The morning before the scorching afternoon, Yujin continued to listen to the series of chatter of Sojung who was talking about Jinwoo's kindness in front of her. The arrogant general turned out to have a soft side that he had been hiding from everyone for so long. And this time Jinwoo let Yujin know through Sojung. He didn't bother to show his kindness to others and just let Sojung tell her everything she knew.
"We didn't actually know each other back then, because Jinwoo was very cold and cynical about everyone. But after he ran away and was adopted, he secretly often came to this orphanage to see his friends. It turned out that he was quite sensitive to the plight of his friends suffering here and decided to do something to save us from the cruelty of that bastard man." Sojung's story is fiery.
Yujin just nodded her head slightly while listening to every story that Sojung told. Occasionally she also glanced at Jinwoo who was looking straight at his childhood friend without giving any comments.
"Then what about after that?"
"Jinwoo asked his father to watch over this orphanage. Once a week, Jinwoo's father came to bring groceries and also give money for the advancement of this orphanage. But the money was actually used by the bastard to gamble. But at least he doesn't torture us anymore, he lets us play and also goes to school with the help from the government."
"And it lasts for years?" Yujin asked in disbelief.
How could girls and boys like the ones she saw in the orphanage's yard have experienced such unpleasant things in this orphanage. Luckily her father loved her very much and she didn't have to live in an orphanage even though her mother had died giving birth to her.
"Yeah, we all held on until I was really ready to kill him."
Yujin widened her eyes in disbelief at Jinwoo's words. How could he be so relaxed in front of his best friend when he was talking about murder. If it's only in front of her she's fine, but what about Sojung? She was afraid that the woman would be shocked after hearing the cold tone of Jinwoo's words. But when she looked back at Sojung, what she found was the exact opposite. The woman was acting normal as she raised her eyebrows casually.
"Well… sadly that guy died earlier after taking an overdose. But it's good, so we don't have to suffer anymore because of him. Now look, without that man this orphanage can stand strong with a proper building." Sojung said proudly while observing the entire neat and clean living room.
Children's photos and certificates of appreciation belonging to the children are neatly displayed on the walls. Yujin was very moved to see the struggle of the children in the orphanage.
"In the past, every time it rained we would sleep on wet mattresses because the roof of this building was leaking. Not to mention the bathroom that is not suitable for use and also the kitchen full of mice. I really never thought that I would still be alive after I ate the food cooked from that disgusting kitchen," said Sojung with a look of disgust that looks funny.
Yujin subconsciously laughed at Sojung's behavior and it did not escape Jinwoo's view. He had been watching Yujin's reaction ever since when Sojung talked about his past. The choice to take Yujin to the orphanage was indeed the right one because her chatty childhood friend would immediately reveal whatever memories he had experienced. He didn't have to bother trying to tell Yujin how his life used to be. Gradually the woman will know how he has been all this time.
"Oh my gosh, it's already noon. I'll prepare lunch first. You guys should have lunch here too. There is no rejection of, Lee Jinwoo!" Sojung said fiercely before Jinwoo let out his voice.
Jinwoo finally chose silence and went to the yard to play with the children. Meanwhile, Yujin chose to follow Sojung to the kitchen to help the beautiful woman cook.
"Sojung, are you the only grown woman here?" Yujin asked surprised while watching Sojung who was busy taking out vegetables from the refrigerator. When Sojung seemed to have a hard time getting cold vegetables out of the refrigerator, she quickly helped the woman put the vegetables on the table which were quite a lot.
"Now maybe I'm the only grown woman here. Not many of my friends want to return to this orphanage after they grow up and are free to look for work outside the orphanage," said Sojung looking gloomy.
Yujin looked regretful for bringing up Sojung's past which didn't seem very pleasant. Moreover, the woman now looks quieter than before who is quite active in telling whatever her childhood memories are. She felt compelled to apologize to her immediately.
"Sojung, I'm sorry."
"Huh what?"
Sojung who was previously busy peeling onions immediately looked up and looked at Yujin confused.
"Sorry for making you uncomfortable." Yujin explained.
After that she chose to cut the fish that she would fry using flour. She didn't dare to ask Sojung any more questions because she didn't really like her past stories. While she herself did not have a good topic to discuss with Sojung.
"I used to live here with my other friends, Kim Nara and Cho Jeno. They are my friends who are still living in this orphanage until we both grow up."
Sojung's words suddenly flowed just like that. Yujin who was originally busy pouring oil into the frying pan, immediately focused her attention on Sojung. She was quite interested in Sojung's story about the state of this orphanage in the past and how Jinwoo was. At least through Sojung she could find out how Jinwoo was in the past.
"Then where are they now?"
"Gone," answered Sojung briefly.
Again Yujin felt guilty towards Sojung and also felt annoyed at Sojung at the same time. How could she tell something that in the end can only make her sad when she remembers it. Moreover she now felt bad for the woman for asking such sensitive things again.
