030: ETERNITY OF APOLOGY

"I'm finally ending all this drama, but why do I feel like the drama isn't going to end at all and instead start a new one. . ." 

- Ha Eun-bi pov

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

030: ETERNITY OF APOLOGY

Su-ryeon pov:

Ever since Eun-bi got stabbed, things escalated so fast. Logan ordered his men to look for Eun-bi everywhere. The children became more anxious, and Cheon Seo-jin almost went to prison.

"Will they really come?"

I stood up and started to pace back and forth, unable to keep myself still or calm.

"Eun-bi said they will. . ."

"If we manage to convince them to confess, we can finally end everything."

'Seol-ah. . . we can finally get your justice.'

I clasp my hands, anxiously waiting for their arrival.

DING. DONG.

We turned to the door waiting for it to open.

Eun-bi came with her parents' side by side.

She smiled and nodded to us.

"Hi. . ."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine."

My eyes turned to Seo-jin.

She stood beside her daughter. Her usual proud and arrogant look is nowhere to be found. Instead, a more serene expression is pasted on her face.

'I never thought that Cheon Seo-jin is capable of looking like that?'

"Eomma, aunt su-ryeon?"

"What did you come here for?"

Yoon-chul held his wife's hand tight as they left their seats and kneeled in front of me.

I watched Seo-jin as she bowed.

"I'm sorry, Shim Su-ryeon."

I heard her voice shaking. Both she and her husband kept bowing as they both apologized.

I turned to the other side and held my breath and my tears.

"I know that our apology will not turn your daughter back to life, but we . . . . really are sorry. . ."

I closed my eyes, avoiding eye contact with them.

Logan held my hand, looking at me with a soft smile.

"You're right. Your apology doesn't mean anything."

"You preyed on my daughter!"

"You harassed her!"

"You violated her!!"

"You . . . . . ."

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!!"

I turned to her and locked my eyes with her.

"Prove it!"

"Prove your apology!!"

"Confess!!"

She bowed again, crying.

"I can't. . . ."

I scoffed at her answer.

"You say you're sorry, but you won't confess!"

"I cannot leave Cheong-ah group. Not with Joo Dan-tae inside the company. If the group falls into his hand, then everything my father had worked for will crumble like dust."

She took my hands and looked at me with eyes I'd never seen from her before.

It was . . . . soft and breakable.

"I really am sorry! I will do everything you want! If you want me to donate to orphanages for the rest of my life, I will! I will if you want me to kneel in front of you forever! I will do anything you want!"

"Please! Please spare me. Spare us!"

"Please, Su-ryeon!! Please!!"

I unclasped her hands and turned away.

"Is your family the only important people here! You destroyed my daughter's life, but . . you think your family is the only thing important?!"

I turned to Eun-bi, who only had her eyes closed.

Her eyes are tightly shut while tears roll from her eyes.

"Eomma. . . ."

"Confess. I will take care of the rest."

We all turned to Eun-bi, who opened her eyes and looked at her parents.

"I will make sure that Cheong-ah doesn't fall in his hands."

"Eun-bi ahh. . ."

She left her seat and leveled herself to her parents, kneeling down and facing them with a smile.

"Leave the rest to me, mom! I will protect our family! I promise!!"

I watched as the child looked at her parents, smiling at them. This child has done a lot of things for us, she kneeled, and she helped us.

I turned to the side, unable to look at what I had done to her.

We forced this child to take responsibility for things she's not involved in. We forced her to grow fast because of our lacking.

'Seol-ah. . . I'm sorry. . . I can't keep my promise to you after all. . .'

I close my eyes, crying at how weak I am.

"Stop!!"

They all turned to me.

I looked at them.

"I'll forgive you!"

"Su-ryeon shii. . ."

They all looked at me.

"Auntie. . . There's no need for that! We can end all of this!"

"My daughter won't live again even if they confess, and I can't let you take responsibility after everything you've done for us!"

"Auntie! I . . ."

I left my seat and held her hands.

"Eun-bi ahh. . ."

I hugged her tight.

"If my daughter was here, she would surely decide it like that!"

"My daughter will never want you to be the one taking all the weight of our crimes!"

"Auntie. . . ."

"So. . . . ." I breathed deeply, swallowing all the tears and pain I was holding back.

"We'll find another way to get justice, I'm sure of that!" I smiled at her.

She held my cheeks and closed her eyes.

'Seol-ah. . . . I'm sorry! I'm sorry that you have to be a child of a very weak mother. . .'

I turned to Seo-jin, weeping with her hands on her mouth.

Yoon-chul looked down, fisting his hands.

When I turned to Logan, he smiled at me.

