A.N.: Hi, for those who are new, this is a continuation to my other story "Wishing You All Happiness And Joy" (WYAHAJ) that was posted just over two years ago. If you are a little lost to this story, do check my profile page for WYAHAJ :) Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting and following. Take care and have a great day.

Disclaimer: I don't own these BOF characters but the new ones.

Published: September 19, 2018

It had been a year since her wedding. He could still remember how exquisitely beautiful she was and what hurt him the most was how happy she looked. The lovely wide smile never left her face and that glow… the glow of happiness that had the infectious effect on people around her.

Except on him.

Ten minutes before he, Ji Hoo and Woo Bin left for the wedding venue, Ji Hoo asked if he really wanted to go.

"Are you sure you can handle it, Yi Jeong?" queried the worried Doctor.

"Of course, Ji Hoo."

"If you say so but if you need to leave early, just tell us," added Woo Bin.

"And what? Deprive you of the chance for wooing the bridesmaids?" Yi Jeong joked, earning him a light punch on his arm and a laugh from Woo Bin. Ji Hoo just shook his head with a smile.

Straightening his back, "Seriously, I'm fine. I'm going to show her that I'm alright and I'll be a good friend."

But Ji Hoo and Woo Bin knew better. He was not alright at all. Since receiving Ga Eul's wedding card, he had not been alright. Every night, he would drown himself in sorrow and alcohol, and every night, Woo Bin would stop by and reminded him about his sick daughter Ye-Jin.

He needed to think about Ye-Jin who needed him as a father and a mother.

At the wedding reception, he could not stare away from her. His heart hurt at the sight of the happy bride and groom. Countless of times he wished that he was the one next to her, hooking her arms with his, looking at him with all the love in her heart, leaning her head against his shoulder, and more. Then, when he saw that she was with some friends and her husband was somewhere else in the grand hall, he took the opportunity.

Maybe another try to tell her that he still loved her and wanted another chance with her?

But she beat him to it. She knew him well and her words broke him further. Friendship was the only thing that she could offer. She was someone else's wife now. Her heart belonged to another. He needed to respect that as she said, much to his further crushed heart.

But it did not hinder him from bringing Ye-Jin to the children's center. He would take any opportunity to get even at least a glimpse of her. He just could not get her out of his system. She was the one for him. He realized that now.

The visits to the center were also good for Ye-Jin to build up her social skills and make friends, and his daughter loved to be there. It was like killing two birds with a stone.

The first time after her wedding day that he went to the center and she saw him, she subtly shook her head but then remembered that she had offered to be his friend despite knowing his true intention, and so, she honored the offer and treated him as another friend.

Ye-Jin's visits to the center became weekly on days when Ga Eul was volunteering. Soon enough, the little girl had gotten closer to Ga Eul and vice versa. There was just something about this daughter of Yi Jeong that Ga Eul did not have the heart to turn down. Was it due to the fact that Ye-Jin was deprived of a mother's love? She still could not get it into her mind how Ye Eun could leave her daughter. Was there not an ounce of love to the little girl who she had carried in her womb who they had conceived out of love or was it just lust?

Or was it because Ye-Jin was Yi Jeong's daughter? Was the fact that Yi Jeong was once her boyfriend despite his betrayal led her to give extra attention to his daughter? She had to admit that Yi Jeong would forever be in her heart though not as how he used to.

Or was it both?

She did not know the real reason but she knew that she was beginning to love the little girl. The father may have broken her but the little girl was innocent and did not deserve to be hated. Ye-Jin was a smart little girl, curious about things around her and eager to learn and make friends despite her illness. Ga Eul had also asked the doctors at the center to inform her of any new treatment regarding Ye-Jin's illness that may help the little girl.

However, the frequent visits to the center and Ga Eul's closeness to Ye-Jin had attracted Joon-Ho's attention. Some staffs began to whisper around about Ga Eul, Yi Jeong, and Ye-Jin. The potter and her daughter only came when Ga Eul was there and he was always seen near her. Joon-Ho dismissed any unpleasant thoughts knowing that Ga Eul and Yi Jeong were friends long before he met her but when the rumors started to fly and spread wildly, he became uncomfortable.

"Hi, Sweetheart," Joon-Ho kissed his wife when she opened the door to their expensive apartment.

"Hi, you're home early?" and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Don't you like it?" There was a cold note in his voice shocking her.

"Of course I do. I was just surprised. You are usually home at 7 and I haven't started with dinner." She was a little hurt by his clipped question.

"I'm sorry. I just had a rough day," and kissed her again.

