| Fan Fiction |
by Phoebe a.k.a Phebs
“It wasn’t really. Si… Woo Bin was there so I wasn’t lonely.” As she said that, Siwon noticed Yeon Hee blushed slightly.
“I was actually against our Woo Bin going overseas to study. But he is a very obedient child and always calls back whenever he gets the time. I always nagged him that it was expensive…”
“Umma, the cost means nothing compared to having hear your son’s voice, right?” Siwon leaned closer to the woman and smile gleefully.
“Aigoo~ Aigoo~ Look at how you talk to your mother. Such a sweet talker.” The old woman said as she patted Siwon’s both cheeks with her hands.
“Umma, I only sweet talk to you.” Siwon defended.
“Aigoo~ I get it. My son is such a good boy.” The old woman pulled Siwon’s face closer to hers as she nuzzled his nose lovingly. Yeon Hee leaned her chin on her propped up arm and smiled as she watched how loving the two are.
“I better not take up anymore of your times. I am sure Yeon Hee has much to talk about with Woo Bin having travel all the way here to see him. I will just do the dishes.” The woman stood up and started gathering the dishes.
“Umma, let me help you.” Siwon offered but the woman slapped his hand away.
“Your umma does it well even without you around these while. I can take care of this. Don’t let this old lady bother you now. Go on!” She waved her hand to a gesture, insisting that Siwon stay and accompany Yeon Hee instead. Siwon just stood there, keeping his eyes on the old woman taking the dishes into the kitchen and only broke off once he saw her vanished from his sight. He brought his attention to Yeon Hee and once the two made eye contact, they unknowingly looked away from each other and plunged into an awkward silence.
“Erm… Why don’t we bring our conversation outside?” Siwon brought up. Yeon Hee nodded in agreement and followed him out.
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When outside, they just sat on the bench quietly without much as a word to each other. One was wondering how to start all these while the other seem to be waiting for an explanation to be told.
“You must feel weird why I call that lady Umma while she calls me Woo Bin…” Siwon started. Yeon Hee just stayed silent, staring attentively at him as he told his story.
“Woo Bin hyung was one of my father’s men. He was taken in a young age when his father just passed away and my father offered to care for his mother’s life expenses while he serves my father. Woo Bin hyung was just a few years older than me. He was like a big brother to me, the only person closest to me besides my parents… and the only one I was willing to open up everything to. But then on the day of my mother’s death, instead of just suffering the pain of losing my mother, I suffered the lost of yet another precious person in my life… under my own recklessness…”
[+Flashback+]
“Young master Choi!”
“Stay back! I am warning you! Don’t stand in my way!” Young Choi Siwon switched the aim of the gun towards anyone blocking his path, eyes glaring at them with his trembling hands gripping the gun as firmly as he can.
The men stayed a distant circle surrounding their young master. Siwon’s emotional state was unstable after just facing the lost of his mother, and yet the young boy is now holding the gun out in threaten, only for his demand to be made…
“Where’s Appa?! I wanna see my Appa now!!!” He demanded fiercely with rage filled eyes from his tears smeared face.
“The Boss is away for the moment… He-”
“Then take me to him… NOW!!!” Siwon cut in without mercy.
“Siwon!”
Siwon whipped his head back to the familiar voice and his face instantly tensed down with his grip on the gun loosens slightly when met with that person’s presence.
“Woo Bin hyung…”
“Siwon, put the gun down…” Woo Bin made his voice low yet demanding as he approached Siwon with slow and caution steps. He stretched one hand behind him and waved his hand to a gesture for the others back away further and let him have a handle at the situation.
“Hyung… I wanna see Umma…”
Woo Bin stopped in place when he saw Siwon starting to tear up again.
“I… I… wanna see… Umma… But… but they won’t let me… They… they say…its…its Appa’s order…” Siwon sobbed. Woo Bin felt his heart ached. He felt like moving up to Siwon and comfort the poor boy but the boy still had the gun held dangerously on his hand.
“I have to see Appa… Hyung, please let me see Appa…” Siwon pleaded.
