And I was no millionaire. We were still eating food, but we were struggling. And with this Art tuition fee gone, I was not sure how we were going to manage till the end of this month.

I looked down, suddenly overwhelmed with a huge tired feeling. And my gaze fell on my shoes. The shoes were too much worn out. I don't remember the last time I had bought shoes or a piece of cloth for myself. When was the last time I spend money on myself? When was the last time I hung out with a female friend and drank a coffee? I really could not remember...

And mom is asking if I remember my own name, and that I don't let my hair down. That I don't have a love life? I felt sick.

About the guys leaving me because I had no time to give them...I had a job, and a family to feed. Yuri's entire school fees, mom's back disk problem's treatment fees, and plus dad's debt on my shoulder. My priorities could not be like a normal girl in her 20s. I wanted to be the best in my job. And I was. I knew 4 languages fluently by now. I was not born knowing them. I learned. And learning takes time and dedication. The reason Hyun is one of the biggest stars in Korea is not a coincidence, someone worked her ass off for that and that someone is me. And as much as he earned fame and money, I did too. And that money went to mom and Yuri's mouth. And now mom is complaining that I did not date guys properly or let my hair down or had a private life?? Like seriously? I glared at her.

Do they think I don't have any desire to dress up nicely and hang out with friends and have a boyfriend? I do too. But... I don't have the leisure of that. I can't waste even one minute or a single Won. And they are complaining to me?

But suddenly I did not want to stand there and feel all pathetic. I took a deep breath and I was okay, normal. "I will give you the money tonight." I told YuRi, "Tell your teacher that you will submit the fees tomorrow for sure." She nodded. "Anything else?" I asked. "Say in advance if you need money so that I can take it out from my bank account."

"Okay," she said. "Can I buy new jeans?" She asked.

"What happened to the current one?"

"The current one is blue. I need a black one." She said.

"How much will that cost."

"Good ones cost ₩64,000," She said. That was a lot of money for jeans. And it's not like she doesn't have one already.

"Okay. I will buy you tonight. Okay?" I said. She nodded with a smile.

8:15 AM

Hyun was as usual sleeping when I arrived at his house.

"It's time to wake up," I folded my hand and told him in a strict voice. No change. "Hyun aa..." No change. I was really not in a mood to have this war with him today morning.

"Kim WooHyun, if you don't wake up in five minutes, you get splashed with water," I said, in a tried voice and walked out. He will either wake up or choose to end up with water after five minutes. I went and opened the fridge to see if I can make breakfast. There was bread and eggs. So I made a simple bread toast and sunny side up eggs.

Hyun walked out of his room while I was cooking, still in his loose red boxer shorts which have tiny teddy bear prints, and a white t-shirt. His hair was messed up. I wished if I can take a photo and sent it to RaYeon and other fans and see their reactions. Would they swoon saying their 'Oppa' is so damn hot even when he just woke up? But then there was a part of me who wanted to keep it myself. I didn't want others to see this side of him. This was my personal enjoyment thing. My exclusive perk.

"I had a nightmare," He said coming to me and scrubbing his eyes with his finger. That moment he looked so cute that 'hot' thing vanished from my mind. I was like 'awwww...'

"What was it about?" I asked turning to the fridge to get some juice.

"There was this giant baby. Like Godzilla big baby. And everyone was running away from it. And it was scary." He shivered and sat down and began to munch on a toast. "I am not shooting the Drama today, right? What's my schedule?"

"What kind of a person doesn't know his own schedule?" I turned to him and handed him the juice. "The gallery Opening party is today. Your outfit is picked up and is in your dress-room. In the afternoon, you have a reservation at the dermatologist, and at night you have the bachelor party of KangMin shi."

"The bachelor party is today? I totally forgot."He cringed. "Wait; when is KangMin Hyung's wedding? I forgot."

"This Sunday." I reminded him.

"Damn! I totally forgot. I did not even buy any wedding gifts."

"I have already. I bought a home theatre system for the couple, and it will be sent to their new home today."

"YuBin aa, I love you. How the hell my life would have been if you were not there?"

I smiled subtly and turned around. "But YuBin aa... Do I really have to go to the dermatologist? I just want to rest at home for a bit."

"No. You have to go. You are getting a lot of sunrays these days, and you have a lot of events coming up. Your skill will get worse if you don't take care. And there are two more months of drama shoot."

"Ah...two more months." He scratched his hair, making it even more messed up and hence looking even cuter. "I wish it end already so I can get some rest."

"Rest? Are you not going to do anything after this drama?" I asked.

"I want to rest a bit." He mumbled. "Maybe take a break."

"No," I said. "Now is not the right time to take a break. It's just been a year since you are back from conscription. And you have done only one drama after that. You can't go on a break. You need to do other works. So I have already started collecting scripts for finding next work."

"Hey, are you trying to kill me with over-work?" He snapped. "And I have a lot of money already. It's fine even if I don't work for a while."

"Well, you have enough money to be okay to not work. I don't..."

"Huh?"

"Well, it's simple like this... Only if you earn a lot of money, I will get a salary raise. My increments and bonus come out of the money you make for the company. So you need to keep working so that I can earn money. And I need to earn a lot of money. So...Let's work for now."

"Seriously tell me, when you look at me, you see money, right? You think of me as a means to make money only, right?"

