Never Letting Go 22
Hyukjae’s father was back to tip-top shape a week after getting out of the hospital and Hyukjae couldn’t feel any more relieved. Everything was going well, but there was one thing that she thought was better dealt with sooner rather than later: that morning she decided to break the news to them that she’s decided to leave for America soon. Heechul was willing to give her more time, but she thought that the earlier she fulfills her responsibilities, the earlier she can go back to her family.
“How long will you stay in the US again sweetie? I thought you promised you’ll be staying here for good?” Her mother asked her.
“I still have things to finish, Mom. You don’t want me getting sued, right?” Hyukjae smiled a little. “Just give me a year… After that, I promise, I’ll be all yours.” She filled her lungs with air as hope filled her heart.
“If that’s so, then I won’t object.” Hyukjae’s father gave her an approving look.
“Thank you, Appa.” Hyukjae looked at her father with grateful eyes; she just knew that she’s got the most understanding father there is.
“So it means you’ll be open for dating now? I know a lot of guys who want to date you, just give me your requirements and I’ll filter the candidates out for you.” Kyuhyun said casually, taking a bite on his apple.
“Kyuhyunnie, how many times do I have to tell you that I’m not interested in any your friends?” Hyukjae rolled her eyes at her brother.
Hyukjae noticed how Kyuhyun’s face became expressionless upon hearing her answer. She knew exactly what’s running on his mind.
“It’s not what you think it is… It’s not like that, I just really don’t want to date…” Hyukjae lowered her gaze because she knows no one in her family will believe what she had just said. They know her too well, but it was herself she was trying so hard to convince. It’s been two weeks and she hoped that Donghae would somehow appear or at least make any contact with her, but he still hasn’t.
There was silence until her father broke it with something that got her thinking.
“Wherever your happiness lies, Hyukkie, I’m for that.” Her father reached out for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Me too, if Auntie Hyukkie is happy, I’m happy too!” Minkyu announced, which earned her smiles from the other people in the table except for her father.
“I am outnumbered…” Kyuhyun shrugged his shoulder. “I’ll be going ahead, I have a prospective client and I’ll have to show him that it’s best to work with me in his projects… See you later.” Kyuhyun kissed his daughter and Sungmin before leaving the table.
“Hyukkie, don’t take it against Kyuhyun, okay? You know how protective he is of you…” Sungmin said apologetically once her husband is out of earshot.
“I know that, and I understand him. Don’t worry Unnie…” Hyukjae told Sungmin. Her brother’s right, maybe she should really consider going out again. She told herself that she should at least try her hand at it once she’s back in America.
----
Kyuhyun rolled down his window as the guard of their mansion waved at him.
“Is there a delivery again?” Kyuhyun asked the guard, and the staff immediately nodded.
“Flowers for Ms. Hyukjae… And a letter, sir.” The guard answered.
“Dispose both of it. I don’t want anyone in my family to see it.” Kyuhyun said before pressing the button to roll the window up.
“Damn you bastard…” Kyuhyun breathed. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he imagined that it was Donghae’s neck he was strangling instead. Kyuhyun knew that he should put an end to Donghae’s continuous attempts at reinserting himself in his sister’s life, and he’s going to do just that.
----
Donghae didn’t know how many times he has checked his cellphone for the past week, fervently hoping each time that he would see a message from Hyukjae.
He’s been religiously sending her flowers and letters since the family got out of the hospital. He could go to their home, but he’s sure that it wouldn’t be without any commotion- not with Kyuhyun around - and he doesn’t want to compromise Mr. Lee’s condition with any of that.
His wandering thoughts were put to a stop as he heard knocks on his office’s door.
“Come in.” He straightened his back as he looked at the door.
“Sir, a certain Mr. Lee Kyuhyun wants to see you.” Ryeowook, his secretary, informed him.
“Let him in.” The secretary bowed a little before exiting the room. Donghae, on the other hand, was taut with anticipation with this very unexpected visit.
Kyuhyun entered the room carrying a blank expression on his face, but Donghae knew better. He can see the contempt in Kyuhyun’s eyes, and he knew it was all for him.
“Good morning, Mr. Lee. To whom do I owe this visit?” He began formally.
