Departure

Despair and Disparity
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Some adversities were better kept concealed from public knowledge. However, the longer its containment, the greater one’s curiosity will be into breaching it. Such was the moral dilemma faced by Hyunmi whose eyes refused to reek away from the epistle begging to be perused. Her fingers touched the delicate texture of the paper, weakening her resolve to respect his privacy. No revelation bore a power so great it would tear her away from her beloved.   Hyunmi picked up the letter and gently opened the seal to read its content.   Dear Mr. Nam,   We are tremendously impressed with your marvelous accomplishment. You have achieved what no one deemed possible and managed to acquire the land belonging to the Jangs. Your charms have deceived both siblings to fall for a genteel repertoire performed by yours truly. I commend the manner you immerse yourself in your role; only a money thirst orphan such as Miss Jang would fall for your sweet lies.   Through Mr. Kim’s visitation, we are privy to the land’s transfer of ownership contract which you have signed. Renovation of the land shall commence in accordance to our original plan. You may evict the house at your earliest convenience and disavow your associations with those wretched beggars.   Yours respectfully, Kim Sunggyu   The absurdity of the letter’s contents numbed Hyunmi’s rational ability to think, thereby immobilizing the strength needed to discern the truth from a lie. Woohyun was an astounding performer; it was a fact she had always known of. However, had he performed a play on a grandiose scale? Had her affection been the stage for his act? Had she voluntarily victimized herself to his romance?   The epistle, short as it was, contained detrimental revelations she had been unaware of. What sort of ownership contract had been issued? Did Woohyun hold legal rights over their property? Could Mr. Kim’s visit be an aversion for another cause she had been unaware of?   The questions roamed wildly in her head, impossible to handle by remaining idle in her room. Her pulse quickened at a threatening rate, galloping at the same pace an ill thought conjured itself in her mind. With huffed breathings and heavy steps, she descended the stairs into the dining room to find the one person who could enlighten her confusion.   “Brother,” she called, swaying the letter in her hand. The alacrity of his smile dissipated into something more somber and anxious when seeing her expression. Hyunmi never meant to lash her anger unto her beloved brother, but the overwhelming storm of emotions caused her to slap the letter against the table, flinching Dongwoo in his seat. “Do you pertain any knowledge regarding a transfer of ownership contract involving Nam Woohyun?”   The bewilderment on his face returned to its jolly state; the oversized grin enough to deduce an answer from. “Yes! Yes! He sign?” Dongwoo asked, all too eager over the subject.   Hyunmi blinked her eyes, parting her lips to produce silence. So it had been true. Her brother transferred the rights to their land to a third party who happened to be her charlatan lover. Hadn’t that been the initial purpose of Woohyun’s residency all along?   “How could you be such a simpleton?” she asked, unaware of the tirade she was trapping him in. Many people had called him names to liken him to a fool, and it seemed she was no different.   “What is the matter?” Daeyeol asked, entering the kitchen with wide eyes. Others trailed behind him; Donghyun even took shelter behind Joochan. Without knowing the root of the problem, the newcomers felt the intensity in the atmosphere. They held their breaths, looking at the two siblings who so loved and cared for one another resume their fracas.   “This house is the final heirloom our parents left us with. How could you be insouciant enough to permit it to a third party?”   Dongwoo’s lips pursed into a wrinkled shape, staring at his sister with confusion. Hesitantly, with fiddling fingers and eyes too afraid to meet hers, he answered. “Woohyun not third party. Woohyun your lover.”   “Well,” Hyunmi snatched for breath, releasing it in one long stride before forcing a bitter smile upon her lips, “Perhaps my asinine behavior is one I regret.”   “What do you mean, mother?” Donghyun asked. Even the little boy sensed the oddity plaguing them. Under normal circumstances he would have run over to give her an embrace, however, his current fear prevented him from conducting such behavior.   Hyunmi didn’t fully grasp the chaos she had evoked with her outburst until she realized the orphans crowding and blocking the entrance of the room. There, standing at the very back amongst everyone else, was the subject of her quandary: Nam Woohyun. He stared at her with an unreadable expression, one she believed was supposed to portray obsolete desolation. Her renewed skepticism refused to believe in his perfidious act.   “It is a question I seek the answers to myself,” she spoke, holding the letter in her hand. She carefully watched Woohyun’s reaction, the manner his shoulders tensed and his eyes squinted in recognition. “This letter was written by Kim Sunggyu. Its content congratulates Nam Woohyun for obtaining rights over this land, and therefore has no reason to stay among us wretched beggars.”   Sungjong gasped from the side, recognizing the epistle as the one he was supposed to deliver. Before he could make amendments to the situation, Jineul shoved her hand in front of his mouth. She feared any foolish retaliation would only worsen the situation. This was no matter for them to get involved in.   “I have yet to peruse the letter. Do not accuse me of acts I have no recollections of,” Woohyun spoke, pressing his tone firmly. He marched forward, passing the orphans who parted sideways to let him through. He stopped before Hyunmi, towering over her petite frame.   “Read for yourself and try to retain your justice,” Hyunmi spoke harshly, the affection in her voice evidently gone.   Woohyun obeyed, picking the letter from her hand before he started reading the words. Whether it concealed the truth or unveiled a lie, no hint of emotion insinuated on his face. Deciphering his feelings became a riddle of its own. After passing seconds, he lowered the letter from his sight, setting his eyes on his lover instead. She never looked away, meeting his gaze with a passionate will to fight.   “Do you believe these words?” he asked.   “Do I have any reason not to believe in them?”   The way he looked at her after she spoke those words was one she would never forget. If one’s sadness and disappointment could be summarized in in one look, it would be portrayed through the solemn manner Woohyun regarded her with. It nearly resolved her anger, triggered her into an apology, and even made her think of kissing him instead. But nay, weren’t those the weapons of a manipulative charmer?   “I see,” Woohyun spoke, forcing a bitter smile that would haunt her dreams. “I did not think you’d have such little faith in me, Miss Jang.”   “Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Nam. I’d rather believe in logic than rely on the meekness of my heart.”   The little exchange bore a big implication they were both aware of. No longer did they refer to each other using terms of endearments, choosing to address using formal honorifics instead. They returned to being strangers; all memories believed to be false, all words rendered meaningless, and every kiss merely a brilliant performance.   “If such is the case, I assume you would no longer find consolation in my presence being here. If you want me gone, tell me to leave, and I will.”   Hyunmi recognized the familiarity of those words. He was cleverly using mind tricks to evoke their memories together. He spoke a similar line when inquiring permission to kiss her lips. Like a lovestruck fool she had allow him to do so. Now these words were repeated in the hope she’d permit his stay. But things had changed between now and then.   “Leave.”   Several gasps occurred amongst the orphans, including Dongwoo who so abruptly stood up from his chair it nearly stumbled backwards. This was an unforeseen situation no one had accounted for. It couldn’t be. The loving couple could not end in such a tragic manner.   “Very well, I shall respect your decision,” Woohyun said, stripped from any emotion in his rigid tone. He lessened their distance with the boldness he was no longer entitled to, and placed his hand against her cheek. She grazed her hand on top of his; whether it was to hold him or to push him away, he did not know, but he chose to savor the moment. “I truly apologize it had to come to this.”   Considering she never removed his hands, he received another surge of boldness, daringly placing a chaste kiss against the top of her forehead. Then he let go of her altogether, stepping backward while preserving the image of the foolish woman in his memory, and turned around never to return again.   “This can’t be,” Youngtaek was surprisingly the first one to put up a protest. “Hyunmi, have you gone mad? What is written in that devilish epistle for the two of you to behave so brazenly?”   “Read on your own account,” she spoke weakly, her voice barely sounding out the words for them to hear. She handed Youngtaek the letter, which everyone soon gathered at to peruse.   “What does it say?” Donghyun asked, tiptoeing on his feet to catch a glimpse of the contents. He was, however, unable to read as fast as the rest of them, and assumed a horror conclusion based on their growing frowns.   “This is nonsense! Mother, how could you believe any of this? It is written with the deliberation to manipulate you, can’t you see?” Jineul asked, nearly yelling in anger.   “You should have given Mr. Nam a chance to explain. None of these words can be trusted,” Joochan beckoned, his angered state stripping away his usual poetic tendencies.   “Mr. Kim Sunggyu is known for his deception! You can’t be deceived by him,” Sungjong added with guilt throbbing through his veins.   “I have observed Mr. Nam since the very first day and believe he has been genuine with you all along, mother,” even the quiet Sungyoon joined in.   Their complaints began to blend as one, and more and more voices began to condemn Hyunmi for what she had done. It only heightened her wary thoughts, breaking her down into a scream of frustration. The blaming died down at once.   “You accuse me of taking on the nefarious role. However, had he denied the accusations even once? Nay! Instead, he apologized! A righteous person has no need for apologies; those words are reserved for a sinner. Now tell me, is Woohyun any different from other aristocrats? His main purpose of coming here was to obtain the land, and he succeeded with my brother’s help. He has no reason to stay. He is a well-trained gal sneaker, and I am the fool for having fallen.”   Hyunmi halted her words, absorbing the confession she had made in front of everyone. Oh, how terribly she had fallen for the liar, indeed. Despite telling him to leave, there was a part of her wishing he would stay. Despite pushing him away, there was a part of her wishing he would hold her in his embrace once more. Despite loathing him for lying, there was a part of her wishing he would tell her he loved her too.   Some wishes, however, were never meant to come true.   ***   “This is ab
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Comments

