Dearly Beloved (final chapter)
[ Pictures ]
[Prologue ]
[So Much For The Wedding Night ]
[The Act Of Preparing ]
[The Spaces In Between ]
[The Taste Of Something New ]
[Splitting The Seams ]
[No More Stories To Tell]
CHAPTER SEVEN / FINAL CHAPTER
Bitter Sweet
*** *** ***
It had been a month since I last saw him.
It was such a fucking long time, one that I hated to endure. I dreamt of him, felt him in my dreams and tasted his skin, and I would wake up with an ache in my chest and other places as well.
He was a sin that I would not mind committing.
Now I stood in front of the large estate that I had been to quite a few times in the previous months. To think that I had never seen a glimpse of him until the kidnapping. And I had not seen him since that one night where everything that we had worked for went down the drain.
I was finally going to see him again.
I was finally going to tell Jaejoong everything.
I was finally going to tell him the one thing that I had been longing to say for so long.
I rang the doorbell, waiting patiently outside the huge manor, finding myself relatively small in comparison, and also trying to squelch the urge to bolt. I knew that Jae would more than likely not be happy to see me, we did not end on such good terms. I would probably be thrown out if I just so happened to say the wrong thing, but I was here on business (and for personal reasons that coincided) and he was expecting me.
Well, actually, he was expecting to see my younger brother, Shim Changmin, one final time.
If I played my cards right, then maybe this would not be the last time I would ever get to see him, touch him, hold him…
I was not so surprised to see who answered the door. She was still just as beautiful as the day I met her, but her lips were now turned down in a frown and her eyes held a sense of hurting and longing. Right away I guessed what it was she was missing.
“I am here to speak with--”
“Jaejoong, I know. He has not left that room much in the past few days,” she spoke quietly, her hands rubbing up and down her arms and I felt a smile tug at my lips because Jae did that same thing when he was depressed. “I miss him.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder, causing her light brown eyes to glance into mine, and with a reassuring squeeze, I said, “He just needs time, Ji Hye.”
She shook her head, tears clinging on her lashes but never falling down her smooth skin, as she stated, “I don’t want to give him time! I want him to talk to me now, damn it! We used to talk about everything, and now I feel as though he does not want anything to do with me. I can’t even bring myself to go near him for fear that he will look at me like he did that night. I don’t want to lose him, but he’s hurting because of us! How can I go up to him and try to explain when he thinks that I am a liar. He hates me, Yunho, he hates me!”
I embraced the sobbing girl, tears finally falling and making wet splotches all over my suit. I rubbed her back, resting my chin on her head, thinking about the man I was soon to see. Was he that closed off that he even refused to speak to her? Changmin had mentioned that he seemed emotionally detached from his family now, and I felt the guilt tug at my heart. If only everything had been explained sooner… None of this would have happened.
“Ji Hye, I will try my best to get this all worked out. I will get your brother back.”
“You,” she whispered, pulling away from me slightly, gazing at me with her big doe eyes, “better take care of him. He needs someone now more than ever, and I think that you are the only one that can help him.”
She left me standing there for a few moments before I finally remembered what I came there for. Sucking in a deep breath, I took the few tiny steps to the room beside the entrance. Finding the door open, my beautiful Jae at the desk piled up with paperwork left from his father, I knocked as I made my way inside.
He stared at me in shock for a second, his mouth dropping open and his eyes wide. His pink lips quickly twisted into a scowl and his eyes turned cold. It bothered me slightly, but I felt no pity for myself. In a sense I deserved this horrible treatment.
“I would like to speak with you,” I spoke confidently, sitting down in a chair across from his desk.
“And I would like for you to get the hell out, but apparently we don’t always get what we want,” he snapped, going back to his paperwork and completely ignoring me.
I pouted to myself, a habit I tended to use whenever I was given the cold shoulder (more than likely picked up from Minnie), and I folded my arms across me chest, observing the brooding man. He glanced up at me every now and then, a glare still in place, until finally he got tired of me being near him.
“What the hell do you want, Yunho?”
“To explain everything.”
Thinly shaped brows shot up at that before he furrowed them again. “Too late. I already know. You were fucking my sister and then you fucked me.”
“Jae, that’s not--”
He cut me off, a hint of distress laced onto his words, “Get out, Yunho.”
“Not until you listen to me.” I could be stubborn, too.
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
I frowned. This was going no where.
“So, you will talk to my brother but not to me?”
