The next day, the afternoon had arrived, a nurse was heading towards a room, Jia had been moved from the operating room to a private room. However, she still remained unconscious, unresponsive to the world around her. The nurse entered the room to check on Jia's condition.
As the nurse stepped into the room, she suddenly froze in her tracks, her eyes widened in shock. To her surprise, Jia was nowhere to be found in the bed. The nurse was overwhelmed with fear and disbelief. In a panic, she rushed out of the room to inform the doctor.
***
Jia was standing at the top of the protective wall of the hospital's terrace, her body clothed in a patient uniform, her wrist was covered with bandages. The gentle breeze of the afternoon air blew through her hair, making it dance about her face. Her face was devoid of any expression, and her eyes lacked focus, staring into the distance without seeing anything in particular.
The terrace was empty except for Jia, and there was no doubt that she had come there once again with the intention of taking her life. The only sounds heard on the terrace were the howling of the wind and the occasional rustling of leaves. The sun gleamed brightly in the sky above, but its warmth was lost on Jia, who felt only the coldness of her loneliness and pain.
With every passing moment, the world around her continued to go on, but Jia remained frozen in time, her mind and heart consumed by her struggles. The city, which bustled with life below, seemed like a distant world far removed from her own tormented reality.
Suddenly she jumped, convinced that this time she would succeed.
As she fell, everything seemed to slow down around her. She was fully prepared to leave this world behind now, but suddenly someone grabbed her arm, stopping her from falling.
Jia looked up and saw Jae holding onto her tightly, preventing her from hitting the ground. In his eyes, there was extreme fear, pain, and concern for losing her, an expression that he could no longer hide. His breaths were rapid, as if seeing her like this he was finding difficulty to breath.
As their eyes met, a thousand unspoken words were exchanged in silence. The weight of the situation hung heavily between them, as if time itself froze at that moment. Jae's grip on her arm tightened, refusing to let go.
"D-don't die…. Stay alive. Please….please don't die." His quivering voice echoed as he pleaded in pain, his eyes reflecting desperation and anguish, but no tears fell.
In that moment, Jae's pain was unfathomable, as he was once again reminded of the pain of losing a loved one, a wound he had yet to heal from.
He whispered once more, "Stay alive."
Jia gazed back at Jae, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions - shock, confusion, and a hint of realisation. She didn't speak, but her eyes conveyed a sense of understanding as she took in the depth of his pain and pleading.
The brief silence between them was deafening, their gazes locked in a desperate plea for her to hold on and stay alive.
With a surge of determination, Jae firmly pulled Jia back onto the floor of the terrace, ensuring her safety. Their bodies were close, and Jae could feel the beat of her heart, a stark contrast to the fear he had just felt moments ago. His breaths were ragged as he tried to steady himself, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins from the near-miss.
Holding her, Jae automatically sat down on the floor before tightly gripping her hand and making her slap him desperately while with a mixture of despair and pleading, saying,
"If you want to slap me, do it. Go ahead. You can shout at me, curse me, blame me for everything I've done. But please, just stay alive. Stay with me."
Jae then stopped hitting himself, enveloping Jia in a tight embrace. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his body trembling with the weight of his feelings. While Jia silently witnessed Jae's confession, hot tears rolled down her cheeks, both for herself and for his pain.
"At the beginning, everything I did with you, I didn't do it out of hatred...I was scared…..I was afraid that if I showed you love, I would lose you…..I've loved before, and everyone I've loved has always left me…..But I never hated you."
The raw vulnerability in his voice was heart- wrenching, as he exposed the fears and insecurities that had been driving his actions all along.
Then finally, Jae succumbed to his emotions and started crying.
It was the very first time when he was crying in front of Jia.
His shoulders, shaking with sobs as he poured out his soul, the weight of his past experiences and the fear of losing Jia overwhelming him.
"Please, I beg you, I beg you, stay alive...Stay with me, please."
As Jia listened to his pleading and witnessed his heartbroken state, she slowly lifted her hand to return the hug, gently wrapping her hand around his back. Her touch was a small but powerful gesture, offering comfort in the midst of the raw emotions swirling between them.
He clenched his teeth, struggling to get each word out as he choked back his tears. "Jia," he implored, "I beg you. I can't bear it. Please, understand."
His grip tightened around her, as if holding onto her with all his strength will keep her from slipping away once more.