“Cut the shit Donghae…” Kyuhyun said with an icy tone. “Stop pestering my sister. She’s moved on, and so must you.”
“I’m not pestering her… I just want to talk to her.”
“And I think it’s obvious that she doesn’t want to, isn’t it?”
“Unless I hear it from her, I won’t stop. I won’t give up.” Donghae eyed the other man with determination.
“Then I’d see you try…”
“Look, I know you’re just trying to protect her, and I respect you for that. But you don’t know anything. Don’t be so quick to pass judgment.” Donghae’s calm eyes met Kyuhyun’s fiery gaze.
“You’ve put my sister through hell, and you say I don’t know a goddamn thing?” Kyuhyun’s jaws pressed together tightly, his chest heaving in an attempt to keep his calm.
“You don’t. It doesn’t really matter if you know or not, but I’ve been through hell too, and I’m still in my own hell now. I love your sister, Kyuhyun. So much-“
“Fuck you. Fuck you! If you love her, you wouldn’t have left her in that altar. Do you even realize how long she waited? If you love her you wouldn’t have paraded with that bitch by your side. Damn you. You don’t know half of the pain she felt that day you left her. She lost her baby, goddamnit! It took so long for her life to be back to normal, and there’s no way I’m going to allow you to worm your way in, when she’s just standing up again on her own!” Kyuhyun lost control of his emotions, and he only realized the things he said when he noticed the utter shock in Donghae’s face.
Donghae opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to take hold of words that would not come. His chest suddenly felt painful, as if a thousand hands were fisting his heart, his eyes heating up as one of the questions he had in mind is finally answered.
“She lost…our baby…” Pain coursed through him as the words slipped out from his mouth, the pain getting more intense as seconds passed. He felt like everything was at a standstill, each breath he takes felt like it was forcefully ripped off his chest.
“You don’t even deserve to know the existence of my niece… Leave my sister alone or I’ll kill you.” Kyuhyun walked out of Donghae’s office, leaving the distraught man behind.
Donghae shut his eyes as he heard the door close with a loud thud.
It was painful enough to know that they lost a baby, but what’s more painful was the truth that it was because of him… And that Hyukjae had to carry that sorrow by herself for the past years…
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” were the only words that came out of Donghae’s mouth as a river of tears doused down his cheeks.
The next moments became a blur. The bulky office table was pushed out of the way, sending the documents flying across the room, the glass top crashed on the carpeted floor along with the expensive laptop and Donghae couldn’t care less. The image of his office in disarray wasn’t even close to mirroring how his world seemed to have crashed down on him at that moment.
---
Outside his office, Donghae’s secretary bit her lower lip in panic. She always hated being isolated from all the other employees in the office, but at that moment she was thankful because she wouldn’t know how to explain things. With shaking hands, she dialed Yesung’s number.
“Finally decided that you want to date me?“ Yesung’s lazy voice reached Ryeowooks ear. Under different circumstances, she would react violently to the teasing but not today.
“Can you please come to the office quick?”
“I’m a busy person kitten… We have to schedule that-”
“This is emergency Kim Jong-woon!” Ryeowook burst, her voice shaking from the worry and that tinge of fear that overwhelmed her.
“What emergency? What?” Yesung finally got the hint that Ryeowook was being serious.
“Mr. Lee… I think he’s gone crazy…”
“What?! Explain.”
“I don’t have time to! Just come here… I think he’s breaking everything inside the room!” Ryeowook flinched as another thud was heard from inside the room.
“I’ll be there.” Yesung ended the call and Yesung frowned. Something big must have happened.
--
Yesung arrived and found out that Ryeowook wasn’t lying when she said that Donghae was breaking everything in the room. He braved the room, followed by a fidgeting Ryeowook and saw Donghae punching the wall with so much force, the sound of flesh and bone hitting the unrelenting wall morbidly filling the room.
“Donghae-ah! What are you doing?!” Yesung tried restraining the other but he just couldn’t be stopped. “Donghae… this is not going to solve the problem… Let’s talk about this. Man, come on!” Yesung yelled at the younger male to get his attention. It was hard for him to see Donghae like that.
With one last punch, Donghae’s energy was finally spent, his knees wobbled and gravity pulled him to slump on the floor, his hand a bloody mess.