“I will… But first I need you to carefully hand me back the gun.” Woo Bin took a step forward but stopped when he caught a glimpse of Siwon’s grip tighten once again on the gun.
“I promise I will take you to see Master Choi…”
“Woo Bin!” A man by the side guarding cautioned Woo Bin. Woo Bin whipped his head back at that person and gave a stern look – a look telling he knew what he was doing and he will take responsibility for whatever fault. He returned back to Siwon and shows him a warm assuring smile.
“Trust me…”
It was as if Woo Bin’s words have hypnotized Siwon and he just let Woo Bin reached for his gun, watching as he slowly release his grip on the gun and gingerly pulled the gun from him.
“Now!” A man a distance behind Siwon signaled loudly and dashed up to Siwon.
“No!!” Woo Bin shouted but it was futile as the man wrapped his arms around Siwon from behind to lock the boy against him. Everything happened so fast for the next second a gunshot was heard and everyone halted in their spot.
Siwon gasped in terror as before his sight, Woo Bin dropped to the ground after the gun fell from Siwon’s hand; both thud sent a painful beat to Siwon’s heart.
The man dragged Siwon back easily as the boy didn’t put up a struggle and just stared shocked at the scene. Siwon was actually screaming in his head and wanted to rush up to Woo Bin but his body was suddenly numb from what just happened. Woo Bin was left further and further away from his view as Siwon was dragged off back to his room, helpless with only his gaze kept on the body of his hyung by the ground attended by the other men.
[+End Flashback+]
“… After that incident, I isolated myself for days, constantly being in my room without much as a word, consuming not even a drop of water nor a bite of food. I just felt so… lifeless.” Siwon chuckled bitterly and lowered his head. Yeon Hee reached her hand out, wanting to comfort him but reeled her hand back when it was midway.
“Appa hired the best doctor to attend to me yet it was pointless. Then one day I just miraculously snapped! I started school again but I was just like an empty shell with a cold front, pushing everyone away from me yet just robotically going through the routine of life – eat… sleep… Even when I fully recovered, I never crave any attention. In fact… it was better that people started scurrying away from the sight of me.”
Siwon’s words made a tug to Yeon Hee’s heart. The Siwon she first came across was already someone that had passed through such difficult phrase, when his heart was already soften by, despite how she felt uncomfortable admitting it – Ueto Aya.
“While I was doing all well with my life once again, I overheard the other men’s conversation that Woo Bin hyung’s mother couldn’t take the news and became mental. The guilt started to consume inside with the dark sin that I committed again. I knew I could never compensate for what happened, but I still had to make the visit to see her myself…”
“She mistook you for her descended son?” Yeon Hee answered with link to what she understood so far. Siwon smiled at how fast Yeon Hee concluded.
“Maybe it was because Woo Bin hyung and I have somewhat similar voices… but our bone structure… I guess it was her mental state… she was blinded by how much she missed her son so I couldn’t bear to reject her and took care of her on behalf of Woo Bin hyung – as his identity.”
Yeon Hee glanced to the back at the closed door before bringing her view back to Siwon. But she uttered no word and they once again plunged into silence.
“I am done with what I have to say. Now out with it.”
“Huh?” Yeon Hee was caught offguard with his sudden speech that her mind couldn’t process what he meant that quickly.
“I know my father sent you. Or you won’t have been able to find me here.”
“He didn’t send me, he ask… and I came to find you because I so happen to have-”
“What does that old man want this time?” Siwon cut in much bluntly with a impatient look on his face that made Yeon Hee felt a slight anger inside.
“Mr. Choi had a heart attack a few days back. His condition became severe that he is now hospitalized.” Yeon Hee could see Siwon’s expression went still for a moment before it converted back to that careless look.
“He wants to see you Siwon… Your father’s condition doesn’t look bright and he might-”
“He won’t… That old man is as stubborn and tough as a bull.” Siwon countered.
“He is still as you said… old… Even the toughest man won’t live forever and bound to plunge into sickness…” Yeon Hee advised with a slight plead in her tone.
“You don’t know him as well as I do. He is probably just up to another of his trick, faking all weak just to get me back.” Siwon said with a scoff.
