Redeeming Eden Chapter Twenty Seven
Title: Redeeming Eden
Length: Chapter 27/30 (Hope to end this with 30 Chapters)
Rating: PG and growing
Pairings: YooSu, JaeHo, MinOther
Summary: Love, Hatred, Gratitude, Revenge. Is love worth all the pain they have to go through?
lmaii's creation!
5th January
If Yoochun had been discharged together or before him, he would not get a chance to come to the cemetery without the other.
There really was no need to keep their relationship a secret any more but it would not be easy to explain things despite their mutual trust.
Changmin had arrived earlier and was already waiting in front of their mother's grave.
Relieved to see that his elder brother had finally recovered from the spate of misfortunes, the taller man held his arms out excitedly, tears flowing down the sharp angle of his cheekbones.
"Silly boy, why are you crying? I'm fine now."
Fitting perfectly into each other's arms just as they had always been from young.
"Hyung, why do you have to go through so much? Why does it always have to be you?
A light chuckle. "It's alright. I survived, I made it through everything and most importantly, I'm happy that nothing happened to my Min."
"I don't want anything to happen to you again." A rare childish moment for the pouting man.
The brotherly love surrounded those two, warming them in the deep chill of early January.
Eventually separating from the calming embrace, they turned to face the tombstone, staying connected by a hand.
Surprisingly, Junsu was first to speak of the issue, bringing a heightened arch to his younger brother's brows. "Omma, we've succeeded."
"Yes, Omma. We've done you justice and put him where he belongs."
Neither was willing to speak of the matter directly, the blood relation they had with the man causing both of them to hold a sense of filial duty hidden deep within their hearts.
Flashback
21 years ago
Seoul was a refreshing change from Jeju Island, the city atmosphere almost overwhelming for the young couple who had led a sub-urban life for their past 20 years.
But the new environment was totally interesting to the toddler.
Cooing to his one year old son, Jang Ji Dong was trying to join the child in the joyous mood while keeping his wife close.
"Junho-ah, we're going to stay in Seoul from now on. Appa will work hard to give Omma a nice home and buy you lots of toys, so you will have to be a good boy."
"Don't spoil the child, Ji Dong." A virtuous and loving wife but a strict mother.
"Don't worry, Eun Rin. Our Junho is a good boy. Right?" Giving the small body a light toss upwards, he earned a tinkling laugh from the overjoyed child.
---
A hand covered the mouth as it spoke into the mouthpiece, the man hoping to lower his volume.
"Eun Rin-ah, I'm sorry but I can't be home for dinner tonight. There's still two more reports that I have to complete."
"I understand, Ji Dong. You must work hard, it wasn't easy for you to get into Jung Global Enterprise. Junho and I will always support you."
"I know, thank you and I love you. Give Junho a kiss for me, okay?"
"Okay, I will. Love you too."
---
20 years ago
The couple sat down in front of the doctor, anxiety clear on their faces.
"There's really no cause for worry. Mrs Jang might be feeling slightly unwell due to the pressure on her bladder but that's just normal in the first few weeks."
Ever the caring husband. "I don't understand, Doctor. How could my wife not feeling well be normal?"
"Then I've to congratulate you now." Another smile at the confused faces. "Your second child will be arriving in about 8 months, Mr and Mrs Jang."
Those were words that successfully lighted up 2 gloomy hearts, giving to them another reason in their lives to rejoice for.
---
Raindrops fell from the sky, the gentle drizzle adding to the sorrow spreading throughout the mass of people at the cemetery.
She stood in front of the fresh burial, her tears flowing uncontrollably out of eyes that were red from days of crying.
Carrying her 3 year old son in her arms, the woman tried to suppress the surge of her emotions in order to stop herself from sobbing.
There was as much comfort in the hand as intended when it landed on her shoulder.
"My condolences, Mrs Jung. Please take care of yourself. Yunho is still young and needs you to take care of him too."
Being widowed with a load of responsibilities on her shoulders, Lee Min Sun craved for the support from people around her and she was thankful for these loyal employees of the company.
"Thank you, Ji Dong. I will try my best."
---
19 years ago
Looking at the unfamiliar number, he did not want to answer the call but the incessant ringing made it impossible to ignore.
"Yes?" The irritation was evident in his voice.
"Mr Jang, we're calling from the hospital. Your wife is giving birth soon. Please come here as soon as you can!"
A moment of hesitation. "I... Sure, I will." And the call was ended before the other party could add any other words.
Stuffing the device back into his pocket, Ji Dong turned around and gave a smile to the woman waiting for him with a drink in her hand.
He took her other hand in his and proceeded to lead her forward.
"Let's go in now, Min Sun. The movie's starting soon."
After some consideration, he took out his mobile phone and turned it off.
---
"But Nurse Yoo, why can't my child's birth certificate show his father's name?" She was on the verge of tears.
Nurse Yoo looked at the woman, her newborn in one arm and her 3 year old child sitting next to her on the bed, and the older woman felt a deep sense of sympathy for her.
Throughout her labour, the husband had never turned up and was uncontactable.
Not only was the new mother ignored, little Junho was also left to the care of the hospital staff.
How could she tell Kim Eun Rin that her child's father could not be named because the father does not want the child?
"I'm sorry, but your husband's name can only be included if he is here to sign the documents. But you can just have your name on the certificate first and the changes can be made later with documentary proof of your relationship."
