Windows of The Heart

Chapter 37 LETTING GO

The following morning, Rielle was successful in being in the Office early. She was preparing her schedule and booting her computer when she heard a sound coming from Hyun-Ki's Office but later dispelled it thinking a janitor was cleaning the Office. After hearing nothing, she went on on her business to make up for her absence yesterday afternoon. Then five minutes later, she listened to a movement in Hyun-Ki's Office again. She was curious, so she went to investigate. She was opening the access door when in front of her, appeared Hyun-Ki. She was startled and troubled by the way Hyun-Ki stared at her.

"Where were you yesterday, Rielle? Had a date with some guy, huh?" Hyun-Ki expressed his jealousy, and Rielle tried to keep off from his grasp.

"What are you talking about, Hyun? Please take your hands off me; you're hurting me!" pleaded Rielle. Hyun-ki took his grasp off her and pushed her away.

"You disgust me!" was all Hyun-Ki said and went back to his Office, banging on the door. Rielle was so scared of Hyun-Ki, thinking he must be drunk and out of his mind. Rielle can't fathom why he was there in the Office so early. While packed in her thoughts, Alexis and Louie came in. Upon seeing Rielle, they gave a breath of relief.

"It was good you are here now and early, too. Alexis chirped.

"Yeah, yesterday was a nerve-wracking afternoon for us," seconded Louie. Rielle hushed the two of them.

"Be quiet; Mr. Han might hear you. He is in his Office." Hushed Rielle. After a bit, Junie, the driver, came to Mr. Han's Office to get him.

"Sir, we must get out of here before the rest of your employees see you in this state." Junie insisted. "See me in this state? I am not drunk. Just leave me alone; I said I don't want to return to my condo; why are you so stubborn? Now leave!" Hyun-Ki pushed Junie. So, Junie asked for Rielle's help because he could not move Hyun-Ki out of his Office.

"You better get his brother here quickly because the employees are coming in every minute, and they must not see him like this." Rielle expressed her anxiety. When Hwan Chul came in after Junie called him for assistance, Hwan Chul was on edge. He thought of carrying him out, but Rielle had a better idea.

"You cannot just piggyback him; the employees will think otherwise about their CEO. Why not ask your sister, Su-mi, to get him out using an ambulance."

"What? The more we are getting attention here, Hwan Chul was contradicting Rielle.

"I guess not; bringing an ambulance here is the best way to get him out of here. We will give them the idea that he collapsed because of hard work; that he has not slept yet for hours until this morning because he wanted to finish some important documents that made him collapse." Rielle felt optimistic about her idea, which Hwan Chul bought.

"Okay, I'll make a call now to Su-mi, and I hope my sister will agree with this idea, or else we are in big trouble!" Hwan Chul said and made a call to Sumi. His sister agreed because she also got worried for his brother. A bit longer, an ambulance came, and the aids were entering the elevator with a stretcher and Su-mi dressed in a doctor's coat. The employees were bothered by why they called an ambulance, and the aids joined their CEO's Office. Everyone was accumulating around the CEO's Office and prying in, curious about why a doctor and ambulance aids were carrying their CEO. Su-Mi put a face mask on Hyun-Ki so the employees would not smell alcohol.

Hwan Chul and Rielle followed them to the elevator, and once inside, Hwan Chul said jokingly, "don't tell me you're bringing him to your hospital, yeodongsaeng?" Su-mi laughed out loud. "Are you kidding me? If I'd bring him there, I'd inject him with lots of alcohol so he'll learn a lesson, hahaha!" According to his driver, Hwan Chul told him to bring him instead to the mansion because he didn't want to return to his condo.

"Okay, then to the mansion we go. And why doesn't Hyun-Ki want to go back to his condo? As far as I know, he was happy to tell me that he had his condo back, and both Hyun=Ki and Rielle arranged the place to look like home, so why had he refused to go back there now, my dear sister-in-law? Something I should know?" Su-Mi was concerned. Hwan Chul interrupted, "Let us leave that to them; that's private, Su-mi; let us not go there, will you?" Su-mi was thinking about Hyun-Ki. She thought he was a changed man since Rielle became his EA. "He was manifesting his true colors again? Why?" Hwan Chul gave her an elbow making a cue that they were with others and Rielle was around. Everyone kept quiet until they reached the mansion.

They carriedHyun-Ki to his bedroom, and Rielle followed. "Leave him here, and I'll take care of the rest." Su-Mi and the ambulance left Hwan Chul and Rielle at the mansion. Rielle took some fresh clothes from his wardrobe and requested a basin and face towel to wash him. Hwan Chul stood by the bedroom door, watching Rielle caring for his brother.

"You can leave us now, Chul." Requested Rielle.

"You might need my help dressing him up; he's too heavy for you." Replied Hwan.

