Chapter Text
An Air Crashed To Seoul: 150 Died, No Survivor
Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things - Arthur Schopenhauer
Gloomy and sadness accompanied by cloudy weather and heavy rain at Kim's residence. It had been raining since the morning and was non-stop until it was already evening. They say that rain was a sign of people’s sadness, tears and their grief right?
Well, the perfect situation for a funeral.
And that sadness was because of the accident that had overwrought her parents.
Yes, today is the day of the funeral of Wooseok’s parents Kim Yongwoo and Kim Soohyun. The couple had been involved in an air-crash on their way home to Korea leaving their only daughter alone, all by herself.
Wooseok was only able to bow her head and stared at the floor when she heard the silent whisper of pity from those who came to attend her parent’s funeral. Besides, there was nothing she can do about it. They were all true.
“Poor Wooseok-ssi all by herself now”
“I pity that child. She’s so young to be left alone”
“She’s only in middle school and yet her parents are now gone”
“They said that her relatives don’t want her! Oh, poor child!”
“What?! Really?! How could they done that to her!”
“Well, her family and relatives did come from a low income family, so maybe they couldn’t afford to take care of her”
“What will she do now?!”
Yes, what will she do? The best choice was for her to get a part-time job or any jobs to support her life and she had to pay for her school’s fee and she does not want to be taken to the orphanage or child’s care.
Her parents were free journalists but their income was only able to sustain their lives even though at times it wasn’t enough for them. However, that only made Wooseok grateful for the life she has.
Yes, they were poor at times but at least they were happy.
That's why Wooseok was always striving to improve their lives by studying hard to get a good and better job with high income. She hopes that one day she’ll be able to make her parents happy, buy a big house and big car for them but now it's just an empty dream.
She wiped a tear that formed at the corner of her eyes. Why? Of all people why her? Why did she have to face all of this?!
Wooseok quickly calmed herself. “Relax, Kim Wooseok. You don’t want others to feel sad about you right?” she whispered and got up to went to the kitchen. Maybe a glass of water will calm her down.
However, on her way to the kitchen she heard a quiet conversation between her uncle and his wife.
“What?! There is no way we’re going to take care of that child!”
“Dear! She’s all alone! She doesn’t have anyone else”
“Like I care! Do you think we can afford to take care of her?! Honey, we’re barely having enough money for ourselves. Imagine if she came into the family, our expenses will be high and we will another mouth to feed with! Also, Eunji doesn’t like that girl!”
“What?! Why?”
“Wooseok, she’s smart, talented, a beauty not to mention popular with boys! I don’t like her because all of my classmates kept talking about her!” Kim Eunji, her cousin suddenly butts in the conversation.
“That’s not a reason to dislike her Eunji!”
“If she comes to our family then I don’t have a chance to be popular and the centre of attention. It will always be Wooseok! Wooseok! Wooseok!” Eunji screamed loudly, she hate the fact that her cousin was more popular than her and she wanted Wooseok to drop out of their school. Immediately!
“That’s ridiculous!” her uncle turned away. He was mad because his wife and daughter did not want to accept Wooseok in their family.
“Honey, besides I heard that girl is a slut! Taking boys in her house whenever her parents aren’t home”
Wooseok gasped. What?! That wasn’t true! She did have a male friend but she had never done those kind of things!
“It’s true dad! I heard that she had multiples of boyfriends at school and she had done those adult things at school too” Eunji continued. It was her only way to destroy Wooseok’s life!
“What?!” her uncle looked at them disbelieved. “How could you say those nasty things about Wooseok?!”
“Well, it’s up to you to believe it”
“Yes dad, she’s not a good girl to have in the family. She’ll just destroy our family!”
Wooseok couldn’t take it anymore so she ran from there.
Why? What did she had done until her aunt and cousin hated her so much? They were family right? Family shouldn’t hate each other right?
Well, she was very wrong about that.
She ran away until she was tired from running. Well, at least she was now far from them. She didn’t care if she was now soaked because of the rain. Wooseok decided to take cover by hiding in one of the playground’s tunnel. Luckly, she was small enough to fit inside (she was always teased for being small).
