Dirt Behind Our Sisterhood [ MICHAENG ]

Chapter 11. Tulips

Jeongyeon's POV :

I went to the former place to visit where my mother left my sister. Years have passed; a lot has really changed in this place.

“aren't you the one who keeps coming back here looking for her sister?” I snapped at the sudden voice from behind, it was granny.

She must have gotten used to me for visiting this place over and over again, that's why she knows me.

“I barely recognize this place because of the changes” I uttered

“have you found your sister?” she asked

I smiled bitterly at her question. How am I supposed to answer that? I've been coming back here but found nothing. I don’t even have any sign that she's still alive.

I just smiled at her and shook my head in response to indicate 'no'

“there’s always a miracle. Don’t lose hope”

“Jeongyeon?” a familiar voice called out my name

“oh, Chaeyoung, you haven’t been here in a while” the granny uttered and smiled ear to ear

Oh, they know each other.

I turned my back to face Chaeyoung, who’s carrying a grocery of food. Probably it's for the granny.

“what are you doing here, Jeongyeon?”

“I just want to visit this place”

She gazed on the granny “how about you, ajumma? Do you know her?”

“yes. Her face is familiar”

The granny playfully nudged Chaeyoung's arm

“and you, kid, you didn't say you’d come over”

“ajumma, stop calling me a kid”

I didn’t know that Chaeyoung also comes here. However, I wonder how she found out about this place and how she met the granny.

After a few minutes of chitchat, they invited me to join them. We went to the granny’s house and cooked the food that Chaeyoung brought for her.

I got here before while looking for my sister. The granny helped me treat my wound when I accidentally tripped. Her house is still as authentic as before — full of flowers.

“ajumma let's eat” Chaeyoung uttered as we placed what we cooked on the table.

Ajumma doesn’t want to make any noise or even talk while eating in front of the table. She believes it's disrespectful, so we ate silently.

After a few minutes, Chaeyoung volunteered to wash the dishes, and the ajumma went to her mini garden.

“I didn't know you also know ajumma” I break the silence between Chaeyoung and I

“I used to visit her here when I was young”

“how did you meet her?”

“it was a school field trip, and she protected me from those kids who bullied me in the street”

I sat on the chair after cleaning the table as I fixed my gaze on her

“you were a victim of bullying?”

“it was just a random kids”

“how about you? How did you meet ajumma?” she asked briefly

“I used to live here when I was a teenager'

“alone?”

“yes”

“that's quite amazing. How did you manage that?”

“I had to be strong, that's all”

“are you still looking for your sister?”

After her question, I remained silent. I don't know how to answer her. I'm stuck between losing hope and holding on.

Our attention switched to the granny who's holding a flower. It saved me from the thought of that tragic incident.

“kids, bring this flower when you go home” she softly uttered and handed us the flowers she picked from her garden.

“red tulips for you, Jeongyeon. I can sense that you're longing for love, that’s why it suits you”

“and white tulips for you, Chaeyoung. Even if you won't say anything, you’re full of unanswered questions and anger”

“it belongs to you because it symbolizes forgiveness. I hope you'll find it in your heart”

I was amazed by her. How could she say those things as if she's really sure about them?

“ajumma, how did you know that?” Chaeyoung asked

Ajumma approached and hugged her.

“sometimes just by looking at someone’s eyes, you can already tell if they're going through something”

“our eyes are so powerful, they don't know how to lie”

A genuine smile spread across Chaeyoung's lips as she suddenly got teary-eyed.

“thank you, ajumma. I’ll remember that”

The hug must be so comforting for Chaeyoung that she really cried. I don't know much about her life, but just by witnessing this side of her, she must be going through something.

“Chaeyoung let's go home” I said

We bid our farewell to ajumma. Chaeyoung doesn’t have a car, so I offer to drive her home.

-

Chaeyoung's POV :

I was holding the tulips that the ajumma gave me at her house. She said it symbolizes forgiveness, but how can I do that? I don't even know myself because of a huge piece missing in my life.

I'm grateful for my life now because of Mina and her mother. However, I can't help but seek an answer. I feel like my life isn't complete at all.

The amount of bullying, judgment, and obstacles that I endured for being an adoptee made me numb to the point I lost care for my own life.

The emptiness that I’ve been enduring since I was young has completely changed me.

“she knows you very well” Jeongyeon broke the silence inside the car to change the awkward atmosphere.

“was it true?”

“what?” I act like I didn't know what she's referring to

“what she said”

“I mean, the forgiveness. Are you going through something?”

I didn’t answer her questions; I just shrugged it off. How can I tell her? I'm not comfortable opening up myself to someone. I'm not used to it.