"Anything that I can help with?"

"No. It's all settled now. I just wanted to come home early to MY beautiful wife."

"Go have a shower and I'll start right away with dinner."

"Join me," as he tightened his arms around her.

"But dinner…"

"Can wait," then picked her up and carried her to their bedroom.

Dinner didn't come for he didn't let her leave the bedroom. After an intimate session in the shower, he continued loving her on their vast white-satin bed, leaving her exhausted yet pleasured and sated.

They laid cuddling in each other's arms.

"Joon-Ho," she tilted her head to look at him.

"Not that I'm complaining but what happened?"

She knew him well. Each time something was bothering him, his lovemaking was different but this time it felt like he was trying to prove something.

"Nothing…"

"You are not a good liar, you know."

A heavy sigh left him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Who is So Yi Jeong to you?" He was not going to beat around the bush anymore.

But his question startled his wife.

"You know who. What's with the question?"

"You said I can ask anything."

It was her turn to sigh.

"Is this about the rumors at the center?" She had heard them too but did not think of it too seriously and attributed them to some jealous young female staffs who had a crush on Yi Jeong.

Joon-Ho's silence answered her question.

She then leaned up on an arm and caressed his cheek.

"Are you jealous?"

He did not answer and she smiled widely before pecking his lips.

"He's just a friend, Joon-Ho."

"But they said that he was your boyfriend. You never told me that." There were anger, frustration yet insecurity in his voice.

It was time to tell him the truth.

She then sat up and put on the blouse that she grabbed from the edge of the bed, and he followed suit. They then sat faced each other.

"Do you remember what you told me to do about the guy who broke my heart?"

His eyes widened as the memory came rushing and she nodded.

"So Yi Jeong was that guy. He was the ex-boyfriend."

"He cheated on you." Joon-Ho was getting angry at the thought of the man who had hurt his wife.

Ga Eul quickly grabbed his arms and looked into his eyes.

"But he hurt you."

"Joon-Ho, think. If it didn't happen, we wouldn't be here. You wouldn't be my husband and I wouldn't be your wife. In a way, we have him to thank for us," as she gestured her hand between them.

"Is that why you let him in your life again?" He somewhat felt cheated and betrayed because she did not tell him about So Yi Jeong the first time they met.

"Joon-Ho, please. Don't think of it that way. You told me to forgive him and I did. You helped me find the peace in my life. He was my friend before we became a couple and now we are back to being friends. I don't see anything wrong with that."

"What if he wants to take you away from me? I won't let that to happen. Over my dead body."

"I would never let that happen and I made sure that he knows it. Don't you trust my love for you? If I wanted to be with him, wouldn't I already when he first came to the center?"

But he just looked at her, still trying to reel in the new revelation.

Then, "What about his daughter? They said that she's attached to you and you are always beside her."

"She's an adorable and a lovely child. Yes, I adore her and love her. Who doesn't? The other staff there love her too."

He was uncomfortable with his wife loving another man's child. He hoped that they would be blessed with their own. "But they said…"

"Don't let the rumors affect you. It's you who I love. There's nothing for you to worry about," and she pulled him for a feverish and passionate kiss to prove her words. Once he responded, she pushed him down to the bed and their clothes were gone in seconds.

"Hi, is Mrs. Chu Ga Eul in?"

It was the third week that he had not seen her. Ye-Jin had started to whine when she did not get to see and play with Ga Eul.

The girl at the reception counter batted her eyelashes at him but he ignored her. She was just one of the many girls there who tried to get his attention.

"I'm sorry but Mrs. Chu is not in," stressing on the word Mrs. so that he knew that Ga Eul was off limits. Yi Jeong had to force himself not to roll his eyes.

"May I know when she'll be in?" Ye-Jin was already pulling his hand to go to the art room where Ga Eul would usually be.

"I don't know. I'm sorry."

"Alright. Thanks."

"Papa, Papa, Aunt Ga Eul. Aunt Ga Eul" said the little girl impatiently.

"Aunt Ga Eul is not here, Baby."

"No. Aunt Ga Eul is here."

"She's not here but maybe Mrs. Kim is here." Mrs. Kim was the other art teacher.

"No, I want Aunt Ga Eul," and began to cry.

Joon-Ho was passing by when he heard a girl's cry and the mention of his wife's name. He looked around and saw Yi Jeong trying to pacify his daughter. Joon-Ho took a deep breath and approached them.

"Hello, Yi Jeong-shii, cutie pie."

