THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE
Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung
Rated K+
Anguish/Romance
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the series.
CHAPTER 10: FLIGHT
Raising her face, she kissed him, feeling him respond after a heartbeat. And just like that, her heart sang and forgot its pain. Tomorrow's problems could wait. For tonight, she had Jun Pyo by her side.
The compromise reached that night held for the next few days and life in the Gu mansion returned to normal albeit in a fragile state; for now that Jan Di has reentered their lives Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung both knew that it would only be a matter of time before things change for good.
Two weeks after the accident, a final prognosis had been made regarding Jan Di's health. She could walk again, but she would forever favor her injured side, resulting in a limp. With therapy it would become slight, even unnoticeable, however she will always have to be cautious with any heavy work, lest her spine finally breaks.
The F4 tried to cushion the blow to the fragile girl on the hospital bed, but again she showed them that she was not nicknamed weed for nothing. Pushing their fears aside, she simply said that things could have gotten worse, and the fact that she could still walk should not make her a person to be pitied and cosseted. Without being told, she knew that her bills had been settled, and that her job would be waiting for her once she is fit to work again. She was grateful, but she would pay them every dime even if all her hair turned gray before she is able to do so.
Jun Pyo visited her in the hospital often, but he never came with Jae Kyung, a fact that did not go unnoticed by his friends. When Woo Bin prodded, the curly-haired leader simply lifted a brow and it was the end of that. He would talk about it in his own time.
Jae Kyung also visited, and amidst much awkwardness, managed to make Jan Di laugh regarding her raised leg. The visit was strained, but Jae Kyung tried the hardest to convey her sincerest wishes for Jan Di to get well soon.
Ji Hoo rarely left Jan Di's side, and slowly Jun Pyo started to withdraw, giving them as much space needed. Although it still pained him to see them together, he knew that his present circumstance will no longer allow for anything beyond friendship between Jan Di and himself. At nights, as he laid awake, he would be flooded with memories of their love, but it now always ended up with him remembering Jae Kyung sitting by the floor in a moonlit room, looking as if the weight of the world was in her shoulders. For reasons he is yet to identify, the image of his wife that particular night haunted him.
The day before Jan Di was to be discharged, Jun Pyo visited her, and was a little surprised to see her alone in the room. Ji Hoo needed to be at the foundation, she said after his grandfather threatened to close the museum if he still failed to report. Her parents are also at work.
After the awkward pleasantries both remained silent. Jan Di suddenly found something very interesting in her blanket and started pleating its edges. Jun Pyo, seized by emotions he later identified as regret and melancholy looked down at her bowed head.
But something had to be cleared and so he spoke. " Why did you leave?"
She smiled, in a way too familiar and Jun Pyo felt the old pull of tenderness towards her.
" Because I couldn't stay by your side anymore, and it was only you who refused to accept it."
Hearing the resignation from her lips hurt, and Jun Pyo raked a hand in his curls. " I am Gu Jun Pyo, it is not in my nature to accept things just because others deem it necessary to do so."
She nodded. " Yes, you are Jun Pyo, and that's precisely why I can no longer pretend to be fine with who you are. Call it cowardice, call it weakness, but I can no longer push aside everybody in order to be happy by your side. My family is everything that I have, they made me who I am. And being with you, has started to feel like living on borrowed time. I can no longer live like that. I'm sorry." She whispered.
He nodded. " Why did you come back?"
"Because this is my home. Because you have married the right girl for you. Because I cannot run away forever." She replied, her eyes pleading for him to understand.
"I was so angry when you left." He tentatively began. " I was so angry that I made a lot of bad decisions."
Jan Di had nothing to say to that so she kept silent.
"You know I'll always love you, right?" he asked, his gaze somber but watchful.
She nodded, as tears formed in her eyes. " So will I." she softly replied.
From behind the door, Jae Kyung stood like she had been shot. She was opening the door when she heard her husband speak, stopping her on her tracks.
" I was so angry that I made a lot of bad decisions." That's me, she thought, swallowing a lump that suddenly formed in her throat.
Grabbing the doorknob she was going to burst in when he again spoke. "You know I'll always love you right?"
As she turned to leave, she also heard Jan Di reply. " So will I."
Deciding that she has heard enough, Jae Kyung ran as tears ran unheeded on her cheeks. She only had herself to blame for this, she cried. She was simply being stupid in assuming that things will change for the better.
Packing has never been a problem, for she has grown up in between travels. Calling her parents and asking them leeway proved much harder. In the end however, she remained stubborn as she uncompromisingly told them she had to go.
By nightfall she was on a plane crossing the Atlantic envisioning a life without Jun Pyo by her side.
Jun Pyo left the hospital feeling reborn. His conversation with Jan Di affirmed one thing. He can now live without her. Recalling the conversation he had earlier, he had to shake his head and smile. Who would have thought that he would feel something else beside anger and resentment after all that had happened? He had to acknowledge that one person was largely responsible for whatever state he was in now.
After two rings, Noona answered. " Who died?" she said without preamble and Jun Pyo laughed.
Surprised at the sound, it took his sister a few seconds to recover. " Let me rephrase that, have you finally lost your mind?"
" Kamsahamnida." He replied simply.
Jun Hee wiped the sudden prick of tears at her brother's words. Without saying anything else, they both knew that the worst had passed. Jun Pyo will finally be alright.
" How's Jae Kyung?" she had to ask.
" She's incredible." He replied after a heartbeat, meaning it. Then he hung up smiling.
He's going home.