Come To Me | A Park Hyungsik Fanfiction ✔️

Turning Point

Mid August 2017

"Hyeyeon-ah, could you help me to peel and dice those garlic cloves over there?"

Coming out from my parents' bedroom where I'd helped dad to his reading corner, I took large strides towards the kitchen counter at the call from my mother. Lifting up the green netting wrapped around the garlic cloves which were conveniently placed on the kitchen counter top, I pointed out, "All five of them?"

"Eo (Yes)," Mom replied simply over the kitchen sink with her back to me, her attention focused on fish scaling. "And once you're done with that, help me to chop one carrot and one zucchini, each into fine cubes."

Humming in agreement, I headed towards the fridge to retrieve the vegetables. Ever since dad's discharge from the local hospital a few days ago, I'd been more than happy to lay my head at my parents' home, keeping my parents company as we nursed dad back to health. Although his back still hurt from the procedure, we were glad that he was able to stand up on his two feet with the help of a walking aid. With the support and encouragement of the family, he could also go on walking for a short distance. Considering dad's age, we were told that the process of recovery could be a long one; nevertheless we were filled with much relief at the sight of his smile, each grin getting a little wider with each passing day.

Pulling my hair up into a ponytail, I fell into the rhythm of my chores, filling the kitchen with thumping of the knife against the chopping board.

The heat of summer filled our home as we prepared our lunch, beads of sweat greeting the side of my face as they rolled downwards. Yet, my heart has never felt so light in a long time.

"Uri ddal (Our daughter) is in a good mood, isn't she?"

With my index finger, I pushed my glasses up towards my nose bridge, finding myself chuckling at mom's sudden remark, "Of course I'm in a good mood, eomma. Appa is back home and on the way to recovery. I'm feeling grateful and counting my blessings."

"I know you're happy about appa. We all are." Her exhalation was filled with elation, "But I'm not really talking about that right now. Judging from the lightness of your knife handling, I'm referring to how happy you are... since the day Hyungsik came to visit."

I felt my cheeks color at mom's keen observation. I feigned ignorance, "Geurae... (Is that so)?"

The running water interrupted our conversation briefly, but I knew mom's mini-interrogation was far from over. If anything, it was just the beginning.

"Even now, you're happy thinking about him," Mom paused at her own remark, and I could almost see her grin stretched to the back of her head.

"Eomma...," I whined.

Still, it didn't keep her from talking. She turned around briefly to study my flushed face, "You know I haven't told you this before, but I'd always had this feeling that the two of you would just end up falling head over heels for each other."

Until today, I had been unaware of my mom's intuition. That such faith existed within her in the first place. Curiosity soon crept up within me, and I knew I was going to regret not asking. I pursed my lips as I phrased my question warily, "Even... when we drifted apart?"

Mom offered me a surprisingly calm reply, "Hyeyeon-ah, when you were apart from him, that's what made me realize how deeply in love you were with him. Uri maknae (our youngest) doesn't express herself very well, just like her dad. But I am her mother, how can I not know?"

Putting the knife down on the chopping board, I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my folded arms. My smile was now a sheepish one, "And I thought I was hiding it well..."