Haven't met you yet - Chapter 11

Haven't Met You Yet

Chapter 11 

Recap:

Chapter 10

And there, I saw with my own eyes, happily talking with Jiyong my childhood friend, my little Sohee. She was giggling at whatever Jiyong was telling her.

They look good together... the voice in my mind whispered bitterly. I looked away, clutching my chest. What's this? Why is it so painful to see them like this?

Why?...

Chapter 11

Jiyong's POV

"Hi!"

A girl who looks about Durami's age is smiling down at me. I was having an alone time, wondering where that little rabbit went off hiding. Not that I care where she is. It is just that it's been a while now since I last saw her. I kind of thought that I would see her eating with the whole family but she's been avoiding them too. She would either wake up early or late in the morning so she would not have to eat breakfast with all of us. Sometimes she would go out without telling anyone and go home late.

I asked durami one time where she is since it's already nine in the evening. The girl said that she's already sleeping and that she arrived thirty minutes ago.

Gah! I know I started this little avoiding thing and pretending not to see her. But I just felt so hurt by what she said to Durami.

But I guess I could not get angry at her for so long. I would walk around the area just to see if I would be able to come across her but unfortunately, even fate does not want me to see her too.

Anyway, going back to the present time. This girl who looks so young and carefree was smiling down at me.

"Is it okay if I join you?" she asked.

"Sure." I don't really see why not. I guess it's fine.

"So, you're new here?"

"Just visiting." I said.

"You are with Sandara-unnie, aren't you?"

"You know Sandara?" I asked. Just hearing her name

"Yeah, she's my Unnie."

"I did not know that she still has other siblings..." I murmured.

"No, No. We are not blood related. It's just that she used to play with me when we were younger and would always fight the bad boys bullying me."

'That's Sandara for you...' I did not realize that I am already smiling like crazy. I love hearing anything about her.

I would never admit this to sanghyun but I really enjoy his company whenever he would talk endlessly about his noona. I would always act like I am irritated by his words and tells him to stop.

Good thing is he is so stubborn, just like his noona, so he never stops talking. He would go on and on telling his noona's popularity in the Philippines. How many of the boys there would do everything just to have a single day with his noona.

He would talk about her ex-boyfriend. How he hated the guy for hurting Sandara. Her friends in the show business.

Everything. And I secretly like it with all my heart.

"Are you together with, Unnie?"

I almost forgot about the girl.

"No, we are not together."

"That's good then..."

"Huh?"

"Oh nothing," she said. I shrugged again not really minding her. "Uhm, so why are you with her and her family?"

"Uhm, It's a long story..."

"It does not matter. I have all the time in the world to listen."

"Maybe, next time."

"Oh, okay." she said, but her eyes showed her disappointed she was.

"I promise, I'll tell you next time." I looked at my wrist watch and it's almost half past five in the afternoon. I need to go back now, in case Sandara would go back home early. "Uhm, I think I have to go back now..." I wonder what to call her...

"It's Sohee..." she said, extending her hand to me. I took it without much thought.

"Jiyong..."

"Can I call you oppa?"

"Uh... up to you."

"Okay! From now on I'll call you Jiyong Oppa." she said with a wide small on her cute little face. "Let's go back home together. I want to say hello to Auntie."

So off we go. She told me some things Sandara did for her and that she's her favorite Unnie. We were laughing all the way back home.

She's such a sweet girl, I thought.

Are you thinking that way because she's Sandara's little firend or because she's really nice?, his mind taunted him.

She's a real sweet girl but I think Sandara also has something to do with it.

***************

"I am home..." I announced my arrival at the humble house of Grandma Park.

"Where have you been boy?"

"Annyeonghasaeyeo, Halmeoni." Sohee chirped enthusiastically beside me.

"Oh, little Sohee." Sohee hugged Halmeoni.

"Halmeoni, sorry if I just visit now. My father also arrived a few weeks ago and demanded that we stay with him."

"That father of yours is so selfish keeping you to himself. Where is he, I must scold him for keeping you away from me." her tone was strict but Sohee giggled. Halmeoni smiled gently at the girl.

She then eyed me curiously. "Why are you with this young man, Sohee?"

"Oh, I saw him near the port alone. I've never seen him before and mistook him as a new neighbor."

"Oh I see..."

"We talked about Sandara-Unnie... Speaking of Sandara-unnie, where is she?"

"She is still out," it was durami's firm but sweet voice. "Oh my god, Sohee-ah!"

