Decoupled • KTH : Book 1✔

Chapter 28

Taehyung

"Thank you so much," I bow politely and collect the car keys from the delivery manager at the showroom. It was supposed to arrive sometime during this week, but it happened as a pleasant surprise today.

"Congratulations, appa," Areum claps her hands and bounces on her feet while Jang-Mi too stands by with a tired but happy smile after what seems like ages.

The customary photograph that is taken at the time of delivering the new vehicle to the customer is taken at their delivery area where the three of us stand beside my precious first car that's glistening under the late evening sun, and we all pose with big smiles.

This is the first time that I'm owning a brand new car, and even though it is bought with a car loan, it still makes me feel as if I have achieved a new milestone in life. I did own a used car previously to fine tune my driving skills, but when Jang-Mi resigned her job and the entire load of the housing loan and all other expenses fell upon me, I eventually ended up selling that car because I couldn't afford the fuel and maintenance for it anymore.

But now with my new job that pays me almost over double the money from my previous job, I can comfortably own and maintain a car and drive it around everyday.

Areum is the most excited among the three of us, and it is understandable because for the first time in her life, she would be going to school by car from tomorrow onwards, and that is keeping her totally hyped.

Jang-Mi, however, only congratulated me like some co-worker would do. But I have crossed the point of being disappointed by her lack of emotions, especially towards me, and it doesn't affect me anymore. I don't expect anything from her, for me.

I now have someone who will be genuinely happy for me and appreciate me and my efforts with her whole heart.

The three of us climb into the new car, and I drive around the city for a while with my hyper-excited daughter squealing at the various features in my car which all seem totally alien to her, and she's obviously intrigued by everything, also putting forth a billion questions.

The stereo, the gear-stick, the plastic covering the seats, and even the seatbelts seem to be so intriguing for Areum.

After about an hour of driving around, I head home since tomorrow is a working day, and Areum would have to finish dinner and relax a bit before settling down in bed by 9 pm.

Once at home, I park my car with extra care and make sure that everything inside and outside the vehicle is perfect and immaculate so that I can surprise Maya tomorrow.

She doesn't yet know that I have bought a new car for myself, and although I wanted to have her beside me while obtaining the keys, it was an improbable situation.

So tomorrow, I would take her out in my new car and fulfill my little promise to her.

Maya is the main reason that I'm placed in this job and wherever I am in life at the moment. She's my happiness and my biggest and only source of strength and support, and I owe her big time.

I have even got the seat covers done in her favorite beige color, and it perfectly matches the seat covers in her car.

After changing into more comfortable clothes, we have dinner together, followed by which we all head to bed, but I don't want to sleep so soon. My mind keeps going back to Maya and what she would be doing right now, what she would be wearing right now, and I also begin imagining how she would react when she sees the car tomorrow.

The way her pretty eyes would gleam and widen with surprise, how her fingers would cover her mouth when she gasps, and how she would give me a tight hug to express her happiness.