[Chapter 3] *faTE* ---Fate works in mysterious ways….Everything is given to you……delivered by angels of God….the only thing that lies in your hands….is to grab it---- quote*Hyesung* “AHHHHH~!!!” Daso yelled as she ran to Hwanhee. “My baby is HERE~!!!” “………” Hwanhee gently(?) threw her away from him… -_-;; “Oh, I’m sorry.” Mrs.Yoon explained. “I told you we are going somewhere yesterday, but it’s actually today. I’m sorrie Mr. Lee.” “No~!!! Don’t go!!! Mom, I’ll stay home~!! Can I Can I Can I???” “Daso, this is an important party, I’m sorry again.” “It’s Ok.” Hwanhee told her. He turned to the door. “Wait!” Dani called him. “Why don’t you just come with us. You came all the way here for nothing. Mom, he can come with us right?” “I guess.” “YAY~!!!” Daso jumped in the air. Hwanhee looked at Dani. Dani just smiled at him. “Mr.Joo, your dad.” Eric told Brian as he handed him the phone. “Hello?” ---Brian?--- “Yes Dad.” ---It’s an important day, you know that.--- “I know.” ---Make sure you are dressed up and you know how to behave--- “Ok Dad.” ---click--- Just few hours away….. I’ll be named the… “Mr.Joo the car is ready.” “Ok.” Brian replied as he straightened his tie looking at the mirror. “Eric, do I look alright?” “Yes, Mr. Joo as always.” Brian smiled. ~SK Group Annoncement Party~ The banner hung in front of the fancy hotel. There were so many people. Politicians, millionaires, and reporters. Hwanhee stared in awe as he entered with Dani’s family. “Mr.Yoon, Welcome.” Somebody came up to Dani’s Dad as he shook his hands. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Kim, you know my wife and my daughters Dani and Daso. And this is Daso’s tutor who joined us this evening.” “How do you do, you are….?” “Hwanhee.” “You look about my age, just call me Dongwan.” “So tell me Mr.Kim.” Mr.Yoon said… “What made you successful at such a young age?” “I wouldn’t call myself successful….when I’m at top, I’ll be successful.” “But you are the Vice-president of THE SK Group. That is an accomplishment.” “Thank you.” Then Dongwan’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me a moment.” Dongwan told them as he walked away. “Hello? yeah….ok…I’ll be there.” Dongwan froze. “I don’t know what the phone call was about for sure….but I believe it’s about….” “Fu*k~!!” Dongwan swore as Eric told him about the phone call from Brian’s dad to Brian. “What were you doing all this time huh? The reason I put you as an assistant for that little son-of-bit*h was so that you could prevent this from happening!!” “What was I suppose to do??? Kill him in his sleep or something???” “That could have worked.” “Dongwan, get real. Just wait until the announcement. As I said….I’m not 100% sure about the call.” “It can’t be…..I worked my As$ off to take that position…and I’m getting it.” Dongwan whispered. Hwanhee walked around. What was shocking to him was that there were plenty of food, but no one seemed to be eating them. Even Daso turned into a little angel here… He was surprised that people seemed so stiff and formal…. “This is boring huh?” Dani asked as she stood by his side. “And I have YOU to thank for inviting me to such a exciting party.” “Well, this is the biggest party in the business industry.” “Really? Yeah, I saw a lot of reporters, what’s this party for anyway?” “Didn’t you hear? Don’t you read newspapers?” “Not in this century. -.-;;” “Haha….well...today, the president of SK Group will announce who will take over the Group after him.” “SK Group? Yeah….I heard of that…..one of the most richest businesses in the world.” “Yep….that’s what all the fuss is about.” “Brian, nice to see you again.” “You too, Dongwan.” “Mr. Kim, I prefer to be called by my last name.” “Whatever, Mr. Kim.” Dongwan wrinkled his forehead, but quickly changed his face expressions, although his hatred towards Brian was so obvious. “Are you ready?” “I’ve been ready.” “Are you saying….?” As Brian let Dongwan’s words go through one ear and come out of the other one, he saw Dani talking to someone by the window. “Excuse me.” Brian left Dongwan…. Brian then walked towards them, the guy didn’t see him coming because he faced the opposite way, but Dani saw him. Brian raised him hand to say hi as he walked towards them…. “Dani, how are you?” Brian asked carefully…. But she started looking really uncomfortable and then she walked away. Brian sighed….watching Dani walk away… Only if she knew how much that hurts him