11th Grade
"You'll go with me tomorrow right, Chung Ho-yah?" Lee Dong Ho asked his son.
"Have you forgotten, Abeoji? I have to be here for the public auditors."
"Oh, yes. I forgot. It's the annual audit. So I guess you can't go with me to New York?"
Lee Chung Ho sighed. "No, I can't. We already discussed this last month, remember?"
Lee Dong Ho frowned before answering, "Ne. I remember it now. I guess my memory is not that good anymore," he mused, "I wish Myung Hwan could come into the company faster. I want to retire and just stay in Jeju."
Myung Hwan looked up to his grandfather and cringed. "I will, Harabeoji. But I haven't even graduated yet."
"I know."
"And he hasn't enlisted yet," Lee Chung Ho added, "He also hasn't got his master degree. You wouldn't want the future President of the Lee company to not have a master degree, wouldn't you, Abeoji?".
"No. The smarter he gets, the smaller chance his subordinates would trick him."
Myung Hwan chuckled.
"Myung Hwan-ah, this is not a joke."
"It's not, Haraboji, I get it. It's just that you're acting as if you're super old already. While the fact was last night we still watched soccer on TV together and you were screaming as loud as me. You're as strong as a horse still, Haraboji."
"Last night and this is completely a different matter. How long do you think we have to wait until he could take his place in our company?" he asked his son, ignoring Myung Hwan who was shaking his head and continued to eat his porridge.
"He has two more years before he gets his bachelor degree. Two years in the army. Two years for his master degree. Around six years or more."
"Ah. It's still so long" he lamented, "but anyway it's clear enough. I'll retire six years from now. You better finish everything on time, young man," he pointed his spoon at Myung Hwan. "Don't prolong things because you still want some free time."
Myung Hwan gave a salute, "Order is received and understood, Haraboji."
"Aigoo, Abeoji, please finish your breakfast first, you almost haven't touched it," Kim Ae Mi reminded her father in law.
Lee Dong Ho swallowed his food once before talking again, "So, I'll just take Sang Ok with me."
Ga Eun turned to her father.
They were standing near the dining table as usual while the Lee Family were eating.
Lee Chung Ho lifted his mug and Ga Eun quickly poured him the green tea.
"I hate to be alone. Since Chung Ho can't go, Sang Ok will accompany me. Besides, there's this gala dinner to celebrate the merger," he turned to Kim Sang Ok, "As usual, you'll have to prepare it with the staff there."
"Algesseumnida, Hwejangnim," Kim Sang Ok bowed formally.
"And we'll enjoy ourselves there, Sang Ok. Since this son of mine decided to neglect his father."
"Abeoji! The annual audit..."
"I know, I know. But I'll really go watch baseball with Sang Ok, since we'll arrive on time to watch the final. Too bad you can't come"
"I want to go. I want to watch the baseball final," Myung Hwan said out loud.
"Children just have to go to school," his grandfather replied.
"Aish! Why do you want Abeoji to abandon the audit but I have to go to school?"
"Because you have to," his grandfather replied sternly.
Myung Hwan shook his head in defeat.
"Prepare everything and we'll go tomorrow morning, Sang Ok-ah."
"Ne, Hwejangnim."
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"Take care of them well, Ga Eun-ah," Kim Sang Ok said, as he did his final check on the usual daily chores list.
"I will Appa. Don't you worry. Have a safe trip."
"Try to understand them more, will you? Try to help them as best as you can even though they don't ask anything."
"Neeeeee..."
"Take care of yourself too, when I'm away."
"Ahrasseo, Appa. Why the sudden speech anyway? You're going just for two weeks. It's not two years."
"I just want to be sure that my daughter can replace me well when I'm gone."
"I'll do my best," she said, fisting her hands in an amusing gesture. "I'll take care of everything when I come home from school."
"Good"
"Take care of yourself too, Appa."
"I'll take care of Hwejangnim well."
"Aigoo. You don't have to tell me about that. Just have a nice time and call me when you have time."
"You should have a nice time, too. Sometimes you think of everybody else too much. I know with our jobs, we need to dedicate ourselves. But it doesn't mean that you can't be happy."
She frowned.
"Yah. Appa. What is this? Why are you so anxious? You're not like this when you went with Hwejangnim and Sajangnim two months ago."
"Mianhe. I just have a lot to say, yet the time is too little."
"Then save it for when you come back, Appa. Lecture me all you want when you come back. And don't forget to buy me something there."
"I will, Child. Goodbye," he smiled, patting her shoulder as he carried his suitcase out the driveway, where Hwejangnim's car and his driver were ready.
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With her father gone, Ga Eun's duties at home increased. She had to check on everything that her father always checked. All of the household supplies, the family's schedule given monthly from the Lee family's secretaries, making sure all the meals were made on time, and tons of other things to take care of.
In that way, the days went by so fast.
The morning before her father's flight home, he called her.
"Ga Eun, I bought you something beautiful."
"Jjinjja? What is it?" she asked excitedly.
"A necklace. The pendant is a butterfly."
"Oooh. It does sound pretty."
"Ne. It is. Because I pray that you'll turn into a beautiful butterfly, who could soar high in the sky. Higher than me."
"Appa, why are you so melancholic?"
"I'm not being melancholic. I just miss my daughter, I guess."
She laughed.
"I miss you too, Appa. Palli. Come home and let me see that necklace."
"I will. I'll see you tomorrow. And is everything alright with the household?"
"Everything is alright."
"I knew I could count on you."
"Ne. Appa?"
"Ne?"
"I need to go to school."
"Ah. Alright. Goodbye, Ga Eun-ah."
"Aigoo! You should've said "See you". Okay, Appa, see you tomorrow," and with that she hung up her cellphone.
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Author's Note:
You might be able to guess what happens next. Tell me what you think about this story so far.