I open the window near my bed. It still snowy out there. I
see two persons sit on bench and they look happy since they cuddle each other.
Then, one kid is running towards them with a very bright face. The woman touches
the kid’s hair softly and keeps patting that kid’s back. Smile was formed from
the kid’s face.
“Mom, can I get a new father? I want to be like them too, a
complete family” my precious son was coming from nowhere without I realize
suddenly bumped to me and ask me that hard question.
I pat his back and give him a huge smile. But he doesn’t
know I’m crying inside when I see him like that. Asking me to give him a new
father or the real meaning is “father’s love and attention”. He keeps begging me day by day and sometimes
I’ll cry secretly because I can’t fulfill his wish.
“Yoogeun, don’t you think it’s time for you to sleep? It’s
already late and tomorrow you must go to kindergarten” I hold his hand and
bring him on my bed. Since he is my only son and he’s 5 years old, I still
can’t let him to sleep alone. I afraid to lost him, too.
“But still I want a new father”
“Omma can be your dad also huh Geun”
“But still it’s not same. You’re my mother and I need a
father to complete my family”
I can’t say anything. How my son knows about adult matters?
I mean definition of a real family. I bet I didn’t teach him. Maybe he takes
one of natural ability from his late father, intelligence. He can learn fast
from environment surrounding him.
“I can be your dad
and mom at the same time. You don’t need a new father”
“No! Omma is such a liar. You’re always busy with your work
and sometimes ahjumma will attend for my school event and also to take my
report card” he starts to refuse to look at me and turn his back left.
“From today, I’ll spend my times for you whenever you need
me. I promise you”
“Jinja omma? But if you break your promise?”
“I’ll treat you a big bucket of chocolate ice-cream. Your
favourite dessert all time”
“If then, I’ll keep your promise. Goodnight omma. Saranghae”
“Nado saranghae hadeul” I kiss his forehead till both of us
fall asleep together
*******
“Omma!! Geun got a new teacher
and he’s so handsome I tell you”
“So what do you want omma to do
with your new single teacher huh Geun?”
“Geun bet someone will wear a
pretty wedding dress again. Hihi”
“What do you mean by that huh
Yoogeun” I start to open my eyes very widely
“Geun sense a new father”
“Yah Yoogeun! Do you want omma to
slap your butt huh? Such a naughty kid”
“But omma, he’s so kind and also
handsome. All Geun fellow friends want to get marry with him when they already
grow up”
“But omma didn’t meet him. How
can I know that he’s a kind sonsaengnim”
“Do you want Geun to set up both
of your for a date? Geun will do that for you omma”
“Do that and you can’t get your
allowance for 2 months”
“But omma..”
“Go to the bathroom now and take
a shower. Or do you want me to take a shower for you huh?”
“Yah omma, you’re so bad. Ugly
witch” he said with a pout.
“And you’re son of ugly witch,
little ugly witch huh” I yelled
He is rolling out his tongue. Aishh,
that kid always makes me become impatient.
*******
“Omma, today teacher asks all
parents to accompany their children to school”
“But your teacher didn’t tell me
about that. I can’t believe you”
“How could you don’t believe your
precious son omma? Why omma why? he makes a cute face
“Okay. Since you say like that,
I’ll trust you. Kaja and omma will drive you to kindergarten even omma is
already late”
“Omma, you’re such a beautiful
angel. How can my mom become so pretty”
“Whatever Yoogeun, stop talking
before omma lost focus”
He keeps silent since I told him
to do that but it’s just useful for a few minutes until we arrive at his
kindergarten. He starts to talk to his friends and introduce me as her mother
since I’m so busy until I can’t have time to show off my face to his teachers
and also his friends
“Why your mom is so pretty Geun?
She looks like a sister not a mother”
“Yah, mir don’t say she’s pretty.
She will feel so proud and keep talking about it whole day nonstop”
“Yah Yoogeun, you want omma to
kick your butt huh? Yah this naughty kid”
“Teacher, she’s my pretty and
kind mother. I become so handsome because I take gorgeous genes from her”
“Anyeonghaseyo. I am Yoogeun’s
teacher, Lee Hyukjae” he smile at me
“Lee Jieun, Yoogeun’s omma” I
smile back
“Songsaengnim, omma said she
wants to meet you and she keeps begging me to allow her to send me to
kindergarten. Haih omma, omma”
“Yah Yoogeun, how could you can
lie about your omma. You’re the one who begging me” I start to pinch his cheek
“Omma, don’t feel so shy. If you
like my teacher, just ask him to go out. Right teacher?” he pokes my leg
Mr. Lee just laughs maybe because
he’s too shy. It all happens because of my son weird attitude. He need lesson
from me when he’s going home this evening. I’ll make sure he’ll regret all his
action today. Yah Yoogeun, omma will tickle all your body. Just wait and see.
“Yoogeun, this evening ahjussi
will pick up because omma had many things to solve at office. Anyeong Geun,
saranghae” he just waving and I see his teachers blink his eyes to me. Yah
whatever, I don’t want to care.
*******
“Omma! Omma! Omma! Eodiga?”
“Yah, can you just shut up after
you back from your kindergarten. My ear becomes deaf day by day because of you.
