Chapter [14] : Puzzle pieces falling into place – part [2]

6 months later…..

YeSung ran as fast as he could so he won’t miss the public bus, it was 2:00 p.m, he just finished his classes and is heading back home.. he seated himself at the very last seat on the bus and leaned his head to the window..

It was a tiring day..

Throughout the way home, YeSung spaced out.. thinking of how severely did his life change.. how he ends his struggles with the Choi family, how he started off a new life, and resumes his old dream of becoming a school teacher.. how his dream of living a happy life with his loved ones became true..

The bus stopped in the usual spot and YeSung rushed to get off, he started running so he can get home before its time for MaRi to break into the kitchen and nag about the still uncooked lunch.. he took a quick shower before heading to the kitchen, he stopped half way as his gaze landed in the framed picture of Siwon and himself.. the picture they took right after they moved in together..

He entered the kitchen and starting preparing the ingridients need to make lunch.. he stared at the boiling water in his pot and the thoughts of the past attacked his head once again..

*Flash Back*

6 months before that day..

SiHan linked his fingers in anxiety as he was sitting in the middle of a circle.. his parents, brothers and… and YeSung..

‘’am waiting SiHan…’’ Choi father said, holding the letter and the X-Ray pictures.

The sky started raining, and the scary sound of thunders was heard.

SiHan looked at his family member one after another.. and his eyes focused on YeSung who was standing there lifeless..

He sighed before he finally decided to speak out.

‘’its true… this X-Ray pictures… the baby… he is my future son…’’

Choi mother felt dizzy, Kangin held his mother in support.

‘’WHAT? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SIHAN..TELL US NOW.. HOW THE HELL DID U GET THIS UNKNOWN LADY PREGNANT…’’

SiHan looked away. Avoiding his father’s glares.

‘’how do u think? I slept with her.. she got pregnant…’’ he said in cold and sarcastic tone.

‘’and ur saying this shamelessly… WHY THE HELL DID U DO THAT? U WERE PREPEARING FOR UR WEDDING, HOW COULD U DO THIS TO HIM?’’ Siwon shouted, holding YeSung’s hand… YeSung who was standing there, not looking at anyone.. his eyes were glued to the floor..

‘’U DON’T KNOW ANYTHING..’’ SiHan burst out, he stood up.

‘’I was desperate… I thought I was happy, and I was preparing for my wedding ceremony with the man that I fell hardly in love with.. my life was perfect.. or at least that how it seems to be.. but I was hurt.. YeSung coldness towards me.. his continuous rejecting to my advances make me question myself.. am I falling short for him? Am I lacking something? Why was he proceeding in this marriage if he didn’t love me, if he didn’t want me.. it was then when I met her.. I was sinkked in my dark thoughts and denied depression.. we met in a bar.. and she was drunk too.. I don’t know when and how but I found myself laying in her bed.. the first time, it was a hangover result.. but then… I found my legs taking me to her place even when I wasn’t feeling down.. I first tried to convince myself that I was running away from Yesung’s coldness toward me to her but no.. eventually I found myself drawn into her tempting world.. she loved me.. or at least that what I thought.. but I had nothing to give In return.. coz I was the pathetic man who will always end up crawling back to the one I love.. the one that I one-sidedly loved.. even if it will cost me what’s left on my pride and self-respect….’’

YeSung smiled, a hurtful smile.

‘’is that why u were running away from me? Is that what u call crawling back? How could u even think that I was forced to do this? Who will force me? And why would I go with their requests if they did.. the love I had u SiHan wasn’t a topic of negotiation.. it was deep routed..’’ and he started hitting his chest. ‘’ deep inside.. I failed to show u that coz I was hurt myself.. the exact same woman who lead u to this dark road was the one who betrayed my love and broke my heart into millions of pieces.. it took me years to resume my daily life without going to bed and crying over her.. but when I met you.. when u confessed to me when we got engaged, never… not even once I lie about how I felt for you.. it was you and only you for me….’’

Kangin took couple of steps forward before speaking out.

‘’all along I thought it was the three of u hurting… you *pointing at SiHan* YeSung.. and Siwon… but now as I hear u all pouring all the sorrows u have been carrying inside.. I feel so stupid.. because not only ur story is heart aching but because I was also a victim of this woman once….’’

