Secret Sunshine - Chapter 13
A small house looked empty as stack of boxes were arranged neatly on every corner of the house. It was silent except for the sound coming from the old grandfather clock as it strike the number ten. Miryang was already fast asleep in Jaejoong's arms as the latter occasionally pat the girl's back. The small girl had been crying to sleep as she wanted her doll back in the mansion. Across Jaejoong was Yoochun who currently busy studying some reports placed neatly on a dining table. Junsu came back from the kitchen with a tray of snacks and coffee.
"I make coffee for us." Junsu said cheerfully, breaking the awkward atmosphere after they reached home hours ago. He turned towards the freelance detective who still reading stack of papers in his hand. "Yah, your job is done. Go back to your own home."
Yoochun looked away from the papers in his hand to observe the younger man's serious face. "You're kidding, right? It's night already. How can you let me drive back all to Seoul by myself? Besides, I'm tired from the drive earlier."
"Do I look like I care about it? You aren't needed anymore so leave." Junsu replied as he peeked at his cousin who had been quiet ever since they left the mansion. "Hyung, are you alright?"
Yoochun watched silently as he poured himself a cup of fresh black coffee. Hearing no answer from the beauty made him glanced at Junsu who looked glum as his hand reached to his cousin's thigh.
"Hyung, listen to me. He was only using you. He admit it in front of my face that the marriage was part of his plan and he took Miryang for some sort of revenge." Junsu snorted lightly. "Hyung, he thought us as a couple. He saw us together and thought that you are cheating on him when he was the one who lied to you by using you in the first place. He is a fucking asshole, hyung. He even said that he didn't regret that he took everything away from you."
Jaejoong was still quiet as his eyes laid on his daughter.
"Hyung, I don't think he deserve someone like you. He is not someone you can love. It's better to forget about him. Tell me, hyung. Do you still love him?" asked Junsu.
'It's time to face the truth. He fooled me once again. He regretted everything that happen between us. He make fun of my mind, body and soul.' "No." answered Jaejoong.
Junsu sighed in relief although he wasn't hundrend percent sure with Jaejoong's answer. "Remember hyung, he didn't regret making hyung suffer by taking over the company, the mansion, taking all of hyung's money. You must be out of your mind if you still love him."
Jaejoong gulped hard. "I don't.. Not anymore."
"I think it's time we find yourself a lawyer in case he want to get Miryang back. Maybe you can also take everything back which suppose to be yours... What do you think, hyung?" asked Junsu as he watched the older man arise from his seat and turned on his back.
"I'm tired. I'll go to sleep first."
Junsu clenched his fists watching the older man carrying the kid towards a small room. The door was slowly closed making him sighed, knowing how his cousin need to face the truth now. Being used, humiliated and full of regrets were probably on his cousin's mind right now. Yoochun pushed one cup of coffee to his side before patted his shoulder.
"Better don't push him much right now. Let's him takes his time to calm down first."
"I don't know. To watch him being heartbroken again... I feel the same pain too." Junsu gritted his teeth remembering the man who was responsibble to Jaejoong's sadness. "I don't think I can handle myself if I ever see that Jung again. I feel like puching him until he died or went to coma back then."
Yoochun rubbed the man's back to calm him down. "Finish up the coffee and then you better take a rest too."
Junsu lifted his eyebrow while side-eyeing the detective. "Not leaving, are you?"
"Tomorrow." replied Yoochun with a cheeky smile, making the other man rolled his eyes but still worried can be seen in his eyes.
~~~~~@~~~~~
Jaejoong gently stroked Miryang's hair after putting the sleeping girl on their shared bed. He tucked the hair behind her ear and leaned down to placed a peck on her brow. His finger lightly traced the contours of her nose and the girl let out a soft huff by the small touch. His eyes fixed on the small heart shape lips, just like her father. Her father. Yunho.
'I didn't regret for what happen 4 years ago....but I regret the things I did to you after we met again..'
Jaejoong laid beside his daughter. He gathered her into his arms and started patting her back. 'It's okay, you still have Miryang.' Jaejoong muttered to himself but afterward biting his lower lip to held back from sobbing. Even if he was sad and heartbroken, he didn't want to make his cousin worried about him anymore.
