| Fan Fiction |
by Take_Flight
Here's another long chapter to make up for the delay! It's 10 pages long and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do :D Life's pretty crazy at the moment but I'll do my best for the story. See ya!
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“Do you want to grab anything besides those chips? Cookies? Drinks?”
Ri In looked up from untangling her ear phones and shrugged. “Sure, why not” she said, looking up and staring at the cars passing by. “You think we could have lunch here as well?” she asked, turning to Junsu who was unbuckling his seatbelt. The car was parked outside a small store alongside a few other shops selling everyday necessities. Ri In had never been here before but when she suddenly had a sudden craving for chips, Junsu pulled out of the highway and drove into a different lane, even though Ri In insisted that her craving could wait.
“I saw a small eating place back there. Maybe we could go check it out later” Junsu suggested. Ri In nodded and watched as he walked into the store, while she stayed in the car. It was incredibly nice of him to actually stopped some unknown place and get her what she wants, but she can’t help feeling bad cause it made her look like a spoiled brat. Ri In tossed her MP3 into her bag that was lying at the passenger seat behind when she heard a loud crashing sound. She craned her neck to see where the noise came from and her eyes grew wide when she saw the lid of a rubbish bin rolled in front of the car and then hit the lamp post before lying flat with a loud clang. She got out of the car when she saw a few people rushing forward and she can’t help feeling curious seeing the commotion.
“Do you need an ambulance?”
“Is she alright? Any broken bones?”
Ri In walked around the store and saw the crowd forming. She then saw the bicycle lying on the ground and a few oranges and apples scattered around. She stepped inside the store to see if Junsu was there but he was nowhere to be found so she walked out front again and gasped loudly when she saw Junsu’s head amongst the crowd, helping someone up.
“OPPA! Oh my God! What happ---GRANDMA?!!” Ri In shrieked, seeing her grandmother in Junsu’s strong arms as he assisted her to stand properly. There were dark stains on the front of her white blouse and Ri In started to panic when she saw the blood on her grandmother’s right elbow. “Omo! What…what’s all this?” Ri In stuttered, too frightened to speak seeing her grandmother in a disheveled form.
“I think your grandmother needs to see the doctor Miss” someone said. Ri In nodded but the older woman shook her head. “No means no! I’m fine. It’s only a small cut” her grandmother insisted, waving her hand at the people telling her to get to the nearest clinic.
“Grandma, don’t be so stubborn! At least go for a full body check up” Ri In told her as Junsu helped her grandmother to rest on a bench outside the store. The crowd was still mingling around with concerned faces. A man in brown khakis and a sleeves shirt bowed in front of her grandmother, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the medical bills” the cyclists offered but her grandmother shook her head. “You don’t have to! It’s my fault for not watching out when crossing the road. Don’t feel so guilty” she said in a firm voice.
“W..Well…at least let me replace your groceries. The fruits are too ruined to be eaten now” the man offered again, looking slightly depressed.
Ri In watched as her grandmother opened her mouth to protest again, but she ended up nodding her head. “Araso araso” she said at last. Ri In sat down beside her grandmother inspecting the injury on her arm. True that it was a small cut but she still felt that her grandmother needs to see the doctor just to be safe. “Grandma---“
“I’m not going to the clinic” her grandmother said. “Oh..how come you’re here Rinnie?” she asked, as if suddenly noticing Ri In for the first time. “I thought you’re on vacation with your boyfriend? At the resort?”
Ri In nodded. “The vacation ended today. And..this is Junsu. My boyfriend” she said, motioning Junsu to stand beside her. Junsu bowed politely and Ri In saw her grandmother watching him carefully. Junsu greeted her and apologized if the sudden blow he gave while saving her had caused her arm to bleed.
“What? Why are you saying sorry for? If it wasn’t you, I would have a broken neck now!” her grandmother said, trying to stand up slowly. Junsu immediately stepped forward to help her up, holding her arm gently. The cyclist came out at the same time with a grocery bag and passed it to Ri In. “I’m really sorry once again” he said.
