I Need You

Fear

I took my seat next to Chae-sul.I

"Why would he ask you that?" she whispered.

"I don't know," I answered, just glad that she hadn't caught on. In truth, I knew why he would ask that question. I knew he was trying to make the jury believe that Mr. Park is innocent and that I had made this whole thing up in order to run away with Chae like two star-crossed lovers. Finally, the judge called a recess for lunch. As we walked out the door, a man ran up to us and wrapped Chae in a tight hug.

"Jihya, I'm so sorry it took me so long to get here!" She looked at me, confused and a little scared.

"Sung-ho!" I heard Ara shout from the door. "We're not supposed to interact with her!"

"We're not?" Ara just shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Christopher. I thought I explained all the conditions to him."

"It's alright. We should go, though." I waved to Ara as we walked away.

"Who was that?" Chae asked as we walked into the small cafe across the street.

"That was Kim Sung-ho, Ara's ex-husband."

"So that would be my father?"

"Yes, if they are your parents."

"If? I thought you were certain they were."

"I am. I mean if we can prove they are."

"How are we supposed to do that?"

"I have no idea."

(-)

The judge called the court into session. Once everyone quieted down, the judge made an announcement.

"The prosecutor has called for a paternity test." Someone I assumed to be a detective came over with a swab kit. After explaining the process, he swabbed Chae's mouth, then Ara's and Sung-ho's. When the swabs were taken, the judge dismissed the session.

(-)

We sat on Solar's couch, watching whatever cartoon was on.

"Chan?" Chae asked. I hummed in response. She pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. She seemed scared about something. "If Ara and Sung-ho are my parents, then what?"

"What do you mean?"

"Will I have to live with them? I don't even know how that would work, since Sung-ho lives in Japan."

"Well, what do you want to do?"

"I want to stay here, with Solar and... you."

"Then that's what will happen." She nodded.

"I really hope they are my parents. If not, then I'll have to go back to living with Jin-young." I placed my hand in her shoulder.

"I'll never let that happen." She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"But what if-"

"No 'what ifs'." I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. "No matter what happens, it's going to be ok. We'll make it ok. But we can't do anything until those results come back." She nodded into my chest. She slowly sat up, wiping tears from her cheeks.

"Either way, do you promise you'll be there?"

"Of course." She nodded, sliding her fingers between mine and giving my hand a slight squeeze.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." My heart fluttered as she pecked my cheek, then laid her head on my shoulder. I sighed, resting my head on top of hers. I felt her hand slide out of mine, her hands snaking around my waist. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. A moment later, I felt her shoulders shaking.

"Hey," I slid into the floor, crouching on the floor in front of her. "What's wrong?"

"I-I'm so scared. Even if they are my parents, I-I don't know. I don't know what a normal life will be like. And if they're not, that means I have to live with Jin-young again and-" she started sobbing. I grabbed her hands.

"I already told you, I'm not going to let that happen. I promise you, he'll never hurt you again." I dropped her hands, holding her face in my hands and resting my forehead on hers. "It's all going to be ok. Either way, we'll figure it out." She nodded, but didn't move. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but the door opened. It was Solar, hands full with food.

"I hope you guys are hungry, cause I got a lot of food."