~~~~@~~~~~
Yunho was sitting on the pink themed bed of his daughter. In his hands was Miryang's favourite doll. How he knew? He always went into her room late at night just to watch the little girl sleep besides her mother and in her small arms was the doll. He felt strange to have a daughter of his own and knowing Miryang is a combination of him and Jaejoong somehow makes him proud. At least he didn't disowned his own child like how his father didn't acknowledged his sister's existence. Still, what he did to Jaejoong is no different that what his father did to his mother. Yunho brought the doll to his chest and new tears formed in his eyes. "I'm sorry.."
Yunho wanted to chase after Jaejoong but he thought that he needed a moment to put things together. His acts hurted Jaejoong whether back in the past and the present. He doesn't know how to explain to Jaejoong. Of course he married Jaejoong for the sake of revenge but it wasn't directed to Jaejoong. Jaejoong was only a victim that he had no choice but to use.
~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~
"Yah... You're leaving now, right?" asked Junsu as he scratched his tummy while his other hand did a stretch movement, in which Yoochun find it amusing how the younger man can be that flexible. "Yah, stop staring already!" yelled Junsu when he caught Yoochun ogling at his body.
"Hey... You have a nice body." commented Yoochun as he walked towards the main door. Once he stepped outside, he continue, "..specially the butt."
"Yah, you pervert!" scolded Junsu as he watched the detective running to his van.
Yoochun smirked as he unlocked the door, his eyes met Junsu who was glaring at him still. Before he went inside, he said something to Junsu. "Yah, control your anger a bit! You're a lot cuter when you are less angry. Don't forget to ring me if you have any problem!!" He waved his hand after tossing his stuffs on the next seat.
Junsu frowned but then smiled once Yoochun drove away. As his eyes followed the van, a familiar car passed Yoochun's van, heading to his house. He stepped outside and closed the door calmly. The car finally parked outside the broken gate, and then a man he swore to kill came out. He took a deep breath and marched towards the gate. "What are you doing here?"
"Where is he?" asked Yunho as he closed the car door.
Junsu eyed the taller man's appearance. Yunho was in his yesterday suit. His hair was messy, his tie hang loosely around his neck and the shirt was half undone. "What do you want to do now? You think I will let you take him again? Maybe last time I wasn't there to protect him but I'm here now so I won't let you see him!"
Yunho's raised his forefinger and pointed toward Junsu but took back to his side as he heaved a loud sigh. "This is all a big misunderstanding."
Junsu scoffed slightly. "Oh, after using him to take everything from him, you dare to say that this was just a misunderstanding? Do you think everything is a joke?"
Yunho closed his eyes. "I can explain everything to him from the starting point."
"What? That you married him for money and fame, and not for his love?" snapped Junsu. "Get out of here or I'll call the police!"
Yunho tugged on his hair as he stepped closer to the younger man. "Please. I need to talk to Jaejoong."
"Enough! For four years he had to suffer and has to move from place to place as a refugee just to hide from you. Why do you think he do that?" Junsu's statement shocked the businessman. It felt like someone had just pull a string in Yunho's heart. "You think it's his choice to hid the pregnancy from you? He was about to tell you the night he left but after hearing you confessing that it was all an act, do you still think he could just tell you that he is pregnant with your child? You think after you took away everything from him, he would let you know that he had something that you might steal away from him someday?"
Yunho swallowed hardly, his vision was blurred with tears, waiting to fall out. "That night... I was about to tell the truth to him but he run away before I could tell him."
Junsu snorted with a laughter. "What more that you want to tell him? Didn't it hurt him enough when you told him everything was an act? His love was one-sided, his marriage was only a game to you.. What else are you gonna tell him?"
"His love is not one-sided." Yunho said with tear slipped out. "I love him."
Junsu was shaking his head while huffing. "You may fooled him but not me. What you had done is not something you can say out of love. Me and him... we have no one else . He was the one who help me when I was in trouble. If you saw me with him last time, I met him because I needed money to pay my father's debt."
"Here is the money that his father borrow you. With the installment too."
A grey hair man with a long scar on his left cheek eyed a bag filled with money placed on top of the desk. He tilted his head to one of his man and sent a signal with his eyes for them to take the bag and counted the money. One of the man in black outfits came and grabbed the bag away. He smirked as he pushed his long hair aside, rose on his feet and walked around the desk towards two guys where a cute one was hiding behind a good looking one who was glaring at him now. "Wow, cutie. Who is this pretty boy you bring along?"
