PERFECT MAN
“Sometimes you do things for the wrong reasons. You even blame love for all the mistakes you made and try to cover up everything with lies. And even if your mind is telling you to stop, you still continue until you can’t turn back anymore. But what if you’re given the chance to correct your mistake, but in exchange you will lose the only thing you treasure the most. Will you make the right choice?”
“Hadakani nareba daremoga hitoride Sorede mata koiwo surundarou Cause I love Futari tewo tsunagiatte~~~” I smiled and turned off the radio in my car as I drove my car into the parking area of the small clinic I was working at.
“Sorry I am late,” I quickly said as I rushed into my designated area.
The old man, about 60 years of age, looked up at me and smiled. “It’s okay. I feel like something good will certainly happen today. You might never know you might meet your perfect man today.” I laughed lightly. “Oh doctor, you’re joking again.” “You’ll see… Your time will come… And you will meet the one destined for you very soon,” the old man somehow said with a mystical tone.
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“The perfect man? Hahhaha..” I somehow couldn’t stop myself from uttering while driving back to my small apartment. “Hmmm… I am not really interested in any man, maybe except for… Xiah… But meeting a celebrity like him would be very impossible.” I thought as I let out again a laugh.
My world was too different with his world. And I was someone no sane man would even dare to take interest on.
My name is Sora Ishikawa, 22 years of age, orphan, living in a small apartment that can barely be called an apartment because of its old and deteriorating state, working in a small clinic for almost 3 years now, a certified TVXQ fan since I was 17 and have never had the chance to have a real relationship with any man. I am not picky nor am I materialistic. Honestly I don’t know what’s wrong with me. All the men I know somehow can never see me as a woman. All I am is a friend… and never more than that. ****Screechhhhh……….
A man suddenly stepped out of the dark alley I was passing, and due to my carelessness I accidentally hit him. The impact wasn’t that strong since I was still able to step on the break on the last minute, but the impact was still enough to knock down the man. I nervously stepped out of the car and went to the man’s side. I immediately looked around, hoping to ask someone for help. But it was already passed midnight and the street was already deserted. The man was wearing a hooded jacket. (I don’t know what came over me… I just felt the need to pull down his hood and fully expose his face. It was him… It was Xiah, one of the members of the most famous boy group around.)
I suddenly froze. I was like a vampire victim who was locked in a trance. He was a celebrity. I would surely be put in jail. I was confused and somehow lost on what to do next. Suddenly I thought of the next best thing.
It only took a couple of minutes for Doctor Sato to arrive at the exact place where the accident happened. I knew Xiah needed help but I needed to take care of myself first. I begged the doctor to help me treat XIah at the clinic and not to report to the police. And because he loved me like a daughter, even if he knew what we were doing was wrong. He still agreed.
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Morning came …. Xiah was still lying on his bed when both Doctor Sato and I were hit with a shocking reality.
He had lost his memory…. It was like my whole world started tumbling and spinning.
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Two days passed, and Xiah still didn’t regain his memory. We waited and waited until another 3 days already passed by and it was then we decided to move Xiah out of the clinic. Xiah’s disappearance was already reported on all the TV stations and newspapers. The doctor and I decided to have him stay in my apartment for the time being. It was the only safe place where we could keep him. Doctor Sato went to the clinic every morning and always visited my apartment in the evening. While I took care of Xiah from morning until night.
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Because of conscience, I finally decided to tell Doctor Sato about who Xiah really was. I cried while confessing everything. I knew I was guilty and nothing I say or do would be enough to make up for what I did.
It was then that Xiah entered the kitchen. He quickly came to my side and tried to console me. During the several days that we were together, somehow we became close to each other. And even though I kept on telling myself to put some distance between us, I still fell in love more and more… And I could feel it was the same with him.
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Another day passed….
Doctor Sato finally told me about his plan on how to return Xiah without us being caught. I knew it was time to say goodbye. Somehow I had already expected this time would come sooner or later, I just didn’t think that it would be this painful. But like what they all say, good things must always come to an end…
And on that special night, our very last night together… I decided to make it the most memorable night for the both of us. I knew once he got his memory back, there will be a chance that he might never remember me or the things we did together. But somehow deep in my heart, I wanted to make a special memory for him even if it was only for a short while, and even if I was the only one to remember it in the end.
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The music was playing… Xiah slowly opened his eyes. He instantly saw the red wine I bought which I placed on the table and next to it I placed a heart-shaped chocolate.
“What’s this?” he asked with the most charming smile that was enough to last me a lifetime of memories.
I tried to hold back my tears and smiled. “I prepared this for you,” I softly answered.
He looked at me and my heart started to beat so fast. Somehow the longer I stared deep into his eyes, the more I felt like I was already being intoxicated by his charms.
“You know, even if I can’t remember anything right now, and even If my mind is like a forest full of distorted and unclear images, somehow I really don’t feel afraid because ever since I opened my eyes, you were always by my side. Whenever you’re with me, there is that feeling of happiness and contentment. Can you promise me that you will always be my side?” Xiah said with the most loving voice.
Tears quickly streamed down my face, I knew I couldn’t promise. I had no right to be with him. He belonged in a different place. I sobbed. “I… I can’t promise you anything,” I uttered as I carefully touched his face.
He quickly took my hand in his hand and tightly held it. “Why? Why can’t you stay with me?” he asked as if he was about to cry.
“Because… because you don’t belong here. You belong somewhere else…” I answered in between sobs.
“No, my place is here… with you,” he uttered as he quickly took me into his arms. “I don’t know if I have a right to do this. But my heart is telling me that meeting you is the most important thing that happened in my life… I love you…” and with those last three words he slowly made me see the meaning of love.
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HEADLINE: XIAH FINALLY FOUND! ALREADY SAFE AND RESTING…
I slowly folded the newspaper and quickly placed it on the table. It has been a week since Xiah returned to his real world. Doctor Sato convinced me to move and hide for a while. What we did can be considered kidnapping and there was the accident. I was surely the one to be blamed for everything.
“How are you doing duck butt?” I asked as if I was talking to someone. I then smiled as if I was going crazy. Then I immediately started to cry. I miss you… I am going crazy without you… Are you missing me too? Do you still remember me or have you gotten your memory back and have totally forgotten about our special time together?
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Several months passed……
I was busy hanging washed clothes on the roof of the apartment building where I was staying.
“You know, you shouldn’t be here. Going up here is quite dangerous for a pregnant woman,” a familiar voice said.
I quickly turned and was shocked to see a familiar face. “How? What are you doing here? Are you here to send me to jail?” I asked with a quivering voice.
Xiah slowly approached me. “Send you to jail? No… Do you know I was already going crazy trying to find you? Why did you leave me?”
I was suddenly confused. “You have regained your memory, don’t you?”
He smiled again and came closer. “Do you really think that I would forget you once I got my memory back? Do you really think I would forget the only woman who I made love with… the only woman I learned to love?” he then gently touched my abdomen. “Were you really planning to raise our child alone?” he asked as I finally noticed the tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry… I was afraid…” I slowly uttered.
