Chapter Ten

The photo of Min Jee was still in Jeremy's hand. "Daughter?" He repeated. "This is really...unbelievable." It's not like he could dispute it with her. The girl looked like her, and if there was one thing he could swear on his life it would be that Ye Eun hardly ever told a lie. Nevertheless, this was more than he was prepared to hear. Jeremy was fighting hard not to lose his cool. The result of which was him sitting in absolutely emotionless and motionless state. A couple of minutes passed, as Jeremy tried to figure out what to say next. Ye Eun didn't know how to break the silence, and kept her head down.

Finally, Jeremy made a movement, getting up slowly, abandoning his milk and gift box.

"Jeremy, where are you going?" Ye Eun was scared at the state she put her cousin in.

He came over to her steadily, grabbing her by the hand. "Come with me."

She didn't question him on as to where. Ye Eun just followed wherever he felt like leading.

Jeremy led them all the way outside into the parking lot, stopping them in front of Ye Eun's little blue car. This was about as private as they could get without getting in the car and driving somewhere else. Dusk was approaching fast, the sun already dipping down in the sky.

Ye Eun slightly leaned on to her car, fiddling with her thumbs, while Jeremy paced around trying to keep his composure.

"This... Ye Eun..." He stopped in front of her. "This is just too much." Where would he even begin? The bitterness he had before could just make him laugh compared to how completely betrayed he felt. "You got pregnant with some other guy's child? That's really why you left isn't it?" He shouted, throwing the picture of Min Jee on the ground. "I can't believe you would do something like this!"

Ye Eun gasped, hastily picking up the picture of her daughter off the ground. She knew Jeremy wasn't going to take it well, but he was doing better than she thought he would. It was still a shock that he threw the picture of the child, this innocent child, onto the ground. Ye Eun folded the picture and put in back in her pocket. She stayed quiet, letting Jeremy continue to rant.

Everything felt so surreal to him. "I was fine with you dating Go Mi Nam but you doing this? I had so much trust in you! I trusted you the most! For you to keep this all a secret from me shows me that you not only didn't trust me, it shows me that I can't trust you."

Hearing those words truly hurt Ye Eun. "Keeping this from you was painful." She finally spoke again, her voice quivering. "It was something I didn't want to do. I know I broke your trust, but the reason I didn't tell you wasn't because I didn't trust you. I wanted to tell you for so long, but I just couldn't. I know this is a lot to take in right now, but please let me explain. Please."

At Ye Eun's last plea, Jeremy turned and began to walk away. "Explain? You've said enough." He didn't want to listen to anything she had say.

She grabbed him by the arm to keep him from leaving. "I never cheated."

"What?" It took a minute for that sentence to process through his brain. He spun around back to his cousin. "Then...you're telling me it's Go Mi Nam's?"

She didn't respond. It didn't need to be said for him to know it.

He gulped uncomfortably before inquiring once more. "It's Mi Nam's child, isn't it?"

Ye Eun merely nodded.

Jeremy could've been hit senseless with a bag of bricks at that moment. These things only happen in dramas, right? These things happen to other people. Not...not my Ye Eun.

"So," He tried to piece the story all together, logically and chronologically. "The year you told everyone you went to study abroad it was really this? You didn't really leave Korea at all, did you?"

"I didn't." She delayed. "I told my friends I went abroad and that's what they told him. One of my friends probably fed them that I 'cheated'."

"Why?" 'Why' was only the base of the many questions that he had going through his mind.

"I wasn't ready. I wasn't to raise a child especially not straight out of high school. Mi Nam was so working hard to become an idol and he was already getting popular. Having a kid was out of the question for the both of us. A week after I found out, I packed my things and told my friends and our family I was leaving to study abroad. I was not only afraid, but shamed to tell anyone, especially you." Her eyes became watery. This had to be the hardest thing to explain for Ye Eun, a sour taste that wouldn't escape from her mouth.