. . .

Yoon-chul pov:

We went to Min Seol-ah's grave after meeting them.

Logan and Su-ryeon accompanied us as we walked closer to Min Seol-ah.

Thinking now, she would have been great friends with my daughters if she had been alive.

'If I made a different decision then. . . . would all this have been avoided?'

Seo-jin kneeled in front of her grave.

My wife has changed a lot these days.

'Has she always been like this?'

'Was it me who didn't recognize this side of her?'

'Was it me all along that destroyed our relationship?'

I kneeled with her.

We both apologized to her.

'Min seol-ah. . . even if you don't forgive us now, I promise you, we will never stop apologizing even if you never forgive us at all.'

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

I silently watch Logan look at the night lights from outside the windows.

"Hey!"

"You look tired."

"Perhaps."

"Are you angry that you weren't able to punish us?"

"I . . . . am more relieved, actually."

I sat down next to him.

"I really want to finish everything and go, but . . . I also didn't want to finish it."

I playfully smirk at him.

"Confess already."

Logan turned to me, smirked, and chuckled at my words.

"Now is not the time for me to charge ahead with my feelings. She's burdened enough already. . ."

"Are you being considerate, or are you being a doormat?"

He smirked at me before asking me, "how about you? When will you tell your boyfriend that your name is not Eun-byeol?"

I smirk at him, "You think we're alike? He already knows!"

His brows raised upwards, looking mischievously at me.

"Well done. . ."

I clicked my tongue at his teasing smile and sighed, "He noticed. He is the one who confessed about knowing."

"Ohh!! He's quite perceptive."

"It actually scares me that he is. . ."

"What if he finds out that his father is capable of more than beating his own children? Will he be fine after all that. . . . Will Seok-kyung be fine?"

. . . 

Seok-hoon pov:

I walk through the hall with Seok-kyung while messaging Eun-bi. She's been disappearing all the time.

I know she's busy, but I hoped she'd share her worries with me.

"Eun-byeol ahh. . ."

I raised my eyes from my phone and saw her with a group of men behind her.

She walked with a decisive look in her red blazer and pants. She looked ahead without looking elsewhere, fierce and bold.

We walked toward her as she stopped walking. The men passed by us.

"What's going on?"

"Don't go to school. Leave this place as well."

She handed a key to us.

"I'm staying at the Emperor Hotel right now. Stay there. I'll explain everything when I get back."

"Go!"

"Eun-byeol!"

"Kyung-ah. . . . do you trust me?"

"I do. . . I do. . . but. . ."

She turned to me and smiled at me, asking me for my cooperation. I turned to Seok-kyung and took her bag.

"Let's go, Seok-kyung. . ." I then turned to Eun-bi, "You'll be safe, right?"

She nodded with a slight smile.

"What's going on?"

"Let's go! Let's trust her and go!"

I pass her by as she continues to walk forward.

"Oppa!!"

"Trust me, and let's go!"

. . . 

Min-hyuk pov:

A group of men entered our home, showing an arrest warrant to her. They recited the Miranda rights before putting a cuff on my mother.

"What's going on!? Why are you taking my mom!!"

"Eomma!! Eomma!!"

"Son! Son!!!"

"Mom!!"

I followed them and saw Jenny's mom being dragged away as well.

From afar, I saw Eun-bi. My eyes locked with hers.

'What's going on?'

She looked at me pitifully before mouthing the words, 'Sorry.'

'What are you sorry for?'

I walked toward her, "Did you do this?" I glared at her.

"I warned you before, Lee Min-hyuk."

"YAH!!!"

"I gave you all the time in the world. You chose to ignore all my pleas!"

"What did you do?" I gripped her arm tighter as she kept quiet.

"The right thing."

"YAH!!!" Jenny charged at me and pushed me.

"Did you do this?"

"I'm staying at the Emperor hotel. Floor 45, room 55. . . Seok-hoon and Seok-kyung are already there. Stay there and wait for me. I will explain everything when I get back. . . I need to finish this. . ."

"YAH!!! How dare you act like the good guy!! You are just like us. . ." Jenny glared at her, pointing at her and pushing her with her finger.

I grabbed Jenny's hand and pulled it away from Eun-bi.

"You better explain everything to me, or else I will be your new enemy. ."

"Let's go, Jenny. . . ."

Min-hyuk took Jenny by the hand and dragged her away.

"Min-hyuk ahh. . . ."

"Let's go!"

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

I continued toward my path.

The next person to be seen being dragged is Oh Yoon hee. I faced her with a raised brow.

I walk toward her as she screams and tries to leave the men's hands.

"Are you that scared?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"I really do hope that you didn't!"