“Do you know for the past few months, I was like on a trampoline. I was currently jumping from my past memories and my memories with you. I was constantly wishing to jump back to the memory I had with you… I was going mad. I kept on wondering where you were, what you were doing and if you’re already with someone else. All I knew was your name… Sora. Everything else was like a dream. My friends kept on telling me to just get over you and move on. But my heart wouldn’t let me. It kept on calling for you. So I knew I had to continue searching for you. Finding you was the only thing that would make my heart whole again…”
“Oh Xiah, I am sorry… but I was the one who caused that accident. I….”
He then gently placed his finger on my lips. “Sssshhh… I am thankful that it happened. Because of it, I was able to meet you…”
I started to cry. “Is this just a dream?”
He laughed lightly as he quickly planted a sweet kiss on my lips. “No, this isn’t a dream. This is real… “ and after he said those words he slowly took out a small box out of his pocket and handed it to me. Then he knelt down.
“I know I have some faults and sometimes I may become difficult to be with, but can you find it in your heart to take this poor and lost soul that has been missing you so badly? I promise to always love you and always be with you… forever and ever… I love you Sora. Please say you will you marry me…” Xiah uttered.
It was like everything was spinning. “YES! Oh yes, I will marry you…I love you too.” I uttered as tears of joy flowed down from my eyes. I had finally found my perfect man…
CHAPTER 26
“Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you…” Jaejoong happily sang to his bestfriend as he slowly hugged her from behind.
Lena froze. She was washing the dishes and Jaejoong’s gesture made her so conscious of her every move. “Jae, my birthday is still a few days away… So don’t go singing yet,” she said with a giggle.
Jaejoong tightened his hold on his best friend. “Why? Can’t I greet you in advance? I know your birthday is still days away. But I want to be the very first one to greet you. So I can be the very special person on your birthday. By the way, what do you want me to give you? You know you can always make a request, my princess.”
Lena felt her heart was so heavy with unexplainable joy. If she could only tell him how she truly felt about him. How she wished that she could tell him that there was nothing else in the world that she wanted more than to be the one who owns his heart.
“Are you sure you can give me what I want?” she suddenly bold asked. Jaejoong laughed in his usual mesmerizing way. “Just tell me what you want and I will surely give it to you… I am your servant and you’re my queen,” he said lovingly.
“What would you do if I said.... what I wanted is,” she suddenly stopped.
“Jaejoong... Lena…. Min Rin is here…” Lena’s mother called out from the living room.
Jaejoong quickly released Lena from his embrace and happily ran out of the kitchen straight to the living room.
Lena felt like a knife was stabbed straight into her heart. “All I want is you… Jaejoong,” she softly uttered to herself. Somehow she felt she was a fool to actually believe that Jaejoong would notice her in the way that she wanted. She was just his best friend… and she could never be his girlfriend.
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Ellie slowly sat down on the bed where Jaejoong was sleeping soundly. “You’re so careless. Imagine getting yourself so drunk and unconscious on the side of the road. What if something bad happened to you? What if I hadn’t come by and saw you? What if I didn’t recognized you and just passed you by? You would surely still be sleeping on that cold and dark place. And what if some bad people suddenly decided to rob you or worst kidnap you… Fool! You’re so foolish! You’re still the same Jaejoong I know,” she uttered softly as she continued to stare at him.
She suddenly closed her eyes. Different images were suddenly rushing into her mind again. She then stood up and quickly took the glass of wine that she had placed on the table across the bed where Jaejoong was. She then quietly sat down and again gazed at the face that had never left her memory. “God! Why is this happening? I think I am really going crazy… Imagine, I actually took you home with me… What if someone knows about what I had done… Will my secret be revealed because I took you here? What will Micky say… Oh god Jaejoong, how come so many years have already passed but I still can’t forget you? I know I kept on telling myself that I hate you and I no longer love you… but deep inside, I know that I still care for you. You still have a special place in my heart. But I know everything is just a dream now. Even if we are already here, face to face, you can never know who I am. I can never reveal who I really am. I am no longer the girl you know, the sweet and innocent girl that you once had shared your life with. I am just a broken piece of glass now… No matter how hard I try to put back all the pieces together, I am already shattered and can never be made whole again… I am sorry, but I can never let you know the truth. I can see you’re also hurting, but it is better this way. I don’t think I can bear to stand before you as the girl you had known before. That girl had already died a long time ago… on that long and unforgettable night,” she said softly while she continued to sip the glass of wine she was holding.
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Jaejoong slowly opened his eyes. His head was throbbing and somehow everything around him was moving that it was making him so dizzy. “Aaaahhh,” he groaned.
Ellie who was already sleeping on a chair was suddenly woken up by Jaejoong’s voice. “Hello sleepy head,” she uttered as soon as she saw Jaejoong awake and moving in bed. She was instantly taken by surprise by what she said. She used to say those exact words, before when she was still Lena.
Jaejoong quickly got up on the bed and immediately stared straight at her. “Ellie?” he asked with confusion written all over his face. “What am I doing here? And what did you just say?” he asked again.
Ellie tried to compose herself. Then she started to act like she didn’t hear the last question that Jaejoong said. “You know, you shouldn’t be drinking yourself so bad without any companion. I found you on the side of the street, already passed out. You’re lucky. I decided to take a walk before going home or else you would still be unconscious on that side of the street right now.”
Jaejoong tried to remember what happened to him. Then he ran his hand through his hair. “I… I am sorry but I really can’t remember what happened,” he softly uttered.
Ellie laughed as if trying to annoy Jaejoong. “Remember? What are you trying to remember? You were so high on alcohol that you just slept on the street. Are you insane? You’re a celebrity and you’re acting like that? What if some media person was the one who found you? Do you know what kind of scandal that would cause? And that would surely affect not only your reputation but your friends as well. You should be more careful with your actions,” she said as a lecture.
Jaejoong lowered his head. “I see, and I actually thought you were concerned about me. Now I understand you’re just protecting Micky,” he said with a sadness his voice.
Ellie couldn’t help but feel pity for Jaejoong. “If you’re planning to drown yourself in alcohol, why don’t you just do it in your room? At least that way, you won’t be causing any embarrassment to your friends,” she said with sarcasm. Jaejoong stared back at Ellie. “How long are we going to pretend?” he suddenly asked with a serious tone.
Ellie suddenly felt nervous with what she heard. “What… what do you mean?”
Jaejoong sighed. “How long are you planning to keep on pretending that you don’t know me? And how long do you think I can go on pretending that I don’t know you?” he asked as his gaze was steady on Ellie.
Ellie’s heart started to beat fast. Somehow she didn’t like the way that Jaejoong was talking. She needed to think of a way fast or else her secret might be in danger.
She suddenly stood up. “You’re really crazy! I am leaving. Just go home when you’re finally sober. Don’t worry about the bill, I already paid everything. And just be careful when you go out. Make sure no one recognizes you,” she said as she was about to walk out of the room.