I watched in mild amusement as he tried to figure out what I was saying. He mouthed ‘brother’ and I tried to resist the urge to grin. And then jump him (he looked really nice in that suit).
“Yes, Changmin. Your sister’s boyfriend.”
His mouth dropped open at that bit of information as he spluttered (total loss of composure that I found rather attractive), “You mean… Then… you and Ji Hye…”
“I was never with Ji Hye. You were the only one.”
“Then why were her things all over the apartment? I am not stupid!”
“If you would give me just a few minutes to explain, Jae.”
He crossed his arms, sulky expression placed on his beautiful face, mumbling, “Fine.”
I cleared my throat, making sure that I did not look anywhere but him, and then explained the whole situation, “I am a criminal investigator. We have been watching Choi Siwon and his corporations for years now, waiting for him to mess up so that we could bust him once and for all. Even though we knew what he was doing, we were still unable to gather enough evidence to prove that Siwon was guilty.”
I gauged his expression, still blank and attentive (the latter a good sign), and I continued on, “Your father started receiving letters of blackmail from the Choi industries, pressuring your father into agreeing to give them half of his business. Your father sent us all the information, it was our only chance. So, we agreed to help your father out, giving them the idea of the arranged marriage.”
He nodded his head, silently asking for me to go on with the story.
“We went over everything. Your sister would be kidnapped during the wedding, some of our men stationed to follow along behind Siwon and watch his ever move. Ji Hye, unfortunately, fell in love with Changmin while we went over the plan a few months before the actual ceremony. I was the only one who knew of this minor detail that ended up becoming quite a huge deal in the end. I thought that this might not get in the way, but in the end, I was not able to stop what happened next.”
“Which was…?”
“Have you ever heard of a pause for dramatic effect?” He glared at me so I rolled my eyes and pressed forward.
“Changmin, after falling hopelessly in love with your twin, refused to let her take place in the assignment, worried that things might not go according to plan and that she might get caught in the crossfire. I tried to ease his mind, but apparently it did not work as I had thought. Changmin agreed to carry on with the plan, but in the end he aided in your sister’s escape.
We did not allow any type of communication from the Hans, in fear that the lines could be tapped and that our plan would be found out. We never expected to kidnap you instead, we did not even know that the Hans had a son, and you threw us off even more when you introduced yourself as a lowly servant by the name of Kim Jaejoong. Even though you were not who we were supposed to be ‘kidnapping,’ we continued along with the plan anyway.”
Jaejoong stopped me at that, ready to ask another question but I held up my hand to keep him from saying anything. “Please, just let me finish and then you can ask as many questions as you want.” He looked as though he wanted to protest but he did not open his mouth, letting me go on.
“We were supposed to take you to the headquarters, but since we were not sure about who you were, I decided to take you to my apartment instead. In the original scheme, we were to keep Ji Hye at the headquarters until exactly one week after the ruined wedding. By that time, the other group would have all the files regarding Siwon’s blackmail and have him in their custody. Nothing worked out as originally intended, as you can see.
The night before we had sex.” He winced, I noted much to my pleasure, because he did think of it as more than that, and so did I. “I received a call from the other group saying that they had finally captured Choi Siwon. I told Yoochun, who by that time was already in love with your best friend. He was slightly reluctant to let you go, seeming as though Junsu would have to leave as well, so he talked me into keeping the two of you ‘hostages’ for a few more days, just in case your friend returned his affections and he could talk him into staying with him. Against my better judgment, I agreed, and you two stayed longer than intended. Although, not everything that came because of that was bad.”
His face flushed slightly, a small smile forming at the corner of his lips, and I found myself smiling along with him. I had missed him far too much and been waiting for this for far too long. I had begun to wonder why I had remained so calm with him sitting not too far away from the leather chair that I was leaning back into.
“The night that Ji Hye came back, I wanted to tell you, I really did. You were so mad, crying and I found myself unable to tell you anything until I spoke with her. While Yoochun was taking you back home, myself not knowing what was going on, Ji Hye told me where she had been. Told me about the little house that Changmin had taken her to while he silently observed the case. She said that Siwon had escaped, that he was somewhere in Seoul, and I knew exactly where he was headed.
Yoochun, not knowing the recent update on Siwon’s whereabouts, took you back home. To where Siwon was waiting to kill your father. I did not make it in time. I failed my mission. Your father was murdered before your very eyes and then you were almost raped. I am sorry, Mr. Han.”
