7: “If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.” - Kahlil Gibran
Hwangbo wiped the bead of sweat that trickled down her forehead. She blinked her eyes once, but her vision was hindered by the sunlight that freely swam in through the open windows. She realized it was already way past her usual waking hours. She blinked again when she saw a figure pacing nervously around the room. He stopped just a few inches away from the bed and rubbed his temples. She could sense his frustration.
“Are you sure about this information, Sir?”, he asked, not a trace of happiness on his face.
“Okay. Once you get all the information, please contact me again.”, he said then sat at the foot of the bed.
Hwangbo lifted herself from up from the crumpled sheets, trying not to wake the child sleeping soundly beside her.
“Hyunjoongah, what's wrong?”, she whispered.
He looked at her. “That was the head of the Social Welfare. They have the information about Munhee's parents”, he answered sadly.
“Ow..”, was all Hwangbo could muster. She was speechless. Her thoughts were running wild and headed to every direction. She was happy that there was news of Munhee's parents, but that would also mean that their days as a family was almost up. The smile that lit up her face last night has already faded. In that very moment, she no longer felt like getting out of bed like she did every morning for the past three weeks. She was already too emotionally attached.
“Are they taking him already?”, she put on a brave face and asked.
Hyunjoong looked at her affectionately. “Not yet. They only have his father's number, and the details are not yet clear. They will call back later.”, he gave a loud sigh.
Hwangbo opened her mouth, but no sound nor words came out. She held her breath for a second and tried to figure out if this was all just a bad dream, but the sudden desperation for air made everything as clear as day light. It was in fact real.
They looked at the child lying in bed. They looked at their 'son', and wondered how much time they have left with him. And how painful it would be when they tell him the truth.
~~
The Director of the Seoul's Social Welfare called Hyunjoong again.
It was learned later that day that Munhee's real mother died in a horrific car accident on their way to Seoul a few months ago. The car had been so badly damaged it was a miracle Munhee was alive and unhurt. His real father, also named Kim Hyunjoong, was working in Taiwan that day and was scheduled to come home. Jinhee, Munhee's real mother, and Munhee wanted to surprise him at the airport, but the tragedy happened.
Munhee's dad did not know about the accident until he came home to an empty apartment after his trip home had been postponed due to bad weather. He tried to search for Munhee, but no one could give him any information. Police investigation says that the car was burned down almost into ashes that no traces or identity of the woman driving it could be recovered, and the child inside the car disappeared as the fire ate up the vehicle.
The police was later informed about a child who survived, but those who kept him left the area without notice. The kind couple left the child in Seoul's Social Welfare. Unfortunately, the child, Munhee, lost his memory. Although, he remembered fragments of his past, it was not enough for the psychologists at the Social Welfare to figure things out. The only thing Munhee remembered was that his father was named Kim Hyunjoong, and there were about thousands of Kim Hyunjoongs in Seoul alone.
One day, while Munhee was out playing with his friends at the Welfare, he found out about the idol, Hyunjoong and assumed him to be his father. He asked the Noonas who volunteered at the Social Welfare for Hyunjoong's picture. The Social Welfare was a few blocks away from the idol's apartment. There were rumors and speculations around the neighborhood that the SS501 leader lived in that building which Munhee overheard.
The innocent child was convinced that the Kim Hyunjoong, the neighbors unendlessly talked about, was his father. He then packed his bag, the only thing he had since the accident that killed his mother, and took his chances. The day he appeared on Kim Hyunjoong's door was the same day he ran away from the Social Welfare.
The Social Welfare's Director also said that his real father has been looking for Munhee and was already informed of his son's whereabouts.
~~
Hwangbo felt like she was in another world. Although she was a celebrity, she still did not believe such tragedies could happen to such a sweet, beautiful, innocent boy.
Hyunjoong spent most of the day beside Munhee, just staring at him blankly, speechless, wondering, thinking. He was deeply saddened about the pain this boy has suffered and is about to suffer, but he was even sadder that he will soon be leaving him, leaving Hwangbo, leaving his so-called parents. It makes him think about the affections that he and Hwangbo have started to find for each other. 'Will things continue? Will they still be the same once the boy goes? Will they their story just stop like it did three years ago?'
Hwangbo interrupted his deep thoughts, “Aren't you going to answer your phone?”
He immediately picked it up, “Hello?”
It was Jaejoong on the other line.
“Yah! What's happening? Why are there so many people in your apartment building?”, the other man asked.
“What do you mean?”, Hyunjoong was confused. He went to the kitchen, so that Munhee could not hear the conversation.
Hwangbo watched him walking in front of her. He was tense, and she was starting to feel even more worried.
“What do you mean there are many people in my apartment building?”, he asked Jaejoong again.
“I went by your apartment to pick up some of the clothes I left there before, but there was a large crowd, press people I think. They were asking your neighbors about Munhee and Noona. How could this break out? I told you guys to be extra careful.”, Jaejoong was exasperated.
“But other than Haneul, you and the Director at the Social Welfare, no one else knows.”, Hyunjoong reasoned.
“Oh man. This is bad. Everyone in Seoul knows already.”, Jaejoong took a deep breath.
Hyunjoong stayed quiet then let out a deep breath. He was thinking.
The silence worried Jaejoong, “There's more right? There's something else other than this being revealed to the public.”
“Munhee's parents. The Director found them already.”
“Uh-oh... How is Noona taking it? What about Munhee?”
“Munhee does not know yet, but the Director said they have to fetch him soon. They said it might take time for him to adjust to things. And Hyejung, I am not sure. She has not said much after I told her this morning.”
“Wait, I have to go, there's another call”, Hyunjoong immediately took the other call after seeing that it was his Manager on the other line.
“Hyung?”, he spoke into the receiver.
~~
The events of that fateful day happened too fast. There was no time to breathe.
News that Hyunjoong and Hwangbo were living together and having a love child spread like wild fire. Apparently, nosy neighbors have spread rumors which reached the media's ears. DSP was caught off guard and went through extreme measures to keep things down.
Without consent from Hyunjoong and Hwangbo, the DSP President decided for the Social Welfare to take Munhee away. Vans and representatives from both Hwangbo and Hyunjoong's managements arrived at the beach house and forced them to leave. It was an intense scene, but no one could do anything from their end.
Munhee's tears and remorse kept reappearing before Hwangbo, and she ended up sobbing all the way to Seoul.
Both managements held press conferences time and again to deny the rumor. The press people hoped to hear what Hwangbo and Hyunjoong had to say, but neither of them appeared in those press conferences. It's not that they did not want to go, it's just that they have been held captive by their managements. Someone had to chaperone them wherever they went, and most of all, they were not allowed to see each other ever again.
“This is crass!”, Hyunjoong hissed as his Manager was reading the new conditions set by the DSP president.
“But you crossed the line, Hyunjoong, and you did not even give us a forewarning.”, the manager was as pissed as Hyunjoong was.
“It's funny that you mentioned crossing lines here. I did not say anything when you crossed the line and took me out of We Got Married because you knew something was going on between me and Hyejung.”, Hyunjoong raised his voice. Baby, who was in the other room, was startled when he heard Hyunjoong's angry voice.
“May I remind you Hyunjoong that it was you who chose to be an Idol? And may I remind you again, that being an idol, you are your fans property? Didn't I tell you when your career jumped started that falling in love or even the thinking of love was something an idol could never do?” Manager Lee tried his best to keep himself calm. Sure, he pitied Hyunjoong, but he never stopped reminding his talents about these things. “Wasn't this clear enough when you signed a contract with DSP? Do you really think the President would allow his biggest asset to slip away?”
'He was right', Hyunjoong admitted quietly. Years ago, all he wanted was to make it big in the industry and he was going to do anything to make that happen. He set aside love or any sort of feeling and worked hard to be someone, but Hwangbo Hyejung came, and she laughed her laugh, and she smiled her sincere smile and she swept him away.
“I understand what you are feeling. I've handled many talents, idols like you, it was hard for them, too. But think hard about it Hyunjoong. Think about Hwangbossi and her career, and the danger she'll be in—with the antifans, then the relentless netizens. Think about Munhee, and the trauma he'll get from all this”, his manager patted his back gently.
For the second time that day, Hyunjoong had to admit that Manager Lee was right. Hoping to make matters and issues die down quickly, he did not make public appearances and followed the rules set by the DSP President himself. The worst thing he had to endure was cutting all connections with Hwangbo, but he had to keep her safe.
~~
Hwangbo sat in her dressing room looking straight in the mirror, but not really seeing anything. She was hurt when they took Munhee away, but now, it felt like everything evaded her, even Kim Hyunjoong.
“I am willing to do everything to regain what we lost before.”
His words that night at the beach house still lingered in her ears, but where he was now, she did not know. It's been three long and painful days since she last saw him. They were not given a chance to talk when the brigade suddenly showed up at Anmyundo. There was no goodbye from him, not even a phone call. She was left in the cold again, a place she was familiar with, a place she said she will never go back to. Although, she was forbidden not to, she tried to call him, but he did not answer, he never answered.
“Hwangbossi, you're up in five minutes”, the staff called out, cutting in her thoughts.
She nodded and headed towards the door. It was her first public appearance after the so-called scandal. Hwangbo was about to perform on stage again. She walked through the halls quietly, surrounded by her dancers and her stylist when she saw Hyunjoong approaching. He was alone, but he just passed by her. He obviously saw her, one of her dancers shook hands with him, but he just walked on, not a wink, not a slight bow of acknowledgement, not a single word, nothing.
She was taken aback. Her thoughts swam. There were questions and ideas she did not dare ask nor think about before, but now, they are popping up like mushrooms in her head.
As Hyunjoong walked the busy halls of MBC, he swallowed the lump in his throat. Hwangbo was approaching him, and the wings of his heart flapped making it hard for him to breathe. For days now, there was only one person he needed to see and to comfort him after Munhee was taken by the Social Welfare, but he did not want to risk anything. It was too dangerous for her, it was too difficult for him, and with anything he might do, he will put her at risk.
His manager caught a glimpse of Hwangbo and looked at Hyunjoong to send a warning message. There were too many people down the hall and the gossip folks were on the lookout. Any sudden movement, a greeting, a glimpse could send her to danger zone, something he could not bear. So, there was not really much of a choice, but to ignore her.
Hwangbo was distracted all the way through her performance. It was a good thing she was performing alongside DJ Koo, so the people's attention was split. She could not keep her mind off the earlier incident. She was hurt, and she did not mind concealing that.
As she wiped off her lipstick, she felt a sudden outburst of emotions. Tears spilled on her cheeks, as her anger and pain overflowed from her heart. She was angry at her management for the sudden restrictions, she loathed the antifans, she despised the media, she hated the paparazzi, most of all, she was angry at Hyunjoong. She thought he was being a coward again.
'Was he thinking this would destroy his career? That Munhee and I would destroy his idol status?', she silently thought in between sobs.
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