Chapter 4. Family - Jumin POV
Although they talked about various things over the phone for the past few months there was one subject they never touched upon—the topic of families. It isn't so odd for him seeing as he is a bachelor living on his own, but he did find it strange she didn't speak much about hers, after all, was she not married?
Another fact that bothered him was when he realized they talked quite often over the phone— sometimes late into the evenings. Was her husband not bothered by this fact? That his wife was talking with another man—occasionally for more than an hour?
He decided to voice his thoughts one evening over the phone. She was quiet for a moment, before she replied.
"It's not that I'm hiding it or anything. It's just that it's something that has been difficult for me to talk about—my husband… He died almost 2 years ago in a car accident." Her voice over the phone sounded quiet and sad.
He didn't know how to respond to that. Emotions were not something that he liked to deal with—an emotional woman much less so.
As if understanding his internal dilemma her tone changed—it became more lighthearted, "It's alright—I've been slowly getting through it. I have my two sons to focus on and I have you for an awesome best friend."
She spent the rest of that evening gushing about her sons' talents, how different they were and how proud she was of them. Just listening to her talk made him think of what a strong and amazing mother she must be. He smiled as he listened to her talk about her family—he found that he didn't mind having this woman as a friend.
He found out something new about his only female friend. He had called her one evening and ended up speaking about his father's upcoming divorce with his mother. He had originally wanted to call V—but he was unavailable: out of the country, out of range of contact and there was no telling when Jumin would see him next. Perhaps he had been overtired or drank too much wine, but he spoke of his thoughts on the matter of their relationship and divorce—before he realized who it was he was speaking to.
"I think you should discuss with your father about getting prenups going forward. That's what most Americans do. It should help to make things less messy next time around. If your father seems against it; then just tell him you only want him to be happy, that you only want to make sure that the woman he is marrying is being sincere, and this small gesture is not only her sincerity to him as her new husband—but to you as her future stepson. It would be your only request to accept her as your new stepmother. Just say that—even if you don't really mean it. What do you think?" Ran asked after giving him her advice regarding the matter.
Jumin thought on it for a moment before agreeing, "That is very sound advice. I have mentioned this subject before, but I have never thought to word it in that manner."
Ran laughed, "Hehe. I aspired to become a lawyer at one point, but I gave that up when I realized I couldn't convince my dad to leave my mother when I was young."
Jumin asked surprised, "Why would you endeavor for such a thing between your parents?"
There was a pause over the phone line before she replied, "Hmm… I think it was because even though I was young and small I could understand that she had a bad effect on our family as a whole. She didn't spend much time with us as a family, but she was concerned about what people thought about us as one. I have a lot of happy memories with my sister and dad, but none with my mother. The three of us tried to spend more time with her, but she was too obsessed with prayer and church to ever spend any time with us. In my 20 or so odd years of life I can count on one hand the times we've all spent together outside of church—family meals don't count."
Just as Jumin was not fond of his own mother—Ran seemed to feel the same towards her own. As he listened to Ran talk about her childhood days and the lack of her mother's presence—he could see the similarities. His mother spent her days spending his father's money on materialistic items and travel—while hers spent days and nights at church without her family while donating what little they had. Some would say there was a difference in altruism, but in the end both he and Ran knew it was for the same reason. Their mothers cared about image—how others perceived them.
How ironic. It seems that even with the differences in money and status people still found ways to intrinsically behave in the same manner whether it seemed outwardly charitable or shallow.
Ran then spoke of her father, "I remember asking my dad once if he loved my mom and if that was the reason why he stayed with her. He didn't tell me yes. He simply told me that it's only logical that he stay with her; he chose her, has children with her and as a proud Vietnamese Catholic man he would never renege on his word before God. I then asked if he was at least happy—instead of answering me he told me he accepted his current life, because when they're both old and gray at least they won't be alone—they have each other. I find his loyalty to her as admirable as it is infuriating."
They were both the same—Jumin thought to himself as he listened to Ran speak about her father. He could tell how much she respected him with the reverence she held as she spoke of him, yet there was an underlying anger—her frustrations at his lack of self care. He seemed to be a man that held a lot of pride and magnitude to his promises. He wondered if having a trait such as that would make a good businessman?
"Our dads are like polar opposite when it comes to women, huh?" Ran added wistfully.
"It would seem so." Jumin stated as he wondered what his life would have been like if his father had been like hers—loyal to his mother despite her greed. He definitely would not have had to see him with so many different girlfriends, while his mother ignored his dalliances and infidelity.
Jumin's thoughts were broken when Ran broke the serious mood as usual, "Anyways, it should sort itself out sooner or late—after all C&R has the Super Awesome Jumin Han."
Jumin sighed, "I don't understand why you insist on using such inelegant terms regarding myself. You seemed so eloquently spoken when we first met."
"Well that's because we were strangers, bestie—a time before I found out that you're totally three years younger than me—as far as the Korean age goes." Ran stated as if it wasn't already obvious.
