Past, Present & Future, Epilogue
Epilogue
Yunho couldn't sleep at all. Tomorrow will be the day of the reading of the second will. He still couldn't believe that it's been 4 years since that day and how much they have changed because of a piece of paper. Despite Jaejoong's effort to calm him down, he's totally restless. Many thoughts were running through his mind. And fear.
The first had separated him from his brother for a few years, he dreaded what the second will would do to them this time. He wanted to trust his father, but it's not easy. Not after what he'd been going through. Trust... such a simple words but yet complicated enough in his dictionary. But then again, he wouldn't be with Jaejoong today if he didn't have enough trust.
He and Jaejoong had mended their relationship almost year ago... They still lived in their own places but Jaejoong bought a condo for them to use whenever they wanted to be together or needed intimacy. No one wants their son or mother walked in on them in the middle of an intimate position, right? They called it 'sleepover'.
Moonbin kept teasing him after his 'sleepover' and said something like: 'Did you sleep well, Appa?' when he returned home in the next day. Jaejoong's mother visited their place often too, teaching the cooks her recipes so Moonbin doesn't have to whine on her if he craved on something she used to cook for him. Moonbin still calls Jaejoong 'ahjussi' but what else should he call him? Appa? Dad? He's not even married to Yunho. When it comes to Moonbin and Jaejoong, Yunho knew that he should just let time to fix it. At least Jaejoong made an effort by remembering his birthday or tried to strike a conversation whenever they met. Moonbin loves him, Yunho knew... but he's a bit overprotective towards his father so Jaejoong would need to prove himself worthy of him just a bit longer.
Two hands wrapped around his should and broke his train of thoughts as Jaejoong whispered in his ears. "Can't sleep?" He nodded as an answer.
"Thinking about tomorrow?" Yunho kissed the knuckles of Jaejoong's fingers under his chin. "Go back to sleep, I'll be there in awhile."
"I'm not going back to a cold bed without you." Kisses on his nape. He turned his face and was met with Jaejoong's gentle look. "Don't let your thoughts cloud your mind, baby. Stop worrying about problems you haven't even seen. No matter what's in the will, I'm not going to go away. Not anymore." He tightened his hold on him and buried his face in his neck.
Yunho felt better just hearing the simple assurance from Jaejoong. He's right. He shouldn't let something unseen takes away his peace of mind. Moonbin won't go away, Changmin won't go away... and Jaejong won't go away.
Another kiss on his cheek, "Back to bed? With me?"
He gladly complied to Jaejoong's request and let the man pulled him into the bedroom. He's right, whatever written in the will, he won't let go of the most important people in his life. He could do that now.
* * * * *
The will reading was like a déjà vu. Changmin's face was unreadable, Yunho kept glancing at the clock - probably wishing for it to end as soon as possible while Min Sook was as calm as a monk. The lawyer cleared his throat before he started with the date and the beginning of the second will.
"This is the second part of my will that you have heard four years ago. My best friend Min Sook might be the only one who understood why I did what I did. As for my two sons, I'm sure that you hate me a little if not much for putting you in a place that you least expected. As a father, I can't say anything else but asking for your forgiveness on my soul.
"To my dear friend Min Sook. Thank you for helping me back then and supporting both of my children. You must be tired and look forward to spend more time with you family again. Therefore, you should step down from the position as a CEO of the firm and retire. The 20% shares still belong to you, no one else deserve it but you. As for your successor, I'm sure that you will agree to my decision.
"My son, Jung Yunho. I'm not sorry for what I asked of you in my first will. If you're still the son that I knew, I'm sure that you're doing great and had gained the trust of the Boards. I believe in your ability to work hard and achieve the impossible. Again, I feel sorry for what you've been through, but never doubt that as a father, I only want you to be the best. And you deserve to succeed Min Sook as the new CEO of Jung Inc. The shares that you owned must be equally divided between you and your brother. But the rest of the property under my name should be yours completely.
"Last but not least, to my son Shim Changmin. I could never say anything much to you, we never had much words between us anyway. You've always been strong, even stronger than your brother and myself. I don't think that I need to worry about you. You can do anything to your shares, continue your life without having the obligation to look after the family. Or you help your brother run the firm. The choice is yours. You've always been a lone survivor, but this time I hope you'll find someone to belong to."
Everyone had a different expression after hearing the will. But apparently the lawyer still has something more to say.
"According to the agreement between our firm and the late Mr. Jung, I also have to hand over two letters, one for each son."
He took out two white envelops, and after checking the names on it he gave one to Yunho and another to Changmin.
"So, based on the reading of the will, Lee Min Sook-ssi will retire from the firm and his position will be succeeded to Jung Yunho-ssi. As for the rest, I will wait to hear from you again as soon as possible. Including the possibility of Shim Changmin-ssi to return to the firm. Thank you."
