Chapter 14
Make Me Love You
:: Mend a Broken Heart ::
At SM Entertainment office
“What? Are you sure, babe?,” Hyomin asked as he was in surprised.
“Yes, honey. Do I look like I’m lying to you?,” Sunny replied in annoyed tone.
“Aishh.. I know we can do this, but, have she once try to settle this matter with Xiao? Does she need to have this press conference just to tell the whole world that they’re breaking up?,” Hyomin said. They didn’t want to hold such press conference (PC) if they could, in order to maintain their agency’s good reputation.
“There’s no use, honey ah. You know Yoona well, right? She’s a bit stubborn, and she won’t take back her words. Just proceed the PC, so that it can less our headache. Please! For this once,” Sunny replied.
“Arasso, arasso. I will discuss with Mr. Kang first, and if he agreed, then I will proceed with the PC,” Hyomin said. Mr. Kang is the Head of PR Department.
“Thanks, honey. What would I do without you?,” she thanked him as she smiled.
“Aigoo.. You know that I will do anything for you, right? Besides, that BFF of yours is our agency's residence, what else can we do?,” Hyomin replied.
“Yeah, right?,” she said. “Anyway, my mom called on last night. She invite us to have a dinner with my parents on this weekend,” Sunny informed.
“Chincha? Is there any occasion for that?,” Hyomin asked.
“There’s no specific occasion, though. They said it’s been a long time since they didn’t meet you. And, to discuss about the plan for our wedding,” Sunny replied.
“Ah, I see. I’m sorry because I seldom got a chance to visit them. Not only them, my parents too. They always complaint that I haven’t visited them for so many months. You know our work, right? We even seldom got a chance to go out for date, not to mention to visit our own parents. We are such a pathetic, aren’t we?,” Hyomin said as he chuckled.
“Yeah, you’re right, honey. I feel like I want to resign after we get married. I just want to focus on taking care of you and our family,” she replied.
“I agree with your idea, babe. I don’t want you to become stress with work and home,” Hyomin said.
“That’s why I love you. Let’s go for a lunch. Since I’m in a good mood right now, it’s on me today,” Sunny replied with a grin.
“Chincha? Oh, yeah! Free food!,” Hyomin cheered happily, causing his fiancee cracking up laughing.
“Kaja!,” she said as she got up from her seat, and took her handbag, ready to go out for lunch with her fiance.
At Italiano Restaurante
“Are you okay, Chef?,” Jonghyun asked. He noticed that Yoona always spacing out ever since she came back from Beijing. There’s no response from the latter.
“Chef?,” this time, Jonghyun called her while patting on her arm. They were at the kitchen, in a middle of preparing ingredients to cook for today.
“Huh?,” she startled. “W-what is it, Jonghyun?,” she asked while continued on her work checking the clams.
“You are spacing out a lot after coming back from Beijing. Is there anything that bothers your mind?,” he asked as a friend. Yoona just shook her head and smiled faintly.
“Maybe I have a lot of thinking about our restaurant and my other works lately. I feel a bit tired and restless,” she reasoned.
“Why don’t you take a break, Chef? And, don’t worry about your restaurant. I and Mr. Han will take care the business like usual,” he suggested. Yoona stopped checking the clams, and washing her hands.
“Yeah, I have been thinking about that before. I mean, I plan to take maybe a month of vacation in Europe, something like that,” she said while wiping her wet hands with the kitchen towel.
“Just go, Yoong ah. Don’t stop yourself. Just do whatever you want to do, and when you come back, I’m sure your mind will feel fresh, and you can come out with the new idea of the recipe for our restaurant,” he replied. Yoona just chuckled on his words.
“You really want to shoo me out from this restaurant, huh? Why? You want to become the Executive Chef here?,” she said teasingly. Jonghyun laughed at her words.
“If I want to, I have done it a long ago before your dad hand over this business to you, Yoong. But, you know, I always wanted to have it with my own money. I just want to open a small restaurant, probably at my hometown. Less hectic, and less headache” he said with a smile.
“No! I’m not allow you to go back to your hometown. I mean, I can’t do this work alone without you and your dad. I’m not as strong as my dad, Hyun ah,” Yoona replied.
Jonghyun is Mr. Han’s son, and also Yoona’s childhood friend. They went to the same school, but then Jonghyun and his family moved to his father’s hometown in Ansan. After Yoona’s father opened his restaurant, he offered Jonghyun’s father, who was also her father’s best friend to work with him as the manager of his restaurant, and Mr. Han accepted the offer just because he wanted to help his friend with his new business. Yoona’s father passed away few months after she came back from Italy, she had to run the restaurant with the help of Mr. Han and Jonghyun.