She couldn't see him over the phone but Jumin smiled, "Nevertheless I thank you for your vote of confidence."
One day she appeared at his front door with a dog—it had no manners whatsoever; it immediately went towards him, stood up against his leg as if to hug it, tried to smell him, and attempted to lick his hand. Yet, he waited for Ran to speak while she stood there nervously—allowing her dog to assault his person. Her apprehension was well placed, especially with the request that left her lips.
"Umm... I'm going somewhere for the weekend with the boys and I was hoping that you could look after Yumi for me… I asked your assistant and it seemed that your schedule was free… So I was hoping you could do me this big favor…"
"I am in line to become the next Executive Director of C&R, a large international corporation and the heir to the Han family. I am also your employer yet you are asking me, Han Jumin, the future lead director of a massive conglomerate—to look after your dog. Why did you believe this to be your best course of action?" Jumin questioned the rationality Ran held by coming to him of all people—for such a request.
"Because you're my best friend and the only one I can trust."
He ended up spending his morning reading up on how to care for the female Corgi named Yumi.
At first after Ran left for the first few hours he noticed Yumi staring at the door laying down—as if waiting for her to return. It wasn't until he would move or get up that she would jump up to follow him around the penthouse. She was a very needy little thing.
After feeding her and spending some time with her, it seemed that was all it took to earn Yumi's affection. For the next two days she became his near constant shadow following him wherever he went in the penthouse. It wasn't until long after Ran had retrieved Yumi—that he found himself missing the small dog—his penthouse had felt emptier. Maybe there was some merit to having an animal companion.
The next time Jumin saw Ran, she showed up at his penthouse with a large box in her arms—she wasn't alone—she had a young red haired boy with her. The boy hid behind her as he held onto something small in his arms. Ran had smiled at Jumin, "I couldn't bring both of my boys, but this is my youngest—his name is Saeran."
Ran bumped her hip at Saeran—who jumped slightly before bowing deeply. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Han. Mom told me that you're her best friend and that you took care of Yumi for us so that we could go vacation. Thank you so much, Mr. Han!"
As her son was busy kowtowing to him, Ran simply walked into his penthouse without invitation to find a place for the large box—which Jumin could only presume to contain items meant for him. Jumin could at least appreciate her son's politeness in waiting for permission.
"You're welcome. I know how important family is to your mother, and as my friend, I had a duty of care." Jumin replied to Saeran's gratitude.
The expression of awe upon Saeran's face from his simple sentence and slight quotation would be one that Jumin would never forget.
"Was that from Doctor Who?"
There was a slight quirk of his lips at Saeran's question. "Your mother made it clear that all close friends and family had an obligation—I never shirk from such things."
Suddenly Jumin's shoulders were grasped by a bouncing excited woman—Ran. "We got you a gift for taking care of Yumi! I figured since you did such a great job, that you deserved something super awesome!"
She then sprung away to bring Saeran into the penthouse—who was still hiding something in his arms. Jumin wasn't fond of surprises and it was less welcome when it was unpredictable—if anything, Ran was the personification of unpredictability. Ran was bouncing on the heels of her feet behind Saeran before he finally revealed what he was holding in his arms—a small black fluffy kitten.
Both mother and son looked up at him with big shiny eyes, before they both asked completely in sync, "Isn't she adorable?"
The moment the small kitten looked up at him joining in their shiny-eyed attack against his person—he felt his heart melt just a little at the display they made. He could only hum in response to show that yes, he did indeed find the feline adorable.
Bemused Jumin commented on her gift, "Although, I do not see how this equates to a gift—if anything you are giving me a lifetime responsibility."
"No way.~ Luna is sure to bring you good luck! In my personal experience black cats are the luckiest! She's perfect for you—a defender of love and justice!" Ran enthused gesturing wildly.
"I hold a number of titles; such as being one of the country's most eligible and wealthiest bachelors under 30, as well as being one the most successful executive newcomers of the year. My business acumen and intellect are commendable, however none of these abilities include or merit me the status—defender of love and justice ." Jumin replied amused at Ran's outburst.
Jumin continued watching Saeran as he played with the kitten named Luna—he seemed really happy with the kitten. It was then that Saeran noticed him staring and went up to Jumin to hand him the kitten, however Jumin was reluctant to touch the cat, he had never been around a small animal before.
His worries were unfounded because after a few cursory sniffs, the kitten was a little purring motor within his hands. Jumin could only look up helplessly at Ran.
"You might not be the defender of love and justice to the world, to Korea, or to Seoul, but you are the defender of love and justice for my family—to us that means the world." Ran told him empathically with Saeran at her side.
Saeran nodded enthusiastically, "And all heroes need to have a trusty sidekick!"
Jumin stared at two of them—who looked at him with such care—and possibly even adoration. He had never been subjected to such looks before—a warm feeling was slowly enveloping him as he spent more time with part of the Hoang family.
"Then I graciously accept Luna, who has been bestowed upon me as your defender of love and justice." Jumin replied softly.