Paradise || Jeong Gu Won ✓

ᴛᴇɴ

𝙳𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐  𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝  𝚃𝚠𝚘

Ji Hu didn't know why she was sticking out the department store. She could have left an hour ago, but something stuck with her about seeing Gu Won in a weak and pathetic state made her curious. She wondered what he meant by his words – was that tattoo really his livelihood? Or was he just saying that to pull at Ji Hu's lacking heartstrings? She couldn't be too sure.

Ji Hu held the bag at her side with the dress for the charity event. She really did buy it and intended on wearing it on the runway. The bag was swung back and forth as Ji Hu walked through the plaza. Ji Hu stopped by the fountain, looking at her phone at the time. Ji Hu checked her messages, seeing that Gu Won had told her he was out front, yet she didn't see him. She brought the phone to her ear to call him.

The fountain instantly started to spray when Ji Hu stopped. As Ji Hu looked through the fountain, she saw Gu Won walking forward. Like last night, he was wearing black, but this time the collar and part of the suit jacket was white. Ji Hu lowered her phone, staring at Gu Won as he approached. A smile appeared on his face once he saw Ji Hu standing there, wide eyes.

Ji Hu didn't know what came over her; she couldn't take her eyes off of Gu Won.

It wasn't until Gu Won was standing right in front of her and ending the call that Ji Hu snapped out of her thoughts. Ji Hu cleared her throat. "For someone who seemed to make it out like he was death's doorstep, you're practically glowing." Ji Hu commented.

"You think I'm glowing?" Gu Won asked.

Ji Hu caught her own words after Gu Won said them back to her. She took a deep breath, reaching into her bag to pull out the envelope of cash. "Look, I think I owe you since you paid for that disastrous meal and... whatnot." She wasn't going to mention the saving because she didn't want another argument about who saved who. She held out the envelope of cash.

Gu Won took it from her. "Didn't I say I don't need this?"

"Well, I'd prefer not to be indebted to a person like you." Ji Hu stated.

"Forget it. I have as much money as-" Ji Hu glanced down at Gu Won's hands that were clutching the envelope, seeing how much money Ji Hu was actually giving him.

"No?"

Gu Won looked at the won inside the envelope, "...as you do." Ji Hu pulled the envelope away from Gu Won's trembling hands.

"It's real, dumbass." She put the envelope back into her purse. "If it's not money you want, what do you want?" Gu Won was taken back by the cahs leaving hsi hands. "You even lied to me about your health to get me out here. So, just tell me what you want so I can go home. I'd like to sleep in my own bed tonight." Ji Hu stated.

Gu Won said nothing.

"if it's about the deal-"

"That's over."

"Oh good."

"There's no need for deals between us now." Gu Won said.

Ji Hu tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"My symptoms are real. They're so serious that it's affecting my livelihood." Gu Won repeated. Ji Hu scoffed – if they were really doing that, he wouldn't be standing in front of her, he'd be a crumpled mess on the ground, maybe sobbing pathetically.

"And these mysterious symptoms are?" Ji Hu asked, eyebrow raised.

"I can't do anything. I'm extremely lethargic, and I feel like a different person." Gu Won stated.