Chapter 07

For 6 months before school I would wait at the sunflower field for you.. but you never went. I would sit next to you and look at you… but you never looked back…I would wait for you near the school gate to walk home together but you would just walk past me.. Did you know how painful it was to see you but not be able to hear your voice … your laughter? I was all alone again … and it was all my fault… All I wanted to do was find some time to be alone with you so I could apologize… but I just couldn’t think of how. Luckily father guided me and I was able to gain your love again…

“Ahh… so this is why Shinnie’s been sad looking and not as lively for the last few months.” Uncle Yuoung said as he sighed looking at Jae Joong. Jun, Chun, and Yun rush to Jae Joong’s side and hugs him.

“We’ll help him right appa? Noona looks so sad… and hyung looks even worse then when we called him demon boy-girl..” Yun said as he jumped on Jae Joong’s back.

“Of course we will.. Jae Joong is there anyway we can help?”

Jae Joong smiled brightly when he heard that Uncle Yuoung and the boys wanted to help. He stood up and bowed, “Thank you.. I very much appreciate it . Can you please find a way to get her to the lake , Sunday night.. ?”

“That shouldn’t be a problem because she is coming to have dinner with us on Sunday night.. it’s her birthday.”

“Her birthday? “

“You didn’t know…?”

“No… I didn’t… “

Yun who still was on Jae Joong’s back, lunged forward and with a curious expression looked at Jae Joong, “Hyung.. what did you get her for her 14th birthday?”

“Umm….. “

“Now now.. I’m sure Jae Joong has something wonderful prepared for Shinnie. Well we’ll find a way to get her to the lake ok… the rest is up to you… “

“Thank you… uncle… Chun, Jun, Yun… I have to go now.. but thank you once again” Jae Joong said as he knelt down for Yun to safely get off his back and then bowed, and made his way down the mountainside.
What am I going to do… All I was going to do was just apologize to her.. but.. Jae Joong thought to himself sulking all the way home. Jae Joong, jumped into bed when he got home.. and then pulled out the two red stones and the picture of him and Sook Shin he kept under his pillow.

“What am I going to do.. I have no money.. “ he said as he gently touched the picture of the two them together.

“You know.. the best gifts aren’t bought with money.. but they come from the heart.. “ his father said as he and Bae walked into Jae Joong’s room.

“You know.. if you want to keep things a secret from us… when you are like this you should remember to lock and close your door..” Bae said as she jumped onto his bed and grabbed the stones, “ ooh pretty like rubies.. if you look in the light… they look like shiny star stones!! Joongie… wow already in love? Soo.. there is a god? Hahaha..”

“Noona, Father…” snatches the stones from Bae and puts them under his pillow, “ … what … it’s nothing..”

“It’s alright.. you don’t have to hide it … both your noona and I know… we want to help if we can.. you’ve seem so sad lately..” his father said as he knelt down to pick the picture Jae Joong dropped, “ Is this her… “

“I wanna see!!! Wow… not the kind of girl I would have expected would fall for you.. I would have expected a cold heartless person just like you… “ Bae said laughing rolling back and forth on the bed. Jae Joong lowers his head and says nothing.. Bae seeing that he was still sad stopped, placed her hand on his shoulder and handed him the picture. Giving him a hug, “What can we do to help..”

“Yes, if we can help you and her make up … we will do our best to help..” his father said as he sat down next to his two children.

“Thank you father.. noona.. I am going to get to see her on Sunday with the help of some friends and I was planning to just talk to her and say than I’m sorry and didn’t mean what I said… But it turns out to be her birthday that day too… and I don’t know what to give her..” Jae Joong said as he stared sadly at the picture.

“Well what does she like maybe you can make her something?” Bae said as she got up and began searching through his closet and then pulled out the hamtaro costume, “eh.. what is this”

“Noona !!!” Jae Joong screamed as he grabbed the costume from Bae. He looked at it and remembered that night she gave this to him and smiled, “I think I know how to apologize to her.. “

“Really? Joongie how? With that costume? “

“None of your business Noona.. “ said Jae Joong as he pulled out the paper form the costume, “ but I still don’t know what to give her for her birthday ..”

“Well what does she like?” his father asked.

“Other than you of course hahahha… oh wait she’s mad at you isn’t she…so its safe to say offering yourself as a birthday present is out of the question hahahahahah.” Bae jumped in saying as she place a choke hold on her seething baby brother.

Jae Joong extremely annoyed that his sister was having so much fun at his expense, grabbed her arm in preparation to tear a piece of his sister’s arm off, but his father stepped in before he could.

“Jae Joong.. no… “ his father said as he began to pinch Bae’s cheek, “ and you, hunny… don’t pick on your brother ok? If you want to help that is great but if not… don’t add fuel to the fire ok… “

“Aww daddy you aren’t any fun… “ she let go of her choke hold on Jae Joong and changed it to a tight hug instead.

“Well Jae Joong.. what does she like?”

“Well… ummm” Jae Joong stuttered, not knowing what to say, but then realized, “oh she loves sunflowers and these two stones… she goes to our sunflower field everyday to pick flowers… or at least she used to..”

