Evenstar

4. Opening A Door

Kwan Chung-Hee drove to his daughter's house on the hill. This was his parents' and his grandparents', and their parents' before them. It was a moderate-sized stone and log house from the times when their family was struggling to keep their business afloat. It must be more than a hundred years old and was remodelled to adapt to the times and to fit modern conveniences. Even though they had a bigger house, Dae Eun wanted to live here, because she stayed here with her grandparents after her mother died. He had been too busy with running their business to look after her.

Chung-Hee parked at the front and walked to the door. It was only a short distance but his knees were starting to protest. If his father were alive he would never hear the end of it. His father had lived to a ripe old age and could still trek the hills on foot for miles at 80 years old. He, on the other hand, had grown up when their farm was already doing very well and he was mostly confined to the office, leaving the agricultural pursuits to his uncles. His two sons were the same. It was only Dae Eun who took after his parents and his wife.

"Eun-ah," he called for her as he entered the house. "Where are you?"

"In the kitchen, Appa!"

Chung Hee brightened up, his daughter must be preparing something good. He always delighted in her cooking, and it was almost four in the afternoon. He found her in the middle of baking, with rows and rows of muffins on the kitchen island. He couldn't resist the sweet smell and took one.

"Put that down, Appa. It's bad for you. This is for the workers to take home. They worked hard today on the green house prototype." Dae Eun was carefully packing basketfuls of the delectables and wrapping them in cloth to keep them warm.

"I thought you were baking for me," he pouted.

"I didn't know you were coming, but I have just the right snack for you." She took some apples from the refrigerator and started peeling them. They had picked this a few days ago and they were crisp and just slightly sweet.

"I'd have loved those better if they were baked in a pie."

"Appa, too much sugar is bad for you. I promise to bake you one with no sugar at all by the weekend."

"Okay," Chung Hee smiled at his daughter. She was all grown up now, naturally fair-skinned but slightly tanned like her mom. She was tall for a girl and had bright doe eyes that could melt any man's heart. Gentle and intelligent, kind-hearted to a fault, how could he even think of allowing her to meet this Kim Taehyung from another world. He let out a big sigh.

Dae Eun looked at her dad as she placed the sliced apples before him. "Is something the matter?"

"Not really. Dae Eun-ah, you know I haven't been a good father to you."

"What kind of talk is this?" She made him a hot cup of matcha tea. "Are you going through andropause, Appa," she teased. "You're being dramatic today."

"You're turning 27 this September and you don't have a boyfriend yet." There, he said it. He was proud of himself. This was something her mother should have talked to her about, but she was not here. So he would be both mom and dad to her, especially since her grandmother was no longer around either.

"Appa, stop."

"I mean it, Dae Eun. I want you to get married someday, like your brothers." It wasn't really true. He couldn't bear the thought of giving his precious daughter to another man, but he also couldn't bear the thought of her being alone for the rest of her life. It was late enough already, and he should have encouraged her earlier on.

"I just haven't met anyone, Appa."

"Well, I don't think the right man will fall out of one of our trees. We need a more pro-active strategy on this, Eun-ah."

Dae Eun took a serious look at her dad, he didn't look like he was joking. "Okay, I'll bite. What did you have in mind, Appa?"

"Your Auntie Jung wants you to meet someone."

Dae Eun rolled her eyes, her mom's friend was playing matchmaker again. It did work with her brother Chul-soo though. He was happily married and her nephew was a sweet and handsome boy.

"Who does Auntie Jung want me to meet?"

"Kim Taehyung, that's his name. Do you know him?"

Dae Eun paused a while, the name seemed familiar. "I've heard his name before, I just don't remember where."

"He's a K-pop idol." Chung-Hee rolled his eyes, what was Jung-sook thinking?

Suddenly it dawned on Dae Eun who Kim Taehyung was. She had heard his name often enough from her best friend from university, June. Her mouth dropped open and she almost dropped the muffins too. He was June's bias from BTS, she would be thrilled.

"Oh, you know him?"

"Yes, I think so." It would be highly unlikely that they would hit it off, but Dae Eun wanted this chance to meet him at least once so she could tell June about it.

"Okay Appa, I'll meet him."

Chung-Hee raised his eyebrows at his daughter's sudden interest and wondered who this Kim Taehyung was. He supposed he would find out soon enough.