White Day - Girl's Day

Chapter 45: Aftermath

“I presume you have already reflected on your actions.” Yihan said in his calm but intimidating voice, entwining his hands together on top of his table. Observing his son, Lu Han, who was standing still in front of him, not uttering any words, his eyebrows then creased in frustration. “Had you acted more maturely in the past then you wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

Lu Han raised his head and stared back at his father upfront. “I don’t regret everything that I did, father, if that’s your concern.”

After staying silent in front of Yihan ever since he came, Lu Han finally spoke, but it gave no relief to the older male; instead, it vexed him, but he wasn’t going to let his son take joy in it. “So, you’re planning to continue sheltering that girl? Have you stooped so low as to indulge yourself in such immorality?”

Hearing Yihan’s words, Lu Han clenched his fists in aggravation. “You have no rights to speak of her like that for she’s not that kind of woman.”

Yi Han knew that Jaera wasn’t that kind of girl. The moment she had proven him wrong the night of Jongmi’s birthday, he immediately knew that she was an individual bearing a lot of potential. Yihan had seen so many people in his life, he had met and encountered individuals which held strong exteriors, but remained empty inside; people who couldn’t defend themselves, individuals who didn’t hold dignity and were not worth of what they seem to be. Over the years, he can’t deny the fact that he had been the same, empty and cold, as well as his sons; their family may had retained their strong façade, but truthfully, they had been reduced to nothing.

He didn’t want that for his family; Yihan wanted both Lu Han and Kris to mature. Every day, he had wished that a miracle would suddenly down upon them and change everything. Fortunately, it did. Even though it didn’t happen to all of them, even if it was only for Lu Han, it did come, and it gave Yihan a small hope. He had held prejudice for the girl when he first saw her, but all of those disappeared once he saw the difference in Lu Han’s eyes while watching her perform on the stage; they were b with affection and happiness—ones of which he had never seen in his son’s eyes over the past few years.

He had taken an interest on the girl, especially upon knowing who she really was, but he wasn’t going to let things go easily. He knew Lu Han more than anybody else, he knew that his son still needed to grow; in Yihan’s eyes, his son was still a kid, so he wanted him to prove himself. He knew of the underlying affection Lu Han held for the girl and he didn’t really oppose to that, but he wanted to use it to make him grow; to let his son mature fully, so that his wife could finally rest in peace knowing that her youngest son was fine.

“Then prove it,” Yihan said, raising an eyebrow towards Lu Han who looked disconcerted. “Prove to me that that girl’s not just your playtoy and that you were indeed just helping her out.”

Confused with his father’s words, Lu Han stared at Yihan in bewilderment waiting for him to continue.

“Go on a vacation with Jongmi.” Yihan spat out. He then watched as Lu Han’s eyes widened in surprise as he continued to speak. “I want you to accompany her and get to know each other more in preparation for your wedding. Now that she finally turned eighteen, your engagement with her won’t be so far anymore.”

Lu Han hated it; he hated the fact that his father still favoured Jongmi for him. He already knew that it was going to be that way, but he still couldn’t accept it. He despised the way his father had acted blind from the truth and sided with a liar; for him, Yihan could’ve been better.

“Sure, I’ll go with Jongmi, but that won’t change the fact that I’m never going to marry her.” Lu Han said, keeping his eyes straight on Yihan as the latter did the same. “I know I did wrong, but know that I’m still keeping my words; I never regretted anything.”

Giving Yihan a bow, Lu Han then turned to his back and made way for the door, leaving the room afterwards. Yihan watched him blankly, being careful in hiding his emotions; however, the reoccurring pain in his chest suddenly acted, causing him to cough uncontrollably for the nth time of that day.

“Sir, if I may speak, I highly suggest that you visit your physician again.” Yihan’s assistant spoke, handing him a glass of water and a tablet. “Your cough’s getting worse. Shall I make an appointment?”

Yihan raised his hand towards his assistant. After downing the medicine, he then shook his head and breathed deeply, giving the man a small reassuring smile. “I’m fine, but I do agree with your suggestion. I should probably meet up with Dr. Kim again.”

Jaera’s hands twitched as the phone suddenly rang in her hands. Seeing the caller id, her eyes went wide as she bit her bottom lip. She wanted to speak to the female as soon as she can; she wanted to talk to her and explain everything to her, but she wasn’t prepared. She was scared about the aftermath for she knew that there was a possibility for their friendship to be tarnished, and that’s the least she would want. However, she also knew that talking to her was inevitable, so with all the courage that she had, she finally answered.

“Jongmi,” Jaera said, her heart racing incredulously as she heard nothing on the other line. “I-I—“

“You’re not the real cousin of Lu Han-oppa, are you Jaera?”

It was a question which Jaera had already expected, but hearing them in actual made everything even worse. Seeing the look on Jongmi’s face the night of her party, the betrayed and disappointed look on her face, it made Jaera confirm that their secret had definitely been found out. She hoped that she was wrong, that she was just jumping to conclusions, but who was she to kid? Yihan, Lu Han’s father, had found out of their real situation so surely, Jongmi would know as well. It didn’t really matter anymore who told her or how she knew about everything for all Jaera wanted now was to save their friendship and nothing else.

“No,” She finally spoke, breathing deeply to calm herself. “I’m not his real cousin.”

The line went silent for a couple of seconds, but Jongmi spoke again afterwards. “I see.”

“Jongmi, I’m really sorry for not telling you sooner. I was planning