Chapter 11: Appa
It was already late afternoon when I finished reviewing the files sent over by my brother Chan-Yeol.
Locking the screen to my computer, I rose to my feet, stretched my stiffen body and glanced at the nearby clocked.
"The meeting is in two hours, just enough time to take a shower and have something to eat, I think" I said to myself.
As I grabbed my towel, I was disturbed by the vibration of my phone, altering me to call.
On the screen, the Korean words Appa flashed across the screen."oh shoot, I forgot to ring mom and dad last night" I panicked, hastily answering the call.
"Appa hello!" I answered, trying to make myself sound as innocent as possible.
Receiving no response from the man, I waited nervously, Imaging the serious and indifferent expression usually worn on the man's face. That if one didn't know him, you would be afraid just by his mere presence.
I understood his silence as him likely being annoyed that I was okay and had not called him. Along with debating how to best scold me without doing so harshly.
To get ahead of him, I spoke first, "Appa…I'm Sorry, I was going to call you and mum… but forgot once I started going through the files Chan-Yeol sent me." I spoke softly, knowing how easy it was to win him over. The trick was to act cute and the cuter, the better, something I had to master after 15 years. However, this same method did not filter outside his family, for to those whom he held no feelings he was a truly Ruthless man.
"Did you eat? Is the hotel okay? How about the room? If it's not up to standards, let me know and I'll change it for you. Do you also need anything? And how was your flight, did anything happen?" His course voice rang through my ear, asking question after question.
"Appa! Wait! Slow down…. Have you been worrying all this time? Seriously you, mum and Chan-Yeol act like am still 15. Appa I'm 30 years, and a man of-course am fine. Besides, I'm sure you spoke with Chan-Yeol before calling me." I protested, sighing deeply, then continuing. "Appa am fine, everything is okay, I'm not a damsel in distress unknown. Why don't you guys act like this with Chan-Yeol?" I moaned, feeling wronged in some way, but also guilty for not being grateful for their continued love.
Instantly regretful of my words, I apologised, "sorry Appa, I didn't mean it like that… it's just.."
"Don't apologise son, we should be the ones apologising. I know myself and your mom can be overbearing at times. But we can't help it when it comes to our children…" He said lowly, making me feel even worst.
"Appa…."
"Cheolus, Am just happy you're doing well, do let me know if you need anything".
"Hmmm, I will Appa…. By the way, is mum, okay?" we quickly washed over our earlier awkwardness.
"Yes, it's late in the UK at present, so I'm unable to contact her, when I do, I'll update her on how you're doing…. erm By the way, how was your flight?" he asked a little weirdly, startling me. He wasn't one to be shy about asking me a question.
"huh? It was fine, had a good sleep. Oh, wait, Appa!" I called his name excitedly, when I recalled the man and child I had met. "I actually met a man who reminded me of you on my flight. Very handsome, like an actor. He was travelling with a newborn baby, I think he was a first-time dad, and a single one at that. Oh! Appa you should have seen him because he had such a large build, he looked like a handsome gangster, clumsily tending to this tiny baby. I was so scared to go over to him and offer any help after he had shouted coldly at a woman who had offered earlier. But he was surprisingly pleasant when to me. From our short interaction, I could tell he had a gentle soul, just like you." I explained, once again remembered that man. It wasn't until speaking to my father, had I realised the familiarity between them. He had the same large build as my father and the same different expressions, that warned others to keep away. Maybe that was the reason I had felt so uneasy.
"Mmm…. He must have left an impression on you, for you to remember him. Did you get his name?" my father asked, unusually curious, than normal about this particular interaction. Causing me to wonder if he was going to act harshly again, and hire bodyguards to watch over me.
"No, not really" I dismissed that being the case. Hoping that would be enough to drop the man's curiosity. "I only remembered him because I'm speaking to you now, but yah, he was different. A bit like when I first met you, I was afraid because you wore that cold expression of yours. But I soon discovered you are nothing but a gentle hulk, haha" I chuckled recalling my memories of him.
"Aigo!… How can you compare your father to another man, do I look so familiar, here I was believing your mother when she said I was uniquely dashing" he joked.
"Haha! Appa, really?" I laughed embarrassed.
"okay, okay…. Stop laughing. Anyway, I need to drop off… I'll see you on the call shortly"
"haa! Okay Appa, bye" I replied, still amused by his previous comment.
Ending our conversation, my mood brightened, again feeling blessed to have been adopted by such outstanding family.
*Appa - Dad
*Aigo – meaning "oh my" or "oh gosh"