#226

At the hospital...

Jaejoong rushed over to where Jaein was being treated for her injuries, once he was done with his treatment. And he wanted to go into the room, but the nurse refused to let him in. He had to resort to trying to peep into the room, whenever someone walked out and the door opened.

Doctor: Ms Jun... I think I'll need you to take a few tests before you leave... Just in case...

Jaein: Alright...

Doctor: Nurse, can you get ready to take some blood and urine samples from Ms Jun?

Nurse: Yes Doctor.

The nurse left to get the things, and when the door opened, Jaein could see Jaejoong standing there trying to pop his head in to peep in to check on her. It was quite a funny sight.

Doctor: Ms Jun. Do you know the man at the door? He seems to be trying to peep at us...

Jaein: Yes Doctor. He's my fiancé.

Doctor: Oh... Why didn't he say so earlier? We can let him in...

Jaein: It's alright... He can wait a while...

Doctor: But... He looks worried...

Jaein: It's okay... I don't want him to bother you doing your job... He can wait for the tests to be done first... It'll just be a while right?

Doctor: Yeah.

The nurse came back in with the things. Jaejoong stopped her at the door.

Jaejoong: Nurse... Is she okay? Why are you doing so many tests?

Nurse: Sir... The doctor wants to do some routine tests just to make sure she is okay... If you may, please let me go in now...

Jaejoong: Sorry...

Jaejoong stepped aside to let the nurse in.

Nurse: And... Please don't stand here... You're obstructing the doorway...

Jaejoong pouted and walked away to sit at the nearby benches to wait for Jaein.

The doctor drew some blood samples from Jaein, and the nurse led her to the restroom to get her urine sample. Jaejoong shot up from his seat when he saw Jaein come out of the room. He rushed towards her.

Jaejoong (blabbering at high speed): Jaein!!! Are you okay??!!! Why are they doing so many tests??? Is something wrong??? Are you hurt???

Jaein: Jaejoong-ah... I need to go to the restroom now...

Jaejoong: Oh...

Jaein: I'll be right back... They just need an urine sample from me... Then I can go...

Jaejoong: You want me to go with you?

Jaein: It's okay... The nurse will take me there...

Jaejoong: I'll wait for you here then?

Jaein: That'll be fine...

Jaejoong watched as the nurse led Jaein to the restroom. When she walked back, for the first time, he noticed that her face was swollen and red. Her lips were slightly cracked and signs of bleeding can be seen. Her wrists and ankles were blue-black and blistered from the ropes that bound her to the chair. His heart ached. His brows frowned worriedly.

Jaejoong's thoughts: NO!!!! DON'T TELL ME THEY HIT HER!!!!! THAT TWO IDIOTS!!!! I'LL MAKE SURE THEY PAY FOR THEIR CRIME!!! HOW DARE THEY HURT HER!!! It's all my fault... If it wasn't for me... She wouldn't be the target of Yuki's revenge... And she wouldn't get hurt at all...

Jaein noticed that Jaejoong was staring at her, she looked down consciously, as she didn't want him to see her injuries. She walked past him with the nurse to go back into the room.

Doctor: Ms Jun. The reports will be out in a week's time. Meanwhile, do take good care of your injuries. I'll see you again in a week's time. Bye.

Jaein: Yes. Bye Doctor. Thanks.

Jaein got up and walked out of the room. Again Jaejoong had shot up from his seat and rushed towards her. He had some medicine on his lip where Yunnie's punch had left it bleeding from a cut. He took Jaein's hand into his, and slipped his fingers in between hers, and led her out to his car.

Jaein (awkwardly): Where's Micky?

Jaejoong: He left first cos the police needed him to go to the station to make a statement. They took ours already just now, remember?

Jaein: Oh yeah...

Jaejoong drove quietly back to Jaein's house.