each time…. Hwanhee, bewildered by Dani’s actions, turned to the guy next to him. “Wait!!” Hwanhee yelled out…. “You are the guy that drove us to the hospital!” “Oh, yeah….I remember you.” “I never got to thank you….” “no problem, how’s your brother?” “He’s fine, it was just that he overworked himself, he never worked at a construction site before.” “Does your brother need a job?” “huh?” “Does he?” “Yeah ….of course, but he only graduated high school, so it’s hard for him to find a decent job.” “Give me your number.” “My number?” “Yeah, I’ll have a person call your brother for the job.” “Really?? you could do that?” “Just give me your number…then wait and see…” Hwanhee quickly jotted down the home phone number. “Thank you.” Hwanhee told him. Brian nodded. “That was very rude of you.” Hwanhee told Dani as he sipped the wine, which he soon spat out in disgust. “………..” Dani kept silent, making Hwanhee more curious. “Ladies and Gentleman, the President of SK Group.” There was a loud applause. Hwanhee clapped along. “I’ve been in this business for 35 years now, and I’m very satisfied with my accomplishments.” “Blah…Blah….Blah….” Hwanhee mumbled….only to have 5 people standing around him put their finger on their mouth and whisper, ‘Shhhhh’ “ok…ok….Geez.” “Now, I’m very happy to present to you, the soon-to-be President of SK Group, my son, Brian Joo.” Brian walked on the near his Dad…. Mr. Joo, proudly put his arms around Brian as reporters took pictures…. “AHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!!!!!” Dongwan screamed in an empty bathroom. Kicked and punched everything in his sight…. Then Eric ran in the bathroom and held him steady. “That mother-fu**ing bit*h!!!!” “Dongwan, calm down.” “The old man doesn’t know what he’s doing~!! I’ve worked for him for 5 years now, and since I became the Vice-president, everything ran smoothly before!! Brian doesn’t know ANYTHING!!! I know better.!” Dongwan yelled out. “We’ll just have to find another way,” “Dammit~!!!!” Dongwan punched the mirror, which broke into pieces. “Wow, he was the son of SK Group President???” Hwanhee exclaimed… “Do you think I should have gotten an autograph from him or something??” But Dani remained silent even at Hwanhee’s remarks… “Dani, for reals now, what’s wrong with you? What’s with that dude??” But suddenly, Dani’s mom came in the middle of the conversation, standing in front of Hwanhee. Mrs.Yoon looked happy as she could be as she yelled out to Dani, “Dani, did you hear that??!!!!” “……..” Dani didn’t answer. Hwanhee watched her as her face carried no expressions…. “oh my god, this is so unbelievable” Hwanhee wondered what she was talking about. She seemed like someone who just won billion dollars. “Your fiancee is the next president of the SK Group!!!” [Chapter 4] *To Realize.* “………” “Hwanhee, is that you?” Minwoo yelled out from the living room as he heard the front door open. Instead of an answer, Hwanhee just walked to his room. “What’s wrong with him?” Then he went back to watching his drama…. He’s a big fanatic of korean dramas; Pretty strange for a guy to be watching TV in tears. ~Ring Ring~ “Hello?” Minwoo picked up the phone. ---Is Minwoo Lee available?--- “This is he.” ---I’m calling on the behalf of SK Group--- “…..????…..” ---I was told to ask you to start working on Monday.--- “Um….I’m confused….what are you talking about?” ---There is an opening in our staff, and we would like you to come work for us.--- “You are kidding me…..” Dani sat by the window in her room. She remembered…Hwanhee’s face… The face that was impossible to read….when her mom told Hwanhee about her engagement. ~Ring~ “Hello?” Dani picked up the phone. She was surprised to see herself hoping that it was Hwanhee, althought she highly doubted it. “It’s me, Brian.” “……..” Dani answered with silence. “Can you come out for a second? I’m in front of your house.” Dani looked outside the window and saw Brian in black suit with his cellur phone. “But….” “I’ll be waiting.” Then Brian hung up. “it’s late.” Dani silently mumbled the words that she did not get the chance to tell Brian. ~Memory~ “Now, I’m very happy to present to you, the soon-to-be President of SK Group, my son, Brian Joo.” ~Memory End~ “the soon-to-be president of SK Group….Brian Joo……..Brian Joo…..” Dongwan mumbled to himself as he walked through a dark and narrow street. “GodDammit!!!!!” Dongwan shouted as he punched the wall next to him. He