Chapter 21: Do You Like My Son?

CHAPTER 21: Do You Like My Son?

Joon-woo stood at the balcony, his hands in his pocket. From where he was standing, he could see the roof tops of all the houses except from the prayer temple. He just stood there, staring at nothing in particular. There was only one person on his mind and that's Chin Ari. He really liked her right from the day he met her, the moment he heard her voice, he realized he was starting to fall for her.

She is innocent and meek, loving and...everything about her personality just draws him close to her. Is it her voice? Or her gentle spirit? She's someone who's enemies would be willing to protect after taking a good look at her.

For the past one week, she had been unconscious with an unstable temperature, falling and rising at any time of the day. She was having constant fever. It got him worried and the only person he could vent his frustration on was Cheong Su.

But when he saw her earlier...he doesn't want to admit it but deep in his heart he knows what lies there, he knows the feeling in there. He felt Lee Cheong Su wasn't really at fault or maybe, just maybe he is just not different from his cousin.

The moment he saw her, he felt like doing the unspeakable. If he couldn't control himself that moment how on earth would Cheong Su be able to control himself. It was nearly impossible.

There were so many things going on in his mind and the only thing that he considered important was Chin Ari. He felt really guilty when she almost broke down when she saw him in the room and even more guilty when she ran to the bathroom and started to cry.

"What's wrong me!" He couldn't fathom what's wrong with his systems. He couldn't get her off his mind, no matter how hard he tries. Is it an apology?....he doesn't know how to. He knows she won't feel free around him like she was before, everything would really feel awkward.

His removed his hands from his pocket and roughened his hair in frustration. Maybe this was just a small feeling, maybe it was just a moment feeling, by the time they are gone, he would get over it... Right?

"Joon-woo." A lady called from behind, he was so lost he didn't hear his name being called. Chun-Uwa walked towards him and stood beside him while staring at his face intently.

She cleared her throat when she noticed he still didn't notice her presence, it was then he realized there was someone standing beside him. "What were you thinking about, you failed to recognize my presence?"

Joon-woo looked at her briefly before speaking. "The Kongs are attacking the Eastern Region of the empire and so many lives and building have been destroyed." There was no point sharing the true fact disturbing him with her since she had no solution to it.

"I see." She sighed and looked in the same direction he had been staring at since she got there. "I also heard about it and.....it's really serious over there but I believe it would be over soon since the case has been handed over to Kim Kyung." Chun-Uwa hoped. Her gaze fell on the temple roof not too far away and she suddenly felt like going there. It was a trackable distance.

Chun-Uwa is the daughter a local chief, since her father wasn't at home to monitor her movement, she decided to pay a visit to her new found friend. Her father was a strict one and could be unbearable sometimes. She's the only daughter of her parent.

"So your father is currently on his own to the Empire for the meeting?" He asked and she smiled brightly.

"How else do you think I'll be able to see you today?" She asked. A blooming smile on her round face. "He doesn't even know anything about our friendship." She chuckled bitterly. She knew the progressive steps her father would have taken if he were to know.

"Hmm." He nodded, his mind somewhere else.

She stared at him, wondering what was going on that was drifting his mind elsewhere. She sighed and spoke up. "Doesn't seem like it's the calamities befalling the eastern region that's bothering you. Care to share it?" She pressed.

Joon-woo smirked at his evident problem. She could see through him but it was a good thing she couldn't tell what was going on within him.

" How about a walk to the temple?"

•-------•

"My dear, you look more healthy now. I'm sure that you are okay." Ha-Joon smiled at Chin Ari before facing Chin Bada.

"When are you planning to leave, I'm just curious to know, you know? Know where you are heading to?"

"The Eastern Region and we have no plans of coming back here, we are moving to my brother-in-law's place permanently." Chin Bada replied.

Ha-Joon smiled but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Why are you relocating? Is there anyone problem, I can help you with it, if it is serious." Ha-Joon didn't want them to leave, if they leave now, how are they going to meet next time and discuss about marriage.

Chin Bada didn't want to involve the Lees' in her family problem so she didn't give her the exact reason. "Nothing, we just decided to move over there since that's were the family house is based."

Ha-Joon knew she couldn't stop them from moving to their family house, she actually thought it was some problem related to financial instability and thought she could help with that but nothing seems to be going the way she planned it in her head.

"Uhm.....Chin Ari, do you like my son?" She asked bluntly, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Chin Ari who was holding her sister's hand and laying bed her sat upright immidiately and stared at the woman.

I expected this; was what was on her mind. She knew it, she sensed it and she knew she wasn't wrong. Chin Bada who was pouring water for Chin Ari to drink stopped pouring the water and accidentally poured it on the table instead.

She immidiately felt embarrassed. "Ah, sorry." She reached out for a napkin and cleaned the table surface.

Chin Ari didn't expect this question at this time though and didn't know what to say in the return. Does she like Joon-woo? Well not really, she hardly knows him. "Auntie, what's your point?"

Ha-Joon smiled vanished. That wasn't the reaction she expected from Chin Ari, the girl is way too smart to get her point and Ha-Joon was too shameless to keep it in anymore.

"Well, before you passed out a week ago, I suggested a marriage proposal to your mother, if you and my dear Joon-woo can get together it would really be a good thing. I just want to know how you feel about it"

Chin Ari sighed and explained carefully so the woman won't hold somethings against her. "Madam Lee, actually.....I hardly know anything about young lord and I'm not ready to settle down in a marriage...I still..."She ran out of words and sighed in the end.

"Anyways, we'll be leaving soon, what's the point of starting what has no end." Chin Sun popped in. Though she knows it is rude to interfere in matters like this, she couldn't help it.

Chin Bada glared at her but the girl ignored it and faced her sister. "I don't want you to get married now either, if you get married, you'll leave us alone and I'll miss you a lot. I don't want to get to see you once in a while I want to see you often"

Ha-Joon was unhappy, she was even willing to go on her knees right now, it's scarce to find non political- non noble but sincere daughter in laws like this. "One day she'll still get married, if she doesn't, you will and you won't get to see each other often!" This time around her target was Chin Sun.

Oh please, not me this time.