First Love

Chapter 44

Jae was in Daegu for the interment of Chin Hwa's ashes at the burial area where her parents' graves were. Since Chin Hwa didn't like the idea of having his ashes in a columbarium, she decided on the use of biodegradable urn where the ashes could be used for planting tree. It was much better than his idea of having his ashes scattered around their parents' graves. It was already winter and the management of the burial site helped her with the process all the way. By the time she was done, she felt lighter and at peace. She came to the site again the day after.

Jae went to see her parents and Chin Hwa, and left flowers for them. She haven't been a good daughter for not visiting them regularly. Her parents' graves were maintained well by the management. She promised to come and visit all of them there during Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving Day. She pulled her padded jacket closer as the wind blew. Jae looked up to the sky. Winter in Daegu is always cold and sunny. It rarely snows there. As for summer, it becomes hot and muggy due to the location of Daegu itself.

Jae did a lot of walking when she was there. She hadn't been to Daegu for years and a lot of thing had changed.

She went to the building where Chin Hwa's office was once located. She went on trailing back to the places where she and Chin Hwa went to, from her favorite local store to the music store they went to. The restaurant was still there but the tenant changed. Growing up, she didn't remember much about her parents. She remembered their happy smile as they brought her out for ice-cream. Having dubbed as a wonderful 'surprise' at their age, she was spoilt with their love and attention. They really thought Chin Hwa would be their only child. Her mom however would become strict during her piano lesson. Along the way, Jae went to the place where she saw Yoongi performed. The stage area was converted into an office. She even went to Yoongi's middle school where she first saw him playing basketball.

It was Jae's healing journey.

Her telephone in her pocket buzzed as she was walking from the burial grounds to the main building. She put on her earphone and accepted the call. She smiled as she heard the voice at the end of the line.

"Hi Jae, I miss you," greeted Yoongi.

"I miss you too," she replied as she shoved her hands in her jacket pocket.

"How's everything there?" he asked.

"It's cold and I'm about to leave the burial grounds,"

"How are you?

"I'm fine," answered Jae.

"Really fine kind of fine, sad but surviving kind of fine or just okay kind of fine?" asked Yoongi again.

"Wow, I never knew there's so many types of fine," she marveled.

"You're the person who's fine after being slashed at. I had to be precise," explained Yoongi.

"I'm still sad about Chin Hwa oppa, but coping and healing well after the procession ends yesterday but missing you a lot since you're 230km away from here kind of fine. Does that answer your question?"

"Clearly," he responded.

"What are you doing?" asked Jae.

"Calling you up."

Jae rolled her eyes, "Thank you for that information Mr. Obvious. What were you doing before that?"

Yoongi laughed, "Now you know the torture you put me through when you gave me that 2 questions rules."

"That was different," defended Jae.

"Yeah, right," he scoffed. "Precise questions, precise words," he repeated her words back to her and she laughed. "Well I could think of another way to get back at you when we get together."