"Mom and dad were so mad when they found out, Jeremy. Dad hated Go Mi Nam. When I said I was leaving to be with him, he went ballistic." Ye Eun exhaled. "Dad took me to the nearest abortion clinic. He told me to just get rid of it while I had the chance." She was crying now, tears were streaming down her face, black from her mascara.

"But you couldn't, could you?"

She shook her head. "So he gave me another option. Leave Mi Nam and give her up for adoption and 'Come back like it never happened.'" Ye Eun's voice was now strained.

He pulled his cousin into his arms. It must have been so hard for her. His uncle, her father, was always a strict man. He didn't know that he really went that far as he did because of his hatred of Go Mi Nam. "Ye Eun, don't cry, please." He gently patted her back as she continued to cry on his shoulder. "I care about you. I always will. Please don't be afraid of telling me anything ever again."

"I won't. I promise." Ye Eun pulled away, eyes rimmed red.

Jeremy took a tissue out of his pocket. "Here." He handed it to her.

"Thank you." She wiped her eyes, carrying on her story. "I wasn't going to give up that child for anything and I told them that. They instantly disowned me. So, I left. I didn't know where I was going. I just needed to get away.

Even though Jeremy was still shocked at the fact that his cousin at what his cousin had done, he understood her situation.

"I'm sorry, On Yu. I'm so sorry that I never told you. I'm a despicable person, I know. I just hope you can forgive me."

He grabbed her by the shoulder, looking straight into her eyes. "You are not and never will be a despicable person. Ye Eun, I do love you. Remember that." Jeremy sighed. "But I'm not the only one you need to say these things to." Jeremy said simply and calmly.

"Do you know how many nights I've agonized over this? Telling Mi Nam that he has a child is not the easiest thing to come out and say."

"Okay, I know. Telling Mi Nam something like that would be bad." Jeremy knew his reaction would be out of this world. "Bringing a child into his life would certainly be a shock and cause a scandal. But still, he needs to know Ye Eun. I stand behind that. If you want, I can help you."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "And how would you do that?" Ye Eun was truly curious as to how he could possibly help.

"I...um...I don't know. I'll think of something." He groaned in frustration, running his finger through his hair. "How did you even get yourself in this?"

"There's not a day that goes by I'm not upset with myself for what happened. But ever since I took her back, I've been working hard to make a good home for us and to become a good mother. I have a place of my own now and a steady job. I'm doing better than I've ever have."

"You're going to do this and not tell him?"

"I know I made a huge mistake not telling him but it's better for the both of us if he doesn't know. It is selfish, but I don't have much of a choice. Go Mi Nam won't want anything to do with her. He told me from his own mouth he can't stand children. And if even if my some miracle he does, it'll cause a scandal and everything that he's worked so hard for will be ruined. You even said it yourself. I can't put him through that-"

"Are you crazy?" Jeremy cut her off, utterly shocked at Ye Eun's words. "You can't just stay in the dark and let your daughter grow up without her father- without knowing who he is just because you want to protect him!"

"She knows who he is, Jeremy." She uttered softly. He admired his cousin for that, at least.

"Hasn't she asked about why she can't meet him? Why you aren't together?"

"I told her that 'Daddy's a very very busy person and she'll get to see him one day.'"

Her phone then started to vibrate. Ye Eun knew what this alarm was for. "Ah. Jeremy, I'm sorry. It's five. I have to go pick Min Jee up from preschool."

In a flash, Ye Eun took her keys out, unlocking the car with the push of a button.

"I'll go with you."

"Huh?"

"I'm coming with you."

"If you want, I can't stop you." She opened her open car door, getting in and starting the ignition. "Hurry up, get in."

Mi Nyu rolled over in her bed expecting to bump into her boyfriend. She didn't. "Tae Kyung?" She felt around on the bed for him before opening her sleepy eyes. Go Mi Nyu popped out of bed. He hardly gets out of bed this early…

That's when she realized that it wasn't early. "Oh no!" Mi Nyu slipped into panic mode. "Breakfast!" This was not the way she wanted to start off her birthday. She got up and ran to bathroom to hop in the shower. But before she got into the bathroom, she saw a sticky note in Tae Kyung's handwriting stuck to the door.

