The Replacement Groom - Chapter 22
Hi everyone, I'm very sorry for the long wait again, I didn't get to write as much as I wanted due to keep failing sick & life. I'll try to update more often so keep on reading, thank you for reading everyone & do comment :)
Title: The Replacement Groom
Pairing:Changmin/Jang Ri In, Jang Ri In/Yoochun
Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst
Rating: PG
Chapter: 22/?
Summary: I'm merely a replacement for you but you're the treasure of my heart.
Unbeta, sorry if there's any mistake
Chapter 22
"Ri In dear, are you alright?" Mrs Jang questioned, noticing how the singer seems to be fidgeting from the moment Changmin appeared earlier.
Everyone was enjoying dinner while chatting away, only Ri In seems awkward & uncomfortable that everyone could sense it but decided to dismiss it with the thought of awkwardness meeting her ex-husband.
Luckily what seems like hours for Ri In, the dinner finally ended & they were about to move into the living room when Yoona's voice pause everyone.
"Why don't everyone proceed on first, I will get some fruits for all of us." Yoona suggested, earning smiles of admiration from everyone except the uninterested singer.
"Alright, why don't Ri In accompany you? You both can chat, get to know each other." Mrs Jang said, thinking it's a good chance for her daughter to makes friends with a good girl like Yoona.
Ri In wanted to reject but was left with no choice when all sets of eyes was looking at her upon her mom's words.
With heavy steps, Ri In trailed behind Yoona towards the kitchen while everyone else continue their way to the living room.
Once a maid helps to take out a few fruits available in the fridge, they both started cutting & arranging in silence, not a single word exchange since it's actually awkward for Yoona to be around Ri In even though she didn't show it.
Meanwhile back in the Jang's living room, Changmin couldn't help feeling worry about leaving the two alone especially with Yoona still being uncomfortable with just being around Ri In.
"Umma, I'm just gonna check on Yoonie for a bit." Changmin informed after nudging the elder beside him, Mrs Shim give a quick nod as she knows very well that her son always worries about the younger.
Changmin smoothly slipped out of the living room with interrupting the conversation going on, heading straight for the kitchen.
"I'm finally glad to meet you, Ri In shii. I have hear lots about you from your umma." Yoona finally broke the silence, she just can't stand the awkwardness anymore.
"Likewise." a short reply was given by the singer, Ri In wasn't interested to join the other in her small talk.
"I hear from Imo you're currently filming a drama, it must be fun, right?" Yoona continue even though she got a half-hearted answer from the singer previously.
"You know what? I don't feel like talking right now. Can you please just leave me alone to cut the fruits?" Ri In snapped, not really in the mood to tolerate the annoying person beside her.
"Oh..sure." Yoona replied, a bit taken back by Ri In's reply but still pass her knife to the singer & instead of receiving it carefully, Ri In just snatch it out from her grip causing the sharp blade to cut Yoona's thumb.
Blood oozing out instantly shocking both ladies where else Changmin was busy humming to himself but immediately paused when he was greeted with the sight of his dongsaeng's bleeding thumb the moment he step into the kitchen.
"Yoonie, what happen?" Changmin exclaimed, running to Yoona with a panic expression.
"Ahjumma, can you please bring the first aid kit? Hurry up!" Ri In instructed on the first maid she laid her eyes on.
"It's nothing, Oppa." Yoona said calmly after recovering from the shock, knowing the older always freak out whenever she is hurt.
"Here, Missy." The ahjumma exclaim, trying to pass the kit to Ri In after appearing back in the kitchen but Changmin beat the singer to it.
Changmin quickly rinse the cut under water before applying the antiseptic cream & lastly putting a band aid on it.
"Yoonie ah, be careful alright. You can't afford to lose blood with your condition right now. You don't want the baby to suffer,right." Changmin reprimanded, knowing well the younger worrying condition.
Yoona's low blood platelets condition seems to be more serious than other pregnant ladies so she can't afford to lose more blood especially it could be risky for her during birth process which cause the older to constantly worry about the clumsy younger.
"Yes, oppa. I'm sorry." Yoona apologized, chuckling at her freak out oppa's expression that she finds adorable & entertaining.
Ri In could only watch them both with a certain feeling brewing in her, it seems like she didn't like what she is witnessing.
