The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 1

12 🩺 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦

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~ Eighteen Years Ago ~

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'I don't careeee! I'm tired of waiting. I wanna see mommy and daddy nowwww!'

Wooyoung, just six years of age, was spending the night, like many, with his grandparents.

'Wooyoung darling, you're mommy and daddy are busy at work. They are going to come and pick you up tomorrow morning! Just one more sleep! Isn't that exciting?!'

'They're always busy with work! I know that they are home now. I heard you talking on the phone with them! I wanna go homeeee!'

Distressed and homesick, Wooyoung wanted nothing more than to be in his own bed, have his own mother read his a bedtime story, and have his own dad tuck him in and kiss him goodnight. He was tired of staying over at other people's houses, and he was tired of being told that his parents were busy and couldn't see him - especially, when it came from his grandparents.

They often spoiled him, as though it would distract him from the fact that his parents were both workaholics, and spent only minute amounts of time with their son. When he wasn't with his family, people gifted him with sweets and toys and trips to the park, as though it made him temporarily forget that he wasn't home, where he wanted to be.

It did not.

Wooyoung missed his parents, and he didn't understand why it had to be this complicated. He just wanted to go home. And this time, his parents were home! So why was it so difficult for him to just be with them? Didn't they love him?

Having realised that over the hours, Wooyoung's tantrum had only grown worse and worse and was unlikely to let up, his grandfather finally caved and rang his parents.

'Wooyoung honey, your mommy said that her and your daddy are going to come and get you tonight! Isn't that great news!'

Wooyoung squealed with happiness. 'See! I knew it wasn't that hard!'

His tears of frustration had immediately ceased, and as his grandmother quickly showered him and got his little suitcase packed with his belongings. He did as he was told without hesitation.

'Now Woo darling, your momma and dadda are going to be very tired when they get here okay? They have been working really hard this past week, so you need to be extra good for them, okay? Can you show them what a sweet little boy you can be?'

Wooyoung nodded his head vigorously, bouncing up and down on the bed off of his bum excitedly as his grandmother tried to manipulate a sweater over his little body.

He was too excited, and could barely keep still. He had missed his parents sooo much and couldn't wait to run up and give them both a big hug when they got there. He was so excited that he begged and begged for his grandparents to let him wait outside for them, to watch for their car coming around the corner. He even dragged a kitchen chair up to the sink and did his best at washing the dishes to prove just how good he could be.

Finally having persuaded them, Wooyoung was allowed to sit on the top step, and the top step only, as his grandparents sat on their little garden chairs on the porch, waiting and watching the arrival of their own child and her beautiful husband. As child waited for parents, and parents waited for child, the three sat in the moonlight, far later than Wooyoung's bedtime, watching for the silver car to turn the corner.