“My head’s going to explode anytime if I hear the Sorry word again” the older woman grumbled as they watched the cyclist got on his bicycle and rode off.
“We’ll send your grandmother home” Junsu suddenly spoke up. “Is that okay with you halmeoni?” he asked, looking down at her.
“A..Aniya. That’s way too much trouble for you!”
Ri In scratched the back of her neck. “Come on Grandma, don’t be too stubborn. We’ll send you home. Besides, you shouldn’t be here in the first place. Why can’t you get your groceries at your usual store? It’s much nearer. How did you get here anyway? By bus? The cab?” she asked as they walked to Junsu’s car. Junsu holding on to her grandmother’s shoulder and leading the way, while Ri In hugged the bag of groceries to her chest.
“Aigoo Rinnie. You ask too much questions!” her grandmother scolded her as she got into the car. Ri In sat beside her grandmother and shut the door. Junsu went to the driver’s seat and started the engine, while he looked on with an anxious expression at the rearview mirror. “I’m asking because you got me so worked up, that’s why! God knows what will happen to you if Junsu oppa wasn’t there to save you” Ri In mumbled as she shifted in her seat to take a look at the small cut on her grandmother’s arm.
“Uhh..Ri In? Which way should I go?” Junsu suddenly ask. Ri In looked up with a start. “Huh?” she asked, suddenly realizing that she hasn’t give Junsu the direction to her grandmother’s house. Ri In heard the woman chuckling to herself as Ri In gave him the address.
“We better get your arm treated when we get home” Ri In told her grandmother as Junsu drove down the winding road.
“Tsk! Like I said, it’s only a small cut”
“And it might get infected. Just listen to me this time okay?” Ri In pleaded, gripping her grandmother’s small delicate hands. Her grandmother frowned slightly and then she nodded, giving in to her granddaughter’s orders. “Araso araso” she said, reaching out to brush back a strand of hair from Ri In’s face. “How was your trip? Did you enjoy it?”
Ri In nodded with a smile. “It was a nice break” she replied, stealing a glance at Junsu from the rearview mirror. She was still having the giddy spells just thinking about his confession on their first day at the resort. Junsu caught her eyes and he winked at her before focusing his attention on the road.
“Why were you there anyway?” Ri In wanted to know. “It takes at least an hour to get from your place to that area”
“I know that! But I thought of…trying something different” her grandmother replied, dusting her dirtied blouse.
Ri In leaned her head on her grandmother’s shoulder and sighed. “You really gave me a scare just now” she mumbled, her throat getting tighter.
“Aigoo..don’t waste your energy worrying about me. it was a good thing your boyfriend came in at the right time” her grandmother assured, patting her knee. “Junsu, turn left after that traffic light. My house is all the way at the end. With the flowerpots at the front”
Ri In sat up straighter, taking in the familiar scenery passing by. When the car turned left, the whole stretch of road was dominated by semi-detached houses of all shapes and sizes. This was where Ri In spend most of her childhood, living with her grandmother, running down the streets with the neighbor’s kids during the weekend and playing Tag. She caught sight of the playground which was situated at a small park located a few blocks away from her grandmother’s house. Even if she occasionally dropped by, there was always that nostalgic air that hung around this place. Her reverie was interrupted when Junsu let out a low whistle. He had stopped in front of her grandmother’s house, which was a modern looking two storey building with a touch of zen on it. Ri In grinned to herself as they got out of the car and walked towards it. The house stood out amongst the rest because of its pure white color, the black framed windows and the slanted roof that adds a funky touch to it.
“You…live here all by yourself?” Junsu was saying as they took off their shoes and stepped into the house, the timber floor felt slightly cool to their bare feet.
Her grandmother chuckled. “Well..technically speaking, yes. But the neighbors are around to keep company, no worries” she said, sinking into the comfy couch in the vastly-sized living room and letting out a loud sigh. “Aish, my feet’s killing me” she muttered, massaging her calf.
