I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND (FAN FICTION) (CHAPTER 31)

CHAPTER 31

    Sunday . . .

    Lena sadly looked out of the hotel window. In an hour, she will no longer be free. She will finally be engaged with Daichi. Somehow she couldn't help but feel like she was dying.

    Ever since she was young, she had always imagined that she would get engaged then married to the very first man she loved.

    She unconsciously smiled. She could still remember all the silly things that she had imagined . . . the rose petals she wanted that was supposed to be scattered everywhere she walked . . . the assorted flowers that was supposed to be used in the wedding . . . the song that was supposed to be playing during and after the wedding.

    Lena smiled again . . . bitterly. Suddenly a tear fell down on her cheek. She hurriedly brushed it away. She didn't want anyone to know about the sadness she was feeling.

    She then looked at the sky. There were dark clouds forming.

    "Even the sky is sympathizing with me and wants to cry with me as well," she said to herself as a joke.

    She slowly lowered her head and started to think.

    "What are you doing now Jaejoong? Are you also thinking of me? Are we really supposed to end this way?" she asked as she continued to stare at the dark sky.

    While in the DBSK boys' apartment. . . .

    "Hyung . . . it's all right if you don't want to go, we can just make an excuse for you. And say that you're not feeling well or something like that," Max said to Jaejoong.

    The DBSK boys along with all the contract artists of Avex Trax were invited to Lena and Daichi's engagement party at a prestigious hotel.

    "I'm all right. Don't worry about me . . . Besides our manager would surely get mad if I don't attend this event," Jaejoong said as he tried to put on a smile and pretend that he wasn't affected at all.

    "Come on guys . . . Our manager is already waiting in the van," U-Know said to the other DBSK members.

    Jaejoong and Max just nodded and silently followed U-Know out of the apartment.

    Thirty minutes later . . .

    The DBSK boys had finally arrived at the hotel. They immediately went to the place where the engagement was being held.

    Lena, together with her mother and Daichi's mother were already at the entrance and greeting all the guests that were arriving.

    Jaejoong's heart started to beat very fast the moment he saw Lena. He felt like he wanted to just turn back and walk away.

    But it was already too late. Lena's mother had already seen him.

    "Jaejoong . . ." Lena's mother exclaimed with joy. She immediately walked up to where Jaejoong was standing. "Jaejoong . . . it's been a very long time. It's very nice to see you again," the old woman said with a sweet smile on her lips.

    "It's very nice to see you as well . . . Mother," Jaejoong uttered.

    "Mother?" Max asked as if confused, while he looked back and forth between Jaejoong and Lena's mother.

    The old woman laughed. "Hello boys . . . I am Lena's mother. She has already told me so much about you. And as for Jaejoong . . . he is also used to calling me mother."

    "Oh . . . I'm sorry. I was suddenly confused. Please pardon my reaction," Max apologized to Lena's mother.

    "Oh . . . It's nothing. You're such a sweet boy. Lena was right. Based on what I can see, you are all very nice. So Jaejoong . . . your best friend is already getting engaged . . . and married soon. Don't you have a special someone in your life too?" Lena's mother asked Jaejoong directly.

    Jaejoong tried to smile. "It's . . . It's quite complicated, mother," he answered honestly.

    The old woman laughed again. Then she looked back at Lena. "My daughter has already grown up. Somehow I still can't believe that she's no longer the little girl who always comes home . . . with a little boy in tow . . ." Then the old woman stared at Jaejoong. "DO you know I always thought that she would end up marrying you? The two fo you have always been so close and unseparable."

    Jaejoong was shocked with what Lena's mother had siad. "Mother . . .I . . . I really don't know what to say."

    "Frankly I am against this engagement . . . But Lena's father is really determined to keep his promise to his own father. And that is to get Daichi and Lena married to one another. I know she's not happy . . . and that she's hurting. But his father won't allow me to voice out my opinion regarding this matter. So I am left with no other choice but to watch my one and only daughter suffer," the old woman said sadly.

    "Mother . . ." Jaejoong uttered again. His mind was somehow blank and he couldn't think of anything else to say to comfort the old woman standing in front of him.

    "Look at her . . . Jaejoong. Behind the smile is a heart that is crying. And behind her beautiful face is a heart that is dying . . . Don't you pity her? I wish time can stand still so that she can always be the little girl that I always take care of . . . And so that I can always shelter her from all the pain life brings," the old woman said again with sadness in her eyes.

    "Daichi is a good man. He will be a very good husband to her," Jaejoong suddenly said.

    The old woman stared at Jaejoong. "Yes, he is a good man. But can you tell me . . . can a person teach his or her heart who to love? I know . . . Lena is in love with someone else. So I also know that she will never be happy with Daichi."

    Jaejoong suddenly felt tensed. Somehow he didn't know what to say to Lena's mother. He could easily tell that the old woman already knew about the feelings that he and Lena had for one another.

    "Mother . . . I'm sorry," Jaejoong suddenly uttered.

