Lies and Secret

Chapter Fourteen

Lee Seung Gi’s point of view

The morning sun finds its way into my small room and wakes me up; I struggle to wake up rolling inside my quilt. I think I must have slept for another hour before my alarm finally wakes me up. I sit up on my quilt with a sleepy eyes and my hair all over my face. I finally drag myself up and packed my quilt into neat folds then put it into my closet.

I proceed into the small bathroom to wash up. This week has been so stressful I am so glad it’s finally Saturday. My mind travels back to yesterday and I thought about the money dad gave me I ran back to my room and searched for the bankbook to confirm if it was still there, to confirm if it was a dream or not.

It wasn’t

I was real and I had the bankbook in my hands, I counted the zero at the back of number two and truly it was twenty million won. With the money my dad gave me I think it’s time for me to cut down some of my part time jobs and focus on my study, my CSAT exams is less than six month I have to start studying seriously to catch up I want to apply at Seoul National University to study physiology. Min So Ra and Choi Hyun also wants to apply to the same university, it’s hard to get in so we have to work hard although I know I have to work harder since I have no one to back me up and I knew no one in Seoul National University unlike Min So Ra and Hyun Soo

I washed my body as my mnd wanders to different places for a while before I came out. I dry my hair with a towel and wore a black jean one of the T-shirts So Ra bough me and a winter jacket Hyun Soo had given me. I grabbed my phone from my bed side and walked to the kitchen to look for what to eat. There is literally no food at home at home to I make a mental note to get groceries on my way back from work.

“Dad I’m going to the convenience store” I call my dad as I looked for the shoe to wear. “Dad” I called again but no response. I walk over to his room, knocked the door before opening it. He wasn’t in and it looks like he didn’t come home last night.

Am I surprised?

No, not at all

He rarely is ever home by the way, I put my phone into my pocket, grabbed a beef jerky I found in the freezer and wore my shoe as I locked the door behind me. I proceed to call my dad to ask if he was coming home and why he wasn’t even home yet but it’s weird calling him so I don’t. I’m worried though because he suddenly comes home with this large amount of money I am scare that he might be involved in anything illegal. That online trading business excuse I don’t know if I believe it yet

My phone rang and I’m shocked that my dad is calling “Is he a ghost how did he know I wanted to call him” I muttered before picking his call. I still cannot wrap my head towards the fact that he actually is on the other side of the phone until I heard him call my name

“Where are you? You didn’t come home last night” I asked

“Sorry, I don’t think I’ll be home for a while. My friend got hurt I am in the hospital with him”

“What friend? “ I asked “You don’t have any friend”

 When I say my dad doesn’t have any friend I meant like zero friends, most people can’t stand him and all of a sudden he has a friend that he was close enough with to stay with at a hospital because they aren’t feeling too well? Doesn’t sound right

“Sorry son I’ll call you later. Make sure you eat well” he hangs up before I could get to say anything

I’m still confused at the sudden change in character, it really is scary. For a man to change that drastically over night is so scary it gives me goose bumps

There’s a saying in South Korea that when someone changes all of a sudden it means they are going to die. I shake the thoughts out of my mind start walking to the store as my phone beeps at an income message

From Choi Hyun Soo: Are you still sleeping?

I chuckle at the message, I never thought going back home will be difficult as Hyun So did not want to let me go when I told him that I was coming back to stay with my dad. Truth is that there was not a lot going through my mind when i ran away from home I just wanted to be out and far away from him, if it wasn’t for Choi Hyun soo there is an eighty percent chance I would have frozen to death or starved and I was so grateful that he came running when I needed him the most

From Lee Seung Gi: Nope, I’m actually on my way to work right now

I replied him. Hyun Soo had been totally against the idea of me coming back home, I even told him about the money my dad had brought home since we decided not to keep any secret and of course I told So Ra, it was even more of a reason why he didn’t want me to come back. Min So Ra was equally against it but not as opposed as Hyun Soo was. I literally had to beg him and promise to call him ever hour to update him

From Choi Hyun Soo: My schedule is so tight today I can barely breathe. I have Piano classes by 10 and immediately after I have English for three hours, by 3pm I have CSAT tutorials and by 6pm I have midterm examination reviews. Save me Seung Gi (he added a crying emoji)

I laughed reading this text knowing that Hyun Soo is not a big fan of studying or even playing the piano as he only does it because his dad wanted him to be able to play an instrument

From Lee Seung Gi: I would but I’m pretty busy myself. I’m looking after the store throughout today and covering up for Younha she has an audition today

I sent then typed again

From Lee Seung Gi: What are you doing tomorrow?

Hyun Soo replies in seconds

From Choi Hyun Soo: Nothing really, it’s the only day I can actually breathe. Why? Do you have something in mind? Want to come over?

I laughed as I imagine Hyun Soo rambling

From Lee Seung Gi: Maybe (I inserted a winky emoji)

From Choi Hyun Soo: really (he added a shocked emoji)

From Lee Seung Gi: Yeah sure why not, you’ve never been to my place before

By dad won’t be home anytime soon from what I know and I just thought maybe having Hyun Soo over could be more relaxing than being alone as I didn’t have any part time job till in the evening on Sunday

From Choi Hyun Soo: (multiple shocked emoji) Really? You want me to come over to your place? Is this really Lee Seung Gi chatting with me?

I snickered.