“Let me help you with that. Ri In, could you get a towel and bowl of warm water as well?” Junsu said as he kneeled down in front of her grandmother. Ri In nodded and went to the kitchen, dumping the groceries bag onto the island. She walked over to the sink, took a bowl when she heard someone let out a cry of surprise from the living room. She quickly filled the bowl with warm water, grabbed a clean towel and strode to the living room where Soo Hea-Jung, the neighbor next door, sat beside her grandmother, looking worriedly as Junsu carefully rolled up her grandmother’s sleeve to reveal the bloody mess that was on her arm.
“Ri In ah! Tell your grandmother she needs to see the doctor!” Hea-Jung said when she saw Ri In placing the items on the coffee table. Ri In rolled her eyes. “I already did. But she doesn’t want to” she told Hea-Jung, a thirty-something year old woman who occasionally drops by to clean the house or help to tend the garden at the back.
“Stop fussing me about going to the doctor. I already have Junsu helping me with the cut. Why don’t the both of you make yourself useful and go prepare lunch? We shall have lunch here araso Junsu?” her grandmother said, patting Junsu’s arm as he wiped the dried blood away on her arm. Junsu looked up and nodded shyly. Ri In pressed her lips together, seeing Junsu being all bashful and quiet for the first time.
Hea-Jung sighed. “Fine, fine. It’s really no use arguing you isn’t it? Come on Rinnie dear. Help me cut the vegetables while I prepare the rest” she said. Ri In turned to Junsu who was standing up. “I’ll get the first-aid kit” he said before excusing himself. Ri In watched as he made his way out to his car when her grandmother cleared her throat. “Kitchen” the older woman ordered her.
Ri In made a face and proceeds to go back to the kitchen, where Hae-Jung was laying potatoes and carrots on the island. Ri In took out the chopping board and knife and got to work while Hae-Jung lit the stove and placed a pot of water on it.
“That’s your boyfriend?” Hea-Jung asked casually, as she opened one cupboard after another. Ri In nodded. “Yeap. That’s Xiah Junsu. Grandma’s been telling you about him huh?” she said, peeling the potato’s skin. She somehow felt uncanny talking to Jea-Hung about Junsu. She known the woman ever since she was a little girl but still….it still doesn’t feel right. Ri In won’t find it surprising that the whole street knows about Jang Kyun-Mee’s granddaughter finally dating someone. Her grandmother can be such a tattletale sometimes.
“Rinnie? Rinnie?” Hea-Jung was standing across from her. Ri In snapped back to reality. “Eh? You were saying?” Ri In asked, embarrassed that she wasn’t paying attention to what Hea-Jung was saying.
“I was asking whether we should make lemonade or ice tea. I’m thinking ice tea, since it’s a nice weather to drink it. How about that? I can make your Grandma her usual Chinese tea”
Ri In nodded. “A..Anything will be fine” she stuttered as she looked down and continued to dice the potatoes.
“Junsu’s a medic?” Hea-Jung asked, taking out a jug. “Aniya. He works in an events management company. He’s an Arts Director there” Ri In explained. “But he’s a good first-aider” she added, moving on to the carrots. “How do you want me to cut this?”
“Just long strips. I’m making some soup and a chicken dish. Can you see if the tea tastes just right?” Hea-Jung asked, as she busied herself to stir the steaming pots. Ri In added the right amount of sugar and smiled with satisfaction as she got the right sweet taste. Soon, the whole house was filled with the aromatic scent of Hea-Jung’s cooking.
“Wow..that smells nice!” Junsu commented as he stepped into the kitchen. Ri In was washing the utensils at the sink when she felt Junsu kissing her neck and she gasped loudly. “O..OPPA!” she stammered, dropping the knife into the sink with a clatter.
