Determined

"Hey, are you gonna buy that?" Sai asked.

We looked at each other when I saw the price. It didn't really matter, I wanted to bring this old calligraphy to my apartment no matter what.

"That would be eighty thousand pesos, Sir." Tch. Iseul's not even benefitting from that huge amount of money. I handed her my card. "Thank you for visiting, please come again."

We walked towards the exit, and I'm holding on to this paper bag. Sai was walking beside me, slowly with her head looking on the ground.

"You okay?" I asked, glancing at her.

"Eh? Why did you ask?!" she said and looked at me in confusion. "I'm perfectly fine!"

"You're not skipping."

She stopped walking and pointed at the paper bag. "I'm processing Iseul's words, okay?"

"Me either, but I'll process everything at the apartment. By the way, aren't you heading home already?"

She shook her head. "I'm going to buy something at the store. How about you?"

"Oh, right... I'll go back home."

"Okay then, off you go!" she pushed me away and she walked towards the store.

I suddenly felt a bit guilty so I also went inside. It won't harm me if I join her. Besides, she did so much for me. She looked surprised to see me when I entered the store.

"What are you doing here? You missed me already?" she smirked while holding a basket.

"Oh, shut up." I rolled my eyes.

I decided to buy some toiletries and snacks to bring to the East. We walked back to the apartment. Sai said she will stay here until lunch because she's bored.

"Yohan! How's a going, thanks for cleaning my room. Oh- look who we have here!" Luke said and glanced at Sai who standing behind me. I was opening the door.

"Hi, chef. It's been a while," Sai waved at him.

"Hangover?" I asked.

"Nah, I'm fine. I'm going to work. Sai are you single?" he asked randomly.

"Yes, why?" Sai responded.

"Wanna go out with me?" Luke said. I almost choked because of his straightforward question. Damn.

"No thanks, I'm busy." Sai pursed her lips and smiled. "Well good luck finding someone to date."

Luke laughed. "Mkay, if you say so. I'll go ahead, Yohan! Take care of your beautiful friend." He waved his hand before walking away.

"Psh, I don't need someone to take care of me." I heard Sai whispered.

She sat on the sofa and placed her things on the coffee table. I went to my room first and changed my clothes since it's a bit hot today. I went to the kitchen to make some orange juice.

'Go where it's forbidden

Burned into ash

But there's something hidden

To break the curse at last'

I read the poem again. I'm now sitting on the floor and looking at the frame that I bought.

"You know what it means already do you?" Sai asked and I nodded my head.

"The forbidden place that she's saying is the East." I said without hesitation.

"But it can also be Dreamy Studios, which has a restricted floor?" Sai added.

"It can be that place too... but the second line says burned into ash. I remembered your father's note about Iseul's portrait... Her house was burned by her mother, together with her corpse."

"Right! So what she's saying is, we should go to the East at her home which was burned into ash!" Sai's eyes sparkled like she just uncovered a hidden message.

"Something's hidden to break the curse at last... This means there's really a way to break the curse. The man who showed up a while ago seems to be lying to me."

"Oh... shit this is getting a bit intense!"

She's right. Iseul's calligraphy art showed at the right time. We're going to the East tomorrow and we'll stay there for three days. I have enough time to search for her home. I might even find the key to break the curse. This is good news!

I immediately grabbed my journal to write everything down. Sai was drinking her orange juice while watching me. She stood up and went towards the kitchen counter where the heart sculpture was placed.

"What's this thing by the way?" she was looking at it intently.

"Damian La Vinci had a small raffle at the dinner and I was picked surprisingly. That's what I got."

"This looks cool... and expensive." she commented.

Sai insisted on cooking lunch and I didn't bother to stop her. I know she won't listen to me. I decided to prepare my clothes and other stuff to put on my duffel bag. I also placed Iseul's calligraphy inside the safe which has my portraits of her.

I stared at the Norigae knot that Nari gave me and I eventually placed it inside my sling bag. I closed my bag and went back to the living room to sweep the floor.

"Yohan! Come here quick!"

I immediately walked to the kitchen, I thought something was wrong. Sai just made me taste the dish she was cooking.

"I think it needs more pepper." I said.

"What?!" She panicked and tasted it too. She eventually did what I said and looked satisfied after tasting it.

I continued cleaning the living room while she was preparing our lunch. I heard her placing plates on the table so I got some glasses for our drinks.

"Tada! I made chicken curry." she proudly said and held her chin high. "I used all of your chicken so you can heat up some left overs later. Eat up!"

"Thanks for this," I said and started eating.

"Wow, you even cleaned your living room."

"There's nothing to be proud of about it."

"How about the curry? How does it taste?! Tell me it tastes good, I cook that a lot!"

"It's... fine I guess." I teased her. She got angry in an instant.

"How dare you!" I laughed when I saw that face of hers again.

"It tastes great, okay? Stop whining."

"I know it's delicious! I have a potential to be a great housewife someday."

"Poor guy," I said.

"What?! You mean poor Yohan?"

I almost choked.

"You're making me lose my appetite." I shook my head.

"Oh me too. Me being your wife? That's disgusting." She said and shook her head too.

After all the confusion that I felt these past few days, I'm still determined to seek the truth and break the curse. Having a chingu beside me is not so bad after all.

The next day, I'm already standing in front of Brent's Gallery since I was instructed to go here. The ship will sail at ten o'clock in the morning. A car stopped in front of me, Howard Brent's driving it. I went inside, sitting at the back of the car. I'm now with Sai and her father. Sai looked at me through the mirror, and gave me a small nod.

At last, I can set foot to your hometown and explore more... wait for me Iseul.