She nodded. “I appreciate the help. Thank you. It’s such a shame you guys can’t stay longer.”
“I know. Kyung Mi barely wrangled us an overnight.”
“I’ll stay with Chun Hei. You all sleep wherever you’re most comfortable tonight.”
Tessa and Sung Soo watched the maknae line bundled up together on the couch, grins across their faces.
Sung Soo let out a relieved sigh. “Those two have been stuck together since we went back to Seoul. I’ve had them both in my bed more nights than not. They’ve been way worse than when the others left for their military service. I’m glad to see them so happy again.”
“God, me too. We’ve been managing, but I can tell it’s killing him to be here. He’s trying so hard, but there’s only so much I can do. I’m still only one person when he’s used to a network of support. We’ll be coming up for the summer at least. It’ll be good for everyone to be closer.”
Sung Soo nodded. “How have you been doing?”
Tessa paused her slicing. “I haven’t stopped too long to think about it.”
“Stop now then.”
She fussed with the green onions to give herself time to think. “I’m adjusting. I’m so happy to have him back, but it’s hard being here. Eun Gi and Chun Hei are the only ones I know in Busan, and I miss Kelly, I miss my parents, I miss all of you. It’s selfish of me because it’s so much worse for them, but—”
“Tessa. It’s not selfish to admit you’re struggling or that you want to have your support network close. We miss you too.”
Tears threatened, and she turned to move the pot onto the stove so no one would see. Sung Soo followed with the sauce.
“I don’t want to make him feel guilty when things are still so fresh. We’re making the best of the situation right now.”
“He can’t support you if he doesn’t know.”
“I’ll talk to him. It’ll get better in time, but I’m impatient to be back in Seoul.”
They crowded around the table when the budae jjigae was ready, shoveling it into their mouths from the communal pot.
Chun Hei wrinkled her nose. “Watching you guys eat is a good way to get over being starstruck. You’re like vacuums.”
Min Jae looked up, cheeks filled with noodles. He swallowed them. “There is no way to eat budae jjigae gracefully. I refuse to try.”
Chun Hei rolled her eyes and slurped up her own bite.
Eun Gi hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d arrived, and it relieved some of the worry Tessa kept tucked inside. She allowed herself to soak in the contentment of the day. Eun Gi had his family back, even if only for a while.
A one-night visit in Busan wasn’t long enough for any of them.
When Tessa woke the next morning she slipped out of bed, leaving Chun Hei to have a few more minutes of sleep. She put on coffee for their guests, and popped the kettle on for herself and Sung Soo before cracking enough eggs to feed the six of them. Once they were scrambled and poured into a pan, she peeked into the bedroom to see all four of the idols tucked together like sardines on the queen-sized bed. She stood there for a moment watching them, her heart soft. She pushed back the dread that pricked her chest, reminding her how temporary this all was. They still had more than a month left in Busan before Eun Gi could have his friends back for the summer.
She finished preparing a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs with sides of steamed rice and kimchi while everyone else slept. They’d have to be woken soon in order to get ready for their flight back to Seoul, but she could let them indulge for a little while yet. Kyung Mi sent Tessa a text to make sure everyone was up since none of them had responded to her messages. She ventured into the bedroom and toyed with Eun Gi’s hair until he woke. His face wrinkled in confusion when he couldn’t move, and then a contented smile broke over his features. He tucked back in for a moment and then stretched luxuriously, waking Hwan and Min Jae in the process. Sung Soo lifted his head when the youngest three shifted and sat up.
“Good morning, sleeping beauties. Breakfast is ready.”
Min Jae slid off the bed and dashed away to claim the bathroom. The other three climbed out at a much more leisurely pace. Eun Gi tugged Tessa into his arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Good morning.”
“How did you sleep?”
“Like the dead. I feel great.” Tucking his hand into hers, he followed her out to the dining area and got the table set by the time everyone else was finished with the bathroom.