Hyun Soo was right to be surprised, I have never offered to have him come over for almost three years and Choi Hyun Soo has never stepped a foot inside my house, it was same for me too as I would always refuse to go to his place till recently and I feel since I already seen his place he could see mine although I’m not sure if he will be comfortable in a place like mine

From Lee Seung Gi: I actually thought of buying you a meal to thank you for lately but I don’t think I can match up to the fancy restaurant you’ve been to

Hyun Soo has been to restaurant that charges my income for a whole year for one plate of food, he and Min So Ra would often post all the pictures on i********: and yes I did envy them. I did envy the kind of parents they had and wished mine was just a little richer but on a second thought I would never change my mother for anyone in this world my dad on a second thought, maybe I could give it a thought first

From Choi Hyun Soo: you don’t have to buy me anything to show your appreciation I know how you feel

I feel so bad that I am always at the receiving end in our friendship and I can never get him stuffs like he would get me or do things that both Hyun Soo and Min So Ra would and I hate how that makes me feel. So I try my best in all the little ways to show my appreciation to both him and Min So Ra the way I know how

From Lee Seung Gi: I was thinking of cooking for you. It might not be fancy or anything but …

I sent

From Choi Hyun Soo: when did you become this sweet?

I feel my face turning red from embarrassment and my stomach might has let out one or two fireworks

From Lee Seung Gi: I’m not. Talk to you later

I don’t think I can continue the conversation without my heart exploding. I push my phone down my pocket and in less than five minutes I was at the convenience store. Younha jumps up as she sees me

“Finally” she said

“Good morning to you too”

She rolls her eyes and grabs her bag “Thank you I owe you one”

“You do” I laugh as she rushes out of the counter “Good luck with your audition. Fighting”

She smiles “Thank you oh and there’s a girl that has been waiting for you for like an hour. Bye” she waves as she runs out of the store

A girl?

Min So Ra?

I thought she is equally as busy as Hyun Soo. I moved close to the where costumer usually sat down and see someone laying her head on the table with ear buds on. I tapped her and she turns to me

“Hi Seung Gi” Rosaline says with the brightest of smile.My eyes widen to see her here, she seems like such a happy and positive person when she isn’t causing any trouble

“What are you doing here?”

Asides Choi Hyun Soo and Min So Ra no one in school knows I work here, I try to keep it from my classmates especially from Do Min Su and her brother, I don’t want anyone coming here by the hour in the sake of wanting to buy something but actually come mock me or something worse not that anyone would come to this part of town but still

“I missed you so I came to see you” she said so shamelessly. I stood there so fluttered, blinking in confusion

“You’re so weird we saw each other yesterday at school” I said walking towards the counter where I should be. Rosaline walks behind me

“Are you sure it’s just yesterday? It felt like it has been month”

I walked into the counter and sat down, she stands in front of the counter and I could see that she wore a short black skirt with some kind of wrapped blouse and a kneel long leather boots. I haven’t seen her so dressed in anything than Uniform. I don’t count five years ago I can’t even remember what I wore talk less of what she wore the day we first met. I noticed she had a hairpin on her hair and is that makeup I see?

Why is she all dressed up so early in the morning?

Why is she even wearing makeup? Maybe she has another place to be after here

“Are you going out?”

“I am already out” she said looking at me like I asked a silly question

“I’m asking because you’re all dressed up” I gestured at her. She looks down at her leather boots and skirt then back up at me

“I read online that girls dress more than they usually do to impress the boys the like” I choked “And if the boys notices the changes there’s fifty percentage chance the boy likes them back” she continues like she didn’t just say something outrageous

“I think you’ve been reading from the wrong site”

I don’t think she just confessed that she likes me; I mean maybe she just wanted to try something crazy, it is Rosaline. Crazy and Rosaline are like bread and jam

“Really” she tilts her head like she wasn’t sure if she was wrong

“Why are you really here?”

“I just bought these clothes and didn’t know how it looked on me”

I lean my head into my hands, trying to understand what she just said “So you bought these clothes and there were mirrors in the store?”

“Of course there was silly” she laughs “How do you think I look in this?” she asked taking a step back allowing my eyes to roam the clothes, I don’t know what to say; I don’t want to say something that would make her thinking I was leading her on

“It’s okay I guess” I said instead of its pretty. The clothes are pretty though

“Seung Gi, do you like men or do you like women?”

What is this question? I did not sign up for this.

“Why is it important?” I asked

“It is to me, so do you like men or do you like women?” she asked again. Why did Younha let her even in?

“I like both women and men. I like people I guess” I shift uncomfortable

“Me?”

“You?”

“What about me? How am I?”

“I don’t understand what you’re asking me” I tell her and she comes closer to the counter. Too close actually I get to see the color of her eyes for the first time she has such a dark eyes, I didn’t know there were this dark till she came up close.

Pretty

She has pretty eyes

“If you don’t understand fine then” she smiled and moved away

I cleared my throat trying to understand what just happened, Rosaline is the most confusing person I’ve met. She’s mesmerizing but like in a confusing way, I don’t even know if that makes sense. “When do you close?”

“I’m not closing anytime soon, as you saw I just came”

“Hm” she thinks about it for a minute and I honestly and genuinely wonder what goes on in her mind “Okay”

“What’s okay?” I asked

“I’ve seen what I wanted for today” she replies

“What’s that?”

“You”

I scoffed and she holds her chest groaning “Are you okay?” she looks like she is in pain

“Your smile is so cute” she says all of a sudden and I think I got butterflies

“Hey stop” I laughed, embarrassed “You can’t do that” my ears are red

“I should sue you for me so cute” she continues

“Stop” I begged but could not hold back my laughter. “You’re so weird”

“No I’m not. I’m psycho” she smiled