Chapter 28 - - Gold JiHan, Part 1 (1/2)

BOOK TWO

Na AhJung

JiKyung laughed hysterically upon hearing that his brother had set me up on a blind date. After a long time, he was finally able to calm down enough to tell me that this must mean his brother did not have feelings for me.

He was probably right. What kind of person sets up a person they like on a blind date? It was as ridiculous as a brother and sister-in-law falling for each other.

&“But why did he act like that? He threw a glass of water onto my blind date's face because he said some rude things to me.&“

[That's because his main purpose was to have it work out with your blind date. He blew his top because it didn't go as planned. &“Na AhJung should be marrying you, not my brother. How dare you act contrary to my plans, I'll never forgive you.&“ That kind of mindset.]

Of course, Lee JiHan never liked me. I kept reminding myself of this fact as I ended the call with JiKyung. When I slipped out of my room, Lee JiHan was no longer in the living room.

I was still waiting to hear what was wrong about my reaction during the date. JiHan must have gone back to his room while I had been on the phone.

As if confirming my assumption, I could hear the sound of Beethoven filtering out through his door. Anyone would have recognized it as Beethoven, but I was especially familiar since JiHan played it all the time.

There wasn't any point in hearing his answer. It wasn't as if he liked me. JiKyung was probably right.

I went back to my room pouting. Then feeling drained of all energy, I plopped onto my bed.

When I opened my eyes again, my body was shaking back and forth.

Is it an earthquake?! Suddenly wide awake, I heard Lee JiHan yelling at me.

&“How can you sleep at a time like this?&“

&“What, I wasn't asleep!&“ I answered clumsily as I shot upright.

I saw that Lee JiHan was sitting on the edge of the bed in front of me. The shaking I associated with an earthquake had stopped. It seemed as though it was not due to an earthquake Lee JiHan shaking me awake.

He looked irritable as he sat there with his arms crossed doing nothing but staring at me.

&“Why aren't you saying anything?&“ I asked, having assumed he would continue nagging.

But Lee JiHan didn't reply and continued to just watch me.

Oh, is he blaming me for messing up the blind date?

Feeling scared and insecure, I folded my hands together and hung my head. I twiddled my thumbs together nervously. JiHan let out an exasperated sigh.

&“I can't believe you look so pretty after just waking up,&“ he mumbled to himself.

I overheard him and looked up in confusion.

&“What? What did you say?&“

&“Eat first before you go to sleep,&“ JiHan told me, totally ignoring my question. Then he got up from the bed. &“Wipe up your drool and come to the kitchen.&“ With those parting words, he stepped out of the room

Drool? Did I drool? I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Lee JiHan wasn't kidding. I felt the wetness along my mouth. Ah! I can't believe he saw me like this! Embarrassed, I wiped vigorously with the end of my sleeve.

***

The moment I began to gnaw at the ribs JiHan had made, I forgot all about my drooling and resorted to spitting all over the place.

&“What in the world! These are not your normal galbi ribs. This isn't gal-B, this is gal-A. No, this is gal-A-plus!&“

I talked and ate maniacally. My mouth was so busy, I didn't have a chance to spare a look at JiHan. Only once the ribs were all gone did I finally look up from my plate. I rubbed my stomach in satisfaction and looked up him. He was staring at me intently with his arms crossed. I looked down at my plate full of bones then looked at JiHan's empty plate across from mine. It looked like he didn't even touch the food. If he wasn't even going to eat, why was he sitting there without a single word? As I wondered this, he spoke.

&“Have you been diligently carrying around that talisman you received last time from the fortune teller?&“

&“Talisman? Oh, that…&“

It was supposed to bring me luck or whatever. The fortune-teller had given it to me for free. Where did I leave that? I'm pretty sure I didn't take it out of my bag...that bag…

&“Ah! It's still in the bag. But I left the bag at the sauna when you dragged me out of there.&“

&“I made sure to collect your bag then.&“

&“Really?&“ I asked relieved.

JiHan, with eyes like a hawk, started interrogating me.

&“I'm going to check. If the talisman is in that bag or not.&“

&“Oh, go ahead, look. It's definitely in there,&“ I replied with confidence.

Lee JiHan got up from his seat and went to his room. A few moments later, he returned with my bag. He placed the bag on the table and pushed it toward me.

&“Open it yourself and take it out. Searching through a girl's bag is bad manners.&“

&“Will do.&“

Without thinking much about it, I put my hand into the bag. Suddenly, JiHan grabbed the bag and pulled it to his side. With a disgusted face, he pointed to my hands.

&“How could you touch your bag with the fingers you just ate ribs with? Are you even...&“

Getting ready for another onslaught I cringed, but Lee JiHan's scolding suddenly stopped. Wondering what happened, I looked up to find him with his eyes closed and taking a deep breath to pray for patience. A few moments later, JiHan opened his eyes and looked at me.

&“Let's wash your hands and then touch the bag.&“

I nodded and headed to the sink. So he could see, I washed my hands thoroughly with soap. Like a baby getting checked to make sure her hands were washed before a meal. JiHan continued to nag from behind me.

&“You should wash your hands before and after a meal. And when you've been out, you should wash your hands and feet right afterward.&“

Must I, at this age, be treated like a little kid by a guy that is five years younger than me? Even my mother was not like this!

Muttering to myself, I turned off the faucet. Finally, I was able to go back to the table and open my bag. I didn't even have to dig through it, I saw the talisman the moment I opened the bag. I took out the talisman and showed it to JiHan proudly. Seeing this, he frowned.

&“You're not supposed to just throw this around however you like. You should fold it up nicely and keep it in your wallet.&“ He stole the talisman from my hand and folded it neatly. &“Don't lose it anywhere and make sure you keep it with you at all times.&“ He handed it back.

I couldn't understand his obsession with the thing. I refused to receive it from him.

&“Are you sure this is for good luck?&“ I asked skeptically. &“It's not something that will make me fall out of love with the man I'm going to marry, is it?&“

&“It's the opposite of that.&“

&“What?&“

JiHan grabbed my wrist and pulled it towards him. Then he flipped my palm so it faced the sky. He placed the talisman into my hands.

&“I promise you. This will ensure the best of luck in your life.&“ JiHan placed his palm over mine and folded each finger until I held it in my fist. &“This is, in fact, the lucky talisman. If this works, I'm going to go back to that fortune-teller and genuflect.&“

&“If I end up getting lucky, you're going to go and genuflect? To the fortune teller?&“ I asked doubtfully.

&“If it's the luck I am hoping for,&“ JiHan said adding a condition.

&“What are you hoping for?&“

&“It doesn't make sense now.&“

&“What?&“

&“Once it makes sense, I will tell you.&“ JiHan smiled mysteriously as if he held a deep secret and didn't say another word.

His hands were still wrapped around my fist. I wasn't sure if it was just the warmth from his hand, but his expression, which had always been so cold, suddenly felt warm also. I wasn't scared, but my heart started to beat faster.

&“The luck you are hoping for...is it something that's good for you? If it's worth bowing to someone over...&“

&“It's much better for you,&“ JiHan emphasized. &“But I want it for you.&“

Still holding my hand, he lifted his other hand and placed it on top of my head.

&“I want to see you happy,&“ he said as if pledging on a Bible.

Then he petted my head. My heart was beating as if someone was following me. I didn't know what I was supposed to do at this moment, and meanwhile, my face started burning red again. I slipped my hands out of JiHan's and yelled.

&“Bathroom, bathroom!&“