Her, His, & Roses

HER – Final Chapter: All You Do (2 of 2)

“You’re just saying it to make me feel better.” not getting fool.

“I’m not that kind of person, I never please anyone except for my wife.” giving me a serious look. “We may look a perfect married couple now but we’ve been through a lot before we started a family. Only few people know that Rhea was married to another man when we met.”

“No offense, but is it what I think you did??” thinking that they committed a******y.

“Yes, I stole her from the man who doesn’t know how to love and cherish her. Even our children don’t know about our history, only my parents and brothers know about that secret.” crossing his arms.

“Then why are you telling me about it? I’m not even part of your family, I’m an outsider.” looking at him in puzzlement.

“Just saying, it’s up to you if you want to spread the news or not about my past, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy with my life anyway since I’m with the woman I love.” smiling at me. “That’s what I’m hoping for you too, son, I want you to be happy with your life.” checking his wrist watch. “I think it’s time for me to go.” standing up. “I already said what I want to say and you’re going to be late for your class if I stay here a bit more.” making his way to the door.

“You even know my class schedule.” walking out with him as I think about what he just said to me.

I don’t know what’s with him but he seems happy to me as he talks about how the dorm looks like as if he’s inspecting the building.

I walked with him until we reached his car and before he gets in at the backseat of his car, he gives the building one last look.

“Sorry, occupational habit, I’m not the kind of CEO who only sits in his office, I’m a civil engineer before a businessman.” about to get in at the back seat of his car. “Thank you for sparing me some of your time, it’s a great birthday present for me.” smiling at me. “Do what make you happy, so you won’t have any regrets in the end.”

Bowing my head to him as I see him off with his car. “Everyone wants to be happy but not everyone knows how to.” talking to myself.

That day was Uncle Cronus’s 49th birthday, and I only got reminded when he told me but I didn’t greet him a happy birthday at all.

I tried to distract myself with my studies but there were times that I woke up in the middle of the night tearing up because I’m still hurting but I want to see and be with her again.

5 months later, I went to the airport to pick my sister and her family up, as they decided to spent their summer vacation in Korea.

I’m walking and chatting along with them when I met Auntie Rhea on the way, and she asked me to have a chat with her.

“Your sister must have a hard time raising five children.” Auntie Rhea looking at my sister’s family. “I suddenly reminded when we first arrived here in Korea, my eldest was only 12 and my youngest was 7 that time. Cron and I were thinking to put leashes on them so they won’t run around crazily and we don’t lose all 6 of them.” laughing.

“Are you here for a business trip, Auntie Rhea?” asking her politely.

“No, I’m following Cron to China and spend my birthday with him.” she replied with a smile. “My birthday won’t be happy without my husband.”

“You’re following your heart.” smiling back at her. “Speaking of birthday, Happy Birthday, Auntie Rhea. Sorry, I don’t have anything with me right now.” scratching my head. “I didn’t greet Uncle Cronus before when he went to KU on his birthday because I missed the chance to say Happy Birthday to him. Which reminded me how Hera was frustrated when she missed greeting you on your birthday last year, she was craving for sweets the next day as her breakfast.” I suddenly stopped from talking when I realized what I just said.

“You miss her?” looking at me in the eyes. “She misses you too but she can’t go to see you because you told her not to see each other. That daughter of mine obeys no one except for her Lolo Uranus and you. You trained her well.” tapping my shoulder. “She’s in Jeonju, by the way, she’s working there as a nurse in a children’s clinic since February 1st, but she didn’t tell you because she’s traveling every day, she doesn’t want you to worry. She decided to stay there to hid her pregnancy from the people here in the capital.”

“How is she doing?” asking worriedly.

“Aside from having prenatal depression, she’s still coping by distracting herself from work.” standing up after sitting with me at the lounge area. “I have to go now, someone’s waiting for me to come, if you want to know more, I suggest that you follow your heart too.”

“I’ll think about it, it’s easy to say but hard to do, Happy Birthday again, Auntie Rhea.” bowing my head to her as she walks off.

I’ve been resisting to see her for months now but when I heard that she’s having a prenatal depression, I couldn’t help but to care about her so I went to Jeonju after I drove my sister’s family home.

I know what’s in Jeonju, the orphanage where Hebe is, so Hera must be somewhere nearby, and I’m not wrong about it.

I found the Children’s Clinic and saw Hera through the glass walls of the building with a huge belly because of the baby.

I just stayed in the car as I watches her until she closed the clinic with the male doctor who seems to be interested with her.

“Son of a b*tch! How dare you touch my woman?!!” watching them together getting inside the car. “I won’t let you get away with this!” tailing their car until they arrived at their destination. “Wait, who’s house is this??! Why are you both getting inside the house??!” get off from the car immediately to look around the house.