"D--don't touch him!" Junsu raised his voice when he saw the loan shark leader approaching them. Jaejoong gulped slightly when the man was standing two feet away from him, while Junsu was clunching on his jacket and scooted behind him.
"Hmm... I'm impressed. Where did you two get this much for a short time?" He eyed both Junsu and Jaejoong while licking his lips.
"Ahh, I think I get it."
"We alread paid you so don't you ever touch Junsu again. If I ever saw or heard that you touch him, I will find you myself and kill you." said Jaejoong firmly as he glared at the leader.
"Woow, firece.." Laughed the man as he rubbed his chin while still eyeing them both like a predator.
"I'm warning you!" yelled Jaejoong this time.
The leader eyed his men who gave a small nod, signalling that the money were all there. He chuckled slightly. "Don't worry, pretty boy... As long as I get my money back, I won't laid my hands on this cutie ever again. Well, unless he decided to borrow money from me himself now that his father is gone."
"Don't worry. He won't!" spatted Jaejoong as he took Junsu's hand and turned around. He can sensed that the men were eyeing him as they make their way out from the building. They finally let out a deep sigh of relief once they were back in Jaejoong's car.
Junsu was shaking as he put on the seatbelt. "H-hyung... i'm sorry for asking a huge sum of money. I--I promise I will pay you back."
"No, Junsu.. You don't have too. I did it because you are my cousin, my family. I'm sorry that we got lost contact after what my dad did to uncle. If I knew back then, I will try to stop him." answered Jaejoong as he carefully patted Junsu's hand which was wrapped with bandage after it was stabbed two weeks ago.
Junsu wiped the tears that he didn't realise what there as he remembered the incident. "If it wasn't for him, I might have died just like my father. And if it wasn't for me, he might had died somewhere out there with his baby too. I've watched him in pain and agony after he learned that he got nothing left but the baby. When he cried, I cried too. When he is pain, I'm in pain too." Junsu glance toward Yunho who was biting his lower lip. "I beg you. Please... Leave him alone now. You got everything you want. He has nothing but a child. You can get any child with other women. Don't take him the child that bring him hope all this time. He need Miryang the most in his life."
"I need to see him. I need to tell him that I'm sorry for using him back then. It wasn't my intention to use his love for me to achieve my goals in a first place. I regret that he had to be a part of my plans but..."
"But you achieve it now, don't you. That is not something he wanted to hear from you. Please Jung Yunho. Please leave and never appear in front of him. Just pretend that he and Miryang never exist in your live."
"How can I do that? She is my child. Mine!" respond Yunho angrily.
"When you took everything from him, leaving him nothing but himself... has that thought ever appear in your mind? You have everything now and he only has one child. Is that fair to him?" Junsu asked calmly as he finally regained his composure.
Yunho shook his head as he felt a surge of anxiety. "I didn't know! If he told me that night.."
"It is all in the past. If you regret it..." Junsu paused. "..wait, you told him yesterday that you didn't regret what happen four year ago. You just said that meeting him again was something you regret."
Yunho gasped in panic. "No, that is not what I meant! I regret for hurting him by taking Miryang away!" He went to grabbed both Junsu's shoulder. "W-we can works this out. Live together. Me and him... and Miryang."
Junsu pushed those hands away. "How can two people out of love stay together?"
"I lov..." Yunho couldn't finish his sentences as Junsu interrupted him.
"He told me that he no longer have feelings for you..." Yunho was shocked to hear Junsu's reason. ".. and you never love him in the first place. Don't be stupid and make such desicion. It's better for you to leave him."
'He told me that he no longer have feelings for you...'
'No longer have feelings for you.'
Yunho panted as those words finally registered inside his head. "D--did he.. really said that?" asked Yunho sadly, looking dejected. "Does h--he hate me now?"
"I asked him if he still love you and he answered no. I think that..." Junsu's lips pressed tightly when Yunho took a few steps back and his body started shaking. He was speechless to see the unconscionable man shaking hard in front of him. "Are you..alright?"