Yesung studied the miserable appearance of his friend before crouching down in front of him. Donghae’s right hand got severely bruised, blood staining his skin and clothes that got in contact with it and he doubted if Donghae could put it to use for weeks, or months even. He looked at the door where Ryeowook was waiting and the woman nodded hastily understanding what he meant.
“Let’s talk in the car, we need to get you to the hospital…” Yesung tried helping Donghae to get up from the floor, but the other remained unresponsive. He was staring blankly at space while catching his breath.
“Hae-ah…”
“Fuck… I put her through so much more than I thought I did…” Donghae endured the sting on his throat just to get out those words.
“You only did what you had to do… Don’t be so hard on yourself…” Yesung reminded him.
“She lost our baby… and that--- fuck… Damn it! I hate myself Hyung…now more than ever. I never knew she was pregnant…” Donghae broke into agonized cries once more, the thought of his child - their child - filling his mind, magnifying his agony at the thought of his…little angel whom he never met. His little angel now in heaven…
Yesung knew he can never fully understand how Donghae was feeling right that moment, but he knew it wasn’t his friend’s fault, no matter how the other thought that all the blame should be on him.
“If you knew… I think you’d still do the same. Had you known, would you have risked both of their lives? No, right?” Yesung asked him, trying to shed some light in his friend’s mind.
“But I could have done something else… This is all because I’m a coward…”
“No, you are by far the bravest person I know, Donghae. And Hyukjae’s father thinks the same. Don’t you think he knows about the baby? But he still forgave you. Because he knows you did it out of your love for her…”
“She’s got all the right to hate me, to never forgive me…”
“Not until you’ve fully explained your side…” Yesung said trying to impart a little bit of optimism into his friend. “And doesn’t this give you all the more reason to apologize?”
Donghae thought of Yesung’s words deeply.
“The chance of forgiveness is slim… but you couldn’t lose more than you already have. Now come on and let’s get you to the hospital…” Yesung pulled Donghae up.
“Thank you, Hyung…”
Donghae knew that it was foolish to hope, and with the immense pain and guilt he was feeling, he knew that he deserved all of it for putting Hyukjae through all that pain and heartbreak she suffered from, alone. But even in his chaotic mind, he knew that his Yesung hyung was right: he couldn’t lose more than he already has. And as a man with nothing left to lose, he’s willing to take on the chances to set his life…their lives, straight.
----
Kyuhyun face-palmed, suddenly feeling regret about interfering, but what scares him more is that he felt Donghae’s pain. He felt the sincerity in Donghae’s words, and a part of him is starting to believe that the other man deserves a chance to explain himself.
“No… Just no…” He shook the thoughts away. Just like his car, Kyuhyun’s emotions were on a crossroad, and there’s only one path to take.
“Sorry Hyukkie…”
---
The family were having fun playing scrabble when Kyuhyun arrived.
“Oh… The word master is here now.” Hyukjae smiled at his brother.
“How was the meeting, love?” Sungmin stood up and kissed her husband.
“It was okay… But I saw someone I didn’t really want to see…“ His eyes flew to Hyukjae and the smile on her lips instantly died. “And he was with a woman, so whatever hopes you’ve got there…”
“If you guys will excuse me…” Hyukjae stood up, and walked to the stairs without looking back.
Silence took over the room, until Sungmin broke it.
“You didn’t have to tell her that…” There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice.
“I needed to… Anyways, come on, let’s play. I’ll finish Hyukjae’s game…” Kyuhyun put his hands over Sungmin’s shoulder and led her back to the couch.
The game continued without much talk. They were on the last round and before their father laid the last of the tiles on the board, he gave Kyuhyun a hard, disappointed look.
Kyuhyun winced as he saw the word that was formed.
LIES.
“Dear, I think it’s time for my medicines.” The older Lee turned to his wife.
“Oh, we almost forgot about that… I’ll get it…”
“No need, I’ll take them in our room; I think I need a rest too.”
The elderly couple strode out of the living room as well.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Sungmin asked her husband.
“Of course not.” Kyuhyun denied, but the evidence came rushing into the room, in the hands of their daughter.