I got out of the chair, placing my hands and knees on the ground and bowed to him. I was truly upset at what had happened. If only I had told him sooner. If I had been open and up front after that one night. If… only I had not fallen in love with him. Maybe he would not be so hurt right now. Without even realizing it, tears were being to stream down my face and drop one by one onto my tan hands.
Then I felt his arms come around me, condoling me like I had him so many times before, and I could not help but to clutch onto him tighter. I was surprised when he let me, a part of me hoping that he had forgiven me for hurting him, but I am sure that he would never forget, never forgive me.
“Ji Hye is sorry, Changmin is sorry, and I am, too. I did not mean to hurt you, after all I had promised you that no one was going to hurt you, but look at that. I am a liar…”
Jae hugged me tighter, resting his head in the crook of my neck, his own tears wetting my suit. We probably made for an odd scene. Two nicely dressed men, hanging onto each other like a lifetime, crying our eyes out… It seemed so surreal to have him in my arms again, and I refused to let him go, afraid that his gaze would turn cold again and he would leave me again.
I had never been so scared in my lie.
“Why… why weren’t you there… at the hospital with me?” I heard him ask, his voice airy and slightly hoarse.
I leaned my head against his black hair, smelling the scent of strawberries that was much sweeter than the raspberries that always invaded my senses, as I replied, “I was there. Everyday and night up until the day you woke up. That day I was called back to the office, I had to write the full report on what happened, why your father was dead, and why the unknown heir was comatose in a hospital… the latter being what I did not want to dwell upon. After receiving the call, I told Yoochun I had to leave and, when you woke up, not to tell you where I was or that I was there. I was afraid that you would never want to hear my name again, and by Changmin’s interview, my fears became reality.
He was so mad at me. He punched me, a nice right hook that left my eye swollen and black. He demanded to know what was going on, why I was a ‘fucking asshole,’ and that I had better give him a good answer or he would do more than bite me Junsu-style.”
I felt him smile against my neck, his fingers idly writing his name on my back over and over, and I was hoping that was a sign of him marking me as his and his alone. I pulled back away from him, his tiny body still in my arms, resting my forehead against his. He was beautiful even when he was crying, teardrops clinging onto long lashes and cheeks reddened. A piece of me died when those large, dark eyes caught mine, the pain reflecting in them far too much for me to bear. I had caused this tear shed, this pain, and I had left him alone to go through it alone, even though I had promised that he would not be hurt.
“Do you still feel the same?”
He looked slightly confused so I decided to go on, a soft chuckle escaping my lips at the funny expression written on his face.
“That night that we made love, you told me that you loved me… In the car. You said that loved me.”
He looked down, his cheeks tinting a rosy color that I knew was from his embarrassment. He had done it before, those dark lashes caressing porcelain skin, and I had to refrain myself from taking him in the car that night, thankful that we waited till we were home.
Home. I had never called that place home until Jaejoong and I made love that night. Then it was home and it smelled like him and not his sister, and I forgot all about my job. We were a family… and I had tore us apart.
He nodded his head slowly, a toothy grin plastered on his face, leaning forward to kiss my cheek, as he whispered, “Let’s start over. I believe in second chances.”
I smiled wider than I ever had before, a giddy feeling erupting in the pits of my stomach and spilling out as I hugged him tighter.
“I don’t care who you are, Joongie. Kim or Han or maybe a Jung one day,” (his smile grew wider), “I do not care. I have been trying to say this since that night, Joongie.
I love you, too.”
...
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THE END
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...
Did everyone enjoy the last chapter? Expect that? I did promise a somewhat happy ending, but I did not say what kind. I hope you are satisfied with the outcome, and if there are any unanswered questions, I would be more than happy to explain it again in a better way. I did this chapter in a very unhappy mood (one of my friend's 9 month old baby died yesterday) so... it might not seem coherent in any sense, or the story does not tie together correctly. Just let me know. I might fix it later on.
I want to thank everyone for making this story as good as it is! I would love to point out everyone and give a special type of thanks, but I fear that it would be too long and you would all be bored once you got done. ^^ But know that everyone who read and commented or just simply read, you all mean a lot to me! "Dearly Beloved" would not have turned out half as good without you all, and I probably would have grown tired of writing it, eventually stopping halfway through and never finishing.
I hope to see you all around again with the posting of my next multi-chaptered story, "Doll Face," and then again with my other idea, "Begin."
Thank you again for making this story what it is! Especially those of you that shared funny exchanges with me or just simply made me smile! You know who you are!
