In Another Life: Han Ji Pyeong's Happy Ending (Start Up)

Chapter 59: Standing Before Me

Halmeoni's POV

"What are you doing?" Ah-hyun asks as she sits beside me on the couch. I've framed the copy of the lease that Good Boy gave me. I wipe the frame carefully to keep it clean.

"I'm cleaning this." I tell Ah-hyun, gesturing to the lease. "Good Boy gave it to me." I say happily. "Isn't he such a Good Boy!" I exclaim.

"Wah, he really is." Ah-hyun says.

"I used to worry so much about Dal mi and who she'd marry," I sigh. "But now, I can finally relax."

Ah-hyun pauses for a second and I know that we're both thinking about the same person.

"How is In jae?" I ask Ah-hyun. Saying In jae's name again pulls a sense of home sickness over me.

"The last I saw her, she was doing well." Ah-hyun sighs. "You know how In jae is... She barely tells you anything."

"I know. She always keeps everything to herself. She doesn't want anyone to know what she's really thinking and how she's really feeling." I sigh, thinking of my sweet granddaughter.

The sound of the door opening can be heard.

"Halmeoni!" Dal mi's cheerful voice floods through the house.

"Oh! You're home?" I look up and see the vague outlines that I recognise of Dal mi and Good Boy.

"Good Boy! You're here too!" I exclaim happily.

"Halmeoni, Mom." Dal mi says. "I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" I ask Dal mi and reach out to hold her hand.

"Come on in." Dal mi calls.

Amidst my blurry vision, a figure emerges. The hazy lines that outline the person seem to buzz around. I try to squint. The image momentarily gets clearer than blurry, then clear again and back to blurry again. It oscillates between clear and blurry images.

"Who's that?" I ask Dal mi softly.

"Halmeoni." I hear her voice. I stand up slowly, unable to believe my ears. Even after fifteen years, you'd never forget the voice of your granddaughter.

"In jae ah?" Ah-hyun whispers and her words confirm my guess as to who the person standing before me is.

"In jae?" I whisper in disbelief. I stand up and hold out my hands, trying to allow my tactile sensation to guide me towards her.

"In jae ah... Is that really you?" I ask in disbelief as my hands fall on her face. Something wet touches my finger and I know that she's crying.

"Are you crying, my dear?" I ask her and In jae sniffs quietly.

"Halmeoni..." In jae says. Her voice is like a warm summer breeze that floods my being.

"In jae ah! In jae!" I say in disbelief. All those years of living apart from her... Those sleepless nights when I would wonder where In jae is and how she is doing... Finally, she's here standing in front of me. I hug her tightly. "You're home!" I exclaim.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." In jae says in a shaking voice. "I wanted to see you sooner... But... I didn't dare to come here as a Won." In jae says. "But Halmeoni," In jae says as she places a large envelope in my hand.

"What is this?" I ask her, trying to squint at the fine words.
"I dissolved my adoption. I'm Seo In jae now." In jae says. Her voice is flooded with emotion.

"In jae ah!" I exclaim in delight and feel my heart soar. "You're home! Welcome home, my dear." I say as I hug her for the second time and In jae hugs me back.

"Halmeoni..." In jae says, sounding so secure and at peace

~

"Why do all these cards look exactly the same..." Ah-hyun sighs as she looks through the Go Stop cards in her hands.

"If you have nothing, just remember December, October, May, November." I whisper to her.

Good Boy, Dal mi and In jae all immediately look up at me.

"Yah! Halmeoni!" Dal mi exclaims.

"Halmeoni, you can't tell her. That's cheating!" Good Boy protests.

"Cheating?" I ask. "Aigoo, don't think I don't know that you purposely drop good cards for Dal mi to take those cards, hm?" I tell Good Boy. Good Boy immediately lowers his head while Dal mi smiles shyly.

"Aigoo. I can't stand the two of you." In jae sighs, unleashing her competitive spirit. "Mom, choose a card, quickly!" In jae urges Ah-hyun.

"Okay! Okay! Aish! Stop rushing me!" Ah-hyun sighs. Ah-hyun drops a card down and a scream erupts from her mouth.

"Aigoo!" I exclaim at her high pitched scream. Her screaming makes my ears throb.

"A MATCHING CARD! A MATCHING CARD!" Ah-hyun exclaims.

"A matching card?" I exclaim excitedly. "Yah! Everyone give up a card now!" I instruct and slap Good Boy's leg.

"Aish!" In jae sighs as she gives up her cards. Good Boy and Dal mi both protest.

"This isn't fair! I demand a rematch!" Dal mi exclaims.

"Me too!" In jae agrees.

"No way!" Ah-hyun smiles at them. "You two may be CEO Seo in your companies, but here, you are just Dal mi and In jae." Ah-hyun says happily.

"Aish... but there are so many skewers to make..." Dal mi sighs as she looks over at Good Boy. Good Boy wears the same defeated look as Dal mi.