Evening came, the sound from the crickets conquered the night. Irene was arranging plates for her family. Yeri was helping her as well. When Irene realised that it's still dark in the table, she lit another candle.
"Will Lisa join us?" Her mother asked, placing a delish pot of soup on the middle of the table.
"I asked her but she refused, she's shy." Irene answered.
"If that's the case then you should brought her some after we ate." Her father said, grabbing another bowl for Lisa.
"She's stubborn." Yeri said.
"Yeri, it's not that. Just like you, she can get shy sometimes." Irene said as she put Yeri's hair into pony tail so her hair won't fall into her face.
"I heard that the volunteers had stayed in the nearby hotel and plan to go back here." Her mother said, she started serving some soup and Irene scooped some rice.
"They gave us enough food for three days, let's cook the ramen tomorrow as lunch?" Her father asked with enthusiasm.
"I will, and I will boil some potatoes too." Her mother agreed happily.
Yeri clapped her hands in excitement.
"I will eat happily tomorrow!" Yeri exclaimed.
"Eomeoni, Abeoji, Yeri - I want to continue my study on college. I want to be a teacher." Irene said and everyone went silent.
"Irene, you know that we don't have enough money to send you on college." Her father said, came out almost whisper.
"That's why I will go the City to work and finance my study. Any excess on my salary, I will send it here." Irene explained softly.
"You're going to leave us?" Yeri asked.
"I will go home when I save enough." Irene carressed Yeri's back.
"How- how are we going to contact you? Where are you going to leave for the City?" Her father asked continuously.
"Remember Joy? She said I can stay with her but I said only until I can find my own place so it won't be too much for her."
"I taught you to read and write before, right? We can write letters for each other." Irene asked.
"I can barely hold a pen." Her father said lowly.
"Well, I will write. You must know how to read." Irene said, trying to stop herself from crying.
Her father nodded his head embarrassed.
"I can still teach you until the day I leave." Irene wiped the tears that rolled on her cheeks.
Yeri's shoulder was already shaking. She's crying too.
"When will be the day that you'll leave?" Her mother asked calmly.
"A week from now. The enrollment is a month away and I need to search for job before that." Irene answered smiling, her tears won't stop.
"I'm sorry, Irene." Her father said and it made Yeri bawled.
"You don't have to apologise, abeoji." Irene said while holding his hands.
"Will you be alright?" Her mother asked.
"What I plan to is for you, for abeoji and Yeri. Lisa too. I will be alright." Irene said smiling.
Her mother was doing her best not to cry, but her hands were shaking as she wiped her daughter's cheeks.
"What about Lisa?" Her father asked.
