"Jin Woo Oppa". Ji Hee exclaimed
"Ji Hee I told you to stop running around". He chided with a smile as he hugged her
"Well you'll just have to keep warning me. Besides it's your fault for not visiting me at home or college". She slightly punched him on his arm
"I'm sorry, am I forgiven". He held his ears
"Not until you both binge watch movies with me". She gestured to both him and Ji Hoo
"Arasso, whatever the princess says". He patted her head
"No! He may agree but I don't. You clearly dodged my hug for him". Ji Hoo narrowed his eyes
"Still childish". She rolled her eyes before opening her arms wide. "Come on, come have a hug. Satisfy your ego, come here". She said in a soothing voice like she was talking to a child
"You!". He said speechless. "Don't touch me, let me go". He tried to shrug her off but she held him tight in the hug
"Just stop struggling already. You know you want a hug". She chided
He narrowed his eyes sideways at her before hugging her back. "Its just because I miss you. I'm still annoyed". He warned
"I miss you too oppa". She smiled hugging him tightly. He couldn't help but drop his act and smile. Memories of the past coming to mind
(PAST)**
"Oppa, oppa. Where are you. Come outside, I don't want to play again". Little Ji Hee could be seen walking around the garden crying as she held her doll tightly
They were been playing hide and seek. It was before Jin Woo lost his parents. He and Jin Woo were hiding making Ji Hee the seeker. Jin Woo was the most mischievous of them all when they were little, coming up with plans that always ends up with them in trouble but ever since his parents accident he changed.
The two boys were crouched down behind a flower bush watching her ball her eyes out while trying to stay quiet. But after noticing the increase in her loud cries Ji Hoo couldn't bear it and stood up. Jin Woo tried holding him back but he shrugged him off and left. Jin Woo shook his head and face palmed before also standing up and followed him slowly
"Ji Hee". Ji Hoo called out. She turned around upon his voice and ran towards him
"Oppa". She cried hugging him tight. "I miss you oppa. Don't leave". She choked out
"Hmm, oppa is here Ji Hee. Oppa is sorry". He comforted her
"Ji Hee is scared, oppa will leave"
"Oppa is right here, oppa won't leave". He wiped her tears
"You shouldn't cry Ji Hee. You're a princess, princess's don't cry". Jin Woo said as he knelt besides them
"Here have this. You shouldn't cry again". He handed her a candy. She smiled through her tears and he returned it
"There, our Ji Hee is such a good girl isn't she, Ji Hoo". He grinned
"Ji Hee won't mention this to anyone right". He smiled brightly as he patted her head. Little Ji Hee unaware of the bribe enthusiastically nodded her head with a big smile as she licked her candy
"You ah. You must change". Ji Hoo who witnessed the scene shook his head in disbelief as he stood up holding Ji Hee's free hand
"Its my charm". Little Jin Woo had winked at Little Ji Hoo as he also stood up. Ji Hoo shook his head as they both walked towards the kitchen back door Ji Hee between them as Jin Woo ruffled her hair
(PAST ENDS)**
"Oppa, oppa. Where are you lost".Ji Hee gently shook him
"Uh, ah. Biane". He sheepishly apologized
"Are you alright"
"Hmmmm. Where's mum". He asked as he noticed she wasn't around
"In the kitchen". Ji Hee shrugged
"Hmm, I'll go and see her. Wonder what she's making this time around". He said giving Jin Woo a slight nod
"I'll come with you". Jin Woo said
"You don't have to son". His uncle patted his shoulder
"She's still my aunt". He said. And he was right, she is the one who has the blood relation with him. She's his dead mum's identical twin sister
His uncle nodded giving him a reassuring smile which he returned
"Oppa". Ji Hee said concerned but he patted her head with a smile
"Let's go". He said to Ji Hoo who stared unsure at him
"Stop staring at me like that. I'm not going in for a war". He said pointedly at Ji Hoo as they walked towards the kitchen
"Well technically you are. You sure you want to". Ji Hoo tried talking him out
"Ji Hoo. She's my aunt and your mother". Jin Woo said with a blank expression
"I guess you're right. It's better to face your problem than hide from it". Ji Hoo gave a reassuring smile
Upon reaching the kitchen door Ji Hoo could hear the slight intake of breath Jin Woo made making him sigh. 'I hope it turns out well this time around'. He silently prayed
"Eomma". Ji Hoo called out as he entered the kitchen door while Jin Woo remained by the door
Park Yu-Ri -a woman in her early fifties- whose back was facing them as she stirred something in a pot stopped midway at the sudden yet expected voice of her son, but deciding to ignore him, she continued with what she was doing. Done with stirring, she covered the pot and put off the light then went to the few vegetables -some already cut- on the kitchen island and chopping board which she gave her attention
Seeing her action, Jin Woo smiled, she reminded him of his mother. She also acted the same when he annoyed her. While Ji Hoo sighed and called out again "Eomma" but she still ignored him
"Eomma". He whined as he went to hug her from behind as she was cutting the vegetables
"Eomma". He pouted still hugging her while she ignored him
"It would be best if you left me alone. I don't appreciate strangers hugging me and just a warning, I have a knife". She threatened as she held the knife up tracing its sharp edge with her finger tip
"Eomma. Biane". He kissed her cheek with a grin. "I promise its because I was busy". He sighed
"Too busy for me. I guess I should have been too busy to give birth to you". She gave him a side look
"That won't be possible, remember I came out fast and with ease". He smiled
"Well I could have used a morning pill saying I was too busy to have a baby". She rose an eyebrow
"Well it's too late now". He grinned
"I could just end it now". She slammed the knife onto the board, making part of it tip stuck in it.
