SS - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

We’ve been having crazy weather the past week. Jeju is known for fierce winds but sometimes the weather here can change in a blink of an eye. It could be sunshiny and warm one minute, next it’ll be raining cats and dogs.

It’s been a month since school started and I’ve been very busy with the School Council and Drama club. Bom would sometimes join me in SC since she was the past VP and everyone was clamoring for her to run for President this time but she adamantly refused. Of course, only the two of us know the real reason why she can’t. Next week, she will start her radiation and chemotherapy sessions and it will take toll on her health. Instead, I nominated Taeyang and it looks like he’s leading the race for Presidency and is the expected winner. As for me, I already said that I have no designs to remain as the Secretary and is just waiting for the new officers to be elected. Good thing the election will be next week. I already have my hands full being the president of the Drama Club.

Since most of us are Seniors and it will be our last year, we decided to go all out and have a grand production for our Annual school play. Last year’s Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream was a huge success and majority voted for Romeo and Juliet this year. The school hasn’t staged a production of the famous play ever so everyone’s pretty excited playing a classic.

Needless to say, I am going to try out for Juliet. Although, I’m the club president, that doesn’t make me an automatic shoo in. Our club adviser, Miss Eun Hee, will pick the actors. The casting will be after the SC elections so I’ll have two weeks to prepare.

First on my agenda is to watch the movie adaptations. Since it’s a Saturday, I went to town to rent both the original version which starred the beautiful Olivia Hussey and the 90’s version by my first crush, Leonardo Di Caprio. Although, our play will be more of the modern kind, I still wanted to watch the 1960’s version. After getting the videos, I went to the marine sanctuary to meet Mom so we could go home together. It’s nearly 5 o’clock so we decided to just buy pizza and some fried chicken so we won’t have to cook. I asked her if I could drive and she allowed me since I already have a student’s licence since last year.

Just barely 5 minutes after we were in our car, rain fell hard and dark clouds covered what’s little left of the sun. Good thing I know the road so well and I’m an excellent driver if I may say so, so my Mom was not worried. We were halfway near our house when I noticed a guy standing near the road under a huge tree not too far away. He was attempting to hitchhike and he looked soaked. I reduced the car’s speed to take a good look and I was right in my hunch. It was Seunghyun. What was he doing out in the rain?

The car crawled to a stop in front of him and my mother was alarmed. “What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? He looks dangerous!”

“Relax, Mom. I know him.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “How do you know him?”

“He studies at my school” I said and pushed a button to open up the window on my mother’s side. 

I saw him walk towards us and I moved closer so he could see me. “Hop in” I invited.

He broke a smile and immediately took the backseat. Mom rolled her eyes at me seeing that he’s dripping wet, meaning ‘I’ll have to do some cleaning later’. I opened my eyes wide at her, saying ‘I’ll take care of it.’

I introduced the two of them and Seunghyun bowed and greeted my Mom once I started driving again. Mom gave a cool nod. “My daughter says you go to the same school?”

“Yes, maam. I just recently transferred.” He said politely.

“A senior as well?”

“Neh.”

“You said you just transferred … so how do you know Sandara?”

“Mom!” I interrupted. It sounded like she was interrogating him. “He’s a friend, okay?”

She looked at me, all innocent like. “What? I’m just curious. How did you two become friends?” She twisted in her seat to look at Seunghyun and I could only roll my eyes as I looked at him from the front view mirror and mouthed “Sorry.”

He gave a short chuckle when he met my eyes and saw me. “Actually, Dara here has been like a guardian angel. She saved me the first time we met.”

“OH?” Mother said, full of meaning, folding her arms in front of her.

He gave a brief recount of how we first met. “She was the first friend that I’ve made since I came here” he continued.

My cheeks felt warm and I knew that I was blushing. This guy! I should be mad at him. Why is my heart beating this fast again? After the t-shirt episode, we barely had time to talk after that. He didn’t hang around at lunch and the couple of times that he sent me text messages; I was the one who initiated the first move. I seldom saw him at school and when I did, he was with his classmates. I momentarily forgot that I planned to ignore him the next time I see him when I picked him up. But he did say I was like a guardian angel right? Gosh, I’m blushing again. I surreptitiously stole a glance at him again through the mirror and I was surprised that he was looking at me so I immediately averted my eyes.