“Lena, please… Let’s stop this! I am already hurting so much that it’s making me crazy. Please… let’s stop pretending already,” Jaejoong said as he suddenly got of bed and rushed to block the door.
“What are you talking about? I am not Lena. Are you going insane again? How many times do I need to tell you that I am not Lena! Why do you keep on insisting that I am?” Ellie asked angrily. “Because you are Lena! I know it and my heart knows it,” Jaejoong instantly replied.
“Get out of my way! I am leaving or do you want me to call the police? Do you really want me to cause problems for you? Just leave me alone… I don’t want to hear your senseless talk…” Ellie said as she tried to put on an act.
“I am tired Lena. And I know you’re already tired as well. Let’s just drop the masquerade and face each other. I am willing to accept everything. Curse me…. beat me… make me suffer… I don’t care what you want to do with me. Just as long as I am with you,” Jaejoong said as he started to walked closer to Ellie.
Ellie was starting to feel strange. Somehow she was already having difficulty breathing. But she still tried to act tough and tried to put on her façade.
“Get away from me, Jaejoong. Please I don’t want to any trouble. Just let me leave,” she was already begging.
But Jaejoong just continued to walk closer and closer to her, while she tried to walk farther and farther away from him. She didn’t like the look on Jaejoong’s face. He wasn’t himself anymore. And it was obvious that it was no use trying to reason with him. But she needed to try, for her sake.
“Jaejoong! Stop this! I am not kidding. I swear, I am going to ruin your life if you continue with this madness,” Ellie shouted. Jaejoong suddenly stopped. It was like his sanity had finally returned. “I… I am sorry, if I scared you,” he uttered with a quivering voice. It was like he was going to cry. “Jae…” Ellie couldn’t help but utter with concern.
Jaejoong suddenly smiled. “Look, you’re free to go… I am sorry.” He then started to walk to a corner of the room.
Fear suddenly entered Ellie’s heart. She didn’t like the way that Jaejoong was acting. It was like he was really losing his sanity.
She was about to say something when a loud sound of shattering glass echoed in the room. Stunned, she quickly looked at Jaejoong. He was now holding a large piece of the broken wine bottle that was placed on a table.
“Jae, wh.. what are you doing?” Ellie cried out in horror.
“Just leave, you’re free to go… Just leave me alone,” Jaejoong said as he suddenly turned away and started to stare at the broken piece of bottle that he was holding.
“Jaejoong, please give me that,” Ellie said with worry. Jaejoong turned back at her and smiled. “Don’t worry, just go. I don’t want you to be here when…”
“When… what? What are you planning to do? You’re going to commit suicide? You’re going to hurt yourself?” Ellie asked continuously. Her mind was already flooded with fear and so many memories.
“I am tired,” Jaejoong simply uttered. It was then Ellie had noticed that blood was already dripping from his hand. “Jaejoong!” Ellie shouted with anger and fear. She was so worried about what Jaejoong was going to do.
Jaejoong smiled bitterly at Ellie. He didn’t really care about the sharp pain that his wound was giving him. The pain he was feeling in his heart was more intense and more maddening that somehow he couldn’t take it anymore. “I am sorry… Lena. I am sorry. I know even if I begged you or asked your forgiveness a million times, my sins would never disappear. Because of me… because of me…” he said while trying to think of what to say next. Somehow he couldn’t think of anything else.
Fear gripped Ellie’s heart. She just continued to stare at the blood that was continuously dripping from Jaejoong’s hand. And as she continued to stare, all her locked up memories started to appear one by one.
Ellie started to cry. She was so afraid of seeing Jaejoong becoming what she was before. She sobbed. “Please stop, Jae… You’re scaring me…. Please don’t do this to yourself,” she cried out.
But Jaejoong was somehow locked into a trance. He just stared at Ellie with a blank expression on his face.
“Jaejoong,” she uttered again as if trying to make him come to his senses.
Unexpectedly, tears started to fall from Jaejoong’s eyes. Ellie’s defense was finally crushed after seeing the pitiful state that Jaejoong was in. She didn’t want him to end up like her. She didn’t want him to also lose his mind because of what happened…
Ellie felt like the ground she was standing on finally gave way. She fell down and just sat down on the floor. And with tears streaming down from her eyes, she looked up at him.
“Jae, please stop. I… I can’t bear to see you like this. I thought I could bear to see you suffer. But I guess I was wrong. I am Lena, Jae…. I am your bestfriend…. Do you hear me? I am Lena!”
Ellie had finally tore down the wall that she had built around her. She still loved Jaejoong. And she already knew that no matter how much she tried she can never erase him from her mind and from her heart. She needed to be true to herself once and for all, no matter what the consequences might be.
CHAPTER 28
“Get out!” Micky shouted as soon as he and Nan Hee were left alone. He was standing in front of the woman who he once loved with hatred in his eyes.
While Nan Hee looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Don’t you think you’re being too cruel?” she asked while trying to stop herself from crying uncontrollably.
Micky bitterly laughed. “Cruel? Shouldn’t I be the one to ask that? Don’t you think you’re hurting my wife because of what you’re doing? Please just have a conscience and leave. And take that… that baby with you.”
Nan Hee’s eyes grew out of anger. “That baby? That baby happens to be yours! Don’t you dare speak about our daughter like that,” she cried out.
Somehow Micky suddenly felt guilty after seeing the hurt and angry look on Nan Hee’s face. He wanted to take back what he said. But immediately decided it was better to be act tough than fall into her deception.
“Look, if you don’t want to be hurt anymore. Just get out and leave… I want you to leave my life permanently. Disappear… just like what you did before. You didn’t have any conscience when you left me years ago, so just do it once again. That way… we can all live peacefully,” Micky said as he combed his hand through his hair.
Nan Hee stared lovingly at Micky, and smiled with tears still visible in her eyes.
Micky noticed her and got more frustrated. “What are you smiling at? Am I starting to look funny, is that it?”
Nan Hee shook her head and smiled again, but this time with bitterness and sadness. “No, it’s just that… it’s been so long since the last time I saw you get frustrated that you brush your hand through your hand. It’s been your habit, whenever you get angry or frustrated… And I smiled, because I couldn’t believe that you’re still the same…” she tried to explain.
Micky stopped and started to think about what Nan Hee said. “So she still remembers… maybe she really does… still care about me,” he quickly thought to himself. Then he shook his head as if to wake himself up. “No, I am already married. I… I love Muko…. I can’t possibly think about Nan Hee now,” he tried to tell himself over and over again.
Nan Hee sobbed and let out her tears. “Fine, I’ll go. But before I go, can you please hear me out first? I want to clear up something… even if for the last time,” she begged.
Micky turned away and started to look at another direction. Somehow he couldn’t bear to see Nan Hee crying. There was still a part of him that actually cared about the woman sitting in front of him. And he was very scared that the more he looked at her, the more his feelings would start to come back. “Clear out something? What? Don’t tell me you’re going to convince me to come back to you again? I won’t do that you know… I am already married and I don’t have any intention of hurting my wife because of you,” he said with a raised tone.
