Chapter 9: What Now

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After dinner, Saku assisted Seo-Hyun and Hyun-Woo in packing up their belongings. As Kim Ji-Hoon packed away their bags in the trunk of his aunt’s car, Yoo Ji-Min pulled Saku aside to speak to her while Ji-Hoon was busy…

-Saku bowed to Yoo Ji-Min

“It was an honor meeting you.”

-Ji-Min smiled and patted Saku on the shoulder

“Thank you my dear, for watching out for my children… and my stubborn nephew. I really appreciate that.”

“You are quite welcome. I really didn’t mind it at all. I enjoyed watching the kids.”

“… Ji-Hoon told me quite a bit about you… do you really live on your own child?”

-Saku’s smile faded and a deep sadness tinted her eyes

“I have no choice but to. I have no family left around me…”

-Yoo Ji-Min pulled Saku into a warm embrace

“You poor thing…”

-Saku sniffed but pulled away with a smile

“It isn’t all so bad… I still get great grades and I have two jobs… I just need to find an apartment and then I’ll be on my feet again…”

-Ji-Min frowned slightly

“… I hear you are in debt?”

“… Ano… I’ve been slowly paying it off… I landed in the hospital a few times and my parents’ hospital bills haven’t been taken care of… I’m keeping up with it though…”

“You don’t seem the type to accept money to you when it is offered…”

“No, I don’t like to borrow money from people… I’d have to pay it back later…”

-Yo Ji-Min scoffed and pulled out a checkbook and pen

“I guess you’ll just have to deal with it…”

-Saku’s brows furrowed in confusion

“What are you-?”

-Ji-Min pulled out a the check and handed it to Saku

“This should cover it, right?”

-Saku’s jaw dropped when she saw the amount on the check

“Oh Kami-Sama I can’t accept this!!”

-Ji-Min patted her on the cheek

“That is for watching my children… babysitting money my dear. Now, I have to go. I hope to see you around a lot more often… Bye now Miss Saku Hana… Keep up the great work and keep my nephew in his place!”

 

Yoo Ji-Min bid farewell to the two teens and began to make her way back home. Ji-Hoon helped Saku clean up the kitchen and then the two sat down in the living room with a pot of tea…

-Saku took a sip of her tea and let out a sigh

“So, I guess I need to vacate soon, right?”

-Ji-Hoon watched her intently

“… And do you have a place to go to?”

“Mmm… I’m looking… got a few places to look at tomorrow…”

“And how much money did my aunt give you?”

“… Uh… twice as much as I needed…”

“… That sounds good. So now you have a fresh start… clean slate…”

-Saku nodded

“It feels nice to be back on my feet now… all thanks to you.”

-Ji-Hoon chuckled

“Well… stay as long as you need… the house is always open.”

-Kim Ji-Hoon smiled and walked to the bathroom

-Saku stared after him and felt her cheeks warming

“Thank you… Kim Ji-Hoon…”

 

Saku went off to bed, but Ji-Hoon remained awake. Sitting in the living room where he slept, Ji-Hoon had called up his band members… he was in need of a light conversation…

-Amai sighed over the phone

“So the kids are gone now?”

-Ji-Hoon nodded although no one could see

“Yeah… we can work regularly now.”

-Omoiagatta spoke up

“Is Saku leaving you now?”

“Uh-huh. She’s looking for a place still but that is the plan.”

-Sugureta snickered

“You sound upset Ji-Hoon. What is the matter? All depressed ‘cause your girl is leaving you all alone to wallow in your cold isolation while she begins her life without you?!”

-Amai snorted

“Don’t be an a*s Sugureta… you know he’s probably crying right now!!”

-Omoiagatta and Sugureta laughed while Kim Ji-Hoon glared at his phone

“That was uncalled for Amai!! And the rest of you need to shut up before I shove my�"”

-Omoiagatta cut Ji-Hoon off

“Don’t act all tough, you know you don’t want her to leave.”

-Sugureta finally calmed his laughing down

“You should really tell her how you feel, girls love that.”

-Ji-Hoon growled

“Stay out of it… I don’t need to confess anything!”

-Amai growled over the phone

“You are so in DENILE!!! Get it through that thick skull of yours and go say something before something bad does happen!”

-The phone clicked and only the three teens were left on the phone when Amai hung up

-Ji-Hoon sighed

“I hate feeling like this.”

-Sugureta snorted

“Man, if I was in your place, Saku would have been all over me. You’re pathetic at this! Haha!!”

-Another click signified that Sugureta hung up as well

-Kim Ji-Hoon growled

“No one likes an arrogant b*****d…”

-Omoiagatta yawned

“Look, Kim Ji-Hoon… Don’t be a wimp. I didn’t let you join my band because you scurried away from everything. Saku is open-minded and even though you are damn more trouble than you’re worth, she’ll probably think about it. Come on, if you keep waiting, you’re gonna regret it. Who knows, maybe I’ll go after that sexy a*s of hers if you aren’t quick enough!”

-Kim Ji-Hoon snarled out a string of insults before Omoiagatta could hang up the phone laughing

-Silence followed and Kim Ji-Hoon hung up his phone

-He slowly got up and made his way to his room where the door was still open

-Inside, Saku was sleeping peacefully with Honjaui lying right beside her

-Ji-Hoon let out a sigh

“Drama Queen… you really have caught me and reeled me in…”

-He patted Honjaui on the head

“Keep her warm, boy…”

-Honjaui whined and licked his hand before snuggling closer to Saku

-Ji-Hoon walked out of the room and into the living room where he settled on the sofa

-Before falling asleep, Ji-Hoon let out another sigh

“I can admit it to myself… and everyone else can sense it… so why can’t I speak to you about it Saku?”