However, Ye-Jin did not stop crying while Yi Jeong looked up to the man.

"Hello, Joon-Ho-shii. I'm sorry about Ye-Jin. She wants to see Ga Eul. It's been three weeks since we last met her. Ye-Jin misses her Aunt Ga Eul."

Joon-Ho slightly cringed at the words "her Aunt Ga Eul" but kept the smile on his face.

"Oh, Ga Eul is not feeling so well. Morning sickness. We're having a baby. She's already 3 months along. We just knew three weeks ago." There was pride in his voice.

No words could ever describe how Yi Jeong felt at that moment. His face fell and he was speechless. Ga Eul was going to have a baby. Ga Eul was going to be a mother. Would she still want to play with Ye-Jin after this? Would she still be a volunteer here at the center? Most importantly, has his chance of being with her dropped to zero?

An awkward seconds later, "Congratulations, to the both of you. Send my regards to Ga Eul, please. Make sure you take good care of her."

It was difficult to say those words.

"Thank you, Yi Jeong-shii. Don't worry. I won't let MY wife get hurt. I will take a good care of her."

Ye-Jin's cry had reduced to sobs when she heard Ga Eul's name and looked around to see if Ga Eul was there.

"Cutie pie, no crying, OK? You'll make Aunt Ga Eul sad if you cry," said Joon-Ho while caressing the little girl's cheek.

"I want Aunt Ga Eul."

"Aunt Ga Eul is not well," said Joon-Ho.

"I want to see Aunt Ga Eul."

"When she's better OK? I promise."

Ye-Jin nodded though still with a pout on her cute face.

"I'd better get going. I'll see you around, Yi Jeong-shii and thank you for your support and donation to the center. We really appreciate it. There should be more generous people like you."

He then offered his hand to Yi Jeong for a handshake and the latter accepted it with a small smile.

"Glad to help."

"Bye, cutie pie," and kissed the little girl's cheek, and left.

"Papa, Papa, colors," Ye-Jin was already pulling his pants.

In the art room, Ye-Jin had temporarily forgotten about Ga Eul as soon as she saw some of the toddlers and kids there. She straight away joined them in the activity. Meanwhile, Yi Jeong was deep in thoughts. Joon-Ho's news had definitely trampled his heart and dampened his mood.

Pregnant. Ga Eul was pregnant. With Joon-Ho's child.

His thought went to the time when he was still with her when they planned to have three children of their own. It was a happy moment for them but he ruined it all for falling in love with Ye-Eun.

Jan Di and Jun Pyo, as well as Ji Hoo and Woo Bin, tried to make him see that there was no more reason for him to wait for Ga Eul. She was happily married. "Just be happy for her," they said. They wanted him to move on with his life and think about Ye-Jin. He understood that they were just looking out for him and wanted him to find his happiness and joy too but how could he when his love for Ga Eul refused to fade and leave? Was this a punishment for the betrayal and heartbreak that he had inflicted upon her? That he was to live in misery by watching the love of his life sharing a happy life with another man?

Masochist. That was the word Jun Pyo used to describe him. "Why torture yourself by still hoping for her and going to the center?" asked the Shinhwa boss. "You are a handsome, rich, successful man. She's not the only woman in this world, Yi Jeong."

Yes, Jun Pyo was right. Of course, there were other women in this world: 49.6% of the world population is of women. However, how many were there were Chu Ga Eul? His Chu Ga Eul? Only one. His Chu Ga Eul.

His Chu Ga Eul was now pregnant with Im Joon-Ho's child, and he could not be any more heartbroken. Maybe it was time for him to let her go from his heart and move on…

"Aunt Ga Eulllll…."

Ga Eul looked up to see little Ye-Jin running toward her with open arms and Yi Jeong walking behind her.

"Hi, Sweetie," and the little girl hugged her tightly.

"Missed Aunt Ga Eul," she said while kissing her cheeks.

"I've missed you too, Sweetie," as she returned the kisses.

"Aunt Ga Eul OK now?" asked Ye-Jin, arms still around Ga Eul's neck.

"Yes, I'm OK now. How are you?" A staff told her that Ye-Jin did not come to the center since a month ago. She was hospitalized after she fainted at home.

"I'm good, Aunt Ga Eul."

"I pray that you will always be good and healthy," said Ga Eul while tapping on the little girl's cute button nose.

All the while, Yi Jeong was watching the two with a bright smile.

Ga Eul then stood up with Ye-Jin holding her hand.

"Hi," said the man.

"Hi."