They all shook hands with the lawyer and sat back on their seats once he's out of the door. Changmin was the first to say something, like he did before on the reading of the first will.
"I guess that's it. There's nothing else for me, is there?"
Min Sook shook his head, "Not yet. I need to know if you're going to return to the firm and work with Yunho now since I'm retiring."
Yunho shot him a hopeful look but he quickly shook his head, "The firm had been doing fine without me for the past 4 years. There are a lot of people who would love to work for him." He turned to look at his brother, "No one will complain anymore, you've proven yourself enough."
"But it's- I don't think it's the same with you. You know that I-" He stopped when he saw the look on Changmin's face, and he heavily continued, "I understand."
"Thank you brother. I'll see you at home tonight? I want to pick up Jihye from her night shift."
"Go on... bring Jihye home too if she's not tired tonight."
Changmin nodded and said bye to Min Sook before he went out of the door.
The two men left in the room exchanged looks, and Min Sook got up. "You must've wanted to read your father's letter, I'll leave you by yourself now. We still have time to discuss about the next step after my retirement. Why don't you take a day off today? Just leave after reading the letter, and I'll see you again tomorrow."
"Thanks Min Sook-ahjussi." Yunho kept holding onto the letter as Min Sook left the room. The letter was light but his heart was heavy. On one hand, he was happy that his father asked him to divide his shares equally with his brother. But he wished that he left some nice words for Changmin too.
He slowly took out a folded paper out of the envelope... there's only 1 page filled with his father's handwriting.
"If there's anything that I regret before I die, it's that why I'm too scared to come to you and ask you back home. I haven't been a good father for you or a good husband for your mother. But everything that I have achieved until the day I die was for you and your mother. I have let you both down by seeing another woman in my lowest time, thus I could never look you in the eye and tell you how much I want you to be by my side, my guilt was too great. And I was too much of a coward to admit that to you.
"I found out about your son, he's a good looking boy and I'm proud of you. You've gone through so many hardships because of me but yet you have your mother's heart... so kind, so caring and so full of love. So I believe that you also loved Changmin like your own brother, I'm praying too that you'll be a much better father than myself.
"Somehow I get the feeling that you have found out about his real identity. Through Min Sook? The burden that I have put upon his shoulder was too heavy after you're gone but I didn't have any choice. I knew you'd come back somehow. The boy had always loved you more than the world, so I'm sure that you love him that much as well. Love him like you have loved him all these years and love him the way your mother would love him is she's still alive.
"Even through paper and ink, I can't seem to say everything I want to say. For everything that you've been through, I'm proud of you. Be strong for your son, have your own family, and be a better man than I ever was. I love you."
Yunho couldn't stop the tears from flowing as he remembered the days when they were still together. Him, his mother, his father. There were regrets, there were hatred, there were misunderstanding... but they don't matter anymore. His father loved him, and he had accepted Moonbin even though he never met the boy. He has a new life, and he's together with the love of his life again, he has his brother by his side. He wouldn't ask for anything more.
* * * * *
The man kept looking out the window from his bedroom. He's spending the weekend with Jihye at his cabin. The girl is finally able to take a few days off from the hospital.
"Min, are you still not going to open your father's letter? It's been a week." He heard Jihye spoke to him softly.
"I don't think there's anything important in there. He's dead. And the second will had pretty much summed up what he wanted with me. I'm thankful for the shares, but I'm sure he had nothing else to say to me. Perhaps he wrote one for me out of pity since he wrote for Yunho-hyung as well." He replied cynically.
"If you don't intend to read it, then why do you keep it in your drawer? Better as well burn it down."
"Maybe I will." He told her stubbornly.
"Well, since you don't want to read it, maybe I should." She went to drawer and pulled it out. Changmin looked at her nonchalantly.
Jihye opened and read it silently. After a few minutes, she walked closer to him and smiled as she handed him the paper. "You're right. He didn't have anything to say. But I still think you better read it. At least you know what he wanted to say no matter how unimportant it was for you."
He didn't make a move at all so she took his arm and put the letter on his palm. "I'll be out there." And she left.
He weighed the letter and took a deep breath before he opened it.
"I don't know whether you get to read this or maybe you don't since you hate me so much. I know it's useless but I still want to say I'm sorry.
"And you should know that I never hate your mother or yourself. My guilt towards my wife and son was too much that it was a shame I couldn't even act as a father for you. I never meant to use you as a replacement for your brother but I had no choice. I'm still happy that you get to love each other as brothers.
"I'm not going to make this long. Thank you for being my son, and thank you for being a faithful brother to Yunho. And no matter how late I'm saying this, I'm sorry. I'm proud of you, Shim Changmin."
He didn't want to cry so he kept holding back his sob as he sat on the bed, clutching on that piece of paper. The last three words were nothing expected. When he was alive, his father didn't even bother to say more than a few sentences for him. But through the letter, he felt accepted.
