Pay With Your Heart

Heart etched stories and legacies are shared at funerals, and it couldn't be more true than at Mrs Lee's funeral. Everyone had a thing or two to say about the beautiful soul that had passed on, not out of pretence or necessity, but because she had touched every soul present at her funeral. There could be no greater legacy than her beautiful soul, her enormous heart, her great works and the mark she had left behind.

For the first time since her death, it finally occurred to Eun-sun that Mrs Lee was truly gone. She wouldn't get to her see her smile or laugh again. Get to hear her encouraging words, or share a meal with her. She had been going through so much, her brain had refused to process and accept her death until now. Again, she had lost another person in her life.

This loss was different. It was more hurtful than when Song-Hee had hurt her and kicked her out. This was far more painful. More heart wrecking.

All her life, she had missed out on having true motherly love and care, until Mrs Lee came into her life. Despite their difference in status and age, Mrs Lee had treated her like a friend, a daughter and even more. She had blessed her with the most amazing man she could have ever come across, whose heart and trust she had foolishly broken.

Tears burned in her eyes, and the dark sunglasses she had on was all that shielded her eyes from the prying eyes of others. Her throat burned and her heart ached terribly. If it was this hard on her, she couldn't imagine how difficult it would be for Dan-Han.

Her searching eyes pored over the multitude of people till it landed on him. There he was sitting alone with his men forming a barrier around him. It was obvious he had no intentions of speaking with anyone. Her gaze lingered on him with various thoughts going through her head.

"He's handsome from a distance right?" Someone said behind her. Eun-sun snapped her around. She was surprised to see the somewhat familiar face she had hoped not to see again. Ji-Tae.

He looked at Dan-Han before taking the empty seat next to her.

"The seat's taken," Eun-sun told him.

"I know. By that beautiful friend of yours over there." He said, pointing his chin to Hei-Ran who was surprisingly talking to a strange man.

"Don't worry, he isn't flirting with her, after all, she's taken." He smiled knowingly. Eun-sun gazed at him with intent curiosity, while the man chuckled.

He leaned towards her. "Don't worry princess. I told you I know things." He said in a casual note. Eun-sun couldn't help but narrow her eyes at him. Did he do that to come talk to her?

She glared at him from behind her glasses when he stretched out a handkerchief to her. He must have a lot of handkerchiefs if he keeps handing one to her every time they met.

"You can give that to someone else." She didn't intend to be rude, but the man reeked of trouble, and she didn't want any of it. And her voice also sounded too hoarse to talk.

She watched as he smiled and kept back his handkerchief. "I knew you'd be one hell of a woman, but I like a challenge." His creepy smile made her stomach churn, she couldn't handle him for one second.

She took off her glasses to stare directly at him, not minding her stark red eyes. "What do you want, Mr Ji-Tae?" She coldly asked. She didn't think these annoying intrusions from him were casual.

"Nothing." He shrugged. "Just wanted to know the woman who broke my impeccable cousin." He grinned.

"Well, now you've seen me. If you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone." She wasn't been nice at all. As a matter of fact, she was done being polite with him. It was obvious he was going to be one of those pain in the ass that was really hard to get rid of.

A deep chuckle rumbled out of his chest. He shot her an amusing look before rising to his feet. "I think we'll be great friends, Eun-sun. I hope I can call you that now?" He stretched out his hand, but she rolled her eyes at him, completely ignoring her.

She didn't know what he found amusing, but he bellowed out an annoying laugh as he walked away.

What an annoying guy! For some unknown reason, she felt uncomfortable around him.

Eun-sun glanced at Dan-Han. She was surprised to see him staring at her. He held her gaze for a split second before looking away. She watched as he rose to his feet and walked to the graveside when his attention was requested. It seems this was how it was going to be for now. Silent treatment - no talking and just starting. But she didn't mind, as long as she got to see him, she was okay.

The funeral came to an end after an hour and Eun-sun still had her gaze fixed on Dan-Han who had knowingly refused to look her way.

"It's okay. Everything will be fine." Hei-Ran comforted her. She didn't know if she could still believe those words, but she wanted to, so she reluctantly nodded. She wanted to have faith.

They had barely taken another step towards their ride when In-Ha suddenly stopped in front of her.

Eun-sun glanced at him while he returned the favour.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked. Eun-sun hesitated but she signalled Hei-Ran to excuse them, and she did.

"Tell me what you want, In-Ha." Her voice sounded cold, making In-Ha quite nervous.

He gulped as he looked at her from head to toe, "You look so lean. Have you been well?"

She frowned and glared at him. Obviously, he hadn't stopped her to ask her that, right?

"Is that it?" She asked in a colder tone.

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"I'm sorry, Eun-sun. I'm sorry for the way I acted. I shouldn't have." He apologized.

"You're right. You shouldn't have." She drawled. She still hadn't been able to understand what had gone into him on that day for him to have done something like that. Kissing her? And seeing the problems that followed after that, she really wanted to hate him.

He took a step towards her. "Eun-sun, I'm truly sorry, believe me. I just want us to talk."

"Talk-"

"Please." He begged. Eun-sun silently stared at him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to have a conversation with him, she hasn't prepared herself for any of that.

Noticing her hesitation, In-Ha pleaded again, "Please, just go out with me and hear me out. If not for anything for the sake of our friendship." Eun-sun blankly stared at him before nodding her head.

"Just once. But if you waste my time or do anything funny again." She paused and intensely glared at him. "I'll kill you."

She walked away without sparing him another glance. She approached Hei-Ran who looked lost trying to look for something or someone.

"What is it?" She asked attracting Hei-Ran's attention.

"I think I just saw A-Yeong."

"A-Yeong?" That was strange. Why would she be here? She doubted A-Yeong knew any member of the Lee family.

"Are you sure?" Eun-sun asked while Hei-Ran turned to look at her.

"I'm sure." She confidently replied. She looked in the direction she had spotted her before glancing back at Eun-sun.

"I think she's meeting up with someone here.. And I can't shake off the feeling that that girl is up to no good, and whatever it is, I'll find out."