Taehyung dropped us at our apartment around five in the evening and Lisa was already back from work. The kids watched TV in the living room while Lisa and I cooked dinner for everyone.
"Do you know who Rose's brother is?" I ask Lisa.
"Um, I might." Of course, she knew it. Why wouldn't she? "Rose told me about her brother who was Taehyung and he happened to be the same Taehyung that you brought home that night. I didn't tell Rose about it but I thought to myself, maybe having a friend around would help you."
"Well, you are wrong Lisa. It just made it more complicated. He has a girlfriend now. I am a widowed mother of a 4-year-old girl."
"I'm sorry but am I missing something here? How is any of that related here?"
"We were more than friends Lisa. We loved each other. I was just denying it because I was about to get married but he was upfront about it and I walked away from him. Now, we have no chance."
"Woah. I had no idea. Well, now what?"
"I don't know. My head is aching and I am going to take a nap."
I head straight to my room and throw myself onto the bed. What the hell am I supposed to do? I asked him to pretend like we had no past behind us but he was right. It will hurt us more than anyone else but it was the right thing to do. I was the one to let go of him. I can't just show up years after and expect him to give up everything for me.
Besides, he was just trying to be friends. He probably doesn't even love me anymore. Do I love him? No. Of course not. I never did. Right? It was all just a big confusion. So the best thing to do is, pretend like nothing happened and start my life from scratch.
I slept the whole evening all the way until 5 am in the morning. I could have slept more if Lisa hadn't woken me up. I got ready for my interview which was scheduled at 9 am. Once I was dressed up, I went to help out in the kitchen. If I got the job, Lisa suggested that we put Liam and Abby into the same school which would make it easier to pick them up after school ends. Hopefully, I get the job.
I get a cab and head straight to the school that Rose found for me. I arrive at 8.45 am and with great difficulty, I manage to find the principal's office.
"Good morning Mrs Kim, please come in." She offers me a warm welcome and invites me inside her cozy cabin. "Rose told me you are a psychologist."
"Yes ma'am."
"What brings you here?"
"After the death of my husband, my sister and our kids moved to Australia to begin a new life. I feel like with my psychology knowledge, I can be a great teacher to little kids because it's essential to have a good understanding of the child's mind before working with them. So I thought it would be the best profession for me."
She went through my Curriculum Vitae and seemed impressed.
"Mrs Kim, shall we go to the demonstration then?" I follow her into a classroom filled with little kids of the ages 3-4. "The class teacher is absent today so you can do the demonstration for them. I want you to demonstrate an English lesson."
I kept my handbag, notebook, and pouch filled with whiteboard markers of all sorts of colors on the table and looked at the little ones in front of me. I greet them with a bright smile.
"Good morning my dear children." I pause and allow them to greet me back with so much energy. I love this about them. How they put their heart and soul before greeting a teacher. "My name is Mrs. Jennie. You can call me Miss Jen. Now tell me, how are you all doing?"
"I am hungry!" A little boy yells making the principal and myself laugh.
"I see. You must be all hungry so I will do a very quick lesson. If you all listen to me carefully, I will give you a small treat. Okay?" Everyone screams 'okay' with excitement. "Okay then. Let's get started shall we?" I turn to the whiteboard and start writing.
_ at
_ow
_ite
_up
_ey
"Now, kids I want you to fill in the blanks with either the letter C or the letter K." I got them to raise their hands and answer after which I noticed, that most of them found it difficult to figure out which letter to put. "Okay, now Miss Jen is going to teach you a secret okay? Listen carefully."
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After explaining this around two times, everyone understood the concept behind this so I finished my lesson by giving all the kids a little lollipop each which I bought on my way to the school. The principal was impressed with my teaching and said that I could work here starting from the next day onwards as the assistant teacher to the class where I did the demonstration. After that was all sorted I spoke to her about enrolling Liam and Abby in the school. Liam would be in high school while Abby would be put into the primary section. Once it was all finalized, I returned home.
"How did it go?" Lisa asked just as I entered the apartment.
"I got the job and starting from the next term, Liam and Abby can start schooling there."
"I don't want to go to school." Abby stands next to my leg, hugging it tightly as she protests to go to school. "I wanna stay home and play."
"Well, Aunt Lisa will be at work, I will be at work, Liam will be at school. You will be all alone."
"I wish Dad was here." There she goes. When she wanted something, she would bring Kai up and make me change my mind. Not this time Abby.
"If Dad was here, he would be at work as well." I get down on my knees and face my little girl. "If Dad was here, he would want you to go to school, study well, and be a successful young lady. So, can you go to school and do that for him?" She nods and hugs me around my neck and I pull her in closer.
If Dad was here, none of this would be happening Abby.
