Dares and Heartbreaks: TaeJoo & KangGook

Chapter 20

When Tae Joo walked in the court room, he willed himself not to look at Kang Gook. He had promised his mother that he would forget him, and he had tried to, but it was not easy. Tae Joo knew only to love Kang Gook in his life and being told to forget about him was something his mind could not fathom.

When he woke up from his coma, he was told that it was six months later. They were not back at home; they were in UK for his treatment. He wanted Kang Gook. He wanted to go back. He had to live with a woman who claimed to be his mother. He begged her so he could go back but she wouldn't let him. Tae Joo felt lost without Kang Gook.

When she said no to Knag Gook, he asked to go back to his father, but still she said no. It was a month later that she told him that his father passed away. Tae Joo felt alone. Without Kang Good it was weird for him.

Tae Joo had finished his last semester online and got his Law Degree from University back at home. He furthered his Education in UK and he managed to get experience from there too.  When he was stable, they returned home 4 years later, and his mother gifted him a law firm for his birthday. It was part of Min Joo, but Tae Joo was the head of it. She was tired of outsourcing lawyers to solve cases and thought it would be great to have an inhouse law firm for the company.

When Tae Joo returned, he managed to get news of Kang Gook. He had met Lee Jun and they became best friends. Tae Joo got Lee Jun a job at his mother's company in Management and it was Lee Jun who let him know that Kang Gook was working for his mother's company in a different city. He was happy. He waited patiently to find a reason to get to Kang Gook and even though it was a long wait he was happy it had happened. He received news that there was a case in Kang Gook's city, and he had volunteered to go and handle it against his mother's wishes.

They won the case and it was time to go. Tae Joo looked around the court room, and he didn't see Kang Gook.

"let's go now." Lee Jun said as he picked up his bag. Tae Joo looked around one last time and left the room disappointed. He thought he was going to see Kang Gook outside, but he was not there. They left the court room and headed for their hotel room.

"we're packing our bags and leaving tomorrow." Her mother said as soon as they got to the hotel. This did not sit well with Tae Joo.

"eomma"

"you promised"

"I know but I would like to visit dad."

"I'll go with you"

"I would like to stay and see if they have any more legal cases I can handle now that I'm here"

"we both know that's not the reason why you would like to stay"

"please can I, eeooommmaaaa?"

"under one condition"

"what is it?"

"Lee Jun stays with you"

"are you sure he would like that?"

"I already talked to him and he said its ok"

Tae Joo did not ask further. He was grateful for the opportunity.

The following day Tae Joo went to the offices and when he got there, he was surprised that they already had offices arranged for them. Tae Joo was told that they already had their offices set up because Min Hyeo instructed them to a few days before they came. Tae Joo realised that his mother was already ahead of him. She had known Tae Joo would not leave right away after seeing Kang Gook.

He turned to his temporary secretary and said,

"call an executive meeting. I need all managers to be present by 10 am. Every manager should be there with no fail."

"Right away sir" The lady responded as she started typing on her computer, sending an email to all managers via their secretaries.

By 9.50 am, Tae Joo was in the huge boardroom with a laptop and microphone in front of him waiting for people to come.

Five minutes later a group of males and females walked in the room and took their respective seats. In their midst was Kang Gook who sat two seats away from Tae Joo's seat at the head of the table.

The meeting took about 30 minutes with Tae Joo talking about legal issues and advising them not to accepts contracts from companies like Torch and if they do, to be specific when drawing terms of the contract.

After he dismissed the employees, he stayed behind and one more person stayed behind too.

"JooJoo,"

"it's Mr Min now"

"Mr..." Kang Gook couldn't. He had missed Tae Joo, "Tae Jooya" He softly called placing his hands on the table.

"you disappeared yesterday without a goodbye. What would have happened if I left with my mum?"

"I missed you"

"no, you didn't. if you did you wouldn't have left like that. That was our fist meeting after seven years"

"I k-

Tae Joo's phone started ringing. He raised his hand to ask for a minute. His face completely melted, and a smile took over.

"yhaa where are you? ...... I'm at work...... Joona...... yhaaaaa...... just come...........ok I will wait for you.........ok..........bye"

When he ended the call, he went back to being serious. He looked at Kang Gook who was now looking at his hands nervous.

"so tell me wh-"

Kang Gook sat up suddenly saying,

"I remembered I have a meeting and I must leave now."

Kang Gook did not wait for Tae Joo's response as he left the room quickly.

Tae Joo was even more confused by Kang Gook's behaviour. Had he not missed him the way he did. Had he moved on? He had lied to his mother so he could see him again but maybe the feeling was not mutual.

He was dejected.

***

It was like Kang Gook was cursed when three days later he was being asked a question he never wanted to hear again especially in relation to Tae Joo.

He sat there at the lunch table in a restaurant eating his lunch when Jae Won asked him,

"do you want to make a bet?"