Wooseok wiped her tears with her wet shirt and not long after that she fell asleep thinking how unlucky and lonely she is.
…………………………….
“Hey, are you okay little girl?”
Wooseok was shocked when a man in his 60’s was standing in front of the tunnel. He had a worried look on his face.
“W… What?”
“I was just passing by when I saw you sleeping in this tunnel, soaking wet” the man tried to touch her forehead but Wooseok quickly dodged him.
“I… I’m fine” she was clearly not fine at all. She was now shivering from the cold, her lips was now pale and she could feel that she was going to have a fever now.
“Clearly, you’re not fine dear. Please, let me take you to a warmer place” he held right hand to Wooseok. “I don’t want you to fall sick”
Wooseok hesitated. Why was this man being nice to her? They never met before.
“Why are you being kind to me?”
“Oh just shut up and take his hand!” another voice suddenly interfered them. “You’re being disrespectful to the man who’s trying to help you” another man glared at her.
“Mr.Park, I think it’s best if we don’t scare her” the elder said softly as he did not want the girl freak out.
“What?! It will take forever to convince her sir!” he still glared at Wooseok. “Look kid, if you don’t want to die because of the cold, just come with us okay? It’s not that we want to kidnap you and kill you, you know”
The elder sighed. “Please come with us? I’ll promise you that you will be safe” he held his right hand again and smiled softly.
Wooseok slowly took his hand and got out from the tunnel. She didn’t know why but she decided to trust him.
“It’s warm” she could feel his kindness as she followed them.
Wooseok looked around as she wraps herself with a warm blanket. She could tell that she was in an expensive café! Clearly it sparkled with a golden light and smells rich which screamed at her…
“Hey girl! You’re in a café where only the rich could go here! Are you sure you’re ready with my price cuz I’m telling ya, I’m not just an ordinary bitch poor café!”
“How am I going to pay him back?” she whispered and gulped.
“Would you like a hot chocolate dear?” the elder asked but before Wooseok could answer the hot chocolate was already served on the table as the man gave a look, telling her to drink it.
Wooseok slowly took the drink, blowing it and slowly drank.
“Wow, I’ve have never drink something like this! It’s so yummy!” she gasped and drank it again.
“I hope you like it dear! It’s from a premium chocolate from Belgium” the elder smiled happily he saw Wooseok happy expression.
“No wonder it’s delicious!”
“Yeah, well the chocolate powder alone probably cost you about ermm… $23.98?” the man, Mr.Park smirked.
Wooseok chocked. This hot chocolate cost that much? She didn’t have that much money to pay the drink.
“Mr.Park please don’t tease her like that. Don’t worry dear, it’s on me. You don’t have to pay it back”
There was a silent after that and she could feel that Mr.Park was still glaring at her.
“Ermm, thank you for helping me” Wooseok slowly thanked the man that helped her just now. If it wasn’t for him, she would have a cold.
“No worry dear”
It was silent again.
“How could I repay you, sir?” she knew that the man was helping her out of kindness but she could helped herself to ask. Her (late) parents always did remind her to repay one kindness if they helped her.
The man stood up and walked to Wooseok as he sat down on one knee and took her hands (which Mr.Park from afar got up from his seat, ready to attack Wooseok)
“W… Wait? Please don’t tell me that he wants me to marry him? I’m too young to be married!” Wooseok quietly screamed.
“Kim Wooseok will you please be my…”
Wooseok tried to gather her strength, ready to run meanwhile Mr.Park had already taken his gun.
“Granddaughter”
“What?” both of Wooseok and Mr.Park asked in confusion?
“Yes, please be my granddaughter” the man glowed with excitement.
“EH?!” Wooseok pulled her hands.
“Why?! I mean… w… why?”
“I always wanted a granddaughter!”
“Eh?”
“Well, I’m was always jealous that Mr.Oh, Mr.Shin and my old neighbor, Mr.Yoon always boasted about their granddaughter on friends gathering and I have no one to boast about” the man suddenly pulled a handkerchief as the cried his sadness of not having a granddaughter like his friends.
“They always talked about how great their granddaughters are and I couldn’t help but to just listened to them. I want my own granddaughter where I could also contribute to the conversation”
“But I… I…”
“You’ll help me right Wooseokie? You’ll be my granddaughter right?”