The police dragged her away as I came face to face with a crying Rona.

"What did you do to my mother!!"

"Nothing she doesn't deserve! See you at court, Bae Rona!"

I passed by her but she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to her.

"I'm not done talking to you!"

I pulled her hand away, pushing her to the floor. I looked down at her, glaring at her.

"I AM!"

. . . 

Seok-hoon pov:

"Seo-jun. . ."

"You guys are here too!"

"What's happening?" Seok-kyung asked Seo-jun, who held her and patted her head.

"Nothing that will harm you, I promise."

He led my sister to the sofa. I took the remote and turned the television on.

"Joo Dan-tae of JKING Holdings got arrested for stock manipulation and money laundering, along with his business partners, Ha Yoon-chul, Bong Tae-gyu, and Ko Sang-a."

"Dad!"

My sister stood up as we watched the news of our parents getting arrested.

"Is this the reason why Eun-byeol told us to leave?"

I frowned as we continued to watch the news.

The doorbell rang. Seo-jun ran to the door and opened it.

Min-hyuk came with Jenny, who was crying and distraught by the events.

We all sat on the sofa, watching the news while waiting for Eun-bi.

"Where is she!!" Jenny screeched as she cried.

Seok-kyung left her seat and started pacing. She would look at the door every now and then.

"Breaking news! Oh Yoon-hee, secretary of JKing Holdings CEO, is arrested for the attempted murder of the daughter of Cheong-ah group's current chairwoman, Cheon Seo-jin, and granddaughter of the late chairman of Cheong-ah group, Cheon Myung-soo. Director Kang Ok-gyo of Cheong-ah group admitted threatening Oh Yoon-hee to take the recorder in Cheon Myung-soo's mansion, which held a recorded file of the entire event the night the chairman died."

"Miss Ha Eu-byeol, who was said to have received three stabs to her stomach, all fatal to her life, has now successfully regained her health. With her testimony to that night and the recorded file that proves Kang Ok-gyo is the murderer of Cheon Myung-soo. Kang Ok-gyo also revealed that Oh Yoon-hee has been blackmailing her for money in exchange for keeping her secret. This is Kim Yu-Yeon from SBC news!"

I stood up, fisting my hands into a ball tightly.

That night I saw her outside the ICU fighting for her life.

That night, everything was because of her!

"DAMN IT!!!"

Seok-kyung broke down crying. Seo-jun came to her fast and comforted her.

"It must have been so hurt. . . She must be in so much pain. . . ."

"I'm fine. . ."

We all turned by the door. We didn't even notice her entering. I ran to her and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"I'm fine!"

Seok-kyung came toward us, sobbing.

Eun-bi left my embrace and gave her embrace instead.

"Shh! Shh!! Don't cry. . . don't cry. . . . I'm fine. . ."

"You didn't even tell us anything! You've been doing everything on your own!!"

"Aren't we friends!"

"Why won't you let us help!!"

. . . 

Eun-bi pov:

"What exactly is going on? Why are our parents being dragged to the station like criminals?"

Jenny glared at me, accusing me with her look.

"YOO JENNY!!"

Seok-kyung shouted her name, glaring at her when Jenny turned to her.

"Because of us."

"What!!? Are you even blaming us now?"

"Min Seol-ah. . . ."

All of them quietened the moment I mentioned her name.

"There's no evidence of our parents doing it, but I think we're past the point where we can play dumb that our parents are all involved in her death."

"YAH!!! Not my mom! If you want to blame someone, then it definitely is your parents. . . ."

"SHUT UP!!"

"Joo Seok-kyung! You're being fooled now! She sent all our parents to jail, and you don't even care?"

"I said shut up!!"

"Confess."

They all turned to me when I said that.

"We're all guilty. That's a fact."

"That night, we locked Seol-ah to the bus, mocking her and bullying her and leaving her surrounded by fire. . . . don't you feel guilty about that?"

Their eyes wavered.

"Let's all stop. Our parents covered our own crimes. They threw themselves in the pit of fire to protect us from it. . ."

"Let's stop using our parents to pay for the crimes that we did ourselves."

"Hmmm. . . ." I turned to Seok-kyung, whose eyes were fixated on the floor.

"But our futures, our college?"

"Kyung ahh. . . . our future will not shatter by doing the right thing, and even if it did, we could always build a new one. . . a new dream, a new future, and a new life." I stood up.

"I'm going there first. I'll wait for all of you. Let's end all of this and face the new future."

I smiled at all of them.

Seok-hoon and Seok-kyung held each other's hands as Jenny stared at the floor.

"If we do this, will you let our parents go?"

They all turned to me at Jenny's question.