"Well, you know me well." I nodded. He scowled.

17 July 2018, 8:55 pm [one month Later]

I stood and watched the scene from the drama, as it was being acted. It was a kiss scene today. A really intense and hot one. JunHyuk, the male lead pushes MiRae, the girl he loves, against the wall, and takes her lips in with passion. It was a really important moment in the story when the two leads are finally accepting their feelings for each other and coming together. Hyun played JunHyuk's role.

And well, he was a good kisser. I watched the close up of the kiss on the director's screen. His lip was moving over the lead actress's lips, in a wet real kiss. My insides tensed. But it's not like I am seeing this for the first time. Hyun has acted in more than ten TV dramas and a bunch of movies in all these years and he has had a lot of romance scenes. This might be like the eleventh girl he was kissing on screen.

It was really not a big deal...But then well I was kind of in a bad mood that whole night. I drove Hyun back home and was kind of silent though out the way. I was sort of in an edgy gloomy mood lately.

I dropped him at his house and got out of the van. Usually, I leave the van at Hyun's house coz his house is big and has a parking area which has like two cars and this van.

"Then bye..." I took my bag and turned to leave. I usually catch the last bus home, or just walk home since it's in a fairly walkable distance of 30 mins. It can prove as exercise and save money of bus.

"YuBin aa, just a sec..." Hyun said and turned to me. "Do you have a fever?"

"No," I said.

But he still checked my temperature. His hand went to my forehead. "It's not warm." He said.

"I am fine," I said.

"You don't look that well since evening," He said.

"I am fine."

"If you are unwell, take some rest for a couple of days. I can travel with TaeHo." TaeHo is a driver at the Agency. He is a boy we call mostly when we need a driver. He is a nice friendly guy.

"I am fine," I repeated. "I am going home. Bye..."

He nodded.

9:35 PM

As I walked home, I thought about my life. How my life would be next year. Next year, Yuri will go to college. That will require a lot of money unless she gets a scholarship. And then what about the year after... I am also 30 years old now. After Yuri's life is settled what will become of me. I have never thought of a time after Yuri's life is settled. She still needs 4 years in college. But after that??

I sighed... I have never properly thought about a future – my future. Life was so busy that thinking about a present was enough. And I could not really picture a future that was entirely for myself. A future where Yuri and mom are not dependants on me anymore and I have the leisure to do what I want to do. What will I do if a time like that does come?

Get married???

I did not know because I could never picture myself as the wife of someone. And even if I force myself to think about married life, I end up imagining it with the guy forbidden to me. I can't picture anyone else. And so I wiped it away – that thought. Because that is absurd enough already.

10:06 pm

I had walked thinking about all these things and before I realized I was already home. I paused at the gate of my house when I heard a familiar unpleasant voice inside...

No...

Not now...

I don't have the energy to deal with that guy as well.

I pushed open the gate with a force which slammed to the wall with a 'clunk' and I walked inside. I stopped at the open front door. Omma and Appa were fighting inside. My father was there. Seriously that guy only comes to us when he has caused some trouble or when he needs money.

"Ah...this asshole of a guy..." Mom was cursing at dad. "How could you do this? How could you...?? You told me you will fill the instalments on time... You promised..." Mom was crying. "How can you do this? What are we supposed to do now? How will we live?"

"What is happening?" I walked in, scared to know the answer.

"YuBin aa..." Mom started crying even harder. YuRi was standing at a corner looking angry and kind of scared too. "Unni..." She looked at me on seeing me. "We are in real trouble."

"What is it?" I asked, hoping it's not as worse as it seems. Hoping it's something I can manage and correct, but fearing it will be a lot worse. "And what is this guy doing here?" I asked pointing at my father.

"You brat, how can you address your father as 'this guy', without any respect." Appa snapped.

"What have you done this time?" I asked my father in anger. "What makes you come visit?"

"YuBin aa..." Mom was crying. "I am sorry."

"I asked you what it is..." I asked, now getting irritated.

It was YuRi who answered. "Unni, we may become homeless. Appa has made us lose our house."

I turned to look at mom so quickly that my neck hurt. "What the hell does that mean?" I asked. The house is in her name. This house was all that we had got. This old house was the one where we lived since we were kids. The place where YuJin Oppa, and I ran around and played, where YuRi was born. But the house was in mom's name.

"Two years back... Your dad had come searching for me." Mom said in sobs. "Saying he wants to take some loans by keeping the house as collateral. He begged with me. Saying he wants to change. Saying he has a good business plan. I fell for his words. He asked me not to tell you..."

My legs were becoming weak... I could not stand any more. I kind of fell to the hard floor, and sat there...

"I did not mean for this to happen either," Appa said. "It's not like I want the house to be seized by the bank."

I don't really cry. But I wish if I could. At least at times like this. But no tears came. Maybe I was used to things like this. The fucked up, shitty life is not a surprise anymore.

"How much is it?" This was all that came out. "The money to pay?" 

(Hope you are enjoying the story. Please vote and do share your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you :)

Preview for Next Part :

But suddenly while looking at the pendant, I was hit with a memory so powerful that there was no way that it wasn't real.

My lips kissing her collarbone, and the pendant lay over the hollow under her neck. I traced my fingerover the pendant. And looked up into her eyes, and snuggled closer...