Everyone gasped.. every single one of them.

Kangin smiled in pain.

‘’I met her… apparently after she broke up with YeSung.. she was a raising actress and we met in one of her movie openings, I was invited by the movie producer who happen to be a shareholder of our main branch.. and it happened.. I fell irrecoverably in love with her.. and we stayed together for almost a year.. and after all the assistance I gave her.. helping her to reach the top starts level by contacting whoever I had to contact so that she will receive more offers and shine even more.. she ditched me with a cold heart.. and I couldn’t hold her back coz I was mentally paralyzed by the fact that I was stabbed in the back by the very first woman I ever loved….’’

*End of Flash Back*

Yesung finished washing all the dishes, MaRi enjoyed the lunch and drift to sleep.. Siwon called saying the he will be too late for today’s dinner gathering.. EunHyunk, DongHae, Leeteuk and Kangin also were invited for this friends gathering that was originally suggested by Siwon…

YeSung walked to his room and laid in his bed, he turned around and glanced at the photo album placed on Siwon’s table.. he walked towards it and started flipping the pages, laughing at his boyfriend’s silly selcas..

*Flash Back*

After that heavy, rainy day.. YeSung packed all his and MaRi’s belongings and was preparing to leave the Choi family’s house.

‘’what about me…?’’ Siwon walked into YeSung and SiHan’s room, wearing a shattered expression.

YeSung forced a smile before holding Siwon’s hand.

‘’am leaving ur family house.. am not migrating.. u can stop by.. anytime…’’

‘’the way u talk.. as if am a stranger…’’ Siwon said in a deep tone.

YeSung let go of Siwon’s hand and turned around.

‘’there is times in life where we need to isolate ourselves to migrate back to our old selves and reflect on our acts….’’

‘’and this migration… is gonna take u long?’’

YeSung smiled sincerely this time before walking closer to Siwon and resting his head in the taller man’s chest.

‘’I might abandon myself and migrate with a one-way ticket.. but there is no way I will ever bear with departing from u.. whatsoever…’’

*End of Flash Back*

It was already 7:00 p.m, EunHyuk arrived earlier so that he can help YeSung on the food preparation.

They fought non-stop over the dishes display on the table and laughed at their own silliness.

EunHyuk asked YeSung to borrow his phone, he was out of credit but he needed to call DongHae to remind the forever-Alzheimer-victim guy about their dinner gathering, while scrolling down the contact list on YeSung’s phone.. EunHyuk came across a weird name…’’cold wound’’… he looked at YeSung with questioning eyes.. all what YeSung responded with was a smile and a shrug..

*Flash Back*

‘’She won the law suit against SiHan.. he will have to pay her monthly expenses, for herself and the baby.. ‘’ Kangin told Siwon who was preparing food for YeSung, who is running a studying campaign to take an examination for a teaching job in a middle school .

YeSung walked into the kitchen surprising the other two.

‘’I heard that your parents migrates to Canada, is that true?’’ YeSung asked before walking to Siwon’s side and greeting him with a peck on the lips and snuggling him.

‘’they said it will be a long vacation.. they are still trying to cope with the fact that SiHan broke apart from the family and is nowhere to be found…’’

YeSung stared at nowhere in particular and Siwon noticed that.

‘’what about the baby?’’ Siwon asked.

‘’the delivery is predicted in 1 month from now…’’

*End of Flash Back*

Everyone arrived already, including Kangin who looked the most hyper one.. he never let go of Leeteuk hands… yes, they are together now..

‘’Hyung.. how can Siwon ditch us in such a day.. he is such a traitor…’’ DongHae complains before sipping his juice.

YeSung frowned.

‘’I know and I scolded him already but he said he is so busy tonight with the new staff members…’’

‘’our Siwon is doing a good job, am thinking of retirement.. he can even take over my job now with such skills…’’ Kangin said with a smile.

Leeteuk slapped his arm.

‘’don’t even think about it.. we have a long list of countries to travel to this summer, if u retire whose gonna pay for that?’’

‘’AAAAAAAISH.. ur such a stingy old man….’’ Kangin complained causing the others to laugh.

The bell ranged and MaRi hurried to open the door.

An unexpected figure walked in with bunch of plastic bags in hand.

‘’SIWON-AH….’’ EunHyuk who appeared from nowhere called the taller guy who showed his bright dimpled smile in response.

