Chapter Text
“Is everything prepared?” Clopeh asked as everyone settled on their spots.
A chorus of “Yes” filled the room as everyone looked toward Rok Soo who took it as a sight to begin the next tale.
You already know that Deruth, Zed, Lily, and I were childhood friends. Deruth Henituse is the owner of Golden Turtle Retail. A quick explanation of their business, they primarily engaged in the real estate development and operations sector, specifically, retail real estate development.
They are so rich that they could build a city within a city imagine that.
“I’m amazed that even in this world the Henituse family is still the richest family,” Bud exclaimed.
Cale who heard the praise puffed his chest out with pride.
“I agree and it is still unfair, but life is unfair,” Rok Soo sighs as laughter erupts in the room.
“Anyways, back to the story…”
Deruth was a very quiet kid. He grew up with loving parents and never lacked anything, being the son of the wealthiest man in the world and all, but he was lonely. He didn’t mind it at first (he told us himself) because he had his books but seeing his peers playing with each other, he started to year for the same thing but because of his introverted attitude, he didn’t approach them and they didn’t approach him. However, it all changed when he turned 8 years old and started second grade, that’s when he met Zed and me, well, he met Zed first before me, and since then we have just become friends and later on in High School, he met Clopeh too.
“Can we just skip to their love story?” Hannah asked as everyone looked at her with annoyance.
She then replied with a questioning look, “What? Didn’t we ask for their love life only?”
Jack looked Hannah’s way as he spoke, catching the attention of others, “That’s true, but I am sure everyone is also curious about how they met,” he said as they all turned their attention back to Rok Soo.
They then all started complaining to Rok Soo about what story should come, and that was when Clopeh chimed in, “Now, now, I’m sure we have plenty of time to talk about it, right Rok Soo?”
Rok Soo smiled at him as if saying thank you.
“That’s right, but for now it will be about the quartet love story, so I will just skip to the part where they first met.”
They met during one of our gatherings when I brought Jour along. A brief background on how I met Jour, it was because she was an exchange student during our last year in High School, and coincidentally she was in our class.
“I have a feeling Death had pulled some strings,” Cage says with pure conviction.
“I also have that feeling, since the last memory I had when I died was when I talked with Death,” Rok Soo confirms.
Those words seemed to strike something because suddenly, the room fell silent, that was until someone yelled from the other side of the room, “Aghhhh, enough of it already! What matters is that we are all together now and living a better life.”
They all turned to where the voice was and saw that it was Archie who was now eating the snacks on the table.
Before he could say anything else, laughter erupted.
“You’re right, we shouldn't feel too sad about the past,” Witira says while slapping Archies back to which he reacts with an “oooof”.
“Okay, enough of it all, so what happened next?”
This time it was Cale and Rok Soo who could see how his eyes shone which made them chuckle as he continued…
Let’s just say the moment they laid eyes on each other, they were already drawn to the other like a moth to a flame.
“Looks like nothing changed,” Cale states as everyone looks at him with a questioning look which he notices and replies, “Because in the previous life, they also fell in love the moment they laid eyes on each other.”
Everyone nodded like they finally understood as Kim Rok Soo continued…
Then, the pining started, and it was so frustrating watching them. Finally, at the end of our semester, after a year, they confessed their feelings to one another. Then, they started dating for three years until the accident happened. This is why you should drink responsibly and ensure you are not alone.
The last part made the room gloomy again making Rok Soo worried while cursing to himself, ‘Why did I have to say that.’
He planned to end the story there, but Cale grabbed his shirt and said, “Don’t stop, continue.”
“Are you sure?” Rok Soo asked worriedly.
“Yes”
Nodding Rok Soo continued with the story.
When it happened we thought that pregnancy was not possible because it only happened once. Zed also said it took them a few tries before Leah got pregnant, so we all just hoped for the better and left it.
A few weeks passed, and Jour started experiencing morning sickness. It was already a sign, but we wanted confirmation. She took a pregnancy test—and there it was. Turns out they were both very fertile.
After the revelation, they were afraid and worried. First, they were still studying. Second, they feared their parents’ reactions. We tried to comfort and reassure them.
After much discussion, Deruth and Jour decided to tell their parents. As their friends, we accompanied them to give them the strength and support they needed during that fragile time.
