Memories || Wonu ff

twenty three

Twelve years later

Ji Young

"Mama, where are we going?" asked my five year old son, Hyunjae, who was holding my hand as we walked down the path.

"We're going to visit a special place today, bubs." I tell him as we continued for a little longer. 

Eventually finding the two familiar headstones, I then kneel down in front of them as Hyunjae follows my lead. Gently placing down the bouquet. Turning to him, I then began to explain why we were here today.

"Jae, the reason why we're here today is to visit three very special people." I then point to one headstone he's familiar with "One of them is grandpa, do you remember him?"

Hyunjae nods as he runs his hand across the engraving on the headstone, quietly taking in the words as he greets dad "Hi grandpa, I miss you."

My heart melted at the sight, mourning once more as I acknowledge that dad is gone, and has been gone for years.

A little over a year ago, dad was driving to Incheon by himself. Unfortunately while on the road, he got into a car accident due to sleep deprivation. Falling asleep at the wheel, he swerved into another car. There was a possibility that he would've survived with a few broken bones, but two drivers behind him noticed too late and collided into the accident as well. After being rushed to the hospital and spending a week in the ICU, he ultimately didn't make it. Slowly as the news spread, fans and supporters were in shambles as they were grieving his death in the media. 

Many friends and family reached out to me, and I saw a handful of distasteful posts online, but all in all many people respected my privacy as I mourned his death. Walking by the library of my college campus, the same one that dad attended way back when, I saw that the library staff and students made a small memorial display in honour of him, and that a lot of people had left letters and flowers for him.

Coming out of my daze and recollection, I then clear my throat to get Hyunjae's attention before introducing him to two people he hasn't met before: mom and Jae Beom. 

"Bubs, there are two other very special people I want you to meet." I then begin to shuffle over a little so that he has a better view "Hyunjae, meet your grandma Seo Hyeon and your uncle Jae Beom."

"Hello grandma, hello uncle." Hyunjae greets their headstone the same way he greeted dads, softly laying his hand to touch the engravings before asking "Why haven't I ever seen them before?"

It was a hard pill to swallow, but I knew I had to explain why. Sucking in a breath and heaving out a sigh, I gently take his hand off the headstone before wrapping my fingers around him "You see, your grandma and uncle... passed away when I was really young."

"Like how grandpa passed away?" Hyunjae tilts his head in curiosity. Hesitant, I take a moment to choose my words before answering.

"Well... How they passed was similar to grandpa, but not in the same way." I explain slowly "And because they passed while I was still a little one like you, I didn't get to meet them either." 

Hyunjae nods with understanding as he leans in to give me a hug. I could feel all my emotions bubbling up to the surface, on the verge of tears until I hear a voice from behind us. 

"Honey, I- oh, did I come at a bad time?" Turning my body, I'm met with the sight of my husband, Choi Doyoung, carrying our sleep 3 year old, Yeonhwa, in his arms.

My lips curl up into a smile as I shake my head "Not at all, honey." I then get up from my spot as he joined us.

He continued to help uncle Shua and uncle Cheol run the flower shops, even many years after graduating college. And when it was time for the pair to retire, they handed over ownership to Doyoung. He couldn't run the shop alone, and his best friend Sunwoo could only work weekends as he was in the middle of studying to get his doctorate, so I decided to help out and start working in the shop as well. And at this point, we have been running the shop for almost a decade. Currently, we're taking a week off to not only visit my family, but we're also in town to visit Doyoung's extended family.

Taking Yeonhwa from Doyoung's arms, I then watch as he kneels next to Hyunjae and begins to pay his respects to mom and dad.

When I gave him my number all those years ago, I didn't expect a single coffee date to eventually lead us to getting married and having a family, and I definitely didn't expect us to even date after all the miscommunication and complications. 

To summarize: we were both in denial about our feelings for each other, and we had our own ideas on how to go about the situation--two very opposite approaches, actually.

I avoided the subject altogether because I wasn't sure if he would return my feelings, and he started dating other girls to bury his feelings. It was an endless cycle of heartbreak, and it only worsened when I dated Sunwoo. After constantly going in circles over this for what seemed like ages, we both finally admitted our feelings to each other and began dating. Although he was heartbroken over him and I breaking up, Sunwoo values our happiness more than anything, and was cheering when Doyoung and I got engaged. He even found love for himself after falling in love with my childhood friend, Ha Won.

Although it was a bit of a hurdle when he met dad. He was familiar with Doyoung, and due to our brief falling out, dad was very cold and harsh towards him when he officially met Doyoung as my new boyfriend- especially since he was fond of Sunwoo and viewed him as a perfect fit for me; but he slowly became accepting as he saw how much I meant to Doyoung. He was also very happy when he found out that he was going to be a grandpa.

And now here we are many years later. Married with two kids, and continuing to run a business that not only was a key point in our relationship, but many others- like mom and dad.

"It's getting late," Doyoung remarks while checking his phone "we should get going or we'll be late to dinner with my family."

"Oh, right!" I recall the dinner plans as I wipe my tears away. Picking up Hyunjae, Doyoung then leans forward and kisses me.

"We can come back tomorrow, I promise." He says as he traces an 'X' over his heart "Besides, I didn't have enough time to pay my respects to your mom yet, and I would rather not try to aggravate from beyond the grave by ignoring my late mother in-law." 

I cackled as his joke as I swat his arm "Alright, fine by me."

Adjusting Yeonhwa in my arms, we then walk back to the car as the sun went down. Glancing over my shoulder one last time, I smile as I wave mom and dad goodbye.

Although saddened by this annual tradition, especially with the recent addition of dad, my mind is at peace knowing that they're reunited on the other side. And maybe in their next life, they'll have the chance to create more memories together.

For now, I hoping that the flower shop may be able to keep their memories alive.

End