Left with no other choice, Eun Rin signed the birth certificate, looking crestfallen.
---
15 years ago
This was a home he hardly came back to over the past 4 years.
After all, the mansion was a much more comfortable place to live in.
If he had other options, Ji Dong would never want to step into the tiny apartment again.
And today was a day which he could not choose.
He had to do this himself, to get rid of the most prominent obstacle that would stand in the way of his success.
The wedding was a few months away so he had to be single before that.
Wiping the beads of perspiration away with a handkerchief, he took out the key and inserted it into the keyhole.
---
Paper-thin walls did nothing to insulate the muffled cries coming from their mother's room next door.
Rubbing his eyes as he sat up, Junho found that his younger brother was already awake, clutching their shared blanket tightly.
In a trembling voice. "Hyung, what is that noise? I'm scared!"
His mother had always said that when his father was away, he was the acting 'man of the house'. Therefore, Junho was determined show that he was brave and take care of his mother and brother.
"Junsu-ah, don't be scared. Hyung is here to protect you. Come, we'll go see what that is."
Hand in hand, the 2 little bodies climbed out of bed and crept towards the other room.
One look at the scene inside muted both boys immediately.
But still the elder held a hand over the other's mouth as he bit into the back of his other hand.
That was a face that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
The man towered over the struggling body, holding the pillow firmly over her face no matter how she flung her limbs around.
A man who had only visited them occasionally over the years, who was pretty much a stranger to them, but the man who was supposedly their father.
Gathering all his strength, the older boy dragged Junsu back to their room and laid them back on the bed. His hand remained over the now moving lips as he clamped the smaller one between his legs. Pulling the blanket over their bodies and heads, he shut his eyes and prayed hard that no motion could be detected from them.
---
Fortunately, the murderer had left after a look into the room of the 'sleeping' children and deciding that he would leave them to the care of others who could be bothered to.
A 'kind and merciful' act that allowed them to be delivered to the orphanage.
Born in a local hospital, information was easily found on the younger boy, identified as Jang Junsu.
But the authorities simply could not unearth anything on the elder.
Speaking to them did not help either.
Not once over the countless times he was spoken to did the nameless child respond. And his silence was attributed to the trauma of the loss of his mother.
The younger one always gave the same answer.
"Junsu-ah, do you know what your Hyung's name is?"
Big innocent eyes looked up, quickly dissipating any anger that might come his way. "Hyung... is Hyung."
---
He sat alone under the tree, not even looking up at the playground where the other children played.
Nimble fingers carefully opened the precious envelope which contained his younger brother's first letter to him after leaving the orphanage.
Hyung,
I miss Hyung. I want to go back and see you but he says I have to be a good boy and live with him first.
I will be a good boy so that I can see you soon.
He brought me back to his house and it is very big and beautiful.
He says that he will be my new Appa from now on.
And he gave me a new name. Shim Changmin.
Do you like my new name, Hyung?
I will write to you again when I learn more words.
My new Appa says he will teach me.
Wait for me, Hyung.
From: Shim Changmin
The words were written with as much precision as a 5 year old could muster.
His mother had taught him how to read before and he could understand most of the words in the letter.
Now, he needed to learn more so that they could continue to write to each other.
Raising a fist, he knocked on the door to the matron's office.
"Come in!"
It was a surprise for her to see the boy approach her on his own.
"Yes? Is there anything I can do for you?" Gentle words filled with concern and sincerity from the bottom of her heart.
"I want to go to school."
She never expected those to be the first words from this unresponsive child.
There was a greater issue to be resolved. "But I need your name to enrol you in the school. Would you tell me your name please?"
His mind was set and the 7 year old knew that he could never turn back after this.
"My name is Kim Junsu."
End
---
7th January
Even the slight current of air let in by the opening and closing of the door caused the light hanging from the ceiling to swing.
Illuminated by the moving brightness, he brought out a hand to smooth the crease spotted on the front lapel of his suit.
The accused had already sat down in the chair opposite when he looked up.
Obviously feeling the difference between the luxurious mansion and the crammed cell he was locked up in, Jang Ji Dong appeared to have aged a lot for the past week he spent in detention.
When he spoke, his voice echoed in the spacious visiting room which currently only housed the 2 of them and a policeman standing guard.
"Mr Jang, I'm Shim Changmin, your appointed defense lawyer."
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A/N: A small chapter to explain everything happened at the beginning.
I know it is weird that 5 year old Jang Junsu was still normal after seeing his mother being killed(by his father who he did not recognise at that time) and then he grows up to be revengeful Shim Changmin but some times there are just things that are kept in a human heart(emotions) and brain(memories/thoughts) that cannot be explained logically. ==>Okay, I confess that I don't know and didn't research on psychology to try to understand/explain this... Lazy!
1) Jang Ji Dong did not worry about the authorities finding out that he was the boys' father(after the mother was killed) as his name was never eventually added to his younger son's birth certificate. The man uses honeyed words and convinced his wife that it was alright.
2) Jang Junho changed his name to Kim Junsu not because he was planning anything but just that he wanted to remember his mother(by her last name 'Kim') and his brother who had his name changed('Junsu' to 'Changmin').
3) Changmin volunteered to be Jang's defense lawyer. Not because he wants to purposely do badly in court and cause the old man to get a worse sentence but because he wants to just fulfill the filial duty he owes as Jang is still his biological father.
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Kim Junsu + Shim Changmin