Chapter 21

The spring had come. Before everybody realized, it was March already. Yuri had opened an account under her son’s name secretly. She cashed in the cheque from Yunho every month without touching any cent of it. After she goes to Australia, the money would go to Chunghee. She hoped that it could lessen her guilt for leaving him in the future.

Hiding her secret from Yunho’s trace, she made a precaution. She always took the money in cash from his account then deposited it to her son’s account. She knew Yunho was smart, he would know where the money has gone if she transferred it directly to Chunghee’s. The idea brought a giggle to her. She felt that they were liked playing hide & seek. However, she found a little bit of excitement to beat Yunho in everything.

On one fine day, Yuri went shopping around with Tiffany at downtown. The weather was so nice. Seoul basically has a tropical, marine weather. After clearing Yunho’s cheque at the bank, Yuri & Tiffany walked into a nice cafe for lunch. Today she had several hours to indulge herself after tucking Chunghee to bed.

“I’m starving, Yuri. Let’s go for lunch.” Tiffany suggested, as her stomach began to growl. Yuri stopped & remained silent, “It’s my treat.” Tiffany said, grabbing her hand & dragging her into the cafe.

“What if I’m broke?” Yuri said playfully, with a big smile on her face.

Tiffany set her brown, wide, almond-shaped eyes on her, “I just know that. You’re not spending a lot now.” Both of them burst out laughing.

“But Ti, be careful. I eat a lot now. You could’ve been broke as I am.” She best friend.

“That’s alright. You can order anything you like. I can just send the bill to your husband to pay me back.” Tiffany back.

Yuri frowned & then pouted attractively, “You dare to threaten me with his name.”

“Why not? Who doesn’t know the Jung in this country?” She answered, chuckling.

Yuri immediately put her hand on Tiffany’s heart-shaped glossy pink lips, “We’re in public, Ti. I don’t want anyone to know about it. Only you beside my family knows about him & me. You promised me to keep a secret.” She glared at Tiffany.

“Oops, sorry, Yuri.”

“Never mind, let’s go. I want a table next to the open window. I need some fresh air after being stuck at home for these past few months.”

The waiter led them to their table & gave them time to pursue their menu. Tiffany was reading the menu seriously while Yuri had closed the menu book.

“What do you want to order?”

“A cup of tea.”

“What?” Tiffany lifted up her face. She looked at her in puzzlement.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that. You know I’m on a diet. I’m trying hard to get my shape back but he always brings all those delicious food I couldn’t resist. He destroys my efforts. He’s such a devil.” Yuri said, with a laugh in her voice.

Tiffany frowned as she didn’t catch up with her meaning, “Who is he?”

“Ti. Don’t pretend that you don’t know what I meant. Of course him, Yunho Oppa.” Yuri whispered, the last word as if she was afraid other guests would hear her voice.

Tiffany looked at her bewilderedly. Yuri blushed slightly when she said Yunho’s name, “I thought the both of you had finished by the time the baby was born. You said you will divorce him straight away after the baby is born.”

Yuri lowered her eyes from Tiffany’s questioning look. She muttered weakly, “It should be like that but I promised him to nurse his son.”

“You nurse his son?! Until when, Yuri?! Do you know it would cost you a broken heart by the time you have to leave your baby?! A bond between mother & child is hard to be broken!” Tiffany said, raising her voice a little bit.

“I know, Ti.” Yuri closed her eyes, gasping for some fresh air before continuing, “But I don’t have a heart to let them go. Oppa has been so nice to me & during the last few days, we have built a good relationship. I could laugh out loud from hearing his jokes as if nothing horrible happened between us. I could accept him now without any hatred towards him anymore or we could play together with Chunghee forgetting the time.” She paused & took in a deep breath, ‘& we kissed’; she wanted to say it but was too embarrassed, “Oh god, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Then she put her hands up to covered her face.

Tiffany scrutinized her best friend’s face. Every time she spent time with her after the tragedy, Yuri always had a troubled face. How did her best friend since high school changed so much? Back then, she was always happy & cheerful when they walked & spent time in their outing or talked in the phone. She always laughed a lot when she was with her. When she asked Yuri why she was always cheerful, Yuri said that it was her protective shield from a misery. Yuri had a perfect life & Yoongi was the only love of her life. In Yuri’s heart, Yoongi was the only man she’d ever loved but now? Tiffany sighed.

“You said them. Does it mean your son & his father?” She asked carefully.

Yuri stared at her & then nodded weakly.

“Are you falling in love with him, Yuri?”

Yuri nodded again weakly, “I guess so. I don’t know. It might be only a crush. He’s so nice, being a gentleman & full of surprises that makes my heart beat faster.”

“What about Yoongi Oppa?”

Letting out a big sigh, Yuri looked at the view from the window, “Honestly, I don’t know, Ti. Every time I strengthened my heart to forget Yunho Oppa, his image will come into my mind. When I looked at my engagement party photos with Yoongi Oppa, without my consent, I tried to picture Yunho Oppa’s face in Yoongi Oppa’s place. It’s rather sad I suppose as we don’t have a future together. You might think that I’m crazy but I’m crazy.” Yuri took in a deep breath several times to overcome her emotion.

Tiffany let out a big sigh, too. She stared at her best friend who was avoiding her gaze, “Does he love you, too?”

Yuri looked up with misty eyes & shook her head weakly, “I don’t think so. He’s never said he loves me. What makes him attracted to me? I’m just an ordinary girl that doesn’t belonged to his high-class society. I’m not pretty as his other girlfriends. I just happened to be the victim of his ual outburst.” Her beautiful eyes were glistening with tears now. She turned her head again, to the window, looking at the children who were throwing breads to feed the birds. Hearing the children’s innocent laughter, she suddenly remembered her son. She smiled bitterly, “Maybe I won’t be around to see Chunghee grows up.” She muttered, under her breath. Her eyes were softening. She was still marveling at the sight of the children playing with the birds when she spotted Yunho & his girlfriend chatting cheerfully. Her eyes widened.

Tiffany who was watching her