It All Started With A Creepy Mail ⚊ Yang Jungwon [#4]

✗ forty one ✗

⚊ chapter forty one

I woke up to the sound of my mama bustling around the room, already dressed and ready to go.

“Get up, sweetie,” she said with a grin. “Today’s our day.”

I rubbed my eyes, still adjusting to the early light. “Our day?”

She nodded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Yep, mama-daughter time. Now, come on. We’re heading out as soon as you’re ready.”

After a quick change, I stopped by the living room, where my cats were zooming around.

“Papa,” I called out, laughing as one of the kittens dashed between his legs. “Can you watch over them for today?”

He gave me a mock salute, a wide grin on his face. “They’re in good hands. Have fun, you two!”

As we stepped outside, I noticed Minji coming over from Ni-ki’s house, two coffees in hand. She smiled, waving at me as if nothing had happened the other day.

“Morning, Jillian!” she called, then nodded toward my mom. “Good morning, Mrs. Cruz!”

My mom waved back, looking as excited as I felt. After a quick chat, we got into the car, and I was once again reminded of how my mom and dad filled it with souvenirs from every place they’d visited.

It was like their travels were a part of their personality—little mementos from all over the world.

Curiosity got the best of me as I buckled in.

“Mama, when did you and Papa start… all this?” I gestured to the charms, postcards, and little knickknacks scattered around the dashboard. “How did you meet, and why can’t you both ever stay in one place?”

She chuckled, glancing over at me. “Oh, it started long before you were born. I always felt out of place at home. I guess there was just this urge to explore, to go somewhere new. So, as soon as I graduated, I packed up and left. That’s when I met your dad in Manila. Turns out, he felt the same—a sort of wanderlust.”

“So, it was just… fate?” I asked, a little mesmerized by how easily she made it sound.

“In a way,” she said, smiling as if remembering those early days. “Neither of us could stay put. New places always called to us. And somehow, being with each other made every place feel like home.”

“And then… I happened,” I added, curious about where I fit into their adventurous lives.

She laughed, reaching over to ruffle my hair. “You did! You weren’t exactly planned, but you became the greatest gift we ever received. Even when we’re far from family or from places we’ve come to love, you’re always with us. And that makes us feel grounded, no matter where we are.”

I smiled, feeling closer to her as we drove into the city. After a little while, we parked and started exploring some of Seoul’s shops, taking our time as we wandered. We bought a few small things here and there, laughing together over silly souvenirs and admiring the intricate details of the city.

As we walked, the streets began to fill with the smell of Korean street food. My mom and I decided to grab a little of everything—tteokbokki, hotteok, fish cake skewers—and sat on a nearby bench to eat. A busker played a guitar not far from us, adding a cozy, lively vibe to the afternoon.

At one point, a beggar approached, and he greeted us in perfect English, catching me by surprise. We chatted with him for a few minutes, then waved him goodbye. Not long after, a group of Koreans passed us and gave us polite nods, and some Filipinos even waved from a distance, smiling as if they’d found long-lost friends. It was nice, really—to see so much kindness around us. Not everyone would be like Hera and Soodam, I realized. People here were warm, welcoming.