ICE AND FIRE - CHAPTER 75&76
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💜 GONE FOREVER 💜
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The night,it was the night Seo-Jun asked for them to go for a picnic,she clearly remembers everything,and it was shang-hoon that pushed her off the cliff….
She remembers everything,from her childhood,her real name,to her love affair with beom-seok, everything…everything was clear,down to her death.
“Beom-seok!!!”She muttered going down slowly.
~~~~~
“Aerum!!!”Beom-seok muttered, rushing madly to her,but a sudden great wind came immediately, lifting them all from the ground, including aerum and they stared with wide eye,not understanding what was happening.
“Argh!!”Seo-Jun screamed when the wind hit her roughly on a tree, and she disappeared. Shang-hoon was hit too on a tree,and just like the way he came,he disappeared too leaving aerum and beom-seok,who was still struggling to stand on their feets.
“Aerum!!”Beom-seok uttered bitterly, trying to reach his hand to her.
“Pumpkin!!”Aerum muttered too,tears flowing down her cheeks slowly and beom-seok eye went wide.
“Ara chin-hae!!”Aerum said,as if reading beom-seok mind. Beom-seok smiled and added all his might, stretching his hand towards aerum who was struggling to place her own hands on his.
“We can’t be separated again Ara,give me your hand please”Beom-seok pleaded.
“I’m trying pumpkin,let’s not get separated again”Aerum uttered,her hand slowing getting to his,the wind was also doing a great job, trying to pull them apart.
“We’re one! So we shouldn’t be separated,not now…not forever”Beom-seok said, struggling too.
“Together we can fight and face all challenges”Aerum uttered, and their hands immediately locked.
“I love you so much Ara!”Beom-seok smiled.
“I love you more pumpkin!”Aerum replied.
•••••
<HOSPITAL>
“Doctor..he just move his finger!”A nurse informed in shock,they where already trying to disconnect the drip from him and probably cover his corpse.
The doctor was still staring with wide eye,when a drop of tears came out from the side of beom-seok eye,and trickled down to the pillow.
“Oh Jesus! He’s really alive”The doctor muttered and tried rushing out,but his eyes caught with aerum who was lying too on the bed,a drop of tears came out from her own eyes too and met with the pillow.
“I’ve never believed in Miracle until now,their love is really strong”He uttered in awe, averting his gaze from Aerum down to beom-seok,and From beom-seok again down to aerum… A smile slowly crept the corner of the doctors lips.
“I wish them a happy life together”He muttered rather inaudibly and swap to action.
•••••
END OF FLASHBACK.
By the time Mr chul was done with the whole explanation,the two women was already in tears, crying their hearts out.
“You could have at least told me my son died”Mrs chul muttered and the husband sighed heartbrokenly.
“I knew it was wrong,but that was the only thing I could think of”He uttered.
“My son was alive,all this years and I thought he was Dead!! I know that you selling him out was for us,but how about his feelings once he knows the truth? You could have let me know too,than deceiving me”Mrs woo muttered and Mr woo sighed.
“You’ll never understand”he said underneath his breath.
“A deal will always be a deal right?”Mr chul asked and Mr woo looked at his wife.
“I want my son back!”Mrs woo said and Mrs chul broke down in tears,she immediately went on her knee while the husband pulled her up.
“I gave you the hospital bill,so it’s literally that I adopted him”Mr chul said with no hint of playfulness in his voice,he was serious as ever.
“It wasn’t signed”Mr woo replied.
“Then you’re giving me back my money?”He asked slowly.
“Don’t take beom-seok away from me please”Mrs chul kept pleading in tears.
“And he’ll keep living with strangers?”Mrs woo asked.
“Stop saying that! I love him more than my own biological son,so what makes us a stranger? We’ve grown fun of him and you coming now to take him away…nah! I’ll press for a court charge if you insist taking him from us and I’ll..”
“Give us the chance to bury him at least”Mrs woo cut Mr chul off with tears.
The door broke open and the doctor walked in with his eyes glistening happily.
“Should we proceed to putting his body in the….”
“He’s awake!”The doctor cut Mr chul off.
•••••
<BEOM-SEOK AND AERUM’S WARD>
They’ll rushed into the ward,to see beom-seok sleeping peacefully, while breathing normally.
“My baby!”Mrs chul said emotionally, touching his cheek. His pale face and skin was already back to other and he was looking more handsome.
“Aunt!”Aerum called,and they turned to her.
She just woke up right now,only to see them inside their ward.
“Is pumpkin awake?”She asked, disconnecting the drip from her hand after which she climbed down the bed.
“Who are you? And why calling him pumpkin? Only….”
“Ara chin-hae calls him that!”Aerum concluded and they shook their heads in disbelief.