“That old man never learns.” He ended with an annoyed murmur.
“He won’t if you don’t give him a chance…”
Siwon turned to Yeon Hee with a clueless look before she stood up and extended her hand to him.
“Can you accompany me somewhere? I want you to meet someone.”
Siwon’s face grew questioning but still nodded and she smiled.
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Yeon Hee was about to place the bouquet of flowers she bought on the gravestone when she noticed one quite wilted was lying on it and she smiled.
“Jaejoong has been here some time ago…” She muttered to herself before placing her bouquet beside his and stood back straight.
“Appa… Sorry I haven’t been visiting you for a while. I bought a friend here to see you today.”
Yeon Hee turned to Siwon with a smile.
“Siwon… this is my Appa.”
Siwon look at the gravestone and took a step forward before bowing to it.
“Annyeong… Yeon Hee’s Appa.” Siwon greeted before moving back to stand beside Yeon Hee.
“I always thought my Appa died because of depression… because he blame himself for Umma’s death and let the guilt eat him up inside. At that time I was actually angry of him… angry… that he just uselessly waste his time mourning over Umma’s death instead of doing anything to make up for his mishap. And angry that he left without any effort to ask for my forgiveness and choose to leave me alone in this world.”
Siwon eyed Yeon Hee’s expression as she spoke, he could see the pain on her face as she told her tale. It looks so real that he wants to believe that she was telling the truth, but inside he still can’t help the doubt after all that’s happened these while.
“But recently I got to know the truth of his death… My Appa the useless bastard I thought he was… He died… fighting for Umma’s right… for justice of Umma’s death… and for my forgiveness…”
Yeon Hee turned to look at Siwon before she continued.
“But now I couldn’t tell all these to him anymore. One of biggest regret is not being able to tell him that I forgive him… before he left this world.”
Siwon broke contact with Yeon Hee and lowered his gaze to the ground, staring at his shoes.
“Remember what I said before… I never lied a moment of that. I really didn’t know that your mother also died from the same tragedy as my mother. It was really a coincidence hard to believe. But if even till now you still don’t believe in me… I’ve got nothing to say…” Yeon Hee chuckled bitterly.
“I believe you.”
Yeon Hee gave him a blank look as he finally lifted his gaze up to her again.
“I believe in you… Yeon Hee.” Siwon repeated with a smile. At that moment, Yeon Hee felt her heart lighten a little, like a weight was lifted.
“Then take it from me… I really don’t want to see you following on my footsteps. Don’t wait till the moment Mr. Choi is no longer around to regret the apology that was never delivered. I remembered saying everyone deserves a second chance… that means to Mr. Choi as well…”
“I understand…”
Yeon Hee was going to say some more when Siwon cut in.
“I still need some time to consider going back with you tomorrow… If you don’t mind…”
Yeon Hee smiled and nodded. She already said all that she can. Now it’s just up to him to see if he is willing to make a change to what he has persisted on all these years, for a better future she is sure he won’t regret.
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Siwon stared out of the window of his room at the round moon of the night. He sighed as he let his mind refresh everything Yeon Hee told him earlier and thought things through. Just then, he broke off his thoughts when a knock was heard on the door.
“Umma…” Siwon stood up and went to the old lady’s side, guiding her to his bed and sat her down gently with him sitting beside.
“Yeon Hee said she is going back to Japan tomorrow. Aren’t you going to accompany her back?”
“I… I am still thinking…” Siwon answered in a heavy tone.
“Thinking of whether to forgive your Appa?”
Siwon was shocked to hear that and stared dumbfounded at the lady.
"I... overheard your conversation with Yeon Hee just now..." She admitted.
“So... so you know that I… I wasn’t Woo Bin?” Siwon couldn’t get his words out right, feeling anxious and worried inside.
“Yes. But it was long before today...” She told with a nod.
“Since when?” Siwon questioned further.
“Remember that time I suddenly fainted and was hospitalized?”
Siwon thought about it for awhile before he suddenly furrowed in his eyebrows in anger.