"No need, leave us alone. I can take care of Hyun-Ki." Rielle once again requested. Hwan Chul left only to stand near Hyun-Ki's bedroom, assuming that he might be needed if ever.

Then, when Rielle was washing him with a wet towel, Hyun-Ki started to move in his bed, wanting to throw up, and Rielle placed the basin under his face and started throwing up. Hwan Chul thought of capturing these moments of Hyun-Ki with Rielle, and he opened the door a little bit enough to take film of both without having him notice. And while doing that, Hyun-Ki started to talk groggily to Rielle.

"Wow, I now have a nurse to care for me, huh?" His eyes were still blurry because of his drunkenness, and he talked some more. "You know you are beautiful, like my Rielle with short hair; why is that the trending style now?" Rielle wanted to laugh but controlled it thinking he might come to his consciousness, so she went along while Hwan Chul was chuckling to where he was standing with his camera. Rielle pulled out his shirt and dressed him with a fresh one. Hyun-Ki was staring at the 'nurse' he thought she was and then continued blabbering.

"Aah, Rielle, she rejected me! She doesn't want to marry me because she cannot get over my brother! I loved her so much; she did everything to fool me, huh! Women! I hate her; you tell her that she is disgusting! Having her was a disappointment! I should have never fallen in love with a flirt!" Rielle could not stand his blabbering anymore. She threw the towel on his face and slapped him on both cheeks, which startled Hyun-Ki. Rielle could not control her tears and anger. She pushed him hard, making him fall back on his bed. Then Hwan Chul got a hold of her and pulled her out of the room.

"Rielle, stop it! He's drunk; you know that." Hwan Chul was holding both of her hands while she was fighting to loosen her up. She continued to cry, feeling that the hurt inflicted on her heart was so painful to bear.

"I can't go on. I'll head home. You take care of Hyun-Ki." Rielle said in a painful tone.

"I'll bring you home, Rielle. You cannot go with that condition. Don't worry about him; he'll sober up soon. Too much alcohol made him say things he doesn't even understand." Hwan explained to ease Rielle's anger.

"Too much alcohol? But what he was saying was coming from his heart, Chul. I don't know if I can still stand him. I'm already confused. All I want now is to go home and think!" Rielle said with bitterness.

Rielle was lying on her bed, recounting the events that had happened since this morning. She was thinking about why Hyun-Ki was in his Office the whole time and never went back home to his condo. Was it because he was waiting for her to come early to the Office and would want to talk to her? And why did he return to his Office after going with that VP woman? Why did he take three bottles of liquor with him and drink himself in his Office, knowing that there would be people coming to work the next day? Or did he drink himself to anger because of me? What was this Su-mi mentioned about Hyun-Ki showing his true colors? She had many questions and wanted to know more about Hyun-Ki.

Some birds' chirpings awakened Hyun-Ki among the trees fronting his balcony. He woke and looked around him with a puzzled face. He knew he was drinking in his Office, and then suddenly, he was in his bedroom. He stood away from his bed and groggily went to the balcony to breathe fresh air. He pursed his lips to inhale air into his lungs and exhaled. He was doing this for five minutes when Hwan Chul cast a quick look in his bedroom. Finding him on the balcony, he approached Hyun-Ki and greeted him with how he was.

"I still feel groggy with this severe headache, but I'll be fine after finishing my breathing exercises," Hyun-Ki said.

"Have you wondered why you were here? Have you recalled where you were yesterday and what you did, my dear brother?" prodded Hwan Chul, expecting an honest answer from Hyun-Ki.

"I went back to the Office yesterday only to find out that Rielle was not by her desk. And then she thought I had a 'private meeting' with Julienne?" Hwan Chul quickly asked, "and who was this Julienne? May I know?" Hyun-Ki stared at his brother and smirked, "Julienne was the VP for Operations of Hanzu Corporation. Was she jealous of her? And why should she? We are not together anymore." Hwan Chul was agitated by Hyun-Ki's remarks.

"You are not together anymore? That's not what I know, and that's not her impression." Hyun-Ki looked at Hwan Chul. "And what, she's living in her presumption? She should wake up by now." Hyun-Ki gave a dry smile. Hwan Chul faced him with agitation.

"Be thankful; I have not thrown you out of this balcony, you rude of all people!" "All she knew was you were sulking because Rielle did not reject you outrightly; she was just telling you that she wished to resolve her issues with me because, in case you forgot?—Rielle was still trying to regain her lost memory, Hyun!"

"I'm exhausted about this lost memory thing, and I don't care anymore, all right? Fix that memory loss with her; I don't want to be involved anymore!" Hyun-Ki turned his back on Hwan Chul, walking away from him. Hwan Chul grasped his t-shirt neckline and punched his face, leading to nose bleeding.

