Chapter 1: A new school term

It was the first day of the school semester. Arriving in front of the main gate of SeJae high school was a large BMW. A handsome boy stepped out from the vehicle after the vehicle pulled to a stop. Girls who were at the school gate stopped and giggled, most probably at his good looks. Following him, there were two other ladies who alighted from the car. Both have large watery eyes and long silky hair.

 

"Hyun Woo ah!" A voice called out.

The chap turned, in response to the call.

 

"Ah, Sung Min!" He replied. "How was the school break?"

 

"Don't talk about it when the school is starting again! It's our second year and I have not gotten any girlfriend! How pathetic am I!" Sung Min said with a frowning face.

 

" Hey Hyun Jeong, Hyun Joo!"

 

"Hello!" The both girls replied.

 

"Hyun Woo oppa, I will bring Hyun Joo to her reporting office. See you later! See you in class, Sung Min," Hyun Jeong said with her arms around Hyun Joo, bringing in the younger girl into the school.

 

"Hyun woo ah, Hyun Jeong is rather pretty. Why doesn't she has any boyfriend? Maybe I can.."

 

Before Sung Min could finish his sentence, Hyun Woo raised his elbow and elbowed Sung Min at his chest. "Don't you dare to have any thoughts on Hyun Jeong. She is a nice girl. Any guy who wants her must get through me!"

 

"That was painful! Anyway, chill brother. I was just kidding. I will never go after anyone related to you! Imagine having such a difficult relative.. That's horror!" Sung Min giggled.

 

Soon the first school bell rang, signaling the start of the new school year.

 

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Hyun Joo was a year younger than the others. Where Hyun Woo, Hyun Jeong and Sung Min were all in their second year of high school, Hyun Joo was a freshman in school. Hyun Jeong and Hyun Joo were borne before the lunar new year, allowing them to join the batch before the rest of their peers.

 

Sung Min and Hyun Jeong were in the same class whereas Hyun Woo and one of the other close friend, Jun Young, were in the other class. All four of them knew each other in elementary school and have been good friends since then.

 

Hyun Jeong has an outgoing personality. She often hang out with the boys, as a result, she has very few female close friends. Out of the few female friends she had, Ji Eun was one of them. She knew Ji Eun in middle school as she was her seat partner and was Jun Young's neighbor. Unlike Hyun Jeong, Ji Eun is an introvert. Thus, Hyun Jeong would always help her in conveying her thoughts and idea. Ji Eun was very grateful for Hyun Jeong's actions.

 

Although they were classmates in middle school, Ji Eun is now in the same class as Hyun Woo. Knowing that Ji Eun is Hyun Jeong's rare few female friends, Hyun Woo often looks out for her in class.

 

During the lunch break, Hyun Woo, Jun Young and Ji Eun were sitting at their usual spot in the cafeteria, waiting for those in the other class to join them. Not long later, Sung Min joined them at the table.

 

"Where is Hyun Jeong?" Hyun Woo asked, seeing that Sung Min came alone.

 

"She went to find Hyun Joo. Call yourself Hyun Joo's brother. You don't even care about your own sister's first day in high school! I wonder if you were Hyun Joo's real brother or is Hyun Jeong her real sibling instead." Sung Min replied.

 

The others chuckled on hearing Sung Min's comment. Hyun Woo turned and shrugged. Just then, he saw a familiar figure.

 

"Hyun Jeong ah!"

 

"Hyun Woo oppa!" Hyun Jeong responded.

 

"Where is Hyun Joo? I though you went to find her?"

 

"Now then you pretend to show more concern to your real sister," Jun Young commented.

 

Hyun Woo gave him a glare before turning to look at Hyun Jeong for an answer.

 

"She wants to have her meal with her new classmates. They looked so cuddly and cute!"

 

"Please do not tell me you cuddled all of them!" Hyun Woo complained.

 

"No, I did not. I would probably scare them off and Hyun Joo would blame me if she has no friends in school. I can always do that when they are closer," Hyun Jeong said with a wide grin on her face.

 

The others, except Hyun Woo, laughed on hearing her. Hyun Woo simply shook his head, wonder what's with Hyun Jeong and cuddling.

 

Lunch break soon ended with the group dispersing back to their classes.

 

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"Finally the day is over!" Jun Young exclaimed.

 

"Dude, it is only the first day of the semester and you are already complaining?" Hyun Woo laughed at his friend.

 

"Shall we hang out after school? Let's go to your place! We can have food and entertainment without paying a single cent!"

 

Hyun Woo's family business is one of the largest business empire in the country. His house can be considered to be equivalent to a palace in the present day's context. He has a few loyal servants who had been with the family since Hyun Woo was borne.

 

"Sure, why not? Today is only the first day of the semester. No studying allowed! Ji Eun, do you want to join us?"

 

Seeing that Ji Eun was hesitant, Hyun Woo added, " I think it will be more fun with you around too!"

 

"Alright, since Hyun Jeong will be around too right?"

 

"Hey guys!" Sung Min called as he ran towards the group.

 

"How come you are alone again?" Hyun Woo asked.

