Yuri POV

"Aigoo... Aigoo... " Mom continued to utter as she walks back and forth around the living room of her home.

"Umma. Can't you just relax?" I snapped and chuckled.

She looked at me, "Tell me, how can I relax? Your Uncle Vincent is too much a blabbermouth and blunt! How could I relax with that, huh? What if he spilled the fact to Jaejoong and Elise that I'm alive?"

"Then, so be it. Let them know."

"Aiishh-- Yuri, I'm not planning to show up to them anytime soon!"

"Then, until when are you gonna hide from them? Forever?"

"Yeah, if it's possible, why not?"

"But, I thought you're planning for a grand entrance when you show up to your best friend?"

"Yeah, that's my second choice. My real plan is to never show up to them at all."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want any more complications in my life!" She sighed loudly. "Don't you feel it at all, Yuri? Every time you are with Stephanie? When a Kwon and a Hwang is in one place, everything's in chaos and turns into ruins. It's like we're all trapped in a field in between positive and negative electromagnetic charges... Every time the two decided to be together, the pain, pressure, tension comes in between. In the end, it'll always result in destruction."

"Wow." I chuckled. "What a beautiful quote with a touch of Science."

She glared at me. "You pesky brat."

"I will surely use that on Stephanie when we meet again. Maybe a little drama will stir her up and then make her come back to me."

She then sighed deeply. She had herself fallen on the couch, "You sure are determined to get back together with her, huh?"

"..."

"I thought, you're already tired of going against your destiny, Yuri?"

I looked away, "I want to try... At least, this one last time..."

"You sure love her so much, eh?"

"..."

"Well... that's your life... You have all the right to decide on whatever you want to do with your it." She stood up and took a seat right next to me. She held my hand. "Just always remember, I am here right by your side. I'll support you no matter what."

"Thanks, umma." I hugged her tightly, "I love you."

She giggled, "I love you too, dear."

We broke away from our hug, I cupped her face. "I will fulfill my promise to you, umma."

"What promise?"

"Many grandchildren. You're gonna have bunches of little Yuris and Stephanies roaming around here bugging you."

She chuckled, "Silly. I only want little Yuris, okay? Not little Stephanies."

"Umma, stop bullying Stephanie. She's gonna be your future daughter-in-law, okay?"

She sighed loudly, "It's not like I have a choice."

I chuckled, "Yup. You have no choice so be nice, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever. But... Let me ask... How are you so sure she's gonna get back together with you?"

"We had an almost three-month affair, you know. Isn't that enough of a proof that she wants me back?"

Suddenly, a frown of sadness painted on my mother's face. She just ended up staring at the floor with her thoughts immersed into nothingness.

"Umma, what's wrong...?"

"Her horrors..."

"..."

"You must see... You must know her horrors... her pain..."

"D-do..."

"..."

"D-do you know about it?"

"No... I don't fully know..." She caressed my cheek. "That's why you have to make her open up her heart and mind to you." she smiled faintly. "You have the key to her heart, right?"

"Well..." I looked away. "Our symbol was already long gone. I lost it. It was not in the warehouse where I stacked our old things..."

"It's because it's better for it to be kept safe in far, far away."

I looked at her in confusion, "What do you mean?"

She picked up her purse and took out a small box. She then handed it to me. "Open it."

I complied and found the necklace I was searching for in many years passed. "Y-you have it all along?"

"Well..." She chuckled." You never asked me nor anyone, not even Taeyeon, not even Rap Monster. I thought you didn't care about it anymore."

"I... I thought it was a sign... When I visited that warehouse in 2013 and found out it was gone, I took it as a sign for me that I should really let go of her. That's why I.... I surrendered..."

"And now you found your will to fight again. See? It's just in time."

I smiled, "Thanks, umma." I looked at her. "This will help. This will really help."

---

It was already 8 PM when Jessica and Uncle Vincent came back from their dinner with the Hwangs. Mom immediately greeted them in a very cheerful manner, "Vincent-oppa! My sub future daughter-in-law! How did it go?"

They were both showing glum expression, however. Nonetheless, Jessica smiled faintly at my mom in return, "It went great, auntie."

"Great. You two didn't spill the news of me being alive, right?"

Jessica faked a chuckle, "Yes, of course, Auntie."

I finally took a good look at my godfather. His eyes... they depicted nothing but sorrow...

He took a few steps then settled right in front of me. He rested his hand on my head while staring at me. Afterwards, he burst into tears.

What...? What's going on...?

Jessica attended to him quickly, "Dad. You must be really tired. You better take a rest now."

"I'll take it from here." Mom snapped in. She held Uncle by his forehand. "You better take a rest now too, Jessica." She then guided Uncle to his room upstairs.

I looked at my ex-fiance, "Did something happened in your dinner gathering?"

She looked at me and smiled faintly, "Nothing."

"Then, what's with Uncle?"

"He just misses mom, I think. It was brought up earlier."

"I see..."

...

...

"Yuri...?"

"Yeah...?"

She went closer and caressed my cheek, "I love you."

I chuckled, "Whoa, Jess. We already broke up, remember?"

She cupped my face with her hands, "But, I love you. I really do love you."

"Err-- alright. Uhmmm... hooray???"

She chuckled, "Yes, hooray."

We both settled on the couches, "How did it go, by the way? You said Yoong was there too, right?"

"Yes. Like I said, the dinner went well."

"Did Uncle and Yoong clash or something?"

"Oh. No. Their first meeting turned out well. Though, it was a little embarrassing at first but, thank goodness it went okay."

"I see... So, how are you and Yoong? Have you two talked?"

"Well... We uhhmmm... settled as friends..."

"What?!"

