21 | Secret

 

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It was a good 5 minutes of silence before Yul and Jessica finally had come to their senses. Both however still couldn't able to believe the sight of a very much alive father of Yoona. 

 

"What is... ha-happening here?" The first question that came from Yul. "Didn't... didn't we have spread your ashes already?"

 

"Mr. Im? Is that really you?" Jessica also speaks. She's having goosebumps all over her body. She's as if staring to a ghost. Or not? But it's unbelievable still.

 

The twins who were slowly calming down in their Grandpa's arms turned their heads to face their Appa and his wife. "Appa, Mommy Jessica!" both called out in unison.

 

"Grandpa is alive." Paul smiled happily.

 

"He did not even died." Daniel added, glancing over their grandpa with the same happy smile in his face. The moment they saw their grandpa, he and his brother were just too happy and rushed to him that instant.

 

"I know this is totally unbelievable, but I can explain. So please, give me this chance... Yul... Miss Jessica-ssi." Mr. Im remained calm, as he gestures the couple with his hand to take their seats before him and the twins. 

 

Yul and Jessica turned to each other. Both can sense each other's feelings - they're still so confuse and totally still couldn't believe. But there's also part of them that they want to listen to this man that looks like Yoona's father. 

 

"Let's take a seat first." Mr. Im insisted further, realizing that the couple have calmed down but they're still standing.

 

"Twins, come here." Yul called out for his kids, as he lead his wife to the chair. They both settle down, couldn't look away from Mr. Im's eyes. "Twins? You're not going to greet Appa?" however, the twins did not comply first. They only approach him when he asks them again. He securely put his arms around them that instant.

 

"Appa, he's not a ghost. It's really Grandpa Im." Daniel once again convince his father, as he find it amusing they won't believe him. Even their Mommy Jessica has her suspecting eyes towards their Grandpa.

 

"Buddy is right, Appa. It's really Grandpa Im. No one else." says Paul as well, pouting.

 

"Um, why don't we have some drinks first? I know you guys are thirsty now." Mr. Im offered, as he realizes he can see few sweats from the couple's forehead. Or was it because of the weather? However, they did not answer. Both is currently still silent, staring straight to him - asking him obviously for identity check or explanation about his sudden appearance when they knew he is dead. But he's glad the twins did not even question him when he first saw them earlier. They obviously have missed him.

 

"Alright." He sighed, understanding the situation. "I'll just take you back to what really happened in the mansion while you guys are in New York."

 

 

Flashback...

 

"Chairman? Are you ready?"

 

Upon hearing his lawyer's voice behind, Mr. Im slowly closes the laptop. He just had his skype with his daughter. He pushed himself off gently through his leather chair, and slowly turned to face his lawyer with a calm expressions. "Is everything on set?"

 

Lawyer Kim nodded his head and approached the chairman with a paper and a pen. "But You have to make sure they'll be convinced more in your letter. The simple fake 'ashes' is not enough." He told him.

 

"Should I put on my signature?"

 

"It's up to you, Chairman." Lawyer Kim replied.  

 

Sighing, Mr. Im took the paper and the pen and started writing. It's hard for him to do this, but he had to. Lawyer Kim on the side is watching intently and in silence. But soon, he speaks to inform the old man.

 

"The helicopter is coming in 30 minutes Chairman Im. This will take you to a private plane."

 

"I hate to do this." Mr. Im said softly while biting his lip to hold himself from shedding a tear.

 

"We have to do this, Chairman. Otherwise, it's not only you who will be in danger. The business, your daughter and her family will also be involved. The last will testament is the only way for them to be save. Besides, you want to focus on the case right? So I beg you - stay strong Chairman."

 

"Faking a death is not necessary anymore if there's no one out there planning to destroy everything."

 

"If it's Yoona who will handle now the business, probably the threat will stop. It will change their plans." Lawyer Kim said furthermore.

 

"I hope Yoona will really be a responsible Chairman. I know her, she doesn't love business ever since she entered entertainment."

 

"Don't worry, I'm here to guide here."

