Guns and Roses (Revised Edition)

By: Anmire

Dedicated To: My Lovely Daughter Rielle

 

 

 

                Rielle sat on the sofa at the lounge. She was happily staring at the sky as plenty of stars twinkle. The moment made her feel so mellow and reflective. She suddenly tries to remember how her heart grew, how her heart changed and stayed strong.

 

                She took out her journal and started writing the memories of her past.

 

                When I was young, I was a weird girl. I hated dolls and stuffed toys. What I want are guns. My father would always bring home toy guns and he would ask our neighbor’s son to play with me. That boy would bring his toy guns to our house, pretend that I was his enemy and we will play all day. He is a sweet and patient boy. After school, he would wait for me to finish my assignments and then play with me. But then the great disaster came. My father died and we became as poor as hell. We had to leave our home and all our other things. But he promised me one thing, that he will take care of my toy guns and wait for me to take it back.

 

                Then came my youthful years. Although I am poor and studying in a private school, I still had decent friends. And a good boyfriend. He would bring me to school and send me home. He would help me with my projects and always treat me out. I have to admit he is rich. But the thing I love the most about him is how he gives me roses every single day. It’s like the sweetest thing in the world. Sometimes he would fail to give me roses but he makes up for it. He would buy dozens of it! I love him, he adores me. He thinks of me as a precious rose, a red rose. He told me so. But worst comes worst. When his mother knew about us, she got so angry because I was just a poor girl and I am no good for her son.

 

                Then the boy from my past came back, Seung Hyun. His father wants me to marry him, so as my mom. It seemed that his family and I are so close before up until now. He is still sweet and pure. I couldn’t tell my boyfriend, Kang In, about it. Those days were the cruelest for us. I want him to fight for me but he is not doing anything. We were in a roller coaster ride then. He would go out with Leeteuk and just drink it out. But Seung Hyun would come suddenly and pay me a visit.

 

                One day, I learned that Seung Hyun’s engagement with me are already being planned. All were set. I felt so nostalgic. That day, I also learned that Kang In enlisted for the army as compliance to his parents wish and will enter army in a month’s time. Then my mom called me, she said that after a month, Seung Ri’s whole family will be back in Korea and finally meet me.

 

                My heart is asking me to choose… Guns or Roses?

 

                She closed her journal and closed her eyes. She tried to hold back her tears and pretend to be serene. But something interrupted her.

 

                Daesung knocked on the door. “Come in,” she said.

 

                “Ms. Rielle Soan, you look as prettier each night. Shall I get you coffee?” he asked.

 

                “Thank you for the compliment, Daesung. I’m fine. Just please tell your master I’m already here.”

 

                “Yes, madam.” He shut the door and Rielle just stared at the floor.

 

Then she heard a knock.

 

                “Come in,” she said.

 

                “Rielle…” a voice suddenly said. It was a familiar voice. She stood up and the owner of the voice grabbed her.

 

 

 

                After two years in the military, Kang In had the best feeling about this day. Finally, his military service is over. The outside world which he loves so much is now a few steps away as he nears the gate. Yes, he missed his family, friends and work. But the one he missed the most is Rielle. Her first and last letter for him was the most precious to him. He remembered it too dearly that he can even recite it whenever someone asks him to do so.

 

                “Chingu!!!” Leeteuk, his best friend, called out to him as he welcomes him back. “Oh, I missed you so much!” he exclaimed and gave him a hug.

 

                “Yah, Leeteuk, you’re the best!” he said then tapped his back making Leeteuk choke.

 

                They went on and had a drink. They talked a lot and as the night goes on, Leeteuk asked about Rielle, how he feels for her.

 

                 “I’m so dead for her. I want to meet her right now but I don’t have any contact with her. She kept me alive for 2 years, specially her letter! I’ve memorized it!” Kang In proudly said.

 

~

Kang In Oppa,

 

                I am so sorry I wasn’t able to send you off when you entered the army. I feel so sick that day and had to stay home. I sent some cookies with this letter so you’ll be strong and will always remember me.

 

                I promise to visit you after I take my final exams this week. I will do my best to get to you.

 

                Don’t stress yourself oppa, be happy as always.

 

                I shall wait for you. I love you.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                Lovingly Yours,

                                                                                                                                                                                Rielle

 

~

                He narrated the contents of the letter to his friend. But Leeteuk spilled the news, the news that would break his kind heart.

 

                “I don’t think you should meet her anymore,” Leeteuk said.

 

                “Mweorago? Why are you stopping me from seeing her?” Kang In asked of his friend.

 

                “Because……..”

 

                “Just say it!”

 

                “Rielle is engaged!”

 

                Kang In doesn’t know what to do. His blank stare to Leeteuk was obviously the expression of pain and suffering. His heart was shattered and stepped on.

 

                “Yah, that’s not a good joke,” he said to Leeteuk. He was devastated.

 

                “I am not joking around! Kang In, a week after you entered military, everyone was so shocked with what’s on the news. It said that Rielle and the heir of Victory Corporation are throwing an engagement party. Being a friend of hers, she invited me there. At first I didn’t really want to go. But my intuition tells me I had to go so that I will know the truth. And there I saw the big smile on Rielle’s face.”

 

                His story kept Kang In silent. He doesn’t know what to do or what to say. All he can think of is her face.

 

                “Tell me where she is right now. Tell me!” Kang In, grabbing his Leeteuk, asked forcefully.

 

                Leeteuk gave her a call and asked where she is.

 

                “She’s at the Victory Corporation Main Building,” Leeteuk replied.

 

                Upon hearing his words, Kang In hastened to the place.

