I finally tried to take my leave at almost midnight. Jae-woo had been calling me from 9pm. He might have arrived then. I have an important meeting to attend to. Be home really late. I messaged him. I gave them my card from the publishing house and invited them for a coffee or dinner if they are ever in Seoul.
I'm really not sure what my goal is in reliving the past. Am I ready to meet my half-siblings or the woman who my father almost left us with? Am I doing this to appease my curiosity or to settle something in my relationship with Jae-woo? If he will find out about my father and the man that had a big role in their 1995 incident would they find peace? I don't know yet how the rest of my siblings will take the news, but my Mom promised to be the one to do it.
Our family is already in a place where we are content and happy. Of course, we still have problems and controversies. But 30 years is way past its time already. Daniel and James will not be concerned about it, they are not born yet that time. But we have to be ready to the possibility of having two half-siblings.
How will Jae-woo's father react to the idea that her sister had an affair to a married man, that eventually produced illegitimate children? But if she remarried as Joseph said, the guy might have raised her kids as his own. Do her children know about my father? I received a call again from him while I was at the taxi. For the past week, I have never received any call or message from him. But tonight alone, he had been so busy dialling my number it seemed.
"Yes?"
"Are you still out? Do you want me to pick you up?" he offered.
"Actually, I'm heading home. I am in the cab and I'll be home around 20 minutes max…"
"Are you out of the city?"
"How did you know?"
"I'll see you then?" he's asking for permission.
"Is it not late for you to come to my place?"
"I'm actually a bit tired but I needed to talk to you…"
"I'll see you tomorrow then…I don't think we can talk at this rate…"
"Yes. About tomorrow do you think you can give my family a second chance?"
"Second chance for humiliation?"
"That's why we need to talk…"
"Nope. I won't be going to your house tomorrow, sorry. And I would rather see you and talk to you tomorrow when I'm sobered up and you're well rested." I dismissed.
I made a bath to calm myself. That was a lot of information to take in. The possibility that Jae-woo's aunt and uncle is behind all that 1995 incident is really bothering me. How on earth are they still part of Namshin if they are the cause of tits almost demise? And how dare him still trying to take over? I can't believe there are evil people like him who cause his parents accident.
How will I ever talk to Jae-woo about this issue? For a week, I have even forgotten what our last conversation was already. That snafu in their house from last time seemed irrelevant now against all this new information that's surfacing. I felt refreshed when I finish my bath. I check my emails for updates. I started to read some research materials before going to bed. At least I still have a diversion by focusing on my thesis.
He called me in the morning, still hoping to join him with his family's brunch.
"Not now, I hope you understand…" I remarked.
"Are you busy today?" he asked.
"I have to run some errands…"
"Can we talk later?"
"I'll prepare dinner…" I casually invited him over. It was a week of revelation. I miss him and I know I also needed to hear what he has to say. I am still debating, as to how I could possibly break it to him about my father.
"I'll see you later…"
"I miss you" I exclaimed.
"I miss you…" he replied.
I checked my schedule for the remainder of the month and in April. It seems that I'm going to be busy. Next week, I'll have an interview with InStyle Korea, a meeting with a possible sa kanto franchise for Singapore, it's good they decided to meet up in Seoul and the Friday bachelorette party for Soo-ah. The week after that is also hectic, and Marcus is coming by the 30th for Soo-ah's wedding and to stay with me until we fly to Philippines the first Monday of April.
I went with Laura and the other residents of the Loft for tennis at the nearby club house and I also decided to have some swimming after. I pass by the supermarket to buy something for dinner. I knew he likes traditional Korean food, but he never really tasted much of my cooking yet. So, I decided to buy some ingredients for moussaka, vegetables for Greek salad and goat cheese, and porkchops. I knew he is not a picky eater and that he is well travelled, and he is open to any type of food.
He arrived at the loft earlier than I have expected. And he was carrying a bouquet of flower and what seemed like a jar.
"You're early…" I commented. He looked at his watch, it was just 5 in the afternoon.
"Well, I can't wait to be here…" he replied, and he handed me the flowers and gave me a kiss.
"Thank you."
"This is from my mom…" he gestured to the small jar-like botte he was holding.
"What's that?"
"Makgeolli, rice wine…" he informed. And he put it in the fridge.
"I just started making dinner though…"
"I'm not hungry yet…" he exclaimed.
"I hope you like Greek food?"
"Souvlaki?"
"Moussaka, salad and porkchops…no rice sorry."
"I had rice in the house…"
"Do you really need to eat rice in every meal though?"
"Filipinos do the same right?"
"Oh yeah, I think so…." I smiled.
"So, you've become European in your food taste huh?" he teased.
"It's more on my diet, I think…"
"How are you?" he finally can't wait to have the serious talk.
I poured him a glass of wine. I am preparing the porkchops to braise before finishing it on the oven. The moussaka has been in the oven for half an hour already.
"How's the emergency?" he rephrased his question.
"I just needed to figure out something with my Mom. It went well. Better than I have expected, actually. How's your family?" I asked back.
"We came to a truce…they are now on my side…"
"I heard about Jae-yin retaining her chairmanship, so it went well huh?"
"You can say that…"