She practically ran towards the girl and gave her a big hug. "Gosh, girl. I have missed you!!!"

I left them alone to catch up with one another, my mind trailing back to the little rabbit. Where could she be?

I went straight to her room and decided to wait there for now. We have to end our game Sandara, enough of the hide and seek. I need to see you now.

**************

I glanced at the small clock on her table. It says 23:03. It's so late and she is still not here I am already feeling so worried. I know she would go home late but this is the first time that she stayed out this late in the evening.

Sohee already bid us goodbye at about half past nine in the evening, saying she could not wait for her Sandara -unnie anymore. Auntie asked Sanghyun to see her back home safely.

They did not know that I am inside Sandara's room.

I silently debated if I should go and find her or continue to wait for her. I stood up and walk towards the door.

I stopped right away when I saw the knob of the door turning slowly. My heart beating fast. It opened slowly and stepped behind the door.

I did not turn the lights on so the room was dark and cold yet the brightness of the moon outside shining through the glass window kept it from being pitch black.

I saw her walk slowly and close the door without much noise. She did not realize I was there.

"Why are you so late?" she was surprised to hear my voice. That I am sure of.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for you. Do you know how late it is, Sandara?"

"I know. I am fine and I can perfectly protect myself..."

I snorted at that. "Really? The last time you went out late at night, I remember all the screaming and the..."

I stopped mid-sentence as I saw her stiffened. I almost cursed for saying those... How could I be so tactless, making her remember that night.

I closed the gap between us and hugged her. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry. I was just so worried." I murmured, soothing her while she sobbed silently. "Ssshh.. Sorry... sorry.."

She's traumatized, yes. But her mind has been so busy with what's going on with her family and her bickering with me kept her away from those nightmares. I wish. For I have not heard her cry anymore. Just now. now that I acted so stupidly almighty in front of her that she remembered.

"Sweetheart, it's okay. It won't ever happen again. I am here. I will protect you. I will be here for you. I'll never ever leave you. But how can I do that if you would always do this? always coming home late. Your family is so worried about you. If you want to avoid me it's okay. But don't go too far or don't go anywhere without someone with you."

She pulled away from my hug but did not look up to meet my gaze.

"Sorry, just... just... it seems.... I..." I cupped her chin and tilted it up for her to look me straight in the eyes.

"You're avoiding me." I stated. She looked away but I forced her to look at me again gently.

"You started it." she complained, looking more like a child.

"Yes, I did."

She snorted. "You did not even deny it."

"Why would I? I really avoided you."

"Why?"

"I was hurt by your words..."

"What are you talking abou--," then she realized what he was talking about. "Omona, did you hear what I--,"

"Yes I heard it. All of it. You saying I'm a gay, that I prefer men mroe than beautiful women. You saying I am crazy... all of it."

"I... Jiyong... I don't me..." then her face showed guilt and sadness. "I am sorry..." was all she managed to say. Now, she stepped back away from him, looking down at the floor. "Sorry."

"It's okay. Don't worry about."

"But I have been so..."

"It's okay. Don't be bothered with it anymore. I already forgot it. I've acted so childishly." I pulled her against me again. "Now, going back to you being late, lady." he said with a stern voice. "Don't ever do that again. I was so worried. I don't where I would start to look for you. I am not familiar with this place..."

"What did you say?"

"Huh?"

"I asked you what you said..."

"Uhm... I am not familiar with this place?"

"No. no, not that. before that..."

"Uh... I don't know where to start looking?"

"No, before that..."

"I am worried?" Sandara just stared at him. "What?" he asked.

"Why are you worried?"

"I don't know." I grinned at her. "I am not sure. Maybe I was ind of worried that people might see you and fry you?"

"Ya!" she lightly slap my arm. I chuckled at the sight of her pouting face.

"But seriously, don't do that again, okay?" I whispered, playfully pinching her nose.

She giggled. God! How I've missed this little chicken.

Then her face grew serious. "I saw you Sohee a while ago..." Do I hear jealousy in her voice?

"Oh, Sohee? Yeah she told me quite a lot about you..." I said with a teasing tone.

"Me? You were talking about me?"

I looked around the room pretending not to hear her. "Hmmm. Just this and that... You know."

"Ya! Jiyong.. what did Sohee tell you?" she shouted at me.

"Oh, It's really late now. I feel so sleepy..." I said in a rush before going out of the room leaving the furious rabbit alone.

"JIYONG!!!!!!"