Suddenly, Jia broke her silence with her weak, but reassuring voice, "Stop crying….I'm alive, and I still love you…..I don't hold any grudges against you for what you did before…..Shh, be quiet."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her own cheeks, mirroring the rawness of their emotions. In response, Jae instinctively tightened his embrace around her, holding on to her even tighter. As he buried his face in her hair, the mix of relief and tenderness overwhelmed him.
The proximity of their bodies and the connection between them in this moment was palpable. They remained tangled in each other's arms as they let the emotions wash over them, the weight of their relationship and the fragility of life hanging in the air.
***
Jia was asleep on the hospital bed, Jae sat on a stool by her side, his hand gently holding hers. The room was quiet, save for the faint sounds of medical equipment beeping in the background. Jae focused solely on Jia, his eyes lingering on her face as he absorbed the sight of her, reassuring himself that she was right there beside him, alive and breathing.
Just then Jackson entered the room quietly and stood by Jae's side, taking in the sight of him sitting there with his attention remained fixed on Jia, his gaze unwavering, as if he was trying to memorise every contour of her face.
Jackson glanced at Jae, his voice filled with concern, "Jae! There's something important I need to discuss."
Jae, still looking at Jia, responded weakly, "Hm?"
Concern growing on Jackson's face, he asked, "Right here?"
Jae's voice remained firm, "I'm not leaving this spot. Say it here."
Taking a deep breath, Jackson braced himself to speak, hesitating before delivering the bad news. "Daisy's identity has been leaked to Omnipotent that she is uncle Shin's daughter."
Jae, shocked and angry, turned to Jackson with a look of disbelief. "How did this happen?" he asked in a low, infuriated voice.
Jackson responded, "Remember, the Omnipotent mafia group is powerful as well."
Jae released Jia's hand gently and stood up, his demeanour filled with anger. He glared at Jackson with intense eyes and asked in a quieter voice to avoid waking Jia, "Do you even understand what you're saying?"
Jackson responded, a mixture of helplessness and worry obvious in his voice, "I'm telling you the truth. They now also suspect that you're Venom and Shadow, but they haven't confirmed it yet. And as those already know Daniel and I, so there is no danger to us because they only want to kill Uncle Shin's only remaining child and the shadow to complete their revenge."
Jae looked at him in disbelief, then rested his hand on his hip as he massaged his forehead with his other hand, attempting to control his anger. He then said, "Now that Jia is with me, her life is also at risk."
Jackson took a worried glance at Jia before looking back at Jae. The gravity of the situation sank in, and the fear for Jia's safety was evident on both their faces.
Jae then glanced at Jackson with a mix of determination and anger, his voice firm with authority. "We need to be vigilant everywhere, alert all our members about this situation. None of Sis and I or Jia will go anywhere alone from now on. There will always be hidden members and experienced guards with Sis, Jia and me, and we must thoroughly check any location before going there. Immediately notify everyone, and increase security." The urgency in Jae's tone highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
Jackson nodded in determination at Jae's instructions. But suddenly, a Noise of falling something was heard outside the room door, quickly alerting both Jae and Jackson.
Jackson immediately pulled out his gun and cautiously moved towards the door. Jae's heart raced as he glanced at Jia then followed Jackson, their senses heightened and adrenaline pumping.
Jackson reached the door, gun in hand, prepared to face whatever lies on the other side.
Just as Jackson peeked outside, he saw a nurse picking up a fallen trolley of food, and it instantly clicked that the sound came from the trolley falling.
The nurse was about to look up when she sensed Jackson's presence, and before she could see his gun, Jackson quickly hid his gun. Their eyes met, the nurse was looking at Jackson with a confused look, while Jackson gave her a smile and looked back at Jae, who was standing nearby looking at Jackson's face in alert, suspicion.
Jackson then turned to the nurse and asked, "Are you alright?"
The nurse spoke up, her voice soft and apologetic. "I'm fine, I was bringing food for Mrs. Jia. I'm sorry that I dropped it."
Jackson nodded in understanding, but his alertness was still on and he replied, "Thank you. It's okay, accidents happen." Hearing this nurse smiled.
Suddenly Jae whispered from behind Jackson, not visible to the nurse, "Keep an eye on her."
His words hung in the air, and Jackson subtly nodded, understanding the suspicion that loomed over the nurse's actions. Their senses remained heightened, and Jackson's gazes fixated on the nurse, silently observing her every move with a smile.
***
Max stood outside at the entrance of the hospital, resting his hand straight against the wall while his other hand was on his waist. He was panting heavily as if he had just run a marathon, his face showing a mix of shock and disbelief. People passed by him, but he seemed oblivious to their presence, lost in his own thoughts. He took deep breaths, vainly trying to calm himself.
