Make It Real: Chapter 8

After his first day of service, Minho returned to Choi's modern architectural house inside Incheon where he would stay for the meantime. For his comeback and their mini family reunion, Mrs. Choi Sunhwa ordered her personal chef to cook special dishes for their dinner. Some native foods were Nakji bokkeum (stir-fried octopus and vegetables), Haemul Pajeon (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Stew, Soy Sauce Crab, and Samgyetang (Chicken boiled in ginseng), all are Minho's favorite meals.

Sulli had long waited for her brother's return and was very happy to meet him at the entrance. "At last, my precious brother is here!"  

The siblings hugged each other happily after fifteen years. Sulli who was very attach with her brother when she was small had used to live without him.

"Look at you, you grown tall and lovelier exactly like Ma." Minho praised his sister who was reaching his height.

Sulli is now 21 with her stunning height and feminine feature, she can join a beauty pageant just like her mother did. Unlike his sister, Minho has tanned skin and rounder eyes which he got from his father.

'Yes. And I'm wishing you'll stay here forever." She told him, smiling widely.

"Well let's see. This wasn't my plan actually. I'm just obeying our father's order."

"So that means you'll go back to U.S. again after this?" Her smile diminished after his response.

"It depends. But if I could convince your unnie to stay here then we may." The only person who knows his hidden relationship with a commoner is his sister, Sulli. Her brother confessed it after she accidentally saw them together when she went to America two years ago.

"Just marry her and drag her here. There's nothing to be scared of. Our parents can't do anything once they found it." Sulli asked him irritated by their problem. For her, this issue is just simple to resolve if dealt properly.

"If I were asked, I wanted it so badly ever since we're together. It seems not hard as we're financially stable living there, but I have to think her modeling career too." Kwon Yuri is equally ambitious as Minho but unlike he, she is aiming to be next top model thus she disapproved his wish of having children. "She has load of promotion and fashion show projects lately. I can't stop her job though it upsets me at times."

"How important is that job? You can feed her all through her life."

"It's her happiness. I can't buy that for her."

"Duh? You're thinking of her happiness while you're sacrificing yours. You make things more complicated than it is." Sulli hated it when Minho acting so compliant with Yuri. Because of his love, he was willing to set aside even his own desire as long as they are together.

Yuri's beauty drove him crazy the first time they met. The lady is notoriously more beautiful than any girl he met thus he immediately fell, head over heels for her. He was once a nerd with boringly studious trait, but her approachable style changed this aspect of him. The ten years together made him more mature and responsible in life and the frequent thought of starting a family in his mind. They suit each other whether it's looks, ambition, and love for things. The only thing that he dislike about her is her reluctance about family, unwillingness to meet his parents and to give him a child. Yuri got nexoplanon implant on her skin to prevent herself from pregnancy, the thing that almost tore them apart. Nevertheless, Minho stayed with her as he had promise.

One moment, their parents arrived together from work. The well-refined son met them at the door way with warm embrace."Pa, Ma I'm glad to be here again."

"We're glad too. Seeing our family complete after how many years." The mother kissed her son on his cheek while Mr. Monghee tapping his son's shoulder.

"You must be too tired now, come your mother prepared your favorite meals?" Just like Sunhwa, the father seems proud of his son's accomplishments in States. He grown up independent yet aristocratic just like him. He could clearly see his determination to follow his footsteps.

The family gathered around a master carved dining table, nicely arranged with baroque silverware sets and water goblets. The dining area looks traditional with classy antique furniture. As they sat down, the meals were brought out hot from the kitchen one by one.

"Did you already visit your uncle?"

"Yes Ma. I got sad seeing him in that state, because of his age, it's difficult to recuperate." Sulli reached him the platter with gimbap "Thanks."

"How about your auntie? Did you already talked with her." Asked by his mother again while slicing her food.

"We did talk about the plan and some stuffs as well."

"Good. I hope she agrees with your goals."

"Yes. She does."

"Have you met Juniel too?" The father sipped his wine, asking him if he met the girl already.

"Yes. The girl barely talks however."

"Juniel is too quiet but she's a sweetheart once you know her." Said by Sunhwa.

When Minho was in U.S. he barely heard anything about Juniel aside from Sulli's complain of her being spoiled. She seems nice when he saw her although her reserved attitude screaming awkwardness between them.

"Juniel is nothing but a dumb, such an embarrassment in our name." Sulli butt in with her natural straightforward opinion.

"Sulli!" Mrs. Sunhwa caught her daughter's attention after hearing the words.

"Why did you said that Sulli?" Although he know that Juniel is incapable of succeeding their business, his sister's bluntness had pushed him to be more curious about the girl.

"She's a special child, oppa."

Minho was quiet taken aback by her sister's statement.

"Juniel is not special child Sulli. She's just poor with some academic subjects, not everything."

"Ma, do you actually believe to Aunt Hasun? a girl with IQ less than 90 is just normal kid really? She's just lucky that her mother is rich to hire pay-high tutors to inject knowledge inside her brain."

"Sulli, stop it! Don't disgrace Juniel in front of your oppa, she's still your cousin."
Sunhwa could not tolerate Sulli's continuous mocking of the girl. Juniel is actually harmless girl for her to deserve that words.

