Fate and Destiny

TWENTY SEVEN

"Sooyoung! I'm going to the office for a while to look at some papers then I'll go to the venue to check on the preparations. Jongkook will pick you and Jaejae up around 5:00PM. I'll just meet the both of you there," Sungjae told Joy on the morning of the Yook Industries annual Christmas party.  "Aren't you coming back to change clothes?" Joy asked, handing him his coffee.  "I'll bring my clothes with me. I'll just change at the office," he said.  Finishing his coffee, Sungjae was about to leave when Youngjae walked into the kitchen.  "Good morning, appa, eomma," he greeted them, rubbing his eyes.  "Good morning," Joy and Sungjae chorused.  "You're going out, appa?" Youngjae asked Sungjae when he noticed his clothes.  "I'm going to check on things for the party tonight to make sure everything's ready. I'll see you and your eomma there later. Okay?" Sungjae explained, lightly ruffling Youngjae's hair.  "Okay. Bye, appa," Youngjae replied.  "See you later," Sungjae turned to Joy.  "Oppa! Make sure you eat lunch," Joy reminded him.  In response, Sungjae gave her the OK sign as he headed out to the garage.  After Sungjae left, Joy turned to Youngjae.  "Pancake?" Joy asked Youngjae, who shook his head.  "Can I just have cereals?" he asked instead.  "Sure!" she said, turning to the pantry to get the cereal box before taking out the milk from the refrigerator.  "Excited for tonight?" she asked him while she filled the bowl with cereals then pouring milk over it.  "Yes!" Youngjae said, giggling.  Joy nodded.  Well, at least one of us is, she thought.  Although she is glad that the Yooks are formally introducing Youngjae as part of their family, she is also worried about the possible changes it will bring to Youngjae's life when he officially becomes a third-generation chaebol.  Apart from this, she is also having mixed feelings about tonight's event.  She's excited because she'll be seeing her Hyolyn unnie and Chorong unnie again.  But she's also nervous because not only was it her first time to attend a big corporate event, it was also an event that will be attended by the Yook family's friends and business partners.  On top of that, she has no idea how Sungjae and his family will introduce her to everyone, and how people will see her, given her close relationship to one of South Korea's richest family.  I guess I'll just have to play it by ear. The unnie-deul and the oppa-deul will be there anyway, so I would, at least, know some people, she consoled herself.

*************************

Sungjae was already at the venue, doing a last-minute check on everything.  Worried that Joy and Youngjae might feel nervous or uncomfortable, Sungjae asked his parents to wait for them at the lobby so they won't have to enter the ballroom by themselves.  His hyung-deul arrived with his noona-deul and Yeri within minutes apart of each other.  Only half an hour before the event starts, Sungjae kept looking at the door while he was talking to his hyung-deul at one of the tables.  Fifteen minutes before the party, the door opened to reveal his dad and Youngjae walking side by side, followed by his mom who is holding on to Joy's arm.  Seeing Youngjae in gray coat and black pants, Sungjae smiled when he realized that Youngjae's clothes was a kid's version of what he was wearing.  The only difference is the turtleneck they were wearing.  Youngjae wore a white one while Sungjae's was black.  Obviously, the matching outfit was his mom's idea.  Shifting his attention to the two women behind them, his jaw dropped when he saw Joy.  She was wearing a simple, black top with a sweetheart neckline that revealed her creamy-white shoulders.  Her neck, devoid of any jewelry, is so smooth and slender that it would entice any vampire to sink his teeth into it.  She paired her top with a black, fitted pants that emphasized her long legs.  She had light make-up on, and her long, dark hair, that she slightly curled at the ends, cascaded down her back.  The simplicity of her look made her natural beauty shine even more, and he couldn't take his eyes off of her.  Sungjae was so focused on Joy that he didn't notice his hyung-deul and noona-deul smirking at his reaction.  Yeri was secretly taking photos of him with her cellphone.  "Close your mouth, Sungjae. You might catch a fly," Eunkwang whispered, playfully nudging his chin to close his mouth.  "Aish! Shut up, hyung," Sungjae said, before walking towards his family.  Cameras flashed as soon as he reached them.  After hugging his dad and giving his mom a peck on the cheek, he stood beside Joy and motioned for Youngjae to take his hand.  "Sorry, we're late. There was an accident on the way," Joy apologized.  "No. You're just in time," Sungjae said, smiling at her.  "Hey, buddy. You look handsome," he said teasingly, turning his attention to Youngjae.  "Of course, appa. And look. We match," Youngjae giggled, indicating his clothes.  Sungjae laughed, giving him a high-five.  "And eomma looks really pretty," Youngjae proudly added.  "No, she doesn't," Sungjae said, staring at Joy.  "She looks beautiful," he quickly added with a soft laugh before they could all protest.  "Aish!" Joy blushed at his words, playfully slapping him on the arm.  Some of the employees and guests are looking curiously at Joy and Youngjae, while those who have seen them before were watching their interaction with a smile.  Narae walked up to the Yooks to inform them that the event is about to start.  Sungjae escorted Joy and Youngjae to the table where their friends are sitting, before he went to join his parents at the podium.  As the company's chairman, Mr. Yook gave the welcome speech.  "Before I end my speech, I just want to add one more thing that our family is thankful for this year. And we want to share it with all of you," Mr. Yook said, looking to where Joy and Youngjae are seated.  Sungjae went to their table and took both their hands to lead them to where his parents were standing.  "Oppa, just Jaejae," Joy whispered to him.  "No! We already talked about this," Sungjae whispered back, slightly pulling her to her feet, the tone of his voice bordering no argument.  "Eomma, please," Youngjae nervously pleaded to her.  Looking at her unnie-deul and oppa-deul, they all nodded to her in encouragement.  Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Joy stood up.  She placed her hand on Sungjae's offered arm while he held on to Youngjae's hand with the other, and the three of them walked towards the podium.  As she stood beside her, Mrs. Yook wrapped an arm around Joy's shoulders, squeezing it lightly, while Sungjae never took his hand off her back and his other hand never let go of Youngjae's.  "Everyone! Please meet my grandson, Youngjae, and his eomma, Joy. These two special people brought more happiness to our family and we feel so blessed that we found them. We hope that you will give them the respect and love that you have all been giving our family," Mr. Yook announced.  With a slight push from Mrs. Yook, Joy and Youngjae stepped forward to bow in greeting as the guests applauded them.  As soon as Joy and Youngjae returned beside him, Sungjae, whose proud smile was from ear-to-ear, placed one hand again on Joy's back and laid the other on Youngjae's shoulder.  "Wow! Joy unnie and Sungjae oppa really look good together," Yeri gushed.  "And Sungjae and Youngjae could actually pass off as father and son. They look so much alike," Seulgi added.  "They look like a real family," Wendy said.  "They really should just get married, and make their family official," Irene said.  "I really wish they would. I've never seen Sungjae smile like that since I've met him," Hyolyn said.  "Joy and Youngjae really make him happy," Chorong concluded.  While the women were talking about the three of them, Sungjae's hyung-deul were silently, but happily watching their maknae who was grinning like a fool.  They have seen the positive changes Joy and Youngjae brought to his life and they are very thankful for it.  Their maknae had been sad long enough and it's about time he finds his smile again.  Exchanging looks, Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel and Ilhoon grinned at one another.  Only one thought came to their mind: THE GREAT WALL OF YOOK HAS FINALLY COME CRUMBLING DOWN.

=========================