CHAPTER 24...
"▽▽▽▽"
~ ASAN HOSPITAL, SEOUL~
Raphael and Mabel rushed Violet to the hospital while still locking hands.
Mabel was so worried, she couldn't fix her mind on one thing. She almost thought it was a bad sign to their relationship.
"Bels!" Raphael called cutting through her thoughts.
Mabel looked at him with worried eyes.
Raphael held her chin.
"Are you okay?" He asked calmly.
Mabel nodded taking in a few deep breaths.
"Violet will be fine... She isn't the passing out type of girl but I guess she stressed herself way too much for the past few days... But she's going to be fine!" He assured patting her hair gently.
The doctor checking up on Violet walked to Raphael.
"Are you the patient's guardian?" He asked and Raphael nodded. He pulled Raphael to the side.
"Yes doc... How's Violet doing? What happened to her?" Raphael asked in a concerned tone.
"Em... Miss Violet must've been going through a chemotherapy session and it's draining her a bit. She was only stressed out and that's why she passed out! She'll be up in no time... Excuse me!" The doctor informed and left.
"Raph, is Violet okay?" Mabel asked worriedly.
Raphael nodded still in shock at what the doctor just said to him.
Just then Simone ran down the lobby hastily. He looked around in search of them.
He ran to Raphael breathing heavily.
"Raph, where's Violet? Have you spoken to the doctor? What did he say?" Simone asked panting.
Raphael walked closer to Simone.
"He said something about chemotherapy... Simone, do you have any idea about this? What chemotherapy? Is Violet battling with cancer?" Raphael asked in a high-pitched tone.
Mabel covered her mouth in shock with her palms.
Simone licked his lower lips while looking away. His expression said everything to Raphael.
Raphael grabbed him by the collar.
"You better give me a goddamn answer before I punch you in the jaw!!"
"I also wanted to tell you about it but you've been busy with the art gallery exhibition and Violet didn't want me to say anything to you!" Simone jolted.
Violet came out of the room she was receiving treatment. She looked at both Raphael and Simone.
She walked towards Raphael and grabbed his hand.
"Violet, you're awake?" Simone asked with a relieved smile on his lips.
"Violet, what are you doing?" Raphael asked confused as to why she held his hand.
Violet glared at him. "Let's talk... In private!"
They both left for the open field at the floor they were. It was less crowded and quite airy.
When they got there, Violet let go of Raphael's hand and she sat down on a bench.
Raphael joined her.
"Seeing how you walked energetically... I'm guessing the drip did something good on you" He chipped in breaking the silence.
Violet cleared her throat and folded her arms with a mean expression on her face.
"Don't blame Simone for not telling you anything about it. I told him not to, I didn't want you to worry and since I was going through some treatment, I know I'll get better in no time so you've got nothing to worry about" She uttered in an unfriendly tone.
Raphael exhaled sharply, he could sense the anger in her voice.
"What's going on with you? What are you so upset about?" He asked without even looking.
Violet glanced at him and scoffed.
"At least you're observant to notice I'm upset..." She paused.
"So what now? Are you both official now?" She added holding her tears.
Raphael turned to her.
"Yes, we are! I hope this gives you an answer to your unanswered questions. Violet, it's time to let go of me. I couldn't fall for you before I met Rein and I still couldn't do it before I fell for Mabel. It's never happening. You've always been a friend to me and you'll continue to be so!" Raphael blurted without thinking about hurting her feelings.
He knew Violet probably passed out cos of his confession to Mabel.
Violet bit her lower lips as she forced herself not to cry.
"You've known all these while?" She asked in a cracked tone.
Raphael nodded and the tears in her eyes dropped.
She wiped them off immediately.
"It's a good thing you know and for your information. I'm moving on from you, so don't even think I'm ever going to fall in love with you again... I'm wishing you a beautiful relationship with Mabel even though I don't want it to be beautiful, I just want you to be happy. After so long, I saw that smile I couldn't bring to your smile and it came back all cos of her... Who am I to go against destiny..." Violet cried staring at him.
