Author's Note: This is the second to last chapter. The last chapter will be up by tomorrow hopefully. But I won't start the new story until I finish a couple of projects that I am working on. I have two birthday presents and a simple present to make. It won't take me very long so I will write the new story while I am working on the new things. Who knows. You may get two chapters out of the whole thing.
(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(
Yugyeom sat in the salon and waited impatiently. Over the few weeks everything had changed. James and Ren had planned out when he would talk to Renley. Ren had finished filming her drama and was getting ready for her premiere. She and Jackson had spent time planning what they would wear considering they were going to be each other's date.
Or so they had told the press, but in reality she was going with Yugyeom. They had finally decided to see what it would be like if they dated. Jackson had started teaching Yugyeom Mandarin, which the young man had picked up on almost as fast as he had Japanese. He could converse easier but he still had a long way to go. They were going to announce their relationship to the press at the premiere.
Yugyeom wasn't as nervous about telling the press about his relationship as he was about what was going to happen with Renley. She hadn't poked her head into anyone's business since they had returned from Taiwan since she was away in Japan. She was going to have a hard time when she finds out her son and the father were in Korea. Things were going to get nasty. He needed to have Ren's back in everything.
He was looking down at his shoes when a pair of boots he recognized came in his view. He looked up and his mouth dropped. Ren had cut her hair off until it was barely touching her shoulders and she had dyed it dark red. It was curled gently around her face to accentuate her rounded cheeks. It was at that moment that she was the most beautiful in his eyes.
He never understood what hormone imbalance was but he knew one person who didn't let it get her down. Ren fought every day to make sure she wasn't beaten. He couldn't always tell what she was feeling, but right at that moment the love he felt for her was strong.
He stood and reached for her hip. He hadn't kissed her like he wanted to but it didn't matter. He pressed his lips to her forehead, smiling as he heard the stylists croon in unison. He took her hand and with a bow to the ladies he led her from the salon.
Ren sat in the car and watched the people on the sidewalks as Yugyeom absently traced his finger on the back of her hand. She wondered how many of them were aware that she and Yugyeom were in the car. She wasn't going to be dumb and roll the window down but she couldn't help but think about it.
She was only in Korea for a couple of more days before she was set to head back to Macau for a brief rest before heading to Hollywood to work with Lee Byung Hun. Coming out with her relationship was going to be tough. She was going to be three thousand miles away. How can a relationship work at that distance? Now that they were getting ready to help James with Renley, it was about to get really nasty. She couldn't ask Yugyeom to stand in with that.
He had come full circle. He had been the first to say what he felt. He had been the first to break the mold her family had created. How could she ask him to deal with all of that?
Yugyeom saw the torment in her eyes but didn't say anything. He knew exactly what was on her mind. Her kind heart was tortured. She didn't want to put him through any discomfort. She didn't want to drag him through everything she had gone through.
He didn't know how to tell her that he wanted to be in this for the long haul. He didn't want to play the dating game that some people did. He believed in true love. He believed in having one person. Ren was his one person. He wasn't going to be interested in anyone else.
His phone rang, Woo Bin's name blazing white on the screen. The second he swiped his screen his cousin spoke.
"Don't say my name. Just listen. Renley is back in town. She's going to the premiere tonight. She's going to cause a scene. I've already spoken to James. This is the way it's going to be. Ren is going to get hurt. You are going to hear things Ren hasn't told you. You have four hours to decide what your stance is. If you decide to stand by her, you will be alone. She is going to leave as soon as the premiere is over. I only tell you all of this to prepare you. Make a wise decision, Yugyeom."
Woo Bin hung up immediately. All of F4 was already mobilizing in defense of one person. Stranger things had happened but Yugyeom hadn't seen it. The last time it had happened he had been young.
He looked at Ren, tugging on her hand to get her attention. "Is there anything you haven't told me?" he asked when she looked at him. "Anything in your past that you are keeping secret?"
