Remember Me

Chapter 58

I ran out of the dining room and to the entrance, where I saw Zara slumped over by the door and breathing heavily. I hurried to her and tried to put a hand on her shoulder. She pushed it off as she took deep breaths. Her eyes were darting around unfocused, but I could see her breathing slowly calm down. I kneeled by her and eventually she reached out a shaky hand to hold my sleeve. She was crying.

"I can't believe you never told me what he did to you... I can't believe you just went through all that alone." She half-mumbled through her crying.

I hung my head and breathed deeply. My frustration at how bad those days were flowing back to me. My father had been trying to make my life a living hell. I'd gone from living a cushy life as the son of a multi-million dollar company's CEO to working two jobs to pay for rent and tuition. It was humiliating, it was eye opening... it was embarrassing. I didn't want to show her the weakness and ugliness that came with.

"Zara... I didn't want to burden you. I wanted to take care of it myself because it was something I had to do myself. You were never a part of the fight between me and him."

She pulled on my sleeve and glared as she sniffled. "You knew about the whole Sando merger and takeover plan, didn't you?"

I stiffened and realized that perhaps she might think I was in on it. I said in a hushed voice, "I found out after our engagement. I didn't mean to keep it from you. I just..."

"You what, Jimin? You thought I was too distracted and weak to handle that too? You thought I'd blame you?"

I gulped and shook my head, "I thought you'd break off the engagement. But... I knew that you needed to. There was no winning. I was selfish."

She paused and dried her eyes. I offered her my handkerchief to wipe her face and nose.
"And in the process you just decided to hate me for siding against you and pressuring you to quit music."

I shook my head fervently, "I was a bit resentful maybe, but I never hated you. I just thought... I thought I had to push you away so I didn't ruin your life. And I was frustrated that you didn't understand me."

Her lips trembled and she mumbled, "You thought it'd be better to leave than to explain."

I hung my head, unable to refute it.

She continued, "I'm smart, you know, right? Smarter than you. I would've known what to do. I would have figured something out."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Why are you sorry?! I'm the one that's sorry. I'm sorry!" She got frustrated.

"I pushed you away. I lied to you. I dated Yuma in hopes that you'd break off our engagement. My father never thought of you as a daughter. He thought of you as livestock, and thought you'd happily transfer your power to me if I asked. All so Park could exceed Sando. I was mad because... he was playing you for a fool and you were letting him."

Zara stood up and closed her eyes, before softly responding, "He was right, though. He's like a real uncle to me. I would've gone along with it, even if I knew everything. I would have done it and married you. That's who I was, that was my love for you."

I looked at her with resolve, "And I would have stopped you from throwing everything away, every time." That was my love for you.

"Well, you succeeded. You stopped me. And now... everything's changed." Her voice was broken as she spoke. I couldn't bear to hear it.

I felt my heart pang as she turned and left, making her way to her father's car, which was parked right at the front. I ran out and watched as the car disappeared out of our property, and promptly left in my own car to head back to my own apartment, unable to bear looking at my parents right now, unable to reconcile my mother's tears with Zara's.

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Two Bad Apples: Jimin may have a bad rep from this year, but Sando heiress is much worse

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______________________
Zara

"Zara Sando! Ms. Sando!"
"Zara Sando! Are you dating Park Jimin?"
"How long have you been dating Jimin?"

Two tabloid reporters were following me as I walked into my apartment building the following week. I had my poker face and sunglasses on, and didn't pay them any attention. I nodded at the doorman, who nodded back and held the door open for me and me alone.

"Zara Sando, what's your relationship with Park Jimin?"

I sighed and turned around. I took off my sunglasses and gave them a sweet smile, my face peeking out from behind the doorman. Cameras flashed, but it wasn't enough to unnerve me. This wasn't my first rodeo.

"Excuse me sir, I don't know what you mean. You're teasing a single and lonely girl. I've never even dated anyone. I'll let you know if any eligible bachelor catches my fancy. So please don't ask me anymore questions like this. Okay?"