Once Upon A Spring

CHAPTER 15

*Yoo Jeong's POV*

You can see his broad shoulder and large chest. You can also see the veins in his biceps.

I HAVE BEEN REALLY SINNING FROM WHAT I SAW.

I FEEL LIKE I'M SWALLOWING A PILL AT THIS MOMENT.

I immediately stood up, ''All right. I'll just sweep these. Where's your broom?''

I can’t look at him because of what happened.

And all I could do was look at the floor and pretend to be looking for the broom.

''Over there. Besides to my comfort room,'' he said while pointing to that area.

As I was going there, I looked at Jong Hyun. His eyes widened as he stared at me.

WTF? What kind of reaction is that?

Is he stupid? I'm not like other women who will fantasize about a man like him.

If he thinks about what happened a while ago, a very different one, that’s i****t.

I immediately took the broom, and Chang Hyun suddenly took the broom I was holding.

''I will take care of this,'' I said.

''Don’t mind this. I can do this,'' he said, smiling.

''Next time, don't do that again. It can really hurt you,'' he added.

Is he talking about a while ago when I was about to pick the vase’s fragments?

It's good that he's wearing a shirt now.

''Let's go. Let's go down. Let's not make Mom wait,'' Chang Hyun said.

We also went out of Chang Hyun's room, but Jong Hyun had been staring at me for a long time.

A stare with malice.

I suddenly pinched his arms, signaling that he must stop. But he still managed to tease me with his face.

He’s getting on my nerves.

He smiled at me with a romantic excitement. If he only knew that he was my father, he would be in disgust too.

We were now at their dinner table, and his daddy immediately asked us about what we were talking about.

My grandparents were really gossipy this time.

''It's just nothing, Dad. We just talked about our school projects,'' Chang Hyun explained.

''It seems like you have more work than us. That's tiring for the kids,'' he replied.

Kids? Do we still look like kids?

''Are you serious, Gramps, I.… I mean, sir. We are no longer kids,'' I whispered.

"Where did you go, Chang Hyun?" He asked.

He mustn't know that he went to the hospital in Seoul to visit Hyeon Sil.

''I asked what they did at school because I was absent for a whole day,'' Chang Hyun confidently excused.

''By the way,'' it looks like he's going to change the topic.

''How about the issue? The one that spreads on TV? How legitimate is that?'' He asked seriously.

"Maybe, Yoo Jeong already said to you that we are just friends, and there is no way that there will be more than that," Chang Hyun replied seriously.

''Is that so?'' While drinking wine.

''How is that? He is my type for you,'' he added.

Our eyes widened, and we stopped eating. We never expected him to say that.

''What are you talking about, Hon? They are not in a relationship, and they have confessed already that they are just only friends. Stop pushing them. They are too young to enter this such relationship. They must study, find a job first and save money before entering those things. Stop intimidating them,'' Chang Hyun's mom said immediately.

''Why are you all so serious? I’m just kidding. Maybe I’m just tired. All right, Chang Hyun and Yoo Jeong, I hope that issue will subside tomorrow. I'll go up first, Hon,'' and kissed his wife on her forehead.

By this time, I had lost my appetite because of thinking a lot.

First, why is he forcing Chang Hyun and me together?

Second, why don’t they like Hyeon Sil?

Third, what are the reasons why they don’t want to have Hyeon Sil? Are they hiding something?

I grabbed Jong Hyun's arm and looked at him.

"I'm sorry, I can't finish this food," I looked at them all and got up and left the house.

It is very awkward inside.

A few minutes later, Jong Hyun and Chang Hyun also came out.

I told them that I would just make a letter to our house. Maybe, I can give it to Chang Hyun directly tomorrow.

''I understand,'' Chang Hyun replied while smiling.

''I'm sorry for Dad's behavior. That's really how he is so much as possible, and I don't let my friends and classmates in here. There is malice when it comes to women. He will just assume that I hang out with the bad guys when it comes to men. I wish for your deep understanding of it. I am sorry,'' he added.

''It's okay, we understand. We will just go ahead. It's late. Maybe our parents will scold us again. Especially since we came home late last night,'' Jong Hyun interjected.

As Jong Hyun and I walked, I frowned and crossed my arm.

Jong Hyun seems to have noticed me thinking deeply. He immediately tapped me.

''Are you okay, Yoo Jeong? Does it seem that you are thinking deeply? Let it be if it was earlier because of Chang Hyun's parents. Aren't they also looking forward to your letter to settle the issue ?'' Jong Hyun comforted me.

''I hope so. It is so uncomfy every time I think about it,'' I replied.

How I really wish that issue would be fixed tomorrow. Honestly, Jong Hyun is right.

It is too selfish of what I thought earlier with Hyeon Sil. Maybe that will be why Chang Hyun and her split up.

I need to be consistent with this time.

What happened in the past must happen today. Nothing must change as of now in this situation.

