Seoul Hospital

“this is good, all we need to do is to have a check on his valves, see if we can still repair the damage.” Doctor song mentioned to leeteuk at his hospital room, who was accompanied by taeyeon. Leeteuk nodded and made a slight scratch uncomfortably to his left arm. he and taeyeon had planned to see doctor song for him to arrange his surgery plans and his girlfriend was really willing to look for possible heart donating centers if ever the possibility of valvular operation will be less.

“how about the affidavit---“ doctor song quickly mentioned. He had all thoughts about it, since leeteuk had protected himself with such thing.
“I already discussed that with my lawyer, all he has to do is to have it signed.” Leeteuk answered while he was being prodded upon by a stethoscope at the back of his chest.

“that’s really good, I’m really hoping for that one to work out.”

Taeyeon had been watching the whole scene on a separate chair near the doctor’s table, scribbling down notes of the doctor’s loud thoughts emanating from the four walls of the room. she had been keen to anything related to leeteuk, especially when the two males were talking about the legalities of surgery at the hospital bed.

“I’m just wondering.” She butted in, chewing the tip of her pencil. “if you can have that tattoo removed too.”

Doctor song chuckled at taeyeon’s statement.

“this tattoo had been with him for years.” He said, referring to leeteuk’s tribal insignia at his upper back.

Taeyeon wrinkled her nose cutely for leeteuk to notice.

“yeah, but it doesn’t look becoming.” She said.

“its permanent taeng.” Leeteuk said.

“but its too large.”

“I’m sorry but I cannot do something about it.” leeteuk laughed. He cannot remember when was the time he crazily decided to have his back engraved with a black ink. All he wanted that time was to be unique.

“aigoo.” Taeyeon just sighed and slumped on her chair, continuing to write down notes. Doctor song and leeteuk kept on smiling about her sudden interruption. It was so cute that she can fell for a quick entertainment. Even leeteuk would want to get off the bed and come to her side to pinch her cheeks. But unfortunately he was being checked upon that he had no excuse but to stay still.

“the only problem we will have about heart donors are the ones that are compatible with your blood type.” Doctor song continued the topic.

“what blood type are you?” taeyeon asked leeteuk.

“AB negative dear.” Leeteuk responded with a deep inhale from the stethoscope.

“AB negative?” taeyeon repeated. it was her first time to hear such thing. “AB is a rare blood, then you mean AB negative is more difficult.”

“yes.” Doctor song answered for her. “there really has to have a compatible blood type with him to have the heart function normally.”

“I don’t know that it could be this hard.” Taeyeon puffed her cheeks. Heart donors with same blood types, she will definitely wrack her brains to find such an existence.

“there’s valvular surgery still, we still have the lighter option.” Leeteuk said.

“that’s if the valves are not that completely damaged.”

“or if the areas around the valve fits.” Doctor song added.

“gosh, this is hard.” Taeyeon looked down the floor. Leeteuk looked at her and cannot help to pity.

He almost wished that he didn’t ask her help at the first place so she wouldn’t have to worry.

“just be strong for each other.” Doctor song said. “there are thousands of hearts deposited by organ donors every year, one of it could be beneficial.”

-------------------------

Hospital canteen

Taeyeon’s pov

“you didn’t tell me that you’re AB negative.” I told leeteuk when we headed to the hospital canteen. I was busy thinking of what heart centers to choose, and there are a lot of them in korea. The only problem is that, of the time, and the blood type needed to have considered a heart a compatible organ.

“you didn’t ask me dear.” Leeteuk said when we took a seat. He patted the chair clean for me to sit on to.

“I’m just wondering where we’ll get something like that.” I cupped my chin and wondered of the possibilities of leeteuk undergoing surgery. Even the imagination of seeing leeteuk’s chest being opened weakens me. like a piece of saw would slash his bones.

“we should start looking so we could check the possible donor centers.” Leeteuk said, interrupting my thoughts. “I’ll contact father’s messengers for help.”

“you should.” I said, placing a hot tea on his cup.

Leeteuk watched as the hotness of the tea evaporated and all he could smell was lavender reaching his nostrils.

“but first things first.” Leeteuk said. “I’m scared of knives.”

I quickly forgot about that.

“oh, well, I wouldn’t know which knife slices my chest.” He said, answering his question. Really, was he thinking properly right now? That was almost too positive.

“if only I’m AB negative I could have donated blood, just in case.” I huffed, drinking my tea.

“don’t think about that, there are lots of possibilities.”

“hey.” I put down my cup and stared at him in the eyes.

“yes?”

“the scar on your chest, that means it will be open again but after that, no more.” I said. “right?”

