Chapter 14: A Blurry Clarity

The sobs of the girl could be traced all the way to the building rooftop. Sooyoung went nearer the railings, looking down the city that was now being eaten up by the setting colors of the sun. Her eyes were dry now but she just couldn’t help but feel that urge to just cry more. But she was tired; tired of all the happenings around her. It just escalated fast, a bit too fast for her own good.

She was too busy in her thoughts she didn’t realize the footsteps that were getting more audible in her ears as the figure came closer. “Sooyoung…”

That voice. It was too familiar to not remember that sweet, delicate voice. Sooyoung quickly looked behind her. She rubbed her eyes so as not to show that she was crying, although it was quite obvious that she went through tears.

“What are you doing here?” she asks. Apparently the man standing in front of her just gave her a wide smile, too sincere for her heart to take. “I think that I need to talk to you.” She sighed. “Donghae… what are you even trying to do?” she asked more irritatingly while looking away, back to the city view again. Donghae’s lips curved downward after hearing that. “Actually, it’s not about you… or me. It’s about Jonghyun.”

And with the sound of his name, Sooyoung’s eyes darted back to him. Donghae could sense the immense curiosity in the girl’s eyes and sighed as he realized by instinct that she had already met Jonghyun in his current state. “What do you know that I don’t?” She asked straightforwardly. The man, who was in a black coat and tie, sat down on one of the benches, signaling the girl to do the same beside him while patting the spot.

She didn’t refuse and quickly sat next to him. Donghae though, was the one who stared out to the twilight. “What would you say if me and Jonghyun were…” “Were what?” The impatience of Choi Sooyoung was showing quite quickly. Donghae could only chuckle at the thought of his ex-girlfriend’s moods. 

“We’re brothers.”

Hearing that, Sooyoung’s eyes were wide but Donghae was still looking out at the city. Before she could say something, Donghae quickly added more to his statement. “You see… We didn’t know too, until we met in Hong Kong. We’re half, same father, but different mothers. “

The girl’s eyes were now looking at the floor with a sarcastic smile. “No wonder I fell in love with both of you.” The boy smiled after hearing this and tried to suppress it from turning into a smirk. “So what happened? Why is he acting like a jerk?” She asked.

Again, Donghae’s smile turned upside down and let out a dark chuckle as he remembers his half brother. “Don’t just bluntly call him a jerk like that.” He told her as he finally looked to her direction. “Huh?” Sooyoung got confused at that.

Donghae then stood up and offered her his hand. “Come with me first. I need to show you something.” Sooyoung gulped but as still agreed to hold his hand. “Okay.” When their palms touched each other, there was not a single spark of butterflies felt by both. They both knew they had moved on.

The two found their way at the edge of the building, looking down. They held onto the railings though. “See that, there they are.” Donghae pointed to the ground. Sooyoung looked to where he was referring to and could clarify that is was Seunghwan and Jonghyun.

She frowned at the sight of Jonghyun just following around the man and doing what his father asked to. Once their car was brought to them, Jonghyun was the one who went into the driver’s seat and they both rode off quickly.

“It looks like they’re in a hurry.” Donghae commented and sneered. “Tell me… why is that…” Sooyoung asked as she looks Donghae in the eye. The man sighed and stared at her heavily. “He was involved in an accident.”  Sooyoung nodded as she clearly got her guess right at something happened to Jonghyun.

“He got hit by a car while-“Sooyoung interrupted him. “Well, that’s so wrong… I mean, I’m pretty sure there was a stoplight/sign or whatever-“

“That’s not the point here.” Donghae, this time, was the one who had cut her off and she was silenced, anxious in the conversation they were having. Sensing that Sooyoung wouldn’t interrupt him anymore, he continued. “He didn’t cross the street. He was trying to save a little girl who waddled its way into the streets. Jonghyun saved the girl but got amnesia afterwards. I don’t think jerk is the right term to use for him. Maybe on our father, it’ll fit more.”

He then turned to Sooyoung with a smile. “I think you’ll be able to bring him back. He loves you too you know.” Donghae ended his sentence with a wink and started walking to the staircase down.  Sooyoung could only watch as his figure faded with each step he takes. “You haven’t changed one bit, Lee Donghae.” She smiled.

But when the cold air hit her skin, she shivered and remembered what Donghae told her about Jonghyun. “But you Lee Jonghyun…have changed so much. I’ll bring you back, just wait.” And with that, Sooyoung headed downstairs.

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Sooyoung slowly walked into her father’s office. She could still see that he was working on his office, but a frown was marked on his face, rather than his usual smile. Silently, she walked up to him and sat at the chair in front of his desk.

“Daddy… it’s long passed working hours.” Even though she was his daughter, she tried to act authoritative because she knew her father would get very tired.

“Sooyoung, you still see that I’m doing something. You can go-“ “No Daddy. Come with me right now. We need to talk.” And she just dragged her father, who couldn’t anymore resist.

