The Long Fall

thirteen

I nervously sat in the cafe, praying I wouldn't be dragged out and shipped back to Qingdao the moment anyone caught wind that I was in Seoul again. I took a sip of my tea, hoping it would calm me down.

"Saengie." I looked up and almost started crying, seeing that face that loved me for so long. "What's wrong? Is Tao being mean to you?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. I, I just have something to tell you." I answered, waiting for him to sit down and listen. "I'm sure that Lay Ge told you that I had a child."

"Yes, a little girl. And you recently had a little boy as well. Congratulations." He replied, sipping from his glass. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Chenying, my daughter, she's yours," I whispered, trying my best to not cry as he tensed up.

"I thought you had an abortion?" He questioned, making me shake my head.

"The doctor only did one of the two shots, so I was able to carry to term and have a healthy little girl," I explained, making him nod in understanding. "But, I wanted to tell you something important about her."

"What's wrong?" He asked, earning a deep sigh from me.

"I'm not asking for anything from you. I just want you to be aware." I spoke, singing again. "Chenying is autistic. It was caused by the drugs from the abortion."

"Will she be okay? Are you giving her up?" He questioned, grabbing my hands in a pleading manner. "Please say that you aren't. You'd never do such a thing, right?"

"Of course not! She's my daughter, I will never abandon her." I replied, making him sigh in relief.

"I want to have your number, and I'd like to see her eventually. I won't say anything to her, and I'll just be her favorite uncle, but I want to visit and see my daughter." He stated, making me smile.

"I was so scared you'd say the opposite," I told him, chuckling a bit as he gave me an expression of offense.

"You know me, Saengie, I'd never run from you or anything you throw at me." He replied, grabbing my phone and typing in his new number. "I promise I'll never leave you again. I'll always be your closest friend."

Six Years Later

"Ying'er! Xiao Wei! You'll be late for school if you don't get up now!" I shouted up the stairs, hearing groans in response.

The two of them, although obedient, learned to be sarcastic from their father. It always made me roll my eyes, but I gave in because they would always listen in the end.

Chenying came down first, being faster at getting ready from experience in doing it. She grabbed her headphones and bowed, greeting me without speaking, which was something she'd always done. Chenwei came down the stairs in a mess, but I helped fix up his appearance and brush his hair.

After a quick breakfast, I walked the two of them to school and sent them on their way. Saying goodbye to both of them, I made my way back home to clean up a bit before Tao came home that day.

"Saengie!" I turned my head with excitement, hearing the voice of my best friend as he came running up.

"Kai Ge!" I happily said his name as he hugged me. "I'm so happy you were able to make it this year. How was your enlistment? You look healthy."

"It went well. I'm happy to see you again. How're the kids?" He replied, walking beside me as we made our way home.

"Doing well. Both of them are good in all their classes." I answered, so happy to have him back. "They miss you a lot, though. I'm sure the two of them will be so happy when they see you've come to visit again."

"I've missed you guys so much." He exclaimed, helping me with the dishes while I vacuumed the living room.

"So much that you're doing housework?" I asked, making him laugh.

"Anything to be with you." He replied, sighing a bit. "I'm really sad that the company made us break up, but I'm so ecstatic that you found happiness with Tao. You deserve everything good in life."

"I'm just happy we can still be friends with each other. I think I'd go crazy if I didn't have you in my life." I added, making him smile. "Tao should be home soon, want to go pick up the kids?"

"Of course! I want to see them the most!" He teased, making me pout a bit while he laughed. "Yeongie and Wei are the best little kids anyone could've asked for. They take after you a lot."

"They better, I didn't raise them to be anything unlike me!" I teased him back, making him laugh again.

"Samchon!" I smiled happily as Chenying ran up to her favorite person, even using Korean to greet him.

"Is Uncle going to stay for a while?" Chenwei asked excitedly, earning a nod from Kai as we walked back to the house.

"I'm going to stay for a couple of days, but I'll have to go home soon. I have my own kids to worry about as well." He answered, smiling at the boy as he excitedly held the elder's hand.

It was just before his enlistment, two years ago. He called me and said he met someone that he's allowed to marry. She was also expecting their first child already since they'd been dating for a year or so previously. The wedding was beautiful, and I was so happy he found someone to be with. They were even blessed with twins, making me so happy to see Kai's smile.

"Sheng'er, why didn't you call? I would've come home sooner if I'd known Kai would be here." Tao said with a laugh as he put his bags down.

"I told her to keep it a surprise, Hyung." Kai swooped in to answer before I could, making me laugh a bit.

Yeah, we'll all be alright. Life may have twists and turns, but you'll always end up where you belong.

The End