Chapter 13

7 YEARS LATER

SEOUL, KOREA

5:00 AM

He instantly woke up from the sound of his alarm clock. He sat down and rub his eyes before he went down from his bed and walked out of his room while he yawn sleepily.

He slowly walks down their huge glass staircase and goes straight to his way to the kitchen.

"Good morning Song Rin nim." He halted when he heard their old nanny who was preparing something for breakfast.

"Good morning nana." He greeted her as he scratched the back of his hair walking to the fridge.

"What do you like for me to cook for you?" She asked for Song Rin while he got a glass of water and drank it in one go then he looked at her and smiled.

"Anything you cook is everything I like nana."

"You always flutter me Song Rin nim. Then roasted beef is okay with you?" she asks raising her brows while looking at him.

He nodded and put another water in his glass and drank once again.

"Good morning Seo hyung-nim?" He stopped drinking when he heard his nana and looked at the kitchen entrance. There, is his mother looks so intimidating early in the morning. Will that's always the way she looks and his not even surprised or maybe sometimes.

"Morning Jean." She replied to her without even smiling.

"Good morning eomma (mother)." He greeted her, and that's when she realized he was in the kitchen too.

Then she instantly smiled so brightly.

"Ohh good morning my adeul (son)" as she instantly walked towards him and hugged him for about ten seconds.

That's the different. When she was with others, she would look intimidating and the most scary and not to look down upon, but when she's with him, her smile would always be bright and full of love.

"Did you have good night sleep?" She ask as she was still holding his waist. He nodded with a smile..

"That's good, guess you're not having a nightmare anymore." She said and he stop for a second before he shake his head and say no.

He knows he can't make her worry every time with just unnecessary things. She's been a good mother to him since. And although she would be strict at times, but he knows it's for the best of him.

She lets go of him and walk to the coffee maker and started to brew her own coffee.

"Do you want coffee my adeul?" She ask

"No, I better not drink eomma." He replied. She look at him and smile.

"It's still your hyperacidity." She said

"Hmm" I nodded.

"Let me excuse myself first. I need to take a shower so I can go open my shop early now eomma." He said as he needs to open his pastry shop early in the morning. Then he decided to walk out but he stops when she talks again.

"Why not sell you pastry shop and work for the company. You should help me run the company that'll be yours in the future." She said in serious voice.

"Hyung is there to work and help you eomma. You don't need me there." He replied.

"How do you even know that I don't need you there." She said as he sadly look at him.

"Eomma, you know I hate paper works." He said that makes her pause and sigh. She knows but still she is really hoping she could somehow change his mind.

He is her heir in this company so somehow she still hope he could run her company someday.

"I know. But adeul why don't you please reconsider on thinking about it." She tried to persuade him again.

"With how great you are on flourishing your business with just three years time. You could easily catch up on our business to."

"Mom, clothing business and pastry business are two different things."he replied trying to make his point.

"That's still business my aduel." She said. Song Rin sight deeply. He can't really make a point with her when it comes to her business and company.

"You're forgetting something here. I'm still not fine eomma." That make her stop and look guilty.

"I'll come down when breakfast is ready." He said trying to change the topic and went back to his room. He doesn't want to look at her guilty face again, cuz it makes him want to really think of reconsidering her ideas.

When he gets back to his room he instantly walk to his shower room takes a bath and after he finishes, he walk to his wardrobe and goes inside and changes his clothes. Just when he finishes, his nana knock on the door and informed him that the breakfast is now ready.

He walks out again from his room and goes back down to their dining hall and saw his mom and his brother who were sitting on their chair, waiting for him.

"Good morning hyung (older brother)." he greeted and sat beside him.

"Good morning dongseang." As he smile. His hyung James who's on his black turtle neck shirt and was tucked and paired with a black pants as he accessories it with a silver necklace as his hair were styled.

"You look soo Lhor mak." He compliment him in Thai, as his hyung giggle and smiled so brightly with his compliment.

"Thank you for the compliment dongseang. You look handsome yourself too" and he ruffled his hair.

"Thanks hyung." He smiled at him

"Let's eat now." their mother interrupted and the three of them all started to eat.

"James, I want you to prepare the reports at 10 as our investors are coming at 11." Their mother talks in a serious voice.

"Yes eomma." He said and eat again.

"I trust that it would turn out perfect. Do you understand." She said again looking at James.

"I understand eomma." James nodded this time he stop eating only half of his plate are finished.

He drink his water and slowly stand.

