Reunited

Chapter 2

"Hye Sooyah, what do you what for your birthday?Hmm?" I asked her while putting her meal on the table. It's a tonkatsu dish she'll never get tired of eating .

She smiles after hearing my question, pretends to think even though I know that is something is already on her mind.

"Tonkatsu Party!" she squealed her lungs out while waving her spoon and fork.

"But you are just eating it now?How come you're never tired of eating that?" I said pinching her cheeks. Why do I even ask if I already knew the answer to my own question. Same genes, same.

"Mom, but it's my b-birthday" she said pouting her lips. Aish that puppy look again. How can I say no, when she's that cute.

"One condition, more healthy side dishes okay? I can't let you eat just that pork only." I sighed, Actually I am running out of side dishes ideas to pair up with her tonkatsu.

"Kol!" she said raising up her thumb.

"Mom?"she said while she still digging up her meal.

"Yes, Sooyah?" I replied as I tuck hair behind her ears.

"How come I'm the only one who likes this?"she pointed out her tonkatsu.
"You like jjajamgyeon, Auntie and Grandma too. Uncle likes galbi same with Grandpa. How come nobody likes this? Hmmm" she explained. Here she is being talkative again. Kids with her age usually answers with at least five to six words, and look at this little one, she's giving all out information on her mind.

I was amazed by her question, I just left her with my family for three days and here she is, voicing out to her observations.

"Because ..uhmm," I started thinking of a good way to explain it, "when I was pregnant, all I ate is just tonkatsu." I joked remembering the good times at Spain four years ago.

  "But???..It's not your favorite anymore?" she started to ask more. "I was in your tummy, maybe I was the really one who like that Mom." she added making me amused on how she processed the ideas.

  "Hmmm." she continued. "Did I get it from my D-Dad? Does he like it too?" she said hesitating the question.

   I suddenly froze at her question. It's been a while since her last question regarding her Dad. I explained it to her before about our situation and why she can't meet yet her Dad.

"Are you going to say "soon" again if I ask you when will I meet him?" she asked with disappointment evident on her face.
"Can you tell me the month or year Mom? I want to draw it in my calendar pleaseeeee?" she whined while grabbing my hand then putting it in her cheeks.

   I sighed, composing my answer in my head. I know I've been making a lot of excuses answering her question, and having "soon" as my answer, I guess she's not buying this excuse anymore.

I looked at her. I looked straight at her eyes, it's full of hope. It looks like she's been longing for the answer for a long time.

I sighed before drinking my coffee, the conversation that I had with my daughter earlier can't get out of my head.

"Fourteen." said my sister who's also drinking her coffee in front of me.

Confused with her, I asked "What, fourteen?"

"You sighed fourteen times already, and it's just thirty minutes since I got here. "Did something happen?"she asked with worried look on her face.

"She asked me again," I started off, "But she won't buy my excuse anymore." I said while massaging the temples of my head.

She chuckled making me more stressed of the situation. "You really think she'll buy your excuses for a long time? I doubt that even before." she started then looked at me "How about you get things straight, since you are already here in Korea?" she suggested. " I have no idea of what exactly happened four years ago, but don't you think it's unfair for Hye Soo and for him? Stop worrying what might happen, it's just all in your head, give it a try instead?"

It's a lie if I say that getting things straight hasn't crossed in my mind when I consider going back to Korea but lack of courage is hindering me to do it, just when I think of possible things that might happen.

I mean he is on peak of his career now, I'm scared of the possibility that his career would flop because of us plus I'm worried about the protection of Hye Soo from his crazy fans. There's no way they will leave her out once they knew about this.

And now that he accepted the role, which I still don't understand why? There are a lot of reasons on why he shouldn't accept this, yet his answer is contrary.

I searched for my phone to type a message for Director Park. I still want to confirm it, even though I messaged several staffs already and I still get the same answer.

"He really said yes? Have you mentioned it to him that I'll be his partner? I guess he might change his mind?"

Right? Maybe he doesn't have an idea whose his parter is, that's why he accepted the role.I am indeed sure that he would back out if he knew that he'll be working with me. Years might have passed but I'm certain that he still mad about what happened in the past.

"He said yes. And yes, I mentioned it to him, he seems pretty fine about it. Don't worry about it he will not back out."

The last line must be a reassurance but to me, it's a nightmare. What gotten to his mind? Why is he fine about it? Why is everything okay to him when it's totally the opposite to me.

Or maybe he completely moved on already? Maybe I was just the really one who hasn't healed from the past? And he just want to work professionally?

Ugh, I don't know. My heads hurting again from all of these unanswered questions.

I decided to check on Hye Soo as my sister tuck her in sleep. I tried to move without making any noise, not wanting to wake her up.

"Thanks, Unnie. I didn't notice she was sleep already in the couch." I sighed, I was too busy on my phone earlier.

"It's nothing. Oh, by the way, I guess Ahjumma is on her way here already. She'll be a great help, since you will be very busy. But don't worry I'll go here from time to time to play with Hye Soo." She said as she also grab her bag and car keys and before she opened the door, she gestures that something is on the table.

I went to the direction of the table and saw a piece of paper with some colors of it. But strangely the colors are somewhat dark.

I opened the fold of the paper, sighting the familiar strokes made by Hye Soo.

Mianhae, Omma. That's what's written on the paper. I was confused on why is she saying sorry so I continued to examine her drawing.

There she is with me,we were sitting on the table, our scenario earlier when she asked about her dad, and sadness was completely evident on my face on her drawing.

She must have felt guilty earlier asking about it. I was too full of my thoughts that I didn't notice that she's observing my reaction as well. I felt sorry for her, it's her right but she felt guilty asking about it because of me.

A sudden call from my manager made me woke up from my deep sleep. Is this an emergency? It's already past 11 pm, and he only calls this late if there's an emergency or really important matters.

"Sorry to bother your sleep, but Director Park wants to have a meeting with the casts tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Is this urgent? We just talked about it last time?" I asked, confused on the emergency meeting.

"He did not tell me, but I guess he wants to talk about further details about it."

"Oh- okay. I have photoshoot in the morning right? What time will be the meeting with him?" I said as I checked my schedule in my calendar.

"It's all good. The meeting will start in the afternoon."