"It's been so long since I last got on a car..", Aubrey rested his back on the passenger seat.
He remembered before he was eight, their family would always travel far away by car and plane. He went to many different countries.
Back then, everything was fine. His parents, and his brother too. He wondered what make him changed.
Aubrey was lost in thoughts when Lucy started to drive for city B, the neighbouring city. They were going to be on the road for several hours.. Lucy had no choice but to cancel her plan with her aunt. Well, she was actually hesitant to meet her. Thank god she now had a valid excuse.
"What are you thinking about?", she asked him.
She was worried, could he develop a certain phobia of cars now?
"Not much. I'm just wondering where we've gone wrong..", he said.
Her eyes focused on the road, she didn't say anything. He must be referring to his past..
She wasn't going to ask this in such a setting, but she couldn't help it. The car stopped when the traffic light was red. She turned to him.
"Aubrey, if you're given a chance to turn back time, would you go back to the past where everything was fine?", she asked him, her heart ached a little.
"I've been thinking about that for seventeen years. But I can't go back, Lucy.", he said, his voice low.
The red light turned green, she drove again. She wanted to hug him right now but she couldn't. It was not because she was driving, even if she was at home asking the same thing and he answered with the same words, she wouldn't be able to comfort him. He was the only one who could help himself. She was just lending a hand.
"Aubrey.. can I ask one more question?", she said, breaking the silence.
He hummed in response.
"What are you going to do from here on?", Lucy let him take his time.
"I don't know.", he said.
She became quiet.
"I managed to free myself. But I'm not sure how long this will last.", what he told her was true.
He was able to get past the gate, his body and mind were able to gain freedom. But his heart was still there.. he left it there for Adamson to hold.
"Will you.. be able to face him..?", Lucy didn't plan on asking Aubrey about it. But her heart felt like bursting a thousand needles when she recalled that bastard of a brother.
"I have to, one day. Whether I'll be able to or not, I'll let myself decide when it comes.", Aubrey who was facing the outside the whole time turned towards Lucy.
His eyes depiction of regret, however his smile said something else. Lucy was stunned to see him so different than the him from before. He was recollecting his strength. She knew he would be fine.. as long as she was there.
"I'll be there with you. Don't worry okay?", Lucy smiled back.
She was feeling very extraordinary now. She couldn't describe it in words. She felt alive and her heart swelled in happiness. She could declare to the world that she was happier than before she met him.
"Now face the road properly.", Aubrey touched her cheek and turned her face back to the track. She pointed her bottom lip as a sign of protest.
"But you're so good looking, I can't have enough of you.", she said truthfully. His face was an SS grade. Even those hallyu guys from korean dramas weren't up to his par.
"Stop it. I'm not immune to your compliments.", he said, averting his face elsewhere.
"Aw.. you're so cute.", she cracked a laugh.
"Hey..", he sighed. But his smile still lingered.
•••
"That child, she disappeared and didn't even answer my call!", Annie Kim heaved up a long sigh.
"Lucy isn't a small kid anymore, she'll decide what's best for her.", Leah said, she was worried. But she didn't want to tell Lucy what her daughter can or cannot do. Her regrets of not being able to choose Lucy over her husband was eating her inside. She didn't want to feel that way again.
She knew Lucy resented her for not giving her a chance to choose. But that daughter still loved her unconditionally.
"I know. But what I'm worried about is not her. It's Sam. He loves and cares for Lucy. But he doesn't respect her wishes.", Annie said. She was right.
Sam Kim wouldn't sit idle when he had finally found his ideal son in law but was suddenly told that his daughter was in a relationship with someone anonymous. Of course he would be angry..
"You help Lucy, Annie. You've always been on her side. I want you to support her again this time.", Leah told Annie.
"Why? You should be the one to support your daughter. Will you take Sam's side again? You know he's not always right!", Annie shook her head in disapproval.
If she knew beforehand that Lucy already had someone, she wouldn't be so eager to suggest a date and riled up her brother's expectation.
Leah was too soft when it comes to her husband. She failed to be a supportive mother to Lucy but she excelled the role of a wife without a flaw. Now all she wanted to do was to support her daughter.
•••
They arrived, Lucy drove past a water fountain in the middle of the pathway, making the path seemed round for cars to drive in and out. The car stopped in the middle of the entrance. The mansion was too big for a single old man to live in. At both right and left of the huge door, were decorative flowers suitable for the place.
Lucy came out from her Bugatti, and Aubrey followed after her. A butler bowed his head upon seeing Lucy. He had been in service for more than thirty years. Several other maids bowed too.
Some young maids who seemed to be new were staring intensely at Aubrey. Their drool almost visible.
Lucy saw how the maids were looking at her boyfriend, she felt a sudden urge to fire the women. But she stayed sane..
'Am I always this possessive?', she asked herself.
Without delay, she walked inside while holding onto Aubrey's hand. She gripped it hard, and she threw a silent glare. As a sign for the maids to back off.
"It's been a while since I last saw you, butler Park.", Lucy smiled to the old man. He was still healthy and kicking. As expected of a professional butler.
"Young miss should come often. Chairman Kim misses you so much.", he said.
He liked Lucy the most out of all of his employer's grandchildren. Lucy was a responsible adult and she didn't play around. It boosted up her image in the Kim family.