 

"It's because Hyun Jeong went to check on her 'sister' again, unlike Hyun Joo's real brother," Sung Min replied while he tried to steady his breathing from the run.

 

Just at this moment, Hyun Woo's hand phone rang.

 

"Where are you? We are all waiting for you to go home." Hyun Woo asked as he answered the phone.

 

"Who are we?" Hyun Jeong replied.

 

"Jun Young, Ji Eun, Sung Min and me. They are coming to our place for the afternoon."

 

"Ah, you guys can go first."

 

"Why? Where are you going? It is only the first day of school. Please don't tell me you are having extra classes or whatsoever. Excuses will not be entertained."

 

"Are you going out with a guy?" Jun Young shouted in the background.

 

Hyun Woo turned and stared at Jun Young with most of his might.

 

"Hyun Joo isn't done for the day. I will want to wait for her. Uncle Hae Sung's car won't be able to fit so many people as well. We will make our way home once Hyun Joo is done for the day."

 

Hyun Jeong made a point there. Including the driver, there were already 5 people. As much as he was reluctant to leave without Hyun Jeong, he could not possibly ask his chauffeur to send his friends to his place without him, considering the fact that both Hyun Jeong and Hyun Joo are in school. Neither could he cancel the afternoon's session as he does not want to disappoint his peers.

 

"Let me know when you two are ready to go home. I will get Uncle Hae Sung to go and pick the two of you up."

 

"We can make our way home ourselves..."

 

Before Hyun Jeong could finish her sentence, Hyun Woo interrupted.

 

"There is no room for discussion. Call me once you guys are ready to go home."

 

Hyun Woo knew that Hyun Jeong would suggest to go home by themselves as she did not want to trouble their servant to come and pick them up. Hyun Jeong has a habit of doing things herself, instead of asking others for help. Hyun Woo could not understand her principle for doing that at times.

 

As soon as he put down the call, the same vehicle which sent the trio to school in the morning turned into the car pouch.

 

The group of youngsters got into the vehicle, making their way to the Jo's mansion.

 

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"Woah, the sky is already so dark. What time is it now?" Jun Young asked as he looked out from the window.

 

The group has been playing all sorts of computer games since afternoon.

 

"It is already half past 7! No wonder I am so hungry!"

 

"Half past 7?!" Hyun Woo exclaimed and jumped up from the couch. He picked up his phone and frowned when he saw that there was no missed call.

 

"Hey, time for dinner!" Hyun Woo's grandmother called out.

 

"Oh, great! Just in time! I could feel my stomach growling." Jun Young exclaimed.

 

Just as they approached the dinning area, someone opened the main door.

 

"We are back!" Hyun Joo yelled when she entered the house.

 

"You guys came back just in time for dinner. Wash your hands and come to the dinning area." Aunt Se Yeon said.

 

"Hey kids, how was your first day of school?" Hyun Woo's father asked as he sat down.

 

"Uncle, since when was school interesting?!" Sung Min replied.

 

"Mine was awesome! I made a few new friends!" Hyun Joo exclaimed.

 

They talked about Hyun Joo's first day in high scho throughout the entire meal. Most of them seemed to be enjoying the meal, other than Hyun Woo. Clearly enough, he was not happy. He was not happy with Hyun Jeong not informing that they were done for the day; he was not happy with Hyun Jeong that they came back by themselves; he was not happy with Hyun Jeong that they reached home so late. He was not happy.

 

Hyun Jeong knew that she has stepped on Hyun Woo's toes when she noticed Hyun Woo did not participate in the conversations throughout the meal. She, being guilty conscious, did not dare to look at his direction. She knew that he was focusing on her throughout the meal as she could feel the intense glare from his direction.

 

The Jo's chauffeur sent the trio back after they had their meal. Hyun Joo went back to her room after the meal and Hyun Jeong was in the kitchen, helping the servants with the dirty dishes.

 

Hyun Jeong was so engrossed in washing the dishes that she did not realised she was alone in the kitchen with Hyun Woo. He gestured the others to leave the kitchen quietly as he entered the kitchen.

 

"Why didn't you call me when you two were done?"

 

Hyun Jeong had a shock when she heard him. She turned and saw Hyun Woo standing behind her, back leaning against the cupboard. She knew she was in deep mess when she saw that Hyun Woo's angry face.

 

"I knew the way back and I didn't want to trouble Uncle Hae Sung. I also need to teach Hyun Joo the way back from school.."

 

"Why can't you teach her another day? It was already so late. She would have been so tired!"

 

Hyun Jeong remained silent. Not that she has nothing to answer to Hyun Woo's question, she knew Hyun Woo was angry at this moment. No matter what she said, it would only make him more angry.

 

She always do not understand why Hyun Woo will get angry with her so easily. If the same thing happened to Hyun Joo or Sung Min they all, he would not even reach this stage of confrontation, like what she is currently in. The only answer her brain could give her is that Hyun Woo simply did not like her as much as he does to the others.

 

Awkward silence soon filled the kitchen. Hyun Jeong did not bother to break the silence although it was suffocating. She just continue washing the plates. Hyun Woo, on the other hand, seeing that Hyun Jeong has no intention to reply him, stomped out of the kitchen.