Jasmines In June

Brothers conflict

It was six in the morning. Jasmine and Jun were still asleep after another long intimate evening when Jun's phone beeped uncontrollably.

Jun groaned as he lay his wide palm on the phone - wanting nothing but to throw the damn thing on the wall.

But he won't because he's also used to getting texts, messages and emergency phone calls at all hours in a day. It's part of his job as one of the executives of his family's company, and also when Hoon would fall ill in the middle of the night and he'd get a phone call from one of the staff or Yuan.

He picked up the phone squinting at it. The screen flashed a missed phone call from Yuan. Jun knew right away he had to call him back or else he'd never hear the end of it. Sometimes, he doesn't know which one was more overbearing, his father back when he was alive or Yuan.

Jun called Yuan immediately.

Jasmine picked up her head, curiosity gripped her early today, hearing Jun's end of the conversation. His upset and frustrated voice. The loud yelling tone on the other end of the conversation.

Her mind tried to recall the number of people who can yell at him like that. The first person on her mind was Hoon, but the yelling already happened the night before.

Before long, Jun let out a long sigh and hang up the phone. He dropped his head on the pillow and let out a muffled scream. It was too early to have to deal with family drama this morning.

Jasmine placed her hand on his back concerned at what just happened.

"What's wrong?" She asked as soon as Jun raised his head.

Jun looked at her. It hadn't been a month since he met her and here she is, causing him all kinds of troubles and problems already. "That was Yuan, my oldest brother. Hoon is back at the hospital."

Jasmine gasped with her hands upon her mouth, remembering leaving Hoon last night making her feel guilty. "Oh no! I was supposed to look after him."

Jun pushed himself up, last thing he wants is for her to worry. "Don't worry about it, Jas. I'll take care of everything." He kissed her before getting out of the bed. The first he did was head to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

*****

Jasmine doesn't know whether she's allowed to come to the hospital to check on Hoon or not. She wanted to, but at the same time, she was afraid to see him. She felt responsible for leaving him by himself.

She wanted to ask Jun who took Hoon back to the hospital but Jun seemed to be too preoccupied with his thoughts this morning that she found it difficult to even communicate with him. Each time she tried to ask him, his mind seemed to be somewhere else that she had immediately gave up the conversation before it truly begin.

It must be hard running a company and having to put up with a family like his, she thought.

Jun drove her back to her apartment very early. He didn't say much as he drove, not even as he dropped her off, only saying he'll contact her later today when get a chance.

Jasmine didn't protest this only nodding as he drove off.

****

Jun was already stressed by the time he arrived at the hospital. Stressed not only for Hoon's health but also stressed because of what Yuan had said during their early conversation.

Jun sucked a deep calming breath as he walked inside Hoon's private room. He had expected Yuan to be standing by Hoon's bedside with his angry glare.

And he was right to expect so because Yuan was right beside Hoon, two pair of angry eyes glaring at him. Being the youngest in the Long household has got to be one the worst thing that could happen to anyone.

It was Yuan who spoke first.

"Jun!" He snarled. "This is all your fault!"

Jun would have flinched his shoulders if he was still young, remembering all those times when Yuan reprimanded him for his stubbornness and misdoings. But now that he's older, he's no longer afraid of his brother or any of his scoldings. He held his chin high.

"How is this my fault?" He lifted his shoulders, assessing Hoon's condition. Hoon didn't seem too bad to him. At least not enough to be rushed to the hospital.

"Hoon was rushed to the hospital having passed out in the living room without his aid anywhere to be found." He pressed.

Jun had no retort for that. He was ready to take the blame. "Hoon and I had an argument and I had to take Jasmine with me."

Yuan eyes grew wide, surprised at the casual way Jun said her name. "Jasmine?"

"Yes."

"Jasmine is Jun's latest girlfriend." Said Hoon.

"You're looking good this morning." Greeted Jun to Hoon, a trace of sarcasm rode the rhythm of his tone.

Yuan fumed. This isn't a time for brotherly conflict. "How come we were never informed of this?"

"It was a deal between me and Jun, we didn't think you needed to be informed." Said Hoon.

"Yes, but I'm in charged of this family. I need to know everything that's happening."

Hoon and Jun only stared at him with tight pressed lips.

Yuan shook his head and said, "Never mind." It's something else he has to deal with later on. "In any case, Jasmine is under contract and leaving Hoon unattended last night was negligence. As a result, Hoon was rushed to the hospital when he was found unconscious on the floor." Yuan shifted. "This is a serious form of negligence, Jun. Enough to be a crime. I could have her arrested for that."

"I made her come with me." Jun protested right away, he didn't want her in trouble for something that is completely his fault.

"So, it is your fault."

Jun breathe, "You two decided to send me overseas behind my back. I wanted to take Jasmine with me but Hoon won't let her off her contract. What do you want me to do?"

"Be a responsible adult and do what is best for the company." Answered Yuan sternly. "Travel to Taiwan for six months."

"I'm not leaving without Jasmine."

"The housekeeper is not the company's problem. She's coming back to her job or else I'll have her thrown in jail for negligence."

Jun's mouth gaped. "What?" He glanced at Hoon immediately. He knew Hoon is the one who orchestrated it. "We're you even really sick?" He snapped at Hoon angrily. Hoon had been the smart one, the most manipulative as far as he can remember, someone who's always coming up of ways to make things go his way.

Hoon gasped appalled. "How dare you accuse me?! I'm the one who's in the hospital because you're too immature! You're the one who begged me to hire Jasmine as my aid. You can't just change your mind after the contract is signed and take your toy back."

Yuan lifted his hand, he had about enough of the two. He can't believe he got sucked in in the middle of these two fighting over a girl. She could be a gold digger for all he knows.

The thought made him worried about their wealth immediately.

Yuan looked at Jun with finality and crispiness on his voice. "The housekeeper comes back to her job. Hoon had asked for her. If our father was still alive, he would been making the same decision, you know that."

Jun knew that, he knew their father had always favored his sickly brother no matter what. "Yeah."

"Jasmine goes back to her job or she goes to jail, you understand that?"

Jun jerked his chin once without a sound and turned around to leave.

Yuan turned his attention to Hoon next. "Three months is enough. There will be no extension with this girl."

But Hoon did not answer, the decision is his to be made.