Jonghyun graduated in Business Studies from Seoul University, but the late Mr. Im offered him to do his part-time job as his Assistant Chef because he knew Jonghyun likes to cook, and he can cook well. Since then, after he graduated from the university, he continued to work at the restaurant with his father.
Jonghyun had a crush on Yoona since they were a little, but he didn’t pursue his feelings towards her after he found out that Yoona just treated him like a friend. When Yoona got an offer to continue her studies at Italy, he felt so frustrated, and eventually he just buried his feelings deep down in his heart, and has already moved on.
“I can’t guarantee you that, Yoong. My dad always said that he wanted to go back to our hometown. Unless..,” his voice trailed off, and he smiled mischievously.
“Unless what?,” Yoona asked in curious.
“Unless if you want to marry me, then I will consider to stay here,” he replied with a grin.
“Ya! Not in a million years! You know that you’re my buddy since we were small. I never see in my future that me and you, eughh!,” Yoona exclaimed as she grimaced. Jonghyun laughed at her act, but deep down in his heart, he felt a bit hurt when Yoona mentioned about the feeling things again. Maybe he and Yoona were never meant to be.
“If that so then, maybe you can introduce me to any beautiful Seoul girls you know, or your celebrity friend?,” he said. Yoona then tapped her chin while thinking about any girls or friends she knew that were still single. Then she snapped her fingers as she finally thought of one girl in her mind.
“Yura! Yes, she’s my celebrity friend, and she’s still single. I will ask her first if she is interested to know you. Come, let me take your picture,” Yoona replied as she fished out her phone from her pants pocket, and ready to snap Jonghyun’s picture.
“Chincha? W-wait! Let me get my apron!,” Jonghyun’s eyes lit up, and he sprinted to the kitchen counter to take his apron which he left there. Yoona just laughed at his silly antics.
“I’m sorry, Jonghyun ah. I can’t accept your feelings at this moment. You just don’t know how my heart is breaking at this moment. But still, I can’t accept you because I don’t have feelings for you at all. You will forever be my best friend,” she thought sadly.
At The Kwon’s Ranch
“Aigoo.. Look at your tummy, Flora ya. It’s already growing,” Yuri said while caressing on Flora’s stomach. The horse was lying on the hay comfortably. He then felt a pair of tiny hands circled around his neck from the back. It’s no other than his beloved daughter, Kwon Hani.
“Daddy, is Flora okay?,” his little princess ask in worried tone.
“Come here,” Yuri said while grabbing his daughter’s arm, and pulled her tiny body to sit on his lap. “She’s okay, sweetie. Look at her tummy. Flora’s baby is growing inside her tummy. Soon the baby will come out, and you can play with him/her,” Yuri said.
“When the baby will come out, daddy?,” Hani innocently asked. Yuri then counting the month using his fingers.
“Another seven months, sweetie,” he replied.
“Yeay! We will have another new Kwon member in our family!,” Hani excitedly said while clapping her hands. Yuri just chuckled on her cute antics.
“Daddy will give the responsibility for Hani to take care of Flora’s baby, how about that?,” Yuri said.
“Ermm.. what is ‘responsibility’, daddy?,” Hani asked.
“Responsibility means that Hani has been given a task by daddy to take care of something. For example like DooE, Hani should give her food, play with her, sleep with her, got it, baby?,” Yuri explained.
“Like daddy, mommy and halmeoni taking care of Hani, am I right, daddy?,” Hani asked. Yuri was taken aback with word ‘mommy’ which his daughter mentioned just now.
“Err.. y-yeah.. Aigoo.. My daughter is such a brilliant kid!,” Yuri quickly replied and compliment his daughter at the same time. “Where’s DooE, sweetie?,” he asked as he tried to change the topic.
“DooE is with Hayoung unnie, daddy. Hayoung unnie said she bought new clothes for DooE and she wants her to try all of it” Hani replied.
“Chincha? That’s very nice of her. Let’s go and see Hayoung unnie. Daddy want to look on DooE’s new clothes,” Yuri said.
“Let’s go!,” Hani exclaimed excitedly. Yuri just laughed at her antics and slowly got up from the hay, and grabbed his daughter’s hand, entwined their hands together. Both father and daughter bid goodbye to Flora before they left the stable and heading to the ranch’s office.
Back to SM Entertainment office
“So?,” Sunny asked right after Hyomin entered her office. Hyomin took his seat, and leaned his back on the chair as he sighed.