“Wae? There’s no one here” Junsu muttered, looking a bit crestfallen. Ri In let out a nervous laugh. “A..Aniya. I thought Hea-Jung unnie was still here…a..and you shouldn’t do that!” she said in a low whisper, her eyes darting to the back door leading to the garden where Hea-Jung was outside, setting the table.
Junsu leaned on the sink and gave her a lazy smile. “Afraid that you’re grandmother will come and beat me to a pulp?” he asked.
Ri In continued washing the utensils and snorted. “She’ll probably banned me from seeing you ever again”
“Omo! She’s that strict? Yah…I’ve just got into her good books!” Junsu said in a low voice. “She might think you’re trying to be a suck up to her” Ri In simply said, drying her hands and placing the washed utensils away. “But…I’m not! I was sincere about it” Junsu defended himself, while looking down on the floor.
Ri In chuckled softly and walked over to him. She turned around, making sure Hea-Jung was still outside. She then leaned forward and cupped Junsu’s face in her hands. “Mianhe. I didn’t mean to scare you. I know you’re being sincere about it. And I can tell she likes you too” she assured him before tipping on her toes and kissing him fully on the lips.
“You…were just pulling my legs again?” Junsu questioned her, raising his eyebrows. Ri In strode over to the island and grinned. “As always” she said with a wink. Junsu groaned. “Aish chincha! You’re always making me worry for no reason!” he complained.
“Rinnie ah…have you seen Jun—OH…he’s here!” her grandmother was saying as she entered slowly into the kitchen. Junsu rushed forward to hold her hand, an automatic movement from him, that the older woman didn’t mind having him by her side.
“You were saying Grandma?” Ri In asked, wiping the island counter. Her grandmother patted Junsu’s arm. “Go get him something clean to wear. Or maybe you would like to have a nice bath after lunch? I think he should have a nice bath. Look at him! He looked as if he got involve in a mad elephant stampede!” her grandmother babbled.
Ri In saw Junsu giving her a bewildered look as her grandmother ushered the both of them to the back porch where lunch awaits. “Ah! What happen to the skin?” her grandmother cried out, holding a piece of chicken.
“Rinnie told me to remove it” Hea-Jung replied, handing Junsu a bowl of rice. “It’s not good for you Grandma” Ri In added, tucking into her lunch happily. Her grandmother grumbled under her breath but she ate her lunch quietly. Ri In was a bit nervous that lunch was going to be quiet awkward one with a new stranger in their midst, but it turns out that Junsu was quite the talker. He had the conversation flowing like water as he asked Hea-Jung about her two sons, and then commenting on the neatly kept garden. “Halmeoni here is quite the gardener. She usually spends most of her time here. I envied her for having a trim and tidy garden around here” Hea-Jung was saying.
After lunch, Junsu followed Ri In up the stairs, to the second floor where she pointed to him where the bathroom was. “Wait here, while I’ll go get a towel for you” Ri In told him before opening a light pink door and entered the room. It was actually her room, where she spends her time here when she was little girl. The single bed with the flowery prints was still there, by the window. It’s pillows stacked neatly and above it, were the drawings she did with her mother and had it pasted on the wall. The dressing and study table were now bare but the bookshelf still have the books she used to love to read. Ri In smiled a small smile as she opened her wardrobe and took out a light blue thick towel when Junsu came strolling into the room. Ri In gasped loudly for the second time and hurriedly pushed him out of the room.
“Oppa!!! Get out! You can’t be---NO! DON’T TOUCH THAT!” Ri In screeched, snatching a purple colored notebook from his hand which he had picked up from the bookshelf. “I told you to wait outside!” she scolded him.
“But you were taking such a long time” Junsu pointed out. “No I wasn’t” Ri In said, throwing the towel to his face. Junsu ducked and the towel fell on the bed. “Gosh Rinnie, why are you so nervous about?” he asked, walking around the room and surveying it. “This is…a cute room” he said, noticing the wallpaper.