YeSung grinned before walking closer to the taller man.

‘’u said ur not coming…?!’’

‘’how can I miss seeing u roam around in that y apron…’’ Siwon said sarcastically and received a slap on his shoulder by YeSung.

‘’come here Siwon.. hyung will feed u…’’ Kangin said and Siwon couldn’t help but laugh.

That night was full of fun and laughter.. it was around 12:00 a.m when the last guest left.. YeSung and Siwon insisted on walking their friends all the way to the parking area, the last to leave was DongHae.

‘’Hyung.. don’t let this brat make u pregnant, the baby will be ugly…’’ and he received a smack on the head by Siwon while YeSung couldn’t help but blushed.

After sending him away, Siwon turned to his lover’s side,  extended his hand in an invitation for a night walk, hand in hand…

‘’Thank you…’’ YeSung initiated.

‘’for what?’’ Siwon asked showing his charming dimples.

‘’for sparing sometime for this gathering, it’s very rare for us to meet up all together, if u wasn’t here it would have missed a lot..’’

Siwon stopped and turned to look at the elder.

‘’u think I will ever miss a chance to flirt with you when those brats are around..?’’ he said with a wink.

YeSung crossed his arms before pouting.

‘’flirting? U call ur idiotic comment about my y apron, flirting?  Ur so stupid Choi Siwon…’’

Siwon chuckled and cupped YeSung’s face.

‘’since u called me by my full name this means that ur upset.. I will make it up to you…’’ and he got closer circling the smaller man’s waist. ‘’but don’t we need a more private place for that?’’

YeSung smiled before pinching the taller’s cheeks.

‘’u never grow up do u? only ur ert mind do…..’’

‘’am I the one to blame when ur so tempting…’’ Siwon said in a y tone but that fails to trick YeSung who smacked his head.

‘’OUCH………..’’

‘’stop trying to get me laid and let’s go home, its cold here, plus, there are mountains of dishes for u to wash before going to bed tonight…..’’

‘’WHAT? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…..’’ and YeSung burst in laughter at Siwon’s scream, he knew how to torture the younger one, washing the dishes was the ultimate torturing techniques he used that will cause Siwon to cry like a new born, begging for a way out of this terrible punishment.

Siwon ageyo act helped him out to get a compromise with the elder, they laid in bed staring at the ceiling.

‘’hyung….’’

‘’mmmmm…..’’

‘’do u know that.. 1 month from now, it’ll be one year since our first meeting?’’

YeSung turned to the younger’s side.

‘’already??’’

Siwon smiled and turn his head to the elder’s side.

‘’look at ur self u have gotten shorter this past year….’’

YeSung throw a pillow at the other who started laughing.

‘’shorter my .. its u who got fatter….’’

Siwon jumped out of bed and ran to the nearest mirror.

‘’u think so? I thought so too, damn, am totally out of shape….’’

YeSung followed him before standing behind him.

‘’you are.. I think I will look for another man, skinnier one to hook up with…’’

Siwon turned and glared at him.

‘’try and do that, I will kill u both at the spot…’’

YeSung chuckled.

Siown kissed YeSung’s cheek, starling him.

‘’those chubby cheeks belongs only to me, u can’t give an access to anyone else, or ELSE…’’

YeSung smiled before circling the taller man’s neck.

‘’or else… what?’’

Siwon smiled before leaning closer.

‘’I will never do the dishes again….’’

And they both laughed before sharing a deep kiss.

They broke the kiss to catch their breath.. Siwon flashes the elder with a dimpled smile before kissing his forehead.

‘’how did I get so blessed… I still can’t believe that ur mine, and mine only…’’

YeSung buried his face in Siwon’s neck.

‘’it’s me whose showered with blessings.. all the emptiness of my dark years before u stepped in my heart before my life is erased away….’’ He then kissed Siwon’s neck before looking up at him.

‘’I love you…. I love you Siwon…’’

Siwon cupped YeSung’s chin before brushing their lips together..

‘’and am so… in love with you…’’ he murmured in YeSung’s lips…

YeSung POV

It was around 3:00p.m when I arrived home, I had an additional tutorial class for grade 9 students since the midterms were approaching so soon.

I prepared lunch for MaRi and texted Siwon to check whether he will be late once again tonight.

