Chapter 304 - AREUM GO AND WON-SHIK KIM (2)

AT FIRST, Gavin was happy to be friends with Yoon Jung– the Emperor Nikolai of that world called Earth. Kim Won-shik, Go Areum, and Yoon Jung eventually became good friends who created many precious memories together.

But as years passed by, his heart began to break for Kim Won-shik.

He knew that Kim Won-shik was very much in love with Go Areum who eventually ended up having a romantic relationship with Yoon Jung. But the fool couldn't leave the two because he also treasured Yoon Jung who became his best friend despite being older than the latter.

And so, in the end, Kim Won-shik chose to protect his friendship with Go Areum and Yoon Jung.

[Moreover, Kim Won-shik knew that he'd get rejected if he confessed to Go Areum anyway. But at least to me, he should have confessed. Because maybe by then, Kim Won-shik would learn how to detach himself from Go Areum and Kim Won-shik.]

That was until Gavin saw a chance for Kim Won-shik.

"Sunbae."

"How long are you going to call me 'sunbae?' I just graduated from the university so I'm no longer your sunbae," Kim Won-shik said to Go Areum. 'Sunbabe' meant 'senior.' It was proper of her to address him that way because they both went to the same university, and he was two years ahead of her. But they grew up together so calling him 'sunbae' sounded distant compared to the time she used to call him 'oppa.' "Do you hate me or something?"

"It's not like that, sunbae," Go Areum said in a weak voice, then she sat beside him. "I just don't want my friends to know that we are close friends."

The fact that only the two of them were in the living room of his apartment was proof of the strong friendship that they had.

Gavin was actually shocked the first time Go Areum stayed overnight at Kim Won-shik's place. It happened when the young lady got drunk during the freshman orientation party of her department. Since Go Areum missed the last bus and Yoon Jung was currently overseas, Kim Won-shik picked her up at the bus stop and let her stay the night in his place.

In his world, that kind of act would have been a huge scandal.

But to be honest, after living as Kim Won-shik for more than twenty years now, he was already getting used to this world.

"Why didn't you want your friends to know that we are close?" Kim Won-shik asked, interrupting Gavin's thoughts. "Are you embarrassed of me, Areum-ah?"

"It's not like that, oppa," Go Areum said, finally addressing him as 'oppa' again. "I just don't want my friends to pester me to set them on a date with you. If I agree to introduce one of my friends to you, then the others would bother me as well. I don't want them to fight because of something like that."

"I don't understand. Why would your friends want to have a date with me?"

She looked at him in disbelief, then she laughed softly. "I guess that's your charm, oppa. You're handsome, kind, smart, and well-off and yet, you're not aware of your good points."

Kim Won-shik thought that if Go Areum was aware of his good points, then why didn't she fall in love with him instead of Yoon Jung? Yoon Jung was also handsome, smart, and very rich. But that punk wasn't kind. Well, Yoon Jung was good to him and Go Areum. Still, that brat was harsh to other people.

After having those thoughts, Gavin realized that Kim Won-shik was aware of his good points that Go Areum mentioned.

[Won-shik Kim just doesn't care because those so-called good points aren't enough to make Areum Go look his way.]

"Enough about me," Kim Won-shik said as if he was embarrassed, then he changed his topic. "You seem down, Areum-ah. Did you have a fight with Jung-ya again?"

Go Areum fell silent for a couple of seconds.

Then, she sobbed loudly like a child.

Of course, Kim Won-shik panicked. "Go Areum, why are you crying? Are you hurt? Who hurt you?"

"If I say who hurt me, are you going to beat him up for me?"

Kim Won-shik who instantly realized who hurt Go Areum fell silent.

Only Yoon Jung could make her cry after all.

It wasn't like Kim Won-shik was afraid of Yoon Jung who fought like a gangster despite coming from a wealthy and decent family. He just knew that if he hurt Yoon Jung, Go Areum would also get hurt. And he didn't want to hurt any of his most precious friends.

At that moment, Gavin felt frustrated for Kim Won-shik.

[You're such a good person, Won-shik Kim. And you love Areum Go and Jung Yoon too much. You should learn how to be greedy.]

Gavin was now capable of having such thoughts.

After living as Kim Won-shik for more than two decades now, he had accepted the fact that Go Areum wasn't Lady Mona Roseheart. And Yoon Jung wasn't Emperor Nikolai.

But Gavin was Kim Won-shik.

