ICE AND FIRE - CHAPTER 57&58
💜 BIRTHDAY PARTY 💜
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Beom-seok slowly took his trembling hand to her upper left shoulder.
“A….Ara??”He stuttered out shockingly and aerum turned to him swiftly.
“Ara again? Who is she?”Aerum asks slowly and beom-seok exhaled.
“It’s nothing”He shrugged with a smile, while aerum shook her head.
“This isn’t the first time you’re calling me Ara! Who is Ara and why are you mistaken her as me? Was she lost or….”
“She’s dead!!”Beom-seok cut her off and she gasped surprisingly.
“Dead? Then why do you mistake me as her? Since she’s gone?”Aerum raised a brow and beom-seok heaved.
“Let’s just say you share alot of similarities with her, your Likes, dislikes, behavior and most importantly the same mark which happens to be on your upper left shoulder,I’m just hallucinating things I guess. Nothing much”He shrugged and aerum looked at him in awe, finding what he was saying strange.
How could she possibly share such similarities with the Ara girl??
“Let’s go please, we’ve already taken much time”He added and left the dressing room,with aerum following from behind,alot of questions already going on in her mind.
•••••
<NIGHT~DEASHIM HOUSE>
“Mom!!”Aerum called in-between mouthful,after scooping a large quantity of popcorn into her mouth.
“Hmmm!!”Her mom turned to her with a smile.
“Is it possible for someone to share a similarity with another?”She asks and her mom nodded with a smile.
“Very possible”She replied her and aerum twitched her lips before sitting down properly.
“Mom,like alot of it? Likes, dislikes and the same mark on the same spot?”She asks again and her mom turned to her.
“That’s rare,I haven’t seen. But why are you asking?”She smiled and Aerum pouted.
“I’m just asking cos of me,but are you really my mom?”Aerum threw the question to her and the sweater her mom was knitting fell out from her hand in shock.
•••••
<NEXT MORNING~GLITTERING HIGHSCHOOL>
Mr Kang-dae entered the school environment,with Yu-Ri hugging his arms tightly while looking around.
“Dad,call Hyun-Woo”Yu-Ri whispered and her dad nodded.
He brought out his phone,then called Hyun-Woo who came out immediately.
“Yu-Ri,have been expecting you”Hyun-Woo smiled and Yu-Ri nodded back.
“Let’s go to the chairman office”Hyun-Woo said, leading them to his office.
•••
<CLASS ROOM>
👥”His birthday is tonight??”
👥”Can’t wait to be there!!”
👥”It is always given!!”
The students jibbed like gossips, while looking at beom-seok who was less worried about their talks,his headphone hung perfectly above his head.
👥”I also heard he’s gonna get engaged to Seo-Jun tonight!”
👥”That’s gonna be romantic”
They continued, with the thought that Aerum was in class, unknown to them she still wasn’t.
When they kept talking non-stop, hoping to see her reaction but didn’t get any….they kept quiet.
••••
<GRADE 11 CLASSROOM>
The homeroom teacher walked in,with Yu-Ri and Hyun-Woo beside him and all the students kept quiet, while looking at them.
“Good morning students,this is Kang-dae Yu-Ri a new student and I hope y’all accept her”the homeroom teacher, said and the students nodded.
“If you ever need anything,do well to let me know”Hyun-Woo patted her back and she nodded nervously.
“Take a sit over there!”He pointed to her which she did.
•••••
<LIBRARY>
Aerum pouted, while flicking the notebook open and close,her mind still trying to figure out why her mom reacted the way she did last night.
It was a harmless question,but her mom refused to give a reply and has been acting strange! Is there something they’re hiding?
“Aerum!!”She heard a voice behind her and she turned to see shang-hoon.
“What are you doing?”She asks when shang-hoon tried sitting down beside her.
“I’m sorry”He replied and aerum looked at him, before leaving deeply.
“It’s okay,I don’t have a grudge against you”She shrugged and shang-hoon nodded.
“I’ll head back to the class”He told her and aerum just nodded.
The moment shang-hoon left,aerum began thinking again with her lips pouted.
“Aerum! Ara!! Like, dislikes and mark!!”She drawled while continuously repeating her statement.
“Should I ask dad instead?”She asks but shrugged it off, before sighing tiredly.
“Wait,was this why beom-seok asked this question some months ago??”She narrowed her brows after remembering it.
She exhaled,then stood up with her books and made her way to the door when she came face-to-face with Seo-Jun.
She tried walking away, but Seo-Jun pulled her back by the arm.
“I’m just wondering why you’re brainless,you always show up in my way when you’re a clown”Aerum told her and she gasped.
“You dare call me a clown?”She fired angrily and aerum twitched her lips, before releasing a loud scoff.
“I don’t have strength for your chitchat,just get outta my way”Aerum pushed her off and she staggered a bit.
“See!! Your stamina percentage is very low”She clicked tongue and Seo-Jun folded her fist, while glaring at her murderously.
“Don’t think it’s over aerum”Seo-Jun said.
