We hugged for a while, and even when I let go she kept patting and rubbing my head.
"Let's eat first, Aunty. I made us some dinner." I guided her to the dining table and sat her down.
"Aw… Thank you Rin, you know that I'm famished after coming down from the tower. " She put down her bag that she brought, and went to the sink to wash her hands.
"So how's the climb of the tower?" I asked while grabbing her plate.
"It has been good. We made progress but couldn't climb up the level of the tower." She sat down again and started to devour the food I served.
Aunty Jihyun, Song Jihyun, was an A-Rank and one of the top 20 awakeners in Korea. Just last month after Mom's funeral, she was part of the party to continue climbing the tower.
The tower is the dungeon tower that appears in all parts of the world. For some reason, the tower only appears on each continent and the tower for Asia's continent appears later compared to the other continents which was 48 years ago in Korea.
So until now, the government and the Awakener Association have been trying to catch up with the progress of the tower climb. They have been sending our awakeners monthly to help with the tower climbing process.
"Will you join the party again after this?" I helped give her a second portion of the food as she devoured her first one.
"Yeah, sadly I asked to go out early this time, so I need to make up for it. But don't worry I'll come back in the second week of next month." She held one of my hands to reassure me.
"I hope you come back faster. I missed you, Aunty." I tightened up the hand that held mine and smiled weakly at her.
"Me too Rin, I'm sorry that I need to leave you right after the funeral. Who would have known that I would be part of the climb-up party this time, right?" she let out a big sigh while gritting her teeth annoyed with the situation.
Aunty Jihyun was my mom's best friend since her college years. She just happened to lose contact with her since marrying my douchebag father. Fortunately, around 2 years ago she was able to get in contact with Mom again. Since then she has been a constant in our household.
"So, what is your next plan Rin?" she asked me slowly.
"I'm not sure yet, Aunty. But I know I need to take it easy. I'd like to live my life slowly." I looked into her eyes while saying it.
"Yeah, it's good to take things slowly." She smiled back at me.
"Do you remember your grandpa's property? How about you move back there?" After some silence moment, she asked me as if she just remembered it.
"Grandpa's property?"
"Uh-huh. I told you about it before. You have a property around the Hanam area, not too far here." She nodded her head and finished all of the ramyun in the pot.
"Grandpa's house huh…" Her words intrigued me.
"Yeah, your grandpa's property was quite big. I believe the property also had some shops attached to it, like the tea shop your grandparents operated around 20 years ago." She got up and cleaned up the dirty dishes on the table.
"Maybe it's good for you to go there. I heard the neighborhood was quiet and serene." She continued while washing the dishes.
Previously, I never had any thought about it as I was too busy with work. Now that place can be a good start to continuing a slow life. While cleaning and living up to Mom's childhood, maybe I could even re-open the tea shop.
"I want to move there, Aunty," I answered in an energetic voice.
"Good choice Rin. Let's start packing up and moving the items around tomorrow or the day after. I can stay a bit longer to help before I need to go back." Aunty Jihyun answered with even more energy and rushed back to hug me after she finished washing the dishes.
Life is too short to pass it by with uncertainty and no goal. This can be the start of my next journey. The thought of many new possibilities fired up something in me.
That night, Aunty and I packed everything I wanted to keep and bring to my new home until early in the morning.
The next day when we were done packing, Aunty helped me to contact my landlord and finish the paperwork needed. She also arranged for the things I didn't want to bring so they could either be donated or thrown away.
Then, she drove me to my grandpa's place, a place where I was going to start my life again.
Eomma, I wish you could see me living my life happily now.