Seeing her action Ji Hoo immediately backed up holding his hands in surrender
"I'm sorry. I'm at fault. I promise I'll try to make time to visit you". He said his eyes on the knife
Folding her hands she sighed. "I think you forgot something else".
"Huh no". He shook his head confused. She sighed before making a pretense of taking the knife. "Ah, and I'll buy you flowers when I come visiting. Your favorite, white roses". He rushed out upon remembering
"Good boy". She smiled making him smile as he put his hands down. "Now are my flowers". She asked making his smile drop
"Eomma, I missed you so much. Is this how you should treat me when I finally come back. It's so unfair". He pouted
"And whose fault is that may I ask. Who decided to leave the house". She raised an eyebrow
"Eomma, I apologized already". He sighed
"So what?. Apology solves nothing. If it does Eun-Ah would still be alive". She angrily said glancing at Jin Woo whom she had noticed through her side view but decided to ignore. The tension in the room suddenly rose from playful to serious
"My darling mother, I'm here now aren't I. Are you going to keep ignoring me or hug me". Ji Hee said to relieve the tension as he walked towards her arms open but instead she narrowed her eyes at his action
"Eomma". He sighed before pulling her in a hug which she reluctantly accepted
"I miss you eomma". He smiled as he breathed her scent, a habit of his since he was young
"I miss you too Hoho". She smiled at his action, calling him by his nickname only she used making him groan while she chuckled
"Aunt". Jin Woo called out in an almost whisper from the entrance
"What is he doing here". She immediately shrugged Ji Hoo off as her face turned blank
"Eomma". Ji Hoo sighed
"I won't ask again Lee Ji Hoo. What is he doing here". She yelled. Both the boys winced as she used his full name
"Aunt, how have you been". He stepped forward
"Aunt?". She snorted. "I think you got the wrong person, I'm not an aunt to a murderer". She calmly said with digust
"Eomma, please calm down". Ji Hoo told her
"Shut up. Tell him to leave now or I will. Choose". She said to Ji Hoo. "You'd better choose wisely". She said sternly
"Eomma". Ji Hoo Said in disbelief
"I'll leave. I'm sorry Aunt". Jin Woo smiled dejected as he slightly shook his head silently telling Ji Hoo who wanted to disagree not to talk
"No Jin Woo. Not today. No one is making any choice". His uncle said as he held his hand at the entrance. He and Ji Hee had rushed over when they heard Yu-Ri yell. They had stood by the door witnessing it all but he couldn't bear keeping quiet any longer. Park Yu-Ri has had enough of her episodes.
"Not today Yu-Ri. I've watched and tolerated your acts thinking you'd eventually come of your grieve but no more would I put up with your acts. He is your nephew, a blood relation you can't ever deny. You were suppose to fill in for his mother, gave him the mother's love he lost at an early age. But no, instead you are doing the opposite. You are not the only one suffering from the grieve of the past, sure its understandable that you lost your twin sister but you have no right to put the guilt of your grieve on Jin Woo. He lost his parents and an unborn sibling Yu-Ri, he lost more than you did. You have no right to blame him for something no one had power over. Not anymore. You have to accept the fact that he's just a victim even more than all of us. Whether you like it or not". He said with finality. All this years and he just finally felt a huge relieve.
"Yeobo". She exclaimed in disbelief
"I've said what I want to. No one is or will choose anyone over the other. We are family, we'll stick together and act like one. Am I clear". He warned as he stared sternly at her
"Am I clear Park Jan Di?". He questioned. This shocked everyone cause they never heard him call her full name with so much fierceness.
She shut her eyes before opening them, then turned to Jin Woo and while giving him a glare she nodded
"Say it"
"Yes". She forced out still glaring at him
"Good. Now let's have lunch. Ji Hee, help your mum out". He said as he pulled Jin Woo and gestured to Ji Hoo to come along
"Eomma". Ji Hee called out tentatively
"I'm not in the mood Ji Hee. Let's just finish up and serve". She coldly said as she continued chopping the vegetables making Ji Hee sigh helplessly as she assisted her