Ri In crossed her arms and huffed angrily. “You can’t call me Rinnie” she told him. Junsu picked the towel and throw it over his shoulder. “Wae? Everyone calls you Rinnie. Why can’t I?” he asked, walking over to her.
“B..Because…you don’t have the right to” Ri In replied, aware that Junsu was standing so close to her that her back was slammed against the wardrobe.
“And when would I have the rights?” Junsu wanted to know. Ri In gulped seeing that he was getting dangerously close. “You..I…I don’t know! Just go and take a bath! You smell like a dead fungus!” Ri In chided pushing him aside and running out of the room, just in time to see her grandmother coming out from another room with a stack of clothes in her hand.
“Here…give Junsu these clothes” her grandmother said just as Junsu stepped out of her room, trying to contain his laughter. Ri In passed the clothes without looking at him and then walked down the stairs, clutching the notebook in her hands. She heard her grandmother asking what was wrong with Junsu and he gave a mumbled replied. Soon after that, she heard the two of them laughing. Ri In rolled her eyes as she walked to the kitchen, made herself a cool drink and then adjourned to the dining room, where the eight seat dining table was still there. She loved the lunch and dinner session she usually had with her relatives, making the room alive with their chatter as they enjoy the meal. They usually come during the weekend to eat together but things changes nowadays. Everyone had grown up and was busy with their personal life, including her. Ri In heard her grandmother shuffling around in the house and the sound of running water indicating Junsu was showering. She made herself comfortable and flipped opened the notebook. It was a good thing she acted fast. There was simply no way she would let Junsu read her precious diary!!
Each of the pages was colorfully decorated together with the entries and she laughed to herself seeing her untidy handwriting and reading the stuff she wrote. Her eyes fell upon a page where she had drew tiny red hearts and rough sketch of a princess in her prince’s arms. The words ‘If only I could go up to him and tell him I want to grow old with him…sigh..but I don’t think I would have the courage to do that right?’ was scrawled at the bottom of the page and Ri In wondered why she wrote that. She recalled not having that many crushes on a few guys when she was a teen. She was lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t realize her grandmother entering the dining room carrying her sewing kit.
“He seems nice eh?” her grandmother was saying, taking out an unfinished cross-stitch and putting on her glasses.
“Huh?” Ri In asked, tearing her eyes away from the page. “Umm..y..yes. He’s nice. Really nice” she said, closing the notebook. “D..Do you like him Grandma?”
Her grandmother took quite a while to answer as she glanced up and down at her cross stitch, wondering where she had stopped. She then took out a needle and a red thread. Ri In watched patiently as she watched her grandmother thread in the string to the needle, adjusted her glasses and asked Ri In if she could get her a cup of tea. Ri In did what she was told and placed the steaming cup of tea in front of her grandmother and sat back at her place.
“He was that guy…who kept pestering you when you guys first met?” her grandmother finally spoke. Ri In nodded. She didn’t exactly go in details about how Junsu was being persistent to date her or what they did during their dates. She find it uncomfortable to be sharing it with her grandmother. She wouldn’t mind sharing the details with Nadine…cause that’s what girlfriends are for right?
“You know…I never quite like your father when your mother introduced him to me” her grandmother said, weaving the needle in and out with ease. She may be old, but her eyesight was still excellent. Ri In gulped when she heard her grandmother saying that. “How come?” she asked, fingering the edges of her diary.
“He was…too carefree. And, he talked too much”
Ri In frowned slightly. “I thought he was the quiet type?” she wondered. It was true. Her father was the discreet kind who prefer to be left alone and doing his own stuff. He was very much into carpentry and usually surprises Ri In with his work. Ri In had like being with her father, watching him at work and sometimes he will let her sand the wood or teach her to nail properly. Although it was only a hobby, he had people coming up to him to make them furniture.
“Well..he wasn’t that quiet when he first came here for dinner. He was talking non-stop. Your uncles like him immediately since they had so much in common. I swear their conversation could go all night. But I guess your father was being nervous, that’s why he was being so chatty. Like what Junsu did just now during lunch eh?” her grandmother asked, breaking the red thread and chose a blue color to thread into the needle.