“Where are you off to?” I asked to cover my embarrassment.

“I was on my way home from work when I remembered to buy some supplies and got caught in the rain. I thought I could make it to the bus stop.”

“You went to Yang’s without your motorcycle?” 

He nodded. “A neighbor dropped me off there this morning. I figured I’ll save gas money if I’ll just take the bus home.”

“Would you like us to drop you off home?” Mom offered.

“No, thank you ma’am” he declined. “I already caused an inconvenience as it is.”

“Are you sure? It looks like the rain won’t stop anytime soon” she said and I agreed. “Look, you’re already in the car. Might as well, we send you home.”

I can tell he really didn’t want to so I was about to relent and just drop him off the nearest bus stop but my Mom said “Where do you live?”

He had no choice but to answer. 

“Then you’d better turn at the next corner” Mom instructed me. “We can’t just leave you out to wait for the bus. We’re sending you home.” She said with finality and we didn’t argue with her.

It turns out that it was a good decision that we drove Seunghyun because his house is far off the main road and is located at a cul de sac in an old part of Jeju where most houses were ancient.  I have never been to this part of the neighbourhood before but my mother seemed to be familiar with it. 

“That’s home right there” Seunghyun pointed at the old, decrepit house with a very large yard and I had to drive all the way in so I can turn the car around.

“You live here with your family” Mom asked.

“Just my grandfather.” He answered.

She wrinkled her forehead. “Are you the grandson of Psy Oppa?”

He nodded. “Do you know him?”

Mother smiled. “We used to work with him years ago. He used to be an animal trainer.”

“That and many others” He said fondly.

“How is he? I thought that he was in Japan or other parts of Asia …”

“He came back two years ago. He’s retired now so I’m looking out for him.” He said with a trace of sadness.

“Is that so? Well, since we’re here, might as well pay my respects. I was so fond of your grandfather. He was always making jokes and was always the life of the party.”

Seunghyun looked at my Mom with a hint of panic but Mom was already taking off her seatbelt. 

“Mom, why don’t we just come back another day? We can’t just barge in on them all of a sudden …”

“We’re not barging in … we’re with Seunghyun” she said stubbornly. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“I, ah, um …” he stammered. “No, of course not … Please, come inside.” I can tell he was only forced to say these but my Mom can be quite the bully when she wants to.

We sprinted from the car to the house although we have an umbrella in the car. A second later, an old woman emerged from the house, maybe in her fifties. Seunghyun introduced her as the ahjumma next door who sometimes check on his grandfather when he’s at work. “How is he?” he then asked her after.

“He’s awake now. It’s a good day.” She answered to which Seunghyun nodded.

He invited us inside once the ahjumma left. We were greeted my loud barks and meows as soon as he opened the door. I saw three dogs and two cats, all of different breeds.

Seunghyun looked sheepish because the house seemed to be in disarray. “I’m sorry for the mess … I was planning to clean tomorrow …”

“Don’t worry, you should see our house” Mom tried to joke.

“Uhm, I’ll just go get grandfather. He’s probably in his room. Please, have a seat.” We sat on the wooden bench against the wall. “Would you like anything to drink?”

“No, we’re fine. We’ve imposed enough” I answered, giving my mom a look. In fairness, to my Mom, she had the grace to look embarrassed now that we’re inside. Seunghyun clearly wasn’t prepared to receive visitors.

“If you’re sure” he said and we nodded. He was about to turn but looked back at us. “Before I get grandfather, I think you should know one thing … please don’t be surprised if he doesn’t remember you” he told my Mom. “He … he has Alzheimer’s.”

Mom let out a gasp and covered her mouth. “When did this start?” her eyes full of sympathy.

“Two years ago. That’s why he was forced to retire. It was getting worse this past year so I decided to be with him since he’s all alone.”

“Ommo!” Mom said, teary eyed. “Somehow, I can’t imagine Psy Oppa getting sick. He was always so lively.”