"Are you already finished hyung?" Song Rin ask James looking up to him confused as he look back at his plate.

"I'm already full dongseang. I'll just get the papers I needed and wait for you at the car" James said to him and smiled as he patted his shoulder. A smile never reaches his eyes.

"I'll excuse myself first eomma." He said as their mother only said okay, continuing to eat as he walked out of the dining hall.

"But hyung you only eat a little." Rin tried to talk but his brother was out of sight.

"Let him be adeul. Your brother has a weak stomach he can't eat as many as what you eat. That is why he has a frail body." His mother said.

Song Rin sigh as slowly lost interest on the delicious food in front of him but he tried to finish what on his plate.

He felt sorry for his brother. Their mother would always pressure him at work and he doesn't like it at all, maybe that's why he never really thought of taking over the company as what their mother wanted.

He thinks his brother was worth to be the one taking over that company and not him. James needs to be there and not him. That is why he is so adamant about their mothers decision and wanting him to be the heir when in fact James was the older one and the one who was supposed to be next in line.

Why is he the one his mother wanted to take over that company. He don't know. She would just say that she is the owner so she has the right to choose who she wanted to pass on the company.

After they finished eating, he said goodbye to her and walked out first as he should open his shop early and his hyung James is already waiting for him to drive him to his shop.

He went back to his room and got his jacket, his bag and his wallet. He goes down and said goodbye to his mother and kiss her cheeks before he went out to the garage where his brother's car was parked.

His hyung would always be the one who would drive him to his shop every morning.

He knocked on the window first before he went inside his brother's car. He saw his brother putting back the papers to his briefcase and put at the back seat.

"Are we going straight to your shop or you want to go somewhere?." James started to ask and look at him.

"Let's just go directly to the shop. I'll prepare something for you to eat." He said as he put on his seatbelt.

"But dongseang I'm not hungry you don't have to prepare something for me." James trying to decline.

"No buts, hyung. You almost didn't touch your food at dinner." He said

"You know I have a weak stomach dongseang I can't eat many." He again try to make reasons.

"I know. I'll just prepare toasted bread and coffee for you."

"Bu-" James try to decline again but he stop him.

"No buts hyung. Let's go." He said being firm to what he said. James sighs and decides to drive out of the garage and goes to his brother's shop.

After a fifteen minutes of drive they arrive at Rin's pastry shop.

He went out of the car and rummaged his bag. He got his keys and immediately open his shop.

He went inside as his hyung follow him.

"Sit to where you're comfortable of hyung." As James follow and sat on one of the table at the dinning.

"You know you don't have to do this." James said as he look at Song Rin who puts down hid bag on the counter top.

"I insist on doing this." as he walk to his kitchen and open the lights. He turn on his coffee maker and got a bread out of the pantry cabinet.

He started to make a buttered toast and coffee. After a minute he finished everything. He got a take out box and a plastic coffee cup and place everything on it.

When he finished he walk back to his hyung who was on his phone. When he saw him he put his phone back to his pocket and stand.

"Eat that immediately first thing when you arrive at your office." He said handing James the food.

"Yes dongseang."as he take the food out of his hand.

"I'll call after.." he look at his watch before he continue. "after 30 minutes and see if you eat it. Don't throw it." he warned him making his brother laugh.

"You're so funny. Of course I'll eat this, you prepare it for me. I could never throw your food dongseang. Don't worry I'll eat it after I arrive." He said before he ruffle his hair and smile.

"I'll be going now. Call me when you're finished here so I can take you home after your work here. Bye dongseang." As he said goodbye. Song Rin nodded before James walked out of the shop.

When Song Rin saw his brother drive off the place he began to walk back to the counter to do what he was supposed to do everytime he opens his shop. He prepared everything that's to be sell on the day. After thirty minutes the two of his employees came and help him clean and prepare. He didn't forget to call his brother and make sure he really eat and after the call he continue on preparing for opening his shop.

7 am when they officially open the shop. Then just a minute customers started to come in and out buying take out while others are dining in.

++

"Good morning my pretty Rin ." Yim greeted Song Rin as he came inside Rin's pastry shop.

He raised his head as he was on the counter tending his, if he's not mistaken the twentieth costumers in the morning.

"Good morning Yimeron" Rin greeted back as he thank his last customer and handed his take out order.

Yim came after the last customer and face Rin on the counter.

"What do you want for your breakfast today Yim?" Rin ask as he raise his brows ready to listen to his friends order.

"Okay " Yim look down on all the cakes displayed in front of him while his hand was on his chin rubbing it like his struggling to choose what he wans to have.