“My Appa told you everything didn’t he?” He recalled when he went to the hospital to visit her back then, he happened to saw his father passed by coming from the direction of her ward that time.
“Mr. Choi did come to find me then… but he wasn’t the one that told me it all, I remembered everything my own… the moment before I fainted.”
“I am sorry…” Siwon apologized and lowered his gaze to his hands loosely folded on his lap. Woo Bin’s mother reached for his hand and patted it gently, causing Siwon to lifted his gaze up to her with an apologetic stare.
“Don’t be… Sure I was really mad at you the moment everything came back to me. I wanted to die back then thinking how I mistook the one who murdered my son as my baby boy. But… Mr. Choi came and… well, he handed me a cheque but-”
Siwon pulled his hand away from her and looked away in frustration.
“That’s just like the old man. Power and money has always been his way to solve things quick.”
“You misunderstood your father…” Siwon returned to Woo Bin’s mother and looked at her in bewilderment.
“Yes, when Mr. Choi handed me the cheque and told me to treat things like the way it was till now, I was just like you… angry that he used this way to resolved things. What was he thinking trying to stuffed me money to forget how I lost my son… But then… I will never forget the words he spoke to me…”
“What did my Appa said?” Woo Bin’s mother reached for Siwon’s hand and pulled it to rest on her lap as she patted it gently before giving it a squeeze.
“He said… I am not buying your love for Siwon… I am just giving you an opportunity to love. He said that day I lost a son, for you it was also a lost of your mother, and more a lost of a close hyung as well; things weren’t any better for you. And that since you already took care of me well like a real son of mine, why can’t I let go of the past and accept it. I shouldn’t think my life is pointless without my son… I should think my life gain a whole new meaning… because although losing a son, I gain one back as well…”
“My Appa said that?” Siwon questioned in disbelief, disbelieving that those were something coming out from his father’s mouth.
“Yes. The main reason he gave me the money was to lighten your burden. He knew that you stubbornly declined any financial assistance from him and was working every penny to support your own education overseas. So by giving me this money, you don’t have to worry about having to settle the my medical fees.”
Siwon lowered his gaze again. It was still hard for him to believe his father did so much. That cold-hearted power craving Appa of his… actually did so much yet doesn’t bother to explain himself to him… but why?
“Even a blind lady like me can tell that your father loves you very much. No parent will ignore even the slightest concern to their child, no matter how they may appear on the outside. Although he might not show it, you are your father’s top concern in life.”
Siwon smiled after she finished. His mind was clear now and he knew what he has to do.
“I will go back with Yeon Hee tomorrow.” He told her his decision and Woo Bin’s mother smiled and patted his hand.
“That’s right. I am sure you want to be left alone to pack up. I will go now.” She was about to stand up when Siwon tighten his grip on her hand and she halted.
“Is there something wrong, Siwon?”
“That… erm…” Siwon didn’t know why the words were hard to utter from his mouth.
“Can I still treat you the same from now on? Can I still call you… Umma?”
She smiled and felt like she was about to break down into tears – tears… of joy. She leaned Siwon’s head against her and patted the side of his head tenderly.
“Of course you can, Siwon. I would love that… My son, Siwon.” Siwon smiled and held her close, giving her a warm hug. After they separated the hug, Woo Bin’s mother stayed to help Siwon pack up his belonging for his trip back.
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Mr. Choi perked his head up from his book upon a knock heard and smiled at the person by the door.
“Yeon Hee ah, you came back already?” He shut his book close to give his full attention to Yeon Hee.
“Yes. And I brought someone with me.” Yeon Hee moved aside and Mr. Choi’s expression dropped surprise seeing the person revealed by the door.
“Finally decided to drop your old man a visit?” Mr. Choi unexpectedly turned his tone to his usual unsatisfied manner.
“Just to see if you are still not dead yet.” Siwon countered and looked away.
“Yah! Could you change the way you talk to your own father?!” Mr. Choi scolded and can’t help the cough released from the discomfort on his chest. Yeon Hee bit her lips in worried and glared at Siwon.