gets everything…. It doesn’t matter if I’m more skilled or smart. He just gets everything….because he was borned as the son…. I didn’t choose to be the son of alcoholic Dad or run-away Mom… I didn’t choose to have 5 little siblings….I had to take care of…. Dongwan sighed….as he went to his house. The house looked about 50 years old. It was made out of sand; you touched the wall, it started to fall off. You would not imagine the vice prez of SK Group in this kind of house. The second he walked in the house he heard yelling, shouting, and crying. Then his 7 year old sister ran to him. “Dongwan oppa…..why are you so late.” Her face was covered in tears…. “What’s wrong.???” “Daddy is hitting Andy. sniff…..” Dongwan’s eyes got round. Dongwan left his sister and ran into his Dad’s room, frightened. “What the fu*k do you do around here!!! Shut Up!! and just get the hell out of my house!!!!” Dongwan’s Dad was yelling as he hit Andy… Andy stood there frozen. He did not move nor he did say a word…. He stood there, taking all the beatings….. like it was nothing….like it was an everyday routine. Dongwan saw his other little siblings all crowded up in the corner crying their eyes out. He also saw beer bottles around the room, and saw a scattered bottle all over the floor. Frightened, he looked at Andy……there was blood dripping from his head. “DAD!!!!! Stop!!!!!” Dongwan yelled as he stood in front of his 17 year old brother, protecting him. “Get out of my way.” His Dad yelled.” Dongwan kept standing in front of Andy as he motioned his other brothers and sisters to go out of the room. Then Dongwan pulled Andy outside with him while his Dad threw all the things that he could get his hands on all over the room. “Andy…..” Dongwan whispered his name as he put his hand on Andy’s wounds…. “Come on, let’s get something to stop the bleeding.” Andy walked as Dongwan pulled him towards the kitchen…..his face carried no expressions like somebody who just watched a boring movie. Dongwan looked for aid kit in hurry. They might not have decent food or cloth at their house, but they had the aid kit. It was an absolute supply. “What did you do…?” Dongwan asked. “I didn’t bring him more bear….that son of bit*h.” Andy swore under his breath…. “Dammit, it won’t stop bleeding!!!” “Don’t bother, I wouldn’t care if I die right now, on this spot.” “If you say that again, I swear….” “What??!!! Why would it matter??? Maybe….if Dad gets better by me dead, and treats the other kids nicely…then I wouldn’t care if I die….I’m 17….I can handle all this… But they are what?? 6, 7, 10??? What do you think they are gonna be when they grow up???” “Andy….I’ll try to find good schools for them…” “Good luck, but is that gonna do them any good??? What would they say, when teachers tell them to write about their family? What more is there to write other than my Mom ran away because she hated us and my Dad is an alcoholic and his hobby is hitting us everyday….” “…………..” “And Hyung…..you worked your butt off all these years….. but you still didn’t pay all the debt yet….we didn’t even pay half yet….. In addition to Dad’s abuse, we have to go through verbal abuses by all those people demanding for money.” “I’ll try….to get the money as fast as I could.” Dongwan tried to ensure Andy that he was confident, although it was obvious that he wasn’t. “……..Hyung…….why were we born…..?? or why couldn’t we have been the sons of some rich guy…..” “Done….go back to the room….and tell them it’s ok….they are really frightened….” “That it’s ok?? Now you want me to lie????” “Just go….” “I hate life…” Andy mumbled as he walked outside…. Dongwan just stared at the blood left on his hands…. The blood from Andy’s head…. How did I get so use to this…. Why am I not disgusted or scared to see this?? I have to be the president… To be able to pay all the debt…. And to give….Andy…and my other 4 brothers and sisters…. Something to be proud of… Something that they don’t have to hide from everybody…. “It’s late….I wanna go back in.” “Hold on Dani.” Brian told her…. “No…I really…” Brian grabbed her wrist…and pulled her into his chest….and he put his arms around her waist…. Dani tried to push away….but she couldn’t…. “Brian oppa…..let me go…..” “No…..” Brain held her tighter…. “Just Let me GO!!!!” Dani yelled as she used every force she had inside to pull away…. “DAMMIT!!!!” Brian yelled….frustrated….. Knowing the fact that….Dani didn’t have the