“Mr. Kang was reluctant at first. But then, he agreed with, one condition,” Hyomin replied. Sunny was surprised with his words just now.
“A condition? What is it?,” she eagerly asked.
“Yoong needs to halt all her schedules for six months,” Hyomin replied.
“What? Six months?,” Sunny exclaimed in surprised. Hyomin nodded in reply.
“He said six months will be enough for her fans to forget about her breaking up issue,” he said.
“Aishh..,” she grunted. “You know what, honey? I’m okay with it, but I don’t know how will Yoong react when she received this news. I really hope she will be okay. You know, she decided to become a celebrity as an escapism from thinking too much about her father. She was kind of devastated after her father passed away,” Sunny said.
“We don’t have a choice, babe. Besides, Mr. Kang has referred this matter to your uncle before he made a decision. He said your uncle had suggested on that,” Hyomin replied.
“Chincha?,” Sunny asked. Hyomin nodded in reply. “If he said so, then maybe that’s a better solution as he had more experience in this entertainment industry,” Sunny replied.
“Yup, you’re right. But, I’m sure she will understand. Our agency will not simply made a decision without concern about our residence's feelings. Moreover, we did this for her own good as well,” Hyomin said.
“Aww.. you sounds so y when you talk about your work, honey ah,” Sunny said with a smirk. Hyomin just laughed on her words.
“Alright, let’s get back to work, babe. I’ll see you at six then,” he said as he got up from his seat, and leaned forward to give a peck on Sunny’s cheek before he left the room to continue his work.
Later on that night, at SunYoon apartment
Yoona was walking lifelessly towards the apartment’s door. It’s another hectic day at her restaurant, plus she had been thinking about her breaking up matter with Xiao which has made her feel restless and tired. She then entered the passcode number, and after the door has successfully opened, she entered inside the apartment. She could see the TV was still on, indicating that her housemate was still not sleeping yet.
“I’m home!,” she said while walking towards the living room.
“Oh, Yoong ah! Have you had your dinner?,” Sunny asked. She was eating Pringles potato chips while watching the program on TV. Yoona slumped her tired body on the other couch with her eyes closed. She nodded slowly.
“I had a dinner at my restaurant. My junior chef cook for me,” she replied, still with her eyes closed. Sunny glanced at her and shook her head.
“Yoong ah, just go wash up and then sleep. You looked like a zombie,” Sunny said.
“Ya, I’m not a zombie, though,” she weakly said. She then slowly got up from the couch, and was about to head towards her bedroom when she remembered on something.
“How about the PC thing? Did Hyomin oppa said anything?,” she asked. Sunny turned to look at her as she stopped eating.
“Just go freshen up yourself first, Yoong ah. I will tell you later,” Sunny replied.
“Arasso,” she obeyed, and headed to her bedroom.
“What?,” Yoona exclaimed after she heard the explanation from Sunny.
“It’s for your own good too, Yoong ah. Six months are not too long compared to what you are going to face later. You may lost some of your fans, but don’t worry, it is just a temporary. Our CEO is concerned about your condition and emotion, Yoong ah. So, he was the one who suggested that to Mr. Kang,” she said.
“Your uncle, right?,” she replied. Sunny nodded in reply. “Arasso, if he said so. Besides, I’m planning to go for a vacation in Europe. It’s been a long time I didn’t go for a vacation. I’m planning to visit my college friends in Italy as well,” she said.
“Is that only the reason?,” Sunny asked. Yoona furrowed her brows.
“What do you mean?,” she asked her back in curious.
“You know what I mean, Yoong. It’s because you want to mend your broken heart, am I right?,” Sunny said. Yoona then sighed, and took the Pringles container from Sunny’s hands.
“Ya! Give me back!,” she exclaimed. Yoona just ignored her as she took some chips and stuffed into . “Ya! Give me back!,” she cried. Yoona just put the chips container on the coffee table, and Sunny quickly took the container back, and put it under her right armpit. Yoona just laughed at her childish act.
“Jeongmal!,” she said as she chuckled.
“Go and buy for yourself. I’m not sharing my favorite food with anyone,” she said with an annoyed tone.
“Aishh.. So stingy,” Yoona mumbled. “I have been thinking,” she suddenly said.
“What?,” Sunny replied while her eyes focused on the TV screen.
“I will bring that Kwon Yuri together to accompany me to Europe,” she said.
“Mworago?,” Sunny exclaimed.
The next day, At SME Cafe
“She’s crazy,” Yuri mumbled.