“Umma!” Minkyu ran straight towards Sungmin’s lap, a bouquet of flowers and a card at hand.
“What’s that? Where’d you get that?” Sungmin frowned.
“Minkyu, bring those back to where you got them. “ Kyuhyun told the little girl, his voice changing into a serious tone that his young daughter didn’t even notice to heed the warning laced in it.
“But I read Auntie Hyukkie’s name on them… I don’t think she’d seen them, so I’ll bring it to her…” Minkyu said getting out of her mother’s lap.
“No.”
“But Appa…”
“I said no! Are you not listening to me?” For the first time, Kyuhyun raised his voice on his daughter, effectively scaring the little girl, bringing her to tears.
“Kyuhyun! You don’t need to shout at her!” Sungmin snapped after seeing the uncharacteristic outburst of her other half, pulling their daughter to her side.
“I’m sorry…I’m just… I’m sorry Minkyu…” Kyuhyun said, looking at his daughter who looked so scared of him it broke his heart.
Sungmin gently took the items from her daughter’s hand and read it.
“You knew about this.” There was frustration in her voice. She wants to understand why her husband’s doing that, but she couldn’t convince herself that he was still right and reasonable.
“Minnie…”
“You’re no longer trying to protect her Kyuhyun… You’re trying to manipulate her life. Your sister is smart; sooner or later she’ll find out about this and trust me, she will not like it that the brother he trusts just meddled in her own life.”
“She’ll understand my reason…”
“She might not hate you, but she will be hurt.” Sungmin sighed in resignation to her husband’s hard-headedness.
“It’s all for the best…”
---
Sungmin took out the small card that she pocketed a while ago. She stared at the neatly scribbled words; the content was short, but she felt the sincerity of what’s written in there.
One chance to talk to you, Hyukjae… Please…
She was witness to how much agony Hyukjae went through, and that short note tells her that Donghae's been through the same misery as well… And she knew that no one, not even her husband, should stop them from knowing the reasons behind painful, heartbreaking decisions, and finding the answers to the secrets that have been kept for years.
Just below the scribbled words was Donghae’s number, and she knows just what to do with it exactly.
“I’m sorry, Kyuhyunnie… but I’m doing what I believe is right…” Sungmin whispered to herself after saving the number on her cellphone.
------
should I post two chapters at a time? :)
“How long will you stay in the US again sweetie? I thought you promised you’ll be staying here for good?” Her mother asked her.
“I still have things to finish, Mom. You don’t want me getting sued, right?” Hyukjae smiled a little. “Just give me a year… After that, I promise, I’ll be all yours.” She filled her lungs with air as hope filled her heart.
“If that’s so, then I won’t object.” Hyukjae’s father gave her an approving look.
“Thank you, Appa.” Hyukjae looked at her father with grateful eyes; she just knew that she’s got the most understanding father there is.
“So it means you’ll be open for dating now? I know a lot of guys who want to date you, just give me your requirements and I’ll filter the candidates out for you.” Kyuhyun said casually, taking a bite on his apple.
“Kyuhyunnie, how many times do I have to tell you that I’m not interested in any your friends?” Hyukjae rolled her eyes at her brother.
Hyukjae noticed how Kyuhyun’s face became expressionless upon hearing her answer. She knew exactly what’s running on his mind.
“It’s not what you think it is… It’s not like that, I just really don’t want to date…” Hyukjae lowered her gaze because she knows no one in her family will believe what she had just said. They know her too well, but it was herself she was trying so hard to convince. It’s been two weeks and she hoped that Donghae would somehow appear or at least make any contact with her, but he still hasn’t.
There was silence until her father broke it with something that got her thinking.
“Wherever your happiness lies, Hyukkie, I’m for that.” Her father reached out for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Me too, if Auntie Hyukkie is happy, I’m happy too!” Minkyu announced, which earned her smiles from the other people in the table except for her father.
“I am outnumbered…” Kyuhyun shrugged his shoulder. “I’ll be going ahead, I have a prospective client and I’ll have to show him that it’s best to work with me in his projects… See you later.” Kyuhyun kissed his daughter and Sungmin before leaving the table.
