"Welcome to our house, honey."
Jake wrapped his arm around his wife and placed a kiss on her forehead as she looked at him happily. Yurim giggled softly, reached her hand to hold his hand, and went into the house together. It was still the same mansion where Jina used to leave, and now it was owned by Yurim.
Yurim walked around the house happily causing Jake to chuckle at her cuteness. He watched the girl for a long time, and couldn't help but fell in love with her harder.
Jake then went towards her and pulled her into a warm hug. Yurim shut her eyes and hugged him back while giggling softly. She brushed his hair and broke the hug before looking at his eyes with the gaze of passionate love.
"I love you so much, Choi Yurim."
"Thank you for finally accepting me in your life."
"Thank you for being my wife."
Yurim caressed his cheeks,
"I love you too, Jake."
"Thank you for being my husband."
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulder again and brought her upstairs,
"It's the room for our child."
Yurim surprisingly looked at Jake. He purposely leaned his face closer to her to see her blushing cheeks, but Yurim just acted as if she heard nothing and continued exploring the room in amazement.
"Your cheeks aren't blushing because of me anymore."
"Why did you hide your blushing cheeks from me?"
Yurim raised her eyebrows and laughed.
"I will never blush when you are teasing me, Jake. Even if I did, you can't see it clearly because my cheeks aren't that easy to get heat and blush."
"I thought you know me well, Jake."
Yurim looked at him longer and smiled when Jake looks so confused by her words. He then shook his head and cleared his throat before bringing Yurim around the mansion.
"Let's go, Choi Yurim."
****
Jina pov
****
it's been three weeks since we separated, and I still have trouble forgetting him. I realized that I have fallen too hard for him. I wished I could stop loving him and accepting everything that happened with an open heart. The person I loved finally got married to the woman he adored for years.
How lucky both of them were. No matter how many times God separated them away from each other, they still met in the end and got married to each other. Their loves for each other were stronger than Romeo and Juliet and Jack and Rose. They never gave up on pulling each other closer.
I should have realized my priority sooner. I was the second option. I was from the bottom of his heart and I was always the one girl he accidentally met, not the girl he always wanted.
Every day, I would go to the balcony and spend my time having a deep conversation with myself. I couldn't help but keep asking myself, why did I get to choose to meet him, why did God put me in the middle of them and what's the point of welcoming him into my life.
what's exactly the reason.
Am I the extra character in their love story? the extra character who just added into the story to make the main character's love toward each other stronger.
I didn't cry, but I was feeling so empty.
A smile formed on my face when Namjin went into the room with a few bags of potato chips in her hand. She ran towards me, jumped on the bed, and leaned her body closer to me while chewing the food in her mouth.
"Do you still have trouble forgetting him?"
She asked me curiously. I smiled at her as I knew that there was no point lying to her about my feeling when she was too good at reading my face. She nodded in understanding.
"Can't you reach him?"
"What's the point of reaching him, Namjin?"
I continued, "Let him be happier with his wife."
"Then, how long are you going to stay this way?"
"I need more time, Namjin."
Namjin glared at me,
"The easiest way to forget him is approaching someone else."
I messed her hair and immediately shook my head.
"We shouldn't use someone to make us forget about our past lover. We shouldn't give them hope."
"I told you, Namjin."
"I need more time."
Namjin looked at me longer,
"Promise me that one day, you'll forget him and move on from everything."
I nodded. "I promise."
Namjin then cleared her throat causing me to look at her weirdly.
"I met a good man two weeks ago. We are currently in the phase of knowing each other."
I grinned happily,
"That's great. As long as he is a good man, I'm supporting you from your back."
"It was lunch. I went out from the company to have my lunch at the popular black bean noodle restaurant in the city. I was out of my money when I wanted to pay them."
"As I was about to go to the bank, he came to me and paid for me. A few days after that, we bumped into each other at the same restaurant again. I decided to pay for his kindness by paying for his food, he said that he was so thankful for me."
"Starting from that one moment, we always met each other at the restaurant and had lunch together."
"He is Yoon Jaehyuk, isn't he a friend to Lee Heeseung?"
I gasped and widened my eyes.
Namjin laughed, "The world is so small, right?"
