Chapter 21: Rotten Rat
After spending a few boring days in the hospital, Haeun was finally discharged and is allowed to go back home. Minjoon made sure the doctors did a thorough check on her first before they went back. On their way back home, Haeun was quietly looking out the window, full of thoughts, when Minjoon suddenly spoke up.
"My family have planned to go out on a short holiday to Jeju tomorrow. What do you think? Are you down for it? If you feel like you still needed more rest, then I'll opt us out. I am fine with either way, so I'll leave the decision to you on whether we're going or not."
Haeun thought about it for a moment before deciding. She wasn't sure which to decide. She did still feel quite restless and resting at home seems like it would be nice. But on the other hand, she felt like it was a good idea for her to visit new places and spent time by the sea to think about what to do.
"Hmm.. I don't think it's a bad idea to join them on a short holiday. But is it really okay for me to follow along? I mean, this is like a family bonding time between you and your family right? I feel like I will be intruding on you guys if I followed. I think it's better if you join your family and just leave me here with Hyomin. I will be just fine here."
Minjoon frown upon hearing what she said. He didn't want to leave her alone here while he leaves to somewhere far. Who knows what might happen while he's in Jeju. He wants her to always be within his range of view so that what happened last time won't happen again. He vows to not make the same mistake twice.
"I believe I can't do that. If you're not going, then I'm not going either. Your safety is my number one priority, so I can't leave you here alone. I need you to always be around me to make sure that nothing will happen to you again. At least if you faint again or your head starts hurting, I'll be there to catch you before you fall."
"So, is it a yes or a no? Because I need to start planning on what to bring if you're in on this. Plus, we will need to go on a last minute shopping since Hyomin is in need of more clothes and we shall buy you some too. It doesn't hurt to be extra careful for when you really need extra clothes for some events or outing, in which you will obviously be attending with me as my wife."
His words seem too stunned Haeun as she looks at Minjoon who was just calmly driving, not at all affected at whatever he just said. She didn't know whether what he just said was true or not. Did that just slipped out from him or did he really meant what he said? Will she really be introduced as his wife at future events?
Why would he go to such length when they were just acting though. Haeun just can't seem to understand his line of thinking. They will end up separating with each other in two months so she really doesn't think it's necessary for him to introduce her to people as his wife when it's just a fake marriage. She feels it's better to just keep it as it is, with his family being the only one knowing about this relationship.
"Fine, we'll go then since I'm sure you will pester me nonstop if I said I won't be going. By the way, is that really necessary? To introduce me as your wife to other people. I don't think we need to do that though. Can't we just keep it between us for now? I'm not comfortable with people knowing about this when nothing is confirmed yet."
Haeun looks at Minjoon, waiting for an answer but all that she got was a 'fine'. She didn't in the least like the reply that she got from him and it made her a little mad. She can't exactly figure out why she's acting like a spoiled brat at the moment, being all upset and disappointed from not getting the answer she wanted.
She wasn't like this before and she may have realized that being with Minjoon have made her pushy and a little obnoxious. Maybe because of all the pampering he does for her or him just agreeing with everything she wanted. But she did like all the attention he was giving her, though she was used to not getting any.
Without realizing it, Haeun was pouting in her seat, fuming as she kept repeating the answer she got from Minjoon. Him, on the other hand, was stealing glances and enjoying the sight of her cute reaction as he continues to drive them back to their house, not knowing that some troubling news is being circulated by a rotten rat.
As soon as they got back, Haeun quickly freed herself from the seatbelt and open the car door, stomping off into house looking for Hyomin. She knew only her cute baby would be able to help her cool down and get some steam off her head. So, she didn't delay one bit to find her and immediately gave her lots of kisses on her cheeks when she saw her laying on the bed, smiling as she saw her mother.
"It seems she misses you, Lady Haeun. She has been asleep since earlier but when you reach home just now, it seems like she felt your presence and woke up. She has been eating quite well and doesn't cry as often now. I guess she misbehaves when you're around to get your attention, Lady Haeun."
Hearing what the baby sitter had said, Haeun smile lovingly at her precious daughter. She didn't know that this little angel of hers could possibly miss her so much in such a short period of time that she was away. Maybe she did go away for such a long time that she hardly ever spend time with her angel nowadays.
"Aww.. Did you really miss mommy that much? Shall we go out today? Let's spend some time together today, okay? We shall go out and buy you more clothes, get some fresh air while we're at it. Are you happy? Is that why you're smiling so much? Hehe.. You're so cute! It's such a blessing to have you in my life, my little sunshine. I love you, you know that?"
Haeun giddily smiles at Hyomin, softly pinching her chubby cheeks. While she was busy playing with her precious little angel, Minjoon was admiring the view in front of him. The scene before him is what he imagined his future to look like with Haeun but with him included, as they laugh and tease each other on the bed.
That was exactly what he envisioned the three of them to look like, the perfect happy family that everyone wishes to be and envies. But the more he looks at the both of them, the more he felt like his dream of achieving that is going to be almost near impossible.
With Haeun remembering something crucial in the past, she is bound to either continue on recovering her memories or deciding to stop because she's afraid of learning the hurtful truth of her past. Whichever way she chooses, the chances of her staying beside him and not leaving again is very slim.
She clearly wasn't happy with him earlier when he suggested that she should be introduced as his wife. It was such an obvious sign that she didn't intend to stay long and didn't want to be involved with people who have any connection with him. That was partly the reason why he replied to her in that manner earlier.
As he was quietly looking at the two and thinking of ways to make Haeun stay, his phone vibrated as he received an incoming call from his Mother. He didn't exactly want to answer her call since he somewhat knew what the call would be about. But he doesn't have the heart to reject her call, so he gave in and answered it.
"Minjoon, where are you now? Are you at home or outside? Are you currently with Haeun? We need to have an emergency family meeting right now. It is really important and we need you here, in the main house, as fast as you can. How long do you think you'll need to reach here with Haeun? Thirty minutes? An hour max? Is it possible for you to just take the helicopter here?"
Before he could even greet her, his Mother bombards him with questions after questions, not even leaving a second gap to allow him to reply. Minjoon almost turned deaf from her blaring into the speaker but it did make him wonder what happened.
His Mother wasn't the kind to call him suddenly and start asking him a hundred and one questions. She's panicking and she's usually a calm person, so something terrible must have happened since she called for an emergency family meeting. But what exactly is happening? Everything seems fine that morning when he left after breakfast at the main house.
Did Minjung create some shit again? If that was the reason, he wouldn't spare a second chance towards her. He'll definitely drag her to Grandma's house, far in the countryside without any technology whatsoever and will be grounded there for the whole year. He was totally done clearing up the mess that she made all the time.
"What's the problem, Mother? I'm currently at home and Haeun is here with me. Is it really that important? If this is about Minjung, I'm not going." His reply was simple and short, not bothering to waste his time talking since he assumes it's the same old thing all over again.
"What? No. If this is about that sneaky little girl, I wouldn't make such a big fuss like this. I'll explain to you more when you get here. So get here quick and make sure not to answer any unknown calls or calls from whoever that is not us, your family. I won't waste any more of your time, so hurry up and get here." With that, Minjoon's Mother ended the call and left poor him to continue being clueless as to what was happening.
With just limited information and only the urgent voice of his Mother, he walks back to his room and quietly enters, seeing both Haeun and Hyomin sleeping peacefully. "What should I do? I can't possibly wake them up right now. I'm sorry Mother but I'll meet you later when they're awake. I'm sure whatever problem it is, it can wait till later. For now, I'll just enjoy this beautiful view."
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