 

Looking up to meet Lawyer Kim's eyes, Mr. Im asked, "Until when is this?"

 

"Until we have the lead with this case." Lawyer Kim replied instantly.

 

"I will break my daughter's heart. No, not just her. Also the family."

 

"I know. But we can't risk their lives, can we?" Lawer Kim said, knowing it well.

 

"Okay." Mr. Im did not hesitate and continue her fake letter. As if her last letter for the family. And while he resumes, he can no longer take it and let his tears drops feeling from the corner of his eyes. "I hope you forgive me with this, Yoong. I hope you would also understand why I'm doing this. It's not about the business... it's about the safety of your family, not only mine. Yoonie, Daniel, Paul... and Seohyun Omma, please take care of our Yoong always... Grandpa loves you guys so much..." He put his signature in the corner before he folded it and give the letter a kiss. 

 

Lawyer Kim took the paper and intentionally slides the paper under the bed. Mr. Im sighed and wiped off his tears before getting off of his chair. That moment then, he heard the helicopter outside already. 

 

"Chairman Im, have a safe flight to Amsterdam. I hope your vacation will give you enough rest and comes back with a strong heart." Lawyer Kim said, showing his lip-smiled while holding out his hand.

 

Mr. Im gladly smiled back, taking his lawyer's hand. "Make sure also Yoona will be safe always."

 

"She is. Don't worry."

 

"Not only her, but the kids most importantly."

 

"Promise me that you will comeback with a strong heart."

 

Mr. Im chuckled. It's true that he has a heart disease but it's not true that it's not curable. A Doctor can cure it surely. "Of course. I still have stuffs to continue here. Besides, it's only one week."

 

"See you then. Mr. and Mrs. Seo will be informed as well the moment you land in Amsterdam." Lawyer Kim made a way for the chairman. And the latter gives him a pat on his head before leaving his room. He followed until he sends him off to the helicopter.

 

End of Flashback...

 

 

"Why? What will happen if you will continue be seen alive?" Yul asked right away, the moment Mr. Im stops from telling them the story the day when he fake his death.

 

"Before that, can we send the twins to another table? And let them eat supper? We can't let them hear this entirely." Mr. Im requested, worried that the kids will not understand it. "Later, I'll explain it for you twins." He said, staring back to the curious 8 years old twins of Im-Seo. "Mr. Park, kindly lead the twins to their table?" He asked the man on his left, who was also the one who took the twins to him.

 

"Yes, Chairman."

 

Yul shared gazes with his kids. And both have agreed with a small nod. He kissed their foreheads before letting them off to the other table.

 

"I have two reasons. First, to have a heart transplant without worrying my family. 2nd, to know who send me death threat 2 days ago before I left Seoul. No, not only me... but my family as well. That includes Yoona and her family." Mr. Im replied calmly.

 

"What?!" Jessica gasps. "I don't understand. How can..."

 

"So you want to save them by faking your death?" Yul asked, interrupting his wife's words.

 

"It's the least I can do. And from doing this, I can move freely in investigating who is the man behind the death threats." Mr. Im clearly and truthfully stated. "I'm sorry if I made you guys believe I'm dead because of this. To tell you, it's really hard. But their lives are more than important for me."

 

"Hold on - So it wasn't you who had been stalking the family?" Yul asked again, as he gets more convinced with the old man's explanation now. Though he's having goose bumps all over his arms. "Coz for a week now, we've been seeing stalkers."

 

"It wasn't my men. The only one time I made them stalk is after Seohyun dropped the twins to their school. Coz my private Agent have notified me about a possible kidnapping soon that will happen, while my daughter is under probation by the board. I have deployed them that time for only safety measures. Too bad, Taeyeon was there and she's now starting to investigate about my men."

 

Yul and Jessica exchange gazes.

 

"That means, the man in suit that handed me a note is not one of your men?" Jessica asked this time.

 

"They approached you two?" Mr. Im creased his brows, having no idea.

