- I can't go on... I can't...
Se Ri suddenly stopped. Holding on Jin-Tae's arm, she suddenly stopped, overwhelmed with pain, sadness and another separation from Jeong Hyeok. Jin-Tae's face was the reflex of despair... They couldn't stop, risking losing the boat, so he gently tried to convince her:
- Please Se Ri... We are almost there... Try to make an effort...
She looked at him, crying. What could he know about her? Her love for Jeong Hyeok? About being apart the one she loved, once more, not knowing if that separation was for one day or an eternity?
- You don't understand... You don't... Missing him is more painful than living with the uncertainty of having him next to me... Call me selfish but it's about time we live our love, our lives as a real family. I want him next to me, the moment my babies arrive... I need his hand in mine, his arm around me... One day you will know...
Jin-Tae sighed. Maybe he already had a hint, a small hint on how that felt. His mind was with Seo Dan, that mysterious lady, so beautiful, so eager to be rescued from her ice castle by a prince, bold and ready to fight for her, no matter what...
- The pain... this pain is killing me and I can't seem to walk another step. I'd better live a day longer with him, than being apart for, no matter how long... I can't.
- But everything is ready for you to go...
- You go. I'll stay, next to Jeong Hyeok, even if I have to die, because living without him is worse than dying... My heart will witter day by day... Until it dies...
Se Ri was now on her knees, crying her soul out, so desperate she didn't realize Jeong Hyeok had suddenly reached them, equaly desperate, equaly torn to be forced to leave his wife, once more.
- My Se Ri... - He whispered, pushing her up, hugging her in her arms: - My love, my love...
Se Ri couldn't believe her eyes so she started to cry even more:
- My husband... my husband... I... I can't leave... My legs won't leave without you...
- Oh my darling... - He hugged her so close he could feel the sweet scent of her hair, the softness of her silky skin: - I know how you feel... This separation is tearing me apart...
- I'm staying... I'll deal with the consequences...
- If you stay, our babies might be in danger... In your condition, you need a hospital, a good hospital and I have to make sure that all medical support is given to you...
- But my place is next to you...
Jeong Hyeok looked at Jin-Tae, who couldn't take his eyes off the couple. He had witnessed the power of their love on the footages he had watched in Seoul... He knew that love was impossible to destroy so it was hopeless to convince Se Ri to go...
Seo Dan was already approaching when Jeong Hyeok said:
- We have to follow plan C...
- Plan C, Sir? - Jin-Tae was confused: - I don't recall no plan C.
- That's because I just hatched it, in my mind... It was a possibility, and my father and I talked about it... And the more I think about it, the more sense it makes in my head and in my heart...
- Please... If you could only explain what's on your mind... - asked Seo Dan seeing Jon-Tae had no idea what he was talking about.
Leaving his wife with Seo Dan, Jeong Hyeok made a sign to Jin-Tae to speak far from the women:
- I'm leaving with my wife. She can't stay. Our children will need to go to a hospital to be born and I know the minute they we step there, we'll be all in jail so, I'll go with my family on that boat.
- Jeong Hyeok... - Jin-Tae realized he meant what he said but the risk was too high: - If you are caught... And your parents, here... A tragedy can happen...
- There's no bigger tragedy than staying away from Se Ri and my twins. If she goes, I know something bad will happen... Since yesterday I have this bad feeling something will happen to Se Ri...
- She was just telling me she was going to stay with you...
- This is just too much for her... She has already suffered so much. So, your secret services can put me in jail. I don't mind. I need to make sure my wife gets safe and sound to Seoul and that my twins are well taken care, by a good hospital. Something my country unfortunately can't provide.
- You know I'll do my best to keep you out of jail... even if we have to provide you a false identity and erase any trace of your presence in Seoul... You know there are many Northern agents in the South and I believe one would gladly put a bullet in your head, if he could... just to get a stupid medal!
- That's a risk I'm willing to take... - Jeong Hyeok looked behind and his eyes met Se Re. - She is my life. She is my story, my destiny... I'll take whatever it takes...
- I understand... but, your parents?
- My parents... - Jeong Hyeok's face expression was suddenly sad and concerned: - I just hope my father can manage to put this plan in motion... It was a possibility, we both knew...
