EUN-WOO
This was the first time I felt so happy after a few years since the last time before Chereen passed. I never knew Isla would be the person who will give me the happiness I’ve been waiting for. She really is the one I surely need to keep and protect.
In the middle of walking up the stairs, going to the Namsan Tower, I couldn’t help but ask her why she suddenly thought of doing what she had just done during dinner. We literally disrespected the traditional dinner of the family.
“Do you think you’ll regret what you did earlier?” I asked as I grinned at her.
“Don’t ever say it,” she sighed. “What would they think of me for doing such a thing?”
“It’s not your obligation to care about what they think of you. You do you and nothing more.”
“Even if it’s wrong?” She continued asking me.
I never think of anything to be right or wrong. The result would always depend on my decision in life.
“What you did to save me from them is not wrong. Trust me,” I told her.
After a few walks, we finally reached the top of the tower. The views from the tower are beautiful but the night views are especially breathtaking.
Even Isla couldn’t help but admire the night sky. But then, her bright expression immediately turned to a quiet and sad one for unknown reasons.
So, I quietly approached her from behind and wrapped my arms around her, warmly hugging her. I couldn't stop myself from doing it and I just hoped she wouldn't be conscious anymore.
Since I’m standing behind her, I don't know what her reactions were. But, I heard her breathe in and out, so I assumed that she would say something. I decided to speak to her first to stop her.
“Please don't say anything. Let me just hug you,” I told her.
Even though I sounded like I was insisting, I didn't care about that anymore. I remained to hug her and it’s surprising that she also didn't move from her place.
She was in silence for a few moments until I could hear her voice quavering as she began to speak.
“Eun-woo,” she called me. “How painful was it when you knew Chereen is in love with Mizuki instead of you?”
I wasn’t aware she would come up with that kind of question at first. Then, I remembered that she's been in a romantic relationship with Su-bin for about a few weeks already.
“Of course, it was a bit painful because I thought we’re having mutual feelings for each other. It’s like you waiting for something that you think you deserve, but it turned out it wasn’t really for you.”
After a few seconds of silence then there was the sound of her sobbing.
“Are you crying?” I asked her, sounding so plain.
She wasn’t saying yes, but it was obvious that she was.
“Yah. Why are you crying?” I continued to ask her.
“Because I'm having an allergic reaction,” she replied.
I have never been so confused. “To what?”
“Life.”
Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I still managed to let out a short laugh because of what she just said. She also immediately shared a laugh with me although she didn't want to.
Then, she turned around to face me as we looked into each other's eyes. I caressed the right side of her head.
"Tell me honestly," I whispered to her.
Her eyes showed me how worried she was. She seemed to be so bothered and sad, but I can't even confirm it by asking her directly. Mostly if it's about Su-bin.
"I think I made a mistake," she opened up.
"About what?"
"I shouldn't have said yes to him," she continued. "And I'm so stupid for doing such a thing even though I knew this would happen."
"Wait. What are you talking about?" I asked.
She just stared into my eyes which were about to shed the next batch of tears.
"I made a phone call to Su-bin…" she sniffled. "...and Na-bi was the one who answered."
"Are you talking about Seo Na-bi?" I clarified to her.
She nodded before closing her eyes tightly to let the tears flow down, then she opened her eyes again to look at me.
"Did you talk to Su-bin already? Like try to clear it out and know the truth," I suggested. "You can't just think negatively of someone."
"I'm scared to ask him–"
"Then, I will–"
"No, Eun-woo." Her hands held me in both my arms. "No."
I sighed and paused for a moment. Then, I decided to ask her again.
"Why won't you let me when you know you can't do it? Why can't you do it?"
"It's because I don't know how to ask him," she insisted. "I don't want us to fight."
"There's no step by step on how you should be telling him about it. You could just go and tell him and getting mad is part of it," I explained.
"You don't understand…" She finally let go of me and walked away. She held onto one of the fences as she looked at the city lights.