Maybe, I'll just let time and event flow at the same time.

Who am I to change this if, at first, I have already made many wrong decisions in life?

I just took a deep breath...

I am here in front of our house now. I immediately said goodbye to Jong Hyun and entered my house.

While watching TV, ahjumma looked at me.

It seems she already knows about the issue.

It looks like she's not angry because she just smiled.

''You look tired. Where are you from? You didn’t enter school today, right?''

I also can't think of an answer so that I will imitate Chang Hyun.

''I just went to my friend, mother. I asked what they did at school. Because I missed my school today?'' I excused myself.

''The food in the kitchen is ready. Just eat.''

''Okay, thank you.''

I'm still a little hungry because I didn't finish the food prepared by Chang Hyun’s mom.

Ahjumma also suddenly talked to me about the issue, but I confirmed it was not true.

When ahjumma found out, she was immediately relieved. I also said that tomorrow, the issue would subside to lighten her heart.

The concern can really be seen in her eyes.

I must do my part in this issue so that no one else will be affected.

After eating food and cleaning my body, I went to the bedroom.

I immediately thought, How will I deny the rumor through a letter?

June 12, 1995

Dating Rumor

Dear KBC,

This letter is in response to the ongoing rumors about our dating rumors. According to some articles and news, it spread very quickly as an unknown stranger or person we do not know personally gave these photos to the respective stations and media outlets.

Let me inform you that these photos were taken without our permission, and it is entirely baseless. I and the taekwondo star, Son Chang Hyun, does not involve in any romantic relationship. We are just only friends and schoolmates.

I sincerely request you all reject all of these rumors. I appreciate that the public is curious about the taekwondo star's relationship. However, I confirm as a friend that Mr. Son still does not have a romantic relationship with a woman.

I expect that you will end the rumors as they really affect our daily lives.

Thank you for your attention.

Seong Yoo Jeong

And I did the same with other broadcasting and publishing companies.

The next day, I went to school early. I saw the two waiting for me at the gate and immediately gave the letter.

Chang Hyun said he would take care of it, and Jong Hyun and I went inside first inside the school.

When I walked down the aisle of our building to my classroom, most students were gossiping and murmuring, and I knew it was about the issue yesterday.

Jong Hyun told me to ignore them because they would know it was not true.

Honestly, I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone except these two guys and ahjumma, so I just let them.

Every time we go to class, I still see the sudden stare of the professors at me and my other blockmates.

It's really so uncomfortable today...

Jong Hyun and I called us together to the guidance office and gave us 36 hours of community service due to cutting classes and our absence yesterday without any valid reason.

We have no choice but to do community service.

After our afternoon class, we started cleaning the gym together.

It's good that we also have a student with us who cleans and it's good that our class is only until the afternoon.

Although we plan to visit Hyeon Sil today, we decided to serve first as long as the issue is still not over.

After 5 hours of cleaning the gym and our open field, we went home late in the evening.

I immediately turned on the TV and lost my worries when I discovered that the previous issue had been announced as 'rumor denied.'

I felt guilty for Seong. She shouldn't know if she ever goes back to her body.

Like I said before, I will let the time and events flow and not interfere again. I'll just wait for me to leave here.

The feeling I had when I first came here is coming back again.

I picked up the crumpled paper from my bag again.

In 1995, Sangin-dong returned to where the people who lived here and the houses that stood returned.

Seong Yoo Jeong's father died in a truck accident.

This is the era of taekwondo star Son Chang Hyun and famous young star Cha Hyeon Sil.

During this time, they became a couple.

Father's name: Seong Jeong Hwan

Hobby: Studying, watching TV, listening to music

Dream: To be a successful businesswoman

Maybe if that's what Seong Yoo Jeong's dream is and if that's what her hobby is, that's all I'll just do it.

I just burned it and just threw it in the trash.

I don't want to squeeze myself into such events again.

At the very speed of time and day, Jong Hyun and I ended up with what was imposed on us.

After our last day of community service, Chang Hyun immediately greeted us.

''Yoo Jeong, Jong Hyun. Do you want to come with me to the hospital? We will sleep with Hyeon Sil,'' he said.

I want to go to the hospital to see Hyeon Sil's condition.

It was almost already two weeks since my last visit.

Jong Hyun and I immediately agreed and went to our own house to say goodbye to one overnight for the school project, and tomorrow morning we will go home immediately.

It is good that cell phones are not yet trendy, and they are not asking for the number.

It is also not fashionable to ask for a telephone number here, depending on whether we are close.

We also packed well for one night's stay. It is nice that we have no class tomorrow.

We also rode in Chang Hyun's car.

When we went to the hospital, I was excited again to see Hyeon Sil.

When I saw her again with a smile on her face, that's when I felt better.

She seems to be fine...

It seems that her parents, as well as Chang Hyun, always visit. That seems to be the reason for her fast recovery.

I am so happy to see my mother smiling again after that bad thing happened.