What in God’s name was happening huh? Aerum only smiled and went more closer to beom-seok, leaning closer she kissed him on the forehead.
“We promised not to leave each other remember? Wake up soon pumpkin”Aerum said, caressing his soft palm and the couples exchanged looks.
“I’m confused right now”Mr chul uttered to himself, looking at Aerum with a side eye.
“Where is my mom? Saw her earlier in my ward today but couldn’t recognize her”aerum said with a sad smile.
“Your mother? Who is she??”
“She’s Mr chin-hae’s wife!”Aerum smiled and everyone stared with wide eye.
•••••
<TWO WEEK’S LATER~GLITTERING HIGHSCHOOL>
“Holy $h|t! Need to go see mom today”Aerum muttered, checking her time.
Well, Aerum was currently still staying with the deashim,she only visits her mom every two days,not in their Masion but In a cà fè. Reasons being that Mr chul refused to accept her back as his daughter,in as much as he’s still Mr chul,that the only daughter he knew was Seo-Jun,and that Ara was long dead!
“Aerum!”A-Yeong waved from her seat.
Aerum just walked in now,she smiled and went closer to A-Yeong, sitting on the empty space beside her.
“Ermmm…there is something I want to tell you”A-Yeong stuttered, scratching her hair funnily.
“What’s that? That ji-hoon asked you out to a date?”Aerum rolled eye.
“You knew already?”A-Yeong asked and aerum nodded.
“I’m just worried about Yu-Jun. She loves ji-hoon and I accepting him means am betraying Yu-Jun”A-Yeong took her bottom lips in and aerum sighed.
“You can sacrifice your happiness if you want. But just so you know, ji-hoon loves you and not her okay? And I’m sure you loves him too, so what’s the big deal?”Aerum asked and A-Yeong pouted while blinking her lashes cutely.
“Hey,stop acting cute. I’m not ji-hoon”Aerum scoffed and A-Yeong pinched her cheeks.
“Hey!!!!”Aerum shouted and A-Yeong giggled.
~~~~~
“That’s more like it. I don’t even wanna go see him,not after all the bullies”Si-Woo rolled eye and Sung-ho sighed.
They both are in the library.
“I know right,and I understand how you’re feeling,but you still need to see him”Sung-ho uttered and she scoffed.
“I’m not forgiving him for….”
“Hey! Don’t say that okay?”Sung-ho cut her off, taking hold of her hand.
“I know you’re hurt that your brother did all that to you guys,but he is still your bro and blood is thicker than water,you should forgive him okay? If not for anything for the fact that y’all are related”Sung-ho continued and tears began rolling down Si-Woo cheek.
Sung-ho sighed and wiped out her tears,using his thumb.
“Must you really cry now?”He asked with a breaking voice.
Seeing her in tears,hurts surprisingly.
“It just hurts!”She muttered.
“Can I hug you then? Just for few seconds and I believe you’ll feel okay”He said and Si-Woo nodded, Sung-ho immediately pulled her in his arms,his arms securely wrapped round her waist.
He made to break the hug after few seconds,but Si-Woo held him more tighter,her eyes closed and her heart racing crazily.
“I don’t wanna let go,can I stay for some minutes more?”She whispered and Sung-ho nodded with a smile,he began stroking her hair softly while she stayed still in his arms, inhaling his alluring cologne.
~~~~~
“Are you nervous?”Aerum asked beom-seok and he nodded.
They’re holding hands while walking down the hallway.
“You should be though”Aerum smiled and beom-seok turned to her.
“Do you know who they want me to meet?”He asked instead and aerum shrugged.
“Ion. But I believe you’re gonna like the surprise,so buckle up pumpkin”She pinched his cheek and he chuckled.
“You haven’t stopped calling me pumpkin huh? Thought you would have stopped already”Beom-seok laughed and aerum giggled.
“You expect me to stop? That’s a nah bro, even if I can’t remember anything,I’m not forgetting pumpkin”She laughed and beom-seok chuckled.
“Thanks for coming back Ara”He said, hugging her.
“No,I should be thanking you huh! Thanks for fighting”Aerum replied him.
Beom-seok broke the hug,and tilted his head before claiming her lips slow but passionately.
••••
<THE CHUL’S MANSION>
“Everything is set sir!”The chief maid bowed and Mr chul nodded.
“You can all leave”Mr chul uttered and the maids bowed before leaving.
“What if he rejects them?”Mrs chul asked worriedly.
“He won’t,I strongly believe”Mr chul assured her.
Beom-seok climbed down the stairs,his two hands stucked in his pocket while an airpod stood gallantly in his ear.
“They’re still not here?”He asked, pulling out a chair for himself.
“Hmmmm”Mrs chul replied and he shrugged.
“Dad,can I ask you a question?”
