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Chapter 4: The Amber Teardrop – October 8, 2022

Yunyeong opened the drawer of her jewelry box and gazed down at the amber teardrop.   She felt a wave of sorrow overwhelm her as she pulled it from the drawer.  Jungkook chose that precise moment to walk by their room.  He glanced her way and noticed that she appeared to be arrested by something.

“What is that, my love?” he murmured quietly.

She looked up at him.  “It’s a gift Eunho gave me when I was dating him.”

Jungkook’s eyebrows flew sky-high.  “You kept it?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.  I could never bring myself to get rid of it.  It served to remind me of my folly so that I would never commit it again.”

“I guess it worked.  You didn’t make that mistake twice.”

“No…” She frowned down at it distractedly for a moment.

“Yuni?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I was just thinking how strange life is.  I am here.  Married to you.  So happy,” she beamed at him.  “And Eunho is dead.  But his heart beats on in another girl’s chest.  He died so that she could live.”  

Twice over.

“I,” her voice caught on a sob.  “When he was raping me, I never would have thought he had that kind of heroism in him.  But he surprised me.  I think now that this necklace perhaps symbolizes the fire that burned deep down in his heart.  For some reason, I couldn’t reach that light.  But Haewon managed it somehow.  I am so glad she did.”

From behind her, Jungkook slid his arms around his very pregnant wife.  His hands came to rest on her rounded belly.  Absentmindedly, he caressed her skin through her shirt.  “Do you know what I think, Yuni?”

“Hmm?” She turned her head to look back up at him.

“I think you are a wonderfully forgiving person.  And I love you for it.  But most of all, I’m just so happy to see you delivered from the trauma you endured.”

“It’s because of you, Kookie, and the time we spent together in the beautiful garden you built for me.  Your love healed my heart.  It’s your beautiful heart that did it.  I love you, Kookie.”

“I love you, Yuni.  And this precious baby I can’t wait to meet!” He grinned down at her belly as he caressed it again.  

She turned towards him then and captured his lips with her own.  

After a few blissful moments, he murmured against her mouth, “So, what are you going to do with that necklace, Yuni?”

“Hmm.  I’m not sure.”

“I think you should plant it in the ground.”

“What?” Astonished, she stared up at him as she shook her head.  “No.  I think it’s an excellent reminder that people can surprise you.”

He looked at her in genuine shock.  “It doesn’t hurt you to look at it?  It’s no longer a reminder that people can hurt you?”

She shook her head.  “I guess it goes to show us how much my heart has healed since I met you.  When I look at it now, I don’t think of his deception or his abuse.  I think only of the change of heart he had when he fell in love with Haewon.  Apparently, your love was not the only redeeming kind.   Eunho found his own peace.  I’m just sorry that it cost him his life.”

“I don’t think he was sorry.  He stepped in front of a knife for her.  I think he loved her enough to die for her.  I think he would, in fact, be delighted to know that his heart was a match for hers.  And that his life force beats on in her body.  It’s a beautiful love story.  Though, a tragic one.”

“But it was always going to be tragic.  It simply started out as her tragedy…”

“…and ended up as his.”  Kookie smiled at her.  “And now, Haewon gets to live the life she always dreamed of.”

“Without Eunho, though.”

“I have a feeling she’ll find another grand love.”

“You think so, Kookie?”  She smiled sweetly up at him.  “You’ve always been a diehard romantic, haven’t you?”

“How else would I have built you a secret garden?” He chuckled as his lips found hers again.