               

 

 

                After finishing tons of paper works, Seung Hyun felt so tired. Being the president of the Victory Corporation is not that easy. It was all about, sleepless nights, panda eyes and headaches. But what makes him forget all the stress is his precious fiancé, Rielle.

 

                With just one look at her picture on his desk makes him forget all the worries. A text from her seems like the best medicine for his headaches. And her phone calls at the end of the day, gives him the best of dreams when he sleeps.

 

                He would always wish that it will be time to go home already because she would always wait for him and they will go for a walk in the park or eat dinner. Then, weekends are his favorite days. She would come over to his place and they will cook together.

 

                Everything about her is perfect and simply beautiful. He would always realize after sending her home each day.

 

                “It’s been two years since our fixed marriage was announced. We have been engaged for two years already. And I don’t know how I fell for you, but you seem to be the only thing that works perfectly in my life,” he said as he talked to her picture in front of him.

 

                “Sir? Sir? Are you alright, Sir?” Daesung, his secretary asked him.

 

                “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Why are you here?”

 

                “I just came to inform you that Ms. Rielle Soan is already at the lounge waiting for you.”

 

                “Oh, thank you. Please tell her I’ll be there in a moment.”

 

                “Yes, Sir.”

 

                Seung Hyun watched Daesung as he leaves the room. He was shocked of his sudden appearance that he felt so stupid after his subordinate saw him talking to a picture. “Pabo! Why do I even have to talk to a picture when the girl in the picture is downstairs waiting for me!” he scolded himself and hurriedly fixed his things. He went into the elevator and pressed the button that says 15^th floor. The lounge was on the top floor.

 

                But then he saw an unpleasant sight…

 

 

                “Is it true? Tell me! Are you really engaged?” Kang In asked Rielle furiously as he grabbed her arms and squished the life out of it.

 

                “Kang In oppa, what are you doing here? I thought you’ll be out of the military tomorrow,” scared and in pain, she replied.

 

                “Just answer my question!” Kang In shouted at her.

 

                “Kang In, you’re hurting me. Please let go!” she screamed back.

 

                “No! I won’t!” he yelled at her. Tighter, he squeezed her. Seung Hyun cannot take what he is doing with her. He has to do something!

 

                “Let go!” Seung Hyun commanded Kang In, all fierce and frightening. “You are hurting her.”

 

                Kang In heard Seung Hyun’s voice and words and immediately released Rielle. Seung Ri walked over Rielle’s side and with burning eyes, looked at Kang In. Kang In stared back.

 

After a few seconds, with crystal tears forming in his eyes, Kang In looked at Rielle and asked, “Is he the reason why you never visited me, why you never wrote again, why you never sent me cookies again, and why you never see me after my service? Is he?”

 

Rielle nodded and said, “He is also the reason why I did not send you off.”

 

Kang In was so shocked with what she said. It’s like he believed in something not real. No. Everything that kept him alive for two years are all lies, false hopes.

 

“Look, hyung, I guess it’s best that you leave now,” Seung Hyun suddenly said.

 

Kang In glared at him and said, “Back off! I am still talking to her!”

 

“What? Now you want a fight?” Seung Hyun, pissed, asked him.

 

“Stop!” Rielle interrupted. “Kang In Oppa, I better end this now. You see, it can never be us.”

 

“What are you saying? Of course it can be us! Look, I came back for you.”

 

“But you also left because of me…”

 

Kang In knew what she was talking about. His mom asked him to enter military so that he can forget her. He saw her eyes. It’s so firm and strongly looking at him. It is unmoved and not lying. What could he do so that her eyes, her heart, will change?

 

Seung Hyun never saw this steadfast side of Rielle. She was as if a tiger, ready to fight. She doesn’t want her hurt. He wants the old Rielle back, the gentle and calm one. He wants to kick the man in front of him but he can’t. He trusted Rielle on this one.

 

“Do you want him?” Kang In asked.

 

“I chose him,” she replied.

 

“Do you love him?”

 

“Do you love me?” she asked as well.

 

“Yes, with all my heart!” he exclaimed almost sounding pitiful.

 

“Seung Hyun also does.”

 

“Answer my question.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What about me? Don’t you love me, Rielle?”

 

“Yes, I do. But I love him more than I love you,” she said. Still with unchanged emotions but with a faltering heart. The question she left unanswered are now slowly being resolved.

 

Kang In has nothing to say anymore. There was a long moment of silence. The empty lounge seemed like a deep, dark ocean. Then Seung Hyun took out his phone and gave Daesung a message. Soon, Daesung was at the door with some guards and took Kang In by his arms.

 

“Hyung, I think you better go now,” Seung Hyun said calmly.

 

As Kang In stepped out the door, his eyes were on her. Hoping that he will suddenly call out his name, but no. She didn’t. The guards threw him out of the building and from there he walked like a crazy man with nowhere to go.

 

On the other hand, there was Rielle. She lost her balance and had to sit down. Seung Hyun was right beside him and took off his coat and wrapped it around her. “Do you want me to take you home now?” Seung Hyun asked her.

 

“No, take a walk with me.”

 

“Are you sure you are fine?”

 

“Yes, yeobo.”

 

What she called him gave him chills. He assisted her in getting up and went to the park. He knew that Rielle really loves Kang In. He was the one her heart knew the most and wanted the most. Now, Seung Hyun wants to know why she chose him.

 

He stopped walking and asked, “Rielle, why me?”

 

She look at him in the eyes and held his hand. She said,

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Because I’d rather choose a gun that can protect my heart, than a rose someone cannot hold because he’s too afraid of the thorns…”