“Aish! Don’t you have something to say to your father? What are you doing still standing here? Hurry get in now!” She tugged at his arm, pulling him in slightly before giving him a hard push on the back till he landed just beside Mr. Choi’s bed. Siwon cleared his throat and still refused to make eye contact with his father, causing Yeon Hee to puffed her cheeks up in anger.
“That…erm… I am sorry.” Mr. Choi looked up at Siwon still having his face averted.
“Is that how you apologize to someone? I don’t see your sincerity at all.” Mr. Choi scolded some more.
“Um- Mrs. Song told me everything… How you helped paid for her medical fees and her life expenses…”
“So this apologize is for her behalf and not wholly from you?” Mr. Choi argued. Yeon Hee couldn’t take it and went to Mr. Choi’s side and gave him a hard slap on the arm.
“Mr. Choi! Stop being so demanding! Siwon already apologized. What else do you want him to do? Do you want to chase your son away again.” Yeon Hee defended for Siwon.
“I am not going anywhere…” Yeon Hee and Mr. Choi turned their attention to Siwon once he said that.
“Appa… take as much rest you want. I am gonna take over things at Choi Enterprise.”
Mr. Choi was shocked to hear that. He even rubbed his ears to make sure he was hearing the right thing and aren’t his wishes screaming out from his mind again.
“Did I hear wrong? Don’t force yourself to do it if you don’t want to. If you think this is your way of repaying me, I can say it won’t be easy as you think.”
“Mr. Choi!” Yeon Hee narrowed her eyes at him.
“It’s okay Yeon Hee.”
Yeon Hee looked shock at Siwon. It was like Siwon changed so dramatically just over a night. Since when was he so calm and cool about Mr. Choi’s unreasonable behavior?
“I always say you haven’t done your part as my father… But it’s time I done my part as your son… Appa.”
Enough denying. Mr. Choi could see how sincere his son is and was glad to finally gain his son back.
“Siwon ah… Appa just want you to be happy. If you are happy I am willing to let go everything I have. If you don’t want to take over Choi Enterprise, I could very well se-”
“No Appa. Choi Enterprise is your life’s work and achievement. I won’t let it wreck. I want it to expand widely, under my management.”
Mr. Choi felt really relieved. He reached out for Siwon’s hand and Siwon moved closer to clenched his hand with his father.
“My son is all grown up and mature. Even if I have to go now I would go willingly. At least I would be able to face your mother now.” Yeon Hee gripped Mr. Choi’s other hand and he looked up at her.
“Mr. Choi… I won’t let you leave that easily. You still have much to see in Siwon’s future…” She glanced up at Siwon before returning to Mr. Choi.
“As long as you stick to my diet, under my observation, you will be well and healthy again in no time.”
“Of course I will be keeping an eye on you as well.” Siwon inserted. Seeing both of them continuing each other’s sentence like that made Mr. Choi smile.
“So things are fine again between the two of you?” He asked.
Siwon and Yeon Hee cast a brief glance at each other before looking away shyly with Siwon clearing his throat at the end.
“After going through so much already, I really hope I can see you two…”
Mr. Choi hung his sentence as he pulled both Siwon and Yeon Hee’s hands on his grips and joined them together.
“… together like before.”
“Uncle Choi~” Yeon Hee whined.
“Well… that’s a start.” Mr. Choi said. Siwon and Yeon exchanged smile before the three laughed together.
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Author's Note:: Wow! Even with me dividing this to 2 chapters, it is still so long. I will be heading back to our dear Jaejoong and Aya on the next update again. But I can't say the update will come next week since I have a major exam coming next week. I will try my very best to make the update, at the meantime... readers and all my silent readers out there, I really hope you can try your best to drop a comment for me as well.
Hope you enjoyed the story so far. Comments and criticism are more than welcomed!
Oh, before I forget... There's an IMPORTANT poll posted on my story blog: http://phebs-paintingfantasy.blogspot.com/
Do go vote and let me know what you think.
Also, I posted up a new story. It's called "An Eye through My Heart, For the Sight of You", featuring BoJoong (BoA x Jaejoong). If you are interested, you can read it here: http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/bj_phebs/