I LOVE YOU~
[Prologue ]
[So Much For The Wedding Night ]
[The Act Of Preparing ]
[The Spaces In Between ]
[The Taste Of Something New ]
[Splitting The Seams ]
[No More Stories To Tell]
CHAPTER SEVEN / FINAL CHAPTER
Bitter Sweet
*** *** ***
It had been a month since I last saw him.
It was such a fucking long time, one that I hated to endure. I dreamt of him, felt him in my dreams and tasted his skin, and I would wake up with an ache in my chest and other places as well.
He was a sin that I would not mind committing.
Now I stood in front of the large estate that I had been to quite a few times in the previous months. To think that I had never seen a glimpse of him until the kidnapping. And I had not seen him since that one night where everything that we had worked for went down the drain.
I was finally going to see him again.
I was finally going to tell Jaejoong everything.
I was finally going to tell him the one thing that I had been longing to say for so long.
I rang the doorbell, waiting patiently outside the huge manor, finding myself relatively small in comparison, and also trying to squelch the urge to bolt. I knew that Jae would more than likely not be happy to see me, we did not end on such good terms. I would probably be thrown out if I just so happened to say the wrong thing, but I was here on business (and for personal reasons that coincided) and he was expecting me.
Well, actually, he was expecting to see my younger brother, Shim Changmin, one final time.
If I played my cards right, then maybe this would not be the last time I would ever get to see him, touch him, hold him…
I was not so surprised to see who answered the door. She was still just as beautiful as the day I met her, but her lips were now turned down in a frown and her eyes held a sense of hurting and longing. Right away I guessed what it was she was missing.
“I am here to speak with--”
“Jaejoong, I know. He has not left that room much in the past few days,” she spoke quietly, her hands rubbing up and down her arms and I felt a smile tug at my lips because Jae did that same thing when he was depressed. “I miss him.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder, causing her light brown eyes to glance into mine, and with a reassuring squeeze, I said, “He just needs time, Ji Hye.”
She shook her head, tears clinging on her lashes but never falling down her smooth skin, as she stated, “I don’t want to give him time! I want him to talk to me now, damn it! We used to talk about everything, and now I feel as though he does not want anything to do with me. I can’t even bring myself to go near him for fear that he will look at me like he did that night. I don’t want to lose him, but he’s hurting because of us! How can I go up to him and try to explain when he thinks that I am a liar. He hates me, Yunho, he hates me!”
I embraced the sobbing girl, tears finally falling and making wet splotches all over my suit. I rubbed her back, resting my chin on her head, thinking about the man I was soon to see. Was he that closed off that he even refused to speak to her? Changmin had mentioned that he seemed emotionally detached from his family now, and I felt the guilt tug at my heart. If only everything had been explained sooner… None of this would have happened.
“Ji Hye, I will try my best to get this all worked out. I will get your brother back.”
“You,” she whispered, pulling away from me slightly, gazing at me with her big doe eyes, “better take care of him. He needs someone now more than ever, and I think that you are the only one that can help him.”
She left me standing there for a few moments before I finally remembered what I came there for. Sucking in a deep breath, I took the few tiny steps to the room beside the entrance. Finding the door open, my beautiful Jae at the desk piled up with paperwork left from his father, I knocked as I made my way inside.
He stared at me in shock for a second, his mouth dropping open and his eyes wide. His pink lips quickly twisted into a scowl and his eyes turned cold. It bothered me slightly, but I felt no pity for myself. In a sense I deserved this horrible treatment.
“I would like to speak with you,” I spoke confidently, sitting down in a chair across from his desk.
“And I would like for you to get the hell out, but apparently we don’t always get what we want,” he snapped, going back to his paperwork and completely ignoring me.
I pouted to myself, a habit I tended to use whenever I was given the cold shoulder (more than likely picked up from Minnie), and I folded my arms across me chest, observing the brooding man. He glanced up at me every now and then, a glare still in place, until finally he got tired of me being near him.
“What the hell do you want, Yunho?”
“To explain everything.”
Thinly shaped brows shot up at that before he furrowed them again. “Too late. I already know. You were fucking my sister and then you fucked me.”
“Jae, that’s not--”
He cut me off, a hint of distress laced onto his words, “Get out, Yunho.”
“Not until you listen to me.” I could be stubborn, too.
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
I frowned. This was going no where.
“So, you will talk to my brother but not to me?”