    The old woman smiled. "Sorry for what? You don't have anything to be sorry for . . ." the old woman looked at Lena again, then at Jaejoong. "It's a pity. The two of you really look so good together. But I guess . . . it's time that I accept the reality that you and Lena are no longer small children and that both of you have separate lives now."

    A woman suddenly came and whispered something to Lena's mother. She then nodded and looked at Jaejoong again.
    
    "Well . . . it is really nice to see you again . . . Jaejoong. The engagement party will start in a few minutes. Lena and Daichi's mother have already gone inside . . . So I have to go now," Lena's mother said.

    Jaejoong had totally lost himself. he couldn't think and he couldn't find the right words to say. he just tried to smile and nodded.

    Lena's mother smiled as well. Then she bade goodbye to the other DBSK members.

    Several minutes later . . . .

    All the guests were already sitting on different tables. And as for the DBSK boys they were already sitting and waiting for the start of the engagement party.

    Xiah, U-Know, Micky and Max noticed that Jaejoong wasn't himseld. He just kept on staring at the empty glass in front of him.

    "Hyung . . . are you all right?" Max asked worriedly.

    Micky suddenly laughed. "How can a man be all right if the woman he loves will be engaged with another man in a few minutes?" he said sarcastically.

    "Hyung . . . you're being too harsh," Max uttered.

    "Sorry . . . I just can't help it. Especially now . . . that we already know that even Lena's mother knows that both he and Lena have special feelings for each other. Somehow the way she was  speaking earlier . . . it was like she was telling Jaejoong to stop this engagement," Micky uttered as he shook his head in total dismay.

    "Micky . . . that's enough!" U-Know uttered with a serious tone.

    "Micky . . . let's just respect Jaejoong's decision . . . please," Xiah said.

    "If I didn't respect his decision . . . I would be more brutal and sarcastic than this," Micky replied.

    "Hyung . . . ." Max uttered.

    Suddenly . . . . the announcement of Lena and Daichi's engagement was started. Daichi and Lena along with their parents were standing in front of all the guests.

    "Friends . . . I would just like to thank everyone of you for coming today. This is a very special day for all of us . . .  espcially for our one and only son . . . ." Daichi's father said with a very happy smile on his lips.

    Lena couldn't help but stare at the people before her. Daichi's father continued to talk, her heart was beating very fast that somehow she couldn't breathe. She still couldn't believe that she was finally getting engaged with Daichi. And the thought alone was enough to shatter her heart into pieces. She felt so lost and alone. Among the crowd, she was trying to find a familiar face . . . . a face that her heart was calling out for.

    "Jaejoong . . . " she kept on repeating in her mind. But there were too many people and the tables were too many for her to see everyone clearly. She had seen him earlier, while talking with her mother. She wanted to get close to him as well. But Daichi's mother prevented her from leaving. Lena stared at Daichi. He was a very nice man. Any woman was lucky to have someone as special as him. But even though how hard she tried to get herself to like him more than a friend . . . . the more her heart was screaming out for Jaejoong.

    Lena lowered her head. She was very confused. Jaejoong was really determined to give her to Daichi. But her heart was still longing for him. She still loved him. And even though she had tried hating him. She just realized that she couldn't do it. She loved him too much.

    Slowly . . . .her tears started to fall. She was feeling so alone.

    Daichi immediately noticed that Lena was crying. He gently took her hand and held it tightly.

    Lena looked at Daichi with tears in her eyes. "Daichi . . . .I'm sorry," she said weakly.

    Daichi stared at lena with a confused look on his face.

    "I'm sorry . . . . " Lena repeated with a trembling voice.

    Daichi's father had already stopped talking, and now was just staring at Daichi and Lena, as if confused on what was happening.

    Everyone had also suddenly focused their attention on the two as well.

    "Lena, what are you doing?" Daichi's mother asked as she tried to control her anger.
   
    Lena looked at Daichi's parents. "I'm sorry . . . . please forgive me. But I . . . I can't do this," she then slowly bowed down her head as she asked for their forgiveness.

    "Lena, stop your craziness this instance!" Lena's father uttered angrily.

    Lena then faced her father. "I'm sorry father . . . .mother. But this is my life. I don't think I can do this. I want to be with the man I love . . . please understand," she said as tears rolled down her face.

    "No!" Lena's father shouted.

    Lena's mother suddenly touched her husband's hand. "Dear, give your daughter her happiness. She's already suffered enough. I can no longer bear to see her in so much pain. Just set her free . . . Please I beg you," the old woman said as tears started to fall from her eyes as well.

    "Mother . . ." Lena uttered as she saw her mother crying.

    Lena's father stared at his wife . . . then at his daughter. The tears in their eyes had suddenly softened his heart. And somehow his love for them had already taken over. The old man slowly lowered his head as if in defeat.

    Lena's mother suddenly smiled at Lena. "Follow your heart Lena . . . . Find your happiness."

