King of hearts • d.sc

36

"I think so." Haneul double checked the address on the letter she received with the money. She swung open the car door, stepping out of it as she began walking towards the place, Winwin following closely behind as she couldn't help but feel oddly comforted by it's nature. The way the vines and leaves climb up the dusty white walls was the complete opposite of the blank grey walls of the house she grew up in, she almost found it hard to believe her mother would ever live in such a place, but then again, she realised that she knew absolutely nothing about her.

She entered the gate, making her way through the path created by old pots of colourful plants. Haneul knocked on the maroon wooden door when she reached it, their ears filling with the sounds of birds and crickets as Haneul couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness within the peace. Winwin slipped a hand into hers, shining her a calming smile as they shared a nod.

The door creaked open slowly, as if it was unsure as to whether or not it should even open or not. As if it hasn't welcomed anybody in before, and didn't know how to.

"Oh." A voice said, sounding like a classical instrument in an orchestra. The door opened wider, to reveal a woman who Haneul recognized almost immediately, despite her looking like a familiar stranger at the same time. The actress shined with a different glow than she had before, no longer glassy and posh, instead she glowed with raw happiness. "I didn't think you would fall for such a silly game."

"Mother." Haneul's voice was laced with shock, as she had expected to see the woman, but part of her had somehow doubted it. But now that she was standing in front of her, in a homely dress of earthy tones, she still found it hard to believe. "I've uh...missed you."

She realised that she hadn't thought this one through.

Her mother smiled, a real smile. "I missed you too, honey." She opened her arms, inviting Haneul into them as the girl accepted, embracing her mother for the first time since she was in high school. Now she has graduated university, and had her entire life to tell to her mother. A smile widened itself across Haneul's face, a new sort of happiness building within her as a small tear rolled down her face.

"I genuinely thought you died." She sniffled as her mother laughed heartedly, giving Haneul a pat on the head, releasing her from the hug.

"Well, to be honest, I'm surprised I'm alive too." She shook her head. "Well, come on in you two, I would be thrilled to hear everything."

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"Your father did what?!" Her mother's eyes bulged at the story. "I should have brought you here, marrying that sorry excuse of a man was the second worst decision I've ever made."

Haneul was sure she's heard her mother speak more now than she has had her entire life. "What was the first?"

Her mother lifted a cup of tea to her mouth. "Prioritising my job over you." She sighed. "I wasn't a good mother, and you've had to live on your own since you were born. It truly isn't something I can say I'm proud of and I apologize for that."

"Wow." Haneul muttered, taking a sip of her steaming cup of tea. "That's alright though, I don't resent you." She wasn't expecting to hear such a thing. It's weird to hear the people who brought you up, or barely had, apologize for it, as if they hadn't normalized the experience for you. Haneul didn't complain about the way she was raised as she thought that was normal for the longest time, it wasn't until she made contact with the "outside" world where she saw what life could really be like.

"It's funny how I had to leave to come to such a realization. I also missed this wonderful love story between you two. I can just imagine the look on their faces when you proposed."