Chapter 182 - By the Grave

Kim Jun Hyeon deposited the flowers on his sister's grave thoughtfully. 

Although his lawyer assured him he was using all the legal tools to find out more about the mysterious woman, the doctor had the impression that this was not enough. He had received the news that the delivery man who made the assault report had traveled or something.

"So I was an idiot the whole time?" as he looked at the tomb and saw his sister's name, his eyes filled with tears. "Please don't deceive me like that. Don't give me false hopes."

He usually brought magazines and even some of his twin sister's favorite foods, once a month. Dr. Kim used to talk to Ji Hyeon as if she were alive. Now there was a possibility, however remote, that this was true. Or was it a perverse plan by some scammer trying to get money out of his family? The absence of cameras was very suspicious.

Jun Hyeon wasn't in the country when Ji Hyeon committed suicide. He was doing a crucial Mastery in the United States when he received the news. Dae Won, Ji's fiancé at that time, took care of everything, and Jun Hyeon arrived just to see the urn. He knew that his sister never wanted to be cremated, so he insisted on a tombstone in a beautiful place. He came to keep her company, share the banana yogurt and tell his life.

"Dae Won was at the dance academy yesterday, Ji. He's in love with Ye Rim, the woman I'm going to marry. Sometimes it stresses me out, you know? I don't know how you could have listened to him after all. It always pissed me off on him. He surrounds you with attention, and then he is… um… passive-aggressive? He's skilled at words. But it's a little tiring at times, isn't it? "

In fact, when he returned from his conversation with Secretary Ma, Ye Rim was already gone, without saying goodbye, and he had no doubt that the reason was Lee Dae Won. He had said,

"Well, I know that you're in love with her, Jun. But I think you should protect your heart."

Jun Hyeon raised an eyebrow in doubt, and maybe he sounded a little sarcastic when he asked,

"Oh, really? Did it look like I need it, hyung?"

"Oh, what can I say, Jun Hyeon? You know more about biology than I do. But Ye Rim… she has already shown what she wants and that her favorite hobby is playing with the hearts of men."

Of course, when Dae Won touched his biggest fear about Ye Rim, his heart froze. But it couldn't be true. Was she really just kidding, all this time?

"You seem to be very sure of that."

"She just thinks about being a star. There is no room in her heart for anything else until she reaches stardom."

"Well, to be honest, hyung, I think YOU are in love with her. Look at everything you've done for her. And…"

"Am I in the Friendzone as much as you are?" Dae Won gave an enigmatic smile, which only irritated Kim. "I just want to remind you it was you who crossed my path. I asked a few times if you had any romantic interest in Ye Rim, and you said no."

Jun Hyeon was speechless at this point, because this time Dae Won was right.

But the musician smiled, continuing, "I don't want to turn this into a war or cause a breakup on our friendship. I'm just reminding you of your words from a not-so-distant past."

"Well, let's say I regret my words, hyung. My relationship with Ye Rim has evolved."

"Hm. Should I continue to invest my efforts in giving her everything she wants? You say that I should stop supporting her, because this is what you will do in my place?"

"What is it? Some kind of veiled threat, hyung?" he wanted to know.

"If you are so sure you are reciprocated, don't you find it a little offensive that I keep moving heaven and earth for her? We're being honest with each other, aren't we? This was my strategy: give her the stardom she wants. She's almost there ..."

Jun Hyeon frowned, concerned. Ye Rim had signed a contract with the Dae Won's friend's agency, who had hitherto been quite generous with the terms of the contract. Unbelievably generous. She had a good chance of debuting in what they believed to be next year's drama. A super production. Dae Won was even writing songs for her to record, and the company wanted to launch her career as a singer in the middle of the following year. But all of this had Dae Won's finger.

"Sorry, hyung. I love her. Really. I want more than just an affair."