Nan Hee bit her lower lip and closed her eyes. She never expected everything to be this hard. Somehow she was expecting that once he came back into Micky’s life and he learned about their baby, everything would change. She finally opened her eyes after a few seconds of silence. “Hear me out first… then I’ll go and I will never appear in front of you again,” she said with a pitiful tone.
“Fine… speak… Then afterwards, I want you to leave me alone… “ he said coldly.
Nan Hee lowered her head in total defeat. She knew she could no longer get him back. Now she knew that he her so much that it was difficult to change.
“That night… when we were supposed to have a special dinner…” she started to speak.
“Stop… I don’t want to hear anymore of your lies and excuses…. That night you suddenly disappeared and walked out of my life without any reason… was the night that you killed me. Do you know how long I waited for you? The restaurant already closed but I was still waiting for you outside… And when I tried calling you, you had somehow switched off your phone… that’s when I became so worried that I quickly rushed to your apartment…. Do you know I even woke up your neighbors just to ask where you were or if they had seen you… That was when they told me… that you had left…” he then stopped talking because his voice was starting to sound like he was about to cry. The pain he had locked up inside was starting to rush out and he was having difficulty in controlling his feelings.
Tears flowed down from Nan Hee’s eyes. She quickly stood up and knelt down in front of Micky. She then lowered her head and started to cry again. “I… I am sorry… I knew what I did was wrong. But believe me, I didn’t really want to leave you… It’s just that… that…”
“What? You left me! I didn’t know why you suddenly decided to pack and leave without any reason and without even a goodbye. Do you know how much you hurt me? Do you know how many days and nights I cried and kept on searching for you? Do you know all the crazy things I did just to forget you? Tell me, what did I do to deserve that kind of treatment? Did I do anything wrong? Did I hurt you in anyway? Did you find another man and suddenly felt the need to run off with him? Tell me! I want to know….” Micky shouted as tears finally escaped from his eyes as the feelings that he had been hiding had found its way out.
Nan Hee looked up at Micky and her heart was crushed as soon as she saw his tears. “I didn’t want to leave. But… during that time, I badly needed a large amount of money. My mother was sick and she needed an operation… And then, when the president of your company learned that you were planning to propose to me that night… he suddenly offered me a very large amount of money just to leave you… The money was enough for my mother’s operation and enough for me to start my life in another country… and so I… didn’t have any choice… Your president said that if you married at that time, it would mean the end of your career and also the career of your whole group. And I didn’t want that. He also said that I was just a hindrance to your success and if continued to stay in your life, there would come a time that you would eventually fall down. I loved you and I knew your career is your life and I didn’t want you to lose that. I don’t know… Maybe I was crazy or just confused at that time but somehow I was thinking that it was the best for the both of us. But please understand, I only wanted to save my mother and I also wanted to do what was right for you.” she explained in between sobs.
“Do you really think that I would believe what you’re saying?” Micky asked in a mocking manner. Somehow he was trying to deny everything that he had heard.
Nan Hee stared at him. “I knew there was a chance that you wouldn’t believe me… So I decided to prepare everything before I went here… I want to prove to you that I am not lying…” she said as she took two pieces of paper from her pocket. “Here… “she said as she placed the papers in Micky’s hands. With trembling hands, Micky slowly opened and read the papers he was holding. One of the papers was an agreement signed by their president and Nan Hee. She was to be given a large amount of money, in exchange she was supposed to leave the country with her mother and was never to return again. And the other paper was a birth certificate… the birth certificate of his daughter.
“You were already pregnant… when you left?” Micky couldn’t help but ask. Nan Hee sobbed again and then nodded. “I didn’t know I was pregnant at that time. I was already in the US when I realized I was carrying your child. I am sorry… If I had known that I was carrying our baby, maybe… I would have made a different decision. I know I was wrong… But believe me, I only did what was best at the time.”
Micky felt like his world was crumbling. Slowly he felt very weak… He never expected the truth to hurt so much. He slowly fell down on his knees and started to weep…
“Do you know how much I hated you for leaving me? Do you know how much I longed for you?” he said with a quivering voice.
Nan Hee slowly moved closer to him. “I am sorry Micky. I am so sorry… I was so desperate back then… and I didn’t know what else to do,” she uttered as she cupped Micky’s face with her hands.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you? You didn’t have to leave,” Micky uttered slowly.
Nan Hee shook her head. “I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t ask your help since I knew you were also taking care of a lot of problems in your family. You were also taking care of your family’s financial needs. I didn’t want to burden you with my own problem. So I ended up choosing the easiest solution… and I also ended up hurting you… And I am sorry for that.”
Micky wept and suddenly drew Nan Hee into his arms. “I am sorry too. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to help during the time that you needed me the most.”
Nan Hee returned Micky’s embrace. “I am the one to be blamed. You didn’t know. I was the one who made the mistake. So you don’t have to say sorry for anything. Let’s just start all over again… You, me and our baby.”
Micky continued to cry. He had been holding the pain for such a very long time now and it was finally time to release it. As Micky and Nan Hee were wrapped in each other’s arms, a hurt soul was crying silently behind the door leading to the living room.
Max who had suddenly decided to follow Muko, quickly became curious as to what was going on. He carefully looked into the living room and was shocked to see his friend in Nan Hee’s arms. He was instantly gripped with pity for Muko. Without any second thoughts, he carefully took Muko into his arms and silently tried to console her.
Muko cried continuously in another man’s arms, the same way the man she loved was wrapped up in another woman’s embrace. She was just starting to learn how to love and now everything was starting to become so complicated. She never expected loving someone was going to be this hard. She always thought love was made up of sunny and happy memories…. Now she knew she was wrong.
“Don’t worry, everything will work out… Don’t cry… I am here,” Max said in a very comforting voice.
“Everything will work out? How? Maybe I did make a mistake in coming into his life… Maybe if I hadn’t appeared, maybe he can be finally be happy with the one he really love. Maybe I should just end the mistake as soon as possible, for everyone’s sake. I think this is God’s way of telling me I made a mistake and I should just return to where I truly belong,” Muko suddenly thought as her tears continued to flow.
CHAPTER 38
Fate slowly entered the shopping mall with a feeling of uneasiness. Norman allowed her to go out on her own. And somehow she was already feeling that something was wrong. She was already asking herself why Norman was suddenly being nice and was actually letting her have some freedom. She sighed heavily. “Maybe he’s just feeling guilty all of a sudden,” the thought quickly rushed into her mind. She then started to look around. “Maybe he just sent someone to look after me secretly,” she then thought again. She then lightly laughed. “I am beginning to be paranoid.”
She had already bought several items when something caught her attention. It was a light blue baby dress. It was like a knife instantly struck her heart. A very deep and numbing pain filled her whole body. She immediately turned away and tried to forget what she saw. But a small voice was somehow echoing in the back of her mind.