"You filthy exploitive abuser!" And Hwan Chul beat him again fiercely, then pulled him up and said in anger, "I'll show you how you mistreated your so-called nurse last night. He took the remote control of Hyun-Ki's television and mirror cast his cell phone to show the film he had taken.

The film showed how he abused Rielle with his words while taking care of him under alcohol. He saw how Rielle washed him with a towel, assisting him as he threw up, changing his shirt for a fresh one, and of course, Hyun remembered the face towel thrown at him and that a twin slap fell on his face, but he never recognized that it was Rielle. Hyun-Ki stood up and returned to the balcony, thinking of that shameful scene and feeling guilty about how she treated Rielle after all the insults he gave her because he was hurting too. He felt he did not have a face to look at his brother. Hwan Chul reprimanded and warned Hyun-Ki.

"Rielle loved you so much, and you must know now that Rielle already uncovered her lost memory of me. She came to visit Nancy in the hospital on the afternoon you looked for her. I came upon her during her visit with Nancy, and I suspected she came from weeping after talking with her best friend. You must know that Nancy was her only confidant with all her problems, and I felt her sorrow even if she tried to smile and laugh with us during our chats. I took the chance to talk seriously with her before she went home that night. That's when I discovered that she already regained her memory had of me." Hwan Chul lamented.

"She expressed how she was angry with me and felt that what I did to her was unforgivable. She does not know how long she will carry that burden of pain in her heart; Rielle feels betrayed and cheated, and even how much I ask for her to forgive me and give me the chance to prove to her how important she is, Rielletold me that I have no more place in the heart because you filled up all that spaces." There was complete silence between them, and then later, Hwan Chul left Hyun-Ki's room. Hyun-Ki felt guilty about what punishment she must have done to Rielle because he was angry at her, and his pride was hurt, but then he realized he had gone overboard. He was thinking of how he could make up for his wrongdoings.

Back in the Office, Rielle was writing something on paper and then crumpled it, doing as many times as she could, undecisive of what she was writing. After a few more tries, and as she decided, she was sniffling, controlling her emotions. A little bit more, she started packing her things and walked to Hyun-Ki's Office and placed the letter on his table, and with the envelope, she put in Hyun-Ki's ring.

She walked back to her table and tried to finish packing her things in a box when Louie caught her eye on Rielle, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. Louie gave an elbow to Alexis and pointed her sight to Rielle. The two secretaries felt distressed about Rielle's movement that they came near her and asked, "Why, Miss Rielle? What is this box? Are you leaving us?" The two secretaries felt bewildered and helpless because they did not know how to prevent Rielle from her decision to resign from her job.

And then came to Hyun-Ki entering his Office and he was taking off his coat when he saw an envelope with his name on it and when Hyun-Ki lifted it, it somehow was so weighty that he quickly opened it. Falling into his hand was his ring. He immediately opened the letter, and it was from Rielle, and it read like this:

"Dear Mr. Han Hyun-Ki: I do, at this moment, tender my irrevocable resignation as your Executive Assistant effective today. Thank you for trusting my ability to exercise my duties and responsibilities. Sincerely, Miss Gabrielle Mari Calma."

Hyun-Ki immediately walked to Rielle's desk, but it was too late. The two secretaries were weeping, and they couldn't tell Hyun-Ki how long she had gone.

Meanwhile, Rielle was in the elevator when Hwan Chul got a chance at her. He was astonished at seeing Rielle leave with a box of her things. He went with her inside and tried to convince her not to leave for Hyun-Ki's sake. Rielle kept quiet with tears, and Hwan accompanied her until they reached the ground floor. Hwan Chul offered him a ride home, but Rielle declined. He instead told the Security Guard to call a cab for her and assisted Rielle with her things as she got in the cab.

Hwan Chul felt lonely and sad about Rielle leaving both him and Hyun-Ki. He felt so sorry that he was the reason for Rielle and Hyun-Ki's break-up. He quickly returned to the building and the elevator, feeling terrible about this day's event. He scampered in the direction of the CEO's Office and found Hyun-Ki by his desk, hands covering his face and somehow sniffling. Hwan Chul found a crumpled paper, so he took it and read.

"Look what you've done; you drove Rielle away because of your stupid pride?" Hwan Chul walked his hand at the back of his head, pacing and thinking of how he could resolve this problem his brother had caused.

"It's too late now, Chul. Once Rielle decides, she won't break her decision. I can't do anything now; she's gone!" Hyun-Ki drowned his face and banged his hand on the table.

"I feel sorry for you, you and your foolish pride! That's what you deserve!" he muttered sarcastically. He left Hyun-Ki's room toward his, and when he was inside his Office, he leaned behind the door and looked blankly at the wall.

