Twelve

REDEMPTION

Irene walks along the long hallway, lit with candlelight. It is decorated with her favourite pink roses. She begins to feel tremors throughout her body. Why has Seokjin decorated this place like this?

She clutches the door handle tightly. Something inside her is telling that if she enters, she will never be able to get out. She will be trapped in there forever, by her wish or may be against it. But she has to talk to him about the money! She needs his help!

She takes a deep breathe and pushes the door open. The whole room is marvellous...Pink roses, White ballons and curtains and the candles all over the room...So special...so...

"Thank you for coming..." Irene jumps at Seokjin's voice.

There he is standing, dressed as fine as always, with his equally elegant and sweet smile.

Irene urgently tries to speak but Seokjin does not let her, "Before you say anything, let me speak... Irene you must be surprised why I've prepared all these...actually..." He smiles sheepishly. "For you..."

 Seokjin does not let Irene's shocked expression and numbness affect his speech. He has been waiting to do this for years and if he cannot say anything today then he may never...

"Yes. ONLY FOR YOU... I have been in love with you for years now... It was love at first...I know it sounds so foolish as we were 15 that time..." He laughs nervously, "I waited for so long to say this..." He sighs.

"I know it is very sudden for you and I am apologizing. But if not today then I may have never gained the courage to approach you..." He goes on his knees, "Bae JooHyun, You are the love of my life...Will you MARRY me...?" He brings out a small box from his pocket and reveals a huge diamond ring.

Irene is yet to produce a single sound. There she had called him to ask for a loan to save her company and here he is on his knees, promising her his life and love...If she says yes her father's hard earned business will be saved. She needs to do this...but what about her and Namjoon...?! Then again what about them?! Nothing...

Irene's silence is producing an ominous cloud over Seokjin's heart. Every second passes, accelerating his pulse.

He prepares to get his heart broken,"Irene, no matter what your answer is I promise I'll respect that. And  Don't worry We'll always be friends and..."

"Yes..."

"I...what?" He looks at her startled.

"Yes SeokJin...I'll marry you..." She sighs and smiles bitterly.

The bitterness in her smile is gone unnoticed by the man who is on cloud nine at that moment. He scoops her in his arms and kisses her dearly. Irene does not stop him...

Irene looks out of the window again and sighs. That evening, Seokjin stole not only her first kiss, but also her freedom and life...even though he had no idea about it...

 

 

Noel blinks. She is back from her country-home. All these months she has been so worried about Aera and Joy...Poor babies!! She hated to leave them and go but she had to for her daughter. She has talked over the phone with Joy all these time and it did not sound all bad...which was unexpected. Considering her lifestyle and habits she is supposed to be miserable. But it seems she has adjusted, well adjusted...

Like now the scene in front of her. She is standing inside Joy's room. The same room where she left her. There are some changes made which has transformed the whole dull atmosphere into a lively one. She looks at the bed and its occupant.

No. Occupants. She notices a tiny hand and piggy-tail peeking out of the the blanket. She slowly nudges the person on the right.

"Wh-who is it?" Joy groggily says, removing the blanket. Her eyes shot open, "AUNTY NOEL !!!"

She jumps to hug her tight. 

"I talked to you yesterday but you did not say anything about coming back..." She grins.

Noel touches her cheek softly, "I just wanted to surprise you..." Her eyes fall on the tiny lump that seems to be awakened by them.

"Jooyyy..." The blanket moves to reveal the small, sleepy and disoriented face of Aera, yawning cutely.

"Baby...look who's here?!" Joy points at Noel.

"NOEL AHJUMMA!!" She jumps onto her lap.

"Oh my darling!! I missed you so much!!" Noel hugs her tightly.

"I missed you too..." Aera says.

"Now we should get some breakfast!! Come quickly Baby!! We need to get ready for your school..." Joy takes the little girl from Noel's arm and hurries to the bathroom.