“if all things become successful.” Leeteuk said. “it doesn’t have to.”

I nodded and unconsciously brushed my hand on his.

“that must be really painful, having your ribcages being sliced, undergoing to surgery several times.” I said, thinking out loud. Even the imagination of it really bugs me off.

“you know the possibilities of a major surgery right?” leeteuk looked at me.

Possibilities?

“its always a 50-50 percent chance, most of the time, depending on the condition.” He continued, looking absentmindedly on the table.

“are heart surgeries always critical?” I mumbled.

Leeteuk nodded and squeezed my hand. aish, why do I feel so down? At least we have possibilities of having heart donors and valvular operations.

“I think it’ll turn out fine.” I said, giving him the hopes. I want to be positive for him, I’m the only one besides his family that he can rely to. Especially that he has a current feud with his father.

“I just have to wait outside the operating room and see you come out of it, perfectly okay and disease free.” I said while I do the thumbs up sign. Leeteuk smiled at me and came to agree on my predicament.

“what time is it?”

“one thirty.” I blurted, looking at my watch at the same time. “why?”

“we still have a lot of time to go out.” He said, standing up.

But I didn’t stand up and instead eyed him in bewilderment.

“its polluted outside, where will we go?” I asked.

Leeteuk chuckled and pulled me to a stand.

“who says its polluted at the mall?”

-------------------------

Seoul shopping mall

Taeyeon’s POV

I always thought that hanging out with leeteuk at the mall would be eternally boring but I was quickly erased on the thought of it when he was the one dragging me to all sorts of places while commenting to every items I would touch. It felt like I was beside a tourist guide slash salesman, enthusiastic about mentioning all the product details and sort. I cannot help but to feel touched at the way he understands how much I love going out. Before, I would just go around the mall and do window shopping, but my allowance since I moved to leeteuk’s home was sufficient enough to let me buy things that I want. Of course I’m thrifty just the same and tried my best not to splurge.

“those guys, really popular nowadays, huh?” leeteuk peeked at my shoulder when I was busy looking at the album of super junior. Super junior is a famous boyband in korea that has a lot of members as well as sub units. I forgot to tell him that I listen to all sorts of music, and different genres would always be of interest to me, may it be of Korean, pop, techno or ballad.

“every girls love them.” I just gushed. I placed the album on my chest and made a quick dance on the largest boyband in asia’s hits, particularly bonamana and no other. I guess guys wouldn’t understand, since leeteuk was suddenly looking at me in shock.

“they sing, and they dance.” Leeteuk said, erasing his thoughts.. “what else?”

“aigoo, its because you don’t watch them that’s why you lack information.” I defended, poking his chest with the CD.

I told him about the popularity of super junior not just in asia but in other continents as well, europe, north America and south America.

“I don’t really see why they have to be that popular.” Leeteuk shrugged.

I don’t know if this guy is just dense, or not.

“didn’t I tell you that they act too?” I mused, thinking of the way how super junior would be guest actors to sitcoms or play the lead themselves.

“its with proper management.” Leeteuk explained, talking about his business antics. Oh no, when it comes to this stuff, I don’t like hearing business and politics. “what makes them so special to you anyways?”

I didn’t hesitate to think and quickly thought of my favorite suju oppa member.

“their leader.” I blushed, rubbing my cheeks.

“what, who?” leeteuk cringed his brows.

I groaned and placed the album back to the rack. Maybe I would just buy it when he’s not around.

“suju leader  is really good at making s follow him, he’s a dj and an actor too.” I said matter-o-factly as he raised a brow, staring at me back. “plus he does mc-ing, his voice is really good when he sings.”

“you really like him.” Leeteuk pursed his lips.

“who wouldn’t?” I said back. Leeteuk sighed and rolled his eyes.

“so, that leader, he’s boyfriend material to you?” he asked.

“aigoo, is this jealousy?” I laughed, rubbing his back. “I already have a boyfriend, maybe when I’m still single.”

Hahahaha.

“pft.” Leeteuk rolled his eyes and diverted his attention to other k-pop singers while I laugh silently at my pace, thinking of his cuteness when he thinks that someone is better than him.

If only you know how much you just soar high above the others.

------------------------

Mister Park’s office

Kim heechul slouched on the chair opposite his father while reading a less interesting magazine about business stocks. He had been staying at the office for awhile now, observing how the company runs their own business. The technique, he had observed, was really state of the art, as workers themselves are really efficient and follows a strict schedule. The steel and oil industries have proven to be of great importance to other countries, where steel and oil are part of the materials of a human daily life.

