What's Next?

Chapter 31 The Missing

Se-ri did not talk to Jeong hyeok for the rest of her stay in Switzerland. She saw him, but not to talk to him. She was worried, she felt something was going on. On her last day there, Hans came to her. It was obvious that he wanted to talk to her privately.

"Miss Yoon, the Ris are missing."

She looked at him "What do you mean by missing? How could they be missing?"

"They were supposed to fly out yesterday but they never showed at the airport."

"Have you checked that they weren't in an accident?"

"No accidents have been reported."

"Has the North Korea Ambassador said anything?"

"No, nothing. They have been very quiet."

"Would this affect the North Korean student who got the scholarship last year?"

"We hope not. We will do our best to have her continue the scholarship."

"Thank you, Hans. I am leaving tomorrow morning for Korea. This is distressing, keep me posted.

"I will. But all in all, we had another successful year. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished. I think we will have a larger group next year, I have been getting inquiries.

"Thank you for all you do, Hans. A lot of the success belongs to you too."

That evening Se-ri could not find the calm she so craved. She paced until she was tired. She went over everything he told her and kept holding on to what he said about not believing what she heard. She was anxious about the Ri's safety. She was hoping that she could get some information when she got to Korea.

She called her mother when she arrived and invited her to lunch at her place. She did not want to break the news in a public place, she did not know how her mother would take the news.

"Se-ri, you look good, but I can tell something is bothering you. What is it?"

"Eomma, there is so much to tell you. Come, let's eat and I will tell you all."

"Should I be concerned?"

"No, I don't think so."

"I found my biological mother. Do you remember I told you about my friends David and Lisa and how kind they have been? I spent Thanksgiving with David's family and I met his aunt Annette. David and Annette were amazed at how much I looked like Annette when I was her age. He  asked me who my father was and I told him, his mother Kate was convinced that I was Annette's daughter. We did a DNA test and the result was not excluded, she is my biological mother. She told me her story on how I came to be." Han Jeong yeon was silent. She did not expect to hear this. How could that be? Such a big country and she meets the nephew of her biological mother?

She looked at Se-ri. "How long have you known?"

"A little while, I did not want to tell you over the phone, I wanted to do it in person. I have always been curious about her and I am glad that I found out. She won't replace you. Does it bother you that I found her?"

"It's a shock. I don't how I feel, it will take a while for me to understand my emotions, but I am glad you found her. Does she have children?"

"Yes, Dominic and Rachael, both talented. Dominic is a designer and Rachael is an author. I want to do some collaboration with Dominic for the Asian market. He has some very good ideas and Rachael used to be in advertising, she had some very successful Ad campaigns before she became an author. I would also like to work with her."

"All three of you inherited Annette's creativity. I remember she used to design and make her own clothes. And you do look like her when she was your age. Will you tell your father or would you like me to tell him?"

"Would you tell him? I hope this does not cause any conflict between you."

"I will tell him; it should not cause any conflict as it has been so many years. I think he would be happy that you met her. I know he wondered about what happened to her and where she was. He always felt guilty about taking you from her and making the family move to America. He never heard from her or her family and he did not know where or how they were living."

"He does not have to worry, they are all doing well. David does a lot of business in Asia and he comes to Korea. When I move back I am sure he will visit, I think you will like him."

"The Ris were in Swiss but they did not get on their flight, they are missing. I called Agent Kim when I got home and asked if he knew anything about them missing and he said no. Eomma, I have not heard anything."

"Is that what has been bothering you?"

"Yes, I keep thinking, because of me something horrible happened to them. If I had not started the Scholarship, they would not have gone to Swiss and they would be safe."

"Se-ri, you don't know that. I am sure you will hear what happened."