“Ne!(Yes!)”
“Are you perhaps planning another engagement for me with a different family?”Beom-seok asked and Mr chul smiled.
He made to reply when a guard walked in.
“They’re here sir”
“Then lead them in,what are you waiting for?”Mr chul snapped and the guard rushed out.
“Oh jeez!!”Beom-seok rolled eye secretly.
Soon,the guard walked in with Mr and Mrs woo,with Hyun-Woo and Si-Woo, trailing behind.
“Nice Mansion,that’s why he grew up to be a $cvm!”Si-Woo muttered beside Hyun-Woo who pulled her arm. She only rolled eye in return.
“Welcome Mr and Mrs woo”Mr chul smiled, standing up from his chair,after which he exchanged a handshake with Mr woo.
“Nice being here”Mrs woo smiled, giving Mr chul a light hug.
Beom-seok was only staring in confusion,not knowing what was happening.
After they all sat down,they began eating quietly.
At a time, beom-seok looked up and his eyes locked with Si-Woo,who only rolled her eyes at him,he averted his gaze to Hyun-Woo and he smiled at him instead.
“Don’t tell me I’m getting engaged to Si-Woo?”He thought, eating slowly.
After about 30 minutes, they where all done eating.
“Thanks for this great invitation and family get together”Mr woo said and beom-seok arched a brow.
“Family get together?”He asked himself inwardly.
“I know you’re wondering about what he meant by family get together”Mr chul said,as if reading beom-seok mind.
Beom-seok only kept quiet, while staring at them.
“We’re not your biological parents beom-seok”Mr chul throwed the bombshell and beom-seok stood up immediately.
“Dad, you know how much I h@?? pranks right?”He asked and Mr chul heaved.
“I’m being serious here beom-seok! They are your real parents and these two…are your siblings”He pointed at Hyun-Woo and Si-Woo.
“You’re actually a triplet”Mr chul added and beom-seok began laughing.
“You want me to believe the crap you’re saying dad? How are we triplets? How the f-__-k are we related!!”Beom-seok shouted hurtfully.
“Eighteen years ago…..”
••••
<A RESTAURANT>
“Here we are”Ji-hoon smiled, pulling out a chair for A-Yeong.
“Thanks”she muttered and sat down.
“Place your order sir”the server bowed.
A-Yeong and ji-hoon placed their order after which he left to get it,he returned after few minutes and set the meal on the table,he bowed and left.
“Let’s dig in then”Ji-hoon smiled and A-Yeong nodded before taking her cutleries.
“Have anyone told you how beautiful you are?”Ji-hoon asked, breaking the long awkward silence between them.
A-Yeong began coughing and ji-hoon smiled before passing a glass of water to her,she gulped it down hurriedly.
“Well,if anyone haven’t told you yet then I’m lucky to be the first”He said and A-Yeong was forced to look up from her meal.
“You’re really beautiful, A-Yeong”He said,with eyes filled with so much emotions that A-Yeong breath seized for a moment.
“Tha…thanks!!”She muttered and continued eating.
“I love you A-Yeong,I know it’s too sudden but I can’t keep it to myself any longer,I really love you”He confessed and A-Yeong heart began pounding crazily.
She swallowed the Lump in her throat,not knowing what to do or say,she wouldn’t deny the fact that she loves him too,but what about Yu-Jun? She thought.
Her phone began ringing in her pulse and she brought it out.
“Have to take this”She said and ji-hoon smiled.
She picked up and stood up almost immediately.
“What? I’ll be there right now”She shouted and ended the call.
“I have to go right now,there’s an emergency at home”A-Yeong said hurriedly and ji-hoon stood up too.
“I’ll go with you then”he uttered and A-Yeong shook her head with a smile.
“Don’t worry okay? I’ll give you an answer tomorrow in school”She smiled in leaned closer, kissing him lightly on the lips.
She left afterwards.
•••••
<MR CHUL’S MANSION>
“That’s what happened. I’m sorry dear,that I hid this from you”Mr chul muttered.
Even before he could conclude the story, beom-seok was already sitting down on the bare floor, crying bitterly.
If anyone would tell him that Hyun-Woo and Si-Woo,the poor scholarship students he bullied were his siblings,not just siblings but they’re triplets,he wouldn’t believe it. It was gonna be a vivid imagination but right now, it’s nothing but the truth. The truth was staring at him. What was he gonna do? How was he to face them? After all he did to them? The constant bully? Forcing them to drink a mixed-up urine? Where was he to start from?
“No! This better be a dream”He said Admist sobbing.
He was still crying when he felt a hand on his shoulder,he looked up slowly…only to see Hyun-Woo smiling at him.
“Hyun-Woo”He muttered slowly.