He saw a light spark in her eyes before it disappeared. There was something. He wasn't supposed to say anything to her but he didn't think it was fair. She had a right to know.
"I nearly died when I was twelve. A few trainees at the company were jealous of Renley because she could twitch one way and the boys would follow her. She spoke to one guy too much and his lover got mad. She got some of her friends to jump Renley. Except it wasn't Renley. It was me. They bashed my head in with a steel pipe." She moved her bangs back to reveal a scar. "I flatlined on the way to the hospital. She never took responsibility. Instead she blamed it on me."
"Then why did you protect her?"
"Nolan and James. James was always good to me when we traveled together. When Nolan was born everything changed. Renley didn't want to have anything to do with the child that nearly ruined her career. She almost gave him up for adoption but James was strong. He took that child and raised him alone. No matter what he said about me or how he looked at me, I will always protect James and Nolan whether my sister does or not."
Yugyeom didn't like Renley anymore. He had tried to figure out a way to get along with her but this last story was it. She didn't want to get along with her sister. She was selfish and immature, leaving Ren to take care of her family.
"Ren," he said. She looked at him. "Don't keep anymore of her secrets. She's living her life while you stress over her decisions. It's your turn to live."
His breath was pulled from his lungs as he watched tears well up in the woman's eyes. He closed his hand over hers and kissed her knuckles. This was the first time anyone had told her to live.
They separated on the elevator, Yugyeom getting off on the seventh floor. He waved as the doors closed. Ren went upstairs to find James and Nolan playing in the floor. James was such a good father, much better than any she had ever seen. She walked across the room and gave him the biggest back hug she had ever given anyone.
James turned and saw an unfamiliar red head but the physique was familiar. Something had happened to Ren for her to hug him as tightly as she was. In his memory, she had never hugged him. He didn't know what had happened but it had been something.
She didn't say anything as she released him and went to her room. He watched the door close quietly behind her. He silently wished her sister hadn't done so much to hurt Ren. She would have been a good person to get to know. He should have fallen for her instead of Renley, but it was too late for that now.
(4&4&4&4&4
That night it was a star studded event. Usually premieres for television shows wasn't a huge thing, but Shinhwa Group and Song Construction were holding a benefit to fund their schools and hospitals in Africa. It was by invitation only to stars but the general public was allowed three hundred seats for the screening. All of Jackson and Mark's roommates were invited as well as Ren's family.
Yugyeom stood with Jackson and Mark as they waited for Ren to show up. She was coming with Yi Jeong since the members of F4 were in charge of this. The real story was none of them wanted the guys to see the woman all dressed up. Since they'd known her, Ren had only worn comfortable clothing. She had never dressed up, even for table reads.
The guys watched as Ren's parents walked down the red carpet with Yoon Ji Hoo who translated for them when they were asked questions. They could tell where Ren got her looks from. She was the spitting image of her mother.
A familiar orange Lotus pulled up to the curb. Jackson broke off from the group and went to play the role of the doting date. Yi Jeong opened the door and helped Ren from the car. The six guys that were standing on the red carpet let their mouths fall. Dressed in a long green Grecian style gown, Ren looked elegant and sophisticated. Her red hair was pinned back from her face and her makeup was flawless.
Jackson took her arm and led her to them as flashbulbs went off all around them. He leaned down and gave her a warning before he passed her off to Yugyeom. Her smile was gentle as he took her hand and pulled her to him, but he wasn't done.
Once she was in his bubble, Yugyeom bent his head and captured her mouth. He felt her inhale and it only made his mouth lock onto hers better. As the press had a field day, he lifted his head and smiled into her eyes.
Questions started pouring in instantly. With tact and grace, he sifted through them while keeping a gentle grip on her hand. Ren answered the questions that were in Mandarin all the while keeping an eye on her parents.