She sighed loudly, "It's just to let everything that happened die down, okay. It's not exactly as permanent or something."

"And, who suggested that?"

"We both did."

I sighed loudly, "That idiot..."

"Look. It's not really a big deal, okay. It's like we're just back in getting-to-know each other phase. Then, afterwards, if we feel that the time is right then, that's it. We'll just hook up again. See? It's like... no pressures. Just chill~~"

"Chill icy cold, you mean?"

"Yuri, let me handle my own love life, okay? I desired for this too, anyway. Like, you know, a break from the loving and such."

I narrowed my eyes as I gazed at her, "Why do I have a feeling you two will settle as FuBus?"

"Silly. No."

She then stood up and stretched out her arms. "Well... I think I better sleep now, Yul. This day's too much exhausting for me."

"Alright. Goodnight, Jess." I stood up too. "And I better head back to the unit."

"Alright. Take care."

---

A few days passed, Uncle Vincent's still in a down mood. Well, he's not on his usual jolly and annoying self. Yes, he engaged in casual conversations but, still, he's on his down mood. Also, for some reason, he never really tried to look at me too.

Oh well. I have to do something about this…

Yes, yes. I am a person who likes to cheer everyone up. *Sigh*. Look. I live a tragic life. So, as much as possible, I want everyone around me to at least to be okay. In that way, I won't get to even more be depressed with my life. So, yeah, that's why I'm meddling with everyone's lives.

Anyway, I decided to invite Krystal to my mom's place. Though, I know Krystal might not be Uncle Vincent's daughter but, I think he's been asking about Krystal from Jessica lately. Well... I just hope this will help his mood go back to normal, though.

"Ready?" I asked her before opening the main door of the house.

Krystal sighed loudly and looked at me boringly. "Of course, Yuri-yah. It's just Uncle Vincent, okay. Not a big deal."

"Promise you won't be rude on him, okay?"

"Alright. Alright. Let's just get inside. This bump of mine if heavy, okay? I need to take a seat fast."

I chuckled, "Alright. Sorry."

I opened the door then shouted, "Uncle Vincent?" We both walked inside and found mom alone and busy browsing her phone. "Hi, umma." I greeted.

She looked at our direction. "Oh. My Favorite son! Wait-- is that---" She stood up and excitedly uttered, "Krystal! It's been a while!"

"Hi, Miss Shin. It's nice to see you again."

They both shared a hug. Then mom asked, "You're pregnant? Is this Yuri's?"

"No, no, no! Uhhmmm-- I'm actually dating someone else right now."

"Oh. I see. Congratulations in advance, by the way."

She giggled in return, "Thanks, Miss Shin."

"Oh. Please. Just call me Auntie."

Just in time, Jessica and Uncle Vincent came back from the backyard, Uncle was then too shocked from seeing Krys. "K-Krystal?!"

Krystal looked at him boringly and responded in sarcasm, "Hi, Uncle Vincent. I'm 'glad' you're finally out."

"Oh. My daughter~" Uncle Vincent approached her quickly and gave her an embrace.

"I am not your daughter, okay. How many times should I tell you that?"

He broke away then cupped her face with his both hands, "You are my daughter."

"Is that the effect of prison-life on you? Don't you know what are considered facts and not? Once again, Uncle, I am your brother's daughter on your late wife. I did not come from you. Where are you getting that idea?"

"You are my daughter, okay." He still insisted then gave her another tight hug.

"Uncle, my baby. You're gonna squeeze him!"

"Oops. I'm sorry." He broke away. "It's for how many months already?"

"Five."

"Oh. I'm gonna be a grandfather soon!" He rubbed her tummy and talked to the bump. "Hello there, my first grandchild. How I wish your mother will give me the privilege to name you. I will name you after me! Do you want my English name or my Korean name, Yooch--?"

"Uncle! He's not your grandchild!"

Mom interfered and rubbed Krystal's back. "Alright. Krystal. You better calm down. That will do harm to your baby."

"Miss Shin, this old man has been insisting that I am his daughter for eight years now. For freaking seriously... he's really out of his mind, I swear." She glared back at Uncle Vincent. The latter's just returning a warm smile and stare. They both just ended up in silence for a long while.

Afterwards, Krystal broke the ice, "Just so you know, Uncle, I am not really glad you got out."

...

"Well, I would have been happy if the price of your freedom wasn't Jongin-oppa's imprisonment." She pointed at her tummy. "He's the father of my unborn child. And what you did just make my son fatherless for two years."

Uncle was too shocked of her revelation. He seemed to be disbelieving on the matter. "N-no-- no way..."

"What do you mean no way?"

"Y-you're dating that Jongin? W-why? Why him?"

That had Krystal got infuriated, "What do you mean why him?! I love him, okay?!"

"But, out of all people?!"

"It's not like I forced my feelings for him!"

He closed his eyes then a massaged his temples, "Aigoo... This is so messed up..."

"Messed up? Pfft. Uncle. Stop acting like you're really concerned about me. We're not a family."

He glared at her this time, "How many times should I tell you I am your father?!"

"You don't freaking make sense!"

"Anna told me everything! YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER TOO!"

We were all shocked and muted because of his revelation. Well, the two sisters had it worse, actually. Krystal's mouth was dropped so low as she stared back at Uncle with widened eyes.

"Wh-what a-are you talking about?" she asked in a stutter.

Uncle sighed deeply first and explained, "Months before she passed away, she told me the truth, that, I am really your father. Well... You are aware enough Michael's gay, right?"

"Y-yeah! My dad's gay but, he's still capable of having a child!"

"Yeah, I know but I just wanna point that out. But, you see... for over twenty years, your mother was unsure. It was only until s