Ri In chuckled. Was Junsu being nervous as well? “But I grow to like your father after that” her grandmother continued. “He’s a considerate guy. Passionate as well…about his job, the people that he love and always making time to drop by whenever he has the time. He wasted no time to propose to your mother when he knows that I find him ok”
Ri In warmed at the idea of Junsu being slightly similar to her father. Except, he sort of ‘propose’ to her before meeting her grandmother. “Do you like this guy Rinnie?” her grandmother asked, putting down her cross stitch and reaching out to take her tea.
Ri In gave her a smile. “Yes Grandma. I really do” she replied. Her grandmother took a sip of her drink and nodded. “Very well then. That’s all I want to know” she said, going back to her cross stitch.
“That’s all you want to know? You mean…you’re not going to ask me anymore questions?”
Her grandmother adjusted her glasses again. “What do you take me for? The police? I am in no position to interrogate you young lady. Knowing that you’re happy with Junsu, that is what makes me contented”
“R..Really?” Ri In asked, not getting why her grandmother was going easy on her. She had imagined her grandmother giving Junsu a hard time since she remembered there was one time the older woman had introduced to her to a guy. When she told her grandmother that she was already seeing someone, her grandmother’s face was a mixture of disappointment as well as gladness. Perhaps it was like that time she had wanted to match make her mother but her mother had opposed to the idea and insisted that she would find her life partner herself.
“Of course! Were you expecting me to tell you to stop seeing Junsu?” her grandmother questioned her, raising her eyebrows. Ri In shook her head. She would be pretty much brokenhearted if that were to happen and her grandmother will probably insist to be with the guy she had chosen for her.
“Your mother once told me, while she was a few months pregnant with you, that she wishes that her daughter will get all the happiness she can get. She said it out of the blue actually, although I don’t know why. So I should stick to that wish of hers, don’t you think?” her grandmother asked, taking out a scissors and snipped at a loose thread. “I’m guessing she doesn’t want her daughter to suffer the same fate as her…especially when it comes to relationship eh?” she added with a chuckle.
Ri In felt a lump in her throat, thinking of what other stuff her mother might have said when she was still in her womb. She’ll probably had read or sing to her…and how long she wants to hear that sweet voice of hers right now.
“Rinnie…Junsu’s been in the bathroom for quite some time” her grandmother suddenly said. “Maybe you should go check on him”
Ri In then realized that it was true. He was taking an awful lot of time showering. Ri In climbed up the stairs and noticed that the sound of running water had stopped but her bedroom door was opened ajar. She took a peek wondering what Junsu was doing and her eyes widened seeing Junsu pacing around in the middle of the room, wearing a white clean shirt and a pair of pants that was way too big for him. It was obvious that it did not fit him since he was clutching the oversized waist band to in his hands and kept pulling on the pants to prevent him from tripping. Ri In stepped into the room and Junsu turned to her in relief. “And I thought you would never come up!” he said, grabbing her arm.
“Oppa! What are you doing in here? You’re not snooping around aren’t you?” Ri In asked.
“Aniya! Well..I actually wanted to but these pants won’t let me. Could you get a pair that fits?” Junsu asked.
Ri In chuckled. “Why didn’t you just come down and ask me? Or Grandma?”
“Because then I will look like clown! And you will laugh at me. What was your grandmother thinking…giving me this….clown pants? Who in the world will wear something this huge?!” Junsu squeaked, sitting on her bed.
“Someone with a big butt? So you decided not to come down and ask for help because you’re afraid that it will spoil your macho image? Is that it? Isn’t that a bit too egotistical Oppa? When in doubt, you should ALWAYS ask” Ri In said, wagging a finger at him.
“Omo…stop lecturing me!” Junsu pleaded with a depressing expression. “I don’t feel comfortable in this. It’s so…airy!”
