Chapter 6: SECRET COUPLE

SECRET COUPLE

When she was done with the assignments instructed to her, she handed the list of school supplies that were running short to Madam Ji-yeon.

"The hostel governess complained about some of the beddings. I think they should be replaced before September, the start of a new school year. And as for the milk, the present supplier is the cheapest there is," Min-hee explained.

Judging from Madam Ji-yeon's face, Min-hee could still see that her temper hadn't improved at all. She wore a more solemn look and her lips were devoid of color.

"Maybe I should wait till that September to check if we will even have pupils," Madam Ji-yeon said closed-mouthed. "You are dismissed for today."

"Thank you, Madam," Min-hee bowed before exiting the sitting room.

Even though Min-hee felt sad about her canceled date with Geun, she knew it was for the better. There were still plenty of nights in the future to spend time with her beau. Because Min-hee had come to understand that the presence of 'this' Ki Woong wasn't a good thing and in fact, would be the worst thing to hit the village since the invasion, and even if he wouldn't be staying in Bukchon for a long time, his footprints would still be disastrous.

She sighed, packed her belongings and made her way to the school park . . .

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Min-hee brought her bicycle to a halt and reached into the pannier to grab her water bottle. She wanted a drink of water.

The gray plastic water bottle had the Yongsan School's logo embedded on it. Madam Chae Ji-yeon really raised the school to a very high standard which made the school to be so successful in spite of its high fees.

Although Madam Ji-yeon didn't teach, she referred to herself as the Director instead of the proprietress. She made it clear from the onset and when any student had a slip of tongue, that student would be nabbed with serious punishment.

Irrespective of Madam Ji-yeon's strict ways and unnecessary discipline measures, the school grew bigger in population and even when she would retire, her only son, Geun would take over the leadership. And his wife, when he eventually has one, would also stand beside him to run the school.

The thought of Geun getting married made Min-hee's face radiate with a smile irrespective of how disappointed she was.

She began pedaling again but gently as she wasn't in no hurry to get home.

Knowing Geun all her life but still wasn't noticed by him was a hurdle which Min-hee had to muster enough energy and confidence to cross.

From crying herself to sleep when he wouldn't be returning to the village for the holidays, to being unimaginably happy and excited when he says a casual "hi" or "hello" to her on his way to Madam Chae Ji-yeon's sitting room.

But along the line, Min-hee knew she had to say something to him instead of gawking at him from her desk whenever he was at the school hallway.

And then a few weeks before she would come to know that Geun was returning back to the village as the school part-time bursar, Min-hee approached him on his way to the sitting room, "Hello Geun. I'm not sure if you remember any Jeon Min-hee. Reverend Jeon Dae-hyun's daughter, the—"

"Of course, I do," Geun chuckled and then smiled at her in a way no one had ever done. "I know you quite well. You look so lovely, Min-hee."

Her cheeks burned red instantly as she struggled to keep her voice and composure normal.

Nothing prepared her for that level of anxiety and she hadn't thought of how well Geun would flow immediately with the conversation and even compliment her looks at the end.

Well, after that day, Geun made it a habit to always greet her on his way to the sitting room and sometimes, he would perch on the corner of her desk, chatting with her like as if, indeed a past friendship had existed between the two, and she hadn't been, "minny—the skinny tangled girl from the Vicarage" as one of his female friends then had described her.

A name she got for her very long hair, pale skin and skinny look. Even Mi-jung told her that the only difference between her and Rapunzel was that Rapunzel was a princess and Min-hee was nobody. Just a girl who helped her father fetch the candles for mass.

In the end, as grown ups, they all sort after those things they had mocked Min-hee for having. The beauty trend was now all about long healthy hair, pale skin and to be on the slim side which Min-hee didn't stress her soul to acquire.

Min-hee was always grateful to her late mother for being her backbone during her childhood. Most days, she would come back home crying and not wanting to be in school the next day, and sometimes, she would want to cut her hair after her classmates must have put their juice straws and pencils into her hair.

But her mother's soothing voice would encourage little Min-hee, telling her, "Jagiya, what people don't understand, they attack. Your beauty can't be understood."

With that, her mother would pick up a brush to remove the straws stuck in her hair.

And every morning, little Min-hee would sit still and let her mother brush and style her hair for school, giving her another ounce of confidence to begin the day.

So, during her everyday chat with Geun, she was always grateful that he didn't bring up their childhood memories that had to do with the bullying from his pack of female friends.

And when he did buy her snacks, she politely declined, knowing fully well that Madam Ji-yeon won't approve of such friendship. With that, she had remained on her guard, nice but not encouraging.

So eventually, Geun invited her to have dinner with him, which of course she refused.

Wistfully, he had asked why.

"Geun, I work for your mother. I don't think it is proper for you to take me, the hired help, to dinner," she answered.

Deep down, she knew how Madam Ji-yeon could be and going out with her son might cause her to lose her job.

He made a grunting sound, "Huh? But Omma isn't a problem. She will be cool about it, I promise."

Even as she had remained unwavering, she later succumbed and agreed to a date with him.

And after then, they started seeing each other on a regular basis but mostly at a secret spot away from public eyes and even when they came across each other in working hours, it was strictly business.

Well, Geun had never hinted on getting her into bed, not in a serious way actually. And somehow, Min-hee never wished to be the only twenty-three-year-old virgin in captivity.

Even though she wasn't expecting her father's approval, she still counted on his less interference with her life.

And apart from breaking the chains of her virginity, she also so semi-desperately wanted was for Geun to tell his mother about them.

"When will there ever be the right time?" Min-hee thought sadly as she peddled with a despondent demeanor.

And with the crucial matter at hand which had taken not only Geun's attention away from her but would also prolong the opportunity for them to openly be a couple.

She sadly made the turn into her home, parked her bicycle at the back of the house and walked into the kitchen.

Her large almond eyes grew in astonishment as she saw the other person sitting at the kitchen table with her father, and now standing politely to greet her . . .