WORD OF HONOR

Chapter 11 Confrontation

I called aunt and Tito all of a sudden about dad's cause of bankruptcy.

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Aunt, I know it's been a very long time, but I think I'm in my right age already to deal with this."

"Rain, may we just talk personally?"

"I can't trust anywhere, except my condo unit, let's just talk here if you don't mind aunt."

My scholarship suddenly came into my mind. I searched the people behind it. I called everyone I know to answer my question.

Aunt called me.

She came inside my house,

"I'm sorry aunt,"

"You're right, but I'm afraid you would suffer,"

"What do you mean?"

"I am not that stupid not to know about the news before but I am powerless to go against them."

"Do you still recall any name?"

"An illegitimate son, that is all that I remember."

Aunt was so afraid but she has to support me. Aunt went back home to protect me. She's afraid I might get hurt. She's worried and feeling uneasy about me.

I did my own investigation. Yaya Tina come often to visit me but I told her I will just be the one to visit her.

Being a cardiosurgeon while doing an investigation is challenging yet I want to know the truth.

I usually sleep late, 2-3 hours is enough sleep for me already. I had to uncover what is hidden 20 years ago.

"Dee, do you really have to do this?"

"Ya, I already started it, I had to end it also. I have to do it myself."

"Do you know that at the end, you'll be the one to get hurt?"

"I've been hurt in the beginning that dad gave up first. I think, there's nothing more hurtful than be left by mom and dad at the age of 6."

"But, second heartache is more hurting than the first, do you think you can cope with it?"

"As long as I can still let my tears to roll on my cheeks, I think I can do it."

Yaya Tina cannot hold back the tears running on her cheeks. She tried hard to stop but she can't really do it.

"Ya, everything changed, but can you hold on me this time? Can you stay by my side?"

"I'm sorry for letting you feel hurt. I'm sorry that I was not able to protect you as you grow back then, I feel ashamed to your Dad that I was not able to take care of you. I'm sorry that I was not able to hold your hand, and I was not able to see you as you  grow."

I tried to console Yaya Tina but she's too hurt that she can't even trust me.

"I'm sorry that I see you the way when you're still young, I should be the one telling you that you can do it, but I'm making you feel weak."

"I'm sorry also for making you worried all those years. I'm sorry also for hiding and only thinking about me."

Yaya Tina chose to stay by my side and moved to my unit.

I visit Gi Joon's mom boutique as she's also fond of shoes and dresses. She treated me well for all my visits.

Then Aunt called me about the suspect. It was Bae Reum. From his name he has nothing to do with Heon. But after 2 weeks of reasearch I found out he's the illegitimate son of President Heon.

President Heon called me for a meeting.

Just before I had my last step to face him,

"What can you say about Gi Joon's proposal?"

I was deaf that time that I ignore what he asked.

"How are you related to Bae Reum?"

He opened his eyes widely but answered me honestly.

"He's my half brother to my father. But Dad didn't accept him."

"Why my dad?"

"I don't know but your dad and I are like real brothers, and we were treated by Dad well."

"Is that the crime Dad had committed that he deserved to get bankcrupt?

"Bae Reum must be jealous."

"But it should not be enough to do something horrific."

"Yes,  he should have at least think about us."

"I was in a business trip the month your Dad is having a very hard time."

"Being my dad's friend, were you not able to do something to save my dad? Why did you just let him feel so down? Where were you when Dad needed you? And your Dad? Did he never do something to help my dad?"

"I was not aware that much, I felt like everything was planned carefully."

"Bae Reum also died after the news about what really happened were aired. He shot himself like what your dad did."

"How about my scholarship?"

He just looked at me.

"Sir, I've done all that I can do, please help me find out who's responsible of my scholarship."

"You don't need to know. It does not matter if who he is."

"But why? Why can't I not trace any name?"

"Because what only matters is you being who you are today."

"And what about my family sir?"

"If you will not find who that person is, what are you going to do?"

"I will not stop until I could find out who he is."

"Okay, you'll find out soon."

"Why do you need to be kind?"

"You might not remember me, but try to look at your pictures when you're young, I am always there during your family picture. Abraham is like my real brother and I promised him to take care of you if something bad happens to him. I did not know about his plan before."

"How did you know me?"

"In Korea, only him has that last name."

"I know about your scholarship, but you never showed up to me?"

"Because I feel very pity to Abraham, and to you that I am not even strong enough to see you. When your parents died, you stayed at the hospital for 3 weeks. Looking at your Dad's image during the funeral, it is like tearing my heart apart so I told him I will do everything to care of you. But then, before you were discharged from the hospital, it was reported to me that a couple showed up and claimed they are your relatives. I did not know where to start looking at you so I just pay all the debts of your dad to keep your beloved house. "

"And you kept our house as yours?"

"That's not my intention."

"For all my life, as I grew older, I only thought of getting our house back. I grew up while longing to see my things, recalling my good memories that I can't even notice that most of those were actually bad memories."

Silence.

"I was too hurt and still hurt until now."

"You think, you won't be hurt if you stayed and live at your old house as you grow?"

Silence.