63. It's All Your Fault

It had been a challenge getting rid of Elric for Yeon. He didn't want there to be any confrontations between him and Mijin since she was actually the one who'd requested to meet him at his parents house. Additionally, she seemed to have been off the radar lately especially after they parted ways at the airport before Stan's accident.

Everyone had been quiet during dinner, obviously his parents pitied him over Stan's condition and he repeatedly assured them he was okay but they would have none of it. Suzzie had moved out too. It gladdened his parents for she had taken a liking working at the gym and had been considered a permanent staff by Yeon's parents.

Now it was just the four of them.

"Mijin, you should create time and visit Stan too. You're making Yeon feel bad..."

"No dad, it's fine." Yeon jumped while glancing briefly at his sister. "She doesn't have to. Plus, Stan will recover soon."

"How sure are you son? It has been three weeks without change and it's making me anxious. How is it that he shows no sign of coming back when you are constantly scenting him? What is a fated mate anyway if they can't respond to you...?"

"Sweetheart, Yeon is already stressed as it is." Looking back at Yeon, his mother added. "Don't mind your father son. This situation has stressed him day and night. He still blames himself for not inviting you and Stan to sleep over that day since it was quite late after we'd landed."

"I'm glad it happened though." Mijin jumped in. "Those criminals are all now behind bars."

Her statement sent everyone into their thoughts as each of them interpreted it differently. Their parents looked at each other and nodded in agreement but Yeon on the other hand just stared as his sister, a nonverbal communication happening between them.

"Mom and dad, Mijin and I need to catch up. It's been a while since we spent time together..."

"Of course. You two proceed. Your father and I will clean up."

Yeon stood up and as he walked towards his room, he could almost feel his sister's stare.

Opening the door to his room, he turned around and was disappointed when Mijin went to her room instead, closing the door behind her. Sighing, he closed his door too and decided he had been too tired anyway to talk to her. Tomorrow maybe. After speaking to Mora and being bombarded with a lot of information, he felt mentally exhausted. Besides, he had been sleeping late for the past three weeks watching over Stan overnight.

A knock on the door startled him. He wanted to ignore it since he assumed it was Mijin but decided against it when his dad called out for him.

Opening the door, Yeon asked his dad after seeing the worried look on his face. "I will go back with you to Stan's parents house. Since he was discharged from the hospital, your mother and haven't checked on him and it reflects bad on us."

"Dad, I keep telling you to stop pondering over that..."

"I've decided to ignore you this time Yeon. I wish to see the source of your confidence concerning your fated's health. I know you. You don't like others worring about you and prefer to handle things on your own. Stop making us useless. I want to be part of the solution too and I can't help if I'm all the way here."

Unable to fight his father's stubbornness, Yeon said in surrender. "Fine then. I need to pass by the lab at Stan's uncle's hospital to pick something then we will proceed. It will be brief."

His father's face lit up a bit but he didn't say a word. He nodded and left, leaving Yeon watching him walk away.

It was then that Mijin's door opened. The doors to their rooms were facing each other and it felt uncomfortable for Yeon not being able to avoid his sister.

"Are you going to run away from me again little brother?"

"I thought you went to sleep..."

"Of course you'd assume that to avoid me. Mijin replied and leaned on her door, her eyes scanning Yeon from head to toe. "You look fatigued. Stan's condition must have taken a toll on you."

"He will wake up soon."

"You can explain it now. This is a torture of my curiosity."

Yeon looked at his sister in confusion, unable to comprehend her statement.

"Your confidence in Stan's recovery. I'm curious why you keep repeating 'he will recover soon' all the time. For those of us unfated to anyone, we hardly relate to those like you of how the connection works."

"It's the spiritual essence....hard to explain..."

"Is Stan really in a coma?" Mijin cut in, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe you two are playing a trick on us...or you are up to something Yeon? You are way too relaxed about this issue..."

"Why don't you ask Mora's brother instead?" Yeon said, unable take in any more of his sister's coyness and when her reaction gave her away as she gave into shock, he probed further. "He is your fated after all so you would want to protect him just like Stan did me..."

Yeon was cut short when Mijin grabbed his hand, dragging him into her room and locking the door behind her.

"What the hell!" Yeon exclaimed while pulling his hand away.

"Keep your voice down..."

"Oh yea...we wouldn't want mom and dad to find out that you were fated a long time ago..."

"How much do you know?" Mijin cut Yeon in, unable to contain her fear of being discovered.

"How much damage have you done?" Yeon answered back.

"Wasn't Elric's mother was handing the case? When I went to follow up with Mora, they said no one was allowed to see them. Not even the media or anyone else I asked had wind of their information or any update..."

"That is all you care about? Being discovered?"

"Of couese I'd care about that! There is no way in hell I'm going to prison!"

"Stan could have been killed! He could have died that day and all you care about is yourself?"

"Shh! Keep it down Yoen...!"

"I won't keep it down! I've had it with you! You are so selfish! You have had a fated mate all this time and you lied to everyone about it! You lied to Niel!"

"Hey! I loved Niel and so did he! It was not my fault he never noticed you!"

