The warm summer air breezed through the valley and he sniffed his lungs full of the freshest air he had for two years. It is indeed good to be home. His gazed went around him, in the lush green valley, the gurgling of the creek behind him, the hooves of the grazing cattle. This has been home from the time he graduated and until now that he’s out of the army. He smiled. No one expected him to be back this early since he told everyone his release date is supposedly to be the day after tomorrow. He already visited his family in Seoul, where his mom wept incessantly he was there. He missed his family though they regularly visit him in camp. He missed city life, but not as much as he missed this place. He decided to walk to his cabin first at the end of the Yoo Ranch, a gift from Yoo Sang Hyun himself to give him privacy. Good thing that it has a different path to where the Ranch house is or he will raise ruckus with everybody there, being early and all. But as he neared the cabin, instinct alarmed him that someone is here. His forehead wrinkled. This property is private and no one apart from him could have access here. Smoke from the back of the house is visible from where he stands. He quickly went to the back of his house and he never believed what he saw. The abandoned cabin at the back has been his tool shed but was he saw is not the dilapidating tool shed he once owned but a homely house. The house has been painted with light green and pink, flowers grow everywhere, of all colors; clothes hang outside in a clothesline tied on a tree to a post at the back of the house. The smoke came from the chimney that was not there before, and what he smelled makes his mouth water. He forgot that the last food he ate was the food his mom packed for him last night, and it’s now late afternoon. Who lives here, he wondered. Yunho didn’t mention anything in his letters, and he figured that his boss forgot a lot of things these days being busy with his wife, Park Jiyeon, and managing her estate. He didn’t say much on his letters, but Ji Hoon filled him up with news from down here: how Jiyeon who ran away in their wedding 4 years ago had returned last year, and after months of pursuing her, she decided to get married to him. Again. But of course the wedding went through this time and they went to a honeymoon in Venice. Where Seung Ho is now with his girlfriend Jieun, whom he also met 4years ago. Those two looks like to be tying the knot as well, despite Jieun being busy, in the music industry and currently topping the charts. He smiled with the thought of the Yoo family who he cared for as his real family. So who lives here that even Ji Hoon and Yunho forgot to mention in their letters?
He decided to knock at the door to end his curiosity, and he heard faint footsteps going through the door. “Ji hoon, I thought…” The door opened with a woman gaping her mouth slightly open. He was not prepared seeing a woman. In his property. The woman seemed to be taken aback as well and looks like she is ready to slam the door shut to his face. “I’m sorry, I thought it was Ji Hoon-ssi. May I know…”
“Who are you?”
The woman’s eyebrow rose. “Shouldn’t I be the one to ask you that?”
“Well, miss, you are the one in my property.”
The woman’s mouth turned into an O and she blushed. “Oh! You’re…”
He shrugged. The woman looked at his from head to foot as if assessing him if he’s telling the truth. He in turn assessed the woman in front of him. Hair tied in a messy ponytail, but her skin was flawless and porcelain-like. Not someone from around here, he mused. Her clothes where wet in some areas, and crumpled, and there are some smudges of dirt and coal. The woman moved a little towards the back of the door but thank god she didn’t slam the door.
“ID?”
Hyun Woo laughed. This woman is impossible. “Miss, I knew the combination on the gate. This where I live.” But he rummaged his pockets anyway and produced his military ID. The woman took and looked at the ID and after a resigned sigh; she opened the door and went out.
“But Mr. Ji, you’re not supposed to be here not until Sunday.”
“I know.” His eyes twinkling.
In Na saw the mischievous glint in his eyes. This guy is insufferable. She was the one too busy organizing his welcoming party, the food, the venue and here he was! Trying to ruin everything.
“But…”
“May I know your name?”
In Na blushed. She forgot to introduce himself. She self-consciously smoothed her hair and she knew it looked messy because she’s been cleaning the house and washing clothes all morning.
“Yoo In Na.”
Hyun Woo looked surprised. “Yoo…? How are you related to….?
“Cousins. Our dads are brothers.”
“Then why are you here?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if you’re their cousin, why are you staying at this cabin? Why not at the ranch house?”
As if it was a signal, a loud cry was heard from inside the house. In Na automatically ran inside and left him hanging his mouth open. He could hear her cooing and comforting someone and the crying stopped. In Na emerged at the door after a minute.
“I’m so sorry Mr. Ji.. Jin Ae must have been hungry.”
“This is….?”
“My daughter, Yoo Jin Ae.”
Hyun Woo looked at the pretty dark haired girl, probably a year old, with fair skin and brown eyes. The child looked at him and something tugged his heart. She smile and showed a dimple in her left cheek.
“She’s a beauty.”
“Thank you. But now you know why I can’t stay at the ranch house. She hollered and cried too loud. Uncle Yoo and Yunho tried to live with it for a week but I know sometimes it is too much for them. So I requested to move here to give them peace and quiet.”
“You’ve been living here since…?”
“Oh, just after I gave birth to Jin Ae. She is turning two on June.”
Suddenly she heard a hissing hound and a clang of pot. “Omo! I was cooking when you came, could you hold her for a while?” Without waiting for his answer, she deposited Jin Ae on his arms and ran inside the house. The little girl looked at the man holding her, but she didn’t cry. She raised her fist towards his stubble chin and she laughed. He shifted her on in his arms so she was sitting on his arms and facing hm. Her laugh was infectious and it seems like that the sun was shining more brightly when she smiled and laugh.
“Apa.”
In Na was stunned. She was surprised that Jin Ae didn’t cry. Usually when a stranger tried to carry her, she let out a wail that could wake up the whole town. Instead, she heard her daughter’s laugh and she peeked from the door. Jin Ae was tickled from the stubbles of this man’s chin but she was more surprised when she uttered a word.
Father.
She could also see that the man was stunned. She went out the door and looked apologetic. “I’m sorry Mr. Ji..”
Hyun Woo shrugged. “That’s normal. Babies often call any man apa. Where is her father anyway? Does he work in the ranch? “
In Na shook her head. “No. Jin Ae and I are the ones living here. Her father… I don’t know where he is.”
“Why?”
“I don’t even know who he was.”
