Healing Love

Chapter 31

(Jin Ah POV)

It's been a week since I stayed behind in Okinawa with halmeoni after Jung Hyuk oppa went back to Busan. It's a good thing that he let me stay longer here with halmeoni. I have more time to see my friends, and on top of that, I can use this time to learn to be independent. I think for almost a year, I have been relying on Jung Hyuk oppa a lot. I realised he did most things for me. I am also using this time away from him to try and sort out my feelings, but I do miss him, honestly. Everyday. Thanks to today's technology, we have a video call every night and have our conversation as usual. Jae Wook seems like missing his appa too, and he is looking forward to the video call.

I am meeting my friends for Sunday brunch, and in the meantime, I take Jae Wook out for his morning strolls around the neighbourhood. We went to the nearby park, where on Sundays, many parents take their kids to play there in the morning. I push his stroller on the pavement. There are few more parents pushing strollers, some are jogging with their little ones, and adults come there alone for a morning jog. It's a regular activity seen at the park on weekends.

After strolling for almost an hour, I take a seat on one of the benches, and it's about Jae Wook's feeding time too. As I am providing my son, I saw a family of three sitting underneath a shady tree not too far from my place. The couple in their 30s, and their son is slightly older than Jae Wook. The father lifts up his son, and the little boy giggles as he is being lifted up in the air. The wife has that adoring look in her eyes. Looking at them reminds me of the time we spent with Jung Hyuk oppa two weeks ago.

(flashback)

The three of us were enjoying the cherry blossoms. We were lucky to get a nice shady spot under a tree. I placed the picnic mat, put our picnic basket on, and arranged our prep food in a corner. Oppa already sitting down and had Jae Wook sitting on his lap. He held the tiny hands of Jae Wook and guided him on how to clap. Our son seems amazed by the new skills taught to him. He looks weird at first, but later, he gives a big smile enjoying it. Then, he lifted Jae Wook up high, and the boy giggled. He just loves to be lifted. He can stop crying immediately if you raise him. My heart couldn't cease to melt as I see the view. Having my two favourite boys enjoying themselves in my hometown is such a precious memory to be kept. I put some food on his plate and pour the coffee inside the mug for him. "Oppa, give him to me. You eat first." When having a baby, we have to take turns doing things, including eating. We can only eat together when the baby is sleeping, which is seldom to happen.

He passed Jae Wook to me and begin to eat. On the other hand, I begin to feed Jae Wook too. Then he took a piece of kimbap and brought it to my mouth. "Have some," he said.

"Gwenchana. I can eat later. You eat first," I told him.

"You must be hungry too. Let me feed you, and we can eat together," he still not taking the kimbap away from me, and I have no choice but to eat it. We ended up eating from one plate with him feeding me while I am feeding our baby. I know it is nothing much, but I love how warm and thoughtful he is.

(flashback ends)

I look at Jae Wook in my arms, who already in dreamland after full with milk. I put him inside his stroller so that he can have his nap. I then open my bag pack and take out the sketchbook, pencil and some colour pencils. I open a blank page and begin to sketch those moments under the cherry blossoms tree. It has become like a habit to draw the moments I have with him whenever I miss my husband. I want to keep our memories together.

I smile, looking at the end product of my sketch. The pinkish colour of cherry blossoms compliments the sweet memories we had last week. Then I flipped through the sketchbook. It's similar to my personal diary, where instead of writing, I draw the important things or events I want to keep. My first ever sketch is of my husband's, on our wedding day. It's similar to the one I gave him for his birthday. I just love the way he looked at me that day. There's some sort of assurance in him. I also drew a photo of him holding Jae Wook after he was born. I can still remember clearly the happy tears he shed that day as he had our son for the first time. I know he loves our boy instantly. Then, there's a sketch of him giving Jae Wook a bath. The tenderness of him holding our baby melts my maternal heart. There are few others inside the book, and I smile as I see each one of them.