English Club detained her from coming home early. By the time she reached the house, it's almost 7 P.M. She ran in excitedly, wanting to shower as soon as possible and go with the driver to pick up her father and Lee Dong Sun from the airport.
She burst into the back door, running from the kitchen through the direction of her room, when a voice called her.
"Kim Ga Eun-ssi?"
It was Kim Ae Mi's secretary.
"Ne?" she ran back to the kitchen, "Mi Young-ssi? Do you need me?"
"Samonim is waiting for you in the blue sitting room."
"Is she waiting to go together to the airport? But I haven't showered."
"It's alright. Just—meet her first."
"Algesseumnida."
She tidied her hair and uniform before walking to the blue sitting room.
Han Mi Young, the secretary, led her and announced that she had arrived.
Which was very strange, actually.
Kim Ae Mi and Myung Hwan sat quietly together, their expressions were solemn and grim.
"Samonim? You called me?"
"My dear...we have something to tell you."
"Ne? What is it, Ma'am?"
Myung Hwan stood up and said, "I think you better sit down."
"Wha--? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, dear. Of course not. Ga Eun...I—I don't know what to say..." Kim Ae Mi said heavily, glancing at her son.
"Then—what is—"
"Half an hour ago, we received a phone call. The plane that carried them had an accident. And—nobody survived."
"Ne?" she was silent for a while as Kim Ae Mi, Myung Hwan and Han Mi Young watched her reaction.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry for Hwejangnim."
They glanced at one another, not knowing what more to say.
"What—what about Appa? Is he—is he badly injured?"
"I'm sorry, Ga Eun. No one survived."
For one second, all of the air in her lungs was sucked out.
A world. Without Appa.
Everything would be empty without him.
And then everything went black and Ga Eun didn't have to think about it anymore. Because she fainted right then and there.
Only Myung Hwan caught her body on time, preventing her from crashing to the floor.
***********************************
When she woke up again, she realized she was sleeping in one of the guest rooms.
What time is this? Dinner time? What am I doing sleeping at this hour?
She sat up on the bed.
"I don't think it's good for you to get up now."
Out of surprise, Ga Eun flinched.
Myung Hwan sat up from his chair and approached the bed.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Why would he ask if I am feeling alright or not? What is he doing here?
She was even more surprised when she saw his eyes.
It was laden with concern and even more so...with pity?
But why would he--?
And then...she remembered.
It was something worse than anything else she had ever felt. Maybe that's why she unconsciously didn't want to remember it.
Nobody survived....
Appa.....Appa...
There is no more Appa in this world....
Tears filled her eyes.
As much as his father taught her to control her emotion in front of the Lee family, she couldn't stop her tears.
Myung Hwan stood there looking at her before saying, "Uh.....do you want me to call Ommoni?"
"No. But—" she swallowed a sob, "Can I—call my friend, Seo Ki Jun, here?"
"—Of course. Anything to make you feel better."
She looked around the bed for her phone but couldn't find it. She left her bag in the kitchen.
"Here," he offered, "Use my phone."
She bowed, "Gamsahamnida, Doryeonnim."
She received his phone and keyed in Ki Jun's number.
He picked up after the second ring.
"Ki Junnie?"
"Ne? Wae? The shop is very crowded right now. I'll call you la—"
"Ki Junnie....." she gripped the sheets covering her, "Appa died....."
Silence.
"Where are you right now?"
"In the house...."
"I'll go there. I'll be there in 10 minutes," he hung up without saying anything else.
She gave the phone back to Myung Hwan.
He sat back in his chair, not feeling like leaving her alone.
For the first time in her life, Ga Eun forgot that Myung Hwan sat only two meters away from her, as her sadness drowned her to her own unimaginable sorrow.
She kept looking down, brushing her tears, the room was silent except for her strangled sobs. Every second ticked slowly until Ki Jun opened the door.
He was breathless, obviously running from his house to get there, still wearing his water proof apron he always used while he worked in his shop.
His face turned into pain when he saw Ga Eun.
She got out of bed and ran to him.
"Ki Junnie....there's no Appa anymore..." she cried, tears flowing freely.
"What happened?"
"The plane.....accident..." she choked. "I talked to him yesterday morning. He said he bought me—A butterfly necklace—"
"Why did he leave me, Ki Junnie? Why? Why did my parents leave me alone?" she asked, gripping his shirt, "Do they think I can live without them? Is that why they leave me?"
Ki Jun hugged her, "Sshhhh.....what are you talking about? This is not their choice, Ga Eun...It couldn't be..."
"But I'm alone now. I have nobody else....."
"Yah...." Ki Jun sighed, "You have me.....I'll always stay beside you..."
"Will you? Will you, Ki Junnie?"
"Yeah..."
"Do you—promise me?"
"I promise."
"How can I live without Appa, now? How?"
"You will. You have to. I'll help you."
With that, she buried her head on Ki Jun's neck and cried out loud, sobbing so hard until she felt drained, as he hugged her and brushed her back.
Myung Hwan, on the other hand, watched how Ga Eun found strength in Seo Ki Jun. There's something in the interaction that made him rooted to his spot. Unmoving. Witnessing.
Kim Ga Eun had always been calm and collected. She never laughed out loud, looked crossed, or angry. This was the first time he saw her break down.
I'm not needed here, he decided. Before going out of the room, quietly closing the door.
**********************************
Author's Note:
Yes, her father passed away, and now she's an orphan. What do you think will happen next?
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