Chun Hei wandered out, still in her pajamas and half asleep. The idols sat together along one side of the table, Eun Gi in the middle. Breakfast started off jubilant—they laughed a little too hard at jokes, smiled a little too wide—but then Sung Soo’s phone alarm sounded, giving them a ten-minute warning to head to the airport. Eun Gi went pale.
“We’ll be back soon,” Hwan said.
“I know.” Eun Gi’s lip wobbled.
“And you’ll be with us for the summer.” Sung Soo reached past Min Jae and took Eun Gi’s hand.
Eun Gi nodded.
Chun Hei watched them all with a speculative look, but kept diverting her focus onto her food.
Eun Gi insisted on taking them to the airport to get those few extra moments with them before they were separated again.
Min Jae squeezed Tessa when they all gathered at the door. “Aren’t you coming, Noona?”
“I’m taking Chun Hei to school.” She hugged back fiercely. “Have a safe flight.”
Hwan hugged her from behind before Min Jae let go. “We love you.”
Tessa blinked back tears. “I love you all too.”
Sung Soo and Eun Gi joined the hug, and Tessa wriggled free before she lost all composure. “Text us when you’re home safe.”
Eun Gi kissed her cheek and hugged his sister before he left. Tessa waited until they were in the car before turning back to Chun Hei.
She stood in her uniform. “Ready, Eonni?”
Tessa nodded, and the two of them set off on the short walk to the school.
“Oppa hates it here, doesn’t he?” Chun Hei stared down at her shoes.
“Busan isn’t an easy place for him to be,” Tessa acknowledged. “It’s too soon for us to go back to Seoul. There’s too much left unknown.”
“I know.” Chun Hei sucked in a breath. “I feel bad for saying it, but I hope Eomma and Appa go to jail.”
Tessa took Chun Hei’s hand. “We have to wait and see. Remember that you’re safe with us.”
“Oppa could go back to Seoul if it weren’t for me.” Chun Hei paused, pulling Tessa to a halt.
“Don’t say that.”
“Can I stay home from school today?”
Tessa pressed a hand to Chun Hei’s forehead. “Do you not feel well?”
“Does feeling like a burden count?”
Tessa squeezed Chun Hei’s hand and looped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re not a burden. We love you, and none of this is your fault. You can stay home if you want to.”
Chun Hei sighed and let her cheek rest on Tessa’s shoulder. “I’ll go. My friends will want an update anyway. See you tonight, Eonni.”
Tessa dragged her feet on the way back, stopping to get herself a fancy coffee at the cafe down the street before she returned to the house. It was silent inside, and she sat on the couch to wait.
The door clicked open, and Tessa was halfway there by the time Eun Gi walked through. He slipped straight into Tessa’s arms and broke down. She held him tight as he cried against her.
“I know,” she whispered. “I know.”
Chapter 26
Eun Gi
Eun Gi’s phone rang while he was helping Tessa prepare lunch. His lawyer’s number flashed on the screen. He put the phone on speaker.
“Hello?”
“Baek Eun Gi, more evidence of fraud has almost assured a conviction against your parents, and I managed to prove that you paid for your parents’ home. The courts have awarded you ownership of the
property. You’re free to rent, sell, or use it at your leisure once I get all the paperwork completed for the transfer.”
“Thank you so much.” Relief loosened one of the many knots in his chest. Selling the luxury apartment would free up much-needed funds to support their eventual move, and secure them until Eun Gi had some form of employment again. It would give him the perfect excuse to never set foot in that apartment again.
“Sell it!” Chun Hei yelled from her perch at the kitchen table.
“If you’re interested, I can put you in contact with a discreet realtor to handle the sale,” his lawyer said.
“Yes, please.”
“I’m still working on getting the accounts released, but I’m hopeful.”
“Thank you.” Eun Gi paused. “For everything.”
“You don’t have to thank me for doing my job.” The lawyer’s voice was friendly and soft.
