To Mom, Love Yoon Jungsik

Toast

The Dining room is filled with laughter, jokes and congratulations to Jungsik and praise to Jisung for raising such a smart and loyal son.

Jisungs parents are present. In their golden years they are proud of both men and what they endured in their lives. Both grandparents spoil Jungsik with love and gifts over the years that Jungsik started to donate some gifts to charity.

*Clink,Clink,Clink*

Jisung taps his champagne glass and holds it up to toast. Looking handsome in his Black Suit and Pink tie proudly smiling  glancing over everyone.

"We are here to celebrate my son and his completion of school. The next steps is his entrance to the most prestigious University in South Korea. Where he will study business and when the time is right, I will happily hand over to him my shipping companies. My son, the world is yours. I couldn't be more proud and I know your mother would be crying tears of joy in this moment. Here's to you my son,  Cheers" 

Claps and hollering are made as Jisung beams with joy.

Jungsik hesitantly stands up and bows holding up his glass. He and his father are wearing matching suits and both look dashing.

Jisung walks up to Jungsik and embraces him in a warm hug. "I am proud of you son."

"Thank you Abeoji."

"You should say a few words it is only polite."

"Ne,"

Jungsik clears his throat and looks around at his grandparents, friends and lastly his abeoji.

"Abeoji, tells me I should say a few words." Laughs, claps and encouragements are given for Jungsik to continue.

"Ahem, uh- I want to thank you all for taking the time out of your schedules to celebrate this small accomplishment with me and my family. This is only the begininng of a life- a life- that has been more than generous to me. I always thought I was missing something, a void." His throat starts to form a lump and tears rest at the rim of his eyes.

Jisung nods and a tears falls from his eyes.

"I am here to announce to my family and friends that I will be going to University and study and take over my father's business."
Claps, cheers and whistles roar in the room. Jisung beams with pride looking at his son.

"Please, let me finish. I will fulfill my duties as the only son, once I return from Canada. I am going to Canada to see my eomma's family. I want to learn more about her and see where she grew up and the place she loved. Abeoji, I know you told me all you knew of eomma but I know if I go there I can-"

"Thank you all for coming. Please excuse my adeul. It has been an emotional day for him." Jisung gets up and slightly bows and takes Jungsik out of the room.

Once they are out of ear shot of the guests. Jisung swings Jungsik in front of him.

"What kind of announcement was that?" Jisungs voice is loud.

"An announcement, so everyone will know and no one gets second hand information and we are not gossiped about." Jungsik retorts.

"Regardless, of what you say we are still going to end up as a dinner conversation and you will be seen as a privileged brat." Jisung starts to yell.

"I want to go visit my grandparents and aunt in Canada. I want to see eomma's home with my own eyes rather than a Skype call. I want to see her baby pictures, I want to see her room, where she went to school, EVERYTHING." Jungsik's voice shakes as tears fall from his eyes.

"Have I not given you everything? The freedom to do as you wish? I never held you back from your Canadian family, NEVER! but you can't go now. I FORBID IT."

"Abeoji, I want to go. I have to go. I keep having dreams of Eomma smiling and holding out her hand to me. When I take her hand she leads me out to a porch that overlooks mountains bigger than ours here. She tells me to come home."

"Stop being absurd." Jisung snaps.

"Abeoji, I am half Native Canadian. I have only read about them in books and what grandma tells me over skype. I want to experience it."

Jisung let's out a sigh of frustration and stares directly in Jungsik's green eyes. He immediately sees Maina looking back at him. He knew how upset she would be at him for holding their son back from such desires. All anger and frustration immediately left him.

"If it is what you want, I can't keep you from following your desires."

Jungsik hugs his abeoji and cries into his arms. "Thank you Abeoji. I promise I will return and once I do, I will concentrate on my studies and the business."

"Just go my son, go find your eomma. I will manage things until you return. All that matters is your happiness."

"Come with me abeoji. Let's find out together."

"It will open a wound that is still not healed. I don't think it will ever be. You go and come back with amazing stories my son." Jisung chokes back tears.

"Let's go finish this dinner." Jungsik straightens his fathers tie and they both head back to dinner.

The unsettled feeling in the room is strong as they are stared at. "My son will be taking a break from studies as this dinner turns out to also be his farewell dinner as he will leave for Canada in the coming weeks."

"So get your photos with me now and ladies, if you have something to say now is the time" Jungsik smiles and winks.

The room is filled with laughter and the mood is lifted once again. Until the last glass of champagne drunk and the last of the desserts are eaten. The evening ends on a good note.

Jungsik will venture off into a world that he hardly knows but is compelled to go to.  To find out about his eomma. To fill the void in his heart.