“Hyukkie, don’t take it against Kyuhyun, okay? You know how protective he is of you…” Sungmin said apologetically once her husband is out of earshot.
“I know that, and I understand him. Don’t worry Unnie…” Hyukjae told Sungmin. Her brother’s right, maybe she should really consider going out again. She told herself that she should at least try her hand at it once she’s back in America.
----
Kyuhyun rolled down his window as the guard of their mansion waved at him.
“Is there a delivery again?” Kyuhyun asked the guard, and the staff immediately nodded.
“Flowers for Ms. Hyukjae… And a letter, sir.” The guard answered.
“Dispose both of it. I don’t want anyone in my family to see it.” Kyuhyun said before pressing the button to roll the window up.
“Damn you bastard…” Kyuhyun breathed. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he imagined that it was Donghae’s neck he was strangling instead. Kyuhyun knew that he should put an end to Donghae’s continuous attempts at reinserting himself in his sister’s life, and he’s going to do just that.
----
Donghae didn’t know how many times he has checked his cellphone for the past week, fervently hoping each time that he would see a message from Hyukjae.
He’s been religiously sending her flowers and letters since the family got out of the hospital. He could go to their home, but he’s sure that it wouldn’t be without any commotion- not with Kyuhyun around - and he doesn’t want to compromise Mr. Lee’s condition with any of that.
His wandering thoughts were put to a stop as he heard knocks on his office’s door.
“Come in.” He straightened his back as he looked at the door.
“Sir, a certain Mr. Lee Kyuhyun wants to see you.” Ryeowook, his secretary, informed him.
“Let him in.” The secretary bowed a little before exiting the room. Donghae, on the other hand, was taut with anticipation with this very unexpected visit.
Kyuhyun entered the room carrying a blank expression on his face, but Donghae knew better. He can see the contempt in Kyuhyun’s eyes, and he knew it was all for him.
“Good morning, Mr. Lee. To whom do I owe this visit?” He began formally.
“Cut the shit Donghae…” Kyuhyun said with an icy tone. “Stop pestering my sister. She’s moved on, and so must you.”
“I’m not pestering her… I just want to talk to her.”
“And I think it’s obvious that she doesn’t want to, isn’t it?”
“Unless I hear it from her, I won’t stop. I won’t give up.” Donghae eyed the other man with determination.
“Then I’d see you try…”
“Look, I know you’re just trying to protect her, and I respect you for that. But you don’t know anything. Don’t be so quick to pass judgment.” Donghae’s calm eyes met Kyuhyun’s fiery gaze.
“You’ve put my sister through hell, and you say I don’t know a goddamn thing?” Kyuhyun’s jaws pressed together tightly, his chest heaving in an attempt to keep his calm.
“You don’t. It doesn’t really matter if you know or not, but I’ve been through hell too, and I’m still in my own hell now. I love your sister, Kyuhyun. So much-“
“Fuck you. Fuck you! If you love her, you wouldn’t have left her in that altar. Do you even realize how long she waited? If you love her you wouldn’t have paraded with that bitch by your side. Damn you. You don’t know half of the pain she felt that day you left her. She lost her baby, goddamnit! It took so long for her life to be back to normal, and there’s no way I’m going to allow you to worm your way in, when she’s just standing up again on her own!” Kyuhyun lost control of his emotions, and he only realized the things he said when he noticed the utter shock in Donghae’s face.
Donghae opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to take hold of words that would not come. His chest suddenly felt painful, as if a thousand hands were fisting his heart, his eyes heating up as one of the questions he had in mind is finally answered.
“She lost…our baby…” Pain coursed through him as the words slipped out from his mouth, the pain getting more intense as seconds passed. He felt like everything was at a standstill, each breath he takes felt like it was forcefully ripped off his chest.
“You don’t even deserve to know the existence of my niece… Leave my sister alone or I’ll kill you.” Kyuhyun walked out of Donghae’s office, leaving the distraught man behind.
Donghae shut his eyes as he heard the door close with a loud thud.
It was painful enough to know that they lost a baby, but what’s more painful was the truth that it was because of him… And that Hyukjae had to carry that sorrow by herself for the past years…
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” were the only words that came out of Donghae’s mouth as a river of tears doused down his cheeks.