“I know, but still. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in contact if anything changes. I hope once this is all over you don’t need to make use of me anytime soon. Good luck.”
The lawyer hung up.
Eun Gi’s phone rang again, startling them.
“You’re popular today.” Tessa added sliced tofu to a simmering pot.
The screen showed Kim Ha Yun - Elite Studios.
“Baek Eun Gi?” Ha Yun’s voice came over the line, clear but sheepish.
“Yes?”
“I’m so sorry to bother you. I just left a meeting with the executives, and they wanted me to get into contact with you.”
“What can I do for you, Ha Yun-ssi?”
Tessa and Chun Hei perked up. He turned up the call volume, and Tessa scooted closer to listen. Dread and excitement churned in his gut as he imagined all the possibilities that could come out of Ha Yun’s mouth.
“Are you still in Busan?”
“I am.”
“Things have been complicated regarding your relationship with Elite Studios, but we were wondering if you might be interested in renewing your contract and continuing filming? Our analysts have determined that the outcome of the drama should still be positive, especially considering the swell of fan support your release has prompted. Your video is up to fifty-million views and it’s gone a long way to placating the worries of the company.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but realistically it would serve no one if he turned them down. Tessa deserved to have the drama completed, and he needed to get his life back on track. If he was filming then he had another substantial reason to stay in Busan, keep Chun Hei in her comfort zone while they adjusted, and he’d have the income from the drama as well. His first real paycheck without his parents interfering in how much he would get to keep.
“Give me one moment.” He muted the phone. “Family vote?”
“Part of me wants to tell them where they can stick it.” Tessa glared at the phone. “But, I would also love for the drama to be finished, so I completely support you if you want to return. You’re Lee Do Yun in my head now, and I can’t see anyone else playing the role.”
“I’ll be way cooler to my friends if you’re an idol and an actor,” Chun Hei supplied. “Ask for a pay bump. Emotional damages!”
“Let’s not push our luck. I need a few more popular videos before I can negotiate for anything.”
“Well, get on that.” Chun Hei puffed up her cheeks.
“I’m working on it. I have two more songs written. We’re picking up recording supplies this week to film them. Are we agreed on the drama?”
Tessa and Chun Hei nodded.
Eun Gi turned back to the phone. “Ha Yun-ssi. I’m happy to see the project to the end.”
She let out a relieved breath. “Excellent. I’m sorry for how everything went. I hope you know there was no personal ill-will?”
Business had no loyalty when it came to money, and he was lucky they were considering him at all, rather than scrapping the project entirely or replacing him outright. Individuals might care, but as a whole, the companies were only interested in their bottom line. He accepted this. Mostly.
“I know. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“I’ll email you the paperwork.”
Eun Gi
“Okay, first video on your channel is going live!” Kelly grinned and pressed the button. “Nervous?”
“I don’t have your subs to bolster this one.” Eun Gi held Tessa’s hand between his.
“I’m still going to share it. I’m not leaving you hanging like that.” She fiddled with the laptop for a minute. “There, it’s spread across all my accounts.”
Tessa looked up from her phone. “And mine.”
“I texted Sung Soo the link too.” Kelly flipped through the tabs. “You’re up on the official 24/7 accounts, for however long that lasts before the company pulls them down.”
Eun Gi’s leg bounced, anxiety ticking upwards. Tessa squeezed his hand. Kelly opened up the analytics and turned the screen towards them. He stared wide-eyed as the numbers climbed.
“Thoughts?” Kelly asked.
“I could actually do this.” His voice shook. “I could have a music career without the company.”
“Totally. Lots of people do. I’d help you with anything you needed. I’ve got access to a ton of kickass video editors who would help if you want to do some more complex things. People seem to be enjoying this raw and vulnerable stuff you’ve got going on right now, but you can evolve as we go.”
He turned to Tessa. A smile illuminated her whole face.