Noel is at awe with Joy. How calmly and effortlessly she prepares Aera and also the little girl just loves her!! 

"Joy!! You were sleeping!!It is 10.30 now... Namjoon was supposed to have his coffee and breakfast by 8..." Noel says worriedly. She feels frightened for the girl.

"Oh! Don't worry!! I already had served him coffee and breakfast, went through his wardrobe, he left on time like everyday!!...I just felt sleepy so I dozed off for an hour...." She waves at Aera who enters the car.

"Let us go and have some tea...you must be tired..." Joy drags Noel to the kitchen.

The older woman observes her work. She looks like a young housewife...

"Wow. This is a good tea...you've learned really fast." Noel smiles.

Joy shrugs, "It is all you and Cheonsa Aunty... I learned all from you two..."

The older woman nods. She knows about the lady at the 7/11 shop. Joy has told her how she helped her to decide and act.

"I will introduce you to her..." Joy chimes.

"Of course... but now I should go and meet Irene. I should be there as well in her condition" Noel grins. To which Joy nods.

 

Namjoon steps out of the car. He rubs his neck tiredly. The work load is too much and the new project demands his extra attention. He is late again. He had informed that he ate at the office so no one needs to wait up for him...

Still he finds Joy with her head down on the kitchen table.

I did not ask her to wait...

He huffs and is about to leave when Noel enters.

"Aunty...you are back?" Namjoon asks.

"Oh!! You remember you called me aunty?! My,my!! I thought you've forgotten everything except Mistress Irene..." Sarcasm drips from her words.

"Just because I respect you, does not mean you'll speak anything you want..." Namjoon grits his teeth and leaves before he explodes.

"Oh wow!! You know something called respect?! Shocking news!!" She yells at him.

Joy wakes up at her shout.

"What happened?! Aunty??" She is confused.

"Nothing dear. Your good for nothing husband is back... You go to sleep..."Noel looks at her.

"But what if he needs...?" Joy hesitates.

"He won't... I think. He did not even wake you up to say he reached home..." Noel shakes her head.

 

**A filler chapter. More to come. Stay tuned***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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nuz123
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Almost a whole year of this story!!!
I know, I know...I said there will be no more chapters...
But then I thought why not celebrate 1 yr of this story with a bonus?
So here it is!! I hope everyone will like it! Enjoy :D

Comments

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Irreplaceable_hjj_ #1
Chapter 38: <span class='smalltext text--lighter'>Comment on <a href='/story/view/1281610/38'>Thirty Eight</a></span>
Idk ...whether to laugh or cry or be angry at Namjoon's phrase - 'old man' - Ajusshi
Irreplaceable_hjj_ #2
Chapter 29: Awwwwww ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ•́ ‿ ,•̀ Namjoon and Aera moments are sooo cute
Irreplaceable_hjj_ #3
Chapter 27: It is past 10 am ...great , he is late (≧▽≦)
Irreplaceable_hjj_ #4
Chapter 23: Namjoon feeding the soup to Aera, wiping and gifting her some colour pens is the cutest one 😍🥰😩
zerotoblack
#5
Chapter 58: I don't know how many times I've read this already now but one thing I am sure of is that I am not getting sick of reading this. Still one of the best stories out there.
Ode2kdrama #6
Hoping to get an update on the anniversary date!!! This is one of my favorite story in AFF.
eatPie
#7
Chapter 40: re-read this again and i just remembered how irl namjoon loves to talk with himself ^^ ah, so cute
Lane0910 #8
Thank you authornim! Such a wonderful story and great casting! Re-reading again ?
Charu2791 #9
Chapter 58: I read this amazing story in one go. I can't quit smiling for a single minute.
Mariam4 #10
This is probably some of the most amazing things I've read in a while !! Loved Namjoon and Sooyoung's character development so much ❤️ Thank you for this amazing read !! Hope you are keeping safe love xx