Just as they were heading in, they heard Renley's name. They turned as a group to watch Ren's twin walk down the red carpet. Ren took a deep breath and tried to pull away. Yugyeom held her hand tightly, refusing to let her go with a hard look in his eyes.
"Is it true that you two are twins?" one reporter asked.
Renley smiled charmingly. "Yes, Ren is older by six minutes. Couldn't you tell that we were?"
"How is your relationship? Do you get along?" another asked.
"Of course we do. We are so close sometimes it feels like we share one mind. In fact we sometimes share boyfriends." She laughed as the men and women write furiously. "I should have told you the last time we met that we both are dating Song Yugyeom."
So this was how she was going to play. Yugyeom glanced down at Ren to see her face closed off. Her eyes were hard as she looked at her sister. She had worn the translator so she could hear the lies her sister spouted.
Renley walked over to them and linked her arm through Yugyeom's free one. "Yugyeom-ah, why don't we go in?"
Yugyeom yanked his arm free and turned so it was away from her reach. "Excuse me but I don't think I know you. You look like Ren but your personality is kind of crappy. Have you guys seen her before?"
The six of them shook their heads. "Nope," Jackson said. "Last I checked you didn't hang out with people who tore down others."
Renley looked at Ren. Her older twin's gaze wasn't the same as it used to be when she caused trouble. This time Ren had something she actually wanted to hold on to. She wasn't going to back down.
Ren pulled her hand free from Yugyeom's and walked to her sister. There was going to be bad press after this but she was done. She couldn't continue these war games with someone she had shared a womb with.
"I'm tired, Renley. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of looking over my shoulder. I'm tired of covering for you. It's time you take some responsibility for everything you've done. You have a family who loves you," she said.
Renley laughed. "What are you talking about?"
"Mama!"
The color in Renley's face pales instantly. She turned around, her red dress flaring out with the motion. James came down the red carpet with Nolan on his hip and Woo Bin at his side. Yugyeom stepped up to offer strength to Ren. She all but collapsed into his side. Mark slid up behind her to offer extra support.
"Hello, Renley," James said when he was within ear shot. "It's been a long time."
Renley tried to cover her shock but her laugh came out nervous. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you've been giving Ren a hard time. Why? Do you know what she's done for me? She's kept supplies flowing into the village to make sure the villagers are healthy and well-fed. She takes care of Nolan in your stead."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Cut the crap, Renley! Ever since you booked your first shoot, you've been nearly impossible. The only time you were ever your normal self was when you were carrying Nolan."
Renley's mouth worked. "I've never had a child."
James looked at Ren. She gave him a sympathetic look. He understood what she had said. He nodded and looked back at the other woman. "I understand. Your career is more important than your child. That's all right. You won't ever have to look on his face again."
He strode past Renley straight to her parents. He bowed respectfully and looked at them. "I'm sorry I had to do it this way. My name is James Chen and I am the father of your grandchild. This is Nolan, your grandson."
Their father looked at the young boy, and looked directly into his face as a child. He looked at Renley as his face turned red. "Renley Evangeline Wu, you have some explaining to do. Renner Elaine, you too."
James jumped to her defense instantly. "None of this is Ren's fault. If anything, she protected Nolan more than I ever did."
Ren looked at her father. In that moment he realized she was more of an adult than he had given her credit for. He strode forward and took her face in his hands. Without a word, he kissed her forehead. She turned her cheek into his hand.
"Baba," she choked out.
"You have a kind and gentle heart, my girl, much like your mother." He turned to Yugyeom. "Take care of her."
Though Yugyeom didn't understand the words, the tone spoke on the same level. He bowed to the man and squeezed Ren's hand. Ren's father turned and led James away. Renley followed at a sedated pace. Her reign as China's number one model had come to an end.
Ren turned to Yugyeom. "Take me inside. I need to sit down."
Yugyeom did as she asked. He didn't have a choice. These were the last few moments he was going to have with her because as soon as this was over she was leaving.