"I hope your relationship with him will last longer."
Our conversation was interrupted when I received a call from an unknown number. Namjin raised her eyebrows and teased me by pushing my shoulder while telling me to answer the call.
"Is it him?" Namjin asked playfully as she thought it would be Jake.
This number wasn't familiar to me before. I knew that it wasn't Jake. I was the one who got blocked, there's no way for him to call me unless he unblocked me. Did he change his number?
I went to the balcony and answered to call nervously.
"Jake?"
The person on the phone chuckled,
"I'm not Jake."
"Did you recognize my voice?"
I looked at the number as I recognized the owner of the voice. He was so familiar to me. I always remembered him, and everything he did for me in the past. What was his intention now?
"Yoo Hansuk."
"You got it right, Han Jina." He chuckled.
"Why did you call me, Hansuk?"
"Can we meet?"
****
It was two in the morning, and Jake has just arrived home after a few hours of working on his photoshoot. As soon as he locked the car, he happily went into the house to greet his wife.
"I'm home, Yurim," Jake said softly and softened his gaze when he saw his wife laying on the couch while hugging something in her hand.
"Honey, why did you sleep here?" He brushed her hair gently causing her to slowly wake up from
her sleeping. Yurim smiled as their gazes met, and carefully fixed her position to sit by facing her husband.
Yurim caressed Jake's cheeks softly and giggled,
"Are you tired? Do you want fruits?"
Jake giggled and brushed his wife's nose.
"It's okay, Yurim."
He glanced at the frame that Yurim kept in her embrace,
"Why did you bring the frame with you?"
Yurim nervously handed the frame to Jake,
"I'm sorry, Jake."
"Why, Yurim?"
"I accidentally broke this frame when I was cleaning your room."
She continued, "It's a picture of me that you kept for years. I didn't mean to ruin it."
"I almost tore it apart."
Jake looked at the girl longer.
"Don't get mad at me, Jake. Please don't be mad at me." Yurim softly whispered as Jake didn't say anything to her words.
Jake held her hand tightly,
"My throat is dry. Can you serve a drink for me?"
Yurim nodded and quickly got off the couch.
"Alright."
Jake followed her from behind,
"Why did you still refuse to sleep with me, Yurim?"
Yurim smiled, "I'm comfortable staying alone."
"Is it because of your sickness?"
She nodded.
"I often cough. I need to take a lot of medicine. I don't want to burden you by helping me."
Jake sighed,
"I'm your husband, Choi Yurim. It's my responsibility to take care of my wife."
"It's okay, Jake."
****
After taking a long shower, Jake finally walked out of the bathroom and went to his closet to dress up. He took a glance at the bed and sighed when Yurim wasn't there.
Ever since they got married, Yurim never slept with him. She wanted to be alone until her sickness healed because she didn't want to burden him with preparing the medicine and taking care of her all night long.
Yurim didn't want to show her lowest part to Jake. She just wanted to make him happy. She didn't want to pull him into her problem. That's why she chose to be alone.
Jake took a glance at the clock and realized it was already four in the morning. It was already late, so he needed to sleep and has enough rest. As soon as Jake got on the bed, he widened his gaze when the electricity got cut off again.
"Yurim." He mumbled anxiously and quickly walked out of his room to meet his wife. He went upstairs carefully and knocked on the door a few times.
"Choi Yurim, are you okay?"
Jake anxiously spoke again,
"Yurim, I'll be accompanying you tonight."
"You're scared of darkness, right?"
He knocked on the door until Yurim opened the door. She pointed the flashlight to him and softly laughed when she found his reaction was so funny.
Jake yelled out in annoyed,
"You make me worried, Yurim."
Yurim looked at him,
"Why are you worried about me?"
"Aren't you scared of darkness? I don't want you to be alone."
Yurim laughed again,
"What nonsense are you saying, Jake?"
"I was never scared of darkness." She continued.
Jake took a moment to respond.
"Are you alright, Jake? I think you need to take a lot of rest."
Jake brushed his hair out of his face,
"Let me accompany you, Yurim."
He brought her to the bed and got in the sleeping position before pulling her into his embrace. Yurim was confused. She didn't get what Jake was doing. He suddenly acted so strangely. It made her worried about him.
