Sunset at Hamdeok

Chapter 18

Sooyoung walked down the stairs. Her aunt and uncle were having their breakfast in the dining room. She bowed her head.

   "You're unusually late for breakfast." Choi Minsik looked at his niece after he glanced at his watch.

    "Joesonghamnida, Keun Abeoji."

    "Come sit and have your breakfast. You're going to be late to go to work." Her aunt nodded.

    "Ne, Keun Eomoni." Sooyoung still stood in her place. "But there's something I need to say to you."

    "You can say it after you finish your breakfast." Uncle Minsik said.
Sooyoung bowed down. "Taehyung and I have broken off our engagement." She straightened up. "I hope Keun Abeoji and Keun Eomoni can understand our decision and accept it well."

    Her aunt and uncle exchanged stares.

   "Are you tipsy?" Aunt Kim Sung-Ryung looked at her niece confusedly. "You must be joking."
Sooyoung smiled gloomily. "I am not drunk or joking, Keun Eomoni. I am no longer Kim Taehyung's fiancee. I apologize that I have disappointed you. Joesonghamnida."

    "Tell us what happened." Uncle Minsik put his spoon down and look his niece straight in the eye.

    "Sooyoung-ah, you can't be serious! This is... This is.... " Aunt Sung-Ryung held her chest.

    "I realized, we're not puppets. We are human beings made of flesh and blood." Sooyoung looked so calm, "and both of us have our own feelings."

    "That's not an excuse, Choi Sooyoung!" Her uncle hit the dining table. "There must be something else. Tell me what is going on."

    Sooyoung took a deep breath. "Taehyung and I are not meant to be. It's better off this way than to regret our marriage for the rest of our lives."

    "B-but this is so suddenly!" Her aunt glowered. "You can't break off your engagement after all these years. Your engagement is not a game, Sooyoung! It's real, it's official. Keun Eomoni really don't understand. I thought you loved Kim Taehyung. What happened to you?"

    Sooyoung stared at the cold floor. "Love is what made me and Taehyung have to go separate ways."

    "This not the right time to show your flippancy, Choi Sooyoung." Uncle Minsik was infuriated.

    Sooyoung smiled and she was almost choked by her own words, "And it's because I love him I had to let him go..... I'm sorry I failed to make Keun Abeoji and Keun Eomoni happy and proud of me, but I truly wish you can accept our decision." That beautiful girl curtseyed once more before she left the dining room.

     There was nothing more painful than losing someone you've loved sincerily. Sooyoung knew that best. Although she had never been sure about Taehyung's feelings for her, but she was grateful that he always cared for her and protected her all these years.

    Both of them were orphans. They shared their loneliness and pains together. They shared their happiness and goofy moments together. Taehyung was the place where Sooyoung always ran to everytime she felt sad. And he was the only one she remembered whenever she was ecstatic. Sooyoung wanted to give her all and the best of her for Taehyung. Everything was perfect and she thought they could stay like that forever....

    But now Taehyung's shoulders were no longer hers. His embrace was no longer hers. His smile was no longer hers. And his heart had never been hers. Where did they go wrong? How could her heart, her dreams, and her life shattered at the same time? Taehyung said he loved Tiffany more than anything in this world and God gave that girl to him. But what was there for Sooyoung? Her love for Taehyung was bigger than the world, deeper than the abyss. So why didn't God give that man to her? Was it fair?
And because Sooyoung knew she couldn't catch the destiny.... She had to lose Taehyung to someone else.

........................................................................

"Halabeoji," Taehyung quietly called his grandfather who was sitting in the garden of their house. That old billionaire glanced at Taehyung without putting down the newspaper he was holding.

    "Do you have something to say?"
Taehyung nodded. He came closer.

    "Tell me." His grandfather put down his newspaper and removed his eyeglasses.

    "I broke up with Sooyoung."
His grandfather didn't seem to be surprised. He leaned his back against the bench. "Taehyung-ah," he opened his wrinkled lips, "don't ruin my morning." He picked up his newpaper and opened the last page he was reading.

    "Halabeoji," Taehyung called his grandfather politely, "I'm here to tell you that there will be no marriage between Kim and Choi families. I've ended my engagement to Sooyoung."

    "Your wedding day has been fixed. You're going to get married next spring." Grandpa Kim didn't bother to look at his only grandson. His eyes were locked at the newspaper.

    "Hmm," Taehyung smirked, "Halabeoji never seems to listen to me. Halabeoji always do whatever Halabeoji want.... But this time I will make you listen to me even only for once."

    Grandpa Kim took his eyeglasses on the bench and cleaned them. "What do you exactly want, Kim Taehyung?"

    "I can't marry Sooyoung and she knows that well. We've decided to end our engagement. I don't love Sooyoung, not romantically. If I marry her, I'll only hurt her and make her life miserable. And I can't do that."

    Grandpa Kim kept cleaning his eyeglasses. "I know you never love Sooyoung and that's a good thing."

    "What did Halabeoji just say? You know?" Taehyung was perplexed.

    "I know everything, Taehyung. You are my grandson, it's my duty to know everything about you."

    "Halabeoji know everything about me? Halabeoji understand why I can't marry Choi Sooyoung?"

    The old man gave his grandson a very cold and flat stare. "You'll understand why you should marry Choi Sooyoung one day."

    Taehyung gritted his teeth. "Halabeoji know I never love Sooyoung, but Halabeoji keep insisting on our marriage? What does exactly our arranged engagement mean to Halabeoji?"

    Grandpa Kim put his glasses on. He looked at his grandson. "It's an insurance for your well-being. Because I want you to live well."

    Taehyung frowned. He opened his mouth a couple times but no words came out. He took a breath. "I don't understand...." He looked so confused, "but Halabeoji won't get what Halabeoji wish for."

    Grandpa Kim watched his spoiled grandson walk out of their garden. He turned to his butler. "Call Gong Yoo."[]

........................................................................