“I’m used to your barking sounds,just stop it already”Aerum waved and walked out of her sight, while Seo-Jun only smirked.
“I’ll be gladly waiting to see the look on your face,after tonight”She laughed happily.
••••
<HOSPITAL>
“Here is the nurse”Hyun-Woo mom pointed at the Lady,in her mid fifties who flinched fearfully.
All the nurses where all gathered in a room,while Hyun-Woo mom searched for the said particular nurse.
“Come with me nurse!!”the doctor said and left the room while the nurse followed behind, including Hyun-Woo mom.
“You know this lady here right?”The doctor asks,after they’ve settled down in his office.
“No sir”she shook head and Hyun-Woo mom turned to her in surprise.
“You..you don’t know me?”She pointed at herself and the nurse nodded.
“She’s lying doc,this shows truly that she’s hiding something. Why would you say you don’t know me huh?”She raised her voice a little and the doctor looked at her.
“Sorry doctor but let her be sincere here! Can I have a one-on-one conversation with her instead huh?”Hyun-Woo mom requested and the doctor gave her the permission,she left with the nurse afterwards.
“Can you tell me where my son is??”She pleaded with the nurse,once they’ve gotten to a safe place.
“I don’t know who you’re! So how can I possibly know where your son is?”She retorted and Hyun-Woo mom sighed before clapping her two hands together.
“You’re a mother like me I guess and you should know the pain. This year is the 18th year I haven’t set my eyes on him,I barely knows what he looks like. All I want to do is have a glimpse of what he looks like and if possible,hug him to myself”She pleaded and the nurse sighed.
The words felt like a chill pill,which ran through her spine weakening everything in her.
“Do you know the effect of what this revelation is likely to bring? It’s more harm than good”The nurse shook her head and Hyun-Woo mom looked at her.
“What’s the effects?”She further asked and the nurse heaved.
“It is likely to ruin the happiness of his foster parents”She replied her and Hyun-Woo mom felt a cold …….. Washed through her.
“That’s right,but can I know where he was sold to??”She probed further and the nurse exhaled.
“You asked for this”She said and whispered it in her ears.
“What???”She screamed and the nurse covered her mouth with her palms.
“I’ve told you all you need to know,I should get back to my duty post”She told her and left hurriedly.
Once the nurse was out of glimpse,she brought out her phone and dialed a number,the receiver picked up immediately.
📞”I told her exactly what you told me to,I hope this wouldn’t cause confusion”She said.
The receiver only chuckled.
📞”It wouldn’t,since she’s bent on finding her son….let’s give her some work”The person let out a dangerous laugh, before hanging up.
•••••
<HOURS LATER~GLITTERING HIGHSCHOOL>
“You’ve been acting strange since today, hope you’re good?”Beom-seok asks aerum,as they’ll made their way to the school cafeteria.
“I’m good, really good”She smiled.
“If there’s anything bothering you,what are we for? Let us know okay!!”A-Yeong told her and she smiled.
“Let’s sit over there”ji-hoon pointed to an empty round table for them.
They’ll sat down comfortably, and soon they began eating.
“I’m really happy to have the old beom-seok back”ji-hoon winked and beom-seok glared at him.
“Don’t even start,else I’ll turn to a new beom-seok”He sounded serious as he talked that the rest couldn’t help but chuckle.
“He wouldn’t dare,Else I’ll be practicing Kung Fu with him”Aerum said and they’ll laughed.
•••
<RESTROOM>
Yu-Ri smiled,then came out from the restroom only to meet Do-Yun glaring murderously at her,she freaked and took slow strides backwards.
“You..are you?”She stuttered nervously.
“That’s not necessary, I’m not here to harm you I only need you to answer my question sincerely”Do-Yun said and Yu-Ri nodded immediately.
“Who are you and what relationship do you share with Hyun-Woo??”Do-Yun asked and Yu-Ri gulped down.
“We are friends”She replied and Do-Yun smirked.
“Friends? Friends!! What type of friends? Casual? Besties? Friends with benefits? f-__-kmate? Girlfriend or….”
“We are….we are…”She trailed off, not knowing the exact answer to give her.
“What’s happening here?”Hyun-Woo asks and Yu-Ri rushed to him, while Do-Yun only smiled.
“Of course nothing,was only trying to know more about her”Do-Yun replied hurriedly and walked away.
“Did she hurt you?”Hyun-Woo asks and Yu-Ri shook her head.
“I’m fine”
•••••
<NIGHT~BIRTHDAY PARTY>
The hall was filled by different men of honor and class,the decorations itself was top-notch that one could easily mistake it as a wedding hall.
Beom-seok was wearing a black suit,same as his dad’s as they both kept welcoming the guests.
He had a huge frown on his face as the greetings kept going on, without any assurance of it ending anytime soon.
He rubbed his temples worriedly, taking a look at the entrance to see if she was coming.
“Here comes Mr Kang-dae,go welcome him”his dad nudged at him and he went to do his biding, while muttering inaudible words to himself.
“I wonder what this man is planning. What sort of birthday celebration is this huh?”He scoffed inwardly.
