CHAPTER 29:
FLOWERS GROW BACK, EVEN AFTER THEY ARE STEPPED ON.
"Reservations @ the Crowne Plaza 8:30 am there's no strict dress code."
For the children's sake.
She put on a plain long sleeve blouse with a black a-line overall dress and tied her up in a low ponytail then fixed her bangs in the mirror that had a few cracks and dirt from residue.
The light flickered.
"Mom, I won't be able to help out at the market today there some errands I must do today." She says using her shoulder to hold the mobile phone up to her ear while she locked the door.
"Why did you wait last minute to call? ---" Her mother questioned angrily and ranted on the phone giving her quite the ear full.
"I have to go now I will speak with you later." She quickly hung up the phone after noticing that the taxi arrived in front of the apartment complex. She gave the driver the address to the location and from the backseat she watches the fare amount get higher on the digital screen.
Her feelings were twisted and weird. She was anxious to meet up with him about the discussion with his immediate family and wanted to hear what he had to say to redeem himself. If possible.
"Ma'am, we're here." The taxi driver stopped the vehicle in front of a luxurious place.
Crowne Plaza is the restaurant inside of the building, It's actually a 5-star hotel with a glass floor skywalk, a café, and an art gallery. It contains expensive paintings and everything necessary for modern living. There's an elevator to shoot people to the top in minutes.
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The atmosphere of the restaurant strives to be one of timeless beauty with promising hospitality.
"Are you Kang Choon Hee on the reservation for Mr. Kim?" The host questioned after greeting the guest and then show them to their table.
She greeted the tall man in the blazer and then spoke," What is it that you want to tell me? I'm here, aren't I?" She stood in front of the table and then decided to hold back her emotions after realizing the setting of the restaurant and people whispering indistinctively.
"I will speak once you sit and order a decent meal you must be hungry." He stood up and offered her an available seat across from the table.
She sat down and allow him to slightly push in her chair then she looked down at the menu on the table and could not resist the temptation of her cravings.
Who would turn down a free meal?
She searches through the menu and drool dripped on her lips at the sight of the pictures than in minutes she knew what she wanted.
A waiter walked up to the table in a white shirt, a black tie, and a waist cost with trousers following a completely 3wlong apron. "Are you ready to order?" He asked
"You can go ahead with your order I'll just take a water." Tae Hyun said
As the buffet of assorted vegetables and meat drool dripped down from Choon Hee's lips from the sight of the meal. The aura reminded her of home. She looked around at the different items and wonder which one she should try out first.
This is her first time being in such a fancy place since her parents are poor that always had meals at home. They never experience such a luxury.
The waiter took the menu from the customers and refilled their drinks occasionally.
Tae Hyun watched her behavior closely and could not help but focus his attention on her stomach while she scarfs down the food and found it disgusting.
It's huge as a watermelon. How does she carry it around?
"I snuck behind my family back and lied to the assistant for a low class without the proper manners." He sighs then clears his throat before speaking," I want to apologize to my parents and if I offended you in any way. They are not bad people and do not take these things lightly. If the word got out that a person from your stature it will tarnish the family business."
She listened and continued to be engulfed to the marinated beef.
" Choon Hee, would you mind us taking a paternity test? I am willing to take responsibilities for my actions and take care of you and the children if they are indeed mine."
She forcefully swallowed the beef and quickly chug the glass of water to wash everything down. She understood the doubt that he must have and could not deny such a request. It is only right
"The DNA paternity test can be done immediately after they are born and anytime afterwards. Have you heard of the NIPP? Noninvasive prenatal paternity test. It involves taking a blood sample from the alleged father and mother to conduct a fetal cell analysis. A genetic profile compares the fetal cells present in mother's bloodstream to the alleged fathers. The result is more than 99 percent accurate. Would you be interested in?"
" Can I have time to think about it? I know without a doubt that the child yours but this is suddenly, I would like to have time to process this conversation and savor the taste of the delicious food."
He checked the time on his watch then said," The appointment is in one hour, how much time do you need to make up your mind?"
She lowered her head and clenched her fist. It was a little frustrating
"Never mind—It's fine."
"When you finish then we will be on our way."
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It was a private practice in the clinic but was still awkward.
"I feel like we're being judge." Choon Hee whispered, lowly.
"We should for committed a terrible sin doing and deserve to be punished for doing this to Dam-Bi."
Those words scarred her heart and the guilt begin to consume her.
"Depending on the laboratory, the results can take as little as 2 working days to come back from the receipt of samples. However, some may take as long as 10 working days to provide your results. It different on the lab-by-lab basis."
The two left out of the clinic and stood outside on the walk.
"Allow me to give you a ride home public transportation does not come in this area." He spoke.
She climbed into the passenger seat, he reached his hand over and bucket the seatbelt then their eyes locked for a second.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
It must be the hormones, but he seems genuinely kind and attractive today.
She input the address to her apartments.
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He was concerned when he drove his black car into the worn-down apartment complex. Both, got out the car and he walked her to the door.
He was disgusted with the atmosphere there's a leak from the ceiling and the residue left a terrible scent.
"Do you may if I come in for a second, I have to use the bathroom."
"Where's my manners? Sure."
As expected, the apartment was awful condition – the wallpaper peeling and the wooden floors creek. There's mold in the drain of the sink and shattered glass from the windows. It's no privacy and the bathroom are the worse the toilet was standard, and the nasal did not work properly. The water from the drain came out yellow and there's cracks on the mirror.
He could not remove his shoes at the front door.
"What did you choose this place? It does not seem suitable to raise children in my opinion."
She straightens her shoes at the front door then put on her house shoes." It is the best I can do—Cheap, and affordable. Isn't nice?"
"She's right. Something like this seem like a luxury to her being able to find a place is good enough." He thought and worried about the safety of the unborn children and hers.
"What kind of job do you have?" He questioned and it started to feel like an interrogation.
"Care Center."
"That a well-paying job."
(44) missed calls from Sung Min.
Her phone started ringing again.
"You should pick up the call and tell him to take a paternity test too. Just in case they aren't mine—He can take responsibility" He suggested, narrowing his eyes towards her.
"I would only if I slept with him too."
She picked up the phone," Hello, Sung Min."
"Choon Hee, you're not mad at me anymore right? Please come back home I miss you." He sobbed
She took a deep breath and could not bother to stay on the phone with him for another minute then spoke," Do you want to take a paternity test?"
" W-What?---"
When he was about to answer the phone powered off. She didn't realized that her battery was low until last minute.
Why did I even bother doing that? My first time I ended up pregnant and I never slept with someone since then.
" I will speak with you later, okay? Sleep well."