When they finally told the truth, silence filled the room—not the comfortable kind. We sat there, waiting for anything to happen. The tension was unbearable. The mothers were tearing up, the fathers remained silent. Before we could say anything, Jour’s father told us to leave the room. We wanted to protest, but one look from Deruth and Jour made it clear—they needed to do this alone. We complied and left.
“NOOOO!!! You shouldn’t have left!” Cale shouts in distress, but Clopeh replies, “And we would not have left, but since it was their wishes, we had to comply.”
Cale just looked at them with pain in his eyes, but understanding why they had to do it, he relaxed while Basen and Lily hugged him.
When Rok Soo sees that they are all calm enough, he continues the story…
I don’t know how long we sat outside. I remember leaning near the door, Clopeh against the wall, Zed pacing back and forth, ready to burst in at the first sign of conflict. Lily sat beside Leah, trying to keep her calm because stress could affect both mother and child.
After what felt like hours, we heard a voice from inside telling us that we could come in, we didn’t hesitate and immediately opened the door. There we see Deruth with swollen cheeks. That made us furious, and we were ready to go against whoever hit him. But Deruth, sensing our anger, gestured that it was fine.
Still skeptical, we scanned the room and saw Jour crying, but both mothers held her, whispering words of comfort. The fathers, now much calmer, were talking to Deruth—not scolding, just advising him on what to do next.
Seeing that the tension had eased, we relaxed. It seemed like they had already resolved things. Later, after emotions settled, Deruth announced that he and Jour would get married three months from now. We weren’t surprised. Knowing Deruth, we expected nothing less. He was responsible—well, maybe not at the moment it mattered most, but he was taking responsibility now. So they got married and had the most wonderful wedding.
Rok Soo saw how everyone’s ears perked up when the wedding was mentioned and he knew what they wanted but he decided to tease them.
“If you want to know details about their wedding, just ask them yourself, I only remember being very exhausted with all the preparations,” Rok Soo said with a mischievous smirk as the room erupted with groans.
Ignoring them he continued…
Six months after, Jour gave birth to Cale and two months after, Deruth graduated.
“Question, not related to the story, but I am curious how will you describe their love?” Dodori asked curiously which Rok Soo replied immediately, “Fire”
“What?”
“Their love is like a fire,” Rok Soo repeated and said, “I will tell it with the story.”
When asked to describe their love, people always said it burned like fire—bright and passionate, consuming everything in its way, including obstacles. I agreed. But just as fire can blaze fiercely, it can also burn out.
As Deruth then took over his family business, he became busier, but he still tried to make time.
During the early years of his marriage, he had so much time with his family, but as the business blossomed, he got drowned with work.
It started with coming home late which was normal but as the workload increased and more overtime was required of him, his coming home late turned into coming home three times a week until he no longer came home.
Rok Soo how Cale looked at him with what looked like judgment and Rok Soo just chuckled and said, “Okay, that was an exaggeration, he still came home but most of the time it was already very late and he always goes to work before the break of dawn.”
After he said that, Cale nodded with approval and gave him a continued gesture…
We tried to help out by finding ways for Deruth, Jour, and Cale to have time for each other, like birthday parties, anniversaries, and even holidays, but we could only help until that point. Jour on the other hand also went back to studying to finish her major which also became another factor. They still spend time with Cale as much as they can, but time for each other decreases.
They kept telling us that they were still fine and there was nothing to worry about, but the exhaustion on their faces was very obvious we tried to push further but it resulted in a big fight.
So we all agreed on the lines that can and can’t be crossed, and this was a line we were not allowed to cross. So the only thing we can do is to trust them that they know what they are doing. Ever since that fight everything seemed quiet, so we thought they were able to resolve their problem.
“But it didn’t right?” Lily says sadly which Cale slowly confirms by nodding his head as Rok Soo also says, “Yeah, we thought it was finally over and that they would be back, but then…”
…the biggest most unexpected event happened. It was our quarterly gathering. When I entered the restaurant and saw them, I immediately noticed that something was amiss, I thought it was only me, but as everyone arrived, I could see that they also felt something that wasn’t right, but we tried to ignore it and just enjoy, but nearing the end that's when the bomb was dropped. Deruth and Jour announced that they decided to have a divorce.
Their love that was blazing like fire met its end.
We were all shocked and we tried to ask for the reasons, but all we got was 'It didn’t work out and we didn’t want to hurt one another anymore, that’s why it is better to end it before things got worst' and that was it. We wanted to pry further but one look from them made us back out.
