Haneul headbutted Bang Su Jin ignoring the strain on his neck, and the hold became suffocating and painful. But he did not care as he brought his knees to land between his legs. Su Jin backed away from him with one hand holding the broken nose while he was crouched down as he held his family jewel that was throbbing in pain.
When everyone expected Haneul to continue lashing out at the artist or defend himself and his mother, he did the most unthinkable. Haneul laughed like he had heard the best joke in the world. There were tears in his eyes soon as he gasped for breath. No one knew if it was from laughing so much or from the strangulation.
He looked towards the door and asked the question with a smug look. His voice was raspy and sounded like a struggling whisper of a racoon. "Did you hear his confession?"
"Hear what?" The new voice asked neutrally as if he did not hear a word, but he became concerned about Haneul.
Haneul had a mock regret as he looked at Bang Su Jin. "Bad timing… Next time I should plan it carefully and let you spill it. I will make it happen if you ever come near me."
Bang Su Jin's face turned pale at the realisation that he had played right into Haneul's plan. And he knew the weight behind the warning. He did not know what to do, so he did the only wisest thing he could do - he decided to leave the place right away.
Before leaving, he did not forget his manners out of fear. "I will see you around, First Master Lim." Bang Su Jin straightened himself and walked out of the room as normally as possible.
After all, he could not be in the same room with the stepson of one of the women he had been sleeping with for years. But he did not know the stepson, and the father had known about it for a long time.
Lim Ro Han chose not to work for his family or take over the family and followed his dream to be a doctor. He recently started to work in a hospital S D Care after completing his studies in London. It is one of the renowned hospitals in the country, and it has branches all over Asia.
When he washed off the responsibility of the family business, it fell on his sister Lim Tae Ri's shoulder. He thought she would oppose it. But she took it well but did not engage in company management actively till now.
"I heard everything he said. I… am sorry he… That bastard! I am really sorry." Lim Ro Han came near Haneul and tried to examine his neck, but Haneul stepped away.
Lim Ro Han tried to smooth the awkwardness between him and Haneul. "When Tae-Ri said you were here, I did not believe it. It's good to see you back, Lim Haneul!"
"It's Choi Haneul! I was never a Lim and would never be a Lim family member!" Haneul did not hold back as he spoke to the eldest young master of the Lim family.
"As twisted as our fate is, you are my cousin. If only my uncle did not forge all the documents back then, you would have grown up with us. Everyone regrets what happened back then, and even Uncle regrets his action." Lim Ro Han was unwilling to back down. He watched his cousin, whom he had not seen in years, move around the room, looking for something, not minding his words.
Lim Ro Han was not holding back and throwing the family's dirty laundry in front of others.
Manager Do look at Choi Haneul, a little too baffled at the revelation. The entire celestials stood there frozen, wondering why their boss's cousin became their choreographer using a different name.
Haneul rolled his eyes as he finally found the refrigerator in the corner, hidden behind the stacked guitars. After moving the guitars gently, he grabbed a bottle of water from it and drank it in one go ignoring the stinging pain.
Haneul never regretted anything that happened in his life. On the contrary, he felt blessed for all those schemes. So he told the truth to the man who would have been his cousin. "I have no regrets!"
Even after having the water, his voice sounded a little strange, strained and painful from the strangling.
"I won't push my luck. Sorry." Lee Ro Han backed off when he realised that no matter what he did, Haneul would never accept their familial bond.
Lim Tae-Ri entered the room, not realising the drama that happened a few minutes back. "Haneul Oppa… you left your phone in my office. Sunbae called you."
Haneul took the phone without a word. She saw the faint fingerprints on the neck but did not say anything. Lee Ro Han moved closer to her as he filled in the details.
Haneul saw there was a missed call and called back immediately. Celestials looked at Haneul with worry. Even though they could only hear the one-sided conversation, the more they heard the voice, they all felt the pain.
"Little Choi! How was the first day?" The third master voice gave him a sense of belonging as it did all those years ago. The third master was the person who always treated him like a family and pampered him like a real brother.
Haneul's eyes softened when he heard his 'brother's' question.
"It's okay. Just met Bang Su Jin." Haneul's voice was strained a bit as he responded.
"Why do you sound like that? What happened? You want me to deal with him?" The series of questions warmed Haneul's heart.
"I already put him in his place, hyung. Don't worry about me, and enjoy your honeymoon." Haneul opened the refrigerator again, looking for more water.
"Third honeymoon." The response from his favourite senior made him smile a little and believe a bit more in true love.
"Doesn't matter. Spend time with the love of your life. If I need help, I will call your brothers. I am hungry now. Bye!" Haneul smiled and felt much better after talking to his 'brother'; no pain of his - both physical and emotional, mattered anymore.
Haneul drank the next bottle bit slower. The silence was choking everyone as much as the truth they had learned.