Tears quickly formed in her eyes, and she rushed out of the shopping mall. But before she could call for a taxi, a familiar car suddenly stopped in front of her.
“Get in… please,” the man inside the car said as if begging. Fate looked at the man and was about to turn away when…
“Get in! I need to talk to you. If you don’t talk to me, I will do something both of us will surely regret in the end,” the man said again with a more forceful voice.
Fate couldn’t help but look at the man again. She instantly saw the desperation and she quickly knew that he wasn’t lying. So she quietly got into the car just to avoid any problems.
“What do you want Max?” Fate uttered quickly as soon as she was inside the car. Somehow she didn’t have any plans of talking to him longer than needed.
“Why are you still so cold to me?” Max asked with a low voice. Fate couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Now you’re asking me such a question? Don’t you think you got it all wrong? You were the one who acted so coldly before. And you did it because of all the wrong reasons. You know I still can’t forget how you treated me. So don’t go acting so sweet and nice on me because it won’t work.”
Max felt like something suddenly got stuck in his throat. He knew that Fate had a reason to hate him. But he was still going to try to win her back, no matter how hard it was.
“Look, I want to talk to you… I heard you’re getting married in a few days. Please let me talk to you… even if it’s the last time. I know you can’t forgive all the horrible things I did to you. But please just let me have some time to explain and to ask for your forgiveness,” Max uttered while still trying to concentrate on driving.
Fate looked straight at the road they were going. “Where are you taking me?” she suddenly asked.
“Somewhere… don’t worry. I won’t do anything stupid. Just like what I said before. I just want to talk to you. So please just give me some time, please hear me out. I really want to clear out a few things before… before…” Max stopped talking. He couldn’t continue what he was supposed to say.
“Before I get married and I finally get you out of my life?” Fate said sarcastically. Max felt a sharp pain in his heart. His sweet Fate has changed. And he was the one to blame. He knew he had totally destroyed the life of the only woman he had loved.
“Can’t you even try to be civil with me? Am I that repulsive now in your eyes?” Max asked suddenly.
Fate suddenly felt pity for the man sitting beside her. She still loved him, but there was a big wall between them now. A wall that wasn’t easy to get over.
“Please Max, just forget everything that happened. I am already trying to move on. So you should also do the same. It’s not only for my sake, but also for your own sake as well… and for everyone’s sake. Just find a new girl, and forget that you ever met me,” Fate tried to say even though her words were like knives that were cutting her slowly.
“I have a surprise for you,” Max suddenly said, as if trying to change their topic.
“Surprise?” Fate asked, quite surprised. She knew that Max was acting very weird and somehow she was getting worried. “I need to go back Max. Please stop the car,” Fate uttered with a low voice. But he just kept on driving as if he didn’t hear anything, somehow his mind was somewhere else.
“Max, please let me go back. What’s wrong with you?” Fate asked with worry. It was only then she noticed the smell of liquor around Max. “You’re drunk?”
Max smiled bitterly. “So now you notice,” he said as he suddenly laughed in a mocking manner.
“You’re getting yourself drunk now? Don’t you even care about your reputation anymore? What if the media finds you drinking in a bar and suddenly takes your picture again? Aren’t you concerned that your actions will surely affect your friends too?” Fate started to lecture Max.
“I really don’t care about what the others think. All I care about is you,” Max replied.
Fate suddenly didn’t know what to say next. Somehow she was lost for words. “Where are we going Max?” she then repeated.
Max just stared straight at the road again. He was acting like he wasn’t hearing what she was saying.
“Max, I need to go home now!” Fate shouted. She was already feeling nervous with the way Max was acting.
“Just relax. I just want to show you something. Can’t you at least trust me?” Max said with a hurt tone in his voice.
Fate felt a sharp pain in her heart and somehow she pitied the man sitting beside her. She slowly looked at him. If only she could hold his face like the way she used to. How she wished she could still hold him in her arms and caress his hair whenever they were close to each other. She quickly turned away. She didn’t want to remember those thoughts. She needed to forget. She needed to pretend that she was already moving on. She needed to hurt him in order to save him.
She then stared out of the window of the car. Somehow the place was starting to look familiar. It was then something suddenly made sense….
“We’re going to the race track?” Fate asked curiously.
Max couldn’t help but smile. “I just want to bring you to a very special place. And somehow the race track is the only thing that comes into my mind.”
Fate slowly looked at him. “Why Max? It’s over. We can no longer get back what we have already lost. Let’s just stop before we end up hurting each other again. I already forgot about what happened. Please don’t make me remember them again. It’s too painful. Can you please just let me go?”
Max bit on his lower lip. Somehow he didn’t expect to hear those words from Fate. He was hoping that she would forgive him and give him another chance.
“Are… are you really sure that you want to forget… about us? Are you sure you want to forget me?” he asked with a quivering voice.
Fate closed her eyes. She didn’t want him to see what she was really feeling. “Oh Max… if I can only hold you once again… Do you know how much I miss you? Do you have any idea how long I have been dreaming of being close to you again? Can’t you feel the longing in my voice?” she couldn’t stop herself from thinking all those things.
“We’re here,” Max said as he slowly parked the car.
Fate opened her eyes again. And this time she looked straight at him. “What do you want Max? I am already getting married in a few days. Can’t you just be happy for me? Can’t you give me what I want? I don’t love you anymore. So please just leave me alone. You don’t have to bring me here so that I can remember our past. Honestly I would rather forget the past than remember it. Because no matter what I do, when I see you… I remember the child I lost. And somehow I can never forgive you. Even if my heart and my mind keeps telling me that I already forgave you… there is still that small part of me that always hates you. So you see… there is nothing else to return to. The love you’re trying to get back is no longer there. Please… for everyone’s sake, just let me go back. I no longer belong to you. You should just find another girl….” Fate suddenly stopped talking. Somehow it was quite difficult for her to say the words that she wanted to say.
Max shook his head. “I can never let you go. I know I was a fool when I did those things. And I admit I was wrong. But everyone deserves a second chance. Why can’t you just give me another chance? I am really sorry for all the wrong things that I have done. Just tell me what you want so you can forgive me and I will do it immediately. Tell me… please…” he begged.
Fate felt her heart had suddenly felt heavy. She quickly got out of the car and was about to walk away when Max suddenly grabbed her by the arm and embraced her tight.
“I love you Fate. Please… let’s start all over again. I don’t think I can live without you. So please come back to me. I promise, this time I will take good care of you. And I will never hurt you again. Please… please say you will take me back…” Max said with the most pitiful voice.
The familiar scent of Max’s favorite cologne made Fate’s heart skip a beat. She was so close to him now that she could almost hear his heart beat. And it was making all her senses go wild. She tried to push Max away. But he just kept on holding her tighter.
“Max, please let me go!” she shouted.
“No! I promised myself that I will never let you go once I have you in my arms again. And I plan to do whatever it takes to keep that promise…“
And with those words, Max quickly placed a wet handkerchief over Fate’s face. After a few minutes, he carefully placed the unconscious Fate back into the car. He knew what he did was the worst of all the things that he had done. But he had no choice. He knew that he couldn’t convince Fate to return to him, so he had to do it. He had to do something even if it meant doing something bad.
