[DOTS Y/n x Shi Jin] Always Beside You

Chapter 5

[past]

Y/n's pov

'Eomma, why does Appa not like me?' You ask, your legs dangling on the bench of the Central Park in New York, waiting for Mr. Lee to return. 'It's my birthday but he's not sending me any cards or presents. Not even a happy birthday.' You say, seeing your mother sitting next to you, brushing your hair out with her hand.

'All parents love their children. But Appa is busy with work.' She explains, smiling back at you looking up at your mother with wide eyes.

'You'll understand when you grow up and become a big unnie.' She adds, and you nod, talking about how you're excited to get older and become a doctor. Before your mother replies, you see Mr. Lee in his pink sunglasses with a birthday cake decor on it, holding up two ice cream and a present box with a balloon attached to it.

'Ajussi!' You shout, getting off the bench and running up to him. He returns the hug while balancing all his stuff in his hands, laughing along.

'Happy birthday, Ella-ya.'

[present]

'Can I ask...about your family?' Captain Yoo asks as you are sitting at a cafe, the evening starting to set as the sky turns darker.

'It's not a pleasant story.' You reply, taking the teaspoon and stirring the coffee.

'I don't mean to pry...but somehow I keep thinking about the director and you.' He says, his voice careful as if not to pick on the wounds that he doesn't know about.

'He's my half-brother.' You say, the Captain looking up at you in surprise that you were willing to speak about it to him. 'And obviously, he and his family hated me and my mother. My mother died.' You say curtly, him flinching at the last sentence.

'I lost my mother too.' He says, his eyes focused on the table. 'When I was in military school. She developed cancer. And by the time we found out, it was too late.' He explains, both of you falling silent. Somehow you felt like he might understand how you feel even just a little bit, even though the way you both lost your mother is different. But you knew better than to leave out the specific details, as from years of experience, showing all your stories to people always bit you in the back in the future.