-
Jeong Hyeok's father got a phone call from a secure line that same moment. His father. With further ado, he picked the phone and listen carefully to what he was telling him. He nodded and simply said:
- I'll take care of Captain Woo Dong Choi or whoever steps in our way, don't worry. Once you get there, tell your father in law I'll keep in touch. Stay next to your wife, my son. I hope to see you soon.
Seo Dan could read in Jin-Tae's eyes something serious was about to happen: he seemed compromised and there could have been a dramatic change of plans...
Jeong Heyok gently took his place next to Se Ri and whispered:
- Let's go, my love. It's time for us to take you to the boat. You're too heavy for me to carry you... - he was teasing her for sure and his words had the effect he wanted, since she immediately said: - Dear husband, are you implying I'm fat?
- No. Just for you to hurry 'cause I want to reach that boat on time.
- I refuse to go on that boat...
- So... Are you saying you stay here and I go?
Se Ri stopped walking and stared at her husband... What was he saying?
- Jeong Hyeok... What did you just say?
He could listen to her trembling voice, the emotion increasing on each of her words... So, he just held her hands and told her, unable to stop tears roling down his face:
- There's no goodbye, this time. My love, I'm going with you, I have to make sure you arrive safely home. There's not something I can ask Jin-Tae or anybody else. That's my job, as a husband and as a father...
He quickly glanced her belly and a sudden joy invaded Se Ri's heart! They were coming home, the four of them!
- We'll get a solution once we get there, so now, I just want you to focus on staying calm and trust me. We have to get to that boat as soon as possible.
The couple started walking, down the hill. Seo Dan was puzzled with that twist of events... Was she supposed to return home, alone, now? Of course that decision made sense... They belonged together, after all... They had to be together...
- Seo Dan... - whispered Jin-Tae: - Are you alright?
She blinked twice and smiled (and that smile hit his heart as if the arrow of Cupid had striken him irrevocably...) to him.
- Yes, I am. And I am happy for them...
- I wish I could stay... - He confessed, holding her hand: - I can't stay much longer but I want to see you again...
If he could only stop the time! Why did each minute next to her seemed like a second, a hour a minute...?! There was so much he wanted to share with her... to tell her...
- When are you returning to Beijing?
- Next month... But I can go sooner...
- You can? - Jin-Tae's voice couldn't hide the anticipation to see her again. - And... would you meet me, there, if I asked you?
Seo Dan smiled once more. He was so cute when his expression was the one of a shy boy, carefully choosing the right words...
- Yes. I would... If you asked me.
- Meet me. In five days. I'll be there. I just have to make sure I can help these two, back in Seoul... I'll do my best to protect them... Then, I'll go to Beijing. To see you once more... I have to see you once more...
Jin-Tae forgot reached her lips and kissed her... a swift but gentle kiss, a promise many more would come, if she'd meet him in five days.
- I'll be there... - she whispered.
He smiled and started running down the hill, just in time to reach Jeong Hyeok and Se Ri getting on board. He looked, one last time, behind, and there she was, so beautiful, so forbidden... In five days. In five days they'd resume their story, and he couldn't wait for that moment to come...
Jeong Hyeok was suprised to know his father had paid for an extra passenger... not two, but three so he realized his father had already predicted what his son would end up to do. He could only hope now the journey would end well and that his parents would manage to escape from their country. That would mean plan C would have result.
Se Ri, Jeong Hyeok and Jin-Tae had just taken their seats, when the captain of the vessel informed them the boat was about to leave. Jeong Hyeok looked at the hill in front of them and a strange feeling of emptiness filled his heart... That was probably the last time he would see his country. Deep inside, he knew. All he had been so far, all he had done, the memories with his parents, his brother... even his encounter with Se Ri, so many years, after Switzerland. All his past would remain there...
Se Ri touched his hand and told him, sensing a glimps of sadness on her husband's eyes:
- We can always stay... there's still time...
He smiled. That was out of question:
- No, my dear... My past is here, but my future is right next to me... no matter what may come.
They kissed.
That moment was the key moment for them to focus on the future, their future, and not to regret what had stayed in the past.
Little by little, they were leaving the shore behind, until the Captain returned, flushed and said:
- You have to come and see this, with your own eyes...
Both Se Ri and Jeong Hyeok looked at each other. Could it be another inspection, like the one they had the last time they had been trying to escape by boat?
Jin-Tae was the first one to leave, then Se Ri followed by her husband. When they reached outside, they couldn't believe their own eyes, because they could never expect that kind of surprise...