He had expected a woman in her thirties as the great author who had written such a masterpiece. But there she had been a young girl introducing herself as Bluebell.
He couldn't believe it at first. Those lines, those pieces of a relatable slice of life were written by someone so young. He had been rather skeptic until he had spoken to her. He had been utterly surprised by how mature she was despite her age as well as her broad knowledge and even more shocked to find out that she had become a mom already.
'Three surprises in a row! Heck, what more to come?' He had thought.
Naturally, he had gotten to know her well that he had eventually found out many more surprises. But nothing had made him more speechless than her mother and sister, and the life that she had led on back in her hometown.
A home and a family that was supposed to be her comfort but turned out to be a cage that imprisoned her. He really couldn't imagine how she could survive all that.
Even as the listener, he had been unable to withstand the shamelessness of her mother and sister. He had also realized that she had been missing her father. So, after all his effort and coaxing, she had finally braved herself to return and take back what was supposed to be hers by rights!
Now, looking at this usually weak girl as if the wind could strike her down stood up in front of her lover and older sister bravely, he felt rather proud and respectful. Nevertheless, he knew it wasn't easy for her. She had to be lonely, after all, those people despite everything were still her lover and her sister. Someone who she used to love ever so dearly.
"You should start thinking about yourself too," Ji Woon suddenly voiced.
Surprised, Shu Hwa turned to look at her best friend. Those soft black orbs looked at her in the most caring way. Her lips arched bitterly. "I don't know if what I did is right or wrong. I'm just..." Her voice trailed off.
He sighed. "I said let's get them back but if it brings you pain rather than happiness. Then let's go back. We can find a new dad for our two angels."
Shu Hwa teared up a little. Thin tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Her lips curled at its corners as she said, "Thank you."
"Silly Tokki! Why are you so easily touched?" He laughed as he wiped her tears away. Shu Hwa laughed along with him as well.
"Now, hurry along!! Your dad must've been waiting for you." His index finger pointed at the apartment building.
Shu Hwa nodded. She alighted the car and opened the door to lift her babies.
Then, Ji Woon softly reminded her, "Don't worry. I will look for a new place tomorrow. It would be hard for the four of you to stay cooped up in a small apartment. Just stay here for a night."
Shu Hwa nodded once again. Ji Woon was about to help her as he had unbuckled his seatbelts but Shu Hwa smiled and rejected him. "It's fine. I can carry them. It's not that far anyway."
He smiled. "Okay. See you tomorrow, Tokki. Sleep well!"
She hummed in acknowledgement. "You too, Oppa. Jalga[1]!"
.....
Shu Hwa entered the apartment in a careful manner. However, when she proceeded inside, she heard a noise from the living room. She frowned. However, she was soon startled when she saw her father lounging in the couch chilling while drinking. A drama was playing on the TV screen.
Shu Hwa sighed. "Dad, why are you still awake?"
Byung-Joon looked over immediately and found his daughter carrying her boys with difficulty.
He didn't hesitate to go over and took one of them. "Aigoo! Why did you bother carrying when you are so weak?"
Shu Hwa let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I can still hold them."
Byung-Joon looked at his daughter who had been shouldering a hard life ever since she was a kid. His lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. He was truly ashamed of himself. As her father, he couldn't do anything to help lessen her baggage.
Moreover, he was the real cause of her misery as well. If he hadn't divorced his ex-wife, maybe Shu Hwa's life wouldn't have fallen apart. Her mother hated him so she would most probably hate Shu Hwa because she looked like him more.
"Let's put your children in your old rooms," he softly voiced. "I have changed the bed as soon as you told me you're going to return."
Shu Hwa had unconsciously smiled when she heard the word 'return'. She felt strangely warm and emotional at that one particular word.
"Thank you, Dad."
Thereafter, both of them went to her room and placed the kids in the new king-size bed. Byung-Joon had carefully picked this bed and the linen as well. He had also bought 3 more pillows and changed the blanket to a duvet. He had really put his effort in order to make them comfortable.
He had been especially happy when he had gone shopping for this. After all, it had been the first time he bought something for his grandchildren and also to his beloved daughter.
However, Shu Hwa frowned instead. She couldn't help but be curious. "Dad, why did you not move? I gave you enough money to do so."
"Aigoo! What's the use of buying a big house when I'm the only one who's going to live there? It'll only make me miss you more." His eyelids drooped when he remembered all those years, he had spent his time alone. At least when Shu Hwa was here, even though they hadn't lived together, she would often visit and sleepover.
"This child! Are you trying to make me feel miserable at this old age?" he knocked her head playfully.
Shu Hwa's expression shifted after she had heard his reason. She immediately gave her dad a big hug. She held me tightly and said, "Dad, I'm sorry I left you alone before. Sorry, I had only thought of myself back then. But, I'm here now. You'll never be alone anymore. You have me as well as your grandchildren. We will live together from now on."
Byung-Joon returned his daughter's embrace as well. "It's okay. You are well. That's all that matters. And look at you, you have returned as a successful writer and a great mother as well. I'm so proud of you, Honey."
He rubbed her back tenderly like how he had done in the past when she was only a little girl. Shu Hwa closed her eyes and a drop of tears fell from the edge of her eyes. She burrowed her head into his shoulder. She promised herself that she would never leave her dad alone again.
After a while, Byung-Joon released his daughter and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Shu Hwa was a bit surprised at this gesture as it had been so long since she had received such loving kinship from a family member.
Byung-Joon smiled and stroked his daughter's head. "Sleep well, My Little One. I'll see you tomorrow."
Shu Hwa's lips trembled as it slowly curled up. "You too, Daddy. Good night. We'll see you tomorrow."
...