Stop panicking and just take a shower. After you shower make sure to wake up that bottom feeder that has a room next to us.

P.S I purposely unset your alarm. It annoyed me.

As Mi Nyu read the sticky note a wave of relief went over her. "Well, that explains why my alarm didn't go off. But...wake up my brother?"

She took her time taking a shower and dressing, before sneaking over to her brother's room.

The dorm was creepily quiet. "Where is everyone?" It gave her a bit of an eerie feeling, but she did as she was told, going to her brother's room.

Once there, she found another note on his door.

After you wake him up, come out! We're having breakfast outside.

Oh, and if he doesn't want to get up throw the nearest object! Works like a charm. ^^

Well, apparently this note was written by Jeremy. She chortled lightly, opening her brother's door.

"Are you awake?" She tip toed over to his bed, almost tripping over the various beer cans, food wrappers, clothes and god knows what scattered across his room.

Her brother rolled over in his bed. "I don't care what it is. I want to sleep."

"Oppa," She whispered, going over to his bedside. "It's almost nine. It's time to get up." Mi Nyu shook him softly.

He covered himself hastily with his blankets. "I just said 'I don't care'." Mi Nam muffled through his blankets. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Mi Nyu sighed. Her brother always had a particularly bad attitude in the morning.

"Mi Nam." She used her coaxing voice, trying to tug the blankets off of him. He wouldn't budge.

"NO! The light is the enemy! All parties affiliated with the light will be annihilated!" He screamed from under his blankets. This started a battle of tug of war between Mi Nam and his sister.

"Does it have to feel like I'm going into war every time I step foot in your room?" She pulled his blankets forward.

"That's why I told you to stop." He tugged right back. "You trying to wake me is futile."

She gave one intense tug and Mi Nam's blanket was on the floor.

"Oh, god…The light…I'm burning." He failed around in his bed like a kid having a tantrum. Mi Nam grabbed a pillow to cover his face, not only from the light, but from his sister. "Please, I beg of you. Leave me be." He griped from behind the pillow.

Mi Nyu stared at her brother's bed. He had candy wrappers all around his bed. She hadn't seen all of this before.

"What is this?" This was Mi Nyu's worst nightmare. "Oppa!" She took the pillow out of his hand and he sat up in his bed. "When was the last time you saw your floor?"

He seriously pondered that question. "Maybe…in January? I think I was the reason our last cleaning lady quit." He chuckled. "But..now that I think about it it has been awhile. But, Mi Nyu…I'll work on it. I promise." He smiled.

She crossed her arms not even able to form a response.

Go Mi Nyu yanked her brother out of bed and he stood in front of her with deeply darkened eyes.

"Your eyes?"

"Yeah, makeup does wonders doesn't it?" Barely anyone could tell he was this sleep deprived.

She sighed again.

"You aren't mad are you?"

"No, of course not." She smiled. Mi Nam knew her no really meant, 'not yet.'

"Okay. Just remember you can't be mad! It's our birthday! My other half can't be mad. Because if you're mad, I'll be hulk angry all day."

"Hulk angry?"

"Hulk angry! Hulk Smash!" He pretended he was the hulk, his fists clenched, play hitting his sister. "Hulk Smash Mi Nyu!"

Moments like this reminded her of when they were smaller. "Stop being silly." She smiled. "Since you're awake, let's go to breakfast "

"What are you talking about? I've been asleep this whole time-" He attempted to dive for the bed.

Mi Nyu caught him by the back of the shirt. "You're not going back to sleep. It's already late and according to Manager Ma you've actually got some things to take care of today… "

Mi Nyu continued to pull her brother along as he shouted, "You're going to make me go limp!"

"What! No, don't!" Within seconds Mi Nam slunk to the floor, making his sister drag him out the room.