Ri In laughed. “Araso..araso. Wait here. I’ll go get another pair” she told him but Junsu got up and followed her. “I’ll come with you. You’ll probably leave me here alone and come back up when it’s evening” he muttered.
Ri In turned to him in surprise. “YAH! I may seem like a big bully to you, but I won’t do that! It didn’t cross my mind, until you said it. Maybe I should leave you her—
“Nono! Okok! I’m sorry I said something like that!” Junsu quickly apologized. He reached out both hands to grab Ri In, forgetting about the clown pants. It slipped down to his ankles and Ri In hastily faced the other way, covering her hand to her mouth to muffle her laughter, her face getting warm. “Y..Yah! You see what you made me do!” Junsu scolded her through gritted teeth as he pulled up the pants quickly, his face turning beetroot red.
“Is everything alright up there?” her grandmother shouted from the dining room. Ri In took a deep breath before answering. “We’ll be right down” she replied back before opening a door across her room and stepped in. Junsu followed suit, hobbling along and grumbling under his breath. “Eh? Whose room is this?” he asked, staring at the boxes stacked neatly.
“No one. One of my uncles is going to move to a new place so he’s placing his stuff here temporarily” Ri In replied, crouching down on an opened box labeled ‘Clothes’ and rummaged around for pair of pants that might fit him. “Here! I think this might fit you” she said, handing him a brown khaki pants. Junsu took it and hurriedly ran back to her room to get change.
Ri In closed the box, stood up when she saw a box labeled ‘Memories with Them’. She grew curious and reached out for the box. It wasn’t sealed so she simply opened it and saw that it was filled with photo albums of all sizes but one caught her eye. It was an a4 sized black hardcover album with the words ‘Memories with Little Swallow’ written in front. She fished out the album; pushed the box aside, sat cross-legged on the floor and flipped opened the album. The first few pages shows pictures of a little girl, from when she was a baby until she was five years old perhaps. Ri In then realized that the Little Swallow was actually her mother.
“She was nicknamed Little Swallow?” Ri In wondered out loud as she continued looking at the photos of when she was a teenager and being with her school mates.
“Who’s Little Swallow?” Junsu asked, appearing at the doorway, now looking comfortable with the fitted pants. “My mom…look..see this. I remembered one of my uncles, her brother…he likes photography. I’m guessing he’s going to turn it into a portfolio” she told him, pointing to the sticky notes he had placed at a few pages. “But I wonder why she was named Little Swallow. You think he was the one who gave her the nickname?”
Junsu shrugged. “Maybe your grandmother might know” he suggested. “Let’s go ask her” he said, pulling her up.
Her grandmother was putting the sewing kit away when they joined her at the dining room. “Little Swallow?” she asked aloud when Ri In showed her the photo album. Her grandmother laughed softly seeing the photos. “Aigoo…it’s been a while since I last heard that name. Everyone called your mother that, including your father. She was pretty much like the bird herself. Small, fragile but yet full of flight. Delicate yet aggressive” her grandmother explained.
“Cool” Junsu commeneted, flipping to another page. He pointed to a picture of her mother dressed in a pretty dress and with a loose scarf on her head. She was standing beside a girl, who was wearing an identical scarf as well, but she wore it around her neck instead. “That’s my aunt!” Ri In said. “Gosh..they almost look like twins!”
“Of course…they’re sisters!” Junsu told her. “Hey..your mother’s wearing the scarf just like the way you wore it when we had breakfast at Renzo’s” he added.
Ri In glanced at him in surprise. Surprise that still remembered what she wore during their first date. Junsu caught her looking at him and he raised his eyebrows. “Wae? Did I say something wrong?”
Ri In shook her head. “A..Aniya. I’m just….you still remember what I wore?” she asked him. They were both not aware that her grandmother had left the room, giving them some privacy. Ri In noticed Junsu blushing as he answered. “Of course! I always remember the times we spent together” he said in a quiet voice, his eyes still on the photos. He gave Ri In a sideway glance and his eyes darted back to the photos. “Your grandmother mentioned that she would like us to stay for dinner” he said, changing the subject.
