Chapter 4: A Handful Of Gifts

Saku freshened up and settled on the bed in Kim Ji-Hoon’s room with the children while Ji-Hoon and Amai slept in the living room. She thought she could faintly hear the sounds of a small fight going on but decided to disregard the thought, choosing to fall into a deep sleep instead… she had to get ready for work and school tomorrow and she didn’t want to collapse from lack of sleep any time soon. The next morning she woke up very early and quickly got ready to start the morning. In the living room, she scoffed and shook her head to see that both guys were bruised up and the coffee table was flipped over… When she went outside to walk Honjaui, she was surprised to see a box in front of Ji-Hoon’s house…

-Honjaui barked excitedly at the box

-Saku shushed him as to not wake up the others so early and examined the box herself

-There was a note taped to the box

“Saku, I don’t know if you decided to sell more of your things, but if you didn’t then it really doesn’t matter… but I found this dress when I was traveling to my college one day… it was pretty and it reminded me of you so I bought it… along with a few other things… I hope you like them… Aishteru Saku…”

-The package was from Tsuyoi

“How much did he spend on me this time?”

-Saku walked around the box and let Honjaui do his business before walking back to the box, picking it up, and returning to the house

-When Saku walked in, she released Honjaui and let him wake up Kim Ji-Hoon and Amai with slobbery kisses and barks

-She called out as well

“Ji-Hoon and Amai wake the hell up and go get ready so that I can take care of the kids…”

-Saku ripped the tape off of the box and opened it up

-She was left slack jawed

Inside the box was a beautiful black and white spaghetti strapped dress that fell down to her knees… it was simple with a little embroidery design around the neck. Along with the dress was a black pair of high heels with straps that reached up to the knee. A white shoal was wrapped in a ball and placed next to another box. Inside of that box was a silver necklace with a beautiful crystal hanging off of it followed by a pair of silver earrings with the same crystal hooked onto it… it was a set…  there was also a thick envelope… inside was $500 in cash…

-Saku stared into the box in shock

“He bought so much?!”

-Saku didn’t even notice when Amai stepped up next to her until he let out a whistle

“Who got all of this for you? They have good taste…”

-Saku stuttered

“M-my… p-partner… I mean… My tennis partner… friend… uh… Tsuyoi bought it for me?”

-Amai chuckled

“That looks like it was a lot of money all together… he must really like you…”

-Saku sighed

“Eh… Tsuyoi does like me… and I told him not to spend his money on me like this…”

“Well… if he likes you, then of course he’ll go out and buy you something nice like this…”

-Kim Ji-Hoon came up and Saku panicked, not knowing how he’d react if he knew that Tsuyoi had bought her all of this stuff

-She sucked in a breath and waited for him to say something

-Ji-Hoon took one look at the dress and shoes

“He knows you well… although those heels don’t look like something you’d wear…”

-And with that he walked into the bathroom

-Saku let out the breath she had sucked in

“I don’t know why… but I have this feeling that he despises Tsuyoi for some reason…”

-Amai questioned her while he went into Ji-Hoon’s fridge, grabbing supplies to make breakfast

“How do you mean?”

“Amai… they almost broke into a fist fight last night… Ji-Hoon was so tense and almost… protective, should I say? I don’t even know why, but he definitely doesn’t like Tsuyoi that much… and Tsuyoi hates his guts for all the crap I went through… am still going through actually…”

-Amai remained quiet and Saku looked at him while he started to scramble some eggs… deep in thought

-Saku decided to leave Amai to his cooking and left to wake the children up, taking the box into the room with her

With the early rising, Saku, Amai, Ji-Hoon, Seo-Hyun, and Hyun-Woo all had time to sit around before they had to leave for school. Saku was packing them lunch when she remembered something important…

-Stuffing the brown bags into the kids’ bags, Saku called from the kitchen

“Kim Ji-Hoon?”

“What is it?”

“I have to work right after school today! There is an important guest coming to the restaurant tonight and I won’t have the time to watch the children…”

-There was an agitated sigh from the living room

“Amai… we have to play right after school… and the kids totally despise that place… can we cancel?”

“Hell no, we can’t cancel tonight! Omoiagatta just got us a major raise and it won’t look so well if we ask for a raise and then not show up!”

-Saku piped up from the kitchen

“Do you want me to call Tsuyoi and ask him if he can babysit? He is really good with children… I can give him a call before I leave-”

-Ji-Hoon cuts off Saku’s offer

“No! I’ll just... figure out something…”

-Saku herded the kids to the door

“Well… you figure something out and if you can’t by the time school ends then I’m calling Tsuyoi to help.”

-Without waiting to hear a reply, Saku left the house to take Seo-Hyun and Hyun-Woo to school

 

Saku went through the whole day worrying about whether she would have to ask Tsuyoi for help. She knew that they, Tsuyoi and Ji-Hoon, had beef… but the kids came first… Saku took the time to think of alternative solutions…

-Still deep in thought, Saku didn’t notice when Irei and Goshippu walked up to her desk

-Goshippu banged her fist onto the desk

“EARTH TO SAKU HANA!!!”

-Saku jumped in fright with a high pitched squeal

“Well… that got your attention…”

“Goshippu, did you have to break me out of my concentration like that?!”

-Saku held her head

“Class is over in a few minutes right?”

-Irei answered

“We have about fifteen minutes…”

-Goshippu gets up close to Saku

“Soooo… how has it been living with the beautiful and talented ice prince Kim Ji-Hoon?”

-Saku leans back, away from Goshippu’s face

“Not so bad… he’s actually eased up a lot… and Amai and I have become good friends as well…”

-Irei raised an eyebrow

“He’s eased up… but what about his fan girls? Are you still dealing with them? I haven’t noticed the death threats plastered on your desk or locker…”

-Saku purses her lips

“… Well, they still attack me every time I cross paths with them… but it isn’t like I can’t handle them… I’m in a better situation now so I am not as exhausted and weak and useless as I was before.”

-A light bulb suddenly goes off in Saku’s head

“Hey! Can you two do me a huge favor?”

-Irei nods but Goshippu sighs

“It all really depends on what you are planning to ask me.”

-Saku scowls

“I just need someone to do babysitting for a while… can’t you two do it for me?”

-Irei tilted her head

“You babysit, for whom?”

“I am to watch over Kim Ji-Hoon’s two cousins for the time being, until their mother returns from America. That is part of the deal I made with him to remain living at his house.”

-Goshippu snorted

“You know that I definitely don’t work well with children…”

-Irei sighed

“I’m sorry Saku, but I’m busy as well…”

-Saku snorts

“Then Ji-Hoon is just going to have to put up with the kids at his gig tonight, because I’ve got an important date with a few rich business associates that want some good a*s entertainment!”