“But sir, I just lost my parents. This is to sudden for me and besides I don’t have a family”
“Then, we’ll be your family!” the man shine in hope that Wooseok accepts his offer.
“Sir, don’t tell me that this small kid is the girl you were talking about” Mr.Park face-palmed, he nearly had shoot his boss future granddaughter.
“Why yes! Yes, she is”
“I’m sorry but I can’t. It’s too sudden for me” Wooseok politely rejected which the man in front of her became sad.
“Look girl, you can’t reject the offer. You were sold by your uncle” Mr.Park glared at her.
“What?!” Wooseok was shocked. “Why?”
“Probably because they needed money so they sold you. You were on their custody when you’re parents died” he explained. “So you have no choice but to be my master’s granddaughter”
“Is it true sir?” Wooseok looked at the elder in front of her, trying to stop a tear from falling.
The man looked at her with a hurt expression. “It’s true dear. They sold you for money”
Wooseok couldn’t stop her tear from falling anymore so she cried. How could her uncle did this to her? Did he believe on the lies that they told him? She didn’t know what to do anymore. This is by far the most dreadful day for her.
“Dear please” the elder wiped her tears with a tissue. “Look, I’m sorry you learned this the hard way but believe me that I gave them the money in exchange for a family member”
“But why me?” Wooseok asked.
“Your parents died in the air-crash right?”
Wooseok slowly nodded, still crying.
“Well, I lost my daughter as well in the air-crash” Wooseok could tell that he was also hurt by her death.
“You didn’t notice me but both of us were at the airport waiting for our love ones back then and sadly we only got the news of the air-crash. I remember it clearly when the news came all of the victim’s family was crying in grief of their lost however…”
“You didn’t”
Wooseok was shocked that the elder man noticed her that time. She didn’t cry because she didn’t want her parents to be sad if she cried.
“And at that time, I knew you’re strong for your love ones” he smiled. When he saw how strong Wooseok was back then, it gave him courage not to cry also and to slowly accept the fact that he needed to be strong for his daughter as well.
“Look dear, life doesn't always go smoothly. It’s sad and a disappointment as well but not many people could go through those sadness for him/her to live happily” he tried to advise her.
“I attended every victim’s funeral but yours by far was the saddest. I’m sorry that you didn’t have a family anymore and those who was supposed to be your family threw you away but dear” he grabbed her hands again.
“Won’t you be part of my family? I promise to treat you well”
Wooseok could feel the man’s honesty from his words. This is what they mean by a rainbow after a long rain? Was this her second chance to have a family? She hesitated but…
“Alright, I’ll be your granddaughter. Please take care of me” she bowed to the man before her. Her new ‘grandfather’.
The elder smiled. “Mr.Park, please call the driver. We’re going home”
“Home?”
“Yes, home. Your new home”
“But I don’t have any of my belongings there?”
“Rest assured my dear, my workers will have your belongings by this evening and the paper works have already been done” the man eagerly explained. “From now on your my granddaughter” he jumped happily.
“Wait ermm sir?”
“That’s grandpa for you”
“Alright g… grandpa, I’m sorry I know it’s rude because I didn’t asked your name earlier but may I know your name?”
Stupid me!!! A kind man just helped you and you forgot to ask his name and now he’s your grandfather and you still don’t know his name!
“Stupid” she could hear Mr.Park from the back. Yeah, it was stupid of her.
“Why yes dear, my name is Kim Haejoon”
“Pardon?” Wooseok let a cold sweat.
“Don’t tell me that he is…”
“Kim Haejoon” her ‘grandfather’ smiled at her.
“The owner of the Kim Techno Company”
Oh God, what problem that she’s gone into now.
Wooseok couldn’t helped but to shiver as she now riding one of the most expensive car in the world. A Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita! Never in her mind that she imagined to ride or even to step foot in the car and boy, it smelled money in there.
“Are you still cold my dear?” Her 30 minutes ago grandfather asked.
“No” she quickly replied still sweating.