His eyes briefly landed on her stomach and he could see a bump but quickly looked back at her face. His heart stung.

"She really missed you."

"I'm sorry. I was not well."

"Congratulations on your pregnancy. Joon-Ho-shii told me."

A smile curved up her beautiful glowing face. "Thank you. He told me too."

They then went to a small table with a big box of blocks of all sizes. Ye-Jin immediately took some and started to play with them while the adults sat on the chairs.

"So, do you still get morning sickness?"

"Thank goodness no. It was terrible and whoever created the word morning sickness sure was wrong. It should be the all-day sickness."

Yi Jeong laughed at her words and dramatic reaction. He really missed her.

"When are you due?"

"I still have four more months to go."

"A girl or a boy?"

"We'll know when it comes out."

"Oh, want it to be a surprise?"

Ga Eul laughed and grinned. "Yes." And then it became an awkward silence. Both then turned their attention to Ye-Jin who had already built half of what seemed like a house.

"How is she?" asked Ga Eul. "I'm sorry for not visiting her at the hospital."

"That's alright. I understand. As far as Ye-Jin's condition is concerned, I don't know what to say. On some days she's healthy like today but on others, she's tired and has to be in bed."

"I'm sorry but I'm sure her doctors are trying their best to treat her, and she's very lucky to have you as her father. You're a very wonderful father, Yi Jeong Sunbae. I always believe so."

"Do you think so? Then I have you to thank for that. It was you who told me that I will not turn out to be like my father. You believed in me. That left a huge impact on me. Thank you."

Ga Eul gave him a smile and nodded. She still remembered that too. It was not easy to convince Yi Jeong that his father's traits were not hereditary, to convince him that he was his own man and to convince him that he was not evil. She was grateful that at last, he had seen his own good qualities. But she knew that he would always try to include one or two of their old memories whenever they met.

"Jan Di told me that your exhibition is next year. How's the preparation going?" She had to divert the topic. She did not want to encourage him to still hold on to the past.

"Yes. It's going fine so far. Hey, I'll send you two tickets for the exhibition."

"Thank you but I can't promise that I can go. You know, this one here will be out and I'm going to be pretty busy," as she gently rubbed her stomach.

Yi Jeong tried hard to hide his disappointment but smiled nevertheless.

"Oh, yes. Forgot about that one. You must be very happy."

"I am. I really am, Yi Jeong Sunbae."

Yi Jeong looked at Ga Eul with sad eyes and Ga Eul wished that she had not looked at his.

"Yi Jeong Sunbae, you need to be happy too."

But he just smiled and nodded.

Should she break their friendship if he continued being this way? She wanted him to find his happiness with someone else, for him to find his soulmate. It would not do him any good if his heart was still for her. But she did not want to lose him as a friend. He was once in her heart, a fact that she could never throw away. However, that love had now been replaced by the love of a friend for another. She wished that he would do the same: love her as a friend.

The two were silent as they watched little Ye-Jin and a little girl who had joined her.

"Papa, Papa, look." She lifted the 'house' that she had made.

"Big pretty house, Baby. You are so good," complimented the father.

"Aunt Ga Eul, look."

"Yes, Sweetie. It's a pretty house. Is that your house?" asked Ga Eul.

"Yes, Aunt Ga Eul. My house, Papa's house, and Aunt Ga Eul's house."

In an instant, the two adults were rendered frozen.

"Oh, but Aunt Ga Eul's house is different. It's a lot bigger than ours," said Yi Jeong.

"But Papa…"

"Come, Baby. It's time for your lunch." Yi Jeong quickly gathered Ye-Jin's small pink bag from the floor.

"Aunt Ga Eul, lunch?"

Clearing her throat from the earlier shock, Ga Eul leaned forward and caressed the little girl's cheek. "I'd love to but Uncle Joon-Ho is taking me home after this."

Ye-Jin immediately pout and Yi Jeong's heart deflated in frustration.

"But I'll be here the next time you're here, OK?"

Immediately her smile came back and she went to hug Ga Eul.

"Thanks for coming, Yi Jeong Sunbae."

"Thank you too for accompanying us. Do take care, Ga Eul-yang. If you need any help, just call me."

She just smiled.

Ye-Jin then kissed Ga Eul's cheek before pulling her father's hand to go outside.

Once the father and daughter left, Ga Eul sat down and frowned.

"Oh, Yi Jeong Sunbae… please don't torture yourself and be happy, please."

A month later

"Yi Jeong Sunbae, it's Ga Eul!"

"What? What happened to Ga Eul?"

"She's at the hospital."