“Oh.. I can make those stones into pendants.. and since there are two, you can keep one and give her one as a sign of your friendship. I should have them done by tonight ..” Bae said as she stared at the stones. As she was about to take the stones, Jae Joong closed his palm to cover the stones.

“I want to do it myself… can you just bring me the stuff to make it into a pendant and write down what I need to do?” Jae Joong said with a softness and determination in his voice.

Bae lightly smiled and got up,” Ok.. I’ll get you the supplies and write down detailed instructions… but if you have problems, call me to help ok?”

“Thank you noona.” Jae Joong said as he opened his hand to look at two stones.

Bae had walked out the room but then hearing the thanks from her brother popped in her head, “No thanks necessary… its nice to see that my brother is actually a normal human being that has feelings… hahahah .. well I’m off now”

Jae Joong in his mind couldn’t decide if it were a blessing that his sister and father were helping or something he would later regret…

“Hmm so she loves sunflowers… you and her go pick flowers at the field huh?” his father said as he smiled and placed his hand on top of Jae Joong’s head messing his hair up.

“She does… I just go there to make sure she doesn’t take any of the good ones that we can sell..” Jae Joong protests.

“Ok ok .. hmm how about this… instead of coming into that field and picking flowers … how about we make another field only for the two of you ? “

“How father? “

“Well the land next to that field.. you know the one right next to it that is untended… its actually land that your grandfather left for you. Though it’s ridden with weeds and such right now… if we work on it .. it would be a great place to have a sunflower field. You and I can work on it… tomorrow morning.. if we start tomorrow and work all day we could have the field done by Monday.”

“But her birthday is Sunday.. Is there anyway we can have it done by Sunday?”

“Jae Joong… Two days is too short of time… Only if we work day and night.. we would have it done but that is crazy… “

Jae Joong now determined jumped up and ran out of his room, his father ran out after him. Jae Joong headed right out to the tool shed. There he grabbed all the tools he could carry with him and made his way past his father running to the field. His father knowing what Jae Joong was up to grabbed the power generator near by and the lanterns and followed suit.. proud that his son was so determined but was worried that Jae Joong’s determination would a sign of things to come.

When his father reached the field… Jae Joong had already started working the land already, turning over the soil.

“Jae Joong!!!” his father yelled out as he grabbed the shovel from his son’s hand, “ Wait… are you really going to work on the field tonight?”

Jae Joong looked at his father and took back his shovel, “ If this is the only way to have the field ready by Sunday then yes.” After saying that he swung his shovel and dug it deep into the earth.

His father seeing that there was no stopping him went around the field planting in the lanterns to the ground and turned the generator on lighting up the entire field. Jae Joong did not take notice of this and continued to work the land while singing the song he and Sook Shin had sung together before, his father soon joined him. They worked all night long, til the sun began to rise on the horizon.

“Jae Joong.. it’s morning… we should stop and get some rest…and then we can come back and work on it” Jae Joong’s father said as he dropped the shovel to the ground and began heading back.

Jae Joong, covered in sweat did not waver.. he continued on disregarding his father’s heed.

“No… I wont leave until this is finished… It’s almost done.. father you go ahead and rest… I’m going to keep on going until its done.” Jae Joong responded to his father. That entire evening working nonstop Jae Joong and his father had cleared out all the weeds and turned the soil for 3/4s of the field. His father though wanting to continue on .. did not have any strength left in him… so surrendered and went home while Jae Joong continued on singing and turning the soil.

Around noon his father decided to go check on Jae Joong and help finish what was left to complete but when he got there he saw that the field was completely finished being tended. He scanned the field to look for Jae Joong, but he could not see him. He went down to the field and as he got closer he saw Jae Joong collapsed on the ground. His father rushed to him, picked Jae Joong up and ran as fast as he could home.

“Bae!!! Go get a towel and warm water. Honey get some medicine!!!” his father barked out as he ran past them heading towards Jae Joong’s room.

His mother and all 8 of his sisters ran around the house crazy, screaming grabbing towels, pillows, clothes, food, pretty much anything that they saw and rushed into Jae Joong’s room.

“What happened” all 9 of them said in unison, but were silenced by his father.

“He seems to have a fever.. poor Jae Joong… it must have been because of last night…” his father said as he began to wipe Jae Joong’s forehead with the towel.

“What do you mean last night?” his wife asked.

His father looked at Bae. With that look she instantly knew that it had something to do with Jae Joong’s plans to win Sook Shin back so she put the grabbed the medicine from her mother, placing it on the table near Jae Joong’s bed and began to push her 7 older sisters and mother out of the room, “It’s fine mother, unnies… Joongie just couldn’t admit defeat… Him getting sick is all my fault. I said that he couldn’t stay out all night in the cold without a sweater.. and he wouldn’t just say he couldn’t… you know Joongie… he always has to win…” Joongie really owes me for this…

“Bae!!! You know Joongie!!! How could you say something like that to him… our poor baby … you’re gonna get it now!!!” her 7 unnies said again in unison as they try to grab her but were blocked by their mother.