“I heard that, Yul. Yeah, I know that my friend is crazy. But, just think like this, she will be alone there, and I can’t accompany her because I have to manage other residence artist too. So, can you help me please?,” Sunny said.
“Then what about me? I have a family here, and I have a daughter and a ranch to be taken care,” he replied.
“Why don’t you bring Hani together? You can treat this as a vacation for you too,” she suggested.
“Then, what am I going to do there for one month? Find a new job? Register my daughter for a foreign school there, and living happily ever after?,” he sarcastically said. Sunny just laughed on his words as she found it funny. “Ya! What are you laughing at? Can’t you see I’m serious here,” Yuri snapped at her.
“You know what? You sounded like being forced to marry Im Yoona, though,” she said while laughing.
“Not in a million years!,” he replied in annoyed tone.
“Don’t say like that, Yul ah. There’s a quote that says, don’t hate someone too much, because maybe one day it will become a person you love the most,” Sunny said.
“What? Not me. I just can’t with her. She’s not even my type, you know,” Yuri replied. Sunny just sighed, not knowing what else could she do to persuade him.
“Aishh.. This brat Im Yoona,” she muttered in her breath. “Alright, if you say so. I will try to discuss with her after the PC session on tomorrow afternoon. I hope she will not do something funny at that time,” Sunny said.
“I really appreciate that, Sunny ah,” Yuri replied, and sipped the lemonade juice. “On what time I should be at the PC place?,” Yuri asked.
“Oh! That! I forgot to tell you. I need your favor, Yul. Can you please fetch and send her home on tomorrow? Lee and I have to go for another schedule on that morning, and we afraid the program will end up late. And, after the PC Lee he asked your help to fetch her on tomorrow. You two can go for lunch before the PC starts on 2.00 P.M.,” Sunny replied. Yuri looked at her in disbelief.
“I wish what I heard just now is not true, but I know this is not a dream, right? Because I just ate the steak and drink this lemonade with you at this cafe. Or, maybe you just can pinch me or punch me in my face, to know whether I’m in reality or not,” Yuri sarcastically said, causing Sunny cracking up.
“Oh my God! I can offer you to become our residence comedian, Yul ah. I can see you have a talent in that,” Sunny said while still laughing. Yuri just sighed, but eventually he let out a big smile.
“I can only do that to my daughter. I have no intention to become one,” he replied casually.
“The offer is still on for you anytime, my friend,” Sunny said in a joking manner.
“Aishh.. Just cut this nonsense off,” he replied.
“Arasso, arasso,” she relented. “Let’s go. I have a meeting at 2.00,” she said while waving her hand at the waiter to get the bill.
“Thanks for the lunch treat, Sunny ah,” Yuri thanked her.
“Don’t mention, though. It’s not on me,” she replied while flashing her Amex Black Card. Yuri’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wow! My dad made me one too. But, I never use it because I have the platinum one,” Yuri said.
“Chincha? Yeah, sometimes I forgot that you’re the Kwon heirs. This one my uncle made it for me only. Others just use the platinum, like yours,” she replied.
“Of course, though. He should made one for his hardworking niece,” Yuri said, causing Sunny chuckled.
After the lunch bill has been settled, the two then leaving the cafe, and heading to their respective destination.
The day
Yuri was waiting for Yoona inside his car. As what have been told by Sunny last night, she eventually agreed to go with Yuri’s car for the PC today. Yuri was busy playing mobile games to kill his boredom while waiting for the latter. As he was too oblivious, Yoona has already standing at outside his car.
“Aishh.. This brat!,” Yoona grumbled while quickly knocking the driver’s side window. Yuri turned to look at his left side, and was surprised to see Yoona’s long face through the car’s window. He quickly threw his phone on the dashboard, and opened his car’s door.
“Sorry! Hehe,” he apologized as he chuckled awkwardly. He then quickly dashed on the passenger’s side to open the door for her, but the latter just ignored her, instead she goes on to the back seat and continues to open the door for herself. Yuri looked at her in disbelief.
“Ya! I’m not your driver, though,” he said in annoyed tone. Yoona just casually entered at the back seat of the car.
“Then, do you want the reporters to mistaken you as my new boyfriend since I have to sit next to you?,” she sarcastically replied.
“Damn!,” he muttered in his breath. He then rushed back to the driver’s seat with his long face.
“Just drive carefully. We are not rushing anyway,” Yoona said right after Yuri fastened his seatbelt.
“Yes, madam!,” Yuri sarcastically called her ‘madam’. Yoona just chuckled silently as she felt amused teasing the latter. Yuri then drove the car to SME building.
