| ** Father’s Dream (Short SeungJun *LEO* fic) Part One *HONK… SCREECH* SeungJun closed his eyes tightly and bit his lip. He was going to get it now… he was late again! He got out of the car and examined the dent in his car. He groaned. This was going to take at least 1000 dollars. He watched as the girl got out of the car. He studied her as she walked over to his car and gasped. She started taking heavy breaths and said, “I'm sorry… But my dad is in such a hurry. Can you give us your phone number and I’ll give you ours. We’re so sorry.” SeungJun nodded and carefully looked at the girl. She was panicked about something… but he didn’t know what it was. She was sweating and she looked about 14. But SeungJun was 20… He had no time for little girls like this. He nodded and said, “Thanks… bye.” The girl leaned closer to him and looked into his eyes. He said, “Um… you said you were in a hurry.” The girl shook her head and said, “Please be quiet… Please help me. Pretend we’re examining the crash. Please… take me away… please take me into your car and take me away. Pretend we’re looking at a scratch by the door, and push me and in and take me away. Hurry. Please…” SeungJun looked into her eyes that were filled with fear. He sighed and said to himself, ‘Lee SeungJun… you need to STOP falling for desperate girls or else the whole world is going to be clinging on you!’ But he did as he was asked. He pulled her over to the side of the passenger door and pointed to nothing. Then he quickly opened the door and pushed her in. He jumped into the driver’s seat and realized what he had done… He had taken a girl away from her father. And he was going to catch him, one way or another. But he also realized that he had a new car… with no license plate. The girl smiled up at him and let out a heavy sigh. “Thank you so much. That… was the best moment of my life.” SeungJun stared at her and said, “Look… I'm late for my date. And my girlfriend’s going to be mad. So just shush… and pretend you’re my cousin… okay? Just don’t say a word.” If she was hurt, she didn’t show it. She had previous experience of keeping a straight face. She said, “I won’t say a word.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The girl watched from the backseat as outside, SeungJun was grabbing onto someone’s arm. But the girl slapped him and the girl gasped. The girl said something to him and SeungJun hung his head low. She walked away and SeungJun slowly walked to his car. He opened the door and sighed. “What’s wrong with me? I'm always late… and it always costs me.” He noticed the girl in the backseat and said, “Okay… guess you don’t have to pretend anymore. I don’t even have a girlfriend anymore.” The girl hung her head and said, “I'm sorry.” ”It’s not your fault. I guess she just wasn’t meant to be with me. Okay… you better tell me your whole life in ten minutes…” The girl sighed. She was so used to telling lies… so many lies. She didn’t know where to start to tell the truth. She opened her mouth as everything started to come out. “My name is Choi EunYoung. I lived in a family… well… that abused me. My father loved me. So did my mother, but she died when I was 2. He didn’t know that my stepmother was the one that always beat me… always gave me bruises. It was so hard… so I ran away. But this man… that was in the car with me… He found me and he shoved me into his car and told me he was sent by my stepmother to kill me. But he said he wasn’t going to do it, because… he loved me. He said he was going to take me far away. Then… I made him get into an accident… and I asked you to take me away. And you did.” SeungJun stared at her, wide eyed. “Okay… what do you want me to do? You have no place to stay… no place to go. What am I going to do with you?” EunYoung shook her head and said, “Please… take me to a dumpster… anywhere. Just don’t make me go back. Please…” SeungJun said, “Okay… I won’t let you go back. But if I'm arrested, you have to bail me out. Okay… I know a good place where you could stay. No charge.” ”Where?” SeungJun grinned and said, “My house.” Part Two It was so quiet that SeungJun leaned forward to switch on the radio. “…a girl named Choi EunYoung has been kidnapped. She has long straight dark brown hair with brown eyes. She is about 5 feet 3 inches and is 14 years old. If anyone has seen her, please call…” SeungJun quickly switched off the radio, and he realized what he was doing. He was kidnapping someone! He pulled over and said, “Get out.” EunYoung shook her head and said, “Please. No… Please, don’t make me go back. How will it feel to know that you sent someone to her death?” SeungJun sighed and said, “I'm kidnapping you! I don’t want to turn into a criminal! What if I get caught? What do I say? Will they believe if they say that she ASKED me to take her away?” Tears filled up EunYoung’s eyes. “Please. I’ll cut off my hair… I’ll start dressing differently. I’ll stop talking in English. I’ll stop talking forever. Just please don’t make me go back.” SeungJun sighed and said, “How am I going to keep you? They’re probably going to track us down anyway.” EunYoung said, “Then, I’ll pretend I'm your cousin. Or your sister. Or something! We could make up a brilliant plan! Please?” SeungJun stared into the eyes of a 14-year-old and sighed. What was he doing? What was he thinking? He couldn’t take her! But he just didn’t want to leave her. He got back onto the road and said, “I'm going to think of something. Just shut up for now.” EunYoung nodded and bit her lip. ‘Please don’t change your mind. I need help.’ <center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</center> “Oppa! Your date is here!” SeungJun ran out, putting his tie on and said, “Thanks EunYoung.” EunYoung pecked him on the cheek and said, “Have fun!” SeungJun smiled and said, “Don’t open the doors to strangers. And don’t pick up the phone unless it’s our secret code, okay? And make sure you don’t start a fire or anything.” EunYoung nodded and said, “Bye!” As she watched SeungJun walk out the door, she thought about how long it had been. She was 20 now, and SeungJun was 26. SeungJun never wanted to go on dates, but EunYoung had forced him to go on at least one. She always teased him and said, “I want nephews and nieces!” She sighed and turned on the news. The anchorwoman said, “It’s been 6 years since the Choi EunYoung kidnapping, and her parents are still looking for her. If you know her, or if you are her, please call…” EunYoung sighed. When will they stop? Didn’t they know that she didn’t care about them anymore? She was legally SeungJun’s little sister. What were her parents doing? The anchorwoman continued. “Tied in with the Choi EunYoung kidnapping, I’d like to inform that Choi SeungMi, Choi EunYoung’s stepmother, had died today. She leaves everything to her child, Choi YoungMi, who is currently 15, and not yet reached the legal age to receive everything in the will. Choi EunYoung’s father is in the hospital, and if he happens to pass away, Choi YoungMi will inherit everything unless Choi EunYoung turns up.” EunYoung sighed as she switched off the TV. This was at least the tenth time that they had said this on the news. She lived with SeungJun now. And she was Lee EunYoung. There was no more Choi EunYoung. Only the world knew Choi EunYoung… <center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</center> “Oppa, if you seriously like her, then you should ask her to marry you. There is no better chance!” SeungJun shook her head and said, “No. This ring isn’t for her.” EunYoung tugged at her hair and said, “ARGH! Oppa! Listen. You’re 26. You NEED to get married! I want my nephews!” SeungJun looked at her and said, “How about your sons? Your daughters? Wouldn’t it be better to get your own children?” EunYoung stared at him and said, “I don’t even have a boyfriend yet!” SeungJun stared at her and whispered, “You know… I’ve never failed to remember that you’re not my sister…” He knelt beside her and looked up at her. “We could get married… We can. We could just change you back to Choi EunYoung, and we could get married… EunYoung ah, will you marry me?” Part Three “Mommy! Give me my cereal!” The 13-year-old MiYoung said, “Here, YoungJoon, I’ll get it for you. Mom, I got it!” EunYoung smiled at her daughter and her 4-year-old son. “Thank you, MiYoung.” SeungJun stepped through the door and said, “Your daddy is home!” YoungJoon held his arms out and knocked over his cereal bowl, which spilled all over MiYoung. MiYoung clenched her teeth and said, “YoungJoon, I want you to get a paper towel and wipe this off me.” SeungJun said, “I got it!” He got a paper towel and wiped the cereal and milk off of MiYoung’s pants. He patted her back and whispered, “Good girl. You’re finally learning how to hold in your temper.” MiYoung smiled up at her dad and said, “I'm trying my best.” YoungJoon looked at his hands and said, “I'm sorry, mommy. Daddy, I'm sorry. I didn’t know that noona was going to wet with milk.” MiYoung smiled and patted his back. “It’s okay, YoungJoon. I forgive you. Come on, let’s go watch TV!” SeungJun and EunYoung watched their two kids as they ran into the living room. They both smiled at each other and EunYoung leaned on SeungJun. “Another hard day…” she said. Just then, MiYoung screamed. They ran in the living room and asked, “What’s wrong?” MiYoung pointed at the TV and said, “Isn’t that you?” EunYoung stared at the television screen. A picture of her when she was 13 popped up. It said, “Choi EunYoung. Kidnapped twenty years ago. Her father had died yesterday, and until the last minute, he was trying to find her. We express our sympathy, and if anyone knows of her, please contact…” EunYoung’s legs grew weak as she fell into SeungJun’s arms. She looked up at him and said, “SeungJun shi… my father died. He died because of me. I couldn’t see him for