"Sorry, you must think I'm bothered by my not-so-beautiful past in this orphanage. But actually I feel normal. I mean what happened to me in the past didn't make me sad at all, it's just that I'm at a loss to tell you, Yujin. Since the beginning, we— orphanage children, have always been faced with complicated problems, even after that bastard died, we still got complicated problems."
"Then what about general Lee?"
"Oh, Lee Jinwoo..."
Sojung looked thoughtful. Suddenly she got the idea to tell a little from her past related to Jinwoo. She was sure that Yujin would be much more interested if she talked about Jinwoo's problem than the problem of their suffering in the past.
"Jinwoo, me, Nara, and Jeno are the only residents of the old generation orphanage who still care about this orphanage. At least that was then, a year and a half ago. Now only me and Jinwoo are left who are still fighting for the fate of the children who live in this orphanage. Nara and Jeno choose to go out of their way to live their own lives. Maybe you don't know Jeno, but I'm sure you know Nara," said Sojung excitedly.
Yujin shook her head slowly while remembering all her relationships that might be named Kim Nara. But as far as she remembered, she didn't know Nara at all nor had a friend named Nara. Then who is Kim Nara?
"You did not know? Tsk... you must have never watched television or read gossip magazines. Kim Nara's name has recently been the subject of discussion among Korean people because of the various scandals that ensnared her. Even recently, I heard that Nara was caught in an affair with one of the officials who owned the television station."
"Is it true?" Yujin asked in disbelief. Even though she thought that the Korean people were in an uproar about her marriage to Lee Jinwoo. Turns out she was wrong. She's too confident.
"Well… even though I don't want to believe it, but that's how it is. Kim Nara who was once an innocent cheerful girl, has now turned into a grown woman with a thousand and one charms.
"We used to be very frustrated with our poverty. Even though Jinwoo helps us every day, the money always goes to our needs and also renovating the orphanage building. Even though sometimes we want to buy something and dress like teenagers in general. Then Nara and Jeno decided to find work so that we would at least have our own money to buy the things we wanted. But they didn't allow me to find a job and only became a caretaker in this orphanage." Sojung sighed remembering her past. The day they should all be happy, but it didn't work out as it should.
"The first day they looked for work, none of them got one. At that time Jeno applied for a job as a bartender, while Nara applied for a job to be a waitress at a cafe. But both failed because at that time they did not have any experience. Then Jeno decided to become a cleaning service in a company, and Jeno managed to get the job. Meanwhile, Nara still hasn't found the right job for her.
"One day Nara got a pamphlet containing job vacancies to become a bar singer. Hesitantly Nara tried to register to become a singer in the bar because she had no other choice. It was the only opportunity she had and she couldn't help but take it. I remember how nervous Nara was when the bar manager called her for an interview."
With changing facial expressions, Sojung tells the story of Nara which is so legendary.
"I who accompanied her to do interviews kept encouraging her and praying for her to get the job, even though we both knew that being a bar singer was the same as being a prostitute. At least that's what people think, even though it's actually not like that.
In the end Nara got the job. In the first three months, Jeno or I would often pick her up at the bar after she finished singing. Because she always came home after ten o'clock, Jeno and I decided to take turns waiting for Nara at the bus stop so that Nara wouldn't be lonely or disturbed by bad people who might want to disturb her.
But after three months, both Jeno and I were bored. Jeno, who takes part time work at a mini market, can no longer pick up Nara because his working time starts at ten in the evening until six in the morning. Meanwhile I sometimes fall asleep before ten o'clock because I'm too tired to take care of the orphanage by myself since morning. Finally there is no one to accompany Nara home."
"What is wrong?"
Sojung's languid face explained everything. Yujin was sure that the story after this would be unpleasant.
"Nara didn't have a problem with it at first. But after six months working at the bar and going home alone, Nara slowly changed. She who used to be an innocent girl, turned into a very fashionable modern girl. Every day I saw branded things strewn on her bed and she would go to the bar with someone in the car.
"Jeno and I became suspicious. We started to dig up information about it, but Nara always said that everything she got was a gift from a coworker. Not believing it, Jeno and I finally decided to follow Nara.
"We left the orphans to Jinwoo, who happened to come to visit the orphanage that afternoon. What Nara said was clearly full of gibberish."
The pot on the stove sizzled. Sojung deftly turned down the heat immediately and put the vegetables she had cut into the boiling broth. The smell instantly made Yujin feel hungry and couldn't wait to eat the food with the children. She thought that Sojung was indeed the older sister and mother of the poor orphans.
"Smells good."
"My cooking is known to be delicious," replied Sojung arrogantly. But it didn't last long, Sojung immediately remembered the story again.
"Where were we? Ahh... At that time Jeno had an accident and died after I tried to take him to the hospital. Because we were too focused on Nara, we didn't see a bus passing fast enough in front of us. I was the first to realize that I immediately jumped back so I wouldn't be hit by the bus, but Jeno... the guy didn't see the bus coming and his tall body just flew away after the front of the bus hit him hard. I panicked and immediately took him to the hospital, but his life was not saved. We all feel very lost and also sad."
