My Lifeline - Jaywon Shortstories

The Grandson

TW: loosing loved ones (grandparents)

Jungwon didn't even notice the smile slowly forming on his face. He was walking down a path that went through a park. The trees around him casted a welcomed shadow in the summer's heat, but he wasn't thinking about this. All of his thoughts were directed towards one person

A grandma.

She was one of the people he read to, every Saturday morning.
Jungwon had been a volunteer at the hospital for a few months, but he had met this grandma only two weeks ago. Just one look at her was enough to know she was a strong and endearing person. She always asked Jungwon to read her the little comics in the newspaper cause she didn't like hearing the actual news. They were too depressing for her and she preferred laughing if she had the choice.

That had been enough to conquer Jungwon.

Ever since he had lost his own grandmother, he had missed the elderly presence in his life. This is why he wanted to read at the hospital every week.
However, it had turned out that not every elderly person is sweet and caring, like his grandmother was. Jungwon had met a few bitter people, but he didn't mind. He knew that they were locked up in a hospital and he could understand how bothering that could be. So he still visited them, offering to read something to them.

Jungwon had reached the hospital as he felt a little drop of sweat run down his forehead. He had walked fast.
The receptionist welcomed him with a hello and let him pass, he knew Jungwon by now.

The latter directly headed for the elevator. The grandma's room was on the 6th floor, the geriatric one.
The doors opened with a melodious "pling" and Jungwon left the small room. The nurses greeted him with a smile.

"She's awake" informed one of them, winking at the young man.
"Thanks!" he replied, smiling back.

He tried not to hurry too much, but he couldn't stand it anymore. He wanted to meet her. A few steps later, he was knocking on her door and he opened the door.

"Wonie!" she said, smiling with her whole face.
"Hi" replied the young man. "How are you feeling today?"
"Well, way better now that you are here" she answered.

There. The arrow in Jungwon's heart.

Dimples made their way on his cheeks as he got closer. She instantly opened her arms and he hugged her.
Now, Jungwon wasn't someone who liked being hugged, but with her it was different.

It was as if destiny had planned their meeting a long time ago and that now the stars were aligned for everything to happen.

Jungwon had found a source of comfort, someone to talk to just like he used to with his own grandmother when she was still there. Jungwon liked to believe that she had guided him towards this new presence from wherever she was.

The Grandma had found a little sunshine to help her go through her hospital days. She also had a grandson, however the latter lived abroad and she hadn't seen him in a long time. As Jungwon had entered her life, she had found someone to remind her what it's like to be young and that gave her attention.

In a way, the two of them had found in each other what they had lost a long time ago.

"So.. comics today?" asked Jungwon, opening his backpack and thus revealing the newspaper inside.
"Yes!" she said.

Whenever she smiled, Jungwon could feel the warmth irradiating from her. He could see her eyes sparkling and her wrinkles go up.

"But let me share some good news with you before" she added quickly.

Jungwon put his backpack down. She seemed so excited that he wanted to give her his full attention.

"My grandson is coming to visit me!" she said, in a higher voice than usual.
"Wow!" commented Jungwon. "I'm so happy for you!"

And she hugged him again.

"Since he heard I was in the hospital, he has been asking his father to come visit me, but it took some time" she explained. "With the school and everything... But he called me this morning! He is coming!"
"That is such good news" replied Jungwon, smiling with her.

He didn't want to. He really didn't want to, but a little dark part of him felt a little envious.
Not that he didn't want her to meet her grandson, but he wanted to be able to see his grandmother again too.

Jungwon shook his head. He refused to feel that. She deserved to meet her grandson, and how he felt about his grandmother had nothing to do with this.

"When is he coming?" asked Jungwon.
"He's going to travel tomorrow, so I think I'll see him the day after" she commented.
"Where does he live again?" asked Jungwon.
"In the US" she replied.

Jungwon nodded. A lot of Korean people lived there.

"Would you agree to meet him too?" she asked. "I think he's around your age. Wait, how old are you?"
"I'm 19" replied Jungwon.
"He's 22" she added. "But that shouldn't be a problem I think."
"Of course not!" said Jungwon, not understanding why any age gape would be a problem. "It would be an honor to meet him."

She smiled again.

"Thank you" she whispered, her hands holding Jungwon's. "You've been taking such good care of me. I told him about you and he wants to meet you as well."

Jungwon just felt the blood rush to his cheeks. He wasn't used to being complimented like that.

"Should I give you my number? So that you can call me and the three of us can meet?" he asked.

She nodded and watched him write down his info.

"Thank you" she said.

Their little talk had lasted longer than they thought, but Jungwon insisted on reading her some comics before visiting the next person.

"I have to go now" he said, a little sad.
"Thank you again" she said. "I'll contact you soon then."
"Yes!" he replied as he reached the door. "Have a nice day Mrs Park."