Jaein's thoughts: I don't know what to say to him. I don't want him to blame himself for what happened. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't his fault at all... It was Yuki... And Yunnie... No.... It was me... If I hadn't appeared in his life... All these wouldn't have happened...

Jaejoong parked his car at Jaein's apartment's carpark. Jaein turned to look at him. He wasn't moving.

Jaein: You have a good rest... Thanks for sending me back... Bye...

She unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car. Jaejoong watched as Jaein walked towards the lift lobby.

Jaejoong's thoughts: I feel so confused. When I saw her injuries, I felt so bad for causing her pain. Again... I vowed to never let her be hurt again. But what did she get on the day before our wedding? Kidnapped. Injured. And... almost.... raped... I can't even protect her from Yuki and Yunnie... What else can I do for her? Will she be happy with me? Am I too selfish to make her stay with me just because I love her? Even though I can't give her anything? And she has given me everything...

Jaein entered her apartment, and Snowball came running to the door, barking pitifully. It must have been so hungry alone in the house for two days without any food. Jaein reached down to cuddle him.

Jaein: I'm sorry Snowball... Are you very hungry? My poor baby... You haven't eaten for two days... Come... Let's feed you now...

Jaein got up and walked towards the kitchen and poured out some dog food for Snowball into its dog bowl. She sat down as she watched Snowball eat heartily.

*FLASHBACK*

Yuki: You stole Jaejoong from me and you're asking me why I am slapping you? To think I thought you were a worthy friend... I guess I was wrong...

Yuki: I WAS THE ONE HE LOVED IN THE PAST!!! AND WILL LOVE IN THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE!!!

Yuki: Don't even think I will let you marry him... I'm the one that's supposed to be his bride... Not you... You're unworthy of him...

Yuki (hysterically): HE IS MINE!!! NO ONE TAKES HIM FROM ME UNLESS I DON'T WANT HIM ANYMORE!!!

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Jaein: Maybe... Yuki's right... So many things happened when we tried to be together... Nothing seems to go right... Maybe... we're... just... not... meant... to... be... He deserves someone... better... than... me...

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The next day Jaein went back to work. She had waited for Jaejoong's call the whole night. But she never received any call from him. Maybe he was resting. That was what she told herself. But days went by, and soon a week passed. And Jaejoong still didn't call her at all. He didn't visit her at her apartment. He didn't even visit her at work. Maybe he was busy with work. That was what she kept telling herself repeatedly. But even his parents called to check on her. But there was not even a sms from Jaejoong. She kept telling herself not to think too much into it. But inside her heart, she knew that something was wrong.

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She went to the hospital again after a week to get her test reports.

Doctor: Ms Jun. Glad to see that you are healing well... I've just got your test results today... Your fiancé didn't come with you today?

Jaein (awkwardly): He had to work...

Doctor: Anyway, I have good news... Everything's fine...

Jaein: That's good...

Doctor: And... congratulations... you are two months pregnant.

Jaein (eyes wide open): WHAT?!!!

Doctor: You are two months pregnant...

Jaein's thoughts: How can that be? I... we... wait...

Jaein: You said how many months?

Doctor: Two months.

Jaein's thoughts: Two months ago... At the club...

Jaein: Okay... Can I go now?

Doctor: Yes... But I will refer you to a gynaecologist in the hospital that you can come back for regular check-ups on the baby.

Jaein: Thanks.

Jaein got out of the hospital and sat in her car, stunned speechless by the news.

Jaein's thoughts: Two months... I was so busy finishing up the work, I didn't even realise that I missed my period twice...

Jaein placed her hand over her tummy.

Jaein's thoughts: Thank god Yunnie didn't manage to do anything to me... Otherwise... I wonder what Jaejoong will say... Will he be happy? Should I tell him at all? Maybe... I should... No... I shouldn't... I don't want to pressure him...

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Micky: Jaein-ah... Is something wrong with you and Jaejoong? How come he never drops by to pick you up anymore?