He may never loved him, but at least his existence had brought a little pride in the old man's life. He never regreted his life in the Jung household. If not because of it, he wouldn't have had Yunho, Moonbin... and even Jihye in his life. For all the painful memories, he would bury them all and start his own life as Shim Changmin. A strong and lucky man. The owner of a well known Guest House. Jung Yunho's younger brother and Jung Moonbin's uncle.
As he gazed out the window, he whispered to the full moon in the sky, 'Rest in peace... Father.'
* * * * *
"Oh gosh!" Moonbin palmed his face. "Appa, Jae-ahjussi's just going to the kitchen! You don't have to follow him everywhere like a lost puppy!" He scolded the two men standing in front of the fridge. "And I thought that you guys just have a sleepover last night! Sheesh..." He growled and Jaejoong's face turned red.
Yunho smiled sheepishly at him, "But Jaejoong was on a video conference with his European partners almost all night! Blame the time zone... " He retorted but Moonbin was merciless.
"Do I even need to know that? This is supposed to be family gathering which means that you both should be outside talking to Min-ahjussi, Ji-noona or Halmeoni instead of making out in the kitchen!" He sighed in frustration.
"We're not making o-" He stopped as he saw his son raising his eyebrow.
And the said son just pointed his finger at the door, "Now get out you two! Chun-ahjussi should be coming any minute with his boyfriend. The least you can do is to welcome him as your bestfriend and introduce the infamous politician boyfriend, Jae-ahjussi?" He glared at the other man who quickly went to the door and out of the kitchen.
"I thought you love him too, Bin." Yunho sighed.
"It's your fault!" He scowled. "One of you should just move in, you know... and save me from the unwanted sex education, I've had enough at school, thank you very much." He but his lip for a while, "Appa... I do love him, I'm not lying. But I'm not ready to... call him... you know..."
Yunho hugged him and patted his back. "Yeah, I know. As long as you two get along, I'm happy."
"Thanks. Now get out before Min-ahjussi come and search for you." He pulled off from the hug and they got out from the kitchen with Yunho's arm on his shoulder.
When Changmin saw them he yelled, "Geez, Moonbin! I never saw any guy with a father complex like you at the age of 18! Do you even have a girlfriend yet?"
"Shut up!" He yelled back at his uncle, blushing while Jihye pinched his boyfriend’s cheek and muttered, “Grow up and stop pulling his leg, will you.”
"Oh, he has a girlfriend alright... They've been talking on the phone, Heesoo is it?" Yun-ah teased him. Whistles and more tease were heard all over the room when the maid came in with Yoochun and Junsu in tow.
Jaejoong embraced his bestfriend and Junsu before Yoochun introduced Junsu to everyone. And then Changmin approached the couple.
Yoochun was happy to show off his boyfriend, "Junsu this is Changmin, Yunho's brother. And Changmin, this is Junsu my boyfriend."
They shook hands and smiled to each other before Jaejoong came up and joined in the introduction. "Hey, if I'm not mistaken you guys went to the same University but different major. Changmin here," he slap Changmin's arm, "is a genius. And even though he's much younger I think he's in your year, Su."
"Oh really?" Junsu laughed, "Then maybe we have some common acquaintances. I'm sure we can be good friends."
Changmin winked at him, "Oh yes, we will." He smirked. "Now, shall we start with dinner now that the expected guests are here?"
Yun-Ah ushered everyone to their seats while Yunho kissed Jaejoong when he sat next to him, much to Moonbin's protest. Jihye was helping Changmin with his plate while the man kept talking animatedly with Junsu.
Jaejoong looked around the table, listening to the endless chattering, thinking just how much of this he would’ve lost if he quit begging for Yunho’s forgiveness.
Yunho nudged him softly, “Stop thinking what I thought you’re thinking and enjoy the food.”
He leaned on Yunho’s arm, “It’s beautiful… this place… these people, these feelings that I still wonder if I really deserve it.”
“Then you’re an idiot. You deserve this as much as I do. I could never picture this without you.”
“Really?” He raised his head and looked into his lover’s eyes.
“Really. Forget about the past… what matters now is that you’re here with me, and I want you here tomorrow too. You’re my past… and now my present and I see you in my future.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. Forever.”
And they sealed the vow with a passionate kiss.
“Appa!! Not while eating please!! Aishhhhh!!”
THE END
Previous Chapters I Side Story: Family
A/N
I originally planned to post this tomorrow on the last day of 2011. But after looking at my schedule there's a big possibility that I'm going to miss it. So here it is, I hope you like it. Thank you for everyone who had read and commented in every chapter. It's been a productive year for me and I hope that I'll be able to deliver more in the next year :D Happy New Year to everyone and I pray that you all will have a brighter and better year!!