Back at Hyun-Ki's Office, he took a pace from his table, and feeling sorry, he flung hard his arm towards the Office door and threw his ring. Then he walked towards the coat rack and tossed it on his shoulder, and left without notice, his face clouded with a dark look.

Hyun-Ki asked for his driver's car key from Junie because he wanted to drive somewhere. Junie told him that it could cause him to where he was going, thinking that moving for Mr. Han would prevent an accident and that Mr. Han could not be in a better position to drive alone. So, Hyun-Ki told Junie to go to his sanctuary, where he moved Hyun-Ki to when he was depressed about Rielle.

Hyun-Ki stayed there for many hours of how long it took him to contemplate meditation on how he would take Rielle back.

Meanwhile, back to Rielle, she was descending the cab with a big box in her hand when her mom, who was watering her plants outside the fence, glanced at her. She came to meet and assist her, and she found her daughter wearing a gloomy look on her face.

"What's the matter, Rielle? What is this big box, and you look so gloomy!" her mother asked, looking at her inquisitively.

"Let me get inside first, mom, then I'll answer your questions." Sniffling as she replied. Rielle has not yet put the big box down when she grievously cried.

"I resigned from my work, mom. Hyun-Ki and I broke up." Rielle broke down and wailed.

"There's no more turning back, and I truly hate him! I hate him, mom!" Rielle wept in anger, and her mom could not think well but only comforted her with her embrace.

It was getting dark when Hyun-Ki came out from his contemplation. He was divided by a decision Will he goes to Rielle now and talks to her, or will he let it pass for one more day? He was in the middle of his decision when Junie asked him, "Are we going to Rielle now, Sir?" Hyun-Ki was flustered. The more Hyun-Ki was halved in his decision, the much more making him confused. Was it the right time? He asked himself. He went into his car still thinking, so he tossed a coin to help him decide—if a man, Hyun-Ki, would not proceed; if flowers, he had to. So he threw the coin and landed the cash on his palm, showing the image of flowers. He mustered his courage and told Junie to drop him off at Rielle's house.

Hyun-Ki rang the doorbell, and a maid came to answer him.

"Oh, it's Mr. Hyun-Ki, please come in, and I'll get Miss Rielle for you." Said the maid courteously. The maid came knocking at Rielle's door, and when the maid told Hyun-Ki was there to see her, she was rattled. She asked herself, would she come out to see him? Or would she drive him away? Then her mom advised Rielle to see him and close their relationship so he won't bother her again. And so, she did.

"Why are you here, Hyun? Have you realized the wrong you've done? You want me back as your EA, or do you want us to reconcile?" mused Rielle, controlling her hidden anger.

"Rielle, please forgive me. Yes, I want us back together, and I'm so sorry." Pleaded Hyun-Ki and Rielle could not speak, trying to control her emotions, but her anger took over her.

"Sorry? Sorry? Sorry of what, Hyun? Sorry for insulting me. Calling me a flirt? I have disgusted you, right? I received so many criticisms you hurled at me, but I kept silent and patient because I knew you were angry at me; doing my best to understand your feelings, and I still believe that it is temporary; I rejected your proposal. But only that rejection was because I wanted to resolve my issues with Hwan. That rejection was only a temporary decline; Have I outwardly rejected your proposal? No! I asked for some time because that memory I lost was a part of me, a piece of my life that is missing, and having that recalled will make me a complete person again. Do you think knowing I still have a memory to bring out from my deep consciousness would give us a peaceful life if we marry? I want to marry my man without doubts running from my head, Hyun, and that's what you fail to understand or do not want to understand!" Rielle stressed her stand.

"Yes, it was true; I got so angry at you and realized my mistake, so I am here now to forgive me, Rielle." Implored Hyun-Ki.

"After everything you hurled at me? What do you think of me, a rock that anything you hit at me I won't break? Each time it hit me, you broke me into pieces, and now you turned my heart into a stone, and hurting me won't break me anymore." Rielle paused, trying to replenish her aching heart for strength.

"You pushed me to my limits, Hyun. Everything is over, so over between us now. I can learn to forget you, erase you from my memory. Let us not cross paths ever again. I am letting you go. Goodbye, Mr. Han Hyun-Ki." Rielle was once more in tears; her pain was getting her.

As she turned her back away from Hyun-Ki, he grasped Rielle's arm and embraced her tight, not letting go of her. Rielle let herself be wrapped within Hyun-Ki's arms, making herself feel Hyun-Ki for the last time; both were weeping, and then slowly, Rielle loosened Hyun-Ki's embrace. She stared at him, giving him her previous look through his eyes while Hyun-Ki felt there was the hope of getting her back, but from that long stare, Rielle took off his arms from her, stepped back, and said to Hyun-Ki---

"I'm letting go of everything about us. Let us not cross paths ever again. Goodbye."