Heechul tapped his foot noisily on the floor when park kyuwon cleared his throat. The old man, as he had noticed, had been observing him all the time.

“you’re saying something?”

“ne.” mister park twirled his ballpen unconsciously on his fingers. Heechul cannot help but to notice the resemblance of mister park’s actions to leeteuk when he was at the class. “I would like you to have dinner with me later.”

Heechul was surprised to his own father’s statement.

“dinner.” He repeated, checking if he heard everything. “you mean, with your family.”

“yes, inyoung and hyoyeon will be there.” Mister park said. he would like heechul to get to know his half siblings, although he had promised leeteuk that he will never tell them anything about heechul’s identity. All he wanted, was to have his children familiarize with each other first. The perks will just have to come later.

“jungsu doesn’t want me there for sure.” Heechul blurted, knowing leeteuk’s behavior everytime he meets him. But it had been fun for him teasing his brother around.

“jungsu is not comfortable with the situation.” Mister park confessed, thinking about leeteuk’s warning swarming to his head. He didn’t know why, but his son’s assertiveness had scared a little of him.  “but he cannot deny that you’re a part of the family.”

“maybe he’s really surprised that I will replace him.” Heechul snickered as he threw the magazine on the rack like a basketball shooter. “replacing him because he had bad habits really does the trick.”

Mister park could feel guilt rushing through his blood. he didn’t tell exactly why heechul will be replacing leeteuk. He knew heechul would not consider taking over the inheritance if he knew his brother would be sacrificed just because of his condition.

“anyways.” Heechul stood up. “I feel bored here, do you have anything besides making steel and oil?”

“there’s a recreation facility below this roof deck.” Mister park said, amused at heechul’s sudden change of topic.

“great. I’ll go there. See you father.”

Heechul laughed and shook his head. He must accustom himself on having a father from now on.

-----------------------

Seoul shopping mall

“look up.”

“why?”

“people will follow you if we both look up.”

“okay.”

“hana, deul, set.”

Leeteuk and taeyeon both gazed at the dome structure at the ceiling of the mall, the white light partly blinding their eyes. leeteuk noticed people looking up too and the scene really had him in laughs.

“wow.” He said, amazed that people imitated their action.

“curiosity always kills the cat.” Taeyeon beamed, rubbing her eyes.

“when did you start doing this stuff?”

“fany and I.” taeyeon laughed at thought. “when we go to malls, we just sit here at the bench and look up. We just go here to window shop you know, we cannot really buy.”

“I see.” Leeteuk looked up the ceiling again and smiled at the way other people would look too. There was even a little girl who kept looking up as drops of ice cream trickled to her lips.

“how about you?” taeyeon asked. “you seem to be spending a lot.”

“I don’t. I’m stingy.” Leeteuk chuckled.

He really didn’t like spending money except when things need to come in handy.

“spending money doesn’t look stingy on me.” taeyeon stood up. She reached for leeteuk’s hand. “where do we go next?”

Leeteuk clasped his hand on hers. “where do you want?”

“I can’t think of any, I think we went to every store already.” Taeyeon remembered. Department store, music store, gadgets, accessories. They had toured every single item they can lay interest on.

“then just sit here with me.” leeteuk said. taeyeon nodded and invaded a space beside her beau.

Leeteuk rested his head on taeyeon’s shoulder.

“tell me if you don’t feel comfortable.” He said, aware of taeyeon’s sense of being discreet.

“anni.” Taeyeon poked the bridge of his nose with a finger. She felt just comfortable, having leeteuk’s warmth beside her skin. He was almost like a blanket, warming her up.

“taeng, how old are you?”

“twenty four.” Taeyeon said. was she that old now?  “why?”

“how many jobs did you have at your life span?”

“more than ten.” Taeyeon laughed at the thought. “gosh, I guess I’ve matured way enough.”

“that’s pretty good.” Leeteuk said. in fact, he had really admired her achievements.  “you have a long way to go.”

“I hope so.” Taeyeon said.

Then she suddenly shielded her eyes.

“what?” leeteuk sat up and noticed the commotion.

“clown.” Taeyeon pointed to a man with colorful make up, polka dotted attire and long clothes. Taeyeon groaned and forcefully closed her eyes, tapping her right foot crazily on the floor.

“you’re scared of clowns.” Leeteuk noticed.

“they just look scary.” Taeyeon circled an arm at front of leeteuk’s waist and hid her face at his back. “aigoo, tell me if he’s gone.”

“oh no, he’s coming to you.”

“aish, stop him!” taeyeon hissed. Leeteuk laughed and moved taeyeon’s face to him.

