To Be or Not To Be A Family - Chapter 83

Everyone was looking at the big red balloon. The whole house was decorated with pastel coloured balloons but this was a shiny, huge, beautiful ballon with the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY written on it from two sides. Young-Jae was too happy to see that. Won-Shik shook hands with the delivery man and thanked him for the timely delivery.

Even after the delivery men left, everyone kept looking at the huge balloon and talking about it. Young-Jae kept thinking about the gift that was inside the balloon. He was too excited to burst it open.

As it was tradition, Eun-Kyung went to the middle of the living room and said, “just like every year, let’s say a few words about Shiahbuhji. I will go first. You are the eldest of our family, you provide us with wisdom and honour.” Ashma rolled her eyes at the word wisdom. “Thank you for being in our life. Happy Birthday, Shiahbuhji.”

Next, it was Young-Soo’s turn. He came and just said, “happy birthday, ahppa” as he was still angry at him. Young-Jae was disappointed yet he smiled at him. Young-Soo gave no expression.

Then Jong-Woo came for the speech. “Dear Keunahppa, you were father’s best friend. I lost my father years ago but you never made me realise that I have lost him. In you, I found my father. Thank you for that. Happy birthday, ahppa.” Young-Jae was overwhelmed. He went and hugged him with all the love.

Then it was Hae-Won’s turn. She said, “Keunahppa, three friends came from a small village. They had a tradition that our family will remain together. You have kept that tradition alive till now. It is all your effort that we all live like a large family together without any fight, thank you for giving me such a kind and loving family. I love you and happy birthday.” Young-Jae wiped his tears and hugged her too.

Hei-Ran came forward and stood in the middle of the living room as it was her turn to say a few words. “Shiahbuhji! Every year this day brings a lot of joy and happiness to our life. Celebrating your birthday and throwing a surprise party for you gives us joy too. Your heart is made of gold and whatever you touch becomes gold. Keep touching our lives and keep making us gold. Your intelligence, old age wisdom make us wise too. May you live a longer life. Happy birthday.” He went and hugged her too.

Ashma kept rolling her eyes and sighing with frustration during all the speeches. It was annoying her as everyone kept praising him even though he was a rude and arrogant old man. He was acting like a child but she knew how obnoxious of a human being he was.

“Who is coming next?” asked Young-Jae.

“It is our turn,” said all the kids in unison. Yong-Sun, Bong-Cha, Baek-Hyeon and Chin-Sun all came forward and stood in a line. They sang a beautiful Korean song for Young-Jae. Young-Jae’s eyes were wet with tears due to all the love he was receiving. When all four finished their song, the park mansion exploded with applause. Bong-Cha winked at Ashma after finishing the song. She shook her head in disbelief and smiled at her.

She was angry at her a few minutes ago but her cuteness was too much for her. She ended up smiling at her.

Won-Shik kept staring at Ashma. Not for one minute, his eyes left her. She was looking beautiful but he was more concentrated on revenge. Speech after speech happened. Everyone was annoyingly praising Young-Jae. Everyone respected him, loved him, Won-Shik never understood why. He was just a rich, old man.

Young-Jae kept hugging everyone who said a few words for him, then came the annoying song that his grandkids sang for him. He wanted to puke but had to behave in presence of so many people. He observed that Ashma kept rolling her eyes as the family member kept praising Young-Jae. He smiled at her expression. Soon all her expressions would be lost, he made sure of that.

After the song was finished, Eun-Kyung approached Ashma. “Go say a few words.”

“Mumma, you said I won’t have to do anything,” complained Ashma.

“Every guest wants to hear from you. What would they think if the guest of honour does not speak? People will talk,” weighed Eun-Kyung.

“You are trying to emotionally blackmail me, aren’t you?” asked Ashma.

“Yes, I am,” smiled Eun-Kyung widely.

“Ohh, why are you so intelligent?”

“I am your mumma,” said Eun-Kyung with pride.

“Uff… You are impossible.”

After much pressure from Eun-Kyung, Ashma went and stood in the middle of the living room, where everyone gave their speeches, just below the big balloon.

“Ahem… ” she cleared her throat. Yong-Sun looked at her. She was looking hot. He had to avert his eyes to control his feelings. She began her speech. “So, we all are gathered here to celebrate a birthday, a person’s birthday. Birthdays are a very special day in everyone’s life.” Eun-Kyung facepalmed. She was trying to avoid wishing Young-Jae a happy birthday. Bong-Cha made a disgusted face after hearing the opening line of Ashma’s speech. Baek-Hyeon tried hard to hide his smile. He covered his mouth stealthily with his hand.