“I’m so proud of you.” She kissed his cheek.
“Ah! We hit the first hundred thousand views!” Kelly bounced in her seat.
The doorbell buzzed, and Tessa went to collect the dinner they’d ordered. She returned with fried chicken, plated it up with side dishes from the fridge, and passed out the meal. Eun Gi picked at his, staring at his subscriber and view counts.
“Holy shit.” Two hundred thousand. Three hundred thousand… The numbers kept rising.
By the time they finished eating he’d hit a million views. His phone pinged, and he glanced down to see an email from ARH Entertainment. He clicked it, curious.
“Tessa!”
She jumped next to him. “What?”
“I got a contract offer.” He turned the phone towards her. She and Kelly crowded together to read it.
“I bet you’ll have a bunch of the small-timers trying to crawl up your butt with offers to snap you up before the big names realize how valuable you are.” Kelly scrolled down. “What do you want to do?”
“I kind of like the idea of working for myself. I’ll still check out the companies making offers, but I don’t want to close any doors this early on. What do you think?” he asked Tessa.
“I support whatever direction you want your career to take.”
If he could keep up this trajectory, other offers were likely to come in. Other offers like… He pushed away the thought. It was useless to hope to get back with 24/7 when EchoPop had already slammed that door in his face. People liked what he did now, and it had been too long since he’d been able to channel his full creativity into his music. He glanced back at the analytics, the burgeoning knowledge that he could do this settling over him.
“I like this direction. I want to try.”
“Hell yes!” Kelly threw her fist in the air. “I’m on board. If those companies want you, they can grovel.”
“Should we film the other song now?”
Kelly’s eyes gleamed. “Fuck yeah. Let’s show the world what Baek Eun Gi is made of!”
Tessa
June melted into July, and the stifling heat of the Korean summer brought Chun Hei’s school semester to an end, and the drama’s filming to its completion.
The last scene they were filming was Lee Do Yun convincing Bridie to stay in Joseon, having defied his family to marry her. Eun Gi stood on the recreated docks in his traditional hanbok, holding Lily, who was dressed in her Georgian atti
re, ready to turn away to get on the ship that would take her back onto the trade routes. Tessa wasn’t close enough to hear the lines, but she knew them by heart.
The sun slashed across the water, casting diamond refractions that made the ocean glow. Tessa wrapped her arms around herself, tears slipping over her cheeks. Her story was going to be on TV soon, open to a fresh audience who might love her characters the way she did. Who could have known when she’d sat down to start writing that it would have brought her here and given her so much more than she’d realized was possible?
Her husband came back down the docks grinning until he saw her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m a little emotional.” She stepped into his arms. “It’s finally done, and I just feel like this huge worry is falling off my shoulders.”
Eun Gi stroked his thumb over her cheek. “I love you.”
His mouth was soft against hers, and then he pulled her close.
“I love you too.” She savoured the warmth even as the heat of the day clung to her skin. Tessa grinned. “We get to go to Seoul soon. Are you excited?”
“God, yes. I am so sick of Busan.”
“Why are you two always being gross?” Chun Hei marched up to them.
Tessa giggled. “Why are you here to see it?”
“I got bored at home.”
Eun Gi opened his arms to let Chun Hei join their hug. “Eonni, were you crying?”
“Only a little.” Tessa smoothed a hand over the girl’s sleek hair. “Who knows if I’ll ever get another book picked up for a drama? I’m trying to savour all the parts that didn’t make me want to pull my hair out.”
Chun Hei snickered. “Oppa, you look like a dork.”
“Excuse you, I look good.”
“I thought you didn’t like traditional clothing?” Tessa quirked her head.
“That was before you told me I was cute in it. I’ve grown attached to it.”
“You are so cute in hanbok.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Hello! I am right here.” Chun Hei pushed away from them, but the smile was clear on her face.
Heart and Seoul (The Seoul Series Book 1) Page 32