Pushing two suitcases and wearing a guitar over each shoulder, Geon stepped out of the hotel, where two gang members were waiting to take his luggage. He greeted a familiar face among them with surprise.
"Miroslav? What brings you here?"
Unaware that he had been guarded overnight, Geon asked innocently, prompting a rare, gentle smile from the usually grim Miroslav.
"The boss sent us. We're here to pick up Kay."
"Oh, I see. I could have carried my bags myself. How many of you came? It's just me, after all."
Counting quickly, Miroslav replied, "Including myself, four. We were nearby on business and stopped by to escort you, so don't worry about it."
"Alright, got it. Ha-ha. But why are you wearing a hat and sunglasses?"
Lifting his sunglasses, Geon explained, "Ah, this? It's to avoid drawing attention and the hassle that comes with it."
Miroslav extended his hand, and Geon, puzzled, looked at it until Miroslav reassured him, "We're here, so you can go comfortably."
After a moment, Geon handed over his hat and sunglasses to Miroslav, then was surrounded by the massive gang members in the elevator, hidden from view as they passed through the hotel lobby.
"Ha-ha, I thought it'd be awkward and uncomfortable to have bodyguards, but there are perks too. Wearing a hat all the time was a bit suffocating."
As they exited the hotel, the bellboys seemed overwhelmed by the imposing gang members and huddled in a corner, making Geon feel a bit sorry as he quickly got into a Rolls Royce, which smoothly drove away. Peering out the window, Geon expressed surprise.
"What's going on? Is there an event outside the hotel? Why are there so many cars parked with their hazard lights on?"
Unbeknownst to Geon, the multitude of cars he casually passed began to follow the Rolls Royce shortly after it passed. Likewise, the gang members were unaware of the CIA agents trailing them. In the early afternoon, more than thirty vehicles were en route to the Red Castle from the Hampton Hotel. While admiring the scenery outside, Geon's phone vibrated, and he excitedly answered upon seeing the caller ID.
"Byung-jun Hyung!!!"
"Oh my, you startled me, kid."
"Ha-ha, where are you?"
"Where else? In China. I'll be over in a week. How's the hotel? I made the reservation with care, but I'm a bit anxious since I didn't book it in person."
"Ah, I stayed at the hotel last night. It was comfortable and nice, Hyung."
"Last night? What do you mean? Are you staying somewhere else today?"
"Ah, right. I'm staying at a friend's place tonight. You can join us when you arrive."
"A friend's place? How's the security?"
"The security is top-notch. It's incomparable to the hotel's, ha-ha."
"Really? Must be someone famous's house then. Alright, as long as the security is good."
"How about Yeonju and Sangmi?"
"They've been married off a long time ago, kid. They left the company after getting married."
"Oh..really? I'm sorry I couldn't attend their weddings."
"They won't hold it against you; you were in the military. Don't worry, and don't get into trouble before I arrive."
"Ha-ha, Hyung, when have I ever caused trouble?"
"You, my boy. It's not that you're bad, but you're always in the middle of some major trouble. Sigh, the thought of dealing with stubborn Geon Kim again is giving me a headache."
"Phil Rin said you absolutely had to take care of me, so he's practically forcing you to."
"Ahem, well.. Anyway, I'll be there in a week! Got it?"
"Ha-ha, got it, Hyung."
Geon chuckled after hanging up.
"Wonder if he'd faint if I told him I'm heading to the house of the Red Mafia boss? Ha-ha."
While on the call, Geon arrived at a grand mansion and prepared to disembark. The vast garden made him wait impatiently to get out.
"Phew, what a huge place. I don't see the need for such a large garden."
As the Rolls Royce finally stopped by the fountain, Geon was already out of the car before a gang member could open the door for him. He caught sight of Kiska, standing with her nanny by the main entrance, wearing a sky-blue dress, white ankle socks, and cute black shoes. Despite her expressionless face, she seemed happy to see Geon, who knelt down with open arms.
"Kiska! Did you sleep well?"
From the moment Geon knelt down, Kiska began wriggling free from her nanny's hand, and as soon as he opened his arms, she dashed into them. "Oh my, our Kiska. You must have slept well? You look better than yesterday."
