The Love That Remains

Chapter 40: Your father sent a letter for you

[Eight Years Ago]

An hour passes by Ms. Sung brings them snacks. Bae Jaemin also joins them, acts goofy and trying to cheer him up. No response. He is listlessly looking out of the window.

"Han Soo didn't win any of the matches between him and Wang Mei." Bae Jaemin laughs and slaps Sung Jun's back. "Not one, Jun. Finally, he is going back to Korea without his prized sword."

"How is Wang Mei?" Sung Jun suddenly asks. It's been days since Jaemin heard him say a word. He can't help but be sarcastic at his friend. "She is better. Han Soo kept challenging her to win the sword back. His action helped her in some way." Bae Jaemin met Wang Mei when she visited Sung Jun with questions. Like Sung Jun, she looked like she lost a piece of her soul. The person is dead, but she left behind two living deads.

Wang Mei and Sung Jun stopped going to school. Wang Mei keeps getting into street fights while Sung Jun walks around the city at midnight to find her soul. Bae Jaemin doesn't know how to save these two. He already quitted his job. He can't leave these two broken ones alone here.

"When did you get here?" Park In Ha is startled when she hears Sung Jun's question..

She replies, "Sung Jun, you were the one who opened the door."

"Oh!" He blinks at her. "My apologies." There is a long silence that is broken by Ms. Sung's sob. She gets up and runs to her bedroom. Bae Jaemin covers his face with his palm to hide his tears.

"Your father sent a letter to you." She pushes the letter on the table toward Sung Jun. "I don't know what it is about. He asked me to stay here with you..."

Sung Jun isn't paying attention to her words. He tears open the envelope and reads the letter. His eyes turn sad when he finishes. He puts the letter back on the table and leaves them alone.

Bae Jaemin reads the letter after he has left.

"What is it about?" Park In Ha asks anxiously.

"His application for ghost marriage with Fang Aisa is rejected." Bae Jaemin's tone is emotionless. "In the personal note, the president has declared you as his fiance."

Park In Ha isn't happy to hear these words. She is sure that Sung Jun doesn't need to hear these words right now. President is heartless to his son. She is genuinely worried about Sung Jun's well being.

For the ghost marriage, the fiance or the lover needs three things. The first thing is proof that both parties loved and wanted to marry each other. The second thing is proof of engagement. The last thing is the approval of the council.

In the ghost marriage, the living partner lives as the widower or widow of the dead person. The person will join his or her partner after they die. It doesn't matter if the dead partner has already joined the reincarnation cycle.

In the human world, ghost marriage is not a serious affair. But it is not the same in the supernatural world. The ritual is taken seriously.

There is no way that the President will ever approve such a request.

"I will never forgive her." Bae Jaemin grabs his hair and closes his eyes in frustration. "That woman only thought about herself. She never thought of others. She was selfish and heartless."

Park In Ha is crying silently. She won't forgive Fang Aisa either. If that girl didn't want to live with Sung Jun, she should have never played with his heart. She doesn't know how to bear seeing him like this. It's not even him anymore. Just his shell walking around.

Since that day, Park In Ha is accompanying Sung Jun. Telling him stories. Telling him about their homes and classmates. Even singing to him. But he never pays attention to her. He would leave at the dead hours and search for her ghost near the bridge. Bae Jaemin and Park In Ha always follow him quietly. When he is done, he becomes disappointed and stares at the dark water with great pain. For months, this goes on. Until one day, she loses her patience and asks him, "Sung Jun, do you want to marry that woman this much?"

He turns around and sees her for the first time since that day. "I love her."

Her heart is shattered.

"I am sorry." He takes a deep breath. "Park In Ha, I understand what it's like to love someone now. I also understand what it is like to have a broken heart. I want you to go back home."

She falls to her knees and sobs loudly. "You are heartless, Jun. I have loved you since we were children. She is dead and yet, you can't forget her. What about me? How can I carry on living when you are here and suffering because of a selfish girl? What did she have that I don't have? I am prettier and better than her in every respect."

He looks down at her. There is only hurt in his eyes. He tries to look at Park In Ha. Thinking if he can love her. If he can move on. Can he? Can Park In Ha replace Fang Aisa in his heart?