I never sneaked around to someone’s house before but I couldn’t help myself to do it anyway because of my curiosity and mostly jealousy.

I watched them for an hour or two spending time together in the evening and saw the man kissed Hera goodbye before he left.

But it hurts to see a smile on Hera’s face after that kiss, she was happy with that man now and she already moved on.

I felt defeated when I drove back home and regretful for taking too long to realize that I still want Hera in my life and I won’t be happy without her, that I shouldn’t have left her side.

2 weeks later, I saw the same man at JHMC walking with one of the doctors with his arm wrapped around on the woman’s waist.

Violence isn’t in my vocabulary but I couldn’t accept that he’s cheating with other woman when he already has Hera, so I tapped his shoulder and punched his face real hard to give him what he deserved.

“Damnit!” man lying on the ground. “Who the hell are you?? Are you crazy?!! Why did you punch me on the face?!”

“Young Master Oh??!” Dr. Bo looking at me. “What did my husband do to you?” helping the man on the ground. “He’s my next boss, have you wronged him??” reprimanding her husband.

“No! I didn’t even know him. It’s the first time I see him.” standing up.

“Husband? This scum is your husband Dr. Bo??” getting worked up.

“Yes, we’ve been married for over a year now.” Dr. Bo clinging onto her husband’s arm. “What is this all about, Young Master Oh?”

“He’s a cheater.” pointing at the man. “He’s flirting with the nurse in his clinic, I saw him with my own eyes.”

“Flirting? Me?? Why would I flirt with a pregnant woman???” man denying my accusation.

“Exactly, why would you?! And how dare you make Hera your mistress?!” screaming at him. “I can’t believe that she replaced me with you, you’re not even a match for me!”

“I think we’re having a misunderstanding here.” Dr. Bo interrupted. “My husband isn’t having an affair with Nurse Hera, I can vouch him for that, I don’t know what you’ve seen but probably it’s not what you think it is. I know Nurse Hera is working for my husband at his clinic and as a boss, my husband is taking care of her because she’s pregnant but the father of the child isn’t around to do that role. So, who’s the scum now? I’ll let it slide just this once because I’m working at your hospital but hit my husband again, I’ll call the police.” threatening me.

“Why is he the father of Nurse Hera’s child??” man asking her wife.

“They been engaged before Nurse Hera left the hospital so there’s no doubt that he’s the father.” Dr. Bo glaring at me as she walks away with her husband. “Does it hurt so much?” caressing the man’s face.

“You don’t understand, I saw them kissed.” mumbling as I watch them.

I was so confused that time that I couldn’t even concentrate for the finals as I need to clear the misunderstanding if I got replaced or not.

I went back to Jeonju on Sunday before my exams to check up on Hera by following her from morning in the church where she visited Yuri until she gets home before sunset.

“Instead of stalking Young Miss Hera, why don’t you come and see her in person?” one of Hera’s ladies stand beside me while I’m lurking around at Hera’s house. “She knows that you’re following her but she told us to let you be, she told us that you have a reason why you doing what you’re doing.”

“Is she dating the doctor in the Children’s Clinic??” asking her directly.

“How can she date a married man?? Also, even if you abandoned her, she never blames you. I know that it’s hard to accept the truth about her past, but man, let bygones be bygones. She already suffered enough when she got exiled at a young age and lived by herself with a baby depending on her. She only put her child to the orphanage but never abandoned her as she keeps on providing for her young one.”

“Gaon!” another Hera’s ladies. “Aren’t you talking too much about Young Miss Hera, right now?!” scolding the other one.

“Sorry, you’re on your own now, Young Master Jun.” Gaon walks off.

“Young Master Jun, we’ve been serving Young Miss Hera since she was 11, she had a lot of heart aching moments in her life, if you can’t accept her, then don’t keep her waiting for you to come back.” Dong-a said.

“Give me some more time to sort things out, I’ll think of a way to come back to her and make up for the time we lost.” facing her. “When I do, I’ll never let her go again.” walks off.

I drove off from Jeonju to KU, and slept for the night after confirming that Hera’ still waiting for me and most importantly I’m not replaced by some other man.

A week later, the finals are finally over and its summer break, but I still have one more test to take, a test that will change my entire life.

“Mom, Dad, do you trust me?” having a serious conversation with my parents at the meeting room of JHMC.

“Of course, son.” Dad nodding at me.

“Always.” Mom holding my hand. “What is it that you want to do?”

“I want to adopt a child.” looking at the reactions on their faces.

