Chapter 1
· Japan, Tokyo
The breeze in the air was so cold that I could hardly type in my iPhone. I decided to stay home and watch Kdramas since the rain outside was so strong. My vision came into a blur and all I can remember was me falling asleep.
----
*beep beep* (Play Nu’est Hello Here)
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I checked my phone and found 27 random phone calls—15 from mom, 7 from friends and 5 from brother.
Oh, yes. I remembered today is the day I’ll be going back to Seoul
“Too excited, huh.”
I called my mom first since I know I’d be dead meat because I haven’t picked up any of her 15 calls.
“Mom!” I explained.
“Yes hello sweetie! Why haven’t you picked up any of my calls? Hm.”
“Mianhae. I was sleeping.”
“I called you 15 times, plus 5 because I even used the phone of your brother to call you but too bad you can’t wake up to the sound of those annoying boy bands that served as your ringtone and—“
“Abcdefghijklmnop are you done with your sermon? And mom, they’re my husbands, okay? So please stop treating them like trash.”
“Whatever and please go back to your senses.”
“Umm, I gotta pack. I’ll call you later. Bye, mom. Take care. Love you.” I bid.
“Hey don’t forget to eat your breakfast!—and my chocolates please!” I laughed at my mom’s childish attitude. She’s like this, and now I know where I got my sarcastic attitude, yeah.
“Gotta Go. Bye.”
-----
I walked in the streets of Japan,while eating my ice cream, since I’ll be leaving this place later and I’ll be missing it here. This feels like my second home already. Just then, I bumped in to a guy and my ice cream fell into his shoes.
‘Great. Now what?’
The guy didn’t even seem to move a muscle. Instead of getting mad at me, he bowed at me and picked a leaf in the ground and wiped the cream in his shoes.
Then left.
‘’Wow. Too much for the leaf.” I murmured.
Then he turned his head and smiled at me.
I blushed in crimson the moment I saw his smile. It was tender and it was soft.
I bowed then started to walk away.
‘Stop that smile, you little idiot ugh.’
I stopped by the park and sat on my usual place—the swing, of course—I opened my bag and reached for my earphones and my phone.
‘What the hell.’ I thought
I can’t find my phone. I reached for my pockets and there is absolutely no phone inside. I struggled to open my bag with my ice cream cone on the right hand.
“Looking for this,miss?” I looked up and saw the boy I bumped in awhile ago. His warm and cozy smile was plastered in his face and it was melting me.
‘Such an angel.’ I thought.
I observed his face. I could tell that it was smooth even though I didn’t hold his face. No pimples, no black spots but big eye bags though. But still,such a baby face. He’s handsome—and cute. And me, I’m—just me. No wonder why the people all around us kept on looking to the both of us. His face looks familiar though,but I can’t remember if I met him before or just saw his picture. He looks like one of those boys I stan,but pfft. Stop thinking about that,babo. No idol would look upon a girl like me. Then he caught my attention that brought me back to my senses.
“Miss?” his warm and soft voice caught my attention and brought electric bushes down to my spine.
I cleared my throat. “How’d you get this?” I asked curiously.
“I’m sorry. Awhile ago,when you were walking alone ,your phone must’ve been in your pocket then it fell down when we bumped into each other.”
“Oh. Thanks.” I gave him my sweetest smile to give my thanks to him.
“Yeppuda.” He whispered—but I heard it clearly.And I’m sure of what I heard.He must’ve think that I didn’t hear him.
He bowed then left.
Wait.
He—he just spoke in Korean. Is he?—From Korea?
Anyways, I brushed the thought out of my mind and decided to call my aunt to pick me up, but too bad I ran out of load. I decided to walk towards home,but I planned to buy Sushi since I’m hungry—I’m always a hungry person,but my metabolism is fast and even if I eat a lot, I sometimes gain less weight,and it’s something I can be proud of.Whatever.
After buying the Sushi, I directly walked home since I still need to pack.
I still have a lot of things to pack. My journal camera ( Yes,I’m taking journalism,and that includes photograpy), My clothes (which are in a mess,tbh), and some messed up shits. Luckily, my aunt already washed my clothes for me so now, all I need is to pack them up in my luggage and head to the airport because my flight will be on 1:50 and time check—It’s already 11:30. I needed to be early since the line will be long cause there’ll be a lot of passengers since it is summer. I packed and grabbed chocolates from the shelf since there are a lot.
‘Damn’ I thought.
I forgot there’s a weight limit of bags so I need to unpack some things. I left some clothes since I still have a lot of clothes back there in Seoul. After doing some packing,I ran outside and went to the nearest store to buy load since I’ll be needing it. Luckily,my number is a roaming number so, I can still communicate with my friends here in Tokyo even if I’m already in Seoul. I directly ran back to the house the moment I received the load. It was already 11:45 by the moment I checked my watch so I hurried up.
“Jungie-ah, you ready?” Shinsseul ajumni asked.
“Ne,ajumni.” I smiled at my aunt.
“Good.” She smiled.
We left the place and headed to the airport.
“What time is it,saeng?” ajumni asked.
“Um, 1:25 “ I replied.
“Oh wow. The travel from our house was really long. Go on now. I’ll miss you,Jungie-ah.” Ajumni said with a teary eye. I’ll be missing her too,a lot. She served as my mom here in Tokyo. And it hurts to leave her alone here. Yes,alone. She doesn’t have any child,so she treats me as hers.
“Ne,ajumni.Don’t cry. I’ll miss you too.” I brushed her tears then kissed her cheeks.
“Go on now,saeng.” She smiled at me.
We bid our goodbyes to each other,then I headed inside the airport. Thank God because my flight wasn’t delayed. Once I got inside the plane,and was settled in my seat, I went to my dreamland.
“Hi, Chan Jung-ah. I know I wasn’t a good father to the 5 of you. I’m so sorry,my little princess. I’m so sorry if you think that I don’t love you, or I don’t care for you but,princess, please believe me when I say that I do love the 6 of you,including your mom. Please don’t think that I don’t love your mom. I’m so sorry. I’m terribly sorry for being a bad father. Please don’t be like me when you guys grow up. I’m sorry if I wasn’t there to see the 5 of you growing up. I’m sorry if I wasn’t there to help you when you guys have a problem. I’m sorry if I wasn’t present during your ups and downs. I’m sorry if I was too much of a perfectionist father. I’m sorry for being so judgmental. I’m really sorry. Appa was really busy and I’m so sorry because I can’t make it up to you anymore. I love you. I always do, and always will. Please take care of your mom and yourself for me. Jungie-ah, you’ve been the smartest child in our family. Please take care of our family for me. I’ll be missing you all. I’ll still be with you all. Always~”
I woke up with a teary eye. Why appa did suddenly come to me in my dream with those words? I can’t. I can’t stop crying. Is there a meaning behind it? My tears were flowing out of my eyes and I feel like I can’t stop them from falling down. My life is in a burden. I always loved my appa. Even though he was too busy with his work.
“Please stay still on your seatbelts while we land.” “Welcome to Incheon Airport, Seoul Korea.” Says the flight stewardesses.
When we landed, I got my luggage then went outside. My brother fetched me from the airport.
“I got bad and good news.” He said,while starting the car.
“Go on.” I said.
“Where do you want me to start?” Song Kyung Dae Oppa asked.
“Any.”
“Appa.”
“What’s with appa?” I asked curiously. Was he found drunk at the bar again that the crew needs to send him home? Was he sick? Did Appa and Umma broke up?
“Gone.”
“Mwoh?!”
“Appa is already gone,Jungie-ah.”