“I am sorry Fate. But I can’t lose you. I won’t let another man take you away from me…”
CHAPTER 25
Another month passed and everything was already going well for Ellie and Micky.
While Jaejoong felt like he was being tortured every time Ellie entered his mind. Somehow he still couldn’t stop himself from feeling regret and envy. Micky has been taking good care of Ellie and he was very thankful for this. But it was still bringing him pain and he couldn’t deny this.
Today was one of those days that he wanted to just fade away so he could no longer feel the loneliness and pain. It was Lena’s birthday… the same day that he lost her….
Micky and Ellie had gone out early in the morning to celebrate. And it was already passed 10pm, but Micky still hasn’t returned.
Jaejoong suddenly decided to go out and take a stroll. He needed to take a break and he wanted to forget even for just a short while.
“Where are you going?” Yunho asked as soon as he saw Jaejoong walk out of his room.
“I am going out for a while,” Jaejoong quickly replied with a low voice.
“It’s late. Would you like us to go with you? Maybe you can use some company?” Xiah asked with concern.
Jaejoong quickly smiled and tried to hide the sadness in his eyes. “I am fine. Don’t worry. I will just take a walk.”
“But hyung, don’t you think…” Max was about to say something else when Yunho suddenly stopped him.
“Let him go…. He needs some time to be alone… Go, just don’t forget to take your phone. Just in case, you need us,” Yunho said with a smile.
“Thank you,” Jaejoong uttered before finally leaving their apartment. Minutes passed….
Jaejoong was now wondering the streets without any specific destination. He felt like he just wanted to walk and walk until the night passed and it was already a new day. He couldn’t stand seeing Micky or Ellie happy in each other’s company. So he decided to leave the apartment before they returned.
“What do I do now?” he started to ask himself.
“How about we go and eat ice cream?” A girl’s voice said.
Jaejoong quickly turned around, quite surprised. It was then he realized that the girl who talked was a girl that was also walking behind him, together with her boyfriend.
Jaejoong couldn’t help but smile. “Ice cream… Lena likes ice cream so much that even if she’s sick she would still request for one,” he suddenly thought. It was then he quickly shook his head as if to erase Lena’s memory from his mind. He needed to forget, even for a few hours… He needed to forget or else he would go crazy.
He quickly went inside a bar. And within minutes, he was already drowning himself in a bottle of whisky. One… two… three… he continuously kept on pouring himself more and more just to keep himself occupied. He needed to leave the memories behind. He didn’t have the heart to remember everything again.
It was already passed 2am…
Jaejoong looked at his watch and smiled. The horrible day has passed… He’s free… He quickly took out a large amount of money and placed it on the cashier’s counter. He knew it was more than enough to cover for everything he drank. He then quickly left the bar and strolled the streets again with a smile on his face. Somehow he was already feeling the effect of the large amount of liquor that he had taken in.
“Strange… I don’t get drunk so easily… So why is it I am feeling so light-headed?” he asked himself.
He then stopped and started to look around. He was now standing in front of a very familiar place. Again he looked around, but not a single person was in sight. It was like the entire place was deserted.
“Where am I?” he asked himself again as he tried to think hard. The place he was looking at was very familiar yet he couldn’t really remember where or what was the name of the place.
He continued to walk…. He walked and walked until…
He suddenly heard a scream… He quickly rushed to where the scream came from… And as soon as he saw where the scream came from, he immediately froze…. The same scene…. The same maddening scene was being replayed in front of him…
Lying helpless on the ground was Lena. Her clothes were already torn and a young man was already touching her while the other men were just watching and laughing…
Again he saw the tears that were falling from Lena’s eyes. A small piece of cloth was stuffed into her mouth so she could no longer make any sound. He knew he needed to help…
He immediately rushed to her side. But as he tried to grab the guy that on top of Lena, his hands just passed straight through the guy’s body. He tried to grab the guy again, but his hands just continued to pass through the man’s body. It was like he was trying to hold on to a ghost.
He continuously tried to stop the guy from molesting Lena. But everything he did was useless. The young man just kept on touching her greedily. While the other guys around them were just watching and laughing.
Jaejoong screamed. Everything was driving him mad. It was happening again.
Then… the young man started to rape Lena. Jaejoong felt like he wanted to kill the man in front of him… And he also wanted to kill himself… He was the main reason why this horrible thing happened…
The man continued to rape Lena. And after he was finished, his friends took turns in raping Lena…. over and over again.
Jaejoong cried. It was the only thing he could do.
Suddenly everything became black…
**********************
“Are you all right?” a girl’s voice asked.
Jaejoong slowly opened his eyes…. ‘Was he dreaming’….
Somehow he couldn’t believe it… standing in front of him was the woman he had been dreaming of and waiting for…
“Lena, is it really you? Happy Birthday…. I didn’t mean to forget about your birthday…. I… I…” Jaejoong suddenly cried.”I didn’t mean to forget your birthday… I know I was a fool… Forgive me… Please I am begging you…” he said with a low voice. He was still drunk. And the effect of the alcohol he took was too much that he unexpectedly fell into a deep sleep again.
The woman somehow froze… She was confused on what to do next… Just a few minutes passed….
“Do you think you can help me to get him into the taxi?” the woman asked the taxi driver and another man that she hired to help her get the unconscious Jaejoong into the taxi.
The old man unconsciously scratched his head as if confused. “Are you sure you want to take this man home with you? I mean… do you know him? You do know it’s not safe to bring home strangers, don’t you?” the man said with concern.
The girl nodded. “Don’t worry. I know what I am doing…”
The other man just smiled. “Hey, as long as you’re paying us… No problem with me…. Just make sure you don’t get caught with whatever you’re planning,” he said with a naughty look in his eyes.
The woman didn’t even bother to look at the other man. “Just do what I am asking you and you don’t have to worry about the money. I assure you, you will be very satisfied with what I am going to give you.”
*****************************
Within minutes…
“Where should I take you now?” the taxi driver asked the woman.
“To the most expensive hotel…” the woman quickly replied. Somehow the woman didn’t even care about what the old man was thinking… She just continued to look at Jaejoong.
As the taxi headed to its destination, Jaejoong continued to dream about Lena…
Half an hour later….
The taxi driver shook his head as he took one last look at Jaejoong, who was being carried by two assistants of the hotel. Then he again stared at the mysterious woman before she finally disappeared along with Jaejoong. “Poor guy! He would surely be shocked once he wakes up…” the old man thought. Then he started to scratch his head again. “But that’s weird, how come she took him to the most expensive hotel? And honestly if I were him… he’s quite lucky… Imagine being picked up by a young and beautiful woman. That’s like a dream come true for some men… Strange… really strange,” he uttered to himself.
CHAPTER 27
Muko, Micky and the other DBSK boys were already happily talking in the living room when the door bell suddenly rang.
