CHAPTER 14- FINDING OUT ABOUT IT

 

JINWOO'S POV

 

            I took out my phone and looked at Irene's name. I really want to send her a message. I want to know how she is doing now. At least be close to her even for a little while.

 

            "I have to talk to her," I said. So, I started clicking on the screen of my phone. "Please meet me. Same place. 7 PM."

 

            It was already 6:15 PM. I decided to pass by our favorite coffee shop and buy her favorite drink. My heart was pounding against my chest. I was nervous, excited... Scared. I was afraid of what I might hear from her. What I did can be what you call as preposterous... Unforgivable. We arrived at our usual meeting place. It was children's park in our of the peaceful neighborhood away from the noise of the bustling Seoul City . We usually spend hours here talking and laughing and building our dreams, but that was all in the past. I sat on one of the swings as I waited for her, coffee in tow. It is going the cool down. Irene's still nowhere to be seen. I sighed deeply. Maybe she doesn't want to see me yet.

 

            About forty minutes passed to an hour. Still no sign of her. I stood up from the swing ready to head to my car when...

 

            "Kim Jinwoo," a gentle voice called me out. I turned around and saw here standing there. My Irene.

 

            "Irene..." It seemed like I lost my voice. I placed the coffee on the picnic table nearby and walked towards her. I want to reach out to her hands but instead my hands headed to her face. "Mianhae..."

 

            My eyes started getting wet as I looked into hers. I felt her tears falling in to my hands, it crushed my heart. I promised not to hurt her but in the end, I was the one hurting her the most.

 

            "You should go back to her. I'm no longer your girlfriend, Jinwoo. You are somebody else's husband now. We can no longer be like this or how we are before. I just came here to say my goodbyes to you. Annyeong, Kim Jinwoo." She took my hands and held them away from her face. I watched as she turned around. I can see her shoulders shaking. Probably trying to control her sobbing.

 

            What a good way for the rain to suddenly fall hard. It was commemorating this moment. Even with the rain, I can feel my eyes stinging. I can feel my tears falling.

 

            "No, Irene. Let me explain," Don't want to let her go just like that. More than anything else, I want to hold on to her. I ran to her and hugged her from behind. "I know this is a difficult situation and I am sorry I can’t protect you from the pain. Please stay with me.”

 

            She took my arms away from her waist and faced me. "You should have done that when you first left me. What am I left to understand, Jinwoo? You never even gave me the benefit of that. Now, you want to explain? Because even if           I am to become an idol, you knew very well that I will still choose you. I will still go back to you after of dating ban expires. Why did you have to do this then? I really cannot understand you." Every word that came from her struck me hard like an axe.

 

            "It's my Dad. That was his request in his will. It was against my will but it's my Dad's last wish. You know you are the one I love." I wasn't able to contain self anymore. After longing for her since the day we broke up, all I want to do was this.

 

            I wrapped my arms around her. She did not fight back, instead I felt her arms wrap around me in response. I smiled but the happiness I felt at that moment did not last too long.

 

            "This is the last time, Kim Jinwoo." I felt her soft lips touch mine but unlike the times we kissed in the past, this was the most painful one. "Saranghaeyo," she paused for a moment, looked at me in the eyes and even when I don't want to admit it, I knew it was coming. "Annyeong." With that, I saw her turn her back from me one last time and watched her leave.

 

JIN'S POV

 

            I walked through the corridors heading to Red Velvet's practice room. I wanted to talk to Irene about things they need to work on for their debut and also a song written by Yuri which she wanted to give to them.

 

            I saw that the light was still on in their practice room and the music is still playing in their dance practice room. I can Irene's voice as she led the group in every dance step. I took a peek at them as they practiced when suddenly, Irene called for a water break.

 

            She walked to her back pack and I decided to open the door but then..

 

            "That's all for now girls," she suddenly announced.

 

            "Wait, we haven't finished practicing the third set of choreo yet," Seulgi set as she wiped her forehead.

 

            "Sorry, but can you bail me out just this time?" Irene looked at them with pleading eyes.