That’s when I asked about Cale and they responded with, ‘We already talked with him about it and he seemed that he took it in well’
I knew something was amiss but since they already closed the door, I let it go.
Then three months later their divorce was finalized ending their six years of marriage. We wanted to cheer them up, but there were very few that we could do it was futile, I wanted to do more, but then I was called for my military service. During that time Deruth met Violan.
They met because their company was in partnership. All I knew was that Deruth fell in love again. Violan was already a widow with a two-year-old son, Basen.
This time it was Basen who chimed in and asked, “How was it like?”
Rok Soo just smiled and said, “I am not sure of the details, so it’s best to ask Deruth himself, he will be able to answer you better.”
“Okay”
Rok Soo smiled and continued…
From what I have heard they have only known each other for a year and then they got married the following year. So imagine my surprise when I came back and Deruth had already married again and Violan was already pregnant.
Let’s just say that I had a very long talk with Deruth, no need to know the details.
So the following year, Lily was born. Now during this time, we were worried for Cale, but we didn’t have to worry that Cale would have a hard time bonding with Basen, turns out our worries were not needed because he was able to bond with Basen immediately and he respected Violan and even cheerfully welcomed her. So we thought everything was alright, but then one day Cale started turning into a troublemaker.
Upon mentioning that last part they saw how Cale turned a crimson red matching his hair.
Cale noticing their smirks and having those knowing looks coughed and said, “Well, at least nothing changed and I’m sure everyone already knows the reason.”
“Looks like the habit from the previous life never escaped, but seriously there are many ways to go about it but you chose that?”
Cale doesn’t see who said it and replies defensively, “Well, excuse you, but remember I was very young, and in my toddler mind that was the greatest plan.”
Laughter erupted again to Cale’s dismay, but at least the gloominess disappeared and Rok Soo continued with the story…
This situation made us worry a lot and we were trying to figure out what caused it, so while working on my “Throw the Trash” operation, the one regarding Lily’s father, not baby Lily but Zed’s current wife, I asked Clopeh to look into Cale to find out what caused the change of behavior.
“Good thing he is no longer around if not I would have given him a piece of my mind,” Alberu says followed by the others agreeing.
Rok Soo sighed while shaking his head, but he knew that Alberu was serious, so he decided to continue the story…
Then we discovered the bullying from the branch family of the Henituse. Turns out they were bullying Basen and Cale who heard about it, beat them up. When they left, he talked with Basen, and after their talk, that’s when he changed.
Cale wanted to protect his new mom and brother that’s why he decided to cause as much trouble so that they wouldn’t look down on him and bully his new mom and brother.
Lily and Basen came even closer if it was even possible, to Cale and hugged him.
Basen then said, “Thank you hyung for always protecting me, in this life and even in the previous one.”
Cale smiled and ruffled his head and said, “Always”
Cale also ruffled Lily’s head and they stayed that way as everyone smiled.
We wanted to tell Leah, Lily, and Zed, but they were preoccupied with their problems and if we told them about this, it would just add more to their burden, so we decided against it and to just talk to Deruth and Jour about it alone.
So we did, we told them about the bullying, we thought that they knew, but from their looks alone, looks like they were in the dark. We then asked if they had any ideas on what could have caused Cale’s behavior and if they could at least remember anything.
They both remain silent until finally they spill and we find out that during the time that Deruth and Jour were not on good terms, Cale has never once complained, asked for their attention, or even requested anything. They admitted that they thought it was just his personality and that it was normal.
That statement alone made my blood boil even Clopeh who was always carefree had a dark look and for the first time, Clopeh said, “Are you fucking serious right now? Your child at an age where most children should be freely expressing their emotions was not doing any of those things and it did not even raise a red flag. He should have been playing and enjoying his childhood WITH his parents NOT suppressing his feelings and you think it is NORMAL?? As parents, you should have immediately noticed something wasn’t right and now Cale is on the road to self-sacrifice which can even lead to his destruction.”
He was about to storm out but he looked back and said, “I pity the kid,” he then left leaving all three of us alone.
I was also disappointed with them and since Clopeh already said everything that was also on my mind I just told them, “I agree with him and now it is up to you guys how you will move forward.”
With that last word, I also left.
