Make It Real: Chapter 13

Minho went back to Seoul to pay visit to the deceased uncle in its last day before burial. The funeral home is Jang Rae Sik Jang, lining its hall way were great number of wreathes made of flowers positioned outside the chairman's room. As he entered the modern room, he removed his shoes then bowed and shook hands with relatives, employees, and friends that are connected with Sungho. All men were wearing black suits and women wearing their traditional hanboks. He signed at the guest book table and put his condolence gift in a white envelop. He kneeled on the mat and performed two and a half big bows toward the shrine as he gave his honor to the dead body. After, he was escorted to another larger room where Hasun was comforted by some friend. Her intense weeping was a heart touching scene for Minho. He came near and gave a humble bow towards the auntie.

"Condolence Auntie." He told her with a sincere voice.

Hasun did not expect to see his nephew there. She thought that he completely forsaken them after he stepped down from his position. Evenso, she accepted the condolence with a warm embrace, seemed she had forgotten the resentment. The friend left them, giving them some privacy.

"Thank you for visiting us." She told him while wiping her watery eyes.

"Yes. I just found out the news yesterday through my friend. I feel your pain." He told her.

"This is the hardest time for me. It's like my soul has been crashing down these past days with Juniel's adversity and your uncle's death." She told him.

"I'm deeply sorry for the hurt I've caused you Auntie. For my irresponsibleness too. If I didn't' quit, possibly this was prevented." Minho felt like his step down added to his auntie's burden. Furthermore, evil people took advantage of that vulnerable state."

"I'm sorry too when I threatened you on your position. I almost forgot your great help to us. Maybe I'm just terribly upset then because you turn down our offer."

"Is Juniel okay now? I got totally stunned by the news." Because of long distance, Minho had rare chance to see his cousin before but his impression of her will still the same. Juniel is as innocent-looking as her name. Such a pity that she has to experience this kind of trauma.

"She's critical after being hit yet surviving. I asked your mother to monitor her in the hospital while I'm here." The tears started to fall again from her eyes. "You know the most touching part is when the staff told me that Juniel kept calling my name while bearing extreme pain. I'm her strength." After Juniel's surgery, she got unresponsive for three days, still alive after near-death. Hasun transferred her daughter then to the same hospital, sharing the same ICU room with her seriously illed father. Juniel was presumed to die due to excessive blood loss. Wondrously, Sungho who got stable signs prior on that, died that same night. They all came to believe that he had taken the suffering of his daughter.

"Be strong for Juniel. She's holding on just for you." He told her.

Yes. I pray that she'll be healed quickly."

After their sincere talk, Minho decided to leave the place when he and Chairman Monghee's paths crossed at the hallway. Even with this load against his father, he set this aside and gave him respect. "Good Morning Pa."

"I thought you won't go back." He asked him with stern expression.

"I came to see Uncle." He told him politely.

His anger partially diminished when he saw his son again. "This is your fault. If you have agreed to marry the girl, there would be no problem."

Minho had no intention to stir up another fight again especially at his uncle's burial. He just swallowed what his father had said even if it is blaming him. They ignored each other for one month, possessed by pride. Now is the right time for some reconciliation. The two sat down on a near bench, talking about the girl.

"Investigators suspect that the mastermind of this failed kidnapping is non other than your Uncle Jihu."

"But why he had to do this with his niece?"

"Money. Sungho had stopped supporting him after he found out his gambling addiction. Moreover, he had no plan to give Jihu inheritance that made him mad."

The Investigators informed Monghee about their research on the conflict between two brothers and inheritance as the possible cause. The brother wanted his shares so badly.

"Sulli told me about this."

"It's possible he might do it again until he gets what he wanted."

"Did auntie already knows it?" If the girl recovers, her safety will still a problem.

"Not yet. She's already overwhelmed by these incidents so I'm taking care of it." Monghee is too willing to help Hasun solving this problem for she is already a family for him.

His son bowed his head lower as this event pushing him to help his relative as well. "What I'll gonna do, Pa?"

"It's a must, marry Juniel." It seemed like that is the only solution for Chairman Monghee.

"But I don't love her, she's like a sister."

"If you marry her, her money will be taken into your account as well as JSB. Jihu can't do anything anmore. He'll go to accept that he has nothing to get."

Minho stood up. "So that's it?" He was kind of resisting but had nothing to suggest. "

"This marriage can protect her too. While Juniel is connected with us, they can't touch her."

"How about her right? Do you think it won't hurt her? This disrespect her to choose whoever she loves."

The father got silenced for a moment, however... "Other than Hasun and Juniel. The company really likes your service. They wanted you to go back."

"I still has my girfriend, even if you're against her." The request might possibly tear them apart.

"If you can't split with your girlfriend, so be it. Marry Juniel and divorce her after a year if you want. You just need to secure her and JSB now. No other person can do that task except you." Monghee do not care about his son's relationship anymore. All he wished is Minho will do what is needed for the company most especially.

"If I agree, will everything go back to normal?" After all, he felt like his decision is the only answer for this problem.

"Everything will become better." The father remained persistent.

"I'll think it first." It was hard for him to decide yet there was an urge to accept it even if his relationship with Yuri will be in trouble.

Minho went to visit Juniel. The hospital room was guarded by two security persons outside, protecting her. He opened the door slowly as to not disturb her. Her angelic feature always amazes him. The girl was glowing in dim light with her light skin and white hospital gown. She was lying there with excruciating pain while unconscious of her surrounding. It was hard for him to imagine that the girl will soon wake up, find out that her father is gone. He felt pity for her and for that moment, he got some good reason to agree with his father. He held her hand wishing her to get better.

Three months after Juniel got shot, her wound healed as if back to normal. She tried to cope up with his father's loss, grieving still. Noticeably, Minho stopped insisting Yuri about marriage after their arguments about abortion. Contented enough with their informality since they still like each other. However, she had no idea that her partner was planning something with his father. Minho hide this from Yuri, that he will be marrying his cousin with a purpose. He agreed with his father taking it just like an ordinary business project. If he is the only solution of their problem, then he have to accept it regardless of real feeling. Other than securing the girl and her company, power and wealth is definite. He continued his work in Bank of America waiting for Juniel's recovery. His decision of accepting this marriage with Juniel finally had made his mother and auntie pleasantly surprised.

to be continued...