 

            "Don't tell me it's him?" Seulgi guessed. Suddenly, a bell rung in my head. Do they mean they guy that left her? I stared at Irene as I also waited for her answer. She nodded.

 

            "I just need to understand why... Why he left me just like that? Did I ever do something wrong for me to deserve that? Because I will never be at peace without knowing that. I will never learn how to move on if I am left with more questions in my head. Please, girls. After this, I won't ask for anything more."

 

            Joy walked towards Irene and gave her a hug. "It's okay, Eonnie. Go and talk to him. We'll be okay here. Anyway, you can easily catch up with us.  Go,"

 

            "Thanks," she said to the girls. When she turned around, I suddenly stood in front of her. She shrieked a little bit, surprised by my sudden appearance. The other girls also were surprised.

 

            "You are going to meet him? Let me drive you there," I offered.

 

            I can see hesitation cross her face. "Aniya, I'll be fine on my own."

 

            "Ah, Oppa! You wanna talk to us?" Seulgi suddenly in. I can see they were alarmed that I came in. Like they didn't want me to hear whatever they were talking about."Eonnie just has to talk to some..."

 

            "Actually Yes, I do have someone to talk about with you but that can wait. Let's go." I took Irene by the hand and led her out of the building.

 

            "Jin-ah, you don't need to go with me. I'll take the bus." Irene insisted as we reached the parking lot.

 

            "No, I want to watch over you as much as I can. That man, if he can't take care of you, then I'll do it." I was surprised by the words going out of my mouth. I have been so engrossed with being with her that I might not have noticed that I care for her this much.

 

            "Please, let me just stay with you, even just let me watch over you from a far," I said as I held on to her arms.

 

            "You... Don't understand though," she said, choking on her own words.

 

            "Then, what is it that I need to understand?"

 

            Irene stayed silent for a while. She kept her head low and in a small voice, she said, "That person I'm referring to, my ex-boyfriend, he is your cousin, Jinwoo."

 

BOGUM'S POV

 

            I watched as Irene and Kim Jinwoo stood there, soaked in the rain. The leaving figure of Irene caused him to make silent sobs as he remained there, standing still. I followed Irene as she headed towards a car. I peered in to see who was inside.

 

            Just like Kim Jinwoo, one of the person I wanted to see, Kim Seokjin. He stood outside of his car, with an umbrella in one hand and another with his jacket, ready to place it on Irene's shoulder. He stared at Jinwoo as the latter, stared at him surprised that he was there, watching them. Like having a silent conversation between them, Jinwoo seemed to understand that Jin wants him to leave.

 

            Wow, such drama. And at this cold winter. I sniffed as I was feeling really cold from the rain. I silently watched as Jin helped Irene into the car. After closing the door, he watched her for a little while more and went to the driver's seat.

 

            Well, seems like I hit jackpot. I tapped my shoulder, as if congratulating myself. "Very good, Park Bogum. You just got the right target."

 

JIN'S POV

 

            I set the heater in a higher temperature and kept glancing sideways to check on Irene.

 

            "I'm sorry, Jin. I'm sorry, I wasn't able to tell you. It's just that..." I didn't let her finish her words.

 

            "Gwaenchana, what you need right now is to have yourself dried up. You’re going to catch a cold in those wet clothes," We continued driving silently and I decided to stop by a hotel.

 

            "Come out," I told Irene holding out hand to her.

 

            "Uh, why here? Just send me to the dorm, please." She refused to go out.

 

            "Ani, you need some time for yourself. You know the girls, they will never stop at you once you don't speak up. So come," I took her hand and lead her out of the car. I asked the valet to park my car and lead Irene in the hotel.

 

            "Good evening, Sir," Seola greeted me as I entered the hotel. She is one of the employees and a good friend of mine.

 

            "Oh, hi Seola," I returned the greeting.

 

            "Are you looking for Junhoe? I think he will be going down in a few minutes."

 

            "Gwaenchanayo, I'll be staying for the night." Her eyes darted to Irene. She gave me a knowing look and headed to the front desk to get us a room. I took Irene to the couch and made her sit there for a while.