twenty years… and he died on me…” SeungJun patted her back and wiped her tears from her face. “EunYoung ah… it’s okay. Would you like to go to the funeral?” EunYoung said, “But that means… showing my face to the world again. Showing Choi EunYoung… who’s been on the news for twenty years. I don’t want to do that.” SeungJun patted her back and said, “I understand.” MiYoung and YoungJoon watched from the floor, watching their mother’s tears falling… but not knowing that her heart was falling as well. <center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</center> “Today, the funeral service of Choi SeHyun was held Rose Memorial Park. Once again, if anyone knows of Choi Eun…” EunYoung switched off the TV before it finished her name. She didn’t need to take anymore of this. She took a deep breath and went into her room. She took out a shoebox that she had kept for twenty years. She opened it and reviewed its contents. But she had no time. She took out a piece of paper that she had kept when she first heard her name on the news. She stared at the ten numbers and wondered when the last time was that the numbers seemed so evil. She walked to the phone and slowly dialed the numbers. Someone said, “Hello? Do you have a kidnapping to report? Or did you see someone that was kidnapped? Please press 1 now.” She pressed one. A person started talking, “Hello?” ”Hello?” ”What kidnapping would you like to report?” ”I’ve seen someone…” ”Name please?” ”Choi EunYoung.” ”No ma’am. I want YOUR name.” ”Choi EunYoung.” There was silence on the other line. EunYoung said, “Hello?” Someone cleared their throat and said, “Yes. Who have you seen?” ”I see her every time I look in the mirror. I’ve found Choi EunYoung. I’ve found myself.” Part Four SeungJun sighed as he watched EunYoung walk up the stairs. He called out, “It’s not too late to stop, EunYoung!” She turned and shook her head. MiYoung held her dad’s hand more tightly and said, “Dad? Where is mom going?” SeungJun said, “Let’s just wait, okay? Don’t ask questions right now.” MiYoung nodded, trying to understand. YoungJoon said, “Dad? What’s going to happen?” SeungJun stared at the massive building. “I don’t know… I really don’t know.” <center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</center> ”Name please?” ”Choi EunYoung.” The police officer stared at her. “Then… are you… THE Choi EunYoung that we’ve… been looking…” EunYoung nodded. “I wasn’t kidnapped. Well, I was. You see… my stepmother hated me. And she sent someone to kidnap me and kill me. But this man… he said he loved me so he wouldn’t kill me. So I was kidnapped by him… but luckily, we got into a car crash and I asked him to take me away. And he did… and he’s my husband now.” By now, the whole police station was silent and staring at EunYoung. Tears started to fill her eyes. She said, “I didn’t want to turn myself in… I didn’t want to face the world. But my father…” She burst into tears and said, “I'm sorry. I'm just…” A policeman came over and patted her back. “There, there… It’s okay. Everything’s okay now. But don’t you realize that you could have at least CALLED your family? They worried over you for twenty years!” EunYoung said, “I'm sorry… I really am. But I had a life too! I had a family of my own! I have a daughter and a son… and I didn’t want them to be hurt!” The police didn’t argue with her. They said, “We need you to fill out some forms… Then you will rightly receive what is yours from your father’s will.” ”You mean… he left something for me?” ”He practically left everything to you.” EunYoung was shocked. Her father had still remembered her… After twenty years… still… <center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</center> EunYoung stepped out and said, “SeungJun oppa!” SeungJun, MiYoung, and YoungJoon all ran into her arms. “Mommy? Did they do anything to you?” YoungJoon asked. EunYoung smiled and shook her head. “But your grandfather DID leave me a house.” They had explained every single little detail to MiYoung… but YoungJoon was too young to understand. All he was excited about was that he had a grandfather. They all exclaimed, “Really?” EunYoung sighed and looked at her family. “You know… it was always my father’s dream to get married and have children. He wanted a daughter and a son, just like you. And he wanted the best husband for you, just like you. He always wanted us to live together… in his house.” SeungJun smiled at her and EunYoung said, “Now… I could fulfill that dream. I could fulfill his dream with my family… and his house.” SeungJun asked, “When can we move in?” EunYoung nodded and said, “Today! I’ve got the keys right here! You want to go look at it?” They all nodded and they piled in the car. They were going home… EunYoung was… after twenty years of living without a glimpse of her father, she was going home. To make her father’s dream come true… End ************************************************* |