    Lena nodded. She was very happy. Her parents had finally given her freedom back. She then faced Daichi.

    As soon as she faced Daichi, her heart suddenly ached. Tears were already forming in his eyes. She knew he was hurt. And it was all because of her.

    Daichi tried to smile. Then he gently squeezed Lena's hand. "I love you . . . so I'm setting you free. Just promise me one thing . . . always be happy."

    Lena's heart suddenly stopped beating. Daichi's love for her was indeed uncomparable. How she pitied him.

    Slowly . . . Lena faced Daichi, she stared straight into his eyes. "Thank you Daichi . . . for everything . . ." she then lightly kissed him on the lips.

    Daichi tried to control himself. He felt like he was going to cry uncontrollably any minute. He gently kissed Lena on the forehead. "Just go . . . Go . . . and be happy."

    "Thank you . . ." Lena uttered. She then faced her parents again. "Thank you . . ." she uttered again.

    There was already a great confusion among the guests. Everyone was shocked with what they were witnessing.

    Lena looked at the crowd. Then she smiled. She was finally free . . . she thought happily. She then started to walk away from Daichi. . . Then she started to run. It was over . . . She wanted to leave that place as soon as possible.

    The people who were there started to talk and ask questions. The whole place was filled with questions and different expressions.

    Jaejoong was still shocked with what was happening. His heart was screaming out Lena's name. He wanted to ran after her . . . and be with her.

    Micky lightly tapped Jaejoong's shoulder. "Aren't you going after her?"

    It was only then that Jaejoong snapped out of what he was thinking. He then looked at Micky with confusion in his eyes.

    "Please stop worrying about everything. Just set yourself free . . . She's already waiting for you," Micky said with a smile.

    "Hyung . . . you deserve to be happy," Max uttered.

    "Follow your heart," U-Know said with a smile as well.

    "Jusrt forget about everything, and try to find your happiness," Xiah said.

    "You better stand up already and ran after her. Because if you don't . . . . then I will," Micky said jokingly.

    Jaejoong looked at his friends . . . .one by one. He then nodded. "Yes, thank you," he replied with a smile. His heart had finally taken over his mind. He had finally decided to give his love for Lena a chance.

    Lena had shown him her courage in fighting for her love. And it was time for him to do the same.

    Jaejoong quickly stood up and started to ran. He needed to find her fast.

    The people attending the engagement became more confused, after they saw Jaejoong quickly leaving.

    Daichi smiled as he saw Jaejoong leaving. "Take good care of her Jaejoong . . . ." he said in his mind.

    Lena was ranning as fast as she could. Daichi's mother had ordered several men to ran after her. The men were only a few meters away from her and were already closing in on her. She was already tired. She felt she couldn't ran anymore. She was already running out of breath. But she knew she needed to get away.  She continued to ran . . . but her legs were already weakening. She was about to stop ranning when . . . . someone suddenly grabbed her hand, and started to pull her. Hand in hand . . . . .they started to ran.

    Lena slowly looked at the warm hand that was holding her hand. Then she slowly looked up at the man that was ranning beside her.

    Her heart suddenly jumped with joy as soon as she saw who the man was. It was . . . . Jaejoong.

    "Jaejoong . . . ." she uttered as if surprised. Somehow she couldn't believe that he was beside her.

    Jaejoong took a quick glance at Lena, then he smiled sweetly. "Come on . . . . Let's get out of here," he then tightened his grip on Lena's hand as they continued to ran out of the hotel. Lena suddenly thought that her whole world had suddenly lit up and there was a sweet music playing in the air. She was very happy that Jaejoong was finally by her side.

    Lena and Jaejoong were already out of the hotel lobby and were ranning out farther and farther away from the hotel. But the men Daichi's mother sent were still pursuing them.

    "I . . . .I can't ran anymore, Jaejoong," Lena uttered. She was already very tired.

    "You've got to hold on. We can't stop now. I can't lose you now . . . ." Jaejoong uttered as he also tried to catch his breath.

    Suddenly a car stopped in front of  Lena and Jaejoong.

    "Get in . . . ." the driver shouted.

    Jaejoong and Lena looked at each other. They were both wondering who the man was.

    The elderly man suddenly smiled. "Don't worry. I'm here to help. Daichi sent me."

    As soon as Jaejoong heard Daichi's name being mentioned, he immediately led Lena into the car.

    Within minutes . . . . the car was already speeding away from the hotel.

    "Jaejoong . . . ." Lena uttered.

    Jaejoong was still holding Lena's hand. And as soon as he heard her say his name, he immediately looked at her.

    "I'm sorry if it took me so long to find the courage to love you back. But I promise . . . starting from today . . . . I will never let anyone or anything separate us ever again. . . . Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Jaejoong asked sweetly.

    Lena smiled. "I love you Jaejoong. And no matter what you do . . . . I will still love you."

    Jaejoong's heart was jumping with joy. He quickly embraced Lena. "I promise I will always be by your side . . . and from now on . . . . I will never let you go."