What do you want huh?”
“Omma…omma..omma.. Mr.Lee, he,
he”
“Mr.Lee what?
“He asks me your phone number.
Ohmygod omma, ohmy”
“So what? It not a normal thing
teacher will ask for parent’s number? Why you so excited”
“No, it’s not normal. He said to
me he likes you. Finally I will get a new father”
“Yah little devil, can you stop
to make a joke. Stop pranks your own omma!”
”This time, I’m not joke omma.
Geun is so serious. Omma look at Geun serious face”
“Are you serious Geun ahh? What
if you lie to me?”
“You can hit my butt 3 days
nonstop”
“Oh my god Geun ahh~ I’m getting
so shy. Why he must like me. I mean omma is a divorcee and he is bachelor. A
very handsome bachelor”
“Omma, don’t forget you also are
a very pretty divorcee”
“What I want to do Geun ahh. What
omma will do if I meet him?”
“Don’t worry omma, he already asks
us to go out with him tomorrow”
“Why tomorrow?”
“Omma, Tomorrow is weekend! Haih
omma, why you so slow to pick up something”
“But omma don’t want to go. Omma
don’t want a new husband”
“Omma, just go and enjoy. If omma
don’t like him Geun will never force. Promise” he smiles to me and make a pinky
promise with me.
Since my only son begging me to
do that, I must fulfill his wish. I feel so pity to him. He really need new
father, but I don’t ready yet and feel afraid to lose someone again. I’ll go
with his plan and just enjoy it. It doesn’t mean I must date his teacher.
*******
“Omma, Geun can’t see that animal
show. Can you lift me up?”
“Geun ahh~ Don’t you see how your
mother look like? Omma can’t lift you. I’m sorry Geun”
Suddenly Hyukjae put him at his
shoulder and he just smiles at me. Finally he says something after 30 minutes
we walk together.
“Don’t feel sad, I’ll do it for
you. Your happiness is also my happiness. So cheer up”
“Thank you Mr. Lee”
“Just call me Hyuk, I’m your
oppa. Haha”
“Ohh I see Hyuk. Thank you for
asking us to go out with you. Sorry if my son bother you. I’m so sorry”
“Eh don’t say like that, I’m the
one who asking him to go out together with you”
“But why Hyuk?”
“Because..I like you. Simple
right? Haha”
I just laugh. Maybe because I’m
so speechless and even one word can’t get out from my mouth. He also just
smiles before Geun asks us to bring him to eat. Haih that fatty child”
*******
“Can I ask you something since
Geun is already sleeping soundly”
“Yes, you can. I’ll answer you if
I can”
“How you can be a divorcee like
now”
I startled, why must in million
question he must ask me that question. I really hate when people ask me how my
husband passed away.
“Do you angry? I’m sorry. I
didn’t meant it”
“It’s okay, but I think it’s not
the suitable time to tell you about that”
“But I just want to know. I want
to share your sadness not just happiness. I know you become strong just because
of your son. But the real you, you’re so weak”
“You know nothing about me”
“I know something”
“What?”
“I really love you”
“But why, I mean I’m a divorcee
and you’re bachelor. How could a handsome bachelor loves me. Nonsense”
“When it comes to love, even the
impossible things can become possible. Nonsense doesn’t exist in love”
“But don’t you feel shame if one
day someone ask you why marry me? I mean I have a son but not with you”
“What shame? I don’t know what
that mean by shame. If everything I want to hear all people say, you’ll never
achieve success in your life”
I just smile towards, now I can
trust him to become a good father for Geun. Actually I’m not search a good
husband for me, but also a good father for Geun.
“So now I can call you yobo huh
Jieun?”
“Not yet, until I wear a wedding
dress and there you beside me wear a good looking tuxedo”
He just smiles but I know he
feels so happy tonight. I can feel him because I think I already fall in love
for second time
*******
“Seob, did you hear something
from outside? Look like someone wants to enter our house. Go and take a look
Seobie. Be careful”
“I’ll do that Jieun. You stay
here and protect our 3month old baby, Yoogeun. Don’t go anywhere. Just stay
here”
That time, what I can I heard
just my husband’s voice fighting with the thief. The thief doesn’t want to give
up. He kept to attack Seobie. Then my
husband got stab near at heart in front of me when I still hold my baby Geun.
There was blood everywhere on the
floor. Suddenly my eyes became so blurry. Tears can’t stop to flow down. I saw
my husband crawled towards me with his last strength. He also kept crying over
and over again.
“Jieun, jeongmal mianei. Oppa
can’t be a good husband and dad for both of you. I hope you will raise our son wisely.
Fulfill his wish if you can my dearest wife.
”
“Oppa, you can’t go. You’ll stay
with both of us. You must stay strong.”
“But I can’t Jieun. I just want
to say I Love You to you Jieun. Thank you because always cheer up my sad day.
Become my friend, supporter, listener and good wife to me. Every day I’ll keep
visit and see both of you from up there. Don’t lose your hope. I’ll wait for
you. ”
Geun’s forehead was kissed by his
father. The last thing his father done to him before Geun’s father closed his
eye forever.