“Huh?? It’s like you’re asking us that you want a dog, but a child???” Mom glancing at me and Dad with a puzzlement. “Why would you like to adopt a child, when you’re having a child on your own??”

“Is this the child that you told us before? The one you saved from fire??” Dad calmly asked. “The girl that Hera would risk her life for?”

“Yes, Dad. I’m getting back together with Hera so I need a peace offering to make it up with her. You’ll support me with the adoption process, right? Dad, Mom??” exchanging glances with them.

“If that’s what you want son.” Dad smiling at me. “You rarely ask me to give or to do something for you, so I would definitely do it for you.”

“I know you always think thoroughly first before you do something but, is adopting that girl really necessary to be with Hera again??” Mom looking at me worriedly. “Are you sure this is really what you want??”

“I’m sure, Mom.” giving her hand a slight squeeze. “The only way for me to be truly happy is by making Hera happy.”

“Happy wife, happy life, huh?” Dad laughed at me. “You are indeed my son, quite the romantic type of man.”

I had my parents support to adopt Yuri from the orphanage and had the adoption process as well as changing her name to Oh Hebe in just 2 weeks after pulling some strings to rush everything.

Hera probably going to the orphanage to celebrate Hebe’s 7th birthday like she usually does, although I know that she might cry when she found out that Hebe got adopted and the nuns won’t tell her the child’s whereabout, I’m all in to surprise her with my gift.

Hebe hide behind the door while I knock at Hera’s door with a bouquet of purple flowers in my hand.

When Hera opened the door for me, she bursts in tears as she embraces me while telling me that she misses me so much.

“I’m not leaving you ever again, Hera.” hugging her back.

“You promise?” sobbing. “Yuri got adopted, she’s gone, I don’t want to lose you too, I love you Jun, please don’t leave me, I’ll do anything.”

“Anything? You’ll do anything for me, Hera??” pulling away from her.

“Yes.” nodding. “I’ll give and do anything you ask of me.”

“Then 1st I want you to resign from your job at the Children’s Clinic, you still owe me an explanation for hiding that from me, also I saw you two kissed and you even smiled for that doctor after that.” I uttered.

“Done, I already had my last day at the Clinic the day before yesterday.” sniffing. “I’ll explain it all to you in details but I don’t know about the kiss, I never kissed any man since we last kissed each other.”

“But I saw you two last month, you even cooked dinner for him that night, and I was there at the lawn when I saw you two kissed.” I said.

“Last month? Ah, that night! I actually cooked that dinner for you, I was hoping that you’ll come inside to see me but you never did.” looking down. “I recognized your car while your parking across the street, I knew that you were watching me that day and followed me here. I invited him for dinner because his wife won’t be home that evening, you know Dr. Bo of the Inpatient Department in JHMC, right? That’s her wife, so it’s impossible for us to have an affair. Probably what you saw was him blowing the dirt stuck in my eyes when he’s about to leave.”

“I know Dr. Bo, she’s a scary woman. I shouldn’t punch that doctor in the face.” looking away. “I’ll just apologize to him when I see him again.”

“You punched Dr. Bo’s face?” laughed at me. “I thought you never want to use your hands to hurt people, but you punched him?”

“I misunderstood that whole situation and I was so jealous and angry that you replaced me with someone else, we …” sealed my lips with hers.

“Now I kissed another man after I last kissed the nicest man I know.”

“I miss your lips so bad.” pulling her again for another kiss but when I’m about touch her lips with mine someone makes a noise.

“Papa, I’m still here, did you forget about me?” Hebe coming out from her hiding place. “Hello, Nurse Hera.” smiling at Hera.

“Yuri??!” Hera hug Hebe immediately. “I thought I’ll never see you again, I was so sad when Sister Ling told me you got adopted.”

“I’m not Kwon Yuri anymore.” Hebe shaking her head. “Papa gave me a new name, I’m Oh Hebe now.”

“I prefer baby girls as opposed to baby boys.” pointing at Hera’s belly. “I want to give my baby girl a family, are you willing to be my child’s mother?” watching Hera’s reaction.

“You don’t have to asked for an obvious answer.” Hera hugging me tight. “Thank you, Jun, thank you for doing this for me.”

“I told you too manty times before I won’t get tired of telling this to you over and over again.” holding onto her shoulders as I look straight to her eyes. “I’ll do anything to make you happy, because I love you.”

“I love you too.” pulling me closer to her as we share a passionate kiss.

We celebrated that day as we catch up with what happened while we’re being apart from each other for almost 6 months.

5 days later, we returned to Seoul, not only to celebrate her 25th birthday that Monday but also to discuss our wedding with our family.

Our civil wedding and the birth of our son, all happened in an instant.

-The End of HER-