"I don't think that's possible even if it's me, but at the very least, if you confess now, they won't lie again for your sake."

"We can't keep living running away from what we did. We'll eventually get tired from running, and in the end, that night will catch up to us. Let's just face it together instead of running away."

I took my pouch and left them to think.

I saw Seo-jun learning outside the hotel room with a serious face.

"You should go now. The entire penthouse is empty, so now is your best chance to find the answer you're looking for." I handed a master key I got from Hera palace earlier on.

He nodded as he took the key and ran to the elevator. I wonder if I should tell the twins, or at least Seok-kyung, that her father might be involved with Seo-jun's parents' death. . .

'If I tell her that, will they still get their happily ever after?'

I breathed deeply, sucking in all the air and releasing all the stress inside me as I breathed out.

"Let's focus on the problem at hand."

. . .

Seok-kyung pov:

"Are you ready?"

I looked at Seok-hoon, scared.

I wanted to take courage and confess.

I really do.

I want to proudly walk with her.

"Yes." I nodded.

We all looked at each other and bravely stepped foot inside the station.

Eun-byeol leans on the wall inside. Our eyes met, and she smiled.

'Yes! You can do this! Joo Seok-kyung. . .!'

We walked toward her.

"I'm already done giving my statement. I'll wait for all of you from here."

"I'll be quick."

. . . 

Su-ryeon pov:

I got a call from the police station about my children confessing to bullying Min Seol-ah.

I ran as fast as I could to the station with Logan. Seo-jin arrives in time. She was huffing, and we both entered the station searching for our children.

We found Eun-byeol seated outside, with her head bowed and her hands supporting it.

"Eun-byeol. . . ."

Seo-jin ran toward her daughter as she checked Eun-bi.

"What are you doing?"

"The right thing."

I nodded to Eun-bi and entered. I saw my children in front of the detective. I put my hands on my mouth as I watched my children confess what they did that night.

"Seok-hoon ah. . . . Seok-kyung ahh. . . ."

I called my children softly.

Seok-hoon gazes at me with a sad smile. While Seok-kyung averted her eyes immediately and focused on the detective.

"Are you the guardian of Joo Seok-kyung and Joo Seok-hoon?"

"I am the guardian of all the kids here."

"Ahh, yes. Anyway, they all finished giving their statements. We'll be reviewing them and then get back to you."

"Can I take them home now?"

The detective nodded as I held both my children's hands.

"Seok-hoon ahh, Seok-kyung ahh, let's go home."

They both nodded, and Seok-kyung cried as she sniffed.

I held both their cheeks and cried as well.

"My children are so brave! I'm very proud of you! My babies."

"Eomma! Eomma!! Eomma!!"

"I'm sorry, mom! I'm really, really sorry!"

Seok-kyung leaned for a hug as I hugged her back, caressing her long hair.

"My lovely babies. . . ."

. . . 

Seok-hoon pov:

It was already expected that the entire school would know what happened to Min Seol-ah.

We were already prepared for it.

The students whispered as they looked at us as if we're animals in a zoo.

The hostility and the mocking gaze are things that we are very well acquainted with.

I held my sister's left hand while Seo-jun held her right. Eun-bi held my right hand while Jenny clung to Min-hyuk.

"Ohh! The murderers finally showed themselves."

I shot glares at Ahn Eun-Ho.

He smirked at me and faced me with his goons. He towered at us, looking down on us by raising his chin.

He has always looked for ways to find fault, especially with me.

"Get out."

I growled at him. Eun-bi tightened her grip on me, calming me down.

"Why? What would you do if I didn't? Will you kill me too?"

He scoffed at us.

"Don't you think this is too childish for your age?"

He turned to Eun-bi and looked down on her.

He put his hands on her chin and made her look at him.

I tighten my gripping hands, trying to calm my rage from watching him touch my girl.

"Hahaha!"

"At least we're not murderers."

"I guess being murderers makes you more shameless. You actually get the balls to go to school."

I stepped forward, slapping his hand away.

"Get your filthy hands off my girl. . ."

"Ahh! Right! You're dating each other. . . I guess people who are alike really do end up with each other. . ."

HA HA HA.

The students laughed with him as I forced myself to stop from actually punching him.

"But really. . . this is too shameless. . ." Song Ye-ri stepped forward with her hands crossed.

"Murderers going to school. . . . you put shame on Cheong-ah arts!"

"Or is it because you think you own the school. . ."

Eun-bi stepped forward to her and smirked at her.

"I don't think I own the school. . . . ."

She walked closer until her face was only inches away from Ye-ri.

"I. DO. OWN. THE. SCHOOL!"

