FLAME - EPISODE 20

JUNG AERA

My eyes is fixed above me,staring at the ceiling of the hospital and unintentionally my mind drifts back to Jim-in and Taeyhung…The only people who has been there for me and guilt began to creep in.

‘Was I wrong chasing them off?’

‘But I have always been in trouble because of them’

‘Especially Jim-in…arrgh!’

I made a resolve. ‘No!’

‘I will avoid them as much as possible for my own life and safety’.

“You have visitors”,a nurse announced.

I frowned.

“I don’t want to see them”,I said coldly.

“They are females and they said they are your roommate”,she explained.

The frown on my face disappeared and was replaced with a smile. “Let them in”.

Soon after,the door opened and Seoyeon and Mei walked in.

“We heard what happened but we were not allowed into your room”,Mei explained and sat beside me.

“How are you feeling?”,Seo asked.

“Feeling better”,I smiled at her and watched her place a flash of food on the inside table.

“I already asked the doctor and you are cleared to eat this”,She said and began to dish out Kimchi (fermented vegetables).

My heart is touched by their caring and sweet act.

LEE JIM-IN

I sat still looking at myself in the mirror and my ruffled hair made me look slightly disheveled.

‘What went wrong,that I turned to this’,I mused.

Right now,Taeyhung and I are facing lawsuit from the Kim’s family and I am not even bothered one bit about that. My concern is how things turned drastically to the extent of,my naive rabbit beguns to avoid me.

‘I don’t even know why I feel so out of it and its not helping!’,I groaned and slumped back on the couch.

Buzzzzzz

My phone rang nonstop.

Its the Lee ancestral mansion landline. The only person that can use it….the Butler!

“Speak!”,I ordered him with an icy tone.

“Young master….grandpa requires your presence in 2 hours max”,he said.

“Is that all?”,I probed.

“Yes,young master”.

I ended the call.

‘More drama…like I haven’t had enough’,I groaned in frustration.

* * *

“He is in his study”,the butler told me,once I stepped my foot in the mansion.

I moved without glancing at him.

“Grandpa”,I announced my presence and of course my dad was seated with him like a controlled robot.

“What is it I am hearing about you and the Kim”,my grandpa hit the nail on its head.

“What is it that you are hearing?”,I raised my brow.

“Don’t try and play dumb”,my dad chipped in with rage.

“What were you thinking?”,he let out an exasperated groan.

I chose not to answer.

“I am not in support of what you did,Jim-in. Now the Kim are withdrawing all partnership and project we have together”,my grandpa voice came out stern.

“Let them”,I shrugged.

“Its not like the Lee empire will crumble down after they go”,I added.

“What nonsense!”,my father growled as he stared at me with red eyes.

“We lost more than a billion because you were trying to be Jesus Christ”,my father stomped his feet and stood right in front of me.

“Its not like you are the next CEO or the current CEO. I wonder why you are getting all worked up”,I glared at my father.

“Stupid!”,he yelled and slapped me hard. I tasted something mettalic on my tongue and I knew it was my blood.

“Father”,my dad faced his own father. “Till date I dont understand why you want this insolent son of mine to take over the company when he knows absolutely nothing about how that company was built from your sweat”.

My grandpa frowned,”don’t question my decision. Ever!”

“Sorry father”,my dad bowed his head respectfully.

“Now”,my grandpa faced me,”you need to act and take responsibility for whatever action you take. You know that there are three movers and shakers of the Korean economy and the Kim are among them”,my grandpa explained

“So are we”,I pointed out.

My grandpa glared at me.

“Don’t you have respect for elderly ones?”,my dad raved and raised his hand to hit me.

“I don’t see you as my father anymore and so don’t push me to get you arrested for bully and assault”,I glared at him.

“Its all their fault…those untrained humans you call friends. I should have separated you from them when I had the chance”.

“JIM-IN!”,my grandpa called my name with so much authority that it will make someone waver but not me.

“Since you don’t seem remorseful I have no choice than to force my decision on you”.

I frowned.

“The annual charity ball we do hold will be a time you’d have to pick a lady that suit your taste and if you can’t pick…I’d help you!”

“You have to be kidding me”,I yelled.

“You know I dont mince words”,my grandpa said and left the study.

“You should be ashamed of yourself”,My dad shook his head pitifully at me but I glared at him.

“You are trying to taint the Lee name by making us a laughing stock”

“What were you thinking?….helping a lowlife. We are better than that. You were sent to Jin college for studies not to be Jesus Christ!”

“The faster you stick that to your brain the safer for you”,my dad ended his sermon.

I feel like ripping his mouth apart!

Tch,I clicked my tongue in anger.

Authoress POV

Mrs Jung sat beside a man who has tattoos drawn over his body and it gave him this malicious and dangerously aura.

“What did you find?”,she asked as she was in a haste to leave. She doesn’t want the neighbors to start peeking,suspecting and asking questions.

“One of the Sons of the Park household is having his suspicion and he is having a private investigation”,the tattooed man said.

Mrs Jung scrunched up her face,obviously not liking the news she is hearing.

“Silence him”,she gave her order without batting and eyelid.

“That will be difficult because I don’t which son is doing it”,he said.

Mrz Jung sighed not liking the way things are turning out.

After 21 years and now someone is trying to dig out the truth….

Ahh!,she scoffed.

He wont have it easy,she smirked and brought out a brown envelope filled with money and handed it to the man.

“I trust that you will do a good job”,she said and stood up.

“Remember…..silence him!”,she repeated and left.

Whoever that person is,just stepped on the wrong toe and woke a sleeping lion.