"Why don't you go rest? I'll finish up for you here." Changmin suggest, giving a sweet smile to the younger before looking at the abandoned singer who suddenly finds the floor more interesting than him.
Knowing very well that the couple needs some space, Yoona nodded before waddling her way out of the kitchen.
"Aren't you suppose to be shouting at me by now, especially with the fact that we're alone now."Changmin exclaim casually, eyes focusing on his dongsaeng's previous task while Ri In could stare at him in disbelieve.
"How can he shamelessly acted like he did nothing wrong? " Ri In thought in disgust at the man beside her whose cutting fruits nonchalantly.
"It seems like you intend to ignore me, Ri In shii." Changmin continue, purposely using his Max's tone just to see if there is a reaction this time.
Ri In indeed seems a bit surprise to hear that tone because somewhere deep in her, she still wanna to believe that the person beside her was not Max even if he looks exactly like him.
"Or you aren't interested in me now since I'm not the guy you thought I was?" Changmin added, this time turning to look straight at the singer beside him.
Ri In wasn't sure why but somehow that last sentence of words really did push her button causing her to unconsciously throw the plate half full with slices of watermelons on the counter before turning to throw a disgusted look at Changmin.
"What makes you think I was ever interested in Max? No matter how good you dress yourself, it still didn't cover up the fact that you are one disgusting human being." Ri In spat, glaring holes into Changmin before walking off.
"Nice one, Ri In shii. It seems like you got good eyes for people so I'm sure you're fully aware that your lover is also one disgusting human being." Changmin rebutted, shocking the singer that she end up stopping in her track.
Changmin took the chance to walk towards her before whispering in the froze up singer's ear.
"If you ever interested in me, just call me up like always, Ri In shii." Changmin whisper before walking off with the non ruin plates of fruits, leaving the stunned Ri In behind.
"Why is my heart beating so fast? Stop!" Ri In exclaim in her mind, trying to control her heartbeat that started because of Changmin's whispering.
When Changmin arrived in the living room, all set of eyes was on him.
"Where is Ri In, dear?" Mrs Jang asked, noticing that her daughter was not with her ex-son in law.
"She still in the kitchen, Imo." Changmin replied politely, putting the plates on the coffee table before settling down beside Yoona on the couch.
"What happen, Oppa?" Yoona whisper, curious about the situation once she is sure the parents was back to their conversation.
"Nothing, we just talked. Don't worry." Changmin exclaimed, assuring the younger nothing to worry about.
Yoona just nodded, giving the older a small smile before they both gave their attention to the conversation.
In the mist of their chatting, Mrs Jang caught a sight of her daughter appoarching the living room.
"Come seat beside me, dear." Mrs Jang exclaim, patting the space beside her which caught everyone attention.
Ri In just shake her head before glancing towards Yoona & Changmin.
"I don't feel good. I'll just go up & rest. Excuse me!" Ri In exclaimed before walking off towards the stairs, everyone looking at her with worried eyes.
"Maybe it not a good idea for us to come for dinner after all." Mrs Shim exclaimed, feeling bad for making Ri In awkward all night.
"No, she needs to learn to get use to this, after all we are best friends. There are bound get together like these, she can't be awkward or avoid it all the time." Mr Jang exclaimed, knowing well that his daughter need to learn being around the Shims.
"Yes, she can't run away from this situation forever." Mrs Jang added, agreeing with her husband's words.
The Shims couple could only nod at their friend's words, fully understanding their position as parents.
"Maybe she just awkward around me, after all I'm new to her." Yoona commented, feeling like as if she spoiled the night for both Ri In & her Oppa especially after seeing how the singer was eyeing her before climbing the stairs.
"Don't worry, Yoona. She will need to get used to you soon because I'm gonna call you over often." Mrs Jang said, cheering up the sweet girl.
Yoona could only smile back in gratefulness because the Jangs could accept & treat her like their daughter.
"Aww..that means I got to share my dongsaeng!" Changmin joked causing the parents to laugh while Yoona 'merong' her oppa.
Back upstairs Ri In was dealing with her feelings, she couldn't even think straight after the 'talk' with Changmin.
It seems that Changmin's rebut shocked her to no end, the Changmin she used to know was never to rebut back no matter how mean was her words.