"Ohh come on Yim. All you want is strawberry cake so stop the act like you want to have something in there." Rin says pouting at Yim.

Like

"Then why did you even ask what I wanted?"

Yim rolled his eyes in exaggeration and look back at Rin.

"That's normal to say to your customer." Rin playfully respond as Yim laugh, and he take the strawberry cake out of the glass cake cabinet and put it in a plate.

"And your drink?" Rin ask but before Yim could say it Rin say it for him. "Caramel macchiato." He said and Yim laugh.

"That's my best friend there." Yim said as he pointed jokingly at Rin as he giggle with Yim.

"You really know what I like. That's why I love you." As he grin at Rin.

"Okay I love you to. Here is your strawberry cake and your macchiato." As he give Yim his order.

"Join me to eat Song Rin-ya." Yim pleaded with him to join him. Rin grin at him as he knows he only wants that to tell him some gossip about his work.

"Ohh come on. Don't look at me like a word 'GOSSIP' was written on my forehead." Yim said squinting on Rim.

"Will obviously that's what I always see." Song Rin said grinning at him.

"When did you get tired of listening to my stories huh?" Yim pouted and sulked at him.

"You are my friend but sometimes you're not." Yim continued to sulk not moving from where he was standing.

When the door opens and another customer came in Song Rin sigh giving up from his sulking friend.

Rin looked at his other employee who was cleaning the coffee machine.

"Min jong ah. Please take over the counter for me." Rin asked his employee.

"Yes Sir." And she walks towards the counter.

Rin took off his apron and takes Yim's tray of food and walks to the dining hall and put down the tray to his friends favorite spot of his shop.

He smile when he saw Yim started to walk towards him still sulking and pouting. When he sat down in front of him he rolled his eyes.

"Okay, spill the bean Yimeron." He said smiling at him. Yim grin and look at him now with a wide smile. Now that's the fastest way to stop him from sulking. Then Yim starts talking nonstop while Song Rin listened to him.

Yim is like that as always. For the years that he knows him, he could easily tell his friends behavior. Yim would sulk at him when he would refuse to listen to his stories or more like gossip he got from his work, and when he starts listening he would not stop telling him everything he knows.

Song Rin smiles at how bubbly and talkative his friend is talking from Korean language to Thai language.

**************

THAILAND

3:00 PM

ZEE'S POV

"Phi the new investors changes their schedule." Tutor said while handing me a file that needed my sign.

I frown and look at him. I thought the schedule had been talked about and was already been made.

"I think there's a possibility that they'll pull from this investment as it's no official and legal sign with both parties." Tutor explain as he sigh deeply.

This is bad news for us. Our father's company needed that investment soo bad as it's the only way needed for the company to float back again on it's track.

One year ago my father's brother who's been the only person my father had trusted the most died in unexpected way. His son who's the only sole heir of his fortune inherited his money and everything, and that includes being the second to become the COO of my fathers company.

My father thought that he could handle the work his own father had been doing for the past years, but he didn't take a year from sitting on his position he already make my father's company lost a lot of sales and even make potential investors back out from trying to invest in the company.

When my father found out about it he forcefully make his nephew/our cousin stepped down on his position. But the damage has been done and his company will now potentially be down from the market and business world.

Now me and Tutor are trying to take over the damage that it has been done. So when potential investors from Korea are trying to sign with my father's company we immediately make an appointment and book their tickets so they can fly to china and look over the company. We had also book the tickets back home as I was the one who have been contacting them and making a great connection with them.

But now that I heard this from Tutor I was shock to hear they are planning to back out. and they can't let that happen. I know someone was working on the back to try to make everyone who tries to make investment back out. This happens second time now.

I don't know what the reason is, but I need to clarify this first as I can't go on without knowing anything.

"What do you think the reason they would back out Nong." He ask his brother.

"Do you think someone is sabotaging us?" Tutor ask and I smirk at him. He got it. I know our father's two brothers who were their biggest rival since my father inherited the Wang's company are behind all this.

"That's what I'm thinking nong." I said as I turn my swivel chair to the glass wall of my office.

I sigh and think I'm now entering the field of tigers who might snap my throat at any time.

This is what I don't like from the beginning. That's why I stayed out from my father's business cuz I don't want this kind of complications.

But I need to do this for my fathers sake. This is the least thing that I can do to payback everything he have done for us and our family.

"What are you going to do about this thing Phi?" I heard Tutor ask as he walk towards me. I look at him in the eyes and tell him the ideas I had in my head.

