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Nightmares often haunt Vincenzo Cassano...
But there was a day where all he wished was all the happiness in the world for the two of them.
“Jagiya”
“Hm?” he asked groggily
“We still have a court appearance today, are you really going to snuggle on my head all day?,” she chuckled loudly, hoping to wake Vincenzo up and enjoy this morning with cuddles, kisses, and bickers.
She mused at his inaudible reply, “God, how can a mafia member be this cute? Did I do something good in my past life to deserve a guy like this?”
Vincenzo raised his head and gave her a sleepy-but-cute look. “What if I tell you I am going to snuggle with you the whole day?”
“Hmm, let me think about it. Should I stay here in bed forever?,” Chayoung pretended to think for a moment while settling on his chest and hugging him tighter.
“You really should Chayoung-ah” he was now fully awake, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Do you ever think of the reactions of the tenants when they found out how clingy the ever-mighty Vincenzo is?”
“Should I tell the tenants and the whole world, how much I love you?”
“Do you really love me that much, my cornsalad?”
“Chayoung-ah how come you still doubt me?” he pouted. Who would have thought that a mafia lawyer can pout this cutely?
“I mean, I don’t doubt you but-”
Her words were cut short with a sweet kiss that made her heart beat faster, “Whatever you say tesoro, no matter how much you doubt me. There will only be one woman in my heart.”
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There are also times when he gets scolded like a 3-year-old baby.
But maybe these were all because of his recklessness.
“Binchencho Quassano, how dare you get by yourself to the rooftop and fight all those thugs alone? You could have almost died, you fucking idiot,” she was livid, as far as Vincenzo could see.
Despite everything, he sat on his couch, contented as she cleaned all the bruises in his arms and around his face.
“I’m sorry tesoro, I don’t want you to get involved with all the shitty mafia businesses I have done back in Italy.”
“YAH! WE'RE PARTNERS, WE SHOULD SHARE THE DANGER. WHAT IF YOU DIED? I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOUR DEAD BODY IN A MORGUE, QUASSANO.”
“At least I’m alive right?” he joked, easing the tension that blanketed the air.
She sighed.
“You really should be thankful that the damn pigeon saved your ass. I do not want to be a widow yet.”
“Are you implying that we are already married, Ms.Hong?” a sly smirk decorated his bruised lips.
“You proposed to me and kissed me. Isn’t marriage the next, after a proposal?”
“But that’s Ms. Bening’s ring, shall I get you your own then?”
“I- yeah, maybe you really should.”
Vincenzo’s mind has been drifting to the word MARRIAGE since a few weeks ago.. Besides, he was very sure Chayoung was the one for him.
“If you say so,” his right arm reached to open a drawer beside the couch he was sitting on.
There lay a maroon-colored box, with an ivory ribbon on it’s hinge. When he opened it, he noticed tears on Chayoung’s face.
“Hong Chayoung, will you make me the happiest mafia consigliere alive?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
He thought of Chayoung as light in an empty fireplace.
And she really was.
“You are leaving tomorrow evening right?”
“I’m sorry tesoro. With my brother’s sense of leadership, I don’t think the Cassano family will be able to win the war with the other mafia families.”
“Only for two weeks right?,” Vincenzo sensed a hint of fear and uncertainty in her voice.
“Chayoung-ah, I promise. I would be back after 2 weeks in one whole piece.”
“Promise me that you’ll stay alive.”
“Yes ma’am,” he answered shortly, wrapping her body with a blanket and hugging her tight as if she was the only thing that matters.
“Oh, and before we sleep I have a suggestion”
“What is it, tesoro?”
“What if we get married tomorrow before you leave?”
His eyes widened in surprise, “Chayoung-ah -”
“I know it’s weird but won’t the police ask you on your return, about the things you did in Italy, your purpose for coming back to Korea, and stuff like that?”
“There is a possibility they would ask that”
“Then tell them that you are working overseas and you came back to visit your wife. Isn’t that genius?”
How could he say no?
“So we will have a court marriage tomorrow,” He smiled
“It’s settled then,”
“Go to sleep Chayoung-ah, tomorrow is going to be a big day.”
“Then lull me to sleep Mr. Binchencho Quassano”
“God. Hong Chayoung is so bossy.”
“And that’s why you love me.”
“It really is”
The next day Vincenzo bought rings for the two of them then they were pronounced as husband and wife legally. He caught up to Luca at the airport and took one last look at Cha-young.
“L’amicizia e un’anima che abita in due corpi”
Then he comes back like a superhero cocking his eyebrows towards some old bastard who wants a gold bar. It's a shame that someone touched her hair besides Vincenzo, a painful death is waiting for them.
“Maybe it’s not that bad having a husband who's part of the mafia,” she mused.