Yurim lifted her head to look at her husband,
"Are you alright, Jake?"
Jake shut his eyes, and rest his chin on her head while brushing her hair gently.
"I'm always good, Yurim."
"Did I do something wrong, Jake?"
"Tell me. I will fix them for you." She whispered.
Jake shook his head.
"You did nothing wrong."
"I love you, Choi Yurim." He said in a whispering tone and broke the hug to look at the girl.
As he was about to kiss her, Yurim stopped him from leaning in by placing her hand on his shoulder causing him to look at her blankly.
Jake waited for Yurim to speak.
Yurim shook her head.
"We can't, Jake."
"Why?"
Yurim exhaled deeply.
"I can't have a baby."
Jake looked at his wife speechless.
"Why don't we try it first, Yurim?"
Yurim quickly shook her head,
"The doctor told me that, Jake. We can't change the fact."
"I'm sorry, Jake." She tucked her head into his embrace and hugged him tighter.
"I know how much you love kids."
"I'm so sorry, Jake."
Jake shook his head,
"It's okay, Yurim."
"If you want kids with your blood related, I allow you to let me go. I allow you to get married to a woman who can give-"
Jake hugged Yurim tightly,
"What are you saying, Yurim? I will wait for the day you get cured. There will be a chance for us. I believe that it will happen."
"I'm so sorry, Jake."
"Don't be sorry, Yurim. Let's sleep."
"I need to have a treatment at 11 am. Can you send me off?"
"I'm not busy today. So, I will accompany you."
"Thank you, Jake."
****
"Come back when I call you, Jake."
Yurim hugged Jake, and bid him goodbye as the doctor came to fetch her to the treatment room. Jake nodded and watched his wife until she has gone out of his sight. He wanted to stay longer but he has nothing to do at the hospital.
Byeolri and Jaewol suddenly crossed his mind as he realized that the beach was located nearby the hospital. He wondered if those kids were there today, so he decided to spend his time playing with them while waiting for his wife to be done with her treatment.
Jake went to the beach and went towards the sea to dip his feet. He played with the wave silently and looked around the place to see if Byeolri and Jaewol were there.
"He is a thousand time more handsome than a fictional character. He looks like a prince who came from heaven."
"Wow, you're awesome!"
Jake immediately turned his body to the back when he heard that. He looked at the group
of kids and fixed his gaze on the woman who was with them.
He shook his head as he thought of that one girl who he wasn't supposed to think about. He cleared his throat and continued dipping his feet on the sand.
"Look at your blushing cheeks."
"Suho, let go of me."
"You were being so obvious, Hira."
He looked at the couple who were playing with each other and shifted his gaze away when they kept reminding him of the past.
"Prince Jake."
Jake smiled when he realized that it was Byeolri. He carried the girl smoothly and laughed when the little girl hugged him tightly.
He spun her around, then pinched her head as she got so dizzy.
"I'm sorry, Byeolri."
Byeolri chuckled, then looked around the place.
"Where is Princess Jina?"
Jake barely smiled at the little girl.
"Why did you look for her?"
"Because I miss playing with her. If she is here with me, she will sing the intro of Spongebob Squarepants for me. she will hold my hand and bring me around the beach."
Jake listened to Byeolri silently.
"I miss her." Byeolri put her hand on his shoulder while still mumbling about how special Jina was to her.
Jake changed the topic,
"Why did you always come to the beach, Byeolri?"
"My house is just 200 meters away from here. I have no place to go other than this place."
"And ever since I met princess Jina, I always go to the beach to look for her."
"But it's okay. I'm happy to meet you too."
She giggled.
"Have you met princess Jina before? When I wasn't with her?"
Byeolri nodded.
"The second time I met her is when she cried at the beach alone."
Jake slowly nodded.
"Is it true that you already found a queen of your life?"
Jake looked at the girl blankly.
"Princess Jina told me that you're not her prince anymore."
"Don't you love her anymore?"
Byeolri pouted her lips as tears rolled on her cheeks. Jake got so anxious about the girl. He softly comforted her by hugging her tightly and brushing her hair.
Jake replied,
"Do you love princess Jina, Byeolri?"
Byeolri nodded.
