Prologue
“Sukyung, you look really happy today. Did something good happen?”
One of her female coworkers poked her and asked. Sukyung couldn’t help smiling, but trying her best not to smile too broadly, she replied in an awkwardly calm voice,
“My little brother is returning home from abroad today.”
“Oh, was he away?”
“Yeah, he has been studying abroad until now.”
When Sukyung explained shyly, her co-worker’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Really? Studying what?”
“Umm, hair design.”
“Wow, really? Your brother is a hair designer? I never knew that. So that’s why you’ve been keeping your hair so long.”
Sukyung fidgeted with her waist-length hair and smiled. Sukyung was a very quiet girl, so her co-worker, who was an accountant and two years older, has rarely seen Sukyung smile like this. Fascinated, she joked,
“If your brother ends up at a big hair salon, please refer me to him! Maybe he’ll give me a family and friend discount?”
“I’ll try.”
The co-worker gave her a small smile and returned to her seat. Sukyung looked at her watch and began to pack. It was time to go. She was going to go straight to the airport.
It has been three years since Jaewon left. Three years… It was such a long time, and finally, she was going to get to see him again. He was now 26. Feeling like a young girl again, Sukyung felt her palms sweating. Inhaling deeply, she picked up her purse.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
***
The giant airport screen indicated that the flight from London had arrived. Sukyung watched the people leaving the gate diligently. She didn’t expect him to be the first one to come out. After all, he had been away for three years, so he had to have a lot of luggage to find.
Sukyung wondered if he looked very different now. When he left, he still looked a little boyish, but she assumed that this probably wasn’t the case anymore. Just looking at herself in the mirror told her that a lot of time has passed. She looked so old now.
So old…
Sukyung looked down at her one-piece dress with a flower pattern. She bought this last week especially for this occasion, but looking at it now, she realized how ugly it was. Unfortunately, unlike Jaewon, Sukyung had absolutely no artistic talent.
Well, it made sense since Jaewon got his talent from his beautiful elegant mother.
The travelers began to swarm out from the gate. Sukyung stopped daydreaming and rubbed her sweaty palms on her dress. She stared at all the people pouring out.
Men, women, children, elderly people… One by one, they appeared, and Sukyung’s heart began to pound. She felt herself blush as well. She wondered when he was going to come out.
When…
Suddenly, she spotted a tall man with a cart full of luggage. Her heart stopped beating for a moment. She couldn’t breathe. Her brain became blank.
Jaewon looked so different. It has only been three years, but she almost didn’t recognize him. His short hair had subtle blond highlights, and his baby fat had completely disappeared. Before he left, Jaewon was a little chubby, but now, he was a slim young man. All of his facial features have sharpened.
He was tall even before he left, but it seemed that he had grown even taller. Sukyung realized that she would have to look if she stood by his side.
It was like… seeing his father when he was still alive. Sukyung has seen his father only in a photo, and she could tell he clearly used to be a very handsome man. She realized that even if they didn’t live together, a son will always end up resembling his father.
It seemed that Jaewon didn’t even recognize her. Or perhaps he wasn’t expecting anyone to be waiting for him. Jaewon walked by her, so Sukyung had to raise her hand hurriedly to stop him.
“J…Jaewon.”
Why was she stammering like an idiot? Why couldn’t she act cooler and more elegantly? But her heart was beating so wildly. All she wanted to do was grab him and hug him, so how could she act calm? Unfortunately, she wasn’t born elegant like some people.
Jaewon looked around in confusion. It seemed that he wasn’t sure if he heard his name or not. When his eyes met Sukyung’s, he blinked a few times. She waved at him awkwardly and tried to smile, but she could feel that all her face did was just crumple into an ugly frown.
Sukyung wished she could smile prettier. Was her dress crumpled? Was her makeup still okay? Maybe she should’ve checked her hair one more time?
“Sis?”
Jaewon stared in disbelief before walking up to her. Sukyung felt her face spasm from trying to smile so much, but she still acted calm and waved at him.
“You’ve changed so much.”
“Why are you here?”
Her smile froze. She could now hear her heartbeat in her ears. Gulping audibly, Sukyung looked up at him.
“Because I knew you were arriving today…”
“How did you know that? I didn’t contact you about it.”
No, he didn’t. Blinking rapidly, Sukyung gulped again.
“I asked President Kim at the Carter’s.”
“The president? You called him in person?”
Jaewon seemed annoyed, and Sukyung became confused. She expected him to be surprised and happy. For a week, she has been picturing how he would look when he saw her. She thought that he would be surprised at first, but he would still be happy to see her. He would give her a big smile and maybe… even give her a hug.
Or at least a handshake.
“Umm… It’s nice to see you, Jaewon. Long time no see. Good to see you.”
She had practiced what to say to him, but Sukyung forgot everything. All she could do was mumble as she stared at him. Jaewon’s face seemed to turn red before he looked away.
“Yeah, it has been a long time. I need to go get my luggage.”
He grabbed his cart full of his luggage. Holding onto her purse tightly, Sukyung waited, and when he returned, they began walking together. Because he was tall, he walked really fast. Sukyung had to make an effort to follow him.
Was he not happy to see her? Did he not miss her at all? But Sukyung thought of him everyday for the past three years. She kept wishing he was with her…
Jaewon continued to walk without looking back. Sukyung had to try hard not to cry. She felt her eyes fill with tears and her heart aching like someone hit it with a hammer.
How could this be…? She loved him so much. She had been loving him so achingly for the past 10 years.
***