Ri In smiled and kissed his cheek. “Ok” she said, looking back at the photos. She felt Junsu scooted closer to her, feeling the warm of his body and the smell of her soap on him. They spent the afternoon looking through the photos and then Junsu had asked if there was any help needed at the garden. He was left to attend to pull out the weeds and water the plants while Ri In prepared dinner with her grandmother. When the sun had set, they had a lavish yet simple dinner while the crickets came out and sang their usual summer song.
“You sure I can sleep here? Not afraid that I would…snoop around?” Junsu was asking as Ri In fluffed up the pillows. Her grandmother had noted that the both of them looked beat so she had insisted that the both of them should spend the night here. She added that Junsu can sleep in Ri In’s room.
“I’ll chop your fingers if you snoop around” Ri In warned Junsu as he sat beside her. “Feisty” Junsu said, leaning back on the pillow. He patted on the space beside him and Ri In lay down beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I had fun today” Junsu said, running his fingers in her hair. “You did?” Ri In asked, surprised.
Junsu nodded. “It’s been a relaxing day. I like it” he told her, kissing her hair. Ri In sighed happily, interlocking her fingers with Junsu’s. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving her this afternoon” she said.
Junsu chuckled. “No need to thank me. I was…just doing my job” he said. Ri In rolled her eyes. “You’re not Superman” she told him.
“Rinnie!” her grandmother suddenly called out from her room down the hall. Ri In got up and patted Junsu’s stomach. “Yes Grandma?” she answered back. “Get me a glass of water before you come in later”
Junsu chuckled. “I think she’s just checking up on us…you know..just so there’s no hanky panky” he said with a wink.
Ri In laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning” she told him, getting up.
“Wait? No good night kiss?” Junsu asked with a pout. Ri In chuckled, leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, but in the end, Junsu made the kiss slightly longer making them both out of breath. “Good night” Junsu said lazily, pinching Ri In’s nose.
Ri In swatted his arm playfully. “Sleep well” she told him, kissing his forehead. She then switched off the lights and before closing the door, she looked at Junsu who was curled up at his side, his eyes closed with a smile on his face. Ri In walked to her grandmother’s room, smiling to herself. Her grandmother was sitting on the bed, watching something on the TV. She switched off the TV when Ri In came in and crawled into bed. “My body’s so tired” Ri In whined, when her head hit the pillow.
When the room was in total darkness and everything was quiet, Ri In heard her grandmother laughing softly to herself. Ri In sat up and tapped her grandmother’s shoulder. “What’s so funny?” she whispered. Her grandmother turned to her and shook her head. “That boy must have got you under his spells eh?” she asked.
Ri In frowned. “Why do you say that?” she questioned her.
“Silly girl. You didn’t bring in my drink that’s why!” her grandmother scolded her before facing the other way and resumed back to sleep. “Like mother,like daughter” she added but Ri In noted the humor in her tone.
Ri In grinned and cuddled closer to her grandmother. “Omo! What’s this!! You’re no longer a little girl anymore..get away from me! There’s plenty of space on this bed” her grandmother grumbled.
“Aish..but I want to!” Ri In insisted. Her grandmother gave up and sighed. “Whatever makes you happy” she said but Ri In realized that her grandmother was smiling as well and she put her arm around Ri In, hummed the tune she used to sing when Ri In had troubled sleeping. Ri In closed her eyes, feeling contented to be spending the summer days with the people she love the most.
Up above the Heaven, two people looked on lovingly at their only daughter, thanking the silent stars for the happiness that was bestowed upon Jang Ri In.
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undermickysskin : Ohohoho! Gosh, I'm making people betray their beloved guys because of this story..LOL XD Naaaw..of course I know you don't hate me :D
Happy reading!