As he continued to stand there, he muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief. "Why didn't I ever suspect them? Was Jae the one behind all the deaths of my partners because they gathered information related to them?"
Max was completely stunned, struggling to come to terms with this new revelation. The truth was difficult to comprehend, and for Max, the realisation was like a punch in the gut. He wondered how a simple overhearing outside the hospital room where Jia was admitted could be this overwhelming.
Max took a deep breath, attempting to compose himself. He ran his fingers through his hair in an effort to regain control over his emotions. Once he was slightly calmer, he surveyed his surroundings before swiftly heading towards his car.
***
Sarah and Samuel hurried down the hospital corridor as soon as they heard about Jia's condition, eager to reach her as quickly as possible. Samuel was disguised, wearing a mask and a cap to conceal his identity. Suddenly, they spotted Bella nearby, engaged in a phone call. Without hesitating, they quickly approached her.
Sarah, her voice filled with urgency, asked as soon as they reached Bella, "Where's Jia?"
Bella, who was on the phone, was taken by surprise as Sarah and Samuel suddenly appeared. She quickly pointed towards Jia's room without saying anything.
And without a moment's hesitation, Sarah and Samuel immediately started moving towards Jia's room at a brisk pace, their concern for their friend driving them forward.
As Sarah and Samuel entered the room, their eyes immediately fell on Jae, seated on a stool beside Jia's bed, and Jackson, standing near the glass wall, engaged in a phone call. Sarah's tears began to stream down her face as she saw Jia lying on the bed.
They both moved towards Jia, and Sarah gently cupped Jia's face and cried out, "Why did you do this?"
Her emotional plea filled the room, and Jackson, ending his call, shifted his focus towards them. While Jae quietly observed Sarah, his face betraying no emotion as he too was hurting for Jia's condition. Samuel, his concern evident, stood silently watching the scene unfolding before him.
Suddenly Sarah's anger burned in her eyes as she looked at Jae then crossed the bed and confronted him, her voice rising in frustration. "I don't know why Jia married you, but I know that when you first met, you did something terrible to her."
Jae met Sarah's gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of annoyance and guilt. Samuel stood by, visibly confused, while Jackson watched the scene, his concern piqued.
Suddenly, Sarah grabbed Jae's T-shirt collar tightly, her words laced with intensity. "I can read Jia's eyes," Sarah continued, "and know when she's happy and when she's sad. Now tell me, are you the reason behind her suicide attempt?"
Jackson's eyes widened in apprehension as he watched Sarah's bold action.
Jae, his anger growing, warned Sarah in a low, tense voice, "Don't talk to me in that tone and let go of my collar."
Sarah, undeterred, replied firmly, "We were wrong to leave Jia with you. Everything bad has been happening to her ever since she met you."
Hearing her words, Jae's anger escalated. He grabbed Sarah's wrist, forcefully pushing her away before standing tall and glaring at her then climbing his steps towards her.
"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" He continued to step towards her, his voice low and filled with anger as he spoke.
Sarah's face showed no sign of backing down. She stood her ground, glaring at Jae defiantly. Before Jae could take another step towards her, Samuel, who had been quietly watching the situation, stepped between them, blocking Jae's path.
Samuel warned Jae with a dangerous look in his eyes, "Don't you dare lay a finger on Sarah. She's not an outlet for your anger."
Sarah and Jackson were taken aback by Samuel's bold move.
Jae, meeting Samuel's gaze with frustration, retorted, "I don't hit women, get your thoughts in order."
Samuel continued to glare at Jae, his eyes filled with anger. Jackson, sensing the tension between them, quickly tried to move forward, attempting to create space between the two men.
However, suddenly, Jia's voice echoed through the room, halting everyone in their tracks as she called out, "Sarah!"
Everyone turned towards the bed, where Jia lay awake, seeing which Sarah quickly approached her, her worry growing with every step.
Cupping Jia's face, Sarah asked desperately, "Bish why would you harm yourself like this?" As she spoke, her emotions overwhelmed her once again and tears gathered in her eyes again.
"It wasn't Jae's fault. Please don't blame him. I married him because I love him." Jia spoke softly and weakly, her eyes fixed on Sarah's tear-filled face.
Sarah chuckled softly between her tears, asking, "Then why did you do this?"
Jia casually replied, "I wanted to experience death, that's why."