same feelings as he has……. Something that he wanted to ignore….but just couldn’t…. “Dani, can’t you understand????? Hyesung Hyung is gone…!! You can’t stay like this forever…” “…………” “You have to forget him….he’s not coming back….he’s gone….” “Even though I’ll be able to forget him….you won’t….you can’t be the one….to be with me…” “But……I love you…….” Brian told her……with all bravery he had in him…..he told her….. But Dani just stood still…..didn’t answer…. “I…..just want to be left alone….” She lied and turned around leaving Brian standing still….. She didn’t want to be left alone……She wanted someone to take away her loneliness…. But it just wasn’t Brian….who could… Dani was realizing…..where her heart was leaning to…. “Excuse me….I would like to see Mr.Joo.” Hwanhee asked the woman sitting in the desk by the door, still not fully adapted to this formal speaking and gestures. “Hold on a sec. and you are….?” “Hwanhee Lee.” The woman got on the phone…and did something that Hwanhee had no idea about…then she told him.. “You could go in.” “Um…ok…thank you.” Hwanhee walked in the door, facinated how big the doors were. And he saw Brian sitting in his chair. “Hello…” “yeah, hi…I just wanted to come to say…thank you for letting my brother work here….He is starting today.” “I told you to trust me.” “Yeah, thanks.” “Why don’t you sit down?” “Ok.” Brian pointed at the chair in front of him. “Is that ALL you wanted to say..??” “Um…yeah..” Hwanhee lied… “Are you sure??” “Well, I just wanted to ask about….um….what exactly the company is for and what work my brother would be doing….” “Let’s see…SK Group is a trading company….Takes care of World trading. And your brother was put on Promoting Team, that would be coming up with ideas to promote the products that we imported from other countries.” “Oh, I see.” “Is that all???” “Well…..” Damn…..I can’t just ask him about Dani…..wait…what do I wanna ask…. it’s pretty clear that they are gonna get married….Hwanhee thought to himself… “Um….I heard that….” -Dani was your fiancee- The words jumped around Hwanhee’s head but all he got out was… “that you were going to be the President here.” “Yeah…it’s true…only after my Dad retires though…So I’m trying to focus a lot on work now…” “Ok…that’s good…well….um…” “You can ask…” “I know your fiancee…Dani…??” “You do….” Brian thought about bitter memory of yesterday night…. How he told her he loved her…and then she said….. “Well…do you….love her???” Hwanhee asked….was I expecting a ‘no’ or was I just hoping a ‘no’ “Of course I do.” This was the moment all possibilities that Hwanhee thought of just all went to waste….. “how long???” “Ever since I could remember….but she never realized it…maybe I was too dull…. but I thought she would know…. But she’s not in a mood to be in love nowadays….because one of our closet friend died about a year ago, she’s still grieving over him….” “The friend that she went to the 1year memorial for a short while ago.” “Yeah….he was good friend of ours…..well, he was actually like my only friend…. Other people just stayed around me because I was the son of SK Group prez…” “He was a nice person…” “The nicest.” “Darling…do you have to go now?” Daso said in a real sticky voice to Hwanhee… “Yes…and by the way….DON’T CALL ME DARLING!!!!” “Ok, my puppy….” “…… -_-;; .” “Thanks Mr.Lee, you’ll come back tomorrow??” “Ok…Thanks…Bye..” Hwanhee walked outside as he bowed to Mrs. Yoon. He smiled at Dani who stood next to Mrs.Yoon…. Just to let her know…that he is OK…that he’s not devastated…to hear they are engaged… Although he didn’t know if she even cared…. He realized….that sometimes…the more you like the person, the more you have to push them away… For everyone’s good…. Though it doesn’t do you any good…. He looked up in the night sky…. The stars were so bright… Dani was watching him walk from her house…. She never…thought…. that she would feel like holding someone back… To stay… Even though they are not gonna be gone for long time…. She never thought she could feel this way again…… She smiled…. Knowing….that her heart was beginning to know happiness again… To find simple joy….in someone’s smile…. She ran….towards him….through a dark street….. Hwanhee kept walking…didn’t notice Dani running to him… Dani hugged him from behind, resting her head on his back…her arms around his waist…. “Wait…” She whispered….. “Don’t go…..” ****************************************************