“open your eyes, its okay, he’s gone.” He said, brushing her bangs off her eyes. “you’re mature, he doesn’t like you.”

“wait, how will I take you to the amusement park if you’re scared of those guys anyways?” leeteuk asked.

“I love parks, I just don’t like clowns.” Taeyeon rolled her eyes. “I hate you, you’re scaring me.”

“I don’t.” leeteuk bit his lip. “and besides, there are other things that you have to be scared of.”

“aigoo, let’s just go to the make up store.” Taeyeon said, standing up.

Leeteuk stood up too.

“do you know that some women prefer lip gloss than lip stick nowadays?” taeyeon asked leeteuk as she gazed infront of the circular mirror on the make up store.

“they are?”

“well, its because lip gloss is easier to apply.” Taeyeon continued. “and lighter colors are more popular now unlike the darker ones, although some ladies would prefer dark lips during the night.”

Leeteuk nodded to such beautiful discovery.

“one of your expertise?”

“one of my jobs.” Taeyeon beamed. Being a make up artist assistant was one of her jobs when she stopped schooling.

Leeteuk looked at himself on the mirror too.

“how do you take care of your skin?” taeyeon asked.

“I don’t.” leeteuk said. he couldn’t understand why women always wanted to apply different types of cream to their body.

“you don’t?” taeyeon looked at him. “but your skin looks good.”

“its because I’m pale.” Leeteuk paid attention to his lips.

“I always hydrate my face and apply a firming cream before I sleep.” Taeyeon confessed as she put a trial moisturizer on her face. “I cannot sleep without doing that.”

“part of your routine. that’s why your skin is soft.”

“yeah.” Taeyeon touched her cheeks in reflex. “when we get home, I’ll put one on your face so you can relax.”

Imagining leeteuk with a face mask really made her laugh.

“no.” leeteuk said, stopping her good thoughts.

“you should, it feels good.” Taeyeon said.

“what ever you say.”

Taeyeon nudged leeteuk’s arm. “that’s what I like about you, you always take risks.”

“that’s why you love me.” leeteuk said.

Leeteuk cannot help but to pay closer attention to the side of his lips. there was something in the area that bugged him off.

“you’ve been staring at your lips for the whole time.” Taeyeon noticed.

“come here.” leeteuk pulled taeyeon closer to him. “can you see some changes on me?”

“what do you mean?” taeyeon wrinkled her brows and scanned his face. all she could see was the paleness yet glowing skin.

Leeteuk pointed to the side of his lips.

“look here.” he said. “its kind of bluish at the sides.”

“huh?”

“bluish.” Leeteuk repeated, placing a hand on taeyeon’s shoulder for balance as his other hand pointed towards his face. “this means something about my blood circulation. Look again.”

Taeyeon kissed the side of his lips, startling her beau.

“what are you doing?” he laughed. “did you see?”

Taeyeon kissed him again. “come again?”

“the bluish part.” He pointed. Taeyeon kissed him again for the third time.

“sorry, I don’t see anything but your lip.” She kidded. She placed both of her hands on leeteuk’s cheeks.

“don’t worry, you will be fine.” She assured him, all hopes in favor of a good surgery.

“I will be.” Leeteuk said.

-----------------------

Stone Fountain, Park Estate

Taeyeon’s POV

Leeteuk and I headed home after spending half of our day touring around the mall. We got really tired, but I cannot see any hint of it on his face. leeteuk seemed really fond of spending time with me as I with him too.

“so how was your day?” leeteuk checked up on me as we walked towards the villa.

“everything’s good.” I smiled. apart of being with him at class, spending time with him without academics was more fun. There’s no sense of competitiveness on my behalf.

“we should go there often huh?” leeteuk was glad that I had a good day. I nodded and skipped while I held his hand.

I was about to tell him more about my day when he stopped right infront of the stone fountain. I looked forward and noticed a visitor sitting exactly at the place where leeteuk and I would always meet.

“hi guys!” heechul blurted. Gosh, him again.

“join me?” heechul threw the cigarette box to leeteuk who, instead of catching it, didn’t bother to touch a single piece.

“oh, my bad, I guess I’ll just buy another pack.”

“didn’t I tell you not to get near my siblings?” leeteuk’s eyebrows formed into a frown, irritated at heechul’s sudden appearance at the estate.

“father invited me for a dinner, why shouldn’t I come?” heechul shrugged.

“you have a minute to walk away before something bad happens to you.” Leeteuk said. I placed a hand on his arm, signaling him to stop.

“come on, let’s go inside, you’ll catch a cold.” I said.