I have never tried comforting someone during their struggles when it comes to heartbreak. No one comforts me when I'm feeling that way, so maybe that's why.
"I know I'm not in the right place to tell you this because I'm just your stepbrother," I spoke to her as I slowly approached her. She glanced at me with her tears welling up. "But, if you think it's hurting you more than it hurts him, you should just let go."
She slowly turned towards me, her eyes locked with mine. "Don't say that…"
I nodded at her. "I know I shouldn't and I'm sorry if I did, but–"
"You're not just my stepbrother," she continued.
"What?"
"I think of you more than that. But, I'm trying my best to stop because I know it was wrong," she explained.
"Is that why you kissed me that time?" I felt nervous asking her what happened before.
She nodded shyly.
"But, how about Su-bin?" I continued. "I thought you were in love with him."
"I'm just telling you the truth because you deserve it," she said.
"Thank, I guess."
Our conversation felt a little awkward because it also felt like I had been rejected in an obscure way.
"You're right, Eun-woo. I think I should talk to him before jumping to conclusions based on what Na-bi did," she said.
"You're making the right decision."
After spending some time at the Namsan Tower, we decided to go back home. Soo-jin also texted me and told me it was okay to go back already since the guests left together with my dad and my stepmom. I don't know where they were going, but I think it has something to do with the company.
On our way home, Isla opened up about the arranged marriage topic between me and Kaye which I didn't expect at all.
"Are you excited?"
I glanced at her. "About what?"
"Your marriage with Kaye Lee," she continued. "Don't tell me you're not. She's beautiful and talented."
"I'm not."
"What the hell?" She frowned at me. "You both are perfect for each other. Beautiful and handsome."
“Don’t even get me started,” I smirked at her as I looked away.
“Seriously. What’s wrong with you?” She asked me before hitting my arm.
I glanced at her with a frown since the way she hit me was a little painful. “Why did you hit so hard?”
“I don’t understand your mindset!” She exclaimed. “Think of Kaye Lee as your favorite. She’s already in front of you and your job is to go for it, but you won’t even try.”
“You’re right. However, the thing is… she is not my favorite.”
She sighed heavily and completely ignored me. “Fine. I’m done talking to you.”
Surprisingly even before we could even reach the penthouse, it started raining.
“What the?! Is it raining?” I heard Isla scream.
I quickly grabbed her arms and ran to a nearby shed. I started to dry some of my clothes that barely got wet and glanced at her who is doing the same. As I watch her, I can’t help but feel my heart beat fast. I don’t know why it was happening all of a sudden, but I could say it was the same feeling I felt when she kissed me.
I think I’m in love with her.
I know. It sounds weird, but it is what I feel.
Was it wrong?
We waited under that shed for the rain to stop. And while doing so, I felt impatient for whatever I’m feeling right now. My heart kept telling me to pursue her even though she already has a boyfriend, but my mind is asking me to stop.
“I don’t think the rain will stop anytime soon,” I commented.
“I can see that.” She turned to look at me. “Should we just run back home? My hanbok is already kind of wet and I might get cold if I keep wearing it.”
I looked at my phone to check if I could call Soo-jin and pick us up. But when I was about to dial her number, my phone suddenly shut down.
“Oh. What the–”
“Why, why?” I heard Isla.
“My phone died while I was in the middle of calling Soo-jin noona,” I replied as I looked at her and she looked a bit disappointed.
She went to get her phone from her pocket, but apparently, she gave me the look which tells me she doesn’t have her phone with her.
“I left my phone at home,” she said. “I think it’s in my bedroom.”
“What should we do now?” I asked her.
“I think we should really just make a run for it.” She grinned.
We stared at each other first before she started running out of the shed. I immediately followed her and ran behind her. I never knew I would enjoy running in the rain for the second time. I did it when I was young together with Chereen and Mizuki. And after Chereen’s death, I never enjoyed looking or even going out while it was raining.
But, doing it again this time with Isla feels different. I cherished it even more than before.
