But Ryu's quiet call stopped him,"Long Mi Reu!Stop right there."

Neil stiffened at the call and turning back glared at his brother!No one had dared to call him by that name in the last 6 years!The name was like a reminder of the past and his brother had effectively sc.r.a.ped the old wounds to make him stop!

Without a word,Neil sat back on his chair but refused to speak.Ryu was as reticent as Neil and kept mum.Finally,exasperated,Neil said,"I thought we agreed to forget that name!"

"No.You declared that you will not answer to that name anymore.We just respected your decision.You may have frogotten that Mi Reu is my brother but I have not!"

"Mi Reu is dead!Please accept that!I am Neil only Neil!"

"If Mi Reu is dead then it is because of Mr X and I want revenge for my brother!I want my brother to be happy!"

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm his churning emotions,Neil looked at his brother,"Bro,revenge will not bring her back!I just want my family to be safe today and tomorrow."

Ryu looked at his brother but continued,"Revenge may not bring her back but it may free my brother from guilt and self blame.Mi Reu,you have made enough sacrifices!Let me do something for you this time.The world believes that I have kept and raised my brothers but the truth is without you and your tenacity,all of us would have gone our separate ways already!You are the foundation that have kept us strong.If something were to happen to you,all of us would crumble.After our parents' death,it is your strength that has kept us going!I only had the brains to run the business!"

Taking a deep breath,he continued,"Trust me brother.I have made the preparations for every eventuality,some things even a.s.sistant Yang is not aware of..Just let go and do your part!Please?Think it over."

Without replying to his brother's words,Neil got up to leave but again was stopped by his brother,"Neil,whether you believe it or not,Alicia has always been a part of your penance towards that girl.For being unable to help her.But it wasn't your fault.You were not the one who gave up.She was.You can only help those who want to help themselves.We have acceded with your wishes and call you by only your western name but beware that my patience has a limit.I will not let you erase that ident.i.ty forever.What do you think Ah Hai feels like when he hears you call yourself differently?You know well that he too blames himself!Do you also blame him and want him to suffer as well? Alicia,Ru and I will be leaving the country tomorrow.You have until then to decide whether you want to support my decision or not."

"Ah Hai will be joining you in leaving the country tomorrow.He is on medical leave for the next few months.The last training mission they were at went awry and he hurt his leg.He was worried about telling you.Goodbye."

Neil left the study and went into his car.Angrily hitting the wheel,he bent his head and cursed a blue streak.Putting the car into gear,he drove around the city aimlessly.That is what his life was now-aimless.

Mi Reu...It had been so long anyone had called him by that name.He had stopped using that name because she called him that..."My Mi Reu.."He could still remember her sweet voice calling out..He had wanted to erase that ident.i.ty to punish himself but was what Ryu said true?Did he blame Ah Hai as well and want to punish him...No..It wasn't Ah Hai's fault.He knew that.But he could not bring himself to answer to that name.Not yet.Maybe not ever.

Coming out of his reverie,he looked around and realized he had unknowingly come here again.The graveyard where his his love was buried.However, before he could enter he saw a lone figure,clad in jeans and striped s.h.i.+rt standing near the entrance.He continued to sit in the car as he stared at her.Alicia was very different from his first love.Where she had been tall and slender,she was pet.i.te and curvy.Alicia was vulnerable but strong,whereas she had been weak...Yet both the women understood him too well!Ryu was wrong.She was not his penance.She was his proof and reminder that his love had been weak and unwilling to fight.He did not hate his brothers,but he hated the woman who chose to leave him rather that stay and fight.They had been childhood sweethearts and promised to be together with each other forever.But her idea of forever was too short..

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts,Neil smiled a bit and getting off the car,shouted,"Al my pal,are you following me?"

Alicia stared at him piercingly and then replied,"Uh huh.You are following me..I came here first.Anyways I just stopped because I saw your car.Come on,I am very thirsty.Let's grab some coffee."He followed Alicia and let her guide him away from the past.Turning back on the woman who had turned her back on him.