Chapter 5: The Kitchen and Family Bonds
"Big brother!" Akane's cheerful voice rang out as she ran towards me. She had a natural habit of humming or singing whenever she was happy, and today was no different.
Soon, the other kids gathered around, curious about the packet I was carrying.
"What's in the bag?" one of them asked, peeking over my arm.
I smiled, enjoying their excitement. "Eggs," I said, holding the bag up for them to see.
Their eyes widened. "Eggs! How many?" another kid asked.
"A lot," I replied, chuckling. "Enough to last us a few days, at least."
With the kids following me like ducklings, I made my way to the kitchen. The smell of cooking vegetables filled the air, and there, at the stove, was Auntie Eun-Ji.
Auntie Eun-Ji was Uncle Hee's wife. Even though she was only 28 years old, she seemed much older, probably because she had so many responsibilities. She got married when she was just 16 and had Suni-Hee at 17. Despite everything, she was always warm-hearted and full of kindness. You could tell just by looking at her that she cared deeply for everyone at the orphanage.
She turned and smiled when she saw me. "Oh, you're back! What did you bring today?"
"Eggs," I said, holding up the bag again. "Thought we could use them for breakfast tomorrow."
Her smile widened. "That's perfect. The kids will love it."
Auntie Eun-Ji was not just kind, but she was also very beautiful. Even though she had been through a lot, she still had a youthful glow. Her skin was smooth, like porcelain, and her long black hair fell gracefully down her back. She had a way of making everyone feel at ease, just by being around.
As I placed the eggs on the counter, I noticed another woman in the kitchen, washing vegetables. She looked up and gave me a small smile. It was Nami-Hee, Grandpa Hee's daughter. She was 33 years old and had been living at the orphanage for the past few years.
Nami-Hee had also married young, but her story was a bit sadder. Her husband had once been a successful businessman, but his company went bankrupt, and he couldn't handle the stress. He ended up taking his own life, leaving Nami-Hee to pick up the pieces.
Before all that happened, Nami-Hee had been full of life. She was warm, playful, and always had a smile on her face. But after her husband's death, she became quieter, more reserved. She didn't show much emotion anymore, but you could still see the care she had for everyone, especially the kids. She was gentle and kind, never raising her voice, even when things got tough.
I handed the eggs to Auntie Eun-Ji, who immediately started planning what to make with them. "We could make omelets in the morning," she said thoughtfully. "Or maybe egg sandwiches? The kids would like that."
"Whatever you make will be great," I replied, knowing that she always made the best out of whatever we had.
As she continued cooking, I thought about Grandpa Hee's family. He had four children in total—three daughters and one son. The oldest was Uncle Hee, who had taken over much of the responsibility at the orphanage after Grandpa Hee passed away. Then there was Auntie Rin-Hee, who was around 35 or 36 years old. I hadn't seen her in a while, but I remembered her being strong-willed and determined.
Next was Nami-Hee, who was right here with us, quietly going about her work. The youngest of the siblings was Ji-Yoon, who was almost 25. She was still finding her way in life, and I hadn't seen much of her lately.
As I helped with the preparations, I felt a sense of belonging. Despite all the hardships, we were still a family, bound by love and care. And in a place like this, that was all that really mattered.
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