They ended up at the café Sooyoung and Seohyun had lunch in earlier. Sooyoung was the one who treated her father some hot coffee while she somehow enjoyed a bittersweet iced mocha. It was silent between the both of them at first and the girl realized her father still hasn’t touched his coffee.

“You know that’s going to turn cold soon. Why aren’t you drinking?” she asked before she sipped again on her own drink. Then all of a sudden, her father just broke down. 

"I-...I'm sorry Sooyoung... I should have never..." He told her while trying to stop himself from crying more. Even though Sooyoung herself was a sensible girl, she couldn't help but only stare at her father in pity. She just sighed and finished up her cold drink. "Just tell me Dad....what happened?" 

Somehow, Mr. Choi got his back to his proper position. "I was being a coward but very well then." Sooyoung rested her chin on one of her hands but she was still eager and curious to what he was going to say. Mr. Choi was taking his time, sipping for the first time on his now not-so-hot coffee. 

"You see, the company, our company, is dependant on their company ever since about fifteen years ago. Seunghwan is a stockholder. Because a lot of sales before were usually because of him, he had a high position too. He worked very hard, night and day. We were also friends, good ol' friends. But then suddenly, one day, he just disappeared. 

He just left without telling us. Then, the company started to go downhill. I was really panicking, panicking so much, I really had to travel to many places and try to contact Seunghwan-ssi. Then, after five years , he came back and finally showed himself. But he wasn't the Seunghwan I used to know. He had a much more darker aura around him, a much colder front. Suddenly, in the middle of a busy day, he went to my office. 

A  bunch of paper documents were given to me. He told me, if my daughter turns by the age of 23 without having responsibility over the company, the Choi Conglomerate will be passed on to him, but of course, we will still have a share but... only very little percentage of it.  And that's why he's here. Your birthday will be in two days."

Sooyoung had a more stiff postion than earlier after hearing about that, and then suddenly turned remorseful. "Say.... why was he the one mostly working his off that time? and why did you ever signed that contract?" she asked in a bit scary tone. Mr. Choi then smiled a bit cheekily at her and looked out the window. "That time... I was taking care of my 7-year old daughter. And then, you were already a child idol at age 13. You seemed to have so much fun that you won't care about the company."

She was a bit shocked but then also smiled. "Well, it seems what you had percieved was wrong. Oh and, I also have to tell you something... about Jonghyun..." Mr. Choi's eyebrows raised up. 

"About that, you see, Donghae told me that Jonghyun got into an accident while in Hong Kong. And because of that, he’s gotten amnesia so he was manipulated by his father.”

Mr. Choi nodded his head as a sign of understanding what Sooyoung had just told him. “Well… if that’s the case. Then we cannot blame him for anything. You just have to work a little harder this time, for the company… and Jonghyun.”

Sooyoung’s cheeks flared when she heard her father. “W-what did you just say?!” Mr. Choi could only flash her a cheeky smile before taking his coffee and walking out. “I’ll be on my way now!”

“Ugh! What kind of father leaves their daughter?!” Sooyoung’s face was still flushed as she puffed her cheeks in annoyance and laid back again on the couch. She didn’t plan to leave any sooner so she just ordered another tall cup of Frappuccino. Her head was still spinning about what had happened that day.

After finishing her cold drink, she decided to just go home. Once she was about to open the door, someone else who was coming inside opened it first. She was just about to ignore that, until she realized it was Jonghyun.

There, stood the two just staring at each other, but was an intense moment for the female heroine. Luckily, Jonghyun was able to familiarize who was in front of him. “Oh… it’s the moody Choi girl from earlier.” He told her monotonously, which pretty much annoyed Sooyoung.

“What do you mean by that huh?!” She almost shouted at him, trying to control herself from bursting into a fit on that very spot. Still he just gave her a sigh and a poker face. Hopeless, Sooyoung just decided to exit that very café once and for all.

But when she did, a hand suddenly grabbed her and she could feel her back slowly but painfully hit the wall. “W-what in the…” Jonghyun stared at her eyes intensely but he still seemed to have a stone face. He then let go of her hand and Sooyoung relaxed a bit, but still nervous at the happening.

“Listen, I really don’t know why, but I don’t like seeing you cry. I’ll just say sorry for what happened earlier. I must’ve been too harsh.” He said to her, but still, it was without any sort of emotion but it was good enough for Sooyoung, who softened and remembered his situation.

“But… ah…. It seems like girls are really troublesome. No wonder it’s really hard for both our fathers to meet at a firm decision because you’re such a crybaby. Anyways, I need to get my coffee. Excuse me.” Jonghyun added arrogantly but calmly and finally went to the counter to get his order.

Even though Sooyoung was almost relieved earlier, she was now an erupting volcano after hearing those words come out from Jonghyun’s mouth. She then ran outside and the cold wind hit her hard on the face.

Damn you, Lee Jonghyun.

~*.♥.*~