Only You

Chapter 5

Dara was clicking her camera furiously as they stepped out of the ferry. One at the right, one at the left, one at the front, one at the back. Donghae was getting dizzy watching her flit from one corner to another. Finally had enough, he grabbed the camera when Dara was taking a picture of a worm she caught sight crawling in the sand.

“For god’s sake, would you stop it?!” He pushed the button to retract the camera lens and forcefully put it at the pocket of her sling bag.

Dara was sulking the whole ride to their hotel to drop off their bags. Upon arriving, they found out that Lee Hi only booked one room for both of them with one king sized bed. It is big enough for 4 people to sleep in but Donghae stated it’s too small for both of them. He tried to book another room but all are already full and two is being renovated. Worse is, he was the only one who looks appalled at the thought of sharing a room. Dara just sat there at the edge of the bed muttering loudly that she got married with a man who thinks so highly of himself that he suspects his wife is going to rape him. The she scoffed and Donghae could hear her grumble, “Like that’s going to happen. What an insensitive jerk.”

After Donghae confirmed that the hotel isn’t likely to give him a room which smells like paint and doesn’t even have a couch, they set off, with Donghae ruminating the outcome of this whole disaster. Dara wasn’t talking to him and that was fine by him. He actually much preferred it rather than the lively girl he wasn’t used to.

They started to go to where Dara’s former home is and her face brightened when they caught sight of the two storey brick house stationed near the ocean and she all but ran towards it. She stopped a few feet away, breathing hard from exhilaration from seeing the house. She didn’t even noticed that Donghae already reached his side, his hands in his pocket. There were three kids playing on the veranda.

“It looks so different now,” Dara commented. “The paint used to be white and yellow.”

A sense of  loneliness crept up on her. She suddenly didn’t want to ask when her parents decided to sell the house. She didn’t know why but she’d rather not know. She focused on her happy thoughts instead.

“You know I used to play there when I was kid.” She indicated the veranda, then pointed at a large rock at the far side of the house. “And I used to pray there everyday asking for a baby brother or a sister. I get so lonely being the only kid.” Her voice cracked. “I can’t believe how things have changed so much. And i have no idea when things have changed this much.” Then she added, “Is there a way I could reach my parents? Can you… find if there’s a number I can contact?” She raised her eyes to meet his and he could see her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

How the hell can he deny a request with her looking like he’s her only hope?! Donghae cleared his throat. “I’ll…. I’ll try.”

“Thank you,” she said brokenly.

She stood there silent for a moment then sniffed. She tucked her head, wiping the side of her eye. Donghae could feel her despair at the loneliness of losing her memory. How the things she remembered and the things defining her is already gone.

Dara opened her bag and Donghae thought she will get a tissue to wipe her eyes but she pulled out her digital camera. She opened the lens and gave it to Donghae. “Take a picture of me with the house.”