Moonlight + Paradise (18+)

21. My Moonlight, Your Paradise

The silence is expected but as unnerving as it is, he kept his feet firm and his love protected. With her hand never leaving his, he watched as his father exchanged the stares between him and his soon-to-be bride. He could feel the tension and jitters shift themselves around Lily's palm and as sorry as he is, all he could do is rub his thumb lightly on her skin as a way to calm her down. 

After what felt like an eternity, his father finally - and surprisingly! - breathes out and smiled. 

"Beautiful girl you are, miss Lalisa," He felt the slight flinch of her hand but couldn't tell if she's more surprised at how gentle his father could speak to her, or if it's because he called her the name that she hates most. "I've heard a great deal about you. I've seen your picture, but to finally meet you in person...is a pleasure."

"My - my picture?" Lily leans forward, her eyes widened at the news. 

"Yes...twice actually. From Marco, and I believe...your mother."

"My..." He could feel the tremble in her hand. "She has my picture?" 

"She did...and she showed it to us, asking for help." Indeed, there are so much that she has yet to know, with such little time to reveal between us.

"She...she did?"

His father nods. "I've never heard of her. You have to forgive me for my ignorance, but I don't probe into such personal activities of my partners unless it involves...you know, my own family and the business. But there was something about your mother...a desperation, was it?" He glanced towards Jungkook who then, with a little bit of guilt for not telling his Lily about it beforehand, looks down to their intertwined fingers. 

"She got on her knees as soon as she came in - my goodness, I was so shocked! She asked us to take care of you...to not hurt you once Marco hands you over. She showed your picture and said...what was it, Guk - do you remember?"

Jungkook cleared his throat. "My daughter is bright but she's never seen the open sky so please..." He felt his chest thumping loud as it breaks a little to recall the desperate voice. "Please let her see night and day at least once. She doesn't know anything and she can't tell right from wrong..."

With heaviness in his chest, he carries on, "She said she'd been a crazy mother but her daughter is innocent, and she never stopped calling her 'mommy' so she asked...for us to help her. That she doesn't know her father or the things he had done. And that we shouldn't make her pay for him." He could feel Lily's hard gaze on him as he went, word-by-word.

"Right..." His father nods, seemingly entranced as well by the past. "I don't know her but I can tell that she's a brave one to barge in and demand this from us. She took me by surprise and I can tell you, my dear, being at my age and doing what we do, I don't get surprised that easily," He chuckled further. "I didn't know what to say and I looked at my son here...I guess she went on to beg to him because she saw that."

Please...whatever she's thinking, don't let her change her mind about me! 

"I promised her that we'll spare you - that's the only way to get her to leave without any force. And after she had left, I asked this boy what he thinks of it. I saw how he stared long and hard at your picture. Now...all his brothers have heard of this and he kept repeating it too...that it was my choice to make you his bride. It never was,"

Eh? What is he saying? Wasn't it him -

"It was the way he stared long and hard at your picture. How his mind was preoccupied by that small piece of photograph...he didn't know this but I saw it. I might have made the remark that perhaps we could give that woman a little peace if you become his wife...and he agreed right away. No one would dare to hurt you if he marries you, he said - as simple as that."