Finding Jiyong

Chapter 7

She had just finished cleaning off all the stage makeup from her face when her phone rang beside her. She smiled seeing the name flashing on the display. “Hello. Kamusta na, Direk?” The smile widened on her face as a deep chuckle was heard over the speaker. A bearded guy with wavy hair gathered into a messy ponytail was grinning at her across the screen.

“Who is the Director you’re looking for? I’m just the poor guy who is currently a slave to two little boys who have been screaming for the past thirty minutes to talk to their Ninang.” Then as if on cue she heard the yells in the background. Two little boys in pajamas ran yelling and shoved at their dad to bring their faces to the screen.

“Ninang! Ninang! We miss you po!” The older boy was waving at her.

“I miss you din, Jace and Kody.” She answered back a grin splitting her face.

“I wab you, Nangnang!” Kody not to be outdone by his older brother also yelled at the screen holding out a Korean heart at her.

She laughed at the little boy. “You’re so cute talaga sobra. Love you, too.” She answered with a Korean heart of her own. “You still remembered what I taught you.” They had met a little over a year before and she had taught the boy to do the finger heart gesture.

“It’s already late here but they didn’t want to go to sleep without seeing you. I know you’re busy with the play. Congratulations by the way. I’ve read nothing but good reviews.” Joross gave her two thumbs up.

“Salamat but I’m still nervous every time before the show starts.” She told her friend.

“From the video clips I’ve seen it doesn’t show one bit. So it only means you’re doing good. I can’t stay long I have to put these monsters to sleep and I know you need to pack up, too. Keep up the good work, Ninang.” Joross then turned back to his two boys, “Okay boys, say goodnight to Ninang.”

“Goodnight, Ninang.” Jace waved at her again and sent her a flying kiss.

“Night, Nangnang.” Kody also echoed after his brother then stuck his thumb back inside his mouth.

Dara blew them a kiss before the screen turned dark. She smiled and continued on packing her toiletries. Someone then knocked on the door. She got up to open it and she was greeted by a big bouquet of flowers. “Congratulations!” Three familiar voices were heard in unison over the flowers.

“Omo! Omo! Omo!” She jumped and squealed in excitement. She’d recognized those voices anywhere. Her girls came. They said they weren’t sure if they can make it. She hugged the flowers to the side so the three human beings she hold dear to her heart could get through the door.

“I can’t believe it. You’re all here.” She was laughing and crying all at the same time as soon as she saw the three beautiful people standing just inside the door.

They all gathered into a tight hug. A smattering of “I miss you!” and “Me, too!” was heard over their huddle.

Not one eye was left dry among them. “You never mentioned going back to Korea when I talked to you yesterday, nappeun yeoja!”

She glared at the grinning blond girl standing at her side. CL shrugged and rolled her eyes at Dara, “That’s why it’s called a surprise. You’re not supposed to know.”

“I missed all of you really. I can’t believe you’re all here.” Dara gushed once more and the tears started to well in her eyes again. Bom reached out, grabbed her on the shoulders and gave her a rough shake. It was like they were teens again. “We’re here you better believe it.”

“Unnie! I love it. I cried.” Minzy gushed and gave Dara a warm hug.

CL elbowed Dara on the side. “I see you’ve been receiving lots of gifts.” She wiggled her eyebrows at the table overflowing with flowers and food. “Are any of those from our future brother in law?” The other two girls grinned at her words.

She rolled her eyes at the ridiculous question. “You know that person doesn’t exist. Hello? You heard me talking to you about any guy? I don’t keep anything from you.”

“Pfft. If only your love life would be as interesting as your instagram feed.” Bom grumbled at her as she ruffled through the gifts looking at the names.

“What are you doing, Unnie?” Minzy asked.

“I’m trying to see if someone interesting is sending her stuff. You know her. She’s oblivious if guys are sending her signals or not. We’ll get more info from these cards compared to asking her. If you all ask me I think she’s still hung over from that nonexistent Jiyong from the past.” She answered without stopping from her blatant sleuthing.

“I’ve moved on, you know. Who is Jiyong anyway? He’s just a literal figment of my imagination. I’ve gotten past that phase already, okay?” Dara retorted.

She had thought being disillusioned with her father was hard but coming to terms that the Jiyong in her dreams wasn’t real took her into a really dark place. She never wanted to go through that again – desperately searching for someone who doesn’t even exist. She would never go down the same rabbit hole again. She promised herself and the girls.

“If you have why then have you been single since forever?” Bom threw back at her.

“Didn’t she date that Donghae guy before?” Minzy offered.

“Yes she did but she never committed. We all know how she friend zoned the guy. So he doesn’t count.” CL commented offhandedly and moved to join Bom’s scrounging.

“Maybe Bom’s got a valid argument. Maybe our rising musical theater actress here still hasn’t moved on…” Her voice trailed off as she stared at the gift card she was holding.

“Dara, have you read all your gift cards already?” CL asked Dara.

“No. I haven’t yet.” Dara said as she was stuffing her stuff into her carryall. “Why are you asking? Did you find anything interesting? ”

She looked up to see the girls crowding over the card. They looked weirdly at her after having read the short message. After a few moments of stunned silence CL finally said something that made Dara’s fair face turn white and her fingers turn nerveless. She dropped the carryall she was holding. She didn’t realize all her stuff were scattered all over the floor.

Her brain had aldeady turned to mush and only CL’s words just kept on playing on repeat inside her head, “Because this one is addressed to Ahjumma. He wrote, ‘I always knew you could do it.’ The sender signed with the name, Jiyong. No last name. Just Jiyong.”