Dae Won looked thoughtful,

"Okay. I already said I understand. But then, do your best for her. And when I say that, I also mean that sometimes, she needs to remember that only discipline will get her where she wants to be. Or do you want her to go back to that cheap bar where she sang? Just to have her for yourself?"

Jun Hyeon shook his head, stunned. The musician put his hands in his pockets,

"Listen, Jun. I'm feeling pathetic and the villain in this situation. I got jealous. I know that you are spending a lot of time together in physical activities. While the idiot here is at the piano trying to compose a beautiful song for her to debut as a national singer. I'm the idiot here, I repeat. I thought I could wait. I'd like her to fulfill her dream and look at me as someone who has always been by her side, without putting pressure on her. But being realistic, it's a little difficult for that to happen."

The doctor bit his lip, uncomfortable with that speech. It sounded like he was the smart guy stealing something that didn't belong to him. But Ye Rim wasn't an inanimate object that two people could dispute without her interference. But the veiled threat that existed in hyung's words… Maybe he regretted saying what he would say, but his tongue couldn't help it,

"Hyung, do as you see fit. If you think your support is the only way for Ye Rim to get what she wants, you are wrong. Take your 'Midas hand' off her. Stop being the patron behind her. She never wanted to ask you for anything, did you forget? Don't use that kind of thing to have a woman. She's not like that," his rude tone left no doubt he was on edge. 

Dae Won was thoughtful again, and looked up,

"Right. If you ask me to walk away, I'll walk away. But don't be mad if Ye Rim leaves you and looks for me later. I'm playing this game as fair as possible," and saying that Dae Won left. Jun Hyeon wanted to kick the drink machine, but stopped himself.

Now, the doctor had doubts if he had irreversibly affected Ye Rim's dreams.

"Oppa," the sound of her voice next to him surprised Jun Hyeon. Turning around, he saw that she reached the grave of Ji Hyeon, and had a rosebud in her hand.

"You left without saying goodbye last night," he commented, when she stopped beside him.

"Sorry, I was very embarrassed and just wanted to disappear," she said, respectfully placing the rose on the grave.

"Thank you for coming, Ye Rim," he said, "I don't know if you would be friends, Ji had a strong temper."

"I wouldn't mind. If you love her, I'd be nice to her."

He looked at her with the corner of his eye, then gave a loud laugh,

"Really? Would you do that for me?"

"Why not? You tolerated my father being quite unpleasant to you the other time," she laughed too, looking for his hand with hers.

He wasn't dreaming that, was he? He held Ye Rim's hand, delighted by these two unexpected displays of affection.

Should I tell her about my conversation with Dae Won?

"Pearl's opening is tonight, and tomorrow is the test," she said, "Will I see you later?"

"Yes, I'll show up. But today is not your farewell show, is it?"

"No, it's next week. I just wanted to sit there tonight with friends and relax a little."

'Hm, friends. Apparently she thinks there is still something missing to get me out of this status, 'he thought. "Well, Ye Rim, if things don't go as you plan, don't get discouraged. I'll be by your side, okay?" he kissed her hand, keeping his fingers intertwined, but felt that Ye Rim tensed at his words. She didn't like what she heard,

"We aren't going to think the worst, are we? I had a lot of support and let's say, this time, there's nothing to stop me from having what I fought so hard to achieve," she said, with a slight smile. "You won't be there to console me, but to applaud me, will you?"

If Jun Hyeon at least didn't believe that fame was a whimsical lover, he'd say yes.

"This is really important for you, isn't it? More than anything?"

She looked at him, surprised by the question, and seemed to reflect on it.

"I feel, deep in my heart, that since the day I was born, I'm destined for great things, Jun Hyeon. And ..." she fell silent, not finishing what she would say, just looking at their joined hands, with a worried expression.

"AND…?" he encouraged her to continue, even though only Ye Rim's sad look gave her clues as to what was on her mind.

"If things don't work out as expected, will you hate me for being the way I am?"

That was a painful question.