 

            "Seola-yah, I'm sorry but can I ask one more favor?" I said as I reached her side. She nodded and I requested if she can buy Irene some clothes to change in for the night.

 

            We headed for the suite room.

 

            "But, I don't..." she started.

 

            "I already asked Seola to get you some clothes. Go. I don't want you to stay any longer in those wet clothes and get yourself sick. Arasso?" She nodded.

 

            "I'll go out for a while. Seola will leave your clothes on the bed, just call room service so they can get your clothes for dry cleaning." Again, without any words she nodded and headed to the bathroom.

 

            I walked out of the room to breathe. I thought about the truth that I found out just now. I still cannot believe it. How must have she felt about the two of us?

 

            Suddenly, I broke out of my deep thoughts when I bumped into a guy. I stared at him. He was pale, quite babyfaced for a guy.

 

            He bowed down. "Joeseonghaeyo."

 

            "Ah, gwaenchanayo," I said.

 

            "Hyung!" a voice echoed along the floor's corridor. I turned to see Junhoe, Jungkook's cousin. "Seola told me you are here."

 

            "Yeah, I'll be staying for the night."

 

            "Hmmm.." He nodded. "And I heard you are with a girl."

 

            "Are you trying to imply something, kiddo?" I playfully arm-locked him and messed with his hair.

 

            "Yah, Hyung, don't ruin my hair." He fixed himself and faced me again. "So, anyway who is she?"

 

            I was suddenly deep in thought. Now that I found out Caleb is her ex, I can't help but be jealous. Annoyed not by him but by myself. I suddenly wondered, what do I really feel for her.

 

            I faced Junhoe. “Before I just found her amusing, now that you asked me, I don’t what to answer you anymore.”

 

IRENE’S POV

 

            I changed in to my clothes which was sent by Seola in the room. I brushed my hair with my hand as I stared at myself in the mirror. “It’s all over now.” I was so tired, from the practice, the preparations for our debut, worrying about the songs and choreography, from the talk with Jinwoo, from everything. I wiped away the tears from my eyes. I didn’t want Jin to see me like this. How can Red Velvet’s leader act too weak.

 

            “Stop this now, Bae Joohyun.” I suddenly felt like jumping out of my skin when Jin came in with a tray of food in one hand.

 

            “Oh, you’re done? Let’s have dinner.” He was smiling, as he playfully pointed at the food.

 

            “Sorry, Jin. I’m not in the mood.”

 

            Jin placed the tray on the table and sighed as he opened the food. “Aigoo, such a waste then if I eat these by myself.” I suddenly felt guilty when all this time he was just being really nice and understanding of me. Add to that, I kept the fact that the ex I have been talking to him about was his very own cousin, Jinwoo yet he chose to understand me and keep me company.

 

            “Geurae.” I just nodded and sat on one end of the table as he served the food. We ate silently but I guess he felt stuffy so he started a conversation.

 

            “About Jinwoo,” he started. I didn’t let him finish though.

 

            “I’m sorry from keeping you about Jinwoo.”

 

            “Ani, I understand why you did that. You don’t need to explain yourself.”

 

            We stayed silent for a few more minutes sitting on the sofa. I the TV and we just stared at it not really particular on what was being played. A few more moments I felt her bury face on my arm.

 

            “This will be my last,” she said.

 

            “Okay. I understand.” I let her stay that way. She sobbed in my arms, trying to muffle her own voice to keep it from making too much noise. I can feel my shirt getting wet from her tears as I pat her shoulders to at least assure her that things will be fine.

 

            For me though, how do I assure myself that my feelings for her will be fine?

 

*********

Hello! Here I am again with another update!

A special appearance by Sassy Junhoe!

 

What was your reaction now that it Jin is already aware about his cousin and our Bae’s relationship? How would you want him to deal with it?

 

Any guesses on who Bogum could be?

 

Let me know your thoughts! Don’t be a silent reader because I do appreciate you comments!