Disclaimer: I do not own The Heirs. This is for entertainment purpose only.
Author's Note: I had been longing to write this story but the time never clicked. A huge thanks to all those writers who had done Young-Ra fics. It is because of you guys that my ship sailed (at least in our imagination ;)). This is what I want to happen after Episode 20 so I wrote it down and thought 'why not share it?' I'm sure there are many fans that still yearn for more Young Do and Rachel (coz they are irresistible). For some people who hate Rachel, I just want to say "If you are capable of forgiving both Kim Tan and Young Do then you can forgive Rachel too. If not, you are simply being a die-hard fan of the actors and not a fan of the actual drama."It would be mostly in Reader's POV but it would change at some places. Italics are used to emphasis the stress on the word. Bold Italics are to represent words spoken in English (Because Rachel kicks ass in English). So, here we go…
Chapter 1: Why?
Rachel was contemplating her life on her flight back to Seoul because she had nothing better to do. She had already read a pile of magazines to keep herself busy and it had started to annoy her. She looked down on her Versace wrist watch. Still five hours left. She was returning to Seoul after spending her winter break at Maldives just like her mother had suggested. She turned to her right and glanced at her mother who was sitting right beside her holding a fashion magazine and listening to some news on-air through the headphones. Had it been a month before, her mother would not choose to sit beside Rachel. Esther would have left an empty seat between them which wouldn't bother Rachel because that's how their relationship is. Empty. Or was. She didn't know which term to use. And it clawed at her. Because if Rachel had something to hold up with pride, it would be her ability to be certain about everything she knew. But now, this, the decrease of the level of proximity between her and Esther made her uncertain. Unsure of everything. This feeling had started on the day when Esther had given the idea of this trip. But Rachel kept pushing it to the back of her mind, because she didn't expect Esther to go all motherly on her. The last ten days had been like being in a whirlpool for Rachel. Maybe for Esther too.
One moment she wanted to run away from this till her legs gave up, and the next she didn't want this to go away. Not to ever leave. As said she wasn't sure of anything and for some unknown reason she was always on edge. They had gone around and done everything in Maldives from shopping to site-seeing. Esther took every opportunity to be close to Rachel like holding hands while walking, slinging her arm around Rachel's shoulder, patting her head, winking at some random joke she tried so hard to deliver. Even as far as going to take pictures with Rachel at some scenery spots in which Rachel stood like a wooden stick while Esther did all of the funny acts. Rachel didn't know what she felt. Awe, confusion, frustration, fear and something else that kept creeping on her which she couldn't quite name. Rachel didn't know what to do about this. She didn't know whether to accept and play along or to disregard it. Because Esther always had some ulterior motive behind her every move. And she could even be mocked by her mother if she fell for it. She was a ball of emotions and it had burst one day when they were having lunch in a beach restaurant. Esther dipped the salmon well in the curry and extended the fork towards Rachel. Rachel couldn't comprehend anything and simply gaped at her mother. When did mother become so affectionate and friendly? Why is she being like this? Why now? After all that has happened? Why start loving her after Rachel was forced to thoroughly hate herself by her ex-fiancée and peers. Why couldn't she love her when she was full of empathy and not bitterness? Why couldn't she love her when she was capable of it? Why now after she had been forced not to trust and love anyone even though she didn't know how to? Why now after thoroughly screwing her? Why all the wasted love? Why? Why? Why? Suddenly her childhood with her father giving her piggy-back ride and her mother laughing at their antics came in front of her and it only reminded her of all the things she didn't have. All that was taken away from her harshly. It infuriated her. And that's what she did."Why are you being so affectionate all of a sudden? Huh? Just give it to me straight. Is there any new chaebol boy that I should get engaged to? ", she spat. Rachel looked through narrowed eyes that Esther stumbled looking like she had been shot but after fractions of second she recovered. Esther put up her optimistic smile and said,"I thought you'd like it" and took the bite from the fork and chewed meticulously to hide her disappointment. "It's delicious", she supplied and continued on with her meal.
Rachel was brought back to reality by the light tapping on her right hand. As expected, it was Esther patting her hand which was resting on the armrest. Rachel sighed and trying to relax she took a deep breath. Her head ached and her eyes became watery. She was having a very hard time sleeping since the chaos that was the breakup of her engagement. And the present situation didn't do any help in easing the pain she felt whenever she thought about her engagement. A failed one. She called the Air Hostess and asked for water. Her name-tag said Dara. She returned with a bottle of water. Rachel received the bottle and dismissed her. Her mother raised her eyebrows in question. Rachel shook her head and gulped down the water and decided to take a nap and shut her window pane.
Rachel woke up with a start to hear the announcement of landing. Rachel felt a bit relieved after the little slumber. Everyone gathered their belongings anticipating the landing and so did Rachel and Esther. They grabbed their respective handbags and throwed on their sunglasses. It would be evening in Seoul. Then the speaker again boomed saying that the landing will be delayed by some minutes because of the busy runway. Rachel opened her window shield to a glowing pink hue. It reminded her of the mess down there to handle. A mess she foolishly made in the process of trying to hurt Kim Tan and Cha Eun Sang. Except she was the one who ended up hurt. And Young Do. She was surprised that she considered Young Do's feelings. Maybe that's how people work. She told herself. Little did she know that it would be the cause of something lovely and drastic in her future endeavors.