Jaein: I think he is busy with work... Anyway, I have my own car... I can drive myself back... I don't want to trouble him...

Micky: Did you guys discuss about the rescheduling of your wedding?

Jaein's thoughts: Wedding... Are we still going to wed? I don't know... Does he still want me? Does he still love me? I really don't know...

Jaein: Micky-ah... I've got to finish this up now... If you don't mind...

Micky: Alright... I'll leave you alone to finish up your work...

Micky walked out of Jaein's office. He was worried about the two of them. They seemed to have distanced from each other ever since the kidnap case. Whenever he went out with Jaejoong, he never wanted to talk about Jaein. And when he tried to talk to Jaein about Jaejoong, she would avoid the topic and bury herself in her work. He decided that he had to do something to help his friends.

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Micky: Jaein-ah... Our firm's anniversary is coming up, so I am holding a party to celebrate it together with our clients and our staff. Can I ask you to help me settle the arrangements for the party?

Jaein: Sure. I'll see to it.

Micky: Thanks Jaein.

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At the party...

Jaein was dressed in a black large and flowy empire cut dress to hide her growing bulge. She had decided not to tell anyone about her pregnancy. And fortunately for her, she didn't get bad morning sickness, and only vomited slightly in the mornings, or when she smelled raw fish. So no one at the office could tell that she was pregnant.

She was welcoming the firm's clients at the door with Micky, when Jaejoong came. Jaein was happy to see him for the first time in so many weeks. She smiled cheerfully at him. He was wearing a white suit with some details on the lapel, paired with a white shirt inside.

Jaein's thoughts: He still looks so good... But he seemed to have slimmed down... Work must be tough... (to her baby inside her) Baby-ah... Can you see him? He's your daddy... Aren't you glad to finally see him? I know I am...

She felt a gush of sweet happiness flow through her when she thought of that. Her smile grew even more blissful.

Micky: JAEJOONG!!!! Thanks for coming!!!

Jaejoong shoke Micky's hand firmly and smiled.

Jaejoong: Congratulations on your firm's anniversary! May your business prosper even further!

Micky: Thanks... Help yourself to the food and drinks... (to Jaein) Jaein-ah... I'll let you entertain Jaejoong on behalf of me now... I'm sure both of you won't mind...

Jaein: I...

Jaejoong (butting in): It's okay... I can entertain myself... I think you need her more to help you welcome the guests... I'll see you later...

Jaejoong walked into the ballroom, leaving Jaein and Micky speechless. Jaein's cheerful smile dropped. She couldn't bear it anymore. His icy behaviour towards her was so hurtful.

Micky: Jaein-ah... I'm sure...

Jaein: Micky... I need to go to the restroom for a while... Can you take over first for now?

Micky: Okay.

Jaein: Thanks.

Jaein walked quickly to the restroom. She was afraid that she couldn't hold her tears long enough to reach the restroom. Once inside, she locked herself in a cubicle and vomited profusely, while her tears fell down her face uncontrollably.

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Jaejoong's thoughts: I feel like dying... What am I thinking?!!! She looked so happy to see me... And I just... I just rejected her... Her face... Her smile... How I missed her smiling at me like that... Is what I am doing right? Should I be pushing her away? I can't bear the disappointed look on her face when I rejected her... I wished that I could hug her in my arms and tell her I am so sorry for causing her pain... But will I cause her even more pain if I make her mine?

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Half an hour later...

Micky: Jaejoong-ah... Have you see Jaein around?

Jaejoong: No... Wasn't she with you at the door welcoming the guests?

Micky: No... She went to the restroom after you came in without her... I was so busy that I didn't notice than she didn't come back till all the guests arrived. I thought she had already joined you...

Jaejoong (worriedly): No... I haven't seen her... Have you checked the restrooms?

Micky: No... And the cake-cutting is about to start... So I can't leave...

Jaejoong: I'll help you look for her... You stay here for the cake-cutting...

Micky: Thanks...

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