“Welcome sir”he welcomed him while leading him to the VIP sector.
Seo-Jun and her dad walked in next,she had a smile on her face and the moment she set her eyes on beom-seok,it tripled.
“Jeez!! Can he be less handsome?”She squealed happily,it took her all her self control not to go hug him. She wasn’t gonna ruin the plan,for anything.
She and her dad went over to the VIP sector too,more people kept trooping in.
Soon aerum, A-Yeong, Yu-Jun and ji-hoon walked into the hall, beom-seok smiled widely when their eyes locked.
He walked to them happily, while Seo-Jun folded her fist in jealousness watching everything from the VIP sector.
“Happy 18th birthday baby”aerum smiled,then gave him the gift she bought for him.
“Happy birthday buddy”Ji-hoon wished him too,then gave him his gift too.
They’ll wushed him a happy birthday,each with the gifts they bought.
“I have a surprise for you”Aerum whispered and beom-seok smiled.
“Can’t wait”He whispered back.
🎤”Attention everyone!!! The party would be starting immediately!! Give us the hit!”The MC shouted and the audience cheered happily.
The party kicked off,with loud music beating crazily,those sitting at the VIP sector kept gisting and of course drinking.
Soon,it was time to cut the cake. All beom-seok friends,relatives and we’ll wishers gathered round the cake with beom-seok at the middle.
🎤”At the spelling of Seo-Jun’s name,you cut the cake!!”The MC said and beom-seok,aerum and the other friends eye went wide in shock while Seo-Jun only smirked.
Beom-seok turned to look at his dad,who gave him a nod instead.
Aerum bite her bottom lips hardly,then looked away.
🎤”S..E..O..J..U..N, SEO-JUN!!!!”They spelled out happily, expecting him to cut the cake but he only stood looking at them, Seo-Jun frowned deeply.
“Why aren’t you cutting the cake?”Mr chul whispered to him.
“Why should I cut it after her name was spelt? She’s not the one celebrating her birthday,or is she??”Beom-seok scoffed and Mr chul chuckled.
“Okay,he’s gonna cut the cake at the count of three”Mr chul said and beom-seok smirked while looking at Seo-Jun who rolled her eye angrily.
Beom-seok cut the cake at the count of 3 like agreed and the audience cheered again.
Everyone went back to their seats, and the party continued with the guest laughing at intervals cos of how funny the MC was!!
Mr chul stood up from his chair,then went over to the podium with a smile.
The music stopped abruptly and everywhere went dead silent,as the MC gave him the mic.
“Good evening ladies, men’s and business tycoons around Seoul!! I bring to you the most important part of the event tonight”He began, while looking at beom-seok who had that confused look on his face.
“Come over son!!”He waved and beom-seok went over to the podium.
“Today,I’m very happy to announce that we’re not only celebrating a birthday party,but also an engagement party!!”He said and the audience cheered while aerum stood up in surprise.
“What are you saying dad?”Beom-seok asks but Mr chul only ignored him.
“I’ve been friends with Mr chin-hae for a very long time,like you’ll know and becoming in-law wasn’t a bad idea,or was it??”He laughed.
👥”Of course no!!!”
Was the reply he got from the audience.
“I present to you,my future daughter in-law. Seo-Jun chin-hae, please step forward”Me chul continued and Seo-Jun walked out gracefully with a smile,tears couldn’t help trickle Aerum’s face.
Did he broke her heart again??
“I refuse to be forced into a loveless marriage!!”Beom-seok shouted which got the audience and everyone mumuring.
Beom-seok glared at Seo-Jun, before climbing the podium then went straight to aerum before taking her with him,they went back together at the podium their hands interlocked.
“As you’ll know,I just turned 18 today and my dad already wants to force me into a loveless marriage? How long will I have to leave in such bondage? I have a girl that l love,the only girl that brightens my mood whenever I’m down,cheers me up and put a smile on my sad face,the only one that melts my heart and make me go crazy by just seeing her beautiful face,this lady here is the one that I love!!”Beom-seok raised Aerum’s hand up, while Mr chul and Seo-Jun kept looking at them in awe,Mr chin-hae already stood up from his seat angrily.
“Aerum deashim is the only girl I love and if my dad insists I get engaged today,then I’ll be getting engaged to her or no one else. She’s the only one my heart beats for. I’ve never dreamt of spending my life with anyone else, except her…. I love you aerum deashim,more than I love myself and let’s get engaged,here and right now. With all this people as witness of our love”Beom-seok said pleadingly and aerum nodded.
“The ring?”Beom-seok eye searched for it and once he saw the ring with his dad,he took it from him hurriedly.
“Here!!”He slide in the ring in her finger while aerum did same.
Beom-seok smiled,then titled his head before pressing his lips slowly on hers,in the presence of everyone,both his dad, Seo-Jun,Mr chin-hae and all the audience.
Seo-Jun’s tears was flowing in handfuls,as she felt her world crumbling before her.
“Woah!!!! So sweet!!!”A-Yeong shouted from the audience and everyone joined her in clapping, while cheering the newly engaged!!!
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TBC….