"Sorry Ma but I can't have pea-brained relative." It made Sulli mad jealous when every time they open a topic about the adopted girl, she only got positive response. If her loving aunt did not adopted the girl, Mrs. Sunhwa might trample down Juniel's ego now.

Minho listened quietly at their little argument. The fact that Juniel has this case made him feeling concern for the girl more.

"Juniel's ability is actually blessing in disguise for us. If she was smart, I don't think they'll be able to merge their company with us." Monghee spoke

"How can you say that Pa?" Minho knows the possibility of combining their companies yet the father spoke as if her weakness is their advantage.

Sunhwa agreed as she explained. "Sungho oppa once said he'll give half of his fortune to the charity and half will be divided among their families. But that changed when Juniel came. She could just inherit all their wealth if only she's capable to sustain. Being JSB's holding company and trusted relative of Sungho oppa, they are willing to share their company with us just for Juniel's sake."

"How much then will Juniel get if she'll be able to receive all the inheritance?" Minho asked curiously. The fact that his parents were disclosing this confidential information.

"Juniel was supposed to inherit $1.1 billion dollar total of personal assets. The fortune was reduced after they decided to merge with us and will just give 10% for charity. This is also to prevent family dispute over inheritance knowing Juniel is just adopted." He told his son.

The number of her supposed fortune undoubtedly the highest among Choi clan. "1.1 billion dollar is even greater than father's personal net worth." Sulli was still in disbelief. She considered Juniel as her rival since small. They were both treated as princess with their social status only she is smarter and prettier. On the other hand, Juniel remained average looking but more recognized as richest as she is being solo heir.

"It's a combination of their personal properties." Said by Minho. Sungho and Hasun's inheritance from their ancestors remained untouched as their business succeed over the years.

"Huh? Seems like her boyfriend won lottery."

"Boyfriend?" Asked by her mother.

"Yes. Did you know that Juniel has boyfriend who looks like monkey?"

"Monkey?" These surprised the three as they know Juniel's aloof personality."Is that really true?" Asked again by the mother.

"Well, I'm actually kidding." Sulli added. "There's a confident janitor in Kyonggi who keeps saying he'll marry Juniel if she reach 18. That girl seems like him too as she keps smiling whenever he's around." Sulli was talking about Eunhyuk, who was being called as monkey. He is popular among students with his jokes and mood booster. Sadly he resigned from his job.

Sulli is pretty straightforward that annoys Minho at times, yet it made him laugh for some reason.

"We may sound like opportunist here but I doubt and still thinking if there's a hidden agenda behind this?" Minho the smart son was sensing something fishy behind their agreement. Even if Juniel is not that smart, she could choose somebody who can help her to carry this burden besides her. If she'll get marry a commoner guy for example, 4 million dollar is enough to sustain a family for a lifetime. Her parents might protecting their bank as well but trusting their wealth with business partner to secure their daughter's future is quiet intriguing.

Mr. Monghee could see his son being puzzled up by this deal. He could not tell the secret yet he gave him some hint. "They gave us just one condition and I chose to say that at the right time."

Minho's guess was right when he thinks of agenda. The mother who was sitting besides Monghee knows everything about it since she was there when they talked about this certain set up.

"I think we should tell this to our son." Sunhwa said to her husband. After the dinner, the couple went to their bedroom to get rest.

"Your son is just started his work, it might frustrate him getting another request."

"I can feel he'll turn down this arrangement. He is too manly for her." Sunwa confessed. She was talking about a marriage between Minho and Juniel as their motive of business agreement.

"Whether he likes it or not he has to marry her."

"What if he rejects her because she's not his type?"

"Regardless of Juniel's personality, her fortune is no joke. If Minho will agree, he will possess everything she owns.

"I like the idea but It might be too cruel for them. They don't love each other." Thinking that her son and Juniel have opposite characters, the mother felt they will not succeed.

"There's no love in business. If Minho will use his mind, he will accept this proposal even if he doesn't like her. I'm sure he knows how Juniel's wealth will do for great for him and our company.

Minho is one of the few bachelors inside circle that has equal status as Juniel. Sunho and Hasun picked him among the potentials as they know the boy's background. Juniel being the youngest of all Choi is too young for Minho but he fits their requirements.

Minho called Yuri the following morning and thinking how was she. She was on her bedroom lying flat jaded by the fashion show she participated. "Hi love. How are you today?" He greeted sweetly.

"Hi. I'm fine just too tired." Yuri answered, being less enthusiastic after his departure.

"Have you taken your dinner?"

"No. I don't want to since It's past 9 now here. I just need to sleep." She told him as clearly shown in her voice.

"I see. Don't abuse yourself and don't forget to take your vitamins." Yuri was in diet that Minho had to remind her not to overdo it.

"Yes I will."

"I'll send you monthly allowance and if you need more just call me okay?"

"Okay. I love you." Yuri smiled after hearing that. She thought Minho would change since he went back to Korea but his concern is still there much more to her confidence is his financial support even if they are far away from each other.

"I love you too."

to be continued...