I watched in mild amusement as he tried to figure out what I was saying. He mouthed ‘brother’ and I tried to resist the urge to grin. And then jump him (he looked really nice in that suit).
“Yes, Changmin. Your sister’s boyfriend.”
His mouth dropped open at that bit of information as he spluttered (total loss of composure that I found rather attractive), “You mean… Then… you and Ji Hye…”
“I was never with Ji Hye. You were the only one.”
“Then why were her things all over the apartment? I am not stupid!”
“If you would give me just a few minutes to explain, Jae.”
He crossed his arms, sulky expression placed on his beautiful face, mumbling, “Fine.”
I cleared my throat, making sure that I did not look anywhere but him, and then explained the whole situation, “I am a criminal investigator. We have been watching Choi Siwon and his corporations for years now, waiting for him to mess up so that we could bust him once and for all. Even though we knew what he was doing, we were still unable to gather enough evidence to prove that Siwon was guilty.”
I gauged his expression, still blank and attentive (the latter a good sign), and I continued on, “Your father started receiving letters of blackmail from the Choi industries, pressuring your father into agreeing to give them half of his business. Your father sent us all the information, it was our only chance. So, we agreed to help your father out, giving them the idea of the arranged marriage.”
He nodded his head, silently asking for me to go on with the story.
“We went over everything. Your sister would be kidnapped during the wedding, some of our men stationed to follow along behind Siwon and watch his ever move. Ji Hye, unfortunately, fell in love with Changmin while we went over the plan a few months before the actual ceremony. I was the only one who knew of this minor detail that ended up becoming quite a huge deal in the end. I thought that this might not get in the way, but in the end, I was not able to stop what happened next.”
“Which was…?”
“Have you ever heard of a pause for dramatic effect?” He glared at me so I rolled my eyes and pressed forward.
“Changmin, after falling hopelessly in love with your twin, refused to let her take place in the assignment, worried that things might not go according to plan and that she might get caught in the crossfire. I tried to ease his mind, but apparently it did not work as I had thought. Changmin agreed to carry on with the plan, but in the end he aided in your sister’s escape.
We did not allow any type of communication from the Hans, in fear that the lines could be tapped and that our plan would be found out. We never expected to kidnap you instead, we did not even know that the Hans had a son, and you threw us off even more when you introduced yourself as a lowly servant by the name of Kim Jaejoong. Even though you were not who we were supposed to be ‘kidnapping,’ we continued along with the plan anyway.”
Jaejoong stopped me at that, ready to ask another question but I held up my hand to keep him from saying anything. “Please, just let me finish and then you can ask as many questions as you want.” He looked as though he wanted to protest but he did not open his mouth, letting me go on.
“We were supposed to take you to the headquarters, but since we were not sure about who you were, I decided to take you to my apartment instead. In the original scheme, we were to keep Ji Hye at the headquarters until exactly one week after the ruined wedding. By that time, the other group would have all the files regarding Siwon’s blackmail and have him in their custody. Nothing worked out as originally intended, as you can see.
The night before we had sex.” He winced, I noted much to my pleasure, because he did think of it as more than that, and so did I. “I received a call from the other group saying that they had finally captured Choi Siwon. I told Yoochun, who by that time was already in love with your best friend. He was slightly reluctant to let you go, seeming as though Junsu would have to leave as well, so he talked me into keeping the two of you ‘hostages’ for a few more days, just in case your friend returned his affections and he could talk him into staying with him. Against my better judgment, I agreed, and you two stayed longer than intended. Although, not everything that came because of that was bad.”
His face flushed slightly, a small smile forming at the corner of his lips, and I found myself smiling along with him. I had missed him far too much and been waiting for this for far too long. I had begun to wonder why I had remained so calm with him sitting not too far away from the leather chair that I was leaning back into.
“The night that Ji Hye came back, I wanted to tell you, I really did. You were so mad, crying and I found myself unable to tell you anything until I spoke with her. While Yoochun was taking you back home, myself not knowing what was going on, Ji Hye told me where she had been. Told me about the little house that Changmin had taken her to while he silently observed the case. She said that Siwon had escaped, that he was somewhere in Seoul, and I knew exactly where he was headed.
Yoochun, not knowing the recent update on Siwon’s whereabouts, took you back home. To where Siwon was waiting to kill your father. I did not make it in time. I failed my mission. Your father was murdered before your very eyes and then you were almost raped. I am sorry, Mr. Han.”
