Chapter Twelve:

(Jaejoong)

Jaehee’s death broke the last small thread that held our family together. Junmyeon was still in a coma and Heechul had mysteriously disappeared. I panicked when I realized that Heechul was gone but my parents acted like it was nothing. For the first time in my life I shouted at them and demanded that they do something to find my brother, but my efforts to get through to them failed.

Having no reason to stay in Korea, my family moved to New York. Yixing’s family took care of Junmyeon and updated us with his condition. I wanted to stay with him but my parents had the last word. I was transferred to a different school and lived in a different country. I was away from Yoochun. I was away from Yunho with a clear idea that I would never see them again.

I didn’t know why my heart ached that I never said goodbye to my mortal enemy but it did.

Jaehee was the only light that the darkness of our family had. She died and so did the light and all of us fell into the pit of the abyss covered in nothing but darkness. My eldest brother was missing, my youngest brother was in a coma and my parents’ relationship was slowly dying. It didn’t take long for my mother to have an affair. It didn’t take long for my father to take on a mistress. It didn’t take long for them to file a divorce and left me in the care of their secretary, Byun Jangsoo.

That time, I almost lost it. I almost broke down. But my drive to finish my schooling and make something of myself overcame all the sadness that all the pain gave me. Mr. Byun helped me a lot. He became my father figure and along with his wife and son Baekhyun, I had finally felt what it was like to be a family. Mr. Byun was away most of the time because of the work he had with the company, so Baekhyun was my constant companion. I started to smile again. I even started singing and pursuing art.

I was finally enjoying life.

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Before I knew it three years have passed, news of Junmyeon waking up reached me and soon I was on the first flight back home. My parents didn’t come with me. They had work and refused to be disturbed. I didn’t care anymore if they wanted to go or not. The important thing for me was to be there for my brother. I let Baekhyun come with me. He was excited to see Junmyeon and Seoul.

“Are there skyscrapers in Seoul?” Baekhyun asked in English.

We were nearing Seoul and Baekhyun clearly could not hide his excitement. I smiled at him and ruffled his hair.

“Yeah. But not as big as there is in New York.” I answered him.

“Do they have pizza and hotdogs and…”

“Why don’t you find out for yourself? You’ll be staying for a few weeks, so why not discover things on your own?” I told him before he could bombard me with his questions.

Baekhyun was already sixteen but acted like a thirteen year old. He was curious about everything and was always smiling. He reminded me of Jaehee. In his own way, Baekhyun filled the void that my little sister left. I promised this time, I will not let someone I care about get hurt or be taken away from me. I will protect them with everything that I have without holding anything back.

The plane finally landed and I had to keep Baekhyun from jumping up and down in his excitement. He had always wanted to visit Seoul and pleaded to his parents that he had to come with me.

Of course they let him. They spoiled him rotten so it was unavoidable.

“Can we go to Namsan Tower after we go to the hospital?” Baekhyun asked as we entered the car that would drive us to the hospital where Junmyeon was admitted.

 “If our schedule allows us.” I answered him.

He smiled at me then clapped his hands in excitement. While Baekhyun was excited, I was nervous. It had been three years since I set foot in Seoul. I would be seeing my brother again. Three years have passed. I graduated from college and running one of my parents’ companies. I am a different person than I was before.

Will he be glad to see me?

After being gone for three years would he still consider me his brother?

We arrived at the hospital a few minutes later. Some members of the Zhang family greeted me including Yixing’s father. He informed me that Yixing was with Junmyeon and that they were waiting for me. My brother woke up two days ago and hadn’t said a word since then.

The shock must have been the reason the doctors told me. He must have been overwhelmed with what was happening around him. I felt bad as I entered the elevator that lead to Junmyeon’s private room. I have been away from him when I should have been here to give him comfort. He must have been so scared when he woke up and everything was different.

Thank God for Yixing for never leaving Junmyeon’s side.

When we reached the floor I was surprised to see Yixing standing outside of Junmyeon’s room. He was wearing the uniform of SM Academy. He had changed so much since I last saw him. He was taller with his hair dyed brown and had grown into a man instead of a boy.

I went closer to him and he bowed his head when he saw me. He smiled but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. I knew then that something was wrong.

“Yixing, what are you doing outside?” I asked him.

“Suho told me to get out. He’s really upset.” Yixing told me.

I heard some crashing noises that came from the room and immediately went in fearing that something was wrong. Yixing and Baekhyun followed behind me. The room was a mess. There were broken glass on the floor, flowers were everywhere, card (I presume were get well cards from Yixing) were torn up and scattered everywhere the blankets and pillows were the same. I looked up and saw Junmyeon tryi