Out of all the stunts he pulled, that made her the most irritated. When Mi Nam really didn't want to do something, he would just turn into a pile of mass. Every year he'd find something to go limp about, first day of school, doctors or dentists appointments. Mi Nam justified his actions by saying, "If you want me to do something you've get to give me good incentive!"

"Mi Nam! Get up!" She continued to drag him all the way out of his room and into the hallway. They were going to hit the stairs soon.

"Give me one good reason why I should."

"Because I don't want to roll you down the stairs."

"You wouldn't dare." His sister hadn't gone anything bad since they were like…seven. Why would she start now?

"I so would."

Mi Nam knew his sister was too much of a goody-two-shoes to do something that potentially dangerous to him. "You won't." He finally got up. "Because, I'll walk down."

Her mouth dropped. "Why didn't you get up earlier?"

"Well it just so happened your half-threat gave me incentive." He said nonchalantly, hooking his hand with hers. "Now come on."

They went down the stairs together. "Where in the hell is everybody?" Mi Nam reiterated Mi Nyu's thoughts in words.

Mi Nam looked around. "Aren't they supposed to be in the kitchen making our seaweed soup?"

"Actually, Oppa..." She almost forgot about the note. "Jeremy said we're having breakfast outside."

"In the sun?"

"Yes!"

"All right. But only because I love you."

Hand in hand, the pair stepped out onto the veranda.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" A chorus of voices shout as both Mi Nyu and Nam are shocked beyond belief. Standing out in the sun was Jeremy, Shin Woo, Tae Kyung, Manager Ma, Coordinator Wang, He Yi and more. Even some of Mi Nam and Mi Nyu's old friends were there- including Ye Eun, who was trying to be off putting and unrecognizable to her ex-boyfriend by wearing Groucho glasses.

There were four tables set outside; two of which were filled with so much food, Mi Nyu thought she had stepped outside into a restaurant. The table closest to them had plates, and places for people to sit as well as food while the other had finger food and drinks. The last table was piled with gifts.

"Oppa, did you know about this?" Go Mi Nyu tugged on her brother's arm.

He grinned, "I'm just as stunned as you are." I said I didn't want a party and these idiots threw me one anyway...?

"Mi Nam!" He Yi ran over to his side, pushing Mi Nyu out the way. "Happy birthday honey."

Go Mi Nyu didn't take this to offense though. She was his girlfriend. She just went on and basked in the glory of the beautiful décor her friends had set up.

He Yi kissed him on the cheek but his eye couldn't seem to leave the mysterious girl in the mask. Who is this tacky girl wearing a mask at my/our birthday party? Must be one of Mi Nyu's old friends to be here, I suppose.

Tae Kyung wanted to puke in his mouth at the sight of the He Yi/Mi Nam lovey-doveyness. "Mi Nyu! Come here." He shouted. She did as she was told, practically running over to him.

Go Mi Nyu was still stunned. There were two bowls of seaweed soup; she knew were for her and her brother.

"Eat to your heart's content." Shin Woo expressed.

"Did you guys make all this?" She continued to observe it.

"Well, mostly Coordinator, Ye Eun and Shin Woo-hyung." Jeremy laughed, standing next to her. "Tae Kyung tried to personally make you seaweed soup but it tasted- bleh."

"Jeremy, what happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen." Tae Kyung warned. "So zip it."

Mi Nyu was still touched however, "You guys still did this all for me and my brother. And I'm very thankful." She turned to Tae Kyung. "It didn't matter how it tasted, Tae Kyung. It's the thought that counts. I'm happy that you made something for me." Mi Nyu hugged him.

Tae Kyung fought with himself, trying not to smile, but it escaped as he gently pulled away from Mi Nyu. "Yeah...well...happy birthday." It was amazing how Tae Kyung could turn into a piling bubble of mess.

"But Ye Eun." Mi Nyu questioned, glancing around. She had invited her to dinner and wondered if she came to the party. "Is she here?"

The second Mi Nam heard his sister speak her name he froze up.