Like what Lukas said, his soul entered the young Kim Won-shik's body. Thus, the one who fell in love with Go Areum was him. And while reliving his life in this world, he also began to develop feelings for the young lady. It wasn't hard to love a wonderful woman like her.

[I'm not betraying His Majesty.]

It was a shame that he could only be a spectator while watching Kim Won-shik get his heart broken because of Go Areum and Yoon Jung.

"Won-shik oppa."

"What is it, Areum-ah?"

Go Areum turned to him with a tear-stricken face. "That bastard Yoon Jung won't be coming back," she said bitterly. If he remembered it correctly, Yoon Jung went to London for a vacation during their university break. But Go Areum was saying that he wouldn't be coming back to Korea anymore? "I found out that he's now engaged to a woman that his family chose for him."

"What?!"

"Apparently, that woman is a part of the British Royal Family," she continued between sobs. "I G*ogled her and I found out that she's the daughter of a duke, and she's also a famous equestrienne. Since Yoon Jung's maternal family is also a part of the nobility, they wanted Yoon Jung to marry someone with royal blood."

Kim Won-shik was genuinely shocked.

He knew that Yoon Jung was very rich. But he didn't expect him to have noble blood. And his fiancée had royal blood?

"Did Yoon Jung say that he'll marry his fiancée?"

"He told me not to wait for him anymore. Apparently, he doesn't have the power to go against his family's decision," Go Areum said, then she closed her eyes tight while sobbing. "I hate him, oppa. I hate Yoon Jung. I'll kill him if I see him again!"

Kim Won-shik could only hug Go Areum to comfort her.

But his mind was a mess. He couldn't believe that he secretly enlisted in the military just when the woman he loved needed a friend to depend on! In his defense, he didn't want to work right away after his graduation. Thus, he decided to fulfill his duty as a Korean man first.

Gavin groaned when he remembered that Kim Won-shik was scheduled to enter the military next week, and he had to stay there for two years. [Won-shik Kim, your timing is always awful!]

***

TWO YEARS had passed by quickly.

Gavin actually enjoyed Kim Won-shik's time in the military. He was reminded of the time that he trained with the members of the White Lion Order. And once again, he missed Rufus– his baby brother and his first student. It was him who taught Rufus how to use a sword.

[But my baby brother is more interested in rifles than swords…]

Anyway, Kim Won-shik was also happy during his two-year service. After all, he had regularly received letters from Go Areum. And during his breaks, he would often visit her. Thus, the two had gotten closer for the past two years.

"Areum-ah said that she has a surprise for me," Kim Won-shik mumbled to himself. "I wonder what it is."

Today was the day Kim Won-shik would be released from the military.

Go Areum said that she would be there to welcome him back. Moreover, she also said that she had a surprise for him.

Gavin was also excited for Kim Won-shik, but that excitement died as soon as he saw Go Areum….

… with Yoon Jung.

Go Areum and Yoon Jung were also holding hands.

Gavin's heart was broken right then and there. [Won-shik Kim, you should at least punch Yoon Jung…]

But of course, the him of that world was too kind and selfless.

"I see that the two of you have made up," Kim Won-shik said in a cheerful voice despite the pain in his heart. He even smiled and opened his arms. "Come here and give me a hug, you troublemakers!"

Go Areum and Yoon Jung both laughed, then the two gave Kim Won-shik a tight hug.

***

"WON-SHIK hyung, I'm sorry."

Gavin let out a sigh. [So, Jung Yoon knows?]

Kim Won-shik, on the other hand, pretended that he didn't know why Yoon Jung was apologizing to him. "What are you sorry for?"

Right now, the two were having soju and anju (food consumed with alcohol like stir-fried octopus, jokbal, and sundae) in a 'pojangmacha'– a food stall in a small tent. He suddenly remembered that a few years ago, Yoon Jung didn't like eating street food. But now, the punk could even eat sundae that he used to call "disgusting."

Yoon Jung took the soju in his glass shot in one gulp before he spoke again. "I've always known that you also have feelings for Areum, hyung. But I pretended not to know. I'm sure that I've hurt you when I left her two years ago. This may sound selfish but despite everything, I'm still glad that you were there for Areum when I was being a dick."

Kim Won-shik laughed at Yoon Jung's interesting choice of words. "Yes, leaving Areum was a dick move. I'm glad that you've come to your senses."

