Trauma

Part 21 "Underneath Stars"

"I'm so full that I don't think I can move." I said, lying on the mat.

Jack chuckled. "You are going to just lie there until the food is digested?"

"Yup. That's my plan." I said, smiling.

"Noo. I had stuff planned out already! There's a really cool aquarium near here and I.." Jack started to speak when I yanked him to lie down on the mat with me.

"Just look at the sky. Breathe. This is why we're here." I said, getting comfy.

Jack was still stiff from surprise, but he soon became relaxed. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Hey. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. What are you going to do at the holidays? Visit your parents?" I asked.

Jack smiled. "Nah. My dad is going to Korea for the holidays. To see my mom you know?"

I frowned. "Aren't you going with him?"

Jack shook his head. "No."

"So you will be alone at your house?" I asked, the frown getting deeper.

"Well, that's the plan." Jack said, smiling.

"Why don't you come to my place with me?" Yikes. Where did that come from?

"What?" Jack said, his eyes getting big.

"I mean..Yeah. If you like, that is. My parents make a mean pumpkin pie and..." Great. Now I was blabbering. Of course He wouldn't want to come. Why would he?

"You're really inviting me to your home? To meet your parents and all?" Jack asked again, his face hard to read.

"Y..Yeah." Now I regretted asking him. I am so stupid! Why oh why?!

Jack suddenly hugged me and I was frozen at the spot. What the?

"You don't know how much that means to me." Jack whispered.

I just hugged him back without asking him any details. I was comfortable in his arms and the warmth that he gave me was enough for me. 

/

We decided to skip going to the restaurant for dinner since we were so full.

The sun has already set and as the night got deeper, a million stars starting to embroid themselves.

"Can I tell you something?" Jack said, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Sure." I said, looking up at him. Jack's eyes were set on the stars, and he looked..distant.

"When I was young, my mom was the one who always took care of me."

I opened my mouth but soon closed it. It would be better for him to just let out whatever he was holding inside.

"I wasn't that close to my father because I rarely saw him. He always came in late and left early in the morning. And even during the holidays, he was off at work, and My mom and I will spend the time just the two of us. That's when I started learning to cook Korean." Jack said, taking a glance at me. I smiled at him, showing him that I was listening.

"Things got rough when my mom passed away." Jack said, rubbing his face. "She had cancer, but hid it from my dad and I. We didn't know about it until the last minute. We wanted her to get any kind of treatment as soon as possible, but she said that she was already in the last stage when she found out and that she didn't want to spend the rest of her life stuck in the hospital."

I was stunned. I thought Jack's mother was temporarily in Korea when Jack told me that his dad was going to see his mother. 

"My dad immediately booked tickets for her and us to spend the rest of her time in her hometown, Korea. My mom passed away a month after we arrived. She was buried in her family's mountain. I...I felt so guilty that I wouldn't be able to visit her this year. I barely had the money to pay for my dad's ticket." Jack said, staring absentmindedly at the empty basket.

"At least you were able to give your dad an opportunity to say hi to your mom. I'm sure that she was a lovely person. Afterall, she raised you the person who you are now. Charming, an amazing cook, and someone who can express his love and who will do anything to make his loved ones happy."  I said, holding his face up to meet my eyes.

Jack stared at me, his breathing slowing. I didn't know we were this close. When I started to lean away, Jack leaned right forward.

The kiss was more than I had ever experienced. It was much more. When I was frozen at the spot, not able to believe what just happened, Jack started to apologize in a rush.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have. I thought you felt the same way, and I-" 

I made him stop by putting my lips on his. Jack's ranting immediately stopped.

"I do feel the same way." I said, staring right into his eyes. I didn't know where this courage was coming from. 

"Really?" Jack asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

I smiled. "Really really."

Jack flashed me a crazy grin. "I can't believe it. Elizabeth Laura Walters likes me back."

"Hey! How did you know my full name?" I asked, blushing.

"Easy. I read the book you translated." Jack said, grinning.

"That's not fair. I don't know your full name." I said, pouting.

"I'll tell you if you answer this question." Jack said.

"What?"

"Will you be my girlfriend, Lizzie?" 

I smiled at Jack. "Yes. Definitely Yes."