The penthouse was filled with laughter as we finally got home. We were soaking wet and it would make Soo-jin mad if she found out that the floor carpets absorbed all the water from our clothes.
Since there is no presence of other people inside the house, Isla and I casually walked in the hallways going to our respective bedrooms. Until we almost got caught after hearing someone unlocking their bedroom door.
I quickly pulled Isla out of sight and we successfully got inside my bedroom. I quietly closed the door while we were both trying not to make a sound of laughter.
“That was close…” Isla said quietly. “It scared me to death.”
“I don’t think we were caught,” I said as I walked away from the door.
I went to get a new towel from the cabinet and hand it over to Isla who was just standing and waiting for me.
“You can use my bathroom first to clean up yourself,” I said before I took a white oversized shirt from my wardrobe as well and handed it over to her. “Here are some clean clothes for you.”
She shyly nodded at me and smiled before walking inside the bathroom.
While in the middle of waiting for her to finish, I decided to change my clothes. Then, I went to clean up my room although it wasn’t messy, I just wanted to tidy the area.
My attention was soon caught after I heard her walk out of the bathroom, wearing the oversized shirt I lent her and with the towel wrapped around her head.
“I didn’t know you already changed your clothes,” she said. “I should have taken a quick bath.”
“No. It’s okay.”
I walked towards my desk and opened one of the drawers to bring out the hair blower. I glanced at Isla and she was just looking at me.
“I’ll dry your hair. Sit down on the bed,” I told her.
She obeyed what I asked her to do and continued to watch me as I set up the hair blower near my bed. I slowly sat behind her, then I turned on the hair blower to start drying her hair. I was hesitant to touch her hair at first, but when I did I never thought they were soft.
“Isla,” I called her.
“Hm?”
“Have you ever thought what if I didn’t become your stepbrother Do you think we might end up together?”
What the hell, Eun-woo? What’s with that nonsense and awkward question?!
“Maybe. Now that you know that my heart is beating fast whenever I’m with you,” she said, a hint of shyness heard from her voice.
“Oh?”
“Oh?” She also asked.
I gulped as I continued to dry off her hair. “Didn't you feel awkward when I confessed to you during the sports festival?”
“Well, I did. It’s because you confessed in front of a restroom,” she said.
We couldn’t help but share a laugh because of what she said before turning off the hair blower since we were done.
“But, I know your confession was sincere. It’s just that I don’t think it was the right thing to do–”
“I don't care what is going on between you and Su-bin because right now, I only think of us…” I finally said it.
She slowly faced me and I gently pulled her closer to me. I used to not believe what they said that you can feel butterflies inside your stomach when you're liking someone. I didn't feel those butterflies when I'm with Chereen before.
“I never knew this would happen to us,” she whispered as we stared into each other’s eyes.
“Neither do I.”
I lifted her and made her sit on my lap sideward, both of her legs hanging on the side of mine before gently wrapping my arms around her waist as she placed both of her hands on my shoulders.
I can’t help myself to caress her cheek and when she rested it on my hand, I gave her the hint of bringing her face close to mine as I looked back and forth from her eyes to her lips.
“Wait.” She stopped me shyly. “I don’t think we should do this.”
“Do you like me?” I asked her.
“I do. But, I like Su-bin too. And even though I like you, we cannot be together–”
“Why can’t we?” I asked her. “We don’t have the same parents. We might be related to papers, but not in blood.”
“You know it’s wrong, Eun-woo.”
“Why do we always need to worry that everything we do may be wrong in the eyes of others?” I questioned her.
She got speechless with what I said and she turned her head down.
“No one will know,” I said. “I promised.”
She nodded her head before hugging me. I closed my eyes as my arms voluntarily hugged her body. No words were heard coming from our mouths and we just kept hugging, feeling each other's heartbeat.
And then, we looked at each other... and I couldn't stop myself from kissing her lips. She also did not shy away from what I did. Instead, she returned the kiss to me. I don't know how she feels and she kissed back but... I'm happy.