Seunghyun looked sad too, but said nothing. He excused himself and went into a room.

Now I know what the ahjumma meant when she said that it was a good day. Good day meant that Psy Oppa, yes, he said he prefers Oppa when I called him ahjussi when we were introduced, can recognize people. He was very glad to see Mom and they reminisced about the good old days and before we knew it, it was already dinner time so Mom just asked me to bring the pizza and chicken over from the car and we all shared it. Seunghyun and I both got our slices and some chicken and ate at the front wooden porch since it has now stopped raining, leaving the two adults. We just plopped down with our plates on our lap. The dogs were also let out and are now happily running around in the yard.

“I bet you’re now regretting that we picked you up, huh?” I said, half-teasingly.

“Of course not” he answered. “I was just unprepared with the house and all …”

“How have you been?” I asked. I missed you. Was what I really wanted to say.

He shrugged. “Busy with work. I only have Sundays off and that when I catch up with school stuff.”

My heart felt heavy. Never in a million years have I imagined that Seunghyun is living in this kind of situation. He seemed so cool and collected all the time with a bad ass vibe. Who would have thought that he’s living with all these animals and taking care of a sick grandparent? Really, how can a guy be so perfect? I caught myself staring at him so I picked up my pizza and started to eat.

“How about you?” he said after a while. “How have you been?”

“Oh. Same things. You know, busy with the upcoming SC election and club duties.”

“I barely see you at school.” He commented.

“I can say the same thing to you. You can still join us during lunch, you know.” I couldn’t keep the petulant tone off in my voice.

He sighed. “I wanted to but lunch period is when I do assignments and research in the library. I go straight to work after school so I barely have time to study at home.”

“Aren’t you working yourself too much?” I worriedly asked, lightly touching his forearm. 

“I need the money” he said in a quiet voice.

“Aren’t your parents sending you some support?” I know it was a personal question but I couldn’t help it.

“Dad does but it’s just enough for my studies and personal expenses. Mom is waiting until my sister turns two before she goes back to work and I couldn’t accept the money coming from her husband. I mean, we’re cool and we get along but it just doesn’t feel right. Whatever she sends, I use it for grandpa’s medicines.”

“Is he your maternal grandparent?”

He nodded.

“How come you’re the one taking care of him?”

He appeared to hesitate but then he spoke, “Mom was an only child. When the two of us visited a year ago upon learning of his Alzheimer’s, she wanted to put grandfather in an institution that takes care of old people with similar condition but Gramps refused and was angry. Mother felt bad and tried to reason with him but he said that he’d rather die than be put in a nursing home. He love his freedom too much. He broke down after some time and it was the first time that I saw him cry.” He stopped to take a breath, recalling the painful memory. “Did you know that he’s the most amazing person I know?” Seunghyun turned to look at me, with a smile. “He’s a jack of all trades. He would always take me in during summer vacation no matter where he was in the world. I get to travel to different places and meet different people because of him. When my parents divorced and Mom went into depression, he quit his job to take care of us until Mom recovered. He was this pillar of strength and seeing him cry that day made me decide that this time, I’ll be the one to take care of him. My parents were against it at first, saying I can’t take the responsibility but I’m here to prove them wrong.” He looked at me with misty eyes. “You just can’t abandon your family right? You do what you have to do to keep the ones you love.”

I was in tears by then and I reached out to hug him. “Of course” I said. “You do what you have to do.” 

He hugged me back, accepting my support. “I missed you” he whispered.

“I missed you, too.”

“I like your friend” Mom declared as we were pulling out the driveway. Seunghyun and his grandfather were waving goodbye and we waved back. “I think he’s a good kid. It was very nice of him to take care of his grandfather.”

I looked at the rear-view mirror. Seunghyun was getting smaller and smaller as we were driving away. Would you call me crazy if I say that I already miss him? 

“He is” I told my Mom. I gave her a side glance. “I like him, too.”

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A/N:

Don’t you think Seunghyun here is perfect? I’m jealous of Dara. LOL

*bisous*

~mzbookworm4life