Talking to the moon

Chapter 3

Yunjin took another glance down at her watch, before looking back up at the faded turquoise school doors that should be opening at any second. It was cold, looked like it was going to rain, and she really could be doing better things with her time, but Eunchae wouldn't have a bus for another week and Yunjin really didn't like the thought of her walking home alone so here she was. A few other parents stood with her, each one of them looked tired and worn out, but hey kids will do that to you.

To be fair her discomfort was mostly her own fault, just wearing black jeans, and a tight white t-shirt, and her favorite leather jacket that was slightly worn around the edges but that was beside the point. Another glance at her watch, and it was that time finally. The doors swung open as the first of the kids ran out, weighed down slightly by oversized backpacks. No Eunchae yet. A few more kids, nothing. The crowd was starting to dissipate now, just Yunjin, a few women to her right, and another father up near the front.

Then Eunchae appeared, walking out with the same girl from the presentation a few days ago. What was her name again? Kyujin? Strange, but Huh Yunjin herself couldn't judge. They looked deep in conversation, both of them with a small ring pop in their fists. Eunchae looked up, and Yunjin watched as her face lit up, taking off in a sprint in her direction, "Ms.Yunjin!"

"You know you can call me just Yunjin right?"

"I didn't know you were coming!" Eunchae gushed, holding up her fist, "Look Ms.Pham gave me a prize today because I've been good! Look!"

"Wow," Yunjin took a quick glance at the blue candy on her finger, the same blue staining her lips and tongue. Eunchae smiled up at her, and Yunjin wasn't exactly sure what the young girl wanted her to say; Good job? Congrats? She settled on something a bit safer, "Did Ms.Pham talk to you about anything today?"

"I ate lunch in her room and we talked about Mommy."

"Yeah?"

Eunchae nodded, "She wants you to come in and talk to her soon. She said she would email you."

"Okay?"

Eunchae reached up to grab Yunjin's hand, turning to wave goodbye to her friend that was now over with the two women to Yunjin's right. The women were frowning, looking over the scene a bit disapprovingly. They were both tall, one with short dark  hair that hit right above her shoulder now holding onto the tan fluffy backpack that Kyujin had, another with long black hair holding onto Kyujin's hand. The Short haired one spoke up first, "Eunchae, do you know that lady?"

The girl just nodded, "Yeah, This is Ms.Yunjin."

"Just Yunjin-"

"How do you know her Eunchae?" The other lady cut in, as they took a few steps to block their path. Yunjin could understand their concern, a random lady they had never seen before coming to pick up a kid out of the blue. The black hair lady furrowed her eyebrows, "Do you want me to call your mom."

"You can't do that." Eunchae
shook her head, and Yunjin was taken off guard about how sad Eunchae sounded by that. That was something she was going to make Sakura talk to her about, definitely not her topic.

"Why not?"

"I'm Eunchae's foster mother." Yunjin cut in, watch realization was over both of the women's faces. The Short haired one looked relieved by that statement, the long-haired one switching her attention from Eunchae to her.

"Foster mother?"

"Yeah, Eunchae was removed a few days ago." Yunjin rubbed the back of her neck, "But I don't think this is the appropriate place to go into details."

The Short haired one smiled, "I'm Yujin, and this is my wife Wonyoung. Sorry about all that, I just had never seen someone pick Eunchae up before. I'm glad she's away from that bi-"