"Wow...you knew that too..." Yeon scoffed and covered his eyes after noticing Mijin staring at them. "Do not look at me. I'm a walking human glitch because of you... My body keeps changing I can hardl keep up with it."

Searching for the nearest seat, Yeon sat down and closed his eyes briefly, reminding himself to breathe but failed miserably. He couldn't keep his anger down.

"Damn it...I hate this...I hate this so much..." He spoke, feeling chocked and exhausted for constantly acting strong and keeping his cool so no one would notice the change in his eyes. It had only been Stan and his uncle that had known of it and now Mijin was aware too.

"Your eyes..."

"Don't say another word Mijin." Yeon raised his hand, gesturing at Mijin without raising his head. "I'm very furious at the moment."

"I can tell. Your scent is as unbearable as mom's."

The realization that he was letting out scent brought Yeon to a halt and after a while, he finally spoke up. "I do not think I can talk with you like this. I'm too tired to argue with you."

Standing up, he began walking towards the door when Mijin took a hold of his hand once more to stop him.

"I saved your life Yeon. I redeemed myself for what happened to you."

"Saved me? You're the cause of all this..."

Seeing that she had been successful to have Yeon look at her again, she took the chance to explain further.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you when you got marked but I hadn't realized how miserable your life was to the point of people not caring about leaving you behind. That day, Mora's brother was targeting me. He wanted to take revenge for leaving him since I chose Niel over him. I'm guessing he got further agitated when I made out with Elric that day too.

Mora's family is wealthy so they have managed to protect him all this while. I'm convinced he striked again since I still refused to be with him despite Niel and I breaking up. He's always been unstable and just like everyone else, he remembers your strong sweet scent. He threatened to follow you and use you to get my attention but I thought he was bluffing especially after almost getting caught during the first incident so when we were off to celebrate dad's birthday, he threatened to sell me out to the police over what Mora and I did at the party if I don't tell him of your wearbouts.

Knowing you, I knew you were going to wear that lousy jacket of yours so I tricked Stan into hiding your scent by you wearing his clothes. Like a fool that he is, he'd do anything to protect you without thinking through so it was easy to manipulate him into thinking your scent was stronger as before he marked you and I'm glad he fell for it. He must have heeded my advice for when I heard he was the only one hospitalized, it meant you were safe."

"What the hell Mijin..."

"You're safe little brother. I only did that to buy time so I could sort out thinks with that lunatic and things turned out better than expected. That jerk is behind bars now and considering what his family has put him through, no one would believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Even if he were to sell me out, his family will just use their networks to protect him and hide their dirty deeds."

"You put Stan's life in danger Mijin..."

"And saved yours little brother. It was either you or Stan and I'd choose you any day. Mora's brother knows how close I am with you, that's why he attacked you in the first place."

"How can you not comprehend how much damage you've done? Can you even listen to yourself speak right now?"

"Little brother, I've redeemed myself. I admit I felt guilty for the longest time for leaving you alone in that bar. I'd thought you'll get bored and leave as you normally did but you actually waited for me. I was careless and that was failure on my part. That night, your life did change completely. However, I protected you this time..."

"Don't celebrate just yet of your supposed redemption. My life changed that night alright. I met my fated mate because of you."

Mijin's face turned silent sinister. When she didn't utter a word, Yeon proceeded. "Because of you, I had the courage to allow myself hope for love again, experience it...want it. Stan has been nothing but supportive to me all through. I was depressed for the longest time living with you and Niel, watching you two flaunting yourselves infront of me without giving a care to how I felt. I can't blame Niel for he doesn't know how I felt for him but you did, which meant you did everything on purpose to spite me. Being with Niel and at the same time fool around, proving you can still keep him all to yourself.

No matter. I'm free of my feelings for Niel and you got your karma from him being fated to Elric whom you also bedded. It's such a shame Niel has to be the one stuck with working progresses like you two."

"Watch it little brother..."

"It is you that needs to watch it. You put Stan's life in danger and that threatens my life too. He is my fated mate after all. I admit for the longest time I hated my life and wondered why everyone's life seemed happier as opposed to mine, to the point of me wishing to take my own life But now, I feel a new strength built in me and it's all thanks to Stan and his family. If it wasn't what you did, I'd never have made him scent manifested for us to become fated that night."

"You hate him Yeon! Think of how rude he was to you. He used to call you 'the campus loner' and did nothing to stop people against calling you that too. He may be fated to you but he'd never lay his eyes on you or consider you worthy of him if he weren't fated to you. You should never have allowed him to mark you little brother. His affections are only temporary and after a few years, he'll abandon you just like your previous lovers except this time, you won't be able to recover from that loss..."

"Mijin, you are despicable so I beg you. Stop using Stan and I as a pawns to infuriate Mora's brother or whoever esle you're inolved with. He has not wronged you therefore, attacking him means attacking me."

"What a fool you've become to believe in love again. Was your resolve always this weak?" Mijin scoffed and watched his brother shake his head in disbelief. "Don't look at me like that little brother. I'm not the one who made you not to want to love again."

"No Mijin. By bringing Stan into my life, you've succesfully made me love again."