To Be or Not To Be A Family - Chapter 82

Ashma was standing in a corner looking at everyone present at the party. Everyone was laughing, smiling, talking, eating, drinking and enjoying while Young-Jae went upstairs to change his dress. Yong-Sun didn’t want to look at Ashma but his eyes followed her. He was still concerned for her. Till afternoon she was all pale and weak. After the second IV, the colour in her cheeks returned.

He was not sure if she was okay to stand for a long time. He didn’t want to think about her but all he could think was her. He didn’t want to look at her but all he could follow was her. Suddenly her demeanour changed. She looked angry. She went up to a boy whom he knew and started talking to him. Yong-Sun was concerned. He was concerned that Ashma would start a fight.

It was a party, guests were present. Young-Jae didn’t like her and if she started a fight at the party, he would definitely hate her. He loved his birthday and she was about to ruin it. Young-Jae was not there, now it was on Yong-Sun to stop the matter before it turned into a fight.

Ashma ran to the boy and chided, “how dare you enter this house? Dak-Ho, was it?”

Dak-Ho was sipping wine surrounded by a few more women and men. He looked at Ashma and was scared to speak, he started shivering. Not a word came out his mouth. He just looked at Ashma and gulped hard. The glass of wine in his hand was about to fall when Ashma took it away from him. She called a waiter and placed the glass on the tray.

A man with a sculpted face moved forward. The hanbok was tightly fitted showing off his lean muscles. His long hair complimented his tall height. His dark brown eyes looked deeply in Ashma’s soul.

“So, you are the one who beat him?” asked the lean man.

“What? I did what to whom?” Ashma asked innocently.

Won-Shik pulled Dak-Ho closer to Ashma and said, “You hit him in the café.”

“Hmm… And you are?” asked Ashma with gusto.

“I am his brother, Ryan Won-Shik,” replied the man.

“So, brother, what café are you talking about? I don’t understand what you are saying,” said Ashma sarcastically.

Won-Shik went in her face and snapped, “don’t act like a fool in front of me. He told me everything.”

“Oh, he told you everything, did he?” she looked dead into his eyes without any fear. She then went into Dak-Ho’s face and asked, “Did I hit you?”

With an open mouth, Dak-Ho looked at her. He then closed his mouth and gulped. All he could see before his eyes was how Ashma kicked his ass in front of everyone without even blinking her eyes. She had no pity, no remorse and he didn’t want anyone to know that he was bullying Bong-Cha. His parents and Bong-Cha’s parents would have killed him if anyone knew. So it was a good thing no one knew what happened in the café except his friends and his elder brother. “No, she didn’t. I don’t even know her. Let’s go, brother,” begged Dak-Ho and started pulling his brother away from Ashma.

“What are you talking about? Just a minute ago, you said she is the one who beat you,” shouted Won-Shik.

“It was my mistake, a genuine mistake. I thought she was someone else,” Dak-Ho kept pushing Won-Shik away but he was not ready to budge.

Ashma sucked her teeth and said, “Listen to your brother and walk away.”

Before Won-Shik could say anything, Yong-Sun immediately reached near them, grabbed Ashma’s arms and dragged her away from both the brothers and their friends. He hid her behind a pillar but before he could say anything she jerked her hand away and snapped, “What is your problem?”

“My problem? What is your problem? Were you really about to start a fight when there is a party going on, where everyone is watching you?” Yong-Sun spoke sharply.

“I was about to start a fight. Are you blind?” Ashma shouted back. “They approached me first.” She said and looked at both brothers. They were busy talking with each other and a few of their friends were sniggering. “And how could this family invite them after what he did to Bong-Cha?” barked Ashma.

Yong-Sun lowered his gaze with shame. “No one knows.”

“What do you mean ‘no one knows’?” What happened after I went to India?” asked Ashma.

“Nothing. She didn’t tell anyone,” replied Yong-Sun.

“What? Why?” shouted Ashma.

“Because she refused to tell them. She didn’t even want to talk on that topic,” answered Yong-Sun.

“That’s stupid.” Ashma threw her hands in the air with frustration.

“She says she wants to handle the situation on her own,” replied Yong-Sun.

