Love Me Once Again

Twelve

It was already August, three more months to the big day - CSAT day.

More and more students were falling sick from stress and over studying. There was more and more absenteeism in class. Even the teachers were getting stressed up.

"Hyo-ri, can you help to explain this question?" Mr Go asked during one lesson. He was so stressed up that he couldn't teach his lessons properly anymore. So I stepped up.

The only person who wasn't stressed about CSAT was probably Jong Woon. He was stressed for another kind of test entirely. His audition would be in October, two months from now. He was fervently practising his dance moves and working on his vocals.

Ever since the camp, I did notice that his dancing had improved immensely. He said he practised at least three hours every day during the camp month. So much until he had muscle cramps, he told me.

But when I told him about his improvement, he was very pleased. He said, at least his effort was not wasted.

I, on the other hand, was stressed because of my dad. He really turned up in Seoul, luggage and all.

He arrived in a full three piece suit on a hot summer day. I used to think he looked damn cool especially when he turned up in school for parents meetings or my performances.

Now, looking at him, I saw a deceitful man in his late forties trying to make himself look younger and good. His wrinkles showing up at the corner of his eyes when he smiled. His smiles didn't reach his eyes though. A fake.

Of course, he attracted a lot of attention, exactly what he wanted, I supposed. It wasn't every day that people in this neighbourhood saw a very well-dressed businessman turned up on the street with two oversized luggage. The vegetable auntie (she's called Mrs Kim) stared so hard that she dropped her cabbage.

Grandma was in the kitchen chopping spring onions while I was stirring the sauce. We were getting ready for the weekend business. Now that there was a cinema that opened just next street, it indirectly brought business to our shop.

Grandma had adjusted her business hours (I forced her to!). She opened from eleven to five every day and weekends it was ten to six or seven depending on the food left. And I would help her out on weekends. Sometimes Jong Woon came over to help too, if he wanted me to quickly be done and go out with him. And that sort of forced Grandma to wrap up business for the day earlier.

Grandma was very open about us dating. And I half suspected Jong Woon's mom might be aware too, because once or twice when she came to buy tteokbokki, she would give me a knowing smile.

When the door bell rang, both of us jumped.

"I'll get it," I told Grandma because it was easier for me to drop the ladle than her to stop chopping.

I opened the door and saw him. I wanted to slam shut the door.

"Hi Hyo-ri."

He always called me Hyo-ri though I adopted the name Hanna when I got into secondary school. Only mom called me by that name and that was because I insisted it.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out.

"What do you mean what am I doing here...?" He questioned back. "I said I was returning to Seoul."

"I thought it was not until next week..." I mumbled.

"Who is it?" Grandma asked as she came out from the kitchen. She also stopped short when she saw him.

"Hi Mom."

"What are you doing here?"

I almost burst out laughing.