“I understand how you’re feeling,but I have no grudge against you”Hyun-Woo uttered, and before beom-seok could say a thing, Hyun-Woo hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry”Beom-seok only muttered, hugging him back.
Si-Woo rolled eye, before moving forward, joining them in the hug.
••••
“Mom”A-Yeong called worriedly, pushing the door open.
“Welcome A-Yeong”Mr chin-hae smiled evily and A-Yeong clenched her fist tightly.
“Where the f-__-k is my mom?”A-Yeong spat angrily and Mr chin-hae began laughing.
“Oh wow! I’m now a spoon that she failed to notice me”Seo-Jun said pathetically and A-Yeong turned to her with a h@??ful glare.
“Stay off!”She fired and Seo-Jun raised her two hands up, while still laughing.
“Where the f-__-k is my mom!”A-Yeong yelled loudly this time and Mr chin-hae was forced to pull out a gun.
“Bring it down girl! Your mom is tied up in her room and I wouldn’t want her to witness your death or do you?”He smirked and A-Yeong kept breathing heavily.
She was literally burning in rage.
“There won’t be any problem,if you do exactly as I say,take this phone and dail Aerum’s number”He smirked, giving A-Yeong his phone which she took slowly.
“A facetime call actually”Mr chin-hae added.
“What should I tell her?”A-Yeong asked.
“I’ll do the talking”Mr chin-hae replied,his gun pointed at her.
★Hey aerum ★
A-Yeong smiled nervously which aerum noticed from the screen.
★Are you alright? You look scared ★
Aerum asked.
★Hey sweet daughter?★Mr chin-hae laughed, showing in the screen.
★I knew it that something was wrong,what the f-__-k is happening?★Aerum gritted and Mr chin-hae began laughing.
★Nothing much daughter,if you really love your friend…then I hope you’ll do as I say, else I’ll be forced to put a bullet in her skull★Mr chin-hae said and Aerum balled her fist.
★What do you want me to do?★She asked.
★I already prepared everything,so all I need you to do is go to the airport,your flight to UK is taking off in 30 minutes ★ he said.
★Why do you want me to leave?★She asked instead.
★Isn’t it obvious? I want you to disappear ★ he replied.
“She’s your daughter motherf-__-ker!!”A-Yeong shouted, kicking off the gun from Mr chin-hae hand.
“A-Yeong!!”Seo-Jun gritted and made to pick the gun,same way as A-Yeong but before they both could pick it up,Mr chin-hae already brought out another gun from his pocket,then released two bullets which flew and rammed directly in A-Yeong chest.
“Dad!!”
★A-Yeong!!★
Seo-Jun and aerum called respectively and Mr chin-hae gasped.
A-Yeong slowly went down, blood trickling out from her mouth.
“What have you done dad!!”Seo-Jun shouted tearfully.
★A-Yeong hang in there,I’m coming ★ Aerum shouted in tears, disconnecting the call.
“We have to leave”Mr chin-hae uttered and rushed out, Seo-Jun looked at A-Yeong with a teary eyes before leaving too.
A-Yeong clunched her chest tightly,with hot tear’s running down her cheeks.
Ji-hoon choose that moment to walk in,and his eyes went wide in shock and horror.
“A-Yeong!!!”He screamed, rushing to her.
“Ji-hoon”She muttered weakly and ji-hoon felt tears running down his cheeks too.
He actually came to see her,he was literally worried and felt things was not right,why would she leave the date half way? That too,she refused him following her! Who could have done this?
“Let’s go to the hospital”Ji-hoon cried, trying to lift her up.
“I won’t make it to the hospital”A-Yeong smiled bitterly and ji-hoon shook his head.
“Let’s leave….”
“Yunno,told you I was going to give you a reply tomorrow in school…”She began coughing.
“Sorry that I couldn’t say it on time….I..I.. love you too”She said, taking her bloody palms to her cheeks.
Her eyes held so much bitterness and pain in it,when she said those words.
Hearing those words from her was what he was dying to hear from her,but it coming out in her dying state was what he least expected. He should have been happy, rejoicing that she feels same, but no! He was completely broken. His thoughts was suddenly disrupted when he felt her hand falling from his cheek,her eyes closing on its own and her entire body went limb.
“A-Yeong!! A-Yeong!!”He called heartbrokenly, shaking her vigorously.
“A-Yeong,you can’t do this to me. A-Yeong please wake up,you just said you love me too. Don’t you care about my feelings anymore? Don’t you want to see us displaying our lovey dovey to the whole world? Then get up already!! There’s no way we achieve all that if you’re lying down here. No A-Yeong! No!! You can’t leave me,not now… Not forever!!”He cried bitterly,still shaking her vigorously,but she made no attempt in answering or opening her eyes.
She was already gone!!! GONE FOREVER!!
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TBC….