"Hyung–"

"Don't apologize to me," he said, cutting him off. Then, he put a piece of meat in his mouth before speaking again. "Jung-ah, you didn't do anything wrong. Why do you think I didn't confess to Areum these past two years?" When Yoon Jung didn't respond, he answered his own question. "It's because I know that Areum is still in love with you. And to be honest? I don't mind losing her to you because you're my best friend, Jung-ah."

The usually stoic Yoon Jung began to look emotional.

Even Gavin was touched by Kim Won-shik and Yoon Jung's friendship. He was reminded of the friendship that he had with Emperor Nikolai. And the emperor wasn't just a friend to him. They were also family since the two of them were cousins.

"Instead of apologizing to me, just promise me that you'll never leave Areum again," Kim Won-shik said. "I heard that you were disowned by your family after you called off your engagement with your fiancée."

He also heard that Yoon Jung lost his inheritance, too.

Apparently, it took Yoon Jung two years to return by Go Areum's side because he practically had to start from scratch to stand on his own two feet. Yoon Jung, for the first time in his life, had to work to save up money. He only told Go Areum everything when he finally returned because according to Yoon Jung, he wasn't sure that he'd make it back since his family was making his life more difficult back in London.

"I'm alright, hyung," Yoon Jung assured him. "I'm lucky that Julia turns out to be a good person. She helped me stand on my own feet, and she also protected me from my family who was hell-bent on making my life a living hell. Since Julia is a royal and wealthier than our family, my parents gave up on harassing me after she threatened them."

"Is Julia your ex-fiancée?"

"Yes, hyung," Yoon Jung said. "Thankfully, I wasn't Julia's style. Plus, she's very free-spirited."

Gavin was reminded of the late Empress Juliet because of what Yoon Jung said.

[Like Miss Julia, our Empress Juliet was also kind. Moreover, even though Empress Juliet and Emperor Nikolai got married in the end, the late empress still helped His Majesty and Lady Roseheart to get back together.]

"Don't waste the opportunity that your ex-fiancée has given you, Jung-ah," Kim Won-shik said, then he put a hand on Yoon Jung's shoulder and squeezed it gently. "You better make Areum happy, okay?"

Yoon Jung who rarely smiled gave him a warm smile. "I will, hyung," he promised. "Thank you for supporting us."

Gavin could only smile and shake his head, finally acknowledging the fact that he was indeed Kim Won-shik.

[I can be this selfless, indeed.]

***

"YOU WERE scouted by a talent agency, oppa?"

Gavin, for some reason, felt embarrassed after what happened to Kim Won-shik that day. [Is my face really attractive?]

"Yes, I was scouted earlier," Kim Won-shik said while scratching his cheek. Just like Gavin, Kim Won-shik was also embarrassed. But he was happy. "I didn't think that I'd get scouted at this age."

He was on his way to the coffee shop where he was supposed to meet Areum when he was scouted by a female staff from a well-known talent agency. It seemed legit.

"Oppa, you're only twenty-seven," Areum said, then she took a sip of her matcha tea before she spoke again. "You're still young. Plus, it's never too late to start a new career. You told me that you wanted to quit your job. Why don't you give it a try?"

"Acting?"

"Uh-huh. I remember that you used to be a member of the Theatre Club from elementary to middle school, oppa. You only stopped when acting when we were in high school because your parents wanted you to focus on your studies."

That was true.

Kim Won-shik only took up a business course in college because his parents wanted him to take over their company someday.

"The agent who scouted invited me for an audition," Kim Won-shik said. "I'll give it a try."

Go Areum smiled and nodded. "You can do it, oppa."

He just smiled and sipped his tea.

A few moments later, Yoon Jung finally arrived.

"Sorry, I'm late," Yoon Jung said, then he kissed Go Areum on the forehead before he sat beside her. Then, he looked at him with sparkling eyes. "Hyung, Areum and I have something to tell you."

He already expected that it was the case.

The three of them were all busy people. Go Areum (who was now a TV reporter) and Yoon Jung (who started a now growing game development company) wouldn't ask to meet Kim Won-shik (who was now a Marketing executive) just to hang out.

Well, they do meet just to hang out sometimes. But Go Areum and Yoon Jung's tone when they called him the other way sounded serious.

"I figured that much," Kim Won-shik said with a smile on his face. "What is it?"

Go Areum and Yoon Jung looked at each other lovingly before the two turned to him and spoke at the same time. "We are pregnant!"

Gavin's heart sank at that moment.

But it was only the beginning of the biggest tragedy of his life.

***

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