Old Memories
"annyeonghaseyo*" an elderly woman said shocked at the woman in front of her
"halmeoni* It's me"
"ya, is it really you? Your back from Korea"
"Yea, I'm back from Korea," Min-Ju said hugging the woman
"Oh, nuguseyo.* Is this your son?" pointing to the little boy staring at all the food displayed at on the counter
"Yeah, He's cute isn't he"
"Can he speak Korean?"
"Yeah, He was born there"
Min-Ju asked her son but he was more interested in the Kimbap* than anything else
"Yong-sun, you want to get some Kimbap"
"YEAH!!" responded Yong-Sun cheerfully
Yong-sun and Min-Ju sat down and ate their Kimbap. Mrs.Kwan sat and down and started to ask questions
"How's life in Korea"
"It's fine. Su-Hyung wanted me to stop working and wanted me to stay home"
"Well, did you?"
"Halmeoni, you know me I can't sit still so I refused but I work very little. Now, mostly my job is going to parties hosted by the benefactors. It's more exhausting than most people think"
"That's the young ambitious girl I know"
Making Min-Ju laugh
"You know that your mother is home these days"
"I don't want to see her. You know I haven't talked to her years"
"Well, how would I know you would barely call and when you do you say a few words then hang up the phone. Hell, I didn't even know you had a son"
"I know, I'm sorry"
"Good, now that your back. I need to fatten you up. You have gotten skinnier these few years"
Mrs.Kwan got up and started making more food
As more customers came Mrs.Kwan became busier and she left her alone with her thoughts
Min-Ju starts to think back to her ambitious university days:
'I have been coming to the restaurant since High School. My parents were always on their business trips and were never home. So every morning and evening before and after school I would come into the restaurant and Mrs.Kwan and her husband Mr. Song would feed me
I would go over to the restaurant with her friends but one day I brought a boy to the restaurant and the look on Mr.Song's face I could never forget.
He was horrified by me being a boy to the restaurant.
He pulled me aside and gave me a year-long speech about boys. Something you see a father doing to his daughter when she starts to date for the first time.
I don't hate my father but I just don't think he was worthy to be my father or anyone else's. He was a drunk. He never physically hurt me but he did. His harsh words were cold and never loving
Mr.Song's harsh words weren't cold nor unloving. He would get mad when I would come to the restaurant late or when I do something bad. His harsh words were because he cared and he was very overprotective of me
But Mr.Song's speech had no effect on me. I would only bring the boys I was serious about and I only had two. One was a boy I dated in high school and the other one was from University.
JinHai was the boy from University and he never liked him but I really cared about him so he had to relent on me dating him. University was such a different time' thought Min-Ju
"WHERE IS THE BASTARD CHILD!?" someone yelled from the kitchen
Min-Ju turned around and told Yong-Sun to go to Mrs.Kwan
"What's wrong, Umma*"
"Nothing, Umma is just in a lot of trouble"
Min-Ju got up from the chair and got on her knees
"I'm sorry"
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU KNOW."
"I know" responded Min-Ju
"WHY didn't you call or visit? I heard that you came back a week ago" Mr.Song questioned
"I was busy and how did you find out I came back a week ago?"
"Well, um...WHY ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME YOUR THE ONE IN TROUBLE HERE"
Min-Ju gave a very suspicious look
"What?! I have ears everywhere and besides BiYu told me"
'That girl can't keep her mouth closed' Min-Ju thought
"Anyways, I was going to surprise you. I bought gifts"
"Gifts." Mr.Song scoffed
"I don't want your stupid gifts. I want to see my girl successful and happy"
"Really?"
"Of course. But I still want the gifts" Mr.Song confessed
Min-Ju still kneeling got up to hug Mr.Song
*annyeonghaseyo 안녕하세요= Hello
*halmeoni 할머니= Grandmother (It is polite to call an elderly lady that even if they're not related to you)
*nuguseyo 누구세요= Who are you?