Her life turned 360 degree when she accepted the offer of Kim Haejoon to be his granddaughter. As if she was a modern Cinderella who was poor and then became filthy rich in the end. Wait? If she’s the Cinderella then her grandfather must be the prince right? And her uncle must be the fairy godmother? Well, he did sell her to this rich man beside her.
Speaking of rich, Kim Haejoon was far from rich, he’s multi-billion rich! Wooseok may be just a middle school girl who was struggling financially but she knows her way with news and that includes the owner of the Kim Techno Company, which is of course a multi-billion company that has branches all over the world.
Kim Haejoon was also a Korean version of Tony Stark, handsome, a man with passion and most important filthy rich. Even though he’s rich but he was also known for his kind generosity by donating his money for those in need around the world.
All of the rich thinking had now made Wooseok wanting to faint. Did she really become the granddaughter of this man?
“Look dear! You’re new home!” her grandfather points her new ‘home’.
Wooseok gasped. It wasn’t ‘home’! It was a freaking castle or something considering how big it was for her. Now, she really felt that she became a Disney Princess.
“Oh my God, I’m going to barf now”
“Please not inside the car. I just had it cleaned” Mr.Park replied from the driver’s seat.
“Woah, it’s huge in here!” Wooseok looked around. All she could she is diamonds and gold that decorated inside, furnitures from overseas and not to mention painting and even vases that worth a million, a real life castle as you may imagined it.
The maids tried to pick her bag when Wooseok politely rejected them. “I can lift my bag by myself. Please, you can get some rest” which earned a strange look from them.
“Please, you all can rest. There’s not much work here” Jaehoon chuckled as the maids went to panic when his granddaughter rejected their service.
“Now let’s go to you room dear” he accompanied Wooseok to the new room.
“I have a room? Well, I’m happy even it’s small like my previous room” she smiled excitedly hearing her new room.
“Well, you’re my granddaughter of course I prepared a room for you”
However, Wooseok was terribly wrong. Her new room was ten times bigger than her old room and she wondered how many days will it be to clean this room.
“This is your new room dear. It has everything clothes, shoes, accessories, makeups, school’s stuffs, and…” he went to open the bathroom door. “A bathtub!” he made a ‘Tadaaa!’ pose. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s… too much for me grandpa” she gulped.
“Nah, anything for my granddaughter” he smiled and took his phone. “Now, smile” he quickly grabbed her and took a selfie.
“Hrmm, my granddaughter first day at the house” he grabbed his handkerchief. “So heart-warming”
“Ermm… thank you”
“Alright, please get ready, dinner will be served in 10 minutes, dear” he patted Wooseok’s shoulders. “Oh! Before I forgot, here” he handed Wooseok a brown envelope.
Wooseok took it and read what’s inside. “What? You bought my house along with the land and you’re giving it to me?” she said in shock and disbelieve.
Her grandfather however spins happily, flowers all over him. “Yes, a perfect gift for your first day here, right?”
“Grandpa, you already provided me, a home not to mention you gave me a room I can never imagined to have” she felt guilty as her grandfather keep showering her with expensive stuffs. “This is too much for me”
Her grandfather smiled. “Child, we’re now a family and I intent to show you my love and besides your aunt was going to sell the house and the land with it. I knew it was precious to you and I don’t want you to lose the remaining memories with your parents”
Wooseok was touched, no one had ever been nice to her like this. “Thank you”
“Now, now, don’t cry again, dear. I’ll be seeing you at dinner okay? Now take a bath because you need one”
“Alright, grandpa”
After she took a bath and picked the most normal clothes (her closet was full of expensive clothes), a baggy sweater and short pants which she’s much comfortable wearing them and quickly went downstairs to see if there’s something that she could help with.
However, there’s nothing to do than to just sit and have dinner. Her grandfather had already taken his sit and was already drinking his evening tea. After, she sat down she noticed there was 10 more empty chairs.
“Are we having some guests?” she naively asked.
“Oh God, no dear!” he chuckled. He did forget to tell her about one more thing. “Those chairs are for your siblings”
“Siblings?”
“Yes, your ten brothers” he pointed as his grandsons went down to have their dinner.
Wooseok paused. “Wait? Brothers?” she could feel ten pair of eyes was watching her now.
“Nice to meet you, sis / sister / noona!”