The news broke on the Geumga tenants about their marriage. Everyone was, of course, astounded. That’s when he realized, that having a family is not bad at all.
There were times that he wished he loved Chayoung less...
But in the end, he just couldn’t resist.
Chayoung dolling up for a party made him feel jealous. Why isn’t she going to ask him to accompany her? Was she hiding something?
I am her husband, why should I be jealous?
“I’m leaving. Don’t skip your meal. And I have a present for you underneath the bed. Open it when I come back”
“When will it be over?” his tone was irritatedly obvious.
“No idea!”
Are you going to drink?
“A lot!”
“Should I pick you up later?”
“No,” she chirped.
“Is that for women only?”
She gave a sneaky glance at him, “Don’t be so silly, jagiya. Of course, there are men too. Saranghae!”
Dio Mio, she would be really the death of him.
But it seemed that heaven wanted him to pay for something from the past.
Soon the night has fallen. Vincenzo was thinking of what he would cook for his wife. She would be drunk and there was this mysterious box that they were to open when she arrived.
Then there was a loud knock on his door.
His guard went up, knowing that Chayoung had keys to his apartment.
He opened the door with a shaking hand, Vincenzo didn’t know what he was terrified of. This was in fact an uncertainty that fills his guts.
A gun was all he needed and as he opened the door, a brown envelope was waiting for him.
Chayoung’s bloody earrings.
He tries to remain the cool composure of a Cassano. He tries to tell himself that it was a prank after all.
INCOMING CALL FROM JANG HAN-SEOK
“Where’s Ms. Hong?" Vincenzo gritted.
“She’s alive. Please bear with me. I heard from my fellow inmates that this trick works the best when you need to lure someone that owes you something”
“If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you”
“If you don’t hurry, something will happen to her.”
Vincenzo’s mind stirred in fright and anger, there were what-ifs and what could but all he could do now was to save her.
He opened the black doors with a gun in his pocket. Unsure of what could happen next.
A mafia always needs to have a backup plan
Yet he doesn’t have a single one.
He kneels.
A notorious mafia consigliere who was known to be powerful, smart, and respectable kneeled down for the sake of the person he loves.
Jang Hanseo made a choice that he would never forget. He threw a hockey stick at Hanseok which made him lose his focus on the abducted woman.
Vincenzo on the other hand immediately tries to free his wife from all the rope tangles on his wrist.
“Chayoung, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,”
He aimed his gun at the psychopath.
Twin shots.
They were not his.
“JAGIYA!” He yelled, his ears still ringing.
Dark sticky liquid splattered across his face and chest.
“NOONA!,”
Blood was seeping through her cream-colored blouse.
“Vincenzo-yah, the box,” she breathed. No, she wasn’t dying yet. They have a lot of plans together once Babel falls down. It isn’t going to end like this. No. he wouldn’t let it end like this.
Hanseo was calling the ambulance. But the shot went straight into her heart. It would be a matter of seconds before she passes away. So without a second thought he went to the car and drove at the fastest speed he could have ever imagined.
“No, no. Chayoung-ah stay with me. Please. You said we are going to Malta to meet my family. Chayoung-ah,” His heart clenched.
He felt a hand squeeze his. “Saranghae, jagiya. No matter where you go, I’ll go with you-” Sirens blared in the distance.
If his mother’s own death was painful, how much more was the death of his wife?
Vincenzo Cassano,
You are probably reading this while I’m at the party. I know you wouldn’t be able to resist hehe. I am happy to tell you that we're going to have our own family! Isn’t that amazing??? I was a bit nervous to tell you at first because I didn’t expect this to happen.
I have a picture of the ultrasound In the envelope. Do you think our baby will be a boy or a girl?
Don’t worry, I think you are capable of sharing my love right? ;)
I think we would be cool parents, right? Kicking asses in court and on the field.
Your amazing, wonderful, beautiful wife,
Hong Chayoung.
It had been 40 days since her death and he had no choice but to leave the country without seeing her in her grave.
There were nights that all he could do was get drunk on wine and his last happy moments with her
“Chayoung-ah. I miss you so much.. if you only knew.”
Guilt clawed at his heart every night. Oh, If only he could turn back time.
20 years later
On a dark yet bright night, he laid flowers on the tombstone while running his fingers over her name.
“Tesoro, how’s your day? I hope you're doing okay. See, look at my fingers. There’s our wedding ring.” It has been 2 decades and I haven’t stopped loving you. There was not a single day I stopped dreaming of what our future could be.
“How’s our baby? I hope you’re both doing great wherever you are Chayoung-ah.” He looks at the portrait in front of him, a smile that he misses so much.
"Remember when you always said you loved the stars?" He sat on the grass, simply admiring the stars and how memories rush over him. Almost like a replay. "In fact, I grew to love them too. It’s funny how they seem to shine a little brighter now that you are among them..”