It was almost 8:00p.m when I wake up from my long nap… I checked my phone, there was still no reply from Siwon, I called him once, twice, thrice…but there was no reply.. I decided to go do some grocery shopping to make Siwon some tasty paste for dinner since he loved it..

Time passed by quickly.. it was already 1:30a.m.. I was starting to freak out, I called Siwon over 30 times and on the following try his phone was off.. I was so scared.. what if something bad happened to him.. I called DongHae who suggested stopping by the company where Siwon works, but it was already closed, no one was there since it was too late, pass midnight.. my heart was being squeezed in worry.. DongHae suggested we wait until the morning, if he didn’t show up, we’ll have to call the police.. and that what happened, I felt my legs turning into jelly, DongHae held me in support when they police officer started talking about stuff like, murder, kidnapping and hit & run accidents.. they asked for a picture and personal informations about him… Kangin rushed to my place along with Leeteuk.. they were as worried as I was, and although Eunhyuk calming words were warm, but I couldn’t stop worrying, the tears will fall, dry and fall once again..

1 week passed.. and there was no trace leading to Siwon’s destination…

‘’Its been already 7 days, we tried searching in all places, the places u told us he usually visit alone or with friends, we investigated his co-workers and employees yet no one seems to know where was he heading after work the day he went unfound.. his family is overseas and there is no clues at all at how we can find him.. we are sorry but this case shad to be closed due to lack of evidences and data.’’

And I broke apart… We tried convincing the officer in charge but he refused to help and the same happened with other police station around town.. I felt my sanity chipped out, how could this happen to me? Just when I finally found happiness.. just when we settled down after all the hardships… I recalled our last night together.. the passion and love we showered each other with.. how could that be the farewell.. when I finally embraced happiness, why did it have to stab my soul mercilessly and take him away… Siwon-ah…I fell on my knees allowing the raindrops to drench my bleeding soul, it was another rainy day.. another one where I had to give away part of me, part of my inner should taken away… I closed my eyes and let my back falls hugging the ground.. maybe then, I will wake up to Siwon by my side, and this nightmare will be just… a nightmare..

End of POV

Siwon slowly opened his eyes, he was laying in the floor, handcuffed, clothes covered with mud.. his stomach is screaming in hunger… he powerlessly opened his eyes fully, to be greeted by cold water poured on his head, he jumped in a reflex.. he looked around.. he arrived.. once again.. he was wearing a hat and dark sunglasses to hide his identity…

‘’so…? It’s the 7^th day already Mr.Choi the maknae.. aren’t u planning to give up on ur stubborn act and go with what I asked from you…?’’

Siwon breath was heavy, he was thirsty, hungry and…. Dirty…

‘’I told u hyung.. am not gonna give up on him.. u can take away my life before I break YeSung’s heart…’’ Siwon said.. almost whispering.

It was then when SiHan decided to get rid of the clothing that he used to hide behind, he throw his long leather jacket aside, his glasses and hat and signalled to one of the scary men around, those with big muscles and ugly faces to hand him a stick, one that is made of iron… he pointed that to Siwon’s face directly…

‘’I told u I can tolerate this much.. u don’t wanna give up on him? Its okay.. then u will be the one to blame for all the misery he will have to live in from now on…’’ and he started striking Siwon’s shoulders, legs, his back and stopped before hitting his head with that…

‘’Yesung… is God’s reward for my patience and miserable life.. u taking my life away is better than me being forced to break his heart and turn my back on him, he will never look at you, even if am gone.. u were never the one destined for him hyung.. u can cut me into pieces, but that won’t change the fact that you are so pathetic, committing crime to impose ur emotions on people and forcefully working on making them feel it back to you.. Yesung is mine.. he was from the very beginning….’’ And it was then when a fountain of blood fell from Siwon’s forehead as SiHan last strike landed on Siwon’s forehead and his eyes….

SiHan glared at the bloody figure before his eyes before murmuring to himself.

‘’if I can’t have him.. then I will let u guys be.. I just made sure u will never be able to see his eyes, face, smile.. will never be able to touch him.. ever again… this what u get when u try and grab a hold of my belongings.. Yesung is SiHan’s whether he approved it or not.. he is mine and mine only….’’

3 years later..