Just as Yunho wanted to reply, his phone rang in his pocket. He knew it wasn't from the office as he already told his secretary that he was taking a day off and he wanted no interruption. Hesitately, he answered it in front of Junsu after he saw the caller name.
'Let's meet!'
The call ended instantly. Yunho slowly turned around, without saying anything to Junsu. The smaller man was confused by the sudden change. Yunho headed to his car and went inside.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" uttered Junsu as he watched Yunho drove away in hurried.
Jaejoong pulled away from the window as he sobbed. 'It's really over now, isn't it?' He quickly wiped the tears when Junsu entered the house.
"Oh, hyung!" exclaimed Junsu seeing him standing by the door. "You already awake?" Junsu carefully asked as he glanced outside the window. He turned back to Jaejoong and noticed his red eyes. "Hyung, you..alright?" He hissed realizing that just a minute ago he asked the same thing to Yunho.
Jaejoong smiled painfully while nodding his head. "Shall we make breakfast, Junsu~ah?"
~~~~~~@~~~~~~
Yunho checked his apperance after he tucked his shirt neatly and buttoned up his suit. He combed his hair with his fingers and adjust his tie correctly. He threw away a folded tissues that he had use to freshen his face into a dustbin. Taking a last look at himself in a mirror, he left the restroom. He walked to one of the table in a restaurant where his companion had set up for a meet. He looked at his watch and then to the main entrance. Finally, Yunho saw him walking in. Two men followed behind and they took a nearest table as the man stopped in front of Yunho.
"Thank you for coming." said Mr Jung as he took the opposite seat.
"What do you want?" Yunho asked directly before a waiter came to take their order. Mr Jung politely asked for a coffee and Yunho just shook his head.
Seeing the tense look on Yunho makes the older man laughed. "What with the serious look? Aren't you suppose to be happy to watch me fall from my throne? My family, wealth, everything will be gone thanks to you."
Due to a sleepless night and long journey that morning combine with the meeting he had right now gave Yunho a slight headache. He closed his eyes and snorted in disgust. "Don't act like you are the victim since you started all this."
Mr Jung glared at him and replied with a controlled voice. "Look, all I did was for you to obey me! I am your father! If you just obey me and come to me, we won't be playing this ridiculous game and other people won't get involved in this. Look at what this had done to me. I loose everything including my wife."
Yunho ogled to the old man. "You were the one who leave me with no choice but to fight back. Besides, she deserve to know the truth. That you are a liar... and what I did was to protect myself and the KIM company. They are innocent to be a part of your greediness scheme."
"This won't happen if you choose to obey me!" Spatted Mr Jung angrily as his palm make a contact with the table. A few of costumers laid their eyes towards them. He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie.
Yunho stayed quiet as he noticed the waiter earlier was coming with a cup of coffee. The fresh aroma from the black coffee slowly calm him as he thanks the waiter and focused back to his father. "Why can't you accept that everyone can make their own choice. If you can choose to leave me, Jiyoon and umma; why can't I choose to not listen to you and not come to you? Besides, for me to protect the company, I also lose something a lot more valuable than what you had lost.. I lose my family that I love, my wife and my daughter which I cherish the most."
Mr Jung snickered as he rested one his arm on the table. "You think only you had suffer? I did love my wife now. She's the only one for me."
Yunho tightened his fists on his laps.
Mr Jung furrowed his eyebrows and after a while he pick up his drink. "Now that I look carefully. You are just like her. Full of tricks. Just like how she got me into a marriage in the first place." He sipped the freshly brewed coffee.
Yunho's eyes grew wide hearing such a confession.
Seeing Yunho's reaction had Mr Jung sneered. "Oh, you didn't know about that, do you?" He placed his cup back on the table. "You must love your mother very badly that you think she's the pitiful one and I'm the bad guy." He leaned forward and his eyes twinkled seeing the anxious displayed on the young man's face. "She was the one who appear out of no where claiming that I'm the father of a child that look like me. It was just a one night stand! I would not have married her if it wasn't for your grandmother pestering me to take her. She knew I never love her and if it wasn't for her who drugged me that night and got herself pregnant again, a child that came out of mistake won't be born." He paused realizing how unhappy he was during his marriage with Yunho's mother until the day he left. He shunned away when he noticed anger coming from his son but still he continue his story. "I decided to take my chance and leave her and married the woman I love, which is the one divorcing me right now thinking it was all a scheme when I truly love her all this time."