"It's not entirely your fault." Yujin said comfortingly. She gently stroked Sojung's shoulder, which was slightly shaking with emotion.
"Jeno is already happy in heaven."
Sojung raised one hand and signaled Yujin to stop comforting her. She felt no need to be comforted. After all, now all that will only be a painful past for her.
"A week after Jeno died I confessed to Nara that the reason Jeno was hit by a bus was because we followed her. Nara was very angry with me and after that she decided to leave this orphanage. Jinwoo tried to restrain Nara and speak to her, but Nara did not waver at all. Even though at first I thought Jinwoo would succeed in persuading her because that afternoon I saw Nara crying on his shoulder and Nara looked better. But the next day I found Nara ready with all her things and without telling me anything she just left the orphanage with a man I didn't know."
"Nara decided to live alone? She probably already has a boyfriend."
"All the men she met at the bar were her boyfriends," said Sojung fiery. On her face was a flash of annoyance and also a sense of disappointment that was so thick for the woman.
"So far, Nara is actually in a relationship with a wealthy businessman whom she met at the bar where she works. But Nara couldn't tell me because I would obviously be against their relationship. And what angers Jinwoo the most is that he already knew everything long before Jeno and I decided to follow Nara. Lee Jinwoo had known all along that Nara was in a relationship with a rich man who could provide for all his needs."
Yujin gasped and couldn't believe the twists and turns of Sojung's life and her former friends. She didn't think that Jinwoo ever had a friend and also lost a friend. It must be very difficult. She couldn't imagine how Jinwoo could go through his days with a raised chin and a flat face that seemed to show that he was fine. Yet in it the man hides a lot of pain and bitterness.
"Sojung... I..."
Yujin was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say to the strong woman because he had never felt what Sojung felt. So far her life has been too straight without any problems.
"It's okay Yujin, I'm fine. I feel very relieved now that I can pour all my thoughts on you because I haven't had anyone to share my story with. Even though I have Jinwoo, but you definitely know how Jinwoo is. That man is so cold and mysterious that it's hard to talk to him about such sensitive matters."
In her heart Yujin confirmed all Sojung's words. Jinwoo was indeed a very cold and almost untouchable man. Maybe if she wasn't a stubborn woman, she wouldn't have married Lee Jinwoo either. Grateful that her parents and Jinwoo's adoptive parents had made stupid promises about her future, so that she could end up with Lee Jinwoo at this time.
"How was your relationship so far until you finally got married? I think Jinwoo is very rarely seen close to women. In fact, I don't think there's ever been a woman close to him."
"Eeee… I don't know, I don't know either." Yujin answered as is. Sojung glared at him and still forced him to tell his love story with Jinwoo.
"You know yourself how untouchable General Lee is, so we really don't have any love story. We got married only because of what our parents promised in the past."
"So you guys are just pretending to be married like in the dramas I watch often?" shouted Sojung excitedly.
Yujin rolled her eyes lazily as she walked to the dining table to place her cooked fried fish. He couldn't understand Sojung's thoughts that were too silly and too excessive.
"Of course not. We were married as usual in the church and had no intention of turning this wedding into a playful one. We both have agreed to fulfill our roles as husband and wife."
"Wow... so sweet. I was so jealous. How could a man as rigid and cold as Lee Jinwoo be able to accept it so easily. It is full of surprises. How do you feel after marrying him?"
"Happy." Yujin answered spontaneously without much thought. Really she was very happy after marrying Lee Jinwoo because she married the man she loved so much. Even though Jinwoo's habit is very far from the habit of men in general, but she is still happy. Instead, she feels that her personal life will be fun and full of challenges. Yeah, the challenge to conquer Lee Jinwoo's heart!
"Let me guess, you must really love Lee Jinwoo." Sojung said confidently with a seductive smile.
Yujin shamelessly nodded her head and confirmed Sojung's guess. There's no point in hiding her feelings for Sojung because her face can't lie. Jinwoo and Hyuki once told her that her face was like a book that other people could easily read.
"That's how it is, it's easy to guess. But General Lee... he's very mysterious. I even had a hard time understanding his intentions or his manners."
"Don't worry, you will slowly understand him."
Yujin smiled gently at Sojung and mumbled a thank you through her lips.
Not long after, the front door was filled with the screams of the orphans and the rumbling of their footsteps rushing into the house. Yujin and Sojung rushed to set the dining table before the children whined loudly because they hadn't put their food on the table.
"We are hungry!!"
"Gosh! I really hate their whining." Sojung grumbled while carrying a pile of plates to the dining table. Meanwhile, Yujin was only able to smile amusedly while looking at Jinwoo from a distance who was helping the orphans sit on chairs.
General Lee... I know you're not that bad, but you're not that good either...