This Damn Love

Part-3: Horror Strikes

The next day:

“When are your brother and sister-in-law going to arrive?” Mr. Kim asks as he saw her wife pacing in the room. He has to witness the restlessness of his wife every year during their anniversary.

He has already made upto his wife last night and just like he predicted, it didn't take her long to surrender to her husband's cute tactics.

“About that…" She stammered. Sighing, she plops beside his husband in the bed.

“What is it? Tell me!” Mr. Kim made her look towards him holding her chin with his fingers.

“I wanted to tell you earlier but - you know what, let's not ruin our special day talking about it.”

Mr. Kim nods, understanding the situation. “They aren't coming, are they? Did you even send them tickets?”

“Is there any anniversary when I don't?” She replies, almost pouting like a small kid. This side of her is only reserved for her husband.

“You should've called your brother. It should make him feel better. Just sending tickets every time is too plain.”

She huffs at her husband's word. “Brother you say? The brother who just hums before passing the phone to his wife. What a brother indeed! I'm tired of his behavior!”

He pulled her wife into his embrace, “You know he's still bitter about his fate. He had to run away to find a safer place. He's bitter with us as it was not us who had to leave but him.”

“It was his fault that he choose to run away from his land. It was his decision all along. We have such a nice place to live, nice people around us to spend our life. He could be a part of it. But no…! How are we the cause of his stupid decision?” It is beyond her understanding how they're the one at fault when it was his brother's decision all along.

Despite everything, She and her family stays back, and now happily living in Kentaa. Though, Kentaa is considered an unsafe place for Northerner, this place has helped them when they flew from North Korea to reside in South Korea. They have gained the acknowledgment of locals, which she and her husband would never trade for anything.

Her husband stays silent. Not to stretch the conversation any further.

“That's why I told you not to talk about it today.” Mrs. Kim tells him and kisses her husband, wishing her their 10th anniversary.

*Phone rings*

“It's sunmi.” She looks at her husband as her phone rings.

Mr. Kim gestures her to go ahead and put it in speaker.

“Many many happy anniversary Noona and Araboni.” A sweet voice booms through the phone making the couple smile wide.

“Thank you so much, Sunmi.” They both thanks her

“Oh wait, Jagiya is here too. Let me give him the phone.”

Mr. And Mrs. Kim exchanges a look between themselves. Mr. Kim gives his concerned wife an assuring smile.

Never in her entire life, she thought even the thought of talking to her own brother would be so overwhelming for her. At the same time she has hopes that at least this time she will convince his brother to visit them. It's been 20 years already.

But her expectations are cut short after what she heard on the other side of the phone.

“Can't you see I'm busy? Wish them from my side.”

Then there is a pause as if Sunmi has hurriedly muted the call. Mrs. Kim sighs. She knew it coming. When was the last time she remembered speaking to her brother anyway. Why did she even expect him to talk? They are right when they said expectations hurts! But to this extent, she never thought.