BANE

28

He could feel the cool morning breeze on his face as he rests his head on the side of the car window frame. He could appreciate the beauty of this hospice area more when the car glided away from it, heading to Seoul.

What his mom said in her single letter left for him about her birthplace is true. But perhaps, it meant so much more for Geun Won.

This place, despite not a place of fond childhood memory like what his mom experienced, it is a place of healing...a shelter, a safe-haven that shielded him from his own ugly past during his numbered days.

Dr. Lee Kang did not restrict them at all when they told him of their wish for the 2 days 1 night outing. He just asked the admin clerk to bring the needed papers to Geun Won, while started giving brief reminders of do's & don'ts to both him & Soo Ah.

When he noticed his puzzled expression, he just shrugged and told them "He never had any outing. But it's because he didn't have any caregiver previously. Now he has you."

He looked at his left side. Soo Ah is humming since the moment they left the hospice. Her fingers drummed the steering wheel while her left lips tugged upwards slightly. That's when he knew Soo Ah is really in a good mood.

His fiery phoenix girl is happy. Now he has someone by his side. And that someone is happy now. He would give this world to keep her always happy like this. He smiled and chuckled a bit.

Aware of his gaze to her, Soo Ah stopped humming and glanced at him amusingly.

"Waegurae?"

"Neo." He answered with sheepish smile.

"Wae... what is it with me? Wae...wae..." Her laugh tinkled while playfully prodding him to give a more specific answer.

"You're happy today."

"Of course, you dumb-dumb. We're going to our high school. I've planned for us to wear the uniform today. And I want to write something off the school's wall - I never had the chance to do that before. And I want to doodle juuust a bit in one of the library book - I was too afraid to do it. Let me feel young for a while."

Hearing how excited she sounded, Geun Won's laugh booming the car. He never expected how much she craved to do those mischiefs. Honestly, he had done those and more.

Seeing Soo Ah's eyes lit up with anticipation, his heart fluttered. That's it. That's the spark that always made him fell deeper & deeper in love with her.

"Maybe you want to catch a sleep. It's gonna take at least another 1 hour and a half. I'll wake you up once we've arrived."

Hearing no answer, she looked to her side. Geun Won has fallen asleep. The cool breeze and smooth journey has lulled him for a nap.

Just as a precaution, she pulled off by the road side to check his pulse & oxygen level from the mechanical watch. Snatching a parka from the seat behind, she tuck it comfortably on him before continuing the journey.

****

Surprisingly, he was the one who felt nervous when they entered the school ground. Luckily, the school guard was quite lenient as Soo Ah explained their intention. Wearing the school uniform, they walked side by side to reach the main building.

Soo Ah even skipped down the path while freely looking around as if without care in this world. He himself felt like he is in his younger days with the school uniform and the bag pack.

They first came to the library. Nobody's inside as it's weekend. As she traced her fingers on the rows of books to reach the back end of the library, he saw how her face changed. As if reminiscing bittersweet memories. Only now she held it fondly and made peace with her past.

"Psssttt..."

Soo Ah snapped back to the current time. Someone took the book that her fingers touched and there on the other side of the aisle, Geun Won's playful eyes looking at her. She didn't realize when did he go there. She thought he was behind her.

"Yah! I heard this library have ghost. It would haunt anyone who damaged the books. Let's leave your mark on the librarian's table instead." He smirked as he said this.

"Oh God, you're impossible! Hahaha..." And off they went to carve her initials on the librarian's desk. The poor librarian would have a fit once he or she found it.

***
He looked around making sure the school guard did not catch them. Soo Ah was climbing the wall to doodle the lame "SA was here" that was a famous vandalism words during their time.

"Be careful"

"Don't worry, I won't fall." And kept her focus to get the best spot. Looked like her doodle wasn't the only one on that wall. She needed to find some space to write it clearly.

'But I will, though' Geun Won looked at Soo Ah appreciatively.

He understood her excitement on doing all those childish things.

Despite she had done few naughty things back then, there was always fear at the back of her head for being caught. She couldn't afford to pay the damages, and had nobody to back her up should she be in the teacher's bad book. She simply didn't have the liberty to be carefree and worried little on the consequences like the other children.

Seeing her being carefree, he felt as if he is being liberated of the worries of this world as well. He prayed that Soo Ah will always have this liberty to feel ever so carefree, and have someone to be there for her to catch her if she falls.

_______________________
A/N: Hey BirdMagnet, I insert your comment  in this chapter as a show of appreciation for your support. 😘