"If you love her, take care of her, okay?"
"Okay." She wiped her tears and smiled.
"When will I meet both of you together again?"
A little smile formed on his face,
"Let's take a walk, Byeolri."
****
It was late at night and Yurim and Jake were spending their time on the balcony of their room. Yurim leaned her head on his shoulder while locking her arm with him. Jake stayed in the same position and kissed the girl on the forehead as their eyes met.
Yurim looks so different tonight and it made Jake worried about her. He didn't want to ruin her happiness by asking her about the sickness and the treatment that she had today. So, he just stayed calm and enjoyed their time together by appreciating each other presence.
"It sucks to get married to a sick woman, right?"
Jake took a glance at his wife and sighed.
"Don't say that, Choi Yurim."
"But isn't it true? I can't give you what you want." She spoke up weakly.
"I can't give you kids." She mumbled in a whispering tone.
"Yurim, I got married to you because you're the only girl I want. I got married to you because I love you, not because I wanted to have kids with you."
"Yurim, I want kids, but I hope you always remember that the main thing on my dream list is to be with you."
"I have dreamed to be with you for years. I want to get married to you and I want to be with you until we grow old."
"I got married to you because I love you."
"Yurim, don't be sorry for not being able to give me what I want."
"I'm so grateful that you're my wife."
"I feel like the years of waiting were worth it."
Yurim shut her eyes and mumbled.
"Thank you for everything, Jake."
"Thank you for being my last love."
"Thank you for always appreciating my presence in your life."
"I love you so much, Jake."
"In the next universe, let's meet each other again."
"That time, I promise you."
"I will come back to you with a healthier body."
"I promise."
Tears rolled on his cheeks.
"Nothing last forever, Jake."
"So, please remember to always appreciate someone's presence in your life."
"Jake, I'm so thankful that I'm your first love,"
"My presence makes you happier. My presence makes your life a thousand times better but Jake, her presence reminds you what you lose."
"Did you get what I mean?"
Jake sighed,
"I'm sorry, Yurim but I don't see it in her."
Yurim hummed and didn't give any response anymore.
Jake hugged the girl tighter and kissed her on the forehead for the last time.
"Thank you for everything too, Choi Yurim."
****
"Choi Yurim has passed away."
I looked at Heeseung anxiously and walked toward him. I shook my head with tears already escaping from my eyes.
"I refuse to believe you."
Heeseung went closer to me and wiped tears off my face gently. He cupped my cheeks and pulled my body into his embrace before hugging me tightly.
As soon as our bodies collide, I cried on his shoulder. Heeseung silently cried, and hugged me tighter as he felt so much heartbreak after finding out about the news. At the same time, Namjin and Jaehyuk went toward us and anxiously asked us about Yurim.
"Let's get prepared and go to the funeral."
I fixed my gaze on Heeseung as Namjin and Jaehyuk already left to get prepared.
"Am I allowed to go?"
Heeseung nodded.
"You're her friend, Jina. You can visit her."
"But Jake might hate seeing me."
Heeseung shook his head and wrapped his arm around my shoulder before bringing me into the house.
"It's okay, Han Jina."
After almost an hour of preparing to visit Yurim for the last time, everyone finally got into the car. Heeseung drove the car to the funeral hall as fast as he could, and couldn't help but cried when he thought of Yurim again.
Jaehyuk and Namjin were at the back and didn't say anything because they were also surprised to hear about the news. Nothing hurts Heeseung other than this news. He still couldn't believe that the first girl that he adored and he took care of passed away without seeing him for the last time.
It hurts him. He tried to pretend as if he was good, but no one knew how does it feel inside the heart. I refused to believe this news too. Yurim, the girl who was always so sweet to be gone forever. She was the purest and the kind-hearted girl I have ever met.
As soon as we arrived at the funeral, Heeseung and the others hurriedly left the car. I was still in the car but suddenly felt so heavy to go out. I watched Heeseung waiting for me outside the car and shook my head at him.
He came towards me and opened the door for me.
"Let's go, Han Jina."
I shook my head and shut the door again.
"It's okay, Mr.Lee."
"Han Jina."
I barely smiled at him,
"Just go, Mr.Lee."
