Married

13. Awake

(Hyuk's POV)

He finally opened his eyes but it was hard for him to talk... The doctor had warned me about some possible brain damage and I was scared... But I needed to trust that I had reacted on time and his brain had gotten the oxygen and blood it needed to function... properly...

- W-wh-who?

- Hyung, don't force yourself...

- I... - he said in a soft tone as he caught his breath – Where... am I?

- Don't worry too much – I said as I sighed in relief because he looked normal to me – you will be okay soon, I... I know you must be mad at me but

- W-who are... you?

- Are you kidding me? Taekwoon hyung...

- Do... you... know... me?

Hongbin was the only one with me in that room, we looked at each other and I just pat Taekwoon hyung's head as I left to talk to Hongbin.

- It's possible that he suffers memory loss... If they know we performed the resuscitation against his written will... we... the hospital could get sued... I know he wouldn't let that happen but right now he... - Hongbin was about to freak out

- I'll take him with me.

- Han Sanghyuk, he has a family, he has a husband.

- A husband that would make him want to kill himself. There is no way I'm leaving him the way he is now in that man's hands...

- According to those signed papers, you guys were supposed to let him die, right? And he did nothing, he did nothing to help him. So if it weren't for us, he would indeed be dead. So, be it. Jung Taekwoon is now officially dead. – I said and finally we agreed to it.

I'm the only one who will look after him. He'll recover soon. And maybe one day I will tell his sisters he's okay... I'm being selfish but I can't let him stay here where he can regain his painful memories... No. From now on he's no longer Jung Taekwoon, married to that cheating bastard. He's just... my beloved hyung...

---

(Ravi's POV)

I was so pathetic. Even Ken felt sorry for me. He knew. He knew me better than anyone. From the beginning I had been a selfish spoiled brat, we were playing to be the bad boys and that's how we lived under the excuse of looking for freedom... but unlike him, I was doing it while spending my family money... We had fun but he didn't want to make our ties strong because he knew well how immature I was. We were not the best kind of people but HE was...

- Wonsik, he would hate to see you like this.

- You have no right to talk about him... He gave me to you, can you believe it? He... He thinks he's giving me up so I can be happy... with you! - I laughed - He's willing to give me, and you, of his own money so I can finally leave my mother's side and chase "true love". That I should fight for my "true love"... that I should be able to be with the one I love without worrying about the talk of the people... the social differences... the... prejudices...

- He even left job recommendations for me... he really...

- But he was the one I truly loved! – I was not listening to anything but my own cries - I was so angry because I thought he didn't care about me or about love... that all he cared were appearances...

- Wonsik...

- I'm sorry. You know there was a time when what we had was enough for me but...

- I'm also sorry but you do know you can't bring him back just with tears and regrets.

It was the day of his funeral... Ken dragged me there... I could already hear the people talking about us... because I showed up with him to my late husband's funeral... I was the man with no decency... I was not in the mood to fight them back since I was already busy hating myself but Ken did get mad, he had enough of me and my pitiful attitude... also, he knew we were also hurting Taekwoon's name with this... so he yelled at me and said 'he would rather leave but I HAD to stay'. He was also nicer than me.

Taekwoon's mother came to me and I left Ken to see her in private. She was not here the day his son left us, Hongbin took care of everything until she came back, none was allowed to see his body, she took a flight back just so she could receive everyone in this sad ceremony.

- Mother...

- You know? He was always putting too much weight on his own shoulders... You were both too young... I shouldn't have allowed that marriage... but... he looked happy at your side...

- I'm sorry he had to marry someone like me...

- You are so kind... I must admit I was worried when I heard about your "bad behaviour" in the past but I thought Mrs. Kim was just overreacting once again and I trusted in Taekwoon's decisions... I kept telling him he shouldn't live worrying so much about us but... he was just like his father... He was my younger son but he kept saying he was the man and he had to take care of us when father got sick... My eldest daughter got married and her political family has been good to her but my husband would always feel the need to show how thankful he was so that they wouldn't think we were taking advantage on them... and so did Taekwoonie... When our second sister fell in love with a medium class worker, father said he was a hardworking man and that all he cared was about my daughter's happiness... I insisted that they should move in closer to us so I could visit my girl, father knew better... my son in law was a good man... Taekwoon was so proud of his wise father... he dreamt of being like him... So when his last sister said she wanted to work in the company and rejected the idea of going into blind dates... he supported her.

- Why are you...

- My husband couldn't even say goodbye to his only son... I've lost both of them already and even though I know how much Taekwoonie loved you... I can't... I can't look at you without feeling a pain on my chest... If it wasn't for me, he would have never met you... and maybe he would still be... I know it's not fair to say this but... I keep thinking if he had stayed here maybe I could have ... saved ... my baby ... - she covered her face with her hands

- Mother...

- You are the president... but that's where our bonds end... I'm sorry... I know you must also be in pain, but... - she saw my teary eyes and hugged me – I know it's hard... Please try to take good care of the company both of your parents helped build... Take good care of your sister; I know she loved my Taekwoonie as well...

This woman that was more affectionate to me than my mother ever was... she was trying her best to be politically correct... without secretary Han around the rumours must have reached her... she knew... she knew her son was no longer happy by the end... and seeing me accompanied by the man my own mother had already talked about in the past... She's just like Taekwoon, she should yell at me and hate me but she's apologizing while asking me to leave...

My family was so different from yours... Taekwoon...

Author's Note:

I know amnesia is an overused cliché but well, what can I say? 

I love Taekwoon too much to let him die just like that. Plays "Alive" from Moorim OST in the background.

This whole book is so sad... I'm so sorry, I guessed I've been watching too many doramas lately.