"Have you ever once love umma?" The old Jung just stayed quiet. Yunho gritted his teeth. "I guess I was nothing but a mistake too then."
Mr Jung chocked. "It's not that. You are still my child even if I did it without of love. You are still my son. When I look at you back then, I saw me in you. That is why I want you to come to me. Even if I hate your mother, you are still a part of me."
"What's the different?!!" Yelled Yunho, shocking Mr Jung and other costumers. The two bodyguards were about to stand from their seat when Mr Jung signaled to them to wait. "Jiyoon is still a part of you even if she wasn't born perfect, even if she was born not of love!!"
"It's not the same. You are born flawless, you inherit everything from me, but she.... well she doesn't." Mr Jung flinched when Yunho pushed him seat backward and stood.
"I'm still thankfull that I was born in this world even if I was a mistake from a beginning. Thanks for everything. Now I really want to have nothing to do with you anymore." pronounce Yunho as he bowed to the old Jung and left.
Once Yunho was in his car, he let out a big wail as he started the car. He drove off while wiping his tears away feeling all alone, yearning for a comfort but nowhere to be found.
~~~~~@~~~~
Miryang was munching her food slowly. She wasn't feeling happy ever since she stepped back into the old house with flowers outside that she love and could look everyday. She missed the dolls. She forgotten to bring along her favourite one when they were rushing to leave the mansion.
"Baby, eat some more." Commanded Jaejoong when the girl started playing with her food. He sighed when the girl jutted her bottom lip and stare at him.
"I want Suji."
"I promise to buy you another doll tomorrow, okay?" Junsu tried to cheer her but she shook her head.
"No, want Suji only." She replied sadly and continue playing with hr food. The turth was, she missed everything back in the mansion already.
~~~~~@~~~~~
Yunho was sitting on Miryang's bed with his back leaning on the headboard. His hand was caressing a doll on his chest like it was the most precious thing in his life. His tears slipped from his eyes and tainted the doll's face, making it wet around the eyes area. His other hand was occupied with a bottle of liquor, half empty. Yunho drunk from the bottle and then took a deep breath. "Miryang-ah... Appa is being very bad to your umma, don't you think?" He talked to the doll. "Why won't you say anyhing to appa?" He smiled before he chuckled. "Oh, I forgot.. Appa being bad to you too, right? You probably hate me too, aren't you?" He sighed. "Your umma hate me. He really hate me now."
Yunho took another gulp before he slammed the bottle on the nightstand. He cupped the doll's face as he tried to focus when everything started to spin around in his eyes. "Miryang-ah.. The day umma left, appa want to tell him that..." He gulped as more tears spilled. "...appa had fallen in love with him. Really in love with him. Appa said that it was all an act, but slowly it become real." He sobbed. "Appa tried to hate him. Your umma's personality wasn't the best when appa first met him, you know?" He slide his body to laid on the small bed, bringing the doll to his chest as he patted the doll's back. "But he changed in front of appa's eyes that appa can't control his heart from beating so hard when umma was in front of appa." His vision started getting blurry and his head grew heavy. "Appa was sorry for using him back then. Because of pride and ego, appa didn't think that his action will end up losing...you.." He closed his eyes. "....and him. Jaejoong... Jae.."
Mrs Shim closed the door after witnessing Yunho crying to sleep. She glanced to her son who was sitting by the stairs. Both of them changed gaze. She motioned her hand for the younger man to follow her. When they were in the livingroom, she looked around and finally sat on one of the couch. "Have you talk to Jaejoong about the last time?"
Changmin knitted his eyebrows before both his shoulder dropped. "Not really. I made promise to Yunho that I would never tell anyone about that past. Also, I thought that they will talk about their problems on their own."
"I don't want him to be in that state again. He was losing his mind when Jaejoong went missing the last time." said Mrs Shim worriedly as her hands clunched on the couch.
~~~~~~@~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks later...
'Jung Jihoon and Lee Minji are officially separated after Lee Minji realized the marriage based on a lie. It was said by Lee Minji's representative that Jung Jihoon married Lee Minji in order for him to take over her company and her wealth. Jung Jihoon who was the CEO to...'