 

"Yes. The other day. Um, we're in that restaurant where most of the boards of the company visits always when this man handed me the note. It says, 'Good job'." Yul replied.

 

"So my Agent is right. They're moving already."

 

"What moving?" The couple chorused this time.

 

"They want to make sure no other person will know their plans. Honestly, we've been suspecting that the man behind this is one of the boards of the company... or... I'm sorry to say this but... your father, Yul. I'm suspecting him too."

 

"Not only you Mr. Im, me and my husband as well." Jessica said with a sigh at the end. "He hasn't change, has he?"

 

"I don't have any idea yet. But let's be careful always."

 

"So what's your plan? I mean for Yoona and the rest? You suddenly appeared alive in front of the twins. I'm sure you have some plans?" Yul hisses at the end of his word. Bow that he knows his twins are indeed in danger, he can no longer stay relax. They should move fast before anything can happen.

 

Mr. Im smiled at the mention of the twins. "Like I have said, I'm still going to comeback. To reveal myself to the family. The thing is, I'm being careful. I'm slowly revealing myself to them. Like the twins right now. I want them to look after each other well so I decided to do it first with them."

 

"Actually Yoona and Seohyun both know about these stalkers. But they have no idea this can be too dangerous." Jessica informed with her concerned tone of voice. 

 

"I'm worried over Yoona's reaction. She was too devastated Mr. Im. She almost like she wants to die too when she find out your death." Yul also raised his concern. "How will you explain this to her?"

 

Mr. Im's heart ache a little after hearing it. "I don't know yet too. But... hopefully she will understand." he sighed audibly, already feeling anxiety inside.

 

"Appa!" Daniel and Paul both called, as they reached for their table again. All of their attention diverted to the two kids. "Appa, Omma is already calling where are we now." Daniel informed.

 

"I think we need to go now." Paul added.

 

"Yeah, we really should now." Yul get up from his seat, followed by his wife.

 

"But hold on." Mr. Im got up and lowered himself to pulled his grandchildren to a tight and warm hug. Both also hugs him back. "Don't forget what I said earlier, okay?"

 

"Yes, Grandpa." The twins said together.

 

Yul and Jessica sweetly smiled to the scene of the twins hugging their Grandpa tightly. Both have obviously doesn't want to let go. But they have to, as they hesitantly pulled back and kissed their Grandpa on his cheeks.

 

"My men will take you guys out of the restaurant. Yul, you can still contact me with my old number. I just revive it." Mr. Im said, flashing a warm smile to the couple at the same time.

 

"Yes. We'll go ahead Chairman. Take care of yourself always." Yul replied and bowed, together with his wife. The twins cutely bows as well before they left with the couple.

 

Taking back his seat, Mr. Im reach for his water and gulped some few and sighed afterwards. "I have to move fast before they can steal the company and hurt my family." he is now determined - capturing those who want to hurt his family.

 

 

----

 

 

Sehun had a weird look towards a certain nurse, while he is checking the patients in his records. He find it weird - the nurse is spacing out, and she looks so pale?

 

"Hey! Nurse Lee. Wake up!" He can no longer continue watching it, so he snapped a finger in front of her eyes. The latter blinks frantically, as she looked back at him. "What's wrong with you? You've been spacing out there." He said in concern.

 

"Oh, D-Doctor Oh. Have been you there?" The nurse frantically search for something the desk.

 

"3 minutes ago. Waeyo? You didn't notice me I approach the desk?" Sehun felt more concern over the nurse. Watching her searching for something over those papers are quiet weird. "Are you going to give me something?"

 

"Here." The Nurse handed her a paper after a while.

 

Taking the paper, Sehun checks the content, only to find out it's a leave note. "Nurse Seo filed a leave?"

 

"Yes. Starting tonight until these weekends." The nurse informed instantly.

 

"Did she personally went here for this?"

 

"Nope. She called only."

 

Sehun sighed. "Just when we are one week now. Her maknae is sick."

 

"Normally she leaves if one of the kids will get sick. And the hospital always allowed nurses to take their leave. That's only if, no one will take care among the family members." The nurse informed knowingly.

