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When Mr Choi had left, Nari had made her way to the back where Geon-woo and Woo-jin were probably waiting anxiously for her arrival. Her heart felt a little lighter, having finally come to terms with her next plan of action. She knew she couldn’t stay mad forever and with their time running shorter with every breath, she couldn’t live to regret ignoring two of the most important figures in her life. So, she shot both a message asking for them to meet tonight at the restaurant and that she was ready to talk. She could sense their relief through the phone, and she was almost certain Du-yeong was ready to burst into tears when he received her text.
She pushed open the door into the back where she found Woo-jin spinning in circles before the array the files that lined the walls before landing on Geon-woo who was staring at a frame on the shelf.
She admired the way his eyes were so doe like, glazed and pure for such a big and strong man. His heart was always worn on his sleeve, and he seemed to shine brighter than anything else in the room.
Her mother would’ve loved him.
She had a certain adoration for poetry and metaphors. She would’ve taken one look at both Geon-woo and Woo-jin and would’ve said Nari had found her soulmates. She would’ve seen Geon-woo and melted, gushed on how he was the epitome of sunshine-bright, light and a beacon for everyone around him. He was constant, always there burning and loyal. She would’ve laughed at Woo-jin’s cheesy jokes and innuendos. She would’ve said he balanced Geon-woo, his opposite but his equal. She would’ve compared him to the moon. Always there, supporting and uplifting. Her mother would’ve turned to her and smiled saying if Geon-woo was the sun and Woo-jin the moon she’d be their eclipse. She’d be the one to tie them all together. They were so deeply intertwined now that Nari feared what their future would hold. She had grown very fond of them, and she didn’t want them to disappear. So she’d try to hold them together long enough until everything was over. They were her friends, and she cherished them very much.
“That’s Hyeon-ju”ย Nari pointed out, hovering over Geon-woo’s shoulder as she traced his eyes to the woman in the photo.ย
Geon-woo startled and Woo-jin let out a squeal, dropping a file to the ground as she smirked at the terrified look in Woo-jin’s eyes. She ignored the boy as he grumbled, squatting to reach the file as she turned her attention back to Geon-woo who tore his eyes from the frame to her.
“She’s really pretty right? I haven’t seen her in ages. She’s Mr Choi’s granddaughter…well in every way but blood. He loves her as if she was, and she loves him just as fiercely. It’s quite beautiful actually, how much they love each other. They’re family, despite not sharing the same blood” she said before smiling. “But then again blood doesn’t make family, loyalty does. Mr Choi would do anything for her. I admire that”
“What did Mr Choi want to talk about?” Geon-woo asked after a beat as he took a brief second to admire the woman beside him.
He wasn’t as slick as he would’ve liked.
Her eyes were trained on Hyeon-ju’s graduation picture with a small smile lighting up her face. The breath in his lungs seemed to vanish as his eyes trailed from the top of her head where dark raven curls cascaded down her shoulders past the slender curve of her neck to her back. He marvelled the way her eyelashes fluttered over her brown eyes, the slant of her nose and the rosy tint to her lips that were pulled in a nostalgic almost yearning smile. He counted the light freckles across her cheek, and it was a punch to the gut that he couldn’t get the thought that Byun Nari was utterly breathtaking out of his head. He had noticed, when he’d accidently bumped into her that she was undeniably pretty but the more he spoke to her, when she opened up to him about her mother and the boxing gym, their shared situations, her unyielding loyalty, her love and big heart, their intents. She was simply beautiful both inside and out. Well, too him at least.
“Geon-woo?”
He was torn out of his reverie with a harsh blink of reality. Nari watched him concerned as his eyes regained its focus. He’d been blankly staring, an odd look on his face and his mind clearly elsewhere. Nari was scared she had bored him. “Are you okay? You disappeared for a second. Is it your stiches? Do they hurt?”
The questions and concern tumbled out of her mouth faster than she could catch them and bury them but Geon-woo merely shook his head, blushing furiously that he’d been caught staring. He wouldn’t mind it though; he could stare at her all day. But now was not the time. He coughed, taking a step back and he wanted to fan himself. When did it get so hot in the store? He thought.
”Sorry, I uh got distracted. What were you saying?” He asked, his tone slightly hitched as Nari chuckled lowly. “You do that a lot you know…drifting” she said as he raised his brow.
”Do I?” he said and Nari nodded once in confirmation. “You also fluster easily. Your ears give it away”
He clamped his hands over his ears and Nari laughed.
The sound struck him deep and hard. He parted his hands enough to get a good hear for it.ย It was the type of sound he would bottle and get drunk on. It was mesmerising. The way she laughed , wholeheartedly, and with all of her. When she laughed the lines around the corner of her lips tugged into a curved smile, her eyes disappeared into crescent moons and she’d try to smother her giggles. He stood stunned.ย
“Stop laughing” he said meekly after a second of gawking, scowling in jest as she hid her stifled giggles behind her hand. “Don’t worry, it’s cute” she assured, before brushing past him. He turned after her like a lovesick fool. “And don’t worry the conversation went well. I feel a lot better actually.”
“That’s good.” He told her. “Does that mean you forgave Mr Hwang?” he inquired and Nari nodded. ” I’ll speak with them tonight. Mr Lee is probably freaking out too. I don’t know how Mi-Kyung deals with him honestly” she chuckled as they made their way to Woo-jin.
“Love makes you do some crazy things” Geon-woo said as he glanced at her, Nari nodded. “Ain’t that the truth” she agreed with a bright smile.
They turned abruptly at the sound of Woo-jin’s raised voice. They rushed towards him before glancing at the file in his hands before noting his wide and shocked eyes trained on the pool of money on the floor.
“Holy shit!” Woo-jin gaped as he picked up a stack of notes. Looking at them in shock, his mouth parted in awe. “This has got to be millions!” he shrieked as he looked around at the shelves upon shelves of files. Nari remained unphased as Geon-woo plucked the stack from Woo-jin’s hands with careful yet surprised eyes.
“What did you expect? He was a loan shark” Nari said, shrugging lightly as Woo-jin grabbed another file, the two men sharing looks of disbelief.
”But this is, this is…” Woo-jin stuttered.
” Insane. Yeah, but you get used to it. He’s loaded. This is only a fraction” Nari said before she heard a rumble of a familiar motorbike. The boys continued to guffaw over the money. They’d never ever seen this much in their lives. In their one hand alone, they held more money than they’ve ever earned in their entire life.
Geon-woo’s heart stuttered at the possibility. This amount would be life changing. Woo-jin looked ready to pocket everything but Geon-woo was hesitant. The money would be enough to set him and his mother up for life but Mr Choi had already done so much for him, he’d never even think about stealing. He ushered Woo-jin despite his protests, claiming Mr Choi would never even notice it would be gone, back onto the shelf when the roaring of an engine grew louder.
“Boys” Nari called as Geon-woo returned the last of the money to the shelf. “I’d make yourselves presentable, you have someone to impress.” she said before they heard the slam of the door and Geon-woo felt his stomach drop to his knees with nervousness.ย
Uggg I love them sm๐คญ
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