“I’ll get it,” Jaejoong said as he quickly got up and went straight to the door. The smile on his face immediately vanished after he saw the person standing outside their apartment.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with a rough tone in his voice. Nan Hee just looked at him with a blank expression on her face. She was trying to act like she wasn’t affected by Jaejoong’s cold reaction.
“Is Micky here? I need to talk to him,” She said with an equally cold reaction.
Jaejoong’s eyes were instantly drawn to the child that Nan Hee was holding. And instantly his heart pounded very hard. “This is totally going to be a big trouble,” he immediately thought to himself.
Nan Hee followed Jaejoong’s stare. And she instantly knew that he was looking at her daughter. “Is Micky here? I need to talk to him,” she repeated with a more serious tone in her voice.
Jaejoong was somehow stunned and couldn’t say anything else. So he just nodded. He was about to say something, but Nan Hee already pushed the door open and just walked passed by him as if he wasn’t there.
Jaejoong quickly followed her. He even tried to block her way, but somehow he couldn’t really push her away because she was holding the baby.
“Move away! I need to talk to him,” Nan Hee said with a high tone.
“Look… Why don’t you just talk to him another day? This isn’t the right time,” Jaejoong tried to reason with her.
“No! I need to talk to him now,” she replied with a loud voice. She then rushed to the living where all the other DBSK boys and Muko were.
Everyone was shocked the moment Nan Hee appeared with the baby in her arms. Xiah, Max and U-Know suddenly had a strange feeling after seeing the child. They couldn’t help but exchange glances with each other. Somehow they were asking each other what to do next.
The smile on Micky’s lips easily disappeared after he saw Nan Hee. And somehow his temper immediately rose. “What are you doing here Nan Hee?” he angrily uttered.
Nan Hee looked straight at Micky. She was now matching the cold stare that he was giving her. “We need to talk,” she replied with an air of arrogance.
“Talk? Talk about what?” Micky asked with a mocking smile.
Nan Hee smiled as well. “We need to talk about… your child,” she replied with an evil smile.
Micky felt like he instantly ran out of air to breathe. “My child? Are you joking? Don’t play games with me Nan Hee. If you’re going to play dirty, I suggest you get out now before I lose my temper,” he said with rage.
“Do I look like I am joking? Look at the child Micky. Look at her closely. See any resemblance? She’s your child. You can do DNA testing for all I care. But reality will still be the same. She’s your child. You can’t escape it,” Nan Hee said with a raised voice.
Muko who was just sitting beside Micky was now watching everything with different emotions filling her heart. It was like she wanted to cry right at that moment. But she knew it would be embarrassing if she did that. So she just silently watched and listened to everything that was happening while her heart was slowly being crushed.
“Are you really going crazy? You disappear for two years and then you suddenly appear with a child and you expect me to believe everything you say? Get out! I don’t want to hear your lies,” Micky shouted as he suddenly stood up.
“No! I have been trying so hard to raise this child alone ever since we separated… from my pregnancy to my giving birth to her and until she was growing up…. I did those things all by myself… Now it’s time for you to share the load. You should also have some responsibility in bringing her up,” Nan Hee said with a raised voice as well.
Muko felt like her tears were about to fall any minute. She then stood up. “I think I should go,” she said with a low voice.
Micky quickly looked at his wife. “Muko, please don’t believe this woman. She’s lying. Don’t go. If there’s someone who should leave, it’s her,” he said as he held his wife’s hand. “Leave Nan Hee. I don’t want any trouble. So just take that child and disappear like what you did years ago.”
Nan Hee felt like she was fighting against a wall. Micky’s heart was already closed to her and especially to their child. “You’re a monster!” she hissed.
“Get out!” Micky shouted again.
And as soon as he shouted the child in Nan Hee’s arms started to cry.
Somehow Micky couldn’t help but stop and stare. Something inside of him was somehow being concerned about the child. “Impossible,” he quickly said to himself after the thought entered his mind that maybe the child was truly his daughter.
The baby continued to cry and somehow no matter what Nan Hee did, the baby just continued to cry louder and louder.
“See what you did? You made our daughter upset… You’re a totally useless father,” Nan Hee said with anger in her eyes.
“What I did? Maybe it is your own fault…. How can you possibly think of putting a child into one of your games? Why? Is the real father of that child a poor guy that you suddenly ditched him so you can run after me instead? If you’re thinking I would easily fall for your tricks. I suggest you think twice before you continue,” Micky said as if mocking Nan Hee.
Nan Hee couldn’t control her tears any longer. “You’re a total monster! I never thought you would do this to me and our daughter. You don’t want to accept her? Fine! I will just put your child in an orphanage somewhere. Maybe someday when she grows up, she can then find you again and make you pay for your carelessness. Look, I am not kidding when I said I couldn’t support her anymore. If I could I wouldn’t be here,” she said with tears already running down her cheeks.
Muko couldn’t stand what she was seeing. She slowly walked to Nan Hee.
Micky and the other DBSK boys were surprised.
“Muko,” Micky uttered with concern. Somehow he didn’t know what was running in his wife’s mind.
Face to face…. Muko stared at Nan Hee. Then she looked closely at the child that was still crying. Her heart was instantly crushed. She already knew the truth.
“Let me have the child while you and Micky talk… in a civil manner,” she then softly said to Nan Hee.
Nan Hee was shocked. She never expected Muko to act in such a manner.
When she approached her, somehow she was expecting Muko to get mad with her. She never expected that Micky’s wife would still have some control after all that had happened.
“No, what if…” Nan Hee tried to say…
Muko smiled. “Don’t worry. I am not an evil person. No matter what happened between you and Micky…. I am out of it. It happened when I wasn’t in his life. And I am not the kind of person that would do something bad to a defenseless child. I love children. I would never do anything bad…. Please believe me.” Nan Hee could feel that Muko was saying the truth. Her daughter continued to cry. And she was already really getting tired of hearing her cry. She slowly handed her daughter to Muko.
“Muko, what are you doing?” Micky asked in disbelief.
Muko immediately turned to face Micky with the child in her arms now. “Micky, please… do this for me…. Can you please try to talk with Nan Hee in a calm manner? I really believe you should talk with her… Please,” she said with a firm tone in her voice.
Jaejoong, XIah, Max and Yunho couldn’t help but admire Muko. They never expected her to act in such an unbelievable manner. She still managed to maintain her composure and was acting in such a very lady like manner. She was truly one of a kind. Now they knew why she was also fit to be a nun. She had a heart and a character that was both pure.
“But Muko,” Micky tried to protest.
Muko tried to smile even if she felt horrible inside. “We will just be in the kitchen while you guys talk. I am going to feed the baby… Jaejoong, Yunho, Max, Xiah… do you think you guys can assist me?”
Jaejoong immediately nodded. “Yes, let’s go to the kitchen and just leave them alone while they talk.”
A few minutes passed, Muko was now busy feeding the baby in her arms… “You’re such a beautiful baby… You look just like your mother and… father,” somehow the last word got stuck in Muko’s throat. And unexpectedly, a tear rolled down her cheek.
