Fate and Crossroads: Five

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Five.

She knew well enough that she was not the typical Korean female with complexion almost as white as snow, but when Hwangbo faced the full length mirror that day she could not recognize the woman staring right back at her. Sure she had the same cat like eyes, the same long bridge nose, the same full lips, but that woman was covered in bandages and bruised spots all in the wrong places. Her right cheeks were sore. A cut sat just above her upper lip. Her neck was put in place by a brace.. Her left hand was covered in bandages and so was her right foot. There were a few visible scratches on her left arm, and an open wound on her right knee. She scoffed at her appearance.

In the past few months, she somehow found herself in the most awkward situations, doing some things she never thought she would. And now, once again, she found herself in a ridiculous predicament. If Junjin and Andy were not in the army, they would have knocked some sense into her.

Her eyes twinkled in some twisted delight as she looked at her pitiful appearance. Her lips twitched in a smile, 'Who in hell beat you up, Hyejung?', she asked herself. She noticed two heads popping in at the rooms door jam.

"Are you two guilty enough?", she asked then laughed. Somehow, she found it funny how she got herself in those situations.

"Unni.....", Gain entered the room after being nudged by her pretend husband.

"Noona.....", Jokwon followed after his wife.

"Are you guys feeling guilty already?", she asked again.

Gain stood there pouting like she was about to cry, and Jokwon could not look into her eyes.

"Sorry...", Jokwon muttered.

"We're really sorry, Unni. We really did not think it would end this way.", Gain bowed her head as if repenting.

Hwangbo's laughter filled the room.. "You guys...... I was just kidding. If you did not push me off the mountain, then there's nothing to be sorry about...or did you???"

Jokwon could not bring himself to smile at Hwangbo's joke. 'They are really good friends with that evil witch named, Seo Inyoung', he thought.

“But still Unni...", Gain explained, "If we did not trick you into coming here, the accident would not have happened."

Hwangbo started limping her way out the door.

"Help her..." Gain glared at Jokwon

"Let's get out of here. The room's too stuffy...", Hwangbo announced.

Jokwon excused himself after Hwangbo settled into the nice comfy couch.

Gain opened the sliding glass doors to the patio, and found Hyunjoong diligently working on the barbecue grill. She turned to watch her Unni's reaction. Hwangbo stared blankly at the man working outside. It seemed to Gain that her Unni was lost in the moment.

“So, he's still here?”, Hwangbo spoke under her breath thinking Gain did not hear her.

“He never left your side, Unni”, Gain answered, “Kwonnie and I said we'll be taking care of you at the clinic, but he insisted.”

Hwangbo shifted her gaze to the carpeted floor.

“He's quite scary when he is determined to do something, Unni.... How did you put up with him?” Gain added.

Hwangbo's lips twitched to a small smile, but did not answer. 'Age and patience, I guess', she thought.

Just then the Production Director, entered the room with some of the writers and crew.

“Oh good, you're awake now Hwangbossi!”, he happily announced.

“You make it sound like I slept for a long time”, Hwangbo quipped at the director.

“We were so worried about you..”, one of the writers said, “But we already informed your manager for you, and we assured them you'll be properly taken care of and will not be overworked.”

“We thought you broke a bone or something”, another one of the staff added

“Well, it's a good thing Hyunjoong was there... He carried you all the way to the clinic and stayed there all night last night”, the writer said again

Hwangbo was surprised. She did not know what to say nor feel at that very moment. Somehow, she learned never to expect too much from Hyunjoong, or else she'll get her heart broken again.

“So, are we going to start filming soon?”, Hwangbo asked hoping to divert the topic.

“Oh, yes. We are here to discuss the changes. Since it was captured on film how Hyunjoong rushed to try to save you, we'll change the concept. Instead of a reunion at Mount Halla , set up by Gain and Jokwon. We'll have to settle with the villa, so that you will not have to move around so much. It will start with a barbecue party, like what you had on your honeymoon and right before you parted, remember?“, the PD explained.

Hwangbo was dumbstruck for the 3rd time today. Of course she remembered, how could she forget their 1st and last nights at the island. She weakly nodded.

Further discussions were made amongst the crew, but she could not concentrate on anything now. She was too worried about the outcome of all these. Her thoughts were filled with only one person, the one who always made her heart skip a beat just with his mere presence. And he was here, in the same villa, in the same island with her playing a game she swore she'd never play again.

The rest of the afternoon was spent filming individual scenes. Gain was with her all through out the filming preparing her for the so-called dinner with Jokwon and Hyunjoong. It turned out that Gain was a make up expert. She was able to hide all her black and blue spots, and managed to hide the cut on her upper lip. She slipped in to a floral summer dress prepared by the crew from a famous designer's spring/summer collection. Gain pulled the strings carefully as Hwangbo stared at her reflection. The dress was beautiful. It was made of silk and the emerald shade made her skin glow. The halter top emphasized her sexy shoulders and well toned arms. The dress was floor length and hid her bandaged foot.

“Here, Noona”, Gain gently pushed a fully bloomed white orchid on the bun of hair that sat gracefully on top of Hwangbo's head. Gain smiled in satisfaction, thinking, 'I did good....'

The two ladies walked hand in hand like sisters who have known she other for a long time. Hwangbo was anxious to see Hyunjoong and his reaction. Gain was anxious to show everyone her so-called creation.

The two men were busy preparing dinner when the ladies came. Jokwon heard some noises, so he turned and around. He smiled when he saw Gain approaching in her short summer dress. She beamed brightly at him as she got nearer and signaled to look at Hwangbo. Jokwon's jaw dropped when he saw his Noona. She is not the same woman she was earlier. He knew she was always beautiful, but she glowed even more now that Gain managed to hide her purple and blue spots. He turned to Gain again and smiled even wider, “Yeobo, you did good!”, he said a little too loudly that his remark caught Hyunjoong's attention.

Hyunjoong turned to see what Jokwon was talking about, and there she was, Hwangbo Hyejung. He swallowed the lump on his throat. Somehow and up until now, she always managed to take his breath away. His heart was beating wildly as his lips twitched into a smile.

“You like it, Hyung?”, Jokwon playfully asked.

'Of course', Hyunjoong thought, but suddenly no words would come out from his mouth. She always seemed to leave him in awe and smiling like a hyena.