[13 Months Ago]

Kyuhyun was coming out of his office building at 9pm, yawning and rubbing his eyes like an innocent kid. Some things just never change; some people just never grow up. He buttoned up his jacket and was ready to walk to the subway station.

“Cho Kyuhyun-ssi?” someone stopped him in his track, a man probably in his early 40’s, dressed all in black.

“Who wants to know?” Kyuhyun asked.

“Call me Mr. Kim. President Choi requested to see you. an you please come with us?” the man bowed politely.

That Mr. Kim guy didn’t look dangerous, and it’s not right for a 40-something to bow first to a younger person, so Kyuhyun bowed back and decided to follow the older man to a black sedan parked nearby.

Kyuhyun had been quiet for the first 15 minutes of the ride. He was wondering why Siwon’s father suddenly wanted to see him. And he was deciding on how to plot his strategy against the old man.

“Ahjussi, where are we going?” Kyuhyun asked Mr. Kim out of the blue.

“To see President Choi.” Mr. Kim answered.

“You know very well I’m not asking you for the intention, Ahjussi. I’m asking for a location.” Kyuhyun stated. It somehow got Mr. Kim laughing.

“Oh my dear boy, I can see why Young Master Siwon is deeply in love with you.” He said.

“Well, I’ll take it as a compliment. But don’t think I will let you go without giving me proper answer just because a compliment.” Kyuhyun said.

Mr. Kim laughed again.

“Such a witty boy. Well, I guess I just have to tell you then. Weare going to a country club. President Choi is waiting for you there. Why does it important that you know where we are going? It’s not gonna help you avoid it.”

Kyuhyun scoffed.

“Oh, I’m not trying to avoid anything, good sir. I just need to let someone know where I will be tonight and whom I am meeting. In case things don’t go to my advantage, at least someone would know where to start looking and who to suspect.”

Then the rest of the ride was spent in silence. It took another 10 minutes to get to their destination. And once they got there, Kyuhyun was quickly ushered to the VIP room, inside of which, sat a middle-aged man with a stern face.

He was Siwon’s father.

“Have a seat, Kyuhyun-ssi.” The man suggested, “Relax, I’m not planning to do anything other than talking to you.”

Kyuhyun hesitated but took the seat anyway.

“You see, Kyuhyun-ssi, I have been watching Siwon and you since you were both in high school.” The man started. “And I have to admit, I was very shocked. Siwon, had never gone out of track before he met you.”

Kyuhyun scoffed silently. Gone out of track, you said? Geez....

“Despite the popular believe, I’m not a very close-minded person, Kyuhyun-ssi. Watching you kids grew up together, I can see that Siwon is genuinely happy with you. I, too, have grown to like you as a son. But you have to know that other people might not be as generous as me or your parents. People can be really jugdemental sometimes, especially in our circle, if you know what I mean. You will be facing more trouble and hardships than most couple. Your love will be put to the test over and over again.

I have been hard on Siwon, so he can get the idea of how people might see your relationship. But I’m sure you have known by now, that Siwon always managed to dodge having to choose between you over something else. And I’m running out of options here.”

“Where are you going with this?” Kyuhyun finally spoke up.

Siwon’s father sighed.

“I wanted him to prove his love for you. I want him to always put you before anything else.”

“But making him choose between me and his family is too hard, don’t you think?” Kyuhyun cut the man, “And I don’t want to be a burden.”

“He will realize in time, that you are not an option. You are a companion. And all he needs to do is stand up and introduces you to us. If he doesn’t even have the courage to do that, how will he take you to the world?”

Kyuhyun thought about what Siwon’s father had said. And he began to realize that the man was right.

“Do you know how much my wife wished to meet you?” Siwon’s father spoke again, “She has been keeping your picture in her wallet and would just stare at it smiling for hours. She’s very fond of you, you know.”

“But why? She doesn’t even know me.” Kyuhyun reasoned.

“I told you, we’ve been watching over you. I think we know you a little bit more than you think.” He smiled.

“So, back to our topic. Shall there comes a time when Siwon shows a hint of regret of having fallen for you, I want you to—“

“Leave him?” Kyuhyun cut the man again. It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes. But don’t go too far. Always leave traces behind so he can go after you when he realized that you’re all he needs in life.”

Kyuhyun sighed.

“Why do have to make it so difficult to teach him something so simple?”

“Because I need him to be as strong as possible to protect you and his family. And I want him to love you as strong as possible to endure the hardships that is surely coming your way.”

“Alright then. I will leave him. But only if he regrets loving me.” Kyuhyun finally agreed.

“Exactly.” The old man smiled.

“But what if he gives up on me?” Kyuhyun said worrily, “I don’t wanna lose him, Abeonim. I love him too much.”

Siwon’s father almost teared up hearing how Kyuhyun adressed him. Abeonim. He loved that word coming out of Kyuhyun’s mouth.

“Don’t worry, son... He’ll come around. Love always does.” He said.

Kyuhyun looked up in amazement.

“Funny. That’s exactly what my parents used to say.”

“Then we’ll get along nicely.” Siwon’s father said with a smile.

So they made the agreement. The have come to an understanding. Then they talked some more, catching up with the past few years. Siwon’s father insisted that Kyuhyun had dinner before he go, because he wanted to feed his future son-in-law. And there, he wished Siwon could be there to see them together and leave out all the worries, once and for all

.

=End of Epilogue=