Sarah's anger flared at Jia's words, and she responded sternly, "That's not a valid reason. Do you smoke cannabis to do all these strange antics?"
Jia weakly smiled at Sarah's scolding, clearly not taking her words seriously. Sarah's frustration grew as she said, "Don't smile like that! This isn't a joke, you know."
Jia's weak smile faded, and she seemed to understand Sarah's concern. She looked at Sarah with tired eyes, apologetically, and said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make light of the situation."
Sarah softened a bit, seeing the sincere apology in Jia's eyes. She sighed and said, "I know you didn't mean it, but you scared us all. We were worried sick about you."
"Now please stop crying," Jia said softly, her voice filled with fatigue.
Sarah sniffled and wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself while nodding and said, "Okay, I'll stop. But only if you promise me you'll never do something like that again."
Jia smiled softly and nodded. "I promise."
Sarah gently squeezed Jia's hand, relieved at her promise. "Good," She said, her voice filled with a mix of worry and relief. "Just rest now, okay? I will come back to see you."
On the other side, there was a warm smile on Jackson's face watching the emotional exchange between Sarah and Jia. Meanwhile, Jae's eyes filled with a mix of love and concern as he looked at Jia.
Sarah stood tall and looked at Jae, a hint of hesitation in her voice as she spoke to him. "I'm sorry, brother-in-law."
Jae, hearing her last three words, smirked softly as he slightly turned his head to the side and released a scoff.
Jia and Jackson, couldn't help but smile faintly.
Samuel, his gaze fixed on Sarah, seemed to appreciate her good nature. It was as if a gentle realisation or perception dawned upon Samuel, seeing Sarah's kind gesture towards Jae despite Jae's attitude.
After apologising to Jae, Sarah gave Jia one last warm smile and patted her cheek gently before heading towards the door.
Samuel followed suit, taking one last glance at Jia, saying, "Get well soon." before glancing at Jae for a brief moment then leaving the room.
As they stepped out, Sarah spoke to Samuel in a casual tone, "Samuel, there's no point in wearing that mask. Everyone recognises you anyway."
Samuel chimed in with a lighthearted response, "Well, I can't exactly go for plastic surgery, can I?" This prompted Sarah to chuckle.
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Leo sat on the floor near the living room coffee table, beating his head against the table while fake-crying and complaining. "My girlfriend is an absolute nightmare," he cried out. "I took her to the zoo, and she just started yelling at everyone, announcing that I'm also a wild monkey and should be put in a zoo cage." Leo continued banging his head against the table, his fake crying voice was loud. "Do you even know how embarrassed I was?" He asked, turning his head up towards the sofa where Max was laying, lost in some deep thought.
Seeing which, Leo questioned Max, irritation evident in his voice. "Are you even listening to me, Max? Are you even paying attention to my sad story?"
Max, still in his thoughts, looked at Leo and posed a question to Leo. "Leo, have you ever felt that Jae looked a bit different compared to Japanese?"
Leo, slightly taken aback, stared at Max, thinking he wasn't paying attention to his topic and in a sudden brought his own topic, but still after a moment's thought, he responded with annoyance, "Well, of course, he's insanely handsome. What's the point of bringing that up?"
Max suddenly sat up straight on the sofa, leaning forward and facing Leo. "No, that's not what I meant," he clarified. "What I meant was," Max continued, "He doesn't look anything like Uncle Shin. And when we went to Japan for the first time seven and half years ago, did you not find it strange when they said that all the elders died in the same accident?"
Max's words hung in the air as Leo stared at him, a mixture of annoyance and confusion on his face. "Death doesn't happen in an organised manner, you know," Leo replied, dismissing Max's idea.
Max persisted, grabbing Leo's shoulder, stating his belief, "Leo, Leo my brother, you're not understanding what I'm saying, I think Jae is not Uncle Shin's son."
Hearing this, Leo fell silent for a moment as he stared at Max. Then, he suddenly burst into loud laughter, mocking Max's theory. Max sighed and leaned back on the sofa, accepting Leo's lack of seriousness.
Just as quickly, Leo suddenly stopped laughing, picked up a magazine from the table before standing up and throwing it at Max's face, and he muttered, "Don't use your mind." With that, Leo walked out of the living room, leaving Max frustrated and alone.
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It had been three days, and Jae had been showering Jia with happiness in every way possible. He spent most of his time with her, taking her to beautiful places and making sure she was always happy and content. In return, Jia also made an effort to bring joy to Jae's life in her own thoughtful ways.