I got out of the chair, placing my hands and knees on the ground and bowed to him. I was truly upset at what had happened. If only I had told him sooner. If I had been open and up front after that one night. If… only I had not fallen in love with him. Maybe he would not be so hurt right now. Without even realizing it, tears were being to stream down my face and drop one by one onto my tan hands.
Then I felt his arms come around me, condoling me like I had him so many times before, and I could not help but to clutch onto him tighter. I was surprised when he let me, a part of me hoping that he had forgiven me for hurting him, but I am sure that he would never forget, never forgive me.
“Ji Hye is sorry, Changmin is sorry, and I am, too. I did not mean to hurt you, after all I had promised you that no one was going to hurt you, but look at that. I am a liar…”
Jae hugged me tighter, resting his head in the crook of my neck, his own tears wetting my suit. We probably made for an odd scene. Two nicely dressed men, hanging onto each other like a lifetime, crying our eyes out… It seemed so surreal to have him in my arms again, and I refused to let him go, afraid that his gaze would turn cold again and he would leave me again.
I had never been so scared in my lie.
“Why… why weren’t you there… at the hospital with me?” I heard him ask, his voice airy and slightly hoarse.
I leaned my head against his black hair, smelling the scent of strawberries that was much sweeter than the raspberries that always invaded my senses, as I replied, “I was there. Everyday and night up until the day you woke up. That day I was called back to the office, I had to write the full report on what happened, why your father was dead, and why the unknown heir was comatose in a hospital… the latter being what I did not want to dwell upon. After receiving the call, I told Yoochun I had to leave and, when you woke up, not to tell you where I was or that I was there. I was afraid that you would never want to hear my name again, and by Changmin’s interview, my fears became reality.
He was so mad at me. He punched me, a nice right hook that left my eye swollen and black. He demanded to know what was going on, why I was a ‘fucking asshole,’ and that I had better give him a good answer or he would do more than bite me Junsu-style.”
I felt him smile against my neck, his fingers idly writing his name on my back over and over, and I was hoping that was a sign of him marking me as his and his alone. I pulled back away from him, his tiny body still in my arms, resting my forehead against his. He was beautiful even when he was crying, teardrops clinging onto long lashes and cheeks reddened. A piece of me died when those large, dark eyes caught mine, the pain reflecting in them far too much for me to bear. I had caused this tear shed, this pain, and I had left him alone to go through it alone, even though I had promised that he would not be hurt.
“Do you still feel the same?”
He looked slightly confused so I decided to go on, a soft chuckle escaping my lips at the funny expression written on his face.
“That night that we made love, you told me that you loved me… In the car. You said that loved me.”
He looked down, his cheeks tinting a rosy color that I knew was from his embarrassment. He had done it before, those dark lashes caressing porcelain skin, and I had to refrain myself from taking him in the car that night, thankful that we waited till we were home.
Home. I had never called that place home until Jaejoong and I made love that night. Then it was home and it smelled like him and not his sister, and I forgot all about my job. We were a family… and I had tore us apart.
He nodded his head slowly, a toothy grin plastered on his face, leaning forward to kiss my cheek, as he whispered, “Let’s start over. I believe in second chances.”
I smiled wider than I ever had before, a giddy feeling erupting in the pits of my stomach and spilling out as I hugged him tighter.
“I don’t care who you are, Joongie. Kim or Han or maybe a Jung one day,” (his smile grew wider), “I do not care. I have been trying to say this since that night, Joongie.
I love you, too.”
...
...
...
THE END
...
...
...
Did everyone enjoy the last chapter? Expect that? I did promise a somewhat happy ending, but I did not say what kind. I hope you are satisfied with the outcome, and if there are any unanswered questions, I would be more than happy to explain it again in a better way. I did this chapter in a very unhappy mood (one of my friend's 9 month old baby died yesterday) so... it might not seem coherent in any sense, or the story does not tie together correctly. Just let me know. I might fix it later on.
I want to thank everyone for making this story as good as it is! I would love to point out everyone and give a special type of thanks, but I fear that it would be too long and you would all be bored once you got done. ^^ But know that everyone who read and commented or just simply read, you all mean a lot to me! "Dearly Beloved" would not have turned out half as good without you all, and I probably would have grown tired of writing it, eventually stopping halfway through and never finishing.
I hope to see you all around again with the posting of my next multi-chaptered story, "Doll Face," and then again with my other idea, "Begin."
Thank you again for making this story what it is! Especially those of you that shared funny exchanges with me or just simply made me smile! You know who you are!
I LOVE YOU~