GUILTY PLEASURE - Chapter 18

[Guilty Pleasure – Chapter 18]

“Ga In-ah, am I seeing things?” Changmin brought a project file to Ga In’s desk. Ga In was in her own thoughts when Changmin called her again.

“…Why?”

 “You okay? You seem not yourself today.”

Ga In shook her head lightly. “..I-I was just thinking about something. What is it?”

“I just want to confirm something. Did Mr. Jo and Ms Park just cancel their wedding preparations with us? I thought the wedding is just…two weeks away?” He looked at her with doubtful eyes.

“Yea...” Ga In looked down to her file to avoid his eyes. “It was cancelled in a hurry. Since you are away, I refunded the remaining fund on your behalf. I hope you don’t mind that.”

“No, I am alright with that. But I-I am just shock. Why? Don’t they like our services? Did they employ our rival’s services?”

“No, none of that.” She answered almost immediately.

Changmin frowned in amusement. “Why are you so sure?”

“…B-Because—“

Suddenly her phone rang, which saves her from the explanations. She quickly searched for her phone and smiled when she saw Jo Kwon’s name on the caller ID. Changmin saw the change in her expressions and decided to leave her alone. After making sure she’s alone, she picked up the call.

“Hey I’ll pick you up for lunch later?”

“Aww..I am so sorry dear but I’ve got a few files to look at…” She white lied.

“Really? But I miss you…”

“What about dinner?” She suggested.

“….We’ll order pizza?”

“Sure, and you’ll make the order?”

“Alright. See you tonight and don’t forget to eat your lunch. Love you.”

*

The waiter approached her and Ga In ordered a glass of orange juice. She got herself comfortable and waited for her guest. She felt her heart beating faster as the time ticked nearer to their meeting time.

Moments later, a familiar figure appeared at the restaurant’s entrance. Then she saw her guest walked towards her with a sweet smile on her face.

“I am sorry. It’s the traffic.” She sat down as she put her bag aside.

“It-It’s alright.” She answered timidly in her soft voice. Then she kept quiet not knowing what to say to the guest in front of her.

She opened the menu on the table and her eyes randomly look through it. “You know, Ms. Son Ga In. I haven’t got a chance to really talk to you…”

Lizzy looked up to Ga In. “But I am leaving Korea already.”

Ga In was shocked to hear that from her that she almost choke on her juice.“W-Why are you leaving…so suddenly?”  She felt stupid at asking the question.

The waiter came and took Lizzy’s order. Then she returned her attention to Ga In.

“It seems fated…that I got to leave for my work too. My boss has allocated me to a new branch manager position in Japan…I thought it’s a great opportunity to leave everything here and start everything afresh…”  Lizzy explained with a smile.

Hope you love oppa more than I love him…only then I would force myself to really let go of everything.

Ga In went speechless after hearing the explanations. Her face was rigid and her facial expression says it all; that she never expected Lizzy to make such a decision.

“I am sorry...t-that I—” Ga In blurted out.

“You don’t need to feel sorry.”

Once again, Ga In’s eyes widened at Lizzy’s words. She never thought that she would hear those saints like words from Lizzy.

“D-Don’t you hate me?”

“Honestly, I do initially.” Lizzy took a sip of her coffee.  “But I have been thinking a lot these days, if our love was strong enough, he wouldn’t even waver with your presence.”

Ga In just stood there quietly, listening to Lizzy.

“So I don’t hate you. It’s just so unfortunately, that we fell for the same man and in the end he chose you instead of me. And, shouldn’t I be valuing myself more rather than to cling onto a man who does not love me anymore? You may think that I am crazy, but this is what I have concluded after sorting out my thoughts.”

 Ga In nodded gently as she felt better after hearing what Lizzy said.

“Does Jo Kwon know about it? That you are leaving?”

Lizzy looked away and shook her head slightly. “I don’t intend to let him know until I leave...”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to anything to stop me from going. I don’t wish to see Kwonnie oppa to give me pitiful look, pitying me. I am just…too proud to lose.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

“I-I just hope you could…” She hesitated. “Help me to take care of Kwonnie oppa. He may be a doctor, but sometimes—”

“I will.” Ga In felt kind of weird listening to that, and quickly she changed the topic. “When are you leaving?

“Tomorrow morning.” Lizzy answered quickly.

“So soon?”

“Yea. I wished to settle there earlier to make myself familiar with the surrounding before starting my work.”

 *

Ga In reached her apartment and was pleased to see a see a pair of leather shoe outside by the door. She stepped in to find Jo Kwon sitting comfortable on the couch. Once Jo Kwon saw her entering the house, he stood up and walked over to her.

“Welcome home.” Jo Kwon said with a smile as he leaned down and kissed her. Jo Kwon then moved to stand behind her and massage her shoulder. “Busy at work today?”

 “It was alright. During lunch I met up with Li—“ She paused momentarily. “You’ve bought the pizza?”  She tried her best to cover up her slips of words hoping Jo Kwon didn’t hear her almost mentioning Lizzy’s name.

“Yup. It’s still fresh and hot. Just go and have a quick shower before we nuzzle up together on the couch and watch your favourite movie?” He said with huge grin on his face.

Ga In let out a small laugh. “Seems like you’ve everything planned out for today. Don’t you have patients to attend to…?”

Hearing her question, Jo Kwon wrapped his arms around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder. “Well…you’re the first on my priority list and my patients come next.” He whispered gently into her ear.

Ga In felt a rush down her spine when Jo Kwon’s voice softly teased her ear. And not to mention Jo Kwon freshly showered scent made her mind go wild – clearly he just stepped off the bathroom with his obvious wet hair.

She really enjoyed the overflowing love from Jo Kwon and unknowingly, she finds herself leaning against his chest. He tightened the hug around her waist.

“You’re liking it, don’t you?”  He teased her again.

“Who doesn’t?”

Jo Kwon kissed her cheek and let go of her waist “Alright, go get in the shower now. I’ll be waiting.”

*

Ga In has done showering, and was sitting with Jo Kwon by the couch. The movie had started playing for a while now and Ga In barely touched the slice of pizza on her hand.

“Hey sweetheart… You okay?” Jo Kwon lowered his eyes to her pizza; hinting about the reason of the almost untouched pizza.

“Nah…I-I...am not hungry.”

“You are not yourself today. I don’t think you are even watching the movie. What’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?” Jo Kwon picked up the remote and paused the movie. He then turned to face Ga In.

“You can’t lie to me. You seem bothered. What’s wrong?” His voice was clearly very concern and worried.

If I tell you, would you leave me for her?

“I-I…” She raised her eyes and meets his soft brown eyes.

He cupped her face with his hand. “”Hey baby…you are making me worried.”

Ga In looked down as she holds the hand that cupped her face. “Would you ever leave me?” She asked suddenly.

“Is that what’s bothering you? Why would you even ask that?” Jo Kwon pulled Ga In into her embrace and hugged her tightly.

“I met with Lizzy today.” She blurted out.

Jo Kwon let go of the hug and asked again. “With who?”

“Lizzy. She told me that…”

His eyes gave off a very puzzled look; he hardly can wait for Ga In to finish her sentence.

“She’s leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Young is leaving? To where?”

“She’s leaving for Japan. She told me not to tell you until she leaves…But I don’t want you to have any regret…That’s why I—” Tears of anxiety finally trickled down her soft cheeks.

Jo Kwon pulled her back into the hug again and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Shush…don’t cry…”

He absently stroke her hair to sooth her crying and he had something else on his mind.

***