Why now?

Kwan was silently sitting on her balcony after having dinner with grandpa Ko. Her entire demeanor had changed. She was sitting there and looking at the distance and was in her deep thoughts. 'They are looking for you', grandpa's words echoed in her head. She couldn't understand why now? The biggest truth of her life was coming behind her and she could do nothing about it. The cool, chilly breeze of the autumn days in the city could be felt. But Kwan was clueless about her surroundings. She was deep in her memories, which she had buried inside her.

Grandpa Ko knew the little lady upstairs would be sitting on her balcony and be lost deep in the darkness. So after having his dinner and taking his medications under the check of his secretary. He went upstairs to check up on the child he called his granddaughter. And she didn't disappoint him, as he saw her sitting in a complete daze on the swing placed in the other corner of her balcony. After seeing her in this state, he regretted telling her about the approaching doom in her life. But he knew, to protect her he had to inform her and keep her safe and protected.

After exhaling a deep sigh, he walked toward her and sat on the swing, moving the swing and breaking Kwan out of her trance. When Kwan felt the swing moving, she looked to the right and saw her grandpa sitting beside her and looking at her with a small smile. Looking at the small smile full of pity, Kwan's hands balled into small fists. She hated this to her guts. Only if...only she was the one to die that day, then everybody would've been happy in their lives and she would be at peace too. She didn't want him to look at her that way. She hated that look on his face.

"Haraboji, don't look at me with that look, I don't like it", Kwan said in her soft tender voice. One could notice the traces of tears in her voice. Grandpa Ko was taken aback by her words. It's been ages since she addressed him that way.

"Child, what way am I looking at you? I don't get you?" Chairman Ko asked in confusion. What made her so vulnerable and sensitive about his look? He could not understand.

"The look of pity on your face. I don't like it. Don't feel sorry for me. Don't feel pity for me. It makes me loathe my life." Kwan looked ahead into the vast scenery in front of her balcony avoiding her grandpa's eyes. It was difficult for her to express herself and be open about her feelings. But she could not stand the look on her grandpa's face, the only family she had in this world. She did not want her only family to feel sorry for her poor life and make her remind herself that the only family she had was not hers to begin with.

"Kwan, look at me," Grandpa commanded her after hearing her words. He held her hands in his and made her look at him. He looked at the little vulnerable girl sitting in front of him. He wanted to take this child's pain away from her. Was she the same director Park from the company with whom he had come back home a few hours ago? Was she his granddaughter who was always strong and bold no matter what happened in life?

"Child I'm not looking at you with pity. Never think that I'm someone who would feel sorry when you're in pain when you're hurting. What I feel for your pain is pain. When you my child are in pain, even I'm in pain. I regard you as my granddaughter. You're our only family, just like how we are your only family. understood. Now come here." Grandpa ko asked Kwan to come near him and embraced her in his warmth. Just like how any grandpa would embrace his upset granddaughter.

Kwan, without any resistance, accepted his warm embrace. His embrace was so warm that she could now feel how cold she was before and his mildly sweet and musty smell like an old man brought peace to her being. No matter what others said, this person right here was her family and her protector.

"Kwan?" grandpa Ko called out in his gruff but soft voice.

"Mmmmm... haraboji" Kwan too answered in her unusual soft voice. She had completely become a timid little granddaughter right now.

"My child, don't worry. Always remember that this old grandfather of yours would always protect you. Don't worry and focus on your life and work. Leave everything to me. understood." Love and care were evident in his voice.

Kwan just nodded her head obediently on hearing his words. She trusted her grandpa more than herself. She knew he would protect her at any cost. But she also knew that she couldn't overcome the thoughts of her past. They were after her and they could reach her easily. Even if her grandfather tried his best, they could still have a chance of succeeding and that is what freaked her out. After all, they too held the power in the country.

At the Incheon International Airport, men in black stood out at the receiving junction of the airport. One could tell some big shots were coming and these were the bodyguards to receive them. People came out of the airport and out of them a couple in their 40s with two men in black following them could be seen coming out. They had easily attracted the undivided attention of the people around them. The woman was wearing a simple business suit in black and carried a handbag in her left hand while her left hand held the arm of her husband. The man beside the woman too was wearing a business suit. One could easily notice the power and money oozing out from them.

Ignoring the unwanted attention they were getting, they boarded the limo waiting for them and zoomed out of the airport. Inside the car, the man looked ahead and asked the person sitting in the passenger seat.

"Secretary Son, any news?" his voice was cold and distant, so cold that it could freeze the people sitting around him. His black eyes looked emotionless and hard.

The man who was questioned, took a second to compose himself and then in a very professional tone answered,

"Master, we looked into the matter. The orphanage you mentioned and the person named Park Min Soo are dead. The rea.."

"What dead?" The lady sitting beside the man in the back seat asked in shock. The shocked couple looked at each other.

"Yes madam. The young girl died after a year in the orphanage. The girl had liver cancer and could not be saved."