Parting Hearts

Cho was preparing dinner for Soo and herself. The maid was helping her too. Cho looked at the watch which was showing 8 pm.

"Madam, you should go to your room. I'll bring the dinner there," mumbled Nura (maid).

"It's fine. I'll take the dinner there," mumbled Cho. After ten minutes Soo reached him. Cho put the dishes on the tray and left for her room. "Hii, Soo. You are late today," murmured Cho and put the tray on the table there.

"Ahh, I was invited by my few friends to drink. I won't eat so you've to eat alone," murmured Soo and unbuttoned his shirt's first two buttons. Cho felt bad hearing this but she kept mum. She walked to the closet and took out clothes for Soo. Handing him she said, "Father has told me that he and mother will come after two days."

"Great. I don't have to see their faces," murmured Soo and took his clothes from her. He walked towards the washroom. After ten minutes he came out and laid down on the bed.

"Why aren't you eating?," asked Soo looking into Cho's eyes.

Cho was running her fingers and said, "I'm eating. You should sleep." Soo nodded and pulled over the blanket. He closed his eyes, turning his back towards Cho. She put the meal on a plate and rice in a bowl.

Tears were pouring down from her eyes as she was eating the food. But she silently ate. "I chose this. He would be unhappy if he had married Myung. I shouldn't expect anything from this marriage." Such thoughts were revolving in Cho's mind. Wiping her tears off she put the fork down and walked out of the room taking the tray in her hands.

Soo opened his eyes and turned to look at her.

Cho put the dishes in the wash basin and remaining food in the bowls. She put them inside the fridge and put on the rubber gloves. Taking some washing gel and scrubber she started scrubbing the utensils. She was washing them when Soo grabbed her hands.

She looked at him and whispered his name. There were tear marks on her face. Soo put his thumb on her face and wiped them off. Cho was startled by his move.

He then took out the rubber gloves from her hand and shouted Nura's name. "I can do myself," stuttered Cho. Soo didn't speak anything and put her hands below the tap. Nura came there and asked them if they wanted something.

"Please wash these," Soo politely ordered and took away Cho from there. Cho kept mum until they reached the terrace of their house. He then released her hand and turned to look at her. "Why did you take me here?," asked Cho.

Soo was reading her eyes for a few seconds when Cho snapped her fingers before him. "What happened?," asked Cho in a low voice.

"Do you love me?," asked Soo.

Cho got startled hearing his question. She composed herself and thought to lie when Soo said, "I want truth only. No lies. We're married so lies shouldn't be there." Cho wasn't able to understand what Soo was trying to say to her so she decided to lie.

"Are you nuts? Why would I love you? I told you this before." Snapped Cho at him confidently. Soo slightly laughed and grabbed her arm pulling her towards him.

"Soo," whispered Cho.

"Why are you lying? I told you that it's not a play or a game. We are married," muttered Soo, gritting his teeth. Cho felt pain in his voice.

"Leave me. We will talk when you'll be sobered up. In the morning," mumbled Cho and tried releasing his hand from her arm. But Soo didn't let her go and further pulled her towards him.

"What happened to you?," asked Cho angrily.

"Why do you love me?," asked Soo. Cho glared at him and again lied saying she doesn't love him. "Until when will you lie?," murmured Soo and pulled her chin up.

"On the wedding night you confessed that you love me that's why you married me," muttered Soo. Cho looked at him with a surprised look. "How can you lie Cho? You ruined your life just because to save me? You know this very well that I will never love you then why? What do you expect I'll say to your father? I'm feeling pathetic," saying this Soo broke down and pushed her.

Cho got teary hearing this. "Soo, you don't have to be worried about this." Cho assured him. "It's just from my side. It will be over in a few days or months," mumbled Cho and faked a smile.

"Cho, I'm feeling guilty for accepting this marriage. You were crying earlier when I told you that I had my dinner already. I should've forced my father to not let me marry. I've ruined many lives with me and I won't ever come out of that guilt. I shouldn't have agreed with you. Cho you don't have to sacrifice yourself just to save me," mumbled Soo and fell on the floor, holding his forehead. Cho broke down in tears seeing him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jun and Tae reached home when they saw Ani there with Eunhi in the garden. Jun greeted his aunt and went inside while Tae went towards them to talk with them.

Jun was going to close the door of his room when Jae appeared there. "Come later," mumbled Jun when Jae put his hand between the door. Jun understood that his brother wanted to talk with him so he let them in.

Jae sat on the couch there while Jun took out his night clothes from the closet and went inside the washroom. After ten minutes he came out and sat opposite to Jae.

"What happened? Where was your phone?," asked Jae with a concerned look. "My phone was broken down two days ago. I've bought a new one," mumbled Jun and faked a smile.

"That phone was with you for the last 4 years. Uncle gave you that when you went to the US," mumbled Jae. He was reading Jun's eyes but his eyes were clear as if he was hiding nothing.

"Dad has gifted me many phones," mumbled Jun tried avoiding Jae's topic. Jae clasped his fingers together and learned ahead. "Jun, you won't even tell your brother?" Jae questioned him again.

Jun looked at Jae and said, "I don't want to trouble anyone because of my problems." His voice was choking.

"Jun, we are brothers. We shouldn't have any secrets between us. Your problem is mine. All these years you've never behaved like this which you're now behaving for two days," mumbled Jae. "I'm worried Jun. I'm scared whenever I see you like this. I can't bear to get you hurt," muttered Jae. Saying this his eyes filled with tears.

Jun took a deep breath and said, "She called me. She called me two days ago. She was congratulating me. She told me that I've grown up nicely," mumbled Jun. Jun's eyes were filled with hatred.

"How dared she call you?," muttered Jae under his breath. He clenched his fist tightly.

"I don't know. Let's not talk about that. I don't want to recall that woman," murmured Jun and laid back on the couch. Jae nodded and stuttered, "Ani was asking about you. I mean she asked me ``why are you sad?"

Jun turned his eyes to look at Jae. "Don't tell him. It's my personal problem. I don't want her to know about this," mumbled Jun.

"Why?," asked Jae out of curiosity.

"Because it's personal." Jun stresses his words. "Don't worry, I won't tell this to her. Well, where are we going tomorrow?" Jae asked.

"The park," mumbled Jun and closed his eyes. "Jae, let me take a power nap. I'll talk with you later," murmured Jun. Jae nodded. He closed the lights there and left Jun's room. Jun put his one arm over his eyes and fell asleep.

Ani was passing by her room beside Jun's when she saw the door was opened but there's no light. Only a dim light at the ceiling was glowing which made the way visible. She sneaked inside and looked around but didn't find Jun there.

"Now, I'll take his phone and throw it far away. He won't even suspect," thought Ani in her mind and searched for Jun's phone. She didn't know that Jun was sleeping on the couch so she walked towards the table beside that. Since the lights were dim so she didn't see Jun there.

She found his phone and picked it up when it rang loudly making her scared. Because of that she stumbled and fell backwards on the couch. "Ahhhhhh," a loud scream was heard. She felt she was on above someone and and turned to look it was Jun who was glaring at her.