Unaware that Kiska had a peaceful night without nightmares, making her face bright, Geon touched her flushed cheeks and commented, to which Kiska shyly touched the skirt of her sky-blue dress. As Geon wondered what she meant, the nanny whispered softly.
"The miss chose the dress herself. Would you compliment her?"
Meeting the nanny's eyes with gratitude, Geon nodded slightly and touched Kiska's dress with a smile.
"Wow~ Our Kiska, dressed like this, you look just like an angel! So pretty that I want to ask you to marry me!"
Kiska, her head bowed, let out a small, unnoticed smile. Sensing her happiness, Geon stood up, holding her hand, and asked the nanny.
"Where is Mr. Gregory?"
"The boss has stepped out on business. You can head straight to the annex."
"Ah, thank you."
"I'll bring some cookies and tea, so please go ahead with the miss."
"Thank you. Let's go, Kiska."
Inside the annex, Geon took the suitcases brought by the gang members and began to unpack. Kiska, curious, peeked into the opened suitcase, prompting Geon to start taking out the items.
"This is my clothes. And this is music. You know what music is, right? Like what we played yesterday on the piano. These scores are how we write down music so we can play anything with them."
Kiska watched in wonder as Geon continued to unpack. She then reached out her hand when she saw a picture frame coming out of his bag. Geon handed it to her, saying,
"This is a picture of my mom. Here's one of my sister too. I don't have one of my dad... Ha-ha."
Kiska quietly looked at Yeongha's photo, not as pretty as the mother she remembered, but still exuding a warm aura. Watching Kiska handle the photo gently, Geon spoke softly.
"You know, I always wanted to be a son who never caused his mom any worry. Unlike American moms, Korean moms look after their children even after they're married, daughters included. I didn't want to hurt my mom's heart."
Kiska listened as Geon continued, reflecting on his younger days when he realized all the physical pain he caused his mother, from pulling her hair to kicking her from the womb.
"As I grew older, I understood all the pain I must have caused my mom. It wasn't just physical pain; realizing this made me want to live in a way that wouldn't hurt her emotionally. After reading my mom's diary during my visit to Korea, I started thinking differently. Are you curious about what it said?"
Kiska's attention, previously on the frame, now shifted to Geon.
"On my birthday, my mom wrote, 'There was nothing as sad as your crying, and no sight as heartbreaking as tears rolling down your face. I did everything to stop your crying, and if I couldn't, it felt like my heart was breaking into millions of pieces.'"
Touching Kiska's cheek gently, Geon added,
"Having hurt my mom both physically and emotionally, I guess it's time to give back, to repay her for all the pain that helped me grow. I'll gather all those pieces of hurt and return them as something clean and whole."
Kiska then looked at a portrait of her mother on the wall, wearing a cloche hat and a white sleeveless dress, smiling brightly. Geon, stroking her hair, said,
"Kiska, you want to make your mom in heaven happy, right? If you eat well and grow up healthy, mom will be pleased. Can you do that?"
Kiska looked intently at her mother's portrait before losing interest and turned her attention back to the items Geon was unpacking. Geon, watching her for a moment, continued to empty the suitcases. Among the items, Kiska showed interest in a sketchbook used for writing scores, prompting Geon to offer it to her.
"Want to draw? I don't have crayons, though."
Lying beside her on the bed, Geon tapped the space next to him, and Kiska lay down to draw with the pen he gave her.
"If you keep drawing the life you want on the canvas of your heart, one day that picture will come to life. Try to draw the best picture, one where you and others are happy together."
Watching Kiska begin to draw, Geon quietly got up to finish unpacking. Kiska, engrossed in her drawing, sketched Geon with a bright smile and outstretched hands. Despite not being familiar with drawing, she smiled slightly as she added layers to perfect Geon's image. The peaceful afternoon in the annex was filled with warm sunlight as Kiska focused on her art until late, eventually tearing out the page she had diligently worked on, folding it neatly, and tucking it into her dress.
When Geon returned after a while and noticed the blank sketchbook, he looked puzzled.
"I could have sworn you were drawing something for quite a while…"