"If they are not gonna go to china then let's go to Korea and persuade them once again."

"What if we can't persuade them phi?"

"You know there's no room for little doubt and what if in the world of businesses nong." I said and he sigh looking so sorry at me.

"Forgive me phi" he said. I stand and ruffle his hair,

"That's okay nong. Now book a flight to Korea for next week and tell yours and my secretary to clear our one week schedule." I said

"Okay phi. I'll be on it don't worry." He said and started to get the file from the desk that I finished signing.

I noticed when he stopped and took out the rose from my vase. The single rose that I put on it.

"Are you going to him after work?" He ask and look at me.

"Yes I'll be going to him after work." I said and smile.

"Can I ask something phi?" He suddenly says. I look at him immediately and frown as sadness was written on his face.

"Sure. What is it?" I said and started to listen. He sigh deeply before he talks.

"Do.. do you still blame yourself for his death?" He ask and I paused.

"Nong. I know until now you're worried about me. Trust me nong I'm not gonna do something to myself anymore." I said

"You just never failed to visit him. You always come to him." He said and look down in his hand that's holding a files.

"Yes I always do.Not because I'm still holding on to the pain, but because it made me feel even better nong." Then he look at me again.

"And nong. I already accepted his death years ago." I said and smiled as I hold his shoulder.

"Don't worry about me, okay?" Trying to assure him. He smiled weakly and nodded.

"Then I'll be going now phi." he said and I nodded as he leaving me alone.

After he left I get back to work.

After an hour my watch started to alarm. I look at it and saw it is four thirty in the afternoon already. It's time for me to prepare to go home.

I stand and take my suit from the back of my chair, and before I forgot I take the pink rose from the vase and walk out of my office holding it in my right hand.

My secretary said goodbye as I nodded at her and said goodbye to.

It is a normal occurance for everyone to see me out early while holding a flower. At first they thought it was for someone I was courting until they found out who I was giving it to.

They may look sympathetic for me at first, but now they would be smiling and would be sending their hello to him.

How unfortunate they never know about my Nunu not until he was gone. But guess that's how life could be at times. You wouldn't know someone until their gone.

I got to my car and immediately drove to the memorial park where Nunew was put to rest 7 years ago.

It's been so long since he's gone, but the memories I have with him never fade away until now.

After a minute of drive I arrive at the memorial park.

I got the rose and walked to his grave.

I smile when I was in front of him.

"Hi Nunu baby. I'm back here again. I just came from work." As I started to talk to him and I sat on the grass.

"Flowers for you again. I hope you're not tired of receiving another flowers from me." As I put the flower on his grave.

If you would count every flowers I gave to him you wouldn't believe how plenty it is. But giving him flowers was my happiness. The happiness I found since he died. How can that be possible will it is.

I still miss him so much and visiting him really help on easing the missing feeling I have for him.

If you ask if I still feel the pain? I do, but its now bearable and I'm thankful to everyone who help me to overcome it.

I look up at the sky and smile again. Maybe if someone would see me they might think I've gone crazy as I'm smiling so widely, but I don't have time for any of that. As long as I am visiting him every day that would be enough for me.

"How are you doing up there Nunu. Are you playing with other angels there?" I ask smiling at the sky so brightly imagining his happy face while his playing with angels.

"I'm sure you do." As I answer my own question to him.

Then I remembered about the one week business trip I would be going to next week.

"My dad's business is in a very rough shape right now my Nunu." I tell him as I sigh deeply.

Only thinking that I'll not be here with him and wouldn't be visiting him for a week makes me so upset.

For the last 7 years I only do business trips for like 8 times only, and it only takes one to two days before I come back. But right now it would be a week or so, and I felt drained thinking I'll not be here to visit on those days.

I look at his grave again feeling the sadness started to creep inside of me.

"Nunu, I know I said I wouldn't be taking a long business trip. I'm so sorry if I would be disappointing you." I said.

"I'm going to Korea next week for a business trip and I'll be taking long to come back. I'm gonna miss you." As I stroke his name in his marble grave. Feeling so sad.

"Don't worry baby Nunu, when I come back I'll buy more beautiful flowers and gifts for you." and thinking about what I'll buy for him when I come back, now had put a smile on my face again.

Even if I feel sad I'm still excited to stoll around Seoul and find something for him.

_____________________________________________________________

Now you all met Song Rin. Do you like him?

Do you want them to meet? I want them to meet to.

What do you think will happen if they meet?

Tell me what you all think..