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NoraMyFics #1
Chapter 30: I just finished this story in one go! And this is good!! Conveying so many things! Really nice.
KCpoplover #2
Wow! This is a nice story! Thank you, author-nim.
Ikkibisenio #3
Chapter 2: I am about to read chapter 3 but I love your story already! I haven't seen such witty yet deep dialogues from the past story I've read. I expect so much from this plot
banana-nim
#4
Chapter 30: I am so late for the final chap, just got here,(( finally)) but thank you for writing a lovely story!
Sakura-Juliette
#5
Chapter 30: That was a beautiful story. I remembered crying so hard when Dongwoo died, but it is true that the world was too harsh for someone as pure as him. Thank you for the beautiful story. ?
Hime_1
#6
Chapter 30: My eyes filled with tears when I reached Dongwoo’s part.. that was so emotional, especially when I’m listening to the music “Lost in you” :(
What made it a really happy ending wasn’t that woomi got married and waiting for a cute baby, nor the new lovers but the changing society that’s becoming better in everything thanks to the characters of the story ❤️
A very satisfying ending.. although I feel bad for Sunggyu who became lunatic .. he’s finally pulling positive feelings out of my heart.. don’t know if sympathizing him is actually positive xD

There were many things I wanted to comment about but my mind became blank upon realizing the fact that it’s your last woomi story.. ugh that’s sooooooooo sad T_T I feel like reading “Cupid” again..
I hope that you’ll publish your book one day and become famous for your stories.. I’m telling you from now Mel, if one of the Korean directors wanted to make a film or a series out of your book ask for Woohyun to be the lead character otherwise refuse the offer xD
Thank u for writing the story.. it’s been so long since u published it and I don’t want to say goodbye.. oh btw I defenitely agree to read the 17 years later chapter, u know i wouldn’t say no..
Wish u all the best ❤️❤️
Wenqi_Gihm #7
Chapter 30: yay @ JangKa! and the kiss though XD
Sung Gyu would never change tsk tsk
Dong Hyun will have his baby sister soon if it is a girl of course XD
i will love to read the extra chapter! yes please!
i hope your wish come true and if ever in the future there be another WooMi story, i will definitely read it!
thank you for this pleasant journey once again!
Sakura_99
#8
Chapter 30: I loved this story so much! Well-written, smooth and joyful. The ending of it got me crying my eyes out, so beautifully describing...the main couple finally got married! <3 I also enjoyed as well as loved the other "couples" affection/bicker in this story and the children of the family. Got a huge amount of emotions- and I do not regret reading it at all, I adored every chapter.

You did great hun (and congratulations for getting featured!!) : )
Wish you luck with work, studies and life! <3

Yours/ Sakura_99