"Honey?" He Yi tried getting his attention.

"No, she couldn't make it." He made a glimpse at Jeremy as he convincingly lied to his sister.

"What?" Go Mi Nam came back to earth.

"You were zoning out. Are you okay?" He Yi's voice made him smile.

"It's fine, baby." He put his arm around her shoulder. "Let's go eat."

"Does anybody know who that girl is the mask?" Mi Nam asked curiously. At this point, everyone was either sitting down and eating or standing and chatting.

"Hmm." Mi Nyu pondered. "Nope." She shrugged.

"Anybody?" He questioned again.

Everyone basically gave the same reply, and kept eating.

Mi Nam got up and walked over through the crowd of people standing and chatting, leaning on the bar next to the girl in the groucho glasses. "Hello stranger," He smiled. "I like your mustache."

Jeremy's attention was caught as his eyes rolled to the side to see what was going on. The only reason Ye Eun had shown up in the first place was to give Jeremy back the present he left at the cafe. Unknowingly, he set up a ploy to get her to come to the party.

Ye Eun and Mi Nam…well; this could be a good thing. Or a bad thing. Let's just wait and see. He kept his spot next to Mi Nyu, mindlessly continuing to eat.

He Yi had left about as quickly as she came- claiming to have other important business to attend to, while everyone else was sitting down, eating and chatting. Ye Eun just couldn't bear to sit at the same table as Mi Nam and choose to be as far away from the birthday boy as possible. She just took a drink and decided to stand, looking over the veranda. The view from the dormitory was nice after all.

Ye Eun tensed up. Oh, he's right beside me. I didn't anticipate this. Yet at the same time, she was grateful for this indirect opportunity to talk to him. "Thank you." She said in a deep tone, trying to hide her true voice. "I like…your face?"

He laughed. "Oh, well, I get that a lot." He stroked his own smooth skin chin. "I just don't what it is, but the ladies love me."

She giggled. Wow, he's still as cocky as when I first met him.

"You wouldn't mind if I got to see the lady behind the glasses, would you?" He began to raise his hands up to take off her mask.

"Well …about that!" She stopped him. "I have this huge pimple. And…um, my face is just covered with them. So you can't!"

"Okay." He rested his head on the bar next to her, looking up at her. "Well then, mystery girl, if I can't see your face, can you at least tell me what your name is?"

"Uh, my name?" Ye Eun really regretted showing up to this party. She literally said the first name that popped into her head. "It's Su Jeun Yi."

"Ah, um, wow. That's an interesting name."

"That's what all my friends say." She laughed nervously.

"Ms. Jeun Yi, I don't think I've seen you around. You work for A.N Entertainment, right?"

Come on, go along. "I work as a janitor- night shift janitor. So, of course you've never seen me."

"A janitor?" Who in the hell invited this strange person to this party?

Her phone vibrated. This alarm was to remind her to take Min Jee out of school early for a doctor's appointment. "Excuse me."

"Wait." He was oddly drawn to this girl; but he couldn't figure out why.

"Huh?"

"You have something on your mustache." He picked it off, getting caught up in her eyes.

Hazel green...they're gorgeous. Wait… Something stirred inside of him. I know these eyes. These eyes…

"What did you say your name was again?"

"Jeun Yi?"

"Are you sure we haven't met before?"

"I'm positive."

"Then, do perhaps know a Cho Ye Eun?"

She just looked at him wordlessly for a moment before saying, "Excuse me. I need to go." Mi Nam sensed something funny as he watched the disguised girl quickly make an escape down the staircase.

It took at minute or so for Mi Nam to actually realize it. "Those eyes…" There is only one girl in the word with those eyes. "Ye Eun." But the girl was already gone. But no, it couldn't be her- could it?

"Jeun Yi!" He screamed, flying down the staircase to catch up with her. "Jeun-" He looked side to side, before he saw her car- already far down the road.

Go Mi Nam stood plastered in the driveway. "Who was that girl?"