Yunho switched off the television with a remote before he tossed it back on the couch beside him. His phone rang instantly in his pocket just when he was putting on his shirt that he picked from the bed. His eyes stayed unfocused as he fished his phone out and slide to answer the call.
"You watch the news just now?" asked the person on the other line.
"What is it Siwon?" asked Yunho tiredly.
"Yah, you saw it already right? Although I shouldn't be too happy about this but he is finally stripped off his status.." Laughed Siwon on the other line.
Yunho pressed the phone on his left ear as he stepped into the walking wardrobe and pulled out a small luggage. "Anyway, you should do you work accordingly."
The laughter died instantly before Siwon cleared his throat. "You sure about this? Look, maybe there is another way to settle this matter. After hearing the story on your side, I think maybe he can understand about your situation too."
Yunho pulled out the handle and tugged the suitcase as he walked back to the couch. "It's doesn't matter anymore. It's end already. Things need to be back like before since there is no more disturbance. It's time to return them all back."
"Then, what's your plan? Do you need me to do something for you?"
"No, for now. Promise not to tell him anything that are not stated on the papers or I'll come and kill you." Warned Yunho as he walked to the bed and picked up his jacket.
"Got it. Take care, man. I'll find you soon."
Yunho ended the call and wore his jacket. Steadily, he left the room which had more bad memories than good one. Each step he took as he passed each corner of the mansion brought sad memory to him. He went into Miryang's room and caught a sight of the doll that had been Miryang's replacement on the bed. He went to pick the doll up and hugged it. He sighed. "You'll be alright by yourself?" He stared at the doll who had a big smile but like someone playing a trick on him, the doll's smile turned sour. "I guess I'll have to bring you with me then." He smiled slightly and held the doll's hand while another one grabbed the luggage. He left the room after looking at it for the last time.
"Boss!" Called Changmin when he saw Yunho reached the bottom of the stairs. He rushed to the man's side. "Where..where are you going, boss?"
Yunho turned to him and smiled. "Min, take care of everyone here.. especially your mother." Changmin caught his arm from leaving. The rest of the maids looked at them in wonder while Mrs Shim watched them with tears in her eyes.
"But, hyung.." Changmin gulped slightly when Yunho patted his hand and pulled it off.
"It's end now." Yunho mutteredly. "Take care of him for me."
~~~~~@~~~~~
Jaejoong placed the heavy box on the floor, next to the counter and almost fell over when he tried to straightened his body up. He held his head after seeing a blank spot for a second while his other hand grabbed the counter for support. He wiped the sweat on his forehead while making his way to the shop's owner who was reading newspaper near the fan. "Ahjussi, I'm done." said Jaejoong but then his eyes caught a picture of someone that he seems to know.
The old man placed the papers on the desk and grinned to Jaejoong. "Aigoo, thank you Jaejoong-ah.. I kinda miss you helping around when you went out of village for weeks. You are so kind and trustworthy. It's hard to find people like you now." Praised the owner as he started counting the money. "Here you go. Thank you Jaejoong-ah."
Jaejoong smiled and bowed slightly after he received his payment. He quickly walked to his bicycle when he felt his heart started to beat faster so he quickly ride back home. When he was nearer to his house, he saw someone leaning on the now fixed gate. A black car can be seen parked at the side. Instantly he jumped from his bicycle and ran towards the man who yelped when he bumped into him. "Who are you?! What are you doing here?"
~~~~@~~~~
Junsu and Jaejoong glanced at one another before then both looked at the man sitting across them. The man smiled. "Hi, I'm Choi Siwon, a lawyer to the Jung... i mean KIM company." When he saw Jaejoong narrowed his eyes, he chuckled a bit. "Ah, I'm kinda new actually. I was assigned last year by the chairman."
"By Jung Yunho?" asked Junsu cynically while crossing his arms.
"Yes!" Siwon answered but then shook his head. "I mean no. Jung Yunho is no longer the Chairman. You are, Mr Kim Jaejoong."
"What?" Jaejoong raised his eyebrows but then Siwon passed a few documents to him. "What is this?"
"An agreement. More like settlement in this case." Answered Siwon while waiting for the them read. Junsu gasped in disbelief beside him.