“yeah, you’ll catch a cold, you should be obeying your girlfriend.” Heechul chuckled, crossing his legs, amused by the two of us. I hate the fact that he says that.

Leeteuk looked at me.

“taeng, can you go inside first?” he asked. “I just need to talk to him.”

“why don’t you just talk----“

“baby, please.” Leeteuk pierced my eyes in concern. i nodded and quickly broke off her grasp.

“I’ll be watching you.”I said and headed towards the villa.

---------------------------

Heechul clapped his hands.

“ah, I just love  watching couples.” He grinned, standing up. He neared leeteuk and blew cigarette smokes to his face.

“I can make holes when I smoke, you know, works every time.” Heechul said, somewhat proud of himself.

“I came to your room earlier by the way.” Heechul continued. “I noticed it’s the largest one, mind if we switch when I live here? I need space for my clothes.”

“what?” leeteuk’s fists were already curled into a ball.

“If you don’t like to, then fine.” Heechul said. “I like hyoyeon’s room though, pink is like my secondary favorite color.”

“don’t come near hyoyeon.” Leeteuk placed both palms to heechul’s chest and pushed the latter backwards.

“I’ll introduce myself because I want to.” Heechul was so irritated that he also pushed leeteuk back.

Leeteuk’s mood became more intense when heechul blew another cigarette smoke at him. He stole the cigarette from his mouth and threw it on the fountain.

“what? Oh no, don’t make me do this.” Heechul grabbed leeteuk by the collar and made a punch directly on his face. leeteuk, who was so furious at his half brother’s behavior threw both of them at the fountain where they snuck punches and kicks on each other, amidst the water showering from the fountain, draining them up. Leeteuk tried to get hold of heechul, who was trying to drown him to the waters on the fountain, constantly punching his chest. But he cannot seem to get up, for heechul was weakening his physical abilities by drowning him and aiming directly at his heart.

“you cannot stop me from replacing you, okay?” heechul drowned leeteuk more as the latter tried punching him to the face but to no help.

“you have to kill me first.” Leeteuk said back.

Taeyeon, who was walking back and forth inside the park villa cannot stop herself from worrying too much and made a glimpse outside to see if everything was fine. Much to her horror, it was not.

“oh my god.” She blurted, seeing heechul on top of leeteuk, and leeteuk not able to get up.

Taeyeon slammed the door open and ran towards the stone fountain. This cannot be happening.

“oppa, stop it!” she shouted at heechul who was laughing all the way because of triumph.

“he threatened me, why should I stop?” heechul rolled his eyes and made another punch at leeteuk’s chest.

Taeyeon closed her eyes and searched for any guards around the place.

“help!” she screamed, didn’t know what to do. heechul and leeteuk seemed like killing each other, although heechul would feel the triumph first.

Taeyeon, seeing that no help was around for the moment, mediated herself between the two brothers and pushed heechul out of the way.

Heechul almost lost his balance.

“what the---“

“I said stop it!” taeyeon shouted at him, furiously that she wanted to snuck a punch on his face.

“don’t come near leeteuk because you don’t know what you’re doing!” she continued, as she placed both her hands at leeteuk’s helpless body on the water. the park middle child coughed blood on the area and struggled to keep pace on his breathing.

“look, see what you’ve done to him.” Taeyeon helped leeteuk to sit up. “teuk, are you okay?”

“I don’t feel good.” Leeteuk touched his chest and felt his heart weakening.

“what’s with you, you cannot even keep up a good fight.” Heechul looked at him. Taeyeon frowned at heechul, seeing that she cannot control her anger anymore, walked towards him and slapped him on the face.

“yah—what’s with you—“

“he’s sick!” taeyeon shouted, and heechul’s eyes popped out from the sudden information.

“what??”

“park jungsu is being replaced by his father  because he is dying!” she gritted her teeth at the sudden nervousness she felt at mentioning her boyfriend’s condition. “you were called to replace him because you’re brothers and it just doesn’t mean seeing your half sisters because obviously you two were just being framed up for this heck of a business empire that your father built for years!”

Heechul didn’t know how to respond to such statement.

“is this true?” he looked helplessly at leeteuk.

But leeteuk wasn’t able to answer him.

“oh my god.” Taeyeon quickly approached leeteuk and patted him gently on the face. leeteuk’s eyes weren’t opening to every taps she would make. “teuk, teukie, are you alright? Answer me please.”

“baby, wake up.” Taeyeon could feel her eyes welling from the unresponsive behavior. “park jungsu, please.”

Heechul bit his lip and searched frantically for anyone around.

“guards!” he motioned.