Mama's Love

"Eat a lot, dear," Song Mi-Rae smiled, showing off her symmetrical lips that were naturally pink. As usual, Mi-Rae didn't allow herself to look ugly. She made sure that her short, shoulder-length hair that was regularly treated at the spa was neatly combed. Her nails have also just been manicured. He was worried that he might accidentally scratch the skin of her son's cheek when she caressed him.

Mi-Rae didn't wear lipstick, because she knew Hyun-Ki—Her son who was almost six years old—didn't like having lipstick marks on his cheeks. Hyun-Ki seemed to be happy eating the bear-shaped cotton candy she brought. They were in Hyun-Ki's school cafeteria which wasn't very crowded.

Several school guards were seen standing there. There were also two of Hyun-Ki's personal bodyguards including a nanny. This was a fairly common sight in elite schools. They were allowed to bring a bodyguard. Korea was a safe country but still kidnapping could happen. And Chaebols—a term for the descendants of Korea's richest people—were the target of kidnappers.

Hyun-Ki was a handsome boy with cheeks that easily turned red when he saw the things he liked. His family strictly regulates his diet. Because of that he rarely saw cotton candy. Even though it wouldn't satisfy him— he devoured it like he was starving.

"How was school today? Anything exciting?" Mi-Rae asked. Hyun-Ki stopped licking his fingers. He adjusted the position of his hands before answering. He looked embarrassed for eating the cotton candy like a normal kid. The problem was, in the etiquette class he attended— no one taught him how to eat cotton candy.

Mi-Rae passes a piece of wet tissue into her son's hand. Slightly blushing, Hyun-Ki wiped his sticky hands and mouth. He then handed the trash to his nanny who was standing nearby.

"We made cotton balls and glued them to a picture of a sheep," Hyun-Ki began to engross in the story. Mi-Rae listened carefully, and made sure that not a single sentence escaped her ears.

Every now and then Mi-Rae glanced at her watch and her anxiety quickly escalated. It was almost time.

"What a lowly woman, you're giving Hyun-Ki unhealthy food again," someone came in with luxury branded clothes from head to toe to shoes. She was Park Young-Ran, her ex-in-law who takes care of Hyun-Ki. She came sooner. Mi-Rae lost her smile.

"I still have fifteen minutes left," Mi-Rae said as she folded her arms in disapproval.

"What's the difference? It's only fifteen minutes right? Come on Hyun-Ki, let's go home, your grandma is looking for you. She made herbal chicken soup for you. Why are you eating this anyway? Your stomach can hurt. This is lowly people's food. Well, though you can't really blame your mama. She was a commoner, different from us," said Young-Ran again.

"Fifteen minutes is precious to me. I only see Hyun-Ki once every three days. Don't you—"

"Don't touch me! You smell like your fisherman father," said Young-Ran while looking at her disgusted.

"Auntie don't be mean to mama," Hyun-Ki scolded her angrily. But Young-Ran just sneered and didn't care and took Hyun-Ki back.

"Can I be with mama for a while?" Hyun-Ki continued.

"You can't, grandma is waiting for you,"

"But I haven't finished talking about my activities at school today," Hyun-Ki protested even though he was still polite and elegant.

"Later aunt will let you talk on the phone with your mama, let's go home,"

"Young-Ran, please," Mi-Rae said with a regretful expression. She still misses her son. Two hours was too short for her and now she even had the heart to snatch fifteen precious minutes from her?

"Go away, or do you want to only meet once a week with Hyun-Ki?" The wavy brown haired woman with the perfect body thanks to the surgery was grinning.

"I'm only asking for my rights as Hyun-Ki's mother!" Mi-Rae protests.

"You failed again right? The court has rejected your custody appeal. How long are you going to keep trying? You've been doing it for the past three years and you should know that you can never beat the Park family that owns CJ Group forever. So just accept it and get out of the way," Young-Ran motioned for the bodyguards and nannies to rush into the car. Meanwhile, Hyun-Ki was forced to walk away while occasionally looking back sadly.

Mi-Rae runs to him and gives him a loving hug. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. Hyun-Ki returned the hug while occasionally stroking his mother's back. Mi-Rae wants to be a good mother. She wanted to take Hyun-Ki to school. She also wanted to play in the amusement park and swim together. She wanted to sleep beside him after previously reading him a fairy tale.

But she currently had to settle for two hours per three days at his school. She also brought a lot that his son liked even though it was definitely not healthy for him. However, Mi-Rae just wants Hyun-Ki to remember her as a lovely mama. The Santa-like mama who came to bring him gifts and happiness. Because Mi-Rae barely had a chance to raise him as a normal mother.

"I'll call you, mama, I love you," Hyun-Ki said before heavily parting from her.

"Don't forget that you wanted this yourself, Mi-Rae. Don't make a sad face like that," said Young-Ran again with haughty steps as she took her nephew's hand away.

Mi-Rae pursed her lips in discontent. She should have had custody of him. His biological father was never even seen picking up Hyun-Ki as if he didn't care. But the court didn't see it that way. They said, the perfect environment, a well-known and wealthy family and the love of his father's family was the best for Hyun-Ki.

Mi-Rae was just an actress, and a single mother living in an apartment. Her ex-husband's family lawyer said that Hyun-Ki shouldn't be brought up in an entertainment environment full of scandals, drugs and a free life. Though, Mi-Rae wasn't like that at all.

Mi-Rae was driving her silver Tesla when her manager called.

"We didn't get the role, you know, as the star of a KG Electronic commercial. Even though the producer said you were the best fit for the role," Kim Sunji grumbled in annoyance over the phone.

Mi-Rae was momentarily disappointed, but honestly it wasn't any more upsetting than what she just experienced today.

"Oh, is that so?" Mi-Rae responded half-caring.

"And you know what irritates me the most? Park Young-Ran! Your ex-in-law got the role!" Sunji shouted in frustration.

For some reason, Mi-Rae felt that it wasn't too surprising for her. Young-Ran was always trying to annoy her. After she divorced her brother, she was even pursuing a career in the entertainment world. Considering what she has been through for almost four years as the son-in-law of the Park family— Mi-Rae knew that Young-Ran won't let her go that easily.

"Let it go, I've been quite busy too, right? She can't take all the jobs in the Korean acting world. There's no need to torture ourselves tiredly hating her," Mi-Rae responded as she slid her steering wheel elegantly into the highway. She used earphones when making calls.

"Mi-Rae, you are too kind. A lot of people say that right?" Sunji protested.

"So, have you sent the address to my GPS? In what Gangnam area?" Mirae decided to Ignore her manager's last sentence.

"Oh, are you done meeting Hyun-Ki yet?"

"I also met Young-Ran earlier. He picked up Hyun-Ki too soon," Mi-Rae said flatly so as not to sound too disappointed. But still Sunji could feel her disappointment.

"She really a witch,"

"That's enough,"

"You've memorized the script for shooting this afternoon right?"

"Of course,"

"We're going to meet Lee Hyeon Jun! Aren't you curious?" Sunji's voice sounded excited.

"Who?"

"Lee Hyeon Jun, Korean MMA fighter? He will be shooting with you today. Oh come on Mi-Rae, you work in the entertainment world, at least you should know the names of Korean celebrities. He's very famous, you know!"