Sunday, 14th October
"Jae, is something wrong?" asked Chan-ri as Jae put on her apron.
It was Sunday and since it was Jae's day off at Big Hit, she always comes in earlier than any other workers. Something was off. Chan-Ri didn't notice it at first but as Jae was playing sad songs after peak hours for days and it went for weeks, Chan-Ri and her husband, Ki-Tae knew something was going on. Jae was smiling but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She was laughing along but it sounded hollow. Ki-Tae wanted to ask but he felt awkward. That was where Chan-Ri came in. Ki-Tae was in the kitchen looking at them through the serving window when Chan-Ri asked that question.
"No, everything's fine eonnie," answered Jae as she sat down and took a basket of cutlery and napkins.
"Is Chin-Hwa okay?" Chan-Ri asked again as she folded the napkin.
"He's fine. Went to see him just now and he's okay," Jae replied, taking a napkin from the basket.
"Jae, I know you don't share much. You do know that you could come to me and Ki-Tae oppa, right?" said Chan-Ri. Jae hadn't change much since the first day Chan-Ri met her. Still very hardworking and never did much for herself. Everything she did was for someone else. When people her age went out and about, and had fun with their peers, the only fun Jae had was playing the piano in the restaurant. Jae didn't have many friends, and that was obvious to Chan-Ri and Ki-Tae. She never saw Jae talking on the phone other than for business. If Jae had them, Chan-Ri had never seen those friends throughout the years Jae she had known her.
"I know, eonnie. Both of you have been so kind to me. I can't thank both of you enough," said Jae.
"I know this is touchy, but is it money problem again?" asked Chan-Ri.
Jae shook her head, "After all that happened, money problem is the last thing that I want to get involved in again."
"Is it guy problem?" jumped Ki-Tae as he sat next to Jae, looking at her in the eye.
"Yobo," Chan-Ri warned Ki Tae.
"I'm not good at beating around the bush. You know that, honey. You don't go all sad and soppy over money," said Ki-Tae to his wife. "So tell me if I need to go and punch a guy for hurting my kid sister," Ki-Tae turned to Jae.
"You're scaring her," said Chan-Ri as Jae's face changed. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to," added Chan-Ri.
"Who else would she tell if it's not us?" said Ki-Tae. "Come on, Jae. I can tell you have been holding back your tears for days, if not weeks."
Jae stopped folding the napkins and looked at her fingers on her lap.
"Yobo, look what you did. You made Jae cry," said Chan-Ri as she whacked his chest. Chan-Ri scooted closer to Jae and pulled her in a hug. "Let it all out, Jae. Don't keep everything inside, it could eat you all up. You have enough problems on your plate already," advised Chan-Ri.
"I don't know where to start," said Jae at last.
"I'm all ears," replied Chan-Ri.
"This guy... he said he likes me," started Jae.
"Do you like him too?" asked Ki-Tae. Chan-Ri motioned for him to keep quiet and let Jae finish.
"I do," confessed Jae,
"So what's the problem?" asked Ki-Tae again. "He likes you, you like him. Go on, be in love and live happily ever after."
"If it's that easy, Jae won't be this sad. Now keep quiet and let Jae finish," admonished Chan-Ri.
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First Love
FanfictionThe last time she saw him, he was a school boy starting his journey as a rapper. The last time he saw her, she was following him around with stars in her eyes. Years later, their path crossed again. She's a struggling part timer. He's a world class...
