Haan

Chapter 5 - Friendship

We reached her dilapidated home in comfortable silence.

The elaborate fence which ringed the once grand house was weathered and broken in places. We ignored it heading straight to the repaired part of the main building. Mi Rae had lived in the drafty storage shed for three years until I came along. Bit by bit, I worked on clearing away the debris and damage caused by the fire. A good part of the house was still in ruins. In her depression, Mi Rae had left everything as is after the tragedy. She moved back into the main house when it gradually became livable again.

Initially, she hid in her shed every time I came over. Sometimes I went to her place with Ajumma and Eun Ho but sometimes I went alone. Over time, I took over the task of bringing her food from Ajumma. Sook, the baker's wife would also show up with buns and dumplings. Mi Rae finally ventured out of the shed when I went into the ruins of her home. However, she did not stop me and only watched warily when I started repairing the walls and salvaging whatever I could find in the rubble. I piled the items in a safe corner for her to go through at her leisure.

One day, I found her going through the burnt rooms. I smiled at her encouragingly but did not approach her for fear of scaring her off. Instead, I proceeded to unload the bundle of water reeds I had brought with me. Since I could not afford expensive tiles, I used what was available for free. I had been collecting the reeds from the river which grew abundantly on both banks, cutting and bringing them home to dry. I started thatching the roof from the bottom, carefully replacing the damaged tiles. I repaired section by section, working my way from room to room. After several days of watching me warily, she started assisting me.

he manual work seemed to help lessen her depression. Soon she relaxed enough around me to hold short conversations. Ajoessi and Ajumma approved, noting Mi Rae's vast improvement, so I continued with the huge task I had assigned myself.

Finally, after six long lonely years on her own, poor Mi Rae could start healing.

It took a long time to restore the big house again since there were only the two of us working on it. The long term project made me feel useful and it seemed to help Mi Rae's mental and emotional state. Naturally, we grew close.

Once safely home, Mi Rae's stiff posture relaxed.

"Mi Rae, Ajumma will be bringing food later," I broke the silence.

"Ajumma? She's really o'kay?" she asked looking confused.

"Yes, why wouldn't she be?"

"Nothing," she shrugged but seemed relieved. A small smile lighted up her features making my heart flutter.

"Do you need anything else here?"

Mi Rae shook her head slightly, "No Oppa. I don't need anything else."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Ajeossi and Ajumma are too kind. They don't have much themselves. I'm already thankful for everything they have given me."

"You should rest. It must have been a shock to you to see such a terrible scene," I said thinking of the devastated Kang Chul. It was disquieting to see the big capable man reduced to a helpless wreck.

"Oppa, I'm o'kay. I've seen enough death around here to be affected much."

Her indifferent tone surprised me making me look at her more closely. Physically she really seemed o'kay but her nonchalant attitude towards death made me pause. Was she having a relapse of her depression?

Seeing my worried expression, she laughed.

"No, really oppa. I'm o'kay, I promise. Anyways, it's not like anyone else will miss her. Bora was insufferable."

"Mi Rae! How could you say such a thing?"

"It's true," she countered defensively. "Maybe it's karma for her vicious mouth and her heartless attitude. She deserved to die!" Her voice rose shrilly in agitation. "Didn't she?"

"Hey ... hey, hey, hush now," I pulled her close, hugging her and stroking her messy hair, afraid that her fragile composure might shatter again. I tried to calm her down by repeating my promise to her.

"Didn't I promise I'll never let anyone l hurt you again? I'll defend you from their harsh words and unjust accusations ... but no one deserves to die like that."

"She did," I heard her mutter.

I bit my lips vowing not to antagonize her. Her emotional state had been improving lately. I did not want to undo the progress. Trying to think of another topic, I thought of telling her my idea of expanding her little vegetable garden.

"Mi Rae-ah ..." I trailed off as dizziness overcome me.

"Oppa!"

I felt her hold me, easing me down to sit on the ground. I felt better after a few minutes.

"I'm alright, just a dizzy spell."

"Huh? Since when? Are you sick? But you shouldn't be sick ..." Quickly she checked my hands and sighed in relief when she found them clear.

I wondered at the worried guilty look that crossed her face.

"Wae? Why can't I be sick?"

"It's nothing."

I look at her suspiciously. "What are you hiding? Why were you checking my hands? Do you know something about the plague? Tell me!"

"Nothing! I'm not hiding anything!" She glared at me. "Let go of me! I think you should go now. I want to be alone."

"But ..."

Mi Rae got up to stalk haughtily away, leaving me speechless. Her strange behavior bewildered me. When she was in this mood, nothing could persuade her. I'll just have to come back another time.

Sighing, I got up to go home.