Chapter 61 - Blowing a Candle

"Ye Rim is not arrogant, oppa. She just has her sense of self-respect!" Eun Ha exclaimed, feeling light after a few sips of shoju. 'Or shots…' She didn't usually drink, and didn't have much resistance to alcohol. She joined Dae Won for a few drinks at the bar a few blocks from her apartment, about an hour ago_ and she already knew she should stop drinking or would need to be piggybacked back home. Also, now that she knew the magical power was inside her, not in her magic wand, she was afraid of losing control _just as it happened when the Hunter tested her powers.

"She's right about that. I just think I need help convincing her to get a contract," the MP sounded conciliatory. "Maybe Ye Rim-ssi acts this way due her previous bad experiences in the industry, as she mentioned having gone through. But though I don't have any power to hire or contract her or anything, I think I can... introduce her to people who will take good care of her."

Ignoring the musician's pause, Eun Ha agreed, "I believe so. After all, as a well-related musical producer, you must have a good network in the industry… But, I have the same question she probably has: why are you going out of your way to do this for Ye Rim? You won't tell me that oppa…"

She giggled, implying her opinion, and Dae Won was clearly embarrassed. "Well, that's not what you're probably thinking."

'Oh, sure it is, beautiful oppa Dae Won… Look at the way you sulked…' She rested her chin on her fist, delighted, with a silly smile on her face; while analyzing his reactions. He was a rather reserved and seemingly introvert man, but here he was, trying to convince a girl's best friend that he wanted to help her. 'Oh, so cute!'

"Uh…" she agreed. "Whatever. Count on me. Ye Rim is stubborn, but if you get something good for her, I'll help you convince her. Okay?" the fashion designer reached across the table to set the deal_ but with that, she unbalanced the arm resting on the table to support her chin. She pathetically nearly fell off her chair, but Dae Won grabbed En Ha's arm and helped her. 'Oh what a gentleman! Isn't Ye Rim lucky ?! Unlike me. I have only one ridiculously rude teacher, unable to even have the common sense to not say gross things when one is about to throw up.'

"Excuse me. I thought you were going to fall."

"Oh, I was. Hahahah I'm the clumsy girl's friend on the movies. Hehehe. But I have a good heart!" She completed, trying to be funny.

That got a smile from MP Lee: "I don't know about 'being clumsy', but you are surely a good friend. You've known each other since childhood, as I understand it."

"Ah, according to legend, well before that. We met in our mothers bellies."

"Uhn… Ye Ri commented that her parents are divorced."

"Ah well, that…" normally Eun Ha would divert the subject, but she was feeling light and chatty near the polite oppa who interested on what she had to say. She was definitely being treated with due importance_ not as a stupid and inconvenient apprentice. "True, but she doesn't like to talk about it. She hasn't spoken to her mother since she was 4 years old. Which was sort of when I have my first actual memory about her…"

"Well, then it must be a private matter and it's normal that she doesn't want to talk about it to mere acquaintances…" he sounded diplomatic and understanding. "But then, how was that? Did you go to the same pre school?"

"Ahh, that…" she laughed and scratched her neck, a little embarrassed. These were memories that had a bittersweet aftertaste. Her memory treacherously fled to that distant time of her life, and unknowingly she was lost in her thoughts.

FLASHBACK ON

Eun Ha liked it when her mother used to take her to Jolly Bakery. And she was very proud to be the town's best patissery owner's daughter — though there were only two cake shops in the tiny municipality. As much as she enjoyed wandering around the kitchen, watching with delighted awe at the work of creating cakes and patisseries, Eun Ha also enjoyed sitting in the parlor_ pompously posing as part of the Jolly Bakery's staff.

That day Eun Ha was particularly puffed up as she was gifted a huge green satin bow, and her mother, Jung Sook Mi, had spent some time to get it elegantly on her daughter's head. Checking the result in the mirror_ her mom behind her finishing her hairdo_ Eunha had looked with utmost adoration upon this woman who she thought was the most elegant and fantastic person on earth.

The little girl decidedly felt like a small elegant copy of Madam Jung, and had asked to wear her lilac ruffled dress too, to go with the green bow. Although Eun Ha knew it was a 'special' dress for special days', what other dress would look so good with that bow? She had her sense of style early in life.

"Aigoo, does a 5-year-old girl really want to tell me what she wants to wear?"

It had been the mild complaint that came with a smile, but after five minutes of arguments from Eun Ha's part, Madam Jung capitulated and allowed her adopted daughter dressed in the party dress.

"So today is a special day, you say?"

"Yes, Mom. You're going to take me to Jolly and I'm going to draw my birthday cake. I need to be fabulous today," she giggled, as it was obvious. With that her mom laughed too, and agreed that it was okay to be fabulous on a Saturday morning.

Eun Ha and his mother lived in a nice big two-story house near Main Street. Mother and daughter were very happy together.

Jun Sook Mi was a 45-year-old single woman, and her business, Jolly Bakery, was responsible for catering to the small town's most important events, besides being the fanciest place around. Things had not came for free for Madam Jung, as she was called, so she was used to be seen as eccentric. When Madam Jung decided to adopt the baby from the mysterious Heaven's Garden Ranch's case, in spite of the rumors, people took it as natural, coming from her.

For a part of her life, and long before she could fully understand it, Eun Ha saw her foster mother being harsh on people who questioned this decision; regardless of whether it would turn into problems for her business. The ajuhmeoni even didn't want to change Eun Ha's name — which meant Via Lactea _ because she knew the girl's name had been the last thing her natural mother had said before she died.

No one dared to speak close to Madame Jung that her daughter was "the daughter of the Ranch's Witch," as they would mockingly gossip behind her back. Over time, people forgot the story, but Eun Ha remembered very well that it only bothered her mother after Eun Ha met Ye Rim once again.

In hindsight, Eun Ha now understood that her mother couldn't ignore that she had a special daughter, since she was a smart woman. However, Mrs. Jung had never loved anyone in her life as she loved Eun Ha_ even though Eun Ha was no ordinary child.

But that day, Eun Ha, who was a calm and sweet child, was excited and demanding.

Arriving at the patisserie, after greeting the staff and being spoiled by them, Eun ha took up her girly backpack with papers and crayons, and headed for the parlor, where she sat in the booth near the door _only because she wished everyone passing by could see her in her beautiful dress and her fabulous bow.

It was a particularly sunny autumn morning, and she was absolutely focused on designing her birthday cake — which would be celebrated in five days. She carefully drew colored confectionery on top of the cake, and sugarmade hearts, until she stopped to admire her "cake sketch" that she would now take to the confectioner to make.

"Uhmmm… the most important thing is missing."

With a new crayon, Eun Ha meticulously drew a pink birthday candle, being careful not to smudge the drawing. Finally, satisfied, she sighed.

"GOOD!"

And breathing in the air, she filled her lungs, blowing the candle drawing as hard as she could.

As soon as she had done that, her attention was drawn to the door, where a girl her age was standing with a rapt expression:

"WOW!"

It was Ye Rim.