In the morning, as the sun was just beginning to rise, Jia stood in the garden holding a water hose pipe, watering the plants and flower beds around her. The sound of water trickling from the pipe echoed softly in the quiet garden, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The morning dew had not yet evaporated, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the surrounding trees. Jia hummed a cheerful tune to herself as she carefully watered the plants, taking care to ensure each one received adequate hydration.
She moved from one section of the garden to another, pausing occasionally to admire the beauty of the blossoming flowers and the fresh greenery. As she worked, the sunlight began to filter through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
At that moment, Jae appeared, dressed in a casual T-shirt and trousers. His right hand was stuffed into his trouser pocket while his left hand was covering his mouth, as he yawned and rubbed his eyes, indicating that he had just woken up and headed straight to the garden.
As he walked, he glanced at Jia, taking in the sight of her watering the plants. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. In a sudden, an odd pain gripped Jae's chest, a pain of losing someone, and he instinctively placed his hand over his heart, his gaze fixed on his own chest.
A mixture of sorrow and acceptance flickered across his face as he scoffed silently, as if silently speaking to himself, 'The pain is so intense that happiness has to beseech the pain to grant it some space.'
With a slight massage to his chest, Jae attempted to calm the pain within him, taking a deep breath in the process.
At the same moment, Jia's gaze drifted towards Jae. A mischievous spark flickered in her eyes, as she smirked playfully and suddenly directed the water hose pipe towards Jae, dousing him completely with water. Jae was caught off guard, completely surprised by the unexpected shower. He attempted to shield himself from the water, placed his hands in front of his face, but the attempt was futile.
"What are you doing?"
Jia, even if he moved to the other side, she still aimed the water hose pipe in that direction and continued showering on him, replied, "You're a flower too, you need a shower."
Jae chuckled, still keeping his hands in front of him. He then retorted, "If I am a flower, then you are the shower for me."
With that, Jae quickly lunged towards Jia, causing her to startle and drop the water hose pipe. With a burst of speed, she darted away, laughing gleefully, as Jae began chasing her across the garden.
As they ran, laughter filled the air, the water from the hose pipe started to create small pools on the ground. Jae, moving swiftly, finally managed to catch hold of Jia from behind and lifted her up effortlessly, spinning her around in the air.
Jia's laughter and joy were uncontainable as her feet left the ground. The sensation was exhilarating, and she felt weightless in Jae's arms, a perfect embodiment of carefree happiness. The twirling continued, the colours and shapes in their surroundings blending together.
As he set her down, they both collapsed onto the grass, still giggling and out of breath from the unexpected and exhilarating moment, the grass cool and damp beneath their backs. The morning light cast a gentle warmth on their faces.
They lay there for a moment, their laughter gradually subsiding. As their breathing returned to normal, they looked at each other, their faces flushed with enjoyment.
Suddenly Jia blurted out, "Who do you love the most in this world?"
Hearing this, Jae smiled but furrowed his eyebrows in response, asking, "What kind of love? Love comes in different forms."
Taking a moment to reflect, Jia then responded, her voice thoughtful. "The kind of love where you haven't felt as strongly for other family members, other friends, or anyone else."
Jae's expression softened, and he looked at Jia, a mix of tenderness and realisation in his eyes. He understood the depth she was referring to, the unique kind of love that surpassed the boundaries of ordinary relationships. Jae's gaze flickered upward, his eyes meeting the vast expanse of the sky.
A moment of silence ensued before he spoke, his voice soft yet filled with certainty. "If that's the case," he began, a slight pause hanging in the air before he continued. "I am in love with those dark, deep, blue oceanic eyes."
Jia listened quietly, her eyes holding a hint of melancholy as she understood the profoundness of his words and about whom he was talking about.
She looked up at the sky, a bitter smile tugged at her lips. "Ocean eyes, huh? Quite interesting," she commented, attempting to lighten the mood.
Their gazes remained fixed on the sky, their emotions intermingling with the vastness of the celestial canvas. In that moment, words seemed unnecessary as a mutual understanding passed between them.
Suddenly Jia quickly sat up while chuckling, as she looked around at the garden. With the water hose pipe still releasing a steady stream of water, a small pool had formed on the ground.
She joked, "At this rate, the garden will turn into an ocean."
Jae followed suit, sat up and surveyed the scene. Then his gaze shifted towards Jia, who started laughing, looking back at him. And he started to stare at her affectionately hearing her carefree non-stop laughter echoing through the morning air.
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