The tall man was silent, listening to every word that came from the lips of the woman who had raised him, gave him love and fulfilled his needs, like a mother to her child, even though in reality she was his grandmother—who has now grown up. become an old woman who gets sick easily and can no longer do her own work. With a vague memory from him, he listened to all the stories from his grandmother about his parents, who had died several years ago when he was a little rosy baby, “Forgive your grandma, and also forgive your grandfather. Because of our selfishness, you grew up without ever seeing your parents. In fact, you can never get the warmth of their affection.
The tall man shook his head slowly, and smiled faintly at the grandmother, "I can't just be angry with you grandma, even though I have disappointments with you. However, you and grandpa are the only family for me, who raised me and gave me love all this time. so, it is not proper for me to have anger and hatred for you.”
The old woman chuckled lightly, patting her grandson's head gently. Her weak body leaned against the pile of pillows arranged in such a way by the granddaughter to make herself comfortable, "You are really like your mother, never had hatred in your heart even though your grandfather and I had made him suffer many times by separating him from your father."
“But, even if you try to separate them, aren't they together in the end with your blessing? Otherwise, how could I exist in this world Grandma?”
The woman laughed again, pinching the cheek of her grandson who grew into a handsome man like his father, "You really can lighten your grandmother's heart."
Looking at the face of his grandson, he became longing for the son who had left him in this world. The feelings of regret, disappointment, and longing came back to haunt him.
"Sorry.. forgive your mother, this son. Make you suffer for the rest of your life.” a low whisper was heard. The woman wept for her son who had already left her to return to the Khaliq. "Now, take your mother here. I'm ready to go with you."
The handsome man rubbed his grandmother's cheeks which had tears flowing non-stop. He will not be a hypocrite, of course he is angry with the grandmother, and also the grandfather because they both made him no longer able to see his parents, but as a grown man, he should not blame the woman in front of him, because he knows the grandmother is just a person. old man who wants his son's happiness—in the wrong way.
"They must have forgiven you, Grandma. Didn't grandma say it herself, if they were kind and forgiving people."
The woman nodded slowly, breathing slowly and slowly. Making the grandson smile sadly, because he will lose the only family again for the umpteenth time after his grandfather's departure a few months ago.
"Is Grandma tired? Grandma can sleep now. I forgive all the mistakes Grandma did, and hope Grandma can sleep peacefully.”
The woman looked at her granddaughter with an affectionate look, “If in the past grandma was hesitant to leave you, it was hard because you were so young. Maybe now grandma can go in peace, since you're an adult and can take care of yourself.”
“Of course, I am now an established grown man. I will get married soon and give you a great-grandson.”
"Sorry, maybe Grandma can't see you happy on your wedding day. Sorry I can't be with you anymore, kid."
The man shook his head and briefly kissed the grandmother's forehead, “I thank God for giving you the opportunity to live with me for decades. That's enough for you, and I won't force you anymore to endure.”
The woman nodded slowly, smiling faintly with a pair of old eyes slowly closing. The two hands that tightly gripped the grandson's fingers slowly stretched and fell limply on his stomach. The tall man nodded, smiled and sobbed bitterly because of the departure of his grandmother, the only family that God had called for the umpteenth time.
“Grandma, thank you and I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you the happiness you've been waiting for. I promise you, I will be a very happy person. I also promise to find that person for you, asking for your apology.” The man returned a brief kiss on the grandmother's forehead, where no breath could be heard from his nose, with a heartbeat that was no longer beating.
“Gomawo has struggled up until now. Saranghae.. Halmoeni.”
***
A beautiful and sunny morning, the sun has shown its rays—warmly shining on the entire plains of the earth. The sound of birds chirping is melodious, making those who hear it smile faintly. The streets are busy with passing motorized vehicles, or cars, making the clean air very dusty—suffocating breathing with the smell of exhaust.
However, it is different from this place which is only full of coolness and beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see. Close to the beach and the dark blue ocean. Clean air that makes breathing very light and of course there is no air pollution. The man, Jung Changmin got out of his car which he parked in a simple house located in a remote village on Jeju island. The place of someone he had been looking for for years since his grandmother's death. The woman's departure made him want to find the existence of a figure who could give him the truth about his parents. Who understands the ins and outs of the story of his parents in more detail after the grandmother, because the woman did not explain the whole thing about her parents.
He had also asked his lover's permission to go for a few days to this island. The woman knew about her parents' story and supported her decision to find this person. That sense of pride always appears in his heart when he realizes that he has chosen the right woman to be his life partner in the future.
He opened the fence, walked slowly down the path with a pair of wide eyes looking at the beautiful-looking yard of the house—full of flowers and organically grown vegetables. Looks green and fresh to the eye. Arriving in front of the white house door, he knocked several times with a greeting that he said quite loudly, "Excuse me..."
He waited a few minutes and repeated the knock on the door with his long looking fingers, the man finally found the door slowly opening. He could see a middle-aged woman with traces of her beauty, her curled mane had two colors. The wrinkles on his face were also visible.
“Annyeong haseyo, aunt.” said Changmin with a faint smile, looked at the woman in front of him who opened the door wide and looked at him curiously, “I'm Jung Changmin, I came here to look for Kim Heechul. Is he here?”