‘’which room is it again? I have been running back and forth the ward but can’t find it…’’ Eunhyuk complained.

‘’here it is…’’ DongHae pointed at the room..

‘’sunbanim….’’ EunHyuk greeted once he and DongHae entered the room where MaRi is being hospitalized..

YeSung smiled to his friends who stood on both sides of him.

‘’is she okay?’’ DongHae asked looking at sleeping MaRi.

YeSung raised his head, voice cracking…

‘’her eyesight is getting weaker and weaker.. its all my fault.. only if I didn’t mix her medications with mine.. I can’t believe I did this to my own sister…’’ he then broke into tears… EunHyuk hugged him and DongHae looked away, trying not to show his watery eyes…

‘’Siwon oppa…..’’

All three men looked at the girl laying before their eyes…

‘’MaRi-ah….’’ DongHae walked to her side and held her hand, she opens her eyes and smiled weakly to DongHae.

‘’DongHae oppa… is that you? U look kinda blurry.. but ur still as handsome as ever right?’’ she smiled. ‘’I dreamt of Siwon oppa once again, he said he will visit me soon, he asked me to take care of Yesung oppa and not to let the nurses unnis flirt with him.. shall we buy some cake when he show up.. I missed him so much, don’t u miss him too?’’

And by that YeSung fell on his knees, he closed his mouth with one hand and used the other one for support.

EunHyuk tapped his friend’s shoulder before back-hugging him.. he knew that no matter how many years passes, Yesung didn’t lose the hope that one day… maybe one day.. Siwon will be back.. back to him.. and back to MaRi too..

The next day

YeSung was helping MaRi eating her breakfast when he recalled his last night’s conversation with MaRi’s ophthalmologist.

 ‘’am so sorry.. but there is nothing we can do.. its so hard to find a donors all we can do is send requests to other hospitals and we wish there will be some good news, am really sorry Mr.Kim…’’

YeSung swallowed his tears and decided to go for a walk since MaRi wanted to spend some time with her nurse unni.

It was when Dr.Han the one in charge of MaRi’s case called him asking him to stop by  his office as soon as possible.

YeSung steps quickened, it was too quick for him to notice that there was as man approaching from the cross side, he unintentionally pumped into the man and both fell in the floor, YeSung massaged his knees as he feel on them hard and he turned to the side to check on the other man who nervously wear his thick sunglasses a cap covering most of his features..

‘’am sorry’’

‘’am sorry’’

They said at the same time, they then both smiled.

YeSung stood up and tried to help the other man who was searching for his stick on the floor.

YeSung felt his chest tightening…

He is blind..

The man flash him with a captivating smile..

‘’thank u very much…’’

‘’ur welcome.. plz be careful next time..’’ YeSung added in concern.

The man raised his head revealing more of his features which were hidden under the thick sunglasses.

‘’if am to pump into a handsome, kind guy like yourself I would rather stop being careful…’’

YeSung smiled, it was when the man extended his hand, YeSung was startled but he didn’t give it a second thought, he immediately shook hands with him..

‘’am KangMin… you?’’

‘’YeSung.. hope we can meet once again…’’ YeSung said after their handshake.

The other man smiled.

‘’we will.. if destiny said so.. we will definitely will..’’ and he disappeared…

10 minutes later in Dr.Han’s office

‘’what? What… what did u just say?’’ YeSung asked in disbelieve.

Dr. Han smiled before holding YeSung’s hand in a friendly gesture.

‘’I said MaRi will have the surgery, just an hour ago a cornea donor stopped by and signed the paper for the surgery.. MaRi’s eyesight will get even better than before YeSung-ssi.. congratulations….’’

YeSung was still taken back by surprise, he looked straight in the doctor’s eyes…

‘’the donor… who is he?’’

‘’he is one of my colleague’s patients, he stops by quite often for therapy since he suffers from eyesight problem.. am not sure about his last name I guess its Choi.. Choi KangMin….’’

Destiny rushed our road crossing stranger..

Destiny is there to add a new Choi to my already long list of sorrowful memories of the Chois..

Who are you? Lovely stranger?

End of Chapter [14]

A.N: am back once again, with a double update in one day.. I told u there will be serious twist of events… plz keep supporting this story :’)

P.S : the chapter pic is a HUGEEEEEEEEEE hint ^^

Comments are LOVED :D