The next moments became a blur. The bulky office table was pushed out of the way, sending the documents flying across the room, the glass top crashed on the carpeted floor along with the expensive laptop and Donghae couldn’t care less. The image of his office in disarray wasn’t even close to mirroring how his world seemed to have crashed down on him at that moment.
---
Outside his office, Donghae’s secretary bit her lower lip in panic. She always hated being isolated from all the other employees in the office, but at that moment she was thankful because she wouldn’t know how to explain things. With shaking hands, she dialed Yesung’s number.
“Finally decided that you want to date me?“ Yesung’s lazy voice reached Ryeowooks ear. Under different circumstances, she would react violently to the teasing but not today.
“Can you please come to the office quick?”
“I’m a busy person kitten… We have to schedule that-”
“This is emergency Kim Jong-woon!” Ryeowook burst, her voice shaking from the worry and that tinge of fear that overwhelmed her.
“What emergency? What?” Yesung finally got the hint that Ryeowook was being serious.
“Mr. Lee… I think he’s gone crazy…”
“What?! Explain.”
“I don’t have time to! Just come here… I think he’s breaking everything inside the room!” Ryeowook flinched as another thud was heard from inside the room.
“I’ll be there.” Yesung ended the call and Yesung frowned. Something big must have happened.
--
Yesung arrived and found out that Ryeowook wasn’t lying when she said that Donghae was breaking everything in the room. He braved the room, followed by a fidgeting Ryeowook and saw Donghae punching the wall with so much force, the sound of flesh and bone hitting the unrelenting wall morbidly filling the room.
“Donghae-ah! What are you doing?!” Yesung tried restraining the other but he just couldn’t be stopped. “Donghae… this is not going to solve the problem… Let’s talk about this. Man, come on!” Yesung yelled at the younger male to get his attention. It was hard for him to see Donghae like that.
With one last punch, Donghae’s energy was finally spent, his knees wobbled and gravity pulled him to slump on the floor, his hand a bloody mess.
Yesung studied the miserable appearance of his friend before crouching down in front of him. Donghae’s right hand got severely bruised, blood staining his skin and clothes that got in contact with it and he doubted if Donghae could put it to use for weeks, or months even. He looked at the door where Ryeowook was waiting and the woman nodded hastily understanding what he meant.
“Let’s talk in the car, we need to get you to the hospital…” Yesung tried helping Donghae to get up from the floor, but the other remained unresponsive. He was staring blankly at space while catching his breath.
“Hae-ah…”
“Fuck… I put her through so much more than I thought I did…” Donghae endured the sting on his throat just to get out those words.
“You only did what you had to do… Don’t be so hard on yourself…” Yesung reminded him.
“She lost our baby… and that--- fuck… Damn it! I hate myself Hyung…now more than ever. I never knew she was pregnant…” Donghae broke into agonized cries once more, the thought of his child - their child - filling his mind, magnifying his agony at the thought of his…little angel whom he never met. His little angel now in heaven…
Yesung knew he can never fully understand how Donghae was feeling right that moment, but he knew it wasn’t his friend’s fault, no matter how the other thought that all the blame should be on him.
“If you knew… I think you’d still do the same. Had you known, would you have risked both of their lives? No, right?” Yesung asked him, trying to shed some light in his friend’s mind.
“But I could have done something else… This is all because I’m a coward…”
“No, you are by far the bravest person I know, Donghae. And Hyukjae’s father thinks the same. Don’t you think he knows about the baby? But he still forgave you. Because he knows you did it out of your love for her…”
“She’s got all the right to hate me, to never forgive me…”
“Not until you’ve fully explained your side…” Yesung said trying to impart a little bit of optimism into his friend. “And doesn’t this give you all the more reason to apologize?”
Donghae thought of Yesung’s words deeply.
“The chance of forgiveness is slim… but you couldn’t lose more than you already have. Now come on and let’s get you to the hospital…” Yesung pulled Donghae up.
“Thank you, Hyung…”
Donghae knew that it was foolish to hope, and with the immense pain and guilt he was feeling, he knew that he deserved all of it for putting Hyukjae through all that pain and heartbreak she suffered from, alone. But even in his chaotic mind, he knew that his Yesung hyung was right: he couldn’t lose more than he already has. And as a man with nothing left to lose, he’s willing to take on the chances to set his life…their lives, straight.