Raphael felt terrible seeing her breakdown like this. These was what he always wanted to avoid. He never wants to see her hurting cos of him.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
"Are you consoling me after breaking my heart or are you comforting me for choosing someone else?" She cried in his shoulder.
Raphael chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Silly... I think they're both same thing..."
"Violet, I want you to be happy. I'm sorry I can't be the one who gives you that kind of happiness but don't shut down other sources of happiness. Prove me wrong that you deserve better!" Raphael comforted then she broke the hug.
She sniffed hard, glaring at Raphael.
"Just wait and see how I end up with a more handsome, Caring and hardworking guy... I'll make you regret this!" She said playfully wiping off her catarrh with the back of her palm.
Raphael laughed seeing how she childishly rubbed up the catarrh to her cheeks.
"Dirty girl!" He teased.
★★★★
~ HOUSE OF REPS ~
All the ministers, senators and political parties were present.
Mr Bu was seated in the middle since he was the center of discussion.
"Minister Bu, what's your say on the circling rumors on the internet?" One of the ministers questioned.
Mr Bu cleared his throat pulling the mic on his table closer to himself.
"Those photos were photoshopped! Why on earth would I want to jeopardize my future by doing what most of our elders on this table speak against! And I will never disrespect my wife and daughter in that manner!" Mr Bu lied through his teeth without even blinking.
Minister Joon his opposing party laughed in mockery.
Mr Bu glared at him angrily as he clenched his fist.
"And you think we're just going to buy your words over hard copy proofs. It wasn't a single photo of you having the greatest pleasure of your life but multiple so you were photoshopped with so many other men?" Minister Joon questioned in a mockery tone.
Mr Bu hit the table angrily.
"Watch your language Joon. You obviously did it so you will make me lose my votes and support from the citizens!" Mr Bu yelled.
Minister Joon laughed as he enjoyed every part of Mr Bu's anger display.
"What are we still waiting for? Shouldn't you tell him the update regarding his votes and supporters from villagers"
"Em... Minister Bu, I'm sorry to disclose this to you but you've lost 60% of your votes to minister Joon so you're dropping out of the election" One of the senators announced.
Mr Bu widened his eyes in shock.
"No, you can't do this to me! Not after everything I've done to get to this point... I will still push through with the election. I'm not backing down" He protested.
Minister Joon laughed annoyingly.
"Stop laughing, jerk!" Mr Bu cursed glaring at him.
"You wish to be known in history as a failed minister and a scared gay... Get your title straight, Bu! You can't eat your cake and have it..." Minister Joon stated in a mean tone then he walked out of the hall.
So many ministers left with him.
"I will destroy you, Joon!!" Mr Bu grunted punching the table angrily.
"Minister Bu, it's best to step down now than get disgraced during the debate... Don't waste money on failure!" Chairman Jeon advised then left the hall.
★★★★
~ MABEL'S FAMILY RESIDENT ~
Mrs Park have been humming to her favorite song ever since she watched Raphael's confession to Mabel.
"Honey... Why are you so excited? I think you've added enough salt to the soup!" Mr Park whined.
Mrs Park cat walked to her husband and pecked him on the cheeks.
"What do you think will be the color of the day?" She asked grinning from ear to ear.
Mr Park furrowed his brows.
"What color of what day?" He asked confused.
Mrs Park laughed so hard.
"Or the name of my first grandchild? Do you think Raphael will be fine with Mabel's family naming their child?" She asked with her hands on her jaw, she looked at the beautiful sky through the window.
She was so in sink in her delulu world.
Mr Park shook his head and folded his arms on his chest.
"Mabel loves pink so I think the color of the day of their wedding will be pink... Yeah pink sounds perfect!" Mrs Park clapped excitedly.
"Honey, can you please finish up with lunch and stop being so delusional. I need to teach that jerk a lesson for making my daughter ask him out in the first place..." Mr Park grunted.
Mrs Park turned to him angrily and slapped his back hard.
"Don't even think about it! You will do no such thing to my son in-law. I'm hoping to set a date for their wedding when he comes visiting!" She said with a smile and left for her room.
