I can see her at her desk...I know she's hurting. It's better this way.
I send out a quick email to all employees to let them know I'm going to be out of the office for a few days.
I need to clear my head a bit. My phone rings.
"Yes father?.... No it's not a vacation... I'm sure you would like to take a few days off as well... No sir.. I'm going alone... Yes I do realize how it would look... You know you are retired right? Yes father I do know who I am talking to.
I grab my things and head out.
Shit, I don't want to face her. I feel bad enough for how I'm treating her.
Calling X267 Park Jimin......
"Hey Tae, what's up?"
"Hey!, I'm about to head out. Do me a favor?"
"Yeah sure"
"Watch out for her for me?"
"Yeah, of course Tae, no problem"
"Another thing, I really don't want to say goodbye. Do you think you could go distract her while I sneak out?"
"Yeah, I'm on it man"
"Great thanks, I'll call you later"
Once I see Jimin heading towards the coffee room where she's at, I sneak out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been driving now for 2 hrs when I finally arrived.
I pull up the driveway and feel my phone buzzing. It's Ivy...I can't answer right now. She'll be upset, she'll have so many questions...I just can't right now.
"YEON-IN".. (Knocking on my window)
I open the door and she wraps her fragile arms around me.
I kiss her head as she only comes up to my chin. Such a tiny women my Halmoni. I used to think she was so big when I was younger. So strong, yet now I look into her ice blue eyes and see a tired old woman that's worked hard to get where she is now. Would she change? Probably not.
I'd spend summers with her and my Halabeoji while my father was out finding him another wife or doing lord knows what.
Once awhile Jimin would come and Halabeoji would let us feed the chickens and pigs. Then we'd get to ride the horses. Those were great summers.
"Yeon-in, why so thin? You need to eat. Come inside I fix you something. Why you not have nice woman taking care of you?"
"Because Halmoni, you're already taken" I smile hugging her again as we walk inside.
We head inside and the smells instantly take me back to when I was boy.
"Is that Bibimbap I smell?"
"Yes, go wash up"
I go to wash my hands in the kitchen sink and look over the refrigerator.
I see pictures of me when I was little.
A boy with no cares in the world other than if I were going to ride my bike or my skateboard that day.
I often wish I could go back to those times.
"Sit Yeon-in, eat. Tell me about this girl"
I start to eat feeling the warmth hit my soul. "How do you know there's a girl?"
She grabs my hand and holds it.
"I see it in your eyes, I see that look everytime your Halabeoji looks at me"
"It's complicated Halmoni" I finish my bowl of Bibimbap.
She grabs my face, "Yeon-in when it comes to love it's not complicated'
She kisses me on my head"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