The other DBSK boys who were just silently watching couldn’t help but feel pity for Muko. They never expected that this kind of problem would appear just when things were already getting better for their friend and Muko.
Back in the living room… a different story was starting to unfold.
CHAPTER 37
“What are we doing here Norman?” Fate asked. She was now looking at a large mansion with a breathtaking view. It had a large and captivating garden that easily caught Fate’s interest.
Norman quickly took Fate’s hand and carefully guided her into the garden. “I want you see this place… before we get married so you will know I am not that bad. I had this place fully designed according to your liking. I knew you loved flowers and you liked having a large garden. So I specifically had this made just for you,” he said with a smile.
Fate looked around at the garden she was in. The place was totally beautiful. And Norman was right. The entire garden was really according to her taste. And somehow she couldn’t help but feel touched with Norman’s gesture.
“Thank you for thinking about what I would like… but…” she suddenly stopped talking. She quickly decided not to continue what was on her mind. She didn’t want to hurt him.
Norman saw the mixed emotions on Fate’s face. “You know, maybe you can start learning to treat me like a friend again. I really don’t mean any harm. I know I have been selfish and arrogant and I even went to extreme methods just to get close to you. But I only did it because I love you. And now that we’re getting married… maybe we should start from the very beginning. Let’s just forget about everything. Let’s pretend we haven’t encountered those problems that are separating us now. Let’s pretend to be friends…”
Fate sighed. She knew Norman had a point. It was useless to keep on fighting. She had already agreed. And somehow she was thinking that it was really for everyone’s good that she just let go and accept everything. She should forget about Max and try to move on with her new life. She didn’t deserve him in the first place. And trying to hold on to him and to his memories would only hurt her more and would eventually cause more trouble for Max.
She then remembered her baby. “My poor baby,” she uttered in her mind. “I hope you’re happy wherever you are… “
Norman noticed the sudden change in Fate’s mood. “You’re thinking about your baby again. Please just stop. Your baby is already in a good place. You should just let her rest in peace. Don’t try to keep on holding to her memory to the point that it’s already disturbing your life. I am sorry. But I just don’t want to see you go through another depression mode again. I am just concerned about you.”
Fate smiled. “Thank you. I know what you’re saying is right. And don’t worry, I think I already learned how to let go of my baby. But you really can’t blame me if every now and then I still remember her. There are times I would just wonder if things turned out differently and she was born… I was thinking what she would look like, or would she be a girl like I always imagined her to be or a boy, and I also I can’t stop but daydream that I am playing with her. I am carrying her in my arms and singing her a lullaby.”
“You know, there is still a chance that you can bear another child. We can go to another country and ask for other doctors’ opinions. You don’t have to stop just because a few doctors said you will never have a child again. We can look for more doctors who can take care of you… Maybe they can help you and maybe they can cure you,” Norman said with a serious tone. He was now telling everything that was on his mind.
Fate looked straight at Norman. “Why is it that I feel like you’re acting strange today? What is happening? Why have you changed again? Just a few days ago, you were the man I hated the most. And now, honestly… I am starting to see you like the way I use to. You’re acting like the same old Norman I used to know before. I know I should be happy, but I am really confused. Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?”
Norman lightly laughed. “Shouldn’t you be happy that I am being nice again? Let’s just say, I am just letting you see the real me for the last time.”
“Last time? What do you mean?” Fate asked curiously.
Norman instantly looked away. “Nothing… Just forget about what I said.”
*****************************
“Max, they are already here in Japan,” Michael said as he sat down with a glass of wine in his hands. They were in his hotel room, together with the other DBSK boys.
“What are you planning to do now?” Micky quickly asked Max.
Max then looked at his friend and shook his head. “Honestly I don’t know. The only thing I know is that I will do everything just to have her back. I will certainly do everything I can to stop her wedding with Norman,” he answered seriously.
“You should think fast Max, their wedding is just a few days away. Right now, I am really confused on why Norman actually let you have a chance to have Fate back. I mean, he could have chosen to have their wedding somewhere else… somewhere far from you. And to think, he said himself that he’s allowing you to try and win her back is really quite strange to me. Is it just me or is Norman getting soft?” Yunho voiced out his opinion.
“Yunho’s right. Norman is really acting weird. But at least it is to your advantage. You just have to think of a way to win back Fate again and everything should be okay,” Micky added.
“By the way, Michael… have you found out anything from the people that you sent out to investigate?” Jaejoong asked.
“That’s the main reason why I called you guys… I needed to tell you about what I learned,” Michael answered with a serious tone in his voice.
“What is it?” Max quickly asked.
“Based on what I learned, it seems Norman made a bet with some of his buddies. And the bet involves Fate,” Michael started to tell everything he knew.
“It involves Fate? How?” Xiah asked.
“Well Norman and his friends made a bet on whether Norman will get Fate as his girlfriend or not. But since Fate and Max’s relationship came out, Norman lost on his bet. But now that his wedding to Fate is already announced and all, it seems his bet with his friends finally turned. Based on what I heard, his friends already returned the money they got from him and already paid him the amount they agreed upon,” Michael continued.
“So you’re saying Norman is just marrying Fate because of a stupid bet? Is that it? How can he be so heartless?” Jaejoong asked, quite mad.
Michael nodded his head and continued. “It’s not only about the money. I already talked to one of his friends. And they already told me something quite important. Just like what I thought, Norman is really in love with Fate. And he didn’t really care about the bet… At first, it was just a game to him. But as time moved on, he became really serious with her. Norman’s friend also told me that Norman didn’t really accept the money they owed him because of the bet. Somehow he decided to just drop the bet deal.”
“So he’s actually being nice now huh?” Xiah asked.
“Nice? I don’t think so. His friend also told me something interesting. It seems that during one of their drinking sessions. Norman made the mistake of telling his friends on how he actually got Fate to agree to their wedding…” Michael finally revealed.
“What? How?” Max asked.
Michael drew in a deep breath before finally speaking. “Norman blackmailed Fate. He told her that if she didn’t marry him, he will leak a news about Max and Fate’s unfortunate incident. He also said that the news about Max’s cruelty to Fate that resulted to the death of their baby will surely destroy Max’s career. This threat made Fate immediately say yes to his wedding proposal,” Michael said.
“Why that totally no good…” Max uttered with so much anger. Jaejoong quickly tapped his friend’s shoulder as if to calm him down. “Relax, Max. Being angry now, won’t do any good. What you have to do now is find a way to free Fate from Norman.”
“What a totally evil man. Imagine using blackmail, just to get a girl,” Micky uttered as he continuously shook his head in disapproval.
“I will surely get Fate back. I will never let him have her… I would die first before that happens,” Max uttered.
“Well do you have any plans on how to do it?” Xiah asked curiously.
Max’s face suddenly dimmed. Somehow he didn’t like the idea that was running in his mind. But he knew it was the only way… A sacrifice had to be made….