“Fine fine.. I know it’s my fault but shouldn’t we leave him alone in SILENCE so he can rest and get better..? Daddy can take care of him.. you know how Joongie feels about us being in his room.”

The ladies of the house began to whisper among themselves and agreed to what Bae had said and walked out of the room.

Before Bae left, she went up to Jae Joong and gave him a kiss on the forehead, “ I guess you really do love her don’t you…. My little Joongie is growing up I guess…” and then she turned to her father, “ Daddy… he will be ok right by Sunday right?”

“Hopefully… I would hate to see him if he doesn’t get better by then.. He worked so hard … I just want everything to work out so he can be happy again.” His father said as he pulled the covers over Jae Joong.

“Daddy.. should I make the pendant for him then? .. Since he isn’t well?”

“No.. just leave everything there for him.. if you do it for him.. then the gift will lose meaning… just leave it be.. he’ll be fine.. he should be conscious in a few hrs. When he is.. we’ll make sure that he eats and is better before he can start on anything else.. you should have seen him last night.. when he sets his mind on something.. there is no telling what this boy is capable of …” His father gets up and places his hand on Bae’s shoulder, “ lets leave him to rest…we’ll check on him in a bit”

As the two walk away, they turned to see a peaceful looking Jae Joong, “ I wonder what he’s dreaming of?” Bae said.

“Isnt’ it obvious?” her father giggled, “ Come on..”

Jae Joong slept peacefully all day and night until the day came.

“UGHAHAHHAHAHH?!?!?!?!? What day is it!!!!” Jae Joong screamed as he jumped out of bed still weak.

“Sh… do you want everyone to rush in here?? “ Bae said as she tried to get him back to bed.

“Noona what day is it?!?!”

“…”

“Noona….”

“It’s Sunday morning…, but don’t worry you finished the field already… all you have to do is make the pendant and you’ll be ready…”

“Where is the stuff… I need to make in now and then get ready to go meet her..” he said as he stumbled around the room.

“I put it all on your desk… are you sure you want to do this? I can do it for you?”

“No I can do it myself…”

“Ok.. well I took the stones in to a jeweler and she said the best thing to do with them is drill a small hole and thread a string or necklace through the hole. I told her it was for a special present.. and she said since it’s a soft stone you can carve something onto it so I bought a little chisel for you. I already drilled the hole and threaded black thread for the necklace.. all you have to do is draw a design and chisel it out..”

“Ok.. thanks” and Jae Joong looked at the stones.. he knew exactly what he wanted to draw on the two flat red stones.. sunflowers on both and their initials .. one on each. As he began to chip away at the design, his eyes blurred and he accidentally cut himself.

Bae rushed to his side and wrapped his right hand up, “ Joongie.. let me do it.. You aren’t well enough to do this..”

“But…”

“But nothing… you already drew the design.. all I’m doing is following it.. don’t argue you with me.. go back to sleep.. I’ll wake you 2 hrs before you have to go ok… “

“But…”

“What did I just say huh?... If you don’t listen to me.. I’ll tell our sisters about your little friend and how its her fault you’re like this.. Unnies will hunt her down.. do you want that to happen to your girlfriend?...”

“….”

“Go to sleep !!!”

“fine …” Jae Joong said as he climbed back into bed. He stared at his sister who let out a sigh and began work on the stones, “Noona…”

Bae turned around with a slightly annoyed look, “ what now…”

“Thank you … “ Jae Joong said as he closed his eyes.

“Babo… “ she giggled and returned to her work.

Two hrs later, Bae put the two beautifully crafted pendants in a jewelry box and handed it and a bag of seeds to a very nervous looking and still pale Jae Joong, “Here you go.. Are you sure you are going to be ok?”

Jae Joong smiled, “ I’ll be fine… “ he looked around, “Is it safe for me to go… where is everyone…?”

“Oh don’t worry about that.. daddy took them all into town to have dinner.. I volunteered to stay home to make sure you get everything you need… you owe me a dinner ok !!”

“Fine Fine… I’m off then.. bye!!” Jae Joong said as he happily walked out the front door.

“Good luck Joongie!!” Bae yelled from the door as she waved him goodbye.

Jae Joong made his way the sunflower fields. He went to his parent’s field and picked a bouquet of sunflowers and then walked past the field that was ready to have beautiful flowers planted. He let out a sigh and continued to walk. Halfway up the mountain, Jae Joong began to feel light headed, but it was not enough to stop him from making his way to the lake. When he reached the lake, he began to feel cold.. it seemed that his fever had not completely gone away. He shook it off and took out the hamtaro costume and put it on. He laid the bouquet of sunflowers and jewelry box underneath a tree as he began to catch fireflies with the bag and net Sook Shin had given him last time. When the bag was full, tired… he sad down and laid on the tree watching the sun set..

“Soon.. Sooki… I can tell you how I really feel.” He picked up the box , opened it and looked at the pendants. “ Cough cough.. I can finally say that I want you to be my sunflower girl forever… my Sooki..”
He placed the box back down near the flowers and looked up at the night sky anxiously waiting for it to be time for his Sook Shin to come…hoping that she would understand how he felt.. forgive him… and accept his heart..