Eun-bi pushed forward, giving us a way to leave the bunch of students who were surrounding us.

"BITCH!"

"How dare a murderer like you talk back at me!!" She pulled Eun-bi's hair.

"YAH!!"

"How dare you touch her!!"

Seok-kyung left my side, took Ye-ri's hand, and pushed her away.

"Don't you dare touch my friend!!"

"YAH!!!"

The moment Yu-ri attacked my sister, I punched Eun-ho in the face. Min-hyuk faced Eun-ho's friend while Jenny attacked Yu-ri's friends.

The students were divided into three, us, our attackers, and bystanders.

"HA EUN BYEOL!!!"

We all stopped as someone shouted Eun-byeol's name.

Eun-bi faced the voice, pushing Yu-ri away.

Rona charged forward with an angry face.

"How dare you accuse my mother of such ridiculous slander!"

. . .

Seok-kyung pov:

"Ha!"

"Slander!!"

"This bitch!!"

I walked toward Rona and pushed her away from Eun-byeol.

"What exactly is slander! Your mother is a murderer!"

"And what are you!!! How dare you point at me!!! You're the real murderer!!"

Slap.

Slap.

I slapped her twice on both cheeks.

"You think I'll let you step on me!! You are a bitch born from a murderous bitch!!"

"Yah!!! JOO SEOK-KYUNG!!"

I pulled Rona's hair as she pulled mine.

"Yah!!!"

Our brawl began as the other girls joined.

I saw Eun-byeol facing Yu-ri, pulling her away from me, while Jenny faced two girls alone.

"STOP!!!!!!!"

We all stopped at the loud voice.

We all turned around and saw Mrs. Cheon with a man I'd never met before.

"ALL OF YOU, TO MY OFFICE, NOW!!!"

. . .

Logan pov:

I arrived with Seo-jin to settle things about my sister.

We're supposed to have a conference, admitting all the anomalies that happened here regarding my sister, Seol-ah. Still, when we arrived, we heard loud noises from the hall and saw students brawling.

'This school really doesn't have a peaceful day. . . .'

When we arrived, Rona and Seok-kyung beat each other on the floor. Seok-hoon was above someone on the floor, punching someone to death.

Min-hyuk and Jenny are brawling with some students, and Eun-bi and some girl are ferociously pulling each other's hair.

I chuckled at the sight.

Seo-jin looked shocked at the scenario.

And now they're all glaring at each other in the office.

"Look straight at me! Now!"

Seo-jin sighed deeply and looked really pissed at the kids right now.

"Joo Seok-kyung, Bae Rona, Ha Eun-byeol, as I remember the three of you were involved in a fight last time too! You just got out from being punished, yet you're looking for a fight again!"

'Second fight?'

I looked at Rona and saw her unrepentant face.

"Punished? I was the only one who got punished that time, Mrs. Cheon!"

The students' mouths went agape at her words.

She glared at Cheon Seo-jin.

"Look at this bitch!! You definitely need more beating!"

Seok-kyung was about to attack when Eun-bi stopped her.

'How will you deal with this, Cheon Seo-jin?'

She had her eyes closed, but she was definitely mad.

"I don't think any of you are interested in repenting for what you did, so all of you can leave. I will be posting your punishment very soon!"

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

All of us waited by the announcement board. While waiting, other students whispered, pretending we didn't see them mocking us.

Jenny and Min-hyuk glared at Yu-ri and Eun-hoo while Seok-kyung glared at Rona.

When the professor arrived, Seok-hoon and Seo-jun stood up, helping us. We all waited for the professor to finish posting the announcement.

'The students as follow will receive 2 weeks of community service: Yoo Jenny, Lee Min-hyuk, Song Ye-ri, Heo Yung-jung, Noh Ji-a, Ahn Eun-hoo, Uhm Jang-dae.'

'Students: Ha Eun-byeol, Joo Seok-hoon, and Joo Seok-kyung will be suspended for two weeks.'

'Student Bae Rona, due to her unrepenting behavior and her violent personality as well as multiple major violations, is now EXPELLED from Cheong-ah high foundation.'

The students turned their eyes to Ba Rona, who was now shaking in anger.

I look at her along with other students.

'It was as expected.'

Honestly, being expelled is more of a gift than a punishment to her. She will not survive Cheong-ah high as a murderer's child attached to her name.

Especially when she has no backing or anything of the sort.

"Finally! The school is finally doing a proper job at handling the students!"

Rona turned to Kyung-ah, and both engaged in a glaring battle.

"I will make sure you pay all these back! I promise you that!"

Seok-kyung smirked.

"Give it your best! I will never run away from you! Bae Rona!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED