Chapter 13: Five Years

5 Years Later

HyeRim POV

“Sangil Chookahabnida!”

Chanyeol and I said in unison.

“Sangil Chookahabnida, YoungJoo-yah.”

 Chanyeol said as he smiled and gave him his gift.

“Kamsahabnida, kamsahabnida.”

YoungJoo said as we both gave him his presents. YoungJoo was turning 10 years old today and we lived here for 5 years already…. It was all nice and happy, but throughout the 5 years I haven’t heard a single word from Kai…… Was he okay? Is he alive? Is he doing well? What did my uncle do to him? I always thought of these questions when I thought of Kai….. The memories of Kai flowed throughout my mind as I thought of him. When we made love. When I cooked for him. When we cuddled. When we kissed. Everything….

“Noona….. Noona… Noona!"

YoungJoo shouted.

“Eh? Ne?"

I said as I was snapped out of my thoughts. 

“Noona…. It’s my birthday today and you’re spacing out.”

YoungJoo said as he pouted.

“Jeosomida.”

I said as I smiled at him.

After eating the cake, we all decided to go out to the park and have a picnic for YoungJoo’s birthday.

YoungJoo played around in the grass with his soccer ball along with Chanyeol, while I just watched. I took pictures of this moment. Chanyeol and YoungJoo playing with the soccer ball while the lake glistened behind them with the sun setting into the lake. It was just so perfect, but it would be even more perfect if Kai were with us. When I watched Chanyeol and YoungJoo playing together, it was like they were father and son playing together… After playing together, Chanyeol and YoungJoo sat on the picnic blanket and we all just watched the sun slowly setting in the distance.

YoungJoo suddenly got up and said,

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

He said.

“Arraseo.”

I replied to him.

Now, it was just Chanyeol and I sitting there together. 

“It’s been five years, huh?”

He said.

“Ne….. Five years since YoungJoo and I escaped.”

I replied.

“Do you still think of him?”

Chanyeol asked.

“Ne…. I do.”

I replied.

“HyeRim… If you keep thinking of him, it’ll just cause you more sadness. I know we haven’t heard from Kai for years, but you have to think of what he did to protect you… To protect your brother too.”

Chanyeol said as he looked at me.

“I know… But I can’t help but think of the memories we had together.”

I said in a sad voice. Chanyeol knew that he couldn’t comfort me at all after these five years, so he just let me sit there and ponder in my thoughts.

“Noona! I’m tired.”

YoungJoo announced as he got back from the bathroom.

“Jinjja? Arraseo, let’s go home.”

I said.

As we got home, I put YoungJoo to bed and Chanyeol and I stayed up a little bit longer.

“Is he asleep?”

Chanyeol asked.

“Ne…. He’s sleeping.”

I whispered as I closed the door to his room. As soon as I closed the door, Chanyeol suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Ch-Chanyeol?”

I whispered.

“Come with me…. I need to speak to you in your room.”

He said as he led me to the farthest bedroom from YoungJoo’s. As we entered my room, Chanyeol let go of my hand and closed the door. Chanyeol turned around and looked me straight in the eye.

“Chanyeol? What did you want to talk to me about?”

I asked. Chanyeol didn’t say a word, till he began walking towards me. Chanyeol caressed my face and suddenly kissed me. My eyes widened and I was shocked. I wasn’t really sure what was happening at the moment, so I stood there silent and frozen. As Chanyeol departed from the kiss, he said,

“HyeRim…. Please…. Don’t be so sad anymore. Seeing you swim in sadness these past five years hurts my heart. Please….”

He said as he continued to caress my face.

“Ch-Chanyeol… What do you mean?”

I asked.

“*sigh * Why can’t you understand that I love you?”

Chanyeol said. My eyes widened.

“M-Mwoh?”

 Meanwhile in Seoul…

Narrator POV

“Even though I couldn’t get where HyeRim’s whereabouts are from you…. It’s good that you decided to finally obey me.”

YoungMin said. Kai stood there silent under the dim light of the hanging lightbulb.  Under his eye was a scar that looked as if he had that scar there for years. He was completely healed, but there were scars left of what had happened during the five years. Kai just stood under the light with his hands clasped together in front of him. His just stood there unmoved, and apathetic.

“Kai….. I decided to promise you something.”

YoungMin announced. Kai still stood there as if he was frozen. YoungMin pouted a bit, but continued,

“I decided to promise you that if you bring HyeRim back, then I promise, pinky promise that I will no longer hurt YoungJoo, HyeRim, and even Chanyeol.”

He said. Kai’s eyes suddenly darted as he said that as if life had been pushed into him when he heard the words ‘HyeRim’ and ‘YoungJoo’.

“Aha! I got you to move your eyes! I see…. So, are willing to tell me where she is?”

YoungMin asked. Kai still stood there unwavered, he knew that if he was to give in, then HyeRim was, of course, going to be hurt. YounMin suddenly smacked his lips and gritted his teeth.

“I guess you aren’t completely loyal yet…”

YoungMin said. A snap suddenly came from his direction. Kai suddenly looked around warily and finally began moving his body. From all places around him under the light bulb, men in black were surrounding him. The men held bats and a variety of other weapons, one held a chair and duct tape. Kai knew at this moment that he was going to go through all of that torture once more. As seconds passed, the guards suddenly all attacked him all at once. From afar, it looked as if a wave of black water suddenly crashed into Kai, pushing him deeper and deeper into the crowd. It was as if Kai was drowning in the huge crowd of people. Out of his last breath before being devoured into the crowd, Kai screamed at the top of his lungs,“I’LL NEVER TELL YOU WHERE HYERIM IS! EVEN IF IT EVER COSTS ME MY LIFE!”