 

"Is this the reason why you are spacing out earlier?" Asked Sehun with his brows rising.

 

The nurse shook her head. "No. It wasn't because of this. But it involved Nurse Seo, Doctor Oh."

 

"Why? What is it all about?"

 

The nurse take a moment of silence before she finally decided to shares it. "There's a man earlier Doctor Oh.." She pause to bit her lower lip.

 

"And?"

 

"The man asked for Nurse Seo." 

 

For a moment, Sehun's world stop after hearing it. But as he finally understood it, he speaks again to ask. "Who is the man? What did he ask about Nurse Seo?"

 

"He asks about her schedule. At first I don't want to tell him because it's against the policy but... He showed me a gun. I got nothing to do but to tell him. What are we gonna do Doctor Oh? I'm sure he will comeback again." The nurse is already trembling in fear. She's concerned over her safety and so as for Nurse Seo.

 

Sehun felt goose bumps all over his arms. "Her family is really something. Someone seems planning to hurt them." he huskily whispered.

 

"Are we going to tell the police? Or..."

 

"Let me handle this. I'll tell the security of hospital. Don't be afraid Nurse Lee. That man can't do anything." Sehun said as he handed back the paper to the nurse. He was about to proceed to his job when he saw his friend, weirdly singing a song brightly. But what caught his eyes more, the bouquet of flowers in his arm. He creased his brows in curiosity as he meet him half way. "What's up?" Chuckles him amusingly.

 

"I have made up my mind." Kris flashed his infamous smile.

 

"Made up what?" Crossing his arms, Sehun still can't stop his amusement.

 

"I will now approach Nurse Seo. And I will make friends with him. Since I know, there's no more chance for us." Though sad about it, Kris already accepted his fate. Befriending with Seohyun is the least he can do. Hence, his friend didn't even want to help him.

 

"Okay. So the flowers are for Nurse Seo?" Sehun pointed to the flowers. "You're giving it to her tonight?"

 

"Yup." A beaming of smile plastered in Kris face, smelling the flowers in the process. "I can't wait to see her tonight again. She's really the person I am thinking when I saw these beautiful combination of flowers. I feel like Valentines day. Hehe."

 

"Yeah, the flowers are so pretty. Just like Nurse Seo - and you are so head over heels by the latter. However, Nurse Seo ain't going to be here tonight. And it's until Sunday. So she will be back Monday." Sehun informed without hesitations.

 

Kris gasps. "What? So I can't see her for three days?"

 

"Three nights." Corrected Sehun, teasing Kris at the same with his smile.

 

"What the heck. So I can't see the apple of my eyes. Aish." Kris stomps his feet away from Sehun. He saw a trash bin and throws the flowers inside. Then he proceeds to his office with heavy steps. He's totally disappointed, which is making him feel down. Just when he wanted to approach her already, the girl is not going to be working for three nights.

 

"Poor Kris. I told you to just move on now. Tsk,tsk. Your weird fate with her ain't working." Sehun on the other hand is chuckling watching his friend. He didn't expect he had some plans tonight. He should have known. "Oh, almost forgot." But before he can forever be standing in his place, he was reminded by the 'case' the nurse was talking about. He turns around and headed to his prior plan.

 

 

-----

 

 

Yul pulled over the car in front of Im mansion when he realized something. "Mr and Mrs. Seo also knows Grandpa Im is alive? So that means, they know the danger as well?"

 

"Stop talking about it for now. We have to keep it for ourselves for the meantime." Jessica told her husband in a serious tone.

 

"Don't worry Mommy Jessica. I and my buddy will keep it as well. We know Grandpa will tell Daddy soon."

 

"Plus, our mission is to protect Daddy, Omma and Yoonie." Daniel added with his determination smile.

 

"Wow. Is that grandpa Im told you guys?" Yul is impressed upon hearing it from his son. Not to mention, coming from a kidwolf.

 

"Yes. He told us earlier before we broke into tears." Paul replied, though embarrass that they cried.

 

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