The woman was surprised to see the tall man in front of her who had introduced himself. Staring from head to toe, “You're Changmin? Son…."
Changmin nodded slowly, looking at the woman still with a smile that never left his lips, "Yes.. I'm Jung Changmin, the son of Jung Yunho and Kim Jaejoong."
Grep!
The man was stunned and more surprised when he heard the soft sobs of the woman who was now hugging him tightly, he immediately understood that this woman was the person he had been looking for all this time. He patted her gently on the back and let the pair of hands touch her face and kiss her forehead—making her heart feel warm because she felt like she met her mother.
"You're already this big, kid. Gosh, how could I not recognize you.” Heechul muttered, staring at the handsome face of the young man in front of him with mixed feelings. However, soon after he gently dragged the man into his house. "Kajja, we're in. It's no good standing in the middle of the door like this."
"Gomawo aunty." Changmin followed the woman into the house, sat down on a long chair in the living room that looked simple, "Am I disturbing your rest time?"
"Certainly not." Heechul said quickly, the woman looked at Changmin who had sat down briefly and rubbed his wet face, “Wait here, auntie will bring you a drink. You must be really tired after a long journey.”
Changmin was about to refuse, but seeing that the woman left immediately, he could only sigh a few times and smiled faintly, he felt he had come home. The tall man noticed that the room was not as large as a typical living room, even though it looked clean and comfortable to look at. There is a medium sized buffet containing some books and photos. A wall clock attached to the cream colored wall, also seen several photos and paintings, he was stunned and stood up to see a photo that felt familiar to him, it was a photo of his parents. He recognized his father, but not the man beside him, who he realized was his mother, Kim Jaejoong.
Unknowingly his cheeks were wet, making him stunned and realizing how much he missed their presence all this time. Changmin never even knew that his mother was a man who had such a beautiful face, "Umma.."
“Ah.. do you want that photo too? Auntie will print it for you if you want." Heechul who saw this smiled sadly, he could feel how it felt to lose the figures of the two figures. He put down a tray filled with drinks and some snacks, and approached Changmin who was standing near the photo of his two best friends, "Auntie only has a few photos of them, if you want I will prepare them for you when you come back."
Changmin turned around and smiled faintly, rubbed his cheek and nodded slowly, “Sure aunty, if it doesn't bother you. I don't have a photo of the two of them."
"You don't have any photos of your parents?" Heechul asked with a surprised look, "Did your grandma never give you their picture?"
“I have a photo of appa, but not a photo of umma because my grandmother never saved it. And I didn't mean to ask him because I knew he didn't want to bring it up." Changmin said calmly, "Therefore, I want to ask it from you."
"No problem, I'll give it to you." Heechul looked at the man in front of him, who at first glance did resemble his parents. He regretted the fate of this man in front of him because his parents had left him since childhood, “How are your grandmother and grandfather, are they healthy? I haven't seen them in a long time."
“Grandfather died two years ago, and Grandma followed one year ago. Sorry I can't update you, because I just found out about your whereabouts a few days ago. That's also from someone I asked for help."
"They're gone?" Heechul muttered in surprise. He had never heard from the Jung family after moving from Seoul. His decision to stay on Jeju island, made his communication with everyone in Seoul completely cut off and Heechul really didn't want to have anything to do with them anymore. He remembers very well how they treated him, which always made him feel hurt because of their treatment, "Then, now you live alone?"
"Yes, for now." Changmin nodded and looked at the woman in front of him who looked at him regretfully, "Don't worry aunty, in the next few months I will have a friend who will accompany me everyday."
"You're getting married? Is it because of this that you are looking for me?” Heechul asked curiously. In some time he had been surprised by several things. Staring at the young man in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh in relief, "Thank God, I'm happy to hear that."
"One of the reasons I did give you news of my marriage, and there's another reason." Changmin said in a tone that still sounded calm. He held Heechul's thin looking hands, "Auntie.. can I hear the story of my parents from you?"
“Son…?”
“I want to hear everything about my parents. From the time they got to know each other until they got married and had me.” Changmin looked at Heechul pleadingly, “Grandma did tell me a few things about them, but I still want to hear their story from you. Because from my grandmother I know you are the only person who understands what their real story is."
Heechul was silent for a moment, staring at the man in front of him who looked very curious about his parents. He needed to think about many things before giving an answer to Changmin. But he also knows that this easy man has the right to know the story of his parents.
Thinking about the two people, Heechul wasn't sure he could handle the pain. Their story is very imprinted in his heart, until now their existence has always been a shadow of his life. Every detail of their story, he knew it very clearly. Because he was with them when the story began, the separation, the fight, the two of them together, Heechul remembers all of that clearly.
"Aunt.."
"Arrasso.. I'll tell you what you want to know." Heechul replied with a faint smile, gently patting Changmin's hand that was holding it tightly, "Tomorrow aunty will tell you all about your parents. Stay here for a few days, because the story of your parents can't be finished in one day."
Changmin smiled broadly, the man nodded enthusiastically without realizing that in a matter of hours he would cry out loud after hearing the story of his parents, "Gomawo aunty, thanks to you I was able to start my new life with the gift of the story of my parents."
"Don't thank me son, thank God. Because He who gives destiny to every creation."
To be continued
