About You: Love & Sacrifice

Slowly Improve

Jihoon suddenly went to fly to Chicago. Younha called back overnight after seeing an unanswered call run up to eighteen times. Younha was completely dazed after returning from Woojin's place and just ignored her phone.

Younha leaned her back on the sofa while thinking about the awkward things that were now spinning beside her, how the happiness and anxiety mixed when thinking about Jihoon, how the guilt came about when she saw Woojin, and how that curiosity existed when thinking about Jinan.

Jinan and Mirae did not answer the phone all day, the message was not answered, and when Younha came with the children—Mirae did not even open the door. All of a sudden, Younha doesn't focus on interviewing the author of today's book.

Jinan and Mirae inhabited him for some reason. Younha felt sure she had done something wrong, but she did not know what the mistake was. Younha was too much of a thought, without feeling his breath sound heavy.

"Mama!" Seojun came and immediately hugged his leg. "Ojun wants a steamed egg."

Younha smiled and brought Seojun to her sling. The woman pinched the tip of her son's nose and kissed his puffer cheek.

"If you want to eat what?" Younha asked Seojun.

"So I want steamed eggs too!" Seojun giggled while pointing at the older brother who was seriously learning to write.

"Sister wants apple juice too, Mama." Yeonjun. "Cute apple juice."

"okay."

"What do you want to eat?" Seojun held onto both of Younha's cheeks with his small hands and blinked curiously.

"What, huh?" Younha cleared his throat long while lowering the leak on the dining table chair. "Mama wants to eat Ojun!"

"Don't!" The boy immediately hugged his own body. "Let's eat Ojun—Ojun so poopies."

Younha was somewhat surprised by Seojun's innocent speech then laughed amusedly. He switched to cutting the leeks and preparing eggs, not forgetting to peel two apples to make juice. While Younha is busy with her work, the youngest entertains by singing jingle bells with slurred tongue and ambiguous lyrics. Every now and then Younha would justify his singing while chuckling with anxiety.

"What did Dad eat, huh?" The youngest propped up his chin. "Ojun misses Dad."

"Just met yesterday, have you missed?"

Seojun nodded as he swept his lips. "Ojun misses Om Jinan and aunt Mirae too, oh—Om Woojin whose nose is like Pinocchio. Mama, when do we see Om Woojin again?"

Younha who just poured juice into the glass stopped for a moment as Seojun dragged Woojin's name innocently. Younha doesn't know how familiar they are until Seojun keeps remembering the man, but Younha also doesn't wonder—Woojin accompanied her children about the past five months. Toddlers the age of Seojun is easily comfortable even with people he just met.

"Mama, when did Om Woojin come again? When can we play with Aunt Mirae?" Seojun tilted his head.

"Now—Seojun play with Mama and brother first while waiting for Dad to come home. Om Jinan, aunt Mirae and Om Woojin are busy at work, so there's no time to come yet." Younha rubbed his son's head.

Dding up! Ddong!

“Oh, any guests?” Seojun screeched and ran first which Younha soon followed. “Mama, no flowers!”

The sipit was immediately directed at a bouquet of pink Lily flowers that were still fresh and fragrant on the floor. Younha hugged her and read a small note that read; Kim Younha-ku— smiled at the thought of who this flower might come from. Jihoon never even knew if Younha likes pink Lily flowers, so this beautiful flower delivery is possible?

“Mama, come on in! Are the eggs ripe?” The boy pulled Younha's index finger to enter and closed the door.

As expected. Without even looking at it, Younha's guess was correct because Jinan had sent the flower and was now hiding behind a wall while swallowing a faint smile.

...*****...

Jihoon just laid his body onto the soft sofa after taking off the suit and loosening his tie. His body felt very tired because he sat for hours in meetings. Remembering Younha who he did not have time to pay, Jihoon rushed to reach for his phone which he cased since this morning because it ran out of power.

Jihoon's eyelids flickered quickly after reading Younha's message chain which all contained the woman's typical scolding. Jihoon's smile could not be hidden anymore since reading the first message,

Have you arrived yet? Is your trip comfortable?

Don't forget your vitamins, I'll be a reminder three times a day.

Today Seojun had a fight with his brother but immediately made up as iming-imingi kukis. How adorable.

You sleeping? All right, good rest, Jihoon-na.

The man was smiling to himself while his fingers were stirred to dial Younha— number waiting to connect and prepare his best voice.

“For God's sake, I don't get it wrong now at two in the morning, Lee Jihoon.” Younha's voice, sounded more raspy with the slender has not been fully opened.

Jihoon chuckled. “Oh, I forgot that time here is the opposite of Korea. I just finished lunch.”

Younha picked up the call without any intention of getting up from her bed even though her sleepiness disappeared instantly upon hearing the phone ring.

“What's up?”

“Make sure you're alive.”

Younha sniffed with an anxious smile. “You also said that one year ago.”

“Younha.”

“Hm?”

“Thanks.”

“For?”

“Because it has been born into the world and accompanied me."

Silent again. Jihoon still faithfully stuck his phone in his ear to hear Younha's breath ringing interspersed with small snickers. If you can be honest, actually Younha can't really hate Jihoon as her mouth says. Younha felt it for herself, how to fall in love every morning seeing Jihoon's face on the bed. She is also the one who loves first, she also knows that the reason Jihoon never declares love is fear if he can't keep it.

Until Younha feeling neglected rebelled by itself.

“You're ruining the mood.” Sergey Younha. “You shouldn't say such cheesy things while I'm sleepy.”

“Then I will say it again tomorrow after arriving home.” Whisper Jihoon who keeps happy.

“I'll be waiting for him.”

“Sleep again.” Tell Jihoon finally. “Sorry to bother you.”

Younha laughs. “You always interrupt my night, actually.”

“It's nice to see you upset.” Jihoon chuckled. “Do I need to read a story to get you to sleep?”

“I'm not a child, Lee Jihoon.”

“I'll read the adult story then.”

“Jeez, what kind of conversation is this?”

Younha did not say any more after Jihoon started narrating stories about their past while in college first, from the first meeting, skipping, to their behavior behind Jinan. Because all the past is done, so a stupid story is like a funny history to retell. Younha adjusted her position and stuck the phone to the cheek, hearing Jihoon's lullaby—-like stories brought her back to sleep.

...*****...

“Mama, what's big brother's picture good?”

Yeonjun entered the kitchen area while showing off a picture of two children together in modeled clothes and the exact same color. On top of the two men, there is the inscription Welcome, Father whose letters are slightly up and down.

Younha smiled proudly, stroked the son's head and praised him.

“It's great, less color given a little more. Dad must have liked the picture.”

“Mama can help?”

“Of course. Later after Mama finished cooking, yes?” Younha smiled seeing her eldest son nod his spirit and ran back to the living room.

Younha put a bowl of asparagus soup with sausages and arranged it on the dining table with other menus, he glanced at the son who focused on his picture and smiled at Yeonjun who was quick to learn and smart. Younha can't wait to enroll him in the school. The boy will have many friends and Younha will be happier when he hears his son's story after school. Younha was impatient.

The unit bell rang out, Yeonjun raised his head and saw the mother was busy taking the initiative to open the door. Without the usual noise, the boy approached Younha while holding someone's fingers.

“Mama! See who's coming?” Yeonjun said girang.

Younha laughed in response. "Who?"

The woman looked up and her manic turned nervous all of a sudden when she confronted Woojin directly there. For a while Younha was blank and confused to respond.

“Sister Woojin?”

“I stopped by because I remembered Yeonjun loves Japanese chocolate.” The man said casually as if nothing had ever happened. Woojin crouches down and gives the parcel to Yeonjun who is instantly accepted. “Eat with Seojun, yes. Don't scramble. Okay!”

“OK!” Yeonjun exclaimed and replied to high five Woojin.

Younha and Woojin are left between the dining table.

“Younha, I want to talk—"

“Speaking what?”

Younha who had not been able to answer was getting more nervous when Jihoon suddenly came and interrupted. The stern squinty was wielding sharply, staring at Younha and Woojin alternately. While Younha could not dwell as the two men before her stood against each other and intimidated in silence.

...*****...