author's note: the 2nd instalment. and so it has a sad ending. because not all stories have happy endings.
and wouldn't it be weird to have a happy ending with a title like that....wakekekeke
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hwangbo.
You were startled when you realized you were not alone with the children on that beach. You were even more startled when you heard that name. You caught a glance of the woman approaching someone under the beach umbrella. She was like a mirror image of you only shorter by a few centimeters, she seemed like a softer version of you in her white summer dress that fell just an inch below her knee, and her voice seemed delicate when she spoke. You continued to play with the children moving further from their spot, hoping to get away unnoticed, but your thoughts never left that man under the umbrella. Kim Hyunjoong. His name has not been mentioned in your world for a long time now.
You started to fasten your pace away from the beach front when you saw two familiar figures moving towards the shore. They were going to look for you and call out your name for sure.
“Let's play hide and seek”, you quickly proposed to the three kids now making a sand castle. “The girls will hide and Sungmin will seek. Go.”
You hid behind a wall, not caring if the little boy sees you right away, as long as you are hidden from Hyunjoong, the woman and the two other guys.
You scoffed at how cruel fate can be sometimes. Memories of the past started pouring into your very being. He was perhaps the only man you'll ever love so strongly and deeply, but there were things that had to end. And though you died that day he walked away, you could not blame him. You had to make a choice for you, for him. How savage it is that your paths crossed again after more than a year, after you broke his heart, after you broke your own heart.
“Noooooona!!!! We've been looking everywhere for you!!”, Junsu said a little too loudly mistaking the woman in white dress as you. The woman turned around to face Junsu.
Yunho stopped in his tracks, “That's not Noona, you fool!”, he said slapping Junsu's arm.
You panicked when you saw Hyunjoong turn to face the other two guys.
“Omo, omo! I'm sorry----yah! Hyunjoong?”, Junsu was surprised, “Is it really Kim Hyunjoong?”, he asked Yunho.
“Yah!!! Where have you been all this time? Even Jaejoong said you were too busy he could not get in touch with you...”, Yunho said then gave Hyunjoong a pat.
“Yeah, I was busy... Is Jaejoong with you?”, he asked hoping to change the topic about his long absence.
“No, no... We are here for vacation with our kids---haha!! That felt awkward...Our kids, we sound like Noona now”, Junsu was amused with his answer while Yunho laughed with him.
Hyunjoong and the other woman looked confused. She obviously recognized the TVXQ Idols, but she did not know they had kids.
“Kids? Noona?”, she asked Junsu.
“Oh, Oh... Yeah, we have kids now. And, by the way, I'm really sorry, I thought you were-----uhm, Hwangbo Noona”, Junsu hesitated as he watched Hyunjoong's expression as if he knew something.
“Hwangbo? Hwangbo Hyejung? From Chakra?”, she asked in shock. “Really, I look like her?”
Yunho nodded, he had to admit to himself, the lady in front of him looked a lot like his favorite Noona.
She smiled gleefully, “I think she's really gorgeous and kind hearted. Oh wow, I'm flattered.”
Hyunjoong looked at his girlfriend in surprise. His eyes widened when she mentioned kind hearted, but his expression eventually changed. It was like there was a sudden rain shower as he looked at Sunah.
Even when you were hidden behind a wall, you instantly knew he was reminded of you.
“Does she look like Sunbae?”, he quickly retorted and snapped back.
“By the way, have you guys seen her? She was just here playing with three kids.”, Junsu asked.
Hyunjoong looked around hoping to catch a glimpse of you again. You could not see his eyes though. It was heavily veiled under his dark glasses.
Just then, Sungmin, along with the two little girls found where you were hiding.
“Omma!!!!!”, the little girl in blue dress cried out.
“Auntie!! We found you!!!”, the other two excitedly chanted.
You were startled, but you knew you had no choice since Hyunjoong and the rest must have seen and heard the children.