----
Kyuhyun face-palmed, suddenly feeling regret about interfering, but what scares him more is that he felt Donghae’s pain. He felt the sincerity in Donghae’s words, and a part of him is starting to believe that the other man deserves a chance to explain himself.
“No… Just no…” He shook the thoughts away. Just like his car, Kyuhyun’s emotions were on a crossroad, and there’s only one path to take.
“Sorry Hyukkie…”
---
The family were having fun playing scrabble when Kyuhyun arrived.
“Oh… The word master is here now.” Hyukjae smiled at his brother.
“How was the meeting, love?” Sungmin stood up and kissed her husband.
“It was okay… But I saw someone I didn’t really want to see…“ His eyes flew to Hyukjae and the smile on her lips instantly died. “And he was with a woman, so whatever hopes you’ve got there…”
“If you guys will excuse me…” Hyukjae stood up, and walked to the stairs without looking back.
Silence took over the room, until Sungmin broke it.
“You didn’t have to tell her that…” There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice.
“I needed to… Anyways, come on, let’s play. I’ll finish Hyukjae’s game…” Kyuhyun put his hands over Sungmin’s shoulder and led her back to the couch.
The game continued without much talk. They were on the last round and before their father laid the last of the tiles on the board, he gave Kyuhyun a hard, disappointed look.
Kyuhyun winced as he saw the word that was formed.
LIES.
“Dear, I think it’s time for my medicines.” The older Lee turned to his wife.
“Oh, we almost forgot about that… I’ll get it…”
“No need, I’ll take them in our room; I think I need a rest too.”
The elderly couple strode out of the living room as well.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Sungmin asked her husband.
“Of course not.” Kyuhyun denied, but the evidence came rushing into the room, in the hands of their daughter.
“Umma!” Minkyu ran straight towards Sungmin’s lap, a bouquet of flowers and a card at hand.
“What’s that? Where’d you get that?” Sungmin frowned.
“Minkyu, bring those back to where you got them. “ Kyuhyun told the little girl, his voice changing into a serious tone that his young daughter didn’t even notice to heed the warning laced in it.
“But I read Auntie Hyukkie’s name on them… I don’t think she’d seen them, so I’ll bring it to her…” Minkyu said getting out of her mother’s lap.
“No.”
“But Appa…”
“I said no! Are you not listening to me?” For the first time, Kyuhyun raised his voice on his daughter, effectively scaring the little girl, bringing her to tears.
“Kyuhyun! You don’t need to shout at her!” Sungmin snapped after seeing the uncharacteristic outburst of her other half, pulling their daughter to her side.
“I’m sorry…I’m just… I’m sorry Minkyu…” Kyuhyun said, looking at his daughter who looked so scared of him it broke his heart.
Sungmin gently took the items from her daughter’s hand and read it.
“You knew about this.” There was frustration in her voice. She wants to understand why her husband’s doing that, but she couldn’t convince herself that he was still right and reasonable.
“Minnie…”
“You’re no longer trying to protect her Kyuhyun… You’re trying to manipulate her life. Your sister is smart; sooner or later she’ll find out about this and trust me, she will not like it that the brother he trusts just meddled in her own life.”
“She’ll understand my reason…”
“She might not hate you, but she will be hurt.” Sungmin sighed in resignation to her husband’s hard-headedness.
“It’s all for the best…”
---
Sungmin took out the small card that she pocketed a while ago. She stared at the neatly scribbled words; the content was short, but she felt the sincerity of what’s written in there.
One chance to talk to you, Hyukjae… Please…
She was witness to how much agony Hyukjae went through, and that short note tells her that Donghae's been through the same misery as well… And she knew that no one, not even her husband, should stop them from knowing the reasons behind painful, heartbreaking decisions, and finding the answers to the secrets that have been kept for years.
Just below the scribbled words was Donghae’s number, and she knows just what to do with it exactly.
“I’m sorry, Kyuhyunnie… but I’m doing what I believe is right…” Sungmin whispered to herself after saving the number on her cellphone.
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should I post two chapters at a time? :)