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"There's something so special about a woman who dominates in a man's world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer."
Rihanna
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Jules

"Lambie boobie, Mummy's gonna miss you too, okay? No need to cry.. Come on.. I'm only gonna be gone for a few days. Hmm?" I coo at my cute little terrier as he continues to make adorable sounds.

Lambert, my angelic furball, was given to me as a gift from Kevin, Margot's elder brother on Valentine's day. I was confused at first because we weren't lovers. When I told him so, he only laughed and then explained to me that Valentine's day isn't meant for lovers alone but also to show love to your beloved ones. I was so touched that I cried so much it took Metisha threatening to amputate my newly acquired pet to stop my tears.

After making sure everything needed for my business trip to Morocco has been packed, I zipper my luggage. My dog, Lambert is still yapping on the bed and I swear I almost get tempted to bring him along. Instead, I nuzzle him for a moment before picking him up. "You don't get to go with me, Lambie cutie, but you get to see me off. You like that, don't you, Lambie fluffy?" I ask him as he stares at me with those lovable doe eyes. He only whimpers in reply.

Theresa, my maid, takes the luggage from me as soon as I step out of my bedroom with Lambert in my arm.

With Theresa trailing me, I make my way out of the house and see my wine limo ready and waiting on the long lawn-paved drive. "I'll miss you, little guy." I place an affectionate kiss on his muzzle before handing him to Theresa. "Take care of yourself and my Lambie."

"Yes ma'am," Theresa says with a small smile. I walk towards the limo whose door is already opened by Vincent, my ever efficient chauffeur. "Vincent, how are you?"

"I'm fine ma'am. Thank you." He closes the door as I get comfy in the wine leathered seat.

I decide to take a little nap before we get to the airport as I got a little sleep last night due to a very bad dream I had.

The dream was about my dad.

In the dream, I saw my dad  smiling at me. It was kinda strange as I rarely see him smile. All of a sudden, he became as white as a ghost as his body started to become bigger and bigger until it exploded and blood gushed out. As blood poured from every part of his body and drenched his clothing, he looked directly at me and muttered barely audible words: 'I am sorry, ddal. (Daughter)'

I woke up, sweating so profusely one would have thought I just had a shower. After pondering on the dream for some time, I just couldn't sleep cause I was and am still highly disturbed.

Just what on earth could that dream have meant?

I was already dosing off when I hear my phone ring. Mildly angry at the disturbance, I don't check the caller ID before picking up.

"Hello. What is it?"

"Ddal."

"Omma? (Mother?)" I ask, my mother's gentle voice making me snap out of both sleepiness and anger.

"Ddal," she calls again and this time, there is no mistaking the pain in her voice.

An uneasy feeling suddenly overwhelms me. "What's wrong?"

"Your dad," I expect her to keep on talking but she doesn't.

"What happened to dad? Did he hurt you?" I ask as panic sets in and takes residence in the pit of my stomach.

"No!" Her voice, rarely raised, goes up by notches. "He's in the hospital. He.. he's asking to see you."

As soon as she says this, A memory flashes before my eyes; it is the dream I had last night.

My God! What does that nightmare have to do with this?

I tune back only to hear my mom's silent sobs. Something tore in me.

"Mom, calm down. I'm on my way now. Which hospital are you at?"

"Denry Hospital." She sniffs.

"Don't cry. I'm gonna be there soon, okay?"

"Okay." I end the call and tell Vincent to head for Denry Hospital.

****
The smell of disinfectant harasses my nostrils as I step into the hospital building. I was about to head to the main administration area when I see my mom coming out of the corridor.

She is dressed in blue sweats, her brown hair, which always looked shiny and well kept now looks like a bird had earlier used it as a nest. To sum it all up, she looks so unkempt it makes the fear that has taken place inside of me grow. But I show no emotion as I call out to her.

"Mother." She stops walking and turns towards me. What I see in her eyes makes my heart clench. Those beautiful brown eyes look empty, like as if life has been violently sucked out of them.

Immediately she sees me, her next action astonishes me. Like someone who has just seen her long lost lover, she runs towards me and enfolds me in her arms. My eyes widen in astonishment because such an affectionate display isn't something she does in public.

Thus, this action only makes my insides clench tighter in apprehension.

"Let's go see your father," she says as she gently releases me.

By the time we enter the room he's in, I've become a bundle of nerves. It is a miracle my legs haven't stopped working.

It is like as if the cleaner for this room dosed it in disinfectant as the smell becomes so strong it takes all I have in me not to gag. My eyes go straight to the figure covered in a pale blue sheet. I say 'figure' because that pale person who looks like he's about to die any minute from now can't possibly be Lee Kim Hyun, my father.

"Ddal." The figure on the bed calls.

Wait! Why is he calling me his daughter?

"Yeobo, (Honey) your father is calling you. Go meet him."

"Appa? (Dad)" I ask cautiously, walking closer to the bed.

At this, a small smile crosses his lips. "It's me."

"What.. How did this happen?"

He inhales, long and deep, exhales, then looks directly at me. "I'm dying."

"Dying? What are you talking about?"

"I have Lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma," he says it with so much carelessness one would have thought he's talking about a mild headache. "Been battling with it for like, twenty-five years now." Then, with a chuckle, he adds, "I'm a warrior, ain't I?"

When I say nothing in reply, he continues. "I started to notice new symptoms apart from the swell in my groin." He laughs as he says this. It is a humorless laugh. "Came to the hospital even though a part of me knew that the end is near. Doctor told me same thing: The end is near, my time has come." As he says these words, his face becomes filled with humour. "I want an elaborate funeral. Sixty-seven isn't such a bad age to die, is it?"

Numb. This is the only word I can use to describe how I'm feeling right now. I feel like I've got no life in me.

I feel.. dead.

"Yeobo?" I hear someone call, the voice sounds like Mother's but I can't be too sure. I'm so far away.

"Jules?" Is that my dad? My dying dad?

"Snap out of it! Right now!"

Snap out of what? What is this person saying?

Suddenly, someone viciously hit me on the back and I jerk back into reality.

My face feels wet. I touch it only to find my fingers wet too.

I am crying.

I look to my side and see Mom sobbing silently too.

"Is this a Cry Me a River party or.."

"Why? You cold, heartless man. Why didn't you ever tell me about your health condition?" I ask in between sobs. "Am I that worthless to you that you decided to inform me of everything on your deathbed? Tell me, am I?"

"Jules.."

"Mom, please stay out of this! What exactly am I to you, Appa?" I stand up, ocean of different emotions swirling inside of me. "Do you even see me as your daughter? Wait a second.. Are you even my biological father?"

"Jules!"

"Sun-hee, it's fine." For a mere second, I see a flicker of warmth in his eyes as he looks at my mom. "I deserve everything she says to me and more." Then he looks at me. "Jules, please sit down."

It isn't the words but the effort I see him put into uttering them that makes me sit.

"I.. I have no words. None at all to defend my selfish actions. I only thought it would be better and less hurtful if you knew this way." He then shuts his eyes together tightly. "I am sorry."

I don't know what made me do it, but I reach for his unbelievably thin hands and give them the slightest squeeze.

I look at my mom standing at a corner of the hospital room. "Omma." She instantly looks up, her eyes rimmed with red from crying so much. "Come." With my left hand, I hold her hand in mine.

We stay like this until Dad drifts off to sleep.

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An emotional chapter, right? *Blows nose*

Do you think by informing Jules of his health condition and impending death on his deathbed, Lee Kim Hyun, Jules' father did the right thing?

VOTO, COMMENTO et SHARO (How's my Spanish? hehehe)

Thanks cupcakes