Mr Park rubbed his back with the chair as it hurts from his wife's hit.
"She's losing her mind. Now I know why Mabel never had a boyfriend! Delulu Queen!" He rolled his eyes.
"Blood,sweat and tears..." Mrs Park sang loudly from the bedroom.
★★★★
Raphael drove Mabel down to a district restaurant so they don't get disturbed on their first date.
They both sat facing each other with their fingers locked into each other's.
Mabel smiled widely than she has ever done before.
"You look happy... Am I perhaps the reason behind those smiles?" Raphael asked calmly.
Mabel nodded multiple times like a teenager who just got her first boyfriend.
Raphael laughed and kissed her hand.
"Have you always been this cute?" He asked with a smile.
Mabel blinked cutely.
"You mean this cute?" She asked still blinking.
They both burst into laughter.
They continued laughing till their orders were placed on the table.
"You both look good together!" The waitress complimented after seeing the excitement in both their faces.
Raphael flicked his brows playfully.
Mabel chuckled. "Stop making me laugh so much!"
"I plan on doing this for a lifetime though..." Raphael cut in with a heart fluttering comment.
Mabel's heartbeat skipped, she immediately felt fireworks inside her belly.
"You're good with words!" She affirmed.
Raphael laughed.
"I'm only this good cos I'm with the woman who stole my heart without my consent..." He whispered.
Mabel covered her mouth in excitement as Raphael kept spoiling her with words. Her excitement brought tears before her eyes.
"Bels, you're crying?" Raphael asked with so much concern and he stood up took out his hanky and wiped off her tears.
Mabel laughed while still crying.
"These are tears of joy... This is how much happiness I feel inside just having you by my side. My emotions are overflowing!" She said with a sad smile.
Raphael smiled and held on to her hand.
"I must've been a horrible person to you..."
"Not at all... You just didn't want to give in to me. Talking about that..." Mabel uttered with a silly smile.
"Since when did you realize you had feelings for me?" She questioned curiously.
Raphael bit his lower lips thinking hard on her questions.
"The first week I spent in California or the second week... Anyways I fell for you way earlier than you did!" He said with a smile.
Mabel laughed...
"Too bad but I fell earlier than that..." She uttered mysteriously.
Raphael leaned closer to her.
"How early?"
"The night you showed up at Charlotte's 23rd birthday party!"
Raphael covered his mouth in shock. "You were present at that party?"
Mabel nodded picking up her chopsticks.
"I think then I wasn't even in a relationship with Rein yet... Should I call this fate or destiny?" He asked smiling.
Mabel swiftly stood up from her chair and gave him a short kiss on the lips.
"What was that?" He asked with a blank expression.
"An appetizer! Let's eat" Mabel uttered without even looking at his face.
Raphael pouted touching his lips.
"What's wrong Raph?" Mabel asked staring at him.
"Why would you do that to me? That was the first kiss from my girlfriend. That kiss was shorter than a second..." He complained like a child.
Mabel laughed.
"I'll give you a longer one when we're done eating!" She assured.
Raphael kissed the back of her palm and smiled.
"You owe me one!" He winked.
Raphael picked up his chopstick to eat when a call came in through his phone. It was a call from Josh.
"Josh's calling..." He uttered and took the call, placing the phone across his ear.
"Bruh, what'sup?"
"Raph, where are you? I think something chaotic is happening here..."
Raphael dropped his chopstick.
"What do you mean?"
"Three beautiful young ladies showed up at your doorstep with their luggage... Are these perhaps your..." Josh couldn't finish his statement when they snatched the phone from him.
"Oppaaaaaaaa!!! We are there!!" They uttered in chorus.
Raphael widened his eyes in shock. He had a quick flashback on why he ran away from home years back and how his sisters landed him at the hospital.
Mabel looked at him worriedly. "What's going on?" She asked in a low tone.
Raphael hung up the call still in a state of shock.
"My parents' triplets just flew down to Seoul..."
"You've got siblings?" Mabel gasped in shock.