“Like she handled it in the cafe when he was dragging her outside and harassing her. And you didn’t try to convince her otherwise?” Ashma was now angry at Yong-Sun. He knew everything, he was there that day why didn’t he inform the Park family about what happened?

Suddenly her mind went to the day Bong-Cha was bullied, that was the day Yong-Sun kissed her. She clenched her fists on that memory. She didn’t want any distractions. This time all she had to think was Bong-Cha.

“I did, but she made me promise, I won’t tell anyone. So, you too need to control your anger,” informed Yong-Sun.

Now, Ashma was angry at Bong-Cha. What was she thinking? Why was she not telling anyone what she had to deal with at the college? “Fine. What she wants to do in her life is her business, I could care less about her, but if they get in my face again, I’ll kick their ass. It won’t matter where I am or who is watching me,” snapped Ashma.

She gritted her teeth and walked away from Yong-Sun. He exhaled with frustration. “Ahh… this girl. She will drive me crazy one day.”

Ashma looked around the whole party. Bon g-Cha was standing at the bottom of the stairs alone waiting for Young-Jae. She kept looking at the clock on the wall and then the top of the stairs.

Ashma went in her face and growled at Bong-Cha, “what is the matter with you? Are you stupid?”

“Now, what did I do?” Bong-Cha couldn’t understand why Ashma suddenly became angry at her. She was fine after returning from India.

“Why haven’t you told your family about Dak-Ho and how he treats you and what the hell do you mean by you want to deal with this mess on your own? You couldn’t even get out of the mess in the cafe without my help,” snapped Ashma. Her eyes were turning red with anger.

“Aw… Big sis! If you are so concerned, why you didn’t inform my family about the same?” pointed out Yong-Sun.

“You…” Ashma growled and took a minute before speaking as she didn’t want to shout at the top of her lungs in front of so many people. “You were supposed to tell them. Because it’s not my problem, it’s your problem and today your problem tried to give me a problem. Sort it out, fast,” Ashma blurted out in one breath. Bong-Cha smiled at her concern.

Suddenly she realised what Ashma said. “Wait, what did he do?” asked Bong-Cha.

“His brother got into my face and if Yong-Sun wouldn’t have stopped me, I would have kicked his ass,” said Ashma.

“No, no, no, please don’t do that. Grandfather will be very upset. It’s his birthday, he loves his birthdays,” pleaded Bong-Cha.

“He loves his birthdays? Then, pray that they make me upset,” said Ashma sarcastically.

Both were so immersed in their talk that they didn’t realise that Young-Jae came down the stairs and stood next to them.

Ashma noticed him and snapped, “What?”

She was about to move away when Young-Jae asked, “What were you talking about?”

“What did you hear?” chided Ashma.

Young-Jae was annoyed as she talked rudely to him. “Nothing, I don’t have time to hear to your conversations.”

“It is better that you never listen in on my conversation, old man,” barked Ashma.

“Enough, you two. It’s a happy moment, please don’t spoil it,” interrupted Bong-Cha.

“Ask him,” said Ashma.

“Ask her,” shouted Young-Jae.

Okay, let’smove,” said Bong-Cha. She took both of their arms and took them to the middle of the living room.

The next instant the doorbell rang. In-Ho opened the door and a few men came in with a large red balloon. It was heavy as it was being held by two men.

“A gift for Park Young-Jae,” said a man who had a clipboard in his hand.

Young-Jae could not hide his smile. The big Balloon looked heavy, he thought it must be filled with money and coins. “What? Who sent this?”

“We are giving you this gift, sir,” announced Won-Shik and came forward from behind the crowd. He pulled Dak-Ho in front of him.

“Oh, thank you,” said Young-Jae with gratitude.

“Permission to stick it on your roof,” asked Won-Shik.

“Of course.”

The men who arrived with the balloon brought in a big ladder and decorated the roof with the gorgeous, big, red balloon.

After the balloon was in the place everyone said a few words about Young-Jae, it was Ashma’s turn. She didn’t want to but Eun-Kyung pleaded. For the sake of guests, she said yes to say a few words about Young-Jae. She stood in the middle of the living room. She opened her mouth to say something but the very next instant the big red balloon burst and she was drenched in red sticky liquid.

All looked at her in horror. She stopped breathing for a minute. The liquid was heavy and sticky.. She was drenched in blood.