Continuation.................................................here we go........................

Weeks have passed performing each other’s duties and responsibilities – each proving his/her worth not just to Kibum but to the seniors who have already been noted as great performers at KPK Enterprises. Then one busy day, Minho receives a call from Kibum – in an instant, Minho excuses himself from the meeting and goes somewhere private to answer properly with Kibum on the phone...

Minho:             (panting) Bummie… yes what is it…?

Kibum:             Minnie… Natalie wants to see and talk to you.
                        Will you have time to see her next week?

Minho:             Sure Bummie…

Kibum:             And I have one more request…
                        I will be travelling to Russia and be gone for three days.
                        I am really so sorry to bother you but I am really afraid that
                        Natalie might give birth anytime soon
                        perhaps next week or anytime after next week…
                        please Minnie?

Minho:             (shocked) Is that so Bummie… No worries…
                        I will take care of her… you don’t have to worry…
                        but just in case she does, who is her attending physician?

Kibum:             It is my Aunt Tiffany, Onew hyung’s mother but..
                        Onew hyung does not have any idea about it –            
                        remember what I told you.
                        Natalie can provide you with all the information you need …
                        But I am pretty sure, I will be around when she gives birth...

Minho:             Fine then…

Kibum:             Thanks Minnie…

Minho:             So when are you leaving for Russia…?

Kibum:             Two weeks after… Minnie…
                         only if, it occurs that I am out of the country…

Minho:             (sighs) Bummie… relax, I will handle it just incase…

Kibum:             Thank you so much Minnie…

Meeting Natalie……….

Shaking off an unknown feeling that starts to move stealthily into Minho’s system; he becomes aware that seeing Natalie today makes him nervous and disconcerted. Across from his bed, is his mobile, lying on the table – if it has a life of its own, it might have probably ordered him to make an important call.

He takes a deep breath and looks around his room sensing a possibility of an unusual energy supporting his claims of unsteadiness thinking ahead of the probabilities of what might happen meeting her – however, is surprised and struck finding out how much peaceful and calm is the atmosphere, and how his little anxieties and doubts – until now, suddenly swift away. At this moment, everything around him seems tranquil and quiet except for the lovely noises coming from the chirping of the birds and the soft movement of leaves.

Carrying with a light positive sensitivity, Minho walks over, picks up his backpack and his mobile, fear and anxiety welling up in his chest are replaced with calmness and composure. He goes out of his room deciding what to do next, spots Jonghyun and Yuri at the breakfast table taking their morning coffee looking so happy and cuddly early in the morning; he smiles and does not want to bother them. Before he can even hide Jonghyun spots him and heads straight his way and when the other reaches him, Jonghyun smiles in a suspicious manner and says…

Jonghyun:       (smiling) Minho-ssi… Good morning…
                        Where do you think you are going?
                        Not even a morning greeting to Yu and me?

Minho:             (appearing innocent) I did not want to bother your cuddly morning…

Jonghyun:       (grabs Minho’s hand) Come… come…
                        let us know first what are you up to because it looks like –
                        you are in a different dimension again…
                        That when you look like that, I can not help but wonder…
                        hhhmmm… what’s with this guy again…?
                        Makes me wonder… come… come…

                        (calls on Yuri) Yu… honey…
                        give some space for the future …. Let’s see…
                        Over-all Vice-president of KPK Enterprises…

Minho:             (sighs) Aaaiissshh hyung…
                        why are you even so bothered with what I do…

Yuri:                 (laughing) Minho-ssi… accept it…
                         while your parents are gone…
                         Jonghyun here… is the substitute in their absence…

Minho:             (scrunching his face) Well… he is very strict…

                        (looks at Yuri) I wonder Yuri how is he
                        when he becomes a parent… so naggy…

Jonghyun:       (smacks Minho’s shoulder) Yyyaahh… Minho…
                        you should be thankful that I am taking care of you…

                        (grabs Minho’s shoulder near to a chair)
                        sit.. and tell us… what you up to today…

Minho:             (shakes his head) Hyung…
                        I am requested to meet a person in need of my help…

Jonghyun:       Where and when are you coming back?

Minho:             (looks at Jonghyun) Seriously hyung?
                        What’s gotten up with you lately?

Yuri:                 (rubs Minho’s back) Minho-ssi, we kind of missed you …
                         we have not seen you lately…
                         it is either you or us leaving early for work
                         and arriving late and at times you are out of town
                         for some important business meetings…              

Jonghyun:       (takes a deep breath) You know, we are family…
                        we need to take care of each other.
                        I am just worried of your well-being…

Minho:             (smiles tenderly at Jonghyun)
                        Hyung, I am sorry and thank you very much…
                        I greatly appreciate it so much Hyung and Yuri…

Jonghyun:       (grins) so tell me… where are you up to?

Minho:             I am going to help a friend and be back today as well…
                        I promise, let’s have dinner together tonight…

Yuri:                 (smiles) Oh… that’s great… we will wait for you then…
                        but incase you will be held back to stay
                        with your friend just give us a call…

Jonghyun:       (nods) just be careful Minho-ssi alright?

Minho:             (nods) I will hyung…
                         but in order for me to get back soonest,
                         I need to leave as soon as possible…
                         I will have my breakfast on the road…

Jonghyun:       (sighs) You’ve been working hard this whole time, Minho-ssi.
                        I am just wondering whether your are proving yourself too much…

Yuri:                 (taps Jonghyun’s back) Nnaann… dear, I don’t think so.
                         It is because of love for Kibum that he lets himself pushes this far…

Minho:             (smiles) Yeah, I think you can say that Yu…

                        (waves to Jonghyun and Yuri) Guys, I have to go…
                        I will call as soon as I am done…
                        Have fun without me…

Jonghyun:       Don’t worry about us… Take care of yourself….

Minho:             (smiles) Thank you hyung and bye…

Yuri:                 (waves hand) Bye Minho…

Kibum has given him the directions which he could follow to their place. While travelling, Minho appears calm and collected though an unexplainable excitement starts to slowly crawl into his body; he permits himself to feel it even the thought of how badly he wants to stop it – he simply lets go of what he feels.  His mind is divided into two situation; one, thinking of what he might expect and the other watching the panoramic view of nature’s landscape – smiling saying to himself…

“Nature has its own way to balance a man’s condition…amazing…”

As he continues to drive, Minho understands what life Kibum has been living all these years – he is seeing and realizing that he had been selfish all along – thinking of only his own well-being to the point of giving up and turning to someone to fill in the empty space he thought Kibum had created. His doubts and worries disappeared from the moment they met where instantly Kibum had given him what he had always been yearning for and that is, love and desire.

His realization and awareness of Kibum’s love for him amplified even further when the latter quenched his yearning for him - leaving aside the consequences of his action – being unfaithful to the person he is currently in relationship with. Seeing it in his own mind's eye, he could almost glimpse what Natalie would feel due to his repulsiveness…

“I am sorry Natalie… I did not know…”

Minho takes a deep breath and welcomes the peacefulness and serenity offering him – it is suffice to say, setting him free from both unintentional and intentional faults he had caused; he smiles and vows…

“I promise to love you Bummie, no matter what so that
I won’t hurt the one you presently love…”

Page 13 Chapter 32 Ends here.................................................................nxt page please..................................