Nine
My whole body was shaking. What kind of sick mind that is, blackmailing his own son liked that! I didn't realize, that I gritted my teeth so hard; as I wanted to scream in anguish, but needed to hold it in too. So, the person whom I saw under the dim lights of the bedroom, was not him. The player who graced the news, was only a forced persona. If only I put my hurt pride aside, I could have seen, that all the change, was a huge, red alert. My dad was right, my pride let me saw only the ugly half of everything, and shut my eyes to the other, unseen half.
"Nine...", the red mist that surrounded my mind, making me looked at Joong in confusion. I felt his hands, holding my face, saw the worry in his eyes, "Don't be liked this, please...It's alright; I'm alright, now that you're here, with me again...really...", he said, waiting for me to come out of that mind numbing fury. I felt the gentle caress, heard his soothing voice. But, rather than calmed me down, it caused my eyes to become blurry. I blinked rapidly, and tried to swallow everything in, but couldn't.
"I'm so sorry, Joong...that I failed to see your heart, better...forgive me...", I said with a deep pain in my heart. I could feel the tightness in my chest heightened, as Joong embraced me securely. I closed my eyes and sobbed heavily; regretting everything; for not asking; for assuming; for judging; and...for adding to his pain, when the emotional burden that he had been carrying alone all this while, was too heavy. Joong just let me be, stroking my back without saying anything.
After a while, when the pressure inside my chest had lessen, I took calming breaths; sucked up my anger; and also my own regret; and slowly pulled myself together. I pulled away from his embrace, wiped my tears with my sleeves and stopped my remaining little sobs from continuing.
"Joong...", I started again,"My family business, had faced hurdles, time and again, but it is getting better, now. But, no matter how big the problem was, or will be, it is ours...to be taken care of. Not that I am ungrateful of what you did, but, your back would break, trying to handle it that way, everytime something happened. It didn't stop your father from doing anything, instead it'd broken us, further apart. He is your kin, but sorry, right now, I feel liked making him suffer a severe pain; that fucking son of a bitch!".
"Ah! You finally learnt how to curse...why does it sound so satisfying to my ears?", Joong teased, because I never cursed anyone, liked ever, and now because of his father, I just did.
I grimaced, but continued, "I'm sorry, but he deserved that, for playing with our hardships, and manipulating our feelings for each other! We were too young to look deeper into the matter, thus we're well played...", I said angrily.
"What do you mean?", Joong's eyes were darting in confusion.
"Joong, I'd a talk with dad. Of course, we're in need of funding, both times, but, actually, your family's wealth was not the sole source of help".
"What?", Joong was shocked.
"Yes! Dad had almost signed a loan offer, but your father came with a better counter offer, saying it was a gratitude of sort, honouring the family relationships. That filthy skunk! He duped you too; making you believed, that we're going to break to pieces, without them". Joong looked betrayed, hurt and furious. He must have thought that his father couldn't go lower, but then, he did.
"Forgive us, Joong. Dad nor I, we didn't know, that such offer, came with a devilish deal, that was put on your shoulders...".
Joong raised his hands and caressed my cheek, "It's not your fault, Nine. So please, stop saying sorry, hmm?".
My eyes started to feel damp again, so I grabbed his hands and held it tight, "Joong...what happened, couldn't be changed. I am sorry again, for not knowing better. Indeed, forever, I am indebted to you, for I now understood, whatever you did, was solely thinking about me and my family. But, if we're going to be together, let's not repeat the same mistakes again. So many misunderstandings, that could've been settled, with just an honest talk".