"Why did I still find him attractive even after finding out who he is? What's wrong with me? I should be hating him to dead now, right?" Ri In mutter no one, more stuffs clouding her mind.
Finally giving up trying to figure out her feelings, she decided to find her only distraction at this moment, Park Yoochun.
Ri In quickly rampage her purse to find her hand phone before dialing the familiar number.
She position herself beside the window to get a breather while waiting her call to be pick up but it seems like Yoochun is still angry with her.
"Chunnie, please pick up my call. I'm sorry, please don't ignore me." Ri In exclaim, the moment she heard the 'beep' for leaving a voice mail.
Once Ri In is done, she press the end button before sighing, looking out of the window.
As her eyes was swimming around,she couldn't help but caught the sight of Changmin & that annoying lady seating on the bench near their pool downstairs, laughing away.
"She is just so annoying, clinging herself to him." Ri In mutter in annoyance, eyes never leaving the couple.
Where else the so called couple was having fun chatting, not knowing they were watched by the singer.
"It is so relaxing here right, Oppa?" Yoona remarked, enjoying the cool night breeze.
"Yup, it chases all our problems away." Changmin added, feeling glad that he dragged the younger outside once the dads & moms get into their own conversations.
"Oppa, why vdid you suddenly decided to revile yourself today?" Yoona asked, trying to figure out what is going through in her Oppa's mind now.
"I'm just tired, Yoonie. I don't want her to love me because I'm Max, I want her to love me for my true self. I can't stand it anymore pretending in front of her, hearing her bad mouthing even my parents when they have don't nothing wrong." Changmin explain, sighing at those tiring days he acted as Max.
"But aren't she gonna hate you more now?" Yoona reasoned, looking at her tired out Oppa's expression.
"It is fine even she hate me, all I ever want for her is to wake up & smell the coffee. Even if she can't return my love, I'll be glad to see her returning to the old Ri In that I fall in love with." Changmin said, giving a tired smile to the younger.
"She gonna return your love, oppa. Believe me, I'm good at this." Yoona exclaimed, smiling cheerfully at the older before resting her head on Changmin's right shoulder, feeling a bit sleep due to the nice breeze.
"It's fine, if she don't accept me..I can just marry you right, Yoonie?" Changmin teased, causing Yoona to chuckle at his words.
"Oh..oppa..the baby kicked.." Yoona exclaimed in surprise, touching her belly while smiling at her Oppa.
"Seems like the baby agree to me being it's father." Changmin joked, touching Yoona's belly to feel the kicks.
Yoona laugh at the older words once again, it amazed her how Changmin could always cheer up & stay positive in the kind of situation his in.
Through her bedroom window, Ri In was witnessing every single thing & she wasn't too happy, she feels like her heart is burning from anger.
Ri In finally decided to stop watching the couple, plopping herself back on her bed while trying to deal with this annoyed feeling she felt at the moment.
Suddenly something pops up in her mind, Ri In remembers about the article that come out the same day she ask Changmin to sign the divorce document.
"Wait! Don't tell me that lady was the one he accompany to the doctor? The one he was cheating on me with during our marriage." Ri In said her thoughts out loud, couldn't believe that Changmin dare to bring that lady for their usual gathering dinner.
With the new information she figures, it didn't help Ri In to reduce her anger at all, it just make her feel pathetic being tricked & played around by Changmin.
"Aish!" Ri In groaned in anger, throwing herself fully on the bed before shouting into her cushions, just to release those feelings.
In the living room, the families was bidding farewell after a great night.
"Imo, if anything wrong with Ri In, please inform me. I'll help as much as I can." Changmin remind, smiling sincerely at Mrs Jang.
"Thank you dear for constantly looking out for her, I can never thank you enough." Mrs Jang replied, feeling lucky for her daughter to be love by a man like Changmin.
Changmin could only smile before he wave at the Jang couple one last time, heading towards his car where his parents & Yoona was already waiting.
Before Changmin could climb into the backseat of the car, his hand phone 'beep' signaling a message causing him to quickly to check once he settle down in the car.
The cat is back in his bag, seems like he already planning something for her...a present...her parent's funeral wreath.
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How you all like Jelly Ri In? Now, she turning back to Yoochun...how will Changmin's plan goes? Keep on reading & do comment :)
Seeya :) peach_gerl16