I don’t know what happened after it, but one thing is for sure, they were able to resolve the problem because when I saw them again, they were back to talking terms, there was still some tension, but it was not the suffocating type, and this time the heavy and bitter look in their eyes before was gone. There was still a hint of awkwardness, but it was better than last time and the one that changed the most was Cale.
His eyes which once looked like the world was on his back disappeared replaced with childhood glee which he had almost lost and it was enough.
Then as you already know, today, they are on great terms and even their current husband/wife is okay with it and are even great friends.
As Rok Soo ended the story he saw how some were tearing up while the others tried to comfort them.
“I’m glad it all worked out in the end,” Sheritte says while wiping the tears that were forming in Raon’s eyes.
Cale smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m also happened it ended well.”
Seeing the soft smile on his face everyone relaxed and started chatting among themselves until Eruhaben announced, “It’s already late, and I’m sure everyone is already tired.”
“That’s right, time to go to bed kids,” Mila says as she and Ron starts leading them to their rooms.
Everyone settled and fell asleep, but Cale was wide awake as he revisited what happened that day.
~ Flashback ~
“But it’s because of me that you both got a divorce” Cale shouts as tears form in his eyes as he continues, “I don’t want Basen to be the reason why Papa and Mother get a divorce too, that’s why if I am the one causing troubles maybe papa will not have divorce again.”
Silence filled the room after Cale confessed and poured out his heart.
He didn’t look at his parent’s eyes fearing that they would be disappointed in him, but what happened next was something he never expected. He felt himself being pulled and engulfed in a warm embrace, his mom hugged him and he instinctively hugged back like he always does whenever his mom comforts him.
However, he felt his mom’s back trembling which made him panic, he wanted to let go but…
“Baby”
…that word alone made him freeze in place as his mom called him with the same warmth she always had.
He was about to comfort his mom but heard his father’s voice.
“Cale, it was not your fault that we had a divorce,” his father says also engulfing him in a warm embrace along with Jour.
“Baby,” Jour says as she levels her eyes to Cale whose eyes are full of tears, “Remember this, divorce is not about the kids or you. It is about the parents, us.”
Deruth then adds, “The truth is, our problems were already there before we got divorced.”
“We thought our love alone could break anything in our way, but we were wrong.”
“So love is not enough to keep you together?” he asked innocently fearing that everything he knew about love would crumble and he was about to go into a spiral of negative emotions, but his dad added.
“No Cale, that isn’t what we meant, love is important but it needs to be accompanied by actions and that is something me and your mom failed to do.”
Jour then added, “Me and your dad drifted apart, it could have been solved if one of us took action, but we didn’t and it caused us to drift even further.”
“That’s when we realized that we are already hurting one another and we didn’t want you to be affected, so we thought that before it affected you even more, we wanted to end everything on a good note,” Deruth says as he continues to pat Cale’s back.
“But we were wrong, and for that we are sorry,” Jour added.
“So it’s not my fault?” he asked timidly.
“No sweety, you were the best thing that came out of our marriage,” Jour says while hugging him along with Deruth he added, “And we are sorry for making you feel like it was your fault.”
After hearing and knowing that he was not the reason for their divorce, he cried out and this time, he didn’t have to cover up his cries like he did when he was told of their divorce or when he silently cried as he felt unfairness when his parent’s found someone else or when he decided to put on the troublemaker act when he decided to protect Basen, no, this time he could cry freely and let go of everything as he felt the warmth from the two people he loves the most.
He don’t know what happened after because when he woke up it was already the following morning and he was in between his mom and dad.
He knows his parents will never get together again, especially knowing they already have someone new, but he will engrave this into his memories and he knows even though they won’t be together like before, he accepted it because this is just the beginning of something new, his family will not be separated it just becomes bigger.
Instead of having one dad, he got two dads, and instead of having one mom, he got two mothers and he finally had a sibling he had always wanted and he knows he will have more to come.
~ End of Flashback ~
As Cale finished remembering that time his eyes felt heavy and he finally gave in to the comfort of sleep and dreamed about his family.
Their love started as a spark,
A flicker that becomes a blazing flame,
Burning everything in it’s way
But like how a fire that burns too bright,
It will slowly lose its flame,
Their love that once shone brightly,
Lose their flame
Leaving only ashes
Some might say it is the end,
But it is not the end
A new plant will one day grow on top of it
Forming a new life
This time stronger and greener than before