Won-Shik waiting for this moment. His eyes flashed back to when the delivery men arrived. Before going they handed him a tiny crossbow when they were shaking hands. After Ashma scared the bejesus out of Dak-Ho, Won-Shik and his friend called a prank shop and set up the prank. They ordered a large balloon filled with pig’s blood and got it, especially for Ashma.

The moment Won-Shik and the party were waiting for arrived. Ashma was standing below the balloon. Won-Shik took out the crossbow and aimed for the balloon. The first aim was a failure. She kept talking nonsense about birthdays. He again took the aim. This time he succeeded. The arrow cut open the balloon and the liquid poured out of it with a large splash.

Ashma breathed heavily for a few minutes. The red blood was sticky and stinky. She ran her fingers over her eyes and shook off the blood. The heavy blood was making it difficult for her to breathe or see. Yong-Sun ran to her and offered her his handkerchief but she didn’t accept it as she was unable to see.

Yong-Sun understood and wiped her face. She blinked her eyes a few times, now she could see. Yong-Sun was standing before him. she could not look into his eyes due to embarrassment. She looked around. Everyone standing there in shock. A few other people were splattered with blood. But most of the sticky blood was on Ashma. Now because of her, Yong-Sun was standing in the blood.

Her eyes fell on Won-Shik, Dak-Ho and their friends, they were the only ones who were laughing. She understood everything. In fact, everyone understood everything.

“What the hell?” shouted Eun-Kyung and Young-Soo.

“Just a prank guys to welcome our Indian friend in our circle,” said Won-Shik and moved towards Ashma. He whispered so that only she could hear, “You mess with my brother you mess with me.”

But Yong-Sun heard him.

“Yeah, he got the idea from Carrie,” one of his friends said laughing.

She again wiped her face with her hands as the blood kept dripping from her head. She looked at the friend and said, “then he has not watched it completely because she absolutely wreaks havoc and kills all the bullies.”

Yong-Sun too was getting angry at Won-Shik. Ashma moved towards Won-Shik but Yong-Sun jumped in front of her.

“No, please don’t hit him. I can see you are angry and if you hit him, he can die,” said Yong-Sun with a smirk on his face. She understood the sarcasm in his voice.

She raised one eyebrow and asked, “so, you mean I should let him walk away with it?”

“No, I would never say that,” the moment he finished with his sentence, he punched Won-Shik hard on his chest. He fell down but got up quick.

“What weak shit was that?” screamed Ashma. “You hit like this. Let me show you.” She then punched him on his stomach and kicked him hard. He fell down again.

“Oh my god! That was too hard. You want him to faint?” scolded Yong-Sun. He immediate ran towards Won-Shik, helped him to get up and hit him up with a double kick. Won-Shik fell to the ground, his head bumped on the ground and he fainted. Yong-Sun was now satisfied with his punishment. “See what you did, you kicked him so hard he fainted.”

“You literally hit him last. It was your kicks, not mine,” complained Ashma.

“That’s enough both of you, is this why you called us, Mr Park? To get our son beaten up in your house,” screamed Ryan Jong-Ho.

Young-Soo steppe up before Ashma and reprimanded Jong-Ho, “this is the kind of stupid behaviour that makes everyone hate your kids. Are you blind that you can’t see what your kid did to my dau…” he was about to say daughter but he immediately corrected himself “our guest in front of all renowned elitists and media personals? You are well aware who all are present here, don’t you?”

“That was a harmless prank,” shouted Ryan Jin-Su.

“Dousing someone with blood is not a harmless prank,” shouted Hei-Ran.

“So, kicking someone hard is harmless?” shouted Jin-Su.

Yong-Sun again said, innocently, “I told her not to hit too hard, but she never listens to me, sorry ajhussi, ajuhmma.”

“How is it my fault? You hit him hard. I can’t even move properly due to all this sticky blood. It’s all his fault, Mr Ryan, Mrs Ryan. I’m sorry on his behalf,” deliberated Ashma.

“That’s enough,” Young-Jae who was silently watching the drama unfold, shouted. “Youngsoona! Arrange for Ryan Won-Shik to be taken to the hospital and thoroughly checked,” ordered Young-Jae. Young-Soo nodded. “Ryan-ssi! I have warned you multiple times and this is the last time, if you can’t handle your spoiled kids then I’ll handle them for you, do you understand.”

“Yes, sir,” said Jong-Ho.

“Ashma! Go and get clean,” shouted Young-Jae. He went close to her and said, “you stink.”

“You stink, old man,” she whispered back to him.

Come on sweetie!” said Eun-Kyung and took her upstairs. While walking away Ashma looked at Yong-Sun and winked at him. Suddenly he was very happy.. He smiled back at her sweetly.