I stayed in the car for a long time and watched some people leave the funeral while crying silently. I patted my chest and massaged it gently because it hurts me. It's hard for me to breathe properly. It's hard for me to keep myself calm.
I wanted to visit Yurim, but at the same time, I could feel that I would burst into tears when I met Jake after a long time of separating from each other.
I was hesitant.
After 10 minutes of calming myself, I finally decided to leave the car and went into the funeral hall as if nothing happened. I walked into the hall while looking for Heeseung and the others, but my step immediately stopped when I saw Jake silently crying next to the picture of Yurim.
I looked at him for a long time and lowered my head when the pain in the chest came again. It hurts me a lot seeing him this way. I wanted to comfort him but I always need to remember that I have no right to do that.
As soon as Jake left, I took the chance to bid Yurim goodbye for the last time. I bowed respectfully while holding my tears and looked at her picture for a long time.
"Rest well, beautiful soul."
"I love you, Choi Yurim."
I smiled at her and wiped my tears.
As I was about to leave, my step stopped when I accidentally bumped into Jake.
I looked at him for a long time and lowered my head as I realized that he didn't like seeing me in front of him. He walked out of the room as if I was invisible. He just left without saying anything to me.
I followed him from behind and stopped on my way when he stopped walking.
"Don't follow me."
I went towards him slowly.
"Stop on your way now, Han Jina."
"Jake."
I called him softly but he didn't turn his body to face me.
"Have you eaten? You should eat, Jake."
"I feel sorry for your lost, but Jake."
"Don't forget to take a rest."
"I know it's hard for you to accept this, but Jake."
"Don't put pressure on yourself."
Jake scoffed as he fixed his gaze on me.
"Leave me alone."
"I don't need your advice. You're not my wife anymore."
"Just leave me alone."
As soon as he took a step away, I quickly stopped him by holding his hand causing him to look at me surprisingly.
"Don't touch me."
He shrugged my hand away from him.
"I'm sorry, Jake but I just worried about you."
Jake brushed his hair out of his face and held his anger.
"Who are you to worry about me? Did I ask you to be concerned about me? Did I ask you to ask me if I weren't good? Did I ask you to do that?"
I gazed at him while holding my tears.
"Leave me alone."
"Don't appear in front of me."
"Don't ever come into my life anymore."
"I want to forget you. I don't want to remember anything about us."
"Did you get what I said, Han Jina?"
As soon as I took a step closer to him, he immediately avoided me.
"Jake, take care of yourself."
He sighed heavily,
"Why did God take Choi Yurim forever?"
"Why didn't God just take you?"
"Why is it not you?"
"Why is it must be her?"
He shouted making tears roll on my cheeks.
At the same time, Heeseung came.
"Watch your mouth, Jake Shim. Don't hurt her just because you don't have a feeling for her. She is just worried about you. Why don't you just appreciate her kindness?"
Jake replied and talked to me,
"Don't appear in front of me anymore."
"You don't need to be worried about me."
"Remember that you have no right to do that."
"I will never care."
"I will never return your feeling. I will never care about you."
"Everything has gotten better when you disappeared. Look at now, Han Jina."
"Everything get worsen when you're here with me. What else should I say to you, Han Jina?"
"What else should I say to make you listen to me and leave me alone forever?"
"Is listening to this will make you listen to me?"
"I hope you will disappear forever."
"I hope the one that gone is you, not Yurim."
I looked at him for a long time, was speechless.
Heeseung angrily grabbed Jake by his collar.
"What did Jina do to you, Jake?"
"Watch out your mouth. You shouldn't question the fate of God. You shouldn't say that to Jina."
"You can hate her, but don't ever say that to her."
I went toward Heeseung and held his arm before pulling him away from Jake.
"It's my fault, Mr.Lee."
"It's my fault."
"Jake has the right to say that to me."
"I should have left sooner."
I glued my gaze at Jake,
"I'm so sorry, Jake."
"I'm so sorry for existing."
"I'm so sorry if my presence turns your life a thousand times worsen."
"I'm so sorry, Jake. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry for coming into your life."
"I'm sorry, Jake."
"I'm so sorry."
I barely smiled at him and left the place without bidding him goodbye for the last time.