At SME building
The photographers were already waiting outside the building as everyone scramble to get the exclusive photos of Im Yoona. As soon as Yuri’s car stopped in front of the building, he quickly went out of the car first, and rushed to the back seat to open the door for Yoona. Right after she got off the car, the photographer started to take photos and Yuri tried his best to protect the latter by shielding her with his body. He gently put his hand at Yoona’s back as the two started to walk through the main entrance of the building.
Yuri then guided her to the main desk where Sunny, Hyomin and Mr. Kang were already at their respective seats. Yoona then took her seat next to Sunny. She couldn’t help but to feel nervous, but then she felt Sunny’s hand grabbing on hers, and it makes her racing heart calm down a bit. Hyomin then glanced at Sunny, and after getting a signal for him to start the PC, he then pressed the on button of the microphone.
“Thank you everyone for your present today. I hope everyone has already got your press kit which our staff has been distributing just now. So, I will start by briefing on what has made Miss Im Yoona to hold this PC, and after that we can have a Q&A session,” Hyomin said.
After the briefing, Hyomin informed the reporters that they have limited the Q&A session to ten questions only. The reporters then started to ask questions to Yoona one by one.
“Miss Im, what’s your future plan in getting a new boyfriend? I’m sure you and your ex-boyfriend have already planned before this to get married, right? Since you’re going to be 28 years old soon, I'm sure you're probably looking for one,” one of the reporters asked the last question.
“Of course I am, but not right now. I’m planning to travel around Europe after this, and who knows, I might found a new boyfriend there,” she replied in a joking manner, causing all the reporters roaring with laughter.
“Alright, guys. I think that’s the wrap up for today’s PC. Thank you once again for coming, and we hope you guys already got a clear explanation from our agency and from Miss Im as well. We also hope that you guys could write the news accurately. Thank you for your cooperation. Kamsahamnida!,” Hyomin said as he bowed. The reporters then eventually left the PC room.
“Im Yoona ssi,” Mr. Kang called her. Yoona quickly turned to look at him and bowed.
“Dae, Kang sajangnim,” she replied.
“I’m sure Hyomin ssi and Sunny ssi have already told you about your hiatus for six months, right?,” he said in a serious tone.
“Dae, Kang sajangnim. Sunny ssi has already informed me,” she replied.
“I hope you will comply the agency’s requirement. It’s not my decision, it’s our CEO’s. You can come back with a fresh and brand new Im Yoona after that,” he said as he eventually smiled.
“Dae, Kang sajangnim, I understand,” she replied while smiling awkwardly at the old man.
Mr. Kang then got up from his seat, and bid them goodbye before he left the room. Hyomin excused himself as he will have a meeting with Mr. Kang, leaving Sunny, Yoona and some technical staffs who were in charge in the PC room.
“I have to go now, Yoong. Gayoung has a schedule at SBS at the moment. I need to go there with Lee. Yuri will send you home, okay?,” Sunny said. Yoona let out a soft sigh.
“Arasso. I will see you at home,” she replied. After Sunny left the room, Yuri then entered the PC room, and walked towards were Yoona was sitting.
“Yuri, can you send me to my restaurant instead? You don’t have to wait for me. I will go home by taxi after that,” Yoona said.
“Arasso,” Yuri replied.
He patiently waited for Yoona to get up from her seat, and walked towards the door. The two then heading towards Yuri’s car, and Yuri rushed to open the back seat door for her. But, Yoona just ignored him and walked towards the passenger’s side. She opened the door for herself, causing Yuri dumbfounded while looking at the latter in disbelief. He immediately closed the door, and rushed towards the driver’s side.
“What’s wrong with you?,” he asked as he felt annoyed with her nonchalant act. Yoona just kept silent. After not receiving any response from the latter, Yuri just shook his head, and started to drive his car, heading to Yoona’s restaurant.
“We are already here,” Yuri said right after he stopped the car at the parking space in front of the restaurant. Yoona who was just silent all the way still didn’t move from her seat. Yuri started to feel annoyed with the latter’s act as he tried to call her name many times.
“Im Yoona ssi, are you even listening to me?,” Yuri exclaimed as he eventually lost his patience. The latter didn’t budge at all, and he didn’t have a choice but to grab Yoona’s shoulder, causing the latter facing him. He was surprised to see that Yoona’s cheeks were already wet with tears.
“Y-Yoona ssi,” Yuri was perplexed with the situation, but then he just pulled her closer and hugged the latter.
“Shh.. it’s okay,” he said while patting gently on her back, trying to soothe her. But, his attempt was no avail as Yoona started to wailing.
“WHYYY?,”
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