“Yah!! You two helped Sungmin out. That's no fair!!!”, you cried watching as the kids laughed and dragged you away from the wall.
“Noona!!!”, Junsu happily yelled out to her, “Look who the cat brought in”, he said placing an arm around Hyunjoong.
Yunho jogged towards where you stood with the kids, “I'm sorry Noona, I did not know he was here and Junsu is clueless”, he said in a hushed tone then picked up Eunhee, his adopted daughter and Hana, the child you adopted.
You gave him a smile as if saying it was okay.
Hyunjoong stood there like a sculpture. His expression seemed unfazed by your presence, something he mastered for one year and almost two months now.
You bowed slightly when you were a few feet from them. “Hello”, it was the only greeting you could think of as your heart began to thump in a wild pace.
“Hello, it's been a long time”, he answered in a stern voice.
All you could do was nod.
“This is my girlfriend, Go Sunah.”, he blatantly introduced her. “Sunah, this is Hwangbo Sunbae, and the other two you've met, Junsu and Yunho”
It did not shock you anymore that she was his girlfriend. Instead, you felt guilty after all that's been said and done, besides, you were the one who made a choice and let go.
You smiled and shook hands with her. Hana approached you and clung on to your hip.
“And this is Noona's daughter, Hana. That's Yunho's daughter, Eunhee. And this is my handsome son, Sungmin, he's gonna be a Super Junior someday!”, Junsu proudly said.
They all laughed at Junsu's quirky announcement.
“Mrs. Park is waiting for you inside, you better go now and wash up before we have dinner”, Yunho told the kids setting his own Eunhee down. “They are our adopted kids from the Compassion group”, he clarified when the kids were inside the hotel.
“Are you staying for good, Hyunjoong?”, Junsu asked.
“I am not sure yet...” he answered looking at you intently.
“He's always running away...”, Sunah joked, tapping Hyunjoong's arm lightly.
“Yeah, he always does”, Yunho quipped sarcastically, staring at Hyunjoong. He knew about your past and your falling out, and thought it was cowardly of Hyunjoong to keep running away like that making work an excuse, especially now that Yuho met his current girlfriend and saw the physical similarities of Sunah and you.
“Yeah, I am, aren't I? But when something keeps pushing you out, at some point, you just have to give up and move away”, Hyunjoong answered. His tone obviously serious.
You knew it was intended to mock you, and it hurt you more than he thought it did. You could not blame him though. His answer was a clear confession that he has not forgotten nor has he forgiven you. Your silence was an admission that you were guilty of hurting him and pushing him over the edge.
“We better go now, Hyunjoong”, Sunah broke the consuming silence. “My brother would flip if there are no people inside for his rehearsal wedding dinner”
Hyunjoong just nodded and walked away with Sunah.
“Should we go in now, Noona?”, Yunho asked you.
“You guys go ahead. I forgot my flip flops by the wall.” you excused yourself.
You watched Hyunjoong's retreating back remembering that day you made a decision, that day you hurt him, that day you broke your own heart, that day you said you loved him a little too late.
~~~~
The evening summer winds started to blow hard. The waves were strong making a fierce screeching sound, like the howls of a lost soul. Hwangbo stood stationary to the very spot where Hyunjoong left her. Her tears fell as she clutched the ring he gave back near her aching weakened heart.
She struggled to keep her balance as the winds blew harder.
Hwangbo screamed the words that she has never told him before, "Kim Hyunjoong, SARANGHAE............ Saranghae..........Saranghae................."
But she knew it was too late, he's gone. Her words came too late. She could only wish that the summer winds would carry her message to Hyunjoong.~~~~
You clutched the ring by your heart as you did before. It never left your pocket after that day. It was your only reminder of him and what could have been if you were not too stubborn to admit your love for him. He's still filled with anger, and you could only wish the woman who looks a lot like you would treat him better than you did and tell him everyday that he is loved.
As you whisper to the winds your wish for his love to aways be happy, you die a little inside knowing that you'll never love anyone again.
