40. CHERISHED

By the end of September, the vacationers had returned to Daegu. Duckie and Amber went home with their parents. Xing cried on meeting baby Yixing. She was overwhelmed by JiYeol’s naming of the baby after her. Kris mumbled his thanks and sat staring at the baby for a long time. They stayed with us for two more days and then left to return to their home.

In the first week of October, a newspaper story caught my attention. It was about Shin Hyunjae, a retired air force officer, whose service history had vanished without a trace along with his pension. I read the article aloud to Puppy in the evening as he and Beagle had coffee and played with Yixing.

“Puppy, do you think it’s the same Hyunjae?” I don’t know why I was interested in what happened to that weasel.

At my words, Beagle buried his face in baby’s tummy. I looked at him suspiciously and then at Puppy who was turning pink in the face.

Beagle began to get up, “Puppy appa I think you need to be alone with ummappa right now.”

I held his hand and made him sit down again. My attention was on Puppy. “Puppy, tell me what this is about. Why are two of you acting guilty?” When they remained silent, I worked it over in my mind and alarm bells began ringing all over my brain. “Don’t tell me you both had something to do with this?”

Beagle looked at Puppy in fear. Even his ears were red by that time. I went out of the room to check on everyone. Ji and imo were talking in her room. Kids were studying. I returned to the living room, thought for a second and sat down in Puppy’s lap. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his cheek, “Now tell me Puppy, what did both of you do? I promise not to get upset.”

Puppy almost whispered, “We hacked into government database and deleted his records.”

“What if you get caught Puppy? Think of the big blot on both your careers. It’s not worth it. Let it go.” I tried not to show my shock.

Beagle answered for them, “We won’t get caught ummappa. It cannot be traced back to us. Not in a million years.”

Puppy put his face in my neck and responded very quietly, “I couldn’t let it go. He had to pay. Even if it’s too late and he will never know why, I wanted him to suffer. I have waited patiently for the right time to execute my plans.”

“Puppy appa why won’t you tell me what that man did?” Beagle’s words made it clear that he had no idea about the reasons for the plan but blindly helped Puppy in executing the revenge.

Puppy ruffled Chan Yeol’s hair affectionately, “No one hurts my yeobo and gets away with it.”

Beagle looked at me and nodded, “Anything for both of you. You first brought Ji and now this beautiful baby into my life. I am forever indebted to you.”

“Silly boy, there is no debt. We love you and wanted you to be a part of our family.” I patted his cheek. “Don’t let this Puppy lead you astray. Use your brains and say no to him. Nothing is worth spoiling your future.”

“Ummappa I won’t ask what happened, but I agree with Puppy appa. If anyone hurt you, I will make them pay for it.” Chan Yeol spoke just as vehemently as Puppy. They looked at each other and nodded in a silent agreement.

“What are you two doing? You are scaring me now. Whatever it is, you must stop. Nothing good comes out of revenge.” I tried to calm my fears and reason with them.

“Yeobo, you can’t tell me a part of you does not feel at peace after reading the news article?” Puppy had his own logic for his actions.

“My peace came from you jagi. You made me peaceful two years ago. I don’t need this. You don’t need to resort to criminal activities for something that’s long dead and buried.” I tried to make Puppy listen to me. He just kept shaking his head.

“It’s a small bit yeobo. We have a long life ahead of us. Not even for a moment will I let you feel hurt by these scumbags. They escaped that time. But I am going to make them all pay for their crimes.” Puppy hugged me tight into him.

“Minho?” I whispered, not knowing what to think anymore.

Puppy grinned and shook his head again, “No need for me to do anything. He is already suffering. He has no job, no money, lives a solitary life in his parents’ garage. He spends his time drinking with his friends and repenting letting you go. His life is punishment enough.”

I wanted to feel bad for Minho, but I had no feelings left for him. I truly was over my life before Puppy. Those years were just a part of my life, nothing more. Yes, as a human being I felt a pang of sadness for Minho’s life.

“Beagle whatever you did to Hyunjae’s records, you must restore them. It’s my request to you.” I appealed to Beagle’s good sense. I knew Puppy wouldn’t listen.

“Don’t worry ummappa. This is not the first time records and pensions are lost. It will be temporary and then Hyunjae’s pension will be restored, of course his records will never be.” Beagle smiled at me and patted my knee.

“Puppy, you said ‘they’. Who else were you talking about?” I tried to wrack my brain for more names, but couldn’t think of any other that I had put in Yours Forever.

“Won Namgi and So Hanbin,” Puppy smiled when I shook my head failing to recognize the names. “Don’t worry yeobo, you don’t know them. But they will regret knowing you.”

I gasped at the sudden realization of who these names could belong to. “Let it go Puppy. It’s long over. Please let it go. If anything happens to you, I will not be able to survive it. For my sake, drop your plans.” I tried not to panic.

Beagle again patted my knee, “Don’t worry ummappa. Nothing will happen to Puppy appa. Have faith in me. We know what we are doing. I have taken all precautions. Nothing can be traced back to us. And my lips are sealed. I will never utter a word to another soul for as long as I live. Not even Ji.” He looked at Puppy, “I hope one day you have enough faith in me to tell me the reason.” Puppy ruffled his hair again.

“Puppy what have you done? Oh my god, why did I ever tell you anything?” I panicked.

Puppy picked me up and carried me into our bedroom. He locked the door and pulled me into his full embrace. He kissed me deeply, again and again till I began responding and softly moaned into his mouth. Only then did he speak, “I am going to make them pay for the years of pain they gave you. They will suffer for every bit of skin that you rubbed off from your body. They will live in hell for every drop of blood that you shed because of them. They will crawl in jail for making your skin crawl. Since I got their names from Minho, I have waited for this time.”

I tried to calm him down by pecking his lips repeatedly, “Let it go jagi. Nothing is worth turning yourself into a criminal. You are also jeopardizing Beagle, Ji and little Yixing’s future. Please love, for their sake let it go.”

“It’s already done yeobo. No one but those two scumbags will suffer. Trust me. No harm will come to our family. Please yeobo, let me do this for you.” Puppy kissed me deeply to silence me again.

“What about their families?” I whispered as soon as his mouth parted from mine.

“Their parents are dead. One is divorced with no kid. Other did not marry at all.” Puppy kept kissing me.

“What did you do jagi?” I needed to know.

“You really don’t have any faith in my abilities. Silly Tokki.” Puppy bit my ear playfully. “We planted ographic material on their personal computers and created websites showing their distribution. The websites can be traced back to both of them. Luckily, they are friends and pediatricians in the same hospital in Seoul. An untraceable, anonymous tip has been given to the Seoul Cyber Crime Squad two days ago. You will read about it very soon in the newspaper. When convicted they will be sentenced for one to seven years and their professional lives will be in tatters. They will suffer for a lont time yeobo.” Puppy kissed me again at the end of his explanation.

“I still don’t see the need for this jagi,” I did not let his kisses derail my thoughts.

Puppy sighed deeply and looked into my eyes, “I can never get them prosecuted for you. This is the only way I can get them to serve time in prison. Their actions caused you mental and physical anguish for years. I needed to do this for my peace of mind. Beagle does not know why. He has just helped me set it all up. We may tell him one day, when you feel comfortable. I am thankful he has enough trust in me to not ask too many questions.”

I hugged Puppy tightly. I could not deny that a part of me was celebrating. Yes, I was over it all. But, like Puppy said, I had suffered for many years. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined what Puppy had done with Beagle’s help.

Puppy’s thumbs traced over my cheeks. “Don’t cry yeobo. Nothing will happen to our family. Please trust me. I love you so much. Please don’t cry.” Puppy began kissing my cheeks. I hadn’t realized that I was shedding tears.

“I love you too jagi, more than my life itself. I am not crying. My eyes are overflowing from happiness. I am so fortunate to have your love.” I continued to shed more tears as I smiled widely at him. We kissed tenderly.

There was a soft knock on the door and Beagle’s low voice followed, “Ummappa, appa is home and asking for you.”

Puppy gave me a last quick kiss and opened the door to talk to Beagle and Uncle. I washed my face and neatened